《I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property》


 Chapter 1 Not Striving to Inherit the Family Fortune

    "Thank you for attending Wangyi Group''s autumn recruitment. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that you may not be suitable for the position at this time. Your information will be entered into our talent pool in case..."


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong slammed the mouse onto the desk. This was the twenty-something interview he had attended this fall.


    This year had not been smooth, with various events occurring since the beginning of the year¡ªviruses, fires, earthquakes, floods¡ªas if even the world was telling you to cherish everything.


    The impact on the economy made this year''s autumn recruitment extremely tough, with even graduates and PhDs struggling to find jobs. Zhang Menglong, a graduate of Materials Science, one of the four least promising majors, had it even worse.


    He had sent out over a hundred resumes, and this time, he had managed to pass through five rounds of interviews to the final one, only to be replaced by someone with connections, right when the job was almost within his grasp.


    This was something he found out during the interview from an interviewer who took a liking to him; otherwise, Zhang Menglong might have really thought it was due to his own lack of capabilities.


    "Brothers, how''s the job hunting going?" Zhang Menglong noticed that his roommates also had gloomy expressions.


    "Don''t even mention it. The interviews are fierce like a tiger, but the salary is just twenty-five hundred," Xu Li sighed from the bunk next to him, "My family is thinking about having me study for a graduate degree."


    "Forget it. In our major, unless we change fields, even with a graduate degree we''d only make six or seven thousand a month. Some have to work shifts too. It''s better to face society''s harsh realities sooner, maybe there''s still a way out."


    "What about you, boss Sun?"


    "What else can I do but continue selling houses? It''s tough, but it''s still better than being uncertain about the next meal."


    "Ah, if only we all came from better families," Xu Li said.


    "Hahaha, exactly, the kind where if things don''t work out, you just go back and inherit the family fortune," Sun Yulei commented.


    "Why don''t we call home and check? Maybe our parents are actually billionaires behind our backs?"


    "Maybe your dad''s worried you''ll go astray; he kept it secret from you as a child!"


    "Hahaha, right, your dad said he was a fisherman¡ªmaybe all those hundreds of islands belong to your family?"


    "Menglong, don''t forget your friends if you come into wealth!"


    "You guys are getting wilder with this. We might as well say we ride dolphins!" Zhang Menglong shut down his computer and gave one last scathing look at that email, "When I have money, I''ll definitely take over Wangyi Group!"


    ...


    "Damn, they''ve been talking about building high-speed rail for five years, and still nothing to show for it!" Zhang Menglong grumbled as he disembarked from the bus, the bumpy several-hour ride having stirred his stomach.


    "Weird, didn''t my dad say he would pick me up today? Why can''t I see him anywhere?" Zhang Menglong looked around the parking lot but couldn''t find Zhang Xiaoyun.


    Just then, a car pulled up beside him.


    "Damn, a Rolls-Royce? We have such rich people in this small broken city?" Zhang Menglong gazed at the luxurious emblem with envy.


    The driver, dressed in a suit and wearing gloves, which made him look like a chauffeur, got out of the car, opened the door, and an elderly man, who seemed to be in his sixties or seventies, stepped out from the back seat.


    Zhang Menglong gasped slightly¡ªthis distinguished-looking elderly man actually bowed deeply to him and then said, "Young Master Menglong, please get in the car, we have been waiting for you!"


    "Wait? Young Master Menglong?" Zhang Menglong''s head buzzed, "What''s going on? Are you here to pick me up?"


    Just then, Zhang Menglong''s phone buzzed. He opened it up, and there was an image from his dad¡ªa meme of a man with a big sword and a cheeky expression with four words:


    "Unexpected, right?"

 Chapter 2 Little Friend, Do You Have Many Questions?

    "What''s going on? Is this really your car, or did you rent it?" Zhang Menglong immediately snapped a photo and sent a message back to Zhang Xiaoyun.


    This was a Rolls-Royce, and although Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about cars, even the cheapest Rolls-Royce cost millions, surely selling everything their family owned wouldn''t even compare to the price of such a car, right?


    "Kid, you''re already surprised by this little thing? Later on, won''t you start questioning life? Come on, get in the car. This is the butler who has always managed our family''s assets, just call him Uncle Hong."


    "Butler? Our family has a butler?" Zhang Menglong was a bit disoriented. In those novels and movies, he thought butlers were only something group CEOs or some Western countries had.


    "Young Master, please get in the car quickly, it''s more than half an hour''s drive from the station to home, don''t keep Mr. Zhang waiting anxiously."


    "Oh, oh..." Zhang Menglong tiptoed into the car. Even though it seemed like the car really belonged to their family right now, he still didn''t dare to relax, because if he accidentally damaged the interior, that wouldn''t be something a few tens of thousands could fix.


    "Drive!" Uncle Hong resumed his previous authority, and the driver closed the door carefully and returned to the driver''s seat. The car smoothly headed toward his home.


    "Old man, are you Uncle Hong?" asked Zhang Menglong cautiously, "My dad said you are our family''s butler, but why have I never seen you before?"


    "Hehehe, Young Master, Mr. Zhang didn''t want you to know these things, naturally he had his reasons. Now that you are informed, it means he is ready to hand everything over to you. When you get home, you will know everything," Uncle Hong replied respectfully.


    "Damn, is what my dad said about inheriting the family fortune true?" Zhang Menglong''s heart suddenly started beating violently. If that was the case, why bother working hard? Wouldn''t it be better just to lazily inherit the wealth?


    "Uncle Hong, may I ask you a question?"


    "Young Master, please go ahead. As long as it''s not something Mr. Zhang has instructed me not to disclose, I will surely answer all your questions."


    "Is this car really ours? It''s not rented, is it?" Zhang Menglong was still full of doubts up to this moment.


    "Of course this car belongs to Mr. Zhang''s household," said Uncle Hong, "Is the Young Master thinking that this car is too low-class? Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. Mr. Zhang''s arrangements were so sudden, I had no time to prepare, so I had to make do with picking you up in this car first."


    "Low-class? Make do?" These words rocked around in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    Are you serious, old man, that you need to be so pretentious? This is a Rolls-Royce. In the whole of Jiangnan City, not that many can afford to drive one, right? This car is definitely considered a top-level luxury car, and you call it low-class?


    "Then where are you going? To the deep forests, to become a couple of heroes like in the Condor Heroes?" Zhang Menglong continued teasing.


    "Have you been reading too many novels?" Wang Yajie poked Zhang Menglong on the forehead.


    "Let''s go home first and discuss it there," Zhang Xiaoyun said.


    It was still that 89-square-meter house, which felt strangely incongruent with the Rolls-Royce they had just been in. While there was a table full of delicious dishes, Zhang Menglong was so filled with questions he couldn''t muster much of an appetite.


    He aimlessly picked at his food, and suddenly the atmosphere at the dinner table grew tense.


    "Mom and Dad, isn''t it about time you tell me what''s going on? Are you two teaming up to bamboozle me? It''s really unnecessary. So what if the company fired me? If they don''t want me, it''s their loss. Work can always be found."


    "Who''s bamboozling you? Now, I''m telling you seriously that starting today, all ownership of the family''s assets are transferred to you."


    "All assets? How much?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "I don''t know. I''ve never counted. Just know that you won''t be able to make a dent in it for the rest of your life."


    Zhang Xiaoyun pulled out a box as if by magic. Inside the box lay a green stone, which under the light, seemed to emanate a captivating luster, "Besides the family''s assets, you will also take over the control of this school."


    "School? Isn''t this just a stone? What school?" Zhang Menglong grabbed the stone, but unexpectedly, as soon as the stone was clasped in his palm, it melted like ice and seeped into his skin, disappearing without a trace.


    "What the hell!" Zhang Menglong was so frightened that he flipped his chair over. An unidentified object had penetrated his body. Could there be anything more bizarre than this?


    However, Zhang Menglong''s parents were completely unfazed, as if all this had been expected.


    "Alright, go to sleep. When you wake up from this sleep, you''ll understand everything!"


    Wang Yajie''s hand suddenly moved in front of Zhang Menglong''s eyes as if performing hypnotism, and he found his vision blurring. He fell into a deep sleep.


    In his dream, he arrived at a place of utmost mystery...


    ```

 Chapter 3 Giving You a Test

    This seemed like a place straight out of the Immortal Realm, with colorful auspicious clouds and pink lakes, a land covered with gemstones, and gold-and-jade magnificent lofts.


    Exotic flowers and herbs emitted a rich fragrance, and there was even a hint of mist lingering around; hidden within the thick fog were deep valleys and towering mountains.


    In the distance, there were various buildings, some traditional, some replete with modern technology, and others in architectural styles Zhang Menglong had never seen before, something not even the most imaginative fantasist could conjure up in their mind.


    Yet, for some reason, Zhang Menglong felt this dream was incredibly real, as if his soul had left his body and arrived at this mysterious and beautiful place.


    "Respected new master, welcome to the Super God Academy. I am the AI butler of this school; you may give me a new name," it said.


    "What''s going on? How can a country bumpkin like me have such a trendy dream?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by this sudden voice.


    "Master, you are not in a dream right now because you have not yet obtained the permission to activate the Super God Academy. Therefore, your mother used hypnotism to let your consciousness enter here. Strictly speaking, you are not dreaming," it explained.


    "My mom hypnotized me?" Zhang Menglong paused, "I didn''t know my mom knew hypnotism."


    "Kid, there are many things you don''t know!" Just then, the voice of Zhang Xiaoyun appeared behind Zhang Menglong; his parents had appeared behind him unnoticed.


    "Mom, dad, what exactly is going on? Can someone explain this to me?" Zhang Menglong felt his worldview of over twenty years was starting to crumble.


    "It''s not something I can explain quickly," Zhang Xiaoyun said. When he had inherited this vast wealth and the miraculous Super God Academy from his own father, Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, his reaction had been even more exaggerated than Zhang Menglong''s.


    "Simply put, the Super God Academy is a treasure that has been passed down through generations of the Zhang Family. Once you unlock all its permissions, anything you desire can be made real here!"


    "Dad, I am a materialist, I believe in science. So, can I become immortal?" Zhang Menglong asked in return.


    Zhang Xiaoyun and his wife, Wang Yajie, looked at each other and then smiled, "Immortality, is that hard?"


    Immortality is not just hard; it''s downright impossible!


    "You will slowly come to understand how magical the Super God Academy is as you gradually unlock its permissions," Zhang Xiaoyun said with a mysterious smile, "But as this treasure is our family heirloom, I can''t just let you inherit it so easily. I must first test you!"


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s parents held each other''s hands, and to his shocked eyes, they actually flew up. They soared through the place known as Super God Academy like a shooting star, then merged into the distant heavenly ladder and disappeared into the clouds bathed in that golden column.


    "Did... Did my parents ascend?" Zhang Menglong stared blankly at the sky, his face filled with astonishment. Yes, he must be dreaming. When he reopens his eyes in a while, he will definitely be leaning over his dorm room desk, the computer screen still displaying that failed interview email!


    "New master, please name the system as soon as possible!"


    "Let''s call you Xiao Ji then!"


    "This name has already been used by the 23rd generation master. Please rename it!"


    Zhang Menglong: "???"


    "Alright then, let''s call you Xiao Wang!"


    "This name has already been used by the 16th generation master. Please rename it!"


    "What? What kind of monsters were my ancestors?" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "Then let''s call you Gen Ji!"


    "This name has already been used by the 249th generation master, who is your father. Please rename it!"


    "Zhang Xiaoyun, you..." Zhang Menglong clenched his fist, "I''ll call you Gou Dan then!"


    "Naming successful. Super God Academy smart assistant Gou Dan at your service. According to the command of the 249th generation master, you need to spend 100 billion within a year to unlock Super God Academy. The countdown starts now!"


    Suddenly, everything around became pitch black, and the fantastical academy disappeared from his view.


    "Just you watch!" Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, if this is all real and not a dream, I will stand on my head, washing my hair while eating instant noodles!


    Zhang Menglong opened his eyes, a blinding light from the window shot into his eyes. He was lying in his own room, now the only person left in the house. On the bedside table, there was that small box adorned with a green gemstone.


    Zhang Menglong''s breathing suddenly became rapid. Could... could all this be real?

 Chapter 4 Can NetEase be acquired?

    "Dudu dudu..." Zhang Menglong tried to dial his parents'' cell phone numbers, but instead, he was greeted by a busy tone. At that moment, the first emotion that surged in Zhang Menglong''s heart was actually panic.


    For over twenty years, he had grown up almost entirely under the care of his parents, and it wasn''t until he went to college that he began to spread his own wings a little. Although he was now nearing graduation, he was fundamentally still just a student.


    He immediately rushed to the living room where the rice cooker was still keeping warm, containing two eggs and a bowl of porridge, and beside it was a small note.


    "Son, you must take good care of yourself while Mom and Dad are away. Don''t worry about us. At ten o''clock in the morning, Housekeeper Hong will come to see you, and you just need to follow his arrangements."


    The note contained those simple lines, and Zhang Menglong immediately let out a sigh of relief. As long as nothing was wrong with his parents, he was reassured.


    Having not really eaten much the previous night, Zhang Menglong wolfed down a bit of food as a makeshift breakfast. At that moment, the doorbell of his house rang.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at the time, the hands on the clock had just reached ten o''clock sharp. Peering through the peephole, he saw not only Butler Hong in the hallway, but also two other people; one of whom he recognized very well¡ªit was his dad''s friend, Hong Yuqin.


    Zhang Menglong generally referred to Hong Yuqin as Uncle Hong, who would visit their home almost every few weeks, making him a regular guest at their place.


    The other was a girl who appeared to be about his age. Her facial features bore a resemblance to both Hong Yuqin and Butler Hong, which suggested she was probably Uncle Hong''s daughter, but Zhang Menglong had never seen her before.


    "Damn, Uncle Hong and Butler Hong both have the surname Hong, could they be from the same family?" Zhang Menglong felt as if he had been part of a play since he was very young.


    In his memory, Hong Yuqin was just a sailor who went to sea day after day, just like his father, Zhang Xiaoyun. When at home, they either ate meals together or chatted, just like ordinary friends.


    But seeing Butler Hong riding in a "low-tier" Rolls-Royce with a chauffeur, Zhang Menglong found it tough to reconcile these images.


    "Click!" After drifting off for a while, Zhang Menglong still opened the door.


    "Meng... Young Master, it''s been a while!" On seeing Zhang Menglong, Hong Yuqin showed a smiling face, but the address he was so used to calling out had now turned into the respectfully uttered title, "Young Master."


    "Uncle Hong, so you really have been acting alongside my dad for twenty years," Zhang Menglong said with a wry smile.


    "Young Master, this was all your father''s idea. Please don''t blame Yuqin," Butler Hong said, "In our family, each generation has one person who serves as a dedicated assistant to your family, helping with all matters. Yuqin is your father''s assistant. To keep you from learning about all this too soon, he has always pretended to be a friend of Mr. Zhang."


    "So that''s how it is," Zhang Menglong had guessed as much, "Then Uncle Hong''s real identity..."


    "Publicly, I''m merely the chairman of Huaxia''s Tenghui Group," Hong Yuqin said.


    "No need, no need, I was just asking casually!" Zhang Menglong''s mood was undoubtedly turbulent.


    A company with a market value of 500 billion, a major corporation countless graduates were breaking their heads over to get into, and he could actually acquire full stock in just a few days with a single word; wasn''t that just too fantastical?


    "Achoo!" Far away, over a thousand kilometers distant in the chairman''s office of Wangyi headquarters, a middle-aged man suddenly sneezed. This was none other than Mr. Ding Sanshi, the chairman of Wangyi.


    "Strange, why have I been feeling unsettled recently? Could it be those games have made the players criticize me again?"


    ...


    "Right, why are you here today..." It was only now that Zhang Menglong remembered to ask for their purpose in coming.


    "Oh, we received a notification from Mr. Zhang; he must have gone to that place along with your grandfather and the other elders!" Uncle Hong said.


    Having served the Zhang Family for a lifetime, he had some understanding of the affairs of the Zhang Family. He only knew that every once in a while, a generation of the Zhang Family would go to a mysterious place. As for where, he didn''t know, nor did he inquire.


    "Mr. Zhang entrusted you to our care, which is also our Hong Family''s duty and mission. However, Yuqin is getting on in years and doesn''t have the strength for many things anymore. I''m worried he won''t be able to take good care of you, so I thought of having Yi Yi become your full-time personal assistant."


    "Yi Yi!" Uncle Hong glanced at the girl beside him, "This is my granddaughter, Hong Yi. From now on, if you have any issues with life or other matters, you can ask her for help."


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang, from today on, you can entrust any task to me," said the girl called Hong Yi, bowing deeply in front of Zhang Menglong.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong began to really observe this girl called Hong Yi. She was about 165 centimeters tall, with fair skin and long, slender legs. Her jet-black hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head. She was a standard beauty, but it was hard to associate her with a personal assistant.


    "Young master, although Yi Yi is young, her capability in handling matters is even beyond Yuqin," said Uncle Hong, "She just obtained dual doctorate degrees in finance and clinical medicine this year. To serve you better, she has been learning national languages from a young age and should be able to help you in many ways.


    "A prodigious young lady!" joked Zhang Menglong. "Uncle Hong, are you sure you''re comfortable leaving your beautiful granddaughter with me?"


    Unexpectedly, Uncle Hong bowed to him and said, "If young master approves of her, it would be a blessing for Yi Yi and our Hong Family!"


    "This..." Zhang Menglong was choked up by this statement, "Uncle Hong, even an Emperor wouldn''t have this kind of treatment, right?"


    "Emperor?" Uncle Hong laughed and shook his head, "If your ancestors wanted to be emperors, none of those emperors would have had anything to do. Even in the most prosperous dynasties, a word from your family''s elders could overturn the entire empire!"


    Zhang Menglong admitted that when he heard that, he was scared stiff...

 Chapter 5 The Entire Complex Belongs to Your Family

    "Alright, then stay," Zhang Menglong didn''t have a very concrete concept of his own home, or rather, he couldn''t possibly imagine how awesome it really was.


    If there was someone familiar with his family around, it wouldn''t be a bad thing, especially since Hong Yi was quite a beauty with curves in all the right places. It was also pleasing to the eyes to have her around. Just now, when she bent over, the glimpse of snow-white skin that showed through her neckline... tsk tsk tsk...


    "Hong Yi, from now on, I''ll be relying on you. I hope we''ll get along," Zhang Menglong said, reaching out a hand generously.


    But Hong Yi took a step back and gave Zhang Menglong a respectful bow, "Mr. Zhang jests, this is the responsibility and duty of the Hong Family!"


    "Feels like this girl has been brainwashed," mumbled Zhang Menglong, but he didn''t take it to heart.


    "Young Master, Mr. Zhang''s assets have just been transferred to your name, and there are many details we need to deal with, so we''ll leave Yi Yi with you for now."


    "Oh oh oh, go ahead with your work, I''m fine!" said Zhang Menglong cheerfully.


    With another deep bow to Zhang Menglong, Uncle Hong and his son left, and now only a man and a woman remained in the room, creating an instantly awkward atmosphere.


    "Um, have you had breakfast yet? I still have an egg!" Zhang Menglong offered, holding out the boiled egg that he had almost crushed.


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang, I''ve already eaten," replied Hong Yi. "Do you have any plans for what''s next?"


    "Plans?" Zhang Menglong didn''t quite understand what she meant.


    "I mean, what do you intend to do for the coming period?"


    "This..." Zhang Menglong suddenly felt as if his life had reached what would be an end for the average person in an instant.


    If nothing unexpected happened, he was supposed to continue job hunting. If he found a decent job, he would stick with it; if he couldn''t find one to his liking, he would choose an industry he preferred, gain some experience, then consider switching jobs and such.


    But he hadn''t expected to go home overnight and inherit a family fortune so vast he had no idea of its size until now, leaving the future to seem perplexingly uncertain.


    "Weird, isn''t it said that the happiness of the wealthy is unimaginable? Why do I feel like I''m staring into a fog?" pondered Zhang Menglong. To become someone who only knew how to eat, drink, and enjoy himself every day? What difference would that be from a salted fish?


    "Right, that Super God Academy I saw subconsciously!" Zhang Menglong remembered his father saying that compared to their family''s wealth, the Super God Academy was the real family treasure.


    But he was given a challenge: to spend 100 billion within a year in order to officially inherit it and unlock its potential, which seemed like an interesting task indeed.


    "By the way, Hong Yi, if I wanted 100 billion, how long would it take to gather that sum?" Zhang Menglong knew that even for the world''s richest, most of the assets were not cash, and even mobilizing 10 billion in cash was no easy feat.


    Seventeen properties, even assuming each one was 100 square meters at an average price of 50,000 yuan, that would be close to a hundred million in value!


    "Do I have any properties near our school?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Of course, there''s one 1.2 kilometers away from Mr. Zhang''s school. However, it''s not very large, only 400 square meters. It might be a bit crowded," said Hong Yi matter-of-factly.


    "Crowded, with a 400-square-meter house?" One of Zhang Menglong''s classmates had spent nearly three million on a 50-square-meter second-hand apartment in the city center and was quite pleased with himself. Zhang Menglong had never even dared to dream of a 400-square-meter house.


    But to Hong Yi, 400 square meters indeed wasn''t considered large. After all, she lived in a three-story villa with an area exceeding 800 square meters. For Zhang Menglong, even a 1000-square-meter place might still feel a bit inadequate, right?


    "However, I''d still recommend a different property for you. It''s a bit further from the school, but you probably don''t have many classes left, do you? If needed, I can arrange for a driver to take you back and forth," she continued.


    "Is that place big?" he asked.


    "Very big. And I can arrange for someone to take care of your daily needs and meals. It''s also one of the most bustling areas in all of Jiangnan City," she explained.


    "Alright, then let''s go there!" Zhang Menglong decided.


    "Understood. Please pack some of your important belongings, and then we can get ready to leave," Hong Yi suggested.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong nodded, walked around the house a few times, and in the end, he only took an album with him. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore.


    "Mr. Zhang, your car is ready!" A Maybach was waiting for them downstairs.


    "Good afternoon, Menglong!" Just as Zhang Menglong was about to get into the car, Auntie Liu, who had just finished grocery shopping, brushed past them downstairs.


    "Auntie... Auntie Liu, hello!"


    "Weird, why isn''t she surprised at all?" Among all the residents of Unit Two, Auntie Liu had always been the one with the loosest tongue. Any little thing would spread like wildfire once it reached her ears.


    Logically, having stepped into such a luxurious car, she should have come up like usual to interrogate him for quite a while. Why was she so calm?


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, the people here are aware of your identity. Like us, they serve your family as well, just not for as long as we have!" Hong Yi revealed shockingly.


    "What? What do you mean by that?"


    "All the houses in this complex, including all the residents, property management staff, and so on, they all belong to your family!"

 Chapter 6 Poverty Limits Imagination

    "How is this even possible!" After spending the whole morning, Zhang Menglong''s face had become somewhat stiff from excessive astonishment.


    Although their community wasn''t large, it still had 12 buildings, each with 17 floors and 4 households per floor¡ªthat was over 800 households, thousands of people, all from his family?


    "Mr. Zhang, have you forgotten? Tenghui made its fortune in real estate. This small property doesn''t cost much at all. As for those residents, strictly speaking, they are just staff, mainly responsible for your daily security and normal social activities. Certainly, they all signed non-disclosure agreements.


    I guess after so many years, they have probably started treating you as an ordinary person,"


    "Isn''t this a little too exaggerated?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but smile bitterly. His parents had gone to such great lengths for him to grow up like an ordinary person, hiring thousands of actors, "Wouldn''t it be nicer to just buy a house in a random community?"


    "Is there a big difference between buying a single house and buying 12 buildings?"


    "Isn''t there a big difference?" Zhang Menglong screamed hysterically in his heart, "Is this the gap between ordinary people and tycoons? Normal people struggle just to buy one house, while his family buys 12 buildings at once, as if they are shopping for vegetables at the market?"


    "No, right now, I am the tycoon!" Zhang Menglong suddenly realized the well-intentioned rigour behind the challenge his father set for him, to spend 100 billion in a year.


    His concept of spending was completely unfit for owning such wealth!


    "Let''s go, let''s go. Give me a moment to process this." Zhang Menglong sat in the car and fell into silence, even starting to doubt his life choices.


    ...


    "Beep beep!"


    "Beep beep!"


    "Move it already, why isn''t it moving!"


    "What kind of driving is this, cmn? Such traffic and still trying to cut in? It''s because of people like you that the expressway is jammed like this!"


    ...


    The day Zhang Menglong was returning home was the afternoon before National Day. From that evening on, the expressway was jammed to the point of no return due to the citizens who had been waiting for half a year. And today was another peak period¡ªdreaming of a smooth ride back to Jiangnan City was pure fantasy!


    "I am stuck on the expressway right now, and the map tells me it''ll be another 7 hours of jam. I am done for!"


    "Hahaha, luckily I had the foresight. Isn''t a seven-day dormitory tour fragrant?"


    "You scoundrel, what''s 7 hours? I''m estimated to be stuck for 23 hours, alright? I drove less than ten kilometers from last night until now!"


    "Damn, they even deliver takeout to the expressway now? Delivery guys are simply invincible!"


    "Since that''s the case, let''s switch to another mode of transportation to get back. Actually, I had intended to take you back this way, but I was afraid you might find it too showy."


    "What way? At this point, who cares about being showy or not?"


    "I understand, please give me a moment."


    Hong Yi took out her phone and dialed a number, "Mr. Zhang''s car is stuck on the highway, and there''s an urgent matter that requires immediate return to Jiangnan City. Please arrange it right away!"


    "Who did you call?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "I called the person responsible for your daily transportation. He said he can send a helicopter in no more than twenty minutes!"


    "I never thought I''d actually get to experience a helicopter ride!" Zhang Menglong had thought of this solution earlier, but even by helicopter, it would take an hour to get to Jiangnan City. Was he supposed to anoint the masses with a golden shower from the sky?


    "Well, holding it in for another hour is better than being stuck here on the highway for several more hours!"


    ...


    Indeed, in less than twenty minutes, a loud noise of propellers vibrating came from the sky, immediately drawing everyone''s attention.


    "Mr. Zhang, your private helicopter has arrived!" Hong Yi announced.


    "I''ve seen helicopters before, why is this sound so loud?" Zhang Menglong opened the car window and stuck his head out, and the dark shadow that loomed instantly made him gasp.


    This helicopter was more than 40 meters in length, which was completely different from the private helicopter he had imagined!


    "Look, the helicopter is starting to land!" The people on this stretch of the highway suddenly erupted with excitement. Such a scene was not something one would see every day.


    "I''ve seen this helicopter on military shows before, it''s the Soviet Russia''s Mi-26, said to be the world''s largest helicopter. There are only two in service with airlines in Huaxia, why would it appear here?"


    "Could it be that some big shot couldn''t handle the traffic jam and called for a helicopter?"


    "How could that be possible? Who has the clout to summon this aircraft? Ordinary private helicopters are usually just small ones that can fit a few people, right?"


    "How rich does someone have to be to use this kind of aircraft as a private plane?"


    "It''s not just about having the money, for such a large helicopter, if you don''t have the authority, how could you possibly get through air traffic control?"


    "This is just too wild, poverty really limits my imagination!"


    ...

 Chapter 7 Picasso Personally Gave to Your Ancestor

    "Hong Yi, is... is this the helicopter you called for?" Zhang Menglong''s jaw nearly dropped. Even many models of passenger planes couldn''t match this length; it was truly a behemoth of the skies!


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a Soviet Russian-made Mi-26 multipurpose transport helicopter. It was retired and showed up at an auction in Europe. Your father acquired it at the auction for 17 million US Dollars and later converted it into a private helicopter. Although it has not been used, it''s been routinely maintained every year and is in excellent condition."


    "Another two hundred million-dollar guy," Zhang Menglong was almost too astonished to feel anything.


    "No no no, that 17 million US Dollars was just the base price. In order to enhance the comfort and safety features of the aircraft, your father made additional modifications. Including all the decorations, the total cost must have surpassed 1.2 billion US Dollars."


    "1.2 billion US Dollars? The modifications cost more than the helicopter itself?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, wondering if the interior was lined with gold tiles or something.


    "You''ll see in a bit," Hong Yi said with a smile.


    "Begin the towing!" At Hong Yi''s command, the cargo bay of the Mi-26 opened immediately.


    A few people dressed in tight suits and wearing masks slowly descended next to them on several cables. They quickly secured the cables to the bottom of the car, and moments later, a strong pulling force emanated from the helicopter.


    "Fuck! What are they doing? What''s happening? Aren''t they here to pick me up? Why is the car being hoisted too?" Zhang Menglong felt the entire car swinging back and forth, which gave him no sense of security at all.


    "Mr. Zhang, please rest assured, these cables are of special quality; each can individually support a 5-ton weight, and the helicopter can handle a load of 20 tons without any issue, so a few more cars wouldn''t be a problem."


    "But even so, I''m freaking out!"


    They were currently on a bridge, and due to the bridge''s width limitations, the helicopter could only tow from dozens of meters above the ground. Combined with the crosswinds at sea, the two-ton-plus Maybach swayed like a pendulum.


    "I''m going to be sick, bleh!" Zhang Menglong grabbed a bag and didn''t hesitate to start vomiting into it.


    ...


    "Click click!"


    "Fuck, that''s awesome! What kind of rich tycoon is this, getting stuck in traffic and having the helicopter airlift both the person and their car away?"


    "Take a closer look, that car is a Maybach, which has been out of production for several years. I remember its release price was over five million, right?"


    "The annual maintenance cost for all personnel involved with this plane is only 5 million US Dollars, which isn''t much."


    "Not much..." Zhang Menglong suddenly felt the steak in his mouth wasn''t that tasty anymore. Four years of disuse would amount to 20 million US Dollars¡ª99.9% of people in the world could never earn that much in their lifetimes!


    "By the way, didn''t they say the cost of customizing this plane was 1.2 billion US Dollars? I can''t really see where that 1.2 billion went," Zhang Menglong suddenly asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, please take a look at the painting on the wall."


    "Is there something special about it?" Zhang Menglong put down his knife and fork and approached a painting behind him. It was an oil painting portraying a young girl working in a garden, with a signature on the lower right corner.


    "pi...ca...sso, Picasso, Pablo Picasso! Is this a Picasso painting?" Although he hadn''t studied art, Zhang Menglong was certainly familiar with these famous painters¡ªPicasso could be named alongside Da Vinci and Van Gogh as a master!


    "Is this the real deal?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about Picasso''s works, but if it was genuine, it would be common for it to be worth tens of millions of US Dollars.


    "Of course, it''s real. Among the collections registered in Mr. Zhang''s name, there can be no fakes," Hong Yi said. "If an identical painting were to appear at any museum or auction, it could only be they who have the counterfeit!"


    "So how much is this painting worth?" Zhang Menglong cautiously asked.


    "This painting, titled ''Flower Art Girl'', has never been seen on the market because it was a personal gift from Mr. Picasso to your ancestor."


    "What? Picasso personally gave this to my ancestor?" This news was undoubtedly a bombshell.


    "You might want to look at the back of the painting," said Hong Yi.


    Zhang Menglong took down the painting, and indeed, there was a line of small print on the back, written in Spanish.


    "Heh, well, I don''t understand Spanish. Can you translate it for me?" Zhang Menglong said, a bit embarrassed.


    "This painting is presented to Mr. Zhang Jun from the Orient, in memory of the delightful afternoon spent admiring flowers in the Royal Park¡ªPablo Picasso."


    Hong Yi continued, "This painting was always stored in a suitcase and was later found by your father during a clean-up, so he hung it here. Based on the size of the work, the period of creation, and the methods employed, its current market price should be above 200 million US Dollars."


    "I... my God, my ancestor was such a badass!"

 Chapter 8 Is This the Place 1 Property You Mentioned?

    "It seems, Mr. Zhang, you still don''t quite understand your family history!"


    "Understand my ass!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "How would I know about my family history when I didn''t even know my family was this rich? I didn''t even know my parents could freakin'' fly!"


    "What do you know? Tell me about it," Zhang Menglong asked for guidance.


    "Well, I don''t know too much either. After all, by the time our Hong Family started following Mr. Zhang''s family, the Zhang Family had already become an enormous entity," Hong Yi said. "Mr. Zhang''s ancestors were all extremely wise. They started making various investments a very long time ago.


    You have to understand, many things were not valuable back then, but as thousands of years pass, even an ordinary cup can become priceless!"


    "That makes sense," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Let''s not even mention other things for now. When Hanli Country had just been established, right next door, your ancestors bought a huge amount of land there. At that time, their government was broke, and they pretty much bought one-fifth of the country''s land easily!"


    "What? One-fifth of the country? Are you saying that one-fifth of Hanli Country''s territory belongs to us?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t find the words to describe the shock he felt that day.


    "Yes, so the administrative taxes from those regions in Hanli Country, 70% go into the hands of the Zhang Family each year. You can freely buy and sell that land."


    "Then your Tenghui Group..." Zhang Menglong suddenly thought of something. The Tenghui Group was thriving in the real estate industry in so many countries around the world; could it be...


    "Yes, your family not only in Hanli Country but almost bought large tracts of land all over the world early on. Those lands were originally yours, and when Huiteng Group developed those lands, naturally, we could easily beat those local real estate companies!"


    "Badass!" Zhang Menglong shouted internally. What about getting land from those countries'' land bureaus to build and sell houses? That land was originally theirs! They just need to handle the development, sell the ownership, and then just rake in the money! No wonder Tenghui Group is so powerful; it turns out their family business is massive!


    "So many things, your ancestors laid out a long time ago. Thousands of years ago, your family was already the wealthiest family in the world, and traveling all over the world was one of their hobbies."


    "In the process, they met many famous painters, musicians, artists, and so on. Mr. Picasso was someone your ancestor Zhang Jun met while traveling in Europe!"


    "They were close friends?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Not really; they only met once."


    "Then why did Picasso give a painting to my ancestor?"


    "Because Mr. Zhang Jun thought Mr. Picasso was very talented, he gave him a sum of money as a sponsorship for his creation. In that era, that amount of money was enough for him to squander for a lifetime; hence, Mr. Picasso could devote himself entirely to his paintings."


    "This... money does make the world go round."


    "While Mr. Picasso was still alive, every now and then, he would send a painting he was proud of as a gift. But later on, as the paintings piled up, Mr. Zhang Jun found it too troublesome and started using them as placemats or dropping food scraps on them." Even Hong Yi found this part somewhat difficult to say.


    "@Zhang Menglong, have you been suffocated to death on the highway? Say something!"


    "Oh, my son, you died a tragic death!"


    "Three minutes of silence for my son''s bladder!"


    ...


    "These damn traitors!" Zhang Menglong posted a disdainful emoji in the group.


    "Yo, boss Zhang came out? How is it, is your bladder still alive?"


    "Going home this time to inherit the family fortune, didn''t expect it to be this complicated, did you, haha?"


    "You might not believe what I''m about to say, but I truly did inherit a fortune. That Maybach and helicopter are mine!" Zhang Menglong declared in the group, sure that they wouldn''t believe him!


    "Hahaha, in what position were you when you dreamt this? I want to give it a try too!"


    "Hurry back, we''re waiting to play with you, everyone''s all set!"


    "Give me an hour!"


    Zhang Menglong quickly left the group chat as the car entered a residential area in the city district. The previously bustling environment suddenly became quiet.


    "Who would''ve thought there''d be such an elegant residential area in the city?" Zhang Menglong opened his location to check on the neighborhood, but oddly, although the neighborhood was shown on the map, there was no name for it.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have arrived. This is your largest property in Jiangnan City," Hong Yi said.


    "The largest? This place?" Zhang Menglong took a glance at the buildings in the neighborhood. They all seemed to be just one or two hundred square meters in size. Given the location and the size of the units, the price would be over ten million, but after the helicopter incident, Zhang Menglong felt a twinge of disappointment.


    "Which building?" Zhang Menglong asked. There were a total of 8 buildings in the neighborhood, with the one in the middle being the tallest, surrounded by others that circled around it like stars around the moon, a rather unique architectural layout.


    "Which building? What do you mean?" Hong Yi asked, puzzled.


    "I''m asking which building and which floor my house is on?" Zhang Menglong repeated.


    Hong Yi smiled: "Mr. Zhang, it seems you didn''t quite grasp what I meant. When I said this property, I meant this entire neighborhood."


    "The entire neighborhood?" Zhang Menglong''s previous disappointment was instantly swept away, replaced by shock, "Is this what you call ''one property''?"

 Chapter 9 Do You Have a Mine at Home?

    "Yes, isn''t this just a property?" Hong Yi retorted.


    "I find myself at a loss for words." The whole community is in one location, and if one really has to say it''s a single property, it seems indeed there''s no problem with that.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me give you a brief introduction. This community was developed by Tenghui Group a little over three years ago when you were admitted to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Your father had been considering your settlement in Jiangnan City for a very long time."


    "Zhang Menglong really did have foresight!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "The community consists of 8 buildings in total. The one in the center has 29 floors, and the seven buildings around it each have 17 floors. They are all built with a layout of two elevators to four apartments, ranging from 95 to 121 square meters each. Based on the property prices of this location, each square meter should be within 90,000 to 110,000."


    "My god, 7 times 17 plus 29, then times 4..." Zhang Menglong quickly calculated in his head how much the entire community''s houses could be worth, but his mental arithmetic wasn''t up to the task anymore. Now, all he could think about was how much money this was? How many lifetimes of ordinary work would it take to earn that?


    "The building in the center has the best lighting and the most comprehensive facilities, specially prepared for you." Hong Yi led Zhang Menglong into the elevator and pressed the button for the 25th floor.


    "Mr. Zhang, the 25th to the 29th floors of this building are interconnected, mainly for your living and personal use. The topmost floor has a small open-air garden and swimming pool. Thanks to the advanced smart home technology, only you can enter the house before you set the permissions."


    "How do I open it?" Zhang Menglong was already somewhat eager to go in and have a look.


    "Your fingerprint will do."


    "Beep! Verification successful, respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, welcome home!"


    Click!


    The door slowly swung open, and seeing the spacious foyer, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gape.


    Passing through the foyer, there was a living room exceeding two hundred square meters, and within this apartment, there was also an internal elevator for him to freely travel between the 25th floor and the penthouse.


    "Mr. Zhang, the actual area of each of these five floors is over 500 square meters. Of course, if you need it, I can also arrange for someone to interconnect the floors below for you," Hong Yi said respectfully.


    "What could they do? Their own oil fields couldn''t even produce one-tenth of the necessary supply. Apart from some stubborn elements, they had no choice but to forthrightly return the seized treasures and sign a heap of unequal treaties. On the surface, they have a very friendly relationship with the Zhang Family, but in reality, they are terrified of you!"


    Hong Yi continued adding, "In Asia, it''s mainly our Hong Family handling things. There are corresponding families on the other continents as well, and they have been following the Zhang family for a very long time. Any one of them could easily overturn a country with just one sentence!"


    "I... I think I''m getting high blood pressure!" Zhang Menglong quickly patted his chest. According to Hong Yi, wasn''t his family practically the ruler of the Earth?


    "Why does this piano look so old?" Like many luxury homes, there was a piano in the corner of the hall, but this one was quite decayed in many areas. "This isn''t just for show, is it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, this piano is called a Broadwood, which was used by Mr. Beethoven towards the end of his life. After the death of Mr. Beethoven, it came into the hands of Master Liszt and eventually ended up in the Hungarian National Museum."


    "Later, it was bought by your grandfather, originally intended for Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun to practice piano, but since he didn''t like music, it was left unused. After this place was built, it was moved here."


    "A piano that Beethoven and Liszt had played..." Zhang Menglong wisely refrained from asking about the price, guessing it was yet another astronomical figure with his gut feeling.


    "What about this crystal statue?" Zhang Menglong had also noticed a 1:1 scale sculpture beside the piano. "Is this Beethoven or Liszt?"


    "This... This is one of your ancestors, named Zhang Lanfeng. He was fond of the piano and even mentored quite a few later famous musicians while studying abroad in Europe. However, he was very low-key; aside from the individuals involved, no one else knew about these events. This statue was created after he won first prize in a royal music competition."


    "By the way, this isn''t crystal; this statue was carved out of a diamond!"


    "Diamond? A diamond this big?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.


    "Oh, aside from the oil fields, your family has several diamond mines in Africa. This was made from a huge raw diamond carved out back in the day!"


    "I can''t handle this!" Zhang Menglong slumped directly onto the sofa, overwhelmed by his own family''s wealth.


    "Mr. Zhang, the service staff we''ve arranged for you have been carefully selected, and they will all be here tomorrow. Please let me know if you need anything done. You must be exhausted from the journey today; you should rest early. My residence is in building number 1 nearby."


    "Alright, you''ve worked hard today too. Go get some rest." Zhang Menglong nodded. Right now, he wanted to be alone to process the shocks he had received throughout the day.

 Chapter 10 The Trouble with Spending 100 Billion

    Zhang Menglong had not rested for a few minutes before his roommate called him.


    "Did you vanish or something? Weren''t you supposed to be back in an hour? I''ve already started two rounds, are you going to play or not?" Xu Li started with a ranting tone.


    "Hahaha, I''ve just been busy inheriting too much property from my family, it''s taking a while to sort through!" laughed Zhang Menglong, "It''s not too late now, is it?"


    "Inherit my foot, do you actually think you inherited a fortune? Enough chit-chat, log on now. And, bring that lovely-voiced girl you mentioned last time too!"


    "Got it!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "More than a fortune? Pretty much the whole Earth is almost ours."


    "I''m so pissed, today our Huaxia team was just awful, fierce as tigers in domestic fights but like scared dogs in international matches, it''s just so frustrating! No way, tonight I must control Thunder and Lightning in the bronze kiddie league. Hurry up, we''re only waiting for you two!"


    "Coming, coming!" Zhang Menglong casually walked into a room and instantly perked up at the sight of the huge screen¡ªit was just the room''s built-in computer, he could only wonder how luxurious the esports room downstairs might be.


    "Huh? Where''s the main unit? How come there''s no main unit?" Zhang Menglong searched under the computer desk for a long time but couldn''t find it, "This isn''t even an all-in-one!"


    "Hong Yi, are the computers here not equipped with main units yet?" Zhang Menglong dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Mr. Zhang, for the optimal experience, all the computers here are connected to the supercomputer one floor below, with a 5G network to ensure you face no lags in whatever games you play. Whenever you need to use it, just issue commands to the smart housekeeper by voice control," said Hong Yi.


    "Using a supercomputer as a home computer''s main unit? Really, must we be so extravagant?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself and then hung up the phone, "A computer costing a few tens of thousands is already great for gaming, this is totally unnecessary!"


    But just moments later, Zhang Menglong had downloaded the game in mere minutes, enjoying the lightning-fast running speed and the smooth operating system, he could only sincerely exclaim, "Truly awesome!"


    "How about a couple of rounds?" Zhang Menglong opened his friend list and habitually clicked on the avatar named "Double Sugar Starbucks", which showed the smiling face of the neighboring country''s goddess, Shi Yuan Li Mei, but only Zhang Menglong knew that behind that smile was a very lonely figure.


    Zhang Menglong had known her for over half a year by now. She liked to sing, Zhang Menglong liked to play the piano. They met on a short-video platform during a low point in Zhang Menglong''s life, starting from mutual likes to collaborating on singing, eventually becoming part of each other''s friend lists.


    They were two very similar people. Zhang Menglong had never met her and even after half a year, he still didn''t know her real name. Aside from sharing their daily troubles and fun incidents, they also played games and shared songs and movies together.


    It might sound absurd, but Zhang Menglong had already developed special feelings for this girl who was a year older and whom he had never met.


    "Duo?" The reply came quickly back to Zhang Menglong.


    "Had a lot of fun today, I''m sleepy, going to bed first!"


    "Together, I''m sleepy too!" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous grin.


    "Good night!"


    "Good night!"


    Zhang Menglong set her phone aside and lay down on her huge bed that was almost big enough to roll around ten times.


    Everything since last night felt like a dream.


    "Oh right, the family heirloom called ''Super God Academy'' that Mom and Dad mentioned!" When he woke up in the morning, Zhang Menglong discovered that by concentrating, he could see a green glowing mark in his mind.


    "Enter Super God Academy!" Zhang Menglong issued a command.


    "Master has not completed the challenge left by the previous master; entrance permission to the academy will be granted after the challenge is completed!" The voice of Super God Academy''s smart butler, Gou Dan, suddenly rang out next to Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Damn, so they really left me with such a task?" Zhang Menglong chuckled bitterly. He had never dealt with amounts like 100 billion, let alone a single time use of even 10,000; the most extravagant he had been was probably his annual university tuition of 8,800.


    What made it even more difficult was that he couldn''t donate or give the money away.


    "How to spend 100 billion!" Zhang Menglong typed this question into Baidu.


    "Buy houses? Half of Earth belongs to me, why on Earth would I buy houses!"


    "Tip streamers? Am I crazy, tipping those internet beggars?"


    "Travel the world? I could travel for 100 years, indulging in food and fun every day, and still not spend all that money!"


    "Buy cars? Hmm, that''s a stretch!"


    "Make investments? Do what Wang Duoyu does?"


    Looking at one bizarre answer after another, Zhang Menglong let out a heartfelt sigh, "Having too much money is a problem too!"

 Chapter 11 This Luxury Must Shorten Ones Life

    ```"What a beautiful morning!" Zhang Menglong opened his eyes, climbed out of the several-meter-long bed, and walked through the dozens of meters long hallway to the living room. Today, he was ready to complete his first task of spending 100 billion, buying a car!


    In this era, most netizens were without money but knew all about cars, whereas the former Zhang Menglong had neither money nor knowledge about cars. After working for quite some time last night, he had somewhat understood some top-level luxury cars.


    In the center of Jiangnan City, there was a boutique shop specializing in luxury cars. It was said that as long as you had enough money, you could even get a limited-edition sports car from 20 years ago!


    "Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang outside the room, and the figure of Hong Yi appeared on a liquid crystal display at the door. "Mr. Zhang, are you up? All your service personnel are in place today. May I know what you''d like for breakfast this morning?"


    "Anything light will do, perhaps just a sandwich," Zhang Menglong casually said. Actually, in school, he mostly slept until ten in the morning, got up, washed up, got dressed, and by the time he was ready, it would already be noon. Breakfast was entirely optional for him.


    "By the way, I''ll give you partial access to this compound''s authorization later, and you can arrange those workers," Zhang Menglong said, fearing trouble the most; leaving this minor matter to Hong Yi would suffice, as he trusted she would handle it properly.


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang, I''ll take care of it right away! Your breakfast will arrive within 20 minutes. You can go freshen up in the meantime," she responded.


    Zhang Menglong, groggy-eyed, walked into the bathroom, but was momentarily taken aback by the full array of toiletries lined up.


    All the items were labeled in foreign languages. Zhang Menglong couldn''t even distinguish which was the facial cleanser, which was the toothpaste, and which was the lotion, as each type seemed to have several brands and even the packaging was very similar.


    "Damn, how am I supposed to use this?" Suddenly, he was at a loss.


    "Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!" Zhang Menglong licked something that looked like toothpaste in a long tubular package, but it had a strange taste and even some granular stuff. "Could this be facial cleanser?" he wondered.


    "Right, with Dad Ma''s AI recognition, whatever it is, I should be able to find it on Taobao, right?" Zhang Menglong opened an app and casually picked up something that looked like facial cleanser and held it in front of the phone''s camera.


    "Beep beep!" Soon, the item in the image was identified.


    "Greek Sea of Heaven moisturizing lotion, 50ml, 21499? Damn, facial cleanser is this expensive?" Zhang Menglong''s hand shook. He felt too rough a man to deserve such an expensive lotion.


    "Desire from Italy facial cleanser, 50ml, 19999..."


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a London Seagull Egg Roll. Even if made by the most ordinary chef, it costs 150 US dollars. When I worked in Europe, one would cost 680 dollars!"


    "Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong almost sprayed out the milk in his throat. He glanced at the milk and the dessert beside him. Judging by the price of the egg roll, this breakfast probably cost around ten thousand Huaxia currency. Most of their recent graduates couldn''t earn that much in a month; he''d just spent it in a few bites.


    Knowing the value of this breakfast, Zhang Menglong ate with extra care, but surely, the high cost was justified by the delightful taste and texture.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already arranged access for you to all eight buildings, except for some private areas. Most regions will have staff to clean and maintain them daily," said Hong Yi meticulously, "Do you have any plans for today? Your private plane and flight crew are ready, in case you''d like to travel anywhere in the world."


    "No need, today I plan to go look at cars," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Are you planning to buy a car?" Hong Yi was not surprised. Logically speaking, a man of Zhang Menglong''s age with some money would be interested in sports and luxury cars. "Do you need me to arrange it? Your family owns shares in many sports car companies."


    "No need. I want to check it out by myself. You don''t have to find someone to accompany me," Zhang Menglong didn''t want to make himself look like a spoiled rich kid, always having an assistant tagging along.


    "Alright then, if you need anything, just let me know."


    "I got it," Zhang Menglong said as he put on a jacket and walked out of the room.


    As a natural born directionally challenged person, Zhang Menglong got lost several times, relying on a map before eventually arriving at the luxury car dealership, reportedly co-owned by a few rich second-generation individuals from Yanjing.


    Whether it was Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, or McLaren, if you could name a luxury car, you could see it here.


    Since it was National Day, there was an influx of tourists, and they had set up a car show for seven days that attracted quite a crowd. Even if they couldn''t afford to buy, just coming to see the show was worthwhile.


    The dealership was very large, including an underground garage with four levels in total; each level was thousands of square meters. From the outside, the building outright dominated the neighboring 4S shops.


    "Mount Akina Club?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh when he saw the sign of this luxury car dealership. These rich kids really had a sense of humor, turning a car dealership into a club. Indeed, it was a novel idea.


    However, the value of making friends here probably outweighed the value of making money, for them.


    "I wonder if I can find a few cars to my liking here." With high hopes, Zhang Menglong walked into the "Mount Akina Club."

 Chapter 12 I Never Care About the Price When Buying a Car

    ```


    Although it was National Day, given it was still morning, most of the customer traffic was concentrated in the afternoon and evening, so there weren''t too many people when Zhang Menglou walked into the club.


    Unlike him, most of the people who came here were older successful individuals, and naturally, as standard practice, almost all of them were accompanied by a beautiful woman, whether she was a girlfriend, wife, or mistress, that was unknown.


    Since there weren''t that many customers, most of the salespeople sat chatting in the resting area. As people who only mingled with the elite, they never ran out of topics to talk about every day.


    "Sister Zhang, there''s a new customer," noted a girl in her early twenties as she spotted Zhang Menglong entering the store.


    The one referred to as Sister Zhang merely glanced at Zhang Menglong before averting her eyes. Having worked in the store for several years, the sales staff had developed a knack for figuring out who had spending power with just one look.


    Zhang Menglong was young, clearly not some successful individual. The clothes he wore, when added together, wouldn''t exceed 1000 yuan¡ªhe was merely an ordinary student.


    "It''s fine, just a poor student. He''s probably here to take a couple of photos before leaving. There''s no need to waste time on them," they had grown accustomed to such visitors over time.


    The basic wages of these luxury car salespeople weren''t high, so for them, commissions were the most significant part of their income. Since the cars here could easily cost millions, selling just one a month was enough for them to live better than most people.


    Therefore, for them, identifying the right, precise customer was the most crucial skill.


    "Little Meng, you''re new here and there''s a lot you don''t understand. Learn from us, and you''ll know in the future that entertaining this kind of person is simply a waste of your time. With that effort, you might as well touch up your makeup. With your beauty, sweetening your words a little, selling a few more cars a month wouldn''t be that difficult."


    Just then, another man with a potbelly walked in behind Zhang Menglong, a tall beauty hooking onto his wrist, sporting a glittering LV logo on her bag.


    Sister Zhang''s eyes lit up, "Watch and learn, this is what a real customer looks like!"


    Sister Zhang checked herself in the mirror she carried and put on a professional smile as she greeted the newcomer.


    "Sir, are you here to look at cars? Is it for you or for the beautiful lady by your side?"


    The man smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on his face almost crowded together. For successful people like him, the most enjoyable moments came from shopping and enjoying the fawning and admiring glances from sales staff.


    "Take us to see the Maserati, I heard you''ve recently got a new red model, quite suitable for women to drive."


    Sun Yumeng, observing Zhang Menglong''s natural and easy tone, couldn''t quite determine whether the young man was just showing off or really had the financial capability.


    This was a tens of millions car, could there really be someone who wouldn''t even ask the price and just buy it if they liked it? What was this? Financial freedom? No! This was beyond financial freedom; this was supercar freedom!


    "Rest assured, sir, this car is available for sale. If you really set your heart on it, we can sign the contract today."


    "Great, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong had long heard of the name Pagani Wind Spirit, but he had only ever seen it in pictures, so he was somewhat excited to see the actual car this time.


    "Sir, this car, due to its high value, is parked in the underground garage. Please follow me."


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong followed Sun Yumeng directly towards the front desk.


    "Miss Su, I need the keys to the underground garage," Sun Yumeng said.


    "The underground garage? Him?" Su He looked at Zhang Menglong with surprise, knowing that the cars parked in the underground garage were tens of millions worth of sports cars, including limited edition models, and wondered if this young man could afford it.


    But at their place, they were not allowed to refuse a customer''s request to see a car; even if Zhang Menglong truly couldn''t afford it, if he wanted to see a car, they had to accommodate.


    "Be careful not to let him touch the cars randomly," Su He whispered.


    "You two, follow them and have a look," Su He instructed two other sales associates. If anything happened to the car, everyone would be responsible.


    Following the elevator, the group arrived at the underground exhibition hall. As the lights came on, a series of cool cars suddenly appeared before Zhang Menglong.


    Instantly, Zhang Menglong''s gaze landed on a purple sports car directly in front of him. Its perfect aerodynamics, decorated with elements of Chinese culture, immediately captured his attention.


    "Sir, this is that Pagani Wind Spirit, it also has another name, ''Yazi'', named after the legend of the ''Dragon''s Nine Offspring'', because the first person to reserve it was a Huaxia customer, but later the car ended up in our boss''s hands."


    "I''ll take this car!" Zhang Menglong didn''t have any second thoughts, his gaze fixed on the car the moment he saw it.


    "Sir, I haven''t told you the price yet."


    "As I said before, I don''t look at the price when buying a car, since there isn''t one I can''t afford!"

 Chapter 13 Does He Think This Is Grocery Shopping?

    Having worked here for so long, the salespeople had never seen someone with such a big talk. The price of this car alone could make even their bosses wince for a long time. Could this plainly dressed young man really pull out so much money?


    "Sir, although you are very confident in your wealth, we still need to inform you of the price," Sun Yumeng said seriously, "The price of this car is currently 45 million. If you want it, you must first pay a deposit of 5 million to demonstrate your purchasing power."


    "A deposit is required?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I''m sorry, sir, it''s our store''s policy, and relatively speaking, our deposit is very low in the industry," Sun Yumeng explained.


    "No, no, no, I mean, can''t I pay in full all at once?"


    "You... You want to make a full purchase?"


    "Yes, is there a problem?" Zhang Menglong took out the Honored Card from Huaxia Bank from his pocket, "If there are no other issues, let''s pay now!"


    "This..." Sun Yumeng carefully took the bank card. She and the other two salespeople exchanged glances. From this bank card, they couldn''t see anything special.


    "Sir, please show your driver''s license and ID card first."


    "Oh, sure." Zhang Menglong was well-prepared and immediately took out his documents.


    Soon, Sun Yumeng verified the information in the system and returned the documents to Zhang Menglong, "Sir, your documents are fine. Can we now sign the contract and proceed with the payment?"


    "Yes, please hurry. I''d still like to look at other cars."


    "You want to look at other cars?" Hearing this, Sun Yumeng was even more surprised. Even if he had the financial power to buy this Pagani Fengshen, there shouldn''t be much money left, yet he still wanted to look at other cars?


    "Did I say I only wanted to buy this one?"


    "Is this the normal way for people to buy sports cars?" The two other salespeople were holding back this thought. They had initially thought he was just an average student, but unexpectedly, he was a deep-pocketed second-generation rich kid. If he actually paid, all the commission would go to Sun Yumeng!


    The primary goal of this dealership was to help its owner establish connections with major figures. Their manager had mentioned that they needed to notify him immediately if any of the cars in the underground showroom were purchased, and then he would inform the owner. This major player just bought two cars outright, which was no small matter.


    "Yumeng, attend to the guests, I will notify the manager!"


    "Okay!" Sun Yumeng was just a senior in university who had never encountered such a character. Although the customer hadn''t raised any difficult issues from the start, she was already stunned by the amount of money he spent, even losing her ability to think clearly.


    "What is this car? I''ve never seen this brand before?" Zhang Menglong pointed at an unfamiliar car emblem and asked.


    "Sir, this is the Koenigsegg One:1, and it''s the most expensive car here, priced at 120 million Huaxia dollars!"


    "Damn, the most expensive car is only 120 million?" Zhang Menglong said speechlessly. At this rate, spending the 100 billion would take forever. "Don''t you have anything more expensive?"


    Zhang Yumeng had originally thought the gentleman found the car too expensive, but unexpectedly, he thought it was too cheap ¡ª it was a car worth over a billion! How much money did he have to consider a billion too little?


    "Well, better than nothing, I''ll take this one too!"


    Zhang Menglong sighed as if everything had become boring; he had hoped to spend a few more billion today.


    ...


    "What? Someone just outright bought the Pagani Wind God and the Lamborghini Venom? And paid in full?" In the manager''s office, the club''s manager was incredulous, "Who was it? Could it be Yanjing''s Young Master Qin or Mingzhu City''s Young Master Wang?"


    Young Master Qin and Young Master Wang were two of the most famous rich second-generation in Huaxia. They were not only from prominent families but also very capable themselves. In the manager''s mind, they were the only young people in Huaxia capable of buying these two cars in one go.


    Plus, he remembered that these young masters and their bosses were somewhat acquainted.


    "No, manager, it''s a very young person!"


    "Take me to see them!" The manager knew someone significant had come today. As he walked, he pulled out his phone, "Boss, the cars in our underground showroom have been bought, and not just one!"


    ...

 Chapter 14 Get me one of each model

    "Who exactly is this person who could just whip out over a hundred million to buy two limited edition sports cars? Do we really have such young people in Jiangnan City?" Manager Zhen wondered as he walked, speculating about the young man''s identity.


    But as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, that voice made him shiver all over.


    "I''ll take this Bugatti Veyron as well, note it down!"


    "And that Lykan too!"


    "The Pagani''s God of Wind, Apollo''s Sun God, and Aston Martin''s Valkyrie, that makes a full set, not bad!"


    "Oh right, you haven''t forgotten the McLaren I mentioned earlier, have you? Although it''s just over ten million and relatively cheap, it has quite a nice shape; don''t miss that one!"


    ...


    "Just over ten million is relatively cheap?" Manager Zhen''s mouth twitched slightly. Was this something a human would say? As the sales manager of this club, his annual income was just over a million, and it would take him ten years without eating or drinking to afford that car, yet this person thought it was cheap?


    What kind of monster was this young man?


    "The manager is here!" a few salespeople whispered.


    Trying to appear composed, Manager Zhen approached Zhang Menglong, "Hello, sir, my surname is Zhen, the sales manager of this club. I was just handling some matters; I hope these young ladies haven''t neglected you."


    "Oh, it''s fine, I was just having them introduce me to some cars, nothing negligent about it." Zhang Menglong turned to ask Sun Yumeng, "Right, how many have we noted so far?"


    "Mr. Zhang, apart from the Pagani for which you''ve already paid, you''ve selected a total of 14 cars, amounting to seven hundred seventy-seven million three hundred and twenty-eight thousand Huaxia currency."


    "Hiss!" Even Manager Zhen couldn''t help but take a sharp breath at that number. Thirteen cars purchased in one go; this Mr. God of Wealth was really treating sports cars like cabbages!


    "Is that all?" Zhang Menglong frowned, "Well, I''ll have a look then!"


    Manager Zhen''s mouth twitched again; over seven hundred million had elicited just an "Is that all?" What kind of position would he need to sleep in to have such a dream?


    "Right, let''s also buy a few more low-key cars for running errands and grocery shopping." Zhang Menglong casually pointed at several cars, "That one, this one, and that one over there, all with the highest specifications. Make a note of all of them."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Sun Yumeng had become somewhat numb by now. As for how much commission she would take today, she didn''t dare to calculate, but it was certain that she wouldn''t have to work a day more in her life.


    "Alright, that''s it," Zhang Menglong sighed; all this hassle and he hadn''t even spent ten billion yet.


    Just then, Manager Zhen''s phone rang¡ªit was his boss''s call!


    Relieved, Manager Zhen said, "Sir, please wait a moment; our boss has arrived. Perhaps he can help you get in touch with the person in charge of the car."


    "Sure," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    Soon, a young man dressed in a hoodie and work pants, flanked by several people, stepped into the underground showroom. His outfit seemed ordinary, but it was worth at least tens of thousands of RMB, especially the pair of Air Jordans on his feet. Zhang Menglong had heard his roommates say they were a Dior collab model, already being resold for over 200,000 Huaxia yuan!


    It seemed this was one of the club''s owners.


    "I heard that a friend has bought my Fengshen and Duoyao, and I was curious to see who had such financial power, so I came over," the young man spoke bluntly but not unpleasantly, "I am one of the founders of this club, Su Yu. May I know how to address my friend?"


    "Hello," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Su Yu unreservedly, "My name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Boss, Mr. Zhang here has bought a total of 14 cars, including that Koenigsegg One:1!" Manager Zhen whispered to Su Yu.


    "What? Fourteen cars?" Such a grand gesture made Su Yu tremble slightly.


    "Unexpectedly, there is someone like Brother Zhang in Jiangnan City. It is indeed eye-opening for me today," Su Yu said. As one of the owners of the shop, he naturally knew the value of those cars. Even he couldn''t possibly cough up such an amount all at once.


    "Mr. Su flatters me, but what I''m really interested in now is this car. I wonder if Mr. Su can help me acquire it? Any price is negotiable!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "I''m sorry, Brother Zhang, it''s not that I don''t want to sell the car, but I don''t have the authority over its ownership or sale. However, today I''m willing to make friends with Brother Zhang. I can inquire with the person in charge to see if they''re willing to sell this car," Su Yu responded.


    "Then thank you very much!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed, sensing an opportunity.


    Su Yu made a call and then conversed in a foreign language Zhang Menglong couldn''t identify.


    "Brother Zhang, the owner said the car is for sale, but there is a condition," Su Yu explained.


    "What condition?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The car is a commemorative model from Koenigsegg, so it''s only available to their most loyal customers. To purchase this car, one must own at least seven of the 22 models sold by Koenigsegg so far. The price is set at 220 million Huaxia yuan."


    "Phew!" Zhang Menglong let out a sigh of relief. "And here I thought it was going to be a very onerous condition!"


    "Is that condition not onerous?" Su Yu was dumbfounded. Every Koenigsegg car cost at least 40 million in Huaxia, and some couldn''t be bought even if one had the money.


    "I''ve heard Mr. Su can get almost any car here?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Then, I would like Mr. Su to do me a favor. Please get me one of every model Koenigsegg has ever produced!"

 Chapter 15 Ill Take You There

    "Brother Zhang, this really puts me in a tough spot," Su Yu immediately revealed a bitter smile. In his store, there were only two Koenigsegg cars, treasures that took significant manpower and material resources to obtain.


    The number of Koenigsegg cars released each year is also limited, they are usually fully reserved the moment the designs are revealed. While their connections are influential in Huaxia, overseas the locals may not respect their status as much.


    Forget about acquiring all models of Koenigsegg, even getting five cars would require extraordinary efforts, and success is not guaranteed.


    "Is it that hard to get these cars?" Zhang Menglong really had no concept of this because his father had told him before he left that there is nothing in the world that money couldn''t solve. If there is, it''s just not enough money.


    "Give me a month, and maybe I can get you two more cars, but to obtain the entire series, I''m afraid not even the richest man in the world could do it!"


    "Is that so? Then let me make a phone call and ask." Hong Yi had told Zhang Menglong that she could help him with anything, but he didn''t know if she could really acquire these cars for him.


    "Brother Zhang, if you want to get the entire series, the only way is to find the big boss of Koenigsegg himself, then use his connections to buy back the cars from their owners; otherwise, it''s absolutely impossible to collect them all."


    In Su Yu''s view, this was downright impossible, as buying back vehicles from customers is a very face-losing affair. Unless Zhang Menglong were the father of Koenigsegg''s owner, why would someone give him such face?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need my assistance in handling something?" Hong Yi still displayed an utterly serious attitude.


    "I fancy a limited edition Koenigsegg, but they have a rule that you must be a senior member of their company, requiring ownership of at least seven historical models. Is there any way you can help me acquire them?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "This is a trivial matter," Hong Yi said, "Although Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg is the chairman of Koenigsegg, there are three shareholders in the company who belong to the European Bradley family; they own 78.1% of the shares."


    "What the hell is the Bradley family?" Zhang Menglong inquired with curiosity.


    "Oh, the Bradley family is like our Hong family, responsible for managing your European industries. They have been serving your family for even longer than we have," she explained.


    "I''ve heard something about a Rothschild family in Europe. Aren''t they very formidable?"


    "Yes, indeed there is such a family, but the head of their family is also just a member of one of the Bradley family''s branches."


    "Impressive!" The Rothschild family had always been a symbol of power and mystery in Zhang Menglong''s heart; they were almost mythic due to rumors on the internet. But, to think that they were just his subordinates after all.


    "So what you''re saying is, this Koenigsegg company is almost mine?" Zhang Menglong asked, scarcely believing it.


    "That''s one way to understand it. You have virtually complete control over the company, as even Mr. Christian cannot afford to clash with the Bradley family," she confirmed.


    And these two, who usually resided in Mingzhu City, happened to run to Jiangnan City today, and even ended up at this "Mount Akina Club," which was quite the coincidence.


    "Yo, I thought the two of you wouldn''t arrive until the afternoon!" Su Yu was surprised.


    "Isn''t this to extort a lunch from you?" Qin Feng said with a laugh, "By the way, Old Wang has been eyeing your Lamborghini Venom for a long time, he was hoping you''d have the heart to part with it today!"


    The three of them appeared quite familiar with each other; clearly, Su Yu''s background, while perhaps not quite up to par with Qin Feng and Wang Ling, was not too far behind.


    "Man, a car worth 72 million, even if I begged my dad on my knees, he wouldn''t give me the money to buy it, although I do have a billion or so in liquid assets. But purchasing this car really does hurt," Qin Feng said enviously, having coveted the car for a long time but unable to bring himself to buy it.


    "This... This is awkward," Su Yu said helplessly, "the car was just sold a few moments ago, you guys are just a few minutes too late."


    "What? Sold? Who? Are there really people in Jiangnan City with that kind of strength?" Qin Feng and Wang Ling were both surprised.


    "Here, let me introduce the two of you. This is Brother Zhang Menglong. I just met him today; he''s the one who bought the car!"


    "Awesome, brother!" Qin Feng and Wang Ling were open-minded and didn''t show any displeasure over a car, "I''m Qin Feng, this guy is Wang Ling, the dude who''s always on the trending searches, no need for more introduction, I guess."


    To them, anyone with such financial capability was definitely worth getting to know.


    "I''ve long admired your reputation," Zhang Menglong never expected that he would be able to interact with such high-profile individuals up close.


    "It''s not just one car that Brother Zhang bought!" Su Yu picked up the bill of sale from the side, "Look, he almost bought up all the limited-edition sports cars that can be named here!"


    "Wow!" Wang Ling thought he knew how to spend money, but there''s always someone better. Spending over seven hundred million in one go, even he didn''t have the audacity for that!


    "By the way, are you two also here to buy a car?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Yeah, I originally wanted that Venom, but since Brother Zhang has already bought it, we''ll have to figure something else out," Wang Ling explained.


    "No worries, since we''ve met today, I''ll give the car to you as a gift," Zhang Menglong offered.


    "You... you mean give it to me?" Such a grand gesture left even the worldly Wang Ling somewhat speechless.


    Wang Ling had grown up being the one to splash cash on others; could it be that today someone was dunking money on his head?

 Chapter 16 The factory has already started production for you

    "Brother Zhang, that car costs 72 million, are you kidding me?"


    "What''s there to joke about with just a car!" Zhang Menglong said with the air of a man to whom money was no object, "I just like making friends, and this little amount of money is well spent if it makes everyone happy, right? Anyway, I''ve bought so many cars I can''t possibly drive them all myself."


    "By the way, do you know any professional vehicle lubricators?"


    "Vehicle lubricators? What job is that?" Qin Feng and Wang Ling looked at each other in confusion, as this was the first time they had heard of such a profession.


    "It''s someone who specializes in driving," explained Zhang Menglong, "I''m afraid if I buy too many cars and just leave them in the parking garage without driving them for a year or half, they''ll all gather dust. Someone has to regularly take them out for a spin to lubricate the machinery, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s explanation almost drove Qin Feng and Wang Ling crazy. How many cars did he possibly have? But then again, it made sense; someone who could casually buy 14 cars probably had far more at home.


    "I want to be a vehicle lubricator too!" a few of the male sales associates whispered to each other, "Even if there''s no salary, driving sports cars every day to pick up girls sounds unbeatable!"


    "Forget it, with cars like those, would you even dare to drive them? Scratch it by accident, and you''ll be selling your house to pay for the damages!"


    "As if I have a house to sell..."


    "By the way, Qin Feng, I heard you really like Aston Martin cars¡ªthat Valkyrie is my gift to you. I can''t play favorites now, can I?"


    Qin Feng''s eyes lit up when he heard this. Although the Valkyrie wasn''t as valuable as the Poison, it was still a limited edition worth tens of millions!


    "Hahaha, since Brother Zhang is so generous, we''ll shamelessly accept," Qin Feng said, "If you ever come to Mingzhu City, we''ll make sure to show you a good time riding the open road!"


    Qin Feng and Wang Ling didn''t stand on ceremony; after all, Zhang Menglong was clearly someone who wasn''t short of cash. If they refused, it might actually offend him.


    As for the social media influencers nearby, witnessing this scene almost made their jaws - even the surgically-enhanced ones - drop. They thought they were living the high life mingling in Wang Ling and Qin Feng''s circle, but today''s events had surpassed their wildest dreams.


    Meeting someone for the first time who casually gives away cars worth millions was an emotional shock that couldn''t be imagined unless experienced firsthand.


    "Boss Su, I''ll leave the car arrangements to you."


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be taken care of perfectly!" The money was all in place; this was just a matter of procedure.


    "My God, who is he?" The trio of Wang Ling exchanged glances, all seeing the shock in each other''s eyes, especially Su Yu. He hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to actually stir the chairman of Koenigsegg.


    "No, no, no, have you not understood me? I don''t want to break your rules. Just arrange for me to acquire the full series first, and I will pay just the same!"


    "Are you out of your mind?!" The three on the side were all itching to curse. Gathering the entire series would cost at least several billion, not to mention this CCXR worth over two billion. They''re offering it to you for free, and you think you have too much money? If it''s too much, give some to us, we''ll help you spend it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, our chairman has already instructed that all these cars are limited editions, and they already have owners. It''s not very realistic to recall them. However, our factory has suspended all other orders to produce a new vehicle of each model for you. So you are now our supermember and have the purchasing rights for this vehicle!"


    "What? Koenigsegg''s factory actually suspended all other orders just for him?"


    "Holy crap, does he own the damn factory?"


    If simply convincing the owner of Koenigsegg to sell him the car was surprising enough, this move absolutely blew their minds.


    Suspending factory orders meant offending other clients. How many people capable of affording a Koenigsegg are easy to provoke? What kind of power does he have to persuade Koenigsegg''s owner to alienate other clients just for him?


    "Okay, if that''s the case, let''s proceed with the transaction. Remember, not a penny less, and no discounts!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Saige wiped sweat from his forehead; such a request was certainly a first for him.


    In fact, he didn''t know exactly who Zhang Menglong was, but his boss had made it clear¡ª they had to keep this gentleman satisfied, or not just him but even their headquarters could collapse in minutes!


    "Mr. Zhang, the total is 1.68 billion!"


    "I don''t like decimals," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Yes, how about we round it to 1.6 billion? Does that seem alright?" Saige cautiously had his translator relay the message.


    "Are you wiping off 80 million just like that?" The likes of Wang Ling were dumbstruck. Was there such a way to round numbers?


    "No, what I mean is, you can charge more. Let''s make it 1.7 billion. The extra can be considered a service fee." Zhang Menglong was eager to spend more rather than have them round down!


    "Reverse... rounding down?" Wang Ling clenched his fists, completely baffled. What sort of tactic was this? It was way beyond his comprehension!

 Chapter 17 Someone slammed a dunk on me with money

    "Mr. Zhang, here''s your receipt." After the payment was completed, Saige finally relaxed a bit. It seemed that he could now guess why his boss valued this gentleman so highly.


    In capitalist countries, money is everything. This gentleman doesn''t treat money like money at all; he doesn''t want freebies, he doesn''t want discounts, and he tips twenty million just like that. Does his family own a mint?


    "Perfect!" Spending over two billion in a day made Zhang Menglong feel as though he had achieved a small goal.


    "Boss Su, add me on WeChat later. I''ll send you the location of my house. Drag all these cars to my underground garage. I''ll arrange someone to coordinate with you."


    "You''re the boss, you call the shots!" The mental shock Su Yu received today was beyond description with words. They''re now realizing that in front of Zhang Menglong, they, the so-called super-rich second-generation and distinguished gentlemen, were nothing but insignificant.


    "Hahaha, thanks a lot." This small episode quickly warmed up the relationship between the four, and the initial awkwardness dissipated.


    Although each of them was a second-generation rich kid, when surrounded by people of similar or even greater wealth and status, none of them put on airs and they quickly started to chat with one another.


    Having left the club matters to Manager Zhen from earlier, the group went straight to Su Yu''s car and drove off towards the nearest five-star hotel.


    "Let me tell you, I''m paying for the meal later. No one is to fight over the bill with me!" Wang Ling, who always liked to show face, had all his thunder stolen by Zhang Menglong today. He was determined to regain all his face in this meal.


    "Alright, alright, no one''s going to fight with you, Principal Wang!" Zhang Menglong estimated that even if he ordered all the best dishes in the hotel, he could spend at most one or two million. Compared to his 100 billion expenditure challenge, it was merely a drop in the ocean. Even if he ate like this for three meals a day, it would take a hundred years to spend it all.


    So, there was no need to vie for this bill.


    Although Wang Ling wasn''t a regular at this hotel, as a seasoned internet celebrity, his face was his best advertisement. As soon as he got out of the car, phones started snapping photos around him. Thankfully, Zhang Menglong, being cautious of viruses, wore a mask every day. Otherwise, he would have been identified online today.


    They found a quiet and elegant private room and sat down with the four of them and a few internet celebrities.


    "Never would''ve thought Principal Wang still likes internet celebrities as always," Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Hahaha, want me to introduce a few to you? Seeing you coming out alone to buy cars, it''s obvious you must be a lonely single man!" Wang Ling didn''t shy away from it. He indeed liked internet celebrities. Although their faces were all alike, he could still find interesting souls among them.


    "What lonely single man? Only the broke are called that. Menglong here should be called a ''single aristocrat''!"


    "Hahaha, that''s such an outdated term. I''m still surfing the net!"


    "Stop it, you guys. It''s so awkward I almost scraped together a three-bedroom flat with my toenails!"


    "By the way, we still don''t know where you''re from!" Wang Ling asked.


    "Oh, my family is originally from Dongji City. I study in Jiangnan City," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? Haven''t you graduated yet?"


    This wasn''t a test at all; it was clearly a reward! Now they understood why Zhang Menglong had just now declined any freebies or discounts, splurging over twenty billion on cars¡ªit was all to complete this family challenge?


    "Who would''ve thought that our little Jiangnan City was actually such a hidden dragon and crouching tiger!"


    "Oh right, have you guys heard about this? Yesterday, the Jiangnan Bridge Expressway was jammed for hours because some mysterious tycoon called in a helicopter, which lifted away the car and its owner!"


    "Oh yes, I heard about that too. It was supposedly a Mi-26 helicopter. I remember there are only two of those in Huaxia, right?"


    "I had my dad check on it, and those two helicopters were still at the original airport, never deployed. This must have been a private helicopter!" Wang Ling was exceptionally well-informed, of course, because he was very interested in the owner of that Maybach.


    "I might have seen that helicopter!" Qin Feng said, "A few years ago, I went with my dad to Europe for fun. We just happened to catch an auction where an Mi-26 was on sale. It was eventually sold to a Huaxia buyer for nearly 20 million US dollars. Wonder if it''s the same one."


    "Menglong, do you know about this?"


    "Who knows what the background of that person is, I definitely have to meet them, too awesome!"


    "Er... what if I said that person was me, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong spoke haltingly.


    "What? You''re saying that person was you?" Everyone''s gaze once again converged on Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you know, that incident hit the top of the trending search list? It was still blowing up the next day!"


    "I can''t be blamed for that. It was an emergency, and I had no other options. I didn''t want to cause such a big scene!" Zhang Menglong said with an innocent shrug.


    "What in the world was so urgent?" the three of them asked curiously.


    "This..."


    "It''s okay, we''re all friends here, and even if it''s business-related, it''s not like there''s anything we can''t talk about, right?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, their curiosity intensified.


    "I... I urgently needed to pee, and I''d been holding it for hours, I really couldn''t hold it any longer, so..."


    "Because you needed to pee?"


    "Just that?"


    "You, my friend, are a true talent!"


    Hearing this ridiculously strong reason, everyone couldn''t help but give a thumbs up.


    "I can''t not post this on Weibo!" Wang Ling took out his phone, opened Weibo, and snapped a photo of the feast in front of them, then added a line of text.


    "Met the tycoon today who got past the expressway in a helicopter yesterday. You may not believe it, but I, Wang Ling, have lived for more than two decades, and today was the first time someone slam dunked money over my head!"

 Chapter 18 The More You Spend, the More You Have

    Wang Ling, as the chairman of a venture capital firm, owned a large number of companies and, within just a few years, had multiplied the five-hundred million US dollars in startup capital his father gave him several times over.


    But all of these were merely his side jobs. To the vast majority of netizens, his main gig was being an internet celebrity. On Weibo''s trending searches, his name would appear every now and then, even leading some to suspect that he had bought an army of fake commenters.


    Now, his Weibo follower count had exceeded 40 million, even more fearsome than many top-tier celebrities. Each of his Weibo posts could cause quite a stir.


    Whenever he saw something he didn''t like, he never kept it to himself. Although he was a rich second-generation who occasionally looked a bit unkempt, it had to be said that his values were pretty upright compared to many. This made him incredibly popular online.


    This Weibo post had been up for less than a minute, and already there were over a thousand comments, with the number growing at a frightening rate.


    "Hahaha, Principal Wang, you finally had a day when someone dunked on you with money?"


    "Yo, did ''Ajax'' dunk on you? Is it that Dunk Brother?"


    "The person above, Dunk Brother has already started birdging."


    "What a sight to behold, someone actually wealthier than Principal Wang?"


    "Principal Wang, hurry up and tell us how that big shot dunked on you. We want to know just what kind of thing it takes to make you post something like this."


    ...


    Stimulated by the users'' questions, Wang Ling instantly felt the urge to share. He directly posted the photo of the Lamborghini Venom he had taken at "Mount Akina Club," along with other sports cars, on his Weibo.


    "First time seeing someone treat sports cars like cabbages, buying more than twenty at once and even giving me one as a meeting gift. That''s all, off to dine with the big shot!" After posting this, Wang Ling turned off his phone and focused on the conversation and the meal.


    But at that moment, Weibo exploded.


    "What the heck, a Lambo as a meeting gift? What kind of deity is this? Doesn''t that car cost at least ten million?"


    "Bro, that''s Lamborghini Venom, it''s a global limited edition, just a few of them out there, don''t even dream of it unless you have fifty or sixty million!"


    "Damn, such inhuman opulence! Does this tycoon still lack friends? It doesn''t matter about money, I just want to make friends."


    "That''s not just inhuman opulence, man, there are also a Pagani Wind God, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Apollo Sun God, Koenigsegg One1, Lamborghini Hermes¡ªall limited edition supercars in that photo!"


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your account 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 24,760,000 yuan!"


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your account 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 12,360,000 yuan!"


    "Ding..."


    In an instant, several notifications arrived on his phone. Each deposit was in the tens of millions, some even in the hundreds of millions. A quick calculation showed that nearly ninety percent of the money he''d spent that day had returned to his account!


    "What in the world is going on?" Zhang Menglong was completely bewildered as he looked at his phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you buy a lot of cars today?"


    "Yes, I meant to spend over twenty billion, but what...?"


    "Mr. Zhang, most car companies in the world are part of your property holdings."


    "How is that possible?"


    "Of course, not all shares of some companies are in your name; they may be held under one or several other persons'' names. But those people belong to your family, so it''s no problem to say those assets are yours. After all, there''s a limit to corporate shareholding in many countries, and it can only be circumvented this way."


    "But why did the money return?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve essentially moved your own money from your left pocket to your right, but it''s still your money. The money spent on those sports cars isn''t actual income for the companies, so after taxes, it went straight back to your account."


    "So what you''re saying is, I spent the whole day buying cars, just for the sake of it?"


    "That would be one way to look at it."


    "I bought a watch last year!" Zhang Menglong booted up his computer and began to calculate according to today''s exchange rate, "That''s not right. Today''s exchange rate is 1 to 6.77 between the US dollar and Huaxia currency. How come my balance still exceeds 100 billion US dollars?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the money in your bank naturally accrues interest. The larger the capital, the higher the interest. Your funds garner over four billion US dollars in interest a year. It seems likely that today''s interest earnings have already been credited to your account."


    "Over four billion US dollars a year, that''s close to ten million in Huaxia currency every day..." Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that no matter how he spent money, completing the challenge to spend 100 billion US dollars in a year was utterly impossible.


    Zhang Menglong sighed deeply, "Can I...can I swear now..."

 Chapter 19 I Really Am the Bank President

    "Damn it, why did Wang Ling post about my affairs on Weibo?" As usual, Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and saw a notable hot search already dominating the charts.


    "Some mysterious tycoon spends a fortune buying dozens of sports cars and even does this to Principal Wang!"


    "What kind of clickbait headline is this? Can you believe it?" Seeing this title, Zhang Menglong could only laugh in speechlessness; if whoever came up with this title went to work at UC, they''d be directly promoted to head of the publicity department!


    Luckily, Wang Ling hadn''t posted his photo, otherwise Zhang Menglong''s phone would probably have blown up with calls from his friends by now. He knew he couldn''t keep this secret for long, but he figured he''d delay it as long as possible.


    What really gave Zhang Menglong a headache now was how to spend this 100 billion US dollars in just one year. If he slacked off for even a day, an extra 100 million Huaxia currency would appear in his account each day. Such days made him utterly frustrated, thinking when in the world could he ever spend it all?


    Moreover, he had to constantly check whether the recipient of his spending was one of his properties, otherwise, despite all the effort to spend a large sum of money, he''d end up finding out it was all for nothing as it was his own business!


    "Thunderstruck! The heavens collapse and the purple-gold hammer, purple lightning..."


    "What the hell, why did my ringtone turn into this nonsense?" Just as Zhang Menglong was about to continue looking online for money-spending strategies, his phone suddenly rang.


    "Hello, may I ask who''s speaking?" Zhang Menglong asked politely out of habit.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am the President of Huaxia Bank of Jiangnan City. We''ve just..."


    "Nutcase!" Without letting the person finish, Zhang Menglong hung up the call. "What kind of people are these, pretending to be a bank president? I might as well be a descendant of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. How come scammers are getting so low-level in their tricks these days?"


    A city-level bank president, busy all day with a myriad of tasks, how could they have the time to call him? Without a second thought, Zhang Menglong categorized the call as a scam.


    Furthermore, if it were really a call from the bank, it should come from a bank number, right? Clearly, this was a personal mobile number¡ªthe scammer''s techniques were seriously outdated, weren''t they?


    "This..." On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged man looked at his own phone in disbelief. He had never imagined that he, the president of Huaxia Bank, would be mistaken for a scammer and hung up on?


    A few days ago, their city-level branch had received an astonishingly huge sum of money, a whopping 100 billion US dollars! Even for the entire history of Huaxia Bank, such a terrifying amount of funds had never been moved.


    As the president, his annual income was directly linked to the amount of savings, and the bonus this deposit could bring him goes without saying. To him, Zhang Menglong was no less than his benefactor.


    "Isn''t it because of that Honored Card client? I just tried to call and arrange a visit, but he mistook me for a scammer and hung up on me twice!"


    "Is that so?" Secretary Liu couldn''t help but smile, "In that case, Branch Manager, why don''t you use our bank''s number to send a text message to that client? That way he should believe you."


    "Right, why didn''t I think of that!" Gu Anshan''s eyes lit up, "You always have the solution!"


    ...


    "Ding!" Zhang Menglong, who was watching various Middle Eastern tycoons'' lifestyles, received a text message on his phone.


    He thought to himself, it couldn''t be another payment coming through, could it? The 100 billion has already left him gasping for air, if a few more payments come through, he might as well give up on inheriting the family treasure!


    "Mr. Zhang, I am Gu Anshan, the man who just called you. I truly am the Branch Manager of Huaxia Bank in Jiangnan City. If you don''t believe me, you can check my name on the official website!!!"


    "The bank Branch Manager for real?" Zhang Menglong was dumbfounded, not expecting the man he had hung up on twice to think of this method. Worthy of someone who could be a Branch Manager.


    A moment later, the same number called again, and this time, Zhang Menglong didn''t hang up.


    "Haha, Branch Manager Gu, sorry about that, I''ve never received a phone call from a bank Branch Manager before, my apologies, haha!"


    Although Gu Anshan had a bitter face on the other end of the phone, he still spoke as if it was no big deal, "Mr. Zhang must be busy with numerous daily affairs, I was the one who disturbed you, I should be the one to apologize."


    "Do you need something, Branch Manager Gu?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s like this, you have deposited a substantial sum in our Jiangnan City main branch, and I would like to discuss the matter of this deposit with you. When would you have time, so I can pay you a visit?"


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll be free tomorrow afternoon, but I''ll just come to the bank myself, it''s not very convenient for me here."


    Zhang Menglong temporarily did not want others to know where he lived.


    "That''s fine, I''ll await your arrival at the main branch tomorrow afternoon!"


    ```

 Chapter 20 Bring me 10 trucks of coins.

    The Huaxia Bank''s Jiangnan City main branch was located right in the city center. Zhang Menglong had a sumptuous lunch and headed there directly afterward, as his new car still required some transfer procedures that would take a day or two, so he could only have his driver take him.


    When it came to matters involving money, Zhang Menglong didn''t dare to be careless and directly asked Hong Yi to accompany him, thinking that she might handle the situation more adeptly.


    A Maybach pulled up at the entrance of the luxurious bank building. Since it was just past lunchtime, there weren''t many people inside, and it seemed that some staff were off to take their break, leaving only a few employees at the service windows conducting business.


    An elderly sanitation worker couple, supporting each other, were conducting some business at one of the counters, with a sack full of change in their hands.


    "It''s not easy," Zhang Menglong remarked. However, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy¡ªwasn''t this the very picture of growing old together, hand in hand? Suddenly reminded of a past memory, Zhang Menglong felt a sour twinge in his heart.


    "Miss, isn''t the bank for depositing money? All of this is our hard-earned cash. It''s a bit in small change, but it''s clean. Please help us deposit it," they pleaded.


    "What''s the matter with you? I''ve told you, I only handle large transactions here. Please take these savings services to the next counter," the staff member said with impatience.


    The amount in the elderly couple''s sack wasn''t large, but there was a considerable number of coins. If she were to sort them slowly, it might take her the whole afternoon.


    "But there''s nobody at the next counter. You''re not busy right now, so could you please help us deposit it?"


    "I''m sorry, but it''s time for the shift change. You''ll have to wait for the next person to come and handle it," the employee said, hanging up a ''Resting'' sign and reclining in a chair to start playing on her smartphone.


    "Damn, what the hell is this?" Zhang Menglong flared up when he witnessed the scene.


    Having just gone through the autumn recruitment season, he had applied to many banks and was very familiar with their requirements. Banking employees had to have at least a bachelor''s degree, and some positions were only open to graduates of prestigious universities or even required a master''s degree.


    That employee appeared to be in her early twenties; she definitely hadn''t been working long to have such poor professionalism. Could she have passed the banks'' rounds of interviews and exams?


    The two elderly individuals looked disappointed, but they had no choice and had to wait until the afternoon when the counters resumed operations to continue their savings business.


    "Uncle, Auntie, please wait a moment!" Zhang Menglong approached the counter and glanced at the nameplate, "Zhou Yue, is it? Is this how you treat customers? Call your manager out¡ªI want to make a complaint."


    Ten large trucks were neatly lined up in a row, orderly parked at the entrance of the bank. The parking space at the bank''s entrance was already limited, and with ten large trucks stationed there, almost no space was left except for a narrow path leading to the service hall.


    "How odd, the trucks aren''t heading to a construction site; why are they at the bank entrance?" Many passersby curiously glanced over.


    It wasn''t a big deal not to look, but one would be in for a shock once they did. The trucks weren''t loaded with bricks or cement, but were piled high with coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on? I''ve seen trucks carrying bricks, cement, timber, but this is the first time I''ve seen one carrying so much money!"


    "Oh my, ten trucks filled with coins, could this be the legendary ''showing off wealth''?"


    "It looks like there are not only one yuan coins, but also ten cents, fifty cents, could this be the public transit company transporting money?"


    "Possible! But using trucks to carry it is a bit too much, right? Quick, snap a picture, you don''t see this kind of scene often!"


    "What''s the actual situation? Ten big coaches, if they''re all one yuan coins, that has to be over a million, right?"


    "Look, someone''s coming out!"


    From the ten large trucks, more than twenty people jumped down and walked straight into the bank. The onlookers, full of curiosity, followed to see what they were really up to.


    This group marching into the bank with such a commanding presence gave the bank''s security guards quite a fright; they hesitated between letting them through or stopping them.


    "Miss Hong, did we bring the money you asked for?" A middle-aged man approached Hong Yi and respectfully asked, "How should we handle this money?"


    "Put it into sacks, then carry it inside. Mr. Zhang wants to make a deposit at the bank." Hong Yi instructed.


    "Yes!" Dozens of middle-aged men immediately went back to the trucks. You could tell they were well-prepared as the clinking coins were efficiently bagged. Their efficiency and execution could rival that of well-trained soldiers.


    Zhang Menglong walked back to the counter and knocked on the glass in front of Zhou Yue, "Hello, I have a few million in coins here, could you please help me with the savings service?"

 Chapter 21 I Dont Feel Safe Entrusting You with the Money

    "This gentleman, I..." Zhou Yue panicked upon seeing the situation.


    She wasn''t a fool and naturally knew that Zhang Menglong''s sarcastic tone was directed at her. She originally thought this young man was just an ordinary person, but to her surprise, one phone call from him summoned ten large trucks!


    In Jiangnan City, there were not a few people who could produce several million in cash, even quite a lot, but those who could manage to bring in ten trucks of coins were absolutely rare, and even thinking about it, this young man definitely had an extraordinary background!


    Such a person was definitely not someone she could afford to provoke, not even her uncle might be able to afford provoking him.


    Was it necessary to make such a fuss for the sake of two sanitation workers?


    "Didn''t you say you don''t accept the management of small savings services?" Zhang Menglong said, "Now I have millions here, shouldn''t that count as a large amount? Moreover, it''s past shift change time now, according to bank regulations, aren''t you supposed to help me with the services now?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to the several strong men and said, "Gentlemen, we are here to deposit money, not to make trouble, please be careful not to obstruct the bank''s employees or affect other customers."


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ll be careful!" several strong men nodded, their movements becoming even more agile.


    In just a few minutes, the bank''s business hall was already piled with dozens of money sacks, all filled with silver coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on here?" the onlookers with dazed faces watched the scene; this was the first time they saw someone arrive with ten trucks to deposit coins¡ªa real rarity!


    "I just got here, I don''t know either."


    "I know! Two elderly people came to deposit money earlier, that short-haired staff member thought it was too troublesome to manage, and the young man couldn''t stand watching and argued a few words, and was even reprimanded by that clerk,"


    "Isn''t his temper too big?"


    "Nonsense, in less than half an hour, he could summon ten trucks of coins, do you think such a person would be ordinary? Either a second-generation official or a rich second-generation, aren''t these people just foolish, wealthy, and quick-tempered?"


    "Keep your voice down, don''t let others hear you!"


    "Wow, that girl really got herself into a pickle!"


    "No kidding? But I think she had it coming!"


    "Sorry, my family is quite poor, I don''t have exact change, so I might need you to count how many coins there are," Zhang Menglong said, "But if you count wrong, even if you count one dime less, I''m going to complain to your branch manager!"


    By this time, Zhou Yue was utterly panicked, the sacks in the store were increasing, and if she had to count them one by one, not to mention this evening, even a month without sleep might not be enough.


    "Forget the pleasantries. I don''t think there''s anything good for us to talk about," Zhang Menglong said. "I feel a bit uneasy about leaving my money in your bank!"


    "Why would you say that, Mr. Zhang? Our Huaxia Bank is absolutely the most authoritative and safest bank in all of Huaxia!" Gu Anshan guaranteed, patting his chest.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow. "Here, even getting a savings account handled involves half a day of difficulties from your staff. I can''t compliment that."


    "What exactly is going on?" Gu Anshan finally caught on that Zhang Menglong had obviously been mistreated here. "Speak up! If I have to investigate it myself, none of those present today will escape responsibility! And if anyone dares to speak out, their bonus for this year will be doubled!"


    At that moment, Gu Anshan finally showed some of a bank president''s authority.


    Where there are great rewards, there will be brave followers. Especially since Zhou Yue was clearly not an ordinary person. Now, it wasn''t a matter of whether Zhou Yue could keep her job, but whether her uncle, the manager, could continue his role. At this point, what was there to fear?


    Soon, the action Zhou Yue had just taken was exposed.


    "We have such oversight in our bank? Who is in charge of campus recruitment today? Have them come to my office tonight!" Outraged by the incident, Gu Anshan burst out.


    "President, Zhou Yue didn''t come through campus recruitment. Our business manager is her uncle, so..."


    "Good! Very good!" Gu Anshan struggled to suppress his anger. "Tell him, before he leaves work today, to submit his resignation report directly on my desk!"


    "It''s over!" Hearing this news, Zhou Yue collapsed directly at her workstation. Her backbone was gone, and so was she. She was not only losing this job, but her uncle''s entire family and perhaps even her whole family would treat her as a criminal.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will handle this matter seriously, I assure you. Such incidents will absolutely not occur again in our bank," Gu Anshan promised.


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded since Gu Anshan had given him enough face, he could not make things too difficult for him.


    "Alright, stop moving them," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Take this money away and set up several charity boxes at various bus stations and subway stations. There''s always someone who goes out without change for the bus or subway. Just put the money in those charity boxes!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Dozens of strong men then moved the money back onto the truck, which left with a roar, leaving only the stunned faces of the passersby Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.


    "Millions of coins donated just like that?"


    "He really is a tycoon! Impressive!"


    "To be honest, although he was a bit overbearing, his principles are quite right."


    "Yes, such people deserve to be rich!"

 Chapter 22 If Interest Were Offered, I Wouldnt Save

    "Mr. Zhang, I''m truly sorry. I had not anticipated that someone like this could exist in our bank. It''s really embarrassing," Gu Anshan invited Zhang Menglong into his office and personally made him a pot of tea.


    He had indeed been shocked by what had just occurred. Ten trucks loaded with coins were no joke; one slip and they could have topped the trending search lists. If this got back to the Huaxia Bank headquarters, he as the bank manager might have faced disciplinary action.


    This young man was not playing by the typical rich second generation playbook at all. Such audacious moves were something he had never heard of in his life, making him treat Zhang Menglong with much more caution.


    "Forget it, no harm to those who don''t know. However, your bank really needs to tighten up its employment screening," Zhang Menglong said as he plopped down on the sofa, adopting the posture of a seasoned cadre.


    "By the way, there''s a pair of elderly sanitation workers outside. They were just having a hard time with someone named Zhou Yue. You should quickly send someone to handle it."


    "Secretary Liu, please hurry and arrange for someone to help the two elders!" Gu Anshan could see now; this was the main reason for the conflict between Zhang Menglong and Zhou Yue.


    He must ensure that the two elders are well taken care of, as this would maximize the restoration of Zhang Menglong''s good opinion of him, so he directly instructed his secretary to personally take care of it.


    Secretary Liu was also a smart person; a simple look from Gu Anshan and he understood the meaning. He closed the door for them and immediately went to arrange things.


    "This is so refreshing!" Zhang Menglong gulped down half of the tea in front of him in one go.


    "Refreshing..." Gu Anshan twitched the corner of his eye. This was not ordinary tea. It was not available on the common market and he had pulled many strings to get it from a friend. He himself rarely indulged in it, reserving it only for very important guests.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s manner, treating it like plain water, was simply a waste of good resources.


    But he dared not express his anger. The person in front of him might only be a young man around 20 years old, but his wealth was frightfully immense!


    He had been so scared when he heard about it that he had been unable to sleep all night.


    What did a hundred billion US dollars signify? Even the assets of the richest person in the world were only about one hundred fifty billion US dollars, and that included stocks, houses, and other fixed assets. In cash terms, it definitely would not reach such a figure.


    Gu Anshan took a deep breath, having wasted so much time, finally getting to the point.


    "Here''s the thing, Mr. Zhang, we will set up a management team specifically to handle that sum in our bank, so I hope you can trust us and feel comfortable leaving those funds with us," said Gu Anshan.


    "No problem at all," Zhang Menglong looked puzzled. Where would all that money go if not in the bank? Turn it all into cash and withdraw? There would have to be that much cash available!


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s response, Gu Anshan immediately smiled, realizing Zhang Menglong was quite agreeable.


    "However, I really like spending money, and you mustn''t restrict my spending limit!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Of course, our management team will serve you 24/7. Whenever you wish to make expenditures, we''ll fully support you!"


    "That''s good to hear."


    "And concerning the interest, you can absolutely be assured. For regular clients, our current interest rate is 0.24%, but for significant clients like you, we can raise the current interest rate above fixed-rate levels. According to our regulations, we can offer you up to a 7% annual interest rate!"


    With 100 billion US Dollars, handled properly, the bank could earn far more than 7%. This was the outcome of consultations with the president of Huaxia''s head branch, and they didn''t mind offering such a rate at all.


    "What? Seven percent?" Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up from the sofa, his face darkening.


    At a 7% interest rate, that''s 70 billion US Dollars a year, and his bank account was growing by more than a billion in cash daily. This was outright financial murder!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you dissatisfied with the interest rate?" Gu Anshan immediately became tense. Indeed, the 7% rate was too low compared to the potential earnings from such a sum, but the bank wasn''t a charity either; they wanted to earn more as well.


    "If you''re not satisfied, we can still negotiate. What about 8%?" Gu Anshan tentatively asked, though his bottom line was much higher, testing step by step was the way to secure the maximum profit.


    "8%?" Zhang Menglong slammed the desk, "If you offer me such high interest, I won''t deposit it; I''ll transfer all these funds away immediately!"

 Chapter 23 Are there any investments that are very easy to lose money on?

    "What the heck?" Gu Anshan even thought there was something wrong with his ears.


    Since ancient times, people have only complained about low interest rates¡ªwhen has anyone ever complained about interest being too high? Could it be that Zhang Menglong suddenly inherited so much wealth that he became mentally unstable and had a breakdown? Otherwise, how could a normal person not want to make money?


    An 8% interest rate a year, that''s 7 billion US dollars! Even among the richest people in Huaxia, there wouldn''t be anyone who could produce 7 billion in cash, right?


    "I mean, can you lower your interest rate a bit?" Zhang Menglong said, "I recall the bank next door, Jiangnan Bank, has lower rates than you? I might as well deposit there!"


    Zhang Menglong had a hard time spending a billion in a day, only to wake up the next day and find that he effectively wasted that money. When would he ever be able to spend all of it? If he decided to take a break and relax, his bank account would just grow again in a few days. How could he live like this? When could he start the college that even his parents claimed was magical?


    Gu Anshan immediately responded with a wry smile. Banks often compete by offering higher or lower interest rates to attract customers. When did lower interest start drawing customers in? Was this the legendary reverse operation?


    "No, no, no! Mr. Zhang, please wait!" At this point, Gu Anshan couldn''t care less about whether Zhang Menglong was insane or not; the bank would be only too glad to pay out less in interest!


    "How about we offer you an annualized interest rate of 4.25%? You''d be satisfied with that, wouldn''t you?"


    "What? Still 4.25%? Isn''t that still over 4 billion US dollars in interest a year? No, I won''t deposit it!"


    "Then we''ll offer the lowest annual demand deposit rate of 0.24%," Gu Anshan hurriedly said.


    When he discussed it with the head of the head office, the rate offered was between 4.25% and 10.75%. He had already offered the lowest rate, and if it went any lower, it would be the regular savings account rate for ordinary customers.


    But he just couldn''t comprehend what went on in Zhang Menglong''s mind. An interest rate of ten points a year would bring in tens of billions of US dollars without doing anything. Wasn''t that tempting?


    "0.24%?" Upon hearing this figure, Zhang Menglong''s expression eased a bit, but that still amounted to over four million Huaxia currency in interest every day, "Can it be even less?"


    "You still think it''s too much?" Gu Anshan was on the verge of going crazy.


    "Can we just not have any interest? Or I can give you interest instead!" Zhang Menglong said, "You see, managing this amount of money for me isn''t easy, considering the manpower cost involved every day. If you charged some service fees, I would have absolutely no objections. I''d even give you a bonus at the end of the year!"


    Upon hearing this, Gu Anshan was dumbfounded. Having lived for several decades, this was the first time he''d heard of someone wanting to pay the bank service fees for depositing money. What kind of spendthrift was this?


    Investment, wealth management¡ªof course it''s about guaranteeing a return! The bank''s financial products are very stable now, the returns might not be that high, but they almost all guarantee 100% principal protection. If the risk was too great, how could common clients possibly buy them? They might as well buy funds or stocks instead, why buy wealth management products?


    Financial products are all about stability; losing money is almost an impossibility.


    "Mr. Zhang, we don''t have such projects!"


    "There could be such projects!"


    "We really don''t have them!"


    "Really none?" Zhang Menglong confirmed again.


    "Truly none!"


    "How is it so hard to spend some money these days?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    As the president of the bank, Gu Anshan, who had been through thick and thin, was very sensitive to customer needs. He figured out that Zhang Menglong wasn''t out of his mind; he simply wanted to spend money purely!


    Perhaps, like many nouveau riches, his first thought upon getting rich was to consume.


    Clearly, ordinary consumption could no longer satisfy Zhang Menglong. Big gold chains, luxury goods¡ªfor him, they were less than the petty cash of one day''s interest. What he wanted was the kind of spending ordinary people wouldn''t even dare to dream of¡ªperhaps this was the joy of being wealthy.


    "Mr. Zhang, although we don''t have any investment projects that lose money, if you''re looking to spend, we do have some projects that could satisfy you!"


    "Oh? Let''s hear it?" Zhang Menglong immediately perked up, this was the answer he was looking for.


    "You know, because of the global virus, many countries are facing economic recessions, especially those that rely on tourism to support their economies. They''re nearly at the point of collapse. Hence, some countries have started to sell off some industries or even their land. Are you interested?"


    "Are they expensive?" Zhang Menglong asked tentatively.


    "Very expensive," Gu Anshan nodded. "Actually, these are all projects of our bank, but the risk is too high. Even we don''t dare to take them lightly, and to recoup this investment would take a very long cycle. If you''re interested..."


    "Yes, yes, yes, that''s exactly what I want!" Zhang Menglong said excitedly. "Let me have a look quickly, I can''t suppress the all energies within me any longer!"

 Chapter 24 Buying the World with Money?

    "Mr. Zhang, take a look, this is the property and territory that Briz Country is looking to sell." Gu Anshan placed a map in front of Zhang Menglong.


    Briz Country is a small nation with a land area of less than 100,000 square kilometers, it doesn''t have a large population, and its industry and agriculture aren''t particularly developed. However, due to its favorable geographical location, it has many picturesque places.


    Each of these scenic areas brings in huge tourism revenue every year, and the majority of the citizens are involved in the tourism industry. A previously poor country has become prosperous in just a few years thanks to these abundant tourism resources.


    But with the rampage of the virus, most of the global flights were almost paralyzed for the better part of a year. Forget about traveling, many people couldn''t even leave their own cities.


    This suddenly brought a national crisis down upon the country.


    With no income for over half a year, not only the populace but even the country''s economy was barely hanging on. Now that international flights have resumed, most tourists are still maintaining a cautious attitude and are unwilling to take the risk to travel.


    For them, that small trickle of visitors is like a drop in the bucket.


    As for international aid, many countries were worse off than they were, so forget about aid!


    Driven to desperation, they had to make a painful decision to sell two of their scenic areas, the Aurora Coast and Bermanzi Mountain.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, such a beautiful place!" Briz Country is located within the Arctic Circle and experiences the Aurora Borealis each year. The endless white sandy beaches combined with the beautiful Northern Lights are unquestionably world-class scenery that made Zhang Menglong yearn just by looking at a few photos.


    "They''re really selling this place?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, the lack of tourists has caused their economy to stagnate, and the virus has depleted a lot of manpower and resources. If they truly had any other option, why would they ever consider selling their own territory?"


    "How much?"


    "''How much?'' That question made Gu Anshan pause. Why did it feel like Zhang Menglong was asking the price of vegetables at a market? This was a nation''s territory, couldn''t he be more serious?"


    "Does Mr. Zhang want to buy the right to use this place for a fixed period of time or purchase it outright?"


    "Sorry, it''s my first time buying land, I have no experience." Zhang Menglong was a bit embarrassed. His ancestors were probably experts at buying territory, and here he was, not knowing anything, which was indeed awkward.


    "Briz Country has two quotes. For Aurora Coast, you can choose to buy usage rights for 100 years. During those 100 years, the coast is your private territory. You can do anything you want with it, and if you want to develop a tourism project, you can do so as long as you pay taxes according to regulations. The price is 150 million!"


    "Euros?"


    "Huaxia currency," Gu Anshan said.


    "Cough cough cough!" Gu Anshan almost spit out a mouthful of blood.


    He organized the materials in his hand, then took a deep breath, "Mr. Zhang, right now, our bank is handling projects that include 12 islands, 7 natural scenic areas, and 4 energy industries, with a total value of 10.72 billion Huaxia currency."


    "Well, better than nothing. I''ll take it all."


    "All of it?" Gu Anshan had thought of this possibility before, but when he heard Zhang Menglong''s final decision, he still couldn''t help but be shocked.


    But thinking about Zhang Menglong''s 100 billion US Dollar deposit, these industries combined didn''t even amount to 20 billion US Dollars. It wasn''t even as much as the interest he had initially promised Zhang Menglong for a year; he didn''t even blink an eye!


    "Hong Yi, I''ll leave these matters to you," Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him. "Make sure to look carefully at any contracts before signing so there won''t be any disputes later on."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. Even the undefeated Nanshan Pizza Hut from Tengxun is just a retirement project from one of your former legal personnel. These are trivial matters."


    "Damn, am I really that awesome?" Zhang Menglong was familiar with the fame of "Nanshan Pizza Hut" and was surprised to think that its founder once worked for him.


    "By the way, are there any national construction projects coming up? As a contemporary youth, I see it as my duty. It doesn''t matter if it costs money or not, what''s important is patriotism..."


    "Mr. Zhang, at our bank, all these projects are profitable, so if you want to undertake any construction projects, you would have to bid for them. That''s not something we can do here." Gu Anshan didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to consider throwing his money at national projects.


    "Well, that''s about it for today; I''ll be taking off." Without any opportunities to spend money, Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in staying any longer. He had spent billions of US Dollars in one go, which was a trip well spent, wasn''t it?


    "Hong Yi, keep an eye out for me. If there''s anything like moving icebergs from the Arctic or Antarctic or a land swimming device, I, Zhang Menglong, will fund it."


    "Pfft!" Even Hong Yi couldn''t help but laugh. "Sir, are you looking to learn from Wang Duoyu?"


    "I just don''t believe these things can actually make me money in real life!" Zhang Menglong refused to believe such nonsense.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve got a call, would you like to answer it?" Hong Yi pointed at Zhang Menglong''s vibrating pocket.


    "Hello, Menglong, have you seen the message?" Xu Li''s voice came through from the roommate on the phone.


    "Huh? A message? What message?" Zhang Menglong was clueless.


    "Check our class group chat. Lu Xuchao is saying that everyone is going to start internships soon, so it might be hard to meet up later. He wants everybody to gather once after the National Day holiday. Who doesn''t know that he''s just scored an offer from Unicorn Technology and obviously wants to show off under the guise of this gathering."


    "Let''s go then, what''s there to be afraid of?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. When it came to flaunting wealth, even Uchiha Madara would have to call him the strongest.

 Chapter 25 Lets Build a Gas Station at the Front Door

    "Zhang Menglong, have you lost your mind? Don''t you know that Lu Xuchao is famously pretentious?"


    "I know," Zhang Menglong laughed, "but the guy does have real talent. He''s been the captain of the school debate team since his freshman year, and he started trying to start his own business in his junior year. Though he''s a bit annoying, these kinds of people do well in society."


    "I heard that the treatment at Unicorn Technology has improved another level this year. Even the most basic positions are reaching salaries of over 250,000 a year. Apparently, Lu Xuchao got lucky somehow; a senior executive took a liking to him and offered him an annual salary of 800,000 outright."


    "That impressive?" Zhang Menglong was also surprised. For an undergraduate graduate, a salary of 800,000 a year is really a terrifying figure. Just relying on part-time jobs, most people wouldn''t achieve that income in their entire lives.


    "He organized this dinner purely to show off. For those of us who haven''t even found a job yet, isn''t it like asking for trouble?"


    "That''s just jealousy!" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Aren''t you jealous?" Xu Li was not one bit insincere, "Lemon fruits on the lemon tree, you and I beneath the lemon tree, don''t forget, you two competed for the ''Outstanding Graduate'' award, and you won over him. He might just try to get back at you this time!"


    Even though Lu Xuchao spent a lot of time on clubs and starting his business, he thereby neglected his studies. Zhang Menglong, relying on his last-minute cramming skills, snatched the title of ''Outstanding Graduate'' from Lu Xuchao, for which he had received no shortage of disdainful looks from him.


    "It''s just a lousy certificate, what''s the use!" Zhang Menglong had seen through it all. In society, those honors from the school are nothing. In the eyes of those business HRs, an outstanding graduate is far less popular than a student with internship experience. That''s the reality of society.


    "You do have a point."


    "Buddy, now that I''ve inherited a billion-dollar fortune, do I still care about these things?" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "Are you ever going to wake up from this dream?" Xu Li laughed, "Alright, you inherited a billion-dollar fortune, huh? If you''re capable, why don''t you show something to us then?"


    "Sure, but you''d better find a doctor in advance because I''m afraid your heart might not take it and will need some rescuing later."


    "Hahaha, you crack me up," Xu Li clearly didn''t take Zhang Menglong''s words seriously, "Since you''re going too, let''s all go. There''s a saying that''s indeed correct, the chances for all of us to gather together will only get rarer, let''s cherish it while we still have the time."


    "By the way, what about the other classmates?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Those guys? Why even ask, how could they miss an opportunity to suck up? You know very well, our classmates... hard to describe in a word. Just watch, it''s going to be a major bootlicking scene!" Xu Li snorted disdainfully at the thought of their classmates.


    "Well, let''s be real, society is pretty pragmatic after graduation; maybe Lu Xuchao really could help them out?"


    "Forget it, besides showing off, when has he ever thought about us? Enough talk now, I''m off to upgrade my Kun. I must get it to level 100 today, I''m out."


    "This guy." Zhang Menglong hung up the phone with a laugh and a sigh.


    "Mr. Zhang, your car sent by Mr. Su has arrived. Would you like to check it out?" just at that moment, Hong Yi came over to report to Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s weird, the person who drives this kind of car, living in such an ordinary residential area?"


    "You know nothing, in this area, the lowest housing price is 80,000 per square meter. Look at the size of those houses; just one of them costs tens of millions. Can you afford it?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t pay any attention to these remarks and just drove onto the road.


    "My God, what a handsome car!"


    "That emblem, oh my, Koenigsegg, slow down! Slow down, man!"


    "Honey, isn''t that car good-looking? It must be really expensive, right?"


    "At least tens of millions, what do you think?"


    "That expensive? If we were to scratch it, selling our house might not even cover the cost."


    "Then why aren''t you slowing down? Are you planning to crash into it?!"


    Wherever this car went, it was met with envious gazes. As for the drivers, they all maintained a distance of more than ten meters from him. During the congested National Day evening rush, Zhang Menglong actually had a smooth ride on the elevated roads.


    ...


    "Awesome!"


    Although he didn''t reach the top speed, just this one lap, with the intense pushback and perfect driving sensation, showed Zhang Menglong what a top-level sports car felt like.


    "Damn, I only drove a lap, how come so much fuel is gone?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the dashboard and immediately looked displeased.


    "What''s the matter, Mr. Zhang? Are you unsatisfied with the new car?" Hong Yi noticed Zhang Menglong''s expression.


    "No, it''s not that, it''s just too troublesome to refuel every few days."


    "What''s the big deal?" Hong Yi said with a smile, "How about this, I''ll arrange it so we build a gas station right at your doorstep."


    "You can actually build one just like that?" Zhang Menglong had always thought that was just a joke on the internet.


    "It''s not possible for ordinary people, but for you, it''s no problem," Hong Yi replied, "Over 80% of the oil wells from which our country imports oil are under your businesses. I''ll just have someone build a private gas station for you!"


    Zhang Menglong looked at Hong Yi, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, "I concede defeat."

 Chapter 26 Why Should He Deserve My Toast?

    A few days went by in the blink of an eye, and Zhang Menglong didn''t leave the complex for several days straight, taking a full three days just to tour the entire place!


    Who knows what his dad was thinking when he designed this house; almost every bathroom faced a world-famous painting worth tens of millions of US Dollars. Every time Zhang Menglong took a shower, he felt like someone was watching him,


    And that wasn''t all. Right in front of every toilet and urinal hung a painting with a starting price of a million US Dollars. He really wanted to ask his dad if facing these masterpieces somehow made going to the bathroom smoother or what?


    But the most surprising thing to him was the library, which was a staggering three stories high. Calling it a library was an understatement; it was more like a museum. Almost everything on display was priceless, and Zhang Menglong even found an original copy of "The Plum in the Golden Vase" among the items!


    He wondered what the hell the use was in his ancestors preserving this thing¡ªwas it to enlighten future generations?


    Zhang Menglong initially thought the value of the complex was already terrifying, but after seeing the library, he realized that compared to the worth of the collections inside, the rest of the complex was nothing.


    "What''s wrong with you today, playing the game so listlessly?" On the last afternoon, Zhang Menglong was playing games as usual with "Frappuccino Double Sugar."


    "Don''t even mention it. I don''t know what''s wrong with my house''s plumbing today; several toilets are clogged. Do you know the agony of riding the elevator up and down 22 floors just to use the restroom? Plus, I got food poisoning from eating seafood yesterday and have already run to the bathroom seven times!" Zhang Menglong was pale, struggling even to aim with his 98k sniper rifle.


    "Hahaha, keep bluffing!" "Frappuccino Double Sugar" laughed at Zhang Menglong''s exaggerated description, "Why don''t you also say it takes you ten minutes to drive to your kitchen for meals?"


    "Believe it or not, I''ll give you a tour of my house sometime and you''ll see!"


    "I bet you just want to show me what color your bedsheets are."


    "Oh come on, what''s with you, girl? I am a decent person!" Zhang Menglong grinned foolishly at his phone; they didn''t shy away from making risque? jokes while chatting.


    "Shut up, I suspect you''re playing this game with me while you''re taking a dump."


    "Damn it, take down that camera you installed in my bathroom right now!" Zhang Menglong said fiercely.


    "Hahaha, nope! Lala la!"


    "Boom!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you actually used a grenade to blow me up! Apologize now!"


    "Nope, lala la!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, your class reunion is at six in the evening; it''s about time you headed out."


    "Okay, I got it!" Zhang Menglong had just finished playing his game, and he looked at "Frappuccino Double Sugar"''s avatar with a rich smile, "I wonder what kind of person she really is."


    "Mr. Zhang, your girlfriend?" Hong Yi noticed the sweet expression on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "No, just a good friend," replied Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you like her, why not go after her? With your status, even European princesses would line up to marry you!" joked Hong Yi.


    "President Lu is generous!"


    "Come on, let''s all drink to President Lu!"


    Suddenly, someone asked, "By the way, how many of us from the class came today? Has everyone arrived?"


    "In total, 12 people couldn''t make it for various reasons. There are 32 of us left, and only 31 have arrived."


    "Seems like Zhang Menglong hasn''t shown up yet, has he?"


    "Oh right, when I sent out the message, it seemed like he was the only one who didn''t reply. I''ve no idea what''s up with him."


    "The guy is an honor graduate, a real geek. As if he''d stoop low enough to hang out with us!"


    "Being an honor graduate is useless crap. When you get to the workplace, it''s all about what you can do. I heard Zhang Menglong got rejected in the final round of an interview at Wangyi not long ago."


    "What a pity, the Pig Factory isn''t much worse than the Big Three!"


    "What''s there to pity? If he got rejected, it just means his abilities weren''t up to snuff. Look at our President Lu, he didn''t just get an offer from a Unicorn, but he started at a P7 level, leaving him far behind!"


    "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Look, here he comes!"


    It was at this moment that Zhang Menglong finally hurried over. It was the last day of the National Day holiday, and the roads were so congested it was almost impassable. He''d almost had to call for his helicopter.


    "Sorry, sorry, the traffic was a bit heavy, so I got here a little late," Zhang Menglong apologized with a smile on his face.


    "Menglong, we''ve been waiting for you for ages. What took you so long?" a few roommates immediately surrounded him warmly and punched him playfully.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re late," Lu Xuchao said, swaying his wine glass, his smile concealing an imperceptible sneer.


    "Zhang Menglong, since President Lu is treating today, you should at least drink to President Lu for being late, shouldn''t you?"


    "Exactly, drink to President Lu, consider it an apology for your lateness!"


    Zhang Menglong frowned, suddenly feeling somewhat estranged from the classmates around him.


    "Menglong, what Zhang Xucao said to you was obviously meant to target you," Xu Li whispered.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong replied with a slight smile. Lu Xuchao really knew how to exploit the classmates'' clinging mentality.


    But Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to fall for it.


    "Zhang Menglong, why are you still standing there? Hurry up already!"


    "That''s right, haven''t you not found a job yet? Maybe Xucao could refer you!"


    "So, I should drink to him?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Why should I?"

 Chapter 27 Todays expenses are all covered by Young Master Zhang

    "What?" Zhang Menglong''s unabashed retort caught everyone off guard; they hadn''t expected his attitude to be so strong, especially since the reunion had just begun, and the thick smell of gunpowder was already wafting through the air.


    "Awesome, Zhang!" Those classmates were uncomfortable while they were constantly flattering before, but now they felt a mix of sourness and relief.


    "We can''t just pamper him, can we?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I didn''t come here to see them; it''s mainly for us to catch up properly!


    "Hahaha, you''re right, as long as we aren''t awkward, they are the awkward ones," Sun Yulei said.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean by that?"


    "You come here to eat and drink for free, so why the attitude like someone owes you something?"


    "Exactly! Lu, General Manager, is cherishing our classmates'' friendship by paying for this, and by acting this way, you''re just ruining the harmony in the class!"


    "Hey, we''re all classmates, there''s no need to be so confrontational!" Although Lu Xuchao was quite annoyed, he couldn''t show it in front of so many people; he had to maintain a perfect image, and at that moment, he had to promote his own moral excellence.


    "It''s understandable that Menglong has been upset recently since he faced so many rejections while job hunting; let''s not force him to drink."


    "Menglong," Lu Xuchao walked up to Zhang Menglong and clapped him on the shoulder, "though I just joined the company, I do have some connections. If you''re interested, I could refer you internally. With your skills, you should have a chance to join Unicorn Technologies."


    "That''s so magnanimous of General Manager Lu!"


    "Unlike some people, who are just clueless."


    Suddenly, envious and jealous glances converged on Zhang Menglong. Just getting into Unicorn Technologies, even at a P5 level, was far better than being a common wage earner!


    "Thanks, but I don''t need it right now," Zhang Menglong flatly refused Lu Xuchao, knowing exactly what was on his mind.


    "No problem, the fall recruitment isn''t over yet, take your time!" Lu Xuchao''s face had already turned somewhat ugly.


    For some reason, he was confident he could dominate over Zhang Menglong today, but there was an inexplicable confidence emanating from Zhang Menglong.


    "It must be my imagination!"


    "Waiter, let''s start!" The party had just begun, and now Lu Xuchao had already become the center of attention. He no longer cared about Zhang Menglong; after all, they were not from the same world anymore, so why should he dwell on it?


    "Everyone, let loose and have fun today, I''m paying!" Lu Xuchao shouted.


    That statement immediately revived the somewhat awkward atmosphere.


    Before long, beautifully wrapped bottles of red wine and several trolleys were rolled in.


    "Wait a minute!" Lu Xuchao''s gaze suddenly fell on the wines, "What is this?"


    "Sir, this is Romane?e-Conti from 2005," the waiter politely responded.


    "Damn! Romane?e-Conti? Did I hear that right?"


    "Is this wine expensive?"


    "Not just expensive, it''s legendary in the world of wine! My god, just these ten bottles must be over a hundred thousand, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, this place seems a bit small. How about I change the venue for you? We always have a VIP venue reserved for you here."


    "Oh? There''s such a thing?" Zhang Menglong looked around. The place wasn''t actually small, but to accommodate more than thirty people, it indeed was a bit cramped, "That would be great, thank you."


    "No trouble, no trouble at all!" The chubby man smiled broadly, personally leading them to the so-called VIP venue.


    This VIP venue was located on the top floor of the hotel, a rooftop design from where one could even see a panoramic view of the entire wetland landscape. Not only that, there was a swimming pool, a dance floor, and all sorts of musical instruments. It was truly a massive party scene!


    "Not bad at all." Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you have any other requests, just let me know. I will make sure everything is taken care of."


    "Hahaha, no need, it''s rare to gather with classmates, I will pay for all expenses tonight!" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "What?" The manager was stunned for a moment. The hotel was your property, what difference did it make whether you paid the bill or not?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you need to pay when you are consuming at your own hotel?"


    "Oh, that''s right." Zhang Menglong also felt a bit awkward.


    "This... this hotel is your property?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were dumbfounded. This was an international chain of five-star hotels, not some roadside diner!


    "I told you I inherited a fortune, now do you believe me?" Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "How is this possible?" Lu Xuchao''s face turned from green to purple. This hotel was Zhang Menglong''s property, he had such a fortune and still looked for jobs and worked?


    As for the other classmates, their expressions were even more vivid. They had been classmates for over three years and only now did they find out that Zhang Menglong was an unequivocal rich man! They had just been troubling Zhang Menglong earlier to flatter Lu Xuchao.


    Suddenly, everyone wanted to find a crevice to crawl into.


    "Well then, let''s do this, I''ll take care of the expenses for the entire hotel today!" Zhang Menglong directly handed a card to the manager, "The money that should be collected has to be collected since the hotel still has to operate!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand." Although the hotel''s daily turnover was terrifying, he knew that as the owner of this hotel chain, Zhang Menglong''s wealth was even more formidable, and he did not need to worry about him.


    Moments later, the background music in all private rooms and venues of the entire hotel was turned down, and a somewhat excited voice suddenly echoed throughout the Lofitte Hotel.


    "Dear guests, tonight''s expenses for the entire venue will be covered by Mr. Zhang from the VIP venue, let''s cheer for him!"


    Instantly, the entire hotel became deadly quiet, and guests holding chopsticks had a blank expression, unsure where to look.


    But after the moment of silence, a wave of loud noises suddenly erupted.


    "Holy shit! What''s happening?"


    "Are you kidding? Just a private room at Lofitte Hotel costs tens of thousands, plus those special event venues, without millions, who can cover it all?"


    "Awesome! Big spender! Where is the VIP venue? I want to pay my respects!"


    "Rich or not, doesn''t matter. Mainly I like making friends, I want to go meet this Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang? Zhang Wujie?"


    ...

 Chapter 28 So it turns out that Unicorn Technology is mine too

    The vast VIP venue had become utterly silent, nobody expected that Zhang Menglong, someone they interacted with day and night, had hidden his true capacity so deeply.


    As of now, Lofitte Hotel''s market value has already exceeded 40 billion US dollars, and to be called a boss by the general manager here would imply that Zhang Menglong was at least one of the major shareholders of this hotel, right?


    In other words, was Zhang Menglong now a billionaire?


    In comparison, what difference was there between Lu Xuchao, who had an annual salary of 800,000 and was considered young and promising in everyone''s eyes just a moment ago, and a beggar?


    Not just that, Zhang Menglong had also just footed the bill for the entire hotel''s expenses today!


    They were unclear about how much the hotel made in one night''s revenue, but judging from the expenditure at their event, it wouldn''t be less than several million, and even ten million would be considered normal. Zhang Menglong had reached such a lavish level of spending that describing it as "spending money like water" would not be an exaggeration!


    "Zhang Meng... Mr. Zhang," those classmates who had just been saying that Zhang Menglong was freeloading immediately changed their expression, "Mr. Zhang, you''ve hidden it from us for so long, no, we must all have a good drink today!


    "Sorry, I drove here today, so can''t drink," Zhang Menglong bluntly refused. Although he could call for a designated driver, he didn''t feel the slightest joy in drinking with a group of people he barely had any relationship with.


    "Hahaha, that''s true, you take a drink, and we''ll down ours!" A few guys from the class chugged their wine, a bottle worth over a hundred thousand they had never tried before. Even if Zhang Menglong didn''t grant them this courtesy, today''s trip would not have been in vain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what the hell is going on with you? Spill it!" Several roommates immediately surrounded Zhang Menglong, "Last time we went to your place, all you had was an apartment of 89 square meters and a Honda, so why are you so stingy? Last time, we were sent off with a meal of seafood that cost more than a thousand?"


    "Yeah, you even said your dad was a fisherman, could it be that he has taken over the entire ocean farm?"


    "And does your family really own hundreds of islands?"


    "Alright, alright, will you give me a chance to explain?" Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected.


    "Okay, let''s hear it, let''s see how you spin this!"


    "What if I say I also just found out how rich my family really is, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong said with a look of grievance.


    "This..." The three roommates looked at each other, indeed, Zhang Menglong''s behavior over the past three years was really no different from ordinary people, eating at the cafeteria every day, with at most a weekend treat at the shopping center.


    The shoes on his feet were typically just common items that cost two or three hundred yuan, and those AJ sneakers were fake. His everyday demeanor didn''t resemble at all that of a child from a family with hundreds of millions in assets; he couldn''t have been pretending all this time, could he? But if he were, he was playing the part way too convincingly, right?


    "Hi, my name is Zhang Menglong," said Zhang Menglong as he walked out from the crowd. "Just call me by my name, ''Mr. Zhang'' sounds like I''m in a period drama."


    "You... not... you..." Xu Feng''s expression suddenly froze, and his entire body seemed to lock in place.


    Not long ago, their company had suddenly announced a significant transfer of shareholder shares. Most of the company''s equity had been transferred to a new boss. As part of the leadership, after making inquiries, Xu Feng found out that the shareholders holding large amounts of shares were just representatives of the real mastermind behind the scenes!


    And now, rumor had it that the boss intended to hand over all his assets to his younger generation. That''s why he was reorganizing all his assets. Although the boss only appeared to own 37% of the shares on the surface, in reality, he controlled over 95% of the company''s shares!


    A piece of top-secret information circulated among the company''s leadership: it was the picture and name of their trusted chairman. Although it was said that the chairman never interfered with the business, leaving most of the matters to the directors, Xu Feng still quietly took note of the chairman''s information.


    This chairman was a young man in his early twenties. At the time, Xu Feng found it hard to believe. How could such a young person have established such a colossal company?


    And the person before him now matched the chairman who had never appeared in public.


    "Mr. Zhang! It''s an honor to meet you. I didn''t expect to see you here!"


    "Huh?" Zhang Menglong paused, "Do you know me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the ordinary staff and management of the company naturally do not know your true face, but Director Bai showed us your information."


    "Wait, what information about me?" Zhang Menglong was getting more confused as he listened.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you know? The directors already transferred most of the shares back into your name. Although you don''t manage the company, in reality, you are still our company''s chairman."


    "What? So Unicorn Technology is mine too?" Zhang Menglong finally understood what he was saying. "Damn, how much stuff did my dad arrange for me?"


    "What? Mr. Zhang, you didn''t know about this?"


    "Er, I''ve just inherited the family''s assets. I don''t know how much stuff there is, so..."


    Upon hearing this, the classmates who had just regained some composure from their shock all opened their mouths wide again in amazement.


    So it turned out Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology! They had actually asked Zhang Menglong to work in Unicorn Technology a moment ago? Asking a chairman to do a regular employee''s job¡ªthey had committed such an absurd mistake!


    They were wrong! Terribly wrong. Zhang Menglong was not just a billionaire; damn it, he was a hundred-billionaire!

 Chapter 29 I Originally Wanted to Keep a Low Profile

    "Mr. Zhang, this one''s for you first!" Xu Feng downed the drink in his glass, "Have a great time, I''ll leave you be."


    Xu Feng bowed slightly to Zhang Menglong and then left the VIP area on that level.


    If Lu Xuchao was merely shocked upon learning that the hotel belonged to Zhang Menglong, now he was practically soul-shaken to the core.


    Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Initially, standing before Zhang Menglong, he had felt a sense of superiority, but now, just a word from Zhang Menglong could potentially get him fired the next day for entering the company with his left foot before the right.


    He believed that if Zhang Menglong wanted, he had a thousand ways to make him unable to stay in the company!


    "Mr. Zhang, I hadn''t thought..." At this moment, Lu Xuchao''s heart was overwhelmed by fear and regret. All these years in university and he''d missed a huge ship! No, not a ship, a friggin'' Galactic Battleship!


    However, Zhang Menglong wasn''t so petty as to use his connections to get back at Lu Xuchao over such a minor squabble, because he never really took Lu Xuchao seriously to begin with. Lu Xuchao had always been silently competing with Zhang Menglong, but it was completely one-sided.


    "Tsk tsk, which Mr. Zhang could it be, indeed it''s you, the tycoon!" Amidst a hearty laughter, a group of people walked into the VIP area.


    "Principal Wang!" Everyone present recognized the young man who had just walked in; he was also at this hotel, and from his tone, he seemed to know Zhang Menglong.


    "Ah!! Ling Ge!" A group of fangirls screamed.


    Though not as popular as the current traffic stars, Ling Ge was undeniably a top-tier star among the younger generation of actors, still highly popular among girls.


    Wang Ling didn''t really care about anyone else; in his eyes, only those whose wealth and background were equal to his own were worthy of being his true friends. As for Ling Ge, he was just quietly following behind Wang Ling.


    "Principal, what brings you here?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling bumped fists.


    "Just came to see which big shot was so generous as to book the entire Lofitte Hotel tonight, and seeing it''s you, I''m not surprised at all." Wang Ling seemed still to be holding a grudge from the day Zhang Menglong had smashed his car worth tens of millions on him.


    "Just hanging out with some college friends today, took the rare chance to have some fun!"


    "Yeah, you''ve got ''happy'' written all over your face!" Wang Ling was extremely shrewd; he could tell that Zhang Menglong''s mood wasn''t actually that great.


    "Oh, he has gone back to Mingzhu City!"


    "Then why aren''t you going back?"


    "Hehe, I''m not planning to go back!" Wang Ling said with a smile, "I plan to move my business to Jiangnan City. As you know, the development here is getting better and better, especially in the e-commerce and internet sectors. I want to make some achievements based on my own skills, so I won''t just be labeled as a spoiled second-generation rich kid."


    "Hahaha, playing less with a couple of internet celebrities is better than anything!"


    "No way!" Wang Ling laughed, "These are the only hobbies I have in life. By the way, I know quite a few socialites. Would you like me to introduce you to some?"


    "Forget it, socialites? Just a bunch of women brainwashed by budget shopping, how could they catch my eye?"


    "Hahaha, you are amazing, Mr. Zhang!" Wang Ling also heard about the latest hot gossip, "Alright, I''m heading back now. If you''re free, why not come over to my place tomorrow?"


    "Sure!" Now that Zhang Menglong was in his senior year, he barely had any classes left, and since he didn''t need to look for a job, why not?


    "OK, it''s settled then. I''ll send you the location tomorrow, and show you some cool stuff that will definitely blow your mind!"


    "Eh, I hope it''s not some messy stuff? I am a respectable person!"


    "Get lost!" Wang Ling laughed and cursed as he left the venue.


    After Wang Ling left, several more groups of people arrived. They were either some company''s CEO or some internet-famous stars¡ªthe place was almost turning into a major high society mingle spot. With all the abundant food, no one had the appetite to continue eating.


    After sending off the last group of guests, Zhang Menglong was somewhat exhausted. Had he known it would be so troublesome, why bother paying? The money just circulated and ended right back in his own pocket; not a cent was spent, and yet here he was, busy being a socialite, really not worth it.


    "Zhang Menglong, you keep things so under wraps!"


    "We underestimated you!" his roommates cast threatening glances at him.


    Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but my strength doesn''t allow it!"


    "Are you even speaking human language? Keep a low profile? When you, Mr. Zhang, paid for everyone at the event, where was your hint of low profile?"


    "Ah!" Sun Yulei sighed, "Perhaps in the eyes of the wealthy, the ultimate low profile is just to this degree..."

 Chapter 30 Actually, I Built Your House

    Jiangnan City''s most luxurious villa is located by the West Lake waterfront. The location in this scenic area is literally worth its weight in gold. During the development of this land, at least hundreds of real estate companies competed, but in the end, Huiteng Group easily acquired it.


    When this villa district was launched, the price had reached an astronomical 120,000 yuan per square meter, and that was the price five years ago. Since the Asia-Pacific Conference, the price here had skyrocketed to 250,000 yuan per square meter, a price only comparable to First-grade in Mingzhu City.


    The residents here were almost all among the wealthiest in Jiangnan City, such as Mr. Ma Yun of Alibaba, who owned a private villa here.


    In the heart of the villa district, a particular villa spanned an area of 1,200 square meters. With various fees included, this villa''s price exceeded 300 million Huaxia yuan!


    This villa had been revealed several years ago and was said to have been purchased by the chairman of Wanda, who is Wang Ling''s father.


    However, this villa had been idle for a long time, until not long ago, it was quietly transferred to Wang Ling''s name.


    "Dad, I''ve invited Menglong to my place today!" Wang Ling was on the phone with her father in that spacious study.


    As someone born into a family of merchants, Wang Ling''s friendship with Zhang Menglong was genuine, of course, though she hoped to gain some benefits from him as well¡ªthat was also true. But it didn''t affect their relationship, as long as she managed it properly.


    "Hmm, I know," a voice full of authority came through the phone, "I''ve checked the information you mentioned, this Zhang Menglong is quite interesting!"


    "Dad, did you investigate him? Didn''t I tell you not to just investigate my friends? If he finds out, this..."


    "Don''t worry, I used some special connections; he won''t find out," said Wang''s father, "I found several identities for him, the most representative being that he is actually the chairman of Unicorn Group!"


    "What?" Wang Ling was stunned. She had planned to enter the internet industry two years ago, but the live streaming sector had been hit by the short video industry, and it was Unicorn Group that thrived on the short video industry, causing her considerable loss at the time.


    Now, Unicorn Group had become a giant she had to look up to, and its market value was even closing in on their family''s Wanda Group!


    "Not bad." Zhang Menglong nodded slightly. This villa was indeed grand, but after experiencing his own residential area, this villa seemed rather ordinary.


    "What do you mean ''not bad''?" Wang Ling didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to be expressionless as if the villa worth three billion simply wasn''t impressive at all, "Brother, just the size of this villa is worth three billion. Could it be that it doesn''t catch the eye of Young Master Zhang?"


    "Hm? Was it developed by Huiteng Group?" Zhang Menglong noticed the property logo on the side.


    "That''s right," Wang Ling said.


    "I see, you invited me over today just to regain your image," Zhang Menglong said half-jokingly.


    "You have a good eye, Young Master Zhang!" Wang Ling readily admitted, "That day, you crushed me with money. Today I must recover some face. And let me tell you, my house has many treasures, all collected by my old man, guaranteed to amaze you!"


    "Let''s not talk about being amazed or not yet," Zhang Menglong pointed at the property logo with a calm expression, "You might not believe this, but Huiteng Group is also part of my family''s assets. In other words, this house was basically built by my family."


    "What the heck?" Wang Ling''s expression instantly twisted, "Huiteng Group... is yours?"


    "Shush!" Zhang Menglong gestured, "Keep it down, keep it down!"


    "Keep it down your sister!" Wang Ling suddenly burst out swearing. He finally found a chance to restore a bit of his dignity, but it turned out, the villa he was so proud of was developed by Zhang Menglong''s family''s real estate group.


    And this real estate group was none other than Huaxia''s largest, Huiteng Group, making him want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!


    "Wait, I remember that the chairman of Huiteng Group is surnamed Hong, not Zhang." Wang Ling was puzzled.


    "Oh, that''s just for keeping a low profile!" Zhang Menglong explained, "The current chairman of Huiteng is my dad''s former butler, and his daughter, my full-time assistant."


    "I..." Wang Ling raised his hand and slapped himself hard on the face, "What am I even showing off! Everything is yours, how can I even compete! I''m totally breaking down!"

 Chapter 31 This Friendship Is Over

    "Stop, stop, stop, don''t fight," Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected, "If you can''t handle this little thrill, I''m afraid you''ll slap your own head off after being friends with me for too long."


    "How was I supposed to know you''re so damn rich? I''m practically throwing my face out there for you to punch!" Wang Ling lamented, on the verge of tears, "I always thought I was one of the top second-generation rich in Huaxia, but compared to you, I''m just a pauper!"


    What kind of behemoth is Huiteng Group? A Fortune Global 500 company, with a market value of over 300 billion US dollars, while by comparison, Wang Ling''s family''s Wanda Group was only worth 300 billion, but their currency was Huaxia yuan.


    That''s a gap of nearly 7 times!


    And heaven knows if Zhang Menglong has any other industries besides Unicorn Group and Huiteng Group, Wang Ling was even too afraid to ask.


    "Hey, don''t keep comparing like that, I''m not interested in money, well, except for spending it!"


    "Shut your mouth, will you!" The more Wang Ling spoke with Zhang Menglong, the more irritated he became, "Just come on in, someone will park your car for you. Just give the keys to the butler."


    "Thanks." Zhang Menglong handed the car keys to the butler, then walked into the luxury villa with Wang Ling.


    The first floor of this villa alone was a whopping 500 square meters, featuring an immensely spacious living room, a small private cinema, a sweat room, a spy room¡ªeverything one could wish for was there.


    "You sure know how to enjoy life!" Everywhere Zhang Menglong looked, there were items from internationally renowned brands, he estimated that the cost of decorating and furnishing this villa might even exceed the value of the villa itself.


    "They''re just some of my old man''s hobbies," Wang Ling said with a laugh, "This is where he planned to retire, but now it''s mine."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, it must be nice to be a rich second-generation," Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "What right do you have to talk about me?" Wang Ling gave Zhang Menglong a disdainful look, "I just snagged a villa under my dad''s name, whereas you have several hundred-billion-dollar corporations. You''re even richer than my old man!"


    "I don''t want to either, but there''s no helping it, that''s fate!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, "I simply wanted to be a regular person with a job, but you can blame NetEase for this, it''s all because one of their related parties took my position, otherwise I wouldn''t have been forced to take over the family fortune."


    "Can you say that with a clear conscience? What do you mean ''forced''? Will your dad need a foster son anytime soon? I too would like to be ''forced'' into inheriting his assets."


    "Alright, enough of that. Aren''t you going to give me a tour? Didn''t you say you had many things here that would blow my mind?" Zhang Menglong stopped the banter.


    "Wait a minute, Zhang Xizhi, why does that name sound so familiar?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and opened a file, a family tree given to him by Hong Yi not long ago.


    "What''s this?" Wang Ling curiously leaned over.


    "Genealogy!" Zhang Menglong''s ancestral line stretched back over two hundred generations, and he was the 250th, "Found it, my 192nd ancestor, named Zhang Xizhi!"


    "You..." Wang Ling''s expression suddenly froze, and he looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a monster, "This Master Zhang Xizhi is your ancestor? It can''t be a coincidence of names, can it?"


    "If he was the wealthiest, then there''s no mistake," Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "My dad told me that our family has been wealthy for thousands of years, of course, we''ve been low-key, so almost no one knows."


    "I bought a watch last year!" At this moment, Wang Ling felt like tearing up the priceless painting right there and then.


    He had been boasting in front of Zhang Menglong for so long, hoping to elicit at least a hint of envy from him, or at the very least, to bask in the glow of his astonished gaze.


    But to his complete surprise, the painting also turned out to be a work by his ancestor.


    "Wait, if your family has been the wealthiest for thousands of years, how much money do you guys have now?" Wang Ling was full of curiosity ¨C it was just too incredible. Logically, if such a family existed, they would have been legendary in history, but there was no Zhang Family mentioned anywhere. Perhaps Zhang Menglong was just boasting?


    "I really don''t know about that," Zhang Menglong opened his phone, "but when I inherited the family wealth, my dad gave me a year''s living expenses."


    "A year''s living expenses? With the way you act, it must be at least in the hundreds of billions, right?" Wang Ling hadn''t forgotten about Zhang Menglong''s tens of billions spent on a fleet of sports cars.


    "Here, count for yourself!" Zhang Menglong showed Wang Ling the balance on his bank card.


    "One, ten, hundred, thousand, million... over nine hundred billion?" Wang Ling''s mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. His earlier joke about hundreds of billions was just that, a joke. Perhaps Zhang Menglong had just recently inherited his family fortune and was behaving like a nouveau riche, possibly having spent the majority of this so-called year''s living allowance on cars.


    "Look at the currency unit."


    "US Dollar?!" Wang Ling''s eyes bulged like bells, nearly a trillion US dollars in assets, and in cash, and this was only Zhang Menglong''s yearly allowance?


    "This..." Wang Ling''s voice even trembled, "Friend, I can''t continue this relationship..."

 Chapter 32 Can the Entire Universe Be Your Home?

    ```


    $100 billion, that''s a number that causes awe just by looking at it. Even if they sold all of the Wanda Group''s assets, they couldn''t buy $100 billion. Zhang Menglong merely needs to take out his yearly allowance, and he could directly buy two Wandas!


    "Zhang Menglong, I now find that being friends with you is just too much pressure," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile and shook his head. From now on, his title of the richest second-generation in Huaxia was only in name.


    "It''s okay, don''t feel pressured," Zhang Menglong patted Wang Ling''s shoulder, "I don''t make friends based on whether they have money or not. After all, definitely no one has more money than I do!"


    "You, haha, I admit defeat!" Wang Ling saw Zhang Menglong use that same line he had once said to tease him, and he couldn''t help but feel both annoyed and amused.


    "Got anything else? Let me broaden my horizons," Zhang Menglong said.


    "How would I dare show off anything in front of you? For all I know, it could be something one of your ancestors left behind. I''d rather not embarrass myself," Wang Ling admitted, thoroughly daunted.


    "This piano is quite nice!" Zhang Menglong walked up to the brown piano in the hall, "It''s of a certain age, but surprisingly, the sound quality is still so intact, it must have been well-maintained."


    Zhang Menglong pressed a few keys, and the piano emitted a clear and touching sound.


    "An expert, I see!" Wang Ling remarked, his excitement picking up again when talking about the piano. "What, have you learned to play?"


    "A bit, but it''s just amateur grade ten level."


    "This piano has been renovated many times. It''s quite significant because its first owner was Chopin."


    "You managed to get your hands on this?" Zhang Menglong remembered that his own family also had a piano used by Beethoven and Liszt; these two pianos, if we''re talking about historical value, should be considered fairly equal.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "My old man loves collecting these things," Wang Ling chuckled, "But this piano is a bit different. Chopin used many pianos throughout his life, and this one was gifted to him by a Huaxia merchant who also carved his inscription on it."


    Wang Ling lifted the lid of the grand piano, and neatly written in regular script on it was a line, "To my friend Chopin¡ªQing, Zhang Wenshan."


    "Wait," Wang Ling''s body abruptly tensed, then slowly turned toward Zhang Menglong, "This merchant''s surname is Zhang, it can''t be that much of a coincidence, can it?"


    "You''re right, it is indeed such a coincidence." Zhang Menglong found Zhang Wenshan''s name in the family tree, and the era he lived in matched perfectly with Chopin''s.


    "Hahaha, you don''t need to know exactly what inspiration you gave me, but I must really thank you for this. How about it? Want to pick any one of the cars I bought last time? But the Koenigsegg CCXR is off-limits!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I find you to be a beast!" Wang Ling said through clenched teeth, "Even if I, Wang Ling, were to die broke, even if I jumped off the third floor, I would never take anything from you again!"


    "Is that so? I was actually planning to have the factory make another CCXR for you!"


    "What? Make another one for me? Do you think you own Koenigsegg or something?"


    "You guessed right. I hold a majority of the shares in Koenigsegg through my people. Otherwise, why do you think they would stop all other orders to build cars for me?"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Since you don''t want it, then forget it, to avoid the hassle..."


    "I want it, I want it, who said I didn''t!" Wang Ling quickly interjected, "Damn, that''s sweet!"


    "By the way, there''s a gemstone appreciation event next week in Jiangnan City. Are you interested in checking it out?" Since Wang Ling had already become close with Zhang Menglong, naturally, he wanted to create more opportunities to strengthen their relationship.


    "You''re interested in that?"


    "Hahaha, I heard that this appreciation event will have quite a few jade raw stones. Have you ever heard of stone gambling?"


    "The kind that''s been written to death in urban novels?" Zhang Menglong quipped.


    "Exactly, but this is reality, so there''s no such thing as X-ray vision or supernatural powers. I plan to buy a couple of pieces and try my luck too. Who knows, I might make a small fortune."


    "No supernatural powers, but I have the power of cash!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He had heard that stone gambling often involved raw stones worth hundreds of thousands or even millions. Wasn''t this a faster way to spend money than buying sports cars?


    ...


    As the two chatted over their meal, Wang Ling, who had grown up in a wealthy family, really had a different perspective. After this conversation, Zhang Menglong felt that there might be a chance to accomplish his task of spending 100 billion US dollars within a year.


    He also wondered what exactly the Super God Academy was like. Zhang Menglong''s curiosity grew stronger. He believed that as long as he gained access to the Super God Academy, he would definitely find out where his parents had gone!

 Chapter 33 Lets start by investing 50 million

    "Menglong, how was your October 1 holiday?" The next morning, bright and early, Zhang Menglong received a call from his senior, Zhu Mengchao.


    "Not bad, and you, senior?"


    "Us miserable PhD students, of course, were just shaking those bottles and jars in the lab," Zhu Mengchao said helplessly. "I don''t know what got into my head, finishing grad school and then enrolling in a PhD program. My hair is thinning by the day, yet my pockets have never bulged."


    "Don''t you get a decent monthly subsidy?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Subsidy? Forget about it! The university''s three-thousand subsidy is barely enough to live on, a casual purchase by the girlfriend and it''s all gone. This year, Teacher Han''s research funding is too tight; our labor fee has already been cut from four thousand a month to eight hundred. More tears than words!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. It seemed that due to this year''s overall situation, these traditional enterprises had been affected, and even university professors were unable to secure research funding.


    "Let''s not talk about that anymore. You should start preparing for your thesis. Let''s start tomorrow; I''ll send you some materials to look over, and tomorrow I''ll take you to start the experiments."


    "Alright," said Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong turned on his computer, and indeed a file had already been sent to his email.


    "Graphene surface modification?" Zhang Menglong glanced briefly at his topic. Graphene was a very popular inorganic material recently; its excellent performance plays a critically important role in many domains.


    However, the cost of producing graphene was quite high; the most common Hummer''s method produced in labs results in less than one gram per week, and its purity was very low.


    Those high-purity graphenes even sold for thousands of yuan per gram, ten times more expensive than gold!


    "Wow, indeed, engaging in scientific research is the most expensive!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his experiment content; just the price of this one gram of high-purity graphene reached 2000 yuan. No wonder these professors are always trying to make money in various enterprises, a research group is simply like a money-burning machine.


    Thinking this, Zhang Menglong immediately called Zhu Mengchao again.


    "Menglong, what''s up, do you have any questions about the topic?"


    "No issues with the topic," Zhang Menglong said, "I just wanted to ask, senior, whether our research group''s funding is really tight?"


    "Ah, speaking of this, I''m really troubled!" Zhu Mengchao lowered his voice. "Last year, Teacher Han secured 30 million yuan in research funding, hoping to achieve some breakthroughs in graphene. We''ve had some success now."


    "But this 30 million in funding will last less than a month at most. The enterprises collaborating with us are also pressing us for results. Business is tough, and they are unwilling to increase their research investment anymore. Teacher Han has been worried sick during this period."


    "Is the funding gap huge?" Zhang Menglong tentatively asked.


    Especially when asking them for money, it was like bowing and scraping.


    Today, he had been given the cold shoulder again. The project had been ongoing, and its achievements were merely on paper. However, the businesses were completely uninterested in what level of papers were published, even if they were on top-notch international journals like Science or Nature.


    They only cared about how the research results could be applied to the industry, how it could help them make more money, and that was all.


    Having already invested 30 million, they had seen no returns yet, and now Han Jinyu was asking them for more funds. Wasn''t that a joke? Businesses were not charities!


    Just as Han Jinyu was on the verge of a breakdown, his phone rang, but on the other end was the voice of a very young man.


    "Hello, may I speak to Professor Han?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Professor Han, I''m Zhang Menglong, who chose your research group for my graduation project this year. You should remember me, right?"


    "Oh, it''s you," Han Jinyu said, "Didn''t I assign Zhu Mengchao to guide you with the experiments? What''s the matter, did something go wrong with the experiments, or has your senior neglected his duties?"


    Han Jinyu''s attitude quickly made Zhang Menglong feel favorable towards him. He knew many teachers who always acted high and mighty towards ordinary students. Just for that, Zhang Menglong was willing to help him.


    "No, not at all, senior has been taking good care of me."


    "Well, that''s good. So, did you call me for something?" Han Jinyu really couldn''t imagine why a graduate would call him unless he hoped for leniency in his graduation project.


    "Professor Han, I heard that your research group has recently encountered some financial problems, so..."


    "Did Meng Chao tell you that?" Han Jinyu''s tone suddenly became serious. That kind of information was supposed to be confidential within the research group. How could it be casually mentioned to a student doing a graduation project?


    "Teacher, please don''t be angry, here''s the thing: I have some funds I''d like to invest in our research group as research funds. When would you be available to discuss this matter?"


    "Research funds?" Han Jinyu couldn''t help but laugh, "How much are you planning to invest in our lab?"


    "Let''s start with 50 million for now?"


    "What? 50 million?"


    "Yes, and if that''s not enough, I can add more later. You said you''re out of town these days, so I..."


    "No, no, no, where are you right now? I''ll return to the university immediately!" Han Jinyu suddenly seemed to regain all his energy. This time, his research was saved!

 Chapter 34 Hazy, I Have a Daughter

    Han Jinyu purchased his return flight ticket to Jiangnan City with the utmost urgency. Although he was still not certain if what Zhang Menglong had said was true or false, with the research funding at such a critical juncture, he had to explore every possible opportunity!


    "This Professor Han really does things with vigor!" Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly, clearly having underestimated just how vital research funding is to a professor.


    Because he would have to travel frequently to the school for his graduation project in the coming period, Zhang Menglong temporarily moved to another apartment of his near the school.


    Although it wasn''t as luxurious as the one in the city center, the 400-square-meter apartment was still quite comfortable and convenient to live in; at least he didn''t have to ride the elevator up and down all day. As for other household matters, Hong Yi had already arranged them for him.


    "If only there was a mistress of the house as well." Two girls suddenly came to mind for Zhang Menglong, one who had made him cry like an idiot on his dormitory balcony, the other whose thought made the corners of his lips rise in a smile without him realizing it.


    The next day, Zhang Menglong arrived at the research group''s laboratory at the time agreed with Zhu Mengchao. As the largest research group in their material science department, Professor Han had under him 2 associate professors, 7 lecturers, and over thirty doctoral and masters students.


    This entire building floor was their laboratory and office area, and just maintaining the operation of this vast research group cost a fortune each year.


    "Junior brother, did you really go to see Professor Han yesterday?" Zhu Mengchao explained the main experimental content and the points to pay attention to, and he asked during a lull.


    "Yes, Professor Han seems to be coming back today," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? He''s coming back today?"


    "Click!" Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the next office; it was Han Jinyu''s office ¡ª he was back!


    "To be able to bring back Professor Han in such a short time, over the years, you''re the only one who could do it!" Zhu Mengchao gave Zhang Menglong a thumbs-up.


    "Then I''ll go see Professor Han now," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Junior brother, whether the rest of us can eat well in the coming year all depends on you, don''t let our excitement be in vain!" Zhu Mengchao said with full anticipation.


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!" Zhang Menglong knocked on the door of Han Jinyu''s office.


    "Come in." A robust voice of a middle-aged man came from the office.


    Despite his many honors and achievements, Han Jinyu was only under fifty years old. Having such accomplishments at this age was already quite remarkable in the academic world.


    "How much does this thing cost?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Do you know about the electron-positron collider CEPC that Huaxia is currently planning to build? Its estimated construction cost is about 36 billion Huaxia yuan."


    "36 billion?" Zhang Menglong abruptly stood up from the sofa.


    "Y...Yes, what''s the matter..." Han Jinyu noticed that the look in Zhang Menglong''s eyes wasn''t one of panic due to this terrifying number, but instead, it was an inexplicable excitement.


    "Teacher Han, you''ve really helped me out a lot this time!" Zhang Menglong excitedly grabbed Han Jinyu''s hand, "Teacher Han, I''ve decided, this time I''m going to sponsor our lab with a hundred million!"


    "A hundred million?" Han Jinyu''s eyes widened, "Menglong, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Since the establishment of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, no research group had ever had such a staggering research fund, especially since in past years, the entire university had only a few hundred million yuan in funds.


    "Teacher Han, give me an account number for the lab''s funds."


    "Oh... okay." Han Jinyu, still in a somewhat hungover state, mumbled a string of numbers to Zhang Menglong.


    "Hong Yi, help me transfer a hundred million into this account!" Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hong Yi.


    A moment later, Han Jinyu''s phone vibrated with an alert from the bank.


    The text message showed that their research group''s public account had just received a fund transfer of a hundred million!


    Zhang Menglong was telling the truth; he wasn''t joking!


    A big smile suddenly creased Han Jinyu''s face with wrinkles.


    "Menglong, don''t just stand there, sit!" Han Jinyu shouted out to the room, "Uh, Meng Chao, hurry over here, wash the teaware for me, and brew a pot of tea for your junior brother!"


    In Han Jinyu''s eyes, Zhang Menglong was no longer just an ordinary student, but a gold-master daddy!


    "Menglong, don''t worry about your thesis this time. I will have Meng Chao assist you with all his might, and as for authorship on our research group''s outcomes, whether you want to be the first author or the corresponding author, it''s up to you to choose!"


    "Uh, Teacher Han, you don''t have to do this; the research results are all yours. I wouldn''t feel right monopolizing them. I just purely wanted to support our scientific research cause," Zhang Menglong interjected.


    "No way! How can the results be all ours? You also have a part in this!" Han Jinyu insisted, "Well, Menglong, if you''re not interested in the research results, I have a daughter who is about to return from studying abroad. She''s very beautiful. Since you''re both young, you surely have a lot to talk about. How about I give you her WeChat..."

 Chapter 35 35 chapters Do you have any friends who lack scientific research funding?

    "Mr. Han, there''s really no need, no need at all!" Zhang Menglong simply wanted to spend some money, why had Mr. Han started to promote his daughter in desperation?


    Mr. Han Jinyu was already nearly in despair. If he couldn''t secure this funding for scientific research, his research would stagnate; moreover, without any output, he was facing the risk of breaching contracts with that company.


    Yet the money from Zhang Menglong could not only solve his immediate crisis but even smoothly handle his research work for the coming years. He had never thought that he would accidentally end up with such a wealthy student this year.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Being able to get into Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was proof enough of Zhang Menglong''s excellent learning capabilities. Coupled with his profound family background, even if he truly married his daughter to him, his daughter wouldn''t be at a loss, and perhaps there would even be a steady flow of research funding, making becoming an academician just a matter of time.


    "Menglong, I definitely won''t let you be disappointed with this investment. If we later reach industrialization, you''ll be the largest shareholder!" promised Han Jinyu. His project wasn''t just theoretical research; otherwise, no company would be interested. Of course, the timeline would be at least three to five years, but now, aside from this, he had nothing else to impress Zhang Menglong with.


    "Mr. Han, please wait a moment, I''ll make a call to order some lab equipment," said Zhang Menglong as he took out his phone.


    "There''s no need, Menglong, we can handle the equipment issue ourselves," Han Jinyu hastily said, knowing best what type of equipment delivers the best value for money.


    "Mr. Han, this money is simply for purchasing raw materials as well as for the routine operation of the lab. The money for the equipment isn''t included," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "The senior brothers and sisters are also working quite hard. You should issue them more for their labor fees!"


    "What? The money doesn''t even include the cost of the equipment!" Han Jinyu felt like he''d been struck by lightning. Was Zhang Menglong saying he''d need to take out extra for the equipment? Exactly how wealthy was he? Had Han Jinyu not known Zhang Menglong before, he might have really suspected that Zhang had ulterior motives regarding him.


    "Our school''s equipment must be the best if we are to use it. I plan to spend money to equip our research group with a batch of top-level experimental equipment. Just give me the list, and I''ll arrange it right away!" Zhang Menglong said, "I might not know much about this stuff, but we definitely need the best and most expensive.


    You don''t need to worry about how difficult they are to purchase, as long as any country on Earth manufactures them, I can get them!"


    "Great, great, great!" Han Jinyu was so excited he almost knocked over his chair. What kind of miraculous student was this? If every student was this wealthy and generous, why would he worry about not producing results? He could simply buy his way to academician-level achievements with money!


    "Mr. Han, your tea is here," Zhu Mengchao said as he entered the office with a tea set.


    "Meng Chao," Han Jinyu frantically searched the literature for the best equipment, his head too busy to even look up, "Tell the younger brothers and sisters, starting today, the graduate students in our research group will receive a labor fee of 10,000 per month, doctoral students 15,000 per month, and since you are the senior brother, you get 20,000 per month.


    Zhang Menglong remembered his father saying that on Earth, there was nothing their family couldn''t accomplish, and if there was, he must be dreaming without having woken up yet.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, you own a large number of research institutes, and the largest Particle Collider in Europe was partly developed by those institutes. In other words, you control the technology for building the Particle Collider, and the only issue is the time cost."


    "He can even build a Particle Collider?" Han Jinyu''s eyes lit up at hearing this news. Having a Particle Collider would open up possibilities for many projects he previously wouldn''t even dare to think about!


    "It''s good if it can be built," Zhang Menglong breathed a sigh of relief, "How much?"


    "The cost is approximately 25 billion Huaxia currency, but it will take a relatively long time."


    "That''s not expensive at all!" Zhang Menglong pursed his lips. How wonderful it would be if it were 25 billion US Dollars?


    As for how much earlier it would be ready, Zhang Menglong didn''t care about that at all; spending money was all that mattered to him.


    "25 billion? That''s not expensive?" Han Jinyu was utterly dumbfounded. Was this even a human language? Across the entire Huaxia, aside from large research institutions, which organization could pull together such a massive amount of money to purchase such an instrument?


    The most crucial part was that Zhang Menglong was buying this Particle Collider for their research group! He could already imagine that in a couple of years, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, his research group, would become the scientific research hub for the entire Eastern China region!


    "Okay, go ahead and make the arrangements. Remember, it has to be the most expensive, the best quality!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang, I''ll handle it. However, your school might not have enough space for this instrument..."


    "I''ll talk to the principal!" Han Jinyu shouted thoughtlessly. He was confident the principal would willingly clear a substantial amount of space for their use, and might even revere him, Han Jinyu, since he was the one who secured this investment!


    "Professor Han, I need to discuss another matter with you."


    "Go ahead, if there''s anything I can help you with, I''ll do my best, whether it''s helping you secure a position for graduate study or even direct admission to a doctoral program," Han Jinyu said.


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong glanced around and lowered his voice, "Professor Han, do you have friends who work in scientific research, those who are terribly poor and can''t secure funding?"

 Chapter 36 First Come, First Served

    "Menglong, what do you mean by this?" Given Zhang Menglong''s recent behavior, Han Jinyu had already roughly guessed the purpose behind his question.


    But this made no sense. Han Jinyu, a completely high-ranking intellectual who had entered a top-level Huaxia institution at 18 and completed his master''s and doctoral studies abroad, filled his mind with nothing but wisdom, yet he could not fathom what Zhang Menglong intended with these actions.


    Having sponsored their research group with one hundred million, Han Jinyu was confident he''d break even within three years once his project was commercialized.


    Yet, spending a huge sum on a Particle Collider for him was absurd. Even if the project was commercialized successfully, breaking even was not guaranteed, and such equipment was consumable, with astronomical sums required yearly for maintenance and personnel.


    Plainly put, the money Zhang Menglong spent could never be recovered!


    He didn''t believe Zhang Menglong''s declaration of supporting their scientific research. Even if he truly had the funds, sponsoring a few tens of millions was already excessive. Spending billions was preposterous unless he was out of his mind or had some ulterior motive.


    As for Zhang Menglong''s motives, Han Jinyu didn''t care at all. As long as he had the funding for research and top-level experimental conditions, he wouldn''t even frown if it meant giving up his daughter. Perhaps that''s just what being a scientific research magnate entails.


    "Teacher Han, honestly, I have some funds and now that I have graduated, I would really like to do something for our school. But it wouldn''t be fair to favor some over others, right? If you have other colleagues who need research funding, I am also willing to invest in them."


    "Are you serious?" Han Jinyu''s ability to advance to his position at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was indicative of his good relationships; otherwise, he wouldn''t have the support of other teachers and leaders to become the department head.


    Isn''t there a scholar in the world who doesn''t lack research funding? Conducting scientific research is like a money pit, and every teacher is short of funds! This year has been particularly tough, to the point where some have even been hospitalized over their concern about the lack of research funding.


    If Han Jinyu could secure research funding for these teachers, they would owe him a tremendous favor. In the future, his reputation in the school might rival even that of the president!


    "Of course, it''s true. Rather than picking another day, how about today?" Zhang Menglong didn''t have time to find these teachers one by one. Besides, if they knew someone was willing to provide them with research funding, wouldn''t they come crawling over even if their legs were broken?


    "How about this, Teacher Han, please inform our school''s teachers that I am willing to allocate ten billion to our school''s research groups."


    "Did you say ten billion?" Han Jinyu gasped, but considering that Zhang Menglong had effortlessly spent 250 billion just moments ago, perhaps ten billion was nothing more significant to him!


    "Yes, ten billion!" Zhang Menglong nodded to confirm.


    "Okay, okay, okay, I''ll call them right now!"


    Han Jinyu quickly pulled out his phone. Although he was older, in this age of information overload, these professors all had their own groups, and as a department head, Han Jinyu was present in many of them.


    "Old pals, I have news for you. I''ve secured a sponsorship of ten billion for our university today!"


    The moment he sent out this message, the groups exploded.


    "Old Han, are you pulling our leg? Even Jiangnan University only gets about fifty billion a year in research funding. I heard you''ve been running around so much these days for your graphene project that you''re about to break a leg. Where did you get ten billion?"


    "I''m off too, my doctor wants me to do some rehabilitation training, you guys continue!"


    All of a sudden, the dozens of teachers in the group each claimed to have something to attend to, and the once lively group instantly fell silent.


    ...


    "That Han, what kind of stroke of luck has he got himself into to find such an investor? If he dares to deceive me, I will definitely vote against him during the review!" Professor Qi, the closest to Han Jinyu, using the excuse of reading documents, was the first to arrive at Han''s scientific research building.


    Knowing Han Jinyu as he did, he was certainly not someone to joke about such matters; there might really be something to it!


    Just as Professor Qi entered the building, a short, chubby professor came running in, panting heavily.


    "Old Guo, didn''t you say your student blew up the equipment? What are you doing here?"


    "You''re one to talk, weren''t you off to read literature? Your office isn''t in this building, is it?"


    "Just then, a middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair hurried into the building."


    "Old Ding? Weren''t you hospitalized? You''ve moved your rehab training here?"


    "Err..." Professor Ding, unwilling to admit he was here for the funding, laughed, "Hahaha, the doctor told me to breathe some fresh air and somehow I just ended up here."


    Just then, they saw several other figures converging towards the building from a distance.


    "Damn, Old Wang is here too!"


    "And there''s Old Liu. That guy took on a money-devouring project last year, he must be here for the money too."


    "Alright, enough pretending, though ten billion is a lot, with our college''s dozens of research groups, if we divide it evenly, each group might only get a few tens of millions. Old Han got himself a whole billion, we definitely need to strive hard!"


    "Right, soon everyone will get as much funding as they can from the investor, and nobody''s allowed to cause trouble afterward!"


    "Okay! Let''s go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu were chatting while drinking tea when suddenly a loud commotion came from outside the door.


    "Bang!" The sturdy door was suddenly forced open by a tremendous force, and the entire hallway was packed with people, all of whom were those seemingly in their fifties or even older teachers.


    Instantly, Han Jinyu''s face darkened, and he who rarely cursed couldn''t help but break his usual composure and burst out, "You old bastards, have you all gone mad?"

 Chapter 37 I like those projects that burn money

    "What''s going on here?" Han Jinyu''s students were all bewildered by the scene before them.


    All these professors were well-known doctoral advisors at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, each with considerable achievements in scientific research, and besides the one or two classes they taught each week, they were almost impossible to find.


    But today, they had all gathered in this narrow corridor, and it seemed they were looking for their advisor, Han Jinyu.


    "Could it be that Teacher Han has made enemies with these professors?" The students in the office stick their heads out one after another.


    "It could be so bad that even Teacher Han''s door has been damaged."


    "Should we go help? This is our advisor we''re talking about!"


    "Help with what, a basket? We''re just a bunch of students, we can''t afford to offend any of those professors out there!"


    "Alright already, don''t you have experiments to do?" Zhu Mengchao came over at this point.


    "Big brother, what''s going on?" someone asked.


    "Oh, it''s nothing. They''re probably all here to brown-nose Old Han," Zhu Mengchao laughed. He had witnessed the entire episode in the office, and with those ten billion smashing down, how could these professors not come running one by one?


    However, Old Han has quite the temper, and the matter of the damaged door might not be so easily settled.


    "What?" After hearing Zhu Mengchao''s explanation, the students became even more curious, but Zhu Mengchao didn''t continue to stop them. Instead, he joined them in watching the spectacle with glee.


    "Old Han, where are you? Where''s the investor?" The first professor who charged in looked around the room.


    This was Professor Zhou Wenmin, the head of the Polymer Department. In terms of prestige in the school, he was practically on equal footing with Han Jinyu, and besides scientific research, he also held some administrative positions in the school, actually wielding a bit more power than Han Jinyu.


    But after looking around for a while, except for Han Jinyu, there was only a student in the office, and clearly, this student couldn''t be the investor capable of coughing up ten billion.


    "Old Han, didn''t you say the investor is in your office? Are you playing with us?" Professor Zhou demanded.


    "Hmph, I don''t know whether the investor wants to fund you, but right now, you''ve really put me in a bad mood!" Han Jinyu gritted his teeth as he glared at the already damaged door.


    "Menglong, why don''t you go back first? We can talk about the equipment later. Just focus on your project for now, and if you run into any problems, seek out your fellow students or come directly to me," Han Jinyu deliberately said to Zhang Menglong.


    "Okay, Teacher Han, I''ll head back then." Zhang Menglong understood from Han Jinyu''s look what he was trying to do and immediately went along with the act.


    "No, no, no, it was just too crowded outside, it wasn''t on purpose!" Professor Zhou realized that Han Jinyu was insinuating something about him.


    "Teacher Han, you always liked the office building where I am, right? Hehehe, I''m also tired of it. Why don''t I vacate that place for your research group? I''ll personally go and talk to the dean."


    "That''s more like it," Han Jinyu''s face immediately lit up with a smile. When had Professor Zhou ever spoken to him so humbly?


    "Menglong, actually, although some teachers are not that great, we can still give them a chance, right?"


    "Yes, Teacher Han is right." Zhang Menglong echoed Han Jinyu''s words.


    At this, Professor Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Alright, old guys, I won''t tease you anymore," Han Jinyu exhaled deeply, feeling much more relaxed, "This Zhang Menglong student here is the investor I mentioned. I have introduced him to you, so how much funding you can get is up to your own skills."


    Having said that, Han Jinyu settled himself down to the side and began to leisurely drink tea. Such a scene was not often seen; he had to make sure to enjoy watching these proud old guys act like bootlickers.


    "Menglong student, you have attended my Polymer Materials class, haven''t you?"


    "Bullshit! He was taught Polymer Materials by me!"


    "Menglong student, do you remember me? You took my Organic Chemistry class, and I even gave you an ''excellent''!"


    "Menglong student, would you like to learn about my project? My project isn''t just theoretical; it can definitely provide a return on investment. We can even sign a contract, a bet agreement works too!"


    "Menglong, my family has a daughter around your age. Come to my office for a visit sometime!"


    "Stop bringing up your dinosaur daughter; how does she match up to our Menglong?" Another teacher immediately took out a phone and showed a photo of a very pretty girl, "Menglong, this is my daughter, absolutely a knockout compared to his dinosaur daughter!"


    "Damn, I was careless! Why did I have a son?" Those teachers without daughters instantly regretted it terribly.


    "Okay teachers, stop fighting," Zhang Menglong felt somewhat overwhelmed watching this unfold. As for Han Jinyu behind him, he was already laughing so hard that he was starting to cramp.


    "This Scientific Research funding, I''ve got plenty of it. These ten billion, they''re definitely not the limit for you teachers!"


    Upon hearing this, all the teachers'' eyes burned with desire.


    "Before that, I would like to hear about your projects," Zhang Menglong added, "What I like the most are the kinds of projects that burn through cash!"

 Chapter 38 Ten Billion Scientific Research Funds

    "Me, me, me!" Professor Guo was the first to stand up, and when it came to burning money, there was definitely not a single teacher in Jiangnan University of Science and Technology who would dare claim they exceeded him.


    Since the virus outbreak at the beginning of the year, his research group had thrown themselves into developing a new antiviral drug formulation, and as it''s known, drug development is definitely one of the most cash-consuming projects!


    In ten months'' time, they had burnt through more than 30 million, yet the completion level of his project was only at 10%, and the subsequent investment needed for research development was even expected to be counted in billions!


    This was why so many drugs sold in the world were so expensive. In fact, the manufacturing cost of the drugs was really low, but the selling price was, at the very least, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times higher¡ª all because of the exceedingly high research costs incurred during the early stages.


    "Professor Guo, I must support your project!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "How much funding do you need?"


    "This..." Professor Guo suddenly found it difficult to speak. His research was carried out in stages, so he never considered securing all the funding at once, and besides, it was nearly an impossible feat.


    Ordinarily, such research could only be carried out with the backing of large pharmaceutical companies or under the impetus of state machinery.


    "For the current stage, I''m afraid it will require around 50 million." Professor Guo tentatively said, afraid that saying too much might inadvertently offend Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Guo, we can''t squeeze funding out like toothpaste in scientific research. If we can''t even solve the money issue, what''s the point of doing research!" Zhang Menglong said, "Give me a figure, and I''ll support you all the way until you complete your project."


    "This... Menglong, I fear the amount might be quite large."


    "Just say it; we''re not short of money!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t wait for a larger figure. He had finally found a righteous method to spend money, and he intended to drop dozens or even hundreds of billions of US dollars today.


    "Since you''re so generous, then I''ll just say it." Professor Guo spoke up, "To support the completion of all the project content, it will require at least 500 million in funds."


    "Damn, Old Guo, what do you mean? There''s a total of just 10 billion, and you want five billion for yourself? What are the rest of us supposed to do?" Teachers immediately started protesting in discontent.


    "Exactly, your family has a large business, Old Guo, but you can''t monopolize everything. Look at Old Han, he''s Menglong''s supervisor, and he only got one billion in scientific research funding. You''re going too far!"


    Han Jinyu almost laughed out loud watching their bickering. With a particle collider worth over two hundred billion attributed to their research group, what were a few billion to him, Han Jinyu?


    "You''ll all come begging to borrow equipment when the time comes!" Han Jinyu smiled slightly, thinking that this was the time to keep a low profile and amass wealth quietly.


    "Professor Guo, I''ll directly sponsor your scientific research with 10 billion!"


    "10... 10 billion?" Professor Guo was so startled that his voice trembled. He never imagined he could get one billion, let alone the huge surprise Zhang Menglong just gave him.


    "Also, I will sponsor another hundred million dollars for your scientific research fund," Zhang Menglong added.


    The teacher was ecstatic, but he also felt somewhat uneasy because he really couldn''t give Zhang Menglong anything in return. He felt guilty accepting this scientific research funding!


    "Of course, I do have a condition," Zhang Menglong added, "If during the exploration, you discover any unnamed asteroids or other celestial bodies, you must name them after me!"


    "Haha, I''m such a clever devil!" Zhang Menglong gloated in his heart. This was as if he had spent the money to buy the naming rights of a celestial body. This wasn''t called a donation!


    "Damn, even research on those crappy planets gets a hundred million!" Other teachers realized Zhang Menglong was just there to splash the cash, and whether it made money or not, he simply didn''t care!


    "Menglong, my research group has a project on postnatal care of alpacas. To better collect data, we need ten thousand alpacas for a two-year tracking observation. It''s absolutely a money-burning project!"


    "Damn, postnatal care for sows isn''t enough for these professors in life sciences anymore?" Zhang Menglong scathingly criticized inwardly. But alpacas weren''t cheap, and he even doubted whether it would be possible to get ten thousand alpacas.


    "Then I''ll sponsor you a hundred million first!"


    "Menglong, I''ve got a project for a sky diving device. Would you consider it?"


    "Menglong, I have a project on land desertification control!"


    "Hey, at this rate, it''ll never end!" Zhang Menglong directly said to Teacher Han behind him, "Teacher Han, could you help me out, please? Compile a list of the projects and their total funding amount, the more the merrier. I''ve prepared several tens of billions in scientific research funds, so count ''em up without hesitation!"


    "Several tens of billions?" Han Jinyu took a cold breath; he had underestimated Zhang Menglong!


    "Alright, leave these things to me. You go ahead with your work!" Knowing how wealthy Zhang Menglong was, Han Jinyu also knew he must be very busy.


    "He... He''s gone?" Seeing Zhang Menglong leave the office, all the teachers were full of confusion.


    "Ahem, old fellows, Menglong has entrusted me to manage these funds, so you..."


    "Hehehe!" Instantly, all the teachers became obsequiously flattering.


    "Old Han, don''t you have a daughter? It just so happens my boy is also of age. Here''s how much I''ll give as a betrothal gift!"


    "Old Ding, you shameless thing, resorting to such methods!" another teacher accused righteously, "Old Han, you''ve been divorced for so long without finding someone. I have a sister, still unmarried, young and pretty, and a professor at another school. How about dinner at my place tonight?"


    ...

 Chapter 39 She is Getting Married

    That evening, Han Jinyu sent Zhang Menglong a detailed spreadsheet, densely packed with over a hundred projects, all of which were the topics and main content of various teachers'' research.


    Han Jinyu was indeed very responsible, having estimated the expenses for each project, which altogether exceeded 30 billion Huaxia currency!


    Including the previously promised instruments, Zhang Menglong had almost spent close to 10 billion US Dollars today!


    "Should I consider visiting other schools next time?" Zhang Menglong pondered, but he immediately abandoned the idea. He had his biases, after all, having graduated from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, he really hoped his own school could continue to improve. If he invested in other schools, wouldn''t that be creating competitors for their own scientific research?


    "Come on, junior brother, have some milk tea!"


    "Junior brother, are you tired? Rest for a while, I''ll watch the equipment for you!"


    "Junior brother, are you free tonight? Your senior sister is treating you to dinner!"


    After Zhang Menglong''s scientific research funds were received, Han Jinyu generously issued two months'' worth of labor fees to his students.


    Once they found out that the funding came from Zhang Menglong, he became the darling of the entire research group.


    As for literature reviews and experimental procedures, the senior brothers took care of all the detailed processes and explanations, sparing him the arduous task of reading and translating foreign literature.


    And when it came to the hours-long experiments and tests, there was no need for Zhang Menglong to lift a finger; the senior brothers and sisters were practically fighting to do it for him, even directly handling and analyzing the data for him.


    While other students racked their brains over their theses and worked through the night on experiments, Zhang Menglong lay in the laboratory on a Taishi chair, drinking milk tea, watching the S10 World Championship, thoroughly relaxed and happy.


    Of course, he still had to spend a lot of time each day figuring out how to spend money. Naturally, playing games with "Starbucks Double Sweet" was also an essential part of Zhang Menglong''s daily routine.


    "Zhang Menglong, didn''t you say you''d start working on your graduation thesis in October? How do you still have time to play games with me?" The same sweet voice sounded over the team chat.


    "Have you ever seen a rich second-generation write their own thesis?"


    "Rich second-generation, my foot! Last time, I don''t know who almost cried not getting through an interview here," the girl teased.


    "Whoa, bro, my ego is shattered, don''t spill it, all that''s in the past."


    "Heh, have me attend the wedding just to humiliate me once more?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly.


    "If you''re unwilling to go, then I''ll just tell her..."


    "No need, tell her I''ll be there. I, Zhang Menglong, am not someone who goes back on his word."


    "Zhang Menglong, are you really going?" Wang Yujia was merely the messenger, but she had thought that Zhang Menglong would never agree to go, yet to her surprise, he agreed so readily.


    "I will be there on time."


    Zhang Menglong promptly hung up the phone. His expression alternated between somber and tormented. No matter what one has been through, when hearing certain news, how could one remain entirely indifferent?


    "Hey, see you in Gusu at the end of the month. If you stand me up, you''re dead meat. I''ll come straight to Jiangnan City to whack you!" Seeing that message, Zhang Menglong pictured a person he had never met before, as if in a flash, letting go of something, his whole demeanor suddenly becoming much brighter.


    "It''s just the wedding of an ex-girlfriend, not a dragon''s den or a tiger''s cave. She''s just someone who passed through my life," Zhang Menglong realized at once.


    Xie Siqi, Zhang Menglong''s ex-girlfriend and the only girlfriend he had ever had, they''d shared many beautiful memories and had even promised to attend each other''s wedding, even if they didn''t end up together in the end.


    It seemed that this was becoming a reality.


    The story was actually quite simple. Xie Siqi''s family background was not very strong, and starting from the summer of her sophomore year, she began using all her spare time to work part-time jobs.


    Last summer, she worked at a mid-sized internet company operated by a certain family, not expecting that the son of the company''s owner would take a fancy to her. At first, Xie Siqi stayed true to her heart, but as the man''s persistent pursuit intensified, she finally wavered.


    Not until Zhang Menglong saw her getting off a Panamera and kissing an unknown man at the dormitory did he understand what was meant by "I see raindrops falling on the fresh green grass."


    That night was the first time Zhang Menglong had lost control of his emotions since elementary school.


    He had confronted Xie Siqi once, but ended up being humiliated beyond recognition by her and the rich second-generation guy. Had his roommate not held him back, Zhang Menglong might have lost it completely.


    "Good. It''s about time to put an end to the past," Zhang Menglong mused. He couldn''t always let the past trap him. If he couldn''t say goodbye to the past, how could he possibly welcome the future?


    "Hong Yi, come to my room for a bit, help me arrange some things."


    ...

 Chapter 40 Your Car is Rented, Right?

    "Mr. Zhang, the formal attire you requested is ready," Hong Yi had someone carry several large boxes into the living room.


    The boxes contained a black suit, which looked clean and tidy without any exaggerated cut or design. Zhang Menglong tried it on, and the suit fit perfectly, offering a great level of comfort as well.


    "I actually thought you would get me some branded suits!" Zhang Menglong looked at himself in the mirror. It was his first time dressing so formally, and he seemed a bit unaccustomed to it. But he had to admit, his physique was naturally perfect for clothes, and he looked incredibly handsome no matter what.


    "Mr. Zhang, those brands are only purchased by ordinary tycoons and the newly rich. Even the biggest names are just mass-produced after all."


    "Then these..."


    "Of course, these were custom-made especially for you," Hong Yi explained, "When you moved to Jiangnan City, we prepared a clothing studio here for you. The designers and tailors we employ are highly compensated from both domestic and international sources. The designer of this suit is the former chief designer from Armani, and 16 top tailors took a week to complete it."


    "Much appreciated." He couldn''t stop praising the suit, understated yet luxurious¡ªa true hidden tycoon''s essential.


    "Mr. Zhang, all the other items you requested are also ready. Shall we leave now?"


    "Let''s set off. I''m only going to the wedding for a drink, not to gatecrash. If I arrive too late, it wouldn''t be good to be mistaken for a troublemaker," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    A Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly exited the neighborhood, carrying Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi toward the Wantai Hotel in the city center.


    Wantai Hotel is also a top-tier five-star hotel, but it is one of the few hotels in Jiangnan City that had no affiliation with Zhang Menglong.


    The hotel hadn''t been doing well, but in the past two years, a very capable manager took charge. He shifted the hotel''s business focus to wedding banquets, collaborated with several powerful wedding planning companies, and turned it into an internet-famous wedding venue.


    The decoration for each wedding was almost dreamlike in its opulence, and all the staff involved were extremely professional. Of course, the price was exorbitant.


    Just the cost of the scene decoration started at 200,000 yuan, and the price for each banquet table was over 8,888 yuan. An ordinary wedding wouldn''t happen for less than nearly a million yuan.


    Yet despite this, the hotel''s wedding halls were almost always fully booked 365 days a year. Some people even changed their wedding dates, which had been set long ago, just to hold their celebrations there. This showed just how attractive the hotel really was.


    Since early morning, the hotel''s decorations had been progressing in an orderly manner. By six o''clock, the site was almost fully set up, and the lighting and sound systems were being arranged steadily.


    In the makeup room, four girls surrounded the bride, chatting and laughing jovially.


    Today, Xie Siqi was truly radiant, and beneath that magnificent wedding dress, she seemed like an angel descended from heaven. Her delicate makeup enhanced her already graceful features, making her all the more captivating.


    ...


    This was an outdoor banquet, surrounded by green plants and purple vines that decorated the place extraordinarily beautifully, with various luxury cars parked along the road, many worth over a million.


    As the son of a listed company chairman with a market value of over a billion, this wedding attracted many people of status, even some industry moguls.


    "Siqi, is everything ready?" A handsome young man in a white suit was greeting guests when he saw Xie Siqi and her friends coming over, his face breaking into a satisfied smile.


    "Everything''s ready, I''m here to help you greet the guests," Xie Siqi naturally wrapped her arm around Liu Qingsuo''s.


    "President Zhou is here!" A Cayenne pulled over to the side of the road, and a spirited middle-aged man stepped out.


    "President Zhou, please come inside!" This President Zhou was a friend of Liu Qingsuo''s father, his company''s scale even larger than his father''s, and it was said that he had recently partnered with one of the Big Three, Alibaba, and if the project was successful, the company''s market value might even double!


    "Hahaha, the bride looks beautiful. Congratulations, Qingsuo." President Zhou handed over a thick red envelope through his assistant.


    "President Zhou, you are too generous." Although Xie Siqi didn''t know this President Zhou, she still greeted him with a smile; the red envelope contained not only ten thousand in cash but also a bank card.


    For people of such status, ten thousand was not enough to offer, but too much was troublesome, so the red envelope was just for show; the card contained his real gift money, and the amount in it was probably at least a six-figure sum.


    As time passed, more and more people arrived.


    "Wow!" Amidst exclamations, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly pulled over, and a driver in a suit got out to open the car door.


    "Who could this be?" Although the price of this Rolls-Royce Cullinan was not yet ten million, it wasn''t something just anybody could afford or acquire; in the whole of Jiangnan City, there would be no more than ten of these cars, and the owners were all significant figures.


    "Siqi, come with me to welcome the guests!" Liu Qingsuo was sure that this car''s owner might be even more influential than his own father; their attendance today probably gave his family a lot of face, and he had to make sure to serve them well.


    But when the car owner stepped out, both Liu Qingsuo and Xie Siqi were stunned.


    "Zhang... Zhang Menglong? Why is it you?" Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong was coming today, but in her mind, he was supposed to arrive hurriedly by subway or riding a shared bike, looking pitiable; she never imagined he would actually come in a Rolls-Royce.


    Liu Qingsuo was just as surprised; he knew that Xie Siqi had a boyfriend, and he even humiliated him in front of Xie Siqi once; what on earth was going on?


    But then he thought to himself that it was impossible; he whispered to Xie Siqi: "Your ex-boyfriend is quite the character, huh? To save face today, he must have borrowed some kind of private loan to rent a car and show off!"

 Chapter 41 Im Just the Ex-Boyfriend

    "Zhang Menglong, I never thought you would come." Xie Siqi said with a sarcastic tone, the presence of an ex-boyfriend at her wedding was quite sensitive, especially since the man she was marrying had an extraordinary status.


    Actually, when inviting Zhang Menglong, Xie Siqi had also acted on Liu Qingsu''s suggestion. Although Zhang Menglong and Xie Siqi did not have any substantial relationship, even a nominal one could cause a man to feel uneasy.


    If Zhang Menglong had not come today, then such a person would pose no threat to him, and he could just let it go as if it were nothing.


    But if he had come, he felt confident that he could crush him at the wedding today, showing him what it would take to make Xie Siqi happy, and even rob him of the courage to recall this past from now on.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s appearance caught Xie Siqi slightly off guard, and for a moment she didn''t even know what to say to him.


    "Oh, I''m a man of my word. I once said that no matter who gets married, we must attend. I''m just here to keep my promise," Zhang Menglong said with a calm and somewhat unbelievable look.


    "But why did you have to rent a car specifically? Is face that important to you?" Xie Siqi thought Zhang Menglong''s remarks were a jab at her disloyalty, "Even renting a car must cost a good amount of money, right? You didn''t take out some kind of private loans, did you?"


    "I''ve heard that the interest on those loans is calculated by the day. You better return the car soon. If you''re tight on money, we can help you a bit ¨C this small amount of money is still something I can afford for Siqi," Liu Qingsu echoed.


    "Rent?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Then you can just think of it as rented."


    Zhang Menglong had no intention of explaining. Wasn''t Xie Siqi''s departure due to finding someone who could offer her a better material life? Since she had already tagged him as a poor kid, no matter how much he explained, it would be pointless.


    "Anyway, today is your wedding day. I wish you a happy marriage." Zhang Menglong handed over a red envelope that contained not a single dollar, just a bank card."


    "Looks like Brother Zhang came prepared today," Liu Qingsu laughed. Today''s event was filled with businesspeople and their descendants, besides some classmates. Under such circumstances, any gift less than a five-digit sum would be embarrassing.


    Here, either incredulously thick red envelopes appeared or bank cards.


    Zhang Menglong''s financial circumstances were well known to Xie Siqi; while he was studying, he lived on a mere 2000 per month from an average salaried family, and he hadn''t found a job yet, so saving a few thousand in living expenses was the most he could do ¨C this bank card was probably just to mask his insecurity.


    "Can''t be too rude," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Brother Zhang wouldn''t mind if we check the amount on this bank card, right?" Liu Qingsu pointed to a gift money station nearby. Unfamiliar guests would leave their gift money there and write down the amount and their names.


    "Please do," Zhang Menglong knew they were trying to embarrass him in every possible way, but the number on this bank card would surely astound them.


    "President Zhang! I didn''t expect to see you here!" Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind him.


    "Xu Feng?" Zhang Menglong recognized the man who greeted him at a glance; it was the marketing director from Unicorn Technology they met at Lofitte Hotel on the last day of National Day, "What are you doing here?"


    "Oh, I have some business cooperation with the groom''s father and received an invitation today, so I came to show him some face," Xu Feng said. "I heard the bride is also a recent graduate from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology; are you friends with her?"


    "Friends? Not really," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I''m just an ex-boyfriend."


    "What?" Xu Feng''s expression turned to one of disbelief. The bride chose not to marry the CEO of a company worth billions of US dollars but instead married the young owner of a company with merely a billion in assets?


    Although, compared to ordinary people, it''s still like climbing high on the branch to become a phoenix, but there are differences amongst phoenixes too.


    "She really has no taste!" Xu Feng pursed his lips, "But President Zhang, it''s quite rare for you to come back for your ex-girlfriend''s wedding."


    "Someone wanted to slap me in the face, wouldn''t my absence disappoint them?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Oh?" Hearing this, Xu Feng''s expression suddenly changed. It looked like there was quite a story behind this. Although he didn''t know the details, he could see that Zhang Menglong was quite hostile towards the bride and groom.


    "I''ll go in first." Zhang Menglong waved his hand and went straight into the venue.


    "Alright, I''ll look for you later."


    ...


    "Mr. Xu, you know Zhang Menglong?" Liu Qingsu had been watching them from the side for quite some time now.


    This Mr. Xu was no ordinary person; at thirty-five, he became the regional director for a billion-dollar company. Even his father had to flatter him, and he had gone to great lengths to secure this collaboration.


    Seeing how humble Xu Feng was during their conversation made him somewhat anxious.


    "President Zhang is our chairman at Unicorn Technology." The people Zhang Menglong resented, how could Xu Feng show a friendly face? He left some gift money and walked in, showing no desire to chat.


    "What? Zhang Menglong is the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" This news burst like a bomb, stunning everyone.

 Chapter 42 Who is the Main Character?

    "Impossible, this simply can''t be, how could Zhang Menglong possibly be the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" Xie Siqi felt as if she had been struck by lightning.


    The Zhang Menglong who had once stood silent in the face of humiliation right before her eyes had suddenly transformed into the chairman of a giant internet conglomerate?


    Although she didn''t recognize the Mr. Xu from just now, by looking at Liu Qingsu''s attitude, even his father had to curry favor with this director, and this Mr. Xu was so obsequious in front of Zhang Menglong; the disparity in their status and position was apparent at a glance.


    She had heard Liu Qingsu say that the recent project was the most important one for their company, that if it were successful, the company could double in size, but if it fell through, all the massive manpower and resources previously invested would go up in smoke. In such a fiercely competitive market, if you''re not moving forward, you''re falling behind.


    With Zhang Menglong''s current identity, just one word from him could possibly cancel the cooperation plan between Unicorn Technology and Liu Qingsu''s family company. Exaggerating a bit, their company''s future was merely a word away for Zhang Menglong!


    Xie Siqi''s friends had already started whispering among themselves. Most of them knew Zhang Menglong, but today, they had met a completely new Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Yujia also finally understood why Zhang Menglong had accepted the offer without any hesitation; who would want to let go of such an opportunity to hold one''s head high?


    "Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong could hide so deeply!"


    "Right? When he was dating Siqi and invited us to eat, didn''t he just pick an ordinary restaurant? Who knew he was so rich!"


    "I''ve heard that guys from such families often test their girlfriends; no one wants their significant other to be with them just for money, right?"


    "Sigh, it''s a pity to let go of such a money tree!"


    "Isn''t that right? But Qingsu isn''t bad either; at least Siqi won''t have to worry about food and clothing in the future."


    "Oh, come on! Don''t forget how harsh the words between Zhang Menglong and Siqi were when he found her last time. Though there were no swear words, every word was cutting to the heart."


    "Yeah, I know Zhang Menglong''s roommate; I heard he sat on the balcony all night that evening and there were occasional sobs. Who could stand that?"


    "Hmph, if it were me, now with this status, I would definitely seek revenge."


    "Oh, do you guys remember? Siqi seemed to have said that Qingsu''s family company got to its current size by relying on Unicorn Technology, you guys think..."


    "It''s over!"


    "Hey, have you guys noticed that Zhang Menglong is actually quite handsome?"


    "Hahaha, I noticed a long time ago; if he hadn''t been dating Siqi back then, I would have made my move!"


    "President Xu, this is..."


    "Oh, President Zhou, this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "Chairman?" A flicker of surprise crossed President Zhou''s face. He had indeed heard that Unicorn Technology''s shareholders had recently undergone some changes, with the majority of the shares transferred to a new chairman who practically controlled the entire company. To put it more dramatically, the entire company was his, and that was no exaggeration.


    But the identity of this new chairman had always been a mystery, and he didn''t expect to see him at this wedding banquet, and such a young man at that.


    "President Zhang, what an honor to meet you. I am Zhou Lizhe, chairman of Yun Xiang Technology. Here is my business card," President Zhou offered his card with proper respect.


    "Yo, isn''t that President Zou?"


    "President Bai is here too?"


    "President Xu, Liu really has face, doesn''t he? To have invited you to his son''s wedding."


    "Hahaha, I just happened to be free today, so I came to take a look. Oh, and this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "President Zhang, I am Zou Guangyu from Bo Mei Media."


    "President Zhang, you are truly young and promising. I am Bai Wanling from Giant Technology."


    "President Zhang, in the future, we hope that you can take more care of us smaller companies!"


    ...


    As a small group of people gathered around Zhang Menglong, the gazes of those around were immediately drawn. Why were people ignoring the bride and groom at the wedding and crowding around a young man instead?


    But upon inquiring, they found out that this young man was the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Such a big shot is not easy to come across. With more than seventy percent of the people present involved in the Internet industry, if they could get on this big leg, maybe even a little resource sharing, wouldn''t that send Wuhu skyrocketing?


    Within a few minutes, more than half of the people at the wedding were gathered together, leaving the bride and groom nearly alone.


    Actually, these people weren''t really acquainted with the bride and groom; they had only come to the wedding for the sake of appearance. Now that such an important figure had appeared, what did the wedding matter?


    Zhang Menglong found himself surrounded by a group of company presidents. Fortunately, Hong Yi was experienced and managed the onslaught with order. Meanwhile, on the side, the expressions on Xie Siqi and Liu Qingsuo''s faces were uglier than if they had eaten shit.


    Wasn''t it supposed to be their wedding today? But how come the main characters had nothing to do with them anymore?

 Chapter 43 I Actually Hold Grudges Too

    A grand wedding''s brilliance dimmed instantly with the arrival of Zhang Menglong, rendering both protagonists lackluster.


    Throughout the banquet, numerous individuals approached Zhang Menglong to offer toasts. To those unaware, it seemed as though he was the groom himself today. Not only did the newlyweds feel overshadowed, even their parents struggled to save face.


    Wasn''t this disruptive?


    "What in the world is going on? Who is that young man?" Liu Qingsu''s mother asked, her expression darkening. Ever since that young man arrived, he had become the center of attention.


    Liu Qingsu''s mother was a woman who highly valued reputation. Was this really her son''s wedding, or some business networking event?


    "He''s the chairman of Unicorn Technology." Liu Qingsu said begrudgingly. The poor student he once humiliated beyond protest had unexpectedly transformed into a magnate who could now dominate the fate of their family business.


    "So young?" Liu Qingsu''s mother expressed her surprise. "Right, since he was invited to your wedding, he must be Siqi''s friend, right?"


    Liu Qingsu''s mother initially had reservations about Xie Siqi. While their family boasted assets over a billion, Xie Siqi was just an ordinary girl who was slightly more attractive than average.


    With Liu Qingsu''s prospects, couldn''t he find any attractive girl? Wasn''t it better to choose a well-matched girl, whose family''s resources could integrate with theirs for mutual enhancement?


    However, due to Liu Qingsu''s insistence, his mother had no grounds for argument.


    But if Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong, evident from his attendance at the wedding, their relationship must be quite good. Supporting their family business even slightly would be more valuable than ten well-matched daughters-in-law!


    With this realization, Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards Xie Siqi underwent a drastic change.


    "Mom, Zhang Menglong was my...college classmate." Xie Siqi found it too hard to utter the words ''ex-boyfriend''. She was well aware of Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards her. Should she learn of this, Xie Siqi foresaw a very difficult life at the Liu family.


    "College classmate? College classmates are wonderful!" Liu Qingsu''s mother suddenly embraced Xie Siqi warmly. "The friendship between college classmates is the best. That a man like him accepted your invitation means your relationship must be quite good, Siqi. You really do have an eye for people."


    These words stung painfully in Xie Siqi''s ears as if they were laden with irony. If she really had an eye for people, she would probably be the wife of the chairman of Unicorn Group by now.


    "You see, all these company heads are here. If they knew about your relationship with the chairman of Unicorn Group, our family business would surely thrive here in Jiangnan City. You are truly our family''s lucky star!" Liu Qingsu''s mother''s smile was nearly splitting her face.


    "You are too kind. I had promised Siqi that we would attend each other''s weddings in the future. I am merely here to fulfill my promise today," Zhang Menglong said with a slight smile.


    Nobody caught the underlying message in Zhang Menglong''s words. In their eyes, the bride''s relationship with Zhang Menglong must be so good that they were envious. Director Zhang even invited the bride to attend his future wedding, which was an incredibly honor.


    "Well, I''ve had the drink and attended the banquet, so I will take my leave now." Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him, "Let''s go, Hong Yi."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang." Hong Yi collected all the business cards handed to Zhang Menglong, and then followed him to the Rolls-Royce parked by the roadside.


    "Xie Siqi, see off Director Zhang!"


    "Oh, sure." Xie Siqi was still stunned in place. She had not expected Zhang Menglong to show no sign of making things difficult for her.


    She had thought that now, with his wealth and power, Zhang Menglong would seek every possible way to exact revenge. However, Zhang Menglong remained composed, as if he was truly just attending a regular friend''s wedding. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "In his heart, perhaps there has been no room for me since that day," Xie Siqi whispered to herself in a voice only she could hear.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, how could you be so lenient with them? You know with just one word from you, their companies would be blacklisted by all businesses in Jiangnan City."


    "But, there is no need," Zhang Menglong said, "If I really did that, wouldn''t it mean that I still take this matter too seriously?"


    "My world has another person now," an image that appeared only in his imagination came to Zhang Menglong''s mind, "Let''s go, time to head back."


    "Oh, by the way, remember to reclaim the cash gift for me, and just double it!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Those who insult me, I do hold a grudge after all."


    "Mr. Zhang, you just said you didn''t want to take this matter too seriously."


    "That''s a different matter!"


    ...

 Chapter 44 They All Work for My Family

    "Big shot? Is it the same one who gave you a sports car last time?"


    "Wow, I know this complex; it''s right next to my house. It''s been developed for several years now, always with a ban on external sales. So, it was all bought out by someone?"


    "You''re pretty impressive yourself, living nearby this complex. You must have at least a ten-million-yuan fortune, right?"


    "Truly awesome. Even Daddy Ma would cry."


    "Principal, say something, who exactly is this big shot? I''ve got a friend who wants to lick their boots."


    Wang Ling''s Weibo was flooded with comments in just a few minutes, and one of those comments, which was prominently liked by netizens, was from Qin Feng, whose wealth was fully on par with Wang Ling''s.


    When Wang Ling once said, "I never care if my friends have money or not, because they surely can''t be richer than me," Qin Feng had replied below, "What about me?"


    Given Wang Ling''s personality, he would have clapped back, but he chose to remain silent instead, which showed that this Mr. Qin Feng''s strength was not any less than his own.


    "I''ve got to admit, even I''m losing my cool!" Qin Feng left such a comment under Wang Ling''s Weibo post.


    "My goodness, even Young Master Qin has been drawn out."


    "Who on earth could this be? Someone who''s got two super-rich second-generation kids all riled up? Do we even have someone richer than them in Huaxia?"


    "Lu Benwei is amazing!"


    "Wang Yuan, if you see this, bring me a pack of cigarettes, the Hua brand."


    ...


    Though essentially a jade stone gambling event, to avoid official scrutiny, the organizers named it a "Jade Stone Appraisal Convention."


    It was the largest appraisal event in recent years, attracting merchants from across the country. Some rarely seen raw stones from old pits were abundant, and of course, the prices were sky-high. Without significant wealth, one wouldn''t even be able to step foot in the venue.


    The minimum requirement for a merchant to participate in this event was 5 million yuan in liquid assets, and all registrants had to go through an asset verification process. Despite this, the number of applicants was still hair-raising.


    As jade mines became scarcer over the recent years, the shortage of high-quality raw stone resources had caused a severe supply chain crisis for many jewelry and jade companies.


    Smaller enterprises wanted to move volume, while larger ones hoped to obtain a few pieces of top-quality jade to bolster their brand. Thus, the demand for high-end raw stone resources was immense; participants didn''t care how much they had to spend, they only cared about finding what they wanted.


    The rules of stone gambling were simple: one strike could lead to heaven or hell. Buyers relied on their experience to judge whether the raw stone contained any jade and performed live stone cutting on the spot, which was the most exhilarating part of stone gambling.


    "It''s really crowded here!" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling had just parked their car in the underground garage, which was like a mini car show. Although it still paled in comparison to Zhang Menglong''s sports car garage, cars worth over a million were still plenty, a testament to the immense wealth of the event''s attendees. Discover more content at empire


    "Of course, this event is the most substantial in nearly a decade. The combined value of the raw stones appearing here is astronomical. The most expensive stones here can go for tens of millions; ordinary people wouldn''t even dare touch them."


    "Tens of millions?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. Isn''t that just delightful?


    "Sheesh!" Zhang Menglong gasped in shock. This was simply high-stakes gambling.


    "Although a 17 million raw stone is expensive, it hasn''t reached that level yet. If indeed jade is found within, its value could increase by dozens of times or more."


    "Of course, more often people end up losing everything they have: bankrupted, with families breaking up, or even worse, leading to their own demise. That''s why a master stone assessor with rich experience is so important."


    "Master Hu, over here!" Just then, Wang Ling called out to someone in the distance. An old man with grizzled hair, wearing glasses, but looking quite hale and hearty approached them.


    "Menglong, this Master Hu is a renowned stone assessor in the industry. Here in Jiangnan City, he''s definitely in the top three. If not for my dad''s connections, I probably couldn''t have invited him over," Wang Ling introduced.


    "Master Hu, this is my friend, Zhang Menglong."


    "Hmm." Master Hu nodded, hardly giving Zhang Menglong another glance.


    "Are all capable people this arrogant?" Zhang Menglong whispered to Wang Ling.


    Suddenly, a disturbance arose from within the crowd, drawing their attention.


    "My God, Master Yu is here today? Didn''t he retire many years ago?"


    "And Master Meng is here too. He is undoubtedly the number one stone assessor in contemporary Huaxia. It''s said that there''s hardly any loss on the stones he assesses. To get him to make a move costs a fortune!"


    "Master Bai has come as well, and he''s definitely one of the top three in the stone assessment world!"


    "What kind of wind has blown today that all three masters have been invited? How influential are the organizers?"


    "Who are these three guys?" Zhang Menglong curiously asked, seeing they seemed to be quite famous in the circle.


    "Hmph, ignorant boy. Master Yu is known as the ''Divine Eye'', truly a legend, and both Master Bai and Master Meng are pillars of the stone assessment world. You don''t even recognize them, and you dare show up at this big event?" Master Hu said disdainfully.


    "Damn, what did I do to provoke him?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat baffled. He hadn''t done anything, yet he''d been berated; was Master Hu from Zaun?


    "Menglong, make way; these masters are coming over!" Wang Ling hurriedly said. Even though these three masters didn''t have as much money as Zhang Menglong, their network was extremely formidable.


    But to everyone''s surprise, the three of them walked straight up to Zhang Menglong and stopped.


    "Mr. Zhang!" The three gave a slight bow to Zhang Menglong.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt confused. He didn''t know any of them.


    Suddenly, he remembered what Hong Yi had mentioned to him, that today a few professionals might accompany him. Could it be that these were the master stone assessors of the stone assessment world?


    "Zhang Menglong, you... this..."


    "Although I don''t know what''s happening," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "but it seems like these three masters might as well be my employees."

 Chapter 45 The Poor Only Gamble on Stones

    "Beast!" Wang Ling''s face changed colors repeatedly, and at last, she forced out an inexplicable word.


    "Hold on, I''ll call Hong Yi to see what''s going on," Zhang Menglong still felt it necessary to make a confirmation call to Hong Yi.


    "Hong Yi, I''m already at the venue. Were these three masters Yu, Meng, and Bai arranged by you?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Aren''t they seniors in the stone appraisal world? Did you hire them with money?" Zhang Menglong said, "That''s not necessary, you know as well as I do, I just want to spend money, not earn it. This puts me in a difficult position."


    "Mr. Zhang, these three masters weren''t invited with money; they are originally from the Zhang family."


    "What? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly a bit confused.


    "Mr. Zhang, stone appraisal is a skill that greatly relies on experience. Without decades of research and a vast number of incidents, it''s impossible to train a genuine master of stone appraisal. All of them were nurtured by the elders in your family."


    "Brought up? I don''t quite understand what you mean?"


    "To put it simply, it''s about investing money. In the past, your elders spent a tremendous amount of funds to purchase countless raw stones. The art of these masters was honed among those raw stones. In the whole of Huaxia, probably only your family can afford to spend money like this."


    "Damn, so they really were built up with money!" Hearing the recent price tags of raw stones, which ranged from a million to even ten million, Zhang Menglong could almost imagine how much money was burnt to train these three masters.


    "These three masters have long signed a lifetime servitude contract with the Zhang family. When you don''t need them, they are free to do as they wish, but once you need them, they will be at your service immediately. That''s why I arranged for them to accompany you to the conference today."


    "So that''s how it is. I understand now."


    "Today, I must trouble the three masters." Zhang Menglong spoke with a respectful tone. Although the relationship was that of master and servant, they were still three elders, so Zhang Menglong was courteous.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re too polite. This is all part of our duty. If you take a fancy to any raw stones, just let us know. The expertise of us three old fellows is still quite reliable," said Yu, the leading master.


    They were all very surprised when they received Hong Yi''s call. The last time someone from the Zhang family asked them to make a move was several decades ago, and they had even begun to forget about the family. The emergence of Zhang Menglong doubtlessly helped them recall everything.


    In the entire Huaxia, and even in the whole world, there exists such a low-profile but unrivaled family.


    "Old Wang, I''ve found out. These three masters are all from our family."


    "They really work for your family?" Although Wang Ling didn''t run in these circles, she had done some homework before coming. These three masters were definitely legends in the stone appraisal world.


    "And it''s a lifetime exclusive deal."


    "Don''t worry, I have never damaged the jade inside the stones I have cut," said an experienced-looking worker, immediately getting to work.


    "Hehe, all show and no substance, I''m afraid these four million will just go down the drain," Master Yu laughed.


    A few minutes later, only the man with a face as if his entire family had died and a pile of rubble were left.


    "Hmm? This one is interesting!" Master Yu''s gaze suddenly fell upon a raw stone held by a man who looked to be in his fifties, not too far away. This piece of raw stone, weighing only about ten pounds and looking like a leftover piece, would not normally be purchased by ordinary people.


    "Brother, you''re buying this kind of stuff? Even if you have excess money, it shouldn''t be wasted like this."


    "Hahaha, I just buy things based on a feeling, come on!"


    "Alright, as you wish!" The worker sprinkled on a bowl of water and began to cut the stone carefully.


    After only grinding off a thin layer, a green sheen suddenly spread out with the debris.


    "There''s green!"


    "Damn, even this waste stone can produce green?"


    "This is effing luck?"


    When the stone was fully cut, it revealed a piece of ice-type jade as big as a fist! He had bought that stone for only twenty thousand yuan, but this piece of jade was worth nearly a million!


    "Interesting!" Seeing such a scene, even Zhang Menglong felt somewhat eager to try.


    "How about it? Fancy playing with a couple of stones?" Wang Ling was also brimming with excitement, with these three masters around, could he, Wang Ling, possibly lose today?


    "Let''s go!" Zhang Menglong headed straight for the raw stone market.


    "With these two masters here today, we''re going to make a fortune!" Wang Ling''s face was written all over with excitement; even though he was already wealthy, who would complain about having too much money? Especially when being friends with someone like Zhang Menglong.


    "To think I''d get such an opportunity on my first try at stone gambling, hahaha!" Wang Ling laughed, his eyes squinting into slits ¨C the prowess of these three masters could be seen from the casual judgment they made earlier, they truly had real skill!


    Continue reading at empire


    "Stone gambling?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wang Ling, "Who said I''m going to gamble on stones."


    "If you''re not here to gamble on stones, what are you doing here? And hiring two masters? As bodyguards perhaps?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong laughed enigmatically, "Gambling is for those without capital, a choice only a poor person would make!"

 Chapter 46 Whats the use for us?

    "What do you mean by that?" Wang Ling clearly didn''t grasp Zhang Menglong''s intention. Weren''t they here to gamble on stones with these three masters today?


    "Right!" Wang Ling slapped his forehead. With these three masters around, how could it even be called gambling? Master Yu can predict the presence of jade in a stone with over 90% accuracy. If he favored a stone, it almost always contained jade!


    With such experts here, it couldn''t really be called stone gambling¡ªit was stone buying, practically just stocking up on goods directly. If Zhang Menglong opened a jade store, the profits would be outrageous!


    But Wang Ling still underestimated Zhang Menglong. He thought he was on the fifth floor, but Zhang Menglong was already in the stratosphere!


    He walked straight to a stall, "Boss, how much for this stone?"


    Zhang Menglong pointed at a giant stone over two meters tall, which probably weighed several tons. It was one of the largest raw stones you could find in this huge venue.


    "This one is 37 million!" The stall owner immediately quoted a sky-high price. When he saw the masters next to Zhang Menglong, his eyes lit up; having these masters at his stall was like a free advertisement!


    "Sir, if you are serious about it, take it for 35 million!" the stall owner raised his voice on purpose.


    The sky-high price of 35 million immediately attracted quite a crowd, and seeing the three masters there, the area soon became packed with people three layers deep inside and out.


    "There''s a good show coming, the three masters are making a move¡ªthis is going to be big!"


    "Yes, with such a big stone, it''s sure to yield green jade."


    "Not necessarily, if it only contains jade the size of an egg, then it''s still a losing deal, right?"


    "We have to rely on the masters'' judgment, if the masters nod, there''ll be a great show."


    Meanwhile, the three masters approached the stone, put on gloves and magnifying glasses, and began to examine it thoroughly. Their techniques and angles made many spectators watch closely, hoping to learn something from their expertise and never worry about money again in their lives.


    A few minutes later, the three masters sighed and shook their heads, "Mr. Zhang, this stone does contain green jade, but it will lose money. You''d better look at another one!"


    "Eek¡ª" The surrounding crowd instantly let out a hiss.


    "I told you, this stone is just big, it''s deceiving!"


    "Hahaha, this stall owner is in trouble now. The three masters have said it''ll be a loss. Definitely, no one will buy it!"


    "He''s just unlucky, hahaha!"


    Sure enough, the stall owner''s face immediately donned the ''Mask of Pain''. This huge raw stone was magnificent and very costly, with a base cost of 20 million alone. After the masters had spoken, who would buy it?


    If someone actually bought it, wouldn''t that be like slapping the masters in the face?


    "I just said that poor people gamble on stones because they need it to turn their luck around, but I don''t need it," Zhang Menglong continued enthusiastically picking out raw stones.


    "What''s the fun if every stone you buy has jade? It wouldn''t be thrilling at all; it would completely lose its charm!"


    "Who the hell comes here for the thrill?" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, all the onlookers cursed in their minds. Everyone came here hoping to spend little and buy raw stones containing jade. Who the hell came for the thrill? Are they crazy?


    The raw stones here are worth hundreds of thousands to millions each, with a risk of losing everything if not careful. And yet, he said he was here for the thrill¡ªwas his family''s money overflowing?


    "Old Wang, whether I spend money or not, I am the world''s richest man. Is spending a little money for this thrilling experience not worth it to you?"


    "I''ll turn you into a banana boat!" Wang Ling finally couldn''t help but curse aloud. "Are you poison or what? Even with all the money, this is not the way to spend it!"


    "Do you know how much money I just spent?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Probably a few tens of billions."


    "And do you know how long it takes me to earn tens of billions?"


    Wang Ling shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong paused for a second, "Well, I''ve earned it just now."


    "You..." Wang Ling wanted to say more, but he unclenched his fist, realizing this guy was simply a monster!


    Yes, to others, Zhang Menglong''s actions seemed like a waste of money. However, in his view, what he spent was merely the money he made in a breath¡ªa mere breather. Do ordinary people fret over spending a dollar or two to make themselves happy?


    No!


    Would Zhang Menglong fret over spending tens of billions?


    The answer is also no!


    "I find that the more I hang out with you, the closer I am to a total worldview collapse," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile, "Being friends with you makes me feel like I might end up in a mental institution one day."


    "Don''t worry. If that day really comes, I''ll arrange everything for you. I own a few mental hospitals. I''ll ensure you get the best doctors, the best wards, and the most beautiful nurses!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m taking you on!"


    Watching Zhang Menglong frolic with Wang Ling, the three masters suddenly looked at each other. They had thought they could showcase their expertise before this new master today, but they had not expected to be just decorations; Zhang Menglong had never intended to let them act!


    Their morale was broken too!

 Chapter 47 I plan to frame it as a keepsake

    After a round of browsing, Zhang Menglong had already purchased more than two hundred raw stones, almost exclusively securing all the stones worth tens of millions at the venue for himself. Someone quietly calculated the price of these raw stones, and the total value was probably close to 50 billion!


    Many jewelers travel far and wide, they''ve seen people splurge tens of millions to buy a single raw stone, and they''ve also seen people spend billions to buy jade of exceptional quality and size. But this was the first time they had seen someone spend 50 billion to buy a pile of worthless rocks.


    According to the judgment of those three masters, among the two hundred plus raw stones Zhang Menglong purchased, the probability of any turning out green wouldn''t exceed ten pieces, and even those ten might not recoup the cost of a single raw stone.


    By this calculation, if he could recover 10 billion from these 50 billion, it would already be quite remarkable. If he''s unlucky and only gets one or two billion back, he might even cry himself to sleep.


    "Are you planning to go back and develop a graveyard?" Wang Ling was completely speechless about Zhang Menglong; if those few experts hadn''t accompanied him, she could have understood his purchases somewhat.


    But they all said he was definitely going to lose, and he still bought them; if he wasn''t crazy, then he must have some other idea.


    "What graveyard? I just want to see how good these three masters actually are," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "You spent 50 billion just to test these three masters'' ability to evaluate stones?" Wang Ling heard this robust explanation and her jaw almost dropped. If it were her, she would have taken that 50 billion to buy a bunch of premium jade, make some beautiful jewelry, and then use it to charm the ladies. Wouldn''t that be delightful?


    "Alright, that''s enough, if we keep buying, we won''t leave anyone a way to make a living," Zhang Menglong dusted off the ash from his palms, "Let''s go, time to cut the stones, now is the moment to witness a miracle."


    "I''ll witness your ''giant clam'' of a miracle; if you can make back this 50 billion today, I''ll eat all these stones!"


    The raw stones that the three masters said wouldn''t turn green were almost as good as being sentenced to death. Of course, they could make mistakes, but their mistakes were usually identifying jade that couldn''t turn green as one that could; the chances of the reverse happening were probably less than one percent.


    Unless Zhang Menglong had the luck of the God of Wealth, his 50 billion would certainly go down the drain.


    "Come on, I need some help," Zhang Menglong called out, "It''s quite a big job, I''ll give each of you ten thousand as a hardship fee afterward."


    "Ten thousand each?" When the stone cutters heard the news, their eyes lit up; when had they ever met such a generous customer? He was simply the God of Wealth in person!


    They immediately buckled down with full spirit and began earnestly to help Zhang Menglong process these two hundred plus stones.


    More and more people gathered around; although there was hardly any suspense, they all wanted to see what expression this wealthy young man would have when he discovered he had lost everything.


    "Worthless stone!" As the first stone, weighing over 500 kilograms, turned into a pile of rubble on the ground, it announced that Zhang Menglong''s investment of 18 million had been lost.


    Everyone immediately turned their gazes to Zhang Menglong''s expression, but he was unfazed and even seemed on the verge of laughter.


    The 18 million dissolved into nothing, yet Zhang Menglong had no reaction at all!


    "These mortals, how could they possibly know that spending money is just a task for me." Others might think Zhang Menglong was brainless, but how could they know the logic behind his actions?


    "Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, Yuan Muye?"


    "My God, it''s actually the Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, and he came in person!"


    "Gosh, I''m just taken aback! Yirui Jewelry is easily among the top five in our country, right?"


    "No wonder he has the confidence to acquire this piece of jade."


    Your next read is at empire


    The people around quickly recognized the identity of the middle-aged man.


    "I just heard someone offer 80 million. If young man, you think that price is low, I can go up to 90 million!"


    Immediately, there was a chorus of gasps around. This was a direct increase of 10 million, something only a boss of such a large-scale company could so casually put forth.


    "Sorry, even for a billion, I wouldn''t sell," Zhang Menglong said politely, "Do I look like I came to this gambling stone event just to make money?"


    Everybody shook their heads. Almost everyone had seen Zhang Menglong''s performance earlier; he wasn''t here to gamble on stones, nor was he here to stock up on goods. He was simply here to burn money.


    "Today, I just wanted to see how lucky I am and to experience the stone appraising skills of the three masters. As for money, I don''t care about it at all," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "This is the first piece of jade I''ve unveiled. I plan to mount it on something and then place it in my study as a memorial."


    "This..." The middle-aged man was at a loss for words. This was the first time in his life he had encountered someone who didn''t want to earn money. "Well, in that case, I won''t insist anymore."


    He was quite regretful in his heart as a jade of this size was extremely rare.


    The stone-cutting continued, and soon, only the last dozen or so of the two hundred plus raw stones remained. Although more jade pieces were found in the remaining stones, none could compare in size and quality to the one just unveiled, not even enough to break even.


    Finally, a huge stone over one meter tall was lifted onto the machine. It was the largest raw stone Zhang Menglong had purchased, weighing 1.8 tons, for which he had spent 62 million. However, the three masters had already declared that there were no jades inside this stone.


    "Disperse, there''s nothing to see anymore!" Many people''s curiosity had been exhausted after watching for so long.


    "Wait a second!"


    "No! This is impossible!"


    "It''s actually imperial purple!"


    "My goodness, the three masters actually made a mistake!"

 Chapter 48 Making a Friend and Giving It to You

    "This is impossible!" Not only the onlookers around, but even the three masters showed deep surprise in their eyes.


    That piece of raw stone, they were almost a hundred percent certain it couldn''t contain jadeite, and all three agreed on that. Logically speaking, such a thing shouldn''t have happened.


    "Hehehe, well, looks like I missed the mark!" Master Yu didn''t dwell on it too much, as being open-minded is most important in this line of work.


    "Imperial Purple! Such color and quality are extremely rare!"


    "Keep cutting, this piece might even be bigger than the ice-type jadeite we just saw!"


    "This is truly a treasure! The Stone Gambling World hasn''t seen such a fine jadeite in a long time."


    "Take pictures, record a video!"


    Just as people were about to disperse, everyone suddenly crowded around again, the news spreading like wildfire, attracting nearly everyone at the venue, packing the stone-cutting area three layers deep both inside and out.


    "It''s just so beautiful!" Even Zhang Menglong had to admit, this piece of jadeite was incredibly beautiful! If he were a woman, he probably would have gone crazy.


    As for Wang Ling, he was almost drooling.


    "We''re going to be rich, Zhang Menglong, you might just break even today!" Wang Ling said enviously.


    Jadeite of a type superior to ice-type is already rare, not to mention this Imperial Purple. Its value could probably be measured in grams, and with such a large stone, it wouldn''t be impossible if it weighed around one hundred and eighty kilograms based on the part that had appeared!


    "Damn, I''m not looking to break even. If it really appreciates, I''m going to put it in my bathroom at home, to rest my feet on when I poop!"


    "You beast!" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong with clenched teeth, believing that Zhang Menglong could truly do such a thing!


    This jadeite was so precious that a worker, who had been in this field for decades, had never seen such before. One person would hardly manage to process it quickly, yet no one was leaving this prolonged and stinky stone-cutting process because they knew such an opportunity was too rare to miss, even once in several decades.


    Finally, under the gaze of a captivated crowd, this piece of Imperial Purple jadeite revealed its full glory, and its huge size left everyone stunned.


    A few workers joined forces to lift it onto the scale.


    "154 kilograms!"


    "Wow!" An astonished murmur spread through the crowd.


    As for the others, they simply looked at him as if he were a fool. This was an 80 billion yuan jade, and he was giving it away to a stranger for such a bizarre reason?


    "But I do have a requirement!" Zhang Menglong added, "Mr. Yuan, your company is so big, you must have some really fine craftsmen and designers, right?"


    Yuan Muye was still in shock from the initial surprise and hadn''t even noticed his expression was somewhat dazed.


    "Mr. Yuan? Mr. Yuan?"


    "Oh, oh, oh," Yuan Muye finally replied, "My company might not be as big as Mr. Zhang''s, but my designers are well-known both domestically and internationally, absolutely world-class!"


    "How about this, Mr. Yuan. For this piece of jade, carve half of it into a batch of jewelry and ornaments for me, and the other half will be your labor payment. What do you think?"


    "Really?" Yuan Muye''s breathing hastened. Compared to the sky-high priced jade, the labor cost was nothing, that half of the jade was almost like being free!


    "Of course. You can take the jade now, but I hope to get the items I want within a week, can you do it? Oh, and for that piece of ice jade, make me an Ultraman statue. You can take more time with that, I''m not in a rush."


    "What kind of bizarre request is that?" Wang Ling suddenly covered her face. In front of so many people, asking for an Ultraman statue was simply too embarrassing.


    "Yes! A week is a very harsh timeline. With such a treasure, even a few months of rushed work wouldn''t be strange. However, Yuan Muye''s company has the best craftsmen and top-tier equipment. Working day and night, one week is not unimaginable."


    "Then please do!" Zhang Menglong said, and then he truly walked away without looking back.


    "Zhang Menglong, do you know that Yuan Muye?" Wang Ling hurriedly followed and asked curiously. From her understanding of Zhang Menglong, he surely wouldn''t do such a thing without reason.


    "No," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "Then you..."


    "I really don''t want to make any more money, and I actually quite like him."


    "Then give it to me, whatever he can do, I can do too!"


    "I don''t like your style!" Zhang Menglong glanced disdainfully at Wang Ling, "Unless you can eat those stones!"


    "I''ll eat your pig skin!"


    ...

 Chapter 49 Play or Not for 1000 Yuan

    "Menglong, we''ve already helped you revise your graduation thesis, so you don''t have to come to school anymore if you don''t want to. Just show up for the graduation defense when it''s time,"


    "Got it, senior. I''ll thank the other seniors on your behalf. I''ll treat everyone to a meal when the time comes!"


    In just half a month, Zhang Menglong had gotten his hands on a graduation thesis that others might not be able to complete in three or four months. Moreover, every data graph and every word had been carefully revised; it was absolutely a model among undergraduate theses.


    "Haha, junior brother you''re too polite. If it weren''t for you, we couldn''t be living such a wealthy life, right?" Zhu Mengchao said mysteriously. "Do you know? This year, the number of students who pre-registered for our research group has already exceeded 100! Our entire department only enrolls 120 students a year, and that''s before word has even spread."


    Zhang Menglong already could imagine how bustling it would be on the day of the official interview at Teacher Han''s research group.


    "Alright, I won''t disturb you any longer; we still have experiments to do. Remember to come by the research group anytime you want to hang out!"


    "Sure thing!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone and picked up an exquisitely packaged small box next to him.


    Inside the box was a string of purple jadeite bracelets, exceptionally beautiful under the sunlight, shining like a dazzling violet.


    They were delivered by Yuan Muye earlier that morning. That huge emperor purple jadeite raw stone was crafted into several dozen jewelry pendants. Although traditionally, jadeite accessories are seen as somewhat outdated,


    the designers and craftsmen at Yuan Muye''s place were truly exceptional. These pieces were not only full of luxury but also incorporated modern, youthful elements, making them extremely fashionable even for twenty-year-olds.


    This particular bracelet was the piece Zhang Menglong was most satisfied with, with an inner diameter of 14 centimeters, made of smoothly polished jadeite beads and adorned with some precious and rare metals. It was the kind of piece that could capture anyone''s attention at first sight, regardless of age or gender.


    Yuan Muye told him that even though this bracelet didn''t use much material, it was crafted from the best part of the entire jadeite stone. If sold on the market, it would be worth tens of millions at the very least!


    "Hong Yi, I''m heading out; I''m leaving this place to you for the next few days," said Zhang Menglong as he put the small box into his bag and stepped out of his room.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will take care of everything here. If you encounter any issues in Gusu City, just call the number I gave you,"


    "Got it!"


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong sent a disdainful emoji and focused on driving.


    It was just over a hundred kilometers from Jiangnan City to Gusu City. With Zhang Menglong''s increasingly skilled driving, it took him less than two hours to reach the urban area of Gusu.


    Of course, that''s also because no one dared to drive side by side with him, nor dared to change lanes in front of his Koenigsegg CCVR¡ªfor even the merest scratch could cost more than just a house to settle.


    The car stopped at the entrance of Gusu University, the most prestigious university in Gusu. "Starbucks Double Sweet" had told him that she studied there, currently a master''s student in her first year.


    "What''s the situation? She won''t pick up a voice call; something didn''t happen, did it?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat worried, but other than MYY Voice, all he had was her WeChat ID. He didn''t know her major, which building she lived in, or even what ''Starbucks Double Sweet''s real name was until now.


    "Glug glug!" Zhang Menglong chugged half a can of Red Bull and put it on the car before starting to frantically make voice calls again.


    Such a handsome sports car appearing at the university entrance quickly drew a crowd, with some even whipping out cameras to snap pictures. If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong wearing a mask, his identity might have been exposed that day.


    "Handsome, are you looking for someone?" Just as Zhang Menglong was at his wits'' end, two very fashionably dressed girls came up to him.


    Their eyes hadn''t left Zhang Menglong''s car for the entire time.


    "Yeah, looking for someone." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "How do we look to you?"


    "Ah? How do you look?" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused.


    "Handsome, you even have Red Bull in your car, and still you''re asking us?" One of the girls suddenly laughed, "Just for your car, we''ll both join you for 1000 yuan, you down?"


    "You down?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily stunned. He''d always heard that having drinks in the car signified a certain indescribable meaning, but thought it was all just rumors. Could it actually be true?


    Realizing this, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.

 Chapter 50 Are the Handsome Guy and Beautiful Girl Short of Money?

    "Sorry, this is for my own use, not what you think it is," Zhang Menglong said, quickly grabbing the half-empty can of Red Bull and downing it, then tossing it into the nearby trash. If "Extra Sweet Starbucks" saw this, his image as a tall and impressive character would completely collapse.


    The two girls, seeing Zhang Menglong''s serious demeanor, felt somewhat disappointed, but they didn''t give up. Although luxury cars often appeared at the entrance of Gusu University, they had never seen one like this before.


    They heard someone discussing a car parked at the school gate as they walked over. Apparently, there were very few of this car in the whole world; it was a top-notch sports car with a price over a hundred million!


    Could someone who could afford such a car be ordinary? If they could have even an indescribable relationship with him, just a trifle slipping through his fingers would be enough to sustain them for a lifetime.


    Even if they couldn''t snag tangible benefits, just getting in this car and taking a picture would be enough to skyrocket their social status. They''d have plenty of opportunities to boast about it later.


    "Handsome, let''s be friends. Who are you waiting for here, if not us? We are both free tonight, and can ''eat ice cream''. Judging from your license plate, you must be visiting from Jiangnan City, right?"


    To ride in such a car, even if it meant being taken advantage of, they were willing.


    "What''s become of female students these days?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help shaking his head, "Sorry, I''m waiting for my girlfriend. She''d be angry if she saw you."


    Hearing that Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend, the two girls deflated immediately. He already had a girlfriend, so what was the point? They also wondered which girl from their school was lucky enough to land a boyfriend like that. Truly enviable.


    "Wait a sec!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to them. Waiting like this wasn''t working; if "Extra Sweet Starbucks" had really gotten into trouble, would he just keep waiting?


    "What''s up, handsome? Changed your mind?" The two girls immediately showed hopeful smiles.


    "Are you students here?"


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    "Yeah," the girls nodded.


    "Then you must be pretty familiar with this place, right?"


    "We''ve lived here for over three years, of course, we''re familiar," said the more forthcoming girl. "Handsome, you''re not looking for some excitement, are you? It''s not okay during the day, but at night, I know a few pretty good spots."


    "No, I want to ask you, are you short of money?"


    "Huh?" The question caught the girls off guard. Who isn''t short of money nowadays? Even rich people don''t think they have enough.


    "Give me your payment code."


    "What are you doing?" The girls exchanged a puzzled look but still pulled out their mobile phones to show him their payment QR codes, as there was no risk in showing them to someone else unless money was being sent.


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    "Damn! Has this guy lost his mind?"


    "No way, is there really such a good deal? Is it for real?"


    "Could he be here looking for our school''s beauty queen?"


    "If he''s looking for the beauty queen, would it be that troublesome? Just look it up on the phone, right?"


    "Handsome guy, does this mean all of us help you search together, and you''ll give each one of us one hundred thousand?" someone asked.


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Whoa!" As soon as he said this, there was a stir in the crowd.


    There must have been nearly a hundred people gathered here, one hundred thousand per person, that''s ten million! Ten million just to find one person? That was beyond belief.


    "If you call your friends to help me look for this person, I''ll pay them the same!"


    "I''ll help you search!" a girl broke free from her boyfriend''s hand and stepped forward.


    "Give me your payment code!"


    "Ding! Your ''Support Treasure'' account has received 100,000 yuan!" a clear voice echoed through the crowd.


    "He''s telling the truth, he''s really giving out one hundred thousand per person!" The crowd exploded with excitement all at once.


    "Handsome guy, I''ll help you search!"


    "Handsome guy, I''m from a university society; I know lots of people. I can definitely help you find the person you''re looking for!"


    "I''m from the student council; I know someone from every department in the school!"


    "Buddy, I''m a teacher at this university. Can I help you search too?"


    "Line up, line up! With you all clamouring like this, I can''t make transfers!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    Quickly, a long line formed at the entrance of Gusu University. Everyone acted with surprising unanimity: take the money, then start making calls to search for people, and of course, some immediately notified their friends.


    "Old Liu, some tycoon is looking for someone at our school. Whether you find the person or not, it''s one hundred thousand per head, an extra hundred thousand for any clues, and another million if you actually find them. Don''t blame me if I didn''t tell you. It''s at the school gate!"


    ...


    In just a matter of minutes, the entire student body and even teachers at Gusu University were mobilized, all beginning to search for a person with the ''Some Sound'' nickname "Extra Sweet Frappuccino"...

 Chapter 51 No Matter How Much It Costs, Its Worth It to Find You

    Inside a girls'' dormitory at Gusu University, a girl was anxiously checking her phone, as if it contained the most important thing in her life.


    The girl was quite tall, nearly reaching 170 cm, and she had thick, flowing long hair, a pair of slender legs, and a pair of beautiful eyes. However, deep within those eyes, there was always a hint of indescribable sorrow.


    Her desk was tidy, with a mirror, makeup box, books, computer; everything was arranged in an orderly fashion. There was also a black guitar leaning against the side of the table, which used to be her best companion.


    "Creak!" The dormitory door was suddenly pushed open, and another girl hurriedly rushed in, "Yiyi, didn''t you say you were going to meet an online friend today? Why are you still in the dorm? I saw you started putting on makeup early in the morning, what happened, did someone stand you up? I told you online dating is unreliable..."


    "No, my phone suddenly turned off for some reason, and I haven''t even agreed on a place with him yet. Hurry up and lend me your phone!" The girl called Yiyi seemed to have found a savior.


    "Yiyi, it''s not that I don''t want to help you today, but if you miss this opportunity, you won''t find such a chance to make money in your lifetime!"


    "What money-making opportunity is more important than your sister?"


    "You don''t know, there''s a super-rich tycoon who came to our school gate, and he''s definitely a second-generation rich kid. He seems to have taken a fancy to some girl in our school and almost got the whole school looking for her, even some teachers are helping him."


    "Who has such capability?" the girl exclaimed, "Our school has tens of thousands of students and faculty."


    "I might be exaggerating a bit, but there are definitely thousands! You won''t believe it when I tell you, just by helping him find this person, you get a reward of 100,000 right away, additional 100,000 for clues, and if you help him find the person, another reward of 1 million. If we know this person, that''s 1.2 million instantly, and with that, we could buy a small apartment in a cheaper area."


    "Is there such a strange person?"


    "Right? I bet this guy has spent a few hundred million by now. If it weren''t for everyone in our friend circle sharing screenshots looking for this person, I would never believe it. Oh, I have a spare phone, take it quickly, it''s 100,000 we''re talking about, don''t let it slip away!"


    "You have a spare phone? Why didn''t you say it earlier? Lend it to me quickly!"


    "Alright, what''s mine is yours," the girl said and pulled out an old phone from the drawer, "It''s an old model from a few years back, don''t look down on it."


    "Qianqian, I love you to death!" The girl hugged Qianqian and planted a kiss on her face.


    "Hurry up and go, this is our chance to strike it rich. With this money, we can go to Iceland for the winter break to see the aurora, isn''t that your dream?"


    "Seen him? Of course!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Who knows what kind of fool would do that, is it necessary to find someone?"


    "Are you calling me a fool?" replied Zhang Menglong, "Unless you kiss me, I won''t get over it."


    "I wasn''t calling you a fool, I meant that fool... wait, the person they''re talking about isn''t you, is it?"


    "Well if that isn''t me then!" said Zhang Menglong. "I didn''t even know your name or what you looked like, I only knew your nickname, so I had to look for you this way."


    "Qianqian, who is that person looking for?" the girl confirmed with her roommate.


    "I have no idea, no name, no photo, just a nickname on some video platform called ''Double Sugar Starbucks'', how could that ghost help him find anyone?"


    "Is it really you?" The girl suddenly showed a surprised expression, "But you aren''t..."


    "I told you before, if I don''t work hard, I''ll have to inherit the family wealth, but even though I''m trying hard, I still have to inherit it, nothing I can do, it''s beyond my abilities!"


    "Why... why are you wasting money like this?"


    "If it means I can find you, any amount of money is worth it."


    "Are you crazy!" The girl immediately became anxious, "Don''t go anywhere, I''m coming over now!"


    The girl immediately turned off her phone. She flicked her long hair back and sprinted towards the school gate.


    "Yiyi, why are you running so fast, wait for me!"


    "So what if you have long legs!"


    "Wuu wuu wuu, take my phone with you, help me collect the money first!"


    ...

 Chapter 52 Hello, my name is Lu Yiyao

    "I''m sorry, everyone behind me, but I''ve found the person I was looking for. Thank you all for being so enthusiastic in helping me," Zhang Menglong felt a weight lift off his chest as he received the message about the "double-blended sugar in the Starbucks Frappuccino."


    "Ah! It''s all your fault. I asked you to come shopping with me, but you had to play video games. If we had come out just a few minutes earlier, we could have made that money!"


    "Aaah! I will never spend so much time putting on makeup again! 100,000 yuan, and I was just four people away from the front!"


    "Hahahaha! I''m the last one, my luck is way too good!"


    "Wonder who that well-connected big shot is who found the person, 1.2 million yuan, man. You could work for ten years and still not save that much!"


    "Handsome, are you looking for anyone else?"


    ...


    Upon hearing this news, the people gathered at the school gate were a mix of joy and sorrow. Many were just one step away from winning 100,000 yuan, and many had even postponed important matters to be here, now all for naught.


    But Zhang Menglong had found his person, and they couldn''t shamelessly go on asking for money; otherwise, it would be like freeloaders. They could only disperse gradually, filled with regret.


    "Wait for next time, everyone. Since you''ve all come here to help, you must have put off a lot of things. It wouldn''t be right to let you leave empty-handed, so please accept this little token of my appreciation!"


    Because there were too many people just now, Zhang Menglong directly had several students make the transfers on the spot, and naturally, each of these students also received a sum of 100,000 yuan as a hardship fee.


    "Trouble you to transfer 10,000 yuan to everyone here, but no need for the ones who came after."


    "Got it!" The students nodded their heads, thinking inside that Zhang Menglong was a fool with too much money; these people didn''t do anything and yet were still getting a hardship fee. Was he here to find someone, or was he just doing charity work?


    Upon hearing that there was still money to be had, the downcast students'' faces immediately lit up. Though it wasn''t 100,000 yuan, getting 10,000 for doing nothing was still good, as it was almost like money falling from the sky.


    Soon, everyone was satisfied with the money they received, but they didn''t leave. Zhang Menglong was still standing at the school gate and hadn''t left, hinting that the person he was looking for might show up here at any moment.


    After making a rough estimate, Zhang Menglong must have sought the help of over a thousand people, ten thousand for each, which added up to a billion yuan. Who could be so significant to warrant a billionaire''s search?


    During this time, many tried to strike up a conversation with Zhang Menglong, including several who were voted onto the campus beauty ranking, but he scarcely gave them a second glance, further piquing everyone''s curiosity about this person.


    "Yiyi, wait for me! Stop running, Sisi just told me that the rich heir has found who he was looking for. Even if we go now, there''s no money for us!"


    At this moment, Lu Yiyao''s roommate arrived late. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Menglong for a moment. Although there was no face on the photos in the friend circle, it wasn''t hard to identify from the clothes that he was the wealthy man looking for someone at the school gate.


    "This... can''t be such a coincidence, right?" Guo Yuqian never expected that the so-called online friend Lu Yiyao was going to meet today would turn out to be that young man? Was he making such a big fuss just to meet Lu Yiyao?


    She had just been envying whoever was so lucky, and that lucky woman turned out to be her own roommate!


    Actually, Zhang Menglong was quite an extrovert, and he could easily bond with any acquaintance, whether they were strangers or not. But whenever it came to a girl he liked, he would instantly become timid as a pup and so nervous that he could hardly speak.


    Zhang Menglong had imagined all the way what kind of person she would be, but when he saw her in person, he couldn''t help but be a bit dazzled. Lu Yiyao wasn''t one of those typical internet celebrity faces; her beauty was incredibly natural.


    In fact, not just Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao felt almost exactly the same. A flush of red gradually spread across her cheeks, and the scene of their first encounter was as warm as a scene from a comic strip.


    "Do you guys feel the air around us is filled with the sour stench of love?"


    "I smell it, I also smell the sweet scent of money."


    "You might not believe me if I say it, but I really want to ship this couple."


    "I can be single, but the couple I ship must end up together!"


    "Whoever stays here to watch, I''m going to move the civil affairs bureau over right now."


    ...


    "Um, are you ''Frappuccino with Double Sugar''?" Zhang Menglong''s hands didn''t quite know where to put themselves.


    "Doesn''t look like it?" Lu Yiyao laughed. "I just didn''t expect that we would meet in such a way."


    "What could I do?" Zhang Menglong said with a helpless smile. "I couldn''t contact you, didn''t know what you looked like or your name, which school and class you were in, so I could only resort to this most basic level of carpet searching for you."


    "Hmm..." Lu Yiyao reached out her hand generously, "Then let''s get to know each other again. My name is Lu Yiyao, a senior student of Gusu University Music Department."


    "Nice to meet you, my name is Zhang Menglong, a senior student of Polymer Materials at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    ...

 Chapter 53 You, Scoundrel, Are on Fire

    "Are we being too conspicuous here?" The crowd around them not only didn''t disperse but seemed to be growing. At this rate, Lu Yiyao would soon become a celebrity at the school.


    "Yeah, I''m actually quite shy. With so many people watching, I feel a bit embarrassed," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You, embarrassed?" Lu Yiyao gave Zhang Menglong a look, "I remember someone who couldn''t be stopped by ten bulls when it comes to talking nonsense."


    "Right, let me introduce you. This is my roommate, Cici, Guo Yuqian." Lu Yiyao pulled the girl next to her closer.


    "Hello," since she was Lu Yiyao''s friend, Zhang Menglong naturally wouldn''t ignore her, "Do you want to join us for something to eat?"


    "Is that really okay?" Guo Yuqian glanced at the sports car not far away, which only had seating for two. Besides, it was their first meeting, and she didn''t feel it was appropriate to intrude so heavily, "I have some other things to do, maybe next time."


    In fact, Guo Yuqian really wanted to join them. She wasn''t sure how rich Zhang Menglong was, but she was certain that dining with him would definitely be the most luxurious dinner she''d ever have. Not only that, she also wanted to experience what it felt like to sit in the passenger seat of a sports car.


    But today really wasn''t the right time, for a simple reason: she wasn''t just Lu Yiyao''s roommate; she was also her good friend. She was actually worried whether a guy like Zhang Menglong could be a jerk.


    "Take good care of yourself. If you can''t make it back to the dorm tonight, I''ll call the police!" Guo Yuqian whispered into Lu Yiyao''s ear.


    "Got it, I promise I''ll be back before 10 p.m.!" Lu Yiyao promised.


    "That''s better," In such a situation, Zhang Menglong naturally didn''t want anyone intervening. His previous offer was just out of politeness, "Next time, I''ll find a chance to treat your whole dorm to a meal."


    "Alright, I''ll remember that, and you better not back out!"


    "If I do, Lu Yiyao could twist my head off!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "When have I ever been that violent?" Lu Yiyao suddenly wasn''t pleased.


    "Who was it last time during the game who said they''d twist my skull open?"


    "Wasn''t that because you were so bad at it? I don''t know if you were practicing the ''Merciful Shooting Technique'' or using a hack that can''t even kill an enemy right in front of your face!"


    "That''s because you were messing around!"


    The two couldn''t help but start bickering again, even though it was technically their first formal meeting, they seemed like friends who had known each other for years.


    "Enough chitchat, get in the car!" Zhang Menglong led the way to his car.


    "You know Principal Wang?"


    "Is it strange?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "You might not believe it, but the guy who was slamming money on his head on the trending list last time, that was me!"


    "The one who bought dozens of sports cars in one go, that was you?" Lu Yiyao exclaimed.


    "Precisely, the humble me."


    "That''s it," Lu Yiyao slapped her forehead, "Going out with you today, I might end up on the trending list."


    "What''s there to be afraid of," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I can just buy Weibo and then whatever is on the trending list, wouldn''t it be up to me?"


    "You... I''m speechless."


    ...


    "Who is it, bothering me at this time," Zhang Menglong had just parked the car, when his phone started ringing, "Damn, it''s Wang Ling again."


    Zhang Menglong''s face showed his displeasure, but he still answered the call, "I say Principal Wang, why aren''t you just hanging out with your internet celebrity girlfriend, having dinner, and doing it, always calling to bother me?"


    "Damn, you actually ran off to Gusu District to meet a net friend today?"


    "Yes? Didn''t I tell you earlier, why would I lie to you?"


    "You dog thief, you better open Weibo and see, you''re trending!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was stunned, "Seriously? I just met one person, and such a small thing got on Weibo trending?"


    "Small thing?" Wang Ling directly shouted on the other side, "You drove that Koenigsegg CCVR, you could make the news wherever you go, okay? You''re not keeping a low profile, and you went all guns blazing, looking for girls at Gusu University, now your photos and videos have been uploaded, you''re famous!"


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong quickly opened Weibo, sure enough, the first post was about his video, in the video he was holding a phone and transferring money, although he was wearing a mask and didn''t show his face, other photos were also uploaded online, his identity couldn''t be hidden anymore!


    "Shocking, billionaire looking for love-interest at Gusu University, wire transfers 100,000 on the spot to any helper! According to incomplete statistics, over a thousand participants, spending over a hundred million!"


    "Hehehe," Wang Ling laughed mischievously over the phone, "From now on, the netizens don''t need to just focus on me anymore, go ahead, let them fire at you!"


    "Is that it?" Zhang Menglong was only shocked momentarily then regained his composure, having inherited the family fortune, it was only a matter of time before his identity and wealth were exposed, now it was just a bit earlier than expected.


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t hide anymore," Zhang Menglong told Wang Ling, "Starting today, I, Zhang Menglong, am going to be the most dazzling man in the world!"

 Chapter 54 Are All the Presenters This Awesome Now?

    "Okay, if that''s the case, then I''ll just give you a hand!" Wang Ling chuckled and hung up the phone.


    "Give me a hand? What does that mean?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat confused.


    "What happened, what''s wrong?" Lu Yiyao asked curiously.


    "It''s nothing. Principal Wang called and said I became famous," Zhang Menglong said with a playful smile, "and you too, you''re famous now."


    "Zhang Menglong, it''s all your fault!" Lu Yiyao pinched the soft flesh around Zhang Menglong''s waist.


    "Hey, no worries, like I said, even if I really became famous, as long as I buy Weibo, no one can see what I don''t want them to see."


    "It''s not just Weibo in the country. What about Toutiao, Tengxun News, and Wang Yi News? Even if you buy Weibo, what about the others?"


    Zhang Menglong grinned crookedly, "Then I''ll just buy them all, not leaving a single one!"


    "You really think you''re the Emperor now!" Lu Yiyao burst out laughing. How could he possibly acquire such giants, each worth billions or even hundreds of billions of US dollars?


    Lu Yiyao now believed that Zhang Menglong had indeed inherited a fortune, but she could never imagine that just a small test from Zhang Menglong''s parents would cost 100 billion US dollars.


    "You''re actually right!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Oh, and by the way, that Toutiao you just mentioned is mine; I''m the chairman of Unicorn Technology."


    Lu Yiyao''s mouth fell open in shock.


    "Let''s go, let''s go eat!" Zhang Menglong patted Lu Yiyao on the shoulder. "Sticking with me, you''ll have plenty of chances to be surprised. If you can''t handle this, then we can''t even be friends!"


    "Who''s with you!" Lu Yiyao heard the implications in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong laughed foolishly, feeling really relaxed when he was with Lu Yiyao.


    ...


    Friday night, Wanda Plaza was unusually crowded. For ordinary people, it might take at least two to three hours to have a meal, but with Wang Ling''s VIP card, Zhang Menglong could not only skip the queue but even dine and dash.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Hahahaha! I told you there was a line and you insisted on using a VIP card to come in, now do you understand what embarrassing means?"


    At a special seat in Haidilao, Lu Yiyao laughed uproariously.


    As everyone knows, Haidilao is a magical place where if you celebrate your birthday there, a group of people with cakes and props will come to your table to celebrate, a scene that has embarrassed countless customers.


    They just wanted to have a good meal, but for the sake of KPI, the staff didn''t care whether you wanted it or not, they''d just put a crown on you and a dozen people would surround you to sing "Happy Birthday."


    As a VIP, Zhang Menglong received an imperial-like reception.


    "No need to go that far; I just want to see how different the clothes here are from those that only cost a few hundred dollars!" Lu Yiyao wasn''t really interested in luxury goods; she was just curious.


    "Sir, are you looking for clothes for your girlfriend?" Despite Zhang Menglong''s unbranded outfit, the salesperson could tell from the unique material and craftsmanship.


    "We''re just looking around," Lu Yiyao interjected quickly. "And we''re not that kind of couple."


    "You do have a keen eye." But Zhang Menglong was utterly shameless, and the sales assistant immediately gave him a knowing "I get it" look.


    "This coat costs over thirty thousand?" Lu Yiyao picked up a winter coat and her expression changed slightly at the price tag.


    "Try it on; it''s free to try." Zhang Menglong said.


    "True that!" Lu Yiyao went straight into the changing room.


    "Hm? What''s going, why suddenly so many people?" Zhang Menglong suddenly heard a commotion coming from outside.


    Soon after, a female streamer walked into the store with a cameraman and a group of other staff, followed by hundreds of fans who quickly crowded the place.


    Zhang Menglong looked at the female streamer, who seemed to be a fairly famous influencer known as Mina. His roommate used to watch her streams, but all she did was shake her hips and dance, offering nothing substantial in her broadcasts.


    In the past two years, the livestreaming economy had boomed, and Mina had transitioned from a gaming streamer to a sales influencer. Reportedly, her sales effectiveness was among the top ten influencers, with over fifty million followers¡ªmaking her a top-tier influencer.


    "Manager, this..." The sales staff were suddenly at a loss.


    "No problem, let them in!" The manager''s face lit up with joy. Having such an influencer in the store was like free advertising. He speculated that sales could potentially multiply over this period, as Mina''s sales prowess was well recognized.


    Mina claimed today''s stream was a spontaneous outdoor broadcast, but in reality, her agency had arranged everything. However, the fans and customers weren''t aware of this, and her arrival immediately attracted many eyes, with the viewing numbers online soaring past five million!


    "Babes, I heard LV released a bunch of new autumn and winter clothes recently. Today, I''ll take you to the physical store to check it out, and if you like what you see, don''t forget to smash that like button!"


    "These streamers really do all follow the same script." Zhang Menglong shook his head with a wry smile.


    "Manager, do you have the latest trench coat in stock?" Mina asked.


    "Yes, but it seems there''s only one left, and a lady is trying it on in that changing room right there."


    Mina immediately signaled her assistant with her eyes, and the female assistant understood at once and headed straight for the changing room where Lu Yiyao was.


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly and blocked the entrance to the changing room.


    "Hey, didn''t you see Mina is here? We''re live streaming right now, and this is our featured product for the stream. There''s only one left now, so hurry up and have your girlfriend take it out."


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt amused. "This is the first time I''m hearing about asking someone who is trying on clothes to take them off. Are streamers really that powerful now?"

 Chapter 55 I Bought All the Clothes in the Store

    "What''s the matter with you, can''t you understand what''s being said? This clothing costs over thirty thousand a piece; can you afford it?" The female assistant was getting impatient, as Mina''s live broadcast time was limited, and the explanation time for each product was fixed. Delaying one minute meant losing one minute.


    Although this live broadcast session had randomly selected locations, Mina''s studio and lv''s agency had already signed a contract, and this trench coat was part of the selected merchandise for the session. And with just the slot fee costing 800,000, if sales were affected due to timing issues, Mina''s studio would have to compensate for the losses.


    "Whether or not I can afford it is none of your concern. Please keep your distance. In my ears, any sound over 60 decibels is noise, and you''re bothering my eyes!" Zhang Menglong said, mimicking the classic lines from idol dramas.


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it ready yet?"


    "I''m here today to see that new model; hurry up!"


    "Are you guys doing your job properly? If not, change the work team!"


    "Not watching anymore, I''m out, what a waste of time!"


    With no news in two minutes, some discordant voices had already appeared in the barrage, and Mina''s expression immediately turned serious.


    "Sorry, babes, there''s been a slight issue; I''ll check it out."


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it fixed yet, don''t you know that the audience is waiting?" The smile on Mina''s face, gentle as a breeze, vanished in an instant, all the affability, all the smiles, were just a fac?ade presented to the viewers.


    "Sister Na, they won''t give up the clothing," the assistant said.


    "Handsome, I''m sorry, but this live session is very important to me," Mina said, "How about this, consider that I bought this piece of clothing from you, thirty thousand, how does that sound?"


    "Not so good," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "My friend has already taken a liking to it."


    "Manager, have they paid yet?" Mina asked.


    "Not yet."


    "Hmph!" Mina let out a cold laugh, "They haven''t paid yet, so this clothing has nothing to do with them yet. Now, I''ve bought this piece. You, pay for it!"


    "Alright, Sister Na!"


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong''s tone became colder, "Buying things is a matter of first come, first served, right? It seems we were the ones to try on this clothing first. Even if you want to buy it, it should be after we decide we don''t want it, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ve changed; how does it look?"


    Just then, Lu Yiyao walked out of the fitting room.


    Lu Yiyao''s figure was already great, and this coat perfectly accentuated her slender curves, as if it was custom-made for her.


    "Beautiful, very beautiful!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat awestruck.


    "What''s going on? Why are there so many people?" Lu Yiyao hadn''t realized that so many people had suddenly appeared outside.


    "What''s happening?"


    "I''m just a passerby, is that young man the big shot?"


    "My husband is so handsome, alas, it''s a pity he''s already taken."


    "Big shot, do you still need a hanger on your thigh?"


    "Big shot, next time you''re looking for someone, remember to notify me, I''ll be satisfied with just 50,000!"


    "What are they arguing about?"


    "I''m not sure, it seems to be because there''s only one piece of clothing left that Mina wants to sell, and the big shot''s girlfriend is trying it on, it seems that''s what started the argument."


    "Damn! What do you mean, does the streamer think she''s something special?"


    "Exactly, I''ve been annoyed by these people for a while now, each one acting like they''re celebrities, being all high and mighty? Are they your father or something? Do they have to give way to you?"


    "Our Mina is so easy-going, how could she possibly get into an altercation? It must be that person who''s being unreasonable!"


    "That''s right, think you''re amazing just because you''re rich?"


    ...


    As another wave of viewers flooded in, the supporters of both sides immediately started to clash in the comments.


    "Forget it, forget it, just return the sponsorship fee!" They had already wasted a lot of time, and anyway, they still had other styles to promote in this store. Now, time was the most important thing.


    "Pff, a couple of paupers, let''s see what you''ll use to pay in a bit!" sneered the assistant contemptuously.


    "You don''t need to worry about what I''ll use to pay, but sorry, today you''re not going to sell a single thing!" Zhang Menglong admitted that sometimes, his temper was really big, and his eyes couldn''t tolerate a speck of dirt.


    "Store manager, I''ll buy all the clothing in this store, including the current inventory in the shop!"


    "Huh?" The store manager was instantly taken aback.


    "Hahaha, crazy guy, do you think you''re Ma Yun?" mocked the assistant.


    Mina also showed a trace of mockery on her face, "Don''t bother with him, let''s continue!"


    After speaking, Mina reached out for another piece of clothing.


    But Zhang Menglong immediately blocked her path, "I said, I''m buying all the clothes in this store."


    Zhang Menglong directly took out his Honored Card from Huaxia Bank, "Store manager, swipe the card!"

 Chapter 56 I Dont Like Fractions

    "Holy shit, that''s awesome!"


    "Damn, bought out the entire store? How much money is that?!"


    "Hahaha, see that? You think your livestreamer is cool? Our big shot is way cooler, buying everything in the store. Let''s see what you''ve got to livestream now!"


    "Damn, being rich is that amazing huh?"


    "That''s right, if you''re rich you can do whatever you want. If you''re so capable, why doesn''t your precious Mina buy everything too? No money then shut up!"


    "This time I''m with the big shot! What''s with that, don''t they know about first come, first served? A livestreamer thinks they''re above everyone else?"


    "Isn''t that card-swiping move just too cool?"


    "I''ve heard of black cards, but what the hell is a purple card? Can the big shot enlighten us!"


    "I''ve heard that banks have a card even higher level than black cards, called Honored Card, and it''s supposed to be purple. Not sure if it''s this one though!"


    "Netizens are amazing. No money, but they know all this stuff."


    ...


    "Sir, do you really want to buy everything? The price for all the display and stock items in our store might be close to 100 million."


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Zhang Menglong said, "Swipe the card, or do you want me to speak directly to your boss?"


    Zhang Menglong took out that black card and waved it in front of the store manager.


    Seeing this black card, the store manager''s breathing halted for a moment. Although he didn''t recognize Zhang Menglong''s Honored Card, he knew about this Wanda black card; since the LV store had opened at Wanda Plaza, he hadn''t seen anyone with such a card.


    He knew that the young man before him probably had a terrifyingly powerful background.


    "Yes, sir!" The store manager immediately ordered his staff behind him, "Check the stock quickly and calculate the price."


    For the store manager, this was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the store was cleared out, his commission was assured.


    Business in the physical retail sector wasn''t great this year. Normally, their monthly sales ranged from 30 to 50 million, but this year, not even the best month had broken 20 million in turnover. With Zhang Menglong''s single flourish, he might deal with a year''s worth of business.


    Now he only wished there had been more in the stockroom.


    "Manager, it''s all counted, the total price for everything in the store right now is 85.37 million."


    "Mister, you heard that, do you still want to..."


    "Swipe it!"


    "Sir, with such a large sum, I''m afraid your card might not go through."


    "My card has no limit!" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "Crap! Only 12 followers? Is he that low-key? No way, I''m going to follow him now, then I''ll be one of the originals!"


    "Don''t tease, streamer!"


    "Stop streaming, I bet that since you''ve annoyed my husband, no matter where you live stream outdoors, you won''t be able to sell a single item!"


    "Serves you right! You oppress people by your power and now you''ve hit an iron plate, haven''t you?"


    "Iron plate? This is more like a board full of nails!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong had no idea what Wang Ling meant by "I''ll help you out," and now his Weibo had been exposed. In just a few minutes, his followers had soared from 12 to 2 million and were still growing rapidly, increasing by tens of thousands each time he refreshed the page.


    "Sis Na, let''s do a food broadcast first. Shangai Desserts has already been arranged for us."


    "Okay." Mina adjusted her mood and entered the store.


    "Shangai Desserts," the dessert shop that had recently risen to fame as a trendy spot loved by many young people. Mina''s task was to help advertise for the shop, a deal worth 2 million!


    "Where''s your person in charge? Sis Na is here, hurry up and get ready!" the assistant strutted into the store, bossing people around.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Mina, but all our ingredients have been used up, and we won''t be able to accommodate you today," the store manager approached with an apologetic tone.


    "Used up? Then what are they eating?" Mina questioned.


    "A few minutes ago, our boss called and said all of today''s ingredients have been reserved by someone else."


    "Didn''t you tell your boss I was coming to live stream today?"


    "I did, but he said that no matter what anyone says, it won''t make a difference. The person who reserved all the ingredients is Wanda''s young master, Wang Ling."


    "What?" Mina''s face changed color; this was someone she couldn''t afford to provoke. But this meant the 2 million ad deal was gone!


    "Server, bring me an extended passionfruit pomegranate ice cream!"


    "Sir, our ingredients have been reserved. You..."


    "Hmph!" Mina huffed, irritated. What''s the use of having money if you can''t even buy what you want?


    "My last name is Zhang!" Zhang Menglong said flatly.


    "Are you the Mister Zhang that young master Wang Ling mentioned?" The manager''s attitude changed to one of utmost respect, "Master Wang said that this batch of ingredients is for you to deal with. Do you have any instructions?"


    "Oh, nothing much. Make two ice creams for us. Give the rest away for free to everyone in the plaza, except for them!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Mina and her group.


    "Yes, sir. I''ll arrange it immediately!"


    "What the hell is going on?" Mina and her assistant looked at each other, confused....

 Chapter 57 Money Allows You to Do Whatever You Want

    "Sir, what exactly do you mean?" Despite being full of rage, Mina still restrained her emotions.


    "Oh, nothing, just in a good mood today and felt like treating everyone here to some dessert!"


    Zhang Menglong was a very stubborn person; they were just trying on clothes peacefully in the shop when they were rudely interrupted, and it had spoiled his good mood halfway.


    Alright, so you want to be famous, huh? I''ll make you famous then! You won''t be able to accomplish a single thing in your livestream today!


    As a major broadcaster, all of her live streaming content was pre-announced, and so-called outdoor live broadcasting was nothing more than a script set up in advance. Zhang Menglong randomly checked and immediately knew her entire itinerary and the products for the day. If he wanted, she wouldn''t be able to advertise a single item today!


    "Zhang Menglong, I can''t believe you can be so nasty!" Lu Yiyao gradually understood what was happening, "But you don''t have to go this far, getting angry with such a person isn''t worth it, and it''s a waste of money. You just bought so much stuff, how are you going to deal with it all?"


    "Pick a few items you like, and I''ll just give away the rest in a Weibo lottery."


    "That''s tens of millions worth of goods, hey!"


    "What''s the matter? You''re already starting to save me money even before becoming my girlfriend?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Dream on! Who wants to be your girlfriend? When men get rich, not one of them is any good!"


    "No, no, no, I''m different!"


    The two of them chatted and laughed as if no one else was around, completely ignoring Mina and the others whose faces were ashen.


    "Sister Na, the agency is calling." Suddenly, one of Mina''s fans passed her the phone with a gray face.


    "Mina, where are you?"


    "Hu... President Hua?" The voice on the other end of the phone was actually the president of the talent agency!


    The company Mina was signed to was not a small one, and their boss had significant clout in the entertainment industry. He only needed to say one word, and although it might not cause the whole industry to shake, his words carried enough weight that their consequences had to be seriously considered.


    "President Hua, I''m in Wanda City of Gusu." President Hua''s voice seemed a bit


    "Did you offend someone?"


    "President Hua, listen to my explanation, I..."


    "I don''t want to hear your explanation!" President Hua''s voice revealed an irrefutable tone, "Tonight, if you can''t satisfy the other party, don''t say it''s you, even my company might shutdown immediately!"


    "This idiotic woman, I''ve invested so many resources into building her up, and now that she has achieved some success, she''s brought me such big trouble," Hua Yunshan slammed the table, "No, I must disassociate myself from her. Draft a notice stating that Mina has behaved improperly and does not fit the public figure image. Starting today, Yunyou Media will ban her!"


    "Yes, President Hua, I''ll take care of it immediately."


    ...


    "So, you won''t even say sorry?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, looking at Mina.


    "Sir, I... I''m sorry... It was our poor attitude. As a public figure, I should be promoting positive energy, not making such unreasonable actions against you and your friend," Mina finally bowed her head in the face of such a threat.


    "And her?" Zhang Menglong glanced at Mina''s assistant, realizing that the root of all this conflict came from this presumptuous assistant. Of course, from this he could see what kind of people they were usually, since some influences are subtle.


    If a broadcaster had a very upright set of values, their assistant would likely maintain their image to some extent, rather than doing what was done just now.


    "Xiaoyou, apologize!"


    "Sister Na, I..."


    "Are you not listening to me anymore? I told you to apologize!"


    "Sir, sorry, it was my attitude that was poor earlier."


    "Hmph!" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, "Someday, your assistant here will bring about your total downfall."


    "Let''s go, we should get back, otherwise your roommate might call the police," Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao, transforming back into that big boy.


    "Yes." Lu Yiyao nodded, and the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into the distance...


    "Sis... Sister Na..." Mina''s assistant suddenly became hesitant.


    "What now?"


    "The company just released a statement, saying you behaved improperly and the company has terminated its contract with you, and..."


    "And what? Speak up!"


    "And in the industry, they''ve directly blacklisted you!"


    Mina''s world went completely dark...

 Chapter 58 The Newly Popular Internet Celebrity Zhang Menglong

    On his way back, Zhang Menglong drove directly to Gusu University. The security guard, seeing such a luxurious sports car, didn''t dare to stop him and simply let him through. Zhang Menglong went ahead and dropped Lu Yiyao right at her dormitory building.


    "Alright, I''ve brought you here!" What was supposed to be a happy first meeting today turned sour because of a female broadcaster, which left Zhang Menglong in a somewhat bad mood.


    "Thank you for bringing me back," Lu Yiyao stood in front of Zhang Menglong, appearing a bit reserved.


    "I didn''t really want to bring you back," Zhang Menglong''s mouth started to wander again, "I have several villas here in Gusu and keep some cute little animals. If you''re interested, you could come over to pet cats all night and maybe take a tour of my bedroom..."


    "Stop, stop!" Lu Yiyao, already used to Zhang Menglong''s rambling flirting, interrupted, "What are you pretending for, I know you, you''re all talk."


    "Hahaha, you really know me," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "When are you going back?" Lu Yiyao asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.


    "I''ll go back after I win you over!" Zhang Menglong said without hesitation.


    "With all your money, people wanting to be your girlfriend could line up from here to the capital," Lu Yiyao pouted.


    "That''s different," Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became serious, "When I met you, I was just a poor kid. You were willing to chat with me, sing with me, and help me through the toughest times. No one can compare to you."


    Lu Yiyao''s face quickly turned a shade of red, "Alright, alright, alright, stop it, I need to go up now, or Xixi will start worrying"


    "Alright, then I''ll head back," Zhang Menglong said, his demeanor reluctant.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Just as Zhang Menglong turned to leave, Lu Yiyao suddenly called out to him. Her hands were crossed behind her back, looking a bit shy, "There''s an international art exhibition in Gusu soon. I have an exam tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, do you want to come with me?"


    "Sure!" A smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face. He had just been worrying about how to ask Lu Yiyao out again, just one day, he could wait!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow then!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow!"


    Watching Lu Yiyao disappear into the hallway, Zhang Menglong quietly clenched his fist, then drove away.


    "Good one, Wang Ling!" Zhang Menglong soon figured out the source of the problem.


    Today, while Zhang Menglong was at Gusu University, someone had snapped a photo of him and posted it on Weibo. Wang Ling had stolen a photo and posted it on his own Weibo, then tagged Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Ling''s followers outnumbered those of top-tier celebrities. In minutes, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo had blown up online, and everyone knew that the guy who had taken a helicopter over the highway, bought dozens of sports cars, and twice made Wang Ling''s mental state collapse with his wealth was Zhang Menglong!


    "Wow, did Mina just get canceled?" Zhang Menglong spotted a trending topic just below his on the hot search list.


    The incident at Gusu University had already stirred up the netizens, and this event undoubtedly added a huge wave of popularity for Zhang Menglong. Now, Zhang Menglong was so famous he was practically glowing!


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang; it was Wang Ling calling.


    "You backstabber!" Zhang Menglong answered the phone and immediately cursed, understanding that this was what Wang Ling meant by "helping" him.


    "Hahaha, how does it feel to be an internet sensation?" The voice on the other end laughed mischievously. "Also, how are your phone and computer? Are your private messages overflowing?"


    "Hmph! You think you can mess with me with that junk plan?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "My house has a supercomputer; even if you multiply your data load by a hundred, it won''t even make my computer flinch!"


    "Damn! You installed a supercomputer in your house?" It was the first time Wang Ling had heard of such a thing. How many resources did it take to get a supercomputer?


    "Haha, didn''t see that coming, did you? Jealous much? It''s super fast for gaming!"


    "I have no words! Using a supercomputer for gaming? Don''t you have any ambition?"


    "Mind your own business!" Zhang Menglong shot back. "Wang Ling, you''re doomed today!"


    "Hahaha, anyone can talk tough! If you''re capable, mess with me! I''ve turned off my private messages!"


    "Then I''ll have people tag-spam you!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately opened his own Weibo activity and posted a message.


    "Today''s giveaway, 5000 prizes, just the batch I bought at LV tonight. To enter, just tag Wang Ling and insult him within one hour¡ªyou might win. To maintain internet harmony, no foul language allowed. The most creative insult wins a big G!"

 Chapter 59 Brother, I was wrong, dont scold anymore

    "Holy shit, the big shot just tweeted! Branding iron Liu Ming!"


    "The big shot is so freaking awesome!"


    "For real? 5000 copies? That''s gotta be worth over a hundred million, right?"


    "Guys above, are you new fans who followed less than ten minutes ago? Us old fans who''ve been following for hours know the big shot never jokes around!"


    "Exactly, didn''t you see Mina''s already out in the cold? The big shot didn''t even blink before buying something close to a hundred million, you think he''s joking with you?"


    "No kidding, not to mention just today, the big shot has spent over a billion at the Gusu University gates looking for folks. He''s spent more money than you''ve eaten in meals!"


    "Hahahaha, big shot, what grudge do you have against Principal Wang? No more talking, I''m starting with insults as a token of respect. It just so happens my girlfriend''s birthday is coming up; bless me with winning an LV bag!"


    "Big G! I want a Big G!"


    In just a few minutes, thousands of comments appeared under Zhang Menglong''s one tweet. This mysterious tycoon had finally made his appearance, and his entrance was such a bombshell.


    The allure of money is endless; within minutes, the people of Zaun swarmed in.


    "@Wang Ling, tonight your Papa is planting a loquat tree in the courtyard."


    "@Wang Ling, stand here and don''t move. I''ll go buy you some oranges."


    "@Wang Ling, your dad''s going to be banging a basin and dancing tonight."


    "@Wang Ling, bright moonlit night, the short pine hill, your sister sits by the small bay window."


    "@Wang Ling, to hell with your Digital Monster Pikachu, to hell with your Zhang San Crazy Monk Taiji Sword, to hell with your Nine-Turn Large Intestine Fat Snake Monster..."


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to severely beat up your girlfriend''s lover, much more justified than self-defense against betrayal!"


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to get run over by a truck and start a harem in an alternate world!"


    "@Wang Ling, may you be granted parole when you go to prison!"


    "@Wang Ling, when you buy a grave, may you get a buy-one-get-one-free deal!"


    "Stop cursing, guys. If you keep this up, the principal will have a nervous breakdown!"


    "Hahahaha, I''m splitting my sides laughing. Netizens are just too talented!"


    "What kind of Underworld blessings are these, haha!"


    "Lu Xun would''ve laughed all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to the Three Flavor Study.


    "Your account is doomed!"


    "I''m starting to regret not studying hard back in the day. Now, I have to search up these insults on Baidu as I read them."


    But earning this one billion in such a way, he didn''t know whether to cry or laugh.


    "Guys, keep cursing, I''ve got plenty for compensation for emotional distress!" Zhang Menglong added another follow-up comment!


    "Bro, I was wrong, stop cursing!" Ten minutes later, Wang Ling finally conceded, leaving a pale and powerless admission of guilt on Weibo.


    "The president conceded? I''m stupefied!"


    "I declare, my husband is no longer the president as of today, from now on, the big shot is my husband!"


    "Is this the third time the big shot has made the president crumble with money?"


    "There''s going to be a change in the internet celebrity world!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, aren''t you afraid I won''t pay back this billion?" Although the two seemed like fire and water online, they both knew that it was just playful bickering.


    "If you don''t pay it back, then don''t pay it back, it''s just a small target, a brief chat and it''ll come back," said Zhang Menglong indifferently, "Keep it, consider it like you''ve opened a Wanda VIP card with me."


    "I''m not going to be polite with you!" Wang Ling said shamelessly, "But brother, there''s something I need to remind you of."


    "What is it?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "With fame comes trouble; now that you have so many fans, you also have many more eyes on you, and every little move you make will be seized upon by some trolls, who will use it as a weapon to attack you."


    Wang Ling had the most experience with this; his Weibo was filled with indecent insults and he had been blasted onto hot search on several occasions.


    "It might not necessarily be you; it could also be someone close to you," Wang Ling added.


    "Yeah," Zhang Menglong nodded. Wang Ling was right, and for him, there were many such people, including his parents, and now there was Lu Yiyao as well.


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s eyes took on a dark tint, fearing precisely what was happening. The images of him appearing alongside Lu Yiyao had now surfaced on the trending search.


    Zhang Menglong already had a hot topic, and if someone close to him emerged at this time, without thinking, they would become a target,


    and now people had started digging for information on Lu Yiyao.


    "Great, are they really pushing me to create a scene?" Zhang Menglong opened several other apps. Not just Weibo, but also forums, social platforms, short video platforms, all featuring posts about the two of them.


    "Xu Feng, you haven''t slept yet, right?" Zhang Menglong dialed the number of the marketing director of Unicorn Group.


    "President Zhang? Not yet, is there anything you need to instruct?"


    "You know about the incident regarding me today?"


    "Yeah, I''ve roughly heard about it." As someone who always paid attention to current affairs, Xu Feng''s nightly routine included checking the latest news on various platforms, and today''s topic involving Zhang Menglong practically exploded nationwide.


    "From now on, there must be no information about the girl who appeared with me today on any of our company''s products!"

 Chapter 60 Whoever else issues, I will buy it

    "Mr. Zhang, are you talking about that girl named Lu Yiyao?"


    "Damn, you already know her name?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Mr. Zhang, you underestimate the power of the internet nowadays. After your photo with Miss Lu Yiyao appeared online, it took less than half an hour to dig up most of her personal information. Not to mention her name, we could even find her household registration if you wanted."


    "Damn, I was careless!" Zhang Menglong clearly underestimated the netizens'' capabilities.


    However, upon further reflection, this was normal. Zhang Menglong was on the verge of replacing Wang Ling as the national heartthrob, so it was expected that any woman seen with him would have her entire ancestry scrutinized.


    Previously, whenever Wang Ling dated a girlfriend, she would instantly trend on social media. Information about these internet celebrities was everywhere, and even if they eventually fell out of favor, the publicity alone would ensure they never had to worry about living expenses just by doing advertisements.


    And now, there was someone who could use money to make Wang Ling apologize directly on Weibo without saying a word. It was no surprise that such a person would spark an explosive topic and his suspected girlfriend would naturally not escape the netizens'' scrutiny.


    "Listen, I don''t care how you do it, but if I see her photo or her personal information on any of Unicorn Technology''s products in the next half an hour, you can stop being the director!"


    "Half an hour?" Xu Feng immediately became anxious.


    "What? Can''t do it?"


    "Fine! Half an hour it is!"


    "If you manage in half an hour, I''ll double your year-end bonus!" Zhang Menglong added.


    "Mr. Zhang," Xu Feng didn''t know whether to feel moved or sad at this moment. It was a difficult task, but the reward was so generous it was both lovable and hateful, "You really go crazy with money, even on your own people!"


    "Go do it now!"


    The moment Xu Feng hung up the phone, he immediately initiated a video conference with all his top executives. The content was simple: how to make Lu Yiyao''s information disappear from Unicorn Technology''s products within half an hour.


    "Have tech set those keywords as violations, give a warning on the first discovery, and ban the account on the second!"


    "What about videos and photos?"


    "Blurry ones don''t matter, for clear photos use facial recognition technology to compare, and block any related content directly!"


    "Director, half an hour, it''s simply not possible!"


    "If it can''t be done, then get lost!" Xu Feng was always decisive in action, "Any more questions?"


    "Impressive, this is practically declaring war on other companies! What will happen if they don''t comply?"


    "Could the boss be planning to acquire all these companies? Hahaha!"


    "Based on Zhang''s personality, I think he could absolutely do it!"


    "My husband is just too handsome, wuwuwu, I''m so jealous, I wish I could be protected like that too!"


    "The person above add me on vx... I''ll protect you!"


    "This is just like the legendary domineering CEO, no way, I''m about to fall!"


    However, at that moment, Zhang Menglong released another message, "Someone asked me how I will deal with it. I am a straightforward person. If you don''t do as I say and continue to expose information about my friend without restraint, I will directly acquire the company that hosts that platform. Don''t doubt my words!"


    "Awesome! But I don''t believe it!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang, you''re going too far now. These products belong to some of the biggest internet companies in the country. If you were really going to acquire them, wouldn''t you need several hundred billion US dollars? Are you the richest man in the world?"


    "I don''t believe you, you dirty old man, very bad."


    Upon this news, the comments below immediately filled with mockery.


    Not to mention anything else, just Weibo''s market value is nearly 10 billion US dollars; to fully acquire it, even the world''s richest person couldn''t bring out so much cash at once.


    As for other platforms, Baidu''s market value exceeds a hundred billion US dollars; acquiring it would be a joke. Even if you really had that money, do you think it would be easy to get those shares from the shareholders?


    Everyone assumed that Zhang Menglong was just joking, that he couldn''t possibly do it!


    "Heh!" Looking at all those doubtful comments, Zhang Menglong could only laugh it off, "Ignorant Earthlings, it seems you really have no idea whom you''re mocking!"


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong directly dialed Hong Yi''s phone, "Did you see my Weibo?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you planning to buy them all? It might be difficult to manage in one day, but a week should be no problem. If we just need to acquire one first, then it can be sorted out by tomorrow."


    "Does it take a long time to prepare?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It takes some time, just because the transfer of shares is complicated. Whether in Huaxia or abroad, there are regulations regarding the proportion of shares. We need to find a sufficiently trustworthy shareholder for you, ensuring those shares are completely under your control. Who the actual holder is, isn''t important."


    "Okay, I understand," Zhang Menglong said, "Start preparing. I don''t think any of the internet giants will take my words seriously. Let''s just start with any company tomorrow, beginning with Weibo."


    ...

 Chapter 61 I Have Money, But Dont Treat Me Like a Fool

    "Zhang Menglong, we''ve been apart for less than an hour, and you''ve already made such big news?" It wasn''t long before Zhang Menglong received a call from Lu Yiyao.


    "I did it to protect you!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I certainly don''t want the private life of my future girlfriend to be monitored every day by everyone!"


    "Have you no shame, who agreed to be your girlfriend in the future?" Lu Yiyao said, "Ah, Qianqian, go away, don''t eavesdrop on my conversation!"


    "Hahaha, it sounds like your dorm room is quite lively tonight!" Zhang Menglong heard the chatter of a group of girls.


    "That''s all because of you!" Lu Yiyao said angrily, "You could have just come to see me, but you had to make such a big scene, as if you were worried the whole world wouldn''t find out about it."


    "I''m worried about you getting into trouble," Zhang Menglong said, "By the way, when could you help me invite your roommates out for a meal? I''ll bribe them so the next time we go on a date, they won''t lock you out!"


    "Keep dreaming!"


    "Wait a minute, you don''t have the final say!" Suddenly, a wave of protest erupted from the other end of the phone, "Handsome Zhang! We heard what you said!"


    "Are you Guo Yuqian?" Zhang Menglong remembered that one of Lu Yiyao''s roommates seemed to have that name.


    "Yes, Handsome Zhang, you have a great memory!" Guo Yuqian snatched the phone from Lu Yiyao, "We''ll give you a chance to treat us to a meal on Saturday night. Maybe we''ll be so pleased that instead of just not locking Yiyi out, we might even get her drunk and deliver her to your bed!"


    "Hahaha! Exactly, exactly!" Several other voices piped up on the phone, "We''d even help you steal household registration books if you want!"


    "You guys, ah! I''m going to kill you!"


    "Holy shit! Lu Yiyao, you dare to kick us? Just because you have long legs, you think you''re something special?"


    "Having long legs is being special!"


    "Ah! Qianqian don''t mess around!"


    "Handsome Zhang, some people have really good figures, so soft!"


    "Qianqian, you hooligan!"


    "Tear..." Zhang Menglong almost had an image in his head; he originally thought that only boys'' dorms would have such incidents, but the girls'' dorm seemed even messier!


    "All right then, it''s a deal. Saturday, I''ll take you all out for a meal. Don''t forget to bring a bag, I''m afraid you won''t be able to carry all the things I''ll use to bribe you!"


    "Haha! Definitely, definitely!"


    "Serious or not, won''t you know in a bit?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. Although he didn''t know how Hong Yi was going to purchase shares of Weibo, he believed that whatever method she used, she would definitely succeed.


    ...


    Less than an hour later, Hong Yi''s call came through.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have now completed the acquisition of 85.25% of the shares, and this portion is all in the hands of people you can fully trust."


    "Damn, that fast?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about this stuff, but with 85.25% of the shares, Weibo was practically under his say-so, as those shareholders represented his will, "What about the rest?"


    "The rest is with a European venture capital firm called Camorra. But those guys are slick. We acquired the 85.25% of the shares at a mere 15% premium over the market price, but even with a 30% stock premium offered to Camorra, they''re not willing to sell. Obviously, they''re looking to make a killing."


    "There are always some unsatisfied people in this world." Although Zhang Menglong didn''t understand the concept of a 30% premium purchase price, the fact that other shares were acquired with only a 15% premium indicated that this percentage wasn''t insignificant.


    "Mr. Zhang, the head of Camorra Venture Capital now wishes to speak with you. If you are willing, I will transfer the call to you."


    "Transfer it over. I''d like to hear just how greedy these Russians can be."


    After a burst of dial tone, a slick middle-aged man''s voice soon came through.


    "Hellow, is that Mr. Zhang speaking?"


    "Don''t speak English to me," said Zhang Menglong, "Can you speak Chinese? If not, piss off!"


    Taking down a small venture capital firm, Zhang Menglong might not know how to go about it, but he believed that with the resources he had, there were ten thousand ways to solve this.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, I am Chavi, the head of Camorra Ventures."


    "What? Trashy Chavi? Never mind, it''s not important. I want to buy the rest of your Weibo shares, name your price."


    "Mr. Zhang is straightforward," came a laugh from the other end of the phone, "I just heard that aside from our shares, the rest has already changed hands not too long ago; it must be through someone under Mr. Zhang, right?"


    "Hm?"


    "I believe Mr. Zhang isn''t short of money. I''m a businessman, naturally, I aim for higher profits. For this part of the shares, I am willing to sell them to you at a 100% premium over the stock price."


    "Doubled?" Zhang Menglong thought this Russian would at most increase to around 50%, but he couldn''t believe his appetite was so big.


    "Trashy Chavi, right? I''ve got money, but you''d better not take me for a fool! 100%? You must be dreaming, buddy!"

 Chapter 62 Come to Headquarters to be a Cleaner

    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get angry just yet." Zhang Menglong''s reaction was within Chavi''s expectations; any rational person would explode upon hearing such an excessive price, "Since we are talking business, any condition is up for negotiation, right?"


    "That depends on whether you have the qualifications. A maximum of 30% market premium is already quite generous. If you''re not willing to sell, then I''ll just have to find another way."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you threatening me? But I''m sorry to say, such tactics are ineffective on me."


    "I think I shouldn''t have any problems directly acquiring your venture capital firm, and then you can just get lost."


    "Hahaha," Chavi laughed aloud, "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re very wealthy, but our institution isn''t a publicly listed company. Even if you have all the money in the world, you can''t acquire us."


    "Oh? How can an ordinary company have so much capital to make such numerous investments?" Hong Yi had just told Zhang Menglong that Camona''s external investments totaled over 5 billion US Dollars. Without being a public company, how could it possibly have so much capital?


    "You are correct, Mr. Zhang, we are not an ordinary company; we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kaido Group. I assume you must have heard of Kaido Group before?"


    "Kaido?" Zhang Menglong had heard the name before; it was a company that started with internet and finance and now has a market value of over 400 billion US Dollars, a colossal entity on a global scale.


    "Of course, if Mr. Zhang has the capability to acquire such a company, then I have nothing more to say." Chavi smiled, thinking about the acquisition of a publicly listed company valued at 400 billion US Dollars, especially a foreign one¡ªcould Zhang Menglong possibly do that?


    If he really wanted to fully acquire Weibo, he would have to pay double the money to buy the shares from them.


    "Fine, then I''ll acquire that company!" Zhang Menglong said icily, "Trying to profit from my situation, standing in my way? Do you even know who I am?"


    Zhang Menglong snapped the phone shut with a smack.


    On the other end of the phone, Chavi still wore a confident expression. He knew that before long, Zhang Menglong would come back to him, but by then, the purchase price would be more than 100% over the stock market premium.


    "Hong Yi, acquire the Kaido Group as well," Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Mr. Zhang, that won''t be necessary," said Hong Yi, "I just checked, and the Kaido Group is controlled by the Bradley family. They hold more than 97% of the shares."


    "Are you saying that the Kaido Group is actually already mine?"


    "Yes."


    "Damn it! Can''t you stop shocking me like this? How many companies do I own?"


    "I haven''t compiled a count because your assets are growing explosively every year, and it''s just too much trouble to keep track. It''s not necessary."


    "Alright then, you know what to do. It''s time to replace the person in charge of that venture capital firm. That Chavi, send him to clean toilets."


    "Of course. Get the handover done in the next couple of days, and you can report to the head office next week."


    "Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!" Chavi thanked him profusely, "Boss, which department should I report to when I get to the head office?"


    "Janitorial department!"


    "Jan... Janitorial department?" Chavi was taken aback, "Boss, you aren''t joking with me, are you?"


    Chavi, a graduate of an Ivy League school with a rich resume, was certainly an elite in the venture capital industry. Their boss actually wanted him to work in janitorial?


    "Do I sound like I''m joking with you? Did you really have the gall to demand excessive compensation from Mr. Zhang? Are you sick of living?"


    "Mr. Zhang? The Mr. Zhang from Huaxia?"


    "I''m telling you, Mr. Zhang is our group''s largest shareholder. You better straighten up!"


    "How is this possible?" Chavi''s hands trembled slightly. What Zhang Menglong had said was not a threat; he truly had the capability! What was even more frightening was that he didn''t even need to buy out the Kaido Group¡ªthe Kaido Group was already his!


    "Well, if you don''t want to do it, you can choose to resign. But I think in the entire venture capital and finance industry, there probably isn''t a single company that would dare hire you. If you don''t believe it, you can try."


    With that, the chairman of Kaido hung up the phone.


    "How can this be?" Chavi had never doubted the chairman''s words; with his prestige in the industry, a single word from him and no one would dare take Chavi in!


    "Janitorial work..." Chavi stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes empty...


    ...


    In less than twenty minutes, Hong Yi called Zhang Menglong to tell him that all the shares had been acquired.


    "Transfer them all to my name," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Mr. Zhang, if an individual''s shareholding exceeds 75%, the company will have to be delisted."


    "Then let it be delisted. From now on, this Weibo will be my personal toy!"


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 63 Are you selling your shares?

    When the stock market closed that day, news exploded like a bombshell.


    Today, Weibo''s shares were fully acquired by a mysterious tycoon, and the delisting procedures were even swiftly completed¡ªWeibo has now become a privately held company!


    "What''s happening? Weibo got acquired in just one day?"


    "Weibo is valued at over 90 billion US dollars, and delisting requires over 75% personal shareholding. Does someone actually have 70 billion US dollars in funds?"


    "You can''t calculate it like that. Those shareholders aren''t idiots. They wouldn''t sell such a large batch of shares at the stock market price. The buyer''s funds might be far more than that!"


    "Who on earth did it?"


    "Could it be that big shot named Zhang Menglong?"


    "Yeah, didn''t he say that if those platforms don''t control the messages about his friend by 12 o''clock, he would acquire those platforms'' companies? He wasn''t joking!"


    As if confirming those netizens'' guesses, Zhang Menglong posted the Weibo share certificate on his own Weibo, which stated that Zhang Menglong had become the legal person with 100% of the shares!


    "I did what I said!" There were these five words beside the accompanying picture.


    This Weibo post was undoubtedly a shock to the entire net¡ªa shock that Zhang Menglong had truly fully acquired Weibo in just half a day. How on earth did he do it?


    "Could this be photoshopped?"


    "Right, even if you offer money, it doesn''t mean people are willing to sell."


    "Acquiring Weibo in half a day? That seems too fake, right?"


    Not only were there voices of astonishment, but skepticism was also rampant.


    However, all Weibo users received an official system notice from the platform within a few minutes.


    Weibo Announcement: All users are required to delete any personal information about Mr. Zhang Menglong''s friend within one hour, otherwise, the system will ban the account for 5000 years.


    "Sk... Skynet..."


    "Damn, this is real! Zhang the boss has become a power user!"


    "Banned for 5000 years, does he think we''re immortal monsters?"


    "My account finally gathered a few tens of thousands of followers; I can''t afford to be banned!"


    "Scared, scared, can''t afford to provoke, can''t afford to provoke. This isn''t an iron plate; it''s a nail board, whoever provokes it will be unlucky!"


    In Pengcheng of Huaxia, within a majestic building, Ma Hua, the Chairman of Tengxun, had just finished dinner when his private phone rang.


    This number was not disclosed to the public and only his relatives and some key business partners knew it.


    "Li Hong? Why would he call me at this hour?" Despite the market competition, the two shared a good personal relationship, occasionally meeting up to have a meal together, sip tea, and discuss their business ideas.


    "Chairman Ma, have you seen the news online?" Li Hong got straight to the point.


    "What news?"


    "That young guy named Zhang Menglong, he has already acquired Weibo, the whole stake!" When Li Hong saw the news, he couldn''t believe it at first. Even with Baidu''s size and resources, acquiring Weibo would be a huge undertaking. And even if they did plan an acquisition, it wouldn''t be possible to complete all the processes in just half a day.


    "What?" Ma Hua had spent the whole day reviewing documents for a new game product and had just taken a break for dinner, only to hear such explosive news.


    When Zhang Menglong posted on Weibo yesterday, it was the first time they had heard of this young man, but they had never taken his words seriously. A man in his twenties, boasting about wanting to acquire Baidu and Tengxun, could that be possible?


    They had regarded Zhang Menglong as nothing more than a clown seeking attention, desperate to become famous.


    But now that he had actually acquired the full stake in Weibo, it was no small matter!


    "Do you think what he said could be true?" Li Hong asked, not knowing why, but he always felt there was something mysterious about this young man.


    "That''s impossible, right? Our companies are both worth hundreds of billions of US Dollars. If he wants to become the chairman, he needs to acquire 51% of the shares. Hundreds of billions of US Dollars, can he afford that?"


    "Indeed, maybe I''m just being paranoid."


    "Hold on, let me take this call!" Ma Hua''s phone suddenly received a call from an unknown number.


    "Ma Xi Ma Xi?" A quite young voice came through from the other end, "May I speak with Chairman Ma?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Hello Chairman Ma, I am Zhang Menglong. You must have heard of me."


    "Zhang Menglong? How do you have my number?" Ma Hua''s number was highly confidential, and in theory, Zhang Menglong shouldn''t know it.


    "That''s not important. I''m calling today because I want to discuss something with Chairman Ma."


    "What is it?"


    "I''m interested in buying all of your shares in Tengxun, would you sell them?"


    Ma Hua''s breathing paused for a moment, "Are you... are you serious?"

 Chapter 64 Two Choices for You

    Now, Tengxun''s total market value exceeds 4 trillion Huaxia currency. Although Ma Hua only holds about 10% of Tengxun''s shares, that''s still 400 billion Huaxia currency. How many companies in the world can come up with 400 billion Huaxia currency in capital? Individuals? That''s even more like a fairy tale.


    "Young man, do you know how much my Tengxun shares are worth?"


    "I do," Zhang Menglong said airily, "it''s probably just several hundred billion Huaxia currency, quite a lot indeed."


    "Quite a lot?" Ma Hua repeated Zhang Menglong''s words¡ª400 billion, and just a casual "quite a lot" to gloss over it?


    "How about this, if Mr. Ma is willing, I''d like to buy all the shares you hold at a 20% premium over the stock market price. I wonder if you''d be interested."


    "Are you joking?"


    "What about 30%?" Zhang Menglong casually added another 10%.


    "It''s not... what I mean is..."


    "Then 40%, no more!" Zhang Menglong declared, "When I acquired Weibo, there was this old Russian who wanted to bite off more than he could chew, asking for a 100% premium over the stock market price to sell that portion of shares. Mr. Ma, you shouldn''t emulate such people."


    "Are you talking about Kamolov Venture Capital''s Chavy?"


    "You know him?"


    "More than that, I''ve dealt with him several times," Ma Hua said helplessly, "Our company had plans to acquire Weibo a couple of years ago, but that bastard actually wanted a 50% premium, simply extortionate!"


    "Damn, what the hell? He only wants 50% from you guys, but 100% from me? Looks down on me?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt he had been too lenient in punishing him.


    "How exactly did you manage to get those shares from him?" Ma Hua asked curiously. Based on his understanding of Chavy, he was a pure businessman dedicated only to benefits. Without meeting his price, there was no way he would budge."


    "There was no particular tactic. The parent company behind Kamolov Venture Capital is mine. I just transferred him to the head office to work as a janitor, and the rest was easy."


    "Their parent company is yours?"


    "Yes." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "That Okaido Group?"


    "What is it? Stop mumbling. I have an urgent matter, so speak quickly!"


    "We have just received a message from a Swiss Bank to one of your accounts. A sum of 500 billion US dollars is going to be deposited into your account. But you don''t have any accounts with the Swiss Bank, and it will be quite troublesome to transfer it directly to a Huaxia bank, so they are asking if you want to open an account with them."


    "Smash!" The phone in Ma Hua''s hand was instantly crushed on the ground, shattering the screen.


    He picked up his phone incredulously, still on the line with Zhang Menglong, "This 500 billion US dollars... you transferred this?"


    "Otherwise?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "But I didn''t plan to give it to you yet. I''m just letting you know that I, Zhang Menglong, can fork out the money!"


    "I... damn it..." Ma Hua, who had always been very mindful of his composure, couldn''t help but curse out loud. What world''s richest man? In front of Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man was just a pauper!


    "Let''s do this, Mr. Ma. If you do not want to sell the shares, it''s okay. But as I said on Weibo, I hope that within two hours, I can see Tengxun do what I want them to do. Otherwise, I might have to think of other methods."


    "Alright, you go ahead, I''m going to call Li Hong of Baidu now. By the way, what is his bank account number? I''ll transfer some money to him first to save us the half-day hassle of talking later."


    ...


    It took a few minutes for Ma Hua to recover from the deep shock. The fund from Zhang Menglong had already been withdrawn, but those few minutes of interaction had left a deep shadow in his heart.


    Soon, Li Hong''s phone rang again.


    "Old Ma, did you also get his call?"


    "Yes, and you?"


    "Just finished with him. Boy, a direct transfer of 500 billion US dollars, just like that. I''ve been in this business for so many years, confident that I could keep my composure even if Mount Tai crumbled in front of me, but my hands are still shaking."


    "Who''s telling me? " Ma Hua glanced at his own hands, still trembling continuously.


    "What should we do?"


    "What else can we do? We need to have a meeting right away, to remove any information we can and block what we can''t!"


    "Sigh... That''s all we can do for now. Who would have thought we could be knocked down by a young guy with money..."

 Chapter 65 They Were All Afraid

    "Everyone, open the online meeting immediately, we have an urgent task! Anyone not appearing in the meeting within ten minutes, prepare your resignation tomorrow!"


    All the senior executives of Tengxun almost received the message from Ma Hua at the same time.


    In less than five minutes, all the notified executives had appeared in the online meeting.


    "President Ma, what on earth has happened that is so urgent you had to call us all together?" a technical director asked curiously.


    "From now on, block and censor any information about that female friend of Zhang Menglong from all of our Tengxun platforms."


    "President Ma, is that really necessary? You''re not scared just because of the threat from that youngster named Zhang Menglong, are you?" one of Tengxun''s shareholders said.


    Blocking and censoring information was a minor issue for them, almost too easy for their technology team, which could handle it in a short time.


    But by taking such action, wouldn''t they be indirectly admitting that they were afraid of Zhang Menglong?


    A publicly listed company with a trillion Huaxia currency market value, an internet industry titan, bowing down to a twenty-something-year-old, would be utterly laughable, and from then on, it could even become a dark piece of history.


    "Exactly, President Ma, even if he did acquire Weibo, with such a huge amount of capital, he must be significantly weakened. Even if we Tengxun wanted to acquire Weibo, we would need to recover for a while before doing so. Can he possibly be the richest person in the world?"


    "President Ma, there is really no need for this."


    "Enough!" Ma Hua slammed the table hard, "He is not the richest person in the world, he has more money than the richest man damn it!"


    Facing the questions of his subordinates and shareholders, Ma Hua''s anger was ignited instantly, and it was Zhang Menglong who just called me, wanting to buy all of my Tengxun shares, at a premium of up to 40%!


    Everyone fell silent, seeing Ma Hua lose his temper like this for the first time.


    "That''s impossible! How could he have that much capital? Not even the world''s largest company could do that!"


    "Idiots, he''s already dumped 500 billion US Dollars directly into my bank account, do you think I''m joking with you?" Ma Hua was even somewhat hysterical.


    "500 billion?"


    "And in US Dollars?"


    "That could buy more than 50% of the shares."


    "Not just me, such a large sum of money, even if refunded, would take hours to process, and a few minutes later, Li Hong told me that he also received 500 billion US Dollars!"


    At this point, everyone was dumbfounded as the entire video conference fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop.


    So, according to Ma Hua, in just a few minutes, Zhang Menglong had pulled out 1 trillion US Dollars in cash?


    To know, even for Amaxon, the total assets amount to only 1.65 trillion!


    They even began to suspect whether Ma Hua was so overworked lately that he had started to hallucinate?


    "With the money he has, not to mention buying my shares, it''s possible he could buy our entire company!" Ma Hua wasn''t just being alarmist; given Zhang Menglong''s high-profile behavior and his carefree character, it really wasn''t impossible.


    "Holy shit? Are you that tough guy? Bro, your company is gonna be gone in no time!"


    "Desperate for attention, huh? Do you think Boss Zhang is joking?"


    "Here''s a suggestion, just kneel and apologize, or it won''t be about whether you soar or not, but whether your company will even exist."


    "I get it, you guys only see the second layer, their boss is already out in the stratosphere!"


    "Can someone explain what the guy upstairs is saying?"


    "Think about it, even the two big giants caved, how rich and powerful must Boss Zhang be? If their companies get bought out, they''ll be working for Boss Zhang. Could their treatment be bad?"


    "Bro, that''s some unique thinking! Literally a corporate level of understanding."


    "That really is the logic, worthy of a big V, full marks for this analysis!"


    With this example, many companies actually started to mimic, as if they couldn''t wait for Zhang Menglong to hurry up and buy them out.


    "Damn, what the hell are these people thinking?" Seeing those companies crying out with such gusto, Zhang Menglong was suddenly speechless, "Trying to trick me into buying you out, do you think I''m a Muggle?"


    Zhang Menglong immediately made a call to the chief technical officer of Weibo.


    "Boss Zhang... You''re calling me at this time, is there something you need?" Although they had gotten a new boss less than half a day ago, the CTO was quick on the uptake.


    "See those companies causing a ruckus? Change all their verified names for me!"


    "Change to what?"


    "You figure it out!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, look, Tear Soul Technology''s verified name got changed!" An eagle-eyed netizen quickly noticed something funny.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong''s idiot son, hahahaha!"


    "Zhulu Technology''s verification got changed too, ''Born without an asshole,'' hahaha!"


    "And this one too, ''My Husband Only Lasts Three Seconds,'' hahaha!"


    "My Three Lifetimes with a Pig, hahaha, I can''t take it anymore!"


    "It must be Boss Zhang''s doing, he''s the king of permissions after all, and they dared to make noise on Weibo!"


    "Hahaha!"


    Tonight on Weibo was destined to be full of joy.


    ...

 Chapter 66 I have always impressed people with money.

    "Mr. Zhang, looking for a girlfriend again?" The next day when Zhang Menglong arrived at Gusu University, the security guard at the gate had already recognized him.


    Although it had only been a day, Zhang Menglong had completely become a household-name internet celebrity, with even the streets and alleys buzzing about the recent events.


    The top-tier internet celebrity Mina was banned, liberally throwing billions around to make Wang Ling admit in front of all the netizens that she was the chairperson of Unicorn Group, acquiring Weibo, forcing internet giants like Tengxun and Baidu to back down.


    All these seemingly outrageous acts had happened in just a day and a half, hinting at the young man''s terrifying background and wealth.


    Even a security guard, as long as he hadn''t disconnected from the internet, couldn''t possibly be unaware of Zhang Menglong''s affairs, especially since Zhang Menglong had made such a spectacle at the school gate just yesterday.


    "Yeah, it shouldn''t be a problem for me to go in, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Of course, of course," the security hurriedly lifted the entrance barrier. How could he dare to stop Zhang Menglong? If he did, based on the events of the past two days, he would either lose his job, or Zhang Menglong might just buy Gusu University.


    Although Gusu University was directly under the Ministry of Education, who knew what godly, earth-shattering moves Zhang Menglong might pull off? To regard him as just another rich second generation would be utterly foolish.


    "Mr. Zhang, care for a cigarette?" The guard jogged up to Zhang Menglong and offered him a cigarette.


    "One won''t do, I usually take a pack," Zhang Menglong replied.


    The expression on the guard''s face froze instantly, was this the world of the wealthy, where even offering cigarettes was done by the pack?


    "Hahaha, just kidding, I don''t smoke, thank you though!" Zhang Menglong thanked him and drove straight into Gusu University.


    Zhang Menglong had visited Gusu University two days ago and, coupled with yesterday''s news, he had already become a central topic of conversation. His car had been widely shared on the students'' social media, and the moment he appeared on campus, countless students gathered around.


    "Holy shit! Zhang Menglong is here again! He''s back!"


    "Why scream, can you just shout my husband''s name like that?"


    "Hahaha, don''t be jealous, he''s obviously here for Lu Yiyao, it''s none of your business!"


    "Shush! Dare to say that name? Did you forget what Zhang Menglong did for him yesterday? He acquired Weibo, even Tengxun and Baidu backed down, if you''re overheard, you might be sent to Africa to mine coal!"


    "I''m so envious. How great would it be if I were Lu Yiyao?"


    ...


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "It seems you''re getting to know me better."


    "I was forced to get to know you!"


    As they bantered, the two made their way from the parking garage up to the entrance of the convention center. Because of the high volume of people, it was strictly required for everyone entering the exhibition hall to wear masks, which made Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao less conspicuous.


    After all, in such a world-class event, many art students flocked to the scene. Zhang Menglong''s popularity among students was well-known, even without having to think about it.


    "Wow, there are so many people!" Once back on the ground, seeing the winding queue, Zhang Menglong was momentarily speechless, "It''ll take hours to get through this line, we won''t even get through the entrance!"


    This exhibition featured numerous world-famous paintings, a rare opportunity that occurred only once. Moreover, this event in Gusu City was the only instance in Huaxia, lasting only for a brief week. Artists, painting enthusiasts, and art school students from across the country had all come upon hearing of the event.


    The scale was foreseeable; the crowd was overflowing every day, and even the organizers had to take special measures such as limiting the number of people and the time allowed inside.


    Even if you had money and status, you could only stay inside for a maximum of two hours.


    "Why do you have such a long face?" Zhang Menglong glanced at Lu Yiyao''s expression.


    "Ah, I knew we should have set off earlier today. At this rate, we might only get in by evening."


    "Queue up with Zhang Menglong to see the exhibition?"


    "Hey, I''m a person of high quality; I won''t skip the queue with you!"


    "Cut it out, how could I possibly skip the queue? I''m a very reasonable person," Zhang Menglong said.


    "What are you up to now?" Lu Yiyao suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Zhang Menglong smiled mysteriously, then patted the student-looking person ahead, "Hey, buddy, can we discuss something?"


    "What is it?" The guy in front, already very impatient, exuded a grumpy aura.


    "100,000 cash, let us queue in front of you, will you?"


    "Is this what you call being reasonable?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but laugh and cry.


    Zhang Menglong said righteously, "I''m a man who believes in using money to solve problems!"

 Chapter 67 Mainly Hopes Everyone is Happy

    "Is that really true?" Although he was wearing a mask, the boy''s pupils dilated in surprise for an instant, several times their normal size.


    "Of course it''s true. If you don''t believe me, I''ll transfer the money right now," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Deal!" The boy immediately took out his phone and opened his payment code.


    "Ding, your account has received 100,000 yuan!" As the clear electronic tone sounded, the boy''s hands began to tremble. It was actually true¡ªthe 100,000 yuan had really appeared in his account.


    "I just remembered that I have something to do this afternoon. I''ll give you my spot; I''ve got to go," the boy hurriedly stuffed the number tag into Zhang Menglong''s hand. Entry to the art exhibition would be according to the sequence on the number tags.


    It was as if he feared that Zhang Menglong had made such a move on an impulse, and if he came to his senses and wanted the money back, then it would have been all for nothing.


    With this thought, the boy decided to leave immediately. Even if Zhang Menglong regretted it later and wanted to find someone, he wouldn''t be able to find him.


    Although the art exhibition was a rare event, he had just arrived, and there were at least a hundred people ahead of him. Considering the speed of entry, even by evening, it might not be his turn. To earn a 100,000 yuan just by giving up his spot¡ªit would be foolish not to make such a transaction.


    Most of these art students probably couldn''t even make 100,000 yuan a year after graduating. Walking away with this money now would be delightful.


    "Did that guy just run off that fast?" In just a few seconds, the boy had vanished out of sight.


    "Zhang Menglong, does your family specialize in printing money?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t understand Zhang Menglong''s behavior with her more than 20 years of thinking. Her family background was somewhat special, and she usually lived frugally at school. Zhang Menglong''s way of spending 100,000 yuan as if it were 10 yuan was something she simply couldn''t understand.


    "Although my family doesn''t specialize in printing money, the speed at which we make it is probably faster than a money printer," Zhang Menglong said. Strictly speaking, probably more than half of the world''s population was directly or indirectly making money for his family.


    And to Zhang Menglong, 100,000 yuan really wasn''t much different from 10 yuan!


    "But it''s useless even if you do this. There are still hundreds of people ahead, and you''ve just wasted a 100,000 yuan for nothing," Lu Yiyao was somewhat speechless.


    "Yes, buying one person''s spot is useless, but what if I buy every single person''s spot in line ahead of us?" After saying that, Zhang Menglong patted the shoulder of the person in front of them.


    "Miss, would you sell your spot for 100,000 yuan?"


    "Sell! Of course, I''ll sell!" The girl in front had heard their conversation when Zhang Menglong was making the payment. She had been hoping that the same sucker would spend another 100,000 yuan to buy her place.


    To her surprise, her wish suddenly came true.


    "Right, there are so many people behind us too!"


    The dozen people stuck between them immediately showed displeasure.


    Indeed, according to this exchange method, they would remain in their original positions without any loss, but Zhang Menglong would have effectively skipped them, preventing them from making that money.


    "Brother, our spots are even further ahead than his, we''ll sell for 450,000!" The people in front also got anxious, fearing that someone at the very front might suddenly realize they could do the same. Your journey continues on empire


    "Damn, stealing our business? Brother, I''ll take just 400,000!"


    "Handsome, I''ll do it for 300,000!"


    "These damn dogs, can''t we all just make a hundred thousand each and be happy? Isn''t that good enough?" The people behind started grinding their teeth in frustration, but what could they do? Their spots weren''t as advantageous, leaving them without room to compete.


    As for those behind Zhang Menglong, they were simply relieved. Had the others thought of this earlier, they wouldn''t have earned a single cent.


    "Damn it, is it easy for me to spend money?" Zhang Menglong originally planned to spend over ten million, but at this rate, a few million would suffice.


    So far, he had completed less than 20% of his 100-billion-dollar task. Last time, after acquiring Weibo, that amount of money hadn''t even been counted towards his expenses, leaving Zhang Menglong frustrated for a long time.


    Showed off, money spent, and yet it doesn''t count?


    "Enough shouting!" Just then, the two people at the very front finally heard the commotion behind them. A look of smug satisfaction spread across their faces, as they held the most advantageous position in the competition.


    "Brother, for just half a million, we''ll sell you two spots right now, and in no more than 10 minutes it will be the next group''s turn to enter.


    "No need," Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    "You don''t want to move forward anymore?" The young man at the front asked in astonishment.


    "No, of course I want to keep moving forward; I just think my method is quite good."


    "Ten thousand dollars a person, and there are still forty or fifty people. You''ll have to spend a few million more!" That guy even doubted if Zhang Menglong had a problem with his brain. Why would anyone spend ten times more money on something that could be settled for just a few hundred thousand? Wasn''t that idiotic?


    "Money''s not the issue," Zhang Menglong said impassively, "my main goal is just to make everyone happy."

 Chapter 68 Our Family Likes to Do Charity Work

    ```


    Stay connected with empire


    "What a fierce reason, but I like it!"


    "This guy is really loaded."


    Even though only his eyes were showing, my intuition tells me he must be a handsome guy!"


    "You think his transfer gesture is handsome, right?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Everyone, just show your QR codes for payment, I''m in a hurry," Zhang Menglong saw that the staff at the entrance were starting to arrange for the next group to enter.


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone quickly took out their phones and stood in a row waiting for him to come forward.


    "Fine, a hundred thousand it is. It''s better than nothing!" Although the person at the front of the line was somewhat unwilling, there was nothing he could do. The other party simply didn''t care how much they spent; what mattered to them was whether they were happy or not.


    "Handsome guy, it''s my turn," the sleazy-looking man at the front extended his phone towards Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s okay, this spot is fine, no need to move forward," Zhang Menglong put away his phone, not intending to transfer any more money, "I just heard someone say that each group can enter 5 people at a time, so I only need to be in the first five. There''s no need to spend money that serves no purpose."


    "You... are you playing me?" the sleazy man suddenly became a bit rageful.


    "Playing you?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Why would I play you? Who are you, anyway, to be worthy?"


    Getting scolded for no reason, Zhang Menglong also felt quite frustrated, as if he owed the guy money. Being willing to spend a certain amount of money was one thing, but needing to spend it was another.


    As long as the spending was worth it, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t mind. After all, money was just a number to him. But if there was no difference whether the money was spent or not, why bother?


    "Ridiculous!" Zhang Menglong muttered, then walked into the art exhibition venue with Lu Yiyao, following the staff''s directions.


    "I remember now, this person seems to be Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, someone in the queue finally recognized his identity.


    "Yes, my ancestors and elders have always liked to collect these things." Zhang Menglong looked up at the ceiling, reminiscing, "Take Picasso''s artworks for instance, there''s about forty thousand of them in existence, right?"


    "Probably around 37,000." Lu Yiyao gave a more precise figure.


    "Actually, the number is far beyond that," Zhang Menglong said, "He actually created over eighty thousand paintings in his lifetime, a third of which were produced in his last ten years."


    "That''s impossible. According to what you''re saying, where did the other forty thousand plus pieces go? Were they destroyed?"


    "They''re piled up in my library!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "You have no idea how much space these things take up. And those paintings... they all look like gibberish, hey, don''t look at me like that, I really don''t understand his art..."


    "Over forty thousand..." Although she hadn''t seen them with her own eyes, based on her knowledge of Zhang Menglong so far, what he said could very well be true.


    It is said that Picasso''s paintings, up until now, fetched at least 1.5 million US Dollars each at auctions, and the priciest one, "The Women of Algiers," sold for a staggering 179 million US Dollars.


    The average value of Picasso''s paintings exceeded ten million US Dollars each, so wouldn''t those forty thousand plus paintings be worth several hundred billion US Dollars?


    Thinking of this figure, Lu Yiyao didn''t know how to continue the conversation.


    "Your family couldn''t only have Picasso''s paintings, right?" Lu Yiyao asked as if possessed.


    "Of course not, we have works from Michelangelo, Paul Ce?zanne, Da Vinci, you name it. Maybe not as many, but we have them," Zhang Menglong continued.


    "Oh right, and Van Gogh''s paintings. He wasn''t famous during his lifetime, so one of my ancestors bought a lot of them at a low price, over 1,200 in total, which cost just a few hundred thousand US Dollars according to today''s purchasing power.


    "A few hundred thousand for over 1,200 Van Gogh paintings?" Lu Yiyao''s expression froze. That would be an increase of tens of millions of times in value now, wouldn''t it?


    Now she understood why Zhang Menglong was so wealthy. For a family with such a long legacy, it would be difficult not to have money!


    "Right, in my bedroom there''s also a plus version of Van Gogh''s ''Starry Sky,'' about five meters by three meters in size. My ancestor back then probably spent what would be 80 US Dollars today. Van Gogh was nearly starving to death. Actually, my ancestor didn''t want his paintings, but he felt so sorry for the poor artist, he spent the money just to help him out."


    "So by that account, your ancestor was actually engaging in charity?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong sighed, "It''s a family tradition. Our family likes doing charity. When travelling in Europe in the old times, they would often help some destitute musicians and painters. Those things, it would''ve been disrespectful to throw them away, so they had no choice but to stack them all up somewhere. Who knew they''d be so valuable now."


    "Are you even speaking human language?" Listening to Zhang Menglong''s tone, she felt like he was making it seem as if he was very aggrieved. This wasn''t charity, this was clearly an investment! And not just any investment, but one with ten thousand percent, or even a million percent return!

 Chapter 69 I, Zhang, bought them all.

    "Oh? All these paintings even have price tags?" Suddenly, Zhang Menglong noticed that some of the works had a tag underneath, which not only introduced the painting and the artist but even listed a price, with a long string of zeros at the end.


    "I heard that many paintings at this exhibition are for sale," Lu Yiyao said, "not all the works are from formal organizations or museums, but some are from private collectors who want to use this opportunity to sell their works for a good price."


    "That sounds pretty good," Wang Ling had warned Zhang Menglong before they arrived not to do anything foolish, but Zhang Menglong had already tossed his words to the back of his mind. As long as he wasn''t stealing or robbing, everything was legal, so why not?


    Although Zhang Menglong couldn''t appreciate art, these works were priced in the millions and even billions of US Dollars. Perhaps he could complete a significant part of the $100 billion task today!


    "Wait, you''re not planning to buy all these paintings, are you?" Seeing the expression on Zhang Menglong''s face, Lu Yiyao suddenly realized what he was about to do.


    "I just remembered, the rooms of my nannies, drivers, and chefs seem to be missing some wall paintings, not to mention their communal bathrooms lack something as well."


    "Zhang Menglong, I think you''re insane!" Lu Yiyao said seriously, watching him. If he decorated his own room that lavishly, so be it, and even glamming up the bathroom could be tolerable, right?


    But to hang world-famous paintings in the bathrooms and rooms of household staff? Wasn''t that like having hemorrhoids in his brain? Could he really not stand not spending money?


    "That''s right, I am sick, but it''s not a mental illness!"


    "Then what is it?"


    "Love-sickness!" Zhang Menglong said slickly.


    "Hmph, tui!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong did not suppress his voice; in this incredibly crowded venue, where people were just inches away from each other, Zhang Menglong could even smell the body odor of a fat woman in front of him, so naturally, people around could hear what he was saying.


    This young man actually wants to buy all the paintings here?


    Keep in mind, the threshold for this art exhibition was extremely high. Those messy paintings couldn''t catch the eyes of the organizers, and this wasn''t an auction¡ªthere was no price jacking, so all the paintings were at a fixed price.


    The cheapest one was valued at over $500,000! Could a young man in his twenties afford that?


    "These young people these days don''t have much skill, but they do have big mouths," the smelly fat woman and a greasy man beside her said mockingly.


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were wearing masks and clothes completely different from two days ago, making them unrecognizable by their eyes and hairstyles alone to those unfamiliar with them.


    Moreover, is someone like Zhang Menglong the kind of person you just stumble upon? With all his wealth, would he really be squeezed among these people at an art exhibition?


    "Found him! Right here!" Just when everyone had pegged Zhang Menglong as a show-off loser only in front of girls, a commotion suddenly erupted a few meters away.


    "Yes! It''s him! He was just wearing those clothes!"


    "I was just so close to him, I need a selfie with him!"


    "Damn, seeing a celebrity in the flesh, do you think if I try to scam him, he might just compensate me a billion in emotional damages like Principal Wang did?"


    "Idiot, do you not know who Zhang Menglong is? His friend''s information popped up online, he almost bought Tengxun Baidu, if you try to scam him, you might end up being dumped in the Huangpu River to feed the fish!"


    "Damn, am I that fierce?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Ah, I didn''t expect my disguise to be so good yet still get recognized."


    I just wanted to enjoy the exhibit and flirt with Lu Yiyao, yet ended up being recognized by a bunch of fans.


    "You were so noticeable earlier, I thought you wanted to be recognized!"


    "Hahaha, oh well, since I''ve been recognized, it''s no skin off my back, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly turned toward the fat lady and the greasy middle-aged man next to her, "By the way, you two, what were you just saying to me? I didn''t quite catch it."


    "I..." Even though they''re not from the same generation, this man was a small private enterprise boss. With such a major event happening yesterday, how could he have not heard about it?


    Zhang Menglong, a man who could casually buy social media platforms and make big factories bow down publicly, how could he possibly provoke such a person?


    "Hehehe, I was just saying Mr. Zhang really has good taste, not only achieving so much at such a young age but also having an appreciation for art, truly commendable." The greasy man immediately spewed ingratiating flattery.


    "So boring," For Zhang Menglong, such people were just opportunistic and unworthy of his interest, no need to bother with them.


    "Look, now what? You''re surrounded by so many people, I want to see how you get out of this!" Lu Yiyao said with a laugh.


    "Why panic? As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassed ones are them," Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Excuse me, does anyone know where the organizer''s contact person is? As for these paintings for sale, I, Zhang Menglong, am buying them all today."

 Chapter 70 He is not shocked; he is delighted

    ```


    "Wow!" As soon as the words were out, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.


    "It''s starting, he''s starting again!"


    "Did I hear that right? Did he say he''s buying them all?"


    "I heard that today''s art exhibition features over 12,000 works, and private collectors own more than a third of them, all of which are for sale."


    "Doesn''t that mean at least 4,000 paintings are up for sale this time?"


    "Oh my, doesn''t that mean if each is ten thousand, it would be 40 million dollars?"


    "Hehehe, at this level of art exhibition, do you think these paintings would be that cheap? I''ve been walking around here for over half an hour, and the cheapest piece I saw is 500,000 US dollars! The priciest one, priced at 120 million US dollars, doesn''t have the concept of Huaxia currency in this exhibition!"


    "Hiss!"


    Upon hearing this, people around couldn''t help but feel a twinge in their molars, as if pondering, even if the average price was 5 million US dollars, those 4,000 paintings would amount to 20 billion US dollars. Wouldn''t this money be better spent on eating spare ribs, playing games, starting companies, buying stocks, or even getting some pampering? Isn''t that more appealing?


    "Such extravagance, truly inhumane extravagance!"


    "Hey, Zhang Menglong, are you serious?" Lu Yiyao felt a chill go down her spine when she heard the conversation around her. She was aware of Zhang Menglong''s acquisition of Weibo and its staggering 10 billion US dollar valuation.


    But not having experienced these events herself, she couldn''t quite grasp what they truly felt like¡ªuntil now, when she was really getting a sense of it.


    "What''s true or not true about it, a few thousand paintings, that''s all. I''ll make that money back in one day," Zhang Menglong said, unconcerned.


    Although his words seemed nonchalant, his heart was bursting with joy. He wished there were even more, more prestigious paintings; he wouldn''t hesitate to buy even the "Mona Lisa" if it were for sale. It wasn''t spending money that he feared, but not being able to spend it!


    "But what''s the use of buying so many paintings if you don''t know how to appreciate them?" Lu Yiyao said, having gathered from their earlier conversation that Zhang Menglong was only interested in the value of the paintings and knew nothing else about them.


    Put bluntly, if he were to buy them and just pile them up at home to collect dust, that would be the biggest waste of these artworks!


    "No worries, I''ll just build a museum at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. I can exhibit all the paintings in my home as well as these, free of charge for everyone. That way, people can come and see them whenever they wish without having to queue up and get exhausted in the sun."


    "All of them!"


    "Ah?" Bruce was taken aback, "Excuse me, sir, I might have misheard you. Could you please repeat which one you''d like to purchase?"


    "No, Mr. Bruce, you heard correctly. I said I''ll buy all the paintings here that are for sale!"


    "Oh God, you must be joking!" Huaxia was already the tenth stop on this tour. In the previous countries, some of the pieces had already been bought by various tycoons.


    Of course, there were many art-loving magnates who had spent a fortune to purchase several paintings, even up to a dozen or more, but nobody had ever announced an intention to buy all the works at once.


    "Mr. Bruce, I am not joking, I am serious," said Zhang Menglong solemnly.


    "Sir, we have 4,320 pieces left for sale in our exhibition, some of which are valued at over a hundred million each. The total worth is close to 50 billion US Dollars!"


    "50 billion US Dollars?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," seeing Zhang Menglong''s shocked expression, Bruce knew he might be having second thoughts.


    "I thought people from Huaxia were really that wealthy. It seems I have overestimated the country," Bruce thought to himself.


    But on second thought, even the world''s wealthiest individual had assets worth just over 100 billion US Dollars, and most of that was in stocks, bonds, and fixed assets. There probably wasn''t anyone in the world who could casually fork over 50 billion US Dollars.


    "Hahaha, great! Fantastic!" Just as Bruce''s thoughts were racing, Zhang Menglong suddenly began laughing hysterically, "Hahaha, I thought these paintings could be had for just 20 billion US Dollars, and here I can spend more than double that. This trip wasn''t in vain after all!"


    "Ah?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s reaction, everyone wore a strange expression, and some even started to twitch at the corners of their mouths.


    "What the heck? What kind of weird thought process is this?"


    "What''s the matter, he''s upset because he''s spending less money?"


    "The look on his face just now, I thought he was scared off by the high price!"


    "Pfft, is Mr. Zhang someone who gets scared off that easily? He''s the man who bought Weibo in half a day!"


    "That''s terrifying, he wasn''t shocked, he was thrilled!"

 Chapter 71 These Are All Basic Operations

    "Mr. Zhang, are you sure? If you really want to buy those paintings, I''ll arrange for someone to handle it immediately!" Bruce''s tone betrayed a trace of excitement.


    He had expected to sell five or six hundred of the more than four thousand paintings, and he hadn''t even dared to hope for a thousand, but Zhang Menglong was ready to buy them all at once. Was this not the God of Wealth?


    "Go ahead and arrange it," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Ok, ok, I''ll get on it right now!" Bruce''s face lit up with a smile.


    "Damn, did he really buy them?"


    "Awesome, I didn''t hear wrong, did I? It''s close to fifty billion, right?"


    "In US dollars, brother, my head is buzzing right now."


    "Fifty billion US dollars, and in cash? Isn''t he richer than the world''s richest person?"


    "On this year''s Forbes list, isn''t the richest person still the CEO of Amazon? How much is his personal fortune? 150 billion US dollars?"


    "The 150 billion US dollars are mostly water, nearly half of it is fixed assets and shares. Logically, it would be incredible just to have a few tens of billions in cash."


    "Even if those 150 billion US dollars were all cash, put it bluntly, would you spend a third of your total assets on a bunch of pretty but useless paintings?"


    "If you had a million, would you spend 300,000 on a painting?"


    "Definitely not!"


    "So, Zhang Menglong''s assets must be more than 1,500 million. In fact, this might just be his liquid assets!"


    "Hiss!"


    The people around analyzed and immediately came to an incredibly terrifying conclusion.


    It was highly probable that this young man who had never appeared in the public eye before was the real world''s richest person!


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to Bruce.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there anything else I can do for you?" Bruce''s heart skipped a beat. Could Zhang Menglong be having second thoughts? It was hard enough to reach the peak of his life, could it all come crashing down so quickly?


    "I wanted to ask you, are other paintings for sale?" Zhang Menglong pointed distantly at the "Mona Lisa".


    "Mr... Mr. Zhang, do you want to buy that painting?" Not just Bruce, everyone around had shock written all over their faces.


    "Dude, can you spare me that change?"


    "Why do I suddenly have this strange feeling that I''ve seen this scene somewhere before?"


    "Bro, I think I feel the same way."


    "Are we on high alert?"


    Someone, somehow, had stealthily started a live broadcast online, simultaneously streaming this scene to the web. Since it was just a small website, the number of netizens flocking there almost crashed their servers due to overwhelming traffic.


    "I don''t need it!"


    "Huh?" Bruce was stunned for a moment, thinking he might have misheard, "Mr. Zhang, are you unsatisfied with the price? Give me a little more time, I will negotiate for you, we might be able to make it cheaper!"


    "No, what I mean is, I don''t want a discount. I''ve never had the habit of getting discounts when I buy things. Please, let''s stick to the original price, or else I won''t buy it, or I could even pay more!"


    "Ha ha ha! Does Mr. Zhang even need a discount?"


    "Looks like the high alert warning was right, it''s starting again! I''ve seen this scene at Wanda!"


    "I was there at that time!"


    The chat in the live stream suddenly dominated the entire screen, and for some reason, everyone seemed unsurprised by Zhang Menglong''s refusal of the discount. Rather, it seemed like it was the expected attitude all along.


    "There, I''ve transferred the money to your account," Zhang Menglong checked his phone, Hong Yi informed him everything had been handled.


    "50 billion?" Bruce''s hands trembled slightly as he saw the feedback from the company''s headquarters.


    "Don''t be nervous, I like to round up. Let''s leave it at that!"


    "Mr. Zhang... You really have opened my eyes!" Bruce had never before seen someone spend money like this. Even though he had met quite a few wealthy tycoons along the way, compared to Zhang Menglong, they were leagues apart.


    "Ha ha ha, just look at the baffled face of that foreigner."


    "Newcomers, don''t be alarmed. Mr. Zhang''s style has always been wild, the kind who rounds up on a whim. Last time it was a couple million, now he''s gone straight to a few billion US dollars."


    "Baldy, got scared, huh? This is just the basics!"


    "Everybody stand up!"


    ...

 Chapter 72 Did I say that this matter was over just like that?

    "Whoo-whoo-whoo, I''m so moved, it''s like a tribute to our nation''s grandeur!"


    "See that? The bald guy was nearly scared witless!"


    "Actually, Zhang doesn''t have much to him, he''s just one of Huaxia''s internet celebrities."


    "Zhang is mighty!"


    For some reason, seeing the surprised expressions on the foreigners'' faces made everyone feel an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, especially the angry youth, who seemed to have reached some sort of peak.


    "Mr. Zhang, do these paintings need us to deliver them somewhere for you?" Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s financial power, Bruce became even more respectful.


    "Someone will contact you later; just deliver them to the address they give you."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand," although Bruce hadn''t left any contact information with Zhang Menglong, nor had he told Zhang Menglong his boss''s account details, the money had been transferred in a matter of minutes, indicating that his information resources were quite astonishing.


    Bruce was a smart man; he knew that asking certain questions was pointless and simply shut his mouth.


    ...


    "Sorry, we rushed here from Yanjing just to attend this exhibition. Could you let us stay a bit longer?"


    "Yes, sir, look at our professor; he''s quite old. Please make an exception for us!"


    "No, our exhibition has rules. Each visitor is not allowed to stay for more than two hours. If everyone were like you, wouldn''t that lead to complete chaos?"


    "Friend, we''ll just stay half an hour more at most; it won''t affect others. Please let us stay a little longer!"


    "I said no means no! Aren''t you Huaxia people known for your manners? If you are a people of propriety, you should understand the rules!"


    "Get moving now, or we will have to forcibly remove you!"


    "Please, let us stay a little longer; I am a professor from the Painting Department of Yanjing Art University. Here''s my ID. I''ve come here carrying a lofty artistic faith¡ªplease allow us to admire these works a bit more!"


    "Why are you so relentless, old man? Are all you Huaxia people this thick-skinned?"


    "Damn! So arrogant?"


    "F*ck! Kicking out Huaxia people on Huaxia''s own soil? I can''t stand this!"


    "It makes me want to hit someone!"


    "Get out, roll out of Huaxia!"


    "I heard him just now saying we Huaxia people are cowards!"


    "President Zhang, a petition signed by thousands, begging you to take him down!"


    No one expected that this live broadcast, originally just to showcase a large-scale scene of Zhang Menglong showing off, would turn into such an incident.


    Even though Huaxia''s international status had skyrocketed worldwide in recent years, especially during the pandemic and the contributions made, many of the world''s major organizations had expressed respect for Huaxia.


    However, in many countries, some attitudes remain deeply ingrained, such as discrimination, which is an inevitable phenomenon.


    "Clark, shut up!!" said Bruce.


    "Bruce, what''s this? You''re yelling at me for a Huaxia person?"


    "You don''t know, Mr. Zhang here is our guest, he just bought the artworks on sale at our exhibition!"


    "This young man is actually so wealthy?" A flicker of surprise crossed Clark''s eyes. The cheapest artwork at the exhibition was worth several hundreds of thousands of US dollars. This Zhang Menglong seemed to be only in his twenties; if he wasn''t extraordinarily capable, then it must be that his family was wealthy.


    "At least until he leaves this place, don''t do anything that might offend him. If this deal goes south, you won''t be able to escape responsibility!" Bruce whispered only loud enough for the two of them to hear.


    "F*ck, go to hell! Although unwilling, Clark really didn''t dare to mess up this time. He wasn''t afraid of Huaxia people, but he was afraid of their boss. If the boss found out he had screwed up a deal, he could probably kiss his year''s bonus goodbye.


    "Fine, I''ll give him this face!" Clark smiled. "Alright, you can continue to watch. You should feel lucky, as Huaxia people, you still have the chance to see the most dazzling European works!"


    "You!" The old man''s face turned red with rage, as if he was holding a breath of anger in his chest, "Our Huaxia culture is not inferior to yours!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Clark smiled, but his smile was filled with mockery, "If you think so, then so be it!"


    "Wait a minute!" Just as Clark was about to leave, Zhang Menglong suddenly extended a hand in front of him, "Did I say this matter is over?"

 Chapter 73 Pack Up and Get Ready to Leave

    "Huaxia people, I''ve already given you enough face, don''t think just because you''ve got some money you can do whatever you want!"


    "Huh!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do whatever I want? Learned a few Huaxia idioms and think you''ve got a bit of cultural depth? It''s shameful to see things created by our ancestors used by you so nonsensically!"


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    "I''m asking you, where is this?"


    "Gusu City."


    "Let me tell you, this is Huaxia, and in Huaxia, no matter where you''re from, you''d best leave your so-called arrogance and discrimination at the door. Huaxia is a land of etiquette; we welcome friends, but we won''t indulge those who don''t know how to appreciate it!"


    "Young man, don''t ask for trouble. We were just shamelessly hoping to look a little longer, and he was just maintaining order," the old man said, immediately trying to mediate as he saw Zhang Menglong and Clark arguing.


    "Elder, this is a different matter!" Zhang Menglong said, "And it''s not me causing trouble, he''s the one doing it!"


    Zhang Menglong then tried to soothe the elder, "I can understand him asking you to leave according to the rules, but he just said we Huaxia people have thick skins, said our Huaxia culture is inferior to their Europe. That''s a big deal!"


    The Huaxia people in the venue mostly knew a bit of English and had almost all heard what Clark had said just now, the word of mouth quickly stirred up indignant feelings.


    But the netizens in the live streaming room were totally confused. They were wondering, why does Zhang Menglong seem to pick fights wherever he goes? Some even followed the trend and said Zhang Menglong was causing trouble everywhere just because he had money.


    Now the truth was out, and from what Zhang Menglong had said, it wasn''t hard to discern the cause of the conflict. And for those keyboard warriors, it was one thing for their own people to criticize each other, but quite another to be berated by foreigners. Did they no longer care about their own mother?


    "Where are those who just said that Boss Zhang was always asking for trouble? Stand up! Apologize!"


    "Boss Zhang is mighty! We can''t let them be too arrogant!"


    "This time I support you, knock them down!"


    "Boss Zhang, if you can take care of them this time, I''ll be your loyal fan forever!"


    "Daring to put on airs in Huaxia, what are they, still thinking this is Huaxia from decades ago?"


    ...


    "Huaxia person, you look like you want to fight, eh? With that scrawny monkey appearance, can you even haha?" Clark had torn off the facade, scoffing without restrain.


    "Clark, what are you doing, do you realize Mr. Zhang is our big client?"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Hong Yi, can you check who is in charge of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center?"


    "Mr. Zhang, is there a problem?"


    "Nothing serious, just want to get some people who can''t see clearly and have foul mouths out of this convention center!" Zhang Menglong briefly explained the situation in a few words.


    "Mr. Zhang, although the convention center was overseen by Tenghui Group, it''s not owned by any private organizations; it''s under the local cultural department."


    "I don''t care about that, I just want to know if we can kick them out."


    "Can do, give me twenty minutes!"


    "Great! Also, investigate their upcoming schedule for me. I want their so-called ''World Art Peak Touring Exhibition'' to not get past a single country!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang, these are trivial matters!"


    "Hmm, thanks for the trouble."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s call had lasted only a few tens of seconds, but the people around had already started discussing.


    "President Zhang made a call!"


    "He''s blowing his top! Who knows whom he''s contacting."


    "The man can easily pull out 50 billion US dollars in cash, do you think his background would be simple?"


    "Time to watch the show! I can already sense a nuclear warning up ahead!"


    "President Zhang, power to you!"


    "Brilliant!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what you just did was..."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. Just pack up and get ready to leave!"

 Chapter 74 The Fear of Being Dominated by Huaxia People

    In France, Europe, on the glamorous Champs-E?lyse?es, sat an incredibly opulent building. Beside it stood the Louis Vuitton Tower, a Cartier boutique, and various other high-fashion brands. This building was called the Cheryl Building, headquarters to a very famous local conglomerate.


    The Cheryl Group''s businesses spanned across the world, covering various domains, and most of their ventures were closely linked with art. Relying on these, they had established a vast business empire, even ranking among the top 100 companies in the former world.


    The global peak art exhibition this time was a project they had crafted over a year, into which they had poured an unknown amount of human and material resources. Just managing to get the "Mona Lisa" from the Louvre had already consumed a considerable amount of resources.


    This touring exhibition would pass through over fifty countries and hundreds of cities. If they could complete it, it was expected to bring them several billion US dollars in direct revenue, not to mention the impact on other brand effects and cultural influence, which was immeasurable in terms of money. The company placed great importance on this project from top to bottom.


    "Audra, which country has the tour reached now?" Mossang, the CEO of the Cheryl Group, asked as he looked down at the glamourous Champs-E?lyse?es from behind the glass.


    "Boss, it has now reached Huaxia. Today is the second day of the exhibition."


    "How is the financial report?"


    "So far, we have completed exhibitions in 12 countries, selling a total of 142 pieces of artwork; one-third of those were purchased by clients from Huaxia."


    "Huaxia indeed is a place of remarkable people and spirit," Mossang mused.


    "Boss, why do you say that? They are just a developing country."


    "Ha, Audra, you are still too young. Huaxia is a very mysterious country. If you only know the tip of the iceberg about it, you will understand just how unfathomably deep it really is."


    "Oh? Can you tell me about it?"


    "There are too many stories about Huaxia, but what most impacted me was a young Huaxian I met over twenty years ago," Mossang recounted, as if he remembered the fear of being dominated.


    "Is there someone that made such a deep impression on you?"


    "Have you heard about an auction held in Europe in ''99, during the Century Auctions?"


    "You mean that one where the total transaction amount broke historical records by ten times?"


    "Exactly!" Mossang nodded. "You know, not a single item at that auction was passed on, yet still, it''s impossible for the maximum amount to exceed the historical auction records by ten times!"


    "Were you at that auction?"


    "Ha, at that time, our Cheryl Group had just started, and I was merely joining in for the excitement," Mossang said. "Do you know why such a thing happened?"


    "Sorry, boss, I can''t imagine it."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "They have all been transferred to our account."


    "The reason?"


    "I don''t quite understand, something was mentioned about the Bradley family..."


    "What? Say that again?" Mossang''s face showed fear as if he had heard a ghost story.


    "The... the Bradley family..."


    "Why?" Mossang''s lips quivered slightly, "I have never provoked the Bradley family, why would they target the Sheryl Group?"


    "Boss, is the Bradley family that powerful? How come I have never heard of them?" Seeing Mossang''s expression, Audra sank into deep thought, this was the first time she had ever seen her boss so alarmed.


    "Not just powerful," Mossang said with a bitter smile, "If the Bradley family stomps their foot, the whole of Europe feels an earthquake. They can even make a beggar become the president of any European country if they wish! Their power is beyond imagination."


    Audra''s mouth dropped open, disbelief thick in her eyes, could a single family really do such a thing? Could they be the emperors of Europe?


    Even if Mossang racked his brains, he could not imagine the cause of such serious consequences was merely triggered by a minor employee in their company.


    "Investigate! I want you to find out which staff member in this exhibition tour has offended someone from the Bradley family!" It was clear that the target was this tour exhibition, so the cause must relate to it as well.


    "Yes, boss, I''ll start investigating right away!"


    ...


    At that time, it had been less than ten minutes since they were at the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center.


    "Manager, something''s happened!" Bruce was pondering how to resolve the issue, but Zhang Menglong had already completely lost interest in talking to him.


    "What''s the big fuss about?" Bruce was in distress, and someone coming to him at this time was just adding insult to injury.


    "Just now, the head of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center called us, they want to terminate our collaboration, telling us to clear out all our stuff and personnel within half an hour, or they will take forcible measures to expel us!"


    "How could this be?" Bruce was so surprised that he was speechless. This international convention isn''t a private entity; it''s a building of the Gusu Cultural Bureau, a national structure, even with Zhang Menglong''s capabilities, how could he possibly influence people within the system?


    And forcibly evacuating in half an hour? That''s certainly not something ordinary measures could achieve!


    Zhang Menglong showed a cryptic smile; their family had been around for 5000 years, and they possessed much more than just wealth...

 Chapter 75 The boss asks you to go to Africa to mine coal

    "Wow!" After hearing what the employee relayed, the audience''s expression turned into one of shock once more.


    Initially, they thought Zhang Menglong might resolve the issue by throwing money at it again, such as buying the company behind the organizer.


    But unexpectedly, this time Zhang Menglong had simply used such a blunt method, employing connections that shouldn''t be brought to light.


    To have a non-privatized organization outright dismiss an international-level exhibition, the energy required was not something that could be explained in a few words. Zhang Menglong''s wealth was not only astonishing but evidently, his reach touched the heavens.


    "He''s even more formidable than Wang Ling!"


    "Yes, Wang Ling is just rich, but he''s richer than Wang Ling and even has a stronger backing. What kind of background does he have?"


    "Who cares about his background, as long as it feels good!"


    "Hahaha, right, just now those old Russians still acted like they were the best, look at him now, his face is wearing a Mask of Pain!"


    "So satisfying, truly satisfying indeed!"


    "Get out, pack up your stuff and scram!"


    "Gusu doesn''t welcome you, Huaxia doesn''t welcome you either!"


    "It''s just a lousy art exhibition, who cares if we don''t see it!"


    "Exactly, acting like your art is the only great one!"


    "Hey, did you hear that? Pack up your things quickly and get lost, and take your so-called exquisite artworks with you!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "Just make sure I don''t hear you insulting the Huaxia people or Huaxia culture again. I can have you thrown out of this international convention center, and I can do even more outrageous things!"


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s talk this over again, there has been a misunderstanding!" Bruce was already anxious.


    Although the several thousand paintings had all been sold, exceeding their boss''s expectations, the significance of this touring exhibition wasn''t merely about the paintings. The brand effect and the cultural impact were absolutely more important than the money.


    If they were cut off here, how would they explain to their boss? Huaxia was a huge market; this much was evident from the sales volume of the paintings, and Huaxia was also their key area!


    "If you want to leave, then leave!" Now that faces had been torn, Clark no longer needed to act subservient, "You in Huaxia don''t understand what art is, nor do you appreciate art. If you don''t let us exhibit here, there are plenty of countries begging us to hold exhibitions!"


    "Idiot!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t sure whether to laugh at his nai?vete? or his ignorance, "It seems you still haven''t figured it out. Do you think you''re only unable to hold it down in Huaxia?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean?" Blair was starting to get scared.


    "You might want to ask him," Zhang Menglong pointed at the employee who had just delivered the message.


    "They''re exactly alike... Could this be just a coincidence?" A bold thought popped into Mossang''s head. Could this young man be the descendant of that Huaxia youth?


    "What coincidence?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat puzzled, "Who are you? Their boss?"


    "I am Mossang, the President of Cheryl Group. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"


    "My last name is Zhang," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Zhang!" Mossang''s heart rate spiked, remembering that the Huaxia youth also bore the surname Zhang!


    The same appearance, the same wealth, capable of commanding that colossal family¡ªit could only be that person!


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, I am aware of the cause and progression of this incident, and I apologize for the rudeness of my employee," Mossang said cautiously.


    "What''s with this guy? Do I look that intimidating?" Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao next to him, noting how Mossang seemed almost fearful of him.


    "Intimidating or not, just a bit silly!" Lu Yiyao joked.


    "Hey, I''m a reasonable person. This isn''t your fault, you don''t need to apologize. I want him to apologize to our people of Huaxia, to our Huaxian culture!"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will handle it properly. Please hand the phone back to Bruce," Mossang said.


    "Fine, I''ll give you a chance to handle this," Zhang Menglong said.


    Bruce took the phone and chatted with Mossang excitedly. A few minutes later, he put down the phone.


    He walked over to Clark, who by then had turned pale, knowing he had upset someone who even his boss feared.


    "Bru... Bruce, what did the boss say?"


    "The boss said, starting today, you no longer need to stay on this project team," Bruce said, "Our company has bought a coal mine in Africa, starting tomorrow, you can go dig coal there!"


    "To dig coal?" Clark hadn''t expected his boss to be so harsh! Mining coal was almost always reserved for the lowest of workers, most of whom he looked down upon, especially the Africans!


    "Not just that!" Bruce continued, "Huaxia''s culture is far more profound than you thought, it''s a pity you don''t understand it. Starting today, you must recite one Huaxian classical text each day. For every text you miss, you''ll dig coal one more day until you master Huaxian culture, and then you can go back."


    "Recite Huaxian classical texts? I... I don''t recognize Huaxian characters!"


    Bruce coldly said, "That''s your problem, not mine. I''m only relaying the boss''s orders!"


    "Snap!" Clark felt as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and he collapsed onto the ground...

 Chapter 76 Ill Organize an Art Exhibition

    The on-the-verge-of-collapse Clark had already been taken away by his colleagues, and as per Zhang Menglong''s request, the art exhibition was forcibly terminated. All the staff began to pack up the artworks, and the once bustling gallery suddenly fell silent.


    Actually, the people at the venue hadn''t left. Huaxia''s culture is indeed profound and extensive, but it must be acknowledged that during Europe''s Renaissance, a great number of painters brimming with creativity did emerge. Not just during that period; the painters from other times also possessed extraordinary abilities.


    The paintings of Huaxia and Europe are quite distinct in style. Learning from their paintings is meaningful for many, as this is not only a matter of Huaxia culture and sentiment, but for many, it is also their way of life.


    "Ah!" sighed a professor from the Arts University, reluctant to see the paintings being taken down from the walls.


    He was of advanced age, and flying was no longer a very safe activity for him. The hope of seeing these artworks was almost a luxury!


    Finding it difficult to come by, Gusu City had finally welcomed this art exhibition. He had traveled a long distance here to have the opportunity to witness the originals, only to encounter such an incident.


    The glory of the nation is above all, which is indisputable, but to miss the chance to see those works is a great regret for him, and it may even be his only opportunity in this lifetime.


    Not just the professor, but many others also harbored the same sentiment. The termination of this art exhibition was really a shame.


    Some, more extreme individuals, even held a bit of resentment towards Zhang Menglong in their hearts, but since Zhang Menglong was acting for the sake of the nation''s culture and integrity, they could not condemn him from any moral standpoint.


    "Zhang Menglong, everyone seems very disappointed," Lu Yiyao tugged at the hem of Zhang Menglong''s clothes, "Why don''t we just let this go? Clark has received his due punishment, and ending the exhibition like this will disappoint many people."


    Truth be told, Lu Yiyao was somewhat disappointed herself, after all they had only just arrived and hadn''t appreciated many paintings.


    "I did not consider this thoroughly," Zhang Menglong did not deny his mistake. Indeed, he was exhilarated, as were those onlookers on the internet, because they had no real interest in this art exhibition.


    But for those who truly pursued art, this was a lost important opportunity.


    "Ah, well, let''s go. Who knows if there will be another chance to see these works with our own eyes."


    "I haven''t even properly appreciated Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa'', a piece housed in the Louvre. Without this opportunity, I''m afraid I''ll never see it in my lifetime."


    "What a pity, such a pity!"


    "Let''s leave together!"


    ...


    Surprisingly, a repressed atmosphere filled the venue.


    "Hey, everyone, wait a moment!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong took a microphone from an interpreter, "Don''t hurry off just yet!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s voice, everyone turned back, looking at him with puzzled faces. What else did he want to do?


    "I''m very sorry about what happened today that made everyone''s trip here in vain," Zhang Menglong frankly admitted, "But as I just said, our Huaxia culture is profound and extensive, and our works are no less than theirs. Today, I will hold an art exhibition!"


    "Wait a minute, look at the logo on these trucks!"


    "Isn''t that the Noma Restaurant logo? I''ve heard that the average cost per person there is 2,000 US dollars. Anyone who dines there is definitely wealthy."


    "And there''s the Modena Restaurant''s logo! That''s one of the finest Western restaurant brands. I''ve only seen that in the Michelin magazine!"


    "Big Gao cuisine too! That''s a top ten brand in the Japanese culinary world!"


    "My God, these are logos of world-class restaurants, what''s going on?"


    Soon, the vast plaza in front of the International Convention and Exhibition Center was filled with densely packed food trucks. It should be noted that the food from these restaurants is generally not available for delivery; these trucks are reserved for the most distinguished guests!


    A middle-aged man hurried up into the venue and then approached Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the takeout you requested has been arranged!"


    "Much obliged!" Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "Ladies and gentlemen, I''ve ordered a few trucks of takeout for everyone. Please don''t be too critical; I can''t guarantee how tasty it will be, but at least there will be plenty!"


    "Is this the lunch Zhang Menglong was talking about?"


    "A few trucks of takeout... my mom''s asking why I''m kneeling."


    "Damn! A world-class restaurant meal, averaging thousands of dollars; I''ve never had that in my life!"


    "And there will be plenty, even if it costs thousands of dollars, it''s just to taste something new, right?"


    "Hahaha, those idiots said they were going to have lunch on their own. Lucky I didn''t leave!"


    "Sob, it smells so good, being rich is really too good!"


    "Damn! Where are you running off to? No one''s fighting you for it!"


    "You scoundrel!"


    "Damn, stop pulling me! Gold caviar! It''s said to be several tens of dollars per gram, and there''s a whole barrel of it!"


    "What the hell kind of king crab is this?"


    "Is that truffle? Seriously?"


    "I''ve seen this in a magazine! It''s Serendipity restaurant''s upscale ice cream sundae! If I remember correctly, one costs 25,000 US dollars!"


    ...

 Chapter 77 This is What You Call a Peak Art Exhibit

    "How is it, tastes good, right?" Zhang Menglong passed a cup of pomegranate juice to Lu Yiyao.


    "At least you remember!" Lu Yiyao took the cup of pomegranate juice, the unique taste fluttering her eyelashes slightly, "How is this pomegranate juice made? I''ve never tasted such delicious pomegranate juice before!"


    "Nothing special about the method, it''s all natural pomegranate juice," Zhang Menglong said, "This is from the blood pomegranates of the Ural Mountains, which can only thrive at very high altitudes. I had someone airship them over this morning."


    "Airship? Just for a few pomegranates?" For a moment, Lu Yiyao felt as if she were drinking money rather than juice, estimating the air shipping cost must be many times higher than the price of the pomegranates themselves.


    "It also depends on who it''s for. If it''s something you like, even if it''s from under the Antarctic ice cap, I can dig it up for you!"


    "So slick!" Lu Yiyao playfully tapped on Zhang Menglong''s shoulder twice. "By the way, don''t you think that what you did today seemed impressive, but actually let those Europeans earn quite a bit?"


    "Are you saying I spent 500 billion to buy those paintings, just to send them packing?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    Lu Yiyao nodded, "Never mind whether these 500 billion US dollars were worth it, but this money ended up in the hands of the Europeans. If it had been used for construction in our country, how much could it have helped people here!"


    "Don''t call me a Holy Mother!" Lu Yiyao pointed at Zhang Menglong emphatically.


    "Hahaha, do you think I, Zhang Menglong, would ever take a loss?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "It might sound incredible, but 80% of the people in Europe work directly or indirectly for me, and a large portion of many countries'' fiscal revenues find their way into my pocket."


    Watching Lu Yiyao''s astonished expression, Zhang Menglong continued, "This 500 billion US dollars just moved from one of my pockets to another; I can take it out anytime."


    "But this..."


    "Let''s put it this way, if you''re shearing a million from them annually, would you mind tossing them ten dollars occasionally?"


    "This analogy actually leaves me speechless." Initially, Lu Yiyao wanted to say more, but after hearing this analogy, she realized that 500 billion US dollars really meant little to Zhang Menglong, and it seemed like he could garner a thousandfold return from those European countries annually.


    As for where these profits originated, she probably couldn''t figure it out even if she racked her brain.


    "Forget it, as long as you''re happy, I''ll keep quiet." Arguing with Zhang Menglong about money was a sure way to end up choking oneself.


    ...


    If young people today eat a meal, their phones start eating before they do, all the more so on such a once-in-a-century occasion.


    This square had gathered cuisines from around the world¡ªWestern, Japanese, various Huaxia styles of food¡ªand all from the top-level restaurants. The square had almost become a gourmet plaza.


    Friends circles, microblogs, and various platforms were already flooded with all sorts of videos and photos.


    "You might not believe it, but today I freeloaded a meal off Zhang Menglong!"


    "This is the first time I''ve eaten king crab to the point of bursting, I can''t take anymore."


    "Wuuu, I was supposed to go to an exhibition today, it''s all my boyfriend''s fault, I''m going to hit him now."


    "A total of 24 helicopters, damn, are they going to war?"


    "24 helicopters? How coincidental? I just found a news article from 2018, it said 24 helicopters of this model were decommissioned, purchased by a mysterious wealthy figure, and have never been seen since then!"


    "Could this mysterious wealthy figure be Zhang Menglong?"


    "It might also be one of his family elders, but it''s almost certain these 24 helicopters are his."


    "Damn, what kind of family background is this, how can they even procure such things?"


    "You think just having money is enough for a private helicopter? You also need to expand the private airspace and routes, without the right connections you can''t even think about it!"


    "Move aside, move aside, it''s about to land!"


    Amid a flurry of noise, a large area in the center of the square was cleared, fortunately, the square was big enough, otherwise it wouldn''t have been possible to accommodate so many helicopters, especially since the CH-40K is a large transport helicopter!


    The doors of the helicopters opened one after another, and a group of well-trained, uniformly dressed individuals immediately disembarked, inside were piled up numerous boxes, some of which looked ancient, even somewhat tattered and decayed, apparently quite old.


    "Holy shit! What''s going on? Another group has arrived?" Before the awe of the helicopters had subsided, another convoy of vehicles drove into the square in front of the exhibition hall, twenty-some cars, easily several hundred people, huh?"


    "What exactly is going on here?"


    A man in a suit got down from a car, looked around the entire square, and finally his gaze settled on Zhang Menglong, he immediately beamed with a smile, and jogged over to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the items and people you arranged have all arrived, can we get started?"


    "Let''s begin!"


    "Begin!" The middle-aged man signalled to everyone, the people from the cars immediately started gathering with various tools, while those who had come down from the helicopters began opening the boxes.


    Some people curiously crowded around, but those people did not stop them.


    "This...these boxes are all filled with paintings?"


    "This box contains a sculpture!"


    "This is a scroll of calligraphy!"


    "Could it be that all these boxes contain art pieces?"


    "Oh my god, how much is there? Thousands? Tens of thousands?"


    "He...he wasn''t bragging, he really has a collection richer than this art exhibition!"


    "This is indeed a true peak art exhibition!"

 Chapter 78 That "Mona Lisa" Is Just an Imitation

    "Uncle, what should I call you?" Zhang Menglong said to the middle-aged man.


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Cao Yushan, you can just call me Old Cao," he replied.


    "Then Cao Hongshan is..." Zhang Menglong''s reference to Cao Hongshan was the middle-aged man who had taken him to his residence the day before yesterday.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s the eldest of my family, I''m the third in the Cao Family," Cao Yushan explained, "perhaps Miss Hong Yi hasn''t told you, but your properties in Gusu are all managed by our Cao Family."


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong replied, "you mean there''s a family like yours in every city?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, except for some remote small cities, the Hong Family has chosen a family like ours in almost every city. Whenever you come to these cities, we are responsible for all your needs, from food and lodging to everything else."


    "How is this different from an emperor making an incognito visit and passing through the domains of local magistrates?" Lu Yiyao blurted out when she heard this.


    "Miss, you are quite right, but the only difference is that those magistrates might not be able to do what the emperor wants, whereas as long as Mr. Zhang needs something, our global network can take care of everything for Mr. Zhang in the shortest time possible," Cao Yushan said unconcernedly, aware that Lu Yiyao could very well be the future mistress of the Zhang Family.


    "By the way, how much stuff did you bring back this time?" Zhang Menglong had told Hong Yi that as long as it wasn''t too much, it would be fine, but looking at this situation, it seemed like they brought out almost half of his library.


    "I''m not quite sure about that, let me ask for you." Cao Yushan called over to the people moving boxes, "Who here is in charge?"


    Quickly, a person in a black uniform came running over, "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Cao, I am Xing Yue, the person in charge arranged by Miss Hong. What can I do for you?"


    "Are you a soldier?" Zhang Menglong asked, sensing a kind of military bearing on the middle-aged man.


    "I used to be, then I retired," the middle-aged man answered.


    "That''s good, their treatment should be quite decent, right?" Zhang Menglong asked on behalf of the middle-aged man.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, the income of these retired soldiers is more than triple that of local civil servants, and their benefits are paid according to the highest standard. Of course, they are the elite among the retired soldiers," he was told.


    "As long as their treatment is up to standard, that''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded, "by the way, how many items did you bring this time? Do you have a list?"


    Hearing this, the people around became curious and crowded closer.


    "Mr. Zhang, given the scale of this venue, we have prepared around thirty thousand paintings and several hundred other pieces," Xing Yue said.


    "Damn it, thirty thousand pieces? Doesn''t that European art exhibition by the old Russians only have like twelve thousand paintings in total?"


    "No, there''s more! Don''t forget he just bought over four thousand pieces!"


    "They can''t all be works by unknown chicken-rib artists, can they?"


    "Of course, you can, as long as you don''t mind the current disarray. Feel free to browse, just don''t damage the paintings, after all, creating some ''white trash'' isn''t ideal!"


    The professor was moved by the first half of Zhang Menglong''s statement, but upon hearing the latter half, he even felt the impulse to slap Zhang Menglong.


    These are world-famous paintings! Each one destroyed is one fewer in the world! How could they be considered ''white trash'' in Zhang Menglong''s words? To him, are these masterpieces the same as blank sheets of paper?


    As the staff began setting up the exhibition, the previously quiet venue suddenly filled with people, turning boisterous in an instant.


    "This!!! This is a painting by Van Gogh!"


    "There really are paintings by Picasso! All these boxes are full of them! He wasn''t lying!"


    "This is ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''!"


    "How can that be, wasn''t that painting lost in the eighteenth century?"


    "Could it be a fake?"


    "What? ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''? Let me have a look!" The professor, who was initially scrutinizing a painting by Picasso, dashed over as if he had just heard his long-deceased mother calling him home for dinner.


    Several staff members immediately stepped forward to block the professor.


    "It''s fine, let him through, it''s just a painting." Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    The professor nodded gratefully at Zhang Menglong, then took out a magnifying glass and started to inspect the painting meticulously. The more he looked, the more his hands shook.


    "It''s real! This is truly one of Da Vinci''s lost paintings!" the professor exclaimed excitedly. "Are there any more? Are there any more?"


    "The ones by Da Vinci seem to be just these few, all here," Zhang Menglong said, pointing to a box nearby. "Take them all out, let the gentleman have a good look."


    "Thank you! Thank you!" the professor said, over and over again. For him, to be able to appreciate these pieces of art was the greatest gift of all.


    "Hm? What''s going on here? Isn''t this ''Mona Lisa''?" Zhang Menglong noticed the paintings pulled out from that box, seven ''Mona Lisas'' in a row, "What''s the matter? Does our family also have fakes?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking," Cao Yushan said. "There can''t possibly be any fakes in your collection."


    "Then how do you explain these? Are you saying there could be that many ''Mona Lisa'' paintings in the world?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, all these ''Mona Lisa'' paintings are actually imitative works, even the one in the Louvre!"


    This revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd.

 Chapter 86 Ill Pay for Your Dream

    "Damn, that''s too much for me!" Watching Lu Yiyao just out of the bath, Zhang Menglong admitted that he almost lost control.


    It was just a set of pajamas, but because the villa is always at a constant temperature throughout the seasons, these pajamas didn''t need to consider warmth, only aesthetics and comfort were the priority.


    Lu Yiyao''s skin was the fairest among all the girls Zhang Menglong had seen, and those long legs were as perfect as crafted art, the swan-like delicate neck and the alluring collarbones, plus her slightly wet hair, probably no man could withstand such temptation.


    "Crap, I''m gonna get a nosebleed!" Zhang Menglong felt a warm flow in his nose and quickly turned his head up.


    "Hey, what are you doing?"


    "That, I''ve been eating too well lately, a bit overheated, no big deal, no big deal!" Zhang Menglong would never admit that his nosebleed was due to the strong visual impact.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, did you get knocked out by my charm? If you become anemic, don''t expect me to take responsibility!"


    "You''re still laughing!" Desperate, Zhang Menglong ran downstairs, grabbed a few tissues, stuffed them into his nostrils, and after calming down a bit, he noticed his "little brother" was also somewhat overly excited.


    "I should''ve just let her live here alone, this is like torturing myself!" When coming to Gusu, Wang Ling even warned me that Lu Yiyao might be a Qiao Biluo, but who would''ve thought she''s not a Qiao Biluo, but actually a Wang Zuxian; who can withstand that!


    "Let''s have some midnight snacks... I ordered some barbecue and milk tea for you, knowing you''ve got the ''I don''t gain weight'' body type." Zhang Menglong grabbed a skewer of kidneys and took a big bite.


    "Zhang Menglong, look at me! Why aren''t you looking at me anymore? So love can disappear, huh?" Teasing Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao also let herself go a lot more.


    "Why are you starting to gnaw on kidneys, are you not feeling well?"


    "Woman! You''re playing with fire!" Hearing Lu Yiyao''s "provocation," Zhang Menglong could not hold back any longer¡ªthat would shame any man.


    He wiped his mouth, lifted Lu Yiyao sideways, placed her on the sofa, and immediately, a somewhat entrancing scent rushed into his nostrils.


    "Click!" The chef and nanny glimpsed this scene and quickly left, sensing that what followed might not be suitable for children.


    This was the first time they were so close; Zhang Menglong could even hear Lu Yiyao''s rapid heartbeat, and, of course, his own heart was beating incredibly fast.


    "Do you want to find out if I''m up for it?" Zhang Menglong stared at Lu Yiyao''s lips, trying hard to suppress his impulse.


    "Actually, I''ve received a lot of offers from companies to sign with them lately. I was hesitating about where to go, but now I might as well head to Jiangnan City," Lu Yiyao said with a smile, "At that time, I''ll be counting on Mr. Zhang to cover for me."


    "Sure thing," hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt much more at ease, "Alright, it''s late now, you should get some sleep. You have class tomorrow, don''t you?"


    "Don''t you?" Lu Yiyao retorted.


    "Me? I''ve invested billions in research funding for my research group. That little graduation thesis? My senior brothers and sisters have already taken care of it for me. Graduating is just a formality!"


    "Gross!"


    "What do you mean gross! I''ve seriously done experiments okay, I''ve actually done all the experiments hands-on every day!"


    "Alright, alright, I believe you, now scram and go to sleep!"


    "Sure, I''ll sleep above you. If there''s anything, just call me anytime. If you feel lonely, cold, and alone at night, I can provide any service!"


    "What do you mean ''sleep above me''? Zhang Menglong, you better clarify!''"


    "You''re on the second floor, and I''m on the third, so naturally, I''m sleeping above you!" Zhang Menglong explained, "If you want to be on top, that''s fine too. We can switch places!"


    "That''s more like it... No, wait! That''s even more outrageous! Don''t run away! I''m gonna beat you to death!"


    ...


    After laughing and joking around for a while, Zhang Menglong lay exhausted on the bed. He turned on his phone, and today, the entire trending section was filled with content about him.


    No one knew how powerful netizens could be. The information about Zhang Menglong''s ancestor, Zhang Jingzhi, had been dug up. Of course, these were only superficial details. Those secrets that the Zhang family didn''t want people to know couldn''t be investigated by anyone.


    "Ding!" A text message popped up, with the title from "Dads of 314," the chat group for Zhang Menglong''s dormitory. These guys seemed to have been busy looking for jobs lately, and there hadn''t been any new messages in the group for a long time.


    "Brothers, let''s find a time to meet up!" Zhang Menglong quickly typed out a string of words.


    "Menglong, Old Sun is in trouble!" Xu Li''s message popped up, "He''s been falsely accused, and now we''re out of options and can only ask for your help!"

 Chapter 81 79章 致敬伟大的张先生

    "The Mona Lisa in the Louvre is a forgery? How is that possible?"


    "Exactly, that painting has undergone countless scrutinies and tests; it is indeed from the hand of Master Da Vinci!"


    "What situation?"


    "This is straight from the Louvre; the news has broadcasted it countless times. How could it possibly be a forgery? Could it be that a fake has been in the Louvre for so long?"


    "What in the world is going on? Mr. Cao, I''m a bit confused." Zhang Menglong was also baffled. One moment they claimed the painting was a forgery, and the next, they said their family''s collection contained no forgeries. Isn''t this contradictory?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not be aware," Cao Yushan said with a smile, "if we''re to trace back to this part of history, we must start with your family''s background. These seven paintings, including the Mona Lisa they just took away, are all from the hand of Da Vinci."


    "Are you throwing riddles at me here?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "Stop beating around the bush."


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, Master Da Vinci didn''t paint just one Mona Lisa, but a total of 12, and he destroyed four of them over 500 years ago because he was dissatisfied with them. Of the remaining eight, one is treated as a national treasure in the Louvre, and the other seven have always been in your family."


    "What do you mean by forgery?" Zhang Menglong could understand an artist painting many versions of the same painting because artists are very particular about their work. But he still didn''t understand why he was calling these Mona Lisas forgeries.


    "Because the original Mona Lisa was not painted by Da Vinci but by another artist. Da Vinci''s 12 paintings were all attempts at copying it, so, I say, all of these works are nothing but forgeries."


    "Is that so?"


    "Seriously? I studied Western Art History; I have never heard of anything like this!"


    "A forgery being treated as a national treasure and world-famous painting, just how incredible must the original be? You''re kidding, right?"


    "You almost made me believe it!"


    "Exactly, does Da Vinci''s artistic ability still require copying someone else''s painting?"


    "Since you''re saying such a person exists, do tell, who exactly is this person?"


    The surrounding tourists weren''t making a scene without reason; such news was simply too mind-boggling, especially for those who were specialists, as it was nearly a challenge to their knowledge base and worldview!


    Imagine, someone who studies history being told all of a sudden that Emperor Qin Shi Huang was merely a puppet forcibly placed into the annals of history. Who could accept that?


    "It''s unbelievable, if these paintings hadn''t appeared here at the same time, who would have thought that there''s such a secret behind this artwork!"


    "Does that mean all these paintings are real?"


    "They should be. Da Vinci''s paintings can''t be replicated by just anyone, and the degree of the pigments'' discoloration, this wooden panel, they simply cannot be reproduced. Plus, Da Vinci''s signature technique, ''sfumato,'' where he could control the thickness of the ink to just 2 microns. Just a simple test with an instrument, and we can immediately tell the real from the fake!"


    "Oh my God!"


    "This time I''m truly convinced!"


    "This news could make the front page of the Global Weekly tomorrow!"


    "Quick, take photos! Take photos!"


    "Idiots, don''t photograph the paintings, they are national treasures! They are historical artifacts!"


    ...


    Who would have thought that a puzzle which perplexed countless painters and art historians for centuries would be solved like this during an art exhibition, and even reveal such astonishing information.


    Over the centuries, numerous imitations of the Mona Lisa have appeared, and even these imitations have fetched over a hundred million in high prices. Now, the value of the original has become immeasurable in monetary terms.


    There are as many as seven! Seven Mona Lisas! If it can be proven that all of them are indeed Da Vinci''s originals, it would definitely shock the entire art world!


    "Wait a minute! If the Mona Lisa is a copy of some work, where is the original painting?"


    "Indeed, its value might be more terrifying than all of these paintings combined, right?"


    "And, who could the painter be? Was it Da Vinci''s teacher, Verrocchio? Or perhaps the master, Donatello?"


    "Mr. Cao, don''t keep us in suspense, you must know, right?" Zhang Menglong listened to this twisting history, itching with curiosity.


    "It''s actually very simple!" Cao Yushan said, "There''s a letter in the left eye of each painting which is the first two letters of some Italian words."


    "Al...gr...si...Zh... What does that mean?"


    With a mysterious smile, Cao Yushan said, "Al grande signor Zhang, translated into the language of Huaxia, it''s ''To the great Mr. Zhang.''"

 Chapter 80 He begged for three days and three nights

    "Respected Mr. Zhang? Which Mr. Zhang? That''s a Huaxia surname, right?"


    "Did any famous Zhang surname painters emerge in Huaxia during the 16th century?"


    "Zhang Menglong is also surnamed Zhang, and so is this painter; could it be his ancestor?"


    "Damn! It''s not impossible, right?"


    "Why do I feel like this has been a setup from the start? Could this story be something his family made up just to create a sensation?"


    "Exactly, what with all this talk about there being 12 ''Mona Lisas'' and tributes. Isn''t that just what they claim?"


    Once the mystery was unveiled, the onlookers were all talking at once. Events from 500 years ago are almost untraceable, and without any evidence, it really lacks any credibility.


    "Could it be that I have such a badass ancestor?" Zhang Menglong, who had already known a bit about the tip of the iceberg that was his family history, didn''t doubt Cao Yushan''s words, he just couldn''t imagine. His ancestor could earn money, that was true, but how did he end up painting on the side? And even earn such respect from someone like Da Vinci? That''s not scientific!


    "Could it be that magic school again?" Mulling over it, Zhang Menglong could only attribute everything to that school. Since it was called a school, it surely must teach some skills, right? Perhaps his ancestor''s painting abilities were acquired from there?


    "Damn it!" Thinking of this, Zhang Menglong slammed the table hard. He had already spent money fiercely. How had he not spent that 100 billion US dollars yet?


    Never mind not allowing donations, every time he spent a large sum of money, by the next day it was back in his account again, as if all the enterprises in the world belonged to his family.


    "Hiss! Ah!" The solid wood made Zhang Menglong grimace in pain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you going on about?" Lu Yiyao, who was nearby, was utterly confused, wondering why he suddenly started hurting himself. Could it be that the story about his ancestors was such a big shock to him?


    "It''s nothing, just that I can''t seem to spend the money, and it''s making me anxious!" Zhang Menglong blew on his reddened hand.


    "Such a problem to have," Lu Yiyao was rendered speechless. "If anyone else heard you say that, they''d want to kill you!"


    "I''m really annoyed!" said Zhang Menglong with a helpless face. "I''ve been desperately spending, but it''s still so slow. I''m losing my mind over it!"


    "My mind is breaking too!"


    The box was large, but inside there were only a few paintings. On a well-preserved wooden panel, there was indeed a "Mona Lisa"!


    "There truly are other versions of the ''Mona Lisa''!" The people around excitedly gathered.


    Cao Yushan hung the painting, "This one is quite special. I hope everyone will be civilized in their observation."


    "Oh my God! What kind of premiere painting is this?"


    "I''ve seen Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa.'' No matter which angle you stand in front of the original, you feel those eyes watching you, but I''m standing behind this one! Why do I feel a gaze on me?"


    "This is unscientific!"


    "Look, her lips are smiling! They''re really moving! How is this possible?"


    "Although Da Vinci''s painting also captures Mona Lisa''s smile, it requires changing perspectives and focus, seeing the smile through the combination of various details. I''ve been staring at the same spot on this painting, and she is actually smiling!"


    "Incomprehensible, just too incomprehensible!"


    The audience members may not necessarily be outstanding painters, but their ability to appreciate art is beyond reproach. This painting seems even more magical than Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa''!


    It feels like this isn''t just a painting, but a real person!


    "This painting was done by Mr. Zhang Jingzhi when he was 21 years old. Back then, it only appeared in a small circle in Europe. Those who saw it were amazed, and even many nobles at the time wanted to purchase it for a high price."


    "But my ancestor didn''t sell it?"


    "Of course not. That amount of money didn''t interest Mr. Jingzhi at all. During the Renaissance in Europe, after that painting was exhibited, countless painters wanted to emulate and refer to it, including Da Vinci. However, in the end, Mr. Jingzhi only lent it to Da Vinci for three days."


    "Why only lend it to him?"


    "It is said that at that time, Mr. Da Vinci pleaded outside Mr. Jingzhi''s residence for three days and nights. He was so bothered that he finally lent the painting to him."


    "Keep it up, I can take it." The idea of Da Vinci, one of the triumvirates of the Renaissance, begging outside his own ancestor''s door for three days and nights was hard for Zhang Menglong to imagine. Isn''t that a bit too sensational?


    "Back then, Mr. Da Vinci was actually just starting out," Cao Yushan continued, "Later on, Mr. Jingzhi thought Da Vinci had some talent and gave him a few minutes of guidance, and only after that did the great master of art emerge."

 Chapter 82 Insulting Bridewealth

    "What''s the matter? Why does your expression suddenly look so terrible?" Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Menglong saw Lu Yiyao''s grave expression.


    "It''s nothing. How about you just drop me off at the school gate and head back? Something came up with my roommate, and I''m afraid I can''t have dinner with you tonight."


    "Yiyi, you''re not good at lying," Zhang Menglong had heard everything clearly, "Your roommate said ''he'' is coming. Who is ''he''?"


    "Don''t ask, this is my own business."


    "What do you mean, your own business? Your business is my business. Haven''t I said that more than once or twice?" At this moment, Zhang Menglong suddenly took on the demeanor of a domineering CEO, "An ex-boyfriend? No problem, give him a couple billion and tell him to get lost!"


    "No," Lu Yiyao shook her head, "It''s... it''s my dad."


    "Your dad?" Zhang Menglong furrowed his brow.


    He and Lu Yiyao were close enough to share almost everything, and apart from Lu Yiyao herself, probably no one knew her family better than he did.


    In fact, Lu Yiyao appeared cheerful in front of others, but when alone, she almost became someone who shut herself off, keeping only music for company. It was only after meeting Zhang Menglong that she began to change somewhat.


    The initiator of all this was her own family.


    Lu Yiyao used to have a happy family, but then her father, Lu Huiyang, developed a terrible gambling habit. Each time he lost money, he would throw a tantrum at home, which eventually led to her mother''s decision to divorce because she couldn''t stand such a life.


    Later on, her father even started to exhibit some mental issues, and several times he injured Lu Yiyao badly enough to require hospitalization. The worst incident had her laid up in the hospital for an entire month!


    Only after Lu Yiyao went to university did she begin to escape the torment of her father. Relying on her musical talent, sometimes giving music lessons to little children, sometimes releasing her work on various music sites, she managed to earn a decent income. At the very least, she could be self-sufficient.


    Since then, she hadn''t contacted her father again, and she stayed in Gusu even during the New Year. This year had been the happiest Spring Festival for her, thanks to Zhang Menglong''s company.


    The university years were the most relaxed of her life. After graduation, she could find a job she loved. Maybe she would even meet the person she had known for a long time but had never met. Everything seemed to be getting better.


    But now, without any prior indication, her father had actually come to her school. His gambling addiction had not abated over the years¡ªin fact, it had gotten worse. He had lost even the house and was buried in debt.


    The crazed Lu Huiyang had only now remembered he had a daughter. This was his second time coming to find her. The last time, he forcibly took away nearly half a year of Lu Yiyao''s living expenses and the entire year''s tuition. If it had not been for her roommates'' help, she might not have even been able to continue her studies.


    "I''ll come with you!" Zhang Menglong stepped on the gas, speeding up the car. A trip that should have taken twenty minutes was completed in less than ten.


    As expected, there was already a crowd gathered at the bottom of Lu Yiyao''s dormitory building, with even the school security on the scene. But the guards were somewhat hesitant in the face of Lu Huiyang''s crazed behavior. After all, if someone with a mental illness hurts someone, they''re not held accountable.


    "Lu Yiyao, come down here!"


    "I''ve raised you for over twenty years, and now that you''ve met a wealthy boyfriend, shouldn''t you repay your old man?"


    "If you don''t come down, I''ll wait right here until you do!"


    "How could Lu Yiyao have such a father? She has never mentioned him before."


    "Family scandals should not be aired in public, if I had such a father, I wouldn''t want to tell anyone either."


    "True, it''s also a wonder how they''re going to handle this."


    "What''s there to handle? With a boyfriend like Zhang Menglong, what problem can''t be solved?"


    "True, maybe Boss Zhang will just drop a bag of money and make that madman scram!"


    "Haha, where are my sunflower seeds?"


    ...


    "It''s nothing!" Sensing the emotion that Lu Yiyao showed when she heard the gossip around her, Zhang Menglong gripped her hand even tighter.


    "You little brat, so you''ve run off outside!" It was unclear whether Lu Huiyang was genuinely mentally ill or faking it, but at that moment he seemed very lucid.


    "Come here!" Lu Huiyang shouted, "I heard you''ve got yourself a very wealthy boyfriend, is it this guy?"


    "Young man, are you dating my daughter?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong pulled Lu Yiyao behind him!


    "Wow! He admitted it!"


    "Crap, crap, crap!"


    "Wuu, my youth is over!"


    "So romantic, I''m so jealous!"


    "Hahaha, good!" Lu Huiyang started laughing, "I''ve spent quite a bit of money raising my daughter, I won''t meddle in your affairs from now on. Give me a dowry of 5 million, and my daughter is yours, how about it."


    "Damn! Selling his daughter?"


    "5 million for a dowry? Why doesn''t he just rob someone?"


    "Pfft, only 5 million, that''s practically an insult to Boss Zhang!"


    "Hahaha, exactly, the man just spent 500 billion US dollars today to buy a few thousand famous paintings. This dowry offer is nothing but insulting!"


    "Hahaha, ''insulting dowry'', that''s a good use of words! This old lunatic probably has no idea just how wealthy his daughter''s boyfriend really is, huh?"


    ...

 Chapter 83 Build Him a Mental Hospital

    The surrounding laughter left Lu Huiyang somewhat stunned; was asking for a dowry of 5 million such a laughing matter?


    Back when he married Lu Yiyao''s mother, it had only cost a few yuan for the bride price. Even though decades had passed, and the present inflation was incomparable to that time, 5 million remained a figure Lu Huiyang didn''t even dare to dream of.


    Even the house he had lived in for over a decade, if mortgaged to the creditors, was only worth a few hundred thousand. He no longer had any serious job. If he had to repay this debt of over a million by himself, he feared he wouldn''t finish paying it off even at his death.


    He knew Zhang Menglong had money, but that was just a vague idea. With his troubled mental state, he didn''t have the energy to investigate how much money Zhang Menglong actually had.


    He had only heard that Zhang Menglong bought a company for his daughter. With that kind of capability, he must have a net worth of at least few tens of millions, after all, in his ridiculous worldview, a net worth of a few tens of millions was already quite remarkable.


    Even when he asked for a dowry of 5 million, he felt like he was asking for too much.


    But what he didn''t expect was that his demand immediately provoked laughter from the people around him.


    "Are you sure you''re only asking for 5 million?"


    "5 million, not a penny less, or I''ll take her away right now!"


    "Dad!" Tears welled up in Lu Yiyao''s eyes, "Am I just a product to you? You drove mom away, and now you want to ruin my life too, don''t you?"


    "I''ve raised you all these years so that you can support me in the future!" Lu Huiyang showed no signs of remorse, "I''ll tell you, Lu Yiyao, I am your father now, and I will be forever. You''ll never get rid of me for as long as you live!"


    "You just said, as long as you get the 5 million, you won''t pester her anymore?"


    "That''s right!" said Lu Huiyang, "Give me the money, and our obligation of parental support is settled. I will absolutely not bother her again."


    "Okay," said Zhang Menglong, "5 million, I hope you''ll keep your word!"


    Zhang Menglong easily got Lu Huiyang''s bank account information from Hong Yi and immediately transferred the 5 million.


    When Lu Huiyang''s phone received the bank''s message, his face lit up with surprise. This young man actually gave him 5 million!


    "Hahaha!" Lu Huiyang laughed hysterically, "5 million, 5 million, hahaha!"


    "Damn, you believe that? A gambler, might lose the 5 million in just a few days and definitely come back again!"


    "Exactly, once he''s tasted sweetness, how could he just stop? Zhang Menglong, you shouldn''t trust him!"


    "Yeah, just ignore such a person!"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice wasn''t loud, but the people closest to him heard him loud and clear.


    What kind of situation was this? To build a mental hospital for a single person and even hire a group of actors to play along? Was this a mental patient or an Emperor? What kind of mental patient would receive such treatment?


    "You see, even if you''re mentally ill, as long as you rely on Boss Zhang, you can get a private hospital set up for you!"


    "I just want to know, can I apply for the job?"


    "Hahaha, I''m fierce at playing Fight the Landlord. I used to watch Grandpa Lu''s live streams every day!"


    "De de de de de de de de de..."


    "Light incense."


    "Stop talking, I''ve got the whole picture in my head already."


    "You shouldn''t have any objections to the way I''m handling this, right?" Zhang Menglong turned to ask for Lu Yiyao''s opinion.


    "Is it worth it?" Lu Yiyao said.


    "What bullshit are you talking!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice. "For your sake, it''s all worth it!"


    "Take him away," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Be careful not to injure him."


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, we will take care of Miss Lu''s father appropriately."


    "Hmm, I''ll leave it to you then," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hey! What are you going to do? Are you going to start something? I warn you, I''ve trained in martial arts!" Lu Huiyang adopted a stance, "Wing Chun, Ye Wen!"


    Cao Yushan held his forehead. This wasn''t a mental patient, this was an idiot, "Be careful with him, take him back to the second hospital first."


    "Let go of me! You let go of me, I''m not mentally ill, you have no right to catch me!"


    "Ah! I won''t go! Lu Yiyao, you ungrateful thing, you just wait, as long as I''m alive, you''ll never be rid of me!"


    "Gag him!" Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Mmm mmm mmm..."


    ...

 Chapter 84 The Whole Person is Yours

    ```


    "Alright, everyone disperse, there''s nothing to see here. Who doesn''t have an unwell relative at home, please just go!" Zhang Menglong began dispersing the crowd around.


    After the commotion had died down, and it was around dinner time, the bystanders slowly cleared out, leaving only Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao, and three other girls.


    One of them had been seen by Zhang Menglong before; she was Guo Yuqian, one of the ones who had come with her that day, and the remaining two must be Lu Yiyao''s other roommates.


    "Yiyi, are you alright?"


    "Ah, it''s all because of Xinlan. We said not to tell Yiyi. She''s definitely going to be upset knowing this."


    "But we can''t just let Yiyi''s father keep causing a scene, can we?"


    "Enough, let''s not argue about it. It''s not your fault," Lu Yiyao tried to compose herself, "Let me introduce them to you. This is Chen Bing, and this is Zhou Xinlan."


    "Nice to meet you, I''m Zhang Menglong." Zhang Menglong nodded with a smile towards the two girls. In terms of looks, all three of Lu Yiyao''s roommates were rather exquisite, and they all seemed to be the outgoing type. Perhaps it was because of living with them that Lu Yiyao had become more and more cheerful.


    "With all this disturbance, you probably don''t feel like eating anymore, right? How about we do it another day," Zhang Menglong could tell that Lu Yiyao''s mood didn''t seem very good at the moment.


    "Yes, that''s fine, and thank you for bringing Yiyi back safely, and for helping her out so much," Guo Yuqian said, "You wouldn''t believe how scary it was the first time Yiyi''s father came to our school. It was the first time we saw someone treat their own daughter like that."


    "Yuqian, keep it down!" The other two girls made faces at each other on the side, clearly indicating that this was not the time for Lu Yiyao to hear more about it.


    "I''m entrusting Yiyi to your care tonight," Zhang Menglong said, "Keep her company and make sure she doesn''t stay alone."


    "We know, we know. Honestly, we didn''t expect you, a rich second generation, to be so reliable!" Guo Yuqian said.


    "What, so in your eyes, all rich second generation have to be unreliable?" Zhang Menglong laughed. It seemed that the reputation of past rich kids wasn''t very good.


    "Anyway, you''re different from them. Don''t worry, seeing how well you did tonight, we will definitely put in a good word for you with Yiyi!"


    "Hahaha, that''s right, that''s right. If there are any little gifts or something, maybe next time we could even slip her a ''love potion'' and send her straight to your place!"


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    "Haha, right, right. It all depends on how you, Boss Zhang, bribe us. Although us four sisters have a bond that''s stronger than diamonds, the right bribe could change everything!"


    The atmosphere lightened up and the girls started to chatter again, and of course, they weren''t really asking for gifts from Zhang Menglong; they were just using that topic to divert Lu Yiyao''s attention from her father''s situation.


    "You three! I was just saying on the way here how you wouldn''t betray me, and now I''m slapping my own face!" Sure enough, Lu Yiyao''s mood had improved a bit, and a smile appeared on her face.


    "Then we won''t be polite!"


    To tell the truth, with such gifts in front of them, no one could remain unmoved. But everyone has their limits and Zhang Menglong had used the most acceptable way for them to willingly accept these items; besides, to him, these items were not really a big deal.


    "Someone will deliver the car tomorrow, and they will bring the fuel card and the maintenance card as well. But if you don''t have a driver''s license, there''s nothing I can do about it!"


    "Haha, don''t underestimate us; we''re all Mount Akina''s Gods of Cars!"


    "That''s right, don''t believe us? Let''s go drag racing next time!"


    "Cough cough cough!" The three glanced at each other, then simultaneously revealed mischievous smiles.


    "We stand by our word, and we are quite pleased with your bribe. Starting today, Lu Yiyao, everything about you, from head to toe, inside and out, belongs to you!"


    "Yes, yes, yes! Haha, Yiyi, my sister is coming to visit me these next few days. She wants to stay in our dormitory tonight. Originally, Chen Bing wasn''t going to come back, but when she heard that Zhang Menglong was treating us to dinner, she canceled all her plans and came directly. Now that she''s here, you can''t possibly bear to let Chen Bing stay at a hotel by herself, right?"


    "Why don''t you let Zhang Menglong find you a place tonight? He has so many houses, taking you in for one night won''t be a problem."


    "Yes, yes, that''s right, I need to take care of my sister now, so I''m heading up!"


    "We''re going too, we won''t leave the door unlocked for you tonight!"


    "Busy with studies, I''ll take my leave!"


    ...


    The girls made up a whole bunch of excuses on the spot and ended up truly locking Lu Yiyao out.


    "Her sister is really coming over to stay tonight?"


    "Zhang Menglong, is your head filled with shit? She doesn''t have a damn sister!" Lu Yiyao''s face was a mix of helplessness.


    "Hahaha, I thought your fellowship was as solid as diamond? Where''s the camaraderie and shared animosity?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Isn''t it because of you! This is no ordinary gift, what you''re offering is essentially a sugar-coated cannonball!"


    "So, what do we do now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "All my stuff is in the dormitory, and it looks like they''re not going to let me in tonight, so I can only ask you to take me in," Lu Yiyao said with a pitiful tone.


    A moment later, she revealed two sharp little tiger teeth, "But if you try anything tonight, I''ll bite you!"


    "I wouldn''t dare, wouldn''t dare..."

 Chapter 85 Lets Start with a Bang

    "Is this where you live?"


    Staring at the three-story villa in front of her, Lu Yiyao gazed dumbfoundedly at Zhang Menglong.


    "My previous place was only about 200 square meters, it would have seemed a bit cramped if you moved in, but don''t worry, a cleaning team just cleaned it up, it''s definitely livable!"


    "200 square meters seems cramped ..." Lu Yiyao muttered to herself, if a 200 square meter house is considered cramped, what was the 70 square meter apartment her family of three used to live in?


    "By the way, I don''t often come here, so if you want to live outside, you can stay here. I''ve already informed the housekeeper," said Zhang Menglong, "Oh, and there''s this."


    In the center of the villa''s yard was a transparent underground garage, where one could clearly see dozens of cars neatly parked inside. Although not as expensive as Zhang Menglong''s Koenigsegg, there were still well-known brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati.


    Not only that, the cars were in colors like purple, pink, and red, which were very suitable for girls, showing that Zhang Menglong had prepared well in advance.


    "I wasn''t sure which car you''d like, so I just had someone bring one of each. You can drive whichever one you like."


    "Damn, Zhang Menglong, are you planning to keep me as a mistress?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but curse, not knowing which car she liked and simply bringing over a dozen luxury cars worth millions? What kind of logic was that?


    Moreover, due to financial constraints, she had never even taken a driving test, so even if given so many cars, she wouldn''t be able to drive them.


    "If you''re willing, I wouldn''t mind, but I only plan on keeping you," he replied.


    "Alright, alright, I get it," Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong was about to start talking slickly again.


    Honestly, Zhang Menglong had only casually mentioned these arrangements, but he hadn''t expected that in less than half an hour, Cao Yushan would have handled it so perfectly.


    It seems that his family had chosen the Cao Family because they had the capability and the expertise.


    This was Lu Yiyao''s first time stepping into a villa of this scale. The living room alone was almost as big as her entire former house; the ground floor alone probably spanned around 400 square meters.


    As for the walls, they still displayed world-famous paintings. Having seen Zhang Menglong bring so many things to the art exhibition today, she was mentally prepared and not as shocked anymore.


    "My room is on the third floor, yours is on the second, there''s a bathroom, a study, a music room. If you want to eat, just ring the bell on your door, someone will be available 24 hours to prepare anything you need," Zhang Menglong said as he plopped down on the sofa, acting like a feudal lord.


    "Damn, you''re using grenades on me again!"


    ...


    The two battled fiercely for hours, recalling memories from when they first met, and before they knew it, it was already past nine.


    "Go take a shower first, and I''ll arrange some late-night snacks," Zhang Menglong said, "My bathroom even has cameras installed, oh!"


    "I don''t believe your nonsense!" Lu Yiyao stood up, but she suddenly realized she hadn''t brought any clothes to change into, which made her feel a bit awkward.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I didn''t bring any clothes. Can you believe those disloyal friends actually kicked me out!"


    "Hahaha, you go first, I''ll have the maid bring them up in a bit." Enjoy more content from empire


    "You have women''s clothes here?" Lu Yiyao suddenly tensed up.


    "Relax, besides you and the maid, no other women have come here. Why so nervous?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "My family owns several private clothing studios. No matter the style or size, we always have a lot of stock prepared. I''ll have someone send over a few sets in a while."


    ...


    The bathroom was filled with a gentle fragrance and playing soothing music, the shower sprinkled warm water that gently flowed over Lu Yiyao''s hair and down her fair body to the floor, and she hadn''t felt this relaxed in a very long time.


    "Miss Lu, I''ve left the clothes in the changing room," came a middle-aged woman''s voice from outside.


    "Okay, thank you, aunty." Lu Yiyao hadn''t expected the clothes to be delivered just ten minutes after arriving.


    Lu Yiyao dried herself off and picked up the nightgown. Although there was no brand logo, it felt incredibly soft and comfortable.


    Besides the nightgown, there were undergarments and a set of clothes suitable for the season, all of which seemed to be as Zhang Menglong had said, made in a private studio.


    "Missy, are you done yet? The late-night snacks are getting cold!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s playful voice came from outside, "Remember to wear more, otherwise I''m afraid I won''t be able to restrain myself later!"


    "You flirty tease!" Lu Yiyao laughed and scolded, quickly changing into the clothes.

 Chapter 87 Dare to Frame My Brother?

    "Don''t worry just yet!" A trace of panic flashed through Zhang Menglong''s heart, but he immediately calmed down and made a voice call to Xu Li.


    The relationships among their dormitory friends had always been very good. Although they referred to each other using familial terms, it definitely wasn''t a superficial friendship; otherwise, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have taken them to his hometown for a visit.


    "What exactly happened? Take it slow."


    "Didn''t Sun Yulei find an internship a while ago? A position in operations at an internet company."


    "What about it?" Zhang Menglong still had some recollection of this matter. Their major was indeed very difficult to find jobs in, so Sun Yulei had decided to give up on his major and switch fields. Operational positions generally had lower professional thresholds and were more suitable for them.


    "The company''s scale is not too small, around 300 people I guess. Sun Yulei was originally working on a team project involving an internet celebrity. The project entailed competing with several peers for a brand''s representation rights, and they were about to secure it, but unexpectedly, at the last moment, the brand changed its mind."


    "Keep going," Zhang Menglong still hadn''t heard the key point.


    "Because someone in their company accepted a bribe from a competitor and leaked some strategic plans to them, that''s why this happened at the last minute, and Sun Yulei inexplicably became the scapegoat!"


    "You mean, there''s something wrong with the head of that project group?" Zhang Menglong had finally grasped the crux of the issue.


    "Although there is no evidence, it''s very likely. You should know Sun Yulei''s personality; he absolutely couldn''t do such a thing."


    "I know, I believe him," Zhang Menglong nodded. Among their dormitory brothers, Sun Yulei was the most straightforward. He harbored no schemes and never clashed with others. They had reminded him more than once that such a nature could easily lead to disadvantage."


    "So what''s the situation now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Sun Yulei''s account suddenly increased by a hundred thousand yuan, and some correspondence with the rival company was found on his work computer. If this accusation is confirmed, he could be sentenced to at least three years!"


    "Three years?" Zhang Menglong clenched his fists. A just-graduated college student, with bright prospects and future ahead of him¡ªbeing sentenced to three years would likely disconnect him from society immediately after release. Moreover, the stigma of a bribery conviction would follow him for life, tarnishing his resume permanently.


    "There are two ways to resolve this now, one is to compensate the company for their loss, then the company might drop the charges against Sun Yulei; the other is to find evidence proving his innocence."


    "The loss must be significant, right?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "According to the project''s expected evaluation, the net profit would exceed 20 million yuan!" Xu Li said. "Old Zhang, your family is so wealthy, you must have some connections right? Even if the connections don''t work out, at least help Sun Yulei find a few lawyers, he can''t just go in like this!"


    "Goodness, the real bribe-taker really has some guts," Zhang Menglong''s eyes showed a murderous glint, "I got it. You guys don''t need to worry about it; just wait for my news."


    Zhang Menglong hung up the call and immediately phoned Hong Yi.


    "Why are you here?" Zhang Menglong opened the door, and standing outside was Lu Yiyao, "Are you really lonely and cold in the night, needing the comfort of my arms?"


    Seeing Lu Yiyao, the hostility in Zhang Menglong''s heart dissipated quite a bit.


    "Stop joking!" Lu Yiyao glared playfully at Zhang Menglong, "I heard the sound of you smashing the table and came over to see what was wrong with you. By the look on your face, what happened?"


    "My roommate has been framed and is facing a lawsuit."


    "Ah? How did that happen?"


    "I''m not sure about the details yet. I was planning to stay a few more days to foster our relationship, but it looks like I need to rush back to Jiangnan City tomorrow." Zhang Menglong said somewhat regretfully.


    "Who wants to foster a relationship with you," Lu Yiyao snapped back, "But this isn''t something minor. You must be careful when you help him deal with it. Don''t get yourself in trouble too."


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    "Don''t worry, it''s just a small lawsuit. I can handle it," Zhang Menglong said, "Why aren''t you sleeping yet?"


    "I couldn''t sleep, I actually wanted to come and talk to you."


    "Dressed like that? Aren''t you afraid I might lose control?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "You''d need the guts to do that first."


    "Hahaha, I feel like hearing you sing," Zhang Menglong walked over to a standing piano in the room, "Ms. Lu, would you honor me with a song?"


    "Alright, then trouble Mr. Zhang to play the accompaniment."


    Zhang Menglong''s fingers nimbly danced on the piano, and a sweet prelude flowed out.


    Lu Yiyao showed a knowing smile, it was the song they first collaborated on when they met:


    There are always some surprising encounters,


    Like when I met you,


    ...

 Chapter 88 Who is insulted by 100,000 yuan?

    "This sleeping face really makes it easy for someone to commit a crime!" Zhang Menglong covered Lu Yiyao''s exposed leg with a blanket.


    Perhaps because she was too exhausted, Lu Yiyao fell sound asleep singing in Zhang Menglong''s room last night. Zhang Menglong didn''t do anything disgraceful; the room was spacious enough, so he just slept on the couch all night.


    "I really don''t want to go back so soon," Zhang Menglong said reluctantly as he glanced at Lu Yiyao. He could have asked Hong Yi to handle Sun Yulei''s matter for him, but after all, Sun Yulei had been his roommate for over three years. If he didn''t deal with it personally, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t feel at ease.


    Zhang Menglong tiptoed out of the room, washed up, and the breakfast that had been delivered was now on the dining table. But because he wasn''t in a good mood, he didn''t eat much. He instructed Cao Yushan to take good care of Lu Yiyao''s daily life and then left Gusu directly.


    By the time he got back to Jiangnan City, it was already past 10 a.m. With no patience to make a trip home, he headed straight for Sun Yulei''s company, Nas Holdings.


    ...


    "College students these days really lack integrity, even an intern dares to take bribes from other companies!"


    "What can you do? After all, it''s a hundred thousand yuan. The salary of these ordinary undergraduates might not even add up to that number after two years of work. Even if it were me, I might not be able to refuse."


    "I don''t know how such a person has the face to return to the company!"


    "Exactly, the company has lost a full 20 million yuan because of this, and our year-end bonuses might go down the drain. It''s all because of this shameless bastard."


    "Right, which school did he come from again? Talk to our HR department and tell them not to hire from that school in the future. Schools shape the kind of students they graduate."


    "Makes sense."


    ...


    Hearing the gossip of the colleagues around him, Sun Yulei clenched his teeth to keep himself from erupting.


    He couldn''t understand for the life of him why he, doing well in the company, suddenly ran into such a predicament.


    The hundred thousand yuan was temporarily transferred to his account by a supplier he had approached not long ago. At the time, his project manager told him the company''s corporate account was experiencing some issues and that the finance department staff was resolving it. So they asked him to temporarily accept the money¡ªonly later did he realize it was a conspiracy by his manager from the start!


    Just how much his manager took as a kickback, only he himself knew.


    "Who is that?" Everyone''s attention was drawn.


    A young man in his early twenties with a stern expression on his face walked over, followed by two middle-aged men in suits.


    "Who are you?" the police officer asked.


    "Good day, officers. I am Sun Yulei''s roommate. He''s been accused of taking bribes and causing the company losses. Now I''ve helped him find two lawyers for his defense, which should be within the rules, right?"


    "Are you that Zhang... Zhang Menglong?" The young officer recognized Zhang Menglong immediately.


    "Zhang Menglong? The one who''s so popular online?"


    "I know him, his Weibo account has tens of millions of followers now!"


    "If it''s on his Weibo, he can have as many followers as he wants!"


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    "He''s actually Sun Yulei''s roommate?"


    "Damn, with a roommate that capable, why would he do something like this?"


    "I suddenly feel like there''s something fishy here. Zhang Menglong is always so generous to others, wouldn''t he take extra care of his own roommate?"


    "Exactly, he could afford his roommate a lifetime of wealth just by letting a little slip through his fingers, so why take a risk with something like this?"


    "This is getting interesting. I suddenly feel like we''re going to see a good show very soon."


    "Mr. Zhang, seeking lawyers for your roommate is your right, but the current evidence seems to be very much against him." The officer said cautiously.


    "I''ve heard, Yulei took bribes and sold the company''s information?" Zhang Menglong asked deliberately.


    "Yes," Sun Yulei''s manager Wu Yun stepped forward. "That money is in his account. How do you explain that?"


    "Hahaha!" Zhang Menglong laughed exaggeratedly. "A bribe of a hundred thousand yuan? Who are we trying to insult here?"

 Chapter 89 Half of Inner Mongolia Belongs to His Family

    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that?" The officer furrowed his brow, sensing an underlying message in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Officer, may I ask you a question?"


    "Of course, go ahead, Mr. Zhang."


    "If you were a millionaire¡ªno, if you were a billionaire, would you do something for a bribe of 100,000 yuan that might land you in jail?"


    "Hahaha, of course not!" The officer laughed, a person with assets in the billions wouldn''t risk it all for 100,000 yuan, that would just mean they were out of their mind.


    "You see, a normal person wouldn''t do such a thing. Don''t you find this very suspicious?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Certainly, if a billionaire did such a thing, it would indeed be worth investigating deeply," the officer said, "But Mr. Zhang, your roommate is just a student from an ordinary family, and according to our investigation, 100,000 yuan is not a small amount for him."


    Zhang Menglong was wealthy, and that was a fact known across all of Huaxia, but his wealth was his business, and it had nothing to do with his roommate. It would be absurd to average it out and claim their dorm room had a per capita wealth in the billions, wouldn''t it?


    "That''s just what you think," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "If it weren''t for the recent events, would you have known me at all?"


    This statement stumped everyone. Indeed, before this year''s National Day, nobody knew who Zhang Menglong was.


    Even before Wang Ling, the formerly renowned richest second generation, became famous online, he too was not very well-known.


    From these points, it wasn''t hard to speculate that actually, there were many hidden wealthy individuals throughout Huaxia.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you saying that your roommate is also a billionaire?"


    "A billionaire?" Zhang Menglong laughed again, "Yulei, do you feel insulted? Someone actually insulted you by calling you a billionaire."


    "Huh?" Sun Yulei was confused by Zhang Menglong''s words; in fact, he didn''t even know that Zhang Menglong was bringing two lawyers over today.


    And according to the usual procedure, shouldn''t the two lawyers be verifying the details and then starting to prove his innocence? Why had the narrative suddenly changed?


    As for the people from Nas Holdings, they were completely perplexed. What did he mean by "insulting you as a billionaire"? Had "billionaire" suddenly become a derogatory term?


    "The assets of my roommate''s family, I fear you can''t even imagine!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Yulei, I know you are humble and prefer not to reveal your family''s background, and your family has intentionally disguised themselves as ordinary herders to help you blend in, but now is not the time to hide anymore!"


    "No wonder they can afford such a big villa in Jiangnan City!"


    "No proof though, this property deed isn''t fake, right?" Wu Yun''s face looked a bit ugly.


    "There really isn''t a way to prove that," the police officer said, "Why not do it this way, since it''s not far from here, we''ll know once we go there."


    "Alright, then I''ll immediately arrange a police car!" the police officer said.


    "No worries, I''ve driven here, fitting a dozen people is no problem."


    "In that case, have someone from your legal department accompany us to get the evidence."


    "Officer, I''d also like to go and see, if it''s possible," that Wu Yun said, his anxiety clearly showing.


    "Alright, since you are his boss and have interacted with him a lot, it''ll be good for you to share what you know about him."


    When they reached the downstairs of the office building, a Rolls-Royce was already parked there. Zhang Menglong glanced at the somewhat old police car. "Brother, we need to pay a bit of attention to appearances even in our police work. When the time comes, help me get in touch with your director. I''ll donate 50 million so that we can equip the Jiangnan City police with better vehicles!"


    "Since that''s the case, let me thank Mr. Zhang on behalf of our department!" the officer said, his face radiating joy. While the money could not be used for other purposes, it coming from a case he handled made it a notable addition to his record. Chances of promotion this year looked hopeful!


    With that thought, his behavior towards Sun Yulei became extremely cordial.


    "Menglong, what exactly are you up to?" Sun Yulei whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "I''m not up to much. From now on, you''re the billionaire who owns half the livestock in Inner Mongolia," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "But I don''t own any livestock in Inner Mongolia," Sun Yulei replied.


    "If I say you do, then you do!" Zhang Menglong patted Sun Yulei on the shoulder. "Alright, we''ve arrived!"


    The car stopped next to a villa. Anyone who knew a little could tell that those who could afford a villa in this area were at least worth billions!


    At that moment, a person looking like a butler came out of the villa and bowed respectfully to Sun Yulei.


    "Mr. Sun, you''ve come back early today! Shall I prepare lunch for you first? Today your chef has prepared the freshest gold caviar for you."


    "This..." Sun Yulei looked at Zhang Menglong, "What exactly is going on?"

 Chapter 90 Not Enough Toilets Even for 100,000

    "Mr. Sun, why are there so many guests today?" the butler asked.


    "Go ahead!" Zhang Menglong secretly gave Sun Yulei a look.


    "Oh, it''s like this," with Zhang Menglong by his side, Sun Yulei also felt much more confident, "my company might have some misunderstandings about me, they say I sold the company''s strategic information for a bribe of 100,000 Yuan.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Sun, your company is really interesting, how could a rich man like you do such a thing for 100,000 Yuan." The butler laughed.


    "So Yulei and I brought the police comrades over to take a look," Zhang Menglong interjected from the side.


    "Since that''s the case, please come in," the butler stepped aside to welcome them in, "I will have the driver park the car in the garage."


    "Thanks for the trouble," the police officer suddenly became somewhat timid, it seems that Sun Yulei really was the owner of this villa!


    As they entered the courtyard, a huge swimming pool garden left everyone in awe, this wasn''t just a mere 1400 square meters, that area must only be the size of the house, right? Including the garden, it probably wouldn''t stop at 2000 square meters!


    Entering the villa, a living room comparable to a large flat was enough to make one''s heart tremble. At the entrance hall were gold-inlaid floor tiles, and on the wall hung a powerful and vigorous calligraphy piece, with the signature at the bottom from Wang Xizhi.


    "Mr. Sun, is this an original piece by Wang Xizhi?" the police officer couldn''t help but ask.


    "Yes, officer, this piece of calligraphy was purchased by Mr. Sun for 12 million two years ago, I have the authentication certificate here, shall I go and bring it to you?"


    "No need, I was just asking," the officer said, his face flushed with embarrassment. What is going on with this company? When someone can spend 12 million on a piece of calligraphy, would they care about your 100,000 Yuan bribe? There must be some hidden story!


    "May I ask what everyone would like to drink?" the butler asked, "We''ve recently received a batch of Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee from Panama. If you''re interested, you could try it."


    "What coffee?" Not to mention the others, even Zhang Menglong had never heard of this type of coffee.


    "Oh, this is the world''s finest coffee, priced at about 350 US Dollars per pound. Its annual output is very limited, and it was sent over a few days ago by the Duke of Windsor from Panama."


    This enormous influx of information immediately left everyone present in a stunned silence.


    "This is a sculpture by the Western artist Michelangelo, yes, the one associated with the Ninja Turtles, valued at 21 million US dollars."


    "This is a rare glass meteorite collected by Mr. Sun, valued at 5 million US dollars."


    "The painting on this wall is a work by Master Roark, oh right, you might not recognize this master. You should know Da Vinci, he was Da Vinci''s teacher, and this painting is worth 120 million US dollars."


    "And there''s more..."


    The police officer was making notes frantically, becoming numb to these staggering figures.


    "Those are roughly the most valuable items in the whole house, adding up to about 3 billion US dollars, I guess," the butler said, "Oh, right, there are also several cars in the underground garage, with a total value of about 500 million Huaxia currency."


    "This is Mr. Sun''s bedroom."


    "What is this fragrance?"


    "This is ambergris, roughly 300 US dollars per gram¡ªnot particularly expensive."


    "Not particularly expensive..." The police officer didn''t have the spirit to continue writing. In their eyes, this ''not so expensive'' item was even pricier than gold considering the exchange rate between Huaxia currency and US dollars.


    "Oh, right, the toilet in the bathroom is co-branded with LV, featuring the smartest system and the most avant-garde design, priced at 19,000 US dollars."


    "Mr. Police Officer, to be honest, this 100,000 Huaxia yuan isn''t even enough to buy a toilet, so how could Mr. Sun possibly be interested in this paltry profit?" the butler said, "Mr. Sun''s family owns half the pastures in Inner Mongolia; for him, money is just a number!"


    "I... I understand, I will thoroughly investigate this matter!" The police officer closed his notebook, nearly on the verge of collapse, as if staying a second longer would kill him with the scent of money.


    As for Wu Yun, his expression was as if he had eaten excrement.


    Picking the softest persimmons to pinch, he originally thought Sun Yulei was just an ordinary poor student, whom, with his resources and means, he could easily make his scapegoat. As for that little bit of benefit fee, once the dust settled, it would naturally end up in his account.


    But he hadn''t anticipated that he had essentially stirred up a hornets'' nest! He was freaking out!

 Chapter 91 Actually, He is the Owner of the Company

    The more Wu Yun understood the net worth and assets of Sun Yulei, the darker his complexion became. If he had known earlier about Sun Yulei''s status, he must have been out of his mind to have chosen him to be the scapegoat!


    As to whether the scapegoat now was himself or Sun Yulei, that was already unclear.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "So, Mr. Police Officer, you can clearly understand just how vast Mr. Sun''s assets are," the butler said. "For someone to accuse Mr. Sun of accepting a bribe of one hundred thousand yuan is simply a joke, I even feel it''s an insult to Mr. Sun!"


    "By the way, Mr. Police Officer, may I ask who is bringing the lawsuit?"


    "Oh, it''s the legal department of Nas Holdings, suing in the name of the company, not an individual." the officer replied.


    "Alright," the lawyer took out a legal letter, "Then, in addition to defending my client Mr. Sun against these baseless charges, we also wish to sue Nas Holdings!"


    "What?" The officer was taken aback. What was going on? Sun Yulei was clearly the defendant, yet now he was also suing Nas Holdings, "Are you suing them on charges of defamation?"


    After some thought, the officer could probably figure out their intent. The wealthier the people are, the bigger their tempers! Alright, you''re accusing me of bribery? Now it''s my turn to retaliate - I''ll sue you for defamation!


    "No, Mr. Officer, you misunderstand, we''re not suing for defamation."


    "Then what are you..."


    "We''re now suing Nas Holdings for the crime of insult."


    "What? The crime of insult? When did our company insult you?" After the legal affairs manager reassured himself that during the two days of the conference and in interactions with Sun Yulei, he hadn''t used any excessive or insulting language, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Sun is a billionaire. To accuse him of taking a bribe of 100,000 is not an insult then what is?" the lawyer spoke righteously. "If it were said he took a bribe of 10 million, that could be somewhat acceptable, 1 million would be a mild insult, but 100,000, that''s a grave insult. We will demand justice from the company based on the degree of insult."


    "What kind of monster is this!" The legal affairs director of Nas Holdings completely lost his composure. This was the first time he had ever heard someone claim that being accused of accepting a bribe of 100,000 was a grave insult!


    If such an insult really existed, he wished it could rain down on his face every day, all year round, every hour, nonstop!


    He truly desired such an insult!


    "My father?"


    Sun Yulei glanced over and saw Zhang Menglong''s eyes twitching as though about to spasm, his face also displaying a look of "Daddy is very pleased."


    "You thieving dog! Even at this time, you don''t forget to take advantage of me!" It was obvious that this so-called "father" must be none other than Zhang Menglong! If he could acquire a company like Weibo, purchasing a Nas Group worth just over a billion US dollars would be a mere flick of his hand.


    "So now I think this matter should be quite clear!" Lawyer Xu placed the stack of documents on the table, "I believe anyone with a sane mind would not do such things to their own company, right? Lose 20 million for the sake of 100 thousand? That makes no sense, does it?"


    "But no matter what, the fact that his account mysteriously increased by 100 thousand is still true, right?" At this point, Wu Yun finally couldn''t hold back and interjected. If he couldn''t bring down Sun Yulei, the investigation might soon trace back to him.


    Wu Yun was sure that Sun Yulei must have already started to suspect him. Although he thought he was impeccable in his actions, no horse is foolproof; he couldn''t guarantee he hadn''t left any trace. If Sun Yulei started an all-out investigation, Wu Yun could be in big trouble!


    "I do recall there being a crime called possession of unexplained property, right?"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Zhang Menglong retorted sharply, "Have you not studied law? Do you know what possession of unexplained property is? First of all, he''s not a civil servant! Secondly, it must be an amount vastly exceeding legal income, does this petty cash amount to a vast sum?"


    "Petty cash... to think he calls 100 thousand ''petty cash''..." Even as the legal affairs director of Nas Group, it would probably take half a year to earn that 100 thousand.


    "Besides, if you really want to go by that logic, then I should also look into your unexplained wealth!"


    "Me?" Wu Yun scoffed, his benefits hadn''t reached his account yet, so how could there be any significant unexplained wealth?


    "Don''t look at me with that face," Zhang Menglong said, "Right now there''s no large sum of unexplained property, but soon there will be!"


    "What do you mean?"


    At that moment, Wu Yun''s phone vibrated.


    "Dear customer, your bank account has received 100000000..."


    "Officer!" Wu Yun was still dazed when Zhang Menglong snatched his phone, "I''m now reporting that Wu Yun has received a hefty sum of unexplained wealth!"

 Chapter 92 Ive bought off everyone in that company.

    "One... one hundred million!?" The officer''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; he had never dealt with such a vast sum of money in his lifetime.


    "Where did this money come from?" The officer''s gaze fixed on Wu Yun, "Manager Wu, if I remember correctly, your annual income is only about three to four hundred thousand, right?"


    Under normal circumstances, suddenly finding a hundred million in his account would have made Wu Yun laugh in his dreams, but at this moment, he simply wanted to smash his phone to the ground.


    How the hell would he know why suddenly there was an extra hundred million in his account? He had done this one thing, and the benefit he received from the other party was only a million! Moreover, even if this project was completed, the company''s profit would not exceed one hundred million. Had they gone mad?


    "It''s him! It must be him!" Wu Yun pointed at Zhang Menglong and said, "This money must have been transferred by him!"


    "Do you have any evidence?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Officer, you can check whether this account belongs to me or not."


    "Hey, Liu Rui, help me check a bank account!" The officer immediately dialed his colleague''s phone.


    But the feedback came quickly; the account that transferred money to Wu Yun did not belong to Zhang Menglong but to a homeless man named Li Li¡ªit was clearly an account used for money laundering!


    "Told you it wasn''t mine!" Zhang Menglong spread his hands. With a plethora of ways to secretly transfer money, Zhang Menglong could easily call upon his connections, "Now please explain it, Manager Wu!"


    "I... I..." At this point, even if Wu Yun had mouths all over his body, he couldn''t come up with a reason; he had no idea where this money had come from!


    Your next chapter is on empire


    "A hundred million, such a large amount, now I even suspect whether you have stolen some state secrets or something that someone would give you so much money!" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically.


    "You! You''re just spouting nonsense!"


    "Then sue me if you dare!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Or better explain the origin of this money first! A hundred million of unexplained wealth, it wouldn''t be excessive to detain you for ten or eight years, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s eagerness for chaos made Wu Yun so angry that he was jumping up and down, yet he was helpless.


    At that moment, the officer''s phone rang.


    "Liu Rui? What''s the matter, did you get the information on that account just now?"


    "Got squat!" the officer said, "I had someone trace the account''s financial chain, and it led me straight to Siberia. Even if we continue the investigation, there won''t be anything to find!"


    "Siberia..." Although it didn''t prove the account had anything to do with Zhang Menglong, he was one hundred percent certain that this money was definitely linked to Zhang Menglong!


    "Yes, officer, we all know Liu Neng secured the exclusive agency rights for this project by paying 500,000 to the project manager at Nas Group!"


    "We also have video from the company''s conference room, retrieved from the surveillance by our company''s technicians!"


    "The audio is very clear; it''s been enhanced to Dolby level, and all the details can be heard distinctly!"


    "Yes, and they all agreed that once the heat died down and the scapegoat was punished, they''d go ahead with the transaction of the 500,000!"


    "I passed by the restroom that day and overheard our manager on the phone. I even recorded it!"


    "You..."


    Although this was a very righteous thing to do, it involved the interests of their company, and once this matter was exposed, it was feared that no one would want to cooperate with their company again. If the company collapsed, they would all become unemployed. Had none of these people considered this?


    "Do you all have a grudge against this market manager?"


    "No!" Everyone shook their heads in unison.


    "Then, did he do something to cause a collective loss of your interests?"


    The crowd continued to shake their heads.


    "Then you..."


    "Let me answer that question," Zhang Menglong said with a smile as he stepped forward. "My brother works in this project team. If he didn''t do this, then the most likely person would be his supervisor. If someone seriously committed this act, unless they''re a heist expert or a genius, they''d definitely leave behind evidence."


    "If Nas Group failed, the company that successfully got the agency rights would be the biggest beneficiary. Therefore, the person colluding with Wu Yun must also come from within Reze Culture and Media. Just a cursory investigation should reveal them, right?"


    "But why would everyone come forward to report? Don''t they care about their own company?" It was incomprehensible to anyone.


    Even if a few people knew about it, it should have only spread within the company; it didn''t make sense for hundreds to come forward to provide evidence simultaneously.


    "What''s so difficult about that?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "We''re all wage earners; working is simply about earning some money, making a living. Job-hopping is the easiest thing!"


    "What exactly did you do?"


    "Nothing much, 500,000 per person, plus the offer from Unicorn Group''s second branch office in Jiangnan City, and I bought off everyone in the company. Those who knew about it immediately reported it, and those who didn''t went searching for evidence. That resolved the issue quickly, didn''t it!"


    Sun Yulei gave a thumbs up, "You''re awesome! I lost! Money really does talk, doesn''t it!"

 Chapter 93 I Just Entered the Wrong Account

    "Mr. Sun, we have collected all the evidence. The incident at your company was done by Wu Yun, who has confessed. We deeply apologize for the negative impact this caused you earlier."


    After an investigation, Sun Yulei''s wrongful accusation had finally been cleared. As for how many years Wu Yun would be sentenced, Zhang Menglong hardly cared anymore. His two lawyers would surely secure the toughest punishment within the confines of the law for him.


    "By the way, Mr. Zhang, was that one billion US dollars really not transferred by you into his account? If so, we might need to conduct further investigation on Wu Yun," said the police officer earnestly.


    The amount involved was so large that they probably had to establish a special investigative team! They racked their brains but couldn''t fathom what could possibly make a company project manager spend a billion dollars.


    "Oh, I just checked some details¡ª that money was mine. I accidentally transferred it to the wrong account."


    "I knew it!" This result was not at all surprising to them. Given Zhang Menglong''s character, it was truly believable that he could do something like this.


    "Transferring money to the wrong account isn''t illegal, right?"


    "This... shouldn''t be illegal," Transfer to the wrong account? Who would believe that! It was a billion dollars, not a hundred; shouldn''t one verify several times before transferring such an amount?


    But there was no real way to charge him formally. Zhang Menglong steadfastly denied it, simply claiming he had made a mistake with the account number. What could they actually do to him?


    "About this money... sorry, Mr. Zhang, since it''s foreign funds, we need to understand its origin."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. I just sold some oil from my mine in Africa to Siberia. This money came from there. If you need it, I can provide the transaction records."


    "Heh, I guess that won''t be necessary," the officer swallowed his saliva, Zhang Menglong actually owned a mine, an oil mine at that! Perhaps this is what being a cut above the rest means!


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    "Mr. Zhang, about that donation you mentioned earlier..." the officer hesitated to bring it up.


    "Oh right, I almost forgot!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "Isn''t there a billion dollars with Wu Yun? No need to transfer it back to me, just direct it to your account!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you mentioned fifty million, but there was a billion. What should we do with the remaining fifty million, which account should we transfer it to?"


    "Hmm? Did I say fifty million? I thought I mentioned a billion?" Zhang Menglong turned to Sun Yulei, "Yulei, did I say fifty million?"


    "So I really own that much of Nas Group''s shares?"


    "The share certificate is with my assistant. Want me to bring it over for you to see?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Forget it, forget it, I can''t handle that kind of thing. We''re talking billions of US dollars here. I''m afraid my hands would tremble holding it; you better take it back quickly," Sun Yulei said.


    "Take it back? Why take it back?" Zhang Menglong said, "I plan to evenly distribute these shares among the three of you. You guys can just play around managing the company!"


    "What did you say?" the three of them exclaimed in unison.


    "All of you are still unemployed, and even if you find jobs, you''d just be workers. When to join, when to be fired, it''s all up to the boss. Isn''t it more comfortable to own a company?"


    "This is worth billions; you can''t be joking about this!"


    "Exactly, we are just recent college graduates with a degree in materials science. We might be okay doing experiments, but managing a company? That''s just absurd!"


    "Was the saying ''to live a rich life'' just for fun?" Zhang Menglong became upset, "My brothers can''t just be workers. Don''t worry about the company; I will find some professional managers to guide you, and as long as you''re willing to learn diligently, you''ll grow quickly."


    "But..."


    "But my foot!" Zhang Menglong didn''t give them a chance to argue, "I have the final say in this matter, and I''ve also acquired the remaining shares of the company. Now each of us owns a quarter. You guys better manage it well; if it goes under, you''ll have to atone for it with your lives!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone felt a bit emotional. Did they save the universe in their past lives to have met such a miraculous roommate?


    "Alright, just for your words, we have to do our best to manage this company!"


    "That''s more like it!"


    Zhang Menglong picked up his cup and clinked it with the others.


    "Hey, Menglong, you were just joking earlier about owning half of Inner Mongolia''s cattle and sheep, right?" Sun Yulei suddenly remembered the boast Zhang Menglong made, "You''re really something, how big must half of Inner Mongolia be!"


    "Who said I was joking?" Zhang Menglong put his cup down on the table, "Well, not half perhaps, but about two-thirds of the pasture land is contracted by my family. So yeah, most of Inner Mongolia''s cattle and sheep are indeed mine!"


    ...

 Chapter 94 Am I Not the Richest Person in the World?

    Having resolved his roommate issues, Zhang Menglong completely relaxed. He had initially planned to return to Gusu to see Lu Yiyao, but since Lu Yiyao was busy with her graduation exams, he did not want to distract her.


    Of course, making a daily phone call was essential, and their relationship warmed rapidly after this meeting.


    "Alright, I''m going to take a shower now, I have a sight-singing exam tomorrow morning. You should go to sleep early too!"


    "Got it, rest early." Zhang Menglong turned off the video call and lazily stretched out on the sofa, just as Wang Ling called him.


    "Boss Zhang, it''s only been a few days, and you''ve already turned Jiangnan City upside down. Watching from the sidelines has really been an eye-opener for us commoners!" said a sarcastic voice from the other end of the phone.


    "Can you blame me?" Zhang Menglong responded, "When those Russians belittle our Huaxia culture and unity, I just had to show them how awesome our culture really is!"


    "This isn''t about showing off our culture! They were chased away before they could even see the paintings you brought out!"


    "They don''t deserve to see!" Zhang Menglong scoffed. "By the way, Boss Wang, you never visit without a reason. Spill it, what do you want today!"


    "Hey! Can''t I just call to have dinner and chat?"


    "Pfft! I''m not some naive girl, why would you ask me to have dinner and chat? Out with it or I''m hanging up!"


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    "Wait a second!" Wang Ling quickly cried out, "Okay, I really do need something!"


    "Ha-ha, speak!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Spit it out quick, whatever it is!"


    "I need to borrow some money!"


    "Borrow money? You, Wang the rich guy, are asking me for money?" Zhang Menglong was surprised, "Did you do something wrong and get kicked out by your dad?"


    "Cut the cold remarks!" Wang Ling retorted angrily, "You know how severe the pandemic is this year. The film industry has taken a huge hit, and our family''s film company being the biggest in the country, the losses are just too severe!"


    "What does that have to do with borrowing money from me?" Zhang Menglong questioned, "If it''s a cash flow problem, I can spend money to buy shares of your Wanda Film Industry, or even consider a total buyout!"


    "Boss Zhang, Master Zhang! Please spare me! I''m already miserable enough!" Hearing Zhang Menglong mention buying shares, Wang Ling was scared stiff, "Wanda Film Industry is now in my hands. If you buy it, my dad might just dismantle my whole skeleton!"


    "Then what do you need the money for?"


    "To make a movie!" Wang Ling declared, "Now that the situation is starting to improve in the film industry, but there aren''t any good films being released. If I make a blockbuster right now, it could have a huge impact on the film industry!"


    "No way, if you give me a share of the box office proceeds, I''m not investing!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "What? Are you doing charity?" Wang Ling was surprised, but then he suddenly remembered that time at the betting stone event and swallowed the half-spoken words back.


    "It''s not exactly charity, maybe consider it alleviating poverty at most!"


    "You rascal!" Although he knew Zhang Menglong was joking, why did Wang Ling feel such an urge to hit him? Wang Ling, after all, was one of the top rich heirs. Now someone''s talking about poverty alleviation on him?


    "Enough said, tomorrow at 11:30 AM, I''ll treat you to lunch at Fico Hotel, and we can discuss our shooting plan."


    "Fine, but for this billion-dollar lunch, you better treat me well!"


    "Haha, of course!"


    ...


    The next afternoon, half an hour before the appointed time, Zhang Menglong arrived early at Fico Hotel, a highly upscale hotel where a normal lunch would cost a few thousand dollars, just to have a taste.


    "Hmm, strange, why are there so many people?" Zhang Menglong felt a peculiar atmosphere as he walked into the hotel.


    Logically speaking, this time was not a peak period, and even though Jiangnan City had many wealthy people, a hotel of this caliber would never be full. The strangest thing was that everyone''s gaze uniformly focused on the hotel''s main entrance, as if someone significant were expected today.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong found the seat number Wang Ling had told him, and Wang Ling was already there waiting, "You didn''t need all these people to welcome me, did you?"


    "Welcome you, my ass!" Wang Ling wasn''t exactly polite, "Turns out today we happened to catch a big event."


    "What event?" Zhang Menglong asked, curious.


    "Damn, you''ve already bought Weibo, don''t you know about this trending topic?"


    "As long as it doesn''t concern me, why should I care about it?" Yet curious, Zhang Menglong still pulled out his phone.


    "You know how the stock god Warren Buffett auctions the chance to have lunch with him, right?"


    "I''ve heard about it, it costs several million dollars or even tens of millions just for a meal!"


    "Exactly, and I don''t know if it''s because these people think too highly of themselves, but they all started imitating him," Wang Ling said scornfully, "Even the world''s richest man auctioned a lunch with him for 12 million dollars. A Huaxia entrepreneur bought it, and it''s happening this noon in the VIP hall of this restaurant!"


    "World''s richest man?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled, "Isn''t the world''s richest man me? I never did such a thing?"

 Chapter 95 I Want to Have a Meal With You

    "You little rascal, you really don''t hold back at all!" Wang Ling''s mouth twitched, indeed, if wealth were brought into the light, the so-called world''s richest man wouldn''t count for shit in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Poladi? Who''s that? I remember the richest man on the Forbes list is Bezos, right? The one who runs the online store."


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling almost spat out the tea he had just sipped upon hearing those words.


    What do you mean ''runs an online store''? That''s the world''s largest online e-commerce company, with a market value of 1.57 trillion, the second-largest internet company globally. How did it turn into a mere ''online store'' in your mouth? Can''t you show a minimum of respect?


    "It''s clear you''ve been preoccupied with dating these past few days and didn''t hear about such a big event," Wang Ling said, "This Poladi just topped Forbes last week, like the ''Oracle of Omaha'', making his fortune through stock trading.


    Recently, thanks to a surge in tech stocks, his net worth skyrocketed from 120 billion US Dollars to 180 billion US Dollars, knocking that online store guy down a notch."


    "Oh, so he''s a stock trader," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Doesn''t that make him the new ''Oracle''?"


    "Exactly!" Wang Ling said, "Lately, so many people have been trying to dine with him to learn investment techniques that he''s probably gotten a bit conceited. He''s started to pull the same stunt as the ''Oracle of Omaha'', selling spots to dine with him. This must be like the eighth meal already."


    "Are there really such big suckers?" Zhang Menglong wasn''t a stranger to buying stocks. As an individual who''d been cut like leeks, he had saved up ten thousand RMB over a year and threw it into the stock market, only to lose three thousand in less than half a month. Since then, he saw the clear nature of his leek-hood.


    "Big suckers not only exist, but they also form queues!" Wang Ling said with a laugh, "Poladi will only be staying in Huaxia for two days, and he auctioned off two spots to have lunch with him starting at a Bid of five million US Dollars. The final transaction price for each surpassed ten million US Dollars."


    "With that much money, wouldn''t it be nicer to stew some ribs or get a massage?"


    "If someone can earn that kind of fortune, naturally they''ve got some skills. You know, the guy who had lunch with Warren Buffett just a few days ago has seen his net worth multiply by five times since. Just exchanging a few words and getting insights from these people is invaluable."


    "Cut it out, a bunch of sycophants acting like we Huaxia people can''t make money," Zhang Menglong remarked as he sat down, "Where are they eating anyway?"


    "Right here!" Wang Ling pointed to the center table, which stretched over ten meters, "The owner of this place really knows how to do business, setting up their dining area in this hall. He''s raised the prices for today''s dishes to three times the usual!"


    "Mr. Poladi, you must be hungry after your long trip, so let''s start, shall we?" Song Mingxiang said, making himself look very humble.


    Poladi was anything but modest. In his eyes, as the world''s richest man, it was only natural for others to bow and scrape before him.


    Surrounded by a group, Poladi and Song Mingxiang made their way inside the hotel; in that moment, all eyes in the room focused on them.


    "Mr. Poladi, you wouldn''t mind dining with me in such a public place, would you?" Song Mingxiang asked cautiously.


    "Of course not," Poladi practically wished for a live broadcast so that all of Huaxia would know someone had spent 12 million US dollars just to have dinner with him.


    "Great, then please, take a seat," Song Mingxiang stepped aside.


    Poladi nodded with satisfaction. As he walked, his gaze swept over the surrounding entrepreneurs, basking in all the attention, which brought immense satisfaction to his heart.


    "Damn, this guy isn''t here to eat, he''s f*ckin'' here to show off on a paid vacation!" Wang Ling, a seasoned expert in showing off, saw right through Poladi''s intentions. "Old Zhang, hurry up and flaunt your bank account balance; you could take down this so-called world''s richest man in a minute!"


    "Let him show off. He didn''t become the world''s richest man until his sixties. He deserves to strut for three days and nights," Zhang Menglong commented casually, "I prefer to keep a low profile. If people knew I''m actually the real richest man, I''d probably have to cover my face every time I go out."


    "Ha ha, you dare say you''re low profile, you''re anything but!"


    The two of them laughed and made such a noise that they unintentionally caught Poladi''s attention.


    "Huaxia people really lack manners, could it be..." However, the moment his gaze landed on Zhang Menglong, he froze. An image surfaced in his mind, one that was strikingly similar to Zhang Menglong.


    He got a chill and hurried over to Zhang Menglong''s table.


    Stay connected with empire


    "Sir, may I have the pleasure of dining with you?"

 Chapter 96 My Start-up Capital Comes from Your Grandfather

    ```


    "Ah?" Zhang Menglong faced this sudden invitation and, surprisingly, had no immediate reaction.


    "What''s going on?" Just now, Poladi had an air of arrogance about him, almost as if everyone owed him money, but looking at his gaze now, there was not only excitement but even a hint of fanaticism.


    "Do you know each other?" Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong exchanged puzzled looks.


    Given Zhang Menglong''s net worth and wealth, it might be possible that Zhang Menglong''s elders knew Poladi, which seemed like a reasonable guess.


    "Would you believe me if I told you this is the first time I''m meeting him?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Poladi is already in his sixties or seventies, he should be from your grandfather''s generation. Maybe when you were too young to understand anything, he might have met you."


    This turn of events quickly shifted all focus from Poladi to Zhang Menglong.


    Although Poladi''s Huaxia language was quite poor, they had still clearly heard what he said just now, Poladi was inviting this young man to dinner?


    What kind of play was this? Wasn''t Poladi paid by someone to dine with them? Why suddenly start inviting others to eat out of the blue?


    "Who is this young man?"


    "Don''t know him, but being here today probably means his family has some background."


    "I know the person opposite him, Wang Ling, the son of Wanda."


    "Then he probably belongs to that circle too. Perhaps their elders know each other?"


    "I recognize this young man! He''s that Zhang Menglong?"


    "Who is Zhang Menglong?"


    Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    "You don''t know Zhang Menglong and you still dare say you mix in the Internet circle? Not long ago, he acquired Weibo and scared Baidu and Tengxun into submission. That''s him."


    "Him? I thought he was from Gusu!"


    ...


    Someone recognized Zhang Menglong, and news about him quickly spread. There might be people who had never seen Zhang Menglong, but it was extremely rare to find anyone who had not heard of him. Recently, he had been dominating the hotspot on Weibo as if he had bought out the entire trending section.


    The audience watching the live broadcast online was also utterly confused. What on earth was this all about?


    "Do you know me?" Zhang Menglong finally spoke to Poladi.


    "Are you Mr. Zhang?" Poladi did not use his mother tongue, but instead, carefully communicated with Zhang Menglong in Huaxia language.


    "My surname is Zhang, but I don''t think I''ve ever met you before," Zhang Menglong didn''t give this so-called world''s richest man any face.


    "Then there is no mistake! Is your grandfather Mr. Zhang Mo?"


    "It seems you do know my grandfather," Zhang Menglong finally caught a thread of clue, but by his look, it seemed things weren''t just as simple as that.


    "That''s great! I''ve finally met you!" Amidst the shock of countless onlookers, Poladi actually had tears welling up in his eyes, as if he had found a long-lost relative.


    "Did you just say you want to invite me to lunch?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Poladi was overwhelmed with excitement, "It''s the biggest wish and dream of my life. If you''re willing, I could use one hundred million US dollars to invite you to share this meal with me!"


    "Wow!" As soon as he finished speaking, the entire restaurant erupted in astonishment.


    Twelve million dollars was already a sky-high price, but Poladi was willing to pay a hundred million dollars to invite Zhang Menglong to lunch¡ªthis world was too crazy!


    Poladi was the world''s richest man, a brand-new stock god. People probably lined up just to have a meal with him, everyone hoping to learn something from him. But what could a young man like Zhang Menglong possibly teach him?


    "Wait a minute, just calm down," Poladi''s tears and snot were nearly smearing on Zhang Menglong''s clothes now, "first tell me clearly, what exactly do you want to do? I don''t just casually dine with anyone!"


    "Damn! That''s our Boss Zhang, always playing hard-to-get!"


    "Having lunch with the world''s richest man is just casual to him? My mind is blown."


    "Kid, are you filled with questions?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not be very clear about this, but my startup capital was provided by your grandfather. Although, for Mr. Zhang Mo, that sum of money was just a casual act of helping a bankrupt poor soul, his guidance and that money were what I relied on to make a comeback!"


    Poladi was just too excited, and his mother tongue slipped out while speaking.


    "Excuse me, I only got a 90 in my Level Six English listening exam, could someone translate what he said for me?" Zhang Menglong sent a pleading glance towards Wang Ling, "Damn, with so many people watching, this is so embarrassing!"


    "He... he said that his startup capital... was given to him by your grandfather..."

 Chapter 97 The Legend of Zhang Menglongs Grandfather

    "What? How is that possible?"


    "Is there really such a thing?"


    "The world''s richest person''s startup capital was given by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather?"


    "He admitted it himself, so how could it be fake?"


    "Damn! All I have to say is damn, my worldview has collapsed!"


    Although Wang Ling''s voice was not very loud, it was crystal clear in the live broadcast, and everyone heard his translation. As for whether the translation was accurate, there was no voice of doubt appearing on the bullet comments, which was already the best proof.


    Even though they didn''t know what had actually happened back then, since Poladi himself had said it, naturally, there was no need for any doubt.


    Zhang Menglong''s grandfather had given Poladi the startup funds; in other words, if it weren''t for Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, there wouldn''t be the world''s richest person we have today. To put it less modestly, one might even say that this world''s richest person was created by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather!


    "Who exactly is his grandfather?"


    "I have no idea; online, apart from Zhang Menglong''s own information, you can''t find any details about his family members."


    "Isn''t that too mysterious?"


    "But that doesn''t necessarily mean his grandfather is all that amazing. Maybe he just gave Poladi a sum of money, and the achievements after that were all created by himself."


    "Exactly, if Zhang Menglong''s grandfather was really that powerful, he wouldn''t be unknown, right? If you were wealthy enough to rival a country, would you just watch someone else wearing the crown of the world''s richest person?"


    In fact, over the years, Poladi had never forgotten. Even as he became the world''s richest person, he was very clear in his heart that this so-called title was just an empty honor. That unimaginably wealthy man was the truly richest person in the world.


    "Mr. Poladi, are you not joking?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know what was going on at all; his family had never mentioned this to him, not even Hong Yi.


    Perhaps, in their eyes, this was just a trivial matter. Explore more at empire


    "No, no, no, I''m not joking. Perhaps your grandfather doesn''t remember me anymore, but I have always regarded him as my faith. Being able to see you here today is just great!"


    "I''m actually quite curious. How about we add a seat for you? This place is spacious enough," Zhang Menglong said casually.


    "That would be an immense honor!" Eyes don''t lie, and Zhang Menglong could see the full-blown enthusiasm in Poladi''s eyes.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t know about your grandfather''s affairs?" Poladi was a bit surprised, but then regained his composure, "However, that makes sense. For me, this was a fate-changing event, but in your grandfather''s heart, perhaps it was not even worth remembering."


    "That impressive?" Zhang Menglong truly found it hard to imagine.


    "This all happened last century," Poladi said slowly, "At that time, I was not yet thirty years old. It''s embarrassing to say, but I didn''t have any proper job back then, just living on stock trading, without much skill or capital, just slightly better off than just making ends meet."


    "And then?"


    "Mr. Zhang, have you ever heard of the financial crisis of the last century that, except for Huaxia and those countries on good terms with Huaxia, almost swept across the entire world?"


    "Of course, I know, I''ve learned about it on political history texts." Although Zhang Menglong didn''t particularly like those subjects, in the context of an exam-oriented education system, even without deep exploration, he had thoroughly understood it.


    "Actually, that economic crisis was your grandfather''s masterpiece."


    "What? That was my grandfather''s doing?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in shock; he remembered that crisis was caused by excessive inflation, what did that have to do with his grandfather?


    Zhang Menglong was this shocked, not to mention the rubbernecking masses, each of them looked as if they were hearing something unbelievable.


    "Continue!"


    "The reason is quite simple," Poladi said, "It involves some historical background of your country, I''m not at liberty to say too much, but you know, your country has had some rough times."


    Poladi spoke very euphemistically, but everyone could tell what period he was referring to.


    "During that time, many treasures from your country were lost overseas, and at that time, your grandfather, solely by his own efforts, managed to locate many of the lost national treasures."


    "But what does that have to do with this matter?" Zhang Menglong inquired curiously.


    "You don''t know, those national treasures are easy to lose, but not so easy to retrieve. Even if found, the holders usually ask for a hefty ransom before they''re willing to return them."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded; for example, many national treasures appearing at foreign auctions, those bidding entrepreneurs buying them back, often costing several million or even tens of millions of US dollars.


    "Your grandfather had quite the temper," Poladi said, his eyes showing admiration as he thought back, "I don''t know how formidable the resources at your grandfather''s disposal were, but within just a few days, he managed to increase the inflation rates of those countries involved by several hundred times. Even their frantic money printing couldn''t stabilize it.


    In just one week, the economies of nearly half the world were paralyzed."


    "Awesome!" Although Zhang Menglong didn''t know what the scene looked like back then, his grandfather seemed to have left behind a quite impressive legacy.

 Chapter 98 He Just Finds Me More Pleasing to the Eye

    Anyone who had received a High-Grade education knew what a dismal scene the financial crisis was back then¡ªit almost instantly set the economy back by years, even decades!


    During that crisis, hundreds of blast furnaces around the world were destroyed, billions of acres of cotton fields were ruined, billions of bags of coffee were destroyed, and millions of livestock were wiped out.


    In America, even tens of thousands of gallons of high-quality fresh milk were poured into ditches, creating a river of milk¡ªa tremendous catastrophic consequence of the economic crisis.


    As for inflation, widespread unemployment, and the overthrow of social systems, these were not uncommon, but at that time, there was something historians still couldn''t fathom; during that period, Huaxia''s economy grew steadily, completely unaffected by the global financial crisis.


    Not just Huaxia, even those countries that maintained close cooperation and dealings with Huaxia breezed through this disaster, as if an invisible hand were protecting them.


    In just a few short years, the gap in technology and productivity between Huaxia and the world''s developed countries, which was a century wide, was forcibly narrowed to only a few decades.


    But who could have imagined that all this was actually the work of Zhang Menglong''s grandfather!


    If this were true, it would solve the mystery that had puzzled historians and economists for decades!


    But this was also a terrifying matter¡ªbeing able to effortlessly manipulate the global economy, what kind of force could be behind this?


    "How did my grandfather manage this?"


    "I''m not sure, but I heard that that economic crisis stemmed from a severe shortage of global raw materials, especially the crisis in crude oil. Dozens of major oil-importing countries around the world faced almost complete supply cuts!" Poladi said.


    "Not only that, during that time, capitalists around the world went crazy developing production. The stockpile of products far exceeded the purchasing power of the international community at that time, which then led to a vicious cycle, and the world economic crisis naturally erupted. Find more to read at empire


    About the causes of the economic crisis, Zhang Menglong had memorized quite a bit back in high school while studying politics. In fact, an economic crisis is an inevitable event that repeats itself in certain cycles like a loop.


    But with some external force, this cycle can be artificially shortened, of course, this kind of external force would need to be unimaginably powerful.


    "I know!" Wang Ling suddenly thought of something, "I remember, that year, a large amount of lost cultural relics appeared on the northwestern border, all wrapped in uniform red silk. At the coastal areas, there were numerous ghost ships that also carried loads of lost items."


    "As expected of Mr. Zhang''s friend, Mr. Wang is truly knowledgeable about history," Poladi said with an appreciative look. If it were not for his brief encounter with Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, he would not have known about these matters, nor would he have connected these two events.


    "Such a nerd!" Zhang Menglong gave Wang Ling a thumbs up.


    "Keep it low-key!" Wang Ling laughed, "So, is this how Menglong''s grandfather ended the economic crisis?"


    "From what I understand, yes!" Poladi said, "After that, a significant amount of capital flowed back into banks, the global supply chains restored, and after a long period of recuperation, the world economy gradually recovered."


    "How did you come to know my grandfather?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "That year, I was still scraping a living in Wall Street''s financial markets. Due to a mistaken operation, I lost all my funds," Poladi said, "Subsequently, I was being chased by a group of creditors, and that''s when I met your grandfather and his servant."


    "Then what happened?"


    "Your grandfather said he needed someone familiar with Wall Street. He said he took a liking to me, paid off my debts, and asked me to take him to the bond center on Wall Street to help him with something."


    "Took a liking to you?"


    "Yes," Poladi said, smiling bitterly. Initially, he thought there was some specific quality in him that made Zhang Mo, Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, choose him. But later, when he asked, this was the answer he received.


    "What did he do there?"


    "In three days, he destroyed the entire Wall Street currency market, and my job was only to help him find the right financial entry points, as I knew the projects with the highest trading volumes here daily. Although at that time I didn''t understand the Huaxia language, I noticed that every time he issued an order to his subordinates, a market project would collapse."


    "A few days later, he had complete control over the entire Wall Street; he could easily devalue or appreciate any currency, even official forces couldn''t contend with him¡ªthat is the power of the market!"

 Chapter 99 You Should Keep This Small Change

    "What did I hear? I feel like I heard something I shouldn''t have!"


    "What are you talking about? Why can''t I understand anything? (dog head to save my life)"


    "The people watching today''s live broadcast won''t be killed tomorrow to silence them, will they?"


    "It''s so exciting, damn, I feel like I''m reading an economic history book."


    "It can''t be real, right? This is just too unbelievable, isn''t it?"


    "Guys, I just checked some information, and all the dates mentioned earlier perfectly match historical records. Even if it were a made-up story, it couldn''t be this flawlessly seamless, right?"


    "No, I still can''t accept it. This is too preposterous. How could one person''s power stand against the entire world''s economy?"


    "Exactly, this is just outrageous!"


    Danmaku of different kinds floated around the live stream room. Although everything sounded logical and well-founded, it was just too outrageous, almost like someone telling you that deities exist in this world.


    "I had no idea my grandfather was so badass!"


    "Sss! Oh!" Suddenly, Wang Ling let out a bizarre scream from across.


    "What''s up with you? Did you ingest some aphrodisiacs?" Zhang Menglong glanced at him disapprovingly.


    "Damn, dude, my jaw''s dislocated!" Wang Ling moved his mouth and immediately grimaced in pain.


    "Hahaha! That''s killing me!"


    "Awesome! Grandpa Zhang''s stories just shocked Principal Wang''s jaw out of place!"


    "This is headline material right here. I''ve got the headline ready: ''Shock as Principal Wang''s jaw dislocates, because of what Zhang Menglong did to him...''"


    "Person above, report directly to UC headquarters tomorrow!"


    "6666!"


    "Shit, my jaw''s dislocated too!"


    "Hello, I am a doctor from Beilun City''s Third Hospital. Our hospital suddenly had a bunch of patients with dislocated jaws come in. They asked me to watch this live broadcast, and now my jaw''s dislocated too, waiting in line to get it fixed."


    "That would be an honor!" Poladi clearly didn''t catch the perfunctory tone in Zhang Menglong''s voice, "Then I await your visit, and will definitely do my utmost to welcome you!"


    "Great," Zhang Menglong nodded with a smile.


    "Oh, one more thing!" Poladi, who had taken a few steps out, suddenly turned back, "Mr. Zhang, even though your grandfather is no longer here, I still remember your family''s kindness. My wealth is always at your disposal, and I will spare no effort if you need it!"


    "6666!"


    "Holy crap, that''s 1.8 trillion US dollars! Calm down!"


    "Doesn''t this mean, Mr. Zhang could become the world''s richest man anytime he wants?"


    "Idiot! You think Mr. Zhang''s assets are only 1.8 trillion US dollars? Use your brain, it''s definitely way more!"


    "Mr. Zhang truly is the world''s richest man!"


    "Damn! A world''s richest man in his twenties!"


    "Can''t compete, ah, all roads lead to Rome, but he was born in Rome. Being reborn is indeed a skillful act."


    "Mr. Poladi, I don''t think that''s necessary," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Keep that change for yourself!"


    "Change? Goddamn change!"


    "I''m broke, can someone give me some change?"


    "Is this even human speech?"


    "Zhang Menglong is more badass than his grandfather! 1.3 billion US dollars is spare change, and in his generation, 1.8 trillion US dollars is also just spare change?"


    "Help me up, my knees hurt from kneeling."


    A faint twitch appeared on Poladi''s face, but soon, his gaze flashed with a look of inevitability, as if to others the statement might seem utterly braggadocious.


    But to Poladi, all of this was perfectly reasonable, because back then, he had almost witnessed everything.


    Zhang Mo could easily acquire several trillion US dollars in the market back then, and even if that was their entire family wealth at the time, what about now? His assets had multiplied over a hundred times, the Zhang Family was probably close to owning the entire world, weren''t they?


    "I, Wang Ling, would call you a swagger god!"


    "Why are you looking at me?" Zhang Menglong said to Wang Ling, "Is it my fault that I was reborn well?"

 Chapter 100 Get Out if Youre Not Acting

    "Finally, some peace and quiet."


    "Right? We came here to have a meal, and almost ended up featured on ''A Bite of Jiangnan''." Wang Ling shared the same sentiment as Menglong.


    After Poladi had left, the journalists and media showed no sign of departing; instead, the live broadcast''s focus shifted to Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, with cameras nearly shoved in their faces.


    Unable to bear the harassment any longer, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling moved to a private room, where they finally escaped the journalists'' siege.


    "Come on, pour tea for the boss!" Wang Ling mockingly filled Zhang Menglong''s cup with the drink, "From now on, I''m following the boss!"


    Wang Ling had imagined Zhang Menglong''s family background to be impressive, but he now realized he had underestimated him; if what he had imagined of Zhang Menglong''s wealth was a sesame seed, then the reality could be a watermelon.


    Although everything Poladi had said sounded far-fetched, even unbelievable, intuition told Wang Ling that most of it was probably true.


    "Stop pretending, who do you think you''re kidding with that act? Even if he were the Jade Emperor, you wouldn''t be so reverent," Zhang Menglong laughed and cursed.


    "Hahaha, you know me too well," Wang Ling returned to his seat, "But I''ve really had my eyes opened today. With what Poladi said, you could write a biography about the Zhang Family. I bet in a few days, those economists and historians will start attacking you."


    Even though the events discussed today happened a long time ago, if they were true, those scholars would never acknowledge such things, especially those from countries affected by the economic crisis back then.


    If they admitted it, wouldn''t that be akin to admitting their incompetence? And acknowledging Huaxia''s robust economic strength?


    Consider, the idea of the world economy turned upside down by a common person from a developing country is not only ludicrous but also embarrassing. It''s almost no different from admitting they are all useless.


    When the time comes, they''ll surely throw out all sorts of evidence to prove that economic crisis had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong''s grandfather and might even fabricate things to smear Zhang Menglong. It''s possible that even Poladi could become a casualty in this conflict.


    "Do I look like someone who would suffer a loss?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "If they really are that ungrateful, I don''t mind emulating my grandfather and giving them a taste of their own medicine!"


    Although Zhang Menglong didn''t fully grasp the extent of his family''s power, he was certain that stirring up another global financial crisis wouldn''t be much of a challenge for his family.


    "Damn, I''m already sweating for them!" Wang Ling said, "If you really go through with this, you''d better give me a heads-up. I''ve invested in lots of bonds, funds, and stocks. If I lose it all, I''m taking you down with me!"


    "Hahaha, you''re really something!" Wang Ling was suddenly speechless, "Do you know how hard it is to schedule him? I barely persuaded him to join our crew. I''ve already signed the film contract, and if we breach it, that will be a penalty of 10 million."


    "Then give it to him!" Zhang Menglong said grandly, "We definitely can''t let one bad apple spoil the whole batch. If it were a real veteran actor, I''d be willing to pay 100 million. Those who can''t act aren''t called actors, they''re just performers, and I think even 400 thousand is too much!"


    "400 thousand? You can actually say that? He gets more than that for just one episode of a TV series."


    "Love to act, then act, if not, get lost. Just give him the role of a Trisolaran. Even if he wanted to play an extra, I would have to think about it."


    "Alright, you''re the boss, you have the final say. So about the actor..."


    "I already have an idea," Zhang Menglong snatched Wang Ling''s tablet and started writing down the main characters'' names and the actors who fit his vision best.


    "These people?" Wang Ling didn''t know how to begin, "Old Zhang, these people are indeed rare good actors, but most of them have cooled down now, and a few have even fallen to making game advertisements. Their compensation is also very cheap now, you want to save money for our crew, huh."


    "Who said anything about saving money!" Zhang Menglong said, "The people I''ve listed here, each of their compensation must not be less than 20 million!"


    "What the hell?" Wang Ling counted. There were easily over a dozen people here, and just their compensations would amount to over 200 million. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    "What the hell nothing, although they''re not as famous as before, their acting skills justify this compensation!" Zhang Menglong said, "Starting today, I''m going to be the discipline inspection commission of the entertainment industry!"


    "Oh boy, you''re going to stir things up!" Wang Ling said, "Relying on these, I''m afraid you won''t be able to produce much hype!"


    "I''ve already thought it through!" Zhang Menglong said, "Do you know the Carnot SFX team?"


    "You mean the world''s most impressive SFX team?" Wang Ling asked.


    This SFX team was almost legendary; its members came from all over the world, each one uniquely skilled. The works they produced were all considered classics, but they had very high demands for film contracts and had only taken on three projects since their establishment.


    But those three projects, the worst performing one grossed over 5 billion US dollars!


    "You invited them?" Wang Ling said.


    "Not invited," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I bought the whole team!"

 Chapter 101 Another Worker for Boss Zhang

    "Bought it? Are you serious?"


    This news was no less shocking to Wang Ling than the revelation that Poladi''s startup funds had come from Zhang Menglong''s grandfather.


    Countless organizations had tried to woo that special effects team, including Hollywood''s largest special effects company, which even offered $200 million to sign them up, but they were rejected.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Keep in mind, to date, the highest payday for any movie in the world has been $100 million. For a special effects team of less than a hundred people, that was an astronomical figure.


    It was clear how stringently this special effects group chose their projects.


    "Haven''t you heard that ''money talks''?" Zhang Menglong said. "It wasn''t expensive, just $1 billion, and they''ll work exclusively for me until retirement!"


    "Shit!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but curse. $1 billion to acquire a special effects team was something probably only Zhang Menglong could afford. "I guess it wasn''t that simple, was it?"


    "Of course not!" Zhang Menglong continued, "Once, when they were shooting a movie, they had to cut a large part of the special effects scenes because the budget was insufficient, which greatly disappointed them. That''s why they are only willing to join a production that has sufficient funding."


    "How did you talk to them?"


    "I told them that the special effects investment in movies I shoot in the future would be no less than $500 million, then they begged to work for me. They even said they''d work for just a base salary without a signing bonus. I had no choice but to agree."


    "Damn, sounds like you knocked them out with money!" The team that even the largest special effects company in the world couldn''t hire was begging Zhang Menglong to take them. If this news broke, it would be another huge story.


    However, on second thought, if these people could refuse Hollywood''s hefty offers, they must have some unique pursuits. Ordinary movie investments couldn''t satisfy their artistic ambitions.


    To date, the most expensive movie ever made had a total investment of less than $400 million, and that included the actors'' fees.


    And Zhang Menglong alone was willing to spend $500 million on special effects. Who would want to give up such a golden opportunity?


    "Awesome, with this team on board, we could have actors lining up from here to the capital to join us!" Wang Ling said confidently.


    The box office success of the Carat special effects team''s work had already proven their skill. Even with a cast of monkeys, they could produce epic special effects. Who would pass up the chance to join such a project, even with the potential to win Best Actor?


    Some people would even bash their heads to audition without asking for a fee!


    "But for one movie, aren''t you investing a bit too much?" Wang Ling asked. "Buying them out and having them work until retirement just for one movie. Are you planning to support them in their old age?"


    "That''s just the first movie. There will be a second and a third!" Zhang Menglong replied.


    Your next read is at empire


    As a popular young actor, Wang Zihan was thriving, with variety shows, TV series, movies, and an almost non-stop stream of film offers in recent years, raking in a very substantial income.


    Though he had a face that attracted young girls, his acting skills were far inferior to the amount of effort he wasted on makeup every day.


    But in this era, popularity is everything. Even if the movies he acted in were trash, he still had a horde of crazy fans willing to pay for him.


    In his heart, he had subtly come to regard himself as a celebrity actor, and the idea of a movie contract being torn up was nearly unacceptable to him!


    Even though Wang Ling''s family was wealthy, Wang Zihan didn''t fear Wang Ling, after all, he was just him, not his father.


    "Yes," Wang Zihan''s agent said, "it seems that Wang Ling plans to invite a bunch of washed-up old actors for his project. The internet is blowing up about it, and there''s a lot of criticism against you."


    "What washed-up old actors," Wang Zihan scoffed, "What box office can they bring with their acting? Can acting feed them? Without public interest, are they selling feelings or what?"


    "Zihan, could it be because you''re asking for too high a fee?"


    "Don''t I, Wang Zihan, deserve this price?" Wang Zihan glared at his agent, "From the last film, I got 30 million, and for this kind of challenging film, I think 50 million isn''t too much!"


    "What should we do now? The studio started to hype this topic yesterday. If we just end the collaboration like this, it might negatively impact you," the agent said worriedly, "and the main investor this time is Zhang Menglong..."


    "What''s there to be afraid of? Even if they''re rich, they''re just a couple of rich second-generations. I don''t provoke them, they better not provoke me. Post the previous agreement online; they''re the ones who breached it unilaterally. From now on, we refuse all collaboration with them," Wang Zihan added, "and don''t just accept any film offer in the future. It''s a waste of time!"


    Despite his unwillingness, Wang Zihan was secretly delighted in his heart. He had almost effortlessly received this 10 million breach of contract fee. It was as if it had fallen from the sky.


    Soon, Wang Zihan''s studio responded. It has to be said that the power of a popularity star is indeed not small. Wang Zihan had more than 40 million fans on Weibo, and the fans from both sides had actually fallen into a war of words.


    "Interesting, they refuse all collaboration with us?" Zhang Menglong sneered as he looked at Wang Zihan''s studio''s statement, "As if you''re qualified to collaborate with us."


    Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and directly posted the cooperation agreement with the Poladi special effects team.


    "Poladi special effects team! Is that the one recognized as the world''s number one special effects team?"


    "Holy crap, a 50-year cooperation agreement? How is that any different from a buyout?"


    "Another worker bee from the Zhang family! Blimey! I take back what I said, with that special effects team, who needs a popularity star!"


    "Awesome, it looks like we''re going to make an epic movie this time. Maybe it could even take down ''Avengers''!"


    "Zhang is legit (voice crack)!"


    ...

 Chapter 102 The Movie Star Wants to Play a Minor Role

    "What? The special effects team this time is the Carnot Effects Team?" Wang Zihan was shaken when he got the news, his entire being out of sorts.


    Despite his poor acting skills, as an actor, there wasn''t anyone who didn''t recognize the Carnot Effects Team! To exaggerate a bit, this group is practically a god-making special effects team!


    It could almost be said that as long as this team was involved, a box office gross of 3 billion US dollars was guaranteed!


    "How could this happen?" Wang Zihan''s trembling lips highlighted just how much he regretted now¡ªif he had asked for a lower fee in the beginning, perhaps Wang Ling wouldn''t have terminated their collaboration, and with this project, he could even have had the chance to become the youngest Best Actor!


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    "Zihan, what do we do? We''ve already had a falling out with them, this..." Wang Zihan''s manager was also pale with distress¡ªthey had never imagined that Zhang Menglong could actually lure... no, downright buy that team!


    "No, I must fight for this opportunity!" Wang Zihan said, "Immediately retract the statement we just released, say it was all a misunderstanding, and I''ll call Wang Ling directly."


    For a trending star, their popularity was always limited because the turnover in the entertainment industry was simply too fast, and fans'' tastes changed too quickly. Without any outstanding accomplishments, even Wang Zihan couldn''t avoid becoming passe? in a few years.


    Is there an evergreen tree in the entertainment industry? Yes! But both looks and talent are indispensable, and some have even faded from the acting scene and still are crowned as male idols by netizens.


    Aside from a few hit songs, Wang Zihan didn''t have any outstanding works. The TV shows and movies he starred in were only watched because of his fans supporting him; he needed a work that would make a lasting mark in the film and television industry!


    He believed that as long as he could land a role in "Three-Body," with his large fan base and studio operations, he could definitely elevate his status in the entertainment world to a whole new level.


    In such a situation, saving face was worthless; landing a pivotal role was what mattered most!


    Netizens'' sense of smell and their capacity for gossip were often terrifying. As soon as Wang Zihan''s studio retracted the statement from a few minutes earlier, he was immediately trending.


    "What''s going on? Why retract the statement?"


    "Hahaha, the ''Three-Body'' production is invested in by General Manager Zhang and even acquired the Carnot Effects Team. This movie''s success is certain, so refusing to cooperate would be idiotic, wouldn''t it?"


    "I predict that soon they will claim it was all a misunderstanding¡ªmaybe they''ll even put the blame on a scapegoat."


    "Who just said they would refuse all future collaborations with Wanda Film and Television? Friends, shout out his name together!"


    "Wang Jingze''s Law of Truth might be late, but it will never be absent!"


    ...


    "Yes!" Zhang Menglong nodded emphatically.


    "Pfft! I''m only interested in internet celebrities; female stars don''t do it for me," Wang Ling''s eyes suddenly took on a lecherous gleam, "But as for you, as the main investor of the movie, I bet the actresses and internet celebrities heading to your room probably need to take a number."


    "You guessed wrong, there aren''t any!"


    "That''s because you haven''t given out your contact details!" Wang Ling laughed, "In a couple of days, let''s go to the sports center in Jiangnan City. Didn''t we set up the temporary lodgings there in my hotel? I guarantee if you dare to stay there, your room will be bustling with visitors."


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong pushed Wang Ling away, "I''m not the Sea King!"


    "Ring ring!" The phone rang again.


    Wang Ling grabbed it, "Hello, this is Wang Ling. Who is this, Runfa or Fucheng?"


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but burst into laughter. Wang Ling was really getting carried away. Who answers the phone like that?


    "Prince Wang, it''s Wang Zihan." The person on the other end, Wang Zihan, was dumbfounded. What was happening? Had calling Wang Ling become such a high threshold now?


    "Oh, what is it?" Wang Ling''s tone suddenly cooled.


    "Prince Wang, I''ve thought it over carefully. The salary I quoted last time was indeed outrageous," Wang Zihan''s tone dramatically shifted from his prior arrogance, "I think I''m okay with the price you mentioned last time, 20 million US dollars. I''m willing to take the role of Wang Miao."


    "Are you dumb or am I dumb?" Wang Ling burst out laughing, "Just a moment ago, your assistant was talking to mine, saying 40 million US dollars was what you give to third-rate actors. Let me tell you, right now, eight top actors are fighting over this role and they don''t even want a fee!"


    "What?"


    "Also, just now Zidan called me. He wanted to play an extra; all he asked for was a fight scene."


    "Are there any other roles left? I can also waive the salary!" Wang Zihan immediately grew anxious.


    "Yes, there is. And it''s an extremely important role!" Wang Ling said.


    "I''ll take it! I''ll take it!"


    "Fine then, come for an audition the day after tomorrow," Wang Ling said nonchalantly.


    "Prince Wang, may I ask what role it is?" Wang Zihan asked expectantly.


    "Trisolaran!"

 Chapter 103 Direct Money Transfer

    Jiangnan City''s Sports Center on Saturday could literally be described as a sea of people. Ever since Zhang Menglong announced that the auditions for "Three-Body" would take place here, the young people of the city went crazy.


    Of course, not everyone came for the work "Three-Body"; many were there to see their beloved idols.


    According to incomplete statistics, among the people coming to audition today, there were dozens of popular stars, and former top actors and actresses were emerging in droves.


    To put it dramatically, today was practically a gathering of half the entertainment and film industry!


    Early in the morning, passionate fans had already gathered outside the venue, causing the staff who came to open the doors to almost think there had been a terrorist attack, nearly calling the police.


    To prevent chaos, hundreds of security guards pulled up long security lines, but still couldn''t extinguish the fans'' fervent hearts.


    "They''re coming, they''re coming!" With a burst of cheering, the somewhat weary fans finally started to boil over with excitement.


    "Dozens of Rolls Royces? That''s quite a statement, isn''t it?"


    "I wonder which actors or actresses they are!"


    "You guys are out of the loop, right? Those cars aren''t for the actors coming to audition; they''re sent by Zhang to pick up people from the airport!"


    "Damn, dozens of Rolls Royces, does he own the company or what?"


    "This...bro, you''re not wrong, it''s not entirely impossible!"


    "Isn''t that Brother Shimmering Light?"


    "After a few years of doing game endorsements, hacking down dozens of brothers, the movie star has finally returned!"


    "Gu Tianluo! My male god!"


    "They''re among the few people in the world who could threaten my looks!"


    "Look at the male stars nowadays, none of them has a manly vibe, none at all. This is what a real man looks like!" Explore more at empire


    "Sob, my goddess! Wow, she''s over forty but still looks younger than me!"


    "Excuse me, excuse me, I don''t deserve to be a woman."


    "Such an all-star lineup, it''s something that probably only happened over a decade ago, right?"


    "Truly worthy of Director Zhang, so lavish. Any other person wouldn''t even be able to afford their salaries!"


    ...


    He sighed with a wry smile. After all, he was in his forties now, and his body wasn''t as nimble as in his younger years. Though he had taken on many roles over the years, his fees were not high, not even close to one-tenth of what popular artists made.


    Such income couldn''t support his charity work any longer. He had come to try his luck because he had heard the investors were wealthy and generous.


    It seemed that he could no longer compete with the younger generation of fresh-faced actors.


    "Mr. Gu, you''ll know if you go," the girl said.


    "Alright, I''ll rest tonight and head back tomorrow. The fee for that film might be low, but it should still be enough to build a few more school buildings," Gu Tianluo said, turning to the girl. "Then please lead the way."


    The hotel was just across the street from the sports center and happened to be the largest one nearby. But strangely, the girl didn''t take him and his agent-cum-assistant to a room to rest, but instead to a space that looked like a conference room.


    Inside sat two young men in their early 20s, one of whom had a girl about the same age standing behind him, seemingly his assistant.


    "You are..." Gu Tianluo didn''t surf the internet much. Aside from charity and acting, nothing else really appealed to him or caught his interest.


    "Mr. Gu, my name is Zhang Menglong, one of the investors for ''Three-Body,'' and this is Wang Ling, the chairman of Wanda Film Production Company, which is organizing the shooting plan for this film," one of the young men said.


    "Hello," Gu Tianluo greeted, somewhat surprised to see such young investors.


    He had heard that not only had they invited the most outstanding special effects team, but the director and screenwriter lineup were all top-level. The people with such financial backing turned out to be just two young men.


    "Mr. Gu, we cordially invite you to join our film crew as the lead male actor, Wang Miao," Zhang Menglong earnestly invited.


    "Ah?" Gu Tianluo was stunned. Wasn''t he supposed to have been eliminated?


    Even if they really did favor him, shouldn''t the decision have taken longer? He was just the first to audition, and there might be others more suitable than him yet to come.


    If it weren''t for his faint recollection of Zhang Menglong''s name, he might have even suspected a scam.


    "You''ve decided just like that, without further consideration?"


    "All the directors believe you are the most suitable candidate, so there''s no need for further consideration. Now, we just want to hear your choice," they said.


    "Willing¡ªI am, of course, willing!" Gu Tianluo knew all too well that even though he was past his prime, this was still the lead role. The other party might skimp on his fee, but it wouldn''t be too outrageous. With this money, he could probably invest in a few more schools.


    "Then here''s to a happy collaboration!" Zhang Menglong shook hands with Gu Tianluo. "Hong Yi, make the payment!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang, we haven''t discussed the fee yet, this..."


    "Gu-zai!" Before Gu Tianluo could finish, his assistant interrupted him, then showed him the screen of her phone.


    "1... 100 million?"

 Chapter 104 Is this circle so fierce?

    "Mr. Gu, your film remuneration has been deposited into your studio account. I''ve already paid the taxes on your behalf, please confirm if there is any issue," Zhang Menglong said with a casual air, as though it wasn''t a hundred million but merely a single yuan.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there a mistake?" It wasn''t that Gu Tianluo underestimated himself, but the remuneration was frighteningly high. Having been in the acting business for so long, he had at most only received a few million in remuneration.


    For someone who put all his income into education and charitable causes, this amount of money was undoubtedly astronomical.


    Moreover, up to this point, it was doubtful that any actor in Huaxia had ever received remuneration of this magnitude, right?


    The most crucial thing was, they were just in the actor selection phase now. Normally, even if a film remuneration was to be paid, only a part of the signing fee would be given first, with the remaining remuneration and dividends paid after the final box office takings.


    Was Zhang Menglong not afraid of a box office flop? Although with such a cast, such an incident was virtually impossible, hadn''t Zhang Menglong gone a bit too far in self-indulgence?


    "Actually, the remuneration I gave Mr. Gu is 50 million," Zhang Menglong said, "I know Mr. Gu is passionate about education and charity. The extra 50 million is just a small gesture of my support."


    Gu Tianluo was startled, then a bright smile appeared, "Then, I hope we have a pleasant collaboration and can create a perfect piece of work!"


    "It''s also our honor," Zhang Menglong exchanged a look with Wang Ling. With such a true actor joining, ''Three-Body'' would definitely achieve the effect they desired.


    It must be said, Zhang Menglong''s eye for selecting actors was indeed sharp. The main characters, apart from one that deviated slightly from his initial expectations, all his recommended choices were unanimously approved by the judges!


    And that one actor also found their own shadow in another role, resulting in a happy outcome for everyone.


    As for those so-called traffic stars, whether it was Zhu Xiao or Roberts, they could only shake their heads in dismay in the end. Particularly Prince Wang Zihan, who even diligently prepared an outfit for the role of the Trisolaran, ended up not getting even a minor role as a passerby.


    As for the rest, those were some less significant roles. Zhang Menglong trusted the directors'' judgement, they would certainly choose the most suitable candidates.


    With all the actors in place, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling had a meal with them. These veteran actors found kinship in each other, seemingly having endless topics to discuss. Seeing such a scene made Zhang Menglong reflectively sigh; the dinner ended with some still not wanting it to be over.


    Having had some drinks, his head felt somewhat drowsy, Zhang Menglong didn''t go home. Anyways, the Wanda Hotel was owned by Wang Ling''s family; he had booked it for these few days, so he simply went straight to his presidential suite.


    Along the way, Zhang Menglong kept feeling some gaze on him, but when he turned around, he saw nothing.


    "Drinking causes trouble!" Zhang Menglong slapped his head, it had been a long time since he drank this much with his roommates.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You''re so saucy!" Zhang Menglong quickly stepped back.


    "Hehe!" Half Moon Forest''s eyes remained seductively silky. She was full of confidence in her body; otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to snatch a boyfriend from another internet celebrity with tens of millions of fans, "Isn''t this very exciting? As long as Director Zhang is willing to let me try the role, I''m willing to do anything!"


    "Seems like it''s not all Liu Yang''s fault for cheating!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, most people really couldn''t withstand it.


    "Wang Ling was right, damn, do all internet celebrities nowadays have no bottom line?"


    "Alright, you can go now, I can pretend this never happened." Zhang Menglong put his coat back on.


    A flash of surprise crossed Half Moon Forest''s eyes. She had served herself up on a platter, yet Zhang Menglong remained unmoved? Weren''t these rich second-generation youngsters all into this kind of play?


    "Knock knock knock!" Just then, there was another knock at the door.


    "Who''s there!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t done anything, so he had no need to act like a thief caught in the act; he was more than eager for someone to take this Half Moon Forest away.


    But when he opened the door, he froze. Outside stood another internet celebrity, wearing even less than Half Moon Forest!


    "Director Zhang, feeling lonely? Want me to come in and have a drink with you?" The internet celebrity said, her eyes already shooting sparks at Zhang Menglong.


    "Sorry, it seems someone beat you to it," Zhang Menglong quirked his mouth and stepped aside, as the two female internet celebrities stood eye to eye.


    "Forest, didn''t you say you were going to have a midnight snack?"


    "I... And you, weren''t you going to find a spot to rehearse your lines for tomorrow''s audition?"


    "Interesting, this is good to watch!" Zhang Menglong sat down on the couch, picked up a banana, and started watching with interest. No wonder he felt like he was being watched on his way back; turns out someone had trailed him!


    "Bang!" Just when it seemed there would be an epic catfight, the two women exchanged a glance, as if coming to some agreement, and unexpectedly shut the door together.


    "Director Zhang, want to experience a threesome?"


    "Damn it!" The banana Zhang Menglong was nibbling nearly fell out of his mouth, "Are the people in this circle really this fierce?"

 Chapter 105 Listen to My Explanation

    "What are you trying to do? Don''t come any closer!" Seeing that look in their eyes as if they were going to devour her, Zhang Menglong didn''t feel seduced at all, instead, a hint of panic set in.


    "President Zhang, actually, our demands are not high, we just want two roles with some decent screen time," Half Moon Forest already started to undo her skirt.


    "President Zhang, being young and wealthy, even if we sisters aren''t fortunate enough, we hope to become friends with you in the future, to mingle more often, and we hope to have that honor."


    "Talk about it later?" Zhang Menglong heard this ambiguous phrase but looking into their eyes, it had clearly strayed from its original meaning.


    "This is forcing me to commit a crime!" Zhang Menglong had never encountered such a situation before, this wasn''t the circle of internet celebrities, this was practically a brothel!


    "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, when deeply practicing prajna-paramita, perceives that all five aggregates are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress, Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form, form is emptiness, and emptiness is form, feeling, thought, and choice, consciousness itself, is also like this..."


    Out of sight, out of mind, Zhang Menglong simply closed his eyes and started to chant.


    The two girls, who had already stripped halfway, glanced at each other, starting to doubt their own charm for the first time. Normally, such tactics were foolproof; just a little trickery and those photographers and trust-fund kids would be utterly enchanted by them.


    Zhang Menglong, truly an oddity!


    As a trust-fund kid who couldn''t even compare with Wang Ling, shouldn''t he have grown up surrounded by women? It would not have been surprising if someone like him had experiences at the age of eleven or twelve, right?


    But looking at Zhang Menglong''s behavior, it was definitely that of a person who had stayed solo for 20 years straight from birth. Could there really be such a modest and self-disciplined trust-fund kid in the world? That''s not scientific!


    "Wang Ling, this guy is totally unreliable, knowing that something like this might happen, he didn''t even stick around to arrange a few bodyguards for me!" Zhang Menglong vented his frustration on Wang Ling.


    Never mind guarding against women, but for safety''s sake, shouldn''t he have arranged a few people for him?


    "No way, Wang Ling is unreliable, from now on, I''ll have to ask Hong Yi to arrange some security guards for me!" Before, Zhang Menglong didn''t need bodyguards because not many knew him, but now that he''s become the cream of the crop among the rich second generation, considering his safety a little bit is definitely necessary.


    After all, Zhang Menglong did not wish to perish young over a few dollars.


    "President Zhang, if you''re not willing to cooperate with us, it''s going to be bad if someone finds out later!" Seeing Zhang Menglong remaining nonchalant, the two girls'' attitudes also began to shift subtly.


    "Are you threatening me?" Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became a bit colder.


    Not only is he being begged to sleep with them, but if he refuses, he still faces threats? What kind of world is this?


    "How could we dare to threaten President Zhang," Half Moon Forest said with a tea-like airiness, "We''re just afraid others might see and get the wrong idea, which could negatively impact your reputation. After all, you''re wealthy and powerful¡ªif you really wanted to do something to us, we wouldn''t have the means to resist."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock..."


    "Yo, another one! A few more and we could play a murder mystery game."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Contestant number eight."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "We could even play Werewolf with a full table now..."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Has my place become a hotspot for internet celebrities today?"


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Crap! Why is there a guy too? Not into that... Damn... why is it you!"


    There were already a dozen people gathered in the room, and unexpectedly, standing at the door was Wang Ling when he opened it this time.


    "Sorry... sorry to disturb!" Wang Ling was startled by the spectacular scene. He might have gone a little over the top, but he had never experienced so many people at once¡ªif someone took a photo of this, it would be huge news!


    "Crap! Can your frame handle this many people?" Wang Ling exclaimed in astonishment. "Go on, I''ll find someone to stand guard for you. You actually like it this exciting?"


    "I..." Zhang Menglong was immediately at a loss for words, "they weren''t called by me... listen to me explain!"

 Chapter 106 Young People Dont Care About Martial Virtue

    "Do you think I believe you?" Wang Ling knew very well that Zhang Menglong was not that kind of person, but he still wanted to tease Zhang Menglong.


    Actually, there should be security outside the Presidential Suite in Wanda Hotel. Never mind those internet celebrities, under normal circumstances, even the cleaning staff and hotel service personnel can''t easily enter.


    Wang Ling had guessed that something like this would happen, so he deliberately withdrew the security. He wanted to see how Zhang Menglong would react when faced with this situation, as payback for the day his own fans were ruthlessly trolled by Zhang Menglong''s fans during the great Weibo battle.


    Of course, he did it all in a playful spirit, so he secretly arranged for people to monitor Zhang Menglong''s room to prevent any real trouble from happening.


    However, when someone told him Zhang Menglong''s room was nearly becoming a hotspot for internet celebrities to check in, he couldn''t help but rush over in a hurry. Based on his understanding of Zhang Menglong, Zhang Menglong''s moves were saucy, but after all, he was just a university student who hadn''t even graduated, and he might suffer at the hands of these wolf-like women.


    "I really didn''t do anything!" Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly, "Hurry up and get these women out of here, just looking at them gives me a headache!"


    "Are you sure?" Wang Ling asked with a smile, "This kind of group activity isn''t something you get a chance at every day, or should I arrange a couple more for you?"


    "Arrange your sister!" Zhang Menglong cursed, "You scoundrel, don''t think I don''t know. The security here has been pulled by you. You just wanted to watch the drama, right?"


    "You can eat shit randomly, but words cannot be spoken recklessly. Our Wanda Hotel''s security is well-trained. It''s just that there was a drill scheduled for today, so they temporarily left their posts for an hour. We didn''t expect the timing to be so tight."


    "Laugh! Keep laughing at me!" Zhang Menglong threatened, "Believe it or not, I''ll buy your Wanda tomorrow and then make you do security for me as a doorman?"


    "I was wrong, I was wrong!" The thing Wang Ling feared most was Zhang Menglong impulsively wanting to buy Wanda. Talking to such a person was simply torture.


    "Hurry up, I still have to play games with my future girlfriend in a bit!"


    "Alright, alright, I got it!" As a bona fide rich second generation, Wang Ling had naturally encountered such situations plenty of times.


    When he ran a live broadcast platform back in the day, he once held a female anchor talent competition. That night, his hotel room''s doorway was also bustling with people; dealing with such scenarios was a piece of cake for him.


    "What are you still doing here? Planning to stay and play a game of Werewolf?" Wang Ling''s gaze swept over these internet celebrities, leaving them feeling insecure.


    "Or do you think that little trick of yours can threaten us?" Wang Ling sneered, "I know which talent agency you all belong to. If you don''t leave now, I have many ways to get your agencies to terminate your contracts."


    "Hehehe, Young Master Wang, please don''t be mad. We were just playing a prank on President Zhang."


    "Yeah, we were just afraid that President Zhang would be bored tonight, so we sisters came together to keep him company and lighten his mood. How could we possibly threaten President Zhang? Isn''t that right, everyone?"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    "Since President Wang has business with President Zhang, we won''t bother you anymore."


    "Eek! I hadn''t realized you were into that kind of thing!"


    "Enough chit-chat, he lives in the suite right below yours. Let''s go together."


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong was almost sober by now and hadn''t eaten much that evening, feeling quite hungry.


    The two of them walked along the corridor towards the VIP suites on the floor below. At that moment, a faint cry could be faintly heard along the corridor. If one did not listen carefully, it could easily be missed.


    "Shh!" Zhang Menglong stopped in his tracks, "Did you hear something?"


    "Sound?" Wang Ling also held his breath, and after a moment, both saw a hint of faint anger in each other''s eyes.


    It was clearly the kind of shout a girl would make when being violently coerced!


    "Damn it! Someone''s doing this in my hotel? I must see who''s got such a big nerve!"


    The two of them immediately quickened their pace, but the closer they got, the more Wang Ling felt something was amiss¡ªthe voice seemed to be coming from Ding Yuxi''s suite!


    "As expected, there''s something fishy!" Outside Ding Yuxi''s room, a young and an old man were cautiously watching their surroundings. Seeing the furiously approaching Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, they showed a fierce light in their eyes.


    "What''s the plan?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wang Ling.


    "If it can be settled with fists, then cut the crap!"


    "I was thinking the same!" Discover more stories at empire


    The two immediately began to sprint violently, as calling the police and waiting for them in such a situation would be a fool''s errand!


    "Who are you? I am Ma Bao Guo, the Sect Leader of Hun Yuan Xing Yi Tai Chi. If you come any closer, don''t blame me for being rude!"


    "Don''t blame me, my ass!" Zhang Menglong kicked out, not caring at all who the person was.


    Although Zhang Menglong was not particularly tall, he had always been a sprinting champion since he was young. His jumping ability and explosive power were definitely much stronger than the average person, and this kick landed squarely on the face of the man claiming to be Ma Bao Guo.


    "Ah!"


    Zhang Menglong did not expect that this so-called Sect Leader of Hun Yuan Xing Yi Tai Chi would be so weak!


    "You..." Ma Bao Guo got up from the ground with a bloody nose, "You... the young men of today have no martial virtue!"

 Chapter 107 Creating Friends from Nothing

    ```


    "Damn! Isn''t this the guy from that Bilibili video?" As an experienced user of the Bilibili remix community, even though this old man''s face was swollen from the kick he had received, his human shape was still distinguishable.


    This man, named Ma Baoguo, had been bluffing abroad under the guise of Huaxia martial arts, taking money from some foreign students. Now he had returned to Huaxia and started something called the Hunyuan Xingyi Taiji School.


    Once, to prove himself, he had challenged an amateur Sanda athlete and got knocked out with a punch. Afterwards, while bleeding from the nose, he claimed he had just given the young man some face and that he would be in seclusion for a while. In the past few months, Bilibili had been running low on remix materials.


    Unexpectedly, he ended up here, seemingly turned into Ding Yuxi''s bodyguard?


    "Young man, we take money to avert disasters for others. I won''t hold it against you since you''re ignorant. I was caught off guard just now. If you don''t leave, I''ll have no choice but to unleash my Five Continuous Lightning Whips."


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you still standing there for? He''s just a damn fool of an old man, hurry up and help me!" Wang Ling was already scuffling with a young man nearby.


    "I''m on it!" Zhang Menglong leapt up with a kick, knocking the con artist to the ground, and suddenly, the three of them were entangled in a brawl.


    Don''t be fooled by Wang Ling''s slightly pudgy body; he used to practice karate. As for Zhang Menglong, he learned martial arts in the first grade of elementary school, took up taekwondo in the third grade, and in college, he became the president of the university''s jujitsu club. When it came to rough brawling, he really wasn''t afraid of anyone!


    Together, it didn''t take long for them to knock the young man to the floor.


    "Fighting me? You''re courting death!" Wang Ling was still furious and viciously kicked the two, one old and one young.


    But by this time, the shouting in the room had quieted down considerably.


    "Damn! Rescue first!"


    The room was locked from the inside, and Wanda Hotel''s security infrastructure was excellent. Under normal circumstances, a forced entry from outside would be very difficult.


    "Where''s security? Stop the damn drill and get back here, someone''s causing trouble in the hotel!" Wang Ling started to make calls in a panicked rush.


    This wasn''t just a matter of face anymore; if such a scandal got out, Wang Ling guessed he would inevitably be subject to another round of online condemnation.


    "There''s no time!" Zhang Menglong smashed the glass door of a nearby fire cabinet and grabbed the fire axe, "Move!"


    The two bodyguards, despite being in extreme pain, hurriedly rolled away from the door when they saw Zhang Menglong''s fierce approach.


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    Hearing they would not call the police, Ding Yuxi instantly relaxed; as long as there was no police, there was room for discussion.


    "Break the legs, all three of them!" Zhang Menglong said viciously.


    He had always despised men who forced themselves on women the most. Wang Ling, though he liked to play with Internet celebrities, they were all willing participants, a mere transaction of body for money.


    But this girl in front of them was clearly coerced.


    "What? Zhang Menglong, you are abusing private justice!"


    "Do you believe that even if I threw you into the Qiantang River today, I would still lead a fine life?"


    "Old Zhang, don''t be rash!" Wang Ling quickly grabbed Zhang Menglong, fearing he would do something impulsive.


    "Fine, you handle it!" Zhang Menglong stood aside, huffing with anger, "Let''s see how you handle it."


    "You explain!" Wang Ling said coldly.


    The Wangyi Group was indeed a large corporation, but it should be noted, Ding Sanshi, Ding Yuxi''s father, did not own much of a stake, while Wang Ling and his father nearly had complete ownership of the Wanda Group¡ªthe stronger and the weaker were clearly evident.


    "Old Wang, Brother Menglong, calm down, it''s just a woman!" Ding Yuxi, obviously a rich second generation with no real skills, suddenly tried to cozy up to them.


    "She''s just a little Internet singer. It''s not worth getting so angry over," Ding Yuxi glanced at the girl, who immediately shrank back, obviously traumatized.


    "Here''s the thing, one million as compensation for emotional distress, that should settle it, right?" Ding Yuxi put on his clothes, "Getting a million for doing nothing, you''re getting off cheap!"


    "Look at that!" Zhang Menglong immediately laughed; such a brazen person was a first for him, "One million? That''s not enough! You want to talk about compensation? Let''s see how much money the Wangyi Group has to pay up!"


    "You''re unlucky today. This is my brother''s girlfriend. To settle this matter, one million is definitely not enough!"


    "Your brother''s girlfriend?" Wang Ling was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly understood; Zhang Menglong was clearly trying to demand a hefty sum, playing the ''make friends out of thin air'' card!


    "Bullshit! If you can say this girl''s name, I''ll castrate myself right here and now!" Ding Yuxi cursed Zhang Menglong''s ancestors in his mind, but he didn''t dare say it out loud. For a stranger, was it really necessary to stick his neck out?


    But since he had been caught, he had no choice but to opt for a peaceful resolution.


    "There''s such a situation? Then I''m truly at fault!" Ding Yuxi put on a guilty face, "How about this, Brother Menglong, you name a figure, as an apology to your friend."


    "How about this, 50 billion, and I''ll pretend this incident never happened!"

 Chapter 108 Giving 10 million to a beggar, huh?

    "What? 50 billion? Why don''t you just go rob a bank!" Ding Yuxi was dumbstruck by the figure.


    Even the total assets of his father, Ding Sanshi, were only 16 billion US dollars, and even the entire Wangyi Group was valued at just 50 billion dollars.


    He had heard of compensation for emotional distress, but 50 billion for emotional distress? One must be out of their mind to even utter such a demand!


    "If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price," Zhang Menglong said with a cold sneer. "Aren''t you a grown man? Can''t you even understand that simple fact?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far. I address you respectfully as Brother Menglong, out of respect. Don''t think you can do whatever you please just because your family has some cash," Ding Yuxi''s tone grew harsh as Zhang Menglong showed no sign of giving face.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong was rich, but this matter had not yet reached a final conclusion. As a rich second generation lacking in business acumen, Ding Yuxi might not be sharp in business but boasted unmatched skills in womanizing.


    Their Wangyi Music was the collaborating party for all the soundtracks and theme music of the "Three-Body" movie, so they needed the right candidates for singing these songs.


    As for movie soundtracks, the requirements for the singer were not as high. They didn''t need a huge fan base; because audiences would see the movie and hear the music first, before they became concerned about who sang the songs.


    Especially for a film as topical and popular as "Three-Body," getting the chance to sing the theme and ending songs was an incredible opportunity for newcomers and lesser-known singers.


    Just like those internet celebrities who visited Zhang Menglong''s room tonight, countless female singers and influencers wanted this chance. And now, Ding Yuxi, in charge of Wangyi Music, held the final say in the decision-making.


    Ever since Wangyi Music announced their involvement in producing the theme, ending songs, and soundtracks, Ding Yuxi had been living a life of debauchery, even indulging in outrageous orgies.


    He had come here today following an invitation from Wang Ling, as the selection of musicians and casting of movie roles were being held over these few days.


    When it came to business, Ding Yuxi hadn''t invested much effort. After all, his company had top musicians, and such matters could be left in the hands of his subordinates. He was purely here for pleasure, to see if there were any suitable "prey."


    And this girl was one of the prey he had his eyes on!


    "This move is pretty slick!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but admire Ding Yuxi''s cunning. If he used his brains for business, what would his father, Ding Sanshi, have to worry about?


    "Young Master Wang, Young Master Zhang, this woman has nothing to do with you. Besides, nothing has even happened yet, so why do you insist on defending her?" Ding Yuxi acted as if he had nothing to fear.


    "I''ve said it, she is the girlfriend of my friend!" Zhang Menglong continued to scoff. He had no intention of letting this matter slide easily because for some reason, Xia You reminded him of Lu Yiyao. Perhaps girls who loved music all shared certain qualities.


    "So you''re intent on blowing this matter up?"


    "I''ll emphasize it once more, if you do something wrong, you must pay the price!"


    "At the end of the day, isn''t it all about money?" Ding Yuxi laughed, "How about this, I''ll take a loss here. 50 billion is out of the question, but with 10 million, let''s settle the matter like this!"


    Although it hurt a bit, seeing Zhang Menglong''s serious demeanor, Ding Yuxi didn''t want to clash with him to the end. After all, to date, those who had clashed with Zhang Menglong had never fared well.


    "Bargaining with me? 10 million? Do you think you are giving alms to a beggar?"


    "Why don''t you try and give 10 million in alms to a beggar?" Ding Yuxi was dumbfounded. Donating 10 million to a beggar, was this person crazy?


    "Hong Yi, the cheque!" Zhang Menglong said.


    Hong Yi took out a pen and a stack of cheques from her bag; she actually carried cheques with her at all times!


    Zhang Menglong took the pen and swiftly wrote a long string of zeros on the cheque¡ª7 figures, a full 10 million!


    "Sssla!" Zhang Menglong casually tore off the cheque and wrote another 10 million on the next one.


    Then came the third cheque, the fourth, a full 10 cheques in total!


    He stuffed the cheques into Wang Ling''s hands and said, "Wang Ling, help me find ten beggars, one cheque each!"

 Chapter 109 Im Really Sincere, Okay?

    "I... holy shit!" Wang Ling carefully examined the check, ensuring that it was genuine and could be cashed at the bank. He couldn''t help but blurt out a curse.


    Damn, people only talked about 10 million, and you just whipped out a billion to give to a beggar, can we still play happily together?


    If Ding Yuxi weren''t right there, Wang Ling even thought about turning into a beggar himself¡ªthis was a billion we''re talking about!


    "Where am I supposed to find a beggar at this hour of the night?" Wang Ling''s face was filled with bitterness, being friends with someone like Zhang Menglong who casually throws money around really tests one''s mental endurance.


    "That''s true!" Jiangnan City now is in no way inferior to first-tier cities in terms of development momentum; probably for the sake of the city''s aesthetic, you can hardly find any beggars or homeless people anymore.


    Zhang Menglong vaguely remembered that the last time he saw a homeless person or a beggar was about three to five years ago.


    "Wait, who says there are no beggars?" Zhang Menglong had an idea, "It''s just that the beggars nowadays have kept up with the times, and the old way of begging has long been eliminated!"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, opened a live streaming app, and casually clicked on a live stream of a spirited young guy.


    "Brothers, double tap 666, and I''ll show you some more fancy moves!"


    "Let the gifts flow!"


    This is such a mind pollutant!" Wang Ling showed a face of disgust, "I''m just a local mutt, don''t show me such trendy stuff, please!"


    "Hahaha, you see, aren''t all the beggars here now?" Zhang Menglong tried hard to suppress his nausea and spoke, and with several hundred thousand viewers in such a live stream, who knows if we should help contact a mental hospital for them.


    Zhang Menglong logged into his account and started putting money into it, "What kind of crappy streaming platform is this, it only allows a top-up of one million?"


    Zhang Menglong clicked away, finally managing to top up 10 million.


    "So crappy, Hong Yi, help me file a complaint later."


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the reason for the complaint?"


    "The top-up limit is too low, it can hurt the customers'' fingers!"


    "I give you a hundred points for that reason!" Wang Ling immediately gave a thumbs up.


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang. I will arrange for someone to handle it immediately!"


    "Don''t worry, even if they keep tapping for a lifetime, it''s just a drop in the bucket," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What the hell..." Watching the "Galactic Battleship" continuously appear in the live stream, Ding Yuxi''s mouth couldn''t close.


    "It should be around 50 or 60 million now," Zhang Menglong continued to Ding Yuxi, "So tell me, 10 million Huaxia yuan, is there much difference from tipping a beggar?"


    "This..." In that instant, Ding Yuxi was actually at a loss for words.


    Is 10 million a lot? Of course, it''s a lot! Lots of people work their entire lives and can''t earn 10 million, but in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, this 10 million seemed indeed no different from a single dollar, and he could casually reward these online beggars with it.


    "Zhang Menglong, 10 million is already quite a lot, don''t be too greedy!" Ding Yuxi said, "All I did was strip off her clothes, I didn''t do anything else!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You guys, strip off his clothes for me!"


    "Boss... this..."


    "Do as he says!" Wang Ling revealed a sleazy smile, he probably guessed what Zhang Menglong was going to do, "I''ll take the fall if anything happens!"


    "What are you trying to do?" Seeing several imposing men, Ding Yuxi immediately panicked. A man who spent his days indulging in luxury and debauchery, what good physical condition could he have? One security guard could easily knock him down, let alone several here.


    "Hiss!" The sound of tearing accompanied by Ding Yuxi''s screams echoed through the hallway.


    "What''s that noise?" An actor who had just returned to his room inexplicably looked up, "Is someone watching King Billy on B Station?"


    Not long after, Ding Yuxi''s valuable shirt was almost torn to shreds. If not for finding it disgusting, Zhang Menglong really wanted to verify whether this guy had any dignity left, his father didn''t act human, and this son was even more outrageous!


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m not done with you!"


    "Don''t be angry," Zhang Menglong smirked, "I just stripped off your clothes as well, and I didn''t do anything else, 10 million, right? Here you go!"


    Zhang Menglong walked up to Ding Yuxi and slapped a 10 million check onto his forehead.


    "Oh, by the way, do you have any sisters or something? I have a few more checks here. Don''t worry, I''ll only strip off their clothes and won''t do anything else, or perhaps, I could add more money!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!" Ding Yuxi was finally enraged, but pinned down by several guards, he could only let out a powerless roar, unable to do anything.


    "Is that so? Too far, you say?" Zhang Menglong innocently responded, "I merely replicated your actions, and I even raised the price, isn''t that good enough?"


    "This guy is too ruthless!" Wang Ling had always thought Zhang Menglong was just a student, but when faced with this situation, not only were his methods harsh, his tactics were slick. However, he liked it!

 Chapter 110 Not even giving alms to beggars

    "Mr. Zhang, let''s just leave the matter at this," suddenly, the girl named Xia You spoke up.


    "No, I haven''t secured justice for you yet."


    "Mr. Zhang, I really appreciate that you and Principal Wang saved me and are speaking up for me here, but I don''t want to stay here any longer. I feel sick just looking at him!" Xia You not only felt aggrieved, but her heart was filled with even greater hatred.


    Perhaps there were many other sisters with similar experiences before her, but they weren''t as lucky as herself; they either succumbed to Ding Yuxi''s intimidation or were eventually dismissed with a sum of money.


    At this moment, all she wanted was to escape from this place as quickly as possible, and she was also afraid the bigger the fuss, the more likely others would learn about it. Even if she was still innocent now, she feared that no matter how much she tried to explain, she wouldn''t be able to clear her name.


    "So be it, I don''t want to stay here any longer either, polluting my eyes," Zhang Menglong knew that even if he continued to deal with the issue here, it wouldn''t benefit the girl named Xia You at all, and might even force her to relive the process of being assaulted by Ding Yuxi.


    "This matter won''t end just like this," Zhang Menglong said to Ding Yuxi, "I said it, 50 billion in emotional damages, not a penny less. When I, Zhang Menglong, say something, I do it!"


    ...


    Watching Zhang Menglong and the others leave, Ding Yuxi''s face turned shades of green and purple, but his expression was still defiant; he didn''t believe Zhang Menglong could really do anything to him.


    "Worthless, get up!" Ding Yuxi kicked each of the two bodyguards who were still feigning death at the door, "What''s the use of your ''Complete Form Intent Tai Chi''? Worthless! Where''s your Five Continuous Lightning Whips? I paid you so that you couldn''t handle two rich kids?"


    "Boss Ding, youngsters nowadays don''t care about martial ethics. I wasn''t prepared and didn''t have time to dodge; it was my oversight. If I had been ready, just one whip would have been enough to keep them down," the bruised Ma Baoguo said.


    "Get out!" Ding Yuxi gave another kick to Ma Baoguo''s buttocks.


    ...


    "Your name is Xia You?"


    "I''m sorry for causing you trouble," said Xia You. As a student from Jiangnan City, she naturally had heard of Zhang Menglong. She just didn''t expect that he was completely different from the rich kids she had in mind, at least not giving off the greasy vibe that Wang Ling did. Beside him, as long as he didn''t bring up money, he didn''t make people feel oppressed.


    "No problem, whether you''re an actor or a musician, since you''re involved with this movie, you''re all part of the film''s production team''s focus. Having this happen on my watch is also my responsibility," Zhang Menglong said. If it hadn''t been for them passing by today, Ding Yuxi would probably have succeeded.


    "I was too naive."


    "It''s not your fault, that guy''s tactics were really sleazy!" Wang Ling said, "Gathering a bunch of actors in his room pretending to be musicians, he really thought of everything, and he spared no expense."


    "Do you enjoy singing?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes," Xia You nodded.


    Hearing Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling''s conversation, Xia You at the side was already bewildered. Talking about acquiring Wangyi so casually, mentioning hundreds of billions like it''s nothing¡ªthis was completely out of her league!


    "Give me an account number, and as soon as their money is in, I''ll transfer it to you!"


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling, who had just taken a sip of water, suddenly sprayed it out. He thought Zhang Menglong wanted those 500 billion just to force Wangyi to hand over the shares for Wangyi Music. He figured Xia You was just being used, and a few million would make her happy as can be.


    But he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to casually decide to give someone 500 billion!


    "You''re not joking, are you?" Wang Ling suddenly felt that if he had been the one nearly violated by Ding Yuxi tonight, it might not have been too bad.


    "Did I ever say I was keeping those 500 billion for myself? I am the envoy of justice!" Zhang Menglong declared righteously.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to waste your energy on me, I''m all right. Let''s just let it be," Xia You hurriedly said¡ª500 billion was a figure she dared not even envisage!


    "This is what you deserve!" insisted Zhang Menglong, "Anyway, I''m going to get you justice, no matter what!"


    "And Hong Yi, acquire that live streaming platform we just looked at!"


    "Certainly, Young Master."


    "Hold on, what did they do to you? Why do you want to acquire their platform?" Wang Ling''s head was filled with question marks.


    "If I remember correctly, these streamer tips are settled by cycle, right?"


    "It''s usually monthly in this industry."


    "That''s good!" Zhang Menglong said, "So the tip I just gave should still be in the platform''s accounts."


    "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    "Nothing much, just pity for that money, that''s all."


    "Whoa, that''s quite a unique idea!" For the first time, Wang Ling heard such an audacious concept¡ªto acquire a live streaming platform worth billions just for tips amounting to tens of millions. It seemed like a total loss no matter how you looked at it!


    "I just don''t want to waste the money on those pointless live streams," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''d rather give the money to a beggar than to them. Later, I''ll just say that the client''s naughty kid made a mistake, and all those tips should be refunded."


    "Hahaha! Nobody plays it like you do!" Wang Ling laughed, imagining how happy that streamer was just a moment ago, and soon, they would probably learn what cruelty really means.


    ```

 Chapter 111 Swallow the Wangyi Building

    Originally, they were just going out for a late-night snack, but since they were already outside, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling decided to hit up a skewer restaurant, of course, bringing Xia You along.


    "You know, occasionally eating what common folks eat, it really brings back memories!"


    "You make it sound like you don''t eat what regular people eat every day. It''s nothing more than chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables; what else could it be?" Wang Ling treated Zhang Menglong''s remark as if he were just expounding some sentiments.


    "That''s where you''re wrong," Zhang Menglong said, "The porridge I drink every morning is made from Kobe beef flown in from the Island Country, the fish I eat are farmed privately in Australia, and fed Kobe beef, and the vegetables I eat are grown on our family''s contracted farm..."


    "Enough, enough, I don''t want to hear it," Wang Ling hurriedly blocked her ears; Zhang Menglong''s flaunting of wealth, which always seemed to slip out casually, made her resentment grow twofold.


    "Thank you both for helping me out today. This drink, I dedicate to you, bros!" Xia You had changed into fresh clothes, and although a bit frail, she looked much better.


    "Don''t be so polite. You called me ''bro,'' so of course, I''d help!" Wang Ling said cheerfully.


    "Right, you are now our dedicated musician. Anyone who wants to mess with you has to go through us first," Zhang Menglong said. "I am quite superstitious, and facing today''s incident, I had to step in. Plus, you overheard earlier; I''ve been wanting to deal with Wangyi Group for a while now, and this just gave me an excuse!"


    "Pfft!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s sly smile, Xia You burst out laughing. She knew Zhang Menglong was just saying this to keep her from feeling burdened.


    "I''m like you; I''m also a senior this year. I''ve seen your profile¡ªyou''re a few months younger than me. I''ll thick-skinnedly accept the title of ''Big Brother Zhang.'' Next time, I''ll introduce my roommate to you, who knows, maybe one day you really will become my friend''s girlfriend!"


    Xia You''s face turned red instantly. Zhang Menglong''s jokes were really too much, one after another.


    "Big Brother Zhang, let''s just let this matter rest here. Wangyi is not some small company. I heard that Mr. Ding has recently increased his shareholding a lot, owning 70% of the company shares between him and his son. I''m worried it might affect you."


    "Don''t worry, even ten Wangyi Groups couldn''t pluck a single hair from this young man!" Wang Ling said, her words muffled as she ate.


    "Since you call me ''Big Brother,'' I must seek justice for you. You have to know, a cancer like Ding Yuxi, if not disciplined, will only harm more girls in society."


    "Don''t worry, I know what you''re concerned about," Zhang Menglong immediately saw through Xia You''s worries, "Wang Ling will help you delete the hotel''s video footage. If Ding Yuxi secretly took any videos that could damage your reputation, I''ll take care of them. Apart from us, no one else will know about today''s events."


    "Then... I''ll listen to you." It wouldn''t be true if she said she didn''t want to see Ding Yuxi receive his due punishment. She simply didn''t have the means to protect herself. Now that Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were willing to seek justice for her, she was naturally grateful.


    ...


    "Dad, what should I do?"


    "Leave this matter to me. Starting today, you''re to reflect at home for a month, and don''t stir up any more trouble!"


    ...


    The next day, Zhang Menglong was still with Wang Ling at the audition site watching the selection of actors who had minor roles; not complete nobodies, but even these characters created scenes that looked like titans clashing.


    "Keep watching, I''ll take a call!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his phone, which showed an unfamiliar number. Experience exclusive tales on empire


    "Hello, who is this?"


    "Is this Mr. Zhang Menglong? Hello, this is Ding Sanshi?"


    "Holy shit! It''s you?" Before Zhang Menglong had figured out how to deal with Ding Yuxi making him cringe, his father, Ding Sanshi, had come knocking at his door.


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong was startled but quickly regained his composure.


    "Mr. Zhang, there might be some misunderstanding regarding my son''s issue. I was wondering if it''s not too inconvenient to meet the young lady who was hurt yesterday, so I can apologize on behalf of my son."


    "If you want to apologize, come yourself. Sending someone else shows no sincerity at all. Forget it!" Zhang Menglong answered irritably.


    Ding Sanshi''s face turned crimson with anger. He was the chairman of a listed company, personally apologizing to an ordinary young girl, and this was called lacking sincerity?


    "Then Mr. Zhang, what do you think constitutes sufficient sincerity?" Ding Sanshi asked, "I''m willing to offer a billion to get the girl''s forgiveness."


    "A billion? Why do you and your son think money can solve everything?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Alright, since you want to settle with money, it can be done, but as I said yesterday, 50 billion, not a penny less, or else this won''t be over!"


    "50 billion? Do you think you''re dealing with the Bank of Heaven and Earth? If you can produce that money, I''ll eat my Wangyi Building!"


    "Producing 50 billion in cash all at once, I believe no one in Huaxia could accomplish that."


    "Oh, okay," said Zhang Menglong calmly, "Well, I have never seen someone eat a building before. How about I come up with a few more 50 billions, and you build a couple more to eat for me to watch? How does that sound?"

 Chapter 112 Start with a Small Goal

    Actually, right after saying that sentence, Ding Sanshi was already regretting it. Not long ago, when the world''s richest man came to Huaxia, he had promised in front of the press that if Zhang Menglong ever needed it, all his assets could be Zhang Menglong''s within minutes.


    Poladi''s personal assets amounted to 180 billion US dollars, and if he said he could produce 50 billion Huaxia currency in cash, Ding Sanshi would certainly believe it.


    Not only that, he also remembered Zhang Menglong saying, "Keep the change for your own expenses." Since when did 180 billion US dollars become mere pocket change? So much so that now the term "change" had become an internet meme.


    Of course, some said this was just commercial hype. One man overturning the world''s economy? Was that possible? If Zhang Menglong really had such a powerful grandfather, why wasn''t he recorded in the annals of history? Why did he remain unknown?


    Moreover, after that, Poladi''s company and Zhang Menglong''s Unicorn Technology stocks had skyrocketed, and Poladi''s personal assets were now nearly close to 200 billion US dollars, which made people suspect all the more that everything was just a scripted drama.


    However, judging by the attitudes of Ma Hua and Li Hong, Ding Sanshi believed that this matter must have a certain degree of credibility. Perhaps for Zhang Menglong, it was indeed possible to produce 50 billion in cash!


    "Ding!" While Ding Sanshi was still berating himself for the words he had just blurted out, his phone received a text message from Zhang Menglong, and it was even a multimedia message.


    It was a screenshot of an account from Longxia Bank, the largest bank in Huaxia, showing deposits of 500 billion Huaxia currency, 200 billion US dollars, 50 billion Euros, 70 billion British pounds...


    "Ding!"


    Another multimedia message.


    Ding Sanshi, in a flurry, clicked to open it. This time it was a savings screenshot from Huagong Bank.


    "400 billion Huaxia currency, 250 billion US dollars, 120 billion Euros..."


    "Mr. Ding Sanshi, would you like to see some other accounts?" said Zhang Menglong. "How about I show you a couple of foreign bank accounts?"


    "No... no need... I..." Ding Sanshi''s mindset was already shaken. Although he couldn''t determine whether the account information was real or fabricated, if it was real, then Zhang Menglong was indeed a monster!


    One must know, the largest bank in Huaxia had assets of about 4 trillion US dollars, and just one of Zhang Menglong''s accounts probably had assets over a trillion US dollars! That was just one of them!


    What the hell was he still doing storing money in banks? He could simply start his own bank. Wouldn''t that be even better?


    "Zhang Menglong, throw out a number, how much money do you want?" Ding Sanshi only had this one son, how could he possibly allow Ding Yuxi to go to jail? Moreover, he was running out of patience to continue the discussion.


    "I said, 50 billion, even a dime less, and this matter isn''t over!" Find more to read at empire


    "That''s impossible!" All this talk of 50 billion, Ding Sanshi hardly knew how to have a normal conversation with Zhang Menglong anymore.


    "Then I''ll give you another choice. I remember the market value of your Wangyi Music is around 50 billion Huaxia Yuan, right? Hand over all shares of Wangyi Music as compensation to that girl named Xia You, and I won''t pursue this matter any further."


    "Oh, and another condition¡ªfire the person in charge of Dream Journey to the West! Back when I participated in all those events, I finally got a high-level treasure map, only to dig up a high-level fire absorption. It was so frustrating I couldn''t sleep for days!"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Ding Sanshi finally snapped, "And how is this condition any different from your earlier one?"


    "No difference!" Zhang Menglong replied, "Oh, right, since you just insulted me, now if you want my forgiveness, that''ll be 50 billion, too. Now it''s 100 billion! Maybe you should sell Wangyi Music and scrape together that money."


    "Damn it!" Ding Sanshi instantly hung up the phone. Continuing the conversation with Zhang Menglong might just kill him from frustration.


    "Psh, such a temper. He''ll be begging me eventually!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care.


    "What''s going on? Whose call was it?"


    "Oh, it was Ding Sanshi''s, wanted to use one billion to get Xia You''s forgiveness."


    "Did you agree?"


    "No, I said it won''t be resolved with less than 50 billion."


    "Hahaha, that''s harsh!" Wang Ling loved kicking someone when they were down, "He surely didn''t agree, did he? What''s your plan? Keep being a thug?"


    "What do you mean being a thug? I am a civilized person, and a civilized person should solve problems in civilized ways!"


    "What do you plan to do?"


    "Firstly, set a small goal, bring down Wangyi Music!"

 Chapter 113 Monopolizing Music Copyrights

    "little goal..." wang ling''s mouth twitched.


    this phrase was indeed wang ling''s father''s famous saying, but even for wang ling''s dad, the "little goal" was only a billion, whereas the market value of wangyi music was seventy to eighty billion, a five hundred times difference!


    "what''s your plan?" wang ling asked, "even though wangyi music is a listed group, all the shares are held by ding sanshi, ding yuxi, and ding sanshi''s wife; it''s almost like their family business. no matter how rich you are, if they don''t sell, you can''t possibly acquire it, right?"no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "no, no, no, you still don''t understand my purpose," zhang menglong explained, "i said i want to acquire wangyi music, not because i actually want to buy it, but because i want to bring it down. i want them to know how easy it is for me to crush the entire wangyi group and then make them willingly offer it as an apology!"


    "you''re quite scheming, but i like it!" wang ling felt he was at the forefront of ''eating melons''. this time, he was going to be the first in line to ''eat melons.'' "tsk tsk tsk, how thrilling. even ma hua''s tengxun music couldn''t manage to bring down wangyi music."


    "he couldn''t do it because he''s too poor!" zhang menglong declared.


    "holy shit! ma hua, poor?" that statement shattered half of wang ling''s worldview¡ªif ma hua is considered poor, then probably only zhang menglong could be considered rich in the world.


    but on second thought, they hadn''t succeeded simply because the cost of copyrights was just too high.


    it wasn''t that tengxun and wangyi couldn''t afford that much money; they had to consider the ratio of investment to returns. even if they secured the copyrights and defeated their rivals, the small fees from vip subscriptions, data charges, and advertisement fees simply couldn''t cover those costs.


    but zhang menglong was different; he completely didn''t care about making money. he was all about having fun. as long as he was pleased, even if he was losing money every day, he''d probably still be happy since, to him, a few hundred billion us dollars were just petty cash.


    "the competition among music platforms is essentially a competition of copyrights," zhang menglong remarked, "look at those few music platforms that are still alive; they''ve gotten exclusive rights to the most popular singers. as long as the fans are willing to pay, those platforms stay unshakable, whether it''s tengxun or wangyi¡ªthey''ve obtained some singers'' copyrights"


    "what do you plan to do?" discover exclusive tales on empire


    "think about it. what if there was a platform that had all the copyrights of all the singers, and it was totally free? how many people would want to use it?"


    "damn, are you planning to monopolize the copyrights?" wang ling seemed to catch zhang menglong''s drift.


    "alright, let''s do that, and let''s skip converting it into any shares. i''ll just give you a straight thirty percent stake."


    "deal!" wang ling agreed immediately. this thirty percent might seem like a loss, but consider this: if zhang menglong were to buy the rights to those songs, ten billion wouldn''t be enough. strictly speaking, he was probably still getting an amazing deal.


    "i don''t understand operations, and i can''t be bothered to handle them; i''ll just manage the negotiations and funding!"


    "given your demeanor, you don''t look like someone who would handle things," wang ling rolled his eyes, "i can take care of most of the singers for you. you just need to provide the money. however, some cases won''t be this easy, like with zhou dong''s songs!"


    "yes, wangyi group and tengxun have been trying for years and haven''t managed to secure zhou dong''s song rights. currently, it seems only ''hulu music'' has the rights, but for just three years. counting the time, about two months from now, those rights should be expiring. i heard they are discussing renewal now."


    "oh? what about other platforms?"


    "hehe, you should know that even though zhou dong is now busy drinking milk tea and being a dad, barely releasing new songs, his old songs are still timeless. whoever secures zhou dong''s music rights pretty much dominates the music platform scene, who would give that up?"


    "what do you mean?"


    "according to some insiders, tengxun seems to have prepared five billion to buy three years of zhou dong''s music rights. wangyi music is also prepping a similar amount. as for ''hulu music'' since it''s free, it simply can''t compete financially with these giants. it looks like they are gearing up for a final showdown!"


    "hahaha, then i''m going to disappoint them all this time!" zhang menglong grinned maliciously, "any chance you can intercept this deal?"


    "coincidentally, at the beginning of next month, zhou dong is going to modu to promote his new album. the guy finally wrote new songs. even though he''s been engrossed in drinking milk tea and got a bit chubby, his fans are nearly making debuts themselves," wang ling commented sarcastically, "i''ll try to arrange a meeting for you then. with my dad''s influence, it shouldn''t be a problem.


    the rest of the negotiations are up to you."


    "okay, let''s do that!" zhang menglong suddenly remembered something, lu yiyao was a huge fan of zhou dong, and they had even talked about attending the same concert once, "by the way, what do you think, if i wanted to sign zhou dong to perform concerts at my home every day, how much would that cost?"


    wang ling gave zhang menglong an angry middle finger: "damn!"

 Chapter 114 Milk Tea Brewed with Da Hong Pao

    after several days of auditions, the directorial team had completed the selection of actors and was now ready to start drafting the filming schedule. with the finest team on board, zhang menglong naturally did not need to worry too much.


    as a private plane landed at the airport in magic city, a luxurious rolls-royce headed towards the western suburbs.


    "hong yi, where are we going?"


    "where else but to your residence," said hong yi.


    "my residence? the suburbs?" zhang menglong still thought that his residence in magic city should be the legendary first-grade, a landmark building that frequently appeared in novels and was a symbol of the super-rich. such a place, he thought, should befit his standing.


    "don''t i have any property at first-grade?" zhang menglong couldn''t help but ask.


    "mr. zhang, the best five floors of building 1 at first-grade are all yours."


    "you scared me, i thought i wasn''t worthy of it!" zhang menglong sighed in relief, "but why are we heading towards the western suburbs?"


    "this time, mr. zhang is hosting guests, so of course, it can''t be at an ordinary place," hong yi explained.


    "ordinary? you call a place like first-grade ordinary?" zhang menglong instantly fell speechless. an average apartment at first-grade cost about 230,000 per square meter; even a simple apartment there would cost tens or even hundreds of millions. could such a place now be considered ''ordinary''?


    "then where are we going?"


    "mr. zhang, we''re almost there."


    no sooner had the words left his mouth than the car entered a villa district.


    "holy cow, is this tan palace villa?" zhang menglong saw the conspicuous sign.


    "yes, mr. zhang. i thought it would be more appropriate for hosting your guests here," replied hong yi.


    although tan palace villa was not as famous as first-grade, its price was even more terrifying, averaging over 300,000, with all villas having areas of more than 1,000 square meters¡ªmeaning that the price of any villa here was calculated in hundreds of millions.


    "indeed, it matches my status," zhang menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "there are only 18 villas here. considering you won''t frequent this spot, we have only purchased the central one for you, which covers about 3,000 square meters. it should be enough for your use."


    "damn, isn''t that almost a billion?" zhang menglong was utterly astonished¡ªsuch places, ordinary people couldn''t even fathom.


    "mr. zhou, please, mr. zhang has been waiting for you inside," said a person resembling a butler as he came out to greet them.


    "kindly lead the way."


    ...


    "mr. zhang, mr. zhou has arrived."


    "finally!" zhang menglong''s sleepiness instantly dissipated by half.


    "mr. zhou, this is mr. zhang of our household," the butler introduced.


    "such a young fellow." zhou juelun''s assistant was surprised; to be so young and afford such a villa meant an unfathomably deep background.


    "hello, mr. zhang," zhou juelun extended a hand, "i have long heard of your reputation, yet to see you in person, you look even younger than in your pictures."


    "don''t be too polite, mr. zhou. i grew up listening to your songs," zhang menglong laughed, "please take a seat."


    zhou juelun and his assistant took their seats, both seeming somewhat constrained. although zhang menglong didn''t have an aggressive demeanor, it was hard to remain calm in such a lavish mansion.


    "hong yi, is the milk tea ready?" zhang menglong asked. "we must serve nothing but the best for mr. zhou!"


    "haha!" zhang menglong''s comment instantly relaxed the atmosphere quite a bit, and zhou juelun smiled awkwardly. indeed, over the years, his figure had grown more robust due to milk tea, and he was often teased by his fans about it.


    soon, a few cups of milk tea were served, their fragrance was indescribable and they even seemed to have a refreshing effect.


    fans like to make fun of it, but zhou juelun truly enjoyed milk tea. he eagerly took a sip, and the unique flavor instantly invigorated him.


    "what kind of milk tea is this?"


    "hong yi, what kind of milk tea is this? it''s far too delicious," zhang menglong was also drinking his household''s milk tea for the first time. he had always thought milk teas tasted the same; the names of the brands were glamorous, yet he could not taste any difference¡ªbut the tea in his hand was definitely special!


    "mr. zhang, this milk tea is brewed with dahongpao tea leaves and england''s juhla royal exclusive milk, making it quite special."


    "what? this milk tea is brewed with dahongpao?" zhou juelun, as well as zhang menglong, was shocked. they hadn''t heard about the royal milk, but dahongpao is famously revered; it''s rare and hardly produces a kilogram a year, not even frequently available for royal tributes.


    in the eyes of tea lovers, it''s almost sacred, yet in their household, it was used for brewing milk tea.


    "i must drink more!" zhou juelun had sampled countless milk teas, but a milk tea like this likely was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. he couldn''t help but exclaim internally, "the rich kids of today really know how to live!"

 Chapter 115 Ill Double Whatever They Offer

    "gulp gulp...."


    zhou juelun drank one cup after another, downing three-times the milk tea in one breath. he licked his lips contentedly, still looking like he wanted more.


    zhang menglong had several black lines appear above his head. with such a drinking method, no wonder he had gotten so fat. the talented and good-looking zhou from his school days had long since disappeared.


    "sorry, this milk tea is just too delicious," noticing zhang menglong''s gaze, zhou juelun also seemed a bit embarrassed, "maybe i drank a little too much?"


    zhou juelun also knew that this da hong pao tea had a yearly yield of only one kilogram. calculating at 10g per brew, the annual yield could only brew a hundred times.


    one should know, the people eyeing this da hong pao tea included not just entrepreneurs and tycoons but even some highly placed national figures. even with zhang menglong''s wealth, managing to get a few dozen grams a year was already quite impressive, right?


    "mr. zhou, if you like it, don''t worry about these details," hong yi said, "mr. zhang''s ancestors had planted a few trees of even better quality in their private tea garden a long time ago, producing plenty each year, more than enough for personal consumption. if mr. zhang agrees, you can take some back with you when the time comes."


    "damn, really? how come i didn''t know about this?" zhang menglong seized hong yi and asked.


    "mr. zhang, you don''t like tea, so you never asked me." hong yi looked innocent.


    "true," zhang menglong said, "if we have something this good then we shouldn''t waste it, from now on just use that da hong pao to make my milk tea, three cups a day, hahaha!"


    watching zhang menglong''s blissful appearance, zhou juelun suddenly felt a bit envious. da hong pao milk tea, three cups a day, life in heaven must be something like this, right?


    "hong yi, prepare a few kilograms of tea leaves; let juelun take them back when the time comes. can''t come all this way for nothing."


    "alright sir, you guys keep talking, i will go prepare."


    "go ahead." zhang menglong waved his hand.


    "zhou, let''s talk business now," zhang menglong said, "this visit is about discussing the music rights, right?"


    "yes," zhou juelun nodded, "my contract with ''hulu'' music is about to expire, and now both tengxun and wangyi are looking to buy the rights to my songs. i''m here to sign a contract with them."


    "may i ask how much they have prepared?" zhang menglong asked.


    "it''s no secret," zhou juelun joked, "tencent is ready to pay 570 million for the rights to all my songs for ten years."


    "what about wangyi?"


    "the last price discussed was 480 million."


    if zhang menglong''s plan went through, it wouldn''t be just heaven music sinking; even tengxun music might go bankrupt, as cruel as the market is!


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    but ma hua hadn''t done anything, and by then, he might get so desperate that he''d kill ding sanshi.


    as long as zhang menglong''s music platform was completely free, the fans, unable to find the songs they wanted, would only have to switch to his platform, and as for the other small internet celebrities and cover artists, they were just fooling around.


    "oh, right, add another half a billion for the cover rights; your songs are too powerful, even the covers have a market!"


    "you''re wiping them out completely," zhou juelun felt fortunate to have kept up with mainland affairs. if he hadn''t known this man, today he might have been dealt with by zhang menglong, and perhaps at that time, both tengxun music and heaven music would have been doomed.


    "if there''s no problem, i''ll make the payment now."


    "wait, just wait a moment..." it was zhou juelun''s first time encountering such a business approach. what was happening? the agreement hadn''t even been signed, and he was ready to pay?


    "what''s the matter? any problems?"


    "no... none..."


    "that''s good, finishing our milk tea is more urgent; we can sign the contract after we''re done."


    "okay..."


    "by the way, director zhou, there''s another issue." zhang menglong suddenly remembered something.


    "please speak, mr. zhang."


    "my future girlfriend is a big fan of yours, so i''d like to sign you. when there''s nothing else to do, you could come perform for us, or scream a little at the karaoke, why don''t you name your price?"


    "i..." zhou juelun''s face filled with bitterness. wasn''t this just like being a performing artist? he was, after all, a freelance musician and a chairman of several companies; he didn''t need to sell his dignity for money...


    "500 million a year!"


    "mr. zhang, that isn''t quite right, i perform but i don''t sell myself."


    "i see, then how much would it cost for you to hold a concert?"


    zhou juelun: "i#£¤#£¤#%#%£¤..."

 Chapter 116 If Youre Not Convinced, Go Buy It Yourself

    of course, zhou juelun was no longer in need of money now, and although the price zhang menglong offered was hard to refuse, his priorities had shifted from career and creative work to life and family. even if he never worked another day, he could remain a happy millionaire, so he turned down zhang menglong''s invitation.


    however, he promised zhang menglong that should he hold a concert in the future, he would reserve the best seats for him, or if they both had time, they could also meet up to sing together.


    "alright, 2.5 billion has reached your account, and i''ve already paid the taxes for you."


    "mr. zhang is so generous!" paying taxes on 2.5 billion would usually result in a staggering amount, and most singers and actors employ various methods to avoid or evade taxes. zhang menglong voluntarily paying taxes and even covering it himself was indeed a breath of fresh air.


    "juelun, the money is in your account," zhou juelun''s assistant said.


    with 2.5 billion credited, even zhou juelun couldn''t help but smile. even if his former company took a share, this money was enough to double his personal assets¡ªa single deal equivalent to all his past efforts; how could that not make him happy?


    having signed the contract, this meant that from now on, aside from zhang menglong''s company, any other party distributing zhou juelun''s works online would be infringing copyright. be it tengxun music or any other platform, they had permanently lost their competitive edge over zhou juelun''s output.


    even because zhang menglong had bought the cover rights, as soon as their existing rights expired, those songs would be forced off the shelves, or else they would face a lawyer''s warning from zhang menglong.


    "by the way, are we still going to the next event?" zhang menglong asked.


    "not going anymore," zhou juelun said with a smile, "since the rights have been sold to mr. zhang, there''s no need to go."


    "dani," zhou juelun told his assistant, "buy the tickets, we are going back."


    "no need for that trouble," zhang menglong said, "hong yi, arrange it for me, send director zhou back with my private jet, and on the way back, help me bring a genuine oyster omelette."


    "mr. zhang, that won''t be necessary," zhou juelun thought zhang menglong would have a private plane since he himself owned a private plane worth over a hundred million, but he cherished it too much to use it just to send a guest.


    "no worries, it''s alright, i have more than a dozen private planes in modi city."


    "more than a dozen..."


    "don''t feel burdened, i mainly want to eat the oyster omelette, sending you back is just incidental."


    using a private jet to fetch takeout for an authentic oyster omelette? are you kidding me? zhou juelun and his assistant could never comprehend the thought processes of someone like zhang menglong, which they considered outlandishly lavish.


    with that kind of money, one could hire a chef specializing in oyster omelettes to cook for him full-time.


    "haha, actually, i do have a chef," zhang menglong said, "i just forgot to bring him from jiangnan city, the chefs from bao island province here went home to visit their families for a couple of days."


    "damn it!" ding yuxi slammed his phone hard onto the ground. acquiring domestic artists'' copyrights wasn''t hard, but foreign ones, that was a whole different story. not to mention anything else, two years ago, domestic platforms had already lost the rights to the group called "big bang."


    but zhang menglong actually managed to buy them, and for 10 years!


    "awesome! boss zhang is just boss zhang, so dominant!"


    "holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! finally, a platform like this has emerged; i''ve been waiting for years!"


    "no need to recharge for vip to listen! my god! even if it requires recharging vip, i would still be willing!"


    "wuwu, my youth is over."


    "okay, i''ve already deleted tengxun music and wangyi music."


    "the one above, i deleted them too, and also left a 1-star bad review!"


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    "hahaha!"


    "damn, has music forest been bombarded yet?"


    "what is he aiming for, spending so much money and not charging?"


    "aiming for you not taking a bath!"


    "aiming because you are handsome."


    ...


    "boss ding, our app''s download volume is plummeting!"


    "the rating has also been brushed down!"


    "boss ding, think of something quick, at this rate, by the time our purchased copyrights expire, our platform will collapse!"


    "he is simply a madman!" ding yuxi suddenly remembered zhang menglong''s words, this was not going to be an easy matter to resolve!

 Chapter 117 This is All Ding Sanshis Fault

    "okay, miss deng, let''s chat another day. remember to save a few tickets for me for your next concert. a friend and i are huge fans of yours."


    "is it a girlfriend?" deng lanqi smiled at zhang menglong, "mr. zhang, don''t worry, the front row tickets for my concert will definitely be reserved for you!"


    "hong yi, please escort miss deng. arrange my private jet to take miss deng back to baodao province," zhang menglong instructed.


    "yes, sir," hong yi replied with her meticulous work ethic, "this way, please, miss deng."


    "thanks, mr. zhang. then i won''t be polite," said deng lanqi, without declining the offer. after all, it had already become the norm.


    baodao province is a place where singers abound. in the music scene there, a lot of singers are active. recently, zhang menglong had lost count of how many people he had invited over to discuss song rights, usually with a ride on his private jet.


    this had already started to spread in baodao province''s music circles, and now there was a new standard for assessing a singer''s caliber: those who had flown on zhang menglong''s private jet versus those who hadn''t.


    even being able to sign a rights agreement with zhang menglong was considered a great honor.


    "damn! that''s just obscenely extravagant!" today, wang ling was free, so he came along with zhang menglong to deal with the rights issues. by his estimation, zhang menglong''s plane had flown dozens of flights just today.


    each time a singer left, zhang menglong would have them flown out directly.


    the key point was, he did not send them back in groups, but one by one, right after each deal. watching this scene made wang ling want to curse; waiting just half an hour could save the cost of a flight, but he chose to send one person per flight.


    what''s more, flying on his private jet didn''t require queuing. considering the number, he must have at least twenty or thirty private jets at the airport in this magic city.


    thinking of this terrifying fact, wang ling felt an impulse to kidnap zhang menglong. if he could abduct zhang menglong for a ransom, could he become the king of the earth?


    "when can i also ride on your private jet?" wang ling said enviously. his old man also had a private jet, which was so treasured that even he, as his own son, had ridden it only once or twice.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "if you want, you can do it right now," said zhang menglong, "i need to go to africa to discuss the rights of an african singer''s songs. just so happens, that singer couldn''t make it recently, so how about you fly to africa for me?"


    "fly your geoduck!" wang ling retorted instantly, "are you trying to sell me off to africa to work in a mine? don''t think i don''t know about your tricks. i''ve heard from hong yi how you dealt with a weibo shareholder when you bought weibo."


    "mr. zhang, doing this puts us in a very difficult position. our platform will no longer be able to distribute or download those songs. aren''t you driving us into a dead end?" ma hua was inwardly distressed.


    he had called several singers he had worked with before, some of whom he was quite close to, and they even disclosed the price offered by zhang menglong. ma hua admitted that he couldn''t refuse such an offer, but he certainly couldn''t afford it.


    after the evaluation, they concluded that what zhang menglong spent on copyrights, even if the copyrights expired, he couldn''t recoup his investment solely from streaming traffic and advertisements. even if everyone upgraded to a premium membership, the prospect of profit was slim.


    "moreover, doing this brings you no benefits whatsoever. can you even make a profit?"


    "who said i wanted to make money?" zhang menglong replied righteously. "i have no interest in money whatsoever!"


    "of course, you have no interest in money, money is just a number to you!" ma hua was on the verge of collapse.


    "actually, you can''t blame me for this! you should blame yourself!" zhang menglong said.


    "blame myself?" ma hua was suddenly puzzled. what did this have to do with him? apart from gaming, they hadn''t really done anything deceitful, had they?


    "could it be because zhang menglong played our tengxun games, and his luck was terrible?" ma hua secretly sent zhang menglong''s mobile number to the technical director, instructing him to check how many games were bound to this mobile number, then told the tech team to adjust his loot drop rate to 100%, the kind of start with a dog and gear up through killing.


    "if you weren''t in this industry, wouldn''t it not affect you?" zhang menglong gave a nonsensical answer.


    "i can''t argue with that logic!" wang ling, standing beside zhang menglong, just knelt down.


    "the one i want to deal with isn''t you, it''s just that you happen to be in this industry too. if you want to blame someone, blame ding sanshi and his son! the pot of ding sanshi, in short, a stone pot!"


    "what do you mean by that?" ma hua asked.


    "they bullied my brother''s girlfriend. do you think that''s serious?" zhang menglong spoke gravely, "it could have been settled with a little compensation for emotional distress, but they insisted on bargaining with me, pushing the compensation down to less than one five-hundredth of the original amount. isn''t that too much?" enjoy new adventures from empire


    "that''s... that is indeed excessive," ma hua responded instinctively, "wait, how much compensation for emotional distress did you ask from them?"


    "not much, just 500 billion!"

 Chapter 118 I Never Buy Discounted Items

    "500 billion..." ma hua gasped as this sudden scare threw out his back.


    a demand for 500 billion in compensation for spiritual damage was unheard of, no wonder ding sanshi and his son still wanted to negotiate the price with him.


    even if it were only one five-hundredth of that amount, it would still be one billion. if this was a claim for spiritual damage, it was an astronomical sum!


    are they refusing to pay, so you''ll drive their company into bankruptcy? isn''t that a bit too capricious?


    "what did i even do?" zhang menglong said in a voice filled with grievance, "i was just bored with nothing better to do, so i decided to create a music platform for fun. i didn''t kill, i didn''t rob, i didn''t commit arson, how am i being capricious?"


    "they themselves didn''t have the money to buy the rights, and now the platform is struggling to survive. is that my fault?"


    "what does their trouble have to do with me?" ma hua was on the verge of tears.


    compared to wang ling music forest, tengxun music had been around for a much longer time. but no matter how established they had become over the years, they couldn''t withstand this kind of impact. as its name suggested, a music platform needed music to be considered a music platform.


    through zhang menglong''s maneuvering, he essentially monopolized the entire mobile music market!


    do you want to sue him for monopoly? but the music artists have already been paid handsomely and simply didn''t want to sell to anyone else. could you, as the law, force them to sell their rights?


    everybody knew that zhang menglong was monopolizing the market, but subjectively, he had ample excuses to justify himself, and you couldn''t find any fault in his actions¡ªwhat could you do to him?


    "is there no room for negotiation?" ma hua still hadn''t given up hope. he knew that if zhang menglong followed through with this, unless they could outspend him, the platform''s collapse was just a matter of time.


    "i''ve already spent the money, what do you think?" zhang menglong said, "president ma need not be so disheartened. if it comes to it and music forest starts charging, i''ll gift you a lifetime vip for free!"


    "do you think i''m lacking the money for a vip?" ma hua felt a rage burning in his chest. tengxun music was valued at nearly 30 billion us dollars, and it had taken so many years of operation to get to its current size.


    he could almost predict what level their stocks would plunge to when the market opened tomorrow. this downward spiral, unless zhang menglong chose to give up his current tactics, was irreversible.


    a platform with no competitiveness, even if they wanted to sell it off, no one would be willing to take it over. because whoever did, as long as they were up against zhang menglong, there was no chance of winning.


    "it''s indeed high," ma hua suddenly became very anxious.


    "the price is negotiable," ma hua said, chuckling sheepishly.


    "fuck, are you looking down on me?" zhang menglong started to curse, "am i, zhang menglong, the kind of person who lacks a few billion us dollars? you should ask around, when have i, zhang menglong, ever asked for a discount when buying something?"


    "ah? this..." zhang menglong''s stance completely baffled ma hua. wasn''t he supposed to complain about the price being too high? but it seemed like he actually found the price too low?


    "how about 90%?" ma hua tried again.


    "manager ma, it''s still too low!" at this moment, ma hua''s assistant quietly showed him his phone.


    it was a report about zhang menglong taking over an entire lv store in wanda. although its spread was not allowed, some people still had some photos and written information about it.


    "rounding up in reverse..." ma hua glanced at the content, which showed that after zhang menglong had purchased extremely expensive luxury items, the seller had actively offered to round down the price, yet zhang menglong insisted on an increase of several hundred thousand dollars, the reason being he disliked small change!


    "this guy must have a screw loose!" ma hua labeled zhang menglong, "how about this, the market value of tengxun music is currently 27.8 billion us dollars, why not sell it to you for 28 billion us dollars?"


    "i don''t like spare change!" zhang menglong emphasized again, "let''s make it 30 billion!"


    "cough cough cough!" ma hua felt that his increase of 2 billion us dollars was already quite outrageous, but he didn''t expect that zhang menglong would reverse round down by 20 billion us dollars on top of this!


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    "is this money toxic or what?" ma hua was almost in tears, his worldview nearly shattered today!


    "then it''s settled!" zhang menglong declared, "i''ll arrange for someone to handle the equity transfer tomorrow morning."


    "mr. zhang, some of our shareholders are abroad; if they are to come back immediately, i''m afraid there are no flights. maybe..."


    "where are they? i''ll arrange a private jet to pick them up!" zhang menglong was impatient, "can''t we do things a bit more efficiently? i''m eager to have ding sanshi and his son come beg me!"


    ma hua: "my mentality is collapsing again..."

 Chapter 119 I Wont Watch Bilibilis Ghoul Area Without You

    "the only one bold enough to slam ma hua with cash is you, zhang menglong." after listening to the entire phone call, wang ling''s admiration flowed endlessly like a raging river.


    "no worries, next time there''s a call like this, you can talk on my behalf as my spokesperson," zhang menglong generously said.


    "thanks a lot!" wang ling rolled his eyes, lacking the confidence to engage in such bold maneuvers.


    "ah, the main character arrives!" zhang menglong glanced at his phone. it must be ding yuxi''s call now.


    "zhang menglong!" ding yuxi immediately got hold of zhang menglong''s number. "what on earth are you trying to do?"


    "what am i trying to do?" zhang menglong replied, "not satisfied? if you''re not, go buy it yourself! if you don''t have the money, then shut your mouth!"


    "zhang menglong, don''t think you''re something just because you have money. operating a music platform, having just rights hardly makes you competitive!" ding yuxi gritted his teeth as he spoke.


    speaking of rights, he indeed couldn''t afford to be as extravagant as zhang menglong ¡ª not even tengxun could bring out that amount of money to buy so many rights.


    but one should know that for music platforms like theirs, the sound quality of music is also very important. their wanyi music developed music engine is currently the most advanced in the country, providing an atmosphere and enjoyment of music unmatched by other apps.


    that''s also why wanyi music doesn''t have many rights, but still holds the second position in the national market.


    moreover, there''s the "net suppressing cloud," which has mixed reviews online ¡ª it''s another reason for their huge user base, as listeners always find something relatable in it.


    "zhang menglong, our wanyi music''s music engine, even if your tiny team researched for another five years, you couldn''t reach this level."


    "oh, you''re talking about this!" zhang menglong laughed. "our music forest''s engine is called ''sacred sound 3.0''; since you''re in the music business, you should know a bit about it.


    "sacred sound? impossible! that engine is the best overseas and was exclusively bought by the world''s largest music company. how could you possibly have it?" ding yuxi felt that zhang menglong''s claim was completely absurd.


    anyone in the music industry knows that besides headphones and players, the engine a music app uses directly affects sound quality. there are many music engines worldwide, but ''sacred sound'' is universally acknowledged as number one.


    this was a music engine developed by a student from overseas a few years ago, which had attracted immense attention upon its emergence. the largest music group, nahua, wholly acquired this student team, and over the years, through several updates, its functionalities became stronger and its performance more profound.


    even huaxia''s development teams had to admit that ''sacred sound'' was currently the most advanced music engine in the world.


    it is said that the team had signed confidentiality and non-compete agreements with nahua group, and this core technology was strictly not allowed to be divulged.


    "i thought you were ding sanshi''s son, who grew up studying in ivy league schools, calling me would surely be imposing, turns out you''re just like a spineless dog, yapping here. i''ve never seen such a shameless person!"


    "you...you...ah..."


    "hmm? ambulance siren?" zhang menglong hung up the phone, "the young people nowadays really can''t handle pressure!"


    "even wang situ couldn''t handle this kind of cursing!" wang ling didn''t know zhang menglong could be this biting, "from now on, i won''t watch b station''s remix section if you''re not in it!"


    "cut the chatter, how''s the app?"


    "don''t worry, it''ll be online by tonight!"


    "come on, let''s go have skewers, my treat!"


    ...


    music forest is a music platform that wang ling has been running for two years. because it''s not very large, it only owns some copyrights of indie artists and internet singers.


    after two years, they haven''t even made back the capital they invested, and the number of app downloads is pitifully low; wang ling was even close to cutting off this part of the business.


    but zhang menglong''s joining revitalized the app from the ashes.


    that very night, the project team of music forest started working frenzied overtime; they knew that with zhang menglong''s involvement, big funding was coming. with money, what can''t you do well?


    the company doesn''t have many people right now, but if business takes off, they will become the senior members of the company!


    is business about to take off? as a music platform, as long as the copyrights are in place, users will start paying!


    in just three days, the whole music forest app was transformed completely, and during these three days, zhang menglong had also secured a large number of music copyrights, all exclusive licenses!


    on the third night, all the music was listed, and the new music forest app officially launched with zhang menglong synchronizing this news on his social media.


    after a few days of buildup, the aficionados were already eager, and when the news broke out, both the android and apple app markets were half paralyzed, a massive download volume that even their servers could barely handle.


    "this won''t do!" zhang menglong, looking at the download report, shook his head, "maybe i should acquire apple as well?"

 Chapter 120 Some Matters Need to Be Told to You

    "forget it, forget it, buying apple has no real benefits, and it would require manpower and effort to manage. there''s no need for that!" zhang menglong shook his head, unaware that cook''s company had just narrowly escaped a takeover crisis.


    "ah, after being so busy these days, and only spending a few billion us dollars, it''s really exhausting!" zhang menglong plumped down on the couch.


    during this period, he had acquired weibo and tengxun music. it seemed as though a lot of money had been spent, but under his father''s rules, acquisitions, charitable acts, and gifts were not counted as expenditures.


    and the actual expenditures were only on purchasing copyrights and recruiting teams and staff.


    so far, the only significant expense had been buying a batch of equipment for jiangnan university of science and technology and investing in experimental projects.


    of course, zhang menglong could follow the same approach, as investing in scientific research is the fastest way to burn through cash, but most scientific research projects are conducted at universities. if zhang menglong were to invest in other schools, his alma mater would never be able to stand out.


    there really was no need for that, especially since he hoped his school could become the new ivy league of the country.


    as for other projects, most of them are national-level projects, and the country isn''t short of money.


    building airplanes, aircraft carriers, rockets... forget it, forget it, if he dared to build those, he might end up under investigation tomorrow.


    it''s not that zhang menglong particularly feared an investigation, but he disliked trouble.


    "forget it, there''s no rush, take it slow," zhang menglong thought. it had only been two months since he inherited the fortune, and he had already spent half of it. the remaining thirty billion us dollars would inevitably be gone within a year, and that ancestral music college wasn''t going anywhere.


    "alright, if you want to stay, you can sleep here tonight. if you want to leave, it''s up to you. i''m going to play games," zhang menglong said to wang ling.


    "then i''ll mooch a meal off you here!" wang ling said with a giggly laugh.


    "strange, why hasn''t she logged on yet?" zhang menglong opened the game and saw that lu yiyao''s avatar was greyed out. they had agreed to play a game together tonight.


    according to lu yiyao''s habits, if something came up, she would have definitely informed zhang menglong in advance. she would even report if she was just going to use the bathroom or take a shower. this was somewhat unusual.


    "could something have happened?" zhang menglong suddenly had a bad premonition, "i should have noted down her roommates'' contact information earlier."


    "mr. zhang!" just then, hong yi''s voice came from outside zhang menglong''s door.


    "what''s the matter?" zhang menglong asked, sounding less friendly, his mood poor.


    "miss lu seems to have run into some trouble," hong yi said.


    "then you better go and come back early," wang ling said, as if compelled by some force.


    at the top of the villa was a small helipad. the helicopter wasn''t large but could comfortably accommodate five or six people. if more space was desired, one would have to go to the nearest airport, but zhang menglong clearly didn''t have the patience to wait any longer.


    with the whirring of the propellers, the aircraft vanished into the night sky, heading straight for gusu.


    "mr. zhang, you don''t have to worry too much. miss lu is fine," hong yi said. "if miss lu''s safety were threatened, even without your approval, protecting her safety is our top priority, and everything else is secondary."


    hearing this, zhang menglong felt slightly relieved. the most important thing was that lu yiyao was unharmed.


    "tell me about this bodyguard matter," zhang menglong said. "also, how did you find out about the incident in gusu city so quickly? did you have someone follow her?"


    "mr. zhang, you have misunderstood. the zhang family''s information network spans the globe, covering politics, business, the military. none of that escapes our surveillance," hong yi explained. "if any country is about to undertake military action, the moment the order is issued, your intelligence organization will be aware of it."


    "is it that powerful?" zhang menglong was somewhat surprised, "is this better than the fbi?"


    "mr. zhang, you''re underestimating the power at your disposal," hong yi said. "if you wanted to know what color underwear the american president is wearing today, it would be no problem, or even how many grains of rice he ate for a meal. if you want to know, you could get the most accurate information immediately."


    "isn''t that a bit exaggerated?" while it''s feasible to investigate the color of a president''s underwear, to know how many grains of rice someone eats - would someone count them for you?


    "mr. zhang, do you believe that there are some special people in the world?"


    "hahaha, are you talking about kamen rider, ultraman, the giant, thor, iron man?" zhang menglong laughed. "you know i''m in a bad mood and you tell me this kind of joke to lighten the atmosphere?"


    "mr. zhang, there are some things that we feared would be too much for you to bear, so we didn''t tell you. now, with miss lu''s situation, there are some things that you should know."


    "what? besides the 5000 years of history my family has, there are other secrets?" zhang menglong suddenly felt that hong yi''s tone wasn''t joking.


    "ye yin, come out."


    "huh? ye yin? who are you calling for?" zhang menglong''s face was filled with question marks. besides him and hong yi, there was only the helicopter pilot on board, but he remembered that the pilot''s name seemed to be ma yue.


    discover hidden tales at empire


    just then, zhang menglong felt the hair on his body stand on end. in the seat behind him, where there had been nobody, now sat a person who appeared to be in their late twenties, like a ghost suddenly appearing as a chilling voice echoed in his ear.


    "ye yin greets mr. zhang."

 Chapter 121 The Dragon King is Watering Your Vegetable Garden

    "holy shit! holy shit! holy shit!"


    zhang menglong suddenly stood up from his seat, nearly snapping the safety belt. scaring someone to death, a cold figure had unexpectedly appeared behind him, and anyone would panic in such a situation!


    "thump!" zhang menglong''s head hit the top of the helicopter, causing him to tear up from the pain.


    "scared the hell out of me, damn it!" zhang menglong was truly frightened, his body trembling slightly from fear, and goosebumps covered his skin.


    "who is this guy? when did he get on?" zhang menglong hurriedly asked.


    "mr. zhang, this is ye yin, your personal bodyguard," hong yi said, "he has always been on this plane, and ordinarily, he is always by your side."


    "what? how come i have never seen him before?" zhang menglong scrutinized ye yin carefully. it was already november, and the temperature was typically below 10 degrees, yet this young man with somber long hair was wearing only a short-sleeve shirt and a thin pair of trousers.


    to zhang menglong, who was already wearing fleece-lined thermal underwear, such a person was definitely an anomaly. if this guy walked down the street, he would certainly catch his eye at first glance, but zhang menglong was sure he had never seen this man before.


    "why does this guy''s gaze feel so weird?" zhang menglong noticed that ever since appearing behind him, ye yin''s gaze had never left him, fixated as if he were engrossed in a movie.


    "no, that''s not it!" zhang menglong observed ye yin''s gaze more carefully. he had once spent a summer vacation working at a buddhist tourist spot, where he saw many devout tourists and believers. ye yin''s look was almost exactly like those people''s.


    "mr. zhang, if ye yin doesn''t want to be discovered, there are hardly a few people in the world who could detect him."


    "does he have harry potter''s cloak or what?"


    "ye yin, it seems mr. zhang doesn''t quite believe in your abilities," hong yi said to zhang menglong with a smile.


    just at that moment, ye yin''s body suddenly disappeared from the seat as if it had evaporated.


    "what the fuck!"


    "thump!"


    "sss-ow!" zhang menglong''s head hit the top again, "where... where did he go? how did he disappear?"


    "so was my dad serious when he said that there''s absolutely nothing our family can''t do? that wasn''t just bragging?"


    hong yi looked up in thought for three seconds, then nodded her head, "as far as i know, that''s true."


    "turns out my understanding of my own family was still so one-sided." zhang menglong smiled wryly, feeling helpless.


    "so what exactly is ye yin? a psychic? an ancient martial artist? a mutant? an alien? a kryptonian?" zhang menglong started to accept some of the events that had just transpired, and his imagination began to expand.


    "strictly speaking, we''re still normal people, just with some methods that have unlocked human potential," ye yin explained, "mr. zhang must have heard of those cases where the elderly lift a ton-heavy car to save their child pinned underneath. that is human potential."


    "gene lock? i''m not well-read, but don''t think i haven''t seen ''infinite terror''."


    "you could understand it that way," said ye yin, "zheng zha was a very good man. he helped me a lot when i was a child."


    "ah? what?" zhang menglong was utterly confused. he didn''t understand what ye yin was talking about. wasn''t zheng zha a fictional character from ''infinite terror''? could it be that he''d read too many novels and gotten so absorbed that he thought he knew zheng zha?


    "mr. zhang, don''t be too astonished, there are many people like me in the world. of course, we obtain these extraordinary powers in myriad bizarre ways. in our huaxia, especially within families with deep foundations, there are usually one or two such individuals."


    "like who?"


    "for instance, the largest family in huaxia, the hua family of yanjing, which has produced many leaders, they have quite a powerful individual known as ''asura,'' whose real name is hua luocheng."


    "asura? haha, then, are there also ''judge,'' ''dragon king,'' and ''war god''?" zhang menglong suddenly thought of the popular online novels with such adolescent-sounding nicknames that had already become memes.


    "i haven''t heard of anyone called ''judge'' or ''war god''," said ye yin thoughtfully, "but there actually is someone known as ''dragon king.'' he is... by most people''s understanding, a psychic, able to control water in rivers, lakes, the sea, and even the water vapor in the air."


    "and where is he now?" zhang menglong asked curiously.


    "24 years ago, when your father zhang xiaoyun was young, he worked for a family. there were some conflicts between that family and mr. zhang xiaoyun, so they directly sent out ''dragon king'' to deal with your father using methods that shunned the light."


    "and then?" since zhang menglong existed, it indicated that nothing had happened to zhang xiaoyun at the time.


    "that ''dragon king'' was crippled by mr. zhang xiaoyun at that time, and it seems he is now in charge of artificial rain at a vegetable farm of your family, with a monthly salary of 8,000 yuan."

 Chapter 122 Let Him Know About the Perils of Society

    "a water-based psychic watering my vegetable garden?" this sounded utterly absurd, yet when ye yin spoke of it, it somehow took on the air of versailles literature.


    "forget it, i can''t be bothered with you oddballs anymore," zhang menglong felt it would take him a long time to digest all this¡ªif he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes today, he might even suspect he was going insane.


    "hold on, since when have you been protecting me?" zhang menglong suddenly thought of this question. "before you turned 10, it was my father who protected you. since then, it has always been me," ye yin said.


    "you''ve been following me for over a decade?" zhang menglong''s mouth dropped open. to think that a living, breathing person had stood guard over him for so many years without him realizing.


    "yes, mr. zhang, do you remember a car accident from three years ago?" ye yin asked.


    "three years ago?" zhang menglong''s thoughts immediately returned to his freshman year, and suddenly, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, "was it you who protected me?"


    "yes," ye yin nodded.


    "no wonder! i thought some ancestor had manifested to protect me from the unknown." zhang menglong finally showed a look of realization.


    three years ago was his first time coming to jiangnan city to study, and because he had arrived in this city full of novelties, zhang menglong often went out to explore with his roommates in tow.


    one time, they returned very late, and since everyone was quite exhausted, their attention was somewhat scattered. at an intersection, a truck sped towards them at at least 80 mph¡ªif it had hit them, none of them would have survived.


    but miraculously, the truck took flight two meters in front of them, flipping over their heads and crashing to the ground while zhang menglong even felt the strong gust of wind caused by the impact force.


    later, the driver was found to have been drunk driving, and they narrowly escaped unscathed, but the scene lingered in zhang menglong''s memory to this day.


    "isn''t that a bit over the top?" now that zhang menglong knew it was ye yin who had saved him, he found it hard to believe that someone shorter than himself could possess that kind of strength.


    could it really be like the novel "infinite terror" that he had unlocked human potential and gained powers beyond ordinary comprehension?


    "that''s ridiculous!" zhang menglong slapped his own face, only believing it wasn''t a dream after feeling the stinging pain.


    "hold on, if you''ve been following me for over a decade, then do you... do you know everything about me?" zhang menglong was still a virgin, so he didn''t have any particular acts he feared to be witnessed.


    but since middle school, cough cough, as a youth brimming with virility, zhang menglong had researched quite a bit of physiological knowledge, claiming he had watched countless videos wouldn''t be an exaggeration¡ªye yin hadn''t seen all those scenes, had he?


    "you can rest assured, mr. zhang, i will absolutely not speak of things i shouldn''t, and i promise, i will not see things i''m not supposed to see."


    "who''s my favorite teacher?"


    it wasn''t that zhang menglong was indecisive or anything. for someone living in a harmonious society, even if they had the power of life and death, they wouldn''t challenge the norms of society and morality so quickly, right?


    "then what do you plan to do?"


    "do you have information on that person?"


    "yes," hong yi seemed to have all the information memorized, "bai shengwu, a professor of pop singing at the music college of gusu university, 44 years old. he has been teaching at gusu university for 15 years and has harassed over a hundred female students to date."


    "scumbag!" zhang menglong couldn''t help but curse, "hasn''t anyone reported this man?"


    "bai shengwu generally selects very timid girls as his targets and usually those who are undergraduate students or graduate students. he often has something on them, so most people, even if they suffer some physical or verbal abuse, don''t dare to speak out."


    "hasn''t anyone been, you know, by him?"


    "yes, there have been seven victims, and there are photos or videos of the incidents. you know, for a girl''s family, their reputation is more important than anything. so they chose to let it rot inside rather than let others know."


    "good lord, a habitual offender." zhang menglong hated these kinds of people the most. clearly, this beast''s behavior was even more disgusting than ding yuxi''s. how could such a person be fit to teach?


    "how''s yiyi?" zhang menglong added another question.


    "miss lu is fine. when bai shengwu was about to make a move, the person responsible for protecting miss lu knocked him out. of course, miss lu won''t find out how he passed out."


    "that''s good. keep these matters from yiyi for now."


    "yes."


    "however, murder is not the answer, but it is necessary to let him know the dangers of society," zhang menglong said, "ye yin, i have a task for you."


    by the time zhang menglong finished explaining the task, hong yi couldn''t help but blush and feel embarrassed. zhang menglong was not just cunning; he was shameless!


    "did you understand?"


    "understood, mr. zhang." ye yin''s voice emerged softly beside zhang menglong, "but isn''t this task a bit too perverse?"


    "against a pervert, a perverted method is needed. once you finish this task, you''ll get a raise. go on!"


    ...

 Chapter 123 "Be Safe at Night

    lu yiyao lay on the dormitory balcony, staring into the sky in a daze. today, she''d almost been taken advantage of by that teacher who was reputed to be the sleaziest one in the whole school.


    if it weren''t for bai shengwu fainting for some unknown reason, she would have likely faced some harassment.


    with her father being what he was and her teacher also being that way, lu yiyao had never been an overly optimistic person. if zhang menglong hadn''t appeared, her life would probably have been bleak.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "if he knew about it, he would definitely be very angry, right?" thinking of zhang menglong, a hint of happiness finally appeared on lu yiyao''s face.


    "ah! i forgot i promised to play games with him tonight!" lu yiyao suddenly remembered, realizing she''d been spacing out on the balcony for over an hour, and that it''d already gotten dark.


    she took out her phone, and indeed, there were already more than 99 messages under zhang menglong''s avatar.


    "i had something to take care of just now, and made you worry!" lu yiyao sent over a cute emoticon.


    "you know you got me worried?" zhang menglong replied with an emoticon, "that won''t cut it, i can''t just worry for nothing. you owe me a kiss!"


    "get lost!" lu yiyao laughed out loud. zhang menglong always talked big like this, daring to act cheeky with his words, "are we still gaming or not?"


    "no gaming tonight, look up at the sky, will you?"


    "the sky?" lu yiyao looked up towards the sky, which had been a dull grey and empty just moments before.


    "huh? what''s that?" right at that moment, a light suddenly appeared in the sky, followed by countless more lights swarming in that direction.


    "holy shit! ufo! guys, come check this out!"


    "what are those things? glowing? airplanes? no way!"


    at gusu university, all student dorms were in the same area, and many of the students hanging out on their balconies also noticed the red dots of light.


    "damn! they''re mini drones!" exclaimed some tech geeks from a nearby male dorm, who had grabbed a telescope and identified the true nature of the red dots.


    "so many drones? what''s the deal? are they trying to film our gusu university girls'' dorm?"


    "idiot, have you ever seen anyone use this many drones for secret filming? this looks like thousands of them!"


    "clear enough? which model is it?"


    "damn!" the boy with the telescope couldn''t help but curse, "these are the latest shining word drones, absolutely top-notch for aerial photography. i heard even a camera could be lifted into the sky by them. they are the largest civilian drones available, priced at $120,000 each."


    "dude, over a thousand? isn''t that over a hundred million us dollars?"


    "could it be some special performance by gusu city?" someone speculated.


    the previous new year''s eve, gusu city had utilized 2,000 similar aircraft to form the words "i love gusu" in the sky, which then appeared in almost every person from gusu''s social media.


    "probably, right? unless it''s some domineering ceo pampering his little wife?"


    "did you just jinx it?"


    ...


    rushing downstairs in a hurry, lu yiyao had no idea that at this moment her roommates were already planning to make her homeless for the night.


    "how''s it going, feeling any better?" zhang menglong asked with a smile as he looked at lu yiyao.


    "not bad!" lu yiyao placed her hands behind her back.


    "you got upset and didn''t even tell me¡ªdo i, zhang menglong, even matter to you anymore?" zhang menglong pretended to be angry.


    "you know about it?" lu yiyao''s eyes flickered with surprise. zhang menglong was supposed to be in the magic city, so how did he know about today''s events? moreover, he had rushed over so quickly.


    "what is it that i don''t know about," zhang menglong said, "i also know that you''ve long harbored a secret crush on me."


    "bullshit!" lu yiyao laughed and cursed.


    "in the future, i don''t want to worry about you as just a friend anymore."


    "what?" even though lu yiyao and zhang menglong had become so close they could talk about anything, this sudden outpouring of affection left her stunned.


    "little lu student, would you like to become little zhang student''s girlfriend? in the future, i want to be by your side as your boyfriend, always standing by you." as zhang menglong''s voice filled the air, the thousands of drones in the sky began reshaping their formation, and a rose bloomed in the night sky.


    everyone''s attention was fixed on the sky, but no one noticed who the main character of this performance was.


    "so flashy!" lu yiyao said with a feigned tone of disdain, but her face bloomed with a joyful smile.


    "seeing you''ve put in so much effort, i suppose i''ll reluctantly agree to your request!" lu yiyao said confidently to zhang menglong, her cheeks already flushing red.


    "thump!" just then, a wallet fell from the sky, landing right between them.


    "what''s going on?" zhang menglong looked up. "doesn''t anyone know how dangerous falling objects from high up can be?"


    but as he looked up, he saw guo yuqian and lu yiyao''s other roommates smiling down at them.


    "yiyi, my cousin will need to stay over again tonight, so we''ll have to impose on you a bit."


    "yiyi, don''t forget your id card!"


    "yiyi, we''ve already locked the door, so don''t bother resisting."


    "yiyi, just give in to boss zhang tonight!"


    "cough, cough, cough, be safe!"


    "you guys!" lu yiyao was about to swear at them, but her roommates had already retreated. read exclusive adventures at empire


    "it''s all your fault!" lu yiyao glared at zhang menglong


    ...

 Chapter 124 I plan to donate a sum of money to your school

    "how did you get here so quickly?" the two wandered hand in hand along the streets of gusu city.


    "of course, i had to. a man has to be quick when it''s time to be quick, or what''s my private jet for?" zhang menglong said, exaggerating.


    "pah! you rascal, not this again!" lu yiyao glared at him, "how did you know what happened here? did qian qian and the others tell you?"


    "it''s telepathy," zhang menglong quipped, "the moment you''re in danger, i''ll know right away. otherwise, how do you think i got here so fast? why didn''t you tell me when such a thing happened?"


    "isn''t it because i didn''t want to worry you?"


    "so if you don''t tell me, i won''t worry?" zhang menglong said, "what if you got hurt? where would i go to find another lu yiyao?"


    "there won''t be another lu yiyao, but there are plenty of internet celebrities, stars, and even european royalty and nobility, right?" lu yiyao said with a smile.


    "how could any of them compare to you?" zhang menglong''s voice suddenly turned colder, "as for that guy named bai shengwu, i won''t let him off so easily."


    "don''t do anything rash!" lu yiyao knew zhang menglong''s personality well. just because ding yuxi had assaulted a girl he previously didn''t even recognize, zhang menglong had cornered wang yi music to a dead end, let alone if she herself was hurt.


    she was somewhat scared that zhang menglong might do something impulsive and inappropriate in the heat of the moment.


    "don''t worry, i''m a civilized person. a civilized person has civilized ways to solve problems. i''m not going to do anything violent," zhang menglong said.


    "so what are you planning to do?" lu yiyao had heard some unsavory things about bai shengwu and knew of girls who had suffered and were too afraid to speak out. if these beasts could be exposed, it would truly be a cathartic event for many.


    "heh heh!" zhang menglong started to laugh, "naturally, i have my ways."


    "come on, tell me what you''re going to do!" seeing zhang menglong''s expression, lu yiyao knew someone was going to be out of luck¡ªand it wouldn''t be pretty. not physically, of course, but mentally.


    "give me a kiss and i''ll tell you!"


    "get lost!"


    "damn it, you dare to hit me?"


    "why wouldn''t i dare? today we need to establish the hierarchy in this household first!"


    "woman, you''re playing with fire!"


    ...


    once again, lu yiyao was driven out of her dorm room by her roommates and had to spend the night at zhang menglong''s place. of course, they didn''t move too fast into doing inappropriate things, since their relationship had only just begun. despite this, the way they were together still made zhang menglong utterly delighted.


    "isn''t this breakfast a bit too lavish?" lu yiyao eyed the meal that could rival a state banquet, "do you eat like this every morning?"


    "no, no, no. we have important things to do today, so of course we need to have a full meal for energy," he replied as he ate.


    "more important than the city bureau leaders?"


    "it''s an investor," president xu stated, "our plan for the new campus has been settled, but we''ve always had issues finalising the funding. i just received a call from an entrepreneur who said he''s willing to sponsor a sum for gusu university."


    "president, this isn''t something that can be handled with just a few million."


    "this entrepreneur wants to donate ten billion!"


    "what? ten billion?" on hearing the number, the assistant couldn''t stay calm either, "president, this isn''t a joking matter. what entrepreneur could afford to donate ten billion to a school? is it one of our alumni?"


    "no," the president shook his head, "this person is not from our school."


    "then why would he want to donate to our school?"


    "i don''t know either, but you must have heard of his name."


    "who?"


    "zhang menglong!"


    "the young man who''s been frequently appearing in the news lately?"


    "that''s him."


    "president, i might know why," the secretary said with a chuckle.


    "oh? tell me?"


    "president, he''s quite the celebrity in our school. back in the day, he offered 100,000 yuan as a finder''s fee to anyone at our school who could help him find a female student. that day, over a thousand people from the school, including some teachers, got involved."


    "were you a part of it as well?" the president asked, amused.


    "heh heh, necessity compelled me," the secretary laughed sheepishly, "and moreover, just last night, there were thousands of drones at our school. apparently, someone was confessing to the girls in the dormitory, and students even captured photos of that young man named zhang menglong leaving the campus with one of our female students."


    "that''s quite interesting," president xu was entertained, "so his donation to our school is likely related to this girl?"


    "it should be. so do you think we should discuss this matter further?"


    "discuss my ass!" president xu suddenly became anxious, "the young man is just in love, why meddle so much? we''re in an open-minded era, an era of liberated thought. a university student has also reached this age; hurry and get ready to receive the guest. we must secure this donation today!"


    "who was it that said students should prioritize their studies?" the secretary muttered under his breath, "as soon as you see this money, you forget what you''ve said, don''t you?"


    "what are you muttering about!"


    "nothing, nothing..."

 Chapter 125 Principal, The Female Teachers Underwear Has Been Stolen

    "president, mr. zhang menglong is here!"


    "he''s finally here, quick, go make some tea!" the president hurriedly straightened his clothes, displaying the same serious and solemn demeanor he reserved only for meetings with provincial and national leaders. discover more stories at empire


    "so, you must be president xu? i''ve heard much about you. one look and i can tell you''re an intellectual." in fact, zhang menglong had not known that gusu university''s president''s last name was xu, but of course, politeness was necessary.


    "mr. zhang, you are much younger than i expected," said president xu as he shook hands with zhang menglong. "come, please take a seat."


    "president xu, you need not address me as mr. zhang. i am at most a junior to you; just calling me xiao zhang would suffice,"


    "alright, xiao zhang, then i won''t stand on ceremony," president xu responded with a beaming face.


    "oh, by the way, this is my girlfriend, and this is my personal assistant. they won''t disturb our discussion here, will they?"


    "not at all, not at all!" president zhang quickly replied, "xiao zhang, miss hong yi told me that you plan to donate to our university?"


    "yes," said zhang menglong, "you should know, my girlfriend is from gusu university, so i consider myself half from gusu university as well. it is only right to contribute a little."


    "a little?" the secretary of president xu was buzzing with disbelief.


    not to mention how 1 billion us dollars had suddenly become a small contribution, but even if one was to make a gesture, should it be zhang menglong? who had ever heard of someone donating a billion dollars to his girlfriend''s university just like that? was this the so-called whims of the wealthy?


    "xiao zhang, your willingness to give back to society is admirable. on behalf of the entire faculty and students of gusu university, i thank you for your outstanding contribution,"


    "it''s nothing, just some spare change," zhang menglong said.


    "this is hardly spare change!" although there was a strong urge within president xu to scold zhang menglong, he restrained himself, "xiao zhang, you might not know, but our university has been negotiating a new campus project recently. the land has been secured, but we''ve had some difficulty with the financing hasn''t come through yet. your donation has truly come at a critical moment."


    "oh? is that so?" zhang menglong found that he had indeed come at a good time.


    "moreover, the colleges that plan to move to the new campus include the music college!"


    a slight smile appeared on zhang menglong''s lips; since that was the case, he might as well add a bit more excitement.


    "president, i suddenly think that we should reconsider this donation for a bit longer."


    "is that so?" zhang menglong''s expression suddenly became intriguing, "but i seem to have heard that some teachers, especially from the music college, don''t have very good morals. i am concerned that if this money falls into the hands of those people, it would be troublesome."


    "how could that be! there absolutely isn''t such a person among our school''s faculty!" principal xu suddenly got agitated.


    "principal xu, please don''t be offended by my words; since i''ve mentioned it, clearly i''ve heard something. you might be too busy managing school affairs to notice, but it wouldn''t hurt to investigate."


    "secretary xue, is this really happening?" principal xu turned to his secretary.


    "um... principal, to tell the truth, there are indeed some rumors among the students, but they are just student rumors, not to be taken as fact."


    "so, there really is such talk?"


    "yes," secretary xue replied, "i''ve heard that several professors from the music college seem to behave improperly!"


    "knock, knock, knock!" just then, the door of the principal''s office was suddenly knocked.


    "what''s going on? didn''t i say no visitors this morning?"


    "i''ll go check." secretary xue stood up, but as soon as he opened the door, a dozen female teachers rushed into the principal''s office.


    "you... what are you doing?" the principal asked as he looked toward the security guard who had been pushed to the side of the door, "what exactly is going on?"


    "principal! you must take care of this matter!"


    "yes! it''s outrageous that our school has seen such incidents!"


    "if this gets out, our school''s reputation will be completely ruined!"


    a group of female teachers began to complain noisily.


    "what on earth are you talking about?" principal xu was utterly confused.


    "principal," at this point, the security guard stepped forward, "last night, many female teachers who live on campus reported that their hanging undergarments were stolen. they initially thought they were blown away by the wind, but after asking around, there turned out to be dozens of teachers who lost their clothes!"


    "whoosh!" zhang menglong stood up abruptly, "principal xu, see, i told you there are issues with the moral atmosphere at your school. it seems we should talk about this matter some other time!"

 Chapter 126 Principal, I am Studying Art

    "yiyi, hong yi, let''s go. i feel that gusu university is still somewhat unreliable. it''s unbelievable that such a perverted incident could occur. it seems that we really need to scrutinize this donation and can''t just give it away blindly!"


    "yeah, i thought that the ethos of a century-old prestigious university would be of high quality. who would have thought that there would be such incidents of underwear theft in the school? it seems we overestimated gusu university!" said hong yi, echoing zhang menglong''s words.


    "menglong, our school shouldn''t have such incidents, i always find it strange," lu yiyao defended their school in confusion, "as far as i know, our school has never experienced such incidents. could it be someone''s prank?"


    seeing lu yiyao defending the school, the principal and his secretary quickly concurred, "yeah, xiao zhang, i feel there must be something wrong. if this incident really was done by someone in our school, i will definitely punish them severely without mercy!"


    "exactly, exactly, security! go check the surveillance cameras! i refuse to believe that so many personal garments could be stolen without leaving any clues!" the principal''s secretary urged.


    "principal, i have already checked the surveillance footage," the security guard said with a wry smile, "but the footage shows no suspicious individuals. those balconies are almost blind spots for the cameras; from my point of view, it''s as if they were blown away by a gust of wind."


    "what kind of gust of wind!" the female teachers couldn''t stand it any longer, "if it was the wind, why are none of the male teachers'' things missing, and it''s only our belongings that have been lost?"


    "that''s right! could it be that the wind discriminates between men''s and women''s clothing? there must be some pervert who has used unspeakable methods to do this!"


    "absolutely! principal, you must find out who this pervert is; otherwise, which female teacher would dare to live on campus in the future?"


    "indeed! for now, it''s only the belongings of our internal staff that have been stolen. but if one day the students'' things are taken, and this gets out, it will have a huge impact on our school''s reputation!"


    "thump!" the principal slammed his fist on the table angrily, "outrageous!"


    today was supposed to be a very joyful occasion. he could have obtained a donation of 100 billion from zhang menglong, but just as the donation was almost secured, this incident occurred, and how could he not be furious?


    the teachers were right; this incident had to be man-made!


    "investigate! i want an investigation! no matter who it is, even if it''s a professor, this time i will definitely handle it with the utmost severity!" the principal of gusu university, who was known for having a temper, was utterly humiliated by the incident.


    "principal, i am quite willing to believe in your school, as it is a century-old reputed university, but there could still be a few bad apples," said zhang menglong, "i will temporarily reserve this donation for gusu university, but if this incident isn''t resolved, i can''t rest assured handing over the donation to you."


    "alas!" the principal sighed, "xiao zhang, sorry for making you witness this farce. just now, i said that nothing like this could happen at our school, but now i''m genuinely slapping my own face!"


    "principal, it''s normal to overlook some matters when you have so much on your plate, but we must find this person as a warning to others. otherwise, it will be an eternal shame for gusu university, and it might even affect future student enrollment!"


    but what he didn''t know was that all this fell right into zhang menglong''s plans. bai shengwu''s behavior was not just the sort of overly strict teacher that principal xu understood it to be.


    "i''ll go along and take a look as well," zhang menglong said, seemingly casually.


    "good! let''s go together!" seeing that zhang menglong was willing to go, principal xu was even happier. he had to handle this matter to zhang menglong''s satisfaction, as for the perverted teacher, there was plenty of time to investigate. gaining zhang menglong''s trust was the most important thing right now.


    the music college was located in the most secluded part of the school. if you approached a bit closer, you could hear the sound of pianos and violins coming from inside, and occasionally, the sound of less refined instruments like suonas and gongs, instruments that accompany someone from birth until their seventh-day passing ceremony.


    lu yiyao followed behind zhang menglong like a little wife, and she suddenly realized that everything seemed to be manipulated by an unseen hand. how could it be so precisely directed at bai shengwu?


    yet bai shengwu was just indecent with female students and he never left any evidence whether through intimidation or enticement. as for this underwear pervert, she never connected him with bai shengwu before.


    "principal, this is mr. bai''s office, and it seems he is inside," said someone.


    "let''s go take a look!" the principal knocked on the door. although he was seething with anger, he still maintained basic decorum.


    "principal, what brings you here?" bai shengwu, seeing the principal, immediately put on a sycophantic smile.


    "i just haven''t visited our college''s teachers for a while. i wonder what mr. bai has been busy with lately?" the principal asked politely.


    "ah, us in the arts, aside from studying the arts every day, what else can we do!"


    "amita?bha!"


    "hallelujah!"


    suddenly, a strange voice came from bai shengwu''s office, and bai shengwu''s face changed drastically. a person like him, how could he not recognize what that sound was?


    in his spare time, he most enjoyed studying the art of the island country, and he was all too familiar with that kind of voice.


    but what he could not fathom was how his well-hidden collection could possibly start playing at this moment?


    "this..." zhang menglong deliberately showed an exaggerated expression, "mr. bai, is this the art you study?"

 Chapter 127 All My Collected Treasures

    at that moment, bai shengwu noticed lu yiyao beside the principal, aware of his misconduct, his gaze wandered nervously.


    as for zhang menglong, although he had become notorious at gusu university, he had quickly blocked relevant information, and most of the teachers didn''t care much about it, so bai shengwu only knew of him by reputation.


    seeing zhang menglong now, he just found him slightly familiar, after all, zhang menglong wasn''t part of the entertainment or music circles; he was involved in the internet celebrity scene.


    "how could she come with the principal?" bai shengwu felt a twinge of unease, but upon reflection, he believed he hadn''t left behind any evidence.


    moreover, he had inexplicably fainted that day and had been found by his students, who could attest to his innocence, so he wasn''t afraid of lu yiyao.


    but those indescribable sounds in his office...


    despite the principal''s old age and waning interest in such matters, he was no child. he would recognize what those sounds were the moment he heard them.


    "step aside!" he pushed bai shengwu away and stormed directly into the office.


    the computer in bai shengwu''s office was showing a series of indecent images not suitable for children, and a few tissues were even scattered on the floor.


    "how is this possible?" bai shengwu was dumbfounded, as he had just been searching for music scores on his computer, and he swore those tissues weren''t there before!


    "someone is setting me up!" bai shengwu was instantly consumed by rage, but with only half a minute from his leaving the seat to the sound, with no one else in his room, how could this happen?


    "mr. zhang, i''ve completed what you arranged." only zhang menglong could hear the voice whispering by his ear, which belonged to ye yin.


    "impressive!" zhang menglong admired ye yin''s capability inwardly.


    "is this what you call art?" the principal pointed to the computer screen and said, "turn it off now, we have female teachers and students present, what do you think you''re doing?"


    bai shengwu hurriedly fumbled to turn off the computer screen.


    "principal, listen to my explanation, it''s not like this, i suspect someone is setting me up?"


    "theft? what theft?" bai shengwu instinctively asked.


    "our female teacher lost many personal garments last night. this wouldn''t be related to teacher bai, would it?" a woman resembling master extinction stared at him piercingly.


    a teacher with a dissolute private life had already been labeled unfavorably in their minds, and bai shengwu was directly placed among the suspects.


    being a teacher and having such inclinations, perhaps he truly might have done this.


    "how could that be possible!" bai shengwu immediately denied, "ladies and gentlemen of the faculty, this is a matter of principle. how could i involve myself in such behavior? it''s absolutely impossible. i stake my honor on it!"


    "yeah, right, you talk about honor while you watch adult movies of teacher daqiao?" zhang menglong mocked harshly.


    "you seem to know a lot!" lu yiyao quietly pinched zhang menglong''s waist, "could it be that you also enjoy this alone often?"


    "hahaha, i appreciate art, i appreciate art!" zhang menglong said quietly.


    "wait, what is this?" a female teacher suddenly stood up. she walked to a cabinet which was locked, but a white lace ribbon was seen protruding from the seam.


    "oh, those are my collections!" bai shengwu casually glanced over; the cabinet housed his collection of various musical instruments accumulated over many years, including some used by renowned musicians, something he was very proud of.


    "your collections?" the female teacher pulled at the ribbon, which, to her, looked very much like the lace of underwear.


    "teacher bai, do you also have a hobby of collecting such items?"


    "haha, i am in the arts, so collecting these items is quite normal," bai shengwu walked over, "if you don''t believe me, i''ll open it and show you. it''s bound to surprise you!"


    bai shengwu approached the cabinet. at that moment, he noticed the lace in the teacher''s hand.


    "what is this?" bai shengwu was certain; the items he stored in his cabinet were definitely musical instruments and should not include such things!


    "teacher bai, go ahead and open it; why are you hesitating? let us see your collection. i want to broaden my horizons; i wonder what treasures you have."

 Chapter 128 Lets Start with a Donation of 50 Million

    "principal, these are just some musical instruments i''ve collected, nothing interesting for you all, i suppose!"


    "open it!" the principal wasn''t blind; he seemed to have already guessed what might be in there, and the temperature around them seemed to drop in an instant.


    "security, smash it open!"


    "yes, principal!" the security guard came over with tools in hand.


    it was just a wooden cabinet, and the broad-shouldered security guard knocked the door off its hinges after a few strikes, suddenly a pile of colorful items fell out.


    these were actually women''s intimate apparel!


    "ye yin, did you take all this?" zhang menglong had only meant for ye yin to take a token amount; how had it turned into an entire box?


    "mr. zhang, didn''t you say just a little bit? i only took a tiny bit."


    "your ''tiny bit'' seems quite different from the ''little bit'' i meant!" zhang menglong immediately rolled his eyes.


    "teachers, i''m sorry, but to bring this pervert to justice, i had to resort to this strategy. you won''t blame me, will you? i''ll surely donate more money later!" zhang menglong admitted this act wasn''t very honorable, but in order to expose bai shengwu''s true colors, he couldn''t care about shame anymore.


    seeing this, bai shengwu was stunned, unable to comprehend how these items ended up in his cabinet.


    "well done, teacher bai! bai shengwu, you''ve shamed our school completely!" the principal finally exploded, he hadn''t expected to find such a degenerate in his faculty; it seemed he would need to focus more on teachers'' quality in the future.


    "principal, it wasn''t me... someone set me up, it must have been him!" bai shengwu pointed at zhang menglong and said, "it must have been all his doing!"


    "teacher bai, you can eat shit indiscriminately, but you can''t speak irresponsibly. i bear you no grudges, why would i frame you?" zhang menglong looked innocent.


    "bai shengwu, you still deny it at this point?"


    "principal, it''s all his scheme, yesterday i did something to lu yiyao..." bai shengwu cut himself off and quickly covered his mouth, almost revealing what he had done the day before in his panic.


    "yesterday? what did you do to student lu yesterday? huh?"


    "principal, i did nothing, she was here for the graduation concert arrangements, i simply gave her some guidance yesterday, she might have misunderstood something."


    "misunderstood?" the principal said coldly, "it seems you really think i''m senile!"


    "principal, no matter what happened, this theft by teacher bai is undeniable, we should call the police now," the secretary said, knowing that they had to show zhang menglong the school''s resolution in handling the issue to calm his anger and suspicion.


    "go call the police!" the principal sat down, "i will personally wait here."


    "principal, i..."


    "mr. zhang, it''s already been transferred!" hong yi said.


    "chief zhu, can you check if it has arrived?"


    "so fast?" zhu guangwei had never seen someone so eager to have their donation accepted.


    "chief zhu! we just received a donation of 50 million!" before zhu guangwei could inquire, someone hurriedly rushed into his office to report.


    "mr. zhang, it''s been received, thank you for your support to gusu''s public security!"


    "it''s only right; my girlfriend is there, and the stronger your force, the more secure her safety, right?"


    "you all, whatever mr. zhang needs, cooperate as much as possible, understood?" zhu guangwei instructed the two police officers, "consider this a merit for today!"


    "we understand!" the two police officers were all smiles, not expecting such an unexpected gain during today''s duty¡ªall thanks to zhang menglong!


    "mr. zhang, was it you who called the police? what''s happened?"


    "it''s like this, something vile happened at gusu university!" zhang menglong recounted the events.


    "unbelievable, gusu university has such a scourge within its ranks!"


    "indeed, it truly tarnishes our gusu!"


    "mr. zhang, rest assured, we will handle this matter with the utmost seriousness!"


    "wait a moment!" zhang menglong said, "i''ve heard that this teacher bai has also been involved in the indecent assault of students, i hope you can investigate this!" read exclusive chapters at empire


    "you''re talking nonsense!" bai shengwu suddenly became agitated¡ªshould these matters be investigated, not only would his reputation be destroyed, but his life would be over too.


    "that''s not for you to decide." zhang menglong replied with a sneer.


    "rest assured, mr. zhang! our leaders have instructed us, we will handle your matters seriously!" the two police officers said, "we will apply for permission to investigate his related computers and documents, and we will definitely give you a satisfactory response!"


    "then i''ll leave it to you!" zhang menglong smiled, "later, i might donate a few bugattis for you to use as police cars!"


    "mr. zhang, it''s the least we could do!"


    the two police officers immediately beamed with joy, bugattis as police cars? that was a treatment only seen in dubai! if zhang menglong really did make the donation, it would be another great merit for them!


    they had to do a good job with zhang menglong''s request! as long as it was within the bounds of legality and reason, they would definitely provide full support!


    "it''s over!" bai shengwu knew that the 50 million had completely dazed these police officers.


    the videos he hid in his own folders¡ªif the investigation permission was granted, his crimes would surely be exposed for all to see!

 Chapter 129 Why Arrest Me for Poaching from My Own Company?

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    "ah! a disgrace!"


    although bai shengwu was taken away, principal xu''s face was ashen. with such an incident occurring, he, as the principal, also bore responsibility!


    "mr. zhang, i''m sorry you had to witness this debacle," principal xu seemed to have aged several years in a moment.


    "principal, it''s not your fault, there''s no need for you to apologize."


    "as for the donation, i have no face to accept it," although very reluctant, the disgrace their school suffered today was already too much.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    "hong yi, transfer ten billion to gusu university''s account," zhang menglong instructed.


    "yes, mr. zhang."


    "mr. zhang, what are you..."


    "principal xu, this scum needs to be dealt with, but the school also needs to develop, right? after removing the rat feces, the stuff in the pot also needs to be changed. let''s start over from this new campus!"


    upon hearing zhang menglong''s words, principal xu was immediately moved to tears, "mr. zhang, on behalf of all the teachers and students, i thank you for your generosity!"


    ...


    "was that whole incident your doing?" bai shengwu was behind bars, and it was only a matter of time before the remaining issues were investigated. zhang menglong and lu yiyao also left the school.


    "what do you mean, ''was it my doing''? do you really think i''m that twisted?" zhang menglong said with a bitter smile, "bai shengwu was trash to begin with; is it surprising he would do something like this?"


    "true!" lu yiyao thought for a long time. even if zhang menglong was wealthy, he couldn''t be so omnipotent, could he? suddenly, she couldn''t be bothered to think more about it.


    "come with me to jiangnan city!" zhang menglong took lu yiyao''s hand, "i''m afraid i can''t take good care of you here."


    "hey, i''m not a child anymore," lu yiyao protested, "i''ll graduate in less than half a year, can''t you wait that long!"


    "of course, i can''t wait!" zhang menglong suddenly revealed a mischievous smile, "that teacher on the bridge just now..."


    "ah! don''t talk about it anymore! zhang menglong, you''ve changed!"


    "how have i changed? i never said i didn''t look before, hahaha!"


    ...


    after staying in gusu for a few days, lu yiyao switched to a new teacher, and all preparations had to start again. zhang menglong instructed hong yi to take good care of her while he returned to jiangnan city alone.


    two days earlier, wang ling had resolved all copyright issues and had also returned to jiangnan city. in three days, the download volume of music voice forest exceeded 50 million, and the number of users broke through 300 million!


    keep in mind, wangyi music had been operating for so many years and had only just broken through 800 million users (including duplicate registrations).


    moreover, according to feedback from app markets, in these few days, the uninstall rate of wangyi music reached an astonishing 12%!


    "damn! no wonder he''s mr. zhang, i''m resigning on the spot at light speed!"


    "mr. zhang, are you really here to recruit?" one employee asked, curious.


    "of course! it''s written in black and white!"


    "any requirements?"


    "if you could get into music ease, you must be talented. all you have to do is resign now, and you can start working with me tomorrow!"


    "damn!"


    "shit!"


    "hurry up and write your resignation letters! are you waiting around here to retire or what?"


    "what... what are you doing?" several veterans of music ease panicked immediately. to them, music ease was as vital as their own child; even if it was falling apart, they would support it to the very end!


    "director, the company''s almost gone. don''t blame us. we have our elders to care for, children to feed, and mortgages to pay, we can''t miss this opportunity!"


    "yeah, director, why don''t you come with us?"


    "traitors! you lot, once you leave, don''t ever think of coming back!"


    "director, no offense, but even if we wanted to come back, would the company still be here?"


    "director, pen, paper, let''s write it together!"


    "where''s the security? call the police; this is harassment! this is unfair business competition!" the music ease director shouted.


    "call the police?" zhang menglong laughed, "go ahead and call them. even if the police come, they won''t arrest me. i''m poaching from my own company, why would they arrest me?"


    "what? impossible! except for a small part of the shares held by us executives, the rest are with mr. ding and his relatives."


    "right!" zhang menglong said, "last night, ding xinbo, representing mr. ding''s seven aunts and eight uncles, begged me to buy their shares. 57% of the shares, supposedly worth over 40 billion us dollars, i got them for just 10 billion dollars!"


    "what? how could this be?" the director was completely dumbfounded.


    "57% of the shares? doesn''t that mean mr. zhang is now the chairman of our company?"


    "damn! who would care about someone poaching in their own company?"


    "poaching from his own company? what the hell kind of move is that?"


    "i get it now, he''s here to piss off mr. ding!"


    "what mr. ding, it''s mr. zhang now!"


    "hahaha, i''ll gladly call mr. zhang the most cunning!"


    ...

 Chapter 130 Convert this place into a foot-bathing city

    "damn! this isn''t poaching or recruiting, this is straight up giving raises!"


    someone finally caught on.


    "but wait, he owns the company now, why would he still need to pull this kind of stunt?" someone wondered aloud.


    clearly, netzay music was no longer viable, a takeover by music forest was inevitable, so why would zhang menglong bother with hosting a recruitment event here?


    just like with tengxun music, they simply transferred the entire company structure over, keeping the complete organization, wouldn''t that save a significant amount of time and manpower costs?


    "i get it now!" someone suddenly realized, "he''s trying to drive mr. ding to his death!"


    "brother, what do you mean?"


    "think about it, if he takes over the entirety of netzay music, doesn''t that mean our company becomes part of music forest too?"


    "yes!" echoed the crowd, "what''s wrong with that?"


    "it''s hugely problematic!" the person analyzed, "consider, if the takeover is in the company''s name, wouldn''t mr. ding and his crew also hold a significant share in music forest? our mr. ding clearly has a grudge against mr. zhang. would he really watch idly as mr.


    ding makes money off him?"


    "so what you''re saying is?"


    "he''s poaching all our people. once he has everyone, he doesn''t really need the company''s structure¡ªjust maybe an office building at most. yet, this would completely separate him from netzay music. once all of us are gone, it''s just a shell company."


    "what good does that do him?" someone puzzled, "you just heard, mr. zhang spent a billion us dollars for a 57% stake. what''s the point in buying a shell company for so much money?"


    "do you think mr. zhang is short of a billion us dollars?"


    "you... you seem to have hit the nail on the head."


    "a billion us dollars to him might as well be ten bucks."


    with that thought, everyone suddenly understood.


    "when it''s just a shell company, what use are the shares mr. ding is holding? with no people, what business can there be?"


    "absolutely ruthless! this move is brilliant!"


    "damn, stop your yapping, the resignation letters are already written up! if he recruits enough, are we supposed to go whistle in the wind?"


    "right, right! where''s the pen? who took my damn pen?"


    "you''re asking me to leave, and i don''t even give a damn!" manager li slapped his resignation letter on the desk, "goodbye to you!"


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    "awesome!" manager li shouted skywards and swaggered out of ding yuxi''s office.


    "the bastard, has he gone mad today?" confusion was written all over ding yuxi''s face.


    "whoosh!" a paper airplane suddenly flew into ding yuxi''s office, poking him right in the eye.


    "who! is this the place to do such things?" ding yuxi picked up the paper airplane, "another resignation letter?"


    "what on earth is going on?" ding yuxi suddenly felt something was not quite right.


    wangyi music could still be considered a big company, and although the workload was high, the compensation was good, and staff turnover wasn''t significant. why on earth was everyone suddenly resigning today?


    just as he was perplexed, a few leaders of the company also walked into the office and handed him their resignation letters.


    "what on earth is happening?" ding yuxi couldn''t hold back anymore.


    "mr. ding, it''s not that we don''t want to work anymore, but the company really can''t survive now. mr. zhang menglong is now recruiting in our company; anyone who goes there gets a 20% pay raise. it''s just too attractive."


    "mr. ding, over 90% of our staff have already submitted their resignation requests; mr. zhang has already started processing the joining formalities below. as long as we resign on the spot, we can join his company immediately."


    "what? he''s coming to poach my employees right here?" ding yuxi said, "i need to see just how he''s digging here!"


    ding yuxi stormed down to the reception area on the ground floor.


    indeed, just like the employees had said, zhang menglong was really processing onboarding formalities there, and his previous employees had even lined up long queues.


    "where''s security! security! get him out of here, call the police if he won''t leave!" ding yuxi yelled.


    "what are you yelling for? no shouting allowed inside the company, don''t you know the rules!" zhang menglong said while sipping his bubble tea at the side.


    "this is my company, please leave, or i will have to call the police!"


    "sorry, but this company is mine now!" zhang menglong pulled out a stack of shareholder agreements, "all your aunts and uncles have already sold their shares to me at a low price. now, i am the chairman of wangyi music."


    "you..." ding yuxi had no doubt about the authenticity of the shareholder agreements, his relatives had already mentioned this over the phone, but he didn''t expect them to actually sell everything! and at a discount! and to zhang menglong!


    "zhang menglong, what on earth do you want?"


    "nothing much, just thinking of changing the company''s business," zhang menglong responded, "by the way, you still have a small stake in this company. according to the shareholder agreement, two-thirds of the shareholders'' presence is enough to hold a shareholders'' meeting. so, let''s have an emergency one right now.


    those in favor of turning wangyi music into a music-themed foot massage parlor, please raise your hands!"

 Chapter 131 Asias Largest Foot Bath Center

    "Foot spa city?"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice was so loud that the people around him heard his conversation with Ding Yuxi.


    The once second largest music platform in the country, the grand NetEase Music, was actually going to be transformed into a music-themed foot spa city? How sensational was that?


    "Zhang Menglong, you..." Ding Yuxi was already so angry he was trembling. The last time he had been infuriated by Zhang Menglong, he had ended up in the hospital. The doctor had told him his heart had some congenital arrhythmia, and if often stimulated, it might very likely develop into heart disease.


    "Don''t look at me, vote!" Zhang Menglong said, "Our shares combined, have already surpassed two-thirds. We can just raise our hands to vote, and it will pass. I''ve already taken care of the new business license!"


    "Xiao Wang, bring the license and that plaque!" Zhang Menglong called to an employee from Music Forest.


    "Right away, Boss Zhang!" The person known as Xiao Wang quickly ran out and soon came back, his hands holding a service industry business license and a golden plaque.


    "NetEase Footpath!"


    "Hahaha! Awesome!"


    "NetEase Footpath? NetEase has its way, hahaha, Boss Zhang is truly a talent!"


    "This is too sensational, I''m dumbfounded!"


    "Ah bah, ah bah ah bah..."


    "You see, I was prepared. From now on, this building will be our NetEase Footpath building. I will soon arrange for technicians to come over, and I have also invited Mr. Qiao Shan as our spokesperson. This will definitely become popular throughout the entire Jiangnan City!"


    Zhang Menglong patted the plaque, "I''ve decided, we''re not only doing foot massages, but also ear picking, massages, and cupping therapy¡ªeverything except the illicit, we do it all!"


    "What''s wrong, aren''t you happy?" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically, "Do you think I''m too domineering? No worries, I''m very democratic. While I may be the chairman, we still decide based on the voting results. Now, those who agree with transforming NetEase Music into NetEase Footpath, please raise your hands!"


    Zhang Menglong blissfully raised his hand above his head.


    "One vote in favor, zero against, so it''s decided then!"


    Ding Yuxi was nearly spitting blood. Sure, there were two of them, but Zhang Menglong had a greater share of stocks than him, even his father being here now wouldn''t change the fact that Zhang Menglong had the final say. This NetEase Footpath, it was set in stone today!


    "Xiao Wang, go hang up the license and the sign. I''ve already contacted the construction team, they will start work tomorrow. Can we wrap everything up today? If not, I''ll bring a couple more people over to help!"


    "Don''t worry, Boss Zhang, we can handle it here."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Good, then I leave it to you. If you do well, you''ll be the manager of this NetEase Footpath."


    ...


    "Damn, our NetEase Music is becoming NetEase Footpath starting today?"


    ...


    With Ding Yuxi in the hospital, there wasn''t much point in Zhang Menglong staying around, so he left the mess at Wangyi to them and left directly.


    As he had just stepped out of Wangyi, he received a call from Ding Sanshi.


    "Mr. Ding, what''s up?" Zhang Menglong asked casually.


    "Zhang Menglong, you sent my son to the hospital, and you have the nerve to ask me what''s up?" Ding Sanshi said furiously; it was his only son, but thankfully, the doctors said it was just fire from anger, no harm to the heart.


    "My fault? It''s his own poor mindset."


    "Are you satisfied now?"


    "Satisfied?" Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed, "Why should I be? Your son owes my friend fifty billion for emotional damages and hasn''t paid yet. You think we''re done here?"


    "You already turned Wangyi Music into Wangyi Foot Bath City, what more do you want?" Ding Sanshi roared.


    "I think the Wangyi headquarters building is pretty nice. I plan to make it the biggest foot bath center in Asia, what do you think?"


    "You!" Ding Sanshi almost followed in his son''s footsteps, turning the Wangyi headquarters into Asia''s biggest foot bath center? Was he shooting for the moon?


    But for some reason, he believed that Zhang Menglong might actually do it.


    First, he had the financial power.


    Second, he had no interest in money.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you really want?" Ding Sanshi was out of answers, "Even if my son did something wrong, you don''t have to be so relentless, right?"


    "No, no, no, it''s not just your son who offended me at Wangyi."


    "Someone else too?" Ding Sanshi was taken aback.


    "During the recruitment period, I applied at Wangyi, and I reached the final round, only to get ousted by someone with connections. Can you believe it?"


    "Are you kidding?" Ding Sanshi looked astonished. Did someone like Zhang Menglong even need a job? Was he trying to experience life?


    "Actually, you had a chance to become my boss, but Wangyi missed that opportunity," Zhang Menglong said, "Thanks to you, I didn''t want to try anymore and just went back home to take over the family business."


    "I..." Ding Sanshi clenched his fists, "Who on earth did that!"


    Ding Sanshi finally understood why Zhang Menglong was so ruthless ¡ª besides his son''s incident, there was another story involved.


    "Alright, fifty billion, get ready. Otherwise, I will start preparing to take over Wangyi," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "Have Qiao Shan endorse a couple more foot bath cities for me. He shouldn''t charge extra, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 132 What did you just ask me?

    "Fine! I''ll give it to you!" Ding Sanshi clenched his teeth as he spoke, as Zhang Menglong''s actions would put not just Music Forest at risk, but potentially bring down the entire Wangyi Group.


    Wangyi was his life''s work, and if it truly became the largest foot bath center in all of Asia, he, Ding Sanshi, might well end up as a historical figure noted in history textbooks, albeit for an ignominious reason.


    "I''ll give you the remaining shares of Music Forest, and shares worth 25 billion US Dollars from Wangyi Group''s other public companies. Are you satisfied now?"


    For Ding Sanshi, this money was like flesh being forcibly carved from his body.


    "Satisfied? Why should I be satisfied? It''s not me you are compensating!" Zhang Menglong stated emphatically. "I''m merely seeking justice for the victims on behalf of my family. It''s as if this money is meant for me."


    "Zhang Menglong, there''s no need for pretense at this moment. You''re clearly after our Wangyi shares, aren''t you?" Ding Sanshi said.


    "Would I care about the small amount of shares from a company like yours?" Zhang Menglong sneered. "If even a dime of that money lands in my pocket, I''ll eat the Wangyi Building on the spot!"


    Ding Sanshi''s face alternated between shades of green and red, as Zhang Menglong''s remark was clearly a jab at his previous deceitful behavior.


    "Moreover, 25 billion in equivalent shares is not enough!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t you cross the line!" Ding Sanshi''s tone also became more forceful.


    "Am I crossing the line? Where have I crossed the line?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Do you think your Wangyi''s 47% share is worth 25 billion US Dollars? Go ask around and see if anyone would buy those shares for 25 billion, think everyone is a fool?"


    "You..." Ding Sanshi was about to explode, but Zhang Menglong was not wrong. Music Forest was currently in dire straits¡ªwith little more than a building, a user-depleted app, and some contracts nearing expiration¡ªit had almost nothing left.


    Not to mention 25 billion, even 10 billion wouldn''t find a buyer, as long as Music Forest stood, Wangyi Music had no hope of turning around.


    And now, Zhang Menglong had even converted Music Forest into a foot washing city, and decoration workers had already begun demolishing walls that afternoon. Could foot washing turn things around? Even if you washed a thousand dirty feet of the national soccer team, you couldn''t dream of returning Music Forest to its peak.


    "So what do you suggest?"


    "Your relatives bought those shares for 1 billion US Dollars, a discount of about 2.5%. I won''t cheat you, let''s value the rest at 8 billion Huaxia yuan. Just gather another 42 billion, and we can settle this."


    "Impossible!" Ding Sanshi said without even thinking, as truly parting with these shares valued at 42 billion would mean losing significant control over Wangyi Group, and even his own net worth would halve!


    "President Ding, it seems I forgot to take account of my own interests," Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed, "This 50 billion, it''s just for that young girl. If I were to seek some justice for myself, it would be more than just 50 billion."


    "President Ding, considering your age, why not retire early? You could still cash out your shares in Wangyi, travel the world. Why bother with all this trouble? Moreover, your good-for-nothing son is virtually a train wreck. Why not take this experience and start afresh with something else?"


    "Mr. Yuan, attorney, could you please check these agreements?" Zhang Menglong said to the middle-aged man beside him.


    The attorney, Mr. Yuan, picked up the equity transfer agreements and carefully reviewed them.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are no issues at all. All Miss Xia needs to do is show the relevant documents and then sign the transfer agreements, and after notarization, it will be done,"


    "That would be great, thanks," Zhang Menglong said as he moved to sit on a couch, completely unconcerned about the share transaction.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, this place has a pretty nice view!" Zhang Menglong commented while looking at the scenery outside, "If this were turned into a foot spa, the business would be booming!"


    "Pfft!" Ding Sanshi almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Can you stop talking about the foot spa? Ever since Music Forest was rebranded as Wangyi Foot Path by Zhang Menglong, Ding Sanshi had developed a phobia of foot spas.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s all done; Miss Xia is now a shareholder of Wangyi Group," Mr. Yuan, the attorney, announced.


    "Thanks for the hard work," Zhang Menglong said, "All right, it''s all signed; let''s head back."


    "Zhang Menglong!" Ding Sanshi suddenly called out to him.


    "President Ding, is there anything else?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "These shares, you''re really not tempted at all?" Ding Sanshi still found it hard to believe. These were shares worth 50 billion RMB, "You won''t transfer the shares to yourself after leaving here, will you?"


    "Excuse me, I need to take this call," Zhang Menglong''s cell phone suddenly rang.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve arranged the large particle collider you ordered, but the model has recently been upgraded, and with the research and build materials, the price will rise a bit, so our deposit might not cover it."


    "Oh, I remember last time it was around 25 billion, right?"


    Ding Sanshi shuddered. Zhang Menglong hadn''t put it on speaker, but the other side''s voice was loud, and he could clearly hear the conversation.


    He spent 25 billion on a particle collider?


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, the price will increase by about 3 billion."


    "No problem, just go ahead and wire the money," Zhang Menglong said, visibly thrilled that he got to spend an extra 3 billion!


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone. "Sorry, President Ding, what were you asking me?"


    "It''s... it''s nothing," Ding Sanshi seemed to finally understand that Zhang Menglong truly had no interest in money. Spending an extra 3 billion, and he was still laughing! Unabashedly laughing!

 Chapter 133 I Heard You Dont Believe

    "Brother Zhang, why don''t I just give these shares back to you?" On the way back, Xia You appeared restless.


    A plain girl suddenly possessed 50 billion in massive shares, probably wouldn''t be able to sleep well for a year.


    "It''s okay, you keep them," Zhang Menglong said, "I''m not interested in this small amount of money, as long as Manager Xia won''t refuse to record songs for our movie due to the sudden surge in her net worth."


    "No no no, I promise I won''t, I will definitely sing well!" Xia You hastily said.


    "Hahaha, I was just joking," Zhang Menglong said.


    "But..."


    "No buts, this is compensation for your emotional distress; the victim isn''t me, why give it to me? Just keep it with peace of mind."


    "Then... then Brother Zhang, if you ever need it, you can ask me anytime."


    "I know," Zhang Menglong laughed, "However, there likely won''t be a day when I''ll need that."


    ...


    With his own private jet, Zhang Menglong flew directly from the Wangyi Group headquarters in Yangcheng back to Jiangnan City in the afternoon. He spent a few days adequately pooling the resources of Tengxun Music, Wangyi Music, and Music Forest, and from then on, Music Forest became the undisputed largest music platform in the country.


    As for the original building of Wangyi Music, it was indeed transformed by Zhang Menglong into Wangyi Footpath, amalgamating foot baths, massages, fitness, etc., and while Zhang Menglong became the focus of public attention, it also made Ding Sanshi very popular.


    It''s worth mentioning that Wangyi Footpath even had a large number of customers handling their membership cards during the renovation period, and it even stirred quite a strong market reaction.


    "Old Zhang, have you seen the international news recently?"


    "What news? Are you talking about the old US changing presidents?" Zhang Menglong thought carefully, the most intense international response recently, should be just that."


    "Not that, I''m talking about something related to you!"


    "Related to me?" Zhang Menglong wondered, "What''s up, has my Wangyi Footpath branched out overseas?"


    "Don''t you ever watch international news!" Wang Ling said, "Do you remember the last time Poladi came to Huaxia for dinner, the things he said about economic history?"


    "Oh, you mean my grandfather''s business, what about it?"


    "Boss Zhang, does Wangyi have any apprentice slots? I''m considering coming to work."


    "Boss Zhang is still tough, but this matter, I''m the first to disbelieve. It''s too exaggerated. If your grandfather really had that ability, wouldn''t he have dominated Earth already?"


    "Hahaha, that''s Boss Zhang being low-key."


    "To be honest, I don''t quite believe this either. Stirring up drama is one thing, but there''s no need for this."


    "Exactly, Boss Zhang. It''s just apologizing, right? What''s so shameful about apologizing to history? Besides, you really are loaded. You must be the richest man in the world, right?"


    "Boss Zhang, how much does it cost to hire an actor? Especially one of the richest-man-in-the-world caliber; it can''t be cheap, right?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, see, even your fans don''t believe you!" Wang Ling, always focused on Zhang Menglong''s Weibo, instantly started mocking him.


    "Do you believe it?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "This..." Rationally speaking, Wang Ling didn''t believe it ¨C one person controlling the global economy, what need would there be for other countries then?


    But emotionally speaking, for some reason, he felt that there might be a certain possibility to it.


    "Looks like you don''t believe it either!" Zhang Menglong laughed. He didn''t blame Wang Ling; had he heard such news, he most likely wouldn''t believe it either.


    "It seems I need to do something, or these people will never shut up," Zhang Menglong said casually flipping through the comments, some of which were quite vile and hard to read.


    "What are you planning to do?" Wang Ling suddenly had a bad feeling.


    "Nothing much, just planning to make history repeat itself!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately posted another update.


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    It was a smiling emoji with just a few words.


    "Heard you didn''t believe?"

 Chapter 134 Empty Their Bank Accounts for Me

    "What does this sentence mean? Is President Zhang going to stir things up?"


    "No way, right? It couldn''t be just bluster, could it?"


    "Is this supposed to prove something to us? I''ve already prepared my melon, someone hand me a spoon."


    "It can''t be another staged drama by him, can it? If you have real guts, create another financial crisis, I''ll call you daddy if you can pull that off."


    "Liar, disrespecting history, apologize immediately!"


    "Look up, your mom is floating in the sky!"


    "What is up with these comments? If the world''s richest person can exist in America, can''t Huaxia have an invisible super-rich? Just worshiping all things foreign, aren''t we?"


    "Exactly, President Zhang, do whatever you want, we support you!"


    Zhang Menglong''s latest Weibo post was already packed with comments, and the topic rapidly went viral, and even those who had no clue what was going on were suddenly all in the know, and the video of Zhang Menglong''s initial chat with Poladi was once again spread across the internet.


    Not only that, but on B-station''s remix area, productions related to Zhang Menglong had become the crown jewels of the site, with views reaching tens of millions.


    "Menglong, are you okay?" The moment she heard the news, Lu Yiyao called Zhang Menglong.


    Ever since her first meeting with Zhang Menglong, he had been leaving his legend everywhere, and now he was not just famous domestically, but had mingled in the international financial circles as well.


    "What could be wrong with me?" Zhang Menglong spoke indifferently, "I''m not bragging, and besides, these words didn''t even come from me. To be honest, I''m actually pretty wronged."


    Those stories concerning Grandpa Zhang Menglong, even Zhang Menglong himself learned of them through Poladi, yet he ended up branded as a swindler and hype-master, which was completely baffling.


    "So what are you going to do? You can''t let them keep insulting you, why not issue a statement to explain?" Lu Yiyao suggested.


    "Issue a statement? But Hong Yi told me it''s all true," Zhang Menglong said, "No worries, since they don''t believe it, let''s just demonstrate it for them again. The Zhang Family has been quiet for too long, maybe these people have forgotten the fear they had when they were under our thumb."


    "Demonstrate it again?"


    "If I remember correctly, the last global financial crisis was over a decade ago, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly wore a mysterious expression, "Oh right, Yiyi, if you have any friends who have bought stocks or funds, tell them to pull out quickly to prevent innocent casualties."


    "Damn, that''s harsh?" Zhang Menglong was immediately stunned. To drain a country''s banks, wouldn''t that require all the money in the bank to be his? "Is draining the banks even possible?"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t forget that the Zhang Family virtually controls the lifeline of the world''s economy. Out of 233 countries and regions around the world, many countries have more than 80% of their foreign exchange reserves owned by you, and you even hold a large amount of their national debt and deposits. Isn''t that a simple matter?"


    "Interesting!" Zhang Menglong immediately chuckled sleazily. This was too thrilling; it was like playing ''Minecraft''."


    "Let''s see who''s jumping the highest!" Zhang Menglong "began checking out a world economic forum. "


    "This economic crisis and the people of Huaxia have nothing to do with each other! It''s the result of the experiments conducted by our Qingqiu Country''s economists while researching new economic models. It''s our masterpiece!"


    "Damn awesome!" Seeing this comment, Zhang Menglong almost burst out laughing. The people of Qingqiu Country were as shameless as ever. It was the year 2020, and the whole universe was still theirs.


    "Exactly! It''s the hype by the people from Huaxia and the Americans!"


    "People of Huaxia, step forward and apologize! And the world''s richest man must also apologize to us!"


    What Zhang Menglong didn''t expect was that several economists from Qingqiu Country were even chiming in.


    "These people really don''t know the meaning of shame!" Zhang Menglong almost laughed out loud. "Hong Yi, let''s start with them! I really want to see if their so-called economic model works in front of me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the total savings in the largest bank of Qingqiu Country, Qingqiu Bank, are 100.8 trillion Qingqiu Currency. According to today''s US Dollar exchange rate, that''s about 1 trillion US Dollars. The second, Poladi Bank, has total savings of 78.4 trillion Qingqiu Currency, and the third-ranked bank has 50.2 trillion."


    "Tens of millions of people with so much money isn''t too shabby," Zhang Menglong nodded, "A good amount of this money in these banks should be mine, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "The enterprises owned by you in Qingqiu Country, as well as those under your family''s influence, have more than 45% of the deposits."


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    "Only 45%? That''s not a lot!" Zhang Menglong had thought he would have seventy to eighty percent of the deposits.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s already a terrifying amount," Hong Yi said, "Those banks might claim to have trillions in deposits, but in reality, banks operate on debt. If all their savers were to withdraw their money, the banks wouldn''t be able to hand over that much cash. Not to mention 45%; even 10% would be the end of them."


    "Oh? I don''t understand that part," Zhang Menglong, who didn''t study economics and didn''t understand things like leverage, said. But he knew one thing for sure: if he wanted, he could collapse a country''s economy at any time.


    "Then do as I just said. Start with their Qingqiu Country; empty all their domestic banks for me!"

 Chapter 135 Boss, Were Out of Money

    The capital of Qingqiu Country, Qiuyuan, is a bustling city that attracts nearly all the young people filled with dreams from the entire country. Here, the housing prices are hardly lower than those in a first-tier city in Huaxia.


    Even in the more remote areas, it''s likely that 1 million Huaxia currency can only buy you a rough, unfurnished apartment of about twenty or thirty square meters.


    The people of Qingqiu Country do not hold such traditional thinking; for them, renting is equally a viable option. Many people even choose to rent for life, rather than touching those soaring housing prices.


    But in the center of this city, skyscrapers still stand tall, with the most representative being the headquarters of Qingqiu Bank located in the city center.


    This is a landmark building locally. Qingqiu Country, merely a speck on the world map, but this year, Qingqiu Bank entered the top 50 of the global 1000 banks list, and even its US Dollar foreign exchange reserves made it into the top ten.


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    From this, one can imagine just how large this bank is!


    In the president''s office of the head bank, a portly middle-aged man was listening to his secretary report on this quarter''s financial statements.


    The secretary was a very tall woman with the standard face of a Qingqiu country movie star, exuding a captivating charm all over. Of course, many people knew that there were some unspeakable secrets as to why this woman was able to sit in the position of the bank president''s secretary.


    "Boss, our bank''s total savings volume has increased by 8 trillion Qingqiu Currency this quarter, a significant increase compared to the last quarter, and we are expected to potentially break through the 10 trillion mark by the end of the year."


    "Hmm, continue," said Piao Guanzhi, the president of Qingqiu Bank, who kept glancing at his secretary, his thoughts not at all on the report.


    "President! You''re so bad!" the secretary noticed Piao Guanzhi''s heated gaze.


    "Hahaha, aren''t you the one who likes me this way the most?" Piao Guanzhi revealed a sleazy, lecherous smile, "Tonight, my wife is not at home..."


    "Then I''ll come to your place tonight!" The secretary put the report on Piao Guanzhi''s desk and sat on his lap.


    "Boss, you''ve been in a really good mood lately!"


    "Of course! The savings rate in our bank keeps on increasing. How can I not be happy?" Piao Guanzhi''s hands began to rove restlessly.


    "Hahaha! There''s nothing pressing today, why don''t we warm up a bit first?" As he spoke, Piao Guanzhi''s hands became increasingly restless.


    "Thump, thump, thump!" Just at that moment, the door to the president''s office was pounded with an urgent knocking sound.


    "What''s going on? Who is so inconsiderate?" Piao Guanzhi lost half his mood instantly, tidied up his clothes, and his secretary quickly picked up the report again.


    "Come in!" Piao Guanzhi said in a not-so-friendly tone. Whoever was looking for him at this time was really walking into the line of fire, weren''t they?


    "Manager Kim, what''s the matter?" Seeing that it was his trusted aide, Piao Guanzhi''s face softened a bit. Otherwise, with the two of them looking flushed and embarrassed, any normal person would have known what had just happened.


    "President, something''s happened!"


    "What could possibly happen? Don''t rush me, haven''t I told you many times? If the sky falls, I''ll hold it up. Take your time and explain!"


    "No, President, the sky has really fallen¡ªour bank is out of money!"


    "Out of money? How is that possible?" Piao Guanzhi stood up abruptly.


    A bank running out of money was in itself a laughable matter, as Qingqiu Bank was the largest bank in the country. If they were out of money, wouldn''t that be even more ludicrous? He had just been listening to his secretary report this quarter''s savings volume; was this some kind of joke?


    "Manager Kim, we Qingqiu people do not celebrate Huaxia''s April Fool''s Day. This joke isn''t funny at all."


    "President, I''m not joking!" Manager Kim was almost driven to tears, "Since the bank opened this morning, a lot of people have been coming to withdraw cash at our branches across the country."


    "Isn''t that normal?"


    "But they''re withdrawing tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in cash at a time!" Manager Kim continued, "The Level Three banks nationwide have already been emptied of cash, all are asking for support from the next Level Two, and even six Level Two banks have been cleaned out. Now they''re turning to the head office for help!"


    "How could this be?" Piao Guanzhi was dumbfounded, "Who are these people making withdrawals?"


    "President, all the people are exclusively Huaxia people!"

 Chapter 136 They Ran Out of Cash Transport Vehicles

    "Huaxia people? How could Huaxia people possibly have so much money deposited in our Qingqiu Bank?" Piao Guanzhi was suddenly perplexed. If they had money, why would they deposit it in Qingqiu''s bank? Isn''t it good to save money in Huaxia? To deposit it in the bank and make money for Qingqiu?


    If this were an ordinary time, Piao Guanzhi would have been laughing so hard that he''d be close to tears. No matter which country''s citizens were involved, as long as they deposited money in their bank, it was always good news.


    But once it came to withdrawing money, it would be a nightmare!


    "Do you have any specific information on these Huaxia people?"


    "We do, but it''s meaningless," said Director Kim. "These Huaxia people are not entrepreneurs or investors. They seem to be the most ordinary people living in our Qingqiu, some even renting their homes. Yet when they pull out their bank cards, not one of them has a balance of less than a hundred million Qingqiu Currency!"


    "How is that possible? How could these Huaxia people be so wealthy?" Upon hearing this news, Piao Guanzhi could no longer keep his composure. "What''s the situation now?"


    "The situation is very grave. This morning, our bank''s deposits have already decreased by more than 200 trillion!"


    "What? 200 trillion gone in just one morning?" A spasm crossed Piao Guanzhi''s face. Their deposits only increased by 700 trillion in a quarter, and now in just three hours, a third was already gone?


    "We''re now running out of armored cash transport vehicles. Banks all over the country are requesting support, and the situation is becoming more severe," Director Kim said. "Apart from those Huaxia people coming to withdraw money, there are also many customers looking to make deposits. As soon as they hear the bank is low on funds, who would dare do business with us!"


    "Not only that, the news has already leaked out. More and more customers are gathering at the entrance of the bank waiting to withdraw money. They fear our bank might be emptied, and when the crucial moment comes, they won''t be able to get their money out. Right now, for them, having cash in hand is what matters most!"


    "This is bad!" If the news spreads further, it could even lead to widespread panic.


    Keep in mind, although banks do hold a substantial amount of savings, they operate on liabilities. Their assets are lent out, invested, or used for other purposes.


    Qingqiu Bank has more than 20 trillion Qingqiu Currency in deposits¡ªcan the banks nationwide come up with 20 trillion Qingqiu Currency in cash? Even 10 trillion can''t be produced!


    If panic were to ensue at this time, it could truly cause an explosive crisis. If all the national savers were to surround the bank doors waiting to withdraw money, the bank might even go bankrupt!


    However, the country cannot just stand by and watch a cornerstone bank go bankrupt. If the bank cannot produce the money, the country would even resort to printing currency to fill the bank''s financial gaps.


    "You''re down 18 trillion?"


    The more calls Piao Guanzhi made, the more his hands trembled. Nearly all of the banks in Qingqiu were experiencing the same issue, and the reserves lost by Qingqiu Bank were actually amongst the lesser ones!


    "What on earth is going on?" Piao Guanzhi''s face went blank, "No, this matter isn''t so simple; I must report it to the state''s Ministry of Finance!"


    ...


    That evening, a private airplane landed at the capital''s international airport in Qingqiu Country, and a young man in a thick down jacket shivered as he stepped off the plane.


    "Achoo! Dammit, what kind of lousy place is this, so cold?" Zhang Menglong grumbled as he disembarked, "So cold I could die. If it weren''t for wanting to travel abroad, I really wouldn''t want to come here!"


    After assigning the task to Hong Yi the day before, Zhang Menglong had been planning a trip to Qingqiu Country. Strictly speaking, this was his first time leaving Huaxia, and he wasn''t quite accustomed to the foreign air just yet.


    "Why do I feel that everything here reeks of kimchi?" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Mr. Zhang, what you just ate was kimchi rice cakes."


    "Oh, is that so? Hahaha, I thought they were pickled vegetable rice cakes for a moment!" Zhang Menglong laughed sheepishly, "Right, how are things now? Are their banks about to go crazy?"


    "Mr. Zhang, throughout today, Qingqiu Bank''s savings have plummeted by 58 trillion, Lianbang Bank by 54 trillion, Hana Bank by 47 trillion, Qingqiu Minsheng Bank by 49 trillion... In total, we''ve already withdrawn over 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency from the banks."


    "Ah? Is that all?" Zhang Menglong sounded disappointed, "That''s all the money I have?"


    "Not at all, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi smiled, "it''s not because you don''t have enough money. Those smaller banks simply don''t have that much cash on hand, and they must pull from Level One banks. But since two o''clock this afternoon, even Level Two banks have been running out, and now the entire Qingqiu Country is frantically circulating cash."


    "Hahaha, then this scene must be quite spectacular!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Indeed, they don''t even have enough armored cash transport vehicles now!"

 Chapter 137 One-tenth of their capital is yours

    ```


    "Serves them right!" Zhang Menglong had no sympathy for the people of this nation, in fact, he despised this despicable nation to his very bones. Of course, that didn''t mean he would denounce all the people of Qingqiu Country; there were, for example, a few female celebrities from Qingqiu Country that he quite liked.


    For instance, Lee Ji-eun and Larisa. Zhang Menglong had been a big fan of these two female stars from Qingqiu Country since his school days, and even in Huaxia, they enjoyed immense popularity. Saying that they were irresistible to both men and women wouldn''t be an overstatement.


    "Mr. Zhang, what are you smiling about?" Hong Yi suddenly noticed a sleazy smile on Zhang Menglong''s face and got the feeling that he was probably thinking about something unhealthy.


    "Nothing," Zhang Menglong laughed awkwardly.


    "Mr. Zhang, this isn''t the Island Country; there aren''t any brothels for you to visit here, and besides, Teacher Momotani isn''t at Tiger''s Den brothel anymore, so even if you went there, you wouldn''t see her."


    "Damn it! How do you know all this?"


    "Ah, no, I mean, what are you talking about?" Zhang Menglong quickly changed his tone.


    This was all stuff he used to shoot the breeze about with his roommates back in school. How could Hong Yi know about it? Could it have been Ye Yin''s doing?


    "That guy must be seeking personal revenge!" Zhang Menglong gnashed his teeth in anger, certain it was because that day he had got Ye Yin to steal those things, so Ye Yin held a grudge. Yes, that had to be it!


    "Hong Yi, I''ve noticed you''ve changed," Zhang Menglong lamented, "You weren''t like this before. Can we keep things pure, please? I swear, I was absolutely not thinking about those things!"


    "I can vouch for Mr. Zhang, he really wasn''t thinking about those things!" Ye Yin suddenly popped out from behind him.


    In this subzero environment, Ye Yin was still dressed as though it were autumn in Huaxia.


    "You''re really something else. Aren''t you going to freeze to death? Getting older makes one prone to rheumatism and arthritis.


    I won''t cover this as a work-related injury!" Ever since the first time Ye Yin appeared, Zhang Menglong would occasionally call him out for a chat or idle talk, but Ye Yin was a smooth talker, usually leaving Zhang Menglong to enthusiastically talk to himself while Ye Yin would just stand by like a wooden figure listening to his nonsense.


    But the two of them were getting more familiar with each other, and Zhang Menglong no longer put on airs of a young master.


    "However, Mr. Zhang was thinking about a couple of female celebrities named Lee Ji-eun and Larisa."


    "Damn, how do you know that?" Zhang Menglong blurted out instinctively, "Ye Yin, do you have telepathy or something?"


    "Holy shit, that exciting?" Zhang Menglong was just talking casually, he didn''t expect Mao Xionghui to actually be serious, "I''m just joking around, I have a girlfriend!"


    "So what? A man like you, Mr. Zhang, how could you only have one woman? Your father is an exception, marrying only your mother, but your grandfather had 28 lovers, and your great-grandfather had a total of 108 wives, including many princesses and queens!"


    "And yet our family still has only one heir for each generation?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled now.


    "Hahaha, the Zhang family''s genes can''t just be given away willy-nilly. Aside from the legitimate wife, who else has the qualifications to serve the elders in your family, let alone dare to hope for offspring?"


    "This is just like being an emperor."


    "What''s so great about being an emperor, having to attend morning court and deal with national affairs," Mao Xionghui said, "Anyway, how about that matter we were discussing earlier?"


    "That won''t be easy, will it?" Zhang Menglong''s expression showed difficulty.


    "What''s so difficult about it," Mao Xionghui pointed at the city with its neon lights and said, "Mr. Zhang, do you know where this is?"


    "Qiuyuan, the capital of Qingqiu Country," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "The area of Qiuyuan is about 600 square kilometers, but among that, there are 60 square kilometers of land that belongs to you!"


    "What the heck?" Zhang Menglong was utterly stunned, he was here to work on the country''s economy, and suddenly he learned about such a fortune?


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered something Hong Yi had said, his family''s ancestors had started investing in land and real estate a long time ago, owning their own land in many countries around the world.


    "Long before this country was established, one of your ancestors had already bought the central area of Qiuyuan, including the government building, several of the largest banks, the biggest corporations, schools, hospitals, they''re all built on your land!"


    "Holy shit, ruthless!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim, this plot twist reminded him of "My Love from the Star," where that alien professor also bought land in this country a long time ago.


    "So, if you want this land back, do you think they''d be willing to give it up?"


    "They''d be possessed to agree!" Zhang Menglong said, not knowing how much money had been spent on all the facilities on this land.


    "But if you really want it, even if they''re unwilling, they''ll have to be willing!" Mao Xionghui declared, "So, any demands you make of them, as long as you''re not asking for their lives and sovereignty, they can''t refuse. As for those female stars, shining on stage, in this country, they''re just puppets in the hands of those with power."


    "Thrilling!" As a man, Zhang Menglong admitted that at that moment, he was indeed a bit tempted!

 Chapter 138 Lets start by taking 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency

    "Uncle Mao, take a break, don''t lead Mr. Zhang astray. It''s fine if you play around, but if Uncle Xiao Yun finds out, you''ll be in trouble!" Hong Yi finally couldn''t bear to listen any longer. Men around the world are indeed the same, becoming frivolous the moment they talk about beautiful women.


    "Cough, cough, I was just joking to ease the awkward atmosphere!" Hearing this name, Mao Xionghui immediately became nervous. In his heart, Zhang Menglong''s father held an esteem akin to religious faith.


    "If you keep this up, I''m going to tell Aunt Fang!"


    "No, no, no!" Mao Xionghui instantly panicked, "As long as you don''t tell your Aunt Fang, whatever you say goes!"


    "Hahaha!" Hong Yi couldn''t help but burst into laughter, seeing that this man who was almost like an Emperor in Qingqiu Country was actually a husband who feared his wife.


    "By the way, Mr. Zhang, what exactly brings you here this time? Little girl Hong Yi hasn''t told me yet." Mao Xionghui asked curiously.


    "It''s nothing serious, just some international economists throwing mud at me, saying that the stuff about my grandfather causing the world economic crisis was all made up. They don''t believe it, right? How could I not prove it to them!"


    "Hahaha, these idiots really don''t know who they''re questioning," Mao Xionghui sneered, "It''s not just about you Mr. Zhang. Any family under your command, without talking about causing a world financial crisis, could flip a country without any problem, at least."


    "Cough, cough, cough, let''s not talk about that, shall we!"


    "Hahaha," Mao Xionghui continued to laugh, "So, why did Mr. Zhang choose Qingqiu Country for this? Usually, isn''t it the US that''s the most showy with such things? It seems they''ve forgotten how badly your grandfather dealt with them back in the day."


    "That''s not surprising, probably those who lived through that catastrophe are mostly gone," Zhang Menglong speculated, "As for Qingqiu Country, they claim that the economic crisis was caused by some economic model practice of theirs. They''re still good at boasting and, moreover, have foul mouths!"


    "Qingqiu has always been like that," Mao Xionghui said, "This country needs a lesson indeed. It seems I have an exciting event to look forward to this time."


    "If the entire economic system of Qingqiu collapsed, it wouldn''t cause any trouble for you, would it?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "There will definitely be an impact," Mao Xionghui said, "However, the money in the world won''t just vanish. My money is also yours, Mr. Zhang. It''s merely moving from one pocket of yours to another. As for that little loss, consider it a transaction fee; I''ll quickly make it back."


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t worry, Uncle Mao controls over 80% of the energy supply in Qingqiu. As long as this country exists, he won''t go hungry!"


    "What are you talking about, girl?"


    "Hahaha!"


    ...


    "How could that be?" Hong Yi revealed a data page, "As of this morning, every bank''s cash reserves have decreased by more than 100 trillion Qingqiu Currency, which is almost half their savings for six months."


    "How much is left now? Can you find out?"


    "Of course!" Hong Yi flipped to another set of data, "Qingqiu Bank''s head office still has about 300 trillion in cash reserves, and other banks range between 100 trillion and 300 trillion."


    "That''s still quite a lot, huh!" A playful smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face, "Do I have accounts in these banks?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong said, "You have a primary account in each bank. This account is hidden, and nobody knows about it. However, under this primary account, there are countless sub-accounts. These include both personal and corporate accounts, all belonging to companies and employees under your name. You can manage these funds freely through the primary account."


    "How much money is there?"


    "In the case of Qingqiu Bank, it''s around 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency."


    "Sheesh!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gasp. That was almost 700 billion US Dollars, and this was just the money in one Qingqiu Bank. It seemed that the task his father had set for him to unlock the family heirloom by spending a mere 100 billion US Dollars was indeed just a minor test.


    Soon, the car stopped at the bank''s entrance. As the head office, it was quite grand, with a long queue of people waiting to withdraw money and security guards and special police maintaining order around.


    "Do we have to line up, too?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course not. Your account is like the black Honored Card of Huaxia, with some special privileges. There''s a dedicated banking team to offer you services. You just need to contact them," Hong Yi explained.


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong dialed the number Hong Yi provided.


    "Hello, esteemed Customer Number 01, what service can I help you with?" a girl''s voice came from the other end, speaking Huaxia as if she knew he was from Huaxia. Experience new stories on empire


    The voice trembled slightly, as if she was encountering something very nerve-racking.


    "Customer Number 01? Quite impressive," Zhang Menglong noted, without paying too much attention to the other party''s excited tone.


    "Oh, hello, I''d like to make a withdrawal."


    "How much would you like to withdraw? We will prepare it immediately. When will you arrive at the bank, or shall we send a car for you?"


    "Impressive service quality!" It was the first time Zhang Menglong heard of getting picked up by a car for a bank withdrawal. "No need, I''m already at the bank entrance. Let''s start with a withdrawal of 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency!"

 Chapter 139 We Have No Money in the Bank to Withdraw

    "No... I''m sorry, sir, could you please repeat that? I didn''t hear you clearly just now..." the girl''s voice on the other end of the phone suddenly quivered.


    Did this customer just say he wanted to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency? She must have heard wrong!


    This account number 01 was given away when the bank was first established, and its owner, other than the bank''s president at the time, was unknown to anyone else, to the point that it was a secret within the bank.


    But since this account was given away, it had never been used, and the balance had always been zero. In Qingqiu Bank, this had always been the most mysterious symbol.


    Today, the dedicated phone for this account actually rang, and the caller wanted to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency right off the bat. How could they not be suspicious?


    "I said I want to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency. Do you need me to repeat it again?"


    "But sir, your account doesn''t have that much money in it, and even though you are a top-level user of this card series, the overdraft limit is only 500 billion Qingqiu Currency," the girl said with a sigh of relief after checking the card''s balance.


    Right now, banks across the country are in crisis, and their own bank only has a total of 300 trillion in cash, let alone the long line of customers currently outside the bank. They were already thankful to be able to handle the sudden incidents over these couple of days.


    If someone really did try to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency at this time, it would be like cutting open a new wound on an old one¡ªthey simply could not produce such an amount of money!


    Even their total savings were only about 2000 trillion Qingqiu Currency. What was the meaning of 500 trillion? A quarter of the bank''s wealth filled by his money alone¡ªhow could that be possible?


    "Really? My balance doesn''t have that much money?"


    "Yes, sir!" The girl spoke respectfully.


    This card was quite old by now, and hearing such a young voice, it was probably the descendant of that original customer, likely having inherited this bank account from his elders.


    But there was no money in this card, aside from the modest overdraft limit¡ªit was practically a worthless card. It seemed this young man didn''t quite understand the account.


    Perhaps once, its owner was a person who had the world at his feet, otherwise he would not have received this first black card. But now, the current owner must have fallen on hard times. Otherwise, how could such a high-tier account have not a single deposit over so many years?


    Having come to this realization, the girl''s nervousness eased considerably, and she even started to wonder if she should allow the overdraft if the caller insisted. Their bank could end up with a bad debt if he couldn''t pay it back.


    "Then could you check for me, how many subsidiary accounts my account has?" Zhang Menglong asked. "The password is sb10086."


    "How much is it, just tell me?"


    "It''s close to 7.3 trillion!" The astronomical number almost made the girl doubt whether her own eyes were deceiving her.


    7.3 trillion, equates to more than 6 trillion US Dollars¡ªthis is in cash deposits! What is the total wealth of the world''s richest person? Isn''t it also less than 200 billion US Dollars? And that includes real estate and stocks, the owner of this account is truly the undisputed richest person in the world!


    "Oh, 7.3 trillion, huh," Zhang Menglong continued, "No matter, just withdraw 5 trillion for now, I''m already at the bank''s entrance, is anyone coming to receive me? Your service is a bit lacking!"


    "Sir... I will immediately send someone to greet you, please wait a moment!"


    "I understand, be quick about it, I''m still busy going to another bank to withdraw money!" Find more chapters on empire


    Zhang Menglong''s statement only made the girl more panicked; he had savings not just in Qingqiu Bank? Could it be that in other banks he also had such terrifying amounts saved? That''s impossible, right?


    "No good, I must report this to the leaders immediately!" They simply could not handle this withdrawal order for 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency! Even if they emptied the bank, sold all the employees, and then sold the building, they couldn''t come up with this 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency!


    "Xiao Li, what''s with all the panic?" another colleague next to the girl asked, "We''re not in the mainland, and you know the quality of the Qingqiu people. If a customer is dissatisfied, it could lead to a complaint that gets you fired!"


    "Sister Bai, that... The call just now was from the 01 VIP client!"


    "What? That dormant account? I thought the owner of that account had been dead for a long time!" The woman known as Sister Bai laughed, "What? A zombie actually called you?"


    "It was a young man, and he''s one of our people from Huaxia."


    "Well, that''s great, it''s much easier to chat with one of our own," Sister Bai murmured to herself, "Strange though, a Huaxia person is the Qingqiu Bank''s Black Card 01 VIP client? That''s really interesting!"


    "Indeed, the secrecy level of this account is too high. If it wasn''t for the client initiating contact, all I''d know is that this account exists, it''s so mysterious!" another Qingqiu employee they got along with commented.


    "But what exactly happened? Did they give you a hard time?"


    "Not... " The girl forced a bitter smile, "He wants to withdraw money."


    "What''s the big deal with a withdrawal, it''s not your money!"


    "But he wants to withdraw 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency! Our bank simply doesn''t have that much cash for him to withdraw!"

 Chapter 140 I Plan to Put Ceramic Tiles on the Great Wall

    "How is that possible? 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency? Even the world''s richest person doesn''t have that much money, could there be a mistake?" Sister Bai couldn''t believe her ears when she heard this, wasn''t this utter nonsense?


    "Sister Bai, could our bank''s system be wrong?"


    "That''s even more unlikely. If the banking system could go wrong, we would have been finished long ago."


    "Then take a look at this," the girl turned the computer screen toward Sister Bai.


    "Seven... over seven hundred trillion?" Despite having worked in the bank for most of her life, Sister Bai couldn''t help but show a panicked expression at the sight of such a staggering number.


    Since the withdrawal frenzy that erupted out of nowhere yesterday, the people of Qingqiu Country had only taken a little over 100 trillion Qingqiu Currency from the banks. And here was this customer, with an account balance that was a whole seven times that figure¡ªwho wouldn''t pee their pants?


    "Is he... is he really going to withdraw 500 trillion?"


    "Could there be any doubt? That customer said he''s already at the bank''s doorstep!"


    "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and go receive him!"


    For such customers, there is usually a dedicated team handling their affairs, with regular reports on the growth of their assets. But the owner of this account had been gone for too long. No team had managed the account for over twenty years.


    Now that he had suddenly reappeared, everyone was thrown into a panic.


    "What? 500 trillion? The No. 01 black card customer has come?"


    At the news, the manager of Qingqiu Bank reacted almost exactly the same way as the girls. Everyone inside the bank knew that the bank''s cash reserve simply couldn''t cover such a sum!


    This account had been dormant for over twenty years, and no one had expected it to resurface in such a way, let alone with such an enormous ''gift.''


    "Prepare the VIP room immediately, you go inform the chairman, this is a matter of the utmost importance; it''s beyond our capability to handle. I''ll go welcome the guest!" The manager dashed toward the bank''s entrance in a flurry.


    ...


    "Honored guest, allow me to introduce myself. I am the business manager of the head office of Qingqiu Bank, my name is Li Yubin."


    "Oh, my name is Zhang Menglong," he said, "This is my assistant, Miss Hong Yi."


    "Nice to meet you both," Li Yubin bowed deeply once more, suddenly feeling as though he had recently heard this name somewhere.


    However, since this wasn''t within the country, Zhang Menglong''s fame was currently only within the international financial circle, and though Li Yubin was a bank employee, he only found the name somewhat familiar.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s too cold outside, please head to the VIP room first. We can talk about your business afterward."


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, knowing that this Li Yubin was probably stalling for time, but it was pointless. Even if he delayed for ten days and a half month, no money meant no money. Could the bank possibly recall all the money invested and loans issued in such a short amount of time?


    Crossing the long queue, Zhang Menglong entered the bank through the VIP channel into a very lavish and atmospheric room where coffee and pastries had already been prepared.


    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Hong, please have a seat."


    Zhang Menglong sat down and casually crossed his legs, "Your bank''s business seems to be doing very well, with people lining up in long queues."


    Li Yubin inwardly chuckled bitterly. Where was the business going well? These people weren''t here to deposit but to withdraw money.


    "Haha, of course, our Qingqiu Bank is the largest bank in the entire Qingqiu Country, and our services are certainly comprehensive," Li Yubin remained outwardly firm, after all, Qingqiu Bank had its reputation to consider.


    "That''s good to hear. Seeing your bank''s business running so smoothly, I don''t have much to worry about," Zhang Menglong took a sip of coffee, "I believe the staff must have already told Manager Li, I am here to withdraw money today."


    "Five... five hundred trillion Qingqiu Currency?" Li Yubin asked cautiously. Although he was aware that the chances of Zhang Menglong changing his mind were very slim, he still held onto a sliver of hope.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "500 trillion Qingqiu Currency, in cash."


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need so much money for?" Li Yubin struggled to suppress the collapse in his heart. If this sum of money were really taken out, their bank would be ruined. Not to mention anything else, the savers coming for their money could tear down the bank''s building.


    "Well..." Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "I plan to tile a piece of the Great Wall in our country!"

 Chapter 141 Heard Youre Awesome

    "Tile the Great Wall with ceramics?" Li Yubin nearly stumbled over his words.


    Although not a Huaxia person, who hasn''t heard of the Great Wall, one of the world-famous landmarks? Let alone the enormity of the engineering work and the cost involved, would the Cultural Heritage Bureau even allow it?


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking. The Great Wall is a cultural relic; how could you tile it with ceramics?"


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong stroked his chin, "then how about installing an elevator on Mount Everest? If that''s not possible, how about adding a gold trim to the equator or installing a railing in the Pacific Ocean? What do you think about these? Aren''t they all great projects that would benefit all of humanity?"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s several plans, Li Yubin was completely flabbergasted. Were these things even humanly possible? This was no longer just a case of having too much money with nothing to spend it on, this was outright lunacy!


    Suddenly, Li Yubin understood. This Huaxia client named Zhang Menglong wasn''t trying to withdraw this sum for any investment or consumption purpose; he wanted the money out for no reason at all, and those ostentatious plans were just excuses.


    "Manager Li, could it be that the bank doesn''t have this money?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang must be joking, how could that be possible?" responded Li Yubin with a smile. "But Mr. Zhang, have you considered how heavy 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency would be? Whatever you intend to use it for, it''s really quite inconvenient. You could simply have your investment partner or recipient open an account with us at Qingqiu Bank and transfer the money directly, to avoid the hassle."


    "That won''t do!" said Zhang Menglong, "My investment partner is a friend of mine who has a quirk. He doesn''t like digital currency and bank transfers, he prefers cash!"


    "How could there be such a person?" Li Yubin simply couldn''t believe it. Zhang Menglong was clearly making up a fictional friend!


    "This person always feels that banks are not safe. If one day the bank suddenly goes bankrupt, wouldn''t his money just evaporate? That''s why he likes dealing in cash."


    Zhang Menglong rambled on, his story getting more far-fetched, "My friend is really wealthy. Every day he wakes up in a bed that''s hundreds of square meters, walks through corridors a few kilometers long, and he has to drive for five minutes just to use the bathroom. One night, too lazy to go to the toilet, he just wet his pants. Isn''t that funny?"


    "Hahaha, funny... funny..." Li Yubin chuckled awkwardly along with Zhang Menglong.


    That''s a bunch of nonsense. Owning a home where it takes hours to drive to the bathroom, what do you think you are, old Dubai?


    "Alright, you go prepare the money for me, I''ll wait here!" Zhang Menglong casually tossed the black card onto the table. This particular black card was an older model from over twenty years ago, but it represented not just wealth, but also history and background.


    Zhang Menglong''s question was extremely pointed, leaving Piao Guanzhi at a loss for words for a moment.


    "He... he''s not here to withdraw money, he''s here to cause trouble!" To hold the position of president, Piao Guanzhi''s abilities were not limited to libido alone; he also possessed a very sharp mind.


    "These idiots! What on earth did they do?" He had been somewhat grateful to those economists at first¡ªtheir fabricated "economic models" had suddenly increased the bank''s savings substantially.


    But today, they had to cough up everything with interest! Zhang Menglong had come to seek vengeance in Qingqiu Country!


    "Mr. Zhang, those people were just slinging mud, why bother stooping to their level?" Piao Guanzhi started to force a bitter smile, seeing the true nature of this situation in full clarity.


    "Oh, as you can see, I''m just a kid barely over 20 years old. Didn''t your parents teach you to never mess with a troublemaker?" Zhang Menglong knew that Piao Guanzhi had figured out his purpose and there was no need to keep playing dumb.


    "I hear the economic crisis back then was caused by an experiment with your country''s economic model, which seems quite impressive. I''d like to broaden my horizons and see just how powerful this economic model really is, so withdrawing this money shouldn''t impact your country''s economy, right?"


    "He''s serious!" Piao Guanzhi''s heart rate began to speed up. He remembered Zhang Menglong had once said, "I hear you don''t believe."


    The meaning behind those words sounded like he was gearing up to cause another economic storm. But after several days of silence, many people thought he was just full of hot air, unable to back up his claims. Little did they know he had actually come to Qingqiu Country.


    "Enough talk, let''s withdraw the money!" Zhang Menglong said, "The bank won''t have trouble producing the funds, will it?"


    Piao Guanzhi clenched his teeth. As the bank''s president, if the bank ran into trouble and impacted the country''s economy, he would go to jail!


    "Manager Li, go and find President Quan, President Dong," Piao Guanzhi was well aware that their bank was absolutely unable to produce such a sum. But if Zhang Menglong really wanted to withdraw the money, he had to provide it; that was the obligation of the bank.


    Now, the only solution was to pool cash from other banks. This was no longer an issue for a single bank, but a matter concerning the economic stability of the entire Qingqiu Country.


    "No need to trouble yourself," Zhang Menglong tossed several more bank cards onto the table.


    "This..." Piao Guanzhi''s pupils dilated several times in size. Each of these cards was a black card from several other banks in Qingqiu Country and, moreover, the sequence numbers on the black cards were all "1"!

 Chapter 142 Hurry up and Print Money

    As the chairman of a bank, no one understood better than Piao Guanzhi what these cards represented. Zhang Menglong not only possessed their Qingqiu Bank''s black card, but he had even taken those of several other banks.


    Would these black cards be without money? Piao Guanzhi wouldn''t believe it even if he were beaten to death, as for how much money they contained, Piao Guanzhi didn''t dare to think about it.


    "Do you intend to allocate cash from the other banks?" Zhang Menglong saw through Piao Guanzhi''s thoughts at a glance, and at this juncture, except for this method, he probably had no other way out. But would Zhang Menglong give him this opportunity?


    "President Piao, I''m sorry, but even if you summoned all the bank presidents of Qingqiu Country here, you wouldn''t be able to get a penny from their vaults, because they are all struggling to save themselves now,"


    Zhang Menglong pointed to the black card of Minsheng Bank and said, "This card has 6,666 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount, not much, of 420 trillion Qingqiu Currency."


    "This one, the black card of Lian Bank, should have more than 8,000 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount of about 480 trillion."


    "And this one, about 390 trillion."


    "Oh, this one has more, 12,000 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount of 810 trillion. Two-thirds of their entire bank''s savings were filled by me."


    "Do you want me to tell you how much money the remaining cards have?" Zhang Menglong looked at Piao Guanzhi with a smile beaming.


    Piao Guanzhi and Manager Li''s bodies were already trembling.


    Zhang Menglong came fully prepared this time! The savings on just these cards already exceeded their bank''s total savings. Even if they could mobilize funds through connections to resolve the urgent needs of Qingqiu Bank, what about the other banks?


    They were certain that once Zhang Menglong got the money from here, the next target would be the other banks. Could they still mobilize money then?


    Zhang Menglong was like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing behind wherever he passed. Should he make his way through, the bank deposits of the entire Qingqiu Country would be completely emptied.


    It wasn''t just Zhang Menglong. The withdrawal demands of the ordinary citizens of Qingqiu Country alone could directly cause their collapse.


    Once everyone knew the banks had no money, the angry working class would immediately surround all the bank buildings, forcing the banks to hand over cash.


    When that time came, businesses would not be able to operate normally, society would be in chaos, and to cope with the frantic public, the country would inevitably have to start the printing presses, wherein inflation would be inevitable.


    In a few months at most, the economic system that Qingqiu Country has built over the years would collapse in an instant. Let alone that they didn''t really have any economic model, but if there was no penny left, would the existence of this economic model matter at all?


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to be so aggressive, do you?" Piao Guanzhi''s face was pale.


    "Didn''t you say your family is powerful? They could even trigger a global economic crisis. Stop just drinking and start showing us something!"


    "The person above is a total idiot. Based on what we know about Boss Zhang, he must be preparing to unleash a big move right now!"


    "Haters are cursing, loyal fans are already getting ready to watch the show."


    ...


    "Really, all kinds of people exist in this world," Zhang Menglong snickered, and he posted his current location, "Sorry, in keeping with the principle of world peace, I won''t be causing any major incidents for now. But for some loudmouths, I must teach them a lesson. I''m planning to empty out the money in the banks here."


    Afterwards, Zhang Menglong immediately shared a screenshot of his savings in the Qingqiu Bank.


    "730 trillion Qingqiu Currency? I... I... uh... uh..."


    "Can someone tell me the exchange rate? I didn''t get much schooling!"


    "Can''t you look it up on Baidu? Today''s exchange rate between Huaxia currency and Qingqiu currency is 165 times. Do the math yourself, it''s over 40 trillion Huaxia currency, more than 6700 billion US Dollars!"


    "For real? It''s not photoshopped, right?"


    "Boss Zhang needs to photoshop? You must be joking!"


    "Damn! If I remember correctly, doesn''t Qingqiu Bank have only about 20,000 trillion in total? What''s he planning to do?"


    "Hahaha, I know this one, I work at the bank. Don''t be fooled by that 20,000 trillion deposit, they probably don''t even have 500 trillion in cash. If Boss Zhang shows up, he could literally bankrupt the bank!"


    "Awesome!"


    "Hahaha, I told you, Boss Zhang is not the type to swallow a loss!"


    "He''s starting with Qingqiu Country first huh!"


    "I am Bai Jianguo, and I''m already panicking."


    "To those troublemaking scumbags, Boss Zhang is killing the chicken to warn the monkeys!"


    "Guys, stop scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You''d better start printing money fast because what will you do when Boss Zhang comes?"

 Chapter 143 Unless Lee Ji-eun Wakes Me Up

    Zhang Menglong''s post was like a declaration of war, and as soon as the image was uploaded, the number of shares skyrocketed.


    In Qingqiu Country, there were many Huaxia students, and in the past few days, the bank issues had caused considerable panic throughout Qingqiu Country. They even had to wait in long lines just to withdraw some living expenses from the banks.


    Now they understood, it was all Zhang Menglong''s doing! He had orchestrated the whole thing!


    It was just a warm-up, and it almost caused Qingqiu Country''s economic system to start collapsing. One could imagine what kind of catastrophic butterfly effect would occur if those hundreds of trillions of Qingqiu Currency were actually removed from the banks.


    "He really has the ability to disrupt a country''s economic system!" someone finally realized this terrifying fact. A single bank had deposits amounting to 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency. It was unlikely Zhang Menglong only had this one bank account in Qingqiu Country, right?


    A person like him wouldn''t possibly only have deposits in Qingqiu Bank, would he? Neighboring Island Country, and America across the sea, it was conceivable that Zhang Menglong had similar massive funds in various banks worldwide.


    Even if every country''s situation was similar to Qingqiu Country, once Zhang Menglong really started acting decisively to withdraw those funds, the global currency system would undergo earth-shattering changes. He truly had the potential to cause a global economic storm!


    "He''s not joking; he really can do it!" Realizing this, some began to panic, especially those economists who had been most critical; some even secretly deleted their previous aggressive statements against Zhang Menglong.


    Once Zhang Menglong had dealt with Qingqiu Country, perhaps they would be next. Zhang Menglong wouldn''t need to do anything; he just had to walk in, throw his bank card on the table, and the economy of that country could be destroyed!


    With this scenario unfolding, banks all around the world suddenly felt deep panic. They began frantically checking their internal bank accounts.


    Then they discovered a terrifying fact: nearly half the banks worldwide had at least one mysterious account.


    These accounts, with extremely high privileges, had been inactive for short periods of ten years and up to seventy or eighty years!


    Finally, some bravely risked investigating these accounts, only to find the account details had become confidential. There was almost no information about the account holder available; the only note on the accounts was that they were perpetually barred from being closed, and all of them pointed to one country: Huaxia!


    The banks had never been worried about these accounts, but the incident at Qingqiu Bank had certainly awoken them with a slap. Bolding they speculated if these age-old accounts belonged to Zhang Menglong''s ancestors...


    An economic crisis could truly have been orchestrated by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather! He wasn''t lying; he wasn''t speculating; he was merely stating a fact, nothing more!


    ... Find more adventures on empire


    "Impossible, if we don''t pay, there would be riots across the nation. Forget the economy dragging us down, the angry people themselves would destroy us first!"


    "This won''t work, that won''t work, so what exactly should we do? Representative Su, please think of a solution quickly!"


    "At this time, the only solution is to make him give up on withdrawing the money."


    "How could that be possible? Zhang Menglong has targeted our country''s economy this time. He won''t leave until he has crushed our economy!"


    "That''s because he currently harbors resentment, and his true purpose isn''t to destroy our country''s economy or even to cause an international economic crisis. He just wants people to believe that he has the capability, to silence those who doubt him, and to teach those who have openly insulted him a lesson!"


    "So we..."


    "What we need to do now is to soothe his emotions. Whatever his conditions are, as long as they aren''t too excessive, we should agree unconditionally. Once his mood improves, once he''s satisfied and calms down, he will naturally return home."


    "Are we, the grand Qingqiu Country, supposed to bow and scrape to a little brat from Huaxia?"


    "Liu Gaoren, you shut up. If you have the capability, then come up with a better solution!" Su Zhihe was already beside himself with anger. "At this time, is face more important, or is the future more important?"


    "Call him now!" Su Zhihe said to the president of Qingqiu Bank, "You have his contact information, you do it. Invite him over to talk!"


    "This... alright..." Piao Guanzhi hesitantly dialed Zhang Menglong''s number.


    Zhang Menglong had stayed up playing games with Lu Yiyao until the early hours last night, and now it was past nine, but he was still deep in sleep.


    "Mr. Zhang, you have a phone call!" In a daze, Zhang Menglong heard Hong Yi''s voice.


    "Who is it! Fuck, can''t you let a person sleep?" Zhang Menglong cursed bluntly, "Don''t you know I have a temper when I wake up? Idiot, fuck off!"


    "It''s President Piao from Qingqiu Bank, he said he represents their finance department and invites you to discuss the matter of the withdrawal. Do you have time this morning?" Hong Yi, however, was unfazed, as Zhang Menglong was not scolding her.


    "Talk your sister, tell him, unless you get Lee Ji-eun to wake me up, I''m staying in bed all day today!"

 Chapter 144 Unconditionally Fulfill All His Needs

    "Piao President, what did he say?" In the conference room, everyone looked at Piao Guanzhi''s expression, which wasn''t looking good, giving everyone a foreboding feeling.


    "Su Representative, he... he said he was still sleeping, and that he would only get up if Lee Ji-eun woke him up," Piao Guanzhi reported accurately.


    "Who is Lee Ji-eun?" Even though she was extremely popular in Qingqiu Country and Huaxia, for those not following these circles, it was a rather unfamiliar name.


    "It seems she''s a female celebrity from our country who debuted under one of the top three talent agencies, LE. She''s quite famous domestically, and apparently, she''s also very popular in Huaxia," said the chairman of Qingqiu Minsheng Bank.


    "You seem to know quite a bit," Su Zhihe remarked.


    "Last year, a friend invited me to a party, and I noticed this female artist. She''s very beautiful and sings quite well. There aren''t many female celebrities in our country more popular than her."


    "What does he mean by this? Having our country''s female celebrity wake him up? What does he take us for?" A CEO immediately felt infuriated.


    Su Representative had invited him for negotiations, and he directly yelled at Piao Guanzhi who had called him; now, he even wanted their national goddess to wake him up. Was he expecting the treatment of an Emperor?


    "Exactly, that''s too much! Does he think our finance department is a red-light district? Asking for a woman whenever he pleases?"


    "Then do you have a better idea?" Although Su Zhihe looked grim, he was still helpless.


    Although Zhang Menglong wasn''t in a hurry to withdraw money, they were!


    You should know, now countless eyes were watching Huaxia. When Zhang Menglong posted the Qingqiu Bank account balance on Weibo, almost the entire world knew about it, and the news had even spread within Qingqiu Country.


    Now everyone in Qingqiu Country knew that there was a wealthy second generation in Huaxia, named Zhang Menglong, who had 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Bank, and even unknown balances in several other banks'' black cards, and he claimed that he wanted to drain all the banks in the entire Qingqiu Country.


    If Zhang Menglong indeed managed to do that, it would be hard for them to withdraw the money they had painstakingly saved over the years from the bank, so how could they not panic?


    This morning, after the bank opened, the second wave of withdrawals burst forth instantly. In just one morning, Qingqiu Bank''s deposits had sharply decreased by one hundred trillion Qingqiu Currency.


    Because the business was too overwhelmingly large, the bank simply couldn''t handle such a vast volume of service; conflicts even broke out nationwide, and the situation was getting worse by the day!


    Today, Lee Ji-eun was almost the face of LE, enjoying numerous halos of praise and thankfully, she had a good father and the company''s solid protection, keeping the dirty side of the entertainment industry away from her.


    Lee Ji-eun still maintained her natural innocence and happiness, enjoying the music and the stage.


    This afternoon, she was going to participate in a domestic variety show, and right now, she was preparing for filming.


    "Ji-eun, are you ready?" Lee Ji-eun''s manager, holding a thick stack of announcements, entered the makeup room, "The car will be here in about half an hour, keep an eye on the time."


    "I know, Enqian sister. I''m almost done!" Lee Ji-eun smiled, "I''ve wanted to participate in this variety show for a long time. I''m going to have a lot of fun this time."


    "You, always thinking of having fun. This is work. You''ve still got to perform. Don''t always act like a kid, but it seems like everyone likes this real side of you, haha."


    "Huh? The boss''s call, Ji-eun, you keep doing your makeup."


    ...


    "What? Boss? How can you make Ji-eun do such a thing? Absolutely not!"


    ...


    "A national command? How could that be?"


    "Okay... I understand... I''ll tell Ji-eun, and by 10 o''clock, I will take her to that place."


    The manager slowly walked over to Lee Ji-eun, her face already streaked with tears.


    Through the mirror, Lee Ji-eun noticed her manager''s unusual demeanor right away, and she quickly put down what she was holding and stood up," Enqian sister? What''s wrong? Did the boss scold you again?"


    The manager shook her head, looking at Lee Ji-eun, she suddenly didn''t know how to start talking. Experience new stories on empire


    "Enqian sister, say something. Don''t scare me!" Seeing her like this, even Lee Ji-eun''s expression made one feel pity.


    "The boss said, you need to accompany a young man from Huaxia... If necessary, unconditionally fulfill... fulfill all his demands..."

 Chapter 145 Mr. Zhang, Its Time to Get Up

    "Impossible, right? Eun-chae, stop joking!" Lee Ji-eun froze for a second before reverting back to her usual bubbly self, "The company takes such good care of me, how could they possibly ask me to do something like this? Eun-chae, this joke isn''t funny at all!"


    "Ji-eun, I''m not joking this time. Even the boss can''t do anything about it. It''s a command from the state, and not even the boss has the power or the courage to refuse." Eun-chae said through clenched teeth. She had never imagined that such a thing would happen to Lee Ji-eun.


    Seeing Eun-chae''s serious expression, tears suddenly started streaming down Lee Ji-eun''s cheeks uncontrollably, "Who do they want me to accompany? Some important figure from Huaxia?"


    "It''s a young man from Huaxia, named Zhang Menglong. Maybe you''ve heard of him."


    "Zhang Menglong? The Zhang Menglong? The one who appeared in international news with the world''s richest man?"


    "Yes, him," Eun-chae said, "Ji-eun, you''re aware of our recent banking issues in Qingqiu Country, aren''t you?"


    Lee Ji-eun dabbed away her tears and nodded.


    "It''s all this young man''s doing; his goal was to avenge those who doubted him. There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''kill the chicken to scare the monkey''. Unfortunately, Qingqiu Country was the chicken he chose. Now, whenever he wants, he can drain all the banks of Qingqiu Country, leading to a national economic collapse."


    "They want me to please him? They''re overestimating me!"


    "Choosing you wasn''t a top-down decision," Eun-chae said, "Originally, the Ministry of Finance had invited Zhang Menglong to discuss the matter today. The longer we delay, the more danger our country faces. He''s not in a hurry, but we are. Right now, Zhang Menglong is still sleeping. He said that if you go and wake him up, he''ll get up."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "This is absurd! Must our nation''s fate really be thrust upon me?" Lee Ji-eun was filled with indignation, unable to accept being used as a sacrifice to appease a complete stranger.


    "Eun-chae, I can''t do this. I''ll terminate my contract with the company. I''ll pay all the penalty fees. Can I do that?" Lee Ji-eun grasped at what felt like her last lifeline, "Eun-chae, you must help me."


    "I... I can''t help you..." Eun-chae couldn''t even bear to look into Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, "The boss said that if he can''t pull this off, he''ll be behind bars tomorrow. He said even if you break the contract with the company, he knows where your family lives¡ªyour parents, your brother. If he''s finished, your whole family won''t be spared either."


    "Did the boss really say that?" In a moment, Lee Ji-eun felt her heart sink to ashes.


    "Holy shit, so I said a word in my dreams, and it got twisted into this? Do I, Zhang Menglong, look like that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong was speechless. If Lu Yiyao heard about this, he wouldn''t be able to explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths. Your next journey awaits at empire


    Why was Hong Yi handling this matter in such an excessive manner; couldn''t she judge the situation for herself?


    "Mr. Zhang, judging by the time, Miss Lee will probably be here soon. Why don''t you lie down for a bit longer?" Hong Yi asked tentatively, "Or if you''re in a hurry, I can go prepare things for you now."


    "Prepare things? What things?"


    "Safety measures, of course. Do you want the pill or a ''little raincoat''?"


    "This question, are you doubting my character, Zhang Menglong? Only a scumbag would make a girl take the pill!" Zhang Menglong suddenly seemed to miss the point.


    "Then I''ll go prepare the ''little raincoat'' for you."


    "Wait a minute! What are you preparing for; I''m not going to do anything, why do I need a ''little raincoat''?"


    "Knock knock knock..." Suddenly, a soft knock on the door came.


    "Mr. Zhang, it seems Miss Lee Ji-eun has arrived."


    "Holy shit, she really came?"


    "What do you think? The person you asked for, not just a female artist, but even if she were a princess or a queen of a country, she would have to be brought to you. But to give credit where credit''s due, they are pretty quick!"


    "Oh man, if Yiyi found out, she would kill me!" Zhang Menglong said nervously, "To think they took my sleep talking seriously!"


    "Knock knock knock!" A crisp knock on Zhang Menglong''s door was followed by a sweet voice from outside, "Mr. Zhang, time to get up!"

 Chapter 146 Mr. Zhang wants you to take a shower first

    Once a fan of Lee Ji-eun, Zhang Menglong could not possibly fail to recognize her voice. The moment that sweet voice rang at the door, Zhang Menglong was instantly awoken. "Fuck, is she really here?" Zhang Menglong still couldn''t help feeling somewhat dreamlike; his former goddess had actually run to his room just to wake him!


    "No, I need to calm down; this is all basic procedure!" Zhang Menglong quickly composed himself. He was no longer the loser he had been before. Now, holding the economic lifeline of the entire world, he controlled the most wealth on Earth. He could command thunder and lightning, and if he were displeased, even a nation could not withstand his wrath.


    Now, it was just about a woman, what was there to get excited about? Even though this woman was a superstar revered far and wide, to him, she was no different from an ordinary woman.


    Zhang Menglong soon calmed down again, "If Yiyi knew that Ji-eun came to wake me up today, she would definitely be insanely jealous!"


    Zhang Menglong hadn''t forgotten that when he came to Ligao, Lu Yiyao had asked him to bring back a signed photo of Lee Ji-eun. In fact, he mused, not just a signed photo, if he wanted to take Lee Ji-eun herself back, the Ligao government wouldn''t dare to utter a word.


    Unwilling? Okay then, let''s start with a few hundred billion Ligao dollars!


    "Got it, just a moment!" Lee Ji-eun was already at the door, so naturally, Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to continue sleeping. He did want to see if this goddess in person matched the Ji-eun he had once visualized.


    Outside the door, Lee Ji-eun was momentarily stunned; she had not expected Zhang Menglong''s Liganese to be so excellent¡ªit sounded so natural that even a native like her couldn''t detect any awkwardness.


    Ever since she had entered the house, Lee Ji-eun''s surprise had never ceased.


    It wasn''t that the apartment was overly luxurious; as a star of her caliber, she, too, could afford such a residence if she hardened her heart. But for someone like Zhang Menglong, who could destroy Ligao''s economy with a flick of his finger, living in such a house was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Yet within this house''s decor, she saw a multitude of Ligao''s national treasures! Such items Lee Ji-eun had only seen in the National Bureau of Cultural Relics and museums, but in Zhang Menglong''s residence, they were merely ordinary decorations.


    Zhang Menglong''s collectible figurines even had a special cabinet for storage. In his eyes, these priceless national treasures of Ligao, and his beloved figurines, were incomparably valuable!


    "This Mr. Zhang is really interesting," for some reason, Lee Ji-eun felt a curious fascination towards Zhang Menglong, whom she had only heard of but never met.


    "Since I''m here, might as well wash." Lee Ji-eun gave a wry smile, took off her clothes, removed the makeup she just applied, and revealed her bare face. Less coquettish yet more playful, that pristine skin and perfect features would make it impossible for any man to remain calm.


    "Maybe this isn''t a bad thing." At that moment, an idea surprisingly flashed through Lee Ji-eun''s mind.


    As a top actress, Lee Ji-eun always thought she could smoothly continue her career in the entertainment and performing arts circles. If this event hadn''t happened, she would never have realized that in the face of national mechanisms and capital, she was still just a disposable tool without any special treatment because of her fame.


    Even if she hadn''t encountered this incident with Zhang Menglong, maybe the next time it would be a Li Menglong or a Ding Menglong. Unless her fate changed, she would never be able to escape.


    If she had a powerful backer, even just as an accessory, could she escape such a miserable fate?


    Zhang Menglong, a man who made the world''s richest person admit in front of numerous media that his venture capital originated from Zhang Menglong''s elder, even declaring something so unbelievable that it sparked a massive international effect.


    And Zhang Menglong proved with his own ability and actions that what Poladi, the world''s richest man, said was all true!


    Two days! He had only used two days to throw the entire economy of Ligao into chaos, even severely disrupting the normal social order.


    Not only that, his influence made the entire Ligao government capitulate, suggesting that perhaps being his accessory wouldn''t be such a bad thing after all.


    If something really happened between them today, even if it was just for the sake of Zhang Menglong''s face, even the Ligao government may hesitate to coerce her into doing anything against her will in the future.


    Bathing in this milk and petals, Lee Ji-eun found herself momentarily forgetting about time.

 Chapter 147 Go to Your Room or Stay Here?

    "Click!" The bathroom door suddenly opened, startling Lee Ji-eun like a frightened lamb, who immediately wrapped herself in a towel to protect her chest.


    "Miss Lee, don''t be nervous, it''s me," Hong Yi said, walking in with a package, "Mr. Zhang is still freshening up, he says that if he wants to see you, you must dress up nicely."


    "Is that necessary?" Lee Ji-eun was somewhat puzzled in her heart; she clearly knew why she was here today, so why would someone as assertive as Zhang Menglong care about these external things?


    From the way Hong Yi described it, this young Huaxia man named Zhang Menglong seemed to treat meeting her as a very important matter, which seemed somewhat unreasonable. Even if the meeting was to be very solemn and serious, it should be she, not him, who needed to be so.


    "You don''t know, Mr. Zhang is a fan of yours," said Hong Yi with a laugh, "No, calling you a goddess wouldn''t be an exaggeration."


    A flash of surprise crossed Lee Ji-eun''s face. For someone as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, what kind of woman couldn''t he have? Just like today, with a single word, even the government of Qingqiu Country directly stepped in to have her accompany Zhang Menglong. Who could qualify as his goddess?


    But what Lee Ji-eun didn''t know was that Zhang Menglong had been used to being an average Joe. It had been less than three months since he inherited his family wealth, and although some of his views had changed, many of his attitudes remained as before, for people''s core values are quite difficult to alter drastically afterwards.


    "Mr. Zhang really is a strange person," as a fellow woman, Lee Ji-eun didn''t have much guard up against Hong Yi, who was close to her in age, "I thought it would be Mr. Zhang who came in."


    "Even if it were Mr. Zhang, such defensive actions by Miss Lee would be meaningless," Hong Yi said with a smile, "I suppose your country''s orders were to make Mr. Zhang happy at all costs, weren''t they? Even if Mr. Zhang were to do something to you, would you be able to resist?"


    Lee Ji-eun gave a bitter smile, "Since I chose to come here, I''ve prepared for everything."


    "Exactly, so today, everything depends on Mr. Zhang''s attitude. You don''t need to put up any defenses, because it''s meaningless," said Hong Yi, "The women Mr. Zhang wants to have are impossible not to have."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lee Ji-eun put down the towel in her hand and stepped out of the bath like a lotus rising from the water, her face still flushed. It was clear, even after taking such a bold step, her heart was still engaged in a serious struggle.


    "That''s more like it," said Hong Yi, eyeing Lee Ji-eun''s figure enviously, "Here are the clothes prepared for you. There''s a dressing room in the bathroom; you can change and then come out."


    "Is this... nightwear?" Lee Ji-eun took the clothes, her bitter smile deepening. It turned out she was here for this after all; Zhang Menglong apparently couldn''t even wait until evening.


    "Does Mr. Zhang often have girls come over to his place?" Lee Ji-eun chatted casually with Hong Yi.


    "Awesome, I heard that place is filled with female stars from Qingqiu Country, like Jeon Ji-hyun, Shen Min''er."


    "You might not believe this, but this morning Lee Ji-eun was the one who woke me up," Zhang Menglong wiped his face, getting ready to leave the room.


    "Hahaha, keep on boasting, they say Lee Ji-eun has a really powerful background. In all these years, none of those ''Q rules'' seem to have applied to her. She''s known as the jade girl of Qingqiu''s entertainment industry. How could she possibly come wake you up?" Wang Ling swore, "If she woke you up this morning, I''ll perform a handstand while washing my hair and eating instant noodles!"


    "You don''t believe me, huh," Zhang Menglong switched the camera around just as Lee Ji-eun, now dressed, walked out of the dressing room.


    Her hair was still a bit damp, and beneath her knee-length bathrobe, a section of slender, snow-white legs was hard to prevent one''s mind from wandering.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am Lee Ji-eun." Lee Ji-eun flashed Zhang Menglong a charming smile, though how much of it was genuine he did not know.


    "Damn, she''s really my goddess!" Zhang Menglong was so entranced, he almost dropped his phone, "Crap, no, I can''t show you, you don''t deserve it!"


    "Damn! So it''s actually true!" Actually, Wang Ling hadn''t said that Lee Ji-eun was also his goddess.


    "You... She just finished showering? You... you beast, did she just wake you up? There''s nothing else?" The mere thought of Lee Ji-eun possibly having fallen prey to Zhang Menglong''s talons made Wang Ling''s breath catch in his throat.


    "None of your business!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes at him, "I''ll have someone send you instant noodles and shampoo soon, what brand do you want?"


    Zhang Menglong counted on his fingers, "Up till now, you still owe me 20 tons of shit to eat, three handstand hair washes, and two days with a five-speed fan. Please settle these promptly!"


    "I''m out!" Once the subject came up, Wang Ling immediately hung up the phone.


    "Hahaha, scoundrel, ran away again!" Zhang Menglong put the phone aside, his gaze returning to Lee Ji-eun.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll take my leave then." Hong Yi bowed to Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, go ahead." Zhang Menglong nodded, plopping himself down on the couch, "Miss Lee, please make yourself comfortable, treat this place like your own home."


    A blush suddenly bloomed on Lee Ji-eun''s face, "Do we... go to your room, or just stay here?"

 Chapter 148 I Heard You Can Fulfill All My Requests

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Zhang Menglong nearly peed himself in nervousness when he heard Lee Ji-eun''s words. Was the goddess Lee Ji-eun actually being this proactive? Proposing such a request in broad daylight?


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong recalled the time not long ago when he went with Wang Ling to select actors for a drama crew and was surrounded by a group of female Internet celebrities and female stars who wanted to use him to climb the ladder.


    "Momma mia, are girls these days really this open and bold?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that Lee Ji-eun seemed to be different from what he had imagined. She was clearly such a pure, sweet, and cute girl.


    "Mr. Zhang, didn''t you call me over here precisely to do those things with me?" Lee Ji-eun felt that Zhang Menglong was clearly acting. "Now that it''s just the two of us, there''s no need for you to pretend anymore, right?"


    "Holy shit! What the hell did Hong Yi tell them?" Zhang Menglong suddenly noticed the look in Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, see appeared desperate with a touch of emptiness, and he could tell that the smile on her face was forced.


    "I get it," Zhang Menglong wasn''t a fool. He knew that his current actions were putting tremendous pressure on the Treasury of Qingqiu Country; frankly speaking, Zhang Menglong could decide the economic development trend of Qingqiu Country for the next decade, or even longer, in a single thought!


    After he posted that Weibo message yesterday, he knew the banks of Qingqiu Country would face yet another wave of mass withdrawals. Even if he didn''t withdraw those 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency now, the frightened masses would drain the banks dry.


    Therefore, they must be anxious like ants on a hot pan. Otherwise, how could they possibly take a sleepy, half-dreaming remark by Zhang Menglong as a national strategic-level command to execute?


    Lee Ji-eun right now was probably nothing but a tool used by Qingqiu Country to keep Zhang Menglong happy, a tool without any self-awareness. It wasn''t difficult for Zhang Menglong to guess that Lee Ji-eun must have been ordered to unconditionally fulfill all of his requests.


    "Alas, don''t these people of Qingqiu Country know how to spare and cherish a beauty? Even my grand and mighty image has collapsed in front of my goddess," Zhang Menglong sighed and shook his head.


    Probably, in Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, he had become a lecherous rich second-generation, a dirty old man, lusting after her body!


    "Hehe!" Zhang Menglong suddenly let out a mischievous smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, why are you laughing?" Lee Ji-eun''s uneasiness grew deeper upon seeing Zhang Menglong''s smile.


    "Nothing, take off the bathrobe," Zhang Menglong told Lee Ji-eun.


    Lee Ji-eun bit her lip and untied the belt of her bathrobe, which slid down to the floor, revealing her smooth and pale skin.


    "Hiss, damn, can''t keep up with the nutrients!" If Lee Ji-eun''s fans knew she was presenting herself before him like this, he''d probably be torn apart by them!


    Seeing the playful smile on Zhang Menglong''s face, Lee Ji-eun understood everything. Bathing, changing clothes¡ªshe had misunderstood it all. In Zhang Menglong''s eyes, there was nothing but appreciation, devoid of any desire or greed.


    It seemed she had jumped to conclusions and deeply misunderstood Zhang Menglong.


    At that moment, she felt a sense of relief but also a peculiar sense of loss.


    As the two SPA experts'' hands massaged her back, her body relaxed all at once.


    "Miss Lee, my girlfriend is very fond of you," Zhang Menglong said. "Of course, I like you too, but it''s not in that way, you understand."


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re nothing like I imagined," Lee Ji-eun said somewhat distractedly, realizing Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend. That''s why he didn''t go crazy even when she was nearly undressed.


    "Your girlfriend must be a very beautiful person, right?" Lee Ji-eun noted that Zhang Menglong''s eyes actually lit up when he spoke about his girlfriend. What kind of girl could make a man of Zhang Menglong''s status look that way?


    "Of course, she''s beautiful and adorable. She loves singing as much as you do," Zhang Menglong couldn''t seem to stop once he started talking about Lu Yiyao. When I left, she even told me to bring back a signed photo of you when I return."


    "She''s really lucky to have you as her boyfriend."


    "Hahaha, I think so too," Zhang Menglong shamelessly said. "Actually, me asking you to wake me up was just something I mumbled in my half-asleep state. I didn''t expect them to take it seriously."


    Lee Ji-eun was taken aback. So her coming here was just because of Zhang Menglong''s sleep-talk? Instantly, she felt the irony¡ªwas this the upper echelon of Qingqiu Country?


    "Since you''re here, just treat it as a vacation," Zhang Menglong smiled. "Stay here for the next few days, join me for meals, shopping, movies, video calls with my girlfriend, and I''ll give you a big gift before I leave."


    "Mr. Zhang, but what about the representative from the Golden..."


    "Let them worry about that!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care about their fate one bit. "It''s not that easy to schedule a meeting with me, Zhang Menglong. If they want me to go just because they say so, wouldn''t that be a loss of face for me?"


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry, they wouldn''t dare touch me, nor could they. As for Miss Lee''s family, I believe my assistant has already sent protection," Zhang Menglong said. "For the next few days, just enjoy yourself with me, without worries!"


    Upon hearing that her family was safe, Lee Ji-eun finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She revealed a sincerely sweet smile, the kind she usually showed to others.

 Chapter 149 Do you think we offer a threesome service here?

    "Ah! Refreshing!" Basking in the greenhouse sunlight, Zhang Menglong was eating ice cream and enjoying a top-level massage, almost feeling like he was ascending to heaven.


    If someone outside heard this at that moment, they would definitely think Zhang Menglong was doing something unspeakable and inappropriate for children with Lee Ji-eun.


    "Ah! Goddess! Goddess! Damn, I''m dead! Such sweet death!"


    Lee Ji-eun was lying there too, but in front of her was a huge screen, and on the screen, Lu Yiyao''s face was practically pressed against the camera.


    "Is this the prettiest, cutest girl Mr. Zhang talked about?" Although Lee Ji-eun couldn''t understand the word "damn" from Lu Yiyao, judging from her exaggerated expression, it must be some kind of slang.


    Lu Yiyao indeed was very beautiful, but compared to the batch-produced beauties of Qingqiu Country, there indeed was still a significant gap. As for cuteness, she couldn''t see anything cute about Lu Yiyao at the moment, but her voice was indeed quite sweet.


    "What kind of charm does she have that could make Mr. Zhang so fascinated?" Lee Ji-eun found that this seemed beyond her understanding.


    "Miss Lu, hello, I''m Lee Ji-eun!"


    "I know! Damn! How do you maintain your skin? Woo woo woo, how can you be so cute, can I pinch your face? Ah no, I''m afraid I might spoil it!" Lu Yiyao had taken a course to sing in the language of Qingqiu Country, although not very standard, but communication was not a problem.


    "Woo woo woo, I''m so happy, Ji-eun is actually having a passionate chat with me one-on-one!"


    "Ah, sing a song for me!"


    Lu Yiyao was like a fan meeting her idol, totally crazy.


    "How about that, am I awesome or what? This morning, it was Ji-eun who woke me up!" Zhang Menglong forcibly moved his head towards the camera.


    "Move away, Doggie, don''t block my Ji-eun''s beautiful face!" Lu Yiyao said bluntly.


    "Damn, my family status is really getting lower and lower!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes and lay down to continue enjoying the massage.


    "She talks to him with that attitude?" Lee Ji-eun was astonished; this man could make the whole Qingqiu Country compromise, why was this woman so bold? Could her background be even more impressive than Zhang Menglong''s?


    Lee Ji-eun couldn''t make sense of it all; what kind of woman was this?


    But a girl like Lu Yiyao, it was almost impossible not to like her, and as they chatted, they even started calling each other sisters, and even made plans to visit each other''s countries.


    However, Lu Yiyao had to go to class soon and had to say goodbye to Lee Ji-eun reluctantly.


    "Zhang Menglong, listen, if you dare to lay a finger on my goddess, you''re dead!" Lu Yiyao had learned all about this during their chat.


    "Do you think I''m that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said with a wry smile, "She was undressing in front of me just now, and I was completely indifferent, okay?"


    "But, won''t it be too wasteful to eat so much?" Lee Ji-eun said embarrassingly, swallowing a gulp of saliva.


    "What''s the problem? Just call two more people to join, right?" Zhang Menglong said, "You have Mr. Su''s contact info, right? Just give it to me, I''ll call him."


    "This..."


    "No worries, if he dares to fart around, I''ll finish all this Luosifen on the spot!"


    "I suspect you just want to hoard it all for yourself!" Lee Ji-eun grumbled inwardly.


    "Lee Ji-eun? How is it going? Have you served Mr. Zhang well? Is he willing to meet with us today?" Su Zhihe had been waiting for this call all morning.


    "Hello, is this Mr. Kim? This is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang?" Su Zhihe quickly changed how he addressed him, "Well, is Miss Lee satisfying you?"


    "Oh, quite satisfying," Zhang Menglong said in a deliberately sleazy tone, "I''m quite happy today!"


    "That''s great to hear, it''s our honor. Are you free for lunch today? I''d like to invite you to a meal."


    "Oh, that''s actually why I wanted to talk to you."


    Upon hearing this, Su Zhihe was overjoyed, "Mr. Zhang, we''ll be waiting for you at the Han''er Hotel, should I send someone to pick you up?"


    "No, no, no, Mr. Su, you misunderstand, my chef has already prepared lunch here."


    "Then I can come over!"


    "No, I didn''t say I was eating this meal with you!"


    "Ah?" Su Zhihe was stunned.


    "It''s just that the chef cooked too much this noon, and I felt it was a bit wasteful, so I thought about inviting a couple more people to join me. Could you call Lisa from Blackpink and Miss Liu Ren-na over here? Make sure they come to my place, don''t mess it up, bye, bye!"


    "Mr. Zhang, wait a minute..."


    "Beep beep beep..."


    "Mr. Su, was it Zhang Menglong? What did he say?" The several bank managers who were also waiting eagerly asked.


    "He wants Lisa and Liu Ren-na to join him for a meal!" Su Zhihe smashed his phone on the ground, "What does he think our Qingqiu''s Treasury Department is? Escorts?"

 Chapter 150 Who Dares to Help Them?

    "What? It wasn''t enough for him to involve Lee Ji-eun? He wants other women too?" Hearing Su Zhihe''s words, the bank executives were also filled with righteous indignation. If they really did this, it would almost be no different than losing their national dignity.


    "Representative Su, he''s going too far! If this continues, do all the female celebrities from Qingqiu Country have to accompany him?"


    "He is threatening us, Representative Su. We absolutely cannot agree to this. If we compromise again, we may never be able to stand up again."


    "But have you considered what will happen if we don''t meet his demands?" Su Zhihe certainly didn''t want to compromise with Zhang Menglong that easily, but what could he do!


    "Forget it, let''s just satisfy him. We can''t provoke him further right now; otherwise, even if he doesn''t come for the money, other citizens could empty our banks in no time!" Su Zhihe sighed, finally choosing to compromise, "Which company do they belong to?"


    "They are with YG. I know the boss of YG. Should I let him know?"


    "Go ahead..."


    "Representative Su! Representative Su! Good news!" Just when everyone was at their wit''s end, an employee hurried over.


    "Wait, don''t make the call yet," Su Zhihe said, his face also showing a relieved smile, as the negotiations seemed to have succeeded this time.


    "What happened?" Su Zhihe asked eagerly.


    "Representative Su, those countries are willing to use all their Qingqiu Currency reserves to support us. This money is enough to tide us over this crisis!"


    "Hahaha! Great!" It was the first time in days that Su Zhihe had smiled. Just two days ago, he had predicted this might happen, so he had already sought foreign aid.


    As it is known, though Qingqiu Currency is not as strong as the US Dollar, many other countries still hold substantial reserves of it. A single country might not have much, but a group of countries together can account for a significant amount.


    "They must have some conditions, right?" Su Zhihe knew there were no free lunches in the world, and this was just an exchange of equal value.


    "Their demand is that we need to use our US Dollar reserves to exchange for Qingqiu Currency."


    "Damn it! That bastard hung up on me!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t angry at all; he just found it amusing. He didn''t know where Su Zhihe''s confidence came from, but he knew that ''it''s only a matter of time'' ¡ª it never fails to show up, just may be delayed.


    "Mr. Zhang, what happened?" Lee Ji-eun asked curiously, finding Zhang Menglong''s smirk somewhat eerie.


    "Nothing much, let''s eat now, and later tonight we''ll have dinner with Lisa and Ryu Eun-na," Zhang Menglong picked up his chopsticks and started to enjoy what was a luxurious yet vindicating lunch.


    "Come shopping with me this afternoon," Zhang Menglong said, "You go change your clothes first; Hong Yi should have prepared them for you."


    "Yes, okay Mr. Zhang." Lee Ji-eun nodded obediently. After a morning together, she seemed to have gotten a better grasp of Zhang Menglong''s temperament; though sometimes unconventional, he certainly wasn''t the typical rich second-generation type in people''s usual sense.


    "Hong Yi, come here for a moment!" Taking advantage of Lee Ji-eun going to change her clothes, Zhang Menglong called Hong Yi over.


    "Mr. Zhang, what can I do for you?" Hong Yi asked.


    "How has Su Zhihe suddenly become so tough? Has he found a big backer?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to our intelligence, Su Zhihe has gathered over 30 trillion of Qingqiu Currency from 17 countries, which is sufficient to bring their bank back from the brink," Hong Yi replied.


    "Oh, so he found foreign aid," Zhang Menglong muttered, "I wonder what kind of idiots are still hoarding such useless Qingqiu Currency; they must have bricks in their heads!"


    "Which countries are they?"


    "They are some smaller Asian countries."


    "Is that so? Can we handle it?" Zhang Menglong cared about the outcome.


    "Of course, with these small countries, if you want to take action, I can offer you a hundred plans, yet they can do nothing about it."


    "Your tone is too much like Ye Liangchen''s," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help laughing, "Since that''s the case, use the fastest and most effective method, and give them a good beating! I want to see who dares to help them!"

 Chapter 151 Power, Water, and Gas Outages

    The country of Chaomo, a nation closest to Qingqiu Country, was in fact once a part of the same country. However, due to wars that took place a long time ago, the nation split, and eventually, two different governments emerged.


    Although independent from each other, their relationship was actually quite good. After all, the people from both nations shared the same ancestors'' blood, and they carried the inseparable bonds of being divided by national borders.


    Chaomo was the country with the most Qingqiu Currency in foreign exchange reserves in the world, holding up to 10.8 trillion Qingqiu Currency, far exceeding the foreign exchange reserves of any other country.


    At the first cry for help from Qingqiu Country, they were the only country that did not put forward any additional conditions, merely requiring the payment of the equivalent in US Dollars at the current exchange rate. It was the epitome of brotherly unity.


    Inside the Minister''s office of the Chaomo''s Finance Ministry, Cui Wu was having an enthusiastic conversation with Su Zhihe.


    "Minister Cui, we owe you big time for this one. Without your willingness to extend a helping hand, our Qingqiu Country''s economy would have taken a significant downturn."


    "What are you saying? We are friendly nations, and of course we should help each other out in such minor matters. It''s just about dealing with someone from Huaxia. If both our nations work together, can''t we handle a young man in his early twenties?"


    Despite the friendly rhetoric, Cui Wu had just conducted a thorough inspection of banks across the country not long ago. Perhaps because their nation was founded later, it seemed they had not been infiltrated by the Zhang Family''s influence, and those mysterious accounts had not appeared in their banks.


    Clearly, Zhang Menglong wasn''t able to use the same methods against them as he had with Qingqiu Country. Given this, what was there to fear? They could freely do as they pleased. Could Zhang Menglong possibly interfere with them?


    "Hahaha, exactly. We might be two countries, but our ancestors are the same, the blood within us is the same. We absolutely can''t allow Huaxia people to ride roughshod over us!"


    As they spoke, Su Zhihe began to spill his grievances, telling Cui Wu about Zhang Menglong and their issue with women.


    "That''s outrageous!" Upon hearing this, Cui Wu was as furious as Su Zhihe. "Rest assured, this matter has already been approved by the parliament. We will spare no effort to help you. In no more than two days, the 10 trillion Qingqiu Currency will arrive in your Ministry of Finance''s account!"


    "Fantastic!" Su Zhihe suddenly beamed with joy. "As long as this first tranche of aid arrives within two days, everything can be easily resolved."


    ...


    "Minister Cui, should we really be doing this?" After hanging up the phone, Cui Wu''s assistant suddenly asked such a question. "Although I don''t know this Huaxia youth named Zhang Menglong, I have a feeling that he is a very forthright person. Our actions might offend him."


    "So what if he''s offended? We''re not Qingqiu. Does he have any way to act against us?" Cui Wu sneered. "Huaxia people are too arrogant. It''s time to show them that not everyone is afraid of them."


    "But Minister, our country was established only a few decades ago. Both our infrastructure and society are still in development. If anything goes wrong, it could lead to disastrous consequences."


    "Triple-disconnection policy? Which three disconnections?"


    "Water, power, natural gas!"


    "Bastards!" Cui Wu pounded the table furiously. "Who are these bosses they''re talking about? I''ll go directly to them!"


    "I... I asked... but Minister Jin from the Energy Department mentioned that this was all your doing..."


    "Mine? What have I done?" Cui Wu was still utterly confused.


    Just then, Cui Wu''s phone signal was suddenly interrupted by another call, from an unfamiliar number, which didn''t appear to be from their own country.


    "This is Cui Wu, who am I speaking to?"


    "Minister Cui, hello, I am Zhang Menglong!" A young voice came through from the other end.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong and Lee Ji-eun had made their way to the largest mall in Qingqiu Country. Lee Ji-eun was trying on clothes in a luxury boutique. It couldn''t be denied that shopping was an innate desire for every girl; it was supposed to be Lee Ji-eun accompanying Zhang Menglong, yet it seemed like he was the one tagging along with her.


    "Zhang Menglong? How do you have my contact information?" Cui Wu asked, "What do you want from me?"


    "Oh, I just wanted to ask if Minister Cui might be looking for those multinational energy company bosses."


    "How do you know that?" Cui Wu''s pupils dilated upon hearing this, as a terrifying possibility crossed his mind, "Don''t tell me..."


    "Be confident and drop the ''Don''t tell me.'' Global Energy, Enka Construction, Lima Energy... those companies'' boss, that''s modest little me!"


    "You... you did this?" The horror in Cui Wu''s voice could not be overstated; he had initially thought that as long as Zhang Menglong did not control their country''s economy, they need not fear him.


    But he hadn''t realized that Zhang Menglong might not control the economy, but he did control the country''s energy! This was tantamount to having their country by the throat!


    "I made this call to warn you, keep out of things that don''t concern you. I thought about giving you a small punishment, a three-day shut-off of electricity, water, and natural gas. Of course, if you behave well, I might consider shortening that period. "


    Zhang Menglong laughed, "Of course, your key departments have their own power systems, but when it comes to the civilians'' water, electricity, and energy supplies, most of it is up to me."

 Chapter 152 Its Really Good

    After hearing what Zhang Menglong had said, Cui Wu''s back was soaked with sweat; Zhang Menglong was nothing short of a devil!


    Admittedly, just as Zhang Menglong pointed out, the most critical regions of a nation do have their own power systems to prevent disasters such as system malfunctions or data loss.


    However, the residential areas and industrial power and water supplies across the Morning Twilight Country were provided by these multinational energy corporations. If the power, water, or gas was cut off, not to mention three days, even a single day would wreak havoc on their economy!


    This situation was even more lethal than having their economy manipulated!


    "Zhang Meng... Mr. Zhang, we can talk this out. There''s no need for such drastic actions!" Cui Wu panicked instantly.


    Indeed, Qingqiu Country and Morning Twilight Country were as close as siblings, but that was under the condition it did not disturb their own nation''s stability and development. At this time, this condition clearly did not exist. If they stubbornly continued to help Qingqiu Country, Morning Twilight Country might collapse even before Qingqiu did!


    "Didn''t you hear me speaking so softly and gently with you? Where have I not spoken properly?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly fell upon Lee Ji-eun, who had come out dressed, and he immediately lost the desire to continue talking with the old man.


    "Okay, enough is enough. I''m going shopping with the beauty, bye now?" After saying this, Zhang Menglong hung up the phone directly.


    "Mr. Zhang, you¡ªbeep beep beep..." Only a busy signal came through from the phone, and Cui Wu collapsed into his chair as if all his strength had been drained.


    "Minister, I heard you mention Zhang Menglong..."


    "Secretary Jiang, you were right about what you said earlier, we really shouldn''t have provoked Zhang Menglong. He really is a monster!"


    "Could it be..."


    "Over 80% of the multinational energy corporations in our country belong to him. He said he''s going to cut off our water, power, and gas for three days. Whether or not it''s restored earlier will depend on our performance."


    "Minister Cui, I told you long ago not to underestimate that young man from Huaxia!" Secretary Jiang said with a bitter smile, he had warned him, but Cui Wu hadn''t listened.


    "At this point, we can only save ourselves first," Cui Wu said, "Stop the support for Qingqiu. This time, we are truly helpless."


    ...


    "What? Morning Twilight Country is going to stop helping us?" In Qingqiu Country, Su Zhihe had been happy for less than an hour before bad news came one after another.


    "Representative Su, Minister Basong from Taigu Country says they''ve encountered some problems with their finances, and they probably won''t be able to help us this time."


    "Representative Su, Yinxi Country has also withdrawn their aid to us."


    ...


    Find more to read at empire


    ...


    "Good lord, how can these women shop so much?" After an entire afternoon of struggle, Zhang Menglong''s legs felt as if they had lost all sensation, and yet, Lee Ji-eun still seemed eager to continue.


    "No more, no more, tonight I absolutely have to find someone to give me a foot massage!" Zhang Menglong shook his legs, which were already sore and aching.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to massage you?" Lee Ji-eun said with a smile.


    "Forget it, if my girlfriend finds out you''re massaging my feet, she could fly over from Huaxia to take my life directly!"


    "Hong Yi, open the door!" Zhang Menglong leaned against the door, calling out weakly.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re back?" Hong Yi laughed, "I told you to take two people with you, but you wouldn''t listen."


    "Damn it, how was I supposed to know she could shop and spend so much?" Zhang Menglong complained, "I feel like returning her to Su Zhihe!"


    "Haha, Mr. Zhang, there is no possibility of returning her, but just now, they sent two more people over."


    Hong Yi moved aside, and two women with stunning figures approached¡ªone with a sweet smile, the other sexy and charming.


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am Lisa."


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am Liu Renna!"


    "What''s this all about...?" Zhang Menglong knew that Su Zhihe would eventually send people over, but he didn''t expect them to arrive this quickly!


    "Representative Su asked us to come over to have dinner with you... and also..." The two beauties suddenly blushed, and Zhang Menglong didn''t even need to ask to know that Su Zhihe must have given that kind of order again.


    "Hong Yi, help me contact Su Zhihe!"


    "Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi handed over the already connected phone to Zhang Menglong.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang..." On the other end of the line, Su Zhihe was akin to burying his own head in the ground, but Zhang Menglong''s call¡ªthere was no way he dared not answer.


    "Representative Su, it seems I remember someone saying they would never succumb to my threats, right?" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically, "How does it taste?"


    With a heavy sigh, Su Zhihe uttered sincerely, "Tasty, really tasty!"

 Chapter 153 Miss, thats not acceptable

    "Ladies, feel free to eat and drink as much as you like. Here at my place, there''s plenty for everyone!" Zhang Menglong lay on the sofa on the rooftop, holding a glass of wine worth 120,000, and took a gentle sip.


    "Damn, what is this crap, why does it taste so bad?" Zhang Menglong never liked red wine, even the most expensive wines tasted no different from horse piss to him.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Hong Yi, bring me a case of AD calcium milk, don''t open it, I want the four-bottle set, otherwise, it''s soulless!" Zhang Menglong nonchalantly set the pricey red wine aside.


    "Come on, beauties, why aren''t you eating? There''s no need to be so reserved at my place!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the two actresses from Qingqiu Country who had just arrived. They sat timidly to one side like children who had done something wrong, their expressions extremely serious, or even, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they seemed ready to meet their doom.


    Although Zhang Menglong appeared very welcoming, they hadn''t forgotten the true purpose of their visit here; they had been abandoned by their own country and turned into tools for trading national economic stability.


    Especially when the two of them ran into each other at the doorstep of Zhang Menglong''s house, they found such a situation utterly preposterous. Just what kind of ability did this boy, who was even a few years younger than them, possess to make their entire country bow down?


    At this thought, they both felt a collapsing of their worldview. Following this trend, would Qingqiu have to comply if Zhang Menglong wanted any Qingqiu starlet to accompany him?


    They truly hated the dirty environment of the entertainment industry, but this was the first time they realized that there was an even more terrifying circle than the entertainment world.


    If Zhang Menglong wanted to do something to them tonight, could they really withstand that kind of pressure?


    Even if they had the courage to stake everything, would they be willing to disregard the safety of their families? Could they really give up this glitzy world? Clearly, they couldn''t.


    So, ever since they walked into Zhang Menglong''s house, they had been maintaining a low mood.


    "You must all be curious why you''ve been forced to come here," Zhang Menglong seemed to have read their thoughts, and even Lee Ji-eun couldn''t help but look at him.


    Lee Ji-eun knew that the recent bank incident was related to Zhang Menglong, but they were unclear on the specifics as Weibo, after all, was popular only in Huaxia.


    "Actually, it''s quite simple. I hold 45% of all the deposits of your country''s banks, amounting to probably three to four hundred billion Qingqiu Currency!"


    Hearing this number, the three actresses'' eyes widened, larger than the other''s.


    "The reason I''m here is simple, too. Some idiot economists from your country insulted me and it pissed me off, so I decided to come and empty out your banks!"


    With just a few sentences, Zhang Menglong displayed his capriciousness and strength.


    "Yiyi, what are you doing? You''re about to break through the floor!" Lu Yiyao''s roommates also gathered around.


    "Ahhh! Lisa! Ryun-ha!"


    "Yiyi! Your Zhang is so impressive, huh? He can even invite these female stars?"


    "Hahahaha, don''t just talk about inviting them, even if Zhang wants to sleep with them today, I bet the three of them would have to line up!"


    "Hahaha, Qianxi, you''re such a professional!"


    "Who welded the car door shut? I want to get off!"


    The small girls'' dorm room suddenly turned into a chicken coop.


    With the addition of Lu Yiyao''s dormitory, the dinner became lively all of a sudden. Despite the long distance, thanks to the privately laid fiber-optic, even this long distance didn''t affect the internet speed at all.


    Seeing how happy Lu Yiyao was, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that this trip to Qingqiu Country, aside from teaching a lesson to a bunch of idiots, also brought some nice gains.


    Dinner dragged on until after ten o''clock, and darkness fell. Lee Ji-eun and the others were informed that they were to calm Zhang Menglong''s mood before he left Qingqiu Country and accompany him in whatever he wanted to do.


    So none of the three of them left. Zhang Menglong''s house was big enough to accommodate even a few more girl groups.


    Having drunk quite a bit, Lee Ji-eun finished washing up and lay on the bed, but for some reason, she couldn''t fall asleep. The way Zhang Menglong spoke firmly and disdainfully to Su Zhihe during the day kept playing in her mind.


    She actually sat up, biting her lip lightly, as if she had made an important decision.


    "Thump thump!" There was a knock on Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "Who is it?" Zhang Menglong reflected on the novel "Three-Body" in his room, after all, the movie was about to start shooting soon, and he needed to prepare well.


    "Click!" The door opened, "Ji-eun, what''s up? Poker night and we''re short one?"


    Lee Ji-eun''s face was flush with a blossoming smile, and the silk robe naturally slid down from her fragrant shoulders.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong stepped back, "Miss, that won''t do!"

 Chapter 154 An Apology Cannot Be Empty-Handed

    "What long legs! Ah, no, what a long chest, ah, that''s not right either..." Zhang Menglong was absolutely convinced he was a gentleman; it wasn''t that he insisted on looking, but that he genuinely had no way to avoid seeing.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me serve you tonight." Lee Ji-eun still didn''t look up; mustering all her courage to come to Zhang Menglong''s room alone that evening was almost too much for her.


    "Are the people of Qingqiu Country always so bold?" Zhang Menglong gradually calmed down, figuring he could guess what was on Lee Ji-eun''s mind.


    If she became his woman, vile elements in the entertainment industry or political willpower would no longer be able to impose themselves upon Lee Ji-eun. Anyone who harbored ill intentions towards her would have to consider whether they could afford to provoke Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong''s woman, even if he only slept with her once, would always enjoy his protection! Just like the Emperor''s woman, even if she fell out of favor, she was not someone any official dared to molest.


    But Lee Ji-eun had motives beyond just that, because Su Zhihe had always been keeping contact with her!No?v(el)B\\jnn


    A day went by, and Zhang Menglong didn''t give them the time of day. That day, Qingqiu Country''s cash reserves had dwindled by several hundred trillion. Although they had robust financial support, and the urgency was lessened, the affairs of the neighboring country reminded them that as long as Zhang Menglong was in Qingqiu Country, they could at any time face the same situation.


    Therefore, they had to soothe Zhang Menglong''s mood and get him to leave Qingqiu Country peacefully. Only then would they be safe.


    However, it was clear that Zhang Menglong was unwilling to negotiate or leave, which meant his anger had not subsided. Lee Ji-eun had just been repeatedly urged to make Zhang Menglong agree to negotiations by any means necessary, or else, even if she sacrificed herself for her country, her family would still not end well.


    It was because of this reason that Lee Ji-eun had such bold thoughts that night.


    "If you merely seek my protection, that is easy!" Zhang Menglong suddenly spoke to the air, "Ye Yin, come out, don''t scare anyone!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need?" Ye Yin''s figure suddenly appeared from outside the door, standing behind Lee Ji-eun.


    Lee Ji-eun clearly had not expected someone to appear so suddenly behind her, and she shuddered in fright, but then immediately realized she was wearing nothing but her undergarments and quickly hugged her chest with both arms.


    "Don''t be afraid; this is my personal bodyguard," Zhang Menglong said as he picked up a robe from the floor and draped it over Lee Ji-eun, "Are they using your family to threaten you?"


    Lee Ji-eun trembled and then nodded, but actually, there were also some selfish thoughts she had not voiced.


    "Ye Yin, are there others like you in Qingqiu Country?"


    "Mr. Zhang, actually..." Lee Ji-eun was about to express her feelings when her phone in her robe pocket rang.


    "Mr. Zhang... it''s... it''s Representative Su..."


    "Answer it, turn on the speaker!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Lee Ji... Miss Lee, I''m sorry, it''s my fault, I''m not human, I shouldn''t have threatened you using your family, I was wrong, I dare not do it again!"


    "This..." Lee Ji-eun could tell that this was indeed Su Zhihe''s voice, but she had never seen such a humble Su Zhihe before, as his usual tone when speaking to her was always so arrogant.


    "Representative Su, is everything all right?"


    "No, no, no, Miss Lee, please don''t use formal language with me, I''m begging you, please forgive me, for if Mr. Zhang''s people don''t kill me, our Prime Minister will!"


    "Is it that serious?" Lee Ji-eun looked at Zhang Menglong with a puzzled gaze.


    What exactly had Zhang Menglong''s people done to Su Zhihe in the five minutes since issuing that order?


    "Let me handle it!" Zhang Menglong took the phone from Lee Ji-eun''s hand. Explore more at empire


    "Su Zhihe, it''s me."


    "Mr. Zhang? Mr. Zhang, please spare me! I won''t dare to use such methods to threaten Miss Lee again, please calm down."


    "You threatened her, not me. Why should I be angry? Of course, I had no reason to be angry," Zhang Menglong''s tone took on a sardonic edge, "however, since Ji-eun''s family is under threat, and my girlfriend is her fan, my girlfriend is very angry, so now, I am very angry!"


    "I understand!" Su Zhihe was quick on the uptake, "I will definitely visit Miss Lee tomorrow, and I will do my best to earn her forgiveness."


    "That''s your business," Zhang Menglong said in a nonchalant tone, "By the way, remember, we Huaxia people have a tradition: you can''t visit to apologize empty-handed. I''m sure you understand what I mean."


    "Understood! Understood! I will definitely satisfy Miss Lee and Mr. Zhang!"

 Chapter 155 My Mental Distress Compensation is Calculated in Hundreds of Millions

    "Go back to sleep!" Zhang Menglong said to Lee Ji-eun, "Let''s pretend tonight never happened!"


    "Mr. Zhang," Lee Ji-eun suddenly said, "Do you really have no thoughts about my coming over tonight?"


    "I am a man," Zhang Menglong replied, "the very normal kind. If I didn''t have Yiyi, tonight might have turned into a group activity. But because of Yiyi, all I had were some physiological reactions, so don''t doubt your charm!"


    After saying this somewhat provocative but utterly honest line, Zhang Menglong immediately closed the door.


    "Damn, this really is testing my willpower!" Zhang Menglong muttered while adjusting his pants, "Lu Yiyao, this is all your fault!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, time to wake up!"


    The next morning, another pleasant voice woke Zhang Menglong from his sleep. This time, however, it was not one voice but three!


    "Tsk tsk, if I posted this on social media, I might become public enemy number one." Zhang Menglong murmured with a smile, his eyes still closed.


    The popularity of these three actresses in Huaxia was terrifying. Whether male or female, just calling them "wife" settled the matter. If people knew these three actresses not only stayed at his house last night but also came to wake him up this morning, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    "Get up, up, up, up; this is life!" Who would have thought that just a few months ago he was frazzled from job hunting, only to suddenly find himself at a pinnacle that ordinary people couldn''t reach in several lifetimes.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will help you get dressed."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll prepare your toiletries."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll check if breakfast is ready!"


    The three actresses began bustling about like Zhang Menglong''s maids.


    "Hong Yi, if we stayed in Qingqiu Country forever, I suspect you''d be out of a job," Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Hmm?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over Su Zhihe and then his two assistants. "Are you sure you''re here to apologize?"


    "This..." Su Zhihe hesitated, "Mr. Zhang, is there something inappropriate?"


    "Haven''t I mentioned that we in Huaxia value etiquette? Although this is Qingqiu, on my turf, it has to be done my way. You came here empty-handed, and you call that sincerity? Give me a break!"


    "No, no, Mr. Zhang, you''re mistaken. I truly came with full sincerity this time. My sincerity might not be large, but it is definitely substantial."


    "Oh? Then I really must see this," Zhang Menglong said, "And remember, there are three of us here. If you only brought one gift, that won''t do. I, Zhang Menglong, have never been unfair."


    "Of course, of course," Su Zhihe hurriedly said. "I used some very inappropriate methods this time, causing fright to both the three ladies and their families. On behalf of all of Qingqiu, I express our apologies to the three ladies."


    "Who the hell are you calling ''ladies''? Do you even know how to speak?" Zhang Menglong slapped the table. "In our Huaxia, ''ladies'' is not a good term! Do you even know how to apologize?"


    Zhang Menglong''s slap made Su Zhihe tremble all over, as if the slap had landed on his face.


    "Then... then what should I say..." Su Zhihe felt utterly uncomfortable, if not ''ladies'', then what?


    "Call them Misses!" Zhang Menglong said seriously.


    "This..." Su Zhihe sighed. In front of this devil, he had no choice but to comply absolutely, "Three Misses, this is a gesture of sincerity from our Treasury Department."


    Su Zhihe glanced at his two deputies, who immediately pulled out three bank cards from their briefcases.


    "Ladies, each of these cards contains 100 billion Qingqiu Currency, as compensation for the mental distress caused. We hope you can forgive our previous inappropriate actions," Su Zhihe earnestly said.


    "100 billion Qingqiu Currency? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Your Qingqiu Currency has been plummeting in value these days, it''s probably only worth about 50 million Huaxia Currency now, right?"


    "Last time in Huaxia, some idiot messed with my film crew''s actors. Do you know how much he paid in mental distress compensation?" Zhang Menglong raised a hand.


    "500 million Huaxia Currency?"


    "500 billion Huaxia Currency!" Zhang Menglong said in a calm tone, "Here, if the mental distress compensation isn''t measured in billions, I consider it mere lip service!"No?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 156 I think LE and YG shares are good

    "500 billion Huaxia dollars for emotional distress?" Hearing this figure, Su Zhihe''s face nearly stiffened. Was this a joke? What kind of emotional distress warrants such a figure? This was outright robbery.


    "If you don''t believe me, you can go and ask around in Huaxia," Zhang Menglong said. "That guy was defiant with me, so I directly drove his company to bankruptcy and turned it into a foot bath city. Oh right, that conglomerate is called Wangyi, perhaps Representative Su has heard of it."


    "I''ve heard of it, it''s a publicly traded conglomerate worth billions of US dollars." Su Zhihe didn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s words, he was the kind of person who could really do such things!


    "Just think about it, a public company can come up with 500 billion in compensation, you, at the very least, are a country, and only 100 billion Qingqiu Currency, I am embarrassed for you!"


    Actually, Lee Ji-eun and the other two were already very satisfied with this compensation!


    You should know, among the three, Lee Ji-eun, who had the highest income, could only earn this much after a year of hard work. As for Lisa and Liu Ren Na, they couldn''t even reach this figure. For them, this compensation was considered an astronomical payout.


    100 billion Qingqiu Currency, enough for anyone to live a wealthy and prosperous life. However, in Zhang Menglong''s mouth, it was likened to tossing coins to a beggar, truly shattering one''s worldview.


    "If this is all the sincerity you can muster, I suspect the three beauties wouldn''t forgive you, and my girlfriend would definitely still be angry. When she gets angry, the consequences are severe, because I get very angry as well!" Zhang Menglong said. "It seems you aren''t taking this matter seriously, I think turning off your electricity, water, and gas..."


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, wait, we were mistaken!" Su Zhihe quickly interjected, "Is this all you prepared? Quick, bring everything out!"


    Two assistants instantly scrambled and fumbled through their bags again, then produced several more cards.


    "Mr. Zhang, we were wrong earlier, these three cards were only for Ji-eun. Here are Lisa''s and Ren Na''s!"


    A stack of bank cards neatly laid out on the table, this was the fragrance of money.


    "Is this it?" Zhang Menglong was still unsatisfied, "It seems you all didn''t understand me? A corporation can produce 500 billion Huaxia dollars, your country can''t even produce 1000 billion Qingqiu Currency? I don''t think you are that poor, are you?"


    "Hong Yi, send them back, we''ll go withdraw money this afternoon, and then cut off water, electricity, and gas tomorrow. The day after, we''ll cut off their crude oil as well, and, take back the land in their Qingqiu. I remember that my ancestors bought the perpetual development and usage rights!"


    "That Huaxia tycoon''s foresight was too keen; he chose the most prosperous area for development today. Now, we can''t afford to lose that piece of land. If that person comes to reclaim it, we wouldn''t even know what to do hahaha!"


    "Snap!" Su Zhihe hung up the phone, the laughter of Representative An now seeming like mockery to him.


    "Got everything clear?" Zhang Menglong smirked. "By the way, Representative Su, are you going to return the land to me directly, or compensate me in cash? Based on the current average real estate price in your area, 400¨C500 million Qingqiu Currency per square kilometer... about 200¨C300 trillion Qingqiu Currency, is that correct?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you made a mistake!" Hong Yi interjected, "The land price you mentioned is based on a limited property duration. Your ancestor bought a permanent property right, multiplying it by ten times wouldn''t be a problem."


    "Oh, is that so?" Zhang Menglong nodded. "How about you transfer the money to me now?"


    Su Zhihe felt like he was about to split open. He couldn''t possibly come up with these tens of trillions of Qingqiu Currency, and even if he could, it wasn''t feasible!


    "So, no money then?" Zhang Menglong smiled. "No problem, then I''ll just reclaim the land. I hear it''s now the city center, right?"


    "Hong Yi, call in an excavator brigade from Huaxia tomorrow. Offer an annual salary of a million, social security, and benefits at the highest standard. Flatten those buildings for me, I want to build¡ªno, not a bath center, that''s already there¡ªI want to build the biggest food center in Asia here!"


    Suddenly, Su Zhihe felt a sharp pain in his heart.


    "Mr. Zhang, you can''t do this. Many of our country''s key buildings are there!"


    "I can do whatever I want on my own land, what''s it to you!" Zhang Menglong said with boundless arrogance.


    "Mr. Zhang, name your price! As long as we can do it, we will!" Su Zhihe''s psychological defenses had completely collapsed. He had thought to play clever, hoping to solve the problem with a few hundred billion Qingqiu Currency, but Zhang Menglong was truly ruthless!


    "Since you put it that way, I won''t make it difficult for you. I know your country is also suffering. How about 1000 billion Qingqiu Currency per person for compensation, and, I think the shares in LE and YG are also not bad, what do you think?"


    ...

 Chapter 157 Drawing 100 Red Packets of 1 Million Each

    "Ladies, 100 billion Qingqiu Currency in spiritual compensation has already been transferred to your bank accounts. This is the stock equity agreement from LE and YG," Ms. Lee Ji-eun, you now own 52% of LE Entertainment Group. Ms. Liu and Ms. Lisa, each of you holds 32% of YG Entertainment Group, each share valued at around 500 billion Qingqiu Currency."


    It must be said that the shocked Su Zhihe had improved his work efficiency several times over, and three thick stock equity agreements had been delivered to Zhang Menglong''s house in less than two hours.


    All of these equities were acquired by the Ministry of Finance of Qingqiu Country. They couldn''t just watch as their banks and even government buildings were pushed over by Zhang Menglong with an excavator, could they?


    Although these lands had to pay a significant portion of taxes to Zhang Menglong every day, this steady trickle was definitely less painful than pulling out several trillion Qingqiu Currency at once.


    "Check your accounts, have the funds arrived?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, the funds are in," the three actresses nodded, feeling as if they were dreaming this entire time.


    Yesterday, they were mere tools manipulated by the state, but now, they had become the largest shareholders of the two biggest entertainment groups in Qingqiu Country.


    From now on, they no longer had to lead a passive life. They could dominate their own lives, no longer needing to do things they disliked. As for acting and singing, they could still pursue them, but without that burden, their lives would be much happier.


    Upon reflection, being arranged to serve Zhang Menglong turned out to be a very fortunate event.


    "Ladies, can you forgive us now? Those people who were tracking and surveilling your families, we''ve also called them back. There will be no more harassment in the future."


    "Mr. Zhang, should we forgive him?" The three women looked simultaneously at Zhang Menglong. They were already very satisfied with this compensation; it far exceeded their own expectations. But still, they needed Zhang Menglong to decide.


    "Alright, seeing that Mr. Su has worked so hard, although the compensation isn''t much, keep it. Let''s put this matter to rest," Zhang Menglong said.


    Hearing this, Su Zhihe finally breathed a sigh of relief, as it seemed Zhang Menglong was somewhat satisfied.


    "It''s just a song. I''ll have someone teach it to you. Okay, you can go now!" Zhang Menglong waved at Su Zhihe as if shooing away a fly. "I won''t keep you for lunch, okay?"


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!" After Su Zhihe had left, three female stars bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong. From now on, though their statuses stayed the same, their destinies were completely changed.


    "No big deal, consider it a tip for keeping me company these few days!" Zhang Menglong whistled as he walked into his room. "Call me for lunch later, and in the afternoon, keep me company playing Mahjong. Tonight, it''s team gaming time!"


    ...


    "Tonight, I will be live streaming on Shark TV. There will be a giveaway of 100 cash packets worth a million each. Don''t miss out, fans!"


    That evening, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo was updated with a new post, and this bold move stirred up a huge wave of reactions.


    "Damn, I''ve only ever seen live streams giving away a hundred bucks to a hundred people, but Mr. Zhang just multiplied that by ten thousand. Oh my goodness!"


    "Wuu wuu wuu, hubby, pick me!"


    "You think you can trick me into watching your stream with this tactic? No way! I''m bringing all my relatives to watch!"


    "Damn, Mr. Zhang is just Mr. Zhang. Is he trying to throw money to death?"


    "Others stream to make money; Mr. Zhang streams to burn money! The joy of the wealthy is beyond our imagination!"


    "I have a question, what exactly will Mr. Zhang stream? Isn''t he in Qingqiu Country?"


    "Who knows! Getting money is all that matters¡ªif I win, I''ve got my down payment!"


    Looking at the bustling comment section, Zhang Menglong revealed a satisfied expression. Tomorrow''s live stream would certainly be very lively, wouldn''t it?No?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 158 gift brush kicks out of the live broadcast room

    Chapter 158 gift brush kicks out of the live broadcast room


    "Bro, heard you''re gonna livestream tonight?" Zhang Menglong suddenly received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Bro? I''m freakin'' 22, and you''re over 30. Could you not gross me out?" Zhang Menglong showed an expression full of disdain.


    "Hahaha, I''ll sneak in through the back door, sneak in through the back door. Didn''t you say you were going to draw 100 red packets of a million each? Draw two for me, I''ll tell you my ID, hehehe." Wang Ling laughed lecherously.


    "Wang the rich kid! Aren''t you a super-rich second generation yourself? This is your ambition? You still care about a mere million?"


    "A mere million? My god, a mere million!" Wang Ling began to spew expletives, "Don''t think everyone is as filthy rich as you, Boss Zhang. Back when I was studying, my dad only gave me tens of thousands a month for expenses. A million is a huge sum, okay? I could keep a little internet celebrity happy for a year or two with that!"


    "Hahaha, let me tell you, I just got a new girlfriend recently, her figure, tsk tsk tsk, that waist, those legs. I''m telling you, this time in Qingqiu Country, you''re surrounded by beauties everywhere, plus goddesses like Lee Ji-eun. You must be having the time of your life, huh?" Wang Ling began to get lascivious as he spoke.


    "So, how''s the taste of a goddess? If I had your skills, I''d just organize a group, multi-player sports are way more thrilling?" Enjoy new stories from empire


    "Screw off! Get to the point!" Zhang Menglong cursed.


    "What are you actually going to livestream this time? I''m just really curious. Your Weibo post is totally trending now, acting all exclusive dog and stuff, shooting right up to the hot search."


    "Nothing much, just planning to organize a big chorus," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "A chorus? Have you switched careers to become a music conductor?" Wang Ling said, completely baffled.


    "What''s the rush, you''ll know tonight. Remember to record the screen for me, and tomorrow hop the firewall to spread it around everywhere."


    "If you won''t say, then whatever, all mysterious," Wang Ling muttered, "That million though..."


    ...


    Ever since Zhang Menglong became famous, this was the first time he voluntarily appeared in the public eye in this manner, and it was a rare international livestream to boot.


    Because this livestream was shrouded in mystery, everyone was filled with curiosity and anticipation. The money didn''t matter; what mattered was the curiosity!


    By the afternoon, the link to Zhang Menglong''s livestream room had already been swarmed with people. Two hours before the livestream was scheduled to start, more than ten million people were already waiting. A livestream like this, even the League of Legends World Championship might not compare.


    When the clock struck half-past six in the evening, Zhang Menglong used an account he''d prepared in advance to start the livestream. The moment he appeared on the screen, the barrage of comments exploded like fireworks!


    It was a rooftop under the starry sky filled with a romantic atmosphere, topped with a nearly invisible layer of transparent greenhouse glass. On this rooftop, there was a garden, a swimming pool, sofas, a TV, and aside from Zhang Menglong, there were three women.


    "Honey! Look here, honey!"


    "Zhang Menglong is way more handsome than in his photos!"


    "Lee... Lee Ji-eun! It''s Lee Ji-eun! My wife!"


    "Putting on an act, what a show!"


    "Hahaha, normally people livestream begging viewers to send gifts, but this is the first time I''ve seen someone begging not to receive gifts, truly a rare sight!"


    Seeing what was happening, not only did the number of people sending gifts not decrease, it actually increased; in just a few minutes, the total amount of the gifts had reached several million!


    "Holy shit! You''re still sending money?" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Hong Yi! Come here for a second!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do?"


    "Those gifts just now, get them all refunded by the people at Shark TV!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, that might not be easy, according to the provisions of our agreement, their platform takes a 50% cut!"


    "Then I''ll compensate them for that 50%, and if that''s not possible, help me acquire Shark TV, and I''ll refund it myself!"


    "Yes, I understand!"


    ...


    The conversation between Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi happened right in front of the camera, and this exchange instantly overturned countless people''s views.


    "Sorry to interrupt, sorry to interrupt!"


    "Just talks of an acquisition like it''s nothing? This must be what they call a ''God of Wealth,'' right?"


    "Think about it, President Zhang alone has deposits of 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Bank, which is worth several trillion Huaxia Currency; does he even care about this little money?"


    "Those of you sending gifts, are you not just insulting our President Zhang?"


    "Everyone!" Zhang Menglong said, "The official content of the livestream hasn''t started yet, but let me remind you all, please do not send me gifts. Anyone who sends gifts will be discovered and kicked out of the livestream immediately!"


    "Sorry about getting a bit heated just now!" Zhang Menglong smiled at the camera, "To show my apology, today I will draw 200 cash red packets worth 1 million each!"


    Wow!


    As soon as the message was out, the entire livestream exploded.


    "Damn, I got disconnected!"


    "Stupid Shark TV, if I don''t win, it''s all your fault! You owe me a compensation of a million for my loss!"


    "Hahaha, I''ve already prepared 10 alt accounts, let''s see who can beat me!"

 Chapter 159 Conquered by You Just Like This

    Although there wasn''t much interaction, Zhang Menglong was inherently a man who carried a conversation on his own, especially regarding this time''s economic history incident that had stirred international controversy. Many people were asking Zhang Menglong if this was a carefully planned hype event.


    Some even doubted whether the banking deposit information that Zhang Menglong had disclosed was fake, and that the sudden economic change in Qingqiu Country was just an internal upheaval, unrelated to Zhang Menglong. They speculated that Zhang Menglong just happened to seize this opportunity for a second round of hype.


    Facing such skepticism, Zhang Menglong just smiled faintly. He knew that after today, these people would completely shut their foul mouths.


    "Someone''s coming again!"


    "A man? Could it be the Big Bang Combo?"


    "No, that''s not right, these people are fat and thin, and all as short as winter melons. How could they possibly be that group?"


    "Look, there are quite a few of them!"


    Just when the audience was getting a bit bored, a group of people appeared on the rooftop. Two people were leading, and the dozen or so people behind them all had their heads down as if they had done something wrong.


    "You, give them a close-up!" Zhang Menglong said to the camera, indicating that there was a person specifically in charge of filming this live broadcast.


    The camera swept over each of their faces, and under the gentle lighting, the audience finally got a clear view of these people.


    "Who is this? What are they doing here? What kind of suspense is Zhang selling?"


    "Wait a second! I recognize this person!" There were always a few know-it-alls in the live broadcast room. "This is Su Zhihe from Qingqiu Country. My dad often watches the news from Qingqiu Country, no mistake, it''s him!"


    Armed with this information, netizens immediately started searching online, and indeed, there was such a person in Qingqiu Country, and after comparison, it was indeed the same person!


    "This guy is impressive. During his tenure, Qingqiu Country''s economic growth was incredibly rapid. The GDP per capita soared from 18,000 US dollars to 31,000 US dollars, almost breaking into the world''s top ten!"


    "Awesome! Although I don''t like Qingqiu Country, it sounds like this Su Zhihe actually has some skills."


    "What is he here for?"


    "Look, how fake his smile is. It seems like a flattering smile!"


    "You see, he''s grinning like a dog!"


    "Wrong, the people from the Ministry of Finance have come in person and they are bowing and scraping. Could it be that they came to ask for Zhang''s forgiveness?"


    "Possible! I heard that Qingqiu Country''s banks are being drained by the populace. If Zhang pulls a tough move now, they''re done for!"


    "Damn! That''s some pro action!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, as you instructed, I''ve brought all the people who slandered you online!" Su Zhihe said.


    "It''s just these few?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    The camera once again moved over the faces of those dozen people. Each one of them had their head lowered, their expressions more dismal than if they had been cheated on.


    "Mr. Zhang, we just wanted international attention too badly. Please forgive us!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we now have sufficient reason to believe that your grandfather had the power to trigger that economic crisis. We were too short-sighted."


    Facing Zhang Menglong''s questioning and the pressure of the state machinery, the economists had no choice but to bow their heads and admit their mistakes.


    Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s immense wealth, they truly believed that maybe the economic crisis indeed was the grand work of Zhang Menglong''s grandfather.


    Just the assets in Qingqiu Country alone amounted to several trillion US Dollars, and those accounts had even existed for decades. This suggested that in Zhang Menglong''s grandfather''s generation, their family was already so wealthy!


    Such a family could cause an economic crisis in the world with just a flick of their wrist!


    "The attitude of admitting your mistakes is acceptable!" Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "Are you all convinced now?"


    "Convinced."


    "Yes, convinced!"


    "And you, Representative Su?"


    "I... I am convinced..." Your journey continues with empire


    "Okay, then let''s not waste words and get straight to the main topic of today!" Zhang Menglong said to the camera.


    "What? This isn''t the main topic?" In the eyes of the audience, this explosive plot was quite thrilling already. What could be more shocking than making a group of professors personally visit someone and even apologize in such a humble manner?


    "Hahaha, get your keyboards ready, folks. In a bit, I''ll be randomly selecting 200 people from your comments to send red packets to!" Zhang Menglong stood up with a baton that had appeared in his hand at some unknown time.


    "Okay, now let''s start singing ''Conquest''!" Zhang Menglong pointed to Su Zhihe, "You''re singing too!"


    "What? I... I... alright..." Su Zhihe''s face was filled with despair.


    "Zhi''en, hit the music for me!"


    "One, two, let''s go!"


    "Just like this, you conquer me! Sever all my retreats..."


    ...


    "Hahaha, awesome! Too awesome!"


    "Real ''Conquest'', so hardcore, so slick!"


    "Hahaha, bowing my head in awe!"


    "Boss Zhang, look, is the way I''m kneeling up to standard?"


    ...

 Chapter 160: Brother, Are You Thor?

    Chapter 160: Brother, Are You Thor?


    "Oppa, come visit more often!"


    "Yes, we''ll all miss you!"


    At Qiuyuan Airport, Lee Ji-eun and the others reluctantly said farewell to Zhang Menglong. Although Zhang Menglong promised to visit often, they all knew that seeing him again would not be a simple matter.


    They would never forget this young man who had changed their destinies forever.


    "Mr. Zhang, I wish you a pleasant journey!" Representing Qingqiu Country, Su Zhihe was also sent to see Zhang Menglong back to his homeland. Finally, this harbinger of doom was leaving!


    Several days had passed since that live broadcast, but its profound impact was likely to last for a long time. Zhang Menglong had undoubtedly proven his influence to the whole world with this move; his family truly had the power to trigger a world economic crisis!


    Although there was no direct evidence, the economic prowess exhibited by Zhang Menglong was more than sufficient. Thus, there was no need for further evidence to confirm that this act was orchestrated by his grandfather!


    As for Qingqiu Country, it had become a global laughing stock. "Conquest," just a song, had somehow become a hit around the world; even the melodies were hummed in streets and alleys, with the singer poised to be the biggest winner!


    "Don''t worry, I''ll certainly have a smooth trip!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. Even if someone were to target his plane with a surface-to-air missile, as long as Ye Yin was by his side, he would never be in any danger!


    "Oh, and one more thing," he said in a voice audible only to them, "Don''t even think about messing with me using any methods; you can''t handle the consequences."


    "Mr. Zhang, you have quite the sense of humor! We will treat you as our most esteemed guest in the future. Next time you visit Qingqiu Country, we will receive you with the highest standard!"


    "Oh? Is that so? Well, I hope I''ll still see you next time," Zhang Menglong left an enigmatic remark.


    With a piercing screech, the plane vanished over the horizon...


    "What did he mean by that? Has there been a leak?" Su Zhihe asked his assistant.


    "Impossible! This matter is a direct order from the president, with no more than five people in the know. Moreover, they''re all the most trustworthy people; there''s absolutely no chance of failure!"


    "Hmph, Zhang Menglong, your very existence is a perpetual threat to our Qingqiu Country. You brought this upon yourself, so you can''t blame us for your demise!" Su Zhihe sneered, "Is everything arranged?"


    "It''s all set up!"


    "How will they do it? There must be no trace left, or it will impact Qingqiu Country negatively!"


    "Representative, this time we''ve made contact with ''Wind Nest''!"


    "Ye Yin, are these people very strong?"


    "To ordinary people, they''re like gods and Monsters," Ye Yin replied.


    "And what about to you?"


    "They''re like seven Calabash Brothers."


    "Hahaha, heartless," Zhang Menglong said, letting go of the last shred of unease upon hearing Ye Yin''s response, "If you guys start fighting, be careful. This plane is quite expensive."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. It''s just a Level Three Mutant coming."


    "There are levels? So are there also Level Five Mutants, like Phoenix Lady and Storm Lady?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve watched too many movies. However, their power does indeed exist."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhang Menglong shifted his position on the sofa, settling into a posture ready to watch a movie, "I''m getting a bit impatient!"


    ...


    "He''s here!" Ye Yin suddenly said.


    "You hide first. Only act if I''m in danger! Don''t let yourself be discovered; that would just spoil the fun," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes." Ye Yin nodded and disappeared behind Zhang Menglong, leaving only him and Hong Yi together.


    "Come on, Hong Yi, sit next to me. Let''s enjoy the show together!"


    "Whoosh!" Like a spherical bolt of lightning, a globe of light one meter in diameter suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, with a figure slowly materializing within the light.


    "Clap, clap, clap!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but applaud, "Awesome, awesome! What a sight to behold!"


    "Clang!" A coin landed in front of Sorens, "Bro, are you Thor or something? Come on, do it again!"


    "What''s going on?" Sorens was taken aback. His target this time seemed to know he was coming. And shouldn''t ordinary people be scared out of their wits at the sight of such supernatural phenomena?


    Instead, he threw a coin at him¡ªdid he see him as a monkey in a zoo?


    Not only did his target look completely unfazed, but he also seemed very excited, even... thrilled...


    Suddenly, a bad premonition arose in his heart.

 Chapter 161 Come Over Here!

    "Mr. Zhang, his name is Sorens, and he was born on a small farm in England. When he was seven, he was abducted by that organization and suffered twelve years of inhumane torture in a lab. He''s now a Level Three mutant."


    "He looks no different from a normal person!" Zhang Menglong glanced at Sorens. Judging by the timeline provided by Ye Yin, Sorens should have been seventy or eighty years old, but he appeared to be only in his twenties or thirties.


    Sorens had blond hair and blue eyes. He was about 175 cm, not very tall, even looking slightly slender, but standing in front of him, Zhang Menglong felt an intense pressure. The air around them got much drier, and he could even hear crackling sounds of static electricity.


    You see, Zhang Menglong was on a plane, and this was extremely dangerous for the aircraft. Electromagnetic fields could cause the airplane''s instrument panel to malfunction, which would be fatal.


    "Is he really from over half a century ago?" Zhang Menglong wondered, as Sorens looked about his age.


    "His cells were modified by nuclear radiation, not only enhancing the mitochondria to greatly slow down human aging, but also producing cells similar to those of electric eels, though far more complex in structure," Ye Yin explained. "Mr. Zhang, if interested, should delve deeper into biology."


    "Are you teaching me how to do my job?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes but admitted he was somewhat intrigued.


    "Why not consider going for a master''s degree?" Zhang Menglong suddenly contemplated. He didn''t need to work, so why not spend a few more years at school? Due to the pandemic, the entrance exam for graduate studies was postponed to next March, so Zhang Menglong still had time to apply.


    "What on Earth is he doing?" Sorens stared at Zhang Menglong, saying nothing. The young man from Huaxia didn''t seem scared at all and even seemed to be daydreaming!


    Being a mutant, an assassin, and one that was here to kill him, did he not deserve a minimum of respect?@@@@


    "Are you Zhang Menglong?" Sorens finally couldn''t help but speak.


    "Yes, that''s me. What do you want?" Zhang Menglong didn''t even change his sitting position, casually tossing a grape into his mouth.


    Sorens''s mouth twitched. This scenario didn''t follow his usual script. Previously, his sudden and ghostly appearances had been enough to instill endless terror in people.


    Inside Sorens''s body, his cells could generate a powerful electromagnetic field that countered Earth''s gravity, allowing him to fly in the air like ''Magneto'' without any external support.


    Moreover, his cells, interacting through electric currents, could disintegrate at the atomic level ¡ª a potentially dangerous feat. Thanks to the electrically formed field, however, his atoms could maintain a fixed relative position, allowing him to pass through even moderately dense solid objects by vibrating his atoms.


    "Stop worrying, no one betrayed you. You cannot imagine the energy I have, and today you won''t be able to kill me; you''ve probably come here for nothing," Zhang Menglong laughed. "By the way, how much did he pay you? I''ll double it if you take him down for me!"


    "Fuck!" Sorens couldn''t help but curse, feeling humiliated.


    Aside from Zhang Menglong, there were only seven others on the plane, one captain, one co-pilot, and the rest were maintenance staff¡ªall just ordinary people. Zhang Menglong seemed the most ordinary of them all, and Sorens had no idea where his confidence came from.


    "Forget it, you probably won''t believe me anyway. Aren''t you here to kill me? Come on then!" Zhang Menglong slumped into the sofa, making a helpless gesture.


    "What is this Huaxia person playing at? An ancient Huaxia Empty Fort Strategy?" Sorens hesitated. His instincts told him that something was off with this rich second generation from Huaxia!


    "Whoosh!" Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up, startling Sorens.


    "Hahaha, so pretending can have a deterrent effect too!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    But although he looked calm as an old dog, he was actually extremely nervous.


    He knew Ye Yin was formidable, but what if Ye Yin was overconfident and had underestimated the opponent''s ability? What if his bluff failed and he got screwed? Wouldn''t he be doomed then?


    Not only that, they were at an altitude of ten thousand meters. If Ye Yin couldn''t subdue Lawrence immediately and something happened to the plane, Zhang Menglong would be smashed to smithereens. In truth, he had no faith in his heart!


    "Come at me!" Zhang Menglong forced himself to muster courage as he spoke.


    "It must be a bluff!" Sorens confirmed once again. Aside from these people, there seemed to be no one else on the plane. It was all an act by Zhang Menglong!


    "Cunning Huaxia people!" Sorens''s eyes narrowed into slits. "Even though I don''t know how you discovered my movements today, you''re still going to die!"


    "Zzzzzz!" Sudden arcs of electricity began to emanate from Sorens''s body, and these were not mere static discharges but strong voltage arcs!


    In that instant, the plane''s alarm blared loud, signaling that the control systems had failed!

 Chapter 162 Is My Life Only Worth 200 Billion US Dollars?

    "Ye Yin! Get your ass out here now, or I''m going to be electrocuted to death!" Zhang Menglong screamed hysterically.


    The electric current crackling from Sorens''s body had already smashed the surrounding objects to pieces, creating charred marks on cups, the TV, and even the internal walls of the airplane.


    "Damn it! My painting! Shit, that''s a 24-million-US-dollar painting, pay up!"


    "Damn it! Do you know what this is? A limited-edition red wine, you can''t get this even if you have the money, and I only had a small sip!"


    The static electricity permeating the air had made Zhang Menglong''s hair stand on end, and he even felt waves of prickling pain radiating onto his skin. This guy was truly a monster! He wasn''t human!


    "Mr. Zhang, I told you, if you had just taken him down before he came in, wouldn''t that have saved all this trouble? You just had to show off!" Ye Yin''s helpless voice came from behind Zhang Menglong.


    In an instant, an invisible force field appeared around Zhang Menglong''s body, shielding him from the static electricity. The numbing, piercing sensation vanished in a flash.


    "Beat him up, beat him hard!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat panic-stricken; he had obviously not played his part well and he admitted that he had genuinely been scared just now.


    Even with mental preparation, seeing such a freak, who emitted electricity all over his body like Thor, made it impossible for anyone to remain calm!


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the wrecked airplane cabin "This incident absolutely cannot be overlooked!"


    At this moment, Sorens also stopped the outburst of power. His body was shaking slightly, a state of extreme fear.


    He had been on this airplane for at least two minutes, and it was astonishing that he hadn''t noticed the presence of another person besides them! Didn''t that mean this person was even more formidable than him? How else could he have escaped his detection?


    As a mutant, Sorens had a perception that far exceeded that of normal humans; it was impossible for someone to be lurking near him undetected, unless that person was of the same kind!


    "Are you also a mutant?" Sorens asked. "No, that''s not right. Huaxia has never conducted human mutation experiments. Are you a naturally-awakened psychic? Or a Huaxia ancient martial artist or cultivator?"


    "This guy must have late-stage Chuunibyou," Zhang Menglong whispered to Hong Yi, "Ancient martial arts and cultivation have both come up; he''s definitely been reading too many novels."


    Hong Yi just smiled dismissively, not at all bothered by Zhang Menglong''s exaggerated reaction.


    "Neither," Ye Yin shook his head, "Level Three mutant, almost Level Four strength, to exploit radiation energy for mutations in the human body to unlock such power is quite impressive indeed."@@@@


    "Just who the hell are you?" Ye Yin appeared much younger than Sorens. For some reason, Sorens couldn''t sense anything abnormal about him, yet he felt as if a mighty mountain stood before him, an invisible pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am. Just now, Mr. Zhang said he wants to beat the crap out of you, so you''d better get ready to take a beating," Ye Yin said.


    "Cough...cough...cough!" Sorens coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Not talking? Continue, Ye Yin! But don''t kill him!"


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    "What are you doing? This is useless, let me teach you. Hit him in the balls!"


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Ye Yin''s mouth; he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to resort to such nasty methods!


    "I''ll talk!" Sorens''s spirit completely crumbled. Even in death, he wanted to preserve his manhood, the most symbolic part of being a man!


    "Su Zhihe from Qingqiu Country offered 200 billion US dollars for your life!" If only he had known that there was such a monster with Zhang Menglong, even for 2 trillion dollars, he wouldn''t have come!


    Forget about him; facing this demonic Huaxia man, even if all seven of them from Wind Nest came, it''d be like sending themselves to their doom one by one!


    "Dammit!" Zhang Menglong cursed angrily, "Am I really only worth 200 billion US dollars?"


    The bloodied face of Sorens showed a pair of exceedingly surprised eyes. Was this Huaxia guy''s brain messed up?


    Someone was trying to assassinate him, and he wasn''t upset about being targeted, but that the price on his head wasn''t high enough? What kind of thought process was that?


    "Hong Yi, what do you think? Is my life only worth 200 billion US dollars? This is an insult to me! It''s contempt for me!" Zhang Menglong fumed angrily.


    "Heh...heh...heh..." At this moment, Hong Yi''s thoughts were exactly the same as Sorens''s. What on earth had made Zhang Menglong so irritated? He wasn''t like this before!


    Right then, Zhang Menglong fumbled in his pocket, and eventually pulled out a crumpled 10 Huaxia yuan bill.


    He threw the money on Sorens''s face, "This time I won''t kill you. Here''s ten yuan, go and take out Su Zhihe! And you tell him, his life is only worth 10 yuan!"


    "Fuck! This is infuriating me!"


    ...

 Chapter 163 No Money? Then Cede Territory!

    "You... you''re not going to kill me?" Sorens looked at Zhang Menglong in disbelief, thinking he was undoubtedly doomed today, yet to his surprise, Zhang Menglong actually spared his life!


    To think someone would let go of their would-be assassin, and by his looks, all just to humiliate Su Zhihe a bit, his head was suddenly filled with question marks, are all Huaxia people this wild?


    "Take these 10 bucks and kill Su Zhihe, and I won''t kill you," Zhang Menglong added another question, "Oh, by the way, do you assassins issue receipts after taking a job?"@@@@


    These few questions rendered Sorens speechless, the hell do you issue receipts for murder? Are you also going to pay taxes at the tax bureau? Give you a banner of ''Taxpayer Pioneer'' while you''re at it? Has your brain got water in it asking such questions?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you want him to issue a receipt?"


    "Of course, it''s to leave at the crime scene after offing that Su Zhihe!" Zhang Menglong declared with righteousness, "That way, when others go to collect his corpse, they''ll know someone spent 10 bucks to have him killed!"


    The assassination of a country''s minister of finance is already extremely humiliating, if it gets out that he was killed by someone who paid 10 bucks for a hitman, it''s likely to become legendary in history.


    "As expected of Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi was at a loss for words, besides Zhang Menglong, she couldn''t think of a second person in the world who would come up with such an idea.


    "You really going to let me go?" Sorens was still doubtful, "Aren''t you afraid I won''t keep my promise? Once I leave here, you can''t control me!"


    "If you don''t carry out this task, the entire Wind Nest will be uprooted!" Before Zhang Menglong could speak, Ye Yin took the lead, "Do you think no one knows where the Wind Nest headquarters is? If I remember correctly, there''s an undersea cavern beneath the Narnia Trench..."


    Sorens'' pupils dilated suddenly, "How do you know that? This..."


    "In this world, there''s nothing Mr. Zhang doesn''t know about! So don''t even think about being sneaky!" Ye Yin said, "By the way, I can tell you some more, the first generation of mutants from Lab Two was killed by my grandfather."


    Revealing the base of the Wind Nest Organization only surprised Sorens, but when he heard this, he felt a deep fear from within.


    Lab Two was the hellish place where the seven of them were born, a place of torture they could never forget for as long as they lived!


    Actually, the seven of them alone couldn''t possibly destroy Lab Two, they were merely second-generation mutants. Before them were the first generation of mutants, far more powerful, with nuclear fission reactions taking place within their bodies!


    You see, the power of an atomic bomb comes from nuclear fission: imagine how terrifying the energy that''s compressed into a human body could be? They were truly human-shaped nuclear weapons!


    "Wait a second!" Zhang Menglong called out to Sorens.


    "Do... do you have any other orders?" Sorens asked cautiously.


    "Bring ten bucks with you, I, Zhang Menglong, never run a tab!"


    Grinding his teeth, Sorens grabbed the 10 Huaxia currency note and then vanished into the distance, turning into a ball of lightning.


    The plane had already returned to normal when Sorens was subdued just now, but the originally luxurious cabin now looked somewhat disheveled.


    "Hong Yi, tell the captain to turn around, we''re going back to Qingqiu Country!" Zhang Menglong announced.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do?" Hong Yi asked.


    "What to do? You see what this Lawrence has done?" Zhang Menglong said with a pained expression, "Smashing these paintings and bottles of wine is one thing, but what about my unicorn Gundam diamond figurine? I waited two months for them to make a batch, and now they''re smashed!"


    Hong Yi glanced over the world-famous paintings scattered all over the floor. While the figurine was indeed valuable, it couldn''t compare to those paintings. Why was Zhang Menglong only upset about the figurine and not the paintings?


    "Are you going to kill the President of Qingqiu Country?" Hong Yi asked. "This can''t be Su Zhihe''s planning alone, Quan Zhenggui must be behind it!"


    "Killing people is so boring. I''m still counting on them to transfer me money!" said Zhang Menglong, "First, calculate how much we''ve lost for me."


    "Just a moment," Hong Yi quickly surveyed the debris on the floor, "It''s about 800 million US dollars, I guess."


    "Fine, then we''ll seek a thousand-fold compensation!" Zhang Menglong declared, "If they can''t cough up 800 billion US dollars, I''ll cut off their water, electricity, gas, and oil!"


    "Pfft!" Hong Yi had now witnessed the shamelessness of Zhang Menglong, but she understood. After all, the incident wasn''t just an economic loss; the other party had come with murderous intent. It would be strange if Zhang Menglong could swallow his anger.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you sold Quan Zhenggui, he wouldn''t be worth that much money!"


    "No money? Then cede territory!"

 Chapter 164 He Gave Me $10 to Buy Your Life

    This was Zhang Menglong''s first time being so furious. Not only had he faced an assassination attempt, but the offer was also ridiculously low¡ª200 billion US dollars, merely close to the total assets of the world''s wealthiest person. That price might be understandable for assassinating Poladi, but him? They''d better add a few more zeros before talking!


    Despite facing a powerful surge of electricity, Zhang Menglong''s plane was built with ultimate safety features, so it wasn''t severely damaged. It just needed minor repairs and was still fully capable of flying under the current circumstances.


    The captain of Zhang Menglong''s aircraft was none other than the famous Captain Sully, who had once managed an emergency landing on the sea with multiple engines out, successfully saving everyone on board. Now, he had become Zhang Menglong''s dedicated pilot.


    With a familiar smell of kimchi, Zhang Menglong once again returned to Qingqiu Country and to that familiar residence.


    "Mr. Zhang, why have you come back again?" The housekeeper in charge of the building was overseeing the tidying of the rooms. Zhang Menglong was supposed to be almost back in Huaxia by now. Why had he suddenly returned?


    "No worries, just a few friends I can''t stop thinking about, and I wanted to visit," Zhang Menglong replied with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang really has great connections, having so many friends even in Qingqiu Country."@@@@


    "You go and rest. I might need to stay here for another day," Zhang Menglong said.


    The housekeeper nodded, then left the room with the domestic staff.


    "Hong Yi, do you know what Su Zhihe and his people are up to now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "There is a high-level Qingqiu gathering tonight," Hong Yi replied. "If the Sorens'' assassination attempt had been successful tonight, it would have been a celebration party. They were all ready to sing and dance in celebration of having eliminated you as a threat, Mr. Zhang."


    "Hahahaha, I''m sorry to disappoint them," laughed Zhang Menglong. "In that case, as the main character, I must make an appearance. Otherwise, how disappointed they would be!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the party will be held at the Hawke Palace Hotel at 6:30 this evening. Almost half of Qingqiu Country''s upper echelons will attend, giving you half a day to prepare."


    "Call Lee Ji-eun for me," Zhang Menglong said. "Prepare two suits; attending a dinner party always requires a presentable companion."


    "Miss Lee Ji-eun will certainly be delighted. I''ll contact her right now!"


    ...


    "I told you, I''m not here to report on the mission''s progress!" Sorens said, "Zhang Menglong is spending 10 Huaxia dollars to buy your life!"


    "What? You can''t..."


    A surge of electricity flashed through Su Zhihe''s body; before he could finish his words, the potent current had already stopped his heart, leaving his face frozen in its last expression.


    "Although it goes against my professional ethics, this is the only condition under which my organization and I can survive," Sorens said with a bitter smile before pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket and leaving it on Su Zhihe''s desk.


    It was an invoice from Qingqiu Country; the item listed was "Assassination", and the amount was written as "10 Huaxia dollars".


    "Huaxia people really know how to play!" Sorens shook his head and disappeared again as a lightning.


    ... Read latest chapters at empire


    "Oppa, this dress is really beautiful!" Lee Ji-eun was both shocked and delighted by Zhang Menglong''s return, and stars seemed to appear in her eyes when she saw the gown he had prepared for her.


    It was a snow-white evening gown, even more beautiful than a princess''s wedding dress in fairy tales, and Lee Ji-eun could hardly imagine its price, let alone the crystal-like high heels and the pink diamond pendant nearly the size of a child''s palm¡ªthis was truly a scene from every girl''s dream.


    "These items are very expensive, right?" Lee Ji-eun asked.


    "Miss Lee, this gown was handmade by Mr. Zhang''s personal designer over two years, and the cost of materials alone exceeded 3 million US dollars. The shoes are not very expensive, but this string of diamond necklace is indeed very valuable," Hong Yi explained.


    "The diamond was only excavated from one of Mr. Zhang''s diamond mines earlier this year. After cutting, the quality reached 105 carats, and the price should be over 80 million US dollars. You are the first person to wear it."


    "This...this is too valuable!" Lee Ji-eun''s complexion changed, with nearly a hundred million dollars hanging on her body; it was literally a matter of life and death.


    "Wear it!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Today we are going to meet someone of status, and we absolutely cannot lack manners."


    "Are we meeting your friend?" Lee Ji-eun asked curiously.


    "No, we''re meeting the big boss of your country!"

 Chapter 165 Surprised or Not, Unexpected or Not

    For the Hawke Palace Hotel, today was a rather special day; tonight, a group of very important individuals from Qingqiu Country would be gathering here.


    In order to entertain these guests, an entire floor of the hotel had been cleared out, at the entrance of which tight security measures were deployed, given that each person appearing there today could be of critical importance to Qingqiu!


    "President Quan, you''ve arrived so early?"


    "Hahaha, yes, I''ve just settled a matter that''s been weighing on my mind, feeling refreshed, I had to come!"


    "Being suppressed by that Huaxia youngster named Zhang Menglong recently has been suffocating; now that he has finally gone back, how could I not come to celebrate properly?"


    "How''s your bank doing?"


    "The situation has basically stabilized, the number of people withdrawing money has been decreasing, and in at most two days, it will return to the previous state of slow growth. But this time, it was indeed a serious blow to our vitality."


    "That''s true, our Minsheng Bank has suffered substantial losses. I hope we can mitigate some of the damage in the final stretch of the year!"


    "I''ve heard that today''s gathering isn''t so simple!" one of the bank presidents, who was on very good terms with Su Zhihe, suddenly said with an air of mystery, "Do you think today is just about celebrating Zhang Menglong''s return to his country?"


    "What else could it mean?" Several other bank presidents gathered closer.


    "You need to understand, Zhang Menglong''s actions didn''t just strike a blow to our economy, but his livestream that night has made us Qingqiu people lose face before the whole world. This is a tremendous insult; if we let him return just like that, where would the dignity of our country stand?" Experience tales at empire


    "You mean?" The ears of several bank presidents widened, and one of them even made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.


    "Shh! Keep it down, this matter is top secret! Apart from Representative Su, no more than five people know of it. You must not tell anyone," the president said, "We''ll only make our move when Zhang Menglong''s plane moves through the airspace of other countries. We definitely won''t let his death be traced back to us!"


    "If that''s the case, then it would definitely be a good thing for our country!"


    "Right, where is Representative Su?"


    "Yeah, tonight he''s supposed to be our star, our hero!"


    The time had already reached 6:20 p.m., and even President Quan Zhenggui had made his appearance at the venue, but Su Zhihe was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is Su Zhihe? Could he have forgotten the time?" Quan Zhenggui said displeasedly, "Someone, go ask about him? Contact his secretary."@@@@


    "Bro, the people you hired are no good, trying to kill me? At least find someone slightly more impressive. And with an offer of just 200 US Dollars, I almost feel insulted!"


    "I don''t understand what you''re talking about!" Quan Zhenggui couldn''t possibly admit that Qingqiu Country had sent people to assassinate Zhang Menglong¡ªhe had to pretend to be clueless.


    "Looks like you''re not going to admit it!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Why don''t you listen to this!"


    Zhang Menglong took out a small recording device.


    "Did Su Zhihe send you to kill me?"


    "How... how could you possibly know?"


    ...


    The voices of Zhang Menglong and Sorens were on the recording.


    "Oh, and by the way, there''s also the recording of Su Zhihe contacting the Assassin Organization. Wanna listen?" Zhang Menglong said.


    With his intelligence network, obtaining such evidence was a piece of cake.


    "You..." Everyone in the hall changed color. If what Zhang Menglong claimed was true and he had those pieces of evidence, then the fact that they had sent people to assassinate Zhang Menglong was confirmed. If exposed to the international community, Qingqiu might soon become everyone''s target.


    "Su Zhihe, it was you who sent people to do it, right?" Quan Zhenggui said.


    "Is there a recording device and a video device?" Zhang Menglong communicated telepathically with Ye Yin.


    "I can block them all!"


    Having received a positive response from Ye Yin, Zhang Menglong''s smile twisted practically to the heavens, "It was me who hired someone to do the job, a discount sale, for just 10 bucks. Isn''t that cheap?"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s maddening voice, Quan Zhenggui couldn''t help clenching his fist.


    "What are you looking at, think being the president is so great? Believe it or not, I''ll spend 15 bucks to turn you into a corpse just like Su Zhihe," Zhang Menglong taunted, facing those who wanted him dead without the slightest psychological burden.


    "Zhang Menglong, are you threatening me? Aren''t you afraid this could lead to a dispute?"


    "I am threatening you, come at me if you dare!" Zhang Menglong continued brazenly, "Hahaha, do you want to make my crime known to the public? But you guys don''t have any evidence!"

 Chapter 166 Arent You Just Asking for It?

    "You guys sure know how to play, still daring to send someone to kill me. If I weren''t so lucky and rich, I would have really been in trouble this time!"


    "They sent someone to kill you?" Lee Ji-eun finally realized the gravity of the situation beside him. No wonder Zhang Menglong had come back; there was such a layer to their relationship!


    Lee Ji-eun had followed Zhang Menglong the whole way up. Zhang Menglong was radiating an intense coldness that could seize a person''s soul. Although his face showed no signs of anger, Lee Ji-eun could feel that Zhang Menglong was suppressing his emotions.


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    Moreover, for the first time in her life, Lee Ji-eun witnessed something that her worldview could not explain or understand.


    Today was a very special gathering in Qingqiu Country, and the hotel was under incredibly strict lockdown. Anyone entering the hotel went through a severe screening, and at the stairwell of this floor, there were armed soldiers guarding, not even a mosquito could get through.


    When Zhang Menglong arrived, he did indeed face resistance, but before those people could even speak, or even come into contact with Zhang Menglong, they collapsed to the ground as if asleep; that''s how they were able to reach this place despite the heavy guard.


    "Oppa, you haven''t been hurt, right?" Lee Ji-eun asked, concerned for Zhang Menglong''s well-being.


    "Do I look like I''m hurt?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "If I were hurt, even if it were just a single hair from my head, there would be no need for Qingqiu Country to continue existing on the world map!"


    As Zhang Menglong uttered these words, it seemed as if he was merely stating a fact in perfect calmness¡ªpeople of the Zhang Family, above all prohibitions!


    "It''s good you''re alright!" Lee Ji-eun was relieved to hear Zhang Menglong was unharmed. She could somewhat guess that Zhang Menglong had come back for revenge!


    "By the way, I can tell you that the assassin you found was pretty good," Zhang Menglong said mockingly, "As soon as he spoke, my phone nearly got fully charged, he was like an Asian power station, a human Pikachu, but then he got beaten up by my bodyguard and nearly met his maker on the spot!"


    Quan Zhenggui''s mouth twitched slightly. He had learned from Su Zhihe that the person sent by the Wind Nest Organization to assassinate Zhang Menglong was incredibly mysterious, yet they had all failed to kill him! And now Zhang Menglong was still very much alive, the best evidence against his recent claim.


    "Us Huaxia people have a saying, ''return the favor with the method received.'' You sought to have me killed, so naturally, I have to return a generous gift to you. However, Su Zhihe''s life is barely worth 10 US dollars at best, which I think is a loss for me!"


    "Bang!" A blast resonated. The hand of a person who looked like a Qingqiu Country official suddenly exploded in a burst of blood, a recording pen bomb.


    "Don''t dream of leaving behind any evidence," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Otherwise, I can''t guarantee it won''t explode while it''s still in your trousers!"


    "He has those kinds of people around him too!" Quan Zhenggui suddenly realized, and then he felt an overwhelming fear. Those people, completely beyond worldly restraint, were willing to serve as Zhang Menglong''s bodyguards. How much had Zhang Menglong paid for their services?


    But one thing was certain, tonight''s banquet could very well turn into a bloody storm.


    "It''s Arabic!" A nameless official immediately approached, "I understand their language, let me speak!"


    The two exchanged a series of rapid-fire dialogues, as the official''s expression grew increasingly grim, his tone more and more agitated, but in the end, he looked helpless.


    "Minister Choi, how much of our country''s oil is imported from the Arab world?"


    "About sixty percent," Choi Shin-hyun replied, suddenly fearful of a terrible possibility.


    "That was the energy minister from the Arab world. They said, starting tomorrow, they will stop selling us oil, indefinitely..."


    "What?" Quan Zhenggui could no longer sit still, "Why? Did he give a reason?"


    "This..."


    "Speak!"


    "He said, because he''s in a bad mood, so he cut us off."


    "What kind of ridiculous reason is that?" Quan Zhenggui nearly threw something in frustration. Could the Middle East oil countries be any more whimsical? Is exporting oil now subject to mood swings?


    But Quan Zhenggui knew very well that this wasn''t the real reason. The actual reason must have to do with the phone call Zhang Menglong had just made!


    He could actually control the oil exports of Middle Eastern countries! How vast was his energy?


    "We concede!" Quan Zhenggui sighed. If this were a straightforward fight, Zhang Menglong could crush them with money, and if it were underhanded, they had already lost miserably today. At this point, there was no other choice but to compromise. "State your terms!"


    "Ah, I wasn''t even pursuing it anymore; just let me go back to my country quietly. Why did you have to degrade yourselves?" Zhang Menglong shook his head as if disappointed, "That guy cosplaying Thor caused a ruckus on my plane and destroyed things worth 800 million US dollars. You''ve got to compensate for that, right?"


    "Compensate!" Quan Zhenggui gritted his teeth. 800 million US dollars was not that much after all; their US dollar reserves were quite substantial.


    "What about compensation for emotional distress?"


    "Compensate!"


    "Well then, let''s round it up. Compensate me 800 billion US dollars and we''ll call it even!"

 Chapter 167 This is a Warning

    "Why don''t you just go rob someone?" Quan Zhenggui almost blurted out., Wasn''t it just a loss of 800 million US Dollars? How did it suddenly become a thousandfold increase? If this isn''t robbery, what is it?


    Their Qingqiu Country had strived for many years and had only managed to accumulate a foreign exchange reserve of just over 400 billion US Dollars; even if they were to sell everything they had, it would merely cover half the amount.


    "Mr. Zhang, we can''t come up with that much money," Quan Zhenggui said with a bitter smile.


    "Can''t come up with 800 billion US Dollars? Paupers!" Zhang Menglong disdainfully remarked.


    Paupers? Just go and ask, which country can easily take out 800 billion US Dollars? Qingqiu Country''s foreign exchange reserve of 400 billion US Dollars already placed them ninth in the world, Zhang Menglong was clearly being unreasonable.


    "Or do you think that I, Zhang Menglong, don''t deserve compensation for the 800 billion US Dollar loss?" Zhang Menglong''s tone became increasingly dangerous, "It doesn''t have to be in US Dollars; Qingqiu Currency, Huaxia Currency, it''s all fine by me. I''m not picky when it comes to money."


    Now Quan Zhenggui suddenly understood an old Huaxia saying: they were like fish on the chopping board!


    Let alone the fact that they were in the wrong on this matter to begin with, even if they were in the right, facing someone as aggressive as Zhang Menglong, what could they do? Of course, they could choose to resist to the end, but with a single command from Zhang Menglong, 40% of the nation''s electricity and energy supply could be cut off, which would be an absolute disaster for the country.


    Without needing much time, just a few days, the entire Qingqiu Country would fall into chaos. Just the rioting masses would be enough of a headache, not to mention the direct economic losses, which could hardly be estimated but perhaps wouldn''t be much less than the 800 billion US Dollars.


    "Don''t look so resigned to your fate!" Zhang Menglong continued, "I know it''s hard to come up with that much money all at once. There''s a down payment when you buy cars and houses, right? I have a suggestion for you. I know you''ve got 400 billion US Dollars in foreign exchange reserves, you could use that as a down payment!"


    "Let me think about the interest rate," Zhang Menglong mused to himself, "based on an annual interest rate of 30%..."


    "Damn it!" The people from Qingqiu Country cursed one after another, completely collapsing upon hearing this annual interest rate of 30%. Is this a loan? This is bloody usury! With such an interest rate, the interest they''d have to pay Zhang Menglong in the first year would be 120 billion US Dollars. Their last GDP was only about 1.6 trillion US Dollars¡ªwere the people of their country not going to eat, drink, or spend anything?


    "Or I could give you another option!" Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment before saying, "No money? You could use something else to settle the debt. I find your Qiuyuan City quite nice. I already own one-tenth of the land, and I wouldn''t mind having three times that amount."


    You might not mind, but we do!


    Quan Zhenggui felt as if he were negotiating with a devil. Qiuyuan was their capital! When one-tenth of it was sold, it was because of history; they had no choice. But even just this one-tenth of the land had already caused a significant impact.


    Every year, they had to allocate a large portion of their tax revenue to Zhang Menglong, and for any construction they did, they had to pay him land rent! The direct losses every year exceeded 10 billion US Dollars!


    And 800 billion US Dollars could almost buy another two such pieces of land!


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve decided to pay this amount using a mixed approach, 200 billion US Dollars in cash, plus 120 square kilometers of land in Jinshan City," Quan Zhenggui had someone bring a map, pointing the area out to Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you think I''m an idiot? Is this worthless place worth 600 billion US Dollars?" Zhang Menglong said. This area was all mountains and wasteland, without much commercial or tourist value.


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    "Mr. Zhang, this is the best we can offer," Quan Zhenggui was almost about to kneel before Zhang Menglong. They already had construction plans completed for land in the urban areas, while these suburbs were scraped together begrudgingly.


    "Am I supposed to fancy your crappy place?" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "Out here in the middle of nowhere, I''d freeze my ass off even taking a shit!"


    "By the way, Ji-eun, is there anyplace with nice scenery in Qingqiu?"


    "Well... We have Jiling Island, the scenery there is quite beautiful. I visited a few times, it''s practically the Hawaii of Qingqiu!"


    "Deal!" Zhang Menglong turned to Quan Zhenggui and said, "I want 150 square kilometers of Jiling Island land, the type that''s next to the coast with beaches!"


    Seeing Quan Zhenggui''s distressed expression of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Zhang Menglong added emphasis, "This is my bottom line!"


    Quan Zhenggui and the people beside him looked at one another, finally gritting their teeth and nodding in agreement.


    "200 billion US Dollars will be transferred to your account within three days, and the transfer of the island land, due to some complex issues involved, may take a month''s time."


    "I''ll arrange for people to handle it!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily and rose to his feet, "Ji-eun, let''s go!"


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, the Arab oil..."


    "Hong Yi, tell them to resume the oil supply, and the price will increase by 30% over the next three years!"


    "What? A price increase?" Quan Zhenggui was taken aback.


    "Consider this a warning!" Zhang Menglong said, "If there''s a next time, it won''t be this simple!"


    Zhang Menglong revealed a wicked smile, "But I''d welcome you guys to hire someone to try killing me again!"

 Chapter 168 Let Them Get Lost

    ```


    "Phew! Finally back in the country. These past few days have been killing me!" Zhang Menglong lay sprawled out, lazily traveling home from the airport. On this return trip, Zhang Menglong hadn''t encountered any sudden incidents; it seemed he had truly bled Qingqiu Country dry this time.


    The indemnity of 200 billion US dollars, along with one-tenth of Jiling Island''s land, probably meant that Quan Zhenggui and his folks would need some time to heal their headaches. Provided they weren''t out of their minds, they probably wouldn''t dare to mess with Zhang Menglong again.


    "Mr. Zhang, you haven''t been the one getting tossed around these past few days; instead, you''ve given others quite the shakeup!" Hong Yi laughed from the side.


    "They had it coming!" Zhang Menglong casually remarked. "Are people still trash-talking me internationally?"


    "Who would have the guts to do that!" replied Hong Yi. "These past few days, following your orders, 12 small countries'' economies have completely collapsed, with an estimated setback of 10-20 years in development. Those international economists aren''t fools; they can easily tell if it was a man-made or market-caused economic bubble. All it takes is a little investigation."


    "Plus, with the ruckus you''ve caused in Qingqiu Country lately, especially with that song ''Conquest'' being sung all over the world, even an idiot would know it''s all your handiwork. At this point, if anyone still wants to talk smack, they''d better weigh their economic strength against Qingqiu Country''s first!"


    "And here I thought there would be a few tough nuts to crack; this is disappointing," Zhang Menglong said with a look of wanting more fun.


    "Oh, Mr. Zhang, you fell asleep on the plane just now and missed a call from a Mr. Wang Ling. I took it for you."


    "Oh? What''s up? Don''t tell me there''s trouble with the crew? I''m looking forward to seeing this movie as soon as possible!" exclaimed Zhang Menglong.


    "Indeed, there has been some trouble," Hong Yi replied. "A few actors are throwing their weight around."


    "And here I was thinking it was something troublesome!" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and directly dialed Wang Ling.


    "You finally got back, huh? You ran off to Qingqiu Country to play for so many days and dumped this mess on me. Do you have any idea how difficult this movie is to shoot? You insisted on on-location shooting; I''m nearly freezing to death here in the Greater Khingan Range!"


    Before Zhang Menglong could even speak, Wang Ling''s mouth started firing off like a machine gun.


    "It''s all for the sake of the shooting effect!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "The novel itself combines some historical context, and Red Coast Base is in the Greater Khingan Range; isn''t the scene more authentic if it''s filmed there? But I''m surprised that Director Wang has personally come here to oversee the filming."


    "Bullshit, I''m not one of those rich second-gens who only know how to run their mouths and chase skirts. I have aspirations, you know!"


    "Tell me, what exactly happened? I heard from Hong Yi that some actors are starting to act like prima donnas?"


    ...


    "Do not reply! Do not reply! Do not reply!"


    Ye Wenjie stood still, stunned. This was the first time humans had received an echo from a cosmic civilization.


    ...


    "Cut!" The director called a halt, "Very good, perfect in one take. Get ready for the next shot!"


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    Dai Qingying, who had been fully absorbed in her character, quickly became extremely impatient. She immediately wrapped herself in a thick down jacket and ducked into the heated rest area.


    "Did she learn how to change faces or what?" Zhang Menglong was speechless. Sometimes, you can tell a lot about a person just from their expressions and eyes!


    "The scenes for the rest of today..." The director and the screenwriter were still discussing the upcoming shooting content with the actors.


    "Director," Dai Qingying suddenly interrupted, "I''m feeling a bit unwell today, let''s shoot tomorrow."


    "Qingying, this won''t do. You already took a day off yesterday, and we even brought in a professional doctor according to your request. The doctor said there''s nothing wrong with your health. Let''s keep pushing on, we can''t delay the shooting schedule!" the director said earnestly.


    "I know my own body best!" Dai Qingying''s spirit did not look like someone unwell, "Moreover, in this first part of ''Three-Body,'' Ye Wenjie is the true protagonist. Why am I paid less than Wang Miao? And with such a harsh environment here, I mentioned a salary raise to you the last time. Have you discussed it with the investors?"


    "Little Dai, wasn''t all this agreed upon at the start? When we signed the contract, we informed you of all the terms, and you didn''t have any objections back then. Why are you..."


    Dai Qingying immediately shot a look at several other actors nearby, and two male actors promptly sidled up, brown-nosing.


    "Director, Dai is a woman after all. It''s very cold here, so it''s only reasonable that she asks for some more rest. Besides, we think her demands are not too excessive."


    "Director, please consider this matter more carefully. I''m going back to rest," Dai Qingying said, intending to leave. She believed she was absolutely the best choice for the role, and with the progress of the shooting reaching this point, it was impossible to replace her; the production team would have to give in eventually!


    "If you''re not going to shoot, then get lost. Why so much nonsense!" Just at that moment, a young man''s voice came from outside the rest area.

 Chapter 169 Do I Care About Money?

    "Who?" Everyone''s gaze in the resting room was focused on the entrance.


    Dai Qingying had a big ego, which was common knowledge to all. Most observed it but at most would only gossip about her behind her back.


    This year, 27-year-old Dai Qingying was absolutely considered a forceful actress among the young generation of leading ladies in Huaxia, and not only that, but she also had a certain standard in music. Her professionalism was unquestionable. Coupled with the backing of Dahe Culture, she had been raised in a privileged environment.


    Those actors who had worked with her actually harbored considerable grievances towards her, including some directors, but due to her background, no one would confront her directly. Even after seeing the movie''s box office and the TV series'' ratings, their discomfort would disappear. In the entertainment industry, only profits are permanent.


    As for Dai Qingying''s fans, they were an immense force. Her tens of millions of fans across the internet, known as the "Dai Family Army," would fight against heaven, earth, and the air¡ªany slight against Dai Qingying, and they would attack relentlessly and sparingly.@@@@


    There was once a male actor who, having worked with Dai Qingying, made an offhand remark about her diva behavior. The aftermath wasn''t pretty¡ªevery day he was hounded by candid photos from her crazy fans, his personal life turned into a complete mess, and he eventually became depressed and withdrew from public view.


    But this was also a reflection of her ability, as there were few actors in the whole of Huaxia who could inspire such unity among their fans.


    So even the director didn''t dare offend Dai Qingying! And one of their investors, Wang Ling, although not afraid of Dai Qingying, had to consider his father''s opinion, making the situation quite delicate.


    This was the first time since the filming had begun that someone dared to openly challenge Dai Qingying and even tell her to "get lost."


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong pushed the door open and stepped inside, "If I hadn''t come here in person, I wouldn''t have known our crew actually had such people. A big forest attracts all kinds of birds indeed!"


    "Mr. Zhang!" Upon seeing Zhang Menglong, the director finally showed a look of relief. During this time, he had to endure the pressure from Dai Qingying''s side and control the shooting progress; he was truly on the verge of going bald.


    He couldn''t muster the courage to talk to Zhang Menglong about raising the salary, and now that Zhang Menglong had arrived on set and had heard the matter with his own ears, the pressure seemed to have nothing to do with him anymore, as Zhang Menglong was the biggest decision-maker in the entire crew.


    "Miss Dai, you can leave. I remember your salary is 80 million, and the penalty for breaching the contract is 20 million. Just transfer the remaining 60 million back, and we''ll call it even," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Hahaha, costs?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You seem to have misunderstood something. Do I make movies to make money?"


    A hint of confusion crossed Dai Qingying''s face. If not for making money, was he making movies out of boredom, just for fun?


    "But Mr. Zhang, if we change actors now, our shooting schedule will be delayed by at least a month from the original plan, and many actors'' subsequent work will be affected," the director said with some difficulty.


    "For everyone who remains in the crew, including the extras and other staff, the salary will be increased by 20% on the original basis, as compensation for the delay in the shooting schedule!"


    At this news, many staff and actors'' eyes lit up, 20%--that was not a small number, especially for those actors with tens of millions in salary. With such a move, that''s several million or even tens of millions! Even if there were any losses due to the delayed schedule, they could easily make it all back.


    "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re wealthy, and this money is nothing to you, but have you thought about the impact on the market if we delay by a month?" Dai Qingying still didn''t give up.


    "Miss Dai, when did I ever say that I intended to release this movie to the market?"


    This retort from Zhang Menglong left Dai Qingying dumbfounded.


    "I''ve never made a movie for the sake of making money. In fact, I might not even bother to release it in cinemas after I''m done filming. What if I just take it to my own private theater and watch it with a few friends? I''ve never had the slightest interest in money. Do you think I care about those things?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Starting over with a new actor, restarting all the shooting work, so what? I can spend a little more money, which I would be only too happy to do!"


    "Finance team, the rest is up to you. If they do not comply with the content in the breach clause, come straight to me. I have several law firms under my name, ready for a lawsuit at any time. They laze around the company all day long; it''s about time to find them some work to do."


    Zhang Menglong''s tone was calm, but the decisiveness in his words was not hidden. Regarding this matter, he didn''t hesitate for even a second. He had come here today to terminate the contract with Dai Qingying and her cronies!


    "And one more thing!" Zhang Menglong added, "From now on, if anyone like this appears again, they''re fired on the spot. If I''m not around, find Wang Ling. If someone reports it, just one report gets a reward of a hundred thousand!"


    "Awesome!" Wang Ling slapped Zhang Menglong on the shoulder, "In this world, you''re probably the only one who dares to make movies like this!"

 Chapter 170 Just Afraid You Wont Spend Money

    "What''s Miss Dai still doing here? Planning to join us for lunch?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneering tone, "And the rest of you, someone will take you to the airport later, please pack up your things."


    "Oh, and about the milk bath, when you''re back, you can shower however you want, no need to thank me. By the way, that 60 million, according to the agreement, please return it to the production crew''s account within a week."


    "Director Zhang, you''ll regret this!" Dai Qingying bit her lip fiercely, with her connections and network, borrowing some money to pay this off wouldn''t be too difficult.


    But as an actor, being terminated was absolutely a huge blow to her personal reputation and prestige, especially from Zhang Menglong''s crew, which would definitely draw a lot of attention. The news of her termination wouldn''t stay hidden for more than three days, and by then, many details would be dug up, and her public image might completely collapse.


    This time, she had to strike first!


    "It seems Miss Dai isn''t quite convinced," Zhang Menglong said, "If you think your Great River Culture can take me on, just try it. My Energy Foot Therapy just happens to need a branch store!"


    When he mentioned this, even Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected that after Energy Foot Therapy officially opened, the business would suddenly explode. Especially since Zhang Menglong recruited several foreign masseurs and foot therapists, customers have been streaming in non-stop every day.


    At first, it was just the staff from "Sound Forest" music club, but as the brand grew more prominent, it even became a hotspot on social media, attracting people from other provinces and cities just to come have their feet massaged.


    Even more outrageous was that now there were people queuing up at one or two in the morning every day!


    Smelling a business opportunity, Haidilao quickly leased a nearby storefront overnight!


    And Energy Foot Therapy, now overwhelmed with customers, was already considering expanding with more branches due to its inability to accommodate the influx.


    "Director Zhang, Great River Culture is a wholly-owned subsidiary, and your tactics will have no effect on us," Dai Qingying said.


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "If you want to think that way, then there''s nothing I can do. But I advise you not to dream too much. When I start to take action, it won''t be that simple."


    "Hmph!" Whether Dai Qingying took Zhang Menglong''s words to heart or not, she glanced at the people around her and then left the lounge with her followers.


    "Director, screenwriter, finding a new actor will be a bother for you," Zhang Menglong said. "In the meantime, salaries will continue to be paid as usual."


    "It''s no bother, no bother at all!" Both the director and the screenwriter had their income increased by 20%, where would they find such hassle to be troublesome? They would rather have more of these ''troubles''! Moreover, they were still getting salaries even during the suspension of work, where could they find such a good job?


    "Damn!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but curse. He knew that Zhang Menglong''s daily meals were sourced this way, but he never expected Zhang Menglong to be this generous. The daily catering costs plus transportation, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say it was burning money.


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." The director, having been in the industry for so many years, was hearing such a thing for the first time. To them, it was already a blessing to have slightly better meals in the crew. But a boss like Zhang Menglong was actually providing for the entire crew! Explore stories on empire


    "It''s fine, just do as I say!" Zhang Menglong said, "Also, don''t hesitate to spend where the crew needs to. Whatever props or materials you need, as long as you spend fast enough and enough, I''ll give you a bonus on the day we wrap!"


    "Yes! We certainly won''t let you down, Mr. Zhang!" For the first time, the director, screenwriter, and actors realized just how blissful it was to have a super-rich boss.


    ...


    That afternoon, Dai Qingying and others left the Greater Khingan Range. On the way, Dai Qingying''s chest heaved violently. Since her debut, who had ever given her such treatment? Even those bosses wouldn''t dare confront her so bluntly.


    Her confidence wasn''t just based on her talent, but also from the school she had attended, the star class of the Huaxia Film and Television Academy! That was a class where just getting admitted meant skyrocketing to fame, and her teacher was a colossus of the film industry.


    Those veteran film industry professors might not be businessmen, but the influence of the movie kings and queens they taught was immense, granting them far more "Energy" than the CEOs of entertainment companies.


    And Dai Qingying was a favorite student of one such professor! Therefore, even the head of Dahe Culture wouldn''t dare to treat her like any regular employee.


    "What? Zhang Menglong has given the crew such benefits?" In the meantime, Dai Qingying got news about the heating and the crew''s food privileges, which nearly made her see red!


    Maybe if she hadn''t been in such a rush, she could have enjoyed such treatment too! But she didn''t blame herself; instead, her resentment towards Zhang Menglong grew, feeling that everything he did was a targeted affront to her!


    At that thought, she suddenly felt an immense sense of injustice.


    She immediately opened her fan group chat and started to vehemently complain about Zhang Menglong''s actions to her loyal fans.


    Lastly, she made a call to her teacher.


    "Hey, isn''t this Qingying? What''s got you remembering this old man today?" An elder''s voice tinged with surprise came from the other end of the phone.


    "Teacher, your student has been wronged. Here I am, looking for someone to stand up for me..."

 Chapter 171 After Beating the Young, the Old Arrive

    "Alright, after your graduation concert is over, I''ll come to Gusu to find you. This New Year''s, you should come to my place!" Once he got home, Zhang Menglong naturally started to chat with Lu Yiyao over a video call, "Don''t worry, I definitely don''t have any other intentions. I''m just afraid you''ll be lonely and cold all alone through the long nights."


    "Cold my foot!" Lu Yiyao seemed to suddenly realize something that might happen, and her face immediately flushed with a rosy color, "Who said I''m going to spend New Year''s at your place? If I have to meet your parents too, I... I''m afraid they won''t like me."


    "If you''re not coming here, where else will you go?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Are you going to your dad''s hospital to play God of Gamblers with him?"


    That hospital had essentially become Lu Yiyao''s father''s private hospital. It seemed he had truly lost his mind. Not even treatment from a group of specialists had improved his condition. He even dressed up in God of Gamblers'' attire every day, acting delusional.


    Of course, Ye Yin had once told Zhang Menglong that there was indeed a way to treat Lu Yiyao''s father''s mental illness. Yet, Zhang Menglong felt there was no need for it because his domestic violence and his mental illness were unrelated. Better to let him continue living in his grand delusions!


    Upon hearing this, Lu Yiyao''s expression dimmed as well. That''s right, with her father like this and her mother having started a new family, where else could she go? For the past two years, she had spent it alone in school, her only companions being the New Year''s fireworks and an empty dormitory.


    "And you don''t have to worry about my parents," Zhang Menglong said, not even he knew where on earth his parents had gone to. But Zhang Menglong always had to fabricate some story; otherwise, Lu Yiyao might start thinking he was an orphan.


    "My parents handed over the family assets to me and then set off to travel the world. They said it would take at least three to five years to get their fill of fun before they came back, so you don''t need to worry," Zhang Menglong laughed, "By that time, we might even have a little Menglong."


    "What little Menglong!" Lu Yiyao''s cheeks instantly turned red, "You''re asking for it!"


    "Alright, it''s settled then," Zhang Menglong said forcefully, "This year you''re staying by my side, you''re not allowed to go anywhere else or hide away, got it?"


    "Okay, okay, I got it!"


    "Cool, I''m going to take a shower!"


    "I''m going to shower too!"


    Zhang Menglong chuckled lewdly, "Then let''s shower together!"


    "Get lost!"


    ...


    With wet hair, Zhang Menglong walked out of the bathroom. Out of habit, he unlocked his phone and saw numerous unread messages; not only from Wang Ling but also from Lu Yiyao, and even his roommate.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong first clicked on Lu Yiyao''s voice message.


    "Zhangzi, quick, check out Weibo. Something''s happened!"


    "Weibo?" Zhang Menglong then opened the chat group of his dorm mates, only to see a string of screenshots from Weibo.


    "Have you forgotten about Qiao Cheng from last year? Before he retired due to depression, whom did he provoke? I don''t think I need to say more."


    "Online violence, huh? Truly despicable tactics!"


    "Want to talk about online violence? Lord Zhang''s fans will show you what cruelty means!"


    "From now on, this place shall be Zhang Menglong Square, initiating Underworld blessings attack!"


    "I wish you get hit by a car when you leave your house and that an ambulance happens to pass by immediately!"


    "I wish that your cremation will result in Shariras, not just one but two!"


    "I wish if you get cancer, it turns out to be in the early stage!"


    "I wish that your grave lies in a geomantic treasure spot!"


    "I wish if you buy insurance, it will definitely take effect!"


    "I wish if you get a fatal disease, you have surely bought critical illness coverage!"


    ...


    After Dai Qingying''s fans got their accounts banned and muted, Zhang Menglong''s fan''s voices finally erupted. In their eyes, Zhang Menglong might be rich, but he was also a person with proper principles; even the things he did a few days ago in Qingqiu Country were quite satisfying, thus gaining him quite a few fans.


    "Hahaha, such talent, I''m dying of laughter!" Zhang Menglong looked at the sarcastic ''blessings'' from his fans¡ªtruly worthy of being his fans!


    However, afterwards, a Weibo post by a professor named He Li surged to the top of the trending searches.


    "It''s truly disheartening to see such things happening in Huaxia''s film industry. Actors'' lives shouldn''t be this extravagant, nor should the industry be directed by a rich second generation with no understanding and poor values. I believe actors like Dai Qingying deserve respect!"


    Although Zhang Menglong''s name wasn''t mentioned in this post, it clearly insinuated criticism against him.


    Beneath this post, millions of likes and tens of thousands of comments appeared, all expressing supportive remarks!


    "Who is this He Li?" Zhang Menglong casually asked Hong Yi, who had just brought him his late-night snack.


    "Oh, this Professor He Li is quite famous at the Huaxia Film Academy, and many film kings and queens have come from his teachings. He has considerable prestige in that circle. Dai Qingying was the last student he took on before retiring."


    "Oh, I get it," Zhang Menglong nodded slightly, "after dealing with the younger one, here comes the older one!"

 Chapter 172 Do You Need Assistance from Outside?

    In the film and television industry, He Li was truly a unique figure. He had retired many years ago, but every Chinese New Year, his residence was bustling with excitement. Those who visited him included not only his former students but even big shots from the entertainment industry.


    If one day someone sees a Film Emperor carrying large and small packages to visit He Li at his home, don''t be surprised¡ªit''s all standard practice!


    With He Li taking the lead, a number of teachers and professors from Huaxia Film Academy were revealed, and even well-known actors started sharing the post. Suddenly, the outcry for Zhang Menglong to apologize to Dai Qingying grew louder and louder.


    "Hmph, Zhang Menglong, so what if you''re wealthy? So what if you can delete your account? This isn''t just a matter of the internet anymore¡ªit''s about the entire entertainment and film industry!" As she watched the messages of support for her cause, Dai Qingying''s expression was filled with pride. This was the power of public opinion, and this tactic had never failed her!


    "Thank you, teacher, for speaking up for me. Chinese New Year is coming, and I''ll come to see you then. You''d better prepare my favorite dish!" Dai Qingying didn''t forget to send a message of thanks to her mentor He Li.


    "You little rascal, why stand on ceremony with your teacher? As long as you do nothing wrong, your teacher will always stand by your side. Also, I will have your ''shifu mother'' prepare your favorite shredded pork with Beijing sauce!" He Li replied to the message and then turned off his phone, oblivious to the impact his actions as Dai Qingying''s pawn would have on his reputation.


    Somehow, the news of Zhang Menglong attending Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was leaked. This piece of gossip from the entertainment industry had suddenly escalated to the realm of university education.@@@@


    "We request that your school not only teach students knowledge but also pay attention to their moral education. Cultivate individuals who are useful to society, not those who have wealth but lack morals and harm the community! @Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "@Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, we hope that your institution can properly guide Zhang Menglong''s behavior and give society a proper explanation!"


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s official Weibo account was mentioned countless times, to the point where even Huaxia Film Academy''s official account mentioned them.


    The team running Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s official Weibo account consisted of merely a group of students, and with the sudden flood of mentions, they didn''t know how to handle the situation.


    "Wow, this is a direct attack on our school!" Initially, Zhang Menglong found the situation amusing, but now that it had affected his university, he could not stand idly by!


    But what Zhang Menglong did not anticipate was that everyone at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was hot-headed. Regardless of what kind of person Zhang Menglong was, the other side had already attacked broadly; how could they endure? And the ones who took the lead in the defense were Zhang Menglong''s school teachers!


    A few months ago, Zhang Menglong sponsored almost every research team at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, with the least funded team receiving tens of millions.


    Not long ago, the only large-scale Ion Collider in the country was officially installed at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Even Jiangnan City provided the school with space for the instrument free of charge, making other universities green with envy!


    The Particle Collider was being installed and was expected to be operational in three months!


    The number of people speaking up for Zhang Menglong was growing, and that evening, surprisingly, hundreds of professors at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology jointly defended Zhang Menglong''s name.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, absolutely a royal flush!"


    "People in the arts trying to compete with those in scientific research, isn''t that just asking for trouble?"


    "The scene was bloody for a time, Boss Zhang is mighty!"


    "I''d like to see who else dares to say Boss Zhang''s values are twisted; I think those fishing for fame and reputation are the ones with twisted values!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong was still enjoying the grand battle of tearing and ripping when Han Jinyu actually called him.


    "Menglong, how is it? The teachers at our school are supportive, right?" Han Jinyu''s voice even had a hint of excitement.


    "This... Teacher Han, why do I feel like you all had this organized and planned out?"


    "Tsk, we old bones aren''t stupid. We can tell who has the right values and who doesn''t. Even if you hadn''t spoken up, we would still have stood up for you."


    "Hahaha, actually, I could have resolved this little matter myself," Zhang Menglong didn''t expect these teachers to be quite so fiery.


    "That''s not acceptable; we need to show them how united our school really is!" Han Jinyu said, "By the way, do you need any outside support?"


    "Ah? Outside support?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "I have quite a few friends at Jiangnan University, Qingbei University, and Huaxia Aerospace University. They just called me and said that as long as you allow them to use the Particle Collider in the future, even if there''s a fee, they''d be willing to support you!"


    Han Jinyu added, "After all, there''s only one large-scale Particle Collider in Huaxia, and they''re drooling over it. Apart from these issues, if you can make such a device available, it would be a significant contribution to both the country and the people. Let''s see who would still dare to label you as a rich second-generation with twisted values!"


    "Are there many of them?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Just give the word, and 52 Academicians, more than two thousand professors, will blow up that film academy in minutes!"

 Chapter 173 The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

    "Holy crap!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected the Particle Collider to have such a massive appeal, with over fifty Academicians and thousands of professors¡ªit wasn''t just a force to be reckoned within the education sector but represented an unshakeable power at the national level!


    These Academicians are national treasures, driving the development of the entire country and even that of all humans. Their word carries a hundred times more weight than what that damn Professor He Li could influence!


    To put it dramatically, this is like a dimensionality reduction attack!


    Zhang Menglong himself hadn''t anticipated that the Particle Collider he funded would propel him to the level of a hero who dedicates himself to the nation and people. He didn''t intend to be so awesome!


    "How about it, Menglong, we''re all waiting for your word!"


    "Hahaha, Professor Han, are you not worried that lending out this device might hinder the scientific research standards of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology from improving?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "You cheeky kid, don''t imagine me as so selfish and old-fashioned, okay? I''m in academia, not business. Sharing resources is beneficial for universities across the country. We can''t just contend within our small circle; we have to seek ways to increase our international influence," Han Jinyu said.


    Even on a global scale, the number of schools with a Particle Collider could be counted on one hand, and Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was one of them¡ªdemonstrating the colossal significance for Huaxia''s education and scientific research! Your journey continues with empire


    "But of course, they can use it after we''ve had our fill, and as for the fee structure, our school naturally has to have a serious discussion about it. We can''t let them freeload, can we?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Han Jinyu, such a refined man, to use words like "freeloading." Who said they were in academia and not business again? Clearly, this was about figuring out how to make money off other universities, perhaps even crossing into cutthroat profiteering.


    "Let''s do it your way then," Zhang Menglong laughed, curious to see what sort of tricks Dai Qingying could pull off against such a powerful hand.


    "Hahahahaha, great, I''ll go talk to them right away!" Han Jinyu said eagerly, "The money they''ll pay to borrow the Particle Collider will be enough to support our research group''s funding, hahaha!"


    You see, Zhang Menglong had initially placed the collider within Han Jinyu''s research group. Of course, the school would only take a portion of the income, but the remainder would still be far more than what Han Jinyu used to desperately seek from companies.


    Soon, the internet saw a new influx of messages supporting Zhang Menglong. Scarily enough, the titles of these people were overwhelmingly impressive¡ª"Yangtze River Scholar," "Hundred Talents Program," and a bunch of Academicians suddenly appeared!


    Some noticed that the old professors and Academicians, usually buried in their scientific research, seemed to have coordinated a synchronized move, with all of them posting on social media at the same time!


    Even more startling, some of these people had only registered their social media accounts that day, and their first posts were in defense of Zhang Menglong!


    "Come out, you brain-dead fans, why aren''t you shouting anymore? Dare to bomb Boss Zhang''s Weibo again? Want to engage in cyber violence, is that it? Bros, let''s target that Dai Qingying''s Weibo!"


    "Damn! Someone released a recording, it''s from the ''Three-Body'' crew!"


    "What the fuck? What did I just hear? She already took a payment of 80 million and still thinking about a raise?"


    "Milk bath? I''ll give your mom a milk bath, you dare throw dirty water on Boss Zhang? That''s just asking for death!"


    "Piece of trash, that explains it!"


    "@Huaxia Film Academy, please manage your teachers and students properly, don''t come out and embarrass yourselves!"


    "Jiangnan University of Science and Technology: Who was @ing us just now? Please repeat, I just went to the toilet and didn''t see the message!"


    "Hahahaha, brilliant!"


    Under the societal backlash, Dai Qingying''s fans completely lost their voice, even Huaxia Film Academy ceased releasing statements, leaving only an announcement that they would thoroughly investigate the matter and give society an explanation.


    This time, Dai Qingying was utterly smeared, her years of cultivated image collapsed overnight, and given the magnitude of this scandal, she would probably never be offered any filming work again.


    "An explanation? What kind of explanation could there be for a student who has already graduated! Can you even expel her?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "But you always have to pay the price for your past actions!"


    Zhang Menglong had also heard about Dai Qingying causing a male actor to succumb to depression, and he wasn''t such a hero, nor did he have the duty to act as one. He simply felt that her downfall wasn''t miserable enough! After all, if it weren''t for these people''s support, the matter could have been quite troublesome to handle, possibly even affecting those around him.


    People like Dai Qingying were best off directly ruined and discredited!


    "Hong Yi, do you have the phone number for the president of Yanjing Film and Television Academy?"


    "Yes, what do you want with their president?"


    "I heard that Huaxia Film Academy and Yanjing Film and Television Academy have always been in competition. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? With Huaxia''s circles being so chaotic, it shows there''s a problem with education. I''m considering donating a sum of money to them, to cultivate some truly outstanding actors, not just a bunch of players who only know how to cause trouble!"

 Chapter 174 Actually, I Also Want to Donate to You Guys

    In the home of Zhu Peigao, the president of Yanjing Film and Television Academy, he was planning to rest. He hadn''t expected that such a situation would suddenly erupt late at night. After all, being part of the film and television education circle, his attention to the matter couldn''t help but grow.


    "Old man, this Dai Qingying situation is getting more and more serious. Now even those academicians from our country involved in scientific research are alarmed. This young man named Zhang Menglong really has some ability!" Zhu Peigao''s wife adjusted her glasses. "Although Dai Qingying has already graduated, she is still from Huaxia Film Academy. This has had quite an impact on their school."


    "Isn''t that the truth? That He Li, insisting on standing up for his own student, has now stirred up trouble for himself," President Zhu sighed. "Our two schools have been competing for so many years, and this is actually good for our school."


    This wasn''t because Zhu Peigao was selfish. After all, there''s only so much educational resource available each year. Official is official, private affairs are private. Schools always hope to recruit more excellent students and compete for more resources, and the strength of the school and its influence in society are among the most important elements.


    "We at Yanjing Film and Television Academy have been suppressed by them for so many years. This time is our opportunity, and we must make good use of it!" Zhu Peigao said. "In the future, our school must pay attention to ideological education. Students, while they need to do well in their professional courses, must not deviate ideologically, and we also need to properly reform our teaching staff!"


    "Old man, it''s a phone call!" Zhu Peigao''s spouse handed over the mobile phone.


    "Who is it?"@@@@


    "I don''t know, it''s an unfamiliar number."


    "Oh?" Zhu Peigao answered the phone, "Hello, this is Zhu Peigao. May I ask who''s calling?"


    "Hello, President Zhu. This is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Zhu Peigao was so startled that he sat up straight. Had someone from his school also provoked Zhang Menglong? Was he now coming to him for retribution?


    "You... What do you need?" asked Zhu Peigao.


    "President Zhu, you needn''t be nervous, I''m not here to cause you trouble."


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Peigao breathed a sigh of relief, "Then you..."


    "It''s like this, as you know, I''ve made quite a few donations to the education industry. However, most of it has so far been to universities with a focus on scientific research. Our academies of arts like yours have never been sponsored by me, especially after the emergence of a degenerate like Dai Qingying. I felt it necessary to strengthen the education in art institutions."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, when it comes to education, money is always needed. I plan to donate a sum of money to Yanjing Film and Television Academy to support our school''s development," said Zhang Menglong.


    "I understand that pursuing the arts is a difficult path, and it can be quite costly. Many talented students fall due to their family''s financial circumstances, and most of these students are really down to earth. I think they need help! It''s also like reserving some excellent new blood for Huaxia''s film and television industry, after all!"


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Peigao became extremely excited. Actually, their school originally had a foundation, established with donations from successful alumni. With this money, they indeed funded many students with good character and strong professional skills but poor family backgrounds.


    But in recent years, the foundation''s funds had almost run out, and Zhu Peigao had been worried about this issue lately!


    In the whole of Huaxia, there were many people who donated to schools, but such a large amount was absolutely unprecedented! Very soon, countless people knew about this news.


    "President Zhang donated to Yanjing Film and Television. You know what that means, right? (dog head emoji)"


    "Why do I feel like President Zhang''s tactics when he bought NetEase Music and his current moves are the same? Directly smashing money on the competition, this is just a replication!"


    "With so much more money, let''s see how Huaxia Film Academy is going to compete with Yanjing Film and Television!"


    ...


    As expected, the moment they saw this news, the president and leaders of Huaxia Film Academy couldn''t sit still. They clearly knew it was one of Zhang Menglong''s tricks, but they were helpless. He was using his own money to donate, so what right did they have to make any complaints?


    "This won''t do!" a leader said, "If Zhang Menglong fully supports Yanjing Film and Television Academy, our school will fall behind in at most five years. By then, our facilities, faculty, and student quality will all be far surpassed!"


    "Yes, in the future, when people talk about performance majors in Huaxia, everyone will only know about Yanjing Film and Television, and nobody will remember Huaxia Film anymore. President, you can''t just watch things develop this way!"


    The conference room was as silent as death.


    "I''ll call Zhang Menglong!" After much contemplation, Huaxia Film School''s president Luo Hui decided to try contacting Zhang Menglong to see if it was possible to secure a donation.


    ...


    "Oh, a call''s coming in!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, sipping his milk as he picked up the phone.


    "Hello, who is this?"


    "Is this student Zhang Menglong? I am Luo Hui, the president of Huaxia Film Academy."


    "Oh, President Luo, what can I do for you?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s like this. First, I would like to apologize for the damage caused to you by the words and actions of Professor He Li and Dai Qingying from our school."


    "President, you are too kind. It wasn''t your fault after all!"


    "Zhang, actually I know that by donating to Yanjing Film and Television, you''re trying to force us to make some kind of response, I... "


    "No, no, no, President Luo, I really just wanted to promote our country''s film and television education. Actually, I was also planning to donate 10 billion to you too, but I''ve already been branded as a ''second generation rich kid with twisted values.'' If I kept doing this, wouldn''t I be criticized again?"


    "Rest assured! We will definitely give you a satisfactory response to this matter!" Hearing what Zhang Menglong said, President Luo understood that Zhang Menglong was using this tactic to force them to take a stand!

 Chapter 175 Even Versailles Literature Wouldnt Dare Write This

    In the afternoon, a sensational announcement was posted on the official website of the Huaxia Film Academy.


    In light of the improper behavior of our graduate Dai Qingying, which has caused significant negative impact on the reputation of our school, the school held a meeting and voted. Now we announce the following accountability and punishment for student Dai Qingying:


    1. Recall Dai Qingying''s diploma


    2. Recall Dai Qingying''s degree certificate


    This notice is hereby issued to rectify the school''s atmosphere!


    This announcement declared Zhang Menglong the official winner in this farce and also marked Dai Qingying''s complete disgrace!


    That same night, Dai Qingying received a message from her teacher He Li, which contained only a brief four-character phrase: "Take care of yourself." Dai Qingying stared blankly at these words, knowing that this time she had truly lost and her defeat was utterly devastating!


    As the saying goes, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." Dai Qingying''s fans, one after another, turned from supporters to detractors, fiercely condemning Dai Qingying''s absurd behavior. She was the one acting like a diva, yet she played the victim first, attributing all the problems to Zhang Menglong.


    What infuriated people even more was that incidents from a few years ago were exposed once again, and some fans, who had completely lost faith in Dai Qingying, announced an even more shocking piece of news. The fan harassment incident involving a male actor with depression was not spontaneous from Dai Qingying''s fans but was orchestrated by a few of her die-hard fans at her behest!


    For several days in a row, Dai Qingying''s house was crowded with angry fans from both sides. Stones and dirt were thrown, smashing her newly acquired luxury home to ruins! However, Dai Qingying had already disappeared without a trace, and moreover, she would no longer appear in the entertainment industry, for the Broadcasting Authority had announced a permanent ban on her and had even set up a special task force to investigate her past vile actions.


    ...


    In a greenhouse room of a hotel, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling enjoyed a rare afternoon in the sunshine. The recruitment of new actors for "Three-Body" was exceptionally smooth, and the new candidate was decided within a week. Although this person wasn''t as experienced as Dai Qingying, his character and attitude were approved by the entire cast and crew, and the new filming schedule had already started methodically.


    "Ah, as the saying goes, one can defy the will of heaven, but one cannot escape the consequences of one''s own actions. It would have been over had she just taken the compensation and left quietly, instead of conducting all this tomfoolery!" Wang Ling sipped her drink as if the incident had long passed.


    "People like her, if I didn''t deal with her, someone else would," Zhang Menglong was very satisfied with the outcome, "What brings you to me anyway?"


    "Hold on!" Wang Ling pressed the pause button. He zoomed in on the video again and compared it with a photo on his phone¡ª they were exactly the same two planes, and even the sequence of numbers on the fuselage was identical!


    "Fuck! Using a fighter jet to spray pesticides, is this a joke?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but scoff, "Wait, where is this?"


    "It''s my family''s private farm!" Zhang Menglong said, "I was wondering why all this stuff looked so familiar; the Huaxia businessman you mentioned just now is my dad!"


    "This..." Wang Ling''s lips trembled slightly, how the hell is it your family''s again?


    "That junk fighter jet, with just so little space inside? To convert it into a private plane, you could only fit a bed. Sure, it flies fast, but it turns out to be pretty efficient for spraying pesticides, though we had to build another runway!"


    "Your dad bought a fighter jet to spray pesticides and constructed a runway for it? This thing must''ve cost more than the plane itself, right?"


    "And about that tank!" Zhang Menglong moved the progress bar in the video, "Originally my dad wanted to convert it for use on the roads, but then the housing department issued a new rule: tracked vehicles aren''t allowed on the road, plus it guzzles fuel and isn''t as agile as a sports car. So, no choice, we had to bring it here to plow the fields!"


    "Plow fields? Your damn family plows fields with a tank?" Wang Ling felt an urge to smash something, "And what about that destroyer? Turned into a yacht?"


    "Not yet, my dad thought it was too small and plans to grab an aircraft carrier if possible, then convert it into a private cruise ship. That destroyer? It was sent to the South Pacific for fishing, and seafood we eat is usually flown directly from there."


    "I''m floored!"


    Wang Ling thought that the tycoon who bought those things would put them to some cool use, but he never imagined an ending like this.


    Zhang Menglong''s family''s antics were so outrageous that not even Versailles literature would dare to write it!


    "By the way, do you think there will be an aircraft carrier on sale this time?" While Wang Ling was still in a daze, Zhang Menglong posed an even more Versailles-style question.


    "I...I bought a watch last year! I can''t deal with this day!"

 Chapter 176 President Zhang, Do You Lack a Deputy?

    "Are you going or not? If not, I''ll find someone else!" Wang Ling was done talking to Zhang Menglong; any more and she might claim that even the Terracotta Army was made by Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Of course I''m going! Why wouldn''t I?" Zhang Menglong snatched the two tickets, "As long as it involves spending money, I''m definitely in!"


    "Heh heh, then you can take your private jet when the time comes!" Wang Ling said with a teasing smile, "I need two seats, and by the way, let me introduce you to my new girlfriend!"@@@@


    "I knew you weren''t being kind-hearted for nothing!" Zhang Menglong gave her a scornful look, "Tomorrow morning at nine o''clock, come straight from the airport to the airport!"


    "Alrighty!" Wang Ling was all smiles, "It''s my first time riding your private jet, Zhang the Young Master. I''m actually a bit nervous!"


    "By the way, is your dad not going this time?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "He''s busy. But this time he gave me ten billion! The old man is rarely so generous, so I must bring back some good stuff this time. Don''t you dare book the whole venue!"


    Wang Ling didn''t know how big the auction was going to be, but considering the terrifying wealth that Zhang Menglong had displayed in Qingqiu Country, booking the whole venue probably wasn''t impossible!


    "Don''t worry, I''ll definitely leave you ten billion worth of stuff!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Thanks a bunch," Wang Ling rolled her eyes, "I''m off, see you tomorrow morning!"


    ...


    It just so happened that Lu Yiyao had finished her graduation concert and, with special care from her teacher, the concert went off without a hitch. Now it was just some complicated procedures before waiting to receive her diploma.


    After packing up, Zhang Menglong sent someone to pick up Lu Yiyao and bring her to Jiangnan City. As for their shameless cohabitation, Zhang Menglong was still looking forward to it. Of course, Zhang Menglong would need to work harder to turn this spatial cohabitation into a real cohabitation.


    Lu Yiyao had never traveled abroad before, and when she heard that Zhang Menglong was taking her to Europe, she was so excited that she couldn''t sleep all night. The next day, despite having two huge dark circles under her eyes, she had plenty of time to get some rest during the long flight from Jiangnan City to Frankfurt.


    This time, Hong Yi did not accompany them. Perhaps she felt that with Lu Yiyao there, following along would be inappropriate, like a third wheel. However, she left Zhang Menglong a number, telling him that no matter what happened, as long as he called this number, there would be nothing in Europe that couldn''t be solved.


    Of course, to ensure Zhang Menglong''s safety, Ye Yin would be following him like a shadow.


    ...


    "You don''t know your own pilot? He Liang used to be a combat pilot. Only 39 pilots across the whole country have ever been awarded the title of golden helmet. He''s definitely the elite of the elite! And you managed to recruit someone like him?"


    "Mr. Wang, nice to meet you," He Liang said with a smile to Wang Ling, "After I retired, I received an offer from Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun that I simply couldn''t refuse, considering I also have a family to support!"


    He Liang was a very honest man, and although he was nearing forty, his superb flying skills were in no way diminished by his age.


    "Alright, with you here, I can sleep soundly on the plane!"


    "Then everyone, please board the aircraft. Once the supplies are ready, we can take off."


    "Sure,", Zhang Menglong nodded, and was the first to walk up the passenger entrance into the plane.


    "Wow, Zhang Menglong, not bad at all! The flight attendants on this plane are hotter than the next!" Wang Ling expressed his envy upon seeing the beautiful and well-figured flight attendants.


    "Hahaha, being a flight attendant here isn''t something just anyone can do,", Zhang Menglong laughed, "Their selection criteria are about 20% higher than those for Miss World. In other words, any of them could take part in the Miss World contest and win the title."


    "Awesome... that''s sick... I''m sorry for looking at you with my mere mortal eyes."


    "But they generally only work for a maximum of three years; after turning 25, they retire. That''s a rule set by my dad¡ªobviously, an old lecher!"


    "That''s a pity, only working for three years before retiring. It truly is a youth''s game!" Wang Ling shook his head in disbelief, "If they entered Miss World, even when they got older, they could live comfortably for a lifetime with that title. What are they after?"


    "Mr. Wang, you worry too much for us,", a flight attendant offered a cup of red wine and a fruit platter, "Serving Mr. Zhang is much more glamorous than being Miss World."


    This beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes matched the Huaxia standard for a Western goddess in looks and figure, yet she spoke fluent Chinese, showing these people were not just about looks.


    "How so?"


    "Our annual base salary alone is 20 million US dollars,", the beauty said, "and for every flight mission, there''s additional pay. Each mission comes with a 5 million US dollar mission bonus and a daily allowance of 1 million US dollars. If Mr. Zhang stays in Europe for a week this time, we''ll receive an extra 12 million US dollars!"


    "Mr. Zhang?", Wang Ling immediately turned his gaze towards Zhang Menglong, "Do you need male flight attendants on this plane? I''m fluent in Huaxia, English, Qingqiu, Shandong dialect, Cantonese, Southern Min dialect, Wenzhou dialect, Zhoushan dialect, and 15 other languages!"


    "Get lost..."

 Chapter 177 Theres a Plane Fight Ahead

    He Liang''s driving skills were indeed exceptional. During the takeoff process, apart from the slight sensation during the ascent phase, it felt as stable as driving on flat ground. Lu Yiyao seemed to have been too excited last night to fall asleep and had unwittingly drifted off while listening to music.


    Zhang Menglong helped her to her room and arranged for a flight attendant to take care of her, then started discussing the upcoming auction with Wang Ling.


    Actually, there were still three days left until the auction day, and there was no real need to arrive this early. However, Zhang Menglong wanted to take Lu Yiyao to appreciate the exotic charm of the Kingdom of Frankfurt in Europe, which was why they had chosen to come early.


    "By the way, do you have the information for this auction?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No," Wang Ling shook his head. The auction organization never disclosed the contents of each auction and was famous for its secrecy, but it always managed to offer some special surprises.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have all the information on the auction. If you need it, I can prepare it for you immediately," Ye Yin''s voice timely rang in Zhang Menglong''s ears.


    "No, I still want to be surprised. Don''t tell me!" Zhang Menglong responded.


    "You wouldn''t believe it, but if I wanted to, I could find out whether the auction host is male or female and even the color of their underwear!" Zhang Menglong boasted to Wang Ling.


    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "I''ll believe it when I see it, you old coot, you''re terribly crafty. That auction organization has held hundreds of auctions so far and has never leaked any information. Every auctioneer is appointed at the last moment; maybe they haven''t even picked the person yet, and you claim you can predict the future?" Wang Ling obviously didn''t believe him.


    "Let me tell you," Wang Ling said mysteriously, "do you know what the first item was at the auction ten years ago?"


    "What was it?"


    "The Tai''a Sword!"


    "Damn, does that thing really exist? Are you making up a fantasy novel here?"


    "Captain He, what happened?" Zhang Menglong immediately asked through the plane''s intercom, trusting in He Liang''s skills to avoid such a mishap.


    "Mr. Zhang, there was a severe explosion ahead... it seems like it was a missile." The speed was too fast; even He Liang, with his eagle-like eyes, could barely catch its trajectory.


    "What? A missile? Are they really attacking the plane?" Wang Ling started shouting, "No, I didn''t do anything guilty recently, nor have I provoked any enemies. Zhang Menglong, with all your showing off, it must be aimed at you, right?"


    "Stop it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Captain He, are you sure?"


    "Very likely. The explosion and firelight are undeniable. But it''s strange, the airplane wasn''t hit at all. Logically, even if the shrapnel didn''t hit us, the blast wave from the explosion should have shaken the plane a bit."


    "Ye Yin, is it you?" If it indeed was a missile, there could potentially be only one explanation: Ye Yin had intercepted the missile.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it appears to be a self-developed air-to-air missile from Murico. Its power is similar to our older generation air-to-air missiles in Huaxia. But if we were hit, the plane would definitely disintegrate," Ye Yin explained.


    "You''re awesome!" Zhang Menglong quietly praised Ye Yin. Had she really just caught a missile with her bare hands? Can people even do that? That''s outrageous, right?


    "Captain He, let''s circle nearby for a while as I figure out what''s going on."


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang!" With the situation unclear ahead and strict air routes to follow, they could only choose to hover nearby for now.


    "Ye Yin, go and check what exactly is happening," Zhang Menglong instructed, "be quick and don''t let another missile come our way; I can''t handle another."


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang; nothing is going to happen," Ye Yin''s voice again faded from Zhang Menglong''s ear, yet no one noticed her presence.


    "What happened? What was that sound just now?" At that time, Lu Yiyao, awakened by the explosion, rubbed her eyes and walked out of her room.


    Within just a few seconds, Ye Yin brought back news, informing Zhang Menglong about everything that had happened.


    "Oh, it''s nothing serious!" Zhang Menglong said, as if discussing a trivial matter, "Two countries in Europe are fighting over an oil resource, and just started battling it out, now there are two fighter jet squadrons up ahead fighting each other!"

 Chapter 178 Ill Find Some Bodyguards

    "No problem? Two fighter jet formations are fighting, and you''re telling me there''s no problem?" Wang Ling stood up agitatedly, "Bro, this is no joke, it''s not playing house. If we get shot down, people will die!"


    "Don''t panic," Zhang Menglong said with utter calmness because he knew that as long as Ye Yin was there, even if they were to go through a hail of bullets, it wouldn''t be a problem.


    "How can I not panic? If this plane gets blown up, we are all going to die!" Wang Ling was becoming hysterical, "Let''s change our flight path."


    "If we change our flight path, submit a new flight path application, plus detouring, I''m afraid it''s going to take several more hours. I''ve already booked a candlelight dinner at the Saint Aer Hotel by the Eiffel Tower, and that''s not easy to book. If we''re over half an hour late, it gets canceled straight away!"


    "Is now the time to worry about that? What''s more important, our lives or eating? Can''t the candlelight dinner wait for another day? Does it have to be tonight? And with your means, Master Zhang, you could easily buy that six-star hotel. Why take such a risk?" Wang Ling was about to lose his mind. He thought Zhang Menglong sometimes had problems with his brain, acting without considering the urgency of the situation.


    "However, it seems inappropriate for Ye Yin to protect us on our way," Zhang Menglong automatically filtered out Wang Ling''s words. Although having Ye Yin''s protection was very safe, a private plane flying unscathed out of an aerial battlefield was both logically and emotionally dubious!


    If a missile hit the plane and not even a black spot remained, wouldn''t that be ghostly? Such an occurrence would obviously expose his control over some powers beyond science, something Zhang Menglong did not wish to happen.


    "Since that''s the case, we''ll have to think of another way," Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered the phone Hong Yi had given him. She had said that whatever happened, as long as he called this number, there would hardly be anything that couldn''t be solved. Now seemed like a good opportunity to test it out.


    "Captain He, keep turning for a while longer. I need to make a call," Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "What call? You think this is a gang fight? This is war! A battlefield! We should be bypassing it right now, or even turning around! It''s too dangerous here, didn''t you see that missile just now? With a boom, it exploded right in front of us!"


    "Alright already, as someone in their thirties, can''t you be a bit calmer? Look at your girlfriend, how composed she is!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the influencer-faced girl and suddenly, he sensed a strange smell coming from her.


    "Holy shit! She peed herself?" Zhang Menglong held his forehead. Why was everyone so easily frightened? Was this minor situation really worth panicking over?


    "You guys, help her clean up and get this place tidy," Zhang Menglong told the flight attendants. Then, he still dialed the number he had in mind, wanting to see just who was on the other end.


    Could it be that his ancient ancestor had a particular fondness for playing the hero?


    "As long as the Dorellas family line continues, we will follow your family for countless more millennia!"


    It sounded like a bold statement, but Zhang Menglong could hear that Hagen''s words were sincere. He wondered what on earth his family had done to secure such loyalty from people like the Carreras family.


    "We can talk about old times later," said Zhang Menglong, "Hong Yi must have told you that I was coming to Europe today."


    "Yes, we have prepared to welcome your arrival!" said Hagen.


    "But I''ve run into some trouble," said Zhang Menglong, "I''m currently near the HD-88 airway, and somehow, there are two fighter jet squadrons fighting nearby. One of the countries involved is Morico, and I don''t want their presence to affect my itinerary, do you understand?" Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Please hold on!" Zhang Menglong heard a babble of foreign language coming through the handset, and after just a moment, it sounded like Hagen had received precise intelligence.


    "Young master, it''s between Morico and Leydenburg, they''ve found a mine on their border and neither is willing to give it up. The mine is very valuable, enough for them to exploit for decades, and it seems today the military conflict escalated. I''m sorry, this was my oversight, I should have informed Miss Hong earlier."


    "It''s okay, but I want to hear solutions. I''d prefer not to detour or wait for them to finish before we can proceed!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was uncompromising.


    "Don''t worry, give me ten minutes, and I will sort everything out!" Hagen promised.


    "Then I''ll wait and see your performance!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, looking at Wang Ling who was still in a state of shock, "Alright, stop pretending, I''ve already called for help!"


    "Who? International Peacekeeping Forces? How long will they take to arrive?"


    "No, not them. But it should be my bodyguards; we''ll be able to leave in ten minutes."@@@@

 Chapter 179 Do You Call This Breaking Up a Fight?

    Time passed by the second, and Zhang Menglong lay on the couch like nothing was amiss, eating and drinking as usual, while Lu Yiyao watched him with a worried expression. Wang Ling''s girlfriend had gone to change her clothes, while Wang Ling himself lay sprawled at the window, muttering something under his breath.


    "What are you doing, eat something, what can you see by plastering yourself against the window? Looking for God?" Zhang Menglong picked up a grape and hurled it at Wang Ling''s head.


    "What are you doing! We could get shot down any minute now, and you''re still messing around! Why aren''t you worried at all?" Wang Ling felt that Zhang Menglong was treating their lives like a joke.


    "That''s because I''m absolutely confident!" Zhang Menglong said, "When have you ever seen me at a disadvantage? Just a pair of fighter jets, what''s there to be afraid of? I told you, someone will come to break it up soon..."


    Zhang Menglong had just said this when a tremendous roar came from above them.


    Wang Ling''s face suddenly changed, "Damn, they''re not really starting to fight here, are they?"


    Just moments ago, they were only on the periphery of the battlefield and had nearly been hit by a missile and shot downs. Now, if they ran into the battlefield, weren''t they just waiting to die?@@@@


    He Liang was capable, but he was piloting Huaxia''s most advanced fighter jet, while now he was only flying a private plane. No matter how capable he was, he couldn''t unleash the power of a fighter jet!


    Unable to help himself, Wang Ling pressed his face to the plane''s window and saw rows of fierce fighter jets passing over and around them¡ªone, two, five, ten... twenty, thirty...


    "These are the ''Rafale'' and ''Typhoon'' fighter jets of the Frankfurt Kingdom!"


    "These are the Lions!"


    "And ''Tempest''! These are Europe''s strongest fighter jets!"


    Wang Ling was a complete military enthusiast, and he could blurt out the names of these jets at a glance. In Europe, these jets were absolute rulers of the skies!


    "We''re screwed, we''re definitely screwed!" Wang Ling''s face turned ashen, "Damn, why did I try to save money? There are so many international flights, and I had to fly on this plane; I''m just over thirty, I haven''t had enough fun yet!"


    Wang Ling''s girlfriend looked at him, not knowing what to say. She had thought that by following Wang Ling, even if just for a few months, using what they''d accumulated during this time, whether connections or popularity, she wouldn''t starve in the future. But now, she might actually die here with Wang Ling.


    "Doggy, we''re not really going to die, are we?" Lu Yiyao clutched Zhang Menglong''s hand.


    "Is this the reinforcement you called for?" Wang Ling asked Zhang Menglong, dumbfounded.


    "What else?" Zhang Menglong replied, "I told you, I got someone to come mediate and escort. Are you relieved now?"


    "Mediate and escort my ass! Are you trying to start a world war?" Wang Ling blurted out, "And how did you do it? These fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and destroyers, they''re all different models belonging to various European countries. Did you kidnap their presidents?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "You ask how I managed it, but I don''t know the answer either. However, we bosses generally only care about the results, not the process!"


    "Brother... it''s possible but unnecessary. This move is going to scare the shit out of them, isn''t it?"


    "I don''t care how they fight me, it''s none of my fucking business, but if they disrupt my schedule, they all deserve to die!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Full speed ahead, charge!"


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!" Following a tearing sound, dozens of fighter jets took the lead and charged forward.


    ...


    In the distance, the fighter squadrons of Moriko and Laidenburg were battling fiercely, with each side having lost three fighter jets after half an hour of combat, escalating the armed conflict.


    "Beep beep beep!" As both sides were preparing for the next round of confrontation, suddenly, their dashboards started issuing frantic alarms.


    "What''s going on?" A fighter pilot activated his radar, only to see the edge of the black screen filled with dense red dots, amounting to over 200, all moving majestically toward them.


    "What situation is this?" Upon seeing this scene, the demeanor of the pilots from both sides collapsed instantly. What on earth was going on? They hadn''t heard about any air force exercises being conducted in this marine area! Moreover, those 200-plus red dots were clearly moving in their direction!


    But the shock was far from over, their radars indicated that there were also numerous targets below them, with some of the largest red dots appearing to be aircraft carriers!


    Finally, the radar''s tally froze at 271, a total of 271 targets were heading in their direction!


    All the fighter aircraft technicians, looking at this breathtaking number, simultaneously uttered a single word.


    "Fuck!"

 Chapter 180 Hardcore Persuasion to Stop a Fight

    "Ceasefire! Ceasefire!" The commanders of the fighter squadrons from Morico and Ladingburg immediately ordered to stop the intense battle. With hundreds of fighter jets, a bunch of aircraft carriers, and destroyers involved, if they were here to clean them up, what was the point in fighting? They might as well just go home to their mothers!


    "What on earth is going on?" At Morico''s command base, Air Force Captain Slazer stared dazedly at the map covered in hundreds of dots, his hand gripping so hard he''d snapped the pen.


    This area wasn''t the private airspace of any country. Generally, the whole world was in a state of overall peace with local conflicts. Although wars were not common, they certainly weren''t rare either.


    Internationally, although verbal condemnations and efforts to stop such conflicts were common, as long as innocent countries weren''t affected and no significant post-war consequences occurred, generally, such situations were overlooked.


    The struggle between Morico and Ladingburg had been going on for almost a month, but since they were always on a small scale, no peacekeeping forces had ever come to maintain justice and order.


    More than two hundred fighter jets is something a somewhat wealthy country could manage, but aircraft carriers, that''s something else¡ªEurope doesn''t have ten of them! Almost all of them showing up like this¡ªthis definitely wasn''t the act of any single nation!


    Also, from the international response, it was definitely not an effort sent by any international organization¡ªthey still didn''t have the clout to mobilize so many war machines.


    Was the whole of Europe holding a joint military exercise here? But that didn''t make sense. They had never received any notice about this, and even if they had, surely they wouldn''t have such bad luck as to pick a military drill site right where they were fighting?


    The more they analyzed it, the more mysterious the origins of this massive force appeared!


    They had already requested support from within their country, but the reply informed them that this batch of military equipment had been mobilized just ten minutes ago! The person responsible for the mobilization was still unclear, but it wasn''t likely targeted at them; otherwise, there would have been some signs or rumors.


    Ladingburg was equally baffled at first¡ªthey even thought that Morico had traded some benefits for military support from other European countries. But on further reflection, their small, broke country couldn''t afford such powerful support!


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Almost simultaneously, Morico and Ladingburg received a message to stay calm and wait for the squadrons to pass before resuming their battle!


    "You know, my friend, with one sneeze, the whole of Europe trembles," Zhang Menglong said. Although he didn''t know exactly how powerful the Carreras family was, the fact that they could muster almost half of Europe''s military power in just ten minutes was not an exaggeration to describe them!


    The fleet slowly entered the recent battle zone. Although it had quieted down here now, the air was still dense with the smell of gunpowder. This is war.


    "Mr. Zhang, someone is requesting to speak with you!" He Liang said.


    "Put them through here!"


    With a buzzing of static, a deep voice came through, "Mr. Zhang, this is the Carlos Carrier, I am commander Bargas!"


    "Hello, Mr. Bargas!" Although this was Spanish, with Ye Yin as a human translator, Zhang Menglong could communicate effortlessly. As for Wang Ling and the others, they were completely bewildered. Not only was Zhang Menglong fluent in English and Qingqiu language, but he also handled Spanish impressively¡ªcould he be a language prodigy?


    "Mr. Zhang, the fighter squadrons from Moriko and Ladingburg haven''t fully withdrawn yet. They are currently hovering in the nearby airspace. Should we carry out further military strikes?" Bargas asked.


    "They haven''t left yet? That''s bold!"


    "Yes, for this battle, they invested a great deal of resources. They probably won''t stop here, but they should be hesitant to make any rash moves. Once we safely pass through this airspace, however they fight after that doesn''t concern us anymore."


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "I am a person who loves peace, and the last thing I like to see is fighting. Once fighting begins, their soldiers will be sacrificed, and their families will be shattered. I think, as an outstanding youth of the 21st century, I still need to try and stop the fight."


    "Tell them, if they continue to fight, then we''ll have to step in to maintain peace. Whoever initiates, you bring them down!" Zhang Menglong asked tentatively, "Can we do that?"


    "Our orders are to unconditionally execute all of your commands!"


    "Then let''s do it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Let them know what it means to forcefully mediate!"@@@@

 Chapter 181 Is This Your Friend or Your Slave?

    "All units, return to your country''s territory within five minutes. War is forbidden from breaking out!"


    "I repeat, stop the war and evacuate this area within five minutes, return to your own country!"


    ...


    The fighter jet squadrons of Morego and Laidingburg received this broadcast on the public frequency simultaneously.


    "They want us to stop? Why? They''re going through, and we''ve already let them, so why interfere with our operations?" Slazer didn''t understand why these people loved to meddle so much.


    "Tell them that we have temporarily halted our battle and have shown them the respect they deserve. We hope they will also respect us and not intervene in the affairs between our two countries!" Slazer said to his subordinates.


    A fighter pilot relayed Slazer''s words to the spokesperson of that squadron, but the response they received was something no one had anticipated.


    "This is the final warning, this is not a negotiation, this is an order! If your forces decide to take unilateral action, our aircraft carrier group will immediately issue orders to launch a military strike against both fighter jet squadrons!"


    Hearing this response, Slazer''s back was suddenly drenched with sweat.


    Not to mention the vast disparity in military strength, their fighter jets were so far behind in performance it was unquantifiable.


    Whether it''s the "Rafale" or the "Typhoon," both are known as the top three fighter jets of Europe, and they absolutely represent the ceiling of the European Air Force''s combat capability, two generations ahead of theirs!


    Just two of these fighters could potentially annihilate their entire squadron! Coupled with the opponent''s advanced AWACS, the intelligence of the aircraft carriers, and a numerical disparity of 100 times, just one encounter would likely leave their jets unable to even find complete fragments. This disparity could not be simply described.@@@@


    In one word, they were going to be beaten with no discussion!


    "Ask them clearly, why they are interfering with our military operations. We need an explanation, otherwise, we''re all going to be standing before a military tribunal!"


    "They say it''s an order from their Carreras family!" the pilot relayed, "Their master''s plane just happened to pass through this corridor, and they are all here to escort it. Moreover, their master mentioned disliking war, and that''s the reason they''ve given."


    "The Carreras family?" The pilot didn''t know what to make of the Carreras family.


    "That was the initial case, but since people were already here, I had to mediate, right? I told them if they continued to fight, I would knock all their little crappy jets out of the sky!"


    "This kind of mediation... I''m impressed!" Faced with a formation comprised of hundreds of fighter jets, such a threat would indeed be enough to terrify them. If they dared to continue fighting after that, it wouldn''t just mean they were stubborn¡ªit would mean their commander''s head had surely been caught in a door!


    After a moment of panic, everyone except for Zhang Menglong felt somewhat exhausted. Fortunately, the plane was spacious and comfortable enough, and as everyone dozed off, time flew by and the plane touched down at Zhang Menglong''s private airport before they knew it.


    The airport was not particularly large, and it didn''t house many planes¡ªonly four or five, as neither Zhang Menglong nor his father visited Frankfurt often, so it wasn''t necessary to waste money maintaining the airport and planes.


    "For the upcoming days, you all can go have fun," Zhang Menglong said to the captain and the flight attendants, "You must have had quite a scare this trip. Let''s double the flight mission bonus. I''ll have Hong Yi arrange it later."


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!" Upon hearing about the doubled bonus, all the beautiful flight attendants showed faces full of surprise.


    "Old Zhang, I got a fright too!" Wang Ling said shamelessly.


    "Then go and work on your courage! A grown man, scared like a woman¡ªyou won''t be brought along next time if there''s something this exciting!"


    Zhang Menglong led Wang Ling and the others towards the exit. He had been told by Haigen that he had arranged for his son to wait at the airport.


    Indeed, as soon as they exited the airport, Zhang Menglong saw a line of identical black Bentleys and a middle-aged man emitting an aura of authority standing respectfully. Behind him were more than a dozen men in black suits. Had one not known any better, they might have mistaken the scene for a gathering awaiting a mob boss.


    The moment the middle-aged man saw Zhang Menglong, he showed a look of immense excitement.


    "You must be Mr. Scorolo?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Whoosh!" Scorolo didn''t speak. He made a gesture, and astonishingly, he and the dozen men in black all knelt on one knee. This spectacle took Zhang Menglong by surprise.


    "Old Zhang, who... who are they?"


    "Just some external support I found. He''s the son of a friend of mine."


    "Your friend''s son?" Wang Ling frowned, "Are you sure that''s your friend? His son is twenty years older than us, isn''t he? Why do I feel like they''re all your slaves?"

 Chapter 182 The Miracle Reappears

    Kneeling ceremonies like this had long disappeared in this age of advanced civilization, only appearing in traditional Huaxia weddings at most; of course, kneeling for durians or keyboards during courtship did not count.


    Wang Ling paid attention to the expressions of these people. They were incredibly sincere and showed no signs of dissatisfaction or reluctance; kneeling seemed natural to them, almost instinctual.


    "Your ancestor wasn''t an Emperor, was he?" Wang Ling said.


    "I don''t know about that, but I do know that a lot of Emperors have borrowed money from my family," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Menglong, let them get up. They won''t be able to stand the cold," Lu Yiyao said, somewhat distressed. Of course, he was even more curious about Zhang Menglong''s background now¡ªhis influence was enormous, not just in Huaxia but even in Europe.


    As for Wang Ling''s internet celebrity girlfriend, she looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a supernatural being.


    "Oh right, right, right," Zhang Menglong remembered, noticing that these people were still kneeling. Just those few seconds had already drawn quite a bit of attention. Zhang Menglong had primarily come to Europe to have fun, not to become an internet sensation here.


    "My beloved subjects, rise to your... ah, that''s not right. Hurry up and get up, everyone. We''re all one of us. Scorolo, you''re almost as old as my father¡ªit''s not suitable."


    "Everyone, get up," Scorolo said, "Young master, in your presence, we dare not claim seniority. It is only right for us to kneel to you. It is also our ancient family rule that anyone who dares to be disrespectful to you will be expelled from the Dorellas family and even face severe punishment."


    "What kind of punishment?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Being deprived of all economic support from the Dorellas family, only able to receive a monthly allowance of twenty thousand Euros up until death!" Scorolo said, as if spitting out something extremely distasteful.


    "Fuck!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help swearing. Twenty thousand Euros a month? That kind of income would almost be considered wealthy in Huaxia, and it was considered "welfare" in their Dorellas family?


    But from this, Zhang Menglong also gained some understanding of the power of the Dorellas family. They were not just powerful enough to mobilize all of Europe''s military resources; their economic power was also unbelievably strong.


    "That would be great, thank you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "It is my duty," Scorolo turned and signaled to someone in black. The person in black handed over a gold envelope, which was actually made of gold, not gold paint! Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Miss Hong Yi has arranged for you to attend the auction hosted by the Frankfurt Royal Auction House, hasn''t she? This is the top-level admission ticket for that auction. You may bring your friends with you."


    "No way!" Wang Ling snatched the ticket from Zhang Menglong''s hands, "I''ve heard there are only ten of these, and unless you''re a top-level tycoon, you simply can''t get one!"


    Wang Ling suddenly glanced at Zhang Menglong, and the excitement in his eyes vanished in an instant, "Top-level tycoons are nothing in front of you, kid!"


    "Also, there''s this," Scorolo motioned again, "Hearing that you would be bringing the future mistress, this is a small token from the Scorolo family."


    This time, what was brought over was a tray. Scorolo unveiled the satin cover, and a flash of blue light instantly drew gasps from everyone.


    "The Star of the Ocean!"


    "Is... is this the real Heart of the Ocean?" Wang Ling hurriedly asked.


    Wang Ling knew that although the Heart of the Ocean was an extremely precious gemstone, valued at nearly a hundred million US dollars, to Zhang Menglong this was barely significant. Not long ago, he had people building heating pipelines in the Da Hinggan Mountains; compared to that, a hundred million dollars was a trifle.


    But the most important thing was that the Heart of the Ocean sank with the Titanic into the Atlantic Ocean a long time ago. How could it possibly appear here? That''s just absurd!


    "Scorolo, is this a replica?" Zhang Menglong asked. Such a large blue diamond was rare, but Zhang Menglong knew that he owned many diamond mines and possibly could find a second piece as large as this one. Perhaps Scorolo had it made as a copy? However, that would still be quite thoughtful.


    "No, Mr. Zhang, this is the genuine Heart of the Ocean, not a replica. We salvaged it from the Pacific Ocean, and we hope this precious gemstone will bring you and Miss Lu the most beautiful future!"

 Chapter 185 183 Which kind of princess are you referring to?

    "How is that possible?" Zhang Menglong felt as if he was listening to an incredible legend. The coordinates of the Titanic''s sinking are approximately 41¡ã43''55.66" N, 49¡ã56''45.02" W, at that location, the depth of the seabed is about nearly 4,000 meters.


    Everyone knows that the Titanic was a ship laden with treasures. For a century, countless people have tried to find the trace of the Heart of the Ocean at the bottom of the sea, but all have come up empty-handed.


    One hundred years have passed, and this shipwreck has become a paradise for marine life, with even parts of it buried under the sediments.


    Moreover, the wreckage of the Titanic is quite complex. Even if one knows where it is located, to retrieve it from the wreckage is nearly an inconceivable task, not even ''finding a needle in a haystack'' can describe it without exaggeration.


    "Could it be that they used hundreds of submarines to search for it?" Wang Ling speculated after hearing Zhang Menglong''s translation¡ªafter all, Zhang Menglong had called in more than two hundred fighter jets today, so such a thing could be possible, right?


    "Damn, and you graduated with a master''s degree from overseas? You don''t even know this much physics?" Zhang Menglong said with contempt, "To date, the largest manned submarine has only reached less than a kilometer beneath the sea surface. You think you have what it takes to go down to a depth of 4,000 meters? You''d be squashed into a pile of shit!"


    "I didn''t study physics, why are you hassling me about it!" Wang Ling muttered.


    "It was us who manufactured a large number of unmanned submarines. It took us 17 months to find it from the sediments beneath the Titanic," Scorolo said. "Although our family has benefited from your generosity and managed to nurture a group of Potentialists, their abilities are limited. They can only dive to a depth of around 2,500 meters at most, so we had to resort to this cumbersome method."


    "However, after soaking in the sea for more than a hundred years, many parts have oxidized. We have re-fitted it with diamond accessories¡ªall crafted by the finest artisans to replicate the original pieces."


    Although Scorolo spoke casually, Zhang Menglong could imagine what a grand project it must have been. However, he also garnered some other information from Scorolo''s words: the Carreras family indeed had people like Ye Yin, and possibly in considerable numbers.


    But what did it mean to have benefited from their family''s influence? Zhang Menglong didn''t quite understand that part.


    "We accept this gift, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness," Zhang Menglong said as he took the string of the Heart of the Ocean and promptly put it around Lu Yiyao''s neck. Even though she was only wearing a simple sweater, with the Heart of the Ocean as its setting, she was the most beautiful princess.


    "Very beautiful."


    "This... this thing is too valuable, we should put it away," Lu Yiyao said, finding it hard to believe she was wearing something worth a hundred million US Dollars around her neck. No, even now, its historical significance far exceeded a hundred million!


    He glanced around and saw that all the maids¡ªwhether they were sweeping, wiping the walls, serving tea, or tending to the potted plants¡ªwere secretly watching him.


    "Old Zhang, the quality of the maids in your estate is just too good," Wang Ling said with a sly gleam in his eye as he looked over a passing maid. Her skin was fair, her figure tall and graceful, and her beauty was breathtaking. Most strangely, she carried a particularly noble air, an aura that should not belong to a maid.


    "Could it be that the selection criteria for your maids are on the level of Miss World?" Wang Ling joked.


    Zhang Menglong translated Wang Ling''s words to Scorolo.


    Scorolo chuckled, "Actually, they aren''t maids, but princesses."


    "What? All are princesses?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg, "Wait, are you talking about the kind of ''Princess'' you find at a KTV, or some other kind of princess?"


    Scorolo laughed, amused by Zhang Menglong''s humor, "Mr. Zhang, of course, they are princesses from the European royal families. The other kind of ''princess'' you mentioned wouldn''t be qualified to enter your estate, would they?"


    "What the hell? Princesses work as maids in your home?" Wang Ling was practically jumping up and down, cursing in disbelief. While he was thinking about how to find a couple more internet celebrity beauties to be his girlfriends, here was a group of princesses working as maids in Zhang Menglong''s estate.


    Could they get any more Versailles than this? This was just ridiculous! Even if Zhang Menglong''s family was wealthy, wasn''t this a bit too exaggerated? They didn''t care about their status or losing face?


    "This... Scorolo, can you explain this to me?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Could we get a translator?" Wang Ling raised his hand, having hardly understood a word since setting foot on the Continent, apart from what Zhang Menglong had translated for him.


    "Are you sure you want to hear it?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile. Although he did not know why all these princesses had come to work as maids in his estate, he was certain that revealing this would be no less shocking than the economic crisis his grandfather had caused.


    "It''s just more of a shock, right? I can take it! It''s unbearable not to understand; it makes me too anxious!" Wang Ling said.


    "Since you wish to hear it, I shall tell you," Scorolo gestured, and a subordinate proficient in the Huaxia language immediately approached them, "As for this matter, we might have to start with your grandfather..."

 Chapter 184 Committing Evil Acts

    "My grandfather again?" Zhang Menglong had never seen his grandfather from birth to the present, and in his mind, his grandfather was merely a person from a black-and-white photograph.


    Back then, his grandfather was only in his twenties, bearing a face almost identical to Zhang Menglong''s own, but compared to Zhang Menglong''s reckless disposition, his grandfather at that age exuded more maturity and steadiness.


    "Your grandfather was an incredible man!" Scorolo said, "You should know, your grandfather once created an economic crisis that swept the entire world, a crisis that almost set back the global economy by decades."


    Zhang Menglong nodded, understanding from the words of the world''s wealthiest man that his grandfather had done these things to force those people to return the national treasures and cultural relics that had been looted from Huaxia, and clearly, his methods had worked.


    "Do you know how much that affected Europe?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, finding such annoying history the hardest to recall, "Anyway, I just know they all fell apart."


    "To quantify it, England''s unemployment rate exceeded 70%, millions of people lost their jobs, a vast amount of raw materials accumulated, and the money originally intended for military buildup vanished due to inflation. The weaponry and equipment amassed in Europe at that time were sufficient to launch a half-world-war-scale conflict!"


    "But what does that have to do with my grandfather!" Zhang Menglong asked, "If they all went bankrupt, isn''t that the end of it?"


    "It''s not that simple!" Scorolo said, "Many of the national treasures that ended up abroad were bought by private collectors, so a significant portion of those items are not in the hands of the state. Therefore, merely through the economic crisis, your grandfather only managed to recover a third of the lost treasures."


    "Then what happened?"


    "Then the bloodiest era in European history emerged, an era that lasted only two months, but it was enough to strike terror into the whole of Europe. Even the bloody era of those two months was never recorded in history!"


    "Have you heard of it?" Zhang Menglong asked Wang Ling, "Aren''t you an arts student? You must be good at history."


    Wang Ling shook his head, "I told you it wasn''t recorded in history, how would I know anything!"


    "Damn... I''m hearing a fantasy story!" Wang Ling''s mentality completely collapsed. Zhang Menglong''s family had conquered all of Europe? This... This was outrageous!


    At that moment, Scorolo suddenly laughed, "So you can imagine what the birth of you and your father meant for the whole of Europe."


    "This is the birth of Europe''s heir!" Wang Ling outright spoke for Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, when your father was born, the entire Royal Family of Europe queued up hoping to arrange an infant betrothal for your father. Even that night, the Royal Families of Europe started a fierce baby-making campaign; every castle of the Royal Family was almost shaking from the activity!" Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hahaha!" Hearing this, Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh out loud. This description was quite apt!


    "The entire Royal Family of Europe used to value males over females, but since then, every Queen who gave birth to a daughter received awards. Although the hopes were slim, there was still a glimmer of hope!"


    "What about when he was born?" Wang Ling pointed at Zhang Menglong and asked.


    "When the young master was born," Scorolo couldn''t help but chuckle, "that year, the Royal Family of Europe even temporarily reinstated polygamy for a short period. That night, the whole of Europe was shaking!"


    "Hahahahaha!" Wang Ling laughed boisterously, slapping his thigh vigorously. The description was exaggerated, but it clearly portrayed the significant impact Zhang Menglong''s birth had on Europe.


    "Let me introduce you," Scorolo said, pointing to a girl who was cleaning vases in front. She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, "She is Princess Irina from Gulregburg, and in their generation, she is ranked 87th!"


    "What the hell!" Zhang Menglong did the math; this Princess was about three or four years younger than him. In just these three or four years, the Emperor of Gulregburg had fathered at least 87 children. Was he acting like a breeding boar?


    "If we calculate the probability of pregnancy, the Emperor would be exhausted to the brink of extinction!"


    "Isn''t that so?" Scorolo laughed, "Their Emperor died of renal failure three years after the birth of Irina. And the female members of their Royal Family, in the hopes of catching your eye one day, have been nurtured since childhood with the finest things to maintain their body and beauty. Their country is now deeply in debt because of this!"


    Listening to this absurd story, Wang Ling couldn''t help shaking his head and sighing, "What a disaster..."

 Chapter 186 Is the Emperor Flipping the Plaque?

    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve really missed out big time! Getting involved in a relationship so early, you''ve given up a whole forest for the sake of one tree!" Wang Ling said with a mixture of envy and pity. If it were him, he''d probably have suffered kidney failure by tonight, who could withstand that!


    Each of Wang Ling''s girlfriends, though internet-celebrity-faced, were definitely beauties by Eastern aesthetic standards. But compared to these princesses, not to mention their figures and facial features, their temperament was completely outmatched. Even just standing there, the gaze couldn''t help but be drawn to those princesses in their work clothes.


    The temperaments shaped from childhood cannot be rivaled by those nouveau riches that emerge overnight. Just look at Zhang Menglong, he is clearly the wealthiest person in the world, but he has lived like an ordinary person since childhood. So much so that he still carries a bit of the common touch about him, and who knows what his parents were thinking.


    "You don''t know a thing, what we have is called ''true love'', you are just coveting her body!" Zhang Menglong felt that discussing love with someone like Wang Ling was like playing the lute to a cow.


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be weary from your journey today. Let me take you to your room first," Scorolo, the estate''s butler, gestured. "Fosdick, find someone to show Mr. Zhang''s guests to their rooms."


    "Please follow me, you two," said Fosdick, the middle-aged man, politely to Wang Ling.


    It was indeed quite dark, and Wang Ling had his own plans for the next day, so he went off to rest, cuddling with his girlfriend.


    "Let''s go rest as well," Zhang Menglong said, taking Lu Yiyao''s hand.


    "Follow me, please," Scorolo personally led the way to the elevator for Zhang Menglong and his companion.


    The castle, though a mid-20th-century construction, had undergone multiple renovations and reconstructions, displaying not only Europe''s distinctive historical style but also the breath of modern civilization.


    The castle had a total of eight floors above ground and three below, each floor spanning almost 3,000 square meters. Zhang Menglong still remembered his high school building, which was only four stories tall, indicating just how majestic this building was.


    Zhang Meng didn''t understand why his room was on the very lowest floor. Weren''t the best rooms supposed to be at the top?


    "What are these?" Having reached the third sub-level, Zhang Menglong walked along the brightly lit corridor towards a room at the end.


    On both sides of the corridor, there were densely packed photographs, some in color, but many more in black and white, each filled with marks of history.


    "These are photographs that your grandfather brought with him when he stayed in this fortress, and of course, some were added by your father later on," Scorolo explained.


    "Who are these people?" In some of the photos, besides Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, there were many unfamiliar faces, each one grinning obsequiously, nodding and bowing as if they were the most servile servants.


    "These are some precious moments recorded during your grandfather''s conquest of Europe," Scorolo said. "With each country he conquered, he would have someone capture the moment of submission of the rulers of those lands. There are a total of 52 photographs here."


    "52 photographs?" Zhang Menglong asked in confusion. "I thought during that era, Europe only had about thirty-odd countries and regions. How come there are so many photographs?"


    Now Zhang Menglong knew why eventually only about thirty countries were left. Without the national institutions, without the legal documents, the belief system had already half-collapsed, and finally, even the leaders were sent to Africa to mine coal. What was the point of such countries'' existence?


    "So, the lands of those countries were slowly annexed, or new independent states were born," Scorolo pointed at a row of photos and said, "These are the presidents sent to mine coal."


    "No wonder they all have such grim faces," Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly.


    "By the way, where''s the toilet?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt an urgent need to relieve his bladder.


    "Go straight ahead for 50 meters, turn left, then another 20 meters, then right turn, and about 30 meters more, and you''ll be there."


    "... I suspect everyone here has developed kidney stones from holding it in. With such a big house, would it kill you to build a few more toilets?" Zhang Menglong hurried toward the toilet.


    "This..." Scorolo was at a loss for words. He hadn''t even finished speaking. Zhang Menglong''s room also had a toilet; it was just at the end of the corridor. Why was he in such a rush?


    "Phew! Refreshing!" Zhang Menglong shook off his body. Listening to stories here was like a test for the bladder. Although these stories were both smelly and long, one truly felt uncomfortable not hearing them to the end.


    But just as Zhang Menglong stepped out of the toilet, he was immediately taken aback.


    There stood a row of women at the toilet door, at least twenty or so. By their looks, they seemed to be those princesses from the European royal families.


    "What... what are you going to do?" Seeing this display, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but take a few steps back.


    "Respected Mr. Zhang, this is the key to my room. I am in room 27. During your time in Europe, I hope I can have the pleasure of spending a delightful night with you."


    "This..." Zhang Menglong instinctively took the key, which carried a faint fragrance.


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Clark Stiller, I''m in room 79, and I await your presence at any time."


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Sahir, and I... I can do anything... I... I''m in room 172." Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    ...


    A moment later, Zhang Menglong held more than twenty keys in his hand.


    "Holy shit..." Zhang Menglong looked at these keys and laughed ruefully, "This is practically asking me to play Emperor and choose my concubines!"

 Chapter 187 Weld the Door Shut for Me

    "Why did you take so long? Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Yiyao asked with concern.


    "You might not believe this, but when I walked out of the restroom, I was immediately surrounded by twenty or thirty women, and they even invited me to their rooms for tea tonight!" Zhang Menglong said, spreading his hands to show a bunch of keys.


    "Hahaha, were you followed to the restroom?" Lu Yiyao laughed gleefully.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you want me to send them all away?" Scorolo noticed that Zhang Menglong was somewhat unhappy.


    "Let it be, it wasn''t easy for them to come here," Zhang Menglong waved his hands, "Just let them stay quietly in their rooms tonight and don''t disturb me. Send them all away tomorrow."


    "Yes, I will arrange for that tomorrow, and will quickly hire a bunch of new domestic staff," Scorolo couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Zhang, are you really not interested in any of those princesses?"


    After finishing, he glanced at Lu Yiyao, "I know that Huaxia does not allow polygamy, but to them, having that status is not important; as long as you agree, though they are princesses, they are willing to become your accessories without a single complaint."


    Social conventions are only meant to restrain ordinary people, but for someone like Zhang Menglong, they are almost meaningless, and nobody would constrain him with societal expectations and conventions, much like many wealthy businessmen who, although legally married to one wife, have many who are willingly their mistresses.


    If Wang Ling were here, she would surely be hopping mad, as having women without responsibilities is not every man''s dream?


    "Some things, without an emotional foundation, are meaningless," Zhang Menglong shook his head. He had never thought about choosing other women after having Lu Yiyao.


    Moreover, to put it plainly, although these princesses came here, did they have feelings for Zhang Menglong? Obviously not, they were merely trying to secure resources for their royal families and their countries. If they could become aligned with Zhang Menglong, supported by the resources of his family, their countries could quickly grow to become the strongest in Europe.


    At the end of the day, it was nothing more than a transaction involving interests and power.@@@@


    "Mr. Zhang, you truly make me see you in a new light," Scorolo''s gaze intensified with respect for Zhang Menglong.


    "Mm, you''ve worked hard today," Zhang Menglong nodded as he shut the room door.


    "Are you very disappointed today? Without me, maybe over a hundred princesses would be serving you in bed!" Lu Yiyao said with a teasing smile.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Lu Yiyao, then suddenly swept her up in his arms, and they lay down on the large bed in a very intimate position, "Then how are you going to compensate me?"


    Lu Yiyao lifted her neck slightly, touching Zhang Menglong''s lips briefly like a dragonfly skimming water.


    "That''s not enough!" Zhang Menglong revealed a mischievously wicked smile, "That might barely even out today, but last time I was in Qingqiu Country, Lee Ji-eun even ran into my room, and I didn''t do anything!"


    "I bet you didn''t dare!" Lu Yiyao''s cheeks flushed red, "If you dare do anything to my goddess, I''ll definitely castrate you!"


    "Quick, tell me, how are you going to compensate me!" Zhang Menglong''s face was almost pressed against Lu Yiyao''s, and his hands were restlessly embracing her waist. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Then you figure it out," Lu Yiyao could no longer meet Zhang Menglong''s eyes. She already had a premonition of what was about to happen.


    Seeing Lu Yiyao''s attire as if it was ripe for the picking, if Zhang Menglong still didn''t get the hint, then he might as well stay single for the rest of his life.


    "Then I want you to never be able to leave me for the rest of your life!" Zhang Menglong passionately kissed her trembling lips.


    "Ye Yin, weld the door shut for me, tonight, don''t even let an ant come in!" Zhang Menglong ordered in his mind to Ye Yin, "You know what not to see!"


    "Ye Yin understands!" Zhang Menglong''s mind resonated with Ye Yin''s voice. In an instant, an invisible force enveloped the whole room, and Ye Yin completely blocked off all her perception of the room.


    The fish attracted by the room''s light scattered in fright as if shy from the scene inside, the whole seabed was tranquil...

 Chapter 188 The Consequences Are Very Serious

    This evening, Zhang Menglong had directly transformed from a boy to a man, and of course, having enjoyed this pleasure for the first time, they were both up very late, not waking up until after nine the next morning.


    "You sleep a bit more, I''ll go get you breakfast," Zhang Menglong knew that Lu Yiyao probably couldn''t get up today, last night he had practically brought out all he had learned, Mr. Bigwood, Ms. Clearwater...


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mhm," Lu Yiyao gently nodded.


    By this time, Wang Ling had already gotten up, planning to go out with his girlfriend, "Old Zhang, want to join us for some fun? There''s plenty of cool stuff to do in Frankfurt, bring your girlfriend along too!"


    "You guys go ahead, we''re not going out today, she''s feeling a bit under the weather," Zhang Menglong decisively declined.


    "Under the weather? Ohhhhh!" Wang Ling was stunned for a moment and then quickly caught on, "Damn, don''t tell me the two of you just..."


    "What''s with all the questions? Get lost!" Zhang Menglong said irritably.


    "Hahaha, going right now, right now," Wang Ling laughed lecherously, "You''re quite the fighter, huh? Can''t even get out of bed, I''m impressed, man!"


    Watching Wang Ling''s retreating figure, Zhang Menglong silently cursed him as a scoundrel.


    It wasn''t until the evening that Lu Yiyao felt a bit better, although still a little uncomfortable, but she could still walk, after all, she didn''t want Zhang Menglong to stay and waste time just to keep her company.


    "Let''s go shopping!" Lu Yiyao suggested, "I heard that Parisiaga released a new pair of shoes, and they''re sold out back home recently; I don''t know if I can find them in Frankfurt."


    "Since when do you like luxury goods?" Zhang Menglong laughed, he had also heard about the new Parisiaga shoes that were retailing for 8888, supposedly they were being sold for hundreds of thousands back home, and in this era, those who flipped sneakers were making a fortune.


    Zhang Menglong, however, had never been interested in such things; those ordinary luxury goods were considered low-level in his family, and the clothes made by his own studio were all more expensive, of course, both in terms of style and comfort, they simply couldn''t be compared to those mass-produced luxury goods.


    "Not me," Lu Yiyao said, "It''s Qianqian and the others who want me to bring back a couple of pairs for them. So here I am, might as well take this chance to tour the capital of Frankfurt and experience the spirit of this city of art."


    "Alright, then let''s check out the Champs-Elysees shopping street!"


    ...


    As the busiest place in the whole of Frankfurt, the Champs-Elysees is bustling like a festival every day. On both sides of the street, you can see boutiques and headquarters of internationally famous luxury brands. And because of the "personal shopper" profession in Huaxia, many people from Huaxia could be seen coming and going here.@@@@


    Beyond that, for many tour groups from Huaxia, this is also a must-visit spot.


    "There are so many people from Huaxia here!"


    It was a young Huaxia couple, looking to be about the same age as Zhang Menglong. Judging by their attire, they seemed to be tourists in Frankfurt as well.


    The two were in the middle of the queue, surrounded by five or six local thugs, almost all beefy young men, and there was a security guard maintaining order.


    The girl hid behind the guy, who had a bright red handprint on his face¡ªif Zhang Menglong wasn''t mistaken, it was the handiwork of those local fellows.


    "Menglong, should we go and check it out? There seems to be trouble over there."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong''s smile had mostly disappeared, regardless of the cause, the Huaxia couple were clearly at a disadvantage. In a foreign land, coming from Huaxia, if they didn''t stick together in such a scenario, it would be heartless indeed.


    "Please leave this place, you low educated people. You are not welcome here!" the Barisican security guard told the young couple.


    "I told you! We were the ones queuing here, we didn''t disturb the order, it was these people who wanted to cut in. My girlfriend couldn''t stand it and spoke up, and then they started getting physical. Do you see the slap mark on my face? They are the ones who hit me! If you must expel someone, it should be them!"


    The young Huaxia man accused angrily, but the local Frankfurt thugs seemed unconcerned and kept chatting and laughing among themselves.


    "You must have used too provocative language. This is just a little conflict during queuing, but hitting people is not right!" The security guard still looked impatient.


    "Damn! What the hell? Picking on Huaxia people?"


    "This security guard is in cahoots with them! I just saw it, it was clearly the five of them beating up one guy, and that security guard came over and restrained the young chap first, turning a blind eye to those who were hitting him."


    "What''s going on?" At this point, a middle-aged man who looked like a supervisor came out.


    The security guard rattled off something, and the middle-aged man''s gaze turned quite unfriendly towards the young people.


    "Today, because of the disruptive behavior of the Huaxia people, this shop will deny entry to all Huaxia!" the middle-aged man said, then turned back to the shop.


    "What? On what grounds?"


    "Us causing trouble? Bullshit! Are your eyes planted in your asshole?"


    "Fuck! I''m so mad! Capture this! Post it online!"


    "Don''t want to buy? Don''t care, I don''t give a damn anymore!"


    "Crack!" Zhang Menglong roughly grasped the situation, his fists creaking from how tightly he was clenching them, astonished to witness such an outrageous incident.


    "This is utterly disgusting!" Zhang Menglong''s breathing grew heavy with rage, and even his blood began to surge to his brain, "Messing with Huaxia people has serious consequences!"

 Chapter 189 I heard they only serve locals.

    "We do not need uncivilized customers; Huaxia people are banned from participating in the launch of our new product line!" Before long, a brand-new billboard was placed at the entrance of Barisjia.


    Although the sign was written in the language of Calanque, with so many Huaxia people around, there were always a few who understood the language of Frankfurt. Word of mouth quickly spread, and soon everyone knew exactly what the words on the billboard meant.


    However, at this moment, the same few Frankfurt troublemakers who had instigated the incident walked out of the store, laughing and talking, each even carrying the newly launched shoes in their hands.


    As if to show off, they raised their shopping bags at the couple who had been involved in the earlier altercation, and their faces displayed not only arrogance but also blatant mockery.


    In an instant, this provoked the anger of all the nearby Huaxia people. They had all been queuing in an orderly fashion; not only did they experience local people cutting in line, but when the conflict occurred, the first to be held down was the young Huaxia man.


    Note that it was "held down," not "stopped"! Some bystanders said that the security guard, without hesitation, forcibly pushed the young man who had been hit to the ground.


    And now, there they were, civilized people queuing up, being blocked from the entrance, while the real culprits were invited inside and even managed to buy what they wanted¡ªit was simply the most absurd thing in the world!


    "It''s fine. If Barisjia doesn''t care, then we will take our complaints to the management of Xiangxe''er Spring Plaza!" A few indignant Huaxia people marched towards the management hall with great momentum.@@@@


    Barisjia''s store was located inside Xiangxe''er Spring Plaza. Many consumer conflicts that couldn''t be resolved at the store were usually taken straight here for mediation.


    "Alright, you people have no discipline. This place is filled with your countrymen; your evidence has no persuasion, just colluding together. Please leave; we still have work to do!"


    However, from the management, they received such a response.


    After all, they were in a foreign country, and despite exhausting all methods, no one would take care of the matter. The nearest embassy was far away, and they just couldn''t find anyone to come and maintain order.


    Soon, everyone gradually dispersed, but this matter would not end here. The Huaxia people of today were not so easily bullied!


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao witnessed the whole process from the side. The expressions on their faces turned ugly, and even Zhang Menglong had to restrain himself several times from rushing forward.


    On a few occasions, he even wanted to directly call for a bomber squadron, or summon a tank brigade, to just crush this damned place to dust!


    "It seems my grandfather was too lenient back then; he only scared them, not frightened them into submission!" Zhang Menglong''s cold laughter usually indicated he was angry.


    "And they''re saying they''ll continue to open sales to Huaxia tourists after regrouping tomorrow!" Wang Ling was so angry he felt like smashing his phone, "Do you know why? 500 pairs of shoes, nearly ten thousand Huaxia currency a pair, without us Huaxia people, they couldn''t even sell 300!"


    "Damn, are they treating us like easy marks? Fools with too much money?" Hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt his worldview starting to crumble. Could the people of Balisjia be any more shameless?


    "The internet is exploding with rage now!" Wang Ling continued, "But do you believe it? Tomorrow, those spineless, money-grubbing jerks will still line up to buy the shoes. I''m so pissed I want to take my 40-meter great sword and chop them one by one!"


    "Calm down for a moment," Zhang Menglong soothed Wang Ling''s agitated mood.


    "I can''t calm down!" Wang Ling snapped back, "Old Zhang, we can''t let this slide! You''ve got to think of a way to vent this anger! Buy them out and fire all those top-level execs involved!"


    "Look, everyone on Weibo is tagging you!" Wang Ling opened his phone, and indeed, in many of the hot topics, people were calling for Zhang Menglong.


    "Boss Zhang, after your triumph at Qingqiu last time, you must stand for justice once again!"


    "Fuck! I can''t take it anymore, Boss Zhang, give them an economic crisis, show them your might!"


    "Boss Zhang, mighty is our Huaxia! Oli give!"


    ...


    "No, that''s still not satisfying enough. Go tell Scorolo to find yesterday''s aircraft carrier fleet and blast this place to smithereens!"


    "Who does business like this?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "There are plenty of jerks, but hurting the innocent isn''t great, and do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am someone who can hold in anger and endure?"


    "Hahaha, I knew it, you always have some bad plan up your sleeve!" Wang Ling finally cracked a smile, "So, do you need my help with anything? I''ll put up 10 million!"


    "You don''t need to pay," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "I''ll take you somewhere in a bit, and you''ll soon find out!"


    Just then, Scorolo walked in, "Mr. Zhang, everything is ready. Shall we head out now?"


    "Yes, let''s go now!"

 Chapter 190 Every One of Them is Talented Here

    The sky gradually darkened as the plane landed on a solitary island in the center of the Mediterranean. The island was about the size of a small county, but it held only a solitary white building.


    "What place is this? Are you taking me to explore a haunted house in the middle of the night?" Wang Ling suddenly felt rather uneasy as the lonely island in the sea led him to nothing good.


    "You''ll know soon enough," Zhang Menglong continued to tease Wang Ling.


    Soon, above the building, Wang Ling finally saw the full view of the structure, which resembled a large prison. It was surrounded by high walls, like a city sealed tight on all sides, with even guards patrolling back and forth.


    "Secret military base? You''re not planning to stage a terror attack, are you?"


    "Attack? Please, let''s keep it civil!" Zhang Menglong said. "Do you really think I''m the kind who resorts to violence at the slightest disagreement?"


    "You are!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes. He could never forget Zhang Menglong''s hardcore mediation from yesterday; the guy was truly capable of anything.


    "Hmm, not right, red crosses? Is this the European headquarters of the Crusades?"


    "Crusades my foot! Haven''t you ever seen a hospital?"


    "Huh?" Wang Ling was immediately baffled. "Why are you bringing me to a hospital? To reserve beds for those people in advance?"


    "Reserve my foot!" Zhang Menglong cursed. "If I were really going to act, I''d be digging graves for them directly, not wasting global resources on beds!"


    "So why are we at a hospital? And why build it in such a godforsaken place? Who would send their sick here for treatment? There''s not even a dock here!"


    "This is a psychiatric hospital!" Zhang Menglong chuckled. "The largest and most dangerous psychiatric hospital in the world!"


    "Your family sure does own a lot of businesses, even a psychiatric hospital," Wang Ling said, speechless.


    "Hahaha, this psychiatric hospital originally wasn''t mine. It came from a friend surnamed Fang. Our elders have a good relationship. I just mentioned it casually, and he immediately gifted it to me."


    The plane landed outside the thick gates, and it was only then that Wang Ling clearly saw the name of the hospital.


    Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital European Branch.


    "Good grief, it''s just a branch, how awesome must the main hospital be!"


    "The main hospital is located at the border between Huaxia and Russia, around ten times bigger than this place. I''ll take you there sometime," Zhang Menglong laughed, leading the way towards the thick hospital walls.


    "As a sane person, visiting a psychiatric hospital would indeed make me seem crazy!" Wang Ling muttered, reluctantly following Zhang Menglong inside.


    "What the hell is up with this guy?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Ah, this patient is a poor soul, tricked by a conman from Huaxia who pretended to be the reincarnation of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, swindled out of his money and home. Later his wife and kids left with someone else, and he went insane," the doctor explained.


    "Damn it..."


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    "For the tribe! Orcs will never be slaves!"


    "This patient is a loyal Warcraft player, but for several years, their national team couldn''t qualify for the world championship, and couldn''t handle the disappointment, leading to a mental breakdown."


    ...


    "Look, this is the Five Continuous Lightning Whips I just learned! Hahaha, call Xiao Yan to fight with me, this time I will definitely break his Buddha''s Fury Lotus!"


    "This patient was a disciple of Ma Baoguo, almost treating him like a deity and his faith, and after knowing Ma Baoguo was a fraud, he lost his mind."


    ...


    "Three days and three nights, in the dead of night..."


    "You despise the broken, and you abandoned me..."


    "There is Ultraman in this world, that summer, I too became light!"


    "I''m Iron Man!"


    "Overthrow human tyranny, the world belongs to Three-Body!"


    ...


    Indeed, as they walked along, there wasn''t a single patient who was even remotely normal.


    "Hmm? This patient seems rather normal, not exhibiting bizarre behavior like the others," Zhang Menglong noticed in one of the wards, a patient standing cautiously in a corner in silence.


    "Director, he is actually cosplaying Harry Potter. Right now, he probably thinks he''s wearing an Invisibility Cloak," the physician Ropes explained, "Did you see the chopsticks tucked into his pants? That''s his magic wand."


    "Damn... each and every one here is a character!"

 Chapter 191 Organize a Team Building for Them

    "Mr. Zhang, why have you brought us to the psychiatric hospital? Are you planning to turn all those people into lunatics before admitting them here?"


    "I really don''t have that kind of idle pain. If they went mad, I would have to support them here for the rest of my life. What a loss for me!"


    "So you want to..."


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong grinned mischievously, "These patients are always cooped up in this place. It''s not good for their health. They need to get out and breathe some fresh air, right? I plan to organize a team-building event for them at Sheryl Springs. What do you think?"


    "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but give a thumbs up.


    Don''t these people look down on them? Aren''t they biased towards the natives of Europe? Well, let the natives patronize their own shops this time; there wouldn''t be any reason not to, right?


    Europe, after all, holds human rights in high esteem, and psychiatric patients have rights too. Even if they are ill, it does not justify restricting their personal freedom. If they want to go shopping, how can they be refused service?


    "By the way, Ropes, how many people in this hospital are nationals of the Kingdom of Frankfurt?"


    "Hmm, I don''t have the data right here, but there are over 700 people. You''d have to ask the hospital''s records administrator for the exact numbers," Ropes answered.


    "No problem, a rough figure is good enough," Zhang Menglong said. "That settles it then. It''s inconvenient to have too many people. Tomorrow, let''s start by organizing a team-building event for these folks."


    "However, these people are so severely ill that they probably can''t even enter the city!" Ropes said. "They are kept in this hospital because they have lost their sense of self, so human rights laws can''t restrict them. But for such a dangerous group, European nations also have policies in place; they can''t just watch these people wreak havoc in the city."


    "Then how can they get in?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "This hospital was established to treat and isolate severe cases. From the beginning, each country sent a professional psychiatrist to reside here permanently. Only with their signatures can these patients be allowed to go out."


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    "That''s troublesome," Zhang Menglong fell into deep thought. This wouldn''t be easy to handle, not something that could simply be resolved with money.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that difficult. As long as they can maintain the clear thinking and conventional logic of a normal person during inspections, that would suffice," Ye Yin''s voice sounded in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    "You make it sound easy. Where''s it so simple to cure a lunatic? And if they were cured and taken out, then what fun would I have left!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the reason these psychiatric patients enter such states is due to external factors like trauma and pathological changes that disrupt their brain structure, affecting certain neural transmission points. But with some special techniques to temporarily normalize their neural transmission points, they can behave like ordinary people again."


    Since when had these patients become so compliant?


    Not just them, even Wang Ling couldn''t explain the situation before her. Zhang Menglong had merely mentioned that a pharmaceutical company under his name had recently developed a wonder drug specifically for treating severe mental disorders.


    Firstly, no medication should be administered to patients indiscriminately, especially experimental drugs. Such clinical drugs must first be approved by the patients'' families.


    Zhang Menglong immediately had the hospital call the patients'' families.


    With the conditions being so severe, the families had almost given up hope, but Zhang Menglong also mentioned that agreeing to this drug trial would grant each participant 100,000 Euros in compensation. If the drug caused any adverse effects, the compensation would increase a hundredfold!


    Under these circumstances, all the families rushed to sign the electronic contract, and incredibly, authorization was completed in less than half an hour.


    Actually, there was no wonder drug at all; it was merely a nutritional supplement capsule!


    However, miraculously, once the patients took the medicine, they all quieted down. The manic and blank expressions vanished without a trace, forcing one to marvel at the drug''s magical effects.


    In just a few minutes, all the patients had orderly gathered in front of the square.


    "Friends, it''s him who doesn''t want to let you leave this place. If you want to go out, protest against him!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Dr. Childe and said.


    "Let us out!"


    "We are not sick!"


    "Detaining us like this, we have the right to sue in court!"


    "We want freedom, we want human rights!"


    "Protest!"


    The patients began to shout one after another.


    "Is this really the kind of logical thinking that severe psychiatric patients can have? It''s impossible! Have they all recovered? But this is too outrageous!" Dr. Childe found everything he was seeing hard to believe.


    "What in the world is going on?" Dr. Childe asked.


    "Oh, nothing much. It seems these patients have all recovered. They all want to be discharged, but since we''ve all grown fond of each other, before everyone leaves, I thought I''d organize a team-building event."

 Chapter 192 This Will Be a Shura Field

    "This is impossible, how could they have changed like this? They were still the same just yesterday!" Dr. Childe even doubted if he was fully awake, as even a medical miracle couldn''t be miraculous to this extent.


    "Dr. Childe, everyone''s illness has already been cured, should we go out for some team-building now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No, I need to examine their physical conditions!" Dr. Childe said. Among these people, a large portion had mental issues caused by brain abnormalities.


    If those who were otherwise stimulated and had no pathological problems had returned to normal, it could be understood since their disease onset was sudden, and theoretically, there could also be a sudden recovery. However, that portion of patients whose illness was caused by brain abnormalities definitely couldn''t be alright!


    "Ye Yin, there won''t be any trouble, will there?"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, he won''t find anything!" Ye Yin confidently said.


    "No problem, as long as they are willing to cooperate, then let''s do the examination!" Zhang Menglong said loudly.@@@@


    "Everyone, I have just clarified to everyone why you are here, it''s because your families sent you here."


    "Director Zhang, we don''t blame you!" "Xiao Yan," when normal, was quite a refined man. "Although we don''t quite remember the things from before, according to the surroundings, we might indeed have had a mental illness for some time, but now that everyone has recovered, we shouldn''t stay here."


    "I understand, so I hope everyone will cooperate with the physical examination, as this is a rule set by the Frankfurt government, and we have no other choice. As long as everyone''s test results are normal, I guarantee with my reputation that you will be discharged from the hospital!"


    The patients consulted with each other in low voices and quickly reached a consensus, "Okay! We will fully cooperate!"


    ...


    In the hospital, there was very advanced medical equipment, and a few of the most representative patients were taken to the monitoring room for examination, but the results were quite beyond Dr. Childe''s expectations.


    "It''s incredible! It''s unimaginable; their degenerated tissues have completely recovered! This... I don''t even know how to describe it!"


    "It''s all thanks to the new miracle drug brought by Director Zhang!" one of the doctors said.


    "Miracle drug?"


    "Yes, those patients took it and in less than ten minutes, they started to recover. If we hadn''t seen it with our own eyes, we wouldn''t have believed it, it''s simply a medical miracle!"


    "Haha, this also comes with risks. If someone had died, not only would I have been disgraced, but I would also have had to pay a hefty amount," Zhang Menglong jested. "But this thing is still only in the clinical trial phase. If these patients can remain stable after a while, then we can continue to use it."


    "Doctor, can we all go now?" the patients who had cooperated with the examination asked.


    In their hearts, they really didn''t want to undergo such an examination, as wouldn''t that be admitting that they all had been mentally ill before? Who would want to admit such a thing?


    But there was no choice, Dr. Childe represented Franktown, and toward the national machinery, they still maintained a respectful attitude. Moreover, as long as they cooperated and there were no problems, they could achieve their freedom, but that did not mean they were happy about it.


    As for how exactly Zhang Menglong made those patients suddenly appear normal, Wang Ling didn''t care at all. When in doubt, quantum mechanics can always provide some sort of scientific explanation!


    Suddenly, Wang Ling was eagerly anticipating witnessing tomorrow''s spectacle.


    ...


    Indeed, just as everyone predicted, although there were voices of resistance online, once Baristca opened to Huaxia customers, over seventy percent of the long queue were still Huaxia people.


    At a nearby milk tea shop, Zhang Menglong and his group were leisurely sipping their drinks.


    "Can''t believe we can still enjoy our Huaxia milk tea here. It''s not easy." Wang Ling took a big sip of passion fruit double blast, "Tsk tsk tsk, the same old formula, the same old taste."


    "Hahaha, I bought this shop last night, just in time for the show. How could I miss a perfect location?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Damn, buying a shop just to watch a show, typical you!" Wang Ling had become immune to Zhang Menglong''s extraordinary maneuvers.


    "It really pisses me off, people online slamming it, yet these folks still fund such crooks. Should they all be sent to your mental hospital?" Wang Ling cursed.


    "People gotta eat, man, don''t be so harsh," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Here they come!"


    At that moment, a dozen cars stopped at the entrance of Champs-Elysees, and a group of Franktown people dressed in various styles disembarked. The change was drastically different from their appearance before they entered the hospital.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, our lunch today is inside the Spring Plaza on Champs-Elysees. You can eat whatever you like; Director Zhang will cover all the expenses," the person in charge arranged by Zhang Menglong said, "Moreover, today''s expenses are all on Director Zhang!"


    "Wow!" The group of patients cheered.


    "Friends, look, there''s Baristca!"


    "My gosh, what a long line! Come on, let''s see what they''re selling. After all, Director Zhang is paying, so don''t save him any money today!"


    "I''ve missed the taste here so much!"


    ...


    To passersby, these people seemed a bit unusual, but hearing their authentic local dialect, they probably had just returned from studying or working abroad. They only took a second look and then moved on. No one would guess that just yesterday, they were a group of severely ill patients confined in a ward.


    "Ye Yin, be careful. When it''s time, don''t let these people stray too far. The debt is owed by the guilty; let''s limit their activities to inside the buildings of Spring Plaza on Champs-Elysees," Zhang Menglong ordered, "And apart from smashing things, don''t let them harm any innocent people."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    "Get ready, my friends," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Soon, this will turn into a Shura Field!"

 Chapter 193 Demons Dancing Chaotically

    In the Parisia store, two middle-aged men looked down through the second-floor window at the bustling crowd on Champs-Elysees below.


    The lean one was named Gaul Siens, the manager of the Champs-Elysees Parisia store; the other was Videla Sieberger from the headquarters, the Europe regional director. It seemed as though there was a huge gap in their status, but in reality, their positions weren''t that different.


    For Parisia, the store on Champs-Elysees held a special significance; it was almost the face of the brand. Its manager had a critical status in the entirety of Parisia.


    "Gaul, about yesterday''s incident, I hope it doesn''t happen again today. Such events deal a big blow to our brand, Parisia, and could easily cause us to lose our Huaxia consumers!"


    "Hahaha, don''t worry. At most, they''re just protesting verbally. Look, the majority of those lining up outside today are still Huaxia people. Everyone is a businessman chasing after capital profits. No one will truly be at odds with money," Gaul seemed to harbor no regrets about his decision from the day before. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Don''t underestimate Huaxia too much. Our annual turnover, Huaxia people account for 30% to 50%. Without the support of Huaxia customers, Parisia could just close down," Videla stated, "Yesterday''s news caused quite a stir in Huaxia, and their protests were loud."


    "Alright, if it comes to it, just blame all the mistakes on that security guard," Gaul laughed, "At most, it will seem like a minor oversight on our part. No one is really going to investigate thoroughly."


    "I hope so," Videla said, "but I still stand by my words, never underestimate the Huaxia people, and never underestimate the anger of the Huaxia people."


    "Come on my friend, lighten up. Look, our customer traffic today is already twice what it was yesterday. Don''t you think that yesterday''s incident, in a way, also served as publicity for us?" Gaul pointed to the group of young people below, "Look, they are all so vibrant!"


    "It''s strange, how do these hundreds of people seem to know each other?"


    "What''s so strange about that? There are hundreds of tour groups on Champs-Elysees every day. It''s probably just a somewhat larger tour group."


    "Why do I always feel a little uneasy?"


    "Maybe you''ve been too busy with work recently? Why don''t you give up being a director and find a more leisurely position instead?"


    "Wait, look, something seems off with them!"


    "What''s off?"


    ...


    At the very bustling entrance of Parisia, the launch time was almost upon them. For some unknown reason, perhaps just to join in the bustling scene, over seven hundred patients from the Dawn Mental Hospital had lined up, with more than three hundred of them waiting outside.


    They chatted and laughed with each other, seemingly reminiscing about their memories in the hospital¡ªthose ludicrous behaviors even they found to be ridiculous.


    "Bang!" Just then, a golf club ferociously struck the back of the guard''s head, knocking him out cold on the ground. A Frankfurt teenager, who was evidently having an episode, swung the golf club rapidly over his head. He disdainfully glanced at the guard who had passed out, and with a contemptuous tone, said, "Hmph, not one decent fighter among them!"


    "Ah!"


    "Someone''s lost it over here! Where''s security? Someone come quick!"


    "What are you doing? Sir, please put down whatever you''re holding, or we will have to call the police!"


    The already noisy street suddenly exploded into several times the commotion¡ªscreams, the sound of glass breaking, cursing, cries for help¡ªit was an eruption of pandemonium!


    "Hahaha! I have finally mastered the ultimate martial arts!"


    "Sir, sir, please take off the clothes you''re wearing; that outfit is very expensive!"


    ...


    "Voldemort! You killed my parents, today you will pay your debts with blood! Disarm your weapon!"


    "Sir, you haven''t paid for the raincoat and the cat teaser yet!"


    ...


    "Orcs will never be slaves!"


    "Gul''dan!"


    "Look, everyone! I''ve turned into light, I''ve turned into light¡ªUltraman really does exist in this world!"


    "Have you seen my gauntlet? With just a snap of my fingers, half of you here will turn to ash!"


    "I desire human blood, I need human blood!"


    "Sir, that is a 200,000-dollar bottle of wine, not human blood!"


    "I am the reincarnation of Emperor Qin Shi Huang; right now, I need 3000 elite soldiers. Once I''ve conquered Europe, I will surely reward you with titles of nobility!"


    ...@@@@

 Chapter 194 On-site Snatching

    "Thrilling, huh!" Zhang Menglong and the others were astounded as they watched; they had anticipated that today''s scene would be intense, but they were still shocked when they saw it live.


    Over 700 severe mental patients going crazy¡ªfor a military battalion, it would be impossible to suppress such mayhem!


    If it were just one or two people, it would be fine; take instant control, and that''s that. But with over seven hundred individuals, the security forces here were simply inadequate!


    Mental patients who kill don''t bear any legal responsibility, yet if they get hurt, others will be held accountable. Although they all carried weapons, no one dared to use them against these frenzied patients.


    But those patients didn''t care at all¡ªbaseball bats, dry powder fire extinguishers, even fire axes¡ªanything they could get their hands on became their weapon. Who would dare to intercept such people?


    Not only that, these people even started huddling in groups. Even if the security guards wanted to tackle them one by one, they couldn''t. An entire plaza, left at the mercy of these people to come and go as they pleased!


    The frightened crowd had already been evacuated, yet the patients became even more violent; they began to destroy buildings and facilities in Champs-Elysees Spring. For some reason, the Parisia store turned into their main target, with nearly all its glass shattered.


    "What in the world is going on? Can someone tell me? Why would hundreds of mental patients suddenly appear on Champs-Elysees?" Gaoer and others roared from inside the Parisia office.


    "Shut up, can''t you hear someone smashing the door outside? Keep it down!"


    "It''s insane! What is happening?"


    Gaoer and the others couldn''t make heads or tails of the situation. Such an event had never occurred in the entire history of the world¡ªa mob of mental patients attacking the shopping plaza on Champs-Elysees, overtaking the whole Champs-Elysees Spring? Who would believe such a thing if they hadn''t experienced it themselves?


    ...


    "Is this the backup you brought in from yesterday''s outing?" Wang Ling''s girlfriend watched incredulously.


    Lu Yiyao didn''t say anything, but she felt an extraordinary sense of relief, as if the anger that had built up inside her yesterday had finally found an outlet.


    "No, I can''t just watch this by myself, I need to start a live stream! Everyone has to see this!" Wang Ling couldn''t wait to take out her phone.


    "Don''t fuss, I''m already prepared!" Zhang Menglong snapped his fingers, and several staff immediately brought professional streaming equipment¡ªhe had planned this all along!


    Zhang Menglong''s streaming channel hadn''t been activated since the incident in Qingqiu Country, and his going live immediately sparked curiosity among many viewers.


    "President Zhang, it''s rare to catch you streaming! Where have you been hanging out recently?"


    "President Zhang, did you hear about what happened yesterday? It''s infuriating. Thousands have signed a petition begging you to take over Parisia; they''ve been terribly oppressive!"


    "Look, they''re all carrying suitcases in their hands? Could they be going in to loot amidst the chaos?"


    "Hahaha, look over there, there''s one wearing a helmet, and another one masked!"


    ...


    The number of people storming into the plaza grew more and more, from dozens to hundreds, and finally to thousands. The largest group among them was the black friends, who were strikingly powerful and wreaked havoc as they looted the stores.


    "Holy shit, do these people no longer want to live?" Zhang Menglong gaped at the scene, but he had previously ordered Ye Yin not to attack innocent people; those patients only had one goal, which was to create havoc and wreck the shops!


    "Hey, this is getting interesting!" Wang Ling suddenly appeared in the camera, holding up his phone to the screen, "People nowadays really know how to do business, huh? They''re already starting to sell things off?"


    In Wang Ling''s Moments, there was a picture from the scene with only a brief two lines of text.


    If anyone needs anything, contact me quickly. I''ve got friends on the Frankfurt Champs-Elyse?es with a large stock of Balenciaga, LV, Gucci, whatever you want, I got it. Spot looting service, no receipts!


    "Hahaha! Genius! Hahaha!" The whole live stream room was boiling with excitement. What business savants these people were, if they don''t get rich, who will?


    Soon, the farce spread domestically, and under the deliberate manipulation of Zhang Menglong, it hit the top of the trending searches within minutes. As the incident fermented, more and more jokes appeared online.


    "For those who like any style, please place your orders directly, and I will get my black friends at the scene to grab them for you right away. Guaranteed authentic, but no receipts!"


    "My black brother got his hands on a pair of Balenciaga''s newest shoes, size 41 for the left foot and 43 for the right. If you have different-sized feet, contact me immediately, this pair only! No receipt!"


    "Anyone offering a looting service? I want two ''Granny''s treasure'' bags from Chanel, LV is fine too, I don''t need receipts. If you have strong and capable friends offering proxy shopping, please contact me immediately!"


    "My brother just snatched two pairs of Balenciaga shoes, if you want them, act quick. He needs to tend to a wound, then he''ll go for the next loot. Last five minutes, hurry up and place your orders!"


    "What''s wrong with you?" Zhang Menglong suddenly saw the gloomy expression on Lu Yiyao''s face.


    "Nothing, it''s just that Qiqi and the others asked me if I could find someone to help them grab a few bags..."


    "Hahaha!" Wang Ling was already rolling with laughter at the side. Netizens nowadays really know how to have fun!"


    Some people also noticed that the group of patients, for some reason, only caused trouble inside the Champs-Elysees Spring Plaza, without storming any other place. So far, there had been no reports of casualties; they seemed like a well-trained special force with their sights set solely on the Champs-Elysees Spring Plaza.


    But no one tried to investigate further, after all, the whole thing was absurd to the extreme!

 Chapter 195 Can you control 700 psychopaths? Lets see.

    "The police are here, the police are here!"


    After half an hour of rioting, the police near Champs-Elysees finally arrived after dispatching their forces.


    Seeing these policemen, the luxury goods looters scattered. In half an hour, they had already grabbed nearly everything there was to grab, and for the items that hadn''t been sold yet, setting up a street stall to sell them off wasn''t a bad idea.


    This time, over a thousand police officers were deployed. In teams of ten, they took a full three hours of effort to finally get the group under control, bringing the farcical scene to an end.


    An immediate assessment of today''s losses was conducted, and this riot left almost no one injured, the only unlucky victim being the security guard of Balistic. Of course, he merely suffered minor injuries.


    Not a single spot in the entire Champs-Elysees Spring department store was left intact, especially Balistic, which had been smashed inside and out. Some even felt that it was the core target of these patients.


    The economic losses for most of the stores exceeded millions, while Balistic, with its large inventory, faced losses nearing ten million just from the shoe inventory! As for the rest of the stock, it even surpassed one hundred million!


    The total losses for Champs-Elysees Spring reached several hundred million Euros! This was even more severe than the economic losses caused by the riots that happened in Europe last year!


    There''s always someone to blame for debts and disasters. Most riots have a clear instigator, but the police were at a loss facing a group of mental patients¡ªhow could they possibly demand money from them?


    But such a great loss needed to be shouldered by someone, right? The merchants of Champs-Elysees Spring immediately pinned the ultimate responsibility on the property company of Champs-Elysees Spring. Their security personnel failed to protect their properties, so the merchants demanded compensation for all their losses!


    That evening, the angry merchants surrounded the executives'' office of Champs-Elysees Spring to the extent that nobody could go in or out, but facing hundreds of millions of Euros in compensation, they too felt a sense of helplessness.


    After negotiations, they only agreed to compensate one million Euros for each luxury goods store, which was the maximum they could afford.


    But such an answer was undoubtedly powerless.


    "Hahaha, serves them right!"


    "Aren''t you only selling things to locals? Now the locals have come to take care of your business!"


    "I remember someone complaining yesterday about our Huaxia tourists lacking manners, is there anyone who can tell me out loud who said that?"


    "Guys, I think there''s something fishy about this. Such an incident just happened yesterday, and now this happens today. Doesn''t it feel like a retaliatory event?"


    "Who cares who''s taking revenge? If I find out, I''ll definitely use my nine-tooth rake to comb their hair!"


    "Hahaha, I''ll have to offer this hero a bowl of knife-shaved noodles with my 40-meter long sword!"


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    "How are you, friends from the East?"


    "And to the friends from the West, missed me?"


    Upon hearing the news about Zhang Menglong''s investigation, many people from Huaxia rushed over spontaneously¡ªwhat was meant to be an investigatory hearing turned into a huge fan meet-and-greet.


    "Mr. Zhang Menglong, this is an investigatory hearing, please behave properly!" The investigator in charge, with a steely face, was highly dissatisfied with Zhang Menglong''s attitude.


    "Who are you?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneer.


    "I am Murray, the investigator for this case. Mr. Zhang, from now on, you must be responsible for every word you say!" Murray tried to overpower Zhang Menglong with his dominance, but clearly, his authority had no effect on Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Murray, sorry, but I''m only here to assist with the investigation; I''m not your criminal. I hope you can conduct yourself properly!"


    "You!" Murray was someone known for his temper, "Very well, Mr. Zhang, don''t think that just because you''re not from Frankfurt, our laws can''t touch you."


    "Sorry, could you tell me which law I have violated?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "It''s not just because I drank a couple of milk teas yesterday and did a live stream, right? If that''s your accusation, I can''t help you there."


    "Mr. Zhang, we currently have sufficient reason to suspect your involvement in yesterday''s riot incident."


    "Oh? Let''s hear it."


    "According to our investigation, Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital belongs to you, and the rioting patients from yesterday came from that hospital."


    "And then?"


    "We suspect you controlled these patients to create a retaliatory incident intentionally!"


    "Are you out of your mind?"


    Zhang Menglong went on the offensive immediately.


    "Mr. Zhang, please watch your language and behavior!"


    "I''ll watch my clam!" Zhang Menglong retorted, "Why don''t you try and control over 700 severely mentally ill patients? You must have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, right? How about this, my hospital still has plenty of wards and beds available. This is an illness¡ªtreatable; let us never give up on treatment, shall we?"

 Chapter 196 Who am I Afraid of When Playing the Rogue?

    "Hahaha!"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone burst into laughter, not just the people from Huaxia, but even the media personnel.


    The condition of those 700 psychiatric patients was already made clear by the on-site surveillance and videos ¨C their illnesses had almost reached an uncontrollable state; even with reinforcements later on, it took nearly five people to barely restrain one patient.


    In other words, if violent measures were to be used to control the patients, at least a few thousand people would have been needed, and that was obviously impossible because the entire Dawn Psychiatric Hospital only had two to three thousand staff members, including doctors, nurses, and other workers combined.


    And the number of patients in this hospital far exceeded these 700; even just maintaining order in the hospital was very difficult for them, let alone doing such a thing.


    Moreover, anyone with eyes could see that these patients were all behaving normally at first, and it was all of a sudden that they started to show symptoms. It couldn''t possibly be that Zhang Menglong used some kind of Demon Art to control those patients, right? That would just make it even more absurd.@@@@


    "I seriously suspect there is something wrong with your brain. Why don''t you go have a CT scan? I''ll reimburse the medical bills. Money is not the issue here; it''s that I like to do charity, especially for intellectual disability!"


    Laughter filled the area once again, distorting Murray''s face with anger.


    After being roasted by Zhang Menglong like that, even the most even-tempered person would probably find it hard to keep their emotions in check.


    But he couldn''t show that now; he represented the image of a country, and he had to remain calm!


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, then let''s talk about why these patients appeared here!" Murray continued.


    "Well, I had no choice, they themselves requested," Zhang Menglong said, "I always say I respect your European cultural customs and laws a lot. I know you value human rights and freedom. They wanted to come out, what could I do?"


    Zhang Menglong tossed over a USB drive. "Take a look for yourself; they were all protesting last night!"


    Indeed, the content of the video was exactly as Zhang Menglong had described: the patients were very rational and healthy at that time, a stark contrast to their state today. No one would think they were any special group.


    "The video hasn''t been tampered with; it''s real!" someone whispered to Murray.


    "You see, they were protesting to go out, so I couldn''t do anything about it, right? Here, we also have medical reports!" Zhang Menglong pointed to another document.


    Those were signed medical reports, showing that these patients had completely normal brain functioning, with communication, language, and motor skills all meeting the standards of regular people, which allowed for their discharge!


    "However, Mr. Zhang, according to our investigation, you administered a medication to all the patients beforehand, and maybe it was this medication that caused this temporary normality!" Murray accused.


    "Holy shit, this guy actually guessed right for once!"


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    "Keep bluffing! After all, we''re already crippled by your trickery!"


    "With that eloquence, it''s a waste not to become a diplomat!"


    "I just smashed the bookstore under my house because I couldn''t get a hold of Zhang''s works!"


    "@Qingbei University Chinese Department, suggest granting direct admission to the master''s and Ph.D. program!"


    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving first. I still have to go take good care of my hospital!" Zhang Menglong said with a pained expression, "Ah, once I''ve cured them, where should I take them for team-building next time? How about playing around the Presidential Palace?"


    "Hahaha! Slick ass trickster, he''s at it again!"


    "Zhang is mighty, this is downright threatening in their face!"


    "See if you dare to bully Huaxia people again! If there''s a next time... tsk tsk tsk, it''ll be too exciting!"


    "Smashing the Presidential Palace or not isn''t important, the main thing is to enjoy being bullied!"


    "Upstairs is a certified masochist. Identification complete!"


    Upon hearing this, Murray''s face turned pale.


    "Wait a minute!" Murray interjected, "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid this matter can''t just end here. I think we may need to invite you to spend some time at the investigation center as a guest!"


    Murray took out a small notebook, which was actually a local arrest warrant!


    Someone had to take responsibility for this incident, otherwise, they wouldn''t be able to explain themselves to society!


    "What the hell? Arresting our people abroad?"


    "Fuck them up!"


    "Can''t out-argue, can''t outplay, and now they resort to these disgusting tactics?"


    "Are you sure?" Zhang Menglong''s face showed a dangerous expression; he hadn''t expected a cornered dog to jump over the wall.


    "We will apply for the necessary procedures with your country, but right now you cannot leave here. Please cooperate with us, or we will have to take coercive measures!" Murray said.


    "Blowing in the wind!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Alright, I don''t mind at all. It''s easy for me to stay here, but getting me to leave, that''s not so easy!"

 Chapter 197 Hundreds of Missiles Aimed at Us

    "It seems Mr. Zhang is quite confident." Looking at Zhang Menglong''s calm and even somewhat amused expression, Murray couldn''t help but feel a bit shaken.


    "I''ve always been confident!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re wealthy, and I know you just dealt with Qingqiu Country not long ago, but don''t forget, if we wanted to handle Qingqiu Country, it wouldn''t require much effort either. After all, we''ve been a developed country for a long time, while Qingqiu Country has only just reached the GDP level of a developed nation."


    What Murray meant was clear: You managed to handle Qingqiu Country which is impressive, but we are not Qingqiu. Even though you''re rich, it would still be difficult to destroy the economy of a developed country, especially since the world economy has become much less fragile than it was decades ago with globalization.


    "So, what you''re saying is, I can''t leave here now, right?" Zhang Menglong looked at Murray with amusement.


    "You can perceive it that way, Mr. Zhang. Once we''ve thoroughly investigated this matter and confirmed that you are indeed not involved, then you may leave."


    "What if I say no?" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "Then we might have to take some impolite actions!"


    With a wave of Murray''s hand, suddenly, a group of soldiers armed to the teeth stormed in.


    "What the fuck?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Murray to bring backup.


    "Damn?! What do they mean by this? Are they detaining a citizen of Huaxia so brazenly?"


    "Aren''t they afraid of causing an international dispute?"


    "What the fuck, they dare point guns at Mr. Zhang?"


    "They''re serious!"


    The viewers before the broadcast suddenly filled with worry for Zhang Menglong. Yes, he was rich, but wealth couldn''t stop bullets!


    "Hey, I''m saying, aren''t you a developed country? For an economic loss of a few billion Euros, you make such a big fuss? You''re too poor, huh?" To everyone''s surprise, Zhang Menglong, faced with a group of armed soldiers, not only did not show any fear, but he also kept mouthing off.


    But what they did not know was that even if faced with dozens of fighter jets in a war zone, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t feel the slightest fear as long as Ye Yin was there; even now, with several sniper rifles aimed at his head, he could act as though nothing was happening.


    Economic losses amounting to several billion Euros! As one of the few developed nations in the world, probably only Zhang Menglong would dare to call the Kingdom of Frankfurt poor.


    "Out of desperation, huh?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth kept babbling, "I''m really curious to know whether this is your personal idea or your superiors'' decision."


    As usual, Busmu Lin walked into the Ministry of National Defense Command Center. At 52, he had become the Minister of National Defense, an achievement almost unprecedented in the history of Frankfurt.


    In this peaceful era, his job was relatively easy, and Frankfurt''s focus had always been on economic construction, unlike many countries that tried to expand or played the role of world police. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Discussing the global military landscape periodically and monitoring the progress of strategic weapon development was basically all he did daily.


    "Very well, proceed with the first test flight in two weeks. As long as there are no issues, we can start mass production. This time, we can certainly boost our national defense capabilities by more than 20%!"


    Today, Busmu Lin had received great news; the latest generation of fighter jet engines had finally made a breakthrough, and the moment to reap the fruits of success was near.


    "Yes, our ''Gust'' type fighter jets will dominate the skies worldwide, and at least in all of Europe, there will no longer be any more advanced fighter jets than ours!"


    "Well done. Once the tests are complete, I''ll throw a celebration banquet for you all!" Busmu Lin said with a satisfied smile.


    "Beep beep beep beep!" Just then, an alarm rang through the entire control room.


    "What''s going on?" Busmu Lin instantly tensed up. Since the establishment of this central intelligence control room of the national defense, the alarm had been virtually a fixture. For decades, this was the first time it had gone off!


    "No... it can''t be! How could this happen?" A staff member stared incredulously at the instruments, "What the hell is going on?"


    "What has happened?" Busmu Lin rushed over and pointed at the screen of the instrument, "What do these red dots mean?"


    "Minister, this is the detection program of our security systems deployed across Europe."


    "Is it the EW-01 system?" Busmu Lin asked.


    This was a project completed five years ago by their country; through this system, they could nearly detect the use of military equipment across the entire Europe. If any country launched a missile attack on any region or country, they would be the first to monitor it!


    This system not only laid the foundation of their security system across Europe but also became their pair of eyes.


    "Just now, across Europe, we detected the launch of 300 missiles, including nearly 50 intercontinental missiles!"


    "The total has now exceeded 400, and it''s still increasing!"


    "Do you know who the target is?"


    "It''s... it''s our Presidential Palace!"

 Chapter 198 I Suggest You Turn Down the Volume on Your Phone

    "What? The Presidential Palace! More than 400 missiles?" Busmuslin was suddenly terrified. What kind of international joke is this? It''s not just 400 missiles, even 400 grenades would be enough to completely destroy the Presidential Palace inside and out several times over.


    400 missiles, is the intention to reduce the entire city to rubble?


    "Where are all these missiles coming from?" Busmuslin continued to ask. Their country had always advocated for peace. War was a thing of the past¡ªthe most important thing now was making money. Thus, the relations of the entire Kingdom of Frankfurt internationally were quite good. Why would they provoke any country?


    "From all over Europe! Missiles from nearly every country are aimed at us!"


    Busmuslin''s vision darkened, "Is there no way to intercept them?"


    "No, our national defense system can only intercept up to 20 missiles at a time. Beyond that, we can only attempt to intercept them with fighter jets, but this method is too risky. A slight deviation could not only fail to intercept the missiles but might also destroy the jets!"


    "So what do we do?" Busmuslin slammed the table. If there was just one enemy, they could completely negotiate, but with all of Europe gone mad, who should he talk to first? Perhaps in the next second, all the missiles would be fully deployed, firing straight at their heads. Might as well close his eyes and wait for death.


    "Minister, we''ve intercepted a message!"


    "Quick! Decrypt it!" Busmuslin said. Perhaps this was their only clue right now.


    "Minister, this is an encrypted communication frequency. It''s likely someone wants to communicate with us!"


    Immediately initiate communication!" Busmuslin hurriedly said. It felt as though a long sword was hanging over his head, where a slight misstep could lead to destruction.


    Sure, the capital''s explosion might not reach him, but as the Minister of National Defense, Busmuslin would inevitably become a criminal in the nation''s history. What kind of incompetent minister could let hundreds of missiles invade their country?


    Amidst a piercing current, Busmuslin finally connected to that mysterious frequency.


    "Who exactly are you? Did you plan this operation?" Busmuslin asked impatiently, "What is your purpose?"


    "Mr. Busmuslin, please calm down. First of all, I hope you can believe that we have no ill intentions!" a slow but deep and sonorous voice came from the other side.


    Busmuslin randomly grabbed a cup, intending to smash it to the ground. What do you mean no ill intentions? Over four hundred missiles were already targeting them, and now they dare to tell him there are no ill intentions? Isn''t this blatantly lying?


    "Mr. Busmuslin, I still recommend you put down what you''re holding. Smashing things won''t solve the current problem."


    Busmuslin managed to somewhat control his emotions, but his hand paused. How did the other party know he was holding a cup? This was the core area of the Ministry of National Defense. Outsiders couldn''t possibly get any information about this place. How could that person possibly know? Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    But he could guess some information, this Zhang Menglong must have a close relationship with the DoReLa family, he must be in Frankfurt now, and someone is about to do something threatening to him!


    They had accessed over 400 missiles, just to send them a warning!


    "Quick! Find this Zhang Menglong at all costs!" Busmulin immediately issued the order.


    Finding information on Zhang Menglong was really simple; he had just been in the news today, and now, he was even on a local TV station''s live broadcast.


    Within just a few minutes, Busmulin had obtained most of the information available about Zhang Menglong.


    "These idiots! They have no idea who they are really dealing with!" Busmulin was instantly furious, grinding his teeth in anger!


    Zhang Menglong, let alone leading a group of mentally ill patients to demolish Shangri-La Spring, even if he demolished their Presidential Palace, their president would probably only be able to smile and clap his hands on the side, saying it was well done.


    Just how many lives does Murray think he has to lose? He actually wanted to detain Zhang Menglong by force?


    "Get me Murray''s phone number, I want to talk to him personally!"


    ...


    In the investigation center, almost ten minutes had passed, and Murray''s expression became more and more relaxed. If Zhang Menglong really had significant connections, ten minutes would have been enough for him to mobilize his resources to protect himself, but nothing had happened!


    It was clear that although Zhang Menglong was wealthy, his power was confined only to Asia; in their Europe, even a dragon had to coil up before him!


    Thinking this, he straightened his spine a bit more.


    At that moment, Murray''s cellphone suddenly rang. He instinctively picked it up, about to put it to his ear.


    "Mr. Murray, I would suggest turning down the volume of your phone," Zhang Menglong said with a smile that was not quite a smile, watching him. He didn''t know what Haigen had done in the last few minutes, but he knew that Murray was about to be in big trouble.


    Murray didn''t take Zhang Menglong''s words to heart and pressed the answer button, "This is Murray, who is this?"


    "You idiot! Do you have any idea what you are doing? Right now, over 400 missiles are aimed at the Presidential Palace. Are you trying to destroy the whole of Frankfurt?" a loud roar almost burst Murray''s eardrums.


    Murray was instantly dumbfounded...

 Chapter 199 This is all a misunderstanding

    At that moment, Murray''s head buzzed, filled with countless question marks. Who was this person calling him? Why did they dare to speak to him, an investigator who reported directly to the center, with such a tone? 400 missiles aimed at their Presidential Palace? Was this person even awake?


    The onlookers and journalists around him only heard a burst of loud static from the cell phone and could not make out what was being said, but from Murray''s expression, it was clear this was no ordinary phone call.


    Could it be that the phone call Zhang Menglong had just made was effective? This question popped into everyone''s minds.


    "Although I don''t know who you are, or how you got my number, I must warn you formally that if you continue talking nonsense, I can hold you accountable for causing public panic. You should know that it''s extremely easy for the state to trace a number!"


    After all, he was a man who had weathered many storms, and within moments, Murray regained his composure.


    As the Minister of Defense and a former military man, Busmuslin had a fiery temper, which had calmed slightly only upon assuming the role of Minister of Defense.


    It had probably been many years since he had been as angry as he was today. A mere investigator, driven by his arrogance and ridiculous pride, had brought such a grave threat to national security. If Murray were in front of Busmuslin right now, he was sure he would blow his foolish head off!


    And yet, Murray not only failed to realize how dangerous his actions were, he even displayed his authority in front of him, which instantly turned him into a lit fuse.


    "Fine, I''ll tell you who I am! I am Busmuslin, the Minister of Defense!" Busmuslin roared, "I''m telling you, right now across Europe, forty-some countries and regions, 52 intercontinental missiles, 386 ballistic and cruise missiles, are all aimed at our Presidential Palace!"


    "What? How is that possible?" Murray''s mind, which had just recovered slightly, crashed once again.


    Although Murray had never met Busmuslin in person, he was very familiar with his voice. At this moment, he finally matched the voice on the phone with one in his memory.


    Busmuslin was a renowned figure in Frankfurt; although hot-tempered and fiery, he was meticulous in his work and had always made national security his life''s mission. Not only to the entire nation but even in Murray''s heart, he was something of a hero.


    Now, this hero was on the phone with him, but moments ago Murray had mistaken Busmuslin for some half-awake lunatic!


    But what about those 400 missiles? He was just an investigator; surely, if such an incident were real, it was Busmuslin''s job to handle it, right? Why would he call him? And from Busmuslin''s tone, it seemed that this matter involved him too.


    "You... you really are Minister Busmuslin?" Murray''s tone suddenly became extremely reverent.


    The people around him overheard Murray''s words: the caller was the Minister of National Defense? Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    "I know you might wonder why!" Busmulin said bluntly, "I''m telling you, I don''t even know him! This isn''t a personal decision of mine!"


    "So you..." Busmulin didn''t even know Zhang Menglong, so why was he forcing him to release someone?


    "But the whole of Europe can''t afford to provoke him!" Busmulin stated, "Those more than four hundred missiles are prepared by his men. If you dare to touch him, within minutes all these missiles will be heading towards our capital, and a third of our national power wouldn''t be able to intercept them!"


    Murray''s face instantly turned pale.


    He had originally thought Zhang Menglong''s phone call was merely to seek help from some figure in the Kingdom of Frankfurt, but they outright didn''t consider any person in their country at all. It was a bold move straight up!


    You want to move against him? Then consider first if you can withstand a furious barrage of these four hundred missiles! He wasn''t just playing unorthodoxly; he wasn''t observing even a shred of martial morality!


    "I... I''ll release him immediately!" Murray''s spirit was thoroughly shattered; he had even dared to allow someone to point a gun at Zhang Menglong''s head!


    A mere threat was enough to mobilize over 400 missiles. If Zhang Menglong were indeed harmed, the entire Frankfurt might virtually disappear from the world map!


    "Who the hell is he?" If Murray had known the terrifying power and resources that Zhang Menglong controlled, he wouldn''t have dared to detain Zhang Menglong even with a hundred guts!"


    ...


    "Damn, the call''s over?"


    "But I didn''t hear anything!"


    "Neither did I! I didn''t catch a thing!"


    "Look, he''s walking over here now!"


    Murray, previously strutting with arrogance, carefully approached Zhang Menglong, his face displaying a flattering smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, everything just now was a misunderstanding!"

 Chapter 200 Perform a Pole Dance and Ill Forgive You

    "What are you all still standing here for? Put down your guns right now!" Murray said to his subordinates, "And someone bring Mr. Zhang a chair! Mr. Zhang is here to assist with our investigation, not as our prisoner!"


    Not only were the bystanders stunned, but even Murray''s own men were flabbergasted. Hadn''t Murray just been acting all high and mighty a moment ago? Why had he suddenly turned into a groveling grandson? What on earth had been said in that phone call just now?


    "66666! Society regards Boss Zhang, a man of few words but profound influence. One phone call and he scared the Minister of Defense himself!"


    "Now that''s a true big shot! He was all tough a moment ago, how did he suddenly become so timid?"


    "Look at his expression, he looks like a beaten dog! His integrity shattered all over the place!"


    "Bullying a Huaxia person? Seems like they hit a steel plate this time, huh?"


    "Awesome! So thrilling! This is the presence our people from Huaxia should have! I got so excited I ended up punching my roommate."


    "High energy warning ahead! Knowing Mr. Zhang''s personality, I don''t think he''s going to let this slide just like that!"@@@@


    "Yeah, just now they had guns aimed at his head; any normal person would''ve peed themselves by now, but only Mr. Zhang could remain unfazed."


    "If Mr. Zhang lets him off the hook just like that today, I''ll directly throw myself into a running fan!"


    "Exactly, I bet Mr. Zhang is fuming inside. If he lets it go, I''ll eat my computer right here and now!"


    For the netizens, most came just for the excitement, especially since yesterday''s event was particularly significant. Regardless of whether Zhang Menglong was responsible or not, they were there to show their support!


    Just ten minutes ago, most of them were filled with worries about Zhang Menglong''s safety. Once he was detained, predicting what would happen next was difficult.


    But in just ten minutes, the situation took a dramatic turn. With a single phone call, Zhang Menglong had stirred the Minister of Defense, and now, he transformed from a prisoner to the most honored guest.


    This turn of events refreshed the Huaxia netizens who had been worried before, and moreover, the thrill and pride from yesterday surged again. This was the power of their people from Huaxia!


    Unlike the live watchers from Huaxia and the tourists who came for the spectacle, the locals in Frankfurt appeared quite disheartened, especially the reporters who usually thrived on speculation, wishing now that they could literally crawl into a hole.


    "Go back? Who said I was going back?" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, "Didn''t you just ask me to stay for further investigation? I think it''s better for me to stay, so no one thinks we Huaxia people are unruly!"


    "It''s done for, easy to invite the god, hard to send him away, they''re doomed!" Zhang Menglong''s old fans knew what he was like. They had seen the treatment Zhang Menglong received earlier, and he had not yet vented his anger. Would he let Murray off that easily?


    "Well, I''ll be damned!"


    "Nuclear energy warning ahead!"


    At that moment, Murray''s phone rang again, displaying the same number as before.


    "Murray, what exactly are you doing? Why hasn''t the missile lock been lifted?" Busmulin berated sharply, "I''m giving you one last five minutes. If this isn''t resolved by then, even if nothing ultimately happens, I''ll have you tried at a military tribunal!"


    "Beep beep beep...."


    Murray hadn''t even managed to say a word before Busmulin hung up. Murray froze for two seconds, looked blankly at the ceiling, and then walked over to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, I apologize, it was all my fault, I''ve been too impulsive in my actions. I hope you can forgive me!"


    "Wow!" A wave of astonishment swept across the room.


    Although Murray had already backed down, his previous words were not explicit. But now, he had openly admitted his error in front of the mainstream media, which completely changed the implication.


    "Forgive you? You haven''t done anything wrong, what am I forgiving?"


    "There he goes with his old Underworld talk!"


    "Despicable, but I like it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please, if you don''t forgive me, I will be tried at a military tribunal!"


    "Wow!" Another uproar arose. Had things really gotten that serious?


    "Forgive you? Alright!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Dance a pole dance for me, and I''ll pretend nothing ever happened!"

 Chapter 201 Zhang Menglong, the Eternal God

    "Pole dancing? Hahaha! Brilliant!"


    "Hahaha, get me an oxygen mask! The fuck were you thinking? What kind of kinky shit is in your head?"


    "I''m fucking dying here! Zhang, you''re a genius!"


    When Zhang Menglong spoke, a wave of laughter broke out around him. After all, Murray was a senior investigator, and in the Kingdom of Frankfurt, his social status was almost equivalent to being the second in command of a city.


    And Zhang Menglong actually wanted such a person to do a pole dance in full view of everyone!


    This was the Bureau of Investigation, for crying out loud! A proper place! It''s not a dance hall or a bar; where would they even get a pole for him to dance on?


    Murray''s face turned from green to purple, as if he had practiced some demonic technique and it had backfired. His mouth twitched uncontrollably. He felt it, Zhang Menglong was just toying with him! It was like a lion playing with an ant, without any purpose, just for fun.


    To put it bluntly, he wasn''t even worthy of Zhang Menglong going out of his way to target him; he didn''t qualify!


    But no matter what, he now found himself in a difficult position. On one hand, there was the immense pressure from the powers that be; if he couldn''t calm Zhang Menglong''s anger soon, he would be tried by a military court¡ªeven though he believed that Zhang Menglong would absolutely not let those 400 missiles fly toward Frankfurt.


    On the other hand, his choice was to ruin his reputation from this day forward. Under the watchful eyes of countless reporters and media, if he did this pole dance, he probably wouldn''t have the face to continue hanging around the Bureau of Investigation. What awaited him would certainly be endless ridicule and insults.


    "This Huaxia man is too ruthless!" Murray believed that the bulk of Zhang Menglong''s anger didn''t come from his attempt to detain him today, but rather from their contempt for Huaxia people.


    Asking himself honestly, if Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary Huaxian today, aside from obediently enduring imprisonment, he would have no other choice¡ªeven if he were to be released through negotiation efforts from the Huaxia side, it still wouldn''t change anything fundamentally.


    The incident that occurred the day before yesterday in Paris also clearly represented their contempt for Huaxia and even Asian people. In their eyes, people from these developed countries were superior, and people from other countries deserved to be bullied!


    And that was what truly upset Zhang Menglong.


    "Hey, get on with it already!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "If you don''t perform, I''m going to have dinner right here today, but what happens after that, well, I can''t say!"


    Finally, under intense pressure, Murray collapsed. He stood there like a ragged Puppet without a Soul, "Alright, I''ll dance!"


    "Bring on the talent!" Zhang Menglong had long instructed Ye Yin to arrange for someone to prepare the pole. At his command, several people rushed into the Bureau of Investigation carrying a steel pole about ten centimeters in diameter.


    "This... when did he prepare this?"


    Murray looked up at Zhang Menglong. Just before, Bushmulin had told him that he must agree unconditionally to all of Zhang Menglong''s demands!


    "Please give your instruction, Mr. Zhang."


    "The day before yesterday, someone from our Huaxia was inexplicably beaten up in Paris. This matter has really bothered me. Within one day, I want to see a satisfactory outcome; otherwise, it won''t just be 400 euros this simple!" After finishing his speech, Zhang Menglong walked straight out of the interrogation room.


    ...


    Back at the residence, Wang Ling and the others were already waiting impatiently.


    "Old Zhang, you were so cool today! That''s how you should treat them, or else they''ll keep thinking we Huaxia folks are made of clay, to be bullied at will!"


    "But he did dance that pole dance with quite a bit of desperation. It''s the first time I''ve seen a fat guy in a suit pole dancing!"


    "Hahaha!" Everyone suddenly burst into laughter, and even Lu Yiyao couldn''t control herself.


    "Wow, this guy works efficiently!" Zhang Menglong received a message from the Investigation Bureau. The five Frankfurters who had beaten up the Huaxia youth the day before had been detained. The manager of Paris, the security, and even the related personnel of Springtime in Champs were all summoned to the Investigation Bureau.


    And the young man who was beaten received a compensation of 1 million euros from Paris.


    "Only 1 million euros? Shouldn''t they add another couple of zeroes?" Wang Ling said gleefully, "But Old Zhang, what did you actually do? Why such a fuss today?"


    "You didn''t surround the whole Frankfurter Kingdom with a couple of aircraft carrier groups, did you?" Wang Ling speculated boldly.


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Actually, I just wanted Haigen to give them a little tap, to remind them not to go too far. Who knew that bastard would mobilize the entire European intercontinental missiles and hundreds of ballistic missiles, aiming straight at their Presidential Palace? Do you think they''d dare mess around?"


    "Wow, ruthless!" Wang Ling was rendered speechless, "Getting on your bad side is scarier than facing an entire division of troops!"


    "Enough, I''ve been here three days, dealing with a ton of crap!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "You may not find it irksome, but I''m fed up!"


    "Hahaha, but you really did vent some spleen for us Huaxia people today!" Wang Ling said, "Do you know what the netizens are saying about you now?"


    "What about me? That I''m uneducated and a troublemaker?"


    "No!" Wang Ling shook his head, "They''re saying, ''Zhang Menglong, immortal god forever!''"

 Chapter 202 Your Entrance Must Be Stylish

    Auctions have always been something in Zhang Menglong''s understanding that only high society had the privilege to attend. Wouldn''t anything that made it to auction be worth at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions?


    And for an auction like this that happens only once every ten years, even the cheapest items wouldn''t go for less than a million Euros, right?


    Regarding this, Zhang Menglong was still full of anticipation.


    "Mr. Zhang, the formal wear you requested has arrived!" the butler placed two boxes in front of Zhang Menglong, "These are prepared for you and Miss Lu to attend the auction tomorrow."


    "Is there some mistake? You have to wear formal attire to an auction?" Zhang Menglong hadn''t thought that far ahead.


    "You don''t get it," Wang Ling said, "These Europeans fancy themselves as gentlemen; they certainly can''t do without such etiquette!"


    Wang Ling''s luggage had long been equipped with two sets of formal attire.


    "All flash and no substance, thinking they''re gentlemen just by dressing to the nines?" Zhang Menglong complained. Real gentlemen and nobility never display their prejudice so overtly, and clearly, these people weren''t genuine gentlemen.


    But when in Rome, do as the Romans do, he still had the suit brought into his room. As for the style, he didn''t even take a look; if it was designed by his personal studio, Zhang Menglong was never dissatisfied.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "Oh? Is that Poladi?" Zhang Menglong glanced at his phone. Since that dinner, they hadn''t been in touch, and it seemed Poladi had heard about his arrival in Europe.


    "Mr. Poladi, it''s been a long time," Zhang Menglong greeted politely.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m so excited, I didn''t expect you to come to Europe as well!" Poladi said, "Are you here for the auction too?"


    "Mr. Poladi, you''re here too?"


    "How could I miss such an event that only happens every ten years?" Poladi laughed, "This time I''ve prepared quite a bit of money, and I must buy some good items to take back."


    "It seems Mr. Poladi''s business hasn''t suffered due to my business." Zhang Menglong said. He himself had been criticized so badly; a public figure like Poladi must have had an even tougher time.


    "It was certainly difficult at the beginning, my company''s stock fell by nearly a third! I took that opportunity to buy back all the shares I could from the market," Poladi explained, "But ever since you dealt with Qingqiu Country, all those online criticisms fell apart on their own. The company''s stock soared to twice its original value. My net worth is now more than double what it was two months ago!"


    "Fuck! Are you two going to an auction or ascending to the throne?" Wang Ling and his girlfriend had just changed their clothes and came out of the dressing room as well.


    In front of this gown, Wang Ling''s girlfriend''s custom dress worth 800,000 US Dollars immediately seemed lackluster.


    "This thing can''t be made of diamond, can it?" Wang Ling pointed at the colorful decorations on the gown.


    "Yes, Mr. Wang," said the designer in charge of dressing Lu Yiyao, "this gown is adorned with a total of 1720 ordinary small diamonds."


    Wang Ling pointed at a diamond that was almost a carat in size, "You''re telling me this is called a small diamond?"


    Wang Ling wasn''t unfamiliar with diamonds; the size of these diamonds was roughly around one carat each, their cut, luster, and clarity almost perfect. In the market, you couldn''t get one for less than tens of thousands of US Dollars.


    Just the diamonds used for embellishing the gown were worth over ten million US Dollars!


    "Forget it, I won''t ask further, I''m worried about damaging my self-esteem!" Wang Ling decided not to look at Lu Yiyao''s gown anymore.


    "How are we getting there?" Wang Ling asked, since the venue was located on a private island with no specialized dock for ferrying guests.


    "No shit, of course by boat," Zhang Menglong said, "Helicopters are too small, not spacious enough."


    ...


    "Shit! I knew it wouldn''t be that simple!" However, when Wang Ling saw the "boat" Zhang Menglong mentioned, he couldn''t help but curse!


    This thing was hardly a boat¡ªit was a fucking destroyer!


    The destroyer was over 250 meters in length and had a displacement of over 25,000 tons. What was key, though, was that its weapons hadn''t been removed¡ªthe sight of those 4.5-inch caliber main guns and dense anti-aircraft guns made Wang Ling''s scalp tingle!


    "I borrowed it from the President of England to play around for a couple of days," Zhang Menglong said. "Tonight''s banquet will surely gather the wealthiest from all over the world. In the midst of so many rich people, arriving in a helicopter or yacht would just make me, Zhang Menglong, seem too tacky, wouldn''t it?"


    "You''re planning to blow up the whole island, aren''t you?" Wang Ling was speechless, he could even imagine the stunned faces of the people on the island hosting the auction upon seeing this destroyer, "Could you be any more flamboyant?"


    "One must make a cool entrance!" Zhang Menglong smoothed his hair back, "If a man isn''t flamboyant, what''s the difference between him and a salted fish?"

 Chapter 203 Both Planes and Yachts Are Pathetically Weak

    The Bannal Islands belong to the Kingdom of Frankfurt, located in the northwest part of the Mediterranean Sea, about 50 nautical miles away from the coast of Frankfurt, which is roughly a hundred kilometers.


    The natural scenery of these islands is exceptionally beautiful, which is why many wealthy individuals have spent money to purchase private ownership of these islands, transforming them into their vacation spots.


    Among the Bannal Islands is a very large primary island, which is owned by the famously renowned Rothschild family of Europe. On this island, they have established a very modernized hotel, and the star rank of this hotel has reached seven stars!


    To say it''s a hotel, it''s more apt to call it a manor. Normally, only individuals with a net worth over a hundred million US Dollars have the slightest qualification to set foot on this island. It has gradually become an excellent destination for the world''s top-level elites to socialize and make business deals.


    This auction is going to be held in this seven-star hotel!


    For this auction, the Rothschild family has also expended a lot of effort, having expanded their private yacht and boat harbor to twice its original size and having added a large number of helicopter landing pads. The entire island has become more bustling than ever before.


    A clear white trail cuts across the sea surface, and a pure white yacht gradually docks at the port. The appearance of this yacht has immediately attracted the attention of many people.


    Though it''s a gathering of the rich, the wealthy are still categorized into different levels, and they come from all around the world. Even if some are extremely wealthy in their own countries, upon arriving in a foreign land, many often have no choice but to use public transportation.


    Today, several thousands of rich individuals were invited, but more than 90% of them were brought over from Frankfurt''s port by cruise ships arranged by the organizers. As for those who arrived on their own, they were generally considered big shots in their respective regions.@@@@


    "Wow, the Sun Chaser private yacht, and it''s a limited edition, too. I really exerted a lot of effort back then but still couldn''t get my hands on one; today is truly an eye-opener!"


    "I remember the basic sale price of this yacht was 80 million US Dollars, right? They only sold five in total¡ªone is with the world''s richest man, Poladi, another was bought by a mysterious buyer from Huaxia, and the remaining three seem to be in Europe, but it''s hard to know which one of the three this is!"


    The wealthy individuals who were chatting and strolling nearby the port all turned their attention towards those yachts. Surely those who were now showing up must be people of extraordinary status.


    The Sun Chaser had docked at the port, and a middle-aged man looking to be about fifty emerged, surrounded by several bodyguards and women.


    "So it''s Mr. Heizda, the top figure in the European pharmaceutical industry!"


    "Tsk tsk, the pharmaceutical industry has been developing quite well these past two years, eh? Mr. Heizda''s assets must have doubled several folds, right? Who knows, he might even break into Forbes''s top ten next year!"


    After waiting for eight years, it finally found its owner a few years ago, a mega-rich man from Dubai. His name is Samar, the current King''s youngest son, and it was also his gift for his coming-of-age ceremony. Probably only in a land brimming with oil could someone dare to spend such a huge sum on a luxury like this.


    Hundreds of billionaires looked on with envious eyes at the yacht, as even for them, it was an extravagant luxury. After all, there are only a little over two thousand people in the entire world with a net worth of 1 billion US dollars.


    And who would use their entire fortune to buy such an ostentatious item? Only if they really had too much money to spend.


    Just as their astonishment had begun to subside, a shadow suddenly rose up alongside the "streets of Monaco." It was a steel beast over 250 meters in length, its main guns glistening coldly, asserting its dominance as the sovereign of the sea.


    "What is that?"


    "It''s huge! It''s even bigger than the ''streets of Monaco.'' Is it the latest model of a new yacht sold by some company?"


    "That''s not a yacht! That''s... that''s a warship!" a billionaire exclaimed with trembling hands holding his binoculars, "Damn it, it''s a destroyer!"


    "FUCK, what the hell is that?"


    "It must just be on a cruising mission passing by, right?"


    "No, it''s headed our way!" someone shouted, "Look, there are a few people on the deck, a few in formal wear!"


    Everyone passed around binoculars, and indeed, on the destroyer, there were two men and two women, four young people dressed in luxurious evening wear, holding wine glasses and enjoying the last warm glow of the setting sun.


    "Can you believe it? Some people are coming to the auction in a destroyer!"


    "If someone had told me this before, I would have thought they were crazy, but now I believe my own eyes."


    "How much does this thing cost? Ten billion? Twenty billion? Or thirty billion?"


    "I don''t know how much this thing costs; all I know is that in front of this warship, private planes, private yachts, all seem utterly trivial!"

 Chapter 204 Who is the Real Tycoon?

    Zhang Menglong''s destroyer had become the center of attention at the event, and everyone was curious about the young people aboard. Who were they to make such a high-profile appearance?


    Compared to the yacht "Streets of Monaco," the cost of the destroyer wasn''t much higher, but a yacht could be bought by anyone with money. A destroyer, on the other hand, even if you had the funds, would a country allow you to build one? The implication behind owning a destroyer clearly wasn''t on the same level.


    "It looks like there are a few Eastern people on that ship!" As the destroyer drew closer, someone finally made out the faces of Zhang Menglong and his companions.


    "Eastern people? Are they from Huaxia?" In their minds, of all the Eastern countries, probably only Huaxia possessed such mysterious power. But they were in Europe, and this was clearly a European destroyer. How had they managed to get their hands on it?


    "They''re coming over!"


    Because of the destroyer''s massive tonnage and deep draft, the surrounding waters of the island were all in the foresea area, where such a massive ship could not approach. Thus, the "Streets of Monaco" yacht and the destroyer both stopped hundreds of meters away from the island.


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    Two helicopters accompanied by a loud roar headed toward the main island of the Bannal Islands. One of them belonged to the owner of the "Streets of Monaco," a private helicopter worth over 30 million US dollars.


    The other was still an active service armed helicopter! The missiles hanging on both sides and the machine gun gave an unsettling, chilling feeling to the onlookers.


    As is well known, except in some special areas, such private armaments are impossible for anyone to own. Even some decommissioned destroyers and armed helicopters would only be sold after all their weapons systems had been removed. Clearly, this was not the case!


    There was only one possibility ¡ª the country that owned the destroyer had lent it to the young people they had just seen. But could such national strategic-level weapons really be lent out? And not for combat, but clearly just for a show-off, which was beyond ordinary imagination!


    The two helicopters landed on the helipad almost simultaneously. A 22-year-old youth from Dubai descended from the golden helicopter, his attire and accessories exuding an air of wealth, and even his bodyguards and maids were quite remarkable.


    As for the other helicopter, it carried the two men and two women, the four Eastern people they had seen before.


    "Friend, your destroyer and armed helicopter are really cool!" The Dubai youth approached Zhang Menglong to greet him, immediately recognizing from the stance and attire of the four that Zhang Menglong was the dominant one.


    "Hahaha, just average, just average. Your ship and helicopter are not bad either," Zhang Menglong replied politely.


    "Zhang, it''s an honor to meet you. You''re welcome to visit our beautiful Dubai anytime!" Azik shook hands with Zhang Menglong, "I will make sure to prepare the best guest room and the most delicious food for you!"


    Getting to know someone like Zhang Menglong indeed made Azik very happy.


    "Definitely!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "By the way, Azik, this yacht of yours is quite impressive!"


    "Hahaha, this little thing cost quite a sum!" Azik excitedly began, "It was an adult gift from my father many years ago, built at the cost of 1.1 billion US dollars, and with the interior settings, the total value surpasses 2 billion, it''s truly one-of-a-kind in this world!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhang Menglong marveled, "How about we discuss something?"


    "Zhang, just say it!"


    "Is this yacht for sale?"


    Azik was dumbfounded all of a sudden; until now, no one had ever had the audacity to outright ask to buy his yacht, "Zhang, what did you say?"


    "I want to buy your yacht, and I definitely won''t let you suffer in the price. It cost 2 billion US dollars, how about 3 billion US dollars?"


    "It''s not that... you..." Azik suddenly lost his ability to speak.


    He was a Dubai native! The kind of place where oil flows from taps! The most cherished son of a king from a wealthy nation, he had always been the one showing off his wealth; when had it ever been his turn to have someone flaunt their wealth in front of him?


    Zhang Menglong openly added a billion dollars, it was literally a challenge to their Dubai wealth!


    "If that''s not enough, 4 billion is also acceptable, or even 5 billion!" Zhang Menglong, as if scared Azik would refuse, kept increasing the price, "If not, name your price, I absolutely won''t bargain!"


    "This conversation isn''t going anywhere!" Azik suddenly didn''t know who he was anymore, where he was, or what he was doing?


    Having just chatted with a person for a moment, he was already stunned by the money thrown at him. He really wanted to ask Zhang Menglong, who really is the wealthiest here?@@@@

 Chapter 205 Your Company Actually Has My Shares

    "My friend, this isn''t about the money, the last thing we lack in Dubai is money!" Azik said. As a member of the Royal Family, he had been living in Rome since he was born, so money really didn''t mean much to him.


    Every day, the people of Dubai merely go to the oil field valves, either turning them left to shut them off or right to open them. When they want to buy something, they just let a bit of oil flow. Life is just that mundane.


    But this young man from Huaxia made him realize that there are always bigger fish!


    "How about this, I''ll trade this thing with you!" Zhang Menglong, seeing the reluctance on Azik''s face, pointed at the destroyer and said, "This thing cost even more than your destroyer. I''ll also throw in all the equipment and weapons on board. How about that?"


    "Zhang... you... this..." Azik had never met someone like this. A person who smashes money in your face when words fail, and now he wanted to trade a destroyer for his yacht. What on earth was going through this man''s mind?


    Not to mention that this destroyer was actually borrowed, even if it was really his own, this thing would probably get bombarded the moment it entered his territorial waters!


    Suddenly, he thought of something utterly alarming: wasn''t this destroyer a gift from the Queen of England? Then it should belong to the country of England! But now, this area of sea was under the jurisdiction of Frankfurt!


    How could the people of Frankfurt allow a destroyer from England into their territory? Was there anything more absurd than this? Weren''t they afraid that the destroyer might suddenly go berserk and start a massacre within their borders?@@@@


    "Zhang, I have no use for this destroyer. I don''t even have anyone to sail it back to Dubai. Let''s just forget about this, Zhang. You''re so rich, just have someone build another one."


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong sighed, realizing that Azik truly was unwilling to sell his yacht. Zhang Menglong was somewhat disappointed.


    "Mr. Zhang, getting Azik to comply isn''t difficult!" Ye Yin suddenly said.


    "You have a way?"


    "Haha, Mr. Zhang, those oil fields and wells in Dubai are actually yours!" Ye Yin revealed a fact that was quite astounding to Zhang Menglong.


    "What? Can you explain that a bit more?"


    "Hehe, a long time ago, your ancestors had already detected huge resources beneath that land, so they had acquired those areas through force and money. You just let the people of Dubai drill for oil because you rather kindly wanted to give them some shares as compensation for their hard work."


    "Mr. Zhang, we truly come to seek your advice," Bila Gates said, "Although you might think you are young and not very knowledgeable yet, your background naturally nurtures and comes with it. We are just hoping to get inspired by you."


    "Is that so?" Leave it to the former world''s richest man to make Zhang Menglong understand his intent¡ªthey were well aware that at his age, Zhang Menglong hardly had any commercial experience.


    He didn''t, but his elders did! Zhang Menglong was inevitably influenced to some extent, an influence that showed in his words and actions, from which they hoped to find some inspiration. That was their actual purpose!


    But in reality, Zhang Menglong had learned nothing from his elders!


    "Okay then, ask away!" Since that was the case, Zhang Menglong was somewhat reluctantly willing.


    "We''d like to know which areas does Mr. Zhang''s family business cover? If it''s okay to ask that," they inquired.


    "Hmm... everything!


    "What?" The tycoons were momentarily baffled. Having succeeded by focusing on specific fields, they wondered, wasn''t doing everything a recipe for mediocrity? How then did he amass such a massive fortune?


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong remembered something, "No, not everything!"


    Hearing this, the tycoons'' expressions eased somewhat.


    "Those illegal and chaotic things, we don''t do; those offensive movies, I don''t make; and any business related to pimping or brothels, I don''t run!"


    "Who the hell asked if you do those!" Everyone wanted to say that. Even if he were involved in such things, how much could he possibly earn? Could Zhang Menglong become richer than Poladi by doing these?


    "Mr. Zhang, could you tell us how much your assets really amount to?" Arnold curiously asked, which was everyone''s point of curiosity.


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    "Uh..." This question was something Zhang Menglong truly couldn''t answer.


    After a moment of thought, he said, "I can''t tell you the exact number, but I can tell you, I own 37% of Mr. Bila''s SoftBank, 28.6% of Mr. Arno''s LVMH, 43.1% of Mr. Ellison''s company, and 34% of Walmart shares."

 Chapter 206 Its That Simple and Rude

    The words were startling, and everyone''s expressions froze in place; they hadn''t expected that their mere curiosity would elicit such a revelation. Such a shareholding proportion would absolutely make them the largest shareholders in any of their companies, yet they knew nothing about it!


    "After we go back, we must thoroughly verify this!" Everyone silently took note of it in their hearts.


    "So, Mr. Zhang, what''s your take on war in the business world? Or to put it another way, what methods would you use to defeat your enemies in the realm of business competition?"


    "It''s quite simple!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "If it''s a public company, just throw money to acquire shares, if a 10% premium doesn''t work then offer 20%, if 20% doesn''t work then 30%, and if that still doesn''t work, double it, super double it! As long as all the company''s shares are yours, there''s no competition left!"


    A few of them looked dumbfounded. What the hell kind of strategy was this? It was just throwing money around! Did it have to be so simplistic and brutal?


    "What if it''s a completely private enterprise?"


    "Then headhunt, offer double the salary, throw in a car and a house, and dig out all their people! An empty-shell company is worthless!" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Oh, fuck!"


    Several world-class tycoons were dumbstruck by Zhang Menglong''s remarks; his approach was beyond their realm of knowledge!


    Acquisitions and headhunting are the most common strategies in industry competition, but they presuppose sufficient capital, not to mention whether the other party is willing to comply.


    But Huaxia had an apt saying, "With money, you can make the devil turn the millstone; if you have a bit more money, you can even make the millstone turn the devil!" If you want to acquire someone''s shares, a 10% or 20% premium might not be enticing, but if you bombard them with double or triple that, anyone who doesn''t sell is a fool!


    Indeed, holding certain capital long-term might yield far more than double or triple the returns after many years, but it''s a lengthy process. If you now possess two to three times the capital, you can certainly pursue more lucrative investments!


    Even these wealthy magnates would find it hard to resist the temptation if someone offered to buy their shares at double the price.


    Moreover, Zhang Menglong claimed to have no interest in money at all. The last person to say this was also an entrepreneur from Huaxia. Have the Huaxia people really become so wealthy? Could it be that their status as a developing country is a scam, and everyone in Huaxia is silently making a fortune?


    Zhang Menglong never expected that his offhand remarks would completely overturn these tycoons'' perception of Huaxia.


    "Mr. Zhang''s words... really have been very enlightening..."


    "Um, we have some other matters to attend to, so we''ll be taking our leave first."


    "Yes, yes, yes, we need to meet a few more friends. We''ll come back to seek Mr. Zhang''s advice when we''re free!"


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, they fled as if they had seen a ghost. Continuing the conversation might even lead them to doubt whether they were the poor ones. Could the Forbes rankings be playing a joke on them?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong pointed to the backs of the retreating tycoons and said, "Poladi, you can''t blame me for this. They wanted to hear about my experiences, and I was just honestly sharing."


    Poladi immediately showed a helpless wry smile, knowing full well that everything Zhang Menglong said was true, without any exaggeration. But that was exactly why nobody could handle it!


    "Mr. Poladi, I think your friends'' hearts have suffered a severe shock. You should probably go and comfort them," Wang Ling joked from the side.


    "Then, I''ll excuse myself for a moment. Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang, please feel free to continue."


    ...


    "Tsk, they''re supposed to be on the world Forbes rankings, yet they can''t handle a little provocation!" Wang Ling said with a hint of disdain.


    Ever since he met Zhang Menglong, he had been subjected to a daily dose of Versailles literature to the point where he was becoming immune to Zhang Menglong''s flamboyant maneuvers. These people got upset after just a few minutes; their psychological resilience was indeed too weak.

 Chapter 209 207 Rothschild Family Master

    Zhang Menglong''s conversation with those wealthy businessmen had attracted quite a few onlookers, but because of the language barrier and some distance, bystanders couldn''t make out exactly what had been said.


    However, given their hasty and embarrassed departure, some people wondered if they had also suffered at the hands of Zhang Menglong.


    "I remember now, he''s that Huaxia guy named Zhang Menglong!" Finally, someone recognized Zhang Menglong.


    "Is he that same Huaxia guy who nearly crashed the economy of Qingqiu Country? He looks so young, though?"


    "Hahaha, I still remember that song, ''Just like this, steam-cooked by you!''"


    "Friend, you got it wrong, it''s ''Just by the sunlight, you conquered me!''"


    "No no no, it''s ''Just this dame, conquered by you!''"


    ...


    Confirming Zhang Menglong''s identity, it seemed not too far-fetched that he could acquire a destroyer and discomfit the world''s top-level rich folks, making them leave crestfallen.


    But this brought even more attention to Zhang Menglong. An individual with the halo of "the real world''s richest man" was bound to be the focal point wherever he went.


    "Let''s go, we should head to the venue!" Zhang Menglong felt somewhat embarrassed by these gazes. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Sure!" The group nodded and, led by an employee of the Rothschild family, they boarded the shuttle service between the hotel and the port, heading towards the hotel.


    "Let''s all go too!"


    "Yeah, there shouldn''t be anyone else particularly special showing up!"


    Having seen such an entrance, no matter what other ways there might be, it was unlikely that anything would surprise these wealthy individuals again; and with the evening event about to start, everyone headed straight back to the hotel.


    By this time, the hotel was bustling with people. Guests who had come for the auction tidied their rooms and had all gathered on the hotel''s private beach.


    "Shush! It''s very likely true! A few countries questioned the matter at the time, even publicly ridiculed and insulted, and later, a dozen of those countries experienced sudden economic turmoil. Especially in Qingqiu Country, you must have heard about their issues, right?"


    "There''s actually such a powerful figure in Huaxia?"


    ...


    Suddenly, the surrounding area burst into a buzz of conversation, and some even spread the news about Zhang Menglong arriving on the island on a destroyer. In an instant, Zhang Menglong became the person who attracted the most attention after Biros!


    Indeed, Biros eventually stopped in front of Zhang Menglong, and in his eyes flickered an indescribable excitement, as if he had met his idol.


    "You are Mr. Zhang Menglong, right?" Biros bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong under the astonished gaze of thousands.


    "Wow!" This gesture immediately triggered a wave of gasps.


    As a super-family, the mystique of the Rothschild family in Europe was just reflected in their familial ancestry, but they were active in political and business circles. Even when facing a head of state, the Rothschilds had never been so humble.


    "It is I," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, I wonder if the venue meets your satisfaction?" Biros asked carefully.


    "Hmm, not bad," nodded Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Biros, there''s no need to be so polite, you don''t need to mind me. Just go and attend to the other guests."


    "There''s no need for that!" declared Biros firmly. For the Rothschild family, they didn''t need to ingratiate themselves with anyone. Even with the world''s top-level tycoons present, there was still not a single one worth a second glance from Biros.


    Although this statement sounded somewhat grating, those present had to admit that members of the Rothschild family had the right to make such boastful and arrogant statements. Even more, these words didn''t feel out of place coming from their mouths.


    "Mr. Zhang, the Rothschild family is a branch of the Dorellas family, and since the Dorellas family are your servants, we naturally are as well. How could a servant not attend to their master?" Biros said earnestly.


    Biros did not lower his voice with that statement, as if it was meant for everyone present to hear.


    But this time, the room fell completely silent.


    Among them, hardly anyone recognized the Dorellas family, but what they heard was that a member of the Rothschild family was calling themselves a servant in front of this young man from the East! Could there be any news more shocking than this in the world?@@@@

 Chapter 208 Does Mr. Zhang Have Time Tonight?

    ```


    After a moment of silence came a buzz of noise, as everyone murmured quietly about Zhang Menglong''s origins.


    Initially, people knew him only as wealthy and high-profile, but now, a mysterious veil had been cast over him. The Rothschild family itself is a legend in Europe, and their master is quite simply a legend among legends.


    "Ma Hua, have you heard about this Zhang Menglong''s background?" A few of the gathered Huaxia tycoons were also whispering among themselves. Had Zhang Menglong been there, he would have certainly recognized these household names in Huaxia.


    The founder of Alibaba Group, Ma Yun, Tengxun''s Ma Hua, Baidu''s Li Hong, Pinduoduo''s Huang Zheng, and several other equally famous individuals were present, although they did not appear as frequently in Bilibili''s remix video section as the others.@@@@


    Ma Yun didn''t have many interactions with Zhang Menglong, but he had heard quite a bit about him, including that Ma Hua and Li Hong had suffered losses at his hands.


    "This guy is a monster!" That incident had never been mentioned by Ma Yun and Li Hong to anyone before, and this was the first time they were bringing it up in front of others.


    "That day, this guy just threw 500 billion US dollars in our faces, both at the same time! We then realized that this guy''s liquid assets were definitely above a trillion US dollars!" Remembering that experience, Ma Hua and Li Hong still felt a sense of powerlessness.


    "He even has connections with the Rothschild family, and is even honored as their master. The background of this kid is getting more and more opaque!"


    "Anyway, just don''t provoke him!" Ma Hua said, "President Ma, although your Alibaba is now big and exceeds us at Tengxun, if you provoke him, you might end up no better than Ding Sanshi and his son!"


    "Yeah, years of hard work, and someone turned it into a foot bath city just like that!" Saying this, they could not help but laugh.


    "Given the chance, I definitely want to get to know him!" Ma Yun wasn''t interested in money, but he was indeed intrigued by Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "It''s fine, you go ahead, Mr. Haigen has already arranged everything for me during my time in Europe!" Zhang Menglong was frankly overwhelmed by Byros''s enthusiasm.


    Byros suddenly laughed, "Indeed, with you in Europe, there''s really no need for us to look after you. Mr. Haigen must have already taken care of everything. That was thoughtless of me."


    "Since that''s the case, I''ll go ahead and make arrangements for tonight''s dinner!" Byros bowed again and took several steps backward before daring to turn his back on Zhang Menglong and walk towards the center of the crowd.


    Byros began his speeches, which, of course, probably went unheard as everyone''s attention remained fixed on Zhang Menglong for quite some time.


    "Sir, did you possibly write one too many zeroes?" she asked.


    "It''s fine, I just wrote it casually, didn''t count the zeroes," he replied.


    "Didn''t count?" The girl''s eyes widened. Could Zhang Menglong be any more capricious? If he wrote a few more zeroes, that would be millions of euros!


    "Thank you, sir!" The girl was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. "I''ll take the miss to her room right away!"


    "Go ahead. If you''re tired, you can sleep first; I''ll come up to join you in at most an hour," Zhang Menglong said, having just experienced the pleasures of men and women, he couldn''t wait to stick by Lu Yiyao''s side every day.


    "Mhm," Lu Yiyao nodded obediently and followed the staff member.


    ...


    Zhang Menglong picked up the wine glass filled with milk and greeted Ma Hua and the others with a smile. Even though he had dealt with them more than once before, it had always been over the phone. This was the first time Zhang Menglong was meeting them in person.


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    And the same went for Ma Yun and others; Zhang Menglong was also meeting them for the first time, having only seen them on the news and Baidu before.


    But at that moment, a glass of red wine was placed on Zhang Menglong''s table, and a blond, blue-eyed European beauty sat down beside him with a smile.


    Ma Yun and the others were taken aback and immediately showed a helpless smile. It seemed that, in such a setting, speaking with Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to be that simple.


    "Kristen?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect the one who showed up out of the blue was Kristen, who had played the lead actress in "Twilight City," "You know me?"


    "Hehe, I didn''t before, but after today, I don''t think there''s anyone here who doesn''t know you," Kristen said with a smile.


    "Is there something you need, Miss Kristen?"


    Kristen flicked her golden hair and gave an enchanting smile, speaking in a rather bold tone, "Mr. Zhang, are you available tonight?"


    "What the heck!" Zhang Menglong''s head spun. Kristen was a goddess-level figure to men all over the world, and she had just made such a bold proposal to him!


    He couldn''t help but exclaim, "Holy shit! You foreigners really know how to play, huh?"

 Chapter 210 Go Ask Your Grandma Who I Am

    Harrison''s smile came to an abrupt halt. Although Zhang Menglong didn''t make it very clear, he was telling him that tonight, he, Zhang Menglong, would spend the night with Emma. As to what spending the night would entail, it was certainly not going to be just playing mahjong or cards; as adults, they were all well aware of what such behaviors implied!


    As a prince, Harrison had been brought up with a golden key. In over twenty years, except for Emma, he had never been slighted by anyone, and even when he visited other countries, their diplomats always greeted him with obsequious smiles.


    Although Emma had always shown him attitude, he didn''t mind. In his heart, Emma would eventually belong to him, and her current behavior seemed to Harrison nothing more than the future princess throwing a tantrum at him.


    But aside from her, no one could infringe upon his dignity! Even if Zhang Menglong was wealthy, even if he was the Rothschild family''s most esteemed guest, this, too, was unshakable!


    The Rothschild family was indeed powerful, with the ability to influence Europe''s economy and politics, but that was limited to smaller nations.


    While England would indeed be affected, and the impact was significant, he believed that Zhang Menglong''s importance was definitely not great enough to make the entire Rothschild family antagonize them. Such a large conflict would not be a minor matter for the whole world and went against the Rothschild family''s long-standing approach of being low-key and detached.


    Zhang Menglong indeed had money, but that was only within Asia. He also didn''t believe that Zhang Menglong''s influence could extend to Europe. If that were the case, he might as well claim dominion over the entire Earth.


    Therefore, in Harrison''s view, Zhang Menglong was just "troublesome," not "untouchable"!


    "Mr. Zhang, a gentleman should not interrupt others'' conversation. This is basic etiquette!" Harrison said to Zhang Menglong with a hostile tone.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong instantly laughed, "If I remember correctly, it was originally me chatting with Miss Emma, and you suddenly interrupted us, right?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to Emma and said, "Miss Emma, didn''t you just ask me if I was free tonight? As it happens, I have brought a particularly beautiful bedsheet from Huaxia, and I would like to invite you to visit my room and take a look at my bedsheet!"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t forget that this is Europe, not Huaxia!" Harrison''s tone now carried a hint of a threat.


    "Are you threatening me?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed again, a signature move when he was angry. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    "You can think of it that way!" Harrison said, "I know Mr. Zhang is quite capable in Huaxia, and I am aware that the Rothschild family is powerful, but Europe is so vast, the Rothschild family can''t possibly look after you all the time. In Europe, it''s not your turn to do whatever you want. There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''He who knows the times is a wise man.'' I hope Mr. Zhang won''t interfere in my affairs."


    "I''m sorry then, Prince Harrison," Zhang Menglong laughed, "even here in Europe, even if I don''t rely on the power of the Rothschild family, I can still do as I please! If you don''t believe me, why not check out the news from Frankfurt yesterday, see what I have done."


    Indeed, Harrison paid little attention to Frankfurt, but one of the royal guards who accompanied him leaned in and whispered, "Prince, I know about this. They say Zhang Menglong rounded up a bunch of psychopaths a few days ago, caused havoc in the entire Champs-Elyse?es Spring, resulting in billions of dollars in damages, and he was even investigated by the investigative bureau yesterday!"


    "Then how come he''s still here today?" Harrison wondered. After causing such a huge incident, even a Huaxia person would definitely face local legal punishment.


    "I''m not sure about the details, but it seems to have involved the Ministry of National Defense of Frankfurt; in the end, the investigator performed a pole dance to apologize to Zhang Menglong and sent him out of the investigative bureau politely. This incident was no small shake-up in Frankfurt!"


    "He has influence over Frankfurt''s Ministry of National Defense?" Harrison suddenly felt that his understanding of Zhang Menglong was still too superficial.


    "If you still don''t believe me, why not call your granny and ask just who the hell I am!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Oh right, did you see that Destroyer when you arrived?"


    "That was brought here by you?" Just now, Harrison had been wondering why his own Destroyer had come into Frankfurt''s waters, even nearing the island where the auction was being held.


    "That was lent to me by your granny. She originally wanted to gift it to me, I refused, and she almost ended up crying," Zhang Menglong said, "Oh right, one more thing, your sister, Princess Shana, she''s scrubbing toilets at my place. I advise you to stop putting on airs; before you show off, you better find out exactly who you''re dealing with!"

 Chapter 211 I Can Really Do Whatever I Want

    "That destroyer was lent to you by my grandmother? And she''s giving it to you?" Harrison''s face was full of astonishment. To build a vessel of this magnitude required much more than just a few billion US dollars.


    Docks, maintenance personnel, and supporting equipment and facilities, all these minor details together approached nearly ten billion US dollars, even for a developed country like England, it was not an amount of money readily available.


    At the time it took to build these few destroyers, the nation had tightened its belt, using a large amount of resources and manpower to construct this one destroyer. Although its value might not rival that of an aircraft carrier, it was still extremely important, even indispensable to the territorial sea force.


    Such an item, the Queen of England suddenly wanted to give away? And Zhang Menglong should cry if she didn''t want it? Wasn''t this ridiculous?


    However, that very destroyer was now stationed a few kilometers out at sea, even the weapons were untouched. Harrison had every reason to believe that Zhang Menglong''s credibility was well over fifty percent!


    As for his sister, Princess Shana, she was the queen''s most beloved princess. Naturally beautiful and charismatic, she had resources from childhood that even he, as a prince, could not match. Because of this, Harrison had complained more than once during his childhood why he, a prince, was considered less important than his sister. Was the throne going to be inherited by a woman in the future?


    Because of all this, Harrison had many conflicts with Shana, but they always ended with him being punished, which he never understood why.


    Late, a captain of the royal guard who had raised Harrison disclosed to him the background story. Shana''s birth was not meant for inheriting the English throne but for the possibility that one day she could marry a significant figure, someone all of Europe would want to ally with!


    Not only Shana, but the other 37 princesses born in this generation were born for such a fate.@@@@


    Just a few days ago, he had discovered that his sister Shana was missing, and upon inquiry, he found out that Shana had been sent to that mysterious significant figure''s house, even the high-ranking people in the royal family were praying that Shana could catch the eye of that important person.


    And what Zhang Menglong had just spoken about, was he implying that he was that significant person?


    "Impossible! That''s preposterous!" Harrison shook his head.


    If it was said that Princess Shana was being sent to someone to forge a marriage alliance, he completely believed it. After all, in Europe, such roles as princesses were plenty, and many needed the royal family to bond affinity to integrate and share resources, a practice not rare in history.


    But Zhang Menglong claiming that Princess Shana was scrubbing toilets in his house, wasn''t that nonsense? A princess reduced to scrubbing toilets¡ªwho would believe such a thing?


    "Don''t ask who he is," the Queen seemed reluctant to reveal Zhang Menglong''s identity, "Just remember, this man is someone the countries of all Europe combined can''t afford to offend. The very Rothschild family hosting tonight''s banquet are merely his servants, his slaves!"


    The Queen continued, "If you have the chance to meet him, it will be an enormous opportunity. If not, you must absolutely avoid offending him, or else, even you, I will have to expel from the Royal Family!"


    Harrison put down the phone, his face turning deathly pale; he could never have imagined that what Zhang Menglong had just said was all true!


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    "Prince Harrison, I think you must understand by now, the words I just said, I didn''t lie about a single one," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "And also, the words I just said, I''ll repeat them again, in Europe, I really can do whatever I want!"


    "Mr. Zhang... I''m sorry... I..." Harrison suddenly became extremely embarrassed; his head was echoing with the statement that if he offended Zhang Menglong, he would be expelled from the English Royal Family!


    For Harrison, this was absolutely the most brutal punishment!


    "You what? Now you know to be afraid?" Zhang Menglong was in a good mood today and had no spare time to waste with Harrison.


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope you can forgive my behavior just now." Harrison said respectfully.


    "Enough, stay away from Miss Emma," Zhang Menglong dismissed, "Be more magnanimous as a man; don''t linger around shamefully!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Harrison breathed a sigh of relief, "From now on, I absolutely won''t pester Miss Emma anymore, I hope you have a pleasant evening tonight, I''ll be leaving now."


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    Amazement filled Emma''s eyes, Harrison, so proud and stubborn, and just in two minutes, Zhang Menglong made him submit? What kind of monster was he?


    Moments later, Zhang Menglong returned to his carefree demeanor, "Right, we''ve had enough to drink, how about we go admire my sheets?"

 Chapter 212 No Matter How Loud You Shout, He Wont Come Out

    "If Mr. Zhang didn''t have a girlfriend, we''d really be willing to go up to your room to see your sheets!" Emma laughed.


    In just those few minutes, his understanding of Zhang Menglong had almost leapt substantially!


    Even though Emma had rejected Harrison, after all, he was a prince. Although his pride prevented him from being too obvious, his social status ensured that she could never react too violently.


    If she really tore off the mask, it might be tough for Emma to establish a footing in her own country, or she might even encounter some sinister dealings, given that England still was a monarchy with the Royal Family controlling vast resources!


    So, even if Emma had rejected Harrison, as long as he did not wish to give up, he could still stick to Emma like glue because he knew very well that Emma dared not react too drastically.


    In his plans, as long as he slowly boiled the frog, eventually, Emma would become his woman. Unfortunately for him, today he had bumped into Zhang Menglong.


    In Emma''s eyes, Zhang Menglong, with just a few words, had resolved an issue she found insurmountable. Such power and connections were probably unmatched by anyone else in the world.


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    Besides, Zhang Menglong''s appearance was quite handsome. At least to Western aesthetics, he was the charming sort, and with his unfathomable power, Emma secretly hoped for a chance to have something develop between them.


    However, from her recent observations, Zhang Menglong''s gaze had almost never left Lu Yiyao. Even since arriving at this event, he had merely glanced around and had not given any other woman a second look!


    This was a clear indication of the feelings Zhang Menglong had for his girlfriend.


    She never doubted her own charm, but relationships were about precedence. Emma believed that Zhang Menglong would not do such a thing.


    "Hahahaha," Zhang Menglong also laughed. Emma was truly a scholar even in reality, her meticulous observation and strong analytical ability had already discerned what actions were meaningful and which were pointless; she truly was a smart person.


    "I was just getting back at Harrison," Zhang Menglong straightforwardly said, "Miss Emma, if one day you come to Huaxia, I would definitely welcome you warmly. Our ''Three-Body'' crew would also be delighted to have you join."


    "Kristen, is Mr. Zhang issuing an eviction notice?" Emma smiled slightly, yet she was confidently composed, "Mr. Zhang, you''ll probably stay in Europe for a while longer, right?"


    "Probably, it''s rare to come here."


    "Someone like you?" Zhang Menglong immediately asked, "Or is it a mutant?"


    "Neither," said Ye Yin. "Our kind are all under the control of the Zhang Family. Mutants are just beings with activated special powers. In their Kaibong nation, there''s also an ancient power inheritance. You could think of it as ninjutsu."


    "Damn, I, Uchiha Madara, consider you the best at bluffing!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. "The ninjas have come out now?"


    Ye Yin was silent. "Mr. Zhang, there are some things you will understand once you have seen them."


    "Okay, can you deal with that guy?"


    "A Chunin, roughly equivalent to a Level Four or Five mutant, a bit tougher than the guy who cosplayed as Thor last time."


    "That powerful?" Zhang Menglong''s understanding of mutants had remained stuck on the X-Men type of mutants. Level Five mutants were potential world-destructors, but it seemed that these Level Four or Five mutants were still vastly inferior. Perhaps it was just their way in this reality to categorize such individuals."


    "No wonder," Zhang Menglong finally understood why despite acting tough for so long here, everyone kept their distance from him except for this idiot who dared to confront him. Turns out, there was a formidable bodyguard by his side.


    "I wonder what his real background is," Zhang Menglong speculated. Such individuals with special powers should be extremely rare worldwide. The last time a Level Three mutant came to kill Zhang Menglong, the reward started at several hundred billion US dollars.


    Even a world-class tycoon probably couldn''t afford such a bodyguard, right? Therefore, this person''s identity is certainly worth pondering. Zhang Menglong concluded that he was not just any ordinary tycoon; coming here likely had another purpose.


    But what exactly was the purpose? Zhang Menglong suspected it might have something to do with the auction items at this auction.


    "Mr. Zhang truly has a keen sense," Ye Yin said. "Actually, apart from me, there are twelve such individuals present at this venue!"


    "Damn, are the immortals fighting?" Zhang Menglong shrank his neck.


    "Huaxian, I have given you time. Don''t blame me now!" The Kaibong man revealed a ferocious look. "Shinjiro-kun, break one of his hands, and don''t let anyone notice!"


    But there was no response, only a few people suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing through the air, followed by a faint smell of blood.


    "Shinjiro-kun? Shinjiro-kun?" The expression on the Kaibong man''s face suddenly panicked.


    "Stop shouting!" Zhang Menglong lazily said, "Even if you shout your throat hoarse, he won''t be coming out today!"

 Chapter 213 You young people really know how to have fun

    "Kaibong, where on earth did you go?" the short Kaibong man was a bit panicked.


    This time, he really came to this auction with a special mission. His name was Ximenggong, president of a very famous Kaibong corporation, Bandai Company. This name was familiar to otakus all around the world, as they produced figurines that flowed into all corners of the planet and amassed astronomical profits.


    In Huaxia, they had another special name known as Consortium B.


    The reason they came to the auction was that a very special item was being sold, something so valuable it could be significant to a nation. Through certain special channels, the Kaibong people found out about this item, but they needed to disguise their interest to avoid attracting too many competitors, hence they arranged for a tycoon to act as a cover. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire


    As for the person named Kaibong, he belonged to a very special organization in Kaibong country, and because this auction item was of great importance, they had to acquire it at all costs. However, richer people than Ximenggong existed worldwide, and even though they were backed by the Kaibong government, if they could think of it, so could others, right?


    Thus, if the item fell into someone else''s hands, they would need to employ certain extreme measures, which is why they had Kaibong come along.


    The first time Ximenggong witnessed Kaibong''s abilities, he even doubted if he was dreaming¡ªcould humans really possess such power? He watched as Kaibong shattered a mountain peak tens of meters high with his bare fist and remained unscathed. And such a person had become his bodyguard for the time being.


    Although Ximenggong could not order Kaibong around, whenever he faced danger, he would still fulfill his duties as a bodyguard and eliminate any threat. Since arriving in Europe, Ximenggong carried himself with a haughty attitude.


    But now, he had lost contact with Kaibong, how could he not panic?


    "Ye Yin? Are you back? Where''s Kaibong?" Zhang Menglong asked, as he felt that Ye Yin had stepped out for a moment; he guessed she had just dealt with Kaibong.


    "Oh, I took him to the Mediterranean and gave him a beating, broke one of his hands, and then stuffed his ass into a seabed crevice."


    "Damn, that''s harsh! He didn''t die, did he?" Zhang Menglong was a bit worried, though not for the Kaibong man. If there were any special laws within Ye Yin''s circle, could they cause trouble for Ye Yin?


    "Don''t worry, a Chunin''s life is precious, he won''t die," Ye Yin smiled, "Mr. Zhang doesn''t need to worry about me. On this planet, no one can set rules for the Zhang family. If there is, a beating will set them straight."


    "I love that attitude!" Since Ye Yin confirmed it, Zhang Menglong immediately felt relieved.


    "Hey, no need to keep calling, your man won''t be coming over for a while!" Zhang Menglong said.


    Zhang Menglong''s words were filled with a strong warning. If he had bumped into a regular Huaxia tycoon just now, things wouldn''t have been so simple. It''s very likely that everything happening now would be reversed, and it could even become bloody¡ªZhang Menglong had just heard that this Simeng Palace might break his own arm!


    "Damn, to encounter these sleazy dwarfs even here!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his suit, now stained red, immediately feeling annoyed.


    "Mr. Zhang, I know where the changing room is. Let me take you to change your clothes," Emma said, pulling at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s jacket.


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong nodded his head.


    It wasn''t until he followed Emma down the long hotel corridor and entered a room that Zhang Menglong realized he didn''t bring a change of clothes, nor had he asked the Rothschild family to prepare a replacement suit. What was he doing in the changing room?


    "Wait, this isn''t the changing room!" Zhang Menglong walked into the room and immediately the scent identical to Emma''s rushed into his nostrils¡ªthis was Emma''s room!


    "Damn it, tricking me!" Zhang Menglong had just realized what was going on when those burning red lips pressed against his.


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong instantly stiffened all over, feeling a sensation from his lips that nearly made him give in.


    The smiling face of Lu Yiyao flashed through Zhang Menglong''s mind; he snapped back to reality. "Ye Yin, knock her out for me, but don''t hurt her!"


    No sooner had he spoken than Emma''s whole body softened beside Zhang Menglong.


    "Truly encountering a female hooligan!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected Emma would pull such a move; it seemed his beauty was somewhat irresistible today, he pondered very smugly.


    He helped Emma onto the bed and then cautiously left the room; it was still best to find someone from the Rothschild family to help him change clothes.


    However, as soon as he returned to the venue, Zhang Menglong bumped right into Ma Hua and others.


    Ma Hua''s meaningful look traveled across Zhang Menglong''s body, pausing momentarily on the lipstick mark at his lips, then moving down to his trousers.


    Zhang Menglong''s trousers were stained not with regular milk but sour milk, so now there were some indescribable white stains on them.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Ma Hua and Li Hong couldn''t help but laugh, "You young people nowadays really know how to have fun!"

 Chapter 214 Overtime Will Be Fined

    "No, no, no, you''ve got it all wrong!" Seeing the expressions on their faces, Zhang Menglong immediately guessed what they were all thinking.


    Everyone at the scene had noticed when he and Emma left earlier; all the people there were from the top tier of society, and such occurrences were nothing out of the ordinary for them.@@@@


    One was a globally famous actress, and the other was a mysterious young man with immeasurable wealth. It was perfectly normal for these two to get together!


    As for whether Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend, did it matter? Even those who were married still messed around, so having a girlfriend meant nothing!


    Calculating the time Zhang Menglong had been gone, it would have been a bit of a rush to do ''that'' unless he was a quick shooter. But if it were done in another way, then the time was more than sufficient. Combined with the white fluid on Zhang Menglong''s pants, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.


    "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, Emma Watson is the target of many, and just now that Prince Harrison has been pining after her for many years. Who would''ve thought she''d fall for your jeans!" a Huaxia tycoon smirked.


    Zhang Menglong had some recollection of this man, named Lu Fei. He used to be a professional Esports player and later spent some time as a streamer. Leveraging the wealth he had accumulated over the years, he surprisingly started some businesses. In just a few years, he consolidated the Esports industry in Huaxia and built a not-so-small business empire.


    Although he couldn''t compare with the likes of Ma Yun, Ma Hua, or Li Hong, LuFei still had a net worth of several billion US dollars, making him quite outstanding among the younger crowd.


    "No, listen to me explain, it''s not what you think, it''s yogurt! Don''t believe me? I''ll eat it and show you!" Zhang Menglong dipped a finger into the stain on his pants and then put it in his mouth.


    "See, it''s really yogurt, sour and sweet!"


    Although Zhang Menglong was trying hard to prove his innocence, no one believed him. A man and a woman disappeared for a while, and the man returned with a white fluid on him¡ªwho would believe it was yogurt?


    When they thought about Zhang Menglong possibly eating ''that'', the group grimaced, finding it hard to put their feelings into words. Was messing around with a female star worth vindicating himself in such a shameful way?


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s really no need, truly no need!"


    "Yeah! We all get it!"


    "Don''t worry, as long as you don''t come to take over our companies, we absolutely won''t tell your girlfriend about this! We swear!"


    "Right! And about you eating ''that thing'' just now, we won''t breathe a word of it to anyone else either!"


    "Hehehe..." Faced with Zhang Menglong''s unabashed and incisive words, Ma Hua and the others could only force a smile.


    "What''s so funny? It''s not like you guys don''t do 996 as well," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, not because he was being difficult for no reason, but because such behavior was in fact a violation of labor laws. Yet, in their mouths, it''s glorified as some kind of blessing, some form of young people''s striving.


    No matter how nice they sugarcoat it, it''s nothing more than rhetoric to cloak their vampiric actions. Others need to work to support themselves; at most, they might vent online as keyboard warriors. But Zhang Menglong didn''t need to; if something rubbed him the wrong way, he was going to speak out!


    "Hehehe, Mr. Zhang, isn''t your company the same?" Having been reprimanded repeatedly by Zhang Menglong, Ma Yun, despite his patience, was getting irritated.


    "That''s true," Zhang Menglong nodded. He never concerned himself with the company''s affairs because those matters were managed by others; he was merely a hands-off superintendent.


    Zhang Menglong picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number directly. At this hour, Hong Yi should already be up.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the matter?" Hong Yi asked.


    "Oh, I''m thinking of setting an example for a few people," Zhang Menglong said. "Are there many companies under my name that follow a 996 working schedule?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi replied, "approximately 20% of the enterprises are running on a 996 schedule."


    "Damn, am I also a vampire?" Zhang Menglong said in frustration. "Starting today, the 996 work schedule is to be abolished, reverted to 955. If overtime is required, double overtime pay is to be given. If someone works overtime without compensation, treat it the same as being late or leaving early and dock their pay!"


    Listenting to Zhang Menglong''s words, the mouths of Ma Yun and the others twitched. Could you still run a business like this, could the company still develop?


    "All right, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said. "However, adopting this approach will greatly increase the labor cost for that portion of your enterprises, and your annual profits will decrease by 0.25%."


    "That little?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    "Mr. Zhang, most of your revenue doesn''t rely on these companies. It''s the land you own all over the world that makes the most money. And even though 0.25% seems small, it''s still a very large number, roughly around a hundred billion US dollars."


    "Oh, then let it be so!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong looked at Ma Yun and the others and said, "I''ve already set a good example. Are you going to follow suit?"

 Chapter 215 Is There Really That Much Cash in the World?

    "You''re simply mad!"


    They admitted that they couldn''t replicate Zhang Menglong''s approach! A 996 work schedule had already reduced their labor costs by nearly half, but if they followed Zhang Menglong''s method, their annual profits would drastically decrease!


    After all, not everyone was like Zhang Menglong, who just ran a company to pass time and for fun.


    And Zhang Menglong saying no to overtime, that was one thing, almost just a return to the time before 996 had become prevalent. But double overtime pay? What was that all about?


    According to normal overtime standards, weekday overtime was 1.5 times the regular salary, weekends twice, and public holidays three times. According to Zhang Menglong''s standards, weekday overtime was three times the regular salary!


    If they were just ordinary workers, they could work overtime until Zhang Menglong was bankrupt! Even if they wanted to compete with him, was there a need to go this far?


    "Mr. Zhang, was it necessary to mock us in this manner? If your employees choose to work overtime every day, even getting paid for bathroom breaks, would you pay them overtime for that too?" Ma Yun asked.


    "So are you saying we should learn from you, work people to death every day, and only then are we managing an enterprise properly?" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "I''ve heard that some companies have reached a 007 work level, even working over 30 hours continuously. There was news just a few days ago about someone dropping dead, don''t tell me it was their personal choice!"


    Ma Yun really wanted to say that you could choose not to work 996, but there will always be people who can work 996¡ªthat is the harsh reality of this society, that''s how workers are!


    "As long as they work diligently, I won''t withhold a single cent of the overtime pay they deserve!" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "As for my losses? I''m only losing a few hundred billion US dollars a year, less than one percent of my total income. Do you think I care?


    "Lose a few hundred billion US dollars a year?" Several people exchanged wry smiles.


    What does "only" mean? Is a few hundred billion US dollars a small amount? The few of them combined don''t even make a hundred billion US dollars in a year, and that''s less than one percent of Zhang Menglong''s annual income?


    Could he really be earning tens of trillions of US dollars a year? That''s nonsense! The entire global GDP for a year is only tens of trillions of US dollars. Just last year, the global GDP reached over 80 trillion US dollars.@@@@


    Take Ma Yun, for example. He certainly had money, but most of the time, his funds were hard to mobilize. If it really came to a large capital movement, especially when the auction wasn''t held in Huaxia and involved transnational capital flow, it became even more troublesome.


    This time, for the auction, Lu Fei had prepared three hundred million Euros, but gathering that sum had taken him almost half a month.


    "Mr. Zhang, how much money have you prepared this time?" Lu Fei asked curiously.


    "This..." Zhang Menglong really didn''t know how much money he could gather, as so far, all his major expenses had been handled by Hong Yi, and there hadn''t been any transnational large capital movements. "Let me ask for a second!"


    Zhang Menglong called Hagen. "Hagen, I have a question."


    "Mr. Zhang, whatever you need, just tell me."


    "Oh, it''s nothing big. I just want to know, if I want to use money, how much capital can I mobilize at any time?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "If it''s about capital available at any time within Europe, five trillion Euros should be no problem,"


    "Ssst!" Hearing that amount, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gasp. Five trillion Euros. If it were compared to last year''s world GDP, it could rank third, only behind America and Huaxia. He could actually mobilize such a vast amount of wealth at any time in Europe.


    "Do you need to use a large amount of funds?" Hagen thought Zhang Menglong felt it was not enough. "Give me one night, and I can gather ten trillion Euros for you. If it''s by tomorrow afternoon when the auction starts, gathering twenty trillion Euros should also be possible."


    "That much?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by the number.


    "Of course, that''s just the authority of our Doleras family alone. If you mobilize the power of the other few families together, it wouldn''t be impossible to prepare fifty trillion Euros in cash for you by tomorrow morning."


    "That''s enough, that''s enough!" Zhang Menglong nodded repeatedly. Forget fifty trillion Euros, he remembered that the highest historical record for an auction so far hadn''t even exceeded one billion US Dollars. Even if this auction was a bit special, a few hundred billion Euros would be enough for him to dominate the event!


    Zhang Menglong still had one question: could there really be fifty trillion Euros in cash available in the world?


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 Chapter 216 I Didnt Plan to Spend Money

    "Okay, I got it," Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, took a couple of deep breaths, and regained his composure.


    "Mr. Zhang, I think you might have access to much more assets than we do?" Lu Fei wasn''t just complimenting Zhang Menglong; he was also trying to probe how much money Zhang actually had.


    "This time I''ve prepared five hundred million Euros, I believe both Mr. Ma''s must have brought more money than me, right?" Li Hong volunteered.


    "I''ve prepared eight hundred million Euros!" Ma Yun laughed.


    "Same here!"


    "Wow, is this a flaunting wealth contest?" Zhang Menglong thought to himself, but in his eyes, both Ma Hua and Ma Yun were merely little brothers.


    "That''s weird, could this auction item really be worth so much?" Zhang Menglong also voiced the biggest doubt in his mind, "As far as I recall, the largest sum paid at an auction in the world was only 730 million US Dollars, and you guys are bringing so much money, it''s like you''re buying out the venue."


    "No, Mr. Zhang, you are mistaken there," Ma Hua said, "Ten years ago, when we first came to this auction, we thought the same. I only brought fifty million US Dollars at the time, thinking I could buy quite a few good items, but in the end, I didn''t bring back a single thing!"


    "Really? That''s exaggerated," Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. At world-class auctions, the most common high-ticket items are artworks or precious treasures like the Heart of the Ocean, but those prices are typically only in the tens of millions of US Dollars, and they''re usually the highlight items.


    Ordinary auction items only go for about a million dollars at most; fifty million US Dollars and you get nothing¡ªdoesn''t that sound ridiculous?


    "That''s where you are uninformed," Ma Hua said, "The auction is indeed hosted by the Royal Auction House of Frankfurt, but they are just the middlemen, the actual sellers are a very mysterious organization."@@@@


    "Oh? How mysterious can it be?" Zhang Menglong was indeed piqued with curiosity.


    "Very mysterious. It''s said that it includes all sorts of people, such as artists, archaeologists, chemists, even arms dealers. They search globally for valuable items through various means, and even some of the items have quite dubious origins!" Ma Hua said this in a lowered voice.


    "Wow, no wonder the items they auction are so wildly sourced, one moment selling planes, tanks, destroyers, and the next even our Huaxia''s Tai''a Sword."


    "Taking advantage of the fire?" Zhang Menglong said in a cold tone.


    "Exactly, taking advantage of the fire!" Ma Yun said, "So, if there really are Huaxia''s relics appearing, the money we''ve brought might not be enough to buy even a few."


    "Since I''ve come, then let me take over this task.


    "How much money did Mr. Zhang bring?" Lu Fei asked excitedly, seeing how prepared Zhang Menglong seemed to be.


    "A few thousand times more than you guys," Zhang Menglong said lightly.


    "What?" Ma Hua and others almost cried out loud.


    Although that time Zhang Menglong used 500 billion US dollars to heavily slam both Ma Hua and Li Hong, that money was most likely the property of Zhang Menglong''s company.


    Just like Ma Hua and Ma Yun, they are all worth several billions of US dollars, but most of the money belongs to their companies, and they can''t possibly use the company''s funds to participate in an auction.


    So, it may seem absurd that people worth hundreds of billions only bring a few billion to an auction, but in fact, that was almost all the personal liquid assets they could mobilize.


    They believed that even if Zhang Menglong was wealthier, he could probably bring only a few billion euros at most.


    As for being a few thousand times theirs? That would be in the trillions of dollars, how could that be possible? Could it be that Zhang Menglong''s company, which is entirely his own, also had several hundred billion euros in liquid assets? That''s impossible!


    Even for Unicorn Technology, with just a few billions of dollars in market value, even if sold and then multiplied by ten, it couldn''t possibly reach a trillion!


    Zhang Menglong shook his head and chuckled, "Don''t be surprised; this is all basic operations. It''s just that your poverty limits your imagination."


    Then Zhang Menglong let out a cold laugh, "Moreover, I didn''t say I plan to spend money to buy those cultural relics!"


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 Chapter 217 Starting with an Aircraft Carrier

    "Not planning to spend money? What does that mean?" They all felt there was more to Zhang Menglong''s words, but none could fathom his true intentions.


    The starting bid for every item at this auction was 0 yuan, an anomaly in the auction world! Even the biggest auction houses sometimes faced unsold lots. If that were to happen here, it would essentially be getting something for nothing, a loss that could be measured in hundreds of millions of euros.


    But they were confident enough to make such a rule because they had never had an unsold item to date. The allure of the auction items was nearly fatal for these tycoons; no one would simply watch as these goods sold for base prices.


    Another interesting rule was that each bid increment had to be at least 5 million in the local currency of the auction location, meaning that every bid increase at tomorrow''s auction would need to be 5 million euros! To anyone, that was not a small figure.


    Under such circumstances, for Zhang Menglong to think about getting those items for a low price was pure fanciful thinking.


    "Hehe, young people, they never play by the rules!" Zhang Menglong chuckled slyly, leaving behind an ambiguous statement before departing.


    After being teased by Kristen and Emma, a wicked fire was spreading in Zhang Menglong. And with the initial taste of sexual pleasure, he couldn''t wait to return and "explore" the pinnacle of life with Lu Yiyao.


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, let''s talk more about business," Ma Yun actually wanted to discuss Zhang Menglong''s commercial empire plans the most, but he hadn''t had the chance to interject earlier. Now that Zhang Menglong was leaving, Ma Yun suddenly grew anxious.


    "Don''t bother me!" Zhang Menglong roared back at him, "I''m busy!"


    "This..." Ma Yun watched Zhang Menglong''s retreating figure with a mixture of laughter and tears, "How can he switch faces faster than a monkey?"


    Although their earlier conversation wasn''t so pleasant, they had enjoyed the latter part of the discussion. So why had Zhang Menglong suddenly changed his attitude?


    "Perhaps that''s just how young people are!" Li Hong said with a bitter smile, "All right, he is a Huaxia man after all, and he''s in Jiangnan City; you''ll always have the opportunity to meet him. Why fuss over a day or two? Let''s quickly figure out what to do after Zhang Menglong advocated against the 996 work policy!"


    "If I had known that talking with him today would cause so much trouble, I wouldn''t have sought him out for a chat!" Ma Hua realized that nothing good ever happened whenever he crossed paths with Zhang Menglong.


    The first time, he was nearly knocked out by a bid of 500 billion US dollars; the second time, Tengxun Music, which he had painstakingly managed for over a decade, was directly acquired by Zhang Menglong; and this time was unlikely to end well either. He expected his public image would soon become that of a heartless capitalist, in stark contrast to Zhang Menglong''s shining image.


    ...


    Soon, as the two o''clock chime rang out, the whole room went quiet. Accompanied by a burst of elegant symphony, a blonde beauty stepped onto the auction stage.


    "Holy fuck! Emma Watson! They actually got her to be the auctioneer? That''s a bit of a cheat move!" Wang Ling''s face was practically pressed against the glass.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s indifferent face, Wang Ling asked, "How come you''re not surprised at all?"


    "Oh, well," Zhang Menglong said expressionlessly, "you might not believe it, but last night, she almost pinned me down in bed!"


    "You beast!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s smug expression, Wang Ling cursed weakly.


    Emma, too, was looking around the auction stage for Zhang Menglong. Last night was really weird; she hadn''t drunk much, so how did she get drunk? And unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong didn''t seem to have taken advantage of her inebriation to do anything, which made her question her own allure.


    "Welcome to the decennial World Ultimate Auction Event; I am today''s auctioneer, Emma Watson!" Unable to find Zhang Menglong after a long search, Emma still commenced her professional duties. This time her pay reached a whopping ten million Euros¡ªa not so common opportunity.


    "Wow!" A thunderous applause ensued, most of which was in admiration of the beautiful woman.


    After some formal greetings, the first item of the auction appeared on the giant LCD screen in front of everyone.


    "Today, we have a total of 102 exceptionally rare auction items. So, let''s unveil the first item of the auction!"


    "102 items? Even more than last year, looks like today will be quite the bloody affair!" Wang Ling exclaimed with unmatched excitement.


    The question marks gradually faded from the screen, revealing a schematic of the first item up for auction.


    "What the fuck!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse as he saw the first item. He had been hoping to buy an aircraft carrier to use as a yacht, and as if in response to his heartfelt desire, the first auction item was indeed an aircraft carrier!


    "Starting off with an aircraft carrier, this motherf..." Zhang Menglong clicked his tongue in amazement; this auction was bound to be incredibly interesting!


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 Chapter 218 Do I Care About These 200 Million Euros?

    "Although information about this aircraft carrier is already presented on the screen in front of everyone, allow me to introduce it to all of you!" a video began playing on the huge LED screen behind Emma.


    "This aircraft carrier, named the Zimiel, began its construction in 2002 and took eight years to complete, with its first launch in 2010."


    "The Zimiel incorporated numerous high-tech systems, primarily including integrated electric propulsion and electromagnetic catapult technology. Its length is 315.25 meters, its width 39.12 meters, its draft 12 meters, its standard displacement 100,000 tons, its full-load displacement 110,000 tons, with a maximum speed exceeding 30 knots, and a total cost of over 10 billion US dollars!"


    "Are they crazy? They can manage to sell this thing?" As a standard military enthusiast, Wang Ling knew the Zimiel aircraft carrier like the back of his hand, "With so many aircraft carriers around the world, if Zimiel claims to be second, only the Ford class dares to claim first. This thing, once out on the ocean, is absolutely ostentatious and domineering, much stronger than any destroyer, right?"


    "Good grief, I''m directly saying good grief!" After listening to this brief introduction, Zhang Menglong finally understood why even a few billion wasn''t enough in this auction; the first item alone was an aircraft carrier worth over 10 billion US dollars. What the hell is this about?


    However, of course, that was just the construction cost of the aircraft carrier, which included the cost of many weapon systems and advanced technologies mounted on the ship. Now, it''s just a retired aircraft carrier. To prevent technology leaks, its core technological components had all been removed.


    Put a little bluntly, it''s now just a hunk of metal drifting on the sea, so naturally, it couldn''t possibly still be worth that much money. Probably, the Americans wanted to sell it just to recoup some costs, right?


    After all, normally, when aircraft carriers retire, they are scrapped and recycled, much like scrap metal collectors¡ªselling an entire aircraft carrier''s steel would never fetch much. But in the eyes of these top-level tycoons, this thing is different.


    If someone says they have an aircraft carrier at their home, it''s definitely an earth-shattering, ghost-god astonishing affair, and it''s absolutely unbeatable in showing off.


    The auction site immediately buzzed with noise, everyone was deeply interested in this aircraft carrier. Of course, more so, they discussed what final price it would fetch and who would buy it.


    "I think everyone is very curious about what this aircraft carrier still retains," Emma opened a file list, "The Zimiel maintains its original nuclear power system, but for confidentiality, it underwent downgrading to an engine that meets current average world technological levels, yet its power remains extremely formidable."


    Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@


    "Besides that, basic systems like the radar detection, plasma waste recycling, and seawater purification systems were all kept intact. As long as it doesn''t involve core technology, almost everything was perfectly preserved," Emma explained, "it could be said that, apart from warfare, its navigational capabilities have been retained by over 60%!"


    "Furthermore, the customer who acquires this aircraft carrier will also get 200 professional staff for free service, for a duration of ten years. At the end of that period, you can also renew the contract by hiring them."


    Emma continued to describe roughly for another five minutes, covering all the major features, and everyone got a fairly good idea about the retired Zimiel.


    "You..."


    Wang Ling simply twisted his head away, feeling that talking to Zhang Menglong about money was shortening his life by ten years!


    Actually, Wang Ling felt that Zhang Menglong was at a loss, but Zhang Menglong himself didn''t think so; he seldom had such a brilliant opportunity to spend so much money!


    "Who is that guy?"


    "Is he crazy?"


    "what fuck?"


    "oh shit!"


    "Such a young voice."


    "Could it be that young man from Huaxia named Zhang Menglong?"


    "Exactly, I can''t mistake that voice!"


    It didn''t take long for Zhang Menglong''s identity to be confirmed, but Zhang Menglong didn''t care at all. If they had the guts, they could come and fight him!


    "The highest bid now is from guest in VIP room number 0, is there anyone willing to offer more than 1 billion Euros?" Emma''s face filled with surprise; as an auctioneer, she actually earned commissions, which fluctuated based on the seller''s minimum target price.


    This aircraft carrier''s seller''s mental price was 780 million Euros, and if it indeed sold for 1 billion, then her commission would be based on the difference of 220 million Euros!


    Even if it was 1%, that was still 2.3 million Euros!


    Suddenly, Emma had a strong premonition that after today, her net worth might possibly surpass a significant portion of the people here!


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 Chapter 219 Foodie, Foodie Soul

    "Mr. Bigler, didn''t you just say you were interested in this aircraft carrier? Would you like to raise your bid even higher?" In the seats on the first floor, two billionaires were whispering to each other.


    "Raise your own geoduck!" If that billionaire were a Huaxia person, he would certainly have such a thought in his mind.


    Under normal circumstances, the first auction item is only second to the finale item. He indeed had the capability to shout out a few higher numbers, but if he really did, he would basically have no chance at the other auction items.


    For an impractical, retired aircraft carrier, it really wasn''t necessary.


    "With his bidding like that, I wonder how much money he''ll have left at the end!"


    "Right, 1 billion Euros, there probably wouldn''t be more than 20 people in the room who could come up with that amount, right? Even if he is the wealthiest among them, how many times could he produce 1 billion Euros?"


    "Forget it, 1 billion Euros is already way over its own price, no need for that!"


    "Just let him have it!"


    "Huaxia people are really boring, spending so much money on such things!"


    "Hahaha, you guys forgot, at the last auction, there was also a Huaxia person who bought a plane tank and a destroyer!"


    "Now that you mention it, I do remember, but afterwards there was no news from that Huaxia person, and it seemed like nobody ever saw that destroyer again."


    "Maybe he went bankrupt from buying random stuff?"


    "Hahaha, possible!"


    ...@@@@


    People had mixed feelings about Zhang Menglong''s actions, some simply gave up continuing the bid due to the inflated price, but many were just waiting to see Zhang Menglong''s blunder. They even doubted whether Zhang Menglong could manage to bring that aircraft carrier back to a Huaxia port.


    Emma confirmed the bid three times, making sure no one continued to bid, and then the gavel fell heavily.


    "We congratulate the guest in VIP Room 0 for successfully purchasing the Zimir-class aircraft carrier. Please complete the payment within one hour, and we will arrange for someone to handle the transfer process with you."


    Just at that moment, the voice of a staff member echoed in Emma''s earpiece, and her expression briefly flashed with surprise before breaking into a brilliant smile, due to the fact that those 1 billion Euros had already been transferred! This also meant that her commission was securely accounted for in her bank.


    Such straightforward people are truly cash daddies!


    "Congratulations to the guest in VIP Room 0, please patiently await our transfer personnel, as we now commence the auction of the second item!"


    The crowd below buzzed with whispers again, Emma''s announcement meaning that Zhang Menglong had already completed the payment! 1 billion Euros, paid in just a few seconds¡ªwas this money burning a hole in his pocket, or what? Keeping it any longer would cause nuclear radiation, right?


    "The next auction item, not only is it a priceless treasure, but it also is a historic artifact!" As Emma introduced it, the second auction item unveiled its mysterious veil.


    ...


    "40 million!" Wang Ling hurriedly shouted.


    "Are you interested in this thing?" Zhang Menglong turned and asked.


    "You would never miss out on such a thing!" Wang Ling spoke, "If we don''t shout now, we won''t have a chance later!"


    "Haha, you''re right!" Zhang Menglong immediately shouted, "100 million Euros!"


    "Wow!"


    "How did he start again?"


    "What a joke!"


    "With this guy here, what can we even buy?"


    "No worries, just wait a bit longer. Once he''s used up all his money, we''ll have our chance."


    Little did they know, even if they waited until the end of the world, they might not see Zhang Menglong run out of money.


    "105 million Euros!"


    It was assumed that nobody would continue to compete with Zhang Menglong, the madman, but from the third VIP room next to Zhang Menglong''s came a slightly aged voice.


    "Mr. Zhang, you come from Huaxia. This item has greater historical value than artistic value, so might it be better if it stays in Europe?"


    "Sorry, I have no intention of giving up the bid," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m not in the habit of leaving change, so I bid 200 million Euros!"


    "Damn! Are you really here to auction? Or are you just flaunting your wealth?" Wang Ling began to slap his thigh in distress.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you bring it back, it will just end up in the storage room, so why waste so much money buying it?" the voice sounded a bit puzzled.


    "Who said it''s going in the storage room," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This is eating gear. Of course, I''m buying it to eat with!"


    "What does ''eating gear'' mean? Does it mean eating?"


    "Eating with a 200 million Euro item? Isn''t he afraid of shortening his life span?"


    "Does this Huaxia man have a problem with his brain? With 200 million Euros, what couldn''t he deliciously eat?"


    Listening to the discussions below, Zhang Menglong suddenly spoke, "Hey, you all don''t know. Our Huaxia''s literary master Lu Xun once said, ''Those who eat rice are superior people, and using the best things for eating is never too extravagant!''"


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 Chapter 220 Are You TM Shopping on Taobao?

    "How have I never heard Lu Xun say this phrase?" Lu Yiyao burst out laughing.


    "If it wasn''t Lu Xun, it was Zhou Shuren who said it, anyway, one of them must have said it!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Good lord, I, Zhou Shuren, have cursed all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to San Wei Study!"


    "Old gentleman, will you continue to bid?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Forget it, I''ll let you have it!" the old man sighed.


    In VIP Room 3, there was an elderly man nearing the age of ninety. He was almost bald, and his body slumped in his wheelchair as though completely paralyzed, with a man in his fifties standing behind him.


    "Father, aren''t you going to contend for it a bit more? As descendants of the Spanish Royal Family, we have a reason to retrieve the things our ancestors lost!"


    "Hehe, when the kingdom was destroyed and we were thrown out, no one remembered that we were royals!" the old man said with a melancholy laugh, "I have tried just now, at least I have done a little of my duty, don''t forget, our real purpose here isn''t that item!"


    "Father, the money we brought should be enough!"


    "No, you underestimate the appeal of that item," the old man replied, "This time, not only us but many other countries have sent representatives here, and even many from the Second World of humans. Even if we did manage to snatch it, it would be hard to leave this place!"


    "But father," the middle-aged man''s face was full of doubts, "does something like that really exist in the world? Something that can give one hundreds of years of life, it''s just too incredible."


    "Vast Thousand Worlds abound with wonders, and before we encountered that incident, we didn''t even know there was such a thing as the Second World, right?"


    "That''s true," the middle-aged man nodded, "I hope it really has such miraculous effects!"


    "Hehe, I don''t even hope for hundreds of extra years, just getting rid of this state of living death. Even if it''s just for 10 years, it would be worth it!"


    ...


    After three rounds, still no one had offered a higher bid.


    "Congratulations to the gentleman in VIP Room 0, ''Mr. Eater,'' for successfully winning this set of art pieces," Emma joked slightly, "Additionally, this set of utensils has yet to have a name, and you''ve won the rights to name it!"


    "Then call it ''Eating Soul''!" Zhang Menglong blurted out without even thinking.


    "Hahaha!" Wang Ling was nearly bursting with laughter, "It sounds like someone hammering on a coffin board. I bet you ten bucks, if Charles V knew you named it ''Eating Soul,'' he would climb right out of his grave to deal with you!"


    "Butler!" Zhang Menglong immediately called his butler, "Don''t make too much for lunch tomorrow, just three dishes and a soup with two bowls of rice will do. Let''s use my newly bought ''Eating Soul'' to serve it. I want to see if a two billion dollar set of bowls makes the food taste any better!"


    The butler picked up the phone completely baffled.


    Meow meow meow? What the heck is he talking about?


    "Not much, just over sixty billion or so, about a dozen items, see for yourself!" Zhang Menglong moved the smart tablet in front of Wang Ling.


    "Are you sick? That''s not how you''re supposed to use money!" Looking at Zhang Menglong''s shopping list, Wang Ling wanted to take a knife and kill Menglong. Almost none of these items were useful.


    "Why did you buy this dinosaur fossil?"


    "To ward off evil spirits!"


    ...


    "And this meteorite?"


    "They say this piece of meteorite is especially hard!"


    "So?"


    "It can be used to crack walnuts."


    "I''m...," Wang Ling''s mouth twitched, perhaps this was the simple joy of the rich.


    ...


    "Exactly how much money does this Huaxia man have?"


    "Don''t know, but I feel like he could buy everything at the auction today."


    "Have you guys heard? Zhang Menglong recently went to Qingqiu Country and withdrew hundreds of millions of billions of Qingqiu Currency from their bank, all in cash!"


    "Isn''t that equivalent to several hundred billion US Dollars?"


    "Then why the heck are we even having an auction?"


    "No wonder he shops at the auction as if he were browsing a street market..."


    Unlike these wealthy individuals who came purely for the excitement and to see the world, some people''s faces turned quite ugly and they even grew extremely nervous, as they had come with a special purpose and were interested in only one thing!


    But if the trend continued, it was very likely that Zhang Menglong would purchase that item, and perhaps even a country might not have the financial power like Zhang Menglong!


    However, this didn''t affect Emma in the slightest. The organizers just informed her that her first commission had been credited, totaling nearly 320 million Euros! Now, she only hoped that Zhang Menglong would go crazier!


    "Coming up is the thirteenth auction item, from a country with a long history and splendid culture, it is Huaxia!"


    At that moment, every Huaxia person present changed their expression; indeed, the rumors were true, and this auction really did feature items from Huaxia!


    ...


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 Chapter 221 Who Dares to Buy

    "Everyone knows that Huaxia is a country with a very long history. As one of the four ancient civilizations of the world, many treasures have been born in the history of Huaxia, and many of their crafts cannot even be replicated in this technologically advanced era."


    It was clear that Emma greatly admired Huaxia''s culture, and the reverence for Huaxia was evident between the lines.


    However, to the Huaxia people at the scene, it sounded a bit mocking. As an ancient civilization, their cultural relics were not lying respectfully in the national museums but had instead been lost overseas and ended up at this auction, which was a disgrace!


    "I want to see what exactly they have found!" Zhang Menglong steadied himself, resolved that today, any Huaxia item up for auction would be taken back without leaving a single one behind, and not a single cent would be spent!


    Since when did someone have to pay to retrieve their own belongings that had been lost outside?


    "Those who have studied Huaxia civilization might have heard that during the period of the Six States'' wars, there was a treasure known as the He''s Bi Remnant Jade!"


    "He''s Bi Remnant Jade?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling exchanged glances. Any Huaxian would not be unfamiliar with this name ¨C the story of ''Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao'' from their childhood textbooks was deeply etched in every Huaxia youth''s heart.


    He''s Bi Remnant Jade was a famous beautiful jade in the history of Huaxia, discovered by a man named Bian He. It was hidden inside a rock and offered twice to the reigning overlords of that time, but because the craftsmen were blind to its beauty, failing to recognize the precious stone hidden within the rock, each of the monarchs had one of his legs chopped off for the crime of deceiving the emperor.


    It was not until King Wen of Chu finally discovered the He''s Bi Remnant Jade hidden inside the stone that it became the national treasure of Chu State. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the land, he carved the He''s Bi Remnant Jade into an Imperial Jade Seal, with the words "Granted by Heaven, May it Last Forever" inscribed on it.


    Subsequently, through the generations, those coveting the Emperor''s throne fought over it, causing the Imperial Jade Seal to change hands repeatedly throughout more than two thousand years on the Shenzhou Continent. It appeared and vanished intermittently before disappearing completely, becoming one of the most valuable lost national treasures of Huaxia.


    Over the years, countless archaeologists searched every nook and cranny, but not a trace of it could be found, a truly sigh-inducing fact.


    Emma just mentioned the He''s Bi Remnant Jade. Could it be that the next item up for auction is the legendary Imperial Jade Seal that has been lost for so long?


    Again, it was the slowly rising platform. Emma grasped the velvet cloth covering the tray and yanked it off, revealing a strange, colorful radiance that immediately elicited gasps of amazement.


    "The thirteenth auction item is the Imperial Jade Seal carved from the He''s Bi Remnant Jade!"


    "Whoosh!" The four people in the VIP room all stood up at once, their eyes wide as they gazed upon the square Jade Seal.


    Seen from the front, the Jade Seal appeared milky white, but from the side, it emitted a faint bluish-green tint. It was squarely shaped, and the top was carved with a five-clawed dragon, the very symbol of supreme honor!


    "Now, let''s start the auction for this Imperial Jade Seal!"


    "The Imperial Jade Seal of Huaxia, it''s so intriguing, I must buy it for my collection!"


    "This thing is pretty much a national treasure! If it were in Huaxia, it would definitely not appear at an auction!"


    "So beautiful! So beautiful! This is definitely the finest piece of art! A symbol of imperial power, I want to bring it back to our Royal Family!"


    "Ahem!" Zhang Menglong was the first to make a sound.


    "That Huaxian isn''t going to spend money on it again, is he?"


    "Very likely, he buys all those useless things, how could he possibly pass up such a national treasure?"


    "There''s no way again, who can compete with him!"


    "Hehe, but this time it''s different. For other items, if the price is really too high, I guess he would give up, but for something like this, no matter how expensive, I''m afraid he won''t let go. I''ve heard that Zhang Menglong is extremely patriotic!"


    "Oh? Then this is going to be interesting, he''s sure to play the sucker!"


    "Just watch, there will definitely be people who maliciously drive up the price. Who made him so arrogant, to dismiss so many of us?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you planning to make a bid?" Emma looked in Zhang Menglong''s direction with a beaming smile, already fantasizing about a very beautiful figure.


    "No, this time, I don''t plan to bid," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "You don''t plan to bid? You''re not planning to compete for this Imperial Jade Seal? It must have great significance to Huaxia, right?"


    "I only said I don''t plan to bid, but I didn''t say I won''t take it back with me!" said Zhang Menglong, "The starting price is 0 euros, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, there''s no reserve price for anything, but if you don''t bid, others will definitely compete fiercely!"


    Zhang Menglong raised his voice: "Then I''ll bid 0 euros! Let''s see, who dares to buy it today!"


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 Chapter 222 From Now On, This Place Is Called Zhang Menglong Square

    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by this?" Emma''s face changed on the stage, she could never have imagined that Zhang Menglong would suddenly make such a move.


    "Miss Emma, it''s just as it sounds," Zhang Menglong said, "if anyone dares to bid for this Imperial Jade Seal, then don''t blame me, Zhang Menglong, for doing something excessive!"


    "Everyone should remember, I came here on a Destroyer, and please believe that if I want, summoning two, three, or even ten more is no problem at all, or perhaps some of you would like to witness aircraft carriers and fighter jets, I can fulfill that desire as well!"


    Zhang Menglong made no attempt to conceal the aggressive and threatening tone in his voice, today, nothing belonging to Huaxia can be taken away by anyone.


    As for how this auction organization got their hands on this Imperial Jade Seal, and how much manpower and material resources they spent, Zhang Menglong didn''t care.


    Even though this may sound somewhat inconsiderate, after all, they might have gone to great lengths to find this national treasure of Huaxia that has been lost for a hundred years, but know this, bringing something that represents the culture and history of Huaxia to auction is a desecration of Huaxia civilization!


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think you are acting too high-handedly?" Zhang Menglong''s domineering attitude and tone instantly aroused the anger of many people.


    Zhang Menglong just now bought dozens of items in one go, leaving them with not a single gain, which had already discontented many people, and now he is actually using threats to force them to give up bidding, which is simply too much!


    "Exactly! Mr. Zhang, even if you are reluctant to spend money, you can''t stop us from bidding, right? Or is the patriotism you keep claiming just an excuse to mask your own behavior?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you just said it yourself, this is an auction, the highest bidder wins, so if you act this way, it''s a bit hypocritical, isn''t it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there are over a thousand people here, your actions could provoke public outrage!"@@@@


    More and more people chimed in together, Zhang Menglong wanted everyone to give up bidding and just take away the priceless Imperial Jade Seal without spending a penny, not even thinking about it!


    "You disagree with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Pressuring me by standing on the moral high ground? Trying to make me yield to public opinion pressure? Sorry, as long as I lack moral qualms, I will never be shackled by morality, even if the King of Heaven were here, he couldn''t stop me today!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you are breaking the rules of the auction by doing this!" someone shouted loudly.


    "Are you talking about the Rothschild family?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Why not ask him whether they dare to meddle in what I intend to do?"


    As if prepared for this question, a broadcast voice resounded in the auction venue, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Biros of the Rothschild family. Everything Mr. Zhang said represents our family''s stance!"


    They had all seen that destroyer, a fully armed destroyer, with its dark cannon barrels and threatening ship-borne missiles. Anyone who saw it would be terrified.


    The most critical point was that this auction wasn''t a proper auction at all, as it was entirely private, and many of the items on auction couldn''t bear public scrutiny. Therefore, only a very few people knew of its existence, and public knowledge about it was virtually nil.


    If it were ever exposed to the public eye, it would undoubtedly attract significant international attention, because here, there were not only national treasures of Huaxia but also many treasures from other countries, even some items that were forbidden to be traded!


    Every billionaire who came here did so under the pretext of business trips or other reasons. As such, they couldn''t possibly seek help from their own countries. Just the power of owning that destroyer alone meant Zhang Menglong could do whatever he wanted, not to mention the possibility that he could actually mobilize other military equipment.


    "Let him be!"


    "Ah! This is truly insane!"


    "Forget it, these are the treasures of Huaxia and were never meant for us anyway."


    After much deliberation, the majority decided to withdraw from the bidding.


    "I bid 5 million Euros!" Finally, in the silent crowd, a rather abrupt voice rang out.


    "Damn, is there really someone not afraid of dying?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze turned sinister. Even under such threats, someone dared to continue bidding?


    And in that voice, Zhang Menglong heard something called defiance.


    "It must be those people, right?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "Those people? Which people? What people?" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong with confusion.


    "It''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, his gaze falling on VIP room number 7. The voice had come from there just now.


    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin''s voice echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind, "That should be the representative from the Derman Kingdom, accompanied by someone equivalent to a Level Five Mutant."


    "Just as expected!" A smile played on Zhang Menglong''s lips even more. "A Level Five Mutant, how interesting!"


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 Chapter 223 Then Ill Do It the Civilized Way

    In Room 7, there was a middle-aged man around forty with short, neatly kept hair, dressed in a black suit. His eyes sparkled with an indescribable glow.


    Behind him stood another man and a woman. The man appeared quite scholarly, with hair covering half of his eyes and round-framed glasses perched on his nose, holding a book about human anatomy, which evoked the impression of a doctor.


    They all hailed from Derman, a powerful nation that had dominated Europe several times and nearly conquered the world.


    "Adenna, why do you want to bid for Huaxia''s Imperial Jade Seal? This item is meaningless to us!" the woman said with a displeased expression. "Don''t forget, our target this time is that item!"


    "I know," the man called Adenna replied, "I just can''t stand that Huaxia boy''s arrogance. Even though the times are different now and they are becoming stronger, it seems they''ve forgotten that when our kingdom of Derman was contending for world dominance, they were still busy seeking redemption from their enslaved society!"


    "Anna, it''s alright, let Adenna have his fun," the bespectacled man interjected, "Otherwise, this trip would be far too boring."


    "Yeah, this Huaxia person is indeed quite wealthy. I have no idea how he managed to mobilize that destroyer from England and even got Frankfurt to allow it, but to think he can do whatever he wants at this auction with just a destroyer is a bit far-fetched."


    "Hahaha, such first world weapons can only intimidate ordinary people, they are useless against us," Adenna continued, "Even if they brought ten times more, they couldn''t keep us here. Just considering his arrogant demeanor earlier, if he doesn''t bleed, he won''t think of taking the item back to Huaxia!"


    "Aren''t you afraid that this Huaxia person will drive up the price and then outmaneuver you?" the woman laughed.


    "That''s impossible. I know the people of Huaxia well. They value national honor above everything, and if the Imperial Jade Seal, an item of such significance, has come up this time, they will do everything they can to secure it, even if means selling the pots and pans."


    ...@@@@


    "Mr. Zhang, ordinary firearms are very intimidating to common people, but they are utterly meaningless against mutants of Level Three and above," Ye Yin told Zhang Menglong. "With the protection of that Level Five mutant, the destroyer won''t stop them."


    "Isn''t that why I have you!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Just now, Zhang Menglong''s credibility had been seriously challenged! He had barely finished speaking when someone immediately called out a bid, essentially a slap in his face.


    In their Kaibong, a "Divine Ninja" was someone who had surpassed the mighty existence of Level Nine energy units; such individuals, powerful enough to only be looked up to, represented the nation''s most valuable strength and talent!


    He believed that the person Zhang Menglong had brought with him definitely possessed strength above the Level Nine energy units! Last night, that Huaxia person seemed like he was merely playing with him¡ªfrom the moment he noticed his presence to the moment he was subdued, it all happened in an instant!


    Although he didn''t know why Zhang Menglong had such a person by his side, let alone why his men dared to brazenly tear up the second-world treaty, but with such a person next to Zhang Menglong, anyone who provoked him was probably going to die miserably!


    "Stupid and arrogant people from Derman!" the Dream Palace muttered to himself. This time, if they wanted to take that item back, there was almost no hope.


    ...


    "Miss Emma, it is time to ask for bids!" Adenna said in a haughty tone.


    Only then did Emma suddenly remember her actual job.


    "Five million euros for the first time. Is there anyone else who would like to raise the bid?" Emma''s expression turned towards the VIP room where Zhang Menglong was seated.


    "Five million euros for the second time!"


    "Hehehe!" As Emma called for bids the second time, a burst of laughter came from VIP room number 7, "If Mr. Zhang doesn''t continue to bid, this Imperial Jade Seal will belong to me, and I look forward to seeing if Mr. Zhang''s naval forces can really trap me then!"


    "Old Zhang, that bastard is provoking you! Get him!" Wang Ling said, teeth itching with anger.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong was surprisingly not angry, "but I''ve suddenly changed my mind. Now, I plan to use the method of a civilized person."


    "Ah? The method of a civilized person? What do you mean?" Wang Ling asked, puzzled.


    "The method of a civilized person, that is to overpower him with money!" Zhang Menglong declared, "As long as he can''t produce the money when it''s time to pay, then he won''t be taking the item away!"


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 Chapter 224 The Bank Really is Owned by My Family

    "He can''t pay? What joke are you making?" Wang Ling said, "Everyone who comes here has a net worth of at least a hundred million US dollars. Any random person could easily come up with 5 million euros in cash. How could he possibly not be able to pay?"


    "Wanna bet?" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous grin, "If he can come up with the 5 million euros later, I''ll stand on my head and eat three tons of shit, and then do a handjob to a five-speed fan!"


    "Pfft! Hooligan!" Lu Yiyao gave Zhang Menglong a look of disdain.


    "Damn, you''re betting that hard?" Wang Ling was suddenly shaken, "Aren''t you also a freeloader?"


    "You''re farting, am I that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said, "But if I win the bet, and he can''t come up with the 5 million euros, you have to eat all 257 tons of shit you owe in one go, plus wash dicks with sulfuric acid, how about that?"


    "I''m not betting with you!" Wang Ling didn''t dare to take such a harsh bet, and seeing Zhang Menglong''s confident look, there must be a scheme. Zhang Menglong''s methods were always unpredictable, and he might indeed pull it off.


    "But I do want to see how you''re going to do it!" Wang Ling said.


    "Simple," Zhang Menglong smiled, "This auction trades in tens or even hundreds of millions of euros. They can''t possibly use cash to pay, right?"


    "Of course, it''s all done through bank transfers, and through secret accounts at Swiss Bank," Wang Ling said, "Before anyone attends the auction, they need to register such an account for fund transfers."


    "Hey, haven''t you bought a dozen things already? How do you not know how the payment works?" Wang Ling felt a bit annoyed.


    "Do I need to spend my own money when I buy things?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "I just tell the person arranged by Haigen the transfer amount, and he takes care of everything. I don''t even need to do it myself."


    "Damn! Evil capitalist!" Wang Ling cursed enviously, "What''s your plan?"


    "Swiss Bank, right?" Zhang Menglong''s glasses twirled, "Just get the bank to freeze his money. Then he won''t be able to transfer a penny, and thus, he won''t be able to pay, right?"


    "Hahaha! You really dare to think big!" Wang Ling laughed, "Swiss Bank is a top-level bank in the world. It is said that at least a quarter of the world''s top rich people have all their money there. Who do you think you are, unless you own the bank!"


    Suddenly, Wang Ling noticed an extraordinarily weird smile on Zhang Menglong''s face, one that seemed to tell him, "Brother, you have no idea what I''m capable of!"


    "No... No way? Am I the clown?" Wang Ling made an exaggerated face.


    "Sorry, this Swiss Bank, it seems it really is mine!" Zhang Menglong said with a slightly apologetic tone.


    "Impossible, right? I remember that more than 70% of the bank''s shares are spread across several investment firms, with BlueShirt International Capital holding 12.5%, Carlyle Asia Ventures with 22.4%, and several other ventures that are well-known globally."


    "Hahaha, since that''s the case, we can''t be mute either. 25 million Euros!"


    Besides the wealthy patrons from Kaibong''s Western Dream Palace, those followed by second-world humans began to bid recklessly. In their eyes, protected by second-world humans, they had no fear of Zhang Menglong''s threats!


    "Wow, they''re all jumping out now!" The smile at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s mouth grew colder.


    "Old Zhang, they don''t seem to be afraid of your threats at all. Could there be any danger? Should we not be so confrontational?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but express her concerns.


    "Don''t worry, they are just a bunch of idiots," Zhang Menglong said, "There''s plenty of time to deal with them, but I''ll need Haigen to help me freeze a few more accounts!"


    ...


    "One hundred and twenty-five million Euros, sold! Congratulations to the owner of VIP room number seven for successfully acquiring this Imperial Jade Seal! Please complete the payment within one hour, and we will deliver the Imperial Jade Seal directly to your VIP room after the payment is made."


    "Wait a minute!" The young voice of Zhang Menglong came from VIP room zero.


    "Mr. Zhang, the auction for this item has already concluded," Emma reminded him.


    "I know," said Zhang Menglong, "but I just want to doubt whether this guest in number seven can actually come up with one hundred and twenty-five million Euros. If they can''t, then this item doesn''t belong to them."


    This extreme auction had an interesting rule. At ordinary auctions, if the final buyer cannot pay, not only must they pay a fee as compensation, but the item would also be declared unsold.


    However, here, if the highest bidder cannot pay, the item goes to the second-highest bidder, and so on until someone can pay, so there is no situation where an item goes unsold!


    "Hahaha! What a joke. Are the young people nowadays really that arrogant? It''s just over a hundred million Euros, right?" Adenna from room seven said, "Miss Emma, I can make the payment now, no need to wait for an hour."


    "That would be best, of course," Emma said with a smile.


    "Make the transfer!" Adenna instructed his accompanying assistant.


    "Yes, Mr. Adenna." The assistant took out a laptop and began the payment process, but a moment later, his expression suddenly froze.


    "Sir... Sir..."


    "What is it?" Adenna said impatiently.


    "Your... Your personal account at the Swiss Bank has been frozen!"


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 Chapter 225 Im Just a Privilege Dog

    "What? Frozen? How is this possible?" Adenna stood up abruptly from his seat.


    Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    As a major client of the Swiss Bank, he had long maintained a deposit of over one billion euros in the bank. Clients of his level were served by dedicated teams around the clock, making it effortless to withdraw money from his account at any time.


    It was just a little over one billion euros, after all. How could it possibly be inaccessible at this moment? Besides, before freezing a client''s account, the bank would typically inform them of the reasons and relevant notifications. How could it be frozen without a word?


    "Call them immediately and find out what the hell is going on," Adenna demanded.


    Adenna''s assistant immediately dialed the dedicated service hotline for Adenna, but was told that there were issues with the origin of the funds in his account and that the money could not be unfrozen until the investigation into these funds was clear.


    "Bullshit!" Adenna cursed angrily. The funds he had transferred into this account were for participating in the auction. The amount was indeed substantial, but the origin was definitely not an issue. Otherwise, the bank would have already come to him with troubles when he deposited the money. How could his account possibly be frozen out of the blue?


    "Isn''t there any way?" Adenna asked anxiously, beginning to sweat. He was as joyful as he had been showing off a moment ago, and now he was just as tortured.


    Although this VIP room was confidential, there were quite a few acquaintances of his at the auction, and a part of them knew that the person in VIP room No. 7 was him.


    If he won the bid for the Imperial Jade Seal but couldn''t pay up, and this incident got out, it wouldn''t just be a matter of losing face. It could severely affect his credibility and potentially his business¡ªit was anything but a small matter!


    "Miss Anna," Adenna glanced at the beautiful woman, asking silently for help.


    "Don''t even think about it!" Anna said, "The money we brought isn''t for you to spend on useless things like this. Don''t forget, our aim here is that one artifact. Everything else is worthless to us!"


    "Miss Anna, I know the funds you brought are very substantial, surely you can spare a little over one billion euros?" Adenna still didn''t give up.


    "Even if it''s ten million euros, it could affect the outcome of the final bid," Anna''s tone became slightly hostile, "and this money belongs to the organization, neither you nor I have the right to use it at will!"


    "VIP No. 7, have you completed your payment? If you''re having some difficulties with funds, you can complete the payment within one hour. Otherwise, we''ll have to pass the bid to the second-highest bidder according to the price."


    "Exactly, do you have the money or not, don''t waste our time!"


    "If someone''s in a VIP room, they can definitely afford it. What are you worrying about?"


    ...


    "If that''s the case, then it''s very regrettable!" Emma sighed. "Then this auction item will have to be deferred to the client in VIP Room No. 5."


    "Hahaha, so much for the Derman riches!" laughed a representative of the Marser family, but as soon as he began transferring funds, his expression suddenly changed. His funds, too, had been frozen!


    "How is this possible?"


    "I... My funds have run into some issues, I relinquish my bidding rights to this Jade Seal..."


    "Whoosh!" If one person''s funds ran into issues, it could be an accident; but the possibility of it happening to two people at the same time was simply too small.


    This instantly elicited a wave of hisses from the crowd.


    "Damn it, what''s going on here?"


    "Could there be problems with the Swiss Bank? No way, I need to check my account right now!"


    "My account is fine, though?"


    "What exactly is happening?"


    "I... I also give up..." While there was a buzz of discussion on site, the third highest bidder also gave up on the auction.


    "I give up too!" With the first three giving up, it was naturally easier for the rest to follow suit without the slightest psychological burden.


    But at this point, anyone could see that there were definitely shenanigans at play!


    "Awesome!" Watching these people, who aspired to lay hands on Huaxia''s national treasure, fail one after another, Wang Ling couldn''t be happier. "Show off, keep showing off, hahaha!"


    "Hahaha, today, I''m gonna be a complete power user. Want to bid? I''ll just ban your account outright!" Zhang Menglong was also laughing so hard he couldn''t close his mouth.


    "Let''s see," Zhang Menglong''s voice came through once more, "it seems like all the bidders just now have given up, right? If I remember correctly, the only one who called out 0 Euros was me. So now, this Imperial Jade Seal should be mine, right?"


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 Chapter 226 Freeze All Their Accounts

    The people present had participated in countless auctions before, some even attending more than one extreme auction hosted by this organization, but it was indeed the first time everyone was caught without money to bid.


    However, according to the rules of the extreme auction, the auctioning rights for this Imperial Jade Seal indeed fell to Zhang Menglong, and that too without costing a penny!


    "Miss Emma, I believe it''s time to announce the results of the auction now, isn''t it?"@@@@


    "This..." Emma immediately cast an inquiring look towards a direction backstage. On this island, not only were the leaders of the Rothschild family present but also representatives from the organization behind this extreme auction.


    "Follow the rules!" came a response in Emma''s earpiece.


    Emma then breathed a sigh of relief. At the end of the day, she was just an employee at this auction, and she certainly didn''t dare to make such special decisions on her own.


    "Since the previous bidders have forfeited their rights to bid, I now declare that this Imperial Jade Seal is acquired by the guest in VIP Room Zero for 0 euros. Please wait a moment, and the item will be delivered to you!"


    Upon hearing Emma''s final announcement, all the Huaxia people present breathed a sigh of relief.


    According to the law, such a national treasure must be turned over to the nation, and of course, Zhang Menglong would receive a commemorative banner and 500 yuan.


    But this auction was illegal, and there was an unspoken agreement that no auction item could be disclosed, so there was no problem with Zhang Menglong claiming this priceless Imperial Jade Seal for himself.


    However, as a Huaxia person, it was much better that this item ended up in Zhang Menglong''s hands rather than with someone from another country, especially since it remained in Huaxia.


    ...


    "Sayel, did that Imperial Jade Seal really just get handed to that Huaxia man like that?"


    In the backstage of the auction, two people were hidden in a dimly lit rest area, and they had witnessed the entire process of the auction from beginning to end.


    "The organization put quite a lot of effort into locating this Imperial Jade Seal! We were really counting on making a big profit from these Huaxia people," said a slender European man, somewhat displeased.


    "Could it be a fake?" Wang Ling was somewhat skeptical, considering it was something bought without spending a single dime. If the seller was reluctant, swapping it out wasn''t out of the question.


    "Ye Yin?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there is no issue with the item. It is indeed the Imperial Jade Seal that has been lost for hundreds of years," Ye Yin gave Zhang Menglong a confirming answer.


    "That''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded, taking the exquisite box from her hands.


    The box was heavy; although the Jade Seal was not particularly large, it was indeed substantial.


    "Let''s continue!" Zhang Menglong placed the box next to him and refocused his attention on the auction.


    "The next item for auction also comes from Huaxia!" Emma''s words made everyone in the room gasp. Given Zhang Menglong''s dominant display earlier, one could almost predict a repeat of that scenario would soon unfold.


    Furthermore, anyone with a bit of sense could guess that those magnates couldn''t come up with money, and it definitely had something to do with Zhang Menglong.


    As two sharp cold gleams flashed, two ancient swords, one large and one small, appeared on stage, both ash-gray in color. Despite two thousand years, they still maintained their sharp edge from the past.


    "Old Zhang, it looks like those characters are from Chu State!" Find your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    "You understand ancient texts?" Zhang Menglong suddenly had a new respect for Wang Ling.


    "Not really, but I can recognize them," Wang Ling said, "just like you don''t recognize Kaibong script but can recognize it as Kaibong when you see their writing."


    "Chu State''s text, that''s more than 2000 years old, and they are a pair of swords. Could this be the legendary..."


    "This is the Ganjiang and Moye, known as one of Huaxia''s top ten Divine Weapons!"


    "Really!" Zhang Menglong and others exchanged glances. In reality, the top ten Divine Weapons were just a legend, and how many of those swords actually existed was still an unknown.


    "Forget it, let''s not waste any more time," Zhang Menglong said, "I had Haigen freeze everyone''s accounts already! From now on, everything, all for 0 Euro!"


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 Chapter 227 The Goal of 100 Billion US Dollars Has Been Achieved

    "What''s going on? Why is my account frozen? It was perfectly fine when I checked just a few minutes ago!"


    "What? Your account is frozen too? So is mine! What the hell is Swiss Bank up to?"


    It seemed because of what had just happened, those who had the intention to bid all began to check their Swiss Bank accounts, but without exception, everyone discovered their accounts had been frozen, and the freeze took place just a minute ago!


    This even led some to suspect that there might be some problem with Swiss Bank itself.


    "No, it''s not an issue with Swiss Bank!" a billionaire put down his phone, "I just asked my friend, and his Swiss Bank account is completely fine!"


    "You mean, only the people here have issues with their accounts?"


    "How is that possible?"


    "Could it really be him who''s behind this?" More and more people turned their gaze in Zhang Menglong''s direction.


    Everyone present was carrying billions in cash, but at this moment, not a single penny could be withdrawn. It was like going for a massage but realizing at the crucial moment that you don''t have a condom¡ªit could drive a person mad.


    While everyone was speculating whether this incident had anything to do with Zhang Menglong, he began to speak again.


    "Since everyone is being so modest, then I, Zhang Menglong, will not stand on ceremony!" Zhang Menglong slowly said, "I bid 0 euros!"


    "It must be him causing this!"


    "What kind of ability does he have to make the Swiss Bank freeze all our accounts? Doesn''t Swiss Bank care about the consequences of such actions?"


    "Maybe Swiss Bank is owned by his family!" The so-called ''none of my business'' attitude kicked in. At the auction, there were many who came just for the excitement, without any intention to compete for anything. So, whether their accounts were frozen or not did not affect them in the slightest, and they began to make sarcastic comments.


    "Hahaha, you make a good point!"


    "Exactly, in the small country of Qingqiu alone, he owns several trillion US dollars. Does he care about a little compensation?"


    What they didn''t know was that they were actually right, as Swiss Bank did indeed belong to Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Miss Emma, time to get to work!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "Acc...According to our auction rules, if no one can bid over 5 million euros, then this pair of swords, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, will belong to Mr. Zhang." Now, almost everyone knew that it was Zhang Menglong sitting in the VIP room number zero, and there was no need for Emma to keep his identity secret anymore.


    "What priceless? Together they are worth at most 500 million euros," Zhang Menglong said offhandedly, "Just enough to buy four or five of those meteorites used for cracking walnuts!"


    "Damn it!" Wang Ling finally realized, Zhang Menglong didn''t have an ounce of enlightenment; that red scarf fluttering over his chest was just for show. He just didn''t place much value on these cultural relics, with maybe just a little patriotism to boot.


    "Okay, what''s ours we take back, and what''s not ours, we win with our abilities in the auction," Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hagen to lift the block on those accounts. The real auction was only beginning now!


    "My account is back!"


    "Mine too!!"


    Soon, many realized that their Swiss Bank accounts had returned to normal, and quite coincidentally, this happened right after Huaxia''s relics were all picked up by Zhang Menglong without spending a penny.


    Now, it could be firmly stated that the Swiss Bank incident was Zhang Menglong''s doing!


    Even so, the style of the auction did not change significantly.


    "200 million euros!"


    "800 million euros!"


    "Crap, that''s a nice piece! I bid 500 million euros!"


    At this moment, those tycoons realized that freezing or not freezing their bank accounts had absolutely no impact on whether they could win any items at the auction!


    If Zhang Menglong wanted something, he simply didn''t care about the price; he just kept bidding higher.


    Apart from the few items Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in, he bought nearly 70 percent of the auction''s lots with exceedingly high closing bids.


    "Congratulations to Mr. Zhang on winning this world-famous painting for 400 million euros! Now, we are down to our final star lot. Please enjoy a 20-minute tea break. Next, I believe, will be a very intense competition!"


    After paying the last 400 million euros, Zhang Menglong''s mind was simultaneously filled with a voice that had appeared several times in his dreams.


    "Ding! Task set by the 249th dean completed. Super God Academy officially unlocked!"


    The voice sent a jolt through Zhang Menglong and even made him forget to ponder what this final star lot could be, mysterious enough to cause such anticipation.


    "Gou Dan?" Zhang Menglong remembered the name he had given to the Super God Academy''s intelligence system a few months ago when he first entered the academy through his mother''s hypnosis.


    "Respected 250th Dean, Super God Academy''s intelligence system, Gou Dan, at your service. You may use your thoughts to issue a command and open the entrance to the Super God Academy. I will introduce more information after you enter the academy!"


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 Chapter 228 5000 Years of Family Wealth is Nothing

    "Zhang Menglong, why are you cursing at people?" Wang Ling asked, looking displeased at Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Ling''s girlfriend held back her laughter, wondering when Zhang Menglong had started calling Wang Ling "Gou Dan"; she guessed that in all of Huaxia, probably only Zhang Menglong dared to call him that.@@@@


    "Oh, nothing, just talking to myself. I''m going to take a shit!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care about the crudeness of his speech; he was just eager to get into the Super God Academy to see what kind of place it really was.


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong slipped into the bathroom and promptly locked the door behind him.


    "Damn, this toilet is pretty luxurious!"


    "Gou Dan, activate the entrance to the Super God Academy." Zhang Menglong commanded.


    It was a strange sensation; in front of Zhang Menglong, a mirage-like image seemed to appear, suddenly revealing a thin membrane akin to a water wall.


    The membrane was suffused with dazzling, colorful lights, reflecting a twisted world full of rosy clouds as if another world lay just beyond its thinning veneer.


    Zhang Menglong stood up, moved closer to the membrane, intending to see what was inside, but a powerful pulling force yanked him straight through the membrane!


    ...


    Suddenly, Ye Yin''s figure materialized in the empty restroom, his expression initially panicking as he tried to figure out where Zhang Menglong had suddenly gone.


    A moment ago, Zhang Menglong''s life signs and aura had vanished from the restroom in an instant, and as an Administrator tasked with protecting Zhang Menglong, how could Ye Yin not worry?


    But after an instant, he revealed a knowing smile, "It seems Mr. Zhang has already inherited the most precious gift left by his ancestors from the Zhang Family!"


    With a light chuckle, Ye Yin''s figure disappeared once again from the restroom.


    ...


    A sensation of the world spinning overwhelmed him, and Zhang Menglong, losing his balance, tumbled to the ground. As his vision gradually returned, he was astounded.


    Before him was no longer the same restroom, but a realm of colorful rosy skies, magnificent palaces, metallic fortresses brimming with technology, and Floating Islands hovering above. Far away lay endless ice plains, tempestuous oceans, fiery volcanoes, and dark forests.


    This place was exactly like what he had seen in a dream!


    "If you asked me now whether I believe in Ultraman, I''d believe that too!" Zhang Menglong nodded blankly.


    "In fact, they do exist," Tony began to explain with a smile, "Headmaster, there are many parallel worlds in this universe. What are merely movies, animations, or novels in your world, are reflections of these real and existing parallel worlds, it''s just that there are no spatial intersections with your world."


    "Then why have you appeared here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I was captured and brought here," a hint of sadness appeared on Tony''s face, "from my world, I was forcefully sent here."


    "Captured?" Zhang Menglong was stunned. "What exactly is this place?"


    Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that, apart from knowing this place was called Super God Academy, he almost knew nothing about it!


    "This Super God Academy, you can consider it a special space created by an advanced civilization in the multiverse. In this place, people from all parallel worlds can enter. The creators of Super God Academy wander through various worlds, capturing individuals from each world who possess special gifts and abilities, then throw them into this world."


    "This involves an advanced civilization again?" Ever since inheriting his family''s wealth, Zhang Menglong had become immune to many things beyond common knowledge, but compared to this, those things seemed like nothing at all.


    For humans, who to this day haven''t even discovered extraterrestrial life, the notions of the multiverse or advanced civilizations are far too remote!


    "Let''s just assume they really exist," Zhang Menglong mumbled to himself, "but why would they do this?"


    "To enhance their civilization, using our power and knowledge, to help the civilization that created this Super God Academy cultivate their finest offspring," Tarik explained.


    "You mean to say, in this Super God Academy, besides you, there are other people?"


    "The Administrator of Super God Academy already informed you just now, there are many teachers in the school. Only, they were sealed by the previous headmaster. They can only be unsealed gradually if his demands are met. I''m just an exception," Tony explained.


    Then Tony sighed again, "Although we are nominally teachers of this Super God Academy, in reality, we are prisoners of this school. While we have infinite life here, we can''t defy the headmaster''s will. The headmaster can dictate our life and death."


    "But how did my ancestor become the headmaster of Super God Academy?" Zhang Menglong wondered. If there really was something so incredible like this, logically speaking, there shouldn''t be any intersection with a low-level civilization like Earth''s.


    "I''m not sure about that," Tony said with a wry smile, "and I don''t know what kind of disaster befell the civilization that created this Super God Academy, but the key to open this academy fell onto this planet called Earth over five thousand years ago, where it was picked up by one of your ancestors. Since then, the academy and the position of headmaster have been handed down from generation to generation."


    "This is just outrageous!" Just now Tony said that the school was used to nurture the offspring of the higher civilization that created it, so it must have many extraordinary aspects. The reason his family had lasted for thousands of years and amassed such wealth and influence was probably inseparable from this Super God Academy!


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim, "Compared to this thing, five thousand years of family property is nothing!"


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 Chapter 229 I Plan to Bring Thanos Over as a Teacher

    "Right, Teacher Tony, speaking of this, where exactly did my parents go?" Zhang Menglong asked the question he most wanted to know in his heart.


    When he called out "Teacher Tony," Zhang Menglong always felt something was a bit off.


    "They went to other parallel universes," he replied.


    "What?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened larger than lanterns, "You''re not talking nonsense, are you?"


    "I wouldn''t dare deceive the Principal," Tony said, "Since the Super God Academy can connect to various parallel universes, naturally there''s also a way to reach them. Not just your parents, your other elders, your grandfather, great-grandfather, and others, are all living in those worlds."


    Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered, before his parents left, they seemed to have said they were going to explore new worlds. Could it be that the exploration of new worlds they mentioned was this?


    "Wait a minute! My grandfather and great-grandfather?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine. He had never met his grandfather since he was born, only hearing about his grand reputation overseas in recent months.


    As for his great-grandfather, given his age, even if he hadn''t passed away, he must be over a hundred years old by now. An old man like that, going to parallel universes? This sounded like a huge international joke!


    "Principal, don''t underestimate the Super God Academy. Knowledge, power, and even eternal life, there''s nothing it can''t grant you," Tony said with a smile, "The first ancestor in your family who received the Super God Academy''s favor is still living well!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was so astonished he couldn''t close his mouth¡ªif his first ancestor still hadn''t died, he must be around five thousand years old by now, "But why did they go to parallel universes? Our family is already the world''s richest, with endless money and blessings to enjoy. Isn''t staying on Earth much better?"


    "Your ancestors realized after receiving the Super God Academy that due to a past calamity, all the teachers from the Super God Academy had disappeared, leaving only some records in the Super God Academy''s intelligent system. With these records, your earliest ancestors unlocked their body''s potential and then ventured into parallel universes."


    "So that''s how it is!" Zhang Menglong finally understood why Ye Yin told him he could one day possess those mysterious and formidable powers. It turns out that these powers originally came from the Super God Academy!


    With this thought, Zhang Menglong suddenly became overwhelmingly excited.


    "Wait, those ancestors of mine went to parallel universes to... capture teachers?" An audacious idea formed in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    "..." Zhang Menglong was left speechless. Their family was almost dominating Earth, and yet their prestige relied on academic degrees? This was like asking someone whether they''d prefer 7 million dollars or a score of 700 on the college entrance exam.


    Some might choose a score of 700, but Zhang Menglong could possibly own 700 trillion. With such wealth, who needs academic degrees?


    "Your grandfather has been nagging for a long time, disappointed that I didn''t study properly, now you''re the only one in our family who has gone to college; you must continue, do you hear?" Zhang Xiaoyun said. "If you want to continue with materials science, Tony can teach you a lot. If you''re interested in biology, I''ll grab the Hulk for you. If you want to study history, I''ll catch a few Emperors for you."


    "Damn, is that how you play?" Zhang Menglong was left dumbfounded. Was this a school or a den of bandits?


    "Alright, I get it!" Facing Zhang Xiaoyun''s Tightening Curse, Zhang Menglong could only agree. If this school really was that amazing, not to mention getting a Ph.D., it seemed not difficult at all to earn every doctoral degree in the world, right?


    "When do you plan to come back?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No idea, your mother and I plan to catch that purple-skinned guy called Thanos and make him a teacher, then go explore some other worlds, see if we find any interesting teachers to bring back for you."


    "This is really..." Zhang Menglong realized he couldn''t find the right adjective. They were actually willing to grab even Thanos; but what could he teach? Fighting? Or cosmic sociology?


    "Oh yeah, son," Zhang Xiaoyun added, "now that you''ve activated the Super God Academy, you can start doing some different things. Tony is the only teacher not sealed at the moment, and to unseal the others, you''ll need to do some things." Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "What do I need to do?" Zhang Menglong was really looking forward to the other teachers at the Super God Academy. Just having Iron Man as a teacher was quite exciting.


    "Hehe!" Zhang Xiaoyun laughed, "Son, inheriting the academy, everything will be different from now on. I''ve already had Tarik prepare everything. Starting today, you just need to have a good time."


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    "You''ll find out soon," Zhang Menglong''s father said. "Tony, I''ll leave the rest to you."


    "Yes, I will assist the dean in managing the academy well!" Tony gave a deep bow to Zhang Menglong''s father, then produced a ring, "Dean, once you put this on, you''ll officially take over the academy!"

 Chapter 232 230

    "What is this?" Zhang Menglong took the ring from Tony''s hand. It was silver-white, with a gem that looked like a moonstone embedded on top, exquisitely crafted, yet showing some signs of age.


    "This is the signet of the Dean of the Theological Academy. As long as you have this, you can enter the academy anytime and have the highest level of access," Tarik explained.


    Zhang Menglong slipped the ring onto his ring finger, and the ring that was originally a whole size too large magically shrunk to fit perfectly. The ring contrasted starkly with another gemstone ring on his index finger that once belonged to Louis XIV¡ªone extravagantly flamboyant, the other understated yet mysterious.


    In an instant, a stream of information flooded into Zhang Menglong''s mind, and at the same time, a mysterious force subtly began to transform his body.


    This ring wasn''t just a token representing the identity of the Dean. It had many other functions.


    The gemstone set in the ring was called a Void Stone, containing endless space within, just like the magical space rings in fantasy novels.


    This ring also had the ability to detect the Gift and power of life forms, far surpassing the most powerful computers or detectors on Earth by countless times.


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    The ring could even permanently copy one of the abilities of a Super God Academy teacher onto the wearer, though each use of this copy feature required an Energy called "force points."


    The third, and most amazing, feature was that the owner of the ring could temporarily possess all the abilities of one of the school''s teachers for a short duration. This function could only be used once a day, and it lasted only three minutes.


    However, there was a limitation: the second and third functions could only target teachers of the Theological Academy whose Seals had been lifted, and currently, the only unsealed teacher was Tony Stark.


    "This school doesn''t actually have Ultraman, does it?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. How else could there be such an oddly specific setting of three minutes?


    "By the way, Professor Tony, what exactly are ''force points''?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Son, let me explain this to you!" Zhang Menglong''s father spoke from the hologram, "It''s simple, just two words: showing off. As long as you show off, you''ll gain ''force points.'' For every 100 ''force points'', you can randomly awaken a teacher or copy one of their abilities. How exciting is that?"


    "Was this set by the creator of this Theological Academy?" Zhang Menglong asked. Could it be that people from an Advanced Civilization also fancy showing off?


    "Of course, it was me who set this," Zhang Menglong''s father said, "With this academy, from now on, Earth will be your backyard. Enjoy your life to the fullest."


    "Earth is already our family''s backyard, okay?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "Also, Dad, what exactly are you...really?"


    "Alright, we have to go find Thanos now. He slipped away the day before yesterday, and we''ve managed to find his whereabouts again. We can''t let him get away this time!" Zhang Xiaoyun downed his red wine in one gulp and, just like in the dream from before, floated up like an immortal.


    "You... be careful..." At this moment, Zhang Menglong didn''t know what to say. But from what Zhang Xiaoyun mentioned earlier, it seemed that they could pursue Thanos, so they probably wouldn''t encounter any danger, right?


    Zhang Menglong figured that his parents must be far more formidable than Ye Yin. After all, even in movie settings, Thanos was depicted as a cosmic emperor.


    Moving away from the holographic projection, Zhang Menglong''s gaze returned to the Dean''s ring.


    "I wonder if this thing really works," Zhang Menglong tested the detection function of the Dean''s ring on himself.


    "Gou Dan, I need to get out!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    The light membrane appeared once again, Zhang Menglong marveled at its wonder and quickly ran out.


    "Wait, Dean... I..." Tony touched his stomach, which was growling, although they had an infinite lifespan here and wouldn''t die, they still felt hunger. Ever since he was captured by Zhang Xiaoyun, he hadn''t eaten anything a normal person would eat for two months.


    "Sigh, looks like I''m going to starve for a while longer," Tony sighed as he controlled the Mark-50 to fly into a valley in the Super God Academy.


    This valley was very quiet, and there was an area that looked like a vegetable garden, where all sorts of exotic flowers and herbs were grown, and a faint scent of herbs lingered in the air.


    "Back to eating these lousy herbs!" Tony pulled a strangely shaped herb from the ground, frowned, chewed a couple of bites, and swallowed, "This teacher named Yao Chen, why not grow some vegetables? Had to plant all these weird things, what''s this? Blood Spirit Demon Fruit? The name is scary enough..."


    ...


    "What the hell are you doing? Constipated?" As soon as Zhang Menglong opened the door, Wang Ling said irritably, "This is so frustrating, such a big room with just one bathroom. Hurry up and let me in, I can''t hold it anymore!"


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed.


    "What are you laughing at?" Wang Ling frowned, "Being cured of constipation is worth being happy over?"


    "It''s nothing, it''s nothing," said Zhang Menglong, "You go ahead!"


    "You''re being so weird!" Wang Ling glanced at Zhang Menglong and hurried into the bathroom.


    Zhang Menglong had just checked Wang Ling''s information.


    Name: Wang Ling


    Race: Human


    Identity: Chairman of Ling Yu Venture Capital


    Potential Index: 6


    Gift: Playing Internet Celebrity


    Skill: E-Sports (G), Investment (G), Philosophy (G)


    Evaluation: Even a dog has a Potential Index of 1, let''s call him the strength of a ''six-dog''


    This humorous evaluation made Zhang Menglong unable to hold back his laughter, the strength of a ''six-dog,'' it was just fantastic. But this was probably already a comparatively high-quality level among ordinary humans, right?


    "Interesting!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that the world was becoming more and more interesting. With this Super God Academy, his life would surely become much richer.


    Still, thinking about his empty Cred Points, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but sigh, "To be a person, one must have Cred Points ah!"

 Chapter 231 This is the sort of thing we snack on

    "Are you okay?" Back at the viewing window, Lu Yiyao cast a concerned look at Zhang Menglong, who had been in the bathroom for so long¡ªcould it be that he had diarrhea?


    "I''m fine, just taking a dump. It''s pretty normal to spend half an hour with your phone," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, seizing the opportunity to glance over at Lu Yiyao and Wang Ling''s girlfriend. The ring, which represented the identity of the president of the Super God Academy, immediately gave him their information.


    Lu Yiyao''s Potential Index was 5, with a vocal music Gift, and a D-level pop music singing Skill. As for Wang Ling''s girlfriend, her Potential Index was only 4, with no Gift and only an E-level hot dance Skill.


    Just as Zhang Menglong had guessed, the Potential Index of ordinary people was around 5.


    "I wonder how powerful Ye Yin is," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help being curious.


    The ring seemed to read Ye Yin''s thoughts. Although Zhang Menglong couldn''t see Ye Yin, it appeared to sense life forms within a certain range and displayed Ye Yin''s data before his eyes.


    Name: Ye Yin


    Race: Human


    Identity: Personal bodyguard


    Potential Index: 80


    Gift: Assassination


    Skill: Spiritual power enhancement (D), physical enhancement (D)


    Evaluation: A fairly formidable human


    "A ''fairly'' formidable human?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. If someone like Ye Yin was considered fairly formidable, wasn''t this ring being a bit too strict?


    But thinking about how his own parents were hunting Thanos, it did not seem so strange after all.


    "I made it in time!" At this moment, Wang Ling, who had finished in the bathroom, hurried back. "Has it started yet?"


    "Just started." Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, and at this moment, Emma walked back to the auction stage.


    Zhang Menglong did not notice that Lu Yiyao was looking at him with a rather unfamiliar gaze. As someone close to Zhang Menglong, she had a keen feeling that there was a subtle change in him compared to twenty minutes ago, as if something was different, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it.


    "Maybe I''m overthinking it," Lu Yiyao turned her attention back to the auction.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have been waiting for this final auction item for a long time," Emma said, "Although our Limits Auction has a very high level of confidentiality, I think the well-informed among you have already received some information. Now, let me unveil this final auction item for everyone!"


    Emma opened the file for the last auction item¡ªshe was also finding out what it was for the first time at this moment. After a brief glance at its description, she couldn''t help but gasp in astonishment.


    "What on earth is it? Why does she look like that?"


    "It seems that this final auction item is no ordinary item. Among the hundred or so treasures before, I''ve never seen her show such a lapse in composure."


    "50 million Euros!" Surprisingly, someone actually started the bidding! This voice came from the number one VIP room which had been silent from the start, even shouting out a bid of 50 million Euros right off the bat.


    "100 million Euros!"


    "150 million!"


    "200 million Euros!"


    ...


    To everyone''s surprise, the auction price soared rapidly, even exceeding the previous hundred-plus auction items. And apart from Zhang Menglong, all the guests in the VIP rooms joined in.


    "The Immortal Pill of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, someone actually found the last one! I must acquire it!" In the VIP room belonging to Dream Palace, a person from Kaibong named Shen Yuanjun said with a serious face.


    They were certain the legend was true!


    Indeed, those three Immortal Pills had miraculous powers, but Xu Fu didn''t bring them back with him because on the way home, he encountered a woman who stole and ate one of the Immortal Pills, gaining powers no human should possess and even seizing the remaining two.


    However, because the power of the Immortal Pill hadn''t been fully digested at that time, she was pursued by soldiers with Xu Fu, fleeing to Kaibong, and from her the famous image of the Nine-tailed Fox Tamamo-no-Mae was derived.


    Later, it was said that this woman died of her severe injuries, and the whereabouts of the remaining two elixirs were lost. Initially, the people of Kaibong treated this simply as a legend.


    Just a few years ago, someone from America''s military somehow managed to find one of these Immortal Pills. Despite being over two thousand years old, this Immortal Pill was remarkably preserved. Moreover, a Level Seven individual, after consuming this Immortal Pill, astonishingly became an individual exceeding level nine in just half a year!


    This news spread within a small circle in the Second World.


    An individual beyond level nine of the Second World human race, was sufficient to change the entire world''s underground situation! And since then, Second World humans all over the world frantically began searching for this third Immortal Pill.


    Not long ago, this third Immortal Pill was found by people from this Ultimate Auction, attracting various powerful countries to send wealthy representatives, covertly convening here vying for this third Immortal Pill.


    Of course, apart from individuals from the Second World and the high-ranking officials from various countries, almost no one else knew about this, including Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, this thing is real," Ye Yin said. He briefly recounted the ancient legend, and by that time, the price had soared to a staggering 2.1 billion Euros!


    "What? Really?" Zhang Menglong heard this and suddenly grew eager, "That won''t do; I must get in on this!"


    "5 billion Euros!" Zhang Menglong suddenly doubled the price and then some.


    "Zhang Menglong, 5 billion Euros for a Maltesers? Have you lost your mind?" Wang Ling grabbed Zhang Menglong, who had stood up, and pulled him back to his seat.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s no need for you to waste money on bidding for such a thing," Ye Yin said with a smile.


    "How can I not buy this? It prolongs life! It''s a great supplement, even better than steroids!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    Ye Yin laughed: "Actually, in your home, we treat it like a snack!"

 Chapter 233 You Guys Are Really Annoying

    "Ye Yin," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve always wanted to ask you a question."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you wondering how strong my power is?" Ye Yin replied with a smile.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "Well, those eight superhumans from America, killing them is as easy as killing chickens for me."


    "That''s so Versailles," Zhang Menglong thought, his guess was similar, but he was still astonished when he heard it.


    "By the way, Ye Yin, if I were to take that Fighting Spirit Pill, would I also instantly become awesome?"


    "That won''t do," Ye Yin said, "Your body right now is just that of an ordinary person, and it can''t withstand such a powerful drug effect. Moreover, this kind of elixir is just an aid. To develop your body''s potential, you should use a step-by-step approach."


    "Gou Dan, what does step-by-step approach mean?" Zhang Menglong asked, suddenly realizing something¡ªalthough Ye Yin could read his mind, it seemed she couldn''t detect Gou Dan''s presence.


    "That''s a lot," Gou Dan said, "In the ancient martial arts system, internal cultivation methods are the foundation. In a fantasy world, cultivation techniques are the foundation. In the system of supernatural abilities, enhancing one''s abilities is the foundation. You can unlock ''cred points'' from a teacher and directly copy their cultivation techniques with cred points, of course, given your potentially infinitely strong abilities."


    "It all comes down to cred points," Zhang Menglong figured, according to the rules set by his dad, if he didn''t have enough cred points, Super God Academy would be useless, "But the more I hear about it, the more it sounds like I need to start cultivating."


    "Of course, you can also learn directly from the teachers. In their classes, what you learn is not just those skills," Gou Dan reminded.


    "I just don''t know how many cred points acting cool can get me," Zhang Menglong thought with regret. In these past few months, he had acted cool no less than 80 to 100 times. If those could be converted to cred points, it would surely be a considerable number, right?


    "If only I had kept a low profile back then!" Zhang Menglong sighed. In the past three months, he had acted as cool as he possibly could, now truly experiencing the moment of need when there was no coolness left to act.


    "10.2 billion Euros!"


    "10.5 billion!"


    "11 billion!"


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    The numbers were skyrocketing, almost every country''s representative was filled with fervor and determination towards that one Fighting Spirit Pill.


    "Damn, are these people out of their minds?" Wang Ling had never seen such a crazy auction before. How could something sell for over ten billion Euros? Was scamming money really that easy these days?


    "Do you think they are all fools?" Zhang Menglong spoke to Wang Ling.


    "No, you don''t believe in this stuff, do you?" Wang Ling found it absolutely unbelievable.


    "80 billion!" Lei Jun shouted out his final bottom-line number.


    "80.5 billion!"


    "81 billion!" Unexpectedly, Lei Jun continued to bid higher.


    "Mr. Lei!" The middle-aged man looked surprised; they only brought 80 billion Euros!


    "I will cover this part myself!" Lei Jun gritted his teeth, "Although I don''t know why Mr. Luo wants to buy that pill, since it''s something the country needs, it must be very important. Consider this a modest contribution to my country!"


    "Mr. Lei, on behalf of Huaxia, I thank you," the middle-aged man said gravely.


    "82 billion!" However, America''s representative shattered their hopes. Lei Jun had only brought a total of 1.2 billion Euros, and now he was honestly out of options.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Luo, this is all I can do," Lei Jun sighed.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Lei," the middle-aged man said, "Even if the Americans win the bidding for this elixir, it won''t be easy for them to take it back with them!"


    "You mean..." Lei Jun''s eyes widened, realizing that this auction was just a prelude to a larger scheme.


    "When the auction ends, you should leave here quickly. Go from the east side and don''t double back!" The middle-aged man''s gaze hardened.


    If the item were in their own hands, he was very confident he could leave safely with the Fighting Spirit Pill because all he had to do was run. Once near Huaxia''s border, there would be people to meet him.


    But if he had to take advantage of the chaos to snatch it, there would be much more uncertainty and danger¡ªbesides, they must get the Fighting Spirit Pill from their hands before they reached the Americas.


    "100 billion Euros!" Just then, a sudden voice rang out through the venue, and everyone''s gaze turned toward Zhang Menglong''s room.


    "It''s that Huaxia man again!" Mars from America showed an expression of grinding his teeth in frustration.


    The American representative had only prepared 95 billion Euros, plus 2 billion Euros brought by the Mars family. They were still quite short of 100 billion Euros.


    And who knew if Zhang Menglong only had 100 billion Euros?


    "Where on Earth is he getting so much money from?" The American mutant slammed a fist into the wall, punching right through it. Just when they were close to success, this Huaxia man suddenly came in to stir up trouble.


    "Mr. Zhang, to be honest, this object won''t be of much use to you. I hope you won''t continue to compete, give us some face. Should you come to America in the future, we will certainly treat you with the utmost hospitality befitting a distinguished guest," the blonde mutant said, taking the initiative to speak into the microphone.


    "I know that, indeed, this thing won''t be very useful to me."


    "Then you...." The mutant''s eyes turned red with anger, knowing it''s pointless, then why spend money on it at all!


    "But," Zhang Menglong said with a maddeningly nonchalant tone, "I just don''t want you guys to get it. Who let you snatch the Imperial Jade Seal from Huaxia earlier? That made me very upset!"

 Chapter 234 Sleep Until You Naturally Wake Up

    In Mars''s VIP room, Mars and the blond American both had facial twitches.


    Although they had wanted to bid on Huaxia''s national treasure, the thing''s price would have been a few hundred million Euros at most. Was it worth spending 100 billion just to make a point? Moreover, the Imperial Jade Seal was still in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "Do you think I''m stupid to spend these 100 billion just to vent?" Zhang Menglong directly voiced what they were thinking.


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    But nobody responded, even though that was exactly what they were thinking.


    "Sorry, but 100 billion Euros is nothing to me. If it annoys you, then I find this money well spent. Don''t ask why, having money means being capricious!"


    "For that act, I give you 99 points. I''m withholding one in case you become arrogant!" Wang Ling gave a thumbs up. A whopping 100 billion Euros could almost buy their entire group, and yet, for Zhang Menglong, it was nothing.


    "Hahaha, I''m starting to like this young man." In Lei Jun''s VIP room, Lei Jun burst into laughter upon seeing this scene, and even the middle-aged man who had been deadpan through and through cracked a smile.@@@@


    From the recent events, they could tell that Zhang Menglong must be a very patriotic person. Even if Zhang Menglong bought that Fighting Spirit Pill, it probably wouldn''t be too hard to buy it from him through national channels.


    Even if leaving Europe would be fraught with difficulties, it was still much simpler than snatching it from the Americans.


    As for the representatives of other countries, they were even more thrilled, each laughing more heartily than the last. They had already been pressured by the Americans during the auction, only for Zhang Menglong to burst onto the scene and snatch the Fighting Spirit Pill right from their hands, even throwing those provocative words at them¡ªit was incredibly satisfying.


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope you''ll think this through. Opposing us Americans isn''t a wise move. Moreover, that item in your possession is a hot potato, and you''re going to face countless troubles on your way back to Huaxia."


    "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "If you have the money, keep bidding, if not, stop fussing! Can''t afford it? Then get lost. Threatening me? Do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am easily frightened?"


    "I bid 1100 billion Euros!"


    "Whoa!" A gasp erupted around the room. Zhang Menglong had jumped the price from over 800 billion directly to 1000 billion, and now this? What was he doing?


    After Zhang Menglong''s bid of 1000 billion Euros, no one else made a bid¡ªit wasn''t that the representatives of the Mars family didn''t want to bid more, but rather, they simply didn''t bring enough money, and arranging more funds wasn''t something that could be done in the few short minutes available.


    "Ah, how lonely it is to be invincible!" Zhang Menglong sighed as he returned to his seat.


    "This kid!" Ma Yun and the others couldn''t help but laugh.


    Zhang Menglong was nothing like those heirs born into major families who maintain their dignity; no matter what the issue, he dared to do anything, dared to say anything, not at all like a rich second generation, but more like a ruffian, opposing him meant either being smashed with his money or pissed to death by his words, either way, there was definitely no good ending.


    ...


    "Well, ladies and gentleman, that concludes our extreme auction for today, if fate allows, let''s meet again in 10 years. Please everyone return to your rooms, and we will have people escort you out gradually starting tomorrow morning." Emma made her final closing statement, which also signified the end of this auction.


    The crowd who came for the spectacle stood up to leave, considering the auction they witnessed today, it had been worth the trip, but for those who came for the Fighting Spirit Pill, for them, everything had just begun.


    "Keep a close eye on him, he might attempt to flee tonight."


    "Who would have thought, the item didn''t end up in the hands of any country or organization, but in the hands of an ordinary young man from Huaxia, tomorrow is going to be exciting."


    "Not only do I want to snatch that Immortal Pill from his hands tomorrow, I also want him dead!" Mars and the blonde young man gritted their teeth.


    "Notify headquarters, send more people, dispatch two squads here, blockade the surrounding seas, don''t let them board a plane, let''s deal with them here!"


    "Zuo Ge said, although this young man has made us a lot of money, he took our stuff for free, we can''t just let him go back like that!"


    Suddenly, everyone had their own schemes, and Zhang Menglong became the center of the storm.


    ...


    "Old Zhang, why do I feel a chill on the soles of my feet, like someone is watching us?" It seemed that a chilling murderous intent drifting from around them was making Wang Ling feel quite uncomfortable.


    "It''s nothing, just your imagination," Zhang Menglong glanced outside the window, the auction had continued until midnight, and it was already dark outside.


    "Mr. Zhang, many people have already started preparing to take action." Ye Yin told Zhang Menglong everything she had heard.


    "It''s fine," Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s sleep until we wake up naturally tomorrow, they''re planning to intercept me, right? Let them wait, without a good sleep, how can I have the energy to confront them?"

 Chapter 235 The Immortal Pill was Eaten by a Dog

    "I really don''t understand what you were thinking, spending over a hundred billion on a Breakthrough Pill. Be careful you don''t get diarrhea after eating it!"


    After a tense and stimulating auction, Zhang Menglong and others were somewhat hungry, so they decided to eat something in the restaurant before going back to sleep.


    "Can''t you use your brain? Do you have to think about playing with women all the time? Can''t you think about other things?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Do you think this thing would attract a dozen countries to spend tens of billions of Euros to fight over it if it were just a broken pill? Do you think they are all idiots?"


    "This..." Wang Ling was startled. Right, the representatives of those countries weren''t fools, and it was clear that many people came to this auction specifically for the so-called "Immortal Pill". If it had just been ordinary tycoons following rumors that would be one thing, but the fact that even national powers were drawn here meant it was definitely not that simple.


    "Could it be that the legend Emma mentioned is real?" It was a bit hard for Wang Ling to accept; his higher education of over a decade and decades-long world view were being challenged like never before.


    Of course, as far as Emma was concerned, her introduction only highlighted the aspects of extending life and unlocking potential¡ªthese eight characters alone were already quite unbelievable.


    "Forget it, as long as you''re happy!" Wang Ling''s brain was becoming a bit numb, "Anyway, it''s your money you''re spending. Why should I worry for you? Even if you do get food poisoning, you can afford the best ICU."


    "Haha, you scoundrel!" Zhang Menglong cursed with a laugh.


    Just then, Emma, who had already changed out of her evening gown, came over.


    Seeing her, Zhang Menglong felt a bit embarrassed; although nothing had happened that day, he had been kissed by force, making her the only woman, apart from Lu Yiyao, with whom he had had intimate contact.


    Lu Yiyao seemed to also smell the distinct perfume on Emma, giving Zhang Menglong a glance. She clearly remembered the light scent of perfume on Zhang Menglong when he returned that day¡ªit was this same fragrance.@@@@


    "Mr. Zhang, may I sit here?"


    "This... this might not be convenient," Zhang Menglong had wanted to refuse.


    "It''s alright, please have a seat, Miss Emma." To his surprise, Lu Yiyao took the initiative to speak.


    "Damn, the war between women has begun," Wang Ling muttered under his breath.


    Even though Lu Yiyao wasn''t a particularly scheming girl, at times like this, she still had to assert her own sovereignty.


    "Miss Lu really is a warm-hearted person, no wonder Mr. Zhang is so fascinated by you," Emma said enviously.


    "Miss Emma is a goddess recognized by the world, aren''t there even more men infatuated with you?"


    "What''s the use of that?" Emma sighed. She couldn''t care less about the Prince of England, let alone other men; in her heart, only a special man like Zhang Menglong deserved her.


    "Alright, no more mutually flattering business," Zhang Menglong could tell Emma must have something she wanted to discuss with him, "Miss Emma, you must have something to tell me, right?"


    Lu Yiyao also grabbed Zhang Menglong''s arm, her eyes full of worry.


    "It''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with an easy smile, "The world is at peace now. I don''t believe they''d dare to make an open move. Do they think the weapons on my Destroyer are just for show?"


    "That''s true!" Wang Ling suddenly let out a sigh of relief. He wasn''t aware of the affairs of the second world''s humans, and in his mind, with the presence of the Destroyer, surely no one would be foolish enough to trouble them, right?


    As for the hundreds of fighter jets that Zhang Menglong called in last time, were they all a joke?


    "You''re right," Emma nodded, "then I won''t disturb you all any longer."


    Emma looked towards Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, if fate allows, we''ll meet again in Huaxia."


    "Sure."


    After Emma left, Zhang Menglong felt a hand suddenly pinch the soft flesh around his waist, and Lu Yiyao''s eyes gleamed like a little devil, "Let you have a chance to meet again, huh!"


    "Ahaha, I was just being polite, ouch..."


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Just at that moment, Zhang Menglong felt something tugging at his trouser leg.


    He looked down to see a Husky puppy wagging its tail, dressed in what seemed like an expensive outfit, probably belonging to some rich person.


    "Little guy, where''s your owner?" Zhang Menglong stroked the Husky''s head, and to his surprise, the puppy sniffed him and he noticed faint tear stains beneath its eyes.


    "Dammit, has this Husky become enlightened?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise.


    "So pitiful," Lu Yiyao squatted down, "Could it be that its owner left in such a hurry they forgot about it?"


    "Possible!" Zhang Menglong nodded, many wealthy people had fled at the sound of trouble, it was indeed possible that they accidentally left their pets behind.


    "Looks like the little guy might be hungry," Zhang Menglong took a small piece of meat from the table, but as he bent down, the small box in his pocket containing the Fighting Spirit Pill fell out, and the pill itself rolled out.


    The little Husky sniffed at it cautiously and then gobbled it down in one bite.


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    Everything happened so fast and naturally that Zhang Menglong and the others couldn''t react in time.


    Wang Ling stared at the Husky, dumbfounded, "That Immortal Pill, it''s been eaten by the dog!?"

 Chapter 236 You Might Not Believe It If I Tell You

    "Fuck!" Even Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse.


    Although he had no use for this Breakthrough Pill and didn''t even care for it, he had still spent 110 billion euros to win it at the auction, seeing it eaten by a dog was too much for him to accept!


    "Quick, spit it out!" Zhang Menglong picked up the little husky, remembering what Ye Yin had said, that even if he swallowed the pill himself, the energy it contained could potentially cause his blood vessels to burst from the medicinal strength, leading to his death.


    This little husky was probably only three or four months old, still just a puppy, and its body was much more fragile than his own. If it ate the pill, wouldn''t death be certain?


    The loss of over 100 billion wasn''t the issue, but if this little dog died just like that, he would definitely feel awful.@@@@


    "Hm?" A voice of doubt from Ye Yin echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind, "It''s actually fine?"


    Ye Yin was very familiar with Fighting Spirit Pills. People like him, who were trained by the Zhang Family, were known as Potentialists. According to the world''s unified definition, humans of the Second World at energy levels one through nine were defined as Latent Element Users. These Potentialists had already unlocked some of their body''s hidden potential.


    It''s known that the power of Potentialists comes from worlds of high-grade martial arts and cultivation fantasy. Their strength is unfathomably greater than that of someone of the same level, whether they be Ancient Martial Artists, Awakeners, Mutants, or Psychics.


    From the onset of developing their latent abilities, upon becoming Level One Potentialists, they could start consuming Fighting Spirit Pills. However, for those under Level Three, there would be a painful swelling sensation throughout the body when taking the pill, indicating its potent medicinal properties.


    A Level One Potentialist has an energy level that is at least Level Five! If they can''t withstand the medicine''s power, it goes without saying that an ordinary person of the Second World wouldn''t be able to either. As for regular people, eating it would almost certainly lead to death! And a puppy doesn''t even bear thinking about whether it could survive; it would be more practical to start considering how to stew it for a more fragrant taste.


    But after the little husky swallowed the pill, there was no reaction at all. Instead, it seemed even more spirited than before, and even stuck its tongue out to lick Zhang Menglong''s hand.


    Zhang Menglong fed it another two pieces of meat, which it gobbled up in no time.


    "This puppy is a bit special!" Ye Yin said, "Normally, after swallowing a Fighting Spirit Pill, it would definitely die within a minute, but it''s getting more and more energetic instead. Interesting."


    "Do you know what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong asked. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Not sure," Ye Yin replied, "I''ve been taught from birth only how to properly protect Mr. Zhang; anything else isn''t within my learning scope."


    "Forget it, I can ask a teacher from Super God Academy if I get the chance," Zhang Menglong mumbled to himself.


    "Menglong, I''ve already inquired. This little husky comes from a combat family and belongs to a tycoon named Audison. The staff have already contacted him, and Mr. Audison said it''s inconvenient for him to return. If we''re willing, we can adopt it."


    "Great, he got so frightened he doesn''t want the dog anymore," Zhang Menglong commented dryly, realizing that Audison must have caught wind of something.


    Seeing Lu Yiyao''s hopeful gaze, Zhang Menglong smiled, "This little guy seems to be fated to be with us; let''s take him home then!"


    "Yay!" Lu Yiyao cheered.


    "Fuck, what kind of family conditions can afford to raise a husky?" Wang Ling remarked from the side facetiously, knowing huskies are notorious for causing havoc. "This little guy just came and already ate something you bought for over 100 billion. You''re going to be in for it in the future."


    "No matter how much it eats, I can afford it!" Zhang Menglong said as he picked up the husky, "Doggy, bite him!"


    "Woof woof woof!" As if understanding Zhang Menglong''s command, the little puppy actually started barking at Wang Ling.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong didn''t need to guess; they were surely there for that Fighting Spirit Pill.


    "Click." Zhang Menglong opened the door.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang, I am Lei Jun," Lei Jun said politely.


    "Mr. Lei, I didn''t expect you to attend this auction as well. How come I didn''t see you at the banquet earlier?" Zhang Menglong shook hands with him.


    "I''m here on a special mission this time, so it wasn''t convenient to show my face," Lei Jun replied.


    "Who is this gentleman?" Zhang Menglong looked at the middle-aged man and asked.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang," the middle-aged man handed Zhang Menglong a small red booklet, which had a golden dragon pattern on it, seemingly an identification document.


    "All this secrecy... you''re not from the Huaxia Dragon Group, are you?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    He flipped through the work ID.


    "Longxia" Special Action Group: Gu Yuanwu


    "Well, this special action group is really called Dragon Group," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but comment.


    "Mr. Gu, go on and talk to Mr. Zhang. I will step aside," Lei Jun said.


    "No need," Gu Yuanwu spoke up, "I trust Mr. Lei."


    "Mr. Zhang, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gu Yuanwu, a member of the ''Longxia'' Special Action Group, and currently the captain of the third squad. Our ''Longxia'' is the successor to Huaxia''s 135th Division Special Combat Group, which you could consider a special military force of Huaxia."


    "I''m aware, I''ve read the novels. Out of ten urban fantasy novels, your Dragon Group appears in seven of them," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Mr. Zhang is indeed different from ordinary people," if it were someone else, they would have been very surprised by this revelation, like Lei Jun, who was almost scared enough to call the police the first time he met Gu Yuanwu, "But still, it would be more appropriate for you to refer to us as ''Longxia.'' The Dragon Group, after all, is just a nickname from the people."


    "Mr. Gu, you''re here to talk about that Fighting Spirit Pill, right?"


    "Fighting Spirit Pill?" Gu Yuanwu was taken aback; until now, the pill didn''t have a name, it was simply known as the "Huaxia Immortal Pill" by the people of the Second World.


    "Oh, I''ve been reading too much Battle Through the Heavens; just a slip of the tongue," said Zhang.


    "The thing is, Mr. Zhang, this Immortal Pill is of great importance and even concerns Huaxia''s national security and future international standing. We hope you can hand it over to us. We will certainly reimburse you the full auction price," Gu Yuanwu explained.


    It wasn''t because they didn''t actually have enough money; rather, they had received the information too late, and this was all the liquid funds they could gather. How could a major nation only have less than 100 billion Euros at its disposal?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong was somewhat stumped, "I would quite like to give it to you, but you might not believe what I''m about to say."


    Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Cai, who was now opening one eye, and said, "That Immortal Pill, the dog ate it!"

 Chapter 237 Here Comes the Younger Brother

    "Mr. Zhang, don''t joke about this, how could it be possible?" Gu Yuanwu glanced at Wang Cai and then showed a helpless expression. Not to mention a puppy, even a person like Zhang Menglong would most likely drop dead after taking it.


    "I swear!" Zhang Menglong raised his right palm, "If I just told even half a lie, I would go straight ahead and eat all the gold in my gold mine!"


    "Wow, even swearing has to be flashy!" Lei Jun complained to himself.


    "Really?" Gu Yuanwu still couldn''t believe it.


    "Truer than true gold!" Zhang Menglong confirmed.


    "May I take a look at that dog?" Gu Yuanwu asked.


    "Of course!"


    Seemingly aware of a very powerful person approaching, Wang Cai, who had already been dozy, suddenly became alert and showed a snarling face to Gu Yuanwu. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    Gu Yuanwu was taken aback. At that moment, he actually felt a faint energy fluctuation brewing within the dog''s body! He had felt this kind of fluctuation before; it was the energy that natural awakeners exhibit when they have not fully harnessed their hidden powers and undergo a surge of intense emotions.


    This observation confirmed that this dog was indeed not just any ordinary dog!


    "This dog..." Gu Yuanwu couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time.


    Since receiving the news a week ago, superpowers around the world had been engaging in intense and orderly preparations, pooling funds, arranging personnel, all to devise ways to obtain that immortal pill.@@@@


    But who could have imagined, not a single country was able to secure the immortal pill, and in the end, a dog ate it!


    If Zhang Menglong wasn''t standing by, Gu Yuanwu would be furious enough to kill Wang Cai on the spot!


    This was an immortal pill that could create a martial artist or an awakener who surpassed level nine. If they had it, Huaxia''s number of powerful individuals could instantly rise to the top in the world. From then on, Huaxia would undoubtedly become the unrivaled number one in the world, with no force ever threatening to invade.


    Who would have thought that this treasure would end up being consumed by a dog¡ªhow could anyone bear this?


    "Captain Gu, little Wang Cai doesn''t know any better, don''t be angry, okay?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "It''s just an immortal pill worth over a hundred billion Euros, just for extending life, not true immortality. After all, every human has to die, whether heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, we all face death sooner or later!"


    "But the effects of this thing aren''t just for extending life!" Gu Yuanwu was on the verge of tears. If there was a way, he would even want to take Wang Cai back and try to recreate the immortal pill using the alchemy furnace.


    "What other effects does it have?" Zhang Menglong feigned ignorance, "Can it also fortify the foundation and rejuvenate a man''s vigor? If that''s the case, I really don''t need it, I''m already strong enough."


    "Well then," Gu Yuanwu sighed. In truth, he could begrudgingly accept this outcome.


    "When the time comes, it''ll be a matter of skill, but don''t blame us if the fists and feet show no mercy."


    "The feeling''s mutual!"


    The people around whispered to one another as if getting the Immortal Pill from Zhang Menglong''s hands was as easy as reaching into a bag.


    ...


    "Alright, time for us to head back!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily. They''d had their fun, and in a few days, it would be New Year''s Eve. Although Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao didn''t have any relatives, such festivals are always to be spent in one''s hometown.


    The aircraft carrier bought by Zhang Menglong was currently docked near the Atlantic Ocean due to its size. It would take about a month to return to Huaxia. Zhang Menglong had no time to waste and immediately arranged for the crew to steer the ship back to Huaxia.


    After packing up their belongings, the group returned to the destroyer, with Wang Cai trotting behind them like a little sidekick.


    "Set sail, back to port!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    The destroyer cut through the waves, and at its speed, it would take about two hours to return to the port from where they set off.


    "Strange, why haven''t we seen a single ship along the way?" Wang Ling and the others looked out over the boundless Mediterranean from the deck, recalling that when they departed, there should have been a considerable amount of traffic in the vicinity.


    "Look, what is that?" Just then, Wang Ling pointed towards the distance.


    "What thing?" Zhang Menglong looked in that direction and saw three huge white trails approaching them at an unimaginable speed.


    "Sharks? No, how could a shark be that fast?" Wang Ling guessed it seemed to be the wake left by a special type of watercraft zooming by at high speed.


    In a matter of seconds, the streams of water had reached them. With a splash, three figures shot out from the water and landed in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Crackling!" Without warning, the surface of the sea began to freeze over. The destroyer, amid a shaking motion, came to a halt in the water. Although the propellers roared loudly, the ship was unable to move.


    "What... what is this situation?" Wang Ling and the others were terrified, their faces pale. They had never witnessed such a bizarre scene before. All of it seemed just like magic.


    At that moment, several more figures appeared eerily on the deck and on the ice. Including the first three, there were now a total of 14.


    "Mr. Zhang, I told you we would meet," the blond man said with a smile. "Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is Shels, from America."


    "Oh! I remember your voice!" Zhang Menglong nodded, recognizing the voice that had come from the VIP room of that American family the day before.


    Zhang Menglong showed an expression of inevitability and said casually, "Well, look who''s here, bro!"

 Chapter 238 No Pills, Just a Dog

    "You''ve arrived, little brother? What do you mean?" Schels showed a puzzled expression, and from Zhang Menglong''s tone, it seemed like he knew he was going to arrive.


    "Ye Yin, don''t let the others on the ship know about this," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    The military personnel on the destroyer were still investigating why the warship could no longer move when suddenly, it was as if they were all mesmerized by some mysterious force and slumped over at their workstations.


    After a moment, most of the instruments on the entire destroyer stopped working, and this area of the sea became eerily quiet.


    "What''s happening? Is the ship broken?" Wang Ling sensed the engines stop working and immediately became anxious, "Also, what''s with these people? How did they come out of the sea?"


    What lay before her overturned Wang Ling''s worldview. The people who suddenly emerged from the sea were wearing various kinds of special outfits, but it was apparent that they likely didn''t have any mechanical devices on them.


    But she had just witnessed these people leaping towards them at an unbelievable speed, even faster than a motorboat, and even managing to jump several meters high onto the deck. Could a person really do that?@@@@


    Humans often harbor fear toward the unknown, especially when they sense the kind of murderous intent in their speech. Wang Ling, who had always been fearless, couldn''t help but show a terrified expression on her face.


    His girlfriend clung tightly to his shoulder, trembling slightly. She had thought she''d come out to see the world with Wang Ling, only to encounter such an outrageous situation.


    "Menglong..." Lu Yiyao tugged at Zhang Menglong''s clothes.


    "It''s okay, I''m here!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai, as if sensing the pressure coming their way, inexplicably took a stand in front of Zhang Menglong and growled at the aggressive mutants.


    Schels couldn''t help but take an extra look at Wang Cai. Their presence alone, not to mention a puppy, even the fiercest of tigers and lions would lose courage upon sensing it. Yet this dog dared to snarl at them.


    "No idea what level these people are." Zhang Menglong glanced at Schels in front of him.


    Name: Schels Donagar


    Race: Human


    Identity: Member of the American Superhuman Alliance


    Potential Index: 17


    Gift: None


    "I don''t know why, but I feel there''s something odd..."


    "Hey, where did you guys install the cameras? Are you shooting a special effects film? Is it Ultraman or Kamen Rider? Can I make a cameo?" Zhang Menglong asked innocently.


    Xerses snapped back to reality ¨C Zhang Menglong actually thought they were filming a movie!


    "Swoosh!" Another Wind Blade streaked by, this time aiming at a seabird gliding through the sky.


    The unfortunate seabird was immediately sliced into two halves, with its body sections and blood-spattered innards promptly falling onto the deck.


    "Ooh!" Wang Ling''s girlfriend almost let out another cry; Wang Ling, afraid she would become the next target, quickly covered her mouth.


    "Zhang Menglong, I don''t have time to joke around with you, I..."


    "Clink clatter!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong actually pulled out a handful of Gold Coins from his pocket and tossed them at Xerses!


    "Do it again! Do it again!"


    "Tinkling clink!" They were real Gold Coins! One rolled to Xerses'' feet before settling on the ground.


    "I offer you an annual salary of 20 million US dollars; how about you come back to Huaxia with me and be a chef in my kitchen? From now on, you can handle all the sashimi slicing, the roast cutting, everything!"


    Xerses looked at Zhang Menglong with an expression as if he had eaten shit¡ªhad his brain really been smashed by a door?


    "Ding! Congratulations to the headmaster for gaining 20 Cred Points!"


    Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhang Menglong was immediately delighted, another 20 Cred Points in the bank, bringing his total to 50. With a bit more effort, he could soon accumulate 100 Cred Points¡ªkeep it up!


    "Xerses, stop wasting words with him, just make him hand over the stuff, and then we''ll find another place to fight!" An impatient mutant from Indi interjected.


    "Zhang Menglong! Don''t push my limits!" Xerses said coldly, "Hand over the Immortal Pill you filmed yesterday, and we can spare your life. Otherwise, prepare to meet your end in the Mediterranean!"


    "Oh, you''re here for the Immortal Pill too?" Zhang Menglong feigned a sudden realization, "Yesterday, a Huaxia man named Gu Yuanwu also came asking for it, but you''re too late!"


    "What?" Everyone was startled; they had clearly not seen Gu Yuanwu take anything from Zhang Menglong''s room. Could they have conducted a secret exchange?


    "That Immortal Pill has already been eaten by my Wang Cai!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Cai on the ground, "Now, if you want the pill, there''s none left, but if you want a dog, there is one."

 Chapter 239 He is the Least Capable Bodyguard in My Family

    "What... what?" Apart from Zhang Menglong and his three companions, everyone else was stunned. The Immortal Pill had been eaten by a dog? That was a treasure worth billions of Euros, and it was the only one of its kind in the world, absolutely unique!


    Even if they had managed to bring the Immortal Pill back to their own country, the selection process to decide who would consume it would have undoubtedly been stringent and thorough.


    Such an important and valuable item, eaten by a dog?


    "This is impossible!" Schelles exclaimed. "You expect us to believe that something worth hundreds of billions of Euros was eaten by a dog? Do you think we are all idiots?"


    "It was an accident!" Remembering yesterday''s events, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears. "I swear, the pill really was eaten by that dog, and if I tell a single lie, I''ll stand on my head and wash my hair right here!"


    "Schelles, this guy is full of lies, just kill him!" said a Mutant from some unknown country. His complexion was pale and he was thin, bearing a certain resemblance to the vampire-like figures from Europe.


    "I''m telling the truth, if you don''t believe me, ask them!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Ling and his group.


    All eyes suddenly turned toward Wang Ling.


    Wang Ling inwardly cursed Zhang Menglong''s ancestors for bringing attention to him in the presence of these creatures, these monsters! How could Zhang Menglong be so heartless?


    What baffled Wang Ling even more was how Zhang Menglong could remain calm in this unbelievable situation, and even dare toss Gold Coins at them. Was this some kind of charity, treating them as performers of some circus act?


    Moreover, when had Zhang Menglong secretly prepared those Gold Coins? Why hadn''t he realized it?


    "He said the Immortal Pill really was eaten by this dog?" Schelles asked Wang Ling.


    Pressed by Schelles''s intense scrutiny, Wang Ling nodded. "Damn, had I known something like this would happen, I would have slipped away right after the auction ended!"


    "Schelles!" The Derman man with glasses, holding a strange device, interjected, "There''s no energy trace of the Immortal Pill on him, the item might really not be with him!"


    "Damn it!" Schelles cursed angrily.


    "Not necessarily!" another said, "The Huaxia are full of tricks; if you guys can invent a device that detects energy waves, they might as well figure out a way to hide energy signals!"


    To block his Wind Blade just now, without Level Five strength or higher, it is simply impossible. Only an Awakener, born with unique talents, could possibly have such ability.


    But Ye Yin did not speak; he was actually a very quiet person who, besides Zhang Menglong and those associated with him, could not be bothered to give anyone else even a second glance!


    "Be careful, this Awakener from Huaxia is tricky!"


    "Ye Yin, go, slap him twice for me!" Zhang Menglong directed at Xiel.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    Ye Yin''s body disappeared in an instant, and only two crisp sounds were heard, Xiel''s face now sported two bright red handprints.


    Moments later, Ye Yin returned to his original spot, the entire process taking less than a second.


    "Pfft!" Xiel spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth, his face marked by two bright red handprints, and his expression was one of deep shock.


    He had not seen Ye Yin''s movements at all just now, let alone reacting to them. Could his power possibly surpass that of a Level Nine super Awakener?


    Xiel had not met the three super Awakeners from Huaxia, but he had seen their pictures, and definitely, they weren''t the young man before him.


    "Could this be a hidden master from Huaxia?" Xiel also considered a terrifying possibility, "Or perhaps, is this a person trained by the Zhang Menglong family themselves?"


    "No! Impossible!" Xiel immediately rejected the idea. To train an Awakener surpassing Level Nine? Even their entire nation of America couldn''t achieve that!


    Even though Zhang Menglong is as rich as a country and has endless money, some things simply cannot be accomplished with money.


    Their American efforts in developing Mutants involved drugs that cost trillions of US dollars to develop; no matter how wealthy a magnate is, he couldn''t possibly compete with a country in terms of scientific research power, could he?


    "Zhang Menglong, just who is he?" At this time, Wang Ling had slightly recovered from his shock, and it seemed the sudden appearance of this young man was quite impressive.


    Zhang Menglong smiled at Wang Ling, "This is my personal bodyguard. Impressive, right? But he''s still the weakest in our family."@@@@

 Chapter 240 Dont Run Away, Stay and Watch Me Show Off

    "Ding, congratulations to the Dean for earning 20 Cred Points!"


    "Hahaha, this is simply a grand scene for racking up Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong laughed proudly.


    "Your personal bodyguard? The weakest one?" Wang Ling''s eyes widened, "He has been following us to Europe from the beginning?"


    "Of course, otherwise what''s the point of calling him a personal bodyguard?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m so rich, there are definitely people who want to plot against me for my wealth, and if I don''t have a few bodyguards by my side, wouldn''t I become a walking ATM?"


    "But how come I never noticed him?" This was what astonished Wang Ling the most. A living person had been with them for a week, and he had been completely oblivious!


    "That''s a must! If he didn''t have some skills, how would he qualify to be my Zhang Menglong''s bodyguard?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "Who exactly are they?" Wang Ling now had countless questions swirling in his mind.


    "Kid, do you have lots of question marks?" Zhang Menglong sang a tune casually, "I said yesterday that many things in this world should not be viewed with the eyes of ordinary people. Do you understand now?"


    "Are you talking about that Immortal Pill?" Wang Ling suddenly realized.


    Who has ever seen someone sever metal with just a look? Now he had, and unless he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never believe that such things happened in the world.


    And the fierce competition over that Immortal Pill yesterday, Wang Ling had originally scoffed at it, but now, in hindsight, he realized he had been short-sighted. If it really were just some bogus med made by charlatans, would it have caused so many countries to vie for it so desperately? Would these supremely talented people take such great risks to intercept them?


    "Could it be that the Immortal Pill yesterday really had that kind of heaven-defying effect?"


    "That''s right," Zhang Menglong nodded, "How should I put it? Simply put, there are some very special people in this world, Mutants, Ancient Martial Artists, Cultivators¡ªoh, Cultivators are something I made up, I don''t even know if they exist."


    Wang Ling rolled his eyes. How could Zhang Menglong still be in the mood to joke at a time like this, hadn''t he seen that the situation at the scene could turn into a fight at any moment?


    "That Immortal Pill yesterday," Zhang Menglong continued, "could help these people enhance their strength, and thus help the countries they represent improve certain indefinable international standings. So, you get it now?"


    Wang Ling nodded, somewhat understanding, but one thing he knew for sure was that these people were not ordinary, and they were all after that very Immortal Pill.


    "But, that thing was eaten by your dog!" Wang Ling said incredulously, "Your dog isn''t going to suddenly gain enlightenment and become immortal, is it?"


    "I have no idea about that, but it sure has become quite smart," Zhang Menglong cradled Wang Cai in his arms.


    Shelcy charged ahead, believing that he was merely caught off guard before. He thought Ye Yin might just be fast, for if his strength were really that great, he would have already blasted his head open earlier.


    "Boom!" A massive shockwave erupted from Ye Yin''s body, like the previous time when he dealt with that electrified fellow. All those who charged at him were blown away by the shockwave.


    This power was terribly frightening, as more than ten people spat blood, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    They had underestimated him; this young man was definitely not just any Level Six Awakener!


    "He must be at least a Level Seven or Level Eight Awakener, or maybe even a surpassing level nine Awakener!"


    "How is this possible! How could he possibly have a bodyguard who is a surpassing level nine Awakener? It''s impossible!"


    They could not comprehend that an Awakener with such strength would be an important figure even for Huaxia, and would certainly not stoop to being someone''s bodyguard unless that person was a key national leader.


    Yet the power they witnessed told them this was true, and furthermore, this person hadn''t even used his full strength!


    More than ten people tumbled to the ground in disarray, while only one remained suspended in mid-air¡ª Shelcy from America. He appeared to be held by an invisible hand, struggling in vain to break free.


    "Kill him!" Zhang Menglong said coldly. His previous attempt to kill Wang Ling was an unpardonable act to Zhang Menglong; anyone who dared to harm someone close to him could not be forgiven!


    "Crack!" A crisp sound of bone-breaking was heard, and Shelcy''s neck snapped.


    "Thud!" Shelcy, already lifeless, fell to the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief, even in his final moments, unable to accept that he had kicked such an impenetrable steel plate.


    "Trash! Not one of them can fight!" Zhang Menglong remarked dismissively.


    "Ding, congratulations to the director for obtaining 50 Cred Points!"


    "Damn, that many this time?" Zhang Menglong was pleased. With that, he had accumulated 120 Cred Points!


    "Run!" someone shouted all of a sudden.


    Even Shelcy, their strongest, had been killed without the other party even lifting a finger¡ª if they didn''t leave now, they''d all perish right here!


    "Ye Yin!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Weld the door shut, don''t let a single one escape! If you all run, who will stay to watch me show off?!"@@@@

 Chapter 241 Robbery, Hand Over All the Money You Have

    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    Ye Yin''s eyes flashed with a touch of purple luster, and around the entire Destroyer, an invisible wall seemed to rise, sealing off the area completely.


    "Thud!" The first mutant who tried to escape slammed directly into the unseen wall, bashing his head until it bled.


    He stood up incredulously, reaching out to touch the invisible barrier, but it was as if the wall had been electrified. The moment he made contact, he was flung away, crashing heavily to the ground, and this time, he couldn''t stand up at all.


    "What kind of technique is this?" The remaining ten or so mutants, pale with fear, had never heard of such a method before. Even the powerful level nine mutants from their own country didn''t possess such abilities.


    "What kind of Awakener is he? Is it air control? Or psychic control?"


    "How can Huaxia still have such a formidable Awakener? Are the super-psychics from Frankfurt all garbage?"


    "Is this truly a trap? Did Huaxia quietly send a master here?"


    Seeing this scene, the mutants cursed inwardly, feeling almost desperate at Ye Yin''s strength.


    "Hahaha, I''ve locked the car doors; do you still think you can get out?" Zhang Menglong laughed heartily, relishing such a rare opportunity to show off. How regrettable it would be to let this pass?


    "Zhang Menglong, who exactly is this bodyguard of yours?" Wang Ling stared at the silhouette, dazed, as everything he had encountered today repeatedly challenged his worldview.


    "His name is Ye Yin, and his family has served mine for generations," Zhang Menglong explained. "He''s a very capable man. Last time I returned from Qingqiu Country, a group of people sent a mutant to assassinate me, and Ye Yin beat him half to death."


    "Good lad, no wonder you show off so recklessly," Wang Ling exclaimed in admiration. "With the way you flaunt, if you didn''t have a few capable bodyguards by your side, you would''ve been killed long ago!"


    "Isn''t that the truth?" Zhang Menglong smiled. "Money can make the devil turn the millstone. As long as you have enough money, even the most formidable people will be willing to serve you."


    "However, that person..." Zhang Menglong looked at the lifeless body of Xerxes on the ground, "you just let him kill someone; there won''t be any trouble, right?"


    In fact, Wang Ling was quite thrilled by the death of Xerxes. He had just seen for himself the incredible power of that invisible blade. If it weren''t for Ye Yin, he and his girlfriend would probably be dismembered by now. To sympathize with someone who wanted to kill him would just be playing the Holy Mother.


    However, Wang Ling was somewhat worried that Zhang Menglong might encounter some trouble because of it.


    "I''ll give you one more chance, don''t test my patience!" said Zhang Menglong with a cold voice.


    The dozen or so mutants were remarkably resilient; despite being seriously injured, they all got up and scurried in front of Zhang Menglong, lining up by height as instructed.


    "Ding, congratulations Chancellor on gaining 20 Cred Points!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, showing off in front of these second-class humans earns so many more Cred Points than ordinary people!" Zhang Menglong had only gotten 3 Cred Points from Emma the night before, the difference was stark.


    "Number off!"


    "Huh?" Not just the mutants, but Wang Ling and the others were stunned. What on earth was Zhang Menglong doing? Was he mocking them? They weren''t sure if Wang Cai, who had eaten the Immortal Pill, could cultivate into a human, but Zhang Menglong was indeed a real piece of work.


    "1!"


    "2!"


    ...


    Looking at Ye Yin, the mutants trembled upon meeting those cold eyes and promptly began to number off as Zhang Menglong had directed.


    "13 people, one Shel dead, one Shen Yuan ran away, but the rest are all here," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "I told you, the Immortal Pill was eaten by a dog, but y''all just wouldn''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong shook his head in frustration as if chastising stubborn children, "Something worth over a hundred billion Euros, do you think I''d fool you?"


    "Something worth over a hundred billion Euros? You say it as if it''s nothing!" The mutants cursed internally; a few years earlier, that amount could have made someone the richest person in the world.


    But they were well aware that even if the Immortal Pill hadn''t been fed to a dog, it would be impossible for them to snatch it from Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "I''m usually quite easygoing," Zhang Menglong began, pointing at Wang Cai, "this dog was picked up last night, and without a second thought, I adopted it. I didn''t even blink before feeding it something worth over a thousand billion. What a kind person I am!"


    "If you''re kind, then there are no demons in this world! Did Shel twist his own neck and commit suicide?" The group of mutants was now more than ever convinced that Zhang Menglong was a real hypocrite, only speaking in Underworld lingo.


    "Alright, I''m not gonna chat more with you. I don''t bother anyone who doesn''t bother me, but if you cross me, I''ll fuck up your entire family!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice, "Now, every single one of you, hand over all the money you''ve brought to this auction, this is a robbery!"

 Chapter 242 You Guys Know Too Much

    "Robbery?" Upon hearing these two words, the eyes of the mutants roundly bulged, as they all thought that falling into the hands of Zhang Menglong meant certain death today; yet Zhang Menglong didn''t play by the rules.


    "I know you all brought a lot of money this time," Zhang Menglong pointed at one of the mutants from Indi, "I remember you were the first to give up the bidding yesterday, but you also brought 62 billion Euros, right?"


    Zhang Menglong pulled out his phone, "You, pay via Zhi Fu Bao transfer or WeChat transfer?"


    "Idiot!" Wang Ling cursed directly behind Zhang Menglong, "Have you ever seen someone make a payment of 62 billion Euros using their phone? Are you sick in the head?"


    "Haha, sorry, I got used to it when I was poor," Zhang Menglong embarrassingly put away his phone. If he really had tried to transfer such an enormous sum through these two payment methods, Ma Yun and Ma Hua would probably be dumbfounded.


    "Let me ask you one thing, do you want money or your life?" Zhang Menglong said.


    The mutant from Indi hung his head. People from Indi weren''t as wealthy as those from America; this sum of money was gathered by the effort of the whole nation. If they returned without the Immortal Pill and also lost this money, they would likely face severe punishment back home.


    But if they didn''t give the money, they might die at the hands of Zhang Menglong right here!


    "I... I''ll give the money!" The person from Indi said helplessly. It was better to defect and flee the country. With his talents, as long as he stayed anonymous, he could live well anywhere in the world.


    Zhang Menglong gave the man his Swiss Bank account number and handed him a computer that could connect to the internet.


    A few minutes later, Zhang Menglong received a notification from the Swiss Bank; the 62 billion Euros had been transferred.


    "I like people who know the times," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Next!"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on an Awakener from the Kingdom of Derman, "Wearing circular glasses, what are you playing at, Harry Potter?"


    The Awakener trembled with fear, not even daring to look into Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    He had thought that Zhang Menglong''s biggest reliance was on that Destroyer from yesterday''s auction, which is why he allowed Adenna and Zhang Menglong to compete for that Imperial Jade Seal.


    Before the bidding, Zhang Menglong had issued a strict warning that anyone who dared to compete with him in the bidding wouldn''t leave this place. Adenna''s actions were clearly a slap to Zhang Menglong''s face in front of all these people.


    He understood that someone like Zhang Menglong didn''t care about money but definitely cared about his face, and this bill was probably souring on him.


    "Adenna!" The young man with green eyes gritted his teeth, "Wait until I return to my country, I''ll make sure you pay for this!"


    "Who are you trying to scare with that menacing look?" Zhang Menglong scolded, "69 billion Euros, right? Hand it over, each penny short, and I''ll pluck a hair from your head, once you run out of hair there, I''ll start on your leg hair, and if you''re out of leg hair, I''ll turn you into an Azure Dragon!"


    "Hahaha, you really are talented!" With the fear gone, Wang Ling relaxed, and even Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but let out a laugh.


    To provoke Zhang Menglong, such a troublemaker, was truly worse than death.


    "No way!" Wang Ling quickly stepped back¡ªhe had no clue that Zhang Menglong''s ancestors were all still alive. To meet them, he''d have to go down below!


    "Alright, you guys can get lost!" Zhang Menglong said, "Ye Yin, throw them all down!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Ye Yin replied meticulously.


    With a shift of his gaze, those dozen or so mutants were promptly tossed down from the deck, ten or so meters up, crashing brutally onto the frozen ice surface.


    Under Ye Yin''s prowess, the ice that had immobilized the destroyer cracked open.


    "Snap!" He snapped his fingers, and the sailors, who had been unconscious moments before on the destroyer, suddenly woke up, restarted the warship, and set off in the direction of the Frankfurt Continent...


    "Dammit!" On that small piece of ice floe, the dozen mutants looked at one another and then broke into bitter smiles. But glancing at Charles''s already cold body beside them, they couldn''t help feeling a stroke of luck.


    "This Huaxia man is simply a demon!"


    "We must report back to the organization¡ªanother Awakener beyond level nine has emerged in Huaxia!"


    "Swoosh!" At that moment, Ye Yin appeared again like a specter, floating in the air like a deity, possessing the power of flight, the hallmark of those beyond level nine!


    Apart from those special mutants or Awakeners who could control gravity, electric currents, magnetic fields, and the like, only those beyond level nine could fly on their own power¡ªit was common knowledge in the second world!


    "Mr. Zhang forgot to say something just now; he asked me to convey it," Ye Yin said.


    "You... You want us to keep today''s events a secret, right?"


    "Rest assured, we absolutely won''t let a word of today''s events slip!" Some said this out loud, but inwardly, they sneered. Once they were back in their own country, could Zhang Menglong''s people possibly come after them? Ye Yin wasn''t the only one in the world beyond level nine.


    "No!" Ye Yin shook his head, "Mr. Zhang wanted me to ask you guys one thing¡ªhe''s handsome, isn''t he?"


    All bewildered, they exchanged glances and then suddenly understood.


    "Handsome!"


    "I''ve never seen a more handsome Huaxia man than Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    "Crack!" The necks of the dozen men broke on cue, dying without knowing what they''d said wrong.


    Their bodies were submerged into the Mediterranean Sea floor by Ye Yin''s control. As he watched their fading shadows, Ye Yin said coldly, "Mr. Zhang asked me to tell you that you know too much."

 Chapter 243 Catching a Tailwind Flight

    The first time he killed someone, he took the lives of fourteen people, yet Zhang Menglong didn''t bear much psychological burden. After all, those people were originally there to kill him. Without Ye Yin''s intervention, he, Lu Yiyao, and Wang Ling would have all died there, unnoticed by anyone.@@@@


    Such an action would be considered excessive self-defense at most, and nobody was going to pursue legal actions against him. Moreover, with those fourteen people dead, nobody knew exactly how they died. Even if some traced the suspicion back to Zhang Menglong, knowing about Ye Yin''s existence, aside from Wang Ling and the others, all the rest were dead. It would be beyond them to guess that Zhang Menglong had such an expert like Ye Yin protecting him.


    The destroyer slowly docked, and Zhang Menglong and the others disembarked with slightly tired expressions. Apart from Zhang Menglong, the other three had all been more or less frightened by the ordeal and were just now feeling as if their bodies had been hollowed out.


    "Mr. Zhang," a middle-aged man dressed in an English naval uniform approached Zhang Menglong, "I am here by Her Majesty''s command to reclaim the warship."


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    In fact, among those who had come to assassinate him, there was also a mutant from England, who had used his own powers to create the ice floes on the sea.


    However, it seemed that the organization this mutant belonged to was not under the command of the English Royal Family. Not just England but several other European countries appeared to be controlling these special groups of psychics and mutants through certain national organizations.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been foolish enough to trouble Zhang Menglong. After all, each one had been thrashed by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather wielding foreign guns and cannons. On this trip to Europe, so many princesses had been sent to him.


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." The naval general glanced at the destroyer, noting a deep crack on the deck and even a cannon barrel that had been cut cleanly off.


    How did the destroyer end up in such a state after being borrowed by Zhang Menglong for just two days?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong''s penchant for fabrication was second nature, and he blurted out, "Well, at the auction, I acquired a divine weapon. The captain tested it out, and it accidentally got a bit out of hand. It really cuts through iron like mud, hahaha!"


    Zhang Menglong had a soldier carry out his recent auction acquisitions, among them a conspicuous sword.


    "I see." The general nodded in understanding. He was well aware that Zhang Menglong had attended a significant auction and that acquiring some impressive items was not surprising. Still, he was keen to see how it could cut through steel.


    "I''ll compensate you for the damage. Is one billion euros enough?" Zhang Menglong promptly wrote a check on the spot. He was incredibly wealthy at this point, having made over a hundred billion euros. If he didn''t spend some, it just didn''t sit right with him.


    "One billion euros?" The general was stunned. Although the repairs of the destroyer were expensive, they didn''t cost that much. One billion euros were enough to build another one!


    Furthermore, the Queen had repeatedly stressed the importance of treating Zhang Menglong with the utmost respect. If he said yes, they couldn''t say no. How could the general dare accept Zhang Menglong''s money? Besides, just being allowed to sail the English destroyer into Frankfurt''s waters showcased Zhang Menglong''s immense background. He wouldn''t dare accept the money!


    "Mr. Lei, Mr. Gu?" Zhang Menglong was surprised. He thought the two of them had returned to Huaxia already.


    "Why are you guys here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, we are here to ensure your safety," Gu Yuanwu said with a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhang Menglong and his companions unharmed. It seemed that the psychics and mutants from other countries hadn''t chosen to make a move in Frankfurt.


    "Ensure my safety?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled.


    "That Immortal Pill is of great importance; they won''t rest until they get it. They dare not make a move in Frankfurt, but if you were on an international flight, they might very well target you," Gu Yuanwu explained, "They wouldn''t believe that a dog ate the Immortal Pill. You might be in danger."


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel amused and exasperated. If he were waiting for Gu Yuanwu to protect him, his body would be cooling in the Mediterranean by now.


    It was clear those countries regarded the Fighting Spirit Pill as crucial, even willing to strike directly within Frankfurt''s borders.


    "I don''t think that''s necessary," Zhang Menglong shook his head. Those people''s bodies are probably shark food by now. The grass over their graves is likely over a meter tall, and yet you''re here to ''protect'' me?


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m not joking; I''m serious!" Gu Yuanwu said earnestly. "They''re not ordinary people... There are things I can''t tell you, but even if you had a squadron of fighter jets, it''d be difficult to return home safely!"


    "Holy shit, how did you know I have a squadron of fighter jets?"


    "I..." Gu Yuanwu was at a loss for words for a moment. He was just making an analogy to underscore the seriousness of the situation, but based on Zhang Menglong''s response, it seemed like he actually had a helicopter squadron? Maybe it was lent to him by some country?


    Gu Yuanwu had actually investigated Zhang Menglong''s family but found nothing special in the files beyond him being a major shareholder of several companies. Apart from that, there was no military or political background¡ªjust a thoroughly typical businessman of the second generation.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve arranged a special channel to get you out of here. Follow me."


    Seeing Gu Yuanwu''s earnest expression, Zhang Menglong felt like telling him that his bodyguard had already taken care of those people, but saying that would inevitably lead to future complications.


    "There''s no need, Mr. Gu," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "My private jet is ready for takeoff. Maybe you can hitch a ride on a SF Express plane?"


    ```

 Chapter 244 You Guys Know the Richest Person in the World, Its Annoying

    Finally, Zhang Menglong was stubbornly adamant: he refused to return to Huaxia with Gu Yuanwu through the special channel, insisting on taking his private plane. To protect Zhang Menglong''s safety, Gu Yuanwu had no choice but to return to the country with him.


    As for Lei Jun, he was well aware of the potential for encounters with those looking to steal the Immortal Pill during the return flight, and he chose to split paths with them. He was patriotic, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t afraid of death.


    Throughout the journey, Wang Ling and others chatted and laughed, eating snacks and watching movies, while admiring the rare treasures Zhang Menglong had purchased this time. But Gu Yuanwu stood solemn and meticulous in front of the plane''s window, seemingly weighed down by heavy thoughts.


    Most Awakeners and mutants couldn''t fly in the sky, and fighting mid-air was extremely dangerous. Even if Gu Yuanwu could barely protect himself, he wasn''t confident he could ensure Zhang Menglong''s complete safety.


    "Menglong, why is he standing there like a meditating monk?" Lu Yiyao curiously looked at Gu Yuanwu, who had maintained the same pose ever since getting on the plane, almost without moving at all.


    "I don''t know, he might be zoning out or ''listening to depressive music online''," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    Of course, he knew exactly what Gu Yuanwu was worried about, but his concerns were clearly unnecessary¡ªbecause he had already robbed those mutants clean and dumped them into the Mediterranean. Of course, he couldn''t possibly tell Gu Yuanwu that.


    "Mr. Gu, are you very worried?" Zhang Menglong walked over and asked, "If you''re really concerned, I could call in two or three hundred fighter jets to escort us home."


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t understand," Gu Yuanwu said with a wry smile, "fighter jets are far too insignificant a threat to those people. They are not ordinary individuals. There are things I can''t tell you, but you must understand that you are in a very dangerous situation right now."


    "Oh, then you go on," Zhang Menglong said speechlessly. Why was Gu Yuanwu so stubborn?


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    "Oh?" Gu Yuanwu looked at Zhang Menglong incredulously, as if thinking, even a newborn calf isn''t afraid of a tiger, but after repeatedly emphasizing the danger, could he really not realize how precarious his situation was?


    ...


    However, the scenarios Gu Yuanwu had imagined did not occur. Crossing half of Earth''s landscape, they passed through many vulnerable spots, but they remained unscathed until Zhang Menglong''s private plane landed at the airport, leaving Gu Yuanwu incredulous.


    "How is this possible? Have they all gone mad? To just let him return to the country unharmed?" If it weren''t for the mysterious energy fluctuations emanating from Wang Cai, Gu Yuanwu might have even suspected that Zhang Menglong had secretly become a traitor and handed over the Immortal Pill to someone from another country.


    "We''re home, Mr. Gu," Zhang Menglong patted Gu Yuanwu''s shoulder, "I told you nothing would go wrong. We''re living in a peaceful era, a society governed by law. You really were worrying too much."


    "Mr. Zhang, what are your thoughts on becoming the world''s richest person?"


    "Mr. Zhang, how much is your total asset value exactly? Up to now, Forbes ranking has only announced the new rankings but hasn''t disclosed your specific assets."


    "Mr. Zhang, are all the sources of your wealth legal?"


    ...


    "World''s richest person? Me?" Zhang Menglong knew his family was absolutely the richest in the world, but their names had never appeared on the Forbes list, not his or his elders''.


    "Old Zhang, Forbes has updated their rankings!" Wang Ling brought his phone up to Zhang Menglong''s face.


    It turned out that Zhang Menglong''s high-profile behavior during this period had already caught the attention of interested parties, especially after the incident in Qingqiu Country. Normal people knew that there must be huge flaws in the current Forbes billionaires list.


    Forbes Magazine also immediately started an investigation. Although they didn''t know how much wealth Zhang Menglong actually had, the numbers released from the incident in Qingqiu Country might not be real.


    But various signs indicated that Zhang Menglong''s background and wealth were absolutely terrifying, so they directly placed Zhang Menglong''s name at the top of Forbes list.


    Three days had passed since the new list was published, and not a single one of the listed tycoons had raised any objections, which proved that, for whatever reason, they acknowledged Zhang Menglong''s status as the world''s richest person!


    The auction where Forbes-listed billionaires showed up one after another revealed that their wealth was probably not even close to a fraction of Zhang Menglong''s. With more than 100 billion Euros in cash easily spirited away, who else would dare to babble on?


    This incident instantly caused a sensation throughout Huaxia and even the whole world, but Zhang Menglong had been on that island these past few days, not paying attention to these matters, which is why he was only finding out about it now.


    No wonder these reporters were blocking him like madmen.


    A world''s richest person in his early 20s, how important that first-hand interview material must be!


    "Quiet!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat speechless. Just a few days away, and upon his return, such a big commotion was already waiting for him, which was really somewhat embarrassing.


    "Mr. Zhang, can you share your thoughts on becoming the world''s richest person?"


    Zhang Menglong sighed, and with a blunt statement said, "TMD, you all know about the world''s richest person, it''s almost driving me crazy!"

 Chapter 245 I Thought I Only Had 800 Billion

    Hearing this, all the reporters were stunned.


    The richest person in the world, what a powerful aura that is. Wouldn''t anyone who becomes the richest person try every means to let the whole world know?


    Everyone has vanity, how much more for someone like Zhang Menglong, a young man in his early 20s? Isn''t this the age when people love to show off?@@@@


    But Zhang Menglong said that hearing the entire news was annoying to death, as if the title of the world''s richest person was a burden to him. What''s going on here?


    "Mr. Zhang, could you share your thoughts on becoming the richest man?" Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, just say a few words!"


    The reporters kept persistently asking.


    "What thoughts could I have?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I''m not interested in money. Whether I''m the richest man in the world or not, I would still have this much money. It''s just an empty title, nothing worth feeling anything about."


    "Ding! Congratulations Director for pulling a massive national stunt, gaining 100 Cred Points!"


    "Crap! I wasn''t showing off!" Those words were heartfelt from Zhang Menglong. To him, this title really didn''t mean much, and could even be a burden.


    But somehow, gaining 100 Cred Points still felt quite pleasing.


    "270 points now?" Unaware until he checked, Zhang Menglong was surprised to find he already had 270 Cred Points. Probably, those unlucky souls who were finished off by Ye Yin contributed to his Cred Points just before their demise, although he hadn''t noticed at the time.


    Thinking about this, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    The reporters, watching Zhang Menglong looking all goofy, were speechless. They were well aware of Zhang Menglong''s level of pretentiousness. Making the national leader of Qingqiu Country sing "Conquest" on a live broadcast, changing NetEase Music to "Foot Washing City" ¡ª could anyone top his ability to show off? He was undeniably Huaxia''s number one pretender.


    But today he seemed a bit off his game, why did he break into laughter right after speaking? However, these reporters were trained for such circumstances and wouldn''t usually break character unless compelled by something truly funny, like Zhang Menglong''s silly laughter, which even made some of them struggle to hold back their own laughter.


    "It seems Mr. Zhang isn''t as indifferent as he claims," one reporter laughed, "So far, Forbes rankings haven''t disclosed your exact wealth. According to the latest data, Mr. Poladi ranked second on Forbes has a fortune of 240 billion US dollars. May I ask Mr. Zhang if you are willing to reveal the specific amount of your assets?"


    If Zhang Menglong''s assets could be confirmed, it would be huge news indeed!


    Zhang Menglong quickly opened his account at Swiss Bank and seeing that long string of zeros, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s wrong?" a journalist asked curiously.


    "Nothing much, just got a bit scared by you all. I thought my assets had shrunk to 800 billion US Dollars!"


    "What?" the journalists looked at each other, bewildered.


    "Damn, this guy is a real show-off, ''only'' 800 billion left and he got scared?"


    "I''m mentally broken, not to mention 800 billion in assets, even 80 million would have me walking shoulder to shoulder with the sun."


    "Pinch my philtrum! I can''t take it anymore!"


    "What did he just mean by that? Are you saying his assets are more than 800 billion US Dollars?"


    "How did you guys come up with that calculation?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. He didn''t even know how much money he had, how could anyone else calculate it?


    "Recently you flaunted a deposit of over 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Country on social media, which is about 670 billion US Dollars. You merged with Tengxun Music and Wangyi Music, which today are valued at about 82 billion US Dollars, and you also have shares in Unicorn Technology, today valued at 100 billion US Dollars and Weibo around 10 billion US Dollars. According to your shareholding percentage, that comes to about 130 billion US Dollars."


    "Honestly, I don''t even know exactly how much money I have," Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Forget everything else, that 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency, it''s just the balance in my Qingqiu Bank account. I still have other savings accounts in Qingqiu Minsheng Bank and Qingqiu People''s Bank, that''s just my savings in Qingqiu Country!"


    Upon hearing this, the journalists were completely stunned. That meant his assets were far beyond 800 billion US Dollars, and mostly in the form of deposits, which meant cash!


    On the Forbes rankings, which billionaire''s assets are cash? Aren''t they almost all tangible assets?


    "Alright, you probably don''t have any more questions, right?" Zhang Menglong asked, "If not, I''m leaving, I''m quite busy, after all, I''d rather be famous for my talents, I''m off to prepare for my postgraduate and doctoral exams!"


    With that, Zhang Menglong really just pushed through the crowd and left.

 Chapter 246 I plan to hand it over to the nation

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    "He''s leaving just like that?" The reporters looked at each other in bewilderment as Zhang Menglong''s car drove away.@@@@


    He was just announced as the world''s richest man; shouldn''t he normally be holding a news conference, expounding his thoughts, and then boosting his fame?


    But Zhang Menglong seemed genuinely indifferent to the title of the world''s richest man, to the point where it appeared that the reporters were more eager for him to show some excitement about it.


    Perhaps to the truly wealthy, such honorary titles really mean nothing at all!


    Although Zhang Menglong did not express many of his thoughts, the mere revelation of his total assets was shocking enough to stir the entire nation.


    Most of the reporters were from television stations, but in this age of internet information, very few people watch TV anymore. Social media platforms and live-streaming have long replaced those traditional channels of information.


    The reporters were editing the videos they had just shot, with the fastest among them already preparing to take over the trending searches on their phones.


    However, as soon as the video interview of Zhang Menglong was uploaded online, it skyrocketed to first place.


    It was a joke; his name was all over Weibo. He could post about taking a shit, and if he dared to put it on Weibo, he''d dare to top the trending searches!


    A video article titled "Frontline Interview with the Newly Crowned World''s Richest Man, Zhang Menglong" instantly set the internet ablaze.


    "I was wondering why Mr. Zhang had been out of the public eye for three days. Turns out he was preparing a big move!"


    "800 billion US dollars in assets is probably an underestimate. Is he even human? ''Wealthy enough to rival countries'' probably means something like this, right?"


    "Not just 800 billion US dollars, folks. Mr. Zhang said that the Qingqiu Bank is just one of his accounts in Qingqiu Country. Let''s assume he''s underestimated and only has five bank accounts. Even if we lowball the funds in the other banks to just three or four trillion Qingqiu Currency, that adds up to almost two trillion US dollars!"


    "The analysis above makes sense, but don''t forget what Mr. Zhang said¡ªhe only mentioned his funds in Qingqiu Country. A small backwater nation like that, who would keep all their money there? Their GDP has been decent in recent years but is nothing compared to the entire world. If Mr. Zhang has deposits in Qingqiu, wouldn''t he have astronomical sums in Huaxia, America, and England too?"


    "Right, how much is our country''s US dollar foreign exchange reserves? Isn''t it 2.4 trillion?"


    "Damn... Just his deposits in Qingqiu might rival that amount, right?"


    "Did you see Mr. Zhang''s expression? When he heard someone say he had only 800 billion US dollars, he looked stunned. To him, 800 billion dollars in assets is probably what he considers poor."


    Within that ancient castle in Europe, England''s queen was perusing this message, while a middle-aged man indignantly spoke up, and a wry smile touched the Queen''s deeply wrinkled face.


    "The Zhang Family''s heritage, where is something you people can comprehend?" the Queen spoke softly.


    Just from England alone, the taxes collected from the lands owned by the Zhang Family each year are already astronomical, and it''s been collected for decades to this day; and that''s just from one country.


    And in the entire Continent of Europe, every country has land owned by Zhang Menglong, decades of accumulation could amount to hundreds of billions, even trillions of euros annually, how could that stop at a mere 800 billion US dollars?


    ...


    "Ding, the principal has put on a world-class show, earning 200 dodge points!" Zhang Menglong chuckled with delight, "I''m in the money now!"


    Right now, he couldn''t wait to dive back into the Super God Academy to summon a couple of teachers and learn a few more super skills, but he still had one very important matter to address.


    "If it isn''t our world''s richest man, what brings you to call this old man instead of holding a press conference?" Han Jinyu answered Zhang Menglong''s call with a hint of excitement - whatever Zhang Menglong''s stature, he was, after all, his student!


    "Professor, stop teasing me, it''s just a nominal title. I''m actually calling you for a favor," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Oh? You need my help again? Don''t tell me it''s another online spat with someone?" Han Jinyu said, "Which school this time? Don''t worry; those professors and academicians are at your beck and call."


    Zhang Menglong gave a helpless smile, why did these professors and academicians sound like hoodlums and street urchins coming from Han Jinyu?


    "It''s like this, you should know that I recently went to Europe."


    "Of course, you little rascal, you even did a live stream forcing that Frankfurt investigator to pole dance. It''s been the hot gossip in our academy," Han Jinyu said.


    "Bad news travels far," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I was just upholding the dignity of our Huaxia people, they forced my hand."


    Zhang Menglong got back to the point, "Professor Han, do you know any history or archaeology professors? Our academy doesn''t have those fields, and with your wide connections, I could only seek your help."


    "What do you need them for?" Han Jinyu asked curiously, "This time, I went to Europe for an auction, and I bought back a lot of Huaxia''s long-lost cultural relics. You know, I am an outstanding youth of the 21st century, a proud member of the Party; I obviously can''t keep such important items to myself."


    "So you plan to..."


    "I plan to hand them over to the state!"

 Chapter 247 Did you rob someones museum?

    "Hand them over to the state? Are you sure?" Han Jinyu said. Although he didn''t know exactly what Zhang Menglong had gotten his hands on, since it was something that could appear at an auction, it must be extremely valuable¡ªlikely worth several million, if not tens of millions of US dollars.


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said righteously. "I just became a proud Party member this year. It''s my unavoidable duty to do what I can for the country now that I have this energy!"


    "But you do realize that even if you find the most valuable cultural relics, according to our national cultural relic protection laws, you might not receive any compensation. At most, you''ll get a banner of honor," Han Jinyu was not hoping that Zhang Menglong would pocket the relics for himself, but after all, he had spent a great deal of money to buy them back.


    Zhang Menglong immediately laughed. "Teacher Han, these national cultural relics help us better understand our history and showcase the brilliant culture of Huaxia. This little bit of money isn''t a big deal!"


    "Ding, congratulations to the dean for gaining 5 Cred Points!"


    "I really wasn''t showing off this time!" Zhang Menglong felt somewhat frustrated.


    "Young man, with that kind of awareness, I will definitely help you!" Han Jinyu said.


    Han Jinyu was incredibly efficient at getting things done. Not only was this a matter concerning Zhang Menglong, but it was also a national issue. In less than twenty minutes, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "Teacher Han, aren''t you a bit too fast?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise.


    "How could I delay such an important matter?" Han Jinyu replied. "Oh, by the way, my daughter has just returned to the country. Are you going home for the Spring Festival? If you''re not, why don''t you come spend it at my place? Food, accommodation, and fun are all covered!"


    A few black lines suddenly appeared on Zhang Menglong''s forehead. Was Han Jinyu''s thought process too jumpy? And he understood food and accommodation, but what did he mean by ''fun''? Was this some kind of trap for his own daughter?"


    "Cough cough! Let''s focus on the serious matter at hand, Old Han!" Zhang Menglong heard an anxious voice on the other end.


    "Menglong, I''ve actually got someone here for you. The old guy hasn''t even had dinner; he just ran straight to my place and wants to go to your house to see the artifacts immediately. Are you available now?"


    "I am, definitely," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. These older folks were always in such a hurry, but of course, he understood. For those scholars who had devoted their lives to the study of cultural relics and archaeology, the excitement upon hearing about the rediscovery of precious historical artifacts that had been lost for hundreds or even thousands of years was only natural.


    Wouldn''t they be as impatient as someone who hadn''t had a romantic encounter in N years suddenly seeing a beautiful woman?


    Actually, when they first entered the building, they were quite surprised. With Zhang Menglong''s wealth, why didn''t he live in a detached villa but instead in an apartment building? Even though it was a large flat, it still did not seem to match his title as the world''s richest man. As for his earlier mention of going upstairs, did he own several floors? Perhaps Zhang Menglong was a bit eccentric, preferring apartment buildings to villas.


    "Menglong, did you buy several floors?" Han Jinyu joked. "My daughter recently graduated from overseas and I''m planning to buy her an apartment. This place looks pretty good. Have all the units in this building been sold out?"


    "Unfortunately," Zhang Menglong obviously knew what Han Jinyu was hinting at, "Mr. Han, all these buildings have been sold out."


    "I see," Han Jinyu said, slightly disappointed. "Are there any residents in this community who want to resell their property?"


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Han," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "there is only one owner in this community, and that''s me. All these buildings are mine."


    "Let''s pretend I didn''t ask!" Han Jinyu immediately felt embarrassed. Just a moment ago, they had thought this community was not fitting for Zhang Menglong''s status, only to find out that he had bought all seven or eight buildings. Could one even acquire these without spending several hundred million, or even billions? Isn''t this much better than any villa?


    Zhang Menglong took Professor Han Jinyu and Professor Chen Xin to a storage room down below, which he originally used to store sundries. However, to make room for these items, he had cleared it out. This time, the treasures he brought back from Europe were here, except for an aircraft carrier which couldn''t be moved over in a short amount of time.


    "Please come in, professors!" Zhang Menglong opened the door to the storage room. Inside, dozens of boxes and cases of various sizes were stacked, appearing somewhat disorderly.


    "Menglong, not to criticize you," Professor Chen Xin said distressedly, "how can you store cultural relics with these sundries? They are very precious items. If they get scratched or bumped, it would be a loss for the nation, a loss for our civilization!"


    Chen Xin had thought that most of these seventy or eighty boxes were filled with miscellaneous items.


    "Professor Chen, you''ve misunderstood," Zhang Menglong explained, "These are all treasures I brought back from Europe. There are no such sundries stored here."


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    "All these... these are all cultural relics?" Chen Xin asked incredulously.


    "Yes, there are a total of 88 pieces," Zhang Menglong replied, "but only about ten of these belong to our Huaxia, the rest are from other countries."


    "You..." Professor Chen Xin stuttered for a moment, "Did you rob someone''s museum?"

 Chapter 248 Should I Donate Some More Money?

    ```


    "That''s..." Zhang Menglong said somewhat embarrassedly, "I came back in such a hurry that all the things were piled up together without labels, and I don''t know which ones are from Huaxia."


    "No problem, let''s just treat it like opening a blind box!" Chen Xin recovered from his astonishment, and the prospect of unlocking the crates of cultural relics was far more thrilling than any blind box. He couldn''t wait to find out what surprises Zhang Menglong had brought him.


    The first box contained a long, golden staff, almost entirely cast from gold, with a large red diamond embedded at its top. Enigmatic script was etched along its length, and the staff was a little over one meter long, quite substantial in weight.


    "This! This seems to be..."


    As if he had discovered a new continent, Professor Chen Xin almost excitedly reached out for the golden staff, but his professional instincts immediately reined him in. With meticulous care, he pulled out a pair of gloves and a magnifying glass from his pocket and began to examine it closely.


    "This seems to be the Scepter of an Egyptian Pharaoh!" Zhang Menglong could feel Chen Xin fiercely suppressing his excitement.


    In ancient Egypt, the scepter was a symbol of status and power. Whether it was the scepter of a king or a god, it represented supreme dignity and authority, but the most precious of all was the "Pharaoh''s Scepter." The Egyptians believed it to be a divine relic bestowed upon humans.


    However, the Pharaoh''s Scepter had been lost for many years, and despite the discovery of numerous pyramids and Pharaohs'' tombs by Egyptologists, the scepter''s whereabouts had never been traced.


    As one of the four great ancient civilizations alongside Huaxia, the value of this scepter was no less than that of the Imperial Jade Seal, both holding a similar stature in history.


    "Yes, Professor Chen, this is the Pharaoh''s Scepter," said Zhang Menglong, "In fact, before the Pharaoh''s pyramid was excavated, tomb raiders had already entered the burial chamber and stolen a batch of treasures, including this scepter."


    "According to legend, the Pharaoh''s curse left within his pyramid struck the tomb raiders not long after they fled, leading to their untimely deaths, and the Scepter of the Pharaoh subsequently vanished without a trace," these details were narrated to Zhang Menglong by Emma.


    "It''s amazing, a treasure lost for a thousand years has reappeared today," exclaimed Professor Chen, unable to contain his admiration. "I can''t believe someone managed to find it. What''s the auction estimate, a stratospheric figure?"


    "Not expensive, just 1.2 billion euros."


    "1.2 billion..." Both elderly professors nearly coughed up blood. 1.2 billion euros, not expensive? Who talks like that?


    The first "blind box" gave Chen Xin an incredible surprise, and it made him even more eager about the contents of the other crates.


    "This is... a Crystal Skull of the Mayans!" Chen Xin exclaimed.


    The Mayan Civilization is one of the world''s most mysterious civilizations. Although not one of the four great civilizations, the jungle civilization had long achieved great accomplishments in astronomy, mathematics, and other fields during the Neolithic Age.


    "Professor Chen, what do you mean? These were just small efforts," Zhang Menglong replied hastily, "I originally went to the auction just to broaden my horizons, and it just so happened that I saw these items and bought them on a whim. You don''t need to be so formal!"


    "Bought them on a whim?" Chen Xin was amused by Zhang Menglong''s words.


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    Any one of these items, if taken out, would be worth over a billion, and just the combined value of these Huaxia relics probably amounted to dozens of billion Euros. Is that what you call buying on a whim?


    "Menglong, how many items were sold at that auction?" Professor Han asked curiously, since Zhang Menglong brought back more than eighty treasures by himself, the total must be quite staggering, right?


    "A hundred and something, I guess," Zhang Menglong said, "I just bought whichever items looked nice, seemed practical, or had some significance."


    "Are you sure that you went to attend an auction?" Chen Xin and Han Jinyu exchanged glances.


    Not to mention that Zhang Menglong purchased nearly ninety items out of a hundred something by himself, this was an auction where everyone was well-prepared, specifically targeting certain auctioned items.


    And for Zhang Menglong, it seemed he just bought whatever caught his eye, like shopping at a market. Even at a market, people can haggle over prices, could he haggle at an auction too?


    "Menglong, why do I feel like your trip abroad wasn''t so much to attend an auction as it was to go grocery shopping? You just bought whatever you saw." Han Jinyu said, exasperated.


    Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment and then nodded, "Actually, it''s quite similar to grocery shopping."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong called a few of the household servants to tidy up these things, and then carefully repackaged the eight relics belonging to Huaxia and set them aside.


    "Menglong, I will report this to the National Cultural Relics Bureau as soon as possible," Chen Xin said, "However, these items are quite substantial and require a very special venue, and I''m afraid the Historical Cultural Museum in Jiangnan City might not have the space to store them. I may need to apply to have them sent to the museum in the capital."


    "Ah? Sent to the capital?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat reluctant. Although there was no difference, as it was still within Huaxia, these items were, after all, procured by himself, and he would prefer them to stay in Jiangnan City.


    Actually, Chen Xin very much hoped that these items could stay in Jiangnan City too, but if that were to really happen, it would mean petitioning for funding to expand the venue, which wasn''t an easy matter.


    Chen Xin shared the difficulties with Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "So it''s just a matter of funding, is it? How about I make another donation?"


    ...

 Chapter 249 Tony Teacher, Suck in the Pink?

    Zhang Menglong had sent Professors Chen Xin and Han Jinyu home late. Not only had they determined the whereabouts of the artifacts, but they had also roughly discussed the matters concerning the museum expansion.


    As the person returning the artifacts, the nation would absolutely respect Zhang Menglong''s opinions. After all, this was a minor matter; everything was within Huaxia¡ªwhat difference did it make where they were kept?


    As for the specific details, Zhang Menglong directly handed them over to Hong Yi.


    Perhaps it was because she had been too tired these past few days, but by this time, Lu Yiyao had already fallen asleep. Zhang Menglong carefully closed the door and then walked into the study.


    "Wow, I''ve got 300 Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. This time he could learn not just one or two skills, but he might even unlock another teacher!


    "Gou Dan, I want to go to Super God Academy!" Zhang Menglong communicated to Gou Dan telepathically. Moments later, the magical entrance appeared once again, and with full anticipation, Zhang Menglong stepped into the school.


    "What the hell," Zhang Menglong smelled a burnt stench as soon as he walked into the school, as though something had been scorched, "Is someone actually playing with fire in my school?"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong immediately ruled out the possibility. Only Tony, the teacher, could still move freely in the entire school. As a teacher at Super God Academy, it wasn''t permitted to do anything that violated the school rules.


    The first school rule was to obey the headmaster absolutely. The second was to avoid any actions that would destroy the school, except under special circumstances. Surely, Tony wouldn''t break the school rules himself, would he?


    Super God Academy was a magical place. The entire school was like a living life form that could not only change the architectural style and location at will, but if Zhang Menglong wanted to go somewhere, a single thought would immediately take him to the corresponding place.


    "Gou Dan, where is Tony?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Teacher Tony is in the pharmaceutical academy," Gou Dan replied.


    "The pharmaceutical academy? Why is he, a mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence part-time teacher, not properly hammering out code at Stark Industries and instead going over to the pharmaceutical academy?"


    Zhang Menglong was curious as he summoned the teleportation gate of the Super God Academy.


    A circular light gate appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, he stepped into it, and as the light gate faded, so did Zhang Menglong from his original location.


    When he reappeared, he found himself in a quiet valley. In this valley was an endless field of medicine, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.


    "Gou Dan, who is the teacher of this pharmaceutical academy?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Is it Shennong or Sun Simiao?"


    "It''s the Pharmacist Venerable, Yao Chen."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead abruptly, "Of course! Yao Chen is also in the school!"@@@@


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong was completely stunned. What wild vegetables? This is Eighth Grade Spiritual Medicine! On the Dou Qi Continent, this stuff is priceless, unattainable even if you have the money. A single Evergreen Spirit Vine could drive countless Battle Venerables and even stronger experts crazy.


    Such a priceless treasure, and yet here it was being boiled and eaten as if it were mere wild vegetables by Teacher Tony?


    "Blood Essence Demon Fruit, Dragon Roar Grass, Yin God Flower, Fire Yang Spirit Leaf..."


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over those "wild vegetables," and he realized they were all top-grade herbs well known to all on the Dou Qi Continent.


    "Glump!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but clench his fist. "Prodigal son, really a prodigal son! I really freaking want to hammer you to death!"


    "Principal, if you need to punish a teacher of the school, you only need to issue a punishment order," Gou Dan reminded.


    "Punish him for me, punish him harshly! To actually use such top-grade spiritual medicine to make soup, I''m not even as extravagant as you are!"


    "Boom!" Amidst the thunder in the sky, a black vortex actually appeared among the colorful clouds, and a bolt of lightning descended, instantly charring Tony to a crisp yet leaving him tender on the inside.


    "Isn''t that a bit too harsh?" Zhang Menglong was a bit worried. "He''s not going to die, is he?"


    "Don''t worry, Principal, he won''t die, at most it''ll just be a bit painful," Gou Dan said.


    Sure enough, the injuries on Tony''s body began to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye, and within just a few seconds, he was as good as new. However, his face bore a hint of fear, as if he had been truly intimidated by Zhang Menglong''s method.


    "From now on, without my permission, you absolutely must not recklessly consume any plant in the school!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Yes, Principal," Tony said with lingering fear, though he knew he wouldn''t die, the penetrating fear of being struck by lightning was all too real.


    "You have something to say?" Zhang Menglong said, noting Tony''s hesitant manner.


    "Principal, I really haven''t eaten for so long, could I have something to eat now? I''m truly starved," Tony pleaded.


    Zhang Menglong sighed. You can''t be too heartless, right? Man is iron and food is steel; he couldn''t possibly act like a capitalist vampire.


    "So late at night, what to eat?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. "Teacher Tony, fancy a taste of rice noodle soup?"


    "Huh?" Tony was taken aback.


    "It''s Huaxia''s fine culinary delight, luosifen¡ªranked just behind spicy strips and milk tea. Want to give it a try?"


    ...

 Chapter 250 Looks like Im going to become an experienced driver

    "Mr. Zhang, what are you..." Seeing Zhang Menglong sneakily rummaging through the fridge, Hong Yi, who had just finished dealing with some matters and was planning to go downstairs to sleep, curiously asked.


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao both loved to slurp snail noodle soup, and their fridge was stocked with different brands of it.


    "Looking for snail noodle soup," Zhang Menglong handed over a bowl, "Want a box?"


    Hong Yi smiled awkwardly, "No, I can''t handle the smell."


    "What a pity!" Zhang Menglong sighed.


    "Mr. Zhang, why are you not resting this late?" asked Hong Yi.


    "Planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam. The test is in a month; how could I not study hard?" Zhang Menglong said, though this was just an excuse, otherwise, it would be too weird for someone to hide in a study late at night with several boxes of snail noodle soup.


    "Hong Yi, I might often be reviewing in the study during this period, so don''t disturb me if it''s not important," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    If Hong Yi came into the room while he was at Super God Academy and saw no one there, it would be strange not to call the police.


    "All right, I got it. Have a good rest, Mr. Zhang."


    "Mhm!" Zhang Menglong nodded and turned into the study.


    "Mr. Zhang is really studious," Hong Yi smiled and then left the room.


    ...


    At the entrance of the School of Pharmacy at Super God Academy, a middle-aged man and a young man were slurping up snail noodle soup, and the pile of medicinal materials worth a fortune was already ignored.@@@@


    Regarding that Mark-series armor, flames shot from its hands and were cooking another pot; a rich aroma continuously wafted out of it.


    "This is too delicious; it''s really too delicious. I have never eaten such tasty food before!" Tony, who was already on his third bowl, was the boss of Stark Industries. In his previous world, his lifestyle was undoubtedly very luxurious, but this was his first time eating something so unique.


    Compared to the bitter and astringent medicinal herbs, this stuff was simply a delicacy of the human world!


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    "It''s my first time tasting such delicious snail noodle soup too!" Zhang Menglong agreed, but it wasn''t the first time he had eaten this brand of snail noodle soup. He had never realized before that it could be so tasty, "No, wait, could it be that the flames from the Mark-series armors make it especially fragrant?"


    "Headmaster, I know this!" Tony said while eating, "The water in our school isn''t ordinary. It''s called something like ''Divine Water of the Three Lights.'' I saw it engraved on a stone tablet near a stream."


    "Divine Water of the Three Lights?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes bulged. As a fan of mythological tales, he was familiar with the name.


    The Divine Water of the Three Lights is one of the seven legendary divine waters in mythology, residing within the "Eight Treasures Glazed Bottle," owned by Yuanshi Tianzun. When the golden Sunlight Divine Water, the silver Moonlight Divine Water, and the purple Starlight Divine Water combine into one, they form the top healing Holy Medicine!


    "The most talented Academician in material science on your Earth, with maybe fifty or sixty years of research, might barely reach this level," Gou Dan replied.


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes shone with excitement, "Taking knowledge of material science far beyond the modern level of science to a polymer materials graduate entrance exam is like using a cannon to kill a mosquito!"


    "With the remaining Cred Points, I could even summon a teacher," Zhang Menglong pondered, "Gou Dan, this teacher summoning isn''t random as well, is it?"


    "Yes, it is," Gou Dan replied.


    "Is there a list of teachers?"


    A holographic screen unfolded before Zhang Menglong, densely packed with names and information¡ª "Holy moly, over twelve thousand teachers, my God!"


    Zhang Menglong quickly scanned the list and found several familiar names: Alice, Lin Dong, Emperor Huntian, Lin Fan, Luffy, Uchiha Sasuke, Qiao Feng, Aino Kishi, Bu Jingyun, Zhuge Liang, Morgana, Ultraman...


    "Gou Dan, unlock a teacher for me!"


    "100 Cred Points deducted, teacher unlocked successfully!"


    Amidst a flash of golden light, a shadow slowly materialized, accompanied by a deafening roar of an engine.


    "What''s this thing?" Zhang Menglong watched the glowing circle, where an old-fashioned sports car was visible, with a short-haired young man sitting inside.


    "AE86? Could it be..." Zhang Menglong immediately activated the authority of the dean''s ring.


    Name: Takumi Fujiwara


    Race: Human


    Identity: Racing course teacher


    Potential Index: 7


    Gift: Vehicle Driving


    Skill: Racing (E)


    Evaluation: No matter how fast the AE86 is, it can''t catch up to Natsuki''s Mercedes.


    "Takumi Fujiwara?" Zhang Menglong said in amazement.


    This character from "Initial D" was very familiar to Zhang Menglong, with an iconic image that had always stayed in his memory.


    "Seen the Dean!" Takumi Fujiwara bowed respectfully to Zhang Menglong.


    "Well, damn," Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Looks like I''m about to become an old driver!"

 Chapter 251 Turn Their Chips into Garbage

    With only 100 Cred Points left, Zhang Menglong directly copied Takumi Fujiwara''s racing skills. After all, now that he was mostly driving on his own within the country, maximizing driving skills would make his future journeys on the road safer, wouldn''t it?


    As for those drool-worthy skills from Teacher Tony, Zhang Menglong could only sigh with admiration for the time being. Even if he were to learn the impressive Artificial Intelligence technology, such AI would still require a carrier.


    And the technology currently on Earth was nowhere near meeting the conditions needed to host such an AI; the chips used as carriers could hardly last a few seconds with such a vast amount of data before they would fail completely.


    Zhang Menglong just needed some more time to digest the Material Technology he had acquired. By the time he had assimilated that knowledge, he expected he would have earned another substantial amount of Cred Points.


    ...


    "President, turn the steering wheel, turn the steering wheel!"


    "President, do you see the person ahead?"


    "I see him, looks like it''s Teacher Tony."


    "Go, ram into him!"


    "I can''t!" Zhang Menglong said, although he knew the teachers at Super God Academy couldn''t die, he couldn''t bring himself to do it, "I just zapped him with lightning, and now to run him over with a car, wouldn''t that make me seem unreasonable!"


    "Then why aren''t you hitting the brakes already!"


    ...


    "President, I told you to practice drifting, not spinning. Are you trying to destroy the parking lot with a tornado?"


    "President, did you buy your driver''s license?"


    ...


    Although he had copied racing skills from Takumi Fujiwara, such skills weren''t just about knowledge; they required practical operation.


    Zhang Menglong could start, but he had never raced before, let alone driven speeds over 200 miles per hour. Takumi Fujiwara, sitting in the passenger seat guiding Zhang Menglong, scolded him from start to finish, with little regard for Zhang Menglong''s status as the president.


    "Teacher Fujiwara, I am the president, please show some respect!" Zhang Menglong finally couldn''t stand the nagging anymore, reminding him of a relentless driving instructor from the days he was getting his driving license, but back then he had been too timid to speak up.@@@@


    Now, almost every one of them was thinking about pursuing a PhD, and those doctoral senior brothers even hoped the school would allow them to postpone their graduation, preferably for five or ten years.


    "Menglong, were you looking for Teacher Han?"


    "Yes, I''m planning to take the graduate entrance exam after the new year, and then join our research group!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Really?" the senior brothers and sisters were thrilled.


    "I had arranged to meet with Teacher Han this morning to talk about this, but why isn''t he here?"


    "Something came up at the last minute!" Big senior brother Zhu Mengchao''s expression soured. "Did you see the news today?"


    "What happened, did something happen at the school?" Zhang Menglong asked. Usually, Zhang Menglong would watch the news during the half-hour he spent in the bathroom after waking up, but this morning something indescribable happened, and he hadn''t paid attention.


    "No, it''s Silicon Moonlight that had an issue."


    "Silicon Moonlight? The biggest semiconductor chip company in our country?"


    "Not just them, all semiconductor companies had issues!" Zhu Mengchao said, "You know, America recently got a new president, and he quickly took a series of measures, one of which is to prohibit the sale of semiconductor chips to our Huaxia."


    Zhang Menglong frowned, "Complete monopoly?" The previous president had just increased the prices of chips significantly, but it hadn''t reached the point of an embargo. He couldn''t believe that on the first day of the new president''s term, such a thing had happened!


    "Yes!" Zhu Mengchao said, "So now the situation has suddenly become tense. Without high-performance chips, our country''s communications technology would be doomed, at least the short-term development will be very slow, probably until we can develop our own." Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Zhang Menglong nodded; he could fully imagine the consequences of a total chip embargo.


    "You know, Teacher Han''s research focus has recently been on graphene, a semiconductor material. This morning he had to attend an emergency meeting, and he probably won''t be back until this afternoon."


    "So that''s what happened." Zhang Menglong finally understood the whole story. "These Westerners really know how to stir things up!"


    "Who''s to say they don''t? But we can''t help it. The core technology is in their hands, and right now, we are still in a passive position." Zhu Mengchao said helplessly.


    "Bad luck for them!" Zhang Menglong smiled, even suspecting that the Super God Academy had predicted such an event would occur, which is why they let him draw the Material Technology skill.


    "Now that it''s like this, let''s make their proud chip technology obsolete!"

 Chapter 252 Ill Just Support You

    In the past two years, the tech war had erupted globally, and those developed countries had tightly sealed off the core semiconductor technologies, placing Huaxia, which had always relied on foreign imports, in a very difficult situation.


    There was an enterprise called Huawei that had always focused on independently developing its own chips, which indeed raised Huaxia''s self-research capabilities by a notch. However, in this domain, the most fundamental aspect was still semiconductor manufacturing technology, and this was also the hardest to breakthrough.


    But now, in Zhang Menglong''s mind, his Grade E knowledge in material sciences had enabled him to understand semiconductor material technologies to an extent that was unreachable for the average person.@@@@


    Today, Huaxia''s domestically produced mass chips had reached 7nm, but the top semiconductor technology companies could already mass-produce 5nm chips. Although it was just a 2nm difference, the technical gap was at least two years.


    Producing semiconductor chips required 19 essential materials, none of which could be omitted, and most of these materials had extremely high technical barriers. Therefore, semiconductor materials held a crucial position in the semiconductor industry.


    And with materials such as silicon wafers, synthetic semiconductor wafers, photomasks, photoresists, pharmaceuticals, target materials, protective coatings, lead frames, ceramic plates, plastic boards, COF, solder wires, and packaging materials, Zhang Menglong could easily solve these challenges!


    Theoretically, the limit for semiconductor chip technology is 2nm, but within Zhang Menglong''s knowledge system, he could advance semiconductor chip technology to 0.3nm, which was almost a tenth of the theoretical limit!


    One could imagine the impact on the global semiconductor industry once he industrialized this technology.


    ...


    "Junior brother, what did you mean by your words just now? Did you say you want to make their chips obsolete?"


    "Yes, if we could develop a better chip, wouldn''t their products become obsolete? And they would all be begging us to buy our chips!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "If only it were that simple," Zhu Mengchao, who had always worked with Professor Han on semiconductor-related topics, knew how difficult this field was, "Although our country can develop very advanced chips, the concept of laboratory and industrial mass production are completely different. We are a full five years behind in mass production technology!"


    However, if they accepted the conditions of the Westerners and stopped providing chips to Huaxia, then the company would no longer belong to Huaxia but would completely become a tool for the West to amass wealth. If Zhang Menglong acquired it, there would likely be a torrent of criticism in the future.


    Zhu Mengchao hurriedly shared his concerns with Zhang Menglong.


    "Elder Brother, rest assured, I will never agree to those Westerners'' demands," Zhang Menglong smiled. The last company was founded by entrepreneurs from our homeland; it is a Huaxia company. Zhang Menglong would never let his own company become a tool for the West to amass wealth.


    "Then why are you acquiring them?" Zhu Mengchao was even more perplexed, "Without the finished Crystal Chips, their production lines are useless, unable to perform any industry work!"


    "What, are only Western countries capable of producing Crystal Chips?" Zhang Menglong''s words actually meant he could do it too, and the chips he produced would be ten times more efficient than theirs!


    But Zhu Mengchao clearly misunderstood him. Zhang Menglong was just an undergraduate graduate, and even his graduation project was assisted by several of his elder brothers, and that too was in polymers. In the semiconductor Domain, Zhang Menglong was likely clueless.


    "Although some other countries can also produce Crystal Chips," Zhu Mengchao explained, "the technology and patents they use all belong to Western countries. This blockage from Western countries is worldwide; anyone using their technology is prohibited from providing Crystal Chips to Huaxia, or they will be held accountable!


    "Our country can manufacture Crystal Chips too, but they are too crude and perform too poorly. The chips produced can only be used in low-end phones and computers. Thinking of deploying them in cutting-edge communication technology is laughable!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled; he knew Zhu Mengchao had misunderstood his statement, but he couldn''t just say it explicitly. If he told Zhu Mengchao he had a way to produce high-performance Crystal Chips, Zhu Mengchao would hardly believe him.


    "If it''s not feasible now, then we''ll wait until our country can produce high-end Crystal Chips, then resume production!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "That''s a five-year technological gap!" Zhu Mengchao said, "Even if our self-research capabilities improve tremendously under this pressure, it would still take at least two to three years. If you acquire them now, you''re just taking on a huge burden! Their annual operating costs already exceed 30 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "What does that matter?" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "What belongs to our homeland is ours; if they cannot sustain themselves, then I will support them!"

 Chapter 253 Your Dad Has Over 300 Women

    "Junior Brother, you really are..." After hearing Zhang Menglong''s dominant response, Zhu Mengchao couldn''t help but marvel at Zhang Menglong''s wealth and boldness.


    An annual cost of 30 billion Huaxia Yuan, although if the enterprise isn''t running normally, the equipment cost would be much less, but it still would absolutely be an expenditure of tens of billions. Zhang Menglong could even say "I''ll support it."


    Their conversation was in a graduate student''s office, where other senior brothers and sisters also looked at Zhang Menglong with shock, and beyond that shock, there was also a touch of emotion.


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for earning 10 Cred Points!"


    "I really didn''t mean to show off!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, this half stemming from patriotism and half from anger.


    Of course, even though some impulsiveness was involved, a mere one hundred billion Huaxia Yuan meant nothing to Zhang Menglong, after all, the last time he made a trillion Euros, most of it was stripped from Western countries, a case of reaping what they sowed. Their retribution was Zhang Menglong.


    "Senior brothers and sisters, I''ll leave first," Zhang Menglong greeted everyone in the office, "When I am free, I''ll take you all out to play!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong left the school directly.


    "Hong Yi, prepare the plane for me, I need to make a trip to the treasured island!"


    ...


    With a piercing roar, a private jet parked in a private airport on the treasured island. This time, the person to receive him was a woman, a very charming and enchanting woman.


    "Menglong, long time no see." The woman looked at him with a very affectionate gaze.@@@@


    "Menglong?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment. Up until now, whether in Qingqiu Country or Europe, everyone who received him treated him with utmost respect, either calling him Young Master or Master.


    But this woman directly addressed him by his name, even using a tone that seemed to belong to an elder speaking to a younger person.


    "Ye Yin, you come out too!" The woman glanced at Zhang Menglong''s empty back.


    "She knows about Ye Yin''s existence too?" Zhang Menglong was even more surprised. Ye Yin, his personal bodyguard, was only known to Hong Yi, and even Lu Yiyao, who was with him day and night, only found out last time in Europe. How could this woman know?


    "Aunt Liu."


    "Aunt Liu?" Hearing this title, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt something was off. Could it be... no, that''s impossible, isn''t it?


    Zhang Menglong cast a glance at Ye Yin.


    Ye Yin nodded at Zhang Menglong in return.


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong was dumbfounded.


    In his mind, he already had a visual. Twenty years ago, in the hospital where he was born, a top-level maternity ward surrounded by more than three hundred women...


    "Eeek," Zhang Menglong quickly shook his head to banish that absurd image from his mind. These were matters of the older generation, and he couldn''t be bothered to deal with them.


    Although his father had wronged these women, it was their own choice. They could have completely chosen to remarry. And it seemed like Zhang Xiaoyun was trying to compensate them, but what he offered was not what they wanted.


    "But it looks like my dad''s safety measures were solid. He hasn''t created so many brothers and sisters for me," Zhang Menglong felt somewhat relieved. Had his family started being this debauched from the first generation without taking safety measures, there probably wouldn''t be anyone else on Earth not surnamed Zhang by now, right?


    "During this period, you should stay here," Aunt Liu said, "Oh, right, my full name is Liu Qian. You can just call me Aunt Liu like everyone else."


    "Aunt Liu," Zhang Menglong called out, respecting his father''s woman as he should.


    "You must have some business to attend to on Treasure Island?" Liu Qian asked.


    "Yes, that''s right," Zhang Menglong said.


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    "Although I don''t know what you plan to do, whatever you want to do, just go do it," Liu Qian said with a smile. "Out of our more than three hundred sisters, more than a hundred are here on Treasure Island. There''s nothing here that we can''t solve for you!"


    "Hiss!" Zhang Menglong gasped, "This is just a Silk Cave! No wonder Hong Yi didn''t want to come with me."


    ...


    Liu Qian''s residence was located on Golden South Road on Treasure Island, designed by the Italian national treasure, Lorenzo Tondelli, and valued at over 120 million. Next to her place lived many celebrities, including Director Zhou.


    But now, these things hardly shocked Zhang Menglong anymore.


    "Hong Yi, why didn''t you tell me earlier? I wasn''t prepared at all!" Zhang Menglong complained over the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s a bit awkward for me to bring up your family matters," Hong Yi said somewhat aggrieved.


    "Oh well, let''s talk business first. How is the Silicon Moonlight acquisition going?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Due to the lockdown event, the stock has already hit the limit down today, and shareholders are frantically selling off. I''ve already acquired 52% of the shares for 38 billion US dollars," Hong Yi said, "Actually, according to this situation, it might continue to hit limit down the day after tomorrow. If we buy later, we could save quite a bit."


    "No worries," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Spending billions of dollars to save two days is too much of a loss. Tomorrow I''ll meet those shareholders at Silicon Moonlight first!"

 Chapter 254 Which Dog is Cursing the Huaxia People

    Silicon Moonlight was the largest chip packaging and testing factory in the world. The so-called packaging and testing might sound sophisticated and indeed, in the domestic arena, very few had the capability to undertake this task. However, in the entire chip production process, it was relatively the least technical aspect.


    Located in an industrial park in the southwest of the Treasure Island, Silicon Moonlight as the world''s largest packaging and testing factory boasted annual revenues close to ten billion US dollars. Thus, centering on it, a massive industrial chain group had been established around it.


    Of course, due to the problems Silicon Moonlight was facing currently, the surrounding businesses were also in jeopardy. If Silicon Moonlight fell, they would topple as well, and many hoped that the upper echelons of Silicon Moonlight could accept the conditions proposed by the Westerners.


    After all, for those pure businessmen, true patriots were indeed a minority, and there were other reasons, which those in the know understood; most of them did not entirely consider themselves as people of Huaxia.


    Unfamiliar with the area, Liu Qian personally accompanied Zhang Menglong today; having a local by his side naturally gave Zhang Menglong much more confidence. Although he was now the largest shareholder of Silicon Moonlight, this was, after all, the first time Zhang Menglong had personally come to handle a company''s affairs.


    From a distance, a massive factory stood by the roadside; rather than calling it a factory, it would perhaps be more fitting to say it was a small town, and the tallest, most magnificent building in the center was the office building of Silicon Moonlight headquarters.


    Today, Liu Qian had arranged for a Rolls Royce again, a sight quite rare in this place. The company''s security didn''t even question them and let them in directly.


    Following the elevator from the second underground level, Zhang Menglong, Liu Qian, and her female assistant went straight to the corporate building''s lobby.


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    "The atmosphere here is very tense," Zhang Menglong observed the surroundings; although people were bustling around in haste, each face bore shades of heaviness and worry.


    "Of course, the company is virtually in a life-or-death moment," Liu Qian said. "Menglong, didn''t you say someone was supposed to meet you today? Where are they?"


    "Maybe the person doesn''t recognize me," Zhang Menglong chuckled. Yesterday, when Hong Yi had finalized the purchase of Silicon Moonlight''s shares, she had given him a number; this person was supposed to be the former chairman''s secretary.


    "I''ll give them a call," Zhang Menglong dialed the number directly; Hong Yi had told Zhang Menglong the time and place to meet, so Zhang Menglong had not yet contacted this person.


    ...


    Not far away, a man around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, wearing glasses, was scanning the surroundings, seemingly searching for someone.


    His name was Xu Huan, the secretary to the chairman of Silicon Moonlight, holding a master''s degree from one of the top 10 universities in the world. Truly, having just joined the company in the middle of the year with an annual salary of eight hundred thousand, he should have had a promising future for someone his age.


    But unexpectedly, just half a year after his internship ended and he was officially employed, he encountered this issue.


    And more bizarrely, yesterday afternoon, a mysterious figure had acquired a majority of the company''s shares. The former chairman told him that all his shareholdings had been transferred and the new chairman would take over today.


    But he knew nothing about this new chairman ¡ª not the age, name, or even the gender.


    The elevator stopped on the top floor of the company building, revealing a luxurious and bright corridor, at the end of which was an office exclusive for the directors.


    "Hold on!" Zhang Menglong stopped Xu Huan, who was about to open the door, as several loud voices were engaged in a heated discussion inside.


    "What are you all hesitating for? Their representative said as long as we agree to their conditions, our company can continue operating!"


    "Exactly! They said they just won''t allow us to do business on the Continent, but on the Treasure Island, we still decide whom to sell to. Even if we can''t sell all our chips here, we can still sell to Kaibong, to Qingqiu Country, to the whole world! Why focus solely on the Huaxia Continent market?"


    "Gao Feng, are you even Huaxia anymore?" another shareholder suddenly slammed the table and said, "As for me, to follow those Westerners, don''t even think about it!"


    "Xu! Watch how you speak! What do you mean by ''those Westerners''? You Easterners do business like crap!"


    "There are foreign shareholders as well?" Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s Mr. Infelite, also one of the major shareholders, an American. The company''s board has eighteen directors, the majority of them foreigners," Xu Huan whispered.


    "Right, it''s you arrogant Huaxia people who cause the company to suffer losses. Now our country''s people are giving you this option, you should learn to be grateful!"


    "If you don''t agree, then starve with the company!"


    "Hmph!" said the shareholder referred to as "Xu," "don''t forget, the new chairman of the company is coming today, what you say doesn''t count!"


    "What about the new chairman?" one American shareholder said, "As long as he goes against the interests of the majority, we can still impeach him!"


    "Haha, another idiotic chairman from Huaxia, how much did we lose because of the last chairman''s obsession with national pride? We are businessmen, not Huaxians, what we want is money! Money, you understand? Huaxian?"


    "My, my!" Zhang Menglong coldly chuckled.


    He did not believe these people were unaware of his arrival today; otherwise Xu Huan wouldn''t be the only one meeting him. These words were very likely meant for him to hear.


    Now, it was the Westerners who held the upper hand, confident that this Huaxia chairman would not dare respond even if he heard their words.


    Faced with a company close to bankruptcy, who in their right mind would buy its shares? They believed the new chairman would agree to the conditions of the Western delegates, and they needed to give the new chairman a demonstration of their power.


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong kicked open the conference room door.


    All eyes immediately focused on the doorway.


    Zhang Menglong leaned on the conference table with his arms, his expression cold, his eyes narrowed into slits as if he were a sword piercing through each shareholder, "I think I just heard a dog bad-mouthing Huaxians?"

 Chapter 255 What Does Your Losing Money Have to Do with Me?

    Although Zhang Menglong was young and used to fooling around, when he got serious, the confidence his family background bestowed upon him made him exceedingly dominant, exuding an air of a superior.


    This direct challenge had intimidated those fiercely debating foreign shareholders just moments ago.


    Standing behind Zhang Menglong, Xu Huan''s expression was priceless. When Zhang Menglong had kicked open the door, he had not had the time to stop him, mainly because he had not anticipated that Zhang Menglong would do so.


    The former chairman of Silicon Moonlight had lost his temper before, but those truly cunning ones often didn''t show their emotions, as they had too much to consider.


    But Zhang Menglong had no such concerns. He did whatever he wanted. If he was in a bad mood and felt like kicking the door, he would just kick it. After all, this was his company and he didn''t care about potential negative impacts at all.


    "This kid''s character is exactly like that bastard Zhang Xiaoyun!" Liu Qian and her assistant quietly moved behind Zhang Menglong. "But I like it!"


    "Who are you?" a skinny foreigner with broken Chinese asked, "This is the chairman''s office. Is this a place you can just barge into?"@@@@


    After he spoke, he glanced at Xu Huan, "Xu Huan, do you not want to work here anymore? The chairman has just resigned and you let all sorts of riffraff in?"


    "Oh, so it was you, the dog that was barking inside," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Infelite, right? Good, I''ve got you noted."


    Zhang Menglong merely glanced at him and then ignored him altogether.


    "Who else was speaking ill of the people from Huaxia just now?" Zhang Menglong continued to question, "What''s the matter, all mute now? Weren''t you all quite lively just a moment ago? Why don''t you continue?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t speak in Chinese because most present were foreign shareholders, and nearly all came from English-speaking countries. If he continued in Chinese, they might not understand him.


    "Who are you exactly? Please leave immediately, or we''ll call security!" This time, a Huaxia person spoke. Zhang Menglong recognized his voice¡ªit was that shareholder referred to as Gao Feng just a while back.


    "Oh, right, my apologies, I forgot," Zhang Menglong''s face showed no hint of regret, "let me introduce myself. I am Zhang Menglong, the new chairman of Silicon Moonlight!"


    Everyone was startled. Zhang Menglong was unbelievably young, although they all knew a new chairman was taking office today, they had never imagined it would be Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong remembered that he was the one who had just voiced an objection, so Zhang Menglong had a very good impression of him. He smiled at Xu Songhai, who smiled back. Sometimes, men''s friendship only needed a common goal; age and other details were trivial.


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong continued, "I''ve already made my stance clear. Now, I''ve gone against the interests of most of you, you can impeach me now!"


    "Director Zhang, you now own 52% of the shares of Silicon Moonlight, making you the largest shareholder. According to the company''s charter, you have veto power over all company affairs, and no one has the right to impeach you."


    "Well said!" Zhang Menglong liked employees with such insight, "Starting tomorrow, your salary will be doubled!"


    A flicker of joy crossed Xu Huan''s face, but then it faded. What did a salary increase matter? How long could the company keep going?


    "You hear that?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "It''s not that I don''t give you a chance, it''s just that the strength simply doesn''t allow it!"


    After those words, the shareholders who hoped that Silicon Moonlight would comply with the Westerners'' demands all turned gloomy. It seemed Zhang Menglong was set on refusing to cooperate.


    "Mr. Zhang, haven''t you considered the consequences?" one shareholder said, "If foreign countries stop providing us with Crystal Chips, our company would basically be crippled. Those low-end chip orders, let alone making a profit, we wouldn''t even break even."


    "Yeah, if we don''t lay off staff, our annual labor and equipment costs are around 5 billion US dollars. The total of our low-end orders each year doesn''t even reach 2 billion US dollars, that''s a loss of 3 billion US dollars!"


    "I have money, I don''t care about losing money," Zhang Menglong countered, "I spend more than 3 billion US dollars on maintaining a dog!"


    "But we care!"


    The shareholders'' faces turned even uglier. Unlike employees who still got their salaries whether Zhang Menglong cared about losses or not, shareholders were different. They relied on the company''s dividends; if the company was not profitable, they wouldn''t receive a cent.


    Plus, this dog joke was getting old. What was it with Zhang Menglong and dogs? He brought them up constantly!


    "Whether you care or not, it''s none of my business!" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    "What do you think, are you angered?" Zhang Menglong provocatively said, "I am the largest shareholder. I make the key decisions in the company. I just love seeing the look on your faces, annoyed yet unable to do anything about it!"

 Chapter 256 Tell Them to Get Lost Directly

    Indeed, most of the shareholders were itching with hatred, but they were helpless, for Zhang Menglong was the largest shareholder, holding the power to finalize any decision. As long as he was unwilling to accept the conditions represented by the Westerners, no one could force him.


    "Since it''s like this, then we can only give up on cooperation!" Infelite slammed the table and stood up. If the company entered a state of loss, those shares in his possession would become a hot potato, "I demand the company buy back my shares at market price!"


    All the shareholders looked at each other, considering the difficulty of convincing these capitalist owners from America to sell their shares. Before the company ran into trouble, Silicon Moonlight''s profitability was strong, and Infelite tried every means to increase the percentage of shares under his name.


    But now, who would want to take them over? If the company truly went bankrupt, their shares would turn into trash, unconvertible into cash. Even if one holds a high percentage of shares, what use would that be?


    "We want to sell, too!" Several other shareholders from European and American countries also stood up one after another, because they simply could not think of any method for Silicon Moonlight to make a comeback.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "Anyone else wants to sell?"


    "Hmph! A clueless youngster!" The shareholder named Gao Feng stood as well, along with several other Huaxia shareholders who shared his stance.


    Zhang Menglong scanned the conference room; besides himself and Xu Songhai, only three shareholders remained seated.


    "Mr. Zhang, these four shareholders were among the earliest to conquer the business world with the former chairman. They have strong feelings for the company and would probably stick with it until the end, even if it goes bankrupt," Xu Huan whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "They will feel wise about their choice today in the future," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "All right, so now everyone wants to sell their shares?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    None of the standing shareholders wanted to speak, all implicitly consenting.


    "Very well," Zhang Menglong nodded, "you ask around, who''s willing to take over?"


    When asked this question, the shareholders were all taken aback.


    Indeed, who would be willing to take over? The remaining four veteran shareholders managing to hold on was already impressive. Who would want to increase their risk? Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    This morning, not even an hour after the stock market opened, Silicon Moonlight''s shares had once again hit the limit down. In just two days, the company''s assets had shrunk by 20%!


    Although the country had already started to advocate for independent research and development, it was a lengthy process. In the short term, the situation was definitely not going to take a turn for the better. The country could persist for three to five years, but could their businesses do the same?


    Considering the current situation, it was very likely that these shares could end up rotting in their hands!


    "Well, it seems you came prepared!" Infelite realized that this young man, although young, was not as naive as they thought.


    As soon as Infelite signed the stock transfer agreement, Zhang Menglong immediately transferred the money to the bank account he had provided.


    "This fast?" Infelite was surprised.


    "Mr. Infelite, I wish you well but I will not see you out!" Zhang Menglong completely disregarded his presence.


    "Huaxia people, you wait! This matter will not end like this!"


    "Okay then, turn right when you exit, mind the door, thank you!" Zhang Menglong then ignored Infelite, "What about the rest of you?"


    "We''ll sell!" With a major shareholder like Infelite leaving, what other choice did they have?


    If they didn''t divest now, there would only be two outcomes: the first one, Zhang Menglong''s research and development plan fails, and the company goes bankrupt, resulting in a total loss for them.


    The second one, Zhang Menglong invests money into Scientific Research, diluting their shareholding ratio. Even if the company does make a miraculous recovery later, their shares will likely be diluted to mere dregs. Moreover, it would be a very lengthy process, and it''s questionable whether they would live to see that day.


    No matter how you looked at it, it was still better to take this money and look for new opportunities elsewhere.


    Although it looked like they had lost a lot, it must be understood that they were some of the original shareholders of the company. The dividends they had accrued from Silicon Moonlight''s operations had already made them a tidy profit. They were just earning a bit less now.


    Following Infelite''s lead, those shareholders each signed their stock sale agreements, and Zhang Menglong''s shareholding suddenly exceeded 80%.


    "Director Zhang, this..." Seeing the former shareholders leave, Xu Songhai sighed deeply, "Are we really just going to wait now?"


    "Wait?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I was just fooling them! I was afraid they would be stubborn and not sell their shares to me. It looks like they have great confidence in the Western chip sanction strategy!"


    Xu Songhai gave a wry smile. With the whole world''s patents in their hands, as soon as they say they won''t sell raw materials to Huaxia, who would dare to sell? It was just like Zhang Menglong''s decision just now; no one could object, with no loopholes to exploit.


    "Director Zhang!" Suddenly, Xu Huan''s expression became somewhat ugly.


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The representatives from America are here again," Xu Huan said, "Today is their final deadline. We must give them an answer today, whether we agree to their conditions or reject them."


    "Oh, don''t worry about it," Zhang Menglong dismissed nonchalantly, "No need to invite them up. Just tell the reception to have them roll out!"

 Chapter 257 Expelling All the Rebels

    "Zhang Menglong, this isn''t right," Xu Huan said, "Even if we don''t cooperate, we could still approach it in a somewhat milder way. Is there a need to make relations stiff?"


    "Is this even about cooperation?" Zhang Menglong replied,


    Zhang Menglong was very aware that Huaxia''s 5G technology had already reached the peak of the world,@@@@


    When they are all fighting up to this level, yet you still welcome them with a smile? Well, Zhang Menglong definitely couldn''t do that.


    "By the way, when you ask them to leave, make sure to be polite, no profanity, just tell them that the chairman is taking a dump and doesn''t have time to see them!"


    "Pfft!" Liu Qian burst out laughing behind him; Zhang Menglong had truly inherited all the "qualities" of the old Zhang Family.


    "Zhang, are you really going to say that?" Xu Huan asked.


    "Are you embarrassed to speak up?" Zhang Menglong said, "No worries, just call the reception desk, I''ll tell them myself!"


    Xu Huan hesitated for a moment, but still handed over his mobile phone.


    "Hello, I''m Jarett, here to negotiate with your company. May I know if you are the current chairman?" A greasy voice came from the other end, somewhat nauseating.


    "Oh, that''s me," Zhang Menglong said in fluent English, "What can I do for you?"


    "May I know how to address the chairman?"


    "My last name is Zhang."


    "President Zhang, I think such a big matter would be better discussed slowly at a suitable place," the other side said slowly.


    "Oh, I''m in the middle of taking a dump, I have no time!" Zhang Menglong said unapologetically, "You may leave now!"


    In the lobby of the Silicon Moonlight office building, the expression froze on the face of the middle-aged man wearing a suit, his hair meticulously slicked with gel.


    Jarett had not expected this new chairman to be so tough-minded, not even willing to meet, and even saying he was too busy taking a dump!


    Did that mean Jarett''s importance was ranked even less than a pile of shit?


    "President Zhang, you better consider the consequences, without our Crystal Chips, your Silicon Moonlight can''t do anything!" Jarett said,


    "You seem to understand quite thoroughly," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "So President Zhang, I think we should really talk this over, it''s a mutually beneficial matter, why refuse others thousands of miles away? Plus, the prices for exports abroad are much higher than selling to the Continent of Huaxia!"


    "There''s also a labor union?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. Indeed, in some of the larger companies on the continent, such labor unions existed, generally organizing welfare activities for employees. The president of the labor union also tended to be very powerful.


    A company that needs to grow needs employees, and the president of the labor union, generally elected by the employees, often has more influence among the employees than some high-level leaders do.


    "Manager Yuan, didn''t you know the company''s directors were in a meeting today? What''s going on?" Xu Songhai asked, displeased.


    "I''m sorry, President Xu, but the lower employees are now completely disorganized, and the company can no longer maintain smooth operations. They''ve sent President Dai to negotiate with the company''s upper management."


    "What negotiation needs to be directly discussed with the company''s shareholders? Are all you high-level executives just for show?" Xu Songhai asked, flaring his nostrils angrily.


    "Please don''t be upset, President Xu," the one called Dai Yang immediately tried to appease. "This matter is beyond the decision-making power of ordinary executives, so I had to come to represent our Silicon Moonlight employees in the negotiations with the shareholders."


    "Oh? Then I''m quite curious to hear this," Zhang Menglong said, settling comfortably into his chair. "Go ahead, I''m listening!"


    "This is..."


    "This is President Zhang, the company''s new chairman!"


    "Such a young new chairman!" Dai Yang was slightly startled inwardly. He always felt like he had seen this face somewhere before, but couldn''t recall where at the moment.


    "May I ask President Zhang, has the company really decided to abandon the cooperation with the Western suppliers?"


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong replied without hesitation.


    "President Zhang, have you considered what the consequences of this will be?" Dai Yang challenged. "Most of the company''s business comes from them. By doing this, you are putting the company in an unjust position. How will we, the employees who have been here for over a decade, survive?"


    "So?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I hope President Zhang can accept the conditions offered by the supplier''s representative, to give us employees a way to live."


    "What if I say no?" Zhang Menglong continued, still smiling.


    "Then more than a third of the employees will immediately go on strike!" Dai Yang said. "This isn''t my sole decision but is from the leadership of the labor union and more than a third of the employees!"


    "How much money did those Westerners give you?"


    The color of Dai Yang''s face changed dramatically. Zhang Menglong had hit the mark; this was indeed a scheme concocted by the shareholders Zhang Menglong had driven out in collaboration with Jarett.


    "President Zhang, this is a collective decision and has nothing to do with anyone else!" Dai Yang said, maintaining his composure.


    "Oh, I don''t care whose decision it is," Zhang Menglong said indifferently. "Xu Huan, help me count how many people are planning to strike, and then fire them all!"

 Chapter 258 I Hope to See Them Leave as Quickly as Possible

    "President Zhang, this really shouldn''t be done!" Xu Huan immediately advised against it.


    "How come it shouldn''t be done? Are you saying my words carry no weight?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "President Zhang, do you know how many employees we have in total at Silicon Moonlight headquarters on our island?"


    "I haven''t looked into that, are there many?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly.


    "Over 50,000! One-third of the employees, that''s nearly twenty thousand employees. If they were all dismissed, just the severance pay alone would be a staggering amount!"


    "Oh, I knew that," Zhang Menglong also had some knowledge of the law. Normally, if a company wants to terminate employees, it needs to pay a penalty, which is related to the employees'' length of service. The number of years they have worked is equivalent to the number of months of salary they need to be compensated.


    And most of these employees have a very long average tenure, at least three to four years. Zhang Menglong might have to pay tens of thousands in severance for nearly each employee.


    Twenty thousand people, that''s several billion!


    "It''s okay, however much it costs, just give them the money. I''m not short on cash!" Zhang Menglong said, "However, everyone who shouts about striking, directly blacklist them from entering Silicon Moonlight and any affiliated companies ever again!"


    "Furthermore," Zhang Menglong continued, "those who choose to stay, their salary will be increased by 30% from their current base, and this year''s end-of-year bonus will double!"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Dai Yang''s face suddenly changed.


    Those foreigners had given him and his union people a sum of money to lead the trouble, and with Dai Yang''s prestige in the union, that was a very easy thing to do.


    Originally, Dai Yang thought that such a large-scale worker protest would put a lot of pressure on the board of directors, especially since the company was at such a critical juncture, and the shareholders wouldn''t have the energy to deal with employees.


    There was a high likelihood that the company would succumb to the pressure from both sides and choose to collaborate with the Western suppliers, which was also Jarett and others'' plan.


    But unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong did not play by common rules at all; he instantly decided to dismiss that one-third of the workforce and even raised the salary of the remaining ones.@@@@


    Such a decision would cost more than a mere one or two billion. Even if he was rich, that was not a reasonable way to spend money!


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    "President Zhang, you really need to think this through. Silicon Moonlight is a labor-intensive industry. If tens of thousands of workers leave, recruiting replacements won''t be a simple task," Dai Yang said.


    "No problem, I can recruit employees from the entire island, even from all over Huaxia!"


    He really wanted to ask, if you''re not here to make money, what exactly are you aiming for?


    "President Zhang, such a major project, the Land Bureau might not approve it," Xu Huan said with a troubled expression on his face.


    Building an airport, a subway, these are city-level plans, requiring extremely high-level authority to finalize these matters.


    "Leave that to me!" At this moment, Liu Qian, who had been silent until now, smiled and said.


    She took out her cellphone and looked up a number in her contact list.


    "Ms. Liu?" A middle-aged man''s voice came through, sounding somewhat panicked and even a bit flattered!


    "Director Cai, there''s a favor I need to ask you for help with."


    "Director Cai? Which Director Cai?" Everyone began pondering who this Director Cai, mentioned by Liu Qian, could be. After thinking it over, it seemed that in the whole of Treasure Island, there was only one Director Cai, but he was the director of the Land Bureau!


    The woman behind Zhang Menglong, through just one phone call, connected directly with Director Cai? What was her background?


    "Ms. Liu, you must be joking, please just tell me what you need," the voice humbly said.


    "I plan to build an airport near Silicon Moonlight, and would like to apply for a piece of land."


    "No need to apply! How big does it need to be? 100 hectares enough? If not, 200 hectares, 300 hectares are also possible!"


    Hearing this, everyone was dumbstruck.


    Hadn''t Xu Huan just mentioned that obtaining land required going through numerous approvals? Yet here was Ms. Liu, making a single phone call, and on the other end, offers of land beginning at 100 hectares were readily made, even suggesting they could have as much as they needed.


    "Let''s start with 200 hectares," Liu Qian said. Given Silicon Moonlight''s scale, an airport of 200 hectares would be sufficient.


    "Okay, within three days, I''ll have the approval documents sent to Ms. Liu''s residence."


    "Thank you, Director Cai!" After finishing her conversation, Liu Qian hung up the phone without any courtesy.


    "Menglong, it''s settled," Liu Qian told Zhang Menglong, then returned to her usual aloof demeanor.


    "Alright, Xu Huan, the recruitment is up to you to arrange," Zhang Menglong said, pointing at Dai Yang, "I want these people gone as quickly as possible!"

 Chapter 259 Just Come to Me When Youre Out of Money

    "President Zhang... Let''s talk this over calmly, we... This matter is still open for discussion. I will appease the employees planning to strike. I guarantee they won''t cause you trouble anymore!"


    Dai Yang instantly regretted it so much that he wished he could pull out a forty-meter-long machete and chop Jarett down with one blow.


    Just a casual phone call from the other party and the director of the land bureau would treat him with utmost caution. What kind of huge power does this person have behind him?


    He simply did not care about spending money; he just wanted those who sought to monopolize Huaxia''s chip technology to get lost. And Dai Yang had actually helped these Westerners incite the employees.


    As for whether the company could be revived from death, this new chairman was not just wealthy; he was someone who didn''t care about money at all. Looking at him, even if the company lost money every day, he could support it for a lifetime!


    "No need to discuss," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Since everyone is so determined to strike, then let them strike to their heart''s content. I am the most generous person there is. Whatever the employees demand, I will fulfill it all!"


    Dai Yang''s face turned pale. When he instigated the employees, he told them that this was just to put pressure on the board, and he was very confident that he could persuade the members, which is why a portion of the employees agreed to join the strike.


    Now, with a stroke of his pen, Zhang Menglong had fired all those planning to strike. How was he going to explain this to the union later?


    "Bang!" The conference room door was closed again, and besides Zhang Menglong and his entourage, only those few old shareholders remained.


    "I don''t suppose any of you have any objections to what I''ve done?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "You''ve already done it, what''s the point in asking us?" A few shareholders responded with bitter smiles. As the largest shareholder, Zhang Menglong had the final say in all company decisions. Even if they had objections, what good would that do?


    "President Zhang, by taking action against those disloyal employees as soon as you arrived, if I''m not mistaken, you must be planning a big move?" Xu Songhai asked with expectancy.


    Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be making such bold adjustments to the company if he was just planning to spend money for fun. Xu would bet his life on that!


    "Other technologies might be manageable, but researchers specialized in Photolithography Machines are indeed rare," a director said, "Photolithography Machines, that''s something we haven''t even started to work on domestically, and nobody is willing to put in the effort because we''re so far behind; it''s not easy to achieve results. Why would anyone want to research those ''broken things'' when stealing a bit from abroad can make you an instant success?"


    Zhang Menglong smiled helplessly; this was indeed a realistic problem.


    "Not only that, but one Photolithography Machine costs a hundred million US Dollars. If you want to research it, don''t dream of starting with less than 20 billion US Dollars. All the funds from universities and research institutes in China put together might not even reach 20 billion US Dollars. Even the big corporations can''t afford it!"


    "However, I do know a professor!" Just then, Xu Songhai suddenly remembered someone, "He''s a professor at Magic City University and was a classmate of mine. But because his field of study is so niche, he hardly gets any students and his research funding is pitiful; he''s one of the least successful among our peers."


    At that time, Xu Songhai had invited him to work together, but the professor had refused. His reason was that he wanted to lay some groundwork for Huaxia''s chip photolithography technology so that when Huaxians realized the importance of independent research, they would at least not be completely in the dark about where to start.


    "Xu, do you have this professor''s contact information?" Zhang Menglong asked, respecting a professor who could say something like that.


    "I have it, but we haven''t been in touch for a long time. I''m not sure whether he''s still at the same place," Xu Songhai replied, handing Zhang Menglong a string of phone numbers and an address.


    "No problem, leave it to me. I''ll personally invite him," Zhang Menglong said, "As for the other core research personnel, I''ll have to trouble you, Xu. Let''s set their annual salaries at one hundred million Huaxia currency for now."


    "One hundred million Huaxia currency?" Xu Songhai''s eyes widened.


    "If all those messy people in the entertainment industry can earn hundreds of millions a year, why can''t those who contribute to the technological advancement of the nation?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "I am going to break this rule! And I want the whole society to know about it!"


    "All right!" Moved by Zhang Menglong''s words, Xu Songhai felt a surge of enthusiasm. If the company''s earnings could indeed exceed the past by ten or a hundredfold, what would a few billion in salary matter?


    "Fellow seniors, aside from having a lot of money, I don''t really know much else," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll have to trouble you all to take care of the company''s affairs. If you ever run out of money, just come to me!"


    "Then we certainly won''t hold back!" the shareholders laughed, "If we run out of money, we''ll come to you." Those were probably words that only someone as outrageously wealthy as Zhang Menglong could utter, right?

 Chapter 260 Just Say How Many Hundreds of Billions You Want

    Zhang Menglong didn''t stay long on the island; he was there mainly to take care of two things: one was to make sure those Westerners who tried to blockade Huaxia''s chip technology would piss off for good, and secondly, to arrange the following chip development work. In just one day, Zhang Menglong had completed these two goals.


    As for the rest, Liu Qian would naturally take care of everything in an orderly manner.


    When he returned to Huaxia, it was already very late, so Zhang Menglong did not go directly to disturb the professor that Xu Songhai mentioned, but instead posted a status update on his own Weibo account.


    "I hereby solemnly announce that I have now taken over as chairman of Silicon Moonlight, and as for the technology blockades by Western countries, I am utterly unconcerned and even feel like laughing. Within six months, Huaxia will start mass-producing a newer generation of high-grade chips, so those from Western countries can suck mouse tails!"


    Since the inauguration of the new president of America, countless people have been paying attention to their every move, and this blockade against Huaxia''s chip technology has attracted the eyeballs of many Huaxians.


    Perhaps the ordinary citizens may not care, but Huaxia''s younger generation, especially those who have received higher education, are all extremely anxious.


    And these days, the words chips and 5G have remained at the top of the hot search lists.


    With a single phone call from Zhang Menglong, this news was directly targeted for the hot search list, and in an instant, all of Huaxia was boiling.


    "Damn, Chairman Zhang has made his move!"


    "I know Silicon Moonlight; it''s the largest chip packaging and testing factory in the world¡ª60% of Huaxia''s chip supply comes from there!"


    "What does ''utterly unconcerned and even feel like laughing'' mean? Even if he bought shares in Silicon Moonlight and became the chairman, what good is it without the technology?"


    "Chairman Zhang is rich! Can''t he just throw money into research and make it happen?"


    "Can you just solve this kind of problem with money? Six months? Even five years wouldn''t be enough to reach a world-class level. Zhang Menglong is being ridiculously arrogant this time!"


    ...


    The discussion had just started when Zhang Menglong received another call from Xu Songhai, who told him that all the chip technology experts he asked him to contact were already on board. They were willing to join Silicon Moonlight as technical consultants, of course, as long as it didn''t affect their academic careers!


    With this settled, the plan was nearly half completed!


    Why choose these people? The reason is simple: these are scholars who have devoted their lives to exploring and researching Huaxia''s chip technology. If Zhang Menglong shared the relevant technology with them, there would be almost no risk of leakage.


    On the contrary, if it were those who studied only for profit, once Zhang Menglong transferred the technology to them, they might turn around and sell it to those people in Western countries, and what would be the point of that!@@@@


    "What a waste of talent," Zhang Menglong muttered with a wry smile, shaking his head as he looked up at the seven-story residential building whose exterior walls had turned black. It was probably hard to find many professors in Huaxia who lived more frugally than Chen Hui.


    Zhang Menglong headed straight for the building, following the address Xu Songhai had given him.


    ...


    "Hey, what''s with you and this research? Of all things, why focus on photolithography machines? With such high research costs, amounting to hundreds of millions of US dollars at a time, who would be willing to spend so much to fund your projects?" Chen Hui''s wife grumbled as she usually did while preparing breakfast.


    However, Chen Hui just smiled. He knew his wife didn''t mean what she said; she too wished for a better life for the both of them.


    In fact, professors generally received decent compensation; Chen Hui earned over ten thousand every month with good benefits, too. But compared to other professors who could easily accept national or corporate projects earning them hundreds of thousands or millions, his monthly income of just over ten thousand seemed somewhat unfit for his title.


    "I know you''re patriotic, but you still need to have enough food on the table," his wife sighed. "If you had started your own business with Xu back then, we would be living much better than we are now. Our son is about to get married, and with the housing prices in this metropolis, we can''t help him out at all!"


    "Ah, young people should learn to toughen up, not always rely on their parents!" Professor Chen chuckled.


    "Laughing! Still laughing! It''s fine to toughen up, but if you get ground down, I want to see if you can still laugh!"


    "Knock, knock, knock!" As the couple chatted, someone suddenly knocked on the door.


    "You keep eating, I''ll get the door!" Chen Hui''s wife wiped her greasy hands and opened the door.


    "You are...?" Chen Hui''s wife looked on in astonishment.


    "Excuse me, is this Professor Chen Hui''s residence?" Zhang Menglong asked politely.


    "Chen, someone''s looking for you!"


    "Who is it?" Professor Chen came to the door holding chopsticks.


    "Hello, Professor Chen," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "My name is Zhang Menglong, the current chairman of Silicon Moonlight. I''m here today to invite you to be our lead technical expert on photolithography machine development. Would you be willing to do that?"


    "Photolithography machine development?" Chen Hui chuckled wryly. "Young man, do you have any idea how much funding is required for photolithography machine development?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I don''t know how much money is needed, but I''m not short of money. Whether it''s several hundred billion or several trillion, just say the word; money is no object!"

 Chapter 261 Theyre Upset, Im Happy

    Professor Chen Hui had been teaching for decades, and the largest research funding he ever received had not exceeded six figures. When Zhang Menglong casually mentioned amounts in the hundreds of billions, it completely baffled him.


    "That''s right, I remember now, you''re the world''s richest person!" Social networks are really just a young person''s affair, Professor Chen Hui didn''t recognize Zhang Menglong, but his wife had just seen him on the news not long ago.


    "Ah? The world''s richest person? Isn''t that an American?"


    "That''s old news!" Professor Chen Hui''s wife said, "If you didn''t spend all your days just reading books and doing research and paid some attention to international affairs and social news, you wouldn''t fail to recognize people like this!"


    "Come on in, Menglong, it''s cold outside!" Professor Chen Hui''s wife immediately invited Zhang Menglong inside.


    She clearly heard everything, this young man was here to invite her husband to become a chief researcher at Silicon Moonlight, which she knew to be the largest chip encapsulation and testing factory in the world.


    Considering her husband''s stubborn nature, wouldn''t the treatment be much better there than in this university?


    "Come, sit down, I''ll go pour you some hot water!"


    "Madam, please don''t trouble yourself, let''s sit down together!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.@@@@


    Although Professor Chen''s wife seemed somewhat mercenary, Zhang Menglong completely understood after seeing the family situation of Professor Chen Hui.


    Professor Chen Hui clearly had the capability to earn more money, but he focused all his effort on photolithography technology, engaging in thankless tasks. Even the occasional research funds he obtained were all spent on materials, renting equipment, and paying stipends to his graduate and doctoral students; he kept nothing for himself.


    It could be said that among the higher educated class, Professor Chen Hui''s family circumstances were considered quite modest.


    "Let me explain my purpose for coming," Zhang Menglong said, "Professor Chen, you should also know that if we want to continue developing communication technology, besides independent research, we don''t have another path to follow."


    Professor Chen Hui nodded, a realization he had come to long ago, but since the cost of research was too high, unless it was the power of the state, no single enterprise could afford such enormous research funds.


    He was just an ordinary professor after all, without the capacity to influence the nation, so he could only choose to work quietly on his own.


    "Now, I have in my possession 2nm chip technology, including comprehensive information on everything from Crystal Chip production to encapsulation testing, along with the principles and blueprints for a photolithography machine that surpasses the current generation by two!"


    "What?" Professor Chen Hui stood up abruptly. Currently, Huaxia''s photolithography machine technology could only support 22nm chips, which was far behind the world''s leading 5nm photolithography machine technology. Zhang Menglong was claiming to have 2nm photolithography machine technology?


    "We have already gathered other heads of chip production processes, and I''ve heard that Professor Chen is the leading photolithography technology professor in our Huaxian universities, so I would like to invite you to join our project!"


    "May I take a look at the blueprints?" Professor Chen Hui asked tentatively.


    He felt very nervous; it was akin to asking the countries that had already developed advanced photolithography machines if he could take a look at their blueprints.


    These were secrets! Even national-level secrets, if those secrets were leaked, other countries could soon replicate the same photolithography machines, and they would lose their leading position.


    "So you mean..."


    "I am willing to go!" Chen Hui nodded.


    "Professor Chen, aren''t you going to ask about the salary?" Zhang Menglong laughed dryly. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll deceive you into working as a volunteer?"


    "Even as a volunteer, I am willing!" Chen Hui knew that the materials Zhang Menglong had given him were just a portion. There was much more he wanted to learn, and this was a researcher''s perseverance. Even if Zhang Menglong intended to take advantage without offering anything in return, Chen Hui was absolutely willing to go just to understand those materials!


    "Well then, like other chief researchers, I''ll offer you a yearly salary of 100 million Huaxia dollars!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "One hundred million?" Professor Chen''s spouse almost passed out with high blood pressure. "Menglong, are you serious?"


    "A talent like Professor Chen certainly deserves this salary," Zhang Menglong said. "Moreover, if your graduate and doctoral students are willing to join, we''ll offer 5 million a year for a PhD and 1 million a year for a master''s degree!"


    Chen Hui and his wife were so astonished they were speechless. Was this how the world''s richest person recruited people? Masters and PhDs yet to graduate earning million-dollar salaries?


    "Also, list any materials or equipment you need, and give it to me this evening. Within a week, I''ll make sure everything is arranged for you," Zhang Menglong said. "Anything you need, we can get it for you!"


    "Alright, I''ll make a list for you tonight!"


    "Professor Chen, only the best; don''t worry about the cost. Even if it''s supercomputers or particle colliders, I can get them for you!"


    "That particle collider at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology..."


    "I bought that one!"


    Chen Hui nodded and joked, "Since the boss isn''t worrying about money, then I won''t be frugal either. But it might be astronomically expensive¡ªhundreds of billions of US dollars at least."


    "No problem, even a few trillion will do!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Menglong, may I ask you a question?" Chen Hui asked.


    "Go ahead."


    "You are investing so much money in R&D, and even if the production line is established, returning to profitability will take a long time, is it really worth it?"


    "It''s worth it!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How would it feel to see our chips surpassing theirs by generations?"


    "Of course, they''d be green with envy!" Chen Hui answered.


    "If they''re upset, I''m happy, and that makes it worthwhile!"


    "What a bold rationale!" Professor Chen Hui laughed dryly, thinking others do research for profit or for their country and people, but here you are, just to show off in front of other nations!

 Chapter 262 Am I that Awesome?

    "Menglong, since you''re here, why not stay for dinner?" Professor Chen, having looked over materials all afternoon while Zhang Menglong waited alongside, now had dinner ready thanks to his wife.


    "Sure, I won''t be shy!" Zhang Menglong''s stomach was conveniently rumbling.


    This was a table probably over a decade old, and it seemed like nothing much had changed in the Chen household since they had moved into this small house allocated by the school.


    The table''s wood was already cracking, and the meal was just a simple spread of three dishes and a soup.


    "Menglong, the living conditions here are so so, don''t mind it!" Mrs. Chen said, somewhat embarrassed.


    Actually, the conditions at home weren''t that bad, but because their child''s living expenses were high, most of the family''s income was used to support the child, leading to a modest life for a professor.


    Seeing the situation, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel a pang in his heart and placed a bank card on the table.


    "Menglong, this... this is..."


    "There''s ten million in this card, as an advance on your salary," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Use this to improve your living conditions at home and take care of the mistress for now since, for the next little while, you might not have time to look after your family."


    "He always neglected the family!" Mrs. Chen said, a mix of complaint and pride, proud that her husband was receiving such recognition.


    "Menglong, this isn''t right!" Professor Chen objected.


    "Why not? I trust your integrity!" Zhang Menglong joked, "But this will be deducted from your annual salary!"


    Professor Chen was incredibly moved by the complex emotions swelling inside him, but frankly, they really needed the money. He nodded after a moment, "In that case, Menglong, thank you!"


    ...


    After a simple but warm dinner, Zhang Menglong immediately flew back to Jiangnan City. All personnel were ready, and it wouldn''t be long before the whole world would witness Huaxia making an astonishing debut in the chip domain!


    "Hey Zhang, are you free tomorrow?" Zhang Menglong had just gotten home when he received a call from Wang Ling.


    "I have no plans at the moment. What''s up?" Zhang Menglong asked, detecting a trace of hesitation in Wang Ling''s tone.


    "Uncle Wang, what brings you here this time? Any advice for me?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "You''re the world''s richest man, what advice could I possibly have for you," laughed Wang Jian, "I came to ask for some advice from you this time."


    "Asking me for advice?" Zhang Menglong was surprised. "Uncle Wang, I''m only good at spending money and showing off. I have no other strengths. I''m not skilled in business, and the companies under my name are operated by people arranged by my family. I''m afraid you''ve made a wasted trip this time."


    "Seems like you do have a very clear understanding of yourself!" Wang Ling nodded vigorously on the side.


    "Shut up! You know nothing!" Wang Jian scolded Wang Ling without any hesitation. "If your business acumen was even half as good as Menglong''s, even if I were to pass away one day, I could rest assured leaving our fortunes in your hands."


    "Dad? Are you crazy?" Wang Ling exclaimed in disbelief. "If I had half of his capability, our family''s fortune wouldn''t last even a month!"


    "That''s because you lack vision!" Wang Jian argued. "On the surface, Menglong spends money, but the logic behind his spending is something beyond your understanding."


    "What?" Wang Ling widened his eyes. There was a logic behind Zhang Menglong''s ostentatious spending?


    "Menglong, actually I''ve secretly investigated you!" Wang Jian admitted. "I owe you an apology, since my son is close to you, I needed to make sure you had no ulterior motives."


    Zhang Menglong nodded in understanding; it was something any normal father would do.


    "But I had no idea until I looked into it, and I was stunned," said Wang Jian. "Let''s start with your investment in the universities. You invested ten billion in Professor Guo''s research group to help them with their antiviral research, and just last week, they announced their first wave of results!"


    "The clinical trial was very successful. The total value of this pharmaceutical development could very well exceed 200 billion US dollars, and according to the development ratio, Menglong could earn over 80% of the profit!"


    "What?" Wang Ling''s eyes bulged wider than light bulbs.


    "Nani?" Zhang Menglong himself was also shocked. He hadn''t expected that Professor Guo would be so formidable. With the right funding and equipment, he actually managed to lead the world in completing the project!


    "And about Professor Zhu''s space exploration project, it looked like that investment was the least likely to turn a profit. Yet, twelve days ago, Professor Zhu discovered a comet from outside the Solar System. This comet will pass by Earth in five years, and preliminary analysis shows it contains a large amount of rare elements found on Earth. With our current technology, in five years, we''ll have matured techniques to mine and collect material from the comet!"


    "The value of those rare elements could exceed several hundred billion US dollars, and as the discoverer, he can own half of the profits. According to the contract Menglong signed at that time, he would get ninety percent of the project''s profits¡ªthat''s another few hundred billion US dollars!"


    "Good grief!" Zhang Menglong was stunned. "Is my investing capability that awesome?"

 Chapter 263 I Really Just Did It to Disgust Him

    Wang Jian continued listing several of Zhang Menglong''s university research investments. Initially, the equipment and funding that Zhang Menglong had invested in his own school exceeded ten billion. However, just the profits from those drug inventions completely covered that investment.@@@@


    Perhaps the money wasn''t instantly visible, but in three to five years, Zhang Menglong''s tens of billions would turn into hundreds of billions or even trillions, and in US dollars, at that!


    With such an investment return, even the world''s greatest investors would have to call him "Dad."


    "If I had that much money, I could do it too!" Wang Ling said, unconvinced.


    "You''re the dumbest rich second generation I''ve ever seen, and I''m the one who made you, which is just perfect," Wang Jian retorted, "Even if you had that much money, could you tell which projects had potential and which would never see a return or even lose all of their investment?"


    Wang Ling fell silent, as indeed, every year many companies collaborated with university research groups, but how many actually saw a return? Laboratory research and industrial production are two completely different concepts. If those companies could obtain a few patents with all that money, it would already be quite an achievement.


    "And that''s just the return from Menglong''s scientific research investments!" Wang Jian said, still not finished.


    "There''s more?"


    "All you see is the superficial stuff!" Wang Jian continued, "There''s also the movie he invested in!"


    "That thing can make money, I''ll chop off my head and use it as a stool!" Wang Ling declared.


    As an investor in this movie, Wang Ling knew very well whether it could bring profit. It was possible that even with high box office returns, the movie might not cover its production costs and actors'' salaries!


    "I told you, you''re shortsighted!" Wang Jian glared at Wang Ling, "The movie is just a guise. What''s important are the film and television base and the heating channels that Menglong built!"


    "Ah?" Wang Ling was taken aback.


    "Do you know how popular the ''Three-Body'' novel is around the world right now?" Wang Jian asked.


    Wang Ling remained silent.


    "It''s Huaxia''s most outstanding science fiction IP to date. The worldwide evaluation of it is extremely high, and its potential for development might not be weaker than Disney and Harry Potter''s big IPs! Do you know how much commercial value a successful IP can create?"


    "Once the movie is finished, it''ll be like a promotional film that goes viral worldwide, and then that film and television base will turn into a huge theme park. Coupled with comprehensive heating and other facilities, it can attract a massive number of visitors every year!"


    Wang Jian said soberly, "I''ve had professionals estimate that, in three years, this theme park will bring in at least 200 billion Huaxia currency in annual revenue, not to mention the associated industrial agglomeration effect. If managed properly, it would be easy to double that figure!"


    "Kotchanal?" Wang Jian seemed to search for the name in his memory, "Oh, I remember now, he''s the chairman of the world''s biggest chain of foot massage parlors!"


    He continued, "He''s really capable. He has practically consolidated the entire global foot massage industry. On the Forbes world rankings, he''s the only person in this service business to make the list!"


    "Wow! That''s the real King of Foot Massages!"


    "Mr. Kotchanal, may I ask what you need?"


    "I would like to discuss a potential collaboration with Mr. Zhang!"


    "Collaboration?" Zhang Menglong asked puzzled.


    "Yes, recently one of my employees was in Huaxia on a business trip, and he had the opportunity to patronize your NetEase Footpath. When he came back, he told me that you Huaxia people combine foot massage, music, and create a very unique experience. I also happened to be in Huaxia and tried it myself these past few days, and I found it fantastic. If we could collaborate, your creative ideas combined with my expertise could really take the foot massage business to the next level!"


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    ...


    Once Kotchanal started talking, he went on and on, and it took Zhang Menglong a full twenty minutes to get him off the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, you understand Thai?"


    "I know a bit."


    "What did you talk about just now, if you don''t mind sharing?" Wang Jian asked curiously.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, he just liked the creativity of my NetEase Footpath and wants to partner up. He''s willing to give me a portion of the shares." Zhang Menglong handed the phone to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, you negotiate with him about this matter."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang!"


    "So that''s it!" Wang Jian slapped his thigh, "Menglong, out of your investments, the one I couldn''t understand the most was NetEase Footpath. A music technology company turning into this kind of service industry seemed like a losing deal, but now I see what you were aiming for!"


    "Wow, God King Footpath has a market value of 60 billion US Dollars, and with a single move, you''ve turned an 8 billion investment into 30 billion!"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong''s face turned red, "This was really an accident!"


    "What if I said I turned NetEase Music into NetEase Footpath just to annoy Ding Sanshi and his son, would you believe me?"

 Chapter 266 264

    "You''re incredible! This time I''m truly impressed! The contemporary Wang Duoyu must be you!" Splurging money and still making a profit, Wang Ling had no doubts about it anymore.


    Just like Wang Jian said, Zhang Menglong''s spending seemed aimless and whimsical, but behind it, there was a profound logic.


    Most importantly, this method allowed many people to let their guard down, thinking that Zhang Menglong was just a frivolous young master who only knew how to squander money, without ever considering applying those thoughts to business strategies.


    Under this subtle influence, it provided cover for the rise of those projects. Even if someone did notice, and the competitors in those industries paid attention, by then it would be too late to suppress it!


    "No, I really just spend money for the sake of spending money. I never intended to make a profit!"


    "Whom are you trying to fool? Could you achieve an average return of over two hundred times in five years without a plan?" Wang Ling completely disbelieved Zhang Menglong''s explanation, "Hypocrite!"


    "Fine, think what you want!" Zhang Menglong gave a wry smile, "Even telling the truth gets labeled as hypocrisy. What''s wrong with the world?"


    "That''s why I say, Menglong is a true investment genius, and this kind of gift, we the older generation will never fully understand," Wang Jian said, "The future of this world belongs to you young people!"


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    "Uncle Wang, you didn''t come just to praise me, did you?" Since Wang Jian had arrived at Zhang Menglong''s home, he had pretty much been singing his praises to the skies.


    "Hahaha, of course, I said I have a favor to ask of you," Wang Jian said.


    "Uncle Wang, just say it. Wang Ling and I are bound by life-and-death friendship; whatever it is, I''ll definitely help!"


    "Life-and-death friendship?" Wang Jian was taken aback, sounding as if the two had experienced mortal peril together or something.


    "Oh, that''s right!" Wang Ling quickly explained after seeing Zhang Menglong''s look, "We went to Europe together not long ago. When we were passing through a country, there happened to be a couple of fighter jet squadrons fighting, and we were lucky to safely pass through the war zone!"


    Wang Ling did not mention a word about what happened at sea or the fact that Zhang Menglong had summoned several aircraft carrier fleets.


    "There was such a thing?" Wang Jian was also a bit surprised, "I can''t believe you managed to survive such a calamity!"


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t hold back!" Wang Jian said, "Menglong, I hope you can give some guidance to our Wang Ling in the future."


    "Huh?"


    "I''m already 60 years old, and many business matters are starting to be beyond me. You know, our Wanda is controlled by father and son. I don''t feel comfortable leaving Wanda in anyone else''s hands, but this good-for-nothing Wang Ling isn''t making any effort!"


    "Dad, give me some face!"


    A massive idea instantly took root and sprouted in his mind.


    "It looks like you already have an idea?" Wang Jian noticed the gleam in Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Uncle Wang, what do you think about us organizing a world-class Esports Olympics?"


    "That... that might not be easy, right?" Wang Jian said.


    Indeed, many esports events have already gone global, especially Warcraft, League of Legends, and such, which host world-class competitions every year and attract countless people''s attention.


    Even under such scattered premises, they have such influence; if one could organize all the world''s esports together to hold a large-scale competitive event, its influence would likely not be any lower than the Olympics!


    It''s worth noting that hosting an Olympics is a huge undertaking that, while seemingly costly, brings substantial returns!


    For instance, the Sydney Olympics alone generated revenue in the tens of billions of Huaxia currency.


    And that''s just the direct income; a series of indirect revenues from tourism, culture, and the like are also a significant amount.


    The additional profits brought by esports, including game skins, figurines, and so on, absolutely far exceed those abstract cultural profits.


    Consider that the annual League of Legends national championship releases a set of champion skins, and the revenue it brings in amounts to hundreds of millions, and for the company, it''s just a string of code; the design cost, compared to these, is almost negligible!


    "Interesting! Very interesting!" Wang Jian, listening to Zhang Menglong''s plan, became more and more interested, "So what''s the first step you plan to take?"


    "Start with a wave of publicity, let everyone know there is such a grand event!"


    "That won''t be easy, right? Other organizations already have their fixed world-class competitions, what you''re doing is like poaching, and maybe they wouldn''t even be bothered to participate!" Wang Ling argued.


    "That''s because the attraction isn''t strong enough!" Zhang Menglong said, "How much is the prize money for the world champion of Dota and LoL?"


    "At most a few million US Dollars," Wang Ling said.


    "All right, let''s set a small goal for our prize money, 100 million US Dollars!"


    "100 million? For one country?"


    "No!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "100 million US Dollars for one esports event!"


    "Holy shit!" Wang Ling swore outright, "You''re offering 100 million per event, how many splashes could your 10 billion make? My money''s not enough for shit!"

 Chapter 267 265

    "Can''t you be a bit more creative?" Zhang Menglong lamented, "A mere hundred million scares you like this? Learn from your dad, this hundred million is just a small target for him!"


    "Heh!" Wang Jian, not offended by Zhang Menglong''s teasing, replied, "But really, gaming is indeed a highly profitable industry. I heard that during the work suspension period due to the pandemic this year, a single skin priced at 288 in one of Tengxun''s games made over a hundred million in just one campaign!"


    Wang Jian paused for a moment, "I think Menglong''s plan is feasible, by expanding the influence of esports to uncover more business opportunities. However, I suggest not going for quantity over quality in games, just focus on those that are internationally recognized and have already gained popularity worldwide and feature world-class competitions!"


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong nodded. Those niche games with small audience bases, even if gathered, wouldn''t make much sense; a championship reward of a hundred million, with hardly any players, wouldn''t that all just be a loss?


    Naturally, Zhang Menglong wasn''t worried about these losses. What he cared about was how much influence he could gain, and whether there was a chance to show off more, which was the most important thing.


    ...


    Wang Jian was indeed very interested in Zhang Menglong''s way of thinking. The two talked for several hours and ended up neglecting Wang Ling, who felt like just a prop!


    "Man, I put on quite a show this afternoon!" After they left, Zhang Menglong realized he had gained 20 more Cred Points. It seemed that those investment-like prodigal acts of his had indeed intimidated Wang Ling and his son.


    "Principal, with this pace of collecting Cred Points, I''m afraid you won''t unlock many teachers in a year!" At that time, Gou Dan''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "What can I do, you think showing off is easy?" Zhang Menglong said bitterly, "Do you think it''s easy for me to even get a little Cred Points every day?"


    "Okay then!"


    "Okay then?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Per the settings of the previous principal, initiating Cred Points exchange mode!"


    "Cred Points exchange mode? What''s that?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "As long as you spend money, the money you use can be converted into Cred Points at a certain ratio! Every hundred million US Dollars used can be transformed into one Cred Point!"


    "Holy shit!" Zhang Menglong perked up, "Really? So if I just spend a hundred billion US Dollars, I could unlock a teacher or copy a skill from them?"


    "But just like before, there are strict restrictions on the type of expenses you make," Gou Dan said, "The amount you donate each month cannot exceed a hundred billion US Dollars, and pure investment in scientific research projects also cannot exceed a hundred billion US Dollars per month!"


    "Damn, here we go again?"


    "Please unlock more teachers quickly, Principal. Once the number of teachers at Super God Academy exceeds ten, the academy can unlock new features too!"


    "New features?" Super God Academy had already given Zhang Menglong a lot of surprises, could these new features bring even more?


    ...


    "What''s going on? Hit someone and not even getting out of the car?"


    "A Jiangnan City license plate, a Lamborghini, huh? I heard this car costs at least a few million!"


    "Damn, being rich really is something, huh? Just because we''re from a smaller place like Dongji City doesn''t mean we''re less human, right? Do people from Jiangnan City feel that superior?"


    "Hey, get out of the car!"


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    "You hit someone and you''re still not coming out? Do you have no morals?"


    "Still not coming out? We''ve already called the police!"


    As the clamor outside grew louder, Zhang Menglong gave a wry smile and finally opened the car door.


    "You''re so young? Must be a rich second generation from Jiangnan City on a trip, huh?"


    "Hey, didn''t you see the man you hit can''t even get up? How did your family raise you? You think having money means you can do whatever you want?"


    "Exactly! Bullying us folks from the countryside, is that it?"


    "Everyone, I did not hit him; he fell down on his own," Zhang Menglong explained, forcefully suppressing his anger.


    "It was him, he was the one who hit him! Sss! Ouch..." The middle-aged man on the ground, grimacing in apparent great pain, seemed to be enduring a lot.


    "The man is in this condition, and you dare say you didn''t hit him?" The middle-aged man''s son said menacingly.


    "Fine!" Zhang Menglong forced a smile, not wanting to waste time here anymore, "You tell me, what do you want to do?"


    "Ouch..." The middle-aged man just moaned without saying a word.


    "You hit my dad so badly, he definitely needs a full body examination," the young man said, "How about this, you leave one hundred thousand yuan for now, and I will take my dad for a checkup. Leave me your phone number, and if it''s not enough, we''ll contact you again!"


    "I think that''s fair, given the severity, one hundred thousand isn''t much, and it might not even be enough!"


    "Exactly!"


    People around them chimed in, one after another.


    "Good lord, are there shills too?" Zhang Menglong noticed that these people seemed to be exchanging secretive glances, "Alright, bringing the scam right to my doorstep, huh?"


    Zhang Menglong coldly laughed and then made a phone call to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, do I own a private hospital in Dongji City?"

 Chapter 268 He Said He Wants to Donate Several Hundred Billion

    "Donated fully?" Zhang Menglong blinked in surprise, having never heard of such a phrase concerning donations in all his years.


    "Mr. Zhang, you may not know this," Director Ding explained, "Our annual funds for urban construction have a set budget, partially coming from municipal taxes and other fiscal incomes, some from corporate sponsorship bids, and also from donations by affluent individuals like yourself."


    "Ah, that I know!"


    "But these amounts are not unlimited. The funds we receive each year must be spent within that year; they can''t be carried over, as that would cause numerous issues during the year-end settlement."


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong had never heard such a thing before.


    "Menglong, what Director Ding said is probably true," Lu Yiyao spoke, "Our school, for instance, nearly always engages in some roadwork, planting, or reconstruction towards the end of the year. Take the road by our main entrance at Gusu University. Since I joined, it''s been resurfaced 21 times!"


    "Do the roads deteriorate often?" Zhang Menglong asked. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Of course not. At most, a few marble tiles crack. There''s really no need for such frequent repairs. Each paving costs hundreds of thousands, if not millions," Lu Yiyao explained, "It''s because by year-end, a large part of our budget remains unspent, so the administration has to find ways to spend it! We can''t carry the money over to the next year."


    "So that''s how it is." No wonder Zhang Menglong always saw the school engaged in roadwork or building repairs before the winter break; it was all such clever maneuvering.


    "Although there are some differences, city planning works similarly," Ding Youguo said, "and city planning is even stricter than university finance. If there''s extra money, you can''t just casually decide to fix a road, right?"@@@@


    "Hahaha, that makes sense," Zhang Menglong said, "So, what''s the budget for this year''s urban development in Dongji City?"


    "This year''s city planning only totals 3.5 billion US dollars, and two billion of that has already been secured through bids. That''s why I said your donation of one hundred billion has already filled our quota for this year''s road construction!"


    "That filled it up?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "I was hoping to donate a hundred or two hundred billion each month. Spending money is harder than I thought."


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s mutter, Director Ding''s mouth twitched. Was this money cursed or something? A month yielding one or two hundred billion? Not even the top-tier cities spend that much on their road planning!


    "Director Ding, have there been any notable projects in Dongji City over the past few years?" Zhang Menglong was still not giving up. "I haven''t just returned home for the New Year; I also want to see if there''s any part of our hometown''s development where I can contribute," Zhang Menglong said, "Twenty billion isn''t too small for me, and two hundred billion isn''t too much!"


    This month''s donation of $100 billion would bring him 100 Cred Points, and he was determined to find a way to spend that money.


    "Hello, this is Zhu Guangwei!"


    "Mayor, this is Ding Youguo."


    "Oh, Director Ding, what''s the matter?"


    "Mayor, it''s like this, something happened in our city today involving a scam incident."


    "Very special?" Mayor Zhu asked. Although scam incidents were bad, they surely didn''t need to be reported to him, did they?


    "Yes, the person scammed was Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?" As the city''s mayor, Zhu Guangwei was naturally familiar with such matters.


    "That''s right, you wouldn''t have guessed, but he''s from our Dongji City!"


    "Oh?" Mayor Zhu was somewhat surprised. The world''s richest man was from their Dongji City, and having been mayor for so many years, he didn''t know about it at all? How low-profile must this family have been so far?


    "Zhang Menglong said he wants to donate to the construction of our Dongji City, but my current planning projects really can''t accommodate such a huge donation, so I wanted to ask if you have any needs on your end?"


    "Can''t accommodate?" Mayor Zhu was shocked. As the city''s second-in-command, he naturally knew exactly how much money each system''s plans required. According to this year''s plan, the urban road construction of Dongji City needed funds amounting to 3.5 billion US dollars, with about 1.5 billion still unaccounted for.


    Such a large amount of money, and it still couldn''t accommodate Zhang Menglong''s donation?


    How much money was he planning to donate?


    "Did he mention how much he wants to donate?"


    "He didn''t specify," Director Ding said. "His exact words were, ''Tens of billions is not too little, hundreds of billions is not too much!''"


    "What? Hundreds of billions? He wants to donate hundreds of billions?" Hearing Director Ding''s words, Mayor Zhu''s heart suddenly started racing.

 Chapter 269 I Booked the Entire High-Speed Rail

    "Are you sure that''s what he really said?" Mayor Zhu still felt somewhat bemused.


    It was one thing to have someone attempt to swindle him and not make a fuss about it, but to actually offer a donation, and to start talking hundreds of billions at that, are there really such people in the world?


    "Yes, that''s why I came to contact you. Do you have some time? I can bring Mr. Zhang to visit you."


    "No, no, no! Why should he visit me? Of course, I should visit him!" Mayor Zhu immediately started to put on his coat, "Where are you now?"


    "Right here in my office."


    "Good, entertain Mr. Zhang well, I will be there immediately!"


    "Little Fu, come with me!" Mayor Zhu immediately made a call to his secretary.


    "Mayor, is there something you need?"


    "The high-speed rail in our Dongji City could start construction this year; bring the engineers and the blueprints, and let''s head to Director Ding''s place!"


    "Really?" Secretary Fu was also surprised, "Did the province finally approve the funding?"


    "No! It''s not money from the province, it''s Zhang Menglong, he''s from our Dongji City, he wants to donate a huge sum to our city, at least several hundred billion!"@@@@


    "Alright, alright! I''ll arrange it right away!" Hearing such explosive news, Secretary Fu also became excited.


    Having Zhang Menglong come from Dongji City is truly Dongji City''s fortune!


    Less than twenty minutes later, Mayor Zhu, panting, arrived at Director Ding''s office with his entourage.


    "Mayor, this is Mr. Zhang Menglong, and this is his girlfriend, Miss Lu Yiyao," Director Ding introduced.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is our Mayor Zhu Guangwei."


    "Hello, Mayor Zhu," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Mayor Zhu, "You are also my elder, calling me Mr. Zhang is too formal, just call me Menglong!"


    Therefore, the funds didn''t need to be in place all at once, just one-fifth or even less was enough to start, and when the province''s funds came in, they could continue. This would also save a year''s time.


    He just hadn''t expected that Zhang Menglong would speak of funding the entire high-speed rail right off the bat. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Menglong, this is about building a high-speed rail, not a small amount of money. I brought an engineer today; perhaps you should listen to the details first," he suggested.


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, eager to know what the plan for the high-speed rail was.


    "Engineer Zhang!" Mayor Zhu spoke to the engineer behind him.


    Engineer Zhang was a man of few words; he found a table and immediately unfolded the planning map.


    "Mr. Zhang, in the plans, the railway is 77 kilometers long, designed for speeds of 250 kilometers per hour, with an expected 17 tunnels totaling 35.246 kilometers, including one undersea railway tunnel. This is the most difficult and costly part of the project."


    "In hilly areas, a typical four-track high-speed railway costs about 1.2 billion, but due to our complicated geographical conditions in Dongji, the cost will likely need to be doubled, so the entire project might need around 270 billion Huaxia yuan."


    "Damn! 270 billion?"


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, Mayor Zhu thought he was concerned about the high cost and immediately said, "Mr. Zhang, this is just the total cost. We don''t need so much upfront; we just hope to get the project started soon. If we could even get a few tens of billions, that would already be great."


    "No, I mean, only 270 billion?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat disappointed. 270 billion Huaxia yuan wasn''t even close to what he could donate in a month. How could building a high-speed rail be so cheap?


    "Only?" Mayor Zhu''s eyes widened. This was 270 billion, not 270 million, let alone 270 yuan. Was he even speaking human language? For this amount of money, several mayors of Dongji City had been exchanged without yet securing the funds.


    "What I mean is, couldn''t it be more expensive?" Zhang Menglong asked, "There must be variations in the quality of high-speed rails, right?"


    "This..." Mayor Zhu turned to the engineer. Zhang Menglong actually thought the price was too low!


    How many people in all of Huaxia had assets reaching 270 billion yuan? And how many could have 270 billion in cash? It was an unknown if they even existed!


    "Our subway plan is designed for a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour, using standard materials. If we increase the speed to 350 kilometers per hour, then the construction cost would increase by about 30% to 50%. If we used top-of-the-line materials, the total construction expenses might exceed 500 billion!"


    "Hiss!" Hearing this, Director Ding and Mayor Zhu both gasped. A 77-kilometer high-speed rail costing over 500 billion when even the 1300-kilometer-long Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail was less than 2000 billion yuan.


    "It''ll barely do," Zhang Menglong sighed, "Then let''s go with this standard for now!"

 Chapter 270 If Its Free, I Wont Do It

    "Barely?" The expressions on the faces of the two directors and the mayor grew even more bizarre¡ªdid he really think that 50 billion was not enough?


    But how could they know that this 50 billion was just enough for Zhang Menglong''s monthly budget, and the next month he would have to start looking for projects to spend money on again? Such days are really tiring.


    "Mayor Zhu, do you have any kind of project that could consistently spend a few tens of billions every month? It doesn''t matter if it yields returns, the main thing is I want to make a contribution to my hometown," Zhang Menglong asked again.


    "This... there really isn''t any!" Mayor Zhu said helplessly. Before, he would run around for just a little funding, and now with a God of Wealth here, he actually couldn''t find places to spend the money. Could there be anything more aggravating in the world?


    "Well, I''ll take what I can get," Zhang Menglong sighed and shook his head.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, Mayor Zhu and Director Ding felt as if their worldviews had collapsed in an instant. Could having money that couldn''t be spent be that distressing?


    "Hong Yi, send 50 billion to our Dongji City''s municipal account," Zhang Menglong texted Hong Yi. Although Hong Yi was on vacation, such a minor matter wasn''t much trouble.


    A short while later, Mayor Zhu''s phone rang again.


    "Excuse me, I need to take a call," Mayor Zhu stepped aside, "Chief Hong, what''s the matter?"


    The voice on the other end of the phone was from the head of Dongji City''s Finance Bureau.


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    "Mayor," the voice on the other end was tinged with excitement, "our municipal account just received a fund of 50 billion. What''s going on?"


    "This is the funding for our metro planning project!" Mayor Zhu glanced at Zhang Menglong¡ªhad the money already been transferred in less than a minute?


    "50 billion? Did the provincial hall allocate that much money? No, wait! This is not the provincial hall''s account!"


    "Of course not, the money wasn''t provided by the provincial hall, it was donated by a tycoon from our Dongji City."


    "A donation of fifty billion? What are the conditions?"


    "There are no conditions! The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, is from our Dongji City!" Mayor Zhu immediately said, "Send a report to the higher-ups, we''ll start forming a project team tonight, make all the plans before the New Year, and start breaking ground after that!"


    Once an industry chain is established here, many enterprises would soon enter the area, centering around this industry chain and creating a diffusion effect.


    Zhang Menglong shared his ideas with the mayor, and Mayor Zhu immediately showed a surprised and pleased expression.


    Although Dongji City is not large, its population density is very low, and there are many undeveloped areas, so there is plenty of land available for Zhang Menglong to build factories!


    "Menglong, here''s the deal! Since you are willing to build here, we can''t be stingy. I can allocate 500 acres of land for your factory, with a five-year exemption from rent and taxes!"


    "Exempt from rent and taxes?" When Zhang Menglong heard this, he became anxious, "No! We must pay whatever amount is due, and the same goes for taxes! I absolutely cannot take advantage even a little bit from the government!"


    "No, Menglong, this isn''t taking advantage!" Mayor Zhu said, "Your project not only drives our economic development and employment but also makes such a significant contribution. Even if it is a matter of advantage, it''s us taking advantage of you!"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong said sternly, "If you give me rent and tax exemptions, then I won''t go through with it!"


    "This..." The officials looked at each other, bewildered by his stance.


    Many companies yearn for such policies yet cannot obtain them, but Zhang Menglong actually turned them down. What kind of thought process was this?


    "Are you really refusing?"


    "Yes," said Zhang Menglong, "By the way, are there currently incentives for attracting talents to Dongji City?"


    "Indeed, as long as they pay social security for half a year, we reward full-time bachelor degree holders fifty thousand, master''s degree holders one hundred thousand, and PhDs one hundred and fifty thousand. There''s also a housing subsidy¡ªtwo hundred thousand for master''s and eight hundred thousand for PhDs."


    "Double those offers. Whatever excess there is, I will cover," Zhang Menglong stated, "Or, if the budget is tight, I can cover it all."


    "I only have one condition," Zhang Menglong said.


    "What''s the condition?"


    "We start these projects as soon as possible, ideally tomorrow. Otherwise, I wouldn''t even know where to transfer the money!"


    "Done!" Mayor Zhu was someone who acted swiftly, "Tomorrow I''ll plan the site for you, and I''ll involve the best construction company in Dongji. You''ll have my response by no later than tomorrow!"


    "Then I''m counting on you, Mayor!" Zhang Menglong was secretly delighted, thinking that his Super God Academy would soon unlock a new teacher!

 Chapter 271 Am I Not Better Than a Fat Guy?

    "Yo, Menglong is back?" Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Tsk tsk tsk, this must be your girlfriend, right? She''s gorgeous, just like a celebrity!"


    "How long are you planning to stay this time?"


    ...


    Returning to the neighborhood where he had grown up, it was still those familiar faces. The neighbors next door were all warmly greeting Zhang Menglong.


    "Your neighbors are so enthusiastic," Lu Yiyao said with a smile as she greeted the uncles and aunties around, then whispered to Zhang Menglong, "And they seem to have no idea about your real identity."


    Zhang Menglong had been with Lu Yiyao for some time, and almost everyone acted quite reserved in front of Zhang Menglong, but these neighbors didn''t, just like ordinary neighbors.


    "Actually, I thought the same until a few months ago," Zhang Menglong said, "but you might not believe it, all these people are actually employees of my family."


    "What?" Lu Yiyao looked surprised.


    "This neighborhood is also owned by my family. The people living here are either retired employees of my family or their relatives," Zhang Menglong explained, "It was arranged by my parents so I could have a normal childhood environment. Actually, they all know about my identity, but after so many years, maybe acting has become a habit."


    "This..." Lu Yiyao showed a perplexed expression, "This is just like a real-life Truman Show!"


    "Right?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Who knows what my parents were thinking; maybe they feared I''d become arrogant knowing our family''s wealth and turn into a wastrel only interested in pleasure."@@@@


    "How many people would wish to be that kind of wastrel, huh?"


    ...


    "Menglong, we''ve come to a decision about the site. In the western district, we had initially planned a large industrial park, about 1200 mu. I can give you up to 800 mu. Do you think that''s enough?"


    It was only the day after lunch when Zhang Menglong received a call from Mayor Zhu. It had to be said, his efficiency was astonishingly high; he had formulated a plan overnight.


    "800 mu?" Zhang Menglong was a bit surprised to hear the number. The last time they talked about 500 mu, which was already quite substantial, and now it had increased by sixty percent, which showed how much Mayor Zhu valued Zhang Menglong''s project.


    "As for the construction of the factory, it will be handled by Haisheng Group, as you probably know. They are the largest construction company in Dongji City, with both a good reputation and professional capability. I''ve already finalized the deal with their CEO."


    "Hahaha! He always used to snatch my snacks too!" the chubby young man laughed, but his gaze never left Chen Qiuyi''s face.


    "You think, is Qiuyi''s eyesight not very good? How could she like such a fat guy?" colleagues whispered from a distance, glancing back. "Doesn''t she know that our general manager''s son has always liked her?"


    "Who knows, fools have their own luck, I guess. Actually, I think the chubby guy is quite cute; he always secretly brings Qiuyi milk tea and shares some with us too!"


    "Hahaha, you''ve just been bribed by a few cups of milk tea!"


    "Ahahaha!"


    ...


    "Let''s go, Xing Zhe. Zhang Menglong should be arriving soon. I''m really curious what kind of car the world''s richest man drives." Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe walked out of the company side by side.


    Just then, a brand-new Porsche Panamera stopped in front of them, and as the window rolled down, it revealed a somewhat handsome face.


    "Qiuyi, where to? Need a ride?" the handsome young man asked, casting a dismissive glance at Xing Zhe.


    "No need, Manager Zheng, my friend is coming to pick us up in a bit," Chen Qiuyi declined.


    This young man in front of her, Zheng Hefeng, was the son of their company''s general manager at Haisheng Group. Under his father''s guidance, he could also be considered a talented young man. After graduating, he joined the company as a project manager, and with his abilities and his father''s resources, his income had already surpassed one million a year.


    Chen Qiuyi had only started her internship at Haisheng Group in September. Her outstanding appearance and exceptional work ability won the admiration of many male colleagues, including the son of the general manager.


    Zheng Hefeng had invited Chen Qiuyi out for meals more than once or twice, but she had declined every time. Instead, it was this inconspicuous chubby guy who often waited for her here after work.


    He had investigated Xing Zhe, who had been classmates with Chen Qiuyi since childhood and had also just graduated this year, interning at another construction company not far away. However, in terms of scale, that company was far inferior to their Haisheng Group.


    Xing Zhe had even interviewed with Chen Qiuyi at Haisheng Group once, but his resume from a second-tier college failed to make it through the initial screening.


    Zheng Hefeng couldn''t understand how he could be less appealing than such an ordinary chubby man.


    Maybe it was because he was in a bad mood today, but seeing Chen Qiuyi chatting and laughing with this chubby man, a wave of nameless irritation ignited in his heart.


    "Chen Qiuyi, I''ve invited you more than once or twice. Would you rather hang out with a fat guy than have a meal with me?"

 Chapter 272 The Big Order You Mentioned Seems to Be The One I Gave

    Chen Qiuyi''s expression changed. She knew that the son of the general manager was interested in her, and she had always tried to avoid him, but this time, he had openly expressed it, and many off-duty colleagues nearby were casting gossipy glances their way.


    "It''s Chen Qiuyi, and also Manager Zheng!"


    "Isn''t that fat guy Chen Qiuyi''s boyfriend?"


    "Really? What''s her taste? With such a good appearance, what boyfriend can''t she find?"


    "Exactly, everyone knows Manager Zheng is interested in her. Is she out of her mind?"


    "Shh, keep it down. Do you still want to work here? In Dongji City, there are only a few large companies with good treatment, and if someone hears us, you could be fired tomorrow just for stepping in with your left foot first!"@@@@


    "Haha!"


    ...


    Muted whispers followed, but Zheng Hefeng didn''t care; his father was one of the shareholders of the company, and no one dared gossip about him.


    "Manager Zheng, this is my friend. I hope you can be a bit more polite to him," Chen Qiuyi said, her face flushed.


    "What friend? Isn''t he just your boyfriend?" Zheng Hefeng sneered, "Qiuyi, I know you''ve been classmates for many years, but I think you should distinguish what''s friendship and what''s love. This boyfriend of yours only has a bachelor''s degree from a second-tier university, comes from an ordinary family, and earns only 4000 a month. He struggles to support himself, so why endure this hardship with him?"


    Xing Zhe''s face also turned red, and he clenched his fists tightly, but he had no room to refute Zheng Hefeng''s words.


    He indeed liked Chen Qiuyi and had liked her for many years, always being there for her as just a friend.


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    He hadn''t thought about breaking out of this platonic relationship, but he felt inferior and lacked confidence. Ever since they were young, Chen Qiuyi had always been more excellent than him. Now, with nothing to his name, how could he pursue her?


    "Qiuyi, let me tell you, the company received a huge order yesterday. An investor from Jiangnan City wants to build a factory here in Dongji City. It covers 800 acres and will adhere to the highest standards. This project involves an investment of over 20 billion, and I am the chief person in charge!"


    "What? A 20 billion project?" Upon hearing this news, a collective gasp spread through the crowd. Even for city government projects in Dongji City, there wasn''t a 20 billion project in a year, and moreover, this was a corporate investment. Just what kind of businessman could afford such an investment project?


    "Hey, Qiuyi, Old Xing, what are you dragging your feet for?" Just then, a youthful voice came from the entrance of the company.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Both of them saw Zhang Menglong and immediately displayed a look of surprise.


    The name immediately attracted quite a bit of attention.


    "Zhang Menglong? Which Zhang Menglong? The Zhang Menglong?"


    "Him! Yes, him! I''ve seen his pictures, the wealthiest man in the world!"


    "My god, Chen Qiuyi and her boyfriend actually know Zhang Menglong?"


    "That''s impossible, right? How could they know Zhang Menglong? That''s unscientific! They are from ordinary families, aren''t they? How could they have connections with someone like Zhang Menglong?"


    "Could it be... Could it be that their information is all fake?"


    "They''re not here to experience life, are they?"


    "Hard to say! Rich people these days seem to like putting their kids through such experiences!"


    Birds of a feather flock together, and people are known by the company they keep. As the world''s richest man, it was impossible for Zhang Menglong to be surrounded by people wealthier than him, but definitely by those who were not from ordinary backgrounds.


    To be friends with Zhang Menglong, their family assets threshold must be at least a few billion Huaxia currency, right?


    Suddenly, in the eyes of those around them, Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe were seen as young people from wealthy families.


    "Big brother, did I just hear you talking about a big deal you landed?" Zhang Menglong slapped the side of Zheng Hefeng''s car. "Nice car, almost caught up to the one my aunt uses to go grocery shopping!"


    "Your aunt goes grocery shopping in a Porsche?" The employees around muttered internally but no one dared utter a word. The world''s richest man indeed, even if his housekeeper and doorman split up over a long-distance relationship, they would believe it!


    "Yes... Yes, it''s a project from an entrepreneur from Jiangnan City, to build an 800-acre factory here in our Dongji City. Our Haisheng Group has taken on this project!" Zheng Hefeng tried desperately to calm himself down, suddenly realizing he might have provoked someone he shouldn''t have.


    "Oh, indeed it''s that project," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Quite coincidental, it seems this deal was actually given to you by me!"

 Chapter 273 Have You Fallen to the Point of Driving a Bentley?

    "You... you''re the wealthy investor from Jiangnan City?" Zheng Hefeng''s smile instantly froze on his face.


    He had heard from his father that even the mayor was taking this project very seriously. Just last night, he had received a call from the mayor. Would the mayor pay such attention if it was an ordinary project?


    Zheng Hefeng also knew that, supposedly, the investor was a native of Dongji City, who seemed to be prospering so much that he decided to contribute to the development of his hometown, and the construction of this 800-acre factory area was just the beginning.


    If this project were completed well enough, perhaps there would be other construction projects in the future that would also be handed over to their Haisheng Group.


    But he never would have imagined that this so-called wealthy businessman was none other than the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!


    Although Zheng Hefeng''s family was well-off, under normal circumstances, he should have had no dealings with Zhang Menglong. You''re ultra-rich, I''m slightly rich; we each take our own paths under the heavens.


    Yet Chen Qiuyi and her chubby boyfriend actually knew Zhang Menglong, and that instantly made things complicated.


    If they truly had a good relationship, perhaps Zhang Menglong could make their company lose this huge contract with just a few words¡ªa project worth tens of billions. Even his father would have trouble explaining this to the other shareholders at the shareholders'' meeting.


    "I think I just heard you say that my friends are inept and belong to the lower rungs of society?" Zhang Menglong said, looking at Zheng Hefeng with a very peculiar gaze.@@@@


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "You know who I am, right?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    Zheng Hefeng nodded. Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man¡ªwho didn''t know him?


    He had acquired Weibo, transformed NetEase Music into NetEase Footsteps, and single-handedly stirred up the entire economic system of Qingqiu Country, to the point where national leaders came out to sing "Conquest" as an apology. In Huaxia, it would probably be impossible to find a young person who hasn''t heard of Zhang Menglong.


    "Good that you know," Zhang Menglong said, "these two are my classmates, from childhood to adulthood. Do you think my classmates would just be ordinary people?"


    This statement suddenly astonished the surrounding people¡ªall their previous guesses were correct. How could people who had connections with Zhang Menglong be ordinary? Now, Zhang Menglong had come forward and acknowledged this fact himself.


    "What are you two thinking, holding onto billions in inheritance and interning at such a tiny company?" Zhang Menglong turned to Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe and said.


    "Huh?" Both of them looked stunned.


    Billions in inheritance? They wouldn''t dare dream of such wealth. If they had billions, who would want to work? Wouldn''t it be delightful to live a carefree life of eating and sleeping, being a happy slug?


    "Quick, look, they''re coming this way!"


    Under the gaze of a hundred pairs of eyes, the four cars slowly stopped in front of Xing Zhe.


    The car doors opened slowly, and out stepped an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties and several individuals in black suits with the look of bodyguards.


    "Menglong, isn''t that the security uncle from your community..." Lu Yiyao quickly covered her mouth.


    "Shh!" Zhang Menglong quickly gave Lu Yiyao a look.


    The old man walked up to Xing Zhe, bowed to him respectfully, which frightened Xing Zhe so much he couldn''t help but step back several paces. What was going on? The suit the old man wore was probably more expensive than what he could buy with ten years of salary, and the watch on his wrist, it seemed to be a Patek Philippe.


    Xing Zhe wasn''t sure about the price of the watch, but had he not seen pigs run even if he had never eaten pork? Watches of this brand, he heard, were often only seen at auctions, costing millions as a matter of course. Such a person was showing him this much respect?


    "Young master, please stop being mad at the old master!" the elderly man said, "Even if you don''t want to inherit the family business, there''s no need to come to this shabby company and suffer! If it weren''t for Mr. Zhang telling me today, I wouldn''t have known you had suffered such grievances here!"


    "What?" Xing Zhe''s facial expression became incredibly vivid.


    What was happening? Old master? Young master? His mother was a full-time housewife and his father was a seafood seller at the aquatic market. How had he suddenly become a young master? What family business did his family have that he could inherit? Could it be the tiny stall that wasn''t even five square meters?


    Even if it were that stall, it was only rented in the seafood market.


    But compared to Xing Zhe, the rest of the people were even more shocked.


    Xing Zhe''s company had some cooperation with Haisheng Group, so there were some people from Xing Zhe''s company at Haisheng Group, and coincidentally, Xing Zhe''s supervisor was there today!


    Just now, when Xing Zhe was getting an earful from Zheng Hefeng here, he didn''t dare to utter a sound; he was just a minor supervisor, and given the scale of their company, even the company''s president wouldn''t dare to act rashly inside Haisheng Group.


    And now, everything was turned upside down. The meek and hardworking chubby guy in the company, who was just trying to get a permanent position, turned out to be a person sitting on a fortune worth billions! He even didn''t want to inherit his own family''s wealth. Their little company actually had such an important figure?


    In an instant, he became panicked. He hadn''t been easy on Xing Zhe with the workload in the past. Surely Xing Zhe couldn''t have remembered it all, could he?


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" While everyone was in shock, Zhang Menglong walked over to Xing Zhe and patted his shoulder, speaking in a tone of regret.


    "Xing Zhe, what''s the big deal about graduating from college? After not seeing you for four years, you''ve actually stooped to driving Bentleys?"

 Chapter 274 In a Bad Mood Because I Forgot to Bring Toilet Paper to the Bathroom

    "Reduced to driving a Bentley?" Upon hearing this sentence, everyone''s expression turned as if they had eaten shit.


    What does it mean to be reduced to driving a Bentley? In the eyes of someone like Zhang Menglong, was driving a Bentley now something to be looked down upon? They, too, wished to be so "reduced," but who would give them such an opportunity to fall from grace?


    "It''s only been four years and it''s come to this. In another two years, will I be ''reduced'' to driving a Maserati?" Zhang Menglong continued with his sarcastic tone.@@@@


    The staff of Huabang Group all forced bitter smiles. Their chairman''s car was a Maserati, a person whom they looked up to, and even he didn''t meet Zhang Menglong''s standards?


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve misunderstood," the elderly man said to Zhang Menglong, "Our young master simply prefers to keep a low profile. He doesn''t wish to be too ostentatious. These few Bentleys are in fact the worst cars in the young master''s garage."


    "The worst cars?" Zheng Hefeng''s face had already contorted to the point of near paralysis.


    These Bentleys were all Continentals and GTs, each worth no less than three million upon purchase. Zheng Hefeng, though capable, had not earned three million since graduating.


    As for his father, he drove a car worth just under two million, which was the cheapest car in Xing Zhe''s family.


    He had just been belittling Xing Zhe''s family for not being good enough for Chen Qiuyi. If even a family like Xing Zhe''s wasn''t good enough, then what was Zheng Hefeng? A beggar?


    Remembering his own words from a moment ago, Zheng Hefeng''s face burned with shame. The Panamera he had just mentioned suddenly lost all its allure.


    "Idiot, what kind of research is this? You can''t even find out their family background!" Zheng Hefeng ground his teeth in anger.


    "Mr. Zhang mentioned that someone was insulting our young master just now?" The old man''s face suddenly turned extremely gloomy, and the burly men in suits immediately fixed their gaze on Zheng Hefeng in the car.


    "No... You''ve all misunderstood, I..." Zheng Hefeng suddenly sweated profusely as fear seeped down his back.


    Just these few most ordinary cars had a total value of over ten million. If we dare assume, the total value of all the cars in their family might well be over a hundred million.


    If just the cars are worth over a hundred million, then how much is their house? How much money must their family have? How big must their company be?


    "He''s probably like Zhang Menglong, having grown up here since he was small, but his real background must be unfathomable!" Zheng Hefeng even started to wonder if Huabang Group could withstand it if Xing Zhe wanted to take revenge.


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Chen Qiuyi also couldn''t help but hold back her laughter. With her quick wits, she of course knew these were all Zhang Menglong''s manipulative moves. After all these years, Zhang Menglong''s personality was still as playful as ever.


    "Since that''s the case, then... well, alright, young master, if you ever feel like not going to work and want to take over the family business, just let me know, I''ll come to pick you up anytime!"


    "Let''s go!" The elder sighed, and several Bentleys swiftly departed.


    "Xing Zhe, where are you working now? I remember it''s a construction company too, right?"


    "Oh, a small company, Huabang Construction," Xing Zhe came back to his senses and said.


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone and directly called Mayor Zhu, "Uncle Zhu, am I disturbing you?"


    "Haha, Menglong, not at all, is there something you need?"


    "Oh, it''s like this. The construction project for my factory area was given to Haisheng Group, right?"


    "Yes, what''s up?"


    "It''s like this, don''t let them take that order, give it to Huabang Construction instead."


    "Huabang Construction?" Mayor Zhu was taken aback, he hadn''t even heard the name of this company before, and immediately had his assistant look up information on this company.


    "Such a small company?" Mayor Zhu said, "Menglong, although this company has a good reputation, its scale is too small. They probably can''t even afford the initial construction materials with their financial resources!"


    "No problem, I can pay the construction funds in advance; paying everything in one installment is also okay," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Since that''s the case, then there''s no issue. I''ll go arrange it now," Mayor Zhu couldn''t help but ask another question, "Do you have a conflict with the people from Haisheng Group?"


    Mayor Zhu was no fool. Zhang Menglong would definitely not let a small, unheard-of company replace Haisheng, a well-established big enterprise, to take on a multibillion-dollar project for no reason.


    "Check out this Huabang Construction for me," Mayor Zhu whispered to his secretary, "See if there''s any of Zhang Menglong''s friends or classmates or something in that company."


    "Oh, actually, it''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "I just forgot to bring paper when I went to the bathroom today, and I''m in a bad mood."

 Chapter 275 Young Master Xing, Are You Interested in the Manager Position?

    "Not in a good mood because you forgot to bring paper?" Mayor Zhu displayed an expression that was a mixture of laughter and tears. What''s this got to do with anything? It''s clear that someone has offended you. Even if you need to find an excuse, can''t you at least put in a little effort?"


    "Alright, I''ve got it. Anyway, you''re the boss," Mayor Zhu chuckled, "Fortunately, we haven''t signed the contract, and the project funds haven''t been transferred yet, otherwise, there would have been a substantial penalty fee!"


    "It wouldn''t matter if there was a penalty fee," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "Then I won''t disturb you any longer."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone. At this moment, Zheng Hefeng''s hands started to tremble. Had Zhang Menglong actually made a direct call to the mayor? Did this huge order slip away from him just like that?


    In the crowd, Xing Zhe''s department head clearly heard the phone conversation that had just taken place, and the news suddenly sent him into an overwhelming excitement.


    As a competitor, he was naturally aware that Haisheng Group was handling a project worth several billions, but even if such an order were handed over to them, at Huabang, they wouldn''t be able to take it on.


    Such a huge project required tens of millions in initial investment alone, and their small company only had a few million in liquid assets¡ª not even the capital needed to start it up.


    But starting today, he believed that pies really do fall from the sky!


    A project worth billions was actually handed to them on a silver platter, and the investor even said they could pay all the project funds in one go!


    A project worth billions! If they really took it on, their company could make a profit of tens of millions at least!


    And from the tone of the conversation he had just overheard, this seemed to be just the first phase of the project; there would be other projects in the future!


    Given Zhang Menglong''s relationship with Xing Zhe, it was likely that all these big orders would go to their company in the future!@@@@


    "I must tell the boss about this news right away!" Huabang''s manager immediately left the crowd quietly, then dialed the boss''s phone.


    "President Su, it''s me, Liu Yiren!"


    "Manager Liu! I''ve got great news for you!" An almost uncontrollable excitement came through the other end, "The mayor just called me! The mayor! That construction project worth several billions has been given to our company, and all the project funds are to be prepaid! I feel like I''m still dreaming!"


    "President Su, that''s exactly what I was calling to tell you about!" said Liu Yiren.


    "What, you already know about this?" President Su was taken aback, having only just learned about it from the mayor.


    "I witnessed the whole process at Haisheng Group today!" Liu Yiren recounted the day''s events.


    "Oh, decided to get out of the car, have you?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, this is my fault," Zheng Hefeng immediately lowered his head.


    "You didn''t insult me, what are you apologizing to me for?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Old Xing, you deal with it!"


    "Forget it, just don''t harass Qiuyi anymore." Xing Zhe shook his head, seemingly not intent on pursuing the matter further.


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong sighed. He knew Xing Zhe was too soft-hearted; to put it nicely, he had a mild temperament, but to put it bluntly, he was indecisive. Zhang Menglong had worried about him for many years, and the kid still hadn''t confessed his feelings to Chen Qiuyi.


    If things continued like this, the distance between them was bound to grow wider very quickly.


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang, thank you, Mr. Xing!" Zheng Hefeng nodded repeatedly.


    As for harassing Chen Qiuyi again, not even with ten times the courage would he dare.


    Setting aside the terrifying backgrounds of Zhang Menglong and Xing Zhe for a moment, Zhang had just said that Chen Qiuyi grew up with them. Even if his family background couldn''t match Zhang Menglong''s entirely, would it be much worse than Xing Zhe''s?


    If he harassed Chen Qiuyi again, it wouldn''t even require Zhang Menglong and the others to take action; Qiuyi''s own family would likely be the first to disapprove. Who knows if they''d send a fleet of Bentleys or Rolls Royces after him.


    It seemed he finally realized why Chen Qiuyi was so indifferent to him. His family wealth might seem considerable to the average person, but in Chen Qiuyi''s eyes, it probably wasn''t much different from kids playing house.


    "Let''s go, time to eat," Zhang Menglong clapped their shoulders, "Oh, and by the way, this is my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao."


    "Hello!" Chen Qiuyi, ever at ease, shook hands with her, and Xing Zhe, never much of a talker, simply nodded and smiled.


    "Sorry, I need to take a call." Xing Zhe suddenly noticed his phone ringing.


    "Su... President Su?" In all his time with the company, only his supervisor had kept in direct touch with him; he had never even exchanged a word with their president, President Su.


    "Young Master Xing, thanks to you, we managed to get that project from Haisheng Group."


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    "Young Master Xing?" Xing Zhe didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. What kind of strange title was this?


    "Young Master Xing, since this project is from your friend Young Master Zhang, you''ll be in charge of it. I''ll arrange for everyone to assist you fully!" President Su said, "Also, let''s end your internship starting today, shall we? Are you interested in the position of Project General Manager?"

 Chapter 276 This is going to work for you for a lifetime

    "Project General Manager?" This title caught Xing Zhe off guard. Although their company wasn''t large, the position of a project general manager came with an annual income of at least three or four hundred thousand yuan. For someone with Xing Zhe''s education and capabilities, this was pretty much the ceiling for his entire career.


    Yet his company''s President was still using a tone of inquiry.


    "Indeed, you''re definitely not satisfied with such a minor position," hearing no response from Xing Zhe, President Su quickly changed his phrasing, anxious not to anger him, "How about this, you work in the company as a vice president. Aside from me, you won''t need to be responsible to anyone else."


    "Of course, for Young Master Xing at my place, it''s just a formality. If you''re in the mood, help us manage things; if not, just play some games at your desk, that''s fine. Let the people underneath handle the tasks!" President Su said obsequiously.@@@@


    "No need, I''ll just be a project manager," Xing Zhe wasn''t greedy, "I''ll still work hard on job-related matters."


    "Great! Great!" President Su agreed eagerly, thinking that Xing Zhe really was there to experience life and appeared not to be the kind of rich second generation who only depends on his family, "Then I''ll make the arrangements immediately. After the New Year, you can officially take the post. As for Manager Liu, he can be your assistant from now on!"


    The moment Xing Zhe put down his phone, his head was still in a daze. His former leader was now his assistant? But it seemed like he hadn''t done anything at all, even Zhang Menglong had done nothing. He had simply made a phone call to the mayor.


    Could one phone call really be that powerful?


    "Don''t be stunned, let''s change the venue. We don''t want these people to disturb our catching up!" Zhang Menglong patted his shoulder.


    Xing Zhe nodded, stealing a glance at Chen Qiuyi, then followed Zhang Menglong onto the Lambo.


    Only when that Lamborghini had driven off into the distance did the employees of Haisheng Group finally breathe a sigh of relief. There was such a figure hidden in their company?


    Especially the HR supervisor who had recruited Chen Qiuyi, she was astonished; that girl, who had seemed from an ordinary family yet was extraordinary in her abilities, actually came from a family of billionaires, and her friends were either billionaires or the world''s wealthiest. When had such hidden dragons and crouching tigers appeared in tiny Dongji City?


    ...


    "Menglong, thank you!" After maintaining silence for several minutes, Xing Zhe finally spoke.


    "What''s there to thank, with our decade of friendship, do you still need such empty words?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You are too soft-hearted. If it were me, I''d directly buy out that Haisheng Group and turn it into Haisheng Foot Massage, making that Manager Zheng give foot massages!"


    "Well, that''s more like it!" Hearing that, their mental burden was immediately halved.


    Having not gathered for so many years, Zhang Menglong and the two friends had a lot to catch up on. Recalling the days of their youth, continuous bouts of hearty laughter emanated from the most luxurious private room.


    The dinner went on until past eleven, and for the first time, Zhang Menglong drank a bit too much, so he had someone send Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe back home directly.


    "Mr. Xing, this is something Mr. Zhang asked me to hand over to you!" Before getting out of the car, the driver handed Xing Zhe a box.


    "Oh, thanks," Xing Zhe took the box, "what secretive thing is Old Zhang up to now?"


    Xing Zhe opened the envelope within, which contained a bank card, a business license, and the corresponding official seal.


    Jiangzhe Qiuyi Information Technology Co., Ltd.


    Paid-up registration capital: 10 billion


    Legal representative: Xing Zhe


    "This..." Xing Zhe flipped through another item, which was the company''s articles of association,


    Shareholders: Xing Zhe, contributing 5 billion Huaxia currency, 50%; Chen Qiuyi, contributing 5 billion Huaxia currency, 50%.


    Besides these items, there was also a note.


    "Xing Zhe, I''ve said that brothers of Zhang Menglong must be awesome. I''m leaving the factory project in Dongji City to you. There are 1 billion in this card; first go take an MBA, find a few reliable assistants, and don''t squander this bit of assets from me, the remaining is like an advance payment of your share of the profits."


    "You''re too timid, lad. I''m giving you another year. If you two aren''t together by this time next year, I''ll need to take this money back! And don''t even think about returning it, or else I''ll cut ties with you!"


    Though there were more capable people to manage the company which was prepared to produce photolithography machines and crystal chips, and surely there wouldn''t be an issue with loyalty, Zhang Menglong still wanted to give this opportunity to his good brother.


    Holding this heavy gift, Xing Zhe couldn''t help but show a bittersweet smile, "Big guy, you''re trying to make us work for you for a lifetime, huh!"

 Chapter 277 500 Million Worth of Fireworks

    On the night of New Year''s Eve, every household was immersed in the joyous atmosphere of a family reunion, including those who usually stay indoors or are too busy to even have time for meals.


    In the urban area of Dongji City, there was Seaside Park where, after having the New Year''s Eve dinner, residents would gather each year to set off fireworks and enjoy the festive lights. This was the only day the city allowed fireworks and firecrackers.


    To address the pandemic, Dongji City''s Epidemic Prevention Station had set up barricades early in Seaside Park, only allowing citizens who passed a safety check to enter.


    Of course, being a native of Dongji City, Zhang Menglong also brought Lu Yiyao to Seaside Park. He didn''t use any special privileges. Privileges might be convenient, but they lack a certain human touch. Perhaps squeezing in with fellow townspeople in the crowd was what the New Year''s spirit was really about.


    Everyone wore masks, including Zhang Menglong, which spared him a lot of trouble since he was too easily recognized now.@@@@


    "Menglong, you came early!" A familiar voice called out from behind.


    "Wow, you can recognize me from this?" Zhang Menglong turned around and saw Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe smiling behind him.


    "You two..." Zhang Menglong noticed that their hands were interlocked, "Wow, did you finally muster the courage to be brave for once?"


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    Xing Zhe sheepishly rubbed his head, originally too lacking in confidence to confess his feelings. But now, the encouragement from Zhang Menglong had helped him regain his confidence.


    Even though his abilities were lacking and his education wasn''t high, he was ready to improve, as long as he was willing to strive!


    As for Chen Qiuyi, she had actually been waiting for Xing Zhe to speak up. Thus, the two of them naturally made their relationship official the night before.


    "It''s all thanks to you," Xing Zhe said with a smile.


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong glanced at the time, "this works as a gift to celebrate you guys getting together too!"


    "Huh? What do you mean by ''it''s almost time''? A gift? What do you mean?" Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe were confused.


    "Make way, everyone, please make way!" Just as everyone was awaiting the fireworks display, a group of uniformed personnel began to clear the path by the seaside, and several large trucks slowly parked there.


    "What''s going on? Why are there trucks coming?"


    "They''re probably for the fireworks. After all, the annual fireworks show is organized by Dongji City''s government; it has to be on a grand scale!"


    "Brother, you''re telling me ¡ª this is called fireworks!"


    As the first truck''s cargo was unloaded, everyone''s eyes widened.


    It was a spherical object with a diameter of over one meter. As for its weight, people couldn''t possibly move it; instead, another crane was brought in to lift it.


    "That''s Huaxia Jade!" someone exclaimed at that moment.


    As the New Year''s bell rang, a huge red dot soared into the sky.


    "Look quick!"


    "So bright, isn''t that gorgeous?"


    "Is this really fireworks? If you told me it was a nuclear bomb, I''d believe it!"


    Countless people gazed at the bright spot in the sky.


    It wasn''t that they were exaggerating, but that the bright spot was too dazzling, almost as bright as the sun even hundreds of meters in the air.


    "Boom!" With the deafening explosion, a stunning firework burst forth in the sky.


    "Boom boom boom!" A thousand Huaxia Jade rockets consecutively soared, completely illuminating the city''s sky.


    "Happy New Year!" In this festive atmosphere, everyone smiled and exchanged greetings.


    These thousand Huaxia Jade fireworks lasted for a whole hour before they finally ended, and the citizens also began to set off their own fireworks, which seemed a bit lackluster after such a display, just for a bit of fun.


    However, in just a few minutes, a trending topic quickly shot up the trend list.


    "Is a 500 million yuan fireworks display really something to cheer about?"


    In this message, some questioned the values of those setting off the fireworks, some criticized the massive environmental pollution caused by such a large-scale display, and even Dongji City itself was branded in an unflattering light.


    "500 million on fireworks, really impressive, couldn''t this money go to charity?"


    "A thousand Huaxia Jade rockets, hundreds of tons of gunpowder, how severe is the environmental pollution this must cause?"


    "Small places are just that, low quality of population, a little money turns them into nouveau riche!"


    "Trying to get famous with this kind of stunt? It''s so tacky!"


    ...


    "Menglong, look!" Lu Yiyao held up her phone to Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Damn," Zhang Menglong sneered, "Now even setting off fireworks gets you morally hijacked? I say they''re just jealous!"


    "Dongji City is a small place, a broken place, but I must say, if outsiders talk, I''ll cuss them out!" Zhang Menglong immediately took out his cellphone, "Like arguing, huh? My favorite thing is reasoning with trolls!"


    Zhang Menglong opened Weibo: "I set off these fireworks! Any objections?"

 Chapter 278 Actually, I Wanted to Keep a Low Profile

    ```


    "6666! I was wondering who had such capability! Turns out it''s President Zhang, then it''s just a basic move for him, everyone please take a seat quickly!"


    "Wow, throwing 500 million on a fireworks show, I''m impressed!"


    "President Zhang spends 500 million as if it''s 5 bucks, who''s still bickering? It''s his own hard-earned money; he can spend it however he wants, is it any of your business?"


    "Exactly, trying to morally kidnap him, right? If you''re so wealthy, why haven''t I seen you donating?"


    Zhang Menglong''s fans promptly stood up to defend him.


    "Ah, not sure if it''s society deteriorating, but nowadays people idolize money, and it''s truly sad!"


    "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Young people today can hardly understand this, preferring to spend hundreds of millions on flashy but frivolous things rather than contributing to the country and the people!"


    "After all, he''s a capitalist, where can one expect such nobility from them?"


    One after another, marketing accounts sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, not caring what they say. They were only concerned about whether they could catch the heat, gain traffic, and monetize. As for anything else, that was unimportant.


    But their words were quite inflammatory. Someone spending a few million on fireworks might not have drawn much attention.


    But this is a whopping 500 million! For 99% of people in this world, that number is astronomical. Maybe some could understand a millionaire throwing out a few million, but they can''t believe what kind of person could casually drop 500 million.


    In their eyes, if one could do this, then they must take on more social responsibility!


    Soon, the buzz over the 500-million-worth fireworks show even surpassed this year''s Spring Festival Gala.


    "Menglong, you alright?" Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe looked worryingly at Zhang Menglong. The intensity of online violence had reached a pervasive level, and they feared that Zhang Menglong would be affected by this incident.


    In fact, this matter wasn''t that big a deal to them, but since Zhang Menglong said that this fireworks show was also in celebration of their relationship, they couldn''t help but associate this event with themselves.


    "Those marketing accounts are really good at riding the trend!" Zhang Menglong sipped his bubble tea, gazing at the fireworks continuously blooming in the sky, his face showing no signs of worry.


    "Envy of the rich, I understand," Zhang Menglong said with a sneer. For most people, seeing someone worse off than themselves elicits sympathy, but seeing someone better off almost always brings about envy or resentment; such is a common trait of human nature.


    "I didn''t want to make such a high profile, but since they forced me, I had no choice," Zhang Menglong shook his head and started operating on his phone.


    "What are you doing?" The others watched curiously as Zhang Menglong busied himself on his device.


    "Nothing much, just about to slap them each with a reality check!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Firstly, regarding the pollution issue you all mentioned, this is the custom order for this batch of fireworks!" Zhang Menglong posted several screenshots on Weibo.


    Zhang Menglong''s batch of fireworks was indeed "Huaxia Jade", but the craftsmanship of this batch was different; it wasn''t made from the conventional gunpowder and sulfur, but from a sulfur-free pyrotechnic material.


    "Sulfur-free pyrotechnic material? What''s that about?"


    "The last beast head!"


    "My God, the combined value of these items must exceed ten billion Huaxia currency, right?"


    "More than that! Even in US dollars, it wouldn''t be an overestimation! These are national treasures, truly priceless!"


    "Did Mr. Zhang gather all these from abroad?"


    "It is said that the new building of the Jiangnan City Historical Museum was funded by Mr. Zhang!"


    However, the shock of the revelation had not yet subsided.


    The Huaxia Red Cross official Weibo posted a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion Huaxia currency.


    The Huaxia Association for the Protection of the Disabled showed a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion Huaxia currency.


    The Huaxia Children''s Welfare Association posted a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion.


    ...


    "20 billion donated to each of the top ten philanthropic organizations?"


    "Those who were being sarcastic just now, come out and get smacked!"


    "Respect, respect. Stop hitting, stop hitting!"


    "President Zhang totally won this battle!"


    "The haters wanted to tarnish President Zhang''s reputation, but he doesn''t reason with you, he just talks money. How frustrated must you be?"


    ...


    "When did you do all this?" Lu Yiyao asked Zhang Menglong.


    "The day before I returned to Dongji City," Zhang Menglong said. When he learned that he had a monthly donation quota of 10 billion US dollars, he immediately made a donation to the largest Huaxia organizations.


    He had intended to be a low-profile individual, but since he was forced to disclose everything, he couldn''t help it.


    "Ah!" Just then, cries of alarm suddenly came from not far away, immediately drawing the attention of many.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. In that direction, there was a cloud of dust, with dozens of people lying on the ground wailing, and even the occasional glimmer of fire could be seen.


    "The fireworks exploded! Help! Call 120 quickly!"


    "Help! Quick, save us!"


    ...

 Chapter 279 I Only Saw That Truck Drifting Around the Bend

    "Something''s gone wrong!" Zhang Menglong and the others exchanged glances.


    Almost every year, various accidents occur due to the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers, and this time the situation was clearly extremely serious!


    The exploding fireworks were almost the largest size available on the market, worth tens of thousands of yuan. Although they couldn''t compare with Zhang Menglong''s "Huaxia Jade," the blast radius could definitely affect the surrounding dozens of meters, and the power was even comparable to some homemade bombs!


    Nearly ten victims were lying on the ground wailing; they all had burns of varying degrees. The two most seriously injured appeared to have been very close to the center of the explosion, even their arms and legs were blown open to expose the bones.


    "I''m trained in first aid, let me take a look!" Two girls in their early twenties immediately rushed into the crowd, "Back up, everyone back up, give them some fresh air! Does anyone have water?"


    "This victim''s blood loss is severe, we need to stop the bleeding immediately!"


    "No way! The wound is too serious, we don''t have the equipment, we can''t stop it!"


    "How long until the ambulance arrives?" one of the girls looked up and asked a bystander.


    "About 20 minutes!"


    "20 minutes? That''s 40 minutes round trip! We won''t make it in time!" the girl showed a look of worry.


    "Xu Yu, these patients have severe burns. If they''re not taken to the hospital soon, they will develop widespread infections, and I''m afraid they won''t survive the day!" Another girl was attending to a patient whose body was a bloody mess.


    This was a group of extremely unlucky middle-aged people; they were drinking and chatting together here. The blast from the explosion shattered the glass bottles and ignited the alcohol, and their seating area was right next to the pile of bottles.


    The flames quickly caught on their bodies; their hair was completely burned off and their faces were no longer recognizable, a burnt odor emanating from their bodies.


    With such severe burns, it was already a fatal situation!


    "No way! We can talk about the ones with minor injuries, but we can''t delay any longer for these four people!"


    "Today is New Year''s Eve; there are already fewer doctors on duty. The doctor on duty just reported a mass food poisoning incident in the Dongya Garden residential area, so the ambulances have gone there. We must call for ambulances from a more distant hospital!"


    "Why do all these problems have to happen all at once on New Year''s Eve?" The two girls trained in first aid suddenly felt somewhat helpless.


    "Ye Yin, how long will it take for our medical team to get here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid it will take half an hour back and forth!" Ye Yin replied. "How about I just take them to the hospital myself?"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong said, "How would you explain that later on?"


    "We don''t have time, we must drive them there ourselves!" the two girls said.


    "He... He should be okay, right?" Lu Yiyao''s voice was shaky with doubt.


    "Roar!" With the cooperation of the people around, those with the most serious injuries were loaded onto the truck, and the two girls studying first aid also sat in the back to watch over the patients. Zhang Menglong floored the accelerator, and the truck sped off swiftly.


    "Slow down! Slow down!" Feeling the strong sea breeze, the two girls realized that the truck had already reached at least 80 mph, and it was still accelerating!


    But Zhang Menglong did not slow down, continuing to furiously press the accelerator.


    "There''s a sharp turn ahead! Slow down!"


    "Madman, we actually got in a car with a madman!"


    The two girls instantly panicked.


    The truck had reached the turn, an almost 120-degree sharp bend, but the speed on Zhang Menglong''s dashboard had already soared to 140 mph!


    "Beep beep beep!" Zhang Menglong honked the horn forcefully, warning the car ahead.


    The small car ahead swerved sharply to the side, as a blue shadow flashed past, overtaking it from the edge.


    Brake! Throttle! Clutch! Gear shifting! Zhang Menglong handled the truck with calm precision.


    "Screech!" With a piercing screech of friction, the truck actually executed an extreme drift around the corner!


    The two girls had already closed their eyes, but all they felt was a slight sway of the vehicle, and they had already passed the bend!


    "Did he... did he just drift?"


    "Seems like it... but I didn''t dare to look."


    "I didn''t really feel it, as if it was over in a flash."


    "He''s truly an expert!"


    The small car stopped on the roadside behind them, the couple inside looked at each other, their eyes filled with intense shock.


    "Honey, did you see that truck just now?"


    "I... I only saw the truck drifting around the corner, I didn''t even see its tail lights and license plate clearly!"


    "Unbelievable, to dare to drive a truck like that, could this person be the God of Cars from Mount Akina?"

 Chapter 280 The Legend of the Huaxia God of Cars

    "Slow down! There''s a really bad stretch of road ahead!" the girl warned while attending to the injured.


    But Zhang Menglong only slowed down a bit, and the truck immediately charged onto the muddy, yellow dirt path.


    However, the earth-shaking sensation they had anticipated didn''t come; the vibration of the truck was barely more than on the smooth road they had just been on.


    They let out a sigh of relief. Such vibrations shouldn''t affect the patient too severely.


    Moments later, the vehicle burst out of the small path and onto the road leading to the downtown area.


    "Emergency notice, emergency notice, severely injured patient needs urgent transport to the hospital, please cooperate with the mission and clear a life passage! Thank you for your cooperation!"


    The notification sound echoed on the road to the hospital.


    At this time, there weren''t too many vehicles on the road, but in the downtown area, there were still some cars coming and going.


    "Whoosh!" A blue apparition wove through the city streets, accelerating and drifting, maintaining a speed of over 200 km/h.


    "Old Wang, is this the car you were talking about?" a Dongji City traffic management system operator asked, pointing to a surveillance photo on the road.


    "I don''t know what kind of car it is, but the license plate should be Jiang L76679. Damn! What is this thing?"


    On the traffic monitoring system''s screen, a blue trail navigated incessantly through the traffic; its speed made all the other cars in its vicinity eat its dust. The dashboard showed that the vehicle kept a speed of 216 km/h even on the curves.


    "This... Is this guy insane? Driving like this? Quickly find someone to deal with this! It could cause a massive traffic disaster!" a traffic cop panicked.


    "Wait! Replay that in slow motion!" another traffic cop said.


    "Jiang L76679... That''s the license plate of the truck transporting the injured!"


    "You''re joking, right? Transport in a truck?"


    "That''s not the point! Have you ever seen a truck like this? Nearly 250 mph on a straightaway, over 200 mph drifting through curves, you tell me this is a truck?"


    "Look, that vehicle hardly even wobbles; can anyone actually drive like this?"


    "Not even the God of Cars from Mount Akina would dare to drive like this!"


    The two traffic cops stared dumbfounded at the blue streak racing down the road, even forgetting to continue warning the citizens on the road.


    But more bewildered than these traffic cops were the drivers on the road.


    "Damn! A truck transporting patients? That''s too badass!"


    "I''ve been a driving school instructor for thirty years. Does such driving skill really exist in the world?"


    "Drifting! A truck doing drifts, I''m literally splitting in place!"


    "Capture this, upload it online! This is definitely a world-class racer! We actually have such an expert in Dongji City, that''s amazing!"


    "Damn, I''m even seeing afterimages on my phone. Have I been stroking too much?"


    "Quick! Get them!" ER doctors who were already prepared at the hospital doors rushed to attend to the patients as soon as the truck stopped.


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    "Patient conditions are good; this one with the bone injury needs a blood transfusion!"


    "Third-degree burns, prepare for immediate resuscitation!"


    "Huh? Where''s the driver?" The two girls who helped the doctors offload the patients immediately wanted to see who this impressive young driver was, but by then, the truck''s cab was already empty.


    ...


    After all, it was New Year''s Eve, and well past 1 a.m. Most people were deep in sleep, so the incident involving Zhang Menglong didn''t cause much of a stir.


    But this event wouldn''t just be covered up.


    The next morning, videos of truck license plate number L76679 drifting around corners and overtaking at speeds over 200 mph appeared on all major platforms, causing a national sensation.


    "My mom asked me why I was kneeling and gave me a 1000 yuan red envelope!"


    "Ah ba, ah ba ah ba..."


    "What''s the big deal? Professional racers can drift at 200 mph around a corner, right?"


    "I''ll slap your skull open, this is a damn truck! The most ordinary truck! Go find a pro racer and show me a 200 mph drift around a corner!"


    "And blade overtaking, too! It''s my first time in life seeing a truck able to do such stunts. It''s so cool!"


    "I heard that all the patients rescued by that truck have stabilized. The doctors said it was because they were brought in just in time. Ten minutes later, and who knows what might have happened!"


    "The great ones are truly among the common folk. I''d like to call him the ''God of Cars''!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars!"


    ...


    Not only did the story cause a stir in the country, but it also attracted significant international attention.


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars? Cool beans!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars? Yosha!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars, simida?"


    "I want to challenge this God of Cars! After Huaxia''s Spring Festival, help me book a flight to Huaxia, White Assistant!"


    "Get my car checked! In three days, we head to Huaxia to find this God of Cars!"


    "I want to see if I, America''s God of Cars, am stronger or if he, this Huaxia''s God of Cars, is even more powerful!"


    ...

 Chapter 281 Please bring enough stakes first

    "Woof woof woof!"


    After celebrating the New Year, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had returned to Jiangnan City before the crowd surge, and Wang Cai, who hadn''t seen Zhang Menglong for a week, rushed over, wagging his tail.


    Whether it was because he had eaten that Fighting Spirit Pill or not, Wang Cai''s appetite was astonishing. He was fed delicacies from the mountains and seas every day, yet his size had not increased, almost always maintaining the size they had adopted him with.


    But despite Wang Cai''s small stature, he had become the local tyrant of the neighborhood. Countless fierce dogs had been taught a lesson by him, and many lady dogs had fallen at his feet.


    "Alright, alright, stop licking, stop licking!" Lu Yiyao rubbed his little head, and Wang Cai finally restrained himself a bit.


    "Zhang Menglong! Zhang Menglong! Open the door!"


    "Damn, who is it? Just after New Year''s and you start bothering people, are you sick?" Zhang Menglong cursed as he went to open the door.


    "What are you doing here?" He saw Wang Ling standing outside, an extremely excited look on her face. "Did you win the lottery?"


    "No!"


    "Did your esports team scoop up some awesome player?"


    "That''s not it either!" Wang Ling said, her voice trembling, "The God of Cars! The God of Cars is here!"


    "The God of Cars?" Zhang Menglong panicked. Could it be that Wang Ling knew that he was the God of Cars from that day? But it didn''t make sense. Except for Lu Yiyao, Chen Qiuyi, and Xing Zhe, no one else should know he was the God of Cars!


    "No, that''s not quite right! To be precise, it should be the Qingqiu God of Cars, the Kaibong God of Cars, the American God of Cars, the Australian God of Cars¡ªthey''ve all come to Huaxia."


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong really didn''t react much. In this day and age, were there still people calling themselves the God of Cars?


    "Oh? You just ''oh''?" Wang Ling looked baffled. "Do you know what these people represent? Any one of them entering a global car racing competition could win the championship with their eyes closed! They are the true kings of the racetrack!"


    Wang Ling grew more excited as she spoke. "That Qingqiu God of Cars, dominating the entire Qingqiu racetrack for three years, hasn''t been surpassed to date. His drifting skills allow him to navigate freely at 200 kilometers per hour on those serpentine mountain tracks, where a slight mishap would mean tumbling down a cliff and shattering into pieces!"


    "Then there''s that American God of Cars, he''s only 21 years old, and he defeated the old God of Cars who had dominated America for five years in his debut race, truly a legendary ascent!"


    "And there''s more..."


    "Alright, alright, I''m not interested in these people. What are you trying to say, really?" Zhang Menglong said, exasperated.


    "This is..." On Lu Yiyao''s phone was Feisbook, the social media platform most popular with foreigners, and those Gods of Cars had actually issued a challenge to Huaxia''s God of Cars three days ago.


    This was a gambling battle, five people, each betting one million US dollars, and whoever won last would receive a reward of four million US dollars from the other four.


    This was a challenge issued jointly by the four Gods of Cars, attracting lots of foreign netizens'' likes, and even many Huaxia users were highly concerned about this matter.


    At the same time, there was an identical challenge on Facebook.


    "You still check Feisbook?" Zhang Menglong laughed, he had never had the habit of browsing Facebook or Feisbook, and if no one had told him, he wouldn''t even know someone wanted to challenge him.


    But three days had passed, and this Huaxia''s God of Cars had still not responded at all.


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    Those foreign Gods of Cars, each one arrogant, felt utterly disrespected by the lack of response, which clearly meant they were being looked down upon!


    So just yesterday, they posted a new status, filled with provocations, which outraged many Huaxia netizens and was also reposted to Weibo, and Lu Yiyao found their challenge from a few days ago through this new message.


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars is just trash, doesn''t even dare to accept a challenge! Huaxians are all a bunch of wimps!"


    This statement wasn''t just insulting the God of Cars but even insulted all people of Huaxia!


    "Idiot, you guys blabber on Facebook and Feisbook all day long, who knew you wanted to challenge the God of Cars!"


    "Exactly, do you even know how to use Weibo? Morons!"


    "You want to race the God of Cars? You might not believe it, but if you truly raced, you wouldn''t even see the tail lights of his car!"


    "Want to race the God of Cars? First, try drifting a truck at 200 km/h on the highway and get good at it!"


    This God of Cars was already mythicized in the hearts of netizens, and hearing the insults toward the God of Cars and toward the Huaxia people, everyone was filled with righteous indignation.


    "This is more than unfriendly, it''s simply courting death," Zhang Menglong''s tone was icy.


    "A bunch of poor bastards, daring to act tough in Huaxia for just one million dollars each?" Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and accessed his profile.


    "The God of Cars is my friend, and he asked me to tell those foreign idiots that a one million dollar bet is not worthy to race him, if they want to race, please bring enough money first!"@@@@

 Chapter 282 You Guys Go Crowdfunding

    "Boss Zhang is out, Boss Zhang is out!"


    "Damn, so the God of Cars is a friend of Boss Zhang! Birds of a feather flock together, badass people do hang out with other badass people!"


    "Boss Zhang''s friend? Why do I suspect Boss Zhang is making this up out of thin air?"


    "Hahaha, Boss Zhang, are you saying that this God of Cars friend is actually yourself?"


    "Hello everyone, I''m Zhang Menglong''s former driving instructor. He passed Subject One in one go, failed Subject Two once, and failed Subject Three twice. I can assure you he''s definitely not the God of Cars!"


    "Hahaha! Even Boss Zhang''s driving instructor has come forward to debunk this, so now I believe Boss Zhang isn''t the God of Cars!"


    "Hahaha, turns out that even a rich and mighty person like Boss Zhang has to take the driving test several times. Those stories about someone throwing around a hundred thousand bucks to get a license in three days are all lies!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, so you failed Subjects Two and Three!" Wang Ling mocked Zhang Menglong to his face.


    "Screw it! Why the heck are you laughing! I was just not focused on learning to drive back then; otherwise, I''d already be the God of Cars!" Zhang Menglong retorted defensively.


    "Do you really know the God of Cars?" Wang Ling pressed.


    "I do!" Zhang Menglong said. "We''re from the same hometown. He''s settled down in Jiangnan City now. We even had dinner with him a few days ago, right, Yiyi?"


    "Yeah," Lu Yiyao nodded with a stifled laugh. When Zhang Menglong started acting, as his girlfriend, she always had to play along with his performance.


    "The God of Cars is in Jiangnan City?" Wang Ling was thrilled. "Tell me where he is; I''ll go find him right now!"


    "He wouldn''t see you," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "A bet of a million US Dollars, to repel a beggar?"


    "This..." Wang Ling didn''t know what to say.


    A bet of a million US Dollars was indeed quite substantial, and these Gods of Cars weren''t any super-rich tycoons. Even for international competitions, the prize money for the champion barely reaches a few million.@@@@


    But car racing, it''s a money-burning activity.


    The race cars of these Gods of Cars were all modified bit by bit by themselves. Every part, every parameter, was their blood, sweat, and tears, and those who understand car modifications know just how expensive it can be.


    Let''s not talk about others; taking Qin Feng as an example, he has already spent over ten million US Dollars on modifications for his race cars.


    And yet, Qin Feng has virtually no reputation in the racing world!


    So, these Gods of Cars really wouldn''t have that much money.


    "Hahaha! Skliri, I think it might not be enough," Qin Feng laughed.


    "Then make it 10 million US dollars!"


    "You guys go ahead and try!" Qin Feng slapped his forehead, feeling that these people were utterly clueless, akin to playing the lute to a cow; they had no idea how wealthy Zhang Menglong was.


    "10 million then, 10 million!" The other Gods of Cars might not have much money on them, but just based on their title alone, there were many people in their home country willing to do them this favor!


    ...


    "Menglong, these guys have registered a Weibo account called ''Challenge the Huaxia God of Cars''," Lu Yiyao had been keeping an eye on the matter, "They''ve now raised the bet to 10 million US dollars each person!"


    "Hahahaha! Look at the netizens! I''m dying of laughter!" Lu Yiyao was laughing so hard that her stomach hurt; the netizens'' evaluations were just hilarious.


    "10 million US dollars? I still don''t think that''s enough!"


    "Wow, they''re so rich, it''s been increased tenfold! But you''re still a bunch of poor slobs!"


    "Just 10 million US dollars? I thought it would be more, are they here to insult Boss Zhang and the God of Cars again?"


    "Boss Zhang can spend 5 billion on fireworks, and his casual donations are 2 billion, 100 billion US dollars isn''t even pocket change, brother!"


    "I''ve already thought out the script: Don''t waste my time if it''s not 100 billion!"


    The netizens were all looking forward to seeing what kind of response Zhang Menglong would give.


    But after waiting for half a day, Zhang Menglong finally responded, this time with just a link and a few words.


    "Sorry for the delay, I was occupied for a bit. Just spent half a day having our company''s tech people develop an international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser. You guys take it and do some crowdfunding, okay? Seeing as you''re so poor, I''ll say less, come find the God of Cars once you''ve raised 10 billion!"


    "Hahaha! What the hell? An international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser? Hahaha!"


    "I was wondering what Boss Zhang did in that half-day, turns out he was busy developing a new software feature, haha!"


    "Haha, I died laughing on the spot! The damage isn''t high, but the insult is strong, an international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser, ahahaha!"


    "Coming at Boss Zhang and the God of Cars with just 10 million US dollars, isn''t this just BS?"


    "I can''t help but feel like donating to them!"


    "''Shrimp heroes'' but with ''pig hearts,'' it''s just outrageous!"


    ...

 Chapter 283 Actually, I Can Make This Thing at My Own Home

    "I mean, a $10 million gambling stake, dare you be any poorer? If you can''t afford to gamble, quit! I''ll throw out a number, $10 billion. If you can''t cover that, just roll back to driving a Didi to make money, and later on I''ll create an overseas version of Didi rideshare for you guys!"


    Indeed, just as everyone had guessed, to Zhang Menglong, $1 million and $10 million were as trivial as the difference between 10 cents and 1 dollar; they simply couldn''t spark his interest.


    "Well, he actually wants $10 billion; the guy just now must be one of the prophets, let''s finish him off tonight!" Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    "$10 billion, I think I''ll never get a chance to see such a match in my life."


    "The internet is not above the law, no gambling allowed!"


    "Hahaha, I''m dying here, even the cyber police are out."


    ...


    "What, a $10 billion stake? Does he really think he''s the God of Cars?"


    Upon seeing this message, the international racers cursed heartily. What nonsense! $10 billion¡ªwho in the world could come up with $10 billion?


    Among these racers, Skliri from America was the highest earner. His annual earnings from his career added to endorsements and other incomes, could pull in over $40 million.


    But to raise $10 billion, he''d have to live 250 years without eating or drinking first.


    "Master Qin, your friend..."


    "Hahaha," Qin Feng couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing their crestfallen faces.


    As a racing enthusiast, Qin Feng had raced against them frequently, but due to a large gap in their skills, the money he''d lost was astronomical for an ordinary person.


    However, since he was outperformed, there was nothing he could do about it.


    Now, seeing them in despair, Qin Feng couldn''t help but feel secretly thrilled.


    "I''m at my wit''s end too. Zhang Menglong, there''s no one else in the world as rich as him. As his friend, what big winds and waves hasn''t this ''God of Cars'' seen? If you guys think you can use a stake to catch his attention, that''s going to be really tough."


    "Master Qin, we''ve come to Huaxia specifically to challenge the God of Cars, and we won''t rest until we find him!"


    "Master Qin, we''ve known each other for many years now. I heard that you have a good relationship with this Zhang Menglong. I hope you can help us!"


    "This...," Qin Feng said with a troubled look, "guys, I indeed know Zhang Menglong, but our relationship isn''t so close to that extent, so..."


    "Master Qin!" Skliri gritted his teeth, "you like that modified Aston Martin GT of mine, don''t you? If you can arrange a meeting with that God of Cars, I''m willing to sell it to you!"


    "Seriously?" Qin Feng''s eyes lit up.


    That Aston Martin GT had won the previous World Supercar Championship after being modified by Skliri.


    Indeed, as Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao arrived, someone was already there to greet them. Led by the hotel manager, they were taken to a room on the highest floor, where Qin Feng was already waiting.


    "Old Zhang, long time no see! Glad you could make it!" Qin Feng greeted warmly, "Come, take a seat, Manager Xu, let''s have the dishes served!"


    "Who is this?"


    "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Wei Jinghong." Qin Feng introduced.


    "The Wei family?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. He knew Qin Feng''s background was not ordinary. Rumor had it, he had powerful connections, quite extraordinary indeed.


    Among those surnamed Wei in Huaxia, it seems there was only one notable person, and looking closely, Wei Jinghong did bear some resemblance to that person.


    "Arranged by my family!" Qin Feng whispered into Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Man, this must be an arranged marriage!" Zhang Menglong thought to himself.


    "Let me introduce you, my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao, we met online!"


    "Damn, you''re the real player!" Qin Feng, who usually seemed like someone for whom free love was a luxury, had always thought that Zhang Menglong would face similar restrictions in dating.


    Dating online was something that shouldn''t fall on him! This made Qin Feng believe that Zhang Menglong''s background was even more mysterious.


    "Hello Mr. Qin!" Lu Yiyao greeted openly.


    "Hahaha, Miss Lu must have something special about her to make this guy so head-over-heels," Qin Feng joked, "I haven''t prepared any special gifts this time, so consider this as a meeting gift!"


    Qin Feng gave Wei Jinghong a nod.


    Wei Jinghong smiled slightly and handed over a beautifully wrapped box containing a key to a Maserati.


    "When I first met Menglong, he gave Wang Ling and me a sports car each without a second thought. It''s the first time I, Qin Feng, have been splashed with money like this!" Qin Feng reminisced about their initial meeting, "This is a token of my gratitude!"


    "This..." Lu Yiyao was momentarily at a loss. Just by the emblem, she knew the car was expensive. Although she had been with Zhang Menglong for a while, she hadn''t received such an extravagant gift from anyone else.


    "This is the new limited edition Maserati sports car. It''s not too pricey, just 12 million Huaxia yuan, but there are only three in all of Huaxia. I managed to get one through my connections at the club," Qin Feng continued, unable to hide his pride.


    Such things aren''t available just by having money. Even Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be able to get one, unless Maserati was owned by his family.


    "What''s that expression for?" Qin Feng noticed Zhang Menglong''s half-smiling face, "It might not be as flashy as the one you gave me, but isn''t it the thought that counts?"


    "It''s not that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This car actually costs less than two million to make, and besides, my family can manufacture them. There''s no need for you to spend so much!"


    "Your family can manufacture them? What do you mean?"


    "Sigh, Maserati belongs to my family! When the first car rolled off the line, it was parked in my garage. We even have a deluxe version. Does your girlfriend like it? If she does, I can have one driven to you tomorrow!"

 Chapter 284 The loser leaves their drivers license and racing permit

    "Advanced edition?" Qin Feng''s expression changed, for he naturally knew some things that ordinary people did not when he purchased the car.


    This new limited edition Maserati had a unique, discontinued model design, of which it was said only one vehicle was produced and not offered for sale. Reportedly, it was kept by the Maserati boss, Franca Maserati.


    As a hardcore car collector, for Qin Feng, if there was a car he liked, there were few he couldn''t get his hands on, hence his relationships with many founders and owners of sports car brands were quite good.


    With luxury car brands like Maserati, Qin Feng had collected many limited edition cars; he had even dined with that beautiful boss of Maserati several times.


    "Old Zhang, you don''t have to pretend with me, do you? I know the owner of Maserati. I had dinner with Miss Franca just last month!"


    Zhang Menglong shrugged, "That, you wouldn''t know. Maserati''s founder, Alfieri Maserati, was a very thoughtful person whom my great-grandfather met while traveling in Europe. When he started the company, it was my great-grandfather who funded it. I hold 92.5% of the company''s shares!"


    Zhang Menglong laughed, "The car was delivered to me as soon as it came off the production line. It''s now in my home''s underground garage. Want to take a look?"


    "I... I lose!" Stunned for a few seconds, Qin Feng finally uttered these two words.


    "Cough cough cough! It''s just a gift!" Qin Feng hinted to Wei Jinghong with a nudge of his eye.


    Wei Jinghong smiled, knowing Qin Feng was famously face-conscious. When he came, he really did prepare another gift.


    "How about it, you can''t produce a second one of this, can you?" Qin Feng smiled.


    It was another exquisite box, inside were a pair of pink diamond earrings, and by the look of their size, they were close to 10 carats!


    "This isn''t too big. It can''t compare to the 14.93 carat, VVS1 clarity pink diamond that was auctioned in ''17. But as you know, pink diamonds over one carat are already quite rare."


    The Pink Star that was auctioned that year, almost 20 carats, fetched a high price of 40 million US dollars. Although these earrings were far less substantial, they were still very valuable.


    Targeting Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend, that was Qin Feng''s plan.


    "This... it can''t be that you got this from the Cullinan mine, can it?" Zhang Menglong stared at the pair of pink diamonds and asked.


    "Holy shit, how do you know?" Qin Feng exclaimed.


    The pair of pink diamonds did come from the Cullinan mine. Qin Feng had met the owner of the mine at a wine party, and these pink diamonds were mined two months prior. They were reserved by Qin Feng back when the diamonds were still raw stones. Zhang Menglong was not supposed to know about this.


    "Cut it out!" Qin Feng grimaced. "This is sacrificing my future love life, ah. My family background is truly tragic, born to be manipulated by family members!"


    "Cut it out!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How many people wish they could be manipulated by such a family? So, tell me, what are those ''Gods of Cars'' up to exactly?"


    "Hehehe!" Qin Feng chuckled. "They just want to race against the ''God of Cars.'' They''ve put up some stakes that I''m really interested in, so I had to come to you with no shame!"


    With a pleading look, Qin Feng gazed at Zhang Menglong, "Menglong, help me out, will you? You must be familiar with the ''God of Cars,'' right? Help me set up a race with him, just one round. It''ll only take a few hours at most, won''t delay things too long!"


    "This..." Since Qin Feng had come all the way to Jiangnan City to ask, Zhang Menglong really couldn''t bring himself to say no.


    "I''ll ask for you!"


    "Hahaha! You''re the best!" Qin Feng was overjoyed.


    Zhang Menglong pretended to scroll through his phone while his mind whirred at high speed.


    Racing wasn''t out of the question, but Zhang Menglong never did anything that was a waste of time. If he was really going to race, then he had to gain something from this match.


    "My friend said, as long as you agree to two conditions, he''ll accept the challenge!" Zhang Menglong already had some ideas.


    "Speak!" Qin Feng said eagerly.


    "First, this race needs to go big. Not only should domestic media be there, but international ones as well. As for betting... let''s call it a prize. Otherwise, my friend is afraid of getting ''audited''!"


    "Hahaha! Easy to say, I can handle that!" For Qin Feng, with the resources at his disposal, this was a piece of cake.


    "Second, those four ''Gods of Cars'' have their countries'' racing licenses, right?"


    "Of course, they''re all professional race car drivers."


    "Then it''s easy," Zhang Menglong said. "The loser has to leave behind their car''s emblem, driver''s license, and racing license!"


    "Why''s that?" Qin Feng asked, puzzled.


    "My friend likes to collect trophies!" Zhang Menglong explained. "Whenever he won a race in the past, he''d rip off the other person''s car emblem and stick it on his own car. Now he likes to collect their driver''s licenses and racing licenses!"

 Chapter 285 What Kind of Crappy Car Is This?

    ```


    "The God of Cars from Huaxia accepts the challenge, the race will take place in three days at the Longyou International Rally Race Track in Jiangzhe Province, and there will be a live broadcast of the entire event!"


    A single message instantly rocked the entire nation''s netizens.


    Drifting continuously at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, overtaking like a blade, and the damn car being used is just a regular truck, this Huaxia Supernatural has become the most mysterious person in all of Huaxia recently.


    Just a few days ago, Dongji City even prepared a prize of 200,000 Huaxia Yuan and a Distinguished Contribution Citizen Award to present to this God of Cars, but the God of Cars has never shown up.


    The provocations from the Gods of Cars of the other four countries in the past few days had left every Huaxia netizen holding a breath of anger until Zhang Menglong''s voice emerged, which then calmed down some of the netizens'' rage.


    But in fact, everyone''s heart, they all want to see a match of equal strength, they want to see just how strong this God of Cars'' driving skills are, and whether they can defeat the Gods of Cars from the other four countries.


    After all, making the enemy back off with money or defeating the enemy completely with strength, the latter is much more exhilarating!


    On the day before the race, several ships stopped at the international port. For a racer, the vehicle is their best weapon, and for this showdown with the Huaxia God of Cars, they had their most prized cars shipped to Huaxia!


    This last day, they would use to test the performance of their own vehicles; the race absolutely cannot leave regrets due to car problems!


    ...


    The Longyou International Rally Race Track in Jiangzhe is exactly the one that Qin Feng funded and constructed five years ago! He leased a hilly area at that time, and it took three years to build this race track, but this track has already been commercialized. Except for occasionally indulging in a few laps himself, it is mostly used for events by car manufacturers.


    The full length of this track is 24.2 kilometers, and it is said that the cost per meter was around 8,000 Huaxia Yuan at that time, the value of this track is over a billion! In Huaxia, only a few people can make such a grand gesture.


    The onsite tickets for the race were all 2000 in total, and the sale price of 1888 was actually exhausted in a short one second, and the scalped tickets online were even being flipped for over 100,000 Yuan!


    It''s evident how popular the God of Cars is now; in the whole of Huaxia, probably only a few singers'' concert tickets could be snatched up to this extent.


    ...


    That morning, Wang Ling and Qin Feng rushed to Zhang Menglong''s house together.


    "What are you guys doing? Can''t you let me study a bit longer? I''m going to take the graduate entrance exam in less than a month, and now that the epidemic has passed a bit and I can take the test, don''t you two hinder my progress!" Zhang Menglong complained impatiently, holding a book.


    Of course, the book was not about high polymer material that he was supposed to study for the exam. The high polymer material technology of humans was almost child''s play for Zhang Menglong; he was reading about Artificial Intelligence wisdom that Teacher Tony had compiled for him.


    After Zhang Menglong used up that 10 billion US Dollars, he directly received 100 Cred Points. This time he successfully copied the Artificial Intelligence technology from Tony, but this thing was really too profound; although Zhang Menglong had mastered a lot of knowledge and principles, he also needed some time to digest it.


    "What are you looking at! This is a showdown between Gods of Cars, how often do you get one of these? And isn''t the God of Cars your friend? Aren''t you going to cheer him on?" Wang Ling and Qin Feng could not comprehend.


    "There''s no need to rush like this!"


    "The God of Cars from Qingqiu Country, Park Young-jun!"


    "Kaibong Country''s God of Cars, Kyoho Kazuichi!"


    "Australia''s God of Cars, Loraz Cotiss!"


    One by one, the four Gods of Cars made their appearance, and their cars were delivered to a square at the starting point of the race by four large trucks.


    The cargo doors slowly opened, and the sight of those four race cars caused a sensation.


    "Apollo''s Sun God! Holy crap, that''s got to be tens of millions in Huaxia currency, right?"


    "That''s not just any Sun God; it''s the limited edition Sun God GT. It''s more like tens of millions in US dollars!"


    "I heard that Skliri replaced the V12 engine in that car with a V16, slashing the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h from 3 seconds to 2.2 seconds, with a top speed of over 430 km/h!"


    "What about that car? It looks so cool!" Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    "That''s the Sylphy SSC Tuatara, known as one of the fastest cars in the world, with a top speed of 440 km/h! It''s the treasured car of Qingqiu Country''s God of Cars, Park Young-jun!"


    "There''s also the Venom GT, a car that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds with a top speed of 420 km/h per hour! That one belongs to Kyoho Kazuichi."


    "The last one I know of is the Bugatti, also a supercar that can exceed a top speed of 400 km/h!"


    "These are just the basic stats! These cars have all been personally modified by those Gods of Cars; their real performance is probably much higher. This race is going to be unprecedented!"


    "What about the God of Cars? Why hasn''t Huaxia''s God of Cars shown up yet?"


    "God of Cars! God of Cars!"


    The crowd loudly chanted the name of the God of Cars, but the miraculous figure they envisioned had yet to appear.


    "These guys have really brought out their trump cards!"


    "Yeah, I heard that Park Young-jun spent more than double the value of the car on that SSC alone!"


    "If I were driving that car, I could shoot straight to heaven!"


    "Hahaha!"


    The second-generation heirs in the VIP room discussed the cars, each one making them green with envy, unsure of what surprise the God of Cars would bring them.


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong sighed, "All flash and no substance, what kind of crappy cars are these! Isn''t the Wuling Hongguang nice?"

 Chapter 286 The friend Im referring to is myself

    "A Wuling Hongguang?" The rich second generations looked at each other, not sure whether they should laugh or not.


    Zhang Menglong is at least the world''s richest man, so his collection of cars must be countless. Surely, he wouldn''t be lacking such common knowledge, right?


    These are all top-level sports cars, with each one capable of speeds over 400 kilometers per hour. A Wuling Hongguang wouldn''t even match up to one of their tires; this kind of joke isn''t funny at all.


    To rely on a Wuling Hongguang to beat those supercars, perhaps only the God of Cars, Takumi Fujiwara, could have that level of skill if he were still around, right?


    "Brother Zhang, you really have a sense of humor!" said the son of the artillery brigade Commander.


    "Joking? I''m not joking," Zhang Menglong said with an innocent face, "Racing depends on the person. The car is merely a tool. Even with a Wuling Hongguang, my friend can definitely win."


    "Brother Zhang, a Wuling Hongguang can only reach a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour at most. We believe your friend, the God of Cars, can reach 200 kilometers per hour anywhere, but so can these other gods of cars!"


    "Hahaha, that''s just an ordinary Wuling Hongguang," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh as he explained.


    "Brother Zhang, even if you fit a Wuling Hongguang with a V12 engine, the overall design of the vehicle simply can''t withstand such high speeds and the body is bound to flip over in a turn once it reaches a certain speed!"


    "Speaking of which, why hasn''t the God of Cars arrived yet? It''s almost time for the race; he couldn''t be scared, could he?" Someone started looking impatiently at their watch.


    This car race had become far more than just a simple competition; it involved the honor of several countries. Right now, countless eyes from all over the world were watching this event. If the God of Cars backed out, it would be Huaxia''s face that was lost!


    As time continued to march inexorably forward, even the palms of the race host were starting to sweat. They had expected the Huaxia God of Cars to arrive at the racetrack half an hour earlier, but now, they didn''t even know if he would come at all.


    So far, no one other than Zhang Menglong knew who this mystery driver was, nor could they contact him.


    "Old Zhang, can we really count on your friend?"


    "Yeah, isn''t he going to stand you up?"


    Even Wang Ling and Qin Feng were becoming somewhat nervous.


    "What''s the rush? We still have half an hour!" Zhang Menglong sat on the couch leisurely drinking his beverage and cracking sunflower seeds as if everything had nothing to do with him.@@@@


    "How can we not be anxious? The other four gods of cars have arrived. If he loses, wouldn''t it make us Huaxia people look like we''re all show and no go?" Qin Feng wasn''t lacking confidence in the God of Cars, but the other four drivers were just too strong, each with legendary achievements in their own countries.


    Yet regarding the God of Cars, their knowledge was still limited.


    "Haha!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Don''t worry Old Qin, my friend could win even with his eyes closed."


    "Old Zhang, now you''re exaggerating. Driving with your eyes closed, you might as well drop the ''Car'' and just call him ''God''!"


    "Yeah, be careful not to bite your tongue with your big talk!"


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s carefree demeanor, some people were beginning to feel dissatisfied.


    For these racing-lover second generations, racing was a sacred matter. Zhang Menglong''s dismissive attitude towards racing was causing their fondness for him to hit rock bottom.


    "Zhang Menglong, do you think just because you have money you''re invincible? You might fool ordinary people, but you think you can fool us?"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng were still okay, but the other second-generation rich kids all had a sense of having been tricked.


    They''d been pampered all their lives; when had they ever been toyed with like this? Many of them even worshipped God of Cars as their faith.


    And now, a hard-hitting reality was right in front of their eyes.


    Either the God of Cars was a coward who was escaping battle, or God of Cars was a false image hyped up by Zhang Menglong, who even failed subject two and three.


    Regardless, both possibilities were unacceptable to them.


    "Alright, what''s the rush?" Although the second-gens spoke with a tinge of gunpowder in their voices, Zhang Menglong was not unreasonable. If it had been him being toyed with, his mood wouldn''t be great either.


    "I''ve already said, I could win against those wastes with my eyes closed, driving a Five-Ling Hongguang," Zhang Menglong laughed. "I don''t have many virtues, but I''m quite low-key. If it wasn''t for old Qin asking me, I wouldn''t even care about the empty fame of being God of Cars."


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, "Hong Yi, are you ready? Bring it over!"


    No sooner had he spoken than a violent wind kicked up at the entrance of the race track. A helicopter, scores of meters in length, unexpectedly rose from between the mountains. No one knew that a helicopter had been hidden in the depths of this canyon!


    From beneath the helicopter hung a squarish box. As the helicopter descended, the box landed steadily on the ground.


    "What''s that?"


    "Could it be God of Cars'' vehicle?"


    "Wow, such an entrance, a car delivered by helicopter!"


    "I''ve seen that helicopter before; it belongs to Boss Zhang!"


    "God of Cars is coming!"


    "Look, the box is opening!"


    "No idea what kind of car God of Cars has, but it must be amazing, right?"


    ...


    The God of Cars hadn''t shown up, but his car had already caught everyone''s attention.


    "Boom!" The sides of the box folded down in four directions, revealing the true face of the car within.


    "This..."


    "You''re kidding, right?"


    "Motherfucker... a Five-Ling Hongguang?"

 Chapter 287 This is not an ordinary Wuling Hongguang

    ```


    The appearance of this Five-Weeley Hongguang immediately caused an uproar of exclamations, whether from the audience on the scene or the fans watching the live broadcast, each of them had expressions as if their jaws were about to drop.


    "6666! The God of Cars'' ride is a Five-Weeley Hongguang, which makes total sense!"@@@@


    "I give this arrogance 99 points, one more and I''d fear the God of Cars would become arrogant."


    "Worthy of the God of Cars, just casually making an entrance with a Five-Weeley Hongguang, this is practically mockery!"


    "Why do I feel like this style of doing things is a bit like Boss Zhang''s? Such a showy move, I''ve only seen it from Boss Zhang!"


    "Worthy of being friends with Boss Zhang, the God of Cars is also showy to the max!"


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    "Hahaha, what God of Cars, they better roll back to their countries. In the eyes of the God of Cars, a Five-Weeley Hongguang is all it takes to beat you!"


    "But seriously, even if the throttle is smashed, this Five-Weeley Hongguang couldn''t get past two hundred, right? This God of Cars really looks down on people!"


    "Exactly, I don''t know about the other Gods of Cars, but that one from Qingqiu Country has shown drifting around a turn at 250 kilometers per hour. Even if the God of Cars is skilled, can he make a car with a 200 limit go 250?"


    ...


    Even the audience knew this common sense, so how could the Gods of Cars not know?


    When they saw this Five-Weeley Hongguang, they were all dumbfounded, this was no longer a challenge, it was outright humiliation!


    Zhang Menglong is the world''s richest man, with a net worth close to a trillion as published on the Forbes rich list. He could humiliate them with money, and they wouldn''t dare let out a fart, they could not come up with 100 billion US dollars, they were convinced.


    But now this God of Cars was actually planning to race with them in a Five-Weeley Hongguang. They were all Gods of Cars; it''d almost be more appropriate if they drove a Five-Weeley Hongguang to humiliate the ordinary racers!


    "Damn it! This Huaxian, I will make sure he loses face!"


    "Ch''k-Soo, oh-mo-ley! Huaxian, ba?ga?!"


    "fuck! I will make this Huaxian realize, he''s not even fit to carry our shoes as God of Cars!"


    ...


    "Wait!" Just at that moment, Skliri suddenly noticed something unusual about the car.


    But the day before the invitations were sent, an envelope appeared in the mailbox of the racing club, with the address for delivering invitations written on it, yet no one was seen putting the letter in the mailbox on the surveillance footage.


    That rally turned out to be the nightmare of every racer. The Wuling Hongguang unleashed astonishing horsepower and shot to the front with under two seconds of acceleration to 100 km per hour, not slowing down even on a massive 143-degree turn, but instead, furiously hitting the accelerator.


    The speedometer on the curve showed a staggering speed of 312 kilometers per hour.


    At that time, the highest speed record through a turn among all the racers was a mere 237 kilometers per hour!


    Who could believe that a Wuling Hongguang''s top speed could actually exceed 400 kilometers per hour? This boxy car, completely contrary to supercar design, after reaching 400 kilometers per hour, completed the whole race at a constant speed!


    After the race ended, everyone waited to interview the birth of a new God of Cars, but the owner of the Wuling Hongguang had already left, and all the badges from those supercars had vanished without a trace!


    There was no award ceremony for the God of Cars, but everyone knew that the title belonged to the owner of that Wuling Hongguang!


    Following that race, more than a dozen high-profile car gods announced their retirement, with a few even becoming so disheartened that they started driving taxis.


    This demonstrates the profound impact that the mysterious God of Cars had left on them.


    8 years had passed, some had already forgotten that mysterious figure, but upon seeing this car, all the sealed memories were once again dredged up.


    "Austria''s God of Cars Buska''s Bugatti, Turkey''s God of Cars'' Koenigsegg, America''s veteran God of Cars'' Aston Martin, England''s God of Cars'' Lykan, France''s God of Cars'' Sylphy..." Skliri carefully touched the "medals" on this Wuling Hongguang.


    Ever since witnessing that race, the God of Cars had become his idol, almost a form of faith to him.


    "The God of Cars has appeared again!"


    "I can''t believe the God of Cars is actually from Huaxia!"


    "No! He can''t be the God of Cars!" Jinhu Yi said, "I''ve researched the God of Cars'' details, and although the surveillance didn''t capture a clear image, one could still see some outlines. The driver of the truck, the God of Cars, is probably only around 20 years old."


    "What do you mean...?"


    "If this person is the same one, then during that rally, the God of Cars was only about twelve or thirteen years old. Is that possible?" Jinhu Yi analyzed, "The God of Cars from back then should be at least in his twenties or thirties, and can''t possibly be this young now!"


    "This person could very well be a successor or descendant of the God of Cars!" Jinhu Yi offered his judgment.


    "Hahaha! Fascinating! I''m getting pumped up!"


    "The descendant of the God of Cars, this is so interesting! The one who defeats the God of Cars'' descendant has the right to become the true World God of Cars!"


    "The car is here, so the descendant of the God of Cars should be here too, right?"


    All four sets of eyes turned to the entrance, and at that moment, a young silhouette appeared...

 Chapter 288 I Didnt Know My Dad Was So Awesome

    The God of Cars from eight years ago wasn''t a secret; anyone in the racing community had heard of him, and many racers had saved videos and photos of that car on their phones or computers.


    Soon, more and more people recognized this legendary car.


    "What? Is that the God of Cars'' car?"


    "Eight years, a whole eight years since he disappeared, and now the God of Cars is back!"


    "Is it a descendant of the God of Cars, or one of his disciples?"


    "This is so exciting! I can''t believe I''m fortunate enough to see this car again!


    It wasn''t just those four legendary racers who were excited, but even the spectators were rubbing their hands together in anticipation.


    "What''s the relationship between Zhang Menglong and the God of Cars from eight years ago?"


    "Well done, Zhang Menglong, hiding this from us! You''re dead meat later!"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng looked at the young man who had appeared at the entrance and were instantly grinding their teeth in frustration.


    ...


    "I''m sorry, sir, you can''t go through!"


    Just as everyone was eagerly awaiting the appearance of the God of Cars, a commotion arose at the entrance to the race, and many cameras quickly zoomed in on that spot.


    "That figure looks familiar!"


    "It''s Boss Zhang! That''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Where''s the God of Cars? Why is he alone?"


    "Guys, I suddenly have a bold theory..."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, this is the race track. We need to ensure your safety, so please return to the spectator area!" Listening to the shouts of the audience around them, the security guards quickly realized that this was none other than the wealthiest man in the world, Zhang Menglong!


    Their attitudes became incredibly respectful, but they still wouldn''t let Zhang Menglong pass. If someone as important as him had an accident on the race track, their jobs as security wouldn''t be safe, even if they gave their lives in compensation.


    "Oh, I''m here to race!" said Zhang Menglong casually.


    "What?" The security guards were stunned, "Mr. Zhang, isn''t your friend, the God of Cars..."


    "The friend I mentioned is me. Actually, I am the God of Cars everyone talks about."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, so you are the mysterious god of cars from Huaxia!" the American God of Cars, Skliri Lebuck said to Zhang Menglong in an unfriendly tone.


    Now it seemed that Zhang Menglong was indeed the descendant of that god of cars, but they''d been hammered with money and today humiliated by him. If he were the real god of cars, that would be one thing; his prowess would command their respect.


    But Zhang Menglong hadn''t raced them yet. Even as a descendant of the god of cars, he might not have inherited all the god''s skills. As for Zhang Menglong, they didn''t hold the same awe and even harbored a mix of new grudges and old, wanting to flay him and pull him apart.


    "Mr. Zhang, as a racer yourself, don''t you think this kind of humiliation is unworthy of the title ''god of cars''?"


    "God of cars? That title was given by others; it has nothing to do with me!" Zhang Menglong said innocently.


    Skliri took a deep breath. Zhang Menglong clearly didn''t take the title of god of cars seriously, leaving them unsure of how to criticize him.


    "Mr. Zhang, what exactly is your relationship to the god of cars?" Kyoichi maintained his composure as he asked.


    "The god of cars!" Zhang Menglong looked puzzled, "Didn''t I just say that I am the so-called god of cars you''re talking about?"


    "No, we mean the owner of this car. He is the real god of cars!" Kyoichi looked at Zhang Menglong oddly; could it be that Zhang Menglong wasn''t aware of the car owner''s identity? That didn''t make sense.


    "Oh, you mean this car? It belongs to my dad!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "This is your father''s car? Is your father the god of cars?"


    "What god of cars?" Zhang Menglong was completely bewildered.


    Because of this race, Zhang Menglong had gone to his family''s garage intending to pick any car for the race.


    Unexpectedly, he found a Wuling Hongguang parked there, which, according to Hong Yi, was his dad Zhang Xiaoyun''s car. It had been modified by him, reportedly costing a bundle, and it was even said to rival supercars in performance.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you know your father is the god of cars, legendary in the underground racing world?" asked Kyoichi, "This car is the legendary one he left behind."


    "My dad is the god of cars? I had no idea," admitted Zhang Menglong, genuinely unaware of any stories about his father racing.


    "Mr. Zhang, was this car purchased by your father from someone?" inquired Kyoichi. Considering Zhang Menglong''s family''s wealth, perhaps this car was acquired from the god of cars himself, and it might even be that Zhang Menglong''s driving skills were taught by the god of cars!


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    That would explain why this car was here and why Zhang Menglong''s driving skills were so formidable.


    "No, it seems this car has been in our underground garage for a long time. It''s just something our nanny uses to run errands, like grocery shopping."


    "Groceries? With this car?" All the racing enthusiasts were about to lose their minds; the treasure they revered was relegated to grocery runs by a nanny?


    "Mr. Zhang, as we understand, this car''s former owner crushed gods of cars from all over the world in the Alps rally race¡ªthe true ''god of cars'' who drove this very car," Kyoichi explained the backstory, and Zhang Menglong''s mouth fell open as he listened.


    "Wow, I had no idea my dad was that awesome!"@@@@

 Chapter 289 Let Them Go Around

    "I just Googled it, and that God of Cars is really awesome. It''s said that over a dozen car gods chose to retire after being struck by that race. I can''t believe he''s actually Zhang Menglong''s dad!"


    "Unbelievable! That puts Dad to shame, Zhang Menglong."


    "He''s really playing Versailles! I don''t know if he''s genuinely unaware or just pretending."


    "Judging by Zhang Menglong''s expression, it doesn''t look like he''s faking it."


    "No way? With Zhang Menglong''s driving skills being so awesome, it must have been taught by his dad."


    "It''s possible that in Zhang Menglong''s mind, an ordinary driver''s skills are just like his dad''s!"


    ...


    "I''ve been wondering why my dad would spend 2 billion US dollars to modify this car, now I finally get it!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "What? 2 billion US dollars?" Those with sharp ears overheard this jaw-dropping figure, "A Wuling Hongguang only costs 50,000 yuan, and he spent 2 billion US dollars to modify it? Is he out of his mind?"


    "Although it looks like a Wuling Hongguang on the outside, in reality, this is a Wuling Hongguang with a 24-cylinder engine," Zhang Menglong slapped the car''s body, "The maximum horsepower exceeds 2000, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in 1.87 seconds, and the top speed reaches 547 kilometers per hour!"


    "Damn! How is that possible?"


    "A 24-cylinder engine? That must be an airplane, right?"


    "An airplane what?"


    "2000 horsepower? A top speed of 547 km/h? Can anyone even control this car?"


    "Without changing the exterior, that air resistance must be enormous. Can the body even withstand such a load?"@@@@


    Almost everyone who came to watch this race knows a thing or two about cars, and these exaggerated specs left them all dumbfounded. This was simply nonsense! Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Even if the car really had such performance, it definitely wouldn''t be something humans could handle.


    A 24-cylinder engine is only used on heavy trucks and airplanes, and with something so huge and cumbersome, could you drive it on such complicated mountain roads? Probably any turn could send you flying right off!


    If the speed increased further, even the body of a supercar might roll over, and the tires also wouldn''t withstand such intense friction.


    The Longyou racetrack''s terrain is even more dangerous than that of the Alps, where even with God of Cars'' skill, a car as tall as a Wuling Hongguang might roll over just going around a bend at 200 kilometers per hour.


    They believed that there was only one God of Cars, and even his progeny could not replicate such terrifying skills. Zhang Menglong had the God of Cars'' vehicle, but that didn''t necessarily mean he had the ability to perfectly control it!


    On a straight section, Zhang Menglong''s Wuling Hongguang might be able to pull away from them utilizing its powerful 24-cylinder engine, but on sharp turns, if he didn''t want to meet God, he would inevitably have to slow down. At that point, it would be their opportunity.


    And on this racetrack, there were very few long straight sections!


    "Since all five racers have arrived, let''s get ready to start our race!" the host announced excitedly into the microphone.


    "No one expected that this mysterious God of Cars would turn out to be our very own Mr. Zhang Menglong from Huaxia, and even the God of Cars who stunned the world eight years ago, was his father! Now, let me announce the rules for today''s race!"


    The rules for this race were very simple: Circumvent the rally race''s mountain circuit twice, totaling 48 kilometers, and the first to reach the finish line wins.


    The bets for this race were even more intriguing; while regular car races usually bet money, this time the race bets were the car emblem, driver''s license, and racing license.


    "Ready!"


    At the sound of the signal, five cars immediately erupted with deafening roars, the four Gods of Cars looking serious, while Zhang Menglong in the camera held a sugarcane in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.


    "Go!"


    "Beep!" The race began!


    The four supercars unleashed incredible noise, with even the rear of the vehicles spurting out dazzling fire trails.


    A moment later, they charged out roaring like fierce beasts.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s Wuling Hongguang did not take off!


    "My God, what''s happening? Why hasn''t racer Zhang Menglong started? Is there a problem with his car?" The host''s face stiffened slightly, as even a second''s difference in such a high-stakes race could affect the entire outcome.


    If Zhang Menglong lost today, it would be Huaxia''s reputation on the line.


    However, at that moment, Zhang Menglong slowly rolled down his window and, calmly biting into his sugarcane, said to the camera filming him, "I figured it was just too unfair for me to start at the same time as them, so I''ve decided to give them a one-lap head start!"

 Chapter 290 He Took Out Another Sugarcane

    "Wow!" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the whole venue erupted in astonishment.


    What did he mean by saying setting off at the same time was bullying?


    These four individuals were all world-renowned Gods of Cars, with illustrious records. Racers would bow respectfully when they saw them, and even their disciples had already started showing their edge on the racetracks.


    Normally, it was only when they raced against others that people would say they were bullying, but when had they ever been bullied by someone else?


    When they raced with younger racers, they indeed might hold back a bit for that reason, but in racing, the width of the road is limited and overtaking is not easy. It''s very possible the starting order could decide the final rankings.


    So even when they conceded a bit, it was only by giving up their starting position.


    As for giving someone a one-lap head start in a two-lap race, that was simply a joke. In order to win, it meant having to achieve more than double the average speed of the opponent.


    In car racing, even the average speed difference is typically a single-digit figure, so giving someone a lap''s lead was like grinding their intelligence into the ground.@@@@


    Until now, the fastest completion time at Longyou''s mountain circuit was 13 minutes 13.62 seconds, with an average speed of around 218 kilometers per hour. That was already an outstanding speed.


    But that record was merely set by a top-level Huaxian racer, whose skills barely reached the international average.


    At least, compared to these four Gods of Cars, he was still way out of their league.


    By rough estimates, their average speeds should all be over 250 kilometers per hour. That is to say, Zhang Menglong''s average speed would need to exceed 500 kilometers per hour to possibly win.


    But was that even possible? Even if he could reach 500 kilometers per hour on a straightaway, what about at the corners?


    The former God of Cars was able to take corners at full speed, but that was because the maximum turn angle in the Alps Rally was only 102 degrees. Here in the Longyou mountain range, there were over a dozen turns exceeding 140 degrees, and they were consecutive.


    Even if the God of Cars himself came, he surely couldn''t drive to such a degree, right?


    "Zhang Menglong really is the most pretentious billionaire I''ve ever seen; he''s also my own idol, unbelievable!"


    "Boss Zhang, please stop showing off. I give this zero points for posturing; you''re definitely going to crash. Give a one-lap lead? Even an amateur like me knows that''s impossible!"


    "It''s all over, I''ve even bet on the side market, this is going to be a huge loss!"


    "Zhang Menglong, if you lose, I''ll despise you for life!"


    "Fuck, are you an idiot? Giving a one-lap lead?"


    "Zhang Menglong, what the hell are you doing? Even for showing off, you''re overdoing it!"


    "Boom!" The silver-white Wuling Hongguang''s rear shot out two blue flames, propelling forward furiously like an arrow released from its bow.


    A 1.82-second acceleration to 100 kilometers per hour might sound similar to the others'' 2-plus seconds, but on the racetrack, that moment can mean a difference of several tens of meters!


    The Wuling Hongguang caught up with Skliri''s car in an instant and even stretched the distance by a significant margin.


    "Holy shit! Is that really a Wuling Hongguang? I''d believe it if you told me it''s a rocket!"


    "This must be one of those legendary Krypton Gold tycoons, right? A 2 billion US Dollar car modification, it''s like punching down from another realm!"


    "It''s too fast, too fast!"


    ...


    "What use is speed?" Skliri sneered disdainfully. This track had only one long straight stretch before the first sharp curve of 140 degrees.


    Even if he took the curve, he could only maintain a speed of 220 kilometers per hour at best, and Park Young-jun, with his top-level drifting skills, could only reach 236 kilometers per hour.


    How would it matter if Zhang Menglong''s car could exceed 500 kilometers per hour on the straight? Could he really take the curve at that speed?


    But the next instant, his worldview crumbled.


    "He really hasn''t slowed down! Mr. Zhang Menglong hasn''t slowed down!" Skliri couldn''t see Zhang Menglong''s car, but he could hear the commentary about his situation.


    "Mr. Zhang Menglong''s current speed is 527 kilometers per hour, and he''s less than 50 meters from the first major curve. He doesn''t seem to want to slow down at all!"


    "Screech!"


    "My God, he actually started drifting so early! With such a distance, if he''s not careful, the front of the car could crash directly into the cliff wall!"


    "Oh, Lord, he made it! He actually made it!"


    "The optical camera shows that Mr. Zhang Menglong''s car was less than 1 centimeter from the cliff! Is he a god?"


    "Incredible! Data coming from the scene shows that Mr. Zhang Menglong took the curve at 511 kilometers per hour!"


    "Everyone, look at the camera, he''s only using one hand! He''s really operating the car with just one hand!"


    "And he''s taken out another sugarcane!"


    ...

 Chapter 291 Actually, Im Also Amazing at Driving a Hearse

    "Holy... holy shit..."


    "I never believed in God before, but I do now!"


    "My mom asked me why I''m on my knees watching the live broadcast..."


    "Boss Zhang, can you check if I''m kneeling properly? I can do 200 other positions, I''ll show them all to you in a bit!"


    "Is this even human? He''s a monster, seriously a monster! Who doesn''t slow down on such a big curve?"


    "I''ve seen this scene before, it was the same at yesterday''s Kart Rider World Championship!"


    "Kart Rider is designed way too modestly for this game!"


    "Aba, aba, aba, aba..."


    "Suddenly I feel like Boss Zhang''s gaze is so cool!"


    "Boss Zhang has always been handsome!"


    "Who was just cursing Boss Zhang as a dumbass? Stand up now!"


    ...


    In an instant, the whole scene was boiling over, and the barrage in every live broadcast room had exploded, with screens full of "666" and "holy shit". The terrifying skill displayed by Zhang Menglong was indeed on par with his own boasting.


    Make way, he really has the talent!


    "Spinning and leaping, I close my eyes..." With that classic yet rhythmic song, the Wuling Hongguang car zipped through the mountain roads like a ghost.


    Large bends, continuous sharp turns, and even that super hairpin turn of one and a half circles, Zhang Menglong''s speed didn''t drop at all. While others hadn''t even finished half of their second lap, Zhang Menglong had already completed the first!


    Average speed: 518 kilometers per hour


    Average straight-line speed: 542 kilometers per hour


    Average bend speed: 513 kilometers per hour


    Lap time: 2 minutes 46 seconds 08


    An array of inconceivable numbers appeared on the display. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What kind of monster is he!" The rich second-generations who were just cursing Zhang Menglong had their jaws dropping.


    "I take back what I said, if he''s a dumbass, I don''t even measure up to a dumbass!"


    "I think we''ve been looking at Zhang Menglong as if he''s an ordinary person. Their levels are simply not on the same plane, this is like a dimensional strike!"


    "This race has already become pointless, even if Zhang Menglong ends up losing, it won''t change the fact that he''s the world''s number one."


    If the rich second-generations originally had some respect for Zhang Menglong because of his wealth, now his abilities had undoubtedly completely conquered these high-minded individuals.


    "What''s happening? Why is the live broadcast getting laggier?"


    "I heard that a lot of foreigners are bypassing the firewall to watch the match!"


    But on the next bend, such a narrow road simply couldn''t accommodate two cars drifting at the same time, and their cars immediately became one in front of the other; and at that moment, Zhang Menglong once again elegantly overtook from the inside lane, passing by the cliff''s edge and the outer car with barely any distance to spare.


    "Don''t even think about getting past!" Skliri struggled to occupy the center of the lane; in the bends, his skills were second only to Park Young-jun, and even when turning, he could still maintain the central path, with neither the left nor the right side being wide enough for a car to pass.


    "Haha!" Skliri showed a triumphant smile.


    "Despicable!"


    "Shameless!"


    "Wait, don''t forget, Zhang Menglong still has an ace up his sleeve!"


    "Right, right, right, the ''razor pass''!"


    "But this isn''t a straightaway, it''s a sharp turn!"


    "Screech!" But Zhang Menglong didn''t disappoint; this time, clinging close to the exterior of the cliffside, that exquisite control allowed him to lift the inside wheels right off the ground, overtaking right over Skliri''s head.


    "Holy shit!"


    "Damn!"


    "What do you call this? Razor drift?"


    "Honey, come look at this wizardry!"


    "How is this possible?" Skliri felt as if his soul had been critically hit; a razor pass combined with drifting, speeds over 500 kilometers per hour, this was already beyond his knowledge!


    "Whoosh!" The Wuling Hongguang gracefully crossed the finish line and parked by the side of the road with flourish; those four tires were already in tatters, even giving off a burnt smell.


    "Such intense drifting, and the tires only gave out after two laps."


    "God of Cars, this is the real God of Cars, what American God of Cars, what Kaibong God of Cars? Are they even worth the title?"


    "Toy cars, remote-controlled cars, Zhang Menglong could roll over them accidentally and wouldn''t even know."


    The four supercars stopped at the finish, and the four Gods of Cars looked dejected, not even daring to glance at Zhang Menglong.


    "Guys, please pry off your car emblems, and hand over your driver''s licenses and racing licenses," Zhang Menglong looked around at the one Wuling Hongguang, "Sorry, my car''s already covered in them, only space left is underneath, you guys won''t mind, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong! You... You''re bullying us too much!"


    "Good, you can speak idioms!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "But Huaxia culture is profound and vast; it seems you haven''t understood the meaning of this idiom. It wasn''t me who provoked you first, right? I said I didn''t want to compete because I was afraid you''d lose too badly!"


    "But what about you? Clumsy yet love to mess around! You insisted on forcing me to race, and after losing, you still can''t accept it," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Racing against you really is no fun!"


    "It''s just that you have a good car!" After grinding his teeth for a while, Skliri finally squeezed out this sentence.


    "If you''re up for it, give it a go!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "With your taxi-level skills, not flipping my car would count as a loss for me!"


    "You!" The crowd''s faces flushed from shades of green to purple, but they were powerless to retort.


    If they tried to match Zhang Menglong''s speed, they wouldn''t even make it through one bend!


    "Give it a try! Zhang Menglong said mockingly with a weird laugh, "Actually, I''m quite good at driving a hearse too ¡ª I could send you guys straight there!"

 Chapter 292 Suck at It and Love Playing

    "If Zhang Menglong doesn''t come out, there''s no God of Cars in this world anymore!"


    "His skills are unmatched, no one else in the world can reach half his level!"


    "This is driving skill that transcends human limits!"@@@@


    Racers and car enthusiasts from around the world immediately gave various evaluations, and the audience on the spot resounded with Zhang Menglong''s name.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you have time to accept a media interview?" the host asked tentatively.


    "I''m here already, might as well say a few words!" Zhang Menglong nodded, leaving behind four Gods of Cars still on the spot, doubting their life choices.


    Countless gazes and cameras then focused on Zhang Menglong as the media scrambled forward, fearing they might miss some important information.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the first-hand information we received, racers worldwide with the title of God of Cars have acknowledged your crown as the World God of Cars. You''ve defeated four Gods of Cars to achieve this title, anything you''d like to say?"


    "Hmm..." Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment. "Not really anything special to say, except that the opponents'' strength was too weak, didn''t feel much excitement."


    "Hahaha!"


    "I knew it, Boss Zhang was going to start again."


    "Can''t Boss Zhang speak normally? A little politeness wouldn''t kill you!"


    The Huaxia spectators on-site burst into laughter while other racers and enthusiasts from various countries, although boiling with anger, had nothing to say.


    Compared to Zhang Menglong, those who were called Gods of Cars were truly inferior.


    "Mr. Zhang, your father is also a God of Cars. Did you learn your driving skills from him?" another reporter asked, adding, "With such astonishing driving skills, why haven''t you considered pursuing a professional racer career?"


    "I got my driving license on my own, and my skills were taught by my driving school''s instructors. As for the latter question," Zhang Menglong responded, "I didn''t know until today that my dad was once a God of Cars or even a racer. I always thought that the driving skills of an ordinary driver should be like this, which is why I never thought my skills could qualify me as a racer before!"


    "Good Lord!"


    "Totally Versailles!"


    "Bro, you''re a prophet, to predict such a statement!"


    "With Boss Zhang being so slick, if you''re slick enough, you''ll know how he''s going to show off!"


    "Mr. Zhang, some say that you''re arrogant and you look down on other racers, what do you have to say about that?" a reporter threw out a sharp question.


    "What I say is simple, those who think I am arrogant just can''t match up to me¡ªI''m not targeting anyone particular, just saying all of them are noobs," Zhang Menglong stated, "Anyone who disagrees is welcome to challenge me anytime, but don''t bother wasting my time unless the stake is at least 1 billion US dollars. I just want to be a quiet beautiful man, after all."


    "Pfft!" A brown-haired Huaxia youth burst out laughing.


    "What are you laughing at?" his companion asked.


    "What Zhang Menglong just said was in the local language of the Maldives, it''s one of the least spoken languages in the world, and I just happened to have minored in it at university," the youth said, chuckling.


    "What did he actually say?"


    "He was cursing those foreign journalists, saying they give birth to sons without assholes!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Haha! Genius!"


    "Learning all the languages in the world just to curse people, what can be more badass than that?"


    "Director Zhang is awesome!" The nearby audience erupted into laughter.


    The interview concluded amid a burst of laughter and applause. That evening, Zhang Menglong''s witty, humorous responses and his genius linguistic ability gained him countless new fans.


    ...


    In less than a week, three major news items emerged in the racing world:


    "The God of Cars from America and the Aussie God of Cars both announced their retirement!"


    "The God of Cars from Kaibong posted on social media that he would never touch a race car again in his life!"


    "The Qingqiu God of Cars forcefully practiced drifting on a curve, accidentally went off the racetrack, and ended up severely disabled!"


    Undoubtedly, all three news pieces were indirectly related to Zhang Menglong.


    "Left quite the impression, huh!"


    "Director Zhang, look at the fine mess you''ve created!"


    "Don''t compare your money to Zhang''s, don''t race against Zhang, and don''t get into a spat with Zhang, because you''ll find out you''re just trash!" Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "@Zhang Menglong! Come out and watch the drama"


    "Sigh!" Zhang Menglong sighed as he looked at the frenzy of @mentions from netizens on Weibo and these three pieces of news, then shook his head, "People nowadays can''t take a hit! All weak and playful."


    ...

 Chapter 293 Garbage Topic, Stopping Me from Playing Games

    The matter of racing seemed to have been merely a minor episode for Zhang Menglong, who never really devoted his thoughts to it. Although top racers from all over the world clamored to become his disciples, Zhang Menglong uttered just one phrase.


    "The fee for discipleship is 10 billion US dollars!"


    This price immediately deterred everyone, but thus far, whenever Zhang Menglong spoke of money, it was almost always in units of billions or more. Everyone also knew that he truly wasn''t all that interested in racing.


    As the fervor gradually subsided, aside from everyone remembering that the title of God of Cars belonged to Zhang Menglong, it didn''t cause him much more trouble.


    "Well, I''ll be darned, 200 Cred Points for this title of God of Cars ain''t half bad," Zhang Menglong stood in that vast world of Super God Academy with teachers Tony and Takumi Fujiwara by his side.


    Today, Zhang Menglong was about to awaken another teacher.


    "Let it be someone badass, even more badass!" Zhang Menglong silently prayed. He had long envied Ye Yin''s formidable power, "Kamen Rider, Ultraman, superhuman Mutants, I wouldn''t mind a villain either, best if it''s someone like Lin Dong or Xiao Yan..."


    As Zhang Menglong prayed, he ordered Gou Dan, "Gou Dan, unlock a teacher for me!"


    "100 Cred Points deducted, unlock successful!"


    Amid bursts of gunfire and neighing of horses, a building arose from the flat ground, and within the thick fog above, the figure of a young man in armor appeared, as if his dazzling glory could pierce the heavens.


    "Holy crap, he looks mighty impressive!" Zhang Menglong moved in for a closer look, but in an instant, his expression darkened, "An... internet cafe??"


    A figure close to 180 centimeters tall walked out of the net cafe?, bearing a face straight out of an anime with eyes that reflected untold depth and serenity.


    Name: Ye Qiu


    Race: Human


    Identity: Esports Course Teacher


    Potential Index: 10


    Gift: The Hand of God


    Skill: Esports (E)


    Evaluation: Not every teenager addicted to the internet can become an esports master.


    "Ye Qiu? The God Ye?" Zhang Menglong was no stranger to this character from "The King''s Avatar," a legendary ace in the esports realm, even made into a drama series now.


    "What does this mean? When I got Iron Man, I was caught up in a world tech warfare, getting Takumi Fujiwara made me accidentally become the God of Cars, and now I got Ye Qiu¡ªis this implying I should wipe out the entire esports realm?"


    Of course, he couldn''t devote all his energy to Super God Academy; after all, there was a very important matter Zhang Menglong had to attend to soon¡ªthe graduate entrance examination.


    Due to the pandemic, the graduate entrance exam in Huaxia, which usually finished in December, was postponed until March. The additional three months meant everyone had much more time to prepare. Even though the number of graduate students had been expanded, it was still a fierce competition like trying to cross a single-log bridge with thousands of troops.


    At the entrance of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, countless reporters had already gathered, waiting for the first students to finish their exams.


    "There''s only half an hour left until the end of the graduate entrance exam. This year''s test is said to be very difficult, so let''s wait for the first student to finish!"


    "Look, someone is coming out!"


    "I wonder which school this student is from. This one''s the higher mathematics exam; even the top students are pressed for time, and yet someone has submitted their paper early!"


    "Here he comes, let''s interview this student!"


    A group of reporters immediately surrounded him, but they were stunned the moment they saw the young man''s face.


    "This... dear viewers, if I''m not mistaken, this looks like the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong! My goodness, he''s actually taking the graduate entrance exam!"


    "Someone born at the finish line where ordinary people aim to reach is also taking the graduate entrance exam!"


    "Let''s ask Mr. Zhang how the exam was!"


    "Mr. Zhang, could you please accept our interview?"


    "Ah... um..." Zhang Menglong didn''t expect that even taking a graduate entrance exam would attract so many reporters.


    With Iron Man Tony''s knowledge in Material Technology and his highly developed brain domain, this mere graduate entrance exam posed no difficulty to Zhang Menglong. He even managed to sleep for half an hour inside since submitting papers was only permitted in the last half-hour before the exam ended.


    "Mr. Zhang, can you tell us how difficult this graduate exam was?"


    Being the first to leave the exam room made the student the focal point of everyone, especially since it was Zhang Menglong. Reporters kept chasing him all the way to the parking lot at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    "Mr. Zhang, please answer a few questions for us!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, what''s your assessment of the difficulty this time?"


    "What''s your purpose in taking the graduate entrance exam?"


    "No specific purpose, my dad just hopes we have someone with a higher level of education in our family, so I came to take the exam!" an unbothered Zhang Menglong replied, "As for the difficulty... trash questions, wasted my gaming time!"


    Zhang Menglong slammed the car door shut and sped away in an instant.

 Chapter 294 This is a Genius

    It seemed that in order to increase the selection rigor, this year''s advanced mathematics questions were insanely difficult; the teacher responsible for setting the test publicly declared that the average score in advanced mathematics would be controlled below the passing line, and the second-to-last question''s solution rate wouldn''t exceed 5%.


    As for the last question, they went so far as to include the Riemann Hypothesis, which has perplexed the mathematics community for over a hundred years, and even numerous top students were crying out in misery.


    "I didn''t even finish the questions, I guessed half of the multiple-choice ones, I''m done for!"


    "I majored in mathematics at Qingbei University, and in past years, I could score over 140 even with my eyes closed, but this time, I''d be thankful for even 120!"


    "Riemann Hypothesis, I''ve never even heard of this thing!"


    "Brother, have you heard of Fermat''s Last Theorem and the Goldbach Conjecture? In terms of mathematical depth, the Riemann Hypothesis is even stronger than those!"@@@@


    "I just checked, and if you could successfully prove the Riemann Hypothesis, you could directly win a $1 million prize!"


    "Man, isn''t this nonsense? Is this still a graduate-level mathematics exam? Mr. Examiner, I rnmmp!"


    "Damn, aren''t they afraid of getting razor blades mailed to them for setting such questions?"


    ...


    Right after the exam ended, students immediately gathered on Weibo, forums, and various major platforms to vent. If they could solve those questions, they could directly become mathematicians; what was the point of even taking the graduate exam?


    "What the hell? An interview video of Boss Zhang?"


    "Did Boss Zhang really come to take the graduate exam? And at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?"


    Flipping through, the first person found that particular media interview about Zhang Menglong.


    "Damn it... ''Rubbish questions''? Are these the words of a human being?" That person then shared the interview video.


    In an instant, it went from one to ten, ten to a hundred; Zhang Menglong''s interview video suddenly topped the trending searches.


    "Hahaha, ''rubbish questions, stopping me from playing games,'' typical style of Boss Zhang, still spouting flamboyant nonsense as always!"


    "I was in the same exam room as Boss Zhang. He started sleeping half an hour into the advanced mathematics exam. Unless a prodigy descended, who could finish those questions in half an hour? The last question, who in this world could solve it?"


    "Hahaha! So that''s how it is. Boss Zhang is putting on airs again; I guess he''s done for too."


    "Pfft, if he''s done, he''s done. With Boss Zhang''s net worth, does he really need a graduate degree?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, impossible, how could an undergraduate prove such a thing? He must have written it in one go without thinking!"


    "Yes, if there really were such an outstanding person, Riemann could climb out of his coffin!"


    "Let''s take a closer look," a teacher said, "If he could produce this result, he must have his own logic in it, perhaps we can even award him a few points!"


    But the more they looked, the more blank the expressions of the teachers, and even one teacher''s arms couldn''t help but start trembling.


    "This... he seems to have used complex analytic geometric thoughts, and the rigor of the proof process is beyond my ability to judge!"


    "He couldn''t really have verified the Riemann Hypothesis, could he?"


    "This... an ordinary graduate exam, solved a problem that has puzzled the mathematics community for over a hundred years? This is too incredible!"


    "This is beyond our ability to grade!"


    The teachers smiled wryly, although they were all university mathematics teachers, even they couldn''t possibly verify the Riemann Hypothesis, it remained an unsolved mystery, how could there be an answer?


    "What are you doing? All gathering together, not grading anymore?" At this time, an old man around 60 years old cursed as he walked over, "There are so many candidates this year, if you don''t hurry up, are you wasting time here?"


    The old man''s surname was Tu, a distinguished professor from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Yanjing University, and he was also the leader of their marking team. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Professor Tu!" The teacher surnamed Liu stood up, "We found a very special paper."


    "How special?"


    "Apart from the last question about the Riemann Hypothesis, all other questions were perfectly solved."


    "Oh?" Professor Tu was slightly surprised, as the gatekeeper of the exam group, he had seen this paper and was very aware of its difficulty. To score those 130 points was already the level of many university mathematics department associate professors.


    "That''s not the most important part," Liu said, "He also solved the last Riemann Hypothesis, but we are limited in our ability to award points, so we were discussing what to do."


    "Solved the Riemann Hypothesis?" Professor Tu''s face showed even more astonishment, "Show me that paper!"


    "Professor Tu, this is that student''s answer sheet!"


    "Just two pages of the solution process?" Professor Tu frowned, until now, manuscripts attempting to answer the Riemann Hypothesis had reached up to 132 pages, but even with a whole manuscript, no precise conclusion had been produced.


    "This..." Professor Tu''s facial features suddenly contorted, "This is complex analysis... no! This isn''t just pure complex analysis! This..."


    Professor Tu''s expression went from initial surprise to astonishment, then to delight, and finally, he even appeared somewhat frightened!


    "I also cannot judge his answer!" Professor Tu thought for a long while, finally letting out a heavy sigh, "This student is a genius!"

 Chapter 295 I Thought This Was Just a Regular Question

    ```


    That very night, Professor Tu photocopied Zhang Menglong''s exam paper and rushed back to Yanjing.


    Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    In the mathematical community of Huaxia, there were a great many schools of thought, each often devoted to a single mathematical problem, and there were already more than a thousand researchers studying the Riemann Hypothesis alone.


    Since its proposition in 1859, the Riemann Hypothesis had already been around for more than a century and had become one of the seven great unsolved problems offered a prize by the Clay Mathematics Institute. To date, more than a thousand mathematical propositions have been premised on the assumption of Riemann''s conjecture, which underscores its significance in the mathematical community.


    That night, the most representative dozen or so mathematicians of Huaxia gathered in an academic research analysis room at Yanjing University.


    At the helm was a 73-year-old professor who had devoted almost his entire life to researching the Riemann Hypothesis, and he twice pushed forward the progress of research on the Riemann Hypothesis, making him the most authoritative figure in Huaxia on this matter!


    At this moment, a glint of excitement flickered in his cloudy, aged eyes. His lifelong dream had been to determine the result of the Riemann Hypothesis, yet after so many years, he had taken only two small steps forward, and any progress made was only a drop in the bucket.


    His age had advanced, the nimbleness of his thinking and his creativity had significantly diminished, and his mathematical logical abilities had also fallen steeply. It seemed the Riemann Hypothesis would remain an unfulfilled aspect of his life.


    But he could never have imagined that an annual graduate-level advanced mathematics exam would bring him such a surprise!


    "Academician Bai, what do you think?" Professor Tu asked. This Academician Bai was not only the leading figure of the Riemann Hypothesis research school in Huaxia but also his revered mentor.


    "The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old ones ahead," Academician Bai laughed. "I think I understand his logic of proof, but we need to conduct further confirmation. Perhaps this year, the Riemann Hypothesis that has troubled the mathematical world for more than a century will be solved!"


    "Really!?" Professor Tu''s face could scarcely conceal his astonishment.


    When he composed the test, he had thought that including such a question was absurd, but to their older generation, a graduate exam was just as inconsequential as children playing house.


    Adding this question merely turned a total of 150 points into an exam worth 130 points, which still had no significant effect on student selection.


    But who the hell could have expected that a student would actually solve one of the seven great unsolved mathematical problems in the world, the Riemann Hypothesis?@@@@


    "Get me in touch with Professor Duweike immediately! I need him to help me verify this formula!"


    "Teacher, it''s so late now, you..."


    "Don''t dilly-dally, at our age, how can you still be like a woman?" Academician Bai cursed, "Hurry up! As long as I see the Riemann Hypothesis confirmed in my lifetime, I can close my eyes at any time."


    "Teacher, don''t talk nonsense. I''m contacting Professor Duweike right now!"


    Professor Duweike was the deputy director of the Clay Mathematics Institute, a world-renowned mathematician. Like Academician Bai, he had also dedicated his life to researching the Riemann Hypothesis, and while they often engaged in academic contestation, over the years they had become very good friends.


    Had it not been for their advanced age and the significant time difference between their locations, they might have even lived and eaten together!


    "Director, the results have been uploaded!" Finally, a staff member said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    "Quick! Check! Who is it, after all?"


    "What are you waiting for? Check now!" The director said to the staff member.


    "Yes!"


    Amidst the rapid clicking of keyboard keys, a string of information appeared on the computer screen.


    Name: Zhang Menglong


    School: Jiangnan University of Science and Technology


    Examined institution: Jiangnan University of Science and Technology


    English: 100


    Advanced Mathematics 1: 150


    Politics: 100


    Major Subject: 150


    "Zhang Menglong? Why does that name sound so familiar?" a few old-timers mused aloud.


    "That''s the world''s richest person! I think he''s studying at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Is it him?"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong! Are you still asleep? Do you have any idea that the Internet is blowing up?" In the middle of the night, Zhang Menglong suddenly received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Your mom, I''m asleep! What are you doing in the middle of the night, eh?"


    "That Riemann Hypothesis, was it really you who solved it?"


    "What hypothesis? What are you talking about?"


    "Quit your bullshit! The last question on the graduate exam''s advanced mathematics paper! That Riemann Hypothesis, do you have any idea the entire mathematical community is going crazy right now?"


    "Oh, that question," Zhang Menglong yawned, "I thought it was just a typical difficult question, a real brain teaser. No wonder it was a bit tough to solve!"

 Chapter 296 Everyones Asking Me to be a Professor

    "A bit difficult? Just a bit difficult? I''m a math idiot and even I know how hard the Riemann hypothesis is. It''s stumped mathematicians worldwide for over a hundred years, and you''re telling me it''s just a bit difficult?"


    "Are you telling me that you paid a bunch of mathematicians to do research for you behind the scenes?" Wang Ling speculated.


    He knew Zhang Menglong''s family had many capable people, so this speculation wasn''t without reason.


    "But still, that doesn''t seem right. Plus, with this difficult math problem added, how could it possibly be solved in just one and a half hours?" Wang Ling continued to speculate, "Did you bribe the test creator, or is the test creator another one of your family''s employees?"


    "How come your imagination is so vivid?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "It''s just a high-grade math test paper. Why are you all overreacting like this?"


    "Damn! Talking to you is just setting myself up for frustration, goodbye!" Wang Ling abruptly hung up the phone.


    "Crazy!"


    Zhang Menglong truly didn''t know what the Riemann hypothesis was. Although he had studied high-grade math before, aside from the week before the final exam, he had spent almost all his time playing, and the Riemann hypothesis had long exceeded the scope of high-grade mathematics; Zhang Menglong knew nothing about it!


    Thanks to the enhancements made by the Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong''s brain development had reached a very high standard: memory, logic, creative thinking, etc., had all reached a nearly limitless level.


    High-level mathematical theorems and formulas could be derived from some basic mathematics. Zhang Menglong relied solely on his modest math foundation to deduce the Riemann hypothesis practically from scratch.


    If others knew Zhang Menglong had deduced the proof of the Riemann hypothesis entirely from scratch, they would probably go insane. The computations involved were not something human brains could ordinarily handle.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong''s current brain computing power had already far surpassed that of ordinary humans.


    Secrets can''t be kept forever. Screenshots of Zhang Menglong''s results were quickly posted online.


    "150 points? Damn! 150 points in high-grade math?"


    "He solved the last question too? That was the Riemann hypothesis!"


    "A month ago, the Clay Mathematics Institute had already announced that the Riemann hypothesis was successfully proven. Someone had boldly speculated that it might be some genius solving it during a university entrance exam. Perhaps this month was just about waiting for the entrance exam scores to be released?"


    "Do you all remember the interview video with President Zhang that day? When he called these questions trash, I thought he was just showing off."


    "Forget it, some people said President Zhang slept after half an hour of the exam. Half an hour isn''t even enough to solve these problems, let alone copy them from an answer sheet, which I wouldn''t even be able to do!"


    "Is there anything President Zhang can''t do?"


    ...


    "Send him an invitation to come to our Harvard University as a professor, a distinguished professor!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, the acceptance letters from Galidon University and Cambridge have arrived," Hong Yi said, holding a thick stack of letters, "along with some from other schools. You received a total of 198 today. Would you like to take a look?"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Just put them aside. I applied for polymer material science. What''s with all these mathematics acceptance letters?"


    Hong Yi smiled helplessly and just placed the documents on the pile of acceptance letters that were stacked like a mountain in the corner.


    "Menglong, your phone," Lu Yiyao handed over the mobile phone casually.


    Zhang Menglong took the phone and saw it was an unfamiliar number.


    "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong, may I know who is speaking?"


    "Hello Zhang Menglong, I''m Bai Gongyu, the dean of the Mathematical Sciences at Qingbei University."


    "Oh, hello Dean Bai," Zhang Menglong responded to the call, already knowing it must be another solicitation.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m here on behalf of Qingbei University to invite you to join our graduate program."


    "Dean Bai, thank you for your invitation, but I applied for the polymer materials program at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, so I can only..."


    "Just listen to my conditions!" Bai Gongyu quickly interjected. "If you agree to study with us, we guarantee you direct progression from Masters to PhD, all tuition fees waived, and we''ll even provide you with an annual scholarship of 200,000 yuan and sort out your residency in Yanjing, and more..."


    "Dean Bai, I''m really not interested in money," Zhang Menglong said, "and that scholarship fund from your university, it seems like it was established with my donations."


    "What?" Bai Gongyu''s expression suddenly suffocated.


    "Also, the president of Harvard University just called me, asking me to join their faculty, and I just turned him down, so..."


    The muscles on Bai Gongyu''s face on the other end of the phone twitched slightly.


    The president of Harvard personally invited you? And even offered you a professorship? Have the Americans gone mad?


    Most importantly, Zhang Menglong actually turned it down?


    He isn''t short of money, isn''t pursuing a PhD for a bit of prestige? They even offered you a professorship and you still refuse?


    What are you really after?

 Chapter 297 I Just Want to Be a Low-key Ordinary Graduate Student

    "Zhang Menglong, you might want to consider this again, they can offer you a professor''s title, and so can we!" Dean Bai suddenly became clear-headed with a slap to his forehead.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong had achieved so much in the world of mathematics, yet they still stubbornly treated him as an ordinary student.


    Who would dare say they were qualified to be his teacher with his level of expertise? To be his teacher, they''d first have to prove themselves by solving other problems on the same level as the Riemann hypothesis!@@@@


    Harvard University, on the other hand, knew what they were doing by offering Zhang Menglong a professorship straight away¡ªthat''s what it means to come with sincerity.


    Although Dean Bai was just a dean, he believed that the university would absolutely be willing to create a spot for Zhang Menglong. Not to mention a mere professorship, even the role of department head or even dean might be considered.


    "Dean Bai, thank you for your kind intentions," Zhang Menglong declined politely, "I didn''t intentionally solve this problem; I thought it was just an ordinary question. Who knew it turned out to be a major problem in academia? I just want to be a plain and simple graduate student!"


    Dean Bai''s face twitched upon hearing this.


    What does he mean by ''not intentional''? If he could solve a problem that had troubled mathematicians for over a century without even trying, what would he be capable of if he did try?


    What had those mathematicians been doing, exhausting their lives? Decades of intensive research paled in comparison to a "plain graduate student"?


    If he was simply an ordinary researcher, then what were they, the so-called associate professors, professors, and even academicians? Were they just freeloaders and wastes of space?


    "Professor Bai, my initial goal has always been the polymer materials specialty at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, now and in the future. No need to waste your efforts playing messenger," said Zhang Menglong.


    "But Zhang Menglong, you must realize that your achievements in the field of mathematics far exceed those in polymer materials. Your current reputation alone would qualify you for a distinguished professorship at any university, something the polymer materials specialty cannot offer you!"


    "And don''t take my words the wrong way, but Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is currently just a second-tier institution, neither 985 nor 211. The platform it can offer you is extremely limited!"


    "Dean Bai," Zhang Menglong smiled, "I, Zhang Menglong, don''t need to rely on any platform. What platform could be more solid than my family background?"


    "This..." Dean Bai was immediately at a loss for words.


    Dean Bai did have some understanding of Zhang Menglong. Not to mention the title of the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong''s wealth was indeed bottomless. He had invested tens of billions to bring a slew of equipment to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, including a large-scale particle collider and an astronomical telescope.


    Such grand investments were something other universities nationwide could only look up to in envy, unable to obtain themselves. Even Yanjing University was constantly angling for a chance to use the Particle Collider at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    Not long ago, Zhang Menglong had handed over a crucial part of the research and development process for a self-developed chip to Han Jinyu, the photoresist used in photolithography machines.


    Around the world, photoresist technology is controlled by only a handful of companies. In Huaxia, so far, no domestic business has been able to produce special photoresist.


    When Zhang Menglong placed the photoresist formula in front of him, Han Jinyu was flabbergasted, especially considering the thick stack of manuscripts was entirely in Zhang Menglong''s handwriting.


    Han Jinyu had doubted whether the formula could have been the result of some research institution within Zhang Menglong''s family, but now, he thought it might actually be something Zhang Menglong had developed himself!


    Once their developed chips started mass production, one could only imagine the sensation it would cause. Wanting to remain low-key? That was simply out of the question!


    However, there was one thing that Han Jinyu seemed to understand: Zhang Menglong didn''t care about fame or titles. His only pleasure seemed to be observing people''s astonished expressions and their praise; in colloquial terms, he enjoyed showing off.


    "Since that''s how you feel, then I''m relieved," Han Jinyu nodded, "Also, Menglong, there''s a rather troubling matter! That''s the main reason I''m calling you today."


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Is there a problem with the development of the photoresist?"


    "Yes," Han Jinyu said, "This month, we verified the formula, and it''s absolutely ready for mass production. The equipment will also be coming off the assembly line in half a month, but there''s a problem ¡ª for mass production of the photoresist, we need a lot of raw materials. One of the photoinitiators contains trace elements that need to be extracted from a mineral called ''new soil ore,'' and currently, Kaibong is the only country that exports it."


    "They''re not selling?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed into slits.


    "Yes," Han Jinyu continued, "They''ve announced to the outside world that the production of that raw material has greatly decreased in recent years and that it can only satisfy domestic needs for the time being, with no exports."


    "Hong Yi!" Zhang Menglong called to Hong Yi, "What''s the production like for Kaibong''s new soil ore in recent years?"


    "Just a moment," Hong Yi replied after fiddling with her tablet, "Mr. Zhang, new soil is a mineral aggregate similar to rare earth elements, currently found only in an active volcano in Kaibong called Mount Asu. The reserves are quite rich, and the output has been increasing by about 10% each year."


    "Heh," Zhang Menglong sneered, "It''s increasing every year, so they''re deliberately not selling it?"


    "It seems likely," Han Jinyu said, "Ever since you acquired Silicon Moonlight, many eyes have been watching us. Nobody wants to see us in Huaxia develop high-performance chips on our own. Even if it''s just a sign of progress, they''d want to nip it in the bud."


    "I understand. Leave this matter to me," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong hung up, "What is the most frequently imported essential in Kaibong right now, the one that comes in the largest quantity from our Huaxia?"


    ```

 Chapter 298 Is Your Mine for Sale?

    "Mr. Zhang, the main imports of Kaibong currently are textiles, energy, and mechanical parts," Hong Yi quickly searched for a moment and then provided Zhang Menglong with an answer.


    "Energy again?" Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "It seems that it really is a universal card!"


    Zhang Menglong waved his hands grandly, "Same old method, cut off their water, electricity, and gas supply. When their entire country is out of power, just wait for them to come begging us!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this tactic is very effective against countries like Qingqiu, but it''s very difficult when dealing with developed countries like Kaibong," Hong Yi said.


    "Oh? How so?" Zhang Menglong frowned slightly.


    "According to the data I have, the current energy composition in Kaibong is 20% to 22% nuclear power, 22% to 24% renewable energy, 26% coal, and 27% natural gas. Your family controls most of the natural gas and crude oil resources, and you don''t have many coal mines."@@@@


    "Ah? My family has a blind spot in assets?"


    "No, it should be said that your ancestors had a far-sighted vision. After all, coal is a highly polluting energy source, and it is not favorable for long-term development. Hence, a long time ago, they had excluded this part of the assets!"


    "Damn! They really had an eye for sustainable development!" Zhang Menglong complained.


    "However, the demand for coal in Kaibong is still very high. 99% of their coal resources come from imports, with almost zero domestic production. Merely cutting off their natural gas supply, they can still maintain the normal operation of energy in most areas."


    "But if the coal supply is cut off, then more than 50% of the nation''s electricity supply will be compromised, and that would be a severe blow to them," suggested Hong Yi.


    "Where do they import their coal from?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    "Last year, Kaibong imported 178 million short tons of coal from Australia, 32 million short tons from Yinhei, 21 million short tons from Tsarist Russia, and 3 million short tons from America. For them, the largest import is from Australia."


    "Get me some information on Australia''s coal mines."


    "Sure, Mr. Zhang, I will send it to your email immediately."


    Within a minute, Zhang Menglong received a notification for an email in his inbox, "Good grief, you guys are practically encyclopedias!"


    Zhang Menglong opened the document that was only two pages long, but very concise, and it additionally highlighted the parts that interested Zhang Menglong the most.


    Coal mines in Australia are mainly located in the Sydney Coalfield, Bowen Coalfield, and Latrobe Valley Coalfield. Kaibong''s imports of coal from Australia mainly come from these three coalfields, with a ratio of approximately 3:5:2.


    In this document, there was also information on the owners of the three coalfields.


    "Mr. Oliver, your phone is ringing!" The secretary pointed to Oliver''s vibrating mobile.


    "This is Oliver," he answered the phone, his tone cold due to his bad mood.


    "Mr. Oliver, this is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Mr. Zhang?" Oliver''s expression changed faster than a face turn, "Mr. Zhang, I apologize. I wasn''t in the best of spirits just now, and my tone might have been a bit off."


    Oliver was a smart man; so far, those who had crossed Zhang Menglong had all been unlucky, and he did not want to test whether he''d be the exception.


    The last time he left Europe, he had also vaguely heard that the organizers and the countries that had failed to secure the final auction item wouldn''t let him leave Europe so easily.


    There were even some unspeakable secrets that someone had revealed to him, stating that unless Zhang Menglong''s skills were out of this world, it was impossible for him to leave Europe alive.


    But reality proved that Zhang Menglong was living quite comfortably, having recently defeated four God of Cars, shocking the racing world, and most outrageously, he had even solved a mathematical problem that had perplexed experts for a century.


    In Oliver''s mind, Zhang Menglong had become a very mysterious figure.


    "So, Mr. Oliver, have you come across any troubling matters lately?"


    "Ah, let''s not talk about it, it''s not worth mentioning!" Oliver sighed, "It''s all due to some national influences. Even if I have a headache over it, I can''t do anything without the country changing its policies."


    "As for you, Mr. Zhang, it''s been two or three months since we last met. What brings you to call me all of a sudden? I don''t suppose it''s to invite me for tea, is it?"


    "Hahaha!" Oliver was quite a talker, which did endear him to Zhang Menglong quite a bit.


    "Of course not, but if Mr. Oliver does come to visit Huaxia, I will definitely treat you to a tea tasting," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Since Mr. Zhang is so courteous, then I really would like to visit Huaxia," Oliver was a businessman after all, never straying too far from talk of money, and he''d already said quite a bit of to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you''re looking for a businessman like me, it must be for conducting business. I presume it''s quite a substantial deal you have in mind?"


    "Haha, I do like how forthright you are, Mr. Oliver," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Only, this deal is rather large, and I''m not sure if it''s appropriate to discuss."


    "Go ahead, Mr. Zhang, no matter how big it is in coal business, I can handle it!" Oliver said confidently.


    "Then I''ll just come out with it!" Zhang Menglong began, "Mr. Oliver, are you selling your Bowen Coalfield?"

 Chapter 299 Wanting to Contribute to Global Warming

    "Mr. Zhang, what did you just say? I must have heard it wrong."


    "I was asking if your coal field is for sale?"@@@@


    "No, I meant the sentence before that!" Oliver said.


    "The sentence before?" Zhang Menglong paused for a moment, "This deal is rather big, I''m not sure if it should be brought up?"


    "It shouldn''t be!"


    Inside the office, Oliver was overwhelmed. He had originally thought that Zhang Menglong was about to discuss a coal business deal with him. Their Bowen Coalfield had enormous reserves, enough for all of Australia to mine for over a hundred years, with an average holding of more than 1,500 tons per person. What kind of offer could they not handle?


    But he had never imagined that Zhang Menglong would start off by wanting to buy his coalfield? Was this some kind of joke?


    "Mr. Oliver, you really play these word games from Huaxia quite well," praised Zhang Menglong. Such stunts, typically seen only in Huaxia, and here he was, an Australian, playing them so smoothly that even Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s talk something substantial. Let''s properly discuss business, making these kinds of jokes really isn''t very meaningful," Oliver said.


    "Mr. Oliver, I''m not joking, I really want to buy your coal field," Zhang Menglong said, "if possible, I''d like to buy the Sydney Coal Field and the Latrobe Valley Coal Field too.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you trying to monopolize the entire Australian coal mining industry?" Oliver asked with a bitter smile.


    These three coal mines were the largest in all of Australia, and with coal-fired power surpassing 70%, if he bought all of them, all of Australia would subsequently depend on Zhang Menglong''s approval for operations. Even if they were willing to sell, would the country agree?


    "I urgently need them!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if it''s urgent, this request is too absurd," Oliver said, "We only have the mining rights and the export rights for this coal field, but the ownership is still in the hands of the state; it''s just that our freedom is relatively greater."


    "Well," Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a bit disappointed, "I thought your country''s coal fields could be privately owned just like my diamond mines and gold mines!"


    Oliver immediately rolled his eyes, thinking, "I never asked if you had diamond mines or gold mines, why do you have to overdo it? Did you call me here to talk business or to show off your wealth?"


    "Then, Mr. Oliver, could you help me get in touch with your government to see if they are willing to sell these three coal fields to me?"


    Oliver sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Mr. Zhang, I know you are the richest man in the world. Even if the Australian government is willing to sell them to you, but to buy these three coal fields, I''m afraid no matter how much you have, it wouldn''t be possible. Do you know the coal reserve of these three coal fields?"


    Oliver continued, "Just our Bowen Coalfield has a total reserve of over 30 billion tons. Based on our export price this year, the base price for quality coal is about 840 Huaxia currency per ton, which is 25 trillion Huaxia currency! Plus various taxes, the total value of the coal field wouldn''t be less than 30 trillion Huaxia currency! That''s about 4.65 trillion US dollars!"


    "Boss, he said if they use the Huaxia accounts, they can gather several trillion in just two days, but if they use foreign accounts... it would be available anytime... "


    "How... how is this possible?" Forbes''s list of billionaires had Zhang Menglong''s assets at 800 billion US Dollars, but Oliver was sure, this pure crap, Zhang Menglong''s total assets absolutely exceeded one trillion US Dollars!


    But to extract several billion US Dollars, even in cash, he wanted to first ask, which country could do that?


    "Mr. Oliver, several billion US Dollars is no problem, why don''t you ask if they can sell it?"


    "Mr. Zhang," at that moment, Oliver felt as if he was speaking to a god, and not just any god but a living God of Wealth, "Mr. Zhang, even if you truly have that money, the government wouldn''t possibly sell it. Our country''s mining laws state that national energy resources can only grant mining rights and a few other powers, and it''s not possible to sell them outright."


    "I see," Zhang Menglong looked troubled, "That''s true, if I bought all your coalfields, what would you use?" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    "You know that and you still ask?" Oliver suddenly felt an impulse to curse Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Then... how much is your annual production?"


    "Last year, it was roughly 170 million tons, and this year''s extraction is estimated at 182 million tons."


    "Since you''re not selling the coalfields, the coal itself is still for sale, right?"


    Oliver breathed a sigh of relief; Zhang Menglong was finally about to engage in some regular business practices.


    "Of course, what''s business if not to deal?" Oliver said with a laugh, "As per national requirements, we reserve about 50 million tons for the country annually, and the rest is all exported. Mr. Zhang, how much do you plan to buy?"


    "I''ll take it all!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought.


    "Pfft!" Just as Oliver took a sip of coffee trying to calm his nerves, he ended up spraying his female secretary with it.


    Come on, can you do business properly? Even if you''re rich, that''s not how you do business, right? If the mine can''t be sold, you want to package the whole year''s production? What kind of weird logic is this?


    And he really couldn''t understand what on earth Zhang Menglong needed with so much coal. Was he planning to build his own coal field? That''s not how you play the game!


    "Mr. Zhang, forgive me for asking, but what do you need so much coal for?"


    "Ahem, ahem!" Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Actually, I''m an environmentalist. Every year, the world burns a large amount of coal, causing severe pollution and global warming. I plan to buy all the coal and then hide it away, contributing somewhat to alleviating global warming."


    If Oliver were Huaxian, right now in his mind there would definitely be a curse about to slip out, "Are you fucking stupid?"

 Chapter 300 Youre leaving no way out

    Contributing to global warming, what a noble ideal!


    But has anyone ever heard of buying up all the petrochemical fuels for energy conservation and emission reduction? Just how much money would that take?


    Does Zhang Menglong also plan to buy up all the world''s munitions for the sake of world peace?


    This reason, in Oliver''s ears, was more than absurd; it was downright idiotic!@@@@


    And if all the coal mined from their coalfields were sold to Zhang Menglong, what about those major coal-importing countries with long-term contracts? If shipments were to stop, not only would they face huge compensation claims, someone might even sue them under the Monopoly Law.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t joke with me, how could you possibly use more than a hundred million tons of coal in a year?" Oliver said, "If you need some, a few hundred or thousand tons, I''d have no problem giving it to you."


    "Well, Mr. Oliver," Zhang Menglong saw no need to keep him in the dark, "my actual goal is to prevent you from selling the coalfield to Kaibong."


    "Kaibong?" Oliver was startled; he was aware of the deep historical issues between Huaxia and Kaibong, even now many Huaxia people harbored animosity towards Kaibong, but what did that have to do with this act?


    "They''ve upset me, so I don''t want them to be happy," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Just for that reason?" Oliver''s eyes widened.


    Does the world''s wealthiest man really not care about money? Just for some petty happiness, Zhang Menglong almost whipped out tens of trillions of US dollars!


    Wanting to be happy¡ªcould he not indulge in good food, play with beautiful, sexy things with those tens of trillions of US dollars? Even if Kaibong offended him, wouldn''t it be more cost-effective to use that money to smash their currency market or to buy out their enterprises?


    Although tens of trillions can generate much more daily value, it''d take at least three hundred years to exhaust all of Australia''s coal, and Zhang Menglong would be dead before breaking even.


    No matter how hard he racked his brains, Oliver couldn''t fathom why Zhang Menglong would choose this path.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll be frank with you. We have a long-term cooperation agreement with Kaibong, and we have to sell them at least 50 million tons of high-quality coal each day and year."


    "Since it''s business, there''s always room for negotiation," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Does Australian law stipulate that you can only sell your coal to Kaibong?"


    "That, it does not..."


    "There you go, then. It''s just a matter of money," Zhang Menglong said. "How much per ton do you sell your coal to Kaibong for?"


    "The price for coal exported to Kaibong fluctuates between 50 and 100 US dollars a ton; based on the situation in the first two months of this year, it has been stable at 62 US dollars per ton," Oliver answered truthfully.


    "Sell me the portion you sell to Kaibong. I''ll pay 200 US dollars per ton!"


    And just this brief phone call had already netted a deal close to several tens of billions of US dollars. Wasn''t this what he wanted all along? With this one transaction alone, his assets could increase by tens of billions of US dollars!


    "How much do you know about the global coal supply chain?"


    "Hahaha, I''ve been in this circle for decades. In this industry, there''s likely nothing I don''t know."


    "Reliable!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I hope Mr. Oliver can help me find out from which coalfields Kaibong imports its coal."


    "I can give you the answer to that now," Oliver laughed. "We keep records of all our partners'' basic information."


    "Last year, Kaibong imported 178 million tons from us in Australia; our Bowen Coalfield, 80 million tons; Sydney Coalfield, 50 million tons; Latrobe Valley Coalfield, 30 million tons; and various other small amounts totaling 18 million tons, while Yinhei''s 32 million tons came from the South Sumatra Coalfield and 21 million tons from Tsarist Russia''s Berchora Coalfield."


    "I have quite a lot of business dealings with the owners of these coalfields, so our relationships are pretty good!"


    "Then, Mr. Oliver, could you pass a message to those owners for me?" said Zhang Menglong. "For the coal sold to Kaibong, I''ll buy it all at double the price, and I''ll also cover the penalty for breach of contract!"


    "This year, I want them to not be able to buy a single bit!" Zhang Menglong''s face showed a fierce light.


    To forge a monopoly on new land resources? Fine, he would fight fire with fire!


    You see, although the world''s annual coal production was substantial, the proportion available for export was almost always fixed!


    Moreover, due to global warming, countries worldwide were adopting policies; it wasn''t a case of mining as much coal as the market demanded.


    The annual production was set, and so was the export volume; once sold out, there was no more, making coal export resources highly coveted.


    Zhang Menglong had wrapped up all the coal quotas belonging to Kaibong. For them to seek other import channels in a short time was nothing short of a pipe dream!


    It could be anticipated that, for the coming period, the entire nation of Kaibong would be plunged into a shortage of coal resources.


    "You really aren''t leaving them any way out!" Oliver said with a wry smile.


    "Then I''ll be waiting for the good news from you, Mr. Oliver!" Zhang Menglong laughed as he hung up the phone.


    "Hong Yi, how long will it take to cut off Kaibong''s natural gas supply?"


    "Mr. Zhang, at the earliest, a day and a half!"


    "Good, cut them off!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "I want to see how long they can last with only nuclear and renewable energy generation!"

 Chapter 301 Unless You Outbid Him

    Kaibong Corporation is one of the largest coal-fired power developers in the Kaibong country, currently headed by President Masumi Aoki, a fifty-year-old middle-aged man.


    Over 90% of the coal imported from outside Kaibong enters the domestic market through them, and their existence is a very important hub for the entire country''s energy supply.


    As usual, Masumi Aoki was in his office looking at the fluctuation of coal import prices for the year. Although the price of coal had dropped significantly compared to previous years, due to the pandemic, transportation costs were extremely high, and the profits of exporting countries had decreased, leading many of them to reduce or even stop their coal export quotas.


    Even though coal is not a clean energy source, with nuclear and hydro power generation not yet mature, coal remains an indispensable energy resource.


    Fortunately, Kaibong Corporation had long-term cooperation with several major exporting countries. Imports had become more difficult, but they were still able to meet the domestic power supply demands.


    "Knock, knock, knock!" A sudden burst of rapid knocking came from the door.


    "Come in," said Masumi Aoki.


    A young man in a suit entered the office, his face looking somewhat frantic, even forgetting the usual courtesy.


    "Section Chief Noguchi, what''s the matter that you are in such a rush?" Noting the expression on the young man''s face, Masumi Aoki didn''t press him on his breach of etiquette. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "President, our finance department just received a huge transfer from Bowen Energy Group. Have we recently made any strategic cooperation moves?" Hiroshi Noguchi, the chief of the finance department, discovered early this morning that their company account had mysteriously received an additional 1 billion US dollars!


    He combed through all of the company''s recent transaction records, but the accounts were clear and without issue. This 1 billion US dollars seemed to have appeared out of thin air.


    What was most strange was that the Bowen Energy Group had always been their coal supplier. If there were indeed a transfer, it should be them paying Bowen Energy Group, not the other way around. So why did they receive a payment from them?


    "A huge transfer?" Masumi Aoki was taken aback. As the head of the company, he oversaw all matters big and small. If something like this were true, he shouldn''t be unaware of it, right?


    "Look at this, President!" Hiroshi Noguchi lifted the tablet to Masumi Aoki''s eyes.


    "1 billion US dollars? That can''t be right. It would have been surprising enough if they weren''t hurrying us for payment; how could they be transferring money to us? Could it be a mistake? But with such a large amount, how could there be an operational error?" Masumi Aoki was completely puzzled.


    "No, that''s not right!" Masumi Aoki suddenly thought of something. Though the import-export contract had been signed years ago, he had been involved in drafting and revising it. Although there were annual updates, one figure had always remained fixed.


    1 billion US dollars was exactly the penalty for breaching the contract!


    With that realization, Masumi Aoki broke out in a cold sweat. Why would they receive a penalty for breach of contract? Naturally, it was because the other party intended to breach. According to their contract with Bowen Energy Group, they were obliged to export over 50 million tons of premium coal to them every year!


    "Could they have encountered some problem?" Masumi Aoki immediately searched for Oliver''s contact information and called him without delay, without even considering the time difference.


    ...


    "What the hell is going on?" Masumi Aoki''s face contorted viciously. Oliver had always been very careful about maintaining their direct relationship, so why had his attitude changed so suddenly?


    After waiting anxiously for half an hour, Masumi Aoki called Oliver again.


    At this time, Oliver had just finished drying his hair as he walked out. He hit the speakerphone button, "Yasa, translate for me!"


    "Mr. Aoki, what''s so urgent?" Oliver took his time responding.


    "Mr. Oliver, what does that 1 billion mean? Is Bowen Group cutting off cooperation with us?" Masumi Aoki asked, "With such high prices and volume, could you find a second buyer aside from us?"


    "Mr. Aoki, aren''t you asking the obvious?" Oliver chuckled, "That 1 billion US Dollars is the contractual penalty for breach of agreement, and as for our new client, they offered a higher price, so naturally, we chose them!"


    "Who did you sell to?" Masumi Aoki inquired; to offset the 1 billion breach of contract fee with their import scale and per ton price, the other party had to raise the price by at least 10 US Dollars a ton!


    "Our new customer is a generous man from Huaxia!" Oliver laughed, this was also Zhang Menglong''s instruction¡ªto just tell them if asked, "He is the current world''s wealthiest man, Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Masumi Aoki''s face changed, "What price did he give?"


    "40 billion US Dollars to buy out your Kaibong''s share in our Bowen Coalfield imports!"


    "Is he out of his mind?" Their plan in Kaibong for this year was to import 75 million tons from them, which with the current prices, wouldn''t even be 50 billion US Dollars, yet Zhang Menglong had given eight times that amount!


    "Mr. Oliver, do you truly believe he can pay this amount?" Masumi Aoki sneered.


    "My dear President Aoki, the generous Mr. Zhang has already wired the money to our account," Oliver responded.


    "What?" Masumi Aoki''s expression turned as unsightly as if he had eaten excrement, "Mr. Oliver, was our previous cooperation not satisfying enough for you?"


    Instantly, Oliver cursed Masumi Aoki''s ancestors in his mind.


    Satisfactory or not, didn''t he have any Cred Points? The other party paid upfront without even receiving the goods! And you? Your price isn''t even a fifth of theirs, and you also owe money!


    One would have to be insane to choose you!


    "President Aoki, I am not someone who disregards friendship," Oliver said sarcastically, "but as merchants, naturally we sell to whoever offers a higher price. Just offer more than Mr. Zhang, and I assure you, I will break the contract and sell the coal to you right away!"


    "Also!" Oliver added, "The breach of contract fee in our agreement with Mr. Zhang is 10 billion US Dollars, and that sum would also need to be covered by you, oh!"


    ```

 Chapter 302 Ive Heard This Reason Before

    "Hahaha! A true talent, Oliver really is a talent!"


    While making this call, Oliver''s other phone was connected to Zhang Menglong. He truly wanted to see those flustered faces of the Kaibong people.


    During their conversation, Zhang Menglong heard every word, not one missed; these were not the phrases Zhang Menglong had taught him. Oliver spoke the Underworld lingo as fluently as he did!


    Offer more than Zhang Menglong? That''s just ridiculous. Kaibong''s power system annually relies on government funds, and the national budget can only allocate so little, especially since the economy had contracted due to the pandemic, the budget for coal-fired power this year wasn''t even 10 billion US Dollars.


    And the penalty fee alone in the contract signed between Zhang Menglong and Oliver was 10 billion US Dollars; their pitiful funds couldn''t even cover the breach penalty!


    "Increase his pay," Zhang Menglong laughed. A person like this must be paid more!


    "Mr. Oliver, considering our past cooperation, could you answer a question for me?" Masumi Aoki asked.


    He wasn''t an idiot. Zhang Menglong''s actions were clearly targeting their Shogun Red Co., Ltd., but such targeting was definitely not without reason! To randomly spend tens of billions of US Dollars just to target someone seemed too costly, right?


    But he didn''t understand why Zhang Menglong was buying up all that coal; Shogun Red Co., Ltd. had virtually no interactions with Zhang Menglong, let alone any grievance.


    "Feel free to ask, Mr. Aoki. Answering some questions is still possible."


    "Mr. Oliver, did our Shogun Red Co., Ltd. inadvertently offend Mr. Zhang Menglong at some point?" Masumi Aoki asked.


    "No, no, no," Oliver burst into laughter, "Your Shogun Red Co., Ltd. isn''t even worthy of being offended by Mr. Zhang!"


    Though Shogun Red is a hybrid of private and state-owned enterprise, its valuation is merely 20 billion US Dollars.


    To Zhang Menglong, plucking a little from those hundreds of billions of US Dollars could turn Shogun Red''s entire world upside down. In Zhang Menglong''s eyes, a company of that size was like an ant in the eyes of a lion, simply not qualified to be targeted by him!


    Hearing this, Masumi Aoki felt almost like cursing his mother; a company with a market cap of several billion dollars, and yet not qualified to offend Zhang Menglong?


    "Then..."


    "I think that it must have been your Kaibong country that offended Mr. Zhang Menglong," Oliver chuckled, "because not only in our Bowen Coalfield''s share, Mr. Zhang Menglong has also bought up all the coal in other Australian coal fields!"


    "What?" Masumi''s expression changed. What on earth was Zhang Menglong trying to do?


    He still dared not mention the issue of coal imports, a matter that concerned national livelihood. If addressed too severely, he, as the president, would have to apologize to the entire nation!


    "There''s an emergency meeting!" Takao Aoyama said, "The car is already outside; Mr. Aoki, please gather your things and come with me immediately!"


    "Is there some special situation?" Masumi Aoki was somewhat uneasy; it had never happened before that Takao Aoyama personally came to pick him up.


    "The minister didn''t say, only that I should come to fetch you."


    Takao Aoyama''s expression was unusually serious, and Masumi Aoki dared not ask further and quickly left the company with him.


    ...


    "President Tsumi, President Ryuichi?" When he arrived at the meeting room, Masumi Aoki saw several familiar faces. They were other coal and electricity developers from Kaibong, but together, they still did not match the scale of Shohan Red Corporation.


    "You..." Masumi Aoki was about to ask something when footsteps were heard outside the door.


    "The Minister!"


    Everyone immediately stood up¡ªthe Minister of the Energy Department had personally come!


    The Minister of the Energy Department was a very burly middle-aged man. By his side were several assistants. The minister''s face looked extremely serious.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, due to the urgency of the situation, I had to gather you all here," the Minister of the Energy Department began, "we just received news that several Middle Eastern countries have stopped supplying us Kaibong with natural gas."


    "What?"


    "How can that be?"


    "Why?"


    Natural gas generation accounted for a quarter of Kaibong''s electricity production. If the natural gas supply was cut off, their nuclear and coal-fired power stations would be under immense pressure.


    The Minister of the Energy Department grimly smiled, "The reason is absurd¡ªthey actually said it was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions!"


    "What kind of nonsense excuse is that?"


    "This..." Masumi Aoki suddenly began to sweat on his forehead, "this reason, it feels like I''ve heard it somewhere before?"

 Chapter 303 They Arent Just Protesters, Are They?

    The Energy Department''s minister hadn''t noticed the despair on Masumi Aoki''s face but continued, "Although the Middle East has halted their natural gas supply to us, our other suppliers can still provide a small amount of natural gas."


    "While other energy sources can replace natural gas, some countries'' energy facilities must be powered by a natural gas network. For this part of the supply, I''m afraid it will be very difficult to spare any for civil power generation, commercial power generation, and industrial power generation."


    "Minister, do you mean we need to increase the proportion of coal-fired power generation?" a coal power merchant asked.


    There was a hint of joy on his face; if the nation was going to increase the proportion of coal power, it naturally meant that money would be poured into this area. That indicated that these state-owned coal power enterprises would receive a large sum of funds, and there were substantial interests to be excavated.


    "Exactly!" the Energy Department''s minister said, "This year''s natural gas proportion can only reach a maximum of 5%, which means that this year''s coal import volume must at least double from the previous year until we find a new natural gas supplier."


    "This will likely take about one and a half to two years!"


    "Minister, that''s a trivial matter!" a coal power company''s boss said, "We have always maintained a long-term cooperation with Sydney''s Bowen Coalfield. Because our enterprise is quite small, we only import twenty million tons of coal each year. But if the nation needs it, I am confident that we can increase the import to sixty million tons!"


    "Minister, it''s pretty much the same with us! Last year we imported twenty-five million tons of high-quality coal from Yinhei''s Sumatran Coalfield. As far as I know, they produce sixty million tons of coal each year for domestic demand, but still have an excess of over thirty million tons each year. I think it''s no problem for us to double our import volume as well!"


    Listening to the enthusiastic voices of the coal field bosses, Masumi Aoki suddenly let out a cold laugh.


    "President Masumi, why are you laughing?" the Energy Department''s minister suddenly fixed his gaze on Masumi Aoki.


    "It''s useless!" Masumi Aoki said bitterly, "This year, our Kaibong country shouldn''t expect to import a single ton of coal from any coal field!"


    "Hahaha, President Masumi, you have quite a sense of humor. We have long-term cooperation with those coal fields. Why wouldn''t they earn money if they could? Our contracts last at least three years, and a breach would incur a high penalty. Those coal enterprises wouldn''t do such foolish things!"


    "Right, President Masumi, it can''t be that your import volume can''t meet our country''s emergency needs this year, can it? Nipa Corporation is so big; such a trivial matter shouldn''t be a problem for you!"@@@@


    "Indeed, the coal fields cooperating with Nipa Corporation amount to more than all of ours combined. Importing a few tens of millions or even a hundred million tons more shouldn''t be too difficult, right?"


    Even though they were all enterprises from Kaibong country, Nipa Corporation, as a large company, was naturally the target of many envious eyes. They were the largest coal power merchant in the nation, receiving the most resources from the state, and their profits were the highest each year. Many coveted their resources!


    "Enough!" Faced with their ridicule, Masumi Aoki shouted angrily, "You idiots have no idea what''s going on! If you don''t believe it, then call your beloved suppliers and ask if they have any coal to sell you!"


    Everyone''s expression changed. This was the office of the Energy Department''s minister, not the president''s office of Nipa Corporation. Masumi Aoki dared to slam the table here; wasn''t this showing disrespect to the minister?


    Just as Masumi Aoki had said, there was no coal available for their Kaibong from any coalfield in the world!


    "Mr. Masumi Aoki, what exactly is going on? Please explain!" In the conference room, everyone''s eyes were focused on Masumi Aoki''s face.


    "I don''t know what''s happening either, all I know is that this is all done by that Huaxia man named Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?"


    "Our Kaibong has not offended him, right? Why would he do something like this?"


    "I think the Minister might be more aware of this matter than we are!" said Masumi Aoki.


    He was certain that these coal businessmen and Zhang Menglong had absolutely no connections, and it was even less likely that they had offended him; there was only one possibility¡ªthat their government had done something to harm Zhang Menglong''s interests, so he was retaliating this way!


    Of course, this was just a conjecture by Masumi Aoki.


    "Are you sure it''s Zhang Menglong?" The Minister''s face turned extremely grave; as a high-ranking state official, he naturally knew that Kaibong had seriously interfered with Zhang Menglong''s import of new earth minerals.


    Regardless of whether the Huaxia people could produce high-performance chips, with no raw materials, even if they had the technology, it would be impossible to achieve anything.


    "Mr. Oliver from the Bowen Coalfield told me personally," Masumi Aoki said, "I even suspect that Zhang Menglong intentionally let us know that this was all his doing."


    "Moreover, I suspect the cutoff of natural gas is also related to him," said Masumi Aoki, "Zhang Menglong told Mr. Oliver that he is buying the coal that was meant for us also as a contribution to combat global warming."


    "Bullshit! Is he trying to cut off the lifeline of our Kaibong?"


    "What exactly does he want to do?"


    "Does he really want to declare war on our entire country by himself?"


    "This Huaxia man... bastard..." They had anticipated that Zhang Menglong might retaliate, but they did not expect the counterattack to come so swiftly and fiercely!


    Zhang Menglong was not playing by the rules at all, and with his first strike, he had essentially blocked off more than half of their nation''s energy imports! Ultraman fighting monsters didn''t start with blasting rays right off the bat. Don''t young people today have any sense of martial virtue at all?

 Chapter 304 "True Fragrance" Will Never Be Absent

    "Mr. Zhang, the natural gas supply to Kaibong from the Middle East has already been stopped, but there are still some countries'' gas resources that are not under your control, though their proportion is not high and won''t affect your plans."


    "Hmm, very good!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "What about the coalfields?"


    "All the coalfields in Australia have been completely bought out, and just this part alone has cut off more than 90% of Kaibong''s supply," Hong Yi said, "However, the order was to make sure they couldn''t buy a single ton of coal, which did take some effort, but by now, Kaibong should have already hit a wall."


    "You have worked hard." Zhang Menglong reclined with one leg crossed over the other, "Those turtles must be panicking now! They even refused to export rare earth minerals to us, let''s see who can outplay whom!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you actually didn''t need to go through so much trouble," Hong Yi said, "In the western Seido region of Kaibong, there is a large piece of land that your ancestors bought. If you used that land to threaten them, they would surely compromise."


    "Am I the kind of person who bullies others with power?" Zhang Menglong said with a face of integrity, "If I did that, others would definitely call me despicable and shameless! But by purchasing the coal that was originally going to be burned by Kaibong, that is supporting sustainable development and contributing to the mitigation of global warming!"


    Hong Yi couldn''t help but roll her eyes, she was already used to Zhang Menglong''s hypocritical behavior. "Despicable and shameless"? When he used other people''s deposits in Qingqiu to force them to compromise, didn''t he know about being "despicable and shameless"?


    "Mr. Zhang, Kaibong has now taken this matter to the international magazines, it seems they want to use the power of public opinion to force you into submission?"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow and immediately turned on his phone.


    "Kaibong''s coal import blocked, credited to actions of Huaxia''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    This bold headline had become the top story across major media today.


    "What''s happening? Today''s news is quite unusual!"


    "What does ''blocked'' mean? Does Mr. Zhang have such great power that he can block a developed country like Kaibong from importing energy? To say it''s blocked just like that?"


    "I''ve heard some rumors over here, I have a friend who works at an energy company in Australia, their company deals in coal mining, part of which was to be exported to Kaibong. However, I heard a few days ago that a new buyer outbid others for the coal that was supposed to go to Kaibong, offering $240 per ton, even covering the penalty fees!"


    "What? $240 a ton? Holy shit, I remember when the coal price was at its highest, It was just over $100 per ton, right? With the current import-export situation, $60-70 per ton is already really good, this is simply more than double!"


    "You guys do the math, Kaibong imported nearly two hundred million tons of coal last year, if they continue at this rate this year, that''s $48 billion at $240 per ton! How rich is Mr. Zhang exactly?"


    "No no no! That''s not even the highest price, another friend of mine said their coalfield was also leased to some mysterious boss, with an offer of $320 per ton!"


    "Impressive! With this move, Mr. Zhang really stirs up a big scene!"


    "What''s really going on? Why did Mr. Zhang suddenly take action against Kaibong?"


    "Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi said from the side, "Those small countries almost completely rely on coal for their power generation, do you want me to cut off their coal supply as well?"


    Numbers popped up on Hong Yi''s computer, "Mr. Zhang, the combined annual coal import of these small countries doesn''t even reach 5000 tons, and they mostly import from Australia and Yinhei. Given our previous cooperation, it''d be easy to buy out their importing share."


    "No need," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "These countries are too pitiful. I can''t bear to cut off their electricity."


    "They''re not very effective internationally, but they still make some noise."


    "Well," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "those coal resources we cut off from Kaibong, let''s gift some to them!"


    "Huh?" Hong Yi was stunned. They were helping to speak up for Kaibong, and you want to gift them coal? What kind of reverse operation was this?


    "It''s okay, you help me spread the word, I''ve got their coal supply covered for the next ten years. They should know what to do!"


    ...


    "What? Giving us ten years'' worth of coal? We import 800 tons of coal a year. That''s several billion US Dollars over ten years! That would save our country a huge amount of money!"


    "Really? You''re serious? Got it, got it, we know what to do!"


    "Hmph! Kaibong invaded our country before, leaving serious impacts, and we''ve been wanting to stand up against them for a long time!"


    When those small countries received the call orchestrated by Hong Yi, they were overjoyed as if they had found money!


    Although they had always looked up to Kaibong, they had never received any form of aid from Kaibong, whether economically or militarily.


    Now, with such significant benefits laid before them, billions of US Dollars might not mean much to large countries, but for some small countries, it could be equivalent to a year''s GDP!


    Faced with such temptation, who cared about face? They quickly changed their previous statements.


    "Our country strongly condemns the blood-splattering actions of Kaibong!"


    "Kaibong emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases each year. Mr. Zhang''s actions aim to protect the environment, which is a critical rescue operation concerning all humanity!"


    "What''s happening?" Seeing those small countries that previously supported Kaibong switching sides, both the domestic and international netizens were extremely surprised.


    Seeing the latest reports, Zhang Menglong revealed a satisfied smile, "Indeed, ''smells good'' might be delayed, but it never fails to show up!"

 Chapter 305 What Kind of Ulterior Motives Could I, Zhang Menglong, Possibly Have?

    "Menglong, good news!" The next day, Zhang Menglong received an exhilarating phone call.


    "Professor Chen, you sound so excited, it must mean that our photolithography machine technology has conquered the major hurdles, right?"


    "Hahaha, that''s right!" Professor Chen Hui said, "After three months of technical analysis and R&D, we have fully digested and absorbed your drawings, and the first prototype has also been manufactured. We can now move on to mass production of the photolithography machines!"


    "Great!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed. He had thought that, at the earliest, Silicon Moonlight wouldn''t be able to start production until May or June of this year, but it was only March now, and everything was almost ready!


    "However, we still need a precision equipment manufacturing assembly line. With our current technology, we can''t reach the necessary level yet, and might need to seek assistance from foreign companies."


    "Professor Chen, do you know of any companies that have this capability?" Zhang Menglong asked. Although he had the technology for precision instruments as well, creating so much from scratch in such a short time was beyond his limited energy and time.@@@@


    "Currently, Europe''s Omos and Bao both have the capability to meet our precision requirements," Professor Chen Hui said.


    "Hong Yi, could you come over for a moment?" Zhang Menglong called out.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do?"


    "Acquire the precision machinery factories of Omos and Bao for me!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was as casual as if he were asking someone to buy two buns for him, "How long will it take?"


    Hong Yi immediately brought up the information of both companies, "Mr. Zhang, Omos is a state-owned enterprise, which might make the acquisition a bit difficult, but Bao is a private tech company, with a total market value of less than 10 billion US dollars. I can complete the acquisition of most of the shares before the stock market closes tomorrow."


    Professor Chen Hui, listening on the phone, sighed. He had initially meant to just rent a production line, or buying one would have been enough to meet the production needs.


    But Zhang Menglong didn''t even ask and jumped straight to acquiring the companies. How are they supposed to respond to that? Otherwise, might as well conquer all the chip companies in the world, make them yours, and there would be no need for any independent research and development anymore.


    "Menglong, after our discussion, all that''s left is the raw material issue," Professor Chen Hui said, "By the end of April, we can start formal production, but if the new mineral mine can''t deliver, we might have to delay the start of operations." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Zhang, representatives of Shang Hongwan Corporation claimed that you purchased all the coal that the world''s major coalfields originally intended to export to them, which severely impacted their company''s development."


    "So, that''s happening?" said Zhang Menglong, "I did buy that coal, but I didn''t know it was theirs! You''ve seen the news online, haven''t you? I''ve stated before that the reason I acquired those coals was mainly to slow down global warming, I never targeted anyone specifically!"


    "And I didn''t even buy that much, just 200 million tons, only 200 million tons of coal, can that be considered a monopoly?" Zhang Menglong said in a nai?ve tone, "If that''s really the case, then they are too poor. When I first learned about this a few days ago, I thought it was only a small part of their share!"


    "Ah?" President Zhou was stunned, "Too poor?"


    If wealth in a society were judged by per capita GDP, then Kaibong would be several times wealthier than Huaxia!


    "Just 200 million tons? Our Huaxia needs about 30 billion tons per year, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the coal produced by our own Huaxia coal mines and coalfields is enough for our consumption and we even export the surplus, but they virtually lack coal assets, nearly 99% of their coal relies on imports, and last year their total imports were only around 180 million tons, you buying 200 million tons all at once, isn''t that the same as buying up their entire share? "


    "That''s rough," Zhang Menglong said with a tone of pity, "Really a pitiful country. I thought those 200 million tons wouldn''t make much of a difference. Accidentally, I almost bankrupted them, my mistake, my mistake!"


    "But you can''t entirely blame me, I was purchasing coal from those coalfields, but they said that next year''s quota was already sold out. I offered to pay them more, including the penalty fee. I didn''t know they were cutting off their coal!"


    Zhang Menglong sounded surprised, "Could it be that they''ve been so unscrupulous in doing business that all the coal owners are dissatisfied with them, causing such a united front? My only wish is world peace, how could I harbor any ill intentions? This is all a misunderstanding!"


    President Zhou''s expression was a mix of laughter and tears. Having lived for most of his life, he could naturally tell that Zhang Menglong was making excuses, and his sarcastic explanation had even mocked Kaibong''s lack of land resources, almost as if he could accidentally cause their downfall.


    After all, they were a developed country, yet in the mouth of Zhang Menglong, they turned into a fragile and poor country?


    Truth be told, even President Zhou secretly cheered for what Zhang Menglong did, but as the matter had escalated to his attention, he couldn''t just ignore it, could he?


    "Mr. Zhang, the representative of Shang Hongwan Corporation is currently in my office. Since this is all a misunderstanding, I wonder if it would be convenient for you to come over?"

 Chapter 306 Subsidize the Liquidated Damages

    "Alright, since it''s a misunderstanding, let''s just talk about it face to face. Better to resolve enmity than nurse it," Zhang Menglong replied cheerfully.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang is willing to resolve this peacefully, that''s naturally the best!" Director Zhou sighed in relief. However, he didn''t know about Kaibong''s corporation''s refusal to sell the new soil minerals to Silicon Moonlight and still thought this was all just an accident¡ªotherwise, why would Zhang Menglong agree so readily?


    The meeting was scheduled for two that afternoon, and Director Zhou was already waiting at the door for him.


    "Mr. Zhang, welcome, and thank you for your support in our work."


    "Of course, of course!" Zhang Menglong nodded repeatedly, "Let''s hurry up and go, don''t keep others waiting, lest they say we don''t understand the rules."


    "Please, Mr. Zhang!" As they walked, Director Zhou introduced Zhang Menglong to this envoy.


    This representative was named Jintianjing Long, 42 years old, born a businessman and also a very capable person.


    Jintianjing Long was sitting in the conference room, discussing strategies with his two assistants.


    They certainly knew why Zhang Menglong had taken such measures against Kaibong. He wanted to use it as pressure to force the nation of Kaibong to open the export of new soil minerals to Silicon Moonlight.


    Situated on tectonic plate boundaries with frequent geological activity, Kaibong''s territory, although lacking many conventional mineral resources, possessed several rare metal resources, with new soil minerals almost considered a national treasure.


    Calling it a national treasure was because it was unique to Kaibong, but that didn''t mean it was scarce¡ªthe reserves of new soil minerals were not only substantial but could even be described as extremely abundant, with over 20 million tons located near the active volcanoes of Mount Asu.


    The new soil minerals mainly contained several rare metal elements found in scant amounts in the Earth''s crust. Currently, human technology didn''t utilize them in many fields, with the semiconductor industry being the largest consumer.@@@@


    However, the current photoresist technology didn''t use these metal elements, but Kaibong''s scientists, through research, had found that replacing them with metals from the new soil minerals could at least double the functionality of the photoresist.


    It''s just that a very stable formula had not been created yet.


    When they learned that Silicon Moonlight wanted to import new soil minerals, they immediately felt a deep unease.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a serious occasion, isn''t it inappropriate to talk about such matters?" Jintianjing Long said angrily, wondering how such a serious issue could be less important than Zhang Menglong watching a film?


    "How is it inappropriate?" Zhang Menglong retorted. "How are such matters not serious?"


    Zhang Menglong had long been shameless, never needing such a thing as face, and when facing someone shameless, if you are not even more shameless, then how can you win?


    "Hehe, Museum Director Zhou, Zhang Menglong said with a playful grin, "and I bought it from their official store in Kaibong, so that counts as a local specialty."


    "You!" Jintianjing Long was on the verge of erupting, the insult of the words "local specialty" was too severe.


    "Alright, you two," Museum Director Zhou quickly intervened, "today we are here to resolve the conflict between Mr. Zhang and your country. Let''s not talk about these off-topic matters."


    "Exactly, I, Zhang Menglong, dealing with multimillion-dollar figures every minute, took time out to come here as a courtesy. Don''t squander the face I''m giving you!"


    "Mr. Zhang! Mind the influence!"


    "Hahaha, sorry, sorry, I tend to speak too straightforwardly," Zhang Menglong said with a playful grin, "Mr. Long, tell me, what exactly did you invite me for this time?"


    "Mr. Zhang, regardless of whether your acquisition of those coal reserves is truly for global warming concerns or deliberately targeting us in Kaibong, I hope you stop such conduct and return the coal quota that rightfully belongs to us."


    "Sure! Of course!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What?" Both Jintianjing Long and Museum Director Zhou were stunned. When had Zhang Menglong become so agreeable? Just like that, he agreed? This wasn''t logical!


    Zhang Menglong stretched out a hand on the table.


    "What do you mean, Mr. Zhang?" Jintianjing Long asked, puzzled.


    "Nonsense, penalty for breach of contract!" Zhang Menglong said, "I have contracts with them, ranging from 10 billion to 100 billion US dollars each, and if I recall correctly, the total is 27 billion US dollars. Mr. Long, please compensate me for this penalty."

 Chapter 307 Do You Want Love at $1000 per Ton?

    "What did you say?" Kim Tanaka''s face changed drastically.


    Indeed, he had thought everything too simple just now. When Zhang Menglong agreed so readily, he really thought he had intimidated him, but it turned out he was the clown himself!


    Because of the disruption in natural gas supplies, the directive from above stated that this year''s coal import must reach at least 350 million tons, and the price should also be controlled at 80 US dollars per ton.


    Giving the current international situation, even 65 US dollars per ton would be considered a high price.


    If they imported at 65 US dollars per ton, domestic coal power businesses would have a huge margin of profit, each and every one of them would definitely be scrambling for it!


    At 80 US dollars per ton, 350 million tons would be 28 billion US dollars, which was the total budget they had prepared for the coal import this year.


    But Zhang Menglong had started off by demanding 27 billion US dollars in penalty fees. If they really deducted this portion of penalty fees, with 1 billion US dollars left, how much could they import then?


    Who the hell set such a high penalty fee when signing the contract? Weren''t you afraid of not being able to pay up when the time came?


    Kim Tanaka was on the verge of going mad.


    However, when Zhang Menglong signed the agreement back then, he had not considered this issue at all.


    First of all, the money for buying coal had been paid upfront for the entire year by Zhang Menglong, so for him, there was no possibility of a breach of contract.


    Even if such a situation were to arise, a mere 27 billion US dollars meant nothing to him; if he had to pay it, he would simply pay it. After all, when Zhang Menglong had made the purchase, he had paid much more than a mere 27 billion US dollars in premium. If he really cared about this sum, he would not have driven the price so high.


    "What''s the matter, you don''t believe me? Afraid that I''m going to swindle you?" Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, make a copy of those contract duplicates for Mr. Tanaka to review, so he doesn''t accuse us of embezzling their money!"


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang," said Hong Yi, "Director Zhou, may I borrow your printer, please?"


    "Miss Hong, right this way."


    A moment later, Hong Yi entered the conference room with a stack of contract documents.


    "Please have a look, Mr. Tanaka," Zhang Menglong moved the stack of documents in front of Kim Tanaka.


    "Bowen Coalfield, penalty fee is 10 billion US dollars!"


    "Sydney Coalfield, penalty fee is 4 billion US dollars!"


    "How can you say it doesn''t exist?" Zhang Menglong argued with a righteous tone, "I am an environmentalist. Those coals carried my dream of energy conservation and emissions reduction. I gave them to you, which means sacrificing my great dream of contributing to the greenhouse effect. Isn''t that a sacrifice?"


    "Wow, what a grand dream, it almost made me cry!" Hong Yi listened with a stunned expression; Zhang Menglong''s ability to talk nonsense seemed to grow stronger year by year.


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    "Mr. Zhang, since we are not negotiating the penalty for breach of contract, you might as well sell the coal directly to us. That would amount to the same thing."


    "That works!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "A thousand dollars a ton, how much do you want?"


    "What? A thousand US dollars a ton?"


    "Are you robbing us?"


    Jintianjing Long and his two assistants immediately stood up in outrage; a thousand dollars a ton was more than ten times the market price!


    With their $27 million, they couldn''t even buy 30 million tons of coal!


    Thirty million tons of coal would probably only last them a month, right?


    "Rob, you say? Don''t be so offensive. I am a businessman; a businessman has to make some profit, right?" Zhang Menglong justified strongly, "The Americans sell iPhones for ten thousand a piece when the cost is only a little over two thousand¡ªthat''s making a profit of four times, isn''t it?"


    "The average price of these coal shipments was about $300 a ton, and that''s without factoring in transportation and storage costs! Selling it to you for a thousand dollars a ton is not even three times the price. What gives you the right to accuse me of robbery?"


    "And besides, you seem to really enjoy those iPhones!"


    "Their costs only account for materials. When you add up the research, development, advertising, and other costs, it''s far more than that. How could that be the same?" Jintianjing Long retorted.


    "Then what about the time I spent talking to them on the phone, negotiating the deal? Doesn''t my time, energy, and saliva count as added value?"


    "You''re twisting words to suit your argument!"


    "My time is worth that much money," Zhang Menglong stated, "like it or not, a thousand dollars a ton, take it or leave it. If you don''t want it, get lost. I won''t sell. You can''t force a transaction, can you?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!"


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong slammed the table and stood up, "Please remember, you are the one asking me, not the other way around. Don''t think that by waving your Kaibong flag I''ll be intimidated!"


    Zhang Menglong enunciated every word, "In my eyes, you''re nothing but a fart!"

 Chapter 308 I Have Plenty of Time and Money

    "It seems that there is no need for us to continue our discussion today," Zhang Menglong stood up, "Director Zhou, it''s not that I don''t want to give you face, but they have come here with no sincerity at all. I think it''s better to wait until they realize the reality!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait!" Director Zhou looked troubled, "1000 US dollars per ton is indeed a bit too expensive. I think the price can still be adjusted appropriately."


    "Alright, I''ll give Director Zhou some face," Zhang Menglong sat back down, "I don''t have any other aspirations, I just hope for world peace, enemies should resolve rather than deepen their enmity, right? Since that''s the case, I''m not against selling at the cost price to you!"


    "Based on the average price of 300 US dollars per ton, you''re asking for 3.5 billion tons, which amounts to 1050 billion US dollars. Add to that a penalty of 270 billion, a total of 1320 billion US dollars. I am particularly generous, I''ll only ask for 1000 billion US dollars, the rest of the change I don''t want, consider it making a friend!"


    Kim Tae In-ryong was stricken on the spot, was he short of the 320 billion US dollars? He was short of 1000 billion US dollars! The money they planned for their financial planning wasn''t even enough to pay the change of this sum! Even if Zhang Menglong sold to them at cost price, they still couldn''t afford it!


    You say you''re buying coal, but why are you messing up the market price? Is it just to make it unaffordable for them?


    "Mr. Zhang, personally, I believe we should respect the market," Kim Tae In-ryong said righteously, "the current market price is 65 US dollars per ton, but considering Mr. Zhang''s loss, we can offer 80 US dollars per ton!"


    "Get lost! Idiot!" Zhang Menglong cursed loudly on the spot, "You think I''m a charitable donor selling you coal at the average import cost of 300 US dollars per ton for 80 dollars per ton?"


    "Director Zhou, you heard it, who is robbing who here?" Zhang Menglong knew these Kaibong people were shameless, but he never imagined they could be so brazen!


    He inflated the prices, anticipating this scenario today, but he never imagined that the Kaibong people would actually have the audacity to state that price!


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    When quoting that price, Kim Tae In-ryong''s face also turned crimson with embarrassment, but what can he do? They really don''t have that much money!


    If they were as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, would they still be bickering here?


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get angry, their demands are indeed a bit excessive," Director Zhou also felt he could not stand by, his aim was to mediate the conflict between both parties, not to help the Kaibong people bully those from Huaxia.


    "Actually, I have another solution," Zhang Menglong said, "You can also spend money to buy coal from other countries!"


    Zhang Menglong was saying this and couldn''t help laughing, "I know your country has a good relationship with Australia, otherwise, 90% of your imports wouldn''t come from them. As long as you offer a slightly higher price, I think they would be willing to sell the coal they originally exported to Tsarist Russia and America to you!"


    Kim Tae In-ryong''s face turned as black as if it were poisoned.


    "No worries, no hurry. How about the company?"


    "The employees'' situation has basically stabilized, and the production line was transferred to our hands three days ago. The first batch of photolithography machines has started to go into production, and in Dongji City, the simple factory buildings have also been erected, and most of the recruiting is complete."


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "However, Silicon Moonlight has recently run into some trouble."


    "What trouble?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s not a big issue, but it is indeed a bit troublesome," Hong Yi said, "Recently, the regulatory bureau of Baodao Province has received multiple anonymous reports claiming that Silicon Moonlight has fire safety hazards. The bureau has been sending people almost every day these past few days to conduct investigations. These frequent probes don''t greatly affect the company, but they do have a considerable impact on the morale."


    "Oh? How so?"


    "Many employees feel that there must be some problem with the company, or that we''ve offended someone, causing widespread anxiety," Hong Yi explained.


    "If I''m not mistaken, it must be the Kaibong people stirring up trouble," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Mr. Zhang guessed right, it indeed is the Kaibong people!" Hong Yi affirmed, "Kaibong has many descendants in our Huaxia, many of whom were chess pieces prepared during WWII. But after the war, they stayed in Huaxia, some assimilated entirely by our people, integrating completely into our society. Yet some still held onto their original ideologies."


    "You''re saying there are such people inside Silicon Moonlight?"


    "Yes, and not just a few," Hong Yi said, "Those anonymous reports were done by these people."


    "But it''s also true that Silicon Moonlight has these issues, since its growth was too rapid and the upgrade of the company buildings simply couldn''t keep up with the expansion of the production scale, so some fire hazards are inevitable. Usually, these minor issues can be overlooked, but if someone insists on making a fuss, it''s unavoidable."


    "Moreover, I suspect that there might be Kaibong spies in the market supervision bureau!"


    "Good grief, that''s practically espionage!"


    "Hahaha, you could say that," Hong Yi said, "Just this morning, they notified us that if Silicon Moonlight doesn''t resolve these issues, some facilities will have to cease operation. By then, even if all our raw materials are ready, we won''t be able to start production."


    "I was wondering why they''ve been so quiet lately, and here they are playing these little tricks," Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly, "No matter, let them play their games. I have plenty of time and money!"

 Chapter 311 309 Then lets build a fire station

    "Mr. Zhang, how do you plan to handle this?"


    "How long would it take to optimize and renovate all those facilities?"


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    "About two months," Hong Yi said. "After all, all facilities need to be used and renovated at the same time, so it''s not possible to use all the time fully."


    "What if the company completely shut down and just did this one thing? How long would that take?"


    "If that''s the case, the construction time could be controlled within 10 to 15 days!" Hong Yi estimated.


    "Then let''s give the Silicon Moonlight staff a long vacation!" Zhang Menglong said. "Clear out all the places and time!"


    "What about the wages for this period..."


    "Pay them in full according to the original salary!" Zhang Menglong said. "There shouldn''t be any orders during this period, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, according to your instructions, after the last acquisition of Silicon Moonlight, all orders in the factory have been stopped," Hong Yi replied. "Now all the employees are basically just doing routine maintenance and some daily sorting work."


    "Anyway, we were already spending money to keep them, and they have nothing to do at the company, so might as well send everyone home to rest!"


    "Give an extra allowance to each person according to different job levels, let them go on a trip, and then come back after all the company''s issues are resolved!"


    ...


    "They''re giving us a long vacation? With full pay?"


    "My God, I can''t believe we just had the Spring Festival holiday and now there''s another long vacation. This company is like heaven!"


    "I joined the company through campus recruitment last October and just started my internship last week, and I already got a 5,000 yuan allowance!"


    "20,000? This bonus is even more than my annual bonus!"


    "What? Everyone gets this money?"


    "I''ve asked around, the assembly line workers and interns in the workshop each get 5,000, p5 level junior engineers get 10,000 each, p6 level senior engineers get 20,000, supervisors get 50,000, managers 100,000, directors 200,000, and it''s all paid out in one go. The notice was just posted today, and within less than twenty minutes, the money was already in our bank accounts!"


    "Good heavens! The new boss is so generous. But wasn''t our company supposed to be running out of money?"


    "I heard that our new Chairman made another round of investment. Apparently, without a word, he threw another 50 billion Huaxia currency into it!"


    "What''s going on? Why is there another construction crew? Didn''t one come this morning already? Why are there even excavators? Are they here to clear the land?"


    "Look, there are so many building materials. The maintenance of the company''s factory and office building doesn''t need all of these, right?"


    "No, I feel like the company is going to build something. But I haven''t heard about any construction projects recently!"


    "Alright, what are you all lingering around here for?" Xu Huan, the chairman''s assistant, walked into the crowded company lobby.


    Now, Zhang Menglong conveyed many matters through Xu Huan to the other senior management in the company. His status had risen accordingly, and even the company shareholders had to give him some face. Naturally, the ordinary employees and management respected this highly favored person.


    "Assistant Xu, we''re just curious. The construction crew already came this morning, didn''t they? What''s this situation now?" someone couldn''t contain their curiosity.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, just responding to the government''s call," Xu Huan said, "Remember the leaders'' inspection a while back? They mentioned our company had some firefighting issues and safety hazards."


    "Chairman Zhang said, just refurbishing our building''s hardware is not enough, we must foresee and prevent potential issues. In case of a fire or something, we''d still have to call the fire brigade. But, our factory is in a remote location, so it takes 40 minutes for the nearest fire brigade to get here. Thus, Chairman Zhang decided to just build a fire station ourselves!"


    "What? Build a fire station?"


    "My gosh, is that necessary?"


    "Chairman Zhang is planning to build it to the scale of a special service fire brigade, with 20 fire trucks, all from imported Mercedes-Benz and MAN, plus two Scania imported aerial ladder trucks that are 101 meters, ensuring our company''s fire safety is foolproof!"


    "I just looked it up, that Scania aerial ladder truck Assistant Xu mentioned, do you know how much it costs?"


    "It''s not in the millions, is it?"


    "20 million a piece!"


    "Sss! That''s really spending big money!"


    "Isn''t it? But everybody says that devils are tough to deal with. Our company has been constantly targeted recently, and surely those Westerners are behind it all!"


    "Haha, they think they can take on our company with tactics like that? They clearly don''t know who Chairman Zhang is. As long as it can be solved with money, then there isn''t a problem!"


    "Still, being targeted like this feels really uncomfortable!"


    "Hahaha, you guys didn''t forget who Chairman Zhang is, did you? He''s done so much, when has he ever been at a disadvantage? I bet he''s brewing a big move!"


    "Then let''s just enjoy our travels and watch the drama unfold!"


    "Hahaha, despicable! But I like it!"


    ...

 Chapter 310 The Structure of Super God Academy

    "Dear Zhang Menglong, congratulations on your acceptance into the High Polymer Materials Department of the Materials Science College at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. The combined Master''s and Doctorate program will span five years. Please bring your relevant documents and proceed to the school on 9.1 to complete the enrollment procedures."


    "Finally got my hands on this thing!" A silly smile crept across Zhang Menglong''s face as he held up the admission notice.


    "What are you so happy about?" Lu Yiyao laughed, "You didn''t even smile like this when you got acceptance letters from all those world-class universities. Harvard even wanted to hire you as a professor!"


    "That''s different. I have an attachment to my alma mater," Zhang Menglong patted his chest, "It won''t be long before there''s an Academician named Zhang Menglong at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Keep dreaming, it''s not that easy to become an Academician!" Lu Yiyao chuckled, "That math problem from last time would, at most, earn you a title of mathematics professor."


    "Just you watch," Zhang Menglong said, "Your man is not only the richest person in the world but also the wisest. I can come up with a groundbreaking invention anytime I want!"


    "Keep bragging. I''m off to practice my singing. The postgraduate re-examination for Music College is coming up, and I need to prepare well," Lu Yiyao said with a worried look.


    "Didn''t you say you found me two vocal coaches? Where are they?" Lu Yiyao suddenly showed a look of expectation.


    "Miss Lu, the two teachers have arrived," Hong Yi entered with two individuals.


    "Ah... this..." Upon seeing the two people behind Hong Yi, Lu Yiyao abruptly stood up, her facial expression somewhat dumbfounded.


    "Mr. Domingo, Madonna, you both must have had a long journey!" Zhang Menglong stood up to greet them.@@@@


    "Mr. Zhang, you are too kind. Your private jet was very comfortable and we were well taken care of along the way. It wasn''t tough at all!"


    Domingo, one of the top three male tenors in the world, and Madonna, an American singer of Italian descent. Any one of these individuals alone stands as a world-class singer with immense influence and impact.


    Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong would likely invite some impressive people to teach her, but she never expected two legends to show up!


    Both Domingo and Madonna were no longer young and had withdrawn from the entertainment industry to lead their retirement lives.


    Especially Domingo, who had even retired his voice for many years, refusing numerous offers from music colleges to teach.


    "How much did you spend?" Lu Yiyao asked quietly.


    "Miss Lu, there''s no need to feel embarrassed, and we don''t shy away from these matters," Domingo''s aged voice responded, "Although I no longer perform or teach, the terms Mr. Zhang offered were something I couldn''t refuse. Starting today and for the next two months until your postgraduate interview, I will teach you vocal music. Mr. Zhang is paying me 50 million US dollars."


    "I will teach Miss Lu some contemporary singing techniques and the skills to write and compose songs, although the terms are slightly less than what Mr. Domingo received," Madonna said with a smile. In the presence of a great artist like Domingo, it was likely no singer would dare to omit the title "teacher," not even Madonna.


    "You''re ridiculous!" Two months of lessons, and Zhang Menglong might have spent close to a hundred million US dollars, thought Lu Yiyao, feeling the pinch.


    "My girlfriend deserves only the best," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Teachers, I entrust Yiyi to you for this period."


    "And this milk tea, are these little balls really pearls?"


    The three teachers ate to their satisfaction, but Zhang Menglong didn''t pay them any attention. Gou Dan had told him that once he summoned ten teachers, a new function would be unlocked.


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    Zhang Menglong now had over 800 Cred Points!


    "Gou Dan, release the seals of seven teachers for me!"


    "Seal release initiated!"


    Suddenly, the sky was roiling with wind and clouds, the ocean started to surge and roar, and seven beams of light descended from the heavens. Within those beams, several men and women slowly walked out.


    "Qiao Feng pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Nie Xiaoqian pays her respects to the Principal!"


    "Yan Chixia pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Little Master of China pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Xiong Ba pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Wu Xingyun pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Feng Qingyang pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Holy smokes, how come so many big shots arrived this time?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in astonishment. Qiao Feng was a character that anyone who had read wuxia novels or seen wuxia movies would definitely recognize.


    Nie Xiaoqian and Yan Chixia were characters from "A Chinese Ghost Story," Little Master of China was that chef with special effects for cooking, Xiong Ba was the domineering gang leader from "Feng Yun," Wu Xingyun was the real name of the childlike empress from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," and then there was Feng Qingyang, who was superb in his mastery of the Dugu Nine Swords.


    This time, so many characters from the martial arts world had appeared!


    "Congratulations, Principal, for gathering seven teachers!" Gou Dan''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear, "The school is now opening enrollment to external students, with a total of 10 spots available for the first term!"


    "School administrative system format complete. Principal, you can now set up administrative positions and faculty positions for each college on your own."


    "Wow!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes went wide. The school was actually going to enroll students from outside! That meant, he could bring people from the outside into Super God Academy to learn the knowledge and skills here! This was absolutely earth-shattering!


    Zhang Menglong contained his excitement. With only 10 spots available for the first term, he had to carefully consider his choices. He certainly couldn''t bring just anyone into the school.


    And he needed to give some serious thought to this business of setting up positions!

 Chapter 312 Can I Evade or Avoid Taxes with All My Wealth?

    "Hahaha, how about that, my Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is not just for show, right?" Xiong Ba stood proudly in the air, surrounded by a faint blue stream of energy, looking incredibly dominant.


    Qiao Feng, Wu Xingyun, and Feng Qingyang all looked somewhat pale.


    Indeed, all three of them were strong, but the world they came from was just a normal martial arts world, whereas the Feng Yun world was already considered a high martial arts world, so there was a gap in the level of the world itself.


    How could a bunch of martial artists compete against someone who is already half a step into cultivation?


    "Hmph!" Although they were unconvinced in their hearts, they indeed were no match for him, so Wu Xingyun and the others had no choice but to admit defeat.


    "Alright, since Teacher Xiong Ba has won, from today onwards, Teacher Xiong Ba will be the dean of Martial Arts Academy!" Zhang Menglong announced, "Qiao Feng and Feng Qingyang, the two of you will be the deputy deans!"


    "What about me?" Wu Xingyun immediately became anxious.


    Zhang Menglong gave a slight smile; he already had a plan in mind. Wu Xingyun, with her strict demeanor, would be wasted if not given the role of director of education! With her standards, she would definitely be terrific at educating the students.


    "Teacher Wu Xingyun, you will temporarily take the position of director of the academic guidance office! All the students, their morals, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics, will be under your management!"


    "Thank you, Dean!" Wu Xingyun was overjoyed. Although she did not get the position of dean of the academy, being a director of academic guidance seemed to be not a bit less important than being the dean of a branch academy!"


    "Now that everyone is satisfied with their positions, I will begin preparing to enroll students. I hope that the teachers will cooperate well in the future to make our Super God Academy flourish!"


    "Understood, Dean!"


    "And then there''s this..." Zhang Menglong looked at the plaza that had turned into a mess after the fierce battle, feeling a bit of a headache.


    But in an instant, the ground of the academy began to move, and in a moment, it had restored itself to its original state!@@@@


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed with admiration.


    "And with 100 Cred Points, let''s learn something!" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the four teachers before finally settling on Xiong Ba. He had seen for himself the power of the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, capable both offensively and defensively, and it was definitely a high-grade martial arts technique. It was the best choice before summoning those teachers from the fantasy and mythological worlds.


    There were four martial arts techniques taught by Xiong Ba: Heavenly Frost Fist, Paiyun Palm, Wind God Leg, and Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi. Zhang Menglong glanced over them and realized that the highest skill among all other teachers was only Level E, with only Xiong Ba''s Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi just about reaching Level D.


    "Gou Dan, copy Xiong Ba''s skills for me!" Zhang Menglong prayed in his heart, "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, seventy percent relies on hard work! Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, seventy percent relies on hard work!"


    "Congratulations, Dean, for acquiring the Level D skill, Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "Sweet!" Zhang Menglong revealed an ecstatic expression; after being so unlucky for so long, he finally got something good!


    Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi:


    Zhang Menglong carelessly took out a pill and popped it into his mouth.


    Shortly after, a fierce medicinal power emerged, filling Zhang Menglong''s limbs and meridians as if his body was about to burst.


    Zhang Menglong immediately started to cultivate using the mental method of Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, and only then did the feeling of swelling pain gradually subside, eventually even giving him a sense of exhilaration.


    Before he knew it, a whole night had passed, and Zhang Menglong still maintained the same posture as the previous night; the power of that Fighting Spirit Pill had been fully digested.


    "This is actually my body!" Zhang Menglong felt his chest and abdominal muscles, which had become incredibly defined. It seemed as if his body was filled with new strength; this one night of cultivation had pretty much given him a new body.


    "Mr. Zhang, your body''s strength, muscle density, and nerve reaction speed are now almost on par with a level one mutant!"


    "So soon?" Zhang Menglong was pleasantly surprised. He knew that creating a level one mutant required not only an investment of several billion or even tens of billions of US Dollars, but also a vast number of test subjects and a lot of time, and yet, he achieved it in just one night!


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you awake?" Hong Yi''s voice came from outside the door.


    Zhang Menglong rubbed his hair, pushed the door open and walked out.


    "Mr. Zhang, you gave instructions not to disturb you, but there have been some emergencies that need your attention."


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "Just now, Silicon Moonlight''s CFO told me that today the company received a notice from the tax bureau. There seem to be many issues with Silicon Moonlight''s accounts, even claims of tax evasion!" Hong Yi said.


    "I''m so wealthy, and I would evade taxes?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s likely an issue left by the former chairman. But if we don''t handle it, it could indeed cause some serious problems!"


    "Is it found out by the tax bureau?" Zhang Menglong asked, considering that Silicon Moonlight had been operating for many years and problems like this should not have only been discovered now.


    "As far as I know, someone reported it!"


    "The Kaibong people again?" Zhang Menglong immediately thought of the previous report on the fire safety issue.


    "Yes!" Hong Yi nodded. "But there''s also the shadow of those chip material suppliers from Europe and America.


    "Well then!" Zhang Menglong let out a cold laugh, "I don''t go looking for trouble with them, but they''re stepping over the line?"


    "Hong Yi, arrange a flight. I''ll go to the treasure island first to deal with this tax issue," Zhang Menglong said, "Once that''s settled, I''ll go and properly deal with those guys!"

 Chapter 313 Push the Posts Insulting Me to the Top of the Hot Searches

    The next day, Zhang Menglong hurried to Baodao Province, and in his Silicon Moonlight factory, most of the employees had already taken their holidays, but there was still a small number of people and leaders who volunteered to stay and continue working.


    "Xu Huan, it seems your prestige in the company isn''t bad!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile; ever since they had walked through the door, the staff, after calling out ''Director Zhang'', would always call out ''Assistant Xu''.


    "That''s all thanks to Director Zhang''s high regard," Xu Huan replied, "If it weren''t for Director Zhang prizing me, I wouldn''t have such a grand stage."


    "That''s also because you have the capability," Zhang Menglong arrived at his own office, which was almost never visited by anyone, but was cleaned every single day and kept spotless.


    "What exactly is the situation with this tax matter? Tell me about it."


    "It''s a long story," Xu Huan said, "I was still a student at that time, and I heard that back then, Silicon Moonlight was still a startup company. Its scale and output value were far from comparable to what they are now, and making a profit from those small orders was incredibly difficult¡ªeven paying the employees'' salaries was fairly hard."


    "As you know, the corporate tax rate isn''t low; a large portion of our annual profits is used to pay taxes. So, at that time, the chairman started to look into ways to deal with the tax issue."


    "Was this tax evasion scheme his idea?" Zhang Menglong felt that the previous chairman should not have been the kind to cut corners. Not to mention other aspects, at the very least, he didn''t choose to be a traitor under the threats from Western suppliers, his stance was entirely correct. Even if he had his faults, they couldn''t have been too serious.


    "Strictly speaking, it''s not really tax evasion or avoidance as such," Xu Huan explained, "I checked the company''s accounts before you took over, and five years ago, they really were just legitimate tax avoidance methods!"


    Legal tax avoidance is straightforward; it involves using legally allowed means to reduce one''s tax rate or taxable items. Even now, many companies are using this method; some businesses can pay more than 90% less in taxes through legal tax avoidance scheming!


    Although this method may not be entirely aboveboard, it is still an operation within the bounds permitted by law. Even if the tax authorities discover it, they cannot find any loopholes.


    "But five years ago, Baodao Province went through a tax reform that closed off many loopholes, and the tax avoidance methods our company had used before all became prohibited."


    "Because Silicon Moonlight pays an extraordinarily high amount of taxes each year, even though we underpaid a large portion, the relation between the tax authorities and the chairman was quite good. Over the years, they turned a blind eye, so we never had a problem before!"


    "So this time, because of an anonymous report, the tax authorities had no choice but to take action, and that''s why they came to trouble us?" Zhang Menglong quickly understood the crux of the issue.


    "That''s right, and according to feedback from the tax authorities, it was an internal employee who made an anonymous report. This blows matters up even more. I suspect there''s someone manipulating the situation behind the scenes!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you..." Xu Huan was puzzled; he had no idea what Zhang Menglong was thinking. How could making a big fuss benefit them?


    "Hong Yi," commanded Zhang Menglong, "help me arrange to use all the channels under my name to hype this up as much as possible, the bigger the better, ideally the whole world should know about it!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang." Though Hong Yi also didn''t understand what Zhang Menglong was up to, she followed his instructions.


    In Huaxia, traffic is basically controlled by those large internet companies, and Weibo remains the unchanged battlefield for the onlooking masses.


    With the workings of the staff, the first post immediately turned a glaring red, even adding an "explosive" symbol to it.


    "Silicon Moonlight evades 30 billion in Huaxia currency over five years!"


    A brief headline, but the staggering number was incredibly eye-catching. 30 billion, for 99 percent of people in this world, was certainly an astronomical sum.


    "Silicon Moonlight? Isn''t that Mr. Zhang''s company?"


    "Tax evasion? Mr. Zhang''s company evaded taxes? My God, more than 30 billion!"


    "Wait, just over 30 billion? I feel like this is an insult to Mr. Zhang. Add another zero and I might believe it a bit more!"


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang''s fireworks alone cost several billions, are you telling me he evaded 30 billion in taxes over five years? Do you think I''m an idiot?"


    "Let me tell you a joke, Zhang Menglong evaded taxes, and it was 30 billion!"


    ...


    "What... what''s going on?"


    The manipulators behind the scenes, who were originally gleeful about the issue''s rising heat, were suddenly dumbfounded. What''s with these Huaxia people? Instead of outrage over such a serious issue, people not only didn''t believe it, but the whole thing turned into a joke?

 Chapter 314 I Took Over

    It had only been half a day since the issue began to ferment, and netizens mostly treated it as a joke, but then a compelling piece of evidence appeared online.


    This evidence displayed Silicon Moonlight''s tax records from the past five years, showing that they had indeed underpaid taxes by 30 billion!


    Reporters never let such issues slide, and immediately, someone went to check with the tax office in Baodao Province and indeed, they found that Silicon Moonlight had been evading taxes!


    "Well, this really clinches it, huh?"


    "How could President Zhang do such a thing?"@@@@


    "Could it be that President Zhang''s company is just too big, and he has to pay too many taxes every year that he accidentally forgot one?"


    "Still defending him? It''s confirmed, and still defending him! Typical of the brain-dead fans!"


    "Crook! Just one company underpaid 30 billion, he must have at least a dozen companies, right? So that''s how you become the world''s richest man, now I see!"


    "I just checked, evading such a huge amount of taxes, which is over thirty percent of the due taxes, could result in three to seven years of imprisonment. It looks like President Zhang is really in trouble this time!"


    ...


    "What the hell were you thinking?" Wang Ling immediately called Zhang Menglong after seeing the news, "You dare to engage in tax evasion? Have you lost your mind?"


    "Don''t get worked up!" Zhang Menglong replied calmly, "Do you think I have a motive to do this kind of thing? It''s only 30 billion Huaxia Yuan. I''ve already spent over 500 billion Huaxia Yuan just on donations for building high-speed rail in Dongji City!"


    "Damn, that''s true!" Wang Ling almost forgot, the astronomical figure of 30 billion is just petty cash for Zhang Menglong."


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "So what''s going on?" asked Wang Ling.


    "I only acquired this company last year!" Zhang Menglong explained, "These are all residual issues from before!"


    "Then why don''t you explain it?" Wang Ling said, "Isn''t Weibo yours? Explaining this should be simple, right? Just publish the date on your stock transfer agreement, prove you just took over, and show these issues aren''t related to you. Wouldn''t that solve everything?"


    "You don''t understand, someone is trying to take me down! Ending this quickly would just disappoint them, wouldn''t it?"


    "Someone is targeting you? Who?"


    "People from Kaibong, Europe, America, those countries and suppliers that hold the semiconductor technology. None of them want to see us Huaxia independently developing chips. They want to disrupt our backend!" Zhang Menglong explained to Wang Ling.


    "So this is..."


    "Tell me, how high is the interest in this matter?" Zhang Menglong countered.


    "Nonsense, of course, it''s caught everyone''s attention¡ªnot just in Huaxia but netizens around the world are watching. You''re the world''s richest man now! The world''s richest man dodging taxes, that''s huge news! The global media is focused on this topic!"


    "Then tell me, how could I miss such a great advertising opportunity?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m planning to start a live stream!"


    "Live stream? What kind of live stream? Explaining this?" asked Wang Ling.


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "In this live stream, I plan to flaunt my wealth!"


    Upon hearing this, the receptionist was flabbergasted. Who on earth goes directly to a tax bureau and admits they''ve evaded taxes and need to pay?


    "6666!"


    "Worthy of my Mr. Zhang, winning just with his presence!"


    "Hahaha, that employee must have so many question marks in their head right now!"


    ...


    The employee had been looking down, sorting papers, and only looked up upon hearing this shocking answer.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang?" The employee immediately stood up, drawing the attention of many around her.


    "Is that Zhang Menglong? What''s he here for?"


    "I heard his Silicon Moonlight missed out on taxes worth over 30 billion, probably here to get fined, right?"


    "He still has the face to come here? He has shamed all of us in business!"


    Whispers circulated in the vicinity.


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment, I''ll call our director." Zhang Menglong''s company''s tax issues were too extensive to be handled by just one clerk.


    "Go ahead, I''ll wait."


    Shortly, a middle-aged man whose hair was nearly gone hurried out from an office inside.


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am the director of the tax office, my last name is Chen."


    "Hello Director Chen," Zhang Menglong said politely, "I am here to address the tax issues of the company. Given the amount of tax I evaded, how many years would that be?"


    "Good heavens! He straight up asked about the prison term!"


    "What kind of move is this?" the audience was instantly dumbfounded.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s been a mistake!" Director Chen hurriedly said, "The information we confirmed earlier was not wrong, but it was not complete. We just found out that you only took over as Chairman last year, hence the company''s tax issues are not directly your legal responsibility.


    "Damn, so that''s how it is!"


    "I knew it, Mr. Zhang is so rich, how could he evade taxes? 30 billion is just pocket change for Mr. Zhang!"


    "Everyone, stand up, apologize!"


    "Sorry, Mr. Zhang!"


    In just this short dialogue, Zhang Menglong completely cleared his association.


    "However, Mr. Zhang, although you do not need to assume legal responsibility, you might still need to address these unpaid taxes. I suggest you deal with the previous chairman, as this matter technically has nothing to do with you!"


    "No need!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Since I am now the chairman of Silicon Moonlight, I cannot just ignore this. I will take responsibility for all the unpaid taxes!"

 Chapter 317 315

    "666, awesome, awesome!"


    "Goodness, took over 30 billion just like that? I, Uchiha Gou Dan, am willing to call you the takeover hero!"


    "I get it now, the title of this live stream is wrong. It''s not ''I pay taxes, I''m proud,'' this live stream should be called ''Zhang Menglong''s Wealth Flaunting Show!''"


    "Everyone sit down! What''s the excitement about? It''s just a mere 30 billion Huaxia currency, just a bit of pocket change for President Zhang. Are you looking down on Boss Zhang or what?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, are you serious?" Director Chen confirmed.


    "Of course, I''m serious. How do we pay? Directly by card?"


    "Xiao Li!" Director Chen directly called over a staff member.


    "Mr. Zhang, we will immediately create a temporary supplementary payment note for your company''s account. Log into the tax system through your company''s account to pay the tax," the staff member known as Xiao Li said.


    "Xu Huan, is it done?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Director Zhou, take a look!" Xu Huan said while contacting the company''s financial director.


    "President Zhang, the total tax of 31.823641823.23 yuan has been paid in full!" Hong Huan reported back.


    "Please check it, Director Chen."


    Director Chen immediately gave Xiao Li a look, and after some operations, Xiao Li promptly reported, "Director Chen, Silicon Moonlight''s tax payment has all arrived!"


    "Mr. Zhang, thank you for your cooperation. Your supplementary payment is completed. We hope that in the future you can supervise your company to pay taxes on time and in full to avoid similar misunderstandings," Director Chen said.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Director Chen," Zhang Menglong nodded and made a polite gesture, "By the way, this matter shouldn''t be settled yet, should it?"


    "Eh?" Director Chen was stunned, "Your due taxes have been paid. There''s no problem now."


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "Consultant Liu, please come out for a moment."


    It was only then that everyone noticed that Zhang Menglong had brought three people with him this time; his personal assistant Hong Yi, the executive assistant of Silicon Moonlight Xu Huan, and a middle-aged man in a suit and tie.


    This middle-aged man was Silicon Moonlight''s dedicated legal consultant, Liu Yufeng.


    "Consultant Liu, according to the regulations of Bao Island Province, what are the penalties for tax evasion and fraud?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "President Zhang, according to Article 201 of the law, taxpayers who engage in deception and concealment for false tax declarations or fail to declare, evading a large amount of taxes, which constitute over ten percent of the payable tax amount, shall be sentenced to no more than three years in prison or detention, and fined; for a very large amount, constituting over thirty percent of the payable tax amount, shall be sentenced to no less than three years and no more than seven years in prison, and fined," Liu Yufeng replied.


    "Goodness! President Zhang has gone mad!"


    "From the Lantian man era is already good; I only make 100,000 a year, I''d have to start from the prehistoric apes!"


    ...


    "I don''t like odd numbers, let''s round it up to 1.6 trillion!"


    "Mr. Zhang," Director Chen said with a wry smile, "it''s really not possible. According to the law, the maximum is up to five times. 1.6 trillion is already beyond that limit. If you were to really pay such a fine, our financial statements for this year would be a mess!"


    "Is that so!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Then never mind, just pay 1.55 trillion. Comrade Xiao Li, please take care of it!"


    "Director, this..." Xiao Li had never entered so many zeros in his work life.


    "Do as Mr. Zhang has asked!" said Director Chen through gritted teeth.


    "Yes!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a penalty directed at an individual, you probably can''t use the company''s money," said Director Chen.


    "No problem, it was always coming out of my own pocket!" Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, make the transfer!"


    A few minutes later, a colossal fine entered the tax system.


    "Mr. Zhang, you have completed the payment of the fine."


    "Thank you for your efforts, Director Chen. We will take our leave now!"


    "Have a good day, I''ll see you out!"


    ...


    "This Huaxia person, just how much money does he have?" Jin Tianjing Long also finished watching the live stream.


    Initially, he thought that this tax issue, if not bringing down Zhang Menglong, would at least bring him considerable public opinion pressure. However, unexpectedly, the live stream turned into an excellent promotion.


    Now the whole world knew that Zhang Menglong was unimaginably wealthy, not only that, but he was also highly credible, voluntarily taking on social responsibility, and willingly paying a huge fine that he could have completely avoided. Most crucially, he showed no change in expression as he pulled out 1.5 trillion Huaxia yuan without the slightest sign of pain.


    The most crucial thing was that after he paid the money, there was even a perverse smile on his face, as if getting fined 1.55 trillion was an incredibly joyful event!


    "No, this can''t go on!" Jin Tianjing Long muttered to himself, "If Huaxia really develops high-end chips, then at that time, just Zhang Menglong''s credibility and financial power could attract a large number of orders, and we would be out of the picture. We absolutely can''t let him continue!"


    "Mr. Ryu?ze!"


    Sitting opposite Jin Tianjing Long was a man with a somewhat sinister appearance, his bangs covering half his left eye like a visual kei hairstyle.


    Jin Tianjing Long moved Zhang Menglong''s information in front of him: "I want this man''s life!"

 Chapter 316 Im rion man

    "Control him! Kill him!"


    "Flash now, flash now!"


    "Damn it! What kind of trash game is this? Huaxia''s team gets worse every year. How could they get flipped with a ten thousand dollar lead?"


    Zhang Menglong was so angry he almost smashed the TV remote on the floor.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s making you so angry?" Hong Yi asked, approaching with a stack of documents.


    "It''s this crappy team!" Zhang Menglong spoke irritably, "Tigers in domestic fights, dogs in foreign battles!"


    "Mr. Zhang, why don''t you form your own team?" Hong Yi smiled, "Didn''t you say you wanted to create an Esports Olympics with Mr. Wang Ling?"


    "Wang Ling is already recruiting team members. He should be able to settle it by next month," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have some news that might make you even angrier."


    "In Esports, being unskilled is the original sin. What could make me angrier than this?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Someone wants to kill you!"


    "What the hell?" Zhang Menglong actually chuckled, "Which guy is bold enough to want to kill me? How much is he paying? If it''s less than a trillion US dollars, then I''m pretty annoyed."


    Although the incident in Europe had happened a long time ago, the memories were still vivid in Zhang Menglong''s mind. Ye Yin''s strength had made him almost unafraid of such things.


    Moreover, Zhang Menglong wasn''t the person he used to be. Now, his strength could probably match a Level Three mutant, and it had only been three days since he began practicing the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi internal cultivation methods.


    "It''s a person from Kaibong," Hong Yi said, "an assassin organization. However, it''s a bit different as it has some backing from official psychic organizations, sort of a peripheral agency of theirs."


    "Is it Ryuzo Ichiro?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, this is the information on the organization. You might want to look it over," Hong Yi handed the documents to Zhang Menglong.


    "A secret base in the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean, a total of 300 people, 50 regular logistics personnel, 250 enhanced human ninjas, 200 Genin with strength at around three energy units, 50 Chunin, strength four to five energy units."


    "Ryuzo Ichiro, former Chunin squad leader of the Ninja Department, Chunin strength, and about six energy units intensively," Zhang Menglong looked over the documents, getting a rough idea about the organization.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are many such organizations around the world. A part of them are civilian organizations, mostly living on the edge and the difficulty of their tasks is much higher than ordinary mercenaries or assassin organizations, typically involving assassination of key figures or inciting local wars," Hong Yi explained.


    "Another part includes national organizations or some regional groups whose individual power is relatively strong, like those people you met last time in Europe."


    "What''s their lineup like?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The other side has prepared two Chunin and ten Genin, planning to make a move on your way back to Jiangnan City tomorrow. Tonight, they will infiltrate Baodao Province using their maritime equipment," Hong Yi responded, "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to arrange someone to deal with this organization?"


    Armor model: mark7


    Height: 1.98 meters


    Weight: 300 pounds


    Assembly: Laser-guided tracking deployment


    Maximum flight speed: Mach 40


    Ammo capacity: Micro-missiles, 30 pieces


    Weapons: Hand laser, elbow anti-equipment missile


    Usage conditions: More than three units of energy strength


    Usage cost: 10 cred points/minute


    "With my remaining cred points, even with a flight speed of Mach 30, it would take about 3 minutes to fly from the treasure island to that base. That''s 6 minutes round trip, plus 5 minutes for showing off, that should be enough!" Zhang Menglong immediately calculated in his mind.


    "Teacher Tony, I''ll take this Mark 7!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Exchange successful!"


    "Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh!"


    Several red metal parts suddenly flew down from the Stark Industries building, perfectly assembling on Zhang Menglong''s body.


    "Welcome to use the Mark 7 armor, sir. Now I will teach you the operating methods through neural-sync transmission!" Jarvis''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ears.


    "Awesome!" At this moment, Zhang Menglong''s mouth could only utter exclamations, no other words could be spoken.


    In an instant, Zhang Menglong understood all the operating methods.


    "Boom!" The armor turned into a stream of light and shot up into the sky, the thirtyfold speed of sound making Zhang Menglong''s blood surge. This was truly a man''s romance!"


    "I''m Iron Man!" Zhang Menglong shouted excitedly.


    "Jarvis, set the destination, I''m terrible with directions!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Navigation set, estimated time of arrival 3 minutes 09 seconds, shall we depart immediately?"


    "Let''s go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong shot straight out of the Super God Academy window, then disappeared into the night sky amidst the faint night haze.


    "What the hell?" Ye Yin stared blankly at the streak of fire from the rooftop, "What on Earth is Mr. Zhang up to? This is really spooky!"

 Chapter 318 Ill leave after I tear this down

    "A bunch of nobodies, wasting five precious seconds of my life!" Zhang Menglong emotionlessly glanced over the calm ocean and continued toward the Enhanced Human Ninja base.


    Those twelve ninjas died without ever knowing who had killed them.


    "Mr. Zhang, please be aware that 80% of the hand laser energy has been consumed. Please use it sparingly!"


    "Damn, I just fired once, and it''s this lousy already?" Zhang Menglong complained.


    "Mr. Zhang, the continuous cutting action you just performed consumes energy tens of times faster than normal. Of course, if Thor could give you a smack with his hammer, your energy would be fully recharged!" Jarvis said.


    "You''re quite the joker," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. The Hammer of Thor might be a great power bank, but its usage cost could probably match that of a Mark 40 suit, right?


    "Forget it, I still have 30 micro-missiles left. It shouldn''t be a big problem to take down a puny base!"


    ...


    Deep in the Pacific Ocean lies an uninhabited island covered in green vegetation, an island bought privately over a decade ago, away from regular shipping routes.


    However, no buildings or signs of human activity can be found on the island.


    But unbeknown to anyone, beneath this island lies a massive underground space housing a very special organization.


    This underground area is divided into various zones: research, training, living, and command. Every person within these spaces emits an aura of sharpness, keeping outsiders at bay.


    In a silver building at the center resides the operational command center of the base, where ninjas on missions can contact and be monitored by the command center.


    On a monitor, life signal indicators representing more than a dozen life forms suddenly went dark, throwing the communication officer into a panic.


    "Leader, the life signals of Team Three and Team Twelve, who were dispatched to Huaxia, have disappeared!"


    "What? In what location?" the leader immediately asked.


    "Approximately 1500 kilometers from the base towards Huaxia''s Treasure Island Province!" the staff member replied, "The time interval of death... less than 0.5 seconds!"


    "What? Did they encounter someone from Longxia?"


    "I''m sorry, leader, our men left almost no information. This is their last audio transmission."


    "Play it!"


    Shhh...


    "Mr. Ryuzo... this..." The expression on the team leader''s face was somewhat distorted.


    "This is impossible!" Ryuzo Ichiro''s face grew terribly fierce. Now he knew what the two squads meant by their last words before they lost contact ¡ª it really was fucking Iron Man!


    "More than two minutes have passed since the signal disappeared, covering a distance of 1500 kilometers. Its flying speed must be at least 30 Mach!" The command center team leader calculated the data of the armor, which made his breathing somewhat constricted.


    All the defensive weapons in the base were aimed at the silhouette hovering in the air, but nobody dared to make a move.


    "Who''s your boss?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    No one answered.


    "Whoosh!" A miniature missile shot out from the armor and landed on a building.


    "Boom!" A ball of fire instantly engulfed it, and the explosion razed the building to the ground.


    "Damn, such powerful force!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise. Judging by the power of the miniature missiles, probably only 10 would be necessary to destroy the entire base!


    "Who are you?" Ryuzo Ichiro stepped out from the crowd, his body temperature starting to rise.


    "Damn, a wild non-mainstream!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing Ryuzo Ichiro''s style.


    "Looks like you''re the boss here?" Zhang Menglong patted his armor and spoke in fluent Kaibong language, "Clearly, I''m Iron Man, don''t you know? You guys don''t have any entertainment normally, right? That''s too pitiful!"


    "Your Excellency, it appears that the members of our organization were killed by your hand? I wonder where we have offended you?" Ryuzo Ichiro said. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "You sent people to kill within my Huaxia territory, and you still dare to ask where you have offended me?"


    Ryuzo''s complexion changed. Their operations were highly confidential; unless there was a mole, how could it be leaked?


    "Are you dispatched by Zhang Menglong?" Ryuzo didn''t understand the full extent of Longxia''s power, but he was aware of the general capabilities, and such technology, let alone in Huaxia, even America with its most advanced technology couldn''t produce it.


    The only possibility was that Zhang Menglong, a man wealthy enough to rival nations, had somehow manufactured this armor!


    At that thought, a chill ran down his spine.


    "Your Excellency, this is a special base of Kaibong. I hope you will leave immediately to avoid any unnecessary conflicts!" Ryuzo Ichiro lowered his tone, as the command center leader had told him that the energy intensity emanating from the armor was more than ten units!


    Such power had already surpassed the standards of a level nine Enhanced Human. In this base, no one could contend with such an entity!


    "Fine, I''ll dismantle this place then leave!" Zhang Menglong scoffed. "Jarvis, lock the missiles and destroy all the facilities on the island!"


    "Swoosh!" Ryuzo Ichiro''s face instantly went pale.

 Chapter 319 This is Just the First Step

    When the missile silos in the chest and shoulders of the Mark 7 opened for an instant, a lethal threat enveloped the entire base.


    Zhang Menglong had only a few minutes, and chatting with these people would merely waste his cred points, so he chose to take action directly!


    After Jarvis''s precise calculations, it immediately locked onto the most perfect shooting points, and dozens of missiles trailing long flames instantly flew out in all directions.


    "Bastard!" Ryuzo Ichiro was the first to rush out. With the strength of a Level Eight Enhanced Human, ordinary thermal weapons had long since lost the ability to harm him; he would even dare to withstand the force of a missile explosion head-on!


    A fierce blaze ignited on his body as he directly faced a micro-missile.


    Although it was a micro-missile, its power was unknown how many times greater than the current level on Earth, so how could it be blocked by a Level Eight Enhanced Human?


    The entire building was instantly reduced to ashes, and the massive shockwave sent Ryuzo Ichiro''s body flying.


    His body was dripping with blood; if not for his strong cell vitality and life force, the power of this explosion would have been enough to erase him from the world.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    Dozens of missiles exploded in succession, and in an instant, the whole underground base turned into a human purgatory. This base, which took years to build and cost billions of US dollars, was gone in a matter of seconds.


    "Such strong armor! Such destructive power!" A weapons expert donning a white lab coat stood dumbfounded under the protection of numerous enhanced humans as he watched Zhang Menglong, "To create such a thing, not to mention the initial investment, just the manufacturing cost must be hundreds of billions of US dollars, right?"


    "Old man''s got quite an eye," Zhang Menglong smiled at the weapons expert, "But to our boss, money''s just a number. He has hundreds of such suits of armor! This is just the first step!"


    These were the last words Ryuzo Ichiro heard before his consciousness plunged into a coma.


    "Hundreds of suits... Zhang Menglong..."


    ...


    "Mr. Ryuzo! Mr. Ryuzo!"


    When Ryuzo Ichiro woke up again, he was lying in a hospital. Thanks to his strong cell vitality, his external injuries had almost healed, but the depletion of his cells left his body extremely weak.


    "What makes you say that?"


    "Our operations have always been meticulously planned, but on our way to the island province of Huaxia, in the Pacific Ocean, we were ambushed by the forces under Zhang Menglong, which means our operation plan has been exposed!"


    "Investigate!" Kuroshi ordered coldly to someone behind him.


    "Yes, Minister!"


    "Minister, there''s something I''m not sure I should say!"


    "Speak!"


    "Before, when we and the European and American raw material suppliers acted against Zhang Menglong''s companies, he didn''t bother with us. But this time, we sent people to kill him, which may have crossed his bottom line. I heard him say, ''This is only the first step.''


    "Only the first step?" Kuroshi frowned. Could it be that Zhang Menglong would take further actions?


    "You rest up, leave the rest to us!"


    "Minister," Ryuzo Ichiro said, "Perhaps stopping Zhang Menglong from importing new earth minerals was not the wisest move. So far, he''s been unscathed, while we''ve lost our natural gas and coal supplies, and now we''ve lost base number nine. Is this cost worth it?"


    Kuroshi remained silent.


    Ryuzo Ichiro sighed,


    ...


    "Damn, that''s expensive!" After destroying base number nine, Zhang Menglong immediately returned to Huaxia. Looking at his Cred Points, which were now in the single digits, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt the pinch.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you just go out? I''ve been looking for you for a long time and couldn''t find you."


    "Oh, just went out for a stroll," Zhang Menglong said casually. From the time he set out to his return, it was no more than ten minutes in total. Except for Ye Yin, no one knew he had already taken a trip to Kaibong and even destroyed one of their bases.


    "Right, what did you want to see me about?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have found all the information on the chip suppliers you asked me to look into," Hong Yi handed a document to Zhang Menglong, "What do you need these for?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled mischievously, "It is only proper to return a favor. They caused a strike at Silicon Moonlight and disrupted the stability of our company. We need to repay the gesture. I, Zhang Menglong, am not the type to take a beating lying down!"

 Chapter 320 The End, Zhang Menglong is Coming

    "Ah, who would have thought that our Huaxia''s five-thousand-year civilization would be so suppressed by this tiny chip that we couldn''t rise again? It''s truly lamentable," Zhang Menglong perused the list of companies.


    Apart from those developed European and American countries and Kaibong, even a tiny place like Qingqiu Country has a world-class semiconductor enterprise.


    "Mr. Zhang, this was a product of the era. Actually, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, our country''s chip technology was only five to six years behind America, and far ahead of Qingqiu Country. However, its development was completely reliant on the market, without any policy support. Plus, with foreign chips rapidly capturing the market, that led to the current situation."


    "But Qingqiu Country recognized this point in their time of backwardness and took direct national action to fund independent research, which is why they could eventually surpass us."


    "It seems that, aside from claiming other countries'' things as their own, they''re not completely useless!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do? The nature of those companies almost always involves the state, and it would be very difficult for you personally to acquire their shares. Moreover, most of their core personnel have signed non-compete agreements. If you''re thinking about poaching everyone to turn them into shell companies, I''m afraid it''s not going to be easy!"


    Zhang Menglong''s previous methods for taking down companies were rather straightforward¡ªeither buy them outright and do with them as he pleased, or poach all their key people. However, these tactics were clearly not going to work this time.


    "Who said I was going to do that," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Those companies should be surrounded by a not-so-small industrial chain, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "Just like Silicon Moonlight, these large tech enterprises are surrounded by numerous raw material suppliers, machinery and equipment dealers, and so on. But these enterprises are not as technologically advanced; they''re mostly labor-intensive industries or have some degree of automated production."


    A faint smile played at the corners of Zhang Menglong''s lips. Hong Yi felt a chill looking at Zhang Menglong''s expression but was certain that he must have some cunning plan in mind!


    "Qualcomm Electronics!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the materials and finally set his eyes on this particular company.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you interested in this company?" Hong Yi asked. "Founded in 1985, they''ve been involved in 3G, 4G, 5G technologies around the world, and their collaboration with Kaibong is very close. After many years of partnership, America holds a 51% stake, and Kaibong holds a 49% stake, making it one of the world''s leading communication technology companies!"


    "That''s the one!" Zhang Menglong declared. "Change the plans, we''re not going back to Jiangnan City tomorrow; we''re heading to America first!"


    ...


    "Hong Yi, who is currently managing our family''s assets in America?" On the plane, Zhang Menglong sipped his fine wine and nibbled on snacks as he suddenly became quite curious about this matter.


    "You might have heard of them; the Duber family is in charge," Hong Yi replied.


    "Mr. Kriya, who are these people? How can they come in through the special passage?" An airport staff member who was new to the job had never seen such a scenario before.


    Under normal circumstances, only the visits of important foreign personnel to America would allow for the entry of designated vehicles to meet and greet. There had been no recent news of a visit from any significant personage to America, had there?


    "Didn''t you see that emblem?" The old staff member known as Mr. Kriya replied, "That emblem is the Clan Emblem of the Duber Family, and that''s their convoy!"


    "The Duber Family?" The new staff member was shocked. This family was as mysterious and powerful as the Rothschild family in Europe, yet a household name.


    "See the man in the suit at the head of the convoy? That''s James Duber, the next head of the Duber family. When he comes to the airport, even the president comes out to greet him. If such a personage has come in person, he must be here to welcome some important figure."


    "Who is so important that even Mr. James has been roused?" For these employees, a figure like James was as unapproachable as the president himself; they hardly had any dealings with him.


    The appearance of the Duber family at the airport to welcome an unknown figure was completely unforeseen, and for America''s media, that was absolutely big news. Upon receiving the information, hordes of media flocked there.


    They were unable to enter the airport and could only observe everything from a distance in the waiting hall.


    "Here it comes! It must be that private jet!"


    "That private jet looks like Boeing''s BBJ; the base price of the jet alone is over 80 million US dollars."


    "Huh? The writing on it... a Huaxia plane?"


    "Someone''s coming out! Quick, change the lens!"


    "That face... it looks like... Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man?"


    "What? Zhang Menglong has come to America?"


    "It''s over! America is going to be in turmoil!"


    ...

 Chapter 321 Mr. Zhang Today

    With the use of zoom equipment, the media were finally able to see clearly the youth who descended from the plane¡ªit was none other than Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man!


    Up to now, Zhang Menglong had visited many places, and wherever he went, turmoil seemed to follow. His ability to stir up trouble had almost made people around the world tremble with fear.


    In Qingqiu Country, he had nearly caused the entire country''s economy to collapse. In the end, the finance department sang "Conquest" live, completely disgracing the nation.


    While in Europe, he had almost allowed a group of lunatics to sweep the Champs-Elysees. He even made an investigator named Murray perform a pole dance in front of the whole world. That day was simply a nightmare for the Kingdom of Frankfurt, and the video of that pole dance still remained active on major video platforms around the world.


    He took a trip to the Province of Treasure Island in Huaxia. He directly drove away the chip suppliers, completely expelling them from the Huaxia market. Although this did not have a significant impact on Zhang''s reputation, it caused related American and European firms to lose 60% of their market share, forcing them to increase their chip exports to other countries. The indirect losses were considerable.@@@@


    Now, this scourge had come directly to America. According to the previous script, it seemed that America was about to go through yet another turbulent time!


    Currently, what all media were most concerned about was why the leader of the Duber family had personally gone to welcome Zhang Menglong. Did they have some business cooperation between them?


    However, according to their understanding, although the Duber family had some business dealings with enterprises in Huaxia, even dating back to the Qing Dynasty era, these businesses should have no relation to Zhang Menglong. So what was this all about?


    "Mr. Zhang, this gentleman is Mr. James Duber, the leader of the Duber family for this generation," Hong Yi introduced.


    "I apologize, Mr. Zhang. In such an occasion, our entire family should have come to welcome you. However, my partner and younger brother are attending to some urgent business matters, so only I have been able to come to meet you. Please forgive our discourtesy!" After saying this, James bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong at a ninety-degree angle.


    "Look! Mr. James is actually bowing to Zhang Menglong!"


    "What in the world is going on?"


    "Quick! Catch this on camera; it''s definitely going to be today''s headline news!"


    The media immediately recorded this scene.


    Although Zhang Menglong was the world''s richest man, no one ever thought he was truly invincible. The Duber family''s publicly declared assets were only 150 billion US Dollars, but no one really believed that their assets were just that much, as this figure dated back 30 years.


    In these 30 years, the Duber family had encountered nearly no setbacks in business. Under such a length of time, their assets must have increased several fold¡ªwho wouldn''t believe that?


    Even two or three years ago, the leaders of the Duber and Rothschild families had a meal together. According to some photos leaked at that time, their relationship seemed quite amiable, not at all like what one would expect between a clan leader of a family with assets worth 500 trillion US Dollars and one with 150 billion.


    Therefore, in the eyes of those in the media, the Duber family''s assets were at least on a similar level to those of Zhang Menglong.


    "Whatever he is here for, I just feel it''s definitely not anything good!"


    "Hahaha, friends in America, you''re on your own now!"


    "That day, they finally remembered the fear dominated by Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    The Duver family''s mansion was extraordinarily luxurious, even four times larger than the last time at the Rothschild estate in Europe, and the whole family had an air of traditional solemnity.


    After a lavish dinner, James had his son personally escort Zhang Menglong to his room. James''s son, named Otto Duver, was a 21-year-old young man. During this time, Otto would also assist Zhang Menglong with his affairs.


    "Mr. Zhang, did your girlfriend not come with you?"


    "Oh, she has her graduate interviews soon, so I only brought my assistant," Zhang Menglong said. "Why do you ask?"


    "Just didn''t want Mr. Zhang to be lonely at night," Otto said. "If you want someone to accompany you to sleep tonight, Mr. Zhang, I can arrange it immediately."


    "No... I''m here for serious business!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang; every room in our mansion has excellent soundproofing, so you don''t have to worry about your assistant going back and telling your girlfriend," said Otto with a smirk implying ''I understand.''


    "In the drawer of your bedside table, there''s a small notebook and a phone that I''ve specially prepared for you. I won''t disturb you any longer," said Otto, turning around and closing the door behind Zhang Menglong.


    "Young people these days, really, what do they think about!" Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on the exquisite bedside table. He pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, "I''m just curious, only curious!"


    Zhang Menglong opened the bedside table, took out the small notebook, then opened the first page.


    "Special contact info for female celebrities!"


    "Top-tier female celebrities (sexy type), 28 numbers."


    "Top-tier female celebrities (pure type), 32 numbers."


    ...


    "Holy shit!" Zhang Menglong quickly stuffed the notebook back in the drawer. "These foreigners sure know how to have fun..."

 Chapter 322 Im Here to Give Everyone Money

    Flipping through that thick stack of female celebrities'' contact details, Zhang Menglong saw several women who were worshiped as goddesses, even including Kristen, whom he had met once before in Europe.


    The phone number was very special¡ªthis number represented the entire Duber family. Calls made from it to these actresses were like imperial decrees.


    Of course, they could choose to ignore the calls, but the consequences would likely be dire. Being subtly tormented or even blacklisted within the industry are just the basic repercussions.


    "Focus on martial arts and cultivation, not women!" Zhang Menglong suppressed those thoughts in just a few breaths. "Isn''t practicing the ''Three Elements Unite'' mental method for a night more fragrant?"


    ...


    A night of cultivation not only made Zhang Menglong feel refreshed, but it also slightly improved his physical fitness. After washing up, he stepped out of his room, ready to start stirring things up today.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you sleep well last night?" Otto asked with a sly, fawning smile. It was clear he didn''t think Zhang Menglong could resist the allure of those voluptuous and beautiful actresses.


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. Otto was the typical rich second-generation¡ªuneducated, with only money and women on his mind. Still, as long as he didn''t do anything too outrageous, Zhang Menglong couldn''t be bothered to meddle in Duber family affairs.


    "Mr. Zhang, my father has instructed that during your stay in America, I can mobilize any resources to assist you with your affairs," Otto said, excited.


    As a core member of the Duber family, he naturally knew more about how vast the family''s resources were than outsiders. But such authority rested in the hands of his grandfather, father, and uncles. Their generation wasn''t qualified to meddle with it.


    However, this time with Zhang Menglong coming to America, someone needed to accompany him. At the same time, the family''s business couldn''t be neglected. So, after some discussions, James handed over authority to Otto, marking the first time he had such significant power!


    Within the family''s resources, including connections, money, and even that mysterious guard team, Otto could now use them unconditionally and limitlessly, as long as he reported to his father.


    Of course, this was also a test from James for Otto, given that the family''s assets would inevitably be handed over to Otto''s generation eventually.


    "Then follow me during this time," Zhang Menglong declared. Otto clearly was a joker¡ªhaving such a cheerful presence around could make the trip to America more interesting.


    "That''s great!" Although Otto wasn''t very familiar with Zhang Menglong, his father and grandfather had always said that each generation of the Zhang Family was exceptionally talented. By following them, one could learn many useful things. They had repeatedly emphasized this: if there was a chance to stay by Zhang Menglong''s side, he must listen and learn earnestly.


    "Following Mr. Zhang, I''m sure I can learn a lot!"


    "This kid got on the thief''s ship without even realizing it!" Hong Yi muttered under his breath. Following Zhang Menglong indeed taught a lot, such as being sly, shameless, spouting nonsensical talk, and wielding money as power.


    "Mr. Zhang, where to? I will immediately arrange a driver for you."


    "Geez, true to a nation that venerates human rights. If this were in our Huaxia, if you don''t want to work, someone else will. Forget about striking; they could dock your salary just for taking a paid bathroom break!" Zhang Menglong said, his tone a mix of mockery and praise.


    ...


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    At Bona Communications, hundreds of corporate executives and bosses were gathered in a large plaza. Just over an hour ago, they all received an invitation from the chairman of Bona Communications.


    If it had been a regular chairman of any company, they wouldn''t have cared, but everyone in this area knew that it was the rising Duber family that controlled Bona Communications. An invitation from the Duber family¡ªwho would dare to slight them?


    Even if some bosses were unavailable, they still sent their confidants; unless they truly had no trustworthy people to send, over 500 of the more than 700 invited companies were present!


    "Everyone, do you know why the people of the Duber family have gathered us all here?"


    "Who knows? It seems like everyone got the notice at the last minute. I was supposed to go on a business trip to Europe today and even had to cancel my flight!"


    "We can''t afford to offend them, with their large family and massive business."


    ...


    "They''re here, they''re here!" As everyone was chattering away, a group of people walked in.


    "That''s the chairman of Bona Communications!"


    "Who are those young people in front of him? Why is the chairman of Bona Communications so respectful to them?"


    "I don''t know, they might be members of the Duber family. Hmm? And there are also people from Huaxia?"


    "That... Isn''t that the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong?"


    "What''s he doing here?"


    ...


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Zhang Menglong approached the crowd.


    "You must all be curious why you were invited here today, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "I won''t beat around the bush. Today, I''m here to give you money!"

 Chapter 323 I Am Very Vindictive

    "Ah?"


    "Giving away money? What does that mean? Are they going to invest in us?"


    "Is there really such good fortune?"


    Many business owners and executives were suddenly all abuzz. Could there really be such pie-in-the-sky opportunities in the world?


    Most of these 500-plus companies weren''t very large, so even an investment of tens of millions of US dollars would be of significant help to them.


    Although most people didn''t know much about Zhang Menglong, it was said that whenever he spent money, he did so in units of billions. If Zhang Menglong was really willing to invest, it would be an absolute godsend for them!


    Some people knew that Zhang Menglong had come to America; could it be that he was here this time to make investments?


    In capitalist countries, whoever has the money is the boss. They couldn''t care less about what Zhang Menglong wanted to do; as long as it didn''t affect their money-making, he could do whatever he pleased. And if he could help them earn money, they''d welcome him with open arms and treat him like the God of Wealth himself!


    Not only them, but even Hong Yi and Otto had their faces full of question marks, completely unaware of what Zhang Menglong intended to do.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that? We don''t quite understand!"


    "Your question is a good one," Zhang Menglong needed someone to take the initiative to ask, "May I know how to address this business owner?"


    "Just call me Old Jason, I''m the owner of a car parts factory," the first business owner to ask a question replied.


    "Would it be possible to disclose the assets of your company?"


    "Of course," Old Jason replied with a hearty laugh. Even if he didn''t say, with the Du bo family''s capabilities, finding out such information would be a piece of cake. Their assets were nothing compared to even the decimal points of the others'' wealth, so there was nothing to hide, "My company''s assets are about 24 million US dollars!"


    "Very good," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "To thank Mr. Jason for asking the key question, I am willing to inject 30 million US dollars into your company!"


    "Otto, arrange the transfer!" Zhang Menglong turned and said to Otto.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Otto approached Old Jason, "Mr. Jason, please provide your company''s account details!"


    The sudden surprise left Old Jason with a somewhat stiff expression. He had long wanted to expand his business scale, but due to financial pressures, he hadn''t been able to make a move. This money was enough for him to take more orders and expand his company''s business by two or three times!


    He reported his company''s account number with a trembling voice, and in less than a minute, he received a text message from the bank.


    The crowd immediately erupted into a frenzy. Nothing had been explained yet, and here was 30 million US dollars being thrown at an unknown company on the spot. Was Zhang Menglong really so rich that he was at odds with money?


    "Otto, if you were an employee of a company and the employees of other companies around you, doing work with lower technical content, yet earning higher salaries than you, what would you do?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course, I''d be angry!" Otto replied without hesitation, "They don''t generate as much value as I do, why should they earn a higher salary? If it were me, I''d switch jobs!"


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    "But what if you can''t switch or don''t get a raise even if you do?"


    "Then I''d protest! Strike!"


    "Wait a minute!" Otto suddenly seemed to realize something.


    Before Zhang Menglong''s arrival, his father had told him that Zhang Menglong was probably here to settle personal scores, and his target was likely the chip suppliers in Europe and America.


    In this Silicon Valley town, resided one of the world''s largest telecommunications companies, Qualcomm Electronics!


    At Qualcomm Electronics, the number of workers and engineers accounted for over 80% of the entire company''s workforce, and their average salary was about 4,500 to 5,000 US Dollars a month, whereas the surrounding enterprises had an average salary of about 3,000 to 3,500 US Dollars a month¡ªthere was a considerable gap in wage levels.


    With Zhang Menglong''s move, the wages of employees at those companies doubled, even surpassing Qualcomm Electronics'' employees, yet they were doing the same work as before. Would they be willing to accept it?


    He understood, he understood it all!


    Zhang Menglong''s 20 billion US Dollars was not about idle investment; it was aimed to bring down Qualcomm Electronics!


    Wait until a few days later when the workers at Qualcomm Electronics learn of this, they''d surely feel discontent. With just a little maneuvering, in this land of the free, Zhang Menglong could create quite a stir!


    "Mr. Zhang, given your personality, are you really content with helping these Americans make money with these 20 billion?" Hong Yi couldn''t help but ask.


    "No worries, the cost is passed on to the consumers!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "When our chips are ready, if they want to buy, we''ll charge them double the already doubled price. It''s up to them to take it or leave it!"


    Hong Yi showed an expression that said it all made sense now. Zhang Menglong didn''t care about spending money domestically, but when it came to spending abroad, he was more of a miser than the God of Wealth himself!


    "Otto, do you have a way to contact the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union or the higher-ups?"


    "Of course, what do you want to do?"


    "Help me set up a meeting. I want to discuss a deal with them, a deal that could guarantee a life of luxury for generations!"


    Zhang Menglong, with hands clasped behind his back, walked out of the hall, "I, Zhang Menglong, am someone who holds very strong grudges!"

 Chapter 324 Lets Talk About an Eight-Digit Deal

    Bernas had originally been an ordinary engineer at Qualcomm Electronics. He was 35 years old this year and had joined the company after graduating from college. However, due to his average technical skills and abilities, his rank had never advanced beyond that of a mid-level engineer. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    But over the decades, as others came and went, he remained, for a variety of reasons.


    While he wasn''t skilled at flattering and currying favor, he found a sense of superiority among the junior engineers and assembly line workers and, to his surprise, actually managed to become quite close with them.


    When the Qualcomm Electronics workers'' union was formed, he received the support of the majority of the workers and became the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union!


    In many capitalist countries, companies have labor unions. These unions are not established by the companies themselves but are spontaneously organized by the employees and are not directly managed by the company.


    The purpose of a labor union is to fight for the rights and benefits of the employees, and nowadays, many large enterprises in Huaxia are gradually seeing the emergence of such organizations as well.


    As the President of the union, Bernas not only had an additional income but also held a status in the company that was no less than that of some senior engineers and executives. Representing the interests of 80% of the company''s employees, his words carried a lot of weight among the workers, and even the leaders did not dare to offend him lightly.


    With this role, Bernas led a rather comfortable life at the company.


    But one day, he received an anonymous call. Someone had made an appointment to meet him at Mogate Bar that evening and requested that he come alone, without bringing anyone. Moreover, the caller emphasized it was a good thing!


    Bernas''s life was already quite good, but human desires are endless. Besides, the meeting place was a bar bustling with people; he had no concerns about foul play or ulterior motives from the other party.


    With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, he arrived at Mogate Bar as agreed.


    "Excuse me, are you Mr. Bernas?" As soon as he pushed open the door of the bar, a bartender approached him to ask.


    Bernas nodded,


    "Right this way, please. A guest has been waiting for you for a long time," the bartender led Bernas to a private booth by the window, where a young stranger was seated.


    "Thank you for your trouble, you may go now," the young man pulled out a stack of bills and placed them on the menu.


    Bernas twitched at the corner of his eye. The stack of bills must have amounted to at least several dozen. Although Mogate Bar was the finest in town, its prices were only mid-range; the largest tips were usually only a few tens of US dollars, rarely exceeding 100 dollars.


    Yet this young man had casually given away thousands of dollars, his largesse was breathtaking!


    His gaze quickly swept over the young man''s attire, which bore no logos, but both the materials and the craftsmanship were exquisite.


    "Mr. Breina, please take a seat!" Zhang Menglong pointed to the seat in front of him, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "You''re Zhang Menglong?" Breina sprang up from his seat.


    Zhongtong Electronics had been one of the upstream companies for Silicon Moonlight; they produced Crystal Chips that were sent to Silicon Moonlight for packaging and testing. He also knew that the current richest man in the world, Zhang Menglong, had acquired Silicon Moonlight and even ousted several American shareholders.


    These shareholders were actually the executives of Zhongtong Electronics!


    If a direct relationship were to be drawn, Zhang Menglong and Zhongtong Electronics were absolutely on opposing sides! How could there be anything good from him reaching out today?


    "Don''t panic," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "if I have a grudge, it''s only with Zhongtong Electronics. What are you worried about?"


    "That''s true!" Breina calmed down a little.


    "So Mr. Zhang, why approach me..."


    "Not long ago, several executives from your Zhongtong Electronics colluded with Kaibong people to cause trouble at my company, instigating employees at Silicon Moonlight to strike, and reported supposed fire hazards and tax loopholes," Zhang Menglong listed one aggravation after another, "these things have irked me, so I''m planning to retaliate!"


    Although Breina didn''t say anything, he was mentally bashing Zhang Menglong thoroughly.


    You''re the richest man in the world, why be so petty? You want retaliation for every negative against you? Are you still in kindergarten? Only children are that vengeful!


    But then he suddenly remembered what Otto had said before, that Zhang Menglong wanted to discuss a business deal with him, and if it worked out, he could earn millions of US dollars!


    "What do you want me to do, Mr. Zhang?" Breina asked.


    "Aren''t you the president of the union? I assume you have some clout among the workers, right?"


    Breina''s eyes lit up; Zhang Menglong was recognizing his influence among the workers! He knew that Zhang Menglong must want him to use his clout to do something.


    Though the target was his own company, if the money was right, what can''t be done? Ten million dollars was more than he could ever earn in his lifetime; if this deal went through, he could live comfortably without working a day more in his life!


    "At Qualcomm Electronics, I was elected union president with over eighty percent of worker votes," Breina immediately showed his worth, "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do for you?"


    "Simple, I want you to lead your workers in a massive strike!"

 Chapter 325 Let Them Go on a Paid Strike

    "Mr. Zhang, you''re putting me in a difficult position," Berenas said with a troubled expression. "Although I hold some influence among the workers, the matter of striking isn''t something I can just declare on my own!"


    If the employees really went on strike, then they would inevitably receive no compensation at all. Everyone needs to support their families, and without an income, how would they survive?


    Moreover, without any good reason, he couldn''t prompt the company''s employees to strike. The company provided excellent benefits and the workload was moderate; at least the employees were very satisfied with the overall situation at the company.


    If he were to lead a strike under these circumstances, the workers would probably ignore him entirely. Even worse, if this reached the higher-ups, he would be the first to be fired. Then he wouldn''t be able to talk about being the president of the union, he might even lose his job!


    "Of course, I certainly wouldn''t ask you to do such a thing without good reason," Zhang Menglong pulled out a stack of contracts and placed them in front of Berenas, "These are the strategic investment agreements I''ve signed with several hundred companies in Silicon Valley Town. You can take a look."


    "Investment agreements?" Berenas picked up a document curiously.


    "Employee salary increases must not be less than 100%!" Berenas''s eyes widened; Zhang Menglong not only invested a significant amount in those companies but even set conditions for increasing employee wages. Was this his preparation?


    "Now, do you see a way forward?" Zhang Menglong smiled.


    "Yes! Of course, there is!" Berenas was suddenly excited.


    What kind of people were they employing in their company? The management came from top universities, and the engineers were highly experienced. Even the assembly line workers had been strictly selected.@@@@


    Qualcomm Electronics was undoubtedly the best company in Silicon Valley Town, with the best treatment and brightest future prospects. Nearly everyone was desperate to join this company.


    But Zhang Menglong had doubled the treatment of other companies'' employees! Ordinary workers were earning salaries higher than Qualcomm Electronics engineers; who the hell could tolerate that?


    Did they want to switch jobs? They could! But Zhang Menglong''s contract specified that employees who switched jobs would not receive salary increases.


    That meant, even if Qualcomm Electronics'' employees wanted to seek other opportunities, there was no way they could, unless they left Silicon Valley Town. If they wanted to make a living, they would have to stay at Qualcomm Electronics.


    Even if Berenas didn''t instigate it, when the whole workforce learned of this news, they would probably be outraged. Using his influence and prestige among the workers, he was confident that he could motivate at least fifty percent of them to strike in protest.


    Berenas voiced his confidence, expecting Zhang Menglong to be pleased, but Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "50%? That''s not enough! I need at least 80% of them to strike!" Zhang Menglong said.


    Not only not needing to work, but also receiving double the salary¡ªwho wouldn''t want such a deal!


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "from today, I will deposit 100 million US dollars into this account every month. After the strike ends, whatever money remains in this account will be your bonus!" Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Really!?" Berlainas seemed to have heard the most beautiful language in the world.


    The account holds 100 million US dollars!


    The union has about 7,000 members, each with an average income of about 5,000 US dollars. Even with a double bonus, it averages 10,000 US dollars per person.


    Even if all employees join the strike, it would only amount to 70 million US dollars a month, and he could earn 30 million US dollars a month! Just this amount of money alone was enough for him to squander indefinitely.


    If the strike goes on for several more months, then...


    "What I, Zhang Menglong, have said, will never be taken back!"


    "Good! Mr. Zhang, then I wish us a fruitful cooperation!"


    ...


    To prevent Berlainas from doing anything unpredictable, Zhang Menglong had Ye Yin quietly install a tiny listening device in Berlainas'' pocket. This listening device, the size of a grain of rice, was developed by one of Zhang Menglong''s scientific research institutions and could cover a radius of 10 kilometers with its signal!


    With this listening device, Zhang Menglong would monitor Berlainas'' every move!


    After leaving, Berlainas did not return to his company dormitory but continued to stay at the bar.


    He immediately contacted several other members of the Qualcomm Electronics union, and soon, five or six people gathered in a private room of the bar.


    "Berlainas, it''s so late, what do you need us for?" a tall black man asked.


    "Did you strike it rich?" another union member said, "The basic consumption in this bar''s private room costs thousands of dollars, you didn''t win the lottery and are treating us to drinks, did you?"


    ...


    "Everyone quiet down and listen to me!" Berlainas put on a serious expression, "The jackpot I hit this time is even bigger than the lottery!"

 Chapter 326 As the President, Its My Duty

    "Bigger than the lottery? What do you mean?" Everyone''s interest was piqued instantly.


    "Our company must have offended someone!" Berenice said.


    "What?"


    "Offended who?"


    "Is it serious?"


    For these workers, their job was their only means of providing for their families. If the company suffered a setback because it had offended someone, the impact on them would be enormous.


    "We''ve offended the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!" Berenice said, "None of you can let this slip, I called you here first because I trust you!"


    "Zhang Menglong? That Huaxia guy?"


    The group immediately lowered their voices. They were not unfamiliar with the name; it had appeared in the media just a few days ago, even capturing photos of his meeting with the Duber family, America''s most powerful clan, who treated him with great respect.


    "You may not know this, but Mr. Zhang Menglong isn''t just the world''s richest man; he''s also the chairman of Silicon Moonlight!" Berenice said.


    "He''s the chairman of Silicon Moonlight?"


    "No wonder!"


    "Could it be that he''s come to America this time to deal with us at Qualcomm Electronics?"


    As employees of Qualcomm Electronics, they might not understand some internal logics, but it was common knowledge within Qualcomm that one of its directors had tried to force Silicon Moonlight to stop selling high-end chips to Huaxia''s interior.


    It was said that the director was humiliated by Zhang Menglong and kicked out of Silicon Moonlight''s board of directors.


    The conflict between Qualcomm Electronics and Silicon Moonlight could almost be described as irreconcilable!


    If it were the Silicon Moonlight of the past, that would be one thing; after all, they couldn''t produce Crystal Chips themselves, and without the supply from Qualcomm Electronics, the company was practically doomed, so a broken relationship wouldn''t matter.


    But with Zhang Menglong taking over as chairman of Silicon Moonlight and even claiming that he would conduct his own R&D, it was a completely different story. Anyone in the world who knew of Zhang Menglong was aware how rich he was, a sum that remains unknown to this day!


    "That''s right, he''s come to deal with Qualcomm Electronics!" Berenice said, "But this is an opportunity for us!"


    "Our opportunity?"


    "Exactly!" Berenice said, "Mr. Zhang Menglong just approached me, hoping I could help him with a task."


    Berenice roughly recounted his recent conversation with Zhang Menglong, of course, deliberately omitting some details about the compensation.


    The next morning, a piece of gossip gradually spread among the employees, and naturally, Brenner was the one who spread it.


    But seeing is believing, most people thought the reliability of this news wasn''t high, so they didn''t pay too much attention to it.


    However, in the workforce, there are always some people who delve into matters too deeply, and some of them started inquiring about the salary and benefits of nearby enterprises through their own connections.


    And to their astonishment, the results they got were exactly the same as those being circulated within the company!


    The employees of Qualcomm Electronics, doing some of the highest content work and creating the most profit for the company, were receiving the lowest wages in the whole town!


    Instantly, the crowd was seething with anger!


    "No way!" A union member suddenly put down his work, "Why should we endure such exploitation? We should demand a raise from the company!"


    Everyone was thinking the same thing in their hearts, but as an old Chinese saying goes: the gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out, and no one wanted to be that bird. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    But when the first person voiced their inner thoughts, the others quickly let go of their caution.


    "That''s right! We have to uphold our rights! Why should we put up with this kind of injustice?"


    "A friend and I came to Silicon Valley Town together, I went through several rounds of interviews to get this job, working overtime almost every day, while he just took an ordinary job, leaving on time every day, and now he makes 1000 more US Dollars a month than I do! Why?"


    "The company must have faked their profits! All that money must have gone to the shareholders!"


    "We need to protest against the company!"


    "Exactly! We can''t be submissive lambs, or else the company''s exploitation of us will only get worse."


    "We need a representative to negotiate with the company on our behalf!"


    "Who''s willing to go?"


    "Don''t we have a union? Let the union people do it!"


    Suddenly, dozens of eyes focused on Brenner, who was silently working among the crowd.


    "Brenner, you''re the President of the Qualcomm Electronics Union, you should represent us and talk to the company!"


    "That''s right! We all support you! With us behind you, the company wouldn''t dare do anything to you. You just need to speak out for all of us!"


    Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Brenner revealed a profound smile, but he quickly suppressed it.


    With an exceedingly noble tone, Brenner said, "Since everyone trusts me, as the President, it is my duty!"

 Chapter 327 Hey, everyones here

    The boardroom at Qualcomm Electronics was buzzing as shareholders gathered to review the work summary of the previous year.


    Beyond the state-owned portion, the remaining shares of Qualcomm Electronics were split among 12 major shareholders, with the chairman holding 8.74% of the stock, making him the individual with the highest private ownership in the company.


    The second-largest shareholder controlled 7.88% of the shares, granting these two shareholders the most influential voices at Qualcomm Electronics.


    The chairman, named Mobai, was a quintessential American who made his fortune in the cable business and now had assets nearing ten billion.


    The second largest shareholder was a Kaibong native named Ye Zhizetian, who graduated from Kyoto University in Kaibong. Since his university days, he had been a prominent figure and had single-handedly founded a chip design company.


    Mobai and Ye Zhizetian met at an international conference, where Ye Zhizetian had given an industry-sharing presentation that resonated profoundly with Mobai''s own forward-thinking ideas!


    Afterward, both sold their shares in their companies to form a partnership that created Qualcomm Electronics. With decades of development, the company had reached its current standing. Within the company, Mobai and Ye Zhizetian commanded immense respect, and even the state sometimes deferred to their opinions and judgments.


    "This year, due to the gloabl pandemic, our production growth rate has slightly slowed down. However, compared to the same period last year, there is still a 5% increase, and this is the result of the hard work of all shareholders and our entire company!" said Mobai, smartly dressed, as he chaired the shareholder meeting.


    "Chairman, after we gave up on a part of the Huaxia market, today''s orders might be reduced significantly!" a shareholder mentioned.


    "Hmph!" Mobai snorted coldly. "Silicon Moonlight is truly ignorant. To pass up making money for the sake of clinging to sentimental values is absurd!"


    Indeed, a significant portion of their business had previously been connected to Huaxia through Silicon Moonlight, and it could be said that a large majority of their orders came from the Huaxia people. The rupture in the partnership with Silicon Moonlight indeed had a huge impact on them.


    "But it doesn''t matter. We''ve supported a new packaging and testing factory in our neighbor, the country of Indus. Their labor costs are lower than Huaxia''s, and although their demand is only half of Huaxia''s, our company is still working hard to explore new partnerships. This year''s turnover won''t see much change."


    Mobai''s words were undoubtedly a powerful morale booster for the shareholders. What they were more concerned about was whether their own interests would be harmed. To whom their Crystal Chips were sold was of little concern to them.


    "Chairman, I''ve heard some rumors from our employees recently, and I think it''s necessary to mention them!" another shareholder suddenly said.


    "What rumors?"


    "Lately, the companies in Silicon Valley Town, for some reason, have significantly raised their employees'' salaries, and this has had a considerable impact on the morale of our workers!"


    "Hahaha," Mobai laughed dismissively, "Indeed, as our town''s industry chain grows larger and the welfare of workers improves, it''s not a problem to increase benefits."


    "How about this? Starting from next month, we''ll adjust all worker wages universally, increasing them by 5%¨C8% based on their performance assessments."


    "Zhang Menglong!"


    Zhang Menglong''s appearance in America a few days ago had caused a lot of unease among many people, but no one knew what he was really here for.


    However, Mobai and Yajizieta could sense something.


    Employee strikes, fire safety issues, tax problems¡ªbehind all these events were the shadows of their Qualcomm Electronics, aiming to force Zhang Menglong to give up his so-called independent research and development and continue cooperating with their Western countries.


    But Zhang Menglong''s approach was completely out of their realm of understanding.


    Employee strikes? He simply fired all the striking employees!


    Fire hazards? He directly shut down operations for repairs and even constructed a special fire brigade right in front of the company!


    Tax evasion? He drove straight to the tax bureau on a live broadcast, cleared all the taxes in one go, and even voluntarily accepted a penalty five times the fine!


    This kind of operation simply made them want to stand up and shout ''666'' in unison.


    Originally, they thought Zhang Menglong would have some sort of counterattack, but as of a few days ago, besides handling these issues, he hadn''t made any responsive actions.


    But now they realized that what was inevitable would still come!


    Spending lavishly, investing in hundreds of companies for free and causing those companies to raise wages, thereby catalyzing unrest among Qualcomm Electronics'' employees¡ªthis was Zhang Menglong''s revenge!


    "Chairman, we can''t just remain passive, can we?"


    "Yes, if employee morale continues to decline, I fear problems will arise!"


    "Thump, thump, thump!" At that moment, a knocking sound came from outside the conference room.


    "Who is it!" Mobai gave a look to his assistant.


    His assistant opened the door, but none of the shareholders seated recognized the person standing outside.


    "Hey! Everyone''s here?" Borenas made himself at home as he walked over to the board of directors'' seats, casually pulled out an empty chair, "Carry on, don''t mind me, I''ll talk about my matter after you''re finished."

 Chapter 328 A Great Socialist Home

    "Who are you?" Mobai stared at this unfamiliar face, who was wearing a Qualcomm Electronics badge. He looked like he must be an employee of their own company, but how could a regular employee dare to barge into a shareholder meeting and even behave so casually?


    "Boss, this man seems to be Berlaines, the President of our Qualcomm Electronics labor union," Mobai''s assistant whispered.


    "The President of the union?" Mobai sneered, "Get out! Do you think you can just walk in here whenever you like? Who is your leader? You can just get out right now!"


    "Hahaha!" Berlaines burst out laughing, "Dear shareholders, since I have entered this shareholder meeting today, I had no intention to continue working here.


    Yoji Zetan''s gaze lingered on Berlaines for a moment, he suddenly had a bad feeling. The surrounding companies had just raised salaries, and there had been some changes in the employees'' moods. Now the President of the union had arrived¡ªwhat good could come of this?


    "What exactly do you want to do?" Mobai also calmed down, his demeanor clearly showing an attitude of nothing to lose, and this Berlaines definitely had something to say.


    "Mr. Mobai, Mr. Yoji Zetan, as the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union, I came here today representing the collective voice of our 7000 production line workers," Berlaines said with a smile, "You must also be aware that all companies in the Silicon Valley towns have implemented salary increases, going up as much as 100%. Our Qualcomm Electronics employees also demand an increase at this rate!"@@@@


    "You''re dreaming!" Mobai thought of Berlaines''s intentions as soon as he knew his identity, but he still couldn''t help but curse loudly. Talking about wage increases with them, the capitalists, wasn''t this essentially asking for their lives?


    "Mr. Mobai, please, don''t be angered. This is only the first request from all our employees," Berlain spoke with the phrases "all employees" repeatedly, positioning himself on a moral high ground, "You might want to hear the other voices of our broad workforce."


    "Alright, you speak, I''m all ears!" Mobai responded with a laugh instead of anger, in this nation that champions freedom, employee protests, strikes, and even demonstrations were all very normal. Since its establishment, Qualcomm Electronics had encountered several similar incidents.


    But as the saying goes, ''for every clever move, there is a countermove''; as long as the capital remains in the hands of these capitalists and as long as each employee needs to make a living, they will inevitably submit to capital. This is a truth tested through hundreds of years of history.


    Feeling confident, he believed he could resolve even the most complex situations.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Mobai truly is a Chairman, your demeanor is indeed different," Berlaines gave Mobai a strong compliment, "Then I shall speak!"


    "Are you threatening us?" Mobai slammed the table.


    "Mr. Mobai, our employees have the right to strike, and I believe our demands are reasonable and contain no element of threat. If you think our demands are unreasonable, you may choose to fire us."


    Fire them? It was a joke!


    If this had been America a few years ago, only company executives would have employment contracts, and firing an employee only needed a single word without any financial compensation.


    But two years ago, America revised a new act; if an employee is to be dismissed, even if they have not completed one year of service, a month''s wages must still be paid as compensation.


    Berenice just mentioned that he represents 7,000 people! In their company, some employees have worked for over ten years; if 7,000 people were fired, their company could shut down directly.


    Even if they had the money, the departure of 7,000 employees could halt the company''s operations, which would not possibly recover for three to five months.


    Zhang Menglong could afford to do this because he was not afraid of losing money, but there was only one Zhang Menglong! His method of suppressing strikes could not be replicated by anyone.


    "Humph! Strike, don''t you all need to live?" a shareholder sneered.


    He had encountered strikes more than once, but due to the pressures of life, few strikes lasted until the end, and it was always those striking workers


    "I''m not afraid to tell all the shareholders that our union recently received a sum of financial support. During the strike, our union will provide double the salary to all participating employees as a subsidy, until we obtain what we want!"


    "Double the salary? Where do you get so much money from?" the shareholders exclaimed.


    "A gentleman who heard of our plight sponsored us a sum of money," Berenice said, "He is a great socialist!"

 Chapter 329 If Youre Not Convinced, Come and Kill Me

    "Socialist Home?" Hearing these words, Mobai and Yajize Tian immediately exchanged glances.


    Coming from a socialist country and baring enmity with them, who else could it be besides Zhang Menglong?


    In that instant, they all understood! Zhang Menglong was truly here to target Qualcomm Electronics this time!


    Were it not for the official US backing, Zhang Menglong''s net worth alone would suffice to buy out Qualcomm Electronics completely, but since he couldn''t purchase it, he could sabotage it. As long as the employees went on strike, how could their company continue to operate normally?


    Just now, Berlainas had said the strike would continue until the company compromised with them or it would go on indefinitely.


    With Zhang Menglong''s financial resources, even supporting these employees for a lifetime would be a piece of cake. With his financial backing, the strike would never stop!


    Not having to work and yet receiving double the salary was such a huge benefit¡ªhow could the employees possibly give it up? They would be delighting in the company''s stalemate with them for years, better yet, a lifetime!


    "This Huaxia man''s tactics are really vicious!" Infelite, who once shared ownership in Silicon Moonlight, lamented.


    After being ousted from the board by Zhang Menglong, Infelite had joined forces with the president of Silicon Moonlight''s union, hoping to force him into agreeing to their conditions through a strike.


    But Infelite completely failed to anticipate that Zhang Menglong simply did not fear losses, and straightaway fired those causing trouble, paying out whatever was owed, even willing to spend money to support idlers when the company wasn''t bringing in any revenue.


    But that''s just how rich and capricious he was; Infelite could only slink back to America dejectedly.


    Several months had passed, and just when he was about to forget such an incident had ever taken place, the same situation was unfolding at Qualcomm Electronics. The playbook was exactly the same as before.


    What was different was that Zhang Menglong wasn''t afraid of losses, but they were!


    "What benefits did Zhang Menglong offer you to instigate the workers into striking?" Infelite demanded.


    "Mr. Infelite, that is slander against me!" Berlainas replied, "I''ve made it very clear, this is the collective decision of all our employees. I do not know the gentleman supporting us. I only know that he calls himself a ''successor of socialism.'' Whether he is the Zhang Menglong you speak of, I really have no idea."


    "What successor of socialism!" Infelite clenched his fists. Those who called themselves "successor of socialism"¡ªif that person wasn''t Zhang Menglong, he would directly swallow up Qualcomm Electronics!


    But Berlainas didn''t admit to it, and they had no recourse; the threshold for defamation was very low in this country. If he couldn''t produce evidence, then Berlainas could just as well send him a lawyer''s letter of warning!


    "You''re full of shit!" Infelite cursed angrily.


    Did the world''s richest man travel thousands of miles to America just for tourism? Is it just a coincidence that he happened to come to Silicon Valley and just accidentally ran into Bernalius and got along with him like a house on fire?


    No one would believe such a story.


    But with Zhang Menglong denying everything, what could Infelite do?


    "I am saying, you at Qualcomm Electronics, with such a big company, can''t even pay a bit of salary; I''m embarrassed for you!"


    "Zhang Menglong, those company employees'' inexplicable raises, you''re involved in that too, aren''t you?" Infelite suddenly got much smarter. The salaries those companies were offering were clearly more than they could afford. Where would they get so much money? It had to be Zhang Menglong supplying it!


    "That''s right, I gave those more than five hundred companies a total of 20 billion US Dollars, but you have no proof!" Zhang Menglong said in an irritating tone.


    "What good does it do you to spend billions of US Dollars on something like this?" Infelite asked.


    "It doesn''t get me any good!" Zhang Menglong said blandly, "Just a few billion US Dollars, I don''t care about that money, but if it makes you unhappy, then it''s money well spent to me!"


    "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll sue you for destroying the market?"


    "Go ahead!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I have never heard of a rule that says you can''t pay employees a high salary. I have only heard about minimum wage standards, but there''s no maximum wage limit. You are too poor to pay, and you don''t allow others to do so?"


    Infelite''s teeth were grinding so loudly, and his breathing became much heavier, indicating just how furious he was.


    "Zhang Menglong, you are courting death! Don''t forget, this is America, not Huaxia!" Infelite''s extreme anger almost made him lose his reason.


    "Oh, I''m so scared! If you can''t stand it, come and kill me!" Zhang Menglong replied mockingly, "Oh, by the way, I have started recording this call, and every word you just said will serve as evidence in court!"


    "You... you..." Infelite, already not a young man, felt his blood pressure skyrocket after hearing this, and he actually collapsed straight away.


    "Mr. Infelite! Mr. Infelite!"


    "Call an ambulance, quick!"


    ...

 Chapter 330 Want to See My Balance?

    As the sound of the siren faded away, the ambulance carrying Infelite disappeared into the distance, but a deeper gloom shrouded the boardroom.


    "That damned Huaxia man, Zhang Menglong," Mobai gritted his teeth and said, "who would have thought he would really spend so much money! What is his purpose, merely to annoy us?"


    "Whatever the reason, we absolutely cannot let those employees go on strike. If we don''t complete the project delivery by the end of the month, we will lose at least several hundred million US Dollars."


    "So, what can we do? Give them a raise, increase their vacation time? How much money would we lose annually? I disagree!"


    "Exactly! If we agree this time, there will be a next time and a time after that. Are we supposed to compromise every time they make a fuss?"


    "I firmly disagree!"@@@@


    The attitudes of the shareholders were incredibly staunch; for capitalists, money was even more important than life itself!


    "Everyone, don''t panic. The situation is not that bad yet!" Yeji Zetian said.


    "Mr. Zetian, do you have any solution?" The shareholders immediately turned their gaze toward Yeji Zetian. In the entire Qualcomm Electronics, Yeji Zetian was almost like a strategical brain, reviving the company from several life-and-death crises.


    "Actually, it''s simple," Yeji Zetian said, "These employees are only feeling this way because they can''t tolerate seeing people from other companies earning higher salaries, which causes psychological imbalance. If we lower the cost of labor in the town''s market, their mentality will be balanced, and naturally, there will be no more trouble."


    "But how can we do that? Can we even interfere with the internal affairs of other companies?" someone asked.


    "Gentlemen, don''t forget why this Silicon Valley town was established!" Yeji Zetian said, "Could the economy here have thrived without Qualcomm Electronics?"


    "Right! Although there are many companies in Silicon Valley town, over fifty percent have business dealings with us. Without our orders, they couldn''t even survive!"


    "Exactly! If they want to continue cooperating with us, then they should restore the normal wages of their workers!"


    "It''s just like Mr. Zetian!" the shareholders laughed, "We almost forgot, Qualcomm Electronics is the king of this Silicon Valley town!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s trouble!" Otto knocked hurriedly at Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "What''s the matter, why the rush?" Zhang Menglong stepped out of the room.


    "Recently, some company owners came to me. They want to terminate the agreement with us," Otto said. "Most of their business comes from Qualcomm Electronics as they are downstream companies, and now Qualcomm Electronics is blackmailing them to immediately restore the workers'' salaries through contractual obligations."


    "These people react quite swiftly!" Zhang Menglong seemed to have anticipated this situation.


    The owners of those companies were actually filled with doubts about Zhang Menglong''s strange investment behavior. If they knew that Zhang Menglong''s target was Qualcomm Electronics, perhaps many would not have signed the agreement.


    The reason is simple, they rely on Qualcomm Electronics to survive in Silicon Valley town. If Qualcomm Electronics collapses, upstream companies won''t be able to sell their raw materials, and downstream companies won''t be able to acquire Crystal Chips and other products.


    Although Zhang Menglong offered a substantial amount of money, risking their long-term development for this sum seemed a loss they could hardly accept.


    "Those owners are right here in our company now. What do you suggest we do now?"


    Such as Crystal Chip, which Silicon Moonlight was currently unable to produce. Although they had heard rumors that Zhang Menglong was about to initiate some independent R&D, the long period such R&D required meant that reaching the world-leading level would be impossible in less than three to five years. Were they expected to wait three to five years?


    "I know, if I told you all that Huaxia has developed high-performance chips, you definitely wouldn''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong candidly said, "But I''m willing to enter into a wager agreement with you. Whatever Qualcomm Electronics can provide you, we can provide the same, and if we fail, I''ll compensate you as much as your annual turnover!"


    "Really?" The bosses'' eyes lit up one after another.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we don''t trust you, but if it really comes to that, do you really have enough money to compensate us?"


    "Yes, we know you''re extremely wealthy, but these downstream companies collectively have an annual turnover of over a hundred billion, a massive industry scale. We can''t afford to gamble!"


    "After all this talk, you''re just afraid I don''t have the money, aren''t you!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    The bosses immediately bowed their heads in silence, tacitly agreeing with Zhang Menglong''s statement.


    "This is also human nature," Zhang Menglong said, "To prove that I have the financial capability, would you like to check my balance?"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, "Why not appoint a trustworthy representative from among you to check."


    "Mr. Brian, you run the biggest business among us, you go!"


    "Yes, Mr. Brian, we trust you!"


    The crowd immediately nominated a man in his fifties.


    "Alright," the businessman named Brian stepped forward, "Mr. Zhang, I will take the liberty of being this witness."


    Zhang Menglong recited a series of account numbers, "Mr. Brian, this is one of my savings accounts at Swiss Bank. You can check it directly."


    "Okay." Brian entered Zhang Menglong''s account information into a computer, then authenticated it using Zhang Menglong''s identity information.


    "No problem, this is Mr. Zhang''s savings account," Brian said as he communicated with others, while he clicked the "check balance" button.


    When he saw that string of numbers, Brian''s facial expression instantly froze.


    "Mr. Brian, have you checked it?"


    "Mr. Brian, how much balance is there in Mr. Zhang''s account?"


    "Mr. Brian, please speak up!"


    Brian swallowed and counted the digits again, "One, ten, hundred, thousand... trillion, quadrillion... a total of over twenty-five trillion..."


    Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Twenty-five trillion US dollars?"


    "No! It''s twenty-five trillion Euros, and I didn''t mention the extra three hundred billion Euros..."

 Chapter 331 We Are for Poetry and the Distance

    God damn spare change, over thirty billion Euros have actually become mere loose change?


    The expressions on the faces of the bosses present were like they had just eaten shit.


    "Mr. Brian, are you sure you haven''t misread?" someone asked for confirmation once again.


    "I have confirmed it three times now, there is no mistake, it is indeed over twenty-five thousand three hundred billion Euros!" Brian said emphatically, "If any of you doubt my eyesight, I''m sure Mr. Zhang wouldn''t mind having someone else come up to verify."


    "Just to be on the safe side, I... I will verify it myself!"


    Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Please, go ahead."


    "My God, it really is..." Though he had mentally prepared himself, he still gasped at the sight of the string of numbers.


    "This is just the amount I have in Swiss Bank," Zhang Menglong said, "If you have reviewed my profile, you should be well aware that in Qingqiu Country, just in Qingqiu Bank alone, I have several hundred million trillion Qingqiu Currency. Just this sum alone, I believe, is more than enough to buy out all of your companies!"


    Besides surprise and admiration, the hearts of these bosses had almost lost the ability to do anything else.


    "Now, do any of you still doubt my capability to pay the penalty fee?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over everyone''s faces, but nobody dared to meet his eyes anymore.


    Over twenty thousand billion Euros in cash deposits, ah, that''s something normally only a country could produce, isn''t it? If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they would have definitely thought it was a bluff.


    "Mr. Zhang, we believe you, Suberk Electronics is willing to continue with our contract!"


    "I from Kebel Machinery am willing as well!"


    ...


    At this moment, the life and death of Qualcomm Electronics were instantaneously unrelated to them; they even hoped that Qualcomm Electronics would go bankrupt directly, so they could maintain a long-term cooperative relationship with Zhang Menglong.


    "Otto, sign contracts with the bosses!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Although Otto felt heartache over such a huge financial loss, he supported Zhang Menglong''s decisions unconditionally, one hundred percent.


    But he was now suddenly pondering in his mind, what exactly did his father and grandfather expect him to learn by following Zhang Menglong? This wasn''t at all like the storming through the business seas as he had envisaged!


    ...


    "Mr. Zeida, I heard some rumors, but I''m not sure if they are true," said Skech hesitantly.


    "What rumors?"


    "I heard that Mr. Brian of Suberk Electronics has recently landed a very large order, about the same size as our previous contract but at prices 50% higher than ours. They''ve already started purchasing raw materials!"


    "What? 50% higher than ours? Our total profit margin is just about 50%; is that man crazy?"


    "Smack!" Yeji Zeida suddenly thought of something. "No! That man might not be crazy; it could very well be Zhang Menglong!"


    ...


    As one of the world''s leading electronics technology companies, Qualcomm Electronics'' headquarters had been the site of a week-long workers'' strike, which quickly drew media attention, with scores of journalists flocking to the small town in Silicon Valley to get the scoop.


    As the leader of the strike, Berlinas naturally became the focus of media attention, and surprisingly, Berlinas, who was caught in the eye of the storm, agreed to an interview with the media.


    "Mr. Berlinas, is it true that you led the employees of Qualcomm Electronics to strike?"


    "Mr. Berlinas, we''ve been told by senior management at Qualcomm Electronics that you''ve made a lot of unreasonable demands. Is this true?"


    "Mr. Berlinas, according to insiders, you were urged by certain individuals to take the actions you did. How do you respond to that revelation?"


    When Berlinas appeared in front of the reporters, dozens of microphones were passed to him, and each question was sharply delivered.


    "Cough cough! Please, everyone, quiet down. Today, since I''ve decided to take your interview, I will definitely answer all your questions. There''s no need to rush."


    The journalists immediately quieted down to listen intently to Berlinas''s responses.


    "First of all, the statement that I led this strike isn''t entirely accurate. Although I am a leader, I was elected by all employees involved in the strike to negotiate with the company. I represent the fundamental interests of the broadest base of employees, not my own selfish desires!"


    "Next, our demands are entirely reasonable. You, my friends from the press, can look into it. Despite being a leading enterprise in the semiconductor and communication industries, our salaries at Qualcomm Electronics are still not reaching even 60% of the average level in this Silicon Valley town. If our wages don''t increase, we might starve to death!"


    "As for the last point, that is slander and false accusation against me," said Berlinas, speaking with righteous indignation, "we''ve never taken instructions from anyone for our strike; we do it for the poetry and the distant lands!"


    ...


    "Damn! Well said!!" Watching Berlinas''s live interview, Zhang Menglong clapped his hands with approval. "Such eloquence is wasted in that broken factory working as an engineer! I suggest the Chinese Department at Yanjing University hire him directly as a professor!"

 Chapter 332 I Cant Stand Being Wronged by Others

    As the leader in the communications industry, Qualcomm Electronics'' large-scale strike immediately caught the attention of the entire world.


    Through media photos and videos, workers were seen enjoying their time at home during happy times and when they were discontent, they would group together, waving flags and wielding megaphones, wandering around the factory.


    Normally, workers living in the factory toiled in front of machines, but now, in protest of the company''s refusal to raise wages, they even started to "happy" up in the factory with poker and beer, transforming the once bustling and dignified company into one that had lost its usual atmosphere.


    At the beginning of this year, just as the economy showed some signs of recovery, many businesses placed massive orders for chips from Qualcomm Electronics, with quantities even doubling from the previous year, involving orders amounting to tens of billions of US dollars!


    But upon hearing this news, corporations were immediately restless. With 7,000 workers on strike and the factory desolate, what would happen to their orders?


    In a matter of days, Qualcomm Electronics'' executive offices were bustling with customers pressing for their orders, some seeking to cancel contracts, others demanding compensation, scaring the shareholders from making appearances for several days.


    If not for Qualcomm Electronics having some state-backed assets, the attitudes of those business partners would probably have become even more irate!


    What was surprising was that other businesses in Silicon Valley town were still thriving, with several even expanding production and aggressively purchasing raw materials, as workers, now receiving double wages, worked with exceptional vigor.


    With Qualcomm Electronics in such a state, how could these companies that were supposed to rely on Qualcomm Electronics to survive show no panic? This puzzled the reporters.


    The news quickly spread to Huaxia, and regarding the dire situation of Qualcomm Electronics, aside from those who had bought stock in the company, no one expressed sympathy.


    It was Qualcomm Electronics that initiated the chip sanctions against Huaxia!


    How could the netizens of Huaxia pass up the opportunity to kick someone when they''re down?


    "Weren''t you all so arrogant? Didn''t you want to block our country''s chip industry? Now you can''t even afford to pay salaries?"


    "That union president named Berlina is really amusing, even bringing up ''poetry and distant lands.'' I suspect there''s a Huaxia person behind him writing his speeches!"


    "Complaining about starving if they don''t get a raise? Isn''t that a bit too Versailles? Their average wage levels are almost the equivalent of 30,000 Huaxia currency!"


    "I always feel like someone''s pulling the strings behind the scenes. If he''s not being directed, I''ll live stream myself eating five tons of shit!"


    ...


    Foreign media have to say, their sense of smell is really not bad, and soon someone publicly extended an interview invitation to Zhang Menglong online.


    After all, it was not something to be proud of, so many people thought Zhang Menglong would keep silent, but unexpectedly, he gladly accepted the interview!


    A large number of media turned up for the event, all preparing various questions, eagerly awaiting Zhang Menglong''s arrival.


    The moment Zhang Menglong appeared, the whole venue instantly boiled over.


    "Please everyone quiet down!" Zhang Menglong somehow brought a megaphone from nowhere, making the scene almost comedically laughable, with the richest man in the world looking like a street vendor hawking wares.


    After a burst of laughter, the media journalists also stopped the noise, waiting to hear what Zhang Menglong had to say.


    "I called this press conference mainly to clarify the recent events," Zhang Menglong said word by word, "There have been rumors recently that the strike fund for Qualcomm Electronics was provided by me, and I am here to clarify that this is no rumor!"


    "Wow!" As soon as he finished speaking, there was a wave of astonishment from the media on site; Zhang Menglong actually admitted to it at such a public event.


    "Mr. Zhang, why did you do this? Is it really as the executives of Qualcomm Electronics said, that you did this in retaliation for Qualcomm Electronics'' chip blockade against Huaxia?"


    "No no no, I don''t even care about their lousy chips, I wouldn''t want them even if they were given to me for free," Zhang Menglong said, "I did this to uphold the light of justice."


    "One evening I was bored and drinking in a bar when I suddenly overheard Mr. Berlanas and friends discussing salaries. I was outraged on the spot, is this how Qualcomm Electronics treats people? Toiling for you, and yet you pay them less than the other workers around?"


    "They wanted to uphold their rights but feared they would lose their livelihoods if they went on strike. I thought to myself, with great power comes great responsibility, I can''t just watch such unfairness happen around me, I must do something! So, I generously donated to support the Qualcomm Electronics workers in this righteous battle!"


    "He''s talking nonsense!" Watching the live interview, Mobai and others immediately felt infuriated; Zhang Menglong was twisting the truth with eloquence, blatantly seeking revenge yet portraying himself as a defender of justice.


    "Mr. Zhang, in America, countless injustices occur, and you only supported the strike of Qualcomm Electronics workers, your words are hardly convincing!"


    "That''s a great question!" Faced with such a sharp critique, Zhang Menglong wasn''t the least bit flustered, "Let me tell you, I, Zhang Menglong, am a person who takes things to heart. The thing I can''t stand the most is being wrongly accused. Are you saying I am targeting Qualcomm Electronics?"


    "Fine then! Starting now, I decide I will continue to provide strike funds for Qualcomm Electronics workers until the workers voluntarily end the strike or those who slander me apologize to me!"@@@@

 Chapter 333 Workers Fund Foundation

    "Mr. Zhang, are you officially declaring war on Qualcomm Electronics?" a reporter asked sharply.


    "Declare war?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Are they even worthy? They''re just a company with a market cap of several tens of billions of US dollars; I don''t even consider them worth my attention!"


    "However, your words just now irritated me, I originally only felt pity for those workers and wanted to help them out, but since you think I''m declaring war, then I''ll just satisfy you!"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s response, all the reporters'' faces suddenly changed; they could tell that Zhang Menglong was ingeniously shifting the blame back onto them!


    Zhang Menglong''s statements were highly provocative. Even a cornered dog will bite, and who doesn''t have a temper?


    Some people might think that Zhang Menglong was simply acting on a whim, seeing that the Qualcomm Electronics employees were being treated unfairly and impulsively supporting their strike.


    But you wrong him by claiming he is targeting Qualcomm Electronics, and when pushed into a corner, he went for broke! You say I''m targeting them, right? Fine! I''ll target them for you to see!


    "Hahaha! No problem, I''ll play along with whatever false accusations you make, I shouldn''t carry this blame for nothing, right?"


    "Zhang is still Zhang, his tactics are just too clever, that eloquence, must be from De Yun Society, right?"


    "Zhang isn''t just out for revenge on Qualcomm Electronics, he''s out to completely destroy them!"@@@@


    "So ruthless! Too ruthless!"... Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Originally, this press conference was just a spectacle for everyone, since employee strikes are nothing uncommon in these Western countries.


    Usually, such employee strikes are just a way for workers to vent their emotions, after all, everyone needs to eat, right? Who can endure not having an income for long?


    But now the Sect Leader is directly funding their strike, even doubling their salaries! He just said that this financial support will continue until the workers voluntarily stop striking or those slandering Zhang Menglong publicly apologize to him.


    Under such circumstances, would the employees voluntarily stop striking? Not working yet getting twice the usual salary, isn''t that appealing? Why would they stop striking?


    As for how long the strike funds provided by Zhang Menglong can last, someone calculated that with over 7000 Qualcomm Electronics employees participating in the strike and an average salary of about 5000 US dollars, double that would be 10,000 US dollars.


    So Zhang Menglong would need to provide them with 70 million US dollars a month, which amounts to 840 million US dollars a year.


    "So resolute! I''ve decided to totally become a fan today!"


    "I used to really dislike rich people, but I don''t know why, now it feels damn good!"


    No one expected Zhang Menglong to be so tough in such a public setting. The media reporters had come with various questions, but at this moment no one dared to ask anything, seeing the frightened look on the reporter just now, who would dare to ask questions carelessly?


    "Right, to prove that I''m not targeting Qualcomm Electronics, I want to announce a decision!"


    The press conference went completely silent.


    "I plan to establish a Worker''s Fund! Whenever employees from any company feel there is unfair treatment, they can send a representative to me for assistance, and I will support them at twice their wages. Don''t call me great, I just want all the workers to be happy!"


    Zhang Menglong turned to Hong Yi and said, "This fund doesn''t need much money to start with, just prepare 100 billion US Dollars for now! That Brelanas from last time seems quite good, let him represent all the workers to manage this foundation!"


    "Damn! 100 billion US Dollars?"


    "Hahaha, Worker''s Fund, that kills me!"


    "Damn! That''s so cunning! This logic is incredible, you think I''m targeting a particular company? Sorry, I''m targeting all companies!"


    "It''s got the flavor of the Senior Disciple with the severed water flow!"


    "It''s done!" The reporter felt a blackout before his eyes, even a chill arose in the hearts of the reporters; even if Zhang Menglong originally planned to target Qualcomm Electronics, it was just one company after all.


    There''s certainly an impact, but America still has many leading telecommunications electronics companies; even if the worst comes to the worst and this company goes under, there are still other companies.


    Today''s broadcast was a national one, meaning there are countless people currently watching this show on TV. If this foundation were to be established, one can only imagine the kind of strike frenzy it would incite nationwide.


    According to social statistics, every year there are more than ten major strikes, and if this foundation really gets established, that number could potentially increase tenfold or even a hundredfold, making the eventual impact nearly impossible to predict.


    By then, a significant part of the blame will be placed on these reporters; who asked you to pose these weird questions? If you hadn''t pushed Zhang Menglong into a corner, would he have lashed out and done all this?


    Should anything actually happen following this broadcast, it would be a double victory, a time to apologize to the people of the nation!

 Chapter 334 Not Going on Strike Seems Out of Place

    No journalists dared to ask more questions, and Zhang Menglong had said almost everything he wanted to say. Of course, he didn''t actually plan to turn America upside down; he just wanted to teach Qualcomm Electronics a good lesson. He, Zhang Menglong, was not to be trifled with!


    "Hong Yi, how''s Kaibong doing?" Zhang Menglong returned to his residence and suddenly remembered the Kaibong issue. Half a month had passed, and by now Kaibong must be on the verge of tears, right?


    "They''ve managed to procure a batch of coal from other countries, averaging almost 90 US dollars per ton, but even at that price, they only managed to buy less than 10 million tons, since other countries need it for themselves too. That''s pretty much scraping it from their teeth," reported Hong Yi.


    "Collectively, all their coal power companies still have about 5 million tons of coal, which will probably run out in a week at most."


    "Aren''t they in a hurry?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile on his face.


    "In a hurry? How could they not be?" Hong Yi said, "In the past week, they''ve organized several meetings. Now, they''re divided into two factions: one wants Kaibong to agree to sell new soil mines to Huaxia, and the other wants to carry on with the blockade plan. It''s become quite a mess." Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    "You know, one of the biggest shareholders of Qualcomm Electronics is from Kaibong. Because of his connections, many of Kaibong''s electronics information industries are built around Qualcomm Electronics as their core. Now that Qualcomm Electronics is in trouble, they''re also having a tough time. Out of so many electronics giants, you specifically targeted Qualcomm Electronics. Kaibong people are no fools and can guess your intentions."


    "Looks like they''re still somewhat aware," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Keep an eye on them. I''d like to see if they can last through this week."


    "You go ahead with your work!" Zhang Menglong signaled, receiving a call from Wang Ling.


    "Boy, you sure did work fast. You''ve just arrived in America, and you''ve already turned everything topsy-turvy!" Wang Ling sounded thrilled.


    "What do you mean ''topsy-turvy''? It''s not like I''ve killed someone," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Am I the kind of person who would take a loss without striking back? They had it coming!"


    "Anyone who crosses you really must have bad karma!" Wang Ling exclaimed.


    "What''s up?"


    "It''s like this¡ªthe esports Olympics events have all been applied for, and we''ve already started talking about game licensing with several companies."


    "How did it go?"


    "So far, we''ve tentatively set 10 game events, including CS, PUBG, King of Fighters, Dota, Warcraft, StarCraft, League of Legends, etc. The developers of eight other games have already granted us licenses, but Riot Games and Blizzard have refused us."@@@@


    ...


    In just one night, employees from over thirty American companies staged large-scale strikes, each with different reasons.


    Everyone saw Zhang Menglong''s interview content. As long as you strike, you get double pay. Even if the company had no issues, employees would definitely find some just to strike! After all, everyone has the right to strike, and even the state can''t interfere!


    As the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" administrator, Berlinas was extremely busy today, but he thoroughly enjoyed this bustle. To those strikers, he seemed like a pioneer, a leader, and even a hero!


    "Mr. Zhang, today more than thirty companies have applied to the Worker''s Fund, involving around 12,000 people. The expenditure this month might be about 80 to 85 million US dollars. Do you think this money should be..."


    "Just over thirty companies? Give it to them!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand grandly and ordered the funds to be transferred immediately.


    The "Worker''s Fund Foundation" was highly efficient, and since all the money was in cash, it took less than half a day for the funds to be distributed to the accounts of those strikers.


    "It''s really double the salary!"


    "The fund is real! Just strike, and you''ll get double the pay!"


    "fuck, then why even work? Brothers, let''s strike too!"


    ...


    That very afternoon, workers from over forty more companies announced they were striking.


    "Mr. Zhang, this afternoon, another forty-plus companies, totaling 8982 people, have applied for the ''Worker''s Fund,''" Berlinas reported.


    "Transfer the money!" Zhang Menglong''s reply was casually succinct, as if the money wasn''t even his.


    ...


    "Hong Yi, keep track of how much money we''ve spent in America during this period," Zhang Menglong said. "I''m going to reclaim it all, with interest, in the end!"

 Chapter 335 You Guys Are Already Down Before Ive Even Started?

    The employee strike naturally affected the company''s bosses and shareholders the most.


    They were simply baffled, the company had been operating just fine, and suddenly the employees started striking out of the blue.


    The employees demanded a wage increase and reduced overtime hours; these demands sounded reasonable at first listen, but upon closer inspection, none of their requested pay raises were below 50%!


    Do you think that''s excessive? Want to negotiate? The employees at Qualcomm Electronics demanded a doubling of their salaries¡ªour demand for a 50% raise isn''t excessive, is it?


    Incredibly, the striking teams formed a sort of competition between themselves¡ªwhat? You''re asking for 50%? Then we demand 60%!


    You''re asking for a decrease of 3 hours in the weekly working time? No way! We demand a reduction of 5 hours!


    What? You demand the annual bonus to be no less than two months'' salary? Damn! We asked for less, only one month! Hurry up and go back to renegotiate with the boss!


    You demand the company should provide at least half a month''s paid vacation leave for travel each year? Then we''re not satisfied! We demand two such leaves a year!


    Soon, each factory became a tangled mess, and this was only the first day since Zhang Menglong announced the establishment of the "Worker''s Fund Foundation." The strike frenzy was just beginning in this state, and if it continued for another day or two, the Continent might witness the largest strike in history!


    The bosses of those companies were both fearful and angry; in their eyes, this employee strike was ultimately caused by Qualcomm Electronics!


    If they hadn''t offended Zhang Menglong, Zhang wouldn''t have set up this "Worker''s Fund Foundation," and their employees wouldn''t have just started striking out of nowhere.


    Several company bosses angrily went to Qualcomm Electronics, desperately seeking explanations from the board members, even demanding that they reconcile with Zhang Menglong immediately, or else face a direct lawsuit in court!


    The entire capital market was in chaos, but surely the state couldn''t just stand by and do nothing, right? The senior executives of Qualcomm Electronics immediately contacted the stakeholders who controlled those state-owned assets.


    However, they received a very desperate response, being told that Qualcomm Electronics must resolve this matter properly, and no assistance would be provided!


    Under pressure from all sides, the board of Qualcomm Electronics finally cracked. A few directors sat in the conference room with furrowed brows, looking like they had aged years in just a few days.


    "What on earth is Zhang Menglong capable of, that even the authorities can''t handle him?" Mobai''s lips trembled. He racked his brain but couldn''t figure it out¡ªdoes Zhang have connections at the top? But he''s a Huaxia person!


    "Otto!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I assist you with something?" Otto asked respectfully.


    "Qualcomm Electronics has state-owned capital in it, right? Now that the company is in this condition, why haven''t the higher-ups shown any reaction?" Zhang Menglong believed Otto would know something.


    "Oh, rest assured, Mr. Zhang, we''ve already given them a heads-up. The higher-ups definitely wouldn''t dare to let out a peep, and they would even proactively exert pressure on Qualcomm Electronics. As long as it doesn''t involve leaking core industrial technologies, they should agree to any conditions you put forth unconditionally."


    "There''s such a thing? How did you manage that?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s just a difference in social systems. In capitalist countries, there''s a high degree of freedom, and money is everything. If you have enough money, you can even compete for the presidency, no matter how obscure you are, and even win it!"


    "And you guys..."


    "We''re not interested in governing the country!" Otto laughed, "However, now out of the 50 states in the nation, 37 state governors are the result of capital operation by our Duber family. If we so wish, we could replace those governors next year. In this continent, our Duber family''s word is law!"


    "Impressive, impressive!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but start applauding.


    "Oh, there''s a call!" Temporarily disconnecting the video with Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong answered, "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, hello, I... I''m Infelite..."


    "Oh, Mr. Infelite!" Zhang Menglong smiled with satisfaction. "You''re a busy man; what brings you to waste time on a lowly Asian like me?"


    Infelite''s complexion changed, Zhang Menglong''s barbed manner was all too clear.


    "I''m here to apologize," Infelite took a deep breath, "Last time at Silicon Moonlight, it was my fault for insulting Huaxia people and I shouldn''t have used those underhanded methods. Please, I beg your forgiveness."


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    "Forgive you? Hmph!" Zhang Menglong sneered, "It seems Mr. Infelite lacks sincerity. A phone call with a simple sorry is supposed to settle things? Better rethink your approach before coming to see me again!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone with a snap, "I wondered how long you would last; you''re giving in before I''ve even put in the effort!"

 Chapter 336 Mr. Zhangs Definition of Sincerity is "Cheng Yi

    "Mr. Zhang, Infelite is here,"


    "Oh? How did he know I was staying at this hotel?" Zhang Menglong asked, curious.


    "After all, Infelite is a shareholder of Qualcomm Electronics and holds some sway in this region. It''s not surprising that he could find out your hotel check-in details through certain connections,"


    "True," Zhang Menglong nodded and continued to watch the TV drama, "Did he bring anything with him?"


    "Mr. Infelite only brought an assistant and seems to have carried nothing," Otto inquired, "Should I bring him up?"


    "Tell him that my girlfriend''s birthday is next month." Otto was taken aback, but after a moment, a sly smile appeared on his face. Good lord, Zhang Menglong was indirectly demanding Otto''s "sincerity"!


    Otto had heard about the past grievances between Infelite and Zhang Menglong. Given Zhang Menglong''s temperament, how could a simple "sorry" possibly settle everything? He was definitely going to make Infelite bleed!


    At the hotel lobby, Infelite was already frantic; just this morning, the strike had intensified, with over 400 businesses experiencing large-scale walkouts, even spreading to other states.


    If Colorado State was in such turmoil, why would other states settle for less?


    The Governor of Colorado had also received calls from other Governors today. If this issue was not immediately suppressed, he, the Governor of Colorado, would be deemed the villain of the entire America!


    The pressure cascaded down, finally landing squarely on Infelite.


    He had already received a warning from the Governor: if he couldn''t secure Zhang Menglong''s forgiveness within two days, he might even be charged with treason, facing a potential sentence of over 50 years in prison!


    At his age, a 50-year sentence was almost no different from a death sentence. With vast fortunes and numerous lovers, how could he possibly resign himself to spend his remaining years in prison?


    Infelite, still in bed embracing a lover, had received a call and immediately rushed to the hotel where Zhang Menglong was staying without even time for a meal.


    Seeing Otto in the lobby, Infelite hurried over like a submissive dog, knowing well that the man before him was a scion of the Duber family. If he couldn''t afford to offend Zhang Menglong, he couldn''t offend this person either.


    "Mr. Otto, what did Mr. Zhang say? Will he see me? I came today with the intention to sincerely apologize," Infelite said spiritedly.


    "Mr. Zhang asked me to relay a message to you," Otto said coldly.


    "Please tell, Mr. Otto!"


    "Mr. Zhang said his girlfriend''s birthday is next month."


    "Who''s Infelite?"


    "He''s a shareholder at Qualcomm Electronics. I have a friend who works there, but he''s been on strike for several days now!"


    "What''s he doing here? Is this sports car his?"


    "Mr. Infelite''s assets are more than ten billion dollars. It''s normal for him to buy a car like this, but why pink?"


    "Could it be a gift for his lover?"


    "Hahaha, quite possible!"


    Listening to the whispers around him, Infelite''s old face felt somewhat unable to hang on.


    "What are you doing here again?" Otto walked irritably to the entrance of the hotel, "Did you understand Mr. Zhang?"


    "I understood!" Infelite immediately conjured a smiling face, "Please help me convey to Mr. Zhang through Otto that I''ve come with sincerity!"


    After speaking, Infelite also pointed to the sports car behind him, "I heard that Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend has her birthday next month. This is a little token for Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend. I hope Mr. Zhang won''t find it too cheap."


    The surroundings suddenly buzzed with noise, this car was actually a gift from Infelite to Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend!


    Everyone knew that Zhang Menglong had stirred up Qualcomm Electronics considerably, turning him into the "public enemy" of the working world. Many were guessing how long they would last.


    Who would have thought that just three days into the strike, Qualcomm Electronics'' shareholder Infelite would already be bringing a gift to apologize¡ªand such an expensive one at that!


    "It''s too extravagant, a sports car worth millions of dollars! I couldn''t afford it even if I worked my entire life."


    "So this is how the rich apologize. Today has really been an eye-opener."


    "Is that all?" Otto frowned, "Take your junk metal back!"


    "What? Junk metal?" Infelite''s expression twisted, a car worth six million dollars was referred to as junk metal by Otto?


    "Hmph! Just a broken car worth millions. Do you think our Mr. Zhang is that easy to send off?" Otto sneered, "I still don''t see Mr. Infelite''s sincerity."


    "Mr. Otto, this is my sincerity!" Infelite said hurriedly.


    "Mr. Zhang said ''sincere billion,'' as in a billion dollars! Anything under a billion dollars isn''t worthy to be called ''sincerity''!"

 Chapter 337 Its Good When the Money Arrives, No Matter Who Comes

    "A wreck? Is this actually considered a wreck? Can I get one of these wrecks then?"@@@@


    "I''ve always heard that the richest man in the world doesn''t play by the rules. Today, I''ve really seen it for myself."


    "Only gifts above 1 billion US dollars count as sincere? This is going to bankrupt Mr. Infelite!"


    "You might not know this, but Zhang Menglong is currently known as the God of Cars in the racing world. Not long ago, America''s God of Cars went to challenge him with a stake of 1 million US dollars. Guess what he said?"


    "What did he say?"


    "He said if you don''t have the money, don''t bother coming to race him. For any stakes below 10 billion US dollars, he wouldn''t even consider it! To him, this 1 billion US dollars probably truly lacks sincerity."


    "Oh, my God, he''s literally a devil! Does his money fall from the sky or something?"


    "If money were really falling from the sky, it must mean that the sky is Zhang Menglong''s plane dropping cash!"


    With another mention of 1 billion US dollars, it stunned the people near the hotel witnessing this event. Infelite''s total assets were just about 1 billion US dollars, and recently, Qualcomm Electronics'' stock had already been halted twice. Most of his wealth was in shares of Qualcomm Electronics, which had sharply dropped his personal fortune to less than 800 million US dollars!


    Where was he supposed to get this 1 billion US dollars? Even if he sold all his stocks and all his luxurious cars and houses, that still wouldn''t sum up to 1 billion US dollars! He would even need to borrow money from friends to come up with 1 billion US dollars.


    "Mr. Zhang said, if Mr. Infelite''s sincerity isn''t enough, he won''t meet with you," Otto said, "By the way, unless something unexpected happens, Qualcomm Electronics'' stock is still going to be halted tomorrow. The stock market hasn''t closed yet, so if you sell your shares now, you might get a bit more money."


    "1 billion US dollars? He''s a madman!" Infelite glared fiercely at Otto''s departing figure, knowing he could never come up with that 1 billion no matter what.


    Holding onto his current net worth was all thanks to the shares of Qualcomm Electronics, asking him to sell those shares was almost no different from killing him.


    "Let''s go!" Infelite looked bitterly towards the direction of the hotel and stormed off with his assistant.


    ...


    "The national strike event has expanded further, with over 500 companies on strike and more than 100,000 workers!"


    "Qualcomm Electronics'' stock plummeted as soon as the market opened, falling to less than 70% of its original value!"


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    "Zhang Menglong announces an additional investment in the Worker''s Fund Foundation!"


    Having no choice, he placed his hopes on other shareholders of Qualcomm Electronics.


    "You brought us to this state and still have the face to borrow money? Get lost!" Although everyone was involved in the Silicon Moonlight incident, in the eyes of those shareholders, Infelite was the main culprit. They too had suffered massive losses recently; not kicking a man down was already merciful, how could they possibly lend him money?


    In desperation, Infelite began searching online for lending institutions, but these lenders charged very high-interest rates. Most critically, where would he find an institution that could lend him 200 million US dollars?


    Infelite, as if he had lost his soul, sat blankly in front of the computer.


    "Do you still need money? We can solve your urgent needs. There''s no cap on the loan, just sign an agreement to apply!"


    An advertisement appeared on Infelite''s computer, suddenly sparking a glimmer of hope in his eyes.


    He tried entering his personal information. After an assessment, he was actually approved for a loan of 200 million US dollars!


    The agreement was simple: if he couldn''t repay the money, he would repay through labor.


    In his desperate situation, Infelite hastily glanced over and immediately applied for the money. Surprisingly, the platform had some unknown backing; within just ten minutes, 200 million US dollars had really been deposited into his account!


    Infelite felt as if he had been reborn, immediately liquidating all his stocks and mortgaging his house and car to finally gather 1 billion US dollars in cash!


    He rushed to Zhang Menglong''s hotel with the bank card containing the cash.


    "Back again? Did you bring enough sincerity?" Otto glanced at Infelite derisively.


    "I brought enough!" Infelite handed over the card with both hands, "This card holds my sincerity, it is for Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend''s birthday gift. I hope Mr. Zhang will meet with me!"


    "You wait here," Otto casually took the card. To him, one billion US dollars was just another number.


    A few minutes later, Zhang Menglong, dressed in pajamas, walked out of the elevator.


    "Mr. Zhang, you finally agreed to see me!" Infelite was nearly moved to tears.


    "Oh!" said Zhang Menglong sarcastically, "Mr. Infelite, you''re really too kind. It was expensive for my girlfriend''s birthday!"


    If looks could kill, Infelite would have slain Zhang Menglong a thousand times over. It wasn''t just expensive for him; it was bankruptcy! Yet Zhang Menglong was still acting here.


    Deliberately in front of Infelite, Zhang Menglong stuffed the card into his bathrobe pocket. "Mr. Infelite, it''s good that the money came, but what kind of people are you bringing here!"

 Chapter 338 You Go to Sea to Pay off the Debt

    Infelite almost spat out a mouthful of old blood, "What do you mean ''as long as the money is here, anyone can come''?"


    He, Infelite, had even borrowed from loan sharks to gather the billion dollars, just to meet Zhang Menglong, begging for his forgiveness.


    "Since the gift has arrived, I won''t keep Mr. Infelite any longer. I thank you on behalf of my girlfriend!" Having said that, Zhang Menglong turned and made a move to leave.


    "Snap!" Infelite fell to his knees, "Mr. Zhang, please let me go! If you don''t call off that ''Worker''s Fund Foundation'' today, I''ll end up in jail for treason!"


    "Is it that serious?" Zhang Menglong exaggeratedly exclaimed, "But what does it have to do with me?"


    "Of course it does!" Infelite almost clung to Zhang Menglong''s thighs, "Mr. Zhang, please let me go. I dare not do anything against Silicon Moonlight anymore, I''ve already sold all my shares, I no longer have the capability to target Silicon Moonlight, and I''ve also signed off on a 200 million dollar loan. I really know I was wrong!"


    "A 200 million dollar loan, are you talking about this?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth curved into a slight smile, signaling Otto with his eyes.


    Otto stepped forward and placed a document in front of him.


    "This..." Otto looked at the document before him, it was actually his loan agreement, with his own signature, the pact he borrowed 200 million dollars from through that online organization!@@@@


    "How... how is this thing in your hands?" Infelite was terrified.


    "Oh, that organization just happens to be mine, what a coincidence, it must be said, Mr. Infelite, we really are fated!"


    Only an idiot would want to be fated with you!


    A terrifying conjecture suddenly appeared in Infelite''s mind, from receiving threats to his borrowing money, it seemed like a hand had been advancing everything behind the scenes, finally pushing Infelite into the unknown abyss.


    "You! You plotted against me!" Infelite''s face twisted with anger and despair.


    "Plot against you? You think you''re worth that?" Zhang Menglong retorted. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How is it possible that as soon as I need money, your lending company just happens to appear? This must all be your doing!"


    "Damn, I just happen to be too rich! The money''s mine, what do you care what I use it for? Plus, did I force you to borrow the money? It''s written in black and white, you borrowed willingly, and your signature is right there, that''s evidence!"


    The muscles on Infelite''s face twitched uncontrollably. He had never imagined that he, Infelite, after decades of dominance in the business world, would be driven to this extent by a Huaxia youth barely in his twenties.


    "Fine! I''ll work to pay off the debt!" Infelite gritted his teeth. Working for two hundred years was absolutely impossible, but perhaps he could still borrow a little money from some connections to stabilize Zhang Menglong; that was crucial for now.


    "Where is your company located?" Infelite asked.


    "Director Otto, could you please come here?" Zhang Menglong called to an Asian man sipping tea not far away.


    "Director Otto?" Confusion spread across Infelite''s face. Did Zhang Menglong intend for him to work on a film set? What could he possibly do? Act?


    "Come, Mr. Infelite, let me introduce you. This is Director Otto, a very famous director from Kaibong. He specializes in shooting romantic action films. Many stars owe their fame to him!"


    Infelite''s expression froze instantly.


    Romantic action films? Wasn''t that a signature industry in Kaibong? Zhang Menglong was...


    "Director Otto, this is the actor I''ve recruited for you. Let''s set his fee at 100,000 US Dollars per film. Mr. Infelite is, after all, a well-known businessman, and this rate befits his status."


    "Ha ha ha, anyone recommended by Mr. Zhang, we will certainly pair him with the best actresses!" Director Otto laughed. "So, Mr. Zhang, here''s to a pleasant collaboration!"


    "To a pleasant collaboration!"


    "Wait a minute!" Infelite suddenly tensed up, "Actor? What do you mean?"


    "This is the job I''ve arranged for you!" Zhang Menglong explained. "With a regular job, Mr. Infelite, it would take a long time to pay off these debts! But with this job, it''s calculated by the number of productions. One hundred thousand US Dollars per film, two hundred million is merely two thousand films. If Mr. Infelite is diligent, perhaps he can clear his debts within a year!"


    "You... you want me to make those kinds of films?" Infelite stepped back involuntarily, two thousand films per year; given his age, he estimated he would literally die on set!


    "No! I will absolutely not accept this kind of work!"


    "That''s not up to you," Zhang Menglong once again raised the contract, "All interpretation rights belong to the company, which means me. The only job available now is this one, so..."


    Zhang Menglong flashed a devilish grin, "Mr. Infelite, get ready to act in films to pay off your debts!"

 Chapter 339 It was you who teased me first

    "Alright, let''s put an end to this matter!" Having punished Infelite, Zhang Menglong saw no need to continue stirring trouble in the Americas,


    for if he were to collapse the economic and social systems of this country, to whom would he sell the chips produced in the future?


    Zhang Menglong disbanded the "Worker''s Fund Foundation". Without financial backing, the fever of the workers'' strike naturally subsided, and it was estimated that the situation would last at most another month before all enterprises could gradually return to normal production.


    Of course, Qualcomm Electronics was the most affected. Although workers had started to return to work one after another, several projects were already showing signs of delay.


    Moreover, even though the strike lasted only a few days, for a large tech company like this, a production line unattended for a few days would need at least a week to be maintained and inspected. By the time their production lines restarted, it could be half a month later.


    Qualcomm Electronics faced massive delay compensation fees, which for the company, now with a greatly reduced market value, was truly adding insult to injury.


    But this was the consequence they deserved. To Zhang Menglong, it didn''t matter that Qualcomm Electronics sanctioned the semiconductor industry of Huaxia, but they used unscrupulous methods to disgust them, and he wasn''t one to just take it lying down.


    "In the future, you can offend Huaxia''s companies, but never use illegitimate means, or else Qualcomm Electronics will be your fate!" Someone with a keen mind understood the ins and outs of the situation and immediately convened the company''s executives to issue this stern directive.


    "Mr. Zhang, President Zhou just called. He said that a representative from Shang Hongwan Corporation has come again and hopes to speak with you calmly and as soon as possible," Hong Yi said with a smile.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong smiled knowingly, "It seems they can''t handle it anymore, huh!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, just two days ago, during maintenance, some technical problems were discovered in the nuclear reactors of several Kaibong nuclear power stations. Eight stations have temporarily shut down, and this pressure was shifted to the coal power systems. Their last bit of savings is also about to run out."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, what a pitiful country," Zhang Menglong clicked his tongue.


    "Did President Zhou bring any message?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    "President Zhou said that Mr. Ryuzo Ichiro from Kintaii is willing to negotiate under any terms."


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Please inform Xu Huan for me. Have all the staff at Silicon Moonlight get ready, and ask Professor Chen to prepare as well. Our photoresist raw materials will be arriving soon."


    "Right away, Mr. Zhang."


    To ask such a person to kill a merchant? You''d be slapped to death first!


    The energy problem is becoming more and more severe. To deal with the current shortage of power supply, Kaibong has even implemented various electricity rationing measures. But these measures have had little effect and have even provoked strong reactions from the general populace.


    In the past few days, the whole of Kaibong has been driven almost to a dead end. After some discussions, they finally decided to agree to export their new soil mines to Huaxia!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Kintani has already arrived." President Zhou was already at the door of the chamber to welcome Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Ryuzo Ichiro. The last time he came, this Ryuzo Ichiro was sitting in the office drinking tea, looking superior, but today, he didn''t dare enter and was standing outside with President Zhou waiting for Zhang Menglong to arrive.


    "Mr. Kintani, long time no see," Zhang Menglong greeted deliberately.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it''s been a while," Ryuzo Ichiro said cautiously, as today he came with a mission. If he could not get that batch of coal from Zhang Menglong, there was no need for him to return to Kaibong.


    "May I know what Mr. Kintani wishes to discuss this time?"


    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Ryuzo Ichiro thought to himself, isn''t this just feigning ignorance? Don''t you have some idea of why I''m here? You just want me to admit I''m here to beg you, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, as you know, our coal supplies in Kaibong are extremely scarce right now. We are aware that you are in great need of new soil ore. If you are willing to sell your coal to us at a price of 80 US Dollars per ton, we are willing to open up the export of new soil ore to Huaxia!"


    Ryuzo Ichiro stated his purpose directly, as he really didn''t have much time left.


    "Alright then, I''m willing to purchase your country''s new soil ore at a price of 10,000 US Dollars per ton. Let''s start with 4 million tons this year!"


    Ryuzo Ichiro''s face instantly changed, "10,000 US Dollars per ton? Are you joking?"


    New soil ore, a rare metal mineral, normally trades around 40,000 US Dollars per ton!


    "You were the one joking with me!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "With my average cost of 300 US Dollars, you''re asking for 80 US Dollars per ton, aren''t you the one joking?"

 Chapter 342 340

    "Mr. Zhang, you should be well aware that the prices of our new soil minerals exported to Europe and America exceed $40,000 per ton. Your price is simply too low!"


    "It''s not low. Isn''t it just a quarter of the normal price?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I import this coal at a cost of $320 per ton, and the price you offer is also just a quarter, and I haven''t even counted the warehousing costs during this period. In comparison, it''s already very conscientious!"


    "$10,000 per ton, that''s my price. If you think it''s too low, you don''t have to sell it!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m not in a hurry anyway!"


    Kim Taejing felt a bitterness in his heart that he couldn''t express. True, you''re not in a hurry. You have plenty of money to support your employees; even delaying for a year or two is not a problem.


    But they couldn''t wait! Not to mention a year or two; they couldn''t even drag it out for a week. This was a matter crucial to the livelihood of the people! If there wasn''t enough coal imported this week, the whole Kaibong would directly fall into a predicament of power shortage.


    But the price Zhang Menglong proposed was simply outrageous.


    At $80 per ton, Zhang Menglong indeed would lose three to four hundred billion US Dollars, but are coal and new soil minerals commodities of the same grade?


    The export price of 400 million tons of new soil minerals reached $1,600 billion USD, and if calculated at $10,000 per ton, their loss would amount to $1,200 billion USD, which was almost like taking their lives!


    "Alright! Mr. Zhang, let''s do this: we''ll buy that batch of coal from you at the average price you purchased it for! Isn''t that worth over $400 billion USD? We''ll deduct this amount from the cost of your import of new soil minerals. You want 400 tons of new soil minerals, so we only need $1,200 billion USD. Does that sound fair?"


    Even though they would still lose more than three hundred billion US Dollars, these mineral resources weren''t visible cash; at most, it was just earning a bit less.


    Losing $300 billion USD was much better than losing $1,200 billion USD, wasn''t it?


    At this juncture, obtaining that batch of coal from Zhang Menglong''s hands was the most crucial.


    "No, no, no, Mr. Kim, $300 per ton was the price then, it''s not the price anymore!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Now, I can sell this batch of coal to you, but the price has doubled to $600 per ton!"


    "You!" Kim Taejing pointed at Zhang Menglong, his upper and lower teeth visibly trembling as though he wanted to grind his teeth in frustration.


    "Mr. Kim, I had offered you the price of $300 per ton last time, but you didn''t agree. I had also warned you that if you came to me to buy again, it wouldn''t be at that price!"


    Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I still maintain what I''ve always said: I am a businessman, and naturally, a businessman needs to make money; or else, should I go drink the North Wind?"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think this is a bit excessive?" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!" The rage in Jintianjing Long''s heart erupted like a volcano.


    "I''m not holding a knife to your necks forcing you to buy," Zhang Menglong laughed, "You can completely decide not to buy."


    "Or you could take some money and ask other countries, see if they are willing to sell their coal to you. By then, I will still buy your new soil ore for 40,000 USD per ton!"


    "If we could get coal, would we be crazy to come to you?" Jintianjing Long had already cursed all the curse words he could think of in his mind.


    "All right, now it''s 1300 USD per ton," Zhang Menglong, arms crossed in front of his chest, watched with a playful smile, "From now on, every extra minute will see an increase of 100 USD per ton."


    "You!"


    "Only 50 seconds left in the next minute!" Zhang Menglong opened the stopwatch on his phone.


    Jintianjing Long''s face twitched as if paralyzed; he of course knew why Zhang Menglong was being so uncompromising this time. If it weren''t for their last attempt to assassinate Zhang Menglong, things wouldn''t have escalated to this point.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Zhang Menglong''s revenge would be so fierce, not only destroying one of their Dark Ninja bases but now even seizing their achilles heel relentlessly¡ªthis was truly losing both the wife and the troops!


    "Only 30 seconds left! Think fast!"


    Jintianjing Long''s entire body was twitching, "Fine! Let''s do it at the price you mentioned!"


    "Haha!" Zhang Menglong finally showed a satisfied smile.


    "Tomorrow, I will arrange for someone to take over the goods, farewell!" Jintianjing Long felt that every second he stayed here drove him closer to madness, leaving these words behind, he immediately turned and left.


    He had just taken a few steps when he heard Zhang Menglong''s voice from behind.


    "President Zhou, I''m in a good mood today. Let''s have dinner tonight!"


    "Hahaha! Getting a free ride is just too sweet!"


    "Cough cough..." Jintianjing Long suddenly felt a surge of blood rushing up...

 Chapter 341 You are all quite weak

    The import of coal was urgent, and the very next day, Jintianjing Long immediately sought out people to work with Zhang Menglong on the handover of the new earth mine and coal.


    The price for 4 million tons of new earth mine was 160 billion US Dollars, and the batch of coal Kaibong needed had soared to 1300 US Dollars per ton, bringing the total close to 200 billion US Dollars!


    In other words, Kaibong had to pay Zhang Menglong nearly 40 billion US Dollars more! And this sum just happened to level out the money Zhang Menglong spent on importing coal fields from Australia.


    Zhang Menglong had essentially gotten the 4 million tons of new earth mine from the Kaibong people without spending a penny, his only real loss being some logistics and storage costs. Compared to the massive 160 billion US Dollars, these costs were almost negligible.


    "Hmph! Sending someone to kill me? Letting you bleed this much is already quite merciful!" Zhang Menglong sneered. Had it been according to the temperament of his ancestors, they might have used planes, tanks, and nuclear bombs to flatten this little island country!


    "Zhang Menglong, are you back yet?" Just as Zhang Menglong finally found some free time, he received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Man, I have rested for less than half a day and here you are harassing me. Did you install a surveillance camera in my house or what?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "If you''re free this afternoon, why don''t you come see my team?" Wang Ling suggested.


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong was someone who loved playing games, and although he used to be terrible at them, it didn''t stop him from enjoying them. Moreover, he was eager to see the skill level of the people Wang Ling had recruited.


    "Hehe, let me tell you, you''re definitely going to be blown away. I''ve spent a lot of money to put this team together!"


    "Oh? Then I really must take a good look!"


    ...@@@@


    Wang Ling''s club was located in an esports town in the Jiangbin District of Jiangnan City, a very bustling gaming industry belt with game development companies, game operations companies, and esports clubs.


    According to Wang Ling, many teams that had participated in world-class competitions were headquartered in this place!


    Wang Ling''s club occupied a new seven-story building. Initially, a gaming company was supposed to move in, but due to the pandemic''s impact, the company went bankrupt before it could settle in, and Wang Ling took a big chunk of the startup capital provided by his father to buy the building. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    "How is it, not too shabby, right?" Wang Ling took Zhang Menglong around the club for a tour. The building housed the players'' and coaches'' dormitories, tactical discussion rooms, training rooms, and a whole floor dedicated to living and recreational facilities. Despite its modest size, the club was fully equipped to meet the daily needs of the players.


    "What''s this room for?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing to a few rooms in the corner of the floor with the dormitories. "Guest rooms?"


    Wang Ling chuckled, "You don''t understand this industry. Esports players have a very strict time management, and under normal circumstances, they aren''t allowed to leave the base. However, some of the guys still need to exchange feelings with their girlfriends once in a while. I call these the relationship exchange rooms!"


    "Hey, what are you two doing? The boss is here!" The coach hurriedly urged them.


    "No worries, let them finish this round!" Zhang Menglong smiled, knowing that esports also required high levels of concentration and that even practice matches shouldn''t be disturbed by external factors.


    "These two were also costly acquisitions for us," Wang Ling said, "one is Luo Ling, last year''s national cybercafe champion, and the other is the champion from Island Province, Wei Weihai, but he has quite the temper. Relying on his strength, he''s not very friendly to other teammates, often shaming others."


    "Moreover, neither of them acknowledges the other as superior, both wanting to be the team captain. They''ve been competing for a long time with alternating wins and losses."


    "Ok!"


    A minute later, the match ended, Luo Ling winning by a sliver of health.


    "Damn! Just a bit more!" Wei Weihai was so frustrated he nearly threw the controller.


    "Hahaha! There, I won this time!"


    "Cut it out, we played 8 rounds today, each won 4, it''s just a tie, nothing to brag about," Wei Weihai retorted.


    "Alright, come meet Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang," the coach immediately said.


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang!" The two men gave a slight bow to Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling.


    "You two are both champions?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Sort of," they replied, each with a hint of a defiant smile on their face.


    "I just heard from Wang Ling that you two are competing to be the team bully?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    The expressions on their faces changed slightly, then they said, "Mr. Zhang, it''s really because their skills are too poor. According to the current schedule, each city must select one team, then the teams from all cities will compete to form one provincial team, and only the strongest three provincial teams can enter the Esports Olympics. By our current standards, we''re far from good enough."


    "So that''s your excuse for shaming others?" Zhang Menglong asked sternly. He had no say in other clubs, but in his, Zhang Menglong''s club, no such behavior would be tolerated!


    They averted their gaze, seemingly unwilling to respond to the question.


    "So you mean, if someone is stronger than you, it''s alright for them to humiliate you just the same?" Zhang Menglong''s lips curved slightly.


    "I just watched your match," Zhang Menglong said, "and in my opinion, both of you are pretty weak!"

 Chapter 343 I Let You Three Health Bars

    "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" Luo Ling seemed to become a parrot all at once, even stopping his hand movements in the process.


    Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Blocking a skill 13 times in a row had occurred in the history of Street Fighter, though not without precedent.


    It was during the Street Fighter World Semifinals six years ago, when a player named Kaibong, alias Daigo Umehara, faced off against a Chinese American player named Justin in the final match.


    Right from the start, Justin''s character "Chun-Li" unleashed a dazzling sequence of moves that brought Daigo''s character "Ken" down to a sliver of health, identical to Zhang Menglong''s situation just moments ago, where any simple attack landing or skill being blocked followed by forced health deduction would mean a direct loss for Daigo.


    At that point, Justin still retained a third of his health, a virtually guaranteed victory considering the level of world-class players like him.


    Amidst the roaring audience, Justin executed Chun-Li''s signature move "Spinning Bird Kick." This skill involved a series of close-quarters continuous strikes, a rapid forward dash followed by 14 successive attacks, culminating with a kick that knocked the opponent into the air. Within this combo, the rhythm of each blow was unpredictable.


    Theoretically, any skill or attack in Street Fighter could be blocked by the blocking system, but accomplishing this in actual combat proved extremely difficult. To block this series of strikes, one had to distinctly perceive the characteristic and timing of each attack and execute flawlessly precise operations.


    What followed was a classic moment in Esports history, perhaps only comparable to that famous scene in League of Legends where the player with the surname Lee made a miraculous comeback kill with his character "Zed" at a sliver of health.


    Against all odds, Daigo proceeded to block his opponent''s attacks 15 consecutive times while on a sliver of health, eventually making an incredible comeback.


    What does this signify?


    Such blocking is valid only within the 7 frames before the opponent''s attack hits; with this game''s technical settings at 60 frames per second, 7 frames amount to 0.116 seconds.


    That is to say, when Justin executed the combo, Daigo had merely 0.116 seconds to react and defend, and over the next 3 to 5 seconds, he had to replicate this precise timing 15 times!


    Even after more than a decade, this legendary video continues to circulate online, amassing billions of combined views across various versions. This moment has been dubbed the "EVO moment" in the Esports community.


    Decades have passed, yet no one in the Street Fighter community has been able to replicate this epic feat¡ªnot even Daigo himself!


    Although Zhang Menglong''s 13 consecutive blocks fall short of Daigo''s record, the difference is certainly narrow. If the first block could be chalked up to luck, then these 13 perfect blocks were by no means something that could be summed up by mere chance!


    "Come on, continue!" Zhang Menglong beckoned Luo Ling with a hand gesture.


    "I refuse to believe in this evil magic!" Luo Ling rallied for a counterattack, but Zhang Menglong showed no intention of going on the offensive. Instead, he once again displayed his miraculous blocking skills!


    This time Luo Ling''s Chun-Li attempted her signature 37-hit combo, which had reached an incredible 41 hits when he was at his best. Such a combo could deplete two full health bars, a scenario typically seen only when there''s a substantial gap in skill between the players.


    As if inspired by Zhang Menglong, Luo Ling entered a state of almost divine operation.


    "Trash? Soggy trash chicken? Which one are we?"


    ...


    "I refuse to believe it, two health bars and I still can''t take down a sliver of yours!" Luo Ling''s face was twisted.


    The fourth game started right away, with Luo Ling intending to take the initiative, but Zhang Menglong''s controls were even faster! Even before Luo Ling completed a full set of moves, Zhang Menglong launched him with a Rising Dragon Punch, followed by a combo that wiped out his health bar, leaving him no chance to respond from start to finish.


    "Come on, I''ll give you one last chance!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile as the final game began.


    This time, Zhang Menglong didn''t make any moves, letting Luo Ling''s combos come at him, but the block after block nearly drove Luo Ling to despair. Zhang Menglong''s defenses seemed impregnable, as precise as a computer and terrifying!


    "Alright, it''s about time!" With little space left to block, Zhang Menglong''s hands suddenly doubled in speed. The situation quickly reversed from taking hits passively to an aggressive onslaught. A heavy kick broke through the defense, followed by a gorgeous 66-hit combo that signaled the end of the match.


    "Did you see that? Zhang''s controls just now, he managed to counter-attack while blocking!"


    "The gap between those combos was only 12 frames, and Zhang had to block and counter within that 0.2 seconds. The difficulty and speed of those controls are at least twice as high as before!"


    "Guess how high Zhang''s APM was just now?"


    "I couldn''t tell from his controls, but it must have been over 400, right?"


    "Oh my, is there anyone in the world with an APM over 400?"


    "There is! Have you read The King''s Avatar? Ye Qiu can do it!"


    "Hahaha, those from novels don''t count!"


    ...


    "Are you convinced?" Zhang Menglong put down the controller and looked at Luo Ling with a smile.


    Luo Ling hung his head in silence; his mentality had almost collapsed after Zhang Menglong perfectly blocked those 45 hits in a row.


    "Why don''t you give it a try?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wei Weihai, "Same terms, beat me, and it''s a 5 million annual salary."


    "I... I..." Wei Weihai stammered, unable to speak. His skills were almost the same as Luo Ling''s, and if Luo Ling was beaten to that extent, how could he fare any better?


    "Don''t be such a wimp!" Zhang Menglong taunted, "If you think I''m too good, I can give you three health bars!"

 Chapter 344 Its Me Alone Surrounding Them 12

    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking. How could I possibly be your opponent?" Wei Weihai backed down immediately.


    Luo Ling and his skill level were very close, and even Luo Ling had been beaten badly. If he stepped up, his fate would probably be about the same, so why should he go up there and humiliate himself?


    "So, are you willing to accept the defeat?" Zhang Menglong asked, possessing Ye Qiu''s true skills. Although Zhang Menglong''s APM couldn''t reach Ye Qiu''s terrifying levels, achieving seven to eight hundred was not a problem at all.


    Especially after practicing Three Elements Unite, Zhang Menglong''s reaction speed, visual acuity, and more had greatly improved. Even within 0.1 seconds, he could make several efficient actions, of course, provided the equipment could support Zhang Menglong''s high-frequency operations.


    "I admit defeat!" Although Luo Ling was somewhat proud, for Esports players, skill is the hard truth. Zhang Menglong defeating him with just a sliver of health left showed that their skills were not on the same level at all.


    Especially that spectacular blocking skill. Back then, Daigo Umehara''s 15 blocks were called operations impossible for humans, and Zhang Menglong actually blocked three times his attacks. How much more difficult was that?


    Even the world champion would likely be far from Zhang Menglong''s match!


    Such a boss was worthy of his respect!


    "Starting today, I will work for you for free for three years, and I assure you, insulting teammates will never happen again!" Luo Ling said earnestly.


    In the previous competition, Luo Ling had indeed shown significant improvement, and he was only nineteen years old. Even three years later, at just twenty-two, being income-less for three years wasn''t particularly hard for a top player like him.


    What he hoped more was to learn the skills and techniques from Zhang Menglong if he stayed here. Even if it cost a million annual salary, he would be willing to consider it a tuition fee.


    "What about you?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wei Weihai.


    "The same for me," Wei Weihai said with a wry smile.


    "Good, as long as your attitude is right," Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "I''m not a vampire. I was just teaching you a lesson. There''s always someone better, don''t think you can just insult your teammates because you think you are strong. You should know, there''s always someone better than you, unless you are Zhang Menglong!"


    "Damn! So Versaille!" Wang Ling cursed, "Where on earth did you get such terrifying operations? Last time at your home playing Street Fighter, you were hammered flat like a winter melon. Where did the real Zhang Menglong go?"


    "I was just being low-key!" Zhang Menglong said, "I fear if I am too amazing, I''ll have no friends later."


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a question I want to ask you. Why at the beginning, you didn''t make any effective moves until the last sliver of health before you started to counterattack? If my last combo did a little more damage, maybe even that sliver of health wouldn''t have remained."


    "I... I was just observing the characteristics of this game version," Zhang Menglong said, "I hadn''t played this version before and wasn''t so familiar with character control and the like, so I needed some time to get used to the operations."


    "This Esports Olympics, since we''ve organized it, we must win every event. Starting today, I will serve as the main coach of the club, and I will decide the training plans for all events!"


    "Old Zhang, doing this, what about the other coaches? It''s not likely that they will accept your authority."


    "No problem, call everyone over. Today, I''ll really show you what I can do!"


    Saying this, Zhang Menglong pushed the door and walked out of the Street Fighter training room.


    "Let''s go, let''s go! Time to watch the show!" The members of the Street Fighter team quickly followed, feeling that something exciting was definitely going to happen today.


    "Which team is this?"


    "It''s the PUBG team, there are eight members. They seem to have an international exchange match today; it probably hasn''t ended yet?"


    "Oh? Let''s have a look!" Zhang Menglong led the way inside.


    PUBG is a shooting strategy game where 100 players are dropped onto a map, teams of four, and can scavenge for various equipment and weapons. The map also contains safe zones and toxic zones. The safe zone shrinks gradually, forcing all players into a small area for a final showdown, and the last surviving team wins.


    "Damn it! This is such bad luck, these damn dogs have teamed up to corner our Huaxia team!"


    "If it were a one-on-one, I could take on their entire team by myself!"


    Without needing the team members to explain, Zhang Menglong understood the situation. Even though forming alliances wasn''t part of the game, this behavior was unrestricted. As long as an agreement is made, teams can gang up on another team.


    Clearly, their team was being targeted by players from other nations.


    Now the entire team was down to one struggling member; the enemy''s encirclement was closing in. With three full teams, twelve players in total, it was only a matter of time before he would be killed and eliminated.


    "Let me take over!" Zhang Menglong lightly patted the player''s shoulder.


    The player glanced at Wang Ling, who nodded. Since things had already reached this point, they might as well let Zhang Menglong give it a try.


    "E12-person encirclement, let''s see how you escape!" Wang Ling said with interest.


    "Escape? Why would I want to escape?" Zhang Menglong picked up the mouse, "It''s me who''s surrounding those 12, not the other way around!"

 Chapter 347 345

    "Well, that''s some big talk!" Wang Ling thought Zhang Menglong was just spouting nonsense. This game wasn''t like Street Fighter, a combat game where blocking was an option. Even if one wore the highest-level bulletproof vest and helmet, any hit from a bullet or bomb blast would cause blood loss.


    With the numerical advantage, unless the opponent''s shooting was of the "Merciful Shooting Technique" or the "Human Body Outline" shooting skill, it would be very hard for one person to win against a team.


    Moreover, because he was ambushed as soon as he hit the ground, all he had on him was a pistol and a rifle with only 30 bullets left, nothing else!


    Even because of his recent escape, he had been hit by a barrage of bullets, and his health was now less than half. In his hiding place, there were no medical supplies, so there was no way for him to replenish his health.


    He was now trapped in a two-story building, with the remaining three teams watching him from three different directions. As soon as he dared to show his head, they would turn him into a sieve.


    In this situation, where he was almost out of ammunition and supplies, even escaping seemed like a luxury, let alone a miraculous turnaround.


    "Huaxia man, come out quickly, and let us blow your head off!"


    "Hahaha, feeling the pinch, Huaxia man? Admit that you''re all trash, and we''ll let you go!"


    "Huaxia man, if you call us grandpa, we might consider using only pistols!"


    The 12 of them openly taunted Zhang Menglong with their voice chat. In their eyes, they could crush the Huaxia player at any moment.


    "Bashi people, Kaibong people, Frankfurt people!" Through their language, Zhang Menglong instantly identified the origins of the three teams. "They actually teamed up, how interesting!"


    "That''s too much!" The PUBG coach, who had studied in Frankfurt for a while and was quite proficient in French, knew full well they were being provoked, even if the other team members couldn''t understand the language. They could tell from the tone that these people were definitely provoking them.


    "Watch this!" Zhang Menglong said with a grim smile, "The Grim Reaper starts to collect souls now!"


    "Where have I heard that phrase before?"


    "I remember it was a PUBG streamer on Bilibili. Whenever he said this, he''d either get blown up by bombs or shot to death."


    "Maybe Zhang is thinking if he''s going to lose, at least he''ll lose with some flair?"


    The teammates looked at each other with helpless expressions in their eyes. They only hoped that Zhang Menglong could take down one or two enemies, so they wouldn''t lose too miserably.


    "To the east, a sniper in the factory building; behind the wall, two people; right below me, someone is hiding at the base of the wall; to the southwest..." Zhang Menglong quickly analyzed the position of each enemy.


    "And one smoke grenade?" Zhang Menglong glanced at his backpack. "Then it''s not difficult at all!"


    Zhang Menglong threw a smoke grenade right in his room, and as the smoke spread out, the four enemies to the east immediately lost sight of the window where Zhang Menglong was located.


    "Number 1, the Huaxia man has thrown smoke!"


    However, this type of control necessitates an extremely good understanding of the gun''s recoil, as well as very high APM and operational precision. And this recoil control is only practical for targeting a single enemy. Even for many players, they would need 15 or even a full magazine of 30 bullets to possibly bring down an enemy at medium to long range.


    After all, even with recoil control, the bullet impact can only be kept within a small degree of deviation.


    But for the four of them, each spaced more than 10 meters apart, not only did Zhang Menglong need to offset the recoil through nuanced control, but he also had to manage the rhythm and speed of the gun''s movement. Is this even humanly possible?


    And he did it in 0.8 seconds, no less! In comparison, that block parry from before is nothing! This is a god-tier play!


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Although he had taken out one squad, there were still 8 enemies left. The battle was far from over!


    Zhang Menglong immediately moved behind a surrounding wall and frenziedly looted the bodies.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, a Kar98k, a suppressor, an 8x scope, some nice loot!"


    ...


    "Nani? How did Bash''s team get wiped?"


    "This Huaxia man didn''t jump kill, he''s still alive!"


    "Trash, to be wiped by a single player, are they playing with their asses?"


    "Charge! We can''t let that Huaxia man get away!"


    The eight people from the other directions rushed towards the source of the gunfire.


    In the PUBG training room, all the players and coaches, including Wang Ling, were dumbstruck.


    "What did I just see?"


    "AK mid-air spray, 8 bullets and 4 headshots, those 4 were at full health, scattered in four different directions?"


    "He must be using cheats, right? Liu Yi, aren''t you afraid of getting banned?" a few teammates asked the player who had been operating the computer a moment ago.


    "I''m not your damn sister! I didn''t use any cheats! That was all Zhang''s play just now!"


    "Holy shit, that''s outrageous!"


    "This... this is beyond my realm of knowledge!"

 Chapter 346 The Way to Stop the Fight is to Kill Both Sides

    "There''s no way there are cheats!" the coach immediately stood up and said, "I installed detection systems on everyone''s computers. If cheats were activated, the computer would have crashed with a blue screen!"


    "So that means... fuck!"


    "Guys, come see a wizard in action!"


    "Stop training! Everybody stop training! Come watch Boss Zhang show off!"


    Hearing the call, players from other esports disciplines also hurried over from their training rooms, quickly packing the large training hall to the brim.


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong, equipped with new gear, was like a hunter waiting for the arrival of the other two teams.


    "Where are they?" When the two teams arrived at the previous battlefield, all that was left were four empty boxes.


    "Bang!" A loud noise and a player in the crowd immediately hit the ground.


    "W140, to the left!" Being professional players, they were able to pinpoint the direction of the gunshots almost instantly."


    But by this time, Zhang Menglong had already switched from his sniper rifle to an assault rifle, still the same AK47 as before!


    "On the rooftop!"


    But by now it was too late!


    "Dadada..."


    12 shots rang out, and six helmets flew up. A four-man squad instantly turned into four boxes, while Zhang Menglong swiftly ducked back into cover.


    "Fuck! That''s insane, right?"


    "This is the legendary ''not a single bullet wasted''!"


    "This calculation ability, can a human brain really achieve this?"


    "I was just watching Boss Zhang''s hands. I couldn''t even see how he was controlling the recoil!"


    "Hold on, you guys!" The coach suddenly ran to the side and took out a computer, "Each of your computers is custom-built, and you can check your APM during operation through the system. I have to see what level Boss Zhang''s APM has reached!"


    The coach opened the system and pulled up the recent record. When he saw the number, he involuntarily took a deep breath.


    "Coach, how much? Just say it!"


    "Yeah Coach Xue, just how much APM?"


    The players were all incredibly curious.@@@@


    "Boss Zhang''s operation of killing 4 enemies in 0.8 seconds had an APM of about 480."


    "As for that recent flurry, the APM was 572!"


    "Hiss!"


    "Shit!"


    "That''s a solo for how many years APM!"


    "Does anyone in the world have that APM? And it''s all effective action without any fluff!"


    "Could this be the legendary ''gun fu''?"


    "My name is Thor!"


    Before the Kaibong man could react, one grenade after another flew into the room he was in.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    ...


    An all-encompassing bombardment left no space for the Kaibong man to hide, so he jumped straight out a window, only to be greeted by a black frying pan.


    "Duang!"


    With a crisp sound, he too became a box.


    "Ah! Damn it!" the frustrated Kaibong player cursed loudly in the training room.


    "He''s humiliating us!"


    "Damn Huaxia guy!"


    "Definitely cheats, how could anyone headshot with every bullet from an AK? Absolutely cheats!"


    They too chose to report Zhang Menglong, but the feedback was still that the opponent did not use any auxiliary tools.


    The PUBG official organized this match, there was no possible favoritism, and there should be no technical loopholes. That meant this Huaxia man had reversed the situation through his own strength!


    As unbelievable as it was, it was an ironclad fact!


    Zhang Menglong, all alone, continued in the match. At this point, there were still over 60 players in the game, and the consecutive eliminations by the same ID immediately caught the attention of all players.


    This match was also being live-streamed, and the director immediately switched the camera over to this player.


    The commentator began to narrate the match from the perspective of this Huaxia player.


    "I''m your dad, this is a player from the Huaxia team."


    "He has just eliminated 11 players by himself in one minute. According to the record we''ve just obtained, the Huaxia team encountered the encirclement of three teams upon landing, all three teammates were killed, and he alone accomplished a miraculous turnaround!"


    "My god! He killed those 12 players using only 21 bullets! 20 from the AK47 rifle and the remaining one from the 98K, and the last one, he actually took out with a frying pan! This is unbelievable! Is this the mysterious power from the East?"


    "According to our monitoring, this player''s operating environment is clean, with no use of any cheating software! Oh, this is unscientific!"


    "Now he has to finish the rest of the match alone, let''s focus our attention on him and see how he plans to complete the match by himself!"


    "Look, he''s seen two teams fighting on the other side! He''s charging in!"


    "He''s gotten surrounded by the two teams!"


    "No! Wrong! It''s those two teams that have gotten surrounded by him alone!"


    "He took 19 seconds to wipe out two full teams, all without taking a single shot!"


    "He''s surrounded two teams again! Is he there to break up the fight? His way of breaking it up seems to be taking out both sides! So hardcore!"


    "He''s charging into the final circle! He alone is holding back two teams; they don''t dare to rush in, they''re running out of med kits!"


    "The match is over! He''s truly a god!"

 Chapter 348 Only Idiots Would Compete in Their Contest

    After a reassignment of personnel, Zhang Menglong became the major shareholder and head coach of the club, also serving as a substitute player for all esports disciplines.


    In order to improve the players'' skills in a short period of time, Zhang Menglong also designed a training program based on his knowledge of esports, which was certain to lead to significant improvement quickly.


    "When did you learn to code?" Wang Ling asked with surprise, watching Zhang Menglong''s fingers clatter across the keyboard. He knew that wasn''t Zhang Menglong''s major.


    "What are you writing there?"


    "I''m writing a game program that can help players enhance their reaction time and dynamic visual ability."


    "Awesome!" Wang Ling exclaimed. "You''re the most inspiring rich second generation I''ve ever met!"


    "Keep it low-key!"


    ...


    "It''s done!" Zhang Menglong returned the computer to Wang Ling. "For this game, each player must train for at least 30 minutes per day. In one month, their level will definitely be a big step up from now, and that''s effective for every esports discipline."


    "Ok, I''ll have someone arrange it right away," Wang Ling told the former head coach as he called him over, "Coach Dai, I''m leaving the training in your hands."


    "Don''t worry, boss, I''ll make sure the players follow through," Coach Dai assured. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    ...


    "Old Zhang, our team is now shaping up, and we''ve also secured the right to host the Esports Olympics. We just have Riot and Blizzard left to deal with. If they don''t grant us authorization, and we proceed with hosting their games, we could be in a lot of trouble," Wang Ling expressed concern.


    "You''re talking about Riot and Blizzard, right?"


    "Exactly. Following their development over the past few years, they''ve nearly become the big brothers of the game industry. They are very protective of their status in the industry, and as you know, because of the pandemic, last year''s World Championships were postponed until now, and the current year''s event will take place in May."


    "And the timeline for our Esports Olympics is also starting in May. If it were any other year, it might not matter, but with this year''s scheduling conflict, they definitely won''t let us run major events related to their games, which is why they''ve rejected our request."


    "That''s not surprising," Zhang Menglong remarked, "Our competition is selected through a qualifying process, picking out the best teams from around the world to participate. Just the selection period alone takes a month, then add the knockout stages, finals, and semi-finals, and all in all, it''ll be over two months. Teams would have to choose one over the other."


    "So what do we do now?" Wang Ling asked, "So far, the world events hosted by Riot and Blizzard are the most influential for these games. Although our Esports Olympics sounds grand, it''s still only the first edition, and it lacks the same level of prestige."


    "If the prestige is low, then we''ll just raise it!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Start by spreading the news that the champion of each discipline will get a prize of 100 million US dollars, the runner-up 50 million, and third place 20 million!"


    "Are you being serious?" Wang Ling thought Zhang Menglong was only joking last time.


    "No, I checked, it''s a newly registered company, with Wang Ling as the legal representative, holding a 49% stake, and the major shareholder is Zhang Menglong, holding a 51% stake."


    "Organized by Zhang? No wonder, so lavish!"


    "From April to May? And there''s a League of Legends event? But isn''t there also the S11 tournament? What do we do?"


    "What the hell? With a championship prize of 100 million USD and another at 25 million USD, only an idiot would participate in S11!"


    All the major clubs around the world received this news at the same time.


    You have to know, maintaining a club is extremely costly, take the nation''s top League of Legends teams for example, perhaps a top-level professional player''s annual signing fee alone is up to ten million, and the annual expenses can definitely reach tens of millions.


    However, the prize money from the domestic top competitions is just so little, and living off sponsorships is extremely difficult for these clubs.


    The earliest Esports clubs had to carefully budget travel expenses, accommodation, and meals every time they went out to compete until things slightly improved in recent years.


    So for those clubs, making money is very important, this is an opportunity for them to get rich overnight. If they win the championship, perhaps they will have several years of operational costs covered!


    "Sign up! Quickly go sign up!"


    "But boss, we''ve already signed up for S11, we don''t have more energy..."


    "Are you brain-dead? There''s a fourfold difference in the prize money, why still go for S11? Cancel the S11 registration, inform all the players, prioritize preparing for the Esports Olympics. Just win the championship, and the club will only need 20 million US dollars, the rest you coaches and players can split!"


    "80 million US dollars? Great! I''ll sign up immediately!"


    ...


    "Have you heard? The Esports Olympics champion''s prize money is 100 million US dollars, with the runner-up and third place having 50 million and 20 million respectively!"


    "What? Even the third-place prize money can match the S11 champion''s prize!"


    "Yes! Participating in the S Tournament would drain three generations of wealth, so why not rush to sign up for the Esports Olympics? Maybe in two months, we''ll be living in a villa by the sea!"


    ...


    "Huh? What? 100 million US dollars in prize money?"


    "Coach Liu, we''re not going to S11, we''re aiming for the Esports Olympics!"


    ...

 Chapter 349 Do They Dare to Go All-In Against Me?

    For the owner of Riot Games, the recent years had indeed been quite favorable.


    Although the outbreak last year caused a delay in the S11 tournament, seemingly causing them to earn much less than in previous years, that was not actually the case.


    For a long period, everyone had been confined at home, doing nothing but eating, drinking, eliminating, sleeping, and playing games. According to operational data feedback, "League of Legends" saw an average online user and duration increase of at least 30% above the norm!


    A huge number of visitors meant substantial traffic, and with traffic came monetization. They had already made a fortune through advertising. Subsequently, Huaxia''s agent, Tengxun, released several new skins, allowing Riot Games to rake in vast profits once again.


    Last year''s revenue had grown by 27%, firmly placing them among the top two leaders in the gaming industry.


    With a year''s worth of pent-up consumer spending, the resurgence at this year''s S11 tournament led to a massive explosion of income, just through advertising and sponsorship fees alone, they had earned a fortune, and this year''s revenue would likely be another astonishing figure.


    Luo Huade was now the largest shareholder of Riot Games. Initially, Tengxun had planned to wholly acquire the company. When the share acquisition reached 20%, Luo Huade immediately took action, securing the largest portion of the shares. Otherwise, the company would have belonged to Huaxia by now.


    Now, Riot Games had become Luo Huade''s money-making tool. It seemed that under Tengxun''s agency, the game could control the market as it pleased, but in reality, Tengxun was just a tool.


    When Zhang Menglong sent Wang Ling to ask Mr. Ma for the rights to host the tournament, it should have been an easy task. However, surprisingly, the authorization to host the tournament had not been given to Tengxun. Luo Huade''s aim was to keep all the influence firmly in his own hands!


    "Humph, the Esports Olympics? These mere Qingqiu people also want to hold such a high-level tournament?" In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, Luo Huade looked towards the east, "The world will not allow a League of Legends tournament bigger or more influential than the S tournament to exist!"


    "Dong dong dong!"


    "Come in!" Luo Huade said.


    A strikingly dressed assistant hurried into the office, "Boss, I have some very bad news."


    "What''s the news?" Luo Huade frowned.


    "Originally, 80% of the teams that had registered for S11 have now canceled their registration."


    "Man, Riot''s really going all-out here!"


    "Damn, are they out of their minds? Didn''t they do any background check before making decisions? Don''t they know who the major sponsor of this tournament is?"


    "Get a top trending spot for Mr. Zhang in advance!"


    The latest news from Riot Games caused quite a stir, but in Huaxia, everyone had a spectator''s attitude; they knew, when it came to spending money, no one in the world could outperform that man.


    "Boss, Riot Games has increased the prize money, should we re-register for S11?"


    "There''s no need," the boss of an Esports club in Huaxia revealed a profound smiling expression, "Our players are in peak condition this year, which is a good thing for us!"


    ...


    "Old Zhang, have you seen the news? Riot''s brought their prize money up to our level, seems like they''re really going all-in this time!"


    "They can still afford that amount of money," Zhang Menglong laughed. Five years ago, Riot''s annual revenue had already exceeded 1 billion US dollars, last year it broke through 2.5 billion US dollars. Taking away costs, turning over a billion or more a year is easy.


    Although taking nearly 200 million out for prize money did hurt, it was an expense they could afford!


    "If they want to play, let''s play along!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Increase the champion and runner-up prize money tenfold, cover all travel and accommodation expenses for the participating teams!"


    "You really are going all out!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but be astonished. Is this a competition or charity?


    "In the end, the prize money is still ours," Zhang Menglong confidently stated, "And how much money could the travel and accommodation fees even amount to?"


    Wang Ling could already envision the collapsing expression on Riot Games'' boss''s face.


    A tenfold increased prize pool¡ªthat''s 1.7 billion US dollars. It''s as if they''ve worked for nothing all year. Betting everything in this aggressive play, could Riot Games really keep up with such a huge wager?


    Zhang Menglong sneered, "They want to compete with us, eh? I''d like to see how they bet against us."

 Chapter 350 Luo Huade, I am Your Father

    "Boss, this competition isn''t officially organized," he had just checked. "It''s a project applied for by a newly registered company in Huaxia, and they spent 200 million US Dollars to purchase the trademark from the Olympic Committee."


    "200 million US Dollars?" Luo Huade was already astonished. This was practically a sky-high price for a trademark, and not something you could just buy with money. Such a trademark, probably countless eyes were fixed on it, and the people behind this company must have incredibly powerful means."


    "Who is the owner of this company?"


    "The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    Luo Huade''s expression immediately froze.


    Originally, he didn''t know much about this man from Huaxia, even after Zhang Menglong became the world''s richest man. He had never paid attention to him.


    But recently, Zhang Menglong had established the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" in America, causing hundreds of factories to go on a large-scale strike, with some lingering effects even now. Even their programmers at Riot Games, who often worked overtime, almost joined the strike.


    In such circumstances, Luo Huade couldn''t possibly claim he didn''t know who Zhang Menglong was!


    He knew that the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" had initially dumped 100 billion US Dollars in cash into it, and the very next day, they added another 100 billion US dollars. This immense wealth was practically comparable to that of a country!


    200 billion US Dollars spent was one thing, but its use to sponsor strikes meant the money was basically irrevocable. Was this person really so rich that he was afraid of dying wealthy?


    Not to mention a mere 1.7 billion US Dollars, even if he really continued to contend with Zhang Menglong, he estimated he could raise the prize money to 17 billion US Dollars! Moreover, he absolutely couldn''t come up with 1.7 billion US Dollars for this prize, he didn''t even have the qualifications to gamble with Zhang Menglong!


    "Boss, this competition isn''t officially organized," he had just checked. "It''s a project applied for by a newly registered company in Huaxia, and they spent 200 million US Dollars to purchase the trademark from the Olympic Committee."


    "200 million US Dollars?" Luo Huade was already astonished. This was practically a sky-high price for a trademark, and not something you could just buy with money. Such a trademark, probably countless eyes were fixed on it, and the people behind this company must have incredibly powerful means."


    "Who is the owner of this company?"


    "The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    Luo Huade''s expression immediately froze.


    Originally, he didn''t know much about this man from Huaxia, even after Zhang Menglong became the world''s richest man. He had never paid attention to him. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    But recently, Zhang Menglong had established the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" in America, causing hundreds of factories to go on a large-scale strike, with some lingering effects even now. Even their programmers at Riot Games, who often worked overtime, almost joined the strike.


    "Damn, what do they mean, eh? They can''t pull together the prize money, so they use this tactic to stop our competition?"


    "That''s so shameless, right?"


    "Hahaha, President Zhang, can''t you speak something more down-to-earth? Do you think we are fools who can''t understand?"


    "Okay, we get it. We definitely won''t do anything extreme, nor will we attack Riot Games!"


    "Guys, I just created a group, those who know, know!"


    That night, as usual, Zhang Menglong planned to practice his Three Elements Unite Internal Cultivation Methods, but suddenly his phone vibrated several times; he received a few screenshots from Wang Ling.


    "Hahahaha!" Seeing the content of the screenshots, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh; Summoner''s Rift had turned into a complete troll fest, the players'' IDs were more show-offy than the next.


    "Luo Huade I Am Your Dad 001."


    "Poor Bastard Luo Huade."


    "Riot Games Are Dogs 001."


    "Luo Huade''s Dad Soars to the Heavens."


    Huaxia was already the biggest audience for League of Legends, and most of the game''s players were young people, with a huge part being fans of Zhang Menglong!


    That afternoon, group after group of one hundred to a thousand members was created just like that, a little conspiracy blooming throughout these groups.


    Starting from 8 p.m., hundreds of thousands of players changed their ID nicknames, Summoner''s Rift was filled with Luo Huade''s ''fathers'' and ''mothers'' running everywhere.


    "Damn! Dude, your name crosses a line. My ID is ''Luo Huade''s Dad 0182'', how come you''re ''Luo Huade Entire Family Dies 2001''?"


    "Guys, get him!"


    "Hahaha, sorry, hurt a friendly there, I''ll go change it quick!"


    Meanwhile, far away in America, Luo Huade saw this report and trembled with rage, "They think they can force me to license with this tactic? No way, get these accounts banned right now!"

 Chapter 351 You Dare to Mess with Zhang Menglong?

    One evening, Riot Games banned a whopping 2.7 million accounts, and nearly all of those accounts'' IP addresses originated from Huaxia, which made Luo Huade feel somewhat fearful and alarmed by Zhang Menglong''s influence.


    Now, with over 300 million registered players, League of Legends boasts more than 78 million players from Huaxia. According to official data, there are over 18 million active users, with the highest number of concurrent online users exceeding 6.7 million.


    2.7 million accounts changing their names simultaneously to protest the monopolistic behavior of Riot Games was a call to action so powerful, even cults would feel ashamed.


    "Fuck! You''re banning my account? I won''t stand for this. Don''t they know I''m known as the ''Ban Duelist''?"


    "Luo Huade, is your family register just filled with your own name? Banning my account?"


    "I swear, may your wife cheat on you and definitely get caught!"


    "I wish upon you a car accident where you die on the spot and the culprit is definitely to blame!"


    "I wish you take a shit and it makes absolutely no splash!"


    "I wish you a death sentence that''s definitely postponed!"


    "I wish your high insurance premiums are definitely paid out!"


    "I wish your burial spot is definitely a feng shui treasure land!"


    ...


    The players who had been banned simply couldn''t tolerate it. Many had invested a great deal of time and money into the game, some rich players spending tens of thousands in just skins. What could they play if their accounts were banned?


    "@Riot Games, unban our accounts quickly, or else we uninstall the game!"


    The players'' voices of protest caused an uproar online.


    "What? They dare to ban our accounts?"


    "Fuck! Don''t they know that we Huaxia players have the largest population base and the strongest spending power? Where do they think all the money they earn each year comes from?"


    "It''s my first time seeing someone so arrogant towards their financial backers!"


    "Brothers, uninstall and let''s move. We can''t just be bullied like this!"


    "A crusade begins! Sing the war anthem!"


    "Luo Huade, what on earth are you doing? How could you ban so many player accounts without the consent of the shareholders'' meeting?"


    "I heard Zhang Menglong is willing to spend 200 million US Dollars to buy the rights to our tournament. Why didn''t you sell? This year is just a special case. Our S championship accidentally coincided with the Esports Olympics. Can''t we just postpone it for a few months?"


    "I don''t care about status. That''s not our concern. Our concern is only how much money we can make!"


    "Luo Huade, your actions have severely affected our shareholders'' interests. We are now united in calling for your impeachment as the chairman!"


    "That''s right! You''re unfit to continue as the chairman. I think Huaxia''s Mr. Ma is the most suitable candidate for the chairmanship of the board. We all trust his understanding of the gaming industry and his ability to make money!"


    "I agree, I also support nominating Mr. Ma as the new chairman!"


    Ma Hua: "Is this happiness coming too suddenly?"


    ...


    Although Luo Huade held the highest percentage of shares in the company, if all the other directors united, they could surpass Luo Huade in terms of share proportion. If they moved to impeach Luo Huade, he would have no way to resist.


    "You... you all... Have you considered that if the Esports Olympics were really held in Huaxia, our S series would only be second-rate from now on!"


    "I don''t know if the S series will be a second-rate competition, but I do know if you go against Zhang Menglong, our company will soon become a second-rate company!"


    "You... Ridiculous. To think you all would be scared off by a man from Huaxia." Luo Huade wore a sad smile, "Is that all your brains can comprehend, just immediate profit?"


    But the shareholders didn''t pay any attention to Luo Huade. Indeed, they were genuinely intimidated by Zhang Menglong.


    Now, nearly all American enterprises had labeled Zhang Menglong as "untouchable." In a capitalist country, capital is everything. Money makes the boss, and Zhang Menglong''s wealth was so vast it could even impact the economic-political system of the country.


    If they infuriated him, the consequences would be very severe!


    "Luo Huade, the shareholders'' meeting has unanimously decided that you are no longer the chairman. From now on, all company affairs will be taken over by Mr. Ma Hua!"


    "Mr. Ma Hua, we hope you can lead the entire company in a better direction!"


    "Certainly, certainly!" Ma Hua''s face was filled with wrinkles from smiling. As the new chairman, he would have much more room for maneuver. He might even have the chance to gradually usurp other shareholders'' stakes, thereby completely controlling the company.


    "You will all regret this!"


    Luo Huade left behind a vengeful glare and then stormed out of the room.

 Chapter 352 Leave some food for others

    "The S11 Global Finals continue to be postponed, now expected to take place in November!"


    "Riot Games has authorized the League of Legends competition at the E-sports Olympics!"


    "All banned accounts have been unbanned. As an apology, all skins are on sale for 30% off for a limited time! The lottery system now includes all limited edition skins, available for three days only!"


    As soon as Ma Hua took office, he immediately implemented a series of measures.


    "Damn, Ma Hua has become the chairman? It''s over; from now on, League of Legends is going to turn into Krypton Gold League!"


    "That''s true, but those vintage limited skins were impossible to pull from the lottery before. Isn''t it great that they''re available for these three days?"


    "I clearly know this is a money-scamming trap, but I still chopped off my hand."


    "Brother, me too!"


    ... Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    After some bargaining, the final licensing price was set at 150 million US Dollars, and with the explosive income from this batch of skins, they made almost half a month''s revenue in just three days, directly covering the losses of the previous month.


    Although this behavior would decrease the value of the skins and the players'' spending desire might drop for a while, who is Ma Hua? He says he''s releasing vintage skins, says there''s a 1% chance of winning, but if you believe that, you''re an idiot!


    Once in Ma Hua''s hands, Riot Games quickly turned into a massive money-making machine; players clearly know it''s a trap, yet they still dive headfirst into it, and that''s his talent!


    Watching Riot Games give up the fight, Blizzard also announced three days later that they would open their licenses, selling the rights to host the competitions for two games included in the E-sports Olympics to Zhang Menglong for 200 million US Dollars.


    Thus, the Esports Olympics officially kicked off!


    Over 200 countries and regions worldwide couldn''t keep calm in the face of such massive prize money. Even many small countries formed teams at the government''s behest. Initially somewhat gimmicky, the E-sports Olympics suddenly elevated with the appearance of these government-backed teams.


    In the last week of registration, the number of signups surged. Incomplete statistics showed that 178 countries had registered teams; in comparison, even the actual Olympics in Yanjing in 2008 had only 204 participating countries.


    Starting from city competitions and moving up level by level, each category selected three teams, with every country sending 30 teams to Huaxia!


    The client''s efficiency is quite low, resulting in a certain loss of business.


    "Obviously, it means ''Old Color Critics''; everyone from the players to the coaches to the owner is an old color critic!"


    "Record videos, they all love shooting videos."


    "Crapshooters, they can all crap a lot."


    "And here we go into my favorite part of talking nonsense ..."


    The three representative teams from Qingqiu Country walked expressionlessly down the welcome path, their eyes never straying from the LSP Club team.


    KS2''s head coach, Jin Hui-en, said coldly, "No matter how strong this LSP team is, our goal at SK2 Club this year is to take at least three championships! We Qingqiu Country are the strongest esports nation! When Huaxia encounters us, they have no other option but to lose!"


    ...


    "Welcome to our guests who have traveled from afar. The first Esports Olympics is filled with life because of your arrival. Let us introduce the teams from various countries!" the big screen at the Olympic Sports Center announced as it displayed the first team.


    "First up is America''s MVP Club, with 27 members, 12 of whom have won world championship titles. Their head coach this year is Mr. Steve, a gold medal coach with over ten years in the esports industry, also holding three world champion titles himself!"


    "Next is the NQ team, which includes a legendary player who has consecutively won the CS world championship for 12 years. Will anyone break his legend this year? Their head coach is Mr. Leo!"


    ...


    "Here''s the very familiar SK2 Club, which has nearly dominated League of Legends in Qingqiu Country since En Jing got married, lifting Lee''s strength to a new level. Look, his teammate Tui Bang is even smiling¡ªis he paying tribute to Season 7?"


    ...


    "Lastly, it''s our Huaxia''s LSP Club. Everyone is well aware that they rose from obscurity to reach the Esports Olympics arena, qualifying in ten events. Next, I am going to reveal a closely watched secret, their head coach!!"


    "Oh my gosh! Their head coach ... is actually Zhang Menglong!"


    "Damn! Is that the legendary coach?"


    "Dude! He can make money and be a mathematician, and now he''s stepping into the esports arena too?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I beg you, stop showing off and leave some opportunities for others!"


    ...

 Chapter 353 The Head Coach Starts Warming Up

    "What the hell, what kind of move is that? How come players from the lsp club are so fierce?"


    "I knew the Huaxia team was strong in Dota and Warcraft, but fighting games like King of Fighters and Street Fighter have always been dominated by European and American players!"


    "Who''s that player from Huaxia?"


    "I know, her name is Luo Ling. Wasn''t she the champion of last year''s net cafe competition in Huaxia''s continental region?"


    "Net cafe competition? But she''s up against last year''s world champion. Is this a heavyweight match?"


    "What world champion? Have you ever seen a net cafe champion rub the world champion''s face on the floor? This is ridiculous!"


    "Yeah, almost got comboed with a ''one two three'', this world champion''s skill seems pretty inflated!"


    "KO!"


    "The match is over. Congratulations to Huaxia''s lsp team for winning the gold medal in the Street Fighter event! America''s mvp club has to settle for second place with regret, while Qingqiu''s GMP team takes the bronze. Let''s cheer for them!"


    "lsp!"


    "lsp!"


    "Old Color Critic!"


    "Damn, why do I feel like they are cursing at us!" the faces of the lsp team members were all somewhat embarrassed.


    "Next, let''s interview the players from the lsp team," the host walked over to the winning team, "Please tell us, lsp club members, winning the gold medal in such a major competition on your first try, and even blanking the former champions, how do you feel right now?"


    Luo Ling touched her nose, "Uh... I don''t think we were too strong, but rather our opponents were a bit weak. They fell before I even went all out!"


    Wei Weihai shook his head, "Nothing special to feel, to be honest. This level of performance wouldn''t even qualify for a sparring partner in our lsp team, so I don''t really have a great sense of achievement."


    Team member A: "In a best of three series, I didn''t even get the chance to play. I have nothing to say."


    Team member B: "I''ve never thought about winning the world championship. I''m not the least bit interested in the world title."


    Substitute player: "I just want to say one thing, the head coach is awesome!"


    "No wonder they were trained by Zhang Menglong. Each one of them is like the old Count of Versailles."


    "What''s with the cryptic talk here? They all seem like members of the Demon Cult to me."


    The audience on-site were roaring with laughter, while the mvp players were all ashen-faced.


    Last year''s world championship, both Luo Ling and Wei Weihai has participated, but neither of them even made it to the quarterfinals with their skills. They couldn''t imagine that in just one year, their skills would have improved to such a remarkable extent.


    Additionally, most of them were not professional players before, and under such pressure, it''s very difficult to perform to their fullest capabilities.


    In the first match, with a significant disadvantage from the start, SK2''s team demolished the base in just 18 minutes.


    "Yes! Hahaha! What LSP team, what Huaxia''s pride, our Qingqiu Country''s team is the strongest!" SK2''s coach, beaming with pride, watched his players. The past few days, their other squads had been beaten soundly, but today they finally recovered some ground!


    "No worries, everyone just do your best, and let''s aim to make a comeback in the next game!" the LSP coach consoled the players, but it was, after all, the finals; playing under the shadow of a lost point, the players'' morale was understandably low.


    In the second match, LSP''s performance left much to be desired, with frequent mistakes from the players, even causing chaos in their own ranks. Li Ge and Push''N Bang played with daring and showmanship, steady as ever, and brought the match to match point.


    What infuriated the Huaxia audience most was that at the end of another game, SK2''s top laner played with just one hand, holding a cup of milk tea in the other, as he casually destroyed LSP''s base!


    "Damn it! Just play the game, what''s the meaning of insulting us?" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "God, such poor sportsmanship, and they call themselves an international team?"


    "Truly embarrassing!"


    ...


    Carried away with pride, SK2''s club taunted on their own social media platform:


    LSP can start thinking about what to have for dinner in an hour.


    The resting time plus the match duration for a League of Legends game generally doesn''t exceed one hour. This final is a best-of-five, and they had already won one match. Implicitly, they were suggesting that everything would be over after the next match, aiming for a 3:0 sweep against LSP.


    This provocating tone immediately sparked resentment among countless Huaxia viewers, but facing such a situation, they didn''t have much confidence to rebut.


    And LSP''s top laner went even further, posting on his personal social media:


    I''m planning to play with my feet for the last match!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re sorry," the disheartened team members said one by one, returning to the training room.


    "It''s okay, you''ve performed very well," Zhang Menglong consoled the team members, "I wasn''t planning to step in, but since they''re talking trash and provoking us, I can''t stand it anymore."


    ...


    "According to messages from the LSP team, in the final match point, they''ll be switching in a substitute player¡ªit seems they''ve prepared a trump card!"


    "Oh! They''re coming out, let''s see who their substitute player is?"


    "Huh? Isn''t that their head coach?"


    "Look, the head coach is warming up!"

 Chapter 354 I Also Happen to Be Used to Playing Games with My Feet

    "What the hell? Isn''t that Zhang Menglong? How did he get on the field, is he devising strategies for this match?"


    "No way! Their team coach is still there, the top laner is missing."


    "Look, he''s wearing the top laner''s tag, he''s going to play top lane!"


    "Isn''t he the head coach?"


    "Just now, the Olympic Committee announced a message, when the lsp team registered, Zhang Menglong not only registered as lsp''s head coach, but he also filled a substitute spot for every item!"


    "This actually works?"


    "Theoretically speaking, this doesn''t break any rules. It''s like in the Olympics, right? If you have enough stamina and ability, you can sign up for all the events!"


    "But can he actually do it?"


    "This... I don''t think he can."


    "Dude, don''t scare me, it''s already 2:0. If we lose another match, God knows how sk2 and those bastards from Qingqiu Country will mock us."


    "Back in the days, Principal Wang used to stream games playing duo with Zhang Menglong. When he played, it was like the Grim Reaper had arrived; wherever he went, teammates would drop dead, never warding, always getting lost on the map."


    "We''re doomed."


    ...


    In the spectators'' seats, some audience members were already preparing to leave. In their view, it was almost a match without any suspense. The dominance of sk2 this year was too terrifying, with each player almost in the state of a yearly S tournament FMVP.


    But what they didn''t notice was that in this match, each lsp player looked energetic and wore a thick confidence on their faces, a stark contrast from the first two games! Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Oh, my God, lsp''s top laner Zhang Menglong has actually chosen Vayne top lane, a niche pick for this version! Vayne has been greatly nerfed in this version. Up to now in the Esports Olympics, she has only been played 3 times and lost all 3. Is he challenging the meta?"


    "Wait! Player Zhang Menglong suddenly started taking off his shoes. What''s he doing? Are his shoes uncomfortable and affecting his performance?"


    "Player Zhang Menglong has started adjusting his seat, he''s lying down!"


    "He''s taken off his socks and put his feet on both the keyboard and mouse. Is he planning to play the game with his feet?"


    "Let''s have our floor manager go and confirm Player Zhang Menglong''s actions!"


    ...


    A staff member hurried onto the game stage, and for the sake of transparency in the competition, all communications between players and organizers were broadcasted.


    "Player Zhang Menglong, may I ask if there is a problem?"


    "Not at all," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Don''t worry, I''ve washed my feet so they won''t kill anyone. If sk2 loses later and claims that my feet affected their performance, you must testify for me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you really planning to play the game with your feet?"


    "Yes!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "Didn''t sk2''s top laner Jan say he was going to play with his feet next game? It turns out, I''m actually quite used to playing games with my feet."


    "Hahaha!" The audience burst into laughter, and a series of "66666" floated up on the live stream''s chat.


    "Too sassy, too sassy!"


    "Damn, the jungle''s here, how shameless!"


    "Damn it, his positioning just dodged Gragas''s E flash! Was that just luck?"


    "Outrageous!"


    "He''s starting to kill!"


    "Kill! Don''t let any of them escape!"


    "Double kill! He achieved a double kill using his feet!"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Shit!"


    "My mom''s asking me why I''m kneeling watching the game!"


    "Guys, is my kneeling posture standard?"


    "Hey, move over a bit when you kneel. I''ve got no room to kneel here."


    "Zhang Menglong, the eternal god!"


    "How is this even possible?" In the camp of SK2, the top laner Jan was already losing his composure.


    After playing professionally for 10 years, and winning the world championship three times with Li He, he had never imagined that one day he''d be double killed by an opponent who was foot-controlling under the premise of having jungler support on his side¡ªit was absurd!


    "Play with your hands!" Li He commanded while he himself was playing.


    "Captain, but..."


    "Winning is more important than face. The audience will only remember you as a world champion, not how you won!"


    Jan nodded, reluctantly picked up his mouse and keyboard amid a barrage of "boos," and put his feet down.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong also shifted his body. Just as everyone thought he would switch to using his hands, Zhang Menglong adjusted to a more comfortable position and lay down, casually picking up a cup of coffee from nearby and started drinking.


    "He''s still going to play with his feet!"


    "Is this even a match in the Esports Olympics?"


    "Murder with psychological warfare, if SK2 still loses, they might as well apologize to the entire nation."


    "Damn, no, Zhang''s charging in with his ultimate!"


    "He dodged Sion''s airborne control with his movements!"


    "He dodged Sion''s ultimate chain crash with his movements!"


    "He''s kiting in range; Sion can''t even touch him!"


    "Another solo kill!"


    "Zhang Menglong is awesome!"


    The arena, which had been filled with gloom just minutes before, was now boiling over with excitement!

 Chapter 355 Even a Clogged Dog Can Win

    Since the game League of Legends came into existence, countless large and small competitions have passed, but a match with such a unique style as today had never occurred before.


    The Esports Olympics, a League of Legends event considered more prestigious than the S tournament, saw the head coach actually participating in the game!


    The head coach playing was surprising enough, but who has ever seen someone play a game with their feet?


    Playing with his feet was one thing, but what did it mean for him to chase after two or three people and beat them single-handedly?


    For a moment, the audience couldn''t tell whether Zhang Menglong''s skills were too strong or if the sk2 team members were just too weak.


    With coordinated attacks from the jungle, one kill after another, Zhang Menglong nearly broke through the top lane by himself.


    The other members of the lsp team were hiding under their towers, farming minions; they only needed to keep up in terms of economy. Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s terrifying skills and awareness, they believed that even if five players ganged up on him, Zhang Menglong could still escape comfortably, perhaps even killing one or two!


    "It''s only 8 minutes in and he''s already pushing into the high ground. If we don''t catch him now, he''ll become invincible soon!" the top laner of sk2 urgently began calling his teammates.


    "Let''s go together, five people catch him! I refuse to believe we can''t kill him at least once!" Li He clenched his teeth. Five people ganging up on one might not be advantageous, but if they continued to be dominated by Zhang Menglong like this, it would greatly affect their team''s morale. He had to die once!


    "They''re desperate now, they''re desperate!"


    "Damn! Shameless, five on one!"


    "Boss Zhang, run, they''re coming for you!"


    "The rest of you, hurry to take the dragon and get the tower!"


    The audience, with their god''s-eye view, could see sk2''s members converging towards Zhang Menglong''s top lane. Zhang Menglong, alone, paced back and forth in front of the opponent''s high ground. The player Jan didn''t dare to come out; the equipment gap was daunting. With just a few hits, he could even be killed diving under the tower!


    "Zhang Menglong is too arrogant. Does he think this is a casual match?"


    "One man taunting in front of the enemy''s high ground, does he think the other sk2 players are just decorations?"


    The viewers from Qingqiu Country watched, gritting their teeth. The dominant display by Zhang Menglong made them very uncomfortable.


    In the eyes of Qingqiu Country, esports had always been their strong suit. Today, a man from Huaxia had blown them away using his feet; how could they ever hold their heads high after this?


    "Here they come!" Seeing all his teammates arrive, Jan finally showed a smile and charged forward to control.


    "This broken car thinks it can hit me?" Zhang Menglong looked relaxed, but his mind was constantly focused. His brain worked like a computing machine, always monitoring his opponents'' movements, skill releases, and fine manipulations.


    With a move, he easily dodged Sion''s ultimate, controlling him and stunning him against the wall.


    "Ding! Ding! Ding!"


    Three basic attacks directly took away one-third of his health.


    "I can tell from the tone, it''s typical Underworld speech."


    The sk2 team deployed five players to catch Zhang Menglong, but he killed four of them alone, and his teammates immediately started grabbing resources, pushing towers and created a substantial economic gap.


    "It''s over..."


    The unstoppable lsp team, led by Zhang Menglong, stormed the rival''s high ground and ended the game at the 12-minute mark.


    "Too much, it''s not even 15 minutes yet, not even giving them a chance to surrender!"


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Exactly, give them a break! Think about the international implications!"


    "Zhang did give them a break! They played with their feet but still couldn''t catch up!"


    ...


    "What? Zhang entered the game? And won with his feet?"


    "Damn! I left too early! Can I still go back to watch the game?"


    Upon hearing the news, the departing spectators hurried back to the venue, instantly reviving the somewhat deserted arena.


    After every match, the hosts would interview the winning team, and naturally, Zhang Menglong became the spokesperson for this match.


    "Mr. Zhang, as the main coach, why did you join the game?"


    "Oh, the food at our club is too good. Yesterday we had a seafood dinner, and our starting top laner along with the substitutes all got diarrhea, so I had to step in temporarily. I didn''t play very well, don''t mind me!"


    The host chuckled awkwardly, as Zhang Menglong surely started talking Underworld talk again.


    "So, Mr. Zhang, why did you choose to play with your feet this game? Many believe it''s disrespectful to the Qingqiu Country players."


    "Not at all. Their top laner said he would play with his feet this match. If I had used my hands, wouldn''t that have been bullying? But he really couldn''t handle it!"


    "What do you think was the key to winning this match? I noticed that lsp''s teamwork was very tight. I think it''s inseparable from each team member."


    The host was clearly hinting for Zhang Menglong to follow his lead.


    "It''s not really that we''re too strong," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "it''s mainly that the other team is too weak. Playing against such a team, tying up any random dog as the top laner would have won the game!"


    Any perceptive observer could see that the match was entirely carried by Zhang Menglong. Without him, lsp team''s fate would not have been much different from the first two matches.


    If they had another dog in the top lane, this team probably wouldn''t stand a chance against any regular team, clearly an insult implying sk2 is a worthless team!

 Chapter 356 They Didnt Say How Many Hands to Use

    "Old Zhang, that was so satisfying!" Wang Ling exclaimed with excitement, "When I saw their top laner talking trash, I really wanted to rush to their base and beat them up. What world''s number one top laner? In front of you, they''re just the top laner who''s easiest to kill in the world!"


    "Coach, how on earth do you pull off those moves with your feet? It''s amazing; we can''t even do it with our hands!"


    "Coach, are you still holding back on us?"


    Winning that match had greatly boosted the team''s morale. With Zhang Menglong joining, it wasn''t just about fixing a best-of-five from two losses; the other team couldn''t win a single game!


    Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Alright, if you guys can win this year''s S11 by your own strength against SK2, I''ll teach you everything!" Although Zhang Menglong only had ten student slots in the Super God Academy at the moment, it didn''t mean there wouldn''t be more in the future.


    According to his estimate, once the ten student slots for this session were filled, more teacher and student slots would likely be unlocked. It seemed he needed to start looking for students soon.


    The second match was about to start, and all the players were eagerly looking forward to Zhang Menglong''s next performance.


    "Members of Team LSP, please hold on a moment!" Right before they were about to go on stage, they were stopped by the staff of the Olympic Committee.


    Although Zhang Menglong and his team were the hosts, the esports Olympics were still managed by the Olympic Committee, which had dispatched a special team to handle various affairs arising during this esports Olympic event.


    "May I ask what Mr. Fox wants?" Wang Ling asked as the team leader.


    "Mr. Wang, the thing is, SK2 has lodged a serious protest against your top laner playing the game with his feet. They believe it is a highly disrespectful action. So please, for the next match, could Mr. Zhang Menglong, your top laner, stop using such behavior?"


    Wang Ling immediately felt indignant. When the SK2 team engaged in verbal insults on social platforms, there was no sign of the Olympic Committee stepping in; so why were they jumping out now when Team LSP was fighting back?


    "Mr. Fox, I believe you must have received numerous messages about SK2''s inappropriate comments on social platforms. Aren''t you going to take any action against that? They said that one could win with feet, so we''re just respecting their opinion and cooperating with them," Wang Ling said assertively but calmly.


    "Mr. Wang, verbal skirmishes before a match are common in any sport, and I think that''s in line with the Olympic spirit of competition. However, on the field of play, such things should not be brought up," replied Fox.


    "If Mr. Zhang continues to play with his feet in the next match, we will consider disqualifying Team LSP from any further competition."


    "Damn it! So you''re ganging up on us, huh?"


    "Why the hell should we just sit back and take their insults while being disqualified for fighting back?"


    "You''ve been bribed, haven''t you?"


    All the players were instantly filled with righteous anger. The actions of the Olympic Committee were clearly targeting their Huaxia''s LSP team!


    "It seems these people are really unhappy with us winning so many championships!" Zhang Menglong was slightly taken aback, but not surprised.


    The team members were each indignant. They were all young and full of spunk, it didn''t matter if they were insulted, but they had to return the insult with interest.


    What''s this about a temporary setback bringing calm waters, or taking a step back to open up the skies? This is about a temporary setback causing a brain hemorrhage, taking a step back leading to infertility!


    "I just agreed to play with my hands, but I never said how many hands I''d use!"


    The team members were stunned, then they once again displayed the evil grins of the whole crew.


    Who was Zhang Menglong? A millennia-old hermaphrodite, Huaxia''s craftiest, the Theological Academy''s Hong Shixian of Esports, how could he let himself be at a disadvantage? Zhang Menglong had more tricks up his sleeve than the paths they had walked in their entire lives!


    In this match, Zhang Menglong''s chosen hero was the Time Assassin Ekko, a jungler type assassin.


    "He can play other roles too?"


    "Zhang Menglong, forever a god!"


    "I''ve got the script ready, General Zhang alone will cut through all three lanes, killing wherever he goes!"


    "Hmm? General Zhang isn''t using his feet this match?"


    ...


    "Okay, we can see that the match has already started!" the three commentators got into the zone.


    "SK2''s jungler Zhang Menglong has entered the enemy''s jungle. Is he really invading alone at level one?"


    "Wait, let''s take a close look at the camera work from the director. In Zhang Menglong''s left hand is a cup of milk tea, what does this mean? Is he planning to have afternoon tea during the match?"


    "The enemy''s bottom lane and jungler are both heading his way! He''s not planning to retreat!"


    "Oh! My God, it''s unbelievable, he''s charging in!"


    "He dodged the crucial control skill! His ability casting is so precise, directly hitting all three opponents!"


    "He''s going in again, took out the enemy support, oh my God, he''s really like a computer, his movement and operation are terrifying."


    "Thanks to the director for this close-up, we can see Zhang Menglong''s expression is very relaxed, he just took another sip of his milk tea!"


    "No way! His left hand hasn''t let go of that cup of milk tea from the beginning! He was playing one-handed just now!"


    ...

 Chapter 357 I will use only one foot

    In the director''s camera, Zhang Menglong''s face was calm, his left hand holding a milk tea which he leisurely poured into his own mouth, while his right hand stood in stark contrast to his left.


    Zhang Menglong''s keyboard was placed vertically, close together with the mouse, making it possible for one hand to span both the keyboard and the mouse. He used his right hand''s ring finger and pinky to operate the mouse while the remaining three fingers took care of the keyboard, creating a blur of fast-moving fingers due to the high-speed operation.


    "Operating the keyboard and mouse with one hand, those fingers are wasted if not playing the piano!"


    "Lang Lang would feel offended."


    "Damn, even Kato Taka would cry if he saw this! So terrifying, so terrifying!"


    "Could this be the legendary Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger?"


    "This is the true definition of a keyboard warrior. If anyone were to clash with Zhang online, they''d definitely die miserably!"


    Zhang Menglong was like a real assassin. Whenever he appeared on that lane, the opponent had to give up crucial life-saving skills the first time, and by the second appearance, they were doomed!


    The Lsp team was unstoppable, and just as the competition reached a critical moment, suddenly, the game was paused.


    "What''s the matter? Did the power get cut?"


    "Is someone secretly turning off the power?"


    "Damn, shameless, Time-Space team?"


    "Could it be that Qingqiu Country can''t stand losing?"


    Instantly, there was a buzz of discussion among the audience, and the camera zoomed in on the players on the field. The players from the sk2 team looked bewildered, indicating it wasn''t they who called for the pause, while the Lsp team players looked around at each other, equally clueless about what had happened.


    "What happened?" the referee immediately went onto the field, "Who called for the pause?"


    "It was me, I called for the pause," Zhang Menglong raised his hand.


    "What''s the situation? You didn''t get a cramp from moving your hands too fast, did you?"


    "It''s possible. Many professional players have to retire because of hand conditions. Who can bear such high-intensity operations?"


    "No, look! Zhang''s keyboard is smoking!"


    "Holy cow! My buddies and I are shocked. Did that keyboard just explode?"


    "Sorry, Ref, my keyboard seems to have broken," Zhang Menglong lifted the faulty keyboard.


    "Tech, come and take a look!" the referee immediately called for the onsite hardware technician.


    The technician picked up the keyboard and after looking at it for a moment, his expression froze, "This... This is impossible!"


    "What''s up? What''s wrong with this keyboard?"


    "The keyboard malfunctioned because it was overloaded beyond its response capacity. The maximum theoretical APM that this keyboard can handle is about 720, which is an operation intensity of 12 times per second. Currently, the highest recorded APM for any player hasn''t exceeded 400, this..."


    "You didn''t say I couldn''t use just one hand either," Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "And it''s not like I did it on purpose to use just one hand. You saw it, my other hand wasn''t idle, I was drinking milk tea!"


    "Drinking milk tea over competing in a match, is milk tea really more important?"


    "Of course, how could the importance of a match compare to that of milk tea?" Zhang Menglong said, "If I drink it after the match, it would get cold and wouldn''t taste good. Would you like a cup? Signature soy milk Jade Kirin, Mr. Fox, you definitely can''t get this in your country!"


    "You..."


    "Me?"


    "I''m going to disqualify you!"


    "Fine, then I''ll withdraw all sponsorships and prizes from this match, and you can find someone else to take over! I''m not running this match!"


    "You...." Fox was so angry he almost had an asthma attack.


    If this were a regular Olympics, who would dare to speak to him like this?


    But this time, Zhang Menglong was the money-big-daddy. All the facilities and prizes, anything involving money, were sponsored by him. If he withdrew his funding, these Esports Olympics couldn''t continue. Would the Sports Commission really let him off?


    "Hong Yi, help me send a message to the Sports Commission. I''m very dissatisfied with the person they''ve sent, and if I see him in the next Esports Olympics, I won''t spare a single penny!"


    "Okay, Mr. Zhang, I''ll call the chairman of the Sports Commission right away!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I....." Fox had always been arrogant. He had almost forgotten that Zhang Menglong was not just a regular player, but the organizer of this match. Without him, there would be no match. He was actually threatening to cancel Zhang Menglong''s qualification¡ªwas he in the late stages of Parkinson''s?


    "Get lost!"


    ...


    After two matches of being dominated, the entire SK2 team''s spirit was nearly broken. All five players wore the Mask of Pain, still convinced this match held no surprises; the only question was whether Zhang Menglong was going to play with his feet or just one hand!


    Zhang Menglong took his seat, put one foot on the table, held up a cup of milk tea, and laid back, "Come on, this time I''ll just use one foot!"


    ...


    "The LSP team has now blocked SK2''s fountain entrance; they''re starting to spawn camp!"


    "The SK2 team players are anxious, but they simply can''t come out¡ªcoming out means certain death!"


    "They can only watch helplessly as LSP''s super minions flatten their crystal."


    "They are truly miserable. If Heaven hadn''t blessed Zhang Menglong, the Esports Olympics would be eternally bleak!"


    "Let''s congratulate Huaxia''s LSP team on winning the gold medal in the League of Legends event at this Esports Olympics, and give the silver medalists from Qingqiu Country, the SK2 team, the same applause!"


    ...


    Amidst the earth-shattering applause, Zhang Menglong calmly put down his headset: "Esports is really interesting!"

 Chapter 358 The Opposite Side Deployed a Division of Troops

    "Players from Huaxia are truly hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" exclaimed Steve, the head coach of America''s MVP team, as he vanished into a corner of the venue.


    The Sk2 team walked out of the arena, heads hung low. Their coach, Bai Zhixian, had a steely look on his face. Normally, he would have reprimanded all the players after such a consecutive three-game loss.


    But this time, he was utterly devoid of anger. It wasn''t an issue of player performance or team cohesion; it was simply that Zhang Menglong was monstrously skilled!


    "Coach Bai, perhaps now we have an opportunity to talk?" Steve suddenly appeared before Bai Zhixian, "How about we grab a coffee together?"


    Earlier, they had approached several teams from Qingqiu Country, hoping to collaborate in PUBG to collectively tackle the Huaxia team. Although those teams, high in their own esteem, had initially declined, considering their recent crushing defeat, he believed Bai Zhixian''s attitude might have changed.


    "It would be my honor!" Bai Zhixian nodded slightly. The strength of the Huaxia team had surpassed their imagination. If they didn''t take action, the lsp team would monopolize all the gold medals this time.


    This would significantly damage their status in the Esports domain on an international scale, potentially impacting commerce and even politics¡ªthe reach of Olympic influence.


    Bai Zhixian followed Steve into a hotel. That evening, Steve had reserved a large private room which surprisingly gathered dozens of people, all head coaches of the 25 teams that made it to the finals.


    "Coach Hiram? Coach Rog, you all..."


    The coaches smiled at Bai Zhixian, their expressions tinged with embarrassment. While they shared a common goal, their actions were somewhat disgraceful.


    "Thank you all for coming tonight. I believe our purpose here is clear to everyone. PUBG is the only event that involves multiple factions, and I think it''s our only chance to defeat the Huaxia team," Steve stated bluntly.


    "Coach Steve, actually, I don''t think it''s necessary. Sure, they''re strong in other events, but those are based on one-on-one. The beauty of this game lies in its complexity and unpredictability. I don''t think we need so many teams to target the lsp team!"


    "Exactly, even the top teams could be wiped out if attacked by just two other teams simultaneously."


    "I know that''s what you all think, but I''d like you all to watch this video first!" Steve turned on a computer, and a replay of a match appeared on the projector¡ªit was footage from a month ago when Zhang Menglong played using a teammate''s account!


    In the footage, a player kept switching among his weapons. As soon as he fired, someone would fall. His shooting was almost infallibly accurate!


    "What? Eight 7.62mm bullets taking down four opponents with Level Two helmets and armor in a spray? That has to be a cheat!"


    "And every shot a headshot, it''s definitely an aimlock cheat!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Coach Steve, there''s no point in showing us this. I''ve seen cheats that cover themselves in frying pans or fly around with Gatling guns!"


    "Hahaha, right, remember last year''s cheat match? Although banned, it was labelled a battle of the gods!"


    "Official monitoring data shows that this player did not use any assistance tools or cheats!" Steve explained.


    "What?" That statement stunned everyone. If this was genuinely achieved by a player, it was indeed terrifying.


    "At that time, our team was in that match, I personally witnessed that player, with a bow and arrow, ambush and wipe our whole team single-handedly without us even seeing him!"


    "Was that player Huaxian?"


    "That player, named ''I''m your dad'', is from the lsp team."


    ...


    "It has started, the match has started!"


    "Hmm? Why is everyone still in the plane and not jumping?"


    "lsp team''s four members have jumped!"


    "Quick, look, the remaining teams have jumped too. They all dropped in the same residential area!"


    "Oh boy, it''s a battle royale from the start! Going directly for the final circle?"


    "Wait! Those two teams both landed in the same house, why aren''t they fighting?"


    "They are actually exchanging resources!"


    "No way! Quick, check the mini map, they seem to be surrounding something in the middle!"


    "That''s lsp team! Damn! They want the 24 teams to siege lsp!"


    "This... a whole division''s force surrounding lsp?"


    "Damn, I protest! Shameless, bullying the few! This is rigged!"


    ...


    The audience below protested vehemently, and curses filled the live feed, but the match continued uninterrupted.


    "Just as expected!" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, sitting in the lounge, "These bastards want to play tricks with me, huh?"


    He took out a walkie-talkie, "Coach Su, plan B!"


    Coach Su on the field understood and smiled slightly, then coughed twice.


    "Snap!" Just then, an lsp team player collapsed to the ground clutching his stomach, his expression twisted in pain.


    "Pause the match!" Seeing this, the referee immediately halted the match.


    "What''s going on?"


    "It appears to be a sudden case of gastroenteritis. He can''t continue playing in this condition," said the lsp team''s medic. "We request to bring in a substitute player."


    "Agreed!" The referee thought for a moment. In the event of such situations during a match, substituting a player was within the rules.


    "Who will you substitute?"


    "Head coach, Zhang Menglong!"

 Chapter 359 Theres a Legend About Him

    "They''re switching players, they''re switching players!" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Zhang is taking the field!"


    "But under these circumstances, it doesn''t matter who they send in. Even if Zhang is exceptionally skilled, they''ve only got four players. The enemy outnumbers them by 24 times!"


    "Who cares, kill as many as you can. At least show some fighting spirit in the match, right?"


    "Yes! That''s right! Let them know that even if they band together to besiege our Huaxia team, we''ll still bite off a chunk from them!"


    The Huaxia audience below was chanting the name of the lsp team. At this moment, esports fans across the country were cheering for the lsp team.


    "Humph, what good is all that noise?" sneered the coaches of the other teams. Under the joint encirclement of 96 professional players, unless they were cheating, no amount of extra hands would save them from being eliminated!


    "Look, Zhang brought his own peripherals this time! When he plays League of Legends, doesn''t he usually use someone else''s keyboard?"


    "It seems like Zhang is getting serious this time!"


    Professional competitions allow players to bring their own equipment for familiarity, as long as it is inspected by the on-site referees.


    "Mr. Zhang, we need to check the equipment you''ve brought, please."


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong handed over the keyboard, "Be careful, there are 107 carats of diamonds encrusted on my keyboard."


    On hearing this, the referee''s hands trembled, nearly dropping the keyboard on the floor.


    What the hell? Why encrust diamonds on a keyboard? Are you so flush with diamonds that you''ve run out of places to use them? Maybe you should consider placing a few hundred carats on your home toilet seat?


    "The equipment is fine," the judge carefully handed the keyboard back to Zhang Menglong, "This custom-made keyboard should withstand an operation intensity and precise response above 800 APM."


    "Holy crap? 800 APM? Does he need such high-performance gear?" The audience was taken aback by the referee''s comments.


    Actually, most slightly advanced keyboards can withstand high APMs, 800 isn''t an exaggerated number, but to accurately respond to over 800 APM is truly frightening.


    For example, if someone presses 10 keys on a keyboard in one second, low-precision keyboards could only recognize six or seven of those keys, and they wouldn''t even accurately register the sequence of key presses.


    However, a high-precision keyboard could perfectly replicate the sequence of those 10 button presses. That''s the difference in keyboard performance.


    "No worries, just wait to win lying down!" Zhang Menglong had already grasped the general movement of the enemies. About one-third of them were still scavenging for equipment. After all, they each wanted to win and wouldn''t focus entirely on hunting them down. This was the opportunity for their lsp squad!


    "We''ve just landed and only two of us are left, how are we supposed to fight?"


    "Look fast, another member of the lsp squad is being surrounded!"


    "His shooting is so accurate, one against four and he knocked down two, badass!"


    "What a shame, if it were a fair match, they would probably be champions again."


    "Now only Boss Zhang is left, he has to fight against ninety-something people, how can he win?"


    ...


    "The first squad!" Zhang Menglong, keeping track of the line of sight and footsteps, spotted four enemies in one direction. They were from a squad called GUN. They must''ve known he was in their direction but didn''t know which side of the building he was on.


    "Second-floor window!" A player from the GUN squad was the first to spot the emerging Zhang Menglong. The professional player''s quick reaction time allowed them to instantly set their sights on the only window on the second floor.


    But by that point, Zhang Menglong had already opened fire.


    "What a joke, one machine gun against four of us, possible only if every bullet hits the head!"


    "Tat-tat!" A burst of gunfire sounded, and four boxes suddenly exuded green smoke.


    Out of a magazine of 47 bullets, Zhang Menglong had 40 left. Three of the four had Level Two helmets, which needed two headshots to be killed, and the remaining one had no helmet¡ªa single shot would mean a headshot. Zhang Menglong''s seven bullets hit his enemies'' heads with deadly precision.


    Still in burst fire!


    Zhang Menglong leaped out the window, and the instant he hit the ground, he fired off a shot in one direction.


    Over two hundred meters away, a sniper who was hiding behind a window watching the area had a spray of blood burst from his head.


    "What just happened?" The expressions on the faces of the four GUN squad members were still frozen. They hadn''t even fired their guns yet!


    Through the slow-motion replay of the death, they witnessed the astonishing scene¡ªZhang Menglong''s machine gun fired seven steady shots in a burst, headshotting all four of them!


    "It''s him! He''s the one!" One of the squad members suddenly recalled a legend that had been circulating in the entire PUBG player community over the past month.


    "He... Zhang Menglong is ''I''m your dad!''"

 Chapter 360 We Cant Create Such a Powerful Cheat

    As such a highly anticipated match, the director had his camera locked onto Zhang Menglong, and over a hundred million Esports enthusiasts around the globe witnessed that unbelievable moment.


    "This scene, why does it feel so familiar?"


    "I know, are you talking about that world exchange match a month ago?"


    "Are you referring to I''m your dad, who, single-handedly, killed dozens of people and stormed into the finals?"


    "That''s him. I''ve only seen such marksmanship on him, but unfortunately, that match was played on a temporary server, and no one knew who he really was, only that he was from a Huaxia team."


    "Could this person be President Zhang?"


    "Besides President Zhang, who else do you think could execute such maneuvers?"


    "I suddenly feel like the match has just begun!"


    ...


    "First aid kits, eight-times scopes, 98K... This group is stacked!" Zhang Menglong wiped out several packs clean in a matter of seconds, then moved to another room, as several teams began rushing his way.


    "Da-da-da!" Another burst, and four smoking crates appeared on the map again.


    "He''s over there!"


    "Da-da-da!"


    "Where did that grenade come from?"


    "Boom!"


    The entire match map instantly descended into chaos. As Zhang Menglong navigated the map, any place he passed was bound to erupt with short, intense gunfire.


    Although there were alliances among different teams, it''s worth noting that there is Friendly Fire damage among teammates, let alone among allied teams. The more chaotic the scene, the higher the rate of accidental injuries.


    "Idiot, how could you fire like that!"


    "Who are you shooting at? Come save me!"


    "Asshole! Why did you finish off your own teammate?"


    ...


    "Da-da-da!" Zhang Menglong fired another burst, and several hundred meters away, four players, barely visible without a four-times scope, fell down, while Zhang Menglong''s machine gun didn''t even have a basic scope fitted!


    "He... he burst headshot four people over 300 meters away?!"


    "How did he manage that?"


    "That''s outrageous! Moving targets at such a distance, even with sniper rifles, are extremely hard to headshot. And he did it with a burst? And they were all headshots?"


    "Oh no, how could the final circle be like this?" The Huaxia players groaned in dismay when they saw the location of the last final circle.


    The final circle appeared on a mountaintop, and besides a few rocks on the mountain, there were absolutely no covers around!


    The twenty-some players who had escaped were now all gathered on the mountaintop, forming a fan-shape and staring down below, ready to shred Zhang Menglong with bullets the moment he tried to ascend.


    Since he was in the city before, where there were plenty of covers, Zhang Menglong had a lot of room for maneuver. But now, Zhang Menglong had only two choices: either be killed by the toxic gas or get shot dead while storming the mountaintop under concentrated fire.


    Even if Zhang Menglong''s shooting skills were outstanding, the few seconds it would take to potentially take out more than twenty people were enough for him to be killed several times over!


    "These little tricks?" At that moment, Zhang Menglong was on a mountain top over a kilometer away. At that distance, even with an 8x scope, one could only see some blurry pixels moving.


    This distance was already beyond the effective range of any weapon in the game!


    "What''s he planning to do?"


    "Could it be that he..."


    Just then, Zhang Menglong jumped out of the car, tied a C4 explosive to the back of the vehicle, and set the timer for 15 seconds. Two seconds before the explosion, he attached another C4 to the car.


    "Boom!" The enormous blast sent the car skyward, and after flying several hundred meters, the second C4 exploded, giving a second burst of momentum in mid-air.


    Looking at the trajectory of the flight, the landing spot of the car seemed...


    "Look, what''s that in the sky?" The twenty-some players on the mountaintop suddenly saw a fireball flying towards them.


    "Looks like a car!"


    "Is it coming right at us?"


    "Run!"


    "Boom!"


    Twenty-some loot boxes spread across the mountaintop...


    "This... this... I''ve only seen such scenes with an up master on BiliBili, and now someone has pulled it off in a professional competition..."


    "Was this explosion''s distance and angle calculated directly with his brain?"


    "Newton would be impressed!"


    "Is this not a cheat?"


    "Buddy, I specifically make cheats for this game, and we''ve created dozens of them. A cheat this fierce... we really can''t make it!"


    "Congratulations to the lsp team from Huaxia for winning the gold medal in PUBG at the first Esports Olympics, finishing this year''s competition with gold medals in all categories! Let''s give them the warmest applause!" the host exclaimed as if pumped up on adrenaline.


    "Champions! Champions!"


    ...

 Chapter 361 Outsiders Not Allowed Entry

    Following the championship victory of the lsp team, the first Esports Olympics also finally came to an end, but even though the competition was over, the esports fever continued to ferment.


    Wang Ling immediately struck while the iron was hot, founding an esports school¡ªwith Zhang Menglong as the brand''s marquee attraction, the esports community dubbed this school "Esports Whampoa Military Academy."


    Each course was personally taught by members of the lsp team, and coupled with Zhang Menglong''s teaching methods that far surpassed those of the current era, any esports player who graduated from here would certainly have the strength to contend for world championships.


    With this Esports Whampoa Military Academy, Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong could make a fortune just by sending esports talents to various clubs in the future, where the signing fee for a single player could be as high as tens of millions, and their only costs were for the venues and accommodations.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in these matters; he suddenly realized that he hadn''t entered the Super God Academy for quite some time.


    "Holy shit! 2,300 Cred Points?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim when he checked his Cred Points. He hadn''t spent much money recently, but he hadn''t skimped on the swagger, and had somehow amassed an enormous amount of Cred Points over the past two months!


    "Hahaha, Gou Dan, summon 10 more teachers for me!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Hey God, send me a few more awesome teachers!"


    "Dean, you cannot unlock more teachers until you have recruited 10 students!" Gou Dan gave Zhang Menglong an icy reply.


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. With all these Cred Points, how could he not be able to spend them?


    "The condition was set by the previous dean; the Super God Academy''s intelligent management system prioritizes the rules set by the last acting dean as the highest priority command!"


    "Damn, it''s just recruiting students, I''ll go right now!" With such a great opportunity at hand, the first people Zhang Menglong thought of were those around him¡ªLu Yiyao, Wang Ling, Qin Feng, and his roommates and friends.


    "Dean, not everyone is qualified to enter the Super God Academy."


    "Ah? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Only those with a Basic Potential Index over 10 are eligible to study at the Super God Academy. Up to this point, there''s no one among your acquaintances who meets this criterion."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but swear. A Potential Index of 5 was already considered average for humans, while scores of 6 or 7 were considered elite. As for those with a Potential Index of 10 or more, they could no longer be considered ordinary people.


    So far, only the Psychics, Mutants, and the like whom Zhang Menglong had encountered possessed such Potential Indices. Oh, and their dog too¡ªthough he wasn''t sure if the Super God Academy admitted dogs.


    "Does this mean ordinary people have no chance?" Zhang Menglong pressed.


    Having the Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong clearly understood that immortality wasn''t just a legend. Owning the academy meant that one day he, like his ancestors and parents, would possess a prolonged life.


    If the people around him couldn''t do the same, he would have to watch them gradually age and die... Thinking about this made Zhang Menglong feel somewhat uneasy.


    "The host need not worry about these," Gou Dan immediately said, "The Super God Academy is a miraculous place, where nothing is impossible. Don''t forget, there are many Alchemy Masters in the school, and plenty of elixirs can alter the potential of a human body."


    "Right," Zhang Menglong nodded, "it looks like I need to take this more seriously. Gou Dan, is there any way to detect people with a Potential Index over 10 at any time? Checking one by one is just too slow."


    "The dean can directly activate the scanning authority of the dean''s ring. It only costs 10 Cred Points per hour and allows you to sense the presence of eligible individuals within 10 kilometers at any time."


    "Only ten kilometers?" Zhang Menglong complained, "Aren''t you a product of an advanced civilization? Aren''t you embarrassed not to use light years as a unit of measurement?"


    Name: Chen Bingyu


    Potential Index: 11


    "!!"


    Zhang Menglong''s spirit suddenly surged!


    According to what Gou Dan had told him, in the average population, there might be only one person with a natural Potential Index above 10 out of hundreds of thousands. With Jiangnan City''s population of 9 million, there were probably only thirty to fifty such individuals, and it was quite unexpected for him to encounter one while just strolling through the streets for a couple of hours. His luck was indeed quite good!


    Zhang Menglong immediately pinpointed the other party''s location, which was very close to him, about 3.5 kilometers away in a Chinese medicine shop. It was the largest traditional Chinese pharmacy in Jiangnan City, said to have a history of over 300 years, a very old and established brand.


    Zhang Menglong stepped on the accelerator and immediately headed in that direction.


    "What a beautiful girl!" Zhang Menglong slowly parked the car by the roadside and saw a tall girl walking out of the pharmacy towards a red Maserati.


    "Quite the young wealthy lady," Zhang Menglong immediately searched for this girl named Chen Bingyu''s information.


    ...


    Name: Chen Bingyu


    Race: Human


    Identity: Chairman of Bingyu Media


    Potential Index: 11


    Gift: Ancient Martial Arts


    Skill: Basic Internal Strength (G), Nameless Boxing Technique (G)


    "Ancient Martial Arts?" Zhang Menglong''s eyebrows knitted slightly. Through Ye Yin, he had a little understanding about Ancient Martial Artists, and it was unexpected that he would meet one today.


    Zhang Menglong didn''t hesitate to follow her.


    The Maserati drove out of the northern suburbs of Jiangnan City, an area that was developed relatively late with lots of wasteland and farmland. The car headed straight towards a hill known as North Half Mountain.


    "There''s actually such a small manor on this hillside?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. On the mid-slope, there was indeed a group of small villas that seemed quite quaint yet exuded a luxurious aura.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are a few dozen energy reactions above Level Four nearby and three above Level Seven," Ye Yin''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear. "This must be the nesting ground for an Ancient Martial Arts Family."


    "Who would''ve thought there would be such families in Jiangnan City? Quite interesting indeed!" Zhang Menglong stepped on the accelerator, intending to follow, when suddenly, several figures leaped from the surrounding woods and landed right in front of Zhang Menglong.


    These people were dressed in uniform, with expressions on their faces that were faintly arrogant, as if everyone owed them two million.


    "This area is off-limits to outsiders. Please leave immediately, or face the consequences!" Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 362 Ive Contracted This Mountain Top

    "Hey, this northern half of the mountain is a public place, why can''t I go up?" Zhang Menglong said displeasedly.


    "This isn''t a place you should be coming to, nor is it a question you should be asking!" The leader still spoke with an icy tone.


    "You don''t recognize me?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. It wasn''t that he was vain, but by all logic, there shouldn''t be many people in Huaxia, or even the whole world, who didn''t know him. Yet, this young man seemed to have never seen him before.


    "I don''t care who you are, leave immediately. This is your last warning!"


    "Wow, so arrogant?"


    "Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin''s voice suddenly rang out, "this Ancient Martial Arts Family holds a very special status in society. They generally live in secluded places rarely visited by others, and aside from those members who gather wealth for their families, they seldom interact with the outside world. If you want to go up this mountain, it might not be easy."


    "Did they buy this mountain?" Zhang Menglong communicated with Ye Yin telepathically.


    "This..." Ye Yin hesitated, and then said, "Mr. Zhang, these Ancient Martial Arts Families, although unlike Longxia, are not directly controlled by the state, they have aided the country in resolving many invasions by second-world humans, so they have certain special rights. As long as it''s an uninhabited place, they can freely settle there and have absolute autonomy within a certain area."


    "So, this place isn''t bought by them, right?"


    Ye Yin couldn''t help but roll her eyes. She had been trying to explain just how special the Ancient Martial Arts Families were, but Zhang Menglong''s attention was entirely on whether they bought the mountain.


    "Since they didn''t buy this place, why can''t I go up there?"


    "Sir, their autonomy is extensive; they could even kill people outright until these acts were curbed in recent decades. If a common person tries to forcefully enter the territory of an Ancient Martial Arts Family, it absolutely won''t end well."


    "What if I must go up there?"


    "Then we will fight our way up!" Ye Yin replied, "Mr. Zhang, are you here for that girl?"


    "No kidding, or else am I here to race cars?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "I have already checked the details of this girl for you, Mr. Zhang. Miss Hong Yi has already responded to me."


    "Oh? Tell me about it?" Zhang Menglong only knew her name was Chen Bingyu and that her Potential Index had reached 11 points. The rest was rather meaningless information.


    "This Chen Bingyu is the most outstanding person of this generation in the Chen Family. You may not know, practicing ancient martial arts is different from having supernatural abilities. Those with supernatural abilities are strongest in their middle age. As they age, their bodily functions decline, and most supernatural abilities weaken."


    "But Ancient Martial Artists grow stronger the more they practice. However, their growth rate is very slow. Generally, if a family fully supports a member, it''s quite an achievement to become a Level One Ancient Martial Artist by age 20. Chen Bingyu, however, became a Level Two Martial Artist at 18 and this year at 21, she already has a chance to challenge becoming a Level Three Martial Artist."


    "Oh, so what?"


    "Is... is he not afraid at all?"


    "Is he an idiot?"


    ...


    "Kid, whether you are genuinely dumb or just pretending, this is Chen Family''s place. You better leave here quickly, or else the next palm strike will be on you!"


    "Oh, sorry, I have leased this mountain now," Zhang Menglong said, "In other words, this place is now mine, I am the master here, you can all leave!"


    "What did you say?" The men were stunned.


    "What? Don''t believe it?" Zhang Menglong walked forward, throwing a stack of documents into their hands, "I have already spent 12 million to buy the development rights for this piece of land, now I want to go up and have a look, any objections?"


    The young man flipped through the documents, which were clearly development contracts from the Jiangnan City Land Bureau, selling the development rights for the northern half of the mountain at 12 million for three years, directly to the young man in front of them!


    "You better leave quickly, or I''ll call the police! You are trespassing on private property!" Zhang Menglong swaggered towards the mountain.


    "What do we do?"


    "What do we do? We are an Ancient Martial Arts Family, we have privileges. Even if he has bought the place, as long as our Chen Family doesn''t agree, even the documents from the Land Bureau cannot bind us!"


    "Then him..."


    "Break his legs and throw him out!"


    "Stop right there!" the leading youth shouted to Zhang Menglong.


    "What else is there?" Zhang Menglong turned around.


    "You still can''t go up! If you don''t leave, don''t blame us for getting rough!"


    "Oh? Ready to get rough?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "I am a reasonable person, which is why I didn''t just rush up. Now that I''ve leased this mountain, and you still won''t let me go up? I talk reason with you, and you act like hooligans to me?"


    "Stop wasting words with him, I think he''s just some clan''s pawn sent here to deliberately cause trouble!"


    "Go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong channeled his full inner strength and stamped down, the powerful force instantly cracked the road surface, and a network of fine cracks spread out like a spider web.


    Zhang Menglong extended his right hand, crooked his index and middle finger, "Come at me!"

 Chapter 363 Collecting Protection Money

    "What powerful inner strength!" As they looked at the cracked ground, the three young martial artists from the Chen Family were somewhat astonished. This ground was not composed of cement but was a road paved with hard bluestone; ordinary martial artists couldn''t possibly break it with a single stomp, let alone ordinary people.


    With just this move they could confirm that the youngster before them was no ordinary person!


    "Move in!" They really would not dare to strike at ordinary people.


    Although the state granted them great freedom and power, there was one rule: generally, ancient martial artists were absolutely prohibited from harming ordinary people. However, if the opponent was also an ancient martial artist, then many of those concerns were dismissed.


    As the saying goes, matters of the jianghu are resolved within the jianghu; being martial artists themselves, once a dispute arose, they would settle it with fists. Even if there were casualties, it would remain a matter between the two parties. If it were brought before mundane authorities, it would be an utterly disgraceful matter.


    These young individuals were merely ordinary descendants of the Chen family, but as martial artists, each of their combat abilities far exceeded that of a battle-hardened special forces soldier.


    Though their physical strength and power might not match that of a special forces soldier, the advantage of ancient martial artists lay in their ability to generate "inner strength" from their bodies, which allowed them to exert tremendous force with every movement, and even project this inner strength externally, attacking like a force of nature.


    Even a Level One martial artist, as long as they cultivated inner strength, could punch with the force of a thousand catty. To think, even a professional boxer like Tyson only punches with a force of around 400 pounds, which is less than half that of a Level One martial artist.


    The three martial artists immediately rushed towards Zhang Menglong from three different directions, their speed incredibly fast boosted by their inner strength.


    "Bring it on, no more babbling!" Zhang Menglong stepped back half a step and gathered his inner strength, "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi! Three Elements Unite."


    "Boom!" A tremendous force of inner strength spread from his body, to the point that the intensity of the inner strength became visible to the naked eye!


    "This inner strength! He is a Grandmaster!" Feeling this immensely strong inner strength, the three martial artists felt almost as if they were suffocating.


    Materializing inner strength was an indication of a Level Seven martial artist and above, and nearly all such martial artists were considered pillars of the Ancient Martial Arts World, known as Grandmasters!


    A Grandmaster-level ancient martial artist possessed the ability to establish a family clan or a martial sect, and was definitely not someone to be trifled with!


    But to reach the Grandmaster level, talent, effort, and opportunity were indispensable. Normally, it would take an ancient martial artist at least sixty to seventy years to reach the Grandmaster realm.


    A Grandmaster in his early twenties was simply beyond their comprehension! A hundred Level Two martial artists would be no match for a single Grandmaster''s palm strike!


    Zhang Menglong then created three after-images on the spot and suddenly charged at the three individuals, with his immense aura so oppressive that they couldn''t even move.


    They believed that Zhang Menglong must be some old freak who had consumed certain elixirs or practiced some magical martial arts!


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong was walking towards them, and a devilish smile was even on his face.


    "Predecessor, the three of us were blind to Taishan and didn''t recognize that the predecessor is a Grandmaster Martial Artist. Please forgive us!" The three young men immediately struggled to kneel on the ground.


    When facing ordinary people, Ancient Martial Artists generally adopt a superior attitude, but in front of a Grandmaster, they can only bow and scrape!


    "Weren''t you three very arrogant just now? Didn''t you say you were going to break my legs?" Zhang Menglong squatted in front of them and said.


    The three were suddenly at a loss for words. Who knew you, sir, were a Grandmaster? If their elders knew they were going to break the legs of a Grandmaster, their own legs would be broken by their elders!


    The Chen Family in the world of Ancient Martial Arts was already a sizeable clan, but within their family, there were only three Grandmasters.


    As for the Mythical Realm powerhouses, they were truly the stuff of legends! People like them didn''t even qualify to interact with a Mythical Realm Martial Artist. Most of the time, Mythical Realm Martial Artists were secluded, striving to break through even higher limits, only emerging when the Ancient Martial Arts World or even the nation was in danger.


    It could almost be said that if the Mythical Realm powerhouses don''t show up, then the Grandmaster Martial Artists will forever be revered as gods.


    "Predecessor, we were reckless just now. We are willing to apologize to you." The three continuously kowtowed toward Zhang Menglong.


    "Alright, I forgive you."


    "Thank you, Predecessor, thank you!" The three were immediately overjoyed and hastily kowtowed several more times to Zhang Menglong.


    "Don''t call me Predecessor; I am only in my twenties, and it sounds like some old antique," Zhang Menglong said in displeasure.


    "Then... What should we call you?" Although they didn''t believe Zhang Menglong was only in his twenties, the three of them dared not show it and could only continue to humble themselves.


    "Just call me ''Big Handsome.''"


    "Big... Big Handsome..." The three were immediately at a loss for words; this predecessor''s taste seemed a bit... quirky.


    "Predecessor, what brings you here, if I may ask? I can immediately inform our leader, and he will definitely treat you passionately," asked the lead young martial artist.


    "I was only planning to look around," Zhang Menglong said, "but now that I have leased this land, and you are living on my mountain, I think it''s time I collected some protection money."

 Chapter 364 Give 500 Billion a Year

    "Protection... protection fees?" the three young men were baffled again. Their family had been "ruling the roost" in this area for over a decade and it was the first time anyone dared to approach them about protection fees.


    "Nonsense! You''re on my turf, so of course, you have to pay protection fees!!"


    Zhang Menglong clapped his hands on the development agreement, "I have an agreement right here, authorized by the land bureau of Jiangnan City, black on white. Don''t even think about reneging!"


    The three martial artists were on the verge of tears. Why did they feel like this elder was kind of a rascal? Typical grandmasters had that ethereal, sage-like vibe, not this constant chatter about money. But they dared not refuse openly.


    "Elder, how do you plan to collect these protection fees? We can go and inform our family head. If the price is reasonable, we will definitely deliver it with both hands," said the young martial artist cautiously.


    "Hmm..." Zhang Menglong wobbled his head, "This place is a feng shui treasure. The southeastern corner is surrounded by Cupid''s star, and the northwestern corner shows a ''all rivers run into the sea'' situation. Anyone living here is bound to reap love, career, and money. So, the protection fees will definitely not be cheap."


    "Just say the word, elder. Our Chen Family still has some assets; a trivial amount of rent is nothing," they now just wanted to get this deity out and consider the money spent as a disaster averted.


    To martial artists of grandmaster rank, even the three grandmasters in their own family had to be cautious around them, and who knew what kind of powers backed this grandmaster? Offending him was definitely not a wise choice.


    "I won''t ask for much, just 500 billion a year!" Zhang Menglong blurted out.


    "500 billion!?" The three young martial artists'' eyes nearly popped out.


    Their entire Chen Family didn''t even make 500 billion in a year!


    In Huaxia, those so-called wealthy individuals only appeared wealthy superficially; they might personally own a lot, but compared to some families, there was a world of difference.


    Especially these Ancient Martial Arts Families, their background was incredibly strong!


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    You have to understand, these Ancient Martial Arts Families have developed over centuries, at least a few hundred years of history each. Though their family fortunes might not compare with those from a lineage lasting 5000 years like Zhang Menglong''s, they were still far beyond what any tycoon could match.


    Whether in politics, business, or other domains, shadows of these Ancient Martial Arts Family members are everywhere, their wealth-gathering capability terrifyingly strong.


    But the expenses of these Ancient Martial Arts Families were also horrifying; the daily cultivation resources needed by the family youth were practically like burning money, and most of the family''s yearly income could hardly be saved.


    "Elder, you''re too fond of jokes. Our Chen Family doesn''t even make 500 billion Huaxia currency in a year."


    "When did I say it was Huaxia currency? I was talking about US Dollars!" Zhang Menglong said seriously.


    "It''s all because of me," Chen Bingyu started crying, realizing that if it weren''t for her, her grandfather wouldn''t be in such a deadly situation.


    The Ding Family was also one of the ancient Ancient Martial Arts Families, but they did not follow a righteous path. From a young age, the Ding family members began to temper their bodies with poisonous medicines, slowly changing their cultivated Inner Strength to be highly toxic.


    However, this deadly poison did not invade their bodies but would invade the body of their opponents during combat. Without the Ding family''s secret Antidote, death was almost certain.


    Initially, the Jiangnan Chen family almost had no interactions with the Ding family, but in a gathering of Ancient Martial Arts sects, the third-generation heir of the Ding Family, Ding Muyun, fell in love with Chen Bingyu at first sight and began his relentless pursuit afterward.


    However, Chen Bingyu, who had been focusing on her cultivation for many years and knowing the Ding family''s bad reputation in the Ancient Martial Arts World, was naturally unfazed by the womanizing Ding Muyun.


    Unexpectedly, just a month ago, Ding Muyun came to the Chen family, bringing his Elder to personally propose a marriage, bluntly demanding that the Chen family betroth Chen Bingyu to him.


    Such an act naturally met with opposition from the Chen family.


    But they did not expect that Elder Ding Weiming of the Ding family would openly confront the Chen family right there.


    The Chen family''s strength was not inferior to that of the Ding Family; on the contrary, the Chen family had three Grandmaster Martial Artists, while the Ding family had only two, one being this elder and the other Ding Muyun''s grandfather.


    But nobody could have imagined that this Elder from the Ding family had exceptionally advanced from a Level Seven Martial Artist to a Level Nine in just a few years! Even his Inner Strength''s toxicity had grown immensely stronger than before.


    With just one palm strike, he gravely injured Chen Bingyu''s grandfather!


    The severe toxic Inner Strength entered his body, torturing the Grandmaster to the point of a fate worse than death.


    The Ding family, notorious for its ill repute, had always been very low-key in the Ancient Martial Arts World, but this time they changed their usual stance to become extremely arrogant, even annihilating several smaller families, subtly indicating their intention to make a big move.


    Before they left, they delivered a message stating that what the Ding family wanted, no one could refuse. They hoped that the next time they came, they would see Chen Bingyu willingly returning with them to the Ding Family!


    "Elder, there''s trouble!" Just then, an ordinary disciple of the Chen family approached Elder Jiang.


    "What happened?" Elder Jiang''s face immediately darkened, "Have they come again?"


    "No," the young disciple said, "Our disciples guarding the mountain have sent news that a Grandmaster Martial Artist has broken in."


    "A Grandmaster Martial Artist? What''s going on?"


    "He... he said he has taken over this mountain and wants to charge us protection money, asking for 500 billion a year!"

 Chapter 365 Taking Her to Settle the Debt is Also Fine

    "Asking our Chen Family for protection money?" Elder Jiang slammed the table in anger, "Really, anyone dares to shit on our heads now!"


    These Ancient Martial Arts Families wielded significant influence in secular society; many of their descendants established martial arts schools or similar organizations, and they somewhat involved themselves in the less savory industries as well.


    They were the ones usually extorting protection money, so when had it ever become someone else''s turn to demand it from them?


    "Do you know who the other party is?"


    "Unclear," the Chen Family Martial Artist shook his head, "But apparently, it seems to be a young man around twenty years old. It appears he bought the development rights and usage rights from Jiangnan City''s Land Development Bureau for the Northern Half Mountain."


    "A young man around 20 years old? A Grandmaster Martial Artist?" Elder Jiang was stunned, "Could it be one of those old guys who swallowed a Miracle Elixir?"


    The Martial God residing in Huaxia was already over 150 years old, yet he maintained the appearance of a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties,


    "Hmph! Does he not realize that the Northern Half Mountain is our Chen Family''s territory?" Elder Jiang grew even more upset.


    Although the Chen Family wasn''t top among the Ancient Martial Arts World, they were undoubtedly a well-known large family, and other families generally showed them some respect.


    The behavior of this person, who also seemed to belong to the Ancient Martial Arts World, was an absolute provocation toward their Chen Family.


    "Grandfather Jiang, could it be someone sent by the Ding Family again?" Worry crossed Chen Bingyu''s face.


    "If it''s someone from the Jiang Family, that''s even better. We can just force them to give us the antidote!" Though Elder Jiang sounded very tough, his expression was clearly filled with gravity.


    Chen Bingyu''s grandfather and he were both Level Seven Martial Artists, but in terms of strength, her grandfather was even more powerful. Yet now, he was barely clinging to life in bed; so how could he possibly stand up against the Ding Family''s expert?


    Even if it wasn''t that Grandmaster who seriously injured the Chen Family head, the Ding Family members had sinister Inner Strength. In a fight of equal strength, he estimated he would be at a disadvantage.


    But the situation was dire, and as an Elder of the Chen Family, with the old head critically injured, he had to step forward.


    "Go fetch the Second Elder," Elder Jiang ordered.


    "Putting it this way makes me seem quite unreasonable," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "Let me rephrase that, I''m here to collect rent!"


    "Sir, the Chen Family has been stationed here for decades, don''t you think your demand is a bit excessive?"


    "Damn, I''ve been on Earth for 20 years, is this Earth mine then!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Under the heavens, all land belongs to the sovereign; does this land belong to the state, do you have a property ownership certificate, do you have a lease agreement?"


    "This..." The elder surnamed Jiang was at a loss for words; those Ancient Martial Arts Families and schools almost always took lands by force, and no one had ever asked them for property ownership certificates before.


    "You don''t have one, but I do!" Zhang Menglong then took out a land development and use agreement, "See this, approved by the Land Bureau, this mountain belongs to me for the next three years. If you want to stay here, shouldn''t you pay me some rent?"


    "I''m not asking for much, only 500 billion a year; you take care of water, electricity, and gas yourselves, how about that?" Zhang Menglong said with a grin.


    "It seems you are not here to collect either protection fees or rent, but to create trouble!" Elder Jiang''s tone suddenly turned cold.


    "Why can''t you people be reasonable!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "I''m clearly owed rent, yet you say I''m making trouble. Those people below even wanted to hit me, and I haven''t even asked for emotional damages yet!"


    "Since you have a land use agreement, it''s right for our Chen Family to pay some rent if we inhabit this place, but isn''t 500 billion a bit excessive?"


    "Actually, I''m not that hard to talk to," said Zhang Menglong smiling, "If you can''t pay up, trading with people is also an option."


    Zhang Menglong pointed at Chen Bingyu, who was standing behind the two elders, "If she comes with me, I might consider reducing the rent!"


    A flicker of panic and surprise crossed Chen Bingyu''s face, and she couldn''t help but step back two paces.


    "Are you from the Ding Family?" As soon as Zhang Menglong began asking for Chen Bingyu, they instantly assumed he must be a master Grandmaster from the Ding Family.


    But the Grandmasters of the Ding Family numbered only two, and they had met them before. Was there another hidden Grandmaster in the Ding Family?


    "As a Grandmaster, why must you act so covertly?" The two elders from the Chen Family took a step forward, "If your Ding Family wants to take Bingyu away, you''ll have to step over our corpses first!"


    "The Ding Family?" Zhang Menglong paused, "What the hell is the Ding Family?"

 Chapter 366 I Am the Top Dog of This Mountain

    "You''re not from the Ding Family?" The two elders were startled, and Zhang Menglong''s expression did not seem feigned, but why did he ask for Chen Bingyu as soon as he spoke? "Elder, do you know me?" Chen Bingyu stepped forward, not knowing why her intuition told her that Zhang Menglong seemed to bear no malice.


    "I don''t know you," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Forget it, let''s stop pretending, I actually came here to find you."


    "To find me? Elder, I..."


    "Stop, stop, stop, don''t keep calling me elder, I''m only 22 years old, you might even be older than me!"


    "22 years old?"


    All the people on the scene were suddenly stunned. This Grandmaster claimed to be only 22 years old? Could it be that he used some special means to look so young?


    "What? Don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong''s hand slipped into his trouser pocket.


    The martial artists of the Chen Family immediately became alert, and even the two elders began to exhibit fluctuations of inner strength in their bodies.


    "Why are you all so nervous?" Zhang Menglong pulled out an ID card, "Look, I''m a post-95, 22 years old, stop calling me elder, you''re making me feel old."


    "How is this possible?" The people from the Chen Family compared the photo on the ID card with Zhang Menglong''s face, and except for the slight immaturity in the ID photo, there was almost no difference; he was indeed the person on the document.


    But a 22-year-old Grandmaster? Could it be that the disciples who passed the message got their information wrong?


    "Wait, are you Zhang Menglong?" Chen Bingyu finally remembered why this face looked so familiar.


    Although she was from an Ancient Martial Arts Family, Chen Bingyu also helped manage some of the family''s assets, and her Bingyu Media was one of the Chen Family''s enterprises. As the chairwoman of a company, she could not possibly be unaware of the richest man in the world.


    "Bingyu, you know him?" Elder Jiang asked.


    "He''s the current richest man in the world; there are few in the secular world who do not recognize him," Chen Bingyu replied.


    "He''s really only 22 years old?" Elder Jiang was still somewhat incredulous.


    "If the media''s reports are not wrong, he should indeed be 22 this year, and he is also currently a senior in college."


    "Chen Bingyu!" Ding Muyun shouted angrily, "don''t think that because I fancy you, you can speak to me so recklessly. I have been patient enough with you; do not try to push my limits."


    "I''m giving you one more chance, be my woman and then have your Chen family submit to my Ding family, or else don''t blame me for being ruthless today."


    The faces of the Chen family members changed. They were actually demanding the Chen family''s submission!


    Since when had the Ding family, which had always been just an ordinary family, become so ambitious? What had they experienced recently? Not only had the strength of their two Elders improved so significantly, but they had also developed such ambition. Did they find a powerful backer?


    "Think you can intimidate us, Ding Muyun? Do you think everyone at Chen family has a spine of jelly?" the two Elders of the Chen family stepped forward insistently.


    "Great, my favorite thing is to gnaw on tough bones," Ding Muyun said with a smile. "Elder Second, please handle these two stubborn old men."


    "Yes, young master!" The designated Elder Second bowed slightly to Ding Muyun, his Inner Strength suddenly bursting forth like a monstrous form, charging towards the two Chen family Elders.


    Although both Elders of the Chen family were Grandmasters, the difference in power between Level Seven and Level Nine Martial Artists was monumental. Coupled with the erosion of this deadly Inner Strength, it took just one move to repel the two old men.


    "Elders!" The surrounding Chen family disciples immediately crowded around.


    "Stay back!" the two Elders shouted. A dark, toxic aura enveloped them, containing such fierce poison that any contact by those below Grandmaster level could be lethal!


    "Elder Second, kill everyone except Chen Bingyu," Ding Muyun left the command and then turned towards his car.


    "To be enemies with our Ding family really is asking for death!" That fiercely toxic Inner Strength surged once again. At this moment, the two Elders were using all their Inner Strength to fend off the previous attack, leaving them no energy to resist this strike.


    If struck, even they would be severely injured or even die on the spot!


    "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "What?" Ding Kui''s face suddenly changed. A tremendously powerful force arose from his side¡ªa spherical surge of massive Inner Strength. Its power was so immense that it shattered rocks wherever it passed.


    He could only counteract with his palm, the force pushing him back almost ten steps before he could steady himself.


    "Who... who are you?" Ding Kui realized that the attacker was the very young man they had overlooked earlier!


    "I''m the boss of this mountain!" Zhang Menglong declared. "You dare to bully the people under my protection on my own turf; do you think I don''t exist?"

 Chapter 367 Compensation for Mental Distress Should Be Given, Right?

    Ding Kui''s palm was trembling slightly. The burst of Inner Strength from Zhang Menglong just now was so potent and fierce that, although it lacked any particular special characteristics, it was incredibly pure to an unbelievable degree.


    He had sparred with countless Ancient Martial Artists in his lifetime, but he had never encountered such pure Inner Strength.


    In Huaxia, ancient martial arts are a very ancient heritage, and many of these traditions had already vanished over time, like Tai Chi and Yi Jin Jing, which were top-notch ancient martial arts in very ancient times.


    But as these traditions have been passed down to the present, much of their essence has been lost, and similar ancient martial arts have gradually become more about health preservation and the cultivation of mind and body.


    The reason those Ancient Martial Arts Families have continued to this day is that they possess complete cultivation methods! However, the quality of these cultivation methods is inconsistent, some are mediocre, some yield twice the result with half the effort, and some require the assistance of unorthodox practices, often resulting in significant differences in the outcomes.


    The biggest difference is the purity of the Inner Strength cultivated, and the strength of the Inner Strength demonstrated by Zhang Menglong is unmatched among all those he had seen.


    He could feel that Zhang Menglong''s realm was just that of a Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist, yet that recent move he made would likely be difficult for even an ordinary Level Eight Ancient Martial Artist to withstand.


    All that nonsense Zhang Menglong was spouting earlier was automatically filtered out by him, claiming to be the big shot of this mountain, he was obviously someone the Chen Family had brought in to stand up for them!


    "I am Ding Kui, the second elder of the Ding Family. May I ask for your esteemed name?"


    "I am Zhang Menglong, the class monitor for the Polymer Materials department under the School of Materials & Science at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    Ding Kui: "..."


    "Is that format incorrect? Let me try again," Zhang Menglong changed his introduction, "I am Zhang Menglong, the top-ranked solo player in the Zaun server within the League of Legends national server district two!"


    "Zhang Menglong? Are you that Zhang Menglong?" Even Ding Muyun, who was about to get into his car, halted his steps, unable to fathom the incredible strength of the young man he had glanced at in haste.


    "Otherwise, which Zhang Menglong would I be?"


    "Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man, is also an Ancient Martial Artist," Ding Muyun said, somewhat surprised.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you determined to oppose my Ding Family?" Ding Muyun''s expression suddenly turned cold.


    "Seriously, you bully my people on my turf, and you dare say I''m the one opposing you? That logic is just flawless!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you may have great influence in the secular world, but we are now resolving this matter in the way of the Ancient Martial Arts World. Don''t make trouble for yourself!" Ding Muyun said, "My politeness isn''t because I''m afraid of you. If you don''t know what''s good for you, you might not have a chance to spend that money of yours in the future."


    "Are you threatening me?"


    "Mr. Zhang can think so," Ding Muyun said, "The secular police won''t intervene in matters of the Ancient Martial Arts World, and even if I kill you here today, no one will cause me any trouble!"


    "With just that sentence you uttered, it''s no longer about whether I leave or not," Zhang Menglong''s expression became incredibly dangerous, "The opportunity has already been given to you. Leaving today won''t be so easy anymore."


    "Oh?" Ding Muyun suddenly let out a cold sneer, "I wonder what Mr. Zhang will require to let us leave?"


    Ding Muyun''s words were thick with sarcasm.


    Zhang Menglong was indeed very strong, and his background might be even stronger, possibly with a Martial God from the Mythical Realm backing him up; but today he was just one person, and Ding Kui was a Level Nine Martial Artist. It was obvious who was superior and who was inferior. Could it be that he thought he, a mere Level Seven Martial Artist, could defeat a Level Nine Martial Artist?


    "Reset to zero!" Zhang Menglong opened the calculator app on his phone, "Let me first tally up an account here. You''ve hit my people here, so the medical expenses are on you, right? Let''s start with 100 billion."


    "Then, you scared my people, so there should be compensation for emotional distress, right? Let''s count that as another 100 billion."


    "Look at this ground, all damaged. Though I was the one who took action, you''re the responsible party, so you should cover the costs for these damages, right? That''s another 100 billion."


    "Also, I''ve been a coward since I was young. Your earlier threats might have given me a psychological illness. Medical expenses, compensation for emotional distress, nutrition fees, loss of work¡ªthese can''t be omitted, right? Let''s ballpark it to 500 billion."


    "Oh, and by the way, you entered my territory without my permission, so let''s calculate entry fees and parking fees at another 100 billion each."


    "That brings us to a total of 1,000 billion. Are you paying in cash, by card, or direct transfer? I can give you a discount if you don''t need a receipt!"

 Chapter 368 I Heard You Wanted to Beat Me to Death

    The Chen Family looked at Zhang Menglong barking madly there, their expressions turning stranger one after the other. Couldn''t he see that the current situation was not that friendly towards him?


    Not only did he not leave, but he actually dared to demand money from them? A hundred billion for entrance and parking fees? This was far beyond a swindler¡ªthis was outright robbery!


    "Enough!" Ding Muyun roared unbearably, "You refuse the toast only to drink a forfeit, then today, you will leave with them. Second Elder, no survivors, kill them all!"


    "Mr. Zhang, shall I just kill them?" Ye Yin''s voice arose cold and detached by Zhang Menglong''s ear. In his heart, anyone who dared to disrespect Zhang Menglong must die.


    Although Zhang Menglong had obtained the family''s legacy, after all, he had only practiced for two or three months at most. From a normal person to a Level Seven Martial Artist in two months¡ªthis would probably scare a large number of people to death if word got out in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    But with his current strength, facing this Ding Kui, he likely still lacked mastery.


    "You don''t need to take action; I can deal with it myself!"


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry, if I really can''t beat him, then you can take action."


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    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Gou Dan," Zhang Menglong''s fingers lightly brushed over the President''s Ring, "I remember I can use the strength of the teachers in the academy temporarily, right?"


    "Yes, as long as the president pays some Cred Points, he can temporarily add the strength of the teachers onto himself. The Cred Points consumed vary according to the strength level of the teachers."


    "What are the strength levels of those teachers right now?"


    "The strength level of Xiong Ba, the teacher and president of the Martial Arts Academy, is classified as level nine of the Mythical Realm, and the cost is 30 Cred Points per minute. The headmaster, Wu Xingyun, is level seven of the Mythical Realm, with a cost of 25 Cred Points per minute, teacher Qiao Feng..."


    "Add Xiong Ba''s realm onto me temporarily!" Zhang Menglong ordered. "If I''m going to show off, I have to do it thoroughly!"


    "Yes, President!"


    In an instant, an astonishing power surged from the ring of the president into Zhang Menglong''s body, his Inner Strength becoming many times stronger in a blink of an eye. He even felt that he could shatter a mountain with a single punch!


    The reason why masters of the Mythical Realm seldom took action was that, like Psychics who surpassed level nine, they could unleash terrifying power with a simple gesture. A single person could overthrow a small city or even a small country¡ªtheir existence could be described as human-shaped nuclear weapons!


    "Nice feature, I''ll have to use this more often!" Zhang Menglong walked over to Ding Muyun, who by this time was almost scared stiff.


    A Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm could easily wipe out the Ding Family, and even though the Ding Family was at its peak, they stood no chance against such a powerful Mythical Realm expert!


    "Mr. Zhang... Mr. Zhang, it''s a misunderstanding, I was just joking before..."


    "Really? But I wasn''t joking," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "100 billion, pay up for the medical and emotional distress and then you can take him away."


    100 billion in cash, the entire Ding Family couldn''t come up with that much cash on hand! They''d have to liquidate fixed assets to come up with it, but that was the Ding Family''s foundation!


    A vicious look flashed across Ding Kui''s face, "If you kill me, those old guys will never get their hands on the antidote!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong revealed a strange smile, "Have you heard of the Life and Death Talisman?"


    "?" Ding Muyun was stunned for a moment. Wasn''t that a technique from martial arts novels?


    "I think this little thing suits you," Zhang Menglong looked around. The Life and Death Talisman was a tiny sliver of ice that, once injected into a person''s acupoint, could cause excruciating pain, like living death, unless cured by an antidote.


    "But there''s no water," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment.


    "Heh, spit!" Zhang Menglong spat saliva into his palm, looking at the stunned faces of those from the Chen Family.


    Is this really a Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm? Why does he seem like a pervert?


    "Life and Death Talisman!" Almost invisible slivers of ice shot into Ding Muyun''s body in an instant.


    Almost immediately, an indescribably itchy sensation took over Ding Muyun''s body, as if countless ants were crawling all over him.


    "Ah!" Ding Muyun howled, even beginning to tear at his own clothes.


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze lingered on Ding Muyun''s crotch, "Tsk tsk tsk, enoki mushrooms, huh."


    The juniors from the Chen Family also followed Zhang Menglong''s gaze.


    "Little toothpick?"


    "More like a sewing needle!"


    "I can''t see clearly, can someone bring me a magnifying glass?"


    ...

 Chapter 369 What Kind of Atrocious Words Are These?

    Under the torment of the "Life and Death Talisman," Ding Muyun''s body was covered in blood from his own scratching; he pleaded and cried profusely, no longer displaying the arrogance and self-importance from earlier.


    "This ''Life and Death Talisman'' is really as mighty as the legends say!" Zhang Menglong was also using the Life and Death Talisman for the first time. Isn''t this thing more effective for forced confessions than any severe torture?


    "What... what exactly did you do to me?" Ding Muyun asked unclearly.


    "To think you''re someone from an Ancient Martial Arts Family and haven''t even watched ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils''? Not knowing about the Life and Death Talisman, illiterate!"


    "Impossible, these are all fictional techniques from martial arts novels, how could they possibly be real?" Ding Muyun was incredibly frightened.


    "If you don''t believe it, then there''s nothing I can do," Zhang Menglong said helplessly as he spread his hands.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, I was wrong!" Ding Muyun cried with tears streaming down, "I shouldn''t have attacked you, and I definitely shouldn''t have spoken rudely. Please, let me go."


    "Call me daddy!" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous tone.


    "What?"


    "Didn''t you understand? I said call me daddy!" Zhang Menglong stated.


    "You... you''re being too bullying!" Ding Muyun bit his lip tightly.


    "Pfft, you won''t even call me daddy; why should I let you go?" Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly. Back in school, he and his roommates would playfully adopt father-son roles. Whenever he didn''t want to get up, asking a roommate to bring food or to mark him present in class required calling them "daddy."


    "If you dare, kill me; but making me bow my head and call you daddy is impossible!" Ding Muyun said defiantly.


    "Why are these people from Ancient Martial Arts Families so inflexible?" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Whoever has a son like you is really unlucky. You should think it over again; every time the Life and Death Talisman acts up, if it exceeds 20 minutes, you''ll lose your Inner Strength completely and die, you know?"


    "Daddy!"


    "The so-called Wang Jingze''s Law of True Fragrance arrives though late!" Zhang Menglong still overestimated Ding Muyun. He talked tough, but in the end, he was just a man afraid of death.


    Zhang Menglong casually flicked a brown pill into Ding Muyun''s mouth, the antidote to the "Life and Death Talisman," which could prevent the talisman from acting for a month. This was once used by the Tianshan Child Grandmother to control island masters and cave masters.


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    Now, in this world, only Zhang Menglong had the capability to produce such an Antidote. Even if the Martial God himself intervened, he would probably be helpless against the Life and Death Talisman.


    As the medicine took effect, Ding Muyun gradually recovered. His body and face were covered in scratches, looking like a prisoner who had undergone severe torture. The expensive clothes on his body were torn to shreds, appearing even more miserable than the Elder of the Ding Family lying unconscious in the distance.


    "Grandpa Jiang! Grandpa Wu!"


    At that moment, the two Chen Family Elders who had been severely poisoned and depleted of their Inner Strength suddenly vomited blood and collapsed, unable to withstand the invasion of the poison anymore.


    "Uncle, please take care of the two Elders and my grandfather," Chen Bingyu carefully handed the bottle to a middle-aged man beside her.


    "Hey, one more thing. When will you give me back my 100 billion?" Zhang Menglong asked Ding Muyun.


    How the hell do I owe you 100 billion?


    Ding Muyun was going crazy.


    "No worries, I''ll give you a month to raise the money. The Life and Death Talisman will act up again in a month, and if you have the medical fees and compensation for mental distress ready, I will help you neutralize the Life and Death Talisman on you, or else you might as well go check which cemetery looks good!"


    The moment Ding Muyun heard this, he panicked, "I''ll go raise money right away!"


    He picked up the Elder, who had barely a breath left, and hurriedly fled from the Chen Family residence as if running for his life.


    "Alright, according to our agreement, you should come with me now," Zhang Menglong said to Chen Bingyu.


    Chen Bingyu hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped forward.


    "Bingyu!" The Chen Family members immediately held back Chen Bingyu.


    "It''s okay, Mr. Zhang wouldn''t necessarily harm me," Chen Bingyu comforted her family.


    "Bingyu, if he asks you to do something you''re unwilling to do, even if our Chen Family is ruined, we will seek justice for you!" Chen Bingyu''s uncle said earnestly.


    ...


    Following Zhang Menglong down the mountain, the two did not speak a word all the way until Zhang Menglong drove to a secluded small forest.


    "Get ready!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Right... right here?" Chen Bingyu looked at Zhang Menglong''s Koenigsegg, aware that many wealthy people have peculiar habits, enjoying doing ''those things'' in special places.


    But on such a cramped sports car, it was also...


    "Let''s make it quick here!"


    Chen Bingyu bit her lip, then as if making a decision, began to take off her clothes.


    "This is my first time. If you don''t mind your car getting dirty, then as you wish."


    "Damn! What are you doing? I''m a decent person, you... don''t mess around!"


    "You..." Chen Bingyu''s face showed astonishment, "You brought me here, isn''t it to...."


    "Listen to yourself, what nonsense is this? What are you thinking?"

 Chapter 370 They Must Be Fools, Right?

    "You''re seeking me out because... because..." Although she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Chen Bingyu couldn''t help feeling a tinge of disappointment. Perhaps women were just that contradictory at times.


    "Whoa, bro, my mind is blown," Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "I''m a man with a girlfriend, and my girlfriend is beautiful, sweet-voiced, and has a great temperament. You can insult my looks, but don''t insult my character!"


    Chen Bingyu''s cheeks reddened; it wasn''t her fault for misunderstanding. Zhang Menglong had taken her to a deserted place and said, "Let''s start." What else could she think of starting other than that sort of thing?


    "So what exactly are you looking for me for?" Chen Bingyu was even more puzzled now, "We haven''t had any connection before, have we?"


    "I only set my sights on you today," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I see that you have an exceptional physique, a rare martial arts talent that comes once in a hundred years, so I wanted to take you as my student."


    "Take me as your student?" Chen Bingyu was initially stunned, but then she suddenly remembered the power Zhang Menglong wielded as a Mythical Realm warrior...


    Warriors of the Mythical Realm were top-tier figures in the second world. They were highly respected in any country they visited. If they wanted to take on students, the line would probably stretch around the Earth twice.


    If she could study under Zhang Menglong, it would be like a pie from the sky for her, a dream situation that every Martial Artist yearns for, being guided by someone from the Mythical Realm!


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask you a question?" Chen Bingyu asked.


    "Loved before, got money, no hookups, no time, 180 centimeters, 18 centimeters, two hours..."


    Chen Bingyu: "... I just wanted to ask you, are you really only in your twenties?"


    With the wealth and resources at Zhang Menglong''s disposal, making a fake ID shouldn''t be a problem, right? Maybe this identity was just a cover to hide his Martial Artist identity, and he might be an old monster over a hundred years old.


    "Isn''t that obvious? Do you need me to show you all my student IDs from elementary school to university, my blood-type records, and my birth certificate?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "No need, it''s just that your age, with such great strength, really is surprising," Chen Bingyu believed Zhang Menglong''s age mostly. An old monster over a hundred years old shouldn''t be teasing like that, right?


    "So will I be learning from you in the future?"


    "I don''t have that kind of time," Zhang Menglong laughed, "To be frank, I''m the headmaster of an academy. There are many capable teachers in my school. They are willing to pass on all their skills to you, as long as you want to learn."


    "School?" Chen Bingyu said in surprise. In the Ancient Martial Arts World, schools usually exist in the form of sects. "Are you a Sect Leader of a sect?"


    "No, no, no. Our school is a very modern one," Zhang Menglong explained, "Not only do we teach ancient martial arts, but we also teach calligraphy, creative writing, esports, racing, cooking, and so on. Whatever you wish to learn, my school probably has it."


    Chen Bingyu, congratulations on being accepted as a student of the Martial Arts Academy of "Super God Academy." If you are willing to accept this admission notice, please sign your name on it.


    "This is my chance!" Without any hesitation, Chen Bingyu immediately signed her name.


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t appeared today, Chen Bingyu could almost imagine the fate that would have befallen her family, the Chen Family. Today, she had witnessed the true power of a Mythical Realm powerhouse and hoped that one day she could step into that realm. Perhaps this was the key to unlocking the door to that realm!


    In an instant, a flash of brilliance passed, and the scroll floating in mid-air burst into flames, before violently diving into Chen Bingyu''s brow and disappearing without a trace.


    Chen Bingyu was startled, but she suddenly discovered that something seemed to have been added to her mind, like the image of a mysterious and shimmering door!


    Chen Bingyu tried to communicate with the door, and in front of her, the door in her mind actually emerged.


    She looked at Zhang Menglong with eyes full of disbelief.


    "Congratulations, you''re now a student of Super God Academy. Shall we go in and have a look?" Zhang Menglong was the first to walk in.


    Chen Bingyu took a deep breath and followed behind Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "This... this is unbelievable!" As she looked at everything before her, Chen Bingyu''s expression froze. Not even in a dream could such a scene occur.


    Suddenly, two figures streaked across the sky, their powerful Inner Strength almost scattering the clouds above. That kind of power was simply more terrifying than what Zhang Menglong had displayed earlier!


    Just as Zhang Menglong had said, they were all from the Mythical Realm!


    "Xiong Ba! You bastard, you''ve stolen my instant noodles again; you''re asking for it!"


    "Old witch! It''s just a bowl of instant noodles, was it worth chasing me for three hours?"


    "You still have the cheek to say that, I found my missing spicy sticks in your office last time!"


    ...


    Chen Bingyu''s mouth twitched slightly. Are these two really high-level Mythical Realm experts? Aren''t they just fools?

 Chapter 373 371

    "Xiong Ba, you''ve gone too far. Even if you''re the dean of a branch academy, that doesn''t give you the right to be so unreasonable! The person who ate my Planet Cup last night was you, right?"


    "Xiong Ba, you''ve already drunk three times the amount of my milk tea. If you don''t give us an explanation today, I''m definitely going to tell the principal and have him punish you severely!"


    ...


    Xiong Ba floated in the sky, his facial expression shifting unpredictably. Ever since Zhang Menglong brought a pile of food to Super God Academy, Xiong Ba had been like the seal on his gluttony was broken. For Earth''s delicacies, he simply couldn''t get enough.


    With the top-level chef Liu Mauxing becoming more and more proficient in cooking those foods, the Super God Academy could almost achieve a self-sustaining lifestyle now.


    Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    However, a notable feature of the Super God Academy was that its teachers would neither die nor age and similarly, no matter how much they ate, they would neither gain weight nor burst from overeating.


    Taking advantage of his profound skills, Xiong Ba never regarded the other teachers highly, snatching or stealing whatever food he fancied, which nearly turned the entire academy against him!


    "Fine!" Xiong Ba wiped the oil from chili sticks off his mouth corner, "One of you wants to kill me over instant noodles, another over chili sticks, and another over the Planet Cup. Today, I''ll let you all witness what true supreme martial skills are!"


    In an instant, the sky and earth changed color. As a high-martial world, Xiong Ba''s strength had already surpassed that of ordinary martial artists. With just one more step, he could even reach the power level of the worlds described in fantasy novels ¡ª the strength of the ninth level of the Mythical Realm. Even if all the teachers of the Super God Academy combined forces, they might not be his match.


    "Crack!" The sky was filled with flashes of lightning, and pale blue Inner Strength swirled around Xiong Ba. To Chen Bingyu, he appeared almost divine.


    ...


    "What on Earth is this school?" Although Chen Bingyu knew nothing about Super God Academy, as soon as she stepped into the school, a group of high-ranking Mythical Realm experts was fighting over things like instant noodles, chili sticks, and milk tea.


    These trifles were worthless in the outside world, let alone valuable to experts of the Mythical Realm. Many ordinary people were uninterested, yet these teachers were fighting fiercely over these insignificant items.


    Why did this school seem somewhat unserious?


    "Nie Xiaoqian! Come out, you actually stole my tissue while I was in the bathroom again?" Yan Chixia yelled while holding up his pants, searching everywhere for Nie Xiaoqian.


    "Hee hee hee, Yan Chixia, chase me if you can, and if you catch me, I''ll let you have it, heh heh!" Nie Xiaoqian''s laughter echoed across the Super God Academy''s square, but only her voice could be heard, not her person.


    "Hey beauty, how about you sleep here with me tonight?"


    Chen Bingyu suddenly felt chills all over. Her whole body was engulfed by a cold aura, as if she were in an ice cellar, and a ghostly voice echoed in her ears.


    "Eh, Dean, what can I do for you?" The previously haughty Xiong Ba now came up to Zhang Menglong''s side, cringing like a little chicken.


    "This is the first student I recruited, her name is Chen Bingyu, and I''m handing her over to you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Rest assured, Dean, we will definitely teach her well!" Xiong Ba pounded his chest in assurance.


    "And Nie Xiaoqian, don''t scare the new students anymore," Zhang Menglong chided, "If you keep this up, I''ll have to punish you!"


    "I know, I know!" Nie Xiaoqian looked utterly aggrieved, "If it really comes down to it, we can find a secluded place later, and you can punish me in private!"


    "My god!" Zhang Menglong suddenly wondered if allowing Nie Xiaoqian to become the director of admissions was a mistake. If some male students come to the school, they might all get entangled by this thirsty female ghost.


    "Chen Bingyu, these are all teachers at the Martial Arts Academy," Zhang Menglong introduced, "Xiong Ba is the branch dean, Teacher Wu Xingyun is the head of instruction, and the rest are all lecturers. From now on, they will be teaching you."


    "Hello, teachers!" Chen Bingyu politely bowed to them. Although these teachers seemed unreliable, each of them was undoubtedly a master in the practice of ancient martial arts!


    "Young lady, I see excellent innate abilities in you. You should follow me and learn the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi. I''ll teach you the Internal Cultivation Methods of Three Elements Unite, and within five years, you should certainly reach the Mythical Realm."


    "Three years!?" Chen Bingyu''s eyes lit up dramatically. Given her current pace of cultivation, advancing to a Level Four martial artist in three years would already be a luxury, let alone reaching the Mythical Realm in three years. That would definitely make her a legend in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "Psh!" Wu Xingyun immediately protested discontentedly, "What''s so great about your Three Elements Unite? She should learn my Eight Desolates and Six Unities, the Sole Exalted Art. I can also teach her Beiming Divine Art, and as long as she absorbs more inner strength from others, she can reach the Mythical Realm within three years!"


    "Old witch, how dare you steal my student? That so-called God-breaking Art of yours is all tricks and deceits, not worth learning at all!"


    "Nonsense, your Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is too yang and too rigid, completely unsuitable for a girl. If she learns it, she''ll end up turning into a tomboy."


    "Humph, having a powerful fist is the real deal. Can you beat me?"


    "Dare you fight me using only Level Seven Mythical Realm inner strength?"


    "Let''s fight then; I''m not afraid of you!"


    "Let''s go!"


    ...


    "Uh..." Xiong Ba and Wu Xingyun started fighting the moment a disagreement arose, leaving Chen Bingyu alone, speechless, "This really doesn''t seem like a proper school..."

 Chapter 372 Zhang Ritian of the Ritian Sect

    "Nie Xiaoqian, you take her to register first, just arrange her in first grade for now, and we''ll slowly adjust the school''s framework later," Zhang Menglong said to Nie Xiaoqian.


    "Alright, Dean," Nie Xiaoqian''s slender arms encircled Chen Bingyu''s waist, "Come on, little sister, let''s sit in my office. Although I''m the director of admissions, I have my own courses too. I can teach you 108 poses, guaranteed to make any man fall for you..."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Chen Bingyu ran out of Nie Xiaoqian''s office. Nie Xiaoqian, naturally flirtatious, seemed to be in heat recently, flirting with anyone she saw, male or female, a process that made Chen Bingyu quite uncomfortable.


    "Hahaha! How about that, old witch? Even with equal strength, you are still no match for me. Now do you admit my Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is superior to your ''Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies Sole Exaltation Art'' and Beiming Divine Art?"


    At that moment, Xiong Ba and Wu Xingyun had just finished a fight, and it seemed Xiong Ba had the upper hand again.


    Xiong Ba approached Chen Bingyu, his overwhelming aura causing her breathing to slow significantly.


    Xiong Ba extended a finger and gently touched Chen Bingyu''s forehead, "This is the incantation for the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi Inner Cultivation Methods. Ponder on it by yourself. My class is tomorrow morning. You must attend. The rest of the time, you can arrange as you like. That old witch''s skills aren''t great, but there are still some things worth learning from her."


    "Thank you, teacher!" Chen Bingyu exclaimed happily.


    Although the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi Inner Cultivation Methods were profoundly esoteric, Chen Bingyu found them almost impossible to comprehend.


    However, having come from an Ancient Martial Arts Family, these methods were many times more advanced than the inner cultivation methods passed down in her Chen Family for hundreds of years; perhaps Xiong Ba''s claim of advancing to the Mythical Realm in five years wasn''t just bragging.


    "Alright, go on with your tasks," Zhang Menglong waved his hand, then snapped his fingers, and they were transported by a beam of light to a leisure area filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers.


    "This place is truly astonishing!" Chen Bingyu said, filled with interest towards everything at Super God Academy.


    "This is just a part of the academy," Zhang Menglong smiled, "and these teachers are just the most ordinary part of the academy''s faculty. You''ll see later."


    Chen Bingyu was a smart person. Although everything before her seemed like a dream, she knew what she should and should not ask. Having such an opportunity was already very fortunate.


    "Bingyu, I have something I''d like to ask you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Dean, please speak. If there''s any way I can assist you, I will do my utmost," Chen Bingyu said.


    "You''ve seen that Super God Academy has many teachers, but currently you''re the only student," Zhang Menglong said, "not everyone is qualified to enter Super God Academy for studies. If I were to find a group of exceptionally gifted individuals like you, do you have any suggestions for me?"


    As for Chen Bingyu, she was practically obsessed, spending almost all her time at the Super God Academy, where many teachers guided her intensively. Her strength has increased dramatically, breaking through from a Level Two Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist in just half a month!


    The Three Parts Return to Origin Qi of Xiong Ba, Qiao Feng''s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the Tianshan Granny''s "Little Formless Strength" from the Carefree Sect, and Feng Qingyang''s Dugu Nine Swords¡ªshe learned a bit of all these arts, making her a formidable opponent even for ordinary Level Five Martial Artists.


    Seeing such incredible progress in Chen Bingyu, the Chen Family''s reverence for Zhang Menglong deepened. This time, the Chen Family will also attend that provincial meeting of the Ancient Martial Arts World, and Chen Bingyu will participate under the name of Zhang Menglong''s student.


    The recruiting event for the Ancient Martial Arts sects will be held on a deserted island named Skyedge Island, located in the southeastern part of Huaxia, accessible only from a port in the nearest city, East Sea.


    In recent days, this port has welcomed a group of particularly special guests. They arrived in groups, calling each other brothers and Sect Leaders, and even wore clothes grossly out of step with modern attire, as if about to start shooting a period drama.


    However, East Sea City is indeed the former residence of the martial arts novelist master Jin Yong, so it''s not unusual for many film and TV crews to come here for location shoots, which didn''t attract much attention from the local residents.


    But these last two days, the boat rental business in East Sea City has been exceptionally good, and these guests have been very generous. These people seemed very interested in going out to sea, even offering deposits that exceeded the prices of the boats themselves.


    On the morning of June 6th, many teams composed of both old and young appeared in the port, with some even recognizing each other and politely greeting one another.


    "Is this all you could rent?" In a team of 12 people, an elder with white hair looked somewhat displeased. They were facing a somewhat dilapidated small fishing boat, which clashed starkly with their luxurious attire.


    "Master, I''m sorry, but with over twenty sects and one hundred thirty Ancient Martial Arts Families, and us arriving too late, we couldn''t rent a suitable boat," a young man said with difficulty.


    "Forget it," said a black-clad elder at the back of the team in a calm voice, "This time we''re here to recruit students, not to compete. The boat is a bit worn, but it''ll do!"


    "Yes, Sect Leader." An Elder glared at the young man but still headed toward the boat.


    "Hey, friends!" Just as the team was about to head to the ferry, suddenly a young voice called out to them.


    The group turned around and saw a young man in secular clothing approaching them, his hand holding a dog leash with a silly Husky on it, and a girl of similar age following behind him.


    "I see your boat is old and seems a bit unsafe. Why not come with us? My boat is bigger and safer," the young man invited warmly.


    "Oh?" The elder smiled, "That would be wonderful! I am Liu Tong, the third Elder of the Liu Family from the southwest, may I know how to address this young gentleman?"


    Although the young man was a junior, his enthusiastic invitation had given great face to their Liu family and moreover, he was dressed quite luxuriously, likely also from a prominent family. Liu Tong''s tone became much more polite.


    "Elder Liu is too polite. I am Zhang Ritian from the Ritian Sect!"

 Chapter 375 373

    If it had been an ordinary family, Zhang Menglong naturally wouldn''t have bothered to greet them, but when he entered the port, he had Gou Dan scan the area, and surprisingly found a promising youngster with a Potential Index of 12 points, even more outstanding than Chen Bingyu. This person was in the Liu family team.


    The Liu family team consisted of eight people, including the elder Liu Tong and the black-clothed Clan Leader, plus another elderly man, and the remaining five were all young people,


    Among these young people, three appeared to be in their twenties or thirties. Their realms were all around Level Two, and the other two were even younger, one a Level One martial artist, and the other, according to Zhang Menglong''s examination, was an ordinary person.


    Yet, it was this ordinary youth who had a Potential Index reaching 12 points and possessed a Gift known as "Lieyang Physique." Gou Dan explained that this so-called "Lieyang Constitution" was a type of natural, special physique.


    If one were to cultivate Ancient Martial Arts, the Inner Strength developed would carry some scorching characteristics, giving a significant advantage in battles due to this fiery Inner Strength.


    Logically, such an individual should be highly prized, yet he was still just an ordinary person and seemed to hold a low status within the team.


    "Ritian Sect?" The elder named Liu Tong was taken aback, as all Ancient Martial Arts Families and sects were intricately connected.


    Although it was common for some sects to decline and others to emerge over time, such matters in the Ancient Martial Arts World were widely known almost instantaneously.


    There hadn''t seemed to be a sect called Ritian Sect emerging in the past two years, and most crucially, the name of this sect and the young man sounded quite unserious.


    Would a respectable person be named Zhang Ritian? Would a respectable sect be called Ritian Sect? Although he had thousands of questions in mind, it was embarrassing for him to ask them outright.


    "May I know where the Sect Leader of your Ritian Sect is? We would like to express our gratitude to him," although somewhat skeptical, if Ritian Sect truly existed, there must be a Martial God of the Mythical Realm presiding over it; their own family head, the black-clothed elder, was merely a Grandmaster.


    "I am the Sect Leader of our sect," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "You might find this amusing, Elder Liu, but our sect currently has only two members."


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai at Zhang Menglong''s feet barked discontentedly.


    "Oh, and also our Ritian Sect''s Divine Beast. So, I suppose that makes us two and a half," Zhang Menglong added, and only then did Wang Cai quiet down contentedly.


    "We are here to find some talented individuals at this gathering of Ancient Martial Artists and recruit them into our sect."


    "You are the Sect Leader?" Liu Tong widened his eyes and immediately probed the realms of Zhang Menglong and Chen Bingyu. Chen Bingyu possessed the strength of a Level Four martial artist, a highly rare talent even among the major families and sects for someone his age.


    However, he found he couldn''t discern the cultivation of this young man called Zhang Ritian! As for the dog, he completely ignored it.


    Generally, only two scenarios could cause this phenomenon: either Zhang Ritian was an ordinary person, or his realm far exceeded his own.


    "Wait a minute, take a closer look!" a martial artist suddenly said, "There are no weapons on the ship! I think I saw helicopters, a helipad, a golf course, a swimming pool..."


    "This... that''s a super private cruise ship converted from an aircraft carrier!"


    "Who is so rich?"


    "Is this something money can buy? Can someone tell me how one could get an aircraft carrier? And even if you get it, can you get a navigation permit?"


    "This is ridiculous! Could it be an asset of some sect?"


    "That''s not right, even the largest sects around Jiangzhe are only third-rate; how could they have such capability?"


    "There are characters on the ship!"


    "Ri... Ritian?"


    "There''s writing on the other side too, and a logo, Ritian Sect? This is the Ritian Sect''s aircraft carrier."


    "Ritian Sect? Which sect is that? How come I''ve never heard of such a sect in Huaxia? Was it established recently?"


    "To have such capability, even if we leave aside how strong Ritian Sect is, its assets could definitely rank at the level of a top-tier sect!"


    Suddenly, everyone started inquiring about the Ritian Sect, and this name instantly became known among all Ancient Martial Arts Families and sects.


    "This... Sect Leader Zhang, is this the asset of your Ritian Sect?" The elder named Liu Tong suddenly even changed how he addressed Zhang Menglong.


    A nobody sect possessing an aircraft carrier? This Ritian Sect certainly wasn''t simple!


    In the Ancient Martial Arts World, the fist is the largest; second only to money, with money being resources. Having enough resources to cultivate a host of capable martial artists is why many families and sects strive to build relationships with worldly tycoons.


    At that moment, Liu Tong harbored the thought of making connections with this Zhang Ritian, no matter if it was a nobody sect; as long as there was money, even a nobody could turn into a phoenix.


    "Yeah, our sect has just been established and hasn''t begun to acquire many assets yet, so we are just making do with this for now!"


    "Making do with this..." Liu Tong glanced at the small shabby boat his own family had rented, then at the aircraft carrier, and muttered to himself, "I wish I could ''make do'' like this too!"

 Chapter 374 Creation 101 in the Ancient Martial Arts World

    Under the caress of the sea breeze, Zhang Menglong and others enjoyed fine red wine and the unique scenery atop the aircraft carrier, as if they were at a hotel on an island with no hints of bumpiness or swaying.


    Although the aircraft carrier had been hurrying along for the past few months, Zhang Menglong had already arranged for the best designers and most exquisite craftsmen to transform it into a seaside resort during its voyage.


    Its cruising speed was 20% faster than the largest private yacht currently available. The carrier featured hotels, amusement parks, streets, and even artificial hills and waterfalls. The cost of this refurbishment even surpassed its original building cost!


    "Thank you, young brother Zhang, for your warm hospitality," even the always silent Clan Leader Liu opened up, "I am Liu Wenyu, the current Clan Leader of the Liu family, and this is our family''s second elder, Liu Mo, and third elder, Liu Tong."


    Liu Wenyu continued, "These four are outstanding youths of our Liu family''s generation. We hope they can be accepted as disciples by an Ancient Martial Arts sect during this trip, then our journey will not have been in vain."


    Among the four individuals Liu Wenyu mentioned, the youth with a Potential Index of 12 was not included. Zhang Menglong was quite puzzled¡ªdid these people have something wrong with their brains, not knowing to discover such a genius?


    "And who is this one?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing at the youth.


    "Oh, this is my grandson, Liu Yunyi," Liu Wenyu sighed, "He has been defective since childhood. We have used so many resources that even a pig would have cultivated some Inner Strength, yet he has made no progress and is not even a Level One Martial Artist yet."


    "Defective?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment.


    "Director, by ''defective'' it means that there are some innate flaws in the meridians, and even if Inner Strength is cultivated, it will rapidly drain away. Such a person might never become a Martial Artist in their lifetime, no matter how many resources are used," Chen Bingyu whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "I see, no wonder," Zhang Menglong nodded. It was no surprise that such a genius was so neglected in the Liu family.


    "Starting from the second half of the year, he''ll manage some of the family''s businesses. We can''t just let him stay at home and waste resources, right?" Liu Wenyu did not hide his disdain for his grandson.


    In Ancient Martial Arts Families, having such an underachieving descendant was a great shame, even though this innate condition was beyond Liu Yunyi''s control.


    "Yunyi, starting next month, you''ll manage the Keyu Corporation. From now on, there''s no need for you to waste your energy on cultivation," Liu Wenyu said.


    "Understood, Grandfather," Liu Yunyi''s eyes could not mask his disappointment. His dream since childhood was to become a towering Martial Artist like his father. Therefore, he had always worked harder than others, and had spent more sweat than anyone else.


    Managing the family''s assets might sound quite good, but they all clearly understood that it almost amounted to being isolated from the core of the family.


    But what could he do?


    "I understand," Liu Yunyi felt utterly desolate in an instant.


    "Hahaha! He must see me as a fool inside, but he has no idea that I''m striking it rich with this move!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed in his heart.


    Ye Yin had just revealed to Zhang Menglong that this inherent defect was merely some minor physiological abnormalities, and that as long as a master of level five or higher in the Mythical Realm helped him clear his channels, it would be easily resolved, and then he would be an unmatched genius!


    "You''re Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, a young man from the Liu family finally recognized Zhang Menglong. He had always felt this face looked familiar, but he could never recall who it was, until now, realizing it was none other than Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man.


    "You know my brother?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly in response. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Brother? You..."


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong laughed, "My name is Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong is my twin brother, it''s not strange that you think we look alike."


    Chen Bingyu tried hard to restrain her laughter on the side; she really couldn''t keep up with Zhang Menglong''s train of thought.


    "Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong..." The young man wasn''t sure if he believed him or not, as he muttered these two names under his breath.


    "By the way, Clan Leader Liu," Zhang Menglong asked, "it''s my first time attending this grand event, I''m not sure what the rules are for recruiting disciples?"


    "Hahaha," having made a fortune, Liu Wenyu was in a very good mood, "It''s actually quite simple. Each event is divided into two stages. The first stage allows young people from each family to show their skills, with each family sending no more than five members for random one-on-one martial contests, ultimately ranking them in the Genius Ranking."


    Zhang Menglong nodded; these competition rules were fairly standard, nothing unusual, "And the other stage?"


    "That''s when the big families and sects compete!" Liu Wenyu said excitedly, "The organizer will prepare nine seats, each big family and sect can send members to occupy these seats, and if all seats are taken, anyone dissatisfied can challenge them, until the nine major powers are decided!"


    "Then it''s the mutual selection between these sects and the geniuses, naturally, the geniuses ranked higher on the Genius Ranking and the sects that make it to those nine seats are the top picks for both parties."


    "Choosing nine out of dozens of sects?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt this rule seemed familiar, "Good lord, this is basically the ''Produce 101'' of the Ancient Martial Arts World!"

 Chapter 376 Have You Not Eaten?

    Zhang Menglong''s voice suddenly caught the attention of the surrounding martial artists.


    The Ding Family was now in its heyday; who would dare to speak to them with such a tone and attitude? In the Ancient Martial Arts World, fighting and killing were common, especially among top-level martial artists. Even if someone killed another in broad daylight, no one would dare to object.


    "Who is this person to speak to the Ding Family like that?"


    "It looks like the Ding Family owes him money?"


    "Hmm? He''s not even a martial artist? Could he be a peripheral member in charge of managing the family''s assets? Is he looking for death?"


    "I think I''ve seen this person; isn''t that aircraft carrier docked in the harbor his?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, I just walked past him, and it seemed like he was called Zhang Ritian, a member of the Ritian Sect."


    "What Ritian Sect? I''ve never heard of such a sect. Can any Tom, Dick, or Harry now attend our annual grand gathering of the Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Look, aren''t those people from the Liu Family? Why are they so close to this Ritian Sect person?"


    "They''re probably going to be unlucky too."


    ...


    Suddenly, a burst of whispers arose around them, and the Liu Family members'' faces changed immediately; they had never anticipated that Zhang Menglong would suddenly come into conflict with the Ding Family.


    The current Ding Family was no longer what it used to be, with a Martial God of the Mythical Realm sitting in power; they were beyond the reach of the Liu Family.


    The Ding Family was known for its bullying and unruly behavior. Even if Zhang Menglong had a strong background, he was just an ordinary person, and the only martial artist with him was a Level Four. If the Ding Family became enraged, it was possible they could kill him with a single slap.


    Being so close to Zhang Menglong, the Liu Family might end up as collateral damage. It was better to quickly disassociate themselves.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have a few old friends to meet, so we must take our leave," said the head of the Liu Family hurriedly.


    "Oh, sure, feel free to go!" With Liu Yunyi, this prodigy, the Liu Family held no more value for Zhang Menglong.


    "Hey, what''s your name again, Ding Muyun, right? When exactly will you pay back the 100 billion you owe me? Let me tell you, you only have two or three days left before your Life and Death Talisman activates. If you don''t have the antidote by then, you''re a dead man."


    "Are you that person?" Ding Moyi sized up Zhang Menglong from head to toe.


    To be able to injure the second elder merely with his aura alone meant he was definitely a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, but Zhang Menglong was unbelievably young; how could he be in the Mythical Realm?


    "Could he be using some method to disguise his age and realm?" wonder signed Ding Moyi.


    But the more he thought about it, the more cautious he had to be in dealing with such people. Ding Moyi admitted he was no saint, but he had survived up to now because, apart from his luck, he was always extremely cautious.


    "I''ll give you a chance, heal the injuries on my grandson, then chop off your own hands and feet. If you''re lucky enough not to die, we''ll let this matter rest!" Ding Moyi emitted a fierce aura, clearly suppressing his urge to kill. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "I''m trying to reason with you, why do you like to play dirty?" Zhang Menglong helplessly touched his forehead, "Alright, I got it, you want to fight, right? Bring it on!"


    Zhang Menglong extended two fingers and gestured to Ding Moyi.


    "You little beast, you''re asking for death!" Being provoked like this by a young man was intolerable even for an ordinary Martial Artist, let alone for him, a powerful figure in the Mythical Realm!


    He believed, even if Zhang Menglong was a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, he could not match him with his unique Inner Strength and techniques!


    Ding Moyi suddenly moved, and all anyone saw was a faint afterimage; his figure had already appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, and his hand, glowing with dark Inner Strength, was now an inch away from Zhang Menglong''s chest.


    Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "Gou Dan! Give me the power of the Mount Heaven Grandmother!"


    "Boom!" The palm strength, capable of shattering a mountain peak and compounded with venomous Inner Strength, hit Zhang Menglong directly in the chest, the palm wind even cracked the ground around them.


    "This young man is done for!"


    "This... Three days ago, the Sect Leader of the Luo Yun Sect died under the very same palm, and it was said that just one palm strike shattered all his bones, turning his body so venomous it had to be cremated."


    "Isn''t it better to enjoy life with money instead of muddling in these troubled waters?"


    This palm hit Zhang Menglong squarely in the chest, leading everyone to believe he was undoubtedly going to die!


    But then, Zhang Menglong took out his hand from his pocket and casually popped a piece of gum into his mouth.


    "Is that all the strength you have? Didn''t you eat?"

 Chapter 377 - 375: Scoundrel, Pay Up!

    "President Liu, I have already had the money transferred to your account,"


    Liu Wenyu immediately had someone check the family''s bank account.


    "10 billion US dollars?" Liu Wenyu''s hand almost couldn''t hold the phone. Hadn''t they just agreed on one billion US dollars a year? What did this 10 billion US dollars mean?


    "Oh, transferring the money year by year seemed troublesome, so I just paid it all at once. That should be enough, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Enough! Of course, it''s enough!" Liu Wenyu''s face was all smiles.


    This Liu Yunyi was merely a cripple who couldn''t practice Ancient Martial Arts. Given the lifespan of an ordinary person, it would be a miracle if he lived to 100 years.


    Moreover, having the money transferred all at once in advance allowed the Liu family to do many things!


    "Yunyi, from now on, you will follow Mr. Zhang. From this moment, although you are still a descendant of the Liu family, everything should prioritize Mr. Zhang''s Ritian Sect. Understand?"


    "Grandfather, I understand," Liu Yunyi replied, as if he had completely resigned himself to his fate.


    "Yunyi, this is Chen Bingyu. She joined our Ritian Sect a month before you. From now on, you should address her as senior sister,"


    Liu Yunyi glanced at the smiling Zhang Menglong, then walked from the Liu family crowd to sit beside Zhang Menglong and Chen Bingyu.


    "Are you very reluctant?" Chen Bingyu asked with a smile as she looked at Liu Yunyi.


    Liu Yunyi remained silent. Of course, he was reluctant - a thousand, ten thousand times reluctant.


    "Hehehe," Chen Bingyu let out a string of silvery laughter, "You will soon change your mind."


    Liu Yunyi was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chen Bingyu with a puzzled expression.


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    "Mr. Zhang''s capabilities are far greater than what you see, and being favored by him is your good fortune," Chen Bingyu said. "From today, your life will be completely different from before."


    "Senior sister, is Mr. Zhang really that amazing?" Liu Yunyi asked, his skepticism slightly shaken by Chen Bingyu''s confident gaze.


    "Your congenital deficiency might seem irreversible to ordinary people, but for Mr. Zhang, it''s a simple fix!"


    After studying at the Super God Academy for a month, Chen Bingyu had gained a basic understanding of the entire school, and the more she learned, the more she realized how magical and powerful this place was.


    Moreover, he realized that this society''s ancient martial arts community was utterly different from those depicted in films and TV shows; aside from their slightly limited information, many things were modernized, including the use of high-tech products to assist in cultivation, which was quite eye-opening.


    While hastily put together, the market was well-organized and resembled a corporate exhibition rather than a makeshift setup, evidently showing that the organizers had invested considerable effort and resources.


    "Who are the organizers of this event?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "They''re from the Ancient Martial Association," the elder named Liu Tong replied.


    "There''s an association in the Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Led by the Martial God as its President, each year sects and families ranked in the top nine places send a representative to serve as an association council member, mainly to handle major incidents in the Ancient Martial Arts World."


    "I see," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "It''s the Ding Family!"


    "Those bastards! They even dare to show up?"


    "Shh, keep it down. They''ve already destroyed six major and minor families and sects; don''t let them hear you."


    "What kind of opportunity did the Ding Family get to suddenly become comparable to the top-tier families and sects?"


    "I heard that the Ding Family''s Grand Elder has already broken through to the Mythical Realm. I remember seeing him two years ago when he was still just a Grandmaster in the Level Seven Martial Artist."


    "Can''t we just avoid them if we can''t afford to provoke them? Just don''t mess with them, and it will be fine."


    Following the direction of the voices, a group of about twenty people confidently descended from a luxurious yacht, their expressions haughty, barely acknowledging the surrounding Martial Artists.


    The surrounding Martial Artists also hurriedly avoided them; this family was already notorious, and their sudden, mysterious rise had unsettled many other families.


    "Damn, it''s them!" Zhang Menglong immediately spotted Ding Muyun, the young master of the Ding Family, and Ding Kui, the second elder in the crowd.


    Because of the special nature of their family''s Inner Cultivation Methods, the Dings had grown accustomed to the odd looks from others, relishing the fear and reverence in people''s eyes. This was the confidence that power brought them!


    "You scoundrel! Pay back the money!"


    Suddenly, a voice rang out near Ding Muyun''s ear; Ding Muyun''s smile immediately ceased, replaced by a fear as if encountering a demon.


    His gaze shifted to Ding Kui, seeing that he returned the same look.


    "He... he''s here too!"

 Chapter 378 - 376: Have You Not Eaten?

    Zhang Menglong''s voice suddenly caught the attention of the surrounding martial artists.


    The Ding Family was now in its heyday; who would dare to speak to them with such a tone and attitude? In the Ancient Martial Arts World, fighting and killing were common, especially among top-level martial artists. Even if someone killed another in broad daylight, no one would dare to object.


    "Who is this person to speak to the Ding Family like that?"


    "It looks like the Ding Family owes him money?"


    "Hmm? He''s not even a martial artist? Could he be a peripheral member in charge of managing the family''s assets? Is he looking for death?"


    "I think I''ve seen this person; isn''t that aircraft carrier docked in the harbor his?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, I just walked past him, and it seemed like he was called Zhang Ritian, a member of the Ritian Sect."


    "What Ritian Sect? I''ve never heard of such a sect. Can any Tom, Dick, or Harry now attend our annual grand gathering of the Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Look, aren''t those people from the Liu Family? Why are they so close to this Ritian Sect person?"


    "They''re probably going to be unlucky too."


    ...


    Suddenly, a burst of whispers arose around them, and the Liu Family members'' faces changed immediately; they had never anticipated that Zhang Menglong would suddenly come into conflict with the Ding Family.


    The current Ding Family was no longer what it used to be, with a Martial God of the Mythical Realm sitting in power; they were beyond the reach of the Liu Family.


    The Ding Family was known for its bullying and unruly behavior. Even if Zhang Menglong had a strong background, he was just an ordinary person, and the only martial artist with him was a Level Four. If the Ding Family became enraged, it was possible they could kill him with a single slap.


    Being so close to Zhang Menglong, the Liu Family might end up as collateral damage. It was better to quickly disassociate themselves.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have a few old friends to meet, so we must take our leave," said the head of the Liu Family hurriedly.


    "Oh, sure, feel free to go!" With Liu Yunyi, this prodigy, the Liu Family held no more value for Zhang Menglong.


    "Hey, what''s your name again, Ding Muyun, right? When exactly will you pay back the 100 billion you owe me? Let me tell you, you only have two or three days left before your Life and Death Talisman activates. If you don''t have the antidote by then, you''re a dead man."


    "Are you that person?" Ding Moyi sized up Zhang Menglong from head to toe.


    To be able to injure the second elder merely with his aura alone meant he was definitely a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, but Zhang Menglong was unbelievably young; how could he be in the Mythical Realm?


    "Could he be using some method to disguise his age and realm?" wonder signed Ding Moyi.


    But the more he thought about it, the more cautious he had to be in dealing with such people. Ding Moyi admitted he was no saint, but he had survived up to now because, apart from his luck, he was always extremely cautious.


    "I''ll give you a chance, heal the injuries on my grandson, then chop off your own hands and feet. If you''re lucky enough not to die, we''ll let this matter rest!" Ding Moyi emitted a fierce aura, clearly suppressing his urge to kill. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "I''m trying to reason with you, why do you like to play dirty?" Zhang Menglong helplessly touched his forehead, "Alright, I got it, you want to fight, right? Bring it on!"


    Zhang Menglong extended two fingers and gestured to Ding Moyi.


    "You little beast, you''re asking for death!" Being provoked like this by a young man was intolerable even for an ordinary Martial Artist, let alone for him, a powerful figure in the Mythical Realm!


    He believed, even if Zhang Menglong was a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, he could not match him with his unique Inner Strength and techniques!


    Ding Moyi suddenly moved, and all anyone saw was a faint afterimage; his figure had already appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, and his hand, glowing with dark Inner Strength, was now an inch away from Zhang Menglong''s chest.


    Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "Gou Dan! Give me the power of the Mount Heaven Grandmother!"


    "Boom!" The palm strength, capable of shattering a mountain peak and compounded with venomous Inner Strength, hit Zhang Menglong directly in the chest, the palm wind even cracked the ground around them.


    "This young man is done for!"


    "This... Three days ago, the Sect Leader of the Luo Yun Sect died under the very same palm, and it was said that just one palm strike shattered all his bones, turning his body so venomous it had to be cremated."


    "Isn''t it better to enjoy life with money instead of muddling in these troubled waters?"


    This palm hit Zhang Menglong squarely in the chest, leading everyone to believe he was undoubtedly going to die!


    But then, Zhang Menglong took out his hand from his pocket and casually popped a piece of gum into his mouth.


    "Is that all the strength you have? Didn''t you eat?"

 Chapter 379 - 377 Get to Know the Beiming Divine Art

    "Impossible, this absolutely cannot be!"


    Ding Moyi lifted his head to look at Zhang Menglong''s calm face as if his entire worldview was collapsing in that moment.


    His palm strike was not only extremely fierce but also contained powerful corrosiveness, which could even corrode a martial artist''s inner strength, greatly reducing its power.


    Even martial artists at level two or three of the Mythical Realm, if they took such a forceful strike, would either die or be seriously injured.


    But he found that his strike was like hitting a solid metal figure impervious to swords and spears; his palm strength could not move Zhang Menglong''s body at all.


    And the special inner strength, of which he was so proud, seemed as if it were blocked by an invisible membrane, completely unable to penetrate into Zhang Menglong''s body.


    "Hit me with another couple of those." Zhang Menglong turned around, using his back to face Ding Moyi.


    "What kind of monster is he?" The martial artists were staring wide-eyed.


    Since he emerged from seclusion, Ding Moyi had even challenged several renowned experts in the Mythical Realm and even fought to a draw with a Level Four Mythical Realm martial artist! His Yin Erosion Palm technique had spread throughout the Ancient Martial Arts World in just a few days.


    This strike, which did not even shake Zhang Menglong''s body, and now, with Zhang Menglong turning his back to ask him for two more strikes¡ªsuch a disdainful request was unheard of until now!


    "Good grief, it''s not lethal but highly insulting. This is a palm technique that could kill a Level Three Mythical Realm martial artist with one hit, and he thinks it''s a massage?"


    "He''s too arrogant! I''ve heard this palm technique can corrode inner strength; he might have blocked the first strike, but he might not withstand the second."


    "Even if he withstands the palm strength, if even a trace of inner strength invades his body, he is likely to die on the spot!"


    ...


    "Boy, you are digging your own grave!"


    Being able to directly withstand his strike, Ding Moyi believed Zhang Menglong''s inner strength must be incredibly profound, but forcefully using inner strength to resist, he definitely couldn''t withstand many more attacks.


    Thinking this, he immediately urged his inner strength; if he had only used eighty percent of his power in the previous strike, this time he used his full strength, enough that even a dinosaur might be slapped to death.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    In fact, the history of Ancient Martial Arts in Huaxia can be traced back to a very ancient era. At that time, countless Ancient Martial Arts masters were born; exaggeratedly speaking, it was as if Mythical beings walked everywhere, and martial artists were less significant than dogs, with even those surpassing the Mythical Realm being not in short supply.


    However, due to some reasons yet unknown, the practice of Ancient Martial Arts gradually declined. Many martial artists'' legacies vanished with the passage of time.


    Some existing Ancient Martial Arts families and sects inherited only the scraps of that era''s systems over the lengthy timelines, while others coincidentally discovered some relics left by the powerhouses of that era.


    Two years ago, the Ding Family had found some inheritances left by a cultivator from that era at a certain location. These mental methods in the inheritance highly matched the Inner Strength techniques practiced by their family, and it was because of digesting these inheritances that the Ding Family suddenly rose.


    Now, Ding Moyi, among the Mythical Realm masters in the Ancient Martial Arts World, was a quite notable figure. But for such a character to give it his all and yet not even make Zhang Menglong shift his feet was unbelievable!


    "What level of martial artist is Mr. Zhang exactly?" Liu Yunyi''s gaze towards Zhang Menglong had completely changed.


    After being hit with so many palms in a row, probably even a Level Five Mythical Realm martial artist wouldn''t be able to withstand it, right? Yet there he was, making cheeky remarks as if it was nothing; this was way beyond his understanding!


    "What Mr. Zhang has shown is just the tip of the iceberg," Chen Bingyu said. "But Mr. Zhang has never been the kind to take hits and not return them. This Ding Moyi is in for some bad luck."


    ...


    "What exactly is this technique?" Sweat had begun to form on Ding Moyi''s forehead.


    "The Beiming Divine Art from the Carefree Sect, care to know about it?"


    "Do you think I''m an idiot? This made-up stuff wouldn''t even deceive a three-year-old!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    When Ding Moyi saw Zhang Menglong''s expression, a rather eerie feeling suddenly emerged in his heart. And when he tried to withdraw his Palm Strength from Zhang Menglong, he shockingly discovered an irresistible pulling force emanating from Zhang Menglong''s body!


    "My... my Inner Strength!" Ding Moyi was horrified to find that Zhang Menglong''s body was like a pump, furiously devouring the Inner Strength from his body, and his face was even distorting due to that pulling force.


    Level Three Mythical Realm, Level Two Mythical Realm, Level One Mythical Realm...


    In just a few breaths, Ding Moyi''s realm had actually plummeted from the Mythical Realm, regressing to a mere Grandmaster martial artist!


    "Damn, this Inner Strength is disgusting, it makes one feel nauseous!" Zhang Menglong immediately ceased operating the Beiming Divine Art. Ding Moyi flew out like he was electrocuted, and at that moment, his skill level was only that of a Level Eight Grandmaster martial artist.


    "What... what have you done to me?" This was the Inner Strength he had cultivated after secluding himself for two years and spending immeasurable energy and wealth!


    "Didn''t you say you didn''t believe in the Beiming Divine Art?" Zhang Menglong shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, do you believe it now?"

 Chapter 380 - 378: I Wont Kill You, Ill Just Humiliate You

    "Grandpa!"


    "Family head!"


    The Ding Family members quickly crowded around and helped Ding Moyi up.


    "Family head... you..." The great elder of the Ding Family was also a martial artist of the Mythical Realm, Level One. He immediately noticed that Ding Moyi''s cultivation of inner strength had shockingly plummeted from the Level Three of the Mythical Realm to a Level Eight Grandmaster martial artist!


    Practicing ancient martial arts was a process of unlocking human potential. During this process, human genes would undergo a transition, and strength was merely a secondary effect brought by this genetic shift.


    If one entered the Mythical Realm, at a minimum, a human''s lifespan could increase to over 150 years, even exceeding 200 years. That''s why many grandmaster martial artists spent their entire lives unable to step into the Mythical Realm.


    Falling from the Mythical Realm to the Grandmaster level was more terrifying than a nightmare for any martial artist!


    "He drained all the inner strength from my body!" Although he was reluctant to admit it, Ding Moyi had to face this reality; his efforts over the past two years had been utterly wasted.


    "What kind of martial arts is this? I have never heard of any that could devour someone else''s inner strength." The great elder looked at Zhang Menglong with eyes full of fear. If their family head, a martial artist of the Level Three Mythical Realm, had been drained by Zhang Menglong, his fate would likely be even worse!


    "He just said that this technique is the Beiming Divine Art."


    "Beiming Divine Art? But isn''t that a technique from a novel?"


    "Right, he even made up names like Zhang Ritian and Ritian Sect, so what''s so strange about making up a form of martial arts?" Ding Moyi said enduringly through the intense pain, "Perhaps he has stumbled upon some powerful ancient martial arts from the prehistoric era by chance."


    "A martial art that can absorb an opponent''s inner strength is far too terrifying..."


    The surrounding martial artists had also noticed the change in Ding Moyi''s realm and beyond reveling in his misfortune, it also caused them to reassess this so-called wealthiest person in the world.


    "Ding Moyi has actually been defeated..."


    "A technique that can devour inner strength, what kind of martial arts has he practiced?"


    "He''s only in his twenties. Given a few more years, perhaps even the Martial Gods won''t be able to suppress him!"


    "I... don''t even know if Ritian Sect is taking disciples this time."


    "Fuck! That''s just blatant robbery!"


    "Epic, epic!"


    "That does seem a bit much..."


    "Be confident, drop the ''seems''!"


    "But if it were me, if someone bullied my people on my territory, I guess I''d be even more outrageous!"


    ...


    "What''s wrong? Weren''t you being all arrogant just now? Playing hooligan didn''t work, now you want to reason with me?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m also a world''s wealthiest man. You might want to ask around. In my case, it''s always about billions of US dollars. Right now, it''s only billions of Huaxia yuan, which is already a bargain!"


    "That''s actually true," Chen Bingyu whispered to Liu Yunyi, "You don''t know, but some time ago, when foreign racers came to challenge Mr. Zhang, he''d start with a bet of 10 billion US dollars, and he wouldn''t care for any less!"


    "But, sir, is what Mr. Zhang doing really not going to be a problem?" Liu Yunyi was a bit worried.


    "Don''t worry, the small Dong Family doesn''t even register on Mr. Zhang''s radar!"


    Chen Bingyu knew that Teacher Xiong Ba at the Martial Arts Academy branch was at the peak of the Mythical Realm. With such strength, even a Martial God emerging wouldn''t scare Zhang Menglong. Of course, she didn''t know that these teachers couldn''t leave Super God Academy, otherwise she wouldn''t be so confident.


    Zhang Menglong swept a meaningful look over the members of the Ding Family, "But now I don''t want to reason with you. I still prefer to play the hooligan. Just now, you hit me a total of 17 palms, 10 billion for each palm, making it 170 billion, plus the original 1.2 trillion, which rounds it up to 3 trillion!"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Many people choked on hearing the number, this rounding up added yet another 100 billion¡ªit really was hooliganism!


    "Zhang Menglong, we are not as skilled as you; if you want to kill, then kill, the Ding Family is not made up of cowards!" Ding Moyi, aged over seventy, had seen it all and was quite tough, "It''s either us or them in the end!"


    The elders of the Ding Family immediately stood in front of Zhang Menglong, ready to face death bravely.


    "Kill you?" Zhang Menglong shook his head like a rattle drum, "I''m not that kind of person. I am a law-abiding, honorable party member. How could I kill someone?"


    "What on earth do you want?"


    "I won''t kill you. If you don''t pay the money, I''ll just humiliate you!"

 Chapter 381 - 379: You Are Not Even Comparable to a Dog

    "I know, coming up with 300 billion in cash might be difficult for you, but I am not one to be overly fond of money,"


    "Then what do you want?" the people of the Ding Family stared at Zhang Menglong.


    "Real estate, luxury businesses, intellectual property, company shares¡ªI am open to anything. Just come up with 300 billion, and we can let today''s issues slide. I will also help remove the Life and Death Talisman from that fool Ding Muyun, how about it?"


    "Damn!" The surrounding martial artists gasped in astonishment; they had thought Zhang Menglong would offer some grand reasoning when he claimed not to be interested in money, but what was the difference between what he demanded and money itself?


    Sure enough, when rich people say they don''t care about money, they''re absolutely bullshitting!


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far, don''t force us into a corner where both sides perish!" A few of the Ding Family elders seemed ready to throw caution to the wind.


    Originally, the Ding Family only had two elders, both merely Grandmaster level martial artists. However, since they acquired that inheritance, aside from the family head Ding Moyi and the severely injured second elder, three additional martial artists had broken through to the Mythical Realm. Now, the Ding Family''s strength was definitely qualified to compete with top-tier clans.


    It was true that Zhang Menglong had defeated Ding Moyi, but Zhang Menglong''s victory was largely due to the Beiming Divine Art, which could dissolve inner strength. If the three of them attacked together, Zhang Menglong might not be able to withstand them!


    "You think you can force a showdown with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered. Opening with Xiong Ba''s classic line, he added, "Well, I''ll show you what true superior martial arts really are!"


    "Attack! Attack him from three different directions at once. I refuse to believe he can fend off all three of us simultaneously!" Like fierce tigers, the three elders surged out, immediately surrounding Zhang Menglong from three directions.


    "Yin Erosion Fist!"


    "Yin Erosion Legs!"


    "Yin Erosion Palm!"


    Besides one Inner Cultivation Method, these three martial arts techniques were the most powerful elements from that inheritance. Apart from Ding Moyi, who had trained in all three techniques, each elder specialized in one, achieving even greater proficiency than Ding Moyi due to their dedicated focus.


    Three pale gray inner strengths transformed into fist force, palm force, and leg force, attacking Zhang Menglong. To prevent Zhang Menglong from using his bizarre martial arts to dissolve their inner strength, they avoided physical contact, and while emitting inner strength externally was hugely draining, its power could increase exponentially.


    Knowing how formidable Zhang Menglong was, they held nothing back and went straight for kill shots.


    "Gou Dan!" Zhang Menglong immediately deducted another 30 Cred Points to gain Xiong Ba''s inner strength. The astonishingly fierce aura instantly made the surrounding martial artists step back several paces.


    "He wasn''t even using his full strength just now!"


    "This aura... I''ve only ever felt it from the Martial God..."


    "No... I suspect that even the Martial God might not be stronger than him!"


    The three elders had just flown out when Zhang Menglong unleashed a force that pulled them back to him, absorbing all the Inner Strength they had painstakingly cultivated into nourishment for himself.


    In just under a minute, the remaining power of the three couldn''t even reach the level of a Grandmaster!


    "Such rubbish, only this little power!" Zhang Menglong curled his lip, their combined Inner Strength wasn''t even half of what Ding Moyi had earlier, and it didn''t even cause a ripple after circulating in his body.


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand casually, and the three nearly drained elders crashed back into the crowd of the Ding Family.


    Every martial artist watching Zhang Menglong''s ruthless methods felt chilled to the bone, but the eyes of Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi glowed with fervor and admiration; this was the power they aspired to!


    "Giving you another chance, are you going to pay up or not?"


    "Hmph!" The people of the Ding Family turned their heads to one side, their faces set in a look of defiance to the death.


    "Good! If that''s the case, then I''ll humiliate you," Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, and a powerful Inner Strength transformed into an invisible wave, rushing towards the people of the Ding Family.


    The Inner Strength, containing the power of the Mythical Realm, was controlled exceptionally exquisitely. The martial artists of the Ding Family were of varying strengths, yet after that wave of Inner Strength, not a single person could remain standing, but, just as crucially, no one was shaken to death either.


    He whistled, "Wang Cai, bite them!"


    No sooner had the whistle blown than a recently matured husky, tongue out, ran out from some bushes nearby.


    "This..." Chen Bingyu recognized the dog, wasn''t this the one brought by Zhang Menglong?


    "Headmaster, even though they are already injured, they are still martial artists, and..." Chen Bingyu worried even injured, these martial artists were like skinny camels bigger than horses; would it not be easy for them to kill a dog with one palm strike?


    But the next moment nearly overturned everyone''s understanding. The husky''s actions were so swift and its strength so great, it was no weaker than a Grandmaster martial artist!


    This was no husky, it was practically a prehistoric tiger!


    "Ah! Don''t bite me! Don''t bite me!"


    "What kind of monster is this dog? My Inner Strength can''t even harm him!"


    "Beast, how dare you urinate on my head!!"


    "Beast, you... Ah!"


    Over a dozen martial artists, including several who were Mythical Realm experts, though severely injured under the impact of Zhang Menglong''s Inner Strength which could match level five or six martial artists, were now being bitten bloody by a husky and even had it urinating and defecating on their heads!


    "Tsk tsk tsk..." Zhang Menglong shook his head, "How can you guys be even worse than a dog!"

 Chapter 382 - 380: It Seems the Humiliation is Not Enough

    "How is that dog so fierce!"


    "It''s utterly ruthless, is that really a dog? Even a Level One Martial Artist wouldn''t be injured by a dog, right?"


    "I think I saw a Grandmaster strike its leg with a palm, but the dog seemed to be unharmed, its body is like that of a monster."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Wang Cai happily returned to Zhang Menglong''s side, obediently sticking out its tongue.


    Wang Cai possessed a Potential Index exceeding ten, which meant it could also enter the Super God Academy. However, there were no teachers at the academy capable of instructing a dog, so its progress was not as rapid.


    One should know that the energy within the Super God Academy is extremely dense, and even an ordinary person would become healthier and extend their lifespan after spending some time there. Every time Zhang Menglong entered the academy, he would bring Wang Cai with him. Coupled with its unique physique, it was able to slowly cultivate on its own!


    Moreover, ever since Zhang Menglong first fed Wang Cai a Fighting Spirit Pill and discovered it could withstand the potency that only a Grandmaster Martial Artist could endure, he fed Wang Cai a Fighting Spirit Pill every few days!


    Even though Wang Cai had no Inner Strength or demonic power, its body had become extremely formidable due to these things, and it wasn''t an exaggeration to say it was impervious to swords and spears.


    Relying solely on its flesh and blood, Wang Cai could directly kill a fully energized Level Seven Grandmaster Martial Artist! As for these old, weak, sick, and disabled foes, biting them was just like playing for Wang Cai!


    However, this scene completely overturned the world view of the other onlookers; a group of Martial Artists being bitten, and having a dog poop and pee on them. If this got out, it would undoubtedly become the laughing stock of the entire Ancient Martial Arts World!


    Even now, some people couldn''t help but laugh. The Ding Family had no Mythical Realm masters at present, and their strongest was just a severely injured Level Eight Martial Artist. What did they have to fear?


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked twice at Zhang Menglong, seemingly asking how its performance was.


    "Not bad at all!" Zhang Menglong bent down to stroke Wang Cai''s head, then took out a pill from his clothes.


    The fragrance of the Fighting Spirit Pill spread instantly, causing countless Martial Artists to breathe heavily all at once.


    For Martial Artists, the most important are Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts, but the next most crucial thing is this kind of Miracle Elixir. High-level elixirs are even more precious than Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts!


    "This... this is an elixir!!"


    "Such a rich fragrance, what level of elixir is this?"


    "Elder Xu, you are an Alchemist, can you evaluate it?"


    "This..." the elder referred to as Elder Xu even turned pale from shock, "this... this pill fragrance... top note... base note... I think I''ve read about this elixir in ancient texts!!"


    "This! This is an Immortal Pill!"


    "What? Did you say this is an Immortal Pill!"


    Upon hearing this, the Martial Artists all boiled over with excitement.


    "Drop that Immortal Pill, I saw it first!"


    "Hahaha, I got it, I got it!"


    "Hand it over quickly, or I''ll wipe out your entire family!"


    "If you have the guts, come and snatch it, oh! I''ve swallowed it!"


    ...


    "Tsk tsk tsk, a bunch of yokels," Zhang Menglong shook his head. These Fighting Spirit Pills were indeed good stuff, but for him, they were essentially as many as he wanted, and the cost was almost negligible.


    "Alright, do you want me to keep humiliating you?" Zhang Menglong looked at the Ding Family members.


    "Alright, you won," Ding Moyi wiped the dog shit off his face, "but our Ding Family really can''t cough up 300 billion. Our corporate assets total up to only about 120 billion, take it all if you want."


    "Pah, you think you can joke with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Riyu Technology is yours, right? Just this company alone is worth 20 billion US dollars, then there''s Hengyi Petrochemical, with a market value of 18 billion dollars, Wanting Medical Equipment, worth 8 billion dollars, and you own several chain hotels worth more than 30 billion Huaxia currency..."


    Ding Moyi''s face grew uglier by the second. Their family''s wealth was indeed more than 120 billion, even much more, but many of the assets were so secret that not even their own family members knew about them, yet Zhang Menglong could name them all.


    When exactly had he investigated the Ding Family?


    "It seems that the humiliation isn''t enough," Zhang Menglong shouted, "Wang Cai!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s call, Wang Cai sprinted towards him again.


    Seeing Wang Cai, the Ding Family members instantly shrank back. This dog was just too terrifying; the damage it caused was extremely high, and the insult it delivered, unbearable. Being humiliated by people was one thing, but they really didn''t want to be humiliated by a dog again.


    "We''ll give it! We''ll give the 300 billion, okay? We''ll give!" Ding Moyi finally crumbled.


    "What 300 billion, it''s 400 billion!"


    "You!" A look of furious anger appeared on Ding Moyi''s face.


    "Just now, you injured my beloved dog. 100 billion can be considered its medical expenses."


    "Are you intentionally picking a fight? Does this dog look injured to you?" The descendants of the Ding Family were screaming hysterically in their minds. They were the ones injured just before, weren''t they?


    "What? Not willing?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "Then you can''t blame me."


    "Wang Cai, continue!"


    "Woof woof woof!"


    "Ah! Don''t bite my balls! Ah!"


    ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤

 Chapter 383 - 381: Everyone present is... oh my

    "Hong Yi, please take care of the transfer of shares for those companies; someone will come to sign the documents later,"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I''ll handle it this afternoon!"


    ...


    After being humiliated by Wang Cai twice, the Ding Family finally collapsed. In the Ancient Martial Arts World, sometimes face is more important than life. A loss of 400 billion in assets, although a severe blow, was not enough to destroy the Ding Family.


    To get Wang Cai to lift his precious paws, they had to agree to cede a large amount of the Ding Family''s assets, including businesses, real estate, houses, and stock options, finally reaching the sum of 400 billion Huaxia currency.


    "If you had repaid the money earlier, none of this would have happened!" Zhang Menglong called back Wang Cai with satisfaction and casually shot two streams of inner strength at Ding Muyun''s acupoints.


    Ding Muyun spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with crushed ice and would no longer suffer from the Life and Death Talisman.


    "Look at you, if it weren''t for you, your family wouldn''t have had to suffer such misfortune. Truly pitiful," Zhang Menglong left these words and then departed with two people and a dog.


    At that moment, Ding Muyun''s face turned pale as Zhang Menglong''s words had squarely placed all the blame on him.


    Upon reflection, if Ding Muyun hadn''t lusted after Chen Bingyu''s beauty, he wouldn''t have provoked Zhang Menglong. Without provoking Zhang Menglong, the Ding Family wouldn''t have fallen into such a state today!


    Now, the strongest in the Ding Family was only a Level Eight Grandmaster Martial Artist.


    Although they still possessed their Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts secrets, recovering to their former realm would take at least three to five years, perhaps even longer due to the significant loss of family assets.


    In recent times, the Ding Family''s reckless actions had already made them enemies with many families and sects.


    The families were manageable, but those sects housed experts of the Mythical Realm. With the current state of the Ding Family, even a Level One Mythical Realm Martial Artist could sweep through them; they would not leave any chance for the Ding Family to struggle on.


    Once this grand event concludes, the threshold of the Ding House might very well be completely trampled...


    ...


    "What a lucrative deal!" In contrast to the despair of the Ding Family, Zhang Menglong''s mood was as sweet as honey sweetened with sugar. He had just spent 100 billion, and now he earned back 4000 billion, along with hundreds of Cred Points, even his inner strength had ascended to the standard of a Level Eight Grandmaster Martial Artist, "The Ding Family really is my lucky star!"


    Zhang Menglong and his group had arrived quite late, only occupying a small part of those who attended this grand event at the entrance of the island.


    But, the celestial and earthly changes caused by Zhang Menglong''s deployment of Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi had caught everyone''s attention, and word about him quickly spread.


    "What? Several Mythical Realm experts from the Ding Family were crippled?"


    "Done by Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest? Isn''t he just a student in his twenties?"


    "Killing a Mythical Realm practitioner in one move... How strong is he? He must be at least Level Five in the Mythical Realm, right?"


    "One 22 and the other 25, both are Level Two martial artists; such talent is considered quite impressive."


    "Yes, I heard that this year in the Long family of Neichuan Sichuan, there emerged a genius who is already a Level Four martial artist at 27!"


    "Really? I''ve heard there aren''t a few geniuses under 30 who reached Level Four this year, including Ding Muyun from the Ding family, who also reached Level Four through that inheritance."


    "Hmph, how can those kinds of side sect skills compare to the Long family? After all, the Long family has the oldest inheritance, and the Ancient Martial Association reserves a spot for them every year, plus the Inner Cultivation Methods and martial arts of the Long family are probably not weaker than those of the Ding family!"


    "Yeah, their family''s Inner Strength naturally carries a trace of intense fire attribute; I heard that Long Lin''s Dragon Flame Break even has a bit of his grandfather''s skill!"


    "Old Master Long is truly a towering figure; it looks like in this Genius Ranking, Long Lin will definitely be among the top three, perhaps even challenging for first place!"


    "Look, isn''t that Long Lin?"


    The moment the previous young man retreated in defeat, another young man stepped onto the stage, his face showing calm confidence and the pride of a favored son of heaven.


    "Long Lin of the Long family, here to seek guidance!"


    The other young man''s expression changed drastically at once; he was only a Level Two martial artist, and someone like Long Lin, a Level Four martial artist, could probably kill him with a single punch!


    "Brother Long, I know my skills are inferior and shall not embarrass myself!" The young man wisely stepped down from the stage.


    "Hmph! Trash!" Long Lin snorted coldly, "Does anyone dare to come up?"


    "Damn! A 27-year-old Level Four martial artist? Who would dare, that''s just asking for trouble!"


    "Forget about trouble, if you''re not careful you could end up dead; the Long family''s boxing is brutally fierce, who can withstand it?"


    "I heard that Long Lin is not only powerful but also very arrogant, and he likes humiliating his opponents the most."


    Observing the quiet whispers from the crowd below, Long Lin wasn''t annoyed. What he loved the most was this sort of situation¡ªeveryone fearing and revering him!


    "I think this one can take a beating; you should give it a try," Zhang Menglong said to Chen Bingyu.


    "Principal, but he..." Liu Yunyi had heard of Long Lin''s reputation, and although Chen Bingyu was also a Level Four martial artist, male martial artists naturally had gender advantages, so he probably...


    "Humph, are you all scared?" Long Lin still taunted the crowd below, "It''s not personal, but what I meant to say is, all you guys are..."


    "Ouch!" Following a scream, Long Lin''s body suddenly flew out.


    "Who?" Everyone suddenly noticed that where Long Lin had been standing, there now stood a woman!


    "Chief Disciple of the Ritian Sect, Chen Bingyu!"

 Chapter 384 - 382 The Warm-Up is Over

    The female martial artist who suddenly appeared in the arena immediately caught everyone''s attention. Except for the grandmasters, almost no one saw how she appeared on the stage; it was as if she had used instant teleportation.


    "Chen Bingyu? Isn''t she from the Chen Family of Jiangnan City? I''ve heard that she''s just over 20 years old and is about to break through to Level Three martial artist!"


    "She... she is actually a Level Four martial artist!"


    "Such profound inner strength! What did she just say? Is she the Chief Disciple of the Ritian Sect?"


    "Is this really Bingyu?" The members of the Chen Family were all dumbfounded.


    In the past month, Chen Bingyu had hardly returned home. Her family only knew that she seemed to be training in ancient martial arts with Zhang Menglong, but they didn''t understand the details.


    In less than a month, she had directly crossed the huge gap between a Level Three and a Level Four martial artist! Ordinary martial artists, let alone in a month, would laugh in their dreams if they could advance one level in a year or two!


    Is Zhang Menglong performing magic?


    "Hahaha! This is my Chen Family''s descendant, hahaha!" The old patriarch of the Chen Family laughed, his face full of wrinkles. Although Chen Bingyu was now partially affiliated with the Ritian Sect, she still had Chen Family blood flowing through her veins and her relationship with the family had not faded due to Zhang Menglong; she had always been part of the Chen Family!


    A few meters away, Long Lin got up from the ground. Although Chen Bingyu''s attack was swift, the Long Family was known for its fierce and strong inner strength, both in attack power and defensive power. That kick had only caused him a bit of pain.


    "My sect leader said, that phrase can only be spoken by him; others are not worthy!" Chen Bingyu said, looking at Long Lin.


    A slight curve formed on Long Lin''s lips. It had been a long time since he had encountered such a formidable opponent, and this one was even a woman!


    "If you can beat me, I will take back what I just said. But if you lose, even if you are a woman, I will not show mercy."


    "Show mercy? You are not worthy."


    With a month of training, Chen Bingyu had built up an immense confidence. Truthfully, Long Lin''s strength didn''t even put any pressure on her.


    "Flame Dragon Force!" Without further words, Long Lin mobilized his full inner strength, his body becoming burning hot, and even the surrounding air seemed distorted due to the high temperature.


    It is said that when the elder of the Long Family fully exerted Flame Dragon Force, his inner strength would even condense into high-temperature flames that scorched the enemy without harming himself, extremely formidable.


    "Dragon Flame Break!" Carrying a powerful momentum, Long Lin charged towards Chen Bingyu like a wild beast.


    "Elder Long, your family''s Long Lin is still the same, so hot-tempered, without a shred of pity for the fairer sex." Not far away, several senior members of various families were gathered, watching the competition between the younger generation.


    "Hahaha," Elder Long laughed heartily. "I can''t help it; this brat was born a martial fiend. Women and men are the same in his eyes. How is he ever going to carry on the lineage of the Long Family?"


    "He''s not even afraid of killing the daughter of the Chen Family."


    "I remember that the Chen Family doesn''t even have a warrior from the Mythical Realm, and yet they''ve managed to raise such an outstanding junior, truly no small feat!"


    The Elder Long was an influential figure in the Ancient Martial Arts World, renowned for his keen insights. With just one glance, he recognized the extraordinary nature of Chen Bingyu''s palm technique.


    "This palm technique is fierce and powerful, and it can even add a hint of animal essence to the outward release of Inner Strength. Such martial arts are indeed rare in this world!".


    There are indeed many martial arts in the Ancient Martial Arts World that imitate animal movements in forms and techniques, enhancing one''s hand-to-hand combat skills, but only in technique.


    However, adding such essence to Inner Strength significantly increases the difficulty. Such martial arts can definitely be called rare treasures. Until now, not many ancient martial arts techniques in the Ancient Martial Arts World possessed such power.


    And today, they had seen such skills in a young female martial artist in her early twenties.


    "Does the Chen Family actually possess such techniques?"


    "To think it''s even more powerful than the Long Family''s Dragon Flame Break, it''s unbelievable that the small Chen Family has such deep roots!"


    The Chen Family''s martial artists suddenly found themselves the center of attention from many martial artists.


    "Family head, do we have such palm techniques?"


    "Nonsense! I wouldn''t even dare to dream of it. If our ancestors had left us such powerful techniques, I could literally wake up laughing from my dreams!" said the Chen Family''s patriarch, clearly frustrated.


    If their family had such techniques, would they have been bullied by the Ding Family like that before? They, too, wanted to possess such formidable techniques. But their strength did not allow it. The Chen Family''s martial arts were considered second-rate at best in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "Then this technique of hers..."


    "It''s probably from that Ritian Sect of hers," the Chen Family''s patriarch said. "To have caught the eye of Mr. Zhang, that is Bingyu''s good fortune!"


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    ...


    "Not bad!" Chen Bingyu shook off her hands, "The warm-up is pretty much done. Now let''s properly exchange a few moves!"


    "Warm-up? This was just a warm-up?"


    "Damn, we''re all martial artists under thirty, so why is there such a huge gap between people?"


    "Listen to that, can that even be considered human speech?"


    "Typical of Zhang Menglong''s speeches, always cryptic and elusive."


    ...


    "The girl has great perceptiveness!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help wanting to clap. He had never taught Chen Bingyu such words. "She has the potential to inherit my mantle as the king of eccentric banter!"

 Chapter 385 - 383: Come Fight Me if You Dare

    "Great! Great!" the old patriarch of the Chen Family said excitedly, his eyes brimming with tears, "Our Chen Family has finally produced a truly unique genius!"


    In head-to-head combat within the same realm, he could actually stand equal to Long Lin, a genius of the Long Family''s generation, and even slightly overpower him. Such news was sufficient to raise the Chen Family''s prestige by a notch in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "In the recent clash at the port, Zhang Menglong used two types of martial arts. One was bizarre and could convert a martial artist''s Inner Strength for his own use. The other was robust and agile with astonishing power, who would have thought that the Ritian Sect still had a third, such impressive martial art!"


    "I think I just heard that girl say the name of the palm technique is the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Isn''t that a skill from novels?"


    "Who cares if it''s from novels, I think even the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from the novels can only be of this caliber."


    "Just these three martial arts alone are enough to make the Ritian Sect a major powerhouse in the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    ...


    "This isn''t a technique from the Chen Family!" Long Lin looked at Chen Bingyu, his face full of confusion.


    He had grown up basking in the aura of a genius and up till now, no martial artist of the same rank had ever managed to suppress him in a direct confrontation. And yet, today he had been pushed back by a girl?


    "Of course it''s not our Chen Family''s technique," Chen Bingyu smiled, "This is an exclusive secret of the Ritian Sect. Join our Sect and I''ll tell you all about it!"


    The reason why Zhang Menglong had let Chen Bingyu step forward to test the grounds was precisely because Long Lin was also a rare genius, and even his Potential Index surpassed that of Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi, reaching an astounding 14 points!


    If he could study at the Super God Academy for a while, his strength would even far surpass the former two!


    Although Long Lin was a bit arrogant, considering it unbearable for the heaven''s justice not to school the pretentious, wasn''t this exactly the age to show off? Liking to show off doesn''t mean his intentions are not pure!


    "Our Ritian Sect has just been established, and the threshold for recruiting members is still quite low. If you are willing, just call me ''Senior Sister'', and then you''ll be the fourth member of our Ritian Sect!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked dissatisfiedly upon hearing this; he might not be human, but he also had dog rights!


    "Sorry, the fifth member of our Ritian Sect!" Chen Bingyu quickly corrected herself.


    "Grouped with a dog?" Long Lin''s face showed anger.


    Indeed, the martial arts of the Ritian Sect were powerful, and even he was somewhat tempted, but to call a girl five to six years his junior ''Senior Sister'' and to be on par with a dog, how could he remain calm?


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t held it back from rushing into the arena just now, he might have been beaten by a dog by now!


    But in the current situation, Long Lin felt he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Though prideful, he wasn''t foolish. Chen Bingyu, despite being a female martial artist, demonstrated through her just-released move that her strength was undoubtedly no less than his!


    Long Lin had already used eight-tenths of his power, and he believed Chen Bingyu definitely still had reserves. If the match continued, it would probably be difficult to end without issues.


    "That''s enough, the comparison ends here!" Just then, several Grandmasters from the Ancient Martial Association hurried over to give him a way out. They clearly saw Long Lin''s embarrassment. If the match continued, it was likely the Long Family would lose face.


    "Now, let the ranking battle of talents officially begin," one of the Grandmasters of the Ancient Martial Association pulled out a container with bamboo slips, "Draw slips with the same number to pair up for combat. Rankings will be done according to wins and losses; those with lower rankings may challenge those with higher ones until no challenges remain. Is everyone clear on the rules?"


    No one had any objections to the rules. The one-on-one battles could likely mean that two highly skilled participants could meet early and eliminate one of the talents.


    But this challenge mechanism prevented such internal damage, ensuring a relatively fair ranking outcome.


    "Don''t draw that woman, or even Long Lin, just not that woman!"


    The martial artists participating in the draw silently repeated this mantra, fearing Chen Bingyu more than Long Lin.


    "Young lady, it''s your turn!" the Grandmaster from the Ancient Martial Association approached Chen Bingyu.


    "She won''t be participating," Zhang Menglong spoke.


    "What?" Everyone was startled. With Chen Bingyu''s strength, she was absolutely capable of securing a highly coveted rank, even potentially clinching the top spot¡ªa one-battle fame opportunity that would be a fantastic promotion for the Ritian Sect. Why would Zhang Menglong give it up?


    "And your thoughts, young lady?" the Grandmaster confirmed.


    "I''ll follow the Sect Leader''s decision," Chen Bingyu said.


    "This competition isn''t that interesting," Zhang Menglong sighed, "If she joined, the rankings would lose all suspense."


    "He''s too disdainful! With so many of us here, can''t even one prove to be a match for her?"


    "Is he trying to attract attention with this tactic? These tricks are too clumsy, aren''t they?"


    "The Ritian Sect, really too arrogant for words!" Even many old monsters from various families and Sects frowned. Wasn''t this tantamount to saying all the disciples they had trained were useless? Who could tolerate that?


    "What''s the matter? Don''t agree?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the young martial artists surrounding him, "I''m a straightforward person. Compared to the talents nurtured by our Ritian Sect, the rest of you are just pathetic. If this offends anyone present, feel free to come and hit me!"

 Chapter 386 - 384: The Spotlight Must Be Mine

    "Insolent fool!"


    "Is he challenging the entire Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Defeated a mere Ding Family and now he''s so arrogant?"


    Zhang Menglong''s attitude suddenly infuriated many elders of the Ancient Martial Arts World; when they were dominating the Ancient Martial Arts World, Zhang Menglong''s father was probably still drinking milk. Since when did it become the time for a junior to make such audacious statements?


    "No matter!" Although several of the most prestigious Ancient Martial Artists also felt dissatisfied, they controlled their emotions, "The battle for the Sects'' and families'' positions is about to begin. With him being so arrogant now, if he doesn''t compete for one of the nine seats later, it would be laughable indeed!"


    "Exactly, as long as he dares to sit in one of those seats, someone will definitely throw him down fiercely. Let''s see how he resolves it then!"


    ...


    "So, today''s battle for the nine seats of the Ancient Martial Association and the talent ranking battle will begin concurrently. I believe that everyone here must be very familiar with the rules by now. The forces of the martial artists who obtain the nine seats will become members of the Ancient Martial Association''s council for the next year. I don''t think I need to elaborate any further on the importance of this battle, do I?"


    "Begin!" At last, the old monsters who had been silent from the start, meditating with their eyes closed, finally spoke.


    "Alright, those who feel they are qualified to occupy these nine chairs, please take your seats first!" declared a grandmaster from the Ancient Martial Association. Then he quietly moved to the side. The stage was now his.


    The scene immediately fell into silence; no one dared to act rashly unless they were Ancient Martial Artists with extreme strength, for anyone else stepping up would surely face a barrage of challenges.


    "Hmph, since no one else is stepping up, then I will not be polite." The old patriarch of the Long Family stood up first, walking directly to where the chairs were situated. After a moment''s hesitation, he sat down on the chair marked with the number "5".


    "Long Zun, Clan Leader of the Long Family, Level Five of the Mythical Realm, an old monster who lived for 145 years!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but click his tongue, indeed practicing ancient martial arts could extend one''s life. If one ignored Long Zun''s silver hair, with his ruddy complexion and firm skin, he looked merely like a man in his fifties.


    "Old Dragon, you actually dare to sit directly in the fifth chair this time, it seems your Dragon Flame Burst has improved again!" Another elder stood up chuckling. Without any hesitation, he directly took the sixth chair.


    "Wang Baijin, Level Five of the Mythical Realm, 137 years old!" Zhang Menglong could clearly see each of their profiles.


    In fact, the Potential Indexes of these two old monsters had also reached above 10 points, but it was a pity that they were too old, as Super God Academy required that the maximum age must not exceed 28 years.


    "It seems you two have some self-awareness!" yet another elder stood up, emitting an intense low atmospheric pressure. Zhang Menglong noticed that deep within his pupils, there was a faint flicker of electric arc.


    "President, this is the Clan Leader of the Gu family. It''s said that he has reached Level Six of the Mythical Realm. The Gu family naturally possesses a very special constitution. The Inner Strength they cultivate carries a trace of lightning''s destructive power, which, during a clash of Inner Strength, can even paralyze the opponent''s entire body."


    "Level Seven of the Mythical Realm, Gu Wuzhi, 163 years old, Potential Index 16!" This was the highest Potential Index person Zhang Menglong had seen so far! And this Gu Wuzhi''s strength was Level Seven of the Mythical Realm, he was clearly hiding his true power!


    The Martial Artists one by one became extremely agitated as if a switch had been triggered inside them.


    "Is this C seat not allowed to be taken?" Zhang Menglong said, somewhat depressed. "Just because you guys don''t dare to sit doesn''t mean I can''t, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you know who that number one seat belongs to?"


    "Whose?"


    "That''s the Martial God''s seat!" finally someone blurted it out.


    Martial God might have established the Ancient Martial Association alright, but he also runs a massive family, and Martial God''s strength is acknowledged by the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, with no one daring to challenge his authority.


    Anyway, whether there are challenges or not, the final first place will definitely belong to Martial God, so why should they even fight over this seat?


    Therefore, there has always been an unwritten rule in the Ancient Martial Arts World: anyone can participate in the seat challenge, no matter how you fight or wrestle, but the first seat must be left empty as a sign of respect for Martial God.


    The second place in this seat challenge is the honor Martial Artists dream of competing for!


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    To date, this tradition has been maintained for twenty years!


    "Martial God? So what about Martial God? Did he buy this seat?" The Sect Leader countered. "This C seat is mine, and if that Martial God is not convinced, he''s welcome to come and challenge me one-on-one!"


    "What a bold claim!"


    "I can''t stand for this!" a Mythical Realm Level Four Martial Artist stepped forward, "Are you going to step down yourself, or shall I throw you off?"


    "Count you in!" Zhang Menglong shouted. "Is there anyone else who objects? Speak now or forever hold your peace! If there''s anyone else..."


    "I object too!" Another Mythical Realm expert stood up.


    "Good, you''re in too. Anyone else?" Zhang Menglong called out.


    "Me as well!"


    One after another, the Mythical Realm experts stood up to defend the dignity of Martial God, and amazingly, a full 12 Mythical Realm Martial Artists came up to challenge Zhang Menglong!


    "Great," Zhang Menglong laughed. "Taking you on one by one is too troublesome. So let''s do it this way, everyone who objects to me sitting in this C seat, join in at once, the more the merrier!"

 Chapter 387 - 385: The Scrap Copper and Iron We Use for Chopping Firewood

    "Zhang Menglong, you''re way too arrogant. Do you really think you can take on the entire Ancient Martial Arts World by yourself?" A Mythical Realm Level Four Martial Artist stepped forward, a hulking figure with a golden staff slung across his back. He looked like a sturdy middle-aged man, but in fact, he was a curious old monster over a hundred years old.


    "Where''s the logic in what you''re all saying?" Zhang Menglong was perplexed, "There are clearly nine seats here. Aren''t they meant to be sat on? What''s the problem with me sitting here?"


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "I get it now, this is one of your unspoken rules, isn''t it?"


    The ears of the Martial Artists present were burning.


    Of course, everyone knew this was one of the Ancient Martial Arts World''s unspoken rules. The central seat had always been reserved for the Martial God, and no one had ever dared to sit there. Occupying that seat symbolized a challenge to the authority of the Martial God!


    But when Zhang Menglong pointed it out so openly, everyone''s face struggled to maintain composure.


    "This is where I have to criticize you!" Zhang Menglong spoke with an air of wisdom beyond his years, "How can there be unspoken rules in a competition that''s supposed to be fair and just? As an outstanding youth of the 21st century, I must break these unspoken rules. If he really has the ability, just throw me out of the seat, otherwise, go sit at the back!"


    "Are you provoking and insulting the Martial God?!" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the Martial Artists filled with righteous indignation. In the hearts of many Martial Artists, the Martial God was almost a deity-like figure.


    Actually, seventy years ago, during Huaxia''s darkest times, not only did the foreign powers force open Huaxia''s gates with their guns and cannons, but powerful organizations of Mutants from other nations also stormed into Huaxia.


    The strength of a country is ostensibly reflected in its military, technological, and economic prowess, but behind the scenes, an even more crucial factor is the strength of the official Mutant organization!


    At that time, Huaxia lacked the team "Longxia," and local Psychics and Ancient Martial Artists spontaneously banded together to oppose those foreign Mutants and Psychics.


    Initially, a group of immensely powerful European and American Mutants and Psychics invaded Huaxia, and in direct confrontations, Huaxia''s most prestigious Psychics and Ancient Martial Arts experts were either killed instantly or defeated and fled with serious injuries.


    So following that, Huaxia plunged into darkness.


    Later, the Martial God and the current captain of "Longxia" emerged. They engaged in a confrontation with several super-strong individuals from the second-world nations of the West and other countries. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    No one knows exactly what happened in that battle which took place in the Himalayan Range. It''s said to have triggered countless avalanches, even causing shifts in the local geography, to the extent that the elevation of Mount Everest rose by nearly ten meters.


    After that conflict, the two strong individuals who walked out of the Himalayas were from Huaxia, while those Western Mutants and Psychics were left behind in those snowy mountains forever.


    It''s rumored that their opponents were over a dozen individuals equal to or beyond Level Seven of the Mythical Realm!


    Since then, the descendants of Huaxia began their counter-offensive.


    If it weren''t for the Martial God and the leader of "Longxia" standing up, perhaps Huaxia would have walked a completely different future by now.


    "This kid is rather tough!"


    "Let''s go together!"


    "Zhang Menglong, for insulting the Martial God, we will definitely make you pay today, don''t blame us for ganging up on you!"


    "Those who insult the Martial God, kill!"


    Seven martial artists of the Mythical Realm, not minding their status, took action directly¡ªtwo of Level Seven, three of Level Six, and two of Level Four. Such power was even enough to flatten a small country.


    Furthermore, each of them took out their weapons. The weapons used by these Mythical Realm martial artists were definitely not ordinary!


    "Lin Zhen Nan, that old man, actually brought out his renowned weapon!"


    "That''s a Level Three weapon. Even strong practitioners within the Mythical Realm have to go broke to find a master artifact refiner to craft such a weapon."


    "And that pair of heavy hammers belonging to old Zhou of the Zhou Family is also a Level Three weapon, said to be made from a rare extraterrestrial metal meteorite. He spent 27 billion US dollars to buy that piece of meteorite from a European organization!"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, never thought I''d see so many Level Three weapons today. With weapons like these, even martial artists of Level Seven Mythical Realm wouldn''t dare to catch them barehanded, right?"


    "Want to show off weapons with me?" Zhang Menglong smiled, and a purple longsword appeared in his hand with a flash of sword light.


    "Swoosh!"


    A streak of purple light flashed by, and all the weapons aimed at Zhang Menglong were sliced through as if they were tofu.


    "What?"


    "My divine weapon!"


    "How is this possible?"


    The martial artists stared blankly at their weapons. A Level Three or higher weapon was absolutely one of the rare divine weapons in the world; describing them as iron-cutting was no exaggeration. It had always been them cleaving other people''s weapons, never their own being shattered!


    "What... what weapon is that?" Everyone stared at the sword in Zhang Menglong''s hand, even forgetting to attack.


    "Oh, this thing? It''s just some scrap metal used for chopping wood and splitting trees back home, casually brought from one of our farms."

 Chapter 388 - 386: Oh My God, The Martial God is Trembling

    "I''m chopping NM''s firewood here! You''re using such a divine weapon to chop wood, doesn''t your conscience hurt?"


    Capable of slicing tofu like it cuts through Level Three weapons, such a weapon must be at least Level Four or above! Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    But the forging techniques for weapons above Level Four had been lost more than 500 years ago, and even if they existed, they were relics from the distant past.


    To this day, the number of existing weapons above Level Four is limited, and many weapons that appear in Western mythology, like the Sea Urchin Trident, Augustus''s Long Hair, Reaper''s Spear, and so on, were created by the skilled craftsmen of that era.


    In Huaxia, the most famous Level Four weapons are those ten divine artifacts, and it is said that the long-lost Xuanyuan Sword is an even more incredible Level Five weapon!


    In fact, the ten divine artifacts currently on display in the Huaxia museum are all replicas; such divine weapons, even after a thousand years, would still be as sharp as ever. To put them in a museum would be a complete waste.


    The few existing Level Four weapons are in the hands of the core members of Longxia. In the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, only Martial God has a special status, so the country gifted him one of the divine weapons.


    As for Level Five weapons, according to Huaxia''s historical records, only a few weapons like Huaxia''s Xuanyuan Sword, Pangu Axe, Northern Europe''s Eternal Spear, Sword of Victory, and Kaibong''s three divine artifacts could reach that level, and to date, there is no evidence that any of these items have truly existed.


    It''s almost safe to say that Level Five weapons are completely unfindable on the modern Earth! If one really appeared, it wouldn''t just cause a stir in Huaxia, but a sensation throughout the entire world.


    A single Level Five weapon could undoubtedly turn Huaxia into the hegemon of the second world!


    As for using a Level Five weapon to chop wood? Have you gotten your brain caught in a door? You''re so awesome, why don''t you just ascend to heaven?


    "What now, don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "I really just grabbed it from the farm, don''t believe me? Ask my dog!"


    "Woof Woof Woof! (I testify, what he''s saying is true)"


    This sword really was found by Zhang Menglong on his family''s farm, and there was more than just one of these things!


    These items were crafted by the ancestors of Zhang Menglong when they studied at the Super God Academy with master refiners like Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang. Since they were all practice pieces, they ended up being casually left on those farms for the servants to chop wood and weed the grounds.


    You might not believe it, but even the cleavers that Zhang Menglong''s family chef uses to chop ribs are those Level Four and Level Five weapons left over from the past. It''s just that the chefs didn''t know their true value and thought that these knives were just somewhat sharper than usual.


    The reason Zhang Menglong picked up this sword was simply because he liked the color purple; this sword was purple. That''s it! According to Ye Yin, this was a Level Five weapon with a history of over 300 years.


    "And I thought you all had some sort of divine weapons, that can''t even beat a wood-chopping knife."


    The martial artists couldn''t voice their bitterness!


    Each of their Level Three weapons was worth billions or even hundreds of billions of US dollars. Now, in Zhang Menglong''s mouth, they had all become worthless!


    But what could they do to argue? The weapon was in his hands, if he used it to chop wood, then it was a wood-chopping knife; if he used it to sharpen pencils, then it was a pencil sharpener; if he used it to chop ribs, then it was a kitchen knife!


    Against Zhang Menglong''s sword, their weapons were fragile as glass; that was the undeniable truth!


    "Come on, weren''t you all going to join forces to teach me a lesson? Hurry up, I''m Pikachu''s itchy brother, asking for a beating!" Zhang Menglong exhibited a beg-for-beating expression, which even made Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi feel a bit embarrassed.


    Damn, this dean is awesome, but he doesn''t seem very smart.


    The martial artists looked at each other, none daring to take a step forward!


    If they wanted to take on Zhang Menglong, they would first have to consider whether their bodies were as durable as those Level Three weapons!


    In ancient martial arts, there is a branch that does not cultivate Inner Strength but rather tempers their own bodies.


    Yet even a Level Seven Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm couldn''t compare to a Level Three weapon when it comes to solidity; a mere scratch from Zhang Menglong''s sword could potentially cripple them, so who would dare to step forward?


    "If none of you are stepping up, then I''ll just keep sitting here!" Zhang Menglong crossed his legs and continued to sit comfortably in the C position.


    "Zhang Menglong, if you dare, fight without that weapon of yours! What kind of hero relies on a weapon that can slice through iron like mud?"


    "Cut the crap!" A ring of mechanical metal suddenly appeared on Zhang Menglong''s arm, spreading crazily over his right arm until it enveloped his entire limb.


    "Boom!" A red beam of light shot directly at the martial artist.


    "What the hell is that?!" The martial artist was stunned, quickly mobilizing his inner strength to resist the red beam of light, but with his Mythical Realm Level Five strength, his inner strength was shattered the moment the red light hit, blowing him away with a powerful shockwave and leaving a red burn mark on his chest.


    "Zhang Menglong! You are shameless!"


    "You actually used a technological weapon!"


    "You are a disgrace to the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    The martial artists immediately started cursing. In their circle, using technological weapons was the most looked down upon thing. Of course, ordinary technological weapons couldn''t harm a martial artist; within 20 meters, even a Level One martial artist could minimize the damage from firearms.


    As for those above Level Four, just the inner strength alone was enough to withstand the impact of ordinary bullets. To be able to knock back a martial artist from the Mythical Realm, Zhang Menglong''s weapon must have been extraordinary.


    "Who told you I, Zhang Menglong, belonged to the Ancient Martial Arts World?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Sorry, but the rules of your Ancient Martial Arts World don''t bind me. I am free of all taboos!"


    "A Level Five weapon at will, and such a terrifying firearm, what background does he come from?" Zhang Menglong''s means instantly intimidated a large group of martial artists, silencing everyone for a moment.


    "If no one else dares to challenge me, then this C position is mine." Zhang Menglong contentedly removed Iron Man''s arm.


    To harm martial artists above Level Five of the Mythical Realm, one would need a model marking 20 or above. In just one minute, Zhang Menglong''s Cred Points had dropped by 100.


    But ever since he set foot on this island, the prompt for gaining Cred Points had not stopped. Showing off brought him joy and also made him stronger.


    "This year''s Ancient Martial Arts Conference seems very interesting, hahaha!" Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in every martial artist''s ears.


    Upon hearing this voice, the martial artists'' spirits, which had been downcast just moments ago, were immediately lifted.


    "Martial God! That''s the voice of the Martial God!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, the Martial God is here. I''d like to see how you handle the mess you''ve made today!"


    "Martial God, we beg you to deal with this disgrace to the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong? 22 years old, with the strength of the Mythical Realm, truly extraordinary!" An unassuming old man had appeared in a corner of the venue, seemingly taking a leisurely stroll, yet with each step, he moved tens of meters as if by magic.


    "The Zhang Family shouldn''t have the capability to teach such a genius," the plain-looking old man stopped in front of Zhang Menglong, "but genius or not, the Ancient Martial Arts World won''t allow you to break the rules. Leave this place!"


    "Yin Wuyi, 196 years old, the peak of Level Nine in the Mythical Realm," Zhang Menglong was also somewhat surprised. This Martial God''s strength had actually reached the level of Xiong Ba!


    "Ye Yin, can you... can you take him on?" Zhang Menglong was nervous, he couldn''t use Xiong Ba''s power now, and if Ye Yin couldn''t handle it, given how excessively he had shown off today, he might just die right there.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, killing him will be as easy as slaughtering a chicken!" Ye Yin''s response was still full of confidence.


    "That''s good to hear!" Zhang Menglong immediately regained his calm.


    "So you are the Martial God?"


    "Hehehe, you''re the first young man to speak to me so casually. I can give you a chance, you..." Suddenly, the Martial God''s words stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on a symbol at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s clothes.


    His hands and arms began to tremble involuntarily at that moment, and even his expression lost its erstwhile arrogant coldness.


    "What... what did I see?"


    "My god... the Martial God... he seems to be shaking..."

 Chapter 389 - 387: It Appears Again!

    "What on earth is going on?"


    Everyone had noticed the anomaly with the Martial God.


    Since the battle more than 70 years ago, the name of the Martial God had resonated throughout the Second World. For global psychics, mutants, and the like, apart from a few high-ranking experts of the same level, almost everyone else lost their courage at the mere mention of the Martial God''s name.


    The Martial God had always been unfazed in the face of any adversity, even when confronting a certain captain from Longxia, he had never shown the slightest hint of cowardice.


    But now, they could clearly see not only shock but also a hint of fear on the face of the Martial God.


    "Why is the Martial God constantly staring at that symbol?" Someone keenly noticed that the Martial God''s gaze was fixed on an inconspicuous emblem on the hem of Zhang Menglong''s clothing.


    It was a symbol similar to a Hexagram, with the heads of two beast-like creatures on either side, apparently the brand logo of the clothing.


    "What''s his situation?" asked Zhang Menglong, completely puzzled as he stared at the Martial God. He could no longer use Xiong Ba''s power, and by himself, he had no way to confront the Martial God. He had even prepared to call Ye Yin to help him fight, and had even started fabricating Ye Yin''s background.


    Who knew that the situation would deviate entirely from the script, with the Martial God getting scared silly just by seeing the logo on his clothes. What was this maneuver?


    "Ye Yin, what exactly is this thing?" asked Zhang Menglong curiously. "If I remember correctly, every piece of my clothing has one of these symbols. Isn''t this the logo of my family''s private clothing workshop?"


    As for this emblem, Zhang Menglong had never paid much attention to it, even many of the servants and employees in his household had this symbol on their clothing.


    The Martial God got freaked out by a logo?


    "Mr. Zhang, this is not some clothing workshop''s logo, this is your family''s clan emblem!" said Ye Yin seriously, "This symbol has been around for more than 4000 years, and it is a symbol of your family''s honor and history."


    "What the fuck, our family has a clan emblem?"


    "Even those small families with only a hundred or two hundred years of history have their own clan emblems, how could your family not have one?" Ye Yin laughed, "If it weren''t for your ancestors'' lack of ambition, the whole world would have been unified thousands of years ago."


    Ye Yin continued, "You might have never noticed, but ordinary employees and staff aren''t entitled to wear clothes bearing the clan emblem; only those who have truly become part of the Zhang Family are awarded the honor of wearing the clan emblem."


    "The clan emblems also vary in rank; Mr. Zhang, you being a direct descendant of the Zhang Family, yours is of the highest grade. The use of the two beast heads is also the highest rank specified in the family genealogy, others are not entitled to use these beast heads on their emblems."


    "Well, that''s really something," Zhang Menglong''s attention returned to the Martial God. "Could he recognize my family''s clan emblem? But even if he recognizes it, there''s no need to be scared like this, right?"


    "As for the matters of the Martial God''s era, I really don''t know. Please wait a moment, I will have Ms. Hong Yi look into it!"


    ...


    Yin Wuyi had indeed recognized the emblem. A memory that had been buried for over 70 years suddenly emerged from his mind.


    That day had determined the fate of Huaxia''s future. Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe, the current captain of Longxia, had challenged 16 experts from the world''s powerful nations of the Second World.


    At that time, one of them was a Mythical Realm Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist and the other was a Level Seven God-tier Psychic, representing the highest combat power of Huaxia''s Second World at the time.


    However, their opponents were no less formidable; among these 16 enemies, 12 were high-ranking experts of the same level as them, and the remaining four were only slightly weaker.


    This was Huaxia''s last chance. If it had been one-on-one, they were confident they wouldn''t lose to anyone, but 2 against 16, their defeat was merely a matter of time, they had not even considered the possibility of surviving!


    Actually, that battle was not initiated by the two of them, but by 16 superpower individuals from the major powers as a final opportunity for Huaxia; if the people of Huaxia won, they would leave Huaxia, but if the two of them lost, then this 5000-year-old civilization would utterly sink.


    So in this war, there was no room for retreat!


    The battle was extremely brutal; just at the outset, Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe were severely injured, but together they managed a desperate strike that instantly killed those four Level Six peak Divine Technician Psychic users and super Mutants.


    But with just this single clash, they almost lost all mobility; Yin Wuyi''s chest bone was shattered by a super Psychic from Europe, known as Thor, and the powerful electric current left his entire body paralyzed.


    Meng Tianhe was impaled by a Level Four weapon, which was a mythological weapon from the West, the Lance of Archinus!


    This spear possessed a kind of energy that devoured life force; if it weren''t for the fact that the life force of a Divine Technician Psychic was extremely resilient, he might have died within seconds of the spear penetrating his body.


    However, those 12 super-elite fighters from the major powers at most suffered some minor injuries, and the battle seemed almost devoid of suspense.


    But what they didn''t expect was an uninvited guest entering their battleground, a man with handsome features who was unmistakably from Huaxia, dressed in a thick down jacket, wearing glasses, and standing on a snowboard as though he was skiing in the Himalayas. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    This scene completely baffled them; although they were not fighting at Mount Everest, this area was still at an altitude of over 6000 meters, who in their right mind would ski there? In an era with such primitive technological equipment, it was outrageous enough for an ordinary person to climb such heights, let alone to ski¡ªthat was courting death!


    Who knew this Huaxia man would take off his ski mask and start cursing, saying that their fight had triggered an avalanche, completely ruining the skiing area he had been searching for days, and telling them to get lost immediately!


    A super Psychic from Germany acted right on the spot, as killing an ordinary Huaxia person in their eyes was no different from killing a chicken.


    This German super Psychic was known as the King of Ice and Snow, specializing in ice and snow Supernatural Abilities, with abilities so strong that a mere thought could freeze thousands of miles, turning everything into ice sculptures.


    However, before this young man, his abilities completely failed!


    What followed was a scene Yin Wuyi would never forget for the rest of his life!


    With just a glance from this young man, a giant Ice and Snow Giant hundreds of feet tall rose from the mountainside and with a single punch, turned this so-called King of Ice and Snow into a pile of smashed flesh.


    Who was the King of Ice and Snow? A Level Seven super Psychic, renowned worldwide among super Psychics as a mighty force, yet he was killed by a mere glance from an unknown young man. Wouldn''t that scare you?


    The group of Divine Technician Psychics and super Mutants from the Western powers assumed this young man was a high-level reinforcement from Huaxia, and they launched a ferocious attack on him simultaneously.


    But the young man just gave a cold laugh, a golden Illusory Sword hundreds of feet long descended from the sky, nearly splitting the entire mountain range in two, and even the geological upheavals created another massive peak.


    As for the group of Mutants and Psychics, not even their bones could be found.


    For Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe, the arrival of this mysterious young man was nothing short of a divine weapon descending from the heavens. With these superpowers gone, the other second world humans from these powers posed almost no threat at all.


    They informed the young man of the entire incident and thanked him for his intervention, but the young man simply did not care and told them emphatically not to tell anyone that he was responsible for this before he left.


    After some discussion between them, they finally decided to keep the identity of this mysterious young man a secret, taking all the events upon themselves.


    The young man did not leave his name, and his face was covered with snow, which made it difficult to see clearly; the only thing they remembered was the emblem on his clothes.


    Over 70 years passed, Yin Wuyi became a Martial God and had nearly forgotten about that incident and that person. The story of that great battle had been told thousands of times, and subconsciously, they themselves had become the protagonists of the story.


    Today, that emblem appeared once again!

 Chapter 390 - 388 My great-grandfather just wants to go skiing

    "Mr. Zhang, the general situation is this," at this time, Ye Yin also conveyed the information Hong Yi had passed back to Zhang Menglong.


    The incident itself was rather simple; the young man who appeared skiing in the Himalayas years ago was Zhang Menglong''s great-grandfather, Zhang Kang.


    Zhang Kang merely wanted to find a suitable slope for skiing, but just as he had found a nice slope, those people began to brawl, the tumult of the battle triggering an avalanche that destroyed the slope stained with blood.


    With a temper already prone to flare-ups, Zhang Kang believed that tolerance led to childlessness and retreat to the end of one''s lineage; he stormed onto the battlefield right then and there.


    He had actually intended only to break up the fight and, by the way, teach these bastards who disturbed his skiing a lesson, but to his surprise, that fellow called the King of Ice and Snow attacked without a word.


    With no other choice, since mediation failed, Zhang Kang thought he might as well kill them all and, incidentally, make some contribution to the country. To Zhang Kang, this was just a trifle, but it became etched in memory for seventy years for Yin Wuyi, a Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm, and Meng Tianhe, a Level Seven elite Psychic.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong could hardly imagine the extent of his great-grandfather''s strength at the time, but Ye Yin told him that he couldn''t even match a single finger of his great-grandfather!


    "Are you the Martial God they speak of?" Having his great-grandfather as a backdrop, Zhang Menglong straightened his spine instantly, confident that unless this Martial God was in the late stages of Parkinson''s, he wouldn''t dare raise his voice, let alone act hostile in his presence.


    "I am Yin Wuyi, unworthy to claim the title of Martial God before you, sir. It''s merely an empty honor bestowed by the people of the Ancient Martial Arts World," under the gaze of thousands of Martial Artists, Yin Wuyi bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong.


    "What... what did I just see? The Martial God bowed to Zhang Menglong?"


    "What on earth is happening here?"


    "The Martial God even says he dares not call himself Martial God in his presence?"


    In an instant, the faith of these Martial Artists crumbled.


    According to the script, shouldn''t the Martial God have started teaching this ignorant brat a lesson directly? Something seemed off with this script!


    The Martial God was an extremely proud man and one with a bad temper at that. There were times when several highly skilled degenerates emerged in the Ancient Martial Arts World, and the Martial God showed no mercy, slaying them with a single blow.


    But in front of Zhang Menglong, why did the Martial God seem like a well-behaved child, even speaking in hushed tones?


    "Martial God! This ignorant brat not only challenges the entire Ancient Martial Arts World but even insults you. Please, Martial God, deal with him!" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Martial God, what''s happened to you?"


    "We implore the Martial God to act, to remove this disgrace from the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    "Are you trying to kill me?" Yin Wuyi turned suddenly, his eyes seeming to shoot out countless sword beams. Merely with a look, there appeared a sword mark hundreds of meters long on the ground.


    In those days, Yin Wuyi, merely a Level Seven Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm, could not perceive how strong Zhang Kang was. Was he at the Tianyuan Boundary, a realm only speculated to exist and not seen for hundreds of years, or perhaps even higher?


    If a warrior of the Mythical Realm could live over two hundred years old, was it strange for such a person to still look so young now?


    If Zhang Menglong really was that mysterious expert who had acted all those years ago, with 70 years passed, who knew if this man was about to ascend to immortality.


    He, a Martial Artist, was going to fight with someone nearing cultivation immortalization? Was he simply tired of living after all these years?


    The roar of the Martial God instantly silenced everyone. They looked at Zhang Menglong with completely changed eyes.


    If the Martial God alone could intimidate the whole Ancient Martial Arts World, and yet he didn''t dare to offend Zhang Menglong, just how powerful was he?


    "It seems you have recognized this emblem," Zhang Menglong said, pointing to the Clan Emblem on his person.


    Actually, after leaving the Himalayas that year, Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe immediately used all the resources at their disposal to search for this mark, but they came up empty-handed. It wasn''t simply a brand of clothing; it represented a certain force, even a certain identity!


    "I cannot forget the life-saving grace and the patriotism you showed in that battle," Yin Wuyi said, "If it were not for you, Brother Meng and I would probably have been slaughtered by that group of experts from the powerful countries."


    "What?"


    "The one who took action that year was Zhang Menglong? Impossible, wasn''t he not even born at that time?"


    "Weren''t those people killed by the Martial God and the captain of Longxia? What exactly is going on?"


    "This is preposterous!"


    ...


    "I''m very sorry; due to your instructions to keep your intervention a secret, we could only take the credit ourselves." As discussions arose all around, Yin Wuyi openly admitted, "If you blame me, I accept it, but I hope you won''t take your anger out on Meng Tianhe."


    The martial artists suddenly had a realization; so that''s what happened that year!


    But it didn''t make sense, this Zhang Menglong looked like a show-off who was all about appearances¡ªhaving done such a great deed, how could he keep such a low profile?


    "You are mistaken, it was not I who acted that year, but my great-great-grandfather," Zhang Menglong said, "The symbol you saw is just the clan emblem used by the direct line of the Zhang Family."


    "So that''s how it is," Yin Wuyi''s expression underwent no change; regardless of whether Zhang Menglong was the man from back then, even if he was his descendant, he still deserved his respect.


    "May I ask if your great-great-grandfather is still well?" Yin Wuyi inquired cautiously, "If possible, I would like to meet him again."


    "Oh, there''s no need for that, my great-great-grandfather loves to travel all over the place. Now I have no idea where he''s goofing around. You know, people like him never age." Zhang Menglong certainly didn''t know which parallel world his great-great-grandfather was messing around in by now, maybe playing mahjong with the Jade Emperor in the world of Journey to the West.


    "That''s truly a pity," Yin Wuyi shook his head, "I wanted to thank the elder in person for saving my life."


    "To be honest, my great-great-grandfather wasn''t that noble," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "The thing is, you were fighting so fiercely, you destroyed the natural ski slope he had found; that''s why he came to find you. When he couldn''t stop the fight, and those idiots started attacking him, he had no choice but to kill them all."


    "This... This is the truth of what happened that year?"


    "One man killed more than a dozen top-level experts just for skiing?"


    "Damn! Are all the people from the Zhang Family so flamboyant?"


    "Learning something new... That reason is just too damn badass."


    "So you''re saying, Zhang Menglong has a great-great-grandfather who already far surpassed the Martial God and Longxia seventy years ago?"


    "And he''s still alive?"


    "This... No wonder Zhang Menglong has such formidable strength at just over twenty years old; how powerful must his great-great-grandfather be now? Could he already be at that Heavenly Origin Realm level that hasn''t been breached by anyone for hundreds of years?"


    "To kill more than a dozen top-level experts with one move, he must have been in the Heavenly Origin Boundary already; could it be that theirs is a family that has been passed down intact from that era?"


    "This Ritian Sect is absolutely invincible!"


    ...

 Chapter 391 - 389: Barely at the Level of My Familys Bodyguard

    "No matter the reason, it''s a fact that Mr. Zhang''s great ancestor saved me and also a fact that he protected Huaxia, he deserves our respect," Yin Wuyi said with utmost sincerity.


    "From today on, whenever you see this symbol, it represents the most honored guest in the Ancient Martial Arts World. Do you understand?" Yin Wuyi''s gaze swept over all the martial artists present, "If anyone dares to disrespect Mr. Zhang, I''ll be the first to kill him!"


    The martial artists all nodded in agreement, trembling with fear.


    Although today the image of the Martial God had crumbled in their hearts by a great deal, no one could shake his status in the Ancient Martial Arts World. He alone could shock the entire Ancient Martial Arts World!


    As for offending Zhang Menglong? That would take more than a simple lack of sense.


    Leaving aside his unfathomable strength, easily defeating several renowned martial artists of the Mythical Realm who attacked together, and even casually destroying their weapons, this was no longer about who dared to disrespect him; rather, it was about how many people even qualified to disrespect him.


    And today, the entire Ancient Martial Arts World also understood that Zhang Menglong had a great ancestor who was at least at the legendary Heavenly Origin Realm seventy years ago and was still alive! Just this person alone, if he was determined to make a big move, could probably dominate the world with ease, right?


    The so-called Heavenly Origin Realm was already a legendary realm; according to ancient texts, such a person could destroy a city or even a country with a single move.


    Could it be that the Zhang Family would only have one expert at the Heavenly Origin Realm?


    Even to the Ancient Martial Association, in the eyes of the Zhang Family people, they were worth less than nothing. How could they not treat such a person with the utmost respect?


    "Now, I am sitting in this seat, none of you should have any objections, right?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the crowd, "If there are any dissenters, feel free to come at me. I promise I won''t bully anyone using my position!"


    The threatening look in the Martial God''s eyes disappeared in an instant; it was clearly a warning to them that Zhang Menglong was merely being polite, and they better not take it seriously. Anyone who really had a problem would be the first to be cut down by him.


    "Alright, continue with your business," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly, pulling out a handful of sunflower seeds from somewhere and entering spectating mode.


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    Everyone knew that with the support of the Martial God and his family behind him, Zhang Menglong and his Ritian Sect were on an unstoppable rise; that topmost seat of the nine was now indisputably his.


    "Mr. Zhang, you must have other purposes for coming here today, right?" Yin Wuyi asked respectfully. With the background of Zhang Menglong''s family, if they wanted to dominate the world, the whole world would be theirs by now. What would they care about a mere permanent director''s seat in the Ancient Martial Association?


    "I am here for recruitment this time," Zhang Menglong stated, "However, my requirements are quite high, ordinary talents do not qualify to be my students. I heard that today''s conference is full of geniuses, so I came to have a look."


    Zhang Menglong continued to explain, "To recruit students, I can''t just show up without any display of my abilities, right? So I could only join them in their play."


    "You want to recruit students?" Yin Wuyi was taken aback. No one in the Ancient Martial Arts World knew better than him how terrifying Zhang Menglong''s family background was, with at least one elder at the Heavenly Origin Realm and himself reaching a level at just over twenty years old that others would only achieve at the age of one or two hundred. Their way of nurturing talent was simply incomparable to those of other sects and families.


    If one became part of the Ritian Sect, it was almost like getting a guaranteed spot in the Mythical Realm, and there might even be a chance to explore the Heavenly Origin Realm!


    Thinking about this even made Yin Wuyi''s breathing become heavy.


    Stuck at the peak of level nine in the Mythical Realm for more than thirty years, to this day he hadn''t seen the slightest sign of a breakthrough, not even a clue. Perhaps he was destined to be stuck at this level for life.


    "Mr. Zhang, would it be convenient for you to talk about the situation of your school? I am quite familiar with the Ancient Martial Arts Families; maybe I can help you spot some good students."


    Zhang Menglong of course knew Yin Wuyi was trying to draw him out, but Zhang Menglong didn''t mind, "Currently, my school is preparing to recruit the first batch of students, divided into small, medium, and large classes. The first small class aims to recruit at least ten people, and for now, I have recruited only two."


    Yin Wuyi''s expression stiffened, small, medium, and large classes; this sounded like kindergarten. Could he get any more infantile?


    "The small class has a three-year curriculum, with the graduation requirement being the Mythical Realm; the medium class has a six-year curriculum, and the graduation requirement is the Heavenly Origin Realm; the large class has a permanent curriculum, but one needs to be above the Heavenly Origin Realm to enroll."


    Yin Wuyi was split open on the spot as soon as these words were said. What did this imply? Cultivating a Mythical Realm martial artist in three years? Allowing a martial artist to break through from the Mythical Realm to the Heavenly Origin Realm in six years? Was he kidding?


    Yin Wuyi had been the most dazzling genius in the Ancient Martial Arts World for the last two or three hundred years, with none to rival him! Yet, it took him forty years to break through to the Mythical Realm and more than a hundred years to reach the peak of the Mythical Realm.


    Zhang Menglong had compressed that time by more than tenfold! To cultivate an ordinary martial artist to the Heavenly Origin Boundary within such a timeframe... that was just absurd!


    But Yin Wuyi''s sixth sense told him that what Zhang Menglong said might very well be true!


    "Do you find it incredible?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m not afraid to tell you that half a year ago, I was just an ordinary person."


    "Can... can I join?" Yin Wuyi suddenly became excited, "I''ll enter the middle class... No! I''ll even take the junior class!"


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Yin Wuyi. His potential indeed exceeded 10 points, but his age was just too great. Currently, the Super God Academy''s requirement for the first batch of students was to be under the age of 30, and there was nothing he could do about it.


    "You''re too old!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, "I''ll look for you when the school opens up a class for the elderly."


    "A class for the elderly..." Yin Wuyi couldn''t help but show a wry smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me handle the recruitment of students," Yin Wuyi stood up and said to the leaders of the major Ancient Martial Arts Families, "Today, Mr. Zhang plans to recruit at least 8 students in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World. If your families have exceptionally gifted younger members, this is an opportunity!"


    The leaders of the Ancient Martial Arts Families looked at each other. Zhang Menglong was indeed formidable, and his background was astonishing. But for some reason, possibly because of Zhang Menglong''s irreverent character, they all felt a hint of resistance deep inside.


    Zhang Menglong stepped forward. He knew these people might need some encouragement.


    "I know you may doubt the quality of my school," Zhang Menglong took out a small porcelain bottle and, the moment he opened the stopper, the fragrance of the pill overflowed.


    "Immortal Pill! That''s the scent of an Immortal Pill!"


    "He really has more Immortal Pills!"


    "There must be at least ten in that bottle, right?"


    "He''s taken out another bottle. How many Immortal Pills does he still have?"


    "No, this scent is even stronger than Immortal Pills!" An alchemist from one of the families started flipping through an old book, "This fragrance... could it be the legendary Spirit-Transcendence Pill?"


    "Elder Qiu, what is the Spirit-Transcendence Pill?"


    "The Spirit-Transcendence Pill... It''s something that can assist martial artists in breaking through to the Heavenly Origin Realm. But its pill recipe has been lost for 1200 years, and even if it existed, many of the medicinal ingredients have long since gone extinct. How did he... How ancient is his family''s heritage?"


    "Seeing how eager you are, I''ll give you one!" Zhang Menglong took out a Spirit-Transcendence Pill and tossed it to Yin Wuyi. In reality, this substance was not what the Super God Academy called a Spirit-Transcendence Pill, but a "Sovereign Supreme Pill" concocted by the Pill Sovereign, Yao Chen, which was an elixir that could help a Battle King break through to a Battle Emperor!


    Yin Wuyi, with trembling hands, caught the Sovereign Supreme Pill, fearing that Zhang Menglong might change his mind, he swallowed it down immediately.


    In an instant, over thirty years of Yin Wuyi''s hard cultivation exploded with the power of the elixir, his aura began to expand wildly, the clouds in the sky dispersed from the rising waves of power, and the entire island trembled under this force.


    Beneath Yin Wuyi''s aura, everyone felt as insignificant as ants.


    "Is this... is this the legendary Heavenly Origin Realm?"


    "A realm that hasn''t been reached in hundreds of years, it''s too fearsome."


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong looked at Yin Wuyi with the proud eyes of a father, "Not bad, not bad, you''re barely at the level of my family''s bodyguards now."

 Chapter 392 - 390: Im Just Calling You Guys

    ```


    Barely at the level of your family''s bodyguard? Are all the bodyguards in your household at the Heavenly Origin Realm? How are you so freaking awesome?


    Excluding Zhang Menglong''s monstrous family, Yin Wuyi is absolutely the first person in hundreds of years in the Ancient Martial Arts World to reach this realm. Even for the Zhang Family, it should be something only those core members can achieve, right?


    "Damn, you don''t believe me?" Originally, Zhang Menglong thought that after saying that sentence, he would at least score a couple hundred cred points, right? However, he didn''t get any cred points at all; clearly, these people just thought Zhang Menglong was spouting nonsense.


    "Laying it all out there now, no more pretending. Today I''m going to flaunt a little!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Ye Yin, come out and greet everyone, will you?"


    "Mr. Zhang, when have you ever been low-key?" Ye Yin muttered, then slowly materialized behind Zhang Menglong.


    "You dare say that again! Just try repeating that!" Zhang Menglong came up and gave Ye Yin a couple of knocks on the head, "In front of so many people, I need to save face!"


    Ye Yin wore a look of grievance but dared not say a word.


    "This... there''s actually been someone by his side all along!"


    "None of us noticed him, but he looks to be only in his twenties, right?"


    "Is he his bodyguard?"


    Yin Wuyi was still reveling in the euphoria of breaking through the Heavenly Origin Boundary, but the moment he saw Ye Yin, his joy dissipated into nothing.


    To the average person, Ye Yin looked like a completely ordinary young man, with not the slightest hint of Inner Strength or any other energy.


    But Yin Wuyi, who had already ascended to the Heavenly Origin Realm, could feel much, much more than they could!


    Having broken through to the Heavenly Origin Realm, the Inner Strength within Yin Wuyi had transformed into another, higher-grade power. In ancient texts, Heavenly Origin Realm martial artists are already at a high martial phase, with something called Yuan Force flowing through their bodies.


    Now he is more than ten times stronger than he was just before!


    Yet in front of Ye Yin, he still felt a sense of awe, as if gazing up at a tall mountain; his strength seemed trivial in Ye Yin''s presence!


    This must be a peak Heavenly Origin Realm expert, or perhaps even a master of a higher realm! Such a person seemed to be Zhang Menglong''s personal bodyguard!


    If he wasn''t having a hallucination just now, not only did Zhang Menglong hit and scold this super expert but even gave him two smacks on the head in front of so many people, and yet the young man didn''t get angry at all, nor did his expression reveal the slightest displeasure.


    "Let me introduce you all; this is my personal bodyguard," Zhang Menglong said, "A normal Tianyuan-tier martial artist, he could probably blast a hundred or eighty of them to death with just a fart!"


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the Ancient Martial Arts World''s system, my power is only at the peak of Heavenly Origin Realm. I could only severely injure a normal Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist with a fart at most; I couldn''t possibly blast a hundred or eighty to death," Ye Yin said naively.


    "Why are you spouting so much nonsense? If I say it can blast them to death, it can blast them to death," Zhang Menglong reprimanded in a low voice, "Now be quiet, don''t speak anymore, you''re affecting my swagger!"


    "Right, did you guys just now not believe that all my bodyguards are at the Heavenly Origin Realm?" Zhang Menglong challenged.


    No one spoke up. Given Zhang Menglong''s identity and status, it wasn''t too strange to have a Heavenly Origin Realm expert as a bodyguard, but the claim that all his family''s bodyguards were at the Heavenly Origin Realm? That seemed far too absurd.


    "Alright, I got it, you still don''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Actually, I''m not trying to brag or show off or anything, I just wanted to prove that I am an honest person."


    "Ye Yin!" Zhang Menglong gave Ye Yin a look.


    Instantly picking up on it, Ye Yin rolled up his sleeve, and only then did Zhang Menglong notice for the first time that there was a tattoo of the Zhang Family Clan Emblem on Ye Yin''s wrist!


    The Clan Emblem tattoo emitted a faint green light, acting like a communication device; suddenly, in countless corners of the Earth, individuals with the same tattoo felt a burning sensation on their wrists.


    "The Clan Emblem... The master is summoning us."


    "From the direction of southeast Huaxia."


    ...


    The Ancient Martial Arts Conference venue suddenly quieted down, and everyone''s eyes were gathered on Zhang Menglong and Ye Yin.


    Then, as if a breeze just wafted by, a ripple coursed through the air around them.


    ```


    ```


    "Swoosh!" In the blink of an eye, the sky above the island was suddenly covered with dense figures! They appeared out of nowhere in the air as if they had teleported.


    They were uniformly dressed, each donning a black cloak, adorned with the uniform Zhang Family clan emblem at the back. Their presence exuded an air of invincibility!


    "Is this... ten thousand? Or twenty thousand?" If the scene he witnessed 70 years ago was the most shocking for Yin Wuyi, then the current spectacle had completely overturned that shock.


    The densely packed figures in the sky, each and every one of them had a weaker aura than him. In other words, there were as many super-powerful beings on the par with the Heavenly Origin Realm as there were people!


    "Zhang Family''s First Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Zhang Family''s Second Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    ...


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    "Zhang Family''s Eighteenth Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Zhang Family''s Personal Guard Squad of 200 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Personal Guard Squad..." Yin Wuyi stared fixedly at the 200 people suspended at the highest point in the sky; they gave him a feeling almost identical to the one Ye Yin gave him.


    "Eighteen thousand people in the Tianyuan, 200 at the Tianyuan peak," Yin Wuyi''s face had already stiffened, "So many high-grade Tianyuan experts have been hidden in the world all along, and here I was, thinking I was among the few strongest on Earth."


    "Hahaha..." Yin Wuyi laughed bitterly as if he were stimulated by the sight.


    ...


    "Master, the Zhang Family Guard Teams are fully assembled. Please issue your orders!"


    "Oh, it''s nothing, you can all go back, I was just calling you out," Zhang Menglong said, "It''s so tiring for everyone being busy all the time; you need to come out now and then to unwind and adjust your mood, to avoid any psychological problems."


    "I suddenly really want to kill him!"


    "Over ten thousand Tianyuan, are you joking, brother?"


    "He... he''s so insufferable, isn''t he afraid of being killed by his own subordinates?"


    "Yes!" Over ten thousand people disappeared just as mysteriously as they had appeared, without a hint of dissatisfaction, but the shock they left behind lingered for a long time.


    "Alright, I''m a pretty low-key person, so let''s not spread the news about today," Zhang Menglong jingled two bottles in his hand, the clinking of the elixirs inside causing every martial artist to blush.


    "Let''s talk about the recruitment instead," Zhang Menglong said, "At my school, supply of these elixirs is guaranteed; you can eat them like meals as long as your body can handle it."


    "Elixirs aplenty?"


    "I get it now! Those bodyguards of his, they must have all been cultivated in the same way! Mass production of Tianyuan realm?"


    "So, if we join his school, maybe after a while, we, too, can step into the Tianyuan realm?"


    "Damn it! Were we actually hesitating earlier? Are we idiots?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a son who''s very talented, 22 years old and already a Level Three martial artist; he will definitely meet your requirements!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have two sons, do you think they qualify? If they don''t, I''ll go make more with my wife tonight!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I own many properties in the secular world, I am willing to trade assets worth 200 billion US dollars for a spot!"


    "Get lost! You dare to mention 200 billion US dollars? I''ll put up 500 billion US dollars!"


    "Mr. Zhang, my daughter is also a genius, and she''s especially beautiful, our family accepts unwritten rules! Her twin sister, I can send her along too!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong wore an embarrassed smile on his face: "You... you guys are so saucy..."


    ```

 Chapter 393 - 391: This Isnt a Proper School, Is It?

    The so-called courage under the promise of great reward meant that with such a powerful incentive, it wasn''t just the offspring of those families who were tempted. Even those brilliant martial artists from sects and clans considered their options.


    Certainly, their sects had been generous to them, but even if those sects were exceptionally powerful, the most they could do was to train them up to the Mythical Realm, and that too was a matter for several decades later.


    However, joining Zhang Menglong''s school meant that the Mythical Realm was just a starting point. Perhaps they might even touch upon the legendary Heavenly Human Realm. At that point, what would their own sect mean? They would have to be extremely respectful to them, even if it meant betraying their sect.


    "Bastard, our sect has nurtured you for over a decade. Is this how you repay us?"


    "Elder, I''m only going undercover. Once I find out the secrets of Zhang Menglong''s school, I will definitely return to our sect and glorify it!"


    "Bullshit, I see the way you drool over Zhang Menglong''s elixirs. Do you think I''m an idiot?"


    ...


    "Sect Leader, Master, I just think that Zhang Menglong''s place will surely gather a lot of talents. Competing with other talents there will allow me to grow faster. I don''t care about elixirs at all, I''m not interested in them one bit."


    ...


    "Junior brother, how can you do this? Leaving your sect without looking back¡ªhow heartless! You''ve disappointed your senior brother deeply!"


    "Senior brother, you ran faster than me, so stop pretending to be a saint."


    "I don''t want to see you stray from the path. I need to keep an eye on you, that''s the only way to fulfill the trust your family placed in me!"


    ...


    Dozens of sects and families, over two hundred talented individuals, gathered before Zhang Menglong. Among these two hundred people, there were no less than 27 young martial artists with Potential Indexes over 10.


    "Gou Dan, can I recruit more than eight students?"


    "Principal, based on the number of teachers we have now, the maximum number of students we can accommodate is one hundred."


    "So I can take them all, eh?" Zhang Menglong nodded. "Still, we can''t just take anyone!"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over those 27 people once again.


    "Hong Yi, I need the information on these people in the shortest time possible, including their growth experiences, personality traits, character, and so on." Zhang Menglong snapped a photo and sent it straight to Hong Yi via his phone.


    "Give me three minutes!"


    ...


    Hong Yi''s efficiency was indeed astonishing. In less than half an hour, all the information was sent to Zhang Menglong.


    "Born with a lightning attribute Inner Strength constitution, not bad, I''m taking this one!"


    "Born with Divine Power, physical strength more than three times that of martial artists of the same level? I''m taking this one, too!"


    "Holy crap, impressive, having watched 6,524 movies, truly talented, a must recruit!"


    "This one''s too ugly, ruins the image of the school."


    ...


    Out of these 27 people, Zhang Menglong eliminated 9 who had particularly poor conduct, deciding to take the rest into his Super God Academy.


    The selected were overjoyed while the rejected were gloomy, beating their chests and stamping their feet.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m clearly stronger than him, why did you choose him and not me?" A youth with a somewhat pale face asked unwillingly.


    He was 24 years old and had reached Level Three as a martial artist¡ªa rather impressive feat for his age. His Potential Index was also a considerable 12 points.


    As for the one he was referring to, that person''s strength was merely that of a Level One martial artist. Could he really not compare to someone like that?


    "Are you sure you want me to tell you the reason?"


    "I must know!" the young martial artist nodded and said.


    "Because you have poor conduct!" Zhang Menglong stated.


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    "Ever since I started learning ancient martial arts, I''ve never bullied anyone with my skills. How could you say I have poor conduct?"


    "You molested a sow when you were 15 years old!"


    "You... how do you know... you''re slandering me!"


    "Don''t doubt the intelligence gathering capabilities of the Zhang Family!" Zhang Menglong held up a photo in front of him. Although it was slightly official, it was clear that this was the young man in question. He was doing unspeakable things to an old sow.


    "You... I wondered how that old sow in our family''s pigpen died in such a depressed state, famous for being mysteriously disheartened. Turns out we have a disgrace like you!" The young man''s elder shook his head disappointedly, "Our family is truly unfortunate!"


    "Father, let me explain!"


    ...


    "What on earth can''t he do?" Everyone showed looks of surprise. Even the strongest national intelligence agencies couldn''t uncover a young man who had profaned a sow in his own pigpen ten years ago, could they?


    In this world, was there anything that counted as a secret to Zhang Menglong?


    Especially those who had done something shameful, they quickly shrank back, terrified that Zhang Menglong would also reveal their dirty deeds.


    "Come with me!" Having found the people he was looking for, Zhang Menglong had no desire to stay in this godforsaken place any longer.


    The group of young martial artists nodded and followed Zhang Menglong off the island.


    Back on the aircraft carrier, Zhang Menglong gathered everyone in one room, then laid out a dozen scrolls on the table.


    "Sign your names. From today on, you''re also students of Super God Academy," Zhang Menglong said with a smile as he looked at them.


    "Super God Academy? I thought it was the Ritian Sect?" The young geniuses were all taken aback.


    "This is the alias we''ll use in our travels in the martial world," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Sign your names, and come with us!"


    With a mental command from Zhang Menglong, a slender door appeared out of thin air. Zhang Menglong walked straight through it with Chen Bingyu.


    This sight astonished everyone, but what they felt even more was curiosity and anticipation. They looked at each other, then without hesitation, wrote down their names and followed in Zhang Menglong''s footsteps, entering a new world.


    "Congratulations, Headmaster, on completing the mission. The Academy''s student capacity has increased to 1,000, and the number of teachers that can be unlocked has risen to 30!"


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong revealed a surprised smile. This meant he could free up 20 more teachers!


    He had already accumulated over 2,000 Cred Points. If he wanted, he could gather all these teachers immediately!


    "Unlock 10 teachers for me first!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    Ten beams of light descended from the sky. Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, his eyes filled with expectation, and the new group of students who had just entered the school were also full of surprise and curiosity.


    "Thor greets the Headmaster!"


    "Uchiha Itachi greets the Headmaster!"


    "Amuro greets the Headmaster!"


    "Hachishin Taichi greets the Headmaster!"


    "Yao Chen greets the Headmaster!"


    "Yao Chen!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up with excitement. He had been looking forward to this teacher for a long time. As long as he learned his Alchemy Technique, he could allow his loved ones and friends to enter Super God Academy as well!


    "Wait, why do these people look so familiar?"


    "Newton greets the Headmaster!"


    "Einstein greets the Headmaster!"


    "Zhou Shuren greets the Headmaster!"


    "Cang Jingkong greets the Headmaster!"


    "Kato Ei greets the Headmaster!"


    "What the..." Zhang Menglong''s gaze turned to the new students of Super God Academy.


    "Why do I feel like this isn''t a normal school?"


    "I''m thinking the same thing. With those two teachers showing up, this clearly isn''t any ordinary school!"


    "I think... we may have been a bit hasty."


    "I..." Zhang Menglong became somewhat at a loss for words. The first few teachers were somewhat normal, but how come these two great figures had also appeared?


    "I... I think I can explain!"

 Chapter 394 - 392: Theres No Technological Content

    "Thor, Uchiha Itachi, why don''t both of you serve as teachers in the Martial Arts Department!"


    Thor and Uchiha Itachi possessed far greater strength than Xiong Ba and the others, yet they lacked interest in management, preferring the more leisurely and comfortable role of instructors.


    "Tai Yi, you will be the head of the Beast Taming Department, Amuro, you''ll join Takumi Fujiwara in the Driving Department, and Yao Chen, the Pharmacy Department is yours to oversee!"


    "Yes, we will follow the principal''s arrangements!"


    "Newton, Einstein, the Physics Department will be under your care, and Zhou Shuren, why don''t you become the head of the Literature Department?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze finally settled on the two true educators.


    "How about both of you join the Life Sciences Department..."


    After organizing all the teachers, Zhang Menglong breathed a sigh of relief. These two were not ordinary people; one careless move could easily invoke the wrath of censorship!


    The students all came from Ancient Martial Arts Families and schools, and Zhang Menglong directly arranged for their administration majors to be in the Martial Arts Department. Now they were all first-year students in small classes, and starting from today, they would embark on a new life!


    ...


    Basking in the sunlight of the East Sea, Zhang Menglong lay in the aircraft carrier''s swimming pool while video chatting with Lu Yiyao.


    Under the guidance of two music masters, Lu Yiyao''s progress was incredibly rapid. In the retest at Jiangnan Music College, she was directly admitted as a graduate student to the Pop Music Department with the highest score. In a couple of days, she would move permanently from Gusu to Jiangnan City, then began their unabashed days together.


    "I need to take a call," Zhang Menglong ended the video call. It was from his mentor, Professor Han Jinyu.


    "Professor Han, it seems you have good news!"


    "Hahaha, indeed!" Han Jinyu laughed heartily. "Our first batch of chips has completed all the processes, a total of 120 million, and after inspection, the defect rate is less than three in a billion. The precision of the equipment you developed is really too high!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled. This was technology from Iron Man Tony, far ahead of the current era, such precision was just the basics for him.


    "What about the other results?"


    "All have met our expected success. The world''s most advanced technology can produce 5nm chips, and this technology has been used in the trials of 6g technology. But our chips have reached the 2nm threshold, completely bypassing 6g technology, ready to challenge even higher levels of technology!"


    "Great!" Zhang Menglong showed a gratified smile.


    5g technology is already gradually being scaled up. The data transmission speed of 6g technology will be dozens of times that of 5g, and online, it''s at least a hundred times faster than 5g technology!


    In this era of information, if the speed of information transmission can reach a difference of hundreds of times, the resulting disparity will be like heaven and earth!


    "Menglong, there''s one more thing," Professor Han was a bit reluctant to speak.


    "Go ahead."


    "Such a big event, the state is bound to get wind of it. Although the market and other countries are still unaware of our current achievements, it is impossible to escape the state''s intelligence network. The Science and Technology Bureau has already contacted me."


    Zhang Menglong was not at all surprised!


    Huaxia''s chip technology started late, and even state-led projects have so far been unable to mass-produce 10nm level chips. Zhang Menglong, however, was able to mass-produce 2nm chips, outstripping all technological powerhouses in the world. How could the state remain indifferent upon receiving such news?


    "If you''re free tomorrow, come to the Jiangnan City Science and Technology Department. There''s an old man who wants to meet you."


    "Elder?" Zhang Menglong was startled, "Which elder are you talking about?"


    "You''ll know when the time comes," Han Jinyu sold him a cliffhanger.


    "Alright, please pass the message that I''ll definitely be there tomorrow."


    ...


    The following afternoon, when Zhang Menglong arrived at the Technology Department, Professor Han Jinyu and Professor Chen Hui had already been waiting for him at the entrance.


    "Menglong, when you meet the old man later, you must be polite. Don''t be brash like you are with other people, understand?" The two accompanied Zhang Menglong inside while earnestly reminding him.


    "Who exactly are we meeting that you''re being so secretive?" Zhang Menglong asked as they walked through the winding corridor to a room.


    Military personnel armed to the teeth stood on both sides of the room. They inspected the three men thoroughly before letting them enter.


    Only two people were in the room, an old man and a young man. The younger one appeared to be in his thirties and exuded an extraordinary aura of heroism, a feeling Zhang Menglong had only previously sensed from the captain back in Longxia.


    "This is a person from Longxia!" Zhang Menglong instantly confirmed the young man''s identity and became even more puzzled. What kind of person could command Longxia''s personnel as personal guards?


    "Menglong, you''re here? Please sit down!" The old man''s voice was very kind, and the moment he turned around, Zhang Menglong was stunned.


    "You... You''re Chairman Zhou..."


    Zhang Menglong was born into a remarkable family, and in terms of power and influence, his family was unrivaled, with no need to concern themselves with an entire country. But the man before him was a true great man! He had devoted almost all his life''s work to the country.


    He had actually retired many years ago, but his heart still lay with the country, and in the hearts of the people of Huaxia, he had left a deep imprint.


    "Haha, I''ve already retired. You can dispense with that title. If you respect this old man, you can call me ''Old Zhou''!"


    "How could I possibly do that?" Zhang Menglong hastily refused.


    "There''s nothing wrong with it. Moreover, I do have a favor to ask you this time." Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Just say it!" Zhang Menglong patted his chest.


    "You probably already know why I''m here. I''m interested in the high-end chips mass-produced by your company," Old Zhou said, "You must be aware that after the chip technology blockade, the country''s situation has been far from good, with the development of communication technology greatly restricted, deeply affecting the comprehensive national power."


    Zhang Menglong nodded, understanding that science and technology are the primary productive forces.


    "If we could master your technology, our country''s scientific and technological strength could almost leap an era forward. It would also extend to the military, national defense, the economy, and other aspects."


    "Old Zhou, whatever your request, please say it," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Can you transfer the core technology of the 2nm chips to us?" Old Zhou earnestly asked, "Of course, the country won''t let you suffer any losses. You can make any demands, whether it''s corporate policy or something else. Naturally, the country will give you a satisfactory patent fee."


    "I know that you must have invested a lot of resources in developing this entire technology. For the country to directly ask for it might feel like reaping where it hasn''t sown, but..."


    "Hahaha, Old Zhou, you''re too courteous. If we start talking about money, that would hurt our relationship! As for the chip technology," Zhang Menglong did not take it to heart at all, "giving away such things with no significant scientific content, I could give a hundred to the country with no issue!"

 Chapter 395 - 393: Let Me Do the Splits for You

    "No technological content?"


    The two professors beside him wished they could slap Zhang Menglong to death.


    The 2nm chip technology is not exclusive to other countries, but it is still only in the stage of a small number of experimental samples and has extremely high costs and low production volumes, nowhere near mass production and industrialization.


    This is a completely different concept from mass production.


    Frankly speaking, any country that masters 2nm chip technology can, within just a few years, achieve world-class communication technology, thereby affecting economics, politics, military, and other areas, leaping to the status of a technological powerhouse!


    According to the current pace of chip technology development, it will take at least 5 more years to achieve mass production of 2nm chips, and until now, countless hurdles have not been overcome.


    Solving any of these challenges starts at a cost of tens of billions of US Dollars, and any successful scientific research can earn a professor or even an Academician title. Are you fucking telling me there''s no technological content?


    If this thing has no technological content, then what does?


    "Menglong, what the hell are you talking about in front of Professor Zhou?" Han Jinyu quickly pushed Zhang Menglong, this brat really dares to show off in front of anyone now?


    "I''m serious!" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "This level of technology, I can easily come up with hundreds of them! I have as many technologies more advanced than this 2nm chip as you want!"


    "You''re getting more and more outrageous!" Han Jinyu said, "How old are you? How much knowledge could you possibly have amassed since you were in the womb?"


    "Professor Han," Professor Zhou waved his hand, Zhang Menglong''s outrageous claims not only didn''t anger him but made him even more curious about this young man. Not everyone dares to brag so boldly in front of him, "Can I take a look at your scientific achievements?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Do you have a computer?"


    "Back to Rui!" Professor Zhou told the young man from Longxia.


    The young man immediately handed over a computer.


    "What kind of brick is this?" mumbled Zhang Menglong.


    A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed the face of the young man called Back to Rui, "This is a supercomputer specially prepared by the nation for special departments, costing over 8 million US Dollars. Mr. Zhang, you probably can''t buy a better computer than this anywhere."


    "Oh, come on," Zhang Menglong operated it casually for a moment, "This smoothness, the response time, it''s rubbish compared to my home''s supercomputer!"


    "Supercomputer? You have a supercomputer at home?" Professor Zhou asked, "What rank is it?"


    "Which one are you asking about?"


    "Which one? You have more than one?" Even with Professor Zhou''s good temper, he couldn''t help but feel the urge to beat Zhang Menglong up. Were supercomputers something you could just get casually?


    "At the place in Jiangnan City where I stay most often and in my hometown, I have one that''s in the petaflop class. In both Yanjing and the Magic City, I have one at the hundred-petaflop level. In other countries, I guess there''s one hundred-petaflop computer per place."


    "You... your technologies were developed with those computers?" Professor Zhou asked with widened eyes.


    "Not really," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I just use them to play games and watch movies. You have no idea, some console games when you play, even the most expensive computers can get stuck, but this thing will never lag!"


    "I... cough cough cough!" Professor Zhou nearly had an asthma attack after hearing this.


    Although Huaxia has quite a few supercomputers, there are only two in the petaflop class, "Tianhe-1" and "Xingyun," and Zhang Menglong''s family has two of them, which are even used for watching videos and playing games¡ªthis is beyond the description of a prodigal son.


    But thinking about it, for someone who uses a supercomputer daily for games and movies, an 8 million US Dollar supercomputer really would seem like nothing more than a brick.


    "You... just show me those technologies first..." Professor Zhou was afraid asking any more questions might give him a heart attack.


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong logged into a database he had developed and opened a file.


    "Actually, I just played around with this full set of 2nm chip technologies. Here, I have the technology for 0.2nm chips, including photolithography machines, photoresist, and other equipment. I think this kind of thing is truly worthy of the nation."


    "0.2nm?" Not to mention Old Zhou, even the two professors were suddenly wide-eyed, how many years ahead is this compared to the current technology? Probably more than ten or twenty years, right?


    "Professors, please take a look," Old Zhou said.


    "Old Zhou, this is not our area of expertise," the two professors said. One was an expert in organic polymer materials and the other a mechanical expert. They could give it a try with the photoresist technology, but for the rest, they couldn''t provide any professional advice.


    "You can find someone to take a look," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Are there any semiconductor experts in Jiangnan City?" Old Zhou asked.


    "There are," Chen Hui said, "Academician Hu Chun from Jiangnan University is an authority in the semiconductor domain. If you need, I can contact him for you right now."


    "I''d appreciate that, Professor Chen."


    Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    ...


    "What? 0.2nm semiconductor technology?" Upon hearing this news, Academician Hu Chun almost flipped the table in his lab, "Are you messing with me? This isn''t a joke, is it?"


    For a leading figure in the semiconductor industry, there are few people in Huaxia who understand better than Academician Hu Chun what this represents.


    "Old Zhou is right here, who would dare to mess with you? We''re in the city science and technology hall. The technical materials are also here. You know that my expertise is just the photolithography machines. There aren''t many people who have delved as deeply into semiconductor technology as you have."


    "Good! Wait for me, I''ll be there immediately!"


    ...


    In less than twenty minutes, an old man whose hair had already fallen out rushed into the room, looking harried; several guards outside the door almost mistook him for a dangerous element and detained him.


    "Where is it? Where?" Academician Hu Chun asked urgently. Seeing Old Zhou, he restrained himself a bit, "Sorry, Old Zhou, I got a little carried away."


    "Academician Hu, you are the expert in this area, please take a look at these materials and see if there are any issues," Old Zhou didn''t mind. It''s these science fanatics that push the nation''s technological development forward at rocket speed.


    Hu Chun took the computer and casually browsed through a few pages. His expression went from calm to excited, from excited to stunned, and finally from stunned to a complete deadpan.


    "Carbon-based chips... They''ve actually broken through the limitations of silicon-based materials!"


    Just this point alone surpasses current technology by an unfathomable margin!


    Based on the atomic diameter of silicon-based materials, 0.2nm was already considered the limit for chips. Hu Chun felt that if someone really had developed 0.2nm chip technology, it would only mean that they had pushed silicon-based materials to their limits.


    But using carbon-based materials was absolutely a revolutionary change for the industry. Setting aside the significance, the difficulty was definitely ten to a hundred times greater than that of 0.2nm silicon-based chips!


    "This... where did this come from?" Professor Hu Chun asked with a trembling voice. With his understanding of the industry, to make chips like these would take at least 20 years, "I must meet this expert!"


    He hadn''t done an in-depth examination of the materials, but he believed they were extremely reliable! The person who could organize this information had to be a hundred times stronger than him!


    Everyone''s gaze fell on Zhang Menglong; Hu Chun''s gaze also followed the others until it rested on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "You... Are you this expert?"


    "Don''t look at me like that," Zhang Menglong said, a bit uncomfortable under their scrutiny, "Or else, should I do a split for you first?"

 Chapter 396 - 394: Why Dont You Become the Academician?

    "Academician Hu Chun, how is this material looking?" Old Zhou asked with a gaze brimming with anticipation.


    "I still have a few questions to confirm," Academician Hu Chun suppressed his excitement and thrill, "I hope you don''t mind if I call you Menglong?"


    "You are too kind, Academician Hu," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Please ask any questions you have, I will make sure to answer them."


    "This kid is heading for a fall!" Han Jinyu''s face showed a somewhat awkward expression.


    Even if Zhang Menglong really came up with the 0.2nm chip technology, it must be the result of a long period of research conducted by a large number of researchers he hired due to his family background, right?


    It''s a huge industrial chain involving many disciplines including, but not limited to, physics, chemistry, mathematics, mechanics, and even a very fine division within each discipline, such as the field of physics which includes mechanics, high energy physics, and so on.


    In such complex research, it is impossible for one person to be involved in the entire development process. At most, they might participate in one or a few research aspects.


    Academician Hu Chun is a leader in the semiconductor field, with at least thirty years of research experience in the chip industry. His knowledge, while not extremely profound in every field, at least touches the core; otherwise, he wouldn''t have obtained the title of Academician.


    Probably not a single one among the researchers backing Zhang Menglong would be able to answer Academician Hu''s questions, right?


    As for Zhang Menglong, he is no prodigy, never having won any competition award. Academician Hu Chun could probably stump a professor with just a random question, let alone Zhang Menglong. How could he possibly have an answer!


    It would be impossible even if he started learning about semiconductors while still in the womb!


    "The electron mobility of carbon crystal transistors can reach 1000 times that of silicon crystal transistors, with a peak operation speed 5 to 10 times faster, and power consumption only 1/10th of silicon crystal transistors. It sounds very tempting, but carbon is too reactive, and its dielectric constant is relatively low. How will you resolve this?"


    "This is actually quite simple!" Zhang Menglong began to explain non-stop. In the world of Iron Man, their nano technology is nothing short of magical for current humans. Carbon-based chips had long since replaced silicon-based chips, and 0.2nm was just the beginning for carbon-based chips!


    "This kid... really knows his stuff!"


    Although his research was in the field of polymer materials, many disciplines are interconnected. In the domain of nanotechnology, both non-polar and organic materials are relevant.


    The methods of nano material preparation spoken by Zhang Menglong seemed like the opening of a door to a new world for Han Jinyu.


    He quickly took out a notebook and began to take notes frantically. If he could apply these materials to his own research, he might even have a chance at aiming for the title of Academician!


    The more Academician Hu Chun listened, the more astonished he became. Nearly half of what Zhang Menglong spoke about was still at the theoretical stage, some were merely at the conceptual phase, and there were even one or two views that no one had ever put forward before!


    But what was most terrifying was that he could describe these extremely profound matters in the simplest language possible, making them comprehensible to them without any difficulty!


    Could this really just be a young man in his early twenties?


    In fact, if it had been a few months earlier, although Zhang Menglong could have understood these principles, he would not have been able to explain them so thoroughly.


    But Zhang Menglong summoned both Einstein and Newton just yesterday!


    After they entered the Super God Academy, they did not cease their research. Their research directions and depth had reached frightening levels; they wanted to study anything they did not know.


    From something as small as an atom to something as large as a galaxy, their accumulation of knowledge was beyond what Earth''s civilization could imagine.


    Now the two of them had lost interest in science, and their biggest hobby was studying theology. According to them, at the end of science lies theology!


    After spending a few hundred academic credits, all the knowledge they had accumulated over the years had become Zhang Menglong''s. Quantum mechanics, quantum entanglement, relativity theory, and even mathematical knowledge, astronomical knowledge, and more.


    Over the years, Einstein and Newton had also developed a large amount of material that still exists only in theory, such as Gauss weapons, anti-gravity devices, nuclear fusion engines, and anti-matter weapons.


    Things that would only exist in sci-fi films and novels, many had already become reality! Moreover, in the Super God Academy, there are real objects of these things!


    Even if it is the principles of these devices, Zhang Menglong could talk with you for three days and nights without pause. Compared with these, the carbon-based chip was simply the difference between elementary school and doctoral study.


    For Zhang Menglong''s current level of knowledge, explaining the technology of carbon-based chips is nearly no different from explaining an elementary school math problem.


    But the materials on these technologies were simply too vast; over 70% of the content was a technical blank. If one were to fully understand it all, they would have to lecture non-stop for three months and three nights.


    "What kind of monster are you exactly?"


    Professor Hu Chun''s mentality had completely collapsed. Now, he even began to suspect whether Zhang Menglong was an alien being from an advanced civilization. In just an hour or two of conversation, Professor Hu Chun felt that what he learned exceeded his research of the past two or three decades.


    "I''ll take that as a compliment," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Old Zhou, I''m leaving this information with you, but I''m not responsible for implementing it."


    "Good! Excellent!" Old Zhou grabbed Zhang Menglong''s hand, "On behalf of the nation, I thank you for your contribution."


    He got his hands on 0.2nm chip technology; what the hell did 2nm matter anymore? Forget about it!


    "Oh, and there are many other pieces of technical information in my folder. If you''re interested, you can take them and have a look. But be warned, some of it might be beyond your comprehension even if I gave it to you," Zhang Menglong added.


    "Quite the boastful talk!" Han Jinyu took the computer, "I want to see what other technical information you have." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    "I want to see too, it''s crazy enough that one domain is like this, but you have more?"


    Even Old Zhou leaned in curiously.


    When they saw the names of the folders, everyone was petrified.


    "Space Orbit Technology."


    "Cancer Cell Targeted Treatment Technology."


    "Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet Technology!!!?"


    "Airborne Electromagnetic Railgun Technology!!?"


    "Global Ecological Purification Technology!!?"


    "Anti-gravity Engine Technology?"


    "Nuclear Fusion Technology?"


    ...


    "Strong Interaction Material Technology."


    "Curvature Spaceship Technology?"


    "Wormhole Technology?"


    "Solar Furnace Technology?"


    ...


    The first few pieces of technology seemed to be within the scope of modern science''s comprehension, but as they looked further, the names of these items were nearly incomprehensible to them.


    Setting everything else aside, weren''t "Curvature Spaceship" and "Strong Interaction Material" things from science fiction novels? Could they actually be created?


    And humans had only just confirmed the existence of black holes through gravitational waves, and now you''re telling me you can already create wormholes? Without three to five hundred years, modern scientists wouldn''t dare to even dream of such things!


    "Can I... can I swear? Are you sure this isn''t just clickbait?" Professor Han Jinyu felt like his scientific research dreams were shattered.


    "These things are all still in the conceptual and theoretical stage, right?"


    Professor Hu Chun took out a notebook and slammed it on the table, "Why don''t you take over as the academician instead? I''m not worthy; I''ll just be your assistant..."

 Chapter 16 16 The factory has already started production for you

    "Brother Zhang, that car costs 72 million, are you kidding me?"


    "What''s there to joke about with just a car!" Zhang Menglong said with the air of a man to whom money was no object, "I just like making friends, and this little amount of money is well spent if it makes everyone happy, right? Anyway, I''ve bought so many cars I can''t possibly drive them all myself."


    "By the way, do you know any professional vehicle lubricators?"


    "Vehicle lubricators? What job is that?" Qin Feng and Wang Ling looked at each other in confusion, as this was the first time they had heard of such a profession.


    "It''s someone who specializes in driving," explained Zhang Menglong, "I''m afraid if I buy too many cars and just leave them in the parking garage without driving them for a year or half, they''ll all gather dust. Someone has to regularly take them out for a spin to lubricate the machinery, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s explanation almost drove Qin Feng and Wang Ling crazy. How many cars did he possibly have? But then again, it made sense; someone who could casually buy 14 cars probably had far more at home.


    "I want to be a vehicle lubricator too!" a few of the male sales associates whispered to each other, "Even if there''s no salary, driving sports cars every day to pick up girls sounds unbeatable!"


    "Forget it, with cars like those, would you even dare to drive them? Scratch it by accident, and you''ll be selling your house to pay for the damages!"


    "As if I have a house to sell..."


    "By the way, Qin Feng, I heard you really like Aston Martin cars¡ªthat Valkyrie is my gift to you. I can''t play favorites now, can I?"


    Qin Feng''s eyes lit up when he heard this. Although the Valkyrie wasn''t as valuable as the Poison, it was still a limited edition worth tens of millions!


    "Hahaha, since Brother Zhang is so generous, we''ll shamelessly accept," Qin Feng said, "If you ever come to Mingzhu City, we''ll make sure to show you a good time riding the open road!"


    Qin Feng and Wang Ling didn''t stand on ceremony; after all, Zhang Menglong was clearly someone who wasn''t short of cash. If they refused, it might actually offend him.


    As for the social media influencers nearby, witnessing this scene almost made their jaws - even the surgically-enhanced ones - drop. They thought they were living the high life mingling in Wang Ling and Qin Feng''s circle, but today''s events had surpassed their wildest dreams.


    Meeting someone for the first time who casually gives away cars worth millions was an emotional shock that couldn''t be imagined unless experienced firsthand.


    "Boss Su, I''ll leave the car arrangements to you."


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be taken care of perfectly!" The money was all in place; this was just a matter of procedure.


    "Let''s go, dinner is on me today!" Wang Ling said, overjoyed at getting a car without spending a cent, "Meeting Brother Zhang today has been such a happy occurrence, nobody dare compete with me for the bill!"


    "No one is competing with you, Principal Wang!" Su Yu said with a smile, "However, we might need to wait a bit longer; Mr. Saige, the Asia Regional Manager of Koenigsegg, is coming over soon."


    "What? The car''s being moved away?" Wang Ling looked reluctant to let go, knowing that Su Yu had a Koenigsegg CCVR, which he always admired for a long time every visit.


    "That''s something you''d have to ask Brother Zhang," said Su Yu, turning her gaze to Zhang Menglong.


    "You didn''t buy this car too, did you? Wasn''t it said that this car was here just temporarily and not for sale?" Wang Ling asked in surprise.


    "Cars are made to be sold, where does this notion of not for sale come from?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "The conditions might be a bit harsh, but nothing that can''t be dealt with!"


    "Boss, Mr. Saige is here!" Just then, a sales associate came in, accompanied by a middle-aged Caucasian man, into the underground showroom.


    "That was quick!" He had just been told it would take an hour, and not even half an hour had passed when Mr. Saige arrived.


    "Mr. Saige, long time no see!" Su Yu greeted him immediately, even using the few Swedish phrases she knew.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Su," Saige responded politely, then his eyes began sweeping over everyone present.


    "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Zhang Menglong?" an interpreter accompanying Saige inquired.


    "Oh, that''s me," Zhang Menglong stepped forward.


    To everyone''s surprise, Saige, who had appeared exceedingly arrogant and condescending just a moment earlier, now adopted an extremely humble attitude in front of Zhang Menglong, bowing deeply, "I''m sorry for making you wait, Mr. Zhang."


    Witnessing this scene, not only Su Yu but also Qin Feng and Wang Ling were astonished. They had been present during the entire process of delivering the Koenigsegg CCXR to their location. Even when they tried to invite the Asian director for dinner that evening, they were turned down¡ª the man simply didn''t acknowledge them!


    But such a person was now revealing a completely different side in front of Zhang Menglong, which made them even more curious about his identity.


    All these scions of wealth had their own circle. Without knowing everyone, they were certainly familiar with the top-level tycoons. Yet, they had only met Zhang Menglong today. Could he have always been this low-key?


    "It''s alright, I''ve only waited for less than half an hour," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I want to buy this car, but I heard one needs to own at least seven Koenigsegg series vehicles, correct?"


    "That''s the case for others, but our chairman said if you, Mr. Zhang, want this car, you can take it away any time. Here is the key to the car!" Saige handed over a luxuriously packaged key box to Zhang Menglong with utmost respect.


    "My God, who is he?" The trio of Wang Ling exchanged glances, all seeing the shock in each other''s eyes, especially Su Yu. He hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to actually stir the chairman of Koenigsegg.


    "No, no, no, have you not understood me? I don''t want to break your rules. Just arrange for me to acquire the full series first, and I will pay just the same!"


    "Are you out of your mind?!" The three on the side were all itching to curse. Gathering the entire series would cost at least several billion, not to mention this CCXR worth over two billion. They''re offering it to you for free, and you think you have too much money? If it''s too much, give some to us, we''ll help you spend it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, our chairman has already instructed that all these cars are limited editions, and they already have owners. It''s not very realistic to recall them. However, our factory has suspended all other orders to produce a new vehicle of each model for you. So you are now our supermember and have the purchasing rights for this vehicle!"


    "What? Koenigsegg''s factory actually suspended all other orders just for him?"


    "Holy crap, does he own the damn factory?"


    If simply convincing the owner of Koenigsegg to sell him the car was surprising enough, this move absolutely blew their minds.


    Suspending factory orders meant offending other clients. How many people capable of affording a Koenigsegg are easy to provoke? What kind of power does he have to persuade Koenigsegg''s owner to alienate other clients just for him?


    "Okay, if that''s the case, let''s proceed with the transaction. Remember, not a penny less, and no discounts!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Saige wiped sweat from his forehead; such a request was certainly a first for him.


    In fact, he didn''t know exactly who Zhang Menglong was, but his boss had made it clear¡ª they had to keep this gentleman satisfied, or not just him but even their headquarters could collapse in minutes!


    "Mr. Zhang, the total is 1.68 billion!"


    "I don''t like decimals," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Yes, how about we round it to 1.6 billion? Does that seem alright?" Saige cautiously had his translator relay the message.


    "Are you wiping off 80 million just like that?" The likes of Wang Ling were dumbstruck. Was there such a way to round numbers?


    "No, what I mean is, you can charge more. Let''s make it 1.7 billion. The extra can be considered a service fee." Zhang Menglong was eager to spend more rather than have them round down!


    "Reverse... rounding down?" Wang Ling clenched his fists, completely baffled. What sort of tactic was this? It was way beyond his comprehension!

 Chapter 17 17 Someone slammed a dunk on me with money

    "Mr. Zhang, here''s your receipt." After the payment was completed, Saige finally relaxed a bit. It seemed that he could now guess why his boss valued this gentleman so highly.


    In capitalist countries, money is everything. This gentleman doesn''t treat money like money at all; he doesn''t want freebies, he doesn''t want discounts, and he tips twenty million just like that. Does his family own a mint?


    "Perfect!" Spending over two billion in a day made Zhang Menglong feel as though he had achieved a small goal.


    "Boss Su, add me on WeChat later. I''ll send you the location of my house. Drag all these cars to my underground garage. I''ll arrange someone to coordinate with you."


    "You''re the boss, you call the shots!" The mental shock Su Yu received today was beyond description with words. They''re now realizing that in front of Zhang Menglong, they, the so-called super-rich second-generation and distinguished gentlemen, were nothing but insignificant.


    "Hahaha, thanks a lot." This small episode quickly warmed up the relationship between the four, and the initial awkwardness dissipated.


    Although each of them was a second-generation rich kid, when surrounded by people of similar or even greater wealth and status, none of them put on airs and they quickly started to chat with one another.


    Having left the club matters to Manager Zhen from earlier, the group went straight to Su Yu''s car and drove off towards the nearest five-star hotel.


    "Let me tell you, I''m paying for the meal later. No one is to fight over the bill with me!" Wang Ling, who always liked to show face, had all his thunder stolen by Zhang Menglong today. He was determined to regain all his face in this meal.


    "Alright, alright, no one''s going to fight with you, Principal Wang!" Zhang Menglong estimated that even if he ordered all the best dishes in the hotel, he could spend at most one or two million. Compared to his 100 billion expenditure challenge, it was merely a drop in the ocean. Even if he ate like this for three meals a day, it would take a hundred years to spend it all.


    So, there was no need to vie for this bill.


    Although Wang Ling wasn''t a regular at this hotel, as a seasoned internet celebrity, his face was his best advertisement. As soon as he got out of the car, phones started snapping photos around him. Thankfully, Zhang Menglong, being cautious of viruses, wore a mask every day. Otherwise, he would have been identified online today.


    They found a quiet and elegant private room and sat down with the four of them and a few internet celebrities.


    "Never would''ve thought Principal Wang still likes internet celebrities as always," Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Hahaha, want me to introduce a few to you? Seeing you coming out alone to buy cars, it''s obvious you must be a lonely single man!" Wang Ling didn''t shy away from it. He indeed liked internet celebrities. Although their faces were all alike, he could still find interesting souls among them.


    "What lonely single man? Only the broke are called that. Menglong here should be called a ''single aristocrat''!"


    "Hahaha, that''s such an outdated term. I''m still surfing the net!"


    "Stop it, you guys. It''s so awkward I almost scraped together a three-bedroom flat with my toenails!"


    "By the way, we still don''t know where you''re from!" Wang Ling asked.


    "Oh, my family is originally from Dongji City. I study in Jiangnan City," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? Haven''t you graduated yet?"


    "Not yet!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m a senior this year, graduation is still over half a year away."


    "Weird, with your family background, you''re actually studying in the country. That''s truly a breath of fresh air." Qin Feng and the others were sent abroad by their families early on. Their academic ability may not have been strong, but the degrees they got were from world top 100 schools.


    "If I may ask, Mr. Zhang, what kind of business does your family do? Perhaps our elders know each other!" Su Yu asked curiously.


    Wang Ling and Qin Fengye instantly perked up their ears. This was also their most pressing question; they guessed that Zhang Menglong''s family business must be frighteningly huge.


    "This... to tell the truth, I''m not very clear myself," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "You might not believe it, but I only found out a few days ago how wealthy my family is."


    "What?" The three of them and the group of internet celebrities all had their mouths wide open in astonishment.


    "After getting battered by society while sending out resumes, my dad told me to come home and take over the family business, and then I became what I am now."


    "Holy shit, you''re the real deal, a genuine ''rich second generation''!"


    "I''m blown away. I bow down to no one but you!"


    "Epic!"


    "As for our family business, all I know is that we drill for oil in Africa, dig for diamonds, work on real estate... oh right, the majority of Koenigsegg''s shares are owned by my family."


    "Mother of god..."


    "Your family really owns a mine, huh!"


    "No wonder even the chairman was startled by this matter, turns out your family is the biggest shareholder of Koenigsegg!"


    "Big boss, big boss, untouchable!"


    "Why do I feel like you came here to buy a car just to show off your wealth?" Su Yu said, "If you want a car, couldn''t you just have your own family make one for you? Why go through the hassle of buying one?"


    "This... I didn''t want to, honestly, but my dad said that I''ve only inherited the family''s wealth for now, and if I want to inherit the heirloom, I must first pass a test."


    "Wait a minute, this test... it isn''t about spending money, is it?" Qin Feng''s eyes widened.


    "In one year, I have to spend a hundred billion."


    "Cough, cough, cough!"


    "Ambulance! Ambulance!"


    "Quick, pinch the philtrum! Pinch the philtrum!" The three super-rich second generations couldn''t help but act it up.


    This wasn''t a test at all; it was clearly a reward! Now they understood why Zhang Menglong had just now declined any freebies or discounts, splurging over twenty billion on cars¡ªit was all to complete this family challenge?


    "Who would''ve thought that our little Jiangnan City was actually such a hidden dragon and crouching tiger!"


    "Oh right, have you guys heard about this? Yesterday, the Jiangnan Bridge Expressway was jammed for hours because some mysterious tycoon called in a helicopter, which lifted away the car and its owner!"


    "Oh yes, I heard about that too. It was supposedly a Mi-26 helicopter. I remember there are only two of those in Huaxia, right?"


    "I had my dad check on it, and those two helicopters were still at the original airport, never deployed. This must have been a private helicopter!" Wang Ling was exceptionally well-informed, of course, because he was very interested in the owner of that Maybach.


    "I might have seen that helicopter!" Qin Feng said, "A few years ago, I went with my dad to Europe for fun. We just happened to catch an auction where an Mi-26 was on sale. It was eventually sold to a Huaxia buyer for nearly 20 million US dollars. Wonder if it''s the same one."


    "Menglong, do you know about this?"


    "Who knows what the background of that person is, I definitely have to meet them, too awesome!"


    "Er... what if I said that person was me, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong spoke haltingly.


    "What? You''re saying that person was you?" Everyone''s gaze once again converged on Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you know, that incident hit the top of the trending search list? It was still blowing up the next day!"


    "I can''t be blamed for that. It was an emergency, and I had no other options. I didn''t want to cause such a big scene!" Zhang Menglong said with an innocent shrug.


    "What in the world was so urgent?" the three of them asked curiously.


    "This..."


    "It''s okay, we''re all friends here, and even if it''s business-related, it''s not like there''s anything we can''t talk about, right?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, their curiosity intensified.


    "I... I urgently needed to pee, and I''d been holding it for hours, I really couldn''t hold it any longer, so..."


    "Because you needed to pee?"


    "Just that?"


    "You, my friend, are a true talent!"


    Hearing this ridiculously strong reason, everyone couldn''t help but give a thumbs up.


    "I can''t not post this on Weibo!" Wang Ling took out his phone, opened Weibo, and snapped a photo of the feast in front of them, then added a line of text.


    "Met the tycoon today who got past the expressway in a helicopter yesterday. You may not believe it, but I, Wang Ling, have lived for more than two decades, and today was the first time someone slam dunked money over my head!"

 Chapter 18 18: The More You Spend, the More You Have

    Wang Ling, as the chairman of a venture capital firm, owned a large number of companies and, within just a few years, had multiplied the five-hundred million US dollars in startup capital his father gave him several times over.


    But all of these were merely his side jobs. To the vast majority of netizens, his main gig was being an internet celebrity. On Weibo''s trending searches, his name would appear every now and then, even leading some to suspect that he had bought an army of fake commenters.


    Now, his Weibo follower count had exceeded 40 million, even more fearsome than many top-tier celebrities. Each of his Weibo posts could cause quite a stir.


    Whenever he saw something he didn''t like, he never kept it to himself. Although he was a rich second-generation who occasionally looked a bit unkempt, it had to be said that his values were pretty upright compared to many. This made him incredibly popular online.


    This Weibo post had been up for less than a minute, and already there were over a thousand comments, with the number growing at a frightening rate.


    "Hahaha, Principal Wang, you finally had a day when someone dunked on you with money?"


    "Yo, did ''Ajax'' dunk on you? Is it that Dunk Brother?"


    "The person above, Dunk Brother has already started birdging."


    "What a sight to behold, someone actually wealthier than Principal Wang?"


    "Principal Wang, hurry up and tell us how that big shot dunked on you. We want to know just what kind of thing it takes to make you post something like this."


    ...


    Stimulated by the users'' questions, Wang Ling instantly felt the urge to share. He directly posted the photo of the Lamborghini Venom he had taken at "Mount Akina Club," along with other sports cars, on his Weibo.


    "First time seeing someone treat sports cars like cabbages, buying more than twenty at once and even giving me one as a meeting gift. That''s all, off to dine with the big shot!" After posting this, Wang Ling turned off his phone and focused on the conversation and the meal.


    But at that moment, Weibo exploded.


    "What the heck, a Lambo as a meeting gift? What kind of deity is this? Doesn''t that car cost at least ten million?"


    "Bro, that''s Lamborghini Venom, it''s a global limited edition, just a few of them out there, don''t even dream of it unless you have fifty or sixty million!"


    "Damn, such inhuman opulence! Does this tycoon still lack friends? It doesn''t matter about money, I just want to make friends."


    "That''s not just inhuman opulence, man, there are also a Pagani Wind God, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Apollo Sun God, Koenigsegg One1, Lamborghini Hermes¡ªall limited edition supercars in that photo!"


    "Can someone enlighten us on who this magnate is? It couldn''t be Qin Feng, could it?"


    "With that kind of financial power, maybe even Qin Feng doesn''t measure up, right? Who would dare to reveal that kind of person? You might accidentally not see tomorrow''s sun!"


    "Don''t forget, the guy can even get a Mi-26 as a private helicopter. Worshiping such a godly tycoon is all we can do!"


    "@Wang Deyun take a look at someone''s friends (strong hint)."


    "One of my roommates wants to know where to meet this big shot."


    "Old perv, I reckon your roommate is just thirsty for his body!"


    "If you were this rich, I''d be thirsty for your body too!"


    ...


    Although it was their first meeting, they were not the slightest bit restrained. The group behaved like friends who hadn''t seen each other in ages. Even though there were many topics Zhang Menglong couldn''t join in on, if he were to let out a fart, the others would nod and praise him. That was the power of money.


    Truly worthy of a five-star hotel, the bill for just this one meal came to over a hundred thousand; of course, Wang Ling saved tens of millions this time, so the hundred thousand he spent was nothing to him. He didn''t even feel a pinch and even thought about having another round.


    After exchanging contact information, everyone went their separate ways, back to their homes and moms. Of course, out of courtesy, Wang Ling and Qin Feng made plans with Zhang Menglong to hang out in Mingzhu City if he ever found the time¡ªthough that was a big if.


    "That felt amazing!" Zhang Menglong lay back on the sofa as soon as he got home, thinking to himself this must be what it''s like to be a second-generation rich kid!


    "Right, I wonder how much money I spent today." Zhang Menglong took out his phone, then suddenly remembered he hadn''t downloaded the online banking app, since he never used Huaxia Bank for his living expenses or tuition fees before.


    But when he linked his account and saw the long string of digits representing his balance, he was dumbfounded.


    "What the hell! Weren''t they talking about spending 100 billion? They didn''t say it was in US dollars!" Zhang Menglong had struggled to spend just over twenty billion that day, and was shocked to find that the amount had almost septupled beyond his expectations.


    "Huh? Mr. Zhang, didn''t your father tell you that the 100 billion he mentioned was in US dollars?" Hong Yi looked surprised because she was the one who had arranged the transfer to that card, and she had known from the start that it contained 100 billion US dollars.


    Because of the Honored Card''s special features, Zhang Menglong could spend without worrying about currency exchange rates, so he had no idea the card was loaded with US dollars!


    "How on earth am I supposed to spend all this?" Now Zhang Menglong understood why his old man had deemed this task a test. Without some serious skills, even spending money could prove impossible!


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your account 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 24,760,000 yuan!"


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your account 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 12,360,000 yuan!"


    "Ding..."


    In an instant, several notifications arrived on his phone. Each deposit was in the tens of millions, some even in the hundreds of millions. A quick calculation showed that nearly ninety percent of the money he''d spent that day had returned to his account!


    "What in the world is going on?" Zhang Menglong was completely bewildered as he looked at his phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you buy a lot of cars today?"


    "Yes, I meant to spend over twenty billion, but what...?"


    "Mr. Zhang, most car companies in the world are part of your property holdings."


    "How is that possible?"


    "Of course, not all shares of some companies are in your name; they may be held under one or several other persons'' names. But those people belong to your family, so it''s no problem to say those assets are yours. After all, there''s a limit to corporate shareholding in many countries, and it can only be circumvented this way."


    "But why did the money return?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve essentially moved your own money from your left pocket to your right, but it''s still your money. The money spent on those sports cars isn''t actual income for the companies, so after taxes, it went straight back to your account."


    "So what you''re saying is, I spent the whole day buying cars, just for the sake of it?"


    "That would be one way to look at it."


    "I bought a watch last year!" Zhang Menglong booted up his computer and began to calculate according to today''s exchange rate, "That''s not right. Today''s exchange rate is 1 to 6.77 between the US dollar and Huaxia currency. How come my balance still exceeds 100 billion US dollars?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the money in your bank naturally accrues interest. The larger the capital, the higher the interest. Your funds garner over four billion US dollars in interest a year. It seems likely that today''s interest earnings have already been credited to your account."


    "Over four billion US dollars a year, that''s close to ten million in Huaxia currency every day..." Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that no matter how he spent money, completing the challenge to spend 100 billion US dollars in a year was utterly impossible.


    Zhang Menglong sighed deeply, "Can I...can I swear now..."

 Chapter 19 19 I Really Am the Bank President

    "Damn it, why did Wang Ling post about my affairs on Weibo?" As usual, Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and saw a notable hot search already dominating the charts.


    "Some mysterious tycoon spends a fortune buying dozens of sports cars and even does this to Principal Wang!"


    "What kind of clickbait headline is this? Can you believe it?" Seeing this title, Zhang Menglong could only laugh in speechlessness; if whoever came up with this title went to work at UC, they''d be directly promoted to head of the publicity department!


    Luckily, Wang Ling hadn''t posted his photo, otherwise Zhang Menglong''s phone would probably have blown up with calls from his friends by now. He knew he couldn''t keep this secret for long, but he figured he''d delay it as long as possible.


    What really gave Zhang Menglong a headache now was how to spend this 100 billion US dollars in just one year. If he slacked off for even a day, an extra 100 million Huaxia currency would appear in his account each day. Such days made him utterly frustrated, thinking when in the world could he ever spend it all?


    Moreover, he had to constantly check whether the recipient of his spending was one of his properties, otherwise, despite all the effort to spend a large sum of money, he''d end up finding out it was all for nothing as it was his own business!


    "Thunderstruck! The heavens collapse and the purple-gold hammer, purple lightning..."


    "What the hell, why did my ringtone turn into this nonsense?" Just as Zhang Menglong was about to continue looking online for money-spending strategies, his phone suddenly rang.


    "Hello, may I ask who''s speaking?" Zhang Menglong asked politely out of habit.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am the President of Huaxia Bank of Jiangnan City. We''ve just..."


    "Nutcase!" Without letting the person finish, Zhang Menglong hung up the call. "What kind of people are these, pretending to be a bank president? I might as well be a descendant of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. How come scammers are getting so low-level in their tricks these days?"


    A city-level bank president, busy all day with a myriad of tasks, how could they have the time to call him? Without a second thought, Zhang Menglong categorized the call as a scam.


    Furthermore, if it were really a call from the bank, it should come from a bank number, right? Clearly, this was a personal mobile number¡ªthe scammer''s techniques were seriously outdated, weren''t they?


    "This..." On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged man looked at his own phone in disbelief. He had never imagined that he, the president of Huaxia Bank, would be mistaken for a scammer and hung up on?


    A few days ago, their city-level branch had received an astonishingly huge sum of money, a whopping 100 billion US dollars! Even for the entire history of Huaxia Bank, such a terrifying amount of funds had never been moved.


    As the president, his annual income was directly linked to the amount of savings, and the bonus this deposit could bring him goes without saying. To him, Zhang Menglong was no less than his benefactor.


    Just today, the account had seen transactions amounting to several billion Huaxia currency, which was a drop in the bucket compared to the huge savings, but it caused him a bit of concern. If one day this deposit were to be transferred out, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for him.


    Therefore, no matter what, he must keep this VIP client, absolutely not allowing him to transfer out these funds easily!


    The best way to entice customers to deposit money is to offer them sufficient benefits. The wealth that this sum could create for the entire Huaxia Bank was unimaginable, so even offering a higher interest rate was negotiable.


    If this money were to be used to purchase some long-term financial products, even an interest rate of four or five percent per year wouldn''t be a problem! The key was that the money must be retained!


    That was why the middle-aged man thought of contacting this customer as soon as possible, and using his personal phone might seem more sincere.


    But unexpectedly, he had been treated as a scammer, which was somewhat amusing and frustrating.


    Yet, even after being called a scammer, for the sake of this money, he still had to get in touch with the customer. So the middle-aged man gritted his teeth and dialed Zhang Menglong''s number again.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I really am the President of Huaxia Bank''s Jiangnan City branch. My name is Gu Anshan, and you can..."


    ```


    "Damn it! You scammer, just can''t get enough, can you?" Zhang Menglong blurted out impatiently as soon as he saw the phone number, he was already annoyed, "Are you ever going to stop? If you keep harassing me, I''ll just transfer tens of millions into your cell phone account to let you experience what it''s like to be charged with possession of unexplained property!"


    Gu Anshan was baffled by these words. In his decades of life, it was the first time someone had threatened to transfer money into his account. If a normal person suddenly found tens of millions in their account, it would be surprising if the authorities didn''t come for a ''tea talk'', and if one couldn''t explain the source of the wealth, they could indeed be convicted!


    "What kind of god-level move is this? Even if one is rich, they shouldn''t play like this, right? Is he trying to crush someone to death with money?" Gu Anshan was actually rendered speechless by Zhang Menglong''s threat.


    "Definitely a scammer!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone once again, "Such low psychological tolerance and still being a scammer, truly a disgrace to scammers everywhere!"


    "He hung up on me again!" Gu Anshan had been hung up on twice in a row.


    In all of Jiangnan City, who knows how many people want his private number, and how many want to exchange a few words with him, hanging up on him? That''s a joke¡ªunless their head is filled with water!


    But in the face of this customer, he truly didn''t dare show any temper. If he angered this person, and they transferred the money to another bank, he might as well prepare for early retirement!


    "Branch Manager? Why the long face? Is something troubling you?" The secretary, who had just walked in, saw Gu Anshan''s troubled expression.


    "Isn''t it because of that Honored Card client? I just tried to call and arrange a visit, but he mistook me for a scammer and hung up on me twice!"


    "Is that so?" Secretary Liu couldn''t help but smile, "In that case, Branch Manager, why don''t you use our bank''s number to send a text message to that client? That way he should believe you."


    "Right, why didn''t I think of that!" Gu Anshan''s eyes lit up, "You always have the solution!"


    ...


    "Ding!" Zhang Menglong, who was watching various Middle Eastern tycoons'' lifestyles, received a text message on his phone.


    He thought to himself, it couldn''t be another payment coming through, could it? The 100 billion has already left him gasping for air, if a few more payments come through, he might as well give up on inheriting the family treasure!


    "Mr. Zhang, I am Gu Anshan, the man who just called you. I truly am the Branch Manager of Huaxia Bank in Jiangnan City. If you don''t believe me, you can check my name on the official website!!!"


    "The bank Branch Manager for real?" Zhang Menglong was dumbfounded, not expecting the man he had hung up on twice to think of this method. Worthy of someone who could be a Branch Manager.


    A moment later, the same number called again, and this time, Zhang Menglong didn''t hang up.


    "Haha, Branch Manager Gu, sorry about that, I''ve never received a phone call from a bank Branch Manager before, my apologies, haha!"


    Although Gu Anshan had a bitter face on the other end of the phone, he still spoke as if it was no big deal, "Mr. Zhang must be busy with numerous daily affairs, I was the one who disturbed you, I should be the one to apologize."


    "Do you need something, Branch Manager Gu?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s like this, you have deposited a substantial sum in our Jiangnan City main branch, and I would like to discuss the matter of this deposit with you. When would you have time, so I can pay you a visit?"


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll be free tomorrow afternoon, but I''ll just come to the bank myself, it''s not very convenient for me here."


    Zhang Menglong temporarily did not want others to know where he lived.


    "That''s fine, I''ll await your arrival at the main branch tomorrow afternoon!"


    ```

 Chapter 20 20 Bring me 10 trucks of coins.

    The Huaxia Bank''s Jiangnan City main branch was located right in the city center. Zhang Menglong had a sumptuous lunch and headed there directly afterward, as his new car still required some transfer procedures that would take a day or two, so he could only have his driver take him.


    When it came to matters involving money, Zhang Menglong didn''t dare to be careless and directly asked Hong Yi to accompany him, thinking that she might handle the situation more adeptly.


    A Maybach pulled up at the entrance of the luxurious bank building. Since it was just past lunchtime, there weren''t many people inside, and it seemed that some staff were off to take their break, leaving only a few employees at the service windows conducting business.


    An elderly sanitation worker couple, supporting each other, were conducting some business at one of the counters, with a sack full of change in their hands.


    "It''s not easy," Zhang Menglong remarked. However, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy¡ªwasn''t this the very picture of growing old together, hand in hand? Suddenly reminded of a past memory, Zhang Menglong felt a sour twinge in his heart.


    "Miss, isn''t the bank for depositing money? All of this is our hard-earned cash. It''s a bit in small change, but it''s clean. Please help us deposit it," they pleaded.


    "What''s the matter with you? I''ve told you, I only handle large transactions here. Please take these savings services to the next counter," the staff member said with impatience.


    The amount in the elderly couple''s sack wasn''t large, but there was a considerable number of coins. If she were to sort them slowly, it might take her the whole afternoon.


    "But there''s nobody at the next counter. You''re not busy right now, so could you please help us deposit it?"


    "I''m sorry, but it''s time for the shift change. You''ll have to wait for the next person to come and handle it," the employee said, hanging up a ''Resting'' sign and reclining in a chair to start playing on her smartphone.


    "Damn, what the hell is this?" Zhang Menglong flared up when he witnessed the scene.


    Having just gone through the autumn recruitment season, he had applied to many banks and was very familiar with their requirements. Banking employees had to have at least a bachelor''s degree, and some positions were only open to graduates of prestigious universities or even required a master''s degree.


    That employee appeared to be in her early twenties; she definitely hadn''t been working long to have such poor professionalism. Could she have passed the banks'' rounds of interviews and exams?


    The two elderly individuals looked disappointed, but they had no choice and had to wait until the afternoon when the counters resumed operations to continue their savings business.


    "Uncle, Auntie, please wait a moment!" Zhang Menglong approached the counter and glanced at the nameplate, "Zhou Yue, is it? Is this how you treat customers? Call your manager out¡ªI want to make a complaint."


    "Our manager doesn''t have time to deal with you!" Zhou Yue retorted with an arrogant air. Zhang Menglong''s suspicions were confirmed¡ªshe had not joined the bank through the rigorous examinations as most fresh graduates.


    Her uncle was the manager here, and with that connection, she secured the job amidst many superior candidates with her ordinary second-tier university qualifications.


    Zhang Menglong sneered, "So your counter only handles large-value savings transactions, right?"


    "That''s right. Do you see the sign? It says this counter only handles savings transactions above one hundred thousand. It''s shift change time now; even if you want to deposit money, you will have to wait till the next person arrives," she stated.


    After finishing her explanation, Zhou Yue continued to absentmindedly scroll through TikTok.


    "Interesting! This is the first time I''ve seen bank staff so neglectful of their duties," Zhang Menglong said to the elderly couple, "Uncle, Auntie, please have a seat for a moment. I guarantee she will be begging to help you with your savings shortly."


    "Humph! You''ve got quite the mouth on you. Do you think you''re the bank president or something?" With her uncle backing her, Zhou Yue felt untouchable, even obnoxious senior staff didn''t dare to provoke her¡ªin her mind, her uncle was the boss, and she ranked number two.


    "Good, I hope you can still laugh later," Zhang Menglong checked the time. It wasn''t even half-past twelve, and he had more than half an hour before his appointment with the bank president. He had time to entertain Zhou Yue''s antics.


    "You don''t accept small deposits here, do you?" Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi at his side, "Is there any way you can get me ten truckloads of coins within half an hour? I mean the kind that''s used for hauling cement!"


    "Mr. Zhang, if you need it, I can immediately have all the bus and subway stations in Jiangnan City put at your disposal, half an hour is more than enough." Hong Yi seemed to have understood Zhang Menglong''s intention.


    "Good, you should know what I want to do."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I will make the arrangements now. Please take a seat over here." Hong Yi took out her phone and dialed a number to start giving instructions.


    "Posing." Seeing Zhang Menglong settle into the waiting area, she immediately displayed a look of disdain, thinking this young man might actually have some real skills, when in reality he appeared to be nothing more than a pushover.


    Zhang Menglong paid no attention to her, knowing that before long, a brand-new Mask of Pain would appear on her face.


    "Rumble!" In less than half an hour, a roaring sound came from the street outside the bank.


    Ten large trucks were neatly lined up in a row, orderly parked at the entrance of the bank. The parking space at the bank''s entrance was already limited, and with ten large trucks stationed there, almost no space was left except for a narrow path leading to the service hall.


    "How odd, the trucks aren''t heading to a construction site; why are they at the bank entrance?" Many passersby curiously glanced over.


    It wasn''t a big deal not to look, but one would be in for a shock once they did. The trucks weren''t loaded with bricks or cement, but were piled high with coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on? I''ve seen trucks carrying bricks, cement, timber, but this is the first time I''ve seen one carrying so much money!"


    "Oh my, ten trucks filled with coins, could this be the legendary ''showing off wealth''?"


    "It looks like there are not only one yuan coins, but also ten cents, fifty cents, could this be the public transit company transporting money?"


    "Possible! But using trucks to carry it is a bit too much, right? Quick, snap a picture, you don''t see this kind of scene often!"


    "What''s the actual situation? Ten big coaches, if they''re all one yuan coins, that has to be over a million, right?"


    "Look, someone''s coming out!"


    From the ten large trucks, more than twenty people jumped down and walked straight into the bank. The onlookers, full of curiosity, followed to see what they were really up to.


    This group marching into the bank with such a commanding presence gave the bank''s security guards quite a fright; they hesitated between letting them through or stopping them.


    "Miss Hong, did we bring the money you asked for?" A middle-aged man approached Hong Yi and respectfully asked, "How should we handle this money?"


    "Put it into sacks, then carry it inside. Mr. Zhang wants to make a deposit at the bank." Hong Yi instructed.


    "Yes!" Dozens of middle-aged men immediately went back to the trucks. You could tell they were well-prepared as the clinking coins were efficiently bagged. Their efficiency and execution could rival that of well-trained soldiers.


    Zhang Menglong walked back to the counter and knocked on the glass in front of Zhou Yue, "Hello, I have a few million in coins here, could you please help me with the savings service?"

 Chapter 21 21: I Dont Feel Safe Entrusting You with the Money

    "This gentleman, I..." Zhou Yue panicked upon seeing the situation.


    She wasn''t a fool and naturally knew that Zhang Menglong''s sarcastic tone was directed at her. She originally thought this young man was just an ordinary person, but to her surprise, one phone call from him summoned ten large trucks!


    In Jiangnan City, there were not a few people who could produce several million in cash, even quite a lot, but those who could manage to bring in ten trucks of coins were absolutely rare, and even thinking about it, this young man definitely had an extraordinary background!


    Such a person was definitely not someone she could afford to provoke, not even her uncle might be able to afford provoking him.


    Was it necessary to make such a fuss for the sake of two sanitation workers?


    "Didn''t you say you don''t accept the management of small savings services?" Zhang Menglong said, "Now I have millions here, shouldn''t that count as a large amount? Moreover, it''s past shift change time now, according to bank regulations, aren''t you supposed to help me with the services now?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to the several strong men and said, "Gentlemen, we are here to deposit money, not to make trouble, please be careful not to obstruct the bank''s employees or affect other customers."


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ll be careful!" several strong men nodded, their movements becoming even more agile.


    In just a few minutes, the bank''s business hall was already piled with dozens of money sacks, all filled with silver coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on here?" the onlookers with dazed faces watched the scene; this was the first time they saw someone arrive with ten trucks to deposit coins¡ªa real rarity!


    "I just got here, I don''t know either."


    "I know! Two elderly people came to deposit money earlier, that short-haired staff member thought it was too troublesome to manage, and the young man couldn''t stand watching and argued a few words, and was even reprimanded by that clerk,"


    "Isn''t his temper too big?"


    "Nonsense, in less than half an hour, he could summon ten trucks of coins, do you think such a person would be ordinary? Either a second-generation official or a rich second-generation, aren''t these people just foolish, wealthy, and quick-tempered?"


    "Keep your voice down, don''t let others hear you!"


    "Wow, that girl really got herself into a pickle!"


    "No kidding? But I think she had it coming!"


    "Sorry, my family is quite poor, I don''t have exact change, so I might need you to count how many coins there are," Zhang Menglong said, "But if you count wrong, even if you count one dime less, I''m going to complain to your branch manager!"


    By this time, Zhou Yue was utterly panicked, the sacks in the store were increasing, and if she had to count them one by one, not to mention this evening, even a month without sleep might not be enough.


    What''s worse, if this got back to her uncle, it would be a disaster, and if it got even worse and reached the deputy manager or even the main manager, even her uncle couldn''t save himself!


    She had actually thought earlier that this young man was just an ordinary person without any background, but could an ordinary person so easily summon ten trucks of coins in less than half an hour? Now she realized that she had really kicked an iron plate.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang, he glanced at the caller ID, and it was none other than the bank''s manager, Gu Anshan.


    "Manager Gu? I thought you went out for a meal with your staff, turns out you remembered I was coming today!" Zhang Menglong said grumpily.


    Gu Anshan was immediately puzzled, he hadn''t done anything, so why was there a hint of gunpowder in Zhang Menglong''s tone?


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that?" Gu Anshan asked perplexedly, "Knowing you were coming today, I didn''t even dare to go out for a meal, I had to order takeout and eat in my office!"


    "Oh, then continue your meal, I need to handle some things first, we can chat slowly after I''m done." Zhang Menglong said and then hung up the phone.


    Zhou Yue witnessed this whole scene, who was Gu Anshan? He was the manager of their main branch!


    She hadn''t expected that this young man was not only able to contact the manager directly but even dared to hang up on the manager''s call!


    "Could there be trouble?" How could Gu Anshan remain calm enough to eat at this time? The reason he had reached his position was precisely because the previous manager had provoked someone he shouldn''t have, not only losing his position but even those past corruption and bribery issues were dug up, and now he was still eating the bread laid by socialism!


    Although he had never engaged in abusing power for personal gain, the people didn''t need to target him intentionally; just if he became unhappy and withdrew his deposit, he could be dismissed and forced to leave within minutes!


    Thinking of this, he hurriedly put down his chopsticks and walked towards the hall.


    When he reached the hall, the burlap sacks filled with coins had already piled up half of the lobby. Gu Anshan was instantly stunned. What on earth was happening? Where was security? Were they all vegetarians? Just letting someone cause trouble like this?


    The security guards tried to stop it, but the person was there to deposit money. Bringing money in to deposit it shouldn''t be too excessive, right? Without money, how could one make a deposit? No one could find fault with that!


    "What''s going on? What exactly is happening?" Seeing the scene, Gu Anshan shouted out loud.


    "You must be President Gu, correct?" Zhang Menglong recognized Gu Anshan as soon as he saw his face, which indeed didn''t look too different from the online photos.


    "You are..."


    "I am Zhang Menglong."


    "You''re Mr. Zhang? Pleased to meet you!" The president had not expected Zhang Menglong to be such a young man.


    "Forget the pleasantries. I don''t think there''s anything good for us to talk about," Zhang Menglong said. "I feel a bit uneasy about leaving my money in your bank!"


    "Why would you say that, Mr. Zhang? Our Huaxia Bank is absolutely the most authoritative and safest bank in all of Huaxia!" Gu Anshan guaranteed, patting his chest.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow. "Here, even getting a savings account handled involves half a day of difficulties from your staff. I can''t compliment that."


    "What exactly is going on?" Gu Anshan finally caught on that Zhang Menglong had obviously been mistreated here. "Speak up! If I have to investigate it myself, none of those present today will escape responsibility! And if anyone dares to speak out, their bonus for this year will be doubled!"


    At that moment, Gu Anshan finally showed some of a bank president''s authority.


    Where there are great rewards, there will be brave followers. Especially since Zhou Yue was clearly not an ordinary person. Now, it wasn''t a matter of whether Zhou Yue could keep her job, but whether her uncle, the manager, could continue his role. At this point, what was there to fear?


    Soon, the action Zhou Yue had just taken was exposed.


    "We have such oversight in our bank? Who is in charge of campus recruitment today? Have them come to my office tonight!" Outraged by the incident, Gu Anshan burst out.


    "President, Zhou Yue didn''t come through campus recruitment. Our business manager is her uncle, so..."


    "Good! Very good!" Gu Anshan struggled to suppress his anger. "Tell him, before he leaves work today, to submit his resignation report directly on my desk!"


    "It''s over!" Hearing this news, Zhou Yue collapsed directly at her workstation. Her backbone was gone, and so was she. She was not only losing this job, but her uncle''s entire family and perhaps even her whole family would treat her as a criminal.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will handle this matter seriously, I assure you. Such incidents will absolutely not occur again in our bank," Gu Anshan promised.


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded since Gu Anshan had given him enough face, he could not make things too difficult for him.


    "Alright, stop moving them," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Take this money away and set up several charity boxes at various bus stations and subway stations. There''s always someone who goes out without change for the bus or subway. Just put the money in those charity boxes!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Dozens of strong men then moved the money back onto the truck, which left with a roar, leaving only the stunned faces of the passersby Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.


    "Millions of coins donated just like that?"


    "He really is a tycoon! Impressive!"


    "To be honest, although he was a bit overbearing, his principles are quite right."


    "Yes, such people deserve to be rich!"

 Chapter 22 22: If Interest Were Offered, I Wouldnt Save

    "Mr. Zhang, I''m truly sorry. I had not anticipated that someone like this could exist in our bank. It''s really embarrassing," Gu Anshan invited Zhang Menglong into his office and personally made him a pot of tea.


    He had indeed been shocked by what had just occurred. Ten trucks loaded with coins were no joke; one slip and they could have topped the trending search lists. If this got back to the Huaxia Bank headquarters, he as the bank manager might have faced disciplinary action.


    This young man was not playing by the typical rich second generation playbook at all. Such audacious moves were something he had never heard of in his life, making him treat Zhang Menglong with much more caution.


    "Forget it, no harm to those who don''t know. However, your bank really needs to tighten up its employment screening," Zhang Menglong said as he plopped down on the sofa, adopting the posture of a seasoned cadre.


    "By the way, there''s a pair of elderly sanitation workers outside. They were just having a hard time with someone named Zhou Yue. You should quickly send someone to handle it."


    "Secretary Liu, please hurry and arrange for someone to help the two elders!" Gu Anshan could see now; this was the main reason for the conflict between Zhang Menglong and Zhou Yue.


    He must ensure that the two elders are well taken care of, as this would maximize the restoration of Zhang Menglong''s good opinion of him, so he directly instructed his secretary to personally take care of it.


    Secretary Liu was also a smart person; a simple look from Gu Anshan and he understood the meaning. He closed the door for them and immediately went to arrange things.


    "This is so refreshing!" Zhang Menglong gulped down half of the tea in front of him in one go.


    "Refreshing..." Gu Anshan twitched the corner of his eye. This was not ordinary tea. It was not available on the common market and he had pulled many strings to get it from a friend. He himself rarely indulged in it, reserving it only for very important guests.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s manner, treating it like plain water, was simply a waste of good resources.


    But he dared not express his anger. The person in front of him might only be a young man around 20 years old, but his wealth was frightfully immense!


    He had been so scared when he heard about it that he had been unable to sleep all night.


    What did a hundred billion US dollars signify? Even the assets of the richest person in the world were only about one hundred fifty billion US dollars, and that included stocks, houses, and other fixed assets. In cash terms, it definitely would not reach such a figure.


    Yet, Zhang Menglong''s account contained exactly one hundred billion in cash! If this news were to break, it would probably shock the entire world! The next day headlines on UC and Tengxun would be all over the place.


    Thinking deeper, a person whose cash assets exceeded a hundred billion US dollars likely had some fixed assets as well. He even suspected that this young man''s assets might surpass those of the world''s richest person!


    That night they reviewed this transaction, and the final verdict was that there was nothing amiss with this asset, all sources linked back to assets under the young man''s name!


    Their investigation revealed staggering amounts derived from several domestic and even international conglomerates. In other words, this young man was a shareholder in those giant world-class consortia and, judging by the vast amounts of funds, a major one at that.


    They racked their brains but couldn''t fathom why a 20-year-old would possess such terrifying industries.


    To maintain client confidentiality, everyone who knew about this matter that day signed a confidentiality agreement, including Gu Anshan, ensuring that no more than five people knew of this incident!


    "I really did not expect, Mr. Zhang, that you would be so young," Gu Anshan complimented, "I had thought you were one of our Huaxia tycoons. Mr. Zhang, you truly are young and promising."


    "I wouldn''t say successful, just lucky with a good birth," Zhang Menglong spoke without pretence, "I originally wanted to find a decent job, but my capabilities didn''t allow it, and I accidentally inherited the family business. It really gives me a headache."


    Zhang Menglong truly felt the headache. With his assets, earning 100 billion US Dollars a year was easier than spending 100 billion US Dollars.


    But to Gu Anshan''s ears, that statement was pure bragging. Today''s wealthy didn''t utter a word of truth¨Ceither they were disinterested in money, couldn''t distinguish between beautiful women, had a ''small'' goal of a billion, or now another who ''accidentally'' inherited billions.


    "This stuff is no different from the tea that costs hundreds of thousands per gram we drink at home!" Zhang Menglong gurgled with the remaining half-cup of tea before spitting it back into the cup.


    "Hundreds of thousands per tael..." Gu Anshan had no doubts about that statement; not just hundreds of thousands per tael, if there was tea costing hundreds of thousands per gram, Zhang Menglong could definitely afford it!


    However, that statement even gave Gu Anshan the urge to kill Zhang Menglong. Such exquisite tea was rare, made from solitary tea plants and supposed to be delicately savoured for its charm. Yet in his mouth, it was just like plain boiled water¨Csomething a tea aficionado like him could never tolerate.


    "By the way, Mr. Gu, what exactly did you call me here for today?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    Gu Anshan took a deep breath, having wasted so much time, finally getting to the point.


    "Here''s the thing, Mr. Zhang, we will set up a management team specifically to handle that sum in our bank, so I hope you can trust us and feel comfortable leaving those funds with us," said Gu Anshan.


    "No problem at all," Zhang Menglong looked puzzled. Where would all that money go if not in the bank? Turn it all into cash and withdraw? There would have to be that much cash available!


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s response, Gu Anshan immediately smiled, realizing Zhang Menglong was quite agreeable.


    "However, I really like spending money, and you mustn''t restrict my spending limit!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Of course, our management team will serve you 24/7. Whenever you wish to make expenditures, we''ll fully support you!"


    "That''s good to hear."


    "And concerning the interest, you can absolutely be assured. For regular clients, our current interest rate is 0.24%, but for significant clients like you, we can raise the current interest rate above fixed-rate levels. According to our regulations, we can offer you up to a 7% annual interest rate!"


    With 100 billion US Dollars, handled properly, the bank could earn far more than 7%. This was the outcome of consultations with the president of Huaxia''s head branch, and they didn''t mind offering such a rate at all.


    "What? Seven percent?" Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up from the sofa, his face darkening.


    At a 7% interest rate, that''s 70 billion US Dollars a year, and his bank account was growing by more than a billion in cash daily. This was outright financial murder!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you dissatisfied with the interest rate?" Gu Anshan immediately became tense. Indeed, the 7% rate was too low compared to the potential earnings from such a sum, but the bank wasn''t a charity either; they wanted to earn more as well.


    "If you''re not satisfied, we can still negotiate. What about 8%?" Gu Anshan tentatively asked, though his bottom line was much higher, testing step by step was the way to secure the maximum profit.


    "8%?" Zhang Menglong slammed the desk, "If you offer me such high interest, I won''t deposit it; I''ll transfer all these funds away immediately!"

 Chapter 23 23 Are there any investments that are very easy to lose money on?

    "What the heck?" Gu Anshan even thought there was something wrong with his ears.


    Since ancient times, people have only complained about low interest rates¡ªwhen has anyone ever complained about interest being too high? Could it be that Zhang Menglong suddenly inherited so much wealth that he became mentally unstable and had a breakdown? Otherwise, how could a normal person not want to make money?


    An 8% interest rate a year, that''s 7 billion US dollars! Even among the richest people in Huaxia, there wouldn''t be anyone who could produce 7 billion in cash, right?


    "I mean, can you lower your interest rate a bit?" Zhang Menglong said, "I recall the bank next door, Jiangnan Bank, has lower rates than you? I might as well deposit there!"


    Zhang Menglong had a hard time spending a billion in a day, only to wake up the next day and find that he effectively wasted that money. When would he ever be able to spend all of it? If he decided to take a break and relax, his bank account would just grow again in a few days. How could he live like this? When could he start the college that even his parents claimed was magical?


    Gu Anshan immediately responded with a wry smile. Banks often compete by offering higher or lower interest rates to attract customers. When did lower interest start drawing customers in? Was this the legendary reverse operation?


    "No, no, no! Mr. Zhang, please wait!" At this point, Gu Anshan couldn''t care less about whether Zhang Menglong was insane or not; the bank would be only too glad to pay out less in interest!


    "How about we offer you an annualized interest rate of 4.25%? You''d be satisfied with that, wouldn''t you?"


    "What? Still 4.25%? Isn''t that still over 4 billion US dollars in interest a year? No, I won''t deposit it!"


    "Then we''ll offer the lowest annual demand deposit rate of 0.24%," Gu Anshan hurriedly said.


    When he discussed it with the head of the head office, the rate offered was between 4.25% and 10.75%. He had already offered the lowest rate, and if it went any lower, it would be the regular savings account rate for ordinary customers.


    But he just couldn''t comprehend what went on in Zhang Menglong''s mind. An interest rate of ten points a year would bring in tens of billions of US dollars without doing anything. Wasn''t that tempting?


    "0.24%?" Upon hearing this figure, Zhang Menglong''s expression eased a bit, but that still amounted to over four million Huaxia currency in interest every day, "Can it be even less?"


    "You still think it''s too much?" Gu Anshan was on the verge of going crazy.


    "Can we just not have any interest? Or I can give you interest instead!" Zhang Menglong said, "You see, managing this amount of money for me isn''t easy, considering the manpower cost involved every day. If you charged some service fees, I would have absolutely no objections. I''d even give you a bonus at the end of the year!"


    Upon hearing this, Gu Anshan was dumbfounded. Having lived for several decades, this was the first time he''d heard of someone wanting to pay the bank service fees for depositing money. What kind of spendthrift was this?


    "Mr. Zhang, we really can''t go any lower. The 0.24% is already our lowest demand deposit rate. It''s the bank''s policy. If I cut it down on my own initiative, I would be disciplined!"


    "Then I might as well go to..."


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you went to another bank, it would be the same," said Gu Anshan with a wry smile.


    "Is that so? Well, I won''t make it hard for you then." Zhang Menglong said, looking clearly disappointed. It seemed his daily spending plan had to increase by 4 million Huaxia currency to offset this interest.


    "Phew!" Gu Anshan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadn''t spoken much to Zhang Menglong, his back was soaked with sweat. Dealing with someone who didn''t play by conventional rules was simply fatal at every turn.


    "Forget it, it''s not my money, why should I bother?" Gu Anshan consoled himself internally. His job was to figure out how to make the most out of these funds for the bank. Everything else was none of his business.


    "Right, your bank should have a lot of investment projects, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly had an idea.


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang, are you interested in them?" Gu Anshan''s eyes lit up. If the client invested in those projects, the bank''s returns would be very high. Normally, employees had to strongly encourage clients to spend money on these purchases. Yet today, this God of Wealth was bringing it up on his own¡ªhow could he not be delighted?


    He even wondered if those projects could handle such a massive amount of capital. Normally, those projects were in the millions of Huaxia currency, and tens of millions were already considered large projects. Zhang Menglong could potentially fund countless projects by himself.


    If these projects were all settled, his bonus as the bank president this year would certainly be astronomical!


    Thinking of this, Gu Anshan felt like the air around him was tinged with the scent of money.


    He immediately pulled out a thick project brochure.


    "This is a financial product recently released by our bank, guaranteed 100% principal protection. The annual return is about 3.8%, you..." Gu Anshan was explaining, but when it came to the investment return, he abruptly stopped.


    Zhang Menglong had just rejected an 8% savings interest rate. Could this 3.8% rate catch his eye? The problem wasn''t that the return was too low, it was that the man simply didn''t want interest, didn''t want a return.


    "Could it be he''s asking me for something like..."


    "No, what I''m asking about isn''t this kind of investment product," Zhang Menglong added. "I''m wondering if your bank has those kinds of investments that take many years before yielding returns, or those that are very likely to lose money? The higher the risk, the better!"


    Is this guy nuts? If Zhang Menglong were an ordinary person, Gu Anshan would''ve already started cursing by now.


    Investment, wealth management¡ªof course it''s about guaranteeing a return! The bank''s financial products are very stable now, the returns might not be that high, but they almost all guarantee 100% principal protection. If the risk was too great, how could common clients possibly buy them? They might as well buy funds or stocks instead, why buy wealth management products?


    Financial products are all about stability; losing money is almost an impossibility.


    "Mr. Zhang, we don''t have such projects!"


    "There could be such projects!"


    "We really don''t have them!"


    "Really none?" Zhang Menglong confirmed again.


    "Truly none!"


    "How is it so hard to spend some money these days?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    As the president of the bank, Gu Anshan, who had been through thick and thin, was very sensitive to customer needs. He figured out that Zhang Menglong wasn''t out of his mind; he simply wanted to spend money purely!


    Perhaps, like many nouveau riches, his first thought upon getting rich was to consume.


    Clearly, ordinary consumption could no longer satisfy Zhang Menglong. Big gold chains, luxury goods¡ªfor him, they were less than the petty cash of one day''s interest. What he wanted was the kind of spending ordinary people wouldn''t even dare to dream of¡ªperhaps this was the joy of being wealthy.


    "Mr. Zhang, although we don''t have any investment projects that lose money, if you''re looking to spend, we do have some projects that could satisfy you!"


    "Oh? Let''s hear it?" Zhang Menglong immediately perked up, this was the answer he was looking for.


    "You know, because of the global virus, many countries are facing economic recessions, especially those that rely on tourism to support their economies. They''re nearly at the point of collapse. Hence, some countries have started to sell off some industries or even their land. Are you interested?"


    "Are they expensive?" Zhang Menglong asked tentatively.


    "Very expensive," Gu Anshan nodded. "Actually, these are all projects of our bank, but the risk is too high. Even we don''t dare to take them lightly, and to recoup this investment would take a very long cycle. If you''re interested..."


    "Yes, yes, yes, that''s exactly what I want!" Zhang Menglong said excitedly. "Let me have a look quickly, I can''t suppress the all energies within me any longer!"

 Chapter 24 24: Buying the World with Money?

    "Mr. Zhang, take a look, this is the property and territory that Briz Country is looking to sell." Gu Anshan placed a map in front of Zhang Menglong.


    Briz Country is a small nation with a land area of less than 100,000 square kilometers, it doesn''t have a large population, and its industry and agriculture aren''t particularly developed. However, due to its favorable geographical location, it has many picturesque places.


    Each of these scenic areas brings in huge tourism revenue every year, and the majority of the citizens are involved in the tourism industry. A previously poor country has become prosperous in just a few years thanks to these abundant tourism resources.


    But with the rampage of the virus, most of the global flights were almost paralyzed for the better part of a year. Forget about traveling, many people couldn''t even leave their own cities.


    This suddenly brought a national crisis down upon the country.


    With no income for over half a year, not only the populace but even the country''s economy was barely hanging on. Now that international flights have resumed, most tourists are still maintaining a cautious attitude and are unwilling to take the risk to travel.


    For them, that small trickle of visitors is like a drop in the bucket.


    As for international aid, many countries were worse off than they were, so forget about aid!


    Driven to desperation, they had to make a painful decision to sell two of their scenic areas, the Aurora Coast and Bermanzi Mountain.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, such a beautiful place!" Briz Country is located within the Arctic Circle and experiences the Aurora Borealis each year. The endless white sandy beaches combined with the beautiful Northern Lights are unquestionably world-class scenery that made Zhang Menglong yearn just by looking at a few photos.


    "They''re really selling this place?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, the lack of tourists has caused their economy to stagnate, and the virus has depleted a lot of manpower and resources. If they truly had any other option, why would they ever consider selling their own territory?"


    "How much?"


    "''How much?'' That question made Gu Anshan pause. Why did it feel like Zhang Menglong was asking the price of vegetables at a market? This was a nation''s territory, couldn''t he be more serious?"


    "Does Mr. Zhang want to buy the right to use this place for a fixed period of time or purchase it outright?"


    "Sorry, it''s my first time buying land, I have no experience." Zhang Menglong was a bit embarrassed. His ancestors were probably experts at buying territory, and here he was, not knowing anything, which was indeed awkward.


    "Briz Country has two quotes. For Aurora Coast, you can choose to buy usage rights for 100 years. During those 100 years, the coast is your private territory. You can do anything you want with it, and if you want to develop a tourism project, you can do so as long as you pay taxes according to regulations. The price is 150 million!"


    "Euros?"


    "Huaxia currency," Gu Anshan said.


    "Ah? That''s so cheap?" At first, Zhang Menglong was somewhat excited. Hearing that number, he changed his expression faster than flipping a book, "What about the permanent usage rights?"


    "That''s probably going to be more expensive."


    "Then I''ll take the permanent usage rights to Aurora Coast!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought.


    "Ah? I haven''t told you the price yet." Gu Anshan was utterly worn out by Zhang Menglong''s shocks today. The operations of these top-level tycoons were beyond his comprehension, "The price for the permanent rights is 2.027 billion."


    "Euros?"


    "Still Huaxia currency!"


    "Damn, I thought it was going to be much more expensive!" After all that, it was only about three hundred million US Dollars, not even enough to cover his yearly interest!


    "Mr. Zhang, this coast is indeed beautiful, but frankly speaking, it is a bit overpriced. Maybe you want to reconsider?"


    "No need to think it over, consider the money as our way to help their economy," Zhang Menglong continued, "How about that mountain?"


    "The price for Bermanzi Mountain is 1.57 billion Huaxia currency." Gu Anshan knew then, this was not the God of Wealth, this was a complete spendthrift! It''s not even about billions anymore, he felt embarrassed even saying it out loud.


    "Then I''ll take that too. Anything else?"


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s all the territory Briz Country is selling. Aside from that, they also have a small diamond mine for sale."


    "A diamond mine? I like that. How much?"


    "520 million Huaxia currency."


    "Write that down, write that down. I want that too. Anything else?"


    "Well... That''s all for Briz Country for now," Gu Anshan thought. The country was only so big, and resorting to selling these assets was already an act of desperation. If they sold any more, they''d be risking the nation itself.


    He believed that as long as Briz Country was willing to sell, Zhang Menglong would be willing to buy. If Genghis Khan had had this kind of money back then, why would he need to send out the Mongolian cavalry to conquer the world? He could have just followed Zhang Menglong''s lead, smashing out a realm with cash, and been done with it.


    "That''s it?"


    "Well... There are others from different countries too, would you like to take a look?"


    "Just tell me how much there is in total, I''ll take it all."


    "Cough cough cough!" Gu Anshan almost spit out a mouthful of blood.


    He organized the materials in his hand, then took a deep breath, "Mr. Zhang, right now, our bank is handling projects that include 12 islands, 7 natural scenic areas, and 4 energy industries, with a total value of 10.72 billion Huaxia currency."


    "Well, better than nothing. I''ll take it all."


    "All of it?" Gu Anshan had thought of this possibility before, but when he heard Zhang Menglong''s final decision, he still couldn''t help but be shocked.


    But thinking about Zhang Menglong''s 100 billion US Dollar deposit, these industries combined didn''t even amount to 20 billion US Dollars. It wasn''t even as much as the interest he had initially promised Zhang Menglong for a year; he didn''t even blink an eye!


    "Hong Yi, I''ll leave these matters to you," Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him. "Make sure to look carefully at any contracts before signing so there won''t be any disputes later on."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. Even the undefeated Nanshan Pizza Hut from Tengxun is just a retirement project from one of your former legal personnel. These are trivial matters."


    "Damn, am I really that awesome?" Zhang Menglong was familiar with the fame of "Nanshan Pizza Hut" and was surprised to think that its founder once worked for him.


    "By the way, are there any national construction projects coming up? As a contemporary youth, I see it as my duty. It doesn''t matter if it costs money or not, what''s important is patriotism..."


    "Mr. Zhang, at our bank, all these projects are profitable, so if you want to undertake any construction projects, you would have to bid for them. That''s not something we can do here." Gu Anshan didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to consider throwing his money at national projects.


    "Well, that''s about it for today; I''ll be taking off." Without any opportunities to spend money, Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in staying any longer. He had spent billions of US Dollars in one go, which was a trip well spent, wasn''t it?


    "Hong Yi, keep an eye out for me. If there''s anything like moving icebergs from the Arctic or Antarctic or a land swimming device, I, Zhang Menglong, will fund it."


    "Pfft!" Even Hong Yi couldn''t help but laugh. "Sir, are you looking to learn from Wang Duoyu?"


    "I just don''t believe these things can actually make me money in real life!" Zhang Menglong refused to believe such nonsense.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve got a call, would you like to answer it?" Hong Yi pointed at Zhang Menglong''s vibrating pocket.


    "Hello, Menglong, have you seen the message?" Xu Li''s voice came through from the roommate on the phone.


    "Huh? A message? What message?" Zhang Menglong was clueless.


    "Check our class group chat. Lu Xuchao is saying that everyone is going to start internships soon, so it might be hard to meet up later. He wants everybody to gather once after the National Day holiday. Who doesn''t know that he''s just scored an offer from Unicorn Technology and obviously wants to show off under the guise of this gathering."


    "Let''s go then, what''s there to be afraid of?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. When it came to flaunting wealth, even Uchiha Madara would have to call him the strongest.

 Chapter 25 25: Lets Build a Gas Station at the Front Door

    "Zhang Menglong, have you lost your mind? Don''t you know that Lu Xuchao is famously pretentious?"


    "I know," Zhang Menglong laughed, "but the guy does have real talent. He''s been the captain of the school debate team since his freshman year, and he started trying to start his own business in his junior year. Though he''s a bit annoying, these kinds of people do well in society."


    "I heard that the treatment at Unicorn Technology has improved another level this year. Even the most basic positions are reaching salaries of over 250,000 a year. Apparently, Lu Xuchao got lucky somehow; a senior executive took a liking to him and offered him an annual salary of 800,000 outright."


    "That impressive?" Zhang Menglong was also surprised. For an undergraduate graduate, a salary of 800,000 a year is really a terrifying figure. Just relying on part-time jobs, most people wouldn''t achieve that income in their entire lives.


    "He organized this dinner purely to show off. For those of us who haven''t even found a job yet, isn''t it like asking for trouble?"


    "That''s just jealousy!" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Aren''t you jealous?" Xu Li was not one bit insincere, "Lemon fruits on the lemon tree, you and I beneath the lemon tree, don''t forget, you two competed for the ''Outstanding Graduate'' award, and you won over him. He might just try to get back at you this time!"


    Even though Lu Xuchao spent a lot of time on clubs and starting his business, he thereby neglected his studies. Zhang Menglong, relying on his last-minute cramming skills, snatched the title of ''Outstanding Graduate'' from Lu Xuchao, for which he had received no shortage of disdainful looks from him.


    "It''s just a lousy certificate, what''s the use!" Zhang Menglong had seen through it all. In society, those honors from the school are nothing. In the eyes of those business HRs, an outstanding graduate is far less popular than a student with internship experience. That''s the reality of society.


    "You do have a point."


    "Buddy, now that I''ve inherited a billion-dollar fortune, do I still care about these things?" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "Are you ever going to wake up from this dream?" Xu Li laughed, "Alright, you inherited a billion-dollar fortune, huh? If you''re capable, why don''t you show something to us then?"


    "Sure, but you''d better find a doctor in advance because I''m afraid your heart might not take it and will need some rescuing later."


    "Hahaha, you crack me up," Xu Li clearly didn''t take Zhang Menglong''s words seriously, "Since you''re going too, let''s all go. There''s a saying that''s indeed correct, the chances for all of us to gather together will only get rarer, let''s cherish it while we still have the time."


    "By the way, what about the other classmates?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Those guys? Why even ask, how could they miss an opportunity to suck up? You know very well, our classmates... hard to describe in a word. Just watch, it''s going to be a major bootlicking scene!" Xu Li snorted disdainfully at the thought of their classmates.


    "Well, let''s be real, society is pretty pragmatic after graduation; maybe Lu Xuchao really could help them out?"


    "Forget it, besides showing off, when has he ever thought about us? Enough talk now, I''m off to upgrade my Kun. I must get it to level 100 today, I''m out."


    "This guy." Zhang Menglong hung up the phone with a laugh and a sigh.


    "Mr. Zhang, your car sent by Mr. Su has arrived. Would you like to check it out?" just at that moment, Hong Yi came over to report to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh? That was timely!" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "Let''s go, accompany me to take a look."


    Walking downstairs, rows of trucks were neatly lined up beneath his building. Excluding the two cars sent for Qin Feng and Wang Ling, there were a total of 13 cars, including that one Koenigsegg CCVR.


    "Will my underground garage fit them all?" Zhang Menglong asked quietly.


    "Sir, your underground garage has three levels, each capable of accommodating over 100 cars, so there''s absolutely no problem."


    "Damn, this is nuts. Do I look bored enough to buy over 300 cars? That''s enough to not wear the same one any day of the year! They would just gather dust and rust, right?" Zhang Menglong realized that his understanding of this particular property was quite superficial.


    "Sir, if you need, I can help recruit a team of sports car maintenance staff for you."


    "Er... I was just speaking off the cuff last time, why did you take it seriously?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly full of frustration.


    Thirteen limited edition sports cars were carefully unloaded. Originally, Zhang Menglong really liked that one Pagani due to its spirit, but the moment he first set eyes on that Koenigsegg CCVR, the Pagani suddenly seemed less appealing.


    "Get the others into the garage for me, I''m going out for a spin." Although Zhang Menglong had obtained his driver''s license when he graduated from high school, apart from his dad''s old beater, he had hardly driven any decent cars, let alone sports cars.


    Zhang Menglong gently ran his hands over the pure carbon fiber body of the car, touching it as if it were the delicate body of a beautiful woman. That streamlined body, that cool design, this truly is every man''s dream!


    Zhang Menglong pressed the switch on the key, and the gull-winged doors slowly opened; although the interior of the sports car was much more compact, it didn''t feel uncomfortable at all.


    "Boom!" With a press on the accelerator, the powerful V12 engine immediately burst into a roar like that of a wild beast.


    "Mr. Zhang, please be sure to drive safely."


    "Don''t worry, you can''t really speed in the city, nothing will happen." Zhang Menglong said, excitement filling his voice as he slowly drove out of his residential area.


    "Damn, what''s going on?" Just as Zhang Menglong had driven out of the residential area, the streets on both sides were surprisingly filled with people.


    Actually, the trucks that had delivered the sports cars had transparent covers over their cargo areas. With 13 trucks loaded with sports cars, how could they not attract a crowd? Everyone wanted to see which wealthy individual had splurged on so many sports cars.


    "Here it comes!"


    "Holy shit! It''s that Koenigsegg XXVR from earlier! If only I could press the accelerator once, I''d be content for the rest of my life!"


    "Buddy, one press on that accelerator, and there goes your month''s salary."


    "The person who buys these kinds of cars must be young, right? Wonder who''s the young master."


    "It''s weird, the person who drives this kind of car, living in such an ordinary residential area?"


    "You know nothing, in this area, the lowest housing price is 80,000 per square meter. Look at the size of those houses; just one of them costs tens of millions. Can you afford it?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t pay any attention to these remarks and just drove onto the road.


    "My God, what a handsome car!"


    "That emblem, oh my, Koenigsegg, slow down! Slow down, man!"


    "Honey, isn''t that car good-looking? It must be really expensive, right?"


    "At least tens of millions, what do you think?"


    "That expensive? If we were to scratch it, selling our house might not even cover the cost."


    "Then why aren''t you slowing down? Are you planning to crash into it?!"


    Wherever this car went, it was met with envious gazes. As for the drivers, they all maintained a distance of more than ten meters from him. During the congested National Day evening rush, Zhang Menglong actually had a smooth ride on the elevated roads.


    ...


    "Awesome!"


    Although he didn''t reach the top speed, just this one lap, with the intense pushback and perfect driving sensation, showed Zhang Menglong what a top-level sports car felt like.


    "Damn, I only drove a lap, how come so much fuel is gone?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the dashboard and immediately looked displeased.


    "What''s the matter, Mr. Zhang? Are you unsatisfied with the new car?" Hong Yi noticed Zhang Menglong''s expression.


    "No, it''s not that, it''s just too troublesome to refuel every few days."


    "What''s the big deal?" Hong Yi said with a smile, "How about this, I''ll arrange it so we build a gas station right at your doorstep."


    "You can actually build one just like that?" Zhang Menglong had always thought that was just a joke on the internet.


    "It''s not possible for ordinary people, but for you, it''s no problem," Hong Yi replied, "Over 80% of the oil wells from which our country imports oil are under your businesses. I''ll just have someone build a private gas station for you!"


    Zhang Menglong looked at Hong Yi, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, "I concede defeat."

 Chapter 26 26 Why Should He Deserve My Toast?

    A few days went by in the blink of an eye, and Zhang Menglong didn''t leave the complex for several days straight, taking a full three days just to tour the entire place!


    Who knows what his dad was thinking when he designed this house; almost every bathroom faced a world-famous painting worth tens of millions of US Dollars. Every time Zhang Menglong took a shower, he felt like someone was watching him,


    And that wasn''t all. Right in front of every toilet and urinal hung a painting with a starting price of a million US Dollars. He really wanted to ask his dad if facing these masterpieces somehow made going to the bathroom smoother or what?


    But the most surprising thing to him was the library, which was a staggering three stories high. Calling it a library was an understatement; it was more like a museum. Almost everything on display was priceless, and Zhang Menglong even found an original copy of "The Plum in the Golden Vase" among the items!


    He wondered what the hell the use was in his ancestors preserving this thing¡ªwas it to enlighten future generations?


    Zhang Menglong initially thought the value of the complex was already terrifying, but after seeing the library, he realized that compared to the worth of the collections inside, the rest of the complex was nothing.


    "What''s wrong with you today, playing the game so listlessly?" On the last afternoon, Zhang Menglong was playing games as usual with "Frappuccino Double Sugar."


    "Don''t even mention it. I don''t know what''s wrong with my house''s plumbing today; several toilets are clogged. Do you know the agony of riding the elevator up and down 22 floors just to use the restroom? Plus, I got food poisoning from eating seafood yesterday and have already run to the bathroom seven times!" Zhang Menglong was pale, struggling even to aim with his 98k sniper rifle.


    "Hahaha, keep bluffing!" "Frappuccino Double Sugar" laughed at Zhang Menglong''s exaggerated description, "Why don''t you also say it takes you ten minutes to drive to your kitchen for meals?"


    "Believe it or not, I''ll give you a tour of my house sometime and you''ll see!"


    "I bet you just want to show me what color your bedsheets are."


    "Oh come on, what''s with you, girl? I am a decent person!" Zhang Menglong grinned foolishly at his phone; they didn''t shy away from making risque? jokes while chatting.


    "Shut up, I suspect you''re playing this game with me while you''re taking a dump."


    "Damn it, take down that camera you installed in my bathroom right now!" Zhang Menglong said fiercely.


    "Hahaha, nope! Lala la!"


    "Boom!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you actually used a grenade to blow me up! Apologize now!"


    "Nope, lala la!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, your class reunion is at six in the evening; it''s about time you headed out."


    "Okay, I got it!" Zhang Menglong had just finished playing his game, and he looked at "Frappuccino Double Sugar"''s avatar with a rich smile, "I wonder what kind of person she really is."


    "Mr. Zhang, your girlfriend?" Hong Yi noticed the sweet expression on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "No, just a good friend," replied Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you like her, why not go after her? With your status, even European princesses would line up to marry you!" joked Hong Yi.


    "Is that really so exaggerated?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "I heard from my father that the year you were born, those European royal families, knowing you were a boy, sent at least a hundred letters seeking marriage," she continued.


    "Not only that, but those European royal families without a princess but only princes even started a frenzied ''baby-making campaign.'' In the few years after you were born, the number of princesses under 5 in Europe more than tripled!"


    "Damn, what are they making me out to be?" The thought of that scenario made Zhang Menglong feel incredibly uneasy¡ªhe had apparently even boosted the birth rate of the European royalty? Wasn''t that just too bizarre?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to arrange someone to take you there?" Hong Yi asked with a suppressed laugh.


    "No need, I''ll go by myself. It''s just a class reunion, no need to make it like a business negotiation." Zhang Menglong picked a casual outfit from his wardrobe at random and left.


    The reunion was to be held at the Lofitte Hotel in Jiangnan City''s Wetland Park, a five-star global chain that liked to operate in very special places, such as beaches, forests, ice fields, and even prisons. If you wanted to experience a different style of hotel, they were definitely the best choice.


    But the Lofitte Hotel in the Wetland Park was pretty standard, and this reunion had been meticulously organized by Lu Xuchao.


    During school, he had already made his first pot of gold from entrepreneurship¡ªtwo million Huaxia currency. That might not be much for some entrepreneurs, but for a student just out of school, it was quite impressive.


    And landing an offer from Unicorn Technology, Lu Xuchao truly reached the peak of his life!


    Unicorn Technology was a company that suddenly emerged in Jiangnan City two years ago. Within just two years, they had completed financing, went public, and even stood shoulder to shoulder with giants like Tengxun and Alibaba. Even internationally, their products occupied a significant market share.


    The position Lu Xuchao held at Unicorn Technology was one that ordinary graduates wouldn''t reach until five or more years into their careers, and his future looked incredibly bright.


    This reunion was all his doing; between all the arrangements and the buffet dinner, it cost a total of eighteen thousand, and he had recently spent a million to buy a Maserati President, truly appearing as a portrait of success.


    When Lu Xuchao arrived, many of his classmates were already there. They looked at the lavish wetland-themed party venue with envious expressions, and it was precisely such looks that Lu Xuchao enjoyed.


    "President Lu is here!"


    "Lu Xuchao, you''re incredible. Right after graduation, you''re nearly making a million a year in salary. If you strike it rich, don''t forget us old classmates, okay?"


    "What? A million-a-year salary?"


    "Hahaha, it''s not that exaggerated, just over eight hundred thousand," Lu Xuchao said, feigning modesty.


    "I don''t even know this news, and I''m in the same class!"


    "Haha, my bad, my bad, I''ll drink to President Lu first!"


    "Sigh, I make just over five thousand a month. That''s barely enough to live on here in Jiangnan City."


    "You''re doing well, brother. I''m at 4000!"


    ...


    Many people announced their incomes, and such stark contrasts immediately made Lu Xuchao the sole focus of the event.


    "Hey, don''t belittle yourselves like that. We''ve only just graduated. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. If I get the chance, I''ll definitely not forget you guys, my classmates."


    "President Lu is generous!"


    "Come on, let''s all drink to President Lu!"


    Suddenly, someone asked, "By the way, how many of us from the class came today? Has everyone arrived?"


    "In total, 12 people couldn''t make it for various reasons. There are 32 of us left, and only 31 have arrived."


    "Seems like Zhang Menglong hasn''t shown up yet, has he?"


    "Oh right, when I sent out the message, it seemed like he was the only one who didn''t reply. I''ve no idea what''s up with him."


    "The guy is an honor graduate, a real geek. As if he''d stoop low enough to hang out with us!"


    "Being an honor graduate is useless crap. When you get to the workplace, it''s all about what you can do. I heard Zhang Menglong got rejected in the final round of an interview at Wangyi not long ago."


    "What a pity, the Pig Factory isn''t much worse than the Big Three!"


    "What''s there to pity? If he got rejected, it just means his abilities weren''t up to snuff. Look at our President Lu, he didn''t just get an offer from a Unicorn, but he started at a P7 level, leaving him far behind!"


    "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Look, here he comes!"


    It was at this moment that Zhang Menglong finally hurried over. It was the last day of the National Day holiday, and the roads were so congested it was almost impassable. He''d almost had to call for his helicopter.


    "Sorry, sorry, the traffic was a bit heavy, so I got here a little late," Zhang Menglong apologized with a smile on his face.


    "Menglong, we''ve been waiting for you for ages. What took you so long?" a few roommates immediately surrounded him warmly and punched him playfully.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re late," Lu Xuchao said, swaying his wine glass, his smile concealing an imperceptible sneer.


    "Zhang Menglong, since President Lu is treating today, you should at least drink to President Lu for being late, shouldn''t you?"


    "Exactly, drink to President Lu, consider it an apology for your lateness!"


    Zhang Menglong frowned, suddenly feeling somewhat estranged from the classmates around him.


    "Menglong, what Zhang Xucao said to you was obviously meant to target you," Xu Li whispered.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong replied with a slight smile. Lu Xuchao really knew how to exploit the classmates'' clinging mentality.


    But Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to fall for it.


    "Zhang Menglong, why are you still standing there? Hurry up already!"


    "That''s right, haven''t you not found a job yet? Maybe Xucao could refer you!"


    "So, I should drink to him?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Why should I?"

 Chapter 27 27: Todays expenses are all covered by Young Master Zhang

    "What?" Zhang Menglong''s unabashed retort caught everyone off guard; they hadn''t expected his attitude to be so strong, especially since the reunion had just begun, and the thick smell of gunpowder was already wafting through the air.


    "Awesome, Zhang!" Those classmates were uncomfortable while they were constantly flattering before, but now they felt a mix of sourness and relief.


    "We can''t just pamper him, can we?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I didn''t come here to see them; it''s mainly for us to catch up properly!


    "Hahaha, you''re right, as long as we aren''t awkward, they are the awkward ones," Sun Yulei said.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean by that?"


    "You come here to eat and drink for free, so why the attitude like someone owes you something?"


    "Exactly! Lu, General Manager, is cherishing our classmates'' friendship by paying for this, and by acting this way, you''re just ruining the harmony in the class!"


    "Hey, we''re all classmates, there''s no need to be so confrontational!" Although Lu Xuchao was quite annoyed, he couldn''t show it in front of so many people; he had to maintain a perfect image, and at that moment, he had to promote his own moral excellence.


    "It''s understandable that Menglong has been upset recently since he faced so many rejections while job hunting; let''s not force him to drink."


    "Menglong," Lu Xuchao walked up to Zhang Menglong and clapped him on the shoulder, "though I just joined the company, I do have some connections. If you''re interested, I could refer you internally. With your skills, you should have a chance to join Unicorn Technologies."


    "That''s so magnanimous of General Manager Lu!"


    "Unlike some people, who are just clueless."


    Suddenly, envious and jealous glances converged on Zhang Menglong. Just getting into Unicorn Technologies, even at a P5 level, was far better than being a common wage earner!


    "Thanks, but I don''t need it right now," Zhang Menglong flatly refused Lu Xuchao, knowing exactly what was on his mind.


    "No problem, the fall recruitment isn''t over yet, take your time!" Lu Xuchao''s face had already turned somewhat ugly.


    For some reason, he was confident he could dominate over Zhang Menglong today, but there was an inexplicable confidence emanating from Zhang Menglong.


    "It must be my imagination!"


    "Waiter, let''s start!" The party had just begun, and now Lu Xuchao had already become the center of attention. He no longer cared about Zhang Menglong; after all, they were not from the same world anymore, so why should he dwell on it?


    "Everyone, let loose and have fun today, I''m paying!" Lu Xuchao shouted.


    That statement immediately revived the somewhat awkward atmosphere.


    Before long, beautifully wrapped bottles of red wine and several trolleys were rolled in.


    "Wait a minute!" Lu Xuchao''s gaze suddenly fell on the wines, "What is this?"


    "Sir, this is Romane?e-Conti from 2005," the waiter politely responded.


    "Damn! Romane?e-Conti? Did I hear that right?"


    "Is this wine expensive?"


    "Not just expensive, it''s legendary in the world of wine! My god, just these ten bottles must be over a hundred thousand, right?"


    "You jest, sir. The 2005 Romane?e-Conti is the best and it retails for 120,000 per bottle here."


    "General Manager Lu is awesome! Such high-class wine, we almost dare not drink it!"


    "Wait, let''s not open it yet; let my phone drink first!"


    "I also want to take a couple of photos; my goodness, wine worth tens of thousands per bottle, I''ve never seen anything like this in my life!"


    At that moment, Lu Xuchao''s mind was a total mess. Although the wine he''d ordered was decent, it definitely wasn''t this one. Ten bottles¡ªthat would be 1.2 million, and right after buying a car, he didn''t even have enough money to cover just the cost of the wine.


    "Is there some mistake?" Lu Xuchao asked.


    "No way, sir, isn''t this A07 hall?"


    "It''s A07, but..."


    "Then there is no mistake."


    "But the wine we ordered is definitely not this one."


    "Sir, you misunderstood, this wine is our gift to Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to pay anything extra, please be assured."


    "Mr. Zhang? Which Mr. Zhang?"


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang Menglong." The waiter suddenly looked puzzled; their general manager had personally arranged this, and this Mr. Zhang was clearly a significant figure. How did these people seem oblivious?


    "Could you have made a mistake?"


    "This was personally entrusted by our general manager."


    "Swoosh!"


    All eyes suddenly focused on Zhang Menglong.


    "Menglong, what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were all startled. This was a bottle of wine worth 1.2 million, just given away like that, and it was arranged by the general manager of this five-star hotel, this...


    "Buzz!" Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly vibrated, a message from Hong Yi.


    "Mr. Zhang, I forgot to tell you, the Lofitte Hotel where you are attending the gathering today is also one of your properties. I have already arranged everything for you."


    "This is also my property?" Zhang Menglong was completely baffled. Just how many properties did he own?


    At that moment, a middle-aged chubby man rushed in hurriedly. The headquarters'' leader had just called him personally, saying that the hotel''s biggest shareholder was holding a gathering there tonight and he must entertain them well, otherwise he should prepare to resign!


    The news terrified him so much that he was sweating all over. He had no time to attend to some of the VIPs of the day and hurried over here.


    "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Zhang?" The middle-aged chubby man adjusted his clothes and hair and asked cautiously.


    "Oh, that''s me." Zhang Menglong stood up.


    "Mr. Zhang, sorry, I just found out you were coming. I..."


    "It''s fine, I''m just having a meal with my classmates. Just make sure the food and drinks are good."


    "Mr. Zhang, this place seems a bit small. How about I change the venue for you? We always have a VIP venue reserved for you here."


    "Oh? There''s such a thing?" Zhang Menglong looked around. The place wasn''t actually small, but to accommodate more than thirty people, it indeed was a bit cramped, "That would be great, thank you."


    "No trouble, no trouble at all!" The chubby man smiled broadly, personally leading them to the so-called VIP venue.


    This VIP venue was located on the top floor of the hotel, a rooftop design from where one could even see a panoramic view of the entire wetland landscape. Not only that, there was a swimming pool, a dance floor, and all sorts of musical instruments. It was truly a massive party scene!


    "Not bad at all." Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you have any other requests, just let me know. I will make sure everything is taken care of."


    "Hahaha, no need, it''s rare to gather with classmates, I will pay for all expenses tonight!" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "What?" The manager was stunned for a moment. The hotel was your property, what difference did it make whether you paid the bill or not?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you need to pay when you are consuming at your own hotel?"


    "Oh, that''s right." Zhang Menglong also felt a bit awkward.


    "This... this hotel is your property?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were dumbfounded. This was an international chain of five-star hotels, not some roadside diner!


    "I told you I inherited a fortune, now do you believe me?" Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "How is this possible?" Lu Xuchao''s face turned from green to purple. This hotel was Zhang Menglong''s property, he had such a fortune and still looked for jobs and worked?


    As for the other classmates, their expressions were even more vivid. They had been classmates for over three years and only now did they find out that Zhang Menglong was an unequivocal rich man! They had just been troubling Zhang Menglong earlier to flatter Lu Xuchao.


    Suddenly, everyone wanted to find a crevice to crawl into.


    "Well then, let''s do this, I''ll take care of the expenses for the entire hotel today!" Zhang Menglong directly handed a card to the manager, "The money that should be collected has to be collected since the hotel still has to operate!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand." Although the hotel''s daily turnover was terrifying, he knew that as the owner of this hotel chain, Zhang Menglong''s wealth was even more formidable, and he did not need to worry about him.


    Moments later, the background music in all private rooms and venues of the entire hotel was turned down, and a somewhat excited voice suddenly echoed throughout the Lofitte Hotel.


    "Dear guests, tonight''s expenses for the entire venue will be covered by Mr. Zhang from the VIP venue, let''s cheer for him!"


    Instantly, the entire hotel became deadly quiet, and guests holding chopsticks had a blank expression, unsure where to look.


    But after the moment of silence, a wave of loud noises suddenly erupted.


    "Holy shit! What''s happening?"


    "Are you kidding? Just a private room at Lofitte Hotel costs tens of thousands, plus those special event venues, without millions, who can cover it all?"


    "Awesome! Big spender! Where is the VIP venue? I want to pay my respects!"


    "Rich or not, doesn''t matter. Mainly I like making friends, I want to go meet this Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang? Zhang Wujie?"


    ...

 Chapter 28 28: So it turns out that Unicorn Technology is mine too

    The vast VIP venue had become utterly silent, nobody expected that Zhang Menglong, someone they interacted with day and night, had hidden his true capacity so deeply.


    As of now, Lofitte Hotel''s market value has already exceeded 40 billion US dollars, and to be called a boss by the general manager here would imply that Zhang Menglong was at least one of the major shareholders of this hotel, right?


    In other words, was Zhang Menglong now a billionaire?


    In comparison, what difference was there between Lu Xuchao, who had an annual salary of 800,000 and was considered young and promising in everyone''s eyes just a moment ago, and a beggar?


    Not just that, Zhang Menglong had also just footed the bill for the entire hotel''s expenses today!


    They were unclear about how much the hotel made in one night''s revenue, but judging from the expenditure at their event, it wouldn''t be less than several million, and even ten million would be considered normal. Zhang Menglong had reached such a lavish level of spending that describing it as "spending money like water" would not be an exaggeration!


    "Zhang Meng... Mr. Zhang," those classmates who had just been saying that Zhang Menglong was freeloading immediately changed their expression, "Mr. Zhang, you''ve hidden it from us for so long, no, we must all have a good drink today!


    "Sorry, I drove here today, so can''t drink," Zhang Menglong bluntly refused. Although he could call for a designated driver, he didn''t feel the slightest joy in drinking with a group of people he barely had any relationship with.


    "Hahaha, that''s true, you take a drink, and we''ll down ours!" A few guys from the class chugged their wine, a bottle worth over a hundred thousand they had never tried before. Even if Zhang Menglong didn''t grant them this courtesy, today''s trip would not have been in vain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what the hell is going on with you? Spill it!" Several roommates immediately surrounded Zhang Menglong, "Last time we went to your place, all you had was an apartment of 89 square meters and a Honda, so why are you so stingy? Last time, we were sent off with a meal of seafood that cost more than a thousand?"


    "Yeah, you even said your dad was a fisherman, could it be that he has taken over the entire ocean farm?"


    "And does your family really own hundreds of islands?"


    "Alright, alright, will you give me a chance to explain?" Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected.


    "Okay, let''s hear it, let''s see how you spin this!"


    "What if I say I also just found out how rich my family really is, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong said with a look of grievance.


    "This..." The three roommates looked at each other, indeed, Zhang Menglong''s behavior over the past three years was really no different from ordinary people, eating at the cafeteria every day, with at most a weekend treat at the shopping center.


    The shoes on his feet were typically just common items that cost two or three hundred yuan, and those AJ sneakers were fake. His everyday demeanor didn''t resemble at all that of a child from a family with hundreds of millions in assets; he couldn''t have been pretending all this time, could he? But if he were, he was playing the part way too convincingly, right?


    Looking at Zhang Menglong now, although they didn''t recognize the brand of his clothes, the pair of shoes he wore were Dior co-branded AJs, now priced at over 100,000, and even with money, they were hard to come by.


    When Zhang Menglong came in earlier, they had thought the guy had bought another pair of Putian knock-offs, but now, even if those shoes were indeed Putian goods, as long as they were on his feet, they''d be the genuine article!


    "You really hit the jackpot all of a sudden?" Xu Li asked for confirmation.


    "Absolutely true, if I''m lying to you guys, I''ll limit myself to just one small goal for next month''s living expenses!"


    "A billion?"


    "Are you trying to attract hatred here, aren''t you?"


    "Damn it, you scoundrel, showing off your wealth right to our faces, let''s take him down!"


    "I''m sorry, I was wrong!" Amid the playful scuffles, a smile finally appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    Compared to those who had a shift in attitude, all respectful after learning of his identity, it was his roommates that made him feel more at ease. Only they represented true friendship.


    "Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Zhang?" At this moment, a man who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six walked in, holding a glass of red wine. He was dressed in an expensive Armani suit, very much the image of a successful businessman.


    "Director?" Lu Xuchao, who had been left to one side, suddenly seemed to have found his soul again.


    "Hmm? Xuchao, what are you doing here?" The man seemed surprised.


    "I''m here for a reunion with my college classmates," said Lu Xuchao, his face beaming. Despite being young, their director was one of the founding members of Unicorn Technology. Unicorn Technology''s current market valuation had exceeded one hundred billion US dollars, and this director held shares in the company.


    Although it wasn''t a large percentage, he had already joined the ranks of billionaires. In his eyes, Zhang Menglong relied only on his family''s background. This hotel was surely part of his family''s assets. In comparison with his director, they were simply not on the same level.


    "Let me introduce everyone. This is the marketing director of our Unicorn Technology. The entire Huaxia''s strategic layout is his responsibility," Lu Xuchao said with pride, as if he were introducing himself. Even though this director had high expectations for him and was grooming him to be his right-hand man.


    "I just heard the announcement, Mr. Zhang is picking up the tab for everyone today. We''ve all benefited from it, so I specifically came over to express my thanks. Xuchao, is this Mr. Zhang your classmate?" Xu Feng, who had the ability to be the marketing director of Unicorn Technology, naturally had exceptional social experience. This Mr.


    Zhang was generous. Either he had personal energy, or his family background was extraordinary.


    Making connections with such people could possibly lead to close business collaborations. Even if there wasn''t a chance right now, it would become an important part of his network. That''s why he personally came to meet Mr. Zhang.


    "Hi, my name is Zhang Menglong," said Zhang Menglong as he walked out from the crowd. "Just call me by my name, ''Mr. Zhang'' sounds like I''m in a period drama."


    "You... not... you..." Xu Feng''s expression suddenly froze, and his entire body seemed to lock in place.


    Not long ago, their company had suddenly announced a significant transfer of shareholder shares. Most of the company''s equity had been transferred to a new boss. As part of the leadership, after making inquiries, Xu Feng found out that the shareholders holding large amounts of shares were just representatives of the real mastermind behind the scenes!


    And now, rumor had it that the boss intended to hand over all his assets to his younger generation. That''s why he was reorganizing all his assets. Although the boss only appeared to own 37% of the shares on the surface, in reality, he controlled over 95% of the company''s shares!


    A piece of top-secret information circulated among the company''s leadership: it was the picture and name of their trusted chairman. Although it was said that the chairman never interfered with the business, leaving most of the matters to the directors, Xu Feng still quietly took note of the chairman''s information.


    This chairman was a young man in his early twenties. At the time, Xu Feng found it hard to believe. How could such a young person have established such a colossal company?


    And the person before him now matched the chairman who had never appeared in public.


    "Mr. Zhang! It''s an honor to meet you. I didn''t expect to see you here!"


    "Huh?" Zhang Menglong paused, "Do you know me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the ordinary staff and management of the company naturally do not know your true face, but Director Bai showed us your information."


    "Wait, what information about me?" Zhang Menglong was getting more confused as he listened.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you know? The directors already transferred most of the shares back into your name. Although you don''t manage the company, in reality, you are still our company''s chairman."


    "What? So Unicorn Technology is mine too?" Zhang Menglong finally understood what he was saying. "Damn, how much stuff did my dad arrange for me?"


    "What? Mr. Zhang, you didn''t know about this?"


    "Er, I''ve just inherited the family''s assets. I don''t know how much stuff there is, so..."


    Upon hearing this, the classmates who had just regained some composure from their shock all opened their mouths wide again in amazement.


    So it turned out Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology! They had actually asked Zhang Menglong to work in Unicorn Technology a moment ago? Asking a chairman to do a regular employee''s job¡ªthey had committed such an absurd mistake!


    They were wrong! Terribly wrong. Zhang Menglong was not just a billionaire; damn it, he was a hundred-billionaire!

 Chapter 29 29 I Originally Wanted to Keep a Low Profile

    "Mr. Zhang, this one''s for you first!" Xu Feng downed the drink in his glass, "Have a great time, I''ll leave you be."


    Xu Feng bowed slightly to Zhang Menglong and then left the VIP area on that level.


    If Lu Xuchao was merely shocked upon learning that the hotel belonged to Zhang Menglong, now he was practically soul-shaken to the core.


    Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Initially, standing before Zhang Menglong, he had felt a sense of superiority, but now, just a word from Zhang Menglong could potentially get him fired the next day for entering the company with his left foot before the right.


    He believed that if Zhang Menglong wanted, he had a thousand ways to make him unable to stay in the company!


    "Mr. Zhang, I hadn''t thought..." At this moment, Lu Xuchao''s heart was overwhelmed by fear and regret. All these years in university and he''d missed a huge ship! No, not a ship, a friggin'' Galactic Battleship!


    However, Zhang Menglong wasn''t so petty as to use his connections to get back at Lu Xuchao over such a minor squabble, because he never really took Lu Xuchao seriously to begin with. Lu Xuchao had always been silently competing with Zhang Menglong, but it was completely one-sided.


    "Tsk tsk, which Mr. Zhang could it be, indeed it''s you, the tycoon!" Amidst a hearty laughter, a group of people walked into the VIP area.


    "Principal Wang!" Everyone present recognized the young man who had just walked in; he was also at this hotel, and from his tone, he seemed to know Zhang Menglong.


    "Ah!! Ling Ge!" A group of fangirls screamed.


    Though not as popular as the current traffic stars, Ling Ge was undeniably a top-tier star among the younger generation of actors, still highly popular among girls.


    Wang Ling didn''t really care about anyone else; in his eyes, only those whose wealth and background were equal to his own were worthy of being his true friends. As for Ling Ge, he was just quietly following behind Wang Ling.


    "Principal, what brings you here?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling bumped fists.


    "Just came to see which big shot was so generous as to book the entire Lofitte Hotel tonight, and seeing it''s you, I''m not surprised at all." Wang Ling seemed still to be holding a grudge from the day Zhang Menglong had smashed his car worth tens of millions on him.


    "Just hanging out with some college friends today, took the rare chance to have some fun!"


    "Yeah, you''ve got ''happy'' written all over your face!" Wang Ling was extremely shrewd; he could tell that Zhang Menglong''s mood wasn''t actually that great.


    "Hahaha, with so many people here, give me some face!"


    "Damn, who in the world would dare not give you, Mr. Zhang, face?" Wang Ling said to Ling Ge beside him, "Ling Dog, this is Mr. Zhang Menglong, this rascal is filthy rich. I never used to care if my friends were rich or not, but now I do because my friends might not be as rich as me."


    "Is this the friend you mentioned who dunked money on your head?" Ling Ge had heard about Zhang Menglong from Wang Ling.


    "Who else but him?" Wang Ling laughed.


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang, I''m Ling Ge. If you watch movies, you should know me."


    "Of course, I know you." Zhang Menglong shook hands with Ling Ge. The stars of the past, who used to be aloof, are now just ordinary people with more fans.


    "It''s not often someone can put the principal in his place; I''ve known him for so long, and you''re the first."


    "Cut it out!" Wang Ling said, "If he wanted to make someone look foolish, I doubt even the richest man in the world could withstand it!"


    Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling started talking, their conversation clear to everyone around them!


    As a top-level influencer comparable to a top-tier internet celebrity, Wang Ling''s fanbase is quite substantial, which of course includes haters and casual onlookers.


    At least in Zhang Menglong''s class, almost everyone who used Weibo followed Wang Ling''s Weibo, and the information he posted a few days ago was there for all to see.


    Some unknown super rich guy bought dozens of sports cars and even gifted a Lamborghini Poison worth 72 million Huaxia currency to Wang Ling. Even Wang Ling exclaimed that he was being smashed with money on the head.


    Not only that, the tycoon who transported a car via helicopter over the cross-sea bridge a few days earlier was the same person, and now they''ve realized that this person mentioned by Wang Ling was none other than Zhang Menglong!


    He was that mysterious rich man!


    According to those car experts on Weibo at the time, the total value of those cars definitely exceeded two billion Huaxia currency!


    If a person spends over twenty billion to buy cars, it means that his total assets exceed ten times that twenty billion, or even more! And it''s all in cash!


    Hundreds of billions of Huaxia currency in cash. Did Zhang Menglong grow up in an ocean of money since childhood?


    "By the way, where''s Qin Feng?" As Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were chatting eagerly, Zhang suddenly thought of Qin Feng.


    "Oh, he has gone back to Mingzhu City!"


    "Then why aren''t you going back?"


    "Hehe, I''m not planning to go back!" Wang Ling said with a smile, "I plan to move my business to Jiangnan City. As you know, the development here is getting better and better, especially in the e-commerce and internet sectors. I want to make some achievements based on my own skills, so I won''t just be labeled as a spoiled second-generation rich kid."


    "Hahaha, playing less with a couple of internet celebrities is better than anything!"


    "No way!" Wang Ling laughed, "These are the only hobbies I have in life. By the way, I know quite a few socialites. Would you like me to introduce you to some?"


    "Forget it, socialites? Just a bunch of women brainwashed by budget shopping, how could they catch my eye?"


    "Hahaha, you are amazing, Mr. Zhang!" Wang Ling also heard about the latest hot gossip, "Alright, I''m heading back now. If you''re free, why not come over to my place tomorrow?"


    "Sure!" Now that Zhang Menglong was in his senior year, he barely had any classes left, and since he didn''t need to look for a job, why not?


    "OK, it''s settled then. I''ll send you the location tomorrow, and show you some cool stuff that will definitely blow your mind!"


    "Eh, I hope it''s not some messy stuff? I am a respectable person!"


    "Get lost!" Wang Ling laughed and cursed as he left the venue.


    After Wang Ling left, several more groups of people arrived. They were either some company''s CEO or some internet-famous stars¡ªthe place was almost turning into a major high society mingle spot. With all the abundant food, no one had the appetite to continue eating.


    After sending off the last group of guests, Zhang Menglong was somewhat exhausted. Had he known it would be so troublesome, why bother paying? The money just circulated and ended right back in his own pocket; not a cent was spent, and yet here he was, busy being a socialite, really not worth it.


    "Zhang Menglong, you keep things so under wraps!"


    "We underestimated you!" his roommates cast threatening glances at him.


    Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but my strength doesn''t allow it!"


    "Are you even speaking human language? Keep a low profile? When you, Mr. Zhang, paid for everyone at the event, where was your hint of low profile?"


    "Ah!" Sun Yulei sighed, "Perhaps in the eyes of the wealthy, the ultimate low profile is just to this degree..."

 Chapter 30 30: Actually, I Built Your House

    Jiangnan City''s most luxurious villa is located by the West Lake waterfront. The location in this scenic area is literally worth its weight in gold. During the development of this land, at least hundreds of real estate companies competed, but in the end, Huiteng Group easily acquired it.


    When this villa district was launched, the price had reached an astronomical 120,000 yuan per square meter, and that was the price five years ago. Since the Asia-Pacific Conference, the price here had skyrocketed to 250,000 yuan per square meter, a price only comparable to First-grade in Mingzhu City.


    The residents here were almost all among the wealthiest in Jiangnan City, such as Mr. Ma Yun of Alibaba, who owned a private villa here.


    In the heart of the villa district, a particular villa spanned an area of 1,200 square meters. With various fees included, this villa''s price exceeded 300 million Huaxia yuan!


    This villa had been revealed several years ago and was said to have been purchased by the chairman of Wanda, who is Wang Ling''s father.


    However, this villa had been idle for a long time, until not long ago, it was quietly transferred to Wang Ling''s name.


    "Dad, I''ve invited Menglong to my place today!" Wang Ling was on the phone with her father in that spacious study.


    As someone born into a family of merchants, Wang Ling''s friendship with Zhang Menglong was genuine, of course, though she hoped to gain some benefits from him as well¡ªthat was also true. But it didn''t affect their relationship, as long as she managed it properly.


    "Hmm, I know," a voice full of authority came through the phone, "I''ve checked the information you mentioned, this Zhang Menglong is quite interesting!"


    "Dad, did you investigate him? Didn''t I tell you not to just investigate my friends? If he finds out, this..."


    "Don''t worry, I used some special connections; he won''t find out," said Wang''s father, "I found several identities for him, the most representative being that he is actually the chairman of Unicorn Group!"


    "What?" Wang Ling was stunned. She had planned to enter the internet industry two years ago, but the live streaming sector had been hit by the short video industry, and it was Unicorn Group that thrived on the short video industry, causing her considerable loss at the time.


    Now, Unicorn Group had become a giant she had to look up to, and its market value was even closing in on their family''s Wanda Group!


    "But what''s really strange is that I couldn''t find a single piece about his family background. My data shows that his father is just a fisherman and his mother is just a housewife, and his other elders have been deceased for a long time."


    "How could that be?" Wang Ling had always believed Zhang Menglong must have come from an incredibly powerful family.


    "Of course, it can''t be like this, otherwise, do you think a youngster in his twenties could own such an enterprise?" Wang''s father asserted, "This only shows that his background is far more formidable than we can imagine. What we see is merely what he''s willing to let us see."


    Wang''s father continued, "Wang Ling, make sure you maintain a proper balance while befriending Zhang Menglong. Growing close to him would be best, it could benefit your future."


    "I understand, I was serious about befriending him anyway!" Wang Ling suddenly received a message from Zhang Menglong on WeChat, "Alright, dad, Menglong is here, I''ll talk to you later!"


    Wang Ling had already informed the security of the villa district, and Zhang Menglong faced no obstructions, moreover, his sports car clearly showcased its high price. Even if she hadn''t informed them earlier, it''s unlikely the security would have had the guts to stop him.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, this car of yours, when will you let me drive it for a few days?" Wang Ling said enviously as she looked at Zhang Menglong''s car.


    "This flashy car isn''t practical at all!" Zhang Menglong complained, "I have to go to the gas station every day, it''s so annoying!"


    "Haha, then you might as well build a gas station right at your doorstep," Wang Ling joked.


    "Huh? How did you know?" Zhang Menglong said unexpectedly, "I just bought several storefronts outside the residential area, and they should be completed within a month at most."


    The smile on Wang Ling''s face instantly stiffened, "You''re joking, right?"


    Zhang Menglong said seriously, "Brother, I''m not joking. You''ll know next time you visit my house."


    "I... All right, I admit I lacked imagination!" Wang Ling glanced at the villa behind him, and only then did he feel slightly more confident. He believed that there was no villa more luxurious than the one behind him throughout Jiangnan City.


    "How''s that, not bad where I live, huh?" Wang Ling said confidently, determined to regain some face this time. After all, he was once Huaxia''s top rich second generation, how could he tolerate any humiliation?


    "Not bad." Zhang Menglong nodded slightly. This villa was indeed grand, but after experiencing his own residential area, this villa seemed rather ordinary.


    "What do you mean ''not bad''?" Wang Ling didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to be expressionless as if the villa worth three billion simply wasn''t impressive at all, "Brother, just the size of this villa is worth three billion. Could it be that it doesn''t catch the eye of Young Master Zhang?"


    "Hm? Was it developed by Huiteng Group?" Zhang Menglong noticed the property logo on the side.


    "That''s right," Wang Ling said.


    "I see, you invited me over today just to regain your image," Zhang Menglong said half-jokingly.


    "You have a good eye, Young Master Zhang!" Wang Ling readily admitted, "That day, you crushed me with money. Today I must recover some face. And let me tell you, my house has many treasures, all collected by my old man, guaranteed to amaze you!"


    "Let''s not talk about being amazed or not yet," Zhang Menglong pointed at the property logo with a calm expression, "You might not believe this, but Huiteng Group is also part of my family''s assets. In other words, this house was basically built by my family."


    "What the heck?" Wang Ling''s expression instantly twisted, "Huiteng Group... is yours?"


    "Shush!" Zhang Menglong gestured, "Keep it down, keep it down!"


    "Keep it down your sister!" Wang Ling suddenly burst out swearing. He finally found a chance to restore a bit of his dignity, but it turned out, the villa he was so proud of was developed by Zhang Menglong''s family''s real estate group.


    And this real estate group was none other than Huaxia''s largest, Huiteng Group, making him want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!


    "Wait, I remember that the chairman of Huiteng Group is surnamed Hong, not Zhang." Wang Ling was puzzled.


    "Oh, that''s just for keeping a low profile!" Zhang Menglong explained, "The current chairman of Huiteng is my dad''s former butler, and his daughter, my full-time assistant."


    "I..." Wang Ling raised his hand and slapped himself hard on the face, "What am I even showing off! Everything is yours, how can I even compete! I''m totally breaking down!"

 Chapter 31 31 This Friendship Is Over

    "Stop, stop, stop, don''t fight," Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected, "If you can''t handle this little thrill, I''m afraid you''ll slap your own head off after being friends with me for too long."


    "How was I supposed to know you''re so damn rich? I''m practically throwing my face out there for you to punch!" Wang Ling lamented, on the verge of tears, "I always thought I was one of the top second-generation rich in Huaxia, but compared to you, I''m just a pauper!"


    What kind of behemoth is Huiteng Group? A Fortune Global 500 company, with a market value of over 300 billion US dollars, while by comparison, Wang Ling''s family''s Wanda Group was only worth 300 billion, but their currency was Huaxia yuan.


    That''s a gap of nearly 7 times!


    And heaven knows if Zhang Menglong has any other industries besides Unicorn Group and Huiteng Group, Wang Ling was even too afraid to ask.


    "Hey, don''t keep comparing like that, I''m not interested in money, well, except for spending it!"


    "Shut your mouth, will you!" The more Wang Ling spoke with Zhang Menglong, the more irritated he became, "Just come on in, someone will park your car for you. Just give the keys to the butler."


    "Thanks." Zhang Menglong handed the car keys to the butler, then walked into the luxury villa with Wang Ling.


    The first floor of this villa alone was a whopping 500 square meters, featuring an immensely spacious living room, a small private cinema, a sweat room, a spy room¡ªeverything one could wish for was there.


    "You sure know how to enjoy life!" Everywhere Zhang Menglong looked, there were items from internationally renowned brands, he estimated that the cost of decorating and furnishing this villa might even exceed the value of the villa itself.


    "They''re just some of my old man''s hobbies," Wang Ling said with a laugh, "This is where he planned to retire, but now it''s mine."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, it must be nice to be a rich second-generation," Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "What right do you have to talk about me?" Wang Ling gave Zhang Menglong a disdainful look, "I just snagged a villa under my dad''s name, whereas you have several hundred-billion-dollar corporations. You''re even richer than my old man!"


    "I don''t want to either, but there''s no helping it, that''s fate!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, "I simply wanted to be a regular person with a job, but you can blame NetEase for this, it''s all because one of their related parties took my position, otherwise I wouldn''t have been forced to take over the family fortune."


    "Can you say that with a clear conscience? What do you mean ''forced''? Will your dad need a foster son anytime soon? I too would like to be ''forced'' into inheriting his assets."


    "Alright, enough of that. Aren''t you going to give me a tour? Didn''t you say you had many things here that would blow my mind?" Zhang Menglong stopped the banter.


    "Hehe, these things, even if you were to have all the money, you still might not be able to get them!" Wang Ling suddenly puffed out his chest, "Take a look at this painting on the wall."


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze shifted to the huge painting in the center of the living room, which was close to five meters in length and more than 30 centimeters wide, comparable even with Master Zhang Zeduan''s "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."


    "This is pretty interesting," Zhang Menglong said, scrutinizing the painting, "Northern Song style of painting, the style is indeed somewhat close to that of Master Zhang Zeduan, using a scattered perspective technique. This seems to depict the scenery near the Qin Great Wall."


    "Wow, you seem to know quite a lot."


    "Learned a bit in art class in second grade," Zhang Menglong responded offhandedly.


    "God, second grade... you''ve been watching too many videos on your little broken site, huh?" Wang Ling retorted sarcastically.


    "But you do have a point. The style of Master Zhang Zeduan was actually a continuation from this painting. On the back, there are comments and a signature from the master himself. He called this painting his ''teacher'', which shows the high artistic value of this work."


    "This thing wasn''t cheap, was it?"


    "Cheap doesn''t even begin to cover it. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to call it a national treasure. And that master only had this one work in his life, there isn''t a second piece in existence anywhere in the world. My father bought it for 1.2 billion at an antique auction in 2013 after over 50 bids!"


    "Awesome! I wonder which master''s heirloom creation it is. Can I take a look?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "You can look, but be careful. Although the painting has undergone surface treatment, you should still wear gloves." Wang Ling meticulously pulled out a pair of gloves and handed them to him before taking the scroll down from the wall.


    "This painting belongs in the heavens; Wu Jian thinks of it as a master''s guide." These were the words left by Master Zhang Zeduan on the back of the painting.


    "This master must be about seventy or eighty years older than Zhang. It''s a work from the year 1003, named Zhang Xizhi."


    "Love wild?" Zhang Menglong instinctively added two words.


    "Hehehe!" Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong exchanged glances and began to laugh sleazily, "Looks like Brother Zhang is a man of similar tastes. I also admire Teacher Xizhi''s works."


    "Great minds think alike. Next time, let''s exchange views. I''ve got a few gigs of that stuff, you know what I mean." Wang Ling was particularly excited when it came to such matters; a man''s joy is often found in the simplest things.


    "Cough cough cough! Let''s talk serious!" said Wang Ling, "It''s said that this painting was just a hobby for Master Zhang Xizhi. He was also the richest man of the time, so wealthy that even the Emperor of the Northern Song would often borrow money from him."


    "Wait a minute, Zhang Xizhi, why does that name sound so familiar?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and opened a file, a family tree given to him by Hong Yi not long ago.


    "What''s this?" Wang Ling curiously leaned over.


    "Genealogy!" Zhang Menglong''s ancestral line stretched back over two hundred generations, and he was the 250th, "Found it, my 192nd ancestor, named Zhang Xizhi!"


    "You..." Wang Ling''s expression suddenly froze, and he looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a monster, "This Master Zhang Xizhi is your ancestor? It can''t be a coincidence of names, can it?"


    "If he was the wealthiest, then there''s no mistake," Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "My dad told me that our family has been wealthy for thousands of years, of course, we''ve been low-key, so almost no one knows."


    "I bought a watch last year!" At this moment, Wang Ling felt like tearing up the priceless painting right there and then.


    He had been boasting in front of Zhang Menglong for so long, hoping to elicit at least a hint of envy from him, or at the very least, to bask in the glow of his astonished gaze.


    But to his complete surprise, the painting also turned out to be a work by his ancestor.


    "Wait, if your family has been the wealthiest for thousands of years, how much money do you guys have now?" Wang Ling was full of curiosity ¨C it was just too incredible. Logically, if such a family existed, they would have been legendary in history, but there was no Zhang Family mentioned anywhere. Perhaps Zhang Menglong was just boasting?


    "I really don''t know about that," Zhang Menglong opened his phone, "but when I inherited the family wealth, my dad gave me a year''s living expenses."


    "A year''s living expenses? With the way you act, it must be at least in the hundreds of billions, right?" Wang Ling hadn''t forgotten about Zhang Menglong''s tens of billions spent on a fleet of sports cars.


    "Here, count for yourself!" Zhang Menglong showed Wang Ling the balance on his bank card.


    "One, ten, hundred, thousand, million... over nine hundred billion?" Wang Ling''s mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. His earlier joke about hundreds of billions was just that, a joke. Perhaps Zhang Menglong had just recently inherited his family fortune and was behaving like a nouveau riche, possibly having spent the majority of this so-called year''s living allowance on cars.


    "Look at the currency unit."


    "US Dollar?!" Wang Ling''s eyes bulged like bells, nearly a trillion US dollars in assets, and in cash, and this was only Zhang Menglong''s yearly allowance?


    "This..." Wang Ling''s voice even trembled, "Friend, I can''t continue this relationship..."

 Chapter 32 32: Can the Entire Universe Be Your Home?

    ```


    $100 billion, that''s a number that causes awe just by looking at it. Even if they sold all of the Wanda Group''s assets, they couldn''t buy $100 billion. Zhang Menglong merely needs to take out his yearly allowance, and he could directly buy two Wandas!


    "Zhang Menglong, I now find that being friends with you is just too much pressure," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile and shook his head. From now on, his title of the richest second-generation in Huaxia was only in name.


    "It''s okay, don''t feel pressured," Zhang Menglong patted Wang Ling''s shoulder, "I don''t make friends based on whether they have money or not. After all, definitely no one has more money than I do!"


    "You, haha, I admit defeat!" Wang Ling saw Zhang Menglong use that same line he had once said to tease him, and he couldn''t help but feel both annoyed and amused.


    "Got anything else? Let me broaden my horizons," Zhang Menglong said.


    "How would I dare show off anything in front of you? For all I know, it could be something one of your ancestors left behind. I''d rather not embarrass myself," Wang Ling admitted, thoroughly daunted.


    "This piano is quite nice!" Zhang Menglong walked up to the brown piano in the hall, "It''s of a certain age, but surprisingly, the sound quality is still so intact, it must have been well-maintained."


    Zhang Menglong pressed a few keys, and the piano emitted a clear and touching sound.


    "An expert, I see!" Wang Ling remarked, his excitement picking up again when talking about the piano. "What, have you learned to play?"


    "A bit, but it''s just amateur grade ten level."


    "This piano has been renovated many times. It''s quite significant because its first owner was Chopin."


    "You managed to get your hands on this?" Zhang Menglong remembered that his own family also had a piano used by Beethoven and Liszt; these two pianos, if we''re talking about historical value, should be considered fairly equal.


    "My old man loves collecting these things," Wang Ling chuckled, "But this piano is a bit different. Chopin used many pianos throughout his life, and this one was gifted to him by a Huaxia merchant who also carved his inscription on it."


    Wang Ling lifted the lid of the grand piano, and neatly written in regular script on it was a line, "To my friend Chopin¡ªQing, Zhang Wenshan."


    "Wait," Wang Ling''s body abruptly tensed, then slowly turned toward Zhang Menglong, "This merchant''s surname is Zhang, it can''t be that much of a coincidence, can it?"


    "You''re right, it is indeed such a coincidence." Zhang Menglong found Zhang Wenshan''s name in the family tree, and the era he lived in matched perfectly with Chopin''s.


    "Well, I''m at a loss for words!" Wang Ling had nothing more to say. Anyway, it seems like everything belonged to their family!


    "Now I''m really starting to regret inviting you over," Wang Ling said helplessly, "I thought I could put on quite a show, but it turns out I was just setting myself up for disappointment."


    "If you visited my house, I guarantee the shock you suffered today would be ten times worse!" Zhang Menglong laughed. The treasures stored in his three-story study could fill a national-level museum; any single artifact taken out could be considered a national treasure.


    Not to mention Wang Ling, even he himself was indescribably shocked when he saw that study.


    "Let''s go, let me treat you to a simple meal," Wang Ling patted Zhang Menglong''s shoulder, "My chef was specially brought in from overseas; not only is he proficient in a variety of Western dishes, but he''s also quite outstanding at cooking our Huaxia cuisine."


    "I''m pretty hungry, too." Zhang Menglong patted his stomach, "By the way, I heard your live streaming platform shut down; what do you plan to do next?"


    "I think I''ll move towards technology. After all, the Internet market is pretty saturated, and jumping in now would definitely lead to a bruising. Now that the Western countries are afraid of our Huaxia''s rise, they''re imposing strict technology restrictions; I think this could be a good opportunity."


    "Sounds good, if you decide to go for it, I''ll invest!" Zhang Menglong said. Working on technology is quite a nice way to spend money. If he had some connections, he could certainly look for ways to invest in scientific research!


    "By the way!"


    ```


    Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead. All those Ph.D. advisers and master''s advisers in this school, aren''t they the best investors he could ask for?


    Zhang Menglong had already chosen his graduation project, and in a couple of days, he would return to school to start working on his graduation design. Before that, he had a chat with the senior in charge of supervising his experiment.


    His supervisor was considered quite prestigious within the school. Every year, the scientific research funding for his group was calculated in tens of millions.


    For those teachers engaged in scientific research, funding was the most headache-inducing issue. They ran back and forth between companies and schools all day long. Some of the lesser-known teachers couldn''t secure much funding even in an entire year.


    If he were to support their scientific research funding, that wouldn''t be considered a donation! This was called investment! There were hundreds of teachers in their school, including professors, associate professors, and lab technicians. Zhang Menglong could absolutely spend a large sum of money!


    "Hahaha, Old Wang! You really gave me an inspiration!"


    "Huh?" Wang Ling was immediately puzzled. What had he said? How had he inspired him, "And please, don''t call me Old Wang, it sounds a bit indecent!"


    "Hahaha, you don''t need to know exactly what inspiration you gave me, but I must really thank you for this. How about it? Want to pick any one of the cars I bought last time? But the Koenigsegg CCXR is off-limits!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I find you to be a beast!" Wang Ling said through clenched teeth, "Even if I, Wang Ling, were to die broke, even if I jumped off the third floor, I would never take anything from you again!"


    "Is that so? I was actually planning to have the factory make another CCXR for you!"


    "What? Make another one for me? Do you think you own Koenigsegg or something?"


    "You guessed right. I hold a majority of the shares in Koenigsegg through my people. Otherwise, why do you think they would stop all other orders to build cars for me?"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Since you don''t want it, then forget it, to avoid the hassle..."


    "I want it, I want it, who said I didn''t!" Wang Ling quickly interjected, "Damn, that''s sweet!"


    "By the way, there''s a gemstone appreciation event next week in Jiangnan City. Are you interested in checking it out?" Since Wang Ling had already become close with Zhang Menglong, naturally, he wanted to create more opportunities to strengthen their relationship.


    "You''re interested in that?"


    "Hahaha, I heard that this appreciation event will have quite a few jade raw stones. Have you ever heard of stone gambling?"


    "The kind that''s been written to death in urban novels?" Zhang Menglong quipped.


    "Exactly, but this is reality, so there''s no such thing as X-ray vision or supernatural powers. I plan to buy a couple of pieces and try my luck too. Who knows, I might make a small fortune."


    "No supernatural powers, but I have the power of cash!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He had heard that stone gambling often involved raw stones worth hundreds of thousands or even millions. Wasn''t this a faster way to spend money than buying sports cars?


    ...


    As the two chatted over their meal, Wang Ling, who had grown up in a wealthy family, really had a different perspective. After this conversation, Zhang Menglong felt that there might be a chance to accomplish his task of spending 100 billion US dollars within a year.


    He also wondered what exactly the Super God Academy was like. Zhang Menglong''s curiosity grew stronger. He believed that as long as he gained access to the Super God Academy, he would definitely find out where his parents had gone!

 Chapter 33 33: Lets start by investing 50 million

    "Menglong, how was your October 1 holiday?" The next morning, bright and early, Zhang Menglong received a call from his senior, Zhu Mengchao.


    "Not bad, and you, senior?"


    "Us miserable PhD students, of course, were just shaking those bottles and jars in the lab," Zhu Mengchao said helplessly. "I don''t know what got into my head, finishing grad school and then enrolling in a PhD program. My hair is thinning by the day, yet my pockets have never bulged."


    "Don''t you get a decent monthly subsidy?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Subsidy? Forget about it! The university''s three-thousand subsidy is barely enough to live on, a casual purchase by the girlfriend and it''s all gone. This year, Teacher Han''s research funding is too tight; our labor fee has already been cut from four thousand a month to eight hundred. More tears than words!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. It seemed that due to this year''s overall situation, these traditional enterprises had been affected, and even university professors were unable to secure research funding.


    "Let''s not talk about that anymore. You should start preparing for your thesis. Let''s start tomorrow; I''ll send you some materials to look over, and tomorrow I''ll take you to start the experiments."


    "Alright," said Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong turned on his computer, and indeed a file had already been sent to his email.


    "Graphene surface modification?" Zhang Menglong glanced briefly at his topic. Graphene was a very popular inorganic material recently; its excellent performance plays a critically important role in many domains.


    However, the cost of producing graphene was quite high; the most common Hummer''s method produced in labs results in less than one gram per week, and its purity was very low.


    Those high-purity graphenes even sold for thousands of yuan per gram, ten times more expensive than gold!


    "Wow, indeed, engaging in scientific research is the most expensive!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his experiment content; just the price of this one gram of high-purity graphene reached 2000 yuan. No wonder these professors are always trying to make money in various enterprises, a research group is simply like a money-burning machine.


    Thinking this, Zhang Menglong immediately called Zhu Mengchao again.


    "Menglong, what''s up, do you have any questions about the topic?"


    "No issues with the topic," Zhang Menglong said, "I just wanted to ask, senior, whether our research group''s funding is really tight?"


    "Ah, speaking of this, I''m really troubled!" Zhu Mengchao lowered his voice. "Last year, Teacher Han secured 30 million yuan in research funding, hoping to achieve some breakthroughs in graphene. We''ve had some success now."


    "But this 30 million in funding will last less than a month at most. The enterprises collaborating with us are also pressing us for results. Business is tough, and they are unwilling to increase their research investment anymore. Teacher Han has been worried sick during this period."


    "Is the funding gap huge?" Zhang Menglong tentatively asked.


    "Quite huge, at least 25 million I''d say. But don''t worry, the funding for your graduation project is still sufficient, but we are the ones who will suffer, alas..."


    "Senior, is Teacher Han at the university these days?"


    "Teacher Han went to the enterprises again these past two days, but he will be back at the university the day after tomorrow. Is there something you need?" Zhu Mengchao asked. "Wait, you aren''t thinking of doing a graduate study, are you? Don''t make that mistake, advising people to get a PhD is like cursing their lineage; don''t step into this pitfall of a major, you have a bright future ahead."


    "Senior, I''m thinking of investing some research funding into our research group."


    "What? Could you repeat that?" Zhu Mengchao thought he had misheard. Investing in research was no joke; not only did it bear enormous risks, but even if there were results, turning research achievements into an industry took a very long time.


    Most importantly, Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary senior undergraduate student; where would he get the money to support research? Even millions wouldn''t last long with their research group''s rate of spending.


    "Senior, I mean I want to invest some research funding into our research group." Zhang Menglong repeated, "You just said there is still a 25 million gap, right? I''ll first invest 50 million."


    "What? 50 million? Wait, junior, you must be joking, right? You..."


    "Seriously, I''m not joking. Look, I''m about to leave the university, and I just thought of making a contribution to our school, to our research group before I graduate."


    "But..." Teacher Han had a notoriously tough temperament. If Zhang Menglong was joking, he, as a senior, would have to face severe repercussions from Teacher Han.


    "Senior, this is what we''ll do, give me Teacher Han''s contact info, and I''ll speak to him myself; that way, even if there are issues, it won''t affect you," Zhang Menglong knew what Zhu Mengchao was worried about. ÔÚÕâÖÖÊÂÇéÉÏ,»»×öÒ»°ãÈË,Ë­ÄÜÏàÐÅÄØ?


    Even though that 30 million had been hard-won by Professor Han making trip after trip, signing many agreements and clauses, the school still took a portion of it for the so-called "procedural fees", so what he actually got was nowhere near 30 million.


    "Okay, but you must not say that I gave you the number."


    "Don''t worry, senior, I''ll treat you to a meal when the time comes!"


    "No need for a meal," Zhu Mengchao said, "If you can really help our research group solve the funding issue, I''d be more than thankful. This way, Old Han won''t deduct our labor fees anymore."


    "Hahaha, don''t worry, senior, I''ll definitely talk to them for you!"


    Zhang Menglong got Professor Han''s phone number smoothly from Zhu Mengchao.


    Professor Han, full name Han Jinyu, was a well-respected professor at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology and also the head of the Materials Science department. He held the title of Yangtze River Scholar, and if this project succeeded, he even had the chance to become the second self-developed Academician of the university, which was no small feat for an ordinary university like theirs.


    Han Jinyu lay on the hotel bed with a troubled expression, surrounded by a thick stack of documents.


    Though he appeared to be a suave professor, only they knew how painful it was to deal with business owners.


    Especially when asking them for money, it was like bowing and scraping.


    Today, he had been given the cold shoulder again. The project had been ongoing, and its achievements were merely on paper. However, the businesses were completely uninterested in what level of papers were published, even if they were on top-notch international journals like Science or Nature.


    They only cared about how the research results could be applied to the industry, how it could help them make more money, and that was all.


    Having already invested 30 million, they had seen no returns yet, and now Han Jinyu was asking them for more funds. Wasn''t that a joke? Businesses were not charities!


    Just as Han Jinyu was on the verge of a breakdown, his phone rang, but on the other end was the voice of a very young man.


    "Hello, may I speak to Professor Han?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Professor Han, I''m Zhang Menglong, who chose your research group for my graduation project this year. You should remember me, right?"


    "Oh, it''s you," Han Jinyu said, "Didn''t I assign Zhu Mengchao to guide you with the experiments? What''s the matter, did something go wrong with the experiments, or has your senior neglected his duties?"


    Han Jinyu''s attitude quickly made Zhang Menglong feel favorable towards him. He knew many teachers who always acted high and mighty towards ordinary students. Just for that, Zhang Menglong was willing to help him.


    "No, not at all, senior has been taking good care of me."


    "Well, that''s good. So, did you call me for something?" Han Jinyu really couldn''t imagine why a graduate would call him unless he hoped for leniency in his graduation project.


    "Professor Han, I heard that your research group has recently encountered some financial problems, so..."


    "Did Meng Chao tell you that?" Han Jinyu''s tone suddenly became serious. That kind of information was supposed to be confidential within the research group. How could it be casually mentioned to a student doing a graduation project?


    "Teacher, please don''t be angry, here''s the thing: I have some funds I''d like to invest in our research group as research funds. When would you be available to discuss this matter?"


    "Research funds?" Han Jinyu couldn''t help but laugh, "How much are you planning to invest in our lab?"


    "Let''s start with 50 million for now?"


    "What? 50 million?"


    "Yes, and if that''s not enough, I can add more later. You said you''re out of town these days, so I..."


    "No, no, no, where are you right now? I''ll return to the university immediately!" Han Jinyu suddenly seemed to regain all his energy. This time, his research was saved!

 Chapter 34 34 Hazy, I Have a Daughter

    Han Jinyu purchased his return flight ticket to Jiangnan City with the utmost urgency. Although he was still not certain if what Zhang Menglong had said was true or false, with the research funding at such a critical juncture, he had to explore every possible opportunity!


    "This Professor Han really does things with vigor!" Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly, clearly having underestimated just how vital research funding is to a professor.


    Because he would have to travel frequently to the school for his graduation project in the coming period, Zhang Menglong temporarily moved to another apartment of his near the school.


    Although it wasn''t as luxurious as the one in the city center, the 400-square-meter apartment was still quite comfortable and convenient to live in; at least he didn''t have to ride the elevator up and down all day. As for other household matters, Hong Yi had already arranged them for him.


    "If only there was a mistress of the house as well." Two girls suddenly came to mind for Zhang Menglong, one who had made him cry like an idiot on his dormitory balcony, the other whose thought made the corners of his lips rise in a smile without him realizing it.


    The next day, Zhang Menglong arrived at the research group''s laboratory at the time agreed with Zhu Mengchao. As the largest research group in their material science department, Professor Han had under him 2 associate professors, 7 lecturers, and over thirty doctoral and masters students.


    This entire building floor was their laboratory and office area, and just maintaining the operation of this vast research group cost a fortune each year.


    "Junior brother, did you really go to see Professor Han yesterday?" Zhu Mengchao explained the main experimental content and the points to pay attention to, and he asked during a lull.


    "Yes, Professor Han seems to be coming back today," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? He''s coming back today?"


    "Click!" Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the next office; it was Han Jinyu''s office ¡ª he was back!


    "To be able to bring back Professor Han in such a short time, over the years, you''re the only one who could do it!" Zhu Mengchao gave Zhang Menglong a thumbs-up.


    "Then I''ll go see Professor Han now," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Junior brother, whether the rest of us can eat well in the coming year all depends on you, don''t let our excitement be in vain!" Zhu Mengchao said with full anticipation.


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!" Zhang Menglong knocked on the door of Han Jinyu''s office.


    "Come in." A robust voice of a middle-aged man came from the office.


    Despite his many honors and achievements, Han Jinyu was only under fifty years old. Having such accomplishments at this age was already quite remarkable in the academic world.


    "Professor Han, it''s Zhang Menglong."


    "Oh, Menglong is here!" Han Jinyu hurriedly put down what he was holding, ran to open the door for Zhang Menglong, "Come in, come in, sit down quickly!"


    Professor Han greeted Zhang Menglong into his office with the warmth one would show a money tree, "I''m sorry, I was on a business trip yesterday and only rushed back to the school today. I made you wait."


    "Wherever could Professor Han be wrong? It''s only natural for a student to wait for a teacher, there''s nothing to apologize for," Zhang Menglong said.


    "About that research funding issue you mentioned..." Han Jinyu, being quite straightforward, directly broached the topic with Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Han, I know that conducting scientific research is not easy for all of you. Our country is always under pressure from Western countries because our capacity for independent research and development is too weak. If we want to become stronger, we must invest more effort into scientific research!"


    "Yes!" Han Jinyu sighed, "But you also know, our university is not a top-level institution; it''s not even counted among the 985 and 211 projects, and our yearly research funding isn''t even a fraction of Jiangnan University''s. It''s only by begging businesses like beggars that people like us old fellows can secure any funding."


    "Do they have a lot of funding?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "At least fifty billion yuan a year!"


    "That really is quite a bit." Zhang Menglong nodded slightly. That was just the portion given by the state. It was said that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s annual scientific research funding didn''t even reach five billion yuan, and that included the funding these professors secured from businesses. No wonder the gap between schools was widening by the day.


    "Teacher Han, I heard there is still a funding gap of over 20 million here?"


    "Yes, according to our current results, just the principle of the experiment alone requires over 10 million. Adding the cost of various scientific instruments, 25 million is still a conservative estimate."


    At this point, Han Jinyu became visibly worried, "If we had better instruments, I''m even confident I could contend for the Academician election next year. It''s just a pity that our university''s conditions..."


    "Teacher Han, do you still need any instruments?"


    "Actually, the university has all of them, but because of funding issues, their precision really isn''t up to scratch, which has led us down many unnecessary detours. But instruments like these are really too expensive." Han Jinyu said, "Just any electron microscope alone costs at least several million, not to mention energy spectrometers, fluorescence spectrophotometers, electric pulse emitters..."


    Hearing these things, Zhang Menglong''s eyes even began to sparkle with excitement, "Teacher Han, if you wanted the best scientific research conditions, what instruments would you need?"


    "This stuff really has no limit," Han Jinyu said, "Take these basic instruments for instance, energy spectrometers, mass spectrometers, all sorts of electron microscopes¡ªif you wanted the best of them all, I''m afraid your 50 million would just barely cover it."


    "Teacher Han, let''s not talk about money for now, just tell me what else you need to support your research."


    "Hahaha, if there were a Particle Collider, plus the instruments I just mentioned, then my project could definitely produce all the results I want within a year." Han Jinyu clearly did not take Zhang Menglong''s words to heart; after all, the price of a Particle Collider is tremendously intimidating, and such equipment is a national-level strategic instrument, not something you can get just because you want it.


    "How much does this thing cost?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Do you know about the electron-positron collider CEPC that Huaxia is currently planning to build? Its estimated construction cost is about 36 billion Huaxia yuan."


    "36 billion?" Zhang Menglong abruptly stood up from the sofa.


    "Y...Yes, what''s the matter..." Han Jinyu noticed that the look in Zhang Menglong''s eyes wasn''t one of panic due to this terrifying number, but instead, it was an inexplicable excitement.


    "Teacher Han, you''ve really helped me out a lot this time!" Zhang Menglong excitedly grabbed Han Jinyu''s hand, "Teacher Han, I''ve decided, this time I''m going to sponsor our lab with a hundred million!"


    "A hundred million?" Han Jinyu''s eyes widened, "Menglong, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Since the establishment of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, no research group had ever had such a staggering research fund, especially since in past years, the entire university had only a few hundred million yuan in funds.


    "Teacher Han, give me an account number for the lab''s funds."


    "Oh... okay." Han Jinyu, still in a somewhat hungover state, mumbled a string of numbers to Zhang Menglong.


    "Hong Yi, help me transfer a hundred million into this account!" Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hong Yi.


    A moment later, Han Jinyu''s phone vibrated with an alert from the bank.


    The text message showed that their research group''s public account had just received a fund transfer of a hundred million!


    Zhang Menglong was telling the truth; he wasn''t joking!


    A big smile suddenly creased Han Jinyu''s face with wrinkles.


    "Menglong, don''t just stand there, sit!" Han Jinyu shouted out to the room, "Uh, Meng Chao, hurry over here, wash the teaware for me, and brew a pot of tea for your junior brother!"


    In Han Jinyu''s eyes, Zhang Menglong was no longer just an ordinary student, but a gold-master daddy!


    "Menglong, don''t worry about your thesis this time. I will have Meng Chao assist you with all his might, and as for authorship on our research group''s outcomes, whether you want to be the first author or the corresponding author, it''s up to you to choose!"


    "Uh, Teacher Han, you don''t have to do this; the research results are all yours. I wouldn''t feel right monopolizing them. I just purely wanted to support our scientific research cause," Zhang Menglong interjected.


    "No way! How can the results be all ours? You also have a part in this!" Han Jinyu insisted, "Well, Menglong, if you''re not interested in the research results, I have a daughter who is about to return from studying abroad. She''s very beautiful. Since you''re both young, you surely have a lot to talk about. How about I give you her WeChat..."

 Chapter 35 35: 35 chapters Do you have any friends who lack scientific research funding?

    "Mr. Han, there''s really no need, no need at all!" Zhang Menglong simply wanted to spend some money, why had Mr. Han started to promote his daughter in desperation?


    Mr. Han Jinyu was already nearly in despair. If he couldn''t secure this funding for scientific research, his research would stagnate; moreover, without any output, he was facing the risk of breaching contracts with that company.


    Yet the money from Zhang Menglong could not only solve his immediate crisis but even smoothly handle his research work for the coming years. He had never thought that he would accidentally end up with such a wealthy student this year.


    Being able to get into Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was proof enough of Zhang Menglong''s excellent learning capabilities. Coupled with his profound family background, even if he truly married his daughter to him, his daughter wouldn''t be at a loss, and perhaps there would even be a steady flow of research funding, making becoming an academician just a matter of time.


    "Menglong, I definitely won''t let you be disappointed with this investment. If we later reach industrialization, you''ll be the largest shareholder!" promised Han Jinyu. His project wasn''t just theoretical research; otherwise, no company would be interested. Of course, the timeline would be at least three to five years, but now, aside from this, he had nothing else to impress Zhang Menglong with.


    "Mr. Han, please wait a moment, I''ll make a call to order some lab equipment," said Zhang Menglong as he took out his phone.


    "There''s no need, Menglong, we can handle the equipment issue ourselves," Han Jinyu hastily said, knowing best what type of equipment delivers the best value for money.


    "Mr. Han, this money is simply for purchasing raw materials as well as for the routine operation of the lab. The money for the equipment isn''t included," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "The senior brothers and sisters are also working quite hard. You should issue them more for their labor fees!"


    "What? The money doesn''t even include the cost of the equipment!" Han Jinyu felt like he''d been struck by lightning. Was Zhang Menglong saying he''d need to take out extra for the equipment? Exactly how wealthy was he? Had Han Jinyu not known Zhang Menglong before, he might have really suspected that Zhang had ulterior motives regarding him.


    "Our school''s equipment must be the best if we are to use it. I plan to spend money to equip our research group with a batch of top-level experimental equipment. Just give me the list, and I''ll arrange it right away!" Zhang Menglong said, "I might not know much about this stuff, but we definitely need the best and most expensive.


    You don''t need to worry about how difficult they are to purchase, as long as any country on Earth manufactures them, I can get them!"


    "Great, great, great!" Han Jinyu was so excited he almost knocked over his chair. What kind of miraculous student was this? If every student was this wealthy and generous, why would he worry about not producing results? He could simply buy his way to academician-level achievements with money!


    "Mr. Han, your tea is here," Zhu Mengchao said as he entered the office with a tea set.


    "Meng Chao," Han Jinyu frantically searched the literature for the best equipment, his head too busy to even look up, "Tell the younger brothers and sisters, starting today, the graduate students in our research group will receive a labor fee of 10,000 per month, doctoral students 15,000 per month, and since you are the senior brother, you get 20,000 per month.


    As long as there are results, I will also award you a bonus at the end of the year!"


    Zhu Mengchao''s hands trembled as he held the tea set, nearly spilling it on the floor. In just a few minutes, what on Earth had Zhang Menglong done to make Han Jinyu offer such high labor fees?


    Even at their research group''s wealthiest periods, as the senior brother, he had only received a monthly labor fee of 5,000 yuan.


    For usual graduate students, a salary of 8,000 yuan after graduation was quite high. As for doctoral students, they made only about a couple hundred thousand yuan a year, yet now they were earning this much while still in school!


    At that moment, Zhu Mengchao saw Zhang Menglong gesture an OK sign to him.


    "Little brother, I love you to death!" Zhu Mengchao whispered as he walked past Zhang Menglong. This kind of treatment would definitely make members of other research groups green with envy. If this got out, his research group''s enrollment numbers for the next term would surely max out!


    "Alright, Menglong, look at this, these are the most advanced instruments internationally, but many are restricted from export by other countries, some are proprietary developments which might be difficult to obtain. If really necessary, you could consider other models I''ve listed."


    "Okay, I''ll speak to my assistant right away," said Zhang Menglong as he directly sent the spreadsheet to Hong Yi.


    Less than five minutes later, Hong Yi called back, and though the office wasn''t very large, Han Jinyu could clearly hear the voice on the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already looked at the list of equipment you gave me. There are a total of 17 machines, of which 11 can be directly purchased with a total price of 32.56 million Huaxia currency. The remaining five machines are foreign and are prohibited from being sold abroad; they are specialized equipment even within their own countries."


    "Can you acquire them?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes," Hong Yi simply replied, "Three of the machines are manufactured by companies we control. For the remaining two, I will just need to ''knock on a few doors'' with the management families from the continent."


    "Who exactly is he?" Upon hearing this, Han Jinyu couldn''t help but show astonishment in his eyes. Zhang Menglong actually had the capability to communicate with the upper echelons of those countries and even used the term ''knock on,'' which seemed utterly unthinkable.


    "But the last item is a bit of a challenge," Hong Yi said.


    "Is it the Particle Collider?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Sorry to be presumptuous, but when you say it''s difficult, does that mean it''s still possible?"


    Zhang Menglong remembered his father saying that on Earth, there was nothing their family couldn''t accomplish, and if there was, he must be dreaming without having woken up yet.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, you own a large number of research institutes, and the largest Particle Collider in Europe was partly developed by those institutes. In other words, you control the technology for building the Particle Collider, and the only issue is the time cost."


    "He can even build a Particle Collider?" Han Jinyu''s eyes lit up at hearing this news. Having a Particle Collider would open up possibilities for many projects he previously wouldn''t even dare to think about!


    "It''s good if it can be built," Zhang Menglong breathed a sigh of relief, "How much?"


    "The cost is approximately 25 billion Huaxia currency, but it will take a relatively long time."


    "That''s not expensive at all!" Zhang Menglong pursed his lips. How wonderful it would be if it were 25 billion US Dollars?


    As for how much earlier it would be ready, Zhang Menglong didn''t care about that at all; spending money was all that mattered to him.


    "25 billion? That''s not expensive?" Han Jinyu was utterly dumbfounded. Was this even a human language? Across the entire Huaxia, aside from large research institutions, which organization could pull together such a massive amount of money to purchase such an instrument?


    The most crucial part was that Zhang Menglong was buying this Particle Collider for their research group! He could already imagine that in a couple of years, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, his research group, would become the scientific research hub for the entire Eastern China region!


    "Okay, go ahead and make the arrangements. Remember, it has to be the most expensive, the best quality!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang, I''ll handle it. However, your school might not have enough space for this instrument..."


    "I''ll talk to the principal!" Han Jinyu shouted thoughtlessly. He was confident the principal would willingly clear a substantial amount of space for their use, and might even revere him, Han Jinyu, since he was the one who secured this investment!


    "Professor Han, I need to discuss another matter with you."


    "Go ahead, if there''s anything I can help you with, I''ll do my best, whether it''s helping you secure a position for graduate study or even direct admission to a doctoral program," Han Jinyu said.


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong glanced around and lowered his voice, "Professor Han, do you have friends who work in scientific research, those who are terribly poor and can''t secure funding?"

 Chapter 36 36 First Come, First Served

    "Menglong, what do you mean by this?" Given Zhang Menglong''s recent behavior, Han Jinyu had already roughly guessed the purpose behind his question.


    But this made no sense. Han Jinyu, a completely high-ranking intellectual who had entered a top-level Huaxia institution at 18 and completed his master''s and doctoral studies abroad, filled his mind with nothing but wisdom, yet he could not fathom what Zhang Menglong intended with these actions.


    Having sponsored their research group with one hundred million, Han Jinyu was confident he''d break even within three years once his project was commercialized.


    Yet, spending a huge sum on a Particle Collider for him was absurd. Even if the project was commercialized successfully, breaking even was not guaranteed, and such equipment was consumable, with astronomical sums required yearly for maintenance and personnel.


    Plainly put, the money Zhang Menglong spent could never be recovered!


    He didn''t believe Zhang Menglong''s declaration of supporting their scientific research. Even if he truly had the funds, sponsoring a few tens of millions was already excessive. Spending billions was preposterous unless he was out of his mind or had some ulterior motive.


    As for Zhang Menglong''s motives, Han Jinyu didn''t care at all. As long as he had the funding for research and top-level experimental conditions, he wouldn''t even frown if it meant giving up his daughter. Perhaps that''s just what being a scientific research magnate entails.


    "Teacher Han, honestly, I have some funds and now that I have graduated, I would really like to do something for our school. But it wouldn''t be fair to favor some over others, right? If you have other colleagues who need research funding, I am also willing to invest in them."


    "Are you serious?" Han Jinyu''s ability to advance to his position at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was indicative of his good relationships; otherwise, he wouldn''t have the support of other teachers and leaders to become the department head.


    Isn''t there a scholar in the world who doesn''t lack research funding? Conducting scientific research is like a money pit, and every teacher is short of funds! This year has been particularly tough, to the point where some have even been hospitalized over their concern about the lack of research funding.


    If Han Jinyu could secure research funding for these teachers, they would owe him a tremendous favor. In the future, his reputation in the school might rival even that of the president!


    "Of course, it''s true. Rather than picking another day, how about today?" Zhang Menglong didn''t have time to find these teachers one by one. Besides, if they knew someone was willing to provide them with research funding, wouldn''t they come crawling over even if their legs were broken?


    "How about this, Teacher Han, please inform our school''s teachers that I am willing to allocate ten billion to our school''s research groups."


    "Did you say ten billion?" Han Jinyu gasped, but considering that Zhang Menglong had effortlessly spent 250 billion just moments ago, perhaps ten billion was nothing more significant to him!


    "Yes, ten billion!" Zhang Menglong nodded to confirm.


    "Okay, okay, okay, I''ll call them right now!"


    Han Jinyu quickly pulled out his phone. Although he was older, in this age of information overload, these professors all had their own groups, and as a department head, Han Jinyu was present in many of them.


    "Old pals, I have news for you. I''ve secured a sponsorship of ten billion for our university today!"


    The moment he sent out this message, the groups exploded.


    "Old Han, are you pulling our leg? Even Jiangnan University only gets about fifty billion a year in research funding. I heard you''ve been running around so much these days for your graphene project that you''re about to break a leg. Where did you get ten billion?"


    "Hahaha, Old Han, are you going crazy thinking about research funding?"


    "Old Han, don''t put so much pressure on yourself. Look at Professor Zhou in the group next to yours; he''s been hospitalized."


    "Who the hell is badmouthing me? My cholesterol is just a bit high, it has nothing to do with scientific research!"


    "Old fellows, here''s your chance to think about how you''ll thank me." Han Jinyu directly posted his research group''s fund account balance in those groups.


    "Ten million? Old Han, not bad, if you grit your teeth, there might still be hope to complete your project."


    "Did the stubborn old man from Jinding Group finally agree to provide the funds?"


    "Now you guys better look carefully and count the zeros!" Han Jinyu was speechless at these old fellows.


    "8...8 zeros? One billion?"


    "Damn!" Even the usually eloquent professors couldn''t help but swear.


    "Old Han, whose prestigious coattails are you riding now?"


    "Damn, a hundred million, that''s enough for you to splurge until retirement!"


    "Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to our future Academician Han, with this funding, it''s a sure thing!"


    "Stop the chatter, the investor is in my office right now, ten billion, first-come, first-served; anyone who comes later can just cry!" Han Jinyu had just finished his last sentence and immediately closed the group chat.


    "This... Han isn''t really serious, is he?"


    "We''re talking about ten billion here, what kind of investor can dish out that much money at once?"


    "That one billion of his wouldn''t be photoshopped, would it?"


    "That old Han, you can''t say it''s photoshopped, he only just learned how to use WeChat from his daughter; it definitely can''t be faked."


    "Damn, could he actually be telling the truth?"


    "You guys keep chatting, I just remembered I still have some documents to check, I''m heading out."


    "Hahaha, same here, one of my students seems to have blown up the equipment again, I need to go check on that."


    "I''m off too, my doctor wants me to do some rehabilitation training, you guys continue!"


    All of a sudden, the dozens of teachers in the group each claimed to have something to attend to, and the once lively group instantly fell silent.


    ...


    "That Han, what kind of stroke of luck has he got himself into to find such an investor? If he dares to deceive me, I will definitely vote against him during the review!" Professor Qi, the closest to Han Jinyu, using the excuse of reading documents, was the first to arrive at Han''s scientific research building.


    Knowing Han Jinyu as he did, he was certainly not someone to joke about such matters; there might really be something to it!


    Just as Professor Qi entered the building, a short, chubby professor came running in, panting heavily.


    "Old Guo, didn''t you say your student blew up the equipment? What are you doing here?"


    "You''re one to talk, weren''t you off to read literature? Your office isn''t in this building, is it?"


    "Just then, a middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair hurried into the building."


    "Old Ding? Weren''t you hospitalized? You''ve moved your rehab training here?"


    "Err..." Professor Ding, unwilling to admit he was here for the funding, laughed, "Hahaha, the doctor told me to breathe some fresh air and somehow I just ended up here."


    Just then, they saw several other figures converging towards the building from a distance.


    "Damn, Old Wang is here too!"


    "And there''s Old Liu. That guy took on a money-devouring project last year, he must be here for the money too."


    "Alright, enough pretending, though ten billion is a lot, with our college''s dozens of research groups, if we divide it evenly, each group might only get a few tens of millions. Old Han got himself a whole billion, we definitely need to strive hard!"


    "Right, soon everyone will get as much funding as they can from the investor, and nobody''s allowed to cause trouble afterward!"


    "Okay! Let''s go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu were chatting while drinking tea when suddenly a loud commotion came from outside the door.


    "Bang!" The sturdy door was suddenly forced open by a tremendous force, and the entire hallway was packed with people, all of whom were those seemingly in their fifties or even older teachers.


    Instantly, Han Jinyu''s face darkened, and he who rarely cursed couldn''t help but break his usual composure and burst out, "You old bastards, have you all gone mad?"

 Chapter 37 37 I like those projects that burn money

    "What''s going on here?" Han Jinyu''s students were all bewildered by the scene before them.


    All these professors were well-known doctoral advisors at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, each with considerable achievements in scientific research, and besides the one or two classes they taught each week, they were almost impossible to find.


    But today, they had all gathered in this narrow corridor, and it seemed they were looking for their advisor, Han Jinyu.


    "Could it be that Teacher Han has made enemies with these professors?" The students in the office stick their heads out one after another.


    "It could be so bad that even Teacher Han''s door has been damaged."


    "Should we go help? This is our advisor we''re talking about!"


    "Help with what, a basket? We''re just a bunch of students, we can''t afford to offend any of those professors out there!"


    "Alright already, don''t you have experiments to do?" Zhu Mengchao came over at this point.


    "Big brother, what''s going on?" someone asked.


    "Oh, it''s nothing. They''re probably all here to brown-nose Old Han," Zhu Mengchao laughed. He had witnessed the entire episode in the office, and with those ten billion smashing down, how could these professors not come running one by one?


    However, Old Han has quite the temper, and the matter of the damaged door might not be so easily settled.


    "What?" After hearing Zhu Mengchao''s explanation, the students became even more curious, but Zhu Mengchao didn''t continue to stop them. Instead, he joined them in watching the spectacle with glee.


    "Old Han, where are you? Where''s the investor?" The first professor who charged in looked around the room.


    This was Professor Zhou Wenmin, the head of the Polymer Department. In terms of prestige in the school, he was practically on equal footing with Han Jinyu, and besides scientific research, he also held some administrative positions in the school, actually wielding a bit more power than Han Jinyu.


    But after looking around for a while, except for Han Jinyu, there was only a student in the office, and clearly, this student couldn''t be the investor capable of coughing up ten billion.


    "Old Han, didn''t you say the investor is in your office? Are you playing with us?" Professor Zhou demanded.


    "Hmph, I don''t know whether the investor wants to fund you, but right now, you''ve really put me in a bad mood!" Han Jinyu gritted his teeth as he glared at the already damaged door.


    "Menglong, why don''t you go back first? We can talk about the equipment later. Just focus on your project for now, and if you run into any problems, seek out your fellow students or come directly to me," Han Jinyu deliberately said to Zhang Menglong.


    "Okay, Teacher Han, I''ll head back then." Zhang Menglong understood from Han Jinyu''s look what he was trying to do and immediately went along with the act.


    "Since when has Old Han been so kind to an undergraduate?" the professors were dumbstruck.


    Han Jinyu''s strictness was well known, even towards his own PhD students his demands were extremely high. When had they seen him being so amiable to a student?


    As mentors, they knew all too well that they never personally guided the students'' scientific research. What they cared about were results, and at most, they would only provide a research direction. When had it been their turn to personally guide a student?


    There was something fishy about this student''s identity!


    "Wait, didn''t they just mention equipment?"


    "Could it be that the investor Han mentioned is this student?"


    "That''s impossible, right? How could a student come up with ten billion?"


    As if to slap them in the face, Han Jinyu added another line, "Menglong, I will definitely produce results with this one billion of funding you''ve given me. You just relax, and as for this year''s outstanding graduation thesis, I will also do my best to help you get it, and your senior brother will give you his full support."


    "This one billion really is from this student!" Upon hearing this, all the teachers were suddenly ablaze with envy. What kind of luck had Han Jinyu stumbled upon to land such an extraordinary student? Research funding of a billion just like that!


    "Excuse me, young man, wait a moment," Zhou Wenmin immediately put on a beaming smile, "Student, I hear you''re offering ten billion for our college''s scientific research fund, is that right?"


    "Yes, may I ask who you are?"


    "Oh, I am Zhou Wenmin, the head of the Polymer Science Department. I am pretty much the same as your Han teacher here at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. You know, you have already supported him with one hundred million yuan of Scientific Research funds. As for my department..."


    "Old Zhou, what are you doing?" Han Jinyu pulled Zhang Menglong back and protected him behind himself, "This is my student, don''t touch him!"


    "Hehehe, Old Han, why the big temper?" Zhou Wenmin''s smile grew even broader, "The door was an accident, you know."


    This student was Han Jinyu''s student, and it seemed he had a very good relationship with Han Jinyu. If he offended Han Jinyu, perhaps a few words from him and he wouldn''t be able to get a single cent of funding.


    It should be noted that standing behind him were over eighty master''s and doctoral advisors. There were plenty of monks, but not enough porridge!


    "I''ll have someone fix this door for you immediately, the best kind!"


    "Humph!" Han Jinyu was not buying any of it, "Menglong, let me tell you, some teachers in our school are very careless. You must absolutely not give them funds lightly; you might as well throw your money away."


    "Hmm, that makes sense." Zhang Menglong nodded thoughtfully. He couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly; he hadn''t expected this Teacher Han to be quite so crafty.


    "No, no, no, it was just too crowded outside, it wasn''t on purpose!" Professor Zhou realized that Han Jinyu was insinuating something about him.


    "Teacher Han, you always liked the office building where I am, right? Hehehe, I''m also tired of it. Why don''t I vacate that place for your research group? I''ll personally go and talk to the dean."


    "That''s more like it," Han Jinyu''s face immediately lit up with a smile. When had Professor Zhou ever spoken to him so humbly?


    "Menglong, actually, although some teachers are not that great, we can still give them a chance, right?"


    "Yes, Teacher Han is right." Zhang Menglong echoed Han Jinyu''s words.


    At this, Professor Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Alright, old guys, I won''t tease you anymore," Han Jinyu exhaled deeply, feeling much more relaxed, "This Zhang Menglong student here is the investor I mentioned. I have introduced him to you, so how much funding you can get is up to your own skills."


    Having said that, Han Jinyu settled himself down to the side and began to leisurely drink tea. Such a scene was not often seen; he had to make sure to enjoy watching these proud old guys act like bootlickers.


    "Menglong student, you have attended my Polymer Materials class, haven''t you?"


    "Bullshit! He was taught Polymer Materials by me!"


    "Menglong student, do you remember me? You took my Organic Chemistry class, and I even gave you an ''excellent''!"


    "Menglong student, would you like to learn about my project? My project isn''t just theoretical; it can definitely provide a return on investment. We can even sign a contract, a bet agreement works too!"


    "Menglong, my family has a daughter around your age. Come to my office for a visit sometime!"


    "Stop bringing up your dinosaur daughter; how does she match up to our Menglong?" Another teacher immediately took out a phone and showed a photo of a very pretty girl, "Menglong, this is my daughter, absolutely a knockout compared to his dinosaur daughter!"


    "Damn, I was careless! Why did I have a son?" Those teachers without daughters instantly regretted it terribly.


    "Okay teachers, stop fighting," Zhang Menglong felt somewhat overwhelmed watching this unfold. As for Han Jinyu behind him, he was already laughing so hard that he was starting to cramp.


    "This Scientific Research funding, I''ve got plenty of it. These ten billion, they''re definitely not the limit for you teachers!"


    Upon hearing this, all the teachers'' eyes burned with desire.


    "Before that, I would like to hear about your projects," Zhang Menglong added, "What I like the most are the kinds of projects that burn through cash!"

 Chapter 38 38: Ten Billion Scientific Research Funds

    "Me, me, me!" Professor Guo was the first to stand up, and when it came to burning money, there was definitely not a single teacher in Jiangnan University of Science and Technology who would dare claim they exceeded him.


    Since the virus outbreak at the beginning of the year, his research group had thrown themselves into developing a new antiviral drug formulation, and as it''s known, drug development is definitely one of the most cash-consuming projects!


    In ten months'' time, they had burnt through more than 30 million, yet the completion level of his project was only at 10%, and the subsequent investment needed for research development was even expected to be counted in billions!


    This was why so many drugs sold in the world were so expensive. In fact, the manufacturing cost of the drugs was really low, but the selling price was, at the very least, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times higher¡ª all because of the exceedingly high research costs incurred during the early stages.


    "Professor Guo, I must support your project!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "How much funding do you need?"


    "This..." Professor Guo suddenly found it difficult to speak. His research was carried out in stages, so he never considered securing all the funding at once, and besides, it was nearly an impossible feat.


    Ordinarily, such research could only be carried out with the backing of large pharmaceutical companies or under the impetus of state machinery.


    "For the current stage, I''m afraid it will require around 50 million." Professor Guo tentatively said, afraid that saying too much might inadvertently offend Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Guo, we can''t squeeze funding out like toothpaste in scientific research. If we can''t even solve the money issue, what''s the point of doing research!" Zhang Menglong said, "Give me a figure, and I''ll support you all the way until you complete your project."


    "This... Menglong, I fear the amount might be quite large."


    "Just say it; we''re not short of money!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t wait for a larger figure. He had finally found a righteous method to spend money, and he intended to drop dozens or even hundreds of billions of US dollars today.


    "Since you''re so generous, then I''ll just say it." Professor Guo spoke up, "To support the completion of all the project content, it will require at least 500 million in funds."


    "Damn, Old Guo, what do you mean? There''s a total of just 10 billion, and you want five billion for yourself? What are the rest of us supposed to do?" Teachers immediately started protesting in discontent.


    "Exactly, your family has a large business, Old Guo, but you can''t monopolize everything. Look at Old Han, he''s Menglong''s supervisor, and he only got one billion in scientific research funding. You''re going too far!"


    Han Jinyu almost laughed out loud watching their bickering. With a particle collider worth over two hundred billion attributed to their research group, what were a few billion to him, Han Jinyu?


    "You''ll all come begging to borrow equipment when the time comes!" Han Jinyu smiled slightly, thinking that this was the time to keep a low profile and amass wealth quietly.


    "Professor Guo, I''ll directly sponsor your scientific research with 10 billion!"


    "10... 10 billion?" Professor Guo was so startled that his voice trembled. He never imagined he could get one billion, let alone the huge surprise Zhang Menglong just gave him.


    "But there''s one condition, once the drug is industrialized, I want a share of the technology stock!" Zhang Menglong proposed this to avoid treating the money as a donation, which would go against the rules and requirements of Super God Academy.


    "Certainly, certainly!" Professor Guo nodded repeatedly. Even if he had approached a company for funds, they would have made a similar demand, along with many additional clauses, and they would even want a part of the academic results to be attributed to the company. However, Zhang Menglong only wanted shares, which was far better by many counts.


    When Professor Guo saw that his account suddenly had an additional 10 billion, he bit his tongue hard, barely believing that all of this was true!


    10 billion spent just like that? All the instructors instantly wore sorrowful expressions, and some even looked at Professor Guo as if he was their father''s murderer.


    "Fellow professors, when I mentioned the 10 billion just now, I was just speaking offhand," Zhang Menglong started, "As long as you have good projects, there''s no upper limit to my total funding!"


    "No upper limit! How rich is he?"


    "Who cares how rich he is if he''s willing to invest in me, I''d even become his student!"


    "Menglong, I have a project too!"


    "Menglong, hear out my topic. My research also burns through money, I''m working on astrophysics!"


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He didn''t expect there to be a teacher in his academy who researched in this field. But after thinking about it, since there wasn''t an astrophysics major in their school, it must be affiliated somehow with the college of science.


    Astrophysics is purely theoretical research, and as for the research tools, just the astronomical telescope alone is a huge money burner!


    "Teacher, do you need an astronomical telescope?"


    The teacher was instantly stunned. Manufacturing a large astronomical telescope could easily cost millions or even tens of millions of US dollars, and such an item had no practical return. Apart from the state and educational institutions, nobody would invest in such a project.


    "If we could have one... that would certainly be the best."


    Zhang Menglong immediately took out his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number, "Hong Yi, I want to build a large radio astronomical telescope at our university. How much will it cost?"


    "If there''s no issue with the location, several tens of millions of US dollars should suffice."


    "Get me one!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought, then turned to the teacher, "Teacher, about the location issue..."


    "I''ll go to the Dean to resolve it!" the teacher promised, slapping his chest,


    A telescope costing tens of millions of dollars was comparable to a national-level scientific research project. If such a major project were to be realized, not just the university, but even the land bureau of Jiangnan City would be willing to allocate land for their telescope construction!


    "Also, I will sponsor another hundred million dollars for your scientific research fund," Zhang Menglong added.


    The teacher was ecstatic, but he also felt somewhat uneasy because he really couldn''t give Zhang Menglong anything in return. He felt guilty accepting this scientific research funding!


    "Of course, I do have a condition," Zhang Menglong added, "If during the exploration, you discover any unnamed asteroids or other celestial bodies, you must name them after me!"


    "Haha, I''m such a clever devil!" Zhang Menglong gloated in his heart. This was as if he had spent the money to buy the naming rights of a celestial body. This wasn''t called a donation!


    "Damn, even research on those crappy planets gets a hundred million!" Other teachers realized Zhang Menglong was just there to splash the cash, and whether it made money or not, he simply didn''t care!


    "Menglong, my research group has a project on postnatal care of alpacas. To better collect data, we need ten thousand alpacas for a two-year tracking observation. It''s absolutely a money-burning project!"


    "Damn, postnatal care for sows isn''t enough for these professors in life sciences anymore?" Zhang Menglong scathingly criticized inwardly. But alpacas weren''t cheap, and he even doubted whether it would be possible to get ten thousand alpacas.


    "Then I''ll sponsor you a hundred million first!"


    "Menglong, I''ve got a project for a sky diving device. Would you consider it?"


    "Menglong, I have a project on land desertification control!"


    "Hey, at this rate, it''ll never end!" Zhang Menglong directly said to Teacher Han behind him, "Teacher Han, could you help me out, please? Compile a list of the projects and their total funding amount, the more the merrier. I''ve prepared several tens of billions in scientific research funds, so count ''em up without hesitation!"


    "Several tens of billions?" Han Jinyu took a cold breath; he had underestimated Zhang Menglong!


    "Alright, leave these things to me. You go ahead with your work!" Knowing how wealthy Zhang Menglong was, Han Jinyu also knew he must be very busy.


    "He... He''s gone?" Seeing Zhang Menglong leave the office, all the teachers were full of confusion.


    "Ahem, old fellows, Menglong has entrusted me to manage these funds, so you..."


    "Hehehe!" Instantly, all the teachers became obsequiously flattering.


    "Old Han, don''t you have a daughter? It just so happens my boy is also of age. Here''s how much I''ll give as a betrothal gift!"


    "Old Ding, you shameless thing, resorting to such methods!" another teacher accused righteously, "Old Han, you''ve been divorced for so long without finding someone. I have a sister, still unmarried, young and pretty, and a professor at another school. How about dinner at my place tonight?"


    ...

 Chapter 39 39 She is Getting Married

    That evening, Han Jinyu sent Zhang Menglong a detailed spreadsheet, densely packed with over a hundred projects, all of which were the topics and main content of various teachers'' research.


    Han Jinyu was indeed very responsible, having estimated the expenses for each project, which altogether exceeded 30 billion Huaxia currency!


    Including the previously promised instruments, Zhang Menglong had almost spent close to 10 billion US Dollars today!


    "Should I consider visiting other schools next time?" Zhang Menglong pondered, but he immediately abandoned the idea. He had his biases, after all, having graduated from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, he really hoped his own school could continue to improve. If he invested in other schools, wouldn''t that be creating competitors for their own scientific research?


    "Come on, junior brother, have some milk tea!"


    "Junior brother, are you tired? Rest for a while, I''ll watch the equipment for you!"


    "Junior brother, are you free tonight? Your senior sister is treating you to dinner!"


    After Zhang Menglong''s scientific research funds were received, Han Jinyu generously issued two months'' worth of labor fees to his students.


    Once they found out that the funding came from Zhang Menglong, he became the darling of the entire research group.


    As for literature reviews and experimental procedures, the senior brothers took care of all the detailed processes and explanations, sparing him the arduous task of reading and translating foreign literature.


    And when it came to the hours-long experiments and tests, there was no need for Zhang Menglong to lift a finger; the senior brothers and sisters were practically fighting to do it for him, even directly handling and analyzing the data for him.


    While other students racked their brains over their theses and worked through the night on experiments, Zhang Menglong lay in the laboratory on a Taishi chair, drinking milk tea, watching the S10 World Championship, thoroughly relaxed and happy.


    Of course, he still had to spend a lot of time each day figuring out how to spend money. Naturally, playing games with "Starbucks Double Sweet" was also an essential part of Zhang Menglong''s daily routine.


    "Zhang Menglong, didn''t you say you''d start working on your graduation thesis in October? How do you still have time to play games with me?" The same sweet voice sounded over the team chat.


    "Have you ever seen a rich second-generation write their own thesis?"


    "Rich second-generation, my foot! Last time, I don''t know who almost cried not getting through an interview here," the girl teased.


    "Whoa, bro, my ego is shattered, don''t spill it, all that''s in the past."


    "It''s not even half a month yet, and it''s already ''in the past''? But seriously, how''s the job search going?"


    "Stopped looking. I''ve inherited a few companies in my family, now I''m just living it up, never gonna work a day in my life!" laughed Zhang Menglong, "Why don''t you quit your job too? I can provide for you!"


    "Get lost! Are you worthy?" the girl jibed with a laugh, "I only accept Hu Ge and Peng Yuyan. You, an engineering student, probably don''t even have a hair on your head!"


    "Dang, I was worried you might be some Auntie Qiao using a voice changer!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re asking for it, I''ll twist your head off! Me, a universally unparalleled beauty? Getting to play games with me is the fortune of your last lifetime."


    "Alright then, since that''s the case, I''ll come find you in Gusu in a few days; you''ve got to treat me to Haidilao at least, right?"


    "Ah? You''re coming?" The voice of "Starbucks Double Sweet" suddenly tensed up.


    "What, not happy to see me?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Or are you afraid that you can''t hide your true self after we meet in person?"


    "Sure, come on over, as long as you''re not afraid I''ll harass you! I''m off to take a shower."


    "Then I''ll go turn on the camera in your bathroom."


    "Hooligan!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled as he put down his phone, his heart brimming with anticipation. What kind of person was she, really? Was she exactly as he had imagined in his mind?


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang, and upon seeing the caller ID, his body trembled slightly.


    Wang Yujia¡ªit was his roommate. Ever since the two of them had broken up, Zhang Menglong had not been in contact with any of her friends or roommates.


    "Hello? Wang Yujia? Is something the matter?" Zhang Menglong tried his best to keep his voice calm.


    "Siqi is getting married, this Saturday."


    "Oh, really?" Zhang Menglong had already thought of this possibility when picking up the phone, but upon hearing it firsthand, he couldn''t help but clench his hand into a fist.


    "Are you going? Siqi asked me to inform you. She said it was a promise you two made at the time."


    "Heh, have me attend the wedding just to humiliate me once more?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly.


    "If you''re unwilling to go, then I''ll just tell her..."


    "No need, tell her I''ll be there. I, Zhang Menglong, am not someone who goes back on his word."


    "Zhang Menglong, are you really going?" Wang Yujia was merely the messenger, but she had thought that Zhang Menglong would never agree to go, yet to her surprise, he agreed so readily.


    "I will be there on time."


    Zhang Menglong promptly hung up the phone. His expression alternated between somber and tormented. No matter what one has been through, when hearing certain news, how could one remain entirely indifferent?


    "Hey, see you in Gusu at the end of the month. If you stand me up, you''re dead meat. I''ll come straight to Jiangnan City to whack you!" Seeing that message, Zhang Menglong pictured a person he had never met before, as if in a flash, letting go of something, his whole demeanor suddenly becoming much brighter.


    "It''s just the wedding of an ex-girlfriend, not a dragon''s den or a tiger''s cave. She''s just someone who passed through my life," Zhang Menglong realized at once.


    Xie Siqi, Zhang Menglong''s ex-girlfriend and the only girlfriend he had ever had, they''d shared many beautiful memories and had even promised to attend each other''s wedding, even if they didn''t end up together in the end.


    It seemed that this was becoming a reality.


    The story was actually quite simple. Xie Siqi''s family background was not very strong, and starting from the summer of her sophomore year, she began using all her spare time to work part-time jobs.


    Last summer, she worked at a mid-sized internet company operated by a certain family, not expecting that the son of the company''s owner would take a fancy to her. At first, Xie Siqi stayed true to her heart, but as the man''s persistent pursuit intensified, she finally wavered.


    Not until Zhang Menglong saw her getting off a Panamera and kissing an unknown man at the dormitory did he understand what was meant by "I see raindrops falling on the fresh green grass."


    That night was the first time Zhang Menglong had lost control of his emotions since elementary school.


    He had confronted Xie Siqi once, but ended up being humiliated beyond recognition by her and the rich second-generation guy. Had his roommate not held him back, Zhang Menglong might have lost it completely.


    "Good. It''s about time to put an end to the past," Zhang Menglong mused. He couldn''t always let the past trap him. If he couldn''t say goodbye to the past, how could he possibly welcome the future?


    "Hong Yi, come to my room for a bit, help me arrange some things."


    ...

 Chapter 40 40 Your Car is Rented, Right?

    "Mr. Zhang, the formal attire you requested is ready," Hong Yi had someone carry several large boxes into the living room.


    The boxes contained a black suit, which looked clean and tidy without any exaggerated cut or design. Zhang Menglong tried it on, and the suit fit perfectly, offering a great level of comfort as well.


    "I actually thought you would get me some branded suits!" Zhang Menglong looked at himself in the mirror. It was his first time dressing so formally, and he seemed a bit unaccustomed to it. But he had to admit, his physique was naturally perfect for clothes, and he looked incredibly handsome no matter what.


    "Mr. Zhang, those brands are only purchased by ordinary tycoons and the newly rich. Even the biggest names are just mass-produced after all."


    "Then these..."


    "Of course, these were custom-made especially for you," Hong Yi explained, "When you moved to Jiangnan City, we prepared a clothing studio here for you. The designers and tailors we employ are highly compensated from both domestic and international sources. The designer of this suit is the former chief designer from Armani, and 16 top tailors took a week to complete it."


    "Much appreciated." He couldn''t stop praising the suit, understated yet luxurious¡ªa true hidden tycoon''s essential.


    "Mr. Zhang, all the other items you requested are also ready. Shall we leave now?"


    "Let''s set off. I''m only going to the wedding for a drink, not to gatecrash. If I arrive too late, it wouldn''t be good to be mistaken for a troublemaker," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    A Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly exited the neighborhood, carrying Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi toward the Wantai Hotel in the city center.


    Wantai Hotel is also a top-tier five-star hotel, but it is one of the few hotels in Jiangnan City that had no affiliation with Zhang Menglong.


    The hotel hadn''t been doing well, but in the past two years, a very capable manager took charge. He shifted the hotel''s business focus to wedding banquets, collaborated with several powerful wedding planning companies, and turned it into an internet-famous wedding venue.


    The decoration for each wedding was almost dreamlike in its opulence, and all the staff involved were extremely professional. Of course, the price was exorbitant.


    Just the cost of the scene decoration started at 200,000 yuan, and the price for each banquet table was over 8,888 yuan. An ordinary wedding wouldn''t happen for less than nearly a million yuan.


    Yet despite this, the hotel''s wedding halls were almost always fully booked 365 days a year. Some people even changed their wedding dates, which had been set long ago, just to hold their celebrations there. This showed just how attractive the hotel really was.


    Since early morning, the hotel''s decorations had been progressing in an orderly manner. By six o''clock, the site was almost fully set up, and the lighting and sound systems were being arranged steadily.


    In the makeup room, four girls surrounded the bride, chatting and laughing jovially.


    Today, Xie Siqi was truly radiant, and beneath that magnificent wedding dress, she seemed like an angel descended from heaven. Her delicate makeup enhanced her already graceful features, making her all the more captivating.


    "Siqi, who would have thought that out of all of us, you''d be the first to get married!"


    "Right? And we haven''t even graduated yet!"


    "What can you do? We''ve all applied to study for master''s degrees overseas. If we don''t get things sorted out now, it would be postponed for years," Xie Siqi said.


    "I''m so envious of you, finding such a great boyfriend. Not only is his family wealthy, but he''s also well-educated and he even took care of your plans to study abroad together. You''re truly a winner in life!"


    "Exactly, compared to him, your ex-boyfriend is just a loser. I heard he still hasn''t found a job. A few days ago, I saw him wandering aimlessly around the school. Look at the others, they''re all attending job fairs if they haven''t found employment. Unlike him, taking it easy. I think he''s given up on himself."


    "Haha, Ding Rui, aren''t you joking? Liu Qingsu is the son of a listed company''s chairman, how can you compare Zhang Menglong with him?"


    "Haha, sorry, my bad!"


    Xie Siqi smiled faintly. She had felt a bit guilty about her ex-boyfriend, but hearing how unmotivated he had become assured her that her decision was not wrong.


    "By the way, Siqi, didn''t Zhang Menglong promise to come today?"


    "Yeah, he agreed pretty quickly."


    "No way, I remember when he last came to find Siqi, he was severely humiliated; if it were me, I would have been too ashamed to show up again."


    "Right? What if he''s here to make trouble this time? When people go to extremes, they can do anything!"


    "Don''t worry, with so many guests today, Qingsuo has arranged for their company''s security team, nothing will go wrong." Xie Siqi applied her lipstick, having finished her makeup for the day.


    "We should get going and greet the guests," Xie Siqi said, "it looks like there are a lot of big company leaders and even bosses coming today, all cooperating with Qingsuo''s family company; we can''t neglect them."


    "Hahaha, let''s go, maybe we''ll meet some exceptional people like Qingsuo."


    "It''s not that easy, hahaha, sisters, let''s compete fairly today, no one is allowed to play dirty!"


    "Then I''ll go do my makeup."


    "Hahaha, wait for me, I''m going too!"


    ...


    This was an outdoor banquet, surrounded by green plants and purple vines that decorated the place extraordinarily beautifully, with various luxury cars parked along the road, many worth over a million.


    As the son of a listed company chairman with a market value of over a billion, this wedding attracted many people of status, even some industry moguls.


    "Siqi, is everything ready?" A handsome young man in a white suit was greeting guests when he saw Xie Siqi and her friends coming over, his face breaking into a satisfied smile.


    "Everything''s ready, I''m here to help you greet the guests," Xie Siqi naturally wrapped her arm around Liu Qingsuo''s.


    "President Zhou is here!" A Cayenne pulled over to the side of the road, and a spirited middle-aged man stepped out.


    "President Zhou, please come inside!" This President Zhou was a friend of Liu Qingsuo''s father, his company''s scale even larger than his father''s, and it was said that he had recently partnered with one of the Big Three, Alibaba, and if the project was successful, the company''s market value might even double!


    "Hahaha, the bride looks beautiful. Congratulations, Qingsuo." President Zhou handed over a thick red envelope through his assistant.


    "President Zhou, you are too generous." Although Xie Siqi didn''t know this President Zhou, she still greeted him with a smile; the red envelope contained not only ten thousand in cash but also a bank card.


    For people of such status, ten thousand was not enough to offer, but too much was troublesome, so the red envelope was just for show; the card contained his real gift money, and the amount in it was probably at least a six-figure sum.


    As time passed, more and more people arrived.


    "Wow!" Amidst exclamations, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly pulled over, and a driver in a suit got out to open the car door.


    "Who could this be?" Although the price of this Rolls-Royce Cullinan was not yet ten million, it wasn''t something just anybody could afford or acquire; in the whole of Jiangnan City, there would be no more than ten of these cars, and the owners were all significant figures.


    "Siqi, come with me to welcome the guests!" Liu Qingsuo was sure that this car''s owner might be even more influential than his own father; their attendance today probably gave his family a lot of face, and he had to make sure to serve them well.


    But when the car owner stepped out, both Liu Qingsuo and Xie Siqi were stunned.


    "Zhang... Zhang Menglong? Why is it you?" Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong was coming today, but in her mind, he was supposed to arrive hurriedly by subway or riding a shared bike, looking pitiable; she never imagined he would actually come in a Rolls-Royce.


    Liu Qingsuo was just as surprised; he knew that Xie Siqi had a boyfriend, and he even humiliated him in front of Xie Siqi once; what on earth was going on?


    But then he thought to himself that it was impossible; he whispered to Xie Siqi: "Your ex-boyfriend is quite the character, huh? To save face today, he must have borrowed some kind of private loan to rent a car and show off!"

 Chapter 41 41 Im Just the Ex-Boyfriend

    "Zhang Menglong, I never thought you would come." Xie Siqi said with a sarcastic tone, the presence of an ex-boyfriend at her wedding was quite sensitive, especially since the man she was marrying had an extraordinary status.


    Actually, when inviting Zhang Menglong, Xie Siqi had also acted on Liu Qingsu''s suggestion. Although Zhang Menglong and Xie Siqi did not have any substantial relationship, even a nominal one could cause a man to feel uneasy.


    If Zhang Menglong had not come today, then such a person would pose no threat to him, and he could just let it go as if it were nothing.


    But if he had come, he felt confident that he could crush him at the wedding today, showing him what it would take to make Xie Siqi happy, and even rob him of the courage to recall this past from now on.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s appearance caught Xie Siqi slightly off guard, and for a moment she didn''t even know what to say to him.


    "Oh, I''m a man of my word. I once said that no matter who gets married, we must attend. I''m just here to keep my promise," Zhang Menglong said with a calm and somewhat unbelievable look.


    "But why did you have to rent a car specifically? Is face that important to you?" Xie Siqi thought Zhang Menglong''s remarks were a jab at her disloyalty, "Even renting a car must cost a good amount of money, right? You didn''t take out some kind of private loans, did you?"


    "I''ve heard that the interest on those loans is calculated by the day. You better return the car soon. If you''re tight on money, we can help you a bit ¨C this small amount of money is still something I can afford for Siqi," Liu Qingsu echoed.


    "Rent?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Then you can just think of it as rented."


    Zhang Menglong had no intention of explaining. Wasn''t Xie Siqi''s departure due to finding someone who could offer her a better material life? Since she had already tagged him as a poor kid, no matter how much he explained, it would be pointless.


    "Anyway, today is your wedding day. I wish you a happy marriage." Zhang Menglong handed over a red envelope that contained not a single dollar, just a bank card."


    "Looks like Brother Zhang came prepared today," Liu Qingsu laughed. Today''s event was filled with businesspeople and their descendants, besides some classmates. Under such circumstances, any gift less than a five-digit sum would be embarrassing.


    Here, either incredulously thick red envelopes appeared or bank cards.


    Zhang Menglong''s financial circumstances were well known to Xie Siqi; while he was studying, he lived on a mere 2000 per month from an average salaried family, and he hadn''t found a job yet, so saving a few thousand in living expenses was the most he could do ¨C this bank card was probably just to mask his insecurity.


    "Can''t be too rude," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Brother Zhang wouldn''t mind if we check the amount on this bank card, right?" Liu Qingsu pointed to a gift money station nearby. Unfamiliar guests would leave their gift money there and write down the amount and their names.


    "Please do," Zhang Menglong knew they were trying to embarrass him in every possible way, but the number on this bank card would surely astound them.


    Is this money worth it?


    Of course not. Zhang Menglong felt even donating to beggars would be more worthwhile than giving it to them, but he had ways to get this money back.


    "Jia Jia, help me check the amount on this card."


    "Sure." As part of the bridesmaid group, they all received rather generous tokens today, and of course, they also had the task of serving the bride and groom.


    Wang Yujia took the bank card with an awkward look at Zhang Menglong. Morally, she sympathized with Zhang Menglong''s ordeal, but emotionally, she had to side with Xie Siqi, so her interaction with Zhang Menglong was somewhat uncomfortable.


    "13.14 million?" When she checked the balance on the card, she was stunned on the spot.


    "What''s wrong, Jia Jia?" Xie Siqi felt secretly pleased, thinking her guess that the bank card had a few thousand was too high for Zhang Menglong.


    Indeed, renting such a luxury car for a day costs several thousand, and he probably had spent nearly all his money by now.


    "This card has over ten million!" Wang Yujia confirmed again.


    "Over ten million? Are you sure you didn''t see it wrong?" A bank employee and some equipment were present at the wedding scene; Xie Siqi immediately crowded in front of the device.


    "How is this possible? Impossible! This can''t be!" Xie Siqi shook her head repeatedly. How could Zhang Menglong possibly have so much money?


    "Are you done checking? Then I guess I can take my seat now?" Zhang Menglong revealed a cultured smile and then walked into the venue.


    "He''s been lying to me all along!" Xie Siqi didn''t know what came over her, her head suddenly throbbing, "Zhang Menglong, you lied to me!"


    "What did I lie to you about?" Zhang Menglong turned around and asked.


    "So you''ve been pretending to be ordinary all along, what''s the meaning of this? Testing me?" Xie Siqi yelled hysterically, even attracting quite a few glances.


    "Testing you?" Zhang Menglong revealed a mocking smile, "Do you deserve it? Believe it or not, I really was just the poor boy you thought I was. It''s just that my parents always kept it from me, I only guessed and found out just now that my family is really rich."


    Zhang Menglong spread his hands with an expression that said "blame me, huh?"


    "President Zhang! I didn''t expect to see you here!" Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind him.


    "Xu Feng?" Zhang Menglong recognized the man who greeted him at a glance; it was the marketing director from Unicorn Technology they met at Lofitte Hotel on the last day of National Day, "What are you doing here?"


    "Oh, I have some business cooperation with the groom''s father and received an invitation today, so I came to show him some face," Xu Feng said. "I heard the bride is also a recent graduate from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology; are you friends with her?"


    "Friends? Not really," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I''m just an ex-boyfriend."


    "What?" Xu Feng''s expression turned to one of disbelief. The bride chose not to marry the CEO of a company worth billions of US dollars but instead married the young owner of a company with merely a billion in assets?


    Although, compared to ordinary people, it''s still like climbing high on the branch to become a phoenix, but there are differences amongst phoenixes too.


    "She really has no taste!" Xu Feng pursed his lips, "But President Zhang, it''s quite rare for you to come back for your ex-girlfriend''s wedding."


    "Someone wanted to slap me in the face, wouldn''t my absence disappoint them?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Oh?" Hearing this, Xu Feng''s expression suddenly changed. It looked like there was quite a story behind this. Although he didn''t know the details, he could see that Zhang Menglong was quite hostile towards the bride and groom.


    "I''ll go in first." Zhang Menglong waved his hand and went straight into the venue.


    "Alright, I''ll look for you later."


    ...


    "Mr. Xu, you know Zhang Menglong?" Liu Qingsu had been watching them from the side for quite some time now.


    This Mr. Xu was no ordinary person; at thirty-five, he became the regional director for a billion-dollar company. Even his father had to flatter him, and he had gone to great lengths to secure this collaboration.


    Seeing how humble Xu Feng was during their conversation made him somewhat anxious.


    "President Zhang is our chairman at Unicorn Technology." The people Zhang Menglong resented, how could Xu Feng show a friendly face? He left some gift money and walked in, showing no desire to chat.


    "What? Zhang Menglong is the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" This news burst like a bomb, stunning everyone.

 Chapter 42 42: Who is the Main Character?

    "Impossible, this simply can''t be, how could Zhang Menglong possibly be the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" Xie Siqi felt as if she had been struck by lightning.


    The Zhang Menglong who had once stood silent in the face of humiliation right before her eyes had suddenly transformed into the chairman of a giant internet conglomerate?


    Although she didn''t recognize the Mr. Xu from just now, by looking at Liu Qingsu''s attitude, even his father had to curry favor with this director, and this Mr. Xu was so obsequious in front of Zhang Menglong; the disparity in their status and position was apparent at a glance.


    She had heard Liu Qingsu say that the recent project was the most important one for their company, that if it were successful, the company could double in size, but if it fell through, all the massive manpower and resources previously invested would go up in smoke. In such a fiercely competitive market, if you''re not moving forward, you''re falling behind.


    With Zhang Menglong''s current identity, just one word from him could possibly cancel the cooperation plan between Unicorn Technology and Liu Qingsu''s family company. Exaggerating a bit, their company''s future was merely a word away for Zhang Menglong!


    Xie Siqi''s friends had already started whispering among themselves. Most of them knew Zhang Menglong, but today, they had met a completely new Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Yujia also finally understood why Zhang Menglong had accepted the offer without any hesitation; who would want to let go of such an opportunity to hold one''s head high?


    "Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong could hide so deeply!"


    "Right? When he was dating Siqi and invited us to eat, didn''t he just pick an ordinary restaurant? Who knew he was so rich!"


    "I''ve heard that guys from such families often test their girlfriends; no one wants their significant other to be with them just for money, right?"


    "Sigh, it''s a pity to let go of such a money tree!"


    "Isn''t that right? But Qingsu isn''t bad either; at least Siqi won''t have to worry about food and clothing in the future."


    "Oh, come on! Don''t forget how harsh the words between Zhang Menglong and Siqi were when he found her last time. Though there were no swear words, every word was cutting to the heart."


    "Yeah, I know Zhang Menglong''s roommate; I heard he sat on the balcony all night that evening and there were occasional sobs. Who could stand that?"


    "Hmph, if it were me, now with this status, I would definitely seek revenge."


    "Oh, do you guys remember? Siqi seemed to have said that Qingsu''s family company got to its current size by relying on Unicorn Technology, you guys think..."


    "It''s over!"


    "Hey, have you guys noticed that Zhang Menglong is actually quite handsome?"


    "Hahaha, I noticed a long time ago; if he hadn''t been dating Siqi back then, I would have made my move!"


    "What ''noticed a long time ago''? You must have just realized it, right? When you say ''made my move'', which ''move'' are you referring to?"


    "Hahaha, I just realized it too!"


    They exchanged glances secretly, "Sisters, old rules, may the best woman win!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve really given that young couple a fright," Hong Yi sneaked a peek at Xie Siqi and her companion, who were still stunned.


    "Well, everyone has to pay the price for their actions," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but I haven''t done anything, I''ve paid a hefty gift money after all."


    "Chairman Zhang!" At that moment, Xu Feng approached, "Chairman Zhang, did you come alone?"


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Would you mind if I sit next to you?"


    "Of course not."


    "Chairman Zhang, forgive my boldness, but I noticed just now that you seemed to be in a bad mood," Xu Feng said.


    "Do you see the green light above my head?" Zhang Menglong mocked himself.


    "Ah? This..." Xu Feng''s back suddenly felt cold, as if he had asked something he shouldn''t have, "President Zhang, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to."


    "To live a decent life, we all need to have a bit of green on us, it''s okay once you look past it." Zhang Menglong said with a smile, he had indeed moved on from this matter; in fact, it wasn''t so much about Xie Siqi as it was about letting go of his own obsessions.


    "By the way, President Zhang, our company has some market collaborations with Liu Qingsuo''s company, and I am in charge of that. Do you think I should..."


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong hadn''t become vicious enough to use such methods to plot against others, "However, I just gave a gift of over ten million, and I''ll need your help to get it back."


    Xu Feng was quite intelligent; he knew exactly what Zhang Menglong meant by just one sentence, "President Zhang, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly and won''t let them detect a trace of anything."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, this gift of over ten million wasn''t much, but when it comes to pocketing it, one has to prove they are worthy!


    "President Xu, you''re here too?"


    "Isn''t this President Zhou? Hahaha, what a coincidence!" Xu Feng, the director in charge of the entire East China market for Unicorn Technology, naturally had a vast network in this area. He knew almost all the entrepreneurs, big and small, at the wedding.


    "President Xu, this is..."


    "Oh, President Zhou, this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "Chairman?" A flicker of surprise crossed President Zhou''s face. He had indeed heard that Unicorn Technology''s shareholders had recently undergone some changes, with the majority of the shares transferred to a new chairman who practically controlled the entire company. To put it more dramatically, the entire company was his, and that was no exaggeration.


    But the identity of this new chairman had always been a mystery, and he didn''t expect to see him at this wedding banquet, and such a young man at that.


    "President Zhang, what an honor to meet you. I am Zhou Lizhe, chairman of Yun Xiang Technology. Here is my business card," President Zhou offered his card with proper respect.


    "Yo, isn''t that President Zou?"


    "President Bai is here too?"


    "President Xu, Liu really has face, doesn''t he? To have invited you to his son''s wedding."


    "Hahaha, I just happened to be free today, so I came to take a look. Oh, and this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "President Zhang, I am Zou Guangyu from Bo Mei Media."


    "President Zhang, you are truly young and promising. I am Bai Wanling from Giant Technology."


    "President Zhang, in the future, we hope that you can take more care of us smaller companies!"


    ...


    As a small group of people gathered around Zhang Menglong, the gazes of those around were immediately drawn. Why were people ignoring the bride and groom at the wedding and crowding around a young man instead?


    But upon inquiring, they found out that this young man was the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Such a big shot is not easy to come across. With more than seventy percent of the people present involved in the Internet industry, if they could get on this big leg, maybe even a little resource sharing, wouldn''t that send Wuhu skyrocketing?


    Within a few minutes, more than half of the people at the wedding were gathered together, leaving the bride and groom nearly alone.


    Actually, these people weren''t really acquainted with the bride and groom; they had only come to the wedding for the sake of appearance. Now that such an important figure had appeared, what did the wedding matter?


    Zhang Menglong found himself surrounded by a group of company presidents. Fortunately, Hong Yi was experienced and managed the onslaught with order. Meanwhile, on the side, the expressions on Xie Siqi and Liu Qingsuo''s faces were uglier than if they had eaten shit.


    Wasn''t it supposed to be their wedding today? But how come the main characters had nothing to do with them anymore?

 Chapter 43 43: I Actually Hold Grudges Too

    A grand wedding''s brilliance dimmed instantly with the arrival of Zhang Menglong, rendering both protagonists lackluster.


    Throughout the banquet, numerous individuals approached Zhang Menglong to offer toasts. To those unaware, it seemed as though he was the groom himself today. Not only did the newlyweds feel overshadowed, even their parents struggled to save face.


    Wasn''t this disruptive?


    "What in the world is going on? Who is that young man?" Liu Qingsu''s mother asked, her expression darkening. Ever since that young man arrived, he had become the center of attention.


    Liu Qingsu''s mother was a woman who highly valued reputation. Was this really her son''s wedding, or some business networking event?


    "He''s the chairman of Unicorn Technology." Liu Qingsu said begrudgingly. The poor student he once humiliated beyond protest had unexpectedly transformed into a magnate who could now dominate the fate of their family business.


    "So young?" Liu Qingsu''s mother expressed her surprise. "Right, since he was invited to your wedding, he must be Siqi''s friend, right?"


    Liu Qingsu''s mother initially had reservations about Xie Siqi. While their family boasted assets over a billion, Xie Siqi was just an ordinary girl who was slightly more attractive than average.


    With Liu Qingsu''s prospects, couldn''t he find any attractive girl? Wasn''t it better to choose a well-matched girl, whose family''s resources could integrate with theirs for mutual enhancement?


    However, due to Liu Qingsu''s insistence, his mother had no grounds for argument.


    But if Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong, evident from his attendance at the wedding, their relationship must be quite good. Supporting their family business even slightly would be more valuable than ten well-matched daughters-in-law!


    With this realization, Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards Xie Siqi underwent a drastic change.


    "Mom, Zhang Menglong was my...college classmate." Xie Siqi found it too hard to utter the words ''ex-boyfriend''. She was well aware of Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards her. Should she learn of this, Xie Siqi foresaw a very difficult life at the Liu family.


    "College classmate? College classmates are wonderful!" Liu Qingsu''s mother suddenly embraced Xie Siqi warmly. "The friendship between college classmates is the best. That a man like him accepted your invitation means your relationship must be quite good, Siqi. You really do have an eye for people."


    These words stung painfully in Xie Siqi''s ears as if they were laden with irony. If she really had an eye for people, she would probably be the wife of the chairman of Unicorn Group by now.


    "You see, all these company heads are here. If they knew about your relationship with the chairman of Unicorn Group, our family business would surely thrive here in Jiangnan City. You are truly our family''s lucky star!" Liu Qingsu''s mother''s smile was nearly splitting her face.


    In the face of benefits, the protagonists of the wedding mattered little. The purpose of the wedding was initially to mingle and build connections with business executives. Now having found a shortcut, it couldn''t be better.


    "What are you two doing standing around? Go and offer your toasts!" Seeing Liu Qingsu and Xie Siqi rooted to the spot, Liu Qingsu''s mother immediately grew anxious. Such an opportunity was rare, and it was a perfect moment to showcase their influential connections. The bride was a college classmate of the chairman of Unicorn Group¡ªthat relationship alone could make them walk tall.


    "Mom, he is also..."


    "Enough!" Liu Qingsu quickly tugged at Xie Siqi''s sleeve. If his mother found out about this, not only would Xie Siqi suffer, but Liu Qingsu himself would be in trouble as well. He knew all too well how domineering his mother was.


    "Come on, let''s go toast!" At this point, Liu Qingsu could only bite the bullet, believing that Zhang Menglong would not expose their past openly, as having one''s girlfriend stolen was hardly honorable.


    "Come on, everyone, make way, make way!" Liu Qingsu''s mother charged ahead, breaking through the crowded crowd. "Now, everyone wanting to toast with Director Zhang, please wait. Director Zhang is our most important guest today. He''s our Siqi''s classmate!"


    "Tsk tsk, Director Zhang is actually the bride''s classmate?"


    "I told you, how could the Liu family settle for just an ordinary daughter-in-law? Clearly, they have connections too."


    "Move aside quickly, they are coming to offer a toast!"


    "We must forge a good relationship with the Liu family from now on. With their connection to Unicorn Group, they are bound to soar!"


    "Yes, we can''t reach the chairman of Unicorn Group, but getting closer to their Liu family''s company should definitely give us a share of the benefits!"


    "Yes, Director Zhu, your foresight is truly exceptional!"


    Liu Qingsu and Xie Siqi, carrying glasses of wine, reluctantly approached Zhang Menglong. Xie Siqi bowed her head, not even daring to look into Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Zhang Menglong, thank you for coming to my wedding today. We both toast to you." Xie Siqi drained her glass in one gulp, but the corners of her eyes were already reddening.


    She truly regretted. If she had held on a bit more back then, perhaps the outcome wouldn''t be like this.


    "Director Zhang, I too toast to you." Liu Qingsu also finished his drink in one gulp.


    "You are too kind. I had promised Siqi that we would attend each other''s weddings in the future. I am merely here to fulfill my promise today," Zhang Menglong said with a slight smile.


    Nobody caught the underlying message in Zhang Menglong''s words. In their eyes, the bride''s relationship with Zhang Menglong must be so good that they were envious. Director Zhang even invited the bride to attend his future wedding, which was an incredibly honor.


    "Well, I''ve had the drink and attended the banquet, so I will take my leave now." Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him, "Let''s go, Hong Yi."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang." Hong Yi collected all the business cards handed to Zhang Menglong, and then followed him to the Rolls-Royce parked by the roadside.


    "Xie Siqi, see off Director Zhang!"


    "Oh, sure." Xie Siqi was still stunned in place. She had not expected Zhang Menglong to show no sign of making things difficult for her.


    She had thought that now, with his wealth and power, Zhang Menglong would seek every possible way to exact revenge. However, Zhang Menglong remained composed, as if he was truly just attending a regular friend''s wedding.


    "In his heart, perhaps there has been no room for me since that day," Xie Siqi whispered to herself in a voice only she could hear.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, how could you be so lenient with them? You know with just one word from you, their companies would be blacklisted by all businesses in Jiangnan City."


    "But, there is no need," Zhang Menglong said, "If I really did that, wouldn''t it mean that I still take this matter too seriously?"


    "My world has another person now," an image that appeared only in his imagination came to Zhang Menglong''s mind, "Let''s go, time to head back."


    "Oh, by the way, remember to reclaim the cash gift for me, and just double it!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Those who insult me, I do hold a grudge after all."


    "Mr. Zhang, you just said you didn''t want to take this matter too seriously."


    "That''s a different matter!"


    ...

 Chapter 44 43: My Mental State Collapsed

    "Zhang Menglong, President Zhang, I called you all day yesterday, what on earth were you doing?" The next morning, Zhang Menglong was awakened by Wang Ling''s complaining tone.


    "I went to my ex-girlfriend''s wedding yesterday, what about it?"


    "Damn, you''ve really got guts, going to your ex-girlfriend''s wedding?" Hearing such explosive news, Wang Ling instantly forgot his own matters, "I thought I was the only one who liked to switch girlfriends, but it turns out you''re quite the player too, Young Master Zhang!"


    "What do you mean ''switch girlfriends''? I''m still single, so there''s no concept of switching, okay?" Zhang Menglong was grumpy from just waking up, and his tone was rather unfriendly, "Do I look like the kind of guy who irresponsibly dumps and moves on from women?"


    "Wasn''t it you who dumped her?" Wang Ling asked with a face of surprise, "It couldn''t possibly be that she dumped you, right? What kind of no-brained woman would do that? If I were a girl, I''d want to marry you too!"


    "Gross me out less!" Zhang Menglong looked disgusted, "And you''re actually right, I was the one who got dumped."


    "Damn, that''s cool!" Wang Ling was immediately curious about Zhang Menglong''s unseen ex-girlfriend, "For someone to make Young Master Zhang lose face, there probably isn''t a second person like that in the world. This lady sounds interesting. You didn''t tell her about your fortune, did you?"


    "I didn''t even know about it myself back then, let alone her." Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "Hahaha, so you were just a loser back then," Wang Ling laughed, "but you must''ve turned the tables yesterday, right? Did that girl end up crying bitterly on the floor begging for your forgiveness?"


    "Do you read too many melodramatic novels or what? Am I that petty?"


    "Bro, it''s not a matter of being petty or not. If someone stole my girlfriend, I''d make sure they couldn''t live it down!" Wang Ling said with a playful grin, "By the way, my girlfriend has quite a few top-level resources; why not find one to have some fun with? It''s not like you''re definitely going to marry her, just play the field until you''re content!"


    "Alright, alright," Zhang Menglong quickly interrupted Wang Ling''s words, "what did you want to talk about?"


    "What''s with your memory, man? Didn''t I tell you there''s a gemstone gambling event happening soon in Jiangnan City? I''ll take you there to broaden your horizons and maybe place a couple of bets?"


    "Oh right, I''ve been so busy spending money I almost forgot about that."


    "Busy spending money..." After hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Wang Ling felt the urge to hang up, "I''ll come over in a bit, and we can head there together."


    "Sure," Zhang Menglong readily agreed, "but brace yourself, I''m afraid my place might shock you."


    "Pfft, my mentality is rock solid, it''s nothing," Wang Ling said, "Send me your location."


    Zhang Menglong laughed and sent his location immediately.


    "Hong Yi, I need to go out for a bit later."


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to accompany you?"


    "No need, I''m going with Wang Ling to check out the gemstone market, just to see the world."


    "Mr. Zhang, shall I call a few expert gem evaluators to join you? They have a wealth of experience and are absolutely top-level professionals in China."


    "Sure, just have them meet us at the venue." Zhang Menglong was indeed curious to see how these master evaluators could discern whether there was jade inside these rough stones.


    Wang Ling''s place wasn''t too far from Zhang Menglong''s. It took just about twenty minutes for him to arrive at the residential complex. Today, Wang Ling was still dressed in everyday casual clothes, yet he drove up in that toxic ride of his.


    "You''re really something, actually opening up a gas station right outside your own home!" When Wang Ling came over earlier, the gas station was nearing completion after being rushed day and night.


    "That''s just basic business, nothing surprising," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Are we being too ostentatious riding this thing today?"


    "What''s ostentatious about it? Today''s not just about the big shots from the jewelry and jade businesses, there are also a lot of young people like us. Shouldn''t we match the occasion with something nice?"


    Wang Ling pointed at the residential complex behind Zhang Menglong and said, "Didn''t you say you were afraid I''d lose my cool after seeing your place? This is it?"


    The single unit price for the houses in this area was indeed not cheap, but compared to Wang Ling''s villa, which was close to three hundred thousand per square meter, it was several notches down. Moreover, the largest house in this complex seemed to be just over 100 square meters, which was somewhat embarrassing for someone like Zhang Menglong.


    "This suite must be worth tens of millions, right?" For the average person, a home worth tens of millions was nearly a dream, but for someone like Wang Ling, this figure seemed quite laughable.


    "About that, given the price of this location, a suite would range from 8 to 12 million," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha, here I was thinking you, Zhang Menglong, lived in an Emperor''s palace, and this is supposed to make me lose my cool? You''re underestimating me, Wang Ling!"


    "Did I say I only have one suite here?" Zhang Menglong said calmly.


    "What?" Wang Ling thought for a moment, considering that Zhang Menglong, who treated buying cars like buying vegetables, owning just one suite didn''t seem likely, "Did you buy an entire floor?"


    If we''re talking about an entire floor, the area could be well over 400 square meters.


    "I thought only poor people had limited imagination, turns out wealthy folks aren''t much better," Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Come on, if you''re capable, why not buy the entire building!"


    Zhang Menglong pointed at the several buildings behind him and laughed, "This one, this one, this one, all of these buildings are mine."


    "I''m not well-read, don''t trick me," Wang Ling was utterly stunned.


    He couldn''t even begin to fathom the total cost of these buildings'' construction area in his head in that moment.


    "Am I, Wang Ling, that easy to deceive? Can you really live in so many buildings all by yourself?" Wang Ling asked.


    "It''s not just me living here," Zhang Menglong pursed his lips, "My chef, cleaners, drivers, personal doctor, lawyers... they all live here. I myself just live in the middle building."


    "Want me to show you around?" Zhang Menglong offered with a smile.


    "You little bastard, you''re a beast!" The expression on Wang Ling''s face twisted, and it took him a while to squeeze out these words.


    Now he finally understood why Zhang Menglong had been so unmoved by his billion-dollar luxurious villa; his own place was practically an imperial palace!


    "What''s the matter? I charge 10 bucks a photo here, no group discounts!"


    "Click!" Without hesitation, Wang Ling snapped a picture of the entire residential area and shared it on his Weibo, adding a few words, "Visited a big shot''s home today, this entire district belongs to him, I''m freakin'' losing it!"

 Chapter 45 44: They All Work for My Family

    "Big shot? Is it the same one who gave you a sports car last time?"


    "Wow, I know this complex; it''s right next to my house. It''s been developed for several years now, always with a ban on external sales. So, it was all bought out by someone?"


    "You''re pretty impressive yourself, living nearby this complex. You must have at least a ten-million-yuan fortune, right?"


    "Truly awesome. Even Daddy Ma would cry."


    "Principal, say something, who exactly is this big shot? I''ve got a friend who wants to lick their boots."


    Wang Ling''s Weibo was flooded with comments in just a few minutes, and one of those comments, which was prominently liked by netizens, was from Qin Feng, whose wealth was fully on par with Wang Ling''s.


    When Wang Ling once said, "I never care if my friends have money or not, because they surely can''t be richer than me," Qin Feng had replied below, "What about me?"


    Given Wang Ling''s personality, he would have clapped back, but he chose to remain silent instead, which showed that this Mr. Qin Feng''s strength was not any less than his own.


    "I''ve got to admit, even I''m losing my cool!" Qin Feng left such a comment under Wang Ling''s Weibo post.


    "My goodness, even Young Master Qin has been drawn out."


    "Who on earth could this be? Someone who''s got two super-rich second-generation kids all riled up? Do we even have someone richer than them in Huaxia?"


    "Lu Benwei is amazing!"


    "Wang Yuan, if you see this, bring me a pack of cigarettes, the Hua brand."


    ...


    Though essentially a jade stone gambling event, to avoid official scrutiny, the organizers named it a "Jade Stone Appraisal Convention."


    It was the largest appraisal event in recent years, attracting merchants from across the country. Some rarely seen raw stones from old pits were abundant, and of course, the prices were sky-high. Without significant wealth, one wouldn''t even be able to step foot in the venue.


    The minimum requirement for a merchant to participate in this event was 5 million yuan in liquid assets, and all registrants had to go through an asset verification process. Despite this, the number of applicants was still hair-raising.


    As jade mines became scarcer over the recent years, the shortage of high-quality raw stone resources had caused a severe supply chain crisis for many jewelry and jade companies.


    Smaller enterprises wanted to move volume, while larger ones hoped to obtain a few pieces of top-quality jade to bolster their brand. Thus, the demand for high-end raw stone resources was immense; participants didn''t care how much they had to spend, they only cared about finding what they wanted.


    The rules of stone gambling were simple: one strike could lead to heaven or hell. Buyers relied on their experience to judge whether the raw stone contained any jade and performed live stone cutting on the spot, which was the most exhilarating part of stone gambling.


    "It''s really crowded here!" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling had just parked their car in the underground garage, which was like a mini car show. Although it still paled in comparison to Zhang Menglong''s sports car garage, cars worth over a million were still plenty, a testament to the immense wealth of the event''s attendees.


    "Of course, this event is the most substantial in nearly a decade. The combined value of the raw stones appearing here is astronomical. The most expensive stones here can go for tens of millions; ordinary people wouldn''t even dare touch them."


    "Tens of millions?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. Isn''t that just delightful?


    "Sir, please show your asset verification report and entry permit."


    "I need an asset verification report?" Wang Ling glared at the security guard.


    "Of course not! It''s an honor to have Young Master Wang visit us!" An attending manager, who had been greeting guests, immediately ran over like a fawning lackey. "I apologize, this guard is new and doesn''t understand how things work. Young Master Wang, please go right in."


    "That''s more like it." Wang Ling smiled satisfactorily and strolled with Zhang Menglong into the vast venue comparable to a World Expo.


    "You''re really acting like a true second-generation rich kid," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Pssh, what do you know? Not using your resources is what makes a Muggle. Come on, let me introduce you to a few people!"


    Zhang Menglong felt somewhat out of place on his first visit to such an event. It may have been an exhibition, but it had the air of small vendors scrambling at a market. Large raw stone companies even had lavish booths, while smaller companies just sat on the ground with their displays out.


    "Boss, how much for this stone?"


    "2.4 million, take it and go!"


    "That expensive? Can it produce green jade?"


    "If I knew whether it would produce green, would I be an idiot selling it?"


    "What about this one?"


    "This bargain, 100,000, just the lowest grade raw materials."


    "You dare to sell it so expensive?"


    "Don''t want it? Forget about it!"


    "Damn, such a big piece of raw stone? No, this piece of raw stone doesn''t seem to come from an ordinary mine."


    "Boss, what an eye you have! This comes from an old mine, but as for the price, you can tell just by the look of it. If you really want it, it''s yours for 17 million!"


    "Holy shit, this kind of lousy rock costs over ten million?" Zhang Menglong was flabbergasted.


    "You don''t know the market price," Wang Ling seemed to enjoy the astonished look on Zhang Menglong''s face, "Back in 2007, there was a raw stone that weighed 2.1 tons, initially bought for 40 million. Guess how much was made in the end?"


    "A hundred million?" Zhang Menglong guessed.


    "Guess again!"


    "Five hundred million?"


    "A whole 20 billion!" Wang Ling said, "That raw stone yielded 180 kilograms of jade, and it was of a rather high-quality glass type. If someone were to sell it now, the price would probably skyrocket even more."


    "Sheesh!" Zhang Menglong gasped in shock. This was simply high-stakes gambling.


    "Although a 17 million raw stone is expensive, it hasn''t reached that level yet. If indeed jade is found within, its value could increase by dozens of times or more."


    "Of course, more often people end up losing everything they have: bankrupted, with families breaking up, or even worse, leading to their own demise. That''s why a master stone assessor with rich experience is so important."


    "Master Hu, over here!" Just then, Wang Ling called out to someone in the distance. An old man with grizzled hair, wearing glasses, but looking quite hale and hearty approached them.


    "Menglong, this Master Hu is a renowned stone assessor in the industry. Here in Jiangnan City, he''s definitely in the top three. If not for my dad''s connections, I probably couldn''t have invited him over," Wang Ling introduced.


    "Master Hu, this is my friend, Zhang Menglong."


    "Hmm." Master Hu nodded, hardly giving Zhang Menglong another glance.


    "Are all capable people this arrogant?" Zhang Menglong whispered to Wang Ling.


    Suddenly, a disturbance arose from within the crowd, drawing their attention.


    "My God, Master Yu is here today? Didn''t he retire many years ago?"


    "And Master Meng is here too. He is undoubtedly the number one stone assessor in contemporary Huaxia. It''s said that there''s hardly any loss on the stones he assesses. To get him to make a move costs a fortune!"


    "Master Bai has come as well, and he''s definitely one of the top three in the stone assessment world!"


    "What kind of wind has blown today that all three masters have been invited? How influential are the organizers?"


    "Who are these three guys?" Zhang Menglong curiously asked, seeing they seemed to be quite famous in the circle.


    "Hmph, ignorant boy. Master Yu is known as the ''Divine Eye'', truly a legend, and both Master Bai and Master Meng are pillars of the stone assessment world. You don''t even recognize them, and you dare show up at this big event?" Master Hu said disdainfully.


    "Damn, what did I do to provoke him?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat baffled. He hadn''t done anything, yet he''d been berated; was Master Hu from Zaun?


    "Menglong, make way; these masters are coming over!" Wang Ling hurriedly said. Even though these three masters didn''t have as much money as Zhang Menglong, their network was extremely formidable.


    But to everyone''s surprise, the three of them walked straight up to Zhang Menglong and stopped.


    "Mr. Zhang!" The three gave a slight bow to Zhang Menglong.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt confused. He didn''t know any of them.


    Suddenly, he remembered what Hong Yi had mentioned to him, that today a few professionals might accompany him. Could it be that these were the master stone assessors of the stone assessment world?


    "Zhang Menglong, you... this..."


    "Although I don''t know what''s happening," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "but it seems like these three masters might as well be my employees."

 Chapter 46 45 The Poor Only Gamble on Stones

    "Beast!" Wang Ling''s face changed colors repeatedly, and at last, she forced out an inexplicable word.


    "Hold on, I''ll call Hong Yi to see what''s going on," Zhang Menglong still felt it necessary to make a confirmation call to Hong Yi.


    "Hong Yi, I''m already at the venue. Were these three masters Yu, Meng, and Bai arranged by you?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Aren''t they seniors in the stone appraisal world? Did you hire them with money?" Zhang Menglong said, "That''s not necessary, you know as well as I do, I just want to spend money, not earn it. This puts me in a difficult position."


    "Mr. Zhang, these three masters weren''t invited with money; they are originally from the Zhang family."


    "What? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly a bit confused.


    "Mr. Zhang, stone appraisal is a skill that greatly relies on experience. Without decades of research and a vast number of incidents, it''s impossible to train a genuine master of stone appraisal. All of them were nurtured by the elders in your family."


    "Brought up? I don''t quite understand what you mean?"


    "To put it simply, it''s about investing money. In the past, your elders spent a tremendous amount of funds to purchase countless raw stones. The art of these masters was honed among those raw stones. In the whole of Huaxia, probably only your family can afford to spend money like this."


    "Damn, so they really were built up with money!" Hearing the recent price tags of raw stones, which ranged from a million to even ten million, Zhang Menglong could almost imagine how much money was burnt to train these three masters.


    "These three masters have long signed a lifetime servitude contract with the Zhang family. When you don''t need them, they are free to do as they wish, but once you need them, they will be at your service immediately. That''s why I arranged for them to accompany you to the conference today."


    "So that''s how it is. I understand now."


    "Today, I must trouble the three masters." Zhang Menglong spoke with a respectful tone. Although the relationship was that of master and servant, they were still three elders, so Zhang Menglong was courteous.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re too polite. This is all part of our duty. If you take a fancy to any raw stones, just let us know. The expertise of us three old fellows is still quite reliable," said Yu, the leading master.


    They were all very surprised when they received Hong Yi''s call. The last time someone from the Zhang family asked them to make a move was several decades ago, and they had even begun to forget about the family. The emergence of Zhang Menglong doubtlessly helped them recall everything.


    In the entire Huaxia, and even in the whole world, there exists such a low-profile but unrivaled family.


    "Old Wang, I''ve found out. These three masters are all from our family."


    "They really work for your family?" Although Wang Ling didn''t run in these circles, she had done some homework before coming. These three masters were definitely legends in the stone appraisal world.


    "And it''s a lifetime exclusive deal."


    "Damn, then what''s the difference between them and the servants of your family!" Wang Ling couldn''t help shouting out loud, unable to control her emotions, but the three masters just smiled. She wasn''t wrong, technically speaking, and they really were no different from the servants of the Zhang family.


    However, being a servant of the Zhang family was not easy; to become associated with the Zhangs meant an everlasting protection under the shelter of this massive entity. In front of Zhang Menglong, they might be servants, but to everyone else, they remained people of high status!


    "Did you all hear that? The three masters just said they came here to accompany that young man."


    "Heard it, and I would have noticed even if I hadn''t been told. The masters were very respectful in their tone."


    "What kind of background does this young man have to wield such energy?"


    "This must not be your ordinary rich second generation; just being rich can''t make these masters treat him with such an attitude."


    "Could he be a junior member of some leadership in Yanjing?"


    "Possibly, everyone pay attention, and make sure not to unwittingly provoke this one in the future."


    ...


    At this moment, Master Hu, who had been very arrogant towards Zhang Menglong earlier, was starting to feel his legs go weak.


    He truly had skill, and had even accumulated a fortune of over a billion through stone appraisal, but compared to those three masters, he was still several levels behind. From the attitude of the three masters, one could butt-guess that this young man had an extraordinary origin.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, my attitude just now was somewhat unreasonable, I..."


    "Hmph," Zhang Menglong glanced at him coldly, the thing he despised the most was this kind of fair-weathered person.


    Seeing that Zhang Menglong paid him no mind, he immediately turned towards the three masters and approached them.


    "Master Yu, I am..."


    But the three masters also just gave him a cold look, since Zhang Menglong was unwilling to deal with such a person, they naturally were not going to show any kindness.


    "This is the area for stone cutting," Wang Ling led Zhang Menglong to a row of machines, where an entrepreneur had already chosen his desired raw stone and was having it cut there.


    "There should be nothing in these stones," Master Yu concluded with a glance, and the other two masters nodded slightly, obviously in agreement with Master Yu''s judgment.


    Sure enough, those stones turned into a pile of rubble without a trace of green.


    "Make way, make way!" A middle-aged man with a sharp face and a big gold chain, looking like a nouveau riche, pushed a cart into the area; his raw stone alone weighed at least two hundred pounds.


    "Hehe, brother, please be careful, this stone cost me over four million."


    "Don''t worry, I have never damaged the jade inside the stones I have cut," said an experienced-looking worker, immediately getting to work.


    "Hehe, all show and no substance, I''m afraid these four million will just go down the drain," Master Yu laughed.


    A few minutes later, only the man with a face as if his entire family had died and a pile of rubble were left.


    "Hmm? This one is interesting!" Master Yu''s gaze suddenly fell upon a raw stone held by a man who looked to be in his fifties, not too far away. This piece of raw stone, weighing only about ten pounds and looking like a leftover piece, would not normally be purchased by ordinary people.


    "Brother, you''re buying this kind of stuff? Even if you have excess money, it shouldn''t be wasted like this."


    "Hahaha, I just buy things based on a feeling, come on!"


    "Alright, as you wish!" The worker sprinkled on a bowl of water and began to cut the stone carefully.


    After only grinding off a thin layer, a green sheen suddenly spread out with the debris.


    "There''s green!"


    "Damn, even this waste stone can produce green?"


    "This is effing luck?"


    When the stone was fully cut, it revealed a piece of ice-type jade as big as a fist! He had bought that stone for only twenty thousand yuan, but this piece of jade was worth nearly a million!


    "Interesting!" Seeing such a scene, even Zhang Menglong felt somewhat eager to try.


    "How about it? Fancy playing with a couple of stones?" Wang Ling was also brimming with excitement, with these three masters around, could he, Wang Ling, possibly lose today?


    "Let''s go!" Zhang Menglong headed straight for the raw stone market.


    "With these two masters here today, we''re going to make a fortune!" Wang Ling''s face was written all over with excitement; even though he was already wealthy, who would complain about having too much money? Especially when being friends with someone like Zhang Menglong.


    "To think I''d get such an opportunity on my first try at stone gambling, hahaha!" Wang Ling laughed, his eyes squinting into slits ¨C the prowess of these three masters could be seen from the casual judgment they made earlier, they truly had real skill!


    "Stone gambling?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wang Ling, "Who said I''m going to gamble on stones."


    "If you''re not here to gamble on stones, what are you doing here? And hiring two masters? As bodyguards perhaps?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong laughed enigmatically, "Gambling is for those without capital, a choice only a poor person would make!"

 Chapter 47 46 Whats the use for us?

    "What do you mean by that?" Wang Ling clearly didn''t grasp Zhang Menglong''s intention. Weren''t they here to gamble on stones with these three masters today?


    "Right!" Wang Ling slapped his forehead. With these three masters around, how could it even be called gambling? Master Yu can predict the presence of jade in a stone with over 90% accuracy. If he favored a stone, it almost always contained jade!


    With such experts here, it couldn''t really be called stone gambling¡ªit was stone buying, practically just stocking up on goods directly. If Zhang Menglong opened a jade store, the profits would be outrageous!


    But Wang Ling still underestimated Zhang Menglong. He thought he was on the fifth floor, but Zhang Menglong was already in the stratosphere!


    He walked straight to a stall, "Boss, how much for this stone?"


    Zhang Menglong pointed at a giant stone over two meters tall, which probably weighed several tons. It was one of the largest raw stones you could find in this huge venue.


    "This one is 37 million!" The stall owner immediately quoted a sky-high price. When he saw the masters next to Zhang Menglong, his eyes lit up; having these masters at his stall was like a free advertisement!


    "Sir, if you are serious about it, take it for 35 million!" the stall owner raised his voice on purpose.


    The sky-high price of 35 million immediately attracted quite a crowd, and seeing the three masters there, the area soon became packed with people three layers deep inside and out.


    "There''s a good show coming, the three masters are making a move¡ªthis is going to be big!"


    "Yes, with such a big stone, it''s sure to yield green jade."


    "Not necessarily, if it only contains jade the size of an egg, then it''s still a losing deal, right?"


    "We have to rely on the masters'' judgment, if the masters nod, there''ll be a great show."


    Meanwhile, the three masters approached the stone, put on gloves and magnifying glasses, and began to examine it thoroughly. Their techniques and angles made many spectators watch closely, hoping to learn something from their expertise and never worry about money again in their lives.


    A few minutes later, the three masters sighed and shook their heads, "Mr. Zhang, this stone does contain green jade, but it will lose money. You''d better look at another one!"


    "Eek¡ª" The surrounding crowd instantly let out a hiss.


    "I told you, this stone is just big, it''s deceiving!"


    "Hahaha, this stall owner is in trouble now. The three masters have said it''ll be a loss. Definitely, no one will buy it!"


    "He''s just unlucky, hahaha!"


    Sure enough, the stall owner''s face immediately donned the ''Mask of Pain''. This huge raw stone was magnificent and very costly, with a base cost of 20 million alone. After the masters had spoken, who would buy it?


    If someone actually bought it, wouldn''t that be like slapping the masters in the face?


    "I''ll take it, don''t even give me a discount, just as you said, 37 million, no bargaining!" Zhang Menglong directly took out his bank card, "Where do I swipe the card?"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Wang Ling slapped Zhang Menglong''s hand away. "The three masters have said it''ll be a loss, and you still want to buy it? Are you crazy?"


    Not only Wang Ling, but the three masters were also utterly baffled. What was Zhang Menglong really up to? Was he challenging their abilities? But they dared not say anything since Zhang Menglong was the boss and they were merely workers.


    "I''m perfectly lucid!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "And that one, this one, and the biggest few¡ªI want them all!"


    "Buddy, the total for these three pieces is 53 million. Are you really taking all of them?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the possibility of those other two yielding green jade is even smaller than the biggest one. You should think this through!"


    "Perfect!" Encouraged by the two masters'' comments, Zhang Menglong felt even more confident.


    "Boss, I''ll take all of them, let''s swipe the card!"


    "Alright, alright!" Fearing Zhang Menglong might change his mind, the boss quickly brought out the POS machine. Amid the astonished gazes of everyone, Zhang Menglong completed the payment.


    "What kind of play is this? I cannot comprehend it," someone murmured.


    "Could this be the reverse gamble on raw stones, villa by the sea?"


    "What relies on the sea? If three masters all say it''s a loss, then it must be a loss. Tonight, just wait to go up to the rooftop!"


    "Mr. Fang, this..." The three exchanged glances, confusion evident in their eyes. It was rare to find jade in the raw stones, but at least they could tell Zhang Menglong which ones definitely didn''t contain jade. However, he simply wouldn''t listen! In their careers, this was undoubtedly a Waterloo.


    "Boss, how much for this? 18 million!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this one is a waste stone!"


    "Oh? Haha, okay, I''ll take this one!"


    "Boss, how much for this? 24 million."


    "Hmm? This one seems not bad!"


    "The quality looks very promising, like it could increase in value."


    "Boss, I''ll take this one!"


    Along the way, Zhang Menglong purchased dozens of raw stones, with a total value exceeding ten billion. Whether the masters judged them as likely to increase in value or to lose money, Zhang Menglong bought them all, completely ignoring their advice.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re not here to gamble on stones, are you? You''re here to stock up!" Wang Ling was completely speechless now.


    "I just said that poor people gamble on stones because they need it to turn their luck around, but I don''t need it," Zhang Menglong continued enthusiastically picking out raw stones.


    "What''s the fun if every stone you buy has jade? It wouldn''t be thrilling at all; it would completely lose its charm!"


    "Who the hell comes here for the thrill?" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, all the onlookers cursed in their minds. Everyone came here hoping to spend little and buy raw stones containing jade. Who the hell came for the thrill? Are they crazy?


    The raw stones here are worth hundreds of thousands to millions each, with a risk of losing everything if not careful. And yet, he said he was here for the thrill¡ªwas his family''s money overflowing?


    "Old Wang, whether I spend money or not, I am the world''s richest man. Is spending a little money for this thrilling experience not worth it to you?"


    "I''ll turn you into a banana boat!" Wang Ling finally couldn''t help but curse aloud. "Are you poison or what? Even with all the money, this is not the way to spend it!"


    "Do you know how much money I just spent?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Probably a few tens of billions."


    "And do you know how long it takes me to earn tens of billions?"


    Wang Ling shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong paused for a second, "Well, I''ve earned it just now."


    "You..." Wang Ling wanted to say more, but he unclenched his fist, realizing this guy was simply a monster!


    Yes, to others, Zhang Menglong''s actions seemed like a waste of money. However, in his view, what he spent was merely the money he made in a breath¡ªa mere breather. Do ordinary people fret over spending a dollar or two to make themselves happy?


    No!


    Would Zhang Menglong fret over spending tens of billions?


    The answer is also no!


    "I find that the more I hang out with you, the closer I am to a total worldview collapse," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile, "Being friends with you makes me feel like I might end up in a mental institution one day."


    "Don''t worry. If that day really comes, I''ll arrange everything for you. I own a few mental hospitals. I''ll ensure you get the best doctors, the best wards, and the most beautiful nurses!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m taking you on!"


    Watching Zhang Menglong frolic with Wang Ling, the three masters suddenly looked at each other. They had thought they could showcase their expertise before this new master today, but they had not expected to be just decorations; Zhang Menglong had never intended to let them act!


    Their morale was broken too!

 Chapter 48 47 I plan to frame it as a keepsake

    After a round of browsing, Zhang Menglong had already purchased more than two hundred raw stones, almost exclusively securing all the stones worth tens of millions at the venue for himself. Someone quietly calculated the price of these raw stones, and the total value was probably close to 50 billion!


    Many jewelers travel far and wide, they''ve seen people splurge tens of millions to buy a single raw stone, and they''ve also seen people spend billions to buy jade of exceptional quality and size. But this was the first time they had seen someone spend 50 billion to buy a pile of worthless rocks.


    According to the judgment of those three masters, among the two hundred plus raw stones Zhang Menglong purchased, the probability of any turning out green wouldn''t exceed ten pieces, and even those ten might not recoup the cost of a single raw stone.


    By this calculation, if he could recover 10 billion from these 50 billion, it would already be quite remarkable. If he''s unlucky and only gets one or two billion back, he might even cry himself to sleep.


    "Are you planning to go back and develop a graveyard?" Wang Ling was completely speechless about Zhang Menglong; if those few experts hadn''t accompanied him, she could have understood his purchases somewhat.


    But they all said he was definitely going to lose, and he still bought them; if he wasn''t crazy, then he must have some other idea.


    "What graveyard? I just want to see how good these three masters actually are," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "You spent 50 billion just to test these three masters'' ability to evaluate stones?" Wang Ling heard this robust explanation and her jaw almost dropped. If it were her, she would have taken that 50 billion to buy a bunch of premium jade, make some beautiful jewelry, and then use it to charm the ladies. Wouldn''t that be delightful?


    "Alright, that''s enough, if we keep buying, we won''t leave anyone a way to make a living," Zhang Menglong dusted off the ash from his palms, "Let''s go, time to cut the stones, now is the moment to witness a miracle."


    "I''ll witness your ''giant clam'' of a miracle; if you can make back this 50 billion today, I''ll eat all these stones!"


    The raw stones that the three masters said wouldn''t turn green were almost as good as being sentenced to death. Of course, they could make mistakes, but their mistakes were usually identifying jade that couldn''t turn green as one that could; the chances of the reverse happening were probably less than one percent.


    Unless Zhang Menglong had the luck of the God of Wealth, his 50 billion would certainly go down the drain.


    "Come on, I need some help," Zhang Menglong called out, "It''s quite a big job, I''ll give each of you ten thousand as a hardship fee afterward."


    "Ten thousand each?" When the stone cutters heard the news, their eyes lit up; when had they ever met such a generous customer? He was simply the God of Wealth in person!


    They immediately buckled down with full spirit and began earnestly to help Zhang Menglong process these two hundred plus stones.


    More and more people gathered around; although there was hardly any suspense, they all wanted to see what expression this wealthy young man would have when he discovered he had lost everything.


    "Worthless stone!" As the first stone, weighing over 500 kilograms, turned into a pile of rubble on the ground, it announced that Zhang Menglong''s investment of 18 million had been lost.


    Everyone immediately turned their gazes to Zhang Menglong''s expression, but he was unfazed and even seemed on the verge of laughter.


    The 18 million dissolved into nothing, yet Zhang Menglong had no reaction at all!


    "These mortals, how could they possibly know that spending money is just a task for me." Others might think Zhang Menglong was brainless, but how could they know the logic behind his actions?


    "Still worthless stone!"


    "More worthless stone!"


    One stone after another was processed, and a thick layer of dust and debris had already piled up on the ground. Staff with carts began to dispose of these broken stones.


    After twenty or so stones, not a hint of jade was found, not even a flicker of green.


    "Zhang Menglong, your luck has all gone to your head!" Wang Ling said, stirring up trouble.


    "You say that again!" Zhang Menglong glared at Wang Ling fiercely. "Believe it or not, I''ll buy your family''s Wanda and make you unemployed on the spot?"


    "Whoa, you''re ruthless!" Although Wang Ling knew Zhang Menglong was joking, she was very aware that he quite possibly had the means to do it!


    "It''s green, it''s green!" Just as Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were bantering, a cheer rose from the crowd.


    Considering the odds of finding green, getting one out of the twenty or so stones was already acceptable, but it was yet to be seen how big the jade was!


    "It''s of the ice variety, and the color is quite nice!"


    "I wonder how big this jade is."


    "It looks quite sizable!"


    The staff members'' movements became more careful and slower, until, with the last layer of dirt falling away, the full appearance of the jade was revealed.


    "Hiss! We''ve hit the jackpot this time!"


    "This jade must weigh at least ten kilograms, right?"


    "With such shape and quality, it''s probably worth no less than 80 million!"


    "What''s the use, the price for these twenty-some odd raw stones is already several hundred million. Even if you earn back these 80 million, it''s just a drop in the bucket; he''s definitely at a loss today."


    "Young man, how about you sell this jade to me?" Just then, a rather burly middle-aged man walked over.


    "Sorry, I''m not planning to sell this jade," Zhang Menglong immediately shook his head. It has to be a joke, right? Was it easy for him to spend a hundred million? If he sold it, he would have to spend another hundred million; only a fool would sell.


    "Young man, don''t be in a hurry to refuse me. Here is my business card," the middle-aged man handed over a gold-embossed card.


    "Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, Yuan Muye?"


    "My God, it''s actually the Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, and he came in person!"


    "Gosh, I''m just taken aback! Yirui Jewelry is easily among the top five in our country, right?"


    "No wonder he has the confidence to acquire this piece of jade."


    The people around quickly recognized the identity of the middle-aged man.


    "I just heard someone offer 80 million. If young man, you think that price is low, I can go up to 90 million!"


    Immediately, there was a chorus of gasps around. This was a direct increase of 10 million, something only a boss of such a large-scale company could so casually put forth.


    "Sorry, even for a billion, I wouldn''t sell," Zhang Menglong said politely, "Do I look like I came to this gambling stone event just to make money?"


    Everybody shook their heads. Almost everyone had seen Zhang Menglong''s performance earlier; he wasn''t here to gamble on stones, nor was he here to stock up on goods. He was simply here to burn money.


    "Today, I just wanted to see how lucky I am and to experience the stone appraising skills of the three masters. As for money, I don''t care about it at all," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "This is the first piece of jade I''ve unveiled. I plan to mount it on something and then place it in my study as a memorial."


    "This..." The middle-aged man was at a loss for words. This was the first time in his life he had encountered someone who didn''t want to earn money. "Well, in that case, I won''t insist anymore."


    He was quite regretful in his heart as a jade of this size was extremely rare.


    The stone-cutting continued, and soon, only the last dozen or so of the two hundred plus raw stones remained. Although more jade pieces were found in the remaining stones, none could compare in size and quality to the one just unveiled, not even enough to break even.


    Finally, a huge stone over one meter tall was lifted onto the machine. It was the largest raw stone Zhang Menglong had purchased, weighing 1.8 tons, for which he had spent 62 million. However, the three masters had already declared that there were no jades inside this stone.


    "Disperse, there''s nothing to see anymore!" Many people''s curiosity had been exhausted after watching for so long.


    "Wait a second!"


    "No! This is impossible!"


    "It''s actually imperial purple!"


    "My goodness, the three masters actually made a mistake!"

 Chapter 49 48: Making a Friend and Giving It to You

    "This is impossible!" Not only the onlookers around, but even the three masters showed deep surprise in their eyes.


    That piece of raw stone, they were almost a hundred percent certain it couldn''t contain jadeite, and all three agreed on that. Logically speaking, such a thing shouldn''t have happened.


    "Hehehe, well, looks like I missed the mark!" Master Yu didn''t dwell on it too much, as being open-minded is most important in this line of work.


    "Imperial Purple! Such color and quality are extremely rare!"


    "Keep cutting, this piece might even be bigger than the ice-type jadeite we just saw!"


    "This is truly a treasure! The Stone Gambling World hasn''t seen such a fine jadeite in a long time."


    "Take pictures, record a video!"


    Just as people were about to disperse, everyone suddenly crowded around again, the news spreading like wildfire, attracting nearly everyone at the venue, packing the stone-cutting area three layers deep both inside and out.


    "It''s just so beautiful!" Even Zhang Menglong had to admit, this piece of jadeite was incredibly beautiful! If he were a woman, he probably would have gone crazy.


    As for Wang Ling, he was almost drooling.


    "We''re going to be rich, Zhang Menglong, you might just break even today!" Wang Ling said enviously.


    Jadeite of a type superior to ice-type is already rare, not to mention this Imperial Purple. Its value could probably be measured in grams, and with such a large stone, it wouldn''t be impossible if it weighed around one hundred and eighty kilograms based on the part that had appeared!


    "Damn, I''m not looking to break even. If it really appreciates, I''m going to put it in my bathroom at home, to rest my feet on when I poop!"


    "You beast!" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong with clenched teeth, believing that Zhang Menglong could truly do such a thing!


    This jadeite was so precious that a worker, who had been in this field for decades, had never seen such before. One person would hardly manage to process it quickly, yet no one was leaving this prolonged and stinky stone-cutting process because they knew such an opportunity was too rare to miss, even once in several decades.


    Finally, under the gaze of a captivated crowd, this piece of Imperial Purple jadeite revealed its full glory, and its huge size left everyone stunned.


    A few workers joined forces to lift it onto the scale.


    "154 kilograms!"


    "Wow!" An astonished murmur spread through the crowd.


    Until now, the largest piece of jadeite ever to appear in the Stone Gambling World was one that weighed 180 kilograms and sold for 20 billion US dollars, as mentioned by Wang Ling.


    Zhang Menglong''s piece weighed a bit less, but remember, that piece was only ice-type, while this one was the superior Imperial Purple, which is a totally different concept.


    "I doubt anyone here could afford this piece of jadeite!"


    The 20 billion from those days was not comparable to today''s 20 billion, and they could hardly imagine how much this piece of jadeite would finally fetch.


    "Mr. Yu, please give us an estimate, even though we can''t afford it, we still want to know how valuable it really is!"


    "Hehehe, I, Yu Pingqiu, have also never seen such a large piece of Imperial Purple jadeite in my life, and yet I missed it," Master Yu, stroking his beard, "In my estimate, the price of this piece of jadeite would be no less than 80 billion US dollars!"


    "Sss!" Hearing that number, no one could remain calm anymore, everyone had thought Zhang Menglong was going to lose everything today, but this piece of jadeite made him turn the tables and even earn billions more!


    "Hey Wang, I think I just heard someone say that if I won the bet, they''d eat these stones today," Zhang Menglong said with a quirky tone.


    "Who''s that audacious? Isn''t this just sponging off others?" Wang Ling acted as if he wouldn''t acknowledge such a claim.


    "What do you plan to do with this piece?" Wang Ling asked, "Are you really planning to bring it back to use as a footrest? I even feel sorry for it."


    "Let me think..." Anyway, there was one thing, Zhang Menglong would definitely not sell. If he sold it, he would instantly have several billion US dollars credited to his account, and all his efforts today would have been wasted.


    "Mr. Yuan!" Zhang Menglong called out to Yuan Muye not far away, "Are you interested in this piece of jade raw stone?"


    Who wouldn''t be interested? If handled well, let alone being a treasure of the store, it could be passed down through generations as a family heirloom, and even be treated as a national treasure if taken to a museum.


    But 80 billion yuan, that''s just the starting price, who could afford it? Even Yuan Muye couldn''t!


    His company, although valued far more than 80 billion yuan, mostly consisted of fixed assets. He didn''t even have ten billion yuan in liquid assets on hand, and even if he could mobilize it, he would need the agreement of a group of shareholders. He truly had the will but lacked the strength!


    "Young man, not just me, even if you add up everyone in this whole venue, we probably couldn''t gather that much money," Yuan Muye said with a wry smile. Of course, if given some time, he might have had a chance to gather the 80 billion yuan.


    "I didn''t say I wanted to sell it to you," Zhang Menglong said, "I''m the kind of person who likes making friends. I quite like your style, so I''ll give you the jade!"


    "What?"


    "Zhang Menglong, are you crazy? You''re just going to give it to me for free, I''ll take it!" Wang Ling immediately became anxious.


    As for the others, they simply looked at him as if he were a fool. This was an 80 billion yuan jade, and he was giving it away to a stranger for such a bizarre reason?


    "But I do have a requirement!" Zhang Menglong added, "Mr. Yuan, your company is so big, you must have some really fine craftsmen and designers, right?"


    Yuan Muye was still in shock from the initial surprise and hadn''t even noticed his expression was somewhat dazed.


    "Mr. Yuan? Mr. Yuan?"


    "Oh, oh, oh," Yuan Muye finally replied, "My company might not be as big as Mr. Zhang''s, but my designers are well-known both domestically and internationally, absolutely world-class!"


    "How about this, Mr. Yuan. For this piece of jade, carve half of it into a batch of jewelry and ornaments for me, and the other half will be your labor payment. What do you think?"


    "Really?" Yuan Muye''s breathing hastened. Compared to the sky-high priced jade, the labor cost was nothing, that half of the jade was almost like being free!


    "Of course. You can take the jade now, but I hope to get the items I want within a week, can you do it? Oh, and for that piece of ice jade, make me an Ultraman statue. You can take more time with that, I''m not in a rush."


    "What kind of bizarre request is that?" Wang Ling suddenly covered her face. In front of so many people, asking for an Ultraman statue was simply too embarrassing.


    "Yes! A week is a very harsh timeline. With such a treasure, even a few months of rushed work wouldn''t be strange. However, Yuan Muye''s company has the best craftsmen and top-tier equipment. Working day and night, one week is not unimaginable."


    "Then please do!" Zhang Menglong said, and then he truly walked away without looking back.


    "Zhang Menglong, do you know that Yuan Muye?" Wang Ling hurriedly followed and asked curiously. From her understanding of Zhang Menglong, he surely wouldn''t do such a thing without reason.


    "No," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "Then you..."


    "I really don''t want to make any more money, and I actually quite like him."


    "Then give it to me, whatever he can do, I can do too!"


    "I don''t like your style!" Zhang Menglong glanced disdainfully at Wang Ling, "Unless you can eat those stones!"


    "I''ll eat your pig skin!"


    ...

 Chapter 50 49: Play or Not for 1000 Yuan

    "Menglong, we''ve already helped you revise your graduation thesis, so you don''t have to come to school anymore if you don''t want to. Just show up for the graduation defense when it''s time,"


    "Got it, senior. I''ll thank the other seniors on your behalf. I''ll treat everyone to a meal when the time comes!"


    In just half a month, Zhang Menglong had gotten his hands on a graduation thesis that others might not be able to complete in three or four months. Moreover, every data graph and every word had been carefully revised; it was absolutely a model among undergraduate theses.


    "Haha, junior brother you''re too polite. If it weren''t for you, we couldn''t be living such a wealthy life, right?" Zhu Mengchao said mysteriously. "Do you know? This year, the number of students who pre-registered for our research group has already exceeded 100! Our entire department only enrolls 120 students a year, and that''s before word has even spread."


    Zhang Menglong already could imagine how bustling it would be on the day of the official interview at Teacher Han''s research group.


    "Alright, I won''t disturb you any longer; we still have experiments to do. Remember to come by the research group anytime you want to hang out!"


    "Sure thing!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone and picked up an exquisitely packaged small box next to him.


    Inside the box was a string of purple jadeite bracelets, exceptionally beautiful under the sunlight, shining like a dazzling violet.


    They were delivered by Yuan Muye earlier that morning. That huge emperor purple jadeite raw stone was crafted into several dozen jewelry pendants. Although traditionally, jadeite accessories are seen as somewhat outdated,


    the designers and craftsmen at Yuan Muye''s place were truly exceptional. These pieces were not only full of luxury but also incorporated modern, youthful elements, making them extremely fashionable even for twenty-year-olds.


    This particular bracelet was the piece Zhang Menglong was most satisfied with, with an inner diameter of 14 centimeters, made of smoothly polished jadeite beads and adorned with some precious and rare metals. It was the kind of piece that could capture anyone''s attention at first sight, regardless of age or gender.


    Yuan Muye told him that even though this bracelet didn''t use much material, it was crafted from the best part of the entire jadeite stone. If sold on the market, it would be worth tens of millions at the very least!


    "Hong Yi, I''m heading out; I''m leaving this place to you for the next few days," said Zhang Menglong as he put the small box into his bag and stepped out of his room.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will take care of everything here. If you encounter any issues in Gusu City, just call the number I gave you,"


    "Got it!"


    "And, I hope Mr. Zhang can bring back a girlfriend this time. Living alone in this big house must feel quite empty, huh!"


    "Hahaha, I''ll take that as a good omen!" Zhang Menglong''s mouth was practically crooked with how much he''d grinned today; the day they had been anticipating for so long had finally arrived.


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, are you home today? I heard you''ve received that batch of emperor purple jewelry. I want to level up my style and take a look around your place," Wang Ling messaged, just as Zhang Menglong had barely settled into his car.


    "Damn, why does this guy linger like a persistent ghost? Could he be gay?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. Since meeting him, Wang Ling seemed to be in touch, intentionally or not, yet Zhang Menglong could sense that he meant no harm.


    "Sorry, Principal Wang, I''m heading to Gusu City soon. I''ll entertain you when I get back!"


    "What? You''re going to Gusu City? I heard there''s an international art exhibition there soon, and they''ll auction off some masters'' works. Don''t tell me you''re going there to splurge again?"


    "Oh? There''s such an event?" Zhang Menglong immediately took note of this. "Thanks for the info, I''ll treat you to whatever you want when I get back, but you guessed wrong, I''m going to meet someone today."


    "Yo, judging by your tone, you must be meeting someone important, right?" Wang Ling laughed. "For someone to be on your mind, Master Zhang, they must be at least on the level of a goddess like Liu Yifei."


    "Meeting a female online friend, but I''ve never met her in person. This is the first time."


    "What? Meeting an online friend? That''s outrageous! You''re going to meet an online friend? Aren''t you afraid it''s a Qiao Biluo on the other end?" Wang Ling sent an emoji of Auntie Qiao, "Got any photos? I''ve got a friend who wants to take a look."


    "No, besides her voice, I have no other information."


    "That''s so you!" Wang Ling gave a thumbs up. "These days, a voice changer is all it takes to make someone head over heels with just a few ''little brother'' calls. Don''t just blindly trust a woman''s voice."


    "You don''t know shit. This is a connection of souls. Even if she''s a Qiao Biluo, I''d accept it!"


    "Strong, my brother!" Wang Ling exclaimed in admiration. "I, a mere mortal, can''t compare to your realm. Oh, and if it turns out to be a tank, give me a heads up first; I''ll hook you up with the best orthopedic hospital to save your pelvis from being shattered."


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong sent a disdainful emoji and focused on driving.


    It was just over a hundred kilometers from Jiangnan City to Gusu City. With Zhang Menglong''s increasingly skilled driving, it took him less than two hours to reach the urban area of Gusu.


    Of course, that''s also because no one dared to drive side by side with him, nor dared to change lanes in front of his Koenigsegg CCVR¡ªfor even the merest scratch could cost more than just a house to settle.


    The car stopped at the entrance of Gusu University, the most prestigious university in Gusu. "Starbucks Double Sweet" had told him that she studied there, currently a master''s student in her first year.


    "What''s the situation? She won''t pick up a voice call; something didn''t happen, did it?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat worried, but other than MYY Voice, all he had was her WeChat ID. He didn''t know her major, which building she lived in, or even what ''Starbucks Double Sweet''s real name was until now.


    "Glug glug!" Zhang Menglong chugged half a can of Red Bull and put it on the car before starting to frantically make voice calls again.


    Such a handsome sports car appearing at the university entrance quickly drew a crowd, with some even whipping out cameras to snap pictures. If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong wearing a mask, his identity might have been exposed that day.


    "Handsome, are you looking for someone?" Just as Zhang Menglong was at his wits'' end, two very fashionably dressed girls came up to him.


    Their eyes hadn''t left Zhang Menglong''s car for the entire time.


    "Yeah, looking for someone." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "How do we look to you?"


    "Ah? How do you look?" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused.


    "Handsome, you even have Red Bull in your car, and still you''re asking us?" One of the girls suddenly laughed, "Just for your car, we''ll both join you for 1000 yuan, you down?"


    "You down?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily stunned. He''d always heard that having drinks in the car signified a certain indescribable meaning, but thought it was all just rumors. Could it actually be true?


    Realizing this, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.

 Chapter 51 50 Are the Handsome Guy and Beautiful Girl Short of Money?

    "Sorry, this is for my own use, not what you think it is," Zhang Menglong said, quickly grabbing the half-empty can of Red Bull and downing it, then tossing it into the nearby trash. If "Extra Sweet Starbucks" saw this, his image as a tall and impressive character would completely collapse.


    The two girls, seeing Zhang Menglong''s serious demeanor, felt somewhat disappointed, but they didn''t give up. Although luxury cars often appeared at the entrance of Gusu University, they had never seen one like this before.


    They heard someone discussing a car parked at the school gate as they walked over. Apparently, there were very few of this car in the whole world; it was a top-notch sports car with a price over a hundred million!


    Could someone who could afford such a car be ordinary? If they could have even an indescribable relationship with him, just a trifle slipping through his fingers would be enough to sustain them for a lifetime.


    Even if they couldn''t snag tangible benefits, just getting in this car and taking a picture would be enough to skyrocket their social status. They''d have plenty of opportunities to boast about it later.


    "Handsome, let''s be friends. Who are you waiting for here, if not us? We are both free tonight, and can ''eat ice cream''. Judging from your license plate, you must be visiting from Jiangnan City, right?"


    To ride in such a car, even if it meant being taken advantage of, they were willing.


    "What''s become of female students these days?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help shaking his head, "Sorry, I''m waiting for my girlfriend. She''d be angry if she saw you."


    Hearing that Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend, the two girls deflated immediately. He already had a girlfriend, so what was the point? They also wondered which girl from their school was lucky enough to land a boyfriend like that. Truly enviable.


    "Wait a sec!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to them. Waiting like this wasn''t working; if "Extra Sweet Starbucks" had really gotten into trouble, would he just keep waiting?


    "What''s up, handsome? Changed your mind?" The two girls immediately showed hopeful smiles.


    "Are you students here?"


    "Yeah," the girls nodded.


    "Then you must be pretty familiar with this place, right?"


    "We''ve lived here for over three years, of course, we''re familiar," said the more forthcoming girl. "Handsome, you''re not looking for some excitement, are you? It''s not okay during the day, but at night, I know a few pretty good spots."


    "No, I want to ask you, are you short of money?"


    "Huh?" The question caught the girls off guard. Who isn''t short of money nowadays? Even rich people don''t think they have enough.


    "Give me your payment code."


    "What are you doing?" The girls exchanged a puzzled look but still pulled out their mobile phones to show him their payment QR codes, as there was no risk in showing them to someone else unless money was being sent.


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    The pleasant notification sounds rang out from both girls'' phones.


    "Handsome, what''s this for...?"


    "I want to ask you to help me find someone. If you provide any useful information, I''ll give you another hundred thousand."


    "Tell us! If we know them, we''ll definitely find them for you. We know many people at the school and can also help you inquire."


    "Yeah, just tell us the person''s name. Even if they are the school cafeteria''s auntie, we can find out for you."


    "I don''t know the person''s name."


    "Huh?" The girls were stunned. How could they find someone without even a name?


    "Do you have a photo then?" The two girls figured that this rich young man must have fallen for someone from their school at first sight, which is why he was willing to spend so much to find her. Just for helping with the search, he offered one hundred thousand, and another hundred thousand upon success. It sounded like a serious investment.


    "I don''t have a photo either."


    "Then how are we supposed to help you find the person you''re looking for? You must have some clues, right?"


    "See if the person you are looking for is among these people," one of the girls immediately showed him a recent school beauty contest held at their university. It was a public election by the students, and Zhang Menglong''s person of interest was likely among them.


    "I haven''t even seen this person before. Even if she appeared before me, I''m afraid I wouldn''t recognize her," Zhang Menglong smiled helplessly.


    "So, do you have any useful information, like height, weight?"


    "All I know is that her voice is sweet, and she sings beautifully. Her nickname on ''Some Sound'' is ''Extra Sweet Frappuccino''."


    "Okay, we got it, but we can''t guarantee we''ll find her for you. Your information is too scant. If we don''t find her, this money..."


    "Don''t worry, as long as you try your best to help me search for her, the money is still yours."


    "Deal!" One hundred thousand yuan per person, even after they graduated and started working, they wouldn''t make that much in a year. Just for helping to find someone, they could get this much money; such good fortune didn''t come every day.


    They immediately took out their mobile phones and began to mobilize all their contacts to start searching for this person.


    The onlookers around them were growing in number, and of course, they were all attracted by Zhang Menglong''s car.


    It was at this moment that Zhang Menglong walked straight towards those people.


    "Handsome guys and beautiful ladies, are you short of cash?"


    Everyone looked at Zhang Menglong with puzzled faces, not knowing what this rich-looking young man was about to say.


    "Help me find someone, and I''ll give each of you one hundred thousand. If you have any useful tips, I''ll add another hundred thousand, and if you manage to help me find her, I''ll give an extra reward of one million!"


    "Damn! Has this guy lost his mind?"


    "No way, is there really such a good deal? Is it for real?"


    "Could he be here looking for our school''s beauty queen?"


    "If he''s looking for the beauty queen, would it be that troublesome? Just look it up on the phone, right?"


    "Handsome guy, does this mean all of us help you search together, and you''ll give each one of us one hundred thousand?" someone asked.


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Whoa!" As soon as he said this, there was a stir in the crowd.


    There must have been nearly a hundred people gathered here, one hundred thousand per person, that''s ten million! Ten million just to find one person? That was beyond belief.


    "If you call your friends to help me look for this person, I''ll pay them the same!"


    "I''ll help you search!" a girl broke free from her boyfriend''s hand and stepped forward.


    "Give me your payment code!"


    "Ding! Your ''Support Treasure'' account has received 100,000 yuan!" a clear voice echoed through the crowd.


    "He''s telling the truth, he''s really giving out one hundred thousand per person!" The crowd exploded with excitement all at once.


    "Handsome guy, I''ll help you search!"


    "Handsome guy, I''m from a university society; I know lots of people. I can definitely help you find the person you''re looking for!"


    "I''m from the student council; I know someone from every department in the school!"


    "Buddy, I''m a teacher at this university. Can I help you search too?"


    "Line up, line up! With you all clamouring like this, I can''t make transfers!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    Quickly, a long line formed at the entrance of Gusu University. Everyone acted with surprising unanimity: take the money, then start making calls to search for people, and of course, some immediately notified their friends.


    "Old Liu, some tycoon is looking for someone at our school. Whether you find the person or not, it''s one hundred thousand per head, an extra hundred thousand for any clues, and another million if you actually find them. Don''t blame me if I didn''t tell you. It''s at the school gate!"


    ...


    In just a matter of minutes, the entire student body and even teachers at Gusu University were mobilized, all beginning to search for a person with the ''Some Sound'' nickname "Extra Sweet Frappuccino"...

 Chapter 52 51: No Matter How Much It Costs, Its Worth It to Find You

    Inside a girls'' dormitory at Gusu University, a girl was anxiously checking her phone, as if it contained the most important thing in her life.


    The girl was quite tall, nearly reaching 170 cm, and she had thick, flowing long hair, a pair of slender legs, and a pair of beautiful eyes. However, deep within those eyes, there was always a hint of indescribable sorrow.


    Her desk was tidy, with a mirror, makeup box, books, computer; everything was arranged in an orderly fashion. There was also a black guitar leaning against the side of the table, which used to be her best companion.


    "Creak!" The dormitory door was suddenly pushed open, and another girl hurriedly rushed in, "Yiyi, didn''t you say you were going to meet an online friend today? Why are you still in the dorm? I saw you started putting on makeup early in the morning, what happened, did someone stand you up? I told you online dating is unreliable..."


    "No, my phone suddenly turned off for some reason, and I haven''t even agreed on a place with him yet. Hurry up and lend me your phone!" The girl called Yiyi seemed to have found a savior.


    "Yiyi, it''s not that I don''t want to help you today, but if you miss this opportunity, you won''t find such a chance to make money in your lifetime!"


    "What money-making opportunity is more important than your sister?"


    "You don''t know, there''s a super-rich tycoon who came to our school gate, and he''s definitely a second-generation rich kid. He seems to have taken a fancy to some girl in our school and almost got the whole school looking for her, even some teachers are helping him."


    "Who has such capability?" the girl exclaimed, "Our school has tens of thousands of students and faculty."


    "I might be exaggerating a bit, but there are definitely thousands! You won''t believe it when I tell you, just by helping him find this person, you get a reward of 100,000 right away, additional 100,000 for clues, and if you help him find the person, another reward of 1 million. If we know this person, that''s 1.2 million instantly, and with that, we could buy a small apartment in a cheaper area."


    "Is there such a strange person?"


    "Right? I bet this guy has spent a few hundred million by now. If it weren''t for everyone in our friend circle sharing screenshots looking for this person, I would never believe it. Oh, I have a spare phone, take it quickly, it''s 100,000 we''re talking about, don''t let it slip away!"


    "You have a spare phone? Why didn''t you say it earlier? Lend it to me quickly!"


    "Alright, what''s mine is yours," the girl said and pulled out an old phone from the drawer, "It''s an old model from a few years back, don''t look down on it."


    "Qianqian, I love you to death!" The girl hugged Qianqian and planted a kiss on her face.


    "Hurry up and go, this is our chance to strike it rich. With this money, we can go to Iceland for the winter break to see the aurora, isn''t that your dream?"


    "I know, stop pushing me!" Yiyi immediately took out her sim card and put it into the spare phone. Luckily, the phone still had some battery left. Although it wouldn''t last very long, it was enough to last until she could contact Zhang Menglong.


    "I wonder which lady is so lucky to catch the eye of such a rich second-generation guy; this isn''t just throwing away money, I really don''t understand the world of the wealthy."


    "What''s the matter? Are you jealous? I''m not the least bit jealous!"


    "Cut it out, you''re completely love-struck right now. Be careful later and keep in touch with us. If this Zhang Menglong turns out to be some creep, we''ll rush over and help you take him down!"


    "I know! He''s not like that!"


    "Bullshit!" The girl named Qianqian said nonchalantly, "You guys always chat so loudly, do you think we''re deaf? I''m telling you, Yiyi, you''re a girl after all, constantly chatting about all kinds of crap with a guy you''ve never even met, can''t you be a bit more reserved?


    Besides, listening to the content of your chats makes even my face turn red; I could almost imagine a raunchy novella of 100,000 words."


    "Ah, Qianqian, stop talking!" The girl quickly covered her roommate''s mouth, "You don''t understand our relationship!"


    "Alright, alright, I don''t understand, but let''s get going, OK? Otherwise, the cooked duck will fly away!"


    Finally, the girl logged back into her WeChat, and at that moment, Zhang Menglong''s profile showed 99+ messages. Seeing this barrage of messages, the girl instantly revealed a charming smile.


    "Look at you, almost drooling with laughter, you... hey..."


    "My phone just broke, sorry about that, where are you now? I''ll come out and find you right away!" She immediately sent a message to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh my dear mother, I thought you had been kidnapped, you scared me to death." Zhang Menglong received her message and finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Sorry, it''s not like I did it on purpose."


    "I''m right outside your school gate now, the most conspicuous one there is me."


    "As if! Everyone knows you''re an engineering student who''s always in the lab, probably bald by now?" Although she was teasing Zhang Menglong, the girl''s steps quickened.


    "By the way, I heard there was a rich guy at the school gate today looking for someone, offering 100,000 per person, have you seen him?"


    "Seen him? Of course!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Who knows what kind of fool would do that, is it necessary to find someone?"


    "Are you calling me a fool?" replied Zhang Menglong, "Unless you kiss me, I won''t get over it."


    "I wasn''t calling you a fool, I meant that fool... wait, the person they''re talking about isn''t you, is it?"


    "Well if that isn''t me then!" said Zhang Menglong. "I didn''t even know your name or what you looked like, I only knew your nickname, so I had to look for you this way."


    "Qianqian, who is that person looking for?" the girl confirmed with her roommate.


    "I have no idea, no name, no photo, just a nickname on some video platform called ''Double Sugar Starbucks'', how could that ghost help him find anyone?"


    "Is it really you?" The girl suddenly showed a surprised expression, "But you aren''t..."


    "I told you before, if I don''t work hard, I''ll have to inherit the family wealth, but even though I''m trying hard, I still have to inherit it, nothing I can do, it''s beyond my abilities!"


    "Why... why are you wasting money like this?"


    "If it means I can find you, any amount of money is worth it."


    "Are you crazy!" The girl immediately became anxious, "Don''t go anywhere, I''m coming over now!"


    The girl immediately turned off her phone. She flicked her long hair back and sprinted towards the school gate.


    "Yiyi, why are you running so fast, wait for me!"


    "So what if you have long legs!"


    "Wuu wuu wuu, take my phone with you, help me collect the money first!"


    ...

 Chapter 53 52 Hello, my name is Lu Yiyao

    "I''m sorry, everyone behind me, but I''ve found the person I was looking for. Thank you all for being so enthusiastic in helping me," Zhang Menglong felt a weight lift off his chest as he received the message about the "double-blended sugar in the Starbucks Frappuccino."


    "Ah! It''s all your fault. I asked you to come shopping with me, but you had to play video games. If we had come out just a few minutes earlier, we could have made that money!"


    "Aaah! I will never spend so much time putting on makeup again! 100,000 yuan, and I was just four people away from the front!"


    "Hahahaha! I''m the last one, my luck is way too good!"


    "Wonder who that well-connected big shot is who found the person, 1.2 million yuan, man. You could work for ten years and still not save that much!"


    "Handsome, are you looking for anyone else?"


    ...


    Upon hearing this news, the people gathered at the school gate were a mix of joy and sorrow. Many were just one step away from winning 100,000 yuan, and many had even postponed important matters to be here, now all for naught.


    But Zhang Menglong had found his person, and they couldn''t shamelessly go on asking for money; otherwise, it would be like freeloaders. They could only disperse gradually, filled with regret.


    "Wait for next time, everyone. Since you''ve all come here to help, you must have put off a lot of things. It wouldn''t be right to let you leave empty-handed, so please accept this little token of my appreciation!"


    Because there were too many people just now, Zhang Menglong directly had several students make the transfers on the spot, and naturally, each of these students also received a sum of 100,000 yuan as a hardship fee.


    "Trouble you to transfer 10,000 yuan to everyone here, but no need for the ones who came after."


    "Got it!" The students nodded their heads, thinking inside that Zhang Menglong was a fool with too much money; these people didn''t do anything and yet were still getting a hardship fee. Was he here to find someone, or was he just doing charity work?


    Upon hearing that there was still money to be had, the downcast students'' faces immediately lit up. Though it wasn''t 100,000 yuan, getting 10,000 for doing nothing was still good, as it was almost like money falling from the sky.


    Soon, everyone was satisfied with the money they received, but they didn''t leave. Zhang Menglong was still standing at the school gate and hadn''t left, hinting that the person he was looking for might show up here at any moment.


    After making a rough estimate, Zhang Menglong must have sought the help of over a thousand people, ten thousand for each, which added up to a billion yuan. Who could be so significant to warrant a billionaire''s search?


    During this time, many tried to strike up a conversation with Zhang Menglong, including several who were voted onto the campus beauty ranking, but he scarcely gave them a second glance, further piquing everyone''s curiosity about this person.


    "Yiyi, wait for me! Stop running, Sisi just told me that the rich heir has found who he was looking for. Even if we go now, there''s no money for us!"


    But the girl didn''t slow down at all and kept running forward.


    "Is it her? Or could it be her?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze darted around the people nearby, many of whom had hurried over, but once they heard there was no money to be earned, their faces fell with disappointment.


    By their expressions alone, Zhang Menglong knew they weren''t the one he was looking for.


    Suddenly, a girl caught his eye. She wore light makeup, gasping for breath, her hair was somewhat windblown and messy, and her gaze swiftly swept around before finally settling on him.


    At the moment their eyes met, Zhang Menglong felt as if a current ran through him.


    "It''s her!"


    Zhang Menglong removed his mask, revealing his face in front of so many people for the first time.


    "My goodness, not only is he rich, but he''s also quite handsome!"


    "Wuuu, I''m so jealous. Who could be so lucky?"


    "From now on, I''ve decided he''s my husband."


    "Who wants to steal my husband? I''ll fight her to the death!"


    "Wait, look, he''s walking towards someone."


    "Isn''t that Lu Yiyao?"


    "You know her?"


    "I know her, but she doesn''t know me. I went to this year''s Top Ten Singers contest, and she was the champion."


    "Really? Although she''s also pretty, isn''t there still a bit of a gap compared to the top-ranked beauties in our school?"


    "Damn, are you as pretty as she is? Giving her a 7 out of 10 isn''t an overstatement, right?"


    Lu Yiyao''s appearance suddenly attracted everyone''s attention. Could it be that this young wealthy man really came for her?


    At this moment, Lu Yiyao''s roommate arrived late. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Menglong for a moment. Although there was no face on the photos in the friend circle, it wasn''t hard to identify from the clothes that he was the wealthy man looking for someone at the school gate.


    "This... can''t be such a coincidence, right?" Guo Yuqian never expected that the so-called online friend Lu Yiyao was going to meet today would turn out to be that young man? Was he making such a big fuss just to meet Lu Yiyao?


    She had just been envying whoever was so lucky, and that lucky woman turned out to be her own roommate!


    Actually, Zhang Menglong was quite an extrovert, and he could easily bond with any acquaintance, whether they were strangers or not. But whenever it came to a girl he liked, he would instantly become timid as a pup and so nervous that he could hardly speak.


    Zhang Menglong had imagined all the way what kind of person she would be, but when he saw her in person, he couldn''t help but be a bit dazzled. Lu Yiyao wasn''t one of those typical internet celebrity faces; her beauty was incredibly natural.


    In fact, not just Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao felt almost exactly the same. A flush of red gradually spread across her cheeks, and the scene of their first encounter was as warm as a scene from a comic strip.


    "Do you guys feel the air around us is filled with the sour stench of love?"


    "I smell it, I also smell the sweet scent of money."


    "You might not believe me if I say it, but I really want to ship this couple."


    "I can be single, but the couple I ship must end up together!"


    "Whoever stays here to watch, I''m going to move the civil affairs bureau over right now."


    ...


    "Um, are you ''Frappuccino with Double Sugar''?" Zhang Menglong''s hands didn''t quite know where to put themselves.


    "Doesn''t look like it?" Lu Yiyao laughed. "I just didn''t expect that we would meet in such a way."


    "What could I do?" Zhang Menglong said with a helpless smile. "I couldn''t contact you, didn''t know what you looked like or your name, which school and class you were in, so I could only resort to this most basic level of carpet searching for you."


    "Hmm..." Lu Yiyao reached out her hand generously, "Then let''s get to know each other again. My name is Lu Yiyao, a senior student of Gusu University Music Department."


    "Nice to meet you, my name is Zhang Menglong, a senior student of Polymer Materials at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    ...

 Chapter 54 53: You, Scoundrel, Are on Fire

    "Are we being too conspicuous here?" The crowd around them not only didn''t disperse but seemed to be growing. At this rate, Lu Yiyao would soon become a celebrity at the school.


    "Yeah, I''m actually quite shy. With so many people watching, I feel a bit embarrassed," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You, embarrassed?" Lu Yiyao gave Zhang Menglong a look, "I remember someone who couldn''t be stopped by ten bulls when it comes to talking nonsense."


    "Right, let me introduce you. This is my roommate, Cici, Guo Yuqian." Lu Yiyao pulled the girl next to her closer.


    "Hello," since she was Lu Yiyao''s friend, Zhang Menglong naturally wouldn''t ignore her, "Do you want to join us for something to eat?"


    "Is that really okay?" Guo Yuqian glanced at the sports car not far away, which only had seating for two. Besides, it was their first meeting, and she didn''t feel it was appropriate to intrude so heavily, "I have some other things to do, maybe next time."


    In fact, Guo Yuqian really wanted to join them. She wasn''t sure how rich Zhang Menglong was, but she was certain that dining with him would definitely be the most luxurious dinner she''d ever have. Not only that, she also wanted to experience what it felt like to sit in the passenger seat of a sports car.


    But today really wasn''t the right time, for a simple reason: she wasn''t just Lu Yiyao''s roommate; she was also her good friend. She was actually worried whether a guy like Zhang Menglong could be a jerk.


    "Take good care of yourself. If you can''t make it back to the dorm tonight, I''ll call the police!" Guo Yuqian whispered into Lu Yiyao''s ear.


    "Got it, I promise I''ll be back before 10 p.m.!" Lu Yiyao promised.


    "That''s better," In such a situation, Zhang Menglong naturally didn''t want anyone intervening. His previous offer was just out of politeness, "Next time, I''ll find a chance to treat your whole dorm to a meal."


    "Alright, I''ll remember that, and you better not back out!"


    "If I do, Lu Yiyao could twist my head off!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "When have I ever been that violent?" Lu Yiyao suddenly wasn''t pleased.


    "Who was it last time during the game who said they''d twist my skull open?"


    "Wasn''t that because you were so bad at it? I don''t know if you were practicing the ''Merciful Shooting Technique'' or using a hack that can''t even kill an enemy right in front of your face!"


    "That''s because you were messing around!"


    The two couldn''t help but start bickering again, even though it was technically their first formal meeting, they seemed like friends who had known each other for years.


    "Enough chitchat, get in the car!" Zhang Menglong led the way to his car.


    Luckily, Lu Yiyao hadn''t worn a skirt today, so she didn''t need to worry about the low clearance exposing her. She was full of curiosity about Zhang Menglong. She had known him for a while, but from his previous appearance, she would have never guessed he was so wealthy.


    Could it really be as he said, that he had suddenly inherited a fortune from his family? But weren''t those stories just found in novels?


    "All set, the old driver is about to hit the road!" Zhang Menglong grabbed a drink from the side, "Pomegranate yogurt, your favorite!"


    "Thanks!" Lu Yiyao wasn''t shy, and Zhang Menglong indeed remembered her favorite fruit.


    "Vroom!"


    With a loud roar, the Koenigsegg CCVR sped away.


    As a provincial capital, Gusu City was a place known for its wealthy population, but a car of this caliber was still a rare sight. Not to mention in the whole of Huaxia, those who owned a Koenigsegg were few, let alone this limited edition model which required very stringent conditions to purchase.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, if I could ride in this car just once, I''d die happy!"


    "Stop dreaming, look, there''s already a beauty in the passenger seat!"


    "Damn, look, she''s got drool in her mouth, today''s rich kids really know how to live it up!"


    "My god, why is it red? I only know about bleeding out, but this actually..."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong, you did it on purpose!" Waiting at the traffic light, Lu Yiyao still heard the voices coming from the cars nearby.


    "Hehehe, but you have no evidence!" Zhang Menglong smirked, actually he hadn''t thought too much about it. Lu Yiyao liked pomegranates and yogurts, they were good for the body and stomach, he swore he had absolutely no dirty thoughts or schemes.


    "Where are we going to eat?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve waited for you so long, I''m about to starve to death."


    "Don''t ask me, I have decision-making phobia."


    "I do too..." Ever since he moved into that neighborhood, Hong Yi had arranged everything neatly for him every day, Zhang Menglong didn''t need to use his brain, but once he went out by himself, especially with Lu Yiyao, he immediately started having trouble deciding.


    "Then let''s just go to Wanda," Zhang Menglong took out a card, which was a shopping card given to him by Wang Ling. As long as he spent it at Wang Ling''s Wanda, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have to spend a dime, this was a return gift for that Lambo he had given.


    "Or let''s just grab something casual, stuff in the mall is pretty expensive."


    "Don''t worry, as long as it''s Principal Wang''s turf, I can freeload!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that Lu Yiyao''s family background wasn''t very wealthy.


    "You know Principal Wang?"


    "Is it strange?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "You might not believe it, but the guy who was slamming money on his head on the trending list last time, that was me!"


    "The one who bought dozens of sports cars in one go, that was you?" Lu Yiyao exclaimed.


    "Precisely, the humble me."


    "That''s it," Lu Yiyao slapped her forehead, "Going out with you today, I might end up on the trending list."


    "What''s there to be afraid of," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I can just buy Weibo and then whatever is on the trending list, wouldn''t it be up to me?"


    "You... I''m speechless."


    ...


    "Who is it, bothering me at this time," Zhang Menglong had just parked the car, when his phone started ringing, "Damn, it''s Wang Ling again."


    Zhang Menglong''s face showed his displeasure, but he still answered the call, "I say Principal Wang, why aren''t you just hanging out with your internet celebrity girlfriend, having dinner, and doing it, always calling to bother me?"


    "Damn, you actually ran off to Gusu District to meet a net friend today?"


    "Yes? Didn''t I tell you earlier, why would I lie to you?"


    "You dog thief, you better open Weibo and see, you''re trending!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was stunned, "Seriously? I just met one person, and such a small thing got on Weibo trending?"


    "Small thing?" Wang Ling directly shouted on the other side, "You drove that Koenigsegg CCVR, you could make the news wherever you go, okay? You''re not keeping a low profile, and you went all guns blazing, looking for girls at Gusu University, now your photos and videos have been uploaded, you''re famous!"


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong quickly opened Weibo, sure enough, the first post was about his video, in the video he was holding a phone and transferring money, although he was wearing a mask and didn''t show his face, other photos were also uploaded online, his identity couldn''t be hidden anymore!


    "Shocking, billionaire looking for love-interest at Gusu University, wire transfers 100,000 on the spot to any helper! According to incomplete statistics, over a thousand participants, spending over a hundred million!"


    "Hehehe," Wang Ling laughed mischievously over the phone, "From now on, the netizens don''t need to just focus on me anymore, go ahead, let them fire at you!"


    "Is that it?" Zhang Menglong was only shocked momentarily then regained his composure, having inherited the family fortune, it was only a matter of time before his identity and wealth were exposed, now it was just a bit earlier than expected.


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t hide anymore," Zhang Menglong told Wang Ling, "Starting today, I, Zhang Menglong, am going to be the most dazzling man in the world!"

 Chapter 55 54: Are All the Presenters This Awesome Now?

    "Okay, if that''s the case, then I''ll just give you a hand!" Wang Ling chuckled and hung up the phone.


    "Give me a hand? What does that mean?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat confused.


    "What happened, what''s wrong?" Lu Yiyao asked curiously.


    "It''s nothing. Principal Wang called and said I became famous," Zhang Menglong said with a playful smile, "and you too, you''re famous now."


    "Zhang Menglong, it''s all your fault!" Lu Yiyao pinched the soft flesh around Zhang Menglong''s waist.


    "Hey, no worries, like I said, even if I really became famous, as long as I buy Weibo, no one can see what I don''t want them to see."


    "It''s not just Weibo in the country. What about Toutiao, Tengxun News, and Wang Yi News? Even if you buy Weibo, what about the others?"


    Zhang Menglong grinned crookedly, "Then I''ll just buy them all, not leaving a single one!"


    "You really think you''re the Emperor now!" Lu Yiyao burst out laughing. How could he possibly acquire such giants, each worth billions or even hundreds of billions of US dollars?


    Lu Yiyao now believed that Zhang Menglong had indeed inherited a fortune, but she could never imagine that just a small test from Zhang Menglong''s parents would cost 100 billion US dollars.


    "You''re actually right!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Oh, and by the way, that Toutiao you just mentioned is mine; I''m the chairman of Unicorn Technology."


    Lu Yiyao''s mouth fell open in shock.


    "Let''s go, let''s go eat!" Zhang Menglong patted Lu Yiyao on the shoulder. "Sticking with me, you''ll have plenty of chances to be surprised. If you can''t handle this, then we can''t even be friends!"


    "Who''s with you!" Lu Yiyao heard the implications in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong laughed foolishly, feeling really relaxed when he was with Lu Yiyao.


    ...


    Friday night, Wanda Plaza was unusually crowded. For ordinary people, it might take at least two to three hours to have a meal, but with Wang Ling''s VIP card, Zhang Menglong could not only skip the queue but even dine and dash.


    "Hahahaha! I told you there was a line and you insisted on using a VIP card to come in, now do you understand what embarrassing means?"


    At a special seat in Haidilao, Lu Yiyao laughed uproariously.


    As everyone knows, Haidilao is a magical place where if you celebrate your birthday there, a group of people with cakes and props will come to your table to celebrate, a scene that has embarrassed countless customers.


    They just wanted to have a good meal, but for the sake of KPI, the staff didn''t care whether you wanted it or not, they''d just put a crown on you and a dozen people would surround you to sing "Happy Birthday."


    As a VIP, Zhang Menglong received an imperial-like reception.


    In any given city, not more than 10 people could get such a VIP card, even in a city like Gusu; at most, only twenty to thirty people could own this card, which was a symbol of status and identity.


    No sooner had they walked into Haidilao than the manager personally came out to greet them, even prepared a cape and crown, and with a group of staff escorted Zhang Menglong to his seat, and even broadcast it three times on the loudspeaker for everyone to hear.


    "As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassment is theirs!" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly from his seat, "Old rules, I, Young Master Zhang, am paying for tonight''s expenses, so everyone eat and drink to your heart''s content!"


    After all, it was Wang Ling''s money, and not spending it would be a waste, especially since Wang Ling wouldn''t even notice the expense of one night''s sales.


    But this shout not only suppressed the awkward atmosphere, it even livened up the entire restaurant, turning an awkward moment into a bustling party.


    "Young Master Zhang is awesome!"


    "Hahaha, thanks Young Master Zhang!"


    "Waiter, add more dishes!"


    "Hahaha, everyone add more, I''ll pay for it all!"


    Zhang Menglong chatted and laughed with the people at the nearby tables, as if everyone there was his friend.


    "See, I have a way, don''t I?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Awkward moments really did vanish in the blink of an eye.


    "You''re so impressive!" Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes at Zhang Menglong.


    After a satisfying meal, Zhang Menglong patted his stomach and walked out of the restaurant with Lu Yiyao while the manager, with a wide smile, saw him off.


    "We still have more than an hour before meeting your roommate, so how about we stroll around a bit?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the time¡ªit was just after 8 pm.


    "Sure, I haven''t gone shopping in ages!" Indeed, shopping seems to be in every woman''s nature, and Lu Yiyao was no exception.


    ...


    Half an hour later, Zhang Menglong regretted his earlier suggestion. The combat prowess of women when shopping was more terrifying than that of a Super Saiyan; they never seemed to tire when trying on clothes, and they always asked how each piece looked.


    "Zhang Menglong, hurry up, can you manage or not?"


    "A man who can''t cope should say so, woman, you''re playing with fire!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt energized and quickly followed Lu Yiyao into a Louis Vuitton store.


    "I normally wouldn''t even dare to walk into a place like this, but with a big boss like you here today, I feel confident enough to try it out."


    "Hahaha, if you like it, I''ll buy the whole store''s clothes for you."


    "No need to go that far; I just want to see how different the clothes here are from those that only cost a few hundred dollars!" Lu Yiyao wasn''t really interested in luxury goods; she was just curious.


    "Sir, are you looking for clothes for your girlfriend?" Despite Zhang Menglong''s unbranded outfit, the salesperson could tell from the unique material and craftsmanship.


    "We''re just looking around," Lu Yiyao interjected quickly. "And we''re not that kind of couple."


    "You do have a keen eye." But Zhang Menglong was utterly shameless, and the sales assistant immediately gave him a knowing "I get it" look.


    "This coat costs over thirty thousand?" Lu Yiyao picked up a winter coat and her expression changed slightly at the price tag.


    "Try it on; it''s free to try." Zhang Menglong said.


    "True that!" Lu Yiyao went straight into the changing room.


    "Hm? What''s going, why suddenly so many people?" Zhang Menglong suddenly heard a commotion coming from outside.


    Soon after, a female streamer walked into the store with a cameraman and a group of other staff, followed by hundreds of fans who quickly crowded the place.


    Zhang Menglong looked at the female streamer, who seemed to be a fairly famous influencer known as Mina. His roommate used to watch her streams, but all she did was shake her hips and dance, offering nothing substantial in her broadcasts.


    In the past two years, the livestreaming economy had boomed, and Mina had transitioned from a gaming streamer to a sales influencer. Reportedly, her sales effectiveness was among the top ten influencers, with over fifty million followers¡ªmaking her a top-tier influencer.


    "Manager, this..." The sales staff were suddenly at a loss.


    "No problem, let them in!" The manager''s face lit up with joy. Having such an influencer in the store was like free advertising. He speculated that sales could potentially multiply over this period, as Mina''s sales prowess was well recognized.


    Mina claimed today''s stream was a spontaneous outdoor broadcast, but in reality, her agency had arranged everything. However, the fans and customers weren''t aware of this, and her arrival immediately attracted many eyes, with the viewing numbers online soaring past five million!


    "Babes, I heard LV released a bunch of new autumn and winter clothes recently. Today, I''ll take you to the physical store to check it out, and if you like what you see, don''t forget to smash that like button!"


    "These streamers really do all follow the same script." Zhang Menglong shook his head with a wry smile.


    "Manager, do you have the latest trench coat in stock?" Mina asked.


    "Yes, but it seems there''s only one left, and a lady is trying it on in that changing room right there."


    Mina immediately signaled her assistant with her eyes, and the female assistant understood at once and headed straight for the changing room where Lu Yiyao was.


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly and blocked the entrance to the changing room.


    "Hey, didn''t you see Mina is here? We''re live streaming right now, and this is our featured product for the stream. There''s only one left now, so hurry up and have your girlfriend take it out."


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt amused. "This is the first time I''m hearing about asking someone who is trying on clothes to take them off. Are streamers really that powerful now?"

 Chapter 56 55: I Bought All the Clothes in the Store

    "What''s the matter with you, can''t you understand what''s being said? This clothing costs over thirty thousand a piece; can you afford it?" The female assistant was getting impatient, as Mina''s live broadcast time was limited, and the explanation time for each product was fixed. Delaying one minute meant losing one minute.


    Although this live broadcast session had randomly selected locations, Mina''s studio and lv''s agency had already signed a contract, and this trench coat was part of the selected merchandise for the session. And with just the slot fee costing 800,000, if sales were affected due to timing issues, Mina''s studio would have to compensate for the losses.


    "Whether or not I can afford it is none of your concern. Please keep your distance. In my ears, any sound over 60 decibels is noise, and you''re bothering my eyes!" Zhang Menglong said, mimicking the classic lines from idol dramas.


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it ready yet?"


    "I''m here today to see that new model; hurry up!"


    "Are you guys doing your job properly? If not, change the work team!"


    "Not watching anymore, I''m out, what a waste of time!"


    With no news in two minutes, some discordant voices had already appeared in the barrage, and Mina''s expression immediately turned serious.


    "Sorry, babes, there''s been a slight issue; I''ll check it out."


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it fixed yet, don''t you know that the audience is waiting?" The smile on Mina''s face, gentle as a breeze, vanished in an instant, all the affability, all the smiles, were just a fac?ade presented to the viewers.


    "Sister Na, they won''t give up the clothing," the assistant said.


    "Handsome, I''m sorry, but this live session is very important to me," Mina said, "How about this, consider that I bought this piece of clothing from you, thirty thousand, how does that sound?"


    "Not so good," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "My friend has already taken a liking to it."


    "Manager, have they paid yet?" Mina asked.


    "Not yet."


    "Hmph!" Mina let out a cold laugh, "They haven''t paid yet, so this clothing has nothing to do with them yet. Now, I''ve bought this piece. You, pay for it!"


    "Alright, Sister Na!"


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong''s tone became colder, "Buying things is a matter of first come, first served, right? It seems we were the ones to try on this clothing first. Even if you want to buy it, it should be after we decide we don''t want it, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ve changed; how does it look?"


    Just then, Lu Yiyao walked out of the fitting room.


    Lu Yiyao''s figure was already great, and this coat perfectly accentuated her slender curves, as if it was custom-made for her.


    "Beautiful, very beautiful!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat awestruck.


    "What''s going on? Why are there so many people?" Lu Yiyao hadn''t realized that so many people had suddenly appeared outside.


    "Nothing, just a minor streamer, don''t mind them," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Minor streamer?" Mina had yet to erupt, but her assistant couldn''t hold back any longer, "Country bumpkin, who are you calling a minor streamer? Our Sister Na is a well-known top streamer. Are you just pretending to be oblivious to our ongoing live broadcast because you want to go viral that badly?"


    "I think the ones who are desperately trying to get famous are you," Zhang Menglong said, "We were minding our own business trying on clothes, and you all came over demanding that people take them off. Do you own this store, or what?"


    "Hey, how can you..."


    "You, we''re still live!" Mina suddenly shouted, stopping her assistant. They were in the wrong here, and it would greatly affect her reputation if the viewers found out.


    Once a streamer''s reputation dips, their viewership can plummet, and without viewership, they lose their standing in the streaming world.


    "What''s going on, why does it look like Mina is getting into an argument?"


    "Not sure, seems to be over that piece of clothing."


    "Really?"


    "Wait, does anyone else think that young guy looks familiar?"


    "Right, I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere."


    "Damn, I remember now, from today''s trending searches, he''s the guy who spent over a hundred million looking for someone in front of Gusu University!"


    "That''s right, that''s right, I remember he was wearing this exact outfit!"


    "Just now Principal Wang even posted on Weibo, and that person who was slamming money on his head was this guy!"


    "What? I haven''t checked Weibo for just half a day, and this mysterious big shot has been dug up?"


    "He seems to have gotten into an argument with Mina and her group."


    "Hmph, the moment I learned of his identity, I knew he definitely couldn''t be in the wrong!"


    "Hahaha, I feel the same way as the person above!"


    "Husband! That''s my husband!"


    "Get lost, that''s my daddy!"


    The originally calm barrage of online comments suddenly became extraordinarily lively.


    Zhang Menglong had twice made it rain cash on Wang Ling, causing him to post on Weibo, and today he showed up at Gusu University, spending a fortune just to find someone. Almost the entire internet was filled with curiosity about this person who even Principal Wang had to respect, and today this person finally showed up, even appearing on the live broadcast.


    The news spread from one to ten and from ten to a hundred, as more and more people flocked to the live stream. The live room, which originally had only 5 million viewers, surprisingly broke through 10 million in just a few minutes.


    "What''s happening?"


    "I''m just a passerby, is that young man the big shot?"


    "My husband is so handsome, alas, it''s a pity he''s already taken."


    "Big shot, do you still need a hanger on your thigh?"


    "Big shot, next time you''re looking for someone, remember to notify me, I''ll be satisfied with just 50,000!"


    "What are they arguing about?"


    "I''m not sure, it seems to be because there''s only one piece of clothing left that Mina wants to sell, and the big shot''s girlfriend is trying it on, it seems that''s what started the argument."


    "Damn! What do you mean, does the streamer think she''s something special?"


    "Exactly, I''ve been annoyed by these people for a while now, each one acting like they''re celebrities, being all high and mighty? Are they your father or something? Do they have to give way to you?"


    "Our Mina is so easy-going, how could she possibly get into an altercation? It must be that person who''s being unreasonable!"


    "That''s right, think you''re amazing just because you''re rich?"


    ...


    As another wave of viewers flooded in, the supporters of both sides immediately started to clash in the comments.


    "Forget it, forget it, just return the sponsorship fee!" They had already wasted a lot of time, and anyway, they still had other styles to promote in this store. Now, time was the most important thing.


    "Pff, a couple of paupers, let''s see what you''ll use to pay in a bit!" sneered the assistant contemptuously.


    "You don''t need to worry about what I''ll use to pay, but sorry, today you''re not going to sell a single thing!" Zhang Menglong admitted that sometimes, his temper was really big, and his eyes couldn''t tolerate a speck of dirt.


    "Store manager, I''ll buy all the clothing in this store, including the current inventory in the shop!"


    "Huh?" The store manager was instantly taken aback.


    "Hahaha, crazy guy, do you think you''re Ma Yun?" mocked the assistant.


    Mina also showed a trace of mockery on her face, "Don''t bother with him, let''s continue!"


    After speaking, Mina reached out for another piece of clothing.


    But Zhang Menglong immediately blocked her path, "I said, I''m buying all the clothes in this store."


    Zhang Menglong directly took out his Honored Card from Huaxia Bank, "Store manager, swipe the card!"

 Chapter 57 56: I Dont Like Fractions

    "Holy shit, that''s awesome!"


    "Damn, bought out the entire store? How much money is that?!"


    "Hahaha, see that? You think your livestreamer is cool? Our big shot is way cooler, buying everything in the store. Let''s see what you''ve got to livestream now!"


    "Damn, being rich is that amazing huh?"


    "That''s right, if you''re rich you can do whatever you want. If you''re so capable, why doesn''t your precious Mina buy everything too? No money then shut up!"


    "This time I''m with the big shot! What''s with that, don''t they know about first come, first served? A livestreamer thinks they''re above everyone else?"


    "Isn''t that card-swiping move just too cool?"


    "I''ve heard of black cards, but what the hell is a purple card? Can the big shot enlighten us!"


    "I''ve heard that banks have a card even higher level than black cards, called Honored Card, and it''s supposed to be purple. Not sure if it''s this one though!"


    "Netizens are amazing. No money, but they know all this stuff."


    ...


    "Sir, do you really want to buy everything? The price for all the display and stock items in our store might be close to 100 million."


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Zhang Menglong said, "Swipe the card, or do you want me to speak directly to your boss?"


    Zhang Menglong took out that black card and waved it in front of the store manager.


    Seeing this black card, the store manager''s breathing halted for a moment. Although he didn''t recognize Zhang Menglong''s Honored Card, he knew about this Wanda black card; since the LV store had opened at Wanda Plaza, he hadn''t seen anyone with such a card.


    He knew that the young man before him probably had a terrifyingly powerful background.


    "Yes, sir!" The store manager immediately ordered his staff behind him, "Check the stock quickly and calculate the price."


    For the store manager, this was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the store was cleared out, his commission was assured.


    Business in the physical retail sector wasn''t great this year. Normally, their monthly sales ranged from 30 to 50 million, but this year, not even the best month had broken 20 million in turnover. With Zhang Menglong''s single flourish, he might deal with a year''s worth of business.


    Now he only wished there had been more in the stockroom.


    "Manager, it''s all counted, the total price for everything in the store right now is 85.37 million."


    "Mister, you heard that, do you still want to..."


    "Swipe it!"


    "Sir, with such a large sum, I''m afraid your card might not go through."


    "My card has no limit!" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "No limit!?" The store manager was taken aback; only the bank''s black cards had no limit. Usually, clients eligible for such cards were personally invited by the bank to manage their savings. Who exactly was this young man?


    And his card clearly wasn''t a black card, but with no limit? Could there be an even higher tier of card above the black card? This was beyond his knowledge.


    "Quick! The POS machine!"


    "Here it is!" Another clerk immediately ran over with the POS machine.


    "I don''t like small change!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "Don''t worry, sir, I can still make that decision," the store manager ordered, "Swipe it for 85 million!"


    "No, what I mean is, just make it 90 million!"


    "What?" The store manager was stunned, the clerk was stunned, and the viewers watching the livestream were even more stunned.


    "66666! I''m convinced, truly a boss!"


    "Is this the legendary dislike of small change?"


    "Mom, over four million, I like small change, toss it to me. Whether it''s money or not, doesn''t matter, I just like being dunked on by a boss!"


    "Today I''ve truly seen a real god of wealth. Now I understand why even the school principal and Qin Feng lost their cool. If I were in their shoes, my mind would be blown too!"


    "Poverty really has limited my imagination. I just don''t understand the world of the rich."


    ...


    "Sir, you have spent 90 million, here is your receipt," the store manager said respectfully as he handed the card and invoice to Zhang Menglong, "This is our lv membership card, from now on you can enjoy the highest discount at any of our stores."


    "No need, I don''t like discounts." Zhang Menglong directly stuffed the card back to him, "I''ll give you an address, haul all this stuff over there, someone will take care of it."


    "Damn, you may not like discounts, but we do!" the female viewers in the live stream erupted. These top-level VIP card discounts were significant, only available to those who had spent over ten million to earn one. If they could get their hands on such a card, they could show off for a whole year!


    By this time, Mina and her assistant were stunned. They couldn''t imagine that this seemingly ordinary young man had such terrifying financial power, paying for close to a billion worth of items without even blinking an eye.


    It seemed they had inadvertently offended someone not to be trifled with!


    Mina was just a live streamer, and although she appeared glamorous on the surface, she was merely a small figure driven by capital. In the face of real business sharks, she was nothing; they could easily pay top celebrities for endorsements, not giving a second glance to a streamer.


    Even with her strong selling power, Mina''s annual income was only tens of millions. In front of this young man, over four million was just spare change. What could she use to compete with him?


    "Sis Na, let''s go to another store," said the assistant. All that remained in the lv store besides the staff were items belonging to Zhang Menglong, and staying there would only be humiliating.


    "Alright, let''s go!" Mina''s expression darkened considerably, especially when she noticed the barrage of comments in the live stream, which were almost entirely in favor of Zhang Menglong.


    "Hahaha, my hubby is so powerful!"


    "Does anyone know my hubby''s Weibo? I''m going to follow him right now!"


    "Breaking news, Principal Wang has already @mentioned this magnate on his own Weibo!"


    "Crap! Only 12 followers? Is he that low-key? No way, I''m going to follow him now, then I''ll be one of the originals!"


    "Don''t tease, streamer!"


    "Stop streaming, I bet that since you''ve annoyed my husband, no matter where you live stream outdoors, you won''t be able to sell a single item!"


    "Serves you right! You oppress people by your power and now you''ve hit an iron plate, haven''t you?"


    "Iron plate? This is more like a board full of nails!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong had no idea what Wang Ling meant by "I''ll help you out," and now his Weibo had been exposed. In just a few minutes, his followers had soared from 12 to 2 million and were still growing rapidly, increasing by tens of thousands each time he refreshed the page.


    "Sis Na, let''s do a food broadcast first. Shangai Desserts has already been arranged for us."


    "Okay." Mina adjusted her mood and entered the store.


    "Shangai Desserts," the dessert shop that had recently risen to fame as a trendy spot loved by many young people. Mina''s task was to help advertise for the shop, a deal worth 2 million!


    "Where''s your person in charge? Sis Na is here, hurry up and get ready!" the assistant strutted into the store, bossing people around.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Mina, but all our ingredients have been used up, and we won''t be able to accommodate you today," the store manager approached with an apologetic tone.


    "Used up? Then what are they eating?" Mina questioned.


    "A few minutes ago, our boss called and said all of today''s ingredients have been reserved by someone else."


    "Didn''t you tell your boss I was coming to live stream today?"


    "I did, but he said that no matter what anyone says, it won''t make a difference. The person who reserved all the ingredients is Wanda''s young master, Wang Ling."


    "What?" Mina''s face changed color; this was someone she couldn''t afford to provoke. But this meant the 2 million ad deal was gone!


    "Server, bring me an extended passionfruit pomegranate ice cream!"


    "Sir, our ingredients have been reserved. You..."


    "Hmph!" Mina huffed, irritated. What''s the use of having money if you can''t even buy what you want?


    "My last name is Zhang!" Zhang Menglong said flatly.


    "Are you the Mister Zhang that young master Wang Ling mentioned?" The manager''s attitude changed to one of utmost respect, "Master Wang said that this batch of ingredients is for you to deal with. Do you have any instructions?"


    "Oh, nothing much. Make two ice creams for us. Give the rest away for free to everyone in the plaza, except for them!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Mina and her group.


    "Yes, sir. I''ll arrange it immediately!"


    "What the hell is going on?" Mina and her assistant looked at each other, confused....

 Chapter 58 57: Money Allows You to Do Whatever You Want

    "Sir, what exactly do you mean?" Despite being full of rage, Mina still restrained her emotions.


    "Oh, nothing, just in a good mood today and felt like treating everyone here to some dessert!"


    Zhang Menglong was a very stubborn person; they were just trying on clothes peacefully in the shop when they were rudely interrupted, and it had spoiled his good mood halfway.


    Alright, so you want to be famous, huh? I''ll make you famous then! You won''t be able to accomplish a single thing in your livestream today!


    As a major broadcaster, all of her live streaming content was pre-announced, and so-called outdoor live broadcasting was nothing more than a script set up in advance. Zhang Menglong randomly checked and immediately knew her entire itinerary and the products for the day. If he wanted, she wouldn''t be able to advertise a single item today!


    "Zhang Menglong, I can''t believe you can be so nasty!" Lu Yiyao gradually understood what was happening, "But you don''t have to go this far, getting angry with such a person isn''t worth it, and it''s a waste of money. You just bought so much stuff, how are you going to deal with it all?"


    "Pick a few items you like, and I''ll just give away the rest in a Weibo lottery."


    "That''s tens of millions worth of goods, hey!"


    "What''s the matter? You''re already starting to save me money even before becoming my girlfriend?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Dream on! Who wants to be your girlfriend? When men get rich, not one of them is any good!"


    "No, no, no, I''m different!"


    The two of them chatted and laughed as if no one else was around, completely ignoring Mina and the others whose faces were ashen.


    "Sister Na, the agency is calling." Suddenly, one of Mina''s fans passed her the phone with a gray face.


    "Mina, where are you?"


    "Hu... President Hua?" The voice on the other end of the phone was actually the president of the talent agency!


    The company Mina was signed to was not a small one, and their boss had significant clout in the entertainment industry. He only needed to say one word, and although it might not cause the whole industry to shake, his words carried enough weight that their consequences had to be seriously considered.


    "President Hua, I''m in Wanda City of Gusu." President Hua''s voice seemed a bit


    "Did you offend someone?"


    "President Hua, listen to my explanation, I..."


    "I don''t want to hear your explanation!" President Hua''s voice revealed an irrefutable tone, "Tonight, if you can''t satisfy the other party, don''t say it''s you, even my company might shutdown immediately!"


    Mina shuddered; just who was this young man, to have such terrifying energy that even their boss was frightened to this extent, "Boss, who exactly is this young man?"


    "I don''t have the right to know who he is, but I do know that if you can''t resolve this matter today, it''s very likely that tomorrow, I''ll be thrown into the Huangpu River to feed the fish!" President Hua''s voice became increasingly gloomy, "If I go down, I assure you that your fate will be a hundred times worse than mine!"


    "Beep beep beep..." A busy tone came from the other end of the phone.


    "Clack!" Mina''s phone fell to the ground, her face turning ghostly pale. For her boss to say such words meant the severity of the situation had escalated to an exaggerated level.


    "Zhang Menglong, why has she suddenly become so pale? You didn''t do anything to her, did you?" Lu Yiyao noticed Mina shaking beside them; she seemed to have something to say to Zhang Menglong, yet she hesitated.


    "I don''t know, maybe she ate something bad and wants to take a dump!"


    "I think you''re the one who wants to take a dump?"


    "Hahaha, as a girl, could you not always talk about pee and poop? You won''t find a boyfriend like this!"


    "Mind your own business!"


    "How did she get so scared?" Zhang Menglong also glanced at Mina. He had only told Hong Yi to figure out a way to give this so-called top broadcaster a heads-up. Insulting Zhang Menglong was one thing, but insulting Lu Yiyao was something that wouldn''t be so easily settled.


    Besides, ever since this incident happened, Zhang Menglong hadn''t heard even half an apology. Since no one in the broadcasting community seemed to be willing to correct their ways, he wouldn''t mind making a contribution himself, especially since he was already famous and wasn''t afraid of becoming even more so.


    However, the connections Hong Yi had activated seemed even more exaggerated than Zhang Menglong had imagined, and he didn''t know what exactly had happened.


    At this moment, President Hua, who had put down the phone, had a face full of worry.


    "President Hua, what''s wrong with you? Why did you lose such a big temper all of a sudden?" Hua Yunshan''s secretary asked, "I just heard something about Mina offending someone. Who is that person? Do they have a big backing?"


    Hua Yunshan''s secretary, who had worked with Hua Yunshan in the entertainment circle for so many years, was seeing his boss look this upset for the first time. By all accounts, there shouldn''t be many people in the Huaxia entertainment industry who could make him this anxious.


    "I don''t know who Mina has offended," Hua Yunshan tried to calm his tone, "but the call just now was personally made by Mr. Hong."


    "Mr. Hong? You mean that Mr. Hong?" Hua Yunshan''s secretary also shuddered.


    "Exactly," Hua Yunshan said with a respectful expression when he mentioned the name, well aware of what kind of resources and "Energy" the Hong Family controlled.


    In the eyes of ordinary people, the wealthiest individuals in Huaxia are those who frequently appear in the news, but only a select few know that there is a low-profile yet powerful family hidden within Huaxia.


    He had the fortune to meet a member of the Hong Family once, and it was then that he realized how insignificant he, Hua Yunshan, was in front of this family, and even that a single word from them could reshuffle the entire Huaxia entertainment industry in an instant!


    The person who had just phoned him was a member of the Hong Family!


    "This idiotic woman, I''ve invested so many resources into building her up, and now that she has achieved some success, she''s brought me such big trouble," Hua Yunshan slammed the table, "No, I must disassociate myself from her. Draft a notice stating that Mina has behaved improperly and does not fit the public figure image. Starting today, Yunyou Media will ban her!"


    "Yes, President Hua, I''ll take care of it immediately."


    ...


    "So, you won''t even say sorry?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, looking at Mina.


    "Sir, I... I''m sorry... It was our poor attitude. As a public figure, I should be promoting positive energy, not making such unreasonable actions against you and your friend," Mina finally bowed her head in the face of such a threat.


    "And her?" Zhang Menglong glanced at Mina''s assistant, realizing that the root of all this conflict came from this presumptuous assistant. Of course, from this he could see what kind of people they were usually, since some influences are subtle.


    If a broadcaster had a very upright set of values, their assistant would likely maintain their image to some extent, rather than doing what was done just now.


    "Xiaoyou, apologize!"


    "Sister Na, I..."


    "Are you not listening to me anymore? I told you to apologize!"


    "Sir, sorry, it was my attitude that was poor earlier."


    "Hmph!" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, "Someday, your assistant here will bring about your total downfall."


    "Let''s go, we should get back, otherwise your roommate might call the police," Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao, transforming back into that big boy.


    "Yes." Lu Yiyao nodded, and the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into the distance...


    "Sis... Sister Na..." Mina''s assistant suddenly became hesitant.


    "What now?"


    "The company just released a statement, saying you behaved improperly and the company has terminated its contract with you, and..."


    "And what? Speak up!"


    "And in the industry, they''ve directly blacklisted you!"


    Mina''s world went completely dark...

 Chapter 59 58: The Newly Popular Internet Celebrity Zhang Menglong

    On his way back, Zhang Menglong drove directly to Gusu University. The security guard, seeing such a luxurious sports car, didn''t dare to stop him and simply let him through. Zhang Menglong went ahead and dropped Lu Yiyao right at her dormitory building.


    "Alright, I''ve brought you here!" What was supposed to be a happy first meeting today turned sour because of a female broadcaster, which left Zhang Menglong in a somewhat bad mood.


    "Thank you for bringing me back," Lu Yiyao stood in front of Zhang Menglong, appearing a bit reserved.


    "I didn''t really want to bring you back," Zhang Menglong''s mouth started to wander again, "I have several villas here in Gusu and keep some cute little animals. If you''re interested, you could come over to pet cats all night and maybe take a tour of my bedroom..."


    "Stop, stop!" Lu Yiyao, already used to Zhang Menglong''s rambling flirting, interrupted, "What are you pretending for, I know you, you''re all talk."


    "Hahaha, you really know me," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "When are you going back?" Lu Yiyao asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.


    "I''ll go back after I win you over!" Zhang Menglong said without hesitation.


    "With all your money, people wanting to be your girlfriend could line up from here to the capital," Lu Yiyao pouted.


    "That''s different," Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became serious, "When I met you, I was just a poor kid. You were willing to chat with me, sing with me, and help me through the toughest times. No one can compare to you."


    Lu Yiyao''s face quickly turned a shade of red, "Alright, alright, alright, stop it, I need to go up now, or Xixi will start worrying"


    "Alright, then I''ll head back," Zhang Menglong said, his demeanor reluctant.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Just as Zhang Menglong turned to leave, Lu Yiyao suddenly called out to him. Her hands were crossed behind her back, looking a bit shy, "There''s an international art exhibition in Gusu soon. I have an exam tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, do you want to come with me?"


    "Sure!" A smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face. He had just been worrying about how to ask Lu Yiyao out again, just one day, he could wait!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow then!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow!"


    Watching Lu Yiyao disappear into the hallway, Zhang Menglong quietly clenched his fist, then drove away.


    "Silly!" From the balcony, Lu Yiyao watched the joyful Zhang Menglong leave, also showing a rare smile.


    Suddenly, Lu Yiyao''s phone vibrated. Seeing the number, her smile vanished instantly...


    ...


    In nearly every city in Huaxia, Zhang Menglong owned at least one property, and Gusu was no exception. He dialed the number Hong Yi had given him and, following the provided address, quickly arrived at a villa area not far from Gusu University.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is your residence in Gusu. Ms. Hong Yi instructed us to have it ready for you. If you need anything, you can call me anytime," the man, a middle-aged man in his forties, greeted Zhang Menglong.


    "Thank you for your effort."


    Zhang Menglong glanced around. The three-story villa was roughly 1500 square meters in size. The two Qing dynasty dragon-patterned vases at the entrance hinted at the villa''s extravagant opulence.


    Yet, Zhang Menglong had already grown accustomed to these constant surprises; after all, it was as if the whole world was his.


    As usual, Zhang Menglong sat on the toilet, pulled out his phone, and began scrolling through Weibo. Tonight''s conflict with Mina, a top-tier broadcaster, had likely already stirred up quite a fuss.


    "Damn, what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong had just opened his Weibo when the numerous message pop-ups completely crashed his phone.


    In the dying moments of Zhang Menglong''s phone, he saw that his Weibo followers had unexpectedly surpassed four-digit numbers, and the unit was in millions!


    "Mom''s spaghetti, what happened these last few days?" Zhang Menglong originally had only 12 followers, half of whom were his friends. Suddenly, he had over ten million followers. He had never blocked messages from strangers, so you can imagine the devastating impact this information bomb had on his phone.


    Zhang Menglong hurriedly picked up the landline to call Hong Yi for help. With this situation, he might need to blow up a whole truck of phones to open Weibo, right?


    "Hong Yi, is there any super powerful phone that even hundreds of millions of messages at once won''t break?" Zhang Menglong roughly explained his situation to Hong Yi.


    "Mr. Zhang, a regular phone might really not handle such large amounts of information, but you have a supercomputer at home. This amount of data is a piece of cake for the supercomputer."


    "Help me block all messages from strangers. I will give you the verification code in a moment!" Zhang Menglong pulled out a spare phone from his drawer.


    Soon, Hong Yi had taken care of everything for Zhang Menglong. From 7 p.m. onwards, his follower count began to skyrocket, and it was still rising at an astonishing rate.


    "Good one, Wang Ling!" Zhang Menglong soon figured out the source of the problem.


    Today, while Zhang Menglong was at Gusu University, someone had snapped a photo of him and posted it on Weibo. Wang Ling had stolen a photo and posted it on his own Weibo, then tagged Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Ling''s followers outnumbered those of top-tier celebrities. In minutes, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo had blown up online, and everyone knew that the guy who had taken a helicopter over the highway, bought dozens of sports cars, and twice made Wang Ling''s mental state collapse with his wealth was Zhang Menglong!


    "Wow, did Mina just get canceled?" Zhang Menglong spotted a trending topic just below his on the hot search list.


    The incident at Gusu University had already stirred up the netizens, and this event undoubtedly added a huge wave of popularity for Zhang Menglong. Now, Zhang Menglong was so famous he was practically glowing!


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang; it was Wang Ling calling.


    "You backstabber!" Zhang Menglong answered the phone and immediately cursed, understanding that this was what Wang Ling meant by "helping" him.


    "Hahaha, how does it feel to be an internet sensation?" The voice on the other end laughed mischievously. "Also, how are your phone and computer? Are your private messages overflowing?"


    "Hmph! You think you can mess with me with that junk plan?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "My house has a supercomputer; even if you multiply your data load by a hundred, it won''t even make my computer flinch!"


    "Damn! You installed a supercomputer in your house?" It was the first time Wang Ling had heard of such a thing. How many resources did it take to get a supercomputer?


    "Haha, didn''t see that coming, did you? Jealous much? It''s super fast for gaming!"


    "I have no words! Using a supercomputer for gaming? Don''t you have any ambition?"


    "Mind your own business!" Zhang Menglong shot back. "Wang Ling, you''re doomed today!"


    "Hahaha, anyone can talk tough! If you''re capable, mess with me! I''ve turned off my private messages!"


    "Then I''ll have people tag-spam you!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately opened his own Weibo activity and posted a message.


    "Today''s giveaway, 5000 prizes, just the batch I bought at LV tonight. To enter, just tag Wang Ling and insult him within one hour¡ªyou might win. To maintain internet harmony, no foul language allowed. The most creative insult wins a big G!"

 Chapter 60 59 Brother, I was wrong, dont scold anymore

    "Holy shit, the big shot just tweeted! Branding iron Liu Ming!"


    "The big shot is so freaking awesome!"


    "For real? 5000 copies? That''s gotta be worth over a hundred million, right?"


    "Guys above, are you new fans who followed less than ten minutes ago? Us old fans who''ve been following for hours know the big shot never jokes around!"


    "Exactly, didn''t you see Mina''s already out in the cold? The big shot didn''t even blink before buying something close to a hundred million, you think he''s joking with you?"


    "No kidding, not to mention just today, the big shot has spent over a billion at the Gusu University gates looking for folks. He''s spent more money than you''ve eaten in meals!"


    "Hahahaha, big shot, what grudge do you have against Principal Wang? No more talking, I''m starting with insults as a token of respect. It just so happens my girlfriend''s birthday is coming up; bless me with winning an LV bag!"


    "Big G! I want a Big G!"


    In just a few minutes, thousands of comments appeared under Zhang Menglong''s one tweet. This mysterious tycoon had finally made his appearance, and his entrance was such a bombshell.


    The allure of money is endless; within minutes, the people of Zaun swarmed in.


    "@Wang Ling, tonight your Papa is planting a loquat tree in the courtyard."


    "@Wang Ling, stand here and don''t move. I''ll go buy you some oranges."


    "@Wang Ling, your dad''s going to be banging a basin and dancing tonight."


    "@Wang Ling, bright moonlit night, the short pine hill, your sister sits by the small bay window."


    "@Wang Ling, to hell with your Digital Monster Pikachu, to hell with your Zhang San Crazy Monk Taiji Sword, to hell with your Nine-Turn Large Intestine Fat Snake Monster..."


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to severely beat up your girlfriend''s lover, much more justified than self-defense against betrayal!"


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to get run over by a truck and start a harem in an alternate world!"


    "@Wang Ling, may you be granted parole when you go to prison!"


    "@Wang Ling, when you buy a grave, may you get a buy-one-get-one-free deal!"


    "Stop cursing, guys. If you keep this up, the principal will have a nervous breakdown!"


    "Hahahaha, I''m splitting my sides laughing. Netizens are just too talented!"


    "What kind of Underworld blessings are these, haha!"


    "Lu Xun would''ve laughed all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to the Three Flavor Study.


    "Your account is doomed!"


    "I''m starting to regret not studying hard back in the day. Now, I have to search up these insults on Baidu as I read them."


    "You''re not alone upstairs. I''m on Baidu too."


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m going to drag you down with me!" As soon as Wang Ling opened Weibo, he was bombarded with a barrage of poetic lines; outwardly elegant, but upon a careful taste, they were sharp as knives, and he couldn''t even find a single dirty word.


    "Guys, I''ve got over 40 million followers; am I going to lose to this scoundrel?" Wang Ling was about to rally and counter-attack, but then something occurred to him.


    In the past, when he clashed with others, he usually just threw money back at them, and those people were typically left speechless by his wealth.


    But this time his opponent was Zhang Menglong, that beast. Opening his mouth, billion-worth prizes were tossed out like nothing. He could gamble away a spur-of-the-moment fury with a comeback.


    But you see, a billion for Zhang Menglong and a billion for him, Wang Ling, were not the same concept at all! That kid simply doesn''t treat money as money!


    "Principal Wang, speak up! Why are you silent now?"


    "Principal, did you die of anger? If you''re dead, who''s going to fight our battles?"


    "I suspect the principal''s mental state has collapsed!"


    Wang Ling''s latest tweet suddenly gained thousands of comments; this was the first time Wang Ling had been insulted like this and remained silent. Could this be the power of money?


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ve already hired a lawyer. Every word you''ve said now, every person you''ve incited, will become evidence in court! I demand you compensate me for the mental and reputational damage!" Finally, after much anticipation, Wang Ling''s Weibo was updated.


    "Hahahaha, Principal Wang is resorting to legal weapons to protect himself now!"


    "Hahahaha xswl!"


    "The president used to impress people with money, but now he''s started playing hooligan."


    "No way, no way, president, where''s your guts? Fight back!"


    "Compensation for emotional distress and damage to reputation, right? Sent it to you!" Faced with Wang Ling''s counterattack, Zhang Menglong once again flaunted a screenshot on his own Weibo. It was a bank transfer record, the sender was Zhang Menglong, the recipient was Wang Ling, and the note read "Compensation for emotional distress".


    As for the amount, a whopping one billion!


    "Holy shit! How many times have I cursed today?"


    "One billion for emotional distress? I''m stupefied."


    "Gah, gah!"


    "Big shot, come curse me, I don''t need so much compensation for emotional distress, one million is enough!"


    "Hubby, curse me! Or hitting me works too!"


    "It''s not about the money, the main thing is I love being cursed."


    "Roommate wants to be cursed by the big shot before dying!"


    "I...I bought a watch last year!" Wang Ling couldn''t help twitching as he held his phone. If it were a normal situation and he earned one billion, he probably wouldn''t be able to sleep all night.


    But earning this one billion in such a way, he didn''t know whether to cry or laugh.


    "Guys, keep cursing, I''ve got plenty for compensation for emotional distress!" Zhang Menglong added another follow-up comment!


    "Bro, I was wrong, stop cursing!" Ten minutes later, Wang Ling finally conceded, leaving a pale and powerless admission of guilt on Weibo.


    "The president conceded? I''m stupefied!"


    "I declare, my husband is no longer the president as of today, from now on, the big shot is my husband!"


    "Is this the third time the big shot has made the president crumble with money?"


    "There''s going to be a change in the internet celebrity world!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, aren''t you afraid I won''t pay back this billion?" Although the two seemed like fire and water online, they both knew that it was just playful bickering.


    "If you don''t pay it back, then don''t pay it back, it''s just a small target, a brief chat and it''ll come back," said Zhang Menglong indifferently, "Keep it, consider it like you''ve opened a Wanda VIP card with me."


    "I''m not going to be polite with you!" Wang Ling said shamelessly, "But brother, there''s something I need to remind you of."


    "What is it?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "With fame comes trouble; now that you have so many fans, you also have many more eyes on you, and every little move you make will be seized upon by some trolls, who will use it as a weapon to attack you."


    Wang Ling had the most experience with this; his Weibo was filled with indecent insults and he had been blasted onto hot search on several occasions.


    "It might not necessarily be you; it could also be someone close to you," Wang Ling added.


    "Yeah," Zhang Menglong nodded. Wang Ling was right, and for him, there were many such people, including his parents, and now there was Lu Yiyao as well.


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s eyes took on a dark tint, fearing precisely what was happening. The images of him appearing alongside Lu Yiyao had now surfaced on the trending search.


    Zhang Menglong already had a hot topic, and if someone close to him emerged at this time, without thinking, they would become a target,


    and now people had started digging for information on Lu Yiyao.


    "Great, are they really pushing me to create a scene?" Zhang Menglong opened several other apps. Not just Weibo, but also forums, social platforms, short video platforms, all featuring posts about the two of them.


    "Xu Feng, you haven''t slept yet, right?" Zhang Menglong dialed the number of the marketing director of Unicorn Group.


    "President Zhang? Not yet, is there anything you need to instruct?"


    "You know about the incident regarding me today?"


    "Yeah, I''ve roughly heard about it." As someone who always paid attention to current affairs, Xu Feng''s nightly routine included checking the latest news on various platforms, and today''s topic involving Zhang Menglong practically exploded nationwide.


    "From now on, there must be no information about the girl who appeared with me today on any of our company''s products!"

 Chapter 61 60: Whoever else issues, I will buy it

    "Mr. Zhang, are you talking about that girl named Lu Yiyao?"


    "Damn, you already know her name?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Mr. Zhang, you underestimate the power of the internet nowadays. After your photo with Miss Lu Yiyao appeared online, it took less than half an hour to dig up most of her personal information. Not to mention her name, we could even find her household registration if you wanted."


    "Damn, I was careless!" Zhang Menglong clearly underestimated the netizens'' capabilities.


    However, upon further reflection, this was normal. Zhang Menglong was on the verge of replacing Wang Ling as the national heartthrob, so it was expected that any woman seen with him would have her entire ancestry scrutinized.


    Previously, whenever Wang Ling dated a girlfriend, she would instantly trend on social media. Information about these internet celebrities was everywhere, and even if they eventually fell out of favor, the publicity alone would ensure they never had to worry about living expenses just by doing advertisements.


    And now, there was someone who could use money to make Wang Ling apologize directly on Weibo without saying a word. It was no surprise that such a person would spark an explosive topic and his suspected girlfriend would naturally not escape the netizens'' scrutiny.


    "Listen, I don''t care how you do it, but if I see her photo or her personal information on any of Unicorn Technology''s products in the next half an hour, you can stop being the director!"


    "Half an hour?" Xu Feng immediately became anxious.


    "What? Can''t do it?"


    "Fine! Half an hour it is!"


    "If you manage in half an hour, I''ll double your year-end bonus!" Zhang Menglong added.


    "Mr. Zhang," Xu Feng didn''t know whether to feel moved or sad at this moment. It was a difficult task, but the reward was so generous it was both lovable and hateful, "You really go crazy with money, even on your own people!"


    "Go do it now!"


    The moment Xu Feng hung up the phone, he immediately initiated a video conference with all his top executives. The content was simple: how to make Lu Yiyao''s information disappear from Unicorn Technology''s products within half an hour.


    "Have tech set those keywords as violations, give a warning on the first discovery, and ban the account on the second!"


    "What about videos and photos?"


    "Blurry ones don''t matter, for clear photos use facial recognition technology to compare, and block any related content directly!"


    "Director, half an hour, it''s simply not possible!"


    "If it can''t be done, then get lost!" Xu Feng was always decisive in action, "Any more questions?"


    "No!"


    "Get to it now!"


    ...


    As a platform capable of competing with the three giants, the popularity of Unicorn Technology''s platform had even led the trend over the past two years. On their platforms, information about Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had already become a hot topic.


    Twenty minutes later, the topic had already disappeared from the trending list.


    At twenty-one minutes, all their pictures were unviewable, and all videos were taken down.


    At twenty-two minutes, any information about Lu Yiyao had become a blocked keyword.


    By the twenty-fifth minute, more than eighty percent of the information was gone.


    At the thirtieth minute, all information about Lu Yiyao could no longer be seen, as if she had never existed, yet the topic still explosively revolved only around other information related to Zhang Menglong.


    "Damn, what''s going on? Where''s the video I just posted!" Many users suddenly found that the photos and videos they had posted about Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had all disappeared!


    "What the heck! My video got millions of views for the first time, and they banned it? Are you kidding me?"


    "What''s going on? The name Lu Yiyao is blocked?"


    "Suspected girlfriend? This isn''t allowed? Girls from Gusu University... damn, this is blocked too? Are you kidding me?"


    Just when all Unicorn Technology product users were baffled, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo had new content again.


    "Everyone, from now on, I do not want any information about my friend to appear online. I''ve had Unicorn Technology block all information about her on all their products. I''m warning other company products, please handle this information before noon tomorrow, or else you will face the consequences!"


    "66666! Boss is awesome!"


    "Damn, what did the boss do? He even made Unicorn Technology block all information? Could he be the boss of Unicorn Technology?"


    "Spilling the beans here, I am the boss''s classmate. The boss is named Zhang Menglong, and he is the current chairman of Unicorn Technology, just so you know!"


    "What? The boss is the chairman of Unicorn Technology?"


    "Zhang Menglong? I had a primary school classmate named Zhang Menglong, but he''s just a loser."


    "I admit defeat!"


    "Impressive, this is practically declaring war on other companies! What will happen if they don''t comply?"


    "Could the boss be planning to acquire all these companies? Hahaha!"


    "Based on Zhang''s personality, I think he could absolutely do it!"


    "My husband is just too handsome, wuwuwu, I''m so jealous, I wish I could be protected like that too!"


    "The person above add me on vx... I''ll protect you!"


    "This is just like the legendary domineering CEO, no way, I''m about to fall!"


    However, at that moment, Zhang Menglong released another message, "Someone asked me how I will deal with it. I am a straightforward person. If you don''t do as I say and continue to expose information about my friend without restraint, I will directly acquire the company that hosts that platform. Don''t doubt my words!"


    "Awesome! But I don''t believe it!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang, you''re going too far now. These products belong to some of the biggest internet companies in the country. If you were really going to acquire them, wouldn''t you need several hundred billion US dollars? Are you the richest man in the world?"


    "I don''t believe you, you dirty old man, very bad."


    Upon this news, the comments below immediately filled with mockery.


    Not to mention anything else, just Weibo''s market value is nearly 10 billion US dollars; to fully acquire it, even the world''s richest person couldn''t bring out so much cash at once.


    As for other platforms, Baidu''s market value exceeds a hundred billion US dollars; acquiring it would be a joke. Even if you really had that money, do you think it would be easy to get those shares from the shareholders?


    Everyone assumed that Zhang Menglong was just joking, that he couldn''t possibly do it!


    "Heh!" Looking at all those doubtful comments, Zhang Menglong could only laugh it off, "Ignorant Earthlings, it seems you really have no idea whom you''re mocking!"


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong directly dialed Hong Yi''s phone, "Did you see my Weibo?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you planning to buy them all? It might be difficult to manage in one day, but a week should be no problem. If we just need to acquire one first, then it can be sorted out by tomorrow."


    "Does it take a long time to prepare?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It takes some time, just because the transfer of shares is complicated. Whether in Huaxia or abroad, there are regulations regarding the proportion of shares. We need to find a sufficiently trustworthy shareholder for you, ensuring those shares are completely under your control. Who the actual holder is, isn''t important."


    "Okay, I understand," Zhang Menglong said, "Start preparing. I don''t think any of the internet giants will take my words seriously. Let''s just start with any company tomorrow, beginning with Weibo."


    ...

 Chapter 62 61 I Have Money, But Dont Treat Me Like a Fool

    "Zhang Menglong, we''ve been apart for less than an hour, and you''ve already made such big news?" It wasn''t long before Zhang Menglong received a call from Lu Yiyao.


    "I did it to protect you!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I certainly don''t want the private life of my future girlfriend to be monitored every day by everyone!"


    "Have you no shame, who agreed to be your girlfriend in the future?" Lu Yiyao said, "Ah, Qianqian, go away, don''t eavesdrop on my conversation!"


    "Hahaha, it sounds like your dorm room is quite lively tonight!" Zhang Menglong heard the chatter of a group of girls.


    "That''s all because of you!" Lu Yiyao said angrily, "You could have just come to see me, but you had to make such a big scene, as if you were worried the whole world wouldn''t find out about it."


    "I''m worried about you getting into trouble," Zhang Menglong said, "By the way, when could you help me invite your roommates out for a meal? I''ll bribe them so the next time we go on a date, they won''t lock you out!"


    "Keep dreaming!"


    "Wait a minute, you don''t have the final say!" Suddenly, a wave of protest erupted from the other end of the phone, "Handsome Zhang! We heard what you said!"


    "Are you Guo Yuqian?" Zhang Menglong remembered that one of Lu Yiyao''s roommates seemed to have that name.


    "Yes, Handsome Zhang, you have a great memory!" Guo Yuqian snatched the phone from Lu Yiyao, "We''ll give you a chance to treat us to a meal on Saturday night. Maybe we''ll be so pleased that instead of just not locking Yiyi out, we might even get her drunk and deliver her to your bed!"


    "Hahaha! Exactly, exactly!" Several other voices piped up on the phone, "We''d even help you steal household registration books if you want!"


    "You guys, ah! I''m going to kill you!"


    "Holy shit! Lu Yiyao, you dare to kick us? Just because you have long legs, you think you''re something special?"


    "Having long legs is being special!"


    "Ah! Qianqian don''t mess around!"


    "Handsome Zhang, some people have really good figures, so soft!"


    "Qianqian, you hooligan!"


    "Tear..." Zhang Menglong almost had an image in his head; he originally thought that only boys'' dorms would have such incidents, but the girls'' dorm seemed even messier!


    "All right then, it''s a deal. Saturday, I''ll take you all out for a meal. Don''t forget to bring a bag, I''m afraid you won''t be able to carry all the things I''ll use to bribe you!"


    "Haha! Definitely, definitely!"


    Not knowing what was happening in the girls'' dormitory, the call was directly hung up.


    "Life is truly beautiful!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed and turned to walk into the gigantic bathroom where he could almost swim.


    ...


    "Sure enough, not a single one of them took my word seriously."


    The next day, Zhang Menglong opened his phone; apart from products from Unicorn Technology, on every other website and app, there was news about him and Lu Yiyao everywhere.


    Even several chairpersons and executives of internet giants publicly commented on the matter, unanimously thinking that Zhang Menglong was just trying to attract attention, and they weren''t shy about mocking what seemed to be his ridiculous behavior.


    Not just them, but hordes of netizens were also waiting to see how things would unfold, as it was soon to be 12 o''clock. They wanted to see whether Zhang Menglong was all talk or really had the ability to back it up.


    If he couldn''t do anything by then, the whole internet would likely be laughing at him.


    "Start now, Hong Yi!" Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hong Yi.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang. As of today, the market value of Weibo is 9.212 billion US Dollars, with 30% of the shares controlled by a domestic company called Hongmu Capital and the remaining 70% of the shares in the hands of domestic and international venture capital institutions, with stakes ranging from 1.4% to 17.3%."


    "I don''t understand all that stuff; you just take care of the acquisition for me."


    "Alright Mr. Zhang, give me two hours."


    No sooner had Zhang Menglong put down the phone than Wang Ling called.


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you up to? Did you run away or something?"


    "Run away? I''m busy!"


    "Busy my ass. You put on such a big show last night, and it''s almost 12 o''clock now. We''ll see how you''re going to explain yourself later!" Wang Ling knew Zhang Menglong was wealthy, but acquiring a company wasn''t that simple, to begin with. First of all, you have to get the other party to agree to sell their shares to you.


    Just like with Wanda, most of the stock was in the hands of Wang Ling and his son. Even if Zhang Menglong was loaded with cash, they could just refuse to sell, and he could do nothing about it unless he used some commercial competitive methods to force them to sell their shares, which would likely take a very long time.


    "Busy with what? Busy with purchasing Weibo!"


    "What? Purchasing Weibo?" Wang Ling suddenly twitched at the corner of his mouth, "Weibo''s market cap is close to 10 billion US dollars, and you''re going to purchase it?"


    "What''s wrong, can''t I?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "You''re the man!" Wang Ling was at a loss for words, "Are you serious?"


    "Serious or not, won''t you know in a bit?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. Although he didn''t know how Hong Yi was going to purchase shares of Weibo, he believed that whatever method she used, she would definitely succeed.


    ...


    Less than an hour later, Hong Yi''s call came through.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have now completed the acquisition of 85.25% of the shares, and this portion is all in the hands of people you can fully trust."


    "Damn, that fast?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about this stuff, but with 85.25% of the shares, Weibo was practically under his say-so, as those shareholders represented his will, "What about the rest?"


    "The rest is with a European venture capital firm called Camorra. But those guys are slick. We acquired the 85.25% of the shares at a mere 15% premium over the market price, but even with a 30% stock premium offered to Camorra, they''re not willing to sell. Obviously, they''re looking to make a killing."


    "There are always some unsatisfied people in this world." Although Zhang Menglong didn''t understand the concept of a 30% premium purchase price, the fact that other shares were acquired with only a 15% premium indicated that this percentage wasn''t insignificant.


    "Mr. Zhang, the head of Camorra Venture Capital now wishes to speak with you. If you are willing, I will transfer the call to you."


    "Transfer it over. I''d like to hear just how greedy these Russians can be."


    After a burst of dial tone, a slick middle-aged man''s voice soon came through.


    "Hellow, is that Mr. Zhang speaking?"


    "Don''t speak English to me," said Zhang Menglong, "Can you speak Chinese? If not, piss off!"


    Taking down a small venture capital firm, Zhang Menglong might not know how to go about it, but he believed that with the resources he had, there were ten thousand ways to solve this.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, I am Chavi, the head of Camorra Ventures."


    "What? Trashy Chavi? Never mind, it''s not important. I want to buy the rest of your Weibo shares, name your price."


    "Mr. Zhang is straightforward," came a laugh from the other end of the phone, "I just heard that aside from our shares, the rest has already changed hands not too long ago; it must be through someone under Mr. Zhang, right?"


    "Hm?"


    "I believe Mr. Zhang isn''t short of money. I''m a businessman, naturally, I aim for higher profits. For this part of the shares, I am willing to sell them to you at a 100% premium over the stock price."


    "Doubled?" Zhang Menglong thought this Russian would at most increase to around 50%, but he couldn''t believe his appetite was so big.


    "Trashy Chavi, right? I''ve got money, but you''d better not take me for a fool! 100%? You must be dreaming, buddy!"

 Chapter 63 62: Come to Headquarters to be a Cleaner

    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get angry just yet." Zhang Menglong''s reaction was within Chavi''s expectations; any rational person would explode upon hearing such an excessive price, "Since we are talking business, any condition is up for negotiation, right?"


    "That depends on whether you have the qualifications. A maximum of 30% market premium is already quite generous. If you''re not willing to sell, then I''ll just have to find another way."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you threatening me? But I''m sorry to say, such tactics are ineffective on me."


    "I think I shouldn''t have any problems directly acquiring your venture capital firm, and then you can just get lost."


    "Hahaha," Chavi laughed aloud, "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re very wealthy, but our institution isn''t a publicly listed company. Even if you have all the money in the world, you can''t acquire us."


    "Oh? How can an ordinary company have so much capital to make such numerous investments?" Hong Yi had just told Zhang Menglong that Camona''s external investments totaled over 5 billion US Dollars. Without being a public company, how could it possibly have so much capital?


    "You are correct, Mr. Zhang, we are not an ordinary company; we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kaido Group. I assume you must have heard of Kaido Group before?"


    "Kaido?" Zhang Menglong had heard the name before; it was a company that started with internet and finance and now has a market value of over 400 billion US Dollars, a colossal entity on a global scale.


    "Of course, if Mr. Zhang has the capability to acquire such a company, then I have nothing more to say." Chavi smiled, thinking about the acquisition of a publicly listed company valued at 400 billion US Dollars, especially a foreign one¡ªcould Zhang Menglong possibly do that?


    If he really wanted to fully acquire Weibo, he would have to pay double the money to buy the shares from them.


    "Fine, then I''ll acquire that company!" Zhang Menglong said icily, "Trying to profit from my situation, standing in my way? Do you even know who I am?"


    Zhang Menglong snapped the phone shut with a smack.


    On the other end of the phone, Chavi still wore a confident expression. He knew that before long, Zhang Menglong would come back to him, but by then, the purchase price would be more than 100% over the stock market premium.


    "Hong Yi, acquire the Kaido Group as well," Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Mr. Zhang, that won''t be necessary," said Hong Yi, "I just checked, and the Kaido Group is controlled by the Bradley family. They hold more than 97% of the shares."


    "Are you saying that the Kaido Group is actually already mine?"


    "Yes."


    "Damn it! Can''t you stop shocking me like this? How many companies do I own?"


    "I haven''t compiled a count because your assets are growing explosively every year, and it''s just too much trouble to keep track. It''s not necessary."


    "Alright then, you know what to do. It''s time to replace the person in charge of that venture capital firm. That Chavi, send him to clean toilets."


    "Mr. Zhang, you really are wicked," Hong Yi said with a laugh, "But with his experience, I think it would be quite easy for him to secure a senior position in any venture capital or financial firm."


    "Is that so? Then ban him. If anyone dares to hire him, drive that company into bankruptcy."


    On the other end of the phone, Hong Yi was speechless. When it came to being shameless, Zhang Menglong was indeed the best.


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang. It will be taken care of within half an hour at most."


    ...


    "Hello, trash Cheung?"


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Chavi," Chavi revealed a smug smile. As expected, Zhang Menglong ultimately had to come to him on his own initiative.


    "You just said you would sell me that portion of the stock at 100% over the stock market price, right?" Zhang Menglong asked again.


    "No no no, 100% was just the initial price. Given your rude behavior just now, I think 120% would be more appropriate."


    ```


    "Go to hell!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh, "I''m not here to talk business with you, I''m here to tell you that starting today, you are no longer the general manager of Camona Venture Capital. In a few minutes, the notice from the headquarters should arrive."


    "Clack!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone abruptly.


    "What nonsensical Chinese!" Chavi put down the phone, paying no regard to Zhang Menglong''s final words.


    However, in just a few minutes, Chavi''s phone rang. Seeing the number, he instantly perked up; it was the number of the chairman of their head office, the Kaido Group!


    "Chairman, are you looking for me?" Chavi ditched his formerly arrogant tone. When it came to the big boss of the head office, he did not dare to show any disrespect.


    "Chavi, you''ve made quite a few contributions to the company over the years, haven''t you?" The chairman of the head office spoke in an inscrutable tone.


    "That''s my duty," Chavi suddenly sensed that the chairman''s call that day seemed to be about a promotion!


    Although he was the general manager of this venture capital firm, he was only earning a fixed salary. An annual salary of 500,000 US dollars had long stopped satisfying him. If he could move into the head office, his income would definitely more than double!


    "I''m calling you today to notify you that starting from tomorrow, you don''t need to continue at Camona. Come work at the head office."


    "Really?" Chavi was so excited he almost jumped. He had been waiting for this day for a long time!


    "Of course. Get the handover done in the next couple of days, and you can report to the head office next week."


    "Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!" Chavi thanked him profusely, "Boss, which department should I report to when I get to the head office?"


    "Janitorial department!"


    "Jan... Janitorial department?" Chavi was taken aback, "Boss, you aren''t joking with me, are you?"


    Chavi, a graduate of an Ivy League school with a rich resume, was certainly an elite in the venture capital industry. Their boss actually wanted him to work in janitorial?


    "Do I sound like I''m joking with you? Did you really have the gall to demand excessive compensation from Mr. Zhang? Are you sick of living?"


    "Mr. Zhang? The Mr. Zhang from Huaxia?"


    "I''m telling you, Mr. Zhang is our group''s largest shareholder. You better straighten up!"


    "How is this possible?" Chavi''s hands trembled slightly. What Zhang Menglong had said was not a threat; he truly had the capability! What was even more frightening was that he didn''t even need to buy out the Kaido Group¡ªthe Kaido Group was already his!


    "Well, if you don''t want to do it, you can choose to resign. But I think in the entire venture capital and finance industry, there probably isn''t a single company that would dare hire you. If you don''t believe it, you can try."


    With that, the chairman of Kaido hung up the phone.


    "How can this be?" Chavi had never doubted the chairman''s words; with his prestige in the industry, a single word from him and no one would dare take Chavi in!


    "Janitorial work..." Chavi stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes empty...


    ...


    In less than twenty minutes, Hong Yi called Zhang Menglong to tell him that all the shares had been acquired.


    "Transfer them all to my name," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Mr. Zhang, if an individual''s shareholding exceeds 75%, the company will have to be delisted."


    "Then let it be delisted. From now on, this Weibo will be my personal toy!"


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 64 63: Are you selling your shares?

    When the stock market closed that day, news exploded like a bombshell.


    Today, Weibo''s shares were fully acquired by a mysterious tycoon, and the delisting procedures were even swiftly completed¡ªWeibo has now become a privately held company!


    "What''s happening? Weibo got acquired in just one day?"


    "Weibo is valued at over 90 billion US dollars, and delisting requires over 75% personal shareholding. Does someone actually have 70 billion US dollars in funds?"


    "You can''t calculate it like that. Those shareholders aren''t idiots. They wouldn''t sell such a large batch of shares at the stock market price. The buyer''s funds might be far more than that!"


    "Who on earth did it?"


    "Could it be that big shot named Zhang Menglong?"


    "Yeah, didn''t he say that if those platforms don''t control the messages about his friend by 12 o''clock, he would acquire those platforms'' companies? He wasn''t joking!"


    As if confirming those netizens'' guesses, Zhang Menglong posted the Weibo share certificate on his own Weibo, which stated that Zhang Menglong had become the legal person with 100% of the shares!


    "I did what I said!" There were these five words beside the accompanying picture.


    This Weibo post was undoubtedly a shock to the entire net¡ªa shock that Zhang Menglong had truly fully acquired Weibo in just half a day. How on earth did he do it?


    "Could this be photoshopped?"


    "Right, even if you offer money, it doesn''t mean people are willing to sell."


    "Acquiring Weibo in half a day? That seems too fake, right?"


    Not only were there voices of astonishment, but skepticism was also rampant.


    However, all Weibo users received an official system notice from the platform within a few minutes.


    Weibo Announcement: All users are required to delete any personal information about Mr. Zhang Menglong''s friend within one hour, otherwise, the system will ban the account for 5000 years.


    "Sk... Skynet..."


    "Damn, this is real! Zhang the boss has become a power user!"


    "Banned for 5000 years, does he think we''re immortal monsters?"


    "My account finally gathered a few tens of thousands of followers; I can''t afford to be banned!"


    "Scared, scared, can''t afford to provoke, can''t afford to provoke. This isn''t an iron plate; it''s a nail board, whoever provokes it will be unlucky!"


    The messages about Lu Yiyao began to be swiftly deleted. As Huaxia''s largest community platform, no one wanted their account to be banned.


    "You rock!" Zhang Menglong received a message from Wang Ling.


    "Keep it low-key!" Zhang Menglong replied with a laugh.


    But the event was just beginning. Although Weibo''s traffic was huge, it was only a small part of the entire Internet industry.


    They remembered that it wasn''t just Weibo that Zhang Menglong declared war on, but also other major platforms. This war without smoke was not over yet!


    "You''re not going to continue, are you?" Wang Ling asked.


    "Do I look like someone who just jokes around?" Zhang Menglong replied, "Acquiring Weibo was just a warning. Leave some leeway for the future, right?"


    "How much money do you actually have?" From what Zhang Menglong said, it seemed like there was no company he couldn''t acquire if he wanted to.


    "I''m not sure myself, but buying your family''s Wanda would probably just be a drop in the bucket. Chatting with you for this long, I''ve probably earned a few billion US dollars."


    "Stop it, stop it. I didn''t provoke you, so leave a way out for our family." Wang Ling was no longer able to have a normal conversation with Zhang Menglong¡ªthis guy was simply a beast.


    Wang Ling had struggled to death to make just over ten billion in these few years, yet Zhang Menglong''s few words were worth his years of effort. How was he supposed to compete?


    "Alright, I''ve got to go knock on the doors of other companies. I''ll stop talking for now."


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, and went straight to Weibo to mention several internet giants'' official accounts.


    "Which one shall I start acquiring tomorrow? @Sohu @Tengxun @Baidu..."


    "Going head-to-head, huh? Boss Zhang is invincible, this is outright declaration of war!"


    "I''d like to call you the strongest!"


    "Zhang Menglong, the eternal god!"


    "@Tengxun, Ma Hua, come out and take your beating!"


    "Supporting Boss Zhang in acquiring Tengxun, you gotta increase the odds for the lucky draw, we can even crowdfund for it!"


    "I''m willing to support Boss Zhang with ten bucks!"


    "Shut up, everyone! Does Boss Zhang look like he needs this chump change?"


    "Boss Zhang, need a cleaner at home?"


    ...


    In Pengcheng of Huaxia, within a majestic building, Ma Hua, the Chairman of Tengxun, had just finished dinner when his private phone rang.


    This number was not disclosed to the public and only his relatives and some key business partners knew it.


    "Li Hong? Why would he call me at this hour?" Despite the market competition, the two shared a good personal relationship, occasionally meeting up to have a meal together, sip tea, and discuss their business ideas.


    "Chairman Ma, have you seen the news online?" Li Hong got straight to the point.


    "What news?"


    "That young guy named Zhang Menglong, he has already acquired Weibo, the whole stake!" When Li Hong saw the news, he couldn''t believe it at first. Even with Baidu''s size and resources, acquiring Weibo would be a huge undertaking. And even if they did plan an acquisition, it wouldn''t be possible to complete all the processes in just half a day.


    "What?" Ma Hua had spent the whole day reviewing documents for a new game product and had just taken a break for dinner, only to hear such explosive news.


    When Zhang Menglong posted on Weibo yesterday, it was the first time they had heard of this young man, but they had never taken his words seriously. A man in his twenties, boasting about wanting to acquire Baidu and Tengxun, could that be possible?


    They had regarded Zhang Menglong as nothing more than a clown seeking attention, desperate to become famous.


    But now that he had actually acquired the full stake in Weibo, it was no small matter!


    "Do you think what he said could be true?" Li Hong asked, not knowing why, but he always felt there was something mysterious about this young man.


    "That''s impossible, right? Our companies are both worth hundreds of billions of US Dollars. If he wants to become the chairman, he needs to acquire 51% of the shares. Hundreds of billions of US Dollars, can he afford that?"


    "Indeed, maybe I''m just being paranoid."


    "Hold on, let me take this call!" Ma Hua''s phone suddenly received a call from an unknown number.


    "Ma Xi Ma Xi?" A quite young voice came through from the other end, "May I speak with Chairman Ma?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Hello Chairman Ma, I am Zhang Menglong. You must have heard of me."


    "Zhang Menglong? How do you have my number?" Ma Hua''s number was highly confidential, and in theory, Zhang Menglong shouldn''t know it.


    "That''s not important. I''m calling today because I want to discuss something with Chairman Ma."


    "What is it?"


    "I''m interested in buying all of your shares in Tengxun, would you sell them?"


    Ma Hua''s breathing paused for a moment, "Are you... are you serious?"

 Chapter 65 64: Two Choices for You

    Now, Tengxun''s total market value exceeds 4 trillion Huaxia currency. Although Ma Hua only holds about 10% of Tengxun''s shares, that''s still 400 billion Huaxia currency. How many companies in the world can come up with 400 billion Huaxia currency in capital? Individuals? That''s even more like a fairy tale.


    "Young man, do you know how much my Tengxun shares are worth?"


    "I do," Zhang Menglong said airily, "it''s probably just several hundred billion Huaxia currency, quite a lot indeed."


    "Quite a lot?" Ma Hua repeated Zhang Menglong''s words¡ª400 billion, and just a casual "quite a lot" to gloss over it?


    "How about this, if Mr. Ma is willing, I''d like to buy all the shares you hold at a 20% premium over the stock market price. I wonder if you''d be interested."


    "Are you joking?"


    "What about 30%?" Zhang Menglong casually added another 10%.


    "It''s not... what I mean is..."


    "Then 40%, no more!" Zhang Menglong declared, "When I acquired Weibo, there was this old Russian who wanted to bite off more than he could chew, asking for a 100% premium over the stock market price to sell that portion of shares. Mr. Ma, you shouldn''t emulate such people."


    "Are you talking about Kamolov Venture Capital''s Chavy?"


    "You know him?"


    "More than that, I''ve dealt with him several times," Ma Hua said helplessly, "Our company had plans to acquire Weibo a couple of years ago, but that bastard actually wanted a 50% premium, simply extortionate!"


    "Damn, what the hell? He only wants 50% from you guys, but 100% from me? Looks down on me?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt he had been too lenient in punishing him.


    "How exactly did you manage to get those shares from him?" Ma Hua asked curiously. Based on his understanding of Chavy, he was a pure businessman dedicated only to benefits. Without meeting his price, there was no way he would budge."


    "There was no particular tactic. The parent company behind Kamolov Venture Capital is mine. I just transferred him to the head office to work as a janitor, and the rest was easy."


    "Their parent company is yours?"


    "Yes." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "That Okaido Group?"


    "Right, you seem to know quite a bit, Mr. Ma!" Zhang Menglong complimented.


    "I am a businessman!" Ma Hua stated earnestly. The Okaido Group was worth over 400 billion US dollars, as grand as their Tengxun and not a bit weaker. This group, it''s Zhang Menglong''s?


    Now Ma Hua seemed to know why Zhang Menglong could so effortlessly acquire Weibo. The Unicorn Group was his, the Okaido Group was his¡ªwho dared to say that these two companies were the only ones under Zhang Menglong''s control?


    "Where on earth did this kid spring from?" Ma Hua racked his brain thinking if there was any notable person surnamed Zhang, but try as he might, he couldn''t match anyone to Zhang Menglong.


    Logically speaking, if there really was such a remarkable person in the country, he, Ma Teng, should not have been oblivious to any news about him.


    "Could it be that I''m out of the loop?" Ma Hua fell into deep thought.


    "Mr. Ma, back to the main topic, are you selling the shares or not?"


    "I..." Having lorded over the internet industry in Huaxia and commanded respect in Feng Yun for so many years, this was the first time Ma Hua had ever encountered someone pestering him to sell his own shares.


    "Wait, you''re buying my shares just to block your friend''s news?" Ma Hua sought confirmation.


    Spending hundreds of billions of Huaxia currency to acquire a company''s shares just to hide information for a girl, does this person have a problem with their brain or just too much money with nowhere to spend it?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong hesitated for a moment, "Half and half, I guess. The other half I just get angry about. I''ve been playing your Tengxun games for over a decade, and with all those 10% chance lotteries, I''ve never won once. You guys must have rigged something, right? Once I acquire Tengxun, I''m going to fire every single person involved in game numerical planning!"


    Ma Hua''s mouth twitched. What sort of mighty reasoning was this? You''re spending hundreds of billions, and you could just top up any game you want, 648 after 648, what item can''t you get? Why would you use tens of thousands times the cost to acquire a company? Are you sick?


    "Look, even if you buy all the shares I hold, you still can''t become the chairman of Tengxun!" Ma Hua seemed to believe that Zhang Menglong truly had the ability to acquire part of his shares, but to become the chairman, you need to have 51% of the shares, which would cost 2 trillion Huaxia currency. Converted into US dollars, that''s 300 billion US dollars!


    Even the current richest man in the world only has a personal wealth of 150 billion US dollars. Could he be richer than the world''s richest man?


    "Zhang Menglong? Zhang Menglong?" Just then, the voice on the phone suddenly stopped.


    "Sorry, I just went to make a financial transaction. Mr. Ma, you should be receiving a call shortly."


    True to Zhang Menglong''s words, no sooner had he finished speaking than Ma Hua''s phone rang. It was a very special number, one that only a certain team knew about¡ªthe team responsible for handling his personal assets and accounts!


    "Ma... Mr. Ma..."


    "What is it? Stop mumbling. I have an urgent matter, so speak quickly!"


    "We have just received a message from a Swiss Bank to one of your accounts. A sum of 500 billion US dollars is going to be deposited into your account. But you don''t have any accounts with the Swiss Bank, and it will be quite troublesome to transfer it directly to a Huaxia bank, so they are asking if you want to open an account with them."


    "Smash!" The phone in Ma Hua''s hand was instantly crushed on the ground, shattering the screen.


    He picked up his phone incredulously, still on the line with Zhang Menglong, "This 500 billion US dollars... you transferred this?"


    "Otherwise?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "But I didn''t plan to give it to you yet. I''m just letting you know that I, Zhang Menglong, can fork out the money!"


    "I... damn it..." Ma Hua, who had always been very mindful of his composure, couldn''t help but curse out loud. What world''s richest man? In front of Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man was just a pauper!


    "Let''s do this, Mr. Ma. If you do not want to sell the shares, it''s okay. But as I said on Weibo, I hope that within two hours, I can see Tengxun do what I want them to do. Otherwise, I might have to think of other methods."


    "Alright, you go ahead, I''m going to call Li Hong of Baidu now. By the way, what is his bank account number? I''ll transfer some money to him first to save us the half-day hassle of talking later."


    ...


    It took a few minutes for Ma Hua to recover from the deep shock. The fund from Zhang Menglong had already been withdrawn, but those few minutes of interaction had left a deep shadow in his heart.


    Soon, Li Hong''s phone rang again.


    "Old Ma, did you also get his call?"


    "Yes, and you?"


    "Just finished with him. Boy, a direct transfer of 500 billion US dollars, just like that. I''ve been in this business for so many years, confident that I could keep my composure even if Mount Tai crumbled in front of me, but my hands are still shaking."


    "Who''s telling me? " Ma Hua glanced at his own hands, still trembling continuously.


    "What should we do?"


    "What else can we do? We need to have a meeting right away, to remove any information we can and block what we can''t!"


    "Sigh... That''s all we can do for now. Who would have thought we could be knocked down by a young guy with money..."

 Chapter 66 65 They Were All Afraid

    "Everyone, open the online meeting immediately, we have an urgent task! Anyone not appearing in the meeting within ten minutes, prepare your resignation tomorrow!"


    All the senior executives of Tengxun almost received the message from Ma Hua at the same time.


    In less than five minutes, all the notified executives had appeared in the online meeting.


    "President Ma, what on earth has happened that is so urgent you had to call us all together?" a technical director asked curiously.


    "From now on, block and censor any information about that female friend of Zhang Menglong from all of our Tengxun platforms."


    "President Ma, is that really necessary? You''re not scared just because of the threat from that youngster named Zhang Menglong, are you?" one of Tengxun''s shareholders said.


    Blocking and censoring information was a minor issue for them, almost too easy for their technology team, which could handle it in a short time.


    But by taking such action, wouldn''t they be indirectly admitting that they were afraid of Zhang Menglong?


    A publicly listed company with a trillion Huaxia currency market value, an internet industry titan, bowing down to a twenty-something-year-old, would be utterly laughable, and from then on, it could even become a dark piece of history.


    "Exactly, President Ma, even if he did acquire Weibo, with such a huge amount of capital, he must be significantly weakened. Even if we Tengxun wanted to acquire Weibo, we would need to recover for a while before doing so. Can he possibly be the richest person in the world?"


    "President Ma, there is really no need for this."


    "Enough!" Ma Hua slammed the table hard, "He is not the richest person in the world, he has more money than the richest man damn it!"


    Facing the questions of his subordinates and shareholders, Ma Hua''s anger was ignited instantly, and it was Zhang Menglong who just called me, wanting to buy all of my Tengxun shares, at a premium of up to 40%!


    Everyone fell silent, seeing Ma Hua lose his temper like this for the first time.


    "That''s impossible! How could he have that much capital? Not even the world''s largest company could do that!"


    "Idiots, he''s already dumped 500 billion US Dollars directly into my bank account, do you think I''m joking with you?" Ma Hua was even somewhat hysterical.


    "500 billion?"


    "And in US Dollars?"


    "That could buy more than 50% of the shares."


    "Not just me, such a large sum of money, even if refunded, would take hours to process, and a few minutes later, Li Hong told me that he also received 500 billion US Dollars!"


    At this point, everyone was dumbfounded as the entire video conference fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop.


    So, according to Ma Hua, in just a few minutes, Zhang Menglong had pulled out 1 trillion US Dollars in cash?


    To know, even for Amaxon, the total assets amount to only 1.65 trillion!


    They even began to suspect whether Ma Hua was so overworked lately that he had started to hallucinate?


    "With the money he has, not to mention buying my shares, it''s possible he could buy our entire company!" Ma Hua wasn''t just being alarmist; given Zhang Menglong''s high-profile behavior and his carefree character, it really wasn''t impossible.


    "I want results within an hour! Deploy immediately!"


    "Yes, President Ma, we''re on it right away!"


    "Damn it, I''m convinced by this madness!"


    "Get to work, get to work!"


    Exactly such a scene, nearly play-by-play, was happening over at Baidu.


    Half an hour later, all mentions of Lu Yiyao disappeared without a trace from Baidu, Huaxia''s largest search engine, as if they had never existed, and Tengxun News, Tengxun Weibo, various top headlines were taken down as well.


    Accounts that refused to delete posts or related information were immediately banned, everything was identical to the products under the Unicorn Group!


    "Thank you for your cooperation, gentlemen, I''m very satisfied, so I don''t plan to acquire Tengxun and Baidu for the time being."


    Zhang Menglong posted another shocking update on Weibo.


    "He... he really did it? They all backed down!"


    "What on earth did he do? The information on Baidu and Tengxun, it''s all really gone."


    "Wait, what does ''for the time being'' mean? My mind is blown."


    "Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! I''m truly convinced this time!"


    "A friend from Baidu told me they just had an emergency meeting, and apparently, Boss Zhang gave Boss Ma and Boss Li two options, either buy their company or block the news. I thought he was just bullshitting."


    "Having money really means you can do whatever you want¡ªLu Xun."


    "If Lu Xun heard that, he''d curse all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to the Three-Flavor Study."


    "Big bro, please accept my kowtow."


    "A friend of mine wants to ask if Boss Zhang is short of dogs, you know, the kind that walk on two legs."


    "Funny, that''s exactly what my friend wanted to ask."


    ...


    "What about you guys?" As the incident''s heat continued to ferment, at this moment, Zhang Menglong tagged a bunch of slightly smaller companies.


    "Boss Zhang, please have mercy, we''ll delete it right away!"


    "My bad, my bad, won''t dare again, won''t dare again."


    "You''re the big brother, we can''t afford to mess with you!"


    Most internet companies directly chose to chicken out, what could they do, even their big bro chickened out, could they not chicken out? None of these internet company bosses were fools.


    "What''s Zhang Menglong? We just won''t delete. If you have the guts, come and buy us out!" A company called Tear Soul Technology actually stepped forward, directly challenging Zhang Menglong.


    "Holy shit? Are you that tough guy? Bro, your company is gonna be gone in no time!"


    "Desperate for attention, huh? Do you think Boss Zhang is joking?"


    "Here''s a suggestion, just kneel and apologize, or it won''t be about whether you soar or not, but whether your company will even exist."


    "I get it, you guys only see the second layer, their boss is already out in the stratosphere!"


    "Can someone explain what the guy upstairs is saying?"


    "Think about it, even the two big giants caved, how rich and powerful must Boss Zhang be? If their companies get bought out, they''ll be working for Boss Zhang. Could their treatment be bad?"


    "Bro, that''s some unique thinking! Literally a corporate level of understanding."


    "That really is the logic, worthy of a big V, full marks for this analysis!"


    With this example, many companies actually started to mimic, as if they couldn''t wait for Zhang Menglong to hurry up and buy them out.


    "Damn, what the hell are these people thinking?" Seeing those companies crying out with such gusto, Zhang Menglong was suddenly speechless, "Trying to trick me into buying you out, do you think I''m a Muggle?"


    Zhang Menglong immediately made a call to the chief technical officer of Weibo.


    "Boss Zhang... You''re calling me at this time, is there something you need?" Although they had gotten a new boss less than half a day ago, the CTO was quick on the uptake.


    "See those companies causing a ruckus? Change all their verified names for me!"


    "Change to what?"


    "You figure it out!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, look, Tear Soul Technology''s verified name got changed!" An eagle-eyed netizen quickly noticed something funny.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong''s idiot son, hahahaha!"


    "Zhulu Technology''s verification got changed too, ''Born without an asshole,'' hahaha!"


    "And this one too, ''My Husband Only Lasts Three Seconds,'' hahaha!"


    "My Three Lifetimes with a Pig, hahaha, I can''t take it anymore!"


    "It must be Boss Zhang''s doing, he''s the king of permissions after all, and they dared to make noise on Weibo!"


    "Hahaha!"


    Tonight on Weibo was destined to be full of joy.


    ...

 Chapter 67 66: I have always impressed people with money.

    "Mr. Zhang, looking for a girlfriend again?" The next day when Zhang Menglong arrived at Gusu University, the security guard at the gate had already recognized him.


    Although it had only been a day, Zhang Menglong had completely become a household-name internet celebrity, with even the streets and alleys buzzing about the recent events.


    The top-tier internet celebrity Mina was banned, liberally throwing billions around to make Wang Ling admit in front of all the netizens that she was the chairperson of Unicorn Group, acquiring Weibo, forcing internet giants like Tengxun and Baidu to back down.


    All these seemingly outrageous acts had happened in just a day and a half, hinting at the young man''s terrifying background and wealth.


    Even a security guard, as long as he hadn''t disconnected from the internet, couldn''t possibly be unaware of Zhang Menglong''s affairs, especially since Zhang Menglong had made such a spectacle at the school gate just yesterday.


    "Yeah, it shouldn''t be a problem for me to go in, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Of course, of course," the security hurriedly lifted the entrance barrier. How could he dare to stop Zhang Menglong? If he did, based on the events of the past two days, he would either lose his job, or Zhang Menglong might just buy Gusu University.


    Although Gusu University was directly under the Ministry of Education, who knew what godly, earth-shattering moves Zhang Menglong might pull off? To regard him as just another rich second generation would be utterly foolish.


    "Mr. Zhang, care for a cigarette?" The guard jogged up to Zhang Menglong and offered him a cigarette.


    "One won''t do, I usually take a pack," Zhang Menglong replied.


    The expression on the guard''s face froze instantly, was this the world of the wealthy, where even offering cigarettes was done by the pack?


    "Hahaha, just kidding, I don''t smoke, thank you though!" Zhang Menglong thanked him and drove straight into Gusu University.


    Zhang Menglong had visited Gusu University two days ago and, coupled with yesterday''s news, he had already become a central topic of conversation. His car had been widely shared on the students'' social media, and the moment he appeared on campus, countless students gathered around.


    "Holy shit! Zhang Menglong is here again! He''s back!"


    "Why scream, can you just shout my husband''s name like that?"


    "Hahaha, don''t be jealous, he''s obviously here for Lu Yiyao, it''s none of your business!"


    "Shush! Dare to say that name? Did you forget what Zhang Menglong did for him yesterday? He acquired Weibo, even Tengxun and Baidu backed down, if you''re overheard, you might be sent to Africa to mine coal!"


    "I''m so envious. How great would it be if I were Lu Yiyao?"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong parked his car under Lu Yiyao''s dormitory building. They had made plans today to go see an international art exhibition. Zhang Menglong quickly sent Lu Yiyao a message, "I''m under your dorm building, hurry up and come down!"


    "I''m already down here!"


    "What? How come I didn''t see you?"


    "Left front, the one with a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, that''s me!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong looked in the direction Lu Yiyao described, and when he saw her, he couldn''t help but burst out laughing, "Hahaha, what are you doing, dressed like a big star?"


    "You''re still making fun of me! It''s all because of you!" Lu Yiyao, under the gaze of countless eyes, fled into Zhang Menglong''s car, "All the mess you made, even if I weren''t famous before, I''d be famous now because of your antics!"


    "I wanted to keep it low-key too, but my capability wouldn''t allow it."


    "You''re still the most cunning!" Lu Yiyao said, "No matter where you go, you always stir up big trouble, and you still have the nerve to claim you''re low-key? If you''re low-key, then there''s no such thing as high-profile in this world."


    "If a man isn''t a bit cunning, what''s the difference from a salted fish? That saying is actually a classic quote by Mr. Lu Xun."


    "Keep it up, I''ll hold Mr. Lu Xun''s coffin board down for you."


    "I really can''t blame myself for this, I just want to be a quiet, handsome guy, but some people keep bothering me. There''s nothing I can do about it," Zhang Menglong said innocently, "I also don''t want to disrupt your life too much because of my involvement."


    "Fine, you win," Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes. Perhaps from the day she met Zhang Menglong online, it was destined that she wouldn''t remain unnoticed, "Ah, poor choice in friends."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong drove away from Gusu University with Lu Yiyao, and many students took photos. However, these photos could only be shared within a small circle because of Tengxun''s interference; they couldn''t even post them to their Moments. This time, it didn''t attract much attention.


    Before coming to Gusu City, Zhang Menglong had heard from Wang Ling about a large-scale international art exhibition held by a group of European artists. Not only would some of their works be present, but even some of the world''s most famous masterpieces might appear at this exhibition.


    In the days leading up to the exhibition, the media had already started the preliminary hype. The most eye-catching news was that even Da Vinci''s "Mona Lisa" had been brought out of the Louvre for a global tour.


    As of 1920, the "Mona Lisa" had already been appraised at over 3 billion US dollars. In modern times, even some replicas had been auctioned for tens of millions of dollars, showing the incredible artistic value of this painting.


    Of course, with such a world''s treasure on exhibit globally, security was a major concern. The organizers and collaborators deployed meticulous security measures; the protective force was even comparable to a small army. Even an entire division would likely not be able to damage the artwork.


    "It''s no wonder it''s Gusu City''s international convention center; it really is grand. Even this underground parking garage is filled with luxury cars," Zhang Menglong said as he parked the car in the underground garage, which was practically a luxury car showroom filled with vehicles worth millions.


    "It sounds right, but it feels kind of weird hearing that from you."


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "It seems you''re getting to know me better."


    "I was forced to get to know you!"


    As they bantered, the two made their way from the parking garage up to the entrance of the convention center. Because of the high volume of people, it was strictly required for everyone entering the exhibition hall to wear masks, which made Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao less conspicuous.


    After all, in such a world-class event, many art students flocked to the scene. Zhang Menglong''s popularity among students was well-known, even without having to think about it.


    "Wow, there are so many people!" Once back on the ground, seeing the winding queue, Zhang Menglong was momentarily speechless, "It''ll take hours to get through this line, we won''t even get through the entrance!"


    This exhibition featured numerous world-famous paintings, a rare opportunity that occurred only once. Moreover, this event in Gusu City was the only instance in Huaxia, lasting only for a brief week. Artists, painting enthusiasts, and art school students from across the country had all come upon hearing of the event.


    The scale was foreseeable; the crowd was overflowing every day, and even the organizers had to take special measures such as limiting the number of people and the time allowed inside.


    Even if you had money and status, you could only stay inside for a maximum of two hours.


    "Why do you have such a long face?" Zhang Menglong glanced at Lu Yiyao''s expression.


    "Ah, I knew we should have set off earlier today. At this rate, we might only get in by evening."


    "Queue up with Zhang Menglong to see the exhibition?"


    "Hey, I''m a person of high quality; I won''t skip the queue with you!"


    "Cut it out, how could I possibly skip the queue? I''m a very reasonable person," Zhang Menglong said.


    "What are you up to now?" Lu Yiyao suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Zhang Menglong smiled mysteriously, then patted the student-looking person ahead, "Hey, buddy, can we discuss something?"


    "What is it?" The guy in front, already very impatient, exuded a grumpy aura.


    "100,000 cash, let us queue in front of you, will you?"


    "Is this what you call being reasonable?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but laugh and cry.


    Zhang Menglong said righteously, "I''m a man who believes in using money to solve problems!"

 Chapter 68 67 Mainly Hopes Everyone is Happy

    "Is that really true?" Although he was wearing a mask, the boy''s pupils dilated in surprise for an instant, several times their normal size.


    "Of course it''s true. If you don''t believe me, I''ll transfer the money right now," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Deal!" The boy immediately took out his phone and opened his payment code.


    "Ding, your account has received 100,000 yuan!" As the clear electronic tone sounded, the boy''s hands began to tremble. It was actually true¡ªthe 100,000 yuan had really appeared in his account.


    "I just remembered that I have something to do this afternoon. I''ll give you my spot; I''ve got to go," the boy hurriedly stuffed the number tag into Zhang Menglong''s hand. Entry to the art exhibition would be according to the sequence on the number tags.


    It was as if he feared that Zhang Menglong had made such a move on an impulse, and if he came to his senses and wanted the money back, then it would have been all for nothing.


    With this thought, the boy decided to leave immediately. Even if Zhang Menglong regretted it later and wanted to find someone, he wouldn''t be able to find him.


    Although the art exhibition was a rare event, he had just arrived, and there were at least a hundred people ahead of him. Considering the speed of entry, even by evening, it might not be his turn. To earn a 100,000 yuan just by giving up his spot¡ªit would be foolish not to make such a transaction.


    Most of these art students probably couldn''t even make 100,000 yuan a year after graduating. Walking away with this money now would be delightful.


    "Did that guy just run off that fast?" In just a few seconds, the boy had vanished out of sight.


    "Zhang Menglong, does your family specialize in printing money?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t understand Zhang Menglong''s behavior with her more than 20 years of thinking. Her family background was somewhat special, and she usually lived frugally at school. Zhang Menglong''s way of spending 100,000 yuan as if it were 10 yuan was something she simply couldn''t understand.


    "Although my family doesn''t specialize in printing money, the speed at which we make it is probably faster than a money printer," Zhang Menglong said. Strictly speaking, probably more than half of the world''s population was directly or indirectly making money for his family.


    And to Zhang Menglong, 100,000 yuan really wasn''t much different from 10 yuan!


    "But it''s useless even if you do this. There are still hundreds of people ahead, and you''ve just wasted a 100,000 yuan for nothing," Lu Yiyao was somewhat speechless.


    "Yes, buying one person''s spot is useless, but what if I buy every single person''s spot in line ahead of us?" After saying that, Zhang Menglong patted the shoulder of the person in front of them.


    "Miss, would you sell your spot for 100,000 yuan?"


    "Sell! Of course, I''ll sell!" The girl in front had heard their conversation when Zhang Menglong was making the payment. She had been hoping that the same sucker would spend another 100,000 yuan to buy her place.


    To her surprise, her wish suddenly came true.


    Money for spot, the transaction was quick and easy. In no time at all, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had moved up another place in the queue.


    "Hello, sir..."


    "Handsome, short on cash?"


    "Lady, how about a deal?"


    "Brother, let me tell your fortune¡ªI foresee a lack of money..."


    ...


    With money paving the way, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao advanced smoothly forward. Even people ahead in line had heard the news and had their payment codes ready for him to approach.


    Some even regretted not bringing their boyfriends or girlfriends, or other friends and relatives. If they had ten people queueing here, they could have made enough for a down payment on a house.


    "This guy must have a problem in his head, right? This is probably going to cost him tens of millions!"


    "Yeah, he could just go to the very front and buy someone''s number for 100,000 yuan. Any normal person would likely agree to that, right?"


    "Exactly, could this guy be showing off just because he has too much money?"


    "Brother, do you feel like this person looks really familiar?"


    "You feel that too? I do as well!"


    Lu Yiyao followed behind Zhang Menglong with a face full of shock. This wasn''t how one was supposed to play the game, yet Zhang Menglong''s antics outshone even his own chattering mouth.


    "Hey, brother, don''t waste money buying them one by one. How about I sell you me and my girlfriend''s queue slot for half a million dollars?" Finally, someone in front couldn''t hold back anymore, "Look, there are just over a dozen people between you and us. You''d have to spend over a million dollars to reach my spot. What a loss!"


    "That won''t do, I''m a person of quality," Zhang Menglong said, "I can''t let those queued behind you suffer, can I?"


    "If I give you our slot directly and we move to your spot, wouldn''t that solve the issue?" A difference of a dozen people meant, at most, a couple more hours of waiting. For half a million dollars in one hour, they''d gladly take the deal a hundred times over!


    "That works, then!" Zhang Menglong nodded, as this wouldn''t negatively affect anyone else.


    "Damn! Are you sick in the head?"


    "Right, there are so many people behind us too!"


    The dozen people stuck between them immediately showed displeasure.


    Indeed, according to this exchange method, they would remain in their original positions without any loss, but Zhang Menglong would have effectively skipped them, preventing them from making that money.


    "Brother, our spots are even further ahead than his, we''ll sell for 450,000!" The people in front also got anxious, fearing that someone at the very front might suddenly realize they could do the same.


    "Damn, stealing our business? Brother, I''ll take just 400,000!"


    "Handsome, I''ll do it for 300,000!"


    "These damn dogs, can''t we all just make a hundred thousand each and be happy? Isn''t that good enough?" The people behind started grinding their teeth in frustration, but what could they do? Their spots weren''t as advantageous, leaving them without room to compete.


    As for those behind Zhang Menglong, they were simply relieved. Had the others thought of this earlier, they wouldn''t have earned a single cent.


    "Damn it, is it easy for me to spend money?" Zhang Menglong originally planned to spend over ten million, but at this rate, a few million would suffice.


    So far, he had completed less than 20% of his 100-billion-dollar task. Last time, after acquiring Weibo, that amount of money hadn''t even been counted towards his expenses, leaving Zhang Menglong frustrated for a long time.


    Showed off, money spent, and yet it doesn''t count?


    "Enough shouting!" Just then, the two people at the very front finally heard the commotion behind them. A look of smug satisfaction spread across their faces, as they held the most advantageous position in the competition.


    "Brother, for just half a million, we''ll sell you two spots right now, and in no more than 10 minutes it will be the next group''s turn to enter.


    "No need," Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    "You don''t want to move forward anymore?" The young man at the front asked in astonishment.


    "No, of course I want to keep moving forward; I just think my method is quite good."


    "Ten thousand dollars a person, and there are still forty or fifty people. You''ll have to spend a few million more!" That guy even doubted if Zhang Menglong had a problem with his brain. Why would anyone spend ten times more money on something that could be settled for just a few hundred thousand? Wasn''t that idiotic?


    "Money''s not the issue," Zhang Menglong said impassively, "my main goal is just to make everyone happy."

 Chapter 69 68 Our Family Likes to Do Charity Work

    ```


    "What a fierce reason, but I like it!"


    "This guy is really loaded."


    Even though only his eyes were showing, my intuition tells me he must be a handsome guy!"


    "You think his transfer gesture is handsome, right?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Everyone, just show your QR codes for payment, I''m in a hurry," Zhang Menglong saw that the staff at the entrance were starting to arrange for the next group to enter.


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone quickly took out their phones and stood in a row waiting for him to come forward.


    "Fine, a hundred thousand it is. It''s better than nothing!" Although the person at the front of the line was somewhat unwilling, there was nothing he could do. The other party simply didn''t care how much they spent; what mattered to them was whether they were happy or not.


    "Handsome guy, it''s my turn," the sleazy-looking man at the front extended his phone towards Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s okay, this spot is fine, no need to move forward," Zhang Menglong put away his phone, not intending to transfer any more money, "I just heard someone say that each group can enter 5 people at a time, so I only need to be in the first five. There''s no need to spend money that serves no purpose."


    "You... are you playing me?" the sleazy man suddenly became a bit rageful.


    "Playing you?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Why would I play you? Who are you, anyway, to be worthy?"


    Getting scolded for no reason, Zhang Menglong also felt quite frustrated, as if he owed the guy money. Being willing to spend a certain amount of money was one thing, but needing to spend it was another.


    As long as the spending was worth it, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t mind. After all, money was just a number to him. But if there was no difference whether the money was spent or not, why bother?


    "Ridiculous!" Zhang Menglong muttered, then walked into the art exhibition venue with Lu Yiyao, following the staff''s directions.


    "I remember now, this person seems to be Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, someone in the queue finally recognized his identity.


    "Damn, I thought so. This attitude of spending money without batting an eye, it''s him."


    "Seeing him in person, my God, just like the legend, he''s like a money-splurging kid!"


    ...


    After presenting their IDs and having their temperatures checked, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao smoothly entered the venue. It was just as crowded as they imagined, almost comparable to the lantern festivals from more than a decade ago.


    This exhibition boasted nearly a thousand famous paintings from around the world. Painters whose names one could find in art textbooks were almost all represented at this event with their works.


    "Strange, why are you interested in art pieces?" To tell the truth, Zhang Menglong had some musical talent, but when it came to painting, he was like a black hole. The paintings he produced couldn''t even be described with the term ''abstract''.


    "Art is interconnected. I like music, so I''m also interested in art."


    "Yeah, right. You''re probably just interested in me and used seeing an art exhibition as an excuse to ask me out, didn''t you?"


    Lu Yiyao had long been accustomed to Zhang Menglong''s occasional off-script antics. She rolled her eyes at him and then focused her attention on the world-famous paintings.


    "This area features works from the Renaissance period, which hold great significance in both their artistic and historical value. I didn''t expect there to be so many; the organizers really have some clout!" Lu Yiyao was full of praise for these paintings.


    ```


    "What historical significance could a painting possibly have?" For most people, these world-famous paintings are precious works of art, the realm they pursue their entire lives, and even their faith.


    But for Zhang Menglong, the mural in the entrance hall of his home is a world-famous painting, the wall opposite the toilet in his bathroom is a world-famous painting, and the hanging wall art on his bedside table is a world-famous painting. To him, these things are just like newspapers and magazines to ordinary people.


    His family''s legacy spans 5,000 years. For his elders, that history was just yesterday''s news, and those world-famous paintings might have simply been something they casually bought because they took a liking to some impoverished artist''s decent work.


    As time passed and art fermented, those paintings once deemed unworthy of even the trash bin transformed into universally acclaimed masterpieces.


    Of course, this kind of feeling is incomprehensible to outsiders.


    "Ah, you don''t understand," Lu Yiyao said, "This art exhibition is practically a segment of modern and contemporary painting history!"


    "But it seems to me that it''s pretty much like my family''s library, no, maybe not even up to the standard of my family''s library."


    "Library?" Lu Yiyao didn''t grasp what Zhang Menglong meant. What would it take to build a library in one''s home?


    "Yes, my ancestors and elders have always liked to collect these things." Zhang Menglong looked up at the ceiling, reminiscing, "Take Picasso''s artworks for instance, there''s about forty thousand of them in existence, right?"


    "Probably around 37,000." Lu Yiyao gave a more precise figure.


    "Actually, the number is far beyond that," Zhang Menglong said, "He actually created over eighty thousand paintings in his lifetime, a third of which were produced in his last ten years."


    "That''s impossible. According to what you''re saying, where did the other forty thousand plus pieces go? Were they destroyed?"


    "They''re piled up in my library!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "You have no idea how much space these things take up. And those paintings... they all look like gibberish, hey, don''t look at me like that, I really don''t understand his art..."


    "Over forty thousand..." Although she hadn''t seen them with her own eyes, based on her knowledge of Zhang Menglong so far, what he said could very well be true.


    It is said that Picasso''s paintings, up until now, fetched at least 1.5 million US Dollars each at auctions, and the priciest one, "The Women of Algiers," sold for a staggering 179 million US Dollars.


    The average value of Picasso''s paintings exceeded ten million US Dollars each, so wouldn''t those forty thousand plus paintings be worth several hundred billion US Dollars?


    Thinking of this figure, Lu Yiyao didn''t know how to continue the conversation.


    "Your family couldn''t only have Picasso''s paintings, right?" Lu Yiyao asked as if possessed.


    "Of course not, we have works from Michelangelo, Paul Ce?zanne, Da Vinci, you name it. Maybe not as many, but we have them," Zhang Menglong continued.


    "Oh right, and Van Gogh''s paintings. He wasn''t famous during his lifetime, so one of my ancestors bought a lot of them at a low price, over 1,200 in total, which cost just a few hundred thousand US Dollars according to today''s purchasing power.


    "A few hundred thousand for over 1,200 Van Gogh paintings?" Lu Yiyao''s expression froze. That would be an increase of tens of millions of times in value now, wouldn''t it?


    Now she understood why Zhang Menglong was so wealthy. For a family with such a long legacy, it would be difficult not to have money!


    "Right, in my bedroom there''s also a plus version of Van Gogh''s ''Starry Sky,'' about five meters by three meters in size. My ancestor back then probably spent what would be 80 US Dollars today. Van Gogh was nearly starving to death. Actually, my ancestor didn''t want his paintings, but he felt so sorry for the poor artist, he spent the money just to help him out."


    "So by that account, your ancestor was actually engaging in charity?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong sighed, "It''s a family tradition. Our family likes doing charity. When travelling in Europe in the old times, they would often help some destitute musicians and painters. Those things, it would''ve been disrespectful to throw them away, so they had no choice but to stack them all up somewhere. Who knew they''d be so valuable now."


    "Are you even speaking human language?" Listening to Zhang Menglong''s tone, she felt like he was making it seem as if he was very aggrieved. This wasn''t charity, this was clearly an investment! And not just any investment, but one with ten thousand percent, or even a million percent return!

 Chapter 70 69: I, Zhang, bought them all.

    "Oh? All these paintings even have price tags?" Suddenly, Zhang Menglong noticed that some of the works had a tag underneath, which not only introduced the painting and the artist but even listed a price, with a long string of zeros at the end.


    "I heard that many paintings at this exhibition are for sale," Lu Yiyao said, "not all the works are from formal organizations or museums, but some are from private collectors who want to use this opportunity to sell their works for a good price."


    "That sounds pretty good," Wang Ling had warned Zhang Menglong before they arrived not to do anything foolish, but Zhang Menglong had already tossed his words to the back of his mind. As long as he wasn''t stealing or robbing, everything was legal, so why not?


    Although Zhang Menglong couldn''t appreciate art, these works were priced in the millions and even billions of US Dollars. Perhaps he could complete a significant part of the $100 billion task today!


    "Wait, you''re not planning to buy all these paintings, are you?" Seeing the expression on Zhang Menglong''s face, Lu Yiyao suddenly realized what he was about to do.


    "I just remembered, the rooms of my nannies, drivers, and chefs seem to be missing some wall paintings, not to mention their communal bathrooms lack something as well."


    "Zhang Menglong, I think you''re insane!" Lu Yiyao said seriously, watching him. If he decorated his own room that lavishly, so be it, and even glamming up the bathroom could be tolerable, right?


    But to hang world-famous paintings in the bathrooms and rooms of household staff? Wasn''t that like having hemorrhoids in his brain? Could he really not stand not spending money?


    "That''s right, I am sick, but it''s not a mental illness!"


    "Then what is it?"


    "Love-sickness!" Zhang Menglong said slickly.


    "Hmph, tui!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong did not suppress his voice; in this incredibly crowded venue, where people were just inches away from each other, Zhang Menglong could even smell the body odor of a fat woman in front of him, so naturally, people around could hear what he was saying.


    This young man actually wants to buy all the paintings here?


    Keep in mind, the threshold for this art exhibition was extremely high. Those messy paintings couldn''t catch the eyes of the organizers, and this wasn''t an auction¡ªthere was no price jacking, so all the paintings were at a fixed price.


    The cheapest one was valued at over $500,000! Could a young man in his twenties afford that?


    "These young people these days don''t have much skill, but they do have big mouths," the smelly fat woman and a greasy man beside her said mockingly.


    "Hehehe, just a kid, trying to save some face in front of a girl, understandable."


    "True, just two poor students. If this exhibition weren''t free, I bet they couldn''t even afford the tickets."


    Zhang Menglong''s ears twitched; at such close range, and as these two were not whispering, how could he not hear their undisguised mockery?


    "Snap!" With a crisp sound, Zhang Menglong''s car keys suddenly dropped to the floor, the Koenigsegg logo gleaming under the light, catching the eyes of some sharp-eyed individuals.


    If it had been before, compared to world-renowned sports cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari, Koenigsegg might not have been known by everyone, but after Zhang Menglong''s incident, Koenigsegg''s fame had increased significantly.


    "Holy crap! A Koenigsegg car key?"


    "What? Koenigsegg?"


    "For real?"


    In an instant, several gazes were drawn over.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Lu Yiyao and from her gaze, Zhang Menglong saw her seemingly asking him, "Did you do that on purpose?"


    "I''m saying this was really an accident, do you believe me?" Zhang Menglong quickly bent down to pick up the car keys and put them into his pocket.


    "I''d believe you when pigs fly!" Lu Yiyao gave him a huge eye roll.


    Although it was only a brief moment, whispers had already started circulating around them.


    "Was that really car keys? Couldn''t it be a lighter?"


    "Hahaha, definitely a lighter, I just heard that guy bragging that his family owns thousands of Picasso''s paintings."


    "Don''t joke, he really talked big hahaha, he just said he''d buy all the paintings for sale at this exhibition, maybe he really is some big hidden boss."


    "Do you think everyone is Zhang Menglong? Hahahaha, if it were him, maybe he could really do it."


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were wearing masks and clothes completely different from two days ago, making them unrecognizable by their eyes and hairstyles alone to those unfamiliar with them.


    Moreover, is someone like Zhang Menglong the kind of person you just stumble upon? With all his wealth, would he really be squeezed among these people at an art exhibition?


    "Found him! Right here!" Just when everyone had pegged Zhang Menglong as a show-off loser only in front of girls, a commotion suddenly erupted a few meters away.


    "Yes! It''s him! He was just wearing those clothes!"


    "I was just so close to him, I need a selfie with him!"


    "Damn, seeing a celebrity in the flesh, do you think if I try to scam him, he might just compensate me a billion in emotional damages like Principal Wang did?"


    "Idiot, do you not know who Zhang Menglong is? His friend''s information popped up online, he almost bought Tengxun Baidu, if you try to scam him, you might end up being dumped in the Huangpu River to feed the fish!"


    "Damn, am I that fierce?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Ah, I didn''t expect my disguise to be so good yet still get recognized."


    I just wanted to enjoy the exhibit and flirt with Lu Yiyao, yet ended up being recognized by a bunch of fans.


    "You were so noticeable earlier, I thought you wanted to be recognized!"


    "Hahaha, oh well, since I''ve been recognized, it''s no skin off my back, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly turned toward the fat lady and the greasy middle-aged man next to her, "By the way, you two, what were you just saying to me? I didn''t quite catch it."


    "I..." Even though they''re not from the same generation, this man was a small private enterprise boss. With such a major event happening yesterday, how could he have not heard about it?


    Zhang Menglong, a man who could casually buy social media platforms and make big factories bow down publicly, how could he possibly provoke such a person?


    "Hehehe, I was just saying Mr. Zhang really has good taste, not only achieving so much at such a young age but also having an appreciation for art, truly commendable." The greasy man immediately spewed ingratiating flattery.


    "So boring," For Zhang Menglong, such people were just opportunistic and unworthy of his interest, no need to bother with them.


    "Look, now what? You''re surrounded by so many people, I want to see how you get out of this!" Lu Yiyao said with a laugh.


    "Why panic? As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassed ones are them," Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Excuse me, does anyone know where the organizer''s contact person is? As for these paintings for sale, I, Zhang Menglong, am buying them all today."

 Chapter 71 70: He is not shocked; he is delighted

    ```


    "Wow!" As soon as the words were out, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.


    "It''s starting, he''s starting again!"


    "Did I hear that right? Did he say he''s buying them all?"


    "I heard that today''s art exhibition features over 12,000 works, and private collectors own more than a third of them, all of which are for sale."


    "Doesn''t that mean at least 4,000 paintings are up for sale this time?"


    "Oh my, doesn''t that mean if each is ten thousand, it would be 40 million dollars?"


    "Hehehe, at this level of art exhibition, do you think these paintings would be that cheap? I''ve been walking around here for over half an hour, and the cheapest piece I saw is 500,000 US dollars! The priciest one, priced at 120 million US dollars, doesn''t have the concept of Huaxia currency in this exhibition!"


    "Hiss!"


    Upon hearing this, people around couldn''t help but feel a twinge in their molars, as if pondering, even if the average price was 5 million US dollars, those 4,000 paintings would amount to 20 billion US dollars. Wouldn''t this money be better spent on eating spare ribs, playing games, starting companies, buying stocks, or even getting some pampering? Isn''t that more appealing?


    "Such extravagance, truly inhumane extravagance!"


    "Hey, Zhang Menglong, are you serious?" Lu Yiyao felt a chill go down her spine when she heard the conversation around her. She was aware of Zhang Menglong''s acquisition of Weibo and its staggering 10 billion US dollar valuation.


    But not having experienced these events herself, she couldn''t quite grasp what they truly felt like¡ªuntil now, when she was really getting a sense of it.


    "What''s true or not true about it, a few thousand paintings, that''s all. I''ll make that money back in one day," Zhang Menglong said, unconcerned.


    Although his words seemed nonchalant, his heart was bursting with joy. He wished there were even more, more prestigious paintings; he wouldn''t hesitate to buy even the "Mona Lisa" if it were for sale. It wasn''t spending money that he feared, but not being able to spend it!


    "But what''s the use of buying so many paintings if you don''t know how to appreciate them?" Lu Yiyao said, having gathered from their earlier conversation that Zhang Menglong was only interested in the value of the paintings and knew nothing else about them.


    Put bluntly, if he were to buy them and just pile them up at home to collect dust, that would be the biggest waste of these artworks!


    "No worries, I''ll just build a museum at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. I can exhibit all the paintings in my home as well as these, free of charge for everyone. That way, people can come and see them whenever they wish without having to queue up and get exhausted in the sun."


    Upon reflection, not only would this be making good use of the paintings, but it would also elevate the prestige of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology by a notch. Why wouldn''t he do that?


    A monstrous sum of funding for scientific research, plus a museum, and it''s not unlikely that in a matter of years, Jiangnan University will become the second-ranked school in Jiangnan City, after Jiangnan University itself.


    And as for catching up with Jiangnan University, that isn''t impossible either¡ªjust spend the money to lure all those professors and academicians over!


    "Building a museum..." Lu Yiyao was speechless. "Why do I feel like you''re not living life, but playing in ''Minecraft''?"


    "Your analogy is surprisingly apt!" Zhang Menglong reflected. It really wasn''t much different; as long as he wished, the world could operate according to his will.


    "Here they come, the organizers are here!" At that moment, the crowd parted to make way, and a middle-aged man who''d lost about half of his hair approached.


    "May I ask which gentleman wished to purchase paintings?" the European man said.


    "That would be me," Zhang Menglong stepped forward cheerfully, "I hear many of the paintings at this event are for sale?"


    "Yes, sir," the European man bowed to Zhang Menglong. Although he was a person in charge, he was still just an employee.


    ```


    To tell the truth, this art exhibition was not merely for display; since there was almost no income from the ticket sales, how could the capitalist harvesters possibly let people freeload?


    The main purpose of this exhibition was to sell those artworks. And it wasn''t just the ones with price tags¡ª even world-famous paintings were up for grabs if they weren''t national treasures and the price was right. The organizations that owned the collections were willing to consider selling.


    So, leaving aside the cost, the prices of these artworks were actually marked up significantly from the collectors'' original purchase price.


    "Let me introduce myself," said the European in broken Huaxia, "My name is Bruce, and I''m the main person in charge of this world tour exhibition."


    "If I want to buy a painting, can you make the decision?"


    "Of course, respected sir. Which piece are you interested in?" Bruce asked respectfully.


    Although Zhang Menglong looked quite young, his assistant had told him that this young man seemed to be quite famous in Huaxia, a very wealthy second-generation rich kid.


    To Bruce, as long as you had money, you were a client, you were a friend.


    "All of them!"


    "Ah?" Bruce was taken aback, "Excuse me, sir, I might have misheard you. Could you please repeat which one you''d like to purchase?"


    "No, Mr. Bruce, you heard correctly. I said I''ll buy all the paintings here that are for sale!"


    "Oh God, you must be joking!" Huaxia was already the tenth stop on this tour. In the previous countries, some of the pieces had already been bought by various tycoons.


    Of course, there were many art-loving magnates who had spent a fortune to purchase several paintings, even up to a dozen or more, but nobody had ever announced an intention to buy all the works at once.


    "Mr. Bruce, I am not joking, I am serious," said Zhang Menglong solemnly.


    "Sir, we have 4,320 pieces left for sale in our exhibition, some of which are valued at over a hundred million each. The total worth is close to 50 billion US Dollars!"


    "50 billion US Dollars?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," seeing Zhang Menglong''s shocked expression, Bruce knew he might be having second thoughts.


    "I thought people from Huaxia were really that wealthy. It seems I have overestimated the country," Bruce thought to himself.


    But on second thought, even the world''s wealthiest individual had assets worth just over 100 billion US Dollars, and most of that was in stocks, bonds, and fixed assets. There probably wasn''t anyone in the world who could casually fork over 50 billion US Dollars.


    "Hahaha, great! Fantastic!" Just as Bruce''s thoughts were racing, Zhang Menglong suddenly began laughing hysterically, "Hahaha, I thought these paintings could be had for just 20 billion US Dollars, and here I can spend more than double that. This trip wasn''t in vain after all!"


    "Ah?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s reaction, everyone wore a strange expression, and some even started to twitch at the corners of their mouths.


    "What the heck? What kind of weird thought process is this?"


    "What''s the matter, he''s upset because he''s spending less money?"


    "The look on his face just now, I thought he was scared off by the high price!"


    "Pfft, is Mr. Zhang someone who gets scared off that easily? He''s the man who bought Weibo in half a day!"


    "That''s terrifying, he wasn''t shocked, he was thrilled!"

 Chapter 72 71: These Are All Basic Operations

    "Mr. Zhang, are you sure? If you really want to buy those paintings, I''ll arrange for someone to handle it immediately!" Bruce''s tone betrayed a trace of excitement.


    He had expected to sell five or six hundred of the more than four thousand paintings, and he hadn''t even dared to hope for a thousand, but Zhang Menglong was ready to buy them all at once. Was this not the God of Wealth?


    "Go ahead and arrange it," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Ok, ok, I''ll get on it right now!" Bruce''s face lit up with a smile.


    "Damn, did he really buy them?"


    "Awesome, I didn''t hear wrong, did I? It''s close to fifty billion, right?"


    "In US dollars, brother, my head is buzzing right now."


    "Fifty billion US dollars, and in cash? Isn''t he richer than the world''s richest person?"


    "On this year''s Forbes list, isn''t the richest person still the CEO of Amazon? How much is his personal fortune? 150 billion US dollars?"


    "The 150 billion US dollars are mostly water, nearly half of it is fixed assets and shares. Logically, it would be incredible just to have a few tens of billions in cash."


    "Even if those 150 billion US dollars were all cash, put it bluntly, would you spend a third of your total assets on a bunch of pretty but useless paintings?"


    "If you had a million, would you spend 300,000 on a painting?"


    "Definitely not!"


    "So, Zhang Menglong''s assets must be more than 1,500 million. In fact, this might just be his liquid assets!"


    "Hiss!"


    The people around analyzed and immediately came to an incredibly terrifying conclusion.


    It was highly probable that this young man who had never appeared in the public eye before was the real world''s richest person!


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to Bruce.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there anything else I can do for you?" Bruce''s heart skipped a beat. Could Zhang Menglong be having second thoughts? It was hard enough to reach the peak of his life, could it all come crashing down so quickly?


    "I wanted to ask you, are other paintings for sale?" Zhang Menglong pointed distantly at the "Mona Lisa".


    "Mr... Mr. Zhang, do you want to buy that painting?" Not just Bruce, everyone around had shock written all over their faces.


    The "Mona Lisa" was more than just a painting. It represented something far beyond its artistic value, having become an emblematic presence while being housed in the Louvre.


    The organizers had gone to great lengths to bring it out of the Louvre, and the extravagant manpower deployed was primarily for its protection. Describing it as a priceless treasure was no exaggeration.


    A hundred years ago, its auction price had already reached 3 billion US dollars. A hundred years later, even if the Louvre were willing to sell it, there would probably be very few who would dare to inquire about the price, right?


    "Yeah, I always feel that one wall in my living room is a bit empty, and it seems the size is just perfect."


    "Damn! The king of swagger, swagger beyond limits! I admit defeat."


    "Da Vinci leaves cursing and swearing in the middle of the night."


    "Damn, world-famous paintings used as home decor, I''m impressed."


    "Maybe this is just the world of the wealthy, I just don''t understand it."


    "Confused, are you? Working-class people?"


    ...


    "Alas!" Zhang Menglong shook his head. The "Mona Lisa" was indeed precious, but it was not unique. In his home library, there were quite a few paintings worth no less than the "Mona Lisa".


    "Sorry, Mr. Zhang, this painting really can''t be sold," Bruce forced a pained smile. This was a national treasure, as well as the biggest draw of the exhibition. If it got sold, the number of visitors to the exhibition would be cut in half at least!


    Not only that, such a national treasure ending up in another country would be a disgrace to their own nation. No one wants to see their country''s treasures displayed in museums of other countries.


    Moreover, if Zhang Menglong were to buy this painting, the best-case scenario would be its placement in a Huaxia museum. He didn''t doubt for a second that this piece could actually end up on the wall of Zhang Menglong''s house, or even in his bathroom or toilet!


    "What a pity," Zhang Menglong sighed. If this painting could be sold, he could easily rake in a few hundred billion US dollars, right? Perhaps this trip to Gusu would even complete that blasted mission, something he quite looked forward to with regards to that mysterious academy.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we have completed our calculations," before long, Bruce came jogging over to Zhang Menglong. They had tagged every frame in this batch of paintings and created an intelligent management system to calculate the price of the artworks available for sale, with just a simple tap.


    "How much?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s a total of 49.226 billion US dollars. I''ve already consulted with our boss, and he''s willing to round it down to 49 billion US dollars for you," Bruce said with a wide smile plastered on his face.


    With this 49.226 billion US dollars, they could make so much money¡ªit was clear to see just how much leeway was involved when more than 2 billion US dollars could be shaved off like mere change.


    "Hisss! 49 billion US dollars! Goodness gracious!"


    "Dude, can you spare me that change?"


    "Why do I suddenly have this strange feeling that I''ve seen this scene somewhere before?"


    "Bro, I think I feel the same way."


    "Are we on high alert?"


    Someone, somehow, had stealthily started a live broadcast online, simultaneously streaming this scene to the web. Since it was just a small website, the number of netizens flocking there almost crashed their servers due to overwhelming traffic.


    "I don''t need it!"


    "Huh?" Bruce was stunned for a moment, thinking he might have misheard, "Mr. Zhang, are you unsatisfied with the price? Give me a little more time, I will negotiate for you, we might be able to make it cheaper!"


    "No, what I mean is, I don''t want a discount. I''ve never had the habit of getting discounts when I buy things. Please, let''s stick to the original price, or else I won''t buy it, or I could even pay more!"


    "Ha ha ha! Does Mr. Zhang even need a discount?"


    "Looks like the high alert warning was right, it''s starting again! I''ve seen this scene at Wanda!"


    "I was there at that time!"


    The chat in the live stream suddenly dominated the entire screen, and for some reason, everyone seemed unsurprised by Zhang Menglong''s refusal of the discount. Rather, it seemed like it was the expected attitude all along.


    "There, I''ve transferred the money to your account," Zhang Menglong checked his phone, Hong Yi informed him everything had been handled.


    "50 billion?" Bruce''s hands trembled slightly as he saw the feedback from the company''s headquarters.


    "Don''t be nervous, I like to round up. Let''s leave it at that!"


    "Mr. Zhang... You really have opened my eyes!" Bruce had never before seen someone spend money like this. Even though he had met quite a few wealthy tycoons along the way, compared to Zhang Menglong, they were leagues apart.


    "Ha ha ha, just look at the baffled face of that foreigner."


    "Newcomers, don''t be alarmed. Mr. Zhang''s style has always been wild, the kind who rounds up on a whim. Last time it was a couple million, now he''s gone straight to a few billion US dollars."


    "Baldy, got scared, huh? This is just the basics!"


    "Everybody stand up!"


    ...

 Chapter 73 72 Did I say that this matter was over just like that?

    "Whoo-whoo-whoo, I''m so moved, it''s like a tribute to our nation''s grandeur!"


    "See that? The bald guy was nearly scared witless!"


    "Actually, Zhang doesn''t have much to him, he''s just one of Huaxia''s internet celebrities."


    "Zhang is mighty!"


    For some reason, seeing the surprised expressions on the foreigners'' faces made everyone feel an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, especially the angry youth, who seemed to have reached some sort of peak.


    "Mr. Zhang, do these paintings need us to deliver them somewhere for you?" Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s financial power, Bruce became even more respectful.


    "Someone will contact you later; just deliver them to the address they give you."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand," although Bruce hadn''t left any contact information with Zhang Menglong, nor had he told Zhang Menglong his boss''s account details, the money had been transferred in a matter of minutes, indicating that his information resources were quite astonishing.


    Bruce was a smart man; he knew that asking certain questions was pointless and simply shut his mouth.


    ...


    "Sorry, we rushed here from Yanjing just to attend this exhibition. Could you let us stay a bit longer?"


    "Yes, sir, look at our professor; he''s quite old. Please make an exception for us!"


    "No, our exhibition has rules. Each visitor is not allowed to stay for more than two hours. If everyone were like you, wouldn''t that lead to complete chaos?"


    "Friend, we''ll just stay half an hour more at most; it won''t affect others. Please let us stay a little longer!"


    "I said no means no! Aren''t you Huaxia people known for your manners? If you are a people of propriety, you should understand the rules!"


    "Get moving now, or we will have to forcibly remove you!"


    "Please, let us stay a little longer; I am a professor from the Painting Department of Yanjing Art University. Here''s my ID. I''ve come here carrying a lofty artistic faith¡ªplease allow us to admire these works a bit more!"


    "Why are you so relentless, old man? Are all you Huaxia people this thick-skinned?"


    "Hey, how can you push someone like that!"


    At that moment, a dispute could be heard not far away.


    It involved several Huaxia people and a European, two young people, a man and a woman, assisting an elderly man who was at least in his eighties, while the European was a robust man in his thirties.


    Zhang Menglong didn''t catch anything else, but he did hear the European''s insulting language. Although it was in English, Zhang Menglong had at least passed Level Six; his English was up to scratch.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong''s expression darkened instantly.


    Everyone around felt a drop in pressure at that moment, noticing the grimness on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "This is Huaxia''s territory; you have no right to expel us on our own soil!"


    "Miss, this venue has already been rented by us. During this week, the right to use this place belongs to us. We set the rules and you must follow!"


    "Damn it! I can''t stand this!"


    "Dammit, these old Russians are so arrogant on Huaxia soil?"


    "Exactly, people have said that an old professor over 80 years old made the long trip here. Would it kill them to make a small exception?"


    The behavior of that staff member immediately sparked public outrage. Although the main organizers of the exhibition were Europeans, the majority of the guests were from Huaxia. How could they just stand by and watch someone being bullied like this?


    "Security!" However, that European man did not show any fear in the face of such pressure. It''s known that their security forces are very strong, and soon a group of burly Caucasian security guards arrived.


    The people who were just seeking justice for the old man suddenly became too scared to speak upon seeing this show of force.


    "Hmph! A bunch of cowards!" The staff member scoffed, "I thought you Huaxia people were really united. Turns out you''re just a bunch of scaredy-cats!"


    "Since you don''t have the guts, then shut your mouths. If you want to see the exhibition, follow our rules, or we''ll have to ask you to leave as well!"


    "Who do you want to ask to leave?" Just as the European man was strutting about, a young man walked up to him.


    "Clark!" Bruce immediately came over. Zhang Menglong had just spent 500 billion to purchase all of their artworks for sale, and he absolutely couldn''t afford to let Zhang Menglong have any dissatisfaction. No one would know the kind of power this young man had behind him.


    "Mr. Bruce, is this how you Europeans conduct business?" Zhang Menglong asked with a piercing look at Bruce!


    "Damn! So arrogant?"


    "F*ck! Kicking out Huaxia people on Huaxia''s own soil? I can''t stand this!"


    "It makes me want to hit someone!"


    "Get out, roll out of Huaxia!"


    "I heard him just now saying we Huaxia people are cowards!"


    "President Zhang, a petition signed by thousands, begging you to take him down!"


    No one expected that this live broadcast, originally just to showcase a large-scale scene of Zhang Menglong showing off, would turn into such an incident.


    Even though Huaxia''s international status had skyrocketed worldwide in recent years, especially during the pandemic and the contributions made, many of the world''s major organizations had expressed respect for Huaxia.


    However, in many countries, some attitudes remain deeply ingrained, such as discrimination, which is an inevitable phenomenon.


    "Clark, shut up!!" said Bruce.


    "Bruce, what''s this? You''re yelling at me for a Huaxia person?"


    "You don''t know, Mr. Zhang here is our guest, he just bought the artworks on sale at our exhibition!"


    "This young man is actually so wealthy?" A flicker of surprise crossed Clark''s eyes. The cheapest artwork at the exhibition was worth several hundreds of thousands of US dollars. This Zhang Menglong seemed to be only in his twenties; if he wasn''t extraordinarily capable, then it must be that his family was wealthy.


    "At least until he leaves this place, don''t do anything that might offend him. If this deal goes south, you won''t be able to escape responsibility!" Bruce whispered only loud enough for the two of them to hear.


    "F*ck, go to hell! Although unwilling, Clark really didn''t dare to mess up this time. He wasn''t afraid of Huaxia people, but he was afraid of their boss. If the boss found out he had screwed up a deal, he could probably kiss his year''s bonus goodbye.


    "Fine, I''ll give him this face!" Clark smiled. "Alright, you can continue to watch. You should feel lucky, as Huaxia people, you still have the chance to see the most dazzling European works!"


    "You!" The old man''s face turned red with rage, as if he was holding a breath of anger in his chest, "Our Huaxia culture is not inferior to yours!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Clark smiled, but his smile was filled with mockery, "If you think so, then so be it!"


    "Wait a minute!" Just as Clark was about to leave, Zhang Menglong suddenly extended a hand in front of him, "Did I say this matter is over?"

 Chapter 74 73: Pack Up and Get Ready to Leave

    "Huaxia people, I''ve already given you enough face, don''t think just because you''ve got some money you can do whatever you want!"


    "Huh!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do whatever I want? Learned a few Huaxia idioms and think you''ve got a bit of cultural depth? It''s shameful to see things created by our ancestors used by you so nonsensically!"


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    "I''m asking you, where is this?"


    "Gusu City."


    "Let me tell you, this is Huaxia, and in Huaxia, no matter where you''re from, you''d best leave your so-called arrogance and discrimination at the door. Huaxia is a land of etiquette; we welcome friends, but we won''t indulge those who don''t know how to appreciate it!"


    "Young man, don''t ask for trouble. We were just shamelessly hoping to look a little longer, and he was just maintaining order," the old man said, immediately trying to mediate as he saw Zhang Menglong and Clark arguing.


    "Elder, this is a different matter!" Zhang Menglong said, "And it''s not me causing trouble, he''s the one doing it!"


    Zhang Menglong then tried to soothe the elder, "I can understand him asking you to leave according to the rules, but he just said we Huaxia people have thick skins, said our Huaxia culture is inferior to their Europe. That''s a big deal!"


    The Huaxia people in the venue mostly knew a bit of English and had almost all heard what Clark had said just now, the word of mouth quickly stirred up indignant feelings.


    But the netizens in the live streaming room were totally confused. They were wondering, why does Zhang Menglong seem to pick fights wherever he goes? Some even followed the trend and said Zhang Menglong was causing trouble everywhere just because he had money.


    Now the truth was out, and from what Zhang Menglong had said, it wasn''t hard to discern the cause of the conflict. And for those keyboard warriors, it was one thing for their own people to criticize each other, but quite another to be berated by foreigners. Did they no longer care about their own mother?


    "Where are those who just said that Boss Zhang was always asking for trouble? Stand up! Apologize!"


    "Boss Zhang is mighty! We can''t let them be too arrogant!"


    "This time I support you, knock them down!"


    "Boss Zhang, if you can take care of them this time, I''ll be your loyal fan forever!"


    "Daring to put on airs in Huaxia, what are they, still thinking this is Huaxia from decades ago?"


    ...


    "Huaxia person, you look like you want to fight, eh? With that scrawny monkey appearance, can you even haha?" Clark had torn off the facade, scoffing without restrain.


    "Clark, what are you doing, do you realize Mr. Zhang is our big client?"


    "Bruce, don''t think you can talk to me this way just because you''re my superior!" Clark''s face twisted in rage at Bruce''s words, "It''s just a Huaxia man, right? What are you afraid of? There are plenty of people who would buy the paintings at our exhibition, and if the deal falls through, so be it. I have many friends in other Asian countries who would be willing to buy these paintings!"


    "Idiot! Do you think he''s only buying one painting?" Bruce finally roared, if it were just one painting, he wouldn''t be so reverent to this young man, "Listen up, this Mr. Zhang has purchased all our priced paintings! Over 4000, 50 billion, have you got shit for brains?"


    "What?" When he heard this, Clark''s expression suddenly froze. When Bruce had said this Mr. Zhang from Huaxia was their client, he had thought Zhang Menglong had only bought one painting.


    But how could he have ever imagined that Zhang Menglong hadn''t bought just one painting, but over 4000! If this deal fell through because of him, it wouldn''t just be a matter of no year-end bonus; his boss might even sell him to Africa to mine coal!


    "This..." Clark, his face reddening, had realized that this was not a Huaxia person he could afford to offend! In the capitalist countries of Europe, capital is everything, money is everything, as long as you have money, no matter what country, what race, that''s the big boss!


    This time he had offended not just an ordinary boss, but a God of Wealth!


    "Mr. Zhang, please calm down; I''ll make sure that Clark''s issue is dealt with, and the outcome will definitely be satisfactory to you!"


    "Heh, heh, heh!" Zhang Menglong sneered, but his expression revealed no trace of emotion. "Mr. Bruce, do you take me for a fool? You think I didn''t hear your whispers with Clark just now? Your respect for me is based solely on money.


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "You look down upon Huaxia culture, don''t you? Think your art exhibition is so spectacular, right? Let me tell you, with our 5000 years of history, if you want to talk about cultural depth, Huaxia is your daddy!"


    "Well said!"


    "Damn, I''m about to cry!"


    "I''ve turned from a passerby fan to a die-hard fan!"


    "A second-generation rich with such upright values, I''m impressed!"


    A chorus of supportive voices rose from the crowd. Even the critic from before straightened his back. Yes, when it comes to culture, although the forms are different, with such profound historical depth, Huaxia''s culture is never inferior to that of any other country.


    "You want to run some sort of exhibition, right? You''re just hoping to make a tidy sum and then promote your so-called Renaissance culture, sorry, but I''m not buying what you''re selling. Please, leave this place!"


    "What do you mean by that, Mr. Zhang?" Bruce suddenly felt a foreboding feeling in his heart.


    "Nothing much, just want to let you know that you don''t need to bother with the exhibition anymore. You can take your so-called masterpieces and leave the venue. Feel free to host your art exhibition wherever you like, but you''re not welcome here."


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have the authority. We signed a contract with the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center, which is legally binding."


    "Oh, you''re right, it is legally binding. I never said I wanted to break the contract, but, I''m thinking that as long as we''re willing to pay the breach of contract fee, there shouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Hong Yi, can you check who is in charge of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center?"


    "Mr. Zhang, is there a problem?"


    "Nothing serious, just want to get some people who can''t see clearly and have foul mouths out of this convention center!" Zhang Menglong briefly explained the situation in a few words.


    "Mr. Zhang, although the convention center was overseen by Tenghui Group, it''s not owned by any private organizations; it''s under the local cultural department."


    "I don''t care about that, I just want to know if we can kick them out."


    "Can do, give me twenty minutes!"


    "Great! Also, investigate their upcoming schedule for me. I want their so-called ''World Art Peak Touring Exhibition'' to not get past a single country!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang, these are trivial matters!"


    "Hmm, thanks for the trouble."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s call had lasted only a few tens of seconds, but the people around had already started discussing.


    "President Zhang made a call!"


    "He''s blowing his top! Who knows whom he''s contacting."


    "The man can easily pull out 50 billion US dollars in cash, do you think his background would be simple?"


    "Time to watch the show! I can already sense a nuclear warning up ahead!"


    "President Zhang, power to you!"


    "Brilliant!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what you just did was..."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. Just pack up and get ready to leave!"

 Chapter 75 74: The Fear of Being Dominated by Huaxia People

    In France, Europe, on the glamorous Champs-E?lyse?es, sat an incredibly opulent building. Beside it stood the Louis Vuitton Tower, a Cartier boutique, and various other high-fashion brands. This building was called the Cheryl Building, headquarters to a very famous local conglomerate.


    The Cheryl Group''s businesses spanned across the world, covering various domains, and most of their ventures were closely linked with art. Relying on these, they had established a vast business empire, even ranking among the top 100 companies in the former world.


    The global peak art exhibition this time was a project they had crafted over a year, into which they had poured an unknown amount of human and material resources. Just managing to get the "Mona Lisa" from the Louvre had already consumed a considerable amount of resources.


    This touring exhibition would pass through over fifty countries and hundreds of cities. If they could complete it, it was expected to bring them several billion US dollars in direct revenue, not to mention the impact on other brand effects and cultural influence, which was immeasurable in terms of money. The company placed great importance on this project from top to bottom.


    "Audra, which country has the tour reached now?" Mossang, the CEO of the Cheryl Group, asked as he looked down at the glamourous Champs-E?lyse?es from behind the glass.


    "Boss, it has now reached Huaxia. Today is the second day of the exhibition."


    "How is the financial report?"


    "So far, we have completed exhibitions in 12 countries, selling a total of 142 pieces of artwork; one-third of those were purchased by clients from Huaxia."


    "Huaxia indeed is a place of remarkable people and spirit," Mossang mused.


    "Boss, why do you say that? They are just a developing country."


    "Ha, Audra, you are still too young. Huaxia is a very mysterious country. If you only know the tip of the iceberg about it, you will understand just how unfathomably deep it really is."


    "Oh? Can you tell me about it?"


    "There are too many stories about Huaxia, but what most impacted me was a young Huaxian I met over twenty years ago," Mossang recounted, as if he remembered the fear of being dominated.


    "Is there someone that made such a deep impression on you?"


    "Have you heard about an auction held in Europe in ''99, during the Century Auctions?"


    "You mean that one where the total transaction amount broke historical records by ten times?"


    "Exactly!" Mossang nodded. "You know, not a single item at that auction was passed on, yet still, it''s impossible for the maximum amount to exceed the historical auction records by ten times!"


    "Were you at that auction?"


    "Ha, at that time, our Cheryl Group had just started, and I was merely joining in for the excitement," Mossang said. "Do you know why such a thing happened?"


    "Sorry, boss, I can''t imagine it."


    "Because there was a person, who with an almost frantic bidding style, bought over eighty percent of the items at the auction!" Mossang explained. "I have never seen anyone attend an auction and start bidding at double the starting price, and if anyone dared to bid against him, he would recklessly raise the price further!"


    "One person bought all those items? How is that possible? Even if he had a lot of money, he couldn''t possibly buy so many items, right?"


    "If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t believe such a baffling thing could happen. You know, simply because a European at the auction called the Huaxians poor, that young man retorted by saying that no European present could take away a single item from the auction today!"


    "Did he manage to do it?"


    "Indeed, he did. The auction was carried out in Europe, with over 80% of participants from Europe, and not a single European stole away any auction item from him. To reclaim their pride, almost every auction item''s price was multiplied several times its original value, hence the astonishing total transaction amount at the end."


    "Did he really have the money?"


    "Hehe, not only did he have it, but he also produced it very effortlessly," Mossang said. "Can you imagine? One man''s wealth challenged the whole of Europe."


    "And now the Forbes rankings..."


    "That''s just child''s play. If we truly talked about personal wealth, Bezos wouldn''t even make the top ten!"


    "Huaxia... truly a mystical country."


    "Your phone is ringing."


    "I''m sorry, boss, I was too engrossed," Audra pulled out her phone, "Zorn? What''s the matter?"


    "What did you say? How could something like this happen?" Audra''s expression suddenly changed, "And the penalty fees?"


    "Alright, I understand. I will inform Mr. Mossang."


    Audra hastily ended the call, her expression so dark it seemed moisture could drip from it.


    "Audra, you have never been this panicked before." Although Mossang knew that no good news would come, he still remained nonchalant.


    "Boss, did something happen to our project?"


    "Don''t panic, take it slow, what happened?"


    "All the venues we contacted previously, now all of them are calling to cancel their contracts with us, they will no longer provide a venue for our art exhibition."


    "What about the penalty fees?"


    "They have all been transferred to our account."


    "The reason?"


    "I don''t quite understand, something was mentioned about the Bradley family..."


    "What? Say that again?" Mossang''s face showed fear as if he had heard a ghost story.


    "The... the Bradley family..."


    "Why?" Mossang''s lips quivered slightly, "I have never provoked the Bradley family, why would they target the Sheryl Group?"


    "Boss, is the Bradley family that powerful? How come I have never heard of them?" Seeing Mossang''s expression, Audra sank into deep thought, this was the first time she had ever seen her boss so alarmed.


    "Not just powerful," Mossang said with a bitter smile, "If the Bradley family stomps their foot, the whole of Europe feels an earthquake. They can even make a beggar become the president of any European country if they wish! Their power is beyond imagination."


    Audra''s mouth dropped open, disbelief thick in her eyes, could a single family really do such a thing? Could they be the emperors of Europe?


    Even if Mossang racked his brains, he could not imagine the cause of such serious consequences was merely triggered by a minor employee in their company.


    "Investigate! I want you to find out which staff member in this exhibition tour has offended someone from the Bradley family!" It was clear that the target was this tour exhibition, so the cause must relate to it as well.


    "Yes, boss, I''ll start investigating right away!"


    ...


    At that time, it had been less than ten minutes since they were at the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center.


    "Manager, something''s happened!" Bruce was pondering how to resolve the issue, but Zhang Menglong had already completely lost interest in talking to him.


    "What''s the big fuss about?" Bruce was in distress, and someone coming to him at this time was just adding insult to injury.


    "Just now, the head of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center called us, they want to terminate our collaboration, telling us to clear out all our stuff and personnel within half an hour, or they will take forcible measures to expel us!"


    "How could this be?" Bruce was so surprised that he was speechless. This international convention isn''t a private entity; it''s a building of the Gusu Cultural Bureau, a national structure, even with Zhang Menglong''s capabilities, how could he possibly influence people within the system?


    And forcibly evacuating in half an hour? That''s certainly not something ordinary measures could achieve!


    Zhang Menglong showed a cryptic smile; their family had been around for 5000 years, and they possessed much more than just wealth...

 Chapter 76 75: The boss asks you to go to Africa to mine coal

    "Wow!" After hearing what the employee relayed, the audience''s expression turned into one of shock once more.


    Initially, they thought Zhang Menglong might resolve the issue by throwing money at it again, such as buying the company behind the organizer.


    But unexpectedly, this time Zhang Menglong had simply used such a blunt method, employing connections that shouldn''t be brought to light.


    To have a non-privatized organization outright dismiss an international-level exhibition, the energy required was not something that could be explained in a few words. Zhang Menglong''s wealth was not only astonishing but evidently, his reach touched the heavens.


    "He''s even more formidable than Wang Ling!"


    "Yes, Wang Ling is just rich, but he''s richer than Wang Ling and even has a stronger backing. What kind of background does he have?"


    "Who cares about his background, as long as it feels good!"


    "Hahaha, right, just now those old Russians still acted like they were the best, look at him now, his face is wearing a Mask of Pain!"


    "So satisfying, truly satisfying indeed!"


    "Get out, pack up your stuff and scram!"


    "Gusu doesn''t welcome you, Huaxia doesn''t welcome you either!"


    "It''s just a lousy art exhibition, who cares if we don''t see it!"


    "Exactly, acting like your art is the only great one!"


    "Hey, did you hear that? Pack up your things quickly and get lost, and take your so-called exquisite artworks with you!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "Just make sure I don''t hear you insulting the Huaxia people or Huaxia culture again. I can have you thrown out of this international convention center, and I can do even more outrageous things!"


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s talk this over again, there has been a misunderstanding!" Bruce was already anxious.


    Although the several thousand paintings had all been sold, exceeding their boss''s expectations, the significance of this touring exhibition wasn''t merely about the paintings. The brand effect and the cultural impact were absolutely more important than the money.


    If they were cut off here, how would they explain to their boss? Huaxia was a huge market; this much was evident from the sales volume of the paintings, and Huaxia was also their key area!


    "If you want to leave, then leave!" Now that faces had been torn, Clark no longer needed to act subservient, "You in Huaxia don''t understand what art is, nor do you appreciate art. If you don''t let us exhibit here, there are plenty of countries begging us to hold exhibitions!"


    "Idiot!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t sure whether to laugh at his nai?vete? or his ignorance, "It seems you still haven''t figured it out. Do you think you''re only unable to hold it down in Huaxia?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean?" Blair was starting to get scared.


    "You might want to ask him," Zhang Menglong pointed at the employee who had just delivered the message.


    "Do you have anything else you haven''t said?" Blair pressed.


    "Manager, it''s not just the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center in Huaxia; all the partners on our original itinerary have also canceled their cooperation with us, and the penalty fees have already been returned to our account!"


    "What!" Because this tour was highly anticipated, those cities were eager to host this art exhibition on their turf, so they hadn''t charged any fees.


    Of course, accordingly, the penalty fees weren''t high, because they had never imagined these partners would back out!


    And this small sum from the penalty fees was only a drop in the bucket compared to their losses!


    Anyone could tell that the instigator behind all this was Zhang Menglong! He had just said he''d make it impossible for their exhibition to proceed anywhere!


    Just as Bruce was about to struggle further, his phone rang.


    "B... Boss?" When Bruce saw the number, his breathing suddenly quieted significantly.


    "I''ve just received a message that all our partners have canceled their cooperation with us. What exactly happened? What did you do in Huaxia?" the voice on the other end bombarded him with questions.


    "Boss, Clark the idiot caused trouble!" Now that the headquarters were holding him accountable, Bruce''s first thought was to clear his own name. Clearly, such a big issue couldn''t possibly go unnoticed by the higher-ups!


    "So it was indeed trouble on your end, what exactly happened?"


    "Boss, here''s what happened..." Bruce recounted the event exactly as it had happened.


    "Does that bastard have shit for brains?"


    The roar was so loud that everyone in the venue heard it clearly.


    "President, what should we do now?"


    "Give the phone to that young man, open the international video call, I will talk to him personally!" Mossang was beyond furious.


    "Mr. Zhang... our boss would like to have a word with you, if you..."


    "Sure, let''s talk. I want to see what he has to say!" Zhang Menglong crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking as if he were watching a show.


    The video showed a man in his fifties, slightly overweight, with thin, graying hair, but it seemed well-maintained and not bald.


    The moment Mossang laid eyes on Zhang Menglong, his expression froze.


    In his mind, he recalled the face of a young man from Huaxia who had deeply shocked him over twenty years ago.


    That face bore an eighty to ninety percent resemblance to Zhang Menglong''s!


    "They''re exactly alike... Could this be just a coincidence?" A bold thought popped into Mossang''s head. Could this young man be the descendant of that Huaxia youth?


    "What coincidence?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat puzzled, "Who are you? Their boss?"


    "I am Mossang, the President of Cheryl Group. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"


    "My last name is Zhang," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Zhang!" Mossang''s heart rate spiked, remembering that the Huaxia youth also bore the surname Zhang!


    The same appearance, the same wealth, capable of commanding that colossal family¡ªit could only be that person!


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, I am aware of the cause and progression of this incident, and I apologize for the rudeness of my employee," Mossang said cautiously.


    "What''s with this guy? Do I look that intimidating?" Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao next to him, noting how Mossang seemed almost fearful of him.


    "Intimidating or not, just a bit silly!" Lu Yiyao joked.


    "Hey, I''m a reasonable person. This isn''t your fault, you don''t need to apologize. I want him to apologize to our people of Huaxia, to our Huaxian culture!"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will handle it properly. Please hand the phone back to Bruce," Mossang said.


    "Fine, I''ll give you a chance to handle this," Zhang Menglong said.


    Bruce took the phone and chatted with Mossang excitedly. A few minutes later, he put down the phone.


    He walked over to Clark, who by then had turned pale, knowing he had upset someone who even his boss feared.


    "Bru... Bruce, what did the boss say?"


    "The boss said, starting today, you no longer need to stay on this project team," Bruce said, "Our company has bought a coal mine in Africa, starting tomorrow, you can go dig coal there!"


    "To dig coal?" Clark hadn''t expected his boss to be so harsh! Mining coal was almost always reserved for the lowest of workers, most of whom he looked down upon, especially the Africans!


    "Not just that!" Bruce continued, "Huaxia''s culture is far more profound than you thought, it''s a pity you don''t understand it. Starting today, you must recite one Huaxian classical text each day. For every text you miss, you''ll dig coal one more day until you master Huaxian culture, and then you can go back."


    "Recite Huaxian classical texts? I... I don''t recognize Huaxian characters!"


    Bruce coldly said, "That''s your problem, not mine. I''m only relaying the boss''s orders!"


    "Snap!" Clark felt as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and he collapsed onto the ground...

 Chapter 77 76: Ill Organize an Art Exhibition

    The on-the-verge-of-collapse Clark had already been taken away by his colleagues, and as per Zhang Menglong''s request, the art exhibition was forcibly terminated. All the staff began to pack up the artworks, and the once bustling gallery suddenly fell silent.


    Actually, the people at the venue hadn''t left. Huaxia''s culture is indeed profound and extensive, but it must be acknowledged that during Europe''s Renaissance, a great number of painters brimming with creativity did emerge. Not just during that period; the painters from other times also possessed extraordinary abilities.


    The paintings of Huaxia and Europe are quite distinct in style. Learning from their paintings is meaningful for many, as this is not only a matter of Huaxia culture and sentiment, but for many, it is also their way of life.


    "Ah!" sighed a professor from the Arts University, reluctant to see the paintings being taken down from the walls.


    He was of advanced age, and flying was no longer a very safe activity for him. The hope of seeing these artworks was almost a luxury!


    Finding it difficult to come by, Gusu City had finally welcomed this art exhibition. He had traveled a long distance here to have the opportunity to witness the originals, only to encounter such an incident.


    The glory of the nation is above all, which is indisputable, but to miss the chance to see those works is a great regret for him, and it may even be his only opportunity in this lifetime.


    Not just the professor, but many others also harbored the same sentiment. The termination of this art exhibition was really a shame.


    Some, more extreme individuals, even held a bit of resentment towards Zhang Menglong in their hearts, but since Zhang Menglong was acting for the sake of the nation''s culture and integrity, they could not condemn him from any moral standpoint.


    "Zhang Menglong, everyone seems very disappointed," Lu Yiyao tugged at the hem of Zhang Menglong''s clothes, "Why don''t we just let this go? Clark has received his due punishment, and ending the exhibition like this will disappoint many people."


    Truth be told, Lu Yiyao was somewhat disappointed herself, after all they had only just arrived and hadn''t appreciated many paintings.


    "I did not consider this thoroughly," Zhang Menglong did not deny his mistake. Indeed, he was exhilarated, as were those onlookers on the internet, because they had no real interest in this art exhibition.


    But for those who truly pursued art, this was a lost important opportunity.


    "Ah, well, let''s go. Who knows if there will be another chance to see these works with our own eyes."


    "I haven''t even properly appreciated Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa'', a piece housed in the Louvre. Without this opportunity, I''m afraid I''ll never see it in my lifetime."


    "What a pity, such a pity!"


    "Let''s leave together!"


    ...


    Surprisingly, a repressed atmosphere filled the venue.


    "Hey, everyone, wait a moment!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong took a microphone from an interpreter, "Don''t hurry off just yet!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s voice, everyone turned back, looking at him with puzzled faces. What else did he want to do?


    "I''m very sorry about what happened today that made everyone''s trip here in vain," Zhang Menglong frankly admitted, "But as I just said, our Huaxia culture is profound and extensive, and our works are no less than theirs. Today, I will hold an art exhibition!"


    "Did I hear that right? He''s going to hold an art exhibition?"


    "The over four thousand paintings he just bought? Although those paintings are decent, compared to the non-sale items, they are still a notch below!"


    "I think he must have some more collections from both home and abroad, right?"


    "How many can he have? Compared to the scale of this exhibition, I''m afraid they''re still of a completely different level?"


    "And he just said that he wants to showcase our Huaxia culture. I imagine even if he does have other works, they must be from our ancient painters, right?"


    "I''m not saying our ancient Huaxia paintings aren''t good, but as someone who studies Western art, I can''t understand our own works!"


    "You''re telling me! I just wanted to broaden my horizons too!"


    The tourists began to converse among themselves. They didn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s ability to hold an art exhibition, but compared to the scale and the preciousness of the works at this international exhibition, could it really match up?


    "Do you all really think that only they have such works to show?" Zhang Menglong laughed, knowing what the people were disappointed about, "I can tell you all, the paintings I''ve collected are absolutely ten times better than this exhibition! And even for works of the ''Mona Lisa''s caliber, I can bring out several!"


    "I have already notified people to bring the artworks over. Give me two hours, and to express my apologies, I will treat everyone to lunch!" Zhang Menglong had arranged everything. The artworks being air-shipped from Jiangnan City to Gusu City, with the help of his family''s private jet, would take just an hour or two.


    "Really?!"


    "He isn''t just bluffing us, is he?"


    "Since there''s nothing else going on today, why not stick around and take a look!"


    "Exactly, there''s a free meal to boot, no harm in looking!"


    "Has Zhang Menglong ever let anyone down before?"


    Perhaps it was because of the sensation caused a few days earlier, but everyone seemed to really hold a glimmer of hope for Zhang Menglong. Except for a few who had urgent matters to attend to, everyone else chose to stay here.


    ...


    Quickly, it approached noon, and it was getting close to lunchtime. Many people had temporarily left the venue to find places to eat, despite Zhang Menglong''s announcement about arranging lunch. But with so many people, it was probably just some slightly better takeout, right?


    "What''s that smell? So fragrant!" Just at that moment, a rich aroma wafted over.


    "Yeah, I smell it too; it seems like cumin."


    "And there''s the scent of herbs!"


    "Look, suddenly there are so many cars outside!"


    "Hmm? What are these strange vehicles? Food trucks?"


    "Wait a minute, look at the logo on these trucks!"


    "Isn''t that the Noma Restaurant logo? I''ve heard that the average cost per person there is 2,000 US dollars. Anyone who dines there is definitely wealthy."


    "And there''s the Modena Restaurant''s logo! That''s one of the finest Western restaurant brands. I''ve only seen that in the Michelin magazine!"


    "Big Gao cuisine too! That''s a top ten brand in the Japanese culinary world!"


    "My God, these are logos of world-class restaurants, what''s going on?"


    Soon, the vast plaza in front of the International Convention and Exhibition Center was filled with densely packed food trucks. It should be noted that the food from these restaurants is generally not available for delivery; these trucks are reserved for the most distinguished guests!


    A middle-aged man hurried up into the venue and then approached Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the takeout you requested has been arranged!"


    "Much obliged!" Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "Ladies and gentlemen, I''ve ordered a few trucks of takeout for everyone. Please don''t be too critical; I can''t guarantee how tasty it will be, but at least there will be plenty!"


    "Is this the lunch Zhang Menglong was talking about?"


    "A few trucks of takeout... my mom''s asking why I''m kneeling."


    "Damn! A world-class restaurant meal, averaging thousands of dollars; I''ve never had that in my life!"


    "And there will be plenty, even if it costs thousands of dollars, it''s just to taste something new, right?"


    "Hahaha, those idiots said they were going to have lunch on their own. Lucky I didn''t leave!"


    "Sob, it smells so good, being rich is really too good!"


    "Damn! Where are you running off to? No one''s fighting you for it!"


    "You scoundrel!"


    "Damn, stop pulling me! Gold caviar! It''s said to be several tens of dollars per gram, and there''s a whole barrel of it!"


    "What the hell kind of king crab is this?"


    "Is that truffle? Seriously?"


    "I''ve seen this in a magazine! It''s Serendipity restaurant''s upscale ice cream sundae! If I remember correctly, one costs 25,000 US dollars!"


    ...

 Chapter 78 77: This is What You Call a Peak Art Exhibit

    "How is it, tastes good, right?" Zhang Menglong passed a cup of pomegranate juice to Lu Yiyao.


    "At least you remember!" Lu Yiyao took the cup of pomegranate juice, the unique taste fluttering her eyelashes slightly, "How is this pomegranate juice made? I''ve never tasted such delicious pomegranate juice before!"


    "Nothing special about the method, it''s all natural pomegranate juice," Zhang Menglong said, "This is from the blood pomegranates of the Ural Mountains, which can only thrive at very high altitudes. I had someone airship them over this morning."


    "Airship? Just for a few pomegranates?" For a moment, Lu Yiyao felt as if she were drinking money rather than juice, estimating the air shipping cost must be many times higher than the price of the pomegranates themselves.


    "It also depends on who it''s for. If it''s something you like, even if it''s from under the Antarctic ice cap, I can dig it up for you!"


    "So slick!" Lu Yiyao playfully tapped on Zhang Menglong''s shoulder twice. "By the way, don''t you think that what you did today seemed impressive, but actually let those Europeans earn quite a bit?"


    "Are you saying I spent 500 billion to buy those paintings, just to send them packing?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    Lu Yiyao nodded, "Never mind whether these 500 billion US dollars were worth it, but this money ended up in the hands of the Europeans. If it had been used for construction in our country, how much could it have helped people here!"


    "Don''t call me a Holy Mother!" Lu Yiyao pointed at Zhang Menglong emphatically.


    "Hahaha, do you think I, Zhang Menglong, would ever take a loss?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "It might sound incredible, but 80% of the people in Europe work directly or indirectly for me, and a large portion of many countries'' fiscal revenues find their way into my pocket."


    Watching Lu Yiyao''s astonished expression, Zhang Menglong continued, "This 500 billion US dollars just moved from one of my pockets to another; I can take it out anytime."


    "But this..."


    "Let''s put it this way, if you''re shearing a million from them annually, would you mind tossing them ten dollars occasionally?"


    "This analogy actually leaves me speechless." Initially, Lu Yiyao wanted to say more, but after hearing this analogy, she realized that 500 billion US dollars really meant little to Zhang Menglong, and it seemed like he could garner a thousandfold return from those European countries annually.


    As for where these profits originated, she probably couldn''t figure it out even if she racked her brain.


    "Forget it, as long as you''re happy, I''ll keep quiet." Arguing with Zhang Menglong about money was a sure way to end up choking oneself.


    ...


    If young people today eat a meal, their phones start eating before they do, all the more so on such a once-in-a-century occasion.


    This square had gathered cuisines from around the world¡ªWestern, Japanese, various Huaxia styles of food¡ªand all from the top-level restaurants. The square had almost become a gourmet plaza.


    Friends circles, microblogs, and various platforms were already flooded with all sorts of videos and photos.


    "You might not believe it, but today I freeloaded a meal off Zhang Menglong!"


    "This is the first time I''ve eaten king crab to the point of bursting, I can''t take anymore."


    "Wuuu, I was supposed to go to an exhibition today, it''s all my boyfriend''s fault, I''m going to hit him now."


    "Damn! I was just inside, I thought this meal would at most be some cheap takeaway for us."


    "Upstairs, are you doubting my boss Zhang''s grandeur?"


    "Your account is gone!"


    "Bros, quickly double-tap like crazy, I just downed this coconut as big as my head in one go!"


    "Dude! Free food with a food stream, where''s your shame?"


    "How many food streamers did Zhang feed today?"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve been shearing the wool of capitalists, but today someone came to shear yours! Look, so many people came just to freeload. Aren''t you afraid of going broke?"


    "Hahaha, if they can shear it off, that''s their skill. It''s just a few flecks at best," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Speaking of which, hurry and think about what we should eat tonight. Me being an Aquarius, I hate having to think about what to eat, talk about choice phobia."


    "There are a lot of barbecue stalls near our school, I think that''s a good choice!"


    "Are you just looking out for your dorm mates'' benefits?" Zhang Menglong teased, "You''re not even my girlfriend yet, you don''t have to save money for me."


    "I won''t become your girlfriend in the future either!" Lu Yiyao turned away from Zhang Menglong, but her expression clearly betrayed her.


    "Buzz, buzz, buzz!" a jarring noise suddenly came from the sky.


    "A helicopter? What''s happening?"


    "And in formation? Is it some military helicopter squad on a mission?"


    "Such a large helicopter? Is this a transport helicopter?"


    "Do you all remember the first time Zhang Menglong appeared online? It was because of that helicopter."


    "Hahaha, could this fleet of helicopters be his again?"


    "Hahaha, nonsense, there are at least dozens of helicopters, it must be


    "...wait, why do I feel like that''s actually possible?"


    "Be confident, bro, discard the words ''it seems''!"


    After more than an hour, facing such tempting food, everyone was by then fully satisfied, and this suddenly appearing helicopter fleet instantly attracted everyone''s attention.


    "What kind of helicopter is that? Quick, look it up!"


    "I found it, that''s the CH-40K helicopter, made in America, it only first appeared in front of the public in 2014!"


    "A total of 24 helicopters, damn, are they going to war?"


    "24 helicopters? How coincidental? I just found a news article from 2018, it said 24 helicopters of this model were decommissioned, purchased by a mysterious wealthy figure, and have never been seen since then!"


    "Could this mysterious wealthy figure be Zhang Menglong?"


    "It might also be one of his family elders, but it''s almost certain these 24 helicopters are his."


    "Damn, what kind of family background is this, how can they even procure such things?"


    "You think just having money is enough for a private helicopter? You also need to expand the private airspace and routes, without the right connections you can''t even think about it!"


    "Move aside, move aside, it''s about to land!"


    Amid a flurry of noise, a large area in the center of the square was cleared, fortunately, the square was big enough, otherwise it wouldn''t have been possible to accommodate so many helicopters, especially since the CH-40K is a large transport helicopter!


    The doors of the helicopters opened one after another, and a group of well-trained, uniformly dressed individuals immediately disembarked, inside were piled up numerous boxes, some of which looked ancient, even somewhat tattered and decayed, apparently quite old.


    "Holy shit! What''s going on? Another group has arrived?" Before the awe of the helicopters had subsided, another convoy of vehicles drove into the square in front of the exhibition hall, twenty-some cars, easily several hundred people, huh?"


    "What exactly is going on here?"


    A man in a suit got down from a car, looked around the entire square, and finally his gaze settled on Zhang Menglong, he immediately beamed with a smile, and jogged over to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the items and people you arranged have all arrived, can we get started?"


    "Let''s begin!"


    "Begin!" The middle-aged man signalled to everyone, the people from the cars immediately started gathering with various tools, while those who had come down from the helicopters began opening the boxes.


    Some people curiously crowded around, but those people did not stop them.


    "This...these boxes are all filled with paintings?"


    "This box contains a sculpture!"


    "This is a scroll of calligraphy!"


    "Could it be that all these boxes contain art pieces?"


    "Oh my god, how much is there? Thousands? Tens of thousands?"


    "He...he wasn''t bragging, he really has a collection richer than this art exhibition!"


    "This is indeed a true peak art exhibition!"

 Chapter 79 78: That "Mona Lisa" Is Just an Imitation

    "Uncle, what should I call you?" Zhang Menglong said to the middle-aged man.


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Cao Yushan, you can just call me Old Cao," he replied.


    "Then Cao Hongshan is..." Zhang Menglong''s reference to Cao Hongshan was the middle-aged man who had taken him to his residence the day before yesterday.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s the eldest of my family, I''m the third in the Cao Family," Cao Yushan explained, "perhaps Miss Hong Yi hasn''t told you, but your properties in Gusu are all managed by our Cao Family."


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong replied, "you mean there''s a family like yours in every city?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, except for some remote small cities, the Hong Family has chosen a family like ours in almost every city. Whenever you come to these cities, we are responsible for all your needs, from food and lodging to everything else."


    "How is this different from an emperor making an incognito visit and passing through the domains of local magistrates?" Lu Yiyao blurted out when she heard this.


    "Miss, you are quite right, but the only difference is that those magistrates might not be able to do what the emperor wants, whereas as long as Mr. Zhang needs something, our global network can take care of everything for Mr. Zhang in the shortest time possible," Cao Yushan said unconcernedly, aware that Lu Yiyao could very well be the future mistress of the Zhang Family.


    "By the way, how much stuff did you bring back this time?" Zhang Menglong had told Hong Yi that as long as it wasn''t too much, it would be fine, but looking at this situation, it seemed like they brought out almost half of his library.


    "I''m not quite sure about that, let me ask for you." Cao Yushan called over to the people moving boxes, "Who here is in charge?"


    Quickly, a person in a black uniform came running over, "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Cao, I am Xing Yue, the person in charge arranged by Miss Hong. What can I do for you?"


    "Are you a soldier?" Zhang Menglong asked, sensing a kind of military bearing on the middle-aged man.


    "I used to be, then I retired," the middle-aged man answered.


    "That''s good, their treatment should be quite decent, right?" Zhang Menglong asked on behalf of the middle-aged man.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, the income of these retired soldiers is more than triple that of local civil servants, and their benefits are paid according to the highest standard. Of course, they are the elite among the retired soldiers," he was told.


    "As long as their treatment is up to standard, that''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded, "by the way, how many items did you bring this time? Do you have a list?"


    Hearing this, the people around became curious and crowded closer.


    "Mr. Zhang, given the scale of this venue, we have prepared around thirty thousand paintings and several hundred other pieces," Xing Yue said.


    "Damn it, thirty thousand pieces? Doesn''t that European art exhibition by the old Russians only have like twelve thousand paintings in total?"


    "No, there''s more! Don''t forget he just bought over four thousand pieces!"


    "They can''t all be works by unknown chicken-rib artists, can they?"


    "Pah! Are you belittling Boss Zhang?"


    "You''re out of your mind! Would Boss Zhang use garbage to fool us?"


    "Even if we weren''t having this meal today, I would have to step up and say something!"


    "Exactly!"


    As if overhearing the whispers around him, Xing Yue proactively said, "Mr. Zhang, among these thirty thousand works, ten thousand are from Huaxia, including calligraphy and classical Chinese paintings. They feature works by masters like Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, Tang Yin, Wu Daozi, Qi Baishi, among others."


    "Sss!"


    Upon hearing these names, many were visibly shocked.


    Even those untrained in calligraphy and painting knew the names of the Sage of Calligraphy Wang Xizhi and the Sage of Painting Wu Daozi. Their acclaimed expertise was confirmed by these very titles.


    Yan Zhenqing and Tang Yin were talents not an iota lesser than the others, with each of their works commanding sky-high prices!


    To be able to offer ten thousand such pieces, even if not all were of this high caliber, just the works of these famous artists alone were more than enough for a standalone calligraphy exhibition and a painting exhibition!


    "What about the others?"


    "This place also houses over 7,000 works by Picasso, 12 undiscovered works by Da Vinci, as well as works by other artists like Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Sisley, and Pissarro."


    "Besides that, there are some sculptures, Miss Hong Yi said those items have been gathering dust for too long, and this is a good opportunity to air them out!"


    "Shit! I thought Mr. Zhang was already good at showing off, but his employees are even better at it!"


    "I just saw works by Myron and Maillol."


    "Who are they? I need a crash course!"


    "Idiot, they''re some of the most renowned sculptors in Europe. Ever heard of the Discobolus? Their works, that''s what!"


    "Air them out, is that even human speech? Such treasures in someone else''s hands are safeguarded and passed down as heirlooms, who would dare to air them out?"


    "Only someone like Mr. Zhang could pull off such a display!"


    "Alright, thank you all for the hard work, please start getting ready, I''ve rented this venue and the Gusu City Department of Culture has leased it to me indefinitely. In the future, anyone who wants to visit can do so anytime!"


    "Mr. Zhang, can we take a look around now?" that professor from earlier asked, somewhat timidly making his way over.


    "Of course, you can, as long as you don''t mind the current disarray. Feel free to browse, just don''t damage the paintings, after all, creating some ''white trash'' isn''t ideal!"


    The professor was moved by the first half of Zhang Menglong''s statement, but upon hearing the latter half, he even felt the impulse to slap Zhang Menglong.


    These are world-famous paintings! Each one destroyed is one fewer in the world! How could they be considered ''white trash'' in Zhang Menglong''s words? To him, are these masterpieces the same as blank sheets of paper?


    As the staff began setting up the exhibition, the previously quiet venue suddenly filled with people, turning boisterous in an instant.


    "This!!! This is a painting by Van Gogh!"


    "There really are paintings by Picasso! All these boxes are full of them! He wasn''t lying!"


    "This is ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''!"


    "How can that be, wasn''t that painting lost in the eighteenth century?"


    "Could it be a fake?"


    "What? ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''? Let me have a look!" The professor, who was initially scrutinizing a painting by Picasso, dashed over as if he had just heard his long-deceased mother calling him home for dinner.


    Several staff members immediately stepped forward to block the professor.


    "It''s fine, let him through, it''s just a painting." Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    The professor nodded gratefully at Zhang Menglong, then took out a magnifying glass and started to inspect the painting meticulously. The more he looked, the more his hands shook.


    "It''s real! This is truly one of Da Vinci''s lost paintings!" the professor exclaimed excitedly. "Are there any more? Are there any more?"


    "The ones by Da Vinci seem to be just these few, all here," Zhang Menglong said, pointing to a box nearby. "Take them all out, let the gentleman have a good look."


    "Thank you! Thank you!" the professor said, over and over again. For him, to be able to appreciate these pieces of art was the greatest gift of all.


    "Hm? What''s going on here? Isn''t this ''Mona Lisa''?" Zhang Menglong noticed the paintings pulled out from that box, seven ''Mona Lisas'' in a row, "What''s the matter? Does our family also have fakes?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking," Cao Yushan said. "There can''t possibly be any fakes in your collection."


    "Then how do you explain these? Are you saying there could be that many ''Mona Lisa'' paintings in the world?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, all these ''Mona Lisa'' paintings are actually imitative works, even the one in the Louvre!"


    This revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd.

 Chapter 80 86 Ill Pay for Your Dream

    "Damn, that''s too much for me!" Watching Lu Yiyao just out of the bath, Zhang Menglong admitted that he almost lost control.


    It was just a set of pajamas, but because the villa is always at a constant temperature throughout the seasons, these pajamas didn''t need to consider warmth, only aesthetics and comfort were the priority.


    Lu Yiyao''s skin was the fairest among all the girls Zhang Menglong had seen, and those long legs were as perfect as crafted art, the swan-like delicate neck and the alluring collarbones, plus her slightly wet hair, probably no man could withstand such temptation.


    "Crap, I''m gonna get a nosebleed!" Zhang Menglong felt a warm flow in his nose and quickly turned his head up.


    "Hey, what are you doing?"


    "That, I''ve been eating too well lately, a bit overheated, no big deal, no big deal!" Zhang Menglong would never admit that his nosebleed was due to the strong visual impact.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, did you get knocked out by my charm? If you become anemic, don''t expect me to take responsibility!"


    "You''re still laughing!" Desperate, Zhang Menglong ran downstairs, grabbed a few tissues, stuffed them into his nostrils, and after calming down a bit, he noticed his "little brother" was also somewhat overly excited.


    "I should''ve just let her live here alone, this is like torturing myself!" When coming to Gusu, Wang Ling even warned me that Lu Yiyao might be a Qiao Biluo, but who would''ve thought she''s not a Qiao Biluo, but actually a Wang Zuxian; who can withstand that!


    "Let''s have some midnight snacks... I ordered some barbecue and milk tea for you, knowing you''ve got the ''I don''t gain weight'' body type." Zhang Menglong grabbed a skewer of kidneys and took a big bite.


    "Zhang Menglong, look at me! Why aren''t you looking at me anymore? So love can disappear, huh?" Teasing Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao also let herself go a lot more.


    "Why are you starting to gnaw on kidneys, are you not feeling well?"


    "Woman! You''re playing with fire!" Hearing Lu Yiyao''s "provocation," Zhang Menglong could not hold back any longer¡ªthat would shame any man.


    He wiped his mouth, lifted Lu Yiyao sideways, placed her on the sofa, and immediately, a somewhat entrancing scent rushed into his nostrils.


    "Click!" The chef and nanny glimpsed this scene and quickly left, sensing that what followed might not be suitable for children.


    This was the first time they were so close; Zhang Menglong could even hear Lu Yiyao''s rapid heartbeat, and, of course, his own heart was beating incredibly fast.


    "Do you want to find out if I''m up for it?" Zhang Menglong stared at Lu Yiyao''s lips, trying hard to suppress his impulse.


    "Zhang Menglong, are you crazy? Get up now, or I''ll kick you!" Lu Yiyao''s legs were already twitching, but to Zhang Menglong, the scene was even more enchanting.


    "Stay cool! Stay cool!" Zhang Menglong let go of Lu Yiyao, took a sugar cane from the table, and started to chew on it, mumbling something to himself.


    "Hahaha, shouldn''t a man light a cigarette in times like this? What are you doing chewing on sugar cane?"


    "I don''t do smoke and mirrors!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "I''ll let you off today, but next time it won''t be so easy!"


    "By the way," Zhang Menglong quickly found a topic to ease the somewhat ambiguous and awkward atmosphere, "graduation is approaching, have you thought about what you''ll do after graduating?"


    "Of course, I''ll continue singing," Lu Yiyao blurted out.


    "That''s not an easy path," Zhang Menglong said, "You don''t know how many talented musicians end up on the streets unable to find a meal, and finally take jobs in electronics factories. There are lots of such cases."


    "I can become a teacher," Lu Yiyao said, "I have obtained a lot of certificates during my spare time, I''ll treat music as a side job and hobby, won''t that work?"


    "Come to Jiangnan City after you graduate," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Huh?"


    "Since you love music, I''ll definitely do everything in my power to help you," Zhang Menglong said seriously, "as long as you persevere, I will foot the bill for your dream."


    "I can bring in the best music teachers to guide you, and I can even ask Fang Wenshan to write lyrics for you. If necessary, I could even get Teacher Daboku to sing backup for you!"


    "If all else fails, I''ll just buy NetEase Music and put your song on the homepage!"


    "Are you serious? Leave some room for other singers to make a living!" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but laugh. If things really worked out like Zhang Menglong was planning, who knows how many talented singers would be overshadowed.


    "I plan to try it out on my own first," Lu Yiyao said, "I do have several hundred thousand followers after all, so I''m not about to starve to death. If it really doesn''t work out, then I''d seek help from you, Mr. Zhang. That should be okay, right?"


    "That''s fine. Since you''ve decided on this, what else can I say," Zhang Menglong respected Lu Yiyao''s own decision, "just call me anytime you need help."


    "Once I''ve finished my graduation thesis, I''ll come to Jiangnan City to find you."


    "You''re serious?" Zhang Menglong brightened up.


    "Actually, I''ve received a lot of offers from companies to sign with them lately. I was hesitating about where to go, but now I might as well head to Jiangnan City," Lu Yiyao said with a smile, "At that time, I''ll be counting on Mr. Zhang to cover for me."


    "Sure thing," hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt much more at ease, "Alright, it''s late now, you should get some sleep. You have class tomorrow, don''t you?"


    "Don''t you?" Lu Yiyao retorted.


    "Me? I''ve invested billions in research funding for my research group. That little graduation thesis? My senior brothers and sisters have already taken care of it for me. Graduating is just a formality!"


    "Gross!"


    "What do you mean gross! I''ve seriously done experiments okay, I''ve actually done all the experiments hands-on every day!"


    "Alright, alright, I believe you, now scram and go to sleep!"


    "Sure, I''ll sleep above you. If there''s anything, just call me anytime. If you feel lonely, cold, and alone at night, I can provide any service!"


    "What do you mean ''sleep above me''? Zhang Menglong, you better clarify!''"


    "You''re on the second floor, and I''m on the third, so naturally, I''m sleeping above you!" Zhang Menglong explained, "If you want to be on top, that''s fine too. We can switch places!"


    "That''s more like it... No, wait! That''s even more outrageous! Don''t run away! I''m gonna beat you to death!"


    ...


    After laughing and joking around for a while, Zhang Menglong lay exhausted on the bed. He turned on his phone, and today, the entire trending section was filled with content about him.


    No one knew how powerful netizens could be. The information about Zhang Menglong''s ancestor, Zhang Jingzhi, had been dug up. Of course, these were only superficial details. Those secrets that the Zhang family didn''t want people to know couldn''t be investigated by anyone.


    "Ding!" A text message popped up, with the title from "Dads of 314," the chat group for Zhang Menglong''s dormitory. These guys seemed to have been busy looking for jobs lately, and there hadn''t been any new messages in the group for a long time.


    "Brothers, let''s find a time to meet up!" Zhang Menglong quickly typed out a string of words.


    "Menglong, Old Sun is in trouble!" Xu Li''s message popped up, "He''s been falsely accused, and now we''re out of options and can only ask for your help!"

 Chapter 81 81: 79章 致敬伟大的张先生

    "The Mona Lisa in the Louvre is a forgery? How is that possible?"


    "Exactly, that painting has undergone countless scrutinies and tests; it is indeed from the hand of Master Da Vinci!"


    "What situation?"


    "This is straight from the Louvre; the news has broadcasted it countless times. How could it possibly be a forgery? Could it be that a fake has been in the Louvre for so long?"


    "What in the world is going on? Mr. Cao, I''m a bit confused." Zhang Menglong was also baffled. One moment they claimed the painting was a forgery, and the next, they said their family''s collection contained no forgeries. Isn''t this contradictory?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not be aware," Cao Yushan said with a smile, "if we''re to trace back to this part of history, we must start with your family''s background. These seven paintings, including the Mona Lisa they just took away, are all from the hand of Da Vinci."


    "Are you throwing riddles at me here?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "Stop beating around the bush."


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, Master Da Vinci didn''t paint just one Mona Lisa, but a total of 12, and he destroyed four of them over 500 years ago because he was dissatisfied with them. Of the remaining eight, one is treated as a national treasure in the Louvre, and the other seven have always been in your family."


    "What do you mean by forgery?" Zhang Menglong could understand an artist painting many versions of the same painting because artists are very particular about their work. But he still didn''t understand why he was calling these Mona Lisas forgeries.


    "Because the original Mona Lisa was not painted by Da Vinci but by another artist. Da Vinci''s 12 paintings were all attempts at copying it, so, I say, all of these works are nothing but forgeries."


    "Is that so?"


    "Seriously? I studied Western Art History; I have never heard of anything like this!"


    "A forgery being treated as a national treasure and world-famous painting, just how incredible must the original be? You''re kidding, right?"


    "You almost made me believe it!"


    "Exactly, does Da Vinci''s artistic ability still require copying someone else''s painting?"


    "Since you''re saying such a person exists, do tell, who exactly is this person?"


    The surrounding tourists weren''t making a scene without reason; such news was simply too mind-boggling, especially for those who were specialists, as it was nearly a challenge to their knowledge base and worldview!


    Imagine, someone who studies history being told all of a sudden that Emperor Qin Shi Huang was merely a puppet forcibly placed into the annals of history. Who could accept that?


    "Everyone, no need to be anxious. First, there''s no need to argue whether what I''m saying is true or false. Why not first verify if these Mona Lisas really are the work of Da Vinci?" said Cao Yushan.


    "May I have a look?" Just then, a young man with a backpack timidly stepped forward.


    "Have you studied Da Vinci''s paintings?" Zhang Menglong asked, noting that the young man appeared to be about his age.


    "A bit," the young man nodded.


    "Okay, have a look. If you need any instruments to assist with the verification, tell me."


    The young man walked up to one of the Mona Lisas, his eyes brimming with uncontrollable excitement. But moments later, he exuded a strong confidence, as if he were very confident in his appraisal skills.


    "It''s the same as the one in the Louvre; also painted on poplar wood. Judging by the extent of the paint''s cracking, it''s indeed around 500 years old," the young man said simultaneously observing and articulating his findings.


    "The painting has employed ''sfumato'' painting techniques. However, I have studied the original, and the technique on this one seems even more proficient."


    Suddenly, he seemed to notice something, "Does anyone have a magnifying glass?"


    "I have one here!" The professor from Yanjing Art University immediately passed his specialized magnifying glass over.


    "Thank you!" the young man said in gratitude, immediately immersing himself in the painting once again.


    "The right eye still bears the letters ''LV,'' Da Vinci''s initials, but the number on the arch is 5, not 2. What does this mean?"


    "May I take a look at the others?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong gestured to the staff nearby, and the remaining copies of the Mona Lisa were laid out on the table.


    "This one has a 1, although the technique is still very sophisticated, it seems much more naive compared to the one we just saw!"


    "This one has a 3, this one 4..."


    "I get it! The number on the arch isn''t some kind of special code at all, it''s a sequence number Da Vinci marked for himself when he created these paintings!" The young man suddenly showed an excited expression.


    "So that''s it!?"


    "These centuries-old mysteries, they are actually unraveled today?"


    "It''s unbelievable, if these paintings hadn''t appeared here at the same time, who would have thought that there''s such a secret behind this artwork!"


    "Does that mean all these paintings are real?"


    "They should be. Da Vinci''s paintings can''t be replicated by just anyone, and the degree of the pigments'' discoloration, this wooden panel, they simply cannot be reproduced. Plus, Da Vinci''s signature technique, ''sfumato,'' where he could control the thickness of the ink to just 2 microns. Just a simple test with an instrument, and we can immediately tell the real from the fake!"


    "Oh my God!"


    "This time I''m truly convinced!"


    "This news could make the front page of the Global Weekly tomorrow!"


    "Quick, take photos! Take photos!"


    "Idiots, don''t photograph the paintings, they are national treasures! They are historical artifacts!"


    ...


    Who would have thought that a puzzle which perplexed countless painters and art historians for centuries would be solved like this during an art exhibition, and even reveal such astonishing information.


    Over the centuries, numerous imitations of the Mona Lisa have appeared, and even these imitations have fetched over a hundred million in high prices. Now, the value of the original has become immeasurable in monetary terms.


    There are as many as seven! Seven Mona Lisas! If it can be proven that all of them are indeed Da Vinci''s originals, it would definitely shock the entire art world!


    "Wait a minute! If the Mona Lisa is a copy of some work, where is the original painting?"


    "Indeed, its value might be more terrifying than all of these paintings combined, right?"


    "And, who could the painter be? Was it Da Vinci''s teacher, Verrocchio? Or perhaps the master, Donatello?"


    "Mr. Cao, don''t keep us in suspense, you must know, right?" Zhang Menglong listened to this twisting history, itching with curiosity.


    "It''s actually very simple!" Cao Yushan said, "There''s a letter in the left eye of each painting which is the first two letters of some Italian words."


    "Al...gr...si...Zh... What does that mean?"


    With a mysterious smile, Cao Yushan said, "Al grande signor Zhang, translated into the language of Huaxia, it''s ''To the great Mr. Zhang.''"

 Chapter 82 80: He begged for three days and three nights

    "Respected Mr. Zhang? Which Mr. Zhang? That''s a Huaxia surname, right?"


    "Did any famous Zhang surname painters emerge in Huaxia during the 16th century?"


    "Zhang Menglong is also surnamed Zhang, and so is this painter; could it be his ancestor?"


    "Damn! It''s not impossible, right?"


    "Why do I feel like this has been a setup from the start? Could this story be something his family made up just to create a sensation?"


    "Exactly, what with all this talk about there being 12 ''Mona Lisas'' and tributes. Isn''t that just what they claim?"


    Once the mystery was unveiled, the onlookers were all talking at once. Events from 500 years ago are almost untraceable, and without any evidence, it really lacks any credibility.


    "Could it be that I have such a badass ancestor?" Zhang Menglong, who had already known a bit about the tip of the iceberg that was his family history, didn''t doubt Cao Yushan''s words, he just couldn''t imagine. His ancestor could earn money, that was true, but how did he end up painting on the side? And even earn such respect from someone like Da Vinci? That''s not scientific!


    "Could it be that magic school again?" Mulling over it, Zhang Menglong could only attribute everything to that school. Since it was called a school, it surely must teach some skills, right? Perhaps his ancestor''s painting abilities were acquired from there?


    "Damn it!" Thinking of this, Zhang Menglong slammed the table hard. He had already spent money fiercely. How had he not spent that 100 billion US dollars yet?


    Never mind not allowing donations, every time he spent a large sum of money, by the next day it was back in his account again, as if all the enterprises in the world belonged to his family.


    "Hiss! Ah!" The solid wood made Zhang Menglong grimace in pain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you going on about?" Lu Yiyao, who was nearby, was utterly confused, wondering why he suddenly started hurting himself. Could it be that the story about his ancestors was such a big shock to him?


    "It''s nothing, just that I can''t seem to spend the money, and it''s making me anxious!" Zhang Menglong blew on his reddened hand.


    "Such a problem to have," Lu Yiyao was rendered speechless. "If anyone else heard you say that, they''d want to kill you!"


    "I''m really annoyed!" said Zhang Menglong with a helpless face. "I''ve been desperately spending, but it''s still so slow. I''m losing my mind over it!"


    "My mind is breaking too!"


    ...


    "Mr. Cao, what about my ancestor''s paintings?"


    "Of course, we brought them too!" Cao Yushan said. "Your ancestor dabbled in various styles and subjects including Huaxia''s ink paintings and foreign oil paintings. It''s just that he did not leave many works behind, and he kept them close. Otherwise, the world would have had another unparalleled painter."


    "That''s true. To get such an evaluation from a master like Da Vinci, I imagine his realm must be unmatched."


    "Mr. Zhang, since these works really exist, why not exhibit them for everyone to see?"


    "Yeah, Boss Zhang, let us have the honor, please!"


    Some people were hopeful, while others were more sarcastic, but everyone was curious about this authentic ''Mona Lisa''.


    "Then bring it out," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Bring it out!" With a wave of Cao Yushan''s hand, a supremely delicate box was carried up by two people, a far cry from those famous paintings stored in battered boxes¡ªthis one was luxurious!


    With a metal shell, adorned with glittering gemstones, the box alone was probably worth a fortune.


    "Isn''t this way too exaggerated?"


    "Mr. Zhang is quite particular about his own creations. This box was made with the most outstanding craftsmanship available back then. Under those conditions, it couldn''t be opened by any external force. Even now, it couldn''t be cut open with temperatures below 5000 degrees."


    "That awesome?" Zhang Menglong inspected the box from all sides, "How could such a thing seem achievable with the craftsmanship from over five hundred years ago?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your ancestors were already wealthy beyond measure thousands of years ago. With the extra time they had, some traveled around the world while others started researching various things. The achievements they attained are beyond the reach of modern people."


    "Forget it, let''s not talk about that. Let''s look at the paintings first," directed Zhang Menglong.


    Cao Yushan walked up to the box and gently tapped it a few times. Unbelievably, a refined button appeared on its flawless surface. Accompanied by the sound of "click, click" from the mechanics, the top of the box actually began to disassemble!


    "Is this... Is this really something from 500 years ago?" Not just anyone else, even Zhang Menglong was shocked by this scene. Never mind 500 years ago, could modern technology create such a thing?


    "We must uncover the secret of that academy as soon as possible!" Zhang Menglong resolved silently.


    The box was large, but inside there were only a few paintings. On a well-preserved wooden panel, there was indeed a "Mona Lisa"!


    "There truly are other versions of the ''Mona Lisa''!" The people around excitedly gathered.


    Cao Yushan hung the painting, "This one is quite special. I hope everyone will be civilized in their observation."


    "Oh my God! What kind of premiere painting is this?"


    "I''ve seen Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa.'' No matter which angle you stand in front of the original, you feel those eyes watching you, but I''m standing behind this one! Why do I feel a gaze on me?"


    "This is unscientific!"


    "Look, her lips are smiling! They''re really moving! How is this possible?"


    "Although Da Vinci''s painting also captures Mona Lisa''s smile, it requires changing perspectives and focus, seeing the smile through the combination of various details. I''ve been staring at the same spot on this painting, and she is actually smiling!"


    "Incomprehensible, just too incomprehensible!"


    The audience members may not necessarily be outstanding painters, but their ability to appreciate art is beyond reproach. This painting seems even more magical than Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa''!


    It feels like this isn''t just a painting, but a real person!


    "This painting was done by Mr. Zhang Jingzhi when he was 21 years old. Back then, it only appeared in a small circle in Europe. Those who saw it were amazed, and even many nobles at the time wanted to purchase it for a high price."


    "But my ancestor didn''t sell it?"


    "Of course not. That amount of money didn''t interest Mr. Jingzhi at all. During the Renaissance in Europe, after that painting was exhibited, countless painters wanted to emulate and refer to it, including Da Vinci. However, in the end, Mr. Jingzhi only lent it to Da Vinci for three days."


    "Why only lend it to him?"


    "It is said that at that time, Mr. Da Vinci pleaded outside Mr. Jingzhi''s residence for three days and nights. He was so bothered that he finally lent the painting to him."


    "Keep it up, I can take it." The idea of Da Vinci, one of the triumvirates of the Renaissance, begging outside his own ancestor''s door for three days and nights was hard for Zhang Menglong to imagine. Isn''t that a bit too sensational?


    "Back then, Mr. Da Vinci was actually just starting out," Cao Yushan continued, "Later on, Mr. Jingzhi thought Da Vinci had some talent and gave him a few minutes of guidance, and only after that did the great master of art emerge."

 Chapter 83 81: Hes Back Again

    The brand-new painting exhibition was meticulously organized; Zhang Menglong took Lu Yiyao on a tour, while also listening to Cao Yushan repeatedly recount the deeds of his numerous ancestors.


    Not just in the realm of painting, but even in sculpture and music, the Zhang Family produced many prominent talents. Even famous musicians like Beethoven and Mozart had once been advised by his ancestors.


    However, it seemed there was an intention to obscure their family''s information, as these individuals were only well-known within a highly exclusive circle and remained unknown to the general public.


    Visitors who came to the exhibition collected these tales into short stories and posted them online, which sparked another wave of fame for Zhang Menglong. Although some of the tales were baseless and even drew skepticism, Zhang Menglong didn''t care about these opinions; they were just jealous, after all.


    As dusk gradually fell, Zhang Menglong had indeed promised to take Lu Yiyao and her roommates out for dinner that evening, and they left the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center around five o''clock.


    "Look at you today, all puffed up with pride; your tail is practically wagging to the sky!"


    "I did not!" Zhang Menglong protested with a wronged expression, "I''m completely dumbfounded myself, okay? I didn''t even know that, aside from being rich, my ancestors were that incredible!"


    "Hahaha, it truly runs in the family; your personality must be a legacy from your ancestors," Lu Yiyao laughed. "No offense, but I''d bet your ancestors would stir up quite the storm wherever they went in their time."


    "It''s not that exaggerated," Zhang Menglong replied. "But this is the fine tradition of our Zhang Family. What''s the difference between a man who isn''t flashy and a salted fish?"


    "Speaking of which, where are your roommates? Have they decided where they want to eat?" Zhang Menglong asked. "I''ve already prepared gifts to bribe them with today; maybe they''ll kick you out of the dorm tonight, selling friendship for glory!"


    "You''re talking nonsense; my girls and I are as close as sisters, not some fair-weather friends!"


    "As close as sisters? That''s because the stakes aren''t high enough!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Look, what''s in the box beneath your feet?"


    "What is it?" Actually, she had noticed a neither large nor small box beneath the passenger seat that morning; was this prepared for her roommates?


    "You can open it and see!"


    "All this mystery, it better not be something creepy," Lu Yiyao opened the box and the moment she saw what was inside, her eyes widened with disbelief.


    The box contained three property deeds and three car keys. Although Lu Yiyao was not into cars, she recognized the Maserati logo. Even a cheap Maserati would probably cost around a million, right?


    Gusu City is a provincial capital. Although its real estate prices aren''t as high as the hottest tier-one cities, they''re certainly not low. The addresses on the property deeds were in the heart of the downtown area, where prices surely started at fifty thousand per square meter, and all the properties listed were about 200 square meters in size!


    Just the value of these properties surpassed ten million each; in comparison, the cars were probably just a small extra.


    "Since it''s our first meeting, I wasn''t sure what your roommates would like, so I thought something practical might be best. I hope they like them," Zhang Menglong said as he concentrated on driving.


    "Zhang Menglong, you..." At this moment, Lu Yiyao wasn''t sure whether to feel angry or to laugh.


    Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s frightening wealth and incomprehensible family background earlier today, she was certain that this amount of money was not even significant to him.


    But for Lu Yiyao and her roommates, these gifts were astronomically valuable!


    And of course, this question was obviously redundant; in this world, who doesn''t love cars and houses?


    "Even if you give them cars, they barely have enough living expenses to even buy skincare products together, let alone pay for gas and maintenance," Lu Yiyao said incredulously.


    "I did overlook that," Zhang Menglong paused, "no worries, I''ll prepare an unlimited gas card and a lifetime maintenance card to be delivered tomorrow."


    "It''s not about that, I mean..."


    "I get it, you must be worried they won''t like it. Don''t worry, I have plan B," Zhang Menglong pulled out a beautifully crafted box from behind, "one for each person, I believe no one can refuse this."


    "What''s this now?" Lu Yiyao curiously opened one of the boxes, and the moment she opened it, the beautiful luster flowing out caught her gaze.


    A string of gemstone necklaces, a pair of earrings, no brand name, but the price tags were still attached.


    "Five million...two million..."


    "I refuse to believe your roommate won''t like these!" Zhang Menglong said confidently.


    "Zhang Menglong, enough is enough!" Lu Yiyao''s expression suddenly turned a bit stern, "Is this really necessary?"


    "Screech!" Zhang Menglong slammed on the brakes, hearing a hint of a choke in Lu Yiyao''s tone, "Yiyi, what''s wrong, hey, don''t cry..."


    "Zhang Menglong, do you think I''m a materialistic girl? Do you think I befriended you for these things?"


    "Not at all! I..." As soon as Lu Yiyao started speaking, Zhang Menglong realized she might have misunderstood him, seeming like his perspective on certain things had shifted after inheriting that fortune, inadvertently affecting the emotions of those around him.


    "Hahaha..."


    "What are you laughing at!" Watching Zhang Menglong laugh hysterically eased her feelings of being wronged.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me, I''ve known you so long, and back then I was just a poor loser. If you were materialistic, would you have stayed friends with me for so long?"


    "Pfft!" Lu Yiyao suddenly laughed out loud. If Zhang Menglong counts as a "loser," maybe it''s time to redefine the word.


    "Yiyi, I''m still the same old me, the same Zhang Menglong you knew from before, except richer now. I hope you won''t change either, always be the girl who loves singing, loves music, loves gaming, can chat about anything with me, and can banter with me."


    "Who wants to chat about anything with you! Zhang Menglong, aren''t you disgusting!"


    "Hahaha, who was the one who said last time that they stank themselves out with their own poop?"


    "Ah! Don''t you dare mention that!"


    ...


    With the laughter, the nascent rift instantly vanished into thin air.


    "It''s my roommate calling," Lu Yiyao answered the phone excitedly, "With your monetary onslaught, they''ll definitely band together to betray me!"


    "Hey, Xixi, we''re already on our way back to school, have you guys decided yet? You''ve had all day!"


    "Yiyi, it looks like we won''t be able to make it today."


    "Ah? Can''t make it? What do you mean?" Lu Yiyao''s face showed a hint of fear, "Could it be..."


    "He''s here again!"

 Chapter 84 82 Insulting Bridewealth

    "What''s the matter? Why does your expression suddenly look so terrible?" Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Menglong saw Lu Yiyao''s grave expression.


    "It''s nothing. How about you just drop me off at the school gate and head back? Something came up with my roommate, and I''m afraid I can''t have dinner with you tonight."


    "Yiyi, you''re not good at lying," Zhang Menglong had heard everything clearly, "Your roommate said ''he'' is coming. Who is ''he''?"


    "Don''t ask, this is my own business."


    "What do you mean, your own business? Your business is my business. Haven''t I said that more than once or twice?" At this moment, Zhang Menglong suddenly took on the demeanor of a domineering CEO, "An ex-boyfriend? No problem, give him a couple billion and tell him to get lost!"


    "No," Lu Yiyao shook her head, "It''s... it''s my dad."


    "Your dad?" Zhang Menglong furrowed his brow.


    He and Lu Yiyao were close enough to share almost everything, and apart from Lu Yiyao herself, probably no one knew her family better than he did.


    In fact, Lu Yiyao appeared cheerful in front of others, but when alone, she almost became someone who shut herself off, keeping only music for company. It was only after meeting Zhang Menglong that she began to change somewhat.


    The initiator of all this was her own family.


    Lu Yiyao used to have a happy family, but then her father, Lu Huiyang, developed a terrible gambling habit. Each time he lost money, he would throw a tantrum at home, which eventually led to her mother''s decision to divorce because she couldn''t stand such a life.


    Later on, her father even started to exhibit some mental issues, and several times he injured Lu Yiyao badly enough to require hospitalization. The worst incident had her laid up in the hospital for an entire month!


    Only after Lu Yiyao went to university did she begin to escape the torment of her father. Relying on her musical talent, sometimes giving music lessons to little children, sometimes releasing her work on various music sites, she managed to earn a decent income. At the very least, she could be self-sufficient.


    Since then, she hadn''t contacted her father again, and she stayed in Gusu even during the New Year. This year had been the happiest Spring Festival for her, thanks to Zhang Menglong''s company.


    The university years were the most relaxed of her life. After graduation, she could find a job she loved. Maybe she would even meet the person she had known for a long time but had never met. Everything seemed to be getting better.


    But now, without any prior indication, her father had actually come to her school. His gambling addiction had not abated over the years¡ªin fact, it had gotten worse. He had lost even the house and was buried in debt.


    The crazed Lu Huiyang had only now remembered he had a daughter. This was his second time coming to find her. The last time, he forcibly took away nearly half a year of Lu Yiyao''s living expenses and the entire year''s tuition. If it had not been for her roommates'' help, she might not have even been able to continue her studies.


    "I''ll come with you!" Zhang Menglong stepped on the gas, speeding up the car. A trip that should have taken twenty minutes was completed in less than ten.


    As expected, there was already a crowd gathered at the bottom of Lu Yiyao''s dormitory building, with even the school security on the scene. But the guards were somewhat hesitant in the face of Lu Huiyang''s crazed behavior. After all, if someone with a mental illness hurts someone, they''re not held accountable.


    "Lu Yiyao, come down here!"


    "I''ve raised you for over twenty years, and now that you''ve met a wealthy boyfriend, shouldn''t you repay your old man?"


    "If you don''t come down, I''ll wait right here until you do!"


    "What are you all looking at? It''s only natural for a father to look for his daughter. Get lost, all of you!"


    Although the news about Lu Yiyao and Zhang Menglong had only spread online for less than two days, Lu Huiyang had seen it by chance. The person who had been very close to the recently famous rich second-generation online was his own daughter!


    He immediately sought out all the information he could find on Zhang Menglong. After some investigation, he realized that the young man''s wealth and background were shockingly unimaginable!


    He immediately assumed that Lu Yiyao was dating Zhang Menglong, which gave him some hope. Perhaps he could get a large sum of money from his daughter¡ªmaybe even enough to not worry about gambling money ever again!


    ...


    "This is your dad?" Zhang Menglong looked at the man, disheveled and unkempt, and for a moment, he didn''t know what to say, "These years must have been difficult for you, right?"


    "It''s okay," Lu Yiyao said with a helpless, bitter smile, "It''s been bearable since I started college. After all, he is my dad. I owe it to him, I guess."


    "Owe him? A man who fathers but does not raise does not deserve to be called a father," Zhang Menglong was filled with rage, and he even wanted to rush over and give Lu Huiyang a beating. If not for him, Lu Yiyao''s personality wouldn''t have become so fragile and reclusive.


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t be rash, he''s still my father after all..."


    "It''s okay, don''t worry. I won''t do anything rash," Zhang Menglong said. He sent a voice message to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, find out all the information about Yiyi''s father as soon as possible. Something came up here."


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve always had his information," Hong Yi replied promptly, "From the moment you first met miss Lu, all her information has been with us."


    "Damn, are you guys spies or what?"


    "We need to make sure that everything around you poses no danger to you," Hong Yi said, "Lu Huiyang, 49 years old, diagnosed with moderate mental illness, compulsive gambler, currently owes a total of 1.27 million in debts and is homeless."


    "Gee, they even let someone with moderate mental illness out, who knows which hospital made that diagnosis," Zhang Menglong muttered, "I got it, you help me contact Cao Yushan, have him bring some guys over. I''m afraid the security here can''t handle this lunatic."


    "Okay, I''ll contact him right away."


    "Let''s go, we''ll go up and take a look."


    "I''m afraid..."


    "It''s alright, I''m here." For the first time, Zhang Menglong took Lu Yiyao''s hand. It was their first physical contact since they''d known each other.


    Lu Yiyao did not resist, that hand made her feel very secure.


    "Excuse me, please make way!"


    "Zhang Menglong? It''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Lu Yiyao is here!"


    "This is going to be a good show, the drama of the year!"


    "How could Lu Yiyao have such a father? She has never mentioned him before."


    "Family scandals should not be aired in public, if I had such a father, I wouldn''t want to tell anyone either."


    "True, it''s also a wonder how they''re going to handle this."


    "What''s there to handle? With a boyfriend like Zhang Menglong, what problem can''t be solved?"


    "True, maybe Boss Zhang will just drop a bag of money and make that madman scram!"


    "Haha, where are my sunflower seeds?"


    ...


    "It''s nothing!" Sensing the emotion that Lu Yiyao showed when she heard the gossip around her, Zhang Menglong gripped her hand even tighter.


    "You little brat, so you''ve run off outside!" It was unclear whether Lu Huiyang was genuinely mentally ill or faking it, but at that moment he seemed very lucid.


    "Come here!" Lu Huiyang shouted, "I heard you''ve got yourself a very wealthy boyfriend, is it this guy?"


    "Young man, are you dating my daughter?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong pulled Lu Yiyao behind him!


    "Wow! He admitted it!"


    "Crap, crap, crap!"


    "Wuu, my youth is over!"


    "So romantic, I''m so jealous!"


    "Hahaha, good!" Lu Huiyang started laughing, "I''ve spent quite a bit of money raising my daughter, I won''t meddle in your affairs from now on. Give me a dowry of 5 million, and my daughter is yours, how about it."


    "Damn! Selling his daughter?"


    "5 million for a dowry? Why doesn''t he just rob someone?"


    "Pfft, only 5 million, that''s practically an insult to Boss Zhang!"


    "Hahaha, exactly, the man just spent 500 billion US dollars today to buy a few thousand famous paintings. This dowry offer is nothing but insulting!"


    "Hahaha, ''insulting dowry'', that''s a good use of words! This old lunatic probably has no idea just how wealthy his daughter''s boyfriend really is, huh?"


    ...

 Chapter 85 83: Build Him a Mental Hospital

    The surrounding laughter left Lu Huiyang somewhat stunned; was asking for a dowry of 5 million such a laughing matter?


    Back when he married Lu Yiyao''s mother, it had only cost a few yuan for the bride price. Even though decades had passed, and the present inflation was incomparable to that time, 5 million remained a figure Lu Huiyang didn''t even dare to dream of.


    Even the house he had lived in for over a decade, if mortgaged to the creditors, was only worth a few hundred thousand. He no longer had any serious job. If he had to repay this debt of over a million by himself, he feared he wouldn''t finish paying it off even at his death.


    He knew Zhang Menglong had money, but that was just a vague idea. With his troubled mental state, he didn''t have the energy to investigate how much money Zhang Menglong actually had.


    He had only heard that Zhang Menglong bought a company for his daughter. With that kind of capability, he must have a net worth of at least few tens of millions, after all, in his ridiculous worldview, a net worth of a few tens of millions was already quite remarkable.


    Even when he asked for a dowry of 5 million, he felt like he was asking for too much.


    But what he didn''t expect was that his demand immediately provoked laughter from the people around him.


    "Are you sure you''re only asking for 5 million?"


    "5 million, not a penny less, or I''ll take her away right now!"


    "Dad!" Tears welled up in Lu Yiyao''s eyes, "Am I just a product to you? You drove mom away, and now you want to ruin my life too, don''t you?"


    "I''ve raised you all these years so that you can support me in the future!" Lu Huiyang showed no signs of remorse, "I''ll tell you, Lu Yiyao, I am your father now, and I will be forever. You''ll never get rid of me for as long as you live!"


    "You just said, as long as you get the 5 million, you won''t pester her anymore?"


    "That''s right!" said Lu Huiyang, "Give me the money, and our obligation of parental support is settled. I will absolutely not bother her again."


    "Okay," said Zhang Menglong, "5 million, I hope you''ll keep your word!"


    Zhang Menglong easily got Lu Huiyang''s bank account information from Hong Yi and immediately transferred the 5 million.


    When Lu Huiyang''s phone received the bank''s message, his face lit up with surprise. This young man actually gave him 5 million!


    "Hahaha!" Lu Huiyang laughed hysterically, "5 million, 5 million, hahaha!"


    "Damn, you believe that? A gambler, might lose the 5 million in just a few days and definitely come back again!"


    "Exactly, once he''s tasted sweetness, how could he just stop? Zhang Menglong, you shouldn''t trust him!"


    "Yeah, just ignore such a person!"


    "Forget it, consider it my responsibility as his junior," Zhang Menglong patted Lu Yiyao''s shoulder, who by that point could no longer speak due to her sobs.


    Although she didn''t have much affection for her father, only hatred, one could imagine the despair in her heart upon hearing his attitude.


    "Wait a minute!" Just then, Lu Huiyang spoke up again, "5 million isn''t enough!"


    "What did you say?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed, "Just now, you said after the 5 million, you would stop pestering her."


    "Hmph, it''s not that simple!" Lu Huiyang had no difficulty guessing that Zhang Menglong''s wealth was far greater than this number, since he had effortlessly parted with 5 million.


    He was well aware that after paying off his debts, the 5 million probably wouldn''t last him long. With such an opportunity, why not ask for more? Would it not be a waste of his ''valuable'' daughter?


    "I want 10 million!" Lu Huiyang demanded, "Give me another 5 million and I''ll leave immediately!"


    "Doubled extortionate bride price!"


    "Hahaha, to insult Boss Zhang twice, if it were me, I couldn''t stand it!"


    "Right, at least change the unit or add a few more zeros to make it enough!"


    "Yiyi, it looks like your dad has no intention of letting go of his cash cow," Zhang Menglong sighed, "I''m afraid I have to use some special methods now. You wouldn''t be angry, would you?"


    "Just don''t hurt him," Lu Yiyao felt Zhang Menglong''s anger. The last person who angered him had already been sent to dig for coal in Africa. Even if Lu Huiyang was her father, Lu Yiyao couldn''t guarantee that Zhang Menglong would spare him. Not hurting him was her last bit of hope.


    "Don''t worry, after all, he''s your dad. I won''t only not hurt him, but I''ll also take him to a place that to him will be heaven."


    "What?" Lu Yiyao had no idea what Zhang Menglong was talking about.


    At that moment, a car drove into the student dormitory area. Cao Yushan, accompanied by a few men that looked like bodyguards, arrived in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re here. Miss Hong Yi has already informed me about the situation. Is there anything you need us to do here?"


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, "do you know any doctors who specialize in treating mental illness?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your family cultivates a large number of talents in various fields every year and also recruits talent through various means. Their capabilities are definitely not inferior to world-class doctors."


    "Good, find me a place near Gusu City, it''s fine even if it''s in the suburbs."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you planning to..."


    "Build him a mental hospital!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Lu Huiyang and said, "Make it look like a casino. Later on, hire a group of staff to bet with him and play cards every day. You set the salary. If he gets better, let him out once he''s cured. If he doesn''t get better, he can just stay and be the God of Gamblers for the rest of his life."


    Zhang Menglong''s voice wasn''t loud, but the people closest to him heard him loud and clear.


    What kind of situation was this? To build a mental hospital for a single person and even hire a group of actors to play along? Was this a mental patient or an Emperor? What kind of mental patient would receive such treatment?


    "You see, even if you''re mentally ill, as long as you rely on Boss Zhang, you can get a private hospital set up for you!"


    "I just want to know, can I apply for the job?"


    "Hahaha, I''m fierce at playing Fight the Landlord. I used to watch Grandpa Lu''s live streams every day!"


    "De de de de de de de de de..."


    "Light incense."


    "Stop talking, I''ve got the whole picture in my head already."


    "You shouldn''t have any objections to the way I''m handling this, right?" Zhang Menglong turned to ask for Lu Yiyao''s opinion.


    "Is it worth it?" Lu Yiyao said.


    "What bullshit are you talking!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice. "For your sake, it''s all worth it!"


    "Take him away," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Be careful not to injure him."


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, we will take care of Miss Lu''s father appropriately."


    "Hmm, I''ll leave it to you then," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hey! What are you going to do? Are you going to start something? I warn you, I''ve trained in martial arts!" Lu Huiyang adopted a stance, "Wing Chun, Ye Wen!"


    Cao Yushan held his forehead. This wasn''t a mental patient, this was an idiot, "Be careful with him, take him back to the second hospital first."


    "Let go of me! You let go of me, I''m not mentally ill, you have no right to catch me!"


    "Ah! I won''t go! Lu Yiyao, you ungrateful thing, you just wait, as long as I''m alive, you''ll never be rid of me!"


    "Gag him!" Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Mmm mmm mmm..."


    ...

 Chapter 86 84 The Whole Person is Yours

    ```


    "Alright, everyone disperse, there''s nothing to see here. Who doesn''t have an unwell relative at home, please just go!" Zhang Menglong began dispersing the crowd around.


    After the commotion had died down, and it was around dinner time, the bystanders slowly cleared out, leaving only Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao, and three other girls.


    One of them had been seen by Zhang Menglong before; she was Guo Yuqian, one of the ones who had come with her that day, and the remaining two must be Lu Yiyao''s other roommates.


    "Yiyi, are you alright?"


    "Ah, it''s all because of Xinlan. We said not to tell Yiyi. She''s definitely going to be upset knowing this."


    "But we can''t just let Yiyi''s father keep causing a scene, can we?"


    "Enough, let''s not argue about it. It''s not your fault," Lu Yiyao tried to compose herself, "Let me introduce them to you. This is Chen Bing, and this is Zhou Xinlan."


    "Nice to meet you, I''m Zhang Menglong." Zhang Menglong nodded with a smile towards the two girls. In terms of looks, all three of Lu Yiyao''s roommates were rather exquisite, and they all seemed to be the outgoing type. Perhaps it was because of living with them that Lu Yiyao had become more and more cheerful.


    "With all this disturbance, you probably don''t feel like eating anymore, right? How about we do it another day," Zhang Menglong could tell that Lu Yiyao''s mood didn''t seem very good at the moment.


    "Yes, that''s fine, and thank you for bringing Yiyi back safely, and for helping her out so much," Guo Yuqian said, "You wouldn''t believe how scary it was the first time Yiyi''s father came to our school. It was the first time we saw someone treat their own daughter like that."


    "Yuqian, keep it down!" The other two girls made faces at each other on the side, clearly indicating that this was not the time for Lu Yiyao to hear more about it.


    "I''m entrusting Yiyi to your care tonight," Zhang Menglong said, "Keep her company and make sure she doesn''t stay alone."


    "We know, we know. Honestly, we didn''t expect you, a rich second generation, to be so reliable!" Guo Yuqian said.


    "What, so in your eyes, all rich second generation have to be unreliable?" Zhang Menglong laughed. It seemed that the reputation of past rich kids wasn''t very good.


    "Anyway, you''re different from them. Don''t worry, seeing how well you did tonight, we will definitely put in a good word for you with Yiyi!"


    "Hahaha, that''s right, that''s right. If there are any little gifts or something, maybe next time we could even slip her a ''love potion'' and send her straight to your place!"


    "Haha, right, right. It all depends on how you, Boss Zhang, bribe us. Although us four sisters have a bond that''s stronger than diamonds, the right bribe could change everything!"


    The atmosphere lightened up and the girls started to chatter again, and of course, they weren''t really asking for gifts from Zhang Menglong; they were just using that topic to divert Lu Yiyao''s attention from her father''s situation.


    "You three! I was just saying on the way here how you wouldn''t betray me, and now I''m slapping my own face!" Sure enough, Lu Yiyao''s mood had improved a bit, and a smile appeared on her face.


    "As for the gifts, I''ve actually prepared them a long time ago!" Zhang Menglong went back to his car and took out the small boxes, "Originally, I planned to give them to you when we went out to eat today, but with what happened, let''s not stand on ceremony. Consider it a welcome gift!"


    "Ah, Zhang Menglong, you should''ve just come directly, why bring gifts? It''s making us feel quite uncomfortable!"


    "That''s right, are we that materialistic? Being friends with Yiyi is all about like-mindedness!"


    "Pfft, like-mindedness, my foot. It''s about mutual attraction among outstanding people!"


    The girls said that they didn''t want the gifts, but their bodies were very honest as they quickly opened the boxes.


    "Holy crap! Zhang Handsome, did you put the wrong thing in here? How come you''ve included your family''s property deeds?"


    "I''ve got a property deed here, too?!"


    "Me too? What''s going on? Wrong deeds in all three?"


    "And there''s a car key too!"


    "This...this is a diamond necklace and earrings from that Australian designer''s original brand! I''ve seen it in magazines, it has to be custom-made, and even the cheapest goes for hundreds of thousands of US Dollars!"


    "Zhang Handsome? Is this what you call a welcome gift?"


    "This...this is too valuable, we can''t accept it!"


    ```


    "You should really take these back; if I keep them, we won''t be able to sleep tonight!"


    Truly, when such valuable items were placed in front of them, the girls felt not joy but rather fear. They were only born into families that were slightly better than average, and these items far exceeded their spending power. The psychological pressure that came with holding such items was unimaginable.


    "Once I give something away, I never take it back," Zhang Menglong pushed the boxes back toward them, "Yiyi told me that the last time her dad came, he took all the money she had, and it was only thanks to you girls helping her out that she managed to get through the tough times. These little things can''t compare to that kind of friendship."


    "But..."


    "No buts," The straightforward nature of these girls quickly won Zhang Menglong''s favor, and he felt quite at ease living with people like them, "If you really can''t accept it, just consider these gifts as a reservation for you to be my bridesmaids in the future; that should be fine, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Lu Yiyao''s face turned bright red, "What are you talking about? When did I agree to marry you? Bridesmaids'' gifts, bridesmaids your head, do you believe I would twist off your crown?!"


    "Yo yo yo, bridesmaids'' gifts!" The girls immediately started to tease.


    "Hahaha, had you said that, wouldn''t we have already accepted?"


    "Exactly, Mr. Zhang''s wedding, that''s going to be the wedding of the century. These bridesmaids'' gifts do match the scale of your event."


    "Then we won''t be polite!"


    To tell the truth, with such gifts in front of them, no one could remain unmoved. But everyone has their limits and Zhang Menglong had used the most acceptable way for them to willingly accept these items; besides, to him, these items were not really a big deal.


    "Someone will deliver the car tomorrow, and they will bring the fuel card and the maintenance card as well. But if you don''t have a driver''s license, there''s nothing I can do about it!"


    "Haha, don''t underestimate us; we''re all Mount Akina''s Gods of Cars!"


    "That''s right, don''t believe us? Let''s go drag racing next time!"


    "Cough cough cough!" The three glanced at each other, then simultaneously revealed mischievous smiles.


    "We stand by our word, and we are quite pleased with your bribe. Starting today, Lu Yiyao, everything about you, from head to toe, inside and out, belongs to you!"


    "Yes, yes, yes! Haha, Yiyi, my sister is coming to visit me these next few days. She wants to stay in our dormitory tonight. Originally, Chen Bing wasn''t going to come back, but when she heard that Zhang Menglong was treating us to dinner, she canceled all her plans and came directly. Now that she''s here, you can''t possibly bear to let Chen Bing stay at a hotel by herself, right?"


    "Why don''t you let Zhang Menglong find you a place tonight? He has so many houses, taking you in for one night won''t be a problem."


    "Yes, yes, that''s right, I need to take care of my sister now, so I''m heading up!"


    "We''re going too, we won''t leave the door unlocked for you tonight!"


    "Busy with studies, I''ll take my leave!"


    ...


    The girls made up a whole bunch of excuses on the spot and ended up truly locking Lu Yiyao out.


    "Her sister is really coming over to stay tonight?"


    "Zhang Menglong, is your head filled with shit? She doesn''t have a damn sister!" Lu Yiyao''s face was a mix of helplessness.


    "Hahaha, I thought your fellowship was as solid as diamond? Where''s the camaraderie and shared animosity?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Isn''t it because of you! This is no ordinary gift, what you''re offering is essentially a sugar-coated cannonball!"


    "So, what do we do now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "All my stuff is in the dormitory, and it looks like they''re not going to let me in tonight, so I can only ask you to take me in," Lu Yiyao said with a pitiful tone.


    A moment later, she revealed two sharp little tiger teeth, "But if you try anything tonight, I''ll bite you!"


    "I wouldn''t dare, wouldn''t dare..."

 Chapter 87 85: Lets Start with a Bang

    "Is this where you live?"


    Staring at the three-story villa in front of her, Lu Yiyao gazed dumbfoundedly at Zhang Menglong.


    "My previous place was only about 200 square meters, it would have seemed a bit cramped if you moved in, but don''t worry, a cleaning team just cleaned it up, it''s definitely livable!"


    "200 square meters seems cramped ..." Lu Yiyao muttered to herself, if a 200 square meter house is considered cramped, what was the 70 square meter apartment her family of three used to live in?


    "By the way, I don''t often come here, so if you want to live outside, you can stay here. I''ve already informed the housekeeper," said Zhang Menglong, "Oh, and there''s this."


    In the center of the villa''s yard was a transparent underground garage, where one could clearly see dozens of cars neatly parked inside. Although not as expensive as Zhang Menglong''s Koenigsegg, there were still well-known brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati.


    Not only that, the cars were in colors like purple, pink, and red, which were very suitable for girls, showing that Zhang Menglong had prepared well in advance.


    "I wasn''t sure which car you''d like, so I just had someone bring one of each. You can drive whichever one you like."


    "Damn, Zhang Menglong, are you planning to keep me as a mistress?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but curse, not knowing which car she liked and simply bringing over a dozen luxury cars worth millions? What kind of logic was that?


    Moreover, due to financial constraints, she had never even taken a driving test, so even if given so many cars, she wouldn''t be able to drive them.


    "If you''re willing, I wouldn''t mind, but I only plan on keeping you," he replied.


    "Alright, alright, I get it," Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong was about to start talking slickly again.


    Honestly, Zhang Menglong had only casually mentioned these arrangements, but he hadn''t expected that in less than half an hour, Cao Yushan would have handled it so perfectly.


    It seems that his family had chosen the Cao Family because they had the capability and the expertise.


    This was Lu Yiyao''s first time stepping into a villa of this scale. The living room alone was almost as big as her entire former house; the ground floor alone probably spanned around 400 square meters.


    As for the walls, they still displayed world-famous paintings. Having seen Zhang Menglong bring so many things to the art exhibition today, she was mentally prepared and not as shocked anymore.


    "My room is on the third floor, yours is on the second, there''s a bathroom, a study, a music room. If you want to eat, just ring the bell on your door, someone will be available 24 hours to prepare anything you need," Zhang Menglong said as he plopped down on the sofa, acting like a feudal lord.


    "Going to bed this early would be too boring," Lu Yiyao flashed a mischievous smile, "Why don''t we have a quickie while it''s still early?"


    "What? What did you say?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth twitched violently. The two of them used to say things like this almost daily when chatting online, with Zhang Menglong particularly enjoying it since it was just all talk.


    But this time they were face-to-face. Lu Yiyao was still a girl, and saying "let''s have a quickie" right out of the gate, who could withstand that!


    "No, I''m not ready yet. Even though I helped you with your dad''s situation, you don''t have to rush into offering yourself. I''m not that kind of person!" Zhang Menglong said seriously, and then his gaze lingered on Lu Yiyao''s delicate face for a moment, his body betraying him as he involuntarily swallowed.


    "Even if we were to do that stuff, shouldn''t we take a shower first?


    "Right, I don''t even have any ''little raincoats'' here; I need to go..."


    "Buzz buzz buzz!" Zhang Menglong''s phone vibrated, a message from Cao Yushan.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve placed some ''special items'' in the drawer of your bedside table, wishing you a pleasant night."


    "Heh heh heh, quite thoughtful," Zhang Menglong snickered lecherously. Those who understood would immediately know what that "special something" was.


    "Timi!" As a familiar electronic sound rang out, Zhang Menglong knew he had been tricked.


    "What are you thinking about?" Lu Yiyao raised her phone screen to Zhang Menglong''s eyes, "Log in, start shooting! I''ve been so rusty with all the exams these past few days."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong sighed, "One round coming right up, let me show you what the ''Jiangnan Gun God'' is all about!"


    Lu Yiyao''s quirky nature was nothing new to Zhang Menglong, but he hadn''t expected today to be set up by her. Fortunately, it didn''t stoke any nefarious desires, otherwise this night would have been a sleepless one.


    "Ah! Zhang Menglong, you stole my gun!"


    "Hahaha, that''s for fooling me just now!"


    "It''s all your naughty thoughts all along!"


    "How can you even say that? Who was it that forced me to take off my pants last time and check the color of my underwear?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m going to fight you!"


    "Damn, you''re using grenades on me again!"


    ...


    The two battled fiercely for hours, recalling memories from when they first met, and before they knew it, it was already past nine.


    "Go take a shower first, and I''ll arrange some late-night snacks," Zhang Menglong said, "My bathroom even has cameras installed, oh!"


    "I don''t believe your nonsense!" Lu Yiyao stood up, but she suddenly realized she hadn''t brought any clothes to change into, which made her feel a bit awkward.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I didn''t bring any clothes. Can you believe those disloyal friends actually kicked me out!"


    "Hahaha, you go first, I''ll have the maid bring them up in a bit."


    "You have women''s clothes here?" Lu Yiyao suddenly tensed up.


    "Relax, besides you and the maid, no other women have come here. Why so nervous?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "My family owns several private clothing studios. No matter the style or size, we always have a lot of stock prepared. I''ll have someone send over a few sets in a while."


    ...


    The bathroom was filled with a gentle fragrance and playing soothing music, the shower sprinkled warm water that gently flowed over Lu Yiyao''s hair and down her fair body to the floor, and she hadn''t felt this relaxed in a very long time.


    "Miss Lu, I''ve left the clothes in the changing room," came a middle-aged woman''s voice from outside.


    "Okay, thank you, aunty." Lu Yiyao hadn''t expected the clothes to be delivered just ten minutes after arriving.


    Lu Yiyao dried herself off and picked up the nightgown. Although there was no brand logo, it felt incredibly soft and comfortable.


    Besides the nightgown, there were undergarments and a set of clothes suitable for the season, all of which seemed to be as Zhang Menglong had said, made in a private studio.


    "Missy, are you done yet? The late-night snacks are getting cold!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s playful voice came from outside, "Remember to wear more, otherwise I''m afraid I won''t be able to restrain myself later!"


    "You flirty tease!" Lu Yiyao laughed and scolded, quickly changing into the clothes.

 Chapter 88 86: Ill Pay for Your Dream

    "Damn, this is too much for me!" Seeing Lu Yiyao fresh out of the shower, Zhang Menglong admitted that he was indeed quite lecherous.


    Although it was just a set of pajamas, since the villa was temperature-controlled throughout all seasons, the pajamas didn''t need to be warm. They only needed to be beautiful and comfortable - those were the only criteria.


    "Crap, I''m going to have a nosebleed!" Zhang Menglong felt a warm flow in his nostrils and immediately turned his head upwards.


    "Hey, what are you doing?"


    "Um, I''ve been eating too well recently, got a bit of heatiness, no big deal, no big deal!" Zhang Menglong absolutely wouldn''t admit that his nosebleed was because of the overwhelming visual impact.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, were you struck by my charm? If you become anemic, I won''t take responsibility!"


    "And you''re laughing!" Zhang Menglong felt the urgency. He ran downstairs, grabbed a couple of tissues, and stuffed them into his nostrils. He regained some composure and realized he had been somewhat unseemly.


    "I should have let her stay here alone; competing with myself is just brutal!" When coming to Gusu, Wang Ling had warned him whether Lu Yiyao might be a Qiao Biluo, but it turns out she wasn''t just a Qiao Biluo, she was actually Nie Xiaoqian. Who could withstand that!


    "Let''s have a late-night snack... I ordered barbecue and milk tea for you, I know you have the physique that doesn''t gain weight." Zhang Menglong picked up a skewer of kidneys and took a big bite.


    "Zhang Menglong, look at me! Why aren''t you looking at me anymore? So love does fade, huh?" Joking with Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao also loosened up quite a bit.


    "Why are you starting to gnaw on kidneys? Are you not feeling well?"


    "Woman! You''re playing with fire!" Hearing Lu Yiyao''s "provocation," if Zhang Menglong could still hold it in, then he wouldn''t be a man.


    He wiped his mouth, lifted Lu Yiyao horizontally, and set her down on the sofa. A mesmerizing scent immediately filled his nostrils.


    "Click!" The chef and maid, seeing this scene, promptly left, understanding that the following scene might be a bit inappropriate for children.


    This was their first time being so close, Zhang Menglong could even hear Lu Yiyao''s rapid heartbeat. Of course, his own heart was beating incredibly fast too.


    "Am I up for it or not, do you want to try?" Zhang Menglong stared at Lu Yiyao''s lips, struggling to suppress his impulses.


    "Zhang Menglong, have you lost your mind? Get up now, or I''ll kick you!" Lu Yiyao''s leg was already preparing to kick.


    "Calm down! Calm down!" Zhang Menglong released Lu Yiyao and picked up a sugarcane from the table, starting to gnaw on it, mumbling something under his breath.


    "Hahaha, isn''t this when a man is supposed to light a cigarette? Why are you gnawing on sugarcane?"


    "That smoking thing, I can''t do it!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. "I''ll let you off today, but it won''t be so easy next time!"


    "Right," Zhang Menglong quickly changed the subject to ease the somewhat ambiguous and slightly awkward atmosphere. "We''re about to graduate, have you thought about what you''re gonna do after graduation?"


    "I''ll continue singing, of course," Lu Yiyao blurted out.


    "That''s not an easy path to take," Zhang Menglong said. "You don''t know how many talented musicians end up in the streets starving, and eventually get a job in an electronics factory. There are plenty of people like that."


    "I could become a teacher," Lu Yiyao said. "I have earned many certificates in my spare time, and I''ll treat music as a side gig and hobby. Isn''t that good?"


    "Come to Jiangnan City after graduation," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Huh?"


    "Since you love music, I''ll definitely do my utmost to help you," Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "as long as you persist, I''ll pay for your dream."


    "I can hire the best music teacher for you. I can even get Fang Wenshan to write lyrics for you, or even get Teacher Damu to sing backup for you!"


    "If all else fails, I''ll just buy Wangyi Music outright and put your song on its homepage!"


    "Do you have to be this extravagant? Leave some room for other singers to survive!" Lu Yiyao chuckled helplessly. If they really followed Zhang Menglong''s approach, how many talented singers would be buried?


    "I plan to try it out myself," Lu Yiyao said. "I do have hundreds of thousands of followers after all. It shouldn''t come to me starving to death. If I really can''t make it, then I''ll ask for your help, President Zhang. That should be okay, right?"


    "That''s fine. Since you''ve decided that, what more can I say?" Zhang Menglong respected Lu Yiyao''s choice. "Whenever you need help, I''m always here."


    "When I finish my thesis, I''ll come to Jiangnan City to find you."


    "Are you serious?" Zhang Menglong was delighted.


    "I''ve actually received quite a few contract offers lately. I was hesitating where to go, but now, I might as well go to Jiangnan City," Lu Yiyao smiled. "Then, I''ll have to rely a lot more on you, President Zhang."


    "No problem at all," hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt much reassured. "Alright, it''s quite late now. You should go to sleep. Don''t you have classes tomorrow?"


    "Don''t you?" Lu Yiyao countered.


    "Me? I''ve invested billions in funding into my research group. Those little thesis matters, my seniors have already taken care of them for me. Graduating is just a formality!"


    "Disgusting!"


    "What''s disgusting! I actually do experiments seriously, you know. I personally conduct experiments every day!"


    "Alright, alright, I believe you. Now go to sleep!"


    "Fine, I''ll sleep above you. If you need anything, just call me anytime. I can provide all kinds of services during a cold, lonely night!"


    "What do you mean, ''sleep above me''? Zhang Menglong, clarify yourself!"


    "You sleep on the second floor and I sleep on the third. Of course, that means I sleep above you!" Zhang Menglong explained. "If you want to swap, that''s fine too. We can just switch places!"


    "That''s a bit better... No wait! That''s even more outrageous! Don''t run away! I''ll beat you to death!"


    ...


    After laughing and joking for a while, Zhang Menglong exhaustedly lay on his bed. He turned on his phone, and today, as usual, it was full of content about him.


    It was amazing how powerful netizens could be; even the information about Zhang Menglong''s ancestor, Zhang Jingzhi, had been dug up. Of course, these were just the superficial details. The secrets that the Zhang family did not want exposed remained hidden from the public.


    "Ding!" A message popped up, with the title from "Dads of 314," which was the group chat for Zhang Menglong''s dorm room. It seemed like the guys were busy job hunting recently, and there hadn''t been many new messages in the group for a long time.


    "Guys, let''s find some time to hang out!" Zhang Menglong quickly typed out a message.


    "Menglong, something bad happened to Old Sun!" Xu Li''s message popped up. "He''s been falsely accused, and now we''re out of options. We can only turn to you for help!"

 Chapter 89 87: Dare to Frame My Brother?

    "Don''t worry just yet!" A trace of panic flashed through Zhang Menglong''s heart, but he immediately calmed down and made a voice call to Xu Li.


    The relationships among their dormitory friends had always been very good. Although they referred to each other using familial terms, it definitely wasn''t a superficial friendship; otherwise, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have taken them to his hometown for a visit.


    "What exactly happened? Take it slow."


    "Didn''t Sun Yulei find an internship a while ago? A position in operations at an internet company."


    "What about it?" Zhang Menglong still had some recollection of this matter. Their major was indeed very difficult to find jobs in, so Sun Yulei had decided to give up on his major and switch fields. Operational positions generally had lower professional thresholds and were more suitable for them.


    "The company''s scale is not too small, around 300 people I guess. Sun Yulei was originally working on a team project involving an internet celebrity. The project entailed competing with several peers for a brand''s representation rights, and they were about to secure it, but unexpectedly, at the last moment, the brand changed its mind."


    "Keep going," Zhang Menglong still hadn''t heard the key point.


    "Because someone in their company accepted a bribe from a competitor and leaked some strategic plans to them, that''s why this happened at the last minute, and Sun Yulei inexplicably became the scapegoat!"


    "You mean, there''s something wrong with the head of that project group?" Zhang Menglong had finally grasped the crux of the issue.


    "Although there is no evidence, it''s very likely. You should know Sun Yulei''s personality; he absolutely couldn''t do such a thing."


    "I know, I believe him," Zhang Menglong nodded. Among their dormitory brothers, Sun Yulei was the most straightforward. He harbored no schemes and never clashed with others. They had reminded him more than once that such a nature could easily lead to disadvantage."


    "So what''s the situation now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Sun Yulei''s account suddenly increased by a hundred thousand yuan, and some correspondence with the rival company was found on his work computer. If this accusation is confirmed, he could be sentenced to at least three years!"


    "Three years?" Zhang Menglong clenched his fists. A just-graduated college student, with bright prospects and future ahead of him¡ªbeing sentenced to three years would likely disconnect him from society immediately after release. Moreover, the stigma of a bribery conviction would follow him for life, tarnishing his resume permanently.


    "There are two ways to resolve this now, one is to compensate the company for their loss, then the company might drop the charges against Sun Yulei; the other is to find evidence proving his innocence."


    "The loss must be significant, right?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "According to the project''s expected evaluation, the net profit would exceed 20 million yuan!" Xu Li said. "Old Zhang, your family is so wealthy, you must have some connections right? Even if the connections don''t work out, at least help Sun Yulei find a few lawyers, he can''t just go in like this!"


    "Goodness, the real bribe-taker really has some guts," Zhang Menglong''s eyes showed a murderous glint, "I got it. You guys don''t need to worry about it; just wait for my news."


    Zhang Menglong hung up the call and immediately phoned Hong Yi.


    "You haven''t gone to sleep yet, have you?"


    "Not yet, Mr. Zhang. Is there anything you need?"


    "Do I have a lawyer under my name?"


    "Yes!"


    "I want the most professional one," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, your lawyer is absolutely top-level in the world," Hong Yi said, "Do you know the Nanshan Pizzahut?"


    "Isn''t that the one that''s always fighting lawsuits for Tengxun, undefeated, who can turn black into white?" Zhang Menglong had heard of the Nanshan Pizzahut before.


    Due to Tengxun''s game designs involving numerous copyright disputes, they faced lawsuits from both domestic and international game companies every now and then. However, up to now, Tengxun had never been defeated, and their legal department, the so-called Nanshan Pizzahut, played a major role in this.


    "To maintain the highest professionalism, the lawyers under your name undergo internal competition every so often. The winner stays on with a doubled salary, and the loser has to leave. The founding members of Nanshan Pizzahut are some of those who were eliminated more than a decade ago."


    "Impressive!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed. Even those who were eliminated had such capabilities, so the lawyers still under him must be the elite of the elite.


    "Arrange it for me, I''ll be back in Jiangnan City tomorrow," Zhang Menglong said, "Also, that Nas Holdings Group, I want all their information."


    "Okay, Mr. Zhang, within half an hour, all information about Nas Holdings, including all members, will be sent to your email. Do you have any other instructions?"


    "Not for now, go ahead and get busy?"


    "Yes."


    ...


    "What audacity!" Zhang Menglong pounded the desk fiercely, "Even my brother dares to frame me, he really doesn''t know what ''seeking death'' means!"


    It wasn''t that Zhang Menglong had become arrogant and looked down on everyone just because he had inherited the family wealth.


    You see, his roommates were all from ordinary families. The company''s loss of 20 million, even if they sold everything they owned, wouldn''t possibly cover it. This only meant that the likely scenario was Sun Yulei being sued and imprisoned.


    Once the charge was proven, Sun Yulei''s life was pretty much completely ruined. This wasn''t a small matter, which was why Zhang Menglong was so furious.


    "Knock, knock, knock!" Someone knocked on Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "Why are you here?" Zhang Menglong opened the door, and standing outside was Lu Yiyao, "Are you really lonely and cold in the night, needing the comfort of my arms?"


    Seeing Lu Yiyao, the hostility in Zhang Menglong''s heart dissipated quite a bit.


    "Stop joking!" Lu Yiyao glared playfully at Zhang Menglong, "I heard the sound of you smashing the table and came over to see what was wrong with you. By the look on your face, what happened?"


    "My roommate has been framed and is facing a lawsuit."


    "Ah? How did that happen?"


    "I''m not sure about the details yet. I was planning to stay a few more days to foster our relationship, but it looks like I need to rush back to Jiangnan City tomorrow." Zhang Menglong said somewhat regretfully.


    "Who wants to foster a relationship with you," Lu Yiyao snapped back, "But this isn''t something minor. You must be careful when you help him deal with it. Don''t get yourself in trouble too."


    "Don''t worry, it''s just a small lawsuit. I can handle it," Zhang Menglong said, "Why aren''t you sleeping yet?"


    "I couldn''t sleep, I actually wanted to come and talk to you."


    "Dressed like that? Aren''t you afraid I might lose control?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "You''d need the guts to do that first."


    "Hahaha, I feel like hearing you sing," Zhang Menglong walked over to a standing piano in the room, "Ms. Lu, would you honor me with a song?"


    "Alright, then trouble Mr. Zhang to play the accompaniment."


    Zhang Menglong''s fingers nimbly danced on the piano, and a sweet prelude flowed out.


    Lu Yiyao showed a knowing smile, it was the song they first collaborated on when they met:


    There are always some surprising encounters,


    Like when I met you,


    ...

 Chapter 90 88: Who is insulted by 100,000 yuan?

    "This sleeping face really makes it easy for someone to commit a crime!" Zhang Menglong covered Lu Yiyao''s exposed leg with a blanket.


    Perhaps because she was too exhausted, Lu Yiyao fell sound asleep singing in Zhang Menglong''s room last night. Zhang Menglong didn''t do anything disgraceful; the room was spacious enough, so he just slept on the couch all night.


    "I really don''t want to go back so soon," Zhang Menglong said reluctantly as he glanced at Lu Yiyao. He could have asked Hong Yi to handle Sun Yulei''s matter for him, but after all, Sun Yulei had been his roommate for over three years. If he didn''t deal with it personally, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t feel at ease.


    Zhang Menglong tiptoed out of the room, washed up, and the breakfast that had been delivered was now on the dining table. But because he wasn''t in a good mood, he didn''t eat much. He instructed Cao Yushan to take good care of Lu Yiyao''s daily life and then left Gusu directly.


    By the time he got back to Jiangnan City, it was already past 10 a.m. With no patience to make a trip home, he headed straight for Sun Yulei''s company, Nas Holdings.


    ...


    "College students these days really lack integrity, even an intern dares to take bribes from other companies!"


    "What can you do? After all, it''s a hundred thousand yuan. The salary of these ordinary undergraduates might not even add up to that number after two years of work. Even if it were me, I might not be able to refuse."


    "I don''t know how such a person has the face to return to the company!"


    "Exactly, the company has lost a full 20 million yuan because of this, and our year-end bonuses might go down the drain. It''s all because of this shameless bastard."


    "Right, which school did he come from again? Talk to our HR department and tell them not to hire from that school in the future. Schools shape the kind of students they graduate."


    "Makes sense."


    ...


    Hearing the gossip of the colleagues around him, Sun Yulei clenched his teeth to keep himself from erupting.


    He couldn''t understand for the life of him why he, doing well in the company, suddenly ran into such a predicament.


    The hundred thousand yuan was temporarily transferred to his account by a supplier he had approached not long ago. At the time, his project manager told him the company''s corporate account was experiencing some issues and that the finance department staff was resolving it. So they asked him to temporarily accept the money¡ªonly later did he realize it was a conspiracy by his manager from the start!


    Just how much his manager took as a kickback, only he himself knew.


    As for those fabricated messages on his computer, Sun Yulei was completely oblivious to them; he had become a sacrificial lamb in a transaction of interests!


    Yet, Sun Yulei had no evidence to prove his innocence. He was just an intern. Being introverted and not having close relationships with colleagues, nobody was willing to help him in such circumstances. They all hurried to keep their distance, fearing they would get dragged down with him.


    Just yesterday, the company''s legal department had already prepared a litigation letter with two solutions for him, and today, the police had come to the company to gather evidence, all of which was highly incriminating against Sun Yulei.


    To prevent Sun Yulei from fleeing, they even had someone watch his rented accommodation the night before, making him feel like a criminal whose freedom had already been restricted.


    He didn''t dare tell anyone about this, especially his parents. Sun Yulei was Tibetan and his family made a living by herding on the grasslands, not earning much in a year, barely making a modest living.


    If it were a few hundred thousand, his family might be able to scrape it together, but 20 million was absolutely impossible.


    But he was at his wit''s end. It was only when Xu Li called him out for dinner yesterday that he told him about the situation, which led to Xu Li seeking out Zhang Menglong.


    "A promising student with a bright future ahead, why take a risk like this?" a police officer muttered to himself as he took notes.


    "I told you, I didn''t do it!" Sun Yulei said, lowering his head.


    "Then show us the evidence!" a woman from the company''s legal department said, "Right now, you can''t even explain the extra hundred thousand yuan in your account. The police have already investigated your household registration. Your family''s income is only a little more than 50,000 yuan a year, and that sum of money was transferred in one go!"


    "Alright, young man, you better start thinking of a way to come up with that money fast. If you end up inside, it''s going to have a big impact on you." The officer''s attitude was still quite good; in fact, he was puzzled. Although he had only started dealing with Sun Yulei yesterday, Sun Yulei''s character didn''t seem like that of someone who would do such a thing.


    "Officer, you''ve also investigated their family''s situation. Forget 20 million, even 200 thousand would be a stretch for them. We should really resolve this matter quickly!" At this point, Sun Yulei''s supervisor, Wu Yun, walked over, his face showing a semblance of regret.


    "Ah, Yulei, I always thought you were a capable and ambitious young man. I had planned to groom you well, but this thing you''ve done has really disappointed me!"


    "Wu Yun!" Sun Yulei glared furiously at Wu Yun. When he had discussed that sum of money with the police, Wu Yun had flatly denied any connection to it, and there wasn''t a trace of Wu Yun''s involvement in the account transactions. At that moment, Sun Yulei was certain that he had been sacrificed by his own supervisor.


    "I won''t let you get away with this!"


    A mocking glint flashed deep in Wu Yun''s eyes. What would a greenhorn fresh out of school know? Wasn''t he just a pawn for him to manipulate?


    "Sigh!" Wu Yun heaved a heavy sigh. "Yulei, I know your family isn''t well-off and that you want to make a life in Jiangnan City and urgently need money in the short term, but you didn''t have to go about it this way. What am I supposed to say about you, eh..."


    "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt!" a young voice came from the company''s corridor.


    "Who is that?" Everyone''s attention was drawn.


    A young man in his early twenties with a stern expression on his face walked over, followed by two middle-aged men in suits.


    "Who are you?" the police officer asked.


    "Good day, officers. I am Sun Yulei''s roommate. He''s been accused of taking bribes and causing the company losses. Now I''ve helped him find two lawyers for his defense, which should be within the rules, right?"


    "Are you that Zhang... Zhang Menglong?" The young officer recognized Zhang Menglong immediately.


    "Zhang Menglong? The one who''s so popular online?"


    "I know him, his Weibo account has tens of millions of followers now!"


    "If it''s on his Weibo, he can have as many followers as he wants!"


    "He''s actually Sun Yulei''s roommate?"


    "Damn, with a roommate that capable, why would he do something like this?"


    "I suddenly feel like there''s something fishy here. Zhang Menglong is always so generous to others, wouldn''t he take extra care of his own roommate?"


    "Exactly, he could afford his roommate a lifetime of wealth just by letting a little slip through his fingers, so why take a risk with something like this?"


    "This is getting interesting. I suddenly feel like we''re going to see a good show very soon."


    "Mr. Zhang, seeking lawyers for your roommate is your right, but the current evidence seems to be very much against him." The officer said cautiously.


    "I''ve heard, Yulei took bribes and sold the company''s information?" Zhang Menglong asked deliberately.


    "Yes," Sun Yulei''s manager Wu Yun stepped forward. "That money is in his account. How do you explain that?"


    "Hahaha!" Zhang Menglong laughed exaggeratedly. "A bribe of a hundred thousand yuan? Who are we trying to insult here?"

 Chapter 91 89 Half of Inner Mongolia Belongs to His Family

    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that?" The officer furrowed his brow, sensing an underlying message in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Officer, may I ask you a question?"


    "Of course, go ahead, Mr. Zhang."


    "If you were a millionaire¡ªno, if you were a billionaire, would you do something for a bribe of 100,000 yuan that might land you in jail?"


    "Hahaha, of course not!" The officer laughed, a person with assets in the billions wouldn''t risk it all for 100,000 yuan, that would just mean they were out of their mind.


    "You see, a normal person wouldn''t do such a thing. Don''t you find this very suspicious?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Certainly, if a billionaire did such a thing, it would indeed be worth investigating deeply," the officer said, "But Mr. Zhang, your roommate is just a student from an ordinary family, and according to our investigation, 100,000 yuan is not a small amount for him."


    Zhang Menglong was wealthy, and that was a fact known across all of Huaxia, but his wealth was his business, and it had nothing to do with his roommate. It would be absurd to average it out and claim their dorm room had a per capita wealth in the billions, wouldn''t it?


    "That''s just what you think," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "If it weren''t for the recent events, would you have known me at all?"


    This statement stumped everyone. Indeed, before this year''s National Day, nobody knew who Zhang Menglong was.


    Even before Wang Ling, the formerly renowned richest second generation, became famous online, he too was not very well-known.


    From these points, it wasn''t hard to speculate that actually, there were many hidden wealthy individuals throughout Huaxia.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you saying that your roommate is also a billionaire?"


    "A billionaire?" Zhang Menglong laughed again, "Yulei, do you feel insulted? Someone actually insulted you by calling you a billionaire."


    "Huh?" Sun Yulei was confused by Zhang Menglong''s words; in fact, he didn''t even know that Zhang Menglong was bringing two lawyers over today.


    And according to the usual procedure, shouldn''t the two lawyers be verifying the details and then starting to prove his innocence? Why had the narrative suddenly changed?


    As for the people from Nas Holdings, they were completely perplexed. What did he mean by "insulting you as a billionaire"? Had "billionaire" suddenly become a derogatory term?


    "The assets of my roommate''s family, I fear you can''t even imagine!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Yulei, I know you are humble and prefer not to reveal your family''s background, and your family has intentionally disguised themselves as ordinary herders to help you blend in, but now is not the time to hide anymore!"


    "I... I..." Sun Yulei was completely baffled by the sudden label of "billionaire," although his family was really just a normal herder family!


    "Officer, I have had the lawyers bring some things over that should prove my roommate''s worth," Zhang Menglong stated.


    The two lawyers stepped forward and handed a document to the officer, "Officer, this is the property deed of a residence in Jiangnan City belonging to my client, Mr. Sun Yulei."


    "A property deed? How much can it be worth?" The policeman flipped open the deed book, but moments later, time seemed to freeze, and if it weren''t for his twitching lips, one might have thought he had been hit by a paralyzing spell.


    The deed contained the address of a villa by West Lake with a total construction area of 1400 square meters; based on the property rates of that region, just this house alone was worth over 1 billion Huaxia currency!


    And on that property deed, the name Sun Yulei was prominently displayed, complete with a matching identification number!


    "My God! Sun Yulei is that wealthy?"


    "Damn, I thought he dressed so plain, turns out he was just low-key!"


    "A single house worth over a billion, who would do something risky for 100,000 yuan?"


    "Exactly! He probably came here to work just to experience life, right?"


    "But isn''t his family herders? Can herders have so much money?"


    "Friends," Zhang Menglong said with a smile to the surrounding employees, "You might not believe this, but his family really are herders, but almost half of the livestock on the Inner Mongolia grasslands belong to them!"


    At this point, Zhang Menglong''s expression suddenly turned pained. "You don''t know, this animal, when he first started university, pretended to be so pitiful. He said that to afford his education, his family bought a sheep and a cow, making it sound like they had used up all their savings."


    "You don''t know how much we took care of him back then, often treating him to meals, foot baths, and movies, just because we were afraid he would feel inferior!"


    "Last year when we visited his home, we saw one of their pastures filled with tens of thousands of sheep and cattle. That was when we found out we had been duped!"


    Zhang Menglong spouted all this in one breath.


    "Livestock covering half of Inner Mongolia?"


    "Damn... how rich must they be?"


    "No wonder they can afford such a big villa in Jiangnan City!"


    "No proof though, this property deed isn''t fake, right?" Wu Yun''s face looked a bit ugly.


    "There really isn''t a way to prove that," the police officer said, "Why not do it this way, since it''s not far from here, we''ll know once we go there."


    "Alright, then I''ll immediately arrange a police car!" the police officer said.


    "No worries, I''ve driven here, fitting a dozen people is no problem."


    "In that case, have someone from your legal department accompany us to get the evidence."


    "Officer, I''d also like to go and see, if it''s possible," that Wu Yun said, his anxiety clearly showing.


    "Alright, since you are his boss and have interacted with him a lot, it''ll be good for you to share what you know about him."


    When they reached the downstairs of the office building, a Rolls-Royce was already parked there. Zhang Menglong glanced at the somewhat old police car. "Brother, we need to pay a bit of attention to appearances even in our police work. When the time comes, help me get in touch with your director. I''ll donate 50 million so that we can equip the Jiangnan City police with better vehicles!"


    "Since that''s the case, let me thank Mr. Zhang on behalf of our department!" the officer said, his face radiating joy. While the money could not be used for other purposes, it coming from a case he handled made it a notable addition to his record. Chances of promotion this year looked hopeful!


    With that thought, his behavior towards Sun Yulei became extremely cordial.


    "Menglong, what exactly are you up to?" Sun Yulei whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "I''m not up to much. From now on, you''re the billionaire who owns half the livestock in Inner Mongolia," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "But I don''t own any livestock in Inner Mongolia," Sun Yulei replied.


    "If I say you do, then you do!" Zhang Menglong patted Sun Yulei on the shoulder. "Alright, we''ve arrived!"


    The car stopped next to a villa. Anyone who knew a little could tell that those who could afford a villa in this area were at least worth billions!


    At that moment, a person looking like a butler came out of the villa and bowed respectfully to Sun Yulei.


    "Mr. Sun, you''ve come back early today! Shall I prepare lunch for you first? Today your chef has prepared the freshest gold caviar for you."


    "This..." Sun Yulei looked at Zhang Menglong, "What exactly is going on?"

 Chapter 92 90: Not Enough Toilets Even for 100,000

    "Mr. Sun, why are there so many guests today?" the butler asked.


    "Go ahead!" Zhang Menglong secretly gave Sun Yulei a look.


    "Oh, it''s like this," with Zhang Menglong by his side, Sun Yulei also felt much more confident, "my company might have some misunderstandings about me, they say I sold the company''s strategic information for a bribe of 100,000 Yuan.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Sun, your company is really interesting, how could a rich man like you do such a thing for 100,000 Yuan." The butler laughed.


    "So Yulei and I brought the police comrades over to take a look," Zhang Menglong interjected from the side.


    "Since that''s the case, please come in," the butler stepped aside to welcome them in, "I will have the driver park the car in the garage."


    "Thanks for the trouble," the police officer suddenly became somewhat timid, it seems that Sun Yulei really was the owner of this villa!


    As they entered the courtyard, a huge swimming pool garden left everyone in awe, this wasn''t just a mere 1400 square meters, that area must only be the size of the house, right? Including the garden, it probably wouldn''t stop at 2000 square meters!


    Entering the villa, a living room comparable to a large flat was enough to make one''s heart tremble. At the entrance hall were gold-inlaid floor tiles, and on the wall hung a powerful and vigorous calligraphy piece, with the signature at the bottom from Wang Xizhi.


    "Mr. Sun, is this an original piece by Wang Xizhi?" the police officer couldn''t help but ask.


    "Yes, officer, this piece of calligraphy was purchased by Mr. Sun for 12 million two years ago, I have the authentication certificate here, shall I go and bring it to you?"


    "No need, I was just asking," the officer said, his face flushed with embarrassment. What is going on with this company? When someone can spend 12 million on a piece of calligraphy, would they care about your 100,000 Yuan bribe? There must be some hidden story!


    "May I ask what everyone would like to drink?" the butler asked, "We''ve recently received a batch of Hacienda La Esmeralda coffee from Panama. If you''re interested, you could try it."


    "What coffee?" Not to mention the others, even Zhang Menglong had never heard of this type of coffee.


    "Oh, this is the world''s finest coffee, priced at about 350 US Dollars per pound. Its annual output is very limited, and it was sent over a few days ago by the Duke of Windsor from Panama."


    This enormous influx of information immediately left everyone present in a stunned silence.


    Never mind the coffee selling for 350 a pound, what''s the deal with this Duke? Could it be that Sun Yulei is acquainted with the Panamanian royal family?


    "I''ll have a cup," Zhang Menglong settled onto the sofa, "it seems we won''t finish taking the statement in a short while, I might as well try this coffee."


    "I... I don''t need any, just give me a bottle of water, please," that police officer had never had such coffee before; a single sip would nearly cost him a day''s work.


    "Would you like water from Fiji or natural spring water from Kobe?"


    "The... the one from Fiji."


    "We''ll have the same."


    "All right, please wait a moment, I will get it ready."


    When the butler walked away, the police officer and legal staff from Nas Group finally exhaled. They had never even heard of the kind of water the butler mentioned before.


    The legal staff quietly glanced around and noticed no one was paying attention to him, he quickly took out his phone to search for this Fiji water. When he saw that this mineral water cost as much as 200 US Dollars per liter, he couldn''t help but tremble.


    What is this extravagant thing? Do rich people really drink water so lavishly? This 100,000 yuan probably wouldn''t even cover a month''s worth of their water, right? Unless Sun Yulei has really lost his mind, why would he bother with this 100,000 yuan?


    Their company''s salary for a bachelor''s graduate from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is just 4,500 yuan, and there''s a discount during the internship period, so with a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan, it''s clear that Sun Yulei was simply experiencing life!


    It wasn''t long before the butler arrived with several domestic staff, carrying coffee and water.


    "Mr. Police Officer, I take care of Mr. Sun Yulei''s daily life, but because he wanted to be independent and not rely on his family, he has been living outside for this period. This might have caused some issues in your judgment of the case. If you need any corroboration, I can provide everything for Mr. Sun."


    "Er... you... um, but..." The police officer was about to say something else but then his mind suddenly froze as if it had crashed.


    Indeed, Sun Yulei couldn''t explain where that sum of money came from, but from the current situation, there was no need for Sun Yulei to earn this money¡ªit didn''t make any sense! Although the law requires evidence, sometimes, evidence can seem feeble in the face of truth.


    "How about this, I will give you a tour of the villa, perhaps you will gain a deeper understanding of Mr. Sun''s wealth," said the butler as he approached a shelf by the side, "These vases were once used by Zhu Yuanzhang, valued at 5 million US dollars."


    "These chopsticks were used by Emperor Qianlong, worth 3 million US dollars."


    "This is a sculpture by the Western artist Michelangelo, yes, the one associated with the Ninja Turtles, valued at 21 million US dollars."


    "This is a rare glass meteorite collected by Mr. Sun, valued at 5 million US dollars."


    "The painting on this wall is a work by Master Roark, oh right, you might not recognize this master. You should know Da Vinci, he was Da Vinci''s teacher, and this painting is worth 120 million US dollars."


    "And there''s more..."


    The police officer was making notes frantically, becoming numb to these staggering figures.


    "Those are roughly the most valuable items in the whole house, adding up to about 3 billion US dollars, I guess," the butler said, "Oh, right, there are also several cars in the underground garage, with a total value of about 500 million Huaxia currency."


    "This is Mr. Sun''s bedroom."


    "What is this fragrance?"


    "This is ambergris, roughly 300 US dollars per gram¡ªnot particularly expensive."


    "Not particularly expensive..." The police officer didn''t have the spirit to continue writing. In their eyes, this ''not so expensive'' item was even pricier than gold considering the exchange rate between Huaxia currency and US dollars.


    "Oh, right, the toilet in the bathroom is co-branded with LV, featuring the smartest system and the most avant-garde design, priced at 19,000 US dollars."


    "Mr. Police Officer, to be honest, this 100,000 Huaxia yuan isn''t even enough to buy a toilet, so how could Mr. Sun possibly be interested in this paltry profit?" the butler said, "Mr. Sun''s family owns half the pastures in Inner Mongolia; for him, money is just a number!"


    "I... I understand, I will thoroughly investigate this matter!" The police officer closed his notebook, nearly on the verge of collapse, as if staying a second longer would kill him with the scent of money.


    As for Wu Yun, his expression was as if he had eaten excrement.


    Picking the softest persimmons to pinch, he originally thought Sun Yulei was just an ordinary poor student, whom, with his resources and means, he could easily make his scapegoat. As for that little bit of benefit fee, once the dust settled, it would naturally end up in his account.


    But he hadn''t anticipated that he had essentially stirred up a hornets'' nest! He was freaking out!

 Chapter 93 91: Actually, He is the Owner of the Company

    The more Wu Yun understood the net worth and assets of Sun Yulei, the darker his complexion became. If he had known earlier about Sun Yulei''s status, he must have been out of his mind to have chosen him to be the scapegoat!


    As to whether the scapegoat now was himself or Sun Yulei, that was already unclear.


    "So, Mr. Police Officer, you can clearly understand just how vast Mr. Sun''s assets are," the butler said. "For someone to accuse Mr. Sun of accepting a bribe of one hundred thousand yuan is simply a joke, I even feel it''s an insult to Mr. Sun!"


    "By the way, Mr. Police Officer, may I ask who is bringing the lawsuit?"


    "Oh, it''s the legal department of Nas Holdings, suing in the name of the company, not an individual." the officer replied.


    "Alright," the lawyer took out a legal letter, "Then, in addition to defending my client Mr. Sun against these baseless charges, we also wish to sue Nas Holdings!"


    "What?" The officer was taken aback. What was going on? Sun Yulei was clearly the defendant, yet now he was also suing Nas Holdings, "Are you suing them on charges of defamation?"


    After some thought, the officer could probably figure out their intent. The wealthier the people are, the bigger their tempers! Alright, you''re accusing me of bribery? Now it''s my turn to retaliate - I''ll sue you for defamation!


    "No, Mr. Officer, you misunderstand, we''re not suing for defamation."


    "Then what are you..."


    "We''re now suing Nas Holdings for the crime of insult."


    "What? The crime of insult? When did our company insult you?" After the legal affairs manager reassured himself that during the two days of the conference and in interactions with Sun Yulei, he hadn''t used any excessive or insulting language, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Sun is a billionaire. To accuse him of taking a bribe of 100,000 is not an insult then what is?" the lawyer spoke righteously. "If it were said he took a bribe of 10 million, that could be somewhat acceptable, 1 million would be a mild insult, but 100,000, that''s a grave insult. We will demand justice from the company based on the degree of insult."


    "What kind of monster is this!" The legal affairs director of Nas Holdings completely lost his composure. This was the first time he had ever heard someone claim that being accused of accepting a bribe of 100,000 was a grave insult!


    If such an insult really existed, he wished it could rain down on his face every day, all year round, every hour, nonstop!


    He truly desired such an insult!


    Have the rich of today really reached such a level?


    "This... Yulei, let''s reconsider this matter; I have a feeling there''s something fishy about it!" The head of legal began to panic. Although the lawsuit sounded utterly absurd, and even Sun Yulei himself had been sued.


    But judging from their current attitude, it was impossible for Sun Yulei to have done such a thing. With his family''s resources, resolving this lawsuit might not be too difficult if Sun Yulei was innocent.


    But then, it would spell trouble for Nas Holdings.


    If they really lost the lawsuit, they could end up becoming a laughingstock in all of Huaxia!


    "Mr. Officer, if you don''t think this is sufficient to prove Mr. Sun''s assets, then I can take you to see his other 27 properties in Jiangnan City, which include 12 villas, 14 large flats, and an entire neighborhood."


    "No... no need..." Today''s revelations were likely to overturn the officer''s worldview of over twenty years. It turned out that in the eyes of the wealthy, a bribe amounting to 100,000 yuan was merely an insult; their properties in a single city would at least be in the double digits, and they even used neighborhoods as units.


    And this was just in Jiangnan City!


    He now believed that this young man did indeed own more than half of the pastures and livestock in Inner Mongolia!


    "Excuse me, I need to step away for a moment," a lawyer suddenly received a phone call and stepped a few paces away from the crowd, but judging from his gradually brightening smile, it seemed likely that he had some good news.


    "Lawyer Xu, judging by your expression, you must have found some favorable evidence, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Lawyer Xu said, "I''ve just conducted a preliminary investigation into our client Mr. Sun''s assets and stumbled upon an interesting find. In Nas Group, Mr. Sun holds 52.9% of the shares, meaning that Mr. Sun is the chairman of Nas Group!"


    "What? How come I didn''t know about this?" Sun Yulei couldn''t control himself and suddenly jumped up from the couch.


    "Heh, Mr. Sun, I''m afraid even you might not know how much assets you possess," the lawyer said, "Mr. Sun, may I use your printer here?"


    "The printer is in the study on the second floor, let me take you there." The butler escorted Lawyer Xu upstairs.


    Soon, he came back down holding a stack of thick papers, "These are just photocopies, the formal share certificates and documents will be delivered shortly."


    Lawyer Xu continued, "Mr. Sun, your father had acquired these shares several years ago and transferred them to your name. However, since you were still studying at the time, a professional manager was hired to handle the company''s affairs."


    "My father?"


    Sun Yulei glanced over and saw Zhang Menglong''s eyes twitching as though about to spasm, his face also displaying a look of "Daddy is very pleased."


    "You thieving dog! Even at this time, you don''t forget to take advantage of me!" It was obvious that this so-called "father" must be none other than Zhang Menglong! If he could acquire a company like Weibo, purchasing a Nas Group worth just over a billion US dollars would be a mere flick of his hand.


    "So now I think this matter should be quite clear!" Lawyer Xu placed the stack of documents on the table, "I believe anyone with a sane mind would not do such things to their own company, right? Lose 20 million for the sake of 100 thousand? That makes no sense, does it?"


    "But no matter what, the fact that his account mysteriously increased by 100 thousand is still true, right?" At this point, Wu Yun finally couldn''t hold back and interjected. If he couldn''t bring down Sun Yulei, the investigation might soon trace back to him.


    Wu Yun was sure that Sun Yulei must have already started to suspect him. Although he thought he was impeccable in his actions, no horse is foolproof; he couldn''t guarantee he hadn''t left any trace. If Sun Yulei started an all-out investigation, Wu Yun could be in big trouble!


    "I do recall there being a crime called possession of unexplained property, right?"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Zhang Menglong retorted sharply, "Have you not studied law? Do you know what possession of unexplained property is? First of all, he''s not a civil servant! Secondly, it must be an amount vastly exceeding legal income, does this petty cash amount to a vast sum?"


    "Petty cash... to think he calls 100 thousand ''petty cash''..." Even as the legal affairs director of Nas Group, it would probably take half a year to earn that 100 thousand.


    "Besides, if you really want to go by that logic, then I should also look into your unexplained wealth!"


    "Me?" Wu Yun scoffed, his benefits hadn''t reached his account yet, so how could there be any significant unexplained wealth?


    "Don''t look at me with that face," Zhang Menglong said, "Right now there''s no large sum of unexplained property, but soon there will be!"


    "What do you mean?"


    At that moment, Wu Yun''s phone vibrated.


    "Dear customer, your bank account has received 100000000..."


    "Officer!" Wu Yun was still dazed when Zhang Menglong snatched his phone, "I''m now reporting that Wu Yun has received a hefty sum of unexplained wealth!"

 Chapter 94 92 Ive bought off everyone in that company.

    "One... one hundred million!?" The officer''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; he had never dealt with such a vast sum of money in his lifetime.


    "Where did this money come from?" The officer''s gaze fixed on Wu Yun, "Manager Wu, if I remember correctly, your annual income is only about three to four hundred thousand, right?"


    Under normal circumstances, suddenly finding a hundred million in his account would have made Wu Yun laugh in his dreams, but at this moment, he simply wanted to smash his phone to the ground.


    How the hell would he know why suddenly there was an extra hundred million in his account? He had done this one thing, and the benefit he received from the other party was only a million! Moreover, even if this project was completed, the company''s profit would not exceed one hundred million. Had they gone mad?


    "It''s him! It must be him!" Wu Yun pointed at Zhang Menglong and said, "This money must have been transferred by him!"


    "Do you have any evidence?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Officer, you can check whether this account belongs to me or not."


    "Hey, Liu Rui, help me check a bank account!" The officer immediately dialed his colleague''s phone.


    But the feedback came quickly; the account that transferred money to Wu Yun did not belong to Zhang Menglong but to a homeless man named Li Li¡ªit was clearly an account used for money laundering!


    "Told you it wasn''t mine!" Zhang Menglong spread his hands. With a plethora of ways to secretly transfer money, Zhang Menglong could easily call upon his connections, "Now please explain it, Manager Wu!"


    "I... I..." At this point, even if Wu Yun had mouths all over his body, he couldn''t come up with a reason; he had no idea where this money had come from!


    "A hundred million, such a large amount, now I even suspect whether you have stolen some state secrets or something that someone would give you so much money!" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically.


    "You! You''re just spouting nonsense!"


    "Then sue me if you dare!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Or better explain the origin of this money first! A hundred million of unexplained wealth, it wouldn''t be excessive to detain you for ten or eight years, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s eagerness for chaos made Wu Yun so angry that he was jumping up and down, yet he was helpless.


    At that moment, the officer''s phone rang.


    "Liu Rui? What''s the matter, did you get the information on that account just now?"


    "Got squat!" the officer said, "I had someone trace the account''s financial chain, and it led me straight to Siberia. Even if we continue the investigation, there won''t be anything to find!"


    "Siberia..." Although it didn''t prove the account had anything to do with Zhang Menglong, he was one hundred percent certain that this money was definitely linked to Zhang Menglong!


    "So what do you want to tell me?"


    "Just now, someone turned themselves in!"


    "Turned themselves in? Who?"


    "A man named Liu Neng, the market manager of Reze Electronics Commerce Exclusive Company."


    "Reze? Isn''t that the company that ended up with the project in this case?"


    "Exactly, the company that got the project. The market manager said he collaborated with the project manager from Nas Group and successfully acquired the exclusive distribution rights from the supplier."


    "What? There''s such a thing? Did he really turn himself in?"


    "Not exactly, almost the entire company came forward, collectively reporting this Liu Neng for engagement in improper business dealings, and they even prepared a ton of evidence. Unable to withstand the pressure, Liu Neng outright confessed everything."


    "What sort of maneuver is this? Is that company toxic?" the officer couldn''t help but comment sarcastically, "I got it, I''ll be right back!"


    "Wu Yun, now you are suspected of unfair business competition, come with me to the station for an investigation!"


    "What?"


    "A person named Liu Neng just surrendered himself, stating that everything was done in collaboration with you," he told Sun Yulei. "I''m sorry, Mr. Sun, it seems that we didn''t investigate this matter thoroughly. We hope you can come with us to make a statement."


    "Of course." Sun Yulei nodded. He couldn''t figure out why Wu Yun''s accomplice would mysteriously turn himself in like this.


    ...


    "Is this... is this really a person who''s surrendered after committing a crime?"


    Upon arriving at the police station, everyone was stunned as they entered the lobby.


    Hundreds of people were crowded into the floor, some sitting along the walls listening to music, some playing games, and some chatting and laughing cheerfully, each wearing a smile like it was a festive occasion.


    "What''s going on here? Are these people not working?" Sun Yulei looked at them, completely bewildered.


    "You might not believe this," another officer came up and said, "this company has a total of 342 people, excluding the boss, and 341 people have unanimously given us evidence of Liu Neng''s bribery. A ''united'' company like this is a first for me."


    "Are you all here to provide evidence against Liu Neng?" an officer who came with Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, officer, we all know Liu Neng secured the exclusive agency rights for this project by paying 500,000 to the project manager at Nas Group!"


    "We also have video from the company''s conference room, retrieved from the surveillance by our company''s technicians!"


    "The audio is very clear; it''s been enhanced to Dolby level, and all the details can be heard distinctly!"


    "Yes, and they all agreed that once the heat died down and the scapegoat was punished, they''d go ahead with the transaction of the 500,000!"


    "I passed by the restroom that day and overheard our manager on the phone. I even recorded it!"


    "You..."


    Although this was a very righteous thing to do, it involved the interests of their company, and once this matter was exposed, it was feared that no one would want to cooperate with their company again. If the company collapsed, they would all become unemployed. Had none of these people considered this?


    "Do you all have a grudge against this market manager?"


    "No!" Everyone shook their heads in unison.


    "Then, did he do something to cause a collective loss of your interests?"


    The crowd continued to shake their heads.


    "Then you..."


    "Let me answer that question," Zhang Menglong said with a smile as he stepped forward. "My brother works in this project team. If he didn''t do this, then the most likely person would be his supervisor. If someone seriously committed this act, unless they''re a heist expert or a genius, they''d definitely leave behind evidence."


    "If Nas Group failed, the company that successfully got the agency rights would be the biggest beneficiary. Therefore, the person colluding with Wu Yun must also come from within Reze Culture and Media. Just a cursory investigation should reveal them, right?"


    "But why would everyone come forward to report? Don''t they care about their own company?" It was incomprehensible to anyone.


    Even if a few people knew about it, it should have only spread within the company; it didn''t make sense for hundreds to come forward to provide evidence simultaneously.


    "What''s so difficult about that?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "We''re all wage earners; working is simply about earning some money, making a living. Job-hopping is the easiest thing!"


    "What exactly did you do?"


    "Nothing much, 500,000 per person, plus the offer from Unicorn Group''s second branch office in Jiangnan City, and I bought off everyone in the company. Those who knew about it immediately reported it, and those who didn''t went searching for evidence. That resolved the issue quickly, didn''t it!"


    Sun Yulei gave a thumbs up, "You''re awesome! I lost! Money really does talk, doesn''t it!"

 Chapter 95 93 I Just Entered the Wrong Account

    "Mr. Sun, we have collected all the evidence. The incident at your company was done by Wu Yun, who has confessed. We deeply apologize for the negative impact this caused you earlier."


    After an investigation, Sun Yulei''s wrongful accusation had finally been cleared. As for how many years Wu Yun would be sentenced, Zhang Menglong hardly cared anymore. His two lawyers would surely secure the toughest punishment within the confines of the law for him.


    "By the way, Mr. Zhang, was that one billion US dollars really not transferred by you into his account? If so, we might need to conduct further investigation on Wu Yun," said the police officer earnestly.


    The amount involved was so large that they probably had to establish a special investigative team! They racked their brains but couldn''t fathom what could possibly make a company project manager spend a billion dollars.


    "Oh, I just checked some details¡ª that money was mine. I accidentally transferred it to the wrong account."


    "I knew it!" This result was not at all surprising to them. Given Zhang Menglong''s character, it was truly believable that he could do something like this.


    "Transferring money to the wrong account isn''t illegal, right?"


    "This... shouldn''t be illegal," Transfer to the wrong account? Who would believe that! It was a billion dollars, not a hundred; shouldn''t one verify several times before transferring such an amount?


    But there was no real way to charge him formally. Zhang Menglong steadfastly denied it, simply claiming he had made a mistake with the account number. What could they actually do to him?


    "About this money... sorry, Mr. Zhang, since it''s foreign funds, we need to understand its origin."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. I just sold some oil from my mine in Africa to Siberia. This money came from there. If you need it, I can provide the transaction records."


    "Heh, I guess that won''t be necessary," the officer swallowed his saliva, Zhang Menglong actually owned a mine, an oil mine at that! Perhaps this is what being a cut above the rest means!


    "Mr. Zhang, about that donation you mentioned earlier..." the officer hesitated to bring it up.


    "Oh right, I almost forgot!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "Isn''t there a billion dollars with Wu Yun? No need to transfer it back to me, just direct it to your account!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you mentioned fifty million, but there was a billion. What should we do with the remaining fifty million, which account should we transfer it to?"


    "Hmm? Did I say fifty million? I thought I mentioned a billion?" Zhang Menglong turned to Sun Yulei, "Yulei, did I say fifty million?"


    "You kidding me, right?" Sun Yulei directly gave Zhang Menglong a playful punch.


    "Haha, Mr. Zhang, you really do forget things, noblemen," confusing a fifty million donation for a billion probably could only happen to Zhang Menglong.


    "Forget it, forget it, no need to return that fifty million. Just buy a few more patrol cars and get some more equipment, consider it a contribution from me to society."


    "Mr. Zhang, let me escort you."


    "No need, we can manage on our own. Our lawyers will handle the rest."


    "Safe travels..."


    ...


    Sun Yulei and Zhang Menglong walked out of the place that wasn''t particularly pleasant shoulder to shoulder.


    "Let''s go, call Xu Li and the others, we''ll have a good meal tonight to celebrate!"


    "Menglong, I really owe you big this time!" Sun Yulei had always been an honest person, and having his name cleared this time, he knew it was all thanks to Zhang Menglong.


    "As a father taking care of his son, it''s only natural!" Zhang Menglong said in a provoking tone.


    ...


    "Sizzle sizzle!" The hot pot emitted steaming vapor. It was located in a square across from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, reasonably priced and very popular¡ª a frequent dining spot for Zhang Menglong and his dormmates over the years.


    Although it lacked the delicacies of home, this type of camaraderie couldn''t be bought with money.


    "So you just went ahead and bought that company and transferred it to old Sun''s name?"


    "Yes, you should have seen Wu Yun''s face then, looked like he was the only person left in his family registry!"


    "Hey Menglong, did you really transfer the company into my name? Are those documents for real?"


    "Of course, they are real," Zhang Menglong said, "If they actually start checking, and all the documents are fake, not just you, even I would be in trouble."


    "So I really own that much of Nas Group''s shares?"


    "The share certificate is with my assistant. Want me to bring it over for you to see?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Forget it, forget it, I can''t handle that kind of thing. We''re talking billions of US dollars here. I''m afraid my hands would tremble holding it; you better take it back quickly," Sun Yulei said.


    "Take it back? Why take it back?" Zhang Menglong said, "I plan to evenly distribute these shares among the three of you. You guys can just play around managing the company!"


    "What did you say?" the three of them exclaimed in unison.


    "All of you are still unemployed, and even if you find jobs, you''d just be workers. When to join, when to be fired, it''s all up to the boss. Isn''t it more comfortable to own a company?"


    "This is worth billions; you can''t be joking about this!"


    "Exactly, we are just recent college graduates with a degree in materials science. We might be okay doing experiments, but managing a company? That''s just absurd!"


    "Was the saying ''to live a rich life'' just for fun?" Zhang Menglong became upset, "My brothers can''t just be workers. Don''t worry about the company; I will find some professional managers to guide you, and as long as you''re willing to learn diligently, you''ll grow quickly."


    "But..."


    "But my foot!" Zhang Menglong didn''t give them a chance to argue, "I have the final say in this matter, and I''ve also acquired the remaining shares of the company. Now each of us owns a quarter. You guys better manage it well; if it goes under, you''ll have to atone for it with your lives!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone felt a bit emotional. Did they save the universe in their past lives to have met such a miraculous roommate?


    "Alright, just for your words, we have to do our best to manage this company!"


    "That''s more like it!"


    Zhang Menglong picked up his cup and clinked it with the others.


    "Hey, Menglong, you were just joking earlier about owning half of Inner Mongolia''s cattle and sheep, right?" Sun Yulei suddenly remembered the boast Zhang Menglong made, "You''re really something, how big must half of Inner Mongolia be!"


    "Who said I was joking?" Zhang Menglong put his cup down on the table, "Well, not half perhaps, but about two-thirds of the pasture land is contracted by my family. So yeah, most of Inner Mongolia''s cattle and sheep are indeed mine!"


    ...

 Chapter 96 94: Am I Not the Richest Person in the World?

    Having resolved his roommate issues, Zhang Menglong completely relaxed. He had initially planned to return to Gusu to see Lu Yiyao, but since Lu Yiyao was busy with her graduation exams, he did not want to distract her.


    Of course, making a daily phone call was essential, and their relationship warmed rapidly after this meeting.


    "Alright, I''m going to take a shower now, I have a sight-singing exam tomorrow morning. You should go to sleep early too!"


    "Got it, rest early." Zhang Menglong turned off the video call and lazily stretched out on the sofa, just as Wang Ling called him.


    "Boss Zhang, it''s only been a few days, and you''ve already turned Jiangnan City upside down. Watching from the sidelines has really been an eye-opener for us commoners!" said a sarcastic voice from the other end of the phone.


    "Can you blame me?" Zhang Menglong responded, "When those Russians belittle our Huaxia culture and unity, I just had to show them how awesome our culture really is!"


    "This isn''t about showing off our culture! They were chased away before they could even see the paintings you brought out!"


    "They don''t deserve to see!" Zhang Menglong scoffed. "By the way, Boss Wang, you never visit without a reason. Spill it, what do you want today!"


    "Hey! Can''t I just call to have dinner and chat?"


    "Pfft! I''m not some naive girl, why would you ask me to have dinner and chat? Out with it or I''m hanging up!"


    "Wait a second!" Wang Ling quickly cried out, "Okay, I really do need something!"


    "Ha-ha, speak!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Spit it out quick, whatever it is!"


    "I need to borrow some money!"


    "Borrow money? You, Wang the rich guy, are asking me for money?" Zhang Menglong was surprised, "Did you do something wrong and get kicked out by your dad?"


    "Cut the cold remarks!" Wang Ling retorted angrily, "You know how severe the pandemic is this year. The film industry has taken a huge hit, and our family''s film company being the biggest in the country, the losses are just too severe!"


    "What does that have to do with borrowing money from me?" Zhang Menglong questioned, "If it''s a cash flow problem, I can spend money to buy shares of your Wanda Film Industry, or even consider a total buyout!"


    "Boss Zhang, Master Zhang! Please spare me! I''m already miserable enough!" Hearing Zhang Menglong mention buying shares, Wang Ling was scared stiff, "Wanda Film Industry is now in my hands. If you buy it, my dad might just dismantle my whole skeleton!"


    "Then what do you need the money for?"


    "To make a movie!" Wang Ling declared, "Now that the situation is starting to improve in the film industry, but there aren''t any good films being released. If I make a blockbuster right now, it could have a huge impact on the film industry!"


    "You really think so, huh," Zhang Menglong sneered, "What kind of film do you plan to make? An adult film? Then you might need to go to another country to find actors. Let me recommend a few for you like Momotani Erika, Ohashi Miku, Asuka Tomorrow, Momonogi Kana¡ªperfect choices for you!"


    Damn, a kindred spirit! I tell you, Teacher Momotani''s works are absolute classics!"


    "Heh heh, exactly!"


    The two old lechers suddenly found a common interest, and the topic abruptly took a bizarre turn.


    "Ahem, ahem, let''s talk business!" Wang Ling cleared his throat, "I''ve recently acquired some rights that are absolutely top-tier sci-fi material!"


    "Novel or anime?"


    "Liu''s ''Three-Body''!" Wang Ling grew excited as he spoke, "This work is a classic of classics. If shot well, it could rival the global phenomenon of ''Harry Potter''!"


    Zhang Menglong had already read this work in high school and couldn''t deny that it was the pinnacle of domestic sci-fi novels. The prospect of turning it into a film was truly something to look forward to.


    "Those rights must have been expensive, huh?"


    At that question, Wang Ling''s face twisted in pain, "The rights to remake the entire series, 20 million!"


    "That''s actually quite cheap!"


    "Do you believe I''d drive over right now and run you over?" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s sleazy tone, Wang Ling was infuriated. To Zhang Menglong, 20 million really wasn''t much, but he was a freak, not even a person!


    Wang Ling was worth over a billion dollars, sure, but you have to realize, most of that was fixed assets. When it comes to liquid assets, being able to produce seventy or eighty million was already quite good!


    Keep in mind, the first time Wang Ling met Zhang Menglong, he had painfully prepared that sum of money to buy that poisonous Lamborghini.


    "You know, last time I was about to buy that car, I almost went bankrupt. Now I only have 50 million in liquid assets left. I consulted with Big Liu, and for a sci-fi movie, if we want the best shooting effects, even using domestic special effects teams, just the special effects could cost over 300 million!"


    "And adding actors, props, and other costs, we''re looking at around 500 million."


    "So you''ve come to seek investment from me?"


    "Cut the crap, are you going to help me or not?"


    "I''ll give you 1 billion!" Zhang Menglong was anxious about not being able to spend his money, "If that''s not enough, I''ll add more later!"


    In reality, to use up that money, he could just acquire a few large corporations easily, but since those corporations hadn''t wronged him, forcibly acquiring them didn''t seem right. However, spending money through normal routes was too slow, and investing carelessly often ended up feeling like making donations, which was really frustrating.


    "That''s what I like to hear! I knew I wasn''t wrong about you!" Wang Ling instantly felt better, "As for the box office revenue split, let''s base it on our respective investment amounts!"


    "No way, if you give me a share of the box office proceeds, I''m not investing!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "What? Are you doing charity?" Wang Ling was surprised, but then he suddenly remembered that time at the betting stone event and swallowed the half-spoken words back.


    "It''s not exactly charity, maybe consider it alleviating poverty at most!"


    "You rascal!" Although he knew Zhang Menglong was joking, why did Wang Ling feel such an urge to hit him? Wang Ling, after all, was one of the top rich heirs. Now someone''s talking about poverty alleviation on him?


    "Enough said, tomorrow at 11:30 AM, I''ll treat you to lunch at Fico Hotel, and we can discuss our shooting plan."


    "Fine, but for this billion-dollar lunch, you better treat me well!"


    "Haha, of course!"


    ...


    The next afternoon, half an hour before the appointed time, Zhang Menglong arrived early at Fico Hotel, a highly upscale hotel where a normal lunch would cost a few thousand dollars, just to have a taste.


    "Hmm, strange, why are there so many people?" Zhang Menglong felt a peculiar atmosphere as he walked into the hotel.


    Logically speaking, this time was not a peak period, and even though Jiangnan City had many wealthy people, a hotel of this caliber would never be full. The strangest thing was that everyone''s gaze uniformly focused on the hotel''s main entrance, as if someone significant were expected today.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong found the seat number Wang Ling had told him, and Wang Ling was already there waiting, "You didn''t need all these people to welcome me, did you?"


    "Welcome you, my ass!" Wang Ling wasn''t exactly polite, "Turns out today we happened to catch a big event."


    "What event?" Zhang Menglong asked, curious.


    "Damn, you''ve already bought Weibo, don''t you know about this trending topic?"


    "As long as it doesn''t concern me, why should I care about it?" Yet curious, Zhang Menglong still pulled out his phone.


    "You know how the stock god Warren Buffett auctions the chance to have lunch with him, right?"


    "I''ve heard about it, it costs several million dollars or even tens of millions just for a meal!"


    "Exactly, and I don''t know if it''s because these people think too highly of themselves, but they all started imitating him," Wang Ling said scornfully, "Even the world''s richest man auctioned a lunch with him for 12 million dollars. A Huaxia entrepreneur bought it, and it''s happening this noon in the VIP hall of this restaurant!"


    "World''s richest man?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled, "Isn''t the world''s richest man me? I never did such a thing?"

 Chapter 97 95 I Want to Have a Meal With You

    "You little rascal, you really don''t hold back at all!" Wang Ling''s mouth twitched, indeed, if wealth were brought into the light, the so-called world''s richest man wouldn''t count for shit in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Poladi? Who''s that? I remember the richest man on the Forbes list is Bezos, right? The one who runs the online store."


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling almost spat out the tea he had just sipped upon hearing those words.


    What do you mean ''runs an online store''? That''s the world''s largest online e-commerce company, with a market value of 1.57 trillion, the second-largest internet company globally. How did it turn into a mere ''online store'' in your mouth? Can''t you show a minimum of respect?


    "It''s clear you''ve been preoccupied with dating these past few days and didn''t hear about such a big event," Wang Ling said, "This Poladi just topped Forbes last week, like the ''Oracle of Omaha'', making his fortune through stock trading.


    Recently, thanks to a surge in tech stocks, his net worth skyrocketed from 120 billion US Dollars to 180 billion US Dollars, knocking that online store guy down a notch."


    "Oh, so he''s a stock trader," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Doesn''t that make him the new ''Oracle''?"


    "Exactly!" Wang Ling said, "Lately, so many people have been trying to dine with him to learn investment techniques that he''s probably gotten a bit conceited. He''s started to pull the same stunt as the ''Oracle of Omaha'', selling spots to dine with him. This must be like the eighth meal already."


    "Are there really such big suckers?" Zhang Menglong wasn''t a stranger to buying stocks. As an individual who''d been cut like leeks, he had saved up ten thousand RMB over a year and threw it into the stock market, only to lose three thousand in less than half a month. Since then, he saw the clear nature of his leek-hood.


    "Big suckers not only exist, but they also form queues!" Wang Ling said with a laugh, "Poladi will only be staying in Huaxia for two days, and he auctioned off two spots to have lunch with him starting at a Bid of five million US Dollars. The final transaction price for each surpassed ten million US Dollars."


    "With that much money, wouldn''t it be nicer to stew some ribs or get a massage?"


    "If someone can earn that kind of fortune, naturally they''ve got some skills. You know, the guy who had lunch with Warren Buffett just a few days ago has seen his net worth multiply by five times since. Just exchanging a few words and getting insights from these people is invaluable."


    "Cut it out, a bunch of sycophants acting like we Huaxia people can''t make money," Zhang Menglong remarked as he sat down, "Where are they eating anyway?"


    "Right here!" Wang Ling pointed to the center table, which stretched over ten meters, "The owner of this place really knows how to do business, setting up their dining area in this hall. He''s raised the prices for today''s dishes to three times the usual!"


    "Whether it''s three times or even ten times, I reckon plenty of people would still be willing to come."


    "You''re absolutely right. If it weren''t for my dad knowing the owner here, we wouldn''t have been able to eat here today!" Wang Ling whispered, "Those dining here today are all entrepreneurs worth at least a hundred million; they''ve all come to pick up some tricks."


    "Hahaha!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh, "Won''t Poladi and that so-called sucker mind?"


    "They''d love nothing more than to tell the whole world!" Wang Ling said, "Poladi wants to boost his reputation and influence in other countries through this event, and that ''sucker'' you mentioned could easily profit from the hype around this event, even if he doesn''t learn anything today."


    "True," Zhang Menglong nodded, in essence, it was still a transaction of interests, just dressed up and glorified by those capitalists.


    "Here they come!" His buttocks had barely warmed his chair when, accompanied by a hubbub, a brand-new Rolls-Royce pulled up at the hotel entrance. A slightly portly man in a suit stepped out from one side of the car.


    The man seemed to be in his 60s, with half of his hair already turned white, though his complexion was very vibrant. In addition to several individuals who looked like bodyguards, a throng of reporters buzzed around him, their flash going off incessantly over his frame.


    Following that Rolls-Royce was a Maybach, and descending from it was a middle-aged man in his forties, his face equally flushed with health. With the buzz created by this news alone, his company''s stocks had surged these past days, and he had nearly recouped the cost of the lunch.


    "Mr. Poladi, what a pleasure to finally meet you, I''ve been waiting for this day for a long time," the middle-aged man said as he went up to shake hands with Poladi. "I''m honored to invite you to dine with me today, and I hope you can bless me with your advice later on."


    "Mr. Song, you''re too polite. Coming to Huaxia this time, my aim is to network with Huaxia''s entrepreneurs. Whatever I know, I will share it generously," Poladi said, with a smile plastered all over his face. As for how much trust one could put in his words, that was another matter.


    The saying goes, "A well-fed apprentice starves his master," so if others mastered the art of his fortune-making, wouldn''t Poladi soon have to say goodbye to his status as the world''s richest man?


    His purpose for coming to Huaxia was crystal clear, for one, as the newly crowned world''s richest man, he wanted to make himself unforgettable to the world as quickly as possible, and secondly, in his opinion, the money of the Huaxia people was the easiest to earn!


    "Who is that guy?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing at the middle-aged man.


    "That''s Song Mingxiang, the chairman of Gu Lu Holdings, who also works in venture capital. Not very famous before, but his company has grown significantly in the past two years, now with a market value exceeding 20 billion US dollars. He''s quite a remarkable person now," someone replied.


    "Oh, twenty billion," Zhang Menglong responded nonchalantly before continuing to cut the steak on his plate.


    "Mr. Poladi, you must be hungry after your long trip, so let''s start, shall we?" Song Mingxiang said, making himself look very humble.


    Poladi was anything but modest. In his eyes, as the world''s richest man, it was only natural for others to bow and scrape before him.


    Surrounded by a group, Poladi and Song Mingxiang made their way inside the hotel; in that moment, all eyes in the room focused on them.


    "Mr. Poladi, you wouldn''t mind dining with me in such a public place, would you?" Song Mingxiang asked cautiously.


    "Of course not," Poladi practically wished for a live broadcast so that all of Huaxia would know someone had spent 12 million US dollars just to have dinner with him.


    "Great, then please, take a seat," Song Mingxiang stepped aside.


    Poladi nodded with satisfaction. As he walked, his gaze swept over the surrounding entrepreneurs, basking in all the attention, which brought immense satisfaction to his heart.


    "Damn, this guy isn''t here to eat, he''s f*ckin'' here to show off on a paid vacation!" Wang Ling, a seasoned expert in showing off, saw right through Poladi''s intentions. "Old Zhang, hurry up and flaunt your bank account balance; you could take down this so-called world''s richest man in a minute!"


    "Let him show off. He didn''t become the world''s richest man until his sixties. He deserves to strut for three days and nights," Zhang Menglong commented casually, "I prefer to keep a low profile. If people knew I''m actually the real richest man, I''d probably have to cover my face every time I go out."


    "Ha ha, you dare say you''re low profile, you''re anything but!"


    The two of them laughed and made such a noise that they unintentionally caught Poladi''s attention.


    "Huaxia people really lack manners, could it be..." However, the moment his gaze landed on Zhang Menglong, he froze. An image surfaced in his mind, one that was strikingly similar to Zhang Menglong.


    He got a chill and hurried over to Zhang Menglong''s table.


    "Sir, may I have the pleasure of dining with you?"

 Chapter 98 96 My Start-up Capital Comes from Your Grandfather

    ```


    "Ah?" Zhang Menglong faced this sudden invitation and, surprisingly, had no immediate reaction.


    "What''s going on?" Just now, Poladi had an air of arrogance about him, almost as if everyone owed him money, but looking at his gaze now, there was not only excitement but even a hint of fanaticism.


    "Do you know each other?" Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong exchanged puzzled looks.


    Given Zhang Menglong''s net worth and wealth, it might be possible that Zhang Menglong''s elders knew Poladi, which seemed like a reasonable guess.


    "Would you believe me if I told you this is the first time I''m meeting him?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Poladi is already in his sixties or seventies, he should be from your grandfather''s generation. Maybe when you were too young to understand anything, he might have met you."


    This turn of events quickly shifted all focus from Poladi to Zhang Menglong.


    Although Poladi''s Huaxia language was quite poor, they had still clearly heard what he said just now, Poladi was inviting this young man to dinner?


    What kind of play was this? Wasn''t Poladi paid by someone to dine with them? Why suddenly start inviting others to eat out of the blue?


    "Who is this young man?"


    "Don''t know him, but being here today probably means his family has some background."


    "I know the person opposite him, Wang Ling, the son of Wanda."


    "Then he probably belongs to that circle too. Perhaps their elders know each other?"


    "I recognize this young man! He''s that Zhang Menglong?"


    "Who is Zhang Menglong?"


    "You don''t know Zhang Menglong and you still dare say you mix in the Internet circle? Not long ago, he acquired Weibo and scared Baidu and Tengxun into submission. That''s him."


    "Him? I thought he was from Gusu!"


    ...


    Someone recognized Zhang Menglong, and news about him quickly spread. There might be people who had never seen Zhang Menglong, but it was extremely rare to find anyone who had not heard of him. Recently, he had been dominating the hotspot on Weibo as if he had bought out the entire trending section.


    What was even more outrageous was that he actually acquired Weibo outright for a girl, not something just anybody could pull off.


    This explosive news suddenly turned all the media''s cameras towards Zhang Menglong''s face. Actually, many people had wanted to interview Zhang Menglong, but he was elusive, and it was as though an invisible hand was erasing all traces of him. No one knew where he was, let alone get an interview with him.


    Zhang Menglong had been the subject of conversation for a while now.


    And just as news about him started to fade a little, with everyone''s attention shifting to the new world''s richest person, Zhang Menglong appeared again, and this rich individual was now inviting him to lunch on the spot!


    "Mr. Poladi, hadn''t we already agreed? What is this..." Song Mingxiang''s face suddenly couldn''t retain its composure. Even if he wasn''t the main attraction today, he was definitely the primary supporting character. Suddenly, the media''s cameras had all shifted away from him. Was this meal going to amount to nothing?


    Poladi whispered a few words into the ear of the interpreter next to him, and then completely ignored Song Mingxiang afterward.


    "Mr. Song, we are terribly sorry, but today Mr. Poladi has encountered a very important person, so he probably won''t be able to join you for lunch. He will repay you double the cost of this meal. We hope there will be another opportunity to have lunch with you next time," the interpreter said politely.


    "What?" Song Mingxiang''s face showed incredible disbelief. The media had been covering this lunch for a week. His company was ready for a marketing event, and suddenly, for one person, he was foregoing the meal?


    And to note, this lunch cost 12 million US dollars! To double refund, he was willing to spend another 12 million dollars just to have lunch with Zhang Menglong, what was going on?


    Song Mingxiang had heard of Zhang Menglong, whose financial power was incomparable to his since he could afford to acquire Weibo in a day. He understood that probably only someone with a very solid background like Zhang Menglong could pull off such a feat.


    But in his heart, this young man, though somewhat unbelievable, definitely couldn''t compare to the world''s richest man, Poladi!


    Furthermore, even if Zhang Menglong were richer than Poladi, he was at best a second-generation rich kid, and definitely couldn''t be so important that Poladi would condescend to invite him to dinner, right?


    ```


    But he didn''t know that Zhang Menglong was no ordinary rich second generation, no, strictly speaking, he wasn''t a rich second generation at all¡ªhe was the damn rich generation of centuries!


    Although Song Mingxiang was seething with anger inside, he dared not lash out. After all, his company was listed in America, and Poladi just so happened to be American. The venture capital firm he owned likely held no small share of his company''s stocks.


    If he crossed this newly-minted stock god, his company probably wouldn''t survive even one move!


    This luncheon was to be live broadcast across the entire network. Even though there was a change in the main character, it didn''t affect these media''s jobs. Their task was to find explosive news, and obviously, Poladi''s sudden change of heart was far more thrilling than the lunch happening as scheduled!


    "What''s going on here?"


    "As expected, where there is Zhang Menglong, big news follows!"


    "Even the world''s richest man wants to invite him to lunch? Could it be that Zhang Menglong''s family is one of Mr. Poladi''s shareholders?"


    "It''s possible! Otherwise, how could he so easily acquire Weibo, even managing to pressure the two big internet giants? If Poladi Group''s capital was behind this, it would all make sense!"


    "No, that''s not right. Even if he were a shareholder''s son, there''s no need for this kind of attitude. Look, he''s clearly placing himself at a much lower level!"


    The audience watching the live broadcast online was also utterly confused. What on earth was this all about?


    "Do you know me?" Zhang Menglong finally spoke to Poladi.


    "Are you Mr. Zhang?" Poladi did not use his mother tongue, but instead, carefully communicated with Zhang Menglong in Huaxia language.


    "My surname is Zhang, but I don''t think I''ve ever met you before," Zhang Menglong didn''t give this so-called world''s richest man any face.


    "Then there is no mistake! Is your grandfather Mr. Zhang Mo?"


    "It seems you do know my grandfather," Zhang Menglong finally caught a thread of clue, but by his look, it seemed things weren''t just as simple as that.


    "That''s great! I''ve finally met you!" Amidst the shock of countless onlookers, Poladi actually had tears welling up in his eyes, as if he had found a long-lost relative.


    "Did you just say you want to invite me to lunch?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Poladi was overwhelmed with excitement, "It''s the biggest wish and dream of my life. If you''re willing, I could use one hundred million US dollars to invite you to share this meal with me!"


    "Wow!" As soon as he finished speaking, the entire restaurant erupted in astonishment.


    Twelve million dollars was already a sky-high price, but Poladi was willing to pay a hundred million dollars to invite Zhang Menglong to lunch¡ªthis world was too crazy!


    Poladi was the world''s richest man, a brand-new stock god. People probably lined up just to have a meal with him, everyone hoping to learn something from him. But what could a young man like Zhang Menglong possibly teach him?


    "Wait a minute, just calm down," Poladi''s tears and snot were nearly smearing on Zhang Menglong''s clothes now, "first tell me clearly, what exactly do you want to do? I don''t just casually dine with anyone!"


    "Damn! That''s our Boss Zhang, always playing hard-to-get!"


    "Having lunch with the world''s richest man is just casual to him? My mind is blown."


    "Kid, are you filled with questions?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not be very clear about this, but my startup capital was provided by your grandfather. Although, for Mr. Zhang Mo, that sum of money was just a casual act of helping a bankrupt poor soul, his guidance and that money were what I relied on to make a comeback!"


    Poladi was just too excited, and his mother tongue slipped out while speaking.


    "Excuse me, I only got a 90 in my Level Six English listening exam, could someone translate what he said for me?" Zhang Menglong sent a pleading glance towards Wang Ling, "Damn, with so many people watching, this is so embarrassing!"


    "He... he said that his startup capital... was given to him by your grandfather..."

 Chapter 99 97 The Legend of Zhang Menglongs Grandfather

    "What? How is that possible?"


    "Is there really such a thing?"


    "The world''s richest person''s startup capital was given by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather?"


    "He admitted it himself, so how could it be fake?"


    "Damn! All I have to say is damn, my worldview has collapsed!"


    Although Wang Ling''s voice was not very loud, it was crystal clear in the live broadcast, and everyone heard his translation. As for whether the translation was accurate, there was no voice of doubt appearing on the bullet comments, which was already the best proof.


    Even though they didn''t know what had actually happened back then, since Poladi himself had said it, naturally, there was no need for any doubt.


    Zhang Menglong''s grandfather had given Poladi the startup funds; in other words, if it weren''t for Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, there wouldn''t be the world''s richest person we have today. To put it less modestly, one might even say that this world''s richest person was created by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather!


    "Who exactly is his grandfather?"


    "I have no idea; online, apart from Zhang Menglong''s own information, you can''t find any details about his family members."


    "Isn''t that too mysterious?"


    "But that doesn''t necessarily mean his grandfather is all that amazing. Maybe he just gave Poladi a sum of money, and the achievements after that were all created by himself."


    "Exactly, if Zhang Menglong''s grandfather was really that powerful, he wouldn''t be unknown, right? If you were wealthy enough to rival a country, would you just watch someone else wearing the crown of the world''s richest person?"


    In fact, over the years, Poladi had never forgotten. Even as he became the world''s richest person, he was very clear in his heart that this so-called title was just an empty honor. That unimaginably wealthy man was the truly richest person in the world.


    "Mr. Poladi, are you not joking?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know what was going on at all; his family had never mentioned this to him, not even Hong Yi.


    Perhaps, in their eyes, this was just a trivial matter.


    "No, no, no, I''m not joking. Perhaps your grandfather doesn''t remember me anymore, but I have always regarded him as my faith. Being able to see you here today is just great!"


    "I''m actually quite curious. How about we add a seat for you? This place is spacious enough," Zhang Menglong said casually.


    "That would be an immense honor!" Eyes don''t lie, and Zhang Menglong could see the full-blown enthusiasm in Poladi''s eyes.


    "Quick! A chair!"


    "Camera, get the camera!"


    "This is definitely a bombshell! The world''s richest person was casually created by one of Huaxia''s tycoons. This could even make the headlines of International Weekly tomorrow!"


    Quickly, a hotel staff member brought over a chair that was originally intended for Poladi and Song Mingxiang''s lunch. From the looks of it, this chair appeared to be of considerable value.


    "Have a seat," Zhang Menglong said.


    "No, how can I sit on a chair more luxurious than Mr. Zhang''s?" Poladi said with a smile, then pushed that chair aside. He looked around and moved a simple wooden chair from a corner.


    "This will do just fine for me." Even though it was a shabby chair, Poladi felt a sense of honor sitting in it.


    "66666!"


    "Isn''t this too humble? Now I''m even doubting who the actual world''s richest person is."


    "My mom''s asking me why I''m kneeling to watch the live broadcast."


    "President Zhang, look at the way I''m kneeling¡ªis it standard?"


    ...


    Poladi''s exaggeratedly respectful demeanor shocked waves of onlookers among the other entrepreneurs who were viewing the live broadcast.


    "Let me introduce you to my friend, Wang Ling."


    "To become friends with Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang must be no ordinary person!" Poladi''s spoken Huaxia, though awkward, was nevertheless coherent, suggesting he must have practiced deliberately.


    Poladi took the initiative to pick up a wine glass and offer a toast to Wang Ling.


    "Damn, I''m getting more face than my dad ever did!" Wang Ling was a bit overwhelmed; not even his father had ever dined at the same table as the world''s richest man, let alone been offered a toast.


    Such an experience, he could brag about for a whole year!


    "Mr. Poladi, I''m very interested in the affairs of my grandfather, could you tell me about it?" Zhang Menglong asked with evident interest. Since he could remember, he seemed never to have met his own grandfather; even his parents had never mentioned his grandfather''s time to him.


    In his heart, his grandfather was probably already deceased.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t know about your grandfather''s affairs?" Poladi was a bit surprised, but then regained his composure, "However, that makes sense. For me, this was a fate-changing event, but in your grandfather''s heart, perhaps it was not even worth remembering."


    "That impressive?" Zhang Menglong truly found it hard to imagine.


    "This all happened last century," Poladi said slowly, "At that time, I was not yet thirty years old. It''s embarrassing to say, but I didn''t have any proper job back then, just living on stock trading, without much skill or capital, just slightly better off than just making ends meet."


    "And then?"


    "Mr. Zhang, have you ever heard of the financial crisis of the last century that, except for Huaxia and those countries on good terms with Huaxia, almost swept across the entire world?"


    "Of course, I know, I''ve learned about it on political history texts." Although Zhang Menglong didn''t particularly like those subjects, in the context of an exam-oriented education system, even without deep exploration, he had thoroughly understood it.


    "Actually, that economic crisis was your grandfather''s masterpiece."


    "What? That was my grandfather''s doing?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in shock; he remembered that crisis was caused by excessive inflation, what did that have to do with his grandfather?


    Zhang Menglong was this shocked, not to mention the rubbernecking masses, each of them looked as if they were hearing something unbelievable.


    "Continue!"


    "The reason is quite simple," Poladi said, "It involves some historical background of your country, I''m not at liberty to say too much, but you know, your country has had some rough times."


    Poladi spoke very euphemistically, but everyone could tell what period he was referring to.


    "During that time, many treasures from your country were lost overseas, and at that time, your grandfather, solely by his own efforts, managed to locate many of the lost national treasures."


    "But what does that have to do with this matter?" Zhang Menglong inquired curiously.


    "You don''t know, those national treasures are easy to lose, but not so easy to retrieve. Even if found, the holders usually ask for a hefty ransom before they''re willing to return them."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded; for example, many national treasures appearing at foreign auctions, those bidding entrepreneurs buying them back, often costing several million or even tens of millions of US dollars.


    "Your grandfather had quite the temper," Poladi said, his eyes showing admiration as he thought back, "I don''t know how formidable the resources at your grandfather''s disposal were, but within just a few days, he managed to increase the inflation rates of those countries involved by several hundred times. Even their frantic money printing couldn''t stabilize it.


    In just one week, the economies of nearly half the world were paralyzed."


    "Awesome!" Although Zhang Menglong didn''t know what the scene looked like back then, his grandfather seemed to have left behind a quite impressive legacy.

 Chapter 100 98: He Just Finds Me More Pleasing to the Eye

    Anyone who had received a High-Grade education knew what a dismal scene the financial crisis was back then¡ªit almost instantly set the economy back by years, even decades!


    During that crisis, hundreds of blast furnaces around the world were destroyed, billions of acres of cotton fields were ruined, billions of bags of coffee were destroyed, and millions of livestock were wiped out.


    In America, even tens of thousands of gallons of high-quality fresh milk were poured into ditches, creating a river of milk¡ªa tremendous catastrophic consequence of the economic crisis.


    As for inflation, widespread unemployment, and the overthrow of social systems, these were not uncommon, but at that time, there was something historians still couldn''t fathom; during that period, Huaxia''s economy grew steadily, completely unaffected by the global financial crisis.


    Not just Huaxia, even those countries that maintained close cooperation and dealings with Huaxia breezed through this disaster, as if an invisible hand were protecting them.


    In just a few short years, the gap in technology and productivity between Huaxia and the world''s developed countries, which was a century wide, was forcibly narrowed to only a few decades.


    But who could have imagined that all this was actually the work of Zhang Menglong''s grandfather!


    If this were true, it would solve the mystery that had puzzled historians and economists for decades!


    But this was also a terrifying matter¡ªbeing able to effortlessly manipulate the global economy, what kind of force could be behind this?


    "How did my grandfather manage this?"


    "I''m not sure, but I heard that that economic crisis stemmed from a severe shortage of global raw materials, especially the crisis in crude oil. Dozens of major oil-importing countries around the world faced almost complete supply cuts!" Poladi said.


    "Not only that, during that time, capitalists around the world went crazy developing production. The stockpile of products far exceeded the purchasing power of the international community at that time, which then led to a vicious cycle, and the world economic crisis naturally erupted.


    About the causes of the economic crisis, Zhang Menglong had memorized quite a bit back in high school while studying politics. In fact, an economic crisis is an inevitable event that repeats itself in certain cycles like a loop.


    But with some external force, this cycle can be artificially shortened, of course, this kind of external force would need to be unimaginably powerful.


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not have been born yet during that era, but I am someone who came from that time. Do you know what happened during those years?"


    "What?"


    "90% of the oil supply to developed countries was cut off, that was just one of the things. The scariest part was that all the major banks in the world, at the same time, received huge withdrawal notices!"


    "What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong seemed not to understand Poladi''s words.


    "In just a few weeks, banks around the world, even the International Bank, were nearly drained of their cash flows!" Poladi said, his eyes still shimmering with admiration, "Do you know that in that year, the total global GDP was only about five trillion US dollars, but during that period, the world''s banks were short of ten trillion US dollars!"


    "Was this my grandfather''s doing?" Even today, that figure was astonishing.


    "Mr. Zhang, you should know more about your family''s wealth than I do." Poladi didn''t say it outright, but it was clear he acknowledged this statement.


    "From the moment each bank went bankrupt, the world economy collapsed instantly, followed by a series of butterfly effects."


    "Old Zhang, your grandfather was incredibly impressive!" Wang Ling, standing beside him, was already stunned. As a finance master''s graduate from a renowned international university, Wang Ling had an extraordinary understanding of the global economic crisis, but he had never expected that the Zhang family was involved behind the scenes.


    "I honestly didn''t know my grandfather was that impressive!" Zhang Menglong''s expression mirrored Wang Ling''s. He didn''t feel proud or arrogant about the fact that his grandfather had done this, for he was still in shock!


    "Mr. Zhang, do you know how long this economic crisis lasted?"


    "It seems like it lasted about a decade," Zhang Menglong said, relying on his memory.


    "Do you know what happened in the year the crisis ended?"


    "This... I''m not well-read, maybe you guys can fill me in." Zhang Menglong hated the rote memorization of history; being a humanities disaster who scored 21 points on his high school history finals, it''s no surprise he ultimately chose the irreversible path of engineering.


    "I know!" Wang Ling suddenly thought of something, "I remember, that year, a large amount of lost cultural relics appeared on the northwestern border, all wrapped in uniform red silk. At the coastal areas, there were numerous ghost ships that also carried loads of lost items."


    "As expected of Mr. Zhang''s friend, Mr. Wang is truly knowledgeable about history," Poladi said with an appreciative look. If it were not for his brief encounter with Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, he would not have known about these matters, nor would he have connected these two events.


    "Such a nerd!" Zhang Menglong gave Wang Ling a thumbs up.


    "Keep it low-key!" Wang Ling laughed, "So, is this how Menglong''s grandfather ended the economic crisis?"


    "From what I understand, yes!" Poladi said, "After that, a significant amount of capital flowed back into banks, the global supply chains restored, and after a long period of recuperation, the world economy gradually recovered."


    "How did you come to know my grandfather?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "That year, I was still scraping a living in Wall Street''s financial markets. Due to a mistaken operation, I lost all my funds," Poladi said, "Subsequently, I was being chased by a group of creditors, and that''s when I met your grandfather and his servant."


    "Then what happened?"


    "Your grandfather said he needed someone familiar with Wall Street. He said he took a liking to me, paid off my debts, and asked me to take him to the bond center on Wall Street to help him with something."


    "Took a liking to you?"


    "Yes," Poladi said, smiling bitterly. Initially, he thought there was some specific quality in him that made Zhang Mo, Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, choose him. But later, when he asked, this was the answer he received.


    "What did he do there?"


    "In three days, he destroyed the entire Wall Street currency market, and my job was only to help him find the right financial entry points, as I knew the projects with the highest trading volumes here daily. Although at that time I didn''t understand the Huaxia language, I noticed that every time he issued an order to his subordinates, a market project would collapse."


    "A few days later, he had complete control over the entire Wall Street; he could easily devalue or appreciate any currency, even official forces couldn''t contend with him¡ªthat is the power of the market!"

 Chapter 101 99: You Should Keep This Small Change

    "What did I hear? I feel like I heard something I shouldn''t have!"


    "What are you talking about? Why can''t I understand anything? (dog head to save my life)"


    "The people watching today''s live broadcast won''t be killed tomorrow to silence them, will they?"


    "It''s so exciting, damn, I feel like I''m reading an economic history book."


    "It can''t be real, right? This is just too unbelievable, isn''t it?"


    "Guys, I just checked some information, and all the dates mentioned earlier perfectly match historical records. Even if it were a made-up story, it couldn''t be this flawlessly seamless, right?"


    "No, I still can''t accept it. This is too preposterous. How could one person''s power stand against the entire world''s economy?"


    "Exactly, this is just outrageous!"


    Danmaku of different kinds floated around the live stream room. Although everything sounded logical and well-founded, it was just too outrageous, almost like someone telling you that deities exist in this world.


    "I had no idea my grandfather was so badass!"


    "Sss! Oh!" Suddenly, Wang Ling let out a bizarre scream from across.


    "What''s up with you? Did you ingest some aphrodisiacs?" Zhang Menglong glanced at him disapprovingly.


    "Damn, dude, my jaw''s dislocated!" Wang Ling moved his mouth and immediately grimaced in pain.


    "Hahaha! That''s killing me!"


    "Awesome! Grandpa Zhang''s stories just shocked Principal Wang''s jaw out of place!"


    "This is headline material right here. I''ve got the headline ready: ''Shock as Principal Wang''s jaw dislocates, because of what Zhang Menglong did to him...''"


    "Person above, report directly to UC headquarters tomorrow!"


    "6666!"


    "Shit, my jaw''s dislocated too!"


    "Hello, I am a doctor from Beilun City''s Third Hospital. Our hospital suddenly had a bunch of patients with dislocated jaws come in. They asked me to watch this live broadcast, and now my jaw''s dislocated too, waiting in line to get it fixed."


    ...


    "Chief editor, big news, I will get all the data organized when I get back today and will publish it immediately!"


    "Authenticity? I''m not sure, but this was said by Poladi. Whether it''s true or not, it''s major news!"


    "Great! Even if I don''t sleep tonight, I need to rush out 10 news articles!"


    The reporters were each busier than the next.


    "So, about that startup capital you mentioned..." Zhang Menglong suddenly thought of something.


    "After leaving Wall Street, your grandfather said I had helped him quite a bit and wanted to give me some reward," said Poladi, becoming visibly excited. "He just handed over the account he used for operations at that time to me."


    "A lot of money?"


    "According to the inflation rate at that time, it was about equivalent to 1.3 billion US dollars now!" said Poladi. "I later heard from my friends there that at today''s market value, several trillion US dollars were cashed out, all the money even seemed to evaporate just like that."


    "Damn, 1.3 billion US dollars," Wang Ling''s jaw, which he had just forcefully snapped back into place, seemed to twitch again, as if tempted to dislocate anew. Even his dad couldn''t pull out 1.3 billion US dollars that easily, let alone over five or six decades ago.


    "Of course Mr. Zhang told me this. There was also a bit of change left in that account, which he couldn''t be bothered to deal with anymore, so he told me to keep it and have fun with it."


    "Just playing around and a few decades later he ended up as the world''s richest man?" Wang Ling felt that his intelligence was somewhat lacking, as this was 1.3 billion US dollars they were talking about. In Zhang Menglong''s grandfather''s words, was this just spare change?


    But upon further reflection, compared to those several trillion US dollars, 1.3 billion truly seemed like just spare change.


    "Menglong, does your grandpa still need a grandson? Do I look like his godson? I''m not greedy for money, it''s just that I like loose change," Wang Ling shamelessly said on the side.


    "My grandpa doesn''t need one, but I do," Zhang Menglong gave him a look of disdain, "How little ambition, letting such a small sum make you repent to be a grandson?"


    "I''d even agree to be Mr. Zhang''s grandson, not to mention being his grandfather''s!" A group of netizens left behind envious tears.


    "Mr. Zhang, is your grandfather still well?" Poladi asked.


    "Ever since I can remember, I''ve never seen my grandfather," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "Sorry, I was presumptuous," Poladi''s eyes showed a trace of disappointment, it seemed he would no longer have the chance to meet him, "That''s really too bad."


    "Alright, Mr. Poladi, I''m going to have dinner with my friends, let''s call it a day. If I have time later, I''ll visit America to see you," seeing more and more reporters and onlookers outside the restaurant, Zhang Menglong felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    Wasn''t today supposed to be about discussing a movie with Wang Ling? How did it turn into this storm in a teacup? Although Zhang Menglong hadn''t checked his phone, he figured the whole country was probably talking about this now.


    "That would be an honor!" Poladi clearly didn''t catch the perfunctory tone in Zhang Menglong''s voice, "Then I await your visit, and will definitely do my utmost to welcome you!"


    "Great," Zhang Menglong nodded with a smile.


    "Oh, one more thing!" Poladi, who had taken a few steps out, suddenly turned back, "Mr. Zhang, even though your grandfather is no longer here, I still remember your family''s kindness. My wealth is always at your disposal, and I will spare no effort if you need it!"


    "6666!"


    "Holy crap, that''s 1.8 trillion US dollars! Calm down!"


    "Doesn''t this mean, Mr. Zhang could become the world''s richest man anytime he wants?"


    "Idiot! You think Mr. Zhang''s assets are only 1.8 trillion US dollars? Use your brain, it''s definitely way more!"


    "Mr. Zhang truly is the world''s richest man!"


    "Damn! A world''s richest man in his twenties!"


    "Can''t compete, ah, all roads lead to Rome, but he was born in Rome. Being reborn is indeed a skillful act."


    "Mr. Poladi, I don''t think that''s necessary," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Keep that change for yourself!"


    "Change? Goddamn change!"


    "I''m broke, can someone give me some change?"


    "Is this even human speech?"


    "Zhang Menglong is more badass than his grandfather! 1.3 billion US dollars is spare change, and in his generation, 1.8 trillion US dollars is also just spare change?"


    "Help me up, my knees hurt from kneeling."


    A faint twitch appeared on Poladi''s face, but soon, his gaze flashed with a look of inevitability, as if to others the statement might seem utterly braggadocious.


    But to Poladi, all of this was perfectly reasonable, because back then, he had almost witnessed everything.


    Zhang Mo could easily acquire several trillion US dollars in the market back then, and even if that was their entire family wealth at the time, what about now? His assets had multiplied over a hundred times, the Zhang Family was probably close to owning the entire world, weren''t they?


    "I, Wang Ling, would call you a swagger god!"


    "Why are you looking at me?" Zhang Menglong said to Wang Ling, "Is it my fault that I was reborn well?"

 Chapter 102 100: Get Out if Youre Not Acting

    "Finally, some peace and quiet."


    "Right? We came here to have a meal, and almost ended up featured on ''A Bite of Jiangnan''." Wang Ling shared the same sentiment as Menglong.


    After Poladi had left, the journalists and media showed no sign of departing; instead, the live broadcast''s focus shifted to Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, with cameras nearly shoved in their faces.


    Unable to bear the harassment any longer, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling moved to a private room, where they finally escaped the journalists'' siege.


    "Come on, pour tea for the boss!" Wang Ling mockingly filled Zhang Menglong''s cup with the drink, "From now on, I''m following the boss!"


    Wang Ling had imagined Zhang Menglong''s family background to be impressive, but he now realized he had underestimated him; if what he had imagined of Zhang Menglong''s wealth was a sesame seed, then the reality could be a watermelon.


    Although everything Poladi had said sounded far-fetched, even unbelievable, intuition told Wang Ling that most of it was probably true.


    "Stop pretending, who do you think you''re kidding with that act? Even if he were the Jade Emperor, you wouldn''t be so reverent," Zhang Menglong laughed and cursed.


    "Hahaha, you know me too well," Wang Ling returned to his seat, "But I''ve really had my eyes opened today. With what Poladi said, you could write a biography about the Zhang Family. I bet in a few days, those economists and historians will start attacking you."


    Even though the events discussed today happened a long time ago, if they were true, those scholars would never acknowledge such things, especially those from countries affected by the economic crisis back then.


    If they admitted it, wouldn''t that be akin to admitting their incompetence? And acknowledging Huaxia''s robust economic strength?


    Consider, the idea of the world economy turned upside down by a common person from a developing country is not only ludicrous but also embarrassing. It''s almost no different from admitting they are all useless.


    When the time comes, they''ll surely throw out all sorts of evidence to prove that economic crisis had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong''s grandfather and might even fabricate things to smear Zhang Menglong. It''s possible that even Poladi could become a casualty in this conflict.


    "Do I look like someone who would suffer a loss?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "If they really are that ungrateful, I don''t mind emulating my grandfather and giving them a taste of their own medicine!"


    Although Zhang Menglong didn''t fully grasp the extent of his family''s power, he was certain that stirring up another global financial crisis wouldn''t be much of a challenge for his family.


    "Damn, I''m already sweating for them!" Wang Ling said, "If you really go through with this, you''d better give me a heads-up. I''ve invested in lots of bonds, funds, and stocks. If I lose it all, I''m taking you down with me!"


    "Stop spouting nonsense, let''s talk business!" Zhang Menglong said. If Wang Ling kept going, it''d be dark soon, and he had plans to play games with Lu Yiyao later that night.


    "Fine, I''ll start with my plans!" Wang Ling was quite methodical in his approach. He took out a tablet and showed a draft of the filming plan he had already laid out.


    "Now that there''s a regulation stating that actors'' pay can''t exceed 40% of the total investment, we have 400 million to choose actors, giving us a lot of flexibility. Here''s a list of actors I''ve picked, what do you think?"


    "Are you sure you''re making a movie, not hosting a talent show?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the names on the list and immediately frowned.


    Since they had ample budget for salaries, Wang Ling had selected several current top-tier celebrities without considering the cost.


    "Nowadays, it''s all about the fan base. If these people join in, the box office is guaranteed to be high."


    "If these people join in, the movie will be a critic''s nightmare!" Zhang Menglong was blunt, "Look at this list, how many of them can actually act?"


    "Singing, dancing, rap, basketball? Do you think this is a talent show or a soap opera? This is supposed to be a hardcore sci-fi movie. We need actors with skill, not these people. If you bring them in, the film will be ruined!" Zhang Menglong continued earnestly.


    He felt strongly about this; the movie "Mount Shu Legacy" from more than a decade ago was expected to be the beginning of Huaxia''s cultivation epics. Instead, it turned out to be the Peak. The veteran actors were neglected, while the idol celebrities raked in a fortune.


    Huaxia has no good films, and that''s the biggest reason.


    "I didn''t expect you to be so idealistic," Wang Ling laughed.


    "This is me caring deeply!" Zhang Menglong insisted, "Anyway, in my crew, popularity is just crap, acting skills and experience are what matter most!"


    "So what do you plan to do? I''ve already finalized the lead role of Wang Miao with Wang Zihan, and his compensation is all set."


    "How much did you prepare?" Zhang Menglong asked. He knew Wang Zihan, one of the top three newcomers of this generation, debuted in a boy band and was now transitioning to the film and television industry.


    Zhang Menglong had seen his work, which was only to say it was unspeakable.


    "40 million."


    "F*ck! Does he deserve it?" Zhang Menglong said, "I think he''s at most suited for a supporting role. What do you think about having him play a Trisolaran?"


    "Hahaha, you''re really something!" Wang Ling was suddenly speechless, "Do you know how hard it is to schedule him? I barely persuaded him to join our crew. I''ve already signed the film contract, and if we breach it, that will be a penalty of 10 million."


    "Then give it to him!" Zhang Menglong said grandly, "We definitely can''t let one bad apple spoil the whole batch. If it were a real veteran actor, I''d be willing to pay 100 million. Those who can''t act aren''t called actors, they''re just performers, and I think even 400 thousand is too much!"


    "400 thousand? You can actually say that? He gets more than that for just one episode of a TV series."


    "Love to act, then act, if not, get lost. Just give him the role of a Trisolaran. Even if he wanted to play an extra, I would have to think about it."


    "Alright, you''re the boss, you have the final say. So about the actor..."


    "I already have an idea," Zhang Menglong snatched Wang Ling''s tablet and started writing down the main characters'' names and the actors who fit his vision best.


    "These people?" Wang Ling didn''t know how to begin, "Old Zhang, these people are indeed rare good actors, but most of them have cooled down now, and a few have even fallen to making game advertisements. Their compensation is also very cheap now, you want to save money for our crew, huh."


    "Who said anything about saving money!" Zhang Menglong said, "The people I''ve listed here, each of their compensation must not be less than 20 million!"


    "What the hell?" Wang Ling counted. There were easily over a dozen people here, and just their compensations would amount to over 200 million.


    "What the hell nothing, although they''re not as famous as before, their acting skills justify this compensation!" Zhang Menglong said, "Starting today, I''m going to be the discipline inspection commission of the entertainment industry!"


    "Oh boy, you''re going to stir things up!" Wang Ling said, "Relying on these, I''m afraid you won''t be able to produce much hype!"


    "I''ve already thought it through!" Zhang Menglong said, "Do you know the Carnot SFX team?"


    "You mean the world''s most impressive SFX team?" Wang Ling asked.


    This SFX team was almost legendary; its members came from all over the world, each one uniquely skilled. The works they produced were all considered classics, but they had very high demands for film contracts and had only taken on three projects since their establishment.


    But those three projects, the worst performing one grossed over 5 billion US dollars!


    "You invited them?" Wang Ling said.


    "Not invited," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I bought the whole team!"

 Chapter 103 101: Another Worker for Boss Zhang

    "Bought it? Are you serious?"


    This news was no less shocking to Wang Ling than the revelation that Poladi''s startup funds had come from Zhang Menglong''s grandfather.


    Countless organizations had tried to woo that special effects team, including Hollywood''s largest special effects company, which even offered $200 million to sign them up, but they were rejected.


    Keep in mind, to date, the highest payday for any movie in the world has been $100 million. For a special effects team of less than a hundred people, that was an astronomical figure.


    It was clear how stringently this special effects group chose their projects.


    "Haven''t you heard that ''money talks''?" Zhang Menglong said. "It wasn''t expensive, just $1 billion, and they''ll work exclusively for me until retirement!"


    "Shit!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but curse. $1 billion to acquire a special effects team was something probably only Zhang Menglong could afford. "I guess it wasn''t that simple, was it?"


    "Of course not!" Zhang Menglong continued, "Once, when they were shooting a movie, they had to cut a large part of the special effects scenes because the budget was insufficient, which greatly disappointed them. That''s why they are only willing to join a production that has sufficient funding."


    "How did you talk to them?"


    "I told them that the special effects investment in movies I shoot in the future would be no less than $500 million, then they begged to work for me. They even said they''d work for just a base salary without a signing bonus. I had no choice but to agree."


    "Damn, sounds like you knocked them out with money!" The team that even the largest special effects company in the world couldn''t hire was begging Zhang Menglong to take them. If this news broke, it would be another huge story.


    However, on second thought, if these people could refuse Hollywood''s hefty offers, they must have some unique pursuits. Ordinary movie investments couldn''t satisfy their artistic ambitions.


    To date, the most expensive movie ever made had a total investment of less than $400 million, and that included the actors'' fees.


    And Zhang Menglong alone was willing to spend $500 million on special effects. Who would want to give up such a golden opportunity?


    "Awesome, with this team on board, we could have actors lining up from here to the capital to join us!" Wang Ling said confidently.


    The box office success of the Carat special effects team''s work had already proven their skill. Even with a cast of monkeys, they could produce epic special effects. Who would pass up the chance to join such a project, even with the potential to win Best Actor?


    Some people would even bash their heads to audition without asking for a fee!


    "But for one movie, aren''t you investing a bit too much?" Wang Ling asked. "Buying them out and having them work until retirement just for one movie. Are you planning to support them in their old age?"


    "That''s just the first movie. There will be a second and a third!" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "And what after you''re done filming?" Wang Ling continued to ask.


    "Don''t worry, I''m a boss who ruthlessly exploits his workers. Once they''re done filming the movies, I''ll have them shoot whatever I want to see."


    "You think the Broadcasting Authority is yours to control? There are many topics that even if you shoot them, they won''t let you release."


    "Who says movies have to be released? I''ll just make a cut and enjoy it alone in my private home theater. Isn''t that a delight?"


    Fuck! Only you would think of that!" Wang Ling was astounded. Zhang Menglong didn''t spend $1 billion to buy a special effects team with the intention of making money back, but rather to make movies for his personal enjoyment.


    Wang Ling used to think there were only two kinds of people in the world: the poor and the rich. Now, it seemed there were actually three types: the poor, the rich, and Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "Three days later, auditions for ''Three-Body'' will be held at the Jiangnan City Sports Center. Interested actors are welcome to audition!" After getting home, Zhang Menglong immediately posted the announcement on his Weibo, directly mentioning the studios of the actors he had in mind.


    As of now, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo followers had reached an astonishing 50 million, and any update he made was even more powerful than a central news broadcast.


    "What''s the situation? Didn''t Principal Wang say a few days ago that Wang Miao''s role was confirmed for Wang Zihan? Why is he now inviting others to audition?"


    "Zheng Yijian? Who''s that? Never heard of him. Some third-rate actor from who-knows-where? Is Principal Wang short on money?"


    "Bullshit. This time Zhang Menglong is the investor, the wealthiest man in the world. He''s not short on cash, and neither would Principal Wang be!"


    "The one upstairs must be born after 2005, right? You''ve never heard of Zheng Yijian? A third-rate actor? When he was all the rage you might still have been in your mom''s belly!"


    "Hahaha, exactly, back then ''Legend of Mount Shu'' was the peak of domestic Xianxia special effects. Look at what we have now, Energy-converting horses? What kind of crap is that?"


    "Damn, they''re all Emperor Level old actors!"


    "Hahaha, I know why now, it must be because people like Wang Zihan have the acting skills of a fart, and Zhang just directly despised it!"


    "Haha, fair point. Just for this cast alone, I give 100 likes!"


    "It''s about time for this. These actors these days ask for a salary more ruthless than robbery, and the works they make are like trash. I support Zhang''s choice!"


    The netizens immediately engaged in frenzied discussion. Anyone with a bit of sense could guess why Zhang Menglong had decided to change the actors based on the invitation list.


    ...


    "What? Wang Ling is going to break the contract?" A few hours later, Wang Zihan got the news from his agent. Wang Ling had taken the initiative to cancel the film agreement with him and had even transferred the breach of contract fee into his account.


    As a popular young actor, Wang Zihan was thriving, with variety shows, TV series, movies, and an almost non-stop stream of film offers in recent years, raking in a very substantial income.


    Though he had a face that attracted young girls, his acting skills were far inferior to the amount of effort he wasted on makeup every day.


    But in this era, popularity is everything. Even if the movies he acted in were trash, he still had a horde of crazy fans willing to pay for him.


    In his heart, he had subtly come to regard himself as a celebrity actor, and the idea of a movie contract being torn up was nearly unacceptable to him!


    Even though Wang Ling''s family was wealthy, Wang Zihan didn''t fear Wang Ling, after all, he was just him, not his father.


    "Yes," Wang Zihan''s agent said, "it seems that Wang Ling plans to invite a bunch of washed-up old actors for his project. The internet is blowing up about it, and there''s a lot of criticism against you."


    "What washed-up old actors," Wang Zihan scoffed, "What box office can they bring with their acting? Can acting feed them? Without public interest, are they selling feelings or what?"


    "Zihan, could it be because you''re asking for too high a fee?"


    "Don''t I, Wang Zihan, deserve this price?" Wang Zihan glared at his agent, "From the last film, I got 30 million, and for this kind of challenging film, I think 50 million isn''t too much!"


    "What should we do now? The studio started to hype this topic yesterday. If we just end the collaboration like this, it might negatively impact you," the agent said worriedly, "and the main investor this time is Zhang Menglong..."


    "What''s there to be afraid of? Even if they''re rich, they''re just a couple of rich second-generations. I don''t provoke them, they better not provoke me. Post the previous agreement online; they''re the ones who breached it unilaterally. From now on, we refuse all collaboration with them," Wang Zihan added, "and don''t just accept any film offer in the future. It''s a waste of time!"


    Despite his unwillingness, Wang Zihan was secretly delighted in his heart. He had almost effortlessly received this 10 million breach of contract fee. It was as if it had fallen from the sky.


    Soon, Wang Zihan''s studio responded. It has to be said that the power of a popularity star is indeed not small. Wang Zihan had more than 40 million fans on Weibo, and the fans from both sides had actually fallen into a war of words.


    "Interesting, they refuse all collaboration with us?" Zhang Menglong sneered as he looked at Wang Zihan''s studio''s statement, "As if you''re qualified to collaborate with us."


    Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and directly posted the cooperation agreement with the Poladi special effects team.


    "Poladi special effects team! Is that the one recognized as the world''s number one special effects team?"


    "Holy crap, a 50-year cooperation agreement? How is that any different from a buyout?"


    "Another worker bee from the Zhang family! Blimey! I take back what I said, with that special effects team, who needs a popularity star!"


    "Awesome, it looks like we''re going to make an epic movie this time. Maybe it could even take down ''Avengers''!"


    "Zhang is legit (voice crack)!"


    ...

 Chapter 104 102: The Movie Star Wants to Play a Minor Role

    "What? The special effects team this time is the Carnot Effects Team?" Wang Zihan was shaken when he got the news, his entire being out of sorts.


    Despite his poor acting skills, as an actor, there wasn''t anyone who didn''t recognize the Carnot Effects Team! To exaggerate a bit, this group is practically a god-making special effects team!


    It could almost be said that as long as this team was involved, a box office gross of 3 billion US dollars was guaranteed!


    "How could this happen?" Wang Zihan''s trembling lips highlighted just how much he regretted now¡ªif he had asked for a lower fee in the beginning, perhaps Wang Ling wouldn''t have terminated their collaboration, and with this project, he could even have had the chance to become the youngest Best Actor!


    "Zihan, what do we do? We''ve already had a falling out with them, this..." Wang Zihan''s manager was also pale with distress¡ªthey had never imagined that Zhang Menglong could actually lure... no, downright buy that team!


    "No, I must fight for this opportunity!" Wang Zihan said, "Immediately retract the statement we just released, say it was all a misunderstanding, and I''ll call Wang Ling directly."


    For a trending star, their popularity was always limited because the turnover in the entertainment industry was simply too fast, and fans'' tastes changed too quickly. Without any outstanding accomplishments, even Wang Zihan couldn''t avoid becoming passe? in a few years.


    Is there an evergreen tree in the entertainment industry? Yes! But both looks and talent are indispensable, and some have even faded from the acting scene and still are crowned as male idols by netizens.


    Aside from a few hit songs, Wang Zihan didn''t have any outstanding works. The TV shows and movies he starred in were only watched because of his fans supporting him; he needed a work that would make a lasting mark in the film and television industry!


    He believed that as long as he could land a role in "Three-Body," with his large fan base and studio operations, he could definitely elevate his status in the entertainment world to a whole new level.


    In such a situation, saving face was worthless; landing a pivotal role was what mattered most!


    Netizens'' sense of smell and their capacity for gossip were often terrifying. As soon as Wang Zihan''s studio retracted the statement from a few minutes earlier, he was immediately trending.


    "What''s going on? Why retract the statement?"


    "Hahaha, the ''Three-Body'' production is invested in by General Manager Zhang and even acquired the Carnot Effects Team. This movie''s success is certain, so refusing to cooperate would be idiotic, wouldn''t it?"


    "I predict that soon they will claim it was all a misunderstanding¡ªmaybe they''ll even put the blame on a scapegoat."


    "Who just said they would refuse all future collaborations with Wanda Film and Television? Friends, shout out his name together!"


    "Wang Jingze''s Law of Truth might be late, but it will never be absent!"


    ...


    Those who loved a spectacle were not afraid of it being too big. Based on both parties'' attitudes, it was not difficult to infer what they were thinking. Clearly, Wang Zihan didn''t seem like he wanted to give up such a great opportunity.


    Sure enough, a few minutes later, his studio issued a message saying that the earlier announcement was due to some misunderstandings in communication between the two sides. They also said that Wang Zihan would attend the audition for the main role in "Three-Body" in three days, hoping his fans would offer their full support.


    "Humph!" Wang Ling watched the message on Weibo and sneered endlessly.


    When he first invited Wang Zihan to join, he had directly reserved the role of the protagonist for him, offering a salary of 30 million. To be honest, that salary was quite substantial already.


    But Wang Zihan was ungrateful, even acting arrogant. Not only did he demand a fee of 50 million, but he also made many impolite requests, wanting even the supporting actors to be almost A-list celebrities.


    For the movie''s box office and attention, Wang Ling negotiated earnestly, managing to lower the fee to 40 million. As for all those excessive demands, he had almost agreed to most of them.


    When had Wang Ling ever suffered such humiliation? But he was without options, needing this top influencer to help him craft this work.


    However, with Zhang Menglong''s involvement, everything changed. Shooting budget? As much as needed! Special effects team? The world''s top-level! Script?


    Zhang Menglong had invited the country''s best screenwriters, not just one person, but a whole team!


    Director? Top-level directors from both inside and outside the country had all been invited to join the production team.


    With such a strong lineup, even a pig could become a star!


    The most crucial point was that this guy, Zhang Menglong, didn''t even care about whether the movie would make money; all he cared about was whether it was cool or not.


    Now, what Wang Ling had to consider wasn''t whether there were people willing to act in this movie, but which top-level actor he should choose for the role.


    "Yo, another call." Wang Ling''s phone suddenly rang, "Menglong, guess who this might be?"


    "No idea," Zhang Menglong, who happened to have nothing to do and was drinking afternoon tea at Wang Ling''s place, responded, "How many calls is that now?"


    "Must be over forty by now? This is the first time in my life I''ve received so many calls from top actors and actresses. Just now, that what''s-his-name Hua Zai, Zha Zha Hui, Dragon Brother, and even Jet Li called wanting a role. Plus, there''s Yifei, Ruotong, Qingxia, Manyu, Shuzhen... How am I supposed to keep everyone happy?"


    "That many?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "Before you came over, I already took more than twenty calls. Although the calls were officially from the studio, it was actually those top actors and actresses themselves. Now, as for those popular young idols, it''s even crazier, some are even willing to forgo their salary. I think they''ve lost their minds."


    "Don''t you play any dirty games, you old perv," Zhang Menglong chuckled covertly, "No such PY transactions allowed here."


    "Come on, is that what you think of me?"


    "Yes!" Zhang Menglong nodded emphatically.


    "Pfft! I''m only interested in internet celebrities; female stars don''t do it for me," Wang Ling''s eyes suddenly took on a lecherous gleam, "But as for you, as the main investor of the movie, I bet the actresses and internet celebrities heading to your room probably need to take a number."


    "You guessed wrong, there aren''t any!"


    "That''s because you haven''t given out your contact details!" Wang Ling laughed, "In a couple of days, let''s go to the sports center in Jiangnan City. Didn''t we set up the temporary lodgings there in my hotel? I guarantee if you dare to stay there, your room will be bustling with visitors."


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong pushed Wang Ling away, "I''m not the Sea King!"


    "Ring ring!" The phone rang again.


    Wang Ling grabbed it, "Hello, this is Wang Ling. Who is this, Runfa or Fucheng?"


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but burst into laughter. Wang Ling was really getting carried away. Who answers the phone like that?


    "Prince Wang, it''s Wang Zihan." The person on the other end, Wang Zihan, was dumbfounded. What was happening? Had calling Wang Ling become such a high threshold now?


    "Oh, what is it?" Wang Ling''s tone suddenly cooled.


    "Prince Wang, I''ve thought it over carefully. The salary I quoted last time was indeed outrageous," Wang Zihan''s tone dramatically shifted from his prior arrogance, "I think I''m okay with the price you mentioned last time, 20 million US dollars. I''m willing to take the role of Wang Miao."


    "Are you dumb or am I dumb?" Wang Ling burst out laughing, "Just a moment ago, your assistant was talking to mine, saying 40 million US dollars was what you give to third-rate actors. Let me tell you, right now, eight top actors are fighting over this role and they don''t even want a fee!"


    "What?"


    "Also, just now Zidan called me. He wanted to play an extra; all he asked for was a fight scene."


    "Are there any other roles left? I can also waive the salary!" Wang Zihan immediately grew anxious.


    "Yes, there is. And it''s an extremely important role!" Wang Ling said.


    "I''ll take it! I''ll take it!"


    "Fine then, come for an audition the day after tomorrow," Wang Ling said nonchalantly.


    "Prince Wang, may I ask what role it is?" Wang Zihan asked expectantly.


    "Trisolaran!"

 Chapter 105 103: Direct Money Transfer

    Jiangnan City''s Sports Center on Saturday could literally be described as a sea of people. Ever since Zhang Menglong announced that the auditions for "Three-Body" would take place here, the young people of the city went crazy.


    Of course, not everyone came for the work "Three-Body"; many were there to see their beloved idols.


    According to incomplete statistics, among the people coming to audition today, there were dozens of popular stars, and former top actors and actresses were emerging in droves.


    To put it dramatically, today was practically a gathering of half the entertainment and film industry!


    Early in the morning, passionate fans had already gathered outside the venue, causing the staff who came to open the doors to almost think there had been a terrorist attack, nearly calling the police.


    To prevent chaos, hundreds of security guards pulled up long security lines, but still couldn''t extinguish the fans'' fervent hearts.


    "They''re coming, they''re coming!" With a burst of cheering, the somewhat weary fans finally started to boil over with excitement.


    "Dozens of Rolls Royces? That''s quite a statement, isn''t it?"


    "I wonder which actors or actresses they are!"


    "You guys are out of the loop, right? Those cars aren''t for the actors coming to audition; they''re sent by Zhang to pick up people from the airport!"


    "Damn, dozens of Rolls Royces, does he own the company or what?"


    "This...bro, you''re not wrong, it''s not entirely impossible!"


    "Isn''t that Brother Shimmering Light?"


    "After a few years of doing game endorsements, hacking down dozens of brothers, the movie star has finally returned!"


    "Gu Tianluo! My male god!"


    "They''re among the few people in the world who could threaten my looks!"


    "Look at the male stars nowadays, none of them has a manly vibe, none at all. This is what a real man looks like!"


    "Sob, my goddess! Wow, she''s over forty but still looks younger than me!"


    "Excuse me, excuse me, I don''t deserve to be a woman."


    "Such an all-star lineup, it''s something that probably only happened over a decade ago, right?"


    "Truly worthy of Director Zhang, so lavish. Any other person wouldn''t even be able to afford their salaries!"


    ...


    The audition took place in the central area of the gymnasium, with the surrounding stands opened up for spectators for free. The seats, capable of hosting tens of thousands, quickly filled to the brim.


    "Isn''t that the genius director Zhu Xiao?"


    "And there''s Roberts, the internationally renowned director. Director Zhang really invited them all over!"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, this is practically a super talent show of the performance industry!"


    Each of these directors was world-famous for their outstanding talent, and likewise, they were extremely discerning when it came to casting, only accepting actors who perfectly matched the roles.


    The first to audition was Gu Tianluo; the martial arts characters he played in the past had really captivated the hearts of the audience, even spawning a variety of memes. The plain Gu Tianluo¡ªthat was him.


    Over the years, he continuously took on lousy films, spending most of his earnings on building schools and doing charity, earning the nickname from netizens as the man "who can only be tarnished by the sun."


    "Look, that''s him¡ªthe guy who defeated the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect in three moves, and then beat the one-armed blademaster, Liu Jingzhan, in six moves."


    "But he looks so ordinary, nothing special."


    "Hahaha, goddamn ordinary, I wish I could look that ''ordinary''!"


    "Gu''er, are you okay, I''m your aunt!"


    The audience in the stands happily played with the memes.


    Though he had taken on terrible films over the years, it was only the scripts, directors, and screenwriters that were awful; Gu Tianluo, as a professional actor, had never given up his pursuit of excellence in his craft.


    When Zhang Menglong was choosing one of the main characters, Wang Miao, the first person he thought of was him!


    Even with just a few days of preparation, his performance was as if he had been preparing for months. His audition was so engaging that even the audience in the stands had fallen silent.


    "Good!" Someone initiated the applause, and suddenly the whole room burst into thunderous clapping.


    "A professional actor is indeed a professional actor¡ªI''m convinced by your judgment, Old Zhang," Wang Ling said to Zhang Menglong as they sat in the director''s seats, watching the performance. It must be said, the role seemed tailor-made for Gu Tianluo.


    "Directors, what do you think?" Zhang Menglong, after all, was not a professional, and the directors'' evaluations were the most important.


    "I think it''s not a problem, he''s fantastic!" Zhu Xiao said. "Though he''s the first to audition, I doubt we could find a second person more suited to this role."


    "Director Roberts agrees!" Roberts'' interpreter said, "If he doesn''t join this film, he feels it would lose its soul!"


    "Since that''s the case, let''s settle on Wang Miao''s role!" said Zhang Menglong. With such high praise from both directors, there was no need for any hesitation.


    "Mr. Gu, the investors Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang invite you to rest a bit at the Wanda Hotel nearby," a girl called out to Gu Tianluo just as he had left the audition area.


    "Did I not pass the audition?" Gu Tianluo''s attention was caught by the words "rest a bit," which seemed like just a polite phrase.


    He sighed with a wry smile. After all, he was in his forties now, and his body wasn''t as nimble as in his younger years. Though he had taken on many roles over the years, his fees were not high, not even close to one-tenth of what popular artists made.


    Such income couldn''t support his charity work any longer. He had come to try his luck because he had heard the investors were wealthy and generous.


    It seemed that he could no longer compete with the younger generation of fresh-faced actors.


    "Mr. Gu, you''ll know if you go," the girl said.


    "Alright, I''ll rest tonight and head back tomorrow. The fee for that film might be low, but it should still be enough to build a few more school buildings," Gu Tianluo said, turning to the girl. "Then please lead the way."


    The hotel was just across the street from the sports center and happened to be the largest one nearby. But strangely, the girl didn''t take him and his agent-cum-assistant to a room to rest, but instead to a space that looked like a conference room.


    Inside sat two young men in their early 20s, one of whom had a girl about the same age standing behind him, seemingly his assistant.


    "You are..." Gu Tianluo didn''t surf the internet much. Aside from charity and acting, nothing else really appealed to him or caught his interest.


    "Mr. Gu, my name is Zhang Menglong, one of the investors for ''Three-Body,'' and this is Wang Ling, the chairman of Wanda Film Production Company, which is organizing the shooting plan for this film," one of the young men said.


    "Hello," Gu Tianluo greeted, somewhat surprised to see such young investors.


    He had heard that not only had they invited the most outstanding special effects team, but the director and screenwriter lineup were all top-level. The people with such financial backing turned out to be just two young men.


    "Mr. Gu, we cordially invite you to join our film crew as the lead male actor, Wang Miao," Zhang Menglong earnestly invited.


    "Ah?" Gu Tianluo was stunned. Wasn''t he supposed to have been eliminated?


    Even if they really did favor him, shouldn''t the decision have taken longer? He was just the first to audition, and there might be others more suitable than him yet to come.


    If it weren''t for his faint recollection of Zhang Menglong''s name, he might have even suspected a scam.


    "You''ve decided just like that, without further consideration?"


    "All the directors believe you are the most suitable candidate, so there''s no need for further consideration. Now, we just want to hear your choice," they said.


    "Willing¡ªI am, of course, willing!" Gu Tianluo knew all too well that even though he was past his prime, this was still the lead role. The other party might skimp on his fee, but it wouldn''t be too outrageous. With this money, he could probably invest in a few more schools.


    "Then here''s to a happy collaboration!" Zhang Menglong shook hands with Gu Tianluo. "Hong Yi, make the payment!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang, we haven''t discussed the fee yet, this..."


    "Gu-zai!" Before Gu Tianluo could finish, his assistant interrupted him, then showed him the screen of her phone.


    "1... 100 million?"

 Chapter 106 104 Is this circle so fierce?

    "Mr. Gu, your film remuneration has been deposited into your studio account. I''ve already paid the taxes on your behalf, please confirm if there is any issue," Zhang Menglong said with a casual air, as though it wasn''t a hundred million but merely a single yuan.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there a mistake?" It wasn''t that Gu Tianluo underestimated himself, but the remuneration was frighteningly high. Having been in the acting business for so long, he had at most only received a few million in remuneration.


    For someone who put all his income into education and charitable causes, this amount of money was undoubtedly astronomical.


    Moreover, up to this point, it was doubtful that any actor in Huaxia had ever received remuneration of this magnitude, right?


    The most crucial thing was, they were just in the actor selection phase now. Normally, even if a film remuneration was to be paid, only a part of the signing fee would be given first, with the remaining remuneration and dividends paid after the final box office takings.


    Was Zhang Menglong not afraid of a box office flop? Although with such a cast, such an incident was virtually impossible, hadn''t Zhang Menglong gone a bit too far in self-indulgence?


    "Actually, the remuneration I gave Mr. Gu is 50 million," Zhang Menglong said, "I know Mr. Gu is passionate about education and charity. The extra 50 million is just a small gesture of my support."


    Gu Tianluo was startled, then a bright smile appeared, "Then, I hope we have a pleasant collaboration and can create a perfect piece of work!"


    "It''s also our honor," Zhang Menglong exchanged a look with Wang Ling. With such a true actor joining, ''Three-Body'' would definitely achieve the effect they desired.


    It must be said, Zhang Menglong''s eye for selecting actors was indeed sharp. The main characters, apart from one that deviated slightly from his initial expectations, all his recommended choices were unanimously approved by the judges!


    And that one actor also found their own shadow in another role, resulting in a happy outcome for everyone.


    As for those so-called traffic stars, whether it was Zhu Xiao or Roberts, they could only shake their heads in dismay in the end. Particularly Prince Wang Zihan, who even diligently prepared an outfit for the role of the Trisolaran, ended up not getting even a minor role as a passerby.


    As for the rest, those were some less significant roles. Zhang Menglong trusted the directors'' judgement, they would certainly choose the most suitable candidates.


    With all the actors in place, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling had a meal with them. These veteran actors found kinship in each other, seemingly having endless topics to discuss. Seeing such a scene made Zhang Menglong reflectively sigh; the dinner ended with some still not wanting it to be over.


    Having had some drinks, his head felt somewhat drowsy, Zhang Menglong didn''t go home. Anyways, the Wanda Hotel was owned by Wang Ling''s family; he had booked it for these few days, so he simply went straight to his presidential suite.


    Along the way, Zhang Menglong kept feeling some gaze on him, but when he turned around, he saw nothing.


    "Drinking causes trouble!" Zhang Menglong slapped his head, it had been a long time since he drank this much with his roommates.


    After closing the door, Zhang Menglong headed straight to the bathroom, peeling off his clothes that reeked of alcohol.


    "Thump thump thump!" He had barely taken a step when a gentle knock on the front door echoed.


    "Who is it?" Zhang Menglong staggered over to the door, "It can''t be Wang Ling, this blockhead disturbing me in the middle of the night!"


    "Click!" Without much thought, Zhang Menglong opened the door directly.


    In an instant, a whiff of fragrance entered his nostrils, and a soft body crashed right into Zhang Menglong''s arms.


    "Damn! I''ve encountered a female hooligan!" That was Zhang Menglong''s first thought.


    "Bang!" The woman who barged in immediately closed the door, and with the momentum, she pushed Zhang Menglong onto the sofa not far away.


    A pair of hands swiftly began to wander over Zhang Menglong''s body, and being a man, faced with such a situation, his body temperature started to soar rapidly.


    If this were an ordinary person, faced with such a situation, they would probably let the liquor heat their brain and the scene that follows would surely be indescribable.


    But not Zhang Menglong. He had been drinking, yet he remained rational and sober and immediately pushed the woman aside.


    "Why does this person look so familiar?" It was only now that Zhang Menglong got a clear look at the woman¡ªa quintessential melon-seed face, curvy figure, fair skin, and that light makeup somehow gave her the feeling of the girl next door.


    "Holy shit, isn''t that Half Moon Forest?" Zhang Menglong remembered the face from his vague memories.


    Half Moon Forest was originally just a minor internet celebrity who gained fame by becoming the other woman. At the time, he remembered saying, leaving everything else aside, Half Moon Forest''s looks and figure indeed made it easy for one to commit a crime.


    "Don''t touch me!" Zhang Menglong quickly guarded his chest. Although he had seen countless films, he was in reality still thoroughly a boy, "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    Although she was pushed away by Zhang Menglong, Half Moon Forest didn''t seem flustered. She smoothed her hair and subtly tugged at her dress hem, revealing a pair of fair, slender legs, and then sat next to Zhang Menglong.


    "Director Zhang, I heard that the actress for the second female lead in ''Three-Body'' hasn''t been decided yet. There were just too many people auditioning today, so I had to volunteer to audition tonight. Would you like to have a taste?" Half Moon Forest''s voice was filled with seduction.


    "You''re so saucy!" Zhang Menglong quickly stepped back.


    "Hehe!" Half Moon Forest''s eyes remained seductively silky. She was full of confidence in her body; otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to snatch a boyfriend from another internet celebrity with tens of millions of fans, "Isn''t this very exciting? As long as Director Zhang is willing to let me try the role, I''m willing to do anything!"


    "Seems like it''s not all Liu Yang''s fault for cheating!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, most people really couldn''t withstand it.


    "Wang Ling was right, damn, do all internet celebrities nowadays have no bottom line?"


    "Alright, you can go now, I can pretend this never happened." Zhang Menglong put his coat back on.


    A flash of surprise crossed Half Moon Forest''s eyes. She had served herself up on a platter, yet Zhang Menglong remained unmoved? Weren''t these rich second-generation youngsters all into this kind of play?


    "Knock knock knock!" Just then, there was another knock at the door.


    "Who''s there!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t done anything, so he had no need to act like a thief caught in the act; he was more than eager for someone to take this Half Moon Forest away.


    But when he opened the door, he froze. Outside stood another internet celebrity, wearing even less than Half Moon Forest!


    "Director Zhang, feeling lonely? Want me to come in and have a drink with you?" The internet celebrity said, her eyes already shooting sparks at Zhang Menglong.


    "Sorry, it seems someone beat you to it," Zhang Menglong quirked his mouth and stepped aside, as the two female internet celebrities stood eye to eye.


    "Forest, didn''t you say you were going to have a midnight snack?"


    "I... And you, weren''t you going to find a spot to rehearse your lines for tomorrow''s audition?"


    "Interesting, this is good to watch!" Zhang Menglong sat down on the couch, picked up a banana, and started watching with interest. No wonder he felt like he was being watched on his way back; turns out someone had trailed him!


    "Bang!" Just when it seemed there would be an epic catfight, the two women exchanged a glance, as if coming to some agreement, and unexpectedly shut the door together.


    "Director Zhang, want to experience a threesome?"


    "Damn it!" The banana Zhang Menglong was nibbling nearly fell out of his mouth, "Are the people in this circle really this fierce?"

 Chapter 107 105: Listen to My Explanation

    "What are you trying to do? Don''t come any closer!" Seeing that look in their eyes as if they were going to devour her, Zhang Menglong didn''t feel seduced at all, instead, a hint of panic set in.


    "President Zhang, actually, our demands are not high, we just want two roles with some decent screen time," Half Moon Forest already started to undo her skirt.


    "President Zhang, being young and wealthy, even if we sisters aren''t fortunate enough, we hope to become friends with you in the future, to mingle more often, and we hope to have that honor."


    "Talk about it later?" Zhang Menglong heard this ambiguous phrase but looking into their eyes, it had clearly strayed from its original meaning.


    "This is forcing me to commit a crime!" Zhang Menglong had never encountered such a situation before, this wasn''t the circle of internet celebrities, this was practically a brothel!


    "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, when deeply practicing prajna-paramita, perceives that all five aggregates are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress, Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form, form is emptiness, and emptiness is form, feeling, thought, and choice, consciousness itself, is also like this..."


    Out of sight, out of mind, Zhang Menglong simply closed his eyes and started to chant.


    The two girls, who had already stripped halfway, glanced at each other, starting to doubt their own charm for the first time. Normally, such tactics were foolproof; just a little trickery and those photographers and trust-fund kids would be utterly enchanted by them.


    Zhang Menglong, truly an oddity!


    As a trust-fund kid who couldn''t even compare with Wang Ling, shouldn''t he have grown up surrounded by women? It would not have been surprising if someone like him had experiences at the age of eleven or twelve, right?


    But looking at Zhang Menglong''s behavior, it was definitely that of a person who had stayed solo for 20 years straight from birth. Could there really be such a modest and self-disciplined trust-fund kid in the world? That''s not scientific!


    "Wang Ling, this guy is totally unreliable, knowing that something like this might happen, he didn''t even stick around to arrange a few bodyguards for me!" Zhang Menglong vented his frustration on Wang Ling.


    Never mind guarding against women, but for safety''s sake, shouldn''t he have arranged a few people for him?


    "No way, Wang Ling is unreliable, from now on, I''ll have to ask Hong Yi to arrange some security guards for me!" Before, Zhang Menglong didn''t need bodyguards because not many knew him, but now that he''s become the cream of the crop among the rich second generation, considering his safety a little bit is definitely necessary.


    After all, Zhang Menglong did not wish to perish young over a few dollars.


    "President Zhang, if you''re not willing to cooperate with us, it''s going to be bad if someone finds out later!" Seeing Zhang Menglong remaining nonchalant, the two girls'' attitudes also began to shift subtly.


    "Are you threatening me?" Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became a bit colder.


    Not only is he being begged to sleep with them, but if he refuses, he still faces threats? What kind of world is this?


    "How could we dare to threaten President Zhang," Half Moon Forest said with a tea-like airiness, "We''re just afraid others might see and get the wrong idea, which could negatively impact your reputation. After all, you''re wealthy and powerful¡ªif you really wanted to do something to us, we wouldn''t have the means to resist."


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    The knocking sounded again, and Zhang Menglong leaped up from the sofa like a startled bird, "This is effing great, there isn''t another one, is there?"


    Peering through the peephole, Zhang Menglong took a brief look outside, and sure enough, another woman was there, extravagantly dressed to kill; with that face shape, it was another cookie-cutter internet celebrity.


    "This is almost like they''re lining up with love tickets," Zhang Menglong was utterly unconcerned about the threats from the two women, even if people knew, so what? If he, Zhang Menglong, wished for it, even a European royal princess would gladly bathe and lie in his bed, let alone two internet celebrities; he really didn''t need such low tactics.


    Even if it hit the trending searches, it was unlikely anyone would believe such groundless claims.


    Clearly, showing up in an investor''s room late at night, the intent was obvious to anyone with a brain, and people weren''t fools; at most, they would just watch the drama unfold and talk some trash.


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong world opened the door.


    "Come in and have a seat!" Zhang Menglong flung the door open and sat down on the sofa as if everything was natural and he had been through it countless times before.


    "What''s going on here?" The new internet celebrity who had just arrived had a whole story prepared, but she had not even begun to speak when Zhang Menglong''s reaction left her utterly baffled.


    "Looks like he really is a clueless rich kid!" The internet celebrity revealed a contemptuous smile, dealing with rich kids like him, they were all battle-hardened, knowing the easiest methods to use.


    "No! Another one!" Zhang Menglong nudged his chin.


    "Is someone already here?" The female internet celebrity showed a hint of surprise. No wonder Zhang Menglong seemed so nonchalant¡ªit turned out he had hidden beauty in his golden house.


    After a moment of surprise, she regained her composure. Of course, considering who Zhang Menglong was, even the world''s richest man would treat him with respect.


    Moreover, this time he was the investor for "Three-Body", to put it bluntly, he could completely have the final say on the movie''s casting if he wished. As long as someone was bold enough to offer themselves, many would probably try to find a way into his room tonight, so it wasn''t strange at all for there to be someone in there.


    But looking at Zhang Menglong''s demeanor, it didn''t seem like he wanted to pick one of them. Could it be that he was planning a group activity?


    Going for broke! If she could just get this opportunity, what did it matter if it was a group sport?" So many wanted this chance and didn''t get it. If it weren''t for everyone staying in this Wanda Hotel tonight, they probably wouldn''t have had the opportunity to come over.


    "Knock knock!" A moment later, there was another round of knocking.


    "Crap, enough to make up a mahjong table now!" Zhang Menglong opened the door again, "Twins? That''s some fun!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we..."


    "The younger sister has arrived?"


    ...


    "Knock knock knock..."


    "Yo, another one! A few more and we could play a murder mystery game."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Contestant number eight."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "We could even play Werewolf with a full table now..."


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Has my place become a hotspot for internet celebrities today?"


    ...


    "Knock knock knock!"


    "Crap! Why is there a guy too? Not into that... Damn... why is it you!"


    There were already a dozen people gathered in the room, and unexpectedly, standing at the door was Wang Ling when he opened it this time.


    "Sorry... sorry to disturb!" Wang Ling was startled by the spectacular scene. He might have gone a little over the top, but he had never experienced so many people at once¡ªif someone took a photo of this, it would be huge news!


    "Crap! Can your frame handle this many people?" Wang Ling exclaimed in astonishment. "Go on, I''ll find someone to stand guard for you. You actually like it this exciting?"


    "I..." Zhang Menglong was immediately at a loss for words, "they weren''t called by me... listen to me explain!"

 Chapter 108 106: Young People Dont Care About Martial Virtue

    "Do you think I believe you?" Wang Ling knew very well that Zhang Menglong was not that kind of person, but he still wanted to tease Zhang Menglong.


    Actually, there should be security outside the Presidential Suite in Wanda Hotel. Never mind those internet celebrities, under normal circumstances, even the cleaning staff and hotel service personnel can''t easily enter.


    Wang Ling had guessed that something like this would happen, so he deliberately withdrew the security. He wanted to see how Zhang Menglong would react when faced with this situation, as payback for the day his own fans were ruthlessly trolled by Zhang Menglong''s fans during the great Weibo battle.


    Of course, he did it all in a playful spirit, so he secretly arranged for people to monitor Zhang Menglong''s room to prevent any real trouble from happening.


    However, when someone told him Zhang Menglong''s room was nearly becoming a hotspot for internet celebrities to check in, he couldn''t help but rush over in a hurry. Based on his understanding of Zhang Menglong, Zhang Menglong''s moves were saucy, but after all, he was just a university student who hadn''t even graduated, and he might suffer at the hands of these wolf-like women.


    "I really didn''t do anything!" Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly, "Hurry up and get these women out of here, just looking at them gives me a headache!"


    "Are you sure?" Wang Ling asked with a smile, "This kind of group activity isn''t something you get a chance at every day, or should I arrange a couple more for you?"


    "Arrange your sister!" Zhang Menglong cursed, "You scoundrel, don''t think I don''t know. The security here has been pulled by you. You just wanted to watch the drama, right?"


    "You can eat shit randomly, but words cannot be spoken recklessly. Our Wanda Hotel''s security is well-trained. It''s just that there was a drill scheduled for today, so they temporarily left their posts for an hour. We didn''t expect the timing to be so tight."


    "Laugh! Keep laughing at me!" Zhang Menglong threatened, "Believe it or not, I''ll buy your Wanda tomorrow and then make you do security for me as a doorman?"


    "I was wrong, I was wrong!" The thing Wang Ling feared most was Zhang Menglong impulsively wanting to buy Wanda. Talking to such a person was simply torture.


    "Hurry up, I still have to play games with my future girlfriend in a bit!"


    "Alright, alright, I got it!" As a bona fide rich second generation, Wang Ling had naturally encountered such situations plenty of times.


    When he ran a live broadcast platform back in the day, he once held a female anchor talent competition. That night, his hotel room''s doorway was also bustling with people; dealing with such scenarios was a piece of cake for him.


    "What are you still doing here? Planning to stay and play a game of Werewolf?" Wang Ling''s gaze swept over these internet celebrities, leaving them feeling insecure.


    "Or do you think that little trick of yours can threaten us?" Wang Ling sneered, "I know which talent agency you all belong to. If you don''t leave now, I have many ways to get your agencies to terminate your contracts."


    "Hehehe, Young Master Wang, please don''t be mad. We were just playing a prank on President Zhang."


    "Yeah, we were just afraid that President Zhang would be bored tonight, so we sisters came together to keep him company and lighten his mood. How could we possibly threaten President Zhang? Isn''t that right, everyone?"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    "Since President Wang has business with President Zhang, we won''t bother you anymore."


    "Yes, yes, let''s go, let''s go!"


    These internet celebrities could earn a modest amount of money only because of the hype from their internet celebrity agencies, but after all, it was small fry compared to Wanda Film owned by Wang Ling; their companies were nothing.


    As for Zhang Menglong, what has been revealed is only Unicorn Technology, but just his relationship with the world''s wealthiest man is enough for nobody to believe that''s all he is capable of.


    They could only blame the fact that Zhang Menglong was too popular. Who would have thought that in just over half an hour, the Presidential Suite would have its doors knocked on by more than a dozen groups of people, almost breaking down Zhang Menglong''s threshold.


    Awkwardly smiling at Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong, they quickly scrambled out of the room, terrified that Wang Ling would trouble them. As for dreaming of becoming a phoenix? They didn''t even dare to think about it.


    "This is absurd!" Wang Ling said this tone not knowing whether it was out of envy or disdain.


    "Whew!" Once the internet celebrities had left, Zhang Menglong finally breathed a sigh of relief. "The internet celebrity circle really is nebulous and murky; I can''t understand why you would like internet celebrities, not afraid that it''s like a bus."


    "Psh, even if I were an internet celebrity, I would be a top-level one!" Wang Ling shamelessly declared, "Besides, I''m just playing around; it''s not like we''re getting married. You''re after my money, I''m after your body, isn''t it just that simple?"


    "Enough, enough! Don''t corrupt my values!" Zhang Menglong replied, "I am a focused man! Anyway, what do you want? You''re not here just to see me laughed at, right?"


    "I''ve got something else," Wang Ling said, "the actors and directors for the movie are almost settled. The next issue is the soundtrack. I''ve contacted someone from the Wangyi Group''s Wangyi Cloud Music Division. How about we have a midnight snack together later?"


    "Oh?" Upon hearing those two words, Zhang Menglong''s expression subtly changed. The starting point of inheriting his family''s fortune was when he had been ousted by the Wangyi Group.


    If it weren''t for his complaints that day, maybe his father would have thought he was rather content, and delayed revealing their family''s wealth for a few more years.


    Deep down, Zhang Menglong always harbored the idea of taking over the Wangyi Group. You treated me with indifference before, even pulling some underhanded tricks. In the future, I''ll make sure you can''t even reach me!


    With Wangyi''s market value approaching 60 billion US Dollars, if he managed to take over Wangyi, Zhang Menglong would have completed his task of spending 100 billion US Dollars.


    But Zhang Menglong never did things without reason. If he was to take over Wangyi, he needed a legitimate reason, right? Just like when he took over Weibo, or else everyone would definitely label him a profligate son.


    "Wait a second, if you, Principal Wang, are inviting someone for late-night snacks, that person must be no ordinary individual, right?"


    "Of course," Wang Ling said, "The current head of Wangyi Music is Ding Yuxi, the son of Wangyi Group''s chairman Ding Sanshi. Although he falls a bit short compared to me, he is not bad either."


    "He must not have an asshole, right?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What?"


    "Ding Sanshi has been insincere in making games and has been cursed for so many years. At least, for the fact that his son doesn''t have an asshole, I''ve cursed him probably three to five hundred times already."


    "Hahaha! How about we strip him naked later to check the goods?"


    "Eek! I hadn''t realized you were into that kind of thing!"


    "Enough chit-chat, he lives in the suite right below yours. Let''s go together."


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong was almost sober by now and hadn''t eaten much that evening, feeling quite hungry.


    The two of them walked along the corridor towards the VIP suites on the floor below. At that moment, a faint cry could be faintly heard along the corridor. If one did not listen carefully, it could easily be missed.


    "Shh!" Zhang Menglong stopped in his tracks, "Did you hear something?"


    "Sound?" Wang Ling also held his breath, and after a moment, both saw a hint of faint anger in each other''s eyes.


    It was clearly the kind of shout a girl would make when being violently coerced!


    "Damn it! Someone''s doing this in my hotel? I must see who''s got such a big nerve!"


    The two of them immediately quickened their pace, but the closer they got, the more Wang Ling felt something was amiss¡ªthe voice seemed to be coming from Ding Yuxi''s suite!


    "As expected, there''s something fishy!" Outside Ding Yuxi''s room, a young and an old man were cautiously watching their surroundings. Seeing the furiously approaching Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, they showed a fierce light in their eyes.


    "What''s the plan?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wang Ling.


    "If it can be settled with fists, then cut the crap!"


    "I was thinking the same!"


    The two immediately began to sprint violently, as calling the police and waiting for them in such a situation would be a fool''s errand!


    "Who are you? I am Ma Bao Guo, the Sect Leader of Hun Yuan Xing Yi Tai Chi. If you come any closer, don''t blame me for being rude!"


    "Don''t blame me, my ass!" Zhang Menglong kicked out, not caring at all who the person was.


    Although Zhang Menglong was not particularly tall, he had always been a sprinting champion since he was young. His jumping ability and explosive power were definitely much stronger than the average person, and this kick landed squarely on the face of the man claiming to be Ma Bao Guo.


    "Ah!"


    Zhang Menglong did not expect that this so-called Sect Leader of Hun Yuan Xing Yi Tai Chi would be so weak!


    "You..." Ma Bao Guo got up from the ground with a bloody nose, "You... the young men of today have no martial virtue!"

 Chapter 109 107 Creating Friends from Nothing

    ```


    "Damn! Isn''t this the guy from that Bilibili video?" As an experienced user of the Bilibili remix community, even though this old man''s face was swollen from the kick he had received, his human shape was still distinguishable.


    This man, named Ma Baoguo, had been bluffing abroad under the guise of Huaxia martial arts, taking money from some foreign students. Now he had returned to Huaxia and started something called the Hunyuan Xingyi Taiji School.


    Once, to prove himself, he had challenged an amateur Sanda athlete and got knocked out with a punch. Afterwards, while bleeding from the nose, he claimed he had just given the young man some face and that he would be in seclusion for a while. In the past few months, Bilibili had been running low on remix materials.


    Unexpectedly, he ended up here, seemingly turned into Ding Yuxi''s bodyguard?


    "Young man, we take money to avert disasters for others. I won''t hold it against you since you''re ignorant. I was caught off guard just now. If you don''t leave, I''ll have no choice but to unleash my Five Continuous Lightning Whips."


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you still standing there for? He''s just a damn fool of an old man, hurry up and help me!" Wang Ling was already scuffling with a young man nearby.


    "I''m on it!" Zhang Menglong leapt up with a kick, knocking the con artist to the ground, and suddenly, the three of them were entangled in a brawl.


    Don''t be fooled by Wang Ling''s slightly pudgy body; he used to practice karate. As for Zhang Menglong, he learned martial arts in the first grade of elementary school, took up taekwondo in the third grade, and in college, he became the president of the university''s jujitsu club. When it came to rough brawling, he really wasn''t afraid of anyone!


    Together, it didn''t take long for them to knock the young man to the floor.


    "Fighting me? You''re courting death!" Wang Ling was still furious and viciously kicked the two, one old and one young.


    But by this time, the shouting in the room had quieted down considerably.


    "Damn! Rescue first!"


    The room was locked from the inside, and Wanda Hotel''s security infrastructure was excellent. Under normal circumstances, a forced entry from outside would be very difficult.


    "Where''s security? Stop the damn drill and get back here, someone''s causing trouble in the hotel!" Wang Ling started to make calls in a panicked rush.


    This wasn''t just a matter of face anymore; if such a scandal got out, Wang Ling guessed he would inevitably be subject to another round of online condemnation.


    "There''s no time!" Zhang Menglong smashed the glass door of a nearby fire cabinet and grabbed the fire axe, "Move!"


    The two bodyguards, despite being in extreme pain, hurriedly rolled away from the door when they saw Zhang Menglong''s fierce approach.


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    Zhang Menglong swung the axe repeatedly against the door. His strength was immense, and soon he had distorted the door''s shape, "One, two, three, charge together!"


    "Boom!" Without a second thought, the two men charged at the already deformed door.


    "Bang!" The door flew off its hinges, rolling in the air before crashing loudly to the floor.


    "What the hell? Weren''t you supposed to be on watch outside?" A young man came out from another room, swearing. His shirt was off, and under the dim light, faint scratch marks could be seen on his body.


    "Wang... Wang Ling?" Upon seeing Wang Ling, the young man immediately showed a hint of panic, "I mean, wasn''t it agreed we''d go out for late-night snacks at 9:30? Why did you come so early?"


    "So this is Brother Menglong, right?" Ding Yuxi tried to smile awkwardly and extended his hand to Zhang Menglong.


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong slapped the hand away and barged into the room. Inside, a girl who looked about twenty was tear-stricken, wrapped in a bedsheet, with fragments of clothing scattered on the floor. It was obvious she was almost stripped bare.


    "Wuuu..." Upon seeing someone burst in, the girl immediately began crying pitifully.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s happened?" At that moment, a group of security guards rushed into the room, and Hong Yi somehow got the news and even led the way.


    Seeing it was another girl, the distressed girl immediately hugged Hong Yi, tears streaming down from her eyes unceasingly.


    ```


    "Boss!" Six security guards stood respectfully in front of Wang Ling.


    "What are you all good for? Such a thing happened in my hotel?" Wang Ling rebuked angrily.


    "Boss, didn''t you tell us to do a temporary drill today and not to hang around on these two floors?" one of the security guards said with a sense of grievance.


    Zhang Menglong glared fiercely at Wang Ling¡ªsure enough, it was this guy''s doing!


    "Shut up! Did I ask you to speak?"


    "Old Zhang, what should we do? Call the police?" Wang Ling asked.


    "Wang Ling, you..." As soon as Ding Yuxi heard about calling the police, she panicked immediately; these days, it wasn''t all about money, of course, if you were rich like Zhang Menglong, then it was a different story, but she, Ding Yuxi, was definitely not above the law.


    "Let''s not call the police for now!" Zhang Menglong said, "She''s a young girl; if we call the police, her reputation will be ruined."


    Although the girl looked quite miserable, the two of them had probably arrived just in time.


    Hearing they would not call the police, Ding Yuxi instantly relaxed; as long as there was no police, there was room for discussion.


    "Break the legs, all three of them!" Zhang Menglong said viciously.


    He had always despised men who forced themselves on women the most. Wang Ling, though he liked to play with Internet celebrities, they were all willing participants, a mere transaction of body for money.


    But this girl in front of them was clearly coerced.


    "What? Zhang Menglong, you are abusing private justice!"


    "Do you believe that even if I threw you into the Qiantang River today, I would still lead a fine life?"


    "Old Zhang, don''t be rash!" Wang Ling quickly grabbed Zhang Menglong, fearing he would do something impulsive.


    "Fine, you handle it!" Zhang Menglong stood aside, huffing with anger, "Let''s see how you handle it."


    "You explain!" Wang Ling said coldly.


    The Wangyi Group was indeed a large corporation, but it should be noted, Ding Sanshi, Ding Yuxi''s father, did not own much of a stake, while Wang Ling and his father nearly had complete ownership of the Wanda Group¡ªthe stronger and the weaker were clearly evident.


    "Old Wang, Brother Menglong, calm down, it''s just a woman!" Ding Yuxi, obviously a rich second generation with no real skills, suddenly tried to cozy up to them.


    "She''s just a little Internet singer. It''s not worth getting so angry over," Ding Yuxi glanced at the girl, who immediately shrank back, obviously traumatized.


    "Here''s the thing, one million as compensation for emotional distress, that should settle it, right?" Ding Yuxi put on his clothes, "Getting a million for doing nothing, you''re getting off cheap!"


    "Look at that!" Zhang Menglong immediately laughed; such a brazen person was a first for him, "One million? That''s not enough! You want to talk about compensation? Let''s see how much money the Wangyi Group has to pay up!"


    "You''re unlucky today. This is my brother''s girlfriend. To settle this matter, one million is definitely not enough!"


    "Your brother''s girlfriend?" Wang Ling was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly understood; Zhang Menglong was clearly trying to demand a hefty sum, playing the ''make friends out of thin air'' card!


    "Bullshit! If you can say this girl''s name, I''ll castrate myself right here and now!" Ding Yuxi cursed Zhang Menglong''s ancestors in his mind, but he didn''t dare say it out loud. For a stranger, was it really necessary to stick his neck out?


    But since he had been caught, he had no choice but to opt for a peaceful resolution.


    "There''s such a situation? Then I''m truly at fault!" Ding Yuxi put on a guilty face, "How about this, Brother Menglong, you name a figure, as an apology to your friend."


    "How about this, 50 billion, and I''ll pretend this incident never happened!"

 Chapter 110 108: Giving 10 million to a beggar, huh?

    "What? 50 billion? Why don''t you just go rob a bank!" Ding Yuxi was dumbstruck by the figure.


    Even the total assets of his father, Ding Sanshi, were only 16 billion US dollars, and even the entire Wangyi Group was valued at just 50 billion dollars.


    He had heard of compensation for emotional distress, but 50 billion for emotional distress? One must be out of their mind to even utter such a demand!


    "If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price," Zhang Menglong said with a cold sneer. "Aren''t you a grown man? Can''t you even understand that simple fact?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far. I address you respectfully as Brother Menglong, out of respect. Don''t think you can do whatever you please just because your family has some cash," Ding Yuxi''s tone grew harsh as Zhang Menglong showed no sign of giving face.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong was rich, but this matter had not yet reached a final conclusion. As a rich second generation lacking in business acumen, Ding Yuxi might not be sharp in business but boasted unmatched skills in womanizing.


    Their Wangyi Music was the collaborating party for all the soundtracks and theme music of the "Three-Body" movie, so they needed the right candidates for singing these songs.


    As for movie soundtracks, the requirements for the singer were not as high. They didn''t need a huge fan base; because audiences would see the movie and hear the music first, before they became concerned about who sang the songs.


    Especially for a film as topical and popular as "Three-Body," getting the chance to sing the theme and ending songs was an incredible opportunity for newcomers and lesser-known singers.


    Just like those internet celebrities who visited Zhang Menglong''s room tonight, countless female singers and influencers wanted this chance. And now, Ding Yuxi, in charge of Wangyi Music, held the final say in the decision-making.


    Ever since Wangyi Music announced their involvement in producing the theme, ending songs, and soundtracks, Ding Yuxi had been living a life of debauchery, even indulging in outrageous orgies.


    He had come here today following an invitation from Wang Ling, as the selection of musicians and casting of movie roles were being held over these few days.


    When it came to business, Ding Yuxi hadn''t invested much effort. After all, his company had top musicians, and such matters could be left in the hands of his subordinates. He was purely here for pleasure, to see if there were any suitable "prey."


    And this girl was one of the prey he had his eyes on!


    The girl''s name was Xia You, a student at the Music College in Jiangnan City. In fact, she had come to the auditions with a few of her roommates, just trying their luck like everyone else, knowing full well that Huaxia had no shortage of people who could sing.


    But looking at the street and subway buskers hinted at the harsh reality of this industry.


    To everyone''s surprise, Xia You''s pure and ethereal singing voice received unanimous praise from the musicians during the daytime auditions, her voice echoing like a sigh in the infinite void, intoxicating listeners, and she unexpectedly advanced to the second round.


    During this audition, Ding Yuxi was present. Xia You''s sweet appearance immediately caught his eye. Different from the vulgar and cheap online celebrities, this girl had the charm of the girl next door, which prompted Ding Yuxi to immediately entertain certain ideas.


    With the title of Head of the music production company, he had staff contact Xia You, claiming there would be a second audition in the evening.


    However, unbeknownst to her, the so-called employee was actually one of Ding Yuxi''s lackeys, who led Xia You directly into a hotel.


    At that moment, Xia You felt something was amiss. She wanted to leave quickly, but Ding Yuxi''s plan was meticulous. He even went as far as to summon a number of "actors" to his room, lining up to sing as if it was all legitimate.


    Seeing this scene, Xia You thought she might be paranoid. By the time she realized she was walking into a den of wolves, everyone else was gone, and only then did Ding Yuxi finally show his true colors.


    Of course, unfortunately, it took only a few minutes before Zhang Menglong and the others found out.


    "Do as you please? Seems like the one who relies on their wealth to do as they please is you, isn''t it?"


    "I really don''t know anything, this girl came to my room tonight and said as long as I give her this singing opportunity, she could do anything. In a situation where both parties are willing, you have no say in it, right?" Ding Yuxi shamelessly said.


    "You''re talking nonsense!" Xia You, who had just begun to recover, was immediately enraged by Ding Yuxi''s words.


    "How am I talking nonsense?" Ding Yuxi laughed, "If you don''t believe me, you can check the hotel''s surveillance. The girl came to my room on her own volition in the middle of the night. I haven''t tricked or deceived her in any way. You tell me, what else could a contestant visiting a producer''s room in the middle of the night want?"


    "You''re shameless!" Hearing Ding Yuxi''s words, Xia You felt even more aggrieved and promptly recounted everything that had happened to her.


    But stopping to think about it, Ding Yuxi''s arrangement was almost foolproof; all evidence showed that Xia You indeed came to Ding Yuxi''s room on her own!


    "This move is pretty slick!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but admire Ding Yuxi''s cunning. If he used his brains for business, what would his father, Ding Sanshi, have to worry about?


    "Young Master Wang, Young Master Zhang, this woman has nothing to do with you. Besides, nothing has even happened yet, so why do you insist on defending her?" Ding Yuxi acted as if he had nothing to fear.


    "I''ve said it, she is the girlfriend of my friend!" Zhang Menglong continued to scoff. He had no intention of letting this matter slide easily because for some reason, Xia You reminded him of Lu Yiyao. Perhaps girls who loved music all shared certain qualities.


    "So you''re intent on blowing this matter up?"


    "I''ll emphasize it once more, if you do something wrong, you must pay the price!"


    "At the end of the day, isn''t it all about money?" Ding Yuxi laughed, "How about this, I''ll take a loss here. 50 billion is out of the question, but with 10 million, let''s settle the matter like this!"


    Although it hurt a bit, seeing Zhang Menglong''s serious demeanor, Ding Yuxi didn''t want to clash with him to the end. After all, to date, those who had clashed with Zhang Menglong had never fared well.


    "Bargaining with me? 10 million? Do you think you are giving alms to a beggar?"


    "Why don''t you try and give 10 million in alms to a beggar?" Ding Yuxi was dumbfounded. Donating 10 million to a beggar, was this person crazy?


    "Hong Yi, the cheque!" Zhang Menglong said.


    Hong Yi took out a pen and a stack of cheques from her bag; she actually carried cheques with her at all times!


    Zhang Menglong took the pen and swiftly wrote a long string of zeros on the cheque¡ª7 figures, a full 10 million!


    "Sssla!" Zhang Menglong casually tore off the cheque and wrote another 10 million on the next one.


    Then came the third cheque, the fourth, a full 10 cheques in total!


    He stuffed the cheques into Wang Ling''s hands and said, "Wang Ling, help me find ten beggars, one cheque each!"

 Chapter 111 109: Im Really Sincere, Okay?

    "I... holy shit!" Wang Ling carefully examined the check, ensuring that it was genuine and could be cashed at the bank. He couldn''t help but blurt out a curse.


    Damn, people only talked about 10 million, and you just whipped out a billion to give to a beggar, can we still play happily together?


    If Ding Yuxi weren''t right there, Wang Ling even thought about turning into a beggar himself¡ªthis was a billion we''re talking about!


    "Where am I supposed to find a beggar at this hour of the night?" Wang Ling''s face was filled with bitterness, being friends with someone like Zhang Menglong who casually throws money around really tests one''s mental endurance.


    "That''s true!" Jiangnan City now is in no way inferior to first-tier cities in terms of development momentum; probably for the sake of the city''s aesthetic, you can hardly find any beggars or homeless people anymore.


    Zhang Menglong vaguely remembered that the last time he saw a homeless person or a beggar was about three to five years ago.


    "Wait, who says there are no beggars?" Zhang Menglong had an idea, "It''s just that the beggars nowadays have kept up with the times, and the old way of begging has long been eliminated!"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, opened a live streaming app, and casually clicked on a live stream of a spirited young guy.


    "Brothers, double tap 666, and I''ll show you some more fancy moves!"


    "Let the gifts flow!"


    This is such a mind pollutant!" Wang Ling showed a face of disgust, "I''m just a local mutt, don''t show me such trendy stuff, please!"


    "Hahaha, you see, aren''t all the beggars here now?" Zhang Menglong tried hard to suppress his nausea and spoke, and with several hundred thousand viewers in such a live stream, who knows if we should help contact a mental hospital for them.


    Zhang Menglong logged into his account and started putting money into it, "What kind of crappy streaming platform is this, it only allows a top-up of one million?"


    Zhang Menglong clicked away, finally managing to top up 10 million.


    "So crappy, Hong Yi, help me file a complaint later."


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the reason for the complaint?"


    "The top-up limit is too low, it can hurt the customers'' fingers!"


    "I give you a hundred points for that reason!" Wang Ling immediately gave a thumbs up.


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang. I will arrange for someone to handle it immediately!"


    Zhang Menglong returned to the live stream and started furiously tapping on the screen.


    "Holy shit! A tycoon has appeared!"


    "1000 Galactic Battleships! One costs ten thousand Huaxia coins each! Who is so rich?"


    "Damn, it couldn''t be a plant, could it?"


    "What''s this ID? I don''t remember this platform having such a big boss!"


    "Fuck! Just by shaking hands all night, one can earn so much? I''m going to sign up for a class to learn it tomorrow!"


    ...


    "Thanks for the Galactic Battleships, boss! May your career soar to new heights every day and may you be a groom every day!"


    The recently frenzied young guy was laughing so hard, he was almost drooling.


    "My mind is blown!" Wang Ling was dumbfounded, 10 million just poked out with a tap of a finger?


    "That was rash!" Back in the day, Wang Ling''s Panda Live was also very successful, but it eventually shut down. If he had known Zhang Menglong back then, he could have supported the entire platform by himself!


    "All right!" Zhang Menglong lifted his phone to Ding Yuxi''s face, "10 million enough? If not, should I find a couple more?"


    "Come here for a sec!" Zhang Menglong waved at a security guard.


    "His command is my command!" Wang Ling told the somewhat hesitant security guard.


    "Mr. Zhang, what can I do for you?"


    "My fingers are sore, you continue sending for me!" Zhang Menglong casually stuffed a check into the security guard''s hand, "You guys do it together, consider it your salary!"


    "Get lost!" Wang Ling kicked the security guard away, then took Zhang Menglong''s phone with a big smile plastered on his face, "Boss Zhang, your phone is too precious, how can you let them touch it! I''ll help you, money or no money, it doesn''t matter, we are friends, I''m happy to help with this little thing!"


    "Since we''re friends, let''s not talk about money!" Zhang Menglong, in front of Wang Ling, tore the 10 million check into shreds!


    Wang Ling''s face turned ashen. He knew that Zhang Menglong was definitely doing this because he had withdrawn the security from outside the presidential suite to spite him!


    "Take it, take it, give him some, use up all his money for me!" Wang Ling directly tossed Zhang Menglong''s phone over.


    "Don''t worry, even if they keep tapping for a lifetime, it''s just a drop in the bucket," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What the hell..." Watching the "Galactic Battleship" continuously appear in the live stream, Ding Yuxi''s mouth couldn''t close.


    "It should be around 50 or 60 million now," Zhang Menglong continued to Ding Yuxi, "So tell me, 10 million Huaxia yuan, is there much difference from tipping a beggar?"


    "This..." In that instant, Ding Yuxi was actually at a loss for words.


    Is 10 million a lot? Of course, it''s a lot! Lots of people work their entire lives and can''t earn 10 million, but in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, this 10 million seemed indeed no different from a single dollar, and he could casually reward these online beggars with it.


    "Zhang Menglong, 10 million is already quite a lot, don''t be too greedy!" Ding Yuxi said, "All I did was strip off her clothes, I didn''t do anything else!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You guys, strip off his clothes for me!"


    "Boss... this..."


    "Do as he says!" Wang Ling revealed a sleazy smile, he probably guessed what Zhang Menglong was going to do, "I''ll take the fall if anything happens!"


    "What are you trying to do?" Seeing several imposing men, Ding Yuxi immediately panicked. A man who spent his days indulging in luxury and debauchery, what good physical condition could he have? One security guard could easily knock him down, let alone several here.


    "Hiss!" The sound of tearing accompanied by Ding Yuxi''s screams echoed through the hallway.


    "What''s that noise?" An actor who had just returned to his room inexplicably looked up, "Is someone watching King Billy on B Station?"


    Not long after, Ding Yuxi''s valuable shirt was almost torn to shreds. If not for finding it disgusting, Zhang Menglong really wanted to verify whether this guy had any dignity left, his father didn''t act human, and this son was even more outrageous!


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m not done with you!"


    "Don''t be angry," Zhang Menglong smirked, "I just stripped off your clothes as well, and I didn''t do anything else, 10 million, right? Here you go!"


    Zhang Menglong walked up to Ding Yuxi and slapped a 10 million check onto his forehead.


    "Oh, by the way, do you have any sisters or something? I have a few more checks here. Don''t worry, I''ll only strip off their clothes and won''t do anything else, or perhaps, I could add more money!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!" Ding Yuxi was finally enraged, but pinned down by several guards, he could only let out a powerless roar, unable to do anything.


    "Is that so? Too far, you say?" Zhang Menglong innocently responded, "I merely replicated your actions, and I even raised the price, isn''t that good enough?"


    "This guy is too ruthless!" Wang Ling had always thought Zhang Menglong was just a student, but when faced with this situation, not only were his methods harsh, his tactics were slick. However, he liked it!

 Chapter 112 110: Not even giving alms to beggars

    "Mr. Zhang, let''s just leave the matter at this," suddenly, the girl named Xia You spoke up.


    "No, I haven''t secured justice for you yet."


    "Mr. Zhang, I really appreciate that you and Principal Wang saved me and are speaking up for me here, but I don''t want to stay here any longer. I feel sick just looking at him!" Xia You not only felt aggrieved, but her heart was filled with even greater hatred.


    Perhaps there were many other sisters with similar experiences before her, but they weren''t as lucky as herself; they either succumbed to Ding Yuxi''s intimidation or were eventually dismissed with a sum of money.


    At this moment, all she wanted was to escape from this place as quickly as possible, and she was also afraid the bigger the fuss, the more likely others would learn about it. Even if she was still innocent now, she feared that no matter how much she tried to explain, she wouldn''t be able to clear her name.


    "So be it, I don''t want to stay here any longer either, polluting my eyes," Zhang Menglong knew that even if he continued to deal with the issue here, it wouldn''t benefit the girl named Xia You at all, and might even force her to relive the process of being assaulted by Ding Yuxi.


    "This matter won''t end just like this," Zhang Menglong said to Ding Yuxi, "I said it, 50 billion in emotional damages, not a penny less. When I, Zhang Menglong, say something, I do it!"


    ...


    Watching Zhang Menglong and the others leave, Ding Yuxi''s face turned shades of green and purple, but his expression was still defiant; he didn''t believe Zhang Menglong could really do anything to him.


    "Worthless, get up!" Ding Yuxi kicked each of the two bodyguards who were still feigning death at the door, "What''s the use of your ''Complete Form Intent Tai Chi''? Worthless! Where''s your Five Continuous Lightning Whips? I paid you so that you couldn''t handle two rich kids?"


    "Boss Ding, youngsters nowadays don''t care about martial ethics. I wasn''t prepared and didn''t have time to dodge; it was my oversight. If I had been ready, just one whip would have been enough to keep them down," the bruised Ma Baoguo said.


    "Get out!" Ding Yuxi gave another kick to Ma Baoguo''s buttocks.


    ...


    "Your name is Xia You?"


    "I''m sorry for causing you trouble," said Xia You. As a student from Jiangnan City, she naturally had heard of Zhang Menglong. She just didn''t expect that he was completely different from the rich kids she had in mind, at least not giving off the greasy vibe that Wang Ling did. Beside him, as long as he didn''t bring up money, he didn''t make people feel oppressed.


    "No problem, whether you''re an actor or a musician, since you''re involved with this movie, you''re all part of the film''s production team''s focus. Having this happen on my watch is also my responsibility," Zhang Menglong said. If it hadn''t been for them passing by today, Ding Yuxi would probably have succeeded.


    "I was too naive."


    "It''s not your fault, that guy''s tactics were really sleazy!" Wang Ling said, "Gathering a bunch of actors in his room pretending to be musicians, he really thought of everything, and he spared no expense."


    "Do you enjoy singing?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes," Xia You nodded.


    "Do you have any works?"


    Xia You shyly took out her phone, "This is a song I recorded while practicing..."


    Upon hearing Xia You''s singing, both Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling''s eyes flashed with amazement. If Lu Yiyao''s voice was the epitome of sweetness, then Xia You''s voice was the epitome of ethereal beauty.


    "Old Zhang, I think she''s perfect for singing the insert song for ''Three-Body''!" Wang Ling exclaimed.


    "I agree!" ''Three-Body'' was a very heavy science fiction film, and Lu Yiyao''s voice was too sweet for such a theme. Otherwise, Zhang Menglong would have definitely given this opportunity to Lu Yiyao.


    Naturally, Lu Yiyao herself didn''t want to rely on Zhang Menglong for resources, and Xia You was a very suitable candidate.


    "Since that''s the case, you''ll sing the song for this film," said Zhang Menglong, deciding on the spot.


    "Old Zhang, it''s not that easy. We need a professional arrangement and lyricist, and for these resources, Wangyi Music is definitely top-notch in the industry," Wang Ling mentioned.


    "Haven''t I said? This will not be settled without 50 billion. And the market value of Wangyi Music, it''s around 70 to 80 billion US dollars, right?"


    ```


    "You''re too harsh, aren''t you? Directly going after Wangyi Group now?"


    "Hehe, I''ve got a score to settle with Wangyi, and I just couldn''t find a good reason to take them down. Now that I have the chance, I can''t let it slip by," Zhang Menglong said with a cold laugh.


    "What? Did Ding Sanshi offend you?"


    "He''s been bothering me since we were kids. Back when I played ''Dream Journey to the West,'' I never got all five treasures in any event. Every time I dug for treasure, I ended up with nothing. Tell me, has he bothered me or not?"


    "Just for that?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "With your wealth, I reckon you could easily buy the game outright, right?"


    "It''s not just that," Zhang Menglong continued, "A few months ago, when I was job hunting, I was about to get an offer from Wangyi, but someone with connections squeezed me out. Tell me, wouldn''t that piss you off?"


    "You, President Zhang, still need to look for a job?" Wang Ling felt like he had just heard the biggest joke of his life. Which company could contain a legend like you? If things don''t go smoothly, you could acquire the whole company in a minute!


    But Wang Ling hadn''t really thought about it, that Zhang Menglong and Wangyi Group had such a history.


    "If they don''t cough up that 500 billion in compensation, I''ll just acquire the whole of Wangyi!"


    "It''s their bad luck that they messed with you," Wang Ling now started to mourn for Ding Sanshi, hoping he''d be wise enough not to meddle in his son''s affairs, otherwise, he''s done for!


    Hearing Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling''s conversation, Xia You at the side was already bewildered. Talking about acquiring Wangyi so casually, mentioning hundreds of billions like it''s nothing¡ªthis was completely out of her league!


    "Give me an account number, and as soon as their money is in, I''ll transfer it to you!"


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling, who had just taken a sip of water, suddenly sprayed it out. He thought Zhang Menglong wanted those 500 billion just to force Wangyi to hand over the shares for Wangyi Music. He figured Xia You was just being used, and a few million would make her happy as can be.


    But he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to casually decide to give someone 500 billion!


    "You''re not joking, are you?" Wang Ling suddenly felt that if he had been the one nearly violated by Ding Yuxi tonight, it might not have been too bad.


    "Did I ever say I was keeping those 500 billion for myself? I am the envoy of justice!" Zhang Menglong declared righteously.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to waste your energy on me, I''m all right. Let''s just let it be," Xia You hurriedly said¡ª500 billion was a figure she dared not even envisage!


    "This is what you deserve!" insisted Zhang Menglong, "Anyway, I''m going to get you justice, no matter what!"


    "And Hong Yi, acquire that live streaming platform we just looked at!"


    "Certainly, Young Master."


    "Hold on, what did they do to you? Why do you want to acquire their platform?" Wang Ling''s head was filled with question marks.


    "If I remember correctly, these streamer tips are settled by cycle, right?"


    "It''s usually monthly in this industry."


    "That''s good!" Zhang Menglong said, "So the tip I just gave should still be in the platform''s accounts."


    "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    "Nothing much, just pity for that money, that''s all."


    "Whoa, that''s quite a unique idea!" For the first time, Wang Ling heard such an audacious concept¡ªto acquire a live streaming platform worth billions just for tips amounting to tens of millions. It seemed like a total loss no matter how you looked at it!


    "I just don''t want to waste the money on those pointless live streams," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''d rather give the money to a beggar than to them. Later, I''ll just say that the client''s naughty kid made a mistake, and all those tips should be refunded."


    "Hahaha! Nobody plays it like you do!" Wang Ling laughed, imagining how happy that streamer was just a moment ago, and soon, they would probably learn what cruelty really means.


    ```

 Chapter 113 111: Swallow the Wangyi Building

    Originally, they were just going out for a late-night snack, but since they were already outside, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling decided to hit up a skewer restaurant, of course, bringing Xia You along.


    "You know, occasionally eating what common folks eat, it really brings back memories!"


    "You make it sound like you don''t eat what regular people eat every day. It''s nothing more than chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables; what else could it be?" Wang Ling treated Zhang Menglong''s remark as if he were just expounding some sentiments.


    "That''s where you''re wrong," Zhang Menglong said, "The porridge I drink every morning is made from Kobe beef flown in from the Island Country, the fish I eat are farmed privately in Australia, and fed Kobe beef, and the vegetables I eat are grown on our family''s contracted farm..."


    "Enough, enough, I don''t want to hear it," Wang Ling hurriedly blocked her ears; Zhang Menglong''s flaunting of wealth, which always seemed to slip out casually, made her resentment grow twofold.


    "Thank you both for helping me out today. This drink, I dedicate to you, bros!" Xia You had changed into fresh clothes, and although a bit frail, she looked much better.


    "Don''t be so polite. You called me ''bro,'' so of course, I''d help!" Wang Ling said cheerfully.


    "Right, you are now our dedicated musician. Anyone who wants to mess with you has to go through us first," Zhang Menglong said. "I am quite superstitious, and facing today''s incident, I had to step in. Plus, you overheard earlier; I''ve been wanting to deal with Wangyi Group for a while now, and this just gave me an excuse!"


    "Pfft!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s sly smile, Xia You burst out laughing. She knew Zhang Menglong was just saying this to keep her from feeling burdened.


    "I''m like you; I''m also a senior this year. I''ve seen your profile¡ªyou''re a few months younger than me. I''ll thick-skinnedly accept the title of ''Big Brother Zhang.'' Next time, I''ll introduce my roommate to you, who knows, maybe one day you really will become my friend''s girlfriend!"


    Xia You''s face turned red instantly. Zhang Menglong''s jokes were really too much, one after another.


    "Big Brother Zhang, let''s just let this matter rest here. Wangyi is not some small company. I heard that Mr. Ding has recently increased his shareholding a lot, owning 70% of the company shares between him and his son. I''m worried it might affect you."


    "Don''t worry, even ten Wangyi Groups couldn''t pluck a single hair from this young man!" Wang Ling said, her words muffled as she ate.


    "Since you call me ''Big Brother,'' I must seek justice for you. You have to know, a cancer like Ding Yuxi, if not disciplined, will only harm more girls in society."


    "Don''t worry, I know what you''re concerned about," Zhang Menglong immediately saw through Xia You''s worries, "Wang Ling will help you delete the hotel''s video footage. If Ding Yuxi secretly took any videos that could damage your reputation, I''ll take care of them. Apart from us, no one else will know about today''s events."


    "Then... I''ll listen to you." It wouldn''t be true if she said she didn''t want to see Ding Yuxi receive his due punishment. She simply didn''t have the means to protect herself. Now that Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were willing to seek justice for her, she was naturally grateful.


    ...


    "What? You messed with that kid?" In the Wangyi Group''s office building, Ding Sanshi was enjoying the business empire he had built over the years when he received a call from Ding Yuxi.


    After Zhang Menglong and the others left, the more Ding Yuxi thought about it, the more something seemed off. Zhang Menglong''s words "This isn''t over" felt like a thorn in his throat. After much hesitation, he finally called his father, Ding Sanshi.


    "How many times have I told you? It''s okay to mess around with women, but you mustn''t overstep. Do you think you''re the king?"


    "Dad, I just couldn''t hold back this one time. I know I was wrong."


    "You know nothing!" Ding Sanshi was tired of covering up for Ding Yuxi time and again. In the past, people would let it slide because of his face, but Zhang Menglong was not just anyone. He defied heaven and earth, and even Wang Ling wasn''t as tough as him.


    All those in the internet sector had their circle, and when a character like Zhang Menglong appeared, everyone began seeking information about him.


    He had once asked Ma Hua and Li Hong why they had immediately backed down after a provocation from Zhang Menglong.


    Ma Hua and Li Hong didn''t give a direct response; they just told Ding Sanshi never to provoke this young man unless he was willing to see his business empire crumble.


    If someone else had told Ding Sanshi this, he would have taken it as a joke, but coming from the mouths of these two industry magnates, it was worth deep consideration, definitely not an unfounded rumor.


    Fortunately, he didn''t have much interaction with Zhang Menglong; even if he was formidable, their paths rarely crossed, so he shouldn''t unexpectedly come after me, right?


    But what he didn''t know was that this grudge had been buried a long time ago, and his son had directly triggered this hidden landmine.


    "Dad, is this guy really that powerful? I heard even Mr. Poladi, the world''s richest man, treats him with great respect."


    "You know about this and you still dared to provoke him?" Ding Sanshi wished he could slap Ding Yuxi to death; he should have just shot him on the wall back then to avoid all these troubles.


    "I didn''t want to, but as soon as he spoke, he demanded 50 billion in emotional damages from me. Isn''t he just looking for trouble?"


    "50 billion? Why doesn''t he go rob someone?" Hearing about Zhang Menglong''s audacious demand, Ding Sanshi couldn''t help but sneer.


    "He also said 10 million was just for throwing at beggars. Right in front of me, in a live stream, he tipped tens of millions." The image still somewhat dazed Ding Yuxi.


    "Hmph, it seems he''s just a wasteful spender," said Ding Sanshi, "I wonder who his elders are, I''ve never heard that there''s a wealthy Zhang family in Huaxia with such immense power."


    "Dad, what should I do?"


    "Leave this matter to me. Starting today, you''re to reflect at home for a month, and don''t stir up any more trouble!"


    ...


    The next day, Zhang Menglong was still with Wang Ling at the audition site watching the selection of actors who had minor roles; not complete nobodies, but even these characters created scenes that looked like titans clashing.


    "Keep watching, I''ll take a call!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his phone, which showed an unfamiliar number.


    "Hello, who is this?"


    "Is this Mr. Zhang Menglong? Hello, this is Ding Sanshi?"


    "Holy shit! It''s you?" Before Zhang Menglong had figured out how to deal with Ding Yuxi making him cringe, his father, Ding Sanshi, had come knocking at his door.


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong was startled but quickly regained his composure.


    "Mr. Zhang, there might be some misunderstanding regarding my son''s issue. I was wondering if it''s not too inconvenient to meet the young lady who was hurt yesterday, so I can apologize on behalf of my son."


    "If you want to apologize, come yourself. Sending someone else shows no sincerity at all. Forget it!" Zhang Menglong answered irritably.


    Ding Sanshi''s face turned crimson with anger. He was the chairman of a listed company, personally apologizing to an ordinary young girl, and this was called lacking sincerity?


    "Then Mr. Zhang, what do you think constitutes sufficient sincerity?" Ding Sanshi asked, "I''m willing to offer a billion to get the girl''s forgiveness."


    "A billion? Why do you and your son think money can solve everything?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Alright, since you want to settle with money, it can be done, but as I said yesterday, 50 billion, not a penny less, or else this won''t be over!"


    "50 billion? Do you think you''re dealing with the Bank of Heaven and Earth? If you can produce that money, I''ll eat my Wangyi Building!"


    "Producing 50 billion in cash all at once, I believe no one in Huaxia could accomplish that."


    "Oh, okay," said Zhang Menglong calmly, "Well, I have never seen someone eat a building before. How about I come up with a few more 50 billions, and you build a couple more to eat for me to watch? How does that sound?"

 Chapter 114 112: Start with a Small Goal

    Actually, right after saying that sentence, Ding Sanshi was already regretting it. Not long ago, when the world''s richest man came to Huaxia, he had promised in front of the press that if Zhang Menglong ever needed it, all his assets could be Zhang Menglong''s within minutes.


    Poladi''s personal assets amounted to 180 billion US dollars, and if he said he could produce 50 billion Huaxia currency in cash, Ding Sanshi would certainly believe it.


    Not only that, he also remembered Zhang Menglong saying, "Keep the change for your own expenses." Since when did 180 billion US dollars become mere pocket change? So much so that now the term "change" had become an internet meme.


    Of course, some said this was just commercial hype. One man overturning the world''s economy? Was that possible? If Zhang Menglong really had such a powerful grandfather, why wasn''t he recorded in the annals of history? Why did he remain unknown?


    Moreover, after that, Poladi''s company and Zhang Menglong''s Unicorn Technology stocks had skyrocketed, and Poladi''s personal assets were now nearly close to 200 billion US dollars, which made people suspect all the more that everything was just a scripted drama.


    However, judging by the attitudes of Ma Hua and Li Hong, Ding Sanshi believed that this matter must have a certain degree of credibility. Perhaps for Zhang Menglong, it was indeed possible to produce 50 billion in cash!


    "Ding!" While Ding Sanshi was still berating himself for the words he had just blurted out, his phone received a text message from Zhang Menglong, and it was even a multimedia message.


    It was a screenshot of an account from Longxia Bank, the largest bank in Huaxia, showing deposits of 500 billion Huaxia currency, 200 billion US dollars, 50 billion Euros, 70 billion British pounds...


    "Ding!"


    Another multimedia message.


    Ding Sanshi, in a flurry, clicked to open it. This time it was a savings screenshot from Huagong Bank.


    "400 billion Huaxia currency, 250 billion US dollars, 120 billion Euros..."


    "Mr. Ding Sanshi, would you like to see some other accounts?" said Zhang Menglong. "How about I show you a couple of foreign bank accounts?"


    "No... no need... I..." Ding Sanshi''s mindset was already shaken. Although he couldn''t determine whether the account information was real or fabricated, if it was real, then Zhang Menglong was indeed a monster!


    One must know, the largest bank in Huaxia had assets of about 4 trillion US dollars, and just one of Zhang Menglong''s accounts probably had assets over a trillion US dollars! That was just one of them!


    What the hell was he still doing storing money in banks? He could simply start his own bank. Wouldn''t that be even better?


    But before Ding Sanshi could come to his senses, it was another foreign bank account. Although he couldn''t recognize the language of the text in the image, the numbers were another 800 billion!


    What was this 800 billion? US dollars? British pounds? Euros? But Ding Sanshi was sure it wasn''t in Thai Baht.


    He had just said that if Zhang Menglong could produce 50 billion Huaxia currency, he''d take down the Wangyi Building on the spot. Now not only had he produced it, but it was a thousand times, a hundred thousand times that 50 billion!


    "You just said you wanted to devour Wangyi Building, right? I won''t make it difficult for you. Just eating one building is enough. When the time comes, you stream it live, and I''ll definitely send you rockets and sports cars, and also give you a full channel traffic boost, letting the whole world witness the magnificent feat!"


    "Who plays like that?" Ding Sanshi suddenly felt like crying without tears; how could he have known that Zhang Menglong really could produce 500 billion? And not just one 500 billion.


    Suddenly, Ding Sanshi thought of a terrifying possibility. If Zhang Menglong''s accounts were all real, then what Poladi had said that day might all be true. Zhang Menglong truly did have a family with sky-high financial power!


    He could ignore 180 billion US dollars, even calling it mere change, and the wealth now displayed might really just be pocket change!


    "Ding Yuxi, what kind of monster have you provoked?" Ding Sanshi now felt like grabbing an axe and splitting open his own foolish son.


    "Mr. Ding, how about we schedule a meeting?" Zhang Menglong laughed, wanting to disgust Ding Sanshi even more.


    The game operations were shady enough, but to think they would raise such a despicable son, and now they want to use money to make me give up on pursuing Ding Yuxi''s responsibility? Sorry, Zhang Menglong doesn''t play that game!


    "Who knows if those accounts of yours are even real?" Ding Sanshi defiantly said, "Zhang Menglong, right now we''re discussing my son''s issue, don''t change the subject!"


    "Psh! Deceiving and freeloading while still acting all righteous," Zhang Menglong sneered, "You''re just like Elder Lu. He doesn''t even know how much shit he owes people in his live streams. Okay, we''ll keep this matter in mind for now and talk about it later. Let''s focus on your son''s issue first."


    Ding Sanshi forced a smile. Even talking about it later, he wouldn''t possibly be able to devour the Wangyi Building.


    "Come on, Ding Sanshi, don''t think your son''s actions are flawless. Although there''s no video or audio recorded, as long as someone else knows about this, I can definitely find evidence.


    Zhang Menglong continued, "I remember that night Ding Yuxi did send someone over. If you can make that person disappear from the face of the earth, go ahead. Otherwise, I''ll spend money to hit him, one billion, not enough then ten billion, ten billion not enough then one hundred billion. I believe he would quite like to betray his master for riches."


    "You..." Ding Sanshi was seeing this tactic for the first time. With great rewards come courageous men, he knew. His son had arranged for quite a few people that night, maybe someone even secretly kept some evidence. If Zhang Menglong started throwing money like this, there could well emerge some damning evidence of his son''s wrongdoing.


    "Of course, you can just send your son to jail directly. That way, he''ll receive the punishment he deserves, and there''ll be nothing left to pursue."


    "Zhang Menglong, throw out a number, how much money do you want?" Ding Sanshi only had this one son, how could he possibly allow Ding Yuxi to go to jail? Moreover, he was running out of patience to continue the discussion.


    "I said, 50 billion, even a dime less, and this matter isn''t over!"


    "That''s impossible!" All this talk of 50 billion, Ding Sanshi hardly knew how to have a normal conversation with Zhang Menglong anymore.


    "Then I''ll give you another choice. I remember the market value of your Wangyi Music is around 50 billion Huaxia Yuan, right? Hand over all shares of Wangyi Music as compensation to that girl named Xia You, and I won''t pursue this matter any further."


    "Oh, and another condition¡ªfire the person in charge of Dream Journey to the West! Back when I participated in all those events, I finally got a high-level treasure map, only to dig up a high-level fire absorption. It was so frustrating I couldn''t sleep for days!"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Ding Sanshi finally snapped, "And how is this condition any different from your earlier one?"


    "No difference!" Zhang Menglong replied, "Oh, right, since you just insulted me, now if you want my forgiveness, that''ll be 50 billion, too. Now it''s 100 billion! Maybe you should sell Wangyi Music and scrape together that money."


    "Damn it!" Ding Sanshi instantly hung up the phone. Continuing the conversation with Zhang Menglong might just kill him from frustration.


    "Psh, such a temper. He''ll be begging me eventually!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care.


    "What''s going on? Whose call was it?"


    "Oh, it was Ding Sanshi''s, wanted to use one billion to get Xia You''s forgiveness."


    "Did you agree?"


    "No, I said it won''t be resolved with less than 50 billion."


    "Hahaha, that''s harsh!" Wang Ling loved kicking someone when they were down, "He surely didn''t agree, did he? What''s your plan? Keep being a thug?"


    "What do you mean being a thug? I am a civilized person, and a civilized person should solve problems in civilized ways!"


    "What do you plan to do?"


    "Firstly, set a small goal, bring down Wangyi Music!"

 Chapter 115 113: Monopolizing Music Copyrights

    "Little goal..." Wang Ling''s mouth twitched.


    This phrase was indeed Wang Ling''s father''s famous saying, but even for Wang Ling''s dad, the "little goal" was only a billion, whereas the market value of Wangyi Music was seventy to eighty billion, a five hundred times difference!


    "What''s your plan?" Wang Ling asked, "Even though Wangyi Music is a listed group, all the shares are held by Ding Sanshi, Ding Yuxi, and Ding Sanshi''s wife; it''s almost like their family business. No matter how rich you are, if they don''t sell, you can''t possibly acquire it, right?"


    "No, no, no, you still don''t understand my purpose," Zhang Menglong explained, "I said I want to acquire Wangyi Music, not because I actually want to buy it, but because I want to bring it down. I want them to know how easy it is for me to crush the entire Wangyi Group and then make them willingly offer it as an apology!"


    "You''re quite scheming, but I like it!" Wang Ling felt he was at the forefront of ''eating melons''. This time, he was going to be the first in line to ''eat melons.'' "Tsk tsk tsk, how thrilling. Even Ma Hua''s Tengxun Music couldn''t manage to bring down Wangyi Music."


    "He couldn''t do it because he''s too poor!" Zhang Menglong declared.


    "Holy shit! Ma Hua, poor?" That statement shattered half of Wang Ling''s worldview¡ªif Ma Hua is considered poor, then probably only Zhang Menglong could be considered rich in the world.


    But on second thought, they hadn''t succeeded simply because the cost of copyrights was just too high.


    It wasn''t that Tengxun and Wangyi couldn''t afford that much money; they had to consider the ratio of investment to returns. Even if they secured the copyrights and defeated their rivals, the small fees from VIP subscriptions, data charges, and advertisement fees simply couldn''t cover those costs.


    But Zhang Menglong was different; he completely didn''t care about making money. He was all about having fun. As long as he was pleased, even if he was losing money every day, he''d probably still be happy since, to him, a few hundred billion US dollars were just petty cash.


    "The competition among music platforms is essentially a competition of copyrights," Zhang Menglong remarked, "Look at those few music platforms that are still alive; they''ve gotten exclusive rights to the most popular singers. As long as the fans are willing to pay, those platforms stay unshakable, whether it''s Tengxun or Wangyi¡ªthey''ve obtained some singers'' copyrights"


    "What do you plan to do?"


    "Think about it. What if there was a platform that had all the copyrights of all the singers, and it was totally free? How many people would want to use it?"


    "Damn, are you planning to monopolize the copyrights?" Wang Ling seemed to catch Zhang Menglong''s drift.


    "How can you call it a monopoly!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "As long as those singers don''t grant the copyright to others, what does it have to do with me? I don''t know if the Monopoly Law covers this, but you can eat shit randomly, but you can''t talk nonsense!"


    "That''s shameless!" This whole business of song copyrights was indeed too subjective; as long as the money was right and those singers didn''t hand the copyrights to someone else, even if Zhang Menglong was essentially monopolizing, no one could really fault him for it.


    "By the way, Wang Ling, don''t you own a music media company?"


    "Musical Forest Media, just a small venture," Wang Ling responded, "We''ve just signed some Internet singers, nothing too grand."


    "Do you guys have your own app product? Like Tengxun Music or Wangyi Music''s music platform software."


    "Yes."


    "Sell the whole company to me," Zhang Menglong said, "however much you''ve spent, I''ll double it!"


    "You are at it again!" Wang Ling knew that about one or two billion US dollars had been invested in Music Forest, but it had yet to turn a profit. Based on the current situation, it might take another year or two to start making money. If Zhang Menglong was willing to buy it, he could make a quick billion or two.


    "No way!" As the son of a business tycoon, Wang Ling naturally had a good business sense.


    Although Zhang Menglong had said that his music platform would be completely free, that was just what appeared on the surface. Once the user base grew, whether it was traffic or advertising, that would be a significant income.


    Though this money might be a drop in the bucket compared to music royalties, he wouldn''t have to pay for the rights, so it was all profit for him!


    "How about this, I won''t sell it to you. Just invest the money and you can convert that cash into shares for me, how does that sound?"


    "You''re quite shrewd!" Zhang Menglong knew that his businesses were run by a strong team of managers, and even if they didn''t charge for listening to songs, he believed these people could still make a fortune in other ways. Wang Ling was looking at the long-term development.


    "Hahaha, if you feast on meat, Zhang, I wouldn''t mind sipping a bit of soup ¡ª that''s not too much, right?"


    "Alright, let''s do that, and let''s skip converting it into any shares. I''ll just give you a straight thirty percent stake."


    "Deal!" Wang Ling agreed immediately. This thirty percent might seem like a loss, but consider this: if Zhang Menglong were to buy the rights to those songs, ten billion wouldn''t be enough. Strictly speaking, he was probably still getting an amazing deal.


    "I don''t understand operations, and I can''t be bothered to handle them; I''ll just manage the negotiations and funding!"


    "Given your demeanor, you don''t look like someone who would handle things," Wang Ling rolled his eyes, "I can take care of most of the singers for you. You just need to provide the money. However, some cases won''t be this easy, like with Zhou Dong''s songs!"


    "Yes, Wangyi Group and Tengxun have been trying for years and haven''t managed to secure Zhou Dong''s song rights. Currently, it seems only ''Hulu Music'' has the rights, but for just three years. Counting the time, about two months from now, those rights should be expiring. I heard they are discussing renewal now."


    "Oh? What about other platforms?"


    "Hehe, you should know that even though Zhou Dong is now busy drinking milk tea and being a dad, barely releasing new songs, his old songs are still timeless. Whoever secures Zhou Dong''s music rights pretty much dominates the music platform scene, who would give that up?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "According to some insiders, Tengxun seems to have prepared five billion to buy three years of Zhou Dong''s music rights. Wangyi Music is also prepping a similar amount. As for ''Hulu Music'' since it''s free, it simply can''t compete financially with these giants. It looks like they are gearing up for a final showdown!"


    "Hahaha, then I''m going to disappoint them all this time!" Zhang Menglong grinned maliciously, "Any chance you can intercept this deal?"


    "Coincidentally, at the beginning of next month, Zhou Dong is going to Modu to promote his new album. The guy finally wrote new songs. Even though he''s been engrossed in drinking milk tea and got a bit chubby, his fans are nearly making debuts themselves," Wang Ling commented sarcastically, "I''ll try to arrange a meeting for you then. With my dad''s influence, it shouldn''t be a problem.


    The rest of the negotiations are up to you."


    "Okay, let''s do that!" Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered something, Lu Yiyao was a huge fan of Zhou Dong, and they had even talked about attending the same concert once, "By the way, what do you think, if I wanted to sign Zhou Dong to perform concerts at my home every day, how much would that cost?"


    Wang Ling gave Zhang Menglong an angry middle finger: "Damn!"

 Chapter 116 114: Milk Tea Brewed with Da Hong Pao

    After several days of auditions, the directorial team had completed the selection of actors and was now ready to start drafting the filming schedule. With the finest team on board, Zhang Menglong naturally did not need to worry too much.


    As a private plane landed at the airport in Magic City, a luxurious Rolls-Royce headed towards the western suburbs.


    "Hong Yi, where are we going?"


    "Where else but to your residence," said Hong Yi.


    "My residence? The suburbs?" Zhang Menglong still thought that his residence in Magic City should be the legendary First-grade, a landmark building that frequently appeared in novels and was a symbol of the super-rich. Such a place, he thought, should befit his standing.


    "Don''t I have any property at First-grade?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but ask.


    "Mr. Zhang, the best five floors of Building 1 at First-grade are all yours."


    "You scared me, I thought I wasn''t worthy of it!" Zhang Menglong sighed in relief, "But why are we heading towards the western suburbs?"


    "This time, Mr. Zhang is hosting guests, so of course, it can''t be at an ordinary place," Hong Yi explained.


    "Ordinary? You call a place like First-grade ordinary?" Zhang Menglong instantly fell speechless. An average apartment at First-grade cost about 230,000 per square meter; even a simple apartment there would cost tens or even hundreds of millions. Could such a place now be considered ''ordinary''?


    "Then where are we going?"


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re almost there."


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the car entered a villa district.


    "Holy cow, is this Tan Palace Villa?" Zhang Menglong saw the conspicuous sign.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang. I thought it would be more appropriate for hosting your guests here," replied Hong Yi.


    Although Tan Palace Villa was not as famous as First-grade, its price was even more terrifying, averaging over 300,000, with all villas having areas of more than 1,000 square meters¡ªmeaning that the price of any villa here was calculated in hundreds of millions.


    "Indeed, it matches my status," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "There are only 18 villas here. Considering you won''t frequent this spot, we have only purchased the central one for you, which covers about 3,000 square meters. It should be enough for your use."


    "Damn, isn''t that almost a billion?" Zhang Menglong was utterly astonished¡ªsuch places, ordinary people couldn''t even fathom.


    In this villa, the decoration was still luxurious. Zhang Menglong even saw several paintings by art masters which, he estimated, probably cost several times more than the villa itself.


    However, by then Zhang Menglong had gradually accepted this wealth, and did not seem too surprised. After all, these were all normal proceedings, nothing too exceptional.


    "By the way, what time is Zhou Juelun coming? Wang Ling said he scheduled it for today," Zhang Menglong lay on the sofa, relishing the comfort and somewhat reluctant to get up.


    "He should be arriving soon. Mr. Zhou Juelun''s plane is estimated to land around 10 o''clock. I have already sent someone to pick him up."


    "Reliable!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the time, guessing there was still over an hour before Zhou Juelun would arrive. He hadn''t had enough sleep in the morning and decided to catch up on some more, after all, he was still growing.


    ...


    "Juelun, aren''t we here in Magic City to discuss copyrights with Tengxun?" Zhou Juelun''s assistant sat in the rapidly moving car, eyeing the driver dressed like a mafia member with a strange feeling.


    They had just gotten off the plane when a group had been waiting for them at the airport, thereafter inviting them into the car. Zhou Juelun''s assistant had never received any related notice, hence she looked somewhat baffled.


    "No worries, we''re going to make a friend," this meeting had been privately arranged by Wang Ling with Zhou Juelun, unknown even to his assistant.


    "Make a friend?" Zhou Juelun''s assistant chuckled, "Anyone that makes you, boss, go out of your way must be no ordinary person."


    "Zhang Menglong, have you heard of him?"


    The assistant shook his head.


    "You haven''t paid attention to the domestic affairs of the Continent for too long," Zhou Juelun said with a smile, "who knows, this time the rights to my song might not necessarily be sold to Tengxun or Wangyi."


    "Besides them, what other platforms could afford such a price?" the assistant asked curiously.


    "You''ll find out soon."


    In recent years, Zhou Juelun had almost faded out of the music scene, relying on copyrights and his managed companies, his net worth had already exceeded 10 billion. Ordinary tycoons did not catch his eye, and he had never accepted Wang Ling''s invitations, except when his father''s influence made some difference.


    But he knew that this young man named Zhang Menglong''s wealth was beyond terrifying; even for him, it was an honor to be invited.


    "Mr. Zhou, we have arrived." The car came to a steady stop outside the villa complex.


    "Wow!" Zhou Juelun''s place was already utterly luxurious, but upon seeing this villa, his assistant couldn''t help but widen his pupils, "How much does this cost?"


    "Tangong Villa, the most expensive place in all of Modu. How much do you think?" Zhou Juelun was also secretly shocked inside. With a fortune well over ten billion, buying this villa might still require him to liquidate everything.


    "Mr. Zhou, please, Mr. Zhang has been waiting for you inside," said a person resembling a butler as he came out to greet them.


    "Kindly lead the way."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhou has arrived."


    "Finally!" Zhang Menglong''s sleepiness instantly dissipated by half.


    "Mr. Zhou, this is Mr. Zhang of our household," the butler introduced.


    "Such a young fellow." Zhou Juelun''s assistant was surprised; to be so young and afford such a villa meant an unfathomably deep background.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang," Zhou Juelun extended a hand, "I have long heard of your reputation, yet to see you in person, you look even younger than in your pictures."


    "Don''t be too polite, Mr. Zhou. I grew up listening to your songs," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Please take a seat."


    Zhou Juelun and his assistant took their seats, both seeming somewhat constrained. Although Zhang Menglong didn''t have an aggressive demeanor, it was hard to remain calm in such a lavish mansion.


    "Hong Yi, is the milk tea ready?" Zhang Menglong asked. "We must serve nothing but the best for Mr. Zhou!"


    "Haha!" Zhang Menglong''s comment instantly relaxed the atmosphere quite a bit, and Zhou Juelun smiled awkwardly. Indeed, over the years, his figure had grown more robust due to milk tea, and he was often teased by his fans about it.


    Soon, a few cups of milk tea were served, their fragrance was indescribable and they even seemed to have a refreshing effect.


    Fans like to make fun of it, but Zhou Juelun truly enjoyed milk tea. He eagerly took a sip, and the unique flavor instantly invigorated him.


    "What kind of milk tea is this?"


    "Hong Yi, what kind of milk tea is this? It''s far too delicious," Zhang Menglong was also drinking his household''s milk tea for the first time. He had always thought milk teas tasted the same; the names of the brands were glamorous, yet he could not taste any difference¡ªbut the tea in his hand was definitely special!


    "Mr. Zhang, this milk tea is brewed with Dahongpao tea leaves and England''s JUHLA royal exclusive milk, making it quite special."


    "What? This milk tea is brewed with Dahongpao?" Zhou Juelun, as well as Zhang Menglong, was shocked. They hadn''t heard about the royal milk, but Dahongpao is famously revered; it''s rare and hardly produces a kilogram a year, not even frequently available for royal tributes.


    In the eyes of tea lovers, it''s almost sacred, yet in their household, it was used for brewing milk tea.


    "I must drink more!" Zhou Juelun had sampled countless milk teas, but a milk tea like this likely was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He couldn''t help but exclaim internally, "The rich kids of today really know how to live!"

 Chapter 117 115: Ill Double Whatever They Offer

    "Gulp gulp...."


    Zhou Juelun drank one cup after another, downing three-times the milk tea in one breath. He licked his lips contentedly, still looking like he wanted more.


    Zhang Menglong had several black lines appear above his head. With such a drinking method, no wonder he had gotten so fat. The talented and good-looking Zhou from his school days had long since disappeared.


    "Sorry, this milk tea is just too delicious," noticing Zhang Menglong''s gaze, Zhou Juelun also seemed a bit embarrassed, "maybe I drank a little too much?"


    Zhou Juelun also knew that this Da Hong Pao tea had a yearly yield of only one kilogram. Calculating at 10g per brew, the annual yield could only brew a hundred times.


    One should know, the people eyeing this Da Hong Pao tea included not just entrepreneurs and tycoons but even some highly placed national figures. Even with Zhang Menglong''s wealth, managing to get a few dozen grams a year was already quite impressive, right?


    "Mr. Zhou, if you like it, don''t worry about these details," Hong Yi said, "Mr. Zhang''s ancestors had planted a few trees of even better quality in their private tea garden a long time ago, producing plenty each year, more than enough for personal consumption. If Mr. Zhang agrees, you can take some back with you when the time comes."


    "Damn, really? How come I didn''t know about this?" Zhang Menglong seized Hong Yi and asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t like tea, so you never asked me." Hong Yi looked innocent.


    "True," Zhang Menglong said, "If we have something this good then we shouldn''t waste it, from now on just use that Da Hong Pao to make my milk tea, three cups a day, hahaha!"


    Watching Zhang Menglong''s blissful appearance, Zhou Juelun suddenly felt a bit envious. Da Hong Pao milk tea, three cups a day, life in Heaven must be something like this, right?


    "Hong Yi, prepare a few kilograms of tea leaves; let Juelun take them back when the time comes. Can''t come all this way for nothing."


    "Alright sir, you guys keep talking, I will go prepare."


    "Go ahead." Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    "Zhou, let''s talk business now," Zhang Menglong said, "This visit is about discussing the music rights, right?"


    "Yes," Zhou Juelun nodded, "My contract with ''Hulu'' Music is about to expire, and now both Tengxun and Wangyi are looking to buy the rights to my songs. I''m here to sign a contract with them."


    "May I ask how much they have prepared?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s no secret," Zhou Juelun joked, "Tencent is ready to pay 570 million for the rights to all my songs for ten years."


    "What about Wangyi?"


    "The last price discussed was 480 million."


    "Don''t sell to them, sell to me!" Zhang Menglong said, "Whatever they offer, I''ll double it!"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Zhou Juelun had just downed his fourth cup of milk tea when he was startled into coughing by Zhang Menglong''s "double it."


    For Zhang Menglong, five billion and ten billion were no different, merely numbers, but for Zhou Juelun and those two music companies, it was an astronomical figure.


    One should know that these figures of 480 million and 570 million were set after negotiating and hashing out details over many meetings spanning half a year.


    It wasn''t that Zhou Juelun was driving a hard bargain, but because his songs genuinely had that commercial value!


    Because initially, the rights to his songs belonged to his former management company, so now most of the song rights weren''t solely up to him to decide. Actually, when he heard about his company asking for such a high price, he was quite shocked himself.


    But Zhang Menglong just casually offered to double it¡ªthese rich folks really know how to splash the cash, huh?


    "Mr. Zhang, it might not be that easy," Zhou Juelun said, "My company has already signed a tripartite cooperation agreement. Aside from Tengxun and Wangyi, we cannot give the rights to any other major company. If we breach the contract, I would need to pay one billion in compensation."


    "No worries, put the one billion on my tab," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "Mr. Zhang, if it''s an exclusive license, then it might be priced differently." Though Zhou Juelun found it hard to broach, he still had to mention it, as transferring his song rights had to go through his former company.


    "Then let''s double it up!" Zhang Menglong still had no expression on his face, "2 billion, I want ten years of online broadcasting rights!"


    "Cough cough cough!" The bout of coughing had not subsided when the 2 billion hit, instantly making Zhou Juelun and his assistant''s heads buzz.


    "Mr. Zhang, pardon my frankness, but if you really want to spend 2 billion to buy the copyright, I''m afraid it will take a long time just to break even!"


    "I never said I was counting on making money from this," Zhang Menglong spread his hands.


    "What do you mean?" Zhou Juelun was now confused. Wasn''t buying the rights to his songs meant to monopolize the market? And wasn''t the ultimate goal of monopolizing the market to make money?


    "Ding Sanshi and his son from Heaven Meddled with me, and I''m not happy, so I''m starting with Heaven Music, it''s that simple," Zhang Menglong stated, "I want to buy the exclusive broadcasting rights to all songs from all artists, leaving them with no options."


    Having heard this, Zhou Juelun''s expression became somewhat stiff. To buy so many copyrights, that would cost a vast amount of money. And it all seemed to stem from some personal grudge, just to gain satisfaction, spending dozens of billions¡ªwas it worth it?


    "Mr. Zhang, You''ve been wronged by Heaven, so your actions are understandable, but what about Tengxun? Have Ma Hua and his son wronged you too?"


    "They haven''t," Zhang Menglong replied, "They can only blame their bad luck. If they had taken down Heaven Music sooner, none of this would have happened, right?"


    "When immortals fight, mortals suffer," Zhou Juelun couldn''t help but sweat for Ma Hua.


    If Zhang Menglong''s plan went through, it wouldn''t be just Heaven Music sinking; even Tengxun Music might go bankrupt, as cruel as the market is!


    But Ma Hua hadn''t done anything, and by then, he might get so desperate that he''d kill Ding Sanshi.


    As long as Zhang Menglong''s music platform was completely free, the fans, unable to find the songs they wanted, would only have to switch to his platform, and as for the other small Internet celebrities and cover artists, they were just fooling around.


    "Oh, right, add another half a billion for the cover rights; your songs are too powerful, even the covers have a market!"


    "You''re wiping them out completely," Zhou Juelun felt fortunate to have kept up with mainland affairs. If he hadn''t known this man, today he might have been dealt with by Zhang Menglong, and perhaps at that time, both Tengxun Music and Heaven Music would have been doomed.


    "If there''s no problem, I''ll make the payment now."


    "Wait, just wait a moment..." It was Zhou Juelun''s first time encountering such a business approach. What was happening? The agreement hadn''t even been signed, and he was ready to pay?


    "What''s the matter? Any problems?"


    "No... none..."


    "That''s good, finishing our milk tea is more urgent; we can sign the contract after we''re done."


    "Okay..."


    "By the way, Director Zhou, there''s another issue." Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered something.


    "Please speak, Mr. Zhang."


    "My future girlfriend is a big fan of yours, so I''d like to sign you. When there''s nothing else to do, you could come perform for us, or scream a little at the karaoke, why don''t you name your price?"


    "I..." Zhou Juelun''s face filled with bitterness. Wasn''t this just like being a performing artist? He was, after all, a freelance musician and a chairman of several companies; he didn''t need to sell his dignity for money...


    "500 million a year!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that isn''t quite right, I perform but I don''t sell myself."


    "I see, then how much would it cost for you to hold a concert?"


    Zhou Juelun: "I#£¤#£¤#%#%£¤..."

 Chapter 118 116: If Youre Not Convinced, Go Buy It Yourself

    Of course, Zhou Juelun was no longer in need of money now, and although the price Zhang Menglong offered was hard to refuse, his priorities had shifted from career and creative work to life and family. Even if he never worked another day, he could remain a happy millionaire, so he turned down Zhang Menglong''s invitation.


    However, he promised Zhang Menglong that should he hold a concert in the future, he would reserve the best seats for him, or if they both had time, they could also meet up to sing together.


    "Alright, 2.5 billion has reached your account, and I''ve already paid the taxes for you."


    "Mr. Zhang is so generous!" Paying taxes on 2.5 billion would usually result in a staggering amount, and most singers and actors employ various methods to avoid or evade taxes. Zhang Menglong voluntarily paying taxes and even covering it himself was indeed a breath of fresh air.


    "Juelun, the money is in your account," Zhou Juelun''s assistant said.


    With 2.5 billion credited, even Zhou Juelun couldn''t help but smile. Even if his former company took a share, this money was enough to double his personal assets¡ªa single deal equivalent to all his past efforts; how could that not make him happy?


    Having signed the contract, this meant that from now on, aside from Zhang Menglong''s company, any other party distributing Zhou Juelun''s works online would be infringing copyright. Be it Tengxun Music or any other platform, they had permanently lost their competitive edge over Zhou Juelun''s output.


    Even because Zhang Menglong had bought the cover rights, as soon as their existing rights expired, those songs would be forced off the shelves, or else they would face a lawyer''s warning from Zhang Menglong.


    "By the way, are we still going to the next event?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Not going anymore," Zhou Juelun said with a smile, "Since the rights have been sold to Mr. Zhang, there''s no need to go."


    "Dani," Zhou Juelun told his assistant, "buy the tickets, we are going back."


    "No need for that trouble," Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, arrange it for me, send Director Zhou back with my private jet, and on the way back, help me bring a genuine oyster omelette."


    "Mr. Zhang, that won''t be necessary," Zhou Juelun thought Zhang Menglong would have a private plane since he himself owned a private plane worth over a hundred million, but he cherished it too much to use it just to send a guest.


    "No worries, it''s alright, I have more than a dozen private planes in Modi City."


    "More than a dozen..."


    "Don''t feel burdened, I mainly want to eat the oyster omelette, sending you back is just incidental."


    Using a private jet to fetch takeout for an authentic oyster omelette? Are you kidding me? Zhou Juelun and his assistant could never comprehend the thought processes of someone like Zhang Menglong, which they considered outlandishly lavish.


    With that kind of money, one could hire a chef specializing in oyster omelettes to cook for him full-time.


    "Haha, actually, I do have a chef," Zhang Menglong said, "I just forgot to bring him from Jiangnan City, the chefs from Bao Island Province here went home to visit their families for a couple of days."


    "I... oh wow, that''s really nice..."


    "Mr. Zhang, your Indian flying bread has arrived," just then, an employee of Zhang Menglong''s rushed in.


    "Hmm, no jams right?"


    "Jams?" Zhou Juelun''s pupils dilated considerably, their jams, and not just mentioning machines but civilization too?


    "Wait, what''s with this bread?" Zhou Juelun suddenly thought of a terrifying thing, "Mr. Zhang, this isn''t something you had flown in from India, is it?"


    "Yeah, what''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong told the employee, "Go heat it up, the Western European roast should also be arriving soon, we''ll have Indian flying bread wrapped with Western European roast tonight, go prepare."


    "Okay, Mr. Zhang."


    "Uh..." Formerly, Zhou Juelun thought he was somewhat of a millionaire, but now he realized he might be quite poor.


    ...


    "What? Zhou Juelun gave up signing with us?" Ding Yuxi received a call from the business department and was momentarily stunned.


    "Yes, and the penalty fee has already been transferred."


    "What about Tengxun?" Ding Yuxi asked. Now in Huaxia, the only one capable of competing with their Wangyi Music, other than Tengxun, was absolutely no one else.


    "I just went to ask, their agreement was also terminated, Zhou Juelun''s assistant said, the exclusive online distribution rights and the cover rights of his songs have all been sold, for a duration of ten years."


    "Ten years? And exclusive?" Ding Yuxi knew what this meant, this meant that for the next ten years, their platform would not be able to feature any of Zhou Juelun''s songs.


    You should know, although the post-2000 generation might not understand Zhou Juelun, but those born in the ''80s and ''90s, who grew up listening to his songs, have now become the main force in today''s society.


    They have the financial capability and purchasing power to afford the copyright fees for his music, and many would be willing to recharge a VIP membership just for his songs, and the number of people in this group is enormous.


    "Boss Ding, look at Weibo! Zhang Menglong said that he has bought all the copyrights of Zhou Juelun, not just that, but also those of Xue Zhitian, Lin Junjue, and my God, he even got the rights to that Korean supergroup!"


    "What?"


    Ding Yuxi immediately opened Weibo, and Zhang Menglong''s post had already trended on the hot search.


    "Friends, announcing good news; I recently partnered with Principal Wang to launch a new music platform called Music Forest. On this app, you can listen to music and download for free, all copyrights are already purchased, and you don''t need to recharge for VIP. If there''s any artist whose rights we haven''t bought yet, just let the customer service know, and I''ll buy them."


    "Damn it!" Ding Yuxi slammed his phone hard onto the ground. Acquiring domestic artists'' copyrights wasn''t hard, but foreign ones, that was a whole different story. Not to mention anything else, two years ago, domestic platforms had already lost the rights to the group called "Big Bang."


    But Zhang Menglong actually managed to buy them, and for 10 years!


    "Awesome! Boss Zhang is just Boss Zhang, so dominant!"


    "Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! Finally, a platform like this has emerged; I''ve been waiting for years!"


    "No need to recharge for VIP to listen! My God! Even if it requires recharging VIP, I would still be willing!"


    "Wuwu, my youth is over."


    "Okay, I''ve already deleted Tengxun Music and Wangyi Music."


    "The one above, I deleted them too, and also left a 1-star bad review!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Damn, has Music Forest been bombarded yet?"


    "What is he aiming for, spending so much money and not charging?"


    "Aiming for you not taking a bath!"


    "Aiming because you are handsome."


    ...


    "Boss Ding, our app''s download volume is plummeting!"


    "The rating has also been brushed down!"


    "Boss Ding, think of something quick, at this rate, by the time our purchased copyrights expire, our platform will collapse!"


    "He is simply a madman!" Ding Yuxi suddenly remembered Zhang Menglong''s words, this was not going to be an easy matter to resolve!

 Chapter 119 117 This is All Ding Sanshis Fault

    "Okay, Miss Deng, let''s chat another day. Remember to save a few tickets for me for your next concert. A friend and I are huge fans of yours."


    "Is it a girlfriend?" Deng Lanqi smiled at Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, don''t worry, the front row tickets for my concert will definitely be reserved for you!"


    "Hong Yi, please escort Miss Deng. Arrange my private jet to take Miss Deng back to Baodao Province," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, sir," Hong Yi replied with her meticulous work ethic, "This way, please, Miss Deng."


    "Thanks, Mr. Zhang. Then I won''t be polite," said Deng Lanqi, without declining the offer. After all, it had already become the norm.


    Baodao Province is a place where singers abound. In the music scene there, a lot of singers are active. Recently, Zhang Menglong had lost count of how many people he had invited over to discuss song rights, usually with a ride on his private jet.


    This had already started to spread in Baodao Province''s music circles, and now there was a new standard for assessing a singer''s caliber: those who had flown on Zhang Menglong''s private jet versus those who hadn''t.


    Even being able to sign a rights agreement with Zhang Menglong was considered a great honor.


    "Damn! That''s just obscenely extravagant!" Today, Wang Ling was free, so he came along with Zhang Menglong to deal with the rights issues. By his estimation, Zhang Menglong''s plane had flown dozens of flights just today.


    Each time a singer left, Zhang Menglong would have them flown out directly.


    The key point was, he did not send them back in groups, but one by one, right after each deal. Watching this scene made Wang Ling want to curse; waiting just half an hour could save the cost of a flight, but he chose to send one person per flight.


    What''s more, flying on his private jet didn''t require queuing. Considering the number, he must have at least twenty or thirty private jets at the airport in this Magic City.


    Thinking of this terrifying fact, Wang Ling felt an impulse to kidnap Zhang Menglong. If he could abduct Zhang Menglong for a ransom, could he become the king of the Earth?


    "When can I also ride on your private jet?" Wang Ling said enviously. His old man also had a private jet, which was so treasured that even he, as his own son, had ridden it only once or twice.


    "If you want, you can do it right now," said Zhang Menglong, "I need to go to Africa to discuss the rights of an African singer''s songs. Just so happens, that singer couldn''t make it recently, so how about you fly to Africa for me?"


    "Fly your geoduck!" Wang Ling retorted instantly, "Are you trying to sell me off to Africa to work in a mine? Don''t think I don''t know about your tricks. I''ve heard from Hong Yi how you dealt with a Weibo shareholder when you bought Weibo."


    "Damn, she told you about that!" Zhang Menglong muttered, "Dock 90% of Hong Yi''s salary next month, just give her one billion, and see how she survives on that!"


    "I bought a watch last year!" Wang Ling didn''t know if the salary was real, but he knew that Zhang Menglong could afford it if he wanted to.


    "That was rash, let''s do it next time!" Zhang Menglong said offhand.


    "Next time, my ass!" Wang Ling thought to himself, mmp, but he could only grin stupidly on the outside, "By the way, how''s that guy Ding Yuxi doing? Still holding out?"


    "I don''t know, but if he has any brains, he should realize that their Wangyi Music won''t last much longer!"


    "Look! Speaking of the devil, and he shall appear," Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly rang.


    "Hello, I am Zhang Menglong."


    "This is Ma Hua."


    "Holy shit, it''s you?" Zhang Menglong had thought the call would be either from Ding Yuxi or Ding Sanshi, but it turned out to be from Ma Hua.


    "Mr. Ma is so busy and still has time to call me, what''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "What''s the matter?" Ma Hua''s face on the other end of the phone nearly turned green. You''ve acquired countless copyrights, soon to turn the music market in Huaxia upside down, and you still ask if there''s something wrong?


    But Ma Hua still suppressed his anger, with last time''s experience, he no longer dared to treat this young man as his junior.


    "Mr. Zhang, did our Tengxun offend you again recently?" Ma Hua asked.


    "Offend me? Not at all," Zhang Menglong said, somewhat baffled, "Last time, the speed and efficiency of Tengxun in handling that information pleased me. I give you 33 thumbs up! And about the money your Tengxun games swindled from me before, I won''t hold it against you."


    "Then why did Mr. Zhang have to buy out all the copyrights? Are you trying to monopolize the music app market in Huaxia?"


    "Oh, you''re talking about that!"


    "Damn it, what else could I be talking about?" Ma Hua was on the brink of madness. Was this a trivial matter? Why did it seem like Zhang Menglong didn''t take it seriously at all?


    "Mr. Zhang, doing this puts us in a very difficult position. Our platform will no longer be able to distribute or download those songs. Aren''t you driving us into a dead end?" Ma Hua was inwardly distressed.


    He had called several singers he had worked with before, some of whom he was quite close to, and they even disclosed the price offered by Zhang Menglong. Ma Hua admitted that he couldn''t refuse such an offer, but he certainly couldn''t afford it.


    After the evaluation, they concluded that what Zhang Menglong spent on copyrights, even if the copyrights expired, he couldn''t recoup his investment solely from streaming traffic and advertisements. Even if everyone upgraded to a premium membership, the prospect of profit was slim.


    "Moreover, doing this brings you no benefits whatsoever. Can you even make a profit?"


    "Who said I wanted to make money?" Zhang Menglong replied righteously. "I have no interest in money whatsoever!"


    "Of course, you have no interest in money, money is just a number to you!" Ma Hua was on the verge of collapse.


    "Actually, you can''t blame me for this! You should blame yourself!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Blame myself?" Ma Hua was suddenly puzzled. What did this have to do with him? Apart from gaming, they hadn''t really done anything deceitful, had they?


    "Could it be because Zhang Menglong played our Tengxun games, and his luck was terrible?" Ma Hua secretly sent Zhang Menglong''s mobile number to the technical director, instructing him to check how many games were bound to this mobile number, then told the tech team to adjust his loot drop rate to 100%, the kind of start with a dog and gear up through killing.


    "If you weren''t in this industry, wouldn''t it not affect you?" Zhang Menglong gave a nonsensical answer.


    "I can''t argue with that logic!" Wang Ling, standing beside Zhang Menglong, just knelt down.


    "The one I want to deal with isn''t you, it''s just that you happen to be in this industry too. If you want to blame someone, blame Ding Sanshi and his son! The pot of Ding Sanshi, in short, a stone pot!"


    "What do you mean by that?" Ma Hua asked.


    "They bullied my brother''s girlfriend. Do you think that''s serious?" Zhang Menglong spoke gravely, "It could have been settled with a little compensation for emotional distress, but they insisted on bargaining with me, pushing the compensation down to less than one five-hundredth of the original amount. Isn''t that too much?"


    "That''s... that is indeed excessive," Ma Hua responded instinctively, "Wait, how much compensation for emotional distress did you ask from them?"


    "Not much, just 500 billion!"

 Chapter 120 118 I Never Buy Discounted Items

    "500 billion..." Ma Hua gasped as this sudden scare threw out his back.


    A demand for 500 billion in compensation for spiritual damage was unheard of, no wonder Ding Sanshi and his son still wanted to negotiate the price with him.


    Even if it were only one five-hundredth of that amount, it would still be one billion. If this was a claim for spiritual damage, it was an astronomical sum!


    Are they refusing to pay, so you''ll drive their company into bankruptcy? Isn''t that a bit too capricious?


    "What did I even do?" Zhang Menglong said in a voice filled with grievance, "I was just bored with nothing better to do, so I decided to create a music platform for fun. I didn''t kill, I didn''t rob, I didn''t commit arson, how am I being capricious?"


    "They themselves didn''t have the money to buy the rights, and now the platform is struggling to survive. Is that my fault?"


    "What does their trouble have to do with me?" Ma Hua was on the verge of tears.


    Compared to Wang Ling Music Forest, Tengxun Music had been around for a much longer time. But no matter how established they had become over the years, they couldn''t withstand this kind of impact. As its name suggested, a music platform needed music to be considered a music platform.


    Through Zhang Menglong''s maneuvering, he essentially monopolized the entire mobile music market!


    Do you want to sue him for monopoly? But the music artists have already been paid handsomely and simply didn''t want to sell to anyone else. Could you, as the law, force them to sell their rights?


    Everybody knew that Zhang Menglong was monopolizing the market, but subjectively, he had ample excuses to justify himself, and you couldn''t find any fault in his actions¡ªwhat could you do to him?


    "Is there no room for negotiation?" Ma Hua still hadn''t given up hope. He knew that if Zhang Menglong followed through with this, unless they could outspend him, the platform''s collapse was just a matter of time.


    "I''ve already spent the money, what do you think?" Zhang Menglong said, "President Ma need not be so disheartened. If it comes to it and Music Forest starts charging, I''ll gift you a lifetime VIP for free!"


    "Do you think I''m lacking the money for a VIP?" Ma Hua felt a rage burning in his chest. Tengxun Music was valued at nearly 30 billion US dollars, and it had taken so many years of operation to get to its current size.


    He could almost predict what level their stocks would plunge to when the market opened tomorrow. This downward spiral, unless Zhang Menglong chose to give up his current tactics, was irreversible.


    A platform with no competitiveness, even if they wanted to sell it off, no one would be willing to take it over. Because whoever did, as long as they were up against Zhang Menglong, there was no chance of winning.


    "Ding Sanshi, I curse your ancestor!" Directing his anger at Zhang Menglong was pointless, and provoking Zhang Menglong could lead to a retaliation of 5,000 billion, an even more thrilling prospect.


    Therefore, he could only vent his anger on Ding Sanshi and his son.


    "President Ma, don''t be so angry," Zhang Menglong suddenly had an idea. While Wang Ling''s Music Forest didn''t have much in terms of foundation and many aspects were not perfect, Tengxun Music had the most complete supply chain. Merging the two companies would eliminate a lot of trouble.


    If he could buy Tengxun Music, it would not only help Music Forest grow quickly, but he could also owe Ma Hua a favor¡ªan act that would benefit him in two ways. Of course, owing a favor to Ma Hua seemed to be of little use to him.


    "Ah!" Ma Hua sighed deeply. "It seems that Tengxun Music''s days are numbered."


    Although gaming and traffic were Tengxun''s biggest sources of income, music was also an essential part. Its failure would result in significant loss of vitality.


    "President Ma, I''m a rather kind person," Zhang Menglong said in an infuriatingly smug tone, "I understand that conflicts between ''gods'' can impact mere mortals like you." He paused, "Oh, of course, Wang Ling can hardly count as a ''god''. They''re just there for me to thrash."


    "What on earth are you trying to say?"


    "If President Ma is willing, I could buy Tengxun Music."


    "Really?" Ma Hua''s eyes brightened. If Zhang Menglong was willing to acquire Tengxun Music, it could be a way out.


    Although the price would surely be pressed very low, it was still better than rotting away in his own hands, otherwise he might not even be able to recoup half of the funds!


    "Of course it''s true. It just so happens that I can also expand our team at Music Forest. After all, we don''t have the deep roots compared to Manager Ma''s team." Zhang Menglong wasn''t bootlicking; this was a fact.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong could also wait until Tengxun Music went under and then spend money to buy those people, but in terms of management, it would require a complete reset, which wasn''t as convenient as an outright acquisition.


    "As long as you''re willing to offer 80% of Tengxun Music''s current market value, I can make the decision to sell it to you, and I think our group''s shareholders won''t have any objections," Ma Hua declared.


    As he spoke the "80%," Ma Hua actually felt somewhat uneasy because he was all too aware that Tengxun Music was like fish on a chopping board at this moment¡ªonce Zhang Menglong decided to make his move, it would be sliced up, and the price was entirely at Zhang Menglong''s mercy.


    This 80% price was rather a lion''s mouth to open.


    "Manager Ma, don''t you think you''re being a bit too bullying?" As expected, Zhang Menglong''s voice took on a cold edge.


    "It''s indeed high," Ma Hua suddenly became very anxious.


    "The price is negotiable," Ma Hua said, chuckling sheepishly.


    "Fuck, are you looking down on me?" Zhang Menglong started to curse, "Am I, Zhang Menglong, the kind of person who lacks a few billion US dollars? You should ask around, when have I, Zhang Menglong, ever asked for a discount when buying something?"


    "Ah? This..." Zhang Menglong''s stance completely baffled Ma Hua. Wasn''t he supposed to complain about the price being too high? But it seemed like he actually found the price too low?


    "How about 90%?" Ma Hua tried again.


    "Manager Ma, it''s still too low!" At this moment, Ma Hua''s assistant quietly showed him his phone.


    It was a report about Zhang Menglong taking over an entire LV store in Wanda. Although its spread was not allowed, some people still had some photos and written information about it.


    "Rounding up in reverse..." Ma Hua glanced at the content, which showed that after Zhang Menglong had purchased extremely expensive luxury items, the seller had actively offered to round down the price, yet Zhang Menglong insisted on an increase of several hundred thousand dollars, the reason being he disliked small change!


    "This guy must have a screw loose!" Ma Hua labeled Zhang Menglong, "How about this, the market value of Tengxun Music is currently 27.8 billion US dollars, why not sell it to you for 28 billion US dollars?"


    "I don''t like spare change!" Zhang Menglong emphasized again, "Let''s make it 30 billion!"


    "Cough cough cough!" Ma Hua felt that his increase of 2 billion US dollars was already quite outrageous, but he didn''t expect that Zhang Menglong would reverse round down by 20 billion US dollars on top of this!


    "Is this money toxic or what?" Ma Hua was almost in tears, his worldview nearly shattered today!


    "Then it''s settled!" Zhang Menglong declared, "I''ll arrange for someone to handle the equity transfer tomorrow morning."


    "Mr. Zhang, some of our shareholders are abroad; if they are to come back immediately, I''m afraid there are no flights. Maybe..."


    "Where are they? I''ll arrange a private jet to pick them up!" Zhang Menglong was impatient, "Can''t we do things a bit more efficiently? I''m eager to have Ding Sanshi and his son come beg me!"


    Ma Hua: "My mentality is collapsing again..."

 Chapter 121 119: I Wont Watch Bilibilis Ghoul Area Without You

    "The only one bold enough to slam Ma Hua with cash is you, Zhang Menglong." After listening to the entire phone call, Wang Ling''s admiration flowed endlessly like a raging river.


    "No worries, next time there''s a call like this, you can talk on my behalf as my spokesperson," Zhang Menglong generously said.


    "Thanks a lot!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes, lacking the confidence to engage in such bold maneuvers.


    "Ah, the main character arrives!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his phone. It must be Ding Yuxi''s call now.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Ding Yuxi immediately got hold of Zhang Menglong''s number. "What on earth are you trying to do?"


    "What am I trying to do?" Zhang Menglong replied, "Not satisfied? If you''re not, go buy it yourself! If you don''t have the money, then shut your mouth!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t think you''re something just because you have money. Operating a music platform, having just rights hardly makes you competitive!" Ding Yuxi gritted his teeth as he spoke.


    Speaking of rights, he indeed couldn''t afford to be as extravagant as Zhang Menglong ¡ª not even Tengxun could bring out that amount of money to buy so many rights.


    But one should know that for music platforms like theirs, the sound quality of music is also very important. Their Wanyi Music developed music engine is currently the most advanced in the country, providing an atmosphere and enjoyment of music unmatched by other apps.


    That''s also why Wanyi Music doesn''t have many rights, but still holds the second position in the national market.


    Moreover, there''s the "Net Suppressing Cloud," which has mixed reviews online ¡ª it''s another reason for their huge user base, as listeners always find something relatable in it.


    "Zhang Menglong, our Wanyi Music''s music engine, even if your tiny team researched for another five years, you couldn''t reach this level."


    "Oh, you''re talking about this!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Our Music Forest''s engine is called ''Sacred Sound 3.0''; since you''re in the music business, you should know a bit about it.


    "Sacred Sound? Impossible! That engine is the best overseas and was exclusively bought by the world''s largest music company. How could you possibly have it?" Ding Yuxi felt that Zhang Menglong''s claim was completely absurd.


    Anyone in the music industry knows that besides headphones and players, the engine a music app uses directly affects sound quality. There are many music engines worldwide, but ''Sacred Sound'' is universally acknowledged as number one.


    This was a music engine developed by a student from overseas a few years ago, which had attracted immense attention upon its emergence. The largest music group, Nahua, wholly acquired this student team, and over the years, through several updates, its functionalities became stronger and its performance more profound.


    Even Huaxia''s development teams had to admit that ''Sacred Sound'' was currently the most advanced music engine in the world.


    It is said that the team had signed confidentiality and non-compete agreements with Nahua Group, and this core technology was strictly not allowed to be divulged.


    "Oh, are you talking about that team?" Zhang Menglong smiled. "I''ve already bought the ''Sacred Sound'' development team. Not expensive ¡ª just a few billion US dollars."


    "Not expensive? I... " Ding Yuxi felt an urge to smash a cup.


    "However, the penalty for breaching their non-compete agreement is quite high ¡ª enough to buy the team all over again," Zhang Menglong mentioned with a hint of regret in his tone.


    Ding Yuxi wanted to curse outright. Are you crazy? Spending so much to buy rights, and now a team, even if you overturn Wanyi Music, what good would it do you?


    "Wait, how could Nahua Group be willing to sell that team?" Ding Yuxi suddenly thought of a critical issue. The music engine was their ace; selling off the team would be like losing an arm!


    "It''s simple. Their shares aren''t all concentrated in a few hands. Wanting to acquire them is an easy task. Faced with the choice between being acquired and selling the team, I think any sane person would choose the latter, right?"


    "Gosh!" Ding Yuxi was becoming irrational. Nahua Group is one of the largest media companies in the world, with a market value exceeding 200 billion US dollars, yet Zhang Menglong claims acquiring them would be easy! What is this madness?


    "Come on, young man, don''t be so hot-tempered," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Zhang Menglong, if you want to do music, do you have musicians under your name? Do you have a team to scout new talent? Do you have any of these fundamental things?"


    "I''m not sure if I do, but I know Tengxun definitely does!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "What do you mean?" Ding Yuxi suddenly felt a bad feeling in his heart.


    "Nothing," Zhang Menglong said flatly, "Ma Hua just called me, offering to sell Tengxun Music to me at an 18% discount. You know, Ma Hua is someone who can bend and stretch. He just called me, asking me to give them a way out."


    "What did you do to Tengxun Music?"


    "I''ve acquired them wholly. Starting from tomorrow, the entire Tengxun Music will be mine!"


    "Are you insane?" This time, Ding Yuxi couldn''t hold back anymore, "For a spirit damage fee of 50 billion, you spent a hundred million buying copyrights, okay, but you also spent nearly 28 billion US dollars to acquire Tengxun Music, you...."


    "You''re wrong, it''s not 28 billion US dollars, I spent 30 billion US dollars to acquire them," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Don''t doubt it. I have no issues with other platforms, my target is only your Yiyi Music. I''m pretty straightforward, in my eyes, you are all just trash. If I have offended you, freaking come hit me!"


    "You...you..."


    "I thought you were Ding Sanshi''s son, who grew up studying in Ivy League schools, calling me would surely be imposing, turns out you''re just like a spineless dog, yapping here. I''ve never seen such a shameless person!"


    "You...you...ah..."


    "Hmm? Ambulance siren?" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, "The young people nowadays really can''t handle pressure!"


    "Even Wang Situ couldn''t handle this kind of cursing!" Wang Ling didn''t know Zhang Menglong could be this biting, "From now on, I won''t watch B station''s remix section if you''re not in it!"


    "Cut the chatter, how''s the app?"


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be online by tonight!"


    "Come on, let''s go have skewers, my treat!"


    ...


    Music Forest is a music platform that Wang Ling has been running for two years. Because it''s not very large, it only owns some copyrights of indie artists and internet singers.


    After two years, they haven''t even made back the capital they invested, and the number of app downloads is pitifully low; Wang Ling was even close to cutting off this part of the business.


    But Zhang Menglong''s joining revitalized the app from the ashes.


    That very night, the project team of Music Forest started working frenzied overtime; they knew that with Zhang Menglong''s involvement, big funding was coming. With money, what can''t you do well?


    The company doesn''t have many people right now, but if business takes off, they will become the senior members of the company!


    Is business about to take off? As a music platform, as long as the copyrights are in place, users will start paying!


    In just three days, the whole Music Forest app was transformed completely, and during these three days, Zhang Menglong had also secured a large number of music copyrights, all exclusive licenses!


    On the third night, all the music was listed, and the new Music Forest app officially launched with Zhang Menglong synchronizing this news on his social media.


    After a few days of buildup, the aficionados were already eager, and when the news broke out, both the Android and Apple app markets were half paralyzed, a massive download volume that even their servers could barely handle.


    "This won''t do!" Zhang Menglong, looking at the download report, shook his head, "Maybe I should acquire Apple as well?"

 Chapter 122 120 Some Matters Need to Be Told to You

    "Forget it, forget it, buying Apple has no real benefits, and it would require manpower and effort to manage. There''s no need for that!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, unaware that Cook''s company had just narrowly escaped a takeover crisis.


    "Ah, after being so busy these days, and only spending a few billion US dollars, it''s really exhausting!" Zhang Menglong plumped down on the couch.


    During this period, he had acquired Weibo and Tengxun Music. It seemed as though a lot of money had been spent, but under his father''s rules, acquisitions, charitable acts, and gifts were not counted as expenditures.


    And the actual expenditures were only on purchasing copyrights and recruiting teams and staff.


    So far, the only significant expense had been buying a batch of equipment for Jiangnan University of Science and Technology and investing in experimental projects.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong could follow the same approach, as investing in scientific research is the fastest way to burn through cash, but most scientific research projects are conducted at universities. If Zhang Menglong were to invest in other schools, his alma mater would never be able to stand out.


    There really was no need for that, especially since he hoped his school could become the new Ivy League of the country.


    As for other projects, most of them are national-level projects, and the country isn''t short of money.


    Building airplanes, aircraft carriers, rockets... forget it, forget it, if he dared to build those, he might end up under investigation tomorrow.


    It''s not that Zhang Menglong particularly feared an investigation, but he disliked trouble.


    "Forget it, there''s no rush, take it slow," Zhang Menglong thought. It had only been two months since he inherited the fortune, and he had already spent half of it. The remaining thirty billion US dollars would inevitably be gone within a year, and that ancestral Music College wasn''t going anywhere.


    "Alright, if you want to stay, you can sleep here tonight. If you want to leave, it''s up to you. I''m going to play games," Zhang Menglong said to Wang Ling.


    "Then I''ll mooch a meal off you here!" Wang Ling said with a giggly laugh.


    "Strange, why hasn''t she logged on yet?" Zhang Menglong opened the game and saw that Lu Yiyao''s avatar was greyed out. They had agreed to play a game together tonight.


    According to Lu Yiyao''s habits, if something came up, she would have definitely informed Zhang Menglong in advance. She would even report if she was just going to use the bathroom or take a shower. This was somewhat unusual.


    "Could something have happened?" Zhang Menglong suddenly had a bad premonition, "I should have noted down her roommates'' contact information earlier."


    "Mr. Zhang!" Just then, Hong Yi''s voice came from outside Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong asked, sounding less friendly, his mood poor.


    "Miss Lu seems to have run into some trouble," Hong Yi said.


    "What? What happened?" Zhang Menglong''s face darkened instantly.


    "Miss Lu has been preparing for her graduation concert recently, and her assigned advisor has some questionable morals."


    "Why didn''t you tell me about this sooner?" Zhang Menglong had long heard about the questionable ethics of many university professors, who see their students merely as free labor and continually exploit them. In recent years, there have been countless graduate and doctoral students who have succumbed to the pressure.


    But Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected that a Music College professor could also be such a person.


    "Actually, Miss Lu''s roommate wanted to tell you, but she was worried about worrying you, so she didn''t let us, which is why I didn''t dare to tell you either."


    "Her advisor is using graduation as a threat against Miss Lu..."


    "What an idiot!" Zhang Menglong knew that Lu Yiyao was someone who always considered things from other people''s perspectives. No matter what she did, she always thought of others first and herself last.


    "Mr. Zhang, should we make that person disappear directly?" Hong Yi asked, saying something so astonishing that Zhang Menglong could hardly believe his ears.


    "What... what do you mean by that?" Such lines, Zhang Menglong had only ever heard in novels and TV shows. To make someone disappear, he knew what that implied.


    "The person responsible for Miss Lu''s protection is nearby. If you give the go-ahead, that scumbag of a teacher can vanish from the world without anyone knowing what happened, including Miss Lu."


    "How is this possible?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a chill down his spine, "Could it be that there are assassins among our people?"


    "Wait, you''re saying someone is still protecting Yiyi?" Zhang Menglong suddenly realized this crucial point, yet he had never issued such an order, and Hong Yi had never mentioned it to him before.


    "To Gusu now!" No matter what, Zhang Menglong could no longer stay in the Magic Capital. He wished he could appear by Lu Yiyao''s side immediately, "We''ll talk about it slowly later!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, your private helicopter is ready to depart at any time."


    "Leave now!"


    Zhang Menglong hastily put on a jacket, exuding an intimidating presence that made him seem inaccessible as he walked out of the room.


    "Old Zhang, where are you off to so late?" Wang Ling held a cup of Dahongpao taro bubble tea in one hand and a roasted chicken leg in the other, eating messily.


    "I''m off to beat someone up!"


    "Holy shit, what''s going on?" It was the first time Wang Ling had seen Zhang Menglong this angry. He knew better than to ask further questions. He wasn''t worried about Zhang Menglong getting into trouble; he was worried about the person who had angered him, wondering if their body would be found floating in the Huangpu River the next day.


    "Then you better go and come back early," Wang Ling said, as if compelled by some force.


    At the top of the villa was a small helipad. The helicopter wasn''t large but could comfortably accommodate five or six people. If more space was desired, one would have to go to the nearest airport, but Zhang Menglong clearly didn''t have the patience to wait any longer.


    With the whirring of the propellers, the aircraft vanished into the night sky, heading straight for Gusu.


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to worry too much. Miss Lu is fine," Hong Yi said. "If Miss Lu''s safety were threatened, even without your approval, protecting her safety is our top priority, and everything else is secondary."


    Hearing this, Zhang Menglong felt slightly relieved. The most important thing was that Lu Yiyao was unharmed.


    "Tell me about this bodyguard matter," Zhang Menglong said. "Also, how did you find out about the incident in Gusu City so quickly? Did you have someone follow her?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you have misunderstood. The Zhang Family''s information network spans the globe, covering politics, business, the military. None of that escapes our surveillance," Hong Yi explained. "If any country is about to undertake military action, the moment the order is issued, your intelligence organization will be aware of it."


    "Is it that powerful?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised, "Is this better than the FBI?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re underestimating the power at your disposal," Hong Yi said. "If you wanted to know what color underwear the American President is wearing today, it would be no problem, or even how many grains of rice he ate for a meal. If you want to know, you could get the most accurate information immediately."


    "Isn''t that a bit exaggerated?" While it''s feasible to investigate the color of a President''s underwear, to know how many grains of rice someone eats - would someone count them for you?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you believe that there are some special people in the world?"


    "Hahaha, are you talking about Kamen Rider, Ultraman, the Giant, Thor, Iron Man?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "You know I''m in a bad mood and you tell me this kind of joke to lighten the atmosphere?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there are some things that we feared would be too much for you to bear, so we didn''t tell you. Now, with Miss Lu''s situation, there are some things that you should know."


    "What? Besides the 5000 years of history my family has, there are other secrets?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that Hong Yi''s tone wasn''t joking.


    "Ye Yin, come out."


    "Huh? Ye Yin? Who are you calling for?" Zhang Menglong''s face was filled with question marks. Besides him and Hong Yi, there was only the helicopter pilot on board, but he remembered that the pilot''s name seemed to be Ma Yue.


    Just then, Zhang Menglong felt the hair on his body stand on end. In the seat behind him, where there had been nobody, now sat a person who appeared to be in their late twenties, like a ghost suddenly appearing as a chilling voice echoed in his ear.


    "Ye Yin greets Mr. Zhang."

 Chapter 123 121: The Dragon King is Watering Your Vegetable Garden

    "Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!"


    Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up from his seat, nearly snapping the safety belt. Scaring someone to death, a cold figure had unexpectedly appeared behind him, and anyone would panic in such a situation!


    "Thump!" Zhang Menglong''s head hit the top of the helicopter, causing him to tear up from the pain.


    "Scared the hell out of me, damn it!" Zhang Menglong was truly frightened, his body trembling slightly from fear, and goosebumps covered his skin.


    "Who is this guy? When did he get on?" Zhang Menglong hurriedly asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is Ye Yin, your personal bodyguard," Hong Yi said, "He has always been on this plane, and ordinarily, he is always by your side."


    "What? How come I have never seen him before?" Zhang Menglong scrutinized Ye Yin carefully. It was already November, and the temperature was typically below 10 degrees, yet this young man with somber long hair was wearing only a short-sleeve shirt and a thin pair of trousers.


    To Zhang Menglong, who was already wearing fleece-lined thermal underwear, such a person was definitely an anomaly. If this guy walked down the street, he would certainly catch his eye at first glance, but Zhang Menglong was sure he had never seen this man before.


    "Why does this guy''s gaze feel so weird?" Zhang Menglong noticed that ever since appearing behind him, Ye Yin''s gaze had never left him, fixated as if he were engrossed in a movie.


    "No, that''s not it!" Zhang Menglong observed Ye Yin''s gaze more carefully. He had once spent a summer vacation working at a Buddhist tourist spot, where he saw many devout tourists and believers. Ye Yin''s look was almost exactly like those people''s.


    "Mr. Zhang, if Ye Yin doesn''t want to be discovered, there are hardly a few people in the world who could detect him."


    "Does he have Harry Potter''s cloak or what?"


    "Ye Yin, it seems Mr. Zhang doesn''t quite believe in your abilities," Hong Yi said to Zhang Menglong with a smile.


    Just at that moment, Ye Yin''s body suddenly disappeared from the seat as if it had evaporated.


    "What the fuck!"


    "Thump!"


    "Sss-ow!" Zhang Menglong''s head hit the top again, "Where... where did he go? How did he disappear?"


    "Mr. Zhang, look up," Hong Yi said, pointing to the top.


    The top of the helicopter wasn''t made of metal sheets but of a transparent reinforced material. Zhang Menglong could see the sky and the rapidly spinning rotor blades above.


    The sky, which had been empty just moments ago, now presented a scene Zhang Menglong would never forget.


    Ye Yin was standing on the rotor blades of the helicopter, arms crossed over his chest, looking straight ahead. He exuded the vibe of Superman, the only difference being his underwear wasn''t worn over his thermal pants.


    "Aghast ach-ch-ch..." Even when he had inherited a legacy of 5000 years, Zhang Menglong had never been so flustered.


    No, that wasn''t right; he had seen such a spectacle once before, that night at the place called Super God Academy, when his parents ascended side by side, hands joined. The scene was eerily similar.


    But at that time, he thought he was dreaming, not feeling anything particularly special, whereas now, he was certain, he was not dreaming, nor was he hypnotized.


    "Sorry for startling Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin said absently, having returned behind him, the slightly disheveled hair proving that he had indeed just been outside.


    "What... what in the world is going on?" Zhang Menglong''s mind was filled with question marks.


    "As you can see, Ye Yin is a very special person," said Hong Yi, "If Mr. Zhang has some understanding of your parents, you should also know that they have some incredible abilities."


    "I''ve seen them flying..." This was just too ridiculous in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, so he had never mentioned it to anyone, but looking at Hong Yi, she seemed not to be surprised at all.


    "That''s right," Hong Yi said evenly, "Although I haven''t seen it with my own eyes, every one of your ancestors possessed such unique skills."


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong began to search Ye Yin''s body, "I know the poor rely on mutations, and the rich rely on technology, so my family members should all be relying on technology, right? Strange, where is his flying device? No, there shouldn''t be such a small flying device..."


    A few lines of frustration suddenly appeared on Hong Yi''s forehead, "Mr. Zhang, Ye Yin doesn''t rely on technology, but... I''m sorry, I don''t understand these powers, nor can I explain them; our Hong Family''s purpose is simply to manage your assets, and all we know is that there is such a group within the Zhang Family."


    "A group? Not just one or two people?"


    "There is another one beside Miss Lu," said Hong Yi, "So as I said earlier, if Miss Lu really encounters danger, someone will ensure her safety immediately, even if it means making that tutor vanish from earth without anyone knowing."


    "That... is illegal, isn''t it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, although you might not be able to accept some things momentarily, not everyone is bound by the rules of this world," Hong Yi explained, "You are among them."


    "So was my dad serious when he said that there''s absolutely nothing our family can''t do? That wasn''t just bragging?"


    Hong Yi looked up in thought for three seconds, then nodded her head, "As far as I know, that''s true."


    "Turns out my understanding of my own family was still so one-sided." Zhang Menglong smiled wryly, feeling helpless.


    "So what exactly is Ye Yin? A psychic? An ancient martial artist? A mutant? An alien? A Kryptonian?" Zhang Menglong started to accept some of the events that had just transpired, and his imagination began to expand.


    "Strictly speaking, we''re still normal people, just with some methods that have unlocked human potential," Ye Yin explained, "Mr. Zhang must have heard of those cases where the elderly lift a ton-heavy car to save their child pinned underneath. That is human potential."


    "Gene Lock? I''m not well-read, but don''t think I haven''t seen ''Infinite Terror''."


    "You could understand it that way," said Ye Yin, "Zheng Zha was a very good man. He helped me a lot when I was a child."


    "Ah? What?" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused. He didn''t understand what Ye Yin was talking about. Wasn''t Zheng Zha a fictional character from ''Infinite Terror''? Could it be that he''d read too many novels and gotten so absorbed that he thought he knew Zheng Zha?


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t be too astonished, there are many people like me in the world. Of course, we obtain these extraordinary powers in myriad bizarre ways. In our Huaxia, especially within families with deep foundations, there are usually one or two such individuals."


    "Like who?"


    "For instance, the largest family in Huaxia, the Hua Family of Yanjing, which has produced many leaders, they have quite a powerful individual known as ''Asura,'' whose real name is Hua Luocheng."


    "Asura? Haha, then, are there also ''Judge,'' ''Dragon King,'' and ''War God''?" Zhang Menglong suddenly thought of the popular online novels with such adolescent-sounding nicknames that had already become memes.


    "I haven''t heard of anyone called ''Judge'' or ''War God''," said Ye Yin thoughtfully, "but there actually is someone known as ''Dragon King.'' He is... by most people''s understanding, a psychic, able to control water in rivers, lakes, the sea, and even the water vapor in the air."


    "And where is he now?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "24 years ago, when your father Zhang Xiaoyun was young, he worked for a family. There were some conflicts between that family and Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun, so they directly sent out ''Dragon King'' to deal with your father using methods that shunned the light."


    "And then?" Since Zhang Menglong existed, it indicated that nothing had happened to Zhang Xiaoyun at the time.


    "That ''Dragon King'' was crippled by Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun at that time, and it seems he is now in charge of artificial rain at a vegetable farm of your family, with a monthly salary of 8,000 yuan."

 Chapter 124 122: Let Him Know About the Perils of Society

    "A water-based Psychic watering my vegetable garden?" This sounded utterly absurd, yet when Ye Yin spoke of it, it somehow took on the air of Versailles literature.


    "Forget it, I can''t be bothered with you oddballs anymore," Zhang Menglong felt it would take him a long time to digest all this¡ªif he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes today, he might even suspect he was going insane.


    "Hold on, since when have you been protecting me?" Zhang Menglong suddenly thought of this question. "Before you turned 10, it was my father who protected you. Since then, it has always been me," Ye Yin said.


    "You''ve been following me for over a decade?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth dropped open. To think that a living, breathing person had stood guard over him for so many years without him realizing.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, do you remember a car accident from three years ago?" Ye Yin asked.


    "Three years ago?" Zhang Menglong''s thoughts immediately returned to his freshman year, and suddenly, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, "Was it you who protected me?"


    "Yes," Ye Yin nodded.


    "No wonder! I thought some ancestor had manifested to protect me from the unknown." Zhang Menglong finally showed a look of realization.


    Three years ago was his first time coming to Jiangnan City to study, and because he had arrived in this city full of novelties, Zhang Menglong often went out to explore with his roommates in tow.


    One time, they returned very late, and since everyone was quite exhausted, their attention was somewhat scattered. At an intersection, a truck sped towards them at at least 80 mph¡ªif it had hit them, none of them would have survived.


    But miraculously, the truck took flight two meters in front of them, flipping over their heads and crashing to the ground while Zhang Menglong even felt the strong gust of wind caused by the impact force.


    Later, the driver was found to have been drunk driving, and they narrowly escaped unscathed, but the scene lingered in Zhang Menglong''s memory to this day.


    "Isn''t that a bit over the top?" Now that Zhang Menglong knew it was Ye Yin who had saved him, he found it hard to believe that someone shorter than himself could possess that kind of strength.


    Could it really be like the novel "Infinite Terror" that he had unlocked human potential and gained powers beyond ordinary comprehension?


    "That''s ridiculous!" Zhang Menglong slapped his own face, only believing it wasn''t a dream after feeling the stinging pain.


    "Hold on, if you''ve been following me for over a decade, then do you... do you know everything about me?" Zhang Menglong was still a virgin, so he didn''t have any particular acts he feared to be witnessed.


    But since middle school, cough cough, as a youth brimming with virility, Zhang Menglong had researched quite a bit of physiological knowledge, claiming he had watched countless videos wouldn''t be an exaggeration¡ªYe Yin hadn''t seen all those scenes, had he?


    "You can rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I will absolutely not speak of things I shouldn''t, and I promise, I will not see things I''m not supposed to see."


    "Who''s my favorite teacher?"


    "Kana Momonogi!"


    "What''s the number for the last video I watched?"


    "Siro-1xxx!"


    "And you say you didn''t see anything?"


    "Why the hell is your face turning red?" Zhang Menglong knew Ye Yin had seen it all when he saw the blush spread across his face. No, even if he hadn''t seen, he must have heard.


    "Mr. Zhang, Ye Yin''s family has been with yours for over three thousand years, his loyalty to you is assured," Hong Yi, red-faced but still vouching for Ye Yin, chimed in.


    "Holy moly, over three thousand years?" That meant since the Western Zhou Dynasty, his ancestors had been mixed up with his own family¡ªit was like they were the old guard.


    "No wonder he looks at me that way," Zhang Menglong seemed to understand a bit.


    "Alright, from now on, don''t look at what you shouldn''t, got it?"


    "Understood." Ye Yin nodded, his figure gradually fading from Zhang Menglong''s sight.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, really impressive. If only I could be that awesome," Zhang Menglong sighed.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ll have your day."


    "Huh?" Zhang Menglong didn''t understand.


    "None of your ancestors were ordinary people, and you''re no exception."


    "I almost believed you," Zhang Menglong curled his lip. If there were some kind of secret manual or treasure at home, his parents should have given it to him before they left. Could he really just mutate his genes and become a superhero out of the blue?


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve arrived," Jiangnan City is only about a hundred kilometers from Gusu. For this helicopter, it''s just a matter of minutes.


    "I do want to see what kind of thing would dare to commit crimes so brazenly." Zhang Menglong''s pressure dropped suddenly. Since the frequent occurrences of teacher misconduct in schools over the past few years, the supervision by the relevant departments has intensified. Logically, those teachers should all be behaving themselves, keeping their tails between their legs.


    It was surprising to see someone still daring to be so bold.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you want to take care of it?"


    "Since when did you become so violent?" Zhang Menglong glanced at Hong Yi. It was the first time he knew Hong Yi had this side to her. Was she ready to get rid of people just like that?


    It wasn''t that Zhang Menglong was indecisive or anything. For someone living in a harmonious society, even if they had the power of life and death, they wouldn''t challenge the norms of society and morality so quickly, right?


    "Then what do you plan to do?"


    "Do you have information on that person?"


    "Yes," Hong Yi seemed to have all the information memorized, "Bai Shengwu, a professor of pop singing at the Music College of Gusu University, 44 years old. He has been teaching at Gusu University for 15 years and has harassed over a hundred female students to date."


    "Scumbag!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse, "Hasn''t anyone reported this man?"


    "Bai Shengwu generally selects very timid girls as his targets and usually those who are undergraduate students or graduate students. He often has something on them, so most people, even if they suffer some physical or verbal abuse, don''t dare to speak out."


    "Hasn''t anyone been, you know, by him?"


    "Yes, there have been seven victims, and there are photos or videos of the incidents. You know, for a girl''s family, their reputation is more important than anything. So they chose to let it rot inside rather than let others know."


    "Good lord, a habitual offender." Zhang Menglong hated these kinds of people the most. Clearly, this beast''s behavior was even more disgusting than Ding Yuxi''s. How could such a person be fit to teach?


    "How''s Yiyi?" Zhang Menglong added another question.


    "Miss Lu is fine. When Bai Shengwu was about to make a move, the person responsible for protecting Miss Lu knocked him out. Of course, Miss Lu won''t find out how he passed out."


    "That''s good. Keep these matters from Yiyi for now."


    "Yes."


    "However, murder is not the answer, but it is necessary to let him know the dangers of society," Zhang Menglong said, "Ye Yin, I have a task for you."


    By the time Zhang Menglong finished explaining the task, Hong Yi couldn''t help but blush and feel embarrassed. Zhang Menglong was not just cunning; he was shameless!


    "Did you understand?"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang." Ye Yin''s voice emerged softly beside Zhang Menglong, "But isn''t this task a bit too perverse?"


    "Against a pervert, a perverted method is needed. Once you finish this task, you''ll get a raise. Go on!"


    ...

 Chapter 125 123 "Be Safe at Night

    Lu Yiyao lay on the dormitory balcony, staring into the sky in a daze. Today, she''d almost been taken advantage of by that teacher who was reputed to be the sleaziest one in the whole school.


    If it weren''t for Bai Shengwu fainting for some unknown reason, she would have likely faced some harassment.


    With her father being what he was and her teacher also being that way, Lu Yiyao had never been an overly optimistic person. If Zhang Menglong hadn''t appeared, her life would probably have been bleak.


    "If he knew about it, he would definitely be very angry, right?" Thinking of Zhang Menglong, a hint of happiness finally appeared on Lu Yiyao''s face.


    "Ah! I forgot I promised to play games with him tonight!" Lu Yiyao suddenly remembered, realizing she''d been spacing out on the balcony for over an hour, and that it''d already gotten dark.


    She took out her phone, and indeed, there were already more than 99 messages under Zhang Menglong''s avatar.


    "I had something to take care of just now, and made you worry!" Lu Yiyao sent over a cute emoticon.


    "You know you got me worried?" Zhang Menglong replied with an emoticon, "That won''t cut it, I can''t just worry for nothing. You owe me a kiss!"


    "Get lost!" Lu Yiyao laughed out loud. Zhang Menglong always talked big like this, daring to act cheeky with his words, "Are we still gaming or not?"


    "No gaming tonight, look up at the sky, will you?"


    "The sky?" Lu Yiyao looked up towards the sky, which had been a dull grey and empty just moments before.


    "Huh? What''s that?" Right at that moment, a light suddenly appeared in the sky, followed by countless more lights swarming in that direction.


    "Holy shit! UFO! Guys, come check this out!"


    "What are those things? Glowing? Airplanes? No way!"


    At Gusu University, all student dorms were in the same area, and many of the students hanging out on their balconies also noticed the red dots of light.


    "Damn! They''re mini drones!" exclaimed some tech geeks from a nearby male dorm, who had grabbed a telescope and identified the true nature of the red dots.


    "So many drones? What''s the deal? Are they trying to film our Gusu University girls'' dorm?"


    "Idiot, have you ever seen anyone use this many drones for secret filming? This looks like thousands of them!"


    "Clear enough? Which model is it?"


    "Damn!" the boy with the telescope couldn''t help but curse, "These are the latest Shining Word drones, absolutely top-notch for aerial photography. I heard even a camera could be lifted into the sky by them. They are the largest civilian drones available, priced at $120,000 each."


    "Dude, over a thousand? Isn''t that over a hundred million US dollars?"


    "Could it be some special performance by Gusu City?" someone speculated.


    The previous New Year''s Eve, Gusu City had utilized 2,000 similar aircraft to form the words "I Love Gusu" in the sky, which then appeared in almost every person from Gusu''s social media.


    "Probably, right? Unless it''s some domineering CEO pampering his little wife?"


    "Did you just jinx it?"


    Before the sentence was even finished, the thousands of aircraft suddenly converged to form a heart shape, and all the lights turned a pinkish purple.


    Instantly, the entire sky was filled with a romantic hue.


    "Ah!" The girls screamed excitedly, while even the boys were so thrilled that they started pounding on the tables. Such a spectacle was something they might not witness once in a lifetime.


    "My God, who''s doing this grand confession?"


    "Who could withstand this!"


    Countless photos quickly spread online, skyrocketing to the top of the trending searches in no time.


    "Buzz buzz buzz!" Lu Yiyao''s phone vibrated, Zhang Menglong had just sent her a voice message.


    "I heard Miss Lu Yiyao wasn''t in a good mood today, wonder if this has made it any better."


    "Ah ah ah! Yiyi, is this your family''s boss Zhang who''s behind this?" Lu Yiyao''s roommates were all in the dorm too, having joined the balcony to see the commotion amid the noise, but none of them imagined this was Zhang Menglong''s doing.


    "Wh-wh-what! I''m willing!"


    "What are you agreeing to, fool! He''s not doing this for you!"


    "Yuqian, look, someone in the group chat has identified the model, it''s the $120,000 drones!"


    "That''s got to be over a thousand, right? More than a hundred million US dollars? Guys, I''m stunned!"


    "Holy shit! Yiyi, does your Boss Zhang have a brother or something? A big brother would do too¡ªor, if that''s not possible, is he missing a mom? I''m down to be the stepmom!"


    "What the hell are you talking about!! Isn''t a house and a car enough to shut you guys up?" Lu Yiyao laughed and cursed.


    "I''m downstairs!" Lu Yiyao received another message from Zhang Menglong.


    When Lu Yiyao looked downstairs, sure enough, Zhang Menglong was standing there, waving at her.


    "Hey! Where are you going?"


    "Bring an extra piece of clothing! Yiyi!"


    "No use shouting, look at her, it''s got to be Boss Zhang! What clothes to bring! Just bring yourself!"


    "Exactly, the love offensive is in place, how could she not come? She''s probably already downstairs!"


    "Quick! Lock the door!"


    "Hahaha, right, right, right, taking someone''s money to ward off their disasters¡ªYiyi definitely can''t return to the dorm tonight!"


    "Hahaha! Sorry Yiyi, but the downtown apartment and the Maserati are just too tempting; it''s not that we''re not nice enough, it''s just that we really can''t resist these sugarcoated cannonballs!"


    "Quick, block her number tonight!"


    "We are all good sisters, but it''s all for show!"


    ...


    Rushing downstairs in a hurry, Lu Yiyao had no idea that at this moment her roommates were already planning to make her homeless for the night.


    "How''s it going, feeling any better?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile as he looked at Lu Yiyao.


    "Not bad!" Lu Yiyao placed her hands behind her back.


    "You got upset and didn''t even tell me¡ªdo I, Zhang Menglong, even matter to you anymore?" Zhang Menglong pretended to be angry.


    "You know about it?" Lu Yiyao''s eyes flickered with surprise. Zhang Menglong was supposed to be in the Magic City, so how did he know about today''s events? Moreover, he had rushed over so quickly.


    "What is it that I don''t know about," Zhang Menglong said, "I also know that you''ve long harbored a secret crush on me."


    "Bullshit!" Lu Yiyao laughed and cursed.


    "In the future, I don''t want to worry about you as just a friend anymore."


    "What?" Even though Lu Yiyao and Zhang Menglong had become so close they could talk about anything, this sudden outpouring of affection left her stunned.


    "Little Lu student, would you like to become little Zhang student''s girlfriend? In the future, I want to be by your side as your boyfriend, always standing by you." As Zhang Menglong''s voice filled the air, the thousands of drones in the sky began reshaping their formation, and a rose bloomed in the night sky.


    Everyone''s attention was fixed on the sky, but no one noticed who the main character of this performance was.


    "So flashy!" Lu Yiyao said with a feigned tone of disdain, but her face bloomed with a joyful smile.


    "Seeing you''ve put in so much effort, I suppose I''ll reluctantly agree to your request!" Lu Yiyao said confidently to Zhang Menglong, her cheeks already flushing red.


    "Thump!" Just then, a wallet fell from the sky, landing right between them.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong looked up. "Doesn''t anyone know how dangerous falling objects from high up can be?"


    But as he looked up, he saw Guo Yuqian and Lu Yiyao''s other roommates smiling down at them.


    "Yiyi, my cousin will need to stay over again tonight, so we''ll have to impose on you a bit."


    "Yiyi, don''t forget your ID card!"


    "Yiyi, we''ve already locked the door, so don''t bother resisting."


    "Yiyi, just give in to Boss Zhang tonight!"


    "Cough, cough, cough, be safe!"


    "You guys!" Lu Yiyao was about to swear at them, but her roommates had already retreated.


    "It''s all your fault!" Lu Yiyao glared at Zhang Menglong


    ...

 Chapter 126 124: I plan to donate a sum of money to your school

    "How did you get here so quickly?" The two wandered hand in hand along the streets of Gusu City.


    "Of course, I had to. A man has to be quick when it''s time to be quick, or what''s my private jet for?" Zhang Menglong said, exaggerating.


    "Pah! You rascal, not this again!" Lu Yiyao glared at him, "How did you know what happened here? Did Qian Qian and the others tell you?"


    "It''s telepathy," Zhang Menglong quipped, "The moment you''re in danger, I''ll know right away. Otherwise, how do you think I got here so fast? Why didn''t you tell me when such a thing happened?"


    "Isn''t it because I didn''t want to worry you?"


    "So if you don''t tell me, I won''t worry?" Zhang Menglong said, "What if you got hurt? Where would I go to find another Lu Yiyao?"


    "There won''t be another Lu Yiyao, but there are plenty of internet celebrities, stars, and even European royalty and nobility, right?" Lu Yiyao said with a smile.


    "How could any of them compare to you?" Zhang Menglong''s voice suddenly turned colder, "As for that guy named Bai Shengwu, I won''t let him off so easily."


    "Don''t do anything rash!" Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong''s personality well. Just because Ding Yuxi had assaulted a girl he previously didn''t even recognize, Zhang Menglong had cornered Wang Yi Music to a dead end, let alone if she herself was hurt.


    She was somewhat scared that Zhang Menglong might do something impulsive and inappropriate in the heat of the moment.


    "Don''t worry, I''m a civilized person. A civilized person has civilized ways to solve problems. I''m not going to do anything violent," Zhang Menglong said.


    "So what are you planning to do?" Lu Yiyao had heard some unsavory things about Bai Shengwu and knew of girls who had suffered and were too afraid to speak out. If these beasts could be exposed, it would truly be a cathartic event for many.


    "Heh heh!" Zhang Menglong started to laugh, "Naturally, I have my ways."


    "Come on, tell me what you''re going to do!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, Lu Yiyao knew someone was going to be out of luck¡ªand it wouldn''t be pretty. Not physically, of course, but mentally.


    "Give me a kiss and I''ll tell you!"


    "Get lost!"


    "Damn it, you dare to hit me?"


    "Why wouldn''t I dare? Today we need to establish the hierarchy in this household first!"


    "Woman, you''re playing with fire!"


    ...


    Once again, Lu Yiyao was driven out of her dorm room by her roommates and had to spend the night at Zhang Menglong''s place. Of course, they didn''t move too fast into doing inappropriate things, since their relationship had only just begun. Despite this, the way they were together still made Zhang Menglong utterly delighted.


    "Isn''t this breakfast a bit too lavish?" Lu Yiyao eyed the meal that could rival a state banquet, "Do you eat like this every morning?"


    "No, no, no. We have important things to do today, so of course we need to have a full meal for energy," he replied as he ate.


    "What''s that?"


    "Meeting with your principal!" Zhang Menglong said, his speech muffled by food, "That Bai Shengwu has to be dealt with somehow."


    "The principal? You''ve made an appointment with our principal?"


    "Not yet!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Then you probably won''t be able to meet him," Lu Yiyao said, "Our principal is very busy, and it''s not just anyone with money who can see him. Recently, I heard there''s a new school district planning project and he''s even meeting with the leaders from Gusu."


    "You think things can''t be done with money because the offer isn''t high enough," Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, come here a moment."


    "Mr. Zhang, what can I do for you?"


    "Call the president of Gusu University for me. Tell him I want to make a donation to their school." Zhang Menglong spoke as if he was talking about ten dollars, "Tell him I want to discuss the specific use of this money in detail with him and ask if he has time today."


    "Mr. Zhang, how much do you plan to donate?"


    "Let''s start with 10 billion for now!"


    "Okay, I''ll contact him right now."


    "Is... is this the solution you mentioned?" Lu Yiyao''s captivating eyes widened.


    For the whole of Gusu University, after deducting the part for scientific research, the national funding they received yearly was far from ten billion yuan. It wasn''t only about meeting some related officials; even if it was meeting Yama himself, the university president would probably crawl out of his coffin to meet him.


    "Yeah, what other methods could there be?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Soon after, Hong Yi finished making a phone call, "Mr. Zhang, President Xu of Gusu University said he''s free all day today. As soon as you get there, he''ll be waiting for you in his office."


    "OK, I got it. Arrange a car, we''ll go over at 9."


    "Understood."


    "See, isn''t everything settled now?" Zhang Menglong threw a playful look at Lu Yiyao.


    ...


    In the president''s office at Gusu University, Xu Wenshan, dressed in a suit and beaming, paced back and forth, seemingly eagerly anticipating someone''s arrival.


    "President, weren''t you supposed to meet with the city bureau leaders today? Why suddenly ask me to reschedule? You know they are very hard to arrange to meet with," said President Xu''s assistant, who had just cancelled the day''s appointments for him.


    "Today we have a very important visitor coming."


    "More important than the city bureau leaders?"


    "It''s an investor," President Xu stated, "Our plan for the new campus has been settled, but we''ve always had issues finalising the funding. I just received a call from an entrepreneur who said he''s willing to sponsor a sum for Gusu University."


    "President, this isn''t something that can be handled with just a few million."


    "This entrepreneur wants to donate ten billion!"


    "What? Ten billion?" On hearing the number, the assistant couldn''t stay calm either, "President, this isn''t a joking matter. What entrepreneur could afford to donate ten billion to a school? Is it one of our alumni?"


    "No," the president shook his head, "this person is not from our school."


    "Then why would he want to donate to our school?"


    "I don''t know either, but you must have heard of his name."


    "Who?"


    "Zhang Menglong!"


    "The young man who''s been frequently appearing in the news lately?"


    "That''s him."


    "President, I might know why," the secretary said with a chuckle.


    "Oh? Tell me?"


    "President, he''s quite the celebrity in our school. Back in the day, he offered 100,000 yuan as a finder''s fee to anyone at our school who could help him find a female student. That day, over a thousand people from the school, including some teachers, got involved."


    "Were you a part of it as well?" the president asked, amused.


    "Heh heh, necessity compelled me," the secretary laughed sheepishly, "and moreover, just last night, there were thousands of drones at our school. Apparently, someone was confessing to the girls in the dormitory, and students even captured photos of that young man named Zhang Menglong leaving the campus with one of our female students."


    "That''s quite interesting," President Xu was entertained, "so his donation to our school is likely related to this girl?"


    "It should be. So do you think we should discuss this matter further?"


    "Discuss my ass!" President Xu suddenly became anxious, "The young man is just in love, why meddle so much? We''re in an open-minded era, an era of liberated thought. A university student has also reached this age; hurry and get ready to receive the guest. We must secure this donation today!"


    "Who was it that said students should prioritize their studies?" the secretary muttered under his breath, "As soon as you see this money, you forget what you''ve said, don''t you?"


    "What are you muttering about!"


    "Nothing, nothing..."

 Chapter 127 125: Principal, The Female Teachers Underwear Has Been Stolen

    "President, Mr. Zhang Menglong is here!"


    "He''s finally here, quick, go make some tea!" The president hurriedly straightened his clothes, displaying the same serious and solemn demeanor he reserved only for meetings with provincial and national leaders.


    "So, you must be President Xu? I''ve heard much about you. One look and I can tell you''re an intellectual." In fact, Zhang Menglong had not known that Gusu University''s president''s last name was Xu, but of course, politeness was necessary.


    "Mr. Zhang, you are much younger than I expected," said President Xu as he shook hands with Zhang Menglong. "Come, please take a seat."


    "President Xu, you need not address me as Mr. Zhang. I am at most a junior to you; just calling me Xiao Zhang would suffice,"


    "Alright, Xiao Zhang, then I won''t stand on ceremony," President Xu responded with a beaming face.


    "Oh, by the way, this is my girlfriend, and this is my personal assistant. They won''t disturb our discussion here, will they?"


    "Not at all, not at all!" President Zhang quickly replied, "Xiao Zhang, Miss Hong Yi told me that you plan to donate to our university?"


    "Yes," said Zhang Menglong, "you should know, my girlfriend is from Gusu University, so I consider myself half from Gusu University as well. It is only right to contribute a little."


    "A little?" The secretary of President Xu was buzzing with disbelief.


    Not to mention how 1 billion US dollars had suddenly become a small contribution, but even if one was to make a gesture, should it be Zhang Menglong? Who had ever heard of someone donating a billion dollars to his girlfriend''s university just like that? Was this the so-called whims of the wealthy?


    "Xiao Zhang, your willingness to give back to society is admirable. On behalf of the entire faculty and students of Gusu University, I thank you for your outstanding contribution,"


    "It''s nothing, just some spare change," Zhang Menglong said.


    "This is hardly spare change!" Although there was a strong urge within President Xu to scold Zhang Menglong, he restrained himself, "Xiao Zhang, you might not know, but our university has been negotiating a new campus project recently. The land has been secured, but we''ve had some difficulty with the financing hasn''t come through yet. Your donation has truly come at a critical moment."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong found that he had indeed come at a good time.


    "Moreover, the colleges that plan to move to the new campus include the Music College!"


    A slight smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s lips; since that was the case, he might as well add a bit more excitement.


    "President, I suddenly think that we should reconsider this donation for a bit longer."


    "What?" President Xu was taken aback, puzzled. Could it be that Zhang Menglong was having second thoughts?


    He became anxious immediately, "Xiao Zhang, if you have any thoughts about this money, you can speak directly to me. I will take your opinions into consideration to the greatest extent. Isn''t your girlfriend at the Music College? I can ensure that more of the donation goes towards the Music College."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, you can rest assured about handing over the money to us!" President Xu''s assistant also quickly persuaded.


    Lu Yiyao looked at Zhang Menglong with a puzzled expression; what kind of play was he staging now?


    "You misunderstand; I am not intending to withdraw the billion-dollar donation."


    "Phew!" Hearing this, President Xu and his assistant finally relaxed, "So, what you mean is..."


    "To build a campus, how would a billion dollars be enough?" Zhang Menglong said, "Even if it''s just a small campus, wouldn''t the buildings alone require at least eight to ten? And the hardware must be complete, right? There has to be sufficient greenery, doesn''t there?"


    "Moreover, for the Music College, the instruments for student use must be of a certain quality, right? A few Steinway grand pianos wouldn''t be too much, would they? Violins, cellos, erhus, suonas, they all need to be available, right? This billion dollars would be spent in no time."


    "This..." President Xu was dumbfounded, what exactly was he trying to say?


    "Let me think about it more carefully; ten billion is just too little and wouldn''t make much difference," Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi, "Let''s increase it tenfold to one hundred billion; that should barely cover the first phase of the project."


    "One hundred billion?" Principal Xu''s grip on the cup in his hand almost shattered it.


    Just like that, a tenfold increase right from the start? Is this aiming for the sky? Isn''t this beyond doubling?


    "Young Zhang, don''t start your bids by talking in billions, I''m too old for this, my heart can''t take it." Principal Xu quickly gulped down a big gulp of water.


    "Sorry, sorry, I just recently acquired Tengxun Music, and I got a bit used to it; I almost blurted out in US Dollars."


    Principal Xu''s heart momentarily stopped. One hundred billion US dollars, not just for building one campus, but even if you were to rebuild the entire Gusu University, it would probably be more than enough.


    "Young Zhang, this amount is huge, and I might need to consult with a few people about the specific implementation measures," Principal Xu said apologetically, "Young Zhang, when can this money be transferred? Even a partial amount would be fine, as the construction team is already asking for payments..."


    "I will need to investigate this first," Zhang Menglong suddenly said sternly, "Although it''s not a large sum, it is still money. Whether this money can be properly utilized and not be embezzled by someone with ulterior motives is something we need to discuss."


    "You can rest assured on that!" Principal Xu immediately clapped his chest in assurance, "Our Gusu University''s faculty quality is very high; the teachers have their own principles and would never do what you are worried about."


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong''s expression suddenly became intriguing, "But I seem to have heard that some teachers, especially from the Music College, don''t have very good morals. I am concerned that if this money falls into the hands of those people, it would be troublesome."


    "How could that be! There absolutely isn''t such a person among our school''s faculty!" Principal Xu suddenly got agitated.


    "Principal Xu, please don''t be offended by my words; since I''ve mentioned it, clearly I''ve heard something. You might be too busy managing school affairs to notice, but it wouldn''t hurt to investigate."


    "Secretary Xue, is this really happening?" Principal Xu turned to his secretary.


    "Um... Principal, to tell the truth, there are indeed some rumors among the students, but they are just student rumors, not to be taken as fact."


    "So, there really is such talk?"


    "Yes," Secretary Xue replied, "I''ve heard that several professors from the Music College seem to behave improperly!"


    "Knock, knock, knock!" Just then, the door of the principal''s office was suddenly knocked.


    "What''s going on? Didn''t I say no visitors this morning?"


    "I''ll go check." Secretary Xue stood up, but as soon as he opened the door, a dozen female teachers rushed into the principal''s office.


    "You... what are you doing?" the principal asked as he looked toward the security guard who had been pushed to the side of the door, "What exactly is going on?"


    "Principal! You must take care of this matter!"


    "Yes! It''s outrageous that our school has seen such incidents!"


    "If this gets out, our school''s reputation will be completely ruined!"


    A group of female teachers began to complain noisily.


    "What on earth are you talking about?" Principal Xu was utterly confused.


    "Principal," at this point, the security guard stepped forward, "Last night, many female teachers who live on campus reported that their hanging undergarments were stolen. They initially thought they were blown away by the wind, but after asking around, there turned out to be dozens of teachers who lost their clothes!"


    "Whoosh!" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly, "Principal Xu, see, I told you there are issues with the moral atmosphere at your school. It seems we should talk about this matter some other time!"

 Chapter 128 126 Principal, I am Studying Art

    "Yiyi, Hong Yi, let''s go. I feel that Gusu University is still somewhat unreliable. It''s unbelievable that such a perverted incident could occur. It seems that we really need to scrutinize this donation and can''t just give it away blindly!"


    "Yeah, I thought that the ethos of a century-old prestigious university would be of high quality. Who would have thought that there would be such incidents of underwear theft in the school? It seems we overestimated Gusu University!" said Hong Yi, echoing Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Menglong, our school shouldn''t have such incidents, I always find it strange," Lu Yiyao defended their school in confusion, "As far as I know, our school has never experienced such incidents. Could it be someone''s prank?"


    Seeing Lu Yiyao defending the school, the principal and his secretary quickly concurred, "Yeah, Xiao Zhang, I feel there must be something wrong. If this incident really was done by someone in our school, I will definitely punish them severely without mercy!"


    "Exactly, exactly, security! Go check the surveillance cameras! I refuse to believe that so many personal garments could be stolen without leaving any clues!" the principal''s secretary urged.


    "Principal, I have already checked the surveillance footage," the security guard said with a wry smile, "but the footage shows no suspicious individuals. Those balconies are almost blind spots for the cameras; from my point of view, it''s as if they were blown away by a gust of wind."


    "What kind of gust of wind!" The female teachers couldn''t stand it any longer, "If it was the wind, why are none of the male teachers'' things missing, and it''s only our belongings that have been lost?"


    "That''s right! Could it be that the wind discriminates between men''s and women''s clothing? There must be some pervert who has used unspeakable methods to do this!"


    "Absolutely! Principal, you must find out who this pervert is; otherwise, which female teacher would dare to live on campus in the future?"


    "Indeed! For now, it''s only the belongings of our internal staff that have been stolen. But if one day the students'' things are taken, and this gets out, it will have a huge impact on our school''s reputation!"


    "Thump!" The principal slammed his fist on the table angrily, "Outrageous!"


    Today was supposed to be a very joyful occasion. He could have obtained a donation of 100 billion from Zhang Menglong, but just as the donation was almost secured, this incident occurred, and how could he not be furious?


    The teachers were right; this incident had to be man-made!


    "Investigate! I want an investigation! No matter who it is, even if it''s a professor, this time I will definitely handle it with the utmost severity!" The principal of Gusu University, who was known for having a temper, was utterly humiliated by the incident.


    "Principal, I am quite willing to believe in your school, as it is a century-old reputed university, but there could still be a few bad apples," said Zhang Menglong, "I will temporarily reserve this donation for Gusu University, but if this incident isn''t resolved, I can''t rest assured handing over the donation to you."


    "Alas!" The principal sighed, "Xiao Zhang, sorry for making you witness this farce. Just now, I said that nothing like this could happen at our school, but now I''m genuinely slapping my own face!"


    "Principal, it''s normal to overlook some matters when you have so much on your plate, but we must find this person as a warning to others. Otherwise, it will be an eternal shame for Gusu University, and it might even affect future student enrollment!"


    "Yeah, but now that we don''t have a single clue, where do we even start the investigation?" The principal glanced at the security guard, but the look in the guard''s eyes was just as perplexed. He simply couldn''t fathom how the thief managed it.


    "Principal, our faculty living quarters can only be accessed by teachers, so, I suspect that the problem lies within our teaching staff!" a female teacher suggested, "We should perform a check amongst the teachers now!"


    "Indeed, what Ms. Wu said makes sense. Let me find out which bastard did this, and I''ll smack him hard!"


    For the female teachers, such an incident was absolutely intolerable!


    "Principal, I have heard some rumors and perhaps they are not entirely baseless," the principal''s secretary said.


    "Are you talking about the situation at the Music College?"


    "Exactly!" the principal''s secretary continued, "I''ve heard that Mr. Bai Shengwu from our Music College has been behaving improperly. Some even saw a female student crying as she ran out of his office before."


    "There have been such incidents?" The principal''s face changed, "Then why wasn''t there an investigation?"


    "We investigated, but the female student said it was just that she didn''t do well on her sight-singing exam, and Mr. Bai only made a few critical comments, nothing indecent as alleged."


    "That''s a relief," the principal let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.


    "However, there''s more than just one or two incidents involving Mr. Bai."


    "There are other incidents?"


    "Everything I have heard involves Mr. Bai, but there has never been any evidence, and the students implicated have never had any non-academic reasons for distress, so most people think Mr. Bai might just be too strict. But now that I think about it, all the students involved are girls, which makes me feel that something isn''t quite right!"


    "Investigate!" the principal slammed his hand on the table. "No matter the reason, as a teacher, this is already a dereliction of duty. A teacher should not only focus on the students'' academics but also consider their self-esteem!"


    "Yes, what the principal said makes sense!"


    "Knowing about such matters, we must deal with them right away, let''s go now!" Principal Xu was partly angry, but also partly putting on an act. He wanted Zhang Menglong to see that he took the quality of his teaching staff seriously, thereby gaining trust in their school.


    But what he didn''t know was that all this fell right into Zhang Menglong''s plans. Bai Shengwu''s behavior was not just the sort of overly strict teacher that Principal Xu understood it to be.


    "I''ll go along and take a look as well," Zhang Menglong said, seemingly casually.


    "Good! Let''s go together!" Seeing that Zhang Menglong was willing to go, Principal Xu was even happier. He had to handle this matter to Zhang Menglong''s satisfaction, as for the perverted teacher, there was plenty of time to investigate. Gaining Zhang Menglong''s trust was the most important thing right now.


    The Music College was located in the most secluded part of the school. If you approached a bit closer, you could hear the sound of pianos and violins coming from inside, and occasionally, the sound of less refined instruments like suonas and gongs, instruments that accompany someone from birth until their seventh-day passing ceremony.


    Lu Yiyao followed behind Zhang Menglong like a little wife, and she suddenly realized that everything seemed to be manipulated by an unseen hand. How could it be so precisely directed at Bai Shengwu?


    Yet Bai Shengwu was just indecent with female students and he never left any evidence whether through intimidation or enticement. As for this underwear pervert, she never connected him with Bai Shengwu before.


    "Principal, this is Mr. Bai''s office, and it seems he is inside," said someone.


    "Let''s go take a look!" The principal knocked on the door. Although he was seething with anger, he still maintained basic decorum.


    "Principal, what brings you here?" Bai Shengwu, seeing the principal, immediately put on a sycophantic smile.


    "I just haven''t visited our college''s teachers for a while. I wonder what Mr. Bai has been busy with lately?" the principal asked politely.


    "Ah, us in the arts, aside from studying the arts every day, what else can we do!"


    "Amita?bha!"


    "Hallelujah!"


    Suddenly, a strange voice came from Bai Shengwu''s office, and Bai Shengwu''s face changed drastically. A person like him, how could he not recognize what that sound was?


    In his spare time, he most enjoyed studying the art of the Island Country, and he was all too familiar with that kind of voice.


    But what he could not fathom was how his well-hidden collection could possibly start playing at this moment?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong deliberately showed an exaggerated expression, "Mr. Bai, is this the art you study?"

 Chapter 129 127: All My Collected Treasures

    At that moment, Bai Shengwu noticed Lu Yiyao beside the principal, aware of his misconduct, his gaze wandered nervously.


    As for Zhang Menglong, although he had become notorious at Gusu University, he had quickly blocked relevant information, and most of the teachers didn''t care much about it, so Bai Shengwu only knew of him by reputation.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong now, he just found him slightly familiar, after all, Zhang Menglong wasn''t part of the entertainment or music circles; he was involved in the internet celebrity scene.


    "How could she come with the principal?" Bai Shengwu felt a twinge of unease, but upon reflection, he believed he hadn''t left behind any evidence.


    Moreover, he had inexplicably fainted that day and had been found by his students, who could attest to his innocence, so he wasn''t afraid of Lu Yiyao.


    But those indescribable sounds in his office...


    Despite the principal''s old age and waning interest in such matters, he was no child. He would recognize what those sounds were the moment he heard them.


    "Step aside!" He pushed Bai Shengwu away and stormed directly into the office.


    The computer in Bai Shengwu''s office was showing a series of indecent images not suitable for children, and a few tissues were even scattered on the floor.


    "How is this possible?" Bai Shengwu was dumbfounded, as he had just been searching for music scores on his computer, and he swore those tissues weren''t there before!


    "Someone is setting me up!" Bai Shengwu was instantly consumed by rage, but with only half a minute from his leaving the seat to the sound, with no one else in his room, how could this happen?


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve completed what you arranged." Only Zhang Menglong could hear the voice whispering by his ear, which belonged to Ye Yin.


    "Impressive!" Zhang Menglong admired Ye Yin''s capability inwardly.


    "Is this what you call art?" the principal pointed to the computer screen and said, "Turn it off now, we have female teachers and students present, what do you think you''re doing?"


    Bai Shengwu hurriedly fumbled to turn off the computer screen.


    "Principal, listen to my explanation, it''s not like this, I suspect someone is setting me up?"


    "Setting you up? Do you think I am blind or senile?" the principal grew even angrier, "Tell me, if you weren''t watching this yourself, who could open your computer and play these within such a short time, and vanish right under our eyes?"


    "Principal, it''s really not like this..."


    "Principal, your school''s teachers are very disappointing," Zhang Menglong shook his head and sighed, "It''s good that the money hasn''t been transferred yet, otherwise I wouldn''t know what kind of school my money was going to!"


    "Hong Yi, I think we can leave now, it''s confirmed. It seems the things we discussed earlier weren''t just made up by others."


    "Principal, who is he?" Bai Shengwu said indignantly, referring to the young man of about 20 speaking so arrogantly.


    "This is Mr. Zhang Menglong, the investor of our new campus. He came for an inspection today, and it''s all because of you, you rascal! You''ve brought our school to ruin!"


    "So that''s Zhang Menglong?" Bai Shengwu finally matched the figure in his mind with this young man.


    "Mr. Bai, you truly are a role model amongst teachers. Today has really been an eye-opener!" Zhang Menglong clapped his hands sarcastically.


    "Yiyi, there''s no need to stay at this kind of school. In a few days, I''ll invite two world-class masters from a top music college to teach you. One of them was a student of a friend of Pavarotti, named Wu Qiang. I''ve heard that no one in the world has a higher voice than his. You don''t need to attend this college anymore; just learn from them!"


    "He came here for her!" Bai Shengwu was not a fool. Seeing the extraordinary relationship between Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao, he immediately understood everything!


    What donations? All that was fake; he was here to help Lu Yiyao get back at someone!


    "Could it be that the girl he came looking for in our school was Lu Yiyao?" Bai Shengwu suddenly felt a chill down his spine. If he had known about this relationship, he wouldn''t dare mess with Lu Yiyao even if it meant an outbreak of meningitis!


    She probably doesn''t have any evidence." Bai Shengwu felt slightly reassured. Today''s incident could at most prove his personal life was improper; there were no fundamental mistakes. The school might only give him a disciplinary action, and considering the school''s reputation, they might not even make a big issue out of it.


    As long as he could keep his job, nothing else mattered. Being a professor, even without those rewards and honors, his yearly income was still considerable, and the impact on him was not significant.


    "Zhang, wait a moment!" The principal immediately became anxious. He glared fiercely at Bai Shengwu, "This Teacher Bai merely led a bit of a dissolute private life; he has been separated from his wife for many years and has some needs. Just a little indiscretion; I''ll talk to him, and that should suffice."


    "Principal Xu, what about the theft case? There seem to be quite a few issues at your school, I might need to reconsider this!"


    "Theft? What theft?" Bai Shengwu instinctively asked.


    "Our female teacher lost many personal garments last night. This wouldn''t be related to Teacher Bai, would it?" A woman resembling Master Extinction stared at him piercingly.


    A teacher with a dissolute private life had already been labeled unfavorably in their minds, and Bai Shengwu was directly placed among the suspects.


    Being a teacher and having such inclinations, perhaps he truly might have done this.


    "How could that be possible!" Bai Shengwu immediately denied, "Ladies and gentlemen of the faculty, this is a matter of principle. How could I involve myself in such behavior? It''s absolutely impossible. I stake my honor on it!"


    "Yeah, right, you talk about honor while you watch adult movies of Teacher Daqiao?" Zhang Menglong mocked harshly.


    "You seem to know a lot!" Lu Yiyao quietly pinched Zhang Menglong''s waist, "Could it be that you also enjoy this alone often?"


    "Hahaha, I appreciate art, I appreciate art!" Zhang Menglong said quietly.


    "Wait, what is this?" A female teacher suddenly stood up. She walked to a cabinet which was locked, but a white lace ribbon was seen protruding from the seam.


    "Oh, those are my collections!" Bai Shengwu casually glanced over; the cabinet housed his collection of various musical instruments accumulated over many years, including some used by renowned musicians, something he was very proud of.


    "Your collections?" the female teacher pulled at the ribbon, which, to her, looked very much like the lace of underwear.


    "Teacher Bai, do you also have a hobby of collecting such items?"


    "Haha, I am in the arts, so collecting these items is quite normal," Bai Shengwu walked over, "If you don''t believe me, I''ll open it and show you. It''s bound to surprise you!"


    Bai Shengwu approached the cabinet. At that moment, he noticed the lace in the teacher''s hand.


    "What is this?" Bai Shengwu was certain; the items he stored in his cabinet were definitely musical instruments and should not include such things!


    "Teacher Bai, go ahead and open it; why are you hesitating? Let us see your collection. I want to broaden my horizons; I wonder what treasures you have."

 Chapter 130 128: Lets Start with a Donation of 50 Million

    "Principal, these are just some musical instruments I''ve collected, nothing interesting for you all, I suppose!"


    "Open it!" The principal wasn''t blind; he seemed to have already guessed what might be in there, and the temperature around them seemed to drop in an instant.


    "Security, smash it open!"


    "Yes, Principal!" The security guard came over with tools in hand.


    It was just a wooden cabinet, and the broad-shouldered security guard knocked the door off its hinges after a few strikes, suddenly a pile of colorful items fell out.


    These were actually women''s intimate apparel!


    "Ye Yin, did you take all this?" Zhang Menglong had only meant for Ye Yin to take a token amount; how had it turned into an entire box?


    "Mr. Zhang, didn''t you say just a little bit? I only took a tiny bit."


    "Your ''tiny bit'' seems quite different from the ''little bit'' I meant!" Zhang Menglong immediately rolled his eyes.


    "Teachers, I''m sorry, but to bring this pervert to justice, I had to resort to this strategy. You won''t blame me, will you? I''ll surely donate more money later!" Zhang Menglong admitted this act wasn''t very honorable, but in order to expose Bai Shengwu''s true colors, he couldn''t care about shame anymore.


    Seeing this, Bai Shengwu was stunned, unable to comprehend how these items ended up in his cabinet.


    "Well done, Teacher Bai! Bai Shengwu, you''ve shamed our school completely!" The principal finally exploded, he hadn''t expected to find such a degenerate in his faculty; it seemed he would need to focus more on teachers'' quality in the future.


    "Principal, it wasn''t me... someone set me up, it must have been him!" Bai Shengwu pointed at Zhang Menglong and said, "It must have been all his doing!"


    "Teacher Bai, you can eat shit indiscriminately, but you can''t speak irresponsibly. I bear you no grudges, why would I frame you?" Zhang Menglong looked innocent.


    "Bai Shengwu, you still deny it at this point?"


    "Principal, it''s all his scheme, yesterday I did something to Lu Yiyao..." Bai Shengwu cut himself off and quickly covered his mouth, almost revealing what he had done the day before in his panic.


    "Yesterday? What did you do to student Lu yesterday? Huh?"


    "Principal, I did nothing, she was here for the graduation concert arrangements, I simply gave her some guidance yesterday, she might have misunderstood something."


    "Misunderstood?" The principal said coldly, "It seems you really think I''m senile!"


    "Principal, no matter what happened, this theft by Teacher Bai is undeniable, we should call the police now," the secretary said, knowing that they had to show Zhang Menglong the school''s resolution in handling the issue to calm his anger and suspicion.


    "Go call the police!" The principal sat down, "I will personally wait here."


    "Principal, I..."


    "I don''t want to hear you speak now. You should think about how you will explain yourself to the police later!"


    ...


    They waited a full half-hour before several police officers finally arrived.


    "What took you so long?" Zhang Menglong said impatiently.


    "Our Gusu''s manpower is a bit strained; despite a sizable force, we don''t have many police cars, so there might have been an issue with deployment," the principal soothed Zhang Menglong''s mood.


    "Officer Liu, why did it take you all so long to get here today?" The school''s security often dealt with these officers and was quite familiar with them.


    "You know as well as I do, our station only gets so much funding each year, not even enough for daily maintenance. With Gusu being so vast, it''s not easy to rush over¡ªthere simply aren''t enough vehicles!"


    "That''s unacceptable!" Zhang Menglong said with righteous indignation, "What if there''s an emergency in the future? Are we supposed to just wait to die?"


    "Principal Xu, this is..."


    "Oh, Officer Liu, this is one of our school''s investors, Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "He''s Zhang Menglong?" The young officers immediately straightened up considerably, "Mr. Zhang, you''re right, but we''re quite powerless in this situation, today we even had to temporarily requisition other vehicles to come here."


    "Do you have your leaders'' phone numbers?"


    "Yes, are you looking to..."


    "Donate, buy cars!" Zhang Menglong said, "My girlfriend is studying here, and if the security can''t keep up, how can I be at ease?"


    "Yes, we''ll contact right away!" the two young police officers knew that Zhang Menglong''s financial resources were bottomless¡ªif he was willing to donate, their police force could definitely move up several notches!


    "What? A donation?" Upon hearing this news, the leadership of the two police officers immediately became excited, "You hurry up, give the phone to Mr. Zhang!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this is Chief Zhu." The officer carefully handed the cell phone to Zhang Menglong.


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am Zhu Guangwei!"


    "Chief Zhu, hello, I am Zhang Menglong," Zhang Menglong said.


    "I just heard, you want to make a donation to our side?"


    "Yes, let''s start with a donation of 50 million!" Zhang Menglong said offhandedly, "Hire some extra staff, we can''t take Gusu''s security lightly, personnel must be sufficient, don''t you agree?"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Zhu Guangwei''s mouth almost split with joy upon hearing the amount. 50 million, this could not only expand the staff but also allow them to buy a batch of police cars and motorcycles, which would greatly improve their efficiency on duty.


    "Hong Yi, transfer the money!"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s already been transferred!" Hong Yi said.


    "Chief Zhu, can you check if it has arrived?"


    "So fast?" Zhu Guangwei had never seen someone so eager to have their donation accepted.


    "Chief Zhu! We just received a donation of 50 million!" Before Zhu Guangwei could inquire, someone hurriedly rushed into his office to report.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s been received, thank you for your support to Gusu''s public security!"


    "It''s only right; my girlfriend is there, and the stronger your force, the more secure her safety, right?"


    "You all, whatever Mr. Zhang needs, cooperate as much as possible, understood?" Zhu Guangwei instructed the two police officers, "Consider this a merit for today!"


    "We understand!" The two police officers were all smiles, not expecting such an unexpected gain during today''s duty¡ªall thanks to Zhang Menglong!


    "Mr. Zhang, was it you who called the police? What''s happened?"


    "It''s like this, something vile happened at Gusu University!" Zhang Menglong recounted the events.


    "Unbelievable, Gusu University has such a scourge within its ranks!"


    "Indeed, it truly tarnishes our Gusu!"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, we will handle this matter with the utmost seriousness!"


    "Wait a moment!" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve heard that this Teacher Bai has also been involved in the indecent assault of students, I hope you can investigate this!"


    "You''re talking nonsense!" Bai Shengwu suddenly became agitated¡ªshould these matters be investigated, not only would his reputation be destroyed, but his life would be over too.


    "That''s not for you to decide." Zhang Menglong replied with a sneer.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang! Our leaders have instructed us, we will handle your matters seriously!" the two police officers said, "We will apply for permission to investigate his related computers and documents, and we will definitely give you a satisfactory response!"


    "Then I''ll leave it to you!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Later, I might donate a few Bugattis for you to use as police cars!"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s the least we could do!"


    The two police officers immediately beamed with joy, Bugattis as police cars? That was a treatment only seen in Dubai! If Zhang Menglong really did make the donation, it would be another great merit for them!


    They had to do a good job with Zhang Menglong''s request! As long as it was within the bounds of legality and reason, they would definitely provide full support!


    "It''s over!" Bai Shengwu knew that the 50 million had completely dazed these police officers.


    The videos he hid in his own folders¡ªif the investigation permission was granted, his crimes would surely be exposed for all to see!

 Chapter 131 129: Why Arrest Me for Poaching from My Own Company?

    "Ah! A disgrace!"


    Although Bai Shengwu was taken away, Principal Xu''s face was ashen. With such an incident occurring, he, as the principal, also bore responsibility!


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry you had to witness this debacle," Principal Xu seemed to have aged several years in a moment.


    "Principal, it''s not your fault, there''s no need for you to apologize."


    "As for the donation, I have no face to accept it," although very reluctant, the disgrace their school suffered today was already too much.


    "Hong Yi, transfer ten billion to Gusu University''s account," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang, what are you..."


    "Principal Xu, this scum needs to be dealt with, but the school also needs to develop, right? After removing the rat feces, the stuff in the pot also needs to be changed. Let''s start over from this new campus!"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Principal Xu was immediately moved to tears, "Mr. Zhang, on behalf of all the teachers and students, I thank you for your generosity!"


    ...


    "Was that whole incident your doing?" Bai Shengwu was behind bars, and it was only a matter of time before the remaining issues were investigated. Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao also left the school.


    "What do you mean, ''was it my doing''? Do you really think I''m that twisted?" Zhang Menglong said with a bitter smile, "Bai Shengwu was trash to begin with; is it surprising he would do something like this?"


    "True!" Lu Yiyao thought for a long time. Even if Zhang Menglong was wealthy, he couldn''t be so omnipotent, could he? Suddenly, she couldn''t be bothered to think more about it.


    "Come with me to Jiangnan City!" Zhang Menglong took Lu Yiyao''s hand, "I''m afraid I can''t take good care of you here."


    "Hey, I''m not a child anymore," Lu Yiyao protested, "I''ll graduate in less than half a year, can''t you wait that long!"


    "Of course, I can''t wait!" Zhang Menglong suddenly revealed a mischievous smile, "That Teacher on the bridge just now..."


    "Ah! Don''t talk about it anymore! Zhang Menglong, you''ve changed!"


    "How have I changed? I never said I didn''t look before, hahaha!"


    ...


    After staying in Gusu for a few days, Lu Yiyao switched to a new teacher, and all preparations had to start again. Zhang Menglong instructed Hong Yi to take good care of her while he returned to Jiangnan City alone.


    Two days earlier, Wang Ling had resolved all copyright issues and had also returned to Jiangnan City. In three days, the download volume of Music Voice Forest exceeded 50 million, and the number of users broke through 300 million!


    Keep in mind, Wangyi Music had been operating for so many years and had only just broken through 800 million users (including duplicate registrations).


    Moreover, according to feedback from app markets, in these few days, the uninstall rate of Wangyi Music reached an astonishing 12%!


    Of course, the desire to uninstall due to comments on songs was a major reason, but as the user count of Music Voice Forest increased, the number of comments on songs also soared. It wouldn''t take long to replace Wangyi Music.


    What mattered most was that in the past three days, the user payment rate of Wangyi Music was only 3% of the same period!


    With free copyright, the best sound quality, only a fool would pay for songs that you charge for!


    Moreover, to meet the needs of some fans, Music Voice Forest had also launched a tipping feature; except for a portion taken by the app market, Music Voice Forest didn''t take a penny, giving it all to the musicians!


    Such actions instantly won the favor of musicians nationwide. Most niche musicians were just making ends meet, so for them, Music Voice Forest''s approach was a godsend!


    As a result, a large number of musicians chose to sign with Music Voice Forest, and their number of original musicians began to skyrocket.


    Because Wangyi Music was entirely controlled by Ding Yuxi, the Ding Family, and some relatives, there were no fluctuations in stock prices, but it was clear to those with discerning eyes that their withdrawal from the market and potential closure was only a matter of time!


    Days ago, Tengxun had announced that the entire Tengxun Music was sold to Zhang Menglong, which further solidified these speculations.


    In the first week after Music Voice Forest''s explosion, Zhang Menglong arrived at the headquarters of Wangyi Music, "Find Ding Yuxi for me!"


    "Zhang Menglong is here!"


    "What''s he doing here? How dare he show his face? Look what he''s done to us!"


    "Keep your voice down, don''t let anyone hear you. I heard that our boss Ding offended him, which is why he went to such lengths!"


    "Yeah, spending tens of billions on copyrights to take us down, it''s like he''s avenging his father''s death or something!"


    "You''re underestimating Zhang Menglong. Is ten billion a lot for him? At most, it''s because boss Ding is too ugly and blinded him."


    "Hahaha, you really dare to say that, aren''t you afraid of getting fired?"


    "What''s there to be afraid of? Anyway, even if we don''t get fired, the company''s about to go under soon. Hey, what do you think he''s here for?"


    "Could he be here to take over our company?"


    "That would be great! Given the current situation, we won''t be able to get our salaries in two months, so it would save us the trouble of looking for another job."


    As Zhang Menglong arrived at the company, everyone began to talk, each with a different attitude, after all, he was the one who had forced Music Ease to this point.


    "Mr. Zhang, our boss Mr. Ding says he doesn''t want to see you," the receptionist said as she hung up the phone.


    "Oh, let him be. It doesn''t make any difference to me whether he sees me or not!" Zhang Menglong signaled to the two men following him, "Bring out the stuff!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" The two young men in Music Forestry''s uniform promptly rolled out a pull-up banner in the company lobby.


    "Music Forestry recruitment?"


    "A special recruitment event for Music Ease? Holy shit, this is a stab to the heart! This operation is genius; it''s my first time seeing someone directly recruiting from their competitor''s company."


    "Is this even poaching? This is outright recruitment!"


    "Salary based on the original with a 20% increase! They''re offering raises!"


    "Damn! No wonder he''s Mr. Zhang, I''m resigning on the spot at light speed!"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you really here to recruit?" one employee asked, curious.


    "Of course! It''s written in black and white!"


    "Any requirements?"


    "If you could get into Music Ease, you must be talented. All you have to do is resign now, and you can start working with me tomorrow!"


    "Damn!"


    "Shit!"


    "Hurry up and write your resignation letters! Are you waiting around here to retire or what?"


    "What... what are you doing?" Several veterans of Music Ease panicked immediately. To them, Music Ease was as vital as their own child; even if it was falling apart, they would support it to the very end!


    "Director, the company''s almost gone. Don''t blame us. We have our elders to care for, children to feed, and mortgages to pay, we can''t miss this opportunity!"


    "Yeah, Director, why don''t you come with us?"


    "Traitors! You lot, once you leave, don''t ever think of coming back!"


    "Director, no offense, but even if we wanted to come back, would the company still be here?"


    "Director, pen, paper, let''s write it together!"


    "Where''s the security? Call the police; this is harassment! This is unfair business competition!" the Music Ease director shouted.


    "Call the police?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Go ahead and call them. Even if the police come, they won''t arrest me. I''m poaching from my own company, why would they arrest me?"


    "What? Impossible! Except for a small part of the shares held by us executives, the rest are with Mr. Ding and his relatives."


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong said, "Last night, Ding Xinbo, representing Mr. Ding''s seven aunts and eight uncles, begged me to buy their shares. 57% of the shares, supposedly worth over 40 billion US dollars, I got them for just 10 billion dollars!"


    "What? How could this be?" The director was completely dumbfounded.


    "57% of the shares? Doesn''t that mean Mr. Zhang is now the chairman of our company?"


    "Damn! Who would care about someone poaching in their own company?"


    "Poaching from his own company? What the hell kind of move is that?"


    "I get it now, he''s here to piss off Mr. Ding!"


    "What Mr. Ding, it''s Mr. Zhang now!"


    "Hahaha, I''ll gladly call Mr. Zhang the most cunning!"


    ...

 Chapter 132 130 Convert this place into a foot-bathing city

    "Damn! This isn''t poaching or recruiting, this is straight up giving raises!"


    Someone finally caught on.


    "But wait, he owns the company now, why would he still need to pull this kind of stunt?" someone wondered aloud.


    Clearly, Netzay Music was no longer viable, a takeover by Music Forest was inevitable, so why would Zhang Menglong bother with hosting a recruitment event here?


    Just like with Tengxun Music, they simply transferred the entire company structure over, keeping the complete organization, wouldn''t that save a significant amount of time and manpower costs?


    "I get it now!" someone suddenly realized, "He''s trying to drive Mr. Ding to his death!"


    "Brother, what do you mean?"


    "Think about it, if he takes over the entirety of Netzay Music, doesn''t that mean our company becomes part of Music Forest too?"


    "Yes!" echoed the crowd, "What''s wrong with that?"


    "It''s hugely problematic!" the person analyzed, "Consider, if the takeover is in the company''s name, wouldn''t Mr. Ding and his crew also hold a significant share in Music Forest? Our Mr. Ding clearly has a grudge against Mr. Zhang. Would he really watch idly as Mr.


    Ding makes money off him?"


    "So what you''re saying is?"


    "He''s poaching all our people. Once he has everyone, he doesn''t really need the company''s structure¡ªjust maybe an office building at most. Yet, this would completely separate him from Netzay Music. Once all of us are gone, it''s just a shell company."


    "What good does that do him?" someone puzzled, "You just heard, Mr. Zhang spent a billion US dollars for a 57% stake. What''s the point in buying a shell company for so much money?"


    "Do you think Mr. Zhang is short of a billion US dollars?"


    "You... you seem to have hit the nail on the head."


    "A billion US dollars to him might as well be ten bucks."


    With that thought, everyone suddenly understood.


    "When it''s just a shell company, what use are the shares Mr. Ding is holding? With no people, what business can there be?"


    "Absolutely ruthless! This move is brilliant!"


    "Damn, stop your yapping, the resignation letters are already written up! If he recruits enough, are we supposed to go whistle in the wind?"


    "Right, right! Where''s the pen? Who took my damn pen?"


    "Why do you need a pen, just agree and be done with it!" someone said, holding a resignation letter emblazoned with emoticons, heading toward Ding Yuxi''s office.


    On the emoticon packet, in bold letters, it read, "With the peanuts you pay me, how can I do my job well?"


    "Not bad at all, everyone''s catching on fast, each one a real talent!" Seeing the chaos in the Netzay Music building, Zhang Menglong immediately showed a pleased expression.


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    "Come in!" Ding Yuxi said listlessly from his office.


    These past few days, he had been under tremendous pressure. All the family shareholders, his aunts, and uncles, were demanding to know why such a situation had arisen, wondering if he and his son had offended Zhang Menglong.


    Ding Yuxi hadn''t had a proper night''s sleep in a week.


    To salvage their business, they had tried hard to win back some of the signed artists, but they flatly received the answer "Not Selling."


    Zhang Menglong''s royalty fee was several times higher than theirs, and on top of that, he made sure song profits mostly went to the artists, with a smaller cut for distributors, without taking any share himself.


    By contrast, Netzay Music not only exploited them, but also skimmed off the top of the reward revenue. How could that compare?


    Even Ding Sanshi''s intervention had no effect whatsoever.


    "Mr. Ding, it''s me." A employee who had worked for five years walked into the office.


    "Oh, Manager Li, it''s you. You''ve been working hard lately, just wait until the company gets through this..."


    "You know I''ve worked hard, and you won''t even get me a cup of tea quickly?"


    "What did you say?" Ding Yuxi was suddenly taken aback.


    Manager Li was one of the company''s most outstanding business managers and also one of the most exploited individuals; however, the boss''s favorite type was exactly people like him. Usually, just a couple of compliments would keep them happy and extremely humble in attitude.


    This was the first time Ding Yuxi had heard Manager Li speaking to him in this manner.


    "Manager Li, are you too tired?" Ding Yuxi almost thought he was hearing things. Was this the same diligent and compliant Manager Li?


    "All day it''s ''you''ve worked hard, you''ve worked hard.'' How much business have I expanded for the company? My salary hasn''t increased in two years, and you brush me off with just one sentence?" Manager Li seemed to vent all his accumulated resentment from the past few years.


    "Li Qing, have you gone mad? How dare you speak to me this way?"


    "Why the hell shouldn''t I speak to you? Do I owe you something?"


    "Have you taken the wrong medicine?" Ding Yuxi slammed the table, "You don''t need to come in tomorrow!"


    "You''re asking me to leave, and I don''t even give a damn!" Manager Li slapped his resignation letter on the desk, "Goodbye to you!"


    "Awesome!" Manager Li shouted skywards and swaggered out of Ding Yuxi''s office.


    "The bastard, has he gone mad today?" Confusion was written all over Ding Yuxi''s face.


    "Whoosh!" A paper airplane suddenly flew into Ding Yuxi''s office, poking him right in the eye.


    "Who! Is this the place to do such things?" Ding Yuxi picked up the paper airplane, "Another resignation letter?"


    "What on earth is going on?" Ding Yuxi suddenly felt something was not quite right.


    Wangyi Music could still be considered a big company, and although the workload was high, the compensation was good, and staff turnover wasn''t significant. Why on earth was everyone suddenly resigning today?


    Just as he was perplexed, a few leaders of the company also walked into the office and handed him their resignation letters.


    "What on earth is happening?" Ding Yuxi couldn''t hold back anymore.


    "Mr. Ding, it''s not that we don''t want to work anymore, but the company really can''t survive now. Mr. Zhang Menglong is now recruiting in our company; anyone who goes there gets a 20% pay raise. It''s just too attractive."


    "Mr. Ding, over 90% of our staff have already submitted their resignation requests; Mr. Zhang has already started processing the joining formalities below. As long as we resign on the spot, we can join his company immediately."


    "What? He''s coming to poach my employees right here?" Ding Yuxi said, "I need to see just how he''s digging here!"


    Ding Yuxi stormed down to the reception area on the ground floor.


    Indeed, just like the employees had said, Zhang Menglong was really processing onboarding formalities there, and his previous employees had even lined up long queues.


    "Where''s security! Security! Get him out of here, call the police if he won''t leave!" Ding Yuxi yelled.


    "What are you yelling for? No shouting allowed inside the company, don''t you know the rules!" Zhang Menglong said while sipping his bubble tea at the side.


    "This is my company, please leave, or I will have to call the police!"


    "Sorry, but this company is mine now!" Zhang Menglong pulled out a stack of shareholder agreements, "All your aunts and uncles have already sold their shares to me at a low price. Now, I am the chairman of Wangyi Music."


    "You..." Ding Yuxi had no doubt about the authenticity of the shareholder agreements, his relatives had already mentioned this over the phone, but he didn''t expect them to actually sell everything! And at a discount! And to Zhang Menglong!


    "Zhang Menglong, what on earth do you want?"


    "Nothing much, just thinking of changing the company''s business," Zhang Menglong responded, "By the way, you still have a small stake in this company. According to the shareholder agreement, two-thirds of the shareholders'' presence is enough to hold a shareholders'' meeting. So, let''s have an emergency one right now.


    Those in favor of turning Wangyi Music into a music-themed foot massage parlor, please raise your hands!"

 Chapter 133 131: Asias Largest Foot Bath Center

    "Foot spa city?"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice was so loud that the people around him heard his conversation with Ding Yuxi.


    The once second largest music platform in the country, the grand NetEase Music, was actually going to be transformed into a music-themed foot spa city? How sensational was that?


    "Zhang Menglong, you..." Ding Yuxi was already so angry he was trembling. The last time he had been infuriated by Zhang Menglong, he had ended up in the hospital. The doctor had told him his heart had some congenital arrhythmia, and if often stimulated, it might very likely develop into heart disease.


    "Don''t look at me, vote!" Zhang Menglong said, "Our shares combined, have already surpassed two-thirds. We can just raise our hands to vote, and it will pass. I''ve already taken care of the new business license!"


    "Xiao Wang, bring the license and that plaque!" Zhang Menglong called to an employee from Music Forest.


    "Right away, Boss Zhang!" The person known as Xiao Wang quickly ran out and soon came back, his hands holding a service industry business license and a golden plaque.


    "NetEase Footpath!"


    "Hahaha! Awesome!"


    "NetEase Footpath? NetEase has its way, hahaha, Boss Zhang is truly a talent!"


    "This is too sensational, I''m dumbfounded!"


    "Ah bah, ah bah ah bah..."


    "You see, I was prepared. From now on, this building will be our NetEase Footpath building. I will soon arrange for technicians to come over, and I have also invited Mr. Qiao Shan as our spokesperson. This will definitely become popular throughout the entire Jiangnan City!"


    Zhang Menglong patted the plaque, "I''ve decided, we''re not only doing foot massages, but also ear picking, massages, and cupping therapy¡ªeverything except the illicit, we do it all!"


    "What''s wrong, aren''t you happy?" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically, "Do you think I''m too domineering? No worries, I''m very democratic. While I may be the chairman, we still decide based on the voting results. Now, those who agree with transforming NetEase Music into NetEase Footpath, please raise your hands!"


    Zhang Menglong blissfully raised his hand above his head.


    "One vote in favor, zero against, so it''s decided then!"


    Ding Yuxi was nearly spitting blood. Sure, there were two of them, but Zhang Menglong had a greater share of stocks than him, even his father being here now wouldn''t change the fact that Zhang Menglong had the final say. This NetEase Footpath, it was set in stone today!


    "Xiao Wang, go hang up the license and the sign. I''ve already contacted the construction team, they will start work tomorrow. Can we wrap everything up today? If not, I''ll bring a couple more people over to help!"


    "Don''t worry, Boss Zhang, we can handle it here."


    "Good, then I leave it to you. If you do well, you''ll be the manager of this NetEase Footpath."


    ...


    "Damn, our NetEase Music is becoming NetEase Footpath starting today?"


    "This is something, I couldn''t have imagined that the place I''ve worked at for three years would one day turn into a foot spa city."


    "This is probably driving Mr. Ding and his son crazy."


    "Yeah, a lifetime of hard work, not only got acquired by someone else but also turned into a foot spa..."


    "What kind of grudge is this, if I were Mr. Ding, I might''ve just banged my head dead against this here."


    "By the way, let me announce another piece of good news!" Zhang Menglong said, "I plan to move Music Forest close here. Everyone will still be working nearby, so no worries about commuting. Also, NetEase Footpath will be open 24 hours free for Music Forest employees. Y''all can come any time!"


    "Damn! That''s some welfare!"


    "Hahaha, it''s too blissful!"


    "What NetEase, only good enough to massage Boss Zhang''s feet!"


    "Woohoo, a heavenly company!"


    "Pfft!" As soon as Zhang Menglong finished speaking, Ding Yuxi was instantly consumed with rage and actually spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Damn, he''s not going to die, is he?" Zhang Menglong suddenly got worried. Ding Yuxi probably deserved death for doing that sort of thing, but it wasn''t his place to play the executioner.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t worry, he won''t die," Ye Yin''s voice came from beside him.


    "What, you know medical skills too?" Zhang Menglong then felt somewhat relieved.


    "It was just a little trick."


    "Hey, security, call the ambulance," Zhang Menglong said, "And make sure you testify for me, I didn''t hit him, nor did I swear at him; I didn''t utter a single dirty word from start to finish. It''s his own bad mentality, not my fault!"


    As the sound of an ambulance echoed, Ding Yuxi was taken directly to the hospital.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you really going to turn this place into a foot bath shop?" Some of the veteran employees at Wangyi were still uncertain, thinking it was just something Zhang Menglong used to anger Ding Yuxi.


    Spending ten billion US Dollars on a foot bath shop seemed akin to burning money.


    "Yes, what about it?"


    "Isn''t that a bit wasteful?"


    "Wasteful..." Zhang Menglong suddenly fell into deep thought, "You have a point, such a big building, using it all for foot baths does seem a little wasteful."


    "How about this," Zhang Menglong snapped his fingers, "first floor for reception, second floor for major health care, third floor for snacks, fourth floor for a gym, fifth floor for a cinema."


    "I am defeated!"


    "Slick move, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    With Ding Yuxi in the hospital, there wasn''t much point in Zhang Menglong staying around, so he left the mess at Wangyi to them and left directly.


    As he had just stepped out of Wangyi, he received a call from Ding Sanshi.


    "Mr. Ding, what''s up?" Zhang Menglong asked casually.


    "Zhang Menglong, you sent my son to the hospital, and you have the nerve to ask me what''s up?" Ding Sanshi said furiously; it was his only son, but thankfully, the doctors said it was just fire from anger, no harm to the heart.


    "My fault? It''s his own poor mindset."


    "Are you satisfied now?"


    "Satisfied?" Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed, "Why should I be? Your son owes my friend fifty billion for emotional damages and hasn''t paid yet. You think we''re done here?"


    "You already turned Wangyi Music into Wangyi Foot Bath City, what more do you want?" Ding Sanshi roared.


    "I think the Wangyi headquarters building is pretty nice. I plan to make it the biggest foot bath center in Asia, what do you think?"


    "You!" Ding Sanshi almost followed in his son''s footsteps, turning the Wangyi headquarters into Asia''s biggest foot bath center? Was he shooting for the moon?


    But for some reason, he believed that Zhang Menglong might actually do it.


    First, he had the financial power.


    Second, he had no interest in money.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you really want?" Ding Sanshi was out of answers, "Even if my son did something wrong, you don''t have to be so relentless, right?"


    "No, no, no, it''s not just your son who offended me at Wangyi."


    "Someone else too?" Ding Sanshi was taken aback.


    "During the recruitment period, I applied at Wangyi, and I reached the final round, only to get ousted by someone with connections. Can you believe it?"


    "Are you kidding?" Ding Sanshi looked astonished. Did someone like Zhang Menglong even need a job? Was he trying to experience life?


    "Actually, you had a chance to become my boss, but Wangyi missed that opportunity," Zhang Menglong said, "Thanks to you, I didn''t want to try anymore and just went back home to take over the family business."


    "I..." Ding Sanshi clenched his fists, "Who on earth did that!"


    Ding Sanshi finally understood why Zhang Menglong was so ruthless ¡ª besides his son''s incident, there was another story involved.


    "Alright, fifty billion, get ready. Otherwise, I will start preparing to take over Wangyi," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "Have Qiao Shan endorse a couple more foot bath cities for me. He shouldn''t charge extra, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 134 132: What did you just ask me?

    "Fine! I''ll give it to you!" Ding Sanshi clenched his teeth as he spoke, as Zhang Menglong''s actions would put not just Music Forest at risk, but potentially bring down the entire Wangyi Group.


    Wangyi was his life''s work, and if it truly became the largest foot bath center in all of Asia, he, Ding Sanshi, might well end up as a historical figure noted in history textbooks, albeit for an ignominious reason.


    "I''ll give you the remaining shares of Music Forest, and shares worth 25 billion US Dollars from Wangyi Group''s other public companies. Are you satisfied now?"


    For Ding Sanshi, this money was like flesh being forcibly carved from his body.


    "Satisfied? Why should I be satisfied? It''s not me you are compensating!" Zhang Menglong stated emphatically. "I''m merely seeking justice for the victims on behalf of my family. It''s as if this money is meant for me."


    "Zhang Menglong, there''s no need for pretense at this moment. You''re clearly after our Wangyi shares, aren''t you?" Ding Sanshi said.


    "Would I care about the small amount of shares from a company like yours?" Zhang Menglong sneered. "If even a dime of that money lands in my pocket, I''ll eat the Wangyi Building on the spot!"


    Ding Sanshi''s face alternated between shades of green and red, as Zhang Menglong''s remark was clearly a jab at his previous deceitful behavior.


    "Moreover, 25 billion in equivalent shares is not enough!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t you cross the line!" Ding Sanshi''s tone also became more forceful.


    "Am I crossing the line? Where have I crossed the line?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Do you think your Wangyi''s 47% share is worth 25 billion US Dollars? Go ask around and see if anyone would buy those shares for 25 billion, think everyone is a fool?"


    "You..." Ding Sanshi was about to explode, but Zhang Menglong was not wrong. Music Forest was currently in dire straits¡ªwith little more than a building, a user-depleted app, and some contracts nearing expiration¡ªit had almost nothing left.


    Not to mention 25 billion, even 10 billion wouldn''t find a buyer, as long as Music Forest stood, Wangyi Music had no hope of turning around.


    And now, Zhang Menglong had even converted Music Forest into a foot washing city, and decoration workers had already begun demolishing walls that afternoon. Could foot washing turn things around? Even if you washed a thousand dirty feet of the national soccer team, you couldn''t dream of returning Music Forest to its peak.


    "So what do you suggest?"


    "Your relatives bought those shares for 1 billion US Dollars, a discount of about 2.5%. I won''t cheat you, let''s value the rest at 8 billion Huaxia yuan. Just gather another 42 billion, and we can settle this."


    "Impossible!" Ding Sanshi said without even thinking, as truly parting with these shares valued at 42 billion would mean losing significant control over Wangyi Group, and even his own net worth would halve!


    "President Ding, it seems I forgot to take account of my own interests," Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed, "This 50 billion, it''s just for that young girl. If I were to seek some justice for myself, it would be more than just 50 billion."


    "President Ding, considering your age, why not retire early? You could still cash out your shares in Wangyi, travel the world. Why bother with all this trouble? Moreover, your good-for-nothing son is virtually a train wreck. Why not take this experience and start afresh with something else?"


    "Zhang Menglong, is there really no room for negotiation?" Ding Sanshi aged several years in an instant.


    Indeed, if he sold all his shares, he could easily net a hundred billion, enough to ensure luxurious lives for generations just by depositing it in a bank, provided it wasn''t squandered.


    But this was his dream. Wangyi was like his child; he didn''t want it to belong to someone else, nor did he wish to see it turned into a foot washing city.


    "No!" Zhang Menglong said forcefully. "Don''t test my patience! It took me half a day to acquire a social media platform, acquiring Wangyi won''t take more than a week. If President Ding doesn''t believe me, we can make a bet, and whoever loses has to work as a technician at Wangyi Footpath for a year, employee ID 89757."


    Ding Sanshi was silent for a long while. "Alright, you win. Bring that girl to Wangyi tomorrow, and I''ll transfer the shares."


    Upon hearing this, Zhang Menglong finally showed a satisfied look.


    "Then here, I wish President Ding flourishing business, may every year bring today, and may every age bring this moment!" Zhang Menglong mocked.


    ...


    "What? The shares of Music Forest and Wangyi Games are to be given to me?" Xia You was stunned upon hearing the news.


    Though Zhang Menglong always stressed he hadn''t even thought of taking Wangyi''s shares, Xia You had assumed Zhang Menglong was just saving face. After all, who would demand 50 billion in compensation for someone they had met for the first time?


    "I''ll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning. I''ll come with you, just in case Ding Sanshi plays any tricks."


    "Brother Zhang, I really can''t accept this. I''m already so grateful that you''re willing to help me get this justice. How can I ask for more? Besides, I don''t know anything about running a business. Even if you gave it to me, I wouldn''t be able to use it!"


    "You don''t need to understand," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "just wait for your dividends every year. The profits from Wangyi Games are actually pretty good. As for that foot bath city, let me think of a way to set it up¡ªwho knows, it might take off?"


    "Are you really going to turn Wangyi into a foot bath city?"


    "When have I ever joked?" Zhang Menglong said, "Did I exaggerate when I said I would claim 50 billion US dollars in compensation for you?"


    "This..." Xia You was, for a moment, at a loss for words. It seemed that for Zhang Menglong, everything was just about having fun and feeling justified; as for money, he really didn''t care.


    ...


    The next day, Zhang Menglong, accompanied by Xia You, walked into the headquarters of Wangyi Group. Under the guidance of Ding Sanshi''s assistant, they entered Ding Sanshi''s office.


    "You still came," Ding Sanshi said with a sneer when he saw Zhang Menglong, "I thought you were really that noble. Turns out you''re just hypocritical."


    "No, no, no, President Ding, you misunderstand," Zhang Menglong knew what Ding Sanshi was thinking, "I''m here today just as Miss Xia''s voluntary legal aid."


    "Mr. Yuan, attorney, could you please check these agreements?" Zhang Menglong said to the middle-aged man beside him.


    The attorney, Mr. Yuan, picked up the equity transfer agreements and carefully reviewed them.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are no issues at all. All Miss Xia needs to do is show the relevant documents and then sign the transfer agreements, and after notarization, it will be done,"


    "That would be great, thanks," Zhang Menglong said as he moved to sit on a couch, completely unconcerned about the share transaction.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, this place has a pretty nice view!" Zhang Menglong commented while looking at the scenery outside, "If this were turned into a foot spa, the business would be booming!"


    "Pfft!" Ding Sanshi almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Can you stop talking about the foot spa? Ever since Music Forest was rebranded as Wangyi Foot Path by Zhang Menglong, Ding Sanshi had developed a phobia of foot spas.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s all done; Miss Xia is now a shareholder of Wangyi Group," Mr. Yuan, the attorney, announced.


    "Thanks for the hard work," Zhang Menglong said, "All right, it''s all signed; let''s head back."


    "Zhang Menglong!" Ding Sanshi suddenly called out to him.


    "President Ding, is there anything else?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "These shares, you''re really not tempted at all?" Ding Sanshi still found it hard to believe. These were shares worth 50 billion RMB, "You won''t transfer the shares to yourself after leaving here, will you?"


    "Excuse me, I need to take this call," Zhang Menglong''s cell phone suddenly rang.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve arranged the large particle collider you ordered, but the model has recently been upgraded, and with the research and build materials, the price will rise a bit, so our deposit might not cover it."


    "Oh, I remember last time it was around 25 billion, right?"


    Ding Sanshi shuddered. Zhang Menglong hadn''t put it on speaker, but the other side''s voice was loud, and he could clearly hear the conversation.


    He spent 25 billion on a particle collider?


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, the price will increase by about 3 billion."


    "No problem, just go ahead and wire the money," Zhang Menglong said, visibly thrilled that he got to spend an extra 3 billion!


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone. "Sorry, President Ding, what were you asking me?"


    "It''s... it''s nothing," Ding Sanshi seemed to finally understand that Zhang Menglong truly had no interest in money. Spending an extra 3 billion, and he was still laughing! Unabashedly laughing!

 Chapter 135 133: I Heard You Dont Believe

    "Brother Zhang, why don''t I just give these shares back to you?" On the way back, Xia You appeared restless.


    A plain girl suddenly possessed 50 billion in massive shares, probably wouldn''t be able to sleep well for a year.


    "It''s okay, you keep them," Zhang Menglong said, "I''m not interested in this small amount of money, as long as Manager Xia won''t refuse to record songs for our movie due to the sudden surge in her net worth."


    "No no no, I promise I won''t, I will definitely sing well!" Xia You hastily said.


    "Hahaha, I was just joking," Zhang Menglong said.


    "But..."


    "No buts, this is compensation for your emotional distress; the victim isn''t me, why give it to me? Just keep it with peace of mind."


    "Then... then Brother Zhang, if you ever need it, you can ask me anytime."


    "I know," Zhang Menglong laughed, "However, there likely won''t be a day when I''ll need that."


    ...


    With his own private jet, Zhang Menglong flew directly from the Wangyi Group headquarters in Yangcheng back to Jiangnan City in the afternoon. He spent a few days adequately pooling the resources of Tengxun Music, Wangyi Music, and Music Forest, and from then on, Music Forest became the undisputed largest music platform in the country.


    As for the original building of Wangyi Music, it was indeed transformed by Zhang Menglong into Wangyi Footpath, amalgamating foot baths, massages, fitness, etc., and while Zhang Menglong became the focus of public attention, it also made Ding Sanshi very popular.


    It''s worth mentioning that Wangyi Footpath even had a large number of customers handling their membership cards during the renovation period, and it even stirred quite a strong market reaction.


    "Old Zhang, have you seen the international news recently?"


    "What news? Are you talking about the old US changing presidents?" Zhang Menglong thought carefully, the most intense international response recently, should be just that."


    "Not that, I''m talking about something related to you!"


    "Related to me?" Zhang Menglong wondered, "What''s up, has my Wangyi Footpath branched out overseas?"


    "Don''t you ever watch international news!" Wang Ling said, "Do you remember the last time Poladi came to Huaxia for dinner, the things he said about economic history?"


    "Oh, you mean my grandfather''s business, what about it?"


    "What about it? You can still ask what about it?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "Is this a trivial matter? This has overturned the whole history of economics, don''t you know how many people around the world are paying attention to this?"


    "What''s there to pay attention to, I thought everyone just listened and let it go!"


    "How could that be!" Wang Ling said, "Especially a few countries at odds with ours, if they acknowledge this, isn''t it as good as admitting that their economy has been trampled underfoot by a developing country, and also admitting that they are all cowards?"


    "They are all cowards indeed!" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "What, they couldn''t contend with my grandfather, now they plan to target me?"


    "Isn''t it?" Wang Ling said, "You know, the US just changed presidents, now is the time to establish authority, and they started mudslinging at you right away."


    "Huh?"


    "See for yourself!" Wang Ling immediately sent a link to Zhang Menglong.


    Though it was a foreign website, Zhang Menglong''s home network could climb over the firewall freely. The link contained some unsightly insults.


    It claimed Zhang Menglong courted popularity, attempted to subvert the world''s economic history, repeatedly emphasizing that the course of the world economy was exactly as history described, that economic crises indeed happened, but had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, branding him a complete fraud!


    Not only that, but several top economists had stepped forward and directly fired at Zhang Menglong, accusing him of disrespecting history. "How could one person defy the entire global economic system?" they questioned.


    Under their leadership, other economists also began to slander Zhang Menglong, who now became a figure of disgrace in the entire economic circle.


    "You tell me, it''s one thing for those foreigners to make a fuss, but now we even have our own people criticizing you. Isn''t that infuriating?" Wang Ling said as he casually forwarded another message to Zhang Menglong.


    This was a joint statement from several Huaxia economic experts. Because of Zhang Menglong''s actions, he had brought a negative impact on Huaxia''s economic community. Now, they were demanding that Zhang Menglong publicly apologize and admit that everything he said was false; otherwise, this condemnation would persist.


    "Well, well," Zhang Menglong sneered. "These people really are spineless, aren''t they? Can''t handle the pressure and start fighting among themselves?"


    "Right?" Wang Ling said, "It was just some turbulence in the foreign economic circles before, but these days, the news is spreading domestically. Your reputation isn''t sounding so good now."


    "No worries, it''s not a big deal!" Zhang Menglong said, opening up his Weibo.


    Sure enough, those who relished drama were always on the frontline. Zhang Menglong''s private messages and his latest post were nearly exploding with everyone asking for the truth about the situation.


    "I''m not one to chatter unnecessarily. Forgive my bluntness, but what my grandfather could do, I can do too. To all those criticizing me, count yourselves; you''re all worthless!"


    "Boss Zhang, you finally spoke up. I thought you had run away!"


    "Boss Zhang, does Wangyi have any apprentice slots? I''m considering coming to work."


    "Boss Zhang is still tough, but this matter, I''m the first to disbelieve. It''s too exaggerated. If your grandfather really had that ability, wouldn''t he have dominated Earth already?"


    "Hahaha, that''s Boss Zhang being low-key."


    "To be honest, I don''t quite believe this either. Stirring up drama is one thing, but there''s no need for this."


    "Exactly, Boss Zhang. It''s just apologizing, right? What''s so shameful about apologizing to history? Besides, you really are loaded. You must be the richest man in the world, right?"


    "Boss Zhang, how much does it cost to hire an actor? Especially one of the richest-man-in-the-world caliber; it can''t be cheap, right?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, see, even your fans don''t believe you!" Wang Ling, always focused on Zhang Menglong''s Weibo, instantly started mocking him.


    "Do you believe it?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "This..." Rationally speaking, Wang Ling didn''t believe it ¨C one person controlling the global economy, what need would there be for other countries then?


    But emotionally speaking, for some reason, he felt that there might be a certain possibility to it.


    "Looks like you don''t believe it either!" Zhang Menglong laughed. He didn''t blame Wang Ling; had he heard such news, he most likely wouldn''t believe it either.


    "It seems I need to do something, or these people will never shut up," Zhang Menglong said casually flipping through the comments, some of which were quite vile and hard to read.


    "What are you planning to do?" Wang Ling suddenly had a bad feeling.


    "Nothing much, just planning to make history repeat itself!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately posted another update.


    It was a smiling emoji with just a few words.


    "Heard you didn''t believe?"

 Chapter 136 134: Empty Their Bank Accounts for Me

    "What does this sentence mean? Is President Zhang going to stir things up?"


    "No way, right? It couldn''t be just bluster, could it?"


    "Is this supposed to prove something to us? I''ve already prepared my melon, someone hand me a spoon."


    "It can''t be another staged drama by him, can it? If you have real guts, create another financial crisis, I''ll call you daddy if you can pull that off."


    "Liar, disrespecting history, apologize immediately!"


    "Look up, your mom is floating in the sky!"


    "What is up with these comments? If the world''s richest person can exist in America, can''t Huaxia have an invisible super-rich? Just worshiping all things foreign, aren''t we?"


    "Exactly, President Zhang, do whatever you want, we support you!"


    Zhang Menglong''s latest Weibo post was already packed with comments, and the topic rapidly went viral, and even those who had no clue what was going on were suddenly all in the know, and the video of Zhang Menglong''s initial chat with Poladi was once again spread across the internet.


    Not only that, but on B-station''s remix area, productions related to Zhang Menglong had become the crown jewels of the site, with views reaching tens of millions.


    "Menglong, are you okay?" The moment she heard the news, Lu Yiyao called Zhang Menglong.


    Ever since her first meeting with Zhang Menglong, he had been leaving his legend everywhere, and now he was not just famous domestically, but had mingled in the international financial circles as well.


    "What could be wrong with me?" Zhang Menglong spoke indifferently, "I''m not bragging, and besides, these words didn''t even come from me. To be honest, I''m actually pretty wronged."


    Those stories concerning Grandpa Zhang Menglong, even Zhang Menglong himself learned of them through Poladi, yet he ended up branded as a swindler and hype-master, which was completely baffling.


    "So what are you going to do? You can''t let them keep insulting you, why not issue a statement to explain?" Lu Yiyao suggested.


    "Issue a statement? But Hong Yi told me it''s all true," Zhang Menglong said, "No worries, since they don''t believe it, let''s just demonstrate it for them again. The Zhang Family has been quiet for too long, maybe these people have forgotten the fear they had when they were under our thumb."


    "Demonstrate it again?"


    "If I remember correctly, the last global financial crisis was over a decade ago, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly wore a mysterious expression, "Oh right, Yiyi, if you have any friends who have bought stocks or funds, tell them to pull out quickly to prevent innocent casualties."


    "What? You''re not really going to stir things up, are you?" Although Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong was really rich, to actually cause a global financial crisis, could one person''s power be enough?


    "Just do as I say," he instructed.


    "Alright, but you have to make sure to take good care of yourself, got it?"


    "Got it, my treasure!"


    "Get lost! Don''t disgust me!"


    "Hahaha!"


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, Zhang Menglong''s expression suddenly changed, "It seems it''s time for a little reminder."


    "Hong Yi, come here for a sec."


    "Mr. Zhang, is there anything I can do for you?"


    "Have you heard about what''s going on online?"


    "Yes, do you want me to take out those people?"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong looked at Hong Yi with an expression that screamed a black man with a question mark face. Just like that, were they going to take people out again? Was this really a girl in her twenties? Could she be possessed by some monster?


    "Um, Hong Yi, we are civilized people, and civilized people should use civilized means to solve problems. We can be despicable, shameless, and vulgar, but not bloody. It''s not good for a girl like you to always be fighting and killing," Zhang Menglong said with earnest seriousness.


    "But Mr. Zhang, silencing people is the fastest way."


    "Alright, enough of that, let''s talk business," Zhang Menglong said, "Is there a way to trigger a financial crisis?"


    "Piece of cake. How big do you want it to be? How long should it last?"


    "Is there one that''s fast and has immediate effects? I don''t have the patience to wait. Let''s start with whichever country is jumping around the most."


    "It''s simple. Just drain all the banks in that country," Hong Yi said, "Or you could directly halt all the businesses you own in that country. At most, it will only take a few days for their economy to collapse."


    "Damn, that''s harsh?" Zhang Menglong was immediately stunned. To drain a country''s banks, wouldn''t that require all the money in the bank to be his? "Is draining the banks even possible?"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t forget that the Zhang Family virtually controls the lifeline of the world''s economy. Out of 233 countries and regions around the world, many countries have more than 80% of their foreign exchange reserves owned by you, and you even hold a large amount of their national debt and deposits. Isn''t that a simple matter?"


    "Interesting!" Zhang Menglong immediately chuckled sleazily. This was too thrilling; it was like playing ''Minecraft''."


    "Let''s see who''s jumping the highest!" Zhang Menglong "began checking out a world economic forum. "


    "This economic crisis and the people of Huaxia have nothing to do with each other! It''s the result of the experiments conducted by our Qingqiu Country''s economists while researching new economic models. It''s our masterpiece!"


    "Damn awesome!" Seeing this comment, Zhang Menglong almost burst out laughing. The people of Qingqiu Country were as shameless as ever. It was the year 2020, and the whole universe was still theirs.


    "Exactly! It''s the hype by the people from Huaxia and the Americans!"


    "People of Huaxia, step forward and apologize! And the world''s richest man must also apologize to us!"


    What Zhang Menglong didn''t expect was that several economists from Qingqiu Country were even chiming in.


    "These people really don''t know the meaning of shame!" Zhang Menglong almost laughed out loud. "Hong Yi, let''s start with them! I really want to see if their so-called economic model works in front of me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the total savings in the largest bank of Qingqiu Country, Qingqiu Bank, are 100.8 trillion Qingqiu Currency. According to today''s US Dollar exchange rate, that''s about 1 trillion US Dollars. The second, Poladi Bank, has total savings of 78.4 trillion Qingqiu Currency, and the third-ranked bank has 50.2 trillion."


    "Tens of millions of people with so much money isn''t too shabby," Zhang Menglong nodded, "A good amount of this money in these banks should be mine, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "The enterprises owned by you in Qingqiu Country, as well as those under your family''s influence, have more than 45% of the deposits."


    "Only 45%? That''s not a lot!" Zhang Menglong had thought he would have seventy to eighty percent of the deposits.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s already a terrifying amount," Hong Yi said, "Those banks might claim to have trillions in deposits, but in reality, banks operate on debt. If all their savers were to withdraw their money, the banks wouldn''t be able to hand over that much cash. Not to mention 45%; even 10% would be the end of them."


    "Oh? I don''t understand that part," Zhang Menglong, who didn''t study economics and didn''t understand things like leverage, said. But he knew one thing for sure: if he wanted, he could collapse a country''s economy at any time.


    "Then do as I just said. Start with their Qingqiu Country; empty all their domestic banks for me!"

 Chapter 137 135 Boss, Were Out of Money

    The capital of Qingqiu Country, Qiuyuan, is a bustling city that attracts nearly all the young people filled with dreams from the entire country. Here, the housing prices are hardly lower than those in a first-tier city in Huaxia.


    Even in the more remote areas, it''s likely that 1 million Huaxia currency can only buy you a rough, unfurnished apartment of about twenty or thirty square meters.


    The people of Qingqiu Country do not hold such traditional thinking; for them, renting is equally a viable option. Many people even choose to rent for life, rather than touching those soaring housing prices.


    But in the center of this city, skyscrapers still stand tall, with the most representative being the headquarters of Qingqiu Bank located in the city center.


    This is a landmark building locally. Qingqiu Country, merely a speck on the world map, but this year, Qingqiu Bank entered the top 50 of the global 1000 banks list, and even its US Dollar foreign exchange reserves made it into the top ten.


    From this, one can imagine just how large this bank is!


    In the president''s office of the head bank, a portly middle-aged man was listening to his secretary report on this quarter''s financial statements.


    The secretary was a very tall woman with the standard face of a Qingqiu country movie star, exuding a captivating charm all over. Of course, many people knew that there were some unspeakable secrets as to why this woman was able to sit in the position of the bank president''s secretary.


    "Boss, our bank''s total savings volume has increased by 8 trillion Qingqiu Currency this quarter, a significant increase compared to the last quarter, and we are expected to potentially break through the 10 trillion mark by the end of the year."


    "Hmm, continue," said Piao Guanzhi, the president of Qingqiu Bank, who kept glancing at his secretary, his thoughts not at all on the report.


    "President! You''re so bad!" the secretary noticed Piao Guanzhi''s heated gaze.


    "Hahaha, aren''t you the one who likes me this way the most?" Piao Guanzhi revealed a sleazy, lecherous smile, "Tonight, my wife is not at home..."


    "Then I''ll come to your place tonight!" The secretary put the report on Piao Guanzhi''s desk and sat on his lap.


    "Boss, you''ve been in a really good mood lately!"


    "Of course! The savings rate in our bank keeps on increasing. How can I not be happy?" Piao Guanzhi''s hands began to rove restlessly.


    "Yeah, it''s quite strange. Starting from over half a month ago, our bank''s savings rate suddenly skyrocketed by quite a bit, almost doubling. Our bank didn''t make any announcements, and the increased interest rate was very marginal. Could it be related to some new policy the country released recently?"


    "Hahaha, policy? This blessing comes thanks to a young person from Huaxia!"


    "There''s such a story?" The secretary became extremely curious, "I don''t really follow the news from Huaxia."


    "This happened in Huaxia, but the news has spread all around the world," Piao Guanzhi said, "The world''s wealthiest man Poladi went to Huaxia for a meal with an entrepreneur and met a Huaxia youngster named Zhang Menglong. He claimed that the financial crisis of the last century was caused by that young man''s grandfather."


    "Is there such an absurd story?" The secretary''s eyes widened in disbelief. How could one person topple the global economic system? It seemed impossible unless it was war. But how could one person cause a war?


    "Poladi said that the grandfather of this Zhang Menglong caused serious inflation by emptying banks from many countries around the world, followed by a series of consequences."


    "No one would believe such a thing, right?"


    "Ordinarily, nobody would believe it if it came out of someone''s mouth, but these words were spoken by the world''s wealthiest individual. Recently, this matter garnered quite a bit of attention in the world''s economic circles!"


    "What does this have to do with our bank''s savings volume?"


    "Hehe, that is the wisdom of us Qingqiu people!" Piao Guanzhi said, "Our economists claim that this economic crisis has nothing to do with the Huaxia people at all, it''s caused by the new economic model our country has established. Now that this economic model has matured, it is ready to be officially deployed in developing our national economy.


    The people of our nation believe it, so naturally, they are willing to take their money out and invest."


    "Hahaha, how naive they are!" the female secretary laughed.


    "Once the money is in the bank, it''s ours to manage. No matter the outcome, it doesn''t concern us. If anyone''s to blame, it''s those economists, hahaha!"


    "But didn''t that Huaxia youth have any reaction?" the female secretary asked curiously.


    "It''s all just hype. What''s he supposed to react to? Is he supposed to prove his grandfather actually caused an economic crisis? Well, he should give us one, then! Forget about the entire world''s economy¡ªour Qingqiu Country''s economic system is now as solid as rock. With our substantial foreign exchange reserves, not even a whole country could easily take us down.


    "Boss, whether our country''s economy is as solid as rock, I don''t know, but you''ve definitely become unshakable!"


    "Hahaha! There''s nothing pressing today, why don''t we warm up a bit first?" As he spoke, Piao Guanzhi''s hands became increasingly restless.


    "Thump, thump, thump!" Just at that moment, the door to the president''s office was pounded with an urgent knocking sound.


    "What''s going on? Who is so inconsiderate?" Piao Guanzhi lost half his mood instantly, tidied up his clothes, and his secretary quickly picked up the report again.


    "Come in!" Piao Guanzhi said in a not-so-friendly tone. Whoever was looking for him at this time was really walking into the line of fire, weren''t they?


    "Manager Kim, what''s the matter?" Seeing that it was his trusted aide, Piao Guanzhi''s face softened a bit. Otherwise, with the two of them looking flushed and embarrassed, any normal person would have known what had just happened.


    "President, something''s happened!"


    "What could possibly happen? Don''t rush me, haven''t I told you many times? If the sky falls, I''ll hold it up. Take your time and explain!"


    "No, President, the sky has really fallen¡ªour bank is out of money!"


    "Out of money? How is that possible?" Piao Guanzhi stood up abruptly.


    A bank running out of money was in itself a laughable matter, as Qingqiu Bank was the largest bank in the country. If they were out of money, wouldn''t that be even more ludicrous? He had just been listening to his secretary report this quarter''s savings volume; was this some kind of joke?


    "Manager Kim, we Qingqiu people do not celebrate Huaxia''s April Fool''s Day. This joke isn''t funny at all."


    "President, I''m not joking!" Manager Kim was almost driven to tears, "Since the bank opened this morning, a lot of people have been coming to withdraw cash at our branches across the country."


    "Isn''t that normal?"


    "But they''re withdrawing tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in cash at a time!" Manager Kim continued, "The Level Three banks nationwide have already been emptied of cash, all are asking for support from the next Level Two, and even six Level Two banks have been cleaned out. Now they''re turning to the head office for help!"


    "How could this be?" Piao Guanzhi was dumbfounded, "Who are these people making withdrawals?"


    "President, all the people are exclusively Huaxia people!"

 Chapter 138 136: They Ran Out of Cash Transport Vehicles

    "Huaxia people? How could Huaxia people possibly have so much money deposited in our Qingqiu Bank?" Piao Guanzhi was suddenly perplexed. If they had money, why would they deposit it in Qingqiu''s bank? Isn''t it good to save money in Huaxia? To deposit it in the bank and make money for Qingqiu?


    If this were an ordinary time, Piao Guanzhi would have been laughing so hard that he''d be close to tears. No matter which country''s citizens were involved, as long as they deposited money in their bank, it was always good news.


    But once it came to withdrawing money, it would be a nightmare!


    "Do you have any specific information on these Huaxia people?"


    "We do, but it''s meaningless," said Director Kim. "These Huaxia people are not entrepreneurs or investors. They seem to be the most ordinary people living in our Qingqiu, some even renting their homes. Yet when they pull out their bank cards, not one of them has a balance of less than a hundred million Qingqiu Currency!"


    "How is that possible? How could these Huaxia people be so wealthy?" Upon hearing this news, Piao Guanzhi could no longer keep his composure. "What''s the situation now?"


    "The situation is very grave. This morning, our bank''s deposits have already decreased by more than 200 trillion!"


    "What? 200 trillion gone in just one morning?" A spasm crossed Piao Guanzhi''s face. Their deposits only increased by 700 trillion in a quarter, and now in just three hours, a third was already gone?


    "We''re now running out of armored cash transport vehicles. Banks all over the country are requesting support, and the situation is becoming more severe," Director Kim said. "Apart from those Huaxia people coming to withdraw money, there are also many customers looking to make deposits. As soon as they hear the bank is low on funds, who would dare do business with us!"


    "Not only that, the news has already leaked out. More and more customers are gathering at the entrance of the bank waiting to withdraw money. They fear our bank might be emptied, and when the crucial moment comes, they won''t be able to get their money out. Right now, for them, having cash in hand is what matters most!"


    "This is bad!" If the news spreads further, it could even lead to widespread panic.


    Keep in mind, although banks do hold a substantial amount of savings, they operate on liabilities. Their assets are lent out, invested, or used for other purposes.


    Qingqiu Bank has more than 20 trillion Qingqiu Currency in deposits¡ªcan the banks nationwide come up with 20 trillion Qingqiu Currency in cash? Even 10 trillion can''t be produced!


    If panic were to ensue at this time, it could truly cause an explosive crisis. If all the national savers were to surround the bank doors waiting to withdraw money, the bank might even go bankrupt!


    However, the country cannot just stand by and watch a cornerstone bank go bankrupt. If the bank cannot produce the money, the country would even resort to printing currency to fill the bank''s financial gaps.


    But printing money is not the end of it. With a large amount of cash flowing into the market, serious inflation is inevitable. Then comes a sharp increase in prices, followed by a rise in the cost of raw materials. This is a sign that an economic crisis is starting!


    Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, the country would definitely not start the money printers.


    "Can we hold out?" At this point, Piao Guanzhi''s former interest had completely vanished, and he was worried that the number of people withdrawing money would continue to grow, leading the situation to an uncontrollable extent.


    "We can hold out, but not for long!" said Director Kim. "If the loss of deposits cannot be stopped, it will develop into an irreparable situation."


    "Then let''s start preparing!" Piao Guanzhi declared. "First, contact the other banks. We''re out of money, but they must still have some, right? I refuse to believe that with so many banks in Qingqiu Country, we can''t produce the funds to plug these gaps!"


    What Piao Guanzhi cared about now was no longer the amount of deposits, but whether the situation could be alleviated. Once it really reached that point, even the country would not let him off!


    "I will contact them right away!" Director Kim immediately took out his phone and began contacting the head of Lian Bank.


    "What?" Director Kim''s face suddenly turned ashen, as if he had lost all his strength at once, and even the phone slipped powerlessly to the ground.


    "What''s going on? They''re not willing to support us?" Piao Guanzhi asked, ready to swallow his pride and go himself if necessary. As the largest bank in the country, if there was really a problem, the other banks wouldn''t fare much better.


    "They won''t say, President. They''re saying that their Lianbang Bank has encountered the same issue!" Chief Jin''s face was ashen, "And their situation is even worse than ours. Since this morning, they''ve lost nearly 28 trillion Qingqiu Currency!"


    "How could this happen?" An inexplicable sense of fear arose within him. Up to now, Piao Guanzhi had never felt such fear, as if all of this was being manipulated by an invisible hand; how else could such widespread occurrences take place?


    "Quick, check with the other banks!" Piao Guanzhi urged, "Never mind, I''ll make the calls!"


    "President Jiang, how much cash reserves does your Hana Bank still have?"


    "What? You''ve had 25 trillion taken away just this morning?"


    "President Liu, has your Qingqiu Minsheng Bank run into some trouble too?"


    "You''re down 18 trillion?"


    The more calls Piao Guanzhi made, the more his hands trembled. Nearly all of the banks in Qingqiu were experiencing the same issue, and the reserves lost by Qingqiu Bank were actually amongst the lesser ones!


    "What on earth is going on?" Piao Guanzhi''s face went blank, "No, this matter isn''t so simple; I must report it to the state''s Ministry of Finance!"


    ...


    That evening, a private airplane landed at the capital''s international airport in Qingqiu Country, and a young man in a thick down jacket shivered as he stepped off the plane.


    "Achoo! Dammit, what kind of lousy place is this, so cold?" Zhang Menglong grumbled as he disembarked, "So cold I could die. If it weren''t for wanting to travel abroad, I really wouldn''t want to come here!"


    After assigning the task to Hong Yi the day before, Zhang Menglong had been planning a trip to Qingqiu Country. Strictly speaking, this was his first time leaving Huaxia, and he wasn''t quite accustomed to the foreign air just yet.


    "Why do I feel that everything here reeks of kimchi?" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Mr. Zhang, what you just ate was kimchi rice cakes."


    "Oh, is that so? Hahaha, I thought they were pickled vegetable rice cakes for a moment!" Zhang Menglong laughed sheepishly, "Right, how are things now? Are their banks about to go crazy?"


    "Mr. Zhang, throughout today, Qingqiu Bank''s savings have plummeted by 58 trillion, Lianbang Bank by 54 trillion, Hana Bank by 47 trillion, Qingqiu Minsheng Bank by 49 trillion... In total, we''ve already withdrawn over 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency from the banks."


    "Ah? Is that all?" Zhang Menglong sounded disappointed, "That''s all the money I have?"


    "Not at all, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi smiled, "it''s not because you don''t have enough money. Those smaller banks simply don''t have that much cash on hand, and they must pull from Level One banks. But since two o''clock this afternoon, even Level Two banks have been running out, and now the entire Qingqiu Country is frantically circulating cash."


    "Hahaha, then this scene must be quite spectacular!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Indeed, they don''t even have enough armored cash transport vehicles now!"

 Chapter 139 137: One-tenth of their capital is yours

    ```


    "Serves them right!" Zhang Menglong had no sympathy for the people of this nation, in fact, he despised this despicable nation to his very bones. Of course, that didn''t mean he would denounce all the people of Qingqiu Country; there were, for example, a few female celebrities from Qingqiu Country that he quite liked.


    For instance, Lee Ji-eun and Larisa. Zhang Menglong had been a big fan of these two female stars from Qingqiu Country since his school days, and even in Huaxia, they enjoyed immense popularity. Saying that they were irresistible to both men and women wouldn''t be an overstatement.


    "Mr. Zhang, what are you smiling about?" Hong Yi suddenly noticed a sleazy smile on Zhang Menglong''s face and got the feeling that he was probably thinking about something unhealthy.


    "Nothing," Zhang Menglong laughed awkwardly.


    "Mr. Zhang, this isn''t the Island Country; there aren''t any brothels for you to visit here, and besides, Teacher Momotani isn''t at Tiger''s Den brothel anymore, so even if you went there, you wouldn''t see her."


    "Damn it! How do you know all this?"


    "Ah, no, I mean, what are you talking about?" Zhang Menglong quickly changed his tone.


    This was all stuff he used to shoot the breeze about with his roommates back in school. How could Hong Yi know about it? Could it have been Ye Yin''s doing?


    "That guy must be seeking personal revenge!" Zhang Menglong gnashed his teeth in anger, certain it was because that day he had got Ye Yin to steal those things, so Ye Yin held a grudge. Yes, that had to be it!


    "Hong Yi, I''ve noticed you''ve changed," Zhang Menglong lamented, "You weren''t like this before. Can we keep things pure, please? I swear, I was absolutely not thinking about those things!"


    "I can vouch for Mr. Zhang, he really wasn''t thinking about those things!" Ye Yin suddenly popped out from behind him.


    In this subzero environment, Ye Yin was still dressed as though it were autumn in Huaxia.


    "You''re really something else. Aren''t you going to freeze to death? Getting older makes one prone to rheumatism and arthritis.


    I won''t cover this as a work-related injury!" Ever since the first time Ye Yin appeared, Zhang Menglong would occasionally call him out for a chat or idle talk, but Ye Yin was a smooth talker, usually leaving Zhang Menglong to enthusiastically talk to himself while Ye Yin would just stand by like a wooden figure listening to his nonsense.


    But the two of them were getting more familiar with each other, and Zhang Menglong no longer put on airs of a young master.


    "However, Mr. Zhang was thinking about a couple of female celebrities named Lee Ji-eun and Larisa."


    "Damn, how do you know that?" Zhang Menglong blurted out instinctively, "Ye Yin, do you have telepathy or something?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s just a little trick," Ye Yin''s figure began to fade away again.


    "Wait a second, come back here, who the hell let you say that out loud? Just knowing it yourself was enough. Don''t I have any face left?" Zhang Menglong cursed.


    "Mr. Zhang, if Miss Lu knew about this, it wouldn''t be good, right?" Hong Yi said with a laugh.


    "You dare to threaten me? Believe it or not, I''ll send you to dig coal in Africa?"


    "Hahaha! You wouldn''t!"


    "Let''s go! I''m freezing to death; let''s go to the hotel to warm up first!"


    Zhang Menglong was already feeling somewhat stiff from the cold.


    It was still a Rolls-Royce that came to pick up Zhang Menglong, not for any particular reason but simply because it was very comfortable. The person in charge was a man named Mao Xionghui, who was with the Zhang Family business. His entire family was there, helping Zhang Menglong manage an energy company.


    Although officially this energy company was owned by people from Qingqiu, these Qingqiu nationals were just puppets of the Mao family.


    "Uncle Mao, I didn''t expect you to come yourself today?" It seemed that Hong Yi was quite familiar with Mao Xionghui.


    "Hahaha, of course, when Mr. Zhang is coming, how could I let someone else greet you," Mao Xionghui was a very warm middle-aged man, "Mr. Zhang, the last time I saw you, you were just a little boy, and now, more than twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye."


    ```


    "It looks like Uncle Mao has watched me grow up," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "I haven''t had that privilege," Mao Xionghui replied, "I spend all my days here looking after the Zhang Family''s properties, and I''ve only seen you a couple of times."


    "All these years, it must have been tough for Uncle Mao," Zhang Menglong acknowledged, realizing that Mao Xionghui must be the person in charge of their family''s business in Qingqiu Country.


    "Not tough at all, what''s tough about it," Mao Xionghui said, "Although this place can''t compare to Huaxia, there are still plenty of beauties here, whether they''re natural or not. The richest man in Qingqiu Country is nothing but trash. Here, I''ve been living like a local tycoon."


    Suddenly, Mao Xionghui''s face revealed an indescribable smile, and then he leaned in close to Zhang Menglong''s ear, "Mr. Zhang, do you want me to find a couple of female celebrities for you tonight? Even the top-tier ones would not be a problem, I know for a fact that many of them are especially clean, just let me know, and I can bring them to where you''re staying tonight!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s smile turned identical, "I do like quite a few of the groups here, like a-pink, tara, blackpink, as well as some solo female artists, hehehe..."


    "Done, if you want them, I''ll bring them all to you tonight!"


    "Holy shit, that exciting?" Zhang Menglong was just talking casually, he didn''t expect Mao Xionghui to actually be serious, "I''m just joking around, I have a girlfriend!"


    "So what? A man like you, Mr. Zhang, how could you only have one woman? Your father is an exception, marrying only your mother, but your grandfather had 28 lovers, and your great-grandfather had a total of 108 wives, including many princesses and queens!"


    "And yet our family still has only one heir for each generation?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled now.


    "Hahaha, the Zhang family''s genes can''t just be given away willy-nilly. Aside from the legitimate wife, who else has the qualifications to serve the elders in your family, let alone dare to hope for offspring?"


    "This is just like being an emperor."


    "What''s so great about being an emperor, having to attend morning court and deal with national affairs," Mao Xionghui said, "Anyway, how about that matter we were discussing earlier?"


    "That won''t be easy, will it?" Zhang Menglong''s expression showed difficulty.


    "What''s so difficult about it," Mao Xionghui pointed at the city with its neon lights and said, "Mr. Zhang, do you know where this is?"


    "Qiuyuan, the capital of Qingqiu Country," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "The area of Qiuyuan is about 600 square kilometers, but among that, there are 60 square kilometers of land that belongs to you!"


    "What the heck?" Zhang Menglong was utterly stunned, he was here to work on the country''s economy, and suddenly he learned about such a fortune?


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered something Hong Yi had said, his family''s ancestors had started investing in land and real estate a long time ago, owning their own land in many countries around the world.


    "Long before this country was established, one of your ancestors had already bought the central area of Qiuyuan, including the government building, several of the largest banks, the biggest corporations, schools, hospitals, they''re all built on your land!"


    "Holy shit, ruthless!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim, this plot twist reminded him of "My Love from the Star," where that alien professor also bought land in this country a long time ago.


    "So, if you want this land back, do you think they''d be willing to give it up?"


    "They''d be possessed to agree!" Zhang Menglong said, not knowing how much money had been spent on all the facilities on this land.


    "But if you really want it, even if they''re unwilling, they''ll have to be willing!" Mao Xionghui declared, "So, any demands you make of them, as long as you''re not asking for their lives and sovereignty, they can''t refuse. As for those female stars, shining on stage, in this country, they''re just puppets in the hands of those with power."


    "Thrilling!" As a man, Zhang Menglong admitted that at that moment, he was indeed a bit tempted!

 Chapter 140 138: Lets start by taking 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency

    "Uncle Mao, take a break, don''t lead Mr. Zhang astray. It''s fine if you play around, but if Uncle Xiao Yun finds out, you''ll be in trouble!" Hong Yi finally couldn''t bear to listen any longer. Men around the world are indeed the same, becoming frivolous the moment they talk about beautiful women.


    "Cough, cough, I was just joking to ease the awkward atmosphere!" Hearing this name, Mao Xionghui immediately became nervous. In his heart, Zhang Menglong''s father held an esteem akin to religious faith.


    "If you keep this up, I''m going to tell Aunt Fang!"


    "No, no, no!" Mao Xionghui instantly panicked, "As long as you don''t tell your Aunt Fang, whatever you say goes!"


    "Hahaha!" Hong Yi couldn''t help but burst into laughter, seeing that this man who was almost like an Emperor in Qingqiu Country was actually a husband who feared his wife.


    "By the way, Mr. Zhang, what exactly brings you here this time? Little girl Hong Yi hasn''t told me yet." Mao Xionghui asked curiously.


    "It''s nothing serious, just some international economists throwing mud at me, saying that the stuff about my grandfather causing the world economic crisis was all made up. They don''t believe it, right? How could I not prove it to them!"


    "Hahaha, these idiots really don''t know who they''re questioning," Mao Xionghui sneered, "It''s not just about you Mr. Zhang. Any family under your command, without talking about causing a world financial crisis, could flip a country without any problem, at least."


    "Cough, cough, cough, let''s not talk about that, shall we!"


    "Hahaha," Mao Xionghui continued to laugh, "So, why did Mr. Zhang choose Qingqiu Country for this? Usually, isn''t it the US that''s the most showy with such things? It seems they''ve forgotten how badly your grandfather dealt with them back in the day."


    "That''s not surprising, probably those who lived through that catastrophe are mostly gone," Zhang Menglong speculated, "As for Qingqiu Country, they claim that the economic crisis was caused by some economic model practice of theirs. They''re still good at boasting and, moreover, have foul mouths!"


    "Qingqiu has always been like that," Mao Xionghui said, "This country needs a lesson indeed. It seems I have an exciting event to look forward to this time."


    "If the entire economic system of Qingqiu collapsed, it wouldn''t cause any trouble for you, would it?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "There will definitely be an impact," Mao Xionghui said, "However, the money in the world won''t just vanish. My money is also yours, Mr. Zhang. It''s merely moving from one pocket of yours to another. As for that little loss, consider it a transaction fee; I''ll quickly make it back."


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t worry, Uncle Mao controls over 80% of the energy supply in Qingqiu. As long as this country exists, he won''t go hungry!"


    "What are you talking about, girl?"


    "Hahaha!"


    ...


    Mao Xionghui had already arranged accommodation for Zhang Menglong, located in a wealthy area of the capital Qiuyuan. Although it wasn''t a villa, it certainly rivalled supreme flats like Tomson First-grade, with its view covering almost the entire capital.


    "Why have you gone to Qingqiu?" As usual, Zhang Menglong started a video call with Lu Yiyao, who seemed to have just taken a shower today, her snowy collarbones igniting some wicked thoughts in Zhang Menglong.


    "To give a lesson to some foul-mouthed people. I''ll be back in a few days, and maybe do some star chasing!"


    "Star chasing? If you meet Lee Ji-eun and Lisa, you must get me an autographed photo!" Lu Yiyao suddenly got excited upon hearing this.


    Lu Yiyao''s tastes were almost identical to Zhang Menglong''s, and these two Qingqiu actresses were among her favorites.


    "Hahaha, aren''t you afraid I''ll take them both as my little wives?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "If you had that ability, I wouldn''t mind at all. Being sisters with Ji-eun and Lisa, I''d be more than willing!"


    "Damn, is that even possible!" Zhang Menglong was momentarily speechless; how can women''s thoughts be so bizarre? Especially these star-chasing girls.


    After playing a couple of games with Lu Yiyao, boredom from the journey lulled Zhang Menglong to a deep sleep.


    ...


    "Let''s go to the bank!" Early in the morning, Zhang Menglong left the house full of energy. Today, he planned to do something big, which was to empty the entire Qingqiu Bank''s cash reserve.


    The car glided smoothly on the way to the head office of Qingqiu Bank. Zhang Menglong was browsing Qingqiu news on his phone. Although he didn''t understand the Qingqiu language, he had Hong Yi, the humanoid translation machine fluent in 12 languages, with him.


    "Mr. Zhang, last night until this morning, the banks in Qingqiu have been working overtime all night!"


    "Oh? Haha, I thought banks kept nine-to-five hours!"


    "This is a special period. There were so many Qingqiu citizens coming to withdraw money that they brought tents and chairs to wait at the bank''s door when it closed, fearing they wouldn''t be able to withdraw money when the bank reopened the next day. It has already affected social order, so the banks had no choice but to work overnight to process the transactions."


    "They really are going all out," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "Last night, even Qingqiu''s Finance Bureau came out to debunk rumors, saying it was impossible for the banks to collapse and that the cash reserves couldn''t be emptied. The issue was merely due to transportation inconveniences, causing delays. But until now, the banks appeared wealthy and unfazed, able to meet everyone''s withdrawals.


    Now the mood of the public has been stabilized, most have dispersed, and those remaining are expected to be processed by this morning."


    "They can actually produce that much money? They''re not just bluffing, are they?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "How could that be?" Hong Yi revealed a data page, "As of this morning, every bank''s cash reserves have decreased by more than 100 trillion Qingqiu Currency, which is almost half their savings for six months."


    "How much is left now? Can you find out?"


    "Of course!" Hong Yi flipped to another set of data, "Qingqiu Bank''s head office still has about 300 trillion in cash reserves, and other banks range between 100 trillion and 300 trillion."


    "That''s still quite a lot, huh!" A playful smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face, "Do I have accounts in these banks?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong said, "You have a primary account in each bank. This account is hidden, and nobody knows about it. However, under this primary account, there are countless sub-accounts. These include both personal and corporate accounts, all belonging to companies and employees under your name. You can manage these funds freely through the primary account."


    "How much money is there?"


    "In the case of Qingqiu Bank, it''s around 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency."


    "Sheesh!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gasp. That was almost 700 billion US Dollars, and this was just the money in one Qingqiu Bank. It seemed that the task his father had set for him to unlock the family heirloom by spending a mere 100 billion US Dollars was indeed just a minor test.


    Soon, the car stopped at the bank''s entrance. As the head office, it was quite grand, with a long queue of people waiting to withdraw money and security guards and special police maintaining order around.


    "Do we have to line up, too?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course not. Your account is like the black Honored Card of Huaxia, with some special privileges. There''s a dedicated banking team to offer you services. You just need to contact them," Hong Yi explained.


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong dialed the number Hong Yi provided.


    "Hello, esteemed Customer Number 01, what service can I help you with?" a girl''s voice came from the other end, speaking Huaxia as if she knew he was from Huaxia.


    The voice trembled slightly, as if she was encountering something very nerve-racking.


    "Customer Number 01? Quite impressive," Zhang Menglong noted, without paying too much attention to the other party''s excited tone.


    "Oh, hello, I''d like to make a withdrawal."


    "How much would you like to withdraw? We will prepare it immediately. When will you arrive at the bank, or shall we send a car for you?"


    "Impressive service quality!" It was the first time Zhang Menglong heard of getting picked up by a car for a bank withdrawal. "No need, I''m already at the bank entrance. Let''s start with a withdrawal of 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency!"

 Chapter 141 139 We Have No Money in the Bank to Withdraw

    "No... I''m sorry, sir, could you please repeat that? I didn''t hear you clearly just now..." the girl''s voice on the other end of the phone suddenly quivered.


    Did this customer just say he wanted to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency? She must have heard wrong!


    This account number 01 was given away when the bank was first established, and its owner, other than the bank''s president at the time, was unknown to anyone else, to the point that it was a secret within the bank.


    But since this account was given away, it had never been used, and the balance had always been zero. In Qingqiu Bank, this had always been the most mysterious symbol.


    Today, the dedicated phone for this account actually rang, and the caller wanted to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency right off the bat. How could they not be suspicious?


    "I said I want to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency. Do you need me to repeat it again?"


    "But sir, your account doesn''t have that much money in it, and even though you are a top-level user of this card series, the overdraft limit is only 500 billion Qingqiu Currency," the girl said with a sigh of relief after checking the card''s balance.


    Right now, banks across the country are in crisis, and their own bank only has a total of 300 trillion in cash, let alone the long line of customers currently outside the bank. They were already thankful to be able to handle the sudden incidents over these couple of days.


    If someone really did try to withdraw 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency at this time, it would be like cutting open a new wound on an old one¡ªthey simply could not produce such an amount of money!


    Even their total savings were only about 2000 trillion Qingqiu Currency. What was the meaning of 500 trillion? A quarter of the bank''s wealth filled by his money alone¡ªhow could that be possible?


    "Really? My balance doesn''t have that much money?"


    "Yes, sir!" The girl spoke respectfully.


    This card was quite old by now, and hearing such a young voice, it was probably the descendant of that original customer, likely having inherited this bank account from his elders.


    But there was no money in this card, aside from the modest overdraft limit¡ªit was practically a worthless card. It seemed this young man didn''t quite understand the account.


    Perhaps once, its owner was a person who had the world at his feet, otherwise he would not have received this first black card. But now, the current owner must have fallen on hard times. Otherwise, how could such a high-tier account have not a single deposit over so many years?


    Having come to this realization, the girl''s nervousness eased considerably, and she even started to wonder if she should allow the overdraft if the caller insisted. Their bank could end up with a bad debt if he couldn''t pay it back.


    "Then could you check for me, how many subsidiary accounts my account has?" Zhang Menglong asked. "The password is sb10086."


    "Certainly, please hold on," the girl replied, though she was already feeling somewhat disdainful, her tone remained quite respectful.


    "Click!" As she pressed the final key, the sudden influx of bank subsidiary accounts that popped up left her stunned.


    She glanced at the final tally, and the shocking figure of 10,000 made her breathing grow much more labored.


    These black card accounts could have an unlimited number of subsidiary accounts, but even the most active black card accounts today only had up to a few hundred subsidiary accounts. Was this person out of his mind to set up ten thousand subsidiary accounts?


    "I believe I should have the right to access the funds in all of my subsidiary accounts, right?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Then, could you check for me the total amount in these subsidiary accounts?"


    "Please hold on a moment." Suddenly, the girl had a very bad feeling.


    She casually clicked on one account, and the displayed balance of 270 billion Qingqiu Currency made her cheeks twitch.


    "79 billion Qingqiu Currency!"


    "12 billion..."


    "43 billion..."


    She successively opened more than a dozen accounts, and not a single one had a balance of less than 5 billion Qingqiu Currency! The highest one, over 100 billion Qingqiu Currency! She suddenly began to doubt whether the total assets of the sub-accounts in this account could really exceed 500 trillion!


    "Isn''t it ready yet?" Zhang Menglong suddenly became somewhat impatient.


    "Sir... I''m sorry, there have been so many withdrawals lately, our system is a bit slow," the girl quickly logged out of an account with a hundred billion in assets and started totaling the savings amount via the system.


    "Your bank isn''t out of money, is it?" Zhang Menglong said in a mocking tone, "The elders in my family trusted your bank to deposit their money here. It won''t be the case that it''s not available when it''s needed, right?"


    "Please rest assured, sir, our Qingqiu Bank is the largest bank in the country, there''s no possibility that money cannot be withdrawn!" Although her heart was filled with unease, how could the girl tell Zhang Menglong that the bank was almost out of cash?


    "Sir, the query result is out, your total savings amount in the account is... is..." The girl''s pupils suddenly dilated several times over.


    "How much is it, just tell me?"


    "It''s close to 7.3 trillion!" The astronomical number almost made the girl doubt whether her own eyes were deceiving her.


    7.3 trillion, equates to more than 6 trillion US Dollars¡ªthis is in cash deposits! What is the total wealth of the world''s richest person? Isn''t it also less than 200 billion US Dollars? And that includes real estate and stocks, the owner of this account is truly the undisputed richest person in the world!


    "Oh, 7.3 trillion, huh," Zhang Menglong continued, "No matter, just withdraw 5 trillion for now, I''m already at the bank''s entrance, is anyone coming to receive me? Your service is a bit lacking!"


    "Sir... I will immediately send someone to greet you, please wait a moment!"


    "I understand, be quick about it, I''m still busy going to another bank to withdraw money!"


    Zhang Menglong''s statement only made the girl more panicked; he had savings not just in Qingqiu Bank? Could it be that in other banks he also had such terrifying amounts saved? That''s impossible, right?


    "No good, I must report this to the leaders immediately!" They simply could not handle this withdrawal order for 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency! Even if they emptied the bank, sold all the employees, and then sold the building, they couldn''t come up with this 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency!


    "Xiao Li, what''s with all the panic?" another colleague next to the girl asked, "We''re not in the mainland, and you know the quality of the Qingqiu people. If a customer is dissatisfied, it could lead to a complaint that gets you fired!"


    "Sister Bai, that... The call just now was from the 01 VIP client!"


    "What? That dormant account? I thought the owner of that account had been dead for a long time!" The woman known as Sister Bai laughed, "What? A zombie actually called you?"


    "It was a young man, and he''s one of our people from Huaxia."


    "Well, that''s great, it''s much easier to chat with one of our own," Sister Bai murmured to herself, "Strange though, a Huaxia person is the Qingqiu Bank''s Black Card 01 VIP client? That''s really interesting!"


    "Indeed, the secrecy level of this account is too high. If it wasn''t for the client initiating contact, all I''d know is that this account exists, it''s so mysterious!" another Qingqiu employee they got along with commented.


    "But what exactly happened? Did they give you a hard time?"


    "Not... " The girl forced a bitter smile, "He wants to withdraw money."


    "What''s the big deal with a withdrawal, it''s not your money!"


    "But he wants to withdraw 5 trillion Qingqiu Currency! Our bank simply doesn''t have that much cash for him to withdraw!"

 Chapter 142 140 I Plan to Put Ceramic Tiles on the Great Wall

    "How is that possible? 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency? Even the world''s richest person doesn''t have that much money, could there be a mistake?" Sister Bai couldn''t believe her ears when she heard this, wasn''t this utter nonsense?


    "Sister Bai, could our bank''s system be wrong?"


    "That''s even more unlikely. If the banking system could go wrong, we would have been finished long ago."


    "Then take a look at this," the girl turned the computer screen toward Sister Bai.


    "Seven... over seven hundred trillion?" Despite having worked in the bank for most of her life, Sister Bai couldn''t help but show a panicked expression at the sight of such a staggering number.


    Since the withdrawal frenzy that erupted out of nowhere yesterday, the people of Qingqiu Country had only taken a little over 100 trillion Qingqiu Currency from the banks. And here was this customer, with an account balance that was a whole seven times that figure¡ªwho wouldn''t pee their pants?


    "Is he... is he really going to withdraw 500 trillion?"


    "Could there be any doubt? That customer said he''s already at the bank''s doorstep!"


    "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and go receive him!"


    For such customers, there is usually a dedicated team handling their affairs, with regular reports on the growth of their assets. But the owner of this account had been gone for too long. No team had managed the account for over twenty years.


    Now that he had suddenly reappeared, everyone was thrown into a panic.


    "What? 500 trillion? The No. 01 black card customer has come?"


    At the news, the manager of Qingqiu Bank reacted almost exactly the same way as the girls. Everyone inside the bank knew that the bank''s cash reserve simply couldn''t cover such a sum!


    This account had been dormant for over twenty years, and no one had expected it to resurface in such a way, let alone with such an enormous ''gift.''


    "Prepare the VIP room immediately, you go inform the chairman, this is a matter of the utmost importance; it''s beyond our capability to handle. I''ll go welcome the guest!" The manager dashed toward the bank''s entrance in a flurry.


    ...


    "Hong Yi, what do you think would happen to the economy of Qingqiu Country if I withdrew all this money?" Zhang Menglong said, full of anticipation.


    "I''m not really sure how to estimate that, but if they want to give you that money, the country would definitely have to start the printing press, which would lead to severe inflation, and then those idiot economists can finally shut up."


    "No, it still feels like something''s missing," said Zhang Menglong, "Didn''t that young lad say something about blossoming on both sides? We can''t just bloom in Qingqiu Country. Find me a few small, lively ones; those that can make a splash. Empty their banks as well."


    "Let''s start with a dozen or so," said Zhang Menglong, "Forget about big nations like America, if they collapse, it would also have a butterfly effect on our Huaxia. As for those small countries that won''t have much impact, hit them hard."


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, you really do have a grand view of things," Hong Yi said with a laugh.


    "No, I just want to save some fun for later. It''s no fun if they all drop dead at once."


    "Mr. Zhang, it looks like the bank''s people are coming out," Hong Yi said.


    A Qingqiu national in a suit rushed out of the building, his eyes scanning around until they finally settled on Zhang Menglong''s Rolls-Royce. In his mind, the owner of the No. 01 black card had to possess such grandeur, right?


    "Hello, may I ask if you are the number 01 black card customer who contacted us just now?" The person from Qingqiu Country deeply bowed to Zhang Menglong and his companions, almost reaching 90 degrees.


    "Although I know it''s their custom, their execution is quite impressive," Zhang Menglong remarked, "Hong Yi, I''m afraid I''ll need you to act as my translator for a bit."


    "That won''t be necessary!" Ye Yin''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear, "Mr. Zhang, I am fluent in all the languages of the world. I will translate for you in your brain in real time. Just think the words you want to say, and I can control your muscles to speak through your own vocal organs synchronously."


    "That awesome?" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected Ye Yin to possess such a magical ability.


    "What did he just say?" Zhang Menglong wondered in his mind.


    "He asked if you are the customer with the number 01 black card." Ye Yin''s translation indeed directly appeared in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    "Yes, that''s me," Zhang Menglong was surprised, and as he thought this sentence, it seemed as though an electric current flowed through his body, and from Zhang Menglong''s mouth, who was completely ignorant of the Qingqiu language, came a very standard Qingqiu phrase.


    "Honored guest, allow me to introduce myself. I am the business manager of the head office of Qingqiu Bank, my name is Li Yubin."


    "Oh, my name is Zhang Menglong," he said, "This is my assistant, Miss Hong Yi."


    "Nice to meet you both," Li Yubin bowed deeply once more, suddenly feeling as though he had recently heard this name somewhere.


    However, since this wasn''t within the country, Zhang Menglong''s fame was currently only within the international financial circle, and though Li Yubin was a bank employee, he only found the name somewhat familiar.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s too cold outside, please head to the VIP room first. We can talk about your business afterward."


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, knowing that this Li Yubin was probably stalling for time, but it was pointless. Even if he delayed for ten days and a half month, no money meant no money. Could the bank possibly recall all the money invested and loans issued in such a short amount of time?


    Crossing the long queue, Zhang Menglong entered the bank through the VIP channel into a very lavish and atmospheric room where coffee and pastries had already been prepared.


    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Hong, please have a seat."


    Zhang Menglong sat down and casually crossed his legs, "Your bank''s business seems to be doing very well, with people lining up in long queues."


    Li Yubin inwardly chuckled bitterly. Where was the business going well? These people weren''t here to deposit but to withdraw money.


    "Haha, of course, our Qingqiu Bank is the largest bank in the entire Qingqiu Country, and our services are certainly comprehensive," Li Yubin remained outwardly firm, after all, Qingqiu Bank had its reputation to consider.


    "That''s good to hear. Seeing your bank''s business running so smoothly, I don''t have much to worry about," Zhang Menglong took a sip of coffee, "I believe the staff must have already told Manager Li, I am here to withdraw money today."


    "Five... five hundred trillion Qingqiu Currency?" Li Yubin asked cautiously. Although he was aware that the chances of Zhang Menglong changing his mind were very slim, he still held onto a sliver of hope.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "500 trillion Qingqiu Currency, in cash."


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need so much money for?" Li Yubin struggled to suppress the collapse in his heart. If this sum of money were really taken out, their bank would be ruined. Not to mention anything else, the savers coming for their money could tear down the bank''s building.


    "Well..." Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "I plan to tile a piece of the Great Wall in our country!"

 Chapter 143 141: Heard Youre Awesome

    "Tile the Great Wall with ceramics?" Li Yubin nearly stumbled over his words.


    Although not a Huaxia person, who hasn''t heard of the Great Wall, one of the world-famous landmarks? Let alone the enormity of the engineering work and the cost involved, would the Cultural Heritage Bureau even allow it?


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking. The Great Wall is a cultural relic; how could you tile it with ceramics?"


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong stroked his chin, "then how about installing an elevator on Mount Everest? If that''s not possible, how about adding a gold trim to the equator or installing a railing in the Pacific Ocean? What do you think about these? Aren''t they all great projects that would benefit all of humanity?"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s several plans, Li Yubin was completely flabbergasted. Were these things even humanly possible? This was no longer just a case of having too much money with nothing to spend it on, this was outright lunacy!


    Suddenly, Li Yubin understood. This Huaxia client named Zhang Menglong wasn''t trying to withdraw this sum for any investment or consumption purpose; he wanted the money out for no reason at all, and those ostentatious plans were just excuses.


    "Manager Li, could it be that the bank doesn''t have this money?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang must be joking, how could that be possible?" responded Li Yubin with a smile. "But Mr. Zhang, have you considered how heavy 500 trillion Qingqiu Currency would be? Whatever you intend to use it for, it''s really quite inconvenient. You could simply have your investment partner or recipient open an account with us at Qingqiu Bank and transfer the money directly, to avoid the hassle."


    "That won''t do!" said Zhang Menglong, "My investment partner is a friend of mine who has a quirk. He doesn''t like digital currency and bank transfers, he prefers cash!"


    "How could there be such a person?" Li Yubin simply couldn''t believe it. Zhang Menglong was clearly making up a fictional friend!


    "This person always feels that banks are not safe. If one day the bank suddenly goes bankrupt, wouldn''t his money just evaporate? That''s why he likes dealing in cash."


    Zhang Menglong rambled on, his story getting more far-fetched, "My friend is really wealthy. Every day he wakes up in a bed that''s hundreds of square meters, walks through corridors a few kilometers long, and he has to drive for five minutes just to use the bathroom. One night, too lazy to go to the toilet, he just wet his pants. Isn''t that funny?"


    "Hahaha, funny... funny..." Li Yubin chuckled awkwardly along with Zhang Menglong.


    That''s a bunch of nonsense. Owning a home where it takes hours to drive to the bathroom, what do you think you are, old Dubai?


    "Alright, you go prepare the money for me, I''ll wait here!" Zhang Menglong casually tossed the black card onto the table. This particular black card was an older model from over twenty years ago, but it represented not just wealth, but also history and background.


    "Mr... Mr. Zhang..." Manager Li picked up the card, trembling. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to give Zhang Menglong the money; it was that he simply couldn''t.


    "Knock knock knock!" A series of knocks sounded at the door.


    "Come in." As Manager Li was in a state of agitation, someone entered the VIP reception room, providing him with an outlet for his frustration.


    "President?" Manager Li didn''t expect the matter to directly alarm the president of Qingqiu Bank!


    To deal with the sudden event of deposit withdrawals, Piao Guanzhi had not slept all night. In the morning, several branch managers informed him that the trend was slowing down. As the bank moved large sums of cash to support the branches and meet the withdrawal requests of customers, the situation was starting to improve.


    The matter was actually quite simple: as long as the customers believed the bank had the money and could withdraw it at any time, the matter would soon be settled. They spared no expense in moving money just to make the customers believe in their financial strength.


    After exhausting almost one-third of their cash reserves, there was a noticeable effect at last.


    But before Piao Guanzhi could catch his breath, he received a bolt from the blue: someone wanted to withdraw 500 trillion in cash, and it was from the most mysterious account no. 01!


    He still remembered that when the former head of the bank had retired, he had warned him that anyone at the bank could be offended, but the owner of the account number 01 must never be crossed.


    Piao Guanzhi had always been clueless about what that meant, but now he understood because that person could completely decide the life or death of this bank!


    "President, you''re finally here!" Li Yubin stood up, "President, this is the owner of account number 01, Huaxia''s Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "You are Zhang Menglong?" Yesterday, Piao Guanzhi had mentioned this man to his female secretary, as if the heavens were joking with him. Today, he actually met Zhang Menglong, and this young man, who he had called a "seeker of cheap popularity," was the owner of account number 01!


    "It seems that Mr. Piao... oh, I mean, President Piao knows me?" Zhang Menglong began to smile, "I imagine President Piao must pay close attention to international affairs, especially in the financial sector."


    "Heh, I know just a little," Piao Guanzhi chuckled.


    "Is that so?" said Zhang Menglong, "Then, to President Piao, I am not the kind of person who seeks cheap popularity, as those economists from your country describe?"


    Zhang Menglong''s question was extremely pointed, leaving Piao Guanzhi at a loss for words for a moment.


    "He... he''s not here to withdraw money, he''s here to cause trouble!" To hold the position of president, Piao Guanzhi''s abilities were not limited to libido alone; he also possessed a very sharp mind.


    "These idiots! What on earth did they do?" He had been somewhat grateful to those economists at first¡ªtheir fabricated "economic models" had suddenly increased the bank''s savings substantially.


    But today, they had to cough up everything with interest! Zhang Menglong had come to seek vengeance in Qingqiu Country!


    "Mr. Zhang, those people were just slinging mud, why bother stooping to their level?" Piao Guanzhi started to force a bitter smile, seeing the true nature of this situation in full clarity.


    "Oh, as you can see, I''m just a kid barely over 20 years old. Didn''t your parents teach you to never mess with a troublemaker?" Zhang Menglong knew that Piao Guanzhi had figured out his purpose and there was no need to keep playing dumb.


    "I hear the economic crisis back then was caused by an experiment with your country''s economic model, which seems quite impressive. I''d like to broaden my horizons and see just how powerful this economic model really is, so withdrawing this money shouldn''t impact your country''s economy, right?"


    "He''s serious!" Piao Guanzhi''s heart rate began to speed up. He remembered Zhang Menglong had once said, "I hear you don''t believe."


    The meaning behind those words sounded like he was gearing up to cause another economic storm. But after several days of silence, many people thought he was just full of hot air, unable to back up his claims. Little did they know he had actually come to Qingqiu Country.


    "Enough talk, let''s withdraw the money!" Zhang Menglong said, "The bank won''t have trouble producing the funds, will it?"


    Piao Guanzhi clenched his teeth. As the bank''s president, if the bank ran into trouble and impacted the country''s economy, he would go to jail!


    "Manager Li, go and find President Quan, President Dong," Piao Guanzhi was well aware that their bank was absolutely unable to produce such a sum. But if Zhang Menglong really wanted to withdraw the money, he had to provide it; that was the obligation of the bank.


    Now, the only solution was to pool cash from other banks. This was no longer an issue for a single bank, but a matter concerning the economic stability of the entire Qingqiu Country.


    "No need to trouble yourself," Zhang Menglong tossed several more bank cards onto the table.


    "This..." Piao Guanzhi''s pupils dilated several times in size. Each of these cards was a black card from several other banks in Qingqiu Country and, moreover, the sequence numbers on the black cards were all "1"!

 Chapter 144 142 Hurry up and Print Money

    As the chairman of a bank, no one understood better than Piao Guanzhi what these cards represented. Zhang Menglong not only possessed their Qingqiu Bank''s black card, but he had even taken those of several other banks.


    Would these black cards be without money? Piao Guanzhi wouldn''t believe it even if he were beaten to death, as for how much money they contained, Piao Guanzhi didn''t dare to think about it.


    "Do you intend to allocate cash from the other banks?" Zhang Menglong saw through Piao Guanzhi''s thoughts at a glance, and at this juncture, except for this method, he probably had no other way out. But would Zhang Menglong give him this opportunity?


    "President Piao, I''m sorry, but even if you summoned all the bank presidents of Qingqiu Country here, you wouldn''t be able to get a penny from their vaults, because they are all struggling to save themselves now,"


    Zhang Menglong pointed to the black card of Minsheng Bank and said, "This card has 6,666 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount, not much, of 420 trillion Qingqiu Currency."


    "This one, the black card of Lian Bank, should have more than 8,000 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount of about 480 trillion."


    "And this one, about 390 trillion."


    "Oh, this one has more, 12,000 sub-accounts, with a total savings amount of 810 trillion. Two-thirds of their entire bank''s savings were filled by me."


    "Do you want me to tell you how much money the remaining cards have?" Zhang Menglong looked at Piao Guanzhi with a smile beaming.


    Piao Guanzhi and Manager Li''s bodies were already trembling.


    Zhang Menglong came fully prepared this time! The savings on just these cards already exceeded their bank''s total savings. Even if they could mobilize funds through connections to resolve the urgent needs of Qingqiu Bank, what about the other banks?


    They were certain that once Zhang Menglong got the money from here, the next target would be the other banks. Could they still mobilize money then?


    Zhang Menglong was like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing behind wherever he passed. Should he make his way through, the bank deposits of the entire Qingqiu Country would be completely emptied.


    It wasn''t just Zhang Menglong. The withdrawal demands of the ordinary citizens of Qingqiu Country alone could directly cause their collapse.


    Once everyone knew the banks had no money, the angry working class would immediately surround all the bank buildings, forcing the banks to hand over cash.


    When that time came, businesses would not be able to operate normally, society would be in chaos, and to cope with the frantic public, the country would inevitably have to start the printing presses, wherein inflation would be inevitable.


    In a few months at most, the economic system that Qingqiu Country has built over the years would collapse in an instant. Let alone that they didn''t really have any economic model, but if there was no penny left, would the existence of this economic model matter at all?


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to be so aggressive, do you?" Piao Guanzhi''s face was pale.


    "Aggressive?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "When your idiot economists cursed me, asking me to apologize, why didn''t I see you stand up and tell them not to be aggressive? A hypocrite dog, aren''t you?"


    Zhang Menglong''s sarcasm was undisguised, "Isn''t your economic model supposed to be superior? The economic crisis was triggered by you, so since you can cause an economic crisis, you must also be able to quell it, right? I mainly want to see, just to learn a thing or two, nothing else."


    "Mr. Zhang, this could cause very adverse foreign relations,"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I don''t know about that. I only know that when I deposit my money in your banks, it is my money, and whenever I want to withdraw it, that''s my business. If you have to impose some sort of blame on me, then I can''t help it."


    "But, what I hate the most is when others threaten me. Your recent words made me very uncomfortable, so now I have decided to add another 200 trillion to the amount I want to withdraw from your bank. If you can''t provide it, then I can only go ask your finance department for it. If your banks don''t have money, your country surely does, right?"


    Upon hearing this, Piao Guanzhi suddenly panicked. If this matter escalated to the national level, it would become almost impossible to resolve.


    "Mr. Zhang, please give us some time, the amount you want to withdraw is just too massive. Although we are responsible for the banks, these banks are state-owned, and we probably can''t make the decision,"


    "No problem, I have plenty of time. I just plan to stay in Qingqiu Country for a while, to enjoy your local customs and look at your beautiful men and women. You don''t need to rush, I have the deposit slips here, and you can''t run away anyway."


    Zhang Menglong, of course, had no intention of settling all matters at once. For him, causing a crisis in Qingqiu Country wasn''t the main goal; his main purpose was to send a warning. As for how hard the slap would be, that depended on their attitude of acknowledging their mistakes.


    "Oh, one more piece of advice," Zhang Menglong added, "Instead of studying how to deal with me, making me give up on withdrawing, you might as well hurry up and start printing money!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong actually left with Hong Yi directly.


    ...


    "Hong Yi, what do you think they''ll do in the end?" Back at the residence, Zhang Menglong lazily lay down.


    "Isn''t that obvious? I bet all those bank big shots are huddling in a meeting right now, and they must have even alarmed the people at the Qingqiu Country''s finance department. If nothing goes wrong, they''ll probably invite you over for tea in a couple of days."


    "Tea? As if I''d give them the pleasure!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    He took out his phone. He hadn''t checked Weibo in the past few days, and the comments under his post that read "Heard you don''t believe me" had already reached several hundred thousand.


    "Boss Zhang, did you run away?"


    "Weren''t you going to prove it to us? Hurry up!"


    "Didn''t you say your family is powerful? They could even trigger a global economic crisis. Stop just drinking and start showing us something!"


    "The person above is a total idiot. Based on what we know about Boss Zhang, he must be preparing to unleash a big move right now!"


    "Haters are cursing, loyal fans are already getting ready to watch the show."


    ...


    "Really, all kinds of people exist in this world," Zhang Menglong snickered, and he posted his current location, "Sorry, in keeping with the principle of world peace, I won''t be causing any major incidents for now. But for some loudmouths, I must teach them a lesson. I''m planning to empty out the money in the banks here."


    Afterwards, Zhang Menglong immediately shared a screenshot of his savings in the Qingqiu Bank.


    "730 trillion Qingqiu Currency? I... I... uh... uh..."


    "Can someone tell me the exchange rate? I didn''t get much schooling!"


    "Can''t you look it up on Baidu? Today''s exchange rate between Huaxia currency and Qingqiu currency is 165 times. Do the math yourself, it''s over 40 trillion Huaxia currency, more than 6700 billion US Dollars!"


    "For real? It''s not photoshopped, right?"


    "Boss Zhang needs to photoshop? You must be joking!"


    "Damn! If I remember correctly, doesn''t Qingqiu Bank have only about 20,000 trillion in total? What''s he planning to do?"


    "Hahaha, I know this one, I work at the bank. Don''t be fooled by that 20,000 trillion deposit, they probably don''t even have 500 trillion in cash. If Boss Zhang shows up, he could literally bankrupt the bank!"


    "Awesome!"


    "Hahaha, I told you, Boss Zhang is not the type to swallow a loss!"


    "He''s starting with Qingqiu Country first huh!"


    "I am Bai Jianguo, and I''m already panicking."


    "To those troublemaking scumbags, Boss Zhang is killing the chicken to warn the monkeys!"


    "Guys, stop scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You''d better start printing money fast because what will you do when Boss Zhang comes?"

 Chapter 145 143 Unless Lee Ji-eun Wakes Me Up

    Zhang Menglong''s post was like a declaration of war, and as soon as the image was uploaded, the number of shares skyrocketed.


    In Qingqiu Country, there were many Huaxia students, and in the past few days, the bank issues had caused considerable panic throughout Qingqiu Country. They even had to wait in long lines just to withdraw some living expenses from the banks.


    Now they understood, it was all Zhang Menglong''s doing! He had orchestrated the whole thing!


    It was just a warm-up, and it almost caused Qingqiu Country''s economic system to start collapsing. One could imagine what kind of catastrophic butterfly effect would occur if those hundreds of trillions of Qingqiu Currency were actually removed from the banks.


    "He really has the ability to disrupt a country''s economic system!" someone finally realized this terrifying fact. A single bank had deposits amounting to 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency. It was unlikely Zhang Menglong only had this one bank account in Qingqiu Country, right?


    A person like him wouldn''t possibly only have deposits in Qingqiu Bank, would he? Neighboring Island Country, and America across the sea, it was conceivable that Zhang Menglong had similar massive funds in various banks worldwide.


    Even if every country''s situation was similar to Qingqiu Country, once Zhang Menglong really started acting decisively to withdraw those funds, the global currency system would undergo earth-shattering changes. He truly had the potential to cause a global economic storm!


    "He''s not joking; he really can do it!" Realizing this, some began to panic, especially those economists who had been most critical; some even secretly deleted their previous aggressive statements against Zhang Menglong.


    Once Zhang Menglong had dealt with Qingqiu Country, perhaps they would be next. Zhang Menglong wouldn''t need to do anything; he just had to walk in, throw his bank card on the table, and the economy of that country could be destroyed!


    With this scenario unfolding, banks all around the world suddenly felt deep panic. They began frantically checking their internal bank accounts.


    Then they discovered a terrifying fact: nearly half the banks worldwide had at least one mysterious account.


    These accounts, with extremely high privileges, had been inactive for short periods of ten years and up to seventy or eighty years!


    Finally, some bravely risked investigating these accounts, only to find the account details had become confidential. There was almost no information about the account holder available; the only note on the accounts was that they were perpetually barred from being closed, and all of them pointed to one country: Huaxia!


    The banks had never been worried about these accounts, but the incident at Qingqiu Bank had certainly awoken them with a slap. Bolding they speculated if these age-old accounts belonged to Zhang Menglong''s ancestors...


    An economic crisis could truly have been orchestrated by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather! He wasn''t lying; he wasn''t speculating; he was merely stating a fact, nothing more!


    ...


    "Issue an urgent notice immediately, forbidding provocation against Zhang Menglong!"


    "Delete everything, delete it all. If anyone still doubts Zhang Menglong, they should be charged with treason!"


    "You idiots, what kind of economists are you? Your studies are worthless! How could such a huge issue go unnoticed? Is the economic history you studied all crap?"


    "By slandering Zhang Menglong like this, do you want our country''s economy to collapse?"


    Top officials from various countries were already terrified by the incident in Qingqiu Country. Although Qingqiu was a small state, its economy was fairly developed, and they might not be able to withstand such a "bank card warning" either.


    ...


    "Idiots! What have these people done?" In an office of Qingqiu''s Ministry of Finance, a middle-aged man slammed down his ashtray, "These useless fools, what kind of monster have they provoked?"


    Almost all the directors and executives of the major banks in Qingqiu Country were gathered in this office, and, facing the middle-aged man, each of them bowed their heads, not daring to say a word. Even though it wasn''t a country under a monarchical system, the authority of the officials was so profound that even the bank directors dared not express any discontent.


    This middle-aged man was Su Zhihe, the core figure currently in control of Qingqiu''s fiscal authority.


    After decades of effort, Su Zhihe had reached this position, and it was soon time for a change of administration. During his term, Qingqiu''s economic development had seen pleasing progress. If handled properly, this time he might be able to advance further and strive for a higher position!


    But in just these past two days, he had almost hit rock bottom. First was the nationwide sharp decrease in bank deposits, followed by the stock market crash the next day. In just two days, the country''s economy had actually fallen into a slump.


    If Zhang Menglong had really withdrawn the money from those banks, they... no, it was a fundamentally flawed proposition, because the combined cash deposits of banks nationwide couldn''t cover the amount of money Zhang Menglong was demanding!


    "Representative Su, what should we do now?" asked the bank chairmen, pale-faced, unable to think of any solutions to handle the matter.


    "Representative Su, we simply cannot come up with so much cash, even if we started all the national printing presses together, it wouldn''t be possible to print so much money so quickly!"


    "The printing presses must not be started!" Su Zhihe said, "If we really started them, our economy would be doomed. Without five or even ten years, we simply couldn''t recover! Given the current rapidly heating up international competition, in so many years, we would already have become the poorest country!"


    "Then what should we do? Are we not going to pay?"


    "Impossible, if we don''t pay, there would be riots across the nation. Forget the economy dragging us down, the angry people themselves would destroy us first!"


    "This won''t work, that won''t work, so what exactly should we do? Representative Su, please think of a solution quickly!"


    "At this time, the only solution is to make him give up on withdrawing the money."


    "How could that be possible? Zhang Menglong has targeted our country''s economy this time. He won''t leave until he has crushed our economy!"


    "That''s because he currently harbors resentment, and his true purpose isn''t to destroy our country''s economy or even to cause an international economic crisis. He just wants people to believe that he has the capability, to silence those who doubt him, and to teach those who have openly insulted him a lesson!"


    "So we..."


    "What we need to do now is to soothe his emotions. Whatever his conditions are, as long as they aren''t too excessive, we should agree unconditionally. Once his mood improves, once he''s satisfied and calms down, he will naturally return home."


    "Are we, the grand Qingqiu Country, supposed to bow and scrape to a little brat from Huaxia?"


    "Liu Gaoren, you shut up. If you have the capability, then come up with a better solution!" Su Zhihe was already beside himself with anger. "At this time, is face more important, or is the future more important?"


    "Call him now!" Su Zhihe said to the president of Qingqiu Bank, "You have his contact information, you do it. Invite him over to talk!"


    "This... alright..." Piao Guanzhi hesitantly dialed Zhang Menglong''s number.


    Zhang Menglong had stayed up playing games with Lu Yiyao until the early hours last night, and now it was past nine, but he was still deep in sleep.


    "Mr. Zhang, you have a phone call!" In a daze, Zhang Menglong heard Hong Yi''s voice.


    "Who is it! Fuck, can''t you let a person sleep?" Zhang Menglong cursed bluntly, "Don''t you know I have a temper when I wake up? Idiot, fuck off!"


    "It''s President Piao from Qingqiu Bank, he said he represents their finance department and invites you to discuss the matter of the withdrawal. Do you have time this morning?" Hong Yi, however, was unfazed, as Zhang Menglong was not scolding her.


    "Talk your sister, tell him, unless you get Lee Ji-eun to wake me up, I''m staying in bed all day today!"

 Chapter 146 144: Unconditionally Fulfill All His Needs

    "Piao President, what did he say?" In the conference room, everyone looked at Piao Guanzhi''s expression, which wasn''t looking good, giving everyone a foreboding feeling.


    "Su Representative, he... he said he was still sleeping, and that he would only get up if Lee Ji-eun woke him up," Piao Guanzhi reported accurately.


    "Who is Lee Ji-eun?" Even though she was extremely popular in Qingqiu Country and Huaxia, for those not following these circles, it was a rather unfamiliar name.


    "It seems she''s a female celebrity from our country who debuted under one of the top three talent agencies, LE. She''s quite famous domestically, and apparently, she''s also very popular in Huaxia," said the chairman of Qingqiu Minsheng Bank.


    "You seem to know quite a bit," Su Zhihe remarked.


    "Last year, a friend invited me to a party, and I noticed this female artist. She''s very beautiful and sings quite well. There aren''t many female celebrities in our country more popular than her."


    "What does he mean by this? Having our country''s female celebrity wake him up? What does he take us for?" A CEO immediately felt infuriated.


    Su Representative had invited him for negotiations, and he directly yelled at Piao Guanzhi who had called him; now, he even wanted their national goddess to wake him up. Was he expecting the treatment of an Emperor?


    "Exactly, that''s too much! Does he think our finance department is a red-light district? Asking for a woman whenever he pleases?"


    "Then do you have a better idea?" Although Su Zhihe looked grim, he was still helpless.


    Although Zhang Menglong wasn''t in a hurry to withdraw money, they were!


    You should know, now countless eyes were watching Huaxia. When Zhang Menglong posted the Qingqiu Bank account balance on Weibo, almost the entire world knew about it, and the news had even spread within Qingqiu Country.


    Now everyone in Qingqiu Country knew that there was a wealthy second generation in Huaxia, named Zhang Menglong, who had 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Bank, and even unknown balances in several other banks'' black cards, and he claimed that he wanted to drain all the banks in the entire Qingqiu Country.


    If Zhang Menglong indeed managed to do that, it would be hard for them to withdraw the money they had painstakingly saved over the years from the bank, so how could they not panic?


    This morning, after the bank opened, the second wave of withdrawals burst forth instantly. In just one morning, Qingqiu Bank''s deposits had sharply decreased by one hundred trillion Qingqiu Currency.


    Because the business was too overwhelmingly large, the bank simply couldn''t handle such a vast volume of service; conflicts even broke out nationwide, and the situation was getting worse by the day!


    If this continued, they wouldn''t need Zhang Menglong to withdraw the money; the domestic populace would deplete the bank''s funds entirely, resulting in a massive debt.


    Indeed, even if they were unwilling to start the printing press, could the public print money? The outcome was naturally obvious.


    Zhang Menglong was not in a hurry; he could sleep soundly in Qingqiu Country, eat and drink as he pleased, and even if it took ten days or half a month, it wouldn''t matter. But they couldn''t afford that. If this situation continued for a week, their economy would collapse, and even if Zhang Menglong left Qingqiu Country by then, it would be too late.


    Now, what they lacked most was time!


    "Speak up! Everyone, speak up! Weren''t you all very resolute just now? Why can''t you speak now?" Su Zhihe challenged, "Now, we have no choice, isn''t it just a female celebrity? Don''t just say waking him up; even if we omit ''him up'' and have her accompany Zhang Menglong to sleep, we must do it!"


    The heads of several banks lowered their heads one by one, unwilling but helpless. Su Zhihe''s words reflected the harsh reality; they had no time to delay with Zhang Menglong. Whatever he said, they had to comply unconditionally.


    "Su Representative, what if we take a harsher measure, if this person just disappeared, then..."


    "Are you an idiot? Are you trying to get us killed?" Su Zhihe finally exploded, "Do you know how many eyes are watching us? If Zhang Menglong died, no matter whether it was our doing or not, in others'' eyes, it would be our masterpiece! Have you thought about what the angry Huaxia people would do?"


    Su Zhihe''s words were rapid-fire, "Also, with all his wealth, do you think he''s just a rich second-generation? The power behind him is probably far beyond our imagination. Even if Huaxia doesn''t pursue it, could our Qingqiu Country really bear that force?"


    Su Zhihe''s words were utterly devastating, thoroughly crushing the last bit of fantasy these executives had.


    "Who is the owner of LE Entertainment?" Su Zhihe asked.


    "It''s Yang Shuo. I''ve had dinner with him a few times," said Cui Youxian, the bank president of Li''an Bank.


    "You go and tell him this, just say it''s my command, no matter what, by ten o''clock this morning, the artist named Lee Ji-eun must appear at Zhang Menglong''s bedside and unconditionally satisfy all his needs! Remember, it''s not just waking him up; it''s everything!"


    "Okay, I know!"


    ...


    In the makeup room at LE headquarters, a girl with a sweet and innocent appearance was arranging her makeup in front of a mirror.


    Lee Ji-eun, born in ''93, fell in love with music from a young age under her father''s influence. By her own efforts and dreams, she launched her solo career, leaving a brilliant mark in both the music and film industries. Even the older generation of domestic singers greatly admired her vocal abilities.


    Today, Lee Ji-eun was almost the face of LE, enjoying numerous halos of praise and thankfully, she had a good father and the company''s solid protection, keeping the dirty side of the entertainment industry away from her.


    Lee Ji-eun still maintained her natural innocence and happiness, enjoying the music and the stage.


    This afternoon, she was going to participate in a domestic variety show, and right now, she was preparing for filming.


    "Ji-eun, are you ready?" Lee Ji-eun''s manager, holding a thick stack of announcements, entered the makeup room, "The car will be here in about half an hour, keep an eye on the time."


    "I know, Enqian sister. I''m almost done!" Lee Ji-eun smiled, "I''ve wanted to participate in this variety show for a long time. I''m going to have a lot of fun this time."


    "You, always thinking of having fun. This is work. You''ve still got to perform. Don''t always act like a kid, but it seems like everyone likes this real side of you, haha."


    "Huh? The boss''s call, Ji-eun, you keep doing your makeup."


    ...


    "What? Boss? How can you make Ji-eun do such a thing? Absolutely not!"


    ...


    "A national command? How could that be?"


    "Okay... I understand... I''ll tell Ji-eun, and by 10 o''clock, I will take her to that place."


    The manager slowly walked over to Lee Ji-eun, her face already streaked with tears.


    Through the mirror, Lee Ji-eun noticed her manager''s unusual demeanor right away, and she quickly put down what she was holding and stood up," Enqian sister? What''s wrong? Did the boss scold you again?"


    The manager shook her head, looking at Lee Ji-eun, she suddenly didn''t know how to start talking.


    "Enqian sister, say something. Don''t scare me!" Seeing her like this, even Lee Ji-eun''s expression made one feel pity.


    "The boss said, you need to accompany a young man from Huaxia... If necessary, unconditionally fulfill... fulfill all his demands..."

 Chapter 147 145 Mr. Zhang, Its Time to Get Up

    "Impossible, right? Eun-chae, stop joking!" Lee Ji-eun froze for a second before reverting back to her usual bubbly self, "The company takes such good care of me, how could they possibly ask me to do something like this? Eun-chae, this joke isn''t funny at all!"


    "Ji-eun, I''m not joking this time. Even the boss can''t do anything about it. It''s a command from the state, and not even the boss has the power or the courage to refuse." Eun-chae said through clenched teeth. She had never imagined that such a thing would happen to Lee Ji-eun.


    Seeing Eun-chae''s serious expression, tears suddenly started streaming down Lee Ji-eun''s cheeks uncontrollably, "Who do they want me to accompany? Some important figure from Huaxia?"


    "It''s a young man from Huaxia, named Zhang Menglong. Maybe you''ve heard of him."


    "Zhang Menglong? The Zhang Menglong? The one who appeared in international news with the world''s richest man?"


    "Yes, him," Eun-chae said, "Ji-eun, you''re aware of our recent banking issues in Qingqiu Country, aren''t you?"


    Lee Ji-eun dabbed away her tears and nodded.


    "It''s all this young man''s doing; his goal was to avenge those who doubted him. There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''kill the chicken to scare the monkey''. Unfortunately, Qingqiu Country was the chicken he chose. Now, whenever he wants, he can drain all the banks of Qingqiu Country, leading to a national economic collapse."


    "They want me to please him? They''re overestimating me!"


    "Choosing you wasn''t a top-down decision," Eun-chae said, "Originally, the Ministry of Finance had invited Zhang Menglong to discuss the matter today. The longer we delay, the more danger our country faces. He''s not in a hurry, but we are. Right now, Zhang Menglong is still sleeping. He said that if you go and wake him up, he''ll get up."


    "This is absurd! Must our nation''s fate really be thrust upon me?" Lee Ji-eun was filled with indignation, unable to accept being used as a sacrifice to appease a complete stranger.


    "Eun-chae, I can''t do this. I''ll terminate my contract with the company. I''ll pay all the penalty fees. Can I do that?" Lee Ji-eun grasped at what felt like her last lifeline, "Eun-chae, you must help me."


    "I... I can''t help you..." Eun-chae couldn''t even bear to look into Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, "The boss said that if he can''t pull this off, he''ll be behind bars tomorrow. He said even if you break the contract with the company, he knows where your family lives¡ªyour parents, your brother. If he''s finished, your whole family won''t be spared either."


    "Did the boss really say that?" In a moment, Lee Ji-eun felt her heart sink to ashes.


    In Qingqiu Country, those entertainment companies had very murky waters beneath them; many had a host of social organizations under their wing. Their bosses were indeed capable of such actions,


    "Ji-eun, the boss said it was Mr. Su from the Ministry of Finance who personally delivered the message. You have to go, whether you want to or not. If you''re not in his room by ten o''clock, your brother..."


    "I''ll go!" Lee Ji-eun bit her lip hard, her beautiful lips turning even redder from the blood rushing to them, combined with her immensely aggrieved expression. Perhaps no man could withstand such a sight.


    Lee Ji-eun understood that no matter how hard she resisted, it would be in vain. It was the will of the national authorities; no matter how famous she was or how high her popularity soared, she was just an entertainer. As an entertainer, even one misstep in this industry could lead to a downfall from which she could never recover, let alone contend with the power of the state.


    ...


    "Damn, this call woke me up from a perfect nap!" Zhang Menglong grabbed a cup of morning tea from beside his bed and took a sip, feeling completely awake after just wrapping up a call with Piao Guanzhi.


    "Hong Yi, bring me my clothes. I''m getting up!" Zhang Menglong yelled; after gaming all of last night, he had treated himself to a full body massage¡ªof course, the legitimate kind¡ªand had then blissfully fallen asleep. Looking around the bed, he couldn''t find his clothes.


    "Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi''s voice came from outside the door, "are you sure you want to get up now?"


    "Ah? Do you need confirmation to get up?" Zhang Menglong was bewildered for a moment, "I mean, is there some kind of ritual I need to perform before getting up in Qingqiu Country?"


    "Mr. Zhang, have you forgotten? Just now, Piao Guanzhi from Qingqiu Bank called you, saying that Representative Jin from the Qingqiu Ministry of Finance wanted to meet with you. You told them that you needed Miss Lee Ji-eun to wake you up, and you needed kisses and hugs, otherwise you couldn''t get out of bed..."


    "Holy shit, did I say that?" Zhang Menglong immediately panicked, "I thought I was still dreaming. I was just talking nonsense; they didn''t take it seriously, did they?"


    Hong Yi outside the door was suddenly at a loss, scratching her head in frustration. Was this kind of thing even a joke? She had just conveyed this message to Piao Guanzhi!


    "I reported your exact words to them. Just now, Manager Piao called and said that by 10 o''clock, Miss Lee Ji-eun will definitely be delivered to your room. He also asked me to tell you that although Miss Lee is in the entertainment industry in Qingqiu, she has always been well protected, and she is still a virgin. He hopes..."


    "Hopes what?"


    "Hopes that you would enjoy yourself tonight..." Hong Yi said with a blush coloring her cheeks.


    "Holy shit, so I said a word in my dreams, and it got twisted into this? Do I, Zhang Menglong, look like that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong was speechless. If Lu Yiyao heard about this, he wouldn''t be able to explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths.


    Why was Hong Yi handling this matter in such an excessive manner; couldn''t she judge the situation for herself?


    "Mr. Zhang, judging by the time, Miss Lee will probably be here soon. Why don''t you lie down for a bit longer?" Hong Yi asked tentatively, "Or if you''re in a hurry, I can go prepare things for you now."


    "Prepare things? What things?"


    "Safety measures, of course. Do you want the pill or a ''little raincoat''?"


    "This question, are you doubting my character, Zhang Menglong? Only a scumbag would make a girl take the pill!" Zhang Menglong suddenly seemed to miss the point.


    "Then I''ll go prepare the ''little raincoat'' for you."


    "Wait a minute! What are you preparing for; I''m not going to do anything, why do I need a ''little raincoat''?"


    "Knock knock knock..." Suddenly, a soft knock on the door came.


    "Mr. Zhang, it seems Miss Lee Ji-eun has arrived."


    "Holy shit, she really came?"


    "What do you think? The person you asked for, not just a female artist, but even if she were a princess or a queen of a country, she would have to be brought to you. But to give credit where credit''s due, they are pretty quick!"


    "Oh man, if Yiyi found out, she would kill me!" Zhang Menglong said nervously, "To think they took my sleep talking seriously!"


    "Knock knock knock!" A crisp knock on Zhang Menglong''s door was followed by a sweet voice from outside, "Mr. Zhang, time to get up!"

 Chapter 148 146 Mr. Zhang wants you to take a shower first

    Once a fan of Lee Ji-eun, Zhang Menglong could not possibly fail to recognize her voice. The moment that sweet voice rang at the door, Zhang Menglong was instantly awoken. "Fuck, is she really here?" Zhang Menglong still couldn''t help feeling somewhat dreamlike; his former goddess had actually run to his room just to wake him!


    "No, I need to calm down; this is all basic procedure!" Zhang Menglong quickly composed himself. He was no longer the loser he had been before. Now, holding the economic lifeline of the entire world, he controlled the most wealth on Earth. He could command thunder and lightning, and if he were displeased, even a nation could not withstand his wrath.


    Now, it was just about a woman, what was there to get excited about? Even though this woman was a superstar revered far and wide, to him, she was no different from an ordinary woman.


    Zhang Menglong soon calmed down again, "If Yiyi knew that Ji-eun came to wake me up today, she would definitely be insanely jealous!"


    Zhang Menglong hadn''t forgotten that when he came to Ligao, Lu Yiyao had asked him to bring back a signed photo of Lee Ji-eun. In fact, he mused, not just a signed photo, if he wanted to take Lee Ji-eun herself back, the Ligao government wouldn''t dare to utter a word.


    Unwilling? Okay then, let''s start with a few hundred billion Ligao dollars!


    "Got it, just a moment!" Lee Ji-eun was already at the door, so naturally, Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to continue sleeping. He did want to see if this goddess in person matched the Ji-eun he had once visualized.


    Outside the door, Lee Ji-eun was momentarily stunned; she had not expected Zhang Menglong''s Liganese to be so excellent¡ªit sounded so natural that even a native like her couldn''t detect any awkwardness.


    Ever since she had entered the house, Lee Ji-eun''s surprise had never ceased.


    It wasn''t that the apartment was overly luxurious; as a star of her caliber, she, too, could afford such a residence if she hardened her heart. But for someone like Zhang Menglong, who could destroy Ligao''s economy with a flick of his finger, living in such a house was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Yet within this house''s decor, she saw a multitude of Ligao''s national treasures! Such items Lee Ji-eun had only seen in the National Bureau of Cultural Relics and museums, but in Zhang Menglong''s residence, they were merely ordinary decorations.


    Zhang Menglong''s collectible figurines even had a special cabinet for storage. In his eyes, these priceless national treasures of Ligao, and his beloved figurines, were incomparably valuable!


    "Hong Yi, take care of Miss Lee and arrange for her to take a shower. I''m going to freshen up." Zhang Menglong said, his room equipped with an en suite bathroom allowing him to complete his ablutions there. Facing a beauty, how could he walk out looking unkempt and sleep-ridden?


    As for Zhang Menglong''s mention of "going to take a shower," he himself was completely unaware of what implications that might evolve into in Lee Ji-eun''s mind.


    "Take... a shower?" Upon hearing these words, Lee Ji-eun''s face turned pale. Indeed, coming to this place, could she still not escape that fate?


    "Miss Lee, let me take you to bathe first," Hong Yi kindly said to Lee Ji-eun.


    "Okay!" Lee Ji-eun bit her lip and nodded with difficulty. The information conveyed to her by Piao Guanzhi was that no matter what Zhang Menglong wanted, she must not resist and had to satisfy him, otherwise not only she but her entire family would be accused of treason.


    Lee Ji-eun could give up everything, even her life, to defend her chastity, but she would never allow her family to be harmed. The moment Lee Ji-eun decided to step into Zhang Menglong''s place, she was ready for anything.


    "Miss Lee, please come this way, the bathing area is upstairs."


    "These two floors are connected?" Lee Ji-eun paused, understanding that a flat in this place was about 400 square meters, and based on real estate prices in this area, the total value of a house would be around ten billion Ligao currency. It was incredible to own such a residence.


    "Hehe, Miss Lee, this floor, including the one above and the one below, all belong to Mr. Zhang. It''s just one suite. Don''t you think that for Mr. Zhang, it''s like lowering his status?" Hong Yi laughed, "Mr. Zhang will be done freshening up soon; don''t keep him waiting."


    Riding in the custom elevator, Hong Yi led Lee Ji-eun to a room permeated with a high-end fragrance, where in front of them was a milk bath sprinkled with petals.


    "I''m to bathe here?" Lee Ji-eun was somewhat surprised. Did the rich like Zhang Menglong really pay so much attention to ritual before doing that sort of thing?


    "This milk is from Mr. Zhang''s private ranch in Australia. We just had it flown in this morning on his private plane. It''s excellent for beautifying and nourishing the skin!" Hong Yi closed the door of the room, "I''ll go get your clothes ready."


    "This Mr. Zhang is really interesting," for some reason, Lee Ji-eun felt a curious fascination towards Zhang Menglong, whom she had only heard of but never met.


    "Since I''m here, might as well wash." Lee Ji-eun gave a wry smile, took off her clothes, removed the makeup she just applied, and revealed her bare face. Less coquettish yet more playful, that pristine skin and perfect features would make it impossible for any man to remain calm.


    "Maybe this isn''t a bad thing." At that moment, an idea surprisingly flashed through Lee Ji-eun''s mind.


    As a top actress, Lee Ji-eun always thought she could smoothly continue her career in the entertainment and performing arts circles. If this event hadn''t happened, she would never have realized that in the face of national mechanisms and capital, she was still just a disposable tool without any special treatment because of her fame.


    Even if she hadn''t encountered this incident with Zhang Menglong, maybe the next time it would be a Li Menglong or a Ding Menglong. Unless her fate changed, she would never be able to escape.


    If she had a powerful backer, even just as an accessory, could she escape such a miserable fate?


    Zhang Menglong, a man who made the world''s richest person admit in front of numerous media that his venture capital originated from Zhang Menglong''s elder, even declaring something so unbelievable that it sparked a massive international effect.


    And Zhang Menglong proved with his own ability and actions that what Poladi, the world''s richest man, said was all true!


    Two days! He had only used two days to throw the entire economy of Ligao into chaos, even severely disrupting the normal social order.


    Not only that, his influence made the entire Ligao government capitulate, suggesting that perhaps being his accessory wouldn''t be such a bad thing after all.


    If something really happened between them today, even if it was just for the sake of Zhang Menglong''s face, even the Ligao government may hesitate to coerce her into doing anything against her will in the future.


    Bathing in this milk and petals, Lee Ji-eun found herself momentarily forgetting about time.

 Chapter 149 147: Go to Your Room or Stay Here?

    "Click!" The bathroom door suddenly opened, startling Lee Ji-eun like a frightened lamb, who immediately wrapped herself in a towel to protect her chest.


    "Miss Lee, don''t be nervous, it''s me," Hong Yi said, walking in with a package, "Mr. Zhang is still freshening up, he says that if he wants to see you, you must dress up nicely."


    "Is that necessary?" Lee Ji-eun was somewhat puzzled in her heart; she clearly knew why she was here today, so why would someone as assertive as Zhang Menglong care about these external things?


    From the way Hong Yi described it, this young Huaxia man named Zhang Menglong seemed to treat meeting her as a very important matter, which seemed somewhat unreasonable. Even if the meeting was to be very solemn and serious, it should be she, not him, who needed to be so.


    "You don''t know, Mr. Zhang is a fan of yours," said Hong Yi with a laugh, "No, calling you a goddess wouldn''t be an exaggeration."


    A flash of surprise crossed Lee Ji-eun''s face. For someone as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, what kind of woman couldn''t he have? Just like today, with a single word, even the government of Qingqiu Country directly stepped in to have her accompany Zhang Menglong. Who could qualify as his goddess?


    But what Lee Ji-eun didn''t know was that Zhang Menglong had been used to being an average Joe. It had been less than three months since he inherited his family wealth, and although some of his views had changed, many of his attitudes remained as before, for people''s core values are quite difficult to alter drastically afterwards.


    "Mr. Zhang really is a strange person," as a fellow woman, Lee Ji-eun didn''t have much guard up against Hong Yi, who was close to her in age, "I thought it would be Mr. Zhang who came in."


    "Even if it were Mr. Zhang, such defensive actions by Miss Lee would be meaningless," Hong Yi said with a smile, "I suppose your country''s orders were to make Mr. Zhang happy at all costs, weren''t they? Even if Mr. Zhang were to do something to you, would you be able to resist?"


    Lee Ji-eun gave a bitter smile, "Since I chose to come here, I''ve prepared for everything."


    "Exactly, so today, everything depends on Mr. Zhang''s attitude. You don''t need to put up any defenses, because it''s meaningless," said Hong Yi, "The women Mr. Zhang wants to have are impossible not to have."


    Lee Ji-eun put down the towel in her hand and stepped out of the bath like a lotus rising from the water, her face still flushed. It was clear, even after taking such a bold step, her heart was still engaged in a serious struggle.


    "That''s more like it," said Hong Yi, eyeing Lee Ji-eun''s figure enviously, "Here are the clothes prepared for you. There''s a dressing room in the bathroom; you can change and then come out."


    "Is this... nightwear?" Lee Ji-eun took the clothes, her bitter smile deepening. It turned out she was here for this after all; Zhang Menglong apparently couldn''t even wait until evening.


    "Does Mr. Zhang often have girls come over to his place?" Lee Ji-eun chatted casually with Hong Yi.


    "This is the first time Mr. Zhang has come to this place."


    "Then these clothes..." Lee Ji-eun took out a bathrobe that seemed tailor-made for her, not only the perfect size but also extremely comfortable.


    "You''ve misunderstood," explained Hong Yi, "Mr. Zhang owns more than 300 private clothing workshops around the world, each staffed with top designers and master tailors, constantly preparing a variety of styles and sizes of clothes for him and his friends, staff, including women¡ªa staple in every one of his residences around the world, nothing surprising."


    "Are the clothes comfortable at least?"


    "Very comfortable, I''ve never worn clothes so comfortable," Lee Ji-eun said. All her personal outfits were also from private brands, but they weren''t nearly as comfortable as these garments.


    "All of Mr. Zhang''s clothing materials have their own supply chain; all the materials are the best, of course, his clothes and those of his women are the finest of the fine, different from the stuff his staff wears."


    "This..." In the package, besides the bathrobe, there was also a very "cooling" set of intimate apparel, likely only to be seen on the beach.


    Lee Ji-eun bit her lip and put them on, but wrapped herself tightly in the bathrobe.


    Seeing Lee Ji-eun like this, Hong Yi laughed helplessly. It seemed Lee Ji-eun hadn''t fully accepted her situation yet. Of course, she knew even better that Zhang Menglong wouldn''t do anything inappropriate to her. After all, Zhang Menglong was not like the usual rich second-generation individuals.


    "Let''s go, Miss Lee, it''s time to meet Mr. Zhang."


    "Mm." Lee Ji-eun hummed softly, following Hong Yi out of the bathroom.


    ...


    "Damn, you actually did as you said. I thought you were going to bolt!" Zhang Menglong talked on the phone with Wang Ling while brushing his teeth.


    "You''d bolt, but I wouldn''t! I say, what''s with you always bugging me, big guy? The frequency of your calls probably surpasses the ones you make to your girlfriend!"


    "Hahaha, women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs; I''m just caring about you!" Wang Ling laughed, "Where are you at anyway?"


    "I''m at Han''er''s Longshan Apartments."


    "Awesome, I heard that place is filled with female stars from Qingqiu Country, like Jeon Ji-hyun, Shen Min''er."


    "You might not believe this, but this morning Lee Ji-eun was the one who woke me up," Zhang Menglong wiped his face, getting ready to leave the room.


    "Hahaha, keep on boasting, they say Lee Ji-eun has a really powerful background. In all these years, none of those ''Q rules'' seem to have applied to her. She''s known as the jade girl of Qingqiu''s entertainment industry. How could she possibly come wake you up?" Wang Ling swore, "If she woke you up this morning, I''ll perform a handstand while washing my hair and eating instant noodles!"


    "You don''t believe me, huh," Zhang Menglong switched the camera around just as Lee Ji-eun, now dressed, walked out of the dressing room.


    Her hair was still a bit damp, and beneath her knee-length bathrobe, a section of slender, snow-white legs was hard to prevent one''s mind from wandering.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am Lee Ji-eun." Lee Ji-eun flashed Zhang Menglong a charming smile, though how much of it was genuine he did not know.


    "Damn, she''s really my goddess!" Zhang Menglong was so entranced, he almost dropped his phone, "Crap, no, I can''t show you, you don''t deserve it!"


    "Damn! So it''s actually true!" Actually, Wang Ling hadn''t said that Lee Ji-eun was also his goddess.


    "You... She just finished showering? You... you beast, did she just wake you up? There''s nothing else?" The mere thought of Lee Ji-eun possibly having fallen prey to Zhang Menglong''s talons made Wang Ling''s breath catch in his throat.


    "None of your business!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes at him, "I''ll have someone send you instant noodles and shampoo soon, what brand do you want?"


    Zhang Menglong counted on his fingers, "Up till now, you still owe me 20 tons of shit to eat, three handstand hair washes, and two days with a five-speed fan. Please settle these promptly!"


    "I''m out!" Once the subject came up, Wang Ling immediately hung up the phone.


    "Hahaha, scoundrel, ran away again!" Zhang Menglong put the phone aside, his gaze returning to Lee Ji-eun.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll take my leave then." Hong Yi bowed to Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, go ahead." Zhang Menglong nodded, plopping himself down on the couch, "Miss Lee, please make yourself comfortable, treat this place like your own home."


    A blush suddenly bloomed on Lee Ji-eun''s face, "Do we... go to your room, or just stay here?"

 Chapter 150 148: I Heard You Can Fulfill All My Requests

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Zhang Menglong nearly peed himself in nervousness when he heard Lee Ji-eun''s words. Was the goddess Lee Ji-eun actually being this proactive? Proposing such a request in broad daylight?


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong recalled the time not long ago when he went with Wang Ling to select actors for a drama crew and was surrounded by a group of female Internet celebrities and female stars who wanted to use him to climb the ladder.


    "Momma mia, are girls these days really this open and bold?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that Lee Ji-eun seemed to be different from what he had imagined. She was clearly such a pure, sweet, and cute girl.


    "Mr. Zhang, didn''t you call me over here precisely to do those things with me?" Lee Ji-eun felt that Zhang Menglong was clearly acting. "Now that it''s just the two of us, there''s no need for you to pretend anymore, right?"


    "Holy shit! What the hell did Hong Yi tell them?" Zhang Menglong suddenly noticed the look in Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, see appeared desperate with a touch of emptiness, and he could tell that the smile on her face was forced.


    "I get it," Zhang Menglong wasn''t a fool. He knew that his current actions were putting tremendous pressure on the Treasury of Qingqiu Country; frankly speaking, Zhang Menglong could decide the economic development trend of Qingqiu Country for the next decade, or even longer, in a single thought!


    After he posted that Weibo message yesterday, he knew the banks of Qingqiu Country would face yet another wave of mass withdrawals. Even if he didn''t withdraw those 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency now, the frightened masses would drain the banks dry.


    Therefore, they must be anxious like ants on a hot pan. Otherwise, how could they possibly take a sleepy, half-dreaming remark by Zhang Menglong as a national strategic-level command to execute?


    Lee Ji-eun right now was probably nothing but a tool used by Qingqiu Country to keep Zhang Menglong happy, a tool without any self-awareness. It wasn''t difficult for Zhang Menglong to guess that Lee Ji-eun must have been ordered to unconditionally fulfill all of his requests.


    "Alas, don''t these people of Qingqiu Country know how to spare and cherish a beauty? Even my grand and mighty image has collapsed in front of my goddess," Zhang Menglong sighed and shook his head.


    Probably, in Lee Ji-eun''s eyes, he had become a lecherous rich second-generation, a dirty old man, lusting after her body!


    "Hehe!" Zhang Menglong suddenly let out a mischievous smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, why are you laughing?" Lee Ji-eun''s uneasiness grew deeper upon seeing Zhang Menglong''s smile.


    "Nothing, take off the bathrobe," Zhang Menglong told Lee Ji-eun.


    Lee Ji-eun bit her lip and untied the belt of her bathrobe, which slid down to the floor, revealing her smooth and pale skin.


    "Hiss, damn, can''t keep up with the nutrients!" If Lee Ji-eun''s fans knew she was presenting herself before him like this, he''d probably be torn apart by them!


    "They said to satisfy all of my needs?" Zhang Menglong asked in a teasing tone.


    Lee Ji-eun dared not look at Zhang Menglong but still nodded her head.


    "Very good," Zhang Menglong nodded and stood up from the sofa.


    At that moment, Lee Ji-eun''s body seemed to stiffen, as if she knew what would happen next.


    "Not going to draw the curtains?" Lee Ji-eun asked.


    "What for?" Zhang Menglong countered.


    But unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong didn''t touch her. Instead, he brushed past her and headed straight to the elevator. "Why are you still cold? Didn''t you say you''d comply with all my demands? Follow me!"


    Lee Ji-eun gritted her teeth and continued to follow behind Zhang Menglong.


    "If Yiyi knew I was teasing her idol like this, would she kill me?" Zhang Menglong wondered nervously to himself.


    Following the elevator, they arrived directly at the top floor of the building. The moment the doors opened, Lee Ji-eun was stunned. This was no ordinary rooftop but almost a transformed swimming pool park.


    Moreover, it was a huge transparent greenhouse where one couldn''t feel the sub-zero temperatures from outside at all.


    In front of the pool, two young women were waiting respectfully for their arrival.


    "Come, join me for a greenhouse sunshine SPA!" Zhang Menglong walked over to a comfortable spa massage bed and laid down at once.


    "Ah?" This time, Lee Ji-eun was thoroughly stunned. She had taken off her clothes, and Zhang Menglong was actually calling her for a SPA?


    Could this be what was meant by "fulfilling all his needs"?


    Was Zhang Menglong''s mind or body the problem, or was she, Lee Ji-eun, not enticing enough?


    "What are you stunned for?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. "Come on, these are SPA experts I''ve brought from abroad. If you want to enjoy their services in the future, you''ll probably only find them at Huaxia''s Wangyi Footpath."


    Seeing the playful smile on Zhang Menglong''s face, Lee Ji-eun understood everything. Bathing, changing clothes¡ªshe had misunderstood it all. In Zhang Menglong''s eyes, there was nothing but appreciation, devoid of any desire or greed.


    It seemed she had jumped to conclusions and deeply misunderstood Zhang Menglong.


    At that moment, she felt a sense of relief but also a peculiar sense of loss.


    As the two SPA experts'' hands massaged her back, her body relaxed all at once.


    "Miss Lee, my girlfriend is very fond of you," Zhang Menglong said. "Of course, I like you too, but it''s not in that way, you understand."


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re nothing like I imagined," Lee Ji-eun said somewhat distractedly, realizing Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend. That''s why he didn''t go crazy even when she was nearly undressed.


    "Your girlfriend must be a very beautiful person, right?" Lee Ji-eun noted that Zhang Menglong''s eyes actually lit up when he spoke about his girlfriend. What kind of girl could make a man of Zhang Menglong''s status look that way?


    "Of course, she''s beautiful and adorable. She loves singing as much as you do," Zhang Menglong couldn''t seem to stop once he started talking about Lu Yiyao. When I left, she even told me to bring back a signed photo of you when I return."


    "She''s really lucky to have you as her boyfriend."


    "Hahaha, I think so too," Zhang Menglong shamelessly said. "Actually, me asking you to wake me up was just something I mumbled in my half-asleep state. I didn''t expect them to take it seriously."


    Lee Ji-eun was taken aback. So her coming here was just because of Zhang Menglong''s sleep-talk? Instantly, she felt the irony¡ªwas this the upper echelon of Qingqiu Country?


    "Since you''re here, just treat it as a vacation," Zhang Menglong smiled. "Stay here for the next few days, join me for meals, shopping, movies, video calls with my girlfriend, and I''ll give you a big gift before I leave."


    "Mr. Zhang, but what about the representative from the Golden..."


    "Let them worry about that!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care about their fate one bit. "It''s not that easy to schedule a meeting with me, Zhang Menglong. If they want me to go just because they say so, wouldn''t that be a loss of face for me?"


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry, they wouldn''t dare touch me, nor could they. As for Miss Lee''s family, I believe my assistant has already sent protection," Zhang Menglong said. "For the next few days, just enjoy yourself with me, without worries!"


    Upon hearing that her family was safe, Lee Ji-eun finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She revealed a sincerely sweet smile, the kind she usually showed to others.

 Chapter 151 149: Do you think we offer a threesome service here?

    "Ah! Refreshing!" Basking in the greenhouse sunlight, Zhang Menglong was eating ice cream and enjoying a top-level massage, almost feeling like he was ascending to heaven.


    If someone outside heard this at that moment, they would definitely think Zhang Menglong was doing something unspeakable and inappropriate for children with Lee Ji-eun.


    "Ah! Goddess! Goddess! Damn, I''m dead! Such sweet death!"


    Lee Ji-eun was lying there too, but in front of her was a huge screen, and on the screen, Lu Yiyao''s face was practically pressed against the camera.


    "Is this the prettiest, cutest girl Mr. Zhang talked about?" Although Lee Ji-eun couldn''t understand the word "damn" from Lu Yiyao, judging from her exaggerated expression, it must be some kind of slang.


    Lu Yiyao indeed was very beautiful, but compared to the batch-produced beauties of Qingqiu Country, there indeed was still a significant gap. As for cuteness, she couldn''t see anything cute about Lu Yiyao at the moment, but her voice was indeed quite sweet.


    "What kind of charm does she have that could make Mr. Zhang so fascinated?" Lee Ji-eun found that this seemed beyond her understanding.


    "Miss Lu, hello, I''m Lee Ji-eun!"


    "I know! Damn! How do you maintain your skin? Woo woo woo, how can you be so cute, can I pinch your face? Ah no, I''m afraid I might spoil it!" Lu Yiyao had taken a course to sing in the language of Qingqiu Country, although not very standard, but communication was not a problem.


    "Woo woo woo, I''m so happy, Ji-eun is actually having a passionate chat with me one-on-one!"


    "Ah, sing a song for me!"


    Lu Yiyao was like a fan meeting her idol, totally crazy.


    "How about that, am I awesome or what? This morning, it was Ji-eun who woke me up!" Zhang Menglong forcibly moved his head towards the camera.


    "Move away, Doggie, don''t block my Ji-eun''s beautiful face!" Lu Yiyao said bluntly.


    "Damn, my family status is really getting lower and lower!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes and lay down to continue enjoying the massage.


    "She talks to him with that attitude?" Lee Ji-eun was astonished; this man could make the whole Qingqiu Country compromise, why was this woman so bold? Could her background be even more impressive than Zhang Menglong''s?


    Lee Ji-eun couldn''t make sense of it all; what kind of woman was this?


    But a girl like Lu Yiyao, it was almost impossible not to like her, and as they chatted, they even started calling each other sisters, and even made plans to visit each other''s countries.


    However, Lu Yiyao had to go to class soon and had to say goodbye to Lee Ji-eun reluctantly.


    "Zhang Menglong, listen, if you dare to lay a finger on my goddess, you''re dead!" Lu Yiyao had learned all about this during their chat.


    "Do you think I''m that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said with a wry smile, "She was undressing in front of me just now, and I was completely indifferent, okay?"


    "Hehe, good to know you understand!" Lu Yiyao said sweetly with a smile.


    "Haha, you better go now, I''ll see if I can invite a couple more people over for dinner tonight, I''ll live stream it for you!"


    "Woo woo woo, I want Lisa! I want Liu Renna!"


    "Fine, anyone you want!" Zhang Menglong said, "Then I''ll video call you again tonight!"


    "Okay! Gotta go!"


    ...


    "She''s adorable, isn''t she?" Zhang Menglong said as if boasting.


    "Is Miss Lu part of some major Huaxia family?" Lee Ji-eun asked curiously.


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "She''s just a girl from a very ordinary family, her parents even divorced, and she had previously suffered from domestic violence."


    Lee Ji-eun was even more baffled, with such an ordinary family background, and even some misfortune, what was it that attracted Zhang Menglong?


    "The day Miss Lee meets someone with a soul connection, perhaps you''ll understand this feeling!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily.


    "Gurgle!" Just then, Lee Ji-eun''s stomach made a sound, and she instantly blushed. Feeling embarrassed in front of others was a bit awkward for her.


    "Hahaha, are you hungry?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Then let''s go eat!"


    "But Mr. Zhang, Mr. Kim said he arranged to have lunch with you at noon to discuss the bank..."


    "To hell with eating, let him eat shit, does he deserve to dine with me? Who is he anyway?" Zhang Menglong had never intended to meet them so soon.


    "Let''s go, I even brought my chef team along," Zhang Menglong knew that Lee Ji-eun was definitely a foodie.


    The place where Zhang Menglong was eating was a private large room, and by this time, the chefs had already prepared all the dishes, filling the entire room with a delicious aroma.


    "This much?" Despite having attended countless banquets, Lee Ji-eun was stunned by the extravagant lunch spread in front of her. The amount was not just for two people, even ten people might not finish it!


    "Is this Huaxia''s stinky tofu?"


    "Aaaah! Luosifen! I tried it once when I was in Huaxia!"


    ...


    "Damn, she really is a foodie, Lee Ji-eun actually likes this smelly stuff?" Zhang Menglong was flabbergasted.


    "But, won''t it be too wasteful to eat so much?" Lee Ji-eun said embarrassingly, swallowing a gulp of saliva.


    "What''s the problem? Just call two more people to join, right?" Zhang Menglong said, "You have Mr. Su''s contact info, right? Just give it to me, I''ll call him."


    "This..."


    "No worries, if he dares to fart around, I''ll finish all this Luosifen on the spot!"


    "I suspect you just want to hoard it all for yourself!" Lee Ji-eun grumbled inwardly.


    "Lee Ji-eun? How is it going? Have you served Mr. Zhang well? Is he willing to meet with us today?" Su Zhihe had been waiting for this call all morning.


    "Hello, is this Mr. Kim? This is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang?" Su Zhihe quickly changed how he addressed him, "Well, is Miss Lee satisfying you?"


    "Oh, quite satisfying," Zhang Menglong said in a deliberately sleazy tone, "I''m quite happy today!"


    "That''s great to hear, it''s our honor. Are you free for lunch today? I''d like to invite you to a meal."


    "Oh, that''s actually why I wanted to talk to you."


    Upon hearing this, Su Zhihe was overjoyed, "Mr. Zhang, we''ll be waiting for you at the Han''er Hotel, should I send someone to pick you up?"


    "No, no, no, Mr. Su, you misunderstand, my chef has already prepared lunch here."


    "Then I can come over!"


    "No, I didn''t say I was eating this meal with you!"


    "Ah?" Su Zhihe was stunned.


    "It''s just that the chef cooked too much this noon, and I felt it was a bit wasteful, so I thought about inviting a couple more people to join me. Could you call Lisa from Blackpink and Miss Liu Ren-na over here? Make sure they come to my place, don''t mess it up, bye, bye!"


    "Mr. Zhang, wait a minute..."


    "Beep beep beep..."


    "Mr. Su, was it Zhang Menglong? What did he say?" The several bank managers who were also waiting eagerly asked.


    "He wants Lisa and Liu Ren-na to join him for a meal!" Su Zhihe smashed his phone on the ground, "What does he think our Qingqiu''s Treasury Department is? Escorts?"

 Chapter 152 150: Who Dares to Help Them?

    "What? It wasn''t enough for him to involve Lee Ji-eun? He wants other women too?" Hearing Su Zhihe''s words, the bank executives were also filled with righteous indignation. If they really did this, it would almost be no different than losing their national dignity.


    "Representative Su, he''s going too far! If this continues, do all the female celebrities from Qingqiu Country have to accompany him?"


    "He is threatening us, Representative Su. We absolutely cannot agree to this. If we compromise again, we may never be able to stand up again."


    "But have you considered what will happen if we don''t meet his demands?" Su Zhihe certainly didn''t want to compromise with Zhang Menglong that easily, but what could he do!


    "Forget it, let''s just satisfy him. We can''t provoke him further right now; otherwise, even if he doesn''t come for the money, other citizens could empty our banks in no time!" Su Zhihe sighed, finally choosing to compromise, "Which company do they belong to?"


    "They are with YG. I know the boss of YG. Should I let him know?"


    "Go ahead..."


    "Representative Su! Representative Su! Good news!" Just when everyone was at their wit''s end, an employee hurried over.


    "Wait, don''t make the call yet," Su Zhihe said, his face also showing a relieved smile, as the negotiations seemed to have succeeded this time.


    "What happened?" Su Zhihe asked eagerly.


    "Representative Su, those countries are willing to use all their Qingqiu Currency reserves to support us. This money is enough to tide us over this crisis!"


    "Hahaha! Great!" It was the first time in days that Su Zhihe had smiled. Just two days ago, he had predicted this might happen, so he had already sought foreign aid.


    As it is known, though Qingqiu Currency is not as strong as the US Dollar, many other countries still hold substantial reserves of it. A single country might not have much, but a group of countries together can account for a significant amount.


    "They must have some conditions, right?" Su Zhihe knew there were no free lunches in the world, and this was just an exchange of equal value.


    "Their demand is that we need to use our US Dollar reserves to exchange for Qingqiu Currency."


    "Really taking advantage of the situation!" Su Zhihe clenched his teeth, "Alright, agree to it! Fortunately, our country has stored a large amount of US Dollars in foreign exchanges over the years. As long as the country''s economy doesn''t collapse, these reserves can always be replenished."


    "Zhang Menglong, if you dare, come on, this time, our bank won''t be so easily emptied!" With solid cash support, Su Zhihe''s spine straightened up.


    ...


    "What are you dilly-dallying for?" An hour had passed, and Zhang Menglong was getting impatient, as the food on the table had been warmed up over and over again.


    Zhang Menglong checked the schedule of Lisa and Liu Ren Na today. Both of them would be in Qiuyuan City for the next two days, and if nothing went wrong, they should have already been here half an hour ago to join him for the meal.


    "It seems they really don''t take my words seriously!" The temperature around Zhang Menglong seemed to drop instantly.


    He dialed Su Zhihe''s number, "Representative Su, where are the people I asked for? Are you testing my patience?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Su Zhihe''s tone to suddenly become so assertive, "Zhang Menglong, don''t think just because you control our bank''s deposits that you can manipulate Qingqiu Country''s economy! I''m telling you, Qingqiu Country''s economic strength is such that even if you took all the money, it still wouldn''t touch our foundations!"


    "Have you lost your mind talking to me like this?" Zhang Menglong even doubted whether Su Zhihe had gone crazy, he was terrified just a moment ago, and now he dared to talk in this tone?


    "Zhang Menglong, if you think you can threaten us with this, let me tell you, no way! Even if you drain all the money from our banks today, even if you use other means to threaten us, do not expect us to yield. Qingqiu is not a country that begs pitifully!"


    Su Zhihe said everything in one breath, his frustrations of the past two days seemed to be released in an instant, as if an oppressed worker had suddenly succeeded in starting his own business and stood up all at once.


    "Are you serious?" Zhang Menglong confirmed once more.


    "Zhang Menglong, we people of Qingqiu Country are made of steel! You might be able to threaten us for a moment, but you cannot threaten us for a lifetime!"


    "Made of steel?" Zhang Menglong burst out laughing, "Do you know there''s a famous philosopher in Huaxia who proposed a law? Are you sure you want to challenge it?"


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about, but if you''re calling me to ask for a woman, sorry, I''m not interested!"


    Having said that, Su Zhihe actually hung up the phone.


    "Damn it! That bastard hung up on me!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t angry at all; he just found it amusing. He didn''t know where Su Zhihe''s confidence came from, but he knew that ''it''s only a matter of time'' ¡ª it never fails to show up, just may be delayed.


    "Mr. Zhang, what happened?" Lee Ji-eun asked curiously, finding Zhang Menglong''s smirk somewhat eerie.


    "Nothing much, let''s eat now, and later tonight we''ll have dinner with Lisa and Ryu Eun-na," Zhang Menglong picked up his chopsticks and started to enjoy what was a luxurious yet vindicating lunch.


    "Come shopping with me this afternoon," Zhang Menglong said, "You go change your clothes first; Hong Yi should have prepared them for you."


    "Yes, okay Mr. Zhang." Lee Ji-eun nodded obediently. After a morning together, she seemed to have gotten a better grasp of Zhang Menglong''s temperament; though sometimes unconventional, he certainly wasn''t the typical rich second-generation type in people''s usual sense.


    "Hong Yi, come here for a moment!" Taking advantage of Lee Ji-eun going to change her clothes, Zhang Menglong called Hong Yi over.


    "Mr. Zhang, what can I do for you?" Hong Yi asked.


    "How has Su Zhihe suddenly become so tough? Has he found a big backer?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to our intelligence, Su Zhihe has gathered over 30 trillion of Qingqiu Currency from 17 countries, which is sufficient to bring their bank back from the brink," Hong Yi replied.


    "Oh, so he found foreign aid," Zhang Menglong muttered, "I wonder what kind of idiots are still hoarding such useless Qingqiu Currency; they must have bricks in their heads!"


    "Which countries are they?"


    "They are some smaller Asian countries."


    "Is that so? Can we handle it?" Zhang Menglong cared about the outcome.


    "Of course, with these small countries, if you want to take action, I can offer you a hundred plans, yet they can do nothing about it."


    "Your tone is too much like Ye Liangchen''s," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help laughing, "Since that''s the case, use the fastest and most effective method, and give them a good beating! I want to see who dares to help them!"

 Chapter 153 151: Power, Water, and Gas Outages

    The country of Chaomo, a nation closest to Qingqiu Country, was in fact once a part of the same country. However, due to wars that took place a long time ago, the nation split, and eventually, two different governments emerged.


    Although independent from each other, their relationship was actually quite good. After all, the people from both nations shared the same ancestors'' blood, and they carried the inseparable bonds of being divided by national borders.


    Chaomo was the country with the most Qingqiu Currency in foreign exchange reserves in the world, holding up to 10.8 trillion Qingqiu Currency, far exceeding the foreign exchange reserves of any other country.


    At the first cry for help from Qingqiu Country, they were the only country that did not put forward any additional conditions, merely requiring the payment of the equivalent in US Dollars at the current exchange rate. It was the epitome of brotherly unity.


    Inside the Minister''s office of the Chaomo''s Finance Ministry, Cui Wu was having an enthusiastic conversation with Su Zhihe.


    "Minister Cui, we owe you big time for this one. Without your willingness to extend a helping hand, our Qingqiu Country''s economy would have taken a significant downturn."


    "What are you saying? We are friendly nations, and of course we should help each other out in such minor matters. It''s just about dealing with someone from Huaxia. If both our nations work together, can''t we handle a young man in his early twenties?"


    Despite the friendly rhetoric, Cui Wu had just conducted a thorough inspection of banks across the country not long ago. Perhaps because their nation was founded later, it seemed they had not been infiltrated by the Zhang Family''s influence, and those mysterious accounts had not appeared in their banks.


    Clearly, Zhang Menglong wasn''t able to use the same methods against them as he had with Qingqiu Country. Given this, what was there to fear? They could freely do as they pleased. Could Zhang Menglong possibly interfere with them?


    "Hahaha, exactly. We might be two countries, but our ancestors are the same, the blood within us is the same. We absolutely can''t allow Huaxia people to ride roughshod over us!"


    As they spoke, Su Zhihe began to spill his grievances, telling Cui Wu about Zhang Menglong and their issue with women.


    "That''s outrageous!" Upon hearing this, Cui Wu was as furious as Su Zhihe. "Rest assured, this matter has already been approved by the parliament. We will spare no effort to help you. In no more than two days, the 10 trillion Qingqiu Currency will arrive in your Ministry of Finance''s account!"


    "Fantastic!" Su Zhihe suddenly beamed with joy. "As long as this first tranche of aid arrives within two days, everything can be easily resolved."


    ...


    "Minister Cui, should we really be doing this?" After hanging up the phone, Cui Wu''s assistant suddenly asked such a question. "Although I don''t know this Huaxia youth named Zhang Menglong, I have a feeling that he is a very forthright person. Our actions might offend him."


    "So what if he''s offended? We''re not Qingqiu. Does he have any way to act against us?" Cui Wu sneered. "Huaxia people are too arrogant. It''s time to show them that not everyone is afraid of them."


    "But Minister, our country was established only a few decades ago. Both our infrastructure and society are still in development. If anything goes wrong, it could lead to disastrous consequences."


    "You''re being overly pessimistic. The people of Huaxia don''t have that ability!" Cui Wu responded.


    "Snap!" Just then, the entire office of the minister plunged into darkness. It wasn''t just the lights; even the other devices all went into a state of paralysis.


    "What''s going on?" Fortunately, it was daytime, and Cui Wu wasn''t handling any important documents.


    "It seems like a power outage; I''ll go check it out," said Cui Wu''s assistant.


    "Ridiculous, impossible! This is the Ministry of Finance building; how could there possibly be a power outage?" Cui Wu immediately dismissed the possibility. It was essential to understand that this was no ordinary place. A power failure could lead to the loss of critical data or documents, affecting the entire nation. Buildings belonging to the government could not possibly have such incidents.


    At that moment, Cui Wu''s phone suddenly rang. The number was from one of his subordinates.


    "What''s the matter?" Cui Wu demanded with an authoritative voice.


    "What did you say? A nationwide power and water outage?"


    "What? The energy supply is also cut off? How is that possible?"


    Several shocking pieces of news completely bewildered Cui Wu. "What''s going on? Aren''t the departments responsible for the power, water, and energy systems supposed to handle this? Why is it being reported to me?"


    "Minister, those in charge told me to ask you, what exactly have you done?"


    "What do you mean?" Cui Wu was startled, utterly failing to comprehend the meaning behind his subordinate''s words.


    "Minister, our entire power, water, and energy systems are dependent on other countries. A few minutes ago, our natural gas supplier cut off our supply, as did the water and power systems."


    "What about our own supply systems?" Cui Wu queried.


    "Minister, although our nation''s infrastructure has been continuously improved over the years, to date over 80% is still reliant on neighboring countries, particularly in terms of power and energy. Most power companies are not state-owned. Right now, our national resources, meager as they are, can only barely maintain the energy supply to some vital regions. As for domestic supply, we really are powerless."


    "What on earth is happening? Why would this happen, why would those companies cut off the supply? Is our Finance Department''s annual massive energy expenditure just a farce?"


    "Minister, those companies say it was an order from their bosses, to implement a ''triple-disconnection'' policy on our country."


    "Triple-disconnection policy? Which three disconnections?"


    "Water, power, natural gas!"


    "Bastards!" Cui Wu pounded the table furiously. "Who are these bosses they''re talking about? I''ll go directly to them!"


    "I... I asked... but Minister Jin from the Energy Department mentioned that this was all your doing..."


    "Mine? What have I done?" Cui Wu was still utterly confused.


    Just then, Cui Wu''s phone signal was suddenly interrupted by another call, from an unfamiliar number, which didn''t appear to be from their own country.


    "This is Cui Wu, who am I speaking to?"


    "Minister Cui, hello, I am Zhang Menglong!" A young voice came through from the other end.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong and Lee Ji-eun had made their way to the largest mall in Qingqiu Country. Lee Ji-eun was trying on clothes in a luxury boutique. It couldn''t be denied that shopping was an innate desire for every girl; it was supposed to be Lee Ji-eun accompanying Zhang Menglong, yet it seemed like he was the one tagging along with her.


    "Zhang Menglong? How do you have my contact information?" Cui Wu asked, "What do you want from me?"


    "Oh, I just wanted to ask if Minister Cui might be looking for those multinational energy company bosses."


    "How do you know that?" Cui Wu''s pupils dilated upon hearing this, as a terrifying possibility crossed his mind, "Don''t tell me..."


    "Be confident and drop the ''Don''t tell me.'' Global Energy, Enka Construction, Lima Energy... those companies'' boss, that''s modest little me!"


    "You... you did this?" The horror in Cui Wu''s voice could not be overstated; he had initially thought that as long as Zhang Menglong did not control their country''s economy, they need not fear him.


    But he hadn''t realized that Zhang Menglong might not control the economy, but he did control the country''s energy! This was tantamount to having their country by the throat!


    "I made this call to warn you, keep out of things that don''t concern you. I thought about giving you a small punishment, a three-day shut-off of electricity, water, and natural gas. Of course, if you behave well, I might consider shortening that period. "


    Zhang Menglong laughed, "Of course, your key departments have their own power systems, but when it comes to the civilians'' water, electricity, and energy supplies, most of it is up to me."

 Chapter 154 152: Its Really Good

    After hearing what Zhang Menglong had said, Cui Wu''s back was soaked with sweat; Zhang Menglong was nothing short of a devil!


    Admittedly, just as Zhang Menglong pointed out, the most critical regions of a nation do have their own power systems to prevent disasters such as system malfunctions or data loss.


    However, the residential areas and industrial power and water supplies across the Morning Twilight Country were provided by these multinational energy corporations. If the power, water, or gas was cut off, not to mention three days, even a single day would wreak havoc on their economy!


    This situation was even more lethal than having their economy manipulated!


    "Zhang Meng... Mr. Zhang, we can talk this out. There''s no need for such drastic actions!" Cui Wu panicked instantly.


    Indeed, Qingqiu Country and Morning Twilight Country were as close as siblings, but that was under the condition it did not disturb their own nation''s stability and development. At this time, this condition clearly did not exist. If they stubbornly continued to help Qingqiu Country, Morning Twilight Country might collapse even before Qingqiu did!


    "Didn''t you hear me speaking so softly and gently with you? Where have I not spoken properly?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly fell upon Lee Ji-eun, who had come out dressed, and he immediately lost the desire to continue talking with the old man.


    "Okay, enough is enough. I''m going shopping with the beauty, bye now?" After saying this, Zhang Menglong hung up the phone directly.


    "Mr. Zhang, you¡ªbeep beep beep..." Only a busy signal came through from the phone, and Cui Wu collapsed into his chair as if all his strength had been drained.


    "Minister, I heard you mention Zhang Menglong..."


    "Secretary Jiang, you were right about what you said earlier, we really shouldn''t have provoked Zhang Menglong. He really is a monster!"


    "Could it be..."


    "Over 80% of the multinational energy corporations in our country belong to him. He said he''s going to cut off our water, power, and gas for three days. Whether or not it''s restored earlier will depend on our performance."


    "Minister Cui, I told you long ago not to underestimate that young man from Huaxia!" Secretary Jiang said with a bitter smile, he had warned him, but Cui Wu hadn''t listened.


    "At this point, we can only save ourselves first," Cui Wu said, "Stop the support for Qingqiu. This time, we are truly helpless."


    ...


    "What? Morning Twilight Country is going to stop helping us?" In Qingqiu Country, Su Zhihe had been happy for less than an hour before bad news came one after another.


    "Representative Su, Minister Basong from Taigu Country says they''ve encountered some problems with their finances, and they probably won''t be able to help us this time."


    "Representative Su, Yinxi Country has also withdrawn their aid to us."


    ...


    "How could this happen? Why has it turned out like this?" Su Zhihe felt like the sky was falling in an instant, as the nations who had promised to help them almost simultaneously went back on their word.


    While their reasons sounded serious, it was impossible for over a dozen countries to have problems all at once. The likelihood of that wasn''t much lower than Mars colliding with Earth, was it?


    In just one hour, Su Zhihe had gone from the depths of despair to the heights of elation, and now, he had plummeted into the abyss of hell.


    "Representative Su, Minister Cui from Morning Twilight Country asked me to relay a message to you."


    "What message?"


    "Zhang Menglong is too terrifying. If he wishes, within just three days, Morning Twilight Country could collapse; this time, they have let us down."


    "What''s the use of saying these things now?" Su Zhihe replied with a wry smile, "Do you know what exactly happened?"


    Su Zhihe didn''t want to dwell on Minister Cui''s retraction, he just wanted to know what methods Zhang Menglong had used.


    "Minister Cui said that their country''s energy is supplied by some of the biggest multinational energy corporations in the world, but these companies almost all belong to Zhang Menglong."


    "Crack!" The glass Su Zhihe was holding suddenly shattered in his hand, "Which company built their energy systems?"


    "The biggest ones are Global Energy, Enka Construction, and Lima Energy," Su Zhihe''s assistant answered.


    "What? All these energy companies belong to Zhang Menglong?" Su Zhihe noticed that his own assistant was also trembling!


    Because these three companies were also the energy enterprises introduced domestically, the proportion wasn''t as high as in the Chaomu Country, but it definitely exceeded 30% of the energy supply.


    If Zhang Menglong chose to threaten them using energy as well, they feared their current situation would be several times worse!


    "He hasn''t even started to play hardball! He''s toying with us!" Su Zhihe then realized that if Zhang Menglong genuinely wanted to target Qingqiu Country, he probably would only need a few words, and within a mere couple of days, he could cause unimaginable consequences, yet he chose this method, merely playing with them!


    But just this kind of humiliation had already left them powerless to fight back.


    "Representative Su, what should we do? We''ve already horribly offended Zhang Menglong!"


    "Slap!" Su Zhihe fiercely slapped his own face. If only he had spoken nicely just now and humbly brought the two women Zhang Menglong wanted, perhaps they wouldn''t be in such a miserable situation.


    He had just said that no matter what means Zhang Menglong used to threaten him, he would never show the slightest compliance; now, his cheek felt as though it had swollen up, and even more so because he had slapped it himself.


    "Call the boss of YG, before five o''clock today, have the people Zhang Menglong wants sent to his residence. If it can''t be done, they''ll be charged with treason!"


    ...


    "Good lord, how can these women shop so much?" After an entire afternoon of struggle, Zhang Menglong''s legs felt as if they had lost all sensation, and yet, Lee Ji-eun still seemed eager to continue.


    "No more, no more, tonight I absolutely have to find someone to give me a foot massage!" Zhang Menglong shook his legs, which were already sore and aching.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to massage you?" Lee Ji-eun said with a smile.


    "Forget it, if my girlfriend finds out you''re massaging my feet, she could fly over from Huaxia to take my life directly!"


    "Hong Yi, open the door!" Zhang Menglong leaned against the door, calling out weakly.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re back?" Hong Yi laughed, "I told you to take two people with you, but you wouldn''t listen."


    "Damn it, how was I supposed to know she could shop and spend so much?" Zhang Menglong complained, "I feel like returning her to Su Zhihe!"


    "Haha, Mr. Zhang, there is no possibility of returning her, but just now, they sent two more people over."


    Hong Yi moved aside, and two women with stunning figures approached¡ªone with a sweet smile, the other sexy and charming.


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am Lisa."


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am Liu Renna!"


    "What''s this all about...?" Zhang Menglong knew that Su Zhihe would eventually send people over, but he didn''t expect them to arrive this quickly!


    "Representative Su asked us to come over to have dinner with you... and also..." The two beauties suddenly blushed, and Zhang Menglong didn''t even need to ask to know that Su Zhihe must have given that kind of order again.


    "Hong Yi, help me contact Su Zhihe!"


    "Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi handed over the already connected phone to Zhang Menglong.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang..." On the other end of the line, Su Zhihe was akin to burying his own head in the ground, but Zhang Menglong''s call¡ªthere was no way he dared not answer.


    "Representative Su, it seems I remember someone saying they would never succumb to my threats, right?" Zhang Menglong said sarcastically, "How does it taste?"


    With a heavy sigh, Su Zhihe uttered sincerely, "Tasty, really tasty!"

 Chapter 155 153: Miss, thats not acceptable

    "Ladies, feel free to eat and drink as much as you like. Here at my place, there''s plenty for everyone!" Zhang Menglong lay on the sofa on the rooftop, holding a glass of wine worth 120,000, and took a gentle sip.


    "Damn, what is this crap, why does it taste so bad?" Zhang Menglong never liked red wine, even the most expensive wines tasted no different from horse piss to him.


    "Hong Yi, bring me a case of AD calcium milk, don''t open it, I want the four-bottle set, otherwise, it''s soulless!" Zhang Menglong nonchalantly set the pricey red wine aside.


    "Come on, beauties, why aren''t you eating? There''s no need to be so reserved at my place!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the two actresses from Qingqiu Country who had just arrived. They sat timidly to one side like children who had done something wrong, their expressions extremely serious, or even, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they seemed ready to meet their doom.


    Although Zhang Menglong appeared very welcoming, they hadn''t forgotten the true purpose of their visit here; they had been abandoned by their own country and turned into tools for trading national economic stability.


    Especially when the two of them ran into each other at the doorstep of Zhang Menglong''s house, they found such a situation utterly preposterous. Just what kind of ability did this boy, who was even a few years younger than them, possess to make their entire country bow down?


    At this thought, they both felt a collapsing of their worldview. Following this trend, would Qingqiu have to comply if Zhang Menglong wanted any Qingqiu starlet to accompany him?


    They truly hated the dirty environment of the entertainment industry, but this was the first time they realized that there was an even more terrifying circle than the entertainment world.


    If Zhang Menglong wanted to do something to them tonight, could they really withstand that kind of pressure?


    Even if they had the courage to stake everything, would they be willing to disregard the safety of their families? Could they really give up this glitzy world? Clearly, they couldn''t.


    So, ever since they walked into Zhang Menglong''s house, they had been maintaining a low mood.


    "You must all be curious why you''ve been forced to come here," Zhang Menglong seemed to have read their thoughts, and even Lee Ji-eun couldn''t help but look at him.


    Lee Ji-eun knew that the recent bank incident was related to Zhang Menglong, but they were unclear on the specifics as Weibo, after all, was popular only in Huaxia.


    "Actually, it''s quite simple. I hold 45% of all the deposits of your country''s banks, amounting to probably three to four hundred billion Qingqiu Currency!"


    Hearing this number, the three actresses'' eyes widened, larger than the other''s.


    "The reason I''m here is simple, too. Some idiot economists from your country insulted me and it pissed me off, so I decided to come and empty out your banks!"


    With just a few sentences, Zhang Menglong displayed his capriciousness and strength.


    Just because he was in a bad mood, he was ready to deplete a nation''s cash reserves and crash its economy; could he possibly be any more wilful?


    "Of course, just with these moves, they wouldn''t necessarily be completely afraid of me. The energy companies under my name control one-third of the energy supply to your country. With just one word from me, one-third of Qingqiu Country could face water, electricity, and gas cuts!"


    "Oh, right, and your ''good friend'' Chaomo Country had prepared several hundred billion Qingqiu Currency to help Qingqiu Country out. Then I cut off all their utilities. I guess there are still many people cursing their Energy Department with unwashed shampoo in their hair!"


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong recalled this incident, almost having forgotten about it had it not come up now.


    "Hong Yi, come here!" Zhang Menglong called out to Hong Yi, "Chaomo Country did have the sense to stop in time and they''ve been quite obedient. Go and notify them, they can resume their utility supply now. And give them a little warning, next time they face something like this, they''d better weigh their options more carefully, otherwise, next time, it won''t just be utilities that get cut off."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I''ll arrange it right away!" Hong Yi went to carry out the orders while the nannies were responsible for serving Zhang Menglong on this side.


    By this time, Lee Ji-eun and the other two were somewhat stunned. They might have known about Zhang Menglong using the bank deposits to threaten Qingqiu Country, but the rest of the information was totally unknown to them.


    If they hadn''t made a mistake, Zhang Menglong had only been in Qingqiu Country for three days, right? In those three days, he hadn''t just settled Qingqiu Country; even Chaomo Country had been dealt with!


    Suddenly, the three women felt as if Zhang Menglong was not even from the same world as them. This young man could control the fate of their countries at any moment, and compared to his forcefulness, those useless officials were just a bunch of spineless creatures.


    This is what a truly powerful man looks like!


    "Hehe, sorry, my girlfriend is calling me on video, I''ll introduce her to you guys in a bit!" Zhang Menglong''s previously unconquerable expression suddenly became as pure as a child''s.


    "Done with training?"


    "Yeah, it exhausted me, my throat''s almost hoarse, hurry up, let me take in some fairy aura from my goddess!"


    "What do you mean? Is it you, Lu Yiyao, who''s become obscure or is it me, Zhang Menglong, not being flirty enough? Now that you have Lee Ji-eun, you don''t need me anymore, huh?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha, I''m just joking," Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but want to laugh when she saw Zhang Menglong''s jealous look.


    "Right, who did you say you wanted to meet at noon?" Zhang Menglong focused the camera on three female stars.


    "Ahhh! Lisa, my wife! Ahhhh! I''m seeing her in person! Woo woo woo, I really want to come over!" Lu Yiyao almost bounced up from the other end.


    "Yiyi, what are you doing? You''re about to break through the floor!" Lu Yiyao''s roommates also gathered around.


    "Ahhh! Lisa! Ryun-ha!"


    "Yiyi! Your Zhang is so impressive, huh? He can even invite these female stars?"


    "Hahahaha, don''t just talk about inviting them, even if Zhang wants to sleep with them today, I bet the three of them would have to line up!"


    "Hahaha, Qianxi, you''re such a professional!"


    "Who welded the car door shut? I want to get off!"


    The small girls'' dorm room suddenly turned into a chicken coop.


    With the addition of Lu Yiyao''s dormitory, the dinner became lively all of a sudden. Despite the long distance, thanks to the privately laid fiber-optic, even this long distance didn''t affect the internet speed at all.


    Seeing how happy Lu Yiyao was, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that this trip to Qingqiu Country, aside from teaching a lesson to a bunch of idiots, also brought some nice gains.


    Dinner dragged on until after ten o''clock, and darkness fell. Lee Ji-eun and the others were informed that they were to calm Zhang Menglong''s mood before he left Qingqiu Country and accompany him in whatever he wanted to do.


    So none of the three of them left. Zhang Menglong''s house was big enough to accommodate even a few more girl groups.


    Having drunk quite a bit, Lee Ji-eun finished washing up and lay on the bed, but for some reason, she couldn''t fall asleep. The way Zhang Menglong spoke firmly and disdainfully to Su Zhihe during the day kept playing in her mind.


    She actually sat up, biting her lip lightly, as if she had made an important decision.


    "Thump thump!" There was a knock on Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "Who is it?" Zhang Menglong reflected on the novel "Three-Body" in his room, after all, the movie was about to start shooting soon, and he needed to prepare well.


    "Click!" The door opened, "Ji-eun, what''s up? Poker night and we''re short one?"


    Lee Ji-eun''s face was flush with a blossoming smile, and the silk robe naturally slid down from her fragrant shoulders.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong stepped back, "Miss, that won''t do!"

 Chapter 156 154: An Apology Cannot Be Empty-Handed

    "What long legs! Ah, no, what a long chest, ah, that''s not right either..." Zhang Menglong was absolutely convinced he was a gentleman; it wasn''t that he insisted on looking, but that he genuinely had no way to avoid seeing.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me serve you tonight." Lee Ji-eun still didn''t look up; mustering all her courage to come to Zhang Menglong''s room alone that evening was almost too much for her.


    "Are the people of Qingqiu Country always so bold?" Zhang Menglong gradually calmed down, figuring he could guess what was on Lee Ji-eun''s mind.


    If she became his woman, vile elements in the entertainment industry or political willpower would no longer be able to impose themselves upon Lee Ji-eun. Anyone who harbored ill intentions towards her would have to consider whether they could afford to provoke Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong''s woman, even if he only slept with her once, would always enjoy his protection! Just like the Emperor''s woman, even if she fell out of favor, she was not someone any official dared to molest.


    But Lee Ji-eun had motives beyond just that, because Su Zhihe had always been keeping contact with her!


    A day went by, and Zhang Menglong didn''t give them the time of day. That day, Qingqiu Country''s cash reserves had dwindled by several hundred trillion. Although they had robust financial support, and the urgency was lessened, the affairs of the neighboring country reminded them that as long as Zhang Menglong was in Qingqiu Country, they could at any time face the same situation.


    Therefore, they had to soothe Zhang Menglong''s mood and get him to leave Qingqiu Country peacefully. Only then would they be safe.


    However, it was clear that Zhang Menglong was unwilling to negotiate or leave, which meant his anger had not subsided. Lee Ji-eun had just been repeatedly urged to make Zhang Menglong agree to negotiations by any means necessary, or else, even if she sacrificed herself for her country, her family would still not end well.


    It was because of this reason that Lee Ji-eun had such bold thoughts that night.


    "If you merely seek my protection, that is easy!" Zhang Menglong suddenly spoke to the air, "Ye Yin, come out, don''t scare anyone!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need?" Ye Yin''s figure suddenly appeared from outside the door, standing behind Lee Ji-eun.


    Lee Ji-eun clearly had not expected someone to appear so suddenly behind her, and she shuddered in fright, but then immediately realized she was wearing nothing but her undergarments and quickly hugged her chest with both arms.


    "Don''t be afraid; this is my personal bodyguard," Zhang Menglong said as he picked up a robe from the floor and draped it over Lee Ji-eun, "Are they using your family to threaten you?"


    Lee Ji-eun trembled and then nodded, but actually, there were also some selfish thoughts she had not voiced.


    "Ye Yin, are there others like you in Qingqiu Country?"


    "Only one," Ye Yin said, "But if needed, in ten minutes, I can assemble ten thousand people. However, I believe that for what you need to do, one person is enough, even if it is to wipe Qingqiu Country off the world map."


    "That powerful?" To be honest, Zhang Menglong had seen Ye Yin walk through walls and tread on air, but still knew little about the capabilities of someone like him. Maybe they had the force of a human-shaped nuclear weapon? Like the Reincarnators in the sci-fi novel ''Infinite Terror,'' capable of flattening a city with a single punch.


    As for Lee Ji-eun, her expression was even more exaggerated. It was bad enough this person materialized silently beside her, but to speak of wiping Qingqiu Country off the map, could this person be a terrorist? Or maybe just a delusional teenager who watched too many animes and read too many novels?


    "Why don''t you take a trip to Qingqiu Country''s treasury?" Zhang Menglong suggested.


    "Mr. Zhang, protecting you is my primary mission, I will not leave your side, unless you possess the power of the Super God Academy," Ye Yin said.


    "Wait, are you saying that through that darn academy, I can become as powerful as you?" Zhang Menglong caught on to the key point.


    "You will know when the time comes, Mr. Zhang. Your father has ordered that until you unlock the permissions, it is better that you not know," Ye Yin said.


    "All this secrecy," Zhang Menglong muttered, "Well, no matter, there are only about $300 billion left in the quota anyway. I will work hard to complete the mission before the New Year."


    "That person from Qingqiu Country, can you command the movement of the earth?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, your order is the highest directive,"


    "OK, then have him go to the Finance Ministry''s family compound and tell that Su Zhihe, if Lee Ji-eun, Lisa, or Liu Renna''s family and friends are subjected to the slightest threat, not only will I cut off their water, electricity, and gas, but they also won''t be able to import a single drop of crude oil from abroad, and quite possibly, they won''t even be able to save their own lives!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand your request." Ye Yin suddenly closed her eyes, standing motionless in place.


    "Are you sending a telegram here?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    A moment later, Ye Yin reopened her eyes, "Mr. Zhang, we can expect the results of this within five minutes."


    "Mm, very good. You may go."


    "Yes?" Ye Yin replied and then disappeared into the darkness.


    "All right, Ji-eun, they should not dare to do anything to your family now. You can go back and sleep with peace of mind." Zhang Menglong said to Lee Ji-eun, "Also, I have a girlfriend, so don''t imagine me to be so sordid. In fact, I called the three of you here simply because my girlfriend and I are fans of you all."


    "Mr. Zhang, actually..." Lee Ji-eun was about to express her feelings when her phone in her robe pocket rang.


    "Mr. Zhang... it''s... it''s Representative Su..."


    "Answer it, turn on the speaker!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Lee Ji... Miss Lee, I''m sorry, it''s my fault, I''m not human, I shouldn''t have threatened you using your family, I was wrong, I dare not do it again!"


    "This..." Lee Ji-eun could tell that this was indeed Su Zhihe''s voice, but she had never seen such a humble Su Zhihe before, as his usual tone when speaking to her was always so arrogant.


    "Representative Su, is everything all right?"


    "No, no, no, Miss Lee, please don''t use formal language with me, I''m begging you, please forgive me, for if Mr. Zhang''s people don''t kill me, our Prime Minister will!"


    "Is it that serious?" Lee Ji-eun looked at Zhang Menglong with a puzzled gaze.


    What exactly had Zhang Menglong''s people done to Su Zhihe in the five minutes since issuing that order?


    "Let me handle it!" Zhang Menglong took the phone from Lee Ji-eun''s hand.


    "Su Zhihe, it''s me."


    "Mr. Zhang? Mr. Zhang, please spare me! I won''t dare to use such methods to threaten Miss Lee again, please calm down."


    "You threatened her, not me. Why should I be angry? Of course, I had no reason to be angry," Zhang Menglong''s tone took on a sardonic edge, "however, since Ji-eun''s family is under threat, and my girlfriend is her fan, my girlfriend is very angry, so now, I am very angry!"


    "I understand!" Su Zhihe was quick on the uptake, "I will definitely visit Miss Lee tomorrow, and I will do my best to earn her forgiveness."


    "That''s your business," Zhang Menglong said in a nonchalant tone, "By the way, remember, we Huaxia people have a tradition: you can''t visit to apologize empty-handed. I''m sure you understand what I mean."


    "Understood! Understood! I will definitely satisfy Miss Lee and Mr. Zhang!"

 Chapter 157 155: My Mental Distress Compensation is Calculated in Hundreds of Millions

    "Go back to sleep!" Zhang Menglong said to Lee Ji-eun, "Let''s pretend tonight never happened!"


    "Mr. Zhang," Lee Ji-eun suddenly said, "Do you really have no thoughts about my coming over tonight?"


    "I am a man," Zhang Menglong replied, "the very normal kind. If I didn''t have Yiyi, tonight might have turned into a group activity. But because of Yiyi, all I had were some physiological reactions, so don''t doubt your charm!"


    After saying this somewhat provocative but utterly honest line, Zhang Menglong immediately closed the door.


    "Damn, this really is testing my willpower!" Zhang Menglong muttered while adjusting his pants, "Lu Yiyao, this is all your fault!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, time to wake up!"


    The next morning, another pleasant voice woke Zhang Menglong from his sleep. This time, however, it was not one voice but three!


    "Tsk tsk, if I posted this on social media, I might become public enemy number one." Zhang Menglong murmured with a smile, his eyes still closed.


    The popularity of these three actresses in Huaxia was terrifying. Whether male or female, just calling them "wife" settled the matter. If people knew these three actresses not only stayed at his house last night but also came to wake him up this morning, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    "Get up, up, up, up; this is life!" Who would have thought that just a few months ago he was frazzled from job hunting, only to suddenly find himself at a pinnacle that ordinary people couldn''t reach in several lifetimes.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will help you get dressed."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll prepare your toiletries."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll check if breakfast is ready!"


    The three actresses began bustling about like Zhang Menglong''s maids.


    "Hong Yi, if we stayed in Qingqiu Country forever, I suspect you''d be out of a job," Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, I''m not worried about that. There are many things they can''t do for you, but I can."


    "That''s why I like your confidence!" Zhang Menglong said, laughing as he entered the bathroom. Indeed, for him now, as many vases as he wanted could be had at his command; with a snap of his fingers, beauties from all over the world could accompany him. But such an able right-hand man was indeed rare.


    After enjoying a delightful breakfast with the company of the three beauties, they sat on the couch, waiting for today''s guest to arrive.


    Last night, after Lee Ji-eun went back, she told Lisa and Liu Renna about Su Zhihe coming to apologize. Of course, she didn''t mention the details of going to Zhang Menglong''s room. But when they learned that Su Zhihe was coming to apologize, their surprised expressions were evident. Su Zhihe, normally so arrogant, had been brought low enough to apologise to Zhang Menglong?


    Although they were popular actresses, popularity meant nothing in front of such officials. These officials could ruin them with just a simple investigation, finding countless ways to make them suffer. After all, in the vast dye vat of the entertainment industry, no one could keep their hands clean.


    There were some things they didn''t know, yet these things involved them, and the onlooking crowd wouldn''t bother to delve into who was at fault. Just digging up some tax evasion would be enough to ostracize even the most famous of them.


    So, in terms of social status and power, Su Zhihe was leagues above them. His personal apology was absolutely a subversion of their understanding.


    "Ding dong!" The sound of the doorbell rang and Hong Yi came from the foyer, "Mr. Zhang, Su Zhihe is here."


    "Is he alone?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "There are two more, they must be his assistants."


    "Bring him over."


    "Yes!"


    Moments later, a slightly overweight middle-aged man followed Hong Yi meekly, and the other two were rather thin, even somewhat sleazy-looking. Their oversized suits made one wonder if they had stolen them from somewhere.


    "Damn, did this guy run into a vampire last night?" Su Zhihe looked up, revealing a pale face. With his build, shouldn''t he have been the picture of health, full of vigor? It seemed a female ghost had drained his yang energy the night before.


    "Mr. Zhang, I used a few tricks last night, enough to give this guy nightmares for three days and nights. He probably didn''t sleep at all last night," Ye Yin''s voice resonated in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "I''m really curious about what you did to scare him like this," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, good day, I am Su Zhihe, these are my two deputies. Today, I come with sincere intentions to apologize to the three ladies," Su Zhihe bent over and smiled obsequiously, looking very much like an ancient eunuch, except he was better nourished.


    "Hmm?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over Su Zhihe and then his two assistants. "Are you sure you''re here to apologize?"


    "This..." Su Zhihe hesitated, "Mr. Zhang, is there something inappropriate?"


    "Haven''t I mentioned that we in Huaxia value etiquette? Although this is Qingqiu, on my turf, it has to be done my way. You came here empty-handed, and you call that sincerity? Give me a break!"


    "No, no, Mr. Zhang, you''re mistaken. I truly came with full sincerity this time. My sincerity might not be large, but it is definitely substantial."


    "Oh? Then I really must see this," Zhang Menglong said, "And remember, there are three of us here. If you only brought one gift, that won''t do. I, Zhang Menglong, have never been unfair."


    "Of course, of course," Su Zhihe hurriedly said. "I used some very inappropriate methods this time, causing fright to both the three ladies and their families. On behalf of all of Qingqiu, I express our apologies to the three ladies."


    "Who the hell are you calling ''ladies''? Do you even know how to speak?" Zhang Menglong slapped the table. "In our Huaxia, ''ladies'' is not a good term! Do you even know how to apologize?"


    Zhang Menglong''s slap made Su Zhihe tremble all over, as if the slap had landed on his face.


    "Then... then what should I say..." Su Zhihe felt utterly uncomfortable, if not ''ladies'', then what?


    "Call them Misses!" Zhang Menglong said seriously.


    "This..." Su Zhihe sighed. In front of this devil, he had no choice but to comply absolutely, "Three Misses, this is a gesture of sincerity from our Treasury Department."


    Su Zhihe glanced at his two deputies, who immediately pulled out three bank cards from their briefcases.


    "Ladies, each of these cards contains 100 billion Qingqiu Currency, as compensation for the mental distress caused. We hope you can forgive our previous inappropriate actions," Su Zhihe earnestly said.


    "100 billion Qingqiu Currency? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Your Qingqiu Currency has been plummeting in value these days, it''s probably only worth about 50 million Huaxia Currency now, right?"


    "Last time in Huaxia, some idiot messed with my film crew''s actors. Do you know how much he paid in mental distress compensation?" Zhang Menglong raised a hand.


    "500 million Huaxia Currency?"


    "500 billion Huaxia Currency!" Zhang Menglong said in a calm tone, "Here, if the mental distress compensation isn''t measured in billions, I consider it mere lip service!"

 Chapter 158 156: I think LE and YG shares are good

    "500 billion Huaxia dollars for emotional distress?" Hearing this figure, Su Zhihe''s face nearly stiffened. Was this a joke? What kind of emotional distress warrants such a figure? This was outright robbery.


    "If you don''t believe me, you can go and ask around in Huaxia," Zhang Menglong said. "That guy was defiant with me, so I directly drove his company to bankruptcy and turned it into a foot bath city. Oh right, that conglomerate is called Wangyi, perhaps Representative Su has heard of it."


    "I''ve heard of it, it''s a publicly traded conglomerate worth billions of US dollars." Su Zhihe didn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s words, he was the kind of person who could really do such things!


    "Just think about it, a public company can come up with 500 billion in compensation, you, at the very least, are a country, and only 100 billion Qingqiu Currency, I am embarrassed for you!"


    Actually, Lee Ji-eun and the other two were already very satisfied with this compensation!


    You should know, among the three, Lee Ji-eun, who had the highest income, could only earn this much after a year of hard work. As for Lisa and Liu Ren Na, they couldn''t even reach this figure. For them, this compensation was considered an astronomical payout.


    100 billion Qingqiu Currency, enough for anyone to live a wealthy and prosperous life. However, in Zhang Menglong''s mouth, it was likened to tossing coins to a beggar, truly shattering one''s worldview.


    "If this is all the sincerity you can muster, I suspect the three beauties wouldn''t forgive you, and my girlfriend would definitely still be angry. When she gets angry, the consequences are severe, because I get very angry as well!" Zhang Menglong said. "It seems you aren''t taking this matter seriously, I think turning off your electricity, water, and gas..."


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, wait, we were mistaken!" Su Zhihe quickly interjected, "Is this all you prepared? Quick, bring everything out!"


    Two assistants instantly scrambled and fumbled through their bags again, then produced several more cards.


    "Mr. Zhang, we were wrong earlier, these three cards were only for Ji-eun. Here are Lisa''s and Ren Na''s!"


    A stack of bank cards neatly laid out on the table, this was the fragrance of money.


    "Is this it?" Zhang Menglong was still unsatisfied, "It seems you all didn''t understand me? A corporation can produce 500 billion Huaxia dollars, your country can''t even produce 1000 billion Qingqiu Currency? I don''t think you are that poor, are you?"


    "Hong Yi, send them back, we''ll go withdraw money this afternoon, and then cut off water, electricity, and gas tomorrow. The day after, we''ll cut off their crude oil as well, and, take back the land in their Qingqiu. I remember that my ancestors bought the perpetual development and usage rights!"


    "What?" Su Zhihe''s heart started racing. Zhang Menglong still had their Qingqiu Country''s land''s perpetual usage rights? He had no idea about this!


    "Oh? You didn''t know?" Seeing Su Zhihe''s perplexed face, Zhang Menglong knew he was unaware of this.


    "You can call your national land bureau to ask. In your capital Qiuyuan, perhaps one-tenth of the land was bought by my ancestors. I remember back then, your Qingqiu Country wasn''t even established yet, but that does not affect my ownership."


    Su Zhihe hastily took out his phone and called the national land bureau!


    "Representative An, it''s me, Su Zhihe!"


    "Old Su, what''s up?"


    "Our capital Qiuyuan in Qingqiu Country, one-tenth of the land belongs to someone else?"


    "How did you come to know about this?" Representative An''s expression suddenly changed. This was a highly confidential matter; apart from the key personnel at the land bureau and the president, no one else was supposed to know.


    If they learned that one-tenth of their capital was owned by someone else, the entire society might become unsettled. If the capital belonged to others, what dignity would such a country have?


    "Tell me, what on earth is going on?"


    "It dates back hundreds of years ago. Before our break with Chaomo, a Huaxia tycoon came to our land, which was where Qiuyuan now stands, barren and filled with poor soil. Back then, we needed money for development, so we sold 50 square kilometers of land!"


    "Is that really true?" Su Zhihe looked at Zhang Menglong, fear clear in his eyes, "Where is that piece of land?"


    "Our current bank, energy bureau, land bureau, finance bureau, even the state hall, and the government center, all are on that piece of land!"


    "What?"


    "That Huaxia tycoon''s foresight was too keen; he chose the most prosperous area for development today. Now, we can''t afford to lose that piece of land. If that person comes to reclaim it, we wouldn''t even know what to do hahaha!"


    "Snap!" Su Zhihe hung up the phone, the laughter of Representative An now seeming like mockery to him.


    "Got everything clear?" Zhang Menglong smirked. "By the way, Representative Su, are you going to return the land to me directly, or compensate me in cash? Based on the current average real estate price in your area, 400¨C500 million Qingqiu Currency per square kilometer... about 200¨C300 trillion Qingqiu Currency, is that correct?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you made a mistake!" Hong Yi interjected, "The land price you mentioned is based on a limited property duration. Your ancestor bought a permanent property right, multiplying it by ten times wouldn''t be a problem."


    "Oh, is that so?" Zhang Menglong nodded. "How about you transfer the money to me now?"


    Su Zhihe felt like he was about to split open. He couldn''t possibly come up with these tens of trillions of Qingqiu Currency, and even if he could, it wasn''t feasible!


    "So, no money then?" Zhang Menglong smiled. "No problem, then I''ll just reclaim the land. I hear it''s now the city center, right?"


    "Hong Yi, call in an excavator brigade from Huaxia tomorrow. Offer an annual salary of a million, social security, and benefits at the highest standard. Flatten those buildings for me, I want to build¡ªno, not a bath center, that''s already there¡ªI want to build the biggest food center in Asia here!"


    Suddenly, Su Zhihe felt a sharp pain in his heart.


    "Mr. Zhang, you can''t do this. Many of our country''s key buildings are there!"


    "I can do whatever I want on my own land, what''s it to you!" Zhang Menglong said with boundless arrogance.


    "Mr. Zhang, name your price! As long as we can do it, we will!" Su Zhihe''s psychological defenses had completely collapsed. He had thought to play clever, hoping to solve the problem with a few hundred billion Qingqiu Currency, but Zhang Menglong was truly ruthless!


    "Since you put it that way, I won''t make it difficult for you. I know your country is also suffering. How about 1000 billion Qingqiu Currency per person for compensation, and, I think the shares in LE and YG are also not bad, what do you think?"


    ...

 Chapter 159 157: Drawing 100 Red Packets of 1 Million Each

    "Ladies, 100 billion Qingqiu Currency in spiritual compensation has already been transferred to your bank accounts. This is the stock equity agreement from LE and YG," Ms. Lee Ji-eun, you now own 52% of LE Entertainment Group. Ms. Liu and Ms. Lisa, each of you holds 32% of YG Entertainment Group, each share valued at around 500 billion Qingqiu Currency."


    It must be said that the shocked Su Zhihe had improved his work efficiency several times over, and three thick stock equity agreements had been delivered to Zhang Menglong''s house in less than two hours.


    All of these equities were acquired by the Ministry of Finance of Qingqiu Country. They couldn''t just watch as their banks and even government buildings were pushed over by Zhang Menglong with an excavator, could they?


    Although these lands had to pay a significant portion of taxes to Zhang Menglong every day, this steady trickle was definitely less painful than pulling out several trillion Qingqiu Currency at once.


    "Check your accounts, have the funds arrived?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, the funds are in," the three actresses nodded, feeling as if they were dreaming this entire time.


    Yesterday, they were mere tools manipulated by the state, but now, they had become the largest shareholders of the two biggest entertainment groups in Qingqiu Country.


    From now on, they no longer had to lead a passive life. They could dominate their own lives, no longer needing to do things they disliked. As for acting and singing, they could still pursue them, but without that burden, their lives would be much happier.


    Upon reflection, being arranged to serve Zhang Menglong turned out to be a very fortunate event.


    "Ladies, can you forgive us now? Those people who were tracking and surveilling your families, we''ve also called them back. There will be no more harassment in the future."


    "Mr. Zhang, should we forgive him?" The three women looked simultaneously at Zhang Menglong. They were already very satisfied with this compensation; it far exceeded their own expectations. But still, they needed Zhang Menglong to decide.


    "Alright, seeing that Mr. Su has worked so hard, although the compensation isn''t much, keep it. Let''s put this matter to rest," Zhang Menglong said.


    Hearing this, Su Zhihe finally breathed a sigh of relief, as it seemed Zhang Menglong was somewhat satisfied.


    "However!" Zhang Menglong''s tone shifted, making Su Zhihe''s recently eased mood tense once again.


    "Now that this matter is settled, let''s talk about my affair," said Zhang Menglong, "I''m still very interested in your country''s economic model and want to gain some insights. I hope Mr. Su can satisfy my curiosity."


    "Mr. Zhang! I also came here to give you an explanation!" Su Zhihe said righteously, "We''ve thoroughly investigated, and what was claimed to be an economic model was concocted by a group of financial academic failures in our country. We''ve proven that such an economic model doesn''t exist, and having seen Mr. Zhang''s capabilities, we deeply believe that Mr. Zhang has the power to stir the world economy!"


    "Damn, this guy''s face is so thick, I''m at a loss for words!" Zhang Menglong was suddenly rendered speechless. Su Zhihe really was a talent, directly selling out those domestic economists.


    Zhang Menglong believed that without higher orders, those economists absolutely wouldn''t have the guts to fabricate such things. He had to admit that Su Zhihe was indeed ruthless, pushing this issue clean off Qingqiu Country''s plate.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong also believed that if he wanted to find the evidence, it would merely be a matter of speaking out, but it wasn''t necessary. Zhang Menglong''s visit was intended to be a warning to the tiger, but clearly, while he shook the mountain, he only intimidated a portion of the tigers.


    The international criticism had only disappeared by a fraction. The last time Zhang Menglong had Hong Yi fix up some small countries, even if those countries were crippled by Zhang Menglong, it didn''t mean much because the big countries could easily do the same.


    However, Qingqiu Country was different. Looking at their GDP, they had already reached the level of developed nations. Although there was significant military pressure, compared to those smaller countries, it was not on the same scale at all. Sorting them out should effectively silence most critics.


    "Here''s the deal, you guys do one thing for me and I''ll let this slide. I won''t touch the savings either. You just need to pay me the interest on time and submit the land taxes regularly. I don''t want to beat you up unless absolutely necessary!"


    Su Zhihe felt incredibly bitter inside. Who had ever heard of someone who could just beat up a whole country at will? Yet, he had no strong words to counter Zhang Menglong''s statement. These past several days, their entire Qingqiu Country had been fundamentally throttled by Zhang Menglong.


    Their money couldn''t be protected, their women couldn''t be guarded, and even their lands couldn''t be secured.


    "Mr. Zhang, you name it¡ªif it''s something we can do, we will definitely try our hardest!"


    "Excellent!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction. "Making mistakes isn''t scary, but not admitting to them, now that''s terrifying. Tomorrow night, I''ll host a live stream. Gather all those foolish economists, have them admit their mistakes in front of me, and then apologize. They must sing ''Conquest'' in front of me!"


    "Con... Conquest?" Su Zhihe knew Zhang Menglong was using this method to deter others. Although he was extremely reluctant, he had no choice but to comply¡ªthere were no other options!


    "It''s just a song. I''ll have someone teach it to you. Okay, you can go now!" Zhang Menglong waved at Su Zhihe as if shooing away a fly. "I won''t keep you for lunch, okay?"


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!" After Su Zhihe had left, three female stars bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong. From now on, though their statuses stayed the same, their destinies were completely changed.


    "No big deal, consider it a tip for keeping me company these few days!" Zhang Menglong whistled as he walked into his room. "Call me for lunch later, and in the afternoon, keep me company playing Mahjong. Tonight, it''s team gaming time!"


    ...


    "Tonight, I will be live streaming on Shark TV. There will be a giveaway of 100 cash packets worth a million each. Don''t miss out, fans!"


    That evening, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo was updated with a new post, and this bold move stirred up a huge wave of reactions.


    "Damn, I''ve only ever seen live streams giving away a hundred bucks to a hundred people, but Mr. Zhang just multiplied that by ten thousand. Oh my goodness!"


    "Wuu wuu wuu, hubby, pick me!"


    "You think you can trick me into watching your stream with this tactic? No way! I''m bringing all my relatives to watch!"


    "Damn, Mr. Zhang is just Mr. Zhang. Is he trying to throw money to death?"


    "Others stream to make money; Mr. Zhang streams to burn money! The joy of the wealthy is beyond our imagination!"


    "I have a question, what exactly will Mr. Zhang stream? Isn''t he in Qingqiu Country?"


    "Who knows! Getting money is all that matters¡ªif I win, I''ve got my down payment!"


    Looking at the bustling comment section, Zhang Menglong revealed a satisfied expression. Tomorrow''s live stream would certainly be very lively, wouldn''t it?

 Chapter 160 160: 158 gift brush kicks out of the live broadcast room

    "Bro, heard you''re gonna livestream tonight?" Zhang Menglong suddenly received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Bro? I''m freakin'' 22, and you''re over 30. Could you not gross me out?" Zhang Menglong showed an expression full of disdain.


    "Hahaha, I''ll sneak in through the back door, sneak in through the back door. Didn''t you say you were going to draw 100 red packets of a million each? Draw two for me, I''ll tell you my ID, hehehe." Wang Ling laughed lecherously.


    "Wang the rich kid! Aren''t you a super-rich second generation yourself? This is your ambition? You still care about a mere million?"


    "A mere million? My god, a mere million!" Wang Ling began to spew expletives, "Don''t think everyone is as filthy rich as you, Boss Zhang. Back when I was studying, my dad only gave me tens of thousands a month for expenses. A million is a huge sum, okay? I could keep a little internet celebrity happy for a year or two with that!"


    "Hahaha, let me tell you, I just got a new girlfriend recently, her figure, tsk tsk tsk, that waist, those legs. I''m telling you, this time in Qingqiu Country, you''re surrounded by beauties everywhere, plus goddesses like Lee Ji-eun. You must be having the time of your life, huh?" Wang Ling began to get lascivious as he spoke.


    "So, how''s the taste of a goddess? If I had your skills, I''d just organize a group, multi-player sports are way more thrilling?"


    "Screw off! Get to the point!" Zhang Menglong cursed.


    "What are you actually going to livestream this time? I''m just really curious. Your Weibo post is totally trending now, acting all exclusive dog and stuff, shooting right up to the hot search."


    "Nothing much, just planning to organize a big chorus," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "A chorus? Have you switched careers to become a music conductor?" Wang Ling said, completely baffled.


    "What''s the rush, you''ll know tonight. Remember to record the screen for me, and tomorrow hop the firewall to spread it around everywhere."


    "If you won''t say, then whatever, all mysterious," Wang Ling muttered, "That million though..."


    ...


    Ever since Zhang Menglong became famous, this was the first time he voluntarily appeared in the public eye in this manner, and it was a rare international livestream to boot.


    Because this livestream was shrouded in mystery, everyone was filled with curiosity and anticipation. The money didn''t matter; what mattered was the curiosity!


    By the afternoon, the link to Zhang Menglong''s livestream room had already been swarmed with people. Two hours before the livestream was scheduled to start, more than ten million people were already waiting. A livestream like this, even the League of Legends World Championship might not compare.


    When the clock struck half-past six in the evening, Zhang Menglong used an account he''d prepared in advance to start the livestream. The moment he appeared on the screen, the barrage of comments exploded like fireworks!


    It was a rooftop under the starry sky filled with a romantic atmosphere, topped with a nearly invisible layer of transparent greenhouse glass. On this rooftop, there was a garden, a swimming pool, sofas, a TV, and aside from Zhang Menglong, there were three women.


    "Honey! Look here, honey!"


    "Zhang Menglong is way more handsome than in his photos!"


    "Lee... Lee Ji-eun! It''s Lee Ji-eun! My wife!"


    Finally, someone saw the faces of the three female stars; they were actually sitting around Zhang Menglong, one feeding him fruit, another singing, and their lips kept saying "Oppa."


    "And my wife Lisa!"


    "Ryeon Eun-na! My wife"


    "Love rivals, draw your swords; today, I fight for Ji-eun till the end!"


    "Stop shouting, they''re already in Boss Zhang''s house, what''s the point in fighting!"


    "Wuwuwu, the grudge of wife-stealing is irreconcilable! My Lisa!"


    "This is literally the life of my dreams! Eating grapes peeled by Lisa, listening to songs sung by Ji-eun..."


    "I''m so jealous! I''m turning into a lemon sprite!"


    "Boss Zhang is uplifting our national pride!"


    "Is there anyone mighty enough to tell me where this is?"


    "I know, it''s the most expensive apartment in Qiuyuan, also known as the First-grade of Qiuyuan Tohmson. It''s inhabited by Qingqiu Country stars; many top-line stars live here. Any apartment here is worth at least a hundred billion Qingqiu Currency!"


    "It''s just this kind of move, even if Boss Zhang slept in the Prime Minister''s residence, I wouldn''t be surprised!"


    "You guys think, why would those three actresses be at President Zhang''s house? Could it be they are being kept? With President Zhang''s financial strength... tsk tsk tsk, it''s not impossible!"


    "Nonsense! Do you think my goddess is that kind of person? It must be President Zhang''s personal charm."


    "This is the content of today''s livestream? Flaunting wealth on a livestream? Chasing goddesses on a livestream? Isn''t this too much?"


    "Just a passerby here, asking what time the draw is."


    ...


    "Damn! Why are people still sending gifts?" Zhang Menglong took one look at the screen flooded with virtual gifts and immediately lost his cool.


    His 100 billion US Dollars were all tied to a single account, and Zhang Menglong made all his payments through this account, so as soon as this account was emptied, he would have passed his parents'' test.


    But when Zhang Menglong had registered for the livestream, the bank account he submitted for the record was a subsidiary account of Huaxia Bank linked to that main account, so any income from the livestream would also count towards that subsidiary account.


    It was already hard for Zhang Menglong to spend money, and now people were giving him gifts? Were they trying to mess with him?


    "Hey, hey, hey! Stop sending gifts! Would you all just stop? Do you think it''s easy for me to spend money?" Zhang Menglong shouted at the livestream camera.


    "Putting on an act, what a show!"


    "Hahaha, normally people livestream begging viewers to send gifts, but this is the first time I''ve seen someone begging not to receive gifts, truly a rare sight!"


    Seeing what was happening, not only did the number of people sending gifts not decrease, it actually increased; in just a few minutes, the total amount of the gifts had reached several million!


    "Holy shit! You''re still sending money?" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Hong Yi! Come here for a second!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do?"


    "Those gifts just now, get them all refunded by the people at Shark TV!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, that might not be easy, according to the provisions of our agreement, their platform takes a 50% cut!"


    "Then I''ll compensate them for that 50%, and if that''s not possible, help me acquire Shark TV, and I''ll refund it myself!"


    "Yes, I understand!"


    ...


    The conversation between Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi happened right in front of the camera, and this exchange instantly overturned countless people''s views.


    "Sorry to interrupt, sorry to interrupt!"


    "Just talks of an acquisition like it''s nothing? This must be what they call a ''God of Wealth,'' right?"


    "Think about it, President Zhang alone has deposits of 730 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Bank, which is worth several trillion Huaxia Currency; does he even care about this little money?"


    "Those of you sending gifts, are you not just insulting our President Zhang?"


    "Everyone!" Zhang Menglong said, "The official content of the livestream hasn''t started yet, but let me remind you all, please do not send me gifts. Anyone who sends gifts will be discovered and kicked out of the livestream immediately!"


    "Sorry about getting a bit heated just now!" Zhang Menglong smiled at the camera, "To show my apology, today I will draw 200 cash red packets worth 1 million each!"


    Wow!


    As soon as the message was out, the entire livestream exploded.


    "Damn, I got disconnected!"


    "Stupid Shark TV, if I don''t win, it''s all your fault! You owe me a compensation of a million for my loss!"


    "Hahaha, I''ve already prepared 10 alt accounts, let''s see who can beat me!"


    ...

 Chapter 161 159: Conquered by You Just Like This

    Although there wasn''t much interaction, Zhang Menglong was inherently a man who carried a conversation on his own, especially regarding this time''s economic history incident that had stirred international controversy. Many people were asking Zhang Menglong if this was a carefully planned hype event.


    Some even doubted whether the banking deposit information that Zhang Menglong had disclosed was fake, and that the sudden economic change in Qingqiu Country was just an internal upheaval, unrelated to Zhang Menglong. They speculated that Zhang Menglong just happened to seize this opportunity for a second round of hype.


    Facing such skepticism, Zhang Menglong just smiled faintly. He knew that after today, these people would completely shut their foul mouths.


    "Someone''s coming again!"


    "A man? Could it be the Big Bang Combo?"


    "No, that''s not right, these people are fat and thin, and all as short as winter melons. How could they possibly be that group?"


    "Look, there are quite a few of them!"


    Just when the audience was getting a bit bored, a group of people appeared on the rooftop. Two people were leading, and the dozen or so people behind them all had their heads down as if they had done something wrong.


    "You, give them a close-up!" Zhang Menglong said to the camera, indicating that there was a person specifically in charge of filming this live broadcast.


    The camera swept over each of their faces, and under the gentle lighting, the audience finally got a clear view of these people.


    "Who is this? What are they doing here? What kind of suspense is Zhang selling?"


    "Wait a second! I recognize this person!" There were always a few know-it-alls in the live broadcast room. "This is Su Zhihe from Qingqiu Country. My dad often watches the news from Qingqiu Country, no mistake, it''s him!"


    Armed with this information, netizens immediately started searching online, and indeed, there was such a person in Qingqiu Country, and after comparison, it was indeed the same person!


    "This guy is impressive. During his tenure, Qingqiu Country''s economic growth was incredibly rapid. The GDP per capita soared from 18,000 US dollars to 31,000 US dollars, almost breaking into the world''s top ten!"


    "Awesome! Although I don''t like Qingqiu Country, it sounds like this Su Zhihe actually has some skills."


    "What is he here for?"


    "Look, how fake his smile is. It seems like a flattering smile!"


    "You see, he''s grinning like a dog!"


    "Wrong, the people from the Ministry of Finance have come in person and they are bowing and scraping. Could it be that they came to ask for Zhang''s forgiveness?"


    "Possible! I heard that Qingqiu Country''s banks are being drained by the populace. If Zhang pulls a tough move now, they''re done for!"


    "Damn! That''s some pro action!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, as you instructed, I''ve brought all the people who slandered you online!" Su Zhihe said.


    "It''s just these few?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    The camera once again moved over the faces of those dozen people. Each one of them had their head lowered, their expressions more dismal than if they had been cheated on.


    "I recognize that bald guy; he''s Quan Bai''en, an economics professor at Qingqiu University!"


    "I''ve seen that one too. Also an economics professor, he organizes an economic forum program, seems to have a bit of international fame!"


    "I get it now! All these people are the ones who were online calling Zhang Menglong a fraudster!"


    "My goodness, what''s this about? Qingqiu Country''s Ministry of Finance directly served them up to Zhang Menglong for him to deal with? Isn''t that a bit too awesome? Aren''t they nationals of their country, and aren''t they professors? Just selling them out like that?"


    "Zhang Menglong must have raised quite a few issues in Qingqiu Country these past few days!"


    Just now, Su Zhihe had voluntarily admitted that these people had offended Zhang Menglong. It seems unlikely that such arrogant people from Qingqiu would betray their own national economics professors unless something special had happened.


    "Mr. Zhang, these are the people who have been spreading lies about economic models online and slandering you. After our reeducation, they have come to a deep understanding of their mistakes, and they are here today to clarify for you."


    "66666!"


    "Epic win, epic win!"


    "I said it! How could such an epic economic crisis be conjured up by Qingqiu''s folks? Economic models, all non-existent!"


    "Look carefully, every word is key!"


    "Look at their deathly faces; their education must have been quite harrowing!"


    ...


    "Is it you guys who''ve been spreading rumors about me?" Zhang Menglong walked slowly past these people, "Who came up with that economic model? Was it you or you?"


    "Didn''t you call me a fraud? Weren''t you demanding an apology from me to your economics? Well, go on, say it!"


    "Let me tell you, I have a total of 34 trillion Qingqiu Currency in deposits in Qingqiu Country, with a value of 30 trillion Qingqiu Currency in land, and I haven''t even started yet. Your currency has devalued by 17% in just three days. If you don''t believe I have the ability, just blabber on a little more!"


    "No way, no way? Surely no one believes I can''t do it, right?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, that tone, so old-school cunning!"


    "This is simply killing people and crushing their hearts!"


    "Damn, 34 trillion in deposits and 30 trillion in land, that''s equivalent to several trillion US Dollars. With such a critical hit, not only Qingqiu Country, even America might not be able to withstand it!"


    "From now on, anyone who says Boss Zhang can''t cut it, I''ll twist off their heavenly spirit cover for him without Boss Zhang lifting a finger!"


    "Daddy!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we were wrong. We shouldn''t have infringed on your reputation. We just made up that economic model out of thin air."


    "Mr. Zhang, we just wanted international attention too badly. Please forgive us!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we now have sufficient reason to believe that your grandfather had the power to trigger that economic crisis. We were too short-sighted."


    Facing Zhang Menglong''s questioning and the pressure of the state machinery, the economists had no choice but to bow their heads and admit their mistakes.


    Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s immense wealth, they truly believed that maybe the economic crisis indeed was the grand work of Zhang Menglong''s grandfather.


    Just the assets in Qingqiu Country alone amounted to several trillion US Dollars, and those accounts had even existed for decades. This suggested that in Zhang Menglong''s grandfather''s generation, their family was already so wealthy!


    Such a family could cause an economic crisis in the world with just a flick of their wrist!


    "The attitude of admitting your mistakes is acceptable!" Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "Are you all convinced now?"


    "Convinced."


    "Yes, convinced!"


    "And you, Representative Su?"


    "I... I am convinced..."


    "Okay, then let''s not waste words and get straight to the main topic of today!" Zhang Menglong said to the camera.


    "What? This isn''t the main topic?" In the eyes of the audience, this explosive plot was quite thrilling already. What could be more shocking than making a group of professors personally visit someone and even apologize in such a humble manner?


    "Hahaha, get your keyboards ready, folks. In a bit, I''ll be randomly selecting 200 people from your comments to send red packets to!" Zhang Menglong stood up with a baton that had appeared in his hand at some unknown time.


    "Okay, now let''s start singing ''Conquest''!" Zhang Menglong pointed to Su Zhihe, "You''re singing too!"


    "What? I... I... alright..." Su Zhihe''s face was filled with despair.


    "Zhi''en, hit the music for me!"


    "One, two, let''s go!"


    "Just like this, you conquer me! Sever all my retreats..."


    ...


    "Hahaha, awesome! Too awesome!"


    "Real ''Conquest'', so hardcore, so slick!"


    "Hahaha, bowing my head in awe!"


    "Boss Zhang, look, is the way I''m kneeling up to standard?"


    ...

 Chapter 162 160: Brother, Are You Thor?

    "Oppa, come visit more often!"


    "Yes, we''ll all miss you!"


    At Qiuyuan Airport, Lee Ji-eun and the others reluctantly said farewell to Zhang Menglong. Although Zhang Menglong promised to visit often, they all knew that seeing him again would not be a simple matter.


    They would never forget this young man who had changed their destinies forever.


    "Mr. Zhang, I wish you a pleasant journey!" Representing Qingqiu Country, Su Zhihe was also sent to see Zhang Menglong back to his homeland. Finally, this harbinger of doom was leaving!


    Several days had passed since that live broadcast, but its profound impact was likely to last for a long time. Zhang Menglong had undoubtedly proven his influence to the whole world with this move; his family truly had the power to trigger a world economic crisis!


    Although there was no direct evidence, the economic prowess exhibited by Zhang Menglong was more than sufficient. Thus, there was no need for further evidence to confirm that this act was orchestrated by his grandfather!


    As for Qingqiu Country, it had become a global laughing stock. "Conquest," just a song, had somehow become a hit around the world; even the melodies were hummed in streets and alleys, with the singer poised to be the biggest winner!


    "Don''t worry, I''ll certainly have a smooth trip!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. Even if someone were to target his plane with a surface-to-air missile, as long as Ye Yin was by his side, he would never be in any danger!


    "Oh, and one more thing," he said in a voice audible only to them, "Don''t even think about messing with me using any methods; you can''t handle the consequences."


    "Mr. Zhang, you have quite the sense of humor! We will treat you as our most esteemed guest in the future. Next time you visit Qingqiu Country, we will receive you with the highest standard!"


    "Oh? Is that so? Well, I hope I''ll still see you next time," Zhang Menglong left an enigmatic remark.


    With a piercing screech, the plane vanished over the horizon...


    "What did he mean by that? Has there been a leak?" Su Zhihe asked his assistant.


    "Impossible! This matter is a direct order from the president, with no more than five people in the know. Moreover, they''re all the most trustworthy people; there''s absolutely no chance of failure!"


    "Hmph, Zhang Menglong, your very existence is a perpetual threat to our Qingqiu Country. You brought this upon yourself, so you can''t blame us for your demise!" Su Zhihe sneered, "Is everything arranged?"


    "It''s all set up!"


    "How will they do it? There must be no trace left, or it will impact Qingqiu Country negatively!"


    "Representative, this time we''ve made contact with ''Wind Nest''!"


    "Wind Nest?" Su Zhihe''s voice dropped immediately on hearing this name, "You''ve managed to get in touch with them?"


    This name was completely unknown to ordinary people but familiar¡ªand feared¡ªby someone of Su Zhihe''s standing.


    It was a global assassin organization with just seven members. However, it was rumored that these seven possessed extraordinary capabilities beyond the imagination of ordinary humans.


    These people held no known nationality, gender, or specific abilities, even casting doubt on whether they truly existed in this world.


    The organization had been around even longer than Huaxia had been established. To date, they had assassinated a hundred state leaders, and their record of failure was only once!


    This name became known in an elite inner circle when an international terrorist organization was eradicated.


    But no one had ever known how to contact Wind Nest; at least, Qingqiu Country couldn''t!


    "Originally, I reached out to a different international assassin organization, planning to hijack the missile system of a small country on the flight route to intercept Zhang Menglong''s plane. But they said it was too risky. Instead, they could help me reach out to someone from Wind Nest."


    "To have such fortune!" Su Zhihe''s face lit up with surprise, "How much do they want?"


    "200 billion US dollars!"


    "They do drive a hard bargain!" Su Zhihe wasn''t surprised by the price; it was well worth it for Zhang Menglong''s life!


    "Give it to them; my only requirement is that Zhang Menglong does not make it back to Huaxia alive!" This time, to deal with Zhang Menglong, Su Zhihe had the authority to allocate resources up to 200 billion US dollars. It was practically an all-in gamble!


    "Hmph, Zhang Menglong, provoking the great Qingqiu civilization was the dumbest thing you''ve done! You might have the money, but you''ve got to be alive to spend it!"


    ...


    On the plane, Zhang Menglong was reclining with his legs crossed, absorbed in reading "My Three-Body."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, even a movie made with these kinds of blocks gets my blood pumping. I can''t imagine what effect the actual film will have. It''s so exciting!" Zhang Menglong was completely immersed in the story, seemingly oblivious to any threats that might be waiting for him on his way back home.


    "Mr. Zhang, why didn''t you let me just take him out?" Ye Yin appeared behind Zhang Menglong.


    "Just taking him out like that, where''s the fun in that? I actually want to see who he has called up to take me on," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    In fact, the moment Su Zhihe had hired someone to kill him, Zhang Menglong was promptly informed. This so-called "Wind Nest" was, conventionally speaking, nothing more than an organization made up of Mutants.


    These individuals were the successful test subjects born from a secret human nuclear experiment conducted by a certain country''s science organization seventy years ago. Out of 17,000 test subjects, only seven survived! The nuclear radiation had successfully altered their bodies, turning them into a group of extraordinary people.


    When they were born, they could not control the powers in their bodies, which completely obliterated the laboratory in a release of energy, and since they were of the same kind, they could only huddle together for warmth. They were well aware that they no longer fit into society with ordinary Humans.


    "Ye Yin, are these people very strong?"


    "To ordinary people, they''re like gods and Monsters," Ye Yin replied.


    "And what about to you?"


    "They''re like seven Calabash Brothers."


    "Hahaha, heartless," Zhang Menglong said, letting go of the last shred of unease upon hearing Ye Yin''s response, "If you guys start fighting, be careful. This plane is quite expensive."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. It''s just a Level Three Mutant coming."


    "There are levels? So are there also Level Five Mutants, like Phoenix Lady and Storm Lady?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve watched too many movies. However, their power does indeed exist."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhang Menglong shifted his position on the sofa, settling into a posture ready to watch a movie, "I''m getting a bit impatient!"


    ...


    "He''s here!" Ye Yin suddenly said.


    "You hide first. Only act if I''m in danger! Don''t let yourself be discovered; that would just spoil the fun," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes." Ye Yin nodded and disappeared behind Zhang Menglong, leaving only him and Hong Yi together.


    "Come on, Hong Yi, sit next to me. Let''s enjoy the show together!"


    "Whoosh!" Like a spherical bolt of lightning, a globe of light one meter in diameter suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, with a figure slowly materializing within the light.


    "Clap, clap, clap!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but applaud, "Awesome, awesome! What a sight to behold!"


    "Clang!" A coin landed in front of Sorens, "Bro, are you Thor or something? Come on, do it again!"


    "What''s going on?" Sorens was taken aback. His target this time seemed to know he was coming. And shouldn''t ordinary people be scared out of their wits at the sight of such supernatural phenomena?


    Instead, he threw a coin at him¡ªdid he see him as a monkey in a zoo?


    Not only did his target look completely unfazed, but he also seemed very excited, even... thrilled...


    Suddenly, a bad premonition arose in his heart.

 Chapter 163 161: Come Over Here!

    "Mr. Zhang, his name is Sorens, and he was born on a small farm in England. When he was seven, he was abducted by that organization and suffered twelve years of inhumane torture in a lab. He''s now a Level Three mutant."


    "He looks no different from a normal person!" Zhang Menglong glanced at Sorens. Judging by the timeline provided by Ye Yin, Sorens should have been seventy or eighty years old, but he appeared to be only in his twenties or thirties.


    Sorens had blond hair and blue eyes. He was about 175 cm, not very tall, even looking slightly slender, but standing in front of him, Zhang Menglong felt an intense pressure. The air around them got much drier, and he could even hear crackling sounds of static electricity.


    You see, Zhang Menglong was on a plane, and this was extremely dangerous for the aircraft. Electromagnetic fields could cause the airplane''s instrument panel to malfunction, which would be fatal.


    "Is he really from over half a century ago?" Zhang Menglong wondered, as Sorens looked about his age.


    "His cells were modified by nuclear radiation, not only enhancing the mitochondria to greatly slow down human aging, but also producing cells similar to those of electric eels, though far more complex in structure," Ye Yin explained. "Mr. Zhang, if interested, should delve deeper into biology."


    "Are you teaching me how to do my job?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes but admitted he was somewhat intrigued.


    "Why not consider going for a master''s degree?" Zhang Menglong suddenly contemplated. He didn''t need to work, so why not spend a few more years at school? Due to the pandemic, the entrance exam for graduate studies was postponed to next March, so Zhang Menglong still had time to apply.


    "What on Earth is he doing?" Sorens stared at Zhang Menglong, saying nothing. The young man from Huaxia didn''t seem scared at all and even seemed to be daydreaming!


    Being a mutant, an assassin, and one that was here to kill him, did he not deserve a minimum of respect?


    "Are you Zhang Menglong?" Sorens finally couldn''t help but speak.


    "Yes, that''s me. What do you want?" Zhang Menglong didn''t even change his sitting position, casually tossing a grape into his mouth.


    Sorens''s mouth twitched. This scenario didn''t follow his usual script. Previously, his sudden and ghostly appearances had been enough to instill endless terror in people.


    Inside Sorens''s body, his cells could generate a powerful electromagnetic field that countered Earth''s gravity, allowing him to fly in the air like ''Magneto'' without any external support.


    Moreover, his cells, interacting through electric currents, could disintegrate at the atomic level ¡ª a potentially dangerous feat. Thanks to the electrically formed field, however, his atoms could maintain a fixed relative position, allowing him to pass through even moderately dense solid objects by vibrating his atoms.


    To an outsider, such abilities were nothing short of divine!


    Everyone he killed had begged for mercy in despair and fear. Their last looks were of despair and also of reverence!


    Yet, in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, there was not a hint of fear, and even a semblance of amusement.


    Moreover, under normal circumstances, shouldn''t the most instinctive question be "Who are you?"


    He suddenly had a bold guess; maybe Zhang Menglong recognized him?


    "That''s impossible!" Sorens internally dismissed the possibility. Their operations at Wind Nest were very confidential; apart from organization members and a very few people in the world, no one could possibly know him or even know he existed.


    "I''m here to kill you!" Sorens said coldly.


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but burst into laughter. "Brother, you''re not very professional! Where I come from in Huaxia, the villains usually die because they talk too much. A real assassin is one who acts tough and speaks little. You''re making it quite easy to be counter-killed!"


    Sorens seemed to enjoy the fearful glances and powerless screams before someone''s death, perhaps due to his warped childhood. Many times, he was capable of killing his targets without them ever noticing him, yet he never chose to do so! He had immense confidence that no one could survive in his hands.


    However, in front of Zhang Menglong, such behavior suddenly became childish and laughable.


    "Alright, let''s lay it all out. I''m done pretending!" Zhang Menglong spat out a grape seed. "Hong Yi, buy seedless grapes for me next time. Eating these is too exhausting!"


    Hearing this sentence, Sorens felt as if his entire worldview was crumbling. Why could someone casually eat when facing an assassin like himself, and even be so leisurely about it? Did they think he didn''t exist?


    "Did Su Zhihe send you?"


    "Damn!" Sorens panicked internally, had his move been exposed? Who could it be?


    But it was impossible. The members of their organization planned their operations independently; no one could know their plans, unless it was someone from Wind Nest.


    But the people at Wind Nest were like brothers to him, there couldn''t possibly be a traitor among them!


    "Stop worrying, no one betrayed you. You cannot imagine the energy I have, and today you won''t be able to kill me; you''ve probably come here for nothing," Zhang Menglong laughed. "By the way, how much did he pay you? I''ll double it if you take him down for me!"


    "Fuck!" Sorens couldn''t help but curse, feeling humiliated.


    Aside from Zhang Menglong, there were only seven others on the plane, one captain, one co-pilot, and the rest were maintenance staff¡ªall just ordinary people. Zhang Menglong seemed the most ordinary of them all, and Sorens had no idea where his confidence came from.


    "Forget it, you probably won''t believe me anyway. Aren''t you here to kill me? Come on then!" Zhang Menglong slumped into the sofa, making a helpless gesture.


    "What is this Huaxia person playing at? An ancient Huaxia Empty Fort Strategy?" Sorens hesitated. His instincts told him that something was off with this rich second generation from Huaxia!


    "Whoosh!" Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up, startling Sorens.


    "Hahaha, so pretending can have a deterrent effect too!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    But although he looked calm as an old dog, he was actually extremely nervous.


    He knew Ye Yin was formidable, but what if Ye Yin was overconfident and had underestimated the opponent''s ability? What if his bluff failed and he got screwed? Wouldn''t he be doomed then?


    Not only that, they were at an altitude of ten thousand meters. If Ye Yin couldn''t subdue Lawrence immediately and something happened to the plane, Zhang Menglong would be smashed to smithereens. In truth, he had no faith in his heart!


    "Come at me!" Zhang Menglong forced himself to muster courage as he spoke.


    "It must be a bluff!" Sorens confirmed once again. Aside from these people, there seemed to be no one else on the plane. It was all an act by Zhang Menglong!


    "Cunning Huaxia people!" Sorens''s eyes narrowed into slits. "Even though I don''t know how you discovered my movements today, you''re still going to die!"


    "Zzzzzz!" Sudden arcs of electricity began to emanate from Sorens''s body, and these were not mere static discharges but strong voltage arcs!


    In that instant, the plane''s alarm blared loud, signaling that the control systems had failed!

 Chapter 164 162 Is My Life Only Worth 200 Billion US Dollars?

    "Ye Yin! Get your ass out here now, or I''m going to be electrocuted to death!" Zhang Menglong screamed hysterically.


    The electric current crackling from Sorens''s body had already smashed the surrounding objects to pieces, creating charred marks on cups, the TV, and even the internal walls of the airplane.


    "Damn it! My painting! Shit, that''s a 24-million-US-dollar painting, pay up!"


    "Damn it! Do you know what this is? A limited-edition red wine, you can''t get this even if you have the money, and I only had a small sip!"


    The static electricity permeating the air had made Zhang Menglong''s hair stand on end, and he even felt waves of prickling pain radiating onto his skin. This guy was truly a monster! He wasn''t human!


    "Mr. Zhang, I told you, if you had just taken him down before he came in, wouldn''t that have saved all this trouble? You just had to show off!" Ye Yin''s helpless voice came from behind Zhang Menglong.


    In an instant, an invisible force field appeared around Zhang Menglong''s body, shielding him from the static electricity. The numbing, piercing sensation vanished in a flash.


    "Beat him up, beat him hard!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat panic-stricken; he had obviously not played his part well and he admitted that he had genuinely been scared just now.


    Even with mental preparation, seeing such a freak, who emitted electricity all over his body like Thor, made it impossible for anyone to remain calm!


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the wrecked airplane cabin "This incident absolutely cannot be overlooked!"


    At this moment, Sorens also stopped the outburst of power. His body was shaking slightly, a state of extreme fear.


    He had been on this airplane for at least two minutes, and it was astonishing that he hadn''t noticed the presence of another person besides them! Didn''t that mean this person was even more formidable than him? How else could he have escaped his detection?


    As a mutant, Sorens had a perception that far exceeded that of normal humans; it was impossible for someone to be lurking near him undetected, unless that person was of the same kind!


    "Are you also a mutant?" Sorens asked. "No, that''s not right. Huaxia has never conducted human mutation experiments. Are you a naturally-awakened psychic? Or a Huaxia ancient martial artist or cultivator?"


    "This guy must have late-stage Chuunibyou," Zhang Menglong whispered to Hong Yi, "Ancient martial arts and cultivation have both come up; he''s definitely been reading too many novels."


    Hong Yi just smiled dismissively, not at all bothered by Zhang Menglong''s exaggerated reaction.


    "Neither," Ye Yin shook his head, "Level Three mutant, almost Level Four strength, to exploit radiation energy for mutations in the human body to unlock such power is quite impressive indeed."


    "Just who the hell are you?" Ye Yin appeared much younger than Sorens. For some reason, Sorens couldn''t sense anything abnormal about him, yet he felt as if a mighty mountain stood before him, an invisible pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am. Just now, Mr. Zhang said he wants to beat the crap out of you, so you''d better get ready to take a beating," Ye Yin said.


    "Huaxia people, you''re too arrogant!" Sorens had never been in a disadvantageous position since gaining his mutation powers from nuclear radiation, "Looks like you''re his bodyguard, huh?"


    "You could say that!"


    "Then I''ll kill you first, and then kill him!"


    The terrifying electric current surged through Sorens''s cells once again.


    "We can''t let you destroy Mr. Zhang''s airplane again," Ye Yin said with a light chuckle.


    At that moment, a visible ripple appeared in the air, and it slammed hard into Sorens''s face.


    "Crack!" A crisp sound, and Sorens''s body, as if struck by a several-ton truck, flew out.


    But behind him, an invisible wall appeared, and he slammed into it with a "big" shape, floating in mid-air from Zhang Menglong''s perspective.


    "Hiss!" Zhang Menglong inhaled sharply, noticing that Sorens''s face was now bloodied; the impact seemed to have shattered his cheekbone.


    Sorens felt as though his head was being pounded by a heavy hammer. He had no idea what method Ye Yin had used to attack him; all he felt was an overwhelming force pouring down on his face, a power that crushed his body and instantly shattered his spirit.


    With just one punch, he reached a conclusion: the Huaxia man before him was not someone he could overpower!


    "Run! Otherwise, I''ll die here!" The bit of consciousness Sorens had just regained led him to make the most correct decision in the moment.


    But when he tried to activate the power within his body, he suddenly felt another force emerge within him, and the cellular power he used to control at will was no longer under his command!


    "Don''t waste your energy. The radiation energy in your cells has already been locked by me," Ye Yin said.


    "Mr. Zhang, should I kill him directly?" Ye Yin asked bluntly.


    "Wait!" Zhang Menglong said, "Hey, you still haven''t answered my question. How much money did they give you to come and kill me?"


    Sorens turned his head to one side, apparently not intending to tell Zhang Menglong at all.


    "Yo? Tough guy? I love tough guys the most!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Ye Yin, beat him up!"


    "Boom!" Another surge of power poured into Sorens''s chest, creating a deep dent where his ribcage clearly broke.


    "Cough...cough...cough!" Sorens coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Not talking? Continue, Ye Yin! But don''t kill him!"


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    "What are you doing? This is useless, let me teach you. Hit him in the balls!"


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Ye Yin''s mouth; he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to resort to such nasty methods!


    "I''ll talk!" Sorens''s spirit completely crumbled. Even in death, he wanted to preserve his manhood, the most symbolic part of being a man!


    "Su Zhihe from Qingqiu Country offered 200 billion US dollars for your life!" If only he had known that there was such a monster with Zhang Menglong, even for 2 trillion dollars, he wouldn''t have come!


    Forget about him; facing this demonic Huaxia man, even if all seven of them from Wind Nest came, it''d be like sending themselves to their doom one by one!


    "Dammit!" Zhang Menglong cursed angrily, "Am I really only worth 200 billion US dollars?"


    The bloodied face of Sorens showed a pair of exceedingly surprised eyes. Was this Huaxia guy''s brain messed up?


    Someone was trying to assassinate him, and he wasn''t upset about being targeted, but that the price on his head wasn''t high enough? What kind of thought process was that?


    "Hong Yi, what do you think? Is my life only worth 200 billion US dollars? This is an insult to me! It''s contempt for me!" Zhang Menglong fumed angrily.


    "Heh...heh...heh..." At this moment, Hong Yi''s thoughts were exactly the same as Sorens''s. What on earth had made Zhang Menglong so irritated? He wasn''t like this before!


    Right then, Zhang Menglong fumbled in his pocket, and eventually pulled out a crumpled 10 Huaxia yuan bill.


    He threw the money on Sorens''s face, "This time I won''t kill you. Here''s ten yuan, go and take out Su Zhihe! And you tell him, his life is only worth 10 yuan!"


    "Fuck! This is infuriating me!"


    ...

 Chapter 165 163: No Money? Then Cede Territory!

    "You... you''re not going to kill me?" Sorens looked at Zhang Menglong in disbelief, thinking he was undoubtedly doomed today, yet to his surprise, Zhang Menglong actually spared his life!


    To think someone would let go of their would-be assassin, and by his looks, all just to humiliate Su Zhihe a bit, his head was suddenly filled with question marks, are all Huaxia people this wild?


    "Take these 10 bucks and kill Su Zhihe, and I won''t kill you," Zhang Menglong added another question, "Oh, by the way, do you assassins issue receipts after taking a job?"


    These few questions rendered Sorens speechless, the hell do you issue receipts for murder? Are you also going to pay taxes at the tax bureau? Give you a banner of ''Taxpayer Pioneer'' while you''re at it? Has your brain got water in it asking such questions?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you want him to issue a receipt?"


    "Of course, it''s to leave at the crime scene after offing that Su Zhihe!" Zhang Menglong declared with righteousness, "That way, when others go to collect his corpse, they''ll know someone spent 10 bucks to have him killed!"


    The assassination of a country''s minister of finance is already extremely humiliating, if it gets out that he was killed by someone who paid 10 bucks for a hitman, it''s likely to become legendary in history.


    "As expected of Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi was at a loss for words, besides Zhang Menglong, she couldn''t think of a second person in the world who would come up with such an idea.


    "You really going to let me go?" Sorens was still doubtful, "Aren''t you afraid I won''t keep my promise? Once I leave here, you can''t control me!"


    "If you don''t carry out this task, the entire Wind Nest will be uprooted!" Before Zhang Menglong could speak, Ye Yin took the lead, "Do you think no one knows where the Wind Nest headquarters is? If I remember correctly, there''s an undersea cavern beneath the Narnia Trench..."


    Sorens'' pupils dilated suddenly, "How do you know that? This..."


    "In this world, there''s nothing Mr. Zhang doesn''t know about! So don''t even think about being sneaky!" Ye Yin said, "By the way, I can tell you some more, the first generation of mutants from Lab Two was killed by my grandfather."


    Revealing the base of the Wind Nest Organization only surprised Sorens, but when he heard this, he felt a deep fear from within.


    Lab Two was the hellish place where the seven of them were born, a place of torture they could never forget for as long as they lived!


    Actually, the seven of them alone couldn''t possibly destroy Lab Two, they were merely second-generation mutants. Before them were the first generation of mutants, far more powerful, with nuclear fission reactions taking place within their bodies!


    You see, the power of an atomic bomb comes from nuclear fission: imagine how terrifying the energy that''s compressed into a human body could be? They were truly human-shaped nuclear weapons!


    But human bodies simply can''t withstand such fission energy, which caused these people''s bodies to undergo drastic mutations, turning them into monster-like creatures, prone to frequent berserk episodes. That''s why they created the second-generation mutants like us.


    The disparity in their strength was immense; a single first-generation mutant could effortlessly tear apart ten Sorens!


    These mutants were altered from the organization''s most elite warriors, and although turned into monsters, they retained an extremely high level of loyalty, diligently guarding the base ever since. With them there, there was no escape.


    But for some reason, they received news that all 12 first-generation mutants from Lab Two had been killed, which led to subsequent events.


    Today, it seemed Sorens had found the answer to this matter.


    "Hehe!" Ye Yin smiled for the first time, "Those first-gen guys were quite capable; my grandfather spent nearly a minute to finish them all off!"


    "One minute?" Sorens'' belief crumbled.


    "Wait, I have a question! How did your grandfather end up fighting those monsters?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Oh, it went like this," Ye Yin explained, "At that time, your grandfather had just dealt with a group that had stolen our national treasures and was flying back from Europe. My grandfather was his personal guard back then. As they were passing by Lab Two, those mutants were going nuts, causing destruction all over a mountain range."


    "My grandfather was an environmentalist?" Zhang Menglong guessed, "He couldn''t stand them destroying the environment, so he killed them all?"


    "No, it was because your grandfather was taking a nap and the explosion woke him up. In a fit of rage after getting out of bed, he had my grandfather kill all the mutants."


    "Damn... That reason... It''s so like my grandfather..."


    "He must be the real deal," muttered Hong Yi to herself. Zhang Menglong''s grandfather''s actions were just as outrageous as Zhang Menglong''s.


    "I... I understand, I''ll make sure it happens!" This time, Sorens completely abandoned all his previous thoughts. In front of the Zhang family, their Wind Nest didn''t amount to a fart!


    "By tonight, I want to see international news of Su Zhihe''s death," Zhang Menglong said.


    "I got it," nodded Sorens. Despite his severe injuries, Sorens, whose cells had been enhanced, possessed a strong self-healing ability. After all, Ye Yin hadn''t been ruthless, so these wounds would heal in at most a few hours.


    As for Su Zhihe''s bodyguards, in the eyes of someone like Sorens, they were virtually equivalent to thin air.


    "Wait a second!" Zhang Menglong called out to Sorens.


    "Do... do you have any other orders?" Sorens asked cautiously.


    "Bring ten bucks with you, I, Zhang Menglong, never run a tab!"


    Grinding his teeth, Sorens grabbed the 10 Huaxia currency note and then vanished into the distance, turning into a ball of lightning.


    The plane had already returned to normal when Sorens was subdued just now, but the originally luxurious cabin now looked somewhat disheveled.


    "Hong Yi, tell the captain to turn around, we''re going back to Qingqiu Country!" Zhang Menglong announced.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do?" Hong Yi asked.


    "What to do? You see what this Lawrence has done?" Zhang Menglong said with a pained expression, "Smashing these paintings and bottles of wine is one thing, but what about my unicorn Gundam diamond figurine? I waited two months for them to make a batch, and now they''re smashed!"


    Hong Yi glanced over the world-famous paintings scattered all over the floor. While the figurine was indeed valuable, it couldn''t compare to those paintings. Why was Zhang Menglong only upset about the figurine and not the paintings?


    "Are you going to kill the President of Qingqiu Country?" Hong Yi asked. "This can''t be Su Zhihe''s planning alone, Quan Zhenggui must be behind it!"


    "Killing people is so boring. I''m still counting on them to transfer me money!" said Zhang Menglong, "First, calculate how much we''ve lost for me."


    "Just a moment," Hong Yi quickly surveyed the debris on the floor, "It''s about 800 million US dollars, I guess."


    "Fine, then we''ll seek a thousand-fold compensation!" Zhang Menglong declared, "If they can''t cough up 800 billion US dollars, I''ll cut off their water, electricity, gas, and oil!"


    "Pfft!" Hong Yi had now witnessed the shamelessness of Zhang Menglong, but she understood. After all, the incident wasn''t just an economic loss; the other party had come with murderous intent. It would be strange if Zhang Menglong could swallow his anger.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you sold Quan Zhenggui, he wouldn''t be worth that much money!"


    "No money? Then cede territory!"

 Chapter 166 164: He Gave Me $10 to Buy Your Life

    This was Zhang Menglong''s first time being so furious. Not only had he faced an assassination attempt, but the offer was also ridiculously low¡ª200 billion US dollars, merely close to the total assets of the world''s wealthiest person. That price might be understandable for assassinating Poladi, but him? They''d better add a few more zeros before talking!


    Despite facing a powerful surge of electricity, Zhang Menglong''s plane was built with ultimate safety features, so it wasn''t severely damaged. It just needed minor repairs and was still fully capable of flying under the current circumstances.


    The captain of Zhang Menglong''s aircraft was none other than the famous Captain Sully, who had once managed an emergency landing on the sea with multiple engines out, successfully saving everyone on board. Now, he had become Zhang Menglong''s dedicated pilot.


    With a familiar smell of kimchi, Zhang Menglong once again returned to Qingqiu Country and to that familiar residence.


    "Mr. Zhang, why have you come back again?" The housekeeper in charge of the building was overseeing the tidying of the rooms. Zhang Menglong was supposed to be almost back in Huaxia by now. Why had he suddenly returned?


    "No worries, just a few friends I can''t stop thinking about, and I wanted to visit," Zhang Menglong replied with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang really has great connections, having so many friends even in Qingqiu Country."


    "You go and rest. I might need to stay here for another day," Zhang Menglong said.


    The housekeeper nodded, then left the room with the domestic staff.


    "Hong Yi, do you know what Su Zhihe and his people are up to now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "There is a high-level Qingqiu gathering tonight," Hong Yi replied. "If the Sorens'' assassination attempt had been successful tonight, it would have been a celebration party. They were all ready to sing and dance in celebration of having eliminated you as a threat, Mr. Zhang."


    "Hahahaha, I''m sorry to disappoint them," laughed Zhang Menglong. "In that case, as the main character, I must make an appearance. Otherwise, how disappointed they would be!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the party will be held at the Hawke Palace Hotel at 6:30 this evening. Almost half of Qingqiu Country''s upper echelons will attend, giving you half a day to prepare."


    "Call Lee Ji-eun for me," Zhang Menglong said. "Prepare two suits; attending a dinner party always requires a presentable companion."


    "Miss Lee Ji-eun will certainly be delighted. I''ll contact her right now!"


    ...


    "Strange, by this time, Zhang Menglong should have been dead. Why hasn''t there been any news from there?" Su Zhihe anxiously paced back and forth in his room.


    From what he knew about the Wind Nest, if they targeted a president of a major country, it was as easy as picking something out of a bag. To this date, there had been only one mission failure, and most people believed that to be a fluke. Such an accident might happen once, but surely not a second time?


    But at that moment, Su Zhihe suddenly remembered something Zhang Menglong had said when returning to his country¡ªthere seemed to be an implied meaning in his words. This feeling always unsettled him.


    "Sssssss..." Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept past his office window, and a glowing Lightning Orb burst through the tightly closed glass. A silhouette emerged from the thunder and lightning.


    This person had high-voltage electricity flowing through his body, his eyes emitting an unnatural blue glow as if he were a mythical figure stepping out of a legend.


    Yet strangely, this person was covered in blood, the stains dried as if he had just fought his way out of a blood-drenched battlefield, exuding a strong scent of blood.


    "Are you from the Wind Nest?" Su Zhihe quickly reacted. Though he had never seen such a person before, in his worldview, such beings existed; thus, despite the incredible scene before him, he could wholly accept it after his initial shock.


    "Is Zhang Menglong dead?" Su Zhihe asked eagerly. "I know your people from the Wind Nest have the highest success rate in assassinations!"


    "Zhang Menglong is not dead," Sorens replied in a somewhat grim tone.


    "What? He isn''t dead? Then why did you come here? Is that all the strength your organization has?"


    Su Zhihe seemed to have forgotten that he was speaking to a mutant endowed with a power incomprehensible to ordinary humans. In his mind, he was a minister of a nation and the principal client in this business deal, and he saw nothing inappropriate in his tone.


    "It''s not for you to comment on whether our organization is strong or not," Sorens said, "but this time, I came here to kill you!"


    "What did you say?" Su Zhihe suddenly realized that he was standing in front of an extremely powerful and terrifying superhuman who wanted to kill him, and not even the protection of an armed military force could give him the slightest hope of survival.


    "Why...why?"


    "I couldn''t kill Zhang Menglong," Sorens did not lie, "the power by his side was far more formidable than what your data provided, and I almost died on his plane!"


    Sorens pointed to his blood-soaked clothes and said, "See this? This is my blood!"


    "If...if you couldn''t kill him... then... let''s just end this matter here and think of another way..."


    "I told you, I''m not here to report on the mission''s progress!" Sorens said, "Zhang Menglong is spending 10 Huaxia dollars to buy your life!"


    "What? You can''t..."


    A surge of electricity flashed through Su Zhihe''s body; before he could finish his words, the potent current had already stopped his heart, leaving his face frozen in its last expression.


    "Although it goes against my professional ethics, this is the only condition under which my organization and I can survive," Sorens said with a bitter smile before pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket and leaving it on Su Zhihe''s desk.


    It was an invoice from Qingqiu Country; the item listed was "Assassination", and the amount was written as "10 Huaxia dollars".


    "Huaxia people really know how to play!" Sorens shook his head and disappeared again as a lightning.


    ...


    "Oppa, this dress is really beautiful!" Lee Ji-eun was both shocked and delighted by Zhang Menglong''s return, and stars seemed to appear in her eyes when she saw the gown he had prepared for her.


    It was a snow-white evening gown, even more beautiful than a princess''s wedding dress in fairy tales, and Lee Ji-eun could hardly imagine its price, let alone the crystal-like high heels and the pink diamond pendant nearly the size of a child''s palm¡ªthis was truly a scene from every girl''s dream.


    "These items are very expensive, right?" Lee Ji-eun asked.


    "Miss Lee, this gown was handmade by Mr. Zhang''s personal designer over two years, and the cost of materials alone exceeded 3 million US dollars. The shoes are not very expensive, but this string of diamond necklace is indeed very valuable," Hong Yi explained.


    "The diamond was only excavated from one of Mr. Zhang''s diamond mines earlier this year. After cutting, the quality reached 105 carats, and the price should be over 80 million US dollars. You are the first person to wear it."


    "This...this is too valuable!" Lee Ji-eun''s complexion changed, with nearly a hundred million dollars hanging on her body; it was literally a matter of life and death.


    "Wear it!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Today we are going to meet someone of status, and we absolutely cannot lack manners."


    "Are we meeting your friend?" Lee Ji-eun asked curiously.


    "No, we''re meeting the big boss of your country!"

 Chapter 167 165: Surprised or Not, Unexpected or Not

    For the Hawke Palace Hotel, today was a rather special day; tonight, a group of very important individuals from Qingqiu Country would be gathering here.


    In order to entertain these guests, an entire floor of the hotel had been cleared out, at the entrance of which tight security measures were deployed, given that each person appearing there today could be of critical importance to Qingqiu!


    "President Quan, you''ve arrived so early?"


    "Hahaha, yes, I''ve just settled a matter that''s been weighing on my mind, feeling refreshed, I had to come!"


    "Being suppressed by that Huaxia youngster named Zhang Menglong recently has been suffocating; now that he has finally gone back, how could I not come to celebrate properly?"


    "How''s your bank doing?"


    "The situation has basically stabilized, the number of people withdrawing money has been decreasing, and in at most two days, it will return to the previous state of slow growth. But this time, it was indeed a serious blow to our vitality."


    "That''s true, our Minsheng Bank has suffered substantial losses. I hope we can mitigate some of the damage in the final stretch of the year!"


    "I''ve heard that today''s gathering isn''t so simple!" one of the bank presidents, who was on very good terms with Su Zhihe, suddenly said with an air of mystery, "Do you think today is just about celebrating Zhang Menglong''s return to his country?"


    "What else could it mean?" Several other bank presidents gathered closer.


    "You need to understand, Zhang Menglong''s actions didn''t just strike a blow to our economy, but his livestream that night has made us Qingqiu people lose face before the whole world. This is a tremendous insult; if we let him return just like that, where would the dignity of our country stand?"


    "You mean?" The ears of several bank presidents widened, and one of them even made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.


    "Shh! Keep it down, this matter is top secret! Apart from Representative Su, no more than five people know of it. You must not tell anyone," the president said, "We''ll only make our move when Zhang Menglong''s plane moves through the airspace of other countries. We definitely won''t let his death be traced back to us!"


    "If that''s the case, then it would definitely be a good thing for our country!"


    "Right, where is Representative Su?"


    "Yeah, tonight he''s supposed to be our star, our hero!"


    The time had already reached 6:20 p.m., and even President Quan Zhenggui had made his appearance at the venue, but Su Zhihe was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is Su Zhihe? Could he have forgotten the time?" Quan Zhenggui said displeasedly, "Someone, go ask about him? Contact his secretary."


    "I''ll go!" Piao Guanzhi, who had the best relationship with Su Zhihe, volunteered as he picked up his phone. As the busy tone came through the other end, his expression also filled with confusion.


    "Thud!" Just at that moment, the door was abruptly pushed open. Everyone was startled but not panicked because they knew very well that tonight, there was no safer place in all of Qingqiu than this hotel.


    "Secretary Jin?" Everyone recognized the person hurrying in, his face filled with terror, holding a fluttering piece of paper as if he had encountered the most dreadful thing in the world.


    "Something''s happened! Something''s happened! Something''s happened to Representative Su!" Secretary Jin exclaimed loudly.


    "Calm down, speak slowly!" Quan Zhenggui said, "What happened to Representative Su?"


    "Representative Su is dead!" Secretary Jin delivered news that made everyone feel an immense panic, "He didn''t have any external injuries. The doctor said he died from a sudden cardiac arrest."


    "Sudden cardiac arrest? Did Representative Su overwork himself to death?" Everyone wore looks of regret.


    During the years Su Zhihe was in power, Qingqiu Country''s economy had soared, and this was inextricably linked to his work ethic. Everyone knew he often worked late into the night, and the possibility of work-induced death was indeed real.


    Yet, if that was the case, why would his assistant show such an expression?


    "No! Representative Su didn''t die of sudden illness; he was murdered!" The assistant passed over the thin slip of paper, "This was found next to Representative Su, an invoice."


    "An invoice?"


    "Yes, the item listed is ''murder'', and the amount is 10... Huaxia currency..."


    "Huaxia currency?" Almost everyone thought of Zhang Menglong at the same time¡ªthey had gathered here today because of him!


    Moreover, those in the know were well aware that Su Zhihe had spent a large sum of money to hire an Assassin Organization internationally to take out Zhang Menglong, and if he failed and suffered a counterattack from Zhang Menglong, it was very likely indeed!


    Suddenly, the doors to the hall swung open again, and this time a man and a woman walked in. The woman was young and beautiful, dressed in a gorgeous gown as if she had stepped right out of a fairy tale, and the man was handsome but wore a mocking smile on his face.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Everyone immediately recognized the young man.


    "Sorry, I invited myself today!" Although he said this, Zhang Menglong did not show any sign of embarrassment, "Mr. Quan Zhenggui, surprised or not, guess what? I''m still alive!"


    "How did you get in?" Quan Zhenggui''s eyes flickered with surprise. Today''s venue was heavily guarded¡ªwithout an invitation, the security guards and Quan Zhenggui''s own bodyguards wouldn''t have let anyone in.


    "I just waltzed right in!" Zhang Menglong said, "Your guys are probably chatting with Lord Zhou in their dreams by now!"


    "Bro, the people you hired are no good, trying to kill me? At least find someone slightly more impressive. And with an offer of just 200 US Dollars, I almost feel insulted!"


    "I don''t understand what you''re talking about!" Quan Zhenggui couldn''t possibly admit that Qingqiu Country had sent people to assassinate Zhang Menglong¡ªhe had to pretend to be clueless.


    "Looks like you''re not going to admit it!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Why don''t you listen to this!"


    Zhang Menglong took out a small recording device.


    "Did Su Zhihe send you to kill me?"


    "How... how could you possibly know?"


    ...


    The voices of Zhang Menglong and Sorens were on the recording.


    "Oh, and by the way, there''s also the recording of Su Zhihe contacting the Assassin Organization. Wanna listen?" Zhang Menglong said.


    With his intelligence network, obtaining such evidence was a piece of cake.


    "You..." Everyone in the hall changed color. If what Zhang Menglong claimed was true and he had those pieces of evidence, then the fact that they had sent people to assassinate Zhang Menglong was confirmed. If exposed to the international community, Qingqiu might soon become everyone''s target.


    "Su Zhihe, it was you who sent people to do it, right?" Quan Zhenggui said.


    "Is there a recording device and a video device?" Zhang Menglong communicated telepathically with Ye Yin.


    "I can block them all!"


    Having received a positive response from Ye Yin, Zhang Menglong''s smile twisted practically to the heavens, "It was me who hired someone to do the job, a discount sale, for just 10 bucks. Isn''t that cheap?"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s maddening voice, Quan Zhenggui couldn''t help clenching his fist.


    "What are you looking at, think being the president is so great? Believe it or not, I''ll spend 15 bucks to turn you into a corpse just like Su Zhihe," Zhang Menglong taunted, facing those who wanted him dead without the slightest psychological burden.


    "Zhang Menglong, are you threatening me? Aren''t you afraid this could lead to a dispute?"


    "I am threatening you, come at me if you dare!" Zhang Menglong continued brazenly, "Hahaha, do you want to make my crime known to the public? But you guys don''t have any evidence!"

 Chapter 168 166 Arent You Just Asking for It?

    "You guys sure know how to play, still daring to send someone to kill me. If I weren''t so lucky and rich, I would have really been in trouble this time!"


    "They sent someone to kill you?" Lee Ji-eun finally realized the gravity of the situation beside him. No wonder Zhang Menglong had come back; there was such a layer to their relationship!


    Lee Ji-eun had followed Zhang Menglong the whole way up. Zhang Menglong was radiating an intense coldness that could seize a person''s soul. Although his face showed no signs of anger, Lee Ji-eun could feel that Zhang Menglong was suppressing his emotions.


    Moreover, for the first time in her life, Lee Ji-eun witnessed something that her worldview could not explain or understand.


    Today was a very special gathering in Qingqiu Country, and the hotel was under incredibly strict lockdown. Anyone entering the hotel went through a severe screening, and at the stairwell of this floor, there were armed soldiers guarding, not even a mosquito could get through.


    When Zhang Menglong arrived, he did indeed face resistance, but before those people could even speak, or even come into contact with Zhang Menglong, they collapsed to the ground as if asleep; that''s how they were able to reach this place despite the heavy guard.


    "Oppa, you haven''t been hurt, right?" Lee Ji-eun asked, concerned for Zhang Menglong''s well-being.


    "Do I look like I''m hurt?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "If I were hurt, even if it were just a single hair from my head, there would be no need for Qingqiu Country to continue existing on the world map!"


    As Zhang Menglong uttered these words, it seemed as if he was merely stating a fact in perfect calmness¡ªpeople of the Zhang Family, above all prohibitions!


    "It''s good you''re alright!" Lee Ji-eun was relieved to hear Zhang Menglong was unharmed. She could somewhat guess that Zhang Menglong had come back for revenge!


    "By the way, I can tell you that the assassin you found was pretty good," Zhang Menglong said mockingly, "As soon as he spoke, my phone nearly got fully charged, he was like an Asian power station, a human Pikachu, but then he got beaten up by my bodyguard and nearly met his maker on the spot!"


    Quan Zhenggui''s mouth twitched slightly. He had learned from Su Zhihe that the person sent by the Wind Nest Organization to assassinate Zhang Menglong was incredibly mysterious, yet they had all failed to kill him! And now Zhang Menglong was still very much alive, the best evidence against his recent claim.


    "Us Huaxia people have a saying, ''return the favor with the method received.'' You sought to have me killed, so naturally, I have to return a generous gift to you. However, Su Zhihe''s life is barely worth 10 US dollars at best, which I think is a loss for me!"


    "Bang!" A blast resonated. The hand of a person who looked like a Qingqiu Country official suddenly exploded in a burst of blood, a recording pen bomb.


    "Don''t dream of leaving behind any evidence," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Otherwise, I can''t guarantee it won''t explode while it''s still in your trousers!"


    "He has those kinds of people around him too!" Quan Zhenggui suddenly realized, and then he felt an overwhelming fear. Those people, completely beyond worldly restraint, were willing to serve as Zhang Menglong''s bodyguards. How much had Zhang Menglong paid for their services?


    But one thing was certain, tonight''s banquet could very well turn into a bloody storm.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you want? You can''t possibly plan to kill all of us here, can you?" Quan Zhenggui said.


    "What if I kill all of you?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I have a hundred ways to make sure no one ever finds out it was my doing. If you don''t believe me, you can give it a try!"


    Hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.


    "I, myself, am quite a lover of peace," Zhang Menglong said, "But I, Zhang Menglong, am not without temper. Your actions today have made me very angry, and when I get angry, I like to hit people with money! So I plan to start by taking all your money, cutting off your water, electricity, and gas, and then cutting off your oil supply!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I believe you can take all the money from our banks, and you can cut off some of our water, electricity, and coal gas, but to cut off our oil supply, that''s a bit over the top, don''t you think?"


    "Aren''t your oil companies all importing from the Middle East?"


    "What about it?"


    "Sorry to say, but over 80% of the oil wells in the entire Middle East are mine. If you don''t believe me, you can try it and see!" Zhang Menglong declared.


    "That''s impossible!" Quan Zhenggui shook his head, dismissing it as nonsense. Those oilfields were national assets of those Middle Eastern countries; how could they possibly belong to Zhang Menglong personally?


    "Don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and called Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, our great Mr. Quan doesn''t believe I can cut off their oil supply. You understand what I mean, right?"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang, give me five minutes!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong and Lee Ji-eun casually found a spot to sit down and started to enjoy the banquet''s delicacies as if no one else was around. "Mr. Quan, why aren''t you eating? Such a waste. If you''re not going to eat, I might pack everything up and take it away later!"


    "I eat your mother!" Quan Zhenggui was so exasperated he almost cursed out loud. With the current situation, who could eat?


    Just then, the phone of the minister of the Energy Department from Qingqiu Country suddenly rang.


    At that moment, everyone quieted down.


    "Hello, I''m Choi Shin-hyun..." The energy minister spoke cautiously.


    "Jibber-jabber jibber-jabber..." From the other side came a language rich with the scent of curry, making one wonder if this was a call from Huaxia''s old neighbor.


    "It''s Arabic!" A nameless official immediately approached, "I understand their language, let me speak!"


    The two exchanged a series of rapid-fire dialogues, as the official''s expression grew increasingly grim, his tone more and more agitated, but in the end, he looked helpless.


    "Minister Choi, how much of our country''s oil is imported from the Arab world?"


    "About sixty percent," Choi Shin-hyun replied, suddenly fearful of a terrible possibility.


    "That was the energy minister from the Arab world. They said, starting tomorrow, they will stop selling us oil, indefinitely..."


    "What?" Quan Zhenggui could no longer sit still, "Why? Did he give a reason?"


    "This..."


    "Speak!"


    "He said, because he''s in a bad mood, so he cut us off."


    "What kind of ridiculous reason is that?" Quan Zhenggui nearly threw something in frustration. Could the Middle East oil countries be any more whimsical? Is exporting oil now subject to mood swings?


    But Quan Zhenggui knew very well that this wasn''t the real reason. The actual reason must have to do with the phone call Zhang Menglong had just made!


    He could actually control the oil exports of Middle Eastern countries! How vast was his energy?


    "We concede!" Quan Zhenggui sighed. If this were a straightforward fight, Zhang Menglong could crush them with money, and if it were underhanded, they had already lost miserably today. At this point, there was no other choice but to compromise. "State your terms!"


    "Ah, I wasn''t even pursuing it anymore; just let me go back to my country quietly. Why did you have to degrade yourselves?" Zhang Menglong shook his head as if disappointed, "That guy cosplaying Thor caused a ruckus on my plane and destroyed things worth 800 million US dollars. You''ve got to compensate for that, right?"


    "Compensate!" Quan Zhenggui gritted his teeth. 800 million US dollars was not that much after all; their US dollar reserves were quite substantial.


    "What about compensation for emotional distress?"


    "Compensate!"


    "Well then, let''s round it up. Compensate me 800 billion US dollars and we''ll call it even!"

 Chapter 169 167 This is a Warning

    "Why don''t you just go rob someone?" Quan Zhenggui almost blurted out., Wasn''t it just a loss of 800 million US Dollars? How did it suddenly become a thousandfold increase? If this isn''t robbery, what is it?


    Their Qingqiu Country had strived for many years and had only managed to accumulate a foreign exchange reserve of just over 400 billion US Dollars; even if they were to sell everything they had, it would merely cover half the amount.


    "Mr. Zhang, we can''t come up with that much money," Quan Zhenggui said with a bitter smile.


    "Can''t come up with 800 billion US Dollars? Paupers!" Zhang Menglong disdainfully remarked.


    Paupers? Just go and ask, which country can easily take out 800 billion US Dollars? Qingqiu Country''s foreign exchange reserve of 400 billion US Dollars already placed them ninth in the world, Zhang Menglong was clearly being unreasonable.


    "Or do you think that I, Zhang Menglong, don''t deserve compensation for the 800 billion US Dollar loss?" Zhang Menglong''s tone became increasingly dangerous, "It doesn''t have to be in US Dollars; Qingqiu Currency, Huaxia Currency, it''s all fine by me. I''m not picky when it comes to money."


    Now Quan Zhenggui suddenly understood an old Huaxia saying: they were like fish on the chopping board!


    Let alone the fact that they were in the wrong on this matter to begin with, even if they were in the right, facing someone as aggressive as Zhang Menglong, what could they do? Of course, they could choose to resist to the end, but with a single command from Zhang Menglong, 40% of the nation''s electricity and energy supply could be cut off, which would be an absolute disaster for the country.


    Without needing much time, just a few days, the entire Qingqiu Country would fall into chaos. Just the rioting masses would be enough of a headache, not to mention the direct economic losses, which could hardly be estimated but perhaps wouldn''t be much less than the 800 billion US Dollars.


    "Don''t look so resigned to your fate!" Zhang Menglong continued, "I know it''s hard to come up with that much money all at once. There''s a down payment when you buy cars and houses, right? I have a suggestion for you. I know you''ve got 400 billion US Dollars in foreign exchange reserves, you could use that as a down payment!"


    "Let me think about the interest rate," Zhang Menglong mused to himself, "based on an annual interest rate of 30%..."


    "Damn it!" The people from Qingqiu Country cursed one after another, completely collapsing upon hearing this annual interest rate of 30%. Is this a loan? This is bloody usury! With such an interest rate, the interest they''d have to pay Zhang Menglong in the first year would be 120 billion US Dollars. Their last GDP was only about 1.6 trillion US Dollars¡ªwere the people of their country not going to eat, drink, or spend anything?


    "Or I could give you another option!" Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment before saying, "No money? You could use something else to settle the debt. I find your Qiuyuan City quite nice. I already own one-tenth of the land, and I wouldn''t mind having three times that amount."


    You might not mind, but we do!


    Quan Zhenggui felt as if he were negotiating with a devil. Qiuyuan was their capital! When one-tenth of it was sold, it was because of history; they had no choice. But even just this one-tenth of the land had already caused a significant impact.


    Every year, they had to allocate a large portion of their tax revenue to Zhang Menglong, and for any construction they did, they had to pay him land rent! The direct losses every year exceeded 10 billion US Dollars!


    And 800 billion US Dollars could almost buy another two such pieces of land!


    If they lost 30% of the land in Qiuyuan, they would never be able to hold their heads up again! A Huaxia man had become their landlord¡ªcould there be anything more ironic? Could Qiuyuan still be called the capital of Qingqiu Country?


    "Give us some time to discuss it," Quan Zhenggui implored, knowing that if they did not bleed a little this time, they would not be able to appease Zhang Menglong''s anger.


    Zhang Menglong''s demand was quite subtle: painful enough to leave a deep lesson, yet not so crushing as to push them to the brink of despair.


    "Fine, discuss all you want. I haven''t had dinner yet. Let me know when you''ve made a decision!"


    Zhang Menglong, not considering himself an outsider, directly took a seat somewhere with Lee Ji-eun.


    "Ji-eun, you shouldn''t bother with the entertainment circle anymore. Come work for me!" Zhang Menglong chatted leisurely with Lee Ji-eun.


    "Sure!" said Lee Ji-eun, "Oppa, are you planning to open a company in Qingqiu?"


    "What''s the point of that?" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "Your Qingqiu Country is already filled with foreign enterprises that hold my shares. My companies have long been flourishing all over Qingqiu Country!"


    "Then what do you need me for?"


    "Heh heh!" Zhang Menglong glanced at Quan Zhenggui and others, "I plan to grab a big piece of land here, then fill it with houses! And then rent them out. You can help me collect the rent from each household every day, carrying the keys around!"


    "Pfft!" Lee Ji-eun couldn''t help laughing out loud. Zhang Menglong was clearly speaking ''Underworld'' lingo here, with the aim of grossing out Quan Zhenggui and his group. To occupy their Qingqiu Country lands, collect their land rent, and now even thinking about collecting house rent¡ªit was like treating the lands of Qiuyuan City in Qingqiu Country as a family property to be passed down for generations!


    Those lands, Zhang Menglong acquired almost for free, paying only for some construction and material costs. With permanent ownership, he would be able to recover all the costs in just a few years.


    If Zhang Menglong really got one-fifth of the land from here, that would be over one hundred square kilometers! Using such a vast tract of land for building skyscrapers was shooting for the stars!


    "Oppa, I might not even be able to collect all the rent!" said Lee Ji-eun.


    "No worries, if you can''t do it alone, we can hire people! It''ll also help Qingqiu Country''s employment rate, creating more job opportunities!"


    Quan Zhenggui heard their entire conversation clearly, feeling as though he was about to suffer a heart attack. Using their country''s land to boost employment and then all the earnings end up in Zhang Menglong''s pocket? Was that called employment stimulation? Wasn''t the GDP created by this negative?


    After a long time, Quan Zhenggui and the others finally finished discussing. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.


    "Have you finished discussing?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve decided to pay this amount using a mixed approach, 200 billion US Dollars in cash, plus 120 square kilometers of land in Jinshan City," Quan Zhenggui had someone bring a map, pointing the area out to Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you think I''m an idiot? Is this worthless place worth 600 billion US Dollars?" Zhang Menglong said. This area was all mountains and wasteland, without much commercial or tourist value.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is the best we can offer," Quan Zhenggui was almost about to kneel before Zhang Menglong. They already had construction plans completed for land in the urban areas, while these suburbs were scraped together begrudgingly.


    "Am I supposed to fancy your crappy place?" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "Out here in the middle of nowhere, I''d freeze my ass off even taking a shit!"


    "By the way, Ji-eun, is there anyplace with nice scenery in Qingqiu?"


    "Well... We have Jiling Island, the scenery there is quite beautiful. I visited a few times, it''s practically the Hawaii of Qingqiu!"


    "Deal!" Zhang Menglong turned to Quan Zhenggui and said, "I want 150 square kilometers of Jiling Island land, the type that''s next to the coast with beaches!"


    Seeing Quan Zhenggui''s distressed expression of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Zhang Menglong added emphasis, "This is my bottom line!"


    Quan Zhenggui and the people beside him looked at one another, finally gritting their teeth and nodding in agreement.


    "200 billion US Dollars will be transferred to your account within three days, and the transfer of the island land, due to some complex issues involved, may take a month''s time."


    "I''ll arrange for people to handle it!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily and rose to his feet, "Ji-eun, let''s go!"


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, the Arab oil..."


    "Hong Yi, tell them to resume the oil supply, and the price will increase by 30% over the next three years!"


    "What? A price increase?" Quan Zhenggui was taken aback.


    "Consider this a warning!" Zhang Menglong said, "If there''s a next time, it won''t be this simple!"


    Zhang Menglong revealed a wicked smile, "But I''d welcome you guys to hire someone to try killing me again!"

 Chapter 170 168 Let Them Get Lost

    ```


    "Phew! Finally back in the country. These past few days have been killing me!" Zhang Menglong lay sprawled out, lazily traveling home from the airport. On this return trip, Zhang Menglong hadn''t encountered any sudden incidents; it seemed he had truly bled Qingqiu Country dry this time.


    The indemnity of 200 billion US dollars, along with one-tenth of Jiling Island''s land, probably meant that Quan Zhenggui and his folks would need some time to heal their headaches. Provided they weren''t out of their minds, they probably wouldn''t dare to mess with Zhang Menglong again.


    "Mr. Zhang, you haven''t been the one getting tossed around these past few days; instead, you''ve given others quite the shakeup!" Hong Yi laughed from the side.


    "They had it coming!" Zhang Menglong casually remarked. "Are people still trash-talking me internationally?"


    "Who would have the guts to do that!" replied Hong Yi. "These past few days, following your orders, 12 small countries'' economies have completely collapsed, with an estimated setback of 10-20 years in development. Those international economists aren''t fools; they can easily tell if it was a man-made or market-caused economic bubble. All it takes is a little investigation."


    "Plus, with the ruckus you''ve caused in Qingqiu Country lately, especially with that song ''Conquest'' being sung all over the world, even an idiot would know it''s all your handiwork. At this point, if anyone still wants to talk smack, they''d better weigh their economic strength against Qingqiu Country''s first!"


    "And here I thought there would be a few tough nuts to crack; this is disappointing," Zhang Menglong said with a look of wanting more fun.


    "Oh, Mr. Zhang, you fell asleep on the plane just now and missed a call from a Mr. Wang Ling. I took it for you."


    "Oh? What''s up? Don''t tell me there''s trouble with the crew? I''m looking forward to seeing this movie as soon as possible!" exclaimed Zhang Menglong.


    "Indeed, there has been some trouble," Hong Yi replied. "A few actors are throwing their weight around."


    "And here I was thinking it was something troublesome!" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and directly dialed Wang Ling.


    "You finally got back, huh? You ran off to Qingqiu Country to play for so many days and dumped this mess on me. Do you have any idea how difficult this movie is to shoot? You insisted on on-location shooting; I''m nearly freezing to death here in the Greater Khingan Range!"


    Before Zhang Menglong could even speak, Wang Ling''s mouth started firing off like a machine gun.


    "It''s all for the sake of the shooting effect!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "The novel itself combines some historical context, and Red Coast Base is in the Greater Khingan Range; isn''t the scene more authentic if it''s filmed there? But I''m surprised that Director Wang has personally come here to oversee the filming."


    "Bullshit, I''m not one of those rich second-gens who only know how to run their mouths and chase skirts. I have aspirations, you know!"


    "Tell me, what exactly happened? I heard from Hong Yi that some actors are starting to act like prima donnas?"


    "You know, compared to the metropolises, this place might as well be uninhabited, and the natural conditions are terrible. We have a month-long filming schedule here, and while some pampered actors could endure at first, their true colors showed after a week of filming,"


    "Especially that Dai Qingying from Dahe Entertainment, the actress who got the role of Ye Wenjie, is the biggest troublemaker in the crew, making increasingly unreasonable demands and even forming her own clique, challenging the crew''s authority!"


    "Dai Qingying? I remember her acting being not bad, and she''s won quite a few awards. She was paid a good sum for the film, wasn''t she?" Zhang Menglong clearly remembered the name. He had seen many of Dai Qingying''s works, and her media presence had always been positive, so Zhang Menglong initially had a good impression of her.


    "Not paid a good sum? Her salary of 80 million is second only to Wang Miao, the protagonist of the first part. She suddenly demanded an increase to 100 million, citing poor filming conditions," Wang Ling said with a sneer. "Those other actors, even the extras, don''t complain at all; yet she has the nerve to ask for a raise."


    "Not only that, she wants to bathe in hot water every day, insisting on using a bathtub. You know that place, even a hot shower is considered good!"


    "The worst part is, she demands to eat this and that every day; I can''t figure out if she''s here to act or play princess!"


    "So, you can''t handle her?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "If she''s unwilling to act, just tell her to get lost, isn''t that settled?"


    "Pff! She''s just an actress; what''s there to handle?" said Wang Ling. "But her backer, the boss of Dahe Entertainment, has a lot of connections with my dad. I heard Dai Qingying has some special relationship with the boss of Dahe, and I''m worried that handling this too harshly might affect their relationship with my dad."


    "I see, so you want me to play the bad guy!" Zhang Menglong immediately understood Wang Ling''s purpose.


    ```


    "Hehehe, this is an opportunity for you, Boss Zhang, to shine!"


    "Alright, I got it. I''ll handle this issue myself. I''ll come over tomorrow morning!"


    ...


    "Hiss! It''s really fucking cold!" Zhang Menglong, dressed in a thick down jacket, landed at the Daxinganling shooting base by helicopter. In just a single month, with significant investment from Zhang Menglong, a nearly 1:1 scale model of the Red Coast Base sprang up from the ground.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, a true construction demon!" Zhang Menglong marveled. The construction company in charge of building the base was the same one that built Huoshenshan Hospital at the start of the pandemic outbreak; their capability indeed did not disappoint Zhang Menglong.


    "Menglong, over here!" Not far away, Wang Ling waved at Zhang Menglong, having bundled herself up so that only her eyes were visible.


    "How come you''ve wrapped yourself up like a mummy?"


    "Why are you asking me? Aren''t you the same?" Wang Ling retorted, "First, let''s go take a look at the shooting scene. They''re filming right now!"


    ...


    "Do not reply! Do not reply! Do not reply!"


    Ye Wenjie stood still, stunned. This was the first time humans had received an echo from a cosmic civilization.


    ...


    "Cut!" The director called a halt, "Very good, perfect in one take. Get ready for the next shot!"


    Dai Qingying, who had been fully absorbed in her character, quickly became extremely impatient. She immediately wrapped herself in a thick down jacket and ducked into the heated rest area.


    "Did she learn how to change faces or what?" Zhang Menglong was speechless. Sometimes, you can tell a lot about a person just from their expressions and eyes!


    "The scenes for the rest of today..." The director and the screenwriter were still discussing the upcoming shooting content with the actors.


    "Director," Dai Qingying suddenly interrupted, "I''m feeling a bit unwell today, let''s shoot tomorrow."


    "Qingying, this won''t do. You already took a day off yesterday, and we even brought in a professional doctor according to your request. The doctor said there''s nothing wrong with your health. Let''s keep pushing on, we can''t delay the shooting schedule!" the director said earnestly.


    "I know my own body best!" Dai Qingying''s spirit did not look like someone unwell, "Moreover, in this first part of ''Three-Body,'' Ye Wenjie is the true protagonist. Why am I paid less than Wang Miao? And with such a harsh environment here, I mentioned a salary raise to you the last time. Have you discussed it with the investors?"


    "Little Dai, wasn''t all this agreed upon at the start? When we signed the contract, we informed you of all the terms, and you didn''t have any objections back then. Why are you..."


    Dai Qingying immediately shot a look at several other actors nearby, and two male actors promptly sidled up, brown-nosing.


    "Director, Dai is a woman after all. It''s very cold here, so it''s only reasonable that she asks for some more rest. Besides, we think her demands are not too excessive."


    "Director, please consider this matter more carefully. I''m going back to rest," Dai Qingying said, intending to leave. She believed she was absolutely the best choice for the role, and with the progress of the shooting reaching this point, it was impossible to replace her; the production team would have to give in eventually!


    "If you''re not going to shoot, then get lost. Why so much nonsense!" Just at that moment, a young man''s voice came from outside the rest area.

 Chapter 171 169: Do I Care About Money?

    "Who?" Everyone''s gaze in the resting room was focused on the entrance.


    Dai Qingying had a big ego, which was common knowledge to all. Most observed it but at most would only gossip about her behind her back.


    This year, 27-year-old Dai Qingying was absolutely considered a forceful actress among the young generation of leading ladies in Huaxia, and not only that, but she also had a certain standard in music. Her professionalism was unquestionable. Coupled with the backing of Dahe Culture, she had been raised in a privileged environment.


    Those actors who had worked with her actually harbored considerable grievances towards her, including some directors, but due to her background, no one would confront her directly. Even after seeing the movie''s box office and the TV series'' ratings, their discomfort would disappear. In the entertainment industry, only profits are permanent.


    As for Dai Qingying''s fans, they were an immense force. Her tens of millions of fans across the internet, known as the "Dai Family Army," would fight against heaven, earth, and the air¡ªany slight against Dai Qingying, and they would attack relentlessly and sparingly.


    There was once a male actor who, having worked with Dai Qingying, made an offhand remark about her diva behavior. The aftermath wasn''t pretty¡ªevery day he was hounded by candid photos from her crazy fans, his personal life turned into a complete mess, and he eventually became depressed and withdrew from public view.


    But this was also a reflection of her ability, as there were few actors in the whole of Huaxia who could inspire such unity among their fans.


    So even the director didn''t dare offend Dai Qingying! And one of their investors, Wang Ling, although not afraid of Dai Qingying, had to consider his father''s opinion, making the situation quite delicate.


    This was the first time since the filming had begun that someone dared to openly challenge Dai Qingying and even tell her to "get lost."


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong pushed the door open and stepped inside, "If I hadn''t come here in person, I wouldn''t have known our crew actually had such people. A big forest attracts all kinds of birds indeed!"


    "Mr. Zhang!" Upon seeing Zhang Menglong, the director finally showed a look of relief. During this time, he had to endure the pressure from Dai Qingying''s side and control the shooting progress; he was truly on the verge of going bald.


    He couldn''t muster the courage to talk to Zhang Menglong about raising the salary, and now that Zhang Menglong had arrived on set and had heard the matter with his own ears, the pressure seemed to have nothing to do with him anymore, as Zhang Menglong was the biggest decision-maker in the entire crew.


    "Miss Dai, you can leave. I remember your salary is 80 million, and the penalty for breaching the contract is 20 million. Just transfer the remaining 60 million back, and we''ll call it even," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you serious?" Dai Qingying could tell from Zhang Menglong''s tone that there was no room for turning back, not even a hint that he was open to negotiation.


    When the 80 million was in her hands, Dai Qingying had secretly cursed Zhang Menglong as a fool. What dreams and ideals were all nonsense¡ªmaking money was what was real. Who pays upfront before even filming begins? Must be someone with more money than sense.


    That 80 million had already been almost entirely spent by Dai Qingying. Forget about 60 million, she couldn''t even come up with 30 million.


    But she believed that her acting skills along with her status in the crew could definitely persuade Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, what I said just now was just a joke. You know the conditions here are poor, and I was merely considering our colleagues in the crew," Dai Qingying said.


    "Really? How come I''ve heard that someone requires hot baths with milk every night, asks for food that''s only available a hundred kilometers away, and repeatedly threatens the director by refusing to shoot?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what you heard is just rumors. If you don''t believe me, ask them. I''ve never done such things," Dai Qingying immediately threatened the other actors with her gaze.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, everything Sister Dai said is true!"


    "Do you think I''m deaf?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "So all the words I just heard outside the door, were they spoken by ghosts?"


    It was the first time Zhang Menglong encountered such blatant lies.


    "You, you, and you, the lot of you can leave too," Zhang Menglong said without any mercy, "I''m paying so much money for you to act in a movie, not to enjoy yourselves like lords, nor to form cliques and cuddle for warmth. With a yearly salary near a hundred million, after-tax pure income, if you take the money, then do your job properly. If you can''t do it, then get lost!"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think you''re being a bit too harsh?" Dai Qingying''s face turned dark in an instant. She knew Zhang Menglong was capable, so she didn''t dare to act recklessly in front of him, "Mr. Zhang, our shooting schedule has been underway for some time now. Even if you want to change actors, have you thought about the time cost and other basic costs involved?"


    "Ye Wenjie is a very important character in the first part. If you replace me, it means all the previous shooting work was for nothing."


    "Hahaha, costs?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You seem to have misunderstood something. Do I make movies to make money?"


    A hint of confusion crossed Dai Qingying''s face. If not for making money, was he making movies out of boredom, just for fun?


    "But Mr. Zhang, if we change actors now, our shooting schedule will be delayed by at least a month from the original plan, and many actors'' subsequent work will be affected," the director said with some difficulty.


    "For everyone who remains in the crew, including the extras and other staff, the salary will be increased by 20% on the original basis, as compensation for the delay in the shooting schedule!"


    At this news, many staff and actors'' eyes lit up, 20%--that was not a small number, especially for those actors with tens of millions in salary. With such a move, that''s several million or even tens of millions! Even if there were any losses due to the delayed schedule, they could easily make it all back.


    "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re wealthy, and this money is nothing to you, but have you thought about the impact on the market if we delay by a month?" Dai Qingying still didn''t give up.


    "Miss Dai, when did I ever say that I intended to release this movie to the market?"


    This retort from Zhang Menglong left Dai Qingying dumbfounded.


    "I''ve never made a movie for the sake of making money. In fact, I might not even bother to release it in cinemas after I''m done filming. What if I just take it to my own private theater and watch it with a few friends? I''ve never had the slightest interest in money. Do you think I care about those things?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Starting over with a new actor, restarting all the shooting work, so what? I can spend a little more money, which I would be only too happy to do!"


    "Finance team, the rest is up to you. If they do not comply with the content in the breach clause, come straight to me. I have several law firms under my name, ready for a lawsuit at any time. They laze around the company all day long; it''s about time to find them some work to do."


    Zhang Menglong''s tone was calm, but the decisiveness in his words was not hidden. Regarding this matter, he didn''t hesitate for even a second. He had come here today to terminate the contract with Dai Qingying and her cronies!


    "And one more thing!" Zhang Menglong added, "From now on, if anyone like this appears again, they''re fired on the spot. If I''m not around, find Wang Ling. If someone reports it, just one report gets a reward of a hundred thousand!"


    "Awesome!" Wang Ling slapped Zhang Menglong on the shoulder, "In this world, you''re probably the only one who dares to make movies like this!"

 Chapter 172 170: Just Afraid You Wont Spend Money

    "What''s Miss Dai still doing here? Planning to join us for lunch?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneering tone, "And the rest of you, someone will take you to the airport later, please pack up your things."


    "Oh, and about the milk bath, when you''re back, you can shower however you want, no need to thank me. By the way, that 60 million, according to the agreement, please return it to the production crew''s account within a week."


    "Director Zhang, you''ll regret this!" Dai Qingying bit her lip fiercely, with her connections and network, borrowing some money to pay this off wouldn''t be too difficult.


    But as an actor, being terminated was absolutely a huge blow to her personal reputation and prestige, especially from Zhang Menglong''s crew, which would definitely draw a lot of attention. The news of her termination wouldn''t stay hidden for more than three days, and by then, many details would be dug up, and her public image might completely collapse.


    This time, she had to strike first!


    "It seems Miss Dai isn''t quite convinced," Zhang Menglong said, "If you think your Great River Culture can take me on, just try it. My Energy Foot Therapy just happens to need a branch store!"


    When he mentioned this, even Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected that after Energy Foot Therapy officially opened, the business would suddenly explode. Especially since Zhang Menglong recruited several foreign masseurs and foot therapists, customers have been streaming in non-stop every day.


    At first, it was just the staff from "Sound Forest" music club, but as the brand grew more prominent, it even became a hotspot on social media, attracting people from other provinces and cities just to come have their feet massaged.


    Even more outrageous was that now there were people queuing up at one or two in the morning every day!


    Smelling a business opportunity, Haidilao quickly leased a nearby storefront overnight!


    And Energy Foot Therapy, now overwhelmed with customers, was already considering expanding with more branches due to its inability to accommodate the influx.


    "Director Zhang, Great River Culture is a wholly-owned subsidiary, and your tactics will have no effect on us," Dai Qingying said.


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "If you want to think that way, then there''s nothing I can do. But I advise you not to dream too much. When I start to take action, it won''t be that simple."


    "Hmph!" Whether Dai Qingying took Zhang Menglong''s words to heart or not, she glanced at the people around her and then left the lounge with her followers.


    "Director, screenwriter, finding a new actor will be a bother for you," Zhang Menglong said. "In the meantime, salaries will continue to be paid as usual."


    "It''s no bother, no bother at all!" Both the director and the screenwriter had their income increased by 20%, where would they find such hassle to be troublesome? They would rather have more of these ''troubles''! Moreover, they were still getting salaries even during the suspension of work, where could they find such a good job?


    "Let''s use this month to make some improvements here as well!" Zhang Menglong admitted that the conditions here were a bit harsh. Even if it wasn''t an excuse for diva-like behavior, considering the health of the actors, Zhang Menglong thought it was necessary to come up with a solution.


    "Director, how are we handling the heating now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "We have small power generators, using electric fans and electric stoves for heating," the director said.


    "And the meals?"


    "Boxed meals delivered from the nearest city, set to the highest standard."


    "No, it''s not enough!" Zhang Menglong gestured grandly, "Hong Yi, is it possible to install heating within a month?"


    "It''s possible," Hong Yi said, "The nearest heating pipes are about 120 kilometers away. With a large deployment of equipment and manpower, it''s feasible within a month. The cost for labor and materials is estimated at around 1.2 billion."


    "Start making arrangements tomorrow!"


    "Okay!"


    The director and screenwriter exchanged glances. In just the time span of two sentences, 1.2 billion had been spent just like that? Could he dare to be any more capricious? 1.2 billion could even cover all the actors'' fees for this first production!


    What''s more, this isn''t a city or urban district. Even if the heating were installed, it''s only a one-off thing. In the future, it''s unlikely anyone will come here. To spend 1.2 billion on a single use?


    But their astonishment hadn''t reached its end yet.


    "How many people are there in the crew?" Zhang Menglong inquired further.


    "Including the extras, there are several hundred people on set," the director replied.


    "In that case, after each day''s filming, have someone tally up what everyone wants to eat, and we''ll try to meet all the actors and staff''s needs!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s not realistic!" the director responded, "Putting aside the necessity of it, if someone wants to eat Australian lobster or Island Country beef, are we supposed to fly it in? How can we possibly prepare so many different ingredients in one night?"


    "No, no, no, there''s nothing unrealistic about it," Zhang Menglong said, "Even if it''s Australian lobster, there''s no issue at all. I have my own private planes at airports around the world. Tell me what you want to eat, and I will have it bought from anywhere in the world and flown to the Greater Khingan Range''s airport the next day. Then I''ll send it here by helicopter."


    "Damn!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but curse. He knew that Zhang Menglong''s daily meals were sourced this way, but he never expected Zhang Menglong to be this generous. The daily catering costs plus transportation, it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say it was burning money.


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." The director, having been in the industry for so many years, was hearing such a thing for the first time. To them, it was already a blessing to have slightly better meals in the crew. But a boss like Zhang Menglong was actually providing for the entire crew!


    "It''s fine, just do as I say!" Zhang Menglong said, "Also, don''t hesitate to spend where the crew needs to. Whatever props or materials you need, as long as you spend fast enough and enough, I''ll give you a bonus on the day we wrap!"


    "Yes! We certainly won''t let you down, Mr. Zhang!" For the first time, the director, screenwriter, and actors realized just how blissful it was to have a super-rich boss.


    ...


    That afternoon, Dai Qingying and others left the Greater Khingan Range. On the way, Dai Qingying''s chest heaved violently. Since her debut, who had ever given her such treatment? Even those bosses wouldn''t dare confront her so bluntly.


    Her confidence wasn''t just based on her talent, but also from the school she had attended, the star class of the Huaxia Film and Television Academy! That was a class where just getting admitted meant skyrocketing to fame, and her teacher was a colossus of the film industry.


    Those veteran film industry professors might not be businessmen, but the influence of the movie kings and queens they taught was immense, granting them far more "Energy" than the CEOs of entertainment companies.


    And Dai Qingying was a favorite student of one such professor! Therefore, even the head of Dahe Culture wouldn''t dare to treat her like any regular employee.


    "What? Zhang Menglong has given the crew such benefits?" In the meantime, Dai Qingying got news about the heating and the crew''s food privileges, which nearly made her see red!


    Maybe if she hadn''t been in such a rush, she could have enjoyed such treatment too! But she didn''t blame herself; instead, her resentment towards Zhang Menglong grew, feeling that everything he did was a targeted affront to her!


    At that thought, she suddenly felt an immense sense of injustice.


    She immediately opened her fan group chat and started to vehemently complain about Zhang Menglong''s actions to her loyal fans.


    Lastly, she made a call to her teacher.


    "Hey, isn''t this Qingying? What''s got you remembering this old man today?" An elder''s voice tinged with surprise came from the other end of the phone.


    "Teacher, your student has been wronged. Here I am, looking for someone to stand up for me..."

 Chapter 173 171: After Beating the Young, the Old Arrive

    "Alright, after your graduation concert is over, I''ll come to Gusu to find you. This New Year''s, you should come to my place!" Once he got home, Zhang Menglong naturally started to chat with Lu Yiyao over a video call, "Don''t worry, I definitely don''t have any other intentions. I''m just afraid you''ll be lonely and cold all alone through the long nights."


    "Cold my foot!" Lu Yiyao seemed to suddenly realize something that might happen, and her face immediately flushed with a rosy color, "Who said I''m going to spend New Year''s at your place? If I have to meet your parents too, I... I''m afraid they won''t like me."


    "If you''re not coming here, where else will you go?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Are you going to your dad''s hospital to play God of Gamblers with him?"


    That hospital had essentially become Lu Yiyao''s father''s private hospital. It seemed he had truly lost his mind. Not even treatment from a group of specialists had improved his condition. He even dressed up in God of Gamblers'' attire every day, acting delusional.


    Of course, Ye Yin had once told Zhang Menglong that there was indeed a way to treat Lu Yiyao''s father''s mental illness. Yet, Zhang Menglong felt there was no need for it because his domestic violence and his mental illness were unrelated. Better to let him continue living in his grand delusions!


    Upon hearing this, Lu Yiyao''s expression dimmed as well. That''s right, with her father like this and her mother having started a new family, where else could she go? For the past two years, she had spent it alone in school, her only companions being the New Year''s fireworks and an empty dormitory.


    "And you don''t have to worry about my parents," Zhang Menglong said, not even he knew where on earth his parents had gone to. But Zhang Menglong always had to fabricate some story; otherwise, Lu Yiyao might start thinking he was an orphan.


    "My parents handed over the family assets to me and then set off to travel the world. They said it would take at least three to five years to get their fill of fun before they came back, so you don''t need to worry," Zhang Menglong laughed, "By that time, we might even have a little Menglong."


    "What little Menglong!" Lu Yiyao''s cheeks instantly turned red, "You''re asking for it!"


    "Alright, it''s settled then," Zhang Menglong said forcefully, "This year you''re staying by my side, you''re not allowed to go anywhere else or hide away, got it?"


    "Okay, okay, I got it!"


    "Cool, I''m going to take a shower!"


    "I''m going to shower too!"


    Zhang Menglong chuckled lewdly, "Then let''s shower together!"


    "Get lost!"


    ...


    With wet hair, Zhang Menglong walked out of the bathroom. Out of habit, he unlocked his phone and saw numerous unread messages; not only from Wang Ling but also from Lu Yiyao, and even his roommate.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong first clicked on Lu Yiyao''s voice message.


    "Zhangzi, quick, check out Weibo. Something''s happened!"


    "Weibo?" Zhang Menglong then opened the chat group of his dorm mates, only to see a string of screenshots from Weibo.


    "Second-generation rich kid, Zhang Menglong, leads a life of luxury; acts arrogantly in the crew, using his status as an investor to capriciously fire actors."


    "Zhang Menglong suspected of corrupting the entertainment industry, erecting grand constructions for a drama, spending billions just to provide heating for the shooting location."


    "Actress Dai Qingying was fired on the spot for speaking out against this."


    ...


    These were the posts on Weibo, and some had even taken photos of the luxurious working meal of the "Three-Body" crew and uploaded them to the internet, which immediately caused a huge commotion.


    This is not a working meal, this is simply a lavish feast! Who has ever seen a crew lunch with both seafood and steak? Is this really for filming or is it a luxury cruise?


    Along with Dai Qingying''s statements, Zhang Menglong was painted as a profligate second-generation rich kid with no educational background and extravagant lifestyle.


    And Dai Qingying, who had her contract terminated by Zhang Menglong for expressing dissent, suddenly became a hero daring to challenge the powerful; the calls for support for Dai Qingying on the internet, and the cursing of Zhang Menglong became even louder.


    "Holy shit, impressive!" Even Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but admire Dai Qingying''s spin. Turning death into life, black into white, she truly had a skill!


    Without a doubt, these were all the schemes of Dai Qingying. Zhang Menglong had originally not planned to trouble her, but evidently, he had overestimated this woman''s capability to seek her own doom.


    Zhang Menglong opened his Weibo, and sure enough, his private messages and comments had exploded. Most of them were curses from Dai Qingying''s fans, demanding that Zhang Menglong reinstate the film contract and raise the fee, as well as apologize to Dai Qingying.


    "Idiot fans are just idiot fans," Zhang Menglong opened a software on the supercomputer and with one click, he somehow managed to delete the overwhelming messages that could have blown up a computer.


    "How about that, I told you, this woman definitely wouldn''t let it go!" Wang Ling also sent Zhang Menglong a voice message.


    "Seems like you know her pretty well."


    "Manipulating fans, creating online violence, this isn''t the first time she''s done something like this. It''s just that on the surface, she''s always appeared like an innocent flower. This time you''re up against tens of thousands of netizens!"


    "What''s there to be afraid of, the whole Weibo is mine, if it comes down to it, I''ll just activate my administrator rights and directly ban their Weibo accounts!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Zhang Menglong put his words into action; he called the person in charge of Weibo, and the posts containing abusive messages about Zhang Menglong were instantly deleted. Even hundreds of thousands of accounts¡ªmany of them VIP accounts¡ªwere banned.


    "Society, my lord Zhang, speaks little but hits hard. Keep cursing, all of you. Lord Zhang is a ''privileged dog,'' an ''old dog'' at that! You dare to insult Lord Zhang on Weibo without considering the consequences?"


    "Exactly! It''s his own money, he didn''t steal or rob anyone. How he spends it is his business. Are you just jealous?"


    "Knowing Lord Zhang, there must be more to this situation."


    "Have you forgotten about Qiao Cheng from last year? Before he retired due to depression, whom did he provoke? I don''t think I need to say more."


    "Online violence, huh? Truly despicable tactics!"


    "Want to talk about online violence? Lord Zhang''s fans will show you what cruelty means!"


    "From now on, this place shall be Zhang Menglong Square, initiating Underworld blessings attack!"


    "I wish you get hit by a car when you leave your house and that an ambulance happens to pass by immediately!"


    "I wish that your cremation will result in Shariras, not just one but two!"


    "I wish if you get cancer, it turns out to be in the early stage!"


    "I wish that your grave lies in a geomantic treasure spot!"


    "I wish if you buy insurance, it will definitely take effect!"


    "I wish if you get a fatal disease, you have surely bought critical illness coverage!"


    ...


    After Dai Qingying''s fans got their accounts banned and muted, Zhang Menglong''s fan''s voices finally erupted. In their eyes, Zhang Menglong might be rich, but he was also a person with proper principles; even the things he did a few days ago in Qingqiu Country were quite satisfying, thus gaining him quite a few fans.


    "Hahaha, such talent, I''m dying of laughter!" Zhang Menglong looked at the sarcastic ''blessings'' from his fans¡ªtruly worthy of being his fans!


    However, afterwards, a Weibo post by a professor named He Li surged to the top of the trending searches.


    "It''s truly disheartening to see such things happening in Huaxia''s film industry. Actors'' lives shouldn''t be this extravagant, nor should the industry be directed by a rich second generation with no understanding and poor values. I believe actors like Dai Qingying deserve respect!"


    Although Zhang Menglong''s name wasn''t mentioned in this post, it clearly insinuated criticism against him.


    Beneath this post, millions of likes and tens of thousands of comments appeared, all expressing supportive remarks!


    "Who is this He Li?" Zhang Menglong casually asked Hong Yi, who had just brought him his late-night snack.


    "Oh, this Professor He Li is quite famous at the Huaxia Film Academy, and many film kings and queens have come from his teachings. He has considerable prestige in that circle. Dai Qingying was the last student he took on before retiring."


    "Oh, I get it," Zhang Menglong nodded slightly, "after dealing with the younger one, here comes the older one!"

 Chapter 174 172: Do You Need Assistance from Outside?

    In the film and television industry, He Li was truly a unique figure. He had retired many years ago, but every Chinese New Year, his residence was bustling with excitement. Those who visited him included not only his former students but even big shots from the entertainment industry.


    If one day someone sees a Film Emperor carrying large and small packages to visit He Li at his home, don''t be surprised¡ªit''s all standard practice!


    With He Li taking the lead, a number of teachers and professors from Huaxia Film Academy were revealed, and even well-known actors started sharing the post. Suddenly, the outcry for Zhang Menglong to apologize to Dai Qingying grew louder and louder.


    "Hmph, Zhang Menglong, so what if you''re wealthy? So what if you can delete your account? This isn''t just a matter of the internet anymore¡ªit''s about the entire entertainment and film industry!" As she watched the messages of support for her cause, Dai Qingying''s expression was filled with pride. This was the power of public opinion, and this tactic had never failed her!


    "Thank you, teacher, for speaking up for me. Chinese New Year is coming, and I''ll come to see you then. You''d better prepare my favorite dish!" Dai Qingying didn''t forget to send a message of thanks to her mentor He Li.


    "You little rascal, why stand on ceremony with your teacher? As long as you do nothing wrong, your teacher will always stand by your side. Also, I will have your ''shifu mother'' prepare your favorite shredded pork with Beijing sauce!" He Li replied to the message and then turned off his phone, oblivious to the impact his actions as Dai Qingying''s pawn would have on his reputation.


    Somehow, the news of Zhang Menglong attending Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was leaked. This piece of gossip from the entertainment industry had suddenly escalated to the realm of university education.


    "We request that your school not only teach students knowledge but also pay attention to their moral education. Cultivate individuals who are useful to society, not those who have wealth but lack morals and harm the community! @Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "@Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, we hope that your institution can properly guide Zhang Menglong''s behavior and give society a proper explanation!"


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s official Weibo account was mentioned countless times, to the point where even Huaxia Film Academy''s official account mentioned them.


    The team running Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s official Weibo account consisted of merely a group of students, and with the sudden flood of mentions, they didn''t know how to handle the situation.


    "Wow, this is a direct attack on our school!" Initially, Zhang Menglong found the situation amusing, but now that it had affected his university, he could not stand idly by!


    But what Zhang Menglong did not anticipate was that everyone at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was hot-headed. Regardless of what kind of person Zhang Menglong was, the other side had already attacked broadly; how could they endure? And the ones who took the lead in the defense were Zhang Menglong''s school teachers!


    A few months ago, Zhang Menglong sponsored almost every research team at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, with the least funded team receiving tens of millions.


    Not long ago, the only large-scale Ion Collider in the country was officially installed at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Even Jiangnan City provided the school with space for the instrument free of charge, making other universities green with envy!


    The Particle Collider was being installed and was expected to be operational in three months!


    These past few months, with the funding provided by Zhang Menglong, the research teams started publishing papers and achieving results at an alarming rate. Within just two months, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology published seven papers of Science journal caliber¡ªan unprecedented feat for any university in the country!


    Nonsense, these teachers were not mediocre. However, due to limited resources, their achievements were restricted, which didn''t mean that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s scientific research capabilities were weaker than other institutions.


    A workman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. The entire school was now using world-class instruments, and with the ability to purchase raw materials without any financial concerns, even a pig could produce a couple of international journals!


    With these achievements, if Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is fortunate enough, they might even gain three more academicians this year! And the one to thank for all this was Zhang Menglong!


    Criticism towards the school was tolerable, but those who pointed fingers and cursed at Zhang Menglong could not be ignored!


    "Before criticizing our students, I hope the professor¡ªwhoever you are¡ªwould investigate the actual situation. Our student, Zhang Menglong, is an exceptional student. As for his spending habits, I think that''s a matter of personal perspective. As long as the sources of his wealth are justified and legal, he should not be subjected to criticism."


    "Holy shit, it''s Academician Xu from our school!" Zhang Menglong was surprised to see the message; there was only one academician currently at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, and that was Academician Xu, who had made significant contributions to polymer materials. The materials now used in Huaxia''s aerospace projects owed much to his efforts!


    "Hahaha, I get the message. This ''matter of perspective'' is basically calling them poor, hahaha!"


    "Exactly! Spending a billion for Zhang Menglong is like spending ten Yuan to him. Would you criticize someone for spending ten Yuan?"


    "What''s with this so-called Professor He, acting all high and mighty just because he''s got a title? Compared to Academicians, he''s nothing¡ªthey''ve driven the nation''s economic development, what has he ever done?"


    "Hey, you can''t really say that. If it weren''t for these actors, where would we get our daily entertainment from?"


    "Right, right, right, brother you make a good point, I was too hasty. Actors do have their own value of existence, of course! I''m not targeting Professor He, but those so-called professors who don''t focus on education and instead help these actors smear others!"


    "Cough, cough, cough, let me say something. Zhang Menglong donated instrumentation worth tens of billions of US dollars to our school, including even a Particle Collider, and he didn''t request any scientific contributions to be credited to him. Someone like that must be noble at heart, and I won''t allow anyone to tarnish the reputation of such a student!"


    "Professor Li? I heard Professor Li''s research group just published two papers in ''Science'' back to back. He''s a shoo-in for Academician this year; he''s even spoken out in support of Zhang Menglong!"


    "Professors too have their own hierarchies, Professor Li''s contributions in the battery domain are there for all to see, only professors like him deserve to be called so!"


    "Holy shit! No wonder all of our school''s equipment was suddenly upgraded, it was all thanks to Boss Zhang''s donations!"


    The number of people speaking up for Zhang Menglong was growing, and that evening, surprisingly, hundreds of professors at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology jointly defended Zhang Menglong''s name.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, absolutely a royal flush!"


    "People in the arts trying to compete with those in scientific research, isn''t that just asking for trouble?"


    "The scene was bloody for a time, Boss Zhang is mighty!"


    "I''d like to see who else dares to say Boss Zhang''s values are twisted; I think those fishing for fame and reputation are the ones with twisted values!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong was still enjoying the grand battle of tearing and ripping when Han Jinyu actually called him.


    "Menglong, how is it? The teachers at our school are supportive, right?" Han Jinyu''s voice even had a hint of excitement.


    "This... Teacher Han, why do I feel like you all had this organized and planned out?"


    "Tsk, we old bones aren''t stupid. We can tell who has the right values and who doesn''t. Even if you hadn''t spoken up, we would still have stood up for you."


    "Hahaha, actually, I could have resolved this little matter myself," Zhang Menglong didn''t expect these teachers to be quite so fiery.


    "That''s not acceptable; we need to show them how united our school really is!" Han Jinyu said, "By the way, do you need any outside support?"


    "Ah? Outside support?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "I have quite a few friends at Jiangnan University, Qingbei University, and Huaxia Aerospace University. They just called me and said that as long as you allow them to use the Particle Collider in the future, even if there''s a fee, they''d be willing to support you!"


    Han Jinyu added, "After all, there''s only one large-scale Particle Collider in Huaxia, and they''re drooling over it. Apart from these issues, if you can make such a device available, it would be a significant contribution to both the country and the people. Let''s see who would still dare to label you as a rich second-generation with twisted values!"


    "Are there many of them?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Just give the word, and 52 Academicians, more than two thousand professors, will blow up that film academy in minutes!"

 Chapter 175 173: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

    "Holy crap!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected the Particle Collider to have such a massive appeal, with over fifty Academicians and thousands of professors¡ªit wasn''t just a force to be reckoned within the education sector but represented an unshakeable power at the national level!


    These Academicians are national treasures, driving the development of the entire country and even that of all humans. Their word carries a hundred times more weight than what that damn Professor He Li could influence!


    To put it dramatically, this is like a dimensionality reduction attack!


    Zhang Menglong himself hadn''t anticipated that the Particle Collider he funded would propel him to the level of a hero who dedicates himself to the nation and people. He didn''t intend to be so awesome!


    "How about it, Menglong, we''re all waiting for your word!"


    "Hahaha, Professor Han, are you not worried that lending out this device might hinder the scientific research standards of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology from improving?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "You cheeky kid, don''t imagine me as so selfish and old-fashioned, okay? I''m in academia, not business. Sharing resources is beneficial for universities across the country. We can''t just contend within our small circle; we have to seek ways to increase our international influence," Han Jinyu said.


    Even on a global scale, the number of schools with a Particle Collider could be counted on one hand, and Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was one of them¡ªdemonstrating the colossal significance for Huaxia''s education and scientific research!


    "But of course, they can use it after we''ve had our fill, and as for the fee structure, our school naturally has to have a serious discussion about it. We can''t let them freeload, can we?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Han Jinyu, such a refined man, to use words like "freeloading." Who said they were in academia and not business again? Clearly, this was about figuring out how to make money off other universities, perhaps even crossing into cutthroat profiteering.


    "Let''s do it your way then," Zhang Menglong laughed, curious to see what sort of tricks Dai Qingying could pull off against such a powerful hand.


    "Hahahahaha, great, I''ll go talk to them right away!" Han Jinyu said eagerly, "The money they''ll pay to borrow the Particle Collider will be enough to support our research group''s funding, hahaha!"


    You see, Zhang Menglong had initially placed the collider within Han Jinyu''s research group. Of course, the school would only take a portion of the income, but the remainder would still be far more than what Han Jinyu used to desperately seek from companies.


    Soon, the internet saw a new influx of messages supporting Zhang Menglong. Scarily enough, the titles of these people were overwhelmingly impressive¡ª"Yangtze River Scholar," "Hundred Talents Program," and a bunch of Academicians suddenly appeared!


    Some noticed that the old professors and Academicians, usually buried in their scientific research, seemed to have coordinated a synchronized move, with all of them posting on social media at the same time!


    Even more startling, some of these people had only registered their social media accounts that day, and their first posts were in defense of Zhang Menglong!


    Their tone was eerily consistent, praising Zhang Menglong for his outstanding contributions to Huaxia''s university-based scientific research. He was wealthy, yes, but also took on social responsibilities that weren''t theirs to bear¡ªsuch a person should not be slandered!


    With these messages, Zhang Menglong''s followers became as spirited as if they''d been injected with rooster blood. With such a vanguard leading the charge, what did they have to fear?


    "Damn it, even Academician Liu Gaoneng is speaking up! Let me educate you all¡ªthis man laid the foundations for Huaxia''s nuclear energy, and our first nuclear bomb was partly his doing!"


    "And Academician Guo Yuyin, he is a student of Madame Curie!"


    "Damn it, can someone explain how these hundred and eighty-year-old professors know how to use social media? Is this some kind of joke?"


    "Idiot, didn''t you see their official verifications? That requires uploading proof!"


    "Now that Zhang Menglong is the boss of social media, isn''t it his call whether a verification goes through or not?"


    "Are you brave enough to pretend to be dozens of Academicians online? You want to spend a few years in jail?"


    ...


    Indeed, the outpouring of support was shocking, but there were still those who wondered if it wasn''t all orchestrated by Zhang Menglong, considering Weibo was practically his private property, even calling it his toy wouldn''t be too far-fetched.


    However, a piece of news that appeared on the official website of Huaxia Daily instantly verified the reliability of this matter.


    "According to the feedback from several Academicians, there are inaccuracies in the public''s comments about Jiangnan University of Science and Technology student Zhang Menglong, and we hope that Huaxia Film Academy can speak and act prudently!"


    The source of this statement turned out to be the educational department of Huaxia!


    With the news from Huaxia Daily, surely no one would dare to doubt it anymore, right?


    "Hahaha, it''s over, those professors from Huaxia Film Academy can be carried away now!"


    "Slander our Boss Zhang? Dozens of Academicians are backing Boss Zhang, you have the guts to keep yapping?"


    "Come out, you brain-dead fans, why aren''t you shouting anymore? Dare to bomb Boss Zhang''s Weibo again? Want to engage in cyber violence, is that it? Bros, let''s target that Dai Qingying''s Weibo!"


    "Damn! Someone released a recording, it''s from the ''Three-Body'' crew!"


    "What the fuck? What did I just hear? She already took a payment of 80 million and still thinking about a raise?"


    "Milk bath? I''ll give your mom a milk bath, you dare throw dirty water on Boss Zhang? That''s just asking for death!"


    "Piece of trash, that explains it!"


    "@Huaxia Film Academy, please manage your teachers and students properly, don''t come out and embarrass yourselves!"


    "Jiangnan University of Science and Technology: Who was @ing us just now? Please repeat, I just went to the toilet and didn''t see the message!"


    "Hahahaha, brilliant!"


    Under the societal backlash, Dai Qingying''s fans completely lost their voice, even Huaxia Film Academy ceased releasing statements, leaving only an announcement that they would thoroughly investigate the matter and give society an explanation.


    This time, Dai Qingying was utterly smeared, her years of cultivated image collapsed overnight, and given the magnitude of this scandal, she would probably never be offered any filming work again.


    "An explanation? What kind of explanation could there be for a student who has already graduated! Can you even expel her?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "But you always have to pay the price for your past actions!"


    Zhang Menglong had also heard about Dai Qingying causing a male actor to succumb to depression, and he wasn''t such a hero, nor did he have the duty to act as one. He simply felt that her downfall wasn''t miserable enough! After all, if it weren''t for these people''s support, the matter could have been quite troublesome to handle, possibly even affecting those around him.


    People like Dai Qingying were best off directly ruined and discredited!


    "Hong Yi, do you have the phone number for the president of Yanjing Film and Television Academy?"


    "Yes, what do you want with their president?"


    "I heard that Huaxia Film Academy and Yanjing Film and Television Academy have always been in competition. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? With Huaxia''s circles being so chaotic, it shows there''s a problem with education. I''m considering donating a sum of money to them, to cultivate some truly outstanding actors, not just a bunch of players who only know how to cause trouble!"

 Chapter 176 174 Actually, I Also Want to Donate to You Guys

    In the home of Zhu Peigao, the president of Yanjing Film and Television Academy, he was planning to rest. He hadn''t expected that such a situation would suddenly erupt late at night. After all, being part of the film and television education circle, his attention to the matter couldn''t help but grow.


    "Old man, this Dai Qingying situation is getting more and more serious. Now even those academicians from our country involved in scientific research are alarmed. This young man named Zhang Menglong really has some ability!" Zhu Peigao''s wife adjusted her glasses. "Although Dai Qingying has already graduated, she is still from Huaxia Film Academy. This has had quite an impact on their school."


    "Isn''t that the truth? That He Li, insisting on standing up for his own student, has now stirred up trouble for himself," President Zhu sighed. "Our two schools have been competing for so many years, and this is actually good for our school."


    This wasn''t because Zhu Peigao was selfish. After all, there''s only so much educational resource available each year. Official is official, private affairs are private. Schools always hope to recruit more excellent students and compete for more resources, and the strength of the school and its influence in society are among the most important elements.


    "We at Yanjing Film and Television Academy have been suppressed by them for so many years. This time is our opportunity, and we must make good use of it!" Zhu Peigao said. "In the future, our school must pay attention to ideological education. Students, while they need to do well in their professional courses, must not deviate ideologically, and we also need to properly reform our teaching staff!"


    "Old man, it''s a phone call!" Zhu Peigao''s spouse handed over the mobile phone.


    "Who is it?"


    "I don''t know, it''s an unfamiliar number."


    "Oh?" Zhu Peigao answered the phone, "Hello, this is Zhu Peigao. May I ask who''s calling?"


    "Hello, President Zhu. This is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Zhu Peigao was so startled that he sat up straight. Had someone from his school also provoked Zhang Menglong? Was he now coming to him for retribution?


    "You... What do you need?" asked Zhu Peigao.


    "President Zhu, you needn''t be nervous, I''m not here to cause you trouble."


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Peigao breathed a sigh of relief, "Then you..."


    "It''s like this, as you know, I''ve made quite a few donations to the education industry. However, most of it has so far been to universities with a focus on scientific research. Our academies of arts like yours have never been sponsored by me, especially after the emergence of a degenerate like Dai Qingying. I felt it necessary to strengthen the education in art institutions."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, when it comes to education, money is always needed. I plan to donate a sum of money to Yanjing Film and Television Academy to support our school''s development," said Zhang Menglong.


    "I understand that pursuing the arts is a difficult path, and it can be quite costly. Many talented students fall due to their family''s financial circumstances, and most of these students are really down to earth. I think they need help! It''s also like reserving some excellent new blood for Huaxia''s film and television industry, after all!"


    Upon hearing this, Zhu Peigao became extremely excited. Actually, their school originally had a foundation, established with donations from successful alumni. With this money, they indeed funded many students with good character and strong professional skills but poor family backgrounds.


    But in recent years, the foundation''s funds had almost run out, and Zhu Peigao had been worried about this issue lately!


    "Zhang, you don''t mind me calling you that, do you?"


    "Of course not. You''re naturally my elder, President Zhu."


    "It''s like this, I''d like to know the amount of the donation, so we can plan for the use of the funds accordingly."


    "Let''s start with a donation of 1 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "1 billion? Are you joking?" Zhu Peigao''s mouth hung open in shock. When their foundation was first established, it only had 20 million in funds.


    "It''s not enough? If it''s not enough, I can add more!"


    "Enough! Enough!" Even 50 million would have made Zhu Peigao smile so much that his wrinkles would show.


    "But, I hope you can establish this foundation as soon as tomorrow. As for what to name it, that''s up to you. Ten minutes ago, I already transferred the money into the school''s account. You can check it tomorrow."


    "That fast?" Zhu Peigao was stunned by Zhang Menglong''s approach.


    "One more thing, President!"


    "You say!"


    "If the president of Huaxia Film Academy asks you about this money, you tell him I donated it. If he asks why I didn''t give it to them, you say they don''t deserve it!"


    Hearing this, Zhu Peigao suddenly understood: Zhang Menglong wasn''t really here to do charity; he was playing mind games!


    If their school received such a large donation, Huaxia Film Academy would definitely be unable to sit still once they got wind of the news. They would surely come asking, and Zhang Menglong''s response was undoubtedly a stab in the heart!


    "Alright, I got it. I''ll pass on the message!" As the saying goes, "take the money to ward off disaster for others," Zhu Peigao was merely the messenger; he had nothing that he couldn''t say. It was just that Huaxia Film Academy was going to be in an awkward position. Zhang Menglong was pressuring them with this method!


    Do you want to deal with Dai Qingying or not? If not, he will crazily support Yanjing Film and Television Academy and dump loads of money into it!


    Eventually, all the outstanding students would go to Yanjing Film and Television, leading Huaxia Film Academy to plummet and eventually become a second-rate art school!


    ...


    The next day, just as Zhang Menglong had said, Yanjing Film and Television School immediately posted the news of the new foundation''s establishment on its official website. The foundation was named "Menglong Foundation," and the donor was Zhang Menglong, with a donation amount of 10 billion!


    In the whole of Huaxia, there were many people who donated to schools, but such a large amount was absolutely unprecedented! Very soon, countless people knew about this news.


    "President Zhang donated to Yanjing Film and Television. You know what that means, right? (dog head emoji)"


    "Why do I feel like President Zhang''s tactics when he bought NetEase Music and his current moves are the same? Directly smashing money on the competition, this is just a replication!"


    "With so much more money, let''s see how Huaxia Film Academy is going to compete with Yanjing Film and Television!"


    ...


    As expected, the moment they saw this news, the president and leaders of Huaxia Film Academy couldn''t sit still. They clearly knew it was one of Zhang Menglong''s tricks, but they were helpless. He was using his own money to donate, so what right did they have to make any complaints?


    "This won''t do!" a leader said, "If Zhang Menglong fully supports Yanjing Film and Television Academy, our school will fall behind in at most five years. By then, our facilities, faculty, and student quality will all be far surpassed!"


    "Yes, in the future, when people talk about performance majors in Huaxia, everyone will only know about Yanjing Film and Television, and nobody will remember Huaxia Film anymore. President, you can''t just watch things develop this way!"


    The conference room was as silent as death.


    "I''ll call Zhang Menglong!" After much contemplation, Huaxia Film School''s president Luo Hui decided to try contacting Zhang Menglong to see if it was possible to secure a donation.


    ...


    "Oh, a call''s coming in!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, sipping his milk as he picked up the phone.


    "Hello, who is this?"


    "Is this student Zhang Menglong? I am Luo Hui, the president of Huaxia Film Academy."


    "Oh, President Luo, what can I do for you?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s like this. First, I would like to apologize for the damage caused to you by the words and actions of Professor He Li and Dai Qingying from our school."


    "President, you are too kind. It wasn''t your fault after all!"


    "Zhang, actually I know that by donating to Yanjing Film and Television, you''re trying to force us to make some kind of response, I... "


    "No, no, no, President Luo, I really just wanted to promote our country''s film and television education. Actually, I was also planning to donate 10 billion to you too, but I''ve already been branded as a ''second generation rich kid with twisted values.'' If I kept doing this, wouldn''t I be criticized again?"


    "Rest assured! We will definitely give you a satisfactory response to this matter!" Hearing what Zhang Menglong said, President Luo understood that Zhang Menglong was using this tactic to force them to take a stand!

 Chapter 177 175: Even Versailles Literature Wouldnt Dare Write This

    In the afternoon, a sensational announcement was posted on the official website of the Huaxia Film Academy.


    In light of the improper behavior of our graduate Dai Qingying, which has caused significant negative impact on the reputation of our school, the school held a meeting and voted. Now we announce the following accountability and punishment for student Dai Qingying:


    1. Recall Dai Qingying''s diploma


    2. Recall Dai Qingying''s degree certificate


    This notice is hereby issued to rectify the school''s atmosphere!


    This announcement declared Zhang Menglong the official winner in this farce and also marked Dai Qingying''s complete disgrace!


    That same night, Dai Qingying received a message from her teacher He Li, which contained only a brief four-character phrase: "Take care of yourself." Dai Qingying stared blankly at these words, knowing that this time she had truly lost and her defeat was utterly devastating!


    As the saying goes, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." Dai Qingying''s fans, one after another, turned from supporters to detractors, fiercely condemning Dai Qingying''s absurd behavior. She was the one acting like a diva, yet she played the victim first, attributing all the problems to Zhang Menglong.


    What infuriated people even more was that incidents from a few years ago were exposed once again, and some fans, who had completely lost faith in Dai Qingying, announced an even more shocking piece of news. The fan harassment incident involving a male actor with depression was not spontaneous from Dai Qingying''s fans but was orchestrated by a few of her die-hard fans at her behest!


    For several days in a row, Dai Qingying''s house was crowded with angry fans from both sides. Stones and dirt were thrown, smashing her newly acquired luxury home to ruins! However, Dai Qingying had already disappeared without a trace, and moreover, she would no longer appear in the entertainment industry, for the Broadcasting Authority had announced a permanent ban on her and had even set up a special task force to investigate her past vile actions.


    ...


    In a greenhouse room of a hotel, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling enjoyed a rare afternoon in the sunshine. The recruitment of new actors for "Three-Body" was exceptionally smooth, and the new candidate was decided within a week. Although this person wasn''t as experienced as Dai Qingying, his character and attitude were approved by the entire cast and crew, and the new filming schedule had already started methodically.


    "Ah, as the saying goes, one can defy the will of heaven, but one cannot escape the consequences of one''s own actions. It would have been over had she just taken the compensation and left quietly, instead of conducting all this tomfoolery!" Wang Ling sipped her drink as if the incident had long passed.


    "People like her, if I didn''t deal with her, someone else would," Zhang Menglong was very satisfied with the outcome, "What brings you to me anyway?"


    "This!" Wang Ling placed two invitations on the table, "Invitations to the Royal Frankfurt Auction House. Are you interested?"


    "What''s so exciting about an auction? I''m not that into art and paintings, you know that. I''m just a layman," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "No, no, no, this auction is not your ordinary auction," Wang Ling said with a mysterious smile, "It''s on an island near the Kingdom of Frankfurt. Apart from the usual items, there are also some very special ones."


    "What kind of items? Expensive?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Heh, the highlight items, they all start with billions, in Euros no less. This is the Royal Frankfurt Auction House''s super auction that happens once every decade. Last time, there were several retired fighter jets and helicopters, even a missile destroyer was auctioned off, which was bought directly by an entrepreneur from Huaxia!"


    "Have you attended before?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt the story sounded somewhat familiar.


    "Of course, ten years ago with my old man, but that time the organizer was in Australia. Look, I even took photos," Wang Ling boasted as she laid the photos in front of Zhang Menglong, "Even with your family''s wealth, these items are still unattainable, right?"


    The photo was of a destroyer that spanned over 100 meters in length. Though it couldn''t compare to a row of footprints, on the seas, it was certainly a behemoth.


    "This thing has seen battle; it was acquired by the organizers from America. Allegedly, its price of construction back in the day reached 1.2 billion US Dollars. Even after stripping away its weapons and equipment, it still sold at auction for 850 million US Dollars!"


    "And there''s this, the Tsarist Russia''s 160 model fighter jet. After being decommissioned, it sold for a price even higher than its cost of production. Even discounting inflation, just the prestige of turning a fighter jet into a private plane was enough to astound."


    "And check this out; I don''t know what sort of signal it is, but it''s a main battle tank. If you drove this thing down the street, how cool would that be?"


    "Are you talking about these?" Zhang Menglong grabbed a tablet and played a video.


    In the video, a vast, boundless farm spread out below. In the sky, a plane roared past, spewing a rain-like spray of pesticides, but this wasn''t a helicopter or an agricultural drone¡ªit was a fighter jet!


    "Hold on!" Wang Ling pressed the pause button. He zoomed in on the video again and compared it with a photo on his phone¡ª they were exactly the same two planes, and even the sequence of numbers on the fuselage was identical!


    "Fuck! Using a fighter jet to spray pesticides, is this a joke?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but scoff, "Wait, where is this?"


    "It''s my family''s private farm!" Zhang Menglong said, "I was wondering why all this stuff looked so familiar; the Huaxia businessman you mentioned just now is my dad!"


    "This..." Wang Ling''s lips trembled slightly, how the hell is it your family''s again?


    "That junk fighter jet, with just so little space inside? To convert it into a private plane, you could only fit a bed. Sure, it flies fast, but it turns out to be pretty efficient for spraying pesticides, though we had to build another runway!"


    "Your dad bought a fighter jet to spray pesticides and constructed a runway for it? This thing must''ve cost more than the plane itself, right?"


    "And about that tank!" Zhang Menglong moved the progress bar in the video, "Originally my dad wanted to convert it for use on the roads, but then the housing department issued a new rule: tracked vehicles aren''t allowed on the road, plus it guzzles fuel and isn''t as agile as a sports car. So, no choice, we had to bring it here to plow the fields!"


    "Plow fields? Your damn family plows fields with a tank?" Wang Ling felt an urge to smash something, "And what about that destroyer? Turned into a yacht?"


    "Not yet, my dad thought it was too small and plans to grab an aircraft carrier if possible, then convert it into a private cruise ship. That destroyer? It was sent to the South Pacific for fishing, and seafood we eat is usually flown directly from there."


    "I''m floored!"


    Wang Ling thought that the tycoon who bought those things would put them to some cool use, but he never imagined an ending like this.


    Zhang Menglong''s family''s antics were so outrageous that not even Versailles literature would dare to write it!


    "By the way, do you think there will be an aircraft carrier on sale this time?" While Wang Ling was still in a daze, Zhang Menglong posed an even more Versailles-style question.


    "I...I bought a watch last year! I can''t deal with this day!"

 Chapter 178 176: President Zhang, Do You Lack a Deputy?

    "Are you going or not? If not, I''ll find someone else!" Wang Ling was done talking to Zhang Menglong; any more and she might claim that even the Terracotta Army was made by Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Of course I''m going! Why wouldn''t I?" Zhang Menglong snatched the two tickets, "As long as it involves spending money, I''m definitely in!"


    "Heh heh, then you can take your private jet when the time comes!" Wang Ling said with a teasing smile, "I need two seats, and by the way, let me introduce you to my new girlfriend!"


    "I knew you weren''t being kind-hearted for nothing!" Zhang Menglong gave her a scornful look, "Tomorrow morning at nine o''clock, come straight from the airport to the airport!"


    "Alrighty!" Wang Ling was all smiles, "It''s my first time riding your private jet, Zhang the Young Master. I''m actually a bit nervous!"


    "By the way, is your dad not going this time?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "He''s busy. But this time he gave me ten billion! The old man is rarely so generous, so I must bring back some good stuff this time. Don''t you dare book the whole venue!"


    Wang Ling didn''t know how big the auction was going to be, but considering the terrifying wealth that Zhang Menglong had displayed in Qingqiu Country, booking the whole venue probably wasn''t impossible!


    "Don''t worry, I''ll definitely leave you ten billion worth of stuff!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Thanks a bunch," Wang Ling rolled her eyes, "I''m off, see you tomorrow morning!"


    ...


    It just so happened that Lu Yiyao had finished her graduation concert and, with special care from her teacher, the concert went off without a hitch. Now it was just some complicated procedures before waiting to receive her diploma.


    After packing up, Zhang Menglong sent someone to pick up Lu Yiyao and bring her to Jiangnan City. As for their shameless cohabitation, Zhang Menglong was still looking forward to it. Of course, Zhang Menglong would need to work harder to turn this spatial cohabitation into a real cohabitation.


    Lu Yiyao had never traveled abroad before, and when she heard that Zhang Menglong was taking her to Europe, she was so excited that she couldn''t sleep all night. The next day, despite having two huge dark circles under her eyes, she had plenty of time to get some rest during the long flight from Jiangnan City to Frankfurt.


    This time, Hong Yi did not accompany them. Perhaps she felt that with Lu Yiyao there, following along would be inappropriate, like a third wheel. However, she left Zhang Menglong a number, telling him that no matter what happened, as long as he called this number, there would be nothing in Europe that couldn''t be solved.


    Of course, to ensure Zhang Menglong''s safety, Ye Yin would be following him like a shadow.


    ...


    "Damn, I''ve been in Jiangnan City for so long, and I had no idea there was such a huge private airport right opposite the international airport!" Wang Ling was staring at the massive airport dumbfounded, like a country bumpkin who''d never seen the world. Its area was almost half that of the international airport!


    If she wasn''t mistaken, then the dozen or so planes currently parked here were most likely Zhang Menglong''s private jets.


    Her new girlfriend was even more astonished. Wang Ling was already considered wealthy, but Zhang Menglong''s riches were beyond her wildest dreams. She could not even imagine that it was possible for someone to be so wealthy.


    "Mr. Zhang, are all these planes yours?" asked the beauty with the internet-famous face.


    "Yes, but there are fewer than usual today," Zhang Menglong said, "These planes are mainly for transporting goods from all over the world. I''m going to be in Europe for a while, so I''ve given them a holiday. What''s left is probably less than a third of the usual number."


    "Hiss!" Wang Ling gasped, which meant that under normal circumstances, Zhang Menglong''s airport would have at least fifty or sixty planes. "How many private jets do you actually have?"


    "Jeez, how would I know!" Zhang Menglong said, "Boeing holds 92% of its shares under the name of my family. If we need more, we just have them make some. Isn''t that simple?"


    "You''re an animal!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but ask another cheeky question, "This airport must have cost a fortune, right?"


    "Almost 20 billion US dollars,", Zhang Menglong said offhand, "but not many were made, just one in Jiangnan City, one in the magic capital... Huaxia only built about a dozen in total! As for abroad, each country just has one or two at most, making too many would be a waste..."


    "Stop, stop, stop, let''s not talk about this anymore, let''s go!" Wang Ling directly covered her ears.


    "You, you''re addicted to showing off!" Lu Yiyao laughed and cursed.


    "How is this showing off? I''m just stating a fact, that''s all!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Oh, our plane is ready!"


    After speaking, a plane slowly came to a stop about fifty meters away from them, and a pilot with an extremely sturdy build disembarked from the plane.


    Zhang Menglong''s international flights were always handled by special pilots, and this one was the pilot for flights from Huaxia to Europe.


    "You, you, you! I know you, you''re that... right, He Liang! The pilot with the golden helmet!"


    "Golden helmet pilot? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled, as it was his first time meeting He Liang and he only knew that He had extensive flying experience.


    "You don''t know your own pilot? He Liang used to be a combat pilot. Only 39 pilots across the whole country have ever been awarded the title of golden helmet. He''s definitely the elite of the elite! And you managed to recruit someone like him?"


    "Mr. Wang, nice to meet you," He Liang said with a smile to Wang Ling, "After I retired, I received an offer from Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun that I simply couldn''t refuse, considering I also have a family to support!"


    He Liang was a very honest man, and although he was nearing forty, his superb flying skills were in no way diminished by his age.


    "Alright, with you here, I can sleep soundly on the plane!"


    "Then everyone, please board the aircraft. Once the supplies are ready, we can take off."


    "Sure,", Zhang Menglong nodded, and was the first to walk up the passenger entrance into the plane.


    "Wow, Zhang Menglong, not bad at all! The flight attendants on this plane are hotter than the next!" Wang Ling expressed his envy upon seeing the beautiful and well-figured flight attendants.


    "Hahaha, being a flight attendant here isn''t something just anyone can do,", Zhang Menglong laughed, "Their selection criteria are about 20% higher than those for Miss World. In other words, any of them could take part in the Miss World contest and win the title."


    "Awesome... that''s sick... I''m sorry for looking at you with my mere mortal eyes."


    "But they generally only work for a maximum of three years; after turning 25, they retire. That''s a rule set by my dad¡ªobviously, an old lecher!"


    "That''s a pity, only working for three years before retiring. It truly is a youth''s game!" Wang Ling shook his head in disbelief, "If they entered Miss World, even when they got older, they could live comfortably for a lifetime with that title. What are they after?"


    "Mr. Wang, you worry too much for us,", a flight attendant offered a cup of red wine and a fruit platter, "Serving Mr. Zhang is much more glamorous than being Miss World."


    This beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes matched the Huaxia standard for a Western goddess in looks and figure, yet she spoke fluent Chinese, showing these people were not just about looks.


    "How so?"


    "Our annual base salary alone is 20 million US dollars,", the beauty said, "and for every flight mission, there''s additional pay. Each mission comes with a 5 million US dollar mission bonus and a daily allowance of 1 million US dollars. If Mr. Zhang stays in Europe for a week this time, we''ll receive an extra 12 million US dollars!"


    "Mr. Zhang?", Wang Ling immediately turned his gaze towards Zhang Menglong, "Do you need male flight attendants on this plane? I''m fluent in Huaxia, English, Qingqiu, Shandong dialect, Cantonese, Southern Min dialect, Wenzhou dialect, Zhoushan dialect, and 15 other languages!"


    "Get lost..."

 Chapter 179 177: Theres a Plane Fight Ahead

    He Liang''s driving skills were indeed exceptional. During the takeoff process, apart from the slight sensation during the ascent phase, it felt as stable as driving on flat ground. Lu Yiyao seemed to have been too excited last night to fall asleep and had unwittingly drifted off while listening to music.


    Zhang Menglong helped her to her room and arranged for a flight attendant to take care of her, then started discussing the upcoming auction with Wang Ling.


    Actually, there were still three days left until the auction day, and there was no real need to arrive this early. However, Zhang Menglong wanted to take Lu Yiyao to appreciate the exotic charm of the Kingdom of Frankfurt in Europe, which was why they had chosen to come early.


    "By the way, do you have the information for this auction?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No," Wang Ling shook his head. The auction organization never disclosed the contents of each auction and was famous for its secrecy, but it always managed to offer some special surprises.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have all the information on the auction. If you need it, I can prepare it for you immediately," Ye Yin''s voice timely rang in Zhang Menglong''s ears.


    "No, I still want to be surprised. Don''t tell me!" Zhang Menglong responded.


    "You wouldn''t believe it, but if I wanted to, I could find out whether the auction host is male or female and even the color of their underwear!" Zhang Menglong boasted to Wang Ling.


    "I''ll believe it when I see it, you old coot, you''re terribly crafty. That auction organization has held hundreds of auctions so far and has never leaked any information. Every auctioneer is appointed at the last moment; maybe they haven''t even picked the person yet, and you claim you can predict the future?" Wang Ling obviously didn''t believe him.


    "Let me tell you," Wang Ling said mysteriously, "do you know what the first item was at the auction ten years ago?"


    "What was it?"


    "The Tai''a Sword!"


    "Damn, does that thing really exist? Are you making up a fantasy novel here?"


    "Nonsense, the Ten Famous Swords really do exist in Huaxia, okay? The Tai''a Sword, that one from Emperor Qin Shi Huang. After Epang Palace was burned down by Xiang Yu, it vanished without a trace and then showed up at that auction, can you believe it?"


    "That''s quite interesting!" Zhang Menglong had always been fascinated by things shrouded in mystery, and the Tai''a Sword must have had an enchanting historical story as well.


    "But in the end, it was bought by your dad!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes, recalling that the person who bought that sword seemed to be the same one who bought the planes and tanks.


    "Oh? How come I''ve never seen it?" Zhang Menglong tried hard to search his memory, but he was certain he had never seen that sword.


    "Wait, show me yesterday''s video!" Wang Ling suddenly said, "Those items were all bought in the same batch, maybe it''s at your private farm!"


    Wang Ling''s expression suddenly became blank as a ridiculous idea formed in his mind. Fighter jets used for spraying pesticides, tanks for plowing fields, and missile destroyers for fishing¡ªcould it be that this national treasure, the Tai''a Sword, was being used by his dad to chop firewood?


    The more he thought about it, the more it seemed not entirely impossible!


    "Stop!" Zhang Menglong spotted a flash of white light in the video, which seemed to be something reflecting the sunlight, "Slow-motion replay!"


    Following Zhang Menglong''s instruction, Wang Ling replayed the video and finally found the source of the light spot in a corner. It was a plump middle-aged man, chasing after several sprinting pigs, and what he held in his hand was clearly not a normal pig-killing knife.


    This was a sword about 90 centimeters long, displaying a bronze-orange color throughout, almost identical to the Tai''a Sword described in ancient texts!


    Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling exchanged glances, each seeing not only surprise but also a sense of helplessness in the other''s eyes.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong''s boss hadn''t used that precious sword to chop firewood, but damn it, he had actually given it to the butcher in the farm to slaughter pigs!


    Zhang Menglong even had his excuses ready; with such a sharp sword just sitting around, why waste it? Wouldn''t it be nice to chop ribs with it?


    "Boom!" Just then, a violent explosion sounded from the front of the airplane, a burst of flames erupted right in front of the plane, and a large amount of debris fell towards the ground.


    "Fuck! What''s going on? Is someone attacking the plane?" Wang Ling quickly took his seat in the safety chair and fastened his seatbelt at lightning speed, as if he were trained for it.


    "Captain He, what happened?" Zhang Menglong immediately asked through the plane''s intercom, trusting in He Liang''s skills to avoid such a mishap.


    "Mr. Zhang, there was a severe explosion ahead... it seems like it was a missile." The speed was too fast; even He Liang, with his eagle-like eyes, could barely catch its trajectory.


    "What? A missile? Are they really attacking the plane?" Wang Ling started shouting, "No, I didn''t do anything guilty recently, nor have I provoked any enemies. Zhang Menglong, with all your showing off, it must be aimed at you, right?"


    "Stop it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Captain He, are you sure?"


    "Very likely. The explosion and firelight are undeniable. But it''s strange, the airplane wasn''t hit at all. Logically, even if the shrapnel didn''t hit us, the blast wave from the explosion should have shaken the plane a bit."


    "Ye Yin, is it you?" If it indeed was a missile, there could potentially be only one explanation: Ye Yin had intercepted the missile.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it appears to be a self-developed air-to-air missile from Murico. Its power is similar to our older generation air-to-air missiles in Huaxia. But if we were hit, the plane would definitely disintegrate," Ye Yin explained.


    "You''re awesome!" Zhang Menglong quietly praised Ye Yin. Had she really just caught a missile with her bare hands? Can people even do that? That''s outrageous, right?


    "Captain He, let''s circle nearby for a while as I figure out what''s going on."


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang!" With the situation unclear ahead and strict air routes to follow, they could only choose to hover nearby for now.


    "Ye Yin, go and check what exactly is happening," Zhang Menglong instructed, "be quick and don''t let another missile come our way; I can''t handle another."


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang; nothing is going to happen," Ye Yin''s voice again faded from Zhang Menglong''s ear, yet no one noticed her presence.


    "What happened? What was that sound just now?" At that time, Lu Yiyao, awakened by the explosion, rubbed her eyes and walked out of her room.


    Within just a few seconds, Ye Yin brought back news, informing Zhang Menglong about everything that had happened.


    "Oh, it''s nothing serious!" Zhang Menglong said, as if discussing a trivial matter, "Two countries in Europe are fighting over an oil resource, and just started battling it out, now there are two fighter jet squadrons up ahead fighting each other!"

 Chapter 180 178 Ill Find Some Bodyguards

    "No problem? Two fighter jet formations are fighting, and you''re telling me there''s no problem?" Wang Ling stood up agitatedly, "Bro, this is no joke, it''s not playing house. If we get shot down, people will die!"


    "Don''t panic," Zhang Menglong said with utter calmness because he knew that as long as Ye Yin was there, even if they were to go through a hail of bullets, it wouldn''t be a problem.


    "How can I not panic? If this plane gets blown up, we are all going to die!" Wang Ling was becoming hysterical, "Let''s change our flight path."


    "If we change our flight path, submit a new flight path application, plus detouring, I''m afraid it''s going to take several more hours. I''ve already booked a candlelight dinner at the Saint Aer Hotel by the Eiffel Tower, and that''s not easy to book. If we''re over half an hour late, it gets canceled straight away!"


    "Is now the time to worry about that? What''s more important, our lives or eating? Can''t the candlelight dinner wait for another day? Does it have to be tonight? And with your means, Master Zhang, you could easily buy that six-star hotel. Why take such a risk?" Wang Ling was about to lose his mind. He thought Zhang Menglong sometimes had problems with his brain, acting without considering the urgency of the situation.


    "However, it seems inappropriate for Ye Yin to protect us on our way," Zhang Menglong automatically filtered out Wang Ling''s words. Although having Ye Yin''s protection was very safe, a private plane flying unscathed out of an aerial battlefield was both logically and emotionally dubious!


    If a missile hit the plane and not even a black spot remained, wouldn''t that be ghostly? Such an occurrence would obviously expose his control over some powers beyond science, something Zhang Menglong did not wish to happen.


    "Since that''s the case, we''ll have to think of another way," Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered the phone Hong Yi had given him. She had said that whatever happened, as long as he called this number, there would hardly be anything that couldn''t be solved. Now seemed like a good opportunity to test it out.


    "Captain He, keep turning for a while longer. I need to make a call," Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "What call? You think this is a gang fight? This is war! A battlefield! We should be bypassing it right now, or even turning around! It''s too dangerous here, didn''t you see that missile just now? With a boom, it exploded right in front of us!"


    "Alright already, as someone in their thirties, can''t you be a bit calmer? Look at your girlfriend, how composed she is!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the influencer-faced girl and suddenly, he sensed a strange smell coming from her.


    "Holy shit! She peed herself?" Zhang Menglong held his forehead. Why was everyone so easily frightened? Was this minor situation really worth panicking over?


    "You guys, help her clean up and get this place tidy," Zhang Menglong told the flight attendants. Then, he still dialed the number he had in mind, wanting to see just who was on the other end.


    "Doot... Doot..." The phone rang twice and was quickly answered.


    "I am Zhang Menglong," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Young master? The young master? Is it really you? Wonderful! You''ve finally contacted us!" An excited and weathered voice came from the other end. Zhang Menglong even imagined an old man wiping away tears and snot.


    "What kind of monster is this?" Zhang Menglong pulled the handset away from his ear, as the voice was nearly bursting his eardrums, "And what''s with ''young master''? Have I traveled through time or what?"


    The Hong family members usually called him young master, but Zhang Menglong didn''t like such a title filled with feudal landlord overtones, so he had them all change it to Mr. Zhang.


    But this person''s title, it sounded like he was a slave of their family? But wasn''t the slave system abolished many years ago? How come there are still people who use the title of ''master''?


    Moreover, although those people spoke Huaxia language, it was with a heavy accent. Clearly, the person was a full-fledged European. Could it be that his grandfather or some other ancestor had bought slaves when they were in Europe?


    Finally, the person on the other end of the call calmed down a little, and Zhang Menglong found an opportunity to interject.


    "Hey, who are you exactly, and could you introduce yourself first?"


    "I''m so sorry, I''m so sorry!" Zhang Menglong heard a sound of someone blowing their nose, it seemed the other person''s excitement wasn''t feigned, "My name is Hagen Dorellas, and I am the Clan Leader of your most loyal Dorellas family."


    "Oh, never heard of it," said Zhang Menglong, hearing the name for the first time; it must be similar to Hong Yi''s Hong Family, a family serving him.


    "Young master, you''ve probably just inherited your family''s power and are not aware of us, which is normal. Simply put, our Dorellas family is your spokesperson in Europe!"


    As he spoke these words, Hagen''s voice was filled with pride and honor, "In the year 23 A.D., the whole of Europe was under the rule of Ancient Rome, and it was your ancestors who saved our predecessors from the Slave Camp. If it hadn''t been for your ancestors, our Dorellas family would have perished two thousand years ago."


    "Two thousand years? You''re saying your family has been with mine for two thousand years?" exclaimed Zhang Menglong. This, damn, would trace back to the time of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. If Zhang Menglong remembered correctly, Hong Yi''s family seemed to have started following the Zhang Family around that era too.


    Could it be that his ancient ancestor had a particular fondness for playing the hero?


    "As long as the Dorellas family line continues, we will follow your family for countless more millennia!"


    It sounded like a bold statement, but Zhang Menglong could hear that Hagen''s words were sincere. He wondered what on earth his family had done to secure such loyalty from people like the Carreras family.


    "We can talk about old times later," said Zhang Menglong, "Hong Yi must have told you that I was coming to Europe today."


    "Yes, we have prepared to welcome your arrival!" said Hagen.


    "But I''ve run into some trouble," said Zhang Menglong, "I''m currently near the HD-88 airway, and somehow, there are two fighter jet squadrons fighting nearby. One of the countries involved is Morico, and I don''t want their presence to affect my itinerary, do you understand?"


    "Please hold on!" Zhang Menglong heard a babble of foreign language coming through the handset, and after just a moment, it sounded like Hagen had received precise intelligence.


    "Young master, it''s between Morico and Leydenburg, they''ve found a mine on their border and neither is willing to give it up. The mine is very valuable, enough for them to exploit for decades, and it seems today the military conflict escalated. I''m sorry, this was my oversight, I should have informed Miss Hong earlier."


    "It''s okay, but I want to hear solutions. I''d prefer not to detour or wait for them to finish before we can proceed!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was uncompromising.


    "Don''t worry, give me ten minutes, and I will sort everything out!" Hagen promised.


    "Then I''ll wait and see your performance!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, looking at Wang Ling who was still in a state of shock, "Alright, stop pretending, I''ve already called for help!"


    "Who? International Peacekeeping Forces? How long will they take to arrive?"


    "No, not them. But it should be my bodyguards; we''ll be able to leave in ten minutes."

 Chapter 181 179: Do You Call This Breaking Up a Fight?

    Time passed by the second, and Zhang Menglong lay on the couch like nothing was amiss, eating and drinking as usual, while Lu Yiyao watched him with a worried expression. Wang Ling''s girlfriend had gone to change her clothes, while Wang Ling himself lay sprawled at the window, muttering something under his breath.


    "What are you doing, eat something, what can you see by plastering yourself against the window? Looking for God?" Zhang Menglong picked up a grape and hurled it at Wang Ling''s head.


    "What are you doing! We could get shot down any minute now, and you''re still messing around! Why aren''t you worried at all?" Wang Ling felt that Zhang Menglong was treating their lives like a joke.


    "That''s because I''m absolutely confident!" Zhang Menglong said, "When have you ever seen me at a disadvantage? Just a pair of fighter jets, what''s there to be afraid of? I told you, someone will come to break it up soon..."


    Zhang Menglong had just said this when a tremendous roar came from above them.


    Wang Ling''s face suddenly changed, "Damn, they''re not really starting to fight here, are they?"


    Just moments ago, they were only on the periphery of the battlefield and had nearly been hit by a missile and shot downs. Now, if they ran into the battlefield, weren''t they just waiting to die?


    He Liang was capable, but he was piloting Huaxia''s most advanced fighter jet, while now he was only flying a private plane. No matter how capable he was, he couldn''t unleash the power of a fighter jet!


    Unable to help himself, Wang Ling pressed his face to the plane''s window and saw rows of fierce fighter jets passing over and around them¡ªone, two, five, ten... twenty, thirty...


    "These are the ''Rafale'' and ''Typhoon'' fighter jets of the Frankfurt Kingdom!"


    "These are the Lions!"


    "And ''Tempest''! These are Europe''s strongest fighter jets!"


    Wang Ling was a complete military enthusiast, and he could blurt out the names of these jets at a glance. In Europe, these jets were absolute rulers of the skies!


    "We''re screwed, we''re definitely screwed!" Wang Ling''s face turned ashen, "Damn, why did I try to save money? There are so many international flights, and I had to fly on this plane; I''m just over thirty, I haven''t had enough fun yet!"


    Wang Ling''s girlfriend looked at him, not knowing what to say. She had thought that by following Wang Ling, even if just for a few months, using what they''d accumulated during this time, whether connections or popularity, she wouldn''t starve in the future. But now, she might actually die here with Wang Ling.


    "Doggy, we''re not really going to die, are we?" Lu Yiyao clutched Zhang Menglong''s hand.


    "No, it''s not those two unlucky fighters, it should be our reinforcements," Zhang Menglong told He Liang, "Mr. He, turn on the radio communication channel. These are our own people, they''re probably here to help break up the fight."


    He Liang''s expression was also grim. If he were flying a fighter jet now, he might even dare to take on these folks in the sky! But the plane in his hands didn''t even have a single machine gun.


    As more and more fighter jets appeared, the number soon exceeded fifty, and his last bit of fighting spirit was completely rubbed away.


    "Our own people?" He Liang, following Zhang Menglong''s instructions, opened the communication channel, and indeed, a young voice came through the channel.


    "Is this Mr. Zhang Menglong''s plane?" It was actually someone speaking the Huaxia language!


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang is indeed on the plane!" He Liang said.


    "We are ordered to escort Mr. Zhang Menglong''s plane, this is the vanguard force, consisting of 56 fighter jets. The rest of the main force will arrive in three minutes, totalling 213 fighter jets, Queen Elizabeth 1, Gaffur 1, Gaffur 2, Juan Carlos, and the Dalego aircraft carriers are converging on the sea area below!"


    "I... I damn..." He Liang was beyond the age of uttering sweet nothings, but when he heard such a lineup, he couldn''t help but curse, "More than two hundred fighter jets, five aircraft carriers, are they here to break up a fight? They''re probably here to take down the whole of Europe!"


    However, their shock had only just begun as another voice surfaced on their communication channel.


    "This is the Ansel missile destroyer, all anti-aircraft missiles are in firing position, ready for battle at any moment!"


    "This is the Zeus shield missile destroyer, combat ready, radar has locked on all targets, totaling 42 fighter jets, ready for anti-air guidance!"


    "This is the King Kong destroyer, ready for combat!"


    "Xilem destroyer, ready for combat!"


    "Haiyan H-37 early warning aircraft has reached combat position!"


    ...


    The reports surged one after another, drowning out the entire cockpit. Not only fighter jets, but also aircraft carriers, destroyers, and even some countries'' land and coastal bases were all prepared with surface-to-air missiles. The gap in combat power had suddenly widened by dozens of times.


    "Is this the reinforcement you called for?" Wang Ling asked Zhang Menglong, dumbfounded.


    "What else?" Zhang Menglong replied, "I told you, I got someone to come mediate and escort. Are you relieved now?"


    "Mediate and escort my ass! Are you trying to start a world war?" Wang Ling blurted out, "And how did you do it? These fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and destroyers, they''re all different models belonging to various European countries. Did you kidnap their presidents?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "You ask how I managed it, but I don''t know the answer either. However, we bosses generally only care about the results, not the process!"


    "Brother... it''s possible but unnecessary. This move is going to scare the shit out of them, isn''t it?"


    "I don''t care how they fight me, it''s none of my fucking business, but if they disrupt my schedule, they all deserve to die!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Full speed ahead, charge!"


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!" Following a tearing sound, dozens of fighter jets took the lead and charged forward.


    ...


    In the distance, the fighter squadrons of Moriko and Laidenburg were battling fiercely, with each side having lost three fighter jets after half an hour of combat, escalating the armed conflict.


    "Beep beep beep!" As both sides were preparing for the next round of confrontation, suddenly, their dashboards started issuing frantic alarms.


    "What''s going on?" A fighter pilot activated his radar, only to see the edge of the black screen filled with dense red dots, amounting to over 200, all moving majestically toward them.


    "What situation is this?" Upon seeing this scene, the demeanor of the pilots from both sides collapsed instantly. What on earth was going on? They hadn''t heard about any air force exercises being conducted in this marine area! Moreover, those 200-plus red dots were clearly moving in their direction!


    But the shock was far from over, their radars indicated that there were also numerous targets below them, with some of the largest red dots appearing to be aircraft carriers!


    Finally, the radar''s tally froze at 271, a total of 271 targets were heading in their direction!


    All the fighter aircraft technicians, looking at this breathtaking number, simultaneously uttered a single word.


    "Fuck!"

 Chapter 182 180: Hardcore Persuasion to Stop a Fight

    "Ceasefire! Ceasefire!" The commanders of the fighter squadrons from Morico and Ladingburg immediately ordered to stop the intense battle. With hundreds of fighter jets, a bunch of aircraft carriers, and destroyers involved, if they were here to clean them up, what was the point in fighting? They might as well just go home to their mothers!


    "What on earth is going on?" At Morico''s command base, Air Force Captain Slazer stared dazedly at the map covered in hundreds of dots, his hand gripping so hard he''d snapped the pen.


    This area wasn''t the private airspace of any country. Generally, the whole world was in a state of overall peace with local conflicts. Although wars were not common, they certainly weren''t rare either.


    Internationally, although verbal condemnations and efforts to stop such conflicts were common, as long as innocent countries weren''t affected and no significant post-war consequences occurred, generally, such situations were overlooked.


    The struggle between Morico and Ladingburg had been going on for almost a month, but since they were always on a small scale, no peacekeeping forces had ever come to maintain justice and order.


    More than two hundred fighter jets is something a somewhat wealthy country could manage, but aircraft carriers, that''s something else¡ªEurope doesn''t have ten of them! Almost all of them showing up like this¡ªthis definitely wasn''t the act of any single nation!


    Also, from the international response, it was definitely not an effort sent by any international organization¡ªthey still didn''t have the clout to mobilize so many war machines.


    Was the whole of Europe holding a joint military exercise here? But that didn''t make sense. They had never received any notice about this, and even if they had, surely they wouldn''t have such bad luck as to pick a military drill site right where they were fighting?


    The more they analyzed it, the more mysterious the origins of this massive force appeared!


    They had already requested support from within their country, but the reply informed them that this batch of military equipment had been mobilized just ten minutes ago! The person responsible for the mobilization was still unclear, but it wasn''t likely targeted at them; otherwise, there would have been some signs or rumors.


    Ladingburg was equally baffled at first¡ªthey even thought that Morico had traded some benefits for military support from other European countries. But on further reflection, their small, broke country couldn''t afford such powerful support!


    Almost simultaneously, Morico and Ladingburg received a message to stay calm and wait for the squadrons to pass before resuming their battle!


    It wasn''t that they wanted to stop fighting; both sides had already invested huge resources and manpower in this battle. To stop due to external forces would mean all those losses were in vain. Today, they had to decide a victor no matter what!


    ...


    "You... Did you really call for this backup?" Wang Ling still couldn''t recover from the shock. Zhang Menglong ruling in Huaxia or even in Asia was one thing, but how did he have so much influence even in Europe?


    Europe only has 7 aircraft carriers, and Wang Ling had clearly heard over the broadcast that five were currently en route here. These five weren''t affiliated with any nation or organization; if Zhang Menglong could mobilize them, what was he to Europe, an Emperor?


    Deploying an aircraft carrier for combat was almost as costly as burning money; Wang Ling believed that if the remaining two carriers were also nearby, would they also desperately rush over?


    But why, why would this happen?


    "How about that, pretty cool, huh?" Zhang Menglong said, "With them clearing the way ahead, not to mention two squadrons fighting. Even if two Gundams were battling ahead, we could take them on!"


    "How on earth did you do this?" Although Wang Ling hadn''t seen the five aircraft carriers, the two hundred fighter jets had indeed passed right by them, and at least fifty were now circling nearby, maintaining a restricted state¡ªclearly providing escort. All of this was right there to be seen.


    So, those five aircraft carriers and several dozen destroyers, they absolutely exist!


    Zhang Menglong had just made a phone call that lasted two minutes!


    "It was just a call to a friend," Zhang Menglong said, "You just heard it, didn''t you? Could I be sending mind telegrams or what?"


    "This is outrageous! What kind of friend do you have? The United Nations doesn''t have the clout that your friend has!" Wang Ling said. Even the United Nations couldn''t make so many countries willingly pull out their bottom line, "You aren''t making up imaginary friends, are you?"


    "How else could I have done it?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Besides, it''s not like I''m not paying them. I will definitely provide a generous appearance fee; I can''t expect people to come out for nothing, right?"


    "This isn''t about whether you have the money or not!" Wang Ling said with a distressed expression. You take tens of millions of US dollars to someone''s house to borrow their aircraft carriers for a bit, would they even lend them to you? These are a country''s deepest assets! It''s not something that can just be swayed by money.


    "You know, my friend, with one sneeze, the whole of Europe trembles," Zhang Menglong said. Although he didn''t know exactly how powerful the Carreras family was, the fact that they could muster almost half of Europe''s military power in just ten minutes was not an exaggeration to describe them!


    The fleet slowly entered the recent battle zone. Although it had quieted down here now, the air was still dense with the smell of gunpowder. This is war.


    "Mr. Zhang, someone is requesting to speak with you!" He Liang said.


    "Put them through here!"


    With a buzzing of static, a deep voice came through, "Mr. Zhang, this is the Carlos Carrier, I am commander Bargas!"


    "Hello, Mr. Bargas!" Although this was Spanish, with Ye Yin as a human translator, Zhang Menglong could communicate effortlessly. As for Wang Ling and the others, they were completely bewildered. Not only was Zhang Menglong fluent in English and Qingqiu language, but he also handled Spanish impressively¡ªcould he be a language prodigy?


    "Mr. Zhang, the fighter squadrons from Moriko and Ladingburg haven''t fully withdrawn yet. They are currently hovering in the nearby airspace. Should we carry out further military strikes?" Bargas asked.


    "They haven''t left yet? That''s bold!"


    "Yes, for this battle, they invested a great deal of resources. They probably won''t stop here, but they should be hesitant to make any rash moves. Once we safely pass through this airspace, however they fight after that doesn''t concern us anymore."


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "I am a person who loves peace, and the last thing I like to see is fighting. Once fighting begins, their soldiers will be sacrificed, and their families will be shattered. I think, as an outstanding youth of the 21st century, I still need to try and stop the fight."


    "Tell them, if they continue to fight, then we''ll have to step in to maintain peace. Whoever initiates, you bring them down!" Zhang Menglong asked tentatively, "Can we do that?"


    "Our orders are to unconditionally execute all of your commands!"


    "Then let''s do it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Let them know what it means to forcefully mediate!"

 Chapter 183 181: Is This Your Friend or Your Slave?

    "All units, return to your country''s territory within five minutes. War is forbidden from breaking out!"


    "I repeat, stop the war and evacuate this area within five minutes, return to your own country!"


    ...


    The fighter jet squadrons of Morego and Laidingburg received this broadcast on the public frequency simultaneously.


    "They want us to stop? Why? They''re going through, and we''ve already let them, so why interfere with our operations?" Slazer didn''t understand why these people loved to meddle so much.


    "Tell them that we have temporarily halted our battle and have shown them the respect they deserve. We hope they will also respect us and not intervene in the affairs between our two countries!" Slazer said to his subordinates.


    A fighter pilot relayed Slazer''s words to the spokesperson of that squadron, but the response they received was something no one had anticipated.


    "This is the final warning, this is not a negotiation, this is an order! If your forces decide to take unilateral action, our aircraft carrier group will immediately issue orders to launch a military strike against both fighter jet squadrons!"


    Hearing this response, Slazer''s back was suddenly drenched with sweat.


    Not to mention the vast disparity in military strength, their fighter jets were so far behind in performance it was unquantifiable.


    Whether it''s the "Rafale" or the "Typhoon," both are known as the top three fighter jets of Europe, and they absolutely represent the ceiling of the European Air Force''s combat capability, two generations ahead of theirs!


    Just two of these fighters could potentially annihilate their entire squadron! Coupled with the opponent''s advanced AWACS, the intelligence of the aircraft carriers, and a numerical disparity of 100 times, just one encounter would likely leave their jets unable to even find complete fragments. This disparity could not be simply described.


    In one word, they were going to be beaten with no discussion!


    "Ask them clearly, why they are interfering with our military operations. We need an explanation, otherwise, we''re all going to be standing before a military tribunal!"


    "They say it''s an order from their Carreras family!" the pilot relayed, "Their master''s plane just happened to pass through this corridor, and they are all here to escort it. Moreover, their master mentioned disliking war, and that''s the reason they''ve given."


    "The Carreras family?" The pilot didn''t know what to make of the Carreras family.


    Just like Hong Yi''s Hong Family in Huaxia, they kept such a low profile it was unbelievable, but their influence was absolutely capable of deterring a whole continent!


    And Slazer knew the name of this family. In Europe, it was definitely a family no one wanted to mess with!


    Perhaps some had heard of families like the Rothschilds or the Morgans, who were quite famous in Huaxia, as they were said to control a vast amount of European wealth, and some countries wouldn''t dare to provoke these families.


    But only a few knew that these families were merely fostered by the Carreras family. For them, creating such a family was a piece of cake, and to destroy it was just a matter of giving the order, right?


    And now, this family had a master? Their master had come to Europe? If this was the case, does it mean that both the colossal aircraft carrier group and the fighter jet squadrons were all dispatched for this so-called "master"?


    "A master?" Slazer was deep in thought. What did this "master" mean? Was it a person, or an organization? But what kind of existence could make the vast Carreras family bow down? He had reached the limits of his knowledge!


    "You now have two minutes left!" the officer continued.


    "Commander! Only two minutes left, shall we retreat or fight?"


    "Fight? Two hundred ''Typhoon''-class fighters, and you want to take them on with what? With your head? Even our state''s old clunkers aren''t worth a missile from them. Let''s not lose face, return to base immediately!"


    "Yes, heading back immediately!" The fighter pilot couldn''t help but give a wry smile, but there was nothing he could do. Slazer was absolutely telling the truth; for them to stay here would be like eggs striking a stone ¡ª sheer suicide!


    The several dozen fighter jets immediately scattered like chicks fleeing from their mother hen. They didn''t dare stay in this place for even a minute longer!


    "Mr. Zhang, the two squadrons have been chased away by us. We can proceed now. According to the orders from above, we will continue to leave a part of our fighter jets to protect you all the way to your private airport next to Frankfurt Kingdom International Airport."


    "Alright, thank you for your efforts!" Zhang Menglong replied and then shut off the communications channel.


    He glanced outside the window. Most of the fighter jets had left to return to base, leaving a dozen or so still forming a protective circle around them. Though not many, they were definitely a formidable deterrent!


    "What did you just say to them?" Wang Ling asked curiously, "Why did they all leave?"


    "Of course they left because there''s no more trouble. You think they would follow us to Frankfurt to have dinner?" Zhang Menglong explained, "The fight just now was between Morrigo and Leidenburg, and I''ve already driven them away!"


    "Driven them away? Weren''t they scared away and retreated temporarily?"


    "That was the initial case, but since people were already here, I had to mediate, right? I told them if they continued to fight, I would knock all their little crappy jets out of the sky!"


    "This kind of mediation... I''m impressed!" Faced with a formation comprised of hundreds of fighter jets, such a threat would indeed be enough to terrify them. If they dared to continue fighting after that, it wouldn''t just mean they were stubborn¡ªit would mean their commander''s head had surely been caught in a door!


    After a moment of panic, everyone except for Zhang Menglong felt somewhat exhausted. Fortunately, the plane was spacious and comfortable enough, and as everyone dozed off, time flew by and the plane touched down at Zhang Menglong''s private airport before they knew it.


    The airport was not particularly large, and it didn''t house many planes¡ªonly four or five, as neither Zhang Menglong nor his father visited Frankfurt often, so it wasn''t necessary to waste money maintaining the airport and planes.


    "For the upcoming days, you all can go have fun," Zhang Menglong said to the captain and the flight attendants, "You must have had quite a scare this trip. Let''s double the flight mission bonus. I''ll have Hong Yi arrange it later."


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!" Upon hearing about the doubled bonus, all the beautiful flight attendants showed faces full of surprise.


    "Old Zhang, I got a fright too!" Wang Ling said shamelessly.


    "Then go and work on your courage! A grown man, scared like a woman¡ªyou won''t be brought along next time if there''s something this exciting!"


    Zhang Menglong led Wang Ling and the others towards the exit. He had been told by Haigen that he had arranged for his son to wait at the airport.


    Indeed, as soon as they exited the airport, Zhang Menglong saw a line of identical black Bentleys and a middle-aged man emitting an aura of authority standing respectfully. Behind him were more than a dozen men in black suits. Had one not known any better, they might have mistaken the scene for a gathering awaiting a mob boss.


    The moment the middle-aged man saw Zhang Menglong, he showed a look of immense excitement.


    "You must be Mr. Scorolo?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Whoosh!" Scorolo didn''t speak. He made a gesture, and astonishingly, he and the dozen men in black all knelt on one knee. This spectacle took Zhang Menglong by surprise.


    "Old Zhang, who... who are they?"


    "Just some external support I found. He''s the son of a friend of mine."


    "Your friend''s son?" Wang Ling frowned, "Are you sure that''s your friend? His son is twenty years older than us, isn''t he? Why do I feel like they''re all your slaves?"

 Chapter 184 182: The Miracle Reappears

    Kneeling ceremonies like this had long disappeared in this age of advanced civilization, only appearing in traditional Huaxia weddings at most; of course, kneeling for durians or keyboards during courtship did not count.


    Wang Ling paid attention to the expressions of these people. They were incredibly sincere and showed no signs of dissatisfaction or reluctance; kneeling seemed natural to them, almost instinctual.


    "Your ancestor wasn''t an Emperor, was he?" Wang Ling said.


    "I don''t know about that, but I do know that a lot of Emperors have borrowed money from my family," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Menglong, let them get up. They won''t be able to stand the cold," Lu Yiyao said, somewhat distressed. Of course, he was even more curious about Zhang Menglong''s background now¡ªhis influence was enormous, not just in Huaxia but even in Europe.


    As for Wang Ling''s internet celebrity girlfriend, she looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a supernatural being.


    "Oh right, right, right," Zhang Menglong remembered, noticing that these people were still kneeling. Just those few seconds had already drawn quite a bit of attention. Zhang Menglong had primarily come to Europe to have fun, not to become an internet sensation here.


    "My beloved subjects, rise to your... ah, that''s not right. Hurry up and get up, everyone. We''re all one of us. Scorolo, you''re almost as old as my father¡ªit''s not suitable."


    "Everyone, get up," Scorolo said, "Young master, in your presence, we dare not claim seniority. It is only right for us to kneel to you. It is also our ancient family rule that anyone who dares to be disrespectful to you will be expelled from the Dorellas family and even face severe punishment."


    "What kind of punishment?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Being deprived of all economic support from the Dorellas family, only able to receive a monthly allowance of twenty thousand Euros up until death!" Scorolo said, as if spitting out something extremely distasteful.


    "Fuck!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help swearing. Twenty thousand Euros a month? That kind of income would almost be considered wealthy in Huaxia, and it was considered "welfare" in their Dorellas family?


    But from this, Zhang Menglong also gained some understanding of the power of the Dorellas family. They were not just powerful enough to mobilize all of Europe''s military resources; their economic power was also unbelievably strong.


    "By the way, Scorolo, I heard your father isn''t doing well? Is he alright?" Zhang Menglong asked, since they worked diligently for his family. He couldn''t let them be disheartened.


    "Thank you for your concern, young master. My father was supposed to personally receive you today, but because of his advanced age and poor health, he can only get around in a wheelchair, so he sent me in his place. I hope you won''t blame him."


    "It''s good enough that he has the intention," Zhang Menglong said. "It''s nothing serious, is it?"


    "It''s just stomach cancer, a minor issue," said Scorolo calmly.


    "Oh, so it''s just stomach cancer," Zhang Menglong''s expression changed, "What? Stomach cancer? Just that? What kind of son are you?"


    Scorolo looked wronged. It was just stomach cancer; sure, conventional medicine couldn''t cure it, but for them, it was only a bit more troublesome than a regular cold. Didn''t Zhang Menglong know that?


    However, seeing Zhang Menglong''s angry expression, Scorolo realized that Zhang Menglong seemed to be almost completely unaware of certain things. He suddenly remembered that Zhang Menglong had only recently inherited the family power from his father. It was said that Zhang Xiaoyun had never revealed the true strength of their family in front of Zhang Menglong, so it was perfectly normal that he was unaware of these things.


    "Young master, rest assured, we can handle these little issues ourselves; you should know by now that there are many very special people in this world," Scorolo said.


    "Very special people?" Zhang Menglong''s mind immediately went to Ye Yin; his eyes lit up. Yes, if someone as incredible as Ye Yin could exist, then why not a cure for cancer!


    "Right, from now on, please call me Mr. Zhang. I''m not accustomed to being called young master," seeing Scorolo about to speak, Zhang Menglong quickly added, "That''s an order!"


    "Yes, I understand," Scorolo nodded respectfully.


    "Oh yes, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao; this is my friend Wang Ling and his girlfriend, Li Yuexi."


    "We are aware of the purpose of Mr. Zhang''s visit this time," Scorolo said, "We have already prepared accommodations for you and your friends. During your time in Europe, if there are any problems, you can come to me directly."


    "That would be great, thank you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "It is my duty," Scorolo turned and signaled to someone in black. The person in black handed over a gold envelope, which was actually made of gold, not gold paint!


    "Miss Hong Yi has arranged for you to attend the auction hosted by the Frankfurt Royal Auction House, hasn''t she? This is the top-level admission ticket for that auction. You may bring your friends with you."


    "No way!" Wang Ling snatched the ticket from Zhang Menglong''s hands, "I''ve heard there are only ten of these, and unless you''re a top-level tycoon, you simply can''t get one!"


    Wang Ling suddenly glanced at Zhang Menglong, and the excitement in his eyes vanished in an instant, "Top-level tycoons are nothing in front of you, kid!"


    "Also, there''s this," Scorolo motioned again, "Hearing that you would be bringing the future mistress, this is a small token from the Scorolo family."


    This time, what was brought over was a tray. Scorolo unveiled the satin cover, and a flash of blue light instantly drew gasps from everyone.


    "The Star of the Ocean!"


    "Is... is this the real Heart of the Ocean?" Wang Ling hurriedly asked.


    Wang Ling knew that although the Heart of the Ocean was an extremely precious gemstone, valued at nearly a hundred million US dollars, to Zhang Menglong this was barely significant. Not long ago, he had people building heating pipelines in the Da Hinggan Mountains; compared to that, a hundred million dollars was a trifle.


    But the most important thing was that the Heart of the Ocean sank with the Titanic into the Atlantic Ocean a long time ago. How could it possibly appear here? That''s just absurd!


    "Scorolo, is this a replica?" Zhang Menglong asked. Such a large blue diamond was rare, but Zhang Menglong knew that he owned many diamond mines and possibly could find a second piece as large as this one. Perhaps Scorolo had it made as a copy? However, that would still be quite thoughtful.


    "No, Mr. Zhang, this is the genuine Heart of the Ocean, not a replica. We salvaged it from the Pacific Ocean, and we hope this precious gemstone will bring you and Miss Lu the most beautiful future!"

 Chapter 185 185: 183 Which kind of princess are you referring to?

    "How is that possible?" Zhang Menglong felt as if he was listening to an incredible legend. The coordinates of the Titanic''s sinking are approximately 41¡ã43''55.66" N, 49¡ã56''45.02" W, at that location, the depth of the seabed is about nearly 4,000 meters.


    Everyone knows that the Titanic was a ship laden with treasures. For a century, countless people have tried to find the trace of the Heart of the Ocean at the bottom of the sea, but all have come up empty-handed.


    One hundred years have passed, and this shipwreck has become a paradise for marine life, with even parts of it buried under the sediments.


    Moreover, the wreckage of the Titanic is quite complex. Even if one knows where it is located, to retrieve it from the wreckage is nearly an inconceivable task, not even ''finding a needle in a haystack'' can describe it without exaggeration.


    "Could it be that they used hundreds of submarines to search for it?" Wang Ling speculated after hearing Zhang Menglong''s translation¡ªafter all, Zhang Menglong had called in more than two hundred fighter jets today, so such a thing could be possible, right?


    "Damn, and you graduated with a master''s degree from overseas? You don''t even know this much physics?" Zhang Menglong said with contempt, "To date, the largest manned submarine has only reached less than a kilometer beneath the sea surface. You think you have what it takes to go down to a depth of 4,000 meters? You''d be squashed into a pile of shit!"


    "I didn''t study physics, why are you hassling me about it!" Wang Ling muttered.


    "It was us who manufactured a large number of unmanned submarines. It took us 17 months to find it from the sediments beneath the Titanic," Scorolo said. "Although our family has benefited from your generosity and managed to nurture a group of Potentialists, their abilities are limited. They can only dive to a depth of around 2,500 meters at most, so we had to resort to this cumbersome method."


    "However, after soaking in the sea for more than a hundred years, many parts have oxidized. We have re-fitted it with diamond accessories¡ªall crafted by the finest artisans to replicate the original pieces."


    Although Scorolo spoke casually, Zhang Menglong could imagine what a grand project it must have been. However, he also garnered some other information from Scorolo''s words: the Carreras family indeed had people like Ye Yin, and possibly in considerable numbers.


    But what did it mean to have benefited from their family''s influence? Zhang Menglong didn''t quite understand that part.


    "We accept this gift, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness," Zhang Menglong said as he took the string of the Heart of the Ocean and promptly put it around Lu Yiyao''s neck. Even though she was only wearing a simple sweater, with the Heart of the Ocean as its setting, she was the most beautiful princess.


    "Very beautiful."


    "This... this thing is too valuable, we should put it away," Lu Yiyao said, finding it hard to believe she was wearing something worth a hundred million US Dollars around her neck. No, even now, its historical significance far exceeded a hundred million!


    "There''s nothing so valuable about it. If it breaks, we''ll just get a new one," Zhang Menglong said, stopping Lu Yiyao''s hands as she tried to take off the necklace.


    "As if, you''re making me die of jealousy here!" Wang Ling turned his head away, he had had his fill of this display of affection.


    As for his girlfriend, the look of envy on her face was nearly solidifying into stone.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s getting quite late. I shall take you to your residence now,"


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded. With such a significant time difference, and after the fatigue of the journey, Zhang Menglong indeed needed to get some sleep as soon as possible to adjust to the time zone. Otherwise, it would be hard to fully enjoy the next few days.


    ...


    Zhang Menglong traveled through the bustling streets of Paris, the capital of the Kingdom of Frankfurt, and arrived at a secluded estate.


    It wasn''t that the estate was located in a remote area, but rather its position was truly extraordinary! Right next to it was the noisy city, yet between them, it seemed there was a clear boundary line, as if a piece of Paris had been distinctly carved out just to build this estate.


    This was an estate filled with European charm, with a total built area that likely exceeded twenty thousand square meters. From a distance, the castle-like structure exuded an aura of luxury and nobility that hit you squarely in the face.


    "This was specially built for your family in the 18th century. Apart from those surnamed Zhang, no one else is qualified to live here. Although it is empty most of the time, it is cleaned daily, so you don''t have to worry about any problems," Carreras said.


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong nodded satisfactorily.


    "Not bad? Just not bad? I''ve never set foot in a castle like this in my whole life!" Wang Ling said, his eyes shining with envy.


    "Strange, why do I feel so uncomfortable?" The moment Zhang Menglong walked into the castle, he felt as if he was being targeted by many gazes.


    He glanced around and saw that all the maids¡ªwhether they were sweeping, wiping the walls, serving tea, or tending to the potted plants¡ªwere secretly watching him.


    "Old Zhang, the quality of the maids in your estate is just too good," Wang Ling said with a sly gleam in his eye as he looked over a passing maid. Her skin was fair, her figure tall and graceful, and her beauty was breathtaking. Most strangely, she carried a particularly noble air, an aura that should not belong to a maid.


    "Could it be that the selection criteria for your maids are on the level of Miss World?" Wang Ling joked.


    Zhang Menglong translated Wang Ling''s words to Scorolo.


    Scorolo chuckled, "Actually, they aren''t maids, but princesses."


    "What? All are princesses?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg, "Wait, are you talking about the kind of ''Princess'' you find at a KTV, or some other kind of princess?"


    Scorolo laughed, amused by Zhang Menglong''s humor, "Mr. Zhang, of course, they are princesses from the European royal families. The other kind of ''princess'' you mentioned wouldn''t be qualified to enter your estate, would they?"


    "What the hell? Princesses work as maids in your home?" Wang Ling was practically jumping up and down, cursing in disbelief. While he was thinking about how to find a couple more internet celebrity beauties to be his girlfriends, here was a group of princesses working as maids in Zhang Menglong''s estate.


    Could they get any more Versailles than this? This was just ridiculous! Even if Zhang Menglong''s family was wealthy, wasn''t this a bit too exaggerated? They didn''t care about their status or losing face?


    "This... Scorolo, can you explain this to me?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Could we get a translator?" Wang Ling raised his hand, having hardly understood a word since setting foot on the Continent, apart from what Zhang Menglong had translated for him.


    "Are you sure you want to hear it?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile. Although he did not know why all these princesses had come to work as maids in his estate, he was certain that revealing this would be no less shocking than the economic crisis his grandfather had caused.


    "It''s just more of a shock, right? I can take it! It''s unbearable not to understand; it makes me too anxious!" Wang Ling said.


    "Since you wish to hear it, I shall tell you," Scorolo gestured, and a subordinate proficient in the Huaxia language immediately approached them, "As for this matter, we might have to start with your grandfather..."

 Chapter 186 184: Committing Evil Acts

    "My grandfather again?" Zhang Menglong had never seen his grandfather from birth to the present, and in his mind, his grandfather was merely a person from a black-and-white photograph.


    Back then, his grandfather was only in his twenties, bearing a face almost identical to Zhang Menglong''s own, but compared to Zhang Menglong''s reckless disposition, his grandfather at that age exuded more maturity and steadiness.


    "Your grandfather was an incredible man!" Scorolo said, "You should know, your grandfather once created an economic crisis that swept the entire world, a crisis that almost set back the global economy by decades."


    Zhang Menglong nodded, understanding from the words of the world''s wealthiest man that his grandfather had done these things to force those people to return the national treasures and cultural relics that had been looted from Huaxia, and clearly, his methods had worked.


    "Do you know how much that affected Europe?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, finding such annoying history the hardest to recall, "Anyway, I just know they all fell apart."


    "To quantify it, England''s unemployment rate exceeded 70%, millions of people lost their jobs, a vast amount of raw materials accumulated, and the money originally intended for military buildup vanished due to inflation. The weaponry and equipment amassed in Europe at that time were sufficient to launch a half-world-war-scale conflict!"


    "But what does that have to do with my grandfather!" Zhang Menglong asked, "If they all went bankrupt, isn''t that the end of it?"


    "It''s not that simple!" Scorolo said, "Many of the national treasures that ended up abroad were bought by private collectors, so a significant portion of those items are not in the hands of the state. Therefore, merely through the economic crisis, your grandfather only managed to recover a third of the lost treasures."


    "Then what happened?"


    "Then the bloodiest era in European history emerged, an era that lasted only two months, but it was enough to strike terror into the whole of Europe. Even the bloody era of those two months was never recorded in history!"


    "Have you heard of it?" Zhang Menglong asked Wang Ling, "Aren''t you an arts student? You must be good at history."


    Wang Ling shook his head, "I told you it wasn''t recorded in history, how would I know anything!"


    "Please continue," Zhang Menglong said.


    "During that time, those nations'' entire focus was on stabilizing their national economies, how could they afford to help your grandfather find the cultural relics lost among the populace? So, to compel them to concentrate on searching, your grandfather did something."


    Zhang Menglong blinked at Scorolo, waiting.


    "He, alone, bought up all the pile of unsaleable weapons and equipment in Europe at the time¡ªairplanes, tanks, artillery, guns... That was equipment sufficient to arm the largest military nation of the time four times over!"


    "Did he use it to fight people?" Zhang Menglong asked in astonishment.


    "Exactly!" Scorolo said, "By then, your grandfather was already wealthy enough to rival nations, and he easily recruited a huge army in Europe, an army large enough to flatten Europe!"


    "Damn! This is..."


    Within two months, this army swept through all of Europe''s military empires; they didn''t harm ordinary civilians because they didn''t need to fight. Wherever they went, even the mightiest nations declared unconditional surrender!


    "That''s true!" Zhang Menglong remembered it was a time when people could neither get enough food nor sufficient clothing, with countless individuals starving to death every day. Even the military forces probably weren''t faring much better.


    His grandfather''s troops must have been treated to fine wine and hearty meals, but those who came to fight probably looked like starving refugees.


    Without enough food, it was even less likely for them to expand their military arsenal. The armies of the entire Europe were probably in a paralyzed state. It was like a fierce tiger rushing into a flock of sheep, a merciless slaughter indeed!


    "Hahaha," Scorolo laughed, "What a pity I wasn''t born in that era. Only my father had the honor of witnessing everything by your grandfather''s side. He said it was the largest war in the world, and also the most merciful. That war conquered the entire European continent, yet not a single person died!"


    "Are you saying my grandfather conquered the whole of Europe?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but stand up. Back in Asia, their family was only known for being rich, but this was entirely different from conquering a continent!


    "Yes!" Scorolo said, "All the countries of Europe announced unconditional subjugation. As long as a member of your family sets foot in any country in Europe, they have the status of an Emperor of the imperial era. So today, at my single word, all the available military forces in Europe have come to escort you."


    "Damn... I''m hearing a fantasy story!" Wang Ling''s mentality completely collapsed. Zhang Menglong''s family had conquered all of Europe? This... This was outrageous!


    At that moment, Scorolo suddenly laughed, "So you can imagine what the birth of you and your father meant for the whole of Europe."


    "This is the birth of Europe''s heir!" Wang Ling outright spoke for Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, when your father was born, the entire Royal Family of Europe queued up hoping to arrange an infant betrothal for your father. Even that night, the Royal Families of Europe started a fierce baby-making campaign; every castle of the Royal Family was almost shaking from the activity!"


    "Hahaha!" Hearing this, Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh out loud. This description was quite apt!


    "The entire Royal Family of Europe used to value males over females, but since then, every Queen who gave birth to a daughter received awards. Although the hopes were slim, there was still a glimmer of hope!"


    "What about when he was born?" Wang Ling pointed at Zhang Menglong and asked.


    "When the young master was born," Scorolo couldn''t help but chuckle, "that year, the Royal Family of Europe even temporarily reinstated polygamy for a short period. That night, the whole of Europe was shaking!"


    "Hahahahaha!" Wang Ling laughed boisterously, slapping his thigh vigorously. The description was exaggerated, but it clearly portrayed the significant impact Zhang Menglong''s birth had on Europe.


    "Let me introduce you," Scorolo said, pointing to a girl who was cleaning vases in front. She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, "She is Princess Irina from Gulregburg, and in their generation, she is ranked 87th!"


    "What the hell!" Zhang Menglong did the math; this Princess was about three or four years younger than him. In just these three or four years, the Emperor of Gulregburg had fathered at least 87 children. Was he acting like a breeding boar?


    "If we calculate the probability of pregnancy, the Emperor would be exhausted to the brink of extinction!"


    "Isn''t that so?" Scorolo laughed, "Their Emperor died of renal failure three years after the birth of Irina. And the female members of their Royal Family, in the hopes of catching your eye one day, have been nurtured since childhood with the finest things to maintain their body and beauty. Their country is now deeply in debt because of this!"


    Listening to this absurd story, Wang Ling couldn''t help shaking his head and sighing, "What a disaster..."

 Chapter 187 185: Rigorously Selecting a Group

    "Zhang Menglong, look what you''ve done to the poor girl?" Wang Ling teased Zhang Menglong with a wink.


    "Rich, powerful, and handsome, is that my fault?" Zhang Menglong retorted, then said to Lu Yiyao, "Yiyi, you can''t blame me for this, I''m innocent!"


    "Yeah, terribly innocent!" Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes at Zhang Menglong.


    "So how many princesses are there exactly?" Wang Ling asked curiously.


    "About a hundred or so, all the purest bloodline princesses from European royalty!" Scorolo replied.


    "Did you arrange this?" Zhang Menglong continued.


    "No, not really," Scorolo shook his head, "This estate has always been managed by top-notch servants and stewards. These princesses are so pampered, I''m afraid they might clumsily ruin your estate, Mr. Zhang!"


    "Then what''s going on?"


    "It''s those European royals!" Scorolo said, both annoyed and amused.


    The Zhang Family had long lived in Huaxia, rarely coming to Europe, and the chances of those princesses catching the eyes of the Zhang Family were practically none, so whenever the Zhang Family came to Europe, as soon as the royal members got the news, it was always a bloody storm!


    When Zhang Menglong''s father first came to Europe, he was supposed to stay in this estate or at least a hotel owned by the Dorrellas family, but for some special reasons, Zhang Xiaoyun ended up in a regular six-star hotel.


    No one knew how the message was leaked, but Zhang Xiaoyun checked in at noon, and when he returned from sightseeing, the entire hotel staff had been replaced, from the receptionist to the cleaning staff, all were extraordinarily beautiful and poised, and Zhang Xiaoyun even thought he had gone to the wrong place.


    Little did he know, those people were all sent by the European royalty. Even that day, the city''s airport couldn''t accommodate one more plane, so the royalty''s late-arriving planes had no runway to slow down.


    It is said that some unscrupulous countries parked their private planes directly on the airport runways just to prevent others from landing. The most outrageous thing was that a few royal families, struck by a sudden idea, actually dropped their princesses directly from the plane through air drop!


    "This is just crazy!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help shaking his head, going all out just to get a chance to see his dad, these people are extreme. Are you sure these are royalty princesses and not special forces operatives?"


    "Then what happened?" Even Zhang Menglong became extremely curious. As far as Zhang Menglong knew, his dad was a total pushover at home. Almost everything was decided by his mom, unless at that time Zhang Xiaoyun wasn''t married yet, otherwise he''d have ended up on his knees at the keyboard even if he had done nothing!"


    "Hehe," Scorolo laughed, "At that time, your father Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun was still single. From what I recall, that hotel had at least 500 women sneak in that day, half of them bearing the title of princess, and the rest were all of noble and extraordinary status as well, at least in the eyes of commoners."


    "So what happened?"


    "Your father was only 20 years old at that time, not yet as old as you are now, and he was still a..." Scorolo winked at Zhang Menglong, who quickly got the drift.


    "Hahaha, old Zhang, isn''t this your family''s tradition? Still that at twenty? When I was sixteen, I was already known in our school as the Silver Spear Little Overlord, I..."


    "Shut up, I''m not that disgusting!" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully.


    "Many princesses have come knocking, hoping to spend a wonderful night with Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun, but he rejected them all, including Princess Louisianna from Europe back then."


    "Louisianna? The most beautiful princess in European history?" Wang Ling exclaimed.


    "Yes, that very princess," Scorolo nodded and smiled, "Princess Louisianna''s charm could topple the whole of Europe. Countless princes from different countries wanted to marry her, even the world''s richest man at the time pursued her, though that was just publicly known wealth."


    "I know that, even now, Princess Anna still ranks first on the list of the top 100 most beautiful women in the world!" In the eyes of someone like Wang Ling, she was truly a goddess!


    "I was accompanying Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun back then, that night, Princess Anna was indeed very charming, and at that time, she was just eighteen."


    "Too nerdy, right?" Wang Ling blurted out in admiration.


    "You swearing again?" Zhang Menglong glared at Wang Ling, "Do you think everyone thinks with their lower body like you do?"


    According to what Zhang Menglong knew, his dad''s character was probably similar to his own, both sought a resonance of the soul, where emotional and spiritual connection had to be established before considering physical matters, otherwise, it was meaningless.


    "That night, those princesses were each using their best skills trying to sneak into Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun''s room," Scorolo recalled the scene as if it were yesterday, "Some disguised themselves as room service, some as cleaning staff, and some even as police officers doing room checks. There were even ones trying to climb in through the windows!"


    "Hahahaha!" Wang Ling laughed heartily. Although he couldn''t see the scene, it must have been spectacular, "Miss Lu, you better keep a close eye on Zhang Menglong tonight; otherwise, I''m afraid he won''t be able to resist!"


    "Mind your business!" Zhang Menglong gave Wang Ling another threatening look.


    "So, Mr. Scorolo, exactly how many princesses are here today?"


    "A total of 128," Scorolo said.


    "That''s too many, way more than your dad!" Wang Ling shook his head with a mocking face.


    "No, Mr. Wang, actually, those princesses arrived in Europe yesterday, and if I''m not mistaken, there were initially 1352 princesses registered? Of course, some were princesses being daughters of princes but still part of the royal bloodline."


    Scorolo wanted to laugh, "The royal families bribed the staff here heavily, trying to switch places to sneak someone in. Turns out, almost every staff member had been bribed, and some even more than once. There were a hundred or so regular staff members, and then ten times as many people showed up!"


    "That''s insane..." Wang Ling clicked his tongue in amazement, "So how come only a little over a hundred are left?"


    "To attend to Mr. Zhang, half of the princesses didn''t qualify, so yesterday, we hastily prepared a qualification contest, strictly filtering from aspects like appearance, figure, bloodline, etc., and only left the final 128."


    "...", Wang Ling was completely speechless, "Are we selecting a janitor or a Miss World here?"

 Chapter 188 186 Is the Emperor Flipping the Plaque?

    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve really missed out big time! Getting involved in a relationship so early, you''ve given up a whole forest for the sake of one tree!" Wang Ling said with a mixture of envy and pity. If it were him, he''d probably have suffered kidney failure by tonight, who could withstand that!


    Each of Wang Ling''s girlfriends, though internet-celebrity-faced, were definitely beauties by Eastern aesthetic standards. But compared to these princesses, not to mention their figures and facial features, their temperament was completely outmatched. Even just standing there, the gaze couldn''t help but be drawn to those princesses in their work clothes.


    The temperaments shaped from childhood cannot be rivaled by those nouveau riches that emerge overnight. Just look at Zhang Menglong, he is clearly the wealthiest person in the world, but he has lived like an ordinary person since childhood. So much so that he still carries a bit of the common touch about him, and who knows what his parents were thinking.


    "You don''t know a thing, what we have is called ''true love'', you are just coveting her body!" Zhang Menglong felt that discussing love with someone like Wang Ling was like playing the lute to a cow.


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be weary from your journey today. Let me take you to your room first," Scorolo, the estate''s butler, gestured. "Fosdick, find someone to show Mr. Zhang''s guests to their rooms."


    "Please follow me, you two," said Fosdick, the middle-aged man, politely to Wang Ling.


    It was indeed quite dark, and Wang Ling had his own plans for the next day, so he went off to rest, cuddling with his girlfriend.


    "Let''s go rest as well," Zhang Menglong said, taking Lu Yiyao''s hand.


    "Follow me, please," Scorolo personally led the way to the elevator for Zhang Menglong and his companion.


    The castle, though a mid-20th-century construction, had undergone multiple renovations and reconstructions, displaying not only Europe''s distinctive historical style but also the breath of modern civilization.


    The castle had a total of eight floors above ground and three below, each floor spanning almost 3,000 square meters. Zhang Menglong still remembered his high school building, which was only four stories tall, indicating just how majestic this building was.


    Zhang Meng didn''t understand why his room was on the very lowest floor. Weren''t the best rooms supposed to be at the top?


    "What are these?" Having reached the third sub-level, Zhang Menglong walked along the brightly lit corridor towards a room at the end.


    On both sides of the corridor, there were densely packed photographs, some in color, but many more in black and white, each filled with marks of history.


    "These are photographs that your grandfather brought with him when he stayed in this fortress, and of course, some were added by your father later on," Scorolo explained.


    "Who are these people?" In some of the photos, besides Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, there were many unfamiliar faces, each one grinning obsequiously, nodding and bowing as if they were the most servile servants.


    "These are some precious moments recorded during your grandfather''s conquest of Europe," Scorolo said. "With each country he conquered, he would have someone capture the moment of submission of the rulers of those lands. There are a total of 52 photographs here."


    "52 photographs?" Zhang Menglong asked in confusion. "I thought during that era, Europe only had about thirty-odd countries and regions. How come there are so many photographs?"


    Zhang Menglong wasn''t great at history, but he had some recollections. Even now, Europe only consisted of just over 40 countries.


    "At that time, there were indeed 52 countries," Scorolo said. "But after your grandfather''s campaign, only 36 remained."


    "No way? Did he annihilate other countries? Wasn''t it said that there were no casualties in that battle?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt uneasy. If his grandfather was that kind of dictator, it was simply too terrifying.


    It''s one thing to do extraordinary things when you have wealth and power, but there have to be some lines you don''t cross. Even if those countries had infringed upon Huaxia, at least the people were innocent, and not every soldier committed unforgivable acts.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve misunderstood," Scorolo quickly clarified. "Destroying a country doesn''t necessarily mean killing people."


    "Then how is it done?" This touched upon Zhang Menglong''s knowledge blind spot. How could entire nations be erased from history without killing anyone?


    "At that time, there were indeed stubborn countries that were unwilling to surrender, but your grandfather was not a bloodthirsty man. So, he came up with some very unique methods."


    "What methods?"


    "What do you think is most important to a country?" Scorolo asked.


    "The national flag, some iconic buildings, and some aspects of culture," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "Yes, so your grandfather destroyed those things in those countries," Scorolo explained, "He charged right into the political centers of those countries with planes and tanks, then forcibly took everyone out, and afterward with bombs and tanks, he directly demolished their national institutions!"


    "I... I''m flabbergasted..." Zhang Menglong admitted that in terms of imagination and creativity, there were definitely few in the world who could compare to his grandfather. Such audacious moves were truly inconceivable!


    "Have you heard about the burning of books and burying of scholars?"


    "Hmm, after Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he did that." Zhang Menglong knew this basic historical fact.


    "Your grandfather burned all the law codes of those countries, leaving only the originals as his own collection. A nation that loses its national institutions and those documents has already had its belief system half-collapsed."


    "But there are still people left. As long as there are people, none of this is a problem; everything can start over."


    "Coincidentally, at that time, your grandfather found a coal mine in Africa that needed a lot of coal miners..."


    "My grandfather didn''t send those stubborn leaders off to Africa to dig coal, did he?" Zhang Menglong had already guessed the outcome.


    "Yes, that''s exactly what happened," Scorolo said, suddenly feeling somewhat helpless. Why did the ideas of the Zhang Family always seem to give people a figurative slipped disc? Why were they always so outstandingly troublesome?


    Now Zhang Menglong knew why eventually only about thirty countries were left. Without the national institutions, without the legal documents, the belief system had already half-collapsed, and finally, even the leaders were sent to Africa to mine coal. What was the point of such countries'' existence?


    "So, the lands of those countries were slowly annexed, or new independent states were born," Scorolo pointed at a row of photos and said, "These are the presidents sent to mine coal."


    "No wonder they all have such grim faces," Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly.


    "By the way, where''s the toilet?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt an urgent need to relieve his bladder.


    "Go straight ahead for 50 meters, turn left, then another 20 meters, then right turn, and about 30 meters more, and you''ll be there."


    "... I suspect everyone here has developed kidney stones from holding it in. With such a big house, would it kill you to build a few more toilets?" Zhang Menglong hurried toward the toilet.


    "This..." Scorolo was at a loss for words. He hadn''t even finished speaking. Zhang Menglong''s room also had a toilet; it was just at the end of the corridor. Why was he in such a rush?


    "Phew! Refreshing!" Zhang Menglong shook off his body. Listening to stories here was like a test for the bladder. Although these stories were both smelly and long, one truly felt uncomfortable not hearing them to the end.


    But just as Zhang Menglong stepped out of the toilet, he was immediately taken aback.


    There stood a row of women at the toilet door, at least twenty or so. By their looks, they seemed to be those princesses from the European royal families.


    "What... what are you going to do?" Seeing this display, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but take a few steps back.


    "Respected Mr. Zhang, this is the key to my room. I am in room 27. During your time in Europe, I hope I can have the pleasure of spending a delightful night with you."


    "This..." Zhang Menglong instinctively took the key, which carried a faint fragrance.


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Clark Stiller, I''m in room 79, and I await your presence at any time."


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Sahir, and I... I can do anything... I... I''m in room 172."


    ...


    A moment later, Zhang Menglong held more than twenty keys in his hand.


    "Holy shit..." Zhang Menglong looked at these keys and laughed ruefully, "This is practically asking me to play Emperor and choose my concubines!"

 Chapter 189 187 Weld the Door Shut for Me

    "Why did you take so long? Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Yiyao asked with concern.


    "You might not believe this, but when I walked out of the restroom, I was immediately surrounded by twenty or thirty women, and they even invited me to their rooms for tea tonight!" Zhang Menglong said, spreading his hands to show a bunch of keys.


    "Hahaha, were you followed to the restroom?" Lu Yiyao laughed gleefully.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you want me to send them all away?" Scorolo noticed that Zhang Menglong was somewhat unhappy.


    "Let it be, it wasn''t easy for them to come here," Zhang Menglong waved his hands, "Just let them stay quietly in their rooms tonight and don''t disturb me. Send them all away tomorrow."


    "Yes, I will arrange for that tomorrow, and will quickly hire a bunch of new domestic staff," Scorolo couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Zhang, are you really not interested in any of those princesses?"


    After finishing, he glanced at Lu Yiyao, "I know that Huaxia does not allow polygamy, but to them, having that status is not important; as long as you agree, though they are princesses, they are willing to become your accessories without a single complaint."


    Social conventions are only meant to restrain ordinary people, but for someone like Zhang Menglong, they are almost meaningless, and nobody would constrain him with societal expectations and conventions, much like many wealthy businessmen who, although legally married to one wife, have many who are willingly their mistresses.


    If Wang Ling were here, she would surely be hopping mad, as having women without responsibilities is not every man''s dream?


    "Some things, without an emotional foundation, are meaningless," Zhang Menglong shook his head. He had never thought about choosing other women after having Lu Yiyao.


    Moreover, to put it plainly, although these princesses came here, did they have feelings for Zhang Menglong? Obviously not, they were merely trying to secure resources for their royal families and their countries. If they could become aligned with Zhang Menglong, supported by the resources of his family, their countries could quickly grow to become the strongest in Europe.


    At the end of the day, it was nothing more than a transaction involving interests and power.


    "Mr. Zhang, you truly make me see you in a new light," Scorolo''s gaze intensified with respect for Zhang Menglong.


    "Click!" After facial recognition, the door to the room opened, and at that moment Zhang Menglong realized why his room was not at the top of this castle but at the lowest level underground!


    In the basement of this castle, it was directly connected to the ocean! Three sides of the room were made of transparent glass, through which one could see shallow sea fish swimming leisurely, immediately reminding him of those underwater-themed hotels!


    "How is this possible? I remember that even though we are by the sea, there should be a distance of five or six hundred meters, right?" Zhang Menglong sincerely admired the room that looked like a piece of art.


    "As long as you have money, there''s not much that can''t be done," Scorolo laughed, "We dug a channel directly under the continent''s plate to connect to the basement of this castle, and it took nearly three years to complete."


    "Awesome!" Though it was somewhat costly and laborious, Zhang Menglong believed that aside from those with a fear of deep waters, no one could resist such a bedroom.


    Not only the surrounding glass, but the floor was also completely transparent, making the room appear as if it were a clear glass room suspended in the ocean.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a tempered glass exterior wall imported from Huaxia, indestructible by even the fiercest fish. We have soundproofed it too, so no sound will disturb your sleep. If you dislike this environment, you can use a switch on the wall to block out the ocean outside using optical effects."


    "To turn a bedroom into something like this, you guys must have used quite a bit of imagination," Zhang Menglong marveled, "This estate must have cost a pretty penny, right?"


    "Yes, the estate isn''t just this castle, but also includes a winery. During its construction, it costs approximately 900 million Euros, and the cost for this bedroom alone amounted to several hundred million Euros. Now, its value should be over 10 billion Euros."


    "It''s a pity to have it sitting here unused, if only I could have it in Huaxia," Zhang Menglong lamented to himself.


    "If Mr. Zhang needs it, I can have Miss Hong Yi build an estate of the exact same scale in Huaxia for you."


    "Forget it, no need. I still want to live an ordinary life."


    Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes nearby, if Zhang Menglong''s life was considered ordinary, then her previous life was really worse off than a beggar''s.


    "Then I''ll head downstairs now. If you need to go anywhere tomorrow, you can just ask the driver. I won''t disturb you any further," Scorolo bowed deeply.


    "Mm, you''ve worked hard today," Zhang Menglong nodded as he shut the room door.


    "Are you very disappointed today? Without me, maybe over a hundred princesses would be serving you in bed!" Lu Yiyao said with a teasing smile.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Lu Yiyao, then suddenly swept her up in his arms, and they lay down on the large bed in a very intimate position, "Then how are you going to compensate me?"


    Lu Yiyao lifted her neck slightly, touching Zhang Menglong''s lips briefly like a dragonfly skimming water.


    "That''s not enough!" Zhang Menglong revealed a mischievously wicked smile, "That might barely even out today, but last time I was in Qingqiu Country, Lee Ji-eun even ran into my room, and I didn''t do anything!"


    "I bet you didn''t dare!" Lu Yiyao''s cheeks flushed red, "If you dare do anything to my goddess, I''ll definitely castrate you!"


    "Quick, tell me, how are you going to compensate me!" Zhang Menglong''s face was almost pressed against Lu Yiyao''s, and his hands were restlessly embracing her waist.


    "Then you figure it out," Lu Yiyao could no longer meet Zhang Menglong''s eyes. She already had a premonition of what was about to happen.


    Seeing Lu Yiyao''s attire as if it was ripe for the picking, if Zhang Menglong still didn''t get the hint, then he might as well stay single for the rest of his life.


    "Then I want you to never be able to leave me for the rest of your life!" Zhang Menglong passionately kissed her trembling lips.


    "Ye Yin, weld the door shut for me, tonight, don''t even let an ant come in!" Zhang Menglong ordered in his mind to Ye Yin, "You know what not to see!"


    "Ye Yin understands!" Zhang Menglong''s mind resonated with Ye Yin''s voice. In an instant, an invisible force enveloped the whole room, and Ye Yin completely blocked off all her perception of the room.


    The fish attracted by the room''s light scattered in fright as if shy from the scene inside, the whole seabed was tranquil...

 Chapter 190 188: The Consequences Are Very Serious

    This evening, Zhang Menglong had directly transformed from a boy to a man, and of course, having enjoyed this pleasure for the first time, they were both up very late, not waking up until after nine the next morning.


    "You sleep a bit more, I''ll go get you breakfast," Zhang Menglong knew that Lu Yiyao probably couldn''t get up today, last night he had practically brought out all he had learned, Mr. Bigwood, Ms. Clearwater...


    "Mhm," Lu Yiyao gently nodded.


    By this time, Wang Ling had already gotten up, planning to go out with his girlfriend, "Old Zhang, want to join us for some fun? There''s plenty of cool stuff to do in Frankfurt, bring your girlfriend along too!"


    "You guys go ahead, we''re not going out today, she''s feeling a bit under the weather," Zhang Menglong decisively declined.


    "Under the weather? Ohhhhh!" Wang Ling was stunned for a moment and then quickly caught on, "Damn, don''t tell me the two of you just..."


    "What''s with all the questions? Get lost!" Zhang Menglong said irritably.


    "Hahaha, going right now, right now," Wang Ling laughed lecherously, "You''re quite the fighter, huh? Can''t even get out of bed, I''m impressed, man!"


    Watching Wang Ling''s retreating figure, Zhang Menglong silently cursed him as a scoundrel.


    It wasn''t until the evening that Lu Yiyao felt a bit better, although still a little uncomfortable, but she could still walk, after all, she didn''t want Zhang Menglong to stay and waste time just to keep her company.


    "Let''s go shopping!" Lu Yiyao suggested, "I heard that Parisiaga released a new pair of shoes, and they''re sold out back home recently; I don''t know if I can find them in Frankfurt."


    "Since when do you like luxury goods?" Zhang Menglong laughed, he had also heard about the new Parisiaga shoes that were retailing for 8888, supposedly they were being sold for hundreds of thousands back home, and in this era, those who flipped sneakers were making a fortune.


    Zhang Menglong, however, had never been interested in such things; those ordinary luxury goods were considered low-level in his family, and the clothes made by his own studio were all more expensive, of course, both in terms of style and comfort, they simply couldn''t be compared to those mass-produced luxury goods.


    "Not me," Lu Yiyao said, "It''s Qianqian and the others who want me to bring back a couple of pairs for them. So here I am, might as well take this chance to tour the capital of Frankfurt and experience the spirit of this city of art."


    "Alright, then let''s check out the Champs-Elysees shopping street!"


    ...


    As the busiest place in the whole of Frankfurt, the Champs-Elysees is bustling like a festival every day. On both sides of the street, you can see boutiques and headquarters of internationally famous luxury brands. And because of the "personal shopper" profession in Huaxia, many people from Huaxia could be seen coming and going here.


    Beyond that, for many tour groups from Huaxia, this is also a must-visit spot.


    "There are so many people from Huaxia here!"


    "Well, with the New Year approaching, those who have time and money to spend naturally want to come here for fun before the holiday," Zhang Menglong replied.


    Zhang Menglong suddenly stopped in his tracks and his smile stiffened, "This can''t be the Parisiaga store, can it?"


    Zhang Menglong pointed to the long queue ahead and was speechless, feeling like it was almost on the scale of China''s bond issue queues decades ago. There were at least a couple of hundred people lined up outside the Parisiaga store, and there were even security guards maintaining order around it.


    "I heard that today the store will have 2000 pairs of the new shoes on sale. If we miss out now, who knows how long we''ll have to wait for the next restock, if not now, when?"


    Lu Yiyao sighed, "Looks like I can''t help them out this time!"


    "Hey, are you pretending I don''t exist?" Zhang Menglong raised his hand and waved it in front of Lu Yiyao, "What''s so difficult about buying two pairs of shoes? If it really comes down to it, I''ll just buy Parisiaga, and you can have as many pairs of shoes as you want!"


    "Who does it like you do!" Lu Yiyao laughed playfully, "It''s not necessary for just two pairs of shoes."


    "No problem, just tell me Qianqian''s shoe size, and I''ll have Scorolo fetch two pairs," Zhang Menglong smiled, knowing that if he wanted, he could have his pick of the princesses across Europe, so what was a couple of pairs of shoes anyway?


    "Heehee, I knew I could rely on you the most!" Lu Yiyao hugged Zhang Menglong''s arm and hopped like a little girl, but a sharp pain quickly contorted her face in agony.


    "Are you okay?" Zhang Menglong asked with concern.


    "All because of you!" Lu Yiyao blushed and chastised, "Don''t you know how to be gentle and considerate? You were so rough last night."


    "Hehehe, the first time, no experience, next time for sure!"


    "Next time for sure my ass! You''ve been hanging out on B-station too much!"


    "Shall I carry you on my back?"


    "That''s what I''ve been waiting to hear!"


    Zhang Menglong bent down, and Lu Yiyao lightly leapt onto his shoulders.


    The two laughed and talked as they passed the long line, attracting envious and resentful glares from some single folks, while some older Frankfurt locals seemed to see reflections of their own youthful romances in the couple.


    "Why are you treating us like this? They were the ones who cut the line first, they were the ones who started the fight, why can''t we go in?"


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong heard an angry voice, not in authentic Frankfurt language, but with a coarse Huaxia accent.


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but stop and look in the direction of the sound.


    It was a young Huaxia couple, looking to be about the same age as Zhang Menglong. Judging by their attire, they seemed to be tourists in Frankfurt as well.


    The two were in the middle of the queue, surrounded by five or six local thugs, almost all beefy young men, and there was a security guard maintaining order.


    The girl hid behind the guy, who had a bright red handprint on his face¡ªif Zhang Menglong wasn''t mistaken, it was the handiwork of those local fellows.


    "Menglong, should we go and check it out? There seems to be trouble over there."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong''s smile had mostly disappeared, regardless of the cause, the Huaxia couple were clearly at a disadvantage. In a foreign land, coming from Huaxia, if they didn''t stick together in such a scenario, it would be heartless indeed.


    "Please leave this place, you low educated people. You are not welcome here!" the Barisican security guard told the young couple.


    "I told you! We were the ones queuing here, we didn''t disturb the order, it was these people who wanted to cut in. My girlfriend couldn''t stand it and spoke up, and then they started getting physical. Do you see the slap mark on my face? They are the ones who hit me! If you must expel someone, it should be them!"


    The young Huaxia man accused angrily, but the local Frankfurt thugs seemed unconcerned and kept chatting and laughing among themselves.


    "You must have used too provocative language. This is just a little conflict during queuing, but hitting people is not right!" The security guard still looked impatient.


    "Damn! What the hell? Picking on Huaxia people?"


    "This security guard is in cahoots with them! I just saw it, it was clearly the five of them beating up one guy, and that security guard came over and restrained the young chap first, turning a blind eye to those who were hitting him."


    "What''s going on?" At this point, a middle-aged man who looked like a supervisor came out.


    The security guard rattled off something, and the middle-aged man''s gaze turned quite unfriendly towards the young people.


    "Today, because of the disruptive behavior of the Huaxia people, this shop will deny entry to all Huaxia!" the middle-aged man said, then turned back to the shop.


    "What? On what grounds?"


    "Us causing trouble? Bullshit! Are your eyes planted in your asshole?"


    "Fuck! I''m so mad! Capture this! Post it online!"


    "Don''t want to buy? Don''t care, I don''t give a damn anymore!"


    "Crack!" Zhang Menglong roughly grasped the situation, his fists creaking from how tightly he was clenching them, astonished to witness such an outrageous incident.


    "This is utterly disgusting!" Zhang Menglong''s breathing grew heavy with rage, and even his blood began to surge to his brain, "Messing with Huaxia people has serious consequences!"

 Chapter 191 189: I heard they only serve locals.

    "We do not need uncivilized customers; Huaxia people are banned from participating in the launch of our new product line!" Before long, a brand-new billboard was placed at the entrance of Barisjia.


    Although the sign was written in the language of Calanque, with so many Huaxia people around, there were always a few who understood the language of Frankfurt. Word of mouth quickly spread, and soon everyone knew exactly what the words on the billboard meant.


    However, at this moment, the same few Frankfurt troublemakers who had instigated the incident walked out of the store, laughing and talking, each even carrying the newly launched shoes in their hands.


    As if to show off, they raised their shopping bags at the couple who had been involved in the earlier altercation, and their faces displayed not only arrogance but also blatant mockery.


    In an instant, this provoked the anger of all the nearby Huaxia people. They had all been queuing in an orderly fashion; not only did they experience local people cutting in line, but when the conflict occurred, the first to be held down was the young Huaxia man.


    Note that it was "held down," not "stopped"! Some bystanders said that the security guard, without hesitation, forcibly pushed the young man who had been hit to the ground.


    And now, there they were, civilized people queuing up, being blocked from the entrance, while the real culprits were invited inside and even managed to buy what they wanted¡ªit was simply the most absurd thing in the world!


    "It''s fine. If Barisjia doesn''t care, then we will take our complaints to the management of Xiangxe''er Spring Plaza!" A few indignant Huaxia people marched towards the management hall with great momentum.


    Barisjia''s store was located inside Xiangxe''er Spring Plaza. Many consumer conflicts that couldn''t be resolved at the store were usually taken straight here for mediation.


    "Alright, you people have no discipline. This place is filled with your countrymen; your evidence has no persuasion, just colluding together. Please leave; we still have work to do!"


    However, from the management, they received such a response.


    After all, they were in a foreign country, and despite exhausting all methods, no one would take care of the matter. The nearest embassy was far away, and they just couldn''t find anyone to come and maintain order.


    Soon, everyone gradually dispersed, but this matter would not end here. The Huaxia people of today were not so easily bullied!


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao witnessed the whole process from the side. The expressions on their faces turned ugly, and even Zhang Menglong had to restrain himself several times from rushing forward.


    On a few occasions, he even wanted to directly call for a bomber squadron, or summon a tank brigade, to just crush this damned place to dust!


    "It seems my grandfather was too lenient back then; he only scared them, not frightened them into submission!" Zhang Menglong''s cold laughter usually indicated he was angry.


    "These people, do they have a problem with their brains?" Lu Yiyao said. "Our Huaxia is a major luxury consumer country. This Barisjia gets over 40% of its annual turnover from us Huaxia people. Aren''t they afraid of no one buying their stuff if they offend us?"


    "Haha," Zhang Menglong gave another cold laugh. "It''s useless. How many boycotts have there been that lasted until the end? It always ends with a letter of apology, finding a couple of scapegoats, and then as time passes, it''s forgotten. The most this will amount to is a slightly more serious case, but after at most half a year, it will be back to business as usual, because after all, we live in a society where interests come first."


    "So we just let it go?" Lu Yiyao was immediately frustrated.


    "Of course not!"


    "You''re not thinking of launching a takeover or something, are you?" Knowing Zhang Menglong''s character, that was all Lu Yiyao could think of now.


    "Takeover? I only acquire things of value; why would I want to buy trash," Zhang Menglong hadn''t even considered buying Barisjia, let alone Xiangxe''er Plaza. It was just a real estate group, with assets not even a tenth of Tenghui Group''s.


    What''s crucial is, perhaps this piece of land belonged to Zhang Menglong''s family. After all, his grandfather had signed quite a few unequal treaties when he pounded his way through Europe, and this was also a case of giving them a taste of their own medicine.


    "I suddenly have a bold idea!" Excitement lit up Zhang Menglong''s face suddenly.


    "Spill the beans!" Lu Yiyao knew that when Zhang Menglong had that expression on his face, someone was about to be unlucky, and it wasn''t just physical torture, but a double whammy of physical and mental torment. Nobody could guess just how many wicked ideas Zhang Menglong had up his sleeve.


    "They think locals are the most important, right?" Zhang Menglong whispered into Lu Yiyao''s ear, "I heard that they''re only releasing half of the shoes today, which means tomorrow is definitely going to be just as busy. So I..."


    "Hahaha! You''re really too wicked!" After hearing Zhang Menglong''s plan, even Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but laugh until she toppled over.


    ...


    "I''m so angry I could die! This is fucking bullying!" When Zhang Menglong returned to their accommodation, Wang Ling also stormed back, boiling with rage. His face was red as a liver.


    "What happened to you? Did you get into a fight?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Haven''t you heard about the Balisjia incident?" Wang Ling gulped down some water furiously, "Do they still think it''s the 19th century or what? Are we Huaxia people that easy to bully?"


    "Look, they even have the nerve to post an announcement on their official website, blaming today''s incident on Huaxia tourists provoking other customers. It''s like the pot calling the kettle black!"


    "And they''re saying they''ll continue to open sales to Huaxia tourists after regrouping tomorrow!" Wang Ling was so angry he felt like smashing his phone, "Do you know why? 500 pairs of shoes, nearly ten thousand Huaxia currency a pair, without us Huaxia people, they couldn''t even sell 300!"


    "Damn, are they treating us like easy marks? Fools with too much money?" Hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt his worldview starting to crumble. Could the people of Balisjia be any more shameless?


    "The internet is exploding with rage now!" Wang Ling continued, "But do you believe it? Tomorrow, those spineless, money-grubbing jerks will still line up to buy the shoes. I''m so pissed I want to take my 40-meter great sword and chop them one by one!"


    "Calm down for a moment," Zhang Menglong soothed Wang Ling''s agitated mood.


    "I can''t calm down!" Wang Ling snapped back, "Old Zhang, we can''t let this slide! You''ve got to think of a way to vent this anger! Buy them out and fire all those top-level execs involved!"


    "Look, everyone on Weibo is tagging you!" Wang Ling opened his phone, and indeed, in many of the hot topics, people were calling for Zhang Menglong.


    "Boss Zhang, after your triumph at Qingqiu last time, you must stand for justice once again!"


    "Fuck! I can''t take it anymore, Boss Zhang, give them an economic crisis, show them your might!"


    "Boss Zhang, mighty is our Huaxia! Oli give!"


    ...


    "No, that''s still not satisfying enough. Go tell Scorolo to find yesterday''s aircraft carrier fleet and blast this place to smithereens!"


    "Who does business like this?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "There are plenty of jerks, but hurting the innocent isn''t great, and do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am someone who can hold in anger and endure?"


    "Hahaha, I knew it, you always have some bad plan up your sleeve!" Wang Ling finally cracked a smile, "So, do you need my help with anything? I''ll put up 10 million!"


    "You don''t need to pay," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "I''ll take you somewhere in a bit, and you''ll soon find out!"


    Just then, Scorolo walked in, "Mr. Zhang, everything is ready. Shall we head out now?"


    "Yes, let''s go now!"

 Chapter 192 190: Every One of Them is Talented Here

    The sky gradually darkened as the plane landed on a solitary island in the center of the Mediterranean. The island was about the size of a small county, but it held only a solitary white building.


    "What place is this? Are you taking me to explore a haunted house in the middle of the night?" Wang Ling suddenly felt rather uneasy as the lonely island in the sea led him to nothing good.


    "You''ll know soon enough," Zhang Menglong continued to tease Wang Ling.


    Soon, above the building, Wang Ling finally saw the full view of the structure, which resembled a large prison. It was surrounded by high walls, like a city sealed tight on all sides, with even guards patrolling back and forth.


    "Secret military base? You''re not planning to stage a terror attack, are you?"


    "Attack? Please, let''s keep it civil!" Zhang Menglong said. "Do you really think I''m the kind who resorts to violence at the slightest disagreement?"


    "You are!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes. He could never forget Zhang Menglong''s hardcore mediation from yesterday; the guy was truly capable of anything.


    "Hmm, not right, red crosses? Is this the European headquarters of the Crusades?"


    "Crusades my foot! Haven''t you ever seen a hospital?"


    "Huh?" Wang Ling was immediately baffled. "Why are you bringing me to a hospital? To reserve beds for those people in advance?"


    "Reserve my foot!" Zhang Menglong cursed. "If I were really going to act, I''d be digging graves for them directly, not wasting global resources on beds!"


    "So why are we at a hospital? And why build it in such a godforsaken place? Who would send their sick here for treatment? There''s not even a dock here!"


    "This is a psychiatric hospital!" Zhang Menglong chuckled. "The largest and most dangerous psychiatric hospital in the world!"


    "Your family sure does own a lot of businesses, even a psychiatric hospital," Wang Ling said, speechless.


    "Hahaha, this psychiatric hospital originally wasn''t mine. It came from a friend surnamed Fang. Our elders have a good relationship. I just mentioned it casually, and he immediately gifted it to me."


    The plane landed outside the thick gates, and it was only then that Wang Ling clearly saw the name of the hospital.


    Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital European Branch.


    "Good grief, it''s just a branch, how awesome must the main hospital be!"


    "The main hospital is located at the border between Huaxia and Russia, around ten times bigger than this place. I''ll take you there sometime," Zhang Menglong laughed, leading the way towards the thick hospital walls.


    "As a sane person, visiting a psychiatric hospital would indeed make me seem crazy!" Wang Ling muttered, reluctantly following Zhang Menglong inside.


    The massive electronic gates slowly slid to the sides, revealing a huge courtyard probably meant for airing the psychiatric patients.


    "Mr. Zhang, this European branch handles over seventeen thousand severe cases, but many of them are highly aggressive. Usually, they are divided into ten batches for airing each day."


    "They''re highly aggressive?" Wang Ling shivered, now understanding why the place resembled an impenetrable prison.


    "Mr. Wang, no need to worry. The patients are all in their rooms now, and there are staff on duty 24/7 here. There won''t be any incidents."


    "That''s good," Wang Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The group walked into the building housing the wards, where each patient had their own room, especially since these dangerous individuals could become overly aggressive.


    As they passed the first room, its occupant wore a uniform marked with the "Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital European Branch" logo. His hair looked like it hadn''t been cut in years, and behind him, pinned to a 20 cm wide, 2-3 cm thick plank, were several lines of crooked Huaxia characters.


    "Mysterious... Mystical Measures?"


    "Emperor Huntian, do you dare to dismount and fight?" The moment he saw Zhang Menglong and the others, the patient fiercely grabbed the plank, "Take this, Xiao Yan''s ''Flame Splitting Tsunami''!"


    "Fuck! What the hell is this?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling simultaneously took three steps back. The patient was clearly European, but he was speaking Huaxia and even referenced ''Battle Through the Heavens''!


    "This patient was originally a devoted fan of Huaxia''s fantasy novel ''Battle Through the Heavens,'' and he even taught himself the Huaxia language to understand this work better," a doctor in a white coat came over and said.


    "Who is this?"


    "Hello Director Zhang, I am the chief physician of the hospital. You can just call me Ropes."


    "Pfff!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh out loud, "Hahaha, Director! The director of a psychiatric hospital!"


    "Is there a problem?" Ropes did not understand why Wang Ling was laughing, "Director Fang has already transferred all the hospitals into Mr. Zhang''s name, so Mr. Zhang is naturally the director of this hospital now."


    "Never mind him, keep going!" Zhang Menglong said, "How did this patient end up like this?"


    "Studying the novel until he lost his mind. He was originally a chemistry student, then he started teaching himself Alchemy, and ate something that damaged his brain. That''s one thing; later, Huaxia turned this novel into a TV series, and perhaps this terrible TV series was what pushed the patient over the edge. According to his family, he was muttering ''Dou Qi becoming horses'' and then completely lost his mind."


    "Damn, this TV series really does harm!"


    "Isn''t that the truth!"


    Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling both mourned for this patient silently.


    "Why do you not kneel when you see Us?" As they moved to the next ward, there was another patient with a noodle box on his head.


    "What the hell is up with this guy?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Ah, this patient is a poor soul, tricked by a conman from Huaxia who pretended to be the reincarnation of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, swindled out of his money and home. Later his wife and kids left with someone else, and he went insane," the doctor explained.


    "Damn it..."


    "For the tribe! Orcs will never be slaves!"


    "This patient is a loyal Warcraft player, but for several years, their national team couldn''t qualify for the world championship, and couldn''t handle the disappointment, leading to a mental breakdown."


    ...


    "Look, this is the Five Continuous Lightning Whips I just learned! Hahaha, call Xiao Yan to fight with me, this time I will definitely break his Buddha''s Fury Lotus!"


    "This patient was a disciple of Ma Baoguo, almost treating him like a deity and his faith, and after knowing Ma Baoguo was a fraud, he lost his mind."


    ...


    "Three days and three nights, in the dead of night..."


    "You despise the broken, and you abandoned me..."


    "There is Ultraman in this world, that summer, I too became light!"


    "I''m Iron Man!"


    "Overthrow human tyranny, the world belongs to Three-Body!"


    ...


    Indeed, as they walked along, there wasn''t a single patient who was even remotely normal.


    "Hmm? This patient seems rather normal, not exhibiting bizarre behavior like the others," Zhang Menglong noticed in one of the wards, a patient standing cautiously in a corner in silence.


    "Director, he is actually cosplaying Harry Potter. Right now, he probably thinks he''s wearing an Invisibility Cloak," the physician Ropes explained, "Did you see the chopsticks tucked into his pants? That''s his magic wand."


    "Damn... each and every one here is a character!"

 Chapter 193 191: Organize a Team Building for Them

    "Mr. Zhang, why have you brought us to the psychiatric hospital? Are you planning to turn all those people into lunatics before admitting them here?"


    "I really don''t have that kind of idle pain. If they went mad, I would have to support them here for the rest of my life. What a loss for me!"


    "So you want to..."


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong grinned mischievously, "These patients are always cooped up in this place. It''s not good for their health. They need to get out and breathe some fresh air, right? I plan to organize a team-building event for them at Sheryl Springs. What do you think?"


    "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but give a thumbs up.


    Don''t these people look down on them? Aren''t they biased towards the natives of Europe? Well, let the natives patronize their own shops this time; there wouldn''t be any reason not to, right?


    Europe, after all, holds human rights in high esteem, and psychiatric patients have rights too. Even if they are ill, it does not justify restricting their personal freedom. If they want to go shopping, how can they be refused service?


    "By the way, Ropes, how many people in this hospital are nationals of the Kingdom of Frankfurt?"


    "Hmm, I don''t have the data right here, but there are over 700 people. You''d have to ask the hospital''s records administrator for the exact numbers," Ropes answered.


    "No problem, a rough figure is good enough," Zhang Menglong said. "That settles it then. It''s inconvenient to have too many people. Tomorrow, let''s start by organizing a team-building event for these folks."


    "However, these people are so severely ill that they probably can''t even enter the city!" Ropes said. "They are kept in this hospital because they have lost their sense of self, so human rights laws can''t restrict them. But for such a dangerous group, European nations also have policies in place; they can''t just watch these people wreak havoc in the city."


    "Then how can they get in?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "This hospital was established to treat and isolate severe cases. From the beginning, each country sent a professional psychiatrist to reside here permanently. Only with their signatures can these patients be allowed to go out."


    "That''s troublesome," Zhang Menglong fell into deep thought. This wouldn''t be easy to handle, not something that could simply be resolved with money.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that difficult. As long as they can maintain the clear thinking and conventional logic of a normal person during inspections, that would suffice," Ye Yin''s voice sounded in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    "You make it sound easy. Where''s it so simple to cure a lunatic? And if they were cured and taken out, then what fun would I have left!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the reason these psychiatric patients enter such states is due to external factors like trauma and pathological changes that disrupt their brain structure, affecting certain neural transmission points. But with some special techniques to temporarily normalize their neural transmission points, they can behave like ordinary people again."


    "You have that capability?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed excitedly, "Can you manage it?"


    "Just a small trick. Actually, if I wanted to completely treat their illness, I could do that too, but it''s up to you whether you''d want that or not."


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem!" Zhang Menglong suddenly adopted a solemn tone. "Well, birth, aging, sickness, and death are objective laws of this world. Although we have the capability, we shouldn''t intentionally disrupt its balance."


    "Mr. Zhang, you could just say you don''t want to!"


    "Do you have to talk so much?" If Zhang Menglong could have spoken, he would have already started cursing, but if he really did, he might end up being the one sent in.


    "After this thing is over, just treat them a bit. After making such a great contribution, I, Zhang Menglong, am not a stingy person."


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, I will arrange it when the time comes."


    "Ropes, go and call the doctors here, gather all the patients from the Kingdom of Frankfurt at the front plaza, and then go check with the person in charge appointed by Frankfurt. I''ll discuss the team building event with him."


    "Mr. Zhang, he won''t agree. These patients are too severely ill, and almost every one of them is highly aggressive. It''s not just about going to the capital of Frankfurt¡ª even if it''s just a trip to the suburbs, there''s a risk they might start fighting each other and cause injuries or deaths,"


    Ropes pointed at two of the wards and said, "That ''Xiao Yan'' and Master Ma''s disciple, for instance. Every time they go out for a walk, those two have to have a big fight, and for safety, we had to isolate both of them."


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong already imagined the scene in his mind. "No worries, just call them over. We''ll follow the procedure. If he doesn''t sign, I won''t force him. We Huaxia people always play by the rules."


    ...


    Soon, Ropes brought the psychiatric specialist to the square.


    "Ropes, I''ve told you, it''s impossible. Those people are just too ill. I could never sign off on this! I know your director is wealthy, but the legal risk is too great. If something goes wrong, I could be hanged!"


    "Dr. Childe, the new director said you just need to take a look. If you truly believe the condition is severe, you need not sign anything, he won''t force you."


    "But it''s pointless. I patrolled the wards just yesterday, and there was absolutely no improvement in the patients'' conditions. Do you mean to tell me they recovered overnight? It''s going to be a chaotic mess again, you''ll see..."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Dr. Childe was stunned. Over 700 patients, dressed in uniform hospital gowns, were standing as orderly as a disciplined troop in the square.


    Previously, some wore blank expressions, others confused, but now, there was a uniform calm and seriousness in their expressions. It felt as though he had arrived at a military recovery hospital, not a psychiatric facility.


    "How is this possible?" Ropes and Childe exclaimed in unison.


    Since when had these patients become so compliant?


    Not just them, even Wang Ling couldn''t explain the situation before her. Zhang Menglong had merely mentioned that a pharmaceutical company under his name had recently developed a wonder drug specifically for treating severe mental disorders.


    Firstly, no medication should be administered to patients indiscriminately, especially experimental drugs. Such clinical drugs must first be approved by the patients'' families.


    Zhang Menglong immediately had the hospital call the patients'' families.


    With the conditions being so severe, the families had almost given up hope, but Zhang Menglong also mentioned that agreeing to this drug trial would grant each participant 100,000 Euros in compensation. If the drug caused any adverse effects, the compensation would increase a hundredfold!


    Under these circumstances, all the families rushed to sign the electronic contract, and incredibly, authorization was completed in less than half an hour.


    Actually, there was no wonder drug at all; it was merely a nutritional supplement capsule!


    However, miraculously, once the patients took the medicine, they all quieted down. The manic and blank expressions vanished without a trace, forcing one to marvel at the drug''s magical effects.


    In just a few minutes, all the patients had orderly gathered in front of the square.


    "Friends, it''s him who doesn''t want to let you leave this place. If you want to go out, protest against him!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Dr. Childe and said.


    "Let us out!"


    "We are not sick!"


    "Detaining us like this, we have the right to sue in court!"


    "We want freedom, we want human rights!"


    "Protest!"


    The patients began to shout one after another.


    "Is this really the kind of logical thinking that severe psychiatric patients can have? It''s impossible! Have they all recovered? But this is too outrageous!" Dr. Childe found everything he was seeing hard to believe.


    "What in the world is going on?" Dr. Childe asked.


    "Oh, nothing much. It seems these patients have all recovered. They all want to be discharged, but since we''ve all grown fond of each other, before everyone leaves, I thought I''d organize a team-building event."

 Chapter 194 192 This Will Be a Shura Field

    "This is impossible, how could they have changed like this? They were still the same just yesterday!" Dr. Childe even doubted if he was fully awake, as even a medical miracle couldn''t be miraculous to this extent.


    "Dr. Childe, everyone''s illness has already been cured, should we go out for some team-building now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No, I need to examine their physical conditions!" Dr. Childe said. Among these people, a large portion had mental issues caused by brain abnormalities.


    If those who were otherwise stimulated and had no pathological problems had returned to normal, it could be understood since their disease onset was sudden, and theoretically, there could also be a sudden recovery. However, that portion of patients whose illness was caused by brain abnormalities definitely couldn''t be alright!


    "Ye Yin, there won''t be any trouble, will there?"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, he won''t find anything!" Ye Yin confidently said.


    "No problem, as long as they are willing to cooperate, then let''s do the examination!" Zhang Menglong said loudly.


    "Everyone, I have just clarified to everyone why you are here, it''s because your families sent you here."


    "Director Zhang, we don''t blame you!" "Xiao Yan," when normal, was quite a refined man. "Although we don''t quite remember the things from before, according to the surroundings, we might indeed have had a mental illness for some time, but now that everyone has recovered, we shouldn''t stay here."


    "I understand, so I hope everyone will cooperate with the physical examination, as this is a rule set by the Frankfurt government, and we have no other choice. As long as everyone''s test results are normal, I guarantee with my reputation that you will be discharged from the hospital!"


    The patients consulted with each other in low voices and quickly reached a consensus, "Okay! We will fully cooperate!"


    ...


    In the hospital, there was very advanced medical equipment, and a few of the most representative patients were taken to the monitoring room for examination, but the results were quite beyond Dr. Childe''s expectations.


    "It''s incredible! It''s unimaginable; their degenerated tissues have completely recovered! This... I don''t even know how to describe it!"


    "It''s all thanks to the new miracle drug brought by Director Zhang!" one of the doctors said.


    "Miracle drug?"


    "Yes, those patients took it and in less than ten minutes, they started to recover. If we hadn''t seen it with our own eyes, we wouldn''t have believed it, it''s simply a medical miracle!"


    "Haha, this also comes with risks. If someone had died, not only would I have been disgraced, but I would also have had to pay a hefty amount," Zhang Menglong jested. "But this thing is still only in the clinical trial phase. If these patients can remain stable after a while, then we can continue to use it."


    "Doctor, can we all go now?" the patients who had cooperated with the examination asked.


    In their hearts, they really didn''t want to undergo such an examination, as wouldn''t that be admitting that they all had been mentally ill before? Who would want to admit such a thing?


    But there was no choice, Dr. Childe represented Franktown, and toward the national machinery, they still maintained a respectful attitude. Moreover, as long as they cooperated and there were no problems, they could achieve their freedom, but that did not mean they were happy about it.


    The current situation felt as if just one word of "no" from Dr. Childe, and they would immediately be ready to respond with fists raised.


    "Okay, I agree!"


    After much thought, Dr. Childe finally nodded.


    "Congratulations everyone, you are free now!" Zhang Menglong extended his hand to a patient.


    "Thank you, Director Zhang, and thank you for organizing this event," that patient also gratefully shook Zhang Menglong''s hand, as if he was a lifesaver.


    "Well then, everyone should rest well tonight. Tomorrow, I will arrange a plane to take everyone on a tour around Frankfurt, and after the discharge procedures are completed, I will arrange for someone to take you all home."


    ...


    "Damn, Zhang Menglong, what the hell are you playing at?" The latter part made Wang Ling feel as if he was listening to a fantasy. Wasn''t it agreed to let these people go to Champs-Elysees at Spring Plaza and cause a big scene? How did he suddenly cure their diseases?


    A bunch of mentally sound people, how could they possibly cause trouble there? Even if they had the courage, they might just be arrested right away as terrorists. Only mentally ill individuals could act and then not be held accountable afterward.


    "What are you playing at?"


    "How did you cure them all?"


    "How can I take them out if I don''t cure them?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "Damn, a bunch of normal people, what can they do? Increase their sales? Are you kidding me?"


    "Who said I cured them?" Zhang Menglong revealed a meaningful smile.


    "What the hell?" Wang Ling was confused again, "Then they..."


    "Sometimes what you see isn''t necessarily the reality. You think mental illness is that easy to cure? I might as well be a medical expert!"


    "Damn! Are you tricking me? But how did you manage that?"


    "Hehe, secret!" Zhang Menglong said mysteriously, "But I can guarantee that they will get to the Champs-Elysees very normally. As for what they will do next, I can''t control that. That''s probably just my miracle drug not being strong enough!"


    "Hahahaha! I knew you were up to no good!"


    Even if they were to be held accountable later, for a group of mentally ill patients, they probably wouldn''t do anything extreme, right? As for the hospital, it was the patients themselves who requested to be discharged. They couldn''t possibly infringe on the patients'' human rights, could they? At the scene, Zhang Menglong had made sure to record everything.


    As for the unfortunate Dr. Childe, owning those devices as evidence, at most he would be fired, not likely bearing any legal responsibility. Even if Zhang Menglong felt guilty later, giving him some money would surely be better than having him continue as a doctor in this godforsaken place.


    As for how exactly Zhang Menglong made those patients suddenly appear normal, Wang Ling didn''t care at all. When in doubt, quantum mechanics can always provide some sort of scientific explanation!


    Suddenly, Wang Ling was eagerly anticipating witnessing tomorrow''s spectacle.


    ...


    Indeed, just as everyone predicted, although there were voices of resistance online, once Baristca opened to Huaxia customers, over seventy percent of the long queue were still Huaxia people.


    At a nearby milk tea shop, Zhang Menglong and his group were leisurely sipping their drinks.


    "Can''t believe we can still enjoy our Huaxia milk tea here. It''s not easy." Wang Ling took a big sip of passion fruit double blast, "Tsk tsk tsk, the same old formula, the same old taste."


    "Hahaha, I bought this shop last night, just in time for the show. How could I miss a perfect location?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Damn, buying a shop just to watch a show, typical you!" Wang Ling had become immune to Zhang Menglong''s extraordinary maneuvers.


    "It really pisses me off, people online slamming it, yet these folks still fund such crooks. Should they all be sent to your mental hospital?" Wang Ling cursed.


    "People gotta eat, man, don''t be so harsh," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Here they come!"


    At that moment, a dozen cars stopped at the entrance of Champs-Elysees, and a group of Franktown people dressed in various styles disembarked. The change was drastically different from their appearance before they entered the hospital.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, our lunch today is inside the Spring Plaza on Champs-Elysees. You can eat whatever you like; Director Zhang will cover all the expenses," the person in charge arranged by Zhang Menglong said, "Moreover, today''s expenses are all on Director Zhang!"


    "Wow!" The group of patients cheered.


    "Friends, look, there''s Baristca!"


    "My gosh, what a long line! Come on, let''s see what they''re selling. After all, Director Zhang is paying, so don''t save him any money today!"


    "I''ve missed the taste here so much!"


    ...


    To passersby, these people seemed a bit unusual, but hearing their authentic local dialect, they probably had just returned from studying or working abroad. They only took a second look and then moved on. No one would guess that just yesterday, they were a group of severely ill patients confined in a ward.


    "Ye Yin, be careful. When it''s time, don''t let these people stray too far. The debt is owed by the guilty; let''s limit their activities to inside the buildings of Spring Plaza on Champs-Elysees," Zhang Menglong ordered, "And apart from smashing things, don''t let them harm any innocent people."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    "Get ready, my friends," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Soon, this will turn into a Shura Field!"

 Chapter 195 193: Demons Dancing Chaotically

    In the Parisia store, two middle-aged men looked down through the second-floor window at the bustling crowd on Champs-Elysees below.


    The lean one was named Gaul Siens, the manager of the Champs-Elysees Parisia store; the other was Videla Sieberger from the headquarters, the Europe regional director. It seemed as though there was a huge gap in their status, but in reality, their positions weren''t that different.


    For Parisia, the store on Champs-Elysees held a special significance; it was almost the face of the brand. Its manager had a critical status in the entirety of Parisia.


    "Gaul, about yesterday''s incident, I hope it doesn''t happen again today. Such events deal a big blow to our brand, Parisia, and could easily cause us to lose our Huaxia consumers!"


    "Hahaha, don''t worry. At most, they''re just protesting verbally. Look, the majority of those lining up outside today are still Huaxia people. Everyone is a businessman chasing after capital profits. No one will truly be at odds with money," Gaul seemed to harbor no regrets about his decision from the day before.


    "Don''t underestimate Huaxia too much. Our annual turnover, Huaxia people account for 30% to 50%. Without the support of Huaxia customers, Parisia could just close down," Videla stated, "Yesterday''s news caused quite a stir in Huaxia, and their protests were loud."


    "Alright, if it comes to it, just blame all the mistakes on that security guard," Gaul laughed, "At most, it will seem like a minor oversight on our part. No one is really going to investigate thoroughly."


    "I hope so," Videla said, "but I still stand by my words, never underestimate the Huaxia people, and never underestimate the anger of the Huaxia people."


    "Come on my friend, lighten up. Look, our customer traffic today is already twice what it was yesterday. Don''t you think that yesterday''s incident, in a way, also served as publicity for us?" Gaul pointed to the group of young people below, "Look, they are all so vibrant!"


    "It''s strange, how do these hundreds of people seem to know each other?"


    "What''s so strange about that? There are hundreds of tour groups on Champs-Elysees every day. It''s probably just a somewhat larger tour group."


    "Why do I always feel a little uneasy?"


    "Maybe you''ve been too busy with work recently? Why don''t you give up being a director and find a more leisurely position instead?"


    "Wait, look, something seems off with them!"


    "What''s off?"


    ...


    At the very bustling entrance of Parisia, the launch time was almost upon them. For some unknown reason, perhaps just to join in the bustling scene, over seven hundred patients from the Dawn Mental Hospital had lined up, with more than three hundred of them waiting outside.


    They chatted and laughed with each other, seemingly reminiscing about their memories in the hospital¡ªthose ludicrous behaviors even they found to be ridiculous.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s time," the voice of Ye Yin resounded in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Another milk tea!" Zhang Menglong told the milk tea shop''s server, "Friends, get your phones ready. What follows is the moment to witness a miracle!"


    An invisible ripple spread out from a spot near Zhang Menglong, a movement with no physical manifestation¡ªit was invisible and intangible but existed in a tangible way through a certain medium. If it had to be described with a word, it would be something akin to "telekinesis."


    The waves passed through ordinary people without any effect on their bodies. However, when they reached the patients from Dawn Mental Hospital, they became frozen in place as if a Paralysis Spell had been cast, as if a switch on their bodies had been touched.


    Over seven hundred individuals¡ªsome were eating, some frolicking, some hopping around¡ªbut all were suddenly stalled in motion, while the people at their sides went on with their natural rhythms of movement.


    Is there anything stranger than suddenly seeing hundreds of motionless people on the street? All the customers at Champs-Elysees Spring stopped in their tracks and focused intently on this odd group. For some reason, a faint unease settled in everyone''s heart.


    A moment later, the lock that had been holding them seemed to be released. The faces of all showed a variety of expressions¡ªsome were fierce, some dull, some delirious, some sad, and even some violent and bloody.


    The young man called Videla instinctively began to search his back, but the wooden ruler that had been inseparable from him for a full two years was nowhere to be found.


    "Who! Who stole my Xuan Heavy Ruler! Emperor Huntian, is it you? Come out and fight me, I, Xiao Yan, know more than just ruler techniques!"


    This outburst immediately drew everyone''s attention. They instinctively stepped back from this suddenly raving man.


    "Xiao Yan, I''ve been looking for you for many years, and my Five Continuous Lightning Whips have reached the Zenith level; today, I will decide the winner with your Wrathful Buddha''s Fury Lotus!"


    "Bring it on! I''ll kill you first, then go after that Emperor Huntian!"


    Suddenly, the two of them began to fight like they had lost their minds.


    "Security? Where''s security? Someone''s gone mad over here!" Surrounding tourists promptly started calling for guards.


    "What''s the matter? What happened?" A security guard rushed over in a hurry¡ªit was the same guard who helped five locals bully that young man from Huaxia yesterday!


    "I don''t know, these two just started fighting out of nowhere, shouting something about Emperor Huntian."


    "Could they be mentally ill?"


    "Surely not? They seemed perfectly normal just a moment ago, didn''t something happen to cause a dispute?"


    The guard looked at the two people entangled in a fight, and for a moment wasn''t sure which one he should go help.


    "Bang!" Just then, a golf club ferociously struck the back of the guard''s head, knocking him out cold on the ground. A Frankfurt teenager, who was evidently having an episode, swung the golf club rapidly over his head. He disdainfully glanced at the guard who had passed out, and with a contemptuous tone, said, "Hmph, not one decent fighter among them!"


    "Ah!"


    "Someone''s lost it over here! Where''s security? Someone come quick!"


    "What are you doing? Sir, please put down whatever you''re holding, or we will have to call the police!"


    The already noisy street suddenly exploded into several times the commotion¡ªscreams, the sound of glass breaking, cursing, cries for help¡ªit was an eruption of pandemonium!


    "Hahaha! I have finally mastered the ultimate martial arts!"


    "Sir, sir, please take off the clothes you''re wearing; that outfit is very expensive!"


    ...


    "Voldemort! You killed my parents, today you will pay your debts with blood! Disarm your weapon!"


    "Sir, you haven''t paid for the raincoat and the cat teaser yet!"


    ...


    "Orcs will never be slaves!"


    "Gul''dan!"


    "Look, everyone! I''ve turned into light, I''ve turned into light¡ªUltraman really does exist in this world!"


    "Have you seen my gauntlet? With just a snap of my fingers, half of you here will turn to ash!"


    "I desire human blood, I need human blood!"


    "Sir, that is a 200,000-dollar bottle of wine, not human blood!"


    "I am the reincarnation of Emperor Qin Shi Huang; right now, I need 3000 elite soldiers. Once I''ve conquered Europe, I will surely reward you with titles of nobility!"


    ...

 Chapter 196 194: On-site Snatching

    "Thrilling, huh!" Zhang Menglong and the others were astounded as they watched; they had anticipated that today''s scene would be intense, but they were still shocked when they saw it live.


    Over 700 severe mental patients going crazy¡ªfor a military battalion, it would be impossible to suppress such mayhem!


    If it were just one or two people, it would be fine; take instant control, and that''s that. But with over seven hundred individuals, the security forces here were simply inadequate!


    Mental patients who kill don''t bear any legal responsibility, yet if they get hurt, others will be held accountable. Although they all carried weapons, no one dared to use them against these frenzied patients.


    But those patients didn''t care at all¡ªbaseball bats, dry powder fire extinguishers, even fire axes¡ªanything they could get their hands on became their weapon. Who would dare to intercept such people?


    Not only that, these people even started huddling in groups. Even if the security guards wanted to tackle them one by one, they couldn''t. An entire plaza, left at the mercy of these people to come and go as they pleased!


    The frightened crowd had already been evacuated, yet the patients became even more violent; they began to destroy buildings and facilities in Champs-Elysees Spring. For some reason, the Parisia store turned into their main target, with nearly all its glass shattered.


    "What in the world is going on? Can someone tell me? Why would hundreds of mental patients suddenly appear on Champs-Elysees?" Gaoer and others roared from inside the Parisia office.


    "Shut up, can''t you hear someone smashing the door outside? Keep it down!"


    "It''s insane! What is happening?"


    Gaoer and the others couldn''t make heads or tails of the situation. Such an event had never occurred in the entire history of the world¡ªa mob of mental patients attacking the shopping plaza on Champs-Elysees, overtaking the whole Champs-Elysees Spring? Who would believe such a thing if they hadn''t experienced it themselves?


    ...


    "Is this the backup you brought in from yesterday''s outing?" Wang Ling''s girlfriend watched incredulously.


    Lu Yiyao didn''t say anything, but she felt an extraordinary sense of relief, as if the anger that had built up inside her yesterday had finally found an outlet.


    "No, I can''t just watch this by myself, I need to start a live stream! Everyone has to see this!" Wang Ling couldn''t wait to take out her phone.


    "Don''t fuss, I''m already prepared!" Zhang Menglong snapped his fingers, and several staff immediately brought professional streaming equipment¡ªhe had planned this all along!


    Zhang Menglong''s streaming channel hadn''t been activated since the incident in Qingqiu Country, and his going live immediately sparked curiosity among many viewers.


    "President Zhang, it''s rare to catch you streaming! Where have you been hanging out recently?"


    "President Zhang, did you hear about what happened yesterday? It''s infuriating. Thousands have signed a petition begging you to take over Parisia; they''ve been terribly oppressive!"


    "Wait, this place? I''ve been here before, isn''t this Champs-Elysees?"


    "Damn, is President Zhang actually there? Aren''t you supposed to announce these activities beforehand?"


    "Hold on, why is it so bustling here? Damn, what''s going on? Are they filming Biohazard?"


    In just a few minutes, word spread from one person to ten, then to a hundred, as tens of thousands of viewers flooded into Zhang Menglong''s streaming channel. By the tenth minute, the number had already reached several million!


    "Hello, friends, I''m your war correspondent for today, Zhang Menglong, and right now I''m bringing you the latest live coverage from Spring Plaza!"


    "No idea what happened, but this morning, hundreds of mental patients suddenly swept in. They were all fine, then abruptly, they all went berserk, and now they''re causing chaos!"


    "This is exhilarating!"


    "Damn, isn''t that Parisia? Hahaha, why are all their windows smashed?"


    "Holy sh*t, this is too awesome, right?"


    "Damn! It serves them right!"


    "Is this too absurd? How could the Champs-Elyse?es let in hundreds of lunatics? That''s not science?"


    "Boss Zhang, come clean, was it you who did this?"


    "Boss Zhang, your live stream is kinda cheeky. If this wasn''t premeditated, how could you have caught it just in time?"


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem! You can eat crap at random, but you can''t just spout nonsense. Do you have any evidence?" Zhang Menglong said with an unblushing face, "If you slander me, I will send you a lawyer''s letter!"


    "Hahaha, we get it, we get it!"


    "Right, Boss Zhang is just here to play. It''s pure coincidence that he''s here!"


    "Look, someone is rushing in there!"


    "Oh my, it''s so dangerous, and people are still going in? Do they have a death wish?"


    "Look, they''re all carrying suitcases in their hands? Could they be going in to loot amidst the chaos?"


    "Hahaha, look over there, there''s one wearing a helmet, and another one masked!"


    ...


    The number of people storming into the plaza grew more and more, from dozens to hundreds, and finally to thousands. The largest group among them was the black friends, who were strikingly powerful and wreaked havoc as they looted the stores.


    "Holy shit, do these people no longer want to live?" Zhang Menglong gaped at the scene, but he had previously ordered Ye Yin not to attack innocent people; those patients only had one goal, which was to create havoc and wreck the shops!


    "Hey, this is getting interesting!" Wang Ling suddenly appeared in the camera, holding up his phone to the screen, "People nowadays really know how to do business, huh? They''re already starting to sell things off?"


    In Wang Ling''s Moments, there was a picture from the scene with only a brief two lines of text.


    If anyone needs anything, contact me quickly. I''ve got friends on the Frankfurt Champs-Elyse?es with a large stock of Balenciaga, LV, Gucci, whatever you want, I got it. Spot looting service, no receipts!


    "Hahaha! Genius! Hahaha!" The whole live stream room was boiling with excitement. What business savants these people were, if they don''t get rich, who will?


    Soon, the farce spread domestically, and under the deliberate manipulation of Zhang Menglong, it hit the top of the trending searches within minutes. As the incident fermented, more and more jokes appeared online.


    "For those who like any style, please place your orders directly, and I will get my black friends at the scene to grab them for you right away. Guaranteed authentic, but no receipts!"


    "My black brother got his hands on a pair of Balenciaga''s newest shoes, size 41 for the left foot and 43 for the right. If you have different-sized feet, contact me immediately, this pair only! No receipt!"


    "Anyone offering a looting service? I want two ''Granny''s treasure'' bags from Chanel, LV is fine too, I don''t need receipts. If you have strong and capable friends offering proxy shopping, please contact me immediately!"


    "My brother just snatched two pairs of Balenciaga shoes, if you want them, act quick. He needs to tend to a wound, then he''ll go for the next loot. Last five minutes, hurry up and place your orders!"


    "What''s wrong with you?" Zhang Menglong suddenly saw the gloomy expression on Lu Yiyao''s face.


    "Nothing, it''s just that Qiqi and the others asked me if I could find someone to help them grab a few bags..."


    "Hahaha!" Wang Ling was already rolling with laughter at the side. Netizens nowadays really know how to have fun!"


    Some people also noticed that the group of patients, for some reason, only caused trouble inside the Champs-Elysees Spring Plaza, without storming any other place. So far, there had been no reports of casualties; they seemed like a well-trained special force with their sights set solely on the Champs-Elysees Spring Plaza.


    But no one tried to investigate further, after all, the whole thing was absurd to the extreme!

 Chapter 197 195 Can you control 700 psychopaths? Lets see.

    "The police are here, the police are here!"


    After half an hour of rioting, the police near Champs-Elysees finally arrived after dispatching their forces.


    Seeing these policemen, the luxury goods looters scattered. In half an hour, they had already grabbed nearly everything there was to grab, and for the items that hadn''t been sold yet, setting up a street stall to sell them off wasn''t a bad idea.


    This time, over a thousand police officers were deployed. In teams of ten, they took a full three hours of effort to finally get the group under control, bringing the farcical scene to an end.


    An immediate assessment of today''s losses was conducted, and this riot left almost no one injured, the only unlucky victim being the security guard of Balistic. Of course, he merely suffered minor injuries.


    Not a single spot in the entire Champs-Elysees Spring department store was left intact, especially Balistic, which had been smashed inside and out. Some even felt that it was the core target of these patients.


    The economic losses for most of the stores exceeded millions, while Balistic, with its large inventory, faced losses nearing ten million just from the shoe inventory! As for the rest of the stock, it even surpassed one hundred million!


    The total losses for Champs-Elysees Spring reached several hundred million Euros! This was even more severe than the economic losses caused by the riots that happened in Europe last year!


    There''s always someone to blame for debts and disasters. Most riots have a clear instigator, but the police were at a loss facing a group of mental patients¡ªhow could they possibly demand money from them?


    But such a great loss needed to be shouldered by someone, right? The merchants of Champs-Elysees Spring immediately pinned the ultimate responsibility on the property company of Champs-Elysees Spring. Their security personnel failed to protect their properties, so the merchants demanded compensation for all their losses!


    That evening, the angry merchants surrounded the executives'' office of Champs-Elysees Spring to the extent that nobody could go in or out, but facing hundreds of millions of Euros in compensation, they too felt a sense of helplessness.


    After negotiations, they only agreed to compensate one million Euros for each luxury goods store, which was the maximum they could afford.


    But such an answer was undoubtedly powerless.


    "Hahaha, serves them right!"


    "Aren''t you only selling things to locals? Now the locals have come to take care of your business!"


    "I remember someone complaining yesterday about our Huaxia tourists lacking manners, is there anyone who can tell me out loud who said that?"


    "Guys, I think there''s something fishy about this. Such an incident just happened yesterday, and now this happens today. Doesn''t it feel like a retaliatory event?"


    "Who cares who''s taking revenge? If I find out, I''ll definitely use my nine-tooth rake to comb their hair!"


    "Hahaha, I''ll have to offer this hero a bowl of knife-shaved noodles with my 40-meter long sword!"


    "I''ll use my Imperial Jade Seal to crack a walnut for this fellow!"


    "I seriously suspect this has something to do with Director Zhang! He started a live broadcast right when the incident happened, as if he knew it was about to happen."


    "Hahaha, brother, your account is gone, some things are better left unsaid!"


    "700+ mental patients, how did he do that? That''s unscientific!"


    ...


    "After an investigation by the relevant authorities, a clue has finally been found regarding the mental patients'' riot. These patients came from a place called ''Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital Europe Division.'' This hospital specializes in treating severe mental illness patients and is said to have the world''s best treatment equipment and doctors!"


    "The former head of Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital was Fang Jueyu. Details on this person are still under investigation, but on the day before, the hospital''s ownership transferred to Zhang Menglong from Huaxia. This will be the subject of further in-depth investigation!"


    That same evening, Global Daily urgently pushed this information and instantly stirred up the masses.


    This incident was truly orchestrated by Zhang Menglong!


    "Director Zhang, from today on, I am your die-hard fan!"


    "Oh, the light of justice!"


    "It''s over, do you guys think President Zhang will bite the dust this time?"


    "Hard to say, after all, he''s in a foreign land, and this is no joke¡ªChamps-Elysees Spring won''t let it go so easily."


    ...


    Against all expectations, everyone thought Zhang Menglong would be preoccupied with fleeing, because an incident like this couldn''t be resolved with money alone. To put it more seriously, it even had some tendencies of terrorism!


    But no one anticipated that Zhang Menglong would actually partake in the investigation by the local authorities and even accept interviews from all the media, as if he had no stage fright whatsoever regarding this matter!


    The next day, the anticipated game of wits took place in the closest investigation bureau to the Champs-Elysees. Of course, Zhang Menglong was merely a person under investigation. The moment he appeared, all the cameras focused on him.


    "What the hell! What''s he here for? Did he come for a gala?" At that time, numerous domestic viewers also followed the event closely, and many were still somewhat worried about Zhang Menglong''s situation.


    But now they felt as if they had worried unnecessarily.


    Today, Zhang Menglong, dressed in a suit and wearing sunglasses, showed up for the investigation like an international superstar, even smiling and nodding at all the reporters.


    "How are you, friends from the East?"


    "And to the friends from the West, missed me?"


    Upon hearing the news about Zhang Menglong''s investigation, many people from Huaxia rushed over spontaneously¡ªwhat was meant to be an investigatory hearing turned into a huge fan meet-and-greet.


    "Mr. Zhang Menglong, this is an investigatory hearing, please behave properly!" The investigator in charge, with a steely face, was highly dissatisfied with Zhang Menglong''s attitude.


    "Who are you?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneer.


    "I am Murray, the investigator for this case. Mr. Zhang, from now on, you must be responsible for every word you say!" Murray tried to overpower Zhang Menglong with his dominance, but clearly, his authority had no effect on Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Murray, sorry, but I''m only here to assist with the investigation; I''m not your criminal. I hope you can conduct yourself properly!"


    "You!" Murray was someone known for his temper, "Very well, Mr. Zhang, don''t think that just because you''re not from Frankfurt, our laws can''t touch you."


    "Sorry, could you tell me which law I have violated?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "It''s not just because I drank a couple of milk teas yesterday and did a live stream, right? If that''s your accusation, I can''t help you there."


    "Mr. Zhang, we currently have sufficient reason to suspect your involvement in yesterday''s riot incident."


    "Oh? Let''s hear it."


    "According to our investigation, Dawn International Psychiatric Hospital belongs to you, and the rioting patients from yesterday came from that hospital."


    "And then?"


    "We suspect you controlled these patients to create a retaliatory incident intentionally!"


    "Are you out of your mind?"


    Zhang Menglong went on the offensive immediately.


    "Mr. Zhang, please watch your language and behavior!"


    "I''ll watch my clam!" Zhang Menglong retorted, "Why don''t you try and control over 700 severely mentally ill patients? You must have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, right? How about this, my hospital still has plenty of wards and beds available. This is an illness¡ªtreatable; let us never give up on treatment, shall we?"

 Chapter 198 196: Who am I Afraid of When Playing the Rogue?

    "Hahaha!"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone burst into laughter, not just the people from Huaxia, but even the media personnel.


    The condition of those 700 psychiatric patients was already made clear by the on-site surveillance and videos ¨C their illnesses had almost reached an uncontrollable state; even with reinforcements later on, it took nearly five people to barely restrain one patient.


    In other words, if violent measures were to be used to control the patients, at least a few thousand people would have been needed, and that was obviously impossible because the entire Dawn Psychiatric Hospital only had two to three thousand staff members, including doctors, nurses, and other workers combined.


    And the number of patients in this hospital far exceeded these 700; even just maintaining order in the hospital was very difficult for them, let alone doing such a thing.


    Moreover, anyone with eyes could see that these patients were all behaving normally at first, and it was all of a sudden that they started to show symptoms. It couldn''t possibly be that Zhang Menglong used some kind of Demon Art to control those patients, right? That would just make it even more absurd.


    "I seriously suspect there is something wrong with your brain. Why don''t you go have a CT scan? I''ll reimburse the medical bills. Money is not the issue here; it''s that I like to do charity, especially for intellectual disability!"


    Laughter filled the area once again, distorting Murray''s face with anger.


    After being roasted by Zhang Menglong like that, even the most even-tempered person would probably find it hard to keep their emotions in check.


    But he couldn''t show that now; he represented the image of a country, and he had to remain calm!


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, then let''s talk about why these patients appeared here!" Murray continued.


    "Well, I had no choice, they themselves requested," Zhang Menglong said, "I always say I respect your European cultural customs and laws a lot. I know you value human rights and freedom. They wanted to come out, what could I do?"


    Zhang Menglong tossed over a USB drive. "Take a look for yourself; they were all protesting last night!"


    Indeed, the content of the video was exactly as Zhang Menglong had described: the patients were very rational and healthy at that time, a stark contrast to their state today. No one would think they were any special group.


    "The video hasn''t been tampered with; it''s real!" someone whispered to Murray.


    "You see, they were protesting to go out, so I couldn''t do anything about it, right? Here, we also have medical reports!" Zhang Menglong pointed to another document.


    Those were signed medical reports, showing that these patients had completely normal brain functioning, with communication, language, and motor skills all meeting the standards of regular people, which allowed for their discharge!


    "However, Mr. Zhang, according to our investigation, you administered a medication to all the patients beforehand, and maybe it was this medication that caused this temporary normality!" Murray accused.


    "Holy shit, this guy actually guessed right for once!"


    But Zhang Menglong was still unruffled, "Well, this medication is still in trial and sometimes can be unstable. But we have the consent of the patients'' families, everything is legal and by the book, and our hospital is fully accredited!"


    "You''re just making excuses!" Murray didn''t believe a word of Zhang Menglong''s bullshit!


    "Medication instability" was a very vague excuse, but if you really wanted to hold them accountable, they had all the proper paperwork and the families'' consent, with clear evidence in black and white. If you really wanted proof, there was none to be had!


    And even if the medication was the issue, it was the patients who requested to leave the hospital. From the moment they left, strictly speaking, it had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong anymore; he bore no responsibility!


    "How am I making excuses?" Zhang Menglong laughed, noticing that Murray was getting anxious.


    "You''re clearly retaliating for what happened yesterday!"


    "Oh? If you want to think that way, I can''t help it," Zhang Menglong said, "But if you insist on bringing that up, then I have to ask, why when our citizens were respectfully queuing here, they were met with violent line cutting by your countrymen, and instead of stopping them, the security of Champs-Elysees even chose to restrain the people getting hit? I hope Mr. Murray can give me an answer."


    "That''s just your side of the story!" Murray said, "Clearly it was your people who first disrupted the civilized queue, and furthermore, this is not what we are discussing right now."


    "Oh, then Mr. Murray''s previous words are just your side of the story as well, without any evidence. Therefore, I''m going to sue you for slander!"


    "666666!" The live broadcast''s comment section started rolling with a wave of sixes.


    "So cool!"


    "Awesome!"


    "Hahaha! They want to play dirty when we talk reason, and now they''ve met the ultimate dirty player!"


    "What if you suspect? But you have no evidence!"


    "Hahaha, everyone knows this is Zhang''s masterpiece, but he just won''t admit it, and you can''t do anything about it, are you mad or not?"


    "The ''Mom, please kneel'' series!"


    "Zhang, I want to have your monkey babies!"


    Zhang Menglong''s words left Murray speechless; everyone knew Zhang Menglong was doing this on purpose, but they had no evidence!


    "Mr. Zhang just acquired this hospital yesterday, and today these patients appeared on the Champs-Elysees. Don''t you all think this is too much of a coincidence?" Murray looked around for help with pleading eyes.


    "Yeah, it is quite a coincidence," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but I was thinking, since everyone is about to be discharged, they''ve made quite a few friendships in the hospital. So I organized a team-building event to give everyone a proper farewell. What''s wrong with that?"


    "Too freaking noble, you almost had me fooled!"


    "Keep bluffing! After all, we''re already crippled by your trickery!"


    "With that eloquence, it''s a waste not to become a diplomat!"


    "I just smashed the bookstore under my house because I couldn''t get a hold of Zhang''s works!"


    "@Qingbei University Chinese Department, suggest granting direct admission to the master''s and Ph.D. program!"


    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving first. I still have to go take good care of my hospital!" Zhang Menglong said with a pained expression, "Ah, once I''ve cured them, where should I take them for team-building next time? How about playing around the Presidential Palace?"


    "Hahaha! Slick ass trickster, he''s at it again!"


    "Zhang is mighty, this is downright threatening in their face!"


    "See if you dare to bully Huaxia people again! If there''s a next time... tsk tsk tsk, it''ll be too exciting!"


    "Smashing the Presidential Palace or not isn''t important, the main thing is to enjoy being bullied!"


    "Upstairs is a certified masochist. Identification complete!"


    Upon hearing this, Murray''s face turned pale.


    "Wait a minute!" Murray interjected, "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid this matter can''t just end here. I think we may need to invite you to spend some time at the investigation center as a guest!"


    Murray took out a small notebook, which was actually a local arrest warrant!


    Someone had to take responsibility for this incident, otherwise, they wouldn''t be able to explain themselves to society!


    "What the hell? Arresting our people abroad?"


    "Fuck them up!"


    "Can''t out-argue, can''t outplay, and now they resort to these disgusting tactics?"


    "Are you sure?" Zhang Menglong''s face showed a dangerous expression; he hadn''t expected a cornered dog to jump over the wall.


    "We will apply for the necessary procedures with your country, but right now you cannot leave here. Please cooperate with us, or we will have to take coercive measures!" Murray said.


    "Blowing in the wind!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Alright, I don''t mind at all. It''s easy for me to stay here, but getting me to leave, that''s not so easy!"

 Chapter 199 197 Hundreds of Missiles Aimed at Us

    "It seems Mr. Zhang is quite confident." Looking at Zhang Menglong''s calm and even somewhat amused expression, Murray couldn''t help but feel a bit shaken.


    "I''ve always been confident!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re wealthy, and I know you just dealt with Qingqiu Country not long ago, but don''t forget, if we wanted to handle Qingqiu Country, it wouldn''t require much effort either. After all, we''ve been a developed country for a long time, while Qingqiu Country has only just reached the GDP level of a developed nation."


    What Murray meant was clear: You managed to handle Qingqiu Country which is impressive, but we are not Qingqiu. Even though you''re rich, it would still be difficult to destroy the economy of a developed country, especially since the world economy has become much less fragile than it was decades ago with globalization.


    "So, what you''re saying is, I can''t leave here now, right?" Zhang Menglong looked at Murray with amusement.


    "You can perceive it that way, Mr. Zhang. Once we''ve thoroughly investigated this matter and confirmed that you are indeed not involved, then you may leave."


    "What if I say no?" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "Then we might have to take some impolite actions!"


    With a wave of Murray''s hand, suddenly, a group of soldiers armed to the teeth stormed in.


    "What the fuck?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Murray to bring backup.


    "Damn?! What do they mean by this? Are they detaining a citizen of Huaxia so brazenly?"


    "Aren''t they afraid of causing an international dispute?"


    "What the fuck, they dare point guns at Mr. Zhang?"


    "They''re serious!"


    The viewers before the broadcast suddenly filled with worry for Zhang Menglong. Yes, he was rich, but wealth couldn''t stop bullets!


    "Hey, I''m saying, aren''t you a developed country? For an economic loss of a few billion Euros, you make such a big fuss? You''re too poor, huh?" To everyone''s surprise, Zhang Menglong, faced with a group of armed soldiers, not only did not show any fear, but he also kept mouthing off.


    But what they did not know was that even if faced with dozens of fighter jets in a war zone, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t feel the slightest fear as long as Ye Yin was there; even now, with several sniper rifles aimed at his head, he could act as though nothing was happening.


    Economic losses amounting to several billion Euros! As one of the few developed nations in the world, probably only Zhang Menglong would dare to call the Kingdom of Frankfurt poor.


    "Out of desperation, huh?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth kept babbling, "I''m really curious to know whether this is your personal idea or your superiors'' decision."


    "Mr. Zhang, you just need to cooperate with the investigation, you don''t need to worry about other matters."


    "It seems the world has forgotten about the legends of the Zhang Family for far too long, huh?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Well, it looks like it''s time to remind you of the fear my grandfather once instilled."


    "What does that mean? The fear dominated by Mr. Zhang''s grandfather?"


    "It must be about the economic crisis. It looks like Mr. Zhang is about to make a big move again!"


    "There''s going to be a show now!!"


    "What the fuck, is he going to mess with other economies again? I need to rush to pull out of the stock market!"


    The stock traders immediately panicked. The economy of Qingqiu did not have a large impact on international economic conditions, but Frankfurt was different; any small disturbance in such a major country could significantly affect global situations!


    "Look quick, Mr. Zhang is taking out his phone!"


    "Is he calling in the big guns?"


    "High energy ahead!"


    ...


    "Haigen, are you watching the news?" Zhang Menglong cut to the chase.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, do you have any instructions?" Haigen responded directly.


    "This detention of mine, was it this guy named Murray''s own idea, or was it someone else''s?"


    "It was Murray''s own idea," Haigen said, "As far as we know, this Haigen is quite arrogant and blindly self-confident."


    "Alright, I''ve understood. As long as it has nothing to do with their country, a small skirmish should do," Zhang Menglong said, "However, this is the first time since my childhood that I have had a gun pointed at my head, and I definitely need to vent this anger. Do you understand what I''m saying?"


    "Yes, I will arrange it," Haigen said.


    Less than a minute later, Zhang Menglong had hung up the phone, and everyone was curious about whom Zhang Menglong had been talking to. Moreover, the call ended so quickly; could it be that the person Zhang Menglong approached was powerless to help?


    ...


    As usual, Busmu Lin walked into the Ministry of National Defense Command Center. At 52, he had become the Minister of National Defense, an achievement almost unprecedented in the history of Frankfurt.


    In this peaceful era, his job was relatively easy, and Frankfurt''s focus had always been on economic construction, unlike many countries that tried to expand or played the role of world police.


    Discussing the global military landscape periodically and monitoring the progress of strategic weapon development was basically all he did daily.


    "Very well, proceed with the first test flight in two weeks. As long as there are no issues, we can start mass production. This time, we can certainly boost our national defense capabilities by more than 20%!"


    Today, Busmu Lin had received great news; the latest generation of fighter jet engines had finally made a breakthrough, and the moment to reap the fruits of success was near.


    "Yes, our ''Gust'' type fighter jets will dominate the skies worldwide, and at least in all of Europe, there will no longer be any more advanced fighter jets than ours!"


    "Well done. Once the tests are complete, I''ll throw a celebration banquet for you all!" Busmu Lin said with a satisfied smile.


    "Beep beep beep beep!" Just then, an alarm rang through the entire control room.


    "What''s going on?" Busmu Lin instantly tensed up. Since the establishment of this central intelligence control room of the national defense, the alarm had been virtually a fixture. For decades, this was the first time it had gone off!


    "No... it can''t be! How could this happen?" A staff member stared incredulously at the instruments, "What the hell is going on?"


    "What has happened?" Busmu Lin rushed over and pointed at the screen of the instrument, "What do these red dots mean?"


    "Minister, this is the detection program of our security systems deployed across Europe."


    "Is it the EW-01 system?" Busmu Lin asked.


    This was a project completed five years ago by their country; through this system, they could nearly detect the use of military equipment across the entire Europe. If any country launched a missile attack on any region or country, they would be the first to monitor it!


    This system not only laid the foundation of their security system across Europe but also became their pair of eyes.


    "Just now, across Europe, we detected the launch of 300 missiles, including nearly 50 intercontinental missiles!"


    "The total has now exceeded 400, and it''s still increasing!"


    "Do you know who the target is?"


    "It''s... it''s our Presidential Palace!"

 Chapter 200 198: I Suggest You Turn Down the Volume on Your Phone

    "What? The Presidential Palace! More than 400 missiles?" Busmuslin was suddenly terrified. What kind of international joke is this? It''s not just 400 missiles, even 400 grenades would be enough to completely destroy the Presidential Palace inside and out several times over.


    400 missiles, is the intention to reduce the entire city to rubble?


    "Where are all these missiles coming from?" Busmuslin continued to ask. Their country had always advocated for peace. War was a thing of the past¡ªthe most important thing now was making money. Thus, the relations of the entire Kingdom of Frankfurt internationally were quite good. Why would they provoke any country?


    "From all over Europe! Missiles from nearly every country are aimed at us!"


    Busmuslin''s vision darkened, "Is there no way to intercept them?"


    "No, our national defense system can only intercept up to 20 missiles at a time. Beyond that, we can only attempt to intercept them with fighter jets, but this method is too risky. A slight deviation could not only fail to intercept the missiles but might also destroy the jets!"


    "So what do we do?" Busmuslin slammed the table. If there was just one enemy, they could completely negotiate, but with all of Europe gone mad, who should he talk to first? Perhaps in the next second, all the missiles would be fully deployed, firing straight at their heads. Might as well close his eyes and wait for death.


    "Minister, we''ve intercepted a message!"


    "Quick! Decrypt it!" Busmuslin said. Perhaps this was their only clue right now.


    "Minister, this is an encrypted communication frequency. It''s likely someone wants to communicate with us!"


    Immediately initiate communication!" Busmuslin hurriedly said. It felt as though a long sword was hanging over his head, where a slight misstep could lead to destruction.


    Sure, the capital''s explosion might not reach him, but as the Minister of National Defense, Busmuslin would inevitably become a criminal in the nation''s history. What kind of incompetent minister could let hundreds of missiles invade their country?


    Amidst a piercing current, Busmuslin finally connected to that mysterious frequency.


    "Who exactly are you? Did you plan this operation?" Busmuslin asked impatiently, "What is your purpose?"


    "Mr. Busmuslin, please calm down. First of all, I hope you can believe that we have no ill intentions!" a slow but deep and sonorous voice came from the other side.


    Busmuslin randomly grabbed a cup, intending to smash it to the ground. What do you mean no ill intentions? Over four hundred missiles were already targeting them, and now they dare to tell him there are no ill intentions? Isn''t this blatantly lying?


    "Mr. Busmuslin, I still recommend you put down what you''re holding. Smashing things won''t solve the current problem."


    Busmuslin managed to somewhat control his emotions, but his hand paused. How did the other party know he was holding a cup? This was the core area of the Ministry of National Defense. Outsiders couldn''t possibly get any information about this place. How could that person possibly know?


    Suddenly, Busmuslin felt goosebumps all over his body, as if an eye in the sky could see everything here through the solid structure!


    But considering they could make all of Europe''s intercontinental missiles target them, what was this small ability in comparison?


    The fact that the other party was actively trying to contact them clearly indicated that there was still room for negotiation!


    Busmuslin carefully placed the cup back in its original spot, making almost no sound.


    "May I ask what is the purpose of your actions?"


    "I am from the Dorhas family!"


    Busmuslin''s heart trembled! Many of his doubts were immediately cleared! As a Minister of National Defense, how could he not know of this family? It was an incredibly ancient family, possessing power that even nations couldn''t hope to rival. If they wished, any regime or even country in Europe could collapse in an instant.


    Merely upon their word, any country in Europe would marshal all its strength to aid them. Many knew of them, but few truly understood them, even Busmuslin didn''t know the true nature of this family.


    But his predecessor as Minister of National Defense had once told him, if one day the Dorhas family needed him to do something, he must not refuse, nor could he refuse!


    This sentence had always been deeply etched in his mind.


    He had only ever known that this family''s influence was significant, but he had never realized just how powerful they were until now, when his predecessor had told him about it.


    You dare not do it? Fine, then taste what over 400 missiles feel like.


    "May I ask if you have any orders?" Busmulin asked respectfully.


    "It seems Seaworth has trained you well," a laugh came from the other side, "Actually, it''s nothing much, I just want to trouble you to convey a message."


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Zhang Menglong must not be touched, otherwise the kingdom of Frankfurt will surely perish!"


    Having said that, the other party cut off the communication directly.


    "Zhang Menglong? Who is Zhang Menglong?" Busmulin was completely baffled, he didn''t even know who this person was!


    But he could guess some information, this Zhang Menglong must have a close relationship with the DoReLa family, he must be in Frankfurt now, and someone is about to do something threatening to him!


    They had accessed over 400 missiles, just to send them a warning!


    "Quick! Find this Zhang Menglong at all costs!" Busmulin immediately issued the order.


    Finding information on Zhang Menglong was really simple; he had just been in the news today, and now, he was even on a local TV station''s live broadcast.


    Within just a few minutes, Busmulin had obtained most of the information available about Zhang Menglong.


    "These idiots! They have no idea who they are really dealing with!" Busmulin was instantly furious, grinding his teeth in anger!


    Zhang Menglong, let alone leading a group of mentally ill patients to demolish Shangri-La Spring, even if he demolished their Presidential Palace, their president would probably only be able to smile and clap his hands on the side, saying it was well done.


    Just how many lives does Murray think he has to lose? He actually wanted to detain Zhang Menglong by force?


    "Get me Murray''s phone number, I want to talk to him personally!"


    ...


    In the investigation center, almost ten minutes had passed, and Murray''s expression became more and more relaxed. If Zhang Menglong really had significant connections, ten minutes would have been enough for him to mobilize his resources to protect himself, but nothing had happened!


    It was clear that although Zhang Menglong was wealthy, his power was confined only to Asia; in their Europe, even a dragon had to coil up before him!


    Thinking this, he straightened his spine a bit more.


    At that moment, Murray''s cellphone suddenly rang. He instinctively picked it up, about to put it to his ear.


    "Mr. Murray, I would suggest turning down the volume of your phone," Zhang Menglong said with a smile that was not quite a smile, watching him. He didn''t know what Haigen had done in the last few minutes, but he knew that Murray was about to be in big trouble.


    Murray didn''t take Zhang Menglong''s words to heart and pressed the answer button, "This is Murray, who is this?"


    "You idiot! Do you have any idea what you are doing? Right now, over 400 missiles are aimed at the Presidential Palace. Are you trying to destroy the whole of Frankfurt?" a loud roar almost burst Murray''s eardrums.


    Murray was instantly dumbfounded...

 Chapter 201 199 This is all a misunderstanding

    At that moment, Murray''s head buzzed, filled with countless question marks. Who was this person calling him? Why did they dare to speak to him, an investigator who reported directly to the center, with such a tone? 400 missiles aimed at their Presidential Palace? Was this person even awake?


    The onlookers and journalists around him only heard a burst of loud static from the cell phone and could not make out what was being said, but from Murray''s expression, it was clear this was no ordinary phone call.


    Could it be that the phone call Zhang Menglong had just made was effective? This question popped into everyone''s minds.


    "Although I don''t know who you are, or how you got my number, I must warn you formally that if you continue talking nonsense, I can hold you accountable for causing public panic. You should know that it''s extremely easy for the state to trace a number!"


    After all, he was a man who had weathered many storms, and within moments, Murray regained his composure.


    As the Minister of Defense and a former military man, Busmuslin had a fiery temper, which had calmed slightly only upon assuming the role of Minister of Defense.


    It had probably been many years since he had been as angry as he was today. A mere investigator, driven by his arrogance and ridiculous pride, had brought such a grave threat to national security. If Murray were in front of Busmuslin right now, he was sure he would blow his foolish head off!


    And yet, Murray not only failed to realize how dangerous his actions were, he even displayed his authority in front of him, which instantly turned him into a lit fuse.


    "Fine, I''ll tell you who I am! I am Busmuslin, the Minister of Defense!" Busmuslin roared, "I''m telling you, right now across Europe, forty-some countries and regions, 52 intercontinental missiles, 386 ballistic and cruise missiles, are all aimed at our Presidential Palace!"


    "What? How is that possible?" Murray''s mind, which had just recovered slightly, crashed once again.


    Although Murray had never met Busmuslin in person, he was very familiar with his voice. At this moment, he finally matched the voice on the phone with one in his memory.


    Busmuslin was a renowned figure in Frankfurt; although hot-tempered and fiery, he was meticulous in his work and had always made national security his life''s mission. Not only to the entire nation but even in Murray''s heart, he was something of a hero.


    Now, this hero was on the phone with him, but moments ago Murray had mistaken Busmuslin for some half-awake lunatic!


    But what about those 400 missiles? He was just an investigator; surely, if such an incident were real, it was Busmuslin''s job to handle it, right? Why would he call him? And from Busmuslin''s tone, it seemed that this matter involved him too.


    "You... you really are Minister Busmuslin?" Murray''s tone suddenly became extremely reverent.


    The people around him overheard Murray''s words: the caller was the Minister of National Defense?


    "Busmuslin? The Minister? From their investigation department?" To most people from Huaxia, this was an unfamiliar name.


    "Damn, I checked it out. The former chief commander of the Air Force Command, Minister of National Defense, this title is really impressive!"


    "I''ve heard of this man. He comes from a military family; his elders lived through two world wars, quite remarkable!"


    "But what''s the situation here? Did Zhang just get through to their Ministry of National Defense?"


    "It''s possible; otherwise, why would this guy look as if he ate shit?"


    The scene suddenly quieted down; everyone pricked up their ears, wanting to hear the content of the conversation, but it was no easy task. They could only guess from Murray''s expressions what they were discussing.


    "Nonsense, in the whole world, is there anyone who dares impersonate me?" Busmuslin cursed.


    "Yes, yes, yes!" By now, Murray was wholly convinced, not because he deserved to be scolded, but if this person spoke to him gently and softly, then something was truly amiss.


    "Minister, about the missiles you just mentioned... what does this have to do with me?" Murray didn''t even know why he was so significant, what had he done that could make the missiles of all of Europe target them?


    To be able to push all of Europe to such a degree was no ordinary feat.


    "Do you realize what you are doing now?" Busmulin pointedly asked.


    "Doing what?" Busmulin glanced at Zhang Menglong, in his worldview, it was utterly inconceivable to associate Zhang Menglong with the more than 400 missiles aimed at their country, "I was investigating a public safety incident that happened recently."


    "Investigate my ass!" Busmulin cursed, "Right now, you immediately apologize to Mr. Zhang, and then respectfully send Mr. Zhang back! Whatever his demands are, you will comply without conditions, otherwise, I will arrest you for treason immediately!"


    "Trea... treason?" A huge accusation was being levied on Murray, he was merely investigating a public safety incident, how could that be treason? What on earth was Zhang Menglong capable of, to have their Minister of Defense personally protect him?


    "But Minister, this man caused a huge disturbance on Champs-Elysees yesterday with a group of insane people, causing severe economic losses. If we let him go, how can we explain it to the public?"


    "Explain my ass!" Busmulin said, "I''m telling you, even if he had caused trouble at the Presidential Palace yesterday, today we would have to act as if nothing had happened!"


    Murray''s face turned ashen. How could one person make an entire nation compromise? This wasn''t Qingqiu Country! This was Frankfurt! A highly developed country with extreme economic and military power!


    "I know you might wonder why!" Busmulin said bluntly, "I''m telling you, I don''t even know him! This isn''t a personal decision of mine!"


    "So you..." Busmulin didn''t even know Zhang Menglong, so why was he forcing him to release someone?


    "But the whole of Europe can''t afford to provoke him!" Busmulin stated, "Those more than four hundred missiles are prepared by his men. If you dare to touch him, within minutes all these missiles will be heading towards our capital, and a third of our national power wouldn''t be able to intercept them!"


    Murray''s face instantly turned pale.


    He had originally thought Zhang Menglong''s phone call was merely to seek help from some figure in the Kingdom of Frankfurt, but they outright didn''t consider any person in their country at all. It was a bold move straight up!


    You want to move against him? Then consider first if you can withstand a furious barrage of these four hundred missiles! He wasn''t just playing unorthodoxly; he wasn''t observing even a shred of martial morality!


    "I... I''ll release him immediately!" Murray''s spirit was thoroughly shattered; he had even dared to allow someone to point a gun at Zhang Menglong''s head!


    A mere threat was enough to mobilize over 400 missiles. If Zhang Menglong were indeed harmed, the entire Frankfurt might virtually disappear from the world map!


    "Who the hell is he?" If Murray had known the terrifying power and resources that Zhang Menglong controlled, he wouldn''t have dared to detain Zhang Menglong even with a hundred guts!"


    ...


    "Damn, the call''s over?"


    "But I didn''t hear anything!"


    "Neither did I! I didn''t catch a thing!"


    "Look, he''s walking over here now!"


    Murray, previously strutting with arrogance, carefully approached Zhang Menglong, his face displaying a flattering smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, everything just now was a misunderstanding!"

 Chapter 202 200: Perform a Pole Dance and Ill Forgive You

    "What are you all still standing here for? Put down your guns right now!" Murray said to his subordinates, "And someone bring Mr. Zhang a chair! Mr. Zhang is here to assist with our investigation, not as our prisoner!"


    Not only were the bystanders stunned, but even Murray''s own men were flabbergasted. Hadn''t Murray just been acting all high and mighty a moment ago? Why had he suddenly turned into a groveling grandson? What on earth had been said in that phone call just now?


    "66666! Society regards Boss Zhang, a man of few words but profound influence. One phone call and he scared the Minister of Defense himself!"


    "Now that''s a true big shot! He was all tough a moment ago, how did he suddenly become so timid?"


    "Look at his expression, he looks like a beaten dog! His integrity shattered all over the place!"


    "Bullying a Huaxia person? Seems like they hit a steel plate this time, huh?"


    "Awesome! So thrilling! This is the presence our people from Huaxia should have! I got so excited I ended up punching my roommate."


    "High energy warning ahead! Knowing Mr. Zhang''s personality, I don''t think he''s going to let this slide just like that!"


    "Yeah, just now they had guns aimed at his head; any normal person would''ve peed themselves by now, but only Mr. Zhang could remain unfazed."


    "If Mr. Zhang lets him off the hook just like that today, I''ll directly throw myself into a running fan!"


    "Exactly, I bet Mr. Zhang is fuming inside. If he lets it go, I''ll eat my computer right here and now!"


    For the netizens, most came just for the excitement, especially since yesterday''s event was particularly significant. Regardless of whether Zhang Menglong was responsible or not, they were there to show their support!


    Just ten minutes ago, most of them were filled with worries about Zhang Menglong''s safety. Once he was detained, predicting what would happen next was difficult.


    But in just ten minutes, the situation took a dramatic turn. With a single phone call, Zhang Menglong had stirred the Minister of Defense, and now, he transformed from a prisoner to the most honored guest.


    This turn of events refreshed the Huaxia netizens who had been worried before, and moreover, the thrill and pride from yesterday surged again. This was the power of their people from Huaxia!


    Unlike the live watchers from Huaxia and the tourists who came for the spectacle, the locals in Frankfurt appeared quite disheartened, especially the reporters who usually thrived on speculation, wishing now that they could literally crawl into a hole.


    Murray''s change of attitude was a massive mockery to them! To grovel and kowtow to a Huaxia person whom they somewhat looked down upon felt like a great indignity and shame.


    However, for Zhang Menglong, today''s drama was just getting started.


    "What exactly did that Bush Mullin say to him?" Zhang Menglong was curious himself. If Haigen had merely called to warn Murray not to mess around, it shouldn''t have been enough to scare him to death, right?


    At least Murray''s attitude was so obsequious that it was somewhat unbelievable. He even tried hard to capture every expression of Zhang Menglong, as if trying to decipher his thoughts.


    Not only that, but Murray''s hands and feet were trembling slightly, a state that occurs only under extreme fear. Could this Bush Mullin actually be a ghost?


    "Mr. Zhang, right now, over four hundred missiles are locked on their Presidential Palace in Europe. How could he not be obsequious?" Ye Yin cleared up Zhang Menglong''s confusion.


    "What? 400 missiles? What''s the situation?" Even Zhang Menglong was shocked. He had only asked Haigen to knock some sense into the people of Frankfurt; how had it escalated to military intimidation so quickly?


    Moments ago, Zhang Menglong had been puzzled; the Ministry of National Defense and the public security sectors were completely different systems. Even if someone had come to warn Murray, it shouldn''t have been Bush Mullin, the Minister of Defense.


    Now, Zhang Menglong understood. This Bush Mullin had no choice but to intervene!


    Years ago, Frankfurt had set up a security defense system in Europe, which could detect any threats to their safety instantly. Seeing over 400 missiles, how could Busmulin not panic? If those missiles had actually come, he, as the Minister of Defense, would have been the first person responsible!


    "Really, it''s just teaching a silly fellow a lesson, there''s no need to make such a big fuss," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Next time just hint with a nuclear bomb, don''t waste so much resources!"


    "Hey, you guys, why did you stop filming? Weren''t you almost shoving the camera in my face just now? Come on! Give me a few more close-ups!" A few journalists who were about to leave dejectedly were stopped in their tracks by Zhang Menglong, "Remember not to release raw images, photoshop them for me. If I''m not satisfied with the photoshopped images, I''ll just buy out your newspaper!"


    "Hahaha!" The Huaxia people present burst into laughter. Indeed, once Zhang Menglong started being unserious, he began spouting nonsense.


    "Do as Mr. Zhang says!" Murray commanded in an undeniable tone.


    The journalists trembled in fear and looked at Murray for help, but Murray stared back at them threateningly, as if they''d be in trouble if they dared to defy Zhang Menglong!


    The journalists were inwardly distressed. They had only come to join the fun today, how had they ended up in such a situation?


    "Mr. Zhang, as you can see, it''s getting late, and our investigation has also concluded. How about I arrange for someone to take you back?"


    "Go back? Who said I was going back?" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, "Didn''t you just ask me to stay for further investigation? I think it''s better for me to stay, so no one thinks we Huaxia people are unruly!"


    "It''s done for, easy to invite the god, hard to send him away, they''re doomed!" Zhang Menglong''s old fans knew what he was like. They had seen the treatment Zhang Menglong received earlier, and he had not yet vented his anger. Would he let Murray off that easily?


    "Well, I''ll be damned!"


    "Nuclear energy warning ahead!"


    At that moment, Murray''s phone rang again, displaying the same number as before.


    "Murray, what exactly are you doing? Why hasn''t the missile lock been lifted?" Busmulin berated sharply, "I''m giving you one last five minutes. If this isn''t resolved by then, even if nothing ultimately happens, I''ll have you tried at a military tribunal!"


    "Beep beep beep...."


    Murray hadn''t even managed to say a word before Busmulin hung up. Murray froze for two seconds, looked blankly at the ceiling, and then walked over to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, I apologize, it was all my fault, I''ve been too impulsive in my actions. I hope you can forgive me!"


    "Wow!" A wave of astonishment swept across the room.


    Although Murray had already backed down, his previous words were not explicit. But now, he had openly admitted his error in front of the mainstream media, which completely changed the implication.


    "Forgive you? You haven''t done anything wrong, what am I forgiving?"


    "There he goes with his old Underworld talk!"


    "Despicable, but I like it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please, if you don''t forgive me, I will be tried at a military tribunal!"


    "Wow!" Another uproar arose. Had things really gotten that serious?


    "Forgive you? Alright!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Dance a pole dance for me, and I''ll pretend nothing ever happened!"

 Chapter 203 201: Zhang Menglong, the Eternal God

    "Pole dancing? Hahaha! Brilliant!"


    "Hahaha, get me an oxygen mask! The fuck were you thinking? What kind of kinky shit is in your head?"


    "I''m fucking dying here! Zhang, you''re a genius!"


    When Zhang Menglong spoke, a wave of laughter broke out around him. After all, Murray was a senior investigator, and in the Kingdom of Frankfurt, his social status was almost equivalent to being the second in command of a city.


    And Zhang Menglong actually wanted such a person to do a pole dance in full view of everyone!


    This was the Bureau of Investigation, for crying out loud! A proper place! It''s not a dance hall or a bar; where would they even get a pole for him to dance on?


    Murray''s face turned from green to purple, as if he had practiced some demonic technique and it had backfired. His mouth twitched uncontrollably. He felt it, Zhang Menglong was just toying with him! It was like a lion playing with an ant, without any purpose, just for fun.


    To put it bluntly, he wasn''t even worthy of Zhang Menglong going out of his way to target him; he didn''t qualify!


    But no matter what, he now found himself in a difficult position. On one hand, there was the immense pressure from the powers that be; if he couldn''t calm Zhang Menglong''s anger soon, he would be tried by a military court¡ªeven though he believed that Zhang Menglong would absolutely not let those 400 missiles fly toward Frankfurt.


    On the other hand, his choice was to ruin his reputation from this day forward. Under the watchful eyes of countless reporters and media, if he did this pole dance, he probably wouldn''t have the face to continue hanging around the Bureau of Investigation. What awaited him would certainly be endless ridicule and insults.


    "This Huaxia man is too ruthless!" Murray believed that the bulk of Zhang Menglong''s anger didn''t come from his attempt to detain him today, but rather from their contempt for Huaxia people.


    Asking himself honestly, if Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary Huaxian today, aside from obediently enduring imprisonment, he would have no other choice¡ªeven if he were to be released through negotiation efforts from the Huaxia side, it still wouldn''t change anything fundamentally.


    The incident that occurred the day before yesterday in Paris also clearly represented their contempt for Huaxia and even Asian people. In their eyes, people from these developed countries were superior, and people from other countries deserved to be bullied!


    And that was what truly upset Zhang Menglong.


    "Hey, get on with it already!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "If you don''t perform, I''m going to have dinner right here today, but what happens after that, well, I can''t say!"


    Finally, under intense pressure, Murray collapsed. He stood there like a ragged Puppet without a Soul, "Alright, I''ll dance!"


    "Bring on the talent!" Zhang Menglong had long instructed Ye Yin to arrange for someone to prepare the pole. At his command, several people rushed into the Bureau of Investigation carrying a steel pole about ten centimeters in diameter.


    "This... when did he prepare this?"


    "Damn, this has been premeditated! I''m totally flabbergasted!"


    "I was wondering why Zhang seemed so unfazed by boiling water; the hotter it got, the wilder he seemed. On the surface, he acted as if he were resigned to fate, but behind the scenes, he''d already prepared the punishment props!"


    "You''re the master of schemes; you win, hands down!"


    "Quick, quick, quick, record a video! A deputy mayor-level investigator pole dancing in the middle of the bureau¡ªthis is going to hit the Global Weekly News tomorrow!"


    The setup couldn''t have been more complete. Through two sets of fixtures, the pole was solidly secured between the first and second floors.


    "Mr. Murray, please begin your performance!"


    Zhang Menglong turned on his phone and casually played a song.


    "Come on, live it up, after all, there''s plenty of time..."


    With the music starting up, someone with real talent turned off all the lights in the Bureau of Investigation, even sealing the doors and windows tight. The room instantly darkened.


    Moments later, as the first phone flashlight switched on, the entire Bureau entered nightclub mode.


    Murray gritted his teeth, and his 150-pound body directly coiled around the pole, eerily writhing to the music.


    "Hahaha, oh my god, my eyes are burning! I''m blind, I''m blind!"


    "Ahh, so saucy! This is the most flexible fat guy I''ve ever seen! He can even spin around."


    "I feel like I hit the jackpot not buying a ticket to this show!"


    "S... Si Guo Yi!"


    ...


    Two minutes later, Murray collapsed on the floor, exhausted, his cheeks still tinged with a trace of redness, whether from physical exhaustion or shame, it was hard to tell.


    "Click, click!" The surrounding media swarmed around Murray, frantically snapping photos, which inevitably stirred a bit of sympathy.


    "Mr. Murray!" Zhang Menglong continued, "I won''t hold today''s slander against you, and as I said, I''ll keep my word. But I have another task for you!"


    Murray looked up at Zhang Menglong. Just before, Bushmulin had told him that he must agree unconditionally to all of Zhang Menglong''s demands!


    "Please give your instruction, Mr. Zhang."


    "The day before yesterday, someone from our Huaxia was inexplicably beaten up in Paris. This matter has really bothered me. Within one day, I want to see a satisfactory outcome; otherwise, it won''t just be 400 euros this simple!" After finishing his speech, Zhang Menglong walked straight out of the interrogation room.


    ...


    Back at the residence, Wang Ling and the others were already waiting impatiently.


    "Old Zhang, you were so cool today! That''s how you should treat them, or else they''ll keep thinking we Huaxia folks are made of clay, to be bullied at will!"


    "But he did dance that pole dance with quite a bit of desperation. It''s the first time I''ve seen a fat guy in a suit pole dancing!"


    "Hahaha!" Everyone suddenly burst into laughter, and even Lu Yiyao couldn''t control herself.


    "Wow, this guy works efficiently!" Zhang Menglong received a message from the Investigation Bureau. The five Frankfurters who had beaten up the Huaxia youth the day before had been detained. The manager of Paris, the security, and even the related personnel of Springtime in Champs were all summoned to the Investigation Bureau.


    And the young man who was beaten received a compensation of 1 million euros from Paris.


    "Only 1 million euros? Shouldn''t they add another couple of zeroes?" Wang Ling said gleefully, "But Old Zhang, what did you actually do? Why such a fuss today?"


    "You didn''t surround the whole Frankfurter Kingdom with a couple of aircraft carrier groups, did you?" Wang Ling speculated boldly.


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Actually, I just wanted Haigen to give them a little tap, to remind them not to go too far. Who knew that bastard would mobilize the entire European intercontinental missiles and hundreds of ballistic missiles, aiming straight at their Presidential Palace? Do you think they''d dare mess around?"


    "Wow, ruthless!" Wang Ling was rendered speechless, "Getting on your bad side is scarier than facing an entire division of troops!"


    "Enough, I''ve been here three days, dealing with a ton of crap!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "You may not find it irksome, but I''m fed up!"


    "Hahaha, but you really did vent some spleen for us Huaxia people today!" Wang Ling said, "Do you know what the netizens are saying about you now?"


    "What about me? That I''m uneducated and a troublemaker?"


    "No!" Wang Ling shook his head, "They''re saying, ''Zhang Menglong, immortal god forever!''"

 Chapter 204 202: Your Entrance Must Be Stylish

    Auctions have always been something in Zhang Menglong''s understanding that only high society had the privilege to attend. Wouldn''t anything that made it to auction be worth at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions?


    And for an auction like this that happens only once every ten years, even the cheapest items wouldn''t go for less than a million Euros, right?


    Regarding this, Zhang Menglong was still full of anticipation.


    "Mr. Zhang, the formal wear you requested has arrived!" the butler placed two boxes in front of Zhang Menglong, "These are prepared for you and Miss Lu to attend the auction tomorrow."


    "Is there some mistake? You have to wear formal attire to an auction?" Zhang Menglong hadn''t thought that far ahead.


    "You don''t get it," Wang Ling said, "These Europeans fancy themselves as gentlemen; they certainly can''t do without such etiquette!"


    Wang Ling''s luggage had long been equipped with two sets of formal attire.


    "All flash and no substance, thinking they''re gentlemen just by dressing to the nines?" Zhang Menglong complained. Real gentlemen and nobility never display their prejudice so overtly, and clearly, these people weren''t genuine gentlemen.


    But when in Rome, do as the Romans do, he still had the suit brought into his room. As for the style, he didn''t even take a look; if it was designed by his personal studio, Zhang Menglong was never dissatisfied.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "Oh? Is that Poladi?" Zhang Menglong glanced at his phone. Since that dinner, they hadn''t been in touch, and it seemed Poladi had heard about his arrival in Europe.


    "Mr. Poladi, it''s been a long time," Zhang Menglong greeted politely.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m so excited, I didn''t expect you to come to Europe as well!" Poladi said, "Are you here for the auction too?"


    "Mr. Poladi, you''re here too?"


    "How could I miss such an event that only happens every ten years?" Poladi laughed, "This time I''ve prepared quite a bit of money, and I must buy some good items to take back."


    "It seems Mr. Poladi''s business hasn''t suffered due to my business." Zhang Menglong said. He himself had been criticized so badly; a public figure like Poladi must have had an even tougher time.


    "It was certainly difficult at the beginning, my company''s stock fell by nearly a third! I took that opportunity to buy back all the shares I could from the market," Poladi explained, "But ever since you dealt with Qingqiu Country, all those online criticisms fell apart on their own. The company''s stock soared to twice its original value. My net worth is now more than double what it was two months ago!"


    He was even a little self-satisfied as he said this.


    "You''ve got some nerve; weren''t you afraid of going bankrupt?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but admire Poladi''s audacity.


    "Heh heh, others might not know the extent of Mr. Zhang''s power, but could I be unaware? I figured that you must have considered the economic ripple effects that would impact Huaxia, so you decided to take action against Qingqiu Country. Otherwise, even America might not have been able to withstand your cleanup."


    "Hahaha, you do have an eye for people!" Poladi had actually managed to analyze Zhang Menglong''s mindset.


    "But my little bit of money is nothing compared to yours, Mr. Zhang," Poladi has never been deluded by his achievements. Not to mention anything else, just the money Zhang Menglong had in Qingqiu Country far surpassed his entire fortune.


    "Let''s save the business flattery," Zhang Menglong laughed, "What did you want to talk about?"


    "Well, the formal auction starts tomorrow, but there will be a banquet tonight. I have some friends who would like to meet you and learn some tips on making a fortune."


    "Are you serious?" Zhang Menglong was startled.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s agree on that then. I will find you at the venue tomorrow!"


    "Fuck, let me finish!" Zhang Menglong just wanted to refuse, but Poladi seemed to have predicted his prediction and cut the call right off, leaving Zhang Menglong with a mix of laughter and tears.


    It''s not that Zhang Menglong didn''t want to teach, but as someone who studied polymer materials, he knew jack shit about making money. However, if you asked him how to spend money or show off, Zhang Menglong might have quite a few insights.


    To become a friend of Poladi''s, you''d probably have to be a luminary of the business world. Discussing economics in front of them would be asking for trouble.


    "Click!" The dressing room door opened, and Lu Yiyao, dressed in a gown, slowly walked out.


    This was the most beautiful gown Zhang Menglong had seen to date. Even the million-dollar gown Lee Ji-eun wore to the Qingqiu Country President''s banquet paled in comparison.


    On Lu Yiyao''s swan-like graceful neck hung the "Heart of the Ocean" that Tian Haigen had given her, making her look like a princess straight out of a fairy tale at that moment.


    "Beautiful! So beautiful!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but be transfixed.


    As Zhang Menglong''s woman, Lu Yiyao''s status was above all other women around Zhang Menglong, even if the gown Lee Ji-eun wore last time was just tailored to Zhang Menglong''s "ordinary woman" specifications.


    Compared to them, Lu Yiyao was like the difference between an Empress and concubines; her clothing standard wouldn''t be even a notch below Zhang Menglong''s!


    "Fuck! Are you two going to an auction or ascending to the throne?" Wang Ling and his girlfriend had just changed their clothes and came out of the dressing room as well.


    In front of this gown, Wang Ling''s girlfriend''s custom dress worth 800,000 US Dollars immediately seemed lackluster.


    "This thing can''t be made of diamond, can it?" Wang Ling pointed at the colorful decorations on the gown.


    "Yes, Mr. Wang," said the designer in charge of dressing Lu Yiyao, "this gown is adorned with a total of 1720 ordinary small diamonds."


    Wang Ling pointed at a diamond that was almost a carat in size, "You''re telling me this is called a small diamond?"


    Wang Ling wasn''t unfamiliar with diamonds; the size of these diamonds was roughly around one carat each, their cut, luster, and clarity almost perfect. In the market, you couldn''t get one for less than tens of thousands of US Dollars.


    Just the diamonds used for embellishing the gown were worth over ten million US Dollars!


    "Forget it, I won''t ask further, I''m worried about damaging my self-esteem!" Wang Ling decided not to look at Lu Yiyao''s gown anymore.


    "How are we getting there?" Wang Ling asked, since the venue was located on a private island with no specialized dock for ferrying guests.


    "No shit, of course by boat," Zhang Menglong said, "Helicopters are too small, not spacious enough."


    ...


    "Shit! I knew it wouldn''t be that simple!" However, when Wang Ling saw the "boat" Zhang Menglong mentioned, he couldn''t help but curse!


    This thing was hardly a boat¡ªit was a fucking destroyer!


    The destroyer was over 250 meters in length and had a displacement of over 25,000 tons. What was key, though, was that its weapons hadn''t been removed¡ªthe sight of those 4.5-inch caliber main guns and dense anti-aircraft guns made Wang Ling''s scalp tingle!


    "I borrowed it from the President of England to play around for a couple of days," Zhang Menglong said. "Tonight''s banquet will surely gather the wealthiest from all over the world. In the midst of so many rich people, arriving in a helicopter or yacht would just make me, Zhang Menglong, seem too tacky, wouldn''t it?"


    "You''re planning to blow up the whole island, aren''t you?" Wang Ling was speechless, he could even imagine the stunned faces of the people on the island hosting the auction upon seeing this destroyer, "Could you be any more flamboyant?"


    "One must make a cool entrance!" Zhang Menglong smoothed his hair back, "If a man isn''t flamboyant, what''s the difference between him and a salted fish?"

 Chapter 205 203 Both Planes and Yachts Are Pathetically Weak

    The Bannal Islands belong to the Kingdom of Frankfurt, located in the northwest part of the Mediterranean Sea, about 50 nautical miles away from the coast of Frankfurt, which is roughly a hundred kilometers.


    The natural scenery of these islands is exceptionally beautiful, which is why many wealthy individuals have spent money to purchase private ownership of these islands, transforming them into their vacation spots.


    Among the Bannal Islands is a very large primary island, which is owned by the famously renowned Rothschild family of Europe. On this island, they have established a very modernized hotel, and the star rank of this hotel has reached seven stars!


    To say it''s a hotel, it''s more apt to call it a manor. Normally, only individuals with a net worth over a hundred million US Dollars have the slightest qualification to set foot on this island. It has gradually become an excellent destination for the world''s top-level elites to socialize and make business deals.


    This auction is going to be held in this seven-star hotel!


    For this auction, the Rothschild family has also expended a lot of effort, having expanded their private yacht and boat harbor to twice its original size and having added a large number of helicopter landing pads. The entire island has become more bustling than ever before.


    A clear white trail cuts across the sea surface, and a pure white yacht gradually docks at the port. The appearance of this yacht has immediately attracted the attention of many people.


    Though it''s a gathering of the rich, the wealthy are still categorized into different levels, and they come from all around the world. Even if some are extremely wealthy in their own countries, upon arriving in a foreign land, many often have no choice but to use public transportation.


    Today, several thousands of rich individuals were invited, but more than 90% of them were brought over from Frankfurt''s port by cruise ships arranged by the organizers. As for those who arrived on their own, they were generally considered big shots in their respective regions.


    "Wow, the Sun Chaser private yacht, and it''s a limited edition, too. I really exerted a lot of effort back then but still couldn''t get my hands on one; today is truly an eye-opener!"


    "I remember the basic sale price of this yacht was 80 million US Dollars, right? They only sold five in total¡ªone is with the world''s richest man, Poladi, another was bought by a mysterious buyer from Huaxia, and the remaining three seem to be in Europe, but it''s hard to know which one of the three this is!"


    The wealthy individuals who were chatting and strolling nearby the port all turned their attention towards those yachts. Surely those who were now showing up must be people of extraordinary status.


    The Sun Chaser had docked at the port, and a middle-aged man looking to be about fifty emerged, surrounded by several bodyguards and women.


    "So it''s Mr. Heizda, the top figure in the European pharmaceutical industry!"


    "Tsk tsk, the pharmaceutical industry has been developing quite well these past two years, eh? Mr. Heizda''s assets must have doubled several folds, right? Who knows, he might even break into Forbes''s top ten next year!"


    Several of Heizda''s business partners or friends immediately gathered around, and the group soon launched into a lively and laughing conversation.


    As the time for the dinner approached, more and more varieties of private transport appeared both on the sea and in the sky.


    "That''s the S-92 model private helicopter, its price should have been 27 million US Dollars last year!"


    "The Airbus-365 model private helicopter¡ªthough it''s just slightly over 10 million US Dollars, its design is my favorite."


    ...


    Before long, the once vacant helipad was filled with all sorts of private helicopters. The cheapest among these helicopters were priced over 5 million US Dollars, and the most top-level ones were valued at more than 80 million, literally small Cities in the Sky.


    Suddenly, a huge vessel emerged on the distant sea, a titanic private yacht exceeding 500 feet in length, almost like a floating city on the sea!


    "That''s the ''Streets of Monaco''!" Suddenly, someone from the group of wealthy recognized the yacht.


    "What? Is this the streets of Monaco?"


    "I had only heard about it in the news, I never thought I''d actually see it in person today, I''m so lucky!"


    The appearance of this yacht had nearly all the billionaires in the port boiling with excitement. Even among them, not everyone could afford such a yacht.


    The streets of Monaco were created based on the Moroccan parks and contained not only luxurious suites, swimming pools, and saunas which are the standard in luxury buildings, but even casinos, hotels, lakes, and mini waterfalls were vividly presented on this yacht.


    You want a helicopter? This private yacht has one!


    You want a submarine? It''s here, too!


    On the streets of Monaco, it really had everything you could imagine and nothing you couldn''t.


    But the price was equally daunting, just the construction costs amounted to 1.1 billion US dollars! When the yacht company first unveiled the design blueprint, it took a full three years for anyone to dare to raise the price, and no one dared to fund the construction.


    After waiting for eight years, it finally found its owner a few years ago, a mega-rich man from Dubai. His name is Samar, the current King''s youngest son, and it was also his gift for his coming-of-age ceremony. Probably only in a land brimming with oil could someone dare to spend such a huge sum on a luxury like this.


    Hundreds of billionaires looked on with envious eyes at the yacht, as even for them, it was an extravagant luxury. After all, there are only a little over two thousand people in the entire world with a net worth of 1 billion US dollars.


    And who would use their entire fortune to buy such an ostentatious item? Only if they really had too much money to spend.


    Just as their astonishment had begun to subside, a shadow suddenly rose up alongside the "streets of Monaco." It was a steel beast over 250 meters in length, its main guns glistening coldly, asserting its dominance as the sovereign of the sea.


    "What is that?"


    "It''s huge! It''s even bigger than the ''streets of Monaco.'' Is it the latest model of a new yacht sold by some company?"


    "That''s not a yacht! That''s... that''s a warship!" a billionaire exclaimed with trembling hands holding his binoculars, "Damn it, it''s a destroyer!"


    "FUCK, what the hell is that?"


    "It must just be on a cruising mission passing by, right?"


    "No, it''s headed our way!" someone shouted, "Look, there are a few people on the deck, a few in formal wear!"


    Everyone passed around binoculars, and indeed, on the destroyer, there were two men and two women, four young people dressed in luxurious evening wear, holding wine glasses and enjoying the last warm glow of the setting sun.


    "Can you believe it? Some people are coming to the auction in a destroyer!"


    "If someone had told me this before, I would have thought they were crazy, but now I believe my own eyes."


    "How much does this thing cost? Ten billion? Twenty billion? Or thirty billion?"


    "I don''t know how much this thing costs; all I know is that in front of this warship, private planes, private yachts, all seem utterly trivial!"

 Chapter 206 204: Who is the Real Tycoon?

    Zhang Menglong''s destroyer had become the center of attention at the event, and everyone was curious about the young people aboard. Who were they to make such a high-profile appearance?


    Compared to the yacht "Streets of Monaco," the cost of the destroyer wasn''t much higher, but a yacht could be bought by anyone with money. A destroyer, on the other hand, even if you had the funds, would a country allow you to build one? The implication behind owning a destroyer clearly wasn''t on the same level.


    "It looks like there are a few Eastern people on that ship!" As the destroyer drew closer, someone finally made out the faces of Zhang Menglong and his companions.


    "Eastern people? Are they from Huaxia?" In their minds, of all the Eastern countries, probably only Huaxia possessed such mysterious power. But they were in Europe, and this was clearly a European destroyer. How had they managed to get their hands on it?


    "They''re coming over!"


    Because of the destroyer''s massive tonnage and deep draft, the surrounding waters of the island were all in the foresea area, where such a massive ship could not approach. Thus, the "Streets of Monaco" yacht and the destroyer both stopped hundreds of meters away from the island.


    Two helicopters accompanied by a loud roar headed toward the main island of the Bannal Islands. One of them belonged to the owner of the "Streets of Monaco," a private helicopter worth over 30 million US dollars.


    The other was still an active service armed helicopter! The missiles hanging on both sides and the machine gun gave an unsettling, chilling feeling to the onlookers.


    As is well known, except in some special areas, such private armaments are impossible for anyone to own. Even some decommissioned destroyers and armed helicopters would only be sold after all their weapons systems had been removed. Clearly, this was not the case!


    There was only one possibility ¡ª the country that owned the destroyer had lent it to the young people they had just seen. But could such national strategic-level weapons really be lent out? And not for combat, but clearly just for a show-off, which was beyond ordinary imagination!


    The two helicopters landed on the helipad almost simultaneously. A 22-year-old youth from Dubai descended from the golden helicopter, his attire and accessories exuding an air of wealth, and even his bodyguards and maids were quite remarkable.


    As for the other helicopter, it carried the two men and two women, the four Eastern people they had seen before.


    "Friend, your destroyer and armed helicopter are really cool!" The Dubai youth approached Zhang Menglong to greet him, immediately recognizing from the stance and attire of the four that Zhang Menglong was the dominant one.


    "Hahaha, just average, just average. Your ship and helicopter are not bad either," Zhang Menglong replied politely.


    "Holy shit, you even understand Dubai''s language?" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong in surprise.


    "Keep it down, keep it down, I''m proficient in all the world''s languages. This is just basic stuff, don''t be too surprised!" Zhang Menglong bragged.


    He glanced enviously at the yacht. To be honest, Zhang Menglong was quite interested in the "Streets of Monaco." If he could bring it back to Huaxia, it would be both stylish and ostentatious.


    Although he was very wealthy, having another one custom-built by that company was not a big problem, but it was said that building one would take three years, and Zhang Menglong couldn''t wait that long.


    "Hey, brother, let''s get acquainted. My name is Azik Samar, the youngest son of the King of Dubai," Azik introduced himself. "Are you the son of the Emperor of Huaxia?"


    Although he didn''t understand the Huaxia language, from the pronunciation and tone, Azik could roughly tell that the language Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong were speaking was Huaxian. In Azik''s mind, anyone capable of this must be from a royal family of a country.


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help laughing, "Our country abolished the monarchy over a hundred years ago, I''m just an ordinary citizen of Huaxia!"


    "Ordinary citizen?" Azik''s eyes widened, "Then where did you get this warship from?"


    "Oh, I borrowed it from the Queen of England," Zhang Menglong didn''t lie; the destroyer was indeed arranged by Hagen through the Queen of England.


    "How is that even possible? How could they lend such a thing to you?" Azik exclaimed, not knowing that even if Zhang Menglong had sailed the destroyer back to Huaxia, the Queen of England wouldn''t have dared to utter a single word about it.


    "What''s so difficult about that? All we have to do is fill it up with fuel and send it back," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    Black lines formed on Azik''s forehead, Fill it up with fuel... This is a destroyer, a battleship, not a car! Is this a joke?


    But he also knew that Zhang Menglong probably didn''t want to reveal the real reason, so he naturally wouldn''t bother asking more about it.


    In his mind, the mysteriousness of Huaxia suddenly climbed several levels; naturally, he didn''t believe that Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary citizen of Huaxia. He probably had a deep understanding of Huaxia''s hidden dragons and crouching tigers by now.


    "By the way, brother," Zhang Menglong leaned in, "Oh, by the way, my name is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang, it''s an honor to meet you. You''re welcome to visit our beautiful Dubai anytime!" Azik shook hands with Zhang Menglong, "I will make sure to prepare the best guest room and the most delicious food for you!"


    Getting to know someone like Zhang Menglong indeed made Azik very happy.


    "Definitely!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "By the way, Azik, this yacht of yours is quite impressive!"


    "Hahaha, this little thing cost quite a sum!" Azik excitedly began, "It was an adult gift from my father many years ago, built at the cost of 1.1 billion US dollars, and with the interior settings, the total value surpasses 2 billion, it''s truly one-of-a-kind in this world!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhang Menglong marveled, "How about we discuss something?"


    "Zhang, just say it!"


    "Is this yacht for sale?"


    Azik was dumbfounded all of a sudden; until now, no one had ever had the audacity to outright ask to buy his yacht, "Zhang, what did you say?"


    "I want to buy your yacht, and I definitely won''t let you suffer in the price. It cost 2 billion US dollars, how about 3 billion US dollars?"


    "It''s not that... you..." Azik suddenly lost his ability to speak.


    He was a Dubai native! The kind of place where oil flows from taps! The most cherished son of a king from a wealthy nation, he had always been the one showing off his wealth; when had it ever been his turn to have someone flaunt their wealth in front of him?


    Zhang Menglong openly added a billion dollars, it was literally a challenge to their Dubai wealth!


    "If that''s not enough, 4 billion is also acceptable, or even 5 billion!" Zhang Menglong, as if scared Azik would refuse, kept increasing the price, "If not, name your price, I absolutely won''t bargain!"


    "This conversation isn''t going anywhere!" Azik suddenly didn''t know who he was anymore, where he was, or what he was doing?


    Having just chatted with a person for a moment, he was already stunned by the money thrown at him. He really wanted to ask Zhang Menglong, who really is the wealthiest here?

 Chapter 207 205: Your Company Actually Has My Shares

    "My friend, this isn''t about the money, the last thing we lack in Dubai is money!" Azik said. As a member of the Royal Family, he had been living in Rome since he was born, so money really didn''t mean much to him.


    Every day, the people of Dubai merely go to the oil field valves, either turning them left to shut them off or right to open them. When they want to buy something, they just let a bit of oil flow. Life is just that mundane.


    But this young man from Huaxia made him realize that there are always bigger fish!


    "How about this, I''ll trade this thing with you!" Zhang Menglong, seeing the reluctance on Azik''s face, pointed at the destroyer and said, "This thing cost even more than your destroyer. I''ll also throw in all the equipment and weapons on board. How about that?"


    "Zhang... you... this..." Azik had never met someone like this. A person who smashes money in your face when words fail, and now he wanted to trade a destroyer for his yacht. What on earth was going through this man''s mind?


    Not to mention that this destroyer was actually borrowed, even if it was really his own, this thing would probably get bombarded the moment it entered his territorial waters!


    Suddenly, he thought of something utterly alarming: wasn''t this destroyer a gift from the Queen of England? Then it should belong to the country of England! But now, this area of sea was under the jurisdiction of Frankfurt!


    How could the people of Frankfurt allow a destroyer from England into their territory? Was there anything more absurd than this? Weren''t they afraid that the destroyer might suddenly go berserk and start a massacre within their borders?


    "Zhang, I have no use for this destroyer. I don''t even have anyone to sail it back to Dubai. Let''s just forget about this, Zhang. You''re so rich, just have someone build another one."


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong sighed, realizing that Azik truly was unwilling to sell his yacht. Zhang Menglong was somewhat disappointed.


    "Mr. Zhang, getting Azik to comply isn''t difficult!" Ye Yin suddenly said.


    "You have a way?"


    "Haha, Mr. Zhang, those oil fields and wells in Dubai are actually yours!" Ye Yin revealed a fact that was quite astounding to Zhang Menglong.


    "What? Can you explain that a bit more?"


    "Hehe, a long time ago, your ancestors had already detected huge resources beneath that land, so they had acquired those areas through force and money. You just let the people of Dubai drill for oil because you rather kindly wanted to give them some shares as compensation for their hard work."


    While Dubai appeared wealthy, in actuality, they only received 20% of the income from these oil fields. The remaining 80% went entirely into Zhang Family''s wealth.


    "I was uninformed," Zhang Menglong sneered. "Forget it then, if it''s not for sale, it''s not for sale. It''s not like I absolutely have to buy it. Just getting an aircraft carrier and refitting it would be several times more impressive than this ''Morocco,'' right?"


    "Mr. Zhang! I''ve been waiting for you for a long time. I''m so glad you''re finally here!" Just then, a hurriedly arriving person broke the slightly awkward atmosphere.


    "Zhang, you have a friend here, we''ll talk later." Finally finding a chance to excuse himself, Azik quickly moved away from Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Poladi, long time no see!" The person who had arrived was none other than the ''Wealthiest Man in the World,'' whom Zhang Menglong had met once before.


    "Here, let me introduce you," Poladi began, pointing to several people with him, "This gentleman here is..."


    "Bila Gates, I know, one of the past ''Wealthiest Men in the World''!" Zhang Menglong recognized Poladi''s companion instantly.


    "And you are Mr. Arnold, Mr. Ellison, Miss Walton, and Mr. Walton!"


    Today, everyone who came with Poladi turned out to be among the top ten on the Forbes billionaires list, none of whom had a net worth below 50 billion US dollars!


    "Old friends, this is Mr. Zhang!" Poladi introduced.


    "Damn, he wouldn''t really expect me to give them an economics lecture, right?" Zhang Menglong was speechless at once. Each one of them was a big shot, and many had risen from nothing. In any school around the world, they all could be honorary professors. Just looking at them instinctively made him nervous.


    "What''s going on?" Wang Ling was also dumbfounded. Although his father was rich, there was still a considerable gap compared to these tycoons. Just facing them like this made him somewhat nervous.


    "Poladi, who are these few..."


    "Oh, they have long admired Mr. Zhang, so they asked me to introduce them, hoping to consult with you on some business matters."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t even said anything yet when Wang Ling had already started cursing. From what he had observed over the past few months, Menglong knew nothing about business. His problem-solving methods were always very simple and crude, either buying someone out or spending money to eliminate competitors. Discussing business with such a person seemed ridiculous.


    "No, no, no, I really don''t understand any of this!" Zhang Menglong quickly demurred.


    "Mr. Zhang, we truly come to seek your advice," Bila Gates said, "Although you might think you are young and not very knowledgeable yet, your background naturally nurtures and comes with it. We are just hoping to get inspired by you."


    "Is that so?" Leave it to the former world''s richest man to make Zhang Menglong understand his intent¡ªthey were well aware that at his age, Zhang Menglong hardly had any commercial experience.


    He didn''t, but his elders did! Zhang Menglong was inevitably influenced to some extent, an influence that showed in his words and actions, from which they hoped to find some inspiration. That was their actual purpose!


    But in reality, Zhang Menglong had learned nothing from his elders!


    "Okay then, ask away!" Since that was the case, Zhang Menglong was somewhat reluctantly willing.


    "We''d like to know which areas does Mr. Zhang''s family business cover? If it''s okay to ask that," they inquired.


    "Hmm... everything!


    "What?" The tycoons were momentarily baffled. Having succeeded by focusing on specific fields, they wondered, wasn''t doing everything a recipe for mediocrity? How then did he amass such a massive fortune?


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong remembered something, "No, not everything!"


    Hearing this, the tycoons'' expressions eased somewhat.


    "Those illegal and chaotic things, we don''t do; those offensive movies, I don''t make; and any business related to pimping or brothels, I don''t run!"


    "Who the hell asked if you do those!" Everyone wanted to say that. Even if he were involved in such things, how much could he possibly earn? Could Zhang Menglong become richer than Poladi by doing these?


    "Mr. Zhang, could you tell us how much your assets really amount to?" Arnold curiously asked, which was everyone''s point of curiosity.


    "Uh..." This question was something Zhang Menglong truly couldn''t answer.


    After a moment of thought, he said, "I can''t tell you the exact number, but I can tell you, I own 37% of Mr. Bila''s SoftBank, 28.6% of Mr. Arno''s LVMH, 43.1% of Mr. Ellison''s company, and 34% of Walmart shares."

 Chapter 208 206: Its That Simple and Rude

    The words were startling, and everyone''s expressions froze in place; they hadn''t expected that their mere curiosity would elicit such a revelation. Such a shareholding proportion would absolutely make them the largest shareholders in any of their companies, yet they knew nothing about it!


    "After we go back, we must thoroughly verify this!" Everyone silently took note of it in their hearts.


    "So, Mr. Zhang, what''s your take on war in the business world? Or to put it another way, what methods would you use to defeat your enemies in the realm of business competition?"


    "It''s quite simple!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "If it''s a public company, just throw money to acquire shares, if a 10% premium doesn''t work then offer 20%, if 20% doesn''t work then 30%, and if that still doesn''t work, double it, super double it! As long as all the company''s shares are yours, there''s no competition left!"


    A few of them looked dumbfounded. What the hell kind of strategy was this? It was just throwing money around! Did it have to be so simplistic and brutal?


    "What if it''s a completely private enterprise?"


    "Then headhunt, offer double the salary, throw in a car and a house, and dig out all their people! An empty-shell company is worthless!"


    "Oh, fuck!"


    Several world-class tycoons were dumbstruck by Zhang Menglong''s remarks; his approach was beyond their realm of knowledge!


    Acquisitions and headhunting are the most common strategies in industry competition, but they presuppose sufficient capital, not to mention whether the other party is willing to comply.


    But Huaxia had an apt saying, "With money, you can make the devil turn the millstone; if you have a bit more money, you can even make the millstone turn the devil!" If you want to acquire someone''s shares, a 10% or 20% premium might not be enticing, but if you bombard them with double or triple that, anyone who doesn''t sell is a fool!


    Indeed, holding certain capital long-term might yield far more than double or triple the returns after many years, but it''s a lengthy process. If you now possess two to three times the capital, you can certainly pursue more lucrative investments!


    Even these wealthy magnates would find it hard to resist the temptation if someone offered to buy their shares at double the price.


    The same goes for headhunting! But their typical headhunting would at most snag a few individuals of significant status and importance, whereas Zhang Menglong aimed to poach an entire company''s workforce. This wasn''t business competition; this was hooliganism! However, there has never been a rule saying you can''t headhunt, nor a limit on the number you can recruit.


    But regardless of the approach, it must all be based on the foundation of profitability. Leaving aside whether you have the money to support such thuggish business tactics, if you spend all your money buying shares and headhunting staff, what will happen to the company''s future development?


    "Mr. Zhang, we all understand what you''re saying," Bila Gates said, laughing somewhat awkwardly. They suddenly felt there might be something wrong with asking Zhang Menglong these questions, as his logic operated on a completely different dimension from theirs, "But won''t such business competition be too costly?"


    Zhang Menglong replied bluntly, "As long as you have enough money, to kill off your strongest competitor, are you afraid you won''t earn back the money you''ve invested? Although there''s the Monopoly Law, there are still many ways to operate, right?"


    Zhang Menglong simply recounted his strategy of dealing with NetEase Music, leaving the group of top-level tycoons agape with astonishment.


    Purchasing the music rights of all musicians outright, poaching the entire staff of a company¡ªcould these bold moves really be made by humans?


    "But Mr. Zhang, you''ve spent so much money on acquiring rights, and even significantly raised employment costs. Your profits might not cover the expenses even in ten years, and these costs will increase year by year. You''re not making any money!" Walton pointed out Zhang Menglong''s flaw sharply.


    Indeed, many years later, when Zhang Menglong''s enterprise completely dominated the music market, they would set the market rules, controlling the market with ease.


    But this had a lifecycle, it wasn''t achieved overnight. Even saying it would take ten years was an understatement. How many decades does one have to waste? It''s utterly meaningless!


    "You guys, don''t be so vulgar," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Do you know why I wanted to acquire Wangyi Cloud? Because their boss annoyed me! I felt good after taking down his company, and when I''m in a good mood, my health is good, and with good health, I can live another ten years!"


    "What kind of logic is that?" The crowd was taken aback.


    "Besides, if I have the money to acquire them, do you think I care about this expense?" Zhang Menglong started speaking in Underworld lingo again, "Humans shouldn''t always be after money. You can''t comprehend my realm simply because you''re not wealthy enough! At my level, I''ve lost interest in money. What''s the point in spending more or less, earning more or less? The most important thing is to be happy!"


    "Cough cough cough!" A few tycoons choked at Zhang Menglong''s words, "You''re not wealthy enough." Each of them featured on the Forbes rankings, and some had even topped the list of the world''s richest. And Zhang Menglong was suggesting they... weren''t wealthy enough?


    Moreover, Zhang Menglong claimed to have no interest in money at all. The last person to say this was also an entrepreneur from Huaxia. Have the Huaxia people really become so wealthy? Could it be that their status as a developing country is a scam, and everyone in Huaxia is silently making a fortune?


    Zhang Menglong never expected that his offhand remarks would completely overturn these tycoons'' perception of Huaxia.


    "Mr. Zhang''s words... really have been very enlightening..."


    "Um, we have some other matters to attend to, so we''ll be taking our leave first."


    "Yes, yes, yes, we need to meet a few more friends. We''ll come back to seek Mr. Zhang''s advice when we''re free!"


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, they fled as if they had seen a ghost. Continuing the conversation might even lead them to doubt whether they were the poor ones. Could the Forbes rankings be playing a joke on them?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong pointed to the backs of the retreating tycoons and said, "Poladi, you can''t blame me for this. They wanted to hear about my experiences, and I was just honestly sharing."


    Poladi immediately showed a helpless wry smile, knowing full well that everything Zhang Menglong said was true, without any exaggeration. But that was exactly why nobody could handle it!


    "Mr. Poladi, I think your friends'' hearts have suffered a severe shock. You should probably go and comfort them," Wang Ling joked from the side.


    "Then, I''ll excuse myself for a moment. Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang, please feel free to continue."


    ...


    "Tsk, they''re supposed to be on the world Forbes rankings, yet they can''t handle a little provocation!" Wang Ling said with a hint of disdain.


    Ever since he met Zhang Menglong, he had been subjected to a daily dose of Versailles literature to the point where he was becoming immune to Zhang Menglong''s flamboyant maneuvers. These people got upset after just a few minutes; their psychological resilience was indeed too weak.

 Chapter 209 209: 207 Rothschild Family Master

    Zhang Menglong''s conversation with those wealthy businessmen had attracted quite a few onlookers, but because of the language barrier and some distance, bystanders couldn''t make out exactly what had been said.


    However, given their hasty and embarrassed departure, some people wondered if they had also suffered at the hands of Zhang Menglong.


    "I remember now, he''s that Huaxia guy named Zhang Menglong!" Finally, someone recognized Zhang Menglong.


    "Is he that same Huaxia guy who nearly crashed the economy of Qingqiu Country? He looks so young, though?"


    "Hahaha, I still remember that song, ''Just like this, steam-cooked by you!''"


    "Friend, you got it wrong, it''s ''Just by the sunlight, you conquered me!''"


    "No no no, it''s ''Just this dame, conquered by you!''"


    ...


    Confirming Zhang Menglong''s identity, it seemed not too far-fetched that he could acquire a destroyer and discomfit the world''s top-level rich folks, making them leave crestfallen.


    But this brought even more attention to Zhang Menglong. An individual with the halo of "the real world''s richest man" was bound to be the focal point wherever he went.


    "Let''s go, we should head to the venue!" Zhang Menglong felt somewhat embarrassed by these gazes.


    "Sure!" The group nodded and, led by an employee of the Rothschild family, they boarded the shuttle service between the hotel and the port, heading towards the hotel.


    "Let''s all go too!"


    "Yeah, there shouldn''t be anyone else particularly special showing up!"


    Having seen such an entrance, no matter what other ways there might be, it was unlikely that anything would surprise these wealthy individuals again; and with the evening event about to start, everyone headed straight back to the hotel.


    By this time, the hotel was bustling with people. Guests who had come for the auction tidied their rooms and had all gathered on the hotel''s private beach.


    With fine wines, gourmet dishes, music, and lighting - although somewhat envious - there was none of the bar''s noise and chaos. Surrounded by well-dressed tycoons in suits and their female companions, the place had turned into a large, top-level social gathering.


    Zhang Menglong and the others casually found a spot and gradually immersed themselves in the elegant atmosphere around them.


    "Wow, there really are a lot of people!" Wang Ling looked around at the crowd, "Hey hey hey, look, isn''t that Kristen from Twilight City?"


    Zhang Menglong followed Wang Ling''s gaze and indeed, not far away, a blonde beauty was laughing and chatting with several tycoons, one of whom looked vaguely familiar to him, seemingly a big shot in the energy business.


    "What''s so strange about that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "In such a setting, it''s normal to bring a presentable female companion. If you had the money, wouldn''t international movie stars be at your disposal to choose from?"


    "Look there!" Zhang Menglong pointed in another direction, "Emma from Harry Potter! And there''s AnnaSophia..."


    "She is indeed! Even more beautiful in person than on camera!" Wang Ling didn''t hide his admiration at all; in Western countries, praising someone stealthily was regarded as creepier behavior.


    "Here it comes!" Just then, a commotion arose around them, and a path wide enough for three to five people to walk through suddenly opened up in the crowd. A middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties, walked over from the nearby hotel with a slight smile on his face.


    "Who''s that!" Zhang Menglong asked, "What a grand entrance!"


    "I don''t recognize him either," Wang Ling couldn''t remember where he had seen that face before. Logically speaking, someone who could make those top-tier tycoons give way and clear a path should not be an unknown minor figure.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is Biros Rothschild, the second son of the current head of the Rothschild family. He is in charge of organizing this auction," Ye Yin immediately introduced to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh, a member of the Rothschild family, no wonder," Zhang Menglong said, showing a look of realization. Although none of the members of the Rothschild family appear on the Forbes rankings, that doesn''t mean anything. The wealth and power of this family are enough to rival a nation!


    Under the gaze of thousands of eyes, Biros did not head directly to the chairman''s stage but walked straight in the direction of Zhang Menglong.


    "Look, Mr. Biros is walking towards that Easterner over there!"


    "That face looks familiar, why do I feel like I''ve seen it somewhere before?"


    "That''s Zhang Menglong! Have you forgotten? He was in the international news not long ago. It''s said that his grandfather was the instigator of that economic crisis in the 20th century."


    "Really? Is that true?"


    "Shush! It''s very likely true! A few countries questioned the matter at the time, even publicly ridiculed and insulted, and later, a dozen of those countries experienced sudden economic turmoil. Especially in Qingqiu Country, you must have heard about their issues, right?"


    "There''s actually such a powerful figure in Huaxia?"


    ...


    Suddenly, the surrounding area burst into a buzz of conversation, and some even spread the news about Zhang Menglong arriving on the island on a destroyer. In an instant, Zhang Menglong became the person who attracted the most attention after Biros!


    Indeed, Biros eventually stopped in front of Zhang Menglong, and in his eyes flickered an indescribable excitement, as if he had met his idol.


    "You are Mr. Zhang Menglong, right?" Biros bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong under the astonished gaze of thousands.


    "Wow!" This gesture immediately triggered a wave of gasps.


    As a super-family, the mystique of the Rothschild family in Europe was just reflected in their familial ancestry, but they were active in political and business circles. Even when facing a head of state, the Rothschilds had never been so humble.


    "It is I," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, I wonder if the venue meets your satisfaction?" Biros asked carefully.


    "Hmm, not bad," nodded Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Biros, there''s no need to be so polite, you don''t need to mind me. Just go and attend to the other guests."


    "There''s no need for that!" declared Biros firmly. For the Rothschild family, they didn''t need to ingratiate themselves with anyone. Even with the world''s top-level tycoons present, there was still not a single one worth a second glance from Biros.


    Although this statement sounded somewhat grating, those present had to admit that members of the Rothschild family had the right to make such boastful and arrogant statements. Even more, these words didn''t feel out of place coming from their mouths.


    "Mr. Zhang, the Rothschild family is a branch of the Dorellas family, and since the Dorellas family are your servants, we naturally are as well. How could a servant not attend to their master?" Biros said earnestly.


    Biros did not lower his voice with that statement, as if it was meant for everyone present to hear.


    But this time, the room fell completely silent.


    Among them, hardly anyone recognized the Dorellas family, but what they heard was that a member of the Rothschild family was calling themselves a servant in front of this young man from the East! Could there be any news more shocking than this in the world?

 Chapter 210 208: Does Mr. Zhang Have Time Tonight?

    ```


    After a moment of silence came a buzz of noise, as everyone murmured quietly about Zhang Menglong''s origins.


    Initially, people knew him only as wealthy and high-profile, but now, a mysterious veil had been cast over him. The Rothschild family itself is a legend in Europe, and their master is quite simply a legend among legends.


    "Ma Hua, have you heard about this Zhang Menglong''s background?" A few of the gathered Huaxia tycoons were also whispering among themselves. Had Zhang Menglong been there, he would have certainly recognized these household names in Huaxia.


    The founder of Alibaba Group, Ma Yun, Tengxun''s Ma Hua, Baidu''s Li Hong, Pinduoduo''s Huang Zheng, and several other equally famous individuals were present, although they did not appear as frequently in Bilibili''s remix video section as the others.


    Ma Yun didn''t have many interactions with Zhang Menglong, but he had heard quite a bit about him, including that Ma Hua and Li Hong had suffered losses at his hands.


    "This guy is a monster!" That incident had never been mentioned by Ma Yun and Li Hong to anyone before, and this was the first time they were bringing it up in front of others.


    "That day, this guy just threw 500 billion US dollars in our faces, both at the same time! We then realized that this guy''s liquid assets were definitely above a trillion US dollars!" Remembering that experience, Ma Hua and Li Hong still felt a sense of powerlessness.


    "He even has connections with the Rothschild family, and is even honored as their master. The background of this kid is getting more and more opaque!"


    "Anyway, just don''t provoke him!" Ma Hua said, "President Ma, although your Alibaba is now big and exceeds us at Tengxun, if you provoke him, you might end up no better than Ding Sanshi and his son!"


    "Yeah, years of hard work, and someone turned it into a foot bath city just like that!" Saying this, they could not help but laugh.


    "Given the chance, I definitely want to get to know him!" Ma Yun wasn''t interested in money, but he was indeed intrigued by Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "It''s fine, you go ahead, Mr. Haigen has already arranged everything for me during my time in Europe!" Zhang Menglong was frankly overwhelmed by Byros''s enthusiasm.


    Byros suddenly laughed, "Indeed, with you in Europe, there''s really no need for us to look after you. Mr. Haigen must have already taken care of everything. That was thoughtless of me."


    "Since that''s the case, I''ll go ahead and make arrangements for tonight''s dinner!" Byros bowed again and took several steps backward before daring to turn his back on Zhang Menglong and walk towards the center of the crowd.


    Byros began his speeches, which, of course, probably went unheard as everyone''s attention remained fixed on Zhang Menglong for quite some time.


    Especially the young and beautiful international female stars, who looked as if they had found prey, their eyes sparkling with keenness. However, seeing Lu Yiyao by Zhang Menglong''s side, they felt somewhat disappointed.


    After finishing his speech, Byros left, greeting Zhang Menglong before he went. The rest of the evening was now for the guests to enjoy themselves.


    "As expected of the Rothschild family, this wine served to the guests is something even ordinary five-star hotels might not be able to get, and it''s provided unlimitedly. They really do things in a grand style!" Wang Ling swayed the wine glass in his hand, even though he wasn''t someone who could afford to drink such wine every day.


    "I don''t know what''s so good about this wine. Isn''t milk delicious?" Contrary to the surrounding people, the glass in Zhang Menglong''s hand was filled with pure milk. In such settings, probably only the children of the wealthy would choose milk.


    "Weird, why do I feel like someone''s been sneaking glances at me?" Zhang Menglong always felt something was off.


    "No shit, after the Rothschild guy gave you such support earlier, now everyone knows you''re amazing. How could they not be watching you?" Wang Ling, standing up with his girlfriend in his arms, said, "I better go elsewhere, if I stay by your side any longer, I''ll be killed by the stares!"


    "You''re full of it!" Zhang Menglong noticed Wang Ling''s restless hand, clearly, the guy had some urges after a few drinks, and was simply looking for an excuse to leave.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong didn''t do anything despicable. It''s understandable for young people to have vigorous vitality.


    "I''m going to change my clothes," Lu Yiyao said, having worn her gown for quite a while. Although it made her shine brilliantly, it was indeed inconvenient to move in and was getting tiring.


    ```


    "I''ll accompany you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "No need, I reckon there are quite a few people I still have to deal with!" Lu Yiyao said meaningfully as she glanced in a certain direction, where she saw several Huaxia tycoons with wine glasses in hand, looking eager and obviously wanting to strike up a conversation with Zhang Menglong.


    "Hello, beautiful!" Zhang Menglong beckoned to a female staff member nearby.


    "Sir, may I help you with anything?" The hotel owner had just earlier made a point of instructing that Mr. Zhang was a very esteemed guest, and they were to take good care of him.


    "Help me escort my girlfriend back to her room. It''s not very convenient for her to walk like this," Zhang Menglong said calmly as he took out a checkbook from his pocket and casually wrote a ''1'' followed by several zeroes.


    The staff member had never expected to get any benefit from Zhang Menglong. At such events, tipping was indeed common, and these wealthy individuals were all very generous, with tips usually starting from a few hundred euros, and some even receiving tips of 5000 euros from that prince from Dubai.


    But tearing out checks like Zhang Menglong was doing was a whole different style altogether. There are people who write checks for business deals, but who has ever seen tips given by check?


    However, when the staff member saw the string of zeroes, her hands began to tremble. It was a check from Frankfurt Bank denominated in euros, and the amount Zhang Menglong had written was 100,000!


    "Sir, did you possibly write one too many zeroes?" she asked.


    "It''s fine, I just wrote it casually, didn''t count the zeroes," he replied.


    "Didn''t count?" The girl''s eyes widened. Could Zhang Menglong be any more capricious? If he wrote a few more zeroes, that would be millions of euros!


    "Thank you, sir!" The girl was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. "I''ll take the miss to her room right away!"


    "Go ahead. If you''re tired, you can sleep first; I''ll come up to join you in at most an hour," Zhang Menglong said, having just experienced the pleasures of men and women, he couldn''t wait to stick by Lu Yiyao''s side every day.


    "Mhm," Lu Yiyao nodded obediently and followed the staff member.


    ...


    Zhang Menglong picked up the wine glass filled with milk and greeted Ma Hua and the others with a smile. Even though he had dealt with them more than once before, it had always been over the phone. This was the first time Zhang Menglong was meeting them in person.


    And the same went for Ma Yun and others; Zhang Menglong was also meeting them for the first time, having only seen them on the news and Baidu before.


    But at that moment, a glass of red wine was placed on Zhang Menglong''s table, and a blond, blue-eyed European beauty sat down beside him with a smile.


    Ma Yun and the others were taken aback and immediately showed a helpless smile. It seemed that, in such a setting, speaking with Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to be that simple.


    "Kristen?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect the one who showed up out of the blue was Kristen, who had played the lead actress in "Twilight City," "You know me?"


    "Hehe, I didn''t before, but after today, I don''t think there''s anyone here who doesn''t know you," Kristen said with a smile.


    "Is there something you need, Miss Kristen?"


    Kristen flicked her golden hair and gave an enchanting smile, speaking in a rather bold tone, "Mr. Zhang, are you available tonight?"


    "What the heck!" Zhang Menglong''s head spun. Kristen was a goddess-level figure to men all over the world, and she had just made such a bold proposal to him!


    He couldn''t help but exclaim, "Holy shit! You foreigners really know how to play, huh?"

 Chapter 211 209: She just asked me if I was free tonight

    Faced with Zhang Menglong''s slightly frivolous sigh, Kristen not only didn''t get angry, but her smile became even more brilliant. She licked her flame-like hot red lips, and the charm about her grew even richer.


    "It''s a great honor for me to be friends with an outstanding man like Mr. Zhang," Kristen said as she sat down beside Zhang Menglong, a breath of her high-class perfume making Zhang Menglong momentarily lose focus, her hand also resting on Zhang Menglong''s leg.


    "Damn! Be friends with me? That''s definitely you lusting over my body!" Zhang Menglong saw through it all in an instant.


    "Miss Kristen, it seems you''ve been observing me all along." Having been through the gauntlet of internet celebrities and a clutch of European princesses, Zhang Menglong''s resistance to women had increased somewhat; he shifted his body slightly, made some adjustments below the belt, and quickly recovered.


    "Oh, it''s not just me," Kristen laughed, "I just made a bet with Emma that today you''d be willing to visit someone''s room, or perhaps, all three of us together!"


    Having said that, Kristen threw another coquettish glance at Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong looked toward Emma Watson and indeed, she was also giving him the eye, even intentionally pulling down the neckline of her dress by an inch, revealing that captivating curve.


    "Damn, do Europeans play this openly?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily speechless. Compared to the women of Huaxia, these European goddesses were even more unrestrained!


    "Miss Kristen, if you''ve been paying attention, you should know that I have a girlfriend!"


    "Giggle, giggle, giggle..." Kristen let out a string of laughter like ringing bells, as if what Zhang Menglong had said was hilariously amusing, "Mr. Zhang, we''re just having a bit of fun, it''s not like we''re dating. Plus, I have a boyfriend too!"


    "Damn, such a messy circle!" Zhang Menglong had just seen Kristen being all lovey-dovey with that energy tycoon, and now it turned out she had a boyfriend. Does she think she''s all that, and does her mom know about this?


    "What an era we live in, Mr. Zhang''s thoughts are still so conservative," Kristen pressed close to Zhang Menglong''s face, "Could it be that Mr. Zhang only has one woman? Then you''re truly a rare breed of purity in this world!"


    "Young people these days sure know how to play!" From the angle where Ma Yun and others were standing, it looked as though Zhang Menglong and Kristen were kissing. At their age, it was hard for them to accept such a scene.


    Even Ma Hua and Li Hong couldn''t help but cover their eyes. They might not be the types to fool around with a lot of women, but they definitely wouldn''t be so brazen about it.


    "Looks like we''ll have to wait a while longer!"


    "Hahaha, maybe we won''t even get our turn tonight!" Ma Hua pointed in another direction, where Emma too was holding a glass of red wine and walking their way. Clearly, she was also targeting Zhang Menglong.


    Even for men their age, those two goddess-level actresses were very charming. They couldn''t believe that a young, virile man like Zhang Menglong could resist such a temptation. Maybe he would be drawn into their Silk Cave before long.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve long admired your reputation!" Compared to Kristen''s natural flirting, Emma seemed more like a straightforward, carefree tomboy. Of course, her innate sex appeal and beauty were undeniable. Back when Zhang Menglong watched "Harry Potter," he couldn''t help but pay a lot of attention to her.


    Many child stars look cute when they''re young but grow up to be less attractive. However, Emma was definitely one of those women who became more enchanting as they matured.


    "How so, Miss Emma? You know me?" Zhang Menglong clinked glasses with her, "Don''t tell me you''ve only come to know me today?"


    "Not at all!" Emma said, "I noticed Mr. Zhang the first time you appeared with Mr. Poladi in the World Economy Weekly. I''m really interested to find out what kind of person could command such respect from the richest man in the world, and even have such impressive elders."


    "But they all think I''m an idiot," Zhang Menglong helplessly spread his hands.


    "Turns out, they''re the idiots," Emma said the word ''idiots'' with an awkward twist, which did amuse Zhang Menglong a bit.


    "If you two keep chatting, you''ll end up in bed together. Can you please spare a thought for my existence?" Kristen interrupted when she saw Zhang Menglong and Emma getting along so well, clearly not so happy. Shouldn''t her charm be at least on par with Emma''s?


    Only, she didn''t understand that for Zhang Menglong, aside from Lu Yiyao, other women were just women. Even goddesses. It was only because Emma was indeed quite humorous and witty that he was willing to chat with her more.


    "Miss Emma, you''re not here to ask if I''m free tonight too, are you?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    "So, what would Mr. Zhang''s answer be?" Emma also looked at Zhang Menglong with seductive eyes.


    "I''ve heard Mr. Zhang is the most important guest here today, I wonder if I have the honor to make his acquaintance?" Just as they were getting into their conversation, a somewhat uncomfortable voice interrupted them.


    This was a tall and straight young man, handsome and dignified. If you had to describe him, you could probably only use ''Prince'' from the phone conversation. At least in Huaxia, such a person would attract countless adoring glances if he appeared on the street.


    But Zhang Menglong felt a strong sense of greasiness from this man. Perhaps he should participate in the "Chase the Light, Bro" variety show to cut down on the grease. He believed Teacher Jin Xing''s evaluation would be unforgettable for him.


    "Who are you?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the young European, noting the disgusted looks both Kristen and Emma showed the young man.


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly had an epiphany. He remembered that last year, a Prince from England expressed his admiration for Emma Watson but was rejected. She even became the first female star to reject a Prince from England.


    When the media interviewed her, Emma simply said, "I just rejected a person I don''t like, who happens to be a Prince, that''s all."


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t misremembered, this young man was that Prince, apparently named Harrison.


    "Let me introduce myself, I''m Harrison Willy," Harrison showed off what he thought was a very charming smile, "Emma, it''s been a long time since we last saw each other."


    "Prince Harrison, if I remember correctly, we just met on set three days ago. Please don''t come to my workplace looking for me again, it really affects my filming!" Emma showed no hint of softening her rejection of Harrison.


    But Harrison seemed accustomed to this cold shoulder, "Emma, why do you always reject me so? You know, if you were willing to be with me, with my resources, I could surely further your career!"


    "Sorry, I have no interest in you," Emma moved closer to Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, let''s continue to talk about ''Three-Body.'' I''m very interested in this movie and would even hope to join the filming of subsequent works if there''s a chance."


    Zhang Menglong was smart enough to see how impatient Emma was with this Prince Harrison. Moreover, he was talking to a beautiful woman when Harrison interrupted and even now acted as if he were invisible flirting in front of him. This was too much of a slight!


    "Oh, now I remember," Zhang Menglong suddenly slapped his thigh, "You were rejected by her!"


    Harrison''s expression changed abruptly, he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to be so undiplomatic and to jab directly at his sore spot. A Prince being rejected in pursuit, that was a huge deal. This past year, Harrison had been ridiculed more than a little, and even the media had publicly executed him more than once.


    "Prince Harrison, is it?" Zhang Menglong spoke up, "Miss Emma just said she has no interest in you. She just asked me if I was free tonight, and I happen to have a very free evening, so please, Prince, do not disturb our time together!"

 Chapter 212 210: Go Ask Your Grandma Who I Am

    Harrison''s smile came to an abrupt halt. Although Zhang Menglong didn''t make it very clear, he was telling him that tonight, he, Zhang Menglong, would spend the night with Emma. As to what spending the night would entail, it was certainly not going to be just playing mahjong or cards; as adults, they were all well aware of what such behaviors implied!


    As a prince, Harrison had been brought up with a golden key. In over twenty years, except for Emma, he had never been slighted by anyone, and even when he visited other countries, their diplomats always greeted him with obsequious smiles.


    Although Emma had always shown him attitude, he didn''t mind. In his heart, Emma would eventually belong to him, and her current behavior seemed to Harrison nothing more than the future princess throwing a tantrum at him.


    But aside from her, no one could infringe upon his dignity! Even if Zhang Menglong was wealthy, even if he was the Rothschild family''s most esteemed guest, this, too, was unshakable!


    The Rothschild family was indeed powerful, with the ability to influence Europe''s economy and politics, but that was limited to smaller nations.


    While England would indeed be affected, and the impact was significant, he believed that Zhang Menglong''s importance was definitely not great enough to make the entire Rothschild family antagonize them. Such a large conflict would not be a minor matter for the whole world and went against the Rothschild family''s long-standing approach of being low-key and detached.


    Zhang Menglong indeed had money, but that was only within Asia. He also didn''t believe that Zhang Menglong''s influence could extend to Europe. If that were the case, he might as well claim dominion over the entire Earth.


    Therefore, in Harrison''s view, Zhang Menglong was just "troublesome," not "untouchable"!


    "Mr. Zhang, a gentleman should not interrupt others'' conversation. This is basic etiquette!" Harrison said to Zhang Menglong with a hostile tone.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong instantly laughed, "If I remember correctly, it was originally me chatting with Miss Emma, and you suddenly interrupted us, right?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to Emma and said, "Miss Emma, didn''t you just ask me if I was free tonight? As it happens, I have brought a particularly beautiful bedsheet from Huaxia, and I would like to invite you to visit my room and take a look at my bedsheet!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s absurd remark, Emma''s face instantly turned a bright red. In fact, she wasn''t actually intending to do ''that'' with Zhang Menglong, and the same went for Kristen. They were more curious about this young man from Huaxia.


    They were very eager to find out how such a young individual came to possess so much wealth and what allowed him to make the Rothschild family, at the height of its influence, bow and scrape before him.


    Of course, if they really took a liking to Zhang Menglong during this process, they wouldn''t mind going further with him. Western women are naturally bold in love and hate. If the chemistry was right, leaving behind a wonderful memory together was not something out of the ordinary.


    Moreover, given Zhang Menglong''s wealth and background, he might even be able to assist in their careers, making such contacts all the more reasonable.


    Those earlier provocations were just their way of teasing Zhang Menglong to see if he was a man who thought with his lower body, but to their surprise, as a master of flirtatious talk, how could Zhang Menglong disappoint them? He was always ready with a cheeky remark, as he had already emptied Pinru''s closet of witty retorts.


    "Why not have Kristen join us as well? We might even engage in some group activities tonight. I''m quite the master of time management. After our exercise, I''ll return to my own room, and my girlfriend will definitely not find out!" Zhang Menglong switched into full banter mode, delivering these lines without so much as a change in his expression or a gasp for breath.


    But these words made Kristen and Emma blush beat red. They, of course, knew that Zhang Menglong''s words were meant for Harrison, but they were equally unable to parry Zhang Menglong''s remarks.


    "Alright then, let''s make it quick!" Emma just wanted to get rid of this pesky presence as soon as possible, so she agreed with Zhang Menglong''s proposal directly.


    "Hahaha, then off we go!" Zhang Menglong''s arms naturally wrapped around the waists of Kristen and Emma. It had to be said that both of their figures were excellently maintained, their skin around the waist incredibly smooth, almost devoid of any extra flesh.


    "Wait a minute!" Harrison''s expression had become very unsightly, "Mr. Zhang, aren''t you taking things too lightly with me?"


    "Oh, I apologize, I''m not very good with words. If I''ve offended you somewhere, why don''t you come and hit me, you motherfucker?" Zhang Menglong said, his greatest annoyance was with those who considered themselves extraordinary, acting as if they were the protagonists of the world, believing that everything should revolve around them.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t forget that this is Europe, not Huaxia!" Harrison''s tone now carried a hint of a threat.


    "Are you threatening me?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed again, a signature move when he was angry.


    "You can think of it that way!" Harrison said, "I know Mr. Zhang is quite capable in Huaxia, and I am aware that the Rothschild family is powerful, but Europe is so vast, the Rothschild family can''t possibly look after you all the time. In Europe, it''s not your turn to do whatever you want. There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''He who knows the times is a wise man.'' I hope Mr. Zhang won''t interfere in my affairs."


    "I''m sorry then, Prince Harrison," Zhang Menglong laughed, "even here in Europe, even if I don''t rely on the power of the Rothschild family, I can still do as I please! If you don''t believe me, why not check out the news from Frankfurt yesterday, see what I have done."


    Indeed, Harrison paid little attention to Frankfurt, but one of the royal guards who accompanied him leaned in and whispered, "Prince, I know about this. They say Zhang Menglong rounded up a bunch of psychopaths a few days ago, caused havoc in the entire Champs-Elyse?es Spring, resulting in billions of dollars in damages, and he was even investigated by the investigative bureau yesterday!"


    "Then how come he''s still here today?" Harrison wondered. After causing such a huge incident, even a Huaxia person would definitely face local legal punishment.


    "I''m not sure about the details, but it seems to have involved the Ministry of National Defense of Frankfurt; in the end, the investigator performed a pole dance to apologize to Zhang Menglong and sent him out of the investigative bureau politely. This incident was no small shake-up in Frankfurt!"


    "He has influence over Frankfurt''s Ministry of National Defense?" Harrison suddenly felt that his understanding of Zhang Menglong was still too superficial.


    "If you still don''t believe me, why not call your granny and ask just who the hell I am!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Oh right, did you see that Destroyer when you arrived?"


    "That was brought here by you?" Just now, Harrison had been wondering why his own Destroyer had come into Frankfurt''s waters, even nearing the island where the auction was being held.


    "That was lent to me by your granny. She originally wanted to gift it to me, I refused, and she almost ended up crying," Zhang Menglong said, "Oh right, one more thing, your sister, Princess Shana, she''s scrubbing toilets at my place. I advise you to stop putting on airs; before you show off, you better find out exactly who you''re dealing with!"

 Chapter 213 211 I Can Really Do Whatever I Want

    "That destroyer was lent to you by my grandmother? And she''s giving it to you?" Harrison''s face was full of astonishment. To build a vessel of this magnitude required much more than just a few billion US dollars.


    Docks, maintenance personnel, and supporting equipment and facilities, all these minor details together approached nearly ten billion US dollars, even for a developed country like England, it was not an amount of money readily available.


    At the time it took to build these few destroyers, the nation had tightened its belt, using a large amount of resources and manpower to construct this one destroyer. Although its value might not rival that of an aircraft carrier, it was still extremely important, even indispensable to the territorial sea force.


    Such an item, the Queen of England suddenly wanted to give away? And Zhang Menglong should cry if she didn''t want it? Wasn''t this ridiculous?


    However, that very destroyer was now stationed a few kilometers out at sea, even the weapons were untouched. Harrison had every reason to believe that Zhang Menglong''s credibility was well over fifty percent!


    As for his sister, Princess Shana, she was the queen''s most beloved princess. Naturally beautiful and charismatic, she had resources from childhood that even he, as a prince, could not match. Because of this, Harrison had complained more than once during his childhood why he, a prince, was considered less important than his sister. Was the throne going to be inherited by a woman in the future?


    Because of all this, Harrison had many conflicts with Shana, but they always ended with him being punished, which he never understood why.


    Late, a captain of the royal guard who had raised Harrison disclosed to him the background story. Shana''s birth was not meant for inheriting the English throne but for the possibility that one day she could marry a significant figure, someone all of Europe would want to ally with!


    Not only Shana, but the other 37 princesses born in this generation were born for such a fate.


    Just a few days ago, he had discovered that his sister Shana was missing, and upon inquiry, he found out that Shana had been sent to that mysterious significant figure''s house, even the high-ranking people in the royal family were praying that Shana could catch the eye of that important person.


    And what Zhang Menglong had just spoken about, was he implying that he was that significant person?


    "Impossible! That''s preposterous!" Harrison shook his head.


    If it was said that Princess Shana was being sent to someone to forge a marriage alliance, he completely believed it. After all, in Europe, such roles as princesses were plenty, and many needed the royal family to bond affinity to integrate and share resources, a practice not rare in history.


    But Zhang Menglong claiming that Princess Shana was scrubbing toilets in his house, wasn''t that nonsense? A princess reduced to scrubbing toilets¡ªwho would believe such a thing?


    "You don''t believe?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and made a call to the manor''s butler. "Old Butler, do me a favor, please take a couple of photos of Princess Shana, or a video would do too, and send it to me."


    Soon, a video was sent to Zhang Menglong''s phone. He opened the video and showed it directly to Harrison.


    In the video, there was a very beautiful girl wearing a maid''s outfit, vigorously scrubbing the inner walls of a toilet in a lavishly decorated restroom, comparable to a palace.


    The girl radiated a quality unlike ordinary people, which did not match her maid attire at all.


    Harrison recognized her in an instant--that was his sister, Princess Shana. She was really somewhere unknown scrubbing toilets! Zhang Menglong was not spouting nonsense!


    "Who exactly is he!" A wave of panic suddenly surged in Harrison''s heart, remembering the queen once told him that he was an incredibly significant person. Even mighty England, if it provoked this person, could face the possibility of national ruin!


    The two goddess-like girls beside Zhang Menglong were shocked by Zhang Menglong''s legendary-like experiences. Of course, they could not be certain if it was all true, but at the very least, they saw that Harrison was dumbfounded.


    Could the Queen of England treat him so humbly if he were really just a wealthy second-generation from Huaxia?


    "No, I must find out!" Harrison didn''t give up until he reached a dead-end and immediately dialed the Queen''s contact.


    "Harrison? Weren''t you representing the Royal Family at the auction co-hosted by the Rothschild family? Shouldn''t you be pestering that Emma of yours by now? How do you still have time to check on this old woman?"


    A somewhat time-worn voice came from the other end, but the spirit of the voice was vibrant. The Queen of England was of an advanced age, but her health was still robust.


    "Grandma, I saw one of our English destroyers here, what''s going on?" Harrison asked cautiously, holding his breath and becoming exceedingly tense.


    "You saw it?" A more tense voice came from the other end, "So he really did attend the auction too, Harrison, you must be careful there. If you encounter the occupant of that destroyer, you must be extremely polite, even more so than towards me! He is probably a young man around twenty years old, and you must not misidentify him!"


    Upon hearing this, Harrison was utterly dumbfounded, "Grandma, who exactly is he?"


    "Don''t ask who he is," the Queen seemed reluctant to reveal Zhang Menglong''s identity, "Just remember, this man is someone the countries of all Europe combined can''t afford to offend. The very Rothschild family hosting tonight''s banquet are merely his servants, his slaves!"


    The Queen continued, "If you have the chance to meet him, it will be an enormous opportunity. If not, you must absolutely avoid offending him, or else, even you, I will have to expel from the Royal Family!"


    Harrison put down the phone, his face turning deathly pale; he could never have imagined that what Zhang Menglong had just said was all true!


    "Prince Harrison, I think you must understand by now, the words I just said, I didn''t lie about a single one," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "And also, the words I just said, I''ll repeat them again, in Europe, I really can do whatever I want!"


    "Mr. Zhang... I''m sorry... I..." Harrison suddenly became extremely embarrassed; his head was echoing with the statement that if he offended Zhang Menglong, he would be expelled from the English Royal Family!


    For Harrison, this was absolutely the most brutal punishment!


    "You what? Now you know to be afraid?" Zhang Menglong was in a good mood today and had no spare time to waste with Harrison.


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope you can forgive my behavior just now." Harrison said respectfully.


    "Enough, stay away from Miss Emma," Zhang Menglong dismissed, "Be more magnanimous as a man; don''t linger around shamefully!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Harrison breathed a sigh of relief, "From now on, I absolutely won''t pester Miss Emma anymore, I hope you have a pleasant evening tonight, I''ll be leaving now."


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    Amazement filled Emma''s eyes, Harrison, so proud and stubborn, and just in two minutes, Zhang Menglong made him submit? What kind of monster was he?


    Moments later, Zhang Menglong returned to his carefree demeanor, "Right, we''ve had enough to drink, how about we go admire my sheets?"

 Chapter 214 212: No Matter How Loud You Shout, He Wont Come Out

    "If Mr. Zhang didn''t have a girlfriend, we''d really be willing to go up to your room to see your sheets!" Emma laughed.


    In just those few minutes, his understanding of Zhang Menglong had almost leapt substantially!


    Even though Emma had rejected Harrison, after all, he was a prince. Although his pride prevented him from being too obvious, his social status ensured that she could never react too violently.


    If she really tore off the mask, it might be tough for Emma to establish a footing in her own country, or she might even encounter some sinister dealings, given that England still was a monarchy with the Royal Family controlling vast resources!


    So, even if Emma had rejected Harrison, as long as he did not wish to give up, he could still stick to Emma like glue because he knew very well that Emma dared not react too drastically.


    In his plans, as long as he slowly boiled the frog, eventually, Emma would become his woman. Unfortunately for him, today he had bumped into Zhang Menglong.


    In Emma''s eyes, Zhang Menglong, with just a few words, had resolved an issue she found insurmountable. Such power and connections were probably unmatched by anyone else in the world.


    Besides, Zhang Menglong''s appearance was quite handsome. At least to Western aesthetics, he was the charming sort, and with his unfathomable power, Emma secretly hoped for a chance to have something develop between them.


    However, from her recent observations, Zhang Menglong''s gaze had almost never left Lu Yiyao. Even since arriving at this event, he had merely glanced around and had not given any other woman a second look!


    This was a clear indication of the feelings Zhang Menglong had for his girlfriend.


    She never doubted her own charm, but relationships were about precedence. Emma believed that Zhang Menglong would not do such a thing.


    "Hahahaha," Zhang Menglong also laughed. Emma was truly a scholar even in reality, her meticulous observation and strong analytical ability had already discerned what actions were meaningful and which were pointless; she truly was a smart person.


    "I was just getting back at Harrison," Zhang Menglong straightforwardly said, "Miss Emma, if one day you come to Huaxia, I would definitely welcome you warmly. Our ''Three-Body'' crew would also be delighted to have you join."


    "Kristen, is Mr. Zhang issuing an eviction notice?" Emma smiled slightly, yet she was confidently composed, "Mr. Zhang, you''ll probably stay in Europe for a while longer, right?"


    "Probably, it''s rare to come here."


    "Then after the auction, I must take Mr. Zhang around Europe properly."


    "That would be my honor." Zhang Menglong liked beautiful women, especially smart beautiful women.


    Kristen and Emma stood with their glasses, her gaze briefly swept over towards Ma Hua and others, "Those gentlemen seem to have been waiting for you for a long time, we won''t disturb you any further."


    "Please do," Zhang Menglong said gracefully.


    But just at that moment, a short figure suddenly rushed past them, and just as Emma turned around, almost half of her body got hit. Wearing high heels, she lost her balance and toppled to the ground.


    Zhang Menglong was quick to react, catching Emma by her slender, sexy waist, although half a glass of red wine still managed to spill on him, while the milk in his own cup also splashed onto his trousers.


    "Are you okay?" Zhang Menglong helped Emma up.


    "I''m fine, you scared me to death. Thank god Mr. Zhang reacted quickly," Emma patted her high chest, as a fall could have injured her to some extent.


    "Who walks like that, are you blind?" Zhang Menglong grabbed the short man. Only then did he notice the man''s features, a visceral repulsion coursing through his blood.


    "Kaibong people?" With such sleazy looks and a short stature, who else could it be but their neighbors?


    "Huaxia, let go of me!" The Kaibong man was only about 160cm tall, clinging to the collar held by Zhang Menglong, his feet barely touching the ground to keep him upright.


    "I''m asking you, are you blind when you walk?" Zhang Menglong glared at his eyes.


    "Huaxia, if you don''t let go within five seconds, I''ll make you regret it for life!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected this Kaibong man''s attitude to be so tough. Was he new here? Did he not know that he had brought a destroyer over? Did he not know that the Rothschild family folks had been extremely respectful to him just now?


    After the incidents earlier, nobody in the entire venue dared to provoke Zhang Menglong. Even the way people looked at him carried a hint of fear, yet in this Kaibong man''s eyes, Zhang Menglong saw anger, disdain, and even contempt!


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s someone protecting this Kaibong man!" At that moment, the voice of Ye Yin suddenly appeared in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "How come I didn''t see anyone?" Zhang Menglong looked left and right but didn''t see anyone who looked like a bodyguard.


    Suddenly, a bold idea popped into his head. There must be someone like Ye Yin protecting this man!


    "Someone like you?" Zhang Menglong immediately asked, "Or is it a mutant?"


    "Neither," said Ye Yin. "Our kind are all under the control of the Zhang Family. Mutants are just beings with activated special powers. In their Kaibong nation, there''s also an ancient power inheritance. You could think of it as ninjutsu."


    "Damn, I, Uchiha Madara, consider you the best at bluffing!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. "The ninjas have come out now?"


    Ye Yin was silent. "Mr. Zhang, there are some things you will understand once you have seen them."


    "Okay, can you deal with that guy?"


    "A Chunin, roughly equivalent to a Level Four or Five mutant, a bit tougher than the guy who cosplayed as Thor last time."


    "That powerful?" Zhang Menglong''s understanding of mutants had remained stuck on the X-Men type of mutants. Level Five mutants were potential world-destructors, but it seemed that these Level Four or Five mutants were still vastly inferior. Perhaps it was just their way in this reality to categorize such individuals."


    "No wonder," Zhang Menglong finally understood why despite acting tough for so long here, everyone kept their distance from him except for this idiot who dared to confront him. Turns out, there was a formidable bodyguard by his side.


    "I wonder what his real background is," Zhang Menglong speculated. Such individuals with special powers should be extremely rare worldwide. The last time a Level Three mutant came to kill Zhang Menglong, the reward started at several hundred billion US dollars.


    Even a world-class tycoon probably couldn''t afford such a bodyguard, right? Therefore, this person''s identity is certainly worth pondering. Zhang Menglong concluded that he was not just any ordinary tycoon; coming here likely had another purpose.


    But what exactly was the purpose? Zhang Menglong suspected it might have something to do with the auction items at this auction.


    "Mr. Zhang truly has a keen sense," Ye Yin said. "Actually, apart from me, there are twelve such individuals present at this venue!"


    "Damn, are the immortals fighting?" Zhang Menglong shrank his neck.


    "Huaxian, I have given you time. Don''t blame me now!" The Kaibong man revealed a ferocious look. "Shinjiro-kun, break one of his hands, and don''t let anyone notice!"


    But there was no response, only a few people suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing through the air, followed by a faint smell of blood.


    "Shinjiro-kun? Shinjiro-kun?" The expression on the Kaibong man''s face suddenly panicked.


    "Stop shouting!" Zhang Menglong lazily said, "Even if you shout your throat hoarse, he won''t be coming out today!"

 Chapter 215 213: You young people really know how to have fun

    "Kaibong, where on earth did you go?" the short Kaibong man was a bit panicked.


    This time, he really came to this auction with a special mission. His name was Ximenggong, president of a very famous Kaibong corporation, Bandai Company. This name was familiar to otakus all around the world, as they produced figurines that flowed into all corners of the planet and amassed astronomical profits.


    In Huaxia, they had another special name known as Consortium B.


    The reason they came to the auction was that a very special item was being sold, something so valuable it could be significant to a nation. Through certain special channels, the Kaibong people found out about this item, but they needed to disguise their interest to avoid attracting too many competitors, hence they arranged for a tycoon to act as a cover.


    As for the person named Kaibong, he belonged to a very special organization in Kaibong country, and because this auction item was of great importance, they had to acquire it at all costs. However, richer people than Ximenggong existed worldwide, and even though they were backed by the Kaibong government, if they could think of it, so could others, right?


    Thus, if the item fell into someone else''s hands, they would need to employ certain extreme measures, which is why they had Kaibong come along.


    The first time Ximenggong witnessed Kaibong''s abilities, he even doubted if he was dreaming¡ªcould humans really possess such power? He watched as Kaibong shattered a mountain peak tens of meters high with his bare fist and remained unscathed. And such a person had become his bodyguard for the time being.


    Although Ximenggong could not order Kaibong around, whenever he faced danger, he would still fulfill his duties as a bodyguard and eliminate any threat. Since arriving in Europe, Ximenggong carried himself with a haughty attitude.


    But now, he had lost contact with Kaibong, how could he not panic?


    "Ye Yin? Are you back? Where''s Kaibong?" Zhang Menglong asked, as he felt that Ye Yin had stepped out for a moment; he guessed she had just dealt with Kaibong.


    "Oh, I took him to the Mediterranean and gave him a beating, broke one of his hands, and then stuffed his ass into a seabed crevice."


    "Damn, that''s harsh! He didn''t die, did he?" Zhang Menglong was a bit worried, though not for the Kaibong man. If there were any special laws within Ye Yin''s circle, could they cause trouble for Ye Yin?


    "Don''t worry, a Chunin''s life is precious, he won''t die," Ye Yin smiled, "Mr. Zhang doesn''t need to worry about me. On this planet, no one can set rules for the Zhang family. If there is, a beating will set them straight."


    "I love that attitude!" Since Ye Yin confirmed it, Zhang Menglong immediately felt relieved.


    "Hey, no need to keep calling, your man won''t be coming over for a while!" Zhang Menglong said.


    These two men''s conflict drew the attention of many bystanders, but no one dared to intervene. The other wealthy people from Kaibong just whispered among themselves. With Zhang Menglong''s high-profile and aggressive demeanor, who would dare to provoke him?


    As for the Rothschild family''s staff, they simply pretended not to see. Their leaders had already instructed them, they were supposed to intervene if others fought, but if Zhang Menglong got into a fight, they were to help if he was losing, but if he was winning, they would act blind¡ªsuch was their double standard!


    "You..." Ximenggong suddenly thought of a possibility, "Could it be... could it be you''re also here for that item?"


    In his eyes, Kaibong was an unbeatable presence, but now, given the circumstances, it appeared Kaibong had encountered trouble, presuming he met someone similar or even stronger than he was!


    And such a person showing up here must also be related to that auction item.


    "What item are you talking about?" Although Zhang Menglong had some guesses, his imagination wasn''t enough to figure out what it actually was. Ye Yin knew, but Zhang Menglong, wanting to keep it a surprise, wouldn''t let Ye Yin spill the beans.


    "Huaxian, don''t play dumb. It''s not just us two aiming for that item," Ximenggong said, "The one who laughs last isn''t necessarily you!"


    "Idiot, are you blind? Can''t you see where you''re walking? Who''s asking about that?" Zhang Menglong lifted Ximenggong, swung him twice, then threw him to the ground, "I''m saying, you bumped into someone, and that someone is a beautiful lady. Shouldn''t you apologize?"


    Confusion spread across Ximenggong''s face as Zhang Menglong''s expression didn''t seem feigned; he genuinely seemed to be discussing the incident of bumping into someone, and he appeared truly unaware of what the auction item was.


    "I said, apologize, and I''m giving you five more seconds!" Zhang Menglong said, "Otherwise, I''ll break one of your hands, and believe me, even if I break all your limbs, the Rothschild family won''t care about you!"


    Simeng Palace certainly believed it! Given the Rothschild family''s attitude towards Zhang Menglong, they probably wouldn''t spare a glance at him even if he was beaten to death here!


    Not only that, but the mysterious figure lurking in the shadows near Zhang Menglong could also easily take his life without anyone noticing.


    It must be said that Simeng Palace was indeed a very tactful person, and moreover, he was here on a mission, so under no circumstances could he afford a severe conflict with anyone here.


    "I apologize, beautiful lady," Simeng Palace said in broken English, "I was in a hurry just now and accidentally bumped into you. I hope to have your forgiveness."


    Emma cast an inquiring glance at Zhang Menglong, clearly unsure whether she should forgive him, as the perceptive Emma sensed that Simeng Palace seemed to have some strange communication with Zhang Menglong, as if they were discussing something incomprehensible to others.


    "Enough, get lost!" Zhang Menglong said, "This isn''t your Kaibong, don''t use that attitude to provoke anyone, especially not Huaxia people!"


    Zhang Menglong''s words were filled with a strong warning. If he had bumped into a regular Huaxia tycoon just now, things wouldn''t have been so simple. It''s very likely that everything happening now would be reversed, and it could even become bloody¡ªZhang Menglong had just heard that this Simeng Palace might break his own arm!


    "Damn, to encounter these sleazy dwarfs even here!" Zhang Menglong glanced at his suit, now stained red, immediately feeling annoyed.


    "Mr. Zhang, I know where the changing room is. Let me take you to change your clothes," Emma said, pulling at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s jacket.


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong nodded his head.


    It wasn''t until he followed Emma down the long hotel corridor and entered a room that Zhang Menglong realized he didn''t bring a change of clothes, nor had he asked the Rothschild family to prepare a replacement suit. What was he doing in the changing room?


    "Wait, this isn''t the changing room!" Zhang Menglong walked into the room and immediately the scent identical to Emma''s rushed into his nostrils¡ªthis was Emma''s room!


    "Damn it, tricking me!" Zhang Menglong had just realized what was going on when those burning red lips pressed against his.


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong instantly stiffened all over, feeling a sensation from his lips that nearly made him give in.


    The smiling face of Lu Yiyao flashed through Zhang Menglong''s mind; he snapped back to reality. "Ye Yin, knock her out for me, but don''t hurt her!"


    No sooner had he spoken than Emma''s whole body softened beside Zhang Menglong.


    "Truly encountering a female hooligan!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected Emma would pull such a move; it seemed his beauty was somewhat irresistible today, he pondered very smugly.


    He helped Emma onto the bed and then cautiously left the room; it was still best to find someone from the Rothschild family to help him change clothes.


    However, as soon as he returned to the venue, Zhang Menglong bumped right into Ma Hua and others.


    Ma Hua''s meaningful look traveled across Zhang Menglong''s body, pausing momentarily on the lipstick mark at his lips, then moving down to his trousers.


    Zhang Menglong''s trousers were stained not with regular milk but sour milk, so now there were some indescribable white stains on them.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Ma Hua and Li Hong couldn''t help but laugh, "You young people nowadays really know how to have fun!"

 Chapter 216 214: Overtime Will Be Fined

    "No, no, no, you''ve got it all wrong!" Seeing the expressions on their faces, Zhang Menglong immediately guessed what they were all thinking.


    Everyone at the scene had noticed when he and Emma left earlier; all the people there were from the top tier of society, and such occurrences were nothing out of the ordinary for them.


    One was a globally famous actress, and the other was a mysterious young man with immeasurable wealth. It was perfectly normal for these two to get together!


    As for whether Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend, did it matter? Even those who were married still messed around, so having a girlfriend meant nothing!


    Calculating the time Zhang Menglong had been gone, it would have been a bit of a rush to do ''that'' unless he was a quick shooter. But if it were done in another way, then the time was more than sufficient. Combined with the white fluid on Zhang Menglong''s pants, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.


    "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, Emma Watson is the target of many, and just now that Prince Harrison has been pining after her for many years. Who would''ve thought she''d fall for your jeans!" a Huaxia tycoon smirked.


    Zhang Menglong had some recollection of this man, named Lu Fei. He used to be a professional Esports player and later spent some time as a streamer. Leveraging the wealth he had accumulated over the years, he surprisingly started some businesses. In just a few years, he consolidated the Esports industry in Huaxia and built a not-so-small business empire.


    Although he couldn''t compare with the likes of Ma Yun, Ma Hua, or Li Hong, LuFei still had a net worth of several billion US dollars, making him quite outstanding among the younger crowd.


    "No, listen to me explain, it''s not what you think, it''s yogurt! Don''t believe me? I''ll eat it and show you!" Zhang Menglong dipped a finger into the stain on his pants and then put it in his mouth.


    "See, it''s really yogurt, sour and sweet!"


    Although Zhang Menglong was trying hard to prove his innocence, no one believed him. A man and a woman disappeared for a while, and the man returned with a white fluid on him¡ªwho would believe it was yogurt?


    When they thought about Zhang Menglong possibly eating ''that'', the group grimaced, finding it hard to put their feelings into words. Was messing around with a female star worth vindicating himself in such a shameful way?


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s really no need, truly no need!"


    "Yeah! We all get it!"


    "Don''t worry, as long as you don''t come to take over our companies, we absolutely won''t tell your girlfriend about this! We swear!"


    "Right! And about you eating ''that thing'' just now, we won''t breathe a word of it to anyone else either!"


    "I''m..." Zhang Menglong was almost exploding with frustration. What on earth was going on in these people''s minds? Couldn''t they keep their thoughts clean?


    "I''ll go change my clothes first!" Zhang Menglong pressed down the rage in his heart, fearing that if he waited any longer, he might lose control and let Ye Yin slaughter them all!


    Before long, Zhang Menglong returned to the venue wearing a clean suit, though it wasn''t one prepared by the Rothschild family, but rather sent by the Dorellas family.


    "Whew!" Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, as Ma Hua and the others were still secretly watching him from the same spot as before.


    "So, Mr. Zhang, these Westerners have a certain flair, don''t they?" Ma Hua laughed. "A few years ago, I attended a charity gala and met Anne Hathaway. Tsk, tsk, that figure, those curves, truly a goddess!"


    "Damn, one can tell you''re a lech just by opening your mouth!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but mutter. He was, of course, familiar with the name Anne Hathaway, and calling her a goddess wasn''t an exaggeration at all. But how daring was Ma Hua to say such things¡ªdid his wife know about this?


    "It seems you''ve been waiting for me for some time!" Zhang Menglong felt it was better not to continue this inappropriate conversation any longer, or his pure and innocent self might get corrupted by them.


    "Yes, this should be our first formal meeting, right?" Ma Hua and Li Hong reached out to shake hands with Zhang Menglong in succession.


    "And Mr. Ma, I''ve long admired your illustrious name," Zhang Menglong said with cutting sharpness, "but your company hasn''t been having the best of times lately, has it?"


    Ma Yun''s face changed, as everyone knew that their originally planned listing for Mari Group had hit multiple snags this year, due to touching some untouchable things, and he had been furiously denounced as a blood-sucking capitalist.


    This was actually an unspoken truth, but out of face-saving concerns, no one would bring it up openly.


    "This is where I must criticize you, President Ma; those tricks that Western Wall Street has played out, you still bring them to Huaxia¡ªit''s just too low-level," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Our country''s socialism is so good, why must you touch the lines of capitalism? And what''s with this 996, turning all those post-90s into what kind of state?"


    Zhang Menglong had no doubt that if he didn''t have this enormous family enterprise, even if he found work at a big factory, he would inevitably face a 996 working schedule.


    Being lectured like this by someone two generations his junior was a hard pill for Ma Yun to swallow, but he had no courage to argue with Zhang Menglong. Zhang Menglong could easily pull out two elements of 500 billion US dollars to buy out Ma Hua and Li Hong''s shares; likewise, he could potentially obtain one trillion US dollars to take over his entire Alibaba Group.


    This was a man he couldn''t afford to offend!


    "But it''s not all bad," Zhang Menglong joked, "you could try expanding your company overseas, especially to Western countries. They''re taking it easy there, just slacking off at work every day. I think they should also experience a good dose of the 996 poison!"


    "Hehehe..." Faced with Zhang Menglong''s unabashed and incisive words, Ma Hua and the others could only force a smile.


    "What''s so funny? It''s not like you guys don''t do 996 as well," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, not because he was being difficult for no reason, but because such behavior was in fact a violation of labor laws. Yet, in their mouths, it''s glorified as some kind of blessing, some form of young people''s striving.


    No matter how nice they sugarcoat it, it''s nothing more than rhetoric to cloak their vampiric actions. Others need to work to support themselves; at most, they might vent online as keyboard warriors. But Zhang Menglong didn''t need to; if something rubbed him the wrong way, he was going to speak out!


    "Hehehe, Mr. Zhang, isn''t your company the same?" Having been reprimanded repeatedly by Zhang Menglong, Ma Yun, despite his patience, was getting irritated.


    "That''s true," Zhang Menglong nodded. He never concerned himself with the company''s affairs because those matters were managed by others; he was merely a hands-off superintendent.


    Zhang Menglong picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number directly. At this hour, Hong Yi should already be up.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the matter?" Hong Yi asked.


    "Oh, I''m thinking of setting an example for a few people," Zhang Menglong said. "Are there many companies under my name that follow a 996 working schedule?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi replied, "approximately 20% of the enterprises are running on a 996 schedule."


    "Damn, am I also a vampire?" Zhang Menglong said in frustration. "Starting today, the 996 work schedule is to be abolished, reverted to 955. If overtime is required, double overtime pay is to be given. If someone works overtime without compensation, treat it the same as being late or leaving early and dock their pay!"


    Listenting to Zhang Menglong''s words, the mouths of Ma Yun and the others twitched. Could you still run a business like this, could the company still develop?


    "All right, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said. "However, adopting this approach will greatly increase the labor cost for that portion of your enterprises, and your annual profits will decrease by 0.25%."


    "That little?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    "Mr. Zhang, most of your revenue doesn''t rely on these companies. It''s the land you own all over the world that makes the most money. And even though 0.25% seems small, it''s still a very large number, roughly around a hundred billion US dollars."


    "Oh, then let it be so!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong looked at Ma Yun and the others and said, "I''ve already set a good example. Are you going to follow suit?"

 Chapter 217 215: Is There Really That Much Cash in the World?

    "You''re simply mad!"


    They admitted that they couldn''t replicate Zhang Menglong''s approach! A 996 work schedule had already reduced their labor costs by nearly half, but if they followed Zhang Menglong''s method, their annual profits would drastically decrease!


    After all, not everyone was like Zhang Menglong, who just ran a company to pass time and for fun.


    And Zhang Menglong saying no to overtime, that was one thing, almost just a return to the time before 996 had become prevalent. But double overtime pay? What was that all about?


    According to normal overtime standards, weekday overtime was 1.5 times the regular salary, weekends twice, and public holidays three times. According to Zhang Menglong''s standards, weekday overtime was three times the regular salary!


    If they were just ordinary workers, they could work overtime until Zhang Menglong was bankrupt! Even if they wanted to compete with him, was there a need to go this far?


    "Mr. Zhang, was it necessary to mock us in this manner? If your employees choose to work overtime every day, even getting paid for bathroom breaks, would you pay them overtime for that too?" Ma Yun asked.


    "So are you saying we should learn from you, work people to death every day, and only then are we managing an enterprise properly?" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "I''ve heard that some companies have reached a 007 work level, even working over 30 hours continuously. There was news just a few days ago about someone dropping dead, don''t tell me it was their personal choice!"


    Ma Yun really wanted to say that you could choose not to work 996, but there will always be people who can work 996¡ªthat is the harsh reality of this society, that''s how workers are!


    "As long as they work diligently, I won''t withhold a single cent of the overtime pay they deserve!" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "As for my losses? I''m only losing a few hundred billion US dollars a year, less than one percent of my total income. Do you think I care?


    "Lose a few hundred billion US dollars a year?" Several people exchanged wry smiles.


    What does "only" mean? Is a few hundred billion US dollars a small amount? The few of them combined don''t even make a hundred billion US dollars in a year, and that''s less than one percent of Zhang Menglong''s annual income?


    Could he really be earning tens of trillions of US dollars a year? That''s nonsense! The entire global GDP for a year is only tens of trillions of US dollars. Just last year, the global GDP reached over 80 trillion US dollars.


    According to Zhang Menglong''s claim, did he generate most of the world''s GDP? He should already be the ruler of Earth by now, perhaps even dominating the planet and leading humans in expanding and exploring the universe, not here squabbling with them.


    But they believed that Zhang Menglong might not make tens of trillions a year, but a few trillion was definitely possible¡ªotherwise, how could he easily cough up a trillion US dollars to acquire shares in Tengxun and Baidu?


    "It seems that this return to our country is going to change the entire environment again!" Ma Yun and the others sighed.


    Zhang Menglong owned many companies, he didn''t know, but he did know that currently booming enterprises like Weibo, Unicorn Technology, and Sound Forest Music were all his businesses, especially Unicorn Technology, which was already poised to rival them alongside the likes of BAT.


    Once Zhang Menglong''s policies were publicized, they would inevitably cause a massive uproar in society and even create immense public pressure.


    Zhang Menglong''s companies were so big without a 996 culture. What makes you think you need it? His company pays double the statutory overtime rate; do you? If not, then their employees would resign. Truly capable people are never bound by one job.


    The most terrifying thing was the possibility that a vast number of talented individuals might flood into Zhang Menglong''s company. Although it would increase costs, it would strengthen the company''s capabilities and accelerate its growth¡ªZhang Menglong might not end up the loser!


    "This lad, he''s too cunning!" Thinking of this, Ma Hua and the others were secretly alarmed.


    But they had no idea that Zhang Menglong hadn''t thought that much at all. He was merely feeling annoyed and wanted to try changing society a bit. As for what they were thinking, Zhang Menglong had never considered it.


    "Alright, everyone, since you''ve come here, let''s not let these issues spoil our mood," Lu Fei, who was somewhat less of a capitalist among the group, said as he tried to smooth things over. "Let''s talk about the auction instead!"


    "That works!" Zhang Menglong then started to gather their attention. "Please, take a seat, everyone. It seems like you''ve all heard quite a bit about this auction, haven''t you?"


    "Hahaha, it seems like Mr. Zhang hasn''t paid much attention to this auction," Lu Fei chuckled.


    "An auction is just about who has the money to win the bid. Even if you know what''s being sold, what good does that do you?" Zhang Menglong said. "But as long as you have the money, even if you don''t know what''s being sold, when the items come out, you''ll still have the money to buy."


    "That''s true," Lu Fei sputtered, feeling embarrassed. Zhang Menglong''s statement was indeed not wrong, but the key was, even if you had the money, you had to spend time gathering it.


    Take Ma Yun, for example. He certainly had money, but most of the time, his funds were hard to mobilize. If it really came to a large capital movement, especially when the auction wasn''t held in Huaxia and involved transnational capital flow, it became even more troublesome.


    This time, for the auction, Lu Fei had prepared three hundred million Euros, but gathering that sum had taken him almost half a month.


    "Mr. Zhang, how much money have you prepared this time?" Lu Fei asked curiously.


    "This..." Zhang Menglong really didn''t know how much money he could gather, as so far, all his major expenses had been handled by Hong Yi, and there hadn''t been any transnational large capital movements. "Let me ask for a second!"


    Zhang Menglong called Hagen. "Hagen, I have a question."


    "Mr. Zhang, whatever you need, just tell me."


    "Oh, it''s nothing big. I just want to know, if I want to use money, how much capital can I mobilize at any time?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "If it''s about capital available at any time within Europe, five trillion Euros should be no problem,"


    "Ssst!" Hearing that amount, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gasp. Five trillion Euros. If it were compared to last year''s world GDP, it could rank third, only behind America and Huaxia. He could actually mobilize such a vast amount of wealth at any time in Europe.


    "Do you need to use a large amount of funds?" Hagen thought Zhang Menglong felt it was not enough. "Give me one night, and I can gather ten trillion Euros for you. If it''s by tomorrow afternoon when the auction starts, gathering twenty trillion Euros should also be possible."


    "That much?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by the number.


    "Of course, that''s just the authority of our Doleras family alone. If you mobilize the power of the other few families together, it wouldn''t be impossible to prepare fifty trillion Euros in cash for you by tomorrow morning."


    "That''s enough, that''s enough!" Zhang Menglong nodded repeatedly. Forget fifty trillion Euros, he remembered that the highest historical record for an auction so far hadn''t even exceeded one billion US Dollars. Even if this auction was a bit special, a few hundred billion Euros would be enough for him to dominate the event!


    Zhang Menglong still had one question: could there really be fifty trillion Euros in cash available in the world?

 Chapter 218 216 I Didnt Plan to Spend Money

    "Okay, I got it," Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, took a couple of deep breaths, and regained his composure.


    "Mr. Zhang, I think you might have access to much more assets than we do?" Lu Fei wasn''t just complimenting Zhang Menglong; he was also trying to probe how much money Zhang actually had.


    "This time I''ve prepared five hundred million Euros, I believe both Mr. Ma''s must have brought more money than me, right?" Li Hong volunteered.


    "I''ve prepared eight hundred million Euros!" Ma Yun laughed.


    "Same here!"


    "Wow, is this a flaunting wealth contest?" Zhang Menglong thought to himself, but in his eyes, both Ma Hua and Ma Yun were merely little brothers.


    "That''s weird, could this auction item really be worth so much?" Zhang Menglong also voiced the biggest doubt in his mind, "As far as I recall, the largest sum paid at an auction in the world was only 730 million US Dollars, and you guys are bringing so much money, it''s like you''re buying out the venue."


    "No, Mr. Zhang, you are mistaken there," Ma Hua said, "Ten years ago, when we first came to this auction, we thought the same. I only brought fifty million US Dollars at the time, thinking I could buy quite a few good items, but in the end, I didn''t bring back a single thing!"


    "Really? That''s exaggerated," Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. At world-class auctions, the most common high-ticket items are artworks or precious treasures like the Heart of the Ocean, but those prices are typically only in the tens of millions of US Dollars, and they''re usually the highlight items.


    Ordinary auction items only go for about a million dollars at most; fifty million US Dollars and you get nothing¡ªdoesn''t that sound ridiculous?


    "That''s where you are uninformed," Ma Hua said, "The auction is indeed hosted by the Royal Auction House of Frankfurt, but they are just the middlemen, the actual sellers are a very mysterious organization."


    "Oh? How mysterious can it be?" Zhang Menglong was indeed piqued with curiosity.


    "Very mysterious. It''s said that it includes all sorts of people, such as artists, archaeologists, chemists, even arms dealers. They search globally for valuable items through various means, and even some of the items have quite dubious origins!" Ma Hua said this in a lowered voice.


    "Wow, no wonder the items they auction are so wildly sourced, one moment selling planes, tanks, destroyers, and the next even our Huaxia''s Tai''a Sword."


    "Was Mr. Zhang at the auction ten years ago?" Ma Hua asked in surprise. This organization''s auctions were never publicized and always circulated within a very small top-tier circle only. Unless you were at the venue participating in the bidding or were a relative of one of the participants, you wouldn''t know what items were sold.


    Clearly, the items Zhang Menglong just mentioned were the highlight of the last auction, but in his memory, there hadn''t been a Huaxia kid barely over ten years old there, had there?


    "I didn''t go, my dad did," Zhang Menglong said, "Those planes, tanks, destroyers, and that Tai''a Sword, my dad bought them all!"


    "That was your father?!" Ma Hua and Li Hong exchanged glances. They had been at the venue, and that man had sat in a very private VIP box. Back then they had only heard that man''s voice.


    That man was so wealthy, they still remembered him vividly to this day; anything he took a liking to, there was nothing he couldn''t buy, even if the price was increased tenfold, he showed no emotional ripples, as if a few hundred million dollars was just a number to him.


    "No wonder!" If Zhang Menglong was his son, then everything made sense.


    Ma Hua continued, "It''s also because these people are extraordinary, the items sold here are the finale pieces of typical world-class auctions, I remember that last time a total of 97 collectibles were auctioned, none were passed over, starting bids were at zero, but the total final price exceeded thirty billion US Dollars; in other words, the average price for each auctioned item was over three hundred million US Dollars!"


    "Wow, no wonder each of you brought so much money," Zhang Menglong finally understood a bit.


    "This time, according to our understanding, some of Huaxia''s long-lost national treasures will appear. In fact, we have also been commissioned by the National Cultural Heritage Administration to recover some of the lost treasures, even if it''s just one or two items."


    "You guys seem to have some sense of social responsibility," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "However, this is not an easy task," Ma Hua''s expression grew serious, "It seems that because they know how the Huaxia people feel about these cultural relics, in recent years, whenever Huaxia''s relics appear at auctions worldwide, both the starting and final prices are astonishingly high!"


    "How so?"


    "Take last year''s Christie''s auction, for example. An original copy of the ''Inner Canon of Huangdi'' appeared. Do you know what the final price was?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "A whole 230 million US dollars! It was bought anonymously by a wealthy businessman from Hong Kong and is now stored in the National History and Cultural Relics Museum. This price, for an incomplete copy, has far exceeded its historical and artistic value! But they bet that we, the people of Huaxia, regardless of the cost, will want to bring these items back, so they crazily raise the prices!"


    "Taking advantage of the fire?" Zhang Menglong said in a cold tone.


    "Exactly, taking advantage of the fire!" Ma Yun said, "So, if there really are Huaxia''s relics appearing, the money we''ve brought might not be enough to buy even a few."


    "Since I''ve come, then let me take over this task.


    "How much money did Mr. Zhang bring?" Lu Fei asked excitedly, seeing how prepared Zhang Menglong seemed to be.


    "A few thousand times more than you guys," Zhang Menglong said lightly.


    "What?" Ma Hua and others almost cried out loud.


    Although that time Zhang Menglong used 500 billion US dollars to heavily slam both Ma Hua and Li Hong, that money was most likely the property of Zhang Menglong''s company.


    Just like Ma Hua and Ma Yun, they are all worth several billions of US dollars, but most of the money belongs to their companies, and they can''t possibly use the company''s funds to participate in an auction.


    So, it may seem absurd that people worth hundreds of billions only bring a few billion to an auction, but in fact, that was almost all the personal liquid assets they could mobilize.


    They believed that even if Zhang Menglong was wealthier, he could probably bring only a few billion euros at most.


    As for being a few thousand times theirs? That would be in the trillions of dollars, how could that be possible? Could it be that Zhang Menglong''s company, which is entirely his own, also had several hundred billion euros in liquid assets? That''s impossible!


    Even for Unicorn Technology, with just a few billions of dollars in market value, even if sold and then multiplied by ten, it couldn''t possibly reach a trillion!


    Zhang Menglong shook his head and chuckled, "Don''t be surprised; this is all basic operations. It''s just that your poverty limits your imagination."


    Then Zhang Menglong let out a cold laugh, "Moreover, I didn''t say I plan to spend money to buy those cultural relics!"

 Chapter 219 217: Starting with an Aircraft Carrier

    "Not planning to spend money? What does that mean?" They all felt there was more to Zhang Menglong''s words, but none could fathom his true intentions.


    The starting bid for every item at this auction was 0 yuan, an anomaly in the auction world! Even the biggest auction houses sometimes faced unsold lots. If that were to happen here, it would essentially be getting something for nothing, a loss that could be measured in hundreds of millions of euros.


    But they were confident enough to make such a rule because they had never had an unsold item to date. The allure of the auction items was nearly fatal for these tycoons; no one would simply watch as these goods sold for base prices.


    Another interesting rule was that each bid increment had to be at least 5 million in the local currency of the auction location, meaning that every bid increase at tomorrow''s auction would need to be 5 million euros! To anyone, that was not a small figure.


    Under such circumstances, for Zhang Menglong to think about getting those items for a low price was pure fanciful thinking.


    "Hehe, young people, they never play by the rules!" Zhang Menglong chuckled slyly, leaving behind an ambiguous statement before departing.


    After being teased by Kristen and Emma, a wicked fire was spreading in Zhang Menglong. And with the initial taste of sexual pleasure, he couldn''t wait to return and "explore" the pinnacle of life with Lu Yiyao.


    "Mr. Zhang, wait, let''s talk more about business," Ma Yun actually wanted to discuss Zhang Menglong''s commercial empire plans the most, but he hadn''t had the chance to interject earlier. Now that Zhang Menglong was leaving, Ma Yun suddenly grew anxious.


    "Don''t bother me!" Zhang Menglong roared back at him, "I''m busy!"


    "This..." Ma Yun watched Zhang Menglong''s retreating figure with a mixture of laughter and tears, "How can he switch faces faster than a monkey?"


    Although their earlier conversation wasn''t so pleasant, they had enjoyed the latter part of the discussion. So why had Zhang Menglong suddenly changed his attitude?


    "Perhaps that''s just how young people are!" Li Hong said with a bitter smile, "All right, he is a Huaxia man after all, and he''s in Jiangnan City; you''ll always have the opportunity to meet him. Why fuss over a day or two? Let''s quickly figure out what to do after Zhang Menglong advocated against the 996 work policy!"


    "If I had known that talking with him today would cause so much trouble, I wouldn''t have sought him out for a chat!" Ma Hua realized that nothing good ever happened whenever he crossed paths with Zhang Menglong.


    The first time, he was nearly knocked out by a bid of 500 billion US dollars; the second time, Tengxun Music, which he had painstakingly managed for over a decade, was directly acquired by Zhang Menglong; and this time was unlikely to end well either. He expected his public image would soon become that of a heartless capitalist, in stark contrast to Zhang Menglong''s shining image.


    "It''s all your fault!" With no one else to blame, Ma Hua glared fiercely at Ma Yun, "We were doing just fine with overtime work, without such strong opposition, until you came up with that ''virtue reward'' theory!"


    "How... How is this my fault?" Ma Yun could only offer a wry smile, as if their Alibaba Group was the only one enforcing 996. He had just been trying to improve the company''s image; who knew it wouldn''t work out as planned? He felt helpless too.


    ...


    After a passionate night, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao didn''t wake up until lunchtime the next day. Lu Yiyao''s legs were still sore, causing her to glare fiercely at Zhang Menglong, "You have no sense of tenderness toward women at all!"


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong shamelessly chuckled, "Get ready, we''ll eat lunch and then it''s the auction at 2 pm. If you fancy anything, just let me know. I''ll even get you the stars from the sky if you want!"


    "Bah! The mouth of a man deceives the ghost of a woman!" Lu Yiyao retorted, "Don''t think I didn''t notice. You had the scent of other women on you yesterday, and not just one at that; I haven''t even interrogated you properly yet!"


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s face was full of embarrassment, "I didn''t want it, you know. Those women one after another threw themselves at me. Luckily, I remained faithful and kept my purity. Is it my fault for being rich and handsome?"


    "You and your bragging!" Lu Yiyao playfully smacked Zhang Menglong with a laugh.


    After enjoying a delightful lunch, everyone gradually made their way to the auction venue, a showroom on the first floor of the hotel. Originally used for the hotel''s business events, it had been transformed by the Rothschild family into an imposing auction hall.


    The auction hall was divided into two levels, with a general area below and a VIP area above.


    Even though labelled as general, the luxurious seating and state-of-the-art equipment hardly seemed "general." Perhaps in the eyes of the Rothschild family, this level of opulence was their idea of standard.


    As for the VIP area on the second floor, it consisted of private rooms. One could see everything outside from within these rooms, yet from the outside, the interior was completely obscured. There were only 15 of these VIP rooms, spread out in a fan shape, each with an optimal view. And without a doubt, Zhang Menglong was the master of the central VIP room.


    "Holy shit! This ain''t a seat at an auction, it''s a damn luxury suite!" Wang Ling exclaimed, clearly intoxicated by the room, which spanned over 200 square meters. Almost 100 square meters of it was occupied by a suspended viewing room for the auction, and it also included a bedroom for resting, kitchen, bathroom, and was fully serviced by five young and beautiful Eastern European girls.


    Through the one-way glass, Zhang Menglong spotted Ma Hua and others looking around, probably searching for him. However, they were unable to find Zhang Menglong after scouring the whole venue and eventually turned their gaze towards the VIP rooms on the second level.


    "Wonder if he''s in that VIP Room No. 0..."


    ...


    Soon, as the two o''clock chime rang out, the whole room went quiet. Accompanied by a burst of elegant symphony, a blonde beauty stepped onto the auction stage.


    "Holy fuck! Emma Watson! They actually got her to be the auctioneer? That''s a bit of a cheat move!" Wang Ling''s face was practically pressed against the glass.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s indifferent face, Wang Ling asked, "How come you''re not surprised at all?"


    "Oh, well," Zhang Menglong said expressionlessly, "you might not believe it, but last night, she almost pinned me down in bed!"


    "You beast!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s smug expression, Wang Ling cursed weakly.


    Emma, too, was looking around the auction stage for Zhang Menglong. Last night was really weird; she hadn''t drunk much, so how did she get drunk? And unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong didn''t seem to have taken advantage of her inebriation to do anything, which made her question her own allure.


    "Welcome to the decennial World Ultimate Auction Event; I am today''s auctioneer, Emma Watson!" Unable to find Zhang Menglong after a long search, Emma still commenced her professional duties. This time her pay reached a whopping ten million Euros¡ªa not so common opportunity.


    "Wow!" A thunderous applause ensued, most of which was in admiration of the beautiful woman.


    After some formal greetings, the first item of the auction appeared on the giant LCD screen in front of everyone.


    "Today, we have a total of 102 exceptionally rare auction items. So, let''s unveil the first item of the auction!"


    "102 items? Even more than last year, looks like today will be quite the bloody affair!" Wang Ling exclaimed with unmatched excitement.


    The question marks gradually faded from the screen, revealing a schematic of the first item up for auction.


    "What the fuck!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse as he saw the first item. He had been hoping to buy an aircraft carrier to use as a yacht, and as if in response to his heartfelt desire, the first auction item was indeed an aircraft carrier!


    "Starting off with an aircraft carrier, this motherf..." Zhang Menglong clicked his tongue in amazement; this auction was bound to be incredibly interesting!

 Chapter 220 218: Do I Care About These 200 Million Euros?

    "Although information about this aircraft carrier is already presented on the screen in front of everyone, allow me to introduce it to all of you!" a video began playing on the huge LED screen behind Emma.


    "This aircraft carrier, named the Zimiel, began its construction in 2002 and took eight years to complete, with its first launch in 2010."


    "The Zimiel incorporated numerous high-tech systems, primarily including integrated electric propulsion and electromagnetic catapult technology. Its length is 315.25 meters, its width 39.12 meters, its draft 12 meters, its standard displacement 100,000 tons, its full-load displacement 110,000 tons, with a maximum speed exceeding 30 knots, and a total cost of over 10 billion US dollars!"


    "Are they crazy? They can manage to sell this thing?" As a standard military enthusiast, Wang Ling knew the Zimiel aircraft carrier like the back of his hand, "With so many aircraft carriers around the world, if Zimiel claims to be second, only the Ford class dares to claim first. This thing, once out on the ocean, is absolutely ostentatious and domineering, much stronger than any destroyer, right?"


    "Good grief, I''m directly saying good grief!" After listening to this brief introduction, Zhang Menglong finally understood why even a few billion wasn''t enough in this auction; the first item alone was an aircraft carrier worth over 10 billion US dollars. What the hell is this about?


    However, of course, that was just the construction cost of the aircraft carrier, which included the cost of many weapon systems and advanced technologies mounted on the ship. Now, it''s just a retired aircraft carrier. To prevent technology leaks, its core technological components had all been removed.


    Put a little bluntly, it''s now just a hunk of metal drifting on the sea, so naturally, it couldn''t possibly still be worth that much money. Probably, the Americans wanted to sell it just to recoup some costs, right?


    After all, normally, when aircraft carriers retire, they are scrapped and recycled, much like scrap metal collectors¡ªselling an entire aircraft carrier''s steel would never fetch much. But in the eyes of these top-level tycoons, this thing is different.


    If someone says they have an aircraft carrier at their home, it''s definitely an earth-shattering, ghost-god astonishing affair, and it''s absolutely unbeatable in showing off.


    The auction site immediately buzzed with noise, everyone was deeply interested in this aircraft carrier. Of course, more so, they discussed what final price it would fetch and who would buy it.


    "I think everyone is very curious about what this aircraft carrier still retains," Emma opened a file list, "The Zimiel maintains its original nuclear power system, but for confidentiality, it underwent downgrading to an engine that meets current average world technological levels, yet its power remains extremely formidable."


    "Besides that, basic systems like the radar detection, plasma waste recycling, and seawater purification systems were all kept intact. As long as it doesn''t involve core technology, almost everything was perfectly preserved," Emma explained, "it could be said that, apart from warfare, its navigational capabilities have been retained by over 60%!"


    "Furthermore, the customer who acquires this aircraft carrier will also get 200 professional staff for free service, for a duration of ten years. At the end of that period, you can also renew the contract by hiring them."


    Emma continued to describe roughly for another five minutes, covering all the major features, and everyone got a fairly good idea about the retired Zimiel.


    "Now, let''s start the auction of this Zimiel aircraft carrier. I believe everyone is already very familiar with the rules: no reserve price, each increment must be no less than 5 million euros. Let the bidding begin!"


    "5 million!" an European tycoon was the first to throw out a price just to test the waters, but of course, everyone knew that the final price of this aircraft carrier would far exceed 5 million euros.


    "Old Wang, you''re familiar with these things; how much do you think it will sell for?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Oh, are you interested?" Wang Ling remembered that Zhang Menglong had spoken about wanting to buy an aircraft carrier to use as a yacht.


    "Of course, did you think I was just joking when I said those things?" Zhang Menglong said. Putting aside his actual desire to mess around with an aircraft carrier, he might even complete a spending task of 100 billion US dollars today!


    "Although the fabrication of the Zimiel exceeded 10 billion, most of the most expensive components have already been dismantled. For an aircraft carrier, its strategic significance outweighs its wartime use; it''s essentially just a mobile command center with a landing strip, so the value of this retired Zimiel will be greatly discounted. I think it might fetch at most 8 to 10 billion euros."


    "Of course, its collectible significance is much greater than its practical use," Wang Ling added, "If you really want to convert it into a yacht, the cost of transformation might even exceed 10 billion euros."


    "8 to 10 billion euros, huh?" Zhang Menglong immediately pressed the bidding button on his seat, "10 billion euros!"


    "Wow!" A gasp erupted, and everyone''s gaze converged on the VIP room on the second floor.


    Although the bids had been increasing, they had only reached 85 million Euros before Zhang Menglong shouted his price, and with just one opening remark, he raised it more than tenfold! What on earth was he trying to do?


    "Damn it, what are you doing?" Wang Ling slapped Zhang Menglong''s hand away, "Shouting 1 billion directly, are you out of your mind?"


    "Isn''t this what you said it was worth, 800 million to 1 billion?" Zhang Menglong looked completely baffled.


    "I was talking about the final transaction price, and they add in increments of 5 million. This is an auction, not a buy-it-now, who yells out bids like you do?" Wang Ling felt like he was talking to a brick wall.


    "I was getting anxious watching them dillydally!" Zhang Menglong explained, "At their pace, when will it end? There are over a hundred auction items today! Everyone is an adult and very busy; we don''t have all this time to waste. Might as well get straight to the point!"


    "Still, you shouldn''t have shouted 1 billion. Why not start with 800 million?" Wang Ling was at a loss for words, "What if someone else''s highest mental price was only 800 million Euros? Aren''t you losing 200 million? You shouldn''t play like this!"


    "Am I someone who cares about these 200 million Euros?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "You..."


    Wang Ling simply twisted his head away, feeling that talking to Zhang Menglong about money was shortening his life by ten years!


    Actually, Wang Ling felt that Zhang Menglong was at a loss, but Zhang Menglong himself didn''t think so; he seldom had such a brilliant opportunity to spend so much money!


    "Who is that guy?"


    "Is he crazy?"


    "what fuck?"


    "oh shit!"


    "Such a young voice."


    "Could it be that young man from Huaxia named Zhang Menglong?"


    "Exactly, I can''t mistake that voice!"


    It didn''t take long for Zhang Menglong''s identity to be confirmed, but Zhang Menglong didn''t care at all. If they had the guts, they could come and fight him!


    "The highest bid now is from guest in VIP room number 0, is there anyone willing to offer more than 1 billion Euros?" Emma''s face filled with surprise; as an auctioneer, she actually earned commissions, which fluctuated based on the seller''s minimum target price.


    This aircraft carrier''s seller''s mental price was 780 million Euros, and if it indeed sold for 1 billion, then her commission would be based on the difference of 220 million Euros!


    Even if it was 1%, that was still 2.3 million Euros!


    Suddenly, Emma had a strong premonition that after today, her net worth might possibly surpass a significant portion of the people here!

 Chapter 221 219 Foodie, Foodie Soul

    "Mr. Bigler, didn''t you just say you were interested in this aircraft carrier? Would you like to raise your bid even higher?" In the seats on the first floor, two billionaires were whispering to each other.


    "Raise your own geoduck!" If that billionaire were a Huaxia person, he would certainly have such a thought in his mind.


    Under normal circumstances, the first auction item is only second to the finale item. He indeed had the capability to shout out a few higher numbers, but if he really did, he would basically have no chance at the other auction items.


    For an impractical, retired aircraft carrier, it really wasn''t necessary.


    "With his bidding like that, I wonder how much money he''ll have left at the end!"


    "Right, 1 billion Euros, there probably wouldn''t be more than 20 people in the room who could come up with that amount, right? Even if he is the wealthiest among them, how many times could he produce 1 billion Euros?"


    "Forget it, 1 billion Euros is already way over its own price, no need for that!"


    "Just let him have it!"


    "Huaxia people are really boring, spending so much money on such things!"


    "Hahaha, you guys forgot, at the last auction, there was also a Huaxia person who bought a plane tank and a destroyer!"


    "Now that you mention it, I do remember, but afterwards there was no news from that Huaxia person, and it seemed like nobody ever saw that destroyer again."


    "Maybe he went bankrupt from buying random stuff?"


    "Hahaha, possible!"


    ...


    People had mixed feelings about Zhang Menglong''s actions, some simply gave up continuing the bid due to the inflated price, but many were just waiting to see Zhang Menglong''s blunder. They even doubted whether Zhang Menglong could manage to bring that aircraft carrier back to a Huaxia port.


    Emma confirmed the bid three times, making sure no one continued to bid, and then the gavel fell heavily.


    "We congratulate the guest in VIP Room 0 for successfully purchasing the Zimir-class aircraft carrier. Please complete the payment within one hour, and we will arrange for someone to handle the transfer process with you."


    Just at that moment, the voice of a staff member echoed in Emma''s earpiece, and her expression briefly flashed with surprise before breaking into a brilliant smile, due to the fact that those 1 billion Euros had already been transferred! This also meant that her commission was securely accounted for in her bank.


    Such straightforward people are truly cash daddies!


    "Congratulations to the guest in VIP Room 0, please patiently await our transfer personnel, as we now commence the auction of the second item!"


    The crowd below buzzed with whispers again, Emma''s announcement meaning that Zhang Menglong had already completed the payment! 1 billion Euros, paid in just a few seconds¡ªwas this money burning a hole in his pocket, or what? Keeping it any longer would cause nuclear radiation, right?


    "The next auction item, not only is it a priceless treasure, but it also is a historic artifact!" As Emma introduced it, the second auction item unveiled its mysterious veil.


    "Ah? A set of cutlery?" Zhang Menglong was instantly disappointed; compared to the powerful visual impact of the aircraft carrier, this item just wasn''t as shocking.


    This was a set of crystal-like blue cutlery, consisting of a pair of bowls, three small dishes, one large bowl, and a pair of silvery white utensils inlaid with gemstones.


    "Well, I''ll be¡ªthree dishes and a soup, all matched up for me!" Zhang Menglong didn''t know why, but looking at these items he felt no emotional stirring; he even felt like laughing.


    "This is a set of cutlery made entirely of diamonds; these knives and forks are crafted from alloy, and the inlays are all diamonds, including four rare blood diamonds that exceed 5 carats! The total carat weight of the diamonds in this set surpasses 3000 carats!"


    "That exaggerated?" Even Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised this time; he had initially thought they were made of crystal or something, but it turned out, they were all diamond!


    Logically, diamonds several carats in size are already quite large; let alone those two bowls, the required raw stones for crafting into that shape must be enormous? This probably could rival the legendary Star of South Africa, right?


    And these were Blue Diamonds¡ªan exceptionally rare find!


    The key question was, had such massive blue diamonds ever really existed in the world? Why had no one ever heard of them?


    "I believe everyone must be curious, right?" Emma waved her arm, and a rising platform slowly lifted up, revealing an exquisitely designed tray, which held the dazzling dining set.


    "In the history of Europe, there was once a very powerful emperor, Charles V in the 16th century. When he ascended the throne, the largest diamond mine in Moorland unearthed a massive 5000-carat blue diamond that year, which was given to Charles V as a coronation gift. After two and a half years of craftsmanship, it was finally crafted into this set of cutlery."


    "Really? Why haven''t I heard about this before?"


    "A 5000-carat blue diamond? Isn''t that a bit exaggerated?"


    Such a large Blue Diamond is truly beyond ordinary understanding.


    "Everyone must be filled with doubts about its existence, because there is very little information about it, one might even say there is none," Emma continued, "That''s because after the diamond cutlery was made, it was directly stored in the private treasury of Charles V. It is said that in his later years, Charles V continuously suffered from illness and eventually died in agony, but the reality is that his descendants wanted to find out the whereabouts of this set of diamond cutlery from him, coercing him with slow-acting poison."


    "Is there really such a thing?"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, to think that this object has such a story!"


    "This is simply a piece of buried history!"


    ...


    The collectible value of this set of utensils made everyone somewhat excited. As is well known, that organization never sells fakes, so this item is definitely credible!


    "Now, the auction begins!"


    "5 million Euros!"


    "10 million!"


    "20 million!"


    ...


    "40 million!" Wang Ling hurriedly shouted.


    "Are you interested in this thing?" Zhang Menglong turned and asked.


    "You would never miss out on such a thing!" Wang Ling spoke, "If we don''t shout now, we won''t have a chance later!"


    "Haha, you''re right!" Zhang Menglong immediately shouted, "100 million Euros!"


    "Wow!"


    "How did he start again?"


    "What a joke!"


    "With this guy here, what can we even buy?"


    "No worries, just wait a bit longer. Once he''s used up all his money, we''ll have our chance."


    Little did they know, even if they waited until the end of the world, they might not see Zhang Menglong run out of money.


    "105 million Euros!"


    It was assumed that nobody would continue to compete with Zhang Menglong, the madman, but from the third VIP room next to Zhang Menglong''s came a slightly aged voice.


    "Mr. Zhang, you come from Huaxia. This item has greater historical value than artistic value, so might it be better if it stays in Europe?"


    "Sorry, I have no intention of giving up the bid," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m not in the habit of leaving change, so I bid 200 million Euros!"


    "Damn! Are you really here to auction? Or are you just flaunting your wealth?" Wang Ling began to slap his thigh in distress.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you bring it back, it will just end up in the storage room, so why waste so much money buying it?" the voice sounded a bit puzzled.


    "Who said it''s going in the storage room," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This is eating gear. Of course, I''m buying it to eat with!"


    "What does ''eating gear'' mean? Does it mean eating?"


    "Eating with a 200 million Euro item? Isn''t he afraid of shortening his life span?"


    "Does this Huaxia man have a problem with his brain? With 200 million Euros, what couldn''t he deliciously eat?"


    Listening to the discussions below, Zhang Menglong suddenly spoke, "Hey, you all don''t know. Our Huaxia''s literary master Lu Xun once said, ''Those who eat rice are superior people, and using the best things for eating is never too extravagant!''"

 Chapter 222 220 Are You TM Shopping on Taobao?

    "How have I never heard Lu Xun say this phrase?" Lu Yiyao burst out laughing.


    "If it wasn''t Lu Xun, it was Zhou Shuren who said it, anyway, one of them must have said it!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Good lord, I, Zhou Shuren, have cursed all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to San Wei Study!"


    "Old gentleman, will you continue to bid?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Forget it, I''ll let you have it!" the old man sighed.


    In VIP Room 3, there was an elderly man nearing the age of ninety. He was almost bald, and his body slumped in his wheelchair as though completely paralyzed, with a man in his fifties standing behind him.


    "Father, aren''t you going to contend for it a bit more? As descendants of the Spanish Royal Family, we have a reason to retrieve the things our ancestors lost!"


    "Hehe, when the kingdom was destroyed and we were thrown out, no one remembered that we were royals!" the old man said with a melancholy laugh, "I have tried just now, at least I have done a little of my duty, don''t forget, our real purpose here isn''t that item!"


    "Father, the money we brought should be enough!"


    "No, you underestimate the appeal of that item," the old man replied, "This time, not only us but many other countries have sent representatives here, and even many from the Second World of humans. Even if we did manage to snatch it, it would be hard to leave this place!"


    "But father," the middle-aged man''s face was full of doubts, "does something like that really exist in the world? Something that can give one hundreds of years of life, it''s just too incredible."


    "Vast Thousand Worlds abound with wonders, and before we encountered that incident, we didn''t even know there was such a thing as the Second World, right?"


    "That''s true," the middle-aged man nodded, "I hope it really has such miraculous effects!"


    "Hehe, I don''t even hope for hundreds of extra years, just getting rid of this state of living death. Even if it''s just for 10 years, it would be worth it!"


    ...


    After three rounds, still no one had offered a higher bid.


    "Congratulations to the gentleman in VIP Room 0, ''Mr. Eater,'' for successfully winning this set of art pieces," Emma joked slightly, "Additionally, this set of utensils has yet to have a name, and you''ve won the rights to name it!"


    "Then call it ''Eating Soul''!" Zhang Menglong blurted out without even thinking.


    "Hahaha!" Wang Ling was nearly bursting with laughter, "It sounds like someone hammering on a coffin board. I bet you ten bucks, if Charles V knew you named it ''Eating Soul,'' he would climb right out of his grave to deal with you!"


    "Butler!" Zhang Menglong immediately called his butler, "Don''t make too much for lunch tomorrow, just three dishes and a soup with two bowls of rice will do. Let''s use my newly bought ''Eating Soul'' to serve it. I want to see if a two billion dollar set of bowls makes the food taste any better!"


    The butler picked up the phone completely baffled.


    Meow meow meow? What the heck is he talking about?


    ...


    "A 500-carat pink diamond, not common! I''ll take it!"


    "De Kooning''s famous painting ''Exchange''! Oh, I know this one, seems like it was bought by a hedge fund tycoon Griffin back in 2016, almost for 2 billion Huaxia currency at that time, right? Good stuff! I''ll take it!"


    "Damn! A complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton! This could be used as a guardian treasure for the home! Bought!"


    "Fukang Meteorite! That one worth 4.5 billion Huaxia currency! Good lord, I''m taking it too!"


    ...


    "3 billion!"


    "5 billion!"


    "8 billion!"


    ...


    The auction hall was left almost solely with the sounds of Emma''s introductions and Zhang Menglong''s bids.


    Since the auction began, Zhang Menglong had entered a state of self-indulgence; this auction really deserved to be called the world''s top-level auction, with nearly every item striking a point of interest or curiosity for Zhang Menglong.


    The most crucial part was that Zhang Menglong was getting closer and closer to his task quota!


    All 12 auction items, without exception, were bought by Zhang Menglong. Although others bid during the process, Zhang Menglong would raise the bid by several hundred million Euros each time, which was simply something ordinary people couldn''t keep up with.


    Almost every auction item exceeded its expected transaction price, and Emma on stage was almost laughing so hard that her dress would split.


    With 12 items, Zhang Menglong spent a total of 6.3 billion Euros. According to this pace, he only needed to buy half of the auction items to nearly complete his task.


    The more he bought, the more he entered into a state of frenzy.


    "President Ma, is this really an auction?" Li Hong had almost given up struggling. With this guy around, could they even buy anything?


    "I suspect he''s shopping on Taobao!" Ma Hua said speechlessly, "Have you ever seen anyone pay with hundreds of millions as casually as if it were just a few dollars?"


    "Don''t look at me!" Ma Yun said gloomily, "This operation is beyond my understanding now!"


    "Hahaha, finally it''s not just the two of us feeling frustrated!" Seeing Ma Yun''s expression, Ma Hua and Li Hong felt much more balanced.


    "Where are we now?" Wang Ling had already fallen asleep in his seat, and he rubbed his eyes, "How much stuff have you bought?"


    "Not much, just over sixty billion or so, about a dozen items, see for yourself!" Zhang Menglong moved the smart tablet in front of Wang Ling.


    "Are you sick? That''s not how you''re supposed to use money!" Looking at Zhang Menglong''s shopping list, Wang Ling wanted to take a knife and kill Menglong. Almost none of these items were useful.


    "Why did you buy this dinosaur fossil?"


    "To ward off evil spirits!"


    ...


    "And this meteorite?"


    "They say this piece of meteorite is especially hard!"


    "So?"


    "It can be used to crack walnuts."


    "I''m...," Wang Ling''s mouth twitched, perhaps this was the simple joy of the rich.


    ...


    "Exactly how much money does this Huaxia man have?"


    "Don''t know, but I feel like he could buy everything at the auction today."


    "Have you guys heard? Zhang Menglong recently went to Qingqiu Country and withdrew hundreds of millions of billions of Qingqiu Currency from their bank, all in cash!"


    "Isn''t that equivalent to several hundred billion US Dollars?"


    "Then why the heck are we even having an auction?"


    "No wonder he shops at the auction as if he were browsing a street market..."


    Unlike these wealthy individuals who came purely for the excitement and to see the world, some people''s faces turned quite ugly and they even grew extremely nervous, as they had come with a special purpose and were interested in only one thing!


    But if the trend continued, it was very likely that Zhang Menglong would purchase that item, and perhaps even a country might not have the financial power like Zhang Menglong!


    However, this didn''t affect Emma in the slightest. The organizers just informed her that her first commission had been credited, totaling nearly 320 million Euros! Now, she only hoped that Zhang Menglong would go crazier!


    "Coming up is the thirteenth auction item, from a country with a long history and splendid culture, it is Huaxia!"


    At that moment, every Huaxia person present changed their expression; indeed, the rumors were true, and this auction really did feature items from Huaxia!


    ...

 Chapter 223 221 Who Dares to Buy

    "Everyone knows that Huaxia is a country with a very long history. As one of the four ancient civilizations of the world, many treasures have been born in the history of Huaxia, and many of their crafts cannot even be replicated in this technologically advanced era."


    It was clear that Emma greatly admired Huaxia''s culture, and the reverence for Huaxia was evident between the lines.


    However, to the Huaxia people at the scene, it sounded a bit mocking. As an ancient civilization, their cultural relics were not lying respectfully in the national museums but had instead been lost overseas and ended up at this auction, which was a disgrace!


    "I want to see what exactly they have found!" Zhang Menglong steadied himself, resolved that today, any Huaxia item up for auction would be taken back without leaving a single one behind, and not a single cent would be spent!


    Since when did someone have to pay to retrieve their own belongings that had been lost outside?


    "Those who have studied Huaxia civilization might have heard that during the period of the Six States'' wars, there was a treasure known as the He''s Bi Remnant Jade!"


    "He''s Bi Remnant Jade?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling exchanged glances. Any Huaxian would not be unfamiliar with this name ¨C the story of ''Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao'' from their childhood textbooks was deeply etched in every Huaxia youth''s heart.


    He''s Bi Remnant Jade was a famous beautiful jade in the history of Huaxia, discovered by a man named Bian He. It was hidden inside a rock and offered twice to the reigning overlords of that time, but because the craftsmen were blind to its beauty, failing to recognize the precious stone hidden within the rock, each of the monarchs had one of his legs chopped off for the crime of deceiving the emperor.


    It was not until King Wen of Chu finally discovered the He''s Bi Remnant Jade hidden inside the stone that it became the national treasure of Chu State. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the land, he carved the He''s Bi Remnant Jade into an Imperial Jade Seal, with the words "Granted by Heaven, May it Last Forever" inscribed on it.


    Subsequently, through the generations, those coveting the Emperor''s throne fought over it, causing the Imperial Jade Seal to change hands repeatedly throughout more than two thousand years on the Shenzhou Continent. It appeared and vanished intermittently before disappearing completely, becoming one of the most valuable lost national treasures of Huaxia.


    Over the years, countless archaeologists searched every nook and cranny, but not a trace of it could be found, a truly sigh-inducing fact.


    Emma just mentioned the He''s Bi Remnant Jade. Could it be that the next item up for auction is the legendary Imperial Jade Seal that has been lost for so long?


    Again, it was the slowly rising platform. Emma grasped the velvet cloth covering the tray and yanked it off, revealing a strange, colorful radiance that immediately elicited gasps of amazement.


    "The thirteenth auction item is the Imperial Jade Seal carved from the He''s Bi Remnant Jade!"


    "Whoosh!" The four people in the VIP room all stood up at once, their eyes wide as they gazed upon the square Jade Seal.


    Seen from the front, the Jade Seal appeared milky white, but from the side, it emitted a faint bluish-green tint. It was squarely shaped, and the top was carved with a five-clawed dragon, the very symbol of supreme honor!


    "The sides reveal a bluish color, the front a milky white, just as the Tang Dynasty documents described!" Wang Ling marveled at the Imperial Jade Seal before him. This was indeed a true national treasure!


    "How on earth did this thing end up in these people''s hands?" Zhang Menglong pondered deeply, "How much effort has the nation gone through to find it, yet here they''ve discovered it? Damn miraculous!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I do know a bit about that!" Ye Yin spoke up.


    "Actually, during the Qin Dynasty, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang was visiting Dongting Lake, a storm caused his boat to capsize, stranding him in dangerous waters. At that time, heeding the advice of metaphysics, he threw the Imperial Jade Seal into Dongting Lake as a sacrifice to the river deity, and that was how he survived the ordeal."


    "But when he later commanded a search, nothing was found. After returning to Xianyang, he had a second Jade Seal carved from the original He''s Bi Remnant Jade, so in actuality, there are two Jade Seals!"


    "Which one is this?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "This is the second one," Ye Yin replied, "The first one is currently in a small box in the collection room of your residence!"


    "Nani?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "It was your ancestors who gathered countless laborers to fish it out of the mud in Dongting Lake ages ago."


    "Ghost, isn''t this too spectacular?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise, "Such a big deal, could Emperor Qin Shi Huang really not have known?"


    "Of course he knew, but what could he have done about it?" Ye Yin laughed, "Do you think the enormous manpower and resources Emperor Qin Shi Huang used to unite the six states came from nowhere?"


    "...It wasn''t my ancestor..."


    "It was indeed your ancestor who sponsored it!" said Ye Yin, "Back then, seventy percent of the taxes collected by Emperor Qin Shi Huang were used to pay off your ancestor''s debts. How could he have dared to criticize your ancestor? It''s just that your ancestor preferred the life of idleness and was not interested in the troublesome job of being Emperor, otherwise how could it have been Ying Zheng''s turn?"


    "Awesome, I''m flabbergasted," said Zhang Menglong before he asked again, "What about that Imperial Jade Seal now?"


    "The last time that Imperial Jade Seal appeared was during the time when Zhu Wen usurped power from the Tang Dynasty, after that it vanished without a trace. Actually, it was stolen by a general under Zhu Wen, instigated by a European merchant. That merchant paid the general a sum of money and later took it and left the Huaxia mainland, until now when it has once again surfaced, I suspect it must have always been in the hands of that merchant''s descendants, otherwise such a treasure could not possibly have been without any news."


    Zhang Menglong nodded, "All that is not important, what''s important is that we must bring it back to Huaxia this time!"


    "Now, let''s start the auction for this Imperial Jade Seal!"


    "The Imperial Jade Seal of Huaxia, it''s so intriguing, I must buy it for my collection!"


    "This thing is pretty much a national treasure! If it were in Huaxia, it would definitely not appear at an auction!"


    "So beautiful! So beautiful! This is definitely the finest piece of art! A symbol of imperial power, I want to bring it back to our Royal Family!"


    "Ahem!" Zhang Menglong was the first to make a sound.


    "That Huaxian isn''t going to spend money on it again, is he?"


    "Very likely, he buys all those useless things, how could he possibly pass up such a national treasure?"


    "There''s no way again, who can compete with him!"


    "Hehe, but this time it''s different. For other items, if the price is really too high, I guess he would give up, but for something like this, no matter how expensive, I''m afraid he won''t let go. I''ve heard that Zhang Menglong is extremely patriotic!"


    "Oh? Then this is going to be interesting, he''s sure to play the sucker!"


    "Just watch, there will definitely be people who maliciously drive up the price. Who made him so arrogant, to dismiss so many of us?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you planning to make a bid?" Emma looked in Zhang Menglong''s direction with a beaming smile, already fantasizing about a very beautiful figure.


    "No, this time, I don''t plan to bid," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "You don''t plan to bid? You''re not planning to compete for this Imperial Jade Seal? It must have great significance to Huaxia, right?"


    "I only said I don''t plan to bid, but I didn''t say I won''t take it back with me!" said Zhang Menglong, "The starting price is 0 euros, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, there''s no reserve price for anything, but if you don''t bid, others will definitely compete fiercely!"


    Zhang Menglong raised his voice: "Then I''ll bid 0 euros! Let''s see, who dares to buy it today!"

 Chapter 224 222: From Now On, This Place Is Called Zhang Menglong Square

    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by this?" Emma''s face changed on the stage, she could never have imagined that Zhang Menglong would suddenly make such a move.


    "Miss Emma, it''s just as it sounds," Zhang Menglong said, "if anyone dares to bid for this Imperial Jade Seal, then don''t blame me, Zhang Menglong, for doing something excessive!"


    "Everyone should remember, I came here on a Destroyer, and please believe that if I want, summoning two, three, or even ten more is no problem at all, or perhaps some of you would like to witness aircraft carriers and fighter jets, I can fulfill that desire as well!"


    Zhang Menglong made no attempt to conceal the aggressive and threatening tone in his voice, today, nothing belonging to Huaxia can be taken away by anyone.


    As for how this auction organization got their hands on this Imperial Jade Seal, and how much manpower and material resources they spent, Zhang Menglong didn''t care.


    Even though this may sound somewhat inconsiderate, after all, they might have gone to great lengths to find this national treasure of Huaxia that has been lost for a hundred years, but know this, bringing something that represents the culture and history of Huaxia to auction is a desecration of Huaxia civilization!


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think you are acting too high-handedly?" Zhang Menglong''s domineering attitude and tone instantly aroused the anger of many people.


    Zhang Menglong just now bought dozens of items in one go, leaving them with not a single gain, which had already discontented many people, and now he is actually using threats to force them to give up bidding, which is simply too much!


    "Exactly! Mr. Zhang, even if you are reluctant to spend money, you can''t stop us from bidding, right? Or is the patriotism you keep claiming just an excuse to mask your own behavior?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you just said it yourself, this is an auction, the highest bidder wins, so if you act this way, it''s a bit hypocritical, isn''t it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there are over a thousand people here, your actions could provoke public outrage!"


    More and more people chimed in together, Zhang Menglong wanted everyone to give up bidding and just take away the priceless Imperial Jade Seal without spending a penny, not even thinking about it!


    "You disagree with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Pressuring me by standing on the moral high ground? Trying to make me yield to public opinion pressure? Sorry, as long as I lack moral qualms, I will never be shackled by morality, even if the King of Heaven were here, he couldn''t stop me today!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you are breaking the rules of the auction by doing this!" someone shouted loudly.


    "Are you talking about the Rothschild family?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Why not ask him whether they dare to meddle in what I intend to do?"


    As if prepared for this question, a broadcast voice resounded in the auction venue, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Biros of the Rothschild family. Everything Mr. Zhang said represents our family''s stance!"


    Just this simple sentence made Biros''s stance clear, on this auction, the Rothschild family would not interfere with anything Zhang Menglong wanted to do!


    "You''re awesome, kid!" Wang Ling slapped Zhang Menglong''s shoulder, "Cool! That''s how it should be done, they want to mess with our Huaxia''s treasures, want to get rich through our Huaxia''s artifacts? No way!"


    "So that''s what he meant!" Ma Hua and the others finally understood what Zhang Menglong had meant when he said those words the other day, that''s what he meant by "not planning to spend money," he was intending to use his fists!


    "I, Zhang Menglong, am putting it out there first, as for the other items in this auction, as long as you have the money, everyone is free to bid according to their abilities, and I won''t say a word," Zhang Menglong continued, "But as for anything belonging to Huaxia, no one should even think about touching it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, then what if we make a bid?"


    "Then I will give up the bid!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Ah?" The person who asked was stunned, "Then you will give up the Imperial Jade Seal?"


    "I''ve said, I won''t spend a dime because this originally belongs to Huaxia!" Zhang Menglong asked, "Sir, if your property was stolen by a thief, and one day you find your stolen property, would you spend money to buy it back?"


    The wealthy man was taken aback again; indeed, if one''s own property was stolen, it would be a joke to be willing to buy it back with money, and why spend money on something that is rightfully yours in the first place?


    "But if anyone dares to bid on it," Zhang Menglong raised his voice, "then yes, you can do that, but you''ll never be able to leave this island! As for whether it''ll be a destroyer, fighter jet, or aircraft carrier that will come for you, well, that''s hard to say!"


    "He is threatening us!"


    "What does this mean? Are there no rules to this auction? He''s creating a terrorist incident; this is an act of terrorism!"


    "He''s just a madman. Is he really picking a fight with so many of us all by himself?"


    From the sound of Zhang Menglong''s words, it seemed he was ready to kill!


    "From now on, this place shall be called Zhang Menglong Square!"


    "Good grief, even Old Lu would weep if he heard this!" Upon hearing this slogan, Wang Ling immediately stood up on the spot and shouted out loud, "Zhang Menglong is awesome!"


    Under Zhang Menglong''s overwhelming deterrence, the room fell silent immediately as they all pondered the likelihood of what Zhang Menglong had just said.


    They had all seen that destroyer, a fully armed destroyer, with its dark cannon barrels and threatening ship-borne missiles. Anyone who saw it would be terrified.


    The most critical point was that this auction wasn''t a proper auction at all, as it was entirely private, and many of the items on auction couldn''t bear public scrutiny. Therefore, only a very few people knew of its existence, and public knowledge about it was virtually nil.


    If it were ever exposed to the public eye, it would undoubtedly attract significant international attention, because here, there were not only national treasures of Huaxia but also many treasures from other countries, even some items that were forbidden to be traded!


    Every billionaire who came here did so under the pretext of business trips or other reasons. As such, they couldn''t possibly seek help from their own countries. Just the power of owning that destroyer alone meant Zhang Menglong could do whatever he wanted, not to mention the possibility that he could actually mobilize other military equipment.


    "Let him be!"


    "Ah! This is truly insane!"


    "Forget it, these are the treasures of Huaxia and were never meant for us anyway."


    After much deliberation, the majority decided to withdraw from the bidding.


    "I bid 5 million Euros!" Finally, in the silent crowd, a rather abrupt voice rang out.


    "Damn, is there really someone not afraid of dying?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze turned sinister. Even under such threats, someone dared to continue bidding?


    And in that voice, Zhang Menglong heard something called defiance.


    "It must be those people, right?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "Those people? Which people? What people?" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong with confusion.


    "It''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, his gaze falling on VIP room number 7. The voice had come from there just now.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin''s voice echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind, "That should be the representative from the Derman Kingdom, accompanied by someone equivalent to a Level Five Mutant."


    "Just as expected!" A smile played on Zhang Menglong''s lips even more. "A Level Five Mutant, how interesting!"

 Chapter 225 223: Then Ill Do It the Civilized Way

    In Room 7, there was a middle-aged man around forty with short, neatly kept hair, dressed in a black suit. His eyes sparkled with an indescribable glow.


    Behind him stood another man and a woman. The man appeared quite scholarly, with hair covering half of his eyes and round-framed glasses perched on his nose, holding a book about human anatomy, which evoked the impression of a doctor.


    They all hailed from Derman, a powerful nation that had dominated Europe several times and nearly conquered the world.


    "Adenna, why do you want to bid for Huaxia''s Imperial Jade Seal? This item is meaningless to us!" the woman said with a displeased expression. "Don''t forget, our target this time is that item!"


    "I know," the man called Adenna replied, "I just can''t stand that Huaxia boy''s arrogance. Even though the times are different now and they are becoming stronger, it seems they''ve forgotten that when our kingdom of Derman was contending for world dominance, they were still busy seeking redemption from their enslaved society!"


    "Anna, it''s alright, let Adenna have his fun," the bespectacled man interjected, "Otherwise, this trip would be far too boring."


    "Yeah, this Huaxia person is indeed quite wealthy. I have no idea how he managed to mobilize that destroyer from England and even got Frankfurt to allow it, but to think he can do whatever he wants at this auction with just a destroyer is a bit far-fetched."


    "Hahaha, such first world weapons can only intimidate ordinary people, they are useless against us," Adenna continued, "Even if they brought ten times more, they couldn''t keep us here. Just considering his arrogant demeanor earlier, if he doesn''t bleed, he won''t think of taking the item back to Huaxia!"


    "Aren''t you afraid that this Huaxia person will drive up the price and then outmaneuver you?" the woman laughed.


    "That''s impossible. I know the people of Huaxia well. They value national honor above everything, and if the Imperial Jade Seal, an item of such significance, has come up this time, they will do everything they can to secure it, even if means selling the pots and pans."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, ordinary firearms are very intimidating to common people, but they are utterly meaningless against mutants of Level Three and above," Ye Yin told Zhang Menglong. "With the protection of that Level Five mutant, the destroyer won''t stop them."


    "Isn''t that why I have you!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Just now, Zhang Menglong''s credibility had been seriously challenged! He had barely finished speaking when someone immediately called out a bid, essentially a slap in his face.


    Laughter began to emerge from the regular section below; some laughed at the ignorance of the people in Room 7¡ª even if they managed to secure the Jade Seal, according to Zhang Menglong''s character, he certainly wouldn''t let them go easily.


    Of course, much of it was mocking Zhang Menglong, and they were even curious to see if his words were just a bluff or if he meant business.


    As for other exceptional individuals, they were merely enjoying the drama. The power disparity among them was not significant, most were aware of each other''s presence, and some from the second world had even sparred or knew each other.


    They naturally knew that the people from Derman dared to bid because they were utterly fearless; to them, Zhang Menglong''s intimidation was nothing!


    But among these individuals, there was one peculiar person.


    "Idiot, still daring to provoke him, do you really think he relies only on planes and battleships?" In another VIP room, a short-statured man showed a schadenfreude expression.


    This man was naturally KaiBong''s corporate president, Ximenggong, who had been taught a lesson by Zhang Menglong the previous night.


    Last night, Ye Yin did not kill that ninja from Kaibong; he genuinely stuffed his ass into a fissure in the bottom of the Mediterranean.


    By relying on his strong survival and recovery abilities, Mr. Shen Yuan finally struggled out of the crack in the middle of the night, returning to his room in the Dream Palace with a body covered in wounds and a broken arm.


    Mr. Shen Yuan had told the Dream Palace that this was the most terrifying person he had encountered so far, even among the few in the Kaibong nation known as "Divine Ninjas," none had made him feel so powerless.


    The individuals from the second world who came to the auction this time, had a strength equivalent to only Level Five or perhaps Level Six mutants at most.


    Of course, it wasn''t because these nations only had individuals of such abilities; in their own countries, there were people far more powerful than these.


    In every nation, the definition of these types of humans varied: in Kaibong, they were known as ninjas; in America, some called them mutants, while others referred to them as superhumans; in some European countries, they even used titles such as Viscount and Earl to classify them.


    However, to facilitate differentiation, their power levels were categorized from Level One to Level Nine, measured using units from an energy detector.


    According to the rules of the second world, second-world humans with an energy level above Level Seven are not allowed to enter any country''s interior without permission; if they really want to fight, it must be in an unclaimed public area. Thus, the strongest present here were only those second-world humans with an energy level of Level Six.


    In their Kaibong, a "Divine Ninja" was someone who had surpassed the mighty existence of Level Nine energy units; such individuals, powerful enough to only be looked up to, represented the nation''s most valuable strength and talent!


    He believed that the person Zhang Menglong had brought with him definitely possessed strength above the Level Nine energy units! Last night, that Huaxia person seemed like he was merely playing with him¡ªfrom the moment he noticed his presence to the moment he was subdued, it all happened in an instant!


    Although he didn''t know why Zhang Menglong had such a person by his side, let alone why his men dared to brazenly tear up the second-world treaty, but with such a person next to Zhang Menglong, anyone who provoked him was probably going to die miserably!


    "Stupid and arrogant people from Derman!" the Dream Palace muttered to himself. This time, if they wanted to take that item back, there was almost no hope.


    ...


    "Miss Emma, it is time to ask for bids!" Adenna said in a haughty tone.


    Only then did Emma suddenly remember her actual job.


    "Five million euros for the first time. Is there anyone else who would like to raise the bid?" Emma''s expression turned towards the VIP room where Zhang Menglong was seated.


    "Five million euros for the second time!"


    "Hehehe!" As Emma called for bids the second time, a burst of laughter came from VIP room number 7, "If Mr. Zhang doesn''t continue to bid, this Imperial Jade Seal will belong to me, and I look forward to seeing if Mr. Zhang''s naval forces can really trap me then!"


    "Old Zhang, that bastard is provoking you! Get him!" Wang Ling said, teeth itching with anger.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong was surprisingly not angry, "but I''ve suddenly changed my mind. Now, I plan to use the method of a civilized person."


    "Ah? The method of a civilized person? What do you mean?" Wang Ling asked, puzzled.


    "The method of a civilized person, that is to overpower him with money!" Zhang Menglong declared, "As long as he can''t produce the money when it''s time to pay, then he won''t be taking the item away!"

 Chapter 226 224: The Bank Really is Owned by My Family

    "He can''t pay? What joke are you making?" Wang Ling said, "Everyone who comes here has a net worth of at least a hundred million US dollars. Any random person could easily come up with 5 million euros in cash. How could he possibly not be able to pay?"


    "Wanna bet?" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous grin, "If he can come up with the 5 million euros later, I''ll stand on my head and eat three tons of shit, and then do a handjob to a five-speed fan!"


    "Pfft! Hooligan!" Lu Yiyao gave Zhang Menglong a look of disdain.


    "Damn, you''re betting that hard?" Wang Ling was suddenly shaken, "Aren''t you also a freeloader?"


    "You''re farting, am I that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said, "But if I win the bet, and he can''t come up with the 5 million euros, you have to eat all 257 tons of shit you owe in one go, plus wash dicks with sulfuric acid, how about that?"


    "I''m not betting with you!" Wang Ling didn''t dare to take such a harsh bet, and seeing Zhang Menglong''s confident look, there must be a scheme. Zhang Menglong''s methods were always unpredictable, and he might indeed pull it off.


    "But I do want to see how you''re going to do it!" Wang Ling said.


    "Simple," Zhang Menglong smiled, "This auction trades in tens or even hundreds of millions of euros. They can''t possibly use cash to pay, right?"


    "Of course, it''s all done through bank transfers, and through secret accounts at Swiss Bank," Wang Ling said, "Before anyone attends the auction, they need to register such an account for fund transfers."


    "Hey, haven''t you bought a dozen things already? How do you not know how the payment works?" Wang Ling felt a bit annoyed.


    "Do I need to spend my own money when I buy things?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "I just tell the person arranged by Haigen the transfer amount, and he takes care of everything. I don''t even need to do it myself."


    "Damn! Evil capitalist!" Wang Ling cursed enviously, "What''s your plan?"


    "Swiss Bank, right?" Zhang Menglong''s glasses twirled, "Just get the bank to freeze his money. Then he won''t be able to transfer a penny, and thus, he won''t be able to pay, right?"


    "Hahaha! You really dare to think big!" Wang Ling laughed, "Swiss Bank is a top-level bank in the world. It is said that at least a quarter of the world''s top rich people have all their money there. Who do you think you are, unless you own the bank!"


    Suddenly, Wang Ling noticed an extraordinarily weird smile on Zhang Menglong''s face, one that seemed to tell him, "Brother, you have no idea what I''m capable of!"


    "No... No way? Am I the clown?" Wang Ling made an exaggerated face.


    "Sorry, this Swiss Bank, it seems it really is mine!" Zhang Menglong said with a slightly apologetic tone.


    "Impossible, right? I remember that more than 70% of the bank''s shares are spread across several investment firms, with BlueShirt International Capital holding 12.5%, Carlyle Asia Ventures with 22.4%, and several other ventures that are well-known globally."


    "Then perhaps you don''t know, most of the bosses of these venture firms are members of the Dorelas family, or their external affiliates, so the ventures'' shares actually belong to the Dorelas family, and what''s theirs is mine!"


    "But aren''t you afraid such an incident at the bank would have some unpleasant repercussions?" Wang Ling said with concern, as if he would be enraged if the money in his bank account was suddenly unavailable, especially in such an important situation.


    "Not a big issue!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand dismissively, "I have a hundred ways to make him swallow his own teeth, and he won''t be able to do anything about it!"


    "Yeah right, you''re starting to sound like Ye Liangchen."


    After saying that, Wang Ling suddenly got excited. Although getting pelted with money by Zhang Menglong wasn''t very satisfying, watching Zhang Menglong use money as a weapon was incredibly enjoyable. And if it was against someone he disliked, it was even better!


    "Hurry it up! These scoundrels still dare to challenge us Huaxia people, let''s make him know what shame is!"


    "Haigen!" Zhang Menglong dialed Haigen''s number, "Do you have a list of people who came to the auction?"


    "If you need it, I can get it for you in one minute."


    "No need, I''m not interested in who that person is," Zhang Menglong said, "Within a minute, find out the identity of the person in VIP room 7 and freeze his account at Swiss Bank."


    "Got it, Mr. Zhang. I''ll take care of it immediately!"


    ...


    "The guest in VIP room number seven bids 5 million Euros. Any higher offers? If not..."


    "10 million Euros!" Before Emma could finish speaking, someone else immediately shouted a higher price!


    "Hahaha, Huaxia has been too prominent in recent years. It''s time to suppress their momentum, lest they forget how they''ve been barely surviving." This was the master of VIP room number five, who was embracing a long-haired beauty and looking down at the entire venue with an attitude of having everything under control.


    "Another one?" Zhang Menglong frowned, noticing that many people seemed eager to slap him in the face!


    "Mr. Zhang, it is the Mars family from America bidding. Their economic strength ranks third in America, but they have a very good relationship with the military, and they have a Level Six mutant there."


    "Well, now even the military is involved. What on earth are they desperate to grab this time?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but grow even more interested in the auction''s final item.


    "20 million Euros! We from Italy are very interested in this Huaxia Imperial Jade Seal!"


    "Hahaha, since that''s the case, we can''t be mute either. 25 million Euros!"


    Besides the wealthy patrons from Kaibong''s Western Dream Palace, those followed by second-world humans began to bid recklessly. In their eyes, protected by second-world humans, they had no fear of Zhang Menglong''s threats!


    "Wow, they''re all jumping out now!" The smile at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s mouth grew colder.


    "Old Zhang, they don''t seem to be afraid of your threats at all. Could there be any danger? Should we not be so confrontational?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but express her concerns.


    "Don''t worry, they are just a bunch of idiots," Zhang Menglong said, "There''s plenty of time to deal with them, but I''ll need Haigen to help me freeze a few more accounts!"


    ...


    "One hundred and twenty-five million Euros, sold! Congratulations to the owner of VIP room number seven for successfully acquiring this Imperial Jade Seal! Please complete the payment within one hour, and we will deliver the Imperial Jade Seal directly to your VIP room after the payment is made."


    "Wait a minute!" The young voice of Zhang Menglong came from VIP room zero.


    "Mr. Zhang, the auction for this item has already concluded," Emma reminded him.


    "I know," said Zhang Menglong, "but I just want to doubt whether this guest in number seven can actually come up with one hundred and twenty-five million Euros. If they can''t, then this item doesn''t belong to them."


    This extreme auction had an interesting rule. At ordinary auctions, if the final buyer cannot pay, not only must they pay a fee as compensation, but the item would also be declared unsold.


    However, here, if the highest bidder cannot pay, the item goes to the second-highest bidder, and so on until someone can pay, so there is no situation where an item goes unsold!


    "Hahaha! What a joke. Are the young people nowadays really that arrogant? It''s just over a hundred million Euros, right?" Adenna from room seven said, "Miss Emma, I can make the payment now, no need to wait for an hour."


    "That would be best, of course," Emma said with a smile.


    "Make the transfer!" Adenna instructed his accompanying assistant.


    "Yes, Mr. Adenna." The assistant took out a laptop and began the payment process, but a moment later, his expression suddenly froze.


    "Sir... Sir..."


    "What is it?" Adenna said impatiently.


    "Your... Your personal account at the Swiss Bank has been frozen!"

 Chapter 227 225 Im Just a Privilege Dog

    "What? Frozen? How is this possible?" Adenna stood up abruptly from his seat.


    As a major client of the Swiss Bank, he had long maintained a deposit of over one billion euros in the bank. Clients of his level were served by dedicated teams around the clock, making it effortless to withdraw money from his account at any time.


    It was just a little over one billion euros, after all. How could it possibly be inaccessible at this moment? Besides, before freezing a client''s account, the bank would typically inform them of the reasons and relevant notifications. How could it be frozen without a word?


    "Call them immediately and find out what the hell is going on," Adenna demanded.


    Adenna''s assistant immediately dialed the dedicated service hotline for Adenna, but was told that there were issues with the origin of the funds in his account and that the money could not be unfrozen until the investigation into these funds was clear.


    "Bullshit!" Adenna cursed angrily. The funds he had transferred into this account were for participating in the auction. The amount was indeed substantial, but the origin was definitely not an issue. Otherwise, the bank would have already come to him with troubles when he deposited the money. How could his account possibly be frozen out of the blue?


    "Isn''t there any way?" Adenna asked anxiously, beginning to sweat. He was as joyful as he had been showing off a moment ago, and now he was just as tortured.


    Although this VIP room was confidential, there were quite a few acquaintances of his at the auction, and a part of them knew that the person in VIP room No. 7 was him.


    If he won the bid for the Imperial Jade Seal but couldn''t pay up, and this incident got out, it wouldn''t just be a matter of losing face. It could severely affect his credibility and potentially his business¡ªit was anything but a small matter!


    "Miss Anna," Adenna glanced at the beautiful woman, asking silently for help.


    "Don''t even think about it!" Anna said, "The money we brought isn''t for you to spend on useless things like this. Don''t forget, our aim here is that one artifact. Everything else is worthless to us!"


    "Miss Anna, I know the funds you brought are very substantial, surely you can spare a little over one billion euros?" Adenna still didn''t give up.


    "Even if it''s ten million euros, it could affect the outcome of the final bid," Anna''s tone became slightly hostile, "and this money belongs to the organization, neither you nor I have the right to use it at will!"


    "VIP No. 7, have you completed your payment? If you''re having some difficulties with funds, you can complete the payment within one hour. Otherwise, we''ll have to pass the bid to the second-highest bidder according to the price."


    "Exactly, do you have the money or not, don''t waste our time!"


    "If someone''s in a VIP room, they can definitely afford it. What are you worrying about?"


    "Who knows? Maybe his VIP ticket was obtained by some unclean means."


    "Hey, can you handle it or not?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling exchanged glances, knowing that the owner of VIP room No. 7 must be bewildered by now. It wouldn''t just be one billion euros that he couldn''t withdraw from the Swiss Bank¡ªit could be a single cent.


    "Damn it!" Adenna clenched his fists defiantly, "I''m sorry, but I seem to have encountered some issues with fund transfers. It appears the Imperial Jade Seal and I are not meant to be!"


    Adenna knew that even an hour later his account might still be frozen. Instead of waiting an hour, it was better to openly admit to having cash flow problems rather than implying he didn''t have the money.


    As he expected, although there were still many whispers, the voices were not overwhelming. To these top-level tycoons, cash flow issues sometimes arose and were not strange at all, at worst it just meant he was not well-prepared.


    "Look at that, pretending to auction off without money, how embarrassing!" Zhang Menglong''s sardonic voice rose in the hall, immediately amusing many of the magnates from Huaxia.


    "Hahaha, I knew this kid wouldn''t miss any chance to kick a man when he''s down!" Li Hong laughed, but his smile was slightly bitter.


    "Despite his ostentatious character, I must admit, I''m starting to like him," Ma Hua, who had a few encounters with Zhang Menglong, laughed despite herself.


    "Indeed, how could we just let someone else take away our Huaxia treasures? Even if they wish to, it''s not allowed. If it were me, I''d cuss him out too!"


    "No, I think there''s a problem!" Ma Yun said. "I know who the person in VIP Room No. 7 is, Derman''s Adenna; you must have heard of him."


    "Adenna? The tech tycoon from Derman?"


    "Exactly, him!" Ma Yun said. "He''s a genuine high-ranking intellectual, almost single-handedly propelling the entire semiconductor industry of Derman forward. Now, one-third of the world''s most sophisticated chips come from his company. Even America can''t outdo them by much. Plus, he contributed intellectual property as capital and owns over 80% of the shares personally, with assets exceeding 100 billion US Dollars! How could he possibly not afford to take out a little over a hundred million Euros?"


    "Do you suspect someone is playing tricks?" Ma Hua had also heard of this "tech tycoon." Not only was the person a business prodigy but also a scientific research genius.


    "Impossible, everyone''s funds are funneled through the Swiss Bank. Who could tamper with that?"


    "Could it be... Zhang Menglong, that kid?" Li Hong guessed. "He was the first to question if Adenna could come up with the money. By his look, he seemed certain Adenna couldn''t. Unless he already knew..."


    "Now that you mention it, it''s not out of the realm of possibility!"


    "Damn, how capable is this kid after all?"


    ...


    "If that''s the case, then it''s very regrettable!" Emma sighed. "Then this auction item will have to be deferred to the client in VIP Room No. 5."


    "Hahaha, so much for the Derman riches!" laughed a representative of the Marser family, but as soon as he began transferring funds, his expression suddenly changed. His funds, too, had been frozen!


    "How is this possible?"


    "I... My funds have run into some issues, I relinquish my bidding rights to this Jade Seal..."


    "Whoosh!" If one person''s funds ran into issues, it could be an accident; but the possibility of it happening to two people at the same time was simply too small.


    This instantly elicited a wave of hisses from the crowd.


    "Damn it, what''s going on here?"


    "Could there be problems with the Swiss Bank? No way, I need to check my account right now!"


    "My account is fine, though?"


    "What exactly is happening?"


    "I... I also give up..." While there was a buzz of discussion on site, the third highest bidder also gave up on the auction.


    "I give up too!" With the first three giving up, it was naturally easier for the rest to follow suit without the slightest psychological burden.


    But at this point, anyone could see that there were definitely shenanigans at play!


    "Awesome!" Watching these people, who aspired to lay hands on Huaxia''s national treasure, fail one after another, Wang Ling couldn''t be happier. "Show off, keep showing off, hahaha!"


    "Hahaha, today, I''m gonna be a complete power user. Want to bid? I''ll just ban your account outright!" Zhang Menglong was also laughing so hard he couldn''t close his mouth.


    "Let''s see," Zhang Menglong''s voice came through once more, "it seems like all the bidders just now have given up, right? If I remember correctly, the only one who called out 0 Euros was me. So now, this Imperial Jade Seal should be mine, right?"

 Chapter 228 226 Freeze All Their Accounts

    The people present had participated in countless auctions before, some even attending more than one extreme auction hosted by this organization, but it was indeed the first time everyone was caught without money to bid.


    However, according to the rules of the extreme auction, the auctioning rights for this Imperial Jade Seal indeed fell to Zhang Menglong, and that too without costing a penny!


    "Miss Emma, I believe it''s time to announce the results of the auction now, isn''t it?"


    "This..." Emma immediately cast an inquiring look towards a direction backstage. On this island, not only were the leaders of the Rothschild family present but also representatives from the organization behind this extreme auction.


    "Follow the rules!" came a response in Emma''s earpiece.


    Emma then breathed a sigh of relief. At the end of the day, she was just an employee at this auction, and she certainly didn''t dare to make such special decisions on her own.


    "Since the previous bidders have forfeited their rights to bid, I now declare that this Imperial Jade Seal is acquired by the guest in VIP Room Zero for 0 euros. Please wait a moment, and the item will be delivered to you!"


    Upon hearing Emma''s final announcement, all the Huaxia people present breathed a sigh of relief.


    According to the law, such a national treasure must be turned over to the nation, and of course, Zhang Menglong would receive a commemorative banner and 500 yuan.


    But this auction was illegal, and there was an unspoken agreement that no auction item could be disclosed, so there was no problem with Zhang Menglong claiming this priceless Imperial Jade Seal for himself.


    However, as a Huaxia person, it was much better that this item ended up in Zhang Menglong''s hands rather than with someone from another country, especially since it remained in Huaxia.


    ...


    "Sayel, did that Imperial Jade Seal really just get handed to that Huaxia man like that?"


    In the backstage of the auction, two people were hidden in a dimly lit rest area, and they had witnessed the entire process of the auction from beginning to end.


    "The organization put quite a lot of effort into locating this Imperial Jade Seal! We were really counting on making a big profit from these Huaxia people," said a slender European man, somewhat displeased.


    "It''s just an Imperial Jade Seal, and although it''s indeed invaluable, on this auction stage, it''s nothing extraordinary," said Isar, the European man with brown hair, "We''re just peripheral members of the organization. We only need to accomplish the tasks assigned by the organization. That Huaxia man just bought so many items, the premium has already exceeded the estimated value by more than a billion euros, which is more than enough to offset the value of this Imperial Jade Seal."


    "That makes sense, apart from that one highlight item, our only responsibility is to ensure that the total transaction exceeds 28 billion euros. We''ve already surpassed one-fifth by just selling thirteen items, so reaching 28 billion euros isn''t difficult."


    "But Cloya, don''t you think this whole situation is very strange?" Isar asked, "Six billionaires, each worth several hundred billion euros, unable to come up with a mere one billion euros; isn''t that a bit too odd?"


    "What, you suspect that Huaxia man?" the European named Cloya said.


    "If it wasn''t his doing, I can''t think of any other reason," Isar, peering at the VIP Room Zero, said, "Otherwise, why would he start off so assertively, then let those people bid, and throughout appeared confident, as if he knew from the start those people wouldn''t be able to put up the money?"


    "Now that you mention it, it does seem suspicious," Cloya entertained a bold thought, "Could he have influence over the Swiss Bank?"


    "It''s not out of the question!" Isar said, "I''ve heard of this Huaxia youth; not long ago, he caused quite a stir in Qingqiu Country. It''s said that his deposits in Qingqiu Bank amounted to several thousand trillion Qingqiu Currency, which is several trillion euros. Such financial power is simply unheard of.


    "We have a total of five treasures from Huaxia this time, and if what you''re suggesting is true, then aren''t these items essentially being gifted to that Huaxia man?" Cloya''s face showed concern as this would put their 28 billion euro transaction target in jeopardy.


    If they failed to accomplish the organization''s mission, they knew all too well how cruel the organization''s methods were, even though they were only peripheral members!


    "Don''t be nervous," Isar said, "Maybe he can really buy everything, but whether he can take it away is another story. A mere destroyer can only intimidate ordinary people after all."


    "Haha, you''re right. With Zuo Ge around, not to mention a single destroyer, even an aircraft carrier group wouldn''t stand a chance!" Thinking of that formidable person sent by the organization as an official member to assist them in ensuring the auction went smoothly, Cloya shuddered. This person was also responsible for handling any emergencies that arose.


    The appearance of Zhang Menglong was clearly an emergency for them!


    ...


    "Thump, thump, thump!"


    "Sir, the Imperial Jade Seal you purchased has been delivered." A beauty with her skirt slit almost to her thigh root arrived accompanied by two security guards and brought the Imperial Jade Seal to Zhang Menglong''s VIP room.


    It was a purple box, which looked quite substantial.


    "Could it be a fake?" Wang Ling was somewhat skeptical, considering it was something bought without spending a single dime. If the seller was reluctant, swapping it out wasn''t out of the question.


    "Ye Yin?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there is no issue with the item. It is indeed the Imperial Jade Seal that has been lost for hundreds of years," Ye Yin gave Zhang Menglong a confirming answer.


    "That''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded, taking the exquisite box from her hands.


    The box was heavy; although the Jade Seal was not particularly large, it was indeed substantial.


    "Let''s continue!" Zhang Menglong placed the box next to him and refocused his attention on the auction.


    "The next item for auction also comes from Huaxia!" Emma''s words made everyone in the room gasp. Given Zhang Menglong''s dominant display earlier, one could almost predict a repeat of that scenario would soon unfold.


    Furthermore, anyone with a bit of sense could guess that those magnates couldn''t come up with money, and it definitely had something to do with Zhang Menglong.


    As two sharp cold gleams flashed, two ancient swords, one large and one small, appeared on stage, both ash-gray in color. Despite two thousand years, they still maintained their sharp edge from the past.


    "Old Zhang, it looks like those characters are from Chu State!"


    "You understand ancient texts?" Zhang Menglong suddenly had a new respect for Wang Ling.


    "Not really, but I can recognize them," Wang Ling said, "just like you don''t recognize Kaibong script but can recognize it as Kaibong when you see their writing."


    "Chu State''s text, that''s more than 2000 years old, and they are a pair of swords. Could this be the legendary..."


    "This is the Ganjiang and Moye, known as one of Huaxia''s top ten Divine Weapons!"


    "Really!" Zhang Menglong and others exchanged glances. In reality, the top ten Divine Weapons were just a legend, and how many of those swords actually existed was still an unknown.


    "Forget it, let''s not waste any more time," Zhang Menglong said, "I had Haigen freeze everyone''s accounts already! From now on, everything, all for 0 Euro!"

 Chapter 229 227: The Goal of 100 Billion US Dollars Has Been Achieved

    "What''s going on? Why is my account frozen? It was perfectly fine when I checked just a few minutes ago!"


    "What? Your account is frozen too? So is mine! What the hell is Swiss Bank up to?"


    It seemed because of what had just happened, those who had the intention to bid all began to check their Swiss Bank accounts, but without exception, everyone discovered their accounts had been frozen, and the freeze took place just a minute ago!


    This even led some to suspect that there might be some problem with Swiss Bank itself.


    "No, it''s not an issue with Swiss Bank!" a billionaire put down his phone, "I just asked my friend, and his Swiss Bank account is completely fine!"


    "You mean, only the people here have issues with their accounts?"


    "How is that possible?"


    "Could it really be him who''s behind this?" More and more people turned their gaze in Zhang Menglong''s direction.


    Everyone present was carrying billions in cash, but at this moment, not a single penny could be withdrawn. It was like going for a massage but realizing at the crucial moment that you don''t have a condom¡ªit could drive a person mad.


    While everyone was speculating whether this incident had anything to do with Zhang Menglong, he began to speak again.


    "Since everyone is being so modest, then I, Zhang Menglong, will not stand on ceremony!" Zhang Menglong slowly said, "I bid 0 euros!"


    "It must be him causing this!"


    "What kind of ability does he have to make the Swiss Bank freeze all our accounts? Doesn''t Swiss Bank care about the consequences of such actions?"


    "Maybe Swiss Bank is owned by his family!" The so-called ''none of my business'' attitude kicked in. At the auction, there were many who came just for the excitement, without any intention to compete for anything. So, whether their accounts were frozen or not did not affect them in the slightest, and they began to make sarcastic comments.


    "Hahaha, you make a good point!"


    "Exactly, in the small country of Qingqiu alone, he owns several trillion US dollars. Does he care about a little compensation?"


    What they didn''t know was that they were actually right, as Swiss Bank did indeed belong to Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Miss Emma, time to get to work!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "Acc...According to our auction rules, if no one can bid over 5 million euros, then this pair of swords, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, will belong to Mr. Zhang." Now, almost everyone knew that it was Zhang Menglong sitting in the VIP room number zero, and there was no need for Emma to keep his identity secret anymore.


    10 seconds passed, and no one made a sound.


    Half a minute went by, still no one spoke. It wasn''t that they didn''t want to bid; they literally couldn''t come up with the money!


    An increase of 5 million this time, unless they brought cash. But carrying 5 million euros in cash might physically kill someone. They would have to be out of their minds to bring that amount in cash to an auction.


    "So, congratulations to Mr. Zhang for becoming the owner of this pair of ancient swords!"


    "Damn, this is the first time I realize how exhilarating it is to be a ''privilege dog''!" Watching the silent crowd below, Wang Ling felt a wave of satisfaction.


    "Want to give it a try? Next time I''ll freeze all your accounts in Huaxia''s banks," Zhang Menglong said, "except the People''s Bank of Huaxia is state-controlled, the rest is still under capitalist control. Freezing any account is just a matter of word for me."


    "Please don''t! I was just kidding!" Wang Ling instantly put on a bootlicking expression, "Mess with them all you want, but why go after me?"


    ...


    In the backstage of the auction, the faces of those two mysterious Europeans were so dark they could drip water.


    "Isar, what do we do? This Huaxia man looks like he really plans to take all of Huaxia''s relics back without spending a penny!"


    "Go inform Emma to auction off all of Huaxia''s cultural relics in advance, and let this Huaxia man have his moment of pleasure for a while!" Isar said coldly, "Just now the Huaxia man said he only wants Huaxia''s cultural relics, I think for other things, he will bid using normal means, so as not to affect the auction of other items."


    "Hmm, then you..."


    "I''m going to find Zuo Ge," Isar stood up. "There''s nothing from our organization that someone can take away without spending a penny!"


    ...


    Next up were three more relics from Huaxia, a massive cauldron from the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Nine Dragons Sword buried with Qianlong, and a Peking Man skull fossil that had been lost during the resistance against Kaibong. Any one of these items was worth more than a billion Huaxia currency!


    Having lost all his competitors, Zhang Menglong effortlessly secured these items for himself.


    "These guys are really something. The things that the Huaxia people have been searching for so long, they managed to find them all," Zhang Menglong reflected with deep emotion as he looked at these artifacts that symbolized a brilliant culture.


    "Old Zhang, what do you plan to do with these items?"


    "See this red scarf fluttering on my chest?" Zhang Menglong straightened himself, "Of course, I''m turning them over to the state! After all, I haven''t spent a single penny!"


    "You... Are you really not going to think about it? These items are priceless!" If it were Wang Ling, even if these items were given to him for free, he would find it difficult to return them to the nation.


    "What priceless? Together they are worth at most 500 million euros," Zhang Menglong said offhandedly, "Just enough to buy four or five of those meteorites used for cracking walnuts!"


    "Damn it!" Wang Ling finally realized, Zhang Menglong didn''t have an ounce of enlightenment; that red scarf fluttering over his chest was just for show. He just didn''t place much value on these cultural relics, with maybe just a little patriotism to boot.


    "Okay, what''s ours we take back, and what''s not ours, we win with our abilities in the auction," Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hagen to lift the block on those accounts. The real auction was only beginning now!


    "My account is back!"


    "Mine too!!"


    Soon, many realized that their Swiss Bank accounts had returned to normal, and quite coincidentally, this happened right after Huaxia''s relics were all picked up by Zhang Menglong without spending a penny.


    Now, it could be firmly stated that the Swiss Bank incident was Zhang Menglong''s doing!


    Even so, the style of the auction did not change significantly.


    "200 million euros!"


    "800 million euros!"


    "Crap, that''s a nice piece! I bid 500 million euros!"


    At this moment, those tycoons realized that freezing or not freezing their bank accounts had absolutely no impact on whether they could win any items at the auction!


    If Zhang Menglong wanted something, he simply didn''t care about the price; he just kept bidding higher.


    Apart from the few items Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in, he bought nearly 70 percent of the auction''s lots with exceedingly high closing bids.


    "Congratulations to Mr. Zhang on winning this world-famous painting for 400 million euros! Now, we are down to our final star lot. Please enjoy a 20-minute tea break. Next, I believe, will be a very intense competition!"


    After paying the last 400 million euros, Zhang Menglong''s mind was simultaneously filled with a voice that had appeared several times in his dreams.


    "Ding! Task set by the 249th dean completed. Super God Academy officially unlocked!"


    The voice sent a jolt through Zhang Menglong and even made him forget to ponder what this final star lot could be, mysterious enough to cause such anticipation.


    "Gou Dan?" Zhang Menglong remembered the name he had given to the Super God Academy''s intelligence system a few months ago when he first entered the academy through his mother''s hypnosis.


    "Respected 250th Dean, Super God Academy''s intelligence system, Gou Dan, at your service. You may use your thoughts to issue a command and open the entrance to the Super God Academy. I will introduce more information after you enter the academy!"

 Chapter 230 228: 5000 Years of Family Wealth is Nothing

    "Zhang Menglong, why are you cursing at people?" Wang Ling asked, looking displeased at Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Ling''s girlfriend held back her laughter, wondering when Zhang Menglong had started calling Wang Ling "Gou Dan"; she guessed that in all of Huaxia, probably only Zhang Menglong dared to call him that.


    "Oh, nothing, just talking to myself. I''m going to take a shit!" Zhang Menglong didn''t care about the crudeness of his speech; he was just eager to get into the Super God Academy to see what kind of place it really was.


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong slipped into the bathroom and promptly locked the door behind him.


    "Damn, this toilet is pretty luxurious!"


    "Gou Dan, activate the entrance to the Super God Academy." Zhang Menglong commanded.


    It was a strange sensation; in front of Zhang Menglong, a mirage-like image seemed to appear, suddenly revealing a thin membrane akin to a water wall.


    The membrane was suffused with dazzling, colorful lights, reflecting a twisted world full of rosy clouds as if another world lay just beyond its thinning veneer.


    Zhang Menglong stood up, moved closer to the membrane, intending to see what was inside, but a powerful pulling force yanked him straight through the membrane!


    ...


    Suddenly, Ye Yin''s figure materialized in the empty restroom, his expression initially panicking as he tried to figure out where Zhang Menglong had suddenly gone.


    A moment ago, Zhang Menglong''s life signs and aura had vanished from the restroom in an instant, and as an Administrator tasked with protecting Zhang Menglong, how could Ye Yin not worry?


    But after an instant, he revealed a knowing smile, "It seems Mr. Zhang has already inherited the most precious gift left by his ancestors from the Zhang Family!"


    With a light chuckle, Ye Yin''s figure disappeared once again from the restroom.


    ...


    A sensation of the world spinning overwhelmed him, and Zhang Menglong, losing his balance, tumbled to the ground. As his vision gradually returned, he was astounded.


    Before him was no longer the same restroom, but a realm of colorful rosy skies, magnificent palaces, metallic fortresses brimming with technology, and Floating Islands hovering above. Far away lay endless ice plains, tempestuous oceans, fiery volcanoes, and dark forests.


    This place was exactly like what he had seen in a dream!


    "Dean, welcome to the Super God Academy!" Gou Dan''s voice rang out next to Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Gou Dan, there aren''t just me here, right?" After his moment of astonishment passed, Zhang Menglong gradually recovered from the initial blank state of mind.


    If they were calling it a school, there should be teachers, right? But a quick scan around revealed no other people, only unnameable vegetation within his sight.


    "All the teachers have been sealed by the 249th Dean; however, there is one who was left by the former Dean to help you understand the school. Let me introduce you," Gou Dan said.


    "Rumble!" The ground suddenly trembled, and a colossal building shot up right in front of Zhang Menglong. Its extravagant and cool appearance would be familiar to anyone who had watched the movie "Iron Man."


    "A Stark Industries building?" Zhang Menglong''s pupils dilated several times, "My God, did I just travel through time? Is this the Main God space from Infinite Terror?"


    A host of unfathomable thoughts flooded Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    His gaze shifted towards the distance, noticing that those buildings were actually moving steadily. A more astonishing idea occurred to him: this world seemed to be alive!


    As if in response to Zhang Menglong''s question, the sound of shoes clacking against the ground preceded the opening of the Stark Industries building''s doors, revealing a figure all too familiar to him.


    "Iron... Tony Stark?"


    "No, no, no, headmaster, here I''d prefer you to call me Teacher Tony!" Tony Stark bowed slightly to Zhang Menglong. "I have been waiting for you for a long time, and you''ve finally arrived at the school."


    "You... you''re really Iron Man?" Looking at that face identical to Donnie''s, Zhang Menglong even began to doubt whether it was real.


    "As they call me in your world, yes, calling me that isn''t wrong," Tony spread his hands.


    "Stop kidding, Iron Man is a character from animations and movies, how could he possibly..."


    "Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Several pieces of red armor trailing golden flames suddenly fell from the sky, landing with pinpoint accuracy beside Tony, then seamlessly assembled onto his body.


    "I... I''ve fucking seen a ghost!" Just a few minutes ago, Zhang Menglong was at an auction bidding against some idiots for a pile of useless items, and minutes later, Iron Man pops up in front of him. Could there be anything more absurd and disconnected than this in the world?


    "Headmaster, do you believe in the parallel world theory?"


    "If you asked me now whether I believe in Ultraman, I''d believe that too!" Zhang Menglong nodded blankly.


    "In fact, they do exist," Tony began to explain with a smile, "Headmaster, there are many parallel worlds in this universe. What are merely movies, animations, or novels in your world, are reflections of these real and existing parallel worlds, it''s just that there are no spatial intersections with your world."


    "Then why have you appeared here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I was captured and brought here," a hint of sadness appeared on Tony''s face, "from my world, I was forcefully sent here."


    "Captured?" Zhang Menglong was stunned. "What exactly is this place?"


    Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that, apart from knowing this place was called Super God Academy, he almost knew nothing about it!


    "This Super God Academy, you can consider it a special space created by an advanced civilization in the multiverse. In this place, people from all parallel worlds can enter. The creators of Super God Academy wander through various worlds, capturing individuals from each world who possess special gifts and abilities, then throw them into this world."


    "This involves an advanced civilization again?" Ever since inheriting his family''s wealth, Zhang Menglong had become immune to many things beyond common knowledge, but compared to this, those things seemed like nothing at all.


    For humans, who to this day haven''t even discovered extraterrestrial life, the notions of the multiverse or advanced civilizations are far too remote!


    "Let''s just assume they really exist," Zhang Menglong mumbled to himself, "but why would they do this?"


    "To enhance their civilization, using our power and knowledge, to help the civilization that created this Super God Academy cultivate their finest offspring," Tarik explained.


    "You mean to say, in this Super God Academy, besides you, there are other people?"


    "The Administrator of Super God Academy already informed you just now, there are many teachers in the school. Only, they were sealed by the previous headmaster. They can only be unsealed gradually if his demands are met. I''m just an exception," Tony explained.


    Then Tony sighed again, "Although we are nominally teachers of this Super God Academy, in reality, we are prisoners of this school. While we have infinite life here, we can''t defy the headmaster''s will. The headmaster can dictate our life and death."


    "But how did my ancestor become the headmaster of Super God Academy?" Zhang Menglong wondered. If there really was something so incredible like this, logically speaking, there shouldn''t be any intersection with a low-level civilization like Earth''s.


    "I''m not sure about that," Tony said with a wry smile, "and I don''t know what kind of disaster befell the civilization that created this Super God Academy, but the key to open this academy fell onto this planet called Earth over five thousand years ago, where it was picked up by one of your ancestors. Since then, the academy and the position of headmaster have been handed down from generation to generation."


    "This is just outrageous!" Just now Tony said that the school was used to nurture the offspring of the higher civilization that created it, so it must have many extraordinary aspects. The reason his family had lasted for thousands of years and amassed such wealth and influence was probably inseparable from this Super God Academy!


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim, "Compared to this thing, five thousand years of family property is nothing!"

 Chapter 231 229: I Plan to Bring Thanos Over as a Teacher

    "Right, Teacher Tony, speaking of this, where exactly did my parents go?" Zhang Menglong asked the question he most wanted to know in his heart.


    When he called out "Teacher Tony," Zhang Menglong always felt something was a bit off.


    "They went to other parallel universes," he replied.


    "What?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened larger than lanterns, "You''re not talking nonsense, are you?"


    "I wouldn''t dare deceive the Principal," Tony said, "Since the Super God Academy can connect to various parallel universes, naturally there''s also a way to reach them. Not just your parents, your other elders, your grandfather, great-grandfather, and others, are all living in those worlds."


    Zhang Menglong suddenly remembered, before his parents left, they seemed to have said they were going to explore new worlds. Could it be that the exploration of new worlds they mentioned was this?


    "Wait a minute! My grandfather and great-grandfather?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine. He had never met his grandfather since he was born, only hearing about his grand reputation overseas in recent months.


    As for his great-grandfather, given his age, even if he hadn''t passed away, he must be over a hundred years old by now. An old man like that, going to parallel universes? This sounded like a huge international joke!


    "Principal, don''t underestimate the Super God Academy. Knowledge, power, and even eternal life, there''s nothing it can''t grant you," Tony said with a smile, "The first ancestor in your family who received the Super God Academy''s favor is still living well!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was so astonished he couldn''t close his mouth¡ªif his first ancestor still hadn''t died, he must be around five thousand years old by now, "But why did they go to parallel universes? Our family is already the world''s richest, with endless money and blessings to enjoy. Isn''t staying on Earth much better?"


    "Your ancestors realized after receiving the Super God Academy that due to a past calamity, all the teachers from the Super God Academy had disappeared, leaving only some records in the Super God Academy''s intelligent system. With these records, your earliest ancestors unlocked their body''s potential and then ventured into parallel universes."


    "So that''s how it is!" Zhang Menglong finally understood why Ye Yin told him he could one day possess those mysterious and formidable powers. It turns out that these powers originally came from the Super God Academy!


    With this thought, Zhang Menglong suddenly became overwhelmingly excited.


    "Wait, those ancestors of mine went to parallel universes to... capture teachers?" An audacious idea formed in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    "Yes," Tony nodded, "To ensure their descendants would become even more outstanding, they wanted to find more teachers from those parallel universes to bring to this Super God Academy."


    At this point, Tony displayed a face full of helplessness, "I was captured by your father two months ago, along with some other unlucky folks who''ve been held here for a few hundred years. The ones who came earliest have been confined for a couple thousand years, you might have even heard of them!"


    "Damn, that''s a lot to take in, I''m having trouble digesting all this," Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "Is there a way to contact my parents...?"


    "Of course, there''s a way. The former principal instructed that if one day you ran through that allowance and unlocked the Super God Academy''s permissions, I should contact them."


    Upon finishing, two beams of light shot out from the eyes of Tony''s armor, creating a holographic projection mid-air.


    "Holy smokes, that''s advanced!" Zhang Menglong marveled. Up to this point, human technology hadn''t been able to advance holographic projections to this degree! If this thing could be commercialized... sheesh, another huge business empire indeed!


    It was a bustling city, just like the ones on Earth. A man and a woman were enjoying a sumptuous meal atop a towering building, with almost the whole city spread out below them.


    "Dad, Mom?" Zhang Menglong recognized at a glance¡ªit was none other than his own parents.


    The gaze of the man and woman suddenly shifted from each other to Zhang Menglong.


    "Son!"


    "Damn! Kid, you''ve finally activated the Theological Academy!" The couple''s faces instantly lit up with smiles, and Zhang Xiaoyun spoke with tough love, "100 billion US dollars and it took you several months, that''s really embarrassing. Back in my days, I..."


    "Stop reminiscing, do you think there''s much on Earth that''s not owned by our family after so many years? It''s really a head-scratcher trying to spend money, you know?"


    "True!" Zhang Xiaoyun muttered to himself.


    "Mom and Dad, where are you? Don''t tell me you are really in a parallel universe?"


    "Exactly!" said Zhang Xiaoyun, "We''re currently in the Marvel universe, and I thought Tony was pretty good, so I brought him over as a teacher. He''s very learned, with first-class skills in math and science. Study well with him, get a master''s and then a Ph.D. It''ll bring glory to the old Zhang family''s name!"


    "..." Zhang Menglong was left speechless. Their family was almost dominating Earth, and yet their prestige relied on academic degrees? This was like asking someone whether they''d prefer 7 million dollars or a score of 700 on the college entrance exam.


    Some might choose a score of 700, but Zhang Menglong could possibly own 700 trillion. With such wealth, who needs academic degrees?


    "Your grandfather has been nagging for a long time, disappointed that I didn''t study properly, now you''re the only one in our family who has gone to college; you must continue, do you hear?" Zhang Xiaoyun said. "If you want to continue with materials science, Tony can teach you a lot. If you''re interested in biology, I''ll grab the Hulk for you. If you want to study history, I''ll catch a few Emperors for you."


    "Damn, is that how you play?" Zhang Menglong was left dumbfounded. Was this a school or a den of bandits?


    "Alright, I get it!" Facing Zhang Xiaoyun''s Tightening Curse, Zhang Menglong could only agree. If this school really was that amazing, not to mention getting a Ph.D., it seemed not difficult at all to earn every doctoral degree in the world, right?


    "When do you plan to come back?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "No idea, your mother and I plan to catch that purple-skinned guy called Thanos and make him a teacher, then go explore some other worlds, see if we find any interesting teachers to bring back for you."


    "This is really..." Zhang Menglong realized he couldn''t find the right adjective. They were actually willing to grab even Thanos; but what could he teach? Fighting? Or cosmic sociology?


    "Oh yeah, son," Zhang Xiaoyun added, "now that you''ve activated the Super God Academy, you can start doing some different things. Tony is the only teacher not sealed at the moment, and to unseal the others, you''ll need to do some things."


    "What do I need to do?" Zhang Menglong was really looking forward to the other teachers at the Super God Academy. Just having Iron Man as a teacher was quite exciting.


    "Hehe!" Zhang Xiaoyun laughed, "Son, inheriting the academy, everything will be different from now on. I''ve already had Tarik prepare everything. Starting today, you just need to have a good time."


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    "You''ll find out soon," Zhang Menglong''s father said. "Tony, I''ll leave the rest to you."


    "Yes, I will assist the dean in managing the academy well!" Tony gave a deep bow to Zhang Menglong''s father, then produced a ring, "Dean, once you put this on, you''ll officially take over the academy!"

 Chapter 232 232: 230

    "What is this?" Zhang Menglong took the ring from Tony''s hand. It was silver-white, with a gem that looked like a moonstone embedded on top, exquisitely crafted, yet showing some signs of age.


    "This is the signet of the Dean of the Theological Academy. As long as you have this, you can enter the academy anytime and have the highest level of access," Tarik explained.


    Zhang Menglong slipped the ring onto his ring finger, and the ring that was originally a whole size too large magically shrunk to fit perfectly. The ring contrasted starkly with another gemstone ring on his index finger that once belonged to Louis XIV¡ªone extravagantly flamboyant, the other understated yet mysterious.


    In an instant, a stream of information flooded into Zhang Menglong''s mind, and at the same time, a mysterious force subtly began to transform his body.


    This ring wasn''t just a token representing the identity of the Dean. It had many other functions.


    The gemstone set in the ring was called a Void Stone, containing endless space within, just like the magical space rings in fantasy novels.


    This ring also had the ability to detect the Gift and power of life forms, far surpassing the most powerful computers or detectors on Earth by countless times.


    The ring could even permanently copy one of the abilities of a Super God Academy teacher onto the wearer, though each use of this copy feature required an Energy called "force points."


    The third, and most amazing, feature was that the owner of the ring could temporarily possess all the abilities of one of the school''s teachers for a short duration. This function could only be used once a day, and it lasted only three minutes.


    However, there was a limitation: the second and third functions could only target teachers of the Theological Academy whose Seals had been lifted, and currently, the only unsealed teacher was Tony Stark.


    "This school doesn''t actually have Ultraman, does it?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. How else could there be such an oddly specific setting of three minutes?


    "By the way, Professor Tony, what exactly are ''force points''?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Son, let me explain this to you!" Zhang Menglong''s father spoke from the hologram, "It''s simple, just two words: showing off. As long as you show off, you''ll gain ''force points.'' For every 100 ''force points'', you can randomly awaken a teacher or copy one of their abilities. How exciting is that?"


    "Was this set by the creator of this Theological Academy?" Zhang Menglong asked. Could it be that people from an Advanced Civilization also fancy showing off?


    "Of course, it was me who set this," Zhang Menglong''s father said, "With this academy, from now on, Earth will be your backyard. Enjoy your life to the fullest."


    "Earth is already our family''s backyard, okay?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "Also, Dad, what exactly are you...really?"


    "Alright, we have to go find Thanos now. He slipped away the day before yesterday, and we''ve managed to find his whereabouts again. We can''t let him get away this time!" Zhang Xiaoyun downed his red wine in one gulp and, just like in the dream from before, floated up like an immortal.


    "You... be careful..." At this moment, Zhang Menglong didn''t know what to say. But from what Zhang Xiaoyun mentioned earlier, it seemed that they could pursue Thanos, so they probably wouldn''t encounter any danger, right?


    Zhang Menglong figured that his parents must be far more formidable than Ye Yin. After all, even in movie settings, Thanos was depicted as a cosmic emperor.


    Moving away from the holographic projection, Zhang Menglong''s gaze returned to the Dean''s ring.


    "I wonder if this thing really works," Zhang Menglong tested the detection function of the Dean''s ring on himself.


    Name: Zhang Menglong


    Race: Human


    Identity: Dean of Super God Academy


    Potential Index: ???


    Gift: ???


    Skill: High-Grade Polymer Material Chemistry Experiment (G), Showing Off (F)


    Evaluation: A little brother now, but definitely a big shot in the future


    "F? My showing-off skill is only an F?" Zhang Menglong instantly felt indignant. Even if he wasn''t SS, he should be at least an S, right? How exactly were these Grades determined? And that Evaluation... isn''t it a bit too cheeky?


    "What''s going on? Is it broken? Why are both the Potential Index and Gift question marks?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled and decided to test Tony''s data as well.


    Name: Tony Stark


    Race: Human


    Identity: Mechanical Manufacturing Teacher


    Potential Index: 12


    Gift: Creation and Invention


    Skill: Artificial Intelligence (E), Mechanical Manufacturing (E), Material Technology (E)


    Evaluation: A human body, on par with deities


    "Dean, you don''t need to look anymore. Your body already underwent the blessing of Super God Academy''s power when you put on the dean''s ring, amplifying your potential and gift to infinity. That''s why all the data you are seeing should be question marks."


    "So that''s how it is." Zhang Menglong nodded, sounding like it was quite awesome.


    Although he had no idea what these skill evaluations actually meant, at least Tony being able to create Jarvis, such a superior artificial intelligence, and the powerful Mark series armor, was much stronger than the cutting-edge technology of present humanity by who knows how much.


    "What a pity, I don''t have any Cred Points right now." Zhang Menglong exhaled, based on the information he had just received, 100 Cred Points would allow him to copy a skill from a teacher or unlock a new teacher.


    If he randomly copied an E-Grade artificial intelligence skill, Zhang Menglong thought, maybe finishing his graduate studies, pursuing a Ph.D., and publishing a few papers, becoming an Academician within a few years wouldn''t be a problem, right?


    "Zhang Menglong, are you okay?" Just then, Zhang Menglong heard Wang Ling''s voice in his ear.


    "Damn! I totally forgot I was still at the auction!" Zhang Menglong took out his phone to check, thankfully, it had only been 18 minutes.


    "Gou Dan, I need to get out!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    The light membrane appeared once again, Zhang Menglong marveled at its wonder and quickly ran out.


    "Wait, Dean... I..." Tony touched his stomach, which was growling, although they had an infinite lifespan here and wouldn''t die, they still felt hunger. Ever since he was captured by Zhang Xiaoyun, he hadn''t eaten anything a normal person would eat for two months.


    "Sigh, looks like I''m going to starve for a while longer," Tony sighed as he controlled the Mark-50 to fly into a valley in the Super God Academy.


    This valley was very quiet, and there was an area that looked like a vegetable garden, where all sorts of exotic flowers and herbs were grown, and a faint scent of herbs lingered in the air.


    "Back to eating these lousy herbs!" Tony pulled a strangely shaped herb from the ground, frowned, chewed a couple of bites, and swallowed, "This teacher named Yao Chen, why not grow some vegetables? Had to plant all these weird things, what''s this? Blood Spirit Demon Fruit? The name is scary enough..."


    ...


    "What the hell are you doing? Constipated?" As soon as Zhang Menglong opened the door, Wang Ling said irritably, "This is so frustrating, such a big room with just one bathroom. Hurry up and let me in, I can''t hold it anymore!"


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed.


    "What are you laughing at?" Wang Ling frowned, "Being cured of constipation is worth being happy over?"


    "It''s nothing, it''s nothing," said Zhang Menglong, "You go ahead!"


    "You''re being so weird!" Wang Ling glanced at Zhang Menglong and hurried into the bathroom.


    Zhang Menglong had just checked Wang Ling''s information.


    Name: Wang Ling


    Race: Human


    Identity: Chairman of Ling Yu Venture Capital


    Potential Index: 6


    Gift: Playing Internet Celebrity


    Skill: E-Sports (G), Investment (G), Philosophy (G)


    Evaluation: Even a dog has a Potential Index of 1, let''s call him the strength of a ''six-dog''


    This humorous evaluation made Zhang Menglong unable to hold back his laughter, the strength of a ''six-dog,'' it was just fantastic. But this was probably already a comparatively high-quality level among ordinary humans, right?


    "Interesting!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that the world was becoming more and more interesting. With this Super God Academy, his life would surely become much richer.


    Still, thinking about his empty Cred Points, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but sigh, "To be a person, one must have Cred Points ah!"

 Chapter 233 231 This is the sort of thing we snack on

    "Are you okay?" Back at the viewing window, Lu Yiyao cast a concerned look at Zhang Menglong, who had been in the bathroom for so long¡ªcould it be that he had diarrhea?


    "I''m fine, just taking a dump. It''s pretty normal to spend half an hour with your phone," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, seizing the opportunity to glance over at Lu Yiyao and Wang Ling''s girlfriend. The ring, which represented the identity of the president of the Super God Academy, immediately gave him their information.


    Lu Yiyao''s Potential Index was 5, with a vocal music Gift, and a D-level pop music singing Skill. As for Wang Ling''s girlfriend, her Potential Index was only 4, with no Gift and only an E-level hot dance Skill.


    Just as Zhang Menglong had guessed, the Potential Index of ordinary people was around 5.


    "I wonder how powerful Ye Yin is," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help being curious.


    The ring seemed to read Ye Yin''s thoughts. Although Zhang Menglong couldn''t see Ye Yin, it appeared to sense life forms within a certain range and displayed Ye Yin''s data before his eyes.


    Name: Ye Yin


    Race: Human


    Identity: Personal bodyguard


    Potential Index: 80


    Gift: Assassination


    Skill: Spiritual power enhancement (D), physical enhancement (D)


    Evaluation: A fairly formidable human


    "A ''fairly'' formidable human?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. If someone like Ye Yin was considered fairly formidable, wasn''t this ring being a bit too strict?


    But thinking about how his own parents were hunting Thanos, it did not seem so strange after all.


    "I made it in time!" At this moment, Wang Ling, who had finished in the bathroom, hurried back. "Has it started yet?"


    "Just started." Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, and at this moment, Emma walked back to the auction stage.


    Zhang Menglong did not notice that Lu Yiyao was looking at him with a rather unfamiliar gaze. As someone close to Zhang Menglong, she had a keen feeling that there was a subtle change in him compared to twenty minutes ago, as if something was different, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it.


    "Maybe I''m overthinking it," Lu Yiyao turned her attention back to the auction.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have been waiting for this final auction item for a long time," Emma said, "Although our Limits Auction has a very high level of confidentiality, I think the well-informed among you have already received some information. Now, let me unveil this final auction item for everyone!"


    Emma opened the file for the last auction item¡ªshe was also finding out what it was for the first time at this moment. After a brief glance at its description, she couldn''t help but gasp in astonishment.


    "What on earth is it? Why does she look like that?"


    "It seems that this final auction item is no ordinary item. Among the hundred or so treasures before, I''ve never seen her show such a lapse in composure."


    "This... this is unbelievable!" Emma exclaimed as she revealed the last auction item''s mysterious veil.


    "What is this?"


    The screen showed only a box the size of an adult''s fist. In the center of the box, there lay a dark purple sphere about three centimeters in diameter, its surface streaked with intricate lines, looking extremely exquisite.


    "Isn''t this just Maltesers? A few bucks a pack, are you kidding me?" Wang Ling immediately showed a look of disappointment.


    "What Maltesers? I feel like this looks more like an elixir."


    "Elixir? My foot!" Wang Ling laughed, "There are plenty of swindlers in this world, all claiming to sell miracle elixirs. A few years ago, my dad encountered a con artist who claimed to be a descendant of Yuan Tiangang, with the true transmission of his Alchemy Technique, able to concoct some great supplement pill."


    "Then what happened?" Zhang Menglong asked with interest.


    "Then he spent twenty thousand bucks on some kidney nourishing pill, and after taking it, he had diarrhea for a whole week," Wang Ling said with a skeptical look, "But it doesn''t make sense. This Limits Auction is supposed to be very credible; they shouldn''t be selling fake stuff!"


    "Let''s listen to her introduction, and then we''ll know," Zhang Menglong said, "What if this really is some kind of Miracle Elixir?"


    "You must all be very curious, right?" Emma seemed still shocked by the special nature of the auction item, "If there is anyone here who knows about Huaxia''s history, they must be aware that two thousand years ago, during the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, in his quest to find the Immortal Elixir and become the eternal ruler of Huaxia, once sent a man named Xu Fu to seek for the elixir in the sea."


    The foreigners in the audience were all looking at each other, not many were genuinely interested in understanding Huaxia history, but the Huaxia people in the audience were all listening with great interest. The story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang''s quest for the Immortal Elixir was no stranger to anyone with a bit of cultural knowledge.


    It is said that after Xu Fu went out to sea, he disappeared without a trace. Some say he perished in the ocean, while others claim he found the Immortal Elixir and consumed it himself, but these are all just unconfirmed legends.


    "In fact, Xu Fu didn''t die. He really did encounter an Immortal, who was moved by his sincerity and crafted three Immortal Pills to give him."


    "Fuck me, this is getting more and more ridiculous!" Wang Ling seemed to have no patience to listen anymore; if there really were such things as Immortals in this world, then they''d be looking at ghosts.


    "Of course, the person Mr. Xu Fu encountered back then wasn''t any Immortal, but a master who had learned the ancient Huaxia alchemy. Although these Immortal Pills can''t make one truly immortal, they are capable of prolonging life and even unlocking human potential."


    "Of course, it''s up to you all whether you believe it or not. Let the auction begin now!"


    "Is this for real?" Whispers started to spread among the audience.


    "That''s just too far-fetched, daring to use Huaxia legends like that. Is this Ultimate Auction trying to ruin its own reputation?"


    "Hahaha, maybe this thing really can lengthen one''s life!" someone laughed, "Huaxia is a very magical country, isn''t it?"


    "So you''re buying?"


    "Haha, I wouldn''t buy it, whoever buys it is a sucker!"


    "But why would they use this kind of thing as the finale? Could someone really pay a high price for it?"


    "50 million Euros!" Surprisingly, someone actually started the bidding! This voice came from the number one VIP room which had been silent from the start, even shouting out a bid of 50 million Euros right off the bat.


    "100 million Euros!"


    "150 million!"


    "200 million Euros!"


    ...


    To everyone''s surprise, the auction price soared rapidly, even exceeding the previous hundred-plus auction items. And apart from Zhang Menglong, all the guests in the VIP rooms joined in.


    "The Immortal Pill of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, someone actually found the last one! I must acquire it!" In the VIP room belonging to Dream Palace, a person from Kaibong named Shen Yuanjun said with a serious face.


    They were certain the legend was true!


    Indeed, those three Immortal Pills had miraculous powers, but Xu Fu didn''t bring them back with him because on the way home, he encountered a woman who stole and ate one of the Immortal Pills, gaining powers no human should possess and even seizing the remaining two.


    However, because the power of the Immortal Pill hadn''t been fully digested at that time, she was pursued by soldiers with Xu Fu, fleeing to Kaibong, and from her the famous image of the Nine-tailed Fox Tamamo-no-Mae was derived.


    Later, it was said that this woman died of her severe injuries, and the whereabouts of the remaining two elixirs were lost. Initially, the people of Kaibong treated this simply as a legend.


    Just a few years ago, someone from America''s military somehow managed to find one of these Immortal Pills. Despite being over two thousand years old, this Immortal Pill was remarkably preserved. Moreover, a Level Seven individual, after consuming this Immortal Pill, astonishingly became an individual exceeding level nine in just half a year!


    This news spread within a small circle in the Second World.


    An individual beyond level nine of the Second World human race, was sufficient to change the entire world''s underground situation! And since then, Second World humans all over the world frantically began searching for this third Immortal Pill.


    Not long ago, this third Immortal Pill was found by people from this Ultimate Auction, attracting various powerful countries to send wealthy representatives, covertly convening here vying for this third Immortal Pill.


    Of course, apart from individuals from the Second World and the high-ranking officials from various countries, almost no one else knew about this, including Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, this thing is real," Ye Yin said. He briefly recounted the ancient legend, and by that time, the price had soared to a staggering 2.1 billion Euros!


    "What? Really?" Zhang Menglong heard this and suddenly grew eager, "That won''t do; I must get in on this!"


    "5 billion Euros!" Zhang Menglong suddenly doubled the price and then some.


    "Zhang Menglong, 5 billion Euros for a Maltesers? Have you lost your mind?" Wang Ling grabbed Zhang Menglong, who had stood up, and pulled him back to his seat.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s no need for you to waste money on bidding for such a thing," Ye Yin said with a smile.


    "How can I not buy this? It prolongs life! It''s a great supplement, even better than steroids!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    Ye Yin laughed: "Actually, in your home, we treat it like a snack!"

 Chapter 234 232: Then We Cant Let Someone Else Buy It

    "What on earth is this thing?" Zhang Menglong stared increasingly curiously at the so-called "Immortal Pill." After he had shouted out the astronomical price of 5 billion Euros, the person in VIP Room No. 4 immediately called out a bid of 5.1 billion Euros.


    "That is a Fighting Spirit Pill," Ye Yin said.


    "I didn''t study much, don''t try to fool me," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Do you think I haven''t read ''Battle Through the Heavens''? That stuff is from a novel, you think I''m a greenhorn?"


    Zhang Menglong had read that novel back and forth, if not ten times, then at least five or six times. The Fighting Spirit Pill was a divine medicine that could help a Battle King breakthrough a level, and a Battle King was the type that could convert Dou Qi into horses, capable of flying in the sky and smashing a mountain with a palm.


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t yet shifted his thinking from that of an ordinary person''s. Wasn''t Ye Yin beside him exactly the kind of person who could smash a mountain with a palm?


    Not only that, in Super God Academy, even Iron Man was captured to be a teacher. If there existed parallel worlds in this universe, and even the world of the Dou Qi Continent where Dou Qi was supreme, then...


    "Principal, more than 2500 years ago, one of your ancestors already visited that parallel world known as the Dou Qi Continent. He captured Yao Chen, the Medicine Sage, and now he is a Pharmacology teacher at Super God Academy," Gou Dan''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong was immediately both shocked and frustrated, "Are you going to tell me that Xiao Yan has also been captured?"


    "Yes, Teacher Xiao Yan is now the instructor for the Dou Qi cultivation class," Gou Dan said, "Your ancestor not only captured him but also took his wife. To be honest, I''m a bit unable to watch!"


    "Enough, stop talking..." Zhang Menglong felt his worldview collapse substantially. What kind of person was his ancestor?


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you should have already inherited the most important treasure of your family. There are some things you probably know even more about than I do," Ye Yin told Zhang Menglong.


    "Yeah, I''m aware of that now," Zhang Menglong said.


    Gou Dan had already told Zhang Menglong everything just now; the Immortal Child that Emma mentioned Xu Fu found overseas was actually Zhang Menglong''s ancestor. Those few Fighting Spirit Pills were also casually made by his ancestor as a gift to him.


    Having learned the Alchemy Technique of Medicine Sage Yao Chen at Super God Academy, a mere few Fighting Spirit Pills really weren''t much. As for the materials needed for alchemy, Yao Chen had planted a large medicinal garden in Super God Academy. There, with abundant spiritual energy, the growth rate of the herbs was unimaginable, almost turning the premium herbs into weeds. Even periodic clearing was necessary to prevent their overgrowth.


    Of course, just like the other teachers, the current Yao Chen had also been locked away by Zhang Menglong''s father, and unlocking him would require a sufficient amount of Cred Points.


    "Your ancestor cultivated many powers similar to our Ye Family," Ye Yin said, "Everyone has their own duties. Our Ye Family is responsible for the security of your family. Of course, there are also people specifically creating these elixirs to train us. This Fighting Spirit Pill really isn''t of much value to us, seeing that besides manpower, it almost has no cost."


    Zhang Menglong could roughly imagine the vast outline of his family. Some people were responsible for earning money for their family, some were enforcers, some managed logistics, and it seemed his ancestor had taught the Alchemy Techniques learned from Super God Academy to his own forces.


    Of course, the skills that Ye Yin possessed were probably indirectly from Super God Academy, most likely passed down to Ye Yin''s ancestors by Zhang Menglong''s ancestor, and then from generation to generation within Ye Yin''s family.


    "6.2 billion!"


    "6.8 billion!"


    ...


    The price of that one Fighting Spirit Pill continued to soar. For Zhang Menglong, its value might really be akin to a piece of Maltesers, but for the rest of the people in this world, it was truly a treasure of incalculable worth!


    In this world, nearly every country and region has certain special second-world humans, who possess powers beyond ordinary humans and have longer lives. However, their advancement is not easy either. It is quite normal for several, or even dozens of years to pass by before they can move up one energy level.


    A second-world human who surpasses level nine can change the international status of a country, but there are probably fewer than 15 countries in the world with such a powerful individual.


    And this Fighting Spirit Pill can directly create a second-world human whose energy level surpasses nine. The allure of it can thus be imagined to be extremely strong.


    Now, Zhang Menglong finally understood why all those countries would send representatives to desperately bid for this final headliner auction item.


    The tension in the auction room grew heavier and heavier. With the price reaching this point, it was no longer within the reach of ordinary wealthy individuals. Without the backing of a nation, no one could produce so much cash, except for someone abnormal like Zhang Menglong.


    The only ones still in contention were representatives of the twelve second-world human nations or powers that Ye Yin had mentioned before.


    "Strange, with something so good, why would they put it up for auction?" Zhang Menglong curiously wondered. If it were him, he probably would have consumed the item the moment he got it, right?


    "They wouldn''t dare," said Ye Yin, "No matter how formidable they are, they''re just an organization. In any case, they can''t contend with a nation-state machine. But there''s only one elixir, and there are more than a dozen countries that want it. No matter who they sell it to, they will offend the other countries."


    "Hahaha, that''s it," Zhang Menglong realized. So that''s why they decided to disclose this information and let them fight it out themselves. Not only does nobody get offended, but they''ll also make a good profit. Indeed, that''s a clever move.


    "10 billion Euros!"


    At that moment, someone from Private Room Number Three spoke up for the first time. From the beginning of the auction up till now, the person in Private Room Number Three had been completely silent, making Zhang Menglong think they were just there to watch.


    "Ye Yin, which country does Private Room Number Three represent?"


    "Mr. Zhang, they''re from Huaxia."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong suddenly came to his senses. Right, with representatives from so many other countries present, how could Huaxia''s representatives not be there? It was just that he''d been dealing with Ma Yun, Ma Hua, and others, which instinctively made him forget about this.


    "Ye Yin, does Huaxia really need this Fighting Spirit Pill?"


    "Yes," Ye Yin said, "America and Huaxia have the most second-world humans. Huaxia''s mainly come from the ancient cultivation system, what you call ancient martial arts. These individuals are known as Ancient Martial Artists, and Huaxia has five who have surpassed level nine. There are also three Natural Awakeners who have surpassed level nine."


    "Awakeners?"


    "You can understand them as Psychics."


    "So that makes a total of eight people."


    "Over in America, all of them are uniformly Mutants. However, they''ve given themselves a name: Superhumans. There are also eight Superhumans who have surpassed level nine. As for England, which is third in line, they have only five."


    "So for both Huaxia and America, this Fighting Spirit Pill is a key factor in deciding who will be the world''s number one superpower."


    "You could say that," Ye Yin replied, "Of course, this excludes the people under Mr. Zhang''s influence."


    "Since that''s the case," said Zhang Menglong with a mischievous smile, "I originally wasn''t interested, but hearing you say this, I can''t let others take away the Fighting Spirit Pill!"

 Chapter 235 233: You Guys Are Really Annoying

    "Ye Yin," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve always wanted to ask you a question."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you wondering how strong my power is?" Ye Yin replied with a smile.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong answered.


    "Well, those eight superhumans from America, killing them is as easy as killing chickens for me."


    "That''s so Versailles," Zhang Menglong thought, his guess was similar, but he was still astonished when he heard it.


    "By the way, Ye Yin, if I were to take that Fighting Spirit Pill, would I also instantly become awesome?"


    "That won''t do," Ye Yin said, "Your body right now is just that of an ordinary person, and it can''t withstand such a powerful drug effect. Moreover, this kind of elixir is just an aid. To develop your body''s potential, you should use a step-by-step approach."


    "Gou Dan, what does step-by-step approach mean?" Zhang Menglong asked, suddenly realizing something¡ªalthough Ye Yin could read his mind, it seemed she couldn''t detect Gou Dan''s presence.


    "That''s a lot," Gou Dan said, "In the ancient martial arts system, internal cultivation methods are the foundation. In a fantasy world, cultivation techniques are the foundation. In the system of supernatural abilities, enhancing one''s abilities is the foundation. You can unlock ''cred points'' from a teacher and directly copy their cultivation techniques with cred points, of course, given your potentially infinitely strong abilities."


    "It all comes down to cred points," Zhang Menglong figured, according to the rules set by his dad, if he didn''t have enough cred points, Super God Academy would be useless, "But the more I hear about it, the more it sounds like I need to start cultivating."


    "Of course, you can also learn directly from the teachers. In their classes, what you learn is not just those skills," Gou Dan reminded.


    "I just don''t know how many cred points acting cool can get me," Zhang Menglong thought with regret. In these past few months, he had acted cool no less than 80 to 100 times. If those could be converted to cred points, it would surely be a considerable number, right?


    "If only I had kept a low profile back then!" Zhang Menglong sighed. In the past three months, he had acted as cool as he possibly could, now truly experiencing the moment of need when there was no coolness left to act.


    "10.2 billion Euros!"


    "10.5 billion!"


    "11 billion!"


    The numbers were skyrocketing, almost every country''s representative was filled with fervor and determination towards that one Fighting Spirit Pill.


    "Damn, are these people out of their minds?" Wang Ling had never seen such a crazy auction before. How could something sell for over ten billion Euros? Was scamming money really that easy these days?


    "Do you think they are all fools?" Zhang Menglong spoke to Wang Ling.


    "No, you don''t believe in this stuff, do you?" Wang Ling found it absolutely unbelievable.


    "Forget it, you wouldn''t understand," Zhang Menglong sighed, "sooner or later, you''ll find out."


    ...


    "Crazy! These people are all crazy!"


    "A damn pill has been bid up to 50 billion, how can these people have so much money?"


    Indeed, under this fiercely competitive battle, the price of the Fighting Spirit Pill had surpassed 50 billion Euros, an almost inconceivable figure for everyone present. One must know, on the Forbes list, people worth over 50 billion US dollars can be counted on one hand, and that''s including the value of their stocks.


    To suddenly encounter more than a dozen people who could shell out 50 billion Euros in cash was ludicrous.


    But even for many countries, 50 billion Euros was a significant amount. Finally, when the price soared to 60 billion Euros, the first person gave up.


    Then the second, then the third, even for a country, their finances were straining under such a vast sum of money.


    "Damn it, who would have thought they''d be so well prepared!"


    "No worries, even if they end up with the item now, it''s still unknown who will be able to take it out of Europe!"


    "Hmph! Let them be happy for a little while!"


    ...


    "In the end, only the representatives of Huaxia and America remained in the competition."


    Had Zhang Menglong been in VIP Room no. 3, he would certainly recognize the middle-aged man sitting before the glass. It was none other than Lei Jun, the founder of the Xiaomi smartphone brand. Although also an entrepreneur, compared with people like Ma Yun, Lei Jun had established a brand of his own for Huaxia and was the person who had done the most charity work, which was why he was chosen to represent the country this time.


    The man standing behind him appeared to be in his thirties or forties. He simply stood there quietly behind Lei Jun, but an oppressive aura that made hearts palpitate emanated from him.


    "Who would have thought that the competition would be so fierce this time," the middle-aged man said with some gravity.


    "74 billion Euros!" Sweat covered Lei Jun''s forehead. The nation had only prepared a fund of 80 billion Euros, and he was nearly at his limit.


    On the other side, America''s representative was also not finding it easy. Even though their GDP was considerably higher than Huaxia''s, and they had a vast land with a sparse population that made their per capita GDP significantly higher, the amount they invested in scientific research and military funding every year was tremendous.


    Especially in recent years, huge amounts of funds had been put into the research of superhumans¡ªto continually enhance these superhumans through biotechnology and make them stronger¡ªspending money like water. They were not as wealthy as outsiders might imagine.


    "74.5 billion!"


    "75 billion!"


    ...


    "80 billion!" Lei Jun shouted out his final bottom-line number.


    "80.5 billion!"


    "81 billion!" Unexpectedly, Lei Jun continued to bid higher.


    "Mr. Lei!" The middle-aged man looked surprised; they only brought 80 billion Euros!


    "I will cover this part myself!" Lei Jun gritted his teeth, "Although I don''t know why Mr. Luo wants to buy that pill, since it''s something the country needs, it must be very important. Consider this a modest contribution to my country!"


    "Mr. Lei, on behalf of Huaxia, I thank you," the middle-aged man said gravely.


    "82 billion!" However, America''s representative shattered their hopes. Lei Jun had only brought a total of 1.2 billion Euros, and now he was honestly out of options.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Luo, this is all I can do," Lei Jun sighed.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Lei," the middle-aged man said, "Even if the Americans win the bidding for this elixir, it won''t be easy for them to take it back with them!"


    "You mean..." Lei Jun''s eyes widened, realizing that this auction was just a prelude to a larger scheme.


    "When the auction ends, you should leave here quickly. Go from the east side and don''t double back!" The middle-aged man''s gaze hardened.


    If the item were in their own hands, he was very confident he could leave safely with the Fighting Spirit Pill because all he had to do was run. Once near Huaxia''s border, there would be people to meet him.


    But if he had to take advantage of the chaos to snatch it, there would be much more uncertainty and danger¡ªbesides, they must get the Fighting Spirit Pill from their hands before they reached the Americas.


    "100 billion Euros!" Just then, a sudden voice rang out through the venue, and everyone''s gaze turned toward Zhang Menglong''s room.


    "It''s that Huaxia man again!" Mars from America showed an expression of grinding his teeth in frustration.


    The American representative had only prepared 95 billion Euros, plus 2 billion Euros brought by the Mars family. They were still quite short of 100 billion Euros.


    And who knew if Zhang Menglong only had 100 billion Euros?


    "Where on Earth is he getting so much money from?" The American mutant slammed a fist into the wall, punching right through it. Just when they were close to success, this Huaxia man suddenly came in to stir up trouble.


    "Mr. Zhang, to be honest, this object won''t be of much use to you. I hope you won''t continue to compete, give us some face. Should you come to America in the future, we will certainly treat you with the utmost hospitality befitting a distinguished guest," the blonde mutant said, taking the initiative to speak into the microphone.


    "I know that, indeed, this thing won''t be very useful to me."


    "Then you...." The mutant''s eyes turned red with anger, knowing it''s pointless, then why spend money on it at all!


    "But," Zhang Menglong said with a maddeningly nonchalant tone, "I just don''t want you guys to get it. Who let you snatch the Imperial Jade Seal from Huaxia earlier? That made me very upset!"

 Chapter 236 234: Sleep Until You Naturally Wake Up

    In Mars''s VIP room, Mars and the blond American both had facial twitches.


    Although they had wanted to bid on Huaxia''s national treasure, the thing''s price would have been a few hundred million Euros at most. Was it worth spending 100 billion just to make a point? Moreover, the Imperial Jade Seal was still in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "Do you think I''m stupid to spend these 100 billion just to vent?" Zhang Menglong directly voiced what they were thinking.


    But nobody responded, even though that was exactly what they were thinking.


    "Sorry, but 100 billion Euros is nothing to me. If it annoys you, then I find this money well spent. Don''t ask why, having money means being capricious!"


    "For that act, I give you 99 points. I''m withholding one in case you become arrogant!" Wang Ling gave a thumbs up. A whopping 100 billion Euros could almost buy their entire group, and yet, for Zhang Menglong, it was nothing.


    "Hahaha, I''m starting to like this young man." In Lei Jun''s VIP room, Lei Jun burst into laughter upon seeing this scene, and even the middle-aged man who had been deadpan through and through cracked a smile.


    From the recent events, they could tell that Zhang Menglong must be a very patriotic person. Even if Zhang Menglong bought that Fighting Spirit Pill, it probably wouldn''t be too hard to buy it from him through national channels.


    Even if leaving Europe would be fraught with difficulties, it was still much simpler than snatching it from the Americans.


    As for the representatives of other countries, they were even more thrilled, each laughing more heartily than the last. They had already been pressured by the Americans during the auction, only for Zhang Menglong to burst onto the scene and snatch the Fighting Spirit Pill right from their hands, even throwing those provocative words at them¡ªit was incredibly satisfying.


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope you''ll think this through. Opposing us Americans isn''t a wise move. Moreover, that item in your possession is a hot potato, and you''re going to face countless troubles on your way back to Huaxia."


    "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?" Zhang Menglong said disdainfully, "If you have the money, keep bidding, if not, stop fussing! Can''t afford it? Then get lost. Threatening me? Do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am easily frightened?"


    "I bid 1100 billion Euros!"


    "Whoa!" A gasp erupted around the room. Zhang Menglong had jumped the price from over 800 billion directly to 1000 billion, and now this? What was he doing?


    After Zhang Menglong''s bid of 1000 billion Euros, no one else made a bid¡ªit wasn''t that the representatives of the Mars family didn''t want to bid more, but rather, they simply didn''t bring enough money, and arranging more funds wasn''t something that could be done in the few short minutes available.


    Zhang Menglong could completely secure the purchase of the Fighting Spirit Pill with that 1000 billion Euros.


    But then, Zhang Menglong called out 1100 billion Euros, competing with his own previous bid¡ªit was like everyone''s blind spot!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you determined to oppose us?"


    "A bunch of poor losers!" Zhang Menglong rambled on, "You think you can oppose me? You''re not even worth it. I''m richer than you, and if you''re not happy about it, come fight me!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "This Huaxia kid is pure talent!"


    "So cheeky, but I like it!"


    "That American must be so pissed. If I were that Level Six mutant, I''d already have picked up a knife."


    "1100 billion Euros. How many countries'' annual GDPs don''t even amount to that? And he just casually calls out that price, it''s truly astounding!"


    "An entire country''s wealth can''t outbid him. This is what the Huaxia people mean by wealth that rivals countries!"


    "Detected a large amount of Cred Energy!"


    "Beginning automatic collection!"


    "Collection complete, congratulations to the dean for gaining 27 Cred Points, please keep up the good work!"


    "27 Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up, not knowing if that was a lot or a little, but now it was confirmed, showing off really could earn Cred Points, and if he just flaunted like this four more times, he could unlock another teacher, or randomly gain one of Teacher Tony''s skills.


    "Are you guys yelling or not? Dilly-dallying like a bunch of hege women!" Zhang Menglong continued to speak aggressively.


    "Mr. Zhang is indeed wealthy, we concede!" Mars held back his anger, in this place most were ordinary people, they absolutely couldn''t use that power here, which was also the most important iron rule of the Second World, absolutely no public display of power in front of ordinary people, unless they killed everyone present, but that was obviously not possible.


    "Since there is nobody else bidding against Mr. Zhang, I declare that the final auction item belongs to Mr. Zhang of VIP room 0!"


    "Ah, how lonely it is to be invincible!" Zhang Menglong sighed as he returned to his seat.


    "This kid!" Ma Yun and the others couldn''t help but laugh.


    Zhang Menglong was nothing like those heirs born into major families who maintain their dignity; no matter what the issue, he dared to do anything, dared to say anything, not at all like a rich second generation, but more like a ruffian, opposing him meant either being smashed with his money or pissed to death by his words, either way, there was definitely no good ending.


    ...


    "Well, ladies and gentleman, that concludes our extreme auction for today, if fate allows, let''s meet again in 10 years. Please everyone return to your rooms, and we will have people escort you out gradually starting tomorrow morning." Emma made her final closing statement, which also signified the end of this auction.


    The crowd who came for the spectacle stood up to leave, considering the auction they witnessed today, it had been worth the trip, but for those who came for the Fighting Spirit Pill, for them, everything had just begun.


    "Keep a close eye on him, he might attempt to flee tonight."


    "Who would have thought, the item didn''t end up in the hands of any country or organization, but in the hands of an ordinary young man from Huaxia, tomorrow is going to be exciting."


    "Not only do I want to snatch that Immortal Pill from his hands tomorrow, I also want him dead!" Mars and the blonde young man gritted their teeth.


    "Notify headquarters, send more people, dispatch two squads here, blockade the surrounding seas, don''t let them board a plane, let''s deal with them here!"


    "Zuo Ge said, although this young man has made us a lot of money, he took our stuff for free, we can''t just let him go back like that!"


    Suddenly, everyone had their own schemes, and Zhang Menglong became the center of the storm.


    ...


    "Old Zhang, why do I feel a chill on the soles of my feet, like someone is watching us?" It seemed that a chilling murderous intent drifting from around them was making Wang Ling feel quite uncomfortable.


    "It''s nothing, just your imagination," Zhang Menglong glanced outside the window, the auction had continued until midnight, and it was already dark outside.


    "Mr. Zhang, many people have already started preparing to take action." Ye Yin told Zhang Menglong everything she had heard.


    "It''s fine," Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s sleep until we wake up naturally tomorrow, they''re planning to intercept me, right? Let them wait, without a good sleep, how can I have the energy to confront them?"

 Chapter 237 235 The Immortal Pill was Eaten by a Dog

    "I really don''t understand what you were thinking, spending over a hundred billion on a Breakthrough Pill. Be careful you don''t get diarrhea after eating it!"


    After a tense and stimulating auction, Zhang Menglong and others were somewhat hungry, so they decided to eat something in the restaurant before going back to sleep.


    "Can''t you use your brain? Do you have to think about playing with women all the time? Can''t you think about other things?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Do you think this thing would attract a dozen countries to spend tens of billions of Euros to fight over it if it were just a broken pill? Do you think they are all idiots?"


    "This..." Wang Ling was startled. Right, the representatives of those countries weren''t fools, and it was clear that many people came to this auction specifically for the so-called "Immortal Pill". If it had just been ordinary tycoons following rumors that would be one thing, but the fact that even national powers were drawn here meant it was definitely not that simple.


    "Could it be that the legend Emma mentioned is real?" It was a bit hard for Wang Ling to accept; his higher education of over a decade and decades-long world view were being challenged like never before.


    Of course, as far as Emma was concerned, her introduction only highlighted the aspects of extending life and unlocking potential¡ªthese eight characters alone were already quite unbelievable.


    "Forget it, as long as you''re happy!" Wang Ling''s brain was becoming a bit numb, "Anyway, it''s your money you''re spending. Why should I worry for you? Even if you do get food poisoning, you can afford the best ICU."


    "Haha, you scoundrel!" Zhang Menglong cursed with a laugh.


    Just then, Emma, who had already changed out of her evening gown, came over.


    Seeing her, Zhang Menglong felt a bit embarrassed; although nothing had happened that day, he had been kissed by force, making her the only woman, apart from Lu Yiyao, with whom he had had intimate contact.


    Lu Yiyao seemed to also smell the distinct perfume on Emma, giving Zhang Menglong a glance. She clearly remembered the light scent of perfume on Zhang Menglong when he returned that day¡ªit was this same fragrance.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I sit here?"


    "This... this might not be convenient," Zhang Menglong had wanted to refuse.


    "It''s alright, please have a seat, Miss Emma." To his surprise, Lu Yiyao took the initiative to speak.


    "Damn, the war between women has begun," Wang Ling muttered under his breath.


    Even though Lu Yiyao wasn''t a particularly scheming girl, at times like this, she still had to assert her own sovereignty.


    "Miss Lu really is a warm-hearted person, no wonder Mr. Zhang is so fascinated by you," Emma said enviously.


    "Miss Emma is a goddess recognized by the world, aren''t there even more men infatuated with you?"


    "What''s the use of that?" Emma sighed. She couldn''t care less about the Prince of England, let alone other men; in her heart, only a special man like Zhang Menglong deserved her.


    "Alright, no more mutually flattering business," Zhang Menglong could tell Emma must have something she wanted to discuss with him, "Miss Emma, you must have something to tell me, right?"


    "Yes," Emma said, "There are two things I want to talk to Mr. Zhang about."


    "Miss Emma, please, don''t hesitate to speak."


    "First, I want to thank Mr. Zhang," Emma said, "Thanks to Mr. Zhang, I made a killing tonight."


    That evening, just the amount spent by Zhang Menglong alone exceeded 140 billion Euros. Emma''s commission from the auction was based on 30% of the amount exceeding the estimated price.


    Apart from the Fighting Spirit Pill, the total value of the goods Zhang Menglong bid on was 35 billion Euros.


    Yet the estimated value for this batch of goods was well below 20 billion, just from this alone, Emma made close to 5 billion Euros!


    And with the stock value of the Fighting Spirit Pill at 80 billion Euros, the final transaction price astonishingly reached 110 billion Euros. That was another 9 billion Euros in revenue.


    This time, her appearance fee was merely 10 million Euros, but her commission reached a staggering 14 billion Euros, all in cash. Her net worth was about to squeeze into the top of the Forbes list!


    Under normal circumstances, such high final prices would be impossible.


    Every item''s estimated value is assessed by professionals, and the final transaction price normally doesn''t vary much from it. At the last extreme auction, the final amount merely exceeded the estimated value by 120 million US Dollars, and even though there was a commission of several tens of millions of Dollars, it still couldn''t compare to 14 billion Euros.


    All this was thanks to Zhang Menglong''s insanely high bids.


    While others were adding five million Euros at a time, only Zhang Menglong would start his bids with several hundred million. It would be hard for her not to get rich!


    She even suspected that Zhang Menglong was doing this on purpose. But if she knew that Zhang Menglong was simply doing it to spend more money, perhaps Emma would be disappointed.


    "And here I was thinking it was something serious," Zhang Menglong laughed, "It''s just a little money, nothing to be polite about. I earned it back in a day."


    A look of astonishment flashed in Emma''s eyes, "Earn over a hundred billion Euros in a day? That would mean Zhang Menglong could earn tens of trillions of Euros a year? How... how is that possible?"


    "Ding, congratulations to the Director for gaining 3 Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong heard the pleasant sound of Gou Dan in his head.


    Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "To me, money is just a number, not that meaningful. What was the second matter you wanted to discuss?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I suggest you leave here immediately tonight!" Emma spoke very seriously, "I don''t know what exactly the Immortal Pill does, the organizers only gave me so much information. But I feel that this item must be extraordinary. From what I know, the dozen or so people who were competing against you today are all representatives from various developed nations."


    "They wouldn''t put in such effort to snatch this item if it wasn''t significant. I think they definitely won''t give up easily and might even resort to some special measures," Emma continued, "This is no secret anymore, many guests are planning to leave overnight to avoid getting involved. If you mix into their group, you might run into less trouble."


    "Is it really so serious?" Wang Ling''s eyes suddenly filled with tension, "I was wondering why I''ve felt uneasy since a while ago. It seems that this item really is a hot potato!"


    Lu Yiyao also grabbed Zhang Menglong''s arm, her eyes full of worry.


    "It''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with an easy smile, "The world is at peace now. I don''t believe they''d dare to make an open move. Do they think the weapons on my Destroyer are just for show?"


    "That''s true!" Wang Ling suddenly let out a sigh of relief. He wasn''t aware of the affairs of the second world''s humans, and in his mind, with the presence of the Destroyer, surely no one would be foolish enough to trouble them, right?


    As for the hundreds of fighter jets that Zhang Menglong called in last time, were they all a joke?


    "You''re right," Emma nodded, "then I won''t disturb you all any longer."


    Emma looked towards Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, if fate allows, we''ll meet again in Huaxia."


    "Sure."


    After Emma left, Zhang Menglong felt a hand suddenly pinch the soft flesh around his waist, and Lu Yiyao''s eyes gleamed like a little devil, "Let you have a chance to meet again, huh!"


    "Ahaha, I was just being polite, ouch..."


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Just at that moment, Zhang Menglong felt something tugging at his trouser leg.


    He looked down to see a Husky puppy wagging its tail, dressed in what seemed like an expensive outfit, probably belonging to some rich person.


    "Little guy, where''s your owner?" Zhang Menglong stroked the Husky''s head, and to his surprise, the puppy sniffed him and he noticed faint tear stains beneath its eyes.


    "Dammit, has this Husky become enlightened?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise.


    "So pitiful," Lu Yiyao squatted down, "Could it be that its owner left in such a hurry they forgot about it?"


    "Possible!" Zhang Menglong nodded, many wealthy people had fled at the sound of trouble, it was indeed possible that they accidentally left their pets behind.


    "Looks like the little guy might be hungry," Zhang Menglong took a small piece of meat from the table, but as he bent down, the small box in his pocket containing the Fighting Spirit Pill fell out, and the pill itself rolled out.


    The little Husky sniffed at it cautiously and then gobbled it down in one bite.


    Everything happened so fast and naturally that Zhang Menglong and the others couldn''t react in time.


    Wang Ling stared at the Husky, dumbfounded, "That Immortal Pill, it''s been eaten by the dog!?"

 Chapter 238 236: You Might Not Believe It If I Tell You

    "Fuck!" Even Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse.


    Although he had no use for this Breakthrough Pill and didn''t even care for it, he had still spent 110 billion euros to win it at the auction, seeing it eaten by a dog was too much for him to accept!


    "Quick, spit it out!" Zhang Menglong picked up the little husky, remembering what Ye Yin had said, that even if he swallowed the pill himself, the energy it contained could potentially cause his blood vessels to burst from the medicinal strength, leading to his death.


    This little husky was probably only three or four months old, still just a puppy, and its body was much more fragile than his own. If it ate the pill, wouldn''t death be certain?


    The loss of over 100 billion wasn''t the issue, but if this little dog died just like that, he would definitely feel awful.


    "Hm?" A voice of doubt from Ye Yin echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind, "It''s actually fine?"


    Ye Yin was very familiar with Fighting Spirit Pills. People like him, who were trained by the Zhang Family, were known as Potentialists. According to the world''s unified definition, humans of the Second World at energy levels one through nine were defined as Latent Element Users. These Potentialists had already unlocked some of their body''s hidden potential.


    It''s known that the power of Potentialists comes from worlds of high-grade martial arts and cultivation fantasy. Their strength is unfathomably greater than that of someone of the same level, whether they be Ancient Martial Artists, Awakeners, Mutants, or Psychics.


    From the onset of developing their latent abilities, upon becoming Level One Potentialists, they could start consuming Fighting Spirit Pills. However, for those under Level Three, there would be a painful swelling sensation throughout the body when taking the pill, indicating its potent medicinal properties.


    A Level One Potentialist has an energy level that is at least Level Five! If they can''t withstand the medicine''s power, it goes without saying that an ordinary person of the Second World wouldn''t be able to either. As for regular people, eating it would almost certainly lead to death! And a puppy doesn''t even bear thinking about whether it could survive; it would be more practical to start considering how to stew it for a more fragrant taste.


    But after the little husky swallowed the pill, there was no reaction at all. Instead, it seemed even more spirited than before, and even stuck its tongue out to lick Zhang Menglong''s hand.


    Zhang Menglong fed it another two pieces of meat, which it gobbled up in no time.


    "This puppy is a bit special!" Ye Yin said, "Normally, after swallowing a Fighting Spirit Pill, it would definitely die within a minute, but it''s getting more and more energetic instead. Interesting."


    "Do you know what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Not sure," Ye Yin replied, "I''ve been taught from birth only how to properly protect Mr. Zhang; anything else isn''t within my learning scope."


    "Forget it, I can ask a teacher from Super God Academy if I get the chance," Zhang Menglong mumbled to himself.


    "Menglong, I''ve already inquired. This little husky comes from a combat family and belongs to a tycoon named Audison. The staff have already contacted him, and Mr. Audison said it''s inconvenient for him to return. If we''re willing, we can adopt it."


    "Great, he got so frightened he doesn''t want the dog anymore," Zhang Menglong commented dryly, realizing that Audison must have caught wind of something.


    Seeing Lu Yiyao''s hopeful gaze, Zhang Menglong smiled, "This little guy seems to be fated to be with us; let''s take him home then!"


    "Yay!" Lu Yiyao cheered.


    "Fuck, what kind of family conditions can afford to raise a husky?" Wang Ling remarked from the side facetiously, knowing huskies are notorious for causing havoc. "This little guy just came and already ate something you bought for over 100 billion. You''re going to be in for it in the future."


    "No matter how much it eats, I can afford it!" Zhang Menglong said as he picked up the husky, "Doggy, bite him!"


    "Woof woof woof!" As if understanding Zhang Menglong''s command, the little puppy actually started barking at Wang Ling.


    "Damn, you understand human language? Has this little guy really become enlightened?" The four of them exchanged startled glances. Although some very smart dogs can indeed understand humans, those are fully mature adult dogs. This husky was only three or four months old!


    "Mr. Zhang, it seems that not only did the Fighting Spirit Pill not cause it to break down, but it also appears to have unlocked its potential," Ye Yin said with a smile, "In the future, this dog might even surpass the Howling Celestial Dogs."


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong used the power of his dean''s ring to scan the puppy.


    Name: ???


    Race: Husky


    Status: Dean''s Pet


    Potential Index: 18


    Gift: Home-Wrecker


    Skill: Biting (G)


    Evaluation: Once this dog reaches adulthood, it might at least possess the strength of a Fighting Spirit Martial Artist.


    "Good grief, I''ll be damned!" Seeing the potential index of 18, which was way beyond that of an ordinary person? Wang Ling''s Potential Index was just 6, not even one-third of a dog''s.


    "Let''s give it a name!" Lu Yiyao suggested.


    "Let me think!" Zhang Menglong picked up the Husky and checked its gender; it was a little male dog, "Then let''s call it Wang Cai!"


    "Seriously, could you be any more cliche??" Wang Ling flipped a middle finger, "You, a guy who casually deals with hundreds of millions of Euros, got a dog named Wang Cai? If word gets out, won''t people die laughing?"


    "Whine whine!" But surprisingly, the puppy seemed very excited, as if it really liked the name.


    "Fine, if the party involved has agreed, then I have no fuck to give!"


    "What a pity," Lu Yiyao said, "I saw its black and white pattern and wanted to call it Fan Tuan (Rice Ball). But since it likes it, Wang Cai it is!"


    "Then let''s make it official: Wang Cai for the formal name, Fan Tuan for the nickname."


    "Fan Tuan, I hope we''ll get along well in the future!"


    Zhang Menglong noticed that at this moment, Wang Cai''s information had also changed


    Name: Wang Cai (Fan Tuan)


    Back in the room, Wang Cai found a comfortable sofa, plopped down, and fell asleep. Just as Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were about to indulge in a couple''s bath, with the water already being poured into the bathtub, the door to their room suddenly sounded.


    "Ye Yin, who is it?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s Mr. Lei Jun from Huaxia and a Level Six Awakener."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong didn''t need to guess; they were surely there for that Fighting Spirit Pill.


    "Click." Zhang Menglong opened the door.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang, I am Lei Jun," Lei Jun said politely.


    "Mr. Lei, I didn''t expect you to attend this auction as well. How come I didn''t see you at the banquet earlier?" Zhang Menglong shook hands with him.


    "I''m here on a special mission this time, so it wasn''t convenient to show my face," Lei Jun replied.


    "Who is this gentleman?" Zhang Menglong looked at the middle-aged man and asked.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang," the middle-aged man handed Zhang Menglong a small red booklet, which had a golden dragon pattern on it, seemingly an identification document.


    "All this secrecy... you''re not from the Huaxia Dragon Group, are you?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    He flipped through the work ID.


    "Longxia" Special Action Group: Gu Yuanwu


    "Well, this special action group is really called Dragon Group," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but comment.


    "Mr. Gu, go on and talk to Mr. Zhang. I will step aside," Lei Jun said.


    "No need," Gu Yuanwu spoke up, "I trust Mr. Lei."


    "Mr. Zhang, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gu Yuanwu, a member of the ''Longxia'' Special Action Group, and currently the captain of the third squad. Our ''Longxia'' is the successor to Huaxia''s 135th Division Special Combat Group, which you could consider a special military force of Huaxia."


    "I''m aware, I''ve read the novels. Out of ten urban fantasy novels, your Dragon Group appears in seven of them," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Mr. Zhang is indeed different from ordinary people," if it were someone else, they would have been very surprised by this revelation, like Lei Jun, who was almost scared enough to call the police the first time he met Gu Yuanwu, "But still, it would be more appropriate for you to refer to us as ''Longxia.'' The Dragon Group, after all, is just a nickname from the people."


    "Mr. Gu, you''re here to talk about that Fighting Spirit Pill, right?"


    "Fighting Spirit Pill?" Gu Yuanwu was taken aback; until now, the pill didn''t have a name, it was simply known as the "Huaxia Immortal Pill" by the people of the Second World.


    "Oh, I''ve been reading too much Battle Through the Heavens; just a slip of the tongue," said Zhang.


    "The thing is, Mr. Zhang, this Immortal Pill is of great importance and even concerns Huaxia''s national security and future international standing. We hope you can hand it over to us. We will certainly reimburse you the full auction price," Gu Yuanwu explained.


    It wasn''t because they didn''t actually have enough money; rather, they had received the information too late, and this was all the liquid funds they could gather. How could a major nation only have less than 100 billion Euros at its disposal?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong was somewhat stumped, "I would quite like to give it to you, but you might not believe what I''m about to say."


    Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Cai, who was now opening one eye, and said, "That Immortal Pill, the dog ate it!"

 Chapter 239 237: Here Comes the Younger Brother

    "Mr. Zhang, don''t joke about this, how could it be possible?" Gu Yuanwu glanced at Wang Cai and then showed a helpless expression. Not to mention a puppy, even a person like Zhang Menglong would most likely drop dead after taking it.


    "I swear!" Zhang Menglong raised his right palm, "If I just told even half a lie, I would go straight ahead and eat all the gold in my gold mine!"


    "Wow, even swearing has to be flashy!" Lei Jun complained to himself.


    "Really?" Gu Yuanwu still couldn''t believe it.


    "Truer than true gold!" Zhang Menglong confirmed.


    "May I take a look at that dog?" Gu Yuanwu asked.


    "Of course!"


    Seemingly aware of a very powerful person approaching, Wang Cai, who had already been dozy, suddenly became alert and showed a snarling face to Gu Yuanwu.


    Gu Yuanwu was taken aback. At that moment, he actually felt a faint energy fluctuation brewing within the dog''s body! He had felt this kind of fluctuation before; it was the energy that natural awakeners exhibit when they have not fully harnessed their hidden powers and undergo a surge of intense emotions.


    This observation confirmed that this dog was indeed not just any ordinary dog!


    "This dog..." Gu Yuanwu couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time.


    Since receiving the news a week ago, superpowers around the world had been engaging in intense and orderly preparations, pooling funds, arranging personnel, all to devise ways to obtain that immortal pill.


    But who could have imagined, not a single country was able to secure the immortal pill, and in the end, a dog ate it!


    If Zhang Menglong wasn''t standing by, Gu Yuanwu would be furious enough to kill Wang Cai on the spot!


    This was an immortal pill that could create a martial artist or an awakener who surpassed level nine. If they had it, Huaxia''s number of powerful individuals could instantly rise to the top in the world. From then on, Huaxia would undoubtedly become the unrivaled number one in the world, with no force ever threatening to invade.


    Who would have thought that this treasure would end up being consumed by a dog¡ªhow could anyone bear this?


    "Captain Gu, little Wang Cai doesn''t know any better, don''t be angry, okay?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "It''s just an immortal pill worth over a hundred billion Euros, just for extending life, not true immortality. After all, every human has to die, whether heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, we all face death sooner or later!"


    "But the effects of this thing aren''t just for extending life!" Gu Yuanwu was on the verge of tears. If there was a way, he would even want to take Wang Cai back and try to recreate the immortal pill using the alchemy furnace.


    "What other effects does it have?" Zhang Menglong feigned ignorance, "Can it also fortify the foundation and rejuvenate a man''s vigor? If that''s the case, I really don''t need it, I''m already strong enough."


    "Well then," Gu Yuanwu sighed. In truth, he could begrudgingly accept this outcome.


    If the immortal pill had fallen into the hands of another country, especially into the hands of the Americans, that would have been the worst outcome. If America were to produce a new superhuman surpassing level nine, the world would likely not be at peace from that point onwards.


    The current situation could at most maintain the existing geopolitical tension.


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t disturb you any further." Gu Yuanwu shook his head, his trip to Europe ending up as nothing but a wasted effort.


    "Mr. Gu, Mr. Lei, please take care!" Zhang Menglong saw his guests out, "Oh, and by the way, do you want to ride back with me on my destroyer tomorrow? I can fly you back home in my plane."


    "No need," said Gu Yuanwu, as he was eager to report back to headquarters. But how was he going to report this? Tell them that the immortal pill was eaten by a dog? It would be a miracle if his superiors believed that.


    For a moment, he even forgot whether Zhang Menglong would encounter any dangers on his way back to Huaxia. After all, those from other countries might not believe that the immortal pill was truly eaten by a dog.


    If they were convinced that the item was on Zhang Menglong, how could he with his strength fend off so many from the Second World? His destroyer would be no different than scrap metal to those mutants and psychics.


    ...


    The day before, when Zhang Menglong got up for breakfast, the dining room was bustling with people. Today, nearly one-third fewer people were present. Most well-informed individuals had already skedaddled, as who knew whether innocent bystanders would be affected when those powers attempted to snatch the immortal pill from Zhang Menglong.


    "Why hasn''t this kid left yet?" In hiding, those psychics and mutants were tailing him using various methods.


    "I don''t know, by all logic, the Huaxia representatives should have already told him the relevant news. Why is he still acting as if nothing has happened?"


    "Could it be that he has already handed over the Immortal Pill to the Huaxia representative?"


    "No, I''ve been keeping an eye on them. Just yesterday, that Gu Yuanwu went to find that Huaxia kid, but he left empty-handed! And the expression on his face was pretty ugly; he must have been snubbed."


    "What, did he not hand the item over to the Huaxia representative?"


    "Hahaha, if I were rich enough to rival nations and got my hands on something like this, I wouldn''t want to give it up either."


    "It''s awkward when your own country''s people have bought the item. Stealing isn''t right, but not stealing is the same as giving it to us for free. ''Longxia'' really is in an awkward position."


    "Hahaha!"


    "An ignorant kid, does he really think he can call the shots with just a few stinking bucks?"


    "Humph! In the ordinary world of humans, he indeed can do as he pleases, but he is after all just an ordinary person. In our eyes, those conventional weapons are no different from scrap metal!"


    "This Immortal Pill is almost as good as being given away for free. It is much easier to snatch from an ordinary person than from an ''Longxia'' Awakener!"


    "When the time comes, it''ll be a matter of skill, but don''t blame us if the fists and feet show no mercy."


    "The feeling''s mutual!"


    The people around whispered to one another as if getting the Immortal Pill from Zhang Menglong''s hands was as easy as reaching into a bag.


    ...


    "Alright, time for us to head back!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily. They''d had their fun, and in a few days, it would be New Year''s Eve. Although Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao didn''t have any relatives, such festivals are always to be spent in one''s hometown.


    The aircraft carrier bought by Zhang Menglong was currently docked near the Atlantic Ocean due to its size. It would take about a month to return to Huaxia. Zhang Menglong had no time to waste and immediately arranged for the crew to steer the ship back to Huaxia.


    After packing up their belongings, the group returned to the destroyer, with Wang Cai trotting behind them like a little sidekick.


    "Set sail, back to port!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    The destroyer cut through the waves, and at its speed, it would take about two hours to return to the port from where they set off.


    "Strange, why haven''t we seen a single ship along the way?" Wang Ling and the others looked out over the boundless Mediterranean from the deck, recalling that when they departed, there should have been a considerable amount of traffic in the vicinity.


    "Look, what is that?" Just then, Wang Ling pointed towards the distance.


    "What thing?" Zhang Menglong looked in that direction and saw three huge white trails approaching them at an unimaginable speed.


    "Sharks? No, how could a shark be that fast?" Wang Ling guessed it seemed to be the wake left by a special type of watercraft zooming by at high speed.


    In a matter of seconds, the streams of water had reached them. With a splash, three figures shot out from the water and landed in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Crackling!" Without warning, the surface of the sea began to freeze over. The destroyer, amid a shaking motion, came to a halt in the water. Although the propellers roared loudly, the ship was unable to move.


    "What... what is this situation?" Wang Ling and the others were terrified, their faces pale. They had never witnessed such a bizarre scene before. All of it seemed just like magic.


    At that moment, several more figures appeared eerily on the deck and on the ice. Including the first three, there were now a total of 14.


    "Mr. Zhang, I told you we would meet," the blond man said with a smile. "Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is Shels, from America."


    "Oh! I remember your voice!" Zhang Menglong nodded, recognizing the voice that had come from the VIP room of that American family the day before.


    Zhang Menglong showed an expression of inevitability and said casually, "Well, look who''s here, bro!"

 Chapter 240 238: No Pills, Just a Dog

    "You''ve arrived, little brother? What do you mean?" Schels showed a puzzled expression, and from Zhang Menglong''s tone, it seemed like he knew he was going to arrive.


    "Ye Yin, don''t let the others on the ship know about this," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    The military personnel on the destroyer were still investigating why the warship could no longer move when suddenly, it was as if they were all mesmerized by some mysterious force and slumped over at their workstations.


    After a moment, most of the instruments on the entire destroyer stopped working, and this area of the sea became eerily quiet.


    "What''s happening? Is the ship broken?" Wang Ling sensed the engines stop working and immediately became anxious, "Also, what''s with these people? How did they come out of the sea?"


    What lay before her overturned Wang Ling''s worldview. The people who suddenly emerged from the sea were wearing various kinds of special outfits, but it was apparent that they likely didn''t have any mechanical devices on them.


    But she had just witnessed these people leaping towards them at an unbelievable speed, even faster than a motorboat, and even managing to jump several meters high onto the deck. Could a person really do that?


    Humans often harbor fear toward the unknown, especially when they sense the kind of murderous intent in their speech. Wang Ling, who had always been fearless, couldn''t help but show a terrified expression on her face.


    His girlfriend clung tightly to his shoulder, trembling slightly. She had thought she''d come out to see the world with Wang Ling, only to encounter such an outrageous situation.


    "Menglong..." Lu Yiyao tugged at Zhang Menglong''s clothes.


    "It''s okay, I''m here!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai, as if sensing the pressure coming their way, inexplicably took a stand in front of Zhang Menglong and growled at the aggressive mutants.


    Schels couldn''t help but take an extra look at Wang Cai. Their presence alone, not to mention a puppy, even the fiercest of tigers and lions would lose courage upon sensing it. Yet this dog dared to snarl at them.


    "No idea what level these people are." Zhang Menglong glanced at Schels in front of him.


    Name: Schels Donagar


    Race: Human


    Identity: Member of the American Superhuman Alliance


    Potential Index: 17


    Gift: None


    Skill: Airflow Control (F)


    Evaluation: A product of genetic mutation; it''s better to be human, why become a monster?


    "Pfft!" Seeing this evaluation, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh out loud. The evaluations from Super God Academy were a bit too cheeky, weren''t they?


    "Huaxia kid, what are you laughing at?" Schels had a feeling that something was off.


    Although they had not shown much of their power just yet, the mere ability to move swiftly in water and leap more than ten meters onto the ship was already proof enough of their uniqueness.


    While Wang Ling and others were scared pale, Zhang Menglong seemed unfazed. Not only was he not frightened, but he was also shamelessly laughing.


    They were mutants, beings whose strength and speed were tens of times, even more, superior to that of ordinary humans - the kind that could kill!


    "Nothing much, just laughing because you''re not even as good as my dog!" Zhang Menglong laughed. After Wang Cai had eaten the Fighting Spirit Pill, its Potential Index soared directly to 18 points. Meanwhile, Schels had only 17 points, not even the strength of a segment of a dog.


    Schels''s expression changed dramatically.


    "Swoosh!" An invisible Wind Blade flew past, grazing the central cannon barrel on the deck of the destroyer.


    The thick steel of several dozen millimeters on the inner wall of the gun barrel was as if cleaved in half by a sharp giant axe, and with a crisp sound, it fell onto the steel plate.


    The cut was as smooth as a mirror, leaving everyone clueless about what had just happened.


    "The power of Xerses Wind Blade is almost reaching the level of Level Seven superhumans!" the mutants from other nations murmured to themselves in shock.


    Although this display was meant to intimidate Zhang Menglong, Xerses did it purposefully, hoping that the competitors from other nations would know to back off. After all, even with his great strength, he was still just one person; facing a united attack from so many, he might not come out on top.


    "Ah!" Seeing this scene, Wang Ling''s girlfriend couldn''t help but scream out. Such a sight would likely startle anyone.


    Wang Ling''s face grew even more somber. He felt that today he had stumbled into something extraordinary, as the scene before him clearly surpassed his imagination.


    Someone with a glance could sever steel plates several dozen millimeters thick¡ªwere they even human?


    "Clap clap clap!" Amidst everyone''s astonished gazes, Zhang Menglong actually burst into applause, "Good! Do it again!"


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong''s reaction stunned everyone, including Xerses.


    "Does this Huaxia man have a problem with his brain?"


    "Does he... does he not realize what he''s facing right now?"


    "I don''t know why, but I feel there''s something odd..."


    "Hey, where did you guys install the cameras? Are you shooting a special effects film? Is it Ultraman or Kamen Rider? Can I make a cameo?" Zhang Menglong asked innocently.


    Xerses snapped back to reality ¨C Zhang Menglong actually thought they were filming a movie!


    "Swoosh!" Another Wind Blade streaked by, this time aiming at a seabird gliding through the sky.


    The unfortunate seabird was immediately sliced into two halves, with its body sections and blood-spattered innards promptly falling onto the deck.


    "Ooh!" Wang Ling''s girlfriend almost let out another cry; Wang Ling, afraid she would become the next target, quickly covered her mouth.


    "Zhang Menglong, I don''t have time to joke around with you, I..."


    "Clink clatter!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong actually pulled out a handful of Gold Coins from his pocket and tossed them at Xerses!


    "Do it again! Do it again!"


    "Tinkling clink!" They were real Gold Coins! One rolled to Xerses'' feet before settling on the ground.


    "I offer you an annual salary of 20 million US dollars; how about you come back to Huaxia with me and be a chef in my kitchen? From now on, you can handle all the sashimi slicing, the roast cutting, everything!"


    Xerses looked at Zhang Menglong with an expression as if he had eaten shit¡ªhad his brain really been smashed by a door?


    "Ding! Congratulations to the headmaster for gaining 20 Cred Points!"


    Zhang Menglong was immediately delighted, another 20 Cred Points in the bank, bringing his total to 50. With a bit more effort, he could soon accumulate 100 Cred Points¡ªkeep it up!


    "Xerses, stop wasting words with him, just make him hand over the stuff, and then we''ll find another place to fight!" An impatient mutant from Indi interjected.


    "Zhang Menglong! Don''t push my limits!" Xerses said coldly, "Hand over the Immortal Pill you filmed yesterday, and we can spare your life. Otherwise, prepare to meet your end in the Mediterranean!"


    "Oh, you''re here for the Immortal Pill too?" Zhang Menglong feigned a sudden realization, "Yesterday, a Huaxia man named Gu Yuanwu also came asking for it, but you''re too late!"


    "What?" Everyone was startled; they had clearly not seen Gu Yuanwu take anything from Zhang Menglong''s room. Could they have conducted a secret exchange?


    "That Immortal Pill has already been eaten by my Wang Cai!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Cai on the ground, "Now, if you want the pill, there''s none left, but if you want a dog, there is one."

 Chapter 241 239: He is the Least Capable Bodyguard in My Family

    "What... what?" Apart from Zhang Menglong and his three companions, everyone else was stunned. The Immortal Pill had been eaten by a dog? That was a treasure worth billions of Euros, and it was the only one of its kind in the world, absolutely unique!


    Even if they had managed to bring the Immortal Pill back to their own country, the selection process to decide who would consume it would have undoubtedly been stringent and thorough.


    Such an important and valuable item, eaten by a dog?


    "This is impossible!" Schelles exclaimed. "You expect us to believe that something worth hundreds of billions of Euros was eaten by a dog? Do you think we are all idiots?"


    "It was an accident!" Remembering yesterday''s events, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears. "I swear, the pill really was eaten by that dog, and if I tell a single lie, I''ll stand on my head and wash my hair right here!"


    "Schelles, this guy is full of lies, just kill him!" said a Mutant from some unknown country. His complexion was pale and he was thin, bearing a certain resemblance to the vampire-like figures from Europe.


    "I''m telling the truth, if you don''t believe me, ask them!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Wang Ling and his group.


    All eyes suddenly turned toward Wang Ling.


    Wang Ling inwardly cursed Zhang Menglong''s ancestors for bringing attention to him in the presence of these creatures, these monsters! How could Zhang Menglong be so heartless?


    What baffled Wang Ling even more was how Zhang Menglong could remain calm in this unbelievable situation, and even dare toss Gold Coins at them. Was this some kind of charity, treating them as performers of some circus act?


    Moreover, when had Zhang Menglong secretly prepared those Gold Coins? Why hadn''t he realized it?


    "He said the Immortal Pill really was eaten by this dog?" Schelles asked Wang Ling.


    Pressed by Schelles''s intense scrutiny, Wang Ling nodded. "Damn, had I known something like this would happen, I would have slipped away right after the auction ended!"


    "Schelles!" The Derman man with glasses, holding a strange device, interjected, "There''s no energy trace of the Immortal Pill on him, the item might really not be with him!"


    "Damn it!" Schelles cursed angrily.


    "Not necessarily!" another said, "The Huaxia are full of tricks; if you guys can invent a device that detects energy waves, they might as well figure out a way to hide energy signals!"


    "Right, let''s just kill them all, we''ll search the ship slowly afterwards!"


    "Huaxia people, I''m giving you one last chance!" Schelles turned to Zhang Menglong, knowing that if they did decide to kill Zhang Menglong, looking for an Immortal Pill the size of a tiny speck on a hundreds of meters long Destroyer was practically implausible.


    "Wow, I''m losing my mind here, I keep telling you it was eaten by a dog and you just won''t believe it!" Zhang Menglong showed a frustrated expression, "Also, what about the job offer I made you to be my chef? If $20 million a year isn''t enough, I could consider upping it to $30 million. But from now on, if I want to eat sugarcane, you''ll have to peel it for me!"


    "Huaxia kid, you''re seeking death!"


    Although Schelles did not hold a very high position in their Superhuman alliance, to ordinary people, they were akin to gods. When had Schelles ever been ridiculed by a commoner like this?


    Zhang Menglong hadn''t shown the slightest sign of reverence towards them from the beginning to the end, pushing Schelles''s fury to the peak!


    "Then I''ll kill your friend first, then you!" Schelles finally revealed his murderous intent, the air around him compressing as if squeezed by an invisible force, creating invisible blades all around, which were imperceptible to the eye yet could be faintly felt by the surrounding Mutants as a light stinging in the air.


    The invisible blades instantly slashed towards Wang Ling and his companion, genuinely intending to strike a fatal blow!


    As the Wind Blade crossed the steel-forged deck, it effortlessly tore it apart, and Wang Ling and his companion hardly had time to realize their dire situation before they were about to be split in two.


    However, the crack on the deck stopped less than a meter in front of Wang Ling, as if it had been blocked by something.


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling noticed the crack on the ground, and Wang Ling''s back was instantly soaked with sweat.


    "Goodness, they really start killing without a word!" Zhang Menglong also realized the ferocity of these people for the first time. If it wasn''t for Ye Yin, at this moment, Wang Ling and his girlfriend would probably have been dead and scattered!


    "Are these people really allowed to kill indiscriminately?" Zhang Menglong felt a chill in his heart.


    "Mr. Zhang, for these people, human life is something cheap," Ye Yin''s voice sounded on the deck, his figure appearing in front of Zhang Menglong like a ghost, "As long as they act cleanly and don''t cause widespread panic, they can do anything!"


    Wang Ling took a couple of steps back, his instincts told him that this youth, who appeared to be about his age, seemed more terrifying than those monsters.


    "Who are you?" Xiel''s eyes narrowed into slits, "Are you an Awakener from Huaxia or an Ancient Martial Artist?"


    "No! It must be an Awakener!" Xiel quickly reached a conclusion. The Ancient Martial Artists from Huaxia start practicing from childhood and it takes them until their fifties or sixties to achieve anything. If he were an Ancient Martial Artist, Ye Yin at his age would at best be a Level Two or Three Ancient Martial Artist.


    To block his Wind Blade just now, without Level Five strength or higher, it is simply impossible. Only an Awakener, born with unique talents, could possibly have such ability.


    But Ye Yin did not speak; he was actually a very quiet person who, besides Zhang Menglong and those associated with him, could not be bothered to give anyone else even a second glance!


    "Be careful, this Awakener from Huaxia is tricky!"


    "Ye Yin, go, slap him twice for me!" Zhang Menglong directed at Xiel.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    Ye Yin''s body disappeared in an instant, and only two crisp sounds were heard, Xiel''s face now sported two bright red handprints.


    Moments later, Ye Yin returned to his original spot, the entire process taking less than a second.


    "Pfft!" Xiel spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth, his face marked by two bright red handprints, and his expression was one of deep shock.


    He had not seen Ye Yin''s movements at all just now, let alone reacting to them. Could his power possibly surpass that of a Level Nine super Awakener?


    Xiel had not met the three super Awakeners from Huaxia, but he had seen their pictures, and definitely, they weren''t the young man before him.


    "Could this be a hidden master from Huaxia?" Xiel also considered a terrifying possibility, "Or perhaps, is this a person trained by the Zhang Menglong family themselves?"


    "No! Impossible!" Xiel immediately rejected the idea. To train an Awakener surpassing Level Nine? Even their entire nation of America couldn''t achieve that!


    Even though Zhang Menglong is as rich as a country and has endless money, some things simply cannot be accomplished with money.


    Their American efforts in developing Mutants involved drugs that cost trillions of US dollars to develop; no matter how wealthy a magnate is, he couldn''t possibly compete with a country in terms of scientific research power, could he?


    "Zhang Menglong, just who is he?" At this time, Wang Ling had slightly recovered from his shock, and it seemed the sudden appearance of this young man was quite impressive.


    Zhang Menglong smiled at Wang Ling, "This is my personal bodyguard. Impressive, right? But he''s still the weakest in our family."

 Chapter 242 240: Dont Run Away, Stay and Watch Me Show Off

    "Ding, congratulations to the Dean for earning 20 Cred Points!"


    "Hahaha, this is simply a grand scene for racking up Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong laughed proudly.


    "Your personal bodyguard? The weakest one?" Wang Ling''s eyes widened, "He has been following us to Europe from the beginning?"


    "Of course, otherwise what''s the point of calling him a personal bodyguard?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m so rich, there are definitely people who want to plot against me for my wealth, and if I don''t have a few bodyguards by my side, wouldn''t I become a walking ATM?"


    "But how come I never noticed him?" This was what astonished Wang Ling the most. A living person had been with them for a week, and he had been completely oblivious!


    "That''s a must! If he didn''t have some skills, how would he qualify to be my Zhang Menglong''s bodyguard?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "Who exactly are they?" Wang Ling now had countless questions swirling in his mind.


    "Kid, do you have lots of question marks?" Zhang Menglong sang a tune casually, "I said yesterday that many things in this world should not be viewed with the eyes of ordinary people. Do you understand now?"


    "Are you talking about that Immortal Pill?" Wang Ling suddenly realized.


    Who has ever seen someone sever metal with just a look? Now he had, and unless he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never believe that such things happened in the world.


    And the fierce competition over that Immortal Pill yesterday, Wang Ling had originally scoffed at it, but now, in hindsight, he realized he had been short-sighted. If it really were just some bogus med made by charlatans, would it have caused so many countries to vie for it so desperately? Would these supremely talented people take such great risks to intercept them?


    "Could it be that the Immortal Pill yesterday really had that kind of heaven-defying effect?"


    "That''s right," Zhang Menglong nodded, "How should I put it? Simply put, there are some very special people in this world, Mutants, Ancient Martial Artists, Cultivators¡ªoh, Cultivators are something I made up, I don''t even know if they exist."


    Wang Ling rolled his eyes. How could Zhang Menglong still be in the mood to joke at a time like this, hadn''t he seen that the situation at the scene could turn into a fight at any moment?


    "That Immortal Pill yesterday," Zhang Menglong continued, "could help these people enhance their strength, and thus help the countries they represent improve certain indefinable international standings. So, you get it now?"


    Wang Ling nodded, somewhat understanding, but one thing he knew for sure was that these people were not ordinary, and they were all after that very Immortal Pill.


    "But, that thing was eaten by your dog!" Wang Ling said incredulously, "Your dog isn''t going to suddenly gain enlightenment and become immortal, is it?"


    "I have no idea about that, but it sure has become quite smart," Zhang Menglong cradled Wang Cai in his arms.


    "Who exactly are you?" Wang Ling felt he was getting more and more confused about Zhang Menglong. Not to mention his wealth, but he also had such capable and extraordinary people protecting him.


    "I am me, a firework with a different color," Zhang Menglong said casually. "Actually, it''s nothing much. I just have a bit more money, a bit more family influence, and bodyguards that are a bit more formidable, that''s all."


    "Really just a ''bit'', huh," Wang Ling rolled his eyes, "Are your bodyguards up to the task? There are more than a dozen of them."


    "What do you mean ''up to the task''? A man can''t say he can''t!" Zhang Menglong declared, "They''ve come to rob Zhang Menglong, and today, nobody''s leaving without leaving something behind!"


    "Such formidable people from Huaxia!" At this moment, all the Mutants'' expressions turned extremely solemn.


    Among them, Shelton was undoubtedly the strongest, but he had been soundly beaten without a chance to fight back by this person, which filled them with unease.


    "Why is one person missing?" Suddenly, they realized that Lord Shen Yuan from Kaibong was not present. They all knew of each other''s existence and some had even clashed before, so there was more than one person who knew Shen Yuan.


    "Who knows? Xi Meng Palace from Kaibong left last night; maybe Shen Yuan left with them?"


    "And yesterday during the bidding, it seemed like Xi Meng Palace did not make an offer."


    "Could they have known something all along?"


    "Hmph! Cowardly Kaibong," a tall and intimidating Mutant scoffed, "This world is bound by the Second World Covenant; it''s impossible for anyone above Level Six to act recklessly within the sphere of another country''s influence. If the people of the Frankfurt Kingdom knew, this Zhang Menglong wouldn''t even be able to cross the border¡ª he''d be instantly beheaded by a Frankfurt surpassing level nine powerhouse!"


    "Exactly! He must just be a bit stronger than an ordinary Level Six Awakener. We have more people, so what''s there to fear from just him?"


    "Let''s attack together!"


    In an instant, everyone reached a consensus, with Ye Yin becoming their common enemy.


    What they didn''t realize was that as long as Ye Yin didn''t want to be discovered, even an expert surpassing level nine wouldn''t be able to detect his existence. Moreover, it was uncertain whether such a person, even if aware of him, would dare to block his path.


    "Charge!" Almost simultaneously, everyone launched their attack, and more than a dozen intense auras made the whole ship tremble violently, as if it were about to fall apart.


    "Ye Yin, make it quick, I''m still waiting to go back and have some crayfish tonight!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Still thinking about eating crayfish? Huaxia man, prepare to feed the fishes in the Mediterranean tonight!"


    Shelcy charged ahead, believing that he was merely caught off guard before. He thought Ye Yin might just be fast, for if his strength were really that great, he would have already blasted his head open earlier.


    "Boom!" A massive shockwave erupted from Ye Yin''s body, like the previous time when he dealt with that electrified fellow. All those who charged at him were blown away by the shockwave.


    This power was terribly frightening, as more than ten people spat blood, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    They had underestimated him; this young man was definitely not just any Level Six Awakener!


    "He must be at least a Level Seven or Level Eight Awakener, or maybe even a surpassing level nine Awakener!"


    "How is this possible! How could he possibly have a bodyguard who is a surpassing level nine Awakener? It''s impossible!"


    They could not comprehend that an Awakener with such strength would be an important figure even for Huaxia, and would certainly not stoop to being someone''s bodyguard unless that person was a key national leader.


    Yet the power they witnessed told them this was true, and furthermore, this person hadn''t even used his full strength!


    More than ten people tumbled to the ground in disarray, while only one remained suspended in mid-air¡ª Shelcy from America. He appeared to be held by an invisible hand, struggling in vain to break free.


    "Kill him!" Zhang Menglong said coldly. His previous attempt to kill Wang Ling was an unpardonable act to Zhang Menglong; anyone who dared to harm someone close to him could not be forgiven!


    "Crack!" A crisp sound of bone-breaking was heard, and Shelcy''s neck snapped.


    "Thud!" Shelcy, already lifeless, fell to the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief, even in his final moments, unable to accept that he had kicked such an impenetrable steel plate.


    "Trash! Not one of them can fight!" Zhang Menglong remarked dismissively.


    "Ding, congratulations to the director for obtaining 50 Cred Points!"


    "Damn, that many this time?" Zhang Menglong was pleased. With that, he had accumulated 120 Cred Points!


    "Run!" someone shouted all of a sudden.


    Even Shelcy, their strongest, had been killed without the other party even lifting a finger¡ª if they didn''t leave now, they''d all perish right here!


    "Ye Yin!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Weld the door shut, don''t let a single one escape! If you all run, who will stay to watch me show off?!"

 Chapter 243 241: Robbery, Hand Over All the Money You Have

    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    Ye Yin''s eyes flashed with a touch of purple luster, and around the entire Destroyer, an invisible wall seemed to rise, sealing off the area completely.


    "Thud!" The first mutant who tried to escape slammed directly into the unseen wall, bashing his head until it bled.


    He stood up incredulously, reaching out to touch the invisible barrier, but it was as if the wall had been electrified. The moment he made contact, he was flung away, crashing heavily to the ground, and this time, he couldn''t stand up at all.


    "What kind of technique is this?" The remaining ten or so mutants, pale with fear, had never heard of such a method before. Even the powerful level nine mutants from their own country didn''t possess such abilities.


    "What kind of Awakener is he? Is it air control? Or psychic control?"


    "How can Huaxia still have such a formidable Awakener? Are the super-psychics from Frankfurt all garbage?"


    "Is this truly a trap? Did Huaxia quietly send a master here?"


    Seeing this scene, the mutants cursed inwardly, feeling almost desperate at Ye Yin''s strength.


    "Hahaha, I''ve locked the car doors; do you still think you can get out?" Zhang Menglong laughed heartily, relishing such a rare opportunity to show off. How regrettable it would be to let this pass?


    "Zhang Menglong, who exactly is this bodyguard of yours?" Wang Ling stared at the silhouette, dazed, as everything he had encountered today repeatedly challenged his worldview.


    "His name is Ye Yin, and his family has served mine for generations," Zhang Menglong explained. "He''s a very capable man. Last time I returned from Qingqiu Country, a group of people sent a mutant to assassinate me, and Ye Yin beat him half to death."


    "Good lad, no wonder you show off so recklessly," Wang Ling exclaimed in admiration. "With the way you flaunt, if you didn''t have a few capable bodyguards by your side, you would''ve been killed long ago!"


    "Isn''t that the truth?" Zhang Menglong smiled. "Money can make the devil turn the millstone. As long as you have enough money, even the most formidable people will be willing to serve you."


    "However, that person..." Zhang Menglong looked at the lifeless body of Xerxes on the ground, "you just let him kill someone; there won''t be any trouble, right?"


    In fact, Wang Ling was quite thrilled by the death of Xerxes. He had just seen for himself the incredible power of that invisible blade. If it weren''t for Ye Yin, he and his girlfriend would probably be dismembered by now. To sympathize with someone who wanted to kill him would just be playing the Holy Mother.


    However, Wang Ling was somewhat worried that Zhang Menglong might encounter some trouble because of it.


    "Don''t worry," Zhang Menglong assured him, "these people''s battles are very secretive and are not constrained by any laws or morals. Among them, only the fist is the true judge. If we had been killed here by them today without Ye Yin, I doubt there would be anyone to avenge us."


    "Then I''m relieved," Wang Ling nodded. "What do you plan to do with these people?"


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "they came to rob us, right?"


    "Yes," Wang Ling replied, "but they''re really unlucky, not only did they get nothing, but they also ran into someone like you. How unfortunate."


    "I''m a fair person," Zhang Menglong declared, "since they came to rob me, then I will rob them! They must have brought quite a lot of money with them for this heist, right?"


    "Holy shit! You..." Wang Ling''s eyes widened. At the final competition for the Immortal Pill, Wang Ling had witnessed their frenzy. Each of these people had at least several billion Euros in cash on them. If they were all robbed, that would amount to hundreds of billions of Euros!


    Not only that, if Zhang Menglong really robbed them, he would have made enemies of those countries. If they sent even more formidable people to trouble him...


    "Menglong, it won''t cause any problems, right?" Lu Yiyao also expressed some concern.


    "Be assured, I''m confident!" Zhang Menglong said with a slight smile, "When have you ever seen me do anything without assurance?"


    Zhang Menglong took a step forward, "Now, all of you here who don''t want to die, come in front of me, line up from left to right, from tallest to shortest!"


    Those injured mutants looked at each other, clueless about what Zhang Menglong intended to do.


    "I''ll count to three!" Zhang Menglong said, getting annoyed when they didn''t move, fearing Ye Yin but not him. Was this a sign of disrespect towards him?


    "3!"


    "2!"


    "1!"


    "Ye Yin!" Zhang Menglong gave Ye Yin a look.


    Ye Yin nodded, and another surge of power erupted, smacking their chests like a heavy hammer cracking their ribs, immediately followed by a chorus of wails.


    "He... he actually can command that person!" This time, everyone believed it, Ye Yin really was Zhang Menglong''s bodyguard, not an Awakener sent by Huaxia''s Dragon Xia team.


    "I''ll give you one more chance, don''t test my patience!" said Zhang Menglong with a cold voice.


    The dozen or so mutants were remarkably resilient; despite being seriously injured, they all got up and scurried in front of Zhang Menglong, lining up by height as instructed.


    "Ding, congratulations Chancellor on gaining 20 Cred Points!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, showing off in front of these second-class humans earns so many more Cred Points than ordinary people!" Zhang Menglong had only gotten 3 Cred Points from Emma the night before, the difference was stark.


    "Number off!"


    "Huh?" Not just the mutants, but Wang Ling and the others were stunned. What on earth was Zhang Menglong doing? Was he mocking them? They weren''t sure if Wang Cai, who had eaten the Immortal Pill, could cultivate into a human, but Zhang Menglong was indeed a real piece of work.


    "1!"


    "2!"


    ...


    Looking at Ye Yin, the mutants trembled upon meeting those cold eyes and promptly began to number off as Zhang Menglong had directed.


    "13 people, one Shel dead, one Shen Yuan ran away, but the rest are all here," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "I told you, the Immortal Pill was eaten by a dog, but y''all just wouldn''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong shook his head in frustration as if chastising stubborn children, "Something worth over a hundred billion Euros, do you think I''d fool you?"


    "Something worth over a hundred billion Euros? You say it as if it''s nothing!" The mutants cursed internally; a few years earlier, that amount could have made someone the richest person in the world.


    But they were well aware that even if the Immortal Pill hadn''t been fed to a dog, it would be impossible for them to snatch it from Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "I''m usually quite easygoing," Zhang Menglong began, pointing at Wang Cai, "this dog was picked up last night, and without a second thought, I adopted it. I didn''t even blink before feeding it something worth over a thousand billion. What a kind person I am!"


    "If you''re kind, then there are no demons in this world! Did Shel twist his own neck and commit suicide?" The group of mutants was now more than ever convinced that Zhang Menglong was a real hypocrite, only speaking in Underworld lingo.


    "Alright, I''m not gonna chat more with you. I don''t bother anyone who doesn''t bother me, but if you cross me, I''ll fuck up your entire family!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice, "Now, every single one of you, hand over all the money you''ve brought to this auction, this is a robbery!"

 Chapter 244 242: You Guys Know Too Much

    "Robbery?" Upon hearing these two words, the eyes of the mutants roundly bulged, as they all thought that falling into the hands of Zhang Menglong meant certain death today; yet Zhang Menglong didn''t play by the rules.


    "I know you all brought a lot of money this time," Zhang Menglong pointed at one of the mutants from Indi, "I remember you were the first to give up the bidding yesterday, but you also brought 62 billion Euros, right?"


    Zhang Menglong pulled out his phone, "You, pay via Zhi Fu Bao transfer or WeChat transfer?"


    "Idiot!" Wang Ling cursed directly behind Zhang Menglong, "Have you ever seen someone make a payment of 62 billion Euros using their phone? Are you sick in the head?"


    "Haha, sorry, I got used to it when I was poor," Zhang Menglong embarrassingly put away his phone. If he really had tried to transfer such an enormous sum through these two payment methods, Ma Yun and Ma Hua would probably be dumbfounded.


    "Let me ask you one thing, do you want money or your life?" Zhang Menglong said.


    The mutant from Indi hung his head. People from Indi weren''t as wealthy as those from America; this sum of money was gathered by the effort of the whole nation. If they returned without the Immortal Pill and also lost this money, they would likely face severe punishment back home.


    But if they didn''t give the money, they might die at the hands of Zhang Menglong right here!


    "I... I''ll give the money!" The person from Indi said helplessly. It was better to defect and flee the country. With his talents, as long as he stayed anonymous, he could live well anywhere in the world.


    Zhang Menglong gave the man his Swiss Bank account number and handed him a computer that could connect to the internet.


    A few minutes later, Zhang Menglong received a notification from the Swiss Bank; the 62 billion Euros had been transferred.


    "I like people who know the times," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Next!"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on an Awakener from the Kingdom of Derman, "Wearing circular glasses, what are you playing at, Harry Potter?"


    The Awakener trembled with fear, not even daring to look into Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    He had thought that Zhang Menglong''s biggest reliance was on that Destroyer from yesterday''s auction, which is why he allowed Adenna and Zhang Menglong to compete for that Imperial Jade Seal.


    Before the bidding, Zhang Menglong had issued a strict warning that anyone who dared to compete with him in the bidding wouldn''t leave this place. Adenna''s actions were clearly a slap to Zhang Menglong''s face in front of all these people.


    He understood that someone like Zhang Menglong didn''t care about money but definitely cared about his face, and this bill was probably souring on him.


    "Adenna!" The young man with green eyes gritted his teeth, "Wait until I return to my country, I''ll make sure you pay for this!"


    "Who are you trying to scare with that menacing look?" Zhang Menglong scolded, "69 billion Euros, right? Hand it over, each penny short, and I''ll pluck a hair from your head, once you run out of hair there, I''ll start on your leg hair, and if you''re out of leg hair, I''ll turn you into an Azure Dragon!"


    "Hahaha, you really are talented!" With the fear gone, Wang Ling relaxed, and even Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but let out a laugh.


    To provoke Zhang Menglong, such a troublemaker, was truly worse than death.


    The young man felt a chill run down his legs and quickly transferred the money to Zhang Menglong''s account from the computer.


    The remaining people accepted their fate; facing punishment back home was better than being killed by Zhang Menglong here. And with creatures like Ye Yin around, unless their level nine elites intervened, none would come out unscathed, so neither the organization nor the governments could blame them.


    Money kept flowing into Zhang Menglong''s account, and after checking, he found his account now had over a trillion Euros more!


    He had spent less than 200 billion Euros yesterday, and today he earned it all back with profit.


    "Making money isn''t that difficult, after all!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. It took him months to spend 100 billion US Dollars, but in less than twenty minutes, he made a trillion Euros ¡ª making money was indeed much easier than spending it.


    Ye Yin couldn''t help but roll her eyes at this; could these two things even be compared?


    "Do you have a Swiss Bank account?" Zhang Menglong asked Wang Ling.


    "Yeah," Wang Ling provided a series of numbers, "What for?"


    "Fair''s fair," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Plus a hush fee. You can''t just blab about today''s events!"


    "10 billion!" Wang Ling''s eyes widened as he looked at the balance in his account. Although he knew he couldn''t go blabbering about what happened, the hush fee of 10 billion Euros was just too extravagant, wasn''t it?


    "No problem, the wool comes from the sheep, after all, it''s not my money," Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "And it''s not even close to the pocket change I made today!"


    "Damn, if I were a woman, I''d definitely come seduce you!" Wang Ling said exaggeratedly.


    "Get lost! Don''t disgust me!"


    "As for the remaining money, first take those 100 billion euros and do some charity," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "Then refurbish that aircraft carrier into a proper yacht, and after the New Year, go take the entrance exam for grad school. Use the rest of the money for scientific research, get nominated as an academician, and reach the pinnacle of life..."


    Watching Zhang Menglong and his friends fooling around, the mutants were completely freaking out. Stealing their money to do charity in Zhang Menglong''s name? Was there anything more shameless than this?


    Come on, does a guy like him need to take the entrance exam for grad school? Wasn''t he born at the pinnacle of life?


    And as for being nominated as an academician, did he think academicians just fell from the sky? Even with wealth and impressive bodyguards, could that really buy an academician title? They must be dreaming.


    But how could they know that with enough sunscreen, Zhang Menglong could casually learn a skill from his teacher Iron Man Tony, engage in academia, publish papers, and easily outshine current scholars, making becoming an academician a breeze?


    "Hey, Old Zhang?" Wang Ling asked, "I''m starting to wonder whether your family''s wealth was stolen or earned."


    "Hahaha!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I don''t know about that, you''d have to ask my ancestors! I''ll introduce you to them if I get a chance."


    "No way!" Wang Ling quickly stepped back¡ªhe had no clue that Zhang Menglong''s ancestors were all still alive. To meet them, he''d have to go down below!


    "Alright, you guys can get lost!" Zhang Menglong said, "Ye Yin, throw them all down!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Ye Yin replied meticulously.


    With a shift of his gaze, those dozen or so mutants were promptly tossed down from the deck, ten or so meters up, crashing brutally onto the frozen ice surface.


    Under Ye Yin''s prowess, the ice that had immobilized the destroyer cracked open.


    "Snap!" He snapped his fingers, and the sailors, who had been unconscious moments before on the destroyer, suddenly woke up, restarted the warship, and set off in the direction of the Frankfurt Continent...


    "Dammit!" On that small piece of ice floe, the dozen mutants looked at one another and then broke into bitter smiles. But glancing at Charles''s already cold body beside them, they couldn''t help feeling a stroke of luck.


    "This Huaxia man is simply a demon!"


    "We must report back to the organization¡ªanother Awakener beyond level nine has emerged in Huaxia!"


    "Swoosh!" At that moment, Ye Yin appeared again like a specter, floating in the air like a deity, possessing the power of flight, the hallmark of those beyond level nine!


    Apart from those special mutants or Awakeners who could control gravity, electric currents, magnetic fields, and the like, only those beyond level nine could fly on their own power¡ªit was common knowledge in the second world!


    "Mr. Zhang forgot to say something just now; he asked me to convey it," Ye Yin said.


    "You... You want us to keep today''s events a secret, right?"


    "Rest assured, we absolutely won''t let a word of today''s events slip!" Some said this out loud, but inwardly, they sneered. Once they were back in their own country, could Zhang Menglong''s people possibly come after them? Ye Yin wasn''t the only one in the world beyond level nine.


    "No!" Ye Yin shook his head, "Mr. Zhang wanted me to ask you guys one thing¡ªhe''s handsome, isn''t he?"


    All bewildered, they exchanged glances and then suddenly understood.


    "Handsome!"


    "I''ve never seen a more handsome Huaxia man than Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    "Crack!" The necks of the dozen men broke on cue, dying without knowing what they''d said wrong.


    Their bodies were submerged into the Mediterranean Sea floor by Ye Yin''s control. As he watched their fading shadows, Ye Yin said coldly, "Mr. Zhang asked me to tell you that you know too much."

 Chapter 245 243 Catching a Tailwind Flight

    The first time he killed someone, he took the lives of fourteen people, yet Zhang Menglong didn''t bear much psychological burden. After all, those people were originally there to kill him. Without Ye Yin''s intervention, he, Lu Yiyao, and Wang Ling would have all died there, unnoticed by anyone.


    Such an action would be considered excessive self-defense at most, and nobody was going to pursue legal actions against him. Moreover, with those fourteen people dead, nobody knew exactly how they died. Even if some traced the suspicion back to Zhang Menglong, knowing about Ye Yin''s existence, aside from Wang Ling and the others, all the rest were dead. It would be beyond them to guess that Zhang Menglong had such an expert like Ye Yin protecting him.


    The destroyer slowly docked, and Zhang Menglong and the others disembarked with slightly tired expressions. Apart from Zhang Menglong, the other three had all been more or less frightened by the ordeal and were just now feeling as if their bodies had been hollowed out.


    "Mr. Zhang," a middle-aged man dressed in an English naval uniform approached Zhang Menglong, "I am here by Her Majesty''s command to reclaim the warship."


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    In fact, among those who had come to assassinate him, there was also a mutant from England, who had used his own powers to create the ice floes on the sea.


    However, it seemed that the organization this mutant belonged to was not under the command of the English Royal Family. Not just England but several other European countries appeared to be controlling these special groups of psychics and mutants through certain national organizations.


    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been foolish enough to trouble Zhang Menglong. After all, each one had been thrashed by Zhang Menglong''s grandfather wielding foreign guns and cannons. On this trip to Europe, so many princesses had been sent to him.


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." The naval general glanced at the destroyer, noting a deep crack on the deck and even a cannon barrel that had been cut cleanly off.


    How did the destroyer end up in such a state after being borrowed by Zhang Menglong for just two days?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong''s penchant for fabrication was second nature, and he blurted out, "Well, at the auction, I acquired a divine weapon. The captain tested it out, and it accidentally got a bit out of hand. It really cuts through iron like mud, hahaha!"


    Zhang Menglong had a soldier carry out his recent auction acquisitions, among them a conspicuous sword.


    "I see." The general nodded in understanding. He was well aware that Zhang Menglong had attended a significant auction and that acquiring some impressive items was not surprising. Still, he was keen to see how it could cut through steel.


    "I''ll compensate you for the damage. Is one billion euros enough?" Zhang Menglong promptly wrote a check on the spot. He was incredibly wealthy at this point, having made over a hundred billion euros. If he didn''t spend some, it just didn''t sit right with him.


    "One billion euros?" The general was stunned. Although the repairs of the destroyer were expensive, they didn''t cost that much. One billion euros were enough to build another one!


    Furthermore, the Queen had repeatedly stressed the importance of treating Zhang Menglong with the utmost respect. If he said yes, they couldn''t say no. How could the general dare accept Zhang Menglong''s money? Besides, just being allowed to sail the English destroyer into Frankfurt''s waters showcased Zhang Menglong''s immense background. He wouldn''t dare accept the money!


    "Take it!" Zhang Menglong forced the check into the general''s hand. "If you don''t take it, you''re looking down on me! Look down on me, and be careful, I might complain to your Queen!"


    "This..." It was the general''s first time encountering someone threatening to give them money.


    "Look here, you''ve got repair costs, right? Fuel for a few days costs money, doesn''t it? Maintenance fees are needed, right? And the crew needs salaries, don''t they? You''ve traveled all the way from England; there''s gotta be a travel allowance, right? Ten billion is not too much!"


    Though he spoke like this, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but sneer inwardly. The English psychic had brought him a windfall of 70.5 billion euros. Since the wool came from the sheep, Zhang Menglong didn''t feel even a twinge of pain parting with a mere one billion euros.


    I wonder what expression Her Majesty of England would have if she knew about this incident.


    ...


    "Menglong, what exactly does your family do?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but ask that evening. She knew Zhang Menglong''s family was wealthy, but now it seemed what she knew was just the tip of the iceberg.


    ```


    "Digging for gold, collecting rent, dabbling in finance, starting companies¡ªit''s all in a day''s work!" Zhang Menglong laughed as he spoke. Zhang Menglong wasn''t lying, it''s just that their mining involved the world''s gold, coal, and diamond mines, collecting rent from countries all over the world, and their dabbling in finance meant lending money to governments worldwide, earning interest from them.


    "That bodyguard of yours, called Ye Yin..."


    "He''s someone my family has trained for a long time," Zhang Menglong said, "And we have ten thousand more just as capable bodyguards as him!"


    "Keep dreaming!" Lu Yiyao knew that Zhang Menglong must be holding back on some details¡ªafter all, there had to be a reason he wasn''t telling everything. Lu Yiyao didn''t pry further. As long as Zhang Menglong was still himself, that was all that mattered.


    After another night of rest at the estate, Zhang Menglong and the others prepared to leave. The princesses from various countries left one by one, looking dejected. Who knew when they would have such an opportunity again?


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll see you off here. I hope you''ll visit again when you have the chance," Haigen said sincerely to Zhang Menglong.


    "Thank you for your hard work during this time," Zhang Menglong nodded, about to head to the airport when he noticed two very familiar faces.


    "Mr. Lei, Mr. Gu?" Zhang Menglong was surprised. He thought the two of them had returned to Huaxia already.


    "Why are you guys here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, we are here to ensure your safety," Gu Yuanwu said with a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhang Menglong and his companions unharmed. It seemed that the psychics and mutants from other countries hadn''t chosen to make a move in Frankfurt.


    "Ensure my safety?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled.


    "That Immortal Pill is of great importance; they won''t rest until they get it. They dare not make a move in Frankfurt, but if you were on an international flight, they might very well target you," Gu Yuanwu explained, "They wouldn''t believe that a dog ate the Immortal Pill. You might be in danger."


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel amused and exasperated. If he were waiting for Gu Yuanwu to protect him, his body would be cooling in the Mediterranean by now.


    It was clear those countries regarded the Fighting Spirit Pill as crucial, even willing to strike directly within Frankfurt''s borders.


    "I don''t think that''s necessary," Zhang Menglong shook his head. Those people''s bodies are probably shark food by now. The grass over their graves is likely over a meter tall, and yet you''re here to ''protect'' me?


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m not joking; I''m serious!" Gu Yuanwu said earnestly. "They''re not ordinary people... There are things I can''t tell you, but even if you had a squadron of fighter jets, it''d be difficult to return home safely!"


    "Holy shit, how did you know I have a squadron of fighter jets?"


    "I..." Gu Yuanwu was at a loss for words for a moment. He was just making an analogy to underscore the seriousness of the situation, but based on Zhang Menglong''s response, it seemed like he actually had a helicopter squadron? Maybe it was lent to him by some country?


    Gu Yuanwu had actually investigated Zhang Menglong''s family but found nothing special in the files beyond him being a major shareholder of several companies. Apart from that, there was no military or political background¡ªjust a thoroughly typical businessman of the second generation.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve arranged a special channel to get you out of here. Follow me."


    Seeing Gu Yuanwu''s earnest expression, Zhang Menglong felt like telling him that his bodyguard had already taken care of those people, but saying that would inevitably lead to future complications.


    "There''s no need, Mr. Gu," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "My private jet is ready for takeoff. Maybe you can hitch a ride on a SF Express plane?"


    ```

 Chapter 246 244 You Guys Know the Richest Person in the World, Its Annoying

    Finally, Zhang Menglong was stubbornly adamant: he refused to return to Huaxia with Gu Yuanwu through the special channel, insisting on taking his private plane. To protect Zhang Menglong''s safety, Gu Yuanwu had no choice but to return to the country with him.


    As for Lei Jun, he was well aware of the potential for encounters with those looking to steal the Immortal Pill during the return flight, and he chose to split paths with them. He was patriotic, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t afraid of death.


    Throughout the journey, Wang Ling and others chatted and laughed, eating snacks and watching movies, while admiring the rare treasures Zhang Menglong had purchased this time. But Gu Yuanwu stood solemn and meticulous in front of the plane''s window, seemingly weighed down by heavy thoughts.


    Most Awakeners and mutants couldn''t fly in the sky, and fighting mid-air was extremely dangerous. Even if Gu Yuanwu could barely protect himself, he wasn''t confident he could ensure Zhang Menglong''s complete safety.


    "Menglong, why is he standing there like a meditating monk?" Lu Yiyao curiously looked at Gu Yuanwu, who had maintained the same pose ever since getting on the plane, almost without moving at all.


    "I don''t know, he might be zoning out or ''listening to depressive music online''," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    Of course, he knew exactly what Gu Yuanwu was worried about, but his concerns were clearly unnecessary¡ªbecause he had already robbed those mutants clean and dumped them into the Mediterranean. Of course, he couldn''t possibly tell Gu Yuanwu that.


    "Mr. Gu, are you very worried?" Zhang Menglong walked over and asked, "If you''re really concerned, I could call in two or three hundred fighter jets to escort us home."


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t understand," Gu Yuanwu said with a wry smile, "fighter jets are far too insignificant a threat to those people. They are not ordinary individuals. There are things I can''t tell you, but you must understand that you are in a very dangerous situation right now."


    "Oh, then you go on," Zhang Menglong said speechlessly. Why was Gu Yuanwu so stubborn?


    "Oh?" Gu Yuanwu looked at Zhang Menglong incredulously, as if thinking, even a newborn calf isn''t afraid of a tiger, but after repeatedly emphasizing the danger, could he really not realize how precarious his situation was?


    ...


    However, the scenarios Gu Yuanwu had imagined did not occur. Crossing half of Earth''s landscape, they passed through many vulnerable spots, but they remained unscathed until Zhang Menglong''s private plane landed at the airport, leaving Gu Yuanwu incredulous.


    "How is this possible? Have they all gone mad? To just let him return to the country unharmed?" If it weren''t for the mysterious energy fluctuations emanating from Wang Cai, Gu Yuanwu might have even suspected that Zhang Menglong had secretly become a traitor and handed over the Immortal Pill to someone from another country.


    "We''re home, Mr. Gu," Zhang Menglong patted Gu Yuanwu''s shoulder, "I told you nothing would go wrong. We''re living in a peaceful era, a society governed by law. You really were worrying too much."


    Gu Yuanwu didn''t know how to respond¡ªalthough the world seemed peaceful, behind the scenes, every country''s second-world human organizations were engaged in brutal battles. Countless people died every year due to this, but these events were managed so well that not a whisper of them leaked out.


    Behind the peace, many nameless heroes carried the weight of the world on their shoulders.


    "Aha! I''ve got it!" Zhang Menglong suddenly shouted, startling Gu Yuanwu into almost instinctually taking a defensive stance. The people who didn''t make a move abroad, could they have quietly followed them home? Impossible, this was already Jiangnan City in Huaxia¡ªif anyone dared to act here, it wouldn''t be any different from seeking death.


    Gu Yuanwu looked at Zhang Menglong with puzzlement, waiting to hear what he had to say.


    "Isn''t it because your Longxia organization didn''t give you enough travel expenses?" Zhang Menglong joked, "so you claimed to protect me as an excuse to hitch a ride on my private plane back home?"


    "Come on, sir, your department is a special branch of the country, surely you''re not lacking that little bit of funding?" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Or should I make a donation? In the future, you all fly on good planes, stay in the best hotels, don''t ask me why ¨C I''m wealthy and patriotic!"


    Gu Yuanwu couldn''t help but smile wryly at Zhang Menglong''s wild imagination. But since they had safely returned to Huaxia, there was no further need for him to continue protecting Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, since nothing happened, I''ll be taking my leave first," Gu Yuanwu said, pressing a few buttons on his wristwatch, which was probably to contact his organization to report the situation.


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily, "There''s nothing like one''s own country!"


    "Captain He, the new year is just around the corner, and there shouldn''t be any flight duties soon. Take this time to rest well!" Zhang Menglong greeted Captain He Liang before leading Lu Yiyao and the others out of the airport.


    "Click, click!"


    They had just walked out of the airport when suddenly a large group of reporters surrounded them like zombies, instantly enclosing Zhang Menglong and the others in the middle.


    "Fuck, what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong was instantly dumbfounded. His return to the country shouldn''t be known to many, so why did these reporters seem like they were specifically waiting for him?


    "Wang Ling?" Zhang Menglong turned his gaze towards him.


    "Ahaha, I just posted a Weibo, that''s all. Your private plane and private airport are just too badass. I couldn''t help myself when I triggered it a week ago!" Wang Ling laughed, "Who knew they could wait here for so many days."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong cursed, but he was also somewhat puzzled. Even so, were hundreds of reporters really going to squat here?


    And what big news had occurred? Had he been playing so high lately that he missed some hot gossip?


    "Mr. Zhang, what are your thoughts on becoming the world''s richest person?"


    "Mr. Zhang, how much is your total asset value exactly? Up to now, Forbes ranking has only announced the new rankings but hasn''t disclosed your specific assets."


    "Mr. Zhang, are all the sources of your wealth legal?"


    ...


    "World''s richest person? Me?" Zhang Menglong knew his family was absolutely the richest in the world, but their names had never appeared on the Forbes list, not his or his elders''.


    "Old Zhang, Forbes has updated their rankings!" Wang Ling brought his phone up to Zhang Menglong''s face.


    It turned out that Zhang Menglong''s high-profile behavior during this period had already caught the attention of interested parties, especially after the incident in Qingqiu Country. Normal people knew that there must be huge flaws in the current Forbes billionaires list.


    Forbes Magazine also immediately started an investigation. Although they didn''t know how much wealth Zhang Menglong actually had, the numbers released from the incident in Qingqiu Country might not be real.


    But various signs indicated that Zhang Menglong''s background and wealth were absolutely terrifying, so they directly placed Zhang Menglong''s name at the top of Forbes list.


    Three days had passed since the new list was published, and not a single one of the listed tycoons had raised any objections, which proved that, for whatever reason, they acknowledged Zhang Menglong''s status as the world''s richest person!


    The auction where Forbes-listed billionaires showed up one after another revealed that their wealth was probably not even close to a fraction of Zhang Menglong''s. With more than 100 billion Euros in cash easily spirited away, who else would dare to babble on?


    This incident instantly caused a sensation throughout Huaxia and even the whole world, but Zhang Menglong had been on that island these past few days, not paying attention to these matters, which is why he was only finding out about it now.


    No wonder these reporters were blocking him like madmen.


    A world''s richest person in his early 20s, how important that first-hand interview material must be!


    "Quiet!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat speechless. Just a few days away, and upon his return, such a big commotion was already waiting for him, which was really somewhat embarrassing.


    "Mr. Zhang, can you share your thoughts on becoming the world''s richest person?"


    Zhang Menglong sighed, and with a blunt statement said, "TMD, you all know about the world''s richest person, it''s almost driving me crazy!"

 Chapter 247 245 I Thought I Only Had 800 Billion

    Hearing this, all the reporters were stunned.


    The richest person in the world, what a powerful aura that is. Wouldn''t anyone who becomes the richest person try every means to let the whole world know?


    Everyone has vanity, how much more for someone like Zhang Menglong, a young man in his early 20s? Isn''t this the age when people love to show off?


    But Zhang Menglong said that hearing the entire news was annoying to death, as if the title of the world''s richest person was a burden to him. What''s going on here?


    "Mr. Zhang, could you share your thoughts on becoming the richest man?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, just say a few words!"


    The reporters kept persistently asking.


    "What thoughts could I have?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I''m not interested in money. Whether I''m the richest man in the world or not, I would still have this much money. It''s just an empty title, nothing worth feeling anything about."


    "Ding! Congratulations Director for pulling a massive national stunt, gaining 100 Cred Points!"


    "Crap! I wasn''t showing off!" Those words were heartfelt from Zhang Menglong. To him, this title really didn''t mean much, and could even be a burden.


    But somehow, gaining 100 Cred Points still felt quite pleasing.


    "270 points now?" Unaware until he checked, Zhang Menglong was surprised to find he already had 270 Cred Points. Probably, those unlucky souls who were finished off by Ye Yin contributed to his Cred Points just before their demise, although he hadn''t noticed at the time.


    Thinking about this, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh.


    The reporters, watching Zhang Menglong looking all goofy, were speechless. They were well aware of Zhang Menglong''s level of pretentiousness. Making the national leader of Qingqiu Country sing "Conquest" on a live broadcast, changing NetEase Music to "Foot Washing City" ¡ª could anyone top his ability to show off? He was undeniably Huaxia''s number one pretender.


    But today he seemed a bit off his game, why did he break into laughter right after speaking? However, these reporters were trained for such circumstances and wouldn''t usually break character unless compelled by something truly funny, like Zhang Menglong''s silly laughter, which even made some of them struggle to hold back their own laughter.


    "It seems Mr. Zhang isn''t as indifferent as he claims," one reporter laughed, "So far, Forbes rankings haven''t disclosed your exact wealth. According to the latest data, Mr. Poladi ranked second on Forbes has a fortune of 240 billion US dollars. May I ask Mr. Zhang if you are willing to reveal the specific amount of your assets?"


    "Uh..." Zhang Menglong was immediately stunned. He had been asked this question countless times, but so far, Zhang Menglong had never given a definitive answer.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there something you can''t disclose?"


    "Mr. Zhang, could it be that the source of your assets is unclear, so you can''t reveal them?"


    Reporters thrive on grabbing at shadows. As the hottest topic at the moment, any news about Zhang Menglong would explode. These reporters had no sense of professional ethics; as long as it could attract eyeballs, they would resort to any means necessary.


    "Which entertainment company are you from?" Zhang Menglong glared at the reporter indignantly.


    That reporter instantly backed off, for Zhang Menglong wasn''t the type to be bullied. When faced with annoying situations, he tended to fight back directly.


    "Fengniao Entertainment, right?" Zhang Menglong saw the text and logo on the reporter''s microphone, "Go back and tell your boss, I retain my legal right to pursue anyone who defames me. My lawyer''s letter will be sent over tomorrow."


    "Awesome!" Many reporters silently exclaimed in awe. Under such a barrage from numerous reporters, even on a live broadcast, Zhang Menglong dared to confront the reporters head-on.


    "Hey, bro!" Zhang Menglong called to a cameraman at the back, "I''ll give you 100,000 yuan. Could you copy the video for me later? I need it as evidence!"


    The cameraman almost dropped his camera to the ground, his yearly income wasn''t even 100,000, no wonder he''s the richest man in the world; it''s all about the money!


    "Hahaha, as for our boss Zhang, he''s still the toughest!" he watched as the live stream audience clapped and cheered.


    These journalists often do some utterly shameless things to stir up topics, but due to concerns about their image, few people confront these journalists directly, only Zhang Menglong was the real deal.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the statistics online, your personal assets should be around 800 billion US Dollars. Is this figure reliable?"


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling, standing next to Zhang Menglong, couldn''t help laughing out, 800 billion US Dollars? Just yesterday, the money Zhang Menglong had robbed amounted to over a trillion Euros, which was already 1.2 trillion US Dollars.


    "What?" Zhang Menglong displayed a look of shock.


    The journalists suddenly felt a surge of excitement, seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, it seemed his actual assets had been guessed!


    When someone uttered this astronomical figure, many were disbelieving after all, the deposit of over 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency Zhang Menglong had flaunted was just a picture, and since it was a picture, it could be fake. Many estimates had it around 300 billion.


    If Zhang Menglong''s assets could be confirmed, it would be huge news indeed!


    Zhang Menglong quickly opened his account at Swiss Bank and seeing that long string of zeros, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s wrong?" a journalist asked curiously.


    "Nothing much, just got a bit scared by you all. I thought my assets had shrunk to 800 billion US Dollars!"


    "What?" the journalists looked at each other, bewildered.


    "Damn, this guy is a real show-off, ''only'' 800 billion left and he got scared?"


    "I''m mentally broken, not to mention 800 billion in assets, even 80 million would have me walking shoulder to shoulder with the sun."


    "Pinch my philtrum! I can''t take it anymore!"


    "What did he just mean by that? Are you saying his assets are more than 800 billion US Dollars?"


    "How did you guys come up with that calculation?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. He didn''t even know how much money he had, how could anyone else calculate it?


    "Recently you flaunted a deposit of over 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency in Qingqiu Country on social media, which is about 670 billion US Dollars. You merged with Tengxun Music and Wangyi Music, which today are valued at about 82 billion US Dollars, and you also have shares in Unicorn Technology, today valued at 100 billion US Dollars and Weibo around 10 billion US Dollars. According to your shareholding percentage, that comes to about 130 billion US Dollars."


    "Honestly, I don''t even know exactly how much money I have," Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Forget everything else, that 700 trillion Qingqiu Currency, it''s just the balance in my Qingqiu Bank account. I still have other savings accounts in Qingqiu Minsheng Bank and Qingqiu People''s Bank, that''s just my savings in Qingqiu Country!"


    Upon hearing this, the journalists were completely stunned. That meant his assets were far beyond 800 billion US Dollars, and mostly in the form of deposits, which meant cash!


    On the Forbes rankings, which billionaire''s assets are cash? Aren''t they almost all tangible assets?


    "Alright, you probably don''t have any more questions, right?" Zhang Menglong asked, "If not, I''m leaving, I''m quite busy, after all, I''d rather be famous for my talents, I''m off to prepare for my postgraduate and doctoral exams!"


    With that, Zhang Menglong really just pushed through the crowd and left.

 Chapter 248 246 I plan to hand it over to the nation

    ```


    "He''s leaving just like that?" The reporters looked at each other in bewilderment as Zhang Menglong''s car drove away.


    He was just announced as the world''s richest man; shouldn''t he normally be holding a news conference, expounding his thoughts, and then boosting his fame?


    But Zhang Menglong seemed genuinely indifferent to the title of the world''s richest man, to the point where it appeared that the reporters were more eager for him to show some excitement about it.


    Perhaps to the truly wealthy, such honorary titles really mean nothing at all!


    Although Zhang Menglong did not express many of his thoughts, the mere revelation of his total assets was shocking enough to stir the entire nation.


    Most of the reporters were from television stations, but in this age of internet information, very few people watch TV anymore. Social media platforms and live-streaming have long replaced those traditional channels of information.


    The reporters were editing the videos they had just shot, with the fastest among them already preparing to take over the trending searches on their phones.


    However, as soon as the video interview of Zhang Menglong was uploaded online, it skyrocketed to first place.


    It was a joke; his name was all over Weibo. He could post about taking a shit, and if he dared to put it on Weibo, he''d dare to top the trending searches!


    A video article titled "Frontline Interview with the Newly Crowned World''s Richest Man, Zhang Menglong" instantly set the internet ablaze.


    "I was wondering why Mr. Zhang had been out of the public eye for three days. Turns out he was preparing a big move!"


    "800 billion US dollars in assets is probably an underestimate. Is he even human? ''Wealthy enough to rival countries'' probably means something like this, right?"


    "Not just 800 billion US dollars, folks. Mr. Zhang said that the Qingqiu Bank is just one of his accounts in Qingqiu Country. Let''s assume he''s underestimated and only has five bank accounts. Even if we lowball the funds in the other banks to just three or four trillion Qingqiu Currency, that adds up to almost two trillion US dollars!"


    "The analysis above makes sense, but don''t forget what Mr. Zhang said¡ªhe only mentioned his funds in Qingqiu Country. A small backwater nation like that, who would keep all their money there? Their GDP has been decent in recent years but is nothing compared to the entire world. If Mr. Zhang has deposits in Qingqiu, wouldn''t he have astronomical sums in Huaxia, America, and England too?"


    "Right, how much is our country''s US dollar foreign exchange reserves? Isn''t it 2.4 trillion?"


    "Damn... Just his deposits in Qingqiu might rival that amount, right?"


    "Did you see Mr. Zhang''s expression? When he heard someone say he had only 800 billion US dollars, he looked stunned. To him, 800 billion dollars in assets is probably what he considers poor."


    "Rich enough to rival countries! It''s truly rich enough to rival countries!"


    "You want to know Mr. Zhang''s total assets? Not to brag, but even Mr. Zhang probably doesn''t know how much he''s really worth!"


    "He''s the real embodiment of Versailles!"


    ...


    It wasn''t simply in Huaxia; the interview spread quickly abroad as well. He wasn''t just the richest man in Huaxia but the world''s richest man, relevant to every country across the globe.


    "800 billion US dollars? That''s practically insulting Mr. Zhang!" In a villa in America, the former world''s richest man, Bila Gates, was watching this report.


    Had it been a few days earlier, Bila might have believed the number, even thinking it was too exaggerated. The top five on the Forbes list combined might have about that much, right?


    But after that auction, Bila felt that this figure was an affront to Zhang Menglong.


    Without doing the exact math, a rough estimate suggested that Zhang Menglong spent about 150 billion Euros at that auction, which is roughly 180 billion US dollars.


    ```


    Compared to 800 billion US dollars, 180 billion might seem a little less eye-catching, but you have to know, would a normal person possibly use most of their assets to buy things at an auction?


    Take Bila Gates for example, his total assets are 120 billion US dollars, which converts to about 100 billion euros, but most of his wealth is tied up in fixed assets, and his liquid assets aren''t that considerable.


    When attending an auction, he prepared 1.2 billion euros, which is close to 1% of his total assets. Not just Bila Gates, but most tycoons bring funds that are about 0.5% to 1% of their total wealth.


    Let''s use the higher ratio for calculation, shall we? If Zhang Menglong''s 150 billion euros represent 1% of his total assets, then his total wealth would be 15 trillion euros!


    Even Bila Gates drew a sharp breath at that number, the yearly GDP of many a nation isn''t near that much!


    Perhaps that figure might be somewhat exaggerated, but certainly not something that can be capped with a mere 800 billion US dollars.


    ...


    "My dear mother, this Huaxia''s Zhang Menglong''s asset valuation exceeds 800 billion US dollars, fake news is becoming more outrageous!"


    Within that ancient castle in Europe, England''s queen was perusing this message, while a middle-aged man indignantly spoke up, and a wry smile touched the Queen''s deeply wrinkled face.


    "The Zhang Family''s heritage, where is something you people can comprehend?" the Queen spoke softly.


    Just from England alone, the taxes collected from the lands owned by the Zhang Family each year are already astronomical, and it''s been collected for decades to this day; and that''s just from one country.


    And in the entire Continent of Europe, every country has land owned by Zhang Menglong, decades of accumulation could amount to hundreds of billions, even trillions of euros annually, how could that stop at a mere 800 billion US dollars?


    ...


    "Ding, the principal has put on a world-class show, earning 200 dodge points!" Zhang Menglong chuckled with delight, "I''m in the money now!"


    Right now, he couldn''t wait to dive back into the Super God Academy to summon a couple of teachers and learn a few more super skills, but he still had one very important matter to address.


    "If it isn''t our world''s richest man, what brings you to call this old man instead of holding a press conference?" Han Jinyu answered Zhang Menglong''s call with a hint of excitement - whatever Zhang Menglong''s stature, he was, after all, his student!


    "Professor, stop teasing me, it''s just a nominal title. I''m actually calling you for a favor," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Oh? You need my help again? Don''t tell me it''s another online spat with someone?" Han Jinyu said, "Which school this time? Don''t worry; those professors and academicians are at your beck and call."


    Zhang Menglong gave a helpless smile, why did these professors and academicians sound like hoodlums and street urchins coming from Han Jinyu?


    "It''s like this, you should know that I recently went to Europe."


    "Of course, you little rascal, you even did a live stream forcing that Frankfurt investigator to pole dance. It''s been the hot gossip in our academy," Han Jinyu said.


    "Bad news travels far," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I was just upholding the dignity of our Huaxia people, they forced my hand."


    Zhang Menglong got back to the point, "Professor Han, do you know any history or archaeology professors? Our academy doesn''t have those fields, and with your wide connections, I could only seek your help."


    "What do you need them for?" Han Jinyu asked curiously, "This time, I went to Europe for an auction, and I bought back a lot of Huaxia''s long-lost cultural relics. You know, I am an outstanding youth of the 21st century, a proud member of the Party; I obviously can''t keep such important items to myself."


    "So you plan to..."


    "I plan to hand them over to the state!"

 Chapter 249 247: Did you rob someones museum?

    "Hand them over to the state? Are you sure?" Han Jinyu said. Although he didn''t know exactly what Zhang Menglong had gotten his hands on, since it was something that could appear at an auction, it must be extremely valuable¡ªlikely worth several million, if not tens of millions of US dollars.


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said righteously. "I just became a proud Party member this year. It''s my unavoidable duty to do what I can for the country now that I have this energy!"


    "But you do realize that even if you find the most valuable cultural relics, according to our national cultural relic protection laws, you might not receive any compensation. At most, you''ll get a banner of honor," Han Jinyu was not hoping that Zhang Menglong would pocket the relics for himself, but after all, he had spent a great deal of money to buy them back.


    Zhang Menglong immediately laughed. "Teacher Han, these national cultural relics help us better understand our history and showcase the brilliant culture of Huaxia. This little bit of money isn''t a big deal!"


    "Ding, congratulations to the dean for gaining 5 Cred Points!"


    "I really wasn''t showing off this time!" Zhang Menglong felt somewhat frustrated.


    "Young man, with that kind of awareness, I will definitely help you!" Han Jinyu said.


    Han Jinyu was incredibly efficient at getting things done. Not only was this a matter concerning Zhang Menglong, but it was also a national issue. In less than twenty minutes, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "Teacher Han, aren''t you a bit too fast?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise.


    "How could I delay such an important matter?" Han Jinyu replied. "Oh, by the way, my daughter has just returned to the country. Are you going home for the Spring Festival? If you''re not, why don''t you come spend it at my place? Food, accommodation, and fun are all covered!"


    A few black lines suddenly appeared on Zhang Menglong''s forehead. Was Han Jinyu''s thought process too jumpy? And he understood food and accommodation, but what did he mean by ''fun''? Was this some kind of trap for his own daughter?"


    "Cough cough! Let''s focus on the serious matter at hand, Old Han!" Zhang Menglong heard an anxious voice on the other end.


    "Menglong, I''ve actually got someone here for you. The old guy hasn''t even had dinner; he just ran straight to my place and wants to go to your house to see the artifacts immediately. Are you available now?"


    "I am, definitely," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. These older folks were always in such a hurry, but of course, he understood. For those scholars who had devoted their lives to the study of cultural relics and archaeology, the excitement upon hearing about the rediscovery of precious historical artifacts that had been lost for hundreds or even thousands of years was only natural.


    Wouldn''t they be as impatient as someone who hadn''t had a romantic encounter in N years suddenly seeing a beautiful woman?


    "Then please come over," Zhang Menglong gave his address to Han Jinyu. "Teacher Han, do you need me to arrange for someone to pick you up?"


    "No need, no need!" Zhang Menglong heard the person on the other end snatch the phone. "We can make our own way there. Young man, hurry up and get ready!"


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong said helplessly with a smile. Although the person on the other end wasn''t very polite, Zhang Menglong could understand, and besides, the person was an elder, so it wasn''t necessary to be petty.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Professor Han has arrived," Hong Yi said half an hour later as she led Professor Han and the others into the living room.


    The man who came with Professor Han appeared to be about a decade older and had the aura of a scholar, especially his eyes, which radiated a particular charm.


    "Menglong, let me introduce you. This is Professor Chen Xin, Dean of the History Faculty at Jiangnan University, and also the director of the Jiangnan City Historical and Cultural Museum. If you have any artifacts to return to the state, you can discuss it with him," Han Jinyu introduced.


    "Professor Chen, pleased to meet you. I am Zhang Menglong," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Professor Chen Xin.


    "Menglong, you don''t mind me calling you that, do you?" Although he was speaking to a younger man, Chen Xin still didn''t dare to regard Zhang Menglong as just an ordinary twenty-year-old, considering that he had just become the world''s richest person.


    "Of course I don''t mind," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Professor Chen, I have a collection of cultural relics here, all of which have been lost from our country for a long time, and I hope to return them to the nation through your channels."


    "A collection?" Chen Xin was stunned. He had heard from Han Jinyu that Zhang Menglong had some precious cultural relics to hand over to the country. Such events were not unheard of before, and many patriotic entrepreneurs had done the same.


    But usually, they would hand over just one piece of cultural relic, and it wasn''t even guaranteed to be authentic. Yet, Zhang Menglong was talking about a collection right from the start. How many would that be? At least three to five pieces?


    "Can I... can I take a look first?" Professor Chen asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong replied with a smile. "Let''s go downstairs, it''s a bit cramped up here."


    "Downstairs?" Both Han Jinyu and Chen Xin looked puzzled.


    Actually, when they first entered the building, they were quite surprised. With Zhang Menglong''s wealth, why didn''t he live in a detached villa but instead in an apartment building? Even though it was a large flat, it still did not seem to match his title as the world''s richest man. As for his earlier mention of going upstairs, did he own several floors? Perhaps Zhang Menglong was a bit eccentric, preferring apartment buildings to villas.


    "Menglong, did you buy several floors?" Han Jinyu joked. "My daughter recently graduated from overseas and I''m planning to buy her an apartment. This place looks pretty good. Have all the units in this building been sold out?"


    "Unfortunately," Zhang Menglong obviously knew what Han Jinyu was hinting at, "Mr. Han, all these buildings have been sold out."


    "I see," Han Jinyu said, slightly disappointed. "Are there any residents in this community who want to resell their property?"


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Han," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "there is only one owner in this community, and that''s me. All these buildings are mine."


    "Let''s pretend I didn''t ask!" Han Jinyu immediately felt embarrassed. Just a moment ago, they had thought this community was not fitting for Zhang Menglong''s status, only to find out that he had bought all seven or eight buildings. Could one even acquire these without spending several hundred million, or even billions? Isn''t this much better than any villa?


    Zhang Menglong took Professor Han Jinyu and Professor Chen Xin to a storage room down below, which he originally used to store sundries. However, to make room for these items, he had cleared it out. This time, the treasures he brought back from Europe were here, except for an aircraft carrier which couldn''t be moved over in a short amount of time.


    "Please come in, professors!" Zhang Menglong opened the door to the storage room. Inside, dozens of boxes and cases of various sizes were stacked, appearing somewhat disorderly.


    "Menglong, not to criticize you," Professor Chen Xin said distressedly, "how can you store cultural relics with these sundries? They are very precious items. If they get scratched or bumped, it would be a loss for the nation, a loss for our civilization!"


    Chen Xin had thought that most of these seventy or eighty boxes were filled with miscellaneous items.


    "Professor Chen, you''ve misunderstood," Zhang Menglong explained, "These are all treasures I brought back from Europe. There are no such sundries stored here."


    "All these... these are all cultural relics?" Chen Xin asked incredulously.


    "Yes, there are a total of 88 pieces," Zhang Menglong replied, "but only about ten of these belong to our Huaxia, the rest are from other countries."


    "You..." Professor Chen Xin stuttered for a moment, "Did you rob someone''s museum?"

 Chapter 250 248: Should I Donate Some More Money?

    ```


    "That''s..." Zhang Menglong said somewhat embarrassedly, "I came back in such a hurry that all the things were piled up together without labels, and I don''t know which ones are from Huaxia."


    "No problem, let''s just treat it like opening a blind box!" Chen Xin recovered from his astonishment, and the prospect of unlocking the crates of cultural relics was far more thrilling than any blind box. He couldn''t wait to find out what surprises Zhang Menglong had brought him.


    The first box contained a long, golden staff, almost entirely cast from gold, with a large red diamond embedded at its top. Enigmatic script was etched along its length, and the staff was a little over one meter long, quite substantial in weight.


    "This! This seems to be..."


    As if he had discovered a new continent, Professor Chen Xin almost excitedly reached out for the golden staff, but his professional instincts immediately reined him in. With meticulous care, he pulled out a pair of gloves and a magnifying glass from his pocket and began to examine it closely.


    "This seems to be the Scepter of an Egyptian Pharaoh!" Zhang Menglong could feel Chen Xin fiercely suppressing his excitement.


    In ancient Egypt, the scepter was a symbol of status and power. Whether it was the scepter of a king or a god, it represented supreme dignity and authority, but the most precious of all was the "Pharaoh''s Scepter." The Egyptians believed it to be a divine relic bestowed upon humans.


    However, the Pharaoh''s Scepter had been lost for many years, and despite the discovery of numerous pyramids and Pharaohs'' tombs by Egyptologists, the scepter''s whereabouts had never been traced.


    As one of the four great ancient civilizations alongside Huaxia, the value of this scepter was no less than that of the Imperial Jade Seal, both holding a similar stature in history.


    "Yes, Professor Chen, this is the Pharaoh''s Scepter," said Zhang Menglong, "In fact, before the Pharaoh''s pyramid was excavated, tomb raiders had already entered the burial chamber and stolen a batch of treasures, including this scepter."


    "According to legend, the Pharaoh''s curse left within his pyramid struck the tomb raiders not long after they fled, leading to their untimely deaths, and the Scepter of the Pharaoh subsequently vanished without a trace," these details were narrated to Zhang Menglong by Emma.


    "It''s amazing, a treasure lost for a thousand years has reappeared today," exclaimed Professor Chen, unable to contain his admiration. "I can''t believe someone managed to find it. What''s the auction estimate, a stratospheric figure?"


    "Not expensive, just 1.2 billion euros."


    "1.2 billion..." Both elderly professors nearly coughed up blood. 1.2 billion euros, not expensive? Who talks like that?


    The first "blind box" gave Chen Xin an incredible surprise, and it made him even more eager about the contents of the other crates.


    "This is... a Crystal Skull of the Mayans!" Chen Xin exclaimed.


    The Mayan Civilization is one of the world''s most mysterious civilizations. Although not one of the four great civilizations, the jungle civilization had long achieved great accomplishments in astronomy, mathematics, and other fields during the Neolithic Age.


    The Maya have left behind many mystical legends, including the 13 Crystal Skulls of the Mayan Civilization, shrouded in fantasy. These skulls could speak, sing, and supposedly held information about the origins and death of humans.


    Up until now, it was thought the 13 Crystal Skulls were mere legends, but four years ago, the first Crystal Skull surfaced amongst the ruins of the Maya. While the supposed secrets of human origin and death were not found, the precise anatomical knowledge and astonishing cutting technique were enough to wonder at.


    Yet, four years had passed, and archaeologists tirelessly sought the remaining 12 skulls with no news, but here, one appeared.


    "How much for this one?"


    "Much cheaper than the scepter, just 800 million euros!" Zhang Menglong said offhandedly.


    "Cheap..." Chen Xin shook his head as he opened a golden brocade box, "What''s this? It''s quite heavy!"


    Chen Xin smiled as he opened the box, but the moment he saw what was inside, he was struck dumb. Then, his old eyes suddenly welled up with tears.


    "My goodness! The Imperial Jade Seal! Is this a dream?" Chen Xin, seeing this national treasure that had been lost for over a thousand years, was immediately overcome with emotion.


    For these professors of history, these lost national treasures were a constant heartache, and the feeling upon seeing this artifact was like that of an old father finding his lost child, an emotion beyond the power of words to describe.


    "This is the Nine Dragons Sword!"


    ```


    "The Lanting Preface! It''s actually the Lanting Preface!"


    "The last of the animal heads!"


    ...


    Eight national treasures, each one of them was among Huaxia''s most precious and historically valuable items. Towards the end, Chen Xin was even afraid to lift those relics anymore; he feared that he might carelessly drop one of them on the ground.


    "These items should be placed in a museum, so that every descendant of Yan and Huang can come and admire them!" Chen Xin said excitedly.


    He suddenly stood up and bowed to Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Chen, what are you doing?" Zhang Menglong hurriedly stood up to help Professor Chen.


    "Menglong, I represent our nation in thanking you for bringing these national treasures back to Huaxia!"


    "Professor Chen, what do you mean? These were just small efforts," Zhang Menglong replied hastily, "I originally went to the auction just to broaden my horizons, and it just so happened that I saw these items and bought them on a whim. You don''t need to be so formal!"


    "Bought them on a whim?" Chen Xin was amused by Zhang Menglong''s words.


    Any one of these items, if taken out, would be worth over a billion, and just the combined value of these Huaxia relics probably amounted to dozens of billion Euros. Is that what you call buying on a whim?


    "Menglong, how many items were sold at that auction?" Professor Han asked curiously, since Zhang Menglong brought back more than eighty treasures by himself, the total must be quite staggering, right?


    "A hundred and something, I guess," Zhang Menglong said, "I just bought whichever items looked nice, seemed practical, or had some significance."


    "Are you sure that you went to attend an auction?" Chen Xin and Han Jinyu exchanged glances.


    Not to mention that Zhang Menglong purchased nearly ninety items out of a hundred something by himself, this was an auction where everyone was well-prepared, specifically targeting certain auctioned items.


    And for Zhang Menglong, it seemed he just bought whatever caught his eye, like shopping at a market. Even at a market, people can haggle over prices, could he haggle at an auction too?


    "Menglong, why do I feel like your trip abroad wasn''t so much to attend an auction as it was to go grocery shopping? You just bought whatever you saw." Han Jinyu said, exasperated.


    Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment and then nodded, "Actually, it''s quite similar to grocery shopping."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong called a few of the household servants to tidy up these things, and then carefully repackaged the eight relics belonging to Huaxia and set them aside.


    "Menglong, I will report this to the National Cultural Relics Bureau as soon as possible," Chen Xin said, "However, these items are quite substantial and require a very special venue, and I''m afraid the Historical Cultural Museum in Jiangnan City might not have the space to store them. I may need to apply to have them sent to the museum in the capital."


    "Ah? Sent to the capital?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat reluctant. Although there was no difference, as it was still within Huaxia, these items were, after all, procured by himself, and he would prefer them to stay in Jiangnan City.


    Actually, Chen Xin very much hoped that these items could stay in Jiangnan City too, but if that were to really happen, it would mean petitioning for funding to expand the venue, which wasn''t an easy matter.


    Chen Xin shared the difficulties with Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "So it''s just a matter of funding, is it? How about I make another donation?"


    ...

 Chapter 251 249 Tony Teacher, Suck in the Pink?

    Zhang Menglong had sent Professors Chen Xin and Han Jinyu home late. Not only had they determined the whereabouts of the artifacts, but they had also roughly discussed the matters concerning the museum expansion.


    As the person returning the artifacts, the nation would absolutely respect Zhang Menglong''s opinions. After all, this was a minor matter; everything was within Huaxia¡ªwhat difference did it make where they were kept?


    As for the specific details, Zhang Menglong directly handed them over to Hong Yi.


    Perhaps it was because she had been too tired these past few days, but by this time, Lu Yiyao had already fallen asleep. Zhang Menglong carefully closed the door and then walked into the study.


    "Wow, I''ve got 300 Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. This time he could learn not just one or two skills, but he might even unlock another teacher!


    "Gou Dan, I want to go to Super God Academy!" Zhang Menglong communicated to Gou Dan telepathically. Moments later, the magical entrance appeared once again, and with full anticipation, Zhang Menglong stepped into the school.


    "What the hell," Zhang Menglong smelled a burnt stench as soon as he walked into the school, as though something had been scorched, "Is someone actually playing with fire in my school?"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong immediately ruled out the possibility. Only Tony, the teacher, could still move freely in the entire school. As a teacher at Super God Academy, it wasn''t permitted to do anything that violated the school rules.


    The first school rule was to obey the headmaster absolutely. The second was to avoid any actions that would destroy the school, except under special circumstances. Surely, Tony wouldn''t break the school rules himself, would he?


    Super God Academy was a magical place. The entire school was like a living life form that could not only change the architectural style and location at will, but if Zhang Menglong wanted to go somewhere, a single thought would immediately take him to the corresponding place.


    "Gou Dan, where is Tony?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Teacher Tony is in the pharmaceutical academy," Gou Dan replied.


    "The pharmaceutical academy? Why is he, a mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence part-time teacher, not properly hammering out code at Stark Industries and instead going over to the pharmaceutical academy?"


    Zhang Menglong was curious as he summoned the teleportation gate of the Super God Academy.


    A circular light gate appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, he stepped into it, and as the light gate faded, so did Zhang Menglong from his original location.


    When he reappeared, he found himself in a quiet valley. In this valley was an endless field of medicine, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.


    "Gou Dan, who is the teacher of this pharmaceutical academy?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Is it Shennong or Sun Simiao?"


    "It''s the Pharmacist Venerable, Yao Chen."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead abruptly, "Of course! Yao Chen is also in the school!"


    "Then these things..."


    "These are the medicinal fields cultivated by Teacher Yao Chen, from first-grade spiritual medicines to divine-grade ones. They are his hard work from the past."


    "Why would Tony be here," Zhang Menglong looked curiously around and finally found Tony near a somewhat dilapidated cottage.


    He was sitting on the ground, with what appeared to be a generator beside him, and in front of him was something bubbling like a hot pot. Next to him, there was a pile of various colorful vegetables.


    "Teacher Tony, so you''re here!" Zhang Menglong walked towards Tony.


    "Headmaster, you''re finally back!" The moment Tony saw Zhang Menglong, he burst into tears and snot, lying on the ground and hugging Zhang Menglong''s legs.


    "What the hell? Has he gone mad?" Zhang Menglong looked at Tony in disbelief. Was this still the superhero from the Avengers Alliance?


    "Teacher Tony, it''s only been three days, you can''t miss me that much, can you?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Headmaster, I''m nearly starving to death. Although we serve the Super God Academy, you''ve got to at least let us eat our fill!"


    "What, you guys need to eat too?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    "Principal, we''re humans! Living, breathing humans!" Tony suddenly found himself at a loss for words. "Although we''ve been bound by Super God Academy and won''t die as long as the school remains intact, the feeling of being hungry without the possibility of death is truly unbearable!"


    "Hahaha, my apologies, my apologies, I almost forgot to treat you as humans!" Zhang Menglong laughed embarrassingly. "According to the sci-fi novels I used to read, the life forms in those systems didn''t need to eat."


    "How about this, I''ll have the chef prepare something for you to eat in a bit," Zhang Menglong said curiously as he looked at the boiling pot. "What are you cooking?"


    Tony sighed, "Principal, since I was captured by Super God Academy nearly two months ago, there''s been nothing else here, so I could only dig up some wild vegetables from this broken-down herb garden to eat. These things are both bitter and hard to eat. If this continues, I might end up developing a stomach disease!"


    "Wild vegetables?" Zhang Menglong walked over to the pile of wild vegetables and casually picked up a plant he had never seen before, scanning it with the principal''s ring.


    Scientific name: Evergreen Spirit Vine


    Origin: Dou Qi Continent


    Grade: Eighth Grade Spiritual Medicine


    Note: Essential ingredient for the Eighth Grade elixir Bone-Marrowing Blood-Integrating Pill, matures once every ten thousand years, extremely rare spiritual medicine.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong was completely stunned. What wild vegetables? This is Eighth Grade Spiritual Medicine! On the Dou Qi Continent, this stuff is priceless, unattainable even if you have the money. A single Evergreen Spirit Vine could drive countless Battle Venerables and even stronger experts crazy.


    Such a priceless treasure, and yet here it was being boiled and eaten as if it were mere wild vegetables by Teacher Tony?


    "Blood Essence Demon Fruit, Dragon Roar Grass, Yin God Flower, Fire Yang Spirit Leaf..."


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over those "wild vegetables," and he realized they were all top-grade herbs well known to all on the Dou Qi Continent.


    "Glump!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but clench his fist. "Prodigal son, really a prodigal son! I really freaking want to hammer you to death!"


    "Principal, if you need to punish a teacher of the school, you only need to issue a punishment order," Gou Dan reminded.


    "Punish him for me, punish him harshly! To actually use such top-grade spiritual medicine to make soup, I''m not even as extravagant as you are!"


    "Boom!" Amidst the thunder in the sky, a black vortex actually appeared among the colorful clouds, and a bolt of lightning descended, instantly charring Tony to a crisp yet leaving him tender on the inside.


    "Isn''t that a bit too harsh?" Zhang Menglong was a bit worried. "He''s not going to die, is he?"


    "Don''t worry, Principal, he won''t die, at most it''ll just be a bit painful," Gou Dan said.


    Sure enough, the injuries on Tony''s body began to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye, and within just a few seconds, he was as good as new. However, his face bore a hint of fear, as if he had been truly intimidated by Zhang Menglong''s method.


    "From now on, without my permission, you absolutely must not recklessly consume any plant in the school!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Yes, Principal," Tony said with lingering fear, though he knew he wouldn''t die, the penetrating fear of being struck by lightning was all too real.


    "You have something to say?" Zhang Menglong said, noting Tony''s hesitant manner.


    "Principal, I really haven''t eaten for so long, could I have something to eat now? I''m truly starved," Tony pleaded.


    Zhang Menglong sighed. You can''t be too heartless, right? Man is iron and food is steel; he couldn''t possibly act like a capitalist vampire.


    "So late at night, what to eat?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. "Teacher Tony, fancy a taste of rice noodle soup?"


    "Huh?" Tony was taken aback.


    "It''s Huaxia''s fine culinary delight, luosifen¡ªranked just behind spicy strips and milk tea. Want to give it a try?"


    ...

 Chapter 252 250: Looks like Im going to become an experienced driver

    "Mr. Zhang, what are you..." Seeing Zhang Menglong sneakily rummaging through the fridge, Hong Yi, who had just finished dealing with some matters and was planning to go downstairs to sleep, curiously asked.


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao both loved to slurp snail noodle soup, and their fridge was stocked with different brands of it.


    "Looking for snail noodle soup," Zhang Menglong handed over a bowl, "Want a box?"


    Hong Yi smiled awkwardly, "No, I can''t handle the smell."


    "What a pity!" Zhang Menglong sighed.


    "Mr. Zhang, why are you not resting this late?" asked Hong Yi.


    "Planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam. The test is in a month; how could I not study hard?" Zhang Menglong said, though this was just an excuse, otherwise, it would be too weird for someone to hide in a study late at night with several boxes of snail noodle soup.


    "Hong Yi, I might often be reviewing in the study during this period, so don''t disturb me if it''s not important," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    If Hong Yi came into the room while he was at Super God Academy and saw no one there, it would be strange not to call the police.


    "All right, I got it. Have a good rest, Mr. Zhang."


    "Mhm!" Zhang Menglong nodded and turned into the study.


    "Mr. Zhang is really studious," Hong Yi smiled and then left the room.


    ...


    At the entrance of the School of Pharmacy at Super God Academy, a middle-aged man and a young man were slurping up snail noodle soup, and the pile of medicinal materials worth a fortune was already ignored.


    Regarding that Mark-series armor, flames shot from its hands and were cooking another pot; a rich aroma continuously wafted out of it.


    "This is too delicious; it''s really too delicious. I have never eaten such tasty food before!" Tony, who was already on his third bowl, was the boss of Stark Industries. In his previous world, his lifestyle was undoubtedly very luxurious, but this was his first time eating something so unique.


    Compared to the bitter and astringent medicinal herbs, this stuff was simply a delicacy of the human world!


    "It''s my first time tasting such delicious snail noodle soup too!" Zhang Menglong agreed, but it wasn''t the first time he had eaten this brand of snail noodle soup. He had never realized before that it could be so tasty, "No, wait, could it be that the flames from the Mark-series armors make it especially fragrant?"


    "Headmaster, I know this!" Tony said while eating, "The water in our school isn''t ordinary. It''s called something like ''Divine Water of the Three Lights.'' I saw it engraved on a stone tablet near a stream."


    "Divine Water of the Three Lights?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes bulged. As a fan of mythological tales, he was familiar with the name.


    The Divine Water of the Three Lights is one of the seven legendary divine waters in mythology, residing within the "Eight Treasures Glazed Bottle," owned by Yuanshi Tianzun. When the golden Sunlight Divine Water, the silver Moonlight Divine Water, and the purple Starlight Divine Water combine into one, they form the top healing Holy Medicine!


    It can cure all poisons and treat so-called "incurable" toxins, heal all wounds and diseases, and even regenerate flesh from bones, bringing the dead back to life!


    Zhang Menglong was just complaining about Tony treating Spiritual Medicine as common vegetables and summoning thunder as punishment, but now he''s telling him that the mythological Divine Water is being used to cook snail noodle soup?


    "Wait, my ancestors didn''t catch Yuanshi Tianzun to be a teacher, did they? That''s unscientific!" exclaimed Zhang Menglong. With all these mythological beings appearing, it was getting a bit too non-mainstream.


    "The so-called mythological world is just some special worlds," Gou Dan explained, "It''s just that the people from those worlds have developed their potential to a very high level, so they have become what you call deities. You must have heard the phrase, ''The endpoint of science is theology.''


    "Well, Makabaka..."


    "Don''t worry, headmaster; the Divine Water of the Three Lights in the ''Eight Treasures Glazed Bottle'' is endless. Even if you use it to take baths, it''s okay. But this substance is useless to you because your body has already been modified by Super God Academy to have infinite potential and immunity to all poisons."


    "What a waste. In these times of the pandemic, if we had this Divine Water, so many people could be saved, and many incurable diseases could be successively conquered," Zhang Menglong lamented.


    "Sure can," said Gou Dan, "but to take a teacher or item from Super God Academy outside requires spending Cred Points. Based on the value of this Divine Water, one milliliter costs 500 Cred Points."


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong cursed under his breath, "That''s too extortionate! Was it the same when my parents took things out before?"


    "Yes, but just the measuring units were different. Super God Academy is a very special place; the teachers belonging to the Academy and all their belongings have a special connection to this space, crossing that membrane requires a great deal of effort."


    "What a pity," Zhang Menglong sighed again, thinking about how the Divine Water could save so many during the pandemic, and other incurable diseases could also be tackled one by one.


    "That''s refreshing!" Full and satisfied, Tony lay down on the edge of the herb field, "Headmaster, did you come here for something specific?"


    "Crap! Almost forgot the main business!" Zhang Menglong hurriedly put down his chopsticks, "Gou Dan, I want to duplicate the skills from Tony!"


    "Copying a skill requires 100 Cred Points, does the dean wish to copy?"


    "Copy!"


    "I want to..."


    "Congratulations, Dean, for successfully copying E-grade Material Technology."


    "Fuck! I haven''t said which one I wanted to copy yet, I wanted to learn Artificial Intelligence!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Dean, all skill copying is random."


    "You couldn''t have said that earlier?" Zhang Menglong sighed. As a material man, was all this meant to be?


    "Well then!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Materials it is, then. Even an E-grade Skill is something. Just the nano-technology shown in the Avengers alone could drive the material researchers of this era crazy, right?"


    As the ring flickered with light, Zhang Menglong''s brain suddenly filled with a lot of knowledge, not just on metal materials and polymer materials, but also on inorganic nonmetallic materials and a plethora of experimental knowledge.


    "Gou Dan, just how advanced is this E-grade Material Technology?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The most talented Academician in material science on your Earth, with maybe fifty or sixty years of research, might barely reach this level," Gou Dan replied.


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes shone with excitement, "Taking knowledge of material science far beyond the modern level of science to a polymer materials graduate entrance exam is like using a cannon to kill a mosquito!"


    "With the remaining Cred Points, I could even summon a teacher," Zhang Menglong pondered, "Gou Dan, this teacher summoning isn''t random as well, is it?"


    "Yes, it is," Gou Dan replied.


    "Is there a list of teachers?"


    A holographic screen unfolded before Zhang Menglong, densely packed with names and information¡ª "Holy moly, over twelve thousand teachers, my God!"


    Zhang Menglong quickly scanned the list and found several familiar names: Alice, Lin Dong, Emperor Huntian, Lin Fan, Luffy, Uchiha Sasuke, Qiao Feng, Aino Kishi, Bu Jingyun, Zhuge Liang, Morgana, Ultraman...


    "Gou Dan, unlock a teacher for me!"


    "100 Cred Points deducted, teacher unlocked successfully!"


    Amidst a flash of golden light, a shadow slowly materialized, accompanied by a deafening roar of an engine.


    "What''s this thing?" Zhang Menglong watched the glowing circle, where an old-fashioned sports car was visible, with a short-haired young man sitting inside.


    "AE86? Could it be..." Zhang Menglong immediately activated the authority of the dean''s ring.


    Name: Takumi Fujiwara


    Race: Human


    Identity: Racing course teacher


    Potential Index: 7


    Gift: Vehicle Driving


    Skill: Racing (E)


    Evaluation: No matter how fast the AE86 is, it can''t catch up to Natsuki''s Mercedes.


    "Takumi Fujiwara?" Zhang Menglong said in amazement.


    This character from "Initial D" was very familiar to Zhang Menglong, with an iconic image that had always stayed in his memory.


    "Seen the Dean!" Takumi Fujiwara bowed respectfully to Zhang Menglong.


    "Well, damn," Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Looks like I''m about to become an old driver!"

 Chapter 253 251: Turn Their Chips into Garbage

    With only 100 Cred Points left, Zhang Menglong directly copied Takumi Fujiwara''s racing skills. After all, now that he was mostly driving on his own within the country, maximizing driving skills would make his future journeys on the road safer, wouldn''t it?


    As for those drool-worthy skills from Teacher Tony, Zhang Menglong could only sigh with admiration for the time being. Even if he were to learn the impressive Artificial Intelligence technology, such AI would still require a carrier.


    And the technology currently on Earth was nowhere near meeting the conditions needed to host such an AI; the chips used as carriers could hardly last a few seconds with such a vast amount of data before they would fail completely.


    Zhang Menglong just needed some more time to digest the Material Technology he had acquired. By the time he had assimilated that knowledge, he expected he would have earned another substantial amount of Cred Points.


    ...


    "President, turn the steering wheel, turn the steering wheel!"


    "President, do you see the person ahead?"


    "I see him, looks like it''s Teacher Tony."


    "Go, ram into him!"


    "I can''t!" Zhang Menglong said, although he knew the teachers at Super God Academy couldn''t die, he couldn''t bring himself to do it, "I just zapped him with lightning, and now to run him over with a car, wouldn''t that make me seem unreasonable!"


    "Then why aren''t you hitting the brakes already!"


    ...


    "President, I told you to practice drifting, not spinning. Are you trying to destroy the parking lot with a tornado?"


    "President, did you buy your driver''s license?"


    ...


    Although he had copied racing skills from Takumi Fujiwara, such skills weren''t just about knowledge; they required practical operation.


    Zhang Menglong could start, but he had never raced before, let alone driven speeds over 200 miles per hour. Takumi Fujiwara, sitting in the passenger seat guiding Zhang Menglong, scolded him from start to finish, with little regard for Zhang Menglong''s status as the president.


    "Teacher Fujiwara, I am the president, please show some respect!" Zhang Menglong finally couldn''t stand the nagging anymore, reminding him of a relentless driving instructor from the days he was getting his driving license, but back then he had been too timid to speak up.


    Only then did Takumi Fujiwara remember that Zhang Menglong was a teacher at the Super God Academy. What if he angered him and brought down lightning strikes on himself?


    His attitude underwent a sudden 360-degree change.


    After practicing for an hour, Zhang Menglong''s driving skills transformed from a novice''s to that of an experienced veteran. According to Takumi Fujiwara, Zhang Menglong''s proficiency was almost 80% of his own. With this level of skill, in Zhang Menglong''s world, he could definitely be called a God of Cars!


    Feeling exhilarated, Zhang Menglong took a bath in the Divine Water of Triple Light, washing away the fatigue accumulated over the day.


    ...


    "Heh heh heh!" Zhang Menglong placed a cup of milk and some bread on Lu Yiyao''s bedside table while her face still had a slight flush.


    No doubt, the effects of the Divine Water of Triple Light were too good. Although Zhang Menglong had only slept a few hours, he woke up feeling energetic and robust. As for his energy, he had specific "morning exercises" to help spend some of it.


    "You sleep some more, I''m going to see Teacher Han today," Zhang Menglong said, kissing Lu Yiyao on the forehead.


    Since he had decided to pursue a master''s, naturally Zhang Menglong needed to find a mentor. Despite his vast wealth enabling him to study at any graduate school nationwide or even globally with just money, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, the place he was most familiar with, was still his first choice.


    Choosing a school is merely about the overall strength of the institution. For the average person, a school serves as a stepping stone for getting a job, but Zhang Menglong didn''t need that.


    And even though Jiangnan University was still just an ordinary first-tier university, Zhang Menglong believed that this situation would soon change. This confidence came not only from those instruments but also from the knowledge in Zhang Menglong''s brain.


    It was strange that Zhang Menglong had clearly arranged to meet Han Jinyu in the morning, but when Zhang Menglong arrived at the school, there was no one in Han Jinyu''s office.


    He tried to call Han Jinyu''s mobile phone, but no one answered. Logically, Han Jinyu should have been a very punctual person. It shouldn''t have happened.


    Zhang Menglong glanced to the side, thankfully, his senior brothers and sisters were all in the office.


    "Yo! Menglong is here!"


    "Come come, Menglong, sit down quickly. What would you like to eat? Senior brother will go buy it for you!"


    "Menglong, want some fruit? Come, sit next to senior sister!"


    Seeing Zhang Menglong, everyone in the lab was incredibly enthusiastic.


    You should know, it was because of Zhang Menglong''s funding that their lab had become the richest research group in the entire school and even the whole country. The remuneration Han Jinyu gave them was more than they could earn in ten years after graduating from school.


    Now, almost every one of them was thinking about pursuing a PhD, and those doctoral senior brothers even hoped the school would allow them to postpone their graduation, preferably for five or ten years.


    "Menglong, were you looking for Teacher Han?"


    "Yes, I''m planning to take the graduate entrance exam after the new year, and then join our research group!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Really?" the senior brothers and sisters were thrilled.


    "I had arranged to meet with Teacher Han this morning to talk about this, but why isn''t he here?"


    "Something came up at the last minute!" Big senior brother Zhu Mengchao''s expression soured. "Did you see the news today?"


    "What happened, did something happen at the school?" Zhang Menglong asked. Usually, Zhang Menglong would watch the news during the half-hour he spent in the bathroom after waking up, but this morning something indescribable happened, and he hadn''t paid attention.


    "No, it''s Silicon Moonlight that had an issue."


    "Silicon Moonlight? The biggest semiconductor chip company in our country?"


    "Not just them, all semiconductor companies had issues!" Zhu Mengchao said, "You know, America recently got a new president, and he quickly took a series of measures, one of which is to prohibit the sale of semiconductor chips to our Huaxia."


    Zhang Menglong frowned, "Complete monopoly?" The previous president had just increased the prices of chips significantly, but it hadn''t reached the point of an embargo. He couldn''t believe that on the first day of the new president''s term, such a thing had happened!


    "Yes!" Zhu Mengchao said, "So now the situation has suddenly become tense. Without high-performance chips, our country''s communications technology would be doomed, at least the short-term development will be very slow, probably until we can develop our own."


    Zhang Menglong nodded; he could fully imagine the consequences of a total chip embargo.


    "You know, Teacher Han''s research focus has recently been on graphene, a semiconductor material. This morning he had to attend an emergency meeting, and he probably won''t be back until this afternoon."


    "So that''s what happened." Zhang Menglong finally understood the whole story. "These Westerners really know how to stir things up!"


    "Who''s to say they don''t? But we can''t help it. The core technology is in their hands, and right now, we are still in a passive position." Zhu Mengchao said helplessly.


    "Bad luck for them!" Zhang Menglong smiled, even suspecting that the Super God Academy had predicted such an event would occur, which is why they let him draw the Material Technology skill.


    "Now that it''s like this, let''s make their proud chip technology obsolete!"

 Chapter 254 252: Ill Just Support You

    In the past two years, the tech war had erupted globally, and those developed countries had tightly sealed off the core semiconductor technologies, placing Huaxia, which had always relied on foreign imports, in a very difficult situation.


    There was an enterprise called Huawei that had always focused on independently developing its own chips, which indeed raised Huaxia''s self-research capabilities by a notch. However, in this domain, the most fundamental aspect was still semiconductor manufacturing technology, and this was also the hardest to breakthrough.


    But now, in Zhang Menglong''s mind, his Grade E knowledge in material sciences had enabled him to understand semiconductor material technologies to an extent that was unreachable for the average person.


    Today, Huaxia''s domestically produced mass chips had reached 7nm, but the top semiconductor technology companies could already mass-produce 5nm chips. Although it was just a 2nm difference, the technical gap was at least two years.


    Producing semiconductor chips required 19 essential materials, none of which could be omitted, and most of these materials had extremely high technical barriers. Therefore, semiconductor materials held a crucial position in the semiconductor industry.


    And with materials such as silicon wafers, synthetic semiconductor wafers, photomasks, photoresists, pharmaceuticals, target materials, protective coatings, lead frames, ceramic plates, plastic boards, COF, solder wires, and packaging materials, Zhang Menglong could easily solve these challenges!


    Theoretically, the limit for semiconductor chip technology is 2nm, but within Zhang Menglong''s knowledge system, he could advance semiconductor chip technology to 0.3nm, which was almost a tenth of the theoretical limit!


    One could imagine the impact on the global semiconductor industry once he industrialized this technology.


    ...


    "Junior brother, what did you mean by your words just now? Did you say you want to make their chips obsolete?"


    "Yes, if we could develop a better chip, wouldn''t their products become obsolete? And they would all be begging us to buy our chips!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "If only it were that simple," Zhu Mengchao, who had always worked with Professor Han on semiconductor-related topics, knew how difficult this field was, "Although our country can develop very advanced chips, the concept of laboratory and industrial mass production are completely different. We are a full five years behind in mass production technology!"


    Take Silicon Moonlight, Huaxia''s largest semiconductor enterprise, for example, they only handle the simplest part of the chip production process, and all their processing equipment is imported.


    In other words, if their upstream did not provide the "Crystal Chip" processing material, their entire company would essentially collapse, as no domestic company could produce this thing called "Crystal Chip."


    "Senior brother, which is the largest semiconductor chip enterprise in our country currently?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "That would be Silicon Moonlight, the one I just mentioned to you," Zhu Mengchao said, "But their situation is quite dire now. Their ''Crystal Chip'' suppliers are all Western countries. Previously, this was a complete supply chain; Western countries provided the raw materials, they processed them, made chips, and then sold them to Huaxia enterprises for use."


    "But now," Zhu Mengchao sighed, "those material supply companies say that they will not allow their chips to be sold to any Huaxia enterprise in the future. If they cannot comply with this, then they will be banned from supplying them with Crystal Chips, leading them inevitably towards closure!"


    "Wow, that''s quite ruthless!" Zhang Menglong was visibly angry, "Senior brother, I understand now. I remember that Silicon Moonlight is based in Treasure Island, right?"


    "Yes," Zhu Mengchao responded before his expression turned puzzled, "Junior Brother, are you planning to go to Silicon Moonlight?"


    "Yes, I plan to acquire them!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Acquire them?" Zhu Mengchao widened his eyes, "Junior Brother, Silicon Moonlight''s market value is over 80 billion US Dollars!"


    "80 billion US Dollars? That''s not much at all!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Zhu Mengchao was instantly stunned; he knew his junior brother was now the world''s richest man. Currently, on the Forbes ranking, his estimated net worth had reached 800 billion US Dollars¡ªten times that 80 billion. Moreover, he knew that a portion of this money, over 600 billion US Dollars, seemed to be liquid assets.


    But according to the current situation, Silicon Moonlight was clearly on the brink of bankruptcy. If they rejected the demands of those Westerners, they would face complete bankruptcy!


    However, if they accepted the conditions of the Westerners and stopped providing chips to Huaxia, then the company would no longer belong to Huaxia but would completely become a tool for the West to amass wealth. If Zhang Menglong acquired it, there would likely be a torrent of criticism in the future.


    Zhu Mengchao hurriedly shared his concerns with Zhang Menglong.


    "Elder Brother, rest assured, I will never agree to those Westerners'' demands," Zhang Menglong smiled. The last company was founded by entrepreneurs from our homeland; it is a Huaxia company. Zhang Menglong would never let his own company become a tool for the West to amass wealth.


    "Then why are you acquiring them?" Zhu Mengchao was even more perplexed, "Without the finished Crystal Chips, their production lines are useless, unable to perform any industry work!"


    "What, are only Western countries capable of producing Crystal Chips?" Zhang Menglong''s words actually meant he could do it too, and the chips he produced would be ten times more efficient than theirs!


    But Zhu Mengchao clearly misunderstood him. Zhang Menglong was just an undergraduate graduate, and even his graduation project was assisted by several of his elder brothers, and that too was in polymers. In the semiconductor Domain, Zhang Menglong was likely clueless.


    "Although some other countries can also produce Crystal Chips," Zhu Mengchao explained, "the technology and patents they use all belong to Western countries. This blockage from Western countries is worldwide; anyone using their technology is prohibited from providing Crystal Chips to Huaxia, or they will be held accountable!


    "Our country can manufacture Crystal Chips too, but they are too crude and perform too poorly. The chips produced can only be used in low-end phones and computers. Thinking of deploying them in cutting-edge communication technology is laughable!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled; he knew Zhu Mengchao had misunderstood his statement, but he couldn''t just say it explicitly. If he told Zhu Mengchao he had a way to produce high-performance Crystal Chips, Zhu Mengchao would hardly believe him.


    "If it''s not feasible now, then we''ll wait until our country can produce high-end Crystal Chips, then resume production!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "That''s a five-year technological gap!" Zhu Mengchao said, "Even if our self-research capabilities improve tremendously under this pressure, it would still take at least two to three years. If you acquire them now, you''re just taking on a huge burden! Their annual operating costs already exceed 30 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "What does that matter?" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "What belongs to our homeland is ours; if they cannot sustain themselves, then I will support them!"

 Chapter 255 253: Your Dad Has Over 300 Women

    "Junior Brother, you really are..." After hearing Zhang Menglong''s dominant response, Zhu Mengchao couldn''t help but marvel at Zhang Menglong''s wealth and boldness.


    An annual cost of 30 billion Huaxia Yuan, although if the enterprise isn''t running normally, the equipment cost would be much less, but it still would absolutely be an expenditure of tens of billions. Zhang Menglong could even say "I''ll support it."


    Their conversation was in a graduate student''s office, where other senior brothers and sisters also looked at Zhang Menglong with shock, and beyond that shock, there was also a touch of emotion.


    "Ding, congratulations to the host for earning 10 Cred Points!"


    "I really didn''t mean to show off!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, this half stemming from patriotism and half from anger.


    Of course, even though some impulsiveness was involved, a mere one hundred billion Huaxia Yuan meant nothing to Zhang Menglong, after all, the last time he made a trillion Euros, most of it was stripped from Western countries, a case of reaping what they sowed. Their retribution was Zhang Menglong.


    "Senior brothers and sisters, I''ll leave first," Zhang Menglong greeted everyone in the office, "When I am free, I''ll take you all out to play!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong left the school directly.


    "Hong Yi, prepare the plane for me, I need to make a trip to the treasured island!"


    ...


    With a piercing roar, a private jet parked in a private airport on the treasured island. This time, the person to receive him was a woman, a very charming and enchanting woman.


    "Menglong, long time no see." The woman looked at him with a very affectionate gaze.


    "Menglong?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment. Up until now, whether in Qingqiu Country or Europe, everyone who received him treated him with utmost respect, either calling him Young Master or Master.


    But this woman directly addressed him by his name, even using a tone that seemed to belong to an elder speaking to a younger person.


    "Ye Yin, you come out too!" The woman glanced at Zhang Menglong''s empty back.


    "She knows about Ye Yin''s existence too?" Zhang Menglong was even more surprised. Ye Yin, his personal bodyguard, was only known to Hong Yi, and even Lu Yiyao, who was with him day and night, only found out last time in Europe. How could this woman know?


    "Aunt Liu."


    "Aunt Liu?" Hearing this title, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt something was off. Could it be... no, that''s impossible, isn''t it?


    Zhang Menglong cast a glance at Ye Yin.


    Ye Yin nodded at Zhang Menglong in return.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong raised a finger.


    Ye Yin shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong raised three fingers, Ye Yin still shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong put up a 1, then put up a 0, Ye Yin still shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong tilted his head, wondering how many then?


    Ye Yin gave a bitter smile, then looked again at the woman called Aunt Liu.


    "Don''t be hard on him," Aunt Liu laughed. "Let me answer you, besides your mother, your dad has over three hundred women!"


    "Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong coughed violently.


    Over three hundred? Even if it was one a day without repeating, that would still take at least an entire year. Could his dad be that reckless? Did his grandfather know about this? According to his mother''s personality, could she tolerate it?


    "However, these are all stories from many years ago. At that time, he hadn''t even met your mother," Aunt Liu continued with a laugh. "Back then, your father had just inherited the family''s assets, completely a debauched rich second generation until he met your mother. It was as if he became a different person."


    Zhang Menglong was speechless. Wasn''t this just a typical case of the "Sea King" returning?


    "Does my mom know... know about you all?"


    "Of course, she knows. Your mother is a smart woman," Aunt Liu said, "But like us, she loved your father too much."


    After speaking, she suddenly sighed. Your father was a very outstanding man, proficient in astronomy and geography, music and sports; there was nothing he couldn''t do.


    "You all were deceived!" Zhang Menglong thought to himself, "That was all just an act he put on from what he learned at Super God Academy!"


    "Encountering such an outstanding man, how could we possibly have room in our eyes for other men?" Aunt Liu said bluntly, "Out of the more than three hundred of us, eighty percent never chose to marry again, but they also didn''t want to see him again, so everyone dispersed around the world to help him manage some of the family assets."


    "Although making a living isn''t a worry," Zhang Menglong saw a hint of helplessness in Aunt Liu''s eyes.


    "He really is trash!" Zhang Menglong harshly cursed Zhang Xiaoyun in his heart, rueing that he once thought his father was a role model of a man.


    "The last time I saw you, you were only the size of a fist. In a blink of an eye, more than twenty years have passed." Aunt Liu was full of sighs. She was already over forty years old, but it seemed Zhang Xiaoyun had given her something special. She looked, in fact, only about twenty years old.


    "Were you there when I was born?"


    "All of us, more than three hundred, were there."


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong was dumbfounded.


    In his mind, he already had a visual. Twenty years ago, in the hospital where he was born, a top-level maternity ward surrounded by more than three hundred women...


    "Eeek," Zhang Menglong quickly shook his head to banish that absurd image from his mind. These were matters of the older generation, and he couldn''t be bothered to deal with them.


    Although his father had wronged these women, it was their own choice. They could have completely chosen to remarry. And it seemed like Zhang Xiaoyun was trying to compensate them, but what he offered was not what they wanted.


    "But it looks like my dad''s safety measures were solid. He hasn''t created so many brothers and sisters for me," Zhang Menglong felt somewhat relieved. Had his family started being this debauched from the first generation without taking safety measures, there probably wouldn''t be anyone else on Earth not surnamed Zhang by now, right?


    "During this period, you should stay here," Aunt Liu said, "Oh, right, my full name is Liu Qian. You can just call me Aunt Liu like everyone else."


    "Aunt Liu," Zhang Menglong called out, respecting his father''s woman as he should.


    "You must have some business to attend to on Treasure Island?" Liu Qian asked.


    "Yes, that''s right," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Although I don''t know what you plan to do, whatever you want to do, just go do it," Liu Qian said with a smile. "Out of our more than three hundred sisters, more than a hundred are here on Treasure Island. There''s nothing here that we can''t solve for you!"


    "Hiss!" Zhang Menglong gasped, "This is just a Silk Cave! No wonder Hong Yi didn''t want to come with me."


    ...


    Liu Qian''s residence was located on Golden South Road on Treasure Island, designed by the Italian national treasure, Lorenzo Tondelli, and valued at over 120 million. Next to her place lived many celebrities, including Director Zhou.


    But now, these things hardly shocked Zhang Menglong anymore.


    "Hong Yi, why didn''t you tell me earlier? I wasn''t prepared at all!" Zhang Menglong complained over the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s a bit awkward for me to bring up your family matters," Hong Yi said somewhat aggrieved.


    "Oh well, let''s talk business first. How is the Silicon Moonlight acquisition going?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Due to the lockdown event, the stock has already hit the limit down today, and shareholders are frantically selling off. I''ve already acquired 52% of the shares for 38 billion US dollars," Hong Yi said, "Actually, according to this situation, it might continue to hit limit down the day after tomorrow. If we buy later, we could save quite a bit."


    "No worries," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Spending billions of dollars to save two days is too much of a loss. Tomorrow I''ll meet those shareholders at Silicon Moonlight first!"

 Chapter 256 254: Which Dog is Cursing the Huaxia People

    Silicon Moonlight was the largest chip packaging and testing factory in the world. The so-called packaging and testing might sound sophisticated and indeed, in the domestic arena, very few had the capability to undertake this task. However, in the entire chip production process, it was relatively the least technical aspect.


    Located in an industrial park in the southwest of the Treasure Island, Silicon Moonlight as the world''s largest packaging and testing factory boasted annual revenues close to ten billion US dollars. Thus, centering on it, a massive industrial chain group had been established around it.


    Of course, due to the problems Silicon Moonlight was facing currently, the surrounding businesses were also in jeopardy. If Silicon Moonlight fell, they would topple as well, and many hoped that the upper echelons of Silicon Moonlight could accept the conditions proposed by the Westerners.


    After all, for those pure businessmen, true patriots were indeed a minority, and there were other reasons, which those in the know understood; most of them did not entirely consider themselves as people of Huaxia.


    Unfamiliar with the area, Liu Qian personally accompanied Zhang Menglong today; having a local by his side naturally gave Zhang Menglong much more confidence. Although he was now the largest shareholder of Silicon Moonlight, this was, after all, the first time Zhang Menglong had personally come to handle a company''s affairs.


    From a distance, a massive factory stood by the roadside; rather than calling it a factory, it would perhaps be more fitting to say it was a small town, and the tallest, most magnificent building in the center was the office building of Silicon Moonlight headquarters.


    Today, Liu Qian had arranged for a Rolls Royce again, a sight quite rare in this place. The company''s security didn''t even question them and let them in directly.


    Following the elevator from the second underground level, Zhang Menglong, Liu Qian, and her female assistant went straight to the corporate building''s lobby.


    "The atmosphere here is very tense," Zhang Menglong observed the surroundings; although people were bustling around in haste, each face bore shades of heaviness and worry.


    "Of course, the company is virtually in a life-or-death moment," Liu Qian said. "Menglong, didn''t you say someone was supposed to meet you today? Where are they?"


    "Maybe the person doesn''t recognize me," Zhang Menglong chuckled. Yesterday, when Hong Yi had finalized the purchase of Silicon Moonlight''s shares, she had given him a number; this person was supposed to be the former chairman''s secretary.


    "I''ll give them a call," Zhang Menglong dialed the number directly; Hong Yi had told Zhang Menglong the time and place to meet, so Zhang Menglong had not yet contacted this person.


    ...


    Not far away, a man around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, wearing glasses, was scanning the surroundings, seemingly searching for someone.


    His name was Xu Huan, the secretary to the chairman of Silicon Moonlight, holding a master''s degree from one of the top 10 universities in the world. Truly, having just joined the company in the middle of the year with an annual salary of eight hundred thousand, he should have had a promising future for someone his age.


    But unexpectedly, just half a year after his internship ended and he was officially employed, he encountered this issue.


    And more bizarrely, yesterday afternoon, a mysterious figure had acquired a majority of the company''s shares. The former chairman told him that all his shareholdings had been transferred and the new chairman would take over today.


    But he knew nothing about this new chairman ¡ª not the age, name, or even the gender.


    What kind of person was the new chairman? How capable? Could the company be revived? These questions had troubled Xu Huan all night.


    At that moment, his cellphone suddenly rang; the number was exactly the one the former chairman had told him about.


    "Hello, I am Xu Huan, assistant to the chairman of Silicon Moonlight. May I know who this is?"


    "I am the new chairman," Zhang Menglong responded.


    "Such a young voice!" Xu Huan was startled; the voice was even younger than his by several years.


    "Have you arrived? Where are you? I''ll come to pick you up right away!" Xu Huan said.


    "I''m in the lobby, wearing work pants, a hoodie, and a denim jacket ¡ª that''s me," Zhang Menglong said, "Oh, and I have two ladies with me."


    Xu Huan quickly scanned the lobby, and after a moment, he spotted Zhang Menglong and the two women near him.


    Xu Huan immediately walked towards Zhang Menglong, who also noticed Xu Huan approaching.


    "Hello, I am Xu Huan. Are you the trusted chairman?" Xu Huan said respectfully.


    "Hello, my name is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong? You are... you''re that Zhang Menglong?" Xu Huan suddenly lost his composure. He had heard the name and might have seen photos of Zhang Menglong, but for most people, the world''s wealthiest had no connection with them, so they couldn''t remember what he looked like, at best having a vague impression.


    "Otherwise, which Zhang Menglong would it be?" he said with a laugh, "Am I the only one here to meet you?"


    Xu Huan''s expression changed. Indeed, logically, the change of a company''s chairman was a very important event. Normally, all the shareholders should have been there to welcome Zhang Menglong.


    "It seems my arrival isn''t very welcome!" Zhang Menglong narrowed his eyes; his visit today might have upset many people.


    "The shareholders are discussing some matters; you know, the company isn''t doing well, so today, only I am here to meet you," Xu Huan explained, stealing a glance at Zhang Menglong, then feeling a bit disappointed.


    Zhang Menglong might be wealthy, but he was too young. Even though he had become a shareholder and the company had received a significant amount of funding, as long as the blockade persisted and Huaxia''s ability to develop quality Crystal Chips was insufficient, Silicon Moonlight could not be saved¡ªat best, it could struggle on a bit longer.


    "Take me to them; I want to meet these shareholders first," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Alright, follow me," Xu Huan responded, leading the way.


    "Why is the secretary a man?" Zhang Menglong muttered softly.


    The elevator stopped on the top floor of the company building, revealing a luxurious and bright corridor, at the end of which was an office exclusive for the directors.


    "Hold on!" Zhang Menglong stopped Xu Huan, who was about to open the door, as several loud voices were engaged in a heated discussion inside.


    "What are you all hesitating for? Their representative said as long as we agree to their conditions, our company can continue operating!"


    "Exactly! They said they just won''t allow us to do business on the Continent, but on the Treasure Island, we still decide whom to sell to. Even if we can''t sell all our chips here, we can still sell to Kaibong, to Qingqiu Country, to the whole world! Why focus solely on the Huaxia Continent market?"


    "Gao Feng, are you even Huaxia anymore?" another shareholder suddenly slammed the table and said, "As for me, to follow those Westerners, don''t even think about it!"


    "Xu! Watch how you speak! What do you mean by ''those Westerners''? You Easterners do business like crap!"


    "There are foreign shareholders as well?" Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s Mr. Infelite, also one of the major shareholders, an American. The company''s board has eighteen directors, the majority of them foreigners," Xu Huan whispered.


    "Right, it''s you arrogant Huaxia people who cause the company to suffer losses. Now our country''s people are giving you this option, you should learn to be grateful!"


    "If you don''t agree, then starve with the company!"


    "Hmph!" said the shareholder referred to as "Xu," "don''t forget, the new chairman of the company is coming today, what you say doesn''t count!"


    "What about the new chairman?" one American shareholder said, "As long as he goes against the interests of the majority, we can still impeach him!"


    "Haha, another idiotic chairman from Huaxia, how much did we lose because of the last chairman''s obsession with national pride? We are businessmen, not Huaxians, what we want is money! Money, you understand? Huaxian?"


    "My, my!" Zhang Menglong coldly chuckled.


    He did not believe these people were unaware of his arrival today; otherwise Xu Huan wouldn''t be the only one meeting him. These words were very likely meant for him to hear.


    Now, it was the Westerners who held the upper hand, confident that this Huaxia chairman would not dare respond even if he heard their words.


    Faced with a company close to bankruptcy, who in their right mind would buy its shares? They believed the new chairman would agree to the conditions of the Western delegates, and they needed to give the new chairman a demonstration of their power.


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong kicked open the conference room door.


    All eyes immediately focused on the doorway.


    Zhang Menglong leaned on the conference table with his arms, his expression cold, his eyes narrowed into slits as if he were a sword piercing through each shareholder, "I think I just heard a dog bad-mouthing Huaxians?"

 Chapter 257 255 What Does Your Losing Money Have to Do with Me?

    Although Zhang Menglong was young and used to fooling around, when he got serious, the confidence his family background bestowed upon him made him exceedingly dominant, exuding an air of a superior.


    This direct challenge had intimidated those fiercely debating foreign shareholders just moments ago.


    Standing behind Zhang Menglong, Xu Huan''s expression was priceless. When Zhang Menglong had kicked open the door, he had not had the time to stop him, mainly because he had not anticipated that Zhang Menglong would do so.


    The former chairman of Silicon Moonlight had lost his temper before, but those truly cunning ones often didn''t show their emotions, as they had too much to consider.


    But Zhang Menglong had no such concerns. He did whatever he wanted. If he was in a bad mood and felt like kicking the door, he would just kick it. After all, this was his company and he didn''t care about potential negative impacts at all.


    "This kid''s character is exactly like that bastard Zhang Xiaoyun!" Liu Qian and her assistant quietly moved behind Zhang Menglong. "But I like it!"


    "Who are you?" a skinny foreigner with broken Chinese asked, "This is the chairman''s office. Is this a place you can just barge into?"


    After he spoke, he glanced at Xu Huan, "Xu Huan, do you not want to work here anymore? The chairman has just resigned and you let all sorts of riffraff in?"


    "Oh, so it was you, the dog that was barking inside," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Infelite, right? Good, I''ve got you noted."


    Zhang Menglong merely glanced at him and then ignored him altogether.


    "Who else was speaking ill of the people from Huaxia just now?" Zhang Menglong continued to question, "What''s the matter, all mute now? Weren''t you all quite lively just a moment ago? Why don''t you continue?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t speak in Chinese because most present were foreign shareholders, and nearly all came from English-speaking countries. If he continued in Chinese, they might not understand him.


    "Who are you exactly? Please leave immediately, or we''ll call security!" This time, a Huaxia person spoke. Zhang Menglong recognized his voice¡ªit was that shareholder referred to as Gao Feng just a while back.


    "Oh, right, my apologies, I forgot," Zhang Menglong''s face showed no hint of regret, "let me introduce myself. I am Zhang Menglong, the new chairman of Silicon Moonlight!"


    Everyone was startled. Zhang Menglong was unbelievably young, although they all knew a new chairman was taking office today, they had never imagined it would be Zhang Menglong.


    "Zhang Menglong? Is it that Zhang Menglong?" Everyone''s reaction was almost identical to Xu Huan''s when they heard his name, and some even pulled out their phones right in front of him to search for his photo and verify it.


    "It''s really him! That twentysomething-year-old world''s richest man!"


    Seeing the utterly shocked expressions on their faces, Zhang Menglong thoroughly enjoyed it.


    "I tend to speak my mind, if Silicon Moonlight agrees to those Westerners'' terms, tell them to go eat shit!" Zhang Menglong declared.


    He glanced at the foreign shareholders, "If my words have offended anyone present, or if you disagree, come hit me then!"


    "Saying us Huaxia people don''t know how to do business?" Zhang Menglong continued with a sneer, "My ancestors were doing business around the world while yours were probably still playing in the mud!"


    "What are you looking at? Why the red face? Cosplaying Zhang Fei? Disagree?" Zhang Menglong gave Infelite a thorough verbal beatdown.


    Infelite, livid with anger, had no words to respond since Zhang Menglong''s retorts were like a machine gun firing away¡ªhe simply couldn''t withstand it even if he were fortified with walls of metal.


    "Also, your name is Gao Feng, right?" Zhang Menglong looked at the middle-aged, portly man, "Got rich and forgot you''re a Huaxia man? Monkey see, monkey do? If a foreigner told you to eat shit, you''d eat it? Are you a dog?"


    "Mr. Zhang, please watch your language!" Gao Feng glared angrily at Zhang Menglong.


    They were shareholders of the company, not executives. According to the law, as long as they had not committed any illegal act, they would always enjoy the profits from their shares in the company, even if Zhang Menglong was the chairman, he couldn''t really do anything to them.


    "Oh, sorry, I need to apologize to the dogs. I think I''ve offended them," Zhang Menglong said as he sat down in the chairman''s seat in the meeting room.


    "Xu Huan, help me introduce these shareholders first," Zhang Menglong crossed his legs.


    "Yes, Director Zhang," Xu Huan began introducing the shareholders from Zhang Menglong''s left side. Besides Zhang Menglong, Silicon Moonlight had two other shareholders owning more than 10% of the shares, one was Infelite, and the other was a middle-aged man named Xu Songhai.


    Zhang Menglong remembered that he was the one who had just voiced an objection, so Zhang Menglong had a very good impression of him. He smiled at Xu Songhai, who smiled back. Sometimes, men''s friendship only needed a common goal; age and other details were trivial.


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong continued, "I''ve already made my stance clear. Now, I''ve gone against the interests of most of you, you can impeach me now!"


    "Director Zhang, you now own 52% of the shares of Silicon Moonlight, making you the largest shareholder. According to the company''s charter, you have veto power over all company affairs, and no one has the right to impeach you."


    "Well said!" Zhang Menglong liked employees with such insight, "Starting tomorrow, your salary will be doubled!"


    A flicker of joy crossed Xu Huan''s face, but then it faded. What did a salary increase matter? How long could the company keep going?


    "You hear that?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "It''s not that I don''t give you a chance, it''s just that the strength simply doesn''t allow it!"


    After those words, the shareholders who hoped that Silicon Moonlight would comply with the Westerners'' demands all turned gloomy. It seemed Zhang Menglong was set on refusing to cooperate.


    "Mr. Zhang, haven''t you considered the consequences?" one shareholder said, "If foreign countries stop providing us with Crystal Chips, our company would basically be crippled. Those low-end chip orders, let alone making a profit, we wouldn''t even break even."


    "Yeah, if we don''t lay off staff, our annual labor and equipment costs are around 5 billion US dollars. The total of our low-end orders each year doesn''t even reach 2 billion US dollars, that''s a loss of 3 billion US dollars!"


    "I have money, I don''t care about losing money," Zhang Menglong countered, "I spend more than 3 billion US dollars on maintaining a dog!"


    "But we care!"


    The shareholders'' faces turned even uglier. Unlike employees who still got their salaries whether Zhang Menglong cared about losses or not, shareholders were different. They relied on the company''s dividends; if the company was not profitable, they wouldn''t receive a cent.


    Plus, this dog joke was getting old. What was it with Zhang Menglong and dogs? He brought them up constantly!


    "Whether you care or not, it''s none of my business!" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    "What do you think, are you angered?" Zhang Menglong provocatively said, "I am the largest shareholder. I make the key decisions in the company. I just love seeing the look on your faces, annoyed yet unable to do anything about it!"

 Chapter 258 256: Tell Them to Get Lost Directly

    Indeed, most of the shareholders were itching with hatred, but they were helpless, for Zhang Menglong was the largest shareholder, holding the power to finalize any decision. As long as he was unwilling to accept the conditions represented by the Westerners, no one could force him.


    "Since it''s like this, then we can only give up on cooperation!" Infelite slammed the table and stood up. If the company entered a state of loss, those shares in his possession would become a hot potato, "I demand the company buy back my shares at market price!"


    All the shareholders looked at each other, considering the difficulty of convincing these capitalist owners from America to sell their shares. Before the company ran into trouble, Silicon Moonlight''s profitability was strong, and Infelite tried every means to increase the percentage of shares under his name.


    But now, who would want to take them over? If the company truly went bankrupt, their shares would turn into trash, unconvertible into cash. Even if one holds a high percentage of shares, what use would that be?


    "We want to sell, too!" Several other shareholders from European and American countries also stood up one after another, because they simply could not think of any method for Silicon Moonlight to make a comeback.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "Anyone else wants to sell?"


    "Hmph! A clueless youngster!" The shareholder named Gao Feng stood as well, along with several other Huaxia shareholders who shared his stance.


    Zhang Menglong scanned the conference room; besides himself and Xu Songhai, only three shareholders remained seated.


    "Mr. Zhang, these four shareholders were among the earliest to conquer the business world with the former chairman. They have strong feelings for the company and would probably stick with it until the end, even if it goes bankrupt," Xu Huan whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "They will feel wise about their choice today in the future," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "All right, so now everyone wants to sell their shares?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    None of the standing shareholders wanted to speak, all implicitly consenting.


    "Very well," Zhang Menglong nodded, "you ask around, who''s willing to take over?"


    When asked this question, the shareholders were all taken aback.


    Indeed, who would be willing to take over? The remaining four veteran shareholders managing to hold on was already impressive. Who would want to increase their risk?


    This morning, not even an hour after the stock market opened, Silicon Moonlight''s shares had once again hit the limit down. In just two days, the company''s assets had shrunk by 20%!


    Although the country had already started to advocate for independent research and development, it was a lengthy process. In the short term, the situation was definitely not going to take a turn for the better. The country could persist for three to five years, but could their businesses do the same?


    Considering the current situation, it was very likely that these shares could end up rotting in their hands!


    "However, I can buy this portion of shares from you!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "You will?" They looked at Zhang Menglong in disbelief.


    But before they could get over their surprise, Zhang Menglong swiftly added, "However, I''ll purchase them at a maximum of 50% of the current market value!"


    "You''re taking advantage of the situation!" The shareholders glared at Zhang Menglong with anger.


    "You can choose not to sell. I don''t mind!" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Wait a few more weeks, and I might even find 30% too much. Don''t believe me? Just try and see!"


    Zhang Menglong truly didn''t care. If he wanted, he could freely manipulate the company''s stock price through capital operations, causing consecutive limit downs for a few days, cutting the market value by half as if it were child''s play.


    Those shares were still firmly in Zhang Menglong''s hands. As soon as his project launched, the company could make a comeback at any moment, enabling him to easily buy back the shares from the market at a low cost. Why wouldn''t he do it?


    Zhang Menglong could be patient, but those shareholders might not be able to. After two consecutive days of limit downs, they were all panicked.


    "Why does he want shares of a company that''s nearly unable to sustain itself? Is there something we don''t know about?" a few quick-witted individuals began to grow suspicious.


    "Are you wondering why I''m willing to spend money to buy shares of a company that''s about to go under?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "The reason is very simple. I don''t want to watch my own country''s businesses go bankrupt. I''m spending money on this company, and in three to five years, when we have the ability to produce Crystal Chips independently, we can talk then!"


    "Don''t ask me why. I have money, and I''m capricious!"


    "Is he an idiot?" After hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, those people all had looks of disbelief on their faces. This was more than just having money and being capricious; it was as if his brain had been kicked by a donkey!


    In three to five years'' time, they''d just be catching up with the current level of technology in developed countries. During that time, do you think those developed countries will just stand still?


    Huaxia''s technology reaching the world''s advanced level in five years is an underestimate. And how much capital does research and development need? They are already in debt, and they still want to pour money into the project? Unless the country gives them money!


    But Silicon Moonlight isn''t a state-owned enterprise, so this money definitely has to come from the shareholders. Having us Western capitalists invest money into Huaxia''s business for R&D? That''s absolutely impossible!"


    Even if it starts to profit later, how many years would that be? True, investment does require considering the return period. They can wait for two or three years, but what about ten or eight years? Who can wait that long?


    "I''ll sell at 60% of the price right now!" Infelite, after holding back for a while, finally said these words through gritted teeth. If this money could be liquidated, and if invested properly, it might be possible to earn back the lost amount within a year.


    "Xiao Ya, sign the agreement!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. Xiao Ya was the assistant by Liu Qian''s side. Before coming here, all the stock transfer agreements had already been prepared.


    "Well, it seems you came prepared!" Infelite realized that this young man, although young, was not as naive as they thought.


    As soon as Infelite signed the stock transfer agreement, Zhang Menglong immediately transferred the money to the bank account he had provided.


    "This fast?" Infelite was surprised.


    "Mr. Infelite, I wish you well but I will not see you out!" Zhang Menglong completely disregarded his presence.


    "Huaxia people, you wait! This matter will not end like this!"


    "Okay then, turn right when you exit, mind the door, thank you!" Zhang Menglong then ignored Infelite, "What about the rest of you?"


    "We''ll sell!" With a major shareholder like Infelite leaving, what other choice did they have?


    If they didn''t divest now, there would only be two outcomes: the first one, Zhang Menglong''s research and development plan fails, and the company goes bankrupt, resulting in a total loss for them.


    The second one, Zhang Menglong invests money into Scientific Research, diluting their shareholding ratio. Even if the company does make a miraculous recovery later, their shares will likely be diluted to mere dregs. Moreover, it would be a very lengthy process, and it''s questionable whether they would live to see that day.


    No matter how you looked at it, it was still better to take this money and look for new opportunities elsewhere.


    Although it looked like they had lost a lot, it must be understood that they were some of the original shareholders of the company. The dividends they had accrued from Silicon Moonlight''s operations had already made them a tidy profit. They were just earning a bit less now.


    Following Infelite''s lead, those shareholders each signed their stock sale agreements, and Zhang Menglong''s shareholding suddenly exceeded 80%.


    "Director Zhang, this..." Seeing the former shareholders leave, Xu Songhai sighed deeply, "Are we really just going to wait now?"


    "Wait?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I was just fooling them! I was afraid they would be stubborn and not sell their shares to me. It looks like they have great confidence in the Western chip sanction strategy!"


    Xu Songhai gave a wry smile. With the whole world''s patents in their hands, as soon as they say they won''t sell raw materials to Huaxia, who would dare to sell? It was just like Zhang Menglong''s decision just now; no one could object, with no loopholes to exploit.


    "Director Zhang!" Suddenly, Xu Huan''s expression became somewhat ugly.


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The representatives from America are here again," Xu Huan said, "Today is their final deadline. We must give them an answer today, whether we agree to their conditions or reject them."


    "Oh, don''t worry about it," Zhang Menglong dismissed nonchalantly, "No need to invite them up. Just tell the reception to have them roll out!"

 Chapter 259 257: Expelling All the Rebels

    "Zhang Menglong, this isn''t right," Xu Huan said, "Even if we don''t cooperate, we could still approach it in a somewhat milder way. Is there a need to make relations stiff?"


    "Is this even about cooperation?" Zhang Menglong replied,


    Zhang Menglong was very aware that Huaxia''s 5G technology had already reached the peak of the world,


    When they are all fighting up to this level, yet you still welcome them with a smile? Well, Zhang Menglong definitely couldn''t do that.


    "By the way, when you ask them to leave, make sure to be polite, no profanity, just tell them that the chairman is taking a dump and doesn''t have time to see them!"


    "Pfft!" Liu Qian burst out laughing behind him; Zhang Menglong had truly inherited all the "qualities" of the old Zhang Family.


    "Zhang, are you really going to say that?" Xu Huan asked.


    "Are you embarrassed to speak up?" Zhang Menglong said, "No worries, just call the reception desk, I''ll tell them myself!"


    Xu Huan hesitated for a moment, but still handed over his mobile phone.


    "Hello, I''m Jarett, here to negotiate with your company. May I know if you are the current chairman?" A greasy voice came from the other end, somewhat nauseating.


    "Oh, that''s me," Zhang Menglong said in fluent English, "What can I do for you?"


    "May I know how to address the chairman?"


    "My last name is Zhang."


    "President Zhang, I think such a big matter would be better discussed slowly at a suitable place," the other side said slowly.


    "Oh, I''m in the middle of taking a dump, I have no time!" Zhang Menglong said unapologetically, "You may leave now!"


    In the lobby of the Silicon Moonlight office building, the expression froze on the face of the middle-aged man wearing a suit, his hair meticulously slicked with gel.


    Jarett had not expected this new chairman to be so tough-minded, not even willing to meet, and even saying he was too busy taking a dump!


    Did that mean Jarett''s importance was ranked even less than a pile of shit?


    "President Zhang, you better consider the consequences, without our Crystal Chips, your Silicon Moonlight can''t do anything!" Jarett said,


    "You seem to understand quite thoroughly," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "So President Zhang, I think we should really talk this over, it''s a mutually beneficial matter, why refuse others thousands of miles away? Plus, the prices for exports abroad are much higher than selling to the Continent of Huaxia!"


    "Sorry, but I dare to do anything except betray my country. Use our Huaxia company to make money for you? Give you one word, get out!" Zhang Menglong said unapologetically.


    "President Zhang, think about it clearly, based on your current situation, your company can only last another six months at the most. Refusing our cooperation brings no benefits to you!"


    "High-end chips, do you think you''re the only ones who can make them?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "With five thousand years of history, your country was nothing back then, can you even fathom the depth of Huaxia''s heritage? Mr. Jarett, give us a maximum of six months, we will mass-produce chips with performance multiple times higher than now."


    "Are you an idiot?" Zhang Menglong cursed outright,


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone.


    Listening to Zhang Menglong''s uncompromisingly tough responses left the remaining shareholders utterly dumbfounded; Zhang Menglong definitely didn''t leave any room for himself in his manner of handling things!


    "Xu Huan, tell the reception if they don''t leave, just have the security throw them out!" Zhang Menglong instructed, "Our Huaxia businesses don''t need to grovel in the slightest!"


    Xu Huan wanted to say something more; his lips moved, but he chose to follow Zhang Menglong''s orders in the end.


    ...


    "President Zhang, this..." Xu Songhai sighed, "You''ve completely blocked off your escape routes!"


    "President Xu, how long do you think we can develop relying on technology from other countries? Ten years, twenty years, or thirty years?" Zhang Menglong asked, "One day, we Huaxia must take the road of independent research."


    "But this will take too long. What about the company''s business during this period?"


    "It won''t be long," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "As I just mentioned, within six months, the whole world will be begging us to buy our chips!"


    "Six months? How is that possible?" another shareholder, surnamed Yu, said with a bitter smile.


    "If I weren''t somewhat confident, I wouldn''t have come here today," Zhang Menglong said. "After six months, you''ll all be glad about the decision you made today!"


    "Knock knock knock!" A knocking sound came from outside.


    "Come in!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Click!" The door opened, and two people walked in, one male and one female.


    "President Zhang, this is our assistant general manager, Manager Yuan. Don''t underestimate her because she''s a woman¡ªher capabilities are strong, and she''s one of the earliest veterans at Silicon Moonlight."


    "And the other one?" Zhang Menglong looked at the man.


    "That is Dai Yang, the president of the Silicon Moonlight labor union."


    "There''s also a labor union?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. Indeed, in some of the larger companies on the continent, such labor unions existed, generally organizing welfare activities for employees. The president of the labor union also tended to be very powerful.


    A company that needs to grow needs employees, and the president of the labor union, generally elected by the employees, often has more influence among the employees than some high-level leaders do.


    "Manager Yuan, didn''t you know the company''s directors were in a meeting today? What''s going on?" Xu Songhai asked, displeased.


    "I''m sorry, President Xu, but the lower employees are now completely disorganized, and the company can no longer maintain smooth operations. They''ve sent President Dai to negotiate with the company''s upper management."


    "What negotiation needs to be directly discussed with the company''s shareholders? Are all you high-level executives just for show?" Xu Songhai asked, flaring his nostrils angrily.


    "Please don''t be upset, President Xu," the one called Dai Yang immediately tried to appease. "This matter is beyond the decision-making power of ordinary executives, so I had to come to represent our Silicon Moonlight employees in the negotiations with the shareholders."


    "Oh? Then I''m quite curious to hear this," Zhang Menglong said, settling comfortably into his chair. "Go ahead, I''m listening!"


    "This is..."


    "This is President Zhang, the company''s new chairman!"


    "Such a young new chairman!" Dai Yang was slightly startled inwardly. He always felt like he had seen this face somewhere before, but couldn''t recall where at the moment.


    "May I ask President Zhang, has the company really decided to abandon the cooperation with the Western suppliers?"


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong replied without hesitation.


    "President Zhang, have you considered what the consequences of this will be?" Dai Yang challenged. "Most of the company''s business comes from them. By doing this, you are putting the company in an unjust position. How will we, the employees who have been here for over a decade, survive?"


    "So?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I hope President Zhang can accept the conditions offered by the supplier''s representative, to give us employees a way to live."


    "What if I say no?" Zhang Menglong continued, still smiling.


    "Then more than a third of the employees will immediately go on strike!" Dai Yang said. "This isn''t my sole decision but is from the leadership of the labor union and more than a third of the employees!"


    "How much money did those Westerners give you?"


    The color of Dai Yang''s face changed dramatically. Zhang Menglong had hit the mark; this was indeed a scheme concocted by the shareholders Zhang Menglong had driven out in collaboration with Jarett.


    "President Zhang, this is a collective decision and has nothing to do with anyone else!" Dai Yang said, maintaining his composure.


    "Oh, I don''t care whose decision it is," Zhang Menglong said indifferently. "Xu Huan, help me count how many people are planning to strike, and then fire them all!"

 Chapter 260 258: I Hope to See Them Leave as Quickly as Possible

    "President Zhang, this really shouldn''t be done!" Xu Huan immediately advised against it.


    "How come it shouldn''t be done? Are you saying my words carry no weight?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "President Zhang, do you know how many employees we have in total at Silicon Moonlight headquarters on our island?"


    "I haven''t looked into that, are there many?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly.


    "Over 50,000! One-third of the employees, that''s nearly twenty thousand employees. If they were all dismissed, just the severance pay alone would be a staggering amount!"


    "Oh, I knew that," Zhang Menglong also had some knowledge of the law. Normally, if a company wants to terminate employees, it needs to pay a penalty, which is related to the employees'' length of service. The number of years they have worked is equivalent to the number of months of salary they need to be compensated.


    And most of these employees have a very long average tenure, at least three to four years. Zhang Menglong might have to pay tens of thousands in severance for nearly each employee.


    Twenty thousand people, that''s several billion!


    "It''s okay, however much it costs, just give them the money. I''m not short on cash!" Zhang Menglong said, "However, everyone who shouts about striking, directly blacklist them from entering Silicon Moonlight and any affiliated companies ever again!"


    "Furthermore," Zhang Menglong continued, "those who choose to stay, their salary will be increased by 30% from their current base, and this year''s end-of-year bonus will double!"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Dai Yang''s face suddenly changed.


    Those foreigners had given him and his union people a sum of money to lead the trouble, and with Dai Yang''s prestige in the union, that was a very easy thing to do.


    Originally, Dai Yang thought that such a large-scale worker protest would put a lot of pressure on the board of directors, especially since the company was at such a critical juncture, and the shareholders wouldn''t have the energy to deal with employees.


    There was a high likelihood that the company would succumb to the pressure from both sides and choose to collaborate with the Western suppliers, which was also Jarett and others'' plan.


    But unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong did not play by common rules at all; he instantly decided to dismiss that one-third of the workforce and even raised the salary of the remaining ones.


    Such a decision would cost more than a mere one or two billion. Even if he was rich, that was not a reasonable way to spend money!


    "President Zhang, you really need to think this through. Silicon Moonlight is a labor-intensive industry. If tens of thousands of workers leave, recruiting replacements won''t be a simple task," Dai Yang said.


    "No problem, I can recruit employees from the entire island, even from all over Huaxia!"


    "President Zhang, not everyone is willing to travel so far for work," Dai Yang still wasn''t satisfied.


    Although this was an industrial town, it was, relatively speaking, in a very remote part of the island, and traveling to the city center was quite difficult. Coming here to work was almost like being cut off from the world, so recruiting was indeed not that easy.


    Xu Huan outlined the situation to Zhang Menglong briefly.


    "A transportation problem? Simple!" Zhang Menglong didn''t consider this an issue at all, "Xu Huan, take note!"


    Xu Huan immediately took out his notebook, assuming Zhang Menglong had some important arrangements.


    "Schedule a meeting for me tomorrow with the leaders of the island''s land bureau," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You mean..."


    "I plan to build an airport next to the company. This airport would be connected to all the major airports around the country. The company will provide a free charter service, so employees recruited from the Continent can fly home directly. They should be able to go home at least once a week, right?"


    "Free... free charter?" Xu Huan had heard of companies providing free shuttle buses, and there was even a company that chartered a train within its campus, but he had never heard of a company providing a chartered plane.


    A plane could only seat a few hundred people at most. If they really were to recruit on such a large scale from different locations, perhaps ten Boeing 747s wouldn''t even be enough.


    "Furthermore, provide free accommodation for the employees recruited from other places and increase their salary by 30% every month as an off-site allowance!"


    "As for the employees on Treasure Island, if they live far away, I may as well build another subway!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. Although such a project would take a considerable amount of time, if a company wants to develop in the long run, naturally, it must consider the future!


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s plans, Dai Yang was completely dumbfounded.


    Is this what working here is like? It''s like coming here to enjoy life! What about the so-called working class? Are these still considered working-class conditions? Can you find more generous treatment anywhere in the world?


    You should know, those Westerners who asked him to lead the trouble only offered him 500,000 in benefits, his actions were like picking sesame seeds while losing watermelons!


    Is Zhang Menglong here to manage a salary-based business? He must be here for charity right? Not to mention anything else, just building an airport, how much capital would that require? Tens of billions or hundreds of billions?


    And a subway? That''s even more astronomical, such a project for a country is considered a massive undertaking. With all this coming and going, even if Silicon Moonlight had its former profitability, it would take many years of net income to complete these projects!


    "President Zhang, the company simply cannot afford this!" Xu Songhai exclaimed from the side.


    "No, no, no, President Xu, consider this my personal financing," Zhang Menglong said, "After all, I didn''t come here to take over Silicon Moonlight just to make money."


    Xu Songhai was left speechless. This man indeed wasn''t here to make money; the company hadn''t even found a way to revive itself, and yet, he''d already splurged on plans worth hundreds of billions.


    He really wanted to ask, if you''re not here to make money, what exactly are you aiming for?


    "President Zhang, such a major project, the Land Bureau might not approve it," Xu Huan said with a troubled expression on his face.


    Building an airport, a subway, these are city-level plans, requiring extremely high-level authority to finalize these matters.


    "Leave that to me!" At this moment, Liu Qian, who had been silent until now, smiled and said.


    She took out her cellphone and looked up a number in her contact list.


    "Ms. Liu?" A middle-aged man''s voice came through, sounding somewhat panicked and even a bit flattered!


    "Director Cai, there''s a favor I need to ask you for help with."


    "Director Cai? Which Director Cai?" Everyone began pondering who this Director Cai, mentioned by Liu Qian, could be. After thinking it over, it seemed that in the whole of Treasure Island, there was only one Director Cai, but he was the director of the Land Bureau!


    The woman behind Zhang Menglong, through just one phone call, connected directly with Director Cai? What was her background?


    "Ms. Liu, you must be joking, please just tell me what you need," the voice humbly said.


    "I plan to build an airport near Silicon Moonlight, and would like to apply for a piece of land."


    "No need to apply! How big does it need to be? 100 hectares enough? If not, 200 hectares, 300 hectares are also possible!"


    Hearing this, everyone was dumbstruck.


    Hadn''t Xu Huan just mentioned that obtaining land required going through numerous approvals? Yet here was Ms. Liu, making a single phone call, and on the other end, offers of land beginning at 100 hectares were readily made, even suggesting they could have as much as they needed.


    "Let''s start with 200 hectares," Liu Qian said. Given Silicon Moonlight''s scale, an airport of 200 hectares would be sufficient.


    "Okay, within three days, I''ll have the approval documents sent to Ms. Liu''s residence."


    "Thank you, Director Cai!" After finishing her conversation, Liu Qian hung up the phone without any courtesy.


    "Menglong, it''s settled," Liu Qian told Zhang Menglong, then returned to her usual aloof demeanor.


    "Alright, Xu Huan, the recruitment is up to you to arrange," Zhang Menglong said, pointing at Dai Yang, "I want these people gone as quickly as possible!"

 Chapter 261 259: Just Come to Me When Youre Out of Money

    "President Zhang... Let''s talk this over calmly, we... This matter is still open for discussion. I will appease the employees planning to strike. I guarantee they won''t cause you trouble anymore!"


    Dai Yang instantly regretted it so much that he wished he could pull out a forty-meter-long machete and chop Jarett down with one blow.


    Just a casual phone call from the other party and the director of the land bureau would treat him with utmost caution. What kind of huge power does this person have behind him?


    He simply did not care about spending money; he just wanted those who sought to monopolize Huaxia''s chip technology to get lost. And Dai Yang had actually helped these Westerners incite the employees.


    As for whether the company could be revived from death, this new chairman was not just wealthy; he was someone who didn''t care about money at all. Looking at him, even if the company lost money every day, he could support it for a lifetime!


    "No need to discuss," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Since everyone is so determined to strike, then let them strike to their heart''s content. I am the most generous person there is. Whatever the employees demand, I will fulfill it all!"


    Dai Yang''s face turned pale. When he instigated the employees, he told them that this was just to put pressure on the board, and he was very confident that he could persuade the members, which is why a portion of the employees agreed to join the strike.


    Now, with a stroke of his pen, Zhang Menglong had fired all those planning to strike. How was he going to explain this to the union later?


    "Bang!" The conference room door was closed again, and besides Zhang Menglong and his entourage, only those few old shareholders remained.


    "I don''t suppose any of you have any objections to what I''ve done?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "You''ve already done it, what''s the point in asking us?" A few shareholders responded with bitter smiles. As the largest shareholder, Zhang Menglong had the final say in all company decisions. Even if they had objections, what good would that do?


    "President Zhang, by taking action against those disloyal employees as soon as you arrived, if I''m not mistaken, you must be planning a big move?" Xu Songhai asked with expectancy.


    Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be making such bold adjustments to the company if he was just planning to spend money for fun. Xu would bet his life on that!


    "Hahaha, the old ginger is indeed spicier. Director Xu is right!" Zhang Menglong said, "The tasks we are going to undertake next are significant. From now on, the money we make could be ten or even a hundred times what it was before. Why should those with ulterior motives and disloyal people share in our success?"


    "So, President Zhang..."


    "I''ve said it before; in Huaxia, we focus on our own research and development. From now on, we don''t need to rely on Westerners. What''s so impressive about mass-producing 5nm chips? Right here, I have the complete production technology for 2nm chips from start to finish!" Zhang Menglong declared.


    "2nm chips? The complete production technology?" The shareholders stood up in shock. This was no laughing matter. 2nm chips were the theoretical limit of what chip technology could achieve at the moment.


    Even the world''s leading technology could only just manage 5nm mass production, and achieving mass production for 2nm chips could take five to ten years, if not longer!


    "Are you startled by 2nm?" Zhang Menglong internally criticized their short-sightedness. If it weren''t for the fear of being too shocking, he could have directly revealed the technology for 0.2nm chips.


    "President Zhang, are you serious?" Let alone 2nm chip technology¡ªeven with 4nm, he could decisively outdo all current technologies in the world.


    "Of course it''s true," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''ve said it, after six months, all the countries in the world will be kneeling before us Huaxia people, begging us to sell them chips!"


    "But before that, there''s something else I need to do," Zhang Menglong added.


    "What is it?" the crowd asked curiously.


    "All this technology is now in my hands, but I can''t be expected to do everything myself, can I? Photolithography Machine technology, chip packaging technology, it all needs people to transform the theory and blueprints into physical products," Zhang Menglong explained, "I''m the chairman, after all; my job is just to be ''knowledgeable''!"


    "Are you suggesting?" several directors asked with a mix of laughter and tears, as Zhang Menglong had actually managed to voice such a sentiment.


    "There should be quite a few experts in this field within our country, right?" Zhang Menglang said, "The principles behind these technologies and machines are very complex; the average person could not comprehend them. So I wanted to ask if any of you know any professors or scholars in the relevant domain?"


    "Other technologies might be manageable, but researchers specialized in Photolithography Machines are indeed rare," a director said, "Photolithography Machines, that''s something we haven''t even started to work on domestically, and nobody is willing to put in the effort because we''re so far behind; it''s not easy to achieve results. Why would anyone want to research those ''broken things'' when stealing a bit from abroad can make you an instant success?"


    Zhang Menglong smiled helplessly; this was indeed a realistic problem.


    "Not only that, but one Photolithography Machine costs a hundred million US Dollars. If you want to research it, don''t dream of starting with less than 20 billion US Dollars. All the funds from universities and research institutes in China put together might not even reach 20 billion US Dollars. Even the big corporations can''t afford it!"


    "However, I do know a professor!" Just then, Xu Songhai suddenly remembered someone, "He''s a professor at Magic City University and was a classmate of mine. But because his field of study is so niche, he hardly gets any students and his research funding is pitiful; he''s one of the least successful among our peers."


    At that time, Xu Songhai had invited him to work together, but the professor had refused. His reason was that he wanted to lay some groundwork for Huaxia''s chip photolithography technology so that when Huaxians realized the importance of independent research, they would at least not be completely in the dark about where to start.


    "Xu, do you have this professor''s contact information?" Zhang Menglong asked, respecting a professor who could say something like that.


    "I have it, but we haven''t been in touch for a long time. I''m not sure whether he''s still at the same place," Xu Songhai replied, handing Zhang Menglong a string of phone numbers and an address.


    "No problem, leave it to me. I''ll personally invite him," Zhang Menglong said, "As for the other core research personnel, I''ll have to trouble you, Xu. Let''s set their annual salaries at one hundred million Huaxia currency for now."


    "One hundred million Huaxia currency?" Xu Songhai''s eyes widened.


    "If all those messy people in the entertainment industry can earn hundreds of millions a year, why can''t those who contribute to the technological advancement of the nation?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "I am going to break this rule! And I want the whole society to know about it!"


    "All right!" Moved by Zhang Menglong''s words, Xu Songhai felt a surge of enthusiasm. If the company''s earnings could indeed exceed the past by ten or a hundredfold, what would a few billion in salary matter?


    "Fellow seniors, aside from having a lot of money, I don''t really know much else," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll have to trouble you all to take care of the company''s affairs. If you ever run out of money, just come to me!"


    "Then we certainly won''t hold back!" the shareholders laughed, "If we run out of money, we''ll come to you." Those were probably words that only someone as outrageously wealthy as Zhang Menglong could utter, right?

 Chapter 262 260: Just Say How Many Hundreds of Billions You Want

    Zhang Menglong didn''t stay long on the island; he was there mainly to take care of two things: one was to make sure those Westerners who tried to blockade Huaxia''s chip technology would piss off for good, and secondly, to arrange the following chip development work. In just one day, Zhang Menglong had completed these two goals.


    As for the rest, Liu Qian would naturally take care of everything in an orderly manner.


    When he returned to Huaxia, it was already very late, so Zhang Menglong did not go directly to disturb the professor that Xu Songhai mentioned, but instead posted a status update on his own Weibo account.


    "I hereby solemnly announce that I have now taken over as chairman of Silicon Moonlight, and as for the technology blockades by Western countries, I am utterly unconcerned and even feel like laughing. Within six months, Huaxia will start mass-producing a newer generation of high-grade chips, so those from Western countries can suck mouse tails!"


    Since the inauguration of the new president of America, countless people have been paying attention to their every move, and this blockade against Huaxia''s chip technology has attracted the eyeballs of many Huaxians.


    Perhaps the ordinary citizens may not care, but Huaxia''s younger generation, especially those who have received higher education, are all extremely anxious.


    And these days, the words chips and 5G have remained at the top of the hot search lists.


    With a single phone call from Zhang Menglong, this news was directly targeted for the hot search list, and in an instant, all of Huaxia was boiling.


    "Damn, Chairman Zhang has made his move!"


    "I know Silicon Moonlight; it''s the largest chip packaging and testing factory in the world¡ª60% of Huaxia''s chip supply comes from there!"


    "What does ''utterly unconcerned and even feel like laughing'' mean? Even if he bought shares in Silicon Moonlight and became the chairman, what good is it without the technology?"


    "Chairman Zhang is rich! Can''t he just throw money into research and make it happen?"


    "Can you just solve this kind of problem with money? Six months? Even five years wouldn''t be enough to reach a world-class level. Zhang Menglong is being ridiculously arrogant this time!"


    ...


    The discussion had just started when Zhang Menglong received another call from Xu Songhai, who told him that all the chip technology experts he asked him to contact were already on board. They were willing to join Silicon Moonlight as technical consultants, of course, as long as it didn''t affect their academic careers!


    With this settled, the plan was nearly half completed!


    Why choose these people? The reason is simple: these are scholars who have devoted their lives to exploring and researching Huaxia''s chip technology. If Zhang Menglong shared the relevant technology with them, there would be almost no risk of leakage.


    On the contrary, if it were those who studied only for profit, once Zhang Menglong transferred the technology to them, they might turn around and sell it to those people in Western countries, and what would be the point of that!


    Zhang Menglong immediately posted a second Weibo update, "Silicon Moonlight has appointed Professor Shao Gang from Jiangnan University and Professor Zhu Minhui from Anzhou University of Technology... and another eight professors with an annual salary of 100 million Huaxia currency to join the Silicon Moonlight R&D team!"


    "One hundred million a year?"


    "Holy shit! Last year when Huaxia Group offered to recruit PhD graduates at an annual salary of 2 million, I was dumbfounded, but Chairman Zhang just straight-up multiplied it by 50?"


    "Damn, is he showing off his wealth? Corrupting social morals? National scientific researchers should live a hard and simple life, Zhang Menglong is destroying the public''s principles!"


    "Your mom''s going to drop dead tonight for sure, you idiot! Those celebrity sluts can afford billion-dollar mansions, so why can''t scientific researchers? How much have they contributed to the national development?"


    "I''m just laughing here, back in the day when Academician Yuan Longping only bought a car, these moronic keyboard warriors were nipping at his heels. That man fought for his country his whole life. Without his hybrid rice technology, you''d have starved to death long ago!"


    "Exactly, don''t even talk about Academician Yuan Longping taking a car. Even if he rode a giant panda out, I wouldn''t utter a word! He deserves such treatment; what are you, trash? Dry trash or wet trash?"


    "I support Chairman Zhang! Scientific researchers deserve better compensation!"


    "But seriously, an annual salary of 100 million, I''m really feeling sour. Such a large sum, I''m afraid only Chairman Zhang could pull it off."


    "Is it too late for me to start pursuing a master''s or a PhD now?"


    ...


    The effect was surprisingly good; aside from a few individuals, most people praised Zhang Menglong''s high-priced hiring of professors as an act that was virtually saving society''s values.


    Subsequently, news broke from within Silicon Moonlight that ever since Zhang Menglong took over, he had fired all employees who had chosen to cooperate with Westerners and agreed to prohibit the sale of chips to Huaxia, even buying out those shareholders'' stocks.


    With this news, Zhang Menglong''s image instantly underwent a qualitative leap, and a cap of patriotic businessman was firmly placed on his head.


    ...


    "Patriotic businessman, where are you off to so early in the morning?" Lu Yiyao asked with a toothbrush in her mouth while Zhang Menglong was preparing to leave.


    "I''m going to visit a professor who is also a key figure in our independent chip development this time!" Zhang Menglong gave Lu Yiyao a peck on the lips that were still covered in toothpaste foam, then left directly.


    This professor''s name was Chen Hui, 61 years old this year. He had been researching in the domain of photolithography machines for a long time. However, the development costs for optical technology were simply too high, and his research funding was so meager that progress was very limited.


    But when it came to understanding of photolithography machine technology, almost no one in the whole of Huaxia could surpass him, yet such a talent was living in a small apartment allocated for school teachers close to Jiangnan University.


    "What a waste of talent," Zhang Menglong muttered with a wry smile, shaking his head as he looked up at the seven-story residential building whose exterior walls had turned black. It was probably hard to find many professors in Huaxia who lived more frugally than Chen Hui.


    Zhang Menglong headed straight for the building, following the address Xu Songhai had given him.


    ...


    "Hey, what''s with you and this research? Of all things, why focus on photolithography machines? With such high research costs, amounting to hundreds of millions of US dollars at a time, who would be willing to spend so much to fund your projects?" Chen Hui''s wife grumbled as she usually did while preparing breakfast.


    However, Chen Hui just smiled. He knew his wife didn''t mean what she said; she too wished for a better life for the both of them.


    In fact, professors generally received decent compensation; Chen Hui earned over ten thousand every month with good benefits, too. But compared to other professors who could easily accept national or corporate projects earning them hundreds of thousands or millions, his monthly income of just over ten thousand seemed somewhat unfit for his title.


    "I know you''re patriotic, but you still need to have enough food on the table," his wife sighed. "If you had started your own business with Xu back then, we would be living much better than we are now. Our son is about to get married, and with the housing prices in this metropolis, we can''t help him out at all!"


    "Ah, young people should learn to toughen up, not always rely on their parents!" Professor Chen chuckled.


    "Laughing! Still laughing! It''s fine to toughen up, but if you get ground down, I want to see if you can still laugh!"


    "Knock, knock, knock!" As the couple chatted, someone suddenly knocked on the door.


    "You keep eating, I''ll get the door!" Chen Hui''s wife wiped her greasy hands and opened the door.


    "You are...?" Chen Hui''s wife looked on in astonishment.


    "Excuse me, is this Professor Chen Hui''s residence?" Zhang Menglong asked politely.


    "Chen, someone''s looking for you!"


    "Who is it?" Professor Chen came to the door holding chopsticks.


    "Hello, Professor Chen," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "My name is Zhang Menglong, the current chairman of Silicon Moonlight. I''m here today to invite you to be our lead technical expert on photolithography machine development. Would you be willing to do that?"


    "Photolithography machine development?" Chen Hui chuckled wryly. "Young man, do you have any idea how much funding is required for photolithography machine development?"


    Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I don''t know how much money is needed, but I''m not short of money. Whether it''s several hundred billion or several trillion, just say the word; money is no object!"

 Chapter 263 261: Theyre Upset, Im Happy

    Professor Chen Hui had been teaching for decades, and the largest research funding he ever received had not exceeded six figures. When Zhang Menglong casually mentioned amounts in the hundreds of billions, it completely baffled him.


    "That''s right, I remember now, you''re the world''s richest person!" Social networks are really just a young person''s affair, Professor Chen Hui didn''t recognize Zhang Menglong, but his wife had just seen him on the news not long ago.


    "Ah? The world''s richest person? Isn''t that an American?"


    "That''s old news!" Professor Chen Hui''s wife said, "If you didn''t spend all your days just reading books and doing research and paid some attention to international affairs and social news, you wouldn''t fail to recognize people like this!"


    "Come on in, Menglong, it''s cold outside!" Professor Chen Hui''s wife immediately invited Zhang Menglong inside.


    She clearly heard everything, this young man was here to invite her husband to become a chief researcher at Silicon Moonlight, which she knew to be the largest chip encapsulation and testing factory in the world.


    Considering her husband''s stubborn nature, wouldn''t the treatment be much better there than in this university?


    "Come, sit down, I''ll go pour you some hot water!"


    "Madam, please don''t trouble yourself, let''s sit down together!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Although Professor Chen''s wife seemed somewhat mercenary, Zhang Menglong completely understood after seeing the family situation of Professor Chen Hui.


    Professor Chen Hui clearly had the capability to earn more money, but he focused all his effort on photolithography technology, engaging in thankless tasks. Even the occasional research funds he obtained were all spent on materials, renting equipment, and paying stipends to his graduate and doctoral students; he kept nothing for himself.


    It could be said that among the higher educated class, Professor Chen Hui''s family circumstances were considered quite modest.


    "Let me explain my purpose for coming," Zhang Menglong said, "Professor Chen, you should also know that if we want to continue developing communication technology, besides independent research, we don''t have another path to follow."


    Professor Chen Hui nodded, a realization he had come to long ago, but since the cost of research was too high, unless it was the power of the state, no single enterprise could afford such enormous research funds.


    He was just an ordinary professor after all, without the capacity to influence the nation, so he could only choose to work quietly on his own.


    "Now, I have in my possession 2nm chip technology, including comprehensive information on everything from Crystal Chip production to encapsulation testing, along with the principles and blueprints for a photolithography machine that surpasses the current generation by two!"


    "What?" Professor Chen Hui stood up abruptly. Currently, Huaxia''s photolithography machine technology could only support 22nm chips, which was far behind the world''s leading 5nm photolithography machine technology. Zhang Menglong was claiming to have 2nm photolithography machine technology?


    "We have already gathered other heads of chip production processes, and I''ve heard that Professor Chen is the leading photolithography technology professor in our Huaxian universities, so I would like to invite you to join our project!"


    "May I take a look at the blueprints?" Professor Chen Hui asked tentatively.


    He felt very nervous; it was akin to asking the countries that had already developed advanced photolithography machines if he could take a look at their blueprints.


    These were secrets! Even national-level secrets, if those secrets were leaked, other countries could soon replicate the same photolithography machines, and they would lose their leading position.


    "Of course!" To his surprise, Zhang Menglong agreed generously, "Do you have a printer here?"


    "Yes! Yes!" Professor Chen Hui, overwhelmed with excitement, said, "It''s in the study, I''ll take you there!"


    Zhang Menglong entered the study. Indeed, the information on photolithography machines was vast; if it were all printed out, it could probably fill the entire study!


    Of course, Zhang Menglong was prepared; he had brought along some very core technical knowledge which could firstly assess whether Professor Chen Hui''s professional capabilities were sufficient to lead a team to develop this 2nm photolithography machine.


    Secondly, he wanted to let Professor Chen Hui know that he truly had the capability!


    But even this small amount of information was as thick as a doctoral thesis.


    Professor Chen Hui looked at the stack of documents, rubbed his hands together continuously, and then glanced at Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong smiled slightly and made a welcoming gesture.


    Professor Chen Hui immediately stopped being polite and began to look through the documents.


    By the time he reached the third page, his hands had already begun to tremble slightly, "Hahaha, so that''s how it is, so that''s how you adjust this parameter!"


    Professor Chen Hui seemed to have forgotten Zhang Menglong''s presence, deeply engrossed in the documents.


    "You old fellow, when you get into reading you don''t care about anything else, not even entertaining your guest..." Professor Chen Hui''s wife came over to interrupt him.


    "Hahaha, no worries!" Zhang Menglong quickly stopped Professor Chen''s wife. "I have plenty of time, let him take his time to read."


    ...


    After more than three hours, Professor Chen finally put down the thick stack of documents; the draft paper beside him was completely strewn about in a mess.


    "This is unbelievable, at least five years ahead of the current photolithography technology!" Professor Chen Hui exclaimed.


    "Sorry, I got a bit too engrossed," Professor Chen Hui realized only then that he had left Zhang Menglong on the sidelines for several hours.


    "Who organized these documents? They are incredible!"


    "It was one of my research teams," Zhang Menglong said. "But this is just the principle. I need someone to industrialize it. I wonder if Professor Chen Hui could help me?"


    "I can!" Chen Hui said. "But I alone am not enough. I need some experts in optics and mechanics to help me, as well as the students in my team, who also have strong expertise. I dare not claim anything else, but at least there are no others in Huaxia who are more qualified than they are."


    "Do you have any candidates in mind?" Zhang Menglong continued.


    "Yes, if I show them this material, they will definitely be very interested."


    "So you mean..."


    "I am willing to go!" Chen Hui nodded.


    "Professor Chen, aren''t you going to ask about the salary?" Zhang Menglong laughed dryly. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll deceive you into working as a volunteer?"


    "Even as a volunteer, I am willing!" Chen Hui knew that the materials Zhang Menglong had given him were just a portion. There was much more he wanted to learn, and this was a researcher''s perseverance. Even if Zhang Menglong intended to take advantage without offering anything in return, Chen Hui was absolutely willing to go just to understand those materials!


    "Well then, like other chief researchers, I''ll offer you a yearly salary of 100 million Huaxia dollars!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "One hundred million?" Professor Chen''s spouse almost passed out with high blood pressure. "Menglong, are you serious?"


    "A talent like Professor Chen certainly deserves this salary," Zhang Menglong said. "Moreover, if your graduate and doctoral students are willing to join, we''ll offer 5 million a year for a PhD and 1 million a year for a master''s degree!"


    Chen Hui and his wife were so astonished they were speechless. Was this how the world''s richest person recruited people? Masters and PhDs yet to graduate earning million-dollar salaries?


    "Also, list any materials or equipment you need, and give it to me this evening. Within a week, I''ll make sure everything is arranged for you," Zhang Menglong said. "Anything you need, we can get it for you!"


    "Alright, I''ll make a list for you tonight!"


    "Professor Chen, only the best; don''t worry about the cost. Even if it''s supercomputers or particle colliders, I can get them for you!"


    "That particle collider at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology..."


    "I bought that one!"


    Chen Hui nodded and joked, "Since the boss isn''t worrying about money, then I won''t be frugal either. But it might be astronomically expensive¡ªhundreds of billions of US dollars at least."


    "No problem, even a few trillion will do!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Menglong, may I ask you a question?" Chen Hui asked.


    "Go ahead."


    "You are investing so much money in R&D, and even if the production line is established, returning to profitability will take a long time, is it really worth it?"


    "It''s worth it!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How would it feel to see our chips surpassing theirs by generations?"


    "Of course, they''d be green with envy!" Chen Hui answered.


    "If they''re upset, I''m happy, and that makes it worthwhile!"


    "What a bold rationale!" Professor Chen Hui laughed dryly, thinking others do research for profit or for their country and people, but here you are, just to show off in front of other nations!

 Chapter 264 262: Am I that Awesome?

    "Menglong, since you''re here, why not stay for dinner?" Professor Chen, having looked over materials all afternoon while Zhang Menglong waited alongside, now had dinner ready thanks to his wife.


    "Sure, I won''t be shy!" Zhang Menglong''s stomach was conveniently rumbling.


    This was a table probably over a decade old, and it seemed like nothing much had changed in the Chen household since they had moved into this small house allocated by the school.


    The table''s wood was already cracking, and the meal was just a simple spread of three dishes and a soup.


    "Menglong, the living conditions here are so so, don''t mind it!" Mrs. Chen said, somewhat embarrassed.


    Actually, the conditions at home weren''t that bad, but because their child''s living expenses were high, most of the family''s income was used to support the child, leading to a modest life for a professor.


    Seeing the situation, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel a pang in his heart and placed a bank card on the table.


    "Menglong, this... this is..."


    "There''s ten million in this card, as an advance on your salary," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Use this to improve your living conditions at home and take care of the mistress for now since, for the next little while, you might not have time to look after your family."


    "He always neglected the family!" Mrs. Chen said, a mix of complaint and pride, proud that her husband was receiving such recognition.


    "Menglong, this isn''t right!" Professor Chen objected.


    "Why not? I trust your integrity!" Zhang Menglong joked, "But this will be deducted from your annual salary!"


    Professor Chen was incredibly moved by the complex emotions swelling inside him, but frankly, they really needed the money. He nodded after a moment, "In that case, Menglong, thank you!"


    ...


    After a simple but warm dinner, Zhang Menglong immediately flew back to Jiangnan City. All personnel were ready, and it wouldn''t be long before the whole world would witness Huaxia making an astonishing debut in the chip domain!


    "Hey Zhang, are you free tomorrow?" Zhang Menglong had just gotten home when he received a call from Wang Ling.


    "I have no plans at the moment. What''s up?" Zhang Menglong asked, detecting a trace of hesitation in Wang Ling''s tone.


    "My dad''s planning to come to Jiangnan City tomorrow."


    "Oh, and so?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously, his dad coming to Jiangnan City was none of his business!


    "My dad wants to visit you."


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily stunned, "Visit me? I''m not some big shot, why visit me?"


    "I''m not sure, but my dad knows we''re good friends and wants me to arrange a visit. Could you do me this favor?" Wang Ling asked with a pleading tone. "President Zhang? Handsome Zhang?"


    "Alright, alright, stop it, let''s just meet," Zhang Menglong said, flustered by Wang Ling''s persistence. He''d met the world''s wealthiest, nobility, princes, princesses, mutants from Earth and the Solar System alike¡ªwhat was there to fear from a former richest man of Huaxia? It was just a friend''s father, after all.


    "Great, then I''ll come to your place tomorrow noon, and grab a meal while I''m at it!" Wang Ling responded, clearly delighted.


    "Sure," Zhang Menglong said, "See you tomorrow!"


    ...


    The next day at noon, Wang Ling and his father Wang Jian arrived at Zhang Menglong''s house on time.


    In the past, Zhang Menglong had often been seen in the parody zone of a small station, and this was the first time Wang Ling met him in person, a middle-aged man with an impressive demeanor.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve long admired your reputation!" Wang Jian said with a smile as he shook hands with Zhang Menglong.


    "Uncle Wang, you are too kind. Since Wang Ling and I are friends, just think of me as one of the juniors. There''s no need for formalities with ''Mr. Zhang''. Let''s just keep things simple," Zhang Menglong responded with a smile.


    "Alright, then I won''t stand on ceremony," said Wang Jian, unreservedly. "Wang Ling told me that this entire neighborhood belongs to you?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Villas and such are too high-profile. I prefer to keep it low-key!"


    "There he goes again!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes like a little sidekick next to him. Could he have misunderstood what ''low-key'' means?


    "Haha, young people have their own way of thinking, very good," Wang Jian remarked, not minding it.


    "Uncle Wang, what brings you here this time? Any advice for me?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "You''re the world''s richest man, what advice could I possibly have for you," laughed Wang Jian, "I came to ask for some advice from you this time."


    "Asking me for advice?" Zhang Menglong was surprised. "Uncle Wang, I''m only good at spending money and showing off. I have no other strengths. I''m not skilled in business, and the companies under my name are operated by people arranged by my family. I''m afraid you''ve made a wasted trip this time."


    "Seems like you do have a very clear understanding of yourself!" Wang Ling nodded vigorously on the side.


    "Shut up! You know nothing!" Wang Jian scolded Wang Ling without any hesitation. "If your business acumen was even half as good as Menglong''s, even if I were to pass away one day, I could rest assured leaving our fortunes in your hands."


    "Dad? Are you crazy?" Wang Ling exclaimed in disbelief. "If I had half of his capability, our family''s fortune wouldn''t last even a month!"


    "That''s because you lack vision!" Wang Jian argued. "On the surface, Menglong spends money, but the logic behind his spending is something beyond your understanding."


    "What?" Wang Ling widened his eyes. There was a logic behind Zhang Menglong''s ostentatious spending?


    "Menglong, actually I''ve secretly investigated you!" Wang Jian admitted. "I owe you an apology, since my son is close to you, I needed to make sure you had no ulterior motives."


    Zhang Menglong nodded in understanding; it was something any normal father would do.


    "But I had no idea until I looked into it, and I was stunned," said Wang Jian. "Let''s start with your investment in the universities. You invested ten billion in Professor Guo''s research group to help them with their antiviral research, and just last week, they announced their first wave of results!"


    "The clinical trial was very successful. The total value of this pharmaceutical development could very well exceed 200 billion US dollars, and according to the development ratio, Menglong could earn over 80% of the profit!"


    "What?" Wang Ling''s eyes bulged wider than light bulbs.


    "Nani?" Zhang Menglong himself was also shocked. He hadn''t expected that Professor Guo would be so formidable. With the right funding and equipment, he actually managed to lead the world in completing the project!


    "And about Professor Zhu''s space exploration project, it looked like that investment was the least likely to turn a profit. Yet, twelve days ago, Professor Zhu discovered a comet from outside the Solar System. This comet will pass by Earth in five years, and preliminary analysis shows it contains a large amount of rare elements found on Earth. With our current technology, in five years, we''ll have matured techniques to mine and collect material from the comet!"


    "The value of those rare elements could exceed several hundred billion US dollars, and as the discoverer, he can own half of the profits. According to the contract Menglong signed at that time, he would get ninety percent of the project''s profits¡ªthat''s another few hundred billion US dollars!"


    "Good grief!" Zhang Menglong was stunned. "Is my investing capability that awesome?"

 Chapter 265 263 I Really Just Did It to Disgust Him

    Wang Jian continued listing several of Zhang Menglong''s university research investments. Initially, the equipment and funding that Zhang Menglong had invested in his own school exceeded ten billion. However, just the profits from those drug inventions completely covered that investment.


    Perhaps the money wasn''t instantly visible, but in three to five years, Zhang Menglong''s tens of billions would turn into hundreds of billions or even trillions, and in US dollars, at that!


    With such an investment return, even the world''s greatest investors would have to call him "Dad."


    "If I had that much money, I could do it too!" Wang Ling said, unconvinced.


    "You''re the dumbest rich second generation I''ve ever seen, and I''m the one who made you, which is just perfect," Wang Jian retorted, "Even if you had that much money, could you tell which projects had potential and which would never see a return or even lose all of their investment?"


    Wang Ling fell silent, as indeed, every year many companies collaborated with university research groups, but how many actually saw a return? Laboratory research and industrial production are two completely different concepts. If those companies could obtain a few patents with all that money, it would already be quite an achievement.


    "And that''s just the return from Menglong''s scientific research investments!" Wang Jian said, still not finished.


    "There''s more?"


    "All you see is the superficial stuff!" Wang Jian continued, "There''s also the movie he invested in!"


    "That thing can make money, I''ll chop off my head and use it as a stool!" Wang Ling declared.


    As an investor in this movie, Wang Ling knew very well whether it could bring profit. It was possible that even with high box office returns, the movie might not cover its production costs and actors'' salaries!


    "I told you, you''re shortsighted!" Wang Jian glared at Wang Ling, "The movie is just a guise. What''s important are the film and television base and the heating channels that Menglong built!"


    "Ah?" Wang Ling was taken aback.


    "Do you know how popular the ''Three-Body'' novel is around the world right now?" Wang Jian asked.


    Wang Ling remained silent.


    "It''s Huaxia''s most outstanding science fiction IP to date. The worldwide evaluation of it is extremely high, and its potential for development might not be weaker than Disney and Harry Potter''s big IPs! Do you know how much commercial value a successful IP can create?"


    "Once the movie is finished, it''ll be like a promotional film that goes viral worldwide, and then that film and television base will turn into a huge theme park. Coupled with comprehensive heating and other facilities, it can attract a massive number of visitors every year!"


    Wang Jian said soberly, "I''ve had professionals estimate that, in three years, this theme park will bring in at least 200 billion Huaxia currency in annual revenue, not to mention the associated industrial agglomeration effect. If managed properly, it would be easy to double that figure!"


    ...


    Wang Jian analyzed each of Zhang Menglong''s investments in turn. In his mouth, what seemed like Zhang Menglong''s wild and reckless actions all turned into calculated investment moves, with long-term returns that were alarmingly high!


    "Hong Yi, is this all true?" After spending all that money, Zhang Menglong had not asked about these projects again. His sole purpose in spending the money was just to get rid of that 1000 billion US dollars as quickly as possible!


    "Mr. Wang has already explained most of the situation," Hong Yi nodded, "According to our comprehensive evaluation, Mr. Zhang, the average return on your investment projects is expected to be around 24,510.5% in five years.


    "Over two hundred times?" Wang Ling listened, his eyes nearly popping out.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong was astounded, "I just wanted to be a wasteful spender, and I never expected that I''d be an investment genius?"


    An investment return of over two hundred times in five years, who could resist that?


    "Not bad, Zhang Menglong, really stealthy! Pretending to be naive in front of me while behind the scenes it''s all money-making moves!"


    "What are you saying!" Wang Jian slapped Wang Ling on the back of the head, "You''re just too stupid. You follow Menglong around and all you know is how to eat, drink, and be merry. You don''t learn what you should, and that womanizing trick, I don''t even know who you learned it from!"


    "It definitely wasn''t me!" Zhang Menglong quickly raised both hands to show he was innocent.


    "Did you come up with all of these?" Wang Ling still couldn''t believe it.


    "I can testify to that," Hong Yi said, "Mr. Zhang personally negotiated all the projects, we didn''t give him any ideas!"


    Hong Yi muttered to herself, who could keep up with Zhang Menglong''s train of thought? Were those dumbfounding strategies really conceivable by a normal person? But she wouldn''t believe it if she said it out loud. For some reason, seven or eight out of ten of these projects actually made money, and not just doubled or tripled their profit, but increased it by dozens or even hundreds of times!


    "Mr. Zhang, your phone!"


    "Ah? Who is it?" Zhang Menglong took the phone, "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Hello Mr. Zhang! My name is Kotchanal, and I am the chairman of God King Footpath in Thailand."


    "Oh, hello," Zhang Menglong was a bit perplexed, he didn''t recognize the person at all, but how did they get his cellphone number?


    "Mr. Zhang, is there something you need? Would you like us to step out for a moment?"


    "Oh, it''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said, "It''s someone called Kotchanal, claiming to be the chairman of something called the God King Footpath."


    "Kotchanal?" Wang Jian seemed to search for the name in his memory, "Oh, I remember now, he''s the chairman of the world''s biggest chain of foot massage parlors!"


    He continued, "He''s really capable. He has practically consolidated the entire global foot massage industry. On the Forbes world rankings, he''s the only person in this service business to make the list!"


    "Wow! That''s the real King of Foot Massages!"


    "Mr. Kotchanal, may I ask what you need?"


    "I would like to discuss a potential collaboration with Mr. Zhang!"


    "Collaboration?" Zhang Menglong asked puzzled.


    "Yes, recently one of my employees was in Huaxia on a business trip, and he had the opportunity to patronize your NetEase Footpath. When he came back, he told me that you Huaxia people combine foot massage, music, and create a very unique experience. I also happened to be in Huaxia and tried it myself these past few days, and I found it fantastic. If we could collaborate, your creative ideas combined with my expertise could really take the foot massage business to the next level!"


    ...


    Once Kotchanal started talking, he went on and on, and it took Zhang Menglong a full twenty minutes to get him off the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, you understand Thai?"


    "I know a bit."


    "What did you talk about just now, if you don''t mind sharing?" Wang Jian asked curiously.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, he just liked the creativity of my NetEase Footpath and wants to partner up. He''s willing to give me a portion of the shares." Zhang Menglong handed the phone to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, you negotiate with him about this matter."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang!"


    "So that''s it!" Wang Jian slapped his thigh, "Menglong, out of your investments, the one I couldn''t understand the most was NetEase Footpath. A music technology company turning into this kind of service industry seemed like a losing deal, but now I see what you were aiming for!"


    "Wow, God King Footpath has a market value of 60 billion US Dollars, and with a single move, you''ve turned an 8 billion investment into 30 billion!"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong''s face turned red, "This was really an accident!"


    "What if I said I turned NetEase Music into NetEase Footpath just to annoy Ding Sanshi and his son, would you believe me?"

 Chapter 266 266: 264

    "You''re incredible! This time I''m truly impressed! The contemporary Wang Duoyu must be you!" Splurging money and still making a profit, Wang Ling had no doubts about it anymore.


    Just like Wang Jian said, Zhang Menglong''s spending seemed aimless and whimsical, but behind it, there was a profound logic.


    Most importantly, this method allowed many people to let their guard down, thinking that Zhang Menglong was just a frivolous young master who only knew how to squander money, without ever considering applying those thoughts to business strategies.


    Under this subtle influence, it provided cover for the rise of those projects. Even if someone did notice, and the competitors in those industries paid attention, by then it would be too late to suppress it!


    "No, I really just spend money for the sake of spending money. I never intended to make a profit!"


    "Whom are you trying to fool? Could you achieve an average return of over two hundred times in five years without a plan?" Wang Ling completely disbelieved Zhang Menglong''s explanation, "Hypocrite!"


    "Fine, think what you want!" Zhang Menglong gave a wry smile, "Even telling the truth gets labeled as hypocrisy. What''s wrong with the world?"


    "That''s why I say, Menglong is a true investment genius, and this kind of gift, we the older generation will never fully understand," Wang Jian said, "The future of this world belongs to you young people!"


    "Uncle Wang, you didn''t come just to praise me, did you?" Since Wang Jian had arrived at Zhang Menglong''s home, he had pretty much been singing his praises to the skies.


    "Hahaha, of course, I said I have a favor to ask of you," Wang Jian said.


    "Uncle Wang, just say it. Wang Ling and I are bound by life-and-death friendship; whatever it is, I''ll definitely help!"


    "Life-and-death friendship?" Wang Jian was taken aback, sounding as if the two had experienced mortal peril together or something.


    "Oh, that''s right!" Wang Ling quickly explained after seeing Zhang Menglong''s look, "We went to Europe together not long ago. When we were passing through a country, there happened to be a couple of fighter jet squadrons fighting, and we were lucky to safely pass through the war zone!"


    Wang Ling did not mention a word about what happened at sea or the fact that Zhang Menglong had summoned several aircraft carrier fleets.


    "There was such a thing?" Wang Jian was also a bit surprised, "I can''t believe you managed to survive such a calamity!"


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t hold back!" Wang Jian said, "Menglong, I hope you can give some guidance to our Wang Ling in the future."


    "Huh?"


    "I''m already 60 years old, and many business matters are starting to be beyond me. You know, our Wanda is controlled by father and son. I don''t feel comfortable leaving Wanda in anyone else''s hands, but this good-for-nothing Wang Ling isn''t making any effort!"


    "Dad, give me some face!"


    "Face isn''t something you get from others; it''s something you earn for yourself!" Wang Jian said, none too pleased.


    "Menglong, I hope you can help him, give him some proper direction. I don''t expect him to be as outstanding as you, but I just hope he doesn''t squander Wanda''s hard-earned family wealth!"


    "If I lead him astray even for a bit, your Wanda would go bankrupt in a month!" Zhang Menglong thought to himself, but it wasn''t easy to refuse since Wang Jian was giving him so much face, "Alright, Uncle Wang, I''ll take care of Wang Ling!"


    "Good!" Wang Jian handed a black bank card to Wang Ling, "There''s 10 billion in here. Starting today, you''ll learn well from Menglong. You''re not getting any younger; it''s about time you started building a career for yourself!"


    "10 billion?" Wang Ling was astonished; 10 billion in cash, when had his dad ever been so generous? Could this be that his dad had emptied out the last bit of liquidity in his pockets?


    His dad actually trusted Zhang Menglong that much?


    "Menglong, do you have any good ideas?" Wang Jian asked, "This 10 billion should be enough for Wang Ling to make some investments with you, right?"


    "Um, it should barely be enough!"


    "Barely enough? Bro, that''s 10 billion, not 100 dollars!" Wang Ling was boasting like never before.


    "You don''t know a thing!" Zhang Menglong said, "Do you have any idea how much I''ve spent on those scientific research projects? Over 30 billion, and we''re talking US dollars, what can your 10 billion possibly do?"


    "This..." Wang Ling was suddenly at a loss for words. To ordinary people, 10 billion, even just sitting in a bank, would be enough for a lifetime of wealth and to pass down through generations.


    At Zhang Menglong''s place, the words "what can it do" just casually brushed over?


    However, Wang Jian wasn''t angry; he knew Zhang Menglong was wealthy and bold, and to him, that 10 billion might really just be the threshold for investment.


    "Menglong, look at this, with this money, what can you guys come up with?"


    "How should I know what to do, make a basket?" Zhang Menglong muttered under his breath. Previously, all he ever thought about was how to spend money, and if asked a month earlier, he might have come up with some earth-shatteringly unconventional investment projects.


    But now, all he had in his mind was how to show off and how to earn Cred Points.


    "What did you just say?" Wang Jian didn''t catch what Zhang Menglong said clearly.


    "Oh oh oh, I said let''s do gaming!" Zhang Menglong brought out the vocabulary that came to his mind during that time.


    "Oh!?" Wang Jian''s eyes lit up, "Yes, that''s indeed a good direction! Nowadays young people, especially those under great work pressure, need some ways to relieve stress, and gaming is indeed one of the best!"


    "Moreover, I believe that in the future, esports might possibly become a world-class event, like the Olympics!"


    "Eh!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes suddenly sparkled, "World-class... showing off?"


    A massive idea instantly took root and sprouted in his mind.


    "It looks like you already have an idea?" Wang Jian noticed the gleam in Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Uncle Wang, what do you think about us organizing a world-class Esports Olympics?"


    "That... that might not be easy, right?" Wang Jian said.


    Indeed, many esports events have already gone global, especially Warcraft, League of Legends, and such, which host world-class competitions every year and attract countless people''s attention.


    Even under such scattered premises, they have such influence; if one could organize all the world''s esports together to hold a large-scale competitive event, its influence would likely not be any lower than the Olympics!


    It''s worth noting that hosting an Olympics is a huge undertaking that, while seemingly costly, brings substantial returns!


    For instance, the Sydney Olympics alone generated revenue in the tens of billions of Huaxia currency.


    And that''s just the direct income; a series of indirect revenues from tourism, culture, and the like are also a significant amount.


    The additional profits brought by esports, including game skins, figurines, and so on, absolutely far exceed those abstract cultural profits.


    Consider that the annual League of Legends national championship releases a set of champion skins, and the revenue it brings in amounts to hundreds of millions, and for the company, it''s just a string of code; the design cost, compared to these, is almost negligible!


    "Interesting! Very interesting!" Wang Jian, listening to Zhang Menglong''s plan, became more and more interested, "So what''s the first step you plan to take?"


    "Start with a wave of publicity, let everyone know there is such a grand event!"


    "That won''t be easy, right? Other organizations already have their fixed world-class competitions, what you''re doing is like poaching, and maybe they wouldn''t even be bothered to participate!" Wang Ling argued.


    "That''s because the attraction isn''t strong enough!" Zhang Menglong said, "How much is the prize money for the world champion of Dota and LoL?"


    "At most a few million US Dollars," Wang Ling said.


    "All right, let''s set a small goal for our prize money, 100 million US Dollars!"


    "100 million? For one country?"


    "No!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "100 million US Dollars for one esports event!"


    "Holy shit!" Wang Ling swore outright, "You''re offering 100 million per event, how many splashes could your 10 billion make? My money''s not enough for shit!"

 Chapter 267 267: 265

    "Can''t you be a bit more creative?" Zhang Menglong lamented, "A mere hundred million scares you like this? Learn from your dad, this hundred million is just a small target for him!"


    "Heh!" Wang Jian, not offended by Zhang Menglong''s teasing, replied, "But really, gaming is indeed a highly profitable industry. I heard that during the work suspension period due to the pandemic this year, a single skin priced at 288 in one of Tengxun''s games made over a hundred million in just one campaign!"


    Wang Jian paused for a moment, "I think Menglong''s plan is feasible, by expanding the influence of esports to uncover more business opportunities. However, I suggest not going for quantity over quality in games, just focus on those that are internationally recognized and have already gained popularity worldwide and feature world-class competitions!"


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong nodded. Those niche games with small audience bases, even if gathered, wouldn''t make much sense; a championship reward of a hundred million, with hardly any players, wouldn''t that all just be a loss?


    Naturally, Zhang Menglong wasn''t worried about these losses. What he cared about was how much influence he could gain, and whether there was a chance to show off more, which was the most important thing.


    ...


    Wang Jian was indeed very interested in Zhang Menglong''s way of thinking. The two talked for several hours and ended up neglecting Wang Ling, who felt like just a prop!


    "Man, I put on quite a show this afternoon!" After they left, Zhang Menglong realized he had gained 20 more Cred Points. It seemed that those investment-like prodigal acts of his had indeed intimidated Wang Ling and his son.


    "Principal, with this pace of collecting Cred Points, I''m afraid you won''t unlock many teachers in a year!" At that time, Gou Dan''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "What can I do, you think showing off is easy?" Zhang Menglong said bitterly, "Do you think it''s easy for me to even get a little Cred Points every day?"


    "Okay then!"


    "Okay then?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Per the settings of the previous principal, initiating Cred Points exchange mode!"


    "Cred Points exchange mode? What''s that?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "As long as you spend money, the money you use can be converted into Cred Points at a certain ratio! Every hundred million US Dollars used can be transformed into one Cred Point!"


    "Holy shit!" Zhang Menglong perked up, "Really? So if I just spend a hundred billion US Dollars, I could unlock a teacher or copy a skill from them?"


    "But just like before, there are strict restrictions on the type of expenses you make," Gou Dan said, "The amount you donate each month cannot exceed a hundred billion US Dollars, and pure investment in scientific research projects also cannot exceed a hundred billion US Dollars per month!"


    "Damn, here we go again?"


    "Please unlock more teachers quickly, Principal. Once the number of teachers at Super God Academy exceeds ten, the academy can unlock new features too!"


    "New features?" Super God Academy had already given Zhang Menglong a lot of surprises, could these new features bring even more?


    ...


    "Are you guys done talking?" Lu Yiyao, who had been practicing singing in the room, heard the quiet outside and came out.


    "Yes, we''ve finished," Zhang Menglong said, "We discussed plans for after New Year."


    "Where are we spending New Year''s this year?" Lu Yiyao asked. Since breaking ties with her father, she had never really celebrated New Year''s.


    "Let''s go to my hometown!" Zhang Menglong had already planned, "Even though my parents went to travel around the world, I still have many classmates and friends back home. I''m sure they will all like you very much."


    "Yes, sure!" Lu Yiyao nodded, showing a happy smile. In previous years she only had group video calls with her roommates for comfort, she had long forgotten what New Year''s truly felt like.


    Zhang Menglong also gave Hong Yi a half-month holiday and took Lu Yiyao back to his hometown, that city surrounded by the sea in the southeastern region of Jiangzhe.


    Rather than flying, Zhang Menglong chose to drive in order to show Lu Yiyao the scenery along the way. Fortunately, they did not travel during the Spring Festival rush; otherwise, they might have had to endure the agony of holding their pee on the highway again.


    "What do you think, isn''t it beautiful?" Zhang Menglong earnestly drove the Lamborghini SUV, which, despite being one of the cheapest cars in his collection, looked extremely eye-catching on the highway.


    "Yes, it really is nice, worthy of being called ''Land of Seas and Buddhas''!" Lu Yiyao continually nodded as she looked at the scenery outside the window. This was her first visit to this city, and upon reflection, she realized she hadn''t even seen the sea before!


    "Hahaha, I''ll find a boat and take you to experience what it means to ''ride the waves'' soon!"


    As he spoke, the car exited the highway and entered into the urban area of Dongji City.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong suddenly shuddered at an intersection when a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties suddenly ran out in front of him. Fortunately, Zhang Menglong reacted quickly and avoided hitting him directly.


    "Good grief!" Zhang Menglong''s heart pounded. "Everything about this place is great, except for the quality of the people, which really can''t compete with a big city like Jiangnan City!"


    "Menglong, look at that person..."


    "Huh?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze returned to the front, only to see the middle-aged man give them a meaningful look before collapsing right there!


    "Ouch!" He clutched his chest and actually started groaning as he lay down at the intersection.


    "Dad, you okay, Dad?" A moment later, a young man in his early twenties rushed over from the roadside.


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao exchanged glances, "We''ve encountered a scammer!"


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel both amused and annoyed. What was this all about?


    "Your car doesn''t seem to have a dash cam installed!" Lu Yiyao suddenly realized why the middle-aged man had made that expression earlier.


    "This intersection also doesn''t seem to have any cameras," Lu Yiyao looked around, "This is going to be troublesome. It would be hard to explain if this really escalated!"


    The middle-aged man''s voice grew louder and louder, attracting many passersby to the intersection, and more and more people gathered around, soon surrounding the area.


    "What''s going on? Hit someone and not even getting out of the car?"


    "A Jiangnan City license plate, a Lamborghini, huh? I heard this car costs at least a few million!"


    "Damn, being rich really is something, huh? Just because we''re from a smaller place like Dongji City doesn''t mean we''re less human, right? Do people from Jiangnan City feel that superior?"


    "Hey, get out of the car!"


    "You hit someone and you''re still not coming out? Do you have no morals?"


    "Still not coming out? We''ve already called the police!"


    As the clamor outside grew louder, Zhang Menglong gave a wry smile and finally opened the car door.


    "You''re so young? Must be a rich second generation from Jiangnan City on a trip, huh?"


    "Hey, didn''t you see the man you hit can''t even get up? How did your family raise you? You think having money means you can do whatever you want?"


    "Exactly! Bullying us folks from the countryside, is that it?"


    "Everyone, I did not hit him; he fell down on his own," Zhang Menglong explained, forcefully suppressing his anger.


    "It was him, he was the one who hit him! Sss! Ouch..." The middle-aged man on the ground, grimacing in apparent great pain, seemed to be enduring a lot.


    "The man is in this condition, and you dare say you didn''t hit him?" The middle-aged man''s son said menacingly.


    "Fine!" Zhang Menglong forced a smile, not wanting to waste time here anymore, "You tell me, what do you want to do?"


    "Ouch..." The middle-aged man just moaned without saying a word.


    "You hit my dad so badly, he definitely needs a full body examination," the young man said, "How about this, you leave one hundred thousand yuan for now, and I will take my dad for a checkup. Leave me your phone number, and if it''s not enough, we''ll contact you again!"


    "I think that''s fair, given the severity, one hundred thousand isn''t much, and it might not even be enough!"


    "Exactly!"


    People around them chimed in, one after another.


    "Good lord, are there shills too?" Zhang Menglong noticed that these people seemed to be exchanging secretive glances, "Alright, bringing the scam right to my doorstep, huh?"


    Zhang Menglong coldly laughed and then made a phone call to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, do I own a private hospital in Dongji City?"

 Chapter 268 266: Have Him Do All the Projects Again

    "Mr. Zhang, did you encounter some kind of accident?" Hong Yi asked anxiously, but a moment later, she dismissed the possibility. With Ye Yin by Zhang Menglong''s side, it was highly unlikely anything would happen to him unless the Earth was destroyed.


    "I''m fine, I just encountered a scammer who''s now lying on the ground refusing to leave. My car isn''t equipped with a dash cam, and many intersections in Dongji City don''t have surveillance cameras, making it hard to clarify things right away."


    "So that''s what happened? During the festive season, too¡ªit''s really upsetting," Hong Yi sighed, "So, you''re planning to..."


    "He claimed he was seriously injured, right? I''ll take him for a full-body examination, from head to toe, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and prostate exams¡ªI''ll have them check everything!"


    "Pfft!" Hong Yi caught on to Zhang Menglong''s intention¡ªhe was planning to completely overwhelm the other party!


    "Rest assured, in every city around the world you have your own private hospital because you grew up in Dongji City. The medical equipment and personnel here are top-level, second only to your private hospital in Jiangnan City."


    "Good, then have someone come over quickly!"


    Zhang Menglong put down the phone and looked at the rogue lying on the ground with a cold sneer, "I''ve already called the hospital. An ambulance will be here soon, and then you''ll be taken for a full-body examination!"


    Zhang Menglong deliberately emphasized the words "full body," "If there''s any issue, blame it all on me."


    The old rogue''s face suddenly darkened. He knew his own body well; apart from some minor stomach issues, he was very healthy. Being hit by a car couldn''t possibly cause stomach problems, could it?


    If he went to the hospital, the examination results would definitely not be in his favor. He had only wanted to extort some money and leave quickly.


    He had previously used this method to extort many people from out of town, but most of these people were just passing through and would typically choose to pay some money to avoid further trouble. Who would waste time accompanying him to the hospital for unnecessary examinations?


    "I think that won''t be necessary. With the pandemic being so severe now, it would be wrong to waste public medical resources. Let''s go to the hospital on our own," the middle-aged man''s son immediately said.


    "It''s not a waste," Zhang Menglong laughed, "The hospital I contacted is my own private one, so it won''t waste any social resources at all."


    "What? A private hospital? Then we definitely shouldn''t go," the young man seemed to find a good excuse, "Who knows if the doctors in a private hospital are reliable? My dad''s already been hit this badly, and if we encounter an incompetent doctor and something goes wrong, can you afford that?"


    "There''s nothing in the world I can''t afford," Zhang Menglong sneered, "I''m just worried you can''t handle it!"


    "How can you talk like that when someone''s been hit and can''t even get up? And you''re still here making light of it?"


    "So what if you are rich!"


    "What''s happening here? What''s happening?"


    Just then, a police car stopped at the intersection, and two young auxiliary officers got out.


    "Comrades, there''s been an accident here!"


    "Yes, look, they''ve hit someone so bad they can''t get up!"


    "Officer, this kind of person must be arrested and locked up for a few days. They think they can hit someone just because they have some money. When we came over, they were still sitting in their car, not even bothering to come down and check."


    The two auxiliary officers approached Zhang Menglong and looked him up and down. They had a feeling this young man seemed somewhat familiar.


    "Name!"


    "Zhang Menglong"


    "Zhang..." The officer taking the statement suddenly froze. He was still under thirty and kept up with the information age. This name was probably known by few in Huaxia.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang?" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s name, the officer''s attitude became more cautious.


    "No problem, ask what needs to be asked. If I''ve really broken the law, then handle it as it should be handled!"


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for your cooperation." The officer sighed with relief. Fortunately, Zhang Menglong wasn''t an unreasonable person, otherwise, they really wouldn''t have known what to do.


    "Did you hear that? The young man just now said his name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong? Isn''t he the wealthiest man in the world?"


    "Yes! My son told me a few days ago!"


    "No wonder he drives such a car at such a young age!"


    "What''s the use of being the richest man in the world? Does that mean if the richest man hits someone, he doesn''t have to take responsibility?" The middle-aged man''s son suddenly felt uneasy, but the play had already started, and it had to be seen through.


    "Mr. Zhang, please explain the situation."


    "What else is there to say? It''s a scam," Zhang Menglong spread his hands. "Unfortunately, my car doesn''t have a dashcam, and there are no surveillance cameras at this intersection either, so I really can''t provide any evidence."


    "That makes things difficult," the auxiliary police officer said. Without evidence, and each party sticking to their story, it''s very hard to resolve.


    "So I''ve already called an ambulance. We''ll just go and get checked out," Zhang Menglong pointed, "Ah, here it comes!"


    At that moment, a dozen ambulances consecutively stopped by the roadside, leaving the onlookers utterly perplexed.


    "What''s going on? Why are there so many ambulances for just one injured person?"


    A group of doctors, dressed in white coats and some quite elderly, orderly disembarked and jogged toward the crowd. "Could you please tell us which one of you is Mr. Zhang?"


    "That would be me." Zhang Menglong said, "Thank you all for making the trip."


    "It''s only right!" several doctors nodded repeatedly. They received very high salaries, but seldom did they have to actually work, as their sole responsibility was to care for Zhang Menglong and his related persons.


    "How many people did you bring?" Zhang Menglong was stunned by the scene.


    "A total of 83 experts!" the leading doctor declared, "Miss Hong Yi instructed that your patient requires a full set of tests. We were worried about any mishaps during transit, so we all came."


    "Officer, these are all doctors from their private hospital. But instead of curing the illness, they made my father''s injury even worse!" the middle-aged man''s son hurriedly said. "I think I should take my father to a regular hospital. Just give me the examination fee!"


    "This..." The police officer didn''t know how to handle the situation.


    "Hello, officer," the first doctor handed over a small notebook, "my name is Cui Zhongwei, chief physician, PhD from Cambridge Medical Academy, specializing in cardiovascular diseases. Here is my qualification certificate, and this is our hospital''s accreditation plaque!"


    "Level Three top-tier!" The officer''s eyes widened. Dongji City''s largest public hospital was only a top-tier Level Three hospital, and that Zhang Menglong''s private hospital even surpassed their largest public facility was impressive.


    "Everyone, show your qualifications to the officer!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    A few dozen doctors lined up and approached the two auxiliary officers.


    "Hello, comrade, my name is Wei Wei, graduated from Stanford University Medical Academy, chief psychiatrist."


    "My name is Fang Wanke, graduated from Tokyo University Medical Academy, chief infectious disease physician."


    "All from top-ten global medical academies? And all chief physicians?" The two officers, culturally aware, knew what that implied.


    "My name is Lin Yue, graduated from MIT Medical Academy, chief urologist!"


    "Lu Gan, chief proctologist!"


    "Ding Qiu, chief mammologist!"


    "Yu Meng, chief reproductive physician!"


    "Jin Yao, chief gynecologist!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." The expressions on the auxiliary officers'' faces turned quite awkward. Even if someone was injured, just having an internal or orthopedic doctor would be sufficient, right?


    "What''s with the proctology, mammology, reproductive, and gynecology? This is downright absurd!"


    "They said themselves they wanted a full-body checkup," Zhang Menglong said. "Although I''m wealthy, I''m not unreasonable. Since they want a checkup, I''ll see it through!"


    "Director Cui, how many checks does our hospital have altogether?"


    "Are you asking about the routine ones or all of them?" Director Cui asked. "There are just five or six routine tests. If we''re doing everything, our hospital has more than 14,000 tests."


    "Then let''s do those 14,000 tests!" Zhang Menglong declared righteously. "We absolutely must not miss any issues. Make sure you check thoroughly!"


    "Very well, Mr. Zhang," Director Cui Zhongwei nodded, "let''s send them to the inpatient department and start with the proctology exam today!"

 Chapter 269 267: Fully Funded

    "Over 14,000 tests?" The middle-aged man''s son was already dumbstruck after hearing that, "Even if we undergo over 14,000 tests, even someone without any illness would end up being diagnosed with something!"


    "Officer, he''s just being unreasonably troublesome. My dad was hit by his car, and yet he''s dealing with it in such a manner. You must see that justice is done for us!"


    "I''m just following what you said, aren''t I?" Zhang Menglong said innocently, "You wanted a full body checkup, right? I''m catering to your wishes! These are over 14,000 medical tests. If you went to a hospital for these, it would cost millions, perhaps even tens of millions; you definitely couldn''t afford it. I won''t charge you a cent!"


    "Wouldn''t it be nicer to just pay us those millions and let us go for the checkups ourselves?" The scam artist father and son were already salivating at the thought, but they couldn''t just say that outright.


    "I think you should just pay us the money, and we''ll get the checkup ourselves. My father is so old, he can''t withstand such an ordeal of so many tests," the young man said.


    "How about this, we''ll take a small loss. Just give us fifty thousand yuan first, and leave your phone number. If that''s not enough, we''ll contact you again!"


    The two policemen weren''t fools, either. The young man was only talking about money. Normally, if one''s father was hit by a car, the first thing to do would be to rush him to the hospital for treatment, not haggle over here, right?


    Furthermore, if it were truly an accident, and the other party was willing to go to the hospital together, if there were any issues, they could settle the costs directly at the hospital. Why would it need to be so troublesome?


    They immediately judged in their hearts that these two were undoubtedly scammers!


    "I''ve already said, let''s go for a checkup first, and we can talk based on the results," Zhang Menglong narrowed his eyes, "Unless you have something to hide, which is why you don''t want to go for a hospital checkup?"


    "What are you talking about?" The young man became anxious right away, "We just don''t want to go to your hospital!"


    "Let''s handle this right now. I''ll take you to the hospital!" an assistant officer said.


    "This..." At this, the young man really didn''t know what to say. If the police followed them to the hospital, their true colors would be revealed once they arrived!


    "Forget it. I see they''re really just making unnecessary trouble. Are you saying I''m taking advantage of my position? That I can do whatever I want just because I have money?" Zhang Menglong simply got into his car and started the vehicle, "Isn''t it just about killing a person? If a few million doesn''t settle it, several tens of millions should do the trick, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang! Don''t be impulsive!"


    "Menglong! Don''t do anything rash!"


    "Everybody, quickly get out of the way!"


    The scene suddenly became chaotic. People around were afraid of getting involved and quickly scrambled to make way, thinking, indeed, many news reports have said that those rich second generations act without thinking of the consequences. With Zhang Menglong''s financial resources, perhaps even if he really killed someone, a bit of money could make the problem go away, right?


    "Boom!" With the roaring sound of the engine, the car indeed charged straight ahead.


    "He''s serious!" At this point, the middleman and the young man couldn''t keep up the act anymore. If they lost their lives during the scam, what use would money be to them?


    The two of them suddenly got up from the ground and scrambled towards the sides.


    "He''s fine!"


    "That speed, he''s practically sprinting!"


    "Were they really faking an accident?"


    Seeing this spectacle, everyone at the scene immediately understood everything. How could a person who was supposedly hit and severely injured be able to stand up so spryly? They were clearly faking it!


    "Run!" With the police present, the father and son duo immediately ran towards the mountain paths on both sides after standing up.


    However, several strong young men quickly sprang into action, and in less than a minute, they had brought the pair back in front of the police car.


    "Pah! What a disgrace to us Dongji residents!" a young man exclaimed, "Sorry for cursing at you just now, I hope you won''t take it to heart."


    "No worries, we owe it to you for catching them," said Zhang Menglong, unfazed.


    "Officers, we''ll leave them in your hands!"


    "Er, we might need the two of you to come back to the station with us to make a statement. This incident is rather..." the two policemen said apologetically.


    "Oh, of course, we''re not in a hurry anyway," Zhang Menglong dismissed his own private hospital''s doctors and followed the two auxiliary police officers back to their station.


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong?" As soon as he heard the news, Chief Ding immediately rushed out of his office.


    "Do you guys know what Zhang Menglong is here for?" Chief Ding asked. His biggest concern was that Zhang Menglong had come to Dongji City to look into investment projects.


    Everyone could imagine what kind of energy a person like Zhang Menglong could bring to a city''s development. Take Ma Yun''s Alibaba for instance; it even sustained the GDP of an entire district in Jiangnan City.


    And how much more wealth did Zhang Menglong have compared to a Alibaba Group? If he really was here to inspect projects, to what extent could those projects boost the entire economy of Dongji City?


    If because of those two scam artists, Zhang Menglong got a bad impression of Dongji City and decided to give up on the investment project, what kind of loss would it bring to this city? And who would be responsible for that loss?


    In a flash, Chief Ding''s head felt like it was about to explode.


    "Hurry! Take me to Mr. Zhang!" Chief Ding couldn''t even bother to straighten up his appearance before he immediately headed towards the interrogation room.


    By this time, Zhang Menglong had already finished giving his statement, and the father-son duo responsible for the scam had been detained for endangering public social order. As for what would happen next, Zhang Menglong wasn''t too concerned. It was just that it was Lu Yiyao''s first time visiting his hometown, and they had encountered such an incident, which really spoiled his mood.


    "Mr. Zhang! Our Chief Ding is here!" An officer cleared a path.


    "Oh, Chief Ding, hello, I''m Zhang Menglong!"


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am Ding Youguo. Regarding what happened today, I am very sorry. I hope it hasn''t affected your mood," said Chief Ding.


    "This incident indeed annoyed me quite a bit!"


    Chief Ding''s face changed, "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I guarantee that such a thing will never happen again in our Dongji City while you are here!"


    "I hope so!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you in Dongji City for an inspection this time?" Chief Ding asked tentatively.


    Zhang Menglong then realized that Chief Ding was worried that his project investigation might be affected by the scam incident. No wonder a police chief would come forward to apologize personally for such a petty matter.


    "Haha, Chief Ding, you''ve misunderstood, I''ve just come back for the New Year," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Mr. Zhang is from Dongji City?" Chief Ding was delighted.


    "Yes," said Zhang Menglong, "I lived here until I went to university."


    "So it is! Welcome! Welcome back!"


    "However, Chief Ding, I think it''s time to improve the construction of our Dongji City a bit," Zhang Menglong suggested, "Look at this, so many intersections aren''t equipped with surveillance cameras. Won''t it be troublesome if similar incidents occur in the future?"


    "Sigh!" Chief Ding exhaled deeply, "We want to, you know! But as you know, Dongji City is just a small city in Jiangzhe, with high living costs and a low economic level. Our funds simply don''t allow us to fill these urban surveillance gaps!"


    "I see," Zhang Menglong said, not particularly surprised. In terms of economic level, Dongji City was indeed at the bottom of the province. It was not strange that it was poor.


    "Well, then, I''ll make a donation!" Zhang Menglong declared, "We must cover all the surveillance blind spots in our Dongji City!"


    "A donation?" Chief Ding''s eyes lit up, "If Mr. Zhang is willing, that would be a blessing for our Dongji City! How much do you plan to donate?"


    "Let''s start with 10 billion Huaxia Yuan! It''s my hometown after all; can''t be stingy!"


    "Cough cough cough!" Chief Ding nearly choked upon hearing the figure. Was this really a donation? He said 10 billion Huaxia Yuan just like that. Do all wealthy philanthropists give away their money so freely nowadays?


    "Is that not enough?" Zhang Menglong inquired, "Then I''ll donate 20 billion!" Zhang Menglong had a monthly donation budget of 10 billion US dollars and didn''t care about spending the money.


    "No, it''s not that..." Chief Ding was both laughing and crying, "It''s too much, our Dongji City can''t handle such a large donation! With this, you''ve already filled the entire financial needs for public facilities in our Dongji City!"

 Chapter 270 268 He Said He Wants to Donate Several Hundred Billion

    "Donated fully?" Zhang Menglong blinked in surprise, having never heard of such a phrase concerning donations in all his years.


    "Mr. Zhang, you may not know this," Director Ding explained, "Our annual funds for urban construction have a set budget, partially coming from municipal taxes and other fiscal incomes, some from corporate sponsorship bids, and also from donations by affluent individuals like yourself."


    "Ah, that I know!"


    "But these amounts are not unlimited. The funds we receive each year must be spent within that year; they can''t be carried over, as that would cause numerous issues during the year-end settlement."


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong had never heard such a thing before.


    "Menglong, what Director Ding said is probably true," Lu Yiyao spoke, "Our school, for instance, nearly always engages in some roadwork, planting, or reconstruction towards the end of the year. Take the road by our main entrance at Gusu University. Since I joined, it''s been resurfaced 21 times!"


    "Do the roads deteriorate often?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course not. At most, a few marble tiles crack. There''s really no need for such frequent repairs. Each paving costs hundreds of thousands, if not millions," Lu Yiyao explained, "It''s because by year-end, a large part of our budget remains unspent, so the administration has to find ways to spend it! We can''t carry the money over to the next year."


    "So that''s how it is." No wonder Zhang Menglong always saw the school engaged in roadwork or building repairs before the winter break; it was all such clever maneuvering.


    "Although there are some differences, city planning works similarly," Ding Youguo said, "and city planning is even stricter than university finance. If there''s extra money, you can''t just casually decide to fix a road, right?"


    "Hahaha, that makes sense," Zhang Menglong said, "So, what''s the budget for this year''s urban development in Dongji City?"


    "This year''s city planning only totals 3.5 billion US dollars, and two billion of that has already been secured through bids. That''s why I said your donation of one hundred billion has already filled our quota for this year''s road construction!"


    "That filled it up?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "I was hoping to donate a hundred or two hundred billion each month. Spending money is harder than I thought."


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s mutter, Director Ding''s mouth twitched. Was this money cursed or something? A month yielding one or two hundred billion? Not even the top-tier cities spend that much on their road planning!


    "Director Ding, have there been any notable projects in Dongji City over the past few years?" Zhang Menglong was still not giving up. "I haven''t just returned home for the New Year; I also want to see if there''s any part of our hometown''s development where I can contribute," Zhang Menglong said, "Twenty billion isn''t too small for me, and two hundred billion isn''t too much!"


    This month''s donation of $100 billion would bring him 100 Cred Points, and he was determined to find a way to spend that money.


    Of course, Dongji City was his hometown. The saying goes that water flowing into another''s field is wasted, and having grown up in Dongji, Zhang Menglong had a strong affection for it and preferred to spend his wealth there.


    "This..." Director Ding was embarrassed. He had seen one-time donations of several million or even tens of millions, but these multibillion-dollar conversations were beyond his understanding. Was this what life was like for the world''s wealthiest?


    "This... No, there isn''t..." Director Ding searched his mind for a long while. At least within the transportation sectors he oversaw, there weren''t any projects on that scale.


    After all, those huge projects, typically needing tens or hundreds of billions, require extensive planning and assessment and can''t start without sufficient funds. Even having one such project every few years is considered good.


    "There must be something!" Zhang Menglong looked at him hopefully.


    "There really isn''t!" Director Ding also showed helplessness, "However, Mr. Zhang, I''m only in charge of the transportation network. Our city''s major projects are still managed by the mayor. If you truly wish to donate, perhaps I could introduce you to the mayor."


    "Then I would appreciate your help, Director Ding!" Zhang Menglong immediately thanked him.


    ...


    The Mayor''s Office in Dongji City, a middle-aged man''s complexion seemed somewhat dim.


    "Guangwei, it''s not that I don''t want to help you, but this project is long-term and requires a large investment. Plus, given the current severe pandemic, many costs have risen. I''m afraid the provincial government won''t approve the construction funds this year!"


    "Old leader, is there really no way at all?" Mayor Zhu sighed, "Our Dongji City''s high-speed rail plan was completed 8 years ago, and the funding approval process began five years ago. Our city is an island, and although connected to other cities by a sea bridge, it can only be accessed by cars and buses, taking a long time. Many investors are reluctant to invest in projects here!"


    "If the high-speed rail could be built, the travel time to the provincial capital, Jiangnan City, could be reduced from nearly four hours to just over an hour. Only then could our development really take off!"


    "Just wait a bit longer, next year, I''ll try again next year!"


    "Then I''ll trouble you." Mayor Zhu hung up the phone, his body slumping weakly into the chair. He had only one year left in his term; he had used almost all his energy and time for the city.


    The construction project for the high-speed rail had seen several mayors retire up to now. It was not only the wish of every mayor but also of every citizen in Dongji City.


    At that moment, Mayor Zhu''s phone rang.


    "Hello, this is Zhu Guangwei!"


    "Mayor, this is Ding Youguo."


    "Oh, Director Ding, what''s the matter?"


    "Mayor, it''s like this, something happened in our city today involving a scam incident."


    "Very special?" Mayor Zhu asked. Although scam incidents were bad, they surely didn''t need to be reported to him, did they?


    "Yes, the person scammed was Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?" As the city''s mayor, Zhu Guangwei was naturally familiar with such matters.


    "That''s right, you wouldn''t have guessed, but he''s from our Dongji City!"


    "Oh?" Mayor Zhu was somewhat surprised. The world''s richest man was from their Dongji City, and having been mayor for so many years, he didn''t know about it at all? How low-profile must this family have been so far?


    "Zhang Menglong said he wants to donate to the construction of our Dongji City, but my current planning projects really can''t accommodate such a huge donation, so I wanted to ask if you have any needs on your end?"


    "Can''t accommodate?" Mayor Zhu was shocked. As the city''s second-in-command, he naturally knew exactly how much money each system''s plans required. According to this year''s plan, the urban road construction of Dongji City needed funds amounting to 3.5 billion US dollars, with about 1.5 billion still unaccounted for.


    Such a large amount of money, and it still couldn''t accommodate Zhang Menglong''s donation?


    How much money was he planning to donate?


    "Did he mention how much he wants to donate?"


    "He didn''t specify," Director Ding said. "His exact words were, ''Tens of billions is not too little, hundreds of billions is not too much!''"


    "What? Hundreds of billions? He wants to donate hundreds of billions?" Hearing Director Ding''s words, Mayor Zhu''s heart suddenly started racing.

 Chapter 271 269: I Booked the Entire High-Speed Rail

    "Are you sure that''s what he really said?" Mayor Zhu still felt somewhat bemused.


    It was one thing to have someone attempt to swindle him and not make a fuss about it, but to actually offer a donation, and to start talking hundreds of billions at that, are there really such people in the world?


    "Yes, that''s why I came to contact you. Do you have some time? I can bring Mr. Zhang to visit you."


    "No, no, no! Why should he visit me? Of course, I should visit him!" Mayor Zhu immediately started to put on his coat, "Where are you now?"


    "Right here in my office."


    "Good, entertain Mr. Zhang well, I will be there immediately!"


    "Little Fu, come with me!" Mayor Zhu immediately made a call to his secretary.


    "Mayor, is there something you need?"


    "The high-speed rail in our Dongji City could start construction this year; bring the engineers and the blueprints, and let''s head to Director Ding''s place!"


    "Really?" Secretary Fu was also surprised, "Did the province finally approve the funding?"


    "No! It''s not money from the province, it''s Zhang Menglong, he''s from our Dongji City, he wants to donate a huge sum to our city, at least several hundred billion!"


    "Alright, alright! I''ll arrange it right away!" Hearing such explosive news, Secretary Fu also became excited.


    Having Zhang Menglong come from Dongji City is truly Dongji City''s fortune!


    Less than twenty minutes later, Mayor Zhu, panting, arrived at Director Ding''s office with his entourage.


    "Mayor, this is Mr. Zhang Menglong, and this is his girlfriend, Miss Lu Yiyao," Director Ding introduced.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is our Mayor Zhu Guangwei."


    "Hello, Mayor Zhu," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Mayor Zhu, "You are also my elder, calling me Mr. Zhang is too formal, just call me Menglong!"


    "Okay, Menglong, welcome back to Dongji City," said Mayor Zhu, "You just got back and already encountered such an unpleasant event, I''m really somewhat embarrassed as the mayor."


    "Hahaha, Mayor, you are too courteous, no matter how big the city, there will always be a few bad apples," Zhang Menglong laughed, "But indeed, our Dongji City''s character needs some reform."


    "Yes, I understand," Mayor Zhu nodded, "Once I get back, I will start advocating for the whole city to enhance character education and social atmosphere construction!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I heard from Director Ding that you are here this time to donate to the construction projects of our Dongji City?" Mayor Zhu asked cautiously.


    "Not really," Zhang Menglong said, "I was just back for the New Year and just happened to come here, so I casually inquired if there was somewhere I could donate some money, also considering it as contributing to my hometown."


    "Casually?" Mayor Zhu and Director Ding exchanged glances, coming to the Bureau of Transportation, and casually planning to donate hundreds of billions, has the threshold for ''casually'' reached such heights?


    "Yes, if it weren''t for coming here, I might not have had the chance to meet you both!"


    "Then I''m wondering if I should also go thank the swindler?" Mayor Zhu couldn''t help but feel both amused and distressed, that a mere swindle directly brought Dongji City an investment and donation of several hundred billion.


    Such an achievement, even as mayor, he couldn''t accomplish it. Doesn''t that swindler deserve to be awarded an ''Inspire Dongji'' award?


    "Mayor Zhu, I''ll just ask directly, does our Dongji City have any significant construction projects?" Zhang Menglong got right back on point, "The bigger, the better, the more the merrier, don''t worry about the money! I feel that having money, I must give back to society and to my hometown; otherwise, I can''t even sleep peacefully!"


    "Indeed, there is!" Mayor Zhu nodded, "Menglong, since you are from Dongji City, you must be very aware that the biggest obstacle restricting our city''s development is the transportation issue!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately nodded, "Yeah! When I used to go to Jiangnan City for school, I didn''t even know my family was so wealthy, I traveled by bus, and it was at least four hours one way. It was absolutely exhausting, not to mention a disaster if you suddenly needed to use the bathroom!"


    "Yes, to travel to other cities, we can only go by bus or go first to Ningyong City to catch the high-speed train, but that undoubtedly increases the time cost," Mayor Zhu sighed, "In fact, the planning for the high-speed train was completed five years ago, but has been postponed until now because it''s been hard to secure the funding."


    "Hasn''t this problem been solved yet?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, this year construction was supposed to start, but because of the pandemic, all industries have been severely impacted, and the economy is incredibly hard hit. The province can''t come up with that much money right now."


    "No problem, I''ll cover the entire high-speed rail project!" Zhang Menglong had once been looking online for ways to spend money¡ªbuilding rockets, repairing the Great Wall, constructing high-speed rails had all come up, but he''d never had the chance until today.


    "Cover the whole project?" Mayor Zhu was taken aback.


    Actually, Mayor Zhu''s expectations weren''t that high. After all, building a high-speed train isn''t a matter of one or two years. According to the original plan, the total construction time was expected to be five years.


    Therefore, the funds didn''t need to be in place all at once, just one-fifth or even less was enough to start, and when the province''s funds came in, they could continue. This would also save a year''s time.


    He just hadn''t expected that Zhang Menglong would speak of funding the entire high-speed rail right off the bat.


    "Menglong, this is about building a high-speed rail, not a small amount of money. I brought an engineer today; perhaps you should listen to the details first," he suggested.


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, eager to know what the plan for the high-speed rail was.


    "Engineer Zhang!" Mayor Zhu spoke to the engineer behind him.


    Engineer Zhang was a man of few words; he found a table and immediately unfolded the planning map.


    "Mr. Zhang, in the plans, the railway is 77 kilometers long, designed for speeds of 250 kilometers per hour, with an expected 17 tunnels totaling 35.246 kilometers, including one undersea railway tunnel. This is the most difficult and costly part of the project."


    "In hilly areas, a typical four-track high-speed railway costs about 1.2 billion, but due to our complicated geographical conditions in Dongji, the cost will likely need to be doubled, so the entire project might need around 270 billion Huaxia yuan."


    "Damn! 270 billion?"


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, Mayor Zhu thought he was concerned about the high cost and immediately said, "Mr. Zhang, this is just the total cost. We don''t need so much upfront; we just hope to get the project started soon. If we could even get a few tens of billions, that would already be great."


    "No, I mean, only 270 billion?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat disappointed. 270 billion Huaxia yuan wasn''t even close to what he could donate in a month. How could building a high-speed rail be so cheap?


    "Only?" Mayor Zhu''s eyes widened. This was 270 billion, not 270 million, let alone 270 yuan. Was he even speaking human language? For this amount of money, several mayors of Dongji City had been exchanged without yet securing the funds.


    "What I mean is, couldn''t it be more expensive?" Zhang Menglong asked, "There must be variations in the quality of high-speed rails, right?"


    "This..." Mayor Zhu turned to the engineer. Zhang Menglong actually thought the price was too low!


    How many people in all of Huaxia had assets reaching 270 billion yuan? And how many could have 270 billion in cash? It was an unknown if they even existed!


    "Our subway plan is designed for a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour, using standard materials. If we increase the speed to 350 kilometers per hour, then the construction cost would increase by about 30% to 50%. If we used top-of-the-line materials, the total construction expenses might exceed 500 billion!"


    "Hiss!" Hearing this, Director Ding and Mayor Zhu both gasped. A 77-kilometer high-speed rail costing over 500 billion when even the 1300-kilometer-long Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail was less than 2000 billion yuan.


    "It''ll barely do," Zhang Menglong sighed, "Then let''s go with this standard for now!"

 Chapter 272 270: If Its Free, I Wont Do It

    "Barely?" The expressions on the faces of the two directors and the mayor grew even more bizarre¡ªdid he really think that 50 billion was not enough?


    But how could they know that this 50 billion was just enough for Zhang Menglong''s monthly budget, and the next month he would have to start looking for projects to spend money on again? Such days are really tiring.


    "Mayor Zhu, do you have any kind of project that could consistently spend a few tens of billions every month? It doesn''t matter if it yields returns, the main thing is I want to make a contribution to my hometown," Zhang Menglong asked again.


    "This... there really isn''t any!" Mayor Zhu said helplessly. Before, he would run around for just a little funding, and now with a God of Wealth here, he actually couldn''t find places to spend the money. Could there be anything more aggravating in the world?


    "Well, I''ll take what I can get," Zhang Menglong sighed and shook his head.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, Mayor Zhu and Director Ding felt as if their worldviews had collapsed in an instant. Could having money that couldn''t be spent be that distressing?


    "Hong Yi, send 50 billion to our Dongji City''s municipal account," Zhang Menglong texted Hong Yi. Although Hong Yi was on vacation, such a minor matter wasn''t much trouble.


    A short while later, Mayor Zhu''s phone rang again.


    "Excuse me, I need to take a call," Mayor Zhu stepped aside, "Chief Hong, what''s the matter?"


    The voice on the other end of the phone was from the head of Dongji City''s Finance Bureau.


    "Mayor," the voice on the other end was tinged with excitement, "our municipal account just received a fund of 50 billion. What''s going on?"


    "This is the funding for our metro planning project!" Mayor Zhu glanced at Zhang Menglong¡ªhad the money already been transferred in less than a minute?


    "50 billion? Did the provincial hall allocate that much money? No, wait! This is not the provincial hall''s account!"


    "Of course not, the money wasn''t provided by the provincial hall, it was donated by a tycoon from our Dongji City."


    "A donation of fifty billion? What are the conditions?"


    "There are no conditions! The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, is from our Dongji City!" Mayor Zhu immediately said, "Send a report to the higher-ups, we''ll start forming a project team tonight, make all the plans before the New Year, and start breaking ground after that!"


    "Okay!"


    ...


    "Menglong, you''ve made such a great contribution to our city. If you have time, how about we do an exclusive interview with you and hold a donation ceremony?"


    "Forget it, there''s no need for such a fuss over a little money!" Zhang Menglong quickly refused. If he had to make a big deal with a ceremony every time he made a donation, he feared that for 300 days out of the 365 in the year, he would either be at a donation ceremony or on his way to one.


    "Little money..." Mayor Zhu shook his head. Probably only Zhang Menglong would consider 50 billion a small sum of money, right?


    "Mayor, think about it, is there anything else I can do for our Dongji City? Don''t be shy!"


    "This..." Mayor Zhu felt that the shocks of the day had already exceeded a lifetime''s worth. Was Zhang Menglong not satisfied after spending 50 billion? Was he trying to single-handedly support an entire city?


    "If I really had to say," Mayor Zhu hesitated, "if you have projects that need to be done, could you consider doing them in our Dongji City?" Mayor Zhu found this request somewhat difficult to make.


    It was known that most of Dongji City''s fiscal revenue came from the tourism industry; they lived off the mountains and the sea. Without tourism, Dongji City might very well be at the bottom of the Jiangzhe region.


    Currently, Dongji City is an eighteenth-tier city but has second-tier city housing prices, first-tier city living costs, and eighteenth-tier city wages.


    Students who have completed university usually have little desire to return to Dongji City, except to seek civil service positions.


    Even when Zhang Menglong was initially looking for a job, he paid attention to the employment situation in his city¡ªbachelor''s degree holders earning 3,000, master''s degree holders 6,000.


    Therefore, the population and talent exodus in cities built by non-competitive companies was severe.


    If Zhang Menglong were willing to start some corporate projects here, given his generous pay standards, he would definitely attract numerous talents for employment, and the situation would be significantly improved.


    "Speaking of projects, I actually have one in mind!" Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment.


    The development of chips is a rather large industry chain, from the design of the chips, the production of raw materials, to various other processes, and currently, companies in Huaxia only handle the design and packaging and testing of chips.


    Zhang Menglong would need a factory for mass-producing photolithography machines and another for Crystal Chips, yet these plans were not yet fully in place.


    Zhang Menglong could very well choose Dongji City for these factories! Such labor-intensive industries would require a large workforce, which could drive the development of Dongji.


    Once an industry chain is established here, many enterprises would soon enter the area, centering around this industry chain and creating a diffusion effect.


    Zhang Menglong shared his ideas with the mayor, and Mayor Zhu immediately showed a surprised and pleased expression.


    Although Dongji City is not large, its population density is very low, and there are many undeveloped areas, so there is plenty of land available for Zhang Menglong to build factories!


    "Menglong, here''s the deal! Since you are willing to build here, we can''t be stingy. I can allocate 500 acres of land for your factory, with a five-year exemption from rent and taxes!"


    "Exempt from rent and taxes?" When Zhang Menglong heard this, he became anxious, "No! We must pay whatever amount is due, and the same goes for taxes! I absolutely cannot take advantage even a little bit from the government!"


    "No, Menglong, this isn''t taking advantage!" Mayor Zhu said, "Your project not only drives our economic development and employment but also makes such a significant contribution. Even if it is a matter of advantage, it''s us taking advantage of you!"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong said sternly, "If you give me rent and tax exemptions, then I won''t go through with it!"


    "This..." The officials looked at each other, bewildered by his stance.


    Many companies yearn for such policies yet cannot obtain them, but Zhang Menglong actually turned them down. What kind of thought process was this?


    "Are you really refusing?"


    "Yes," said Zhang Menglong, "By the way, are there currently incentives for attracting talents to Dongji City?"


    "Indeed, as long as they pay social security for half a year, we reward full-time bachelor degree holders fifty thousand, master''s degree holders one hundred thousand, and PhDs one hundred and fifty thousand. There''s also a housing subsidy¡ªtwo hundred thousand for master''s and eight hundred thousand for PhDs."


    "Double those offers. Whatever excess there is, I will cover," Zhang Menglong stated, "Or, if the budget is tight, I can cover it all."


    "I only have one condition," Zhang Menglong said.


    "What''s the condition?"


    "We start these projects as soon as possible, ideally tomorrow. Otherwise, I wouldn''t even know where to transfer the money!"


    "Done!" Mayor Zhu was someone who acted swiftly, "Tomorrow I''ll plan the site for you, and I''ll involve the best construction company in Dongji. You''ll have my response by no later than tomorrow!"


    "Then I''m counting on you, Mayor!" Zhang Menglong was secretly delighted, thinking that his Super God Academy would soon unlock a new teacher!

 Chapter 273 271: Am I Not Better Than a Fat Guy?

    "Yo, Menglong is back?"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, this must be your girlfriend, right? She''s gorgeous, just like a celebrity!"


    "How long are you planning to stay this time?"


    ...


    Returning to the neighborhood where he had grown up, it was still those familiar faces. The neighbors next door were all warmly greeting Zhang Menglong.


    "Your neighbors are so enthusiastic," Lu Yiyao said with a smile as she greeted the uncles and aunties around, then whispered to Zhang Menglong, "And they seem to have no idea about your real identity."


    Zhang Menglong had been with Lu Yiyao for some time, and almost everyone acted quite reserved in front of Zhang Menglong, but these neighbors didn''t, just like ordinary neighbors.


    "Actually, I thought the same until a few months ago," Zhang Menglong said, "but you might not believe it, all these people are actually employees of my family."


    "What?" Lu Yiyao looked surprised.


    "This neighborhood is also owned by my family. The people living here are either retired employees of my family or their relatives," Zhang Menglong explained, "It was arranged by my parents so I could have a normal childhood environment. Actually, they all know about my identity, but after so many years, maybe acting has become a habit."


    "This..." Lu Yiyao showed a perplexed expression, "This is just like a real-life Truman Show!"


    "Right?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Who knows what my parents were thinking; maybe they feared I''d become arrogant knowing our family''s wealth and turn into a wastrel only interested in pleasure."


    "How many people would wish to be that kind of wastrel, huh?"


    ...


    "Menglong, we''ve come to a decision about the site. In the western district, we had initially planned a large industrial park, about 1200 mu. I can give you up to 800 mu. Do you think that''s enough?"


    It was only the day after lunch when Zhang Menglong received a call from Mayor Zhu. It had to be said, his efficiency was astonishingly high; he had formulated a plan overnight.


    "800 mu?" Zhang Menglong was a bit surprised to hear the number. The last time they talked about 500 mu, which was already quite substantial, and now it had increased by sixty percent, which showed how much Mayor Zhu valued Zhang Menglong''s project.


    "As for the construction of the factory, it will be handled by Haisheng Group, as you probably know. They are the largest construction company in Dongji City, with both a good reputation and professional capability. I''ve already finalized the deal with their CEO."


    "Okay, as long as there''s no problem with the construction quality, I have no objections," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll transfer the first installment for the construction funds to you in a while."


    Actually, Zhang Menglong had his own construction group, but it wasn''t based in Dongji City. An opportunity like this project should be left for his hometown to stimulate some employment.


    "Leave it to me," Mayor Zhu promised, "After the New Year, the park will officially break ground. The first phase of the project is expected to be operational within three months, accommodating equipment storage and normal production, although the environment might be a bit lacking."


    "Three months? That''s pretty fast!" Zhang Menglong remarked. "You''ve worked hard, Mayor Zhu. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have time."


    "Sure, you go on with your busy schedule. It''s rare for you to come back, so you must have a lot of friends to meet, right?"


    "Yes, indeed. I''ve arranged to have dinner with a few friends today, so I won''t keep you any longer." The two exchanged a few pleasantries before hanging up.


    "Going out for dinner with friends today?" Lu Yiyao asked.


    "Yeah, they are friends from childhood; we''ve known each other for over a decade. They all stayed to work in Dongji City, so I really should catch up with them when I''m back."


    "Are there going to be a lot of girls?" Lu Yiyao''s expression turned suspicious.


    "This..." Zhang Menglong''s face showed an awkward smile, "Hahaha, well, I''ve always been quite popular with the ladies, hahaha..."


    ...


    At the entrance of Haisheng Group in Jiangnan City, a young woman in her early twenties was waiting by the roadside, looking around, dressed in a white sweater and a large down jacket, with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking exceptionally youthful and beautiful.


    "Qiuyi, waiting for your boyfriend again?" A few colleagues who had just gotten off work greeted the girl with a smile.


    "Not my boyfriend," Chen Qiuyi''s cheeks reddened. "A friend from Jiangnan City is coming back for the New Year, and we''re just meeting up."


    "Oh, meeting up!" The girls exchanged glances, revealing an "we understand" expression. "Then we''ll go ahead, take care!"


    "Sure, see you tomorrow!"


    Just as Chen Qiuyi''s colleagues had walked a few meters away, a somewhat chubby young man arrived in front of Chen Qiuyi, panting.


    "Sorry, I''m a bit late," the chubby young man said sincerely.


    "What happened? Working out?" Chen Qiuyi laughed. "Who would have thought Zhang Menglong''s family is so wealthy? Back in junior high, he was always borrowing money from me to buy game cards. Tonight, I have to properly extort a meal from him!"


    "Hahaha! He always used to snatch my snacks too!" the chubby young man laughed, but his gaze never left Chen Qiuyi''s face.


    "You think, is Qiuyi''s eyesight not very good? How could she like such a fat guy?" colleagues whispered from a distance, glancing back. "Doesn''t she know that our general manager''s son has always liked her?"


    "Who knows, fools have their own luck, I guess. Actually, I think the chubby guy is quite cute; he always secretly brings Qiuyi milk tea and shares some with us too!"


    "Hahaha, you''ve just been bribed by a few cups of milk tea!"


    "Ahahaha!"


    ...


    "Let''s go, Xing Zhe. Zhang Menglong should be arriving soon. I''m really curious what kind of car the world''s richest man drives." Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe walked out of the company side by side.


    Just then, a brand-new Porsche Panamera stopped in front of them, and as the window rolled down, it revealed a somewhat handsome face.


    "Qiuyi, where to? Need a ride?" the handsome young man asked, casting a dismissive glance at Xing Zhe.


    "No need, Manager Zheng, my friend is coming to pick us up in a bit," Chen Qiuyi declined.


    This young man in front of her, Zheng Hefeng, was the son of their company''s general manager at Haisheng Group. Under his father''s guidance, he could also be considered a talented young man. After graduating, he joined the company as a project manager, and with his abilities and his father''s resources, his income had already surpassed one million a year.


    Chen Qiuyi had only started her internship at Haisheng Group in September. Her outstanding appearance and exceptional work ability won the admiration of many male colleagues, including the son of the general manager.


    Zheng Hefeng had invited Chen Qiuyi out for meals more than once or twice, but she had declined every time. Instead, it was this inconspicuous chubby guy who often waited for her here after work.


    He had investigated Xing Zhe, who had been classmates with Chen Qiuyi since childhood and had also just graduated this year, interning at another construction company not far away. However, in terms of scale, that company was far inferior to their Haisheng Group.


    Xing Zhe had even interviewed with Chen Qiuyi at Haisheng Group once, but his resume from a second-tier college failed to make it through the initial screening.


    Zheng Hefeng couldn''t understand how he could be less appealing than such an ordinary chubby man.


    Maybe it was because he was in a bad mood today, but seeing Chen Qiuyi chatting and laughing with this chubby man, a wave of nameless irritation ignited in his heart.


    "Chen Qiuyi, I''ve invited you more than once or twice. Would you rather hang out with a fat guy than have a meal with me?"

 Chapter 274 272: The Big Order You Mentioned Seems to Be The One I Gave

    Chen Qiuyi''s expression changed. She knew that the son of the general manager was interested in her, and she had always tried to avoid him, but this time, he had openly expressed it, and many off-duty colleagues nearby were casting gossipy glances their way.


    "It''s Chen Qiuyi, and also Manager Zheng!"


    "Isn''t that fat guy Chen Qiuyi''s boyfriend?"


    "Really? What''s her taste? With such a good appearance, what boyfriend can''t she find?"


    "Exactly, everyone knows Manager Zheng is interested in her. Is she out of her mind?"


    "Shh, keep it down. Do you still want to work here? In Dongji City, there are only a few large companies with good treatment, and if someone hears us, you could be fired tomorrow just for stepping in with your left foot first!"


    "Haha!"


    ...


    Muted whispers followed, but Zheng Hefeng didn''t care; his father was one of the shareholders of the company, and no one dared gossip about him.


    "Manager Zheng, this is my friend. I hope you can be a bit more polite to him," Chen Qiuyi said, her face flushed.


    "What friend? Isn''t he just your boyfriend?" Zheng Hefeng sneered, "Qiuyi, I know you''ve been classmates for many years, but I think you should distinguish what''s friendship and what''s love. This boyfriend of yours only has a bachelor''s degree from a second-tier university, comes from an ordinary family, and earns only 4000 a month. He struggles to support himself, so why endure this hardship with him?"


    Xing Zhe''s face also turned red, and he clenched his fists tightly, but he had no room to refute Zheng Hefeng''s words.


    He indeed liked Chen Qiuyi and had liked her for many years, always being there for her as just a friend.


    He hadn''t thought about breaking out of this platonic relationship, but he felt inferior and lacked confidence. Ever since they were young, Chen Qiuyi had always been more excellent than him. Now, with nothing to his name, how could he pursue her?


    "Qiuyi, let me tell you, the company received a huge order yesterday. An investor from Jiangnan City wants to build a factory here in Dongji City. It covers 800 acres and will adhere to the highest standards. This project involves an investment of over 20 billion, and I am the chief person in charge!"


    "What? A 20 billion project?" Upon hearing this news, a collective gasp spread through the crowd. Even for city government projects in Dongji City, there wasn''t a 20 billion project in a year, and moreover, this was a corporate investment. Just what kind of businessman could afford such an investment project?


    As the person in charge of the project, there would be a commission involved. This single project could bring Zheng Hefeng a terrifying income and could even possibly allow him to surpass his father in a short time! Now that''s a truly outstanding young man!


    One earns millions a year, the other just four thousand a month. Anyone can see the stark difference.


    "Does your small company even handle a total of ten million in projects a year?" Zheng Hefeng mocked.


    "Oh, I''m sorry, this is your friend. I shouldn''t have been so sarcastic," Zheng Hefeng said without a hint of apology. After all, he was just a poor kid, and humiliating him wasn''t a big deal.


    ...


    "Haha, isn''t it magical? We were in the same class in elementary school, and it was only after being desk mates for a year in high school did we realize we already knew each other!" Zhang Menglong said while driving, recounting the old days with Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe, during which they were inseparable.


    Zhang Menglong was far better looking than Xing Zhe, and back then, many thought he and Chen Qiuyi were in a relationship, but only Zhang Menglong knew that Xing Zhe had been secretly in love with Chen Qiuyi for probably seven or eight years.


    "Here we are, is this the place?" Lu Yiyao pointed at a nearly twenty-story tall building ahead. Such buildings were commonplace in Jiangnan City, but in Dongji City, they were rather rare.


    "Oh, Haisheng Group? What a coincidence!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "So Qiuyi works here. They must be waiting for us already!"


    Zhang Menglong casually parked his cool Lamborghini Urus by the roadside, instantly attracting a lot of attention.


    "Weren''t you supposed to wait for us by the roadside? Where are they?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone, intending to make a call, when he suddenly spotted Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe not far away.


    "Is that the two of them?" Lu Yiyao pointed in that direction and said. Although there were some differences from the graduation photo with Zhang Menglong, they were still recognizable.


    "Something seems off," Zhang Menglong remarked as his expression changed drastically. Clearly, the expressions on Chen Qiuyi''s and Xing Zhe''s faces seemed unnatural, and even from tens of meters away, he could see Xing Zhe''s clenched fists.


    "Well, who dares to mess with a friend of Zhang Menglong?" In Zhang Menglong''s mind, neither Xing Zhe nor Chen Qiuyi were the type to look for trouble. Although he couldn''t see Zheng Hefeng sitting in the car, he could surmise the situation quite accurately.


    "Let''s go check it out!"


    ...


    "Qiuyi, why waste your youth on such a person?" Zheng Hefeng said earnestly, "You are an exceptional person, both in appearance and capabilities. No matter what, at least in Dongji City, you will definitely belong to the elite class. Someone like me deserves you!"


    "As long as you''re with me, I can include you in this big deal, and even give you a considerable commission. I can''t promise millions, but four to five hundred thousand a year is easily achievable; you might want to consider it."


    "Hey, Qiuyi, Old Xing, what are you dragging your feet for?" Just then, a youthful voice came from the entrance of the company.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Both of them saw Zhang Menglong and immediately displayed a look of surprise.


    The name immediately attracted quite a bit of attention.


    "Zhang Menglong? Which Zhang Menglong? The Zhang Menglong?"


    "Him! Yes, him! I''ve seen his pictures, the wealthiest man in the world!"


    "My god, Chen Qiuyi and her boyfriend actually know Zhang Menglong?"


    "That''s impossible, right? How could they know Zhang Menglong? That''s unscientific! They are from ordinary families, aren''t they? How could they have connections with someone like Zhang Menglong?"


    "Could it be... Could it be that their information is all fake?"


    "They''re not here to experience life, are they?"


    "Hard to say! Rich people these days seem to like putting their kids through such experiences!"


    Birds of a feather flock together, and people are known by the company they keep. As the world''s richest man, it was impossible for Zhang Menglong to be surrounded by people wealthier than him, but definitely by those who were not from ordinary backgrounds.


    To be friends with Zhang Menglong, their family assets threshold must be at least a few billion Huaxia currency, right?


    Suddenly, in the eyes of those around them, Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe were seen as young people from wealthy families.


    "Big brother, did I just hear you talking about a big deal you landed?" Zhang Menglong slapped the side of Zheng Hefeng''s car. "Nice car, almost caught up to the one my aunt uses to go grocery shopping!"


    "Your aunt goes grocery shopping in a Porsche?" The employees around muttered internally but no one dared utter a word. The world''s richest man indeed, even if his housekeeper and doorman split up over a long-distance relationship, they would believe it!


    "Yes... Yes, it''s a project from an entrepreneur from Jiangnan City, to build an 800-acre factory here in our Dongji City. Our Haisheng Group has taken on this project!" Zheng Hefeng tried desperately to calm himself down, suddenly realizing he might have provoked someone he shouldn''t have.


    "Oh, indeed it''s that project," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Quite coincidental, it seems this deal was actually given to you by me!"

 Chapter 275 273: Have You Fallen to the Point of Driving a Bentley?

    "You... you''re the wealthy investor from Jiangnan City?" Zheng Hefeng''s smile instantly froze on his face.


    He had heard from his father that even the mayor was taking this project very seriously. Just last night, he had received a call from the mayor. Would the mayor pay such attention if it was an ordinary project?


    Zheng Hefeng also knew that, supposedly, the investor was a native of Dongji City, who seemed to be prospering so much that he decided to contribute to the development of his hometown, and the construction of this 800-acre factory area was just the beginning.


    If this project were completed well enough, perhaps there would be other construction projects in the future that would also be handed over to their Haisheng Group.


    But he never would have imagined that this so-called wealthy businessman was none other than the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!


    Although Zheng Hefeng''s family was well-off, under normal circumstances, he should have had no dealings with Zhang Menglong. You''re ultra-rich, I''m slightly rich; we each take our own paths under the heavens.


    Yet Chen Qiuyi and her chubby boyfriend actually knew Zhang Menglong, and that instantly made things complicated.


    If they truly had a good relationship, perhaps Zhang Menglong could make their company lose this huge contract with just a few words¡ªa project worth tens of billions. Even his father would have trouble explaining this to the other shareholders at the shareholders'' meeting.


    "I think I just heard you say that my friends are inept and belong to the lower rungs of society?" Zhang Menglong said, looking at Zheng Hefeng with a very peculiar gaze.


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "You know who I am, right?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    Zheng Hefeng nodded. Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man¡ªwho didn''t know him?


    He had acquired Weibo, transformed NetEase Music into NetEase Footsteps, and single-handedly stirred up the entire economic system of Qingqiu Country, to the point where national leaders came out to sing "Conquest" as an apology. In Huaxia, it would probably be impossible to find a young person who hasn''t heard of Zhang Menglong.


    "Good that you know," Zhang Menglong said, "these two are my classmates, from childhood to adulthood. Do you think my classmates would just be ordinary people?"


    This statement suddenly astonished the surrounding people¡ªall their previous guesses were correct. How could people who had connections with Zhang Menglong be ordinary? Now, Zhang Menglong had come forward and acknowledged this fact himself.


    "What are you two thinking, holding onto billions in inheritance and interning at such a tiny company?" Zhang Menglong turned to Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe and said.


    "Huh?" Both of them looked stunned.


    Billions in inheritance? They wouldn''t dare dream of such wealth. If they had billions, who would want to work? Wouldn''t it be delightful to live a carefree life of eating and sleeping, being a happy slug?


    "Whoosh!"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the crowd was even more shocked.


    A tiny company? Haisheng Group, in Zhang Menglong''s mouth, turned into a tiny company?


    Haisheng Group was the largest private enterprise in Dongji City, with business projects that included seafood, tourism construction, real estate development, and more¡ªeveryone in Dongji City was desperate to get into this company.


    To Zhang Menglong and his associates, such a company was just a tiny one?


    Afterwards, their gaze fell back on Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe.


    Chen Qiuyi''s dress was quite trendy, but the down jacket she was wearing was only a few hundred yuan, and her purse was not from any well-known brand. Even her colleagues knew that the beauty and skincare products Chen Qiuyi used were only mid to low-end priced.


    As for the young man named Xing Zhe, his jeans were almost washed out, and there were even a few tiny holes on his backpack.


    Could these two really have billions in assets?


    No! Do they have billionaires in Dongji City?


    "No! Impossible!" Zheng Hefeng shook his head, he had investigated Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe''s family backgrounds; both were from ordinary working-class families, it was absolutely impossible for them to have any sort of billion-dollar wealth.


    It must have been because they accidentally got to know Zhang Menglong through some channels, and that''s why Zhang Menglong would stand up and speak for them. Yes, that must be it!


    Zheng Hefeng''s expression became somewhat distorted, whether due to anger or jealousy was unclear.


    However, at that moment, a burst of noise came from the entrance of the company.


    "Look, a Bentley! Whose car is that?"


    "Four of them! Four Bentleys! Does anyone in our company have that kind of money?"


    "Is it the chairman''s?"


    "No, I remember the chairman drives just a Maserati Quattroporte, right?"


    "Quick, look, they''re coming this way!"


    Under the gaze of a hundred pairs of eyes, the four cars slowly stopped in front of Xing Zhe.


    The car doors opened slowly, and out stepped an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties and several individuals in black suits with the look of bodyguards.


    "Menglong, isn''t that the security uncle from your community..." Lu Yiyao quickly covered her mouth.


    "Shh!" Zhang Menglong quickly gave Lu Yiyao a look.


    The old man walked up to Xing Zhe, bowed to him respectfully, which frightened Xing Zhe so much he couldn''t help but step back several paces. What was going on? The suit the old man wore was probably more expensive than what he could buy with ten years of salary, and the watch on his wrist, it seemed to be a Patek Philippe.


    Xing Zhe wasn''t sure about the price of the watch, but had he not seen pigs run even if he had never eaten pork? Watches of this brand, he heard, were often only seen at auctions, costing millions as a matter of course. Such a person was showing him this much respect?


    "Young master, please stop being mad at the old master!" the elderly man said, "Even if you don''t want to inherit the family business, there''s no need to come to this shabby company and suffer! If it weren''t for Mr. Zhang telling me today, I wouldn''t have known you had suffered such grievances here!"


    "What?" Xing Zhe''s facial expression became incredibly vivid.


    What was happening? Old master? Young master? His mother was a full-time housewife and his father was a seafood seller at the aquatic market. How had he suddenly become a young master? What family business did his family have that he could inherit? Could it be the tiny stall that wasn''t even five square meters?


    Even if it were that stall, it was only rented in the seafood market.


    But compared to Xing Zhe, the rest of the people were even more shocked.


    Xing Zhe''s company had some cooperation with Haisheng Group, so there were some people from Xing Zhe''s company at Haisheng Group, and coincidentally, Xing Zhe''s supervisor was there today!


    Just now, when Xing Zhe was getting an earful from Zheng Hefeng here, he didn''t dare to utter a sound; he was just a minor supervisor, and given the scale of their company, even the company''s president wouldn''t dare to act rashly inside Haisheng Group.


    And now, everything was turned upside down. The meek and hardworking chubby guy in the company, who was just trying to get a permanent position, turned out to be a person sitting on a fortune worth billions! He even didn''t want to inherit his own family''s wealth. Their little company actually had such an important figure?


    In an instant, he became panicked. He hadn''t been easy on Xing Zhe with the workload in the past. Surely Xing Zhe couldn''t have remembered it all, could he?


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" While everyone was in shock, Zhang Menglong walked over to Xing Zhe and patted his shoulder, speaking in a tone of regret.


    "Xing Zhe, what''s the big deal about graduating from college? After not seeing you for four years, you''ve actually stooped to driving Bentleys?"

 Chapter 276 274: In a Bad Mood Because I Forgot to Bring Toilet Paper to the Bathroom

    "Reduced to driving a Bentley?" Upon hearing this sentence, everyone''s expression turned as if they had eaten shit.


    What does it mean to be reduced to driving a Bentley? In the eyes of someone like Zhang Menglong, was driving a Bentley now something to be looked down upon? They, too, wished to be so "reduced," but who would give them such an opportunity to fall from grace?


    "It''s only been four years and it''s come to this. In another two years, will I be ''reduced'' to driving a Maserati?" Zhang Menglong continued with his sarcastic tone.


    The staff of Huabang Group all forced bitter smiles. Their chairman''s car was a Maserati, a person whom they looked up to, and even he didn''t meet Zhang Menglong''s standards?


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve misunderstood," the elderly man said to Zhang Menglong, "Our young master simply prefers to keep a low profile. He doesn''t wish to be too ostentatious. These few Bentleys are in fact the worst cars in the young master''s garage."


    "The worst cars?" Zheng Hefeng''s face had already contorted to the point of near paralysis.


    These Bentleys were all Continentals and GTs, each worth no less than three million upon purchase. Zheng Hefeng, though capable, had not earned three million since graduating.


    As for his father, he drove a car worth just under two million, which was the cheapest car in Xing Zhe''s family.


    He had just been belittling Xing Zhe''s family for not being good enough for Chen Qiuyi. If even a family like Xing Zhe''s wasn''t good enough, then what was Zheng Hefeng? A beggar?


    Remembering his own words from a moment ago, Zheng Hefeng''s face burned with shame. The Panamera he had just mentioned suddenly lost all its allure.


    "Idiot, what kind of research is this? You can''t even find out their family background!" Zheng Hefeng ground his teeth in anger.


    "Mr. Zhang mentioned that someone was insulting our young master just now?" The old man''s face suddenly turned extremely gloomy, and the burly men in suits immediately fixed their gaze on Zheng Hefeng in the car.


    "No... You''ve all misunderstood, I..." Zheng Hefeng suddenly sweated profusely as fear seeped down his back.


    Just these few most ordinary cars had a total value of over ten million. If we dare assume, the total value of all the cars in their family might well be over a hundred million.


    If just the cars are worth over a hundred million, then how much is their house? How much money must their family have? How big must their company be?


    "He''s probably like Zhang Menglong, having grown up here since he was small, but his real background must be unfathomable!" Zheng Hefeng even started to wonder if Huabang Group could withstand it if Xing Zhe wanted to take revenge.


    Huabang Group''s total market value was only around thirty billion. To someone like Xing Zhe, such a company might as well be trash, right?


    "Ah Hai," the old man said to a bodyguard next to him, "go find out who the owner of this company is."


    "Uncle Wu, no need to check, the chairman of Huabang Group is Zhou Yongkang," the bodyguard called Ah Hai replied.


    "Zhou Yongkang?" The old man pondered, "Don''t know him, must be just a small businessman. How much is this company worth?"


    "About thirty-something billion?"


    "Just thirty-something billion? Acquire it tomorrow. Since the young master likes it, we''ll leave it to him to manage when it''s done!"


    At this moment, the shadow in Zheng Hefeng''s heart had already become infinitely large. Just thirty-something billion? To say they would acquire it just like that? How could a listed company be like a toy in the old man''s eyes? And this man seemed to be just someone like a steward in Xing Zhe''s family.


    "This... I think let''s forget it..." Xing Zhe could guess from Zhang Menglong''s expression that all this had been arranged by him.


    He had grown up in an ordinary family. He certainly knew his family didn''t have such power. This was clearly Zhang Menglong getting even for him!


    "I still prefer my own company and like being an ordinary employee," Xing Zhe seemed to be speaking to the elder, but in reality, he was saying it for Zhang Menglong to hear.


    With his own ability, even if Zhang Menglong really gave him a company, he wouldn''t be able to manage it well.


    "This kid has no ambition at all," Zhang Menglong shook his head, but to each their own, he couldn''t force anything. To be honest, Zhang Menglong didn''t feel the slightest heartache about spending three billion to buy a company for his brother, whom he had grown up with.


    To most people, would spending three dollars on a drink for a friend cause any heartache? That was Zhang Menglong''s mentality.


    "Since that''s the case, then forget it," the elder glanced at Zhang Menglong and received instructions from his eyes.


    "Hey, Butler Wu, since Xing Zhe likes to go to work, just let him be!" Zhang Menglong "persuaded." "This kid loves to show off. If he doesn''t go to work and stays home all day, where is he going to flaunt his wealth? Where is he going to find an audience for his showing off? We''re all young people, I get it!"


    "You don''t know shit!" Xing Zhe cursed Zhang Menglong out in his mind, when did Xing Zhe ever like to show off? This was clearly Zhang Menglong''s own idea, okay.


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Chen Qiuyi also couldn''t help but hold back her laughter. With her quick wits, she of course knew these were all Zhang Menglong''s manipulative moves. After all these years, Zhang Menglong''s personality was still as playful as ever.


    "Since that''s the case, then... well, alright, young master, if you ever feel like not going to work and want to take over the family business, just let me know, I''ll come to pick you up anytime!"


    "Let''s go!" The elder sighed, and several Bentleys swiftly departed.


    "Xing Zhe, where are you working now? I remember it''s a construction company too, right?"


    "Oh, a small company, Huabang Construction," Xing Zhe came back to his senses and said.


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone and directly called Mayor Zhu, "Uncle Zhu, am I disturbing you?"


    "Haha, Menglong, not at all, is there something you need?"


    "Oh, it''s like this. The construction project for my factory area was given to Haisheng Group, right?"


    "Yes, what''s up?"


    "It''s like this, don''t let them take that order, give it to Huabang Construction instead."


    "Huabang Construction?" Mayor Zhu was taken aback, he hadn''t even heard the name of this company before, and immediately had his assistant look up information on this company.


    "Such a small company?" Mayor Zhu said, "Menglong, although this company has a good reputation, its scale is too small. They probably can''t even afford the initial construction materials with their financial resources!"


    "No problem, I can pay the construction funds in advance; paying everything in one installment is also okay," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Since that''s the case, then there''s no issue. I''ll go arrange it now," Mayor Zhu couldn''t help but ask another question, "Do you have a conflict with the people from Haisheng Group?"


    Mayor Zhu was no fool. Zhang Menglong would definitely not let a small, unheard-of company replace Haisheng, a well-established big enterprise, to take on a multibillion-dollar project for no reason.


    "Check out this Huabang Construction for me," Mayor Zhu whispered to his secretary, "See if there''s any of Zhang Menglong''s friends or classmates or something in that company."


    "Oh, actually, it''s nothing," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "I just forgot to bring paper when I went to the bathroom today, and I''m in a bad mood."

 Chapter 277 275: Young Master Xing, Are You Interested in the Manager Position?

    "Not in a good mood because you forgot to bring paper?" Mayor Zhu displayed an expression that was a mixture of laughter and tears. What''s this got to do with anything? It''s clear that someone has offended you. Even if you need to find an excuse, can''t you at least put in a little effort?"


    "Alright, I''ve got it. Anyway, you''re the boss," Mayor Zhu chuckled, "Fortunately, we haven''t signed the contract, and the project funds haven''t been transferred yet, otherwise, there would have been a substantial penalty fee!"


    "It wouldn''t matter if there was a penalty fee," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "Then I won''t disturb you any longer."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone. At this moment, Zheng Hefeng''s hands started to tremble. Had Zhang Menglong actually made a direct call to the mayor? Did this huge order slip away from him just like that?


    In the crowd, Xing Zhe''s department head clearly heard the phone conversation that had just taken place, and the news suddenly sent him into an overwhelming excitement.


    As a competitor, he was naturally aware that Haisheng Group was handling a project worth several billions, but even if such an order were handed over to them, at Huabang, they wouldn''t be able to take it on.


    Such a huge project required tens of millions in initial investment alone, and their small company only had a few million in liquid assets¡ª not even the capital needed to start it up.


    But starting today, he believed that pies really do fall from the sky!


    A project worth billions was actually handed to them on a silver platter, and the investor even said they could pay all the project funds in one go!


    A project worth billions! If they really took it on, their company could make a profit of tens of millions at least!


    And from the tone of the conversation he had just overheard, this seemed to be just the first phase of the project; there would be other projects in the future!


    Given Zhang Menglong''s relationship with Xing Zhe, it was likely that all these big orders would go to their company in the future!


    "I must tell the boss about this news right away!" Huabang''s manager immediately left the crowd quietly, then dialed the boss''s phone.


    "President Su, it''s me, Liu Yiren!"


    "Manager Liu! I''ve got great news for you!" An almost uncontrollable excitement came through the other end, "The mayor just called me! The mayor! That construction project worth several billions has been given to our company, and all the project funds are to be prepaid! I feel like I''m still dreaming!"


    "President Su, that''s exactly what I was calling to tell you about!" said Liu Yiren.


    "What, you already know about this?" President Su was taken aback, having only just learned about it from the mayor.


    "I witnessed the whole process at Haisheng Group today!" Liu Yiren recounted the day''s events.


    "Do you mean to say that our company''s new intern has significant connections and is even classmates with the world''s richest person?"


    "Exactly. If our company wants to grow big, we absolutely must hold on tight to this opportunity!" Liu Yiren suggested, "I think this project should be managed by Xing Zhe!"


    "Nonsense, if not him then who?" President Su slapped his thigh, "Immediately wrap up the other projects you have on hand, and give your full support to Xing Zhe. Remember to watch your attitude; don''t forget that Xing Zhe''s family is also formidable. If he gets unhappy, our company won''t fare much better than Haisheng."


    "I understand, President Su! I''ll go arrange it right now!"


    ...


    Out of nowhere, Zheng Hefeng''s phone rang in the now-silent company plaza, causing his body to suddenly jerk. The incoming call display showed his father Zheng Pingxi''s number!


    "Dad..." Zheng Hefeng''s arm trembled as he brought the phone to his ear.


    "Hefeng, I''ve just received a notice from the board of directors that the project has been canceled. Do you know what happened?" Zheng Pingxi''s tone was somewhat chilling. Losing such a big project would have a significant impact on the company. They had even turned down many smaller jobs because of this project.


    "Dad... I..." Zheng Hefeng could already imagine how severe the consequences would be if his father found out that it was his fault.


    "Do you know something?" Zheng Pingxi caught the hesitant note in Zheng Hefeng''s voice and seemed to understand something at once, "Don''t tell me this has something to do with you?"


    "Dad... I, I seem to have offended Zhang Menglong." You can''t wrap fire in paper, and rather than bearing my father''s fury later, it''s better to come clean now.


    "Zhang Menglong? The twenty-something world''s richest man? How did you get involved with him?" Zheng Hefeng''s face turned grim in an instant, "How did you manage to offend him?"


    Zheng Hefeng recounted the events that had led to this moment, his heart now sinking to the bottom of the sea.


    "Again because of a woman! How did I end up with a son who only causes trouble?" Zheng Pingxi slammed his desk hard, "I''m telling you, this isn''t just about the project. If the company gets into trouble because of this, you might as well prepare to sleep on the streets from now on!"


    "Dad, what should I do now?"


    "What a silly question, of course you need to win the other party''s forgiveness. Just losing this project is already the best outcome, even though it''s a significant loss!" said Zheng Pingxi, "If you can''t solve this, don''t bother coming back!"


    "And that young man you offended called Xing Zhe, I don''t know who he is, but if he''s close to Zhang Menglong''s status, he''s definitely someone our family can''t afford to offend. Just figure it out yourself!"


    "Click!" Having said that, Zheng Pingxi hung up the phone abruptly.


    It''s not that Zheng Pingxi didn''t want to help his son, he was just a shareholder of a listed company, but Zhang Menglong played with buying listed companies like toys. Chairmen of companies dozens or hundreds of times larger than theirs had to bow and scrape before him. What could he possibly say?


    Zheng Hefeng felt a piercing cold inside, finally opened the car door, his legs so weak they barely supported his body.


    "Oh, decided to get out of the car, have you?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, this is my fault," Zheng Hefeng immediately lowered his head.


    "You didn''t insult me, what are you apologizing to me for?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Old Xing, you deal with it!"


    "Forget it, just don''t harass Qiuyi anymore." Xing Zhe shook his head, seemingly not intent on pursuing the matter further.


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong sighed. He knew Xing Zhe was too soft-hearted; to put it nicely, he had a mild temperament, but to put it bluntly, he was indecisive. Zhang Menglong had worried about him for many years, and the kid still hadn''t confessed his feelings to Chen Qiuyi.


    If things continued like this, the distance between them was bound to grow wider very quickly.


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang, thank you, Mr. Xing!" Zheng Hefeng nodded repeatedly.


    As for harassing Chen Qiuyi again, not even with ten times the courage would he dare.


    Setting aside the terrifying backgrounds of Zhang Menglong and Xing Zhe for a moment, Zhang had just said that Chen Qiuyi grew up with them. Even if his family background couldn''t match Zhang Menglong''s entirely, would it be much worse than Xing Zhe''s?


    If he harassed Chen Qiuyi again, it wouldn''t even require Zhang Menglong and the others to take action; Qiuyi''s own family would likely be the first to disapprove. Who knows if they''d send a fleet of Bentleys or Rolls Royces after him.


    It seemed he finally realized why Chen Qiuyi was so indifferent to him. His family wealth might seem considerable to the average person, but in Chen Qiuyi''s eyes, it probably wasn''t much different from kids playing house.


    "Let''s go, time to eat," Zhang Menglong clapped their shoulders, "Oh, and by the way, this is my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao."


    "Hello!" Chen Qiuyi, ever at ease, shook hands with her, and Xing Zhe, never much of a talker, simply nodded and smiled.


    "Sorry, I need to take a call." Xing Zhe suddenly noticed his phone ringing.


    "Su... President Su?" In all his time with the company, only his supervisor had kept in direct touch with him; he had never even exchanged a word with their president, President Su.


    "Young Master Xing, thanks to you, we managed to get that project from Haisheng Group."


    "Young Master Xing?" Xing Zhe didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. What kind of strange title was this?


    "Young Master Xing, since this project is from your friend Young Master Zhang, you''ll be in charge of it. I''ll arrange for everyone to assist you fully!" President Su said, "Also, let''s end your internship starting today, shall we? Are you interested in the position of Project General Manager?"

 Chapter 278 276 This is going to work for you for a lifetime

    "Project General Manager?" This title caught Xing Zhe off guard. Although their company wasn''t large, the position of a project general manager came with an annual income of at least three or four hundred thousand yuan. For someone with Xing Zhe''s education and capabilities, this was pretty much the ceiling for his entire career.


    Yet his company''s President was still using a tone of inquiry.


    "Indeed, you''re definitely not satisfied with such a minor position," hearing no response from Xing Zhe, President Su quickly changed his phrasing, anxious not to anger him, "How about this, you work in the company as a vice president. Aside from me, you won''t need to be responsible to anyone else."


    "Of course, for Young Master Xing at my place, it''s just a formality. If you''re in the mood, help us manage things; if not, just play some games at your desk, that''s fine. Let the people underneath handle the tasks!" President Su said obsequiously.


    "No need, I''ll just be a project manager," Xing Zhe wasn''t greedy, "I''ll still work hard on job-related matters."


    "Great! Great!" President Su agreed eagerly, thinking that Xing Zhe really was there to experience life and appeared not to be the kind of rich second generation who only depends on his family, "Then I''ll make the arrangements immediately. After the New Year, you can officially take the post. As for Manager Liu, he can be your assistant from now on!"


    The moment Xing Zhe put down his phone, his head was still in a daze. His former leader was now his assistant? But it seemed like he hadn''t done anything at all, even Zhang Menglong had done nothing. He had simply made a phone call to the mayor.


    Could one phone call really be that powerful?


    "Don''t be stunned, let''s change the venue. We don''t want these people to disturb our catching up!" Zhang Menglong patted his shoulder.


    Xing Zhe nodded, stealing a glance at Chen Qiuyi, then followed Zhang Menglong onto the Lambo.


    Only when that Lamborghini had driven off into the distance did the employees of Haisheng Group finally breathe a sigh of relief. There was such a figure hidden in their company?


    Especially the HR supervisor who had recruited Chen Qiuyi, she was astonished; that girl, who had seemed from an ordinary family yet was extraordinary in her abilities, actually came from a family of billionaires, and her friends were either billionaires or the world''s wealthiest. When had such hidden dragons and crouching tigers appeared in tiny Dongji City?


    ...


    "Menglong, thank you!" After maintaining silence for several minutes, Xing Zhe finally spoke.


    "What''s there to thank, with our decade of friendship, do you still need such empty words?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You are too soft-hearted. If it were me, I''d directly buy out that Haisheng Group and turn it into Haisheng Foot Massage, making that Manager Zheng give foot massages!"


    "Hahaha, who does it like you? Are you planning to open foot massage shops all over the world?" Chen Qiuyi laughed.


    "When are you two finally going to start dating? I''ve been anxious for you for years; if this continues, by the time my son is born you two still won''t have made any progress, right Yiyi?"


    "Your son my foot, who''s going to have your babies? I''m still a child myself!" Lu Yiyao laughed.


    "Don''t randomly matchmake, our friendship is pure!" Xing Zhe hurriedly explained in panic.


    "Come off it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Men and women have pure friendships only in one case: if one of them is extremely unattractive. Although you''re a bit fat, if you lose some weight, you could still turn into a handsome guy!"


    "Do you have to speak like that?" Xing Zhe was long accustomed to Zhang Menglong''s blunt way of speaking.


    "By the way, are you guys planning to stay in this city forever, not intending to go out and venture?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Elders at home are in poor health; I can only stay in Dongji City," Xing Zhe said, "Besides, with my education, if I went to one of those top-tier cities where you are, wouldn''t I be just rubbed into the ground by others?"


    "You can''t say that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I just have an average undergraduate degree, but I have many employees from the world''s top 10 universities under me. A bunch of masters and PhD graduates are all working for me, aren''t they?"


    "That''s because you''re Boss Zhang, how can we compare with you?" Chen Qiuyi said with a smile.


    "So what?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''m also just relying on my own parents, that''s my resource. But you guys can hang out with me, that''s your resource. Brothers of Zhang Menglong can''t be ordinary; they must be awesome!"


    "Alright, alright, you''re awesome, you''re awesome!" they all chatted and laughed as the car slowly drove into the Dongji International Hotel, which also happens to be the largest hotel in Dongji City.


    "The four of us are going to eat here?" Xing Zhe and Chen Qiuyi, who had never been to such a high-class hotel before, had heard that just eating a little something here could cost tens of thousands.


    Although Zhang Menglong is wealthy, and tens of thousands mean as little to him as a few cents, in their eyes, it seemed rather extravagant.


    "No worries, just think of it as your own home," Zhang Menglong laughed, "this hotel belongs to my family. Just think of it as visiting my home, is that alright now?"


    "Well, that''s more like it!" Hearing that, their mental burden was immediately halved.


    Having not gathered for so many years, Zhang Menglong and the two friends had a lot to catch up on. Recalling the days of their youth, continuous bouts of hearty laughter emanated from the most luxurious private room.


    The dinner went on until past eleven, and for the first time, Zhang Menglong drank a bit too much, so he had someone send Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe back home directly.


    "Mr. Xing, this is something Mr. Zhang asked me to hand over to you!" Before getting out of the car, the driver handed Xing Zhe a box.


    "Oh, thanks," Xing Zhe took the box, "what secretive thing is Old Zhang up to now?"


    Xing Zhe opened the envelope within, which contained a bank card, a business license, and the corresponding official seal.


    Jiangzhe Qiuyi Information Technology Co., Ltd.


    Paid-up registration capital: 10 billion


    Legal representative: Xing Zhe


    "This..." Xing Zhe flipped through another item, which was the company''s articles of association,


    Shareholders: Xing Zhe, contributing 5 billion Huaxia currency, 50%; Chen Qiuyi, contributing 5 billion Huaxia currency, 50%.


    Besides these items, there was also a note.


    "Xing Zhe, I''ve said that brothers of Zhang Menglong must be awesome. I''m leaving the factory project in Dongji City to you. There are 1 billion in this card; first go take an MBA, find a few reliable assistants, and don''t squander this bit of assets from me, the remaining is like an advance payment of your share of the profits."


    "You''re too timid, lad. I''m giving you another year. If you two aren''t together by this time next year, I''ll need to take this money back! And don''t even think about returning it, or else I''ll cut ties with you!"


    Though there were more capable people to manage the company which was prepared to produce photolithography machines and crystal chips, and surely there wouldn''t be an issue with loyalty, Zhang Menglong still wanted to give this opportunity to his good brother.


    Holding this heavy gift, Xing Zhe couldn''t help but show a bittersweet smile, "Big guy, you''re trying to make us work for you for a lifetime, huh!"

 Chapter 279 277: 500 Million Worth of Fireworks

    On the night of New Year''s Eve, every household was immersed in the joyous atmosphere of a family reunion, including those who usually stay indoors or are too busy to even have time for meals.


    In the urban area of Dongji City, there was Seaside Park where, after having the New Year''s Eve dinner, residents would gather each year to set off fireworks and enjoy the festive lights. This was the only day the city allowed fireworks and firecrackers.


    To address the pandemic, Dongji City''s Epidemic Prevention Station had set up barricades early in Seaside Park, only allowing citizens who passed a safety check to enter.


    Of course, being a native of Dongji City, Zhang Menglong also brought Lu Yiyao to Seaside Park. He didn''t use any special privileges. Privileges might be convenient, but they lack a certain human touch. Perhaps squeezing in with fellow townspeople in the crowd was what the New Year''s spirit was really about.


    Everyone wore masks, including Zhang Menglong, which spared him a lot of trouble since he was too easily recognized now.


    "Menglong, you came early!" A familiar voice called out from behind.


    "Wow, you can recognize me from this?" Zhang Menglong turned around and saw Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe smiling behind him.


    "You two..." Zhang Menglong noticed that their hands were interlocked, "Wow, did you finally muster the courage to be brave for once?"


    Xing Zhe sheepishly rubbed his head, originally too lacking in confidence to confess his feelings. But now, the encouragement from Zhang Menglong had helped him regain his confidence.


    Even though his abilities were lacking and his education wasn''t high, he was ready to improve, as long as he was willing to strive!


    As for Chen Qiuyi, she had actually been waiting for Xing Zhe to speak up. Thus, the two of them naturally made their relationship official the night before.


    "It''s all thanks to you," Xing Zhe said with a smile.


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong glanced at the time, "this works as a gift to celebrate you guys getting together too!"


    "Huh? What do you mean by ''it''s almost time''? A gift? What do you mean?" Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe were confused.


    "Make way, everyone, please make way!" Just as everyone was awaiting the fireworks display, a group of uniformed personnel began to clear the path by the seaside, and several large trucks slowly parked there.


    "What''s going on? Why are there trucks coming?"


    "They''re probably for the fireworks. After all, the annual fireworks show is organized by Dongji City''s government; it has to be on a grand scale!"


    "Brother, you''re telling me ¡ª this is called fireworks!"


    As the first truck''s cargo was unloaded, everyone''s eyes widened.


    It was a spherical object with a diameter of over one meter. As for its weight, people couldn''t possibly move it; instead, another crane was brought in to lift it.


    "That''s Huaxia Jade!" someone exclaimed at that moment.


    "Huaxia Jade? Is that the firework that recently set a Guinness World Record?"


    "Damn! Is this really a firework?"


    "Good lord, isn''t that like a nuclear bomb? How impressive must the explosion be?"


    "I''ve heard of this thing. Before last year, the Guinness World Record was held by a firework called ''Four-Foot Jade'' from Kaibong, with a diameter of over one meter and a weight close to five hundred kilograms, costing about 200,000 Huaxia dollars. But this Huaxia Jade, with a diameter of 1.6 meters and a weight of 1.3 tons, costs 500,000! The explosion radius could exceed one kilometer!"


    "How many are there!" As dozens of trucks lined up there, many people began to estimate.


    "You mean the gift is this?" Xing Zhe pointed at the row of trucks.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "a total of 1000 pieces, I guarantee you''ll get your fill tonight!"


    "1000 pieces?" Xing Ze''s eyes went wide. One Huaxia Jade cost 500,000; 1000 of them would be 500 million. This wasn''t just setting off fireworks; this was literally lighting up money!


    All the "Huaxia Jade" were densely packed on the ground, almost triggering a claustrophobe''s anxiety.


    "There must be at least seven or eight hundred pieces. This can''t possibly be fireworks prepared by the government!" someone immediately said.


    "Could it be some tycoon from Dongji City?"


    "Me go? Our little place has people this rich? Spending hundreds of millions on fireworks? Are they printing money at home or what?"


    "No way, gotta post this on social media right away!"


    In just a few minutes, the news spread like a virus.


    "What? Dongji City is setting off hundreds of Huaxia Jade fireworks?"


    "Damn! Dongji City is so wealthy, and I had no idea?"


    Those who had planned to stay home for the New Year immediately put on their clothes and rushed towards Seaside Park, realizing that missing such a spectacle would be a lifelong regret!


    "Any brothers from Dongji City? Begging for a live stream!"


    As for people from other cities, even if they saw the message, they could only silently envy.


    "Ten! Nine! Eight..." The countdown echoed by the seaside, everyone eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new year,


    "Three! Two! One!"


    "Boom!"


    As the New Year''s bell rang, a huge red dot soared into the sky.


    "Look quick!"


    "So bright, isn''t that gorgeous?"


    "Is this really fireworks? If you told me it was a nuclear bomb, I''d believe it!"


    Countless people gazed at the bright spot in the sky.


    It wasn''t that they were exaggerating, but that the bright spot was too dazzling, almost as bright as the sun even hundreds of meters in the air.


    "Boom!" With the deafening explosion, a stunning firework burst forth in the sky.


    "Boom boom boom!" A thousand Huaxia Jade rockets consecutively soared, completely illuminating the city''s sky.


    "Happy New Year!" In this festive atmosphere, everyone smiled and exchanged greetings.


    These thousand Huaxia Jade fireworks lasted for a whole hour before they finally ended, and the citizens also began to set off their own fireworks, which seemed a bit lackluster after such a display, just for a bit of fun.


    However, in just a few minutes, a trending topic quickly shot up the trend list.


    "Is a 500 million yuan fireworks display really something to cheer about?"


    In this message, some questioned the values of those setting off the fireworks, some criticized the massive environmental pollution caused by such a large-scale display, and even Dongji City itself was branded in an unflattering light.


    "500 million on fireworks, really impressive, couldn''t this money go to charity?"


    "A thousand Huaxia Jade rockets, hundreds of tons of gunpowder, how severe is the environmental pollution this must cause?"


    "Small places are just that, low quality of population, a little money turns them into nouveau riche!"


    "Trying to get famous with this kind of stunt? It''s so tacky!"


    ...


    "Menglong, look!" Lu Yiyao held up her phone to Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Damn," Zhang Menglong sneered, "Now even setting off fireworks gets you morally hijacked? I say they''re just jealous!"


    "Dongji City is a small place, a broken place, but I must say, if outsiders talk, I''ll cuss them out!" Zhang Menglong immediately took out his cellphone, "Like arguing, huh? My favorite thing is reasoning with trolls!"


    Zhang Menglong opened Weibo: "I set off these fireworks! Any objections?"

 Chapter 280 278 Actually, I Wanted to Keep a Low Profile

    ```


    "6666! I was wondering who had such capability! Turns out it''s President Zhang, then it''s just a basic move for him, everyone please take a seat quickly!"


    "Wow, throwing 500 million on a fireworks show, I''m impressed!"


    "President Zhang spends 500 million as if it''s 5 bucks, who''s still bickering? It''s his own hard-earned money; he can spend it however he wants, is it any of your business?"


    "Exactly, trying to morally kidnap him, right? If you''re so wealthy, why haven''t I seen you donating?"


    Zhang Menglong''s fans promptly stood up to defend him.


    "Ah, not sure if it''s society deteriorating, but nowadays people idolize money, and it''s truly sad!"


    "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Young people today can hardly understand this, preferring to spend hundreds of millions on flashy but frivolous things rather than contributing to the country and the people!"


    "After all, he''s a capitalist, where can one expect such nobility from them?"


    One after another, marketing accounts sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, not caring what they say. They were only concerned about whether they could catch the heat, gain traffic, and monetize. As for anything else, that was unimportant.


    But their words were quite inflammatory. Someone spending a few million on fireworks might not have drawn much attention.


    But this is a whopping 500 million! For 99% of people in this world, that number is astronomical. Maybe some could understand a millionaire throwing out a few million, but they can''t believe what kind of person could casually drop 500 million.


    In their eyes, if one could do this, then they must take on more social responsibility!


    Soon, the buzz over the 500-million-worth fireworks show even surpassed this year''s Spring Festival Gala.


    "Menglong, you alright?" Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe looked worryingly at Zhang Menglong. The intensity of online violence had reached a pervasive level, and they feared that Zhang Menglong would be affected by this incident.


    In fact, this matter wasn''t that big a deal to them, but since Zhang Menglong said that this fireworks show was also in celebration of their relationship, they couldn''t help but associate this event with themselves.


    "Those marketing accounts are really good at riding the trend!" Zhang Menglong sipped his bubble tea, gazing at the fireworks continuously blooming in the sky, his face showing no signs of worry.


    "Envy of the rich, I understand," Zhang Menglong said with a sneer. For most people, seeing someone worse off than themselves elicits sympathy, but seeing someone better off almost always brings about envy or resentment; such is a common trait of human nature.


    "I didn''t want to make such a high profile, but since they forced me, I had no choice," Zhang Menglong shook his head and started operating on his phone.


    "What are you doing?" The others watched curiously as Zhang Menglong busied himself on his device.


    "Nothing much, just about to slap them each with a reality check!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Firstly, regarding the pollution issue you all mentioned, this is the custom order for this batch of fireworks!" Zhang Menglong posted several screenshots on Weibo.


    Zhang Menglong''s batch of fireworks was indeed "Huaxia Jade", but the craftsmanship of this batch was different; it wasn''t made from the conventional gunpowder and sulfur, but from a sulfur-free pyrotechnic material.


    "Sulfur-free pyrotechnic material? What''s that about?"


    "I think I''ve heard of this, it''s the material used for making pollution-free fireworks."


    "There''s such a thing? So, you''re saying these several hundred tons of fireworks won''t cause any pollution?"


    "You can''t say it like that, nothing in the world is absolute, but the pollution they cause is at most equivalent to a few dozen kilograms of harmful substances produced by burning ordinary flames. On New Year''s Eve, doesn''t the amount of fireworks far exceed a few dozen kilograms?"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk! Typical President Zhang, I bet he saw this coming from a mile away!"


    "Guys, I''m splitting open here. Check out the price of this material!"


    "Ten times! The cost of this sulfur-free pyrotechnic material is ten times that of ordinary pyrotechnic materials?"


    "Damn! So, you''re saying the price of this batch of ''Huaxia Jade'' isn''t just 500 million? It''s freaking 5 billion?"


    "Hahaha, damn! Ruthless!"


    "How many magnates in Huaxia even have 5 billion in cash assets? Can I get a like for this?"


    "Hello everyone, I''m Bill Gates, and I''ve fainted in the bathroom."


    "Hello everyone, I''m Ma Hua, now begging on the streets!"


    "Hello everyone, I''m Ma Yun, and I feel like a complete fool!"


    "Keep nagging about environmental pollution now, talk about a slap in the face, huh?"


    ```


    "Just now, President Zhang said, ''Firstly,''" which means there must be other news about to be revealed!"


    "Sitting tight!"


    The onlookers held their breaths in anticipation, furiously refreshing Weibo, eager for more drama.


    But before they could hear further from Zhang Menglong, news from the Jiangnan Historical Relics Museum broke.


    Jiangnan City Historical Relics Museum: I just saw someone saying that Mr. Zhang spent 500 million to set off fireworks but doesn''t contribute to society. What I want to say is, you don''t know shit about what Mr. Zhang does!


    Subsequently, the museum posted about the nearly ten national treasures Zhang Menglong had brought back from the auction.


    "Is that the legendary Imperial Jade Seal?"


    "My God, hasn''t that been lost for hundreds of years? It''s reappeared? Did President Zhang find it?"


    "I remember experts saying that it''s priceless. Even a few ten billion Huaxia currency wouldn''t be too much to ask for it!"


    "And this is Emperor Qianlong''s personal sword, another treasure missing for over a hundred years!"


    "The Lanting Preface! That''s the fucking Lanting Preface!"


    "The last beast head!"


    "My God, the combined value of these items must exceed ten billion Huaxia currency, right?"


    "More than that! Even in US dollars, it wouldn''t be an overestimation! These are national treasures, truly priceless!"


    "Did Mr. Zhang gather all these from abroad?"


    "It is said that the new building of the Jiangnan City Historical Museum was funded by Mr. Zhang!"


    However, the shock of the revelation had not yet subsided.


    The Huaxia Red Cross official Weibo posted a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion Huaxia currency.


    The Huaxia Association for the Protection of the Disabled showed a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion Huaxia currency.


    The Huaxia Children''s Welfare Association posted a donation slip from Zhang Menglong for 2 billion.


    ...


    "20 billion donated to each of the top ten philanthropic organizations?"


    "Those who were being sarcastic just now, come out and get smacked!"


    "Respect, respect. Stop hitting, stop hitting!"


    "President Zhang totally won this battle!"


    "The haters wanted to tarnish President Zhang''s reputation, but he doesn''t reason with you, he just talks money. How frustrated must you be?"


    ...


    "When did you do all this?" Lu Yiyao asked Zhang Menglong.


    "The day before I returned to Dongji City," Zhang Menglong said. When he learned that he had a monthly donation quota of 10 billion US dollars, he immediately made a donation to the largest Huaxia organizations.


    He had intended to be a low-profile individual, but since he was forced to disclose everything, he couldn''t help it.


    "Ah!" Just then, cries of alarm suddenly came from not far away, immediately drawing the attention of many.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. In that direction, there was a cloud of dust, with dozens of people lying on the ground wailing, and even the occasional glimmer of fire could be seen.


    "The fireworks exploded! Help! Call 120 quickly!"


    "Help! Quick, save us!"


    ...

 Chapter 281 279: I Only Saw That Truck Drifting Around the Bend

    "Something''s gone wrong!" Zhang Menglong and the others exchanged glances.


    Almost every year, various accidents occur due to the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers, and this time the situation was clearly extremely serious!


    The exploding fireworks were almost the largest size available on the market, worth tens of thousands of yuan. Although they couldn''t compare with Zhang Menglong''s "Huaxia Jade," the blast radius could definitely affect the surrounding dozens of meters, and the power was even comparable to some homemade bombs!


    Nearly ten victims were lying on the ground wailing; they all had burns of varying degrees. The two most seriously injured appeared to have been very close to the center of the explosion, even their arms and legs were blown open to expose the bones.


    "I''m trained in first aid, let me take a look!" Two girls in their early twenties immediately rushed into the crowd, "Back up, everyone back up, give them some fresh air! Does anyone have water?"


    "This victim''s blood loss is severe, we need to stop the bleeding immediately!"


    "No way! The wound is too serious, we don''t have the equipment, we can''t stop it!"


    "How long until the ambulance arrives?" one of the girls looked up and asked a bystander.


    "About 20 minutes!"


    "20 minutes? That''s 40 minutes round trip! We won''t make it in time!" the girl showed a look of worry.


    "Xu Yu, these patients have severe burns. If they''re not taken to the hospital soon, they will develop widespread infections, and I''m afraid they won''t survive the day!" Another girl was attending to a patient whose body was a bloody mess.


    This was a group of extremely unlucky middle-aged people; they were drinking and chatting together here. The blast from the explosion shattered the glass bottles and ignited the alcohol, and their seating area was right next to the pile of bottles.


    The flames quickly caught on their bodies; their hair was completely burned off and their faces were no longer recognizable, a burnt odor emanating from their bodies.


    With such severe burns, it was already a fatal situation!


    "No way! We can talk about the ones with minor injuries, but we can''t delay any longer for these four people!"


    "Today is New Year''s Eve; there are already fewer doctors on duty. The doctor on duty just reported a mass food poisoning incident in the Dongya Garden residential area, so the ambulances have gone there. We must call for ambulances from a more distant hospital!"


    "Why do all these problems have to happen all at once on New Year''s Eve?" The two girls trained in first aid suddenly felt somewhat helpless.


    "Ye Yin, how long will it take for our medical team to get here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m afraid it will take half an hour back and forth!" Ye Yin replied. "How about I just take them to the hospital myself?"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong said, "How would you explain that later on?"


    "We don''t have time, we must drive them there ourselves!" the two girls said.


    "I''ll do it!" A young man said.


    "No, such serious patients can''t be jumbled together. They must be laid out flat! They must be taken to the hospital within 15 minutes at most!" one of the girls concluded.


    "Plus, the ride can''t be too bumpy; the patients are in dire condition. Any small jolt could cause major bleeding, and if that happens en route, we''ll lose the patients!"


    The youth suddenly looked fearful.


    It wasn''t that he lacked confidence in his driving skills, but the situation was special.


    Seaside Park was located in the suburbs. There was a particularly rough patch of road on the way to the main street. To avoid bumps, speed would have to be sacrificed; if speed was the aim, there would definitely be bumps.


    Even seasoned drivers with twenty or thirty years of experience couldn''t guarantee a 100% smooth ride.


    Moreover, it was a 20-minute drive to the nearest hospital. To get there within 15 minutes, even with the cooperation of the traffic department, was essentially gambling with lives.


    "I''ll do it!" Zhang Menglong considered for a moment and then looked at a truck not far away, "Put the patients on the truck, I''ll take them!"


    "A truck?" Everyone looked at the young man wearing a mask and a hat.


    Yes, to transport all the patients at once, a truck was the best choice. But trucks, both in terms of speed and performance, were never comparable to cars.


    "What are you standing around for? Bring it up here!" Zhang Menglong yelled.


    "We''re going too!" The two girls exchanged glances, seeing thick confidence in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, "If there really is an accident on the way, we can also help deal with it."


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong did not refuse, although it was his first time driving a truck, and he didn''t even have a truck driver''s license, but in a life-or-death situation, he had no choice.


    Moreover, Takumi Fujiwara''s driving skills definitely were no joke!


    "Roar!" The roar of the truck''s engine filled the air.


    "Holy shit! Can a truck even make that kind of noise?"


    "I remember my old coach telling me, no matter what kind of manual vehicle, even a truck, as long as you achieve perfect coordination of the throttle, brake, and clutch, you can maximize the engine''s power. Just from the roar of this throttle burst alone, he must be an expert!"


    "Could he be a professional racer?"


    "But even racers drive race cars, this is a truck..."


    "He won''t be in trouble, will he?" Chen Qiuyi and Xing Zhe anxiously watched Zhang Menglong. During the summer break after high school graduation, Zhang Menglong had taken them out in his dad''s car, and when reversing into a parking space, he scraped someone else''s car and it was Zhang Menglong''s dad who had to clean up the mess.


    In their eyes, Zhang Menglong was a bona fide road menace.


    "He... He should be okay, right?" Lu Yiyao''s voice was shaky with doubt.


    "Roar!" With the cooperation of the people around, those with the most serious injuries were loaded onto the truck, and the two girls studying first aid also sat in the back to watch over the patients. Zhang Menglong floored the accelerator, and the truck sped off swiftly.


    "Slow down! Slow down!" Feeling the strong sea breeze, the two girls realized that the truck had already reached at least 80 mph, and it was still accelerating!


    But Zhang Menglong did not slow down, continuing to furiously press the accelerator.


    "There''s a sharp turn ahead! Slow down!"


    "Madman, we actually got in a car with a madman!"


    The two girls instantly panicked.


    The truck had reached the turn, an almost 120-degree sharp bend, but the speed on Zhang Menglong''s dashboard had already soared to 140 mph!


    "Beep beep beep!" Zhang Menglong honked the horn forcefully, warning the car ahead.


    The small car ahead swerved sharply to the side, as a blue shadow flashed past, overtaking it from the edge.


    Brake! Throttle! Clutch! Gear shifting! Zhang Menglong handled the truck with calm precision.


    "Screech!" With a piercing screech of friction, the truck actually executed an extreme drift around the corner!


    The two girls had already closed their eyes, but all they felt was a slight sway of the vehicle, and they had already passed the bend!


    "Did he... did he just drift?"


    "Seems like it... but I didn''t dare to look."


    "I didn''t really feel it, as if it was over in a flash."


    "He''s truly an expert!"


    The small car stopped on the roadside behind them, the couple inside looked at each other, their eyes filled with intense shock.


    "Honey, did you see that truck just now?"


    "I... I only saw the truck drifting around the corner, I didn''t even see its tail lights and license plate clearly!"


    "Unbelievable, to dare to drive a truck like that, could this person be the God of Cars from Mount Akina?"

 Chapter 282 280 The Legend of the Huaxia God of Cars

    "Slow down! There''s a really bad stretch of road ahead!" the girl warned while attending to the injured.


    But Zhang Menglong only slowed down a bit, and the truck immediately charged onto the muddy, yellow dirt path.


    However, the earth-shaking sensation they had anticipated didn''t come; the vibration of the truck was barely more than on the smooth road they had just been on.


    They let out a sigh of relief. Such vibrations shouldn''t affect the patient too severely.


    Moments later, the vehicle burst out of the small path and onto the road leading to the downtown area.


    "Emergency notice, emergency notice, severely injured patient needs urgent transport to the hospital, please cooperate with the mission and clear a life passage! Thank you for your cooperation!"


    The notification sound echoed on the road to the hospital.


    At this time, there weren''t too many vehicles on the road, but in the downtown area, there were still some cars coming and going.


    "Whoosh!" A blue apparition wove through the city streets, accelerating and drifting, maintaining a speed of over 200 km/h.


    "Old Wang, is this the car you were talking about?" a Dongji City traffic management system operator asked, pointing to a surveillance photo on the road.


    "I don''t know what kind of car it is, but the license plate should be Jiang L76679. Damn! What is this thing?"


    On the traffic monitoring system''s screen, a blue trail navigated incessantly through the traffic; its speed made all the other cars in its vicinity eat its dust. The dashboard showed that the vehicle kept a speed of 216 km/h even on the curves.


    "This... Is this guy insane? Driving like this? Quickly find someone to deal with this! It could cause a massive traffic disaster!" a traffic cop panicked.


    "Wait! Replay that in slow motion!" another traffic cop said.


    "Jiang L76679... That''s the license plate of the truck transporting the injured!"


    "You''re joking, right? Transport in a truck?"


    "That''s not the point! Have you ever seen a truck like this? Nearly 250 mph on a straightaway, over 200 mph drifting through curves, you tell me this is a truck?"


    "Look, that vehicle hardly even wobbles; can anyone actually drive like this?"


    "Not even the God of Cars from Mount Akina would dare to drive like this!"


    The two traffic cops stared dumbfounded at the blue streak racing down the road, even forgetting to continue warning the citizens on the road.


    But more bewildered than these traffic cops were the drivers on the road.


    "Damn! A truck transporting patients? That''s too badass!"


    "I''ve been a driving school instructor for thirty years. Does such driving skill really exist in the world?"


    "Drifting! A truck doing drifts, I''m literally splitting in place!"


    "Capture this, upload it online! This is definitely a world-class racer! We actually have such an expert in Dongji City, that''s amazing!"


    "Damn, I''m even seeing afterimages on my phone. Have I been stroking too much?"


    "Idiot, just record in slow motion!"


    ...


    "What''s going on up ahead?" Suddenly, Zhang Menglong noticed that the traffic light ahead was blocked by a bunch of cars, with only a narrow path left that just fit an ambulance.


    "It''s those ambulances dealing with food poisoning!" Zhang Menglong immediately realized.


    "Brother, the patient''s condition is becoming unstable, we need to pick up speed!" a girl in the back urged.


    The patient with the open fracture was still okay, his blood pressure was temporarily stable, and the bleeding was somewhat under control, but the conditions of the patients with severe burns were deteriorating.


    "We''re screwed! It''s blocked up ahead!!"


    "The truck is too wide, we can''t fit through that narrow path!"


    "Everyone move to the right side!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Secure the patients, don''t ask why!"


    Facing nearly a hundred meters of slowly congested road, Zhang Menglong actually pressed down on the accelerator again!


    "Hey, are you crazy?"


    "Ah!"


    The truck suddenly sped up, and Zhang Menglong whipped the steering wheel, the immense inertia lifting one side of the truck right off the ground!


    "What the hell is he doing?" Two girls immediately protected the patient with the fracture, making sure the other three patients stayed close to the triangular area inside the truck cabin.


    The truck didn''t tip over; instead, it kept going with its front lifted up, just high enough to pass through this section of traffic!


    "Look behind you! A truck is barreling through!"


    "Damn! What the fuck is this? The legendary blade overtaking?"


    "This ain''t no race car! It''s a truck!"


    "Holy shit! This is godlike!"


    "I know that one, it''s the Jiang L76679. My friend just sent me a video. That truck has four critically injured patients. I heard it hasn''t dropped below 200 mph the whole way, drifting through turns. I didn''t believe it at first, but now I''m convinced!"


    "Huaxia really is full of talent. This could very well be one of our own from Dongji City!"


    "Does Dongji City even have racers? I remember there was someone named Liu Aowei, but he retired years ago, and his record was just so-so. This ''God of Cars'' is definitely on another level!"


    "Damn! Way beyond! Find me a second person who can drive a truck like a race car. Jiang L76679, forever a legend!"


    ...


    In a journey that should have taken 20 minutes, Zhang Menglong only took 8 minutes. When the truck stopped in front of the hospital, even the engine began to smoke.


    After all, it was just a truck. That it managed to sustain such power until now was impressive enough.


    "Quick! Get them!" ER doctors who were already prepared at the hospital doors rushed to attend to the patients as soon as the truck stopped.


    "Patient conditions are good; this one with the bone injury needs a blood transfusion!"


    "Third-degree burns, prepare for immediate resuscitation!"


    "Huh? Where''s the driver?" The two girls who helped the doctors offload the patients immediately wanted to see who this impressive young driver was, but by then, the truck''s cab was already empty.


    ...


    After all, it was New Year''s Eve, and well past 1 a.m. Most people were deep in sleep, so the incident involving Zhang Menglong didn''t cause much of a stir.


    But this event wouldn''t just be covered up.


    The next morning, videos of truck license plate number L76679 drifting around corners and overtaking at speeds over 200 mph appeared on all major platforms, causing a national sensation.


    "My mom asked me why I was kneeling and gave me a 1000 yuan red envelope!"


    "Ah ba, ah ba ah ba..."


    "What''s the big deal? Professional racers can drift at 200 mph around a corner, right?"


    "I''ll slap your skull open, this is a damn truck! The most ordinary truck! Go find a pro racer and show me a 200 mph drift around a corner!"


    "And blade overtaking, too! It''s my first time in life seeing a truck able to do such stunts. It''s so cool!"


    "I heard that all the patients rescued by that truck have stabilized. The doctors said it was because they were brought in just in time. Ten minutes later, and who knows what might have happened!"


    "The great ones are truly among the common folk. I''d like to call him the ''God of Cars''!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars!"


    ...


    Not only did the story cause a stir in the country, but it also attracted significant international attention.


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars? Cool beans!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars? Yosha!"


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars, simida?"


    "I want to challenge this God of Cars! After Huaxia''s Spring Festival, help me book a flight to Huaxia, White Assistant!"


    "Get my car checked! In three days, we head to Huaxia to find this God of Cars!"


    "I want to see if I, America''s God of Cars, am stronger or if he, this Huaxia''s God of Cars, is even more powerful!"


    ...

 Chapter 283 281: Please bring enough stakes first

    "Woof woof woof!"


    After celebrating the New Year, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had returned to Jiangnan City before the crowd surge, and Wang Cai, who hadn''t seen Zhang Menglong for a week, rushed over, wagging his tail.


    Whether it was because he had eaten that Fighting Spirit Pill or not, Wang Cai''s appetite was astonishing. He was fed delicacies from the mountains and seas every day, yet his size had not increased, almost always maintaining the size they had adopted him with.


    But despite Wang Cai''s small stature, he had become the local tyrant of the neighborhood. Countless fierce dogs had been taught a lesson by him, and many lady dogs had fallen at his feet.


    "Alright, alright, stop licking, stop licking!" Lu Yiyao rubbed his little head, and Wang Cai finally restrained himself a bit.


    "Zhang Menglong! Zhang Menglong! Open the door!"


    "Damn, who is it? Just after New Year''s and you start bothering people, are you sick?" Zhang Menglong cursed as he went to open the door.


    "What are you doing here?" He saw Wang Ling standing outside, an extremely excited look on her face. "Did you win the lottery?"


    "No!"


    "Did your esports team scoop up some awesome player?"


    "That''s not it either!" Wang Ling said, her voice trembling, "The God of Cars! The God of Cars is here!"


    "The God of Cars?" Zhang Menglong panicked. Could it be that Wang Ling knew that he was the God of Cars from that day? But it didn''t make sense. Except for Lu Yiyao, Chen Qiuyi, and Xing Zhe, no one else should know he was the God of Cars!


    "No, that''s not quite right! To be precise, it should be the Qingqiu God of Cars, the Kaibong God of Cars, the American God of Cars, the Australian God of Cars¡ªthey''ve all come to Huaxia."


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong really didn''t react much. In this day and age, were there still people calling themselves the God of Cars?


    "Oh? You just ''oh''?" Wang Ling looked baffled. "Do you know what these people represent? Any one of them entering a global car racing competition could win the championship with their eyes closed! They are the true kings of the racetrack!"


    Wang Ling grew more excited as she spoke. "That Qingqiu God of Cars, dominating the entire Qingqiu racetrack for three years, hasn''t been surpassed to date. His drifting skills allow him to navigate freely at 200 kilometers per hour on those serpentine mountain tracks, where a slight mishap would mean tumbling down a cliff and shattering into pieces!"


    "Then there''s that American God of Cars, he''s only 21 years old, and he defeated the old God of Cars who had dominated America for five years in his debut race, truly a legendary ascent!"


    "And there''s more..."


    "Alright, alright, I''m not interested in these people. What are you trying to say, really?" Zhang Menglong said, exasperated.


    "They''ve all come to Huaxia!" Wang Ling said. "They want to challenge our Huaxia''s God of Cars to a showdown!"


    "You know, that God of Cars drives a big truck as if it were a racing car. When these Gods of Cars saw him, they all regarded him as the strongest opponent, so they''ve already started arriving in Huaxia these last few days."


    "We still have places for car racing in Huaxia nowadays?" Zhang Menglong frowned. "Even in those secluded places, if by chance someone shows up and encounters those speeding racers, that''s definitely a life-threatening situation!"


    Zhang Menglong had always been strongly opposed to car racing precisely because it was dangerous and irresponsible.


    "You''re wrong about that. In our Huaxia, there''s a legitimate international hill climb racetrack, and they''ve set this showdown there."


    "Oh, it has nothing to do with me." Zhang Menglong never wanted to become famous through car racing. He scoffed at these so-called Gods of Cars. Even if they were great, could they compare to the racing techniques he had learned from Super God Academy?


    All he had to do was start running, and those people wouldn''t even see his taillights!


    "Seriously, are you even a man? Such a thrilling matter, and you''re not excited?" Wang Ling said. "These four Gods of Cars arrived in Huaxia yesterday and are currently in Yanjing. Qin Feng, that kid, also likes car racing and is on good terms with these Gods of Cars, so they are temporarily staying at his place, just waiting for the God of Cars to show up."


    "Haha, maybe they''ll all wait in vain. Maybe the God of Cars doesn''t want to race with them?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What? Do you know that God of Cars?" Wang Ling asked.


    "Of course I know him," Zhang Menglong muttered under his breath, "The God of Cars is right in front of you."


    "Then help me set up a meeting with this God of Cars, a race with five Gods of Cars would absolutely rock the entire racing world of Asia and even the global racing community!"


    "My friend prefers to keep a low profile," Zhang Menglong explained, "If he really wanted people to know, why do you think he left immediately after dropping the injured at the hospital?"


    "This..." Wang Ling was also stunned.


    Yes, ever since that incident, everyone in Huaxia had been searching for this God of Cars, but from the surveillance footage left in the traffic system, one could only see the God of Cars dressed in black clothes, wearing a mask, and a hat.


    Even because the car speed was too fast, all the footage was blurry. Trying to find this God of Cars in Dongji City was almost like finding a needle in a haystack.


    "This is going to be tough," Wang Ling scratched his head.


    "Principal Wang, those Gods of Cars don''t seem very friendly!" Lu Yiyao chimed in as she listened to Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling''s conversation.


    "Huh? What do you mean?" Wang Ling didn''t understand what Lu Yiyao was talking about.


    "Look!" Lu Yiyao handed over her phone.


    "This is..." On Lu Yiyao''s phone was Feisbook, the social media platform most popular with foreigners, and those Gods of Cars had actually issued a challenge to Huaxia''s God of Cars three days ago.


    This was a gambling battle, five people, each betting one million US dollars, and whoever won last would receive a reward of four million US dollars from the other four.


    This was a challenge issued jointly by the four Gods of Cars, attracting lots of foreign netizens'' likes, and even many Huaxia users were highly concerned about this matter.


    At the same time, there was an identical challenge on Facebook.


    "You still check Feisbook?" Zhang Menglong laughed, he had never had the habit of browsing Facebook or Feisbook, and if no one had told him, he wouldn''t even know someone wanted to challenge him.


    But three days had passed, and this Huaxia''s God of Cars had still not responded at all.


    Those foreign Gods of Cars, each one arrogant, felt utterly disrespected by the lack of response, which clearly meant they were being looked down upon!


    So just yesterday, they posted a new status, filled with provocations, which outraged many Huaxia netizens and was also reposted to Weibo, and Lu Yiyao found their challenge from a few days ago through this new message.


    "Huaxia''s God of Cars is just trash, doesn''t even dare to accept a challenge! Huaxians are all a bunch of wimps!"


    This statement wasn''t just insulting the God of Cars but even insulted all people of Huaxia!


    "Idiot, you guys blabber on Facebook and Feisbook all day long, who knew you wanted to challenge the God of Cars!"


    "Exactly, do you even know how to use Weibo? Morons!"


    "You want to race the God of Cars? You might not believe it, but if you truly raced, you wouldn''t even see the tail lights of his car!"


    "Want to race the God of Cars? First, try drifting a truck at 200 km/h on the highway and get good at it!"


    This God of Cars was already mythicized in the hearts of netizens, and hearing the insults toward the God of Cars and toward the Huaxia people, everyone was filled with righteous indignation.


    "This is more than unfriendly, it''s simply courting death," Zhang Menglong''s tone was icy.


    "A bunch of poor bastards, daring to act tough in Huaxia for just one million dollars each?" Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and accessed his profile.


    "The God of Cars is my friend, and he asked me to tell those foreign idiots that a one million dollar bet is not worthy to race him, if they want to race, please bring enough money first!"

 Chapter 284 282: You Guys Go Crowdfunding

    "Boss Zhang is out, Boss Zhang is out!"


    "Damn, so the God of Cars is a friend of Boss Zhang! Birds of a feather flock together, badass people do hang out with other badass people!"


    "Boss Zhang''s friend? Why do I suspect Boss Zhang is making this up out of thin air?"


    "Hahaha, Boss Zhang, are you saying that this God of Cars friend is actually yourself?"


    "Hello everyone, I''m Zhang Menglong''s former driving instructor. He passed Subject One in one go, failed Subject Two once, and failed Subject Three twice. I can assure you he''s definitely not the God of Cars!"


    "Hahaha! Even Boss Zhang''s driving instructor has come forward to debunk this, so now I believe Boss Zhang isn''t the God of Cars!"


    "Hahaha, turns out that even a rich and mighty person like Boss Zhang has to take the driving test several times. Those stories about someone throwing around a hundred thousand bucks to get a license in three days are all lies!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, so you failed Subjects Two and Three!" Wang Ling mocked Zhang Menglong to his face.


    "Screw it! Why the heck are you laughing! I was just not focused on learning to drive back then; otherwise, I''d already be the God of Cars!" Zhang Menglong retorted defensively.


    "Do you really know the God of Cars?" Wang Ling pressed.


    "I do!" Zhang Menglong said. "We''re from the same hometown. He''s settled down in Jiangnan City now. We even had dinner with him a few days ago, right, Yiyi?"


    "Yeah," Lu Yiyao nodded with a stifled laugh. When Zhang Menglong started acting, as his girlfriend, she always had to play along with his performance.


    "The God of Cars is in Jiangnan City?" Wang Ling was thrilled. "Tell me where he is; I''ll go find him right now!"


    "He wouldn''t see you," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "A bet of a million US Dollars, to repel a beggar?"


    "This..." Wang Ling didn''t know what to say.


    A bet of a million US Dollars was indeed quite substantial, and these Gods of Cars weren''t any super-rich tycoons. Even for international competitions, the prize money for the champion barely reaches a few million.


    But car racing, it''s a money-burning activity.


    The race cars of these Gods of Cars were all modified bit by bit by themselves. Every part, every parameter, was their blood, sweat, and tears, and those who understand car modifications know just how expensive it can be.


    Let''s not talk about others; taking Qin Feng as an example, he has already spent over ten million US Dollars on modifications for his race cars.


    And yet, Qin Feng has virtually no reputation in the racing world!


    So, these Gods of Cars really wouldn''t have that much money.


    "My friend says, you poor souls should go back to your own country and scrape together some money; no point in racing if you''re broke!" Zhang Menglong posted another social media update.


    "666! Worthy of the God of Cars! That''s the attitude a God of Cars should have!"


    "Hahaha, exactly, what''s the point of racing without money! He''s a friend of Boss Zhang; a million US Dollars, isn''t that an insult to the God of Cars?"


    "Better hurry back to your country to gather money, right? Or maybe we can lend you our crowdfunding platform until you raise enough to compete?"


    ...


    "You, you''re really stirring things up!" Looking at the provocative words, Wang Ling could only feel helpless, but there was no help for it, the man was Zhang Menglong''s friend. If he wanted to race and didn''t have the money, would Zhang Menglong just stand by and do nothing?


    As for Zhang Menglong discussing money, his starting point is in the billions, right? A million or two million US Dollars really wouldn''t catch his eye, and even participating in such races would feel somewhat demeaning!


    ...


    In a presidential suite of a five-star hotel in Yanjing, Huaxia, Qin Feng was holding a beauty while watching a rally race that took place in America last session.


    Four young men were sitting around him, one big and strong, one handsome and charming, with the other two barely passable as rugged.


    They were the four Gods of Cars who had come to Huaxia this time.


    "Mr. Qin, are all you Huaxia people so arrogant?" Skliri from America was getting a bit testy, his tone becoming somewhat confrontational all of a sudden.


    "Watch your language, Skliri!" Qin Feng''s tone was icy. "You''ve been hurling insults at us Huaxians on Facebook and Fess Blogger, and I haven''t even settled the score with you yet. Although you''re the God of Cars from America, strip away that title, and you''re nothing!"


    At Qin Feng''s words, Skliri trembled, indeed, he had forgotten how terrifying the young Huaxian beside him could be.


    "But Mr. Qin, he won''t even bet a million US dollars, does he think he is the richest man in the world?"


    "Hehe, don''t you guys ever watch the news?" Qin Feng sneered, "He is the current richest man in the world, and when it comes to money, he has the capital to boast about it!"


    Thinking back to the brief interaction he had with Zhang Menglong, Qin Feng found it somewhat amusing. He initially thought Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary tycoon''s son, but to his surprise, in just a few months, Zhang''s fame had surpassed both Wang Ling''s and his own.


    In the past, when people discussed wealthy second generations, they talked about him and Wang Ling, but now, they were no longer the topic of conversation.


    "With Zhang Menglong as his backer, a million US dollars really isn''t that attractive. You guys had better prepare some more money!"


    "Hmph, we are incredibly wealthy in America, isn''t it just money?" The young God of Cars from America also came from a quite affluent family. He made a phone call, and suddenly his confidence surged.


    "I''ve asked my family for 5 million US dollars, should be enough now, right?"


    "Hahaha! Skliri, I think it might not be enough," Qin Feng laughed.


    "Then make it 10 million US dollars!"


    "You guys go ahead and try!" Qin Feng slapped his forehead, feeling that these people were utterly clueless, akin to playing the lute to a cow; they had no idea how wealthy Zhang Menglong was.


    "10 million then, 10 million!" The other Gods of Cars might not have much money on them, but just based on their title alone, there were many people in their home country willing to do them this favor!


    ...


    "Menglong, these guys have registered a Weibo account called ''Challenge the Huaxia God of Cars''," Lu Yiyao had been keeping an eye on the matter, "They''ve now raised the bet to 10 million US dollars each person!"


    "Hahahaha! Look at the netizens! I''m dying of laughter!" Lu Yiyao was laughing so hard that her stomach hurt; the netizens'' evaluations were just hilarious.


    "10 million US dollars? I still don''t think that''s enough!"


    "Wow, they''re so rich, it''s been increased tenfold! But you''re still a bunch of poor slobs!"


    "Just 10 million US dollars? I thought it would be more, are they here to insult Boss Zhang and the God of Cars again?"


    "Boss Zhang can spend 5 billion on fireworks, and his casual donations are 2 billion, 100 billion US dollars isn''t even pocket change, brother!"


    "I''ve already thought out the script: Don''t waste my time if it''s not 100 billion!"


    The netizens were all looking forward to seeing what kind of response Zhang Menglong would give.


    But after waiting for half a day, Zhang Menglong finally responded, this time with just a link and a few words.


    "Sorry for the delay, I was occupied for a bit. Just spent half a day having our company''s tech people develop an international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser. You guys take it and do some crowdfunding, okay? Seeing as you''re so poor, I''ll say less, come find the God of Cars once you''ve raised 10 billion!"


    "Hahaha! What the hell? An international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser? Hahaha!"


    "I was wondering what Boss Zhang did in that half-day, turns out he was busy developing a new software feature, haha!"


    "Haha, I died laughing on the spot! The damage isn''t high, but the insult is strong, an international version of the Water Droplet Fundraiser, ahahaha!"


    "Coming at Boss Zhang and the God of Cars with just 10 million US dollars, isn''t this just BS?"


    "I can''t help but feel like donating to them!"


    "''Shrimp heroes'' but with ''pig hearts,'' it''s just outrageous!"


    ...

 Chapter 285 283: Actually, I Can Make This Thing at My Own Home

    "I mean, a $10 million gambling stake, dare you be any poorer? If you can''t afford to gamble, quit! I''ll throw out a number, $10 billion. If you can''t cover that, just roll back to driving a Didi to make money, and later on I''ll create an overseas version of Didi rideshare for you guys!"


    Indeed, just as everyone had guessed, to Zhang Menglong, $1 million and $10 million were as trivial as the difference between 10 cents and 1 dollar; they simply couldn''t spark his interest.


    "Well, he actually wants $10 billion; the guy just now must be one of the prophets, let''s finish him off tonight!"


    "$10 billion, I think I''ll never get a chance to see such a match in my life."


    "The internet is not above the law, no gambling allowed!"


    "Hahaha, I''m dying here, even the cyber police are out."


    ...


    "What, a $10 billion stake? Does he really think he''s the God of Cars?"


    Upon seeing this message, the international racers cursed heartily. What nonsense! $10 billion¡ªwho in the world could come up with $10 billion?


    Among these racers, Skliri from America was the highest earner. His annual earnings from his career added to endorsements and other incomes, could pull in over $40 million.


    But to raise $10 billion, he''d have to live 250 years without eating or drinking first.


    "Master Qin, your friend..."


    "Hahaha," Qin Feng couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing their crestfallen faces.


    As a racing enthusiast, Qin Feng had raced against them frequently, but due to a large gap in their skills, the money he''d lost was astronomical for an ordinary person.


    However, since he was outperformed, there was nothing he could do about it.


    Now, seeing them in despair, Qin Feng couldn''t help but feel secretly thrilled.


    "I''m at my wit''s end too. Zhang Menglong, there''s no one else in the world as rich as him. As his friend, what big winds and waves hasn''t this ''God of Cars'' seen? If you guys think you can use a stake to catch his attention, that''s going to be really tough."


    "Master Qin, we''ve come to Huaxia specifically to challenge the God of Cars, and we won''t rest until we find him!"


    "Master Qin, we''ve known each other for many years now. I heard that you have a good relationship with this Zhang Menglong. I hope you can help us!"


    "This...," Qin Feng said with a troubled look, "guys, I indeed know Zhang Menglong, but our relationship isn''t so close to that extent, so..."


    "Master Qin!" Skliri gritted his teeth, "you like that modified Aston Martin GT of mine, don''t you? If you can arrange a meeting with that God of Cars, I''m willing to sell it to you!"


    "Seriously?" Qin Feng''s eyes lit up.


    That Aston Martin GT had won the previous World Supercar Championship after being modified by Skliri.


    Typically, the common engines in Aston Martins are V12 or V8, because each car is designed with an overall balance and performance in mind. Modifying an engine not only requires solid technical expertise but also nearly a designer''s level of understanding of the vehicle.


    Skliri had managed to fit a V16 engine into that Aston Martin GT and even made many other modifications¡ªthe car''s top speed had even reached 370 km/h!


    Qin Feng had been eyeing that car for a long time. He was not short of money, but Skliri had been unwilling to sell, leaving Qin Feng with no options.


    But this time, he was even willing to throw in the car just to get a chance to face off against the God of Cars from Huaxia, showing how much he valued this title.


    "Master Qin, you''ve always wanted to learn my drifting technique, right? If you''re willing to help me, I''ll teach it to you!"


    Qin Feng''s eyes grew even wider¡ªthe signature move of that racer from Qingqiu was his incredibly precise drifting technique, something he hadn''t even taught his own disciples!


    "These guys are really going all out," Qin Feng thought. Although he wasn''t as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, he had more than enough money to splurge across several lifetimes. When people reach their level of wealth, they like to spend money on their hobbies.


    He really couldn''t resist such offers.


    "I can only try to speak on your behalf, but I can''t guarantee it''ll work!"


    "As long as Master Qin is willing to help, even if it doesn''t work out, we''ll owe you a big favor!"


    "Okay!" Qin Feng had kept Zhang Menglong''s contact info from before. Although they weren''t as close as he was with Wang Ling, they were still ordinary friends. But to ask Zhang Menglong for this favor, that ordinary friendship might not be enough!


    His eyes darted around¡ªZhang Menglong wouldn''t be swayed by these tactics, so he''d have to start with someone close to him!


    ...


    By evening, Zhang Menglong had almost forgotten the matter entirely. After all, he truly didn''t care about the title of ''God of Cars''. Spending a day racing for a mere ten million US dollars seemed pointless. Why not spend some money to earn Cred Points and improve himself at Super God Academy?


    "Hey Zhang, I''m in Jiangnan City. Got time to grab a meal? Bring your girlfriend too!" While pondering what to eat, Zhang Menglong received a call from Qin Feng.


    "Mr. Qin, how come you have time to invite me to dinner?" Since their last meeting, Zhang Menglong had only dined with Qin Feng once.


    "I''m here on some business, and it''s been a while since we met."


    "Sure, where? I''ll head there now!"


    "Come to Yunfeng International Hotel. It''s my own property, and I''ll have someone wait for you outside!"


    "Great! I''ll be there now!"


    ...


    Yunfeng International Hotel was a five-star chain, and until then, Zhang Menglong hadn''t realized it belonged to Qin Feng. He had only heard of its high standards and that its costs far exceeded those of a typical five-star hotel.


    As Zhang Menglong stood in front of the hotel that resembled a piece of artwork, he instantly understood why the price was justifiably high.


    Indeed, as Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao arrived, someone was already there to greet them. Led by the hotel manager, they were taken to a room on the highest floor, where Qin Feng was already waiting.


    "Old Zhang, long time no see! Glad you could make it!" Qin Feng greeted warmly, "Come, take a seat, Manager Xu, let''s have the dishes served!"


    "Who is this?"


    "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Wei Jinghong." Qin Feng introduced.


    "The Wei family?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. He knew Qin Feng''s background was not ordinary. Rumor had it, he had powerful connections, quite extraordinary indeed.


    Among those surnamed Wei in Huaxia, it seems there was only one notable person, and looking closely, Wei Jinghong did bear some resemblance to that person.


    "Arranged by my family!" Qin Feng whispered into Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Man, this must be an arranged marriage!" Zhang Menglong thought to himself.


    "Let me introduce you, my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao, we met online!"


    "Damn, you''re the real player!" Qin Feng, who usually seemed like someone for whom free love was a luxury, had always thought that Zhang Menglong would face similar restrictions in dating.


    Dating online was something that shouldn''t fall on him! This made Qin Feng believe that Zhang Menglong''s background was even more mysterious.


    "Hello Mr. Qin!" Lu Yiyao greeted openly.


    "Hahaha, Miss Lu must have something special about her to make this guy so head-over-heels," Qin Feng joked, "I haven''t prepared any special gifts this time, so consider this as a meeting gift!"


    Qin Feng gave Wei Jinghong a nod.


    Wei Jinghong smiled slightly and handed over a beautifully wrapped box containing a key to a Maserati.


    "When I first met Menglong, he gave Wang Ling and me a sports car each without a second thought. It''s the first time I, Qin Feng, have been splashed with money like this!" Qin Feng reminisced about their initial meeting, "This is a token of my gratitude!"


    "This..." Lu Yiyao was momentarily at a loss. Just by the emblem, she knew the car was expensive. Although she had been with Zhang Menglong for a while, she hadn''t received such an extravagant gift from anyone else.


    "This is the new limited edition Maserati sports car. It''s not too pricey, just 12 million Huaxia yuan, but there are only three in all of Huaxia. I managed to get one through my connections at the club," Qin Feng continued, unable to hide his pride.


    Such things aren''t available just by having money. Even Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be able to get one, unless Maserati was owned by his family.


    "What''s that expression for?" Qin Feng noticed Zhang Menglong''s half-smiling face, "It might not be as flashy as the one you gave me, but isn''t it the thought that counts?"


    "It''s not that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This car actually costs less than two million to make, and besides, my family can manufacture them. There''s no need for you to spend so much!"


    "Your family can manufacture them? What do you mean?"


    "Sigh, Maserati belongs to my family! When the first car rolled off the line, it was parked in my garage. We even have a deluxe version. Does your girlfriend like it? If she does, I can have one driven to you tomorrow!"

 Chapter 286 284: The loser leaves their drivers license and racing permit

    "Advanced edition?" Qin Feng''s expression changed, for he naturally knew some things that ordinary people did not when he purchased the car.


    This new limited edition Maserati had a unique, discontinued model design, of which it was said only one vehicle was produced and not offered for sale. Reportedly, it was kept by the Maserati boss, Franca Maserati.


    As a hardcore car collector, for Qin Feng, if there was a car he liked, there were few he couldn''t get his hands on, hence his relationships with many founders and owners of sports car brands were quite good.


    With luxury car brands like Maserati, Qin Feng had collected many limited edition cars; he had even dined with that beautiful boss of Maserati several times.


    "Old Zhang, you don''t have to pretend with me, do you? I know the owner of Maserati. I had dinner with Miss Franca just last month!"


    Zhang Menglong shrugged, "That, you wouldn''t know. Maserati''s founder, Alfieri Maserati, was a very thoughtful person whom my great-grandfather met while traveling in Europe. When he started the company, it was my great-grandfather who funded it. I hold 92.5% of the company''s shares!"


    Zhang Menglong laughed, "The car was delivered to me as soon as it came off the production line. It''s now in my home''s underground garage. Want to take a look?"


    "I... I lose!" Stunned for a few seconds, Qin Feng finally uttered these two words.


    "Cough cough cough! It''s just a gift!" Qin Feng hinted to Wei Jinghong with a nudge of his eye.


    Wei Jinghong smiled, knowing Qin Feng was famously face-conscious. When he came, he really did prepare another gift.


    "How about it, you can''t produce a second one of this, can you?" Qin Feng smiled.


    It was another exquisite box, inside were a pair of pink diamond earrings, and by the look of their size, they were close to 10 carats!


    "This isn''t too big. It can''t compare to the 14.93 carat, VVS1 clarity pink diamond that was auctioned in ''17. But as you know, pink diamonds over one carat are already quite rare."


    The Pink Star that was auctioned that year, almost 20 carats, fetched a high price of 40 million US dollars. Although these earrings were far less substantial, they were still very valuable.


    Targeting Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend, that was Qin Feng''s plan.


    "This... it can''t be that you got this from the Cullinan mine, can it?" Zhang Menglong stared at the pair of pink diamonds and asked.


    "Holy shit, how do you know?" Qin Feng exclaimed.


    The pair of pink diamonds did come from the Cullinan mine. Qin Feng had met the owner of the mine at a wine party, and these pink diamonds were mined two months prior. They were reserved by Qin Feng back when the diamonds were still raw stones. Zhang Menglong was not supposed to know about this.


    "Don''t look at me with such a surprised expression!" Zhang Menglong said, "When this thing was unearthed, Gokhan asked me if I wanted it. But what would I do with a broken diamond of less than 20 carats?"


    "20 carats... broken diamond... I''m..." Gokhan was the mine owner Qin Feng had met at the time; he even inquired with Zhang Menglong when the diamond was mined? What kind of relationship did they have?


    "Alright, I know what you''re going to ask. That mine is also mine. Gokhan just manages it for our family."


    "I''m fricking torn apart!" Qin Feng had a vacant look, "I was too hasty."


    "Okay, unsolicited offers are from scammers, at best. Out with it, you''re working so hard to bribe my girlfriend; what do you need my help with?" Zhang Menglong directly pointed out Qin Feng''s intentions.


    "You, you have no sense of tact at all. Even if you did see that I have a request for you, you shouldn''t have said it out loud, you know, I''m a man who needs face!" Qin Feng''s face reddened.


    "Fine, then continue. Let''s see what other good things you can pull out!" Zhang Menglong watched as if he were enjoying a show.


    "No more, really no more!" Qin Feng was on the verge of tears. Now he understood, monetary strategies were useless against Zhang Menglong, and probably of no significance to the people around him either.


    "Actually, even if you don''t say it, I know. You''re here lobbying for those Gods of Cars, aren''t you?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "You''re no fun! Can''t you just let me spell it out? It makes me look not so smart!" Qin Feng was about ready to flip the table. When had he ever lost face like this?


    "I told you, all your little tricks are useless!" Wei Jinghong, sitting beside Qin Feng, laughed. It seemed she had foreseen the outcome of Qin Feng''s plans all along.


    "Fine, you win. From now on, you''re the boss at home," Qin Feng sighed.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s get formally acquainted. Wei Jinghong, the one you were thinking of just now, that''s my grandfather!" Wei Jinghong''s eyes twinkled with wisdom.


    "I knew it!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t surprised at all, but Wei Jinghong was indeed a very smart woman. If she entered politics in the future, she would probably, like her grandfather, become a person recorded in the history and political textbooks.


    "My grandfather is actually very interested in you. This visit isn''t just about his little issues," Wei Jinghong gave Qin Feng a sidelong glance. "If you have the chance, I hope Mr. Zhang will visit Yanjing. I will make sure to treat you well."


    "Miss Lu, let''s chat over there. Let''s not get involved in these men''s affairs," Wei Jinghong said affably, linking arms with Lu Yiyao. "If I''m not mistaken, the necklace you''re wearing is the Heart of the Ocean, right? The stuff Mr. Zhang brings out can''t possibly be fake..."


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong gave Qin Feng a thumbs-up. "You can handle such a woman?"


    "Cut it out!" Qin Feng grimaced. "This is sacrificing my future love life, ah. My family background is truly tragic, born to be manipulated by family members!"


    "Cut it out!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How many people wish they could be manipulated by such a family? So, tell me, what are those ''Gods of Cars'' up to exactly?"


    "Hehehe!" Qin Feng chuckled. "They just want to race against the ''God of Cars.'' They''ve put up some stakes that I''m really interested in, so I had to come to you with no shame!"


    With a pleading look, Qin Feng gazed at Zhang Menglong, "Menglong, help me out, will you? You must be familiar with the ''God of Cars,'' right? Help me set up a race with him, just one round. It''ll only take a few hours at most, won''t delay things too long!"


    "This..." Since Qin Feng had come all the way to Jiangnan City to ask, Zhang Menglong really couldn''t bring himself to say no.


    "I''ll ask for you!"


    "Hahaha! You''re the best!" Qin Feng was overjoyed.


    Zhang Menglong pretended to scroll through his phone while his mind whirred at high speed.


    Racing wasn''t out of the question, but Zhang Menglong never did anything that was a waste of time. If he was really going to race, then he had to gain something from this match.


    "My friend said, as long as you agree to two conditions, he''ll accept the challenge!" Zhang Menglong already had some ideas.


    "Speak!" Qin Feng said eagerly.


    "First, this race needs to go big. Not only should domestic media be there, but international ones as well. As for betting... let''s call it a prize. Otherwise, my friend is afraid of getting ''audited''!"


    "Hahaha! Easy to say, I can handle that!" For Qin Feng, with the resources at his disposal, this was a piece of cake.


    "Second, those four ''Gods of Cars'' have their countries'' racing licenses, right?"


    "Of course, they''re all professional race car drivers."


    "Then it''s easy," Zhang Menglong said. "The loser has to leave behind their car''s emblem, driver''s license, and racing license!"


    "Why''s that?" Qin Feng asked, puzzled.


    "My friend likes to collect trophies!" Zhang Menglong explained. "Whenever he won a race in the past, he''d rip off the other person''s car emblem and stick it on his own car. Now he likes to collect their driver''s licenses and racing licenses!"

 Chapter 287 285 What Kind of Crappy Car Is This?

    ```


    "The God of Cars from Huaxia accepts the challenge, the race will take place in three days at the Longyou International Rally Race Track in Jiangzhe Province, and there will be a live broadcast of the entire event!"


    A single message instantly rocked the entire nation''s netizens.


    Drifting continuously at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, overtaking like a blade, and the damn car being used is just a regular truck, this Huaxia Supernatural has become the most mysterious person in all of Huaxia recently.


    Just a few days ago, Dongji City even prepared a prize of 200,000 Huaxia Yuan and a Distinguished Contribution Citizen Award to present to this God of Cars, but the God of Cars has never shown up.


    The provocations from the Gods of Cars of the other four countries in the past few days had left every Huaxia netizen holding a breath of anger until Zhang Menglong''s voice emerged, which then calmed down some of the netizens'' rage.


    But in fact, everyone''s heart, they all want to see a match of equal strength, they want to see just how strong this God of Cars'' driving skills are, and whether they can defeat the Gods of Cars from the other four countries.


    After all, making the enemy back off with money or defeating the enemy completely with strength, the latter is much more exhilarating!


    On the day before the race, several ships stopped at the international port. For a racer, the vehicle is their best weapon, and for this showdown with the Huaxia God of Cars, they had their most prized cars shipped to Huaxia!


    This last day, they would use to test the performance of their own vehicles; the race absolutely cannot leave regrets due to car problems!


    ...


    The Longyou International Rally Race Track in Jiangzhe is exactly the one that Qin Feng funded and constructed five years ago! He leased a hilly area at that time, and it took three years to build this race track, but this track has already been commercialized. Except for occasionally indulging in a few laps himself, it is mostly used for events by car manufacturers.


    The full length of this track is 24.2 kilometers, and it is said that the cost per meter was around 8,000 Huaxia Yuan at that time, the value of this track is over a billion! In Huaxia, only a few people can make such a grand gesture.


    The onsite tickets for the race were all 2000 in total, and the sale price of 1888 was actually exhausted in a short one second, and the scalped tickets online were even being flipped for over 100,000 Yuan!


    It''s evident how popular the God of Cars is now; in the whole of Huaxia, probably only a few singers'' concert tickets could be snatched up to this extent.


    ...


    That morning, Wang Ling and Qin Feng rushed to Zhang Menglong''s house together.


    "What are you guys doing? Can''t you let me study a bit longer? I''m going to take the graduate entrance exam in less than a month, and now that the epidemic has passed a bit and I can take the test, don''t you two hinder my progress!" Zhang Menglong complained impatiently, holding a book.


    Of course, the book was not about high polymer material that he was supposed to study for the exam. The high polymer material technology of humans was almost child''s play for Zhang Menglong; he was reading about Artificial Intelligence wisdom that Teacher Tony had compiled for him.


    After Zhang Menglong used up that 10 billion US Dollars, he directly received 100 Cred Points. This time he successfully copied the Artificial Intelligence technology from Tony, but this thing was really too profound; although Zhang Menglong had mastered a lot of knowledge and principles, he also needed some time to digest it.


    "What are you looking at! This is a showdown between Gods of Cars, how often do you get one of these? And isn''t the God of Cars your friend? Aren''t you going to cheer him on?" Wang Ling and Qin Feng could not comprehend.


    "There''s no need to rush like this!"


    "Say, where''s the God of Cars?" Qin Feng asked, "Don''t let us down at the last moment. I called over reporters from cctv12345678 today, and my several media companies are also ready!"


    "Yeah, we were also thinking of meeting the God of Cars, isn''t he coming with us?"


    "Hey, don''t worry, if he said he would go, he will definitely go. Just don''t be too surprised or too excited when the time comes!"


    "Hurry up, stop reading! Let''s go!"


    "Damn, if you keep hindering my progress, you guys are responsible if I don''t get admitted to grad school, alright?"


    "Admit your der, with your net worth, does having or not having a graduate degree really make a difference to you?"


    "You guys don''t know shit, this is called life pursuit!"


    ...


    As dusk fell, the lights brightened up tonight''s Longyou race track.


    A huge LED screen stood on the summit''s plaza, and for this race, hundreds of drones and thousands of cameras would broadcast the entire event, ensuring every angle of the race was showcased without any blind spots.


    Not just in Huaxia, even many people from other countries were paying attention to this race, and even some other countries'' Gods of Cars titleholders had also brought an attitude of significance to watch this competition.


    "Menglong, let me introduce you, this is Fu Yuanhui, his dad is in charge of our Huaxia''s tax department, this is Wang Yijiu, his dad is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is Long Ao, his dad is the commander of the Second Artillery Corps..."


    ```


    Zhang Menglong and others squeezed into a VIP room; this racetrack belonged to Qin Feng, so he naturally had some special privileges. However, there were also many young people watching the race with them, each with a background so significant it was frightening.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve long admired your name!"


    "The richest man in Huaxia, hahaha, I''ve wanted to meet you for a long time!"


    "If you ever need any help, just let me know!"


    The second-generation heirs also shook hands with Zhang Menglong one after another. A world''s richest man was valuable networking for anyone.


    "Nice to meet you!" Zhang Menglong responded to them warmly.


    But the exchanges were just pleasantries, as today''s focus was the globally anticipated God of Cars race.


    Although there were many car gods around the world, the most influential were here, and it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that today''s winner could be called the world''s God of Cars!


    "Here they come!"


    "America''s God of Cars, Skliri Lebuck!"


    "The God of Cars from Qingqiu Country, Park Young-jun!"


    "Kaibong Country''s God of Cars, Kyoho Kazuichi!"


    "Australia''s God of Cars, Loraz Cotiss!"


    One by one, the four Gods of Cars made their appearance, and their cars were delivered to a square at the starting point of the race by four large trucks.


    The cargo doors slowly opened, and the sight of those four race cars caused a sensation.


    "Apollo''s Sun God! Holy crap, that''s got to be tens of millions in Huaxia currency, right?"


    "That''s not just any Sun God; it''s the limited edition Sun God GT. It''s more like tens of millions in US dollars!"


    "I heard that Skliri replaced the V12 engine in that car with a V16, slashing the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h from 3 seconds to 2.2 seconds, with a top speed of over 430 km/h!"


    "What about that car? It looks so cool!"


    "That''s the Sylphy SSC Tuatara, known as one of the fastest cars in the world, with a top speed of 440 km/h! It''s the treasured car of Qingqiu Country''s God of Cars, Park Young-jun!"


    "There''s also the Venom GT, a car that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds with a top speed of 420 km/h per hour! That one belongs to Kyoho Kazuichi."


    "The last one I know of is the Bugatti, also a supercar that can exceed a top speed of 400 km/h!"


    "These are just the basic stats! These cars have all been personally modified by those Gods of Cars; their real performance is probably much higher. This race is going to be unprecedented!"


    "What about the God of Cars? Why hasn''t Huaxia''s God of Cars shown up yet?"


    "God of Cars! God of Cars!"


    The crowd loudly chanted the name of the God of Cars, but the miraculous figure they envisioned had yet to appear.


    "These guys have really brought out their trump cards!"


    "Yeah, I heard that Park Young-jun spent more than double the value of the car on that SSC alone!"


    "If I were driving that car, I could shoot straight to heaven!"


    "Hahaha!"


    The second-generation heirs in the VIP room discussed the cars, each one making them green with envy, unsure of what surprise the God of Cars would bring them.


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong sighed, "All flash and no substance, what kind of crappy cars are these! Isn''t the Wuling Hongguang nice?"

 Chapter 288 286: The friend Im referring to is myself

    "A Wuling Hongguang?" The rich second generations looked at each other, not sure whether they should laugh or not.


    Zhang Menglong is at least the world''s richest man, so his collection of cars must be countless. Surely, he wouldn''t be lacking such common knowledge, right?


    These are all top-level sports cars, with each one capable of speeds over 400 kilometers per hour. A Wuling Hongguang wouldn''t even match up to one of their tires; this kind of joke isn''t funny at all.


    To rely on a Wuling Hongguang to beat those supercars, perhaps only the God of Cars, Takumi Fujiwara, could have that level of skill if he were still around, right?


    "Brother Zhang, you really have a sense of humor!" said the son of the artillery brigade Commander.


    "Joking? I''m not joking," Zhang Menglong said with an innocent face, "Racing depends on the person. The car is merely a tool. Even with a Wuling Hongguang, my friend can definitely win."


    "Brother Zhang, a Wuling Hongguang can only reach a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour at most. We believe your friend, the God of Cars, can reach 200 kilometers per hour anywhere, but so can these other gods of cars!"


    "Hahaha, that''s just an ordinary Wuling Hongguang," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh as he explained.


    "Brother Zhang, even if you fit a Wuling Hongguang with a V12 engine, the overall design of the vehicle simply can''t withstand such high speeds and the body is bound to flip over in a turn once it reaches a certain speed!"


    "Speaking of which, why hasn''t the God of Cars arrived yet? It''s almost time for the race; he couldn''t be scared, could he?" Someone started looking impatiently at their watch.


    This car race had become far more than just a simple competition; it involved the honor of several countries. Right now, countless eyes from all over the world were watching this event. If the God of Cars backed out, it would be Huaxia''s face that was lost!


    As time continued to march inexorably forward, even the palms of the race host were starting to sweat. They had expected the Huaxia God of Cars to arrive at the racetrack half an hour earlier, but now, they didn''t even know if he would come at all.


    So far, no one other than Zhang Menglong knew who this mystery driver was, nor could they contact him.


    "Old Zhang, can we really count on your friend?"


    "Yeah, isn''t he going to stand you up?"


    Even Wang Ling and Qin Feng were becoming somewhat nervous.


    "What''s the rush? We still have half an hour!" Zhang Menglong sat on the couch leisurely drinking his beverage and cracking sunflower seeds as if everything had nothing to do with him.


    "How can we not be anxious? The other four gods of cars have arrived. If he loses, wouldn''t it make us Huaxia people look like we''re all show and no go?" Qin Feng wasn''t lacking confidence in the God of Cars, but the other four drivers were just too strong, each with legendary achievements in their own countries.


    Yet regarding the God of Cars, their knowledge was still limited.


    "Haha!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Don''t worry Old Qin, my friend could win even with his eyes closed."


    "Old Zhang, now you''re exaggerating. Driving with your eyes closed, you might as well drop the ''Car'' and just call him ''God''!"


    "Yeah, be careful not to bite your tongue with your big talk!"


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s carefree demeanor, some people were beginning to feel dissatisfied.


    For these racing-lover second generations, racing was a sacred matter. Zhang Menglong''s dismissive attitude towards racing was causing their fondness for him to hit rock bottom.


    It''s true that Zhang Menglong was wealthy, and that did earn him some respect, but in the eyes of many, a businessperson will always be a businessperson. No matter how rich, in front of the power of the nation, they''re nothing.


    They believed that if there were a conflict with Zhang Menglong, his money would be no match against the power behind them.


    ...


    "Why hasn''t the God of Cars arrived yet?"


    "Is he playing the diva? If he loses, wouldn''t that be humiliating for us?"


    "He''s a god of cars, how can he not give us any face?"


    "Didn''t he just run away?"


    "Refund!"


    With only ten minutes left before the race started, even the spectator stands were getting restless.


    Many had bought high-priced scalped tickets, but so far, the God of Cars hadn''t shown up, leaving quite a few feeling irritated.


    "Alright, time''s just about up!" Zhang Menglong tossed the shell of the sunflower seeds into the trash can and then headed towards the exit.


    "Old Zhang, where are you going?" Wang Ling asked first.


    "Of course I''m going to the race," Zhang Menglong shrugged. "If I don''t show up soon, everyone''s going to think I''m a fraud!"


    "A race? You?" Wang Ling suddenly realized something, then his expression drastically changed, "You... you said that the God of Cars was your friend, didn''t you?"


    "Haven''t you heard of imaginary friends?" Zhang Menglong said. "The friend I spoke of is actually me!"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Motherfucker!"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng immediately felt like they had been played, especially Qin Feng, who had been thinking hard about how to get God of Cars to show up through Zhang Menglong. It turned out that Zhang Menglong was the God of Cars!


    "That''s not right! I remember on Weibo, your coach said that you failed both the subject two and three driving tests, and there were even test score sheets to prove it. Some people checked, and those records are real. How could you possibly be the God of Cars?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but question.


    200 km/h high-speed drifting, even overtaking with a big truck''s blade¡ªcould a person who''d only had their driver''s license for a few years, rarely ever driven, and even failed subject two and three be capable of such feats?


    "Menglong, it can''t be that this God of Cars has run away, can it?" Qin Feng said. "You should know that these guys are top-level pros among professional race car drivers. If you stubbornly pose as God of Cars, we Huaxia people won''t be able to hold our heads up in many places from now on!"


    "Yeah, don''t forget how you humiliated them in the beginning. I know these guys very well; each one of them holds grudges. If you lose to them, I don''t know how they''ll mock us online!"


    "Damn, playing us?"


    "Zhang Menglong, you think we''re all idiots?"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you think just because you have money you''re invincible? You might fool ordinary people, but you think you can fool us?"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng were still okay, but the other second-generation rich kids all had a sense of having been tricked.


    They''d been pampered all their lives; when had they ever been toyed with like this? Many of them even worshipped God of Cars as their faith.


    And now, a hard-hitting reality was right in front of their eyes.


    Either the God of Cars was a coward who was escaping battle, or God of Cars was a false image hyped up by Zhang Menglong, who even failed subject two and three.


    Regardless, both possibilities were unacceptable to them.


    "Alright, what''s the rush?" Although the second-gens spoke with a tinge of gunpowder in their voices, Zhang Menglong was not unreasonable. If it had been him being toyed with, his mood wouldn''t be great either.


    "I''ve already said, I could win against those wastes with my eyes closed, driving a Five-Ling Hongguang," Zhang Menglong laughed. "I don''t have many virtues, but I''m quite low-key. If it wasn''t for old Qin asking me, I wouldn''t even care about the empty fame of being God of Cars."


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, "Hong Yi, are you ready? Bring it over!"


    No sooner had he spoken than a violent wind kicked up at the entrance of the race track. A helicopter, scores of meters in length, unexpectedly rose from between the mountains. No one knew that a helicopter had been hidden in the depths of this canyon!


    From beneath the helicopter hung a squarish box. As the helicopter descended, the box landed steadily on the ground.


    "What''s that?"


    "Could it be God of Cars'' vehicle?"


    "Wow, such an entrance, a car delivered by helicopter!"


    "I''ve seen that helicopter before; it belongs to Boss Zhang!"


    "God of Cars is coming!"


    "Look, the box is opening!"


    "No idea what kind of car God of Cars has, but it must be amazing, right?"


    ...


    The God of Cars hadn''t shown up, but his car had already caught everyone''s attention.


    "Boom!" The sides of the box folded down in four directions, revealing the true face of the car within.


    "This..."


    "You''re kidding, right?"


    "Motherfucker... a Five-Ling Hongguang?"

 Chapter 289 287: This is not an ordinary Wuling Hongguang

    ```


    The appearance of this Five-Weeley Hongguang immediately caused an uproar of exclamations, whether from the audience on the scene or the fans watching the live broadcast, each of them had expressions as if their jaws were about to drop.


    "6666! The God of Cars'' ride is a Five-Weeley Hongguang, which makes total sense!"


    "I give this arrogance 99 points, one more and I''d fear the God of Cars would become arrogant."


    "Worthy of the God of Cars, just casually making an entrance with a Five-Weeley Hongguang, this is practically mockery!"


    "Why do I feel like this style of doing things is a bit like Boss Zhang''s? Such a showy move, I''ve only seen it from Boss Zhang!"


    "Worthy of being friends with Boss Zhang, the God of Cars is also showy to the max!"


    "Hahaha, what God of Cars, they better roll back to their countries. In the eyes of the God of Cars, a Five-Weeley Hongguang is all it takes to beat you!"


    "But seriously, even if the throttle is smashed, this Five-Weeley Hongguang couldn''t get past two hundred, right? This God of Cars really looks down on people!"


    "Exactly, I don''t know about the other Gods of Cars, but that one from Qingqiu Country has shown drifting around a turn at 250 kilometers per hour. Even if the God of Cars is skilled, can he make a car with a 200 limit go 250?"


    ...


    Even the audience knew this common sense, so how could the Gods of Cars not know?


    When they saw this Five-Weeley Hongguang, they were all dumbfounded, this was no longer a challenge, it was outright humiliation!


    Zhang Menglong is the world''s richest man, with a net worth close to a trillion as published on the Forbes rich list. He could humiliate them with money, and they wouldn''t dare let out a fart, they could not come up with 100 billion US dollars, they were convinced.


    But now this God of Cars was actually planning to race with them in a Five-Weeley Hongguang. They were all Gods of Cars; it''d almost be more appropriate if they drove a Five-Weeley Hongguang to humiliate the ordinary racers!


    "Damn it! This Huaxian, I will make sure he loses face!"


    "Ch''k-Soo, oh-mo-ley! Huaxian, ba?ga?!"


    "fuck! I will make this Huaxian realize, he''s not even fit to carry our shoes as God of Cars!"


    ...


    "Wait!" Just at that moment, Skliri suddenly noticed something unusual about the car.


    He approached the Five-Weeley Hongguang cautiously, even with a tinge of reverence and piety in his eyes.


    As the camera zoomed in, the audience instantly noticed something different as well.


    This was indeed a Five-Weeley Hongguang, but on its sides, rear, and roof, it was densely covered with various automotive brand logos.


    Honda, Chevrolet, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Pagani, SSC...


    It could almost be said that this car''s body was practically a collection of logos from various brands around the world!


    "This car..."


    The Gods of Cars looked at each other, and what they saw in each other''s expressions was thick surprise and excitement, with even a hint of frenzy.


    "Skliri, this car seems to be the legendary..."


    "Yes, I think so too. Do you remember the underground street race in the Alps from 8 years ago?"


    "I remember! Back then I was just a kid who had just started racing, I would never forget that day!"


    Time seemed to race back to 8 years ago, at that time, several of these Gods of Cars hadn''t even started racing yet, but as teenagers passionate about racing, they all had one dream ¨C to one day take part in that rally race in the Alps.


    This rally in the Alps wasn''t an open race. It was organized by an exclusive racing club from America, held once a year, not accepting independent registration. Only those invited by the organizers had the privilege to participate.


    ```


    The individuals invited were almost all top-notch race car drivers from various countries, and just receiving an invitation to the Alps rally race was considered an honor among racers.


    It was at this very event that these four legendary car gods experienced the most shocking scene of their lives.


    That race was the most thrilling and featured the highest level of skill in the past decade, with nearly all the world-famous drivers titled "God of Cars" attending the event, and the champion was universally acknowledged as the God of Cars.


    For this race, drivers had made very thorough preparations, all for the purpose of claiming the title of God of Cars.


    However, among the sports cars at the event, a Wuling Hongguang appeared unexpectedly. The organizers had no information about this driver, only knowing that he was a racing expert who had recently risen to prominence.


    He wove through underground races in various countries, and all who raced against him remembered only the Wuling Hongguang''s relentless acceleration and drifting through turns, crushing opponents with a near-dominating stance. With every race he won, he would peal off the loser''s badge and stick it onto his own vehicle before departing effortlessly.


    During the Alpine rally race, someone reviewed the race footage and discovered a whopping 124 badges affixed to its body.


    Meaning, by that time, he had already defeated 124 opponents!


    What was most terrifying, according to the organizers, was that they couldn''t find any information on this driver, so when they initially wanted to send an invitation, they had no contact details to use.


    But the day before the invitations were sent, an envelope appeared in the mailbox of the racing club, with the address for delivering invitations written on it, yet no one was seen putting the letter in the mailbox on the surveillance footage.


    That rally turned out to be the nightmare of every racer. The Wuling Hongguang unleashed astonishing horsepower and shot to the front with under two seconds of acceleration to 100 km per hour, not slowing down even on a massive 143-degree turn, but instead, furiously hitting the accelerator.


    The speedometer on the curve showed a staggering speed of 312 kilometers per hour.


    At that time, the highest speed record through a turn among all the racers was a mere 237 kilometers per hour!


    Who could believe that a Wuling Hongguang''s top speed could actually exceed 400 kilometers per hour? This boxy car, completely contrary to supercar design, after reaching 400 kilometers per hour, completed the whole race at a constant speed!


    After the race ended, everyone waited to interview the birth of a new God of Cars, but the owner of the Wuling Hongguang had already left, and all the badges from those supercars had vanished without a trace!


    There was no award ceremony for the God of Cars, but everyone knew that the title belonged to the owner of that Wuling Hongguang!


    Following that race, more than a dozen high-profile car gods announced their retirement, with a few even becoming so disheartened that they started driving taxis.


    This demonstrates the profound impact that the mysterious God of Cars had left on them.


    8 years had passed, some had already forgotten that mysterious figure, but upon seeing this car, all the sealed memories were once again dredged up.


    "Austria''s God of Cars Buska''s Bugatti, Turkey''s God of Cars'' Koenigsegg, America''s veteran God of Cars'' Aston Martin, England''s God of Cars'' Lykan, France''s God of Cars'' Sylphy..." Skliri carefully touched the "medals" on this Wuling Hongguang.


    Ever since witnessing that race, the God of Cars had become his idol, almost a form of faith to him.


    "The God of Cars has appeared again!"


    "I can''t believe the God of Cars is actually from Huaxia!"


    "No! He can''t be the God of Cars!" Jinhu Yi said, "I''ve researched the God of Cars'' details, and although the surveillance didn''t capture a clear image, one could still see some outlines. The driver of the truck, the God of Cars, is probably only around 20 years old."


    "What do you mean...?"


    "If this person is the same one, then during that rally, the God of Cars was only about twelve or thirteen years old. Is that possible?" Jinhu Yi analyzed, "The God of Cars from back then should be at least in his twenties or thirties, and can''t possibly be this young now!"


    "This person could very well be a successor or descendant of the God of Cars!" Jinhu Yi offered his judgment.


    "Hahaha! Fascinating! I''m getting pumped up!"


    "The descendant of the God of Cars, this is so interesting! The one who defeats the God of Cars'' descendant has the right to become the true World God of Cars!"


    "The car is here, so the descendant of the God of Cars should be here too, right?"


    All four sets of eyes turned to the entrance, and at that moment, a young silhouette appeared...

 Chapter 290 288 I Didnt Know My Dad Was So Awesome

    The God of Cars from eight years ago wasn''t a secret; anyone in the racing community had heard of him, and many racers had saved videos and photos of that car on their phones or computers.


    Soon, more and more people recognized this legendary car.


    "What? Is that the God of Cars'' car?"


    "Eight years, a whole eight years since he disappeared, and now the God of Cars is back!"


    "Is it a descendant of the God of Cars, or one of his disciples?"


    "This is so exciting! I can''t believe I''m fortunate enough to see this car again!


    It wasn''t just those four legendary racers who were excited, but even the spectators were rubbing their hands together in anticipation.


    "What''s the relationship between Zhang Menglong and the God of Cars from eight years ago?"


    "Well done, Zhang Menglong, hiding this from us! You''re dead meat later!"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng looked at the young man who had appeared at the entrance and were instantly grinding their teeth in frustration.


    ...


    "I''m sorry, sir, you can''t go through!"


    Just as everyone was eagerly awaiting the appearance of the God of Cars, a commotion arose at the entrance to the race, and many cameras quickly zoomed in on that spot.


    "That figure looks familiar!"


    "It''s Boss Zhang! That''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Where''s the God of Cars? Why is he alone?"


    "Guys, I suddenly have a bold theory..."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, this is the race track. We need to ensure your safety, so please return to the spectator area!" Listening to the shouts of the audience around them, the security guards quickly realized that this was none other than the wealthiest man in the world, Zhang Menglong!


    Their attitudes became incredibly respectful, but they still wouldn''t let Zhang Menglong pass. If someone as important as him had an accident on the race track, their jobs as security wouldn''t be safe, even if they gave their lives in compensation.


    "Oh, I''m here to race!" said Zhang Menglong casually.


    "What?" The security guards were stunned, "Mr. Zhang, isn''t your friend, the God of Cars..."


    "The friend I mentioned is me. Actually, I am the God of Cars everyone talks about."


    "What?" The security guards were utterly shocked.


    Could there be any news more explosive than this?


    Everyone had been looking for the God of Cars, but now Zhang Menglong himself admitted that he was the God of Cars!


    The images and audio were streamed to the spectator area and various live streaming platforms, shocking all the viewers, followed by a roar of exclamations.


    "Holy shit! The God of Cars is Boss Zhang? I''ve suspected it for a while, the God of Cars has never shown up from the beginning, it was always Boss Zhang speaking for him!"


    "You might not believe it if I say it, but I''m not surprised at all, I even find it a bit funny!"


    "Can the driving school instructor please step forward? I''m planning to add a red buff on top of your head!"


    "That video was released by someone from the Department of Transportation, it has to be real, a guy who fails both his second and third driving tests, you''re telling me he can pull off moves like that? Do you think we''re idiots?"


    "Hidden depth, Boss Zhang!"


    "Was that driving school instructor an actor you hired to disguise your identity?"


    "Boss Zhang, that''s called being low-key (dog head)!"


    "Low-key? This is a new trick of Boss Zhang showing off. Just flaunting his wealth doesn''t satisfy his need to show off anymore!"


    "Can Zhang really win? Don''t get our hopes up now, only to end up losing later¡ªthat would be double the embarrassment!"


    "Go Zhang, if you win, I''ll have your babies!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang? Are you sure?" the security guard asked once more, eyeing the four foreign gods of cars, each dressed in professional gear and wearing helmets.


    In contrast, Zhang Menglong was in a loose down jacket, chewing on a piece of sugarcane with an additional bag of sugarcane in his other hand. Did he look like someone who was here to race?


    "What''s the matter, don''t I look like it?" Zhang Menglong said discontentedly.


    "It''s not that... It''s just that you''re not wearing any protective gear, and if..."


    "A few lousy fish and rotten shrimp, what do I need protective gear for? One hand is enough for me to drive," he handed over the plastic bag, "Want some? Black sugarcane, 10 bucks a pop!"


    "I..." the security guard was at a loss for words.


    As for the spectators, they were all flabbergasted.


    Aren''t you the richest man in the world? Why do you look so proud munching on sugarcane that''s only 10 bucks a stick?


    On this treacherously dangerous mountain race track, eating sugarcane with one hand and driving with the other, was Zhang Menglong seriously skilled and confident, or just reckless with his life?


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, so you are the mysterious god of cars from Huaxia!" the American God of Cars, Skliri Lebuck said to Zhang Menglong in an unfriendly tone.


    Now it seemed that Zhang Menglong was indeed the descendant of that god of cars, but they''d been hammered with money and today humiliated by him. If he were the real god of cars, that would be one thing; his prowess would command their respect.


    But Zhang Menglong hadn''t raced them yet. Even as a descendant of the god of cars, he might not have inherited all the god''s skills. As for Zhang Menglong, they didn''t hold the same awe and even harbored a mix of new grudges and old, wanting to flay him and pull him apart.


    "Mr. Zhang, as a racer yourself, don''t you think this kind of humiliation is unworthy of the title ''god of cars''?"


    "God of cars? That title was given by others; it has nothing to do with me!" Zhang Menglong said innocently.


    Skliri took a deep breath. Zhang Menglong clearly didn''t take the title of god of cars seriously, leaving them unsure of how to criticize him.


    "Mr. Zhang, what exactly is your relationship to the god of cars?" Kyoichi maintained his composure as he asked.


    "The god of cars!" Zhang Menglong looked puzzled, "Didn''t I just say that I am the so-called god of cars you''re talking about?"


    "No, we mean the owner of this car. He is the real god of cars!" Kyoichi looked at Zhang Menglong oddly; could it be that Zhang Menglong wasn''t aware of the car owner''s identity? That didn''t make sense.


    "Oh, you mean this car? It belongs to my dad!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "This is your father''s car? Is your father the god of cars?"


    "What god of cars?" Zhang Menglong was completely bewildered.


    Because of this race, Zhang Menglong had gone to his family''s garage intending to pick any car for the race.


    Unexpectedly, he found a Wuling Hongguang parked there, which, according to Hong Yi, was his dad Zhang Xiaoyun''s car. It had been modified by him, reportedly costing a bundle, and it was even said to rival supercars in performance.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you know your father is the god of cars, legendary in the underground racing world?" asked Kyoichi, "This car is the legendary one he left behind."


    "My dad is the god of cars? I had no idea," admitted Zhang Menglong, genuinely unaware of any stories about his father racing.


    "Mr. Zhang, was this car purchased by your father from someone?" inquired Kyoichi. Considering Zhang Menglong''s family''s wealth, perhaps this car was acquired from the god of cars himself, and it might even be that Zhang Menglong''s driving skills were taught by the god of cars!


    That would explain why this car was here and why Zhang Menglong''s driving skills were so formidable.


    "No, it seems this car has been in our underground garage for a long time. It''s just something our nanny uses to run errands, like grocery shopping."


    "Groceries? With this car?" All the racing enthusiasts were about to lose their minds; the treasure they revered was relegated to grocery runs by a nanny?


    "Mr. Zhang, as we understand, this car''s former owner crushed gods of cars from all over the world in the Alps rally race¡ªthe true ''god of cars'' who drove this very car," Kyoichi explained the backstory, and Zhang Menglong''s mouth fell open as he listened.


    "Wow, I had no idea my dad was that awesome!"

 Chapter 291 289: Let Them Go Around

    "I just Googled it, and that God of Cars is really awesome. It''s said that over a dozen car gods chose to retire after being struck by that race. I can''t believe he''s actually Zhang Menglong''s dad!"


    "Unbelievable! That puts Dad to shame, Zhang Menglong."


    "He''s really playing Versailles! I don''t know if he''s genuinely unaware or just pretending."


    "Judging by Zhang Menglong''s expression, it doesn''t look like he''s faking it."


    "No way? With Zhang Menglong''s driving skills being so awesome, it must have been taught by his dad."


    "It''s possible that in Zhang Menglong''s mind, an ordinary driver''s skills are just like his dad''s!"


    ...


    "I''ve been wondering why my dad would spend 2 billion US dollars to modify this car, now I finally get it!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "What? 2 billion US dollars?" Those with sharp ears overheard this jaw-dropping figure, "A Wuling Hongguang only costs 50,000 yuan, and he spent 2 billion US dollars to modify it? Is he out of his mind?"


    "Although it looks like a Wuling Hongguang on the outside, in reality, this is a Wuling Hongguang with a 24-cylinder engine," Zhang Menglong slapped the car''s body, "The maximum horsepower exceeds 2000, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in 1.87 seconds, and the top speed reaches 547 kilometers per hour!"


    "Damn! How is that possible?"


    "A 24-cylinder engine? That must be an airplane, right?"


    "An airplane what?"


    "2000 horsepower? A top speed of 547 km/h? Can anyone even control this car?"


    "Without changing the exterior, that air resistance must be enormous. Can the body even withstand such a load?"


    Almost everyone who came to watch this race knows a thing or two about cars, and these exaggerated specs left them all dumbfounded. This was simply nonsense!


    Even if the car really had such performance, it definitely wouldn''t be something humans could handle.


    A 24-cylinder engine is only used on heavy trucks and airplanes, and with something so huge and cumbersome, could you drive it on such complicated mountain roads? Probably any turn could send you flying right off!


    Even if concentrated into a Wuling Hongguang''s body, the immense power would make driving so difficult that it would be impossible to control by human strength, no matter how quick their reflexes might be! Moreover, the Wuling Hongguang''s design ensures it could never have the same effortless driving feel as a supercar.


    Compared to the shock of the spectators, the Gods of Cars instead showed knowing expressions.


    They had all witnessed the skills of a God of Cars, and the drawbacks brought about by the immense centrifugal force almost didn''t exist due to the God of Cars'' miraculous control. They just hadn''t expected that so much wealth was spent on modifying this car.


    With the same money, wouldn''t it be better to modify a supercar? Unbelievable!


    No wonder he''s Zhang Menglong''s father. They both share the same twisted character!


    "2 billion US dollars..." In the VIP viewing room, those rich second generations almost had their jaws dislocated.


    As car racing enthusiasts, they were familiar with the legend of the God of Cars, but who would have thought someone would spend 2 billion US dollars to modify a Wuling Hongguang? Do they simply have too much money and no place to spend it? No wonder Zhang Menglong himself spends money so outrageously; these inherited traits are truly legendary.


    Perhaps in the eyes of the Zhang family, everything in the world can be upgraded with enough money!


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a car race, not a tech competition. Don''t you think using such means to win is a bit despicable?" Park Young-jun from Qingqiu Country already harbored some resentment towards Zhang Menglong for his actions in Qingqiu Country.


    "Is there a rule in car racing that says you can''t spend money to modify your car?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "This..."


    "Since you don''t have one, then stop blabbering!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "You have the money, you could modify one too, whatever 28-cylinder or 32-cylinder engine you want, suit yourself, I have absolutely no objections!"


    Park Young-jun was at a loss for words. Engines were indeed not expensive, but miniaturizing such a huge engine and then installing it into a racing car, the technical capital required behind that was something he could never fathom.


    "Hey, you guys want to race or not? Hurry up, I''m in a hurry, later I still need to go back and play games with my girlfriend!" Zhang Menglong said with some impatience.


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t be too arrogant. This is a complicated series of continuous curves, and even if your car is really good, do you think you can handle a speed of 540 kilometers per hour?" Skliri said, "The God of Cars is formidable, but you are not your father!"


    "That''s right! There are over a dozen turns here with angles exceeding 120 degrees. At a speed of 500 kilometers per hour, you''ll soon be flying off the track!"


    Several Gods of Cars were all battle-hardened. They had a very profound understanding of the limits of human driving.


    Although Zhang Menglong''s car was much faster than theirs, an airplane is even faster. Yet, even given an airplane, could they drive it on such an excessively complex road?


    Even Park Young-jun, known for his drifting ability, had a maximum drifting speed of only 272 kilometers per hour.


    If the speed increased further, even the body of a supercar might roll over, and the tires also wouldn''t withstand such intense friction.


    The Longyou racetrack''s terrain is even more dangerous than that of the Alps, where even with God of Cars'' skill, a car as tall as a Wuling Hongguang might roll over just going around a bend at 200 kilometers per hour.


    They believed that there was only one God of Cars, and even his progeny could not replicate such terrifying skills. Zhang Menglong had the God of Cars'' vehicle, but that didn''t necessarily mean he had the ability to perfectly control it!


    On a straight section, Zhang Menglong''s Wuling Hongguang might be able to pull away from them utilizing its powerful 24-cylinder engine, but on sharp turns, if he didn''t want to meet God, he would inevitably have to slow down. At that point, it would be their opportunity.


    And on this racetrack, there were very few long straight sections!


    "Since all five racers have arrived, let''s get ready to start our race!" the host announced excitedly into the microphone.


    "No one expected that this mysterious God of Cars would turn out to be our very own Mr. Zhang Menglong from Huaxia, and even the God of Cars who stunned the world eight years ago, was his father! Now, let me announce the rules for today''s race!"


    The rules for this race were very simple: Circumvent the rally race''s mountain circuit twice, totaling 48 kilometers, and the first to reach the finish line wins.


    The bets for this race were even more intriguing; while regular car races usually bet money, this time the race bets were the car emblem, driver''s license, and racing license.


    "Ready!"


    At the sound of the signal, five cars immediately erupted with deafening roars, the four Gods of Cars looking serious, while Zhang Menglong in the camera held a sugarcane in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.


    "Go!"


    "Beep!" The race began!


    The four supercars unleashed incredible noise, with even the rear of the vehicles spurting out dazzling fire trails.


    A moment later, they charged out roaring like fierce beasts.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s Wuling Hongguang did not take off!


    "My God, what''s happening? Why hasn''t racer Zhang Menglong started? Is there a problem with his car?" The host''s face stiffened slightly, as even a second''s difference in such a high-stakes race could affect the entire outcome.


    If Zhang Menglong lost today, it would be Huaxia''s reputation on the line.


    However, at that moment, Zhang Menglong slowly rolled down his window and, calmly biting into his sugarcane, said to the camera filming him, "I figured it was just too unfair for me to start at the same time as them, so I''ve decided to give them a one-lap head start!"

 Chapter 292 290: He Took Out Another Sugarcane

    "Wow!" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the whole venue erupted in astonishment.


    What did he mean by saying setting off at the same time was bullying?


    These four individuals were all world-renowned Gods of Cars, with illustrious records. Racers would bow respectfully when they saw them, and even their disciples had already started showing their edge on the racetracks.


    Normally, it was only when they raced against others that people would say they were bullying, but when had they ever been bullied by someone else?


    When they raced with younger racers, they indeed might hold back a bit for that reason, but in racing, the width of the road is limited and overtaking is not easy. It''s very possible the starting order could decide the final rankings.


    So even when they conceded a bit, it was only by giving up their starting position.


    As for giving someone a one-lap head start in a two-lap race, that was simply a joke. In order to win, it meant having to achieve more than double the average speed of the opponent.


    In car racing, even the average speed difference is typically a single-digit figure, so giving someone a lap''s lead was like grinding their intelligence into the ground.


    Until now, the fastest completion time at Longyou''s mountain circuit was 13 minutes 13.62 seconds, with an average speed of around 218 kilometers per hour. That was already an outstanding speed.


    But that record was merely set by a top-level Huaxian racer, whose skills barely reached the international average.


    At least, compared to these four Gods of Cars, he was still way out of their league.


    By rough estimates, their average speeds should all be over 250 kilometers per hour. That is to say, Zhang Menglong''s average speed would need to exceed 500 kilometers per hour to possibly win.


    But was that even possible? Even if he could reach 500 kilometers per hour on a straightaway, what about at the corners?


    The former God of Cars was able to take corners at full speed, but that was because the maximum turn angle in the Alps Rally was only 102 degrees. Here in the Longyou mountain range, there were over a dozen turns exceeding 140 degrees, and they were consecutive.


    Even if the God of Cars himself came, he surely couldn''t drive to such a degree, right?


    "Zhang Menglong really is the most pretentious billionaire I''ve ever seen; he''s also my own idol, unbelievable!"


    "Boss Zhang, please stop showing off. I give this zero points for posturing; you''re definitely going to crash. Give a one-lap lead? Even an amateur like me knows that''s impossible!"


    "It''s all over, I''ve even bet on the side market, this is going to be a huge loss!"


    "Zhang Menglong, if you lose, I''ll despise you for life!"


    "Fuck, are you an idiot? Giving a one-lap lead?"


    "Zhang Menglong, what the hell are you doing? Even for showing off, you''re overdoing it!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re too arrogant!" The four Gods of Cars, who didn''t see Zhang Menglong''s Wuling Hongguang in their rearview mirrors, were initially self-satisfied. Although Menglong inherited the car of a God of Cars, that didn''t necessarily mean his skills were on par.


    However, they heard this shocking news through the live broadcast at the venue.


    The insult was extreme, the mockery intense!


    If it were an ordinary driver, they were confident they could give a one-lap lead and then win easily. But they were Gods of Cars! Gods of Cars! Couldn''t he take them a bit seriously and give them at least a basic level of respect?


    "Belittle us like that, and you''re bound to pay the price!"


    "Give us a one-lap lead? We''ll see what you''ve got to back that up!"


    "Zhang Menglong, just wait to be utterly disgraced!"


    The four Gods of Cars, spurred by this external provocation, all entered into a realm that racers dream of, where whether it was acceleration, drifting, or shifting gears, everything became perfectly in sync with their hearts.


    In the spectator area, the screen was split in two, with the left side showing the four national Gods of Cars and the right side featuring a close-up of Zhang Menglong.


    "The fastest racer, Skliri, has already completed half of the first lap. His speed is just too fast! Based on our current calculations, his speed has reached 253 kilometers per hour, a full 30 kilometers per hour more than the creator of the record for this track!"


    "The second-place racer, Park Young-jun, is close behind with a speed of 251.4 kilometers per hour!"


    "The speed of the third-place driver from Kyoto One is 250.8 kilometers per hour!"


    At the moment, the Australian God of Cars is in last place, but the gap between him and the Kyoto One driver is very tight!"


    "Now let''s see what Mr. Zhang Menglong is up to!"


    "He''s actually finished a sugarcane and started on a second one!"


    "He''s turned on the car''s music, and even reclined his seat. Is he planning to race in such a casual posture, or has he given up on the race?"


    "Look, Mr. Zhang Menglong has finished the second sugarcane and then put his left hand in his pocket. Could he really be planning to finish the race with just one hand?"


    "What the hell is this guy doing?" the scions in the VIP room watched, grinding their teeth in anger ¨C this was simply a slap in their faces!


    Finally, Skliri''s car appeared at the finish line, he was about to complete the first place!


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s gaze transformed astonishingly, radiating an entirely different aura from just moments ago. His eyes became cool and ruthless.


    As that car brushed past Zhang Menglong, he finally stepped on the accelerator.


    "Boom!" The silver-white Wuling Hongguang''s rear shot out two blue flames, propelling forward furiously like an arrow released from its bow.


    A 1.82-second acceleration to 100 kilometers per hour might sound similar to the others'' 2-plus seconds, but on the racetrack, that moment can mean a difference of several tens of meters!


    The Wuling Hongguang caught up with Skliri''s car in an instant and even stretched the distance by a significant margin.


    "Holy shit! Is that really a Wuling Hongguang? I''d believe it if you told me it''s a rocket!"


    "This must be one of those legendary Krypton Gold tycoons, right? A 2 billion US Dollar car modification, it''s like punching down from another realm!"


    "It''s too fast, too fast!"


    ...


    "What use is speed?" Skliri sneered disdainfully. This track had only one long straight stretch before the first sharp curve of 140 degrees.


    Even if he took the curve, he could only maintain a speed of 220 kilometers per hour at best, and Park Young-jun, with his top-level drifting skills, could only reach 236 kilometers per hour.


    How would it matter if Zhang Menglong''s car could exceed 500 kilometers per hour on the straight? Could he really take the curve at that speed?


    But the next instant, his worldview crumbled.


    "He really hasn''t slowed down! Mr. Zhang Menglong hasn''t slowed down!" Skliri couldn''t see Zhang Menglong''s car, but he could hear the commentary about his situation.


    "Mr. Zhang Menglong''s current speed is 527 kilometers per hour, and he''s less than 50 meters from the first major curve. He doesn''t seem to want to slow down at all!"


    "Screech!"


    "My God, he actually started drifting so early! With such a distance, if he''s not careful, the front of the car could crash directly into the cliff wall!"


    "Oh, Lord, he made it! He actually made it!"


    "The optical camera shows that Mr. Zhang Menglong''s car was less than 1 centimeter from the cliff! Is he a god?"


    "Incredible! Data coming from the scene shows that Mr. Zhang Menglong took the curve at 511 kilometers per hour!"


    "Everyone, look at the camera, he''s only using one hand! He''s really operating the car with just one hand!"


    "And he''s taken out another sugarcane!"


    ...

 Chapter 293 291 Actually, Im Also Amazing at Driving a Hearse

    "Holy... holy shit..."


    "I never believed in God before, but I do now!"


    "My mom asked me why I''m on my knees watching the live broadcast..."


    "Boss Zhang, can you check if I''m kneeling properly? I can do 200 other positions, I''ll show them all to you in a bit!"


    "Is this even human? He''s a monster, seriously a monster! Who doesn''t slow down on such a big curve?"


    "I''ve seen this scene before, it was the same at yesterday''s Kart Rider World Championship!"


    "Kart Rider is designed way too modestly for this game!"


    "Aba, aba, aba, aba..."


    "Suddenly I feel like Boss Zhang''s gaze is so cool!"


    "Boss Zhang has always been handsome!"


    "Who was just cursing Boss Zhang as a dumbass? Stand up now!"


    ...


    In an instant, the whole scene was boiling over, and the barrage in every live broadcast room had exploded, with screens full of "666" and "holy shit". The terrifying skill displayed by Zhang Menglong was indeed on par with his own boasting.


    Make way, he really has the talent!


    "Spinning and leaping, I close my eyes..." With that classic yet rhythmic song, the Wuling Hongguang car zipped through the mountain roads like a ghost.


    Large bends, continuous sharp turns, and even that super hairpin turn of one and a half circles, Zhang Menglong''s speed didn''t drop at all. While others hadn''t even finished half of their second lap, Zhang Menglong had already completed the first!


    Average speed: 518 kilometers per hour


    Average straight-line speed: 542 kilometers per hour


    Average bend speed: 513 kilometers per hour


    Lap time: 2 minutes 46 seconds 08


    An array of inconceivable numbers appeared on the display.


    "What kind of monster is he!" The rich second-generations who were just cursing Zhang Menglong had their jaws dropping.


    "I take back what I said, if he''s a dumbass, I don''t even measure up to a dumbass!"


    "I think we''ve been looking at Zhang Menglong as if he''s an ordinary person. Their levels are simply not on the same plane, this is like a dimensional strike!"


    "This race has already become pointless, even if Zhang Menglong ends up losing, it won''t change the fact that he''s the world''s number one."


    If the rich second-generations originally had some respect for Zhang Menglong because of his wealth, now his abilities had undoubtedly completely conquered these high-minded individuals.


    "What''s happening? Why is the live broadcast getting laggier?"


    "I heard that a lot of foreigners are bypassing the firewall to watch the match!"


    "Damn, has this stirred the whole world?"


    In fact, while this race had attracted countless attention domestically, abroad it had only piqued interest within racing circles; others didn''t show much enthusiasm.


    But when Zhang Menglong''s boastful video was shared by foreign netizens on social media platforms, it triggered significant outrage. Could someone be so arrogant as to claim that they would lap the Gods of Cars in a race?


    As the race was not yet over and Huaxia netizens were rooting for Zhang Menglong, naturally, foreign fans would also cheer for their favorite racers and take the opportunity to ridicule Zhang Menglong.


    But when they each started flooding into the live broadcast, they were all stunned.


    "Damn, what kind of car is this? Is this a professional racing car?"


    "Oh, shit! God! Is this actually a human driving this car?"


    "What kind of drifting is this, smida? The front of the car is almost crashing into the mountain, isn''t he afraid of wrecking the car and losing his life at such high speeds?"


    "Madmen! Huaxia people are all madmen!"


    ...


    "Yo, yo, yo, the foreign friends are here!"


    "Welcome everyone to the live broadcast to watch Boss Zhang show off!"


    "Just popping by, is this an imitation game? It''s really well made!"


    "New fans, don''t panic. Boss Zhang''s style has always been this wild, we old fans are now watching the match on our knees."


    "Everyone stay calm, these are just the basics. In Boss Zhang''s family, probably every driver is on this level."


    "I just heard that Zhang Menglong seems to be the worst driver in his family."


    "In Zhang Menglong''s family, if you can''t drift around corners at 500 kilometers per hour, they won''t let you get a driver''s license and hit the road."


    "Hahaha, even Zhang Menglong''s fans have started to get sarcastic."


    "Zhang Menglong originally just wanted to rescue a few people unobtrusively, but you had to challenge him; now, you''ve given him another chance to show off!"


    "No no no, this isn''t Zhang Menglong showing off, this is him striking back with vigor! Can you call it showing off if he''s forced into it? That''s called being awesome!"


    ...


    "How is this possible? This can''t be happening! This isn''t science!" The Australian God of Cars, Laurice Curtis, could already see the Wuling Hongguang continuously drifting around corners in his rearview mirror, sweat constantly sliding down his forehead.


    "No way! I can''t let him overtake me!" Laurice began trying every trick in the book to interfere with Zhang Menglong''s overtaking in front of him.


    But none of it was of any use!


    The speed was simply too fast, for the Gods of Cars to drift at such a high speed around the corners, the massive centrifugal force would push their cars to the outside, thereby leaving the inside lane open.


    But Zhang Menglong, he could control his drifting trajectory as he pleased, like a silver lightning, the Wuling Hongguang easily passed the pricey supercar.


    Laurice only heard a young voice beside his ear, "Bro, need a hack?"


    However, before he could comprehend what that meant, the Wuling Hongguang had already vanished into the bend up front, and he didn''t even get a clear view of its taillights!


    "Block him, we can''t let him get past!" Keihou Ichiro and Park Young-jun had already forgotten about the rules of the race at this point; they were actually driving side by side, trying to maliciously interfere with Zhang Menglong''s overtaking!


    But on the next bend, such a narrow road simply couldn''t accommodate two cars drifting at the same time, and their cars immediately became one in front of the other; and at that moment, Zhang Menglong once again elegantly overtook from the inside lane, passing by the cliff''s edge and the outer car with barely any distance to spare.


    "Don''t even think about getting past!" Skliri struggled to occupy the center of the lane; in the bends, his skills were second only to Park Young-jun, and even when turning, he could still maintain the central path, with neither the left nor the right side being wide enough for a car to pass.


    "Haha!" Skliri showed a triumphant smile.


    "Despicable!"


    "Shameless!"


    "Wait, don''t forget, Zhang Menglong still has an ace up his sleeve!"


    "Right, right, right, the ''razor pass''!"


    "But this isn''t a straightaway, it''s a sharp turn!"


    "Screech!" But Zhang Menglong didn''t disappoint; this time, clinging close to the exterior of the cliffside, that exquisite control allowed him to lift the inside wheels right off the ground, overtaking right over Skliri''s head.


    "Holy shit!"


    "Damn!"


    "What do you call this? Razor drift?"


    "Honey, come look at this wizardry!"


    "How is this possible?" Skliri felt as if his soul had been critically hit; a razor pass combined with drifting, speeds over 500 kilometers per hour, this was already beyond his knowledge!


    "Whoosh!" The Wuling Hongguang gracefully crossed the finish line and parked by the side of the road with flourish; those four tires were already in tatters, even giving off a burnt smell.


    "Such intense drifting, and the tires only gave out after two laps."


    "God of Cars, this is the real God of Cars, what American God of Cars, what Kaibong God of Cars? Are they even worth the title?"


    "Toy cars, remote-controlled cars, Zhang Menglong could roll over them accidentally and wouldn''t even know."


    The four supercars stopped at the finish, and the four Gods of Cars looked dejected, not even daring to glance at Zhang Menglong.


    "Guys, please pry off your car emblems, and hand over your driver''s licenses and racing licenses," Zhang Menglong looked around at the one Wuling Hongguang, "Sorry, my car''s already covered in them, only space left is underneath, you guys won''t mind, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong! You... You''re bullying us too much!"


    "Good, you can speak idioms!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "But Huaxia culture is profound and vast; it seems you haven''t understood the meaning of this idiom. It wasn''t me who provoked you first, right? I said I didn''t want to compete because I was afraid you''d lose too badly!"


    "But what about you? Clumsy yet love to mess around! You insisted on forcing me to race, and after losing, you still can''t accept it," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Racing against you really is no fun!"


    "It''s just that you have a good car!" After grinding his teeth for a while, Skliri finally squeezed out this sentence.


    "If you''re up for it, give it a go!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "With your taxi-level skills, not flipping my car would count as a loss for me!"


    "You!" The crowd''s faces flushed from shades of green to purple, but they were powerless to retort.


    If they tried to match Zhang Menglong''s speed, they wouldn''t even make it through one bend!


    "Give it a try! Zhang Menglong said mockingly with a weird laugh, "Actually, I''m quite good at driving a hearse too ¡ª I could send you guys straight there!"

 Chapter 294 292: Suck at It and Love Playing

    "If Zhang Menglong doesn''t come out, there''s no God of Cars in this world anymore!"


    "His skills are unmatched, no one else in the world can reach half his level!"


    "This is driving skill that transcends human limits!"


    Racers and car enthusiasts from around the world immediately gave various evaluations, and the audience on the spot resounded with Zhang Menglong''s name.


    "Mr. Zhang, do you have time to accept a media interview?" the host asked tentatively.


    "I''m here already, might as well say a few words!" Zhang Menglong nodded, leaving behind four Gods of Cars still on the spot, doubting their life choices.


    Countless gazes and cameras then focused on Zhang Menglong as the media scrambled forward, fearing they might miss some important information.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the first-hand information we received, racers worldwide with the title of God of Cars have acknowledged your crown as the World God of Cars. You''ve defeated four Gods of Cars to achieve this title, anything you''d like to say?"


    "Hmm..." Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment. "Not really anything special to say, except that the opponents'' strength was too weak, didn''t feel much excitement."


    "Hahaha!"


    "I knew it, Boss Zhang was going to start again."


    "Can''t Boss Zhang speak normally? A little politeness wouldn''t kill you!"


    The Huaxia spectators on-site burst into laughter while other racers and enthusiasts from various countries, although boiling with anger, had nothing to say.


    Compared to Zhang Menglong, those who were called Gods of Cars were truly inferior.


    "Mr. Zhang, your father is also a God of Cars. Did you learn your driving skills from him?" another reporter asked, adding, "With such astonishing driving skills, why haven''t you considered pursuing a professional racer career?"


    "I got my driving license on my own, and my skills were taught by my driving school''s instructors. As for the latter question," Zhang Menglong responded, "I didn''t know until today that my dad was once a God of Cars or even a racer. I always thought that the driving skills of an ordinary driver should be like this, which is why I never thought my skills could qualify me as a racer before!"


    "Good Lord!"


    "Totally Versailles!"


    "Bro, you''re a prophet, to predict such a statement!"


    "With Boss Zhang being so slick, if you''re slick enough, you''ll know how he''s going to show off!"


    "Mr. Zhang, some say that you''re arrogant and you look down on other racers, what do you have to say about that?" a reporter threw out a sharp question.


    "What I say is simple, those who think I am arrogant just can''t match up to me¡ªI''m not targeting anyone particular, just saying all of them are noobs," Zhang Menglong stated, "Anyone who disagrees is welcome to challenge me anytime, but don''t bother wasting my time unless the stake is at least 1 billion US dollars. I just want to be a quiet beautiful man, after all."


    An expression of dissatisfaction seemed to arise from the foreign journalists, one bald foreign reporter stood up and asked directly in English, "Mr. Zhang, I find your behavior to be highly disrespectful. You should respect all racers!"


    "I have always respected racers; it was they who first called me a coward," Zhang Menglong answered in impeccable English.


    "Holy crap! Such fluent American English? Boss Zhang''s speaking skills are so strong!"


    "Folks, I''m an English teacher, and his American English is on point. It sounds just like a native to me!"


    "Wow, Boss Zhang has this skill too?"


    "Mr. Zhang, they say Huaxia is the land of courtesy, but it seems that''s just an empty reputation," another reporter from Qingqiu stood up and said.


    "Yes, yes, you''re right about everything. Confucius is yours, Huaxia is yours, the Earth is yours, the whole universe is yours!" Zhang Menglong replied fluently in Qingqiu language, "Don''t argue with me; if you argue, you''re right!"


    "What are they saying?"


    "Hahaha, Boss Zhang is calling them argumentative!"


    "Boss Zhang knows Qingqiu language too?"


    "Holy! An ordinary language genius?"


    "Mr. Zhang, car racing is just a sport, and although you''re strong in this area, we in Kaibong also excel in many things worldwide. Your previous statement was inappropriate!"


    "Kaibong language too? Are they trying to trip up Director Zhang?" At that, everyone began to see the signs. Journalists from all over the world were interviewing Zhang Menglong in various foreign languages. There Zhang Menglong stood alone on the stage without a translator. Not understanding would be incredibly awkward, even slightly embarrassing, as the whole world was watching live!


    "Oh, if you are referring to the accomplishments and mastery in your country''s romantic action films, then I take back what I just said!" Zhang Menglong responded calmly and composedly.


    Ever since the last time the Super God Academy had reconstructed Zhang Menglong''s body, he had felt his learning ability, memory, physical coordination, and spatial imagination had dramatically improved.


    With just a bit of spare time, he had already mastered all the languages of the world, even those of lost civilizations Zhang Menglong was equally proficient in.


    "Wow!" As the Huaxia audience who understood Kaibong listened to the translation, they all burst into applause.


    "Awesome! Did he come from the De Yun Society with that eloquence?"


    "English, Kaibong, Qingqiu, is there any language that Director Zhang doesn''t know?"


    "It seems you are all quite interested in my linguistic skills," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "You don''t need to waste time trying to make me look foolish. To avoid being cursed at without understanding and to curse back in a way they won''t understand, I learned all the languages of the world!"


    Zhang Menglong rattled off a long string of words, and astonishingly, no one in the audience could understand him.


    "Mr. Zhang, what did you just say?" a Huaxia journalist asked.


    "I was just wishing the foreign journalists a happy new year!"


    "Pfft!" A brown-haired Huaxia youth burst out laughing.


    "What are you laughing at?" his companion asked.


    "What Zhang Menglong just said was in the local language of the Maldives, it''s one of the least spoken languages in the world, and I just happened to have minored in it at university," the youth said, chuckling.


    "What did he actually say?"


    "He was cursing those foreign journalists, saying they give birth to sons without assholes!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Haha! Genius!"


    "Learning all the languages in the world just to curse people, what can be more badass than that?"


    "Director Zhang is awesome!" The nearby audience erupted into laughter.


    The interview concluded amid a burst of laughter and applause. That evening, Zhang Menglong''s witty, humorous responses and his genius linguistic ability gained him countless new fans.


    ...


    In less than a week, three major news items emerged in the racing world:


    "The God of Cars from America and the Aussie God of Cars both announced their retirement!"


    "The God of Cars from Kaibong posted on social media that he would never touch a race car again in his life!"


    "The Qingqiu God of Cars forcefully practiced drifting on a curve, accidentally went off the racetrack, and ended up severely disabled!"


    Undoubtedly, all three news pieces were indirectly related to Zhang Menglong.


    "Left quite the impression, huh!"


    "Director Zhang, look at the fine mess you''ve created!"


    "Don''t compare your money to Zhang''s, don''t race against Zhang, and don''t get into a spat with Zhang, because you''ll find out you''re just trash!"


    "@Zhang Menglong! Come out and watch the drama"


    "Sigh!" Zhang Menglong sighed as he looked at the frenzy of @mentions from netizens on Weibo and these three pieces of news, then shook his head, "People nowadays can''t take a hit! All weak and playful."


    ...

 Chapter 295 293 Garbage Topic, Stopping Me from Playing Games

    The matter of racing seemed to have been merely a minor episode for Zhang Menglong, who never really devoted his thoughts to it. Although top racers from all over the world clamored to become his disciples, Zhang Menglong uttered just one phrase.


    "The fee for discipleship is 10 billion US dollars!"


    This price immediately deterred everyone, but thus far, whenever Zhang Menglong spoke of money, it was almost always in units of billions or more. Everyone also knew that he truly wasn''t all that interested in racing.


    As the fervor gradually subsided, aside from everyone remembering that the title of God of Cars belonged to Zhang Menglong, it didn''t cause him much more trouble.


    "Well, I''ll be darned, 200 Cred Points for this title of God of Cars ain''t half bad," Zhang Menglong stood in that vast world of Super God Academy with teachers Tony and Takumi Fujiwara by his side.


    Today, Zhang Menglong was about to awaken another teacher.


    "Let it be someone badass, even more badass!" Zhang Menglong silently prayed. He had long envied Ye Yin''s formidable power, "Kamen Rider, Ultraman, superhuman Mutants, I wouldn''t mind a villain either, best if it''s someone like Lin Dong or Xiao Yan..."


    As Zhang Menglong prayed, he ordered Gou Dan, "Gou Dan, unlock a teacher for me!"


    "100 Cred Points deducted, unlock successful!"


    Amid bursts of gunfire and neighing of horses, a building arose from the flat ground, and within the thick fog above, the figure of a young man in armor appeared, as if his dazzling glory could pierce the heavens.


    "Holy crap, he looks mighty impressive!" Zhang Menglong moved in for a closer look, but in an instant, his expression darkened, "An... internet cafe??"


    A figure close to 180 centimeters tall walked out of the net cafe?, bearing a face straight out of an anime with eyes that reflected untold depth and serenity.


    Name: Ye Qiu


    Race: Human


    Identity: Esports Course Teacher


    Potential Index: 10


    Gift: The Hand of God


    Skill: Esports (E)


    Evaluation: Not every teenager addicted to the internet can become an esports master.


    "Ye Qiu? The God Ye?" Zhang Menglong was no stranger to this character from "The King''s Avatar," a legendary ace in the esports realm, even made into a drama series now.


    "What does this mean? When I got Iron Man, I was caught up in a world tech warfare, getting Takumi Fujiwara made me accidentally become the God of Cars, and now I got Ye Qiu¡ªis this implying I should wipe out the entire esports realm?"


    "For every event, there''s a reason. President, the system''s random outcomes are somewhat influenced by your recent life trajectory," Gou Dan explained.


    "Damn! It''s all that kid Wang Ling''s fault!" Zhang Menglong muttered, guessing it had something to do with Wang Ling''s idea of setting up some esports Olympics, leading him straight to an esports teacher.


    "Well, it''s better than nothing," Zhang Menglong sighed. With some effort, other teachers would eventually come.


    "Nice to meet you, President. I am Ye Qiu, the esports course teacher," Ye Qiu greeted Zhang Menglong with a respectful bow.


    "Teacher Ye Qiu, what level of proficiency does this Esports E represent?" Zhang Menglong asked out of curiosity.


    "According to esports information collected by Super God Academy from Earth, the effective operation APM values of top esports players are typically above 200," Ye Qiu supplemented upon seeing Zhang Menglong''s confused look, "Take the Huaxia player Sky for example, his APM is around 300."


    Zhang Menglong nodded slightly, Sky, the so-called Human Emperor player, likely set the ceiling for Huaxia''s esports.


    "Then your APM..."


    "In my world, my highest APM was 764!"


    "Holy shit, that''s more than double Sky''s?" Although Zhang Menglong didn''t have a specific concept, he roughly grasped its significance.


    "That was my past level," Ye Qiu said, "An APM of 764 would not earn a Super God Academy E rating. After decades of improvement in the academy, my current APM has exceeded 1500. Naturally, ordinary bodies can''t endure that kind of operation intensity. Your body, however, after potential development, should manage it."


    "To be honest, when you tell me this APM, I still don''t have any concept of it," Zhang Menglong said. "For example, let''s say I have 100 billion, you have to tell me what I can buy with 100 billion, right?"


    "Well, let''s put it this way, one of the most popular electronic sports on Earth right now, League of Legends," Ye Qiu said confidently, "I can solo any esports player, five against one, as long as it''s not just normal attacks without any specific skills, no skill can hit me."


    "That''s impossible, right?"


    "Nothing is impossible," Ye Qiu smiled. "Esports isn''t just about high-end operation; it also includes awareness, tactics, and so on. In those parallel world''s advanced civilizations, they resolve interstellar wars through esports. A powerful esports player can even dominate the rise and fall of a planet''s civilization. To reach E-grade in esports is already a very high standard."


    "Gou Dan, copy skill!" Hearing this, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that lifting the seal on Ye Qiu might not be such a bad idea after all!


    "Ding! 100 cred points consumed. Congratulations, Principal, for acquiring the skill, Esports (E)!"


    "Teacher Ye Qiu, play a couple of rounds with me first!"


    "At your command!"


    ...


    "Awesome, the way I used to play LoL was crap!" A few hours later, Zhang Menglong left the Super God Academy space, still yearning for more. After interacting with Ye Qiu, Zhang Menglong realized that electronic sports was a vast field of study, completely different from what he had understood before!


    Of course, he couldn''t devote all his energy to Super God Academy; after all, there was a very important matter Zhang Menglong had to attend to soon¡ªthe graduate entrance examination.


    Due to the pandemic, the graduate entrance exam in Huaxia, which usually finished in December, was postponed until March. The additional three months meant everyone had much more time to prepare. Even though the number of graduate students had been expanded, it was still a fierce competition like trying to cross a single-log bridge with thousands of troops.


    At the entrance of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, countless reporters had already gathered, waiting for the first students to finish their exams.


    "There''s only half an hour left until the end of the graduate entrance exam. This year''s test is said to be very difficult, so let''s wait for the first student to finish!"


    "Look, someone is coming out!"


    "I wonder which school this student is from. This one''s the higher mathematics exam; even the top students are pressed for time, and yet someone has submitted their paper early!"


    "Here he comes, let''s interview this student!"


    A group of reporters immediately surrounded him, but they were stunned the moment they saw the young man''s face.


    "This... dear viewers, if I''m not mistaken, this looks like the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong! My goodness, he''s actually taking the graduate entrance exam!"


    "Someone born at the finish line where ordinary people aim to reach is also taking the graduate entrance exam!"


    "Let''s ask Mr. Zhang how the exam was!"


    "Mr. Zhang, could you please accept our interview?"


    "Ah... um..." Zhang Menglong didn''t expect that even taking a graduate entrance exam would attract so many reporters.


    With Iron Man Tony''s knowledge in Material Technology and his highly developed brain domain, this mere graduate entrance exam posed no difficulty to Zhang Menglong. He even managed to sleep for half an hour inside since submitting papers was only permitted in the last half-hour before the exam ended.


    "Mr. Zhang, can you tell us how difficult this graduate exam was?"


    Being the first to leave the exam room made the student the focal point of everyone, especially since it was Zhang Menglong. Reporters kept chasing him all the way to the parking lot at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    "Mr. Zhang, please answer a few questions for us!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, what''s your assessment of the difficulty this time?"


    "What''s your purpose in taking the graduate entrance exam?"


    "No specific purpose, my dad just hopes we have someone with a higher level of education in our family, so I came to take the exam!" an unbothered Zhang Menglong replied, "As for the difficulty... trash questions, wasted my gaming time!"


    Zhang Menglong slammed the car door shut and sped away in an instant.

 Chapter 296 294: This is a Genius

    It seemed that in order to increase the selection rigor, this year''s advanced mathematics questions were insanely difficult; the teacher responsible for setting the test publicly declared that the average score in advanced mathematics would be controlled below the passing line, and the second-to-last question''s solution rate wouldn''t exceed 5%.


    As for the last question, they went so far as to include the Riemann Hypothesis, which has perplexed the mathematics community for over a hundred years, and even numerous top students were crying out in misery.


    "I didn''t even finish the questions, I guessed half of the multiple-choice ones, I''m done for!"


    "I majored in mathematics at Qingbei University, and in past years, I could score over 140 even with my eyes closed, but this time, I''d be thankful for even 120!"


    "Riemann Hypothesis, I''ve never even heard of this thing!"


    "Brother, have you heard of Fermat''s Last Theorem and the Goldbach Conjecture? In terms of mathematical depth, the Riemann Hypothesis is even stronger than those!"


    "I just checked, and if you could successfully prove the Riemann Hypothesis, you could directly win a $1 million prize!"


    "Man, isn''t this nonsense? Is this still a graduate-level mathematics exam? Mr. Examiner, I rnmmp!"


    "Damn, aren''t they afraid of getting razor blades mailed to them for setting such questions?"


    ...


    Right after the exam ended, students immediately gathered on Weibo, forums, and various major platforms to vent. If they could solve those questions, they could directly become mathematicians; what was the point of even taking the graduate exam?


    "What the hell? An interview video of Boss Zhang?"


    "Did Boss Zhang really come to take the graduate exam? And at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?"


    Flipping through, the first person found that particular media interview about Zhang Menglong.


    "Damn it... ''Rubbish questions''? Are these the words of a human being?" That person then shared the interview video.


    In an instant, it went from one to ten, ten to a hundred; Zhang Menglong''s interview video suddenly topped the trending searches.


    "Hahaha, ''rubbish questions, stopping me from playing games,'' typical style of Boss Zhang, still spouting flamboyant nonsense as always!"


    "I was in the same exam room as Boss Zhang. He started sleeping half an hour into the advanced mathematics exam. Unless a prodigy descended, who could finish those questions in half an hour? The last question, who in this world could solve it?"


    "Hahaha! So that''s how it is. Boss Zhang is putting on airs again; I guess he''s done for too."


    "Pfft, if he''s done, he''s done. With Boss Zhang''s net worth, does he really need a graduate degree?"


    ...


    At Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, within the graduate exam grading office, teachers were marking the test papers, each wearing a serious expression. As expected, this year''s performance was far from hopeful, even the scores they were marking were lower than the examiner''s initial estimations!


    "Mr. Zhang, how''s it going on your end? What''s the highest score so far?" one of the teachers put down his pen and took a sip of tea.


    "92 points," the man addressed as Mr. Zhang replied with a wry smile, "And you?"


    "A little better, 95 points," that teacher''s expression was equally worried, "I wonder how many of our students will successfully make it this year."


    "Well, we shouldn''t worry too much, if the questions are hard, everyone''s scores will be low!"


    "True!"


    "Holy! All correct in multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blanks?" Suddenly, another teacher nearby exclaimed in surprise.


    "Oh?" Several teachers immediately gathered around, they double-checked the answers. Although the handwriting was a bit sloppy, it was clear and perfectly matched the standard answer key.


    "Wow, this student is good, getting all the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blanks correct. I bet among the 1.9 million students taking advanced mathematics this time, less than ten could achieve this level."


    "I wonder from which school this student is, Qingbei, Yanjing University, or Jiaotong University."


    "Interesting, Mr. Liu, take a look at the rest of his answers."


    Mr. Liu nodded and pulled out the remaining part of the answers.


    "Right!"


    "Again, right!"


    "They are all standard answers! No, this penultimate question is even simpler than the standard answer by several steps!"


    "130 points, it should be the highest score until now! This student is too brilliant, actually getting every question right!"


    "Wait!" All the teachers suddenly stared blankly!


    Until now, the answer section for the last question on all the papers they had graded was blank.


    Due to this year''s graduate exam reform, whether ordinary Science and Technology students or mathematics majors, both had to face a course in High-Grade Mathematics, but the difficulty of the specialized courses for mathematics students was far from comparable to this unified exam paper of High-Grade Mathematics.


    Not to mention solving the Riemann Hypothesis, even understanding this question was extremely rare, yet the back of this answer sheet was densely packed with writing.


    And at the end, they saw a line of small text, "Riemann Hypothesis holds!"


    "He... he proved the Riemann Hypothesis?"


    "Hahaha, impossible, how could an undergraduate prove such a thing? He must have written it in one go without thinking!"


    "Yes, if there really were such an outstanding person, Riemann could climb out of his coffin!"


    "Let''s take a closer look," a teacher said, "If he could produce this result, he must have his own logic in it, perhaps we can even award him a few points!"


    But the more they looked, the more blank the expressions of the teachers, and even one teacher''s arms couldn''t help but start trembling.


    "This... he seems to have used complex analytic geometric thoughts, and the rigor of the proof process is beyond my ability to judge!"


    "He couldn''t really have verified the Riemann Hypothesis, could he?"


    "This... an ordinary graduate exam, solved a problem that has puzzled the mathematics community for over a hundred years? This is too incredible!"


    "This is beyond our ability to grade!"


    The teachers smiled wryly, although they were all university mathematics teachers, even they couldn''t possibly verify the Riemann Hypothesis, it remained an unsolved mystery, how could there be an answer?


    "What are you doing? All gathering together, not grading anymore?" At this time, an old man around 60 years old cursed as he walked over, "There are so many candidates this year, if you don''t hurry up, are you wasting time here?"


    The old man''s surname was Tu, a distinguished professor from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Yanjing University, and he was also the leader of their marking team.


    "Professor Tu!" The teacher surnamed Liu stood up, "We found a very special paper."


    "How special?"


    "Apart from the last question about the Riemann Hypothesis, all other questions were perfectly solved."


    "Oh?" Professor Tu was slightly surprised, as the gatekeeper of the exam group, he had seen this paper and was very aware of its difficulty. To score those 130 points was already the level of many university mathematics department associate professors.


    "That''s not the most important part," Liu said, "He also solved the last Riemann Hypothesis, but we are limited in our ability to award points, so we were discussing what to do."


    "Solved the Riemann Hypothesis?" Professor Tu''s face showed even more astonishment, "Show me that paper!"


    "Professor Tu, this is that student''s answer sheet!"


    "Just two pages of the solution process?" Professor Tu frowned, until now, manuscripts attempting to answer the Riemann Hypothesis had reached up to 132 pages, but even with a whole manuscript, no precise conclusion had been produced.


    "This..." Professor Tu''s facial features suddenly contorted, "This is complex analysis... no! This isn''t just pure complex analysis! This..."


    Professor Tu''s expression went from initial surprise to astonishment, then to delight, and finally, he even appeared somewhat frightened!


    "I also cannot judge his answer!" Professor Tu thought for a long while, finally letting out a heavy sigh, "This student is a genius!"

 Chapter 297 295 I Thought This Was Just a Regular Question

    ```


    That very night, Professor Tu photocopied Zhang Menglong''s exam paper and rushed back to Yanjing.


    In the mathematical community of Huaxia, there were a great many schools of thought, each often devoted to a single mathematical problem, and there were already more than a thousand researchers studying the Riemann Hypothesis alone.


    Since its proposition in 1859, the Riemann Hypothesis had already been around for more than a century and had become one of the seven great unsolved problems offered a prize by the Clay Mathematics Institute. To date, more than a thousand mathematical propositions have been premised on the assumption of Riemann''s conjecture, which underscores its significance in the mathematical community.


    That night, the most representative dozen or so mathematicians of Huaxia gathered in an academic research analysis room at Yanjing University.


    At the helm was a 73-year-old professor who had devoted almost his entire life to researching the Riemann Hypothesis, and he twice pushed forward the progress of research on the Riemann Hypothesis, making him the most authoritative figure in Huaxia on this matter!


    At this moment, a glint of excitement flickered in his cloudy, aged eyes. His lifelong dream had been to determine the result of the Riemann Hypothesis, yet after so many years, he had taken only two small steps forward, and any progress made was only a drop in the bucket.


    His age had advanced, the nimbleness of his thinking and his creativity had significantly diminished, and his mathematical logical abilities had also fallen steeply. It seemed the Riemann Hypothesis would remain an unfulfilled aspect of his life.


    But he could never have imagined that an annual graduate-level advanced mathematics exam would bring him such a surprise!


    "Academician Bai, what do you think?" Professor Tu asked. This Academician Bai was not only the leading figure of the Riemann Hypothesis research school in Huaxia but also his revered mentor.


    "The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old ones ahead," Academician Bai laughed. "I think I understand his logic of proof, but we need to conduct further confirmation. Perhaps this year, the Riemann Hypothesis that has troubled the mathematical world for more than a century will be solved!"


    "Really!?" Professor Tu''s face could scarcely conceal his astonishment.


    When he composed the test, he had thought that including such a question was absurd, but to their older generation, a graduate exam was just as inconsequential as children playing house.


    Adding this question merely turned a total of 150 points into an exam worth 130 points, which still had no significant effect on student selection.


    But who the hell could have expected that a student would actually solve one of the seven great unsolved mathematical problems in the world, the Riemann Hypothesis?


    "Get me in touch with Professor Duweike immediately! I need him to help me verify this formula!"


    "Teacher, it''s so late now, you..."


    "Don''t dilly-dally, at our age, how can you still be like a woman?" Academician Bai cursed, "Hurry up! As long as I see the Riemann Hypothesis confirmed in my lifetime, I can close my eyes at any time."


    "Teacher, don''t talk nonsense. I''m contacting Professor Duweike right now!"


    Professor Duweike was the deputy director of the Clay Mathematics Institute, a world-renowned mathematician. Like Academician Bai, he had also dedicated his life to researching the Riemann Hypothesis, and while they often engaged in academic contestation, over the years they had become very good friends.


    Had it not been for their advanced age and the significant time difference between their locations, they might have even lived and eaten together!


    "What? Someone in Huaxia has provided a proof for the Riemann Hypothesis?" Upon hearing the news, Professor Duweike was also extremely excited, "Old man, I''m coming to Huaxia right away!"


    "Remember, bring more people; the computational work is massive!" Academician Bai said, "I don''t know how that student managed to complete such massive calculations within two hours. Either he had previously proven this solution, or his brain is a computer!"


    ...


    That very night, Professor Duweike flew from America to Huaxia, bringing along a research team of nearly a hundred people. After a brief exchange, they went straight into a small, dark room and began to work feverishly.


    The group of professors waited outside the small, dark room, and aside from delivering food and water at regular intervals, they dared not disturb them.


    Two days later, Academician Bai and Professor Duweike finally emerged from the research room. The intense calculation of two days and nights had left them pale, but they couldn''t conceal their excitement.


    "Academician Bai, Professor Duweike, how did it go?" The mathematicians from Huaxia couldn''t wait to ask.


    "The student''s method of proof is correct; he has successfully proven the Riemann Hypothesis!" Professor Duweike declared in the name of the Clay Mathematics Institute.


    "Although his proof was only two pages, that''s because he omitted a vast amount of computational work. We used over 500 sheets of manuscript paper to finish those calculations!" Academician Bai said excitedly, "And during that process, he solved 17 difficult problems in the field of mathematics. While they do not compare to the Riemann Hypothesis, any one of them could gain him a top mathematical prize!"


    "Boom!"


    The Riemann Hypothesis, which had puzzled the mathematical world for over 170 years, had been proven, and the person who proved it was a senior student participating in this year''s graduate exam for science and engineering!


    This news, like a nuclear blast, shocked the entire mathematical community.


    ```


    However, due to the confidentiality of the graduate exam, at the time Professor Tu had only photocopied the solution process and had not broken the seal on the student information, so the identity of this student has remained a mystery to this day!


    But everyone knew that as soon as the graduate exam results were announced, this person''s identity would be revealed to the world. Whoever scored full marks in mathematics was the one who had solved the Riemann Hypothesis!


    Over a month''s time, these two pages of solution process were verified by countless mathematicians, leading to a unanimous conclusion. The world''s largest mathematical research institutions have one after another affirmed the results.


    Now, everyone was just waiting for the release of the graduate exam results!


    "Hurry up, is it time yet?" Today, the Huaxia examination information management office was unusually crowded with towering figures in the mathematical community, including over a dozen white-haired, octogenarian elders who had come here in wheelchairs.


    These people came from Huaxia and abroad, and any one of them could make the entire mathematical community tremble.


    "Almost... almost there, please be patient a little longer!" The usually authoritative host was now trembling like a chick.


    It couldn''t be helped, any one of these attendees was a top figure in the field of mathematics. They had advanced the progress of fundamental mathematics in the world, so even national leaders would have to treat these seniors with utmost respect. They simply couldn''t afford to offend them.


    "And you say we old folks are out of touch? It''s you people who are truly old-fashioned! Making such a fuss over the removal of a staple, dragging it out for a month! Do you realize this is Huaxia''s mathematical genius? A once-in-centuries mathematical prodigy!"


    "Yes, yes!" The director responded with great respect.


    "Director, the results have been uploaded!" Finally, a staff member said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    "Quick! Check! Who is it, after all?"


    "What are you waiting for? Check now!" The director said to the staff member.


    "Yes!"


    Amidst the rapid clicking of keyboard keys, a string of information appeared on the computer screen.


    Name: Zhang Menglong


    School: Jiangnan University of Science and Technology


    Examined institution: Jiangnan University of Science and Technology


    English: 100


    Advanced Mathematics 1: 150


    Politics: 100


    Major Subject: 150


    "Zhang Menglong? Why does that name sound so familiar?" a few old-timers mused aloud.


    "That''s the world''s richest person! I think he''s studying at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Is it him?"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong! Are you still asleep? Do you have any idea that the Internet is blowing up?" In the middle of the night, Zhang Menglong suddenly received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Your mom, I''m asleep! What are you doing in the middle of the night, eh?"


    "That Riemann Hypothesis, was it really you who solved it?"


    "What hypothesis? What are you talking about?"


    "Quit your bullshit! The last question on the graduate exam''s advanced mathematics paper! That Riemann Hypothesis, do you have any idea the entire mathematical community is going crazy right now?"


    "Oh, that question," Zhang Menglong yawned, "I thought it was just a typical difficult question, a real brain teaser. No wonder it was a bit tough to solve!"

 Chapter 298 296: Everyones Asking Me to be a Professor

    "A bit difficult? Just a bit difficult? I''m a math idiot and even I know how hard the Riemann hypothesis is. It''s stumped mathematicians worldwide for over a hundred years, and you''re telling me it''s just a bit difficult?"


    "Are you telling me that you paid a bunch of mathematicians to do research for you behind the scenes?" Wang Ling speculated.


    He knew Zhang Menglong''s family had many capable people, so this speculation wasn''t without reason.


    "But still, that doesn''t seem right. Plus, with this difficult math problem added, how could it possibly be solved in just one and a half hours?" Wang Ling continued to speculate, "Did you bribe the test creator, or is the test creator another one of your family''s employees?"


    "How come your imagination is so vivid?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "It''s just a high-grade math test paper. Why are you all overreacting like this?"


    "Damn! Talking to you is just setting myself up for frustration, goodbye!" Wang Ling abruptly hung up the phone.


    "Crazy!"


    Zhang Menglong truly didn''t know what the Riemann hypothesis was. Although he had studied high-grade math before, aside from the week before the final exam, he had spent almost all his time playing, and the Riemann hypothesis had long exceeded the scope of high-grade mathematics; Zhang Menglong knew nothing about it!


    Thanks to the enhancements made by the Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong''s brain development had reached a very high standard: memory, logic, creative thinking, etc., had all reached a nearly limitless level.


    High-level mathematical theorems and formulas could be derived from some basic mathematics. Zhang Menglong relied solely on his modest math foundation to deduce the Riemann hypothesis practically from scratch.


    If others knew Zhang Menglong had deduced the proof of the Riemann hypothesis entirely from scratch, they would probably go insane. The computations involved were not something human brains could ordinarily handle.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong''s current brain computing power had already far surpassed that of ordinary humans.


    Secrets can''t be kept forever. Screenshots of Zhang Menglong''s results were quickly posted online.


    "150 points? Damn! 150 points in high-grade math?"


    "He solved the last question too? That was the Riemann hypothesis!"


    "A month ago, the Clay Mathematics Institute had already announced that the Riemann hypothesis was successfully proven. Someone had boldly speculated that it might be some genius solving it during a university entrance exam. Perhaps this month was just about waiting for the entrance exam scores to be released?"


    "Do you all remember the interview video with President Zhang that day? When he called these questions trash, I thought he was just showing off."


    "Forget it, some people said President Zhang slept after half an hour of the exam. Half an hour isn''t even enough to solve these problems, let alone copy them from an answer sheet, which I wouldn''t even be able to do!"


    "Is there anything President Zhang can''t do?"


    ...


    "Quick, send Zhang Menglong an acceptance letter!"


    "Give him the highest treatment, the highest scholarship tier, and spots for international exchanges. Whatever he wants, give it to him!"


    All the universities in Huaxia were mobilized. Even though Zhang Menglong had applied to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, solving such a world-class math problem meant there were a thousand ways to specially admit Zhang Menglong.


    If he could solve the Riemann hypothesis in such a short period, were any other problems even considered difficult? Just by himself, he might advance the field of basic mathematics by decades!


    Not just domestic universities, but international universities were bustling with activity too.


    In the mathematics department at Harvard University, several researchers were gathered together. At their center was a leading figure in mathematics, who himself had transformed Harvard''s mathematics department from a third-tier faculty to a global mathematical center.


    His name was Singh, a recipient of the Fields Medal, Abel Prize, and Wolf Prize in Mathematics.


    "This young man from Huaxia named Zhang Menglong must be brought over!" Singh said with a strong determination in his tone, "We need his mathematical abilities. With him on board, I believe the other six of the seven great problems in mathematics stand a good chance of being solved!"


    "I''ll have someone send him an acceptance letter right away!" the department head said eagerly.


    "That''s not enough!" another professor exclaimed, "His level has probably caught the attention of the entire world. We must offer him the best conditions!"


    "I''ll go to the government right now to apply for a green card for him. As long as he comes over to study with us, he can immediately obtain American citizenship!"


    "Idiot, do you think American citizenship holds any appeal to him?" Singh cursed loudly. "He''s the richest man in the world. Does he even care about which nationality he is?"


    "This..." Everyone was stunned. Yes, to recruit Zhang Menglong, their methods were merely things like full scholarships and other material conditions, and while a green card was indeed very attractive to the average person, did these incentives hold any significance for the richest man in the world?


    A green card? It''s just a lousy card!


    Scholarship? For others it might be a generous sum, but for Zhang Menglong, it probably wasn''t even as much as his daily pocket money.


    "And do you think, in our Harvard University''s Department of Mathematics, anyone is qualified to be his teacher?"


    This statement left everyone dumbfounded once again.


    Yes, this mathematical problem that hasn''t been solved in over a hundred years had consumed countless years of effort from these people without any results.


    And Zhang Menglong, with just two hours of exam time and having turned in his paper early, was far beyond their reach; even Singh wouldn''t dare claim he was qualified to teach him.


    "Mr. Singh, then..."


    "Send him an invitation to come to our Harvard University as a professor, a distinguished professor!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, the acceptance letters from Galidon University and Cambridge have arrived," Hong Yi said, holding a thick stack of letters, "along with some from other schools. You received a total of 198 today. Would you like to take a look?"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Just put them aside. I applied for polymer material science. What''s with all these mathematics acceptance letters?"


    Hong Yi smiled helplessly and just placed the documents on the pile of acceptance letters that were stacked like a mountain in the corner.


    "Menglong, your phone," Lu Yiyao handed over the mobile phone casually.


    Zhang Menglong took the phone and saw it was an unfamiliar number.


    "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong, may I know who is speaking?"


    "Hello Zhang Menglong, I''m Bai Gongyu, the dean of the Mathematical Sciences at Qingbei University."


    "Oh, hello Dean Bai," Zhang Menglong responded to the call, already knowing it must be another solicitation.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m here on behalf of Qingbei University to invite you to join our graduate program."


    "Dean Bai, thank you for your invitation, but I applied for the polymer materials program at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, so I can only..."


    "Just listen to my conditions!" Bai Gongyu quickly interjected. "If you agree to study with us, we guarantee you direct progression from Masters to PhD, all tuition fees waived, and we''ll even provide you with an annual scholarship of 200,000 yuan and sort out your residency in Yanjing, and more..."


    "Dean Bai, I''m really not interested in money," Zhang Menglong said, "and that scholarship fund from your university, it seems like it was established with my donations."


    "What?" Bai Gongyu''s expression suddenly suffocated.


    "Also, the president of Harvard University just called me, asking me to join their faculty, and I just turned him down, so..."


    The muscles on Bai Gongyu''s face on the other end of the phone twitched slightly.


    The president of Harvard personally invited you? And even offered you a professorship? Have the Americans gone mad?


    Most importantly, Zhang Menglong actually turned it down?


    He isn''t short of money, isn''t pursuing a PhD for a bit of prestige? They even offered you a professorship and you still refuse?


    What are you really after?

 Chapter 299 297: I Just Want to Be a Low-key Ordinary Graduate Student

    "Zhang Menglong, you might want to consider this again, they can offer you a professor''s title, and so can we!" Dean Bai suddenly became clear-headed with a slap to his forehead.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong had achieved so much in the world of mathematics, yet they still stubbornly treated him as an ordinary student.


    Who would dare say they were qualified to be his teacher with his level of expertise? To be his teacher, they''d first have to prove themselves by solving other problems on the same level as the Riemann hypothesis!


    Harvard University, on the other hand, knew what they were doing by offering Zhang Menglong a professorship straight away¡ªthat''s what it means to come with sincerity.


    Although Dean Bai was just a dean, he believed that the university would absolutely be willing to create a spot for Zhang Menglong. Not to mention a mere professorship, even the role of department head or even dean might be considered.


    "Dean Bai, thank you for your kind intentions," Zhang Menglong declined politely, "I didn''t intentionally solve this problem; I thought it was just an ordinary question. Who knew it turned out to be a major problem in academia? I just want to be a plain and simple graduate student!"


    Dean Bai''s face twitched upon hearing this.


    What does he mean by ''not intentional''? If he could solve a problem that had troubled mathematicians for over a century without even trying, what would he be capable of if he did try?


    What had those mathematicians been doing, exhausting their lives? Decades of intensive research paled in comparison to a "plain graduate student"?


    If he was simply an ordinary researcher, then what were they, the so-called associate professors, professors, and even academicians? Were they just freeloaders and wastes of space?


    "Professor Bai, my initial goal has always been the polymer materials specialty at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, now and in the future. No need to waste your efforts playing messenger," said Zhang Menglong.


    "But Zhang Menglong, you must realize that your achievements in the field of mathematics far exceed those in polymer materials. Your current reputation alone would qualify you for a distinguished professorship at any university, something the polymer materials specialty cannot offer you!"


    "And don''t take my words the wrong way, but Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is currently just a second-tier institution, neither 985 nor 211. The platform it can offer you is extremely limited!"


    "Dean Bai," Zhang Menglong smiled, "I, Zhang Menglong, don''t need to rely on any platform. What platform could be more solid than my family background?"


    "This..." Dean Bai was immediately at a loss for words.


    Dean Bai did have some understanding of Zhang Menglong. Not to mention the title of the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong''s wealth was indeed bottomless. He had invested tens of billions to bring a slew of equipment to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, including a large-scale particle collider and an astronomical telescope.


    Such grand investments were something other universities nationwide could only look up to in envy, unable to obtain themselves. Even Yanjing University was constantly angling for a chance to use the Particle Collider at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    If Zhang Menglong was genuinely determined to pursue research, he could even establish a university of his own, and its hardware would surpass that of any institution in the world.


    As for teaching staff, with such facilities at hand, what top scholar wouldn''t want to come if he just asked?


    So Zhang Menglong''s education really didn''t need to rely on any school!


    Dean Bai suddenly realized he seemed to have no bargaining chips that could invite Zhang Menglong. The joker, it turned out, was himself!


    "In that case, I won''t force you," Dean Bai sighed.


    As soon as he hung up the phone, Zhang Menglong received a call from Han Jinyu.


    "Menglong, you must stick to your original aspirations, don''t be deceived by the sweet words of others!" As soon as he answered the phone, Zhang Menglong heard the anxious voice.


    Upon learning of this matter, Han Jinyu''s first reaction was joy, after all, this was his student who had achieved such a feat, and it was a feather in his cap as a teacher.


    But what followed was concern; with such an outstanding student, wouldn''t he be targeted by people from all over the country, the entire world?


    ```


    "Menglong, although our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology isn''t that great of a school, whatever they can offer you, we can too, and what they can''t, we will surely find a way to provide for you!"


    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh, "Teacher Han, my mailbox has been bursting with admission letters from all over the world these past few days, and Harvard University even wants to make me a professor!"


    "What? Harvard University has invited you to be a professor?" Han Jinyu''s face fell with worry. He knew that Zhang Menglong was definitely a hot commodity.


    "But I have refused them all!"


    "You refused?" Han Jinyu asked himself, if he were in the same situation, he would have found it impossible to resist such a temptation.


    "You also know, I prefer to keep a low profile, being an ordinary student is quite good!"


    "Low profile my ass!" If not for the fear of offending Zhang Menglong, Han Jinyu would have cursed right then and there. If you call yourself low-profile, how come you solved a problem that has perplexed scholars for over a hundred years during a common graduate exam?


    This wasn''t even Zhang Menglong''s area of expertise.


    Not long ago, Zhang Menglong had handed over a crucial part of the research and development process for a self-developed chip to Han Jinyu, the photoresist used in photolithography machines.


    Around the world, photoresist technology is controlled by only a handful of companies. In Huaxia, so far, no domestic business has been able to produce special photoresist.


    When Zhang Menglong placed the photoresist formula in front of him, Han Jinyu was flabbergasted, especially considering the thick stack of manuscripts was entirely in Zhang Menglong''s handwriting.


    Han Jinyu had doubted whether the formula could have been the result of some research institution within Zhang Menglong''s family, but now, he thought it might actually be something Zhang Menglong had developed himself!


    Once their developed chips started mass production, one could only imagine the sensation it would cause. Wanting to remain low-key? That was simply out of the question!


    However, there was one thing that Han Jinyu seemed to understand: Zhang Menglong didn''t care about fame or titles. His only pleasure seemed to be observing people''s astonished expressions and their praise; in colloquial terms, he enjoyed showing off.


    "Since that''s how you feel, then I''m relieved," Han Jinyu nodded, "Also, Menglong, there''s a rather troubling matter! That''s the main reason I''m calling you today."


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Is there a problem with the development of the photoresist?"


    "Yes," Han Jinyu said, "This month, we verified the formula, and it''s absolutely ready for mass production. The equipment will also be coming off the assembly line in half a month, but there''s a problem ¡ª for mass production of the photoresist, we need a lot of raw materials. One of the photoinitiators contains trace elements that need to be extracted from a mineral called ''new soil ore,'' and currently, Kaibong is the only country that exports it."


    "They''re not selling?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed into slits.


    "Yes," Han Jinyu continued, "They''ve announced to the outside world that the production of that raw material has greatly decreased in recent years and that it can only satisfy domestic needs for the time being, with no exports."


    "Hong Yi!" Zhang Menglong called to Hong Yi, "What''s the production like for Kaibong''s new soil ore in recent years?"


    "Just a moment," Hong Yi replied after fiddling with her tablet, "Mr. Zhang, new soil is a mineral aggregate similar to rare earth elements, currently found only in an active volcano in Kaibong called Mount Asu. The reserves are quite rich, and the output has been increasing by about 10% each year."


    "Heh," Zhang Menglong sneered, "It''s increasing every year, so they''re deliberately not selling it?"


    "It seems likely," Han Jinyu said, "Ever since you acquired Silicon Moonlight, many eyes have been watching us. Nobody wants to see us in Huaxia develop high-performance chips on our own. Even if it''s just a sign of progress, they''d want to nip it in the bud."


    "I understand. Leave this matter to me," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong hung up, "What is the most frequently imported essential in Kaibong right now, the one that comes in the largest quantity from our Huaxia?"


    ```

 Chapter 300 298: Is Your Mine for Sale?

    "Mr. Zhang, the main imports of Kaibong currently are textiles, energy, and mechanical parts," Hong Yi quickly searched for a moment and then provided Zhang Menglong with an answer.


    "Energy again?" Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "It seems that it really is a universal card!"


    Zhang Menglong waved his hands grandly, "Same old method, cut off their water, electricity, and gas supply. When their entire country is out of power, just wait for them to come begging us!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this tactic is very effective against countries like Qingqiu, but it''s very difficult when dealing with developed countries like Kaibong," Hong Yi said.


    "Oh? How so?" Zhang Menglong frowned slightly.


    "According to the data I have, the current energy composition in Kaibong is 20% to 22% nuclear power, 22% to 24% renewable energy, 26% coal, and 27% natural gas. Your family controls most of the natural gas and crude oil resources, and you don''t have many coal mines."


    "Ah? My family has a blind spot in assets?"


    "No, it should be said that your ancestors had a far-sighted vision. After all, coal is a highly polluting energy source, and it is not favorable for long-term development. Hence, a long time ago, they had excluded this part of the assets!"


    "Damn! They really had an eye for sustainable development!" Zhang Menglong complained.


    "However, the demand for coal in Kaibong is still very high. 99% of their coal resources come from imports, with almost zero domestic production. Merely cutting off their natural gas supply, they can still maintain the normal operation of energy in most areas."


    "But if the coal supply is cut off, then more than 50% of the nation''s electricity supply will be compromised, and that would be a severe blow to them," suggested Hong Yi.


    "Where do they import their coal from?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    "Last year, Kaibong imported 178 million short tons of coal from Australia, 32 million short tons from Yinhei, 21 million short tons from Tsarist Russia, and 3 million short tons from America. For them, the largest import is from Australia."


    "Get me some information on Australia''s coal mines."


    "Sure, Mr. Zhang, I will send it to your email immediately."


    Within a minute, Zhang Menglong received a notification for an email in his inbox, "Good grief, you guys are practically encyclopedias!"


    Zhang Menglong opened the document that was only two pages long, but very concise, and it additionally highlighted the parts that interested Zhang Menglong the most.


    Coal mines in Australia are mainly located in the Sydney Coalfield, Bowen Coalfield, and Latrobe Valley Coalfield. Kaibong''s imports of coal from Australia mainly come from these three coalfields, with a ratio of approximately 3:5:2.


    In this document, there was also information on the owners of the three coalfields.


    "Oliver Clarelode, Arthur Rippert, Blund Niordor, what a coincidence!" Zhang Menglong saw the three names and a knowing smile appeared immediately.


    When he went to Europe for an auction, thanks to the introduction of the Rothschild family, many rich people were scrambling to toast him, and Zhang Menglong had kept many business cards and contact details at the time.


    These three Australian coal magnates were also among these people, and Zhang Menglong still remembered that Oliver was a skinny, bald man in his fifties, who had a fairly famous Australian actress by his side at the time.


    "Who would have thought that one day, I would actually deal with these stinkers of money," Zhang Menglong slapped his head, "Damn, I lost all those business cards!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we updated your phone last week, and in your phone, we have the private contact information of most of the people at the top of the world''s social pyramid!" Hong Yi said.


    "Is that even possible?" Zhang Menglong typed Oliver''s full name in the contacts, and sure enough, the contacts not only contained his contact information but also some personal briefs and critical information.


    "Of course, not everyone''s information is qualified to be in your phone, they must be billionaires with assets over 10 billion US dollars or key officials from various countries, and of course, with the exception of your friends!"


    "My God, such a high threshold!" Lu Yiyao exclaimed from the side, "Hehe, I never thought I''d make it into a directory reserved for those with a net worth of over 10 billion US dollars."


    "You''re thinking too much, your number isn''t in my contacts!"


    "What did you say?" Lu Yiyao pinched the soft flesh around Zhang Menglong''s waist.


    "Ouch, ouch, ouch! It''s etched in my memory, who needs an address book!" Zhang Menglong quickly begged for mercy.


    "That''s more like it!"


    ...


    In Queensland, Australia, within a towering skyscraper, a lean, bald man in a business suit sat upright at his desk.


    "Mr. Oliver, here is this year''s export report!" Oliver''s beautiful secretary adjusted her glasses, "Last year''s total mining volume was 170 million tons, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year, with 80 million tons exported to Kaibong, an increase of 8%, 12 million tons to India, an increase of 9.2%, and 30 million tons to Huaxia, a decrease of 63%..."


    "This year, Huaxia''s import volume has noticeably decreased, and Kaibong Country has become our largest importer."


    "How about next year''s orders?" Oliver''s face didn''t look so good, a decrease of 12% was a truly terrifying number.


    "Kaibong hopes to import over 200 million tons of coal from us, India hopes to reach 50 million tons, and there''s no news from the Huaxia side yet."


    "Those idiots upstairs have no idea how much money they''ve cost us!" Oliver said angrily.


    "Mr. Oliver, your phone is ringing!" The secretary pointed to Oliver''s vibrating mobile.


    "This is Oliver," he answered the phone, his tone cold due to his bad mood.


    "Mr. Oliver, this is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Mr. Zhang?" Oliver''s expression changed faster than a face turn, "Mr. Zhang, I apologize. I wasn''t in the best of spirits just now, and my tone might have been a bit off."


    Oliver was a smart man; so far, those who had crossed Zhang Menglong had all been unlucky, and he did not want to test whether he''d be the exception.


    The last time he left Europe, he had also vaguely heard that the organizers and the countries that had failed to secure the final auction item wouldn''t let him leave Europe so easily.


    There were even some unspeakable secrets that someone had revealed to him, stating that unless Zhang Menglong''s skills were out of this world, it was impossible for him to leave Europe alive.


    But reality proved that Zhang Menglong was living quite comfortably, having recently defeated four God of Cars, shocking the racing world, and most outrageously, he had even solved a mathematical problem that had perplexed experts for a century.


    In Oliver''s mind, Zhang Menglong had become a very mysterious figure.


    "So, Mr. Oliver, have you come across any troubling matters lately?"


    "Ah, let''s not talk about it, it''s not worth mentioning!" Oliver sighed, "It''s all due to some national influences. Even if I have a headache over it, I can''t do anything without the country changing its policies."


    "As for you, Mr. Zhang, it''s been two or three months since we last met. What brings you to call me all of a sudden? I don''t suppose it''s to invite me for tea, is it?"


    "Hahaha!" Oliver was quite a talker, which did endear him to Zhang Menglong quite a bit.


    "Of course not, but if Mr. Oliver does come to visit Huaxia, I will definitely treat you to a tea tasting," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Since Mr. Zhang is so courteous, then I really would like to visit Huaxia," Oliver was a businessman after all, never straying too far from talk of money, and he''d already said quite a bit of to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you''re looking for a businessman like me, it must be for conducting business. I presume it''s quite a substantial deal you have in mind?"


    "Haha, I do like how forthright you are, Mr. Oliver," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Only, this deal is rather large, and I''m not sure if it''s appropriate to discuss."


    "Go ahead, Mr. Zhang, no matter how big it is in coal business, I can handle it!" Oliver said confidently.


    "Then I''ll just come out with it!" Zhang Menglong began, "Mr. Oliver, are you selling your Bowen Coalfield?"

 Chapter 301 299: Wanting to Contribute to Global Warming

    "Mr. Zhang, what did you just say? I must have heard it wrong."


    "I was asking if your coal field is for sale?"


    "No, I meant the sentence before that!" Oliver said.


    "The sentence before?" Zhang Menglong paused for a moment, "This deal is rather big, I''m not sure if it should be brought up?"


    "It shouldn''t be!"


    Inside the office, Oliver was overwhelmed. He had originally thought that Zhang Menglong was about to discuss a coal business deal with him. Their Bowen Coalfield had enormous reserves, enough for all of Australia to mine for over a hundred years, with an average holding of more than 1,500 tons per person. What kind of offer could they not handle?


    But he had never imagined that Zhang Menglong would start off by wanting to buy his coalfield? Was this some kind of joke?


    "Mr. Oliver, you really play these word games from Huaxia quite well," praised Zhang Menglong. Such stunts, typically seen only in Huaxia, and here he was, an Australian, playing them so smoothly that even Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s talk something substantial. Let''s properly discuss business, making these kinds of jokes really isn''t very meaningful," Oliver said.


    "Mr. Oliver, I''m not joking, I really want to buy your coal field," Zhang Menglong said, "if possible, I''d like to buy the Sydney Coal Field and the Latrobe Valley Coal Field too.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you trying to monopolize the entire Australian coal mining industry?" Oliver asked with a bitter smile.


    These three coal mines were the largest in all of Australia, and with coal-fired power surpassing 70%, if he bought all of them, all of Australia would subsequently depend on Zhang Menglong''s approval for operations. Even if they were willing to sell, would the country agree?


    "I urgently need them!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, even if it''s urgent, this request is too absurd," Oliver said, "We only have the mining rights and the export rights for this coal field, but the ownership is still in the hands of the state; it''s just that our freedom is relatively greater."


    "Well," Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a bit disappointed, "I thought your country''s coal fields could be privately owned just like my diamond mines and gold mines!"


    Oliver immediately rolled his eyes, thinking, "I never asked if you had diamond mines or gold mines, why do you have to overdo it? Did you call me here to talk business or to show off your wealth?"


    "Then, Mr. Oliver, could you help me get in touch with your government to see if they are willing to sell these three coal fields to me?"


    Oliver sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Mr. Zhang, I know you are the richest man in the world. Even if the Australian government is willing to sell them to you, but to buy these three coal fields, I''m afraid no matter how much you have, it wouldn''t be possible. Do you know the coal reserve of these three coal fields?"


    Oliver continued, "Just our Bowen Coalfield has a total reserve of over 30 billion tons. Based on our export price this year, the base price for quality coal is about 840 Huaxia currency per ton, which is 25 trillion Huaxia currency! Plus various taxes, the total value of the coal field wouldn''t be less than 30 trillion Huaxia currency! That''s about 4.65 trillion US dollars!"


    Oliver added, "As far as I know, your country''s foreign exchange reserves in US dollars might just be over 3 trillion, right?"


    "That much?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "1 million US dollars is 1 Cred Point, 10 billion is 100 Cred Points, 4 trillion US dollars, that''s more than forty thousand Cred Points, I can directly summon 400 teachers!"


    "Mr. Zhang? What are you talking about? What teachers... I don''t understand?" For some reason, Oliver could sense Zhang Menglong''s surprised tone, but amidst this surprise, there seemed to be a lack of disappointment, replaced instead by delight.


    Why was he so delighted when he couldn''t possibly take out so much money?


    "Oh, oh, nothing!" Zhang Menglong quickly came back to his senses, "4 trillion, right? Who should I contact to buy it?"


    "No!" Oliver almost lost his balance, what does "who should I contact to buy it" mean?


    He had clearly told you, it''s 4 trillion US dollars, a figure simply unreachable.


    Not just for an individual, even a country couldn''t come up with that!


    "Your Bowen Coalfield is 4.65 trillion, then adding the other three together, probably a few trillion US dollars should be enough, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang... you..." After hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, a terrifying thought suddenly occurred to Oliver: Zhang Menglong could bring out several trillion US Dollars!


    "No, no, no, this must be a joke, right? Hahaha."


    "Hong Yi, how long would it take me to gather several trillion US Dollars?" Oliver only heard the voice of Zhang Menglong and a woman from the other side.


    "Yasha, you understand Huaxia language, quickly help me listen to what they are saying!" Oliver activated the speakerphone.


    "Yes, boss!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, if we were to transfer from your Huaxia accounts, we could gather the amount by the day after tomorrow morning at the latest, but if we were to transfer from an overseas account... even if it were ten times more, it would be available anytime!" Hong Yi said, "The industries you have in America generate earnings in US Dollars, not to mention your annual ground rent, all of which are just sitting in your American accounts."


    "Boss..." Yasha''s gaze became somewhat vacant; she seemed to have just heard the most inconceivable conversation in the world.


    "What the hell did they say?" Oliver quickly covered the mouthpiece.


    "Boss, he said if they use the Huaxia accounts, they can gather several trillion in just two days, but if they use foreign accounts... it would be available anytime... "


    "How... how is this possible?" Forbes''s list of billionaires had Zhang Menglong''s assets at 800 billion US Dollars, but Oliver was sure, this pure crap, Zhang Menglong''s total assets absolutely exceeded one trillion US Dollars!


    But to extract several billion US Dollars, even in cash, he wanted to first ask, which country could do that?


    "Mr. Oliver, several billion US Dollars is no problem, why don''t you ask if they can sell it?"


    "Mr. Zhang," at that moment, Oliver felt as if he was speaking to a god, and not just any god but a living God of Wealth, "Mr. Zhang, even if you truly have that money, the government wouldn''t possibly sell it. Our country''s mining laws state that national energy resources can only grant mining rights and a few other powers, and it''s not possible to sell them outright."


    "I see," Zhang Menglong looked troubled, "That''s true, if I bought all your coalfields, what would you use?"


    "You know that and you still ask?" Oliver suddenly felt an impulse to curse Zhang Menglong''s family.


    "Then... how much is your annual production?"


    "Last year, it was roughly 170 million tons, and this year''s extraction is estimated at 182 million tons."


    "Since you''re not selling the coalfields, the coal itself is still for sale, right?"


    Oliver breathed a sigh of relief; Zhang Menglong was finally about to engage in some regular business practices.


    "Of course, what''s business if not to deal?" Oliver said with a laugh, "As per national requirements, we reserve about 50 million tons for the country annually, and the rest is all exported. Mr. Zhang, how much do you plan to buy?"


    "I''ll take it all!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought.


    "Pfft!" Just as Oliver took a sip of coffee trying to calm his nerves, he ended up spraying his female secretary with it.


    Come on, can you do business properly? Even if you''re rich, that''s not how you do business, right? If the mine can''t be sold, you want to package the whole year''s production? What kind of weird logic is this?


    And he really couldn''t understand what on earth Zhang Menglong needed with so much coal. Was he planning to build his own coal field? That''s not how you play the game!


    "Mr. Zhang, forgive me for asking, but what do you need so much coal for?"


    "Ahem, ahem!" Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Actually, I''m an environmentalist. Every year, the world burns a large amount of coal, causing severe pollution and global warming. I plan to buy all the coal and then hide it away, contributing somewhat to alleviating global warming."


    If Oliver were Huaxian, right now in his mind there would definitely be a curse about to slip out, "Are you fucking stupid?"

 Chapter 302 300 Youre leaving no way out

    Contributing to global warming, what a noble ideal!


    But has anyone ever heard of buying up all the petrochemical fuels for energy conservation and emission reduction? Just how much money would that take?


    Does Zhang Menglong also plan to buy up all the world''s munitions for the sake of world peace?


    This reason, in Oliver''s ears, was more than absurd; it was downright idiotic!


    And if all the coal mined from their coalfields were sold to Zhang Menglong, what about those major coal-importing countries with long-term contracts? If shipments were to stop, not only would they face huge compensation claims, someone might even sue them under the Monopoly Law.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t joke with me, how could you possibly use more than a hundred million tons of coal in a year?" Oliver said, "If you need some, a few hundred or thousand tons, I''d have no problem giving it to you."


    "Well, Mr. Oliver," Zhang Menglong saw no need to keep him in the dark, "my actual goal is to prevent you from selling the coalfield to Kaibong."


    "Kaibong?" Oliver was startled; he was aware of the deep historical issues between Huaxia and Kaibong, even now many Huaxia people harbored animosity towards Kaibong, but what did that have to do with this act?


    "They''ve upset me, so I don''t want them to be happy," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Just for that reason?" Oliver''s eyes widened.


    Does the world''s wealthiest man really not care about money? Just for some petty happiness, Zhang Menglong almost whipped out tens of trillions of US dollars!


    Wanting to be happy¡ªcould he not indulge in good food, play with beautiful, sexy things with those tens of trillions of US dollars? Even if Kaibong offended him, wouldn''t it be more cost-effective to use that money to smash their currency market or to buy out their enterprises?


    Although tens of trillions can generate much more daily value, it''d take at least three hundred years to exhaust all of Australia''s coal, and Zhang Menglong would be dead before breaking even.


    No matter how hard he racked his brains, Oliver couldn''t fathom why Zhang Menglong would choose this path.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll be frank with you. We have a long-term cooperation agreement with Kaibong, and we have to sell them at least 50 million tons of high-quality coal each day and year."


    "Since it''s business, there''s always room for negotiation," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Does Australian law stipulate that you can only sell your coal to Kaibong?"


    "That, it does not..."


    "There you go, then. It''s just a matter of money," Zhang Menglong said. "How much per ton do you sell your coal to Kaibong for?"


    "The price for coal exported to Kaibong fluctuates between 50 and 100 US dollars a ton; based on the situation in the first two months of this year, it has been stable at 62 US dollars per ton," Oliver answered truthfully.


    "Sell me the portion you sell to Kaibong. I''ll pay 200 US dollars per ton!"


    "Hiss!" Oliver felt a sharp pang in his molars. With that opening bid, Zhang Menglong had raised the price by more than threefold.


    Even in the best year, the highest price they got selling to Kaibong was only 102 US dollars a ton.


    With the impact of the global pandemic, import and export activities have become much more difficult, and that price of 62 US dollars a ton was already very good; they had never even imagined 200 US dollars a ton!


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we''re unwilling; it''s that..."


    "How much is the penalty for breach of contract?"


    "The penalty is 1 billion US dollars, but..."


    "Ding!" Oliver''s phone vibrated with a message from Swiss Bank.


    "Dear Mr. Oliver, you have received a deposit of 1 billion US dollars into your account xxxxxx at our bank."


    "Fuck!"


    Oliver, a veteran of the business world for decades, had made countless deals, but he had never encountered someone like Zhang Menglong¡ªwho just wired 1 billion US dollars without a word! The deal was not even closed, and they already got the potential penalty paid? If everyone in the world did business like him, they''d make no fucking money at all!


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not about the penalty for breach of contract, it''s just..."


    "300 US dollars per ton!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I really..."


    "400 US dollars per ton!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you win!" Oliver rolled his eyes outright, "This year''s coal quota for Kaibong is yours!"


    After all, Oliver was a pure businessman; the price of coal had increased more than sixfold. When had the world ever seen coal at 400 US dollars a ton?


    The Bowen Coalfield wasn''t solely owned by Oliver. His company had other shareholders, and their relationship with the people of Kaibong was strictly business; there was no personal rapport.


    If such a huge deal weren''t struck, not only would Oliver find it impossible to forgive himself, but the shareholders might band together and impeach him on the spot!


    "Mr. Oliver, there''s a personal favor I''d like to ask of you," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Tell me, what else I can do for you," Oliver had left his contact information with the hope of making acquaintances with the young man, perhaps to engage in some business.


    And just this brief phone call had already netted a deal close to several tens of billions of US dollars. Wasn''t this what he wanted all along? With this one transaction alone, his assets could increase by tens of billions of US dollars!


    "How much do you know about the global coal supply chain?"


    "Hahaha, I''ve been in this circle for decades. In this industry, there''s likely nothing I don''t know."


    "Reliable!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I hope Mr. Oliver can help me find out from which coalfields Kaibong imports its coal."


    "I can give you the answer to that now," Oliver laughed. "We keep records of all our partners'' basic information."


    "Last year, Kaibong imported 178 million tons from us in Australia; our Bowen Coalfield, 80 million tons; Sydney Coalfield, 50 million tons; Latrobe Valley Coalfield, 30 million tons; and various other small amounts totaling 18 million tons, while Yinhei''s 32 million tons came from the South Sumatra Coalfield and 21 million tons from Tsarist Russia''s Berchora Coalfield."


    "I have quite a lot of business dealings with the owners of these coalfields, so our relationships are pretty good!"


    "Then, Mr. Oliver, could you pass a message to those owners for me?" said Zhang Menglong. "For the coal sold to Kaibong, I''ll buy it all at double the price, and I''ll also cover the penalty for breach of contract!"


    "This year, I want them to not be able to buy a single bit!" Zhang Menglong''s face showed a fierce light.


    To forge a monopoly on new land resources? Fine, he would fight fire with fire!


    You see, although the world''s annual coal production was substantial, the proportion available for export was almost always fixed!


    Moreover, due to global warming, countries worldwide were adopting policies; it wasn''t a case of mining as much coal as the market demanded.


    The annual production was set, and so was the export volume; once sold out, there was no more, making coal export resources highly coveted.


    Zhang Menglong had wrapped up all the coal quotas belonging to Kaibong. For them to seek other import channels in a short time was nothing short of a pipe dream!


    It could be anticipated that, for the coming period, the entire nation of Kaibong would be plunged into a shortage of coal resources.


    "You really aren''t leaving them any way out!" Oliver said with a wry smile.


    "Then I''ll be waiting for the good news from you, Mr. Oliver!" Zhang Menglong laughed as he hung up the phone.


    "Hong Yi, how long will it take to cut off Kaibong''s natural gas supply?"


    "Mr. Zhang, at the earliest, a day and a half!"


    "Good, cut them off!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "I want to see how long they can last with only nuclear and renewable energy generation!"

 Chapter 303 301 Unless You Outbid Him

    Kaibong Corporation is one of the largest coal-fired power developers in the Kaibong country, currently headed by President Masumi Aoki, a fifty-year-old middle-aged man.


    Over 90% of the coal imported from outside Kaibong enters the domestic market through them, and their existence is a very important hub for the entire country''s energy supply.


    As usual, Masumi Aoki was in his office looking at the fluctuation of coal import prices for the year. Although the price of coal had dropped significantly compared to previous years, due to the pandemic, transportation costs were extremely high, and the profits of exporting countries had decreased, leading many of them to reduce or even stop their coal export quotas.


    Even though coal is not a clean energy source, with nuclear and hydro power generation not yet mature, coal remains an indispensable energy resource.


    Fortunately, Kaibong Corporation had long-term cooperation with several major exporting countries. Imports had become more difficult, but they were still able to meet the domestic power supply demands.


    "Knock, knock, knock!" A sudden burst of rapid knocking came from the door.


    "Come in," said Masumi Aoki.


    A young man in a suit entered the office, his face looking somewhat frantic, even forgetting the usual courtesy.


    "Section Chief Noguchi, what''s the matter that you are in such a rush?" Noting the expression on the young man''s face, Masumi Aoki didn''t press him on his breach of etiquette.


    "President, our finance department just received a huge transfer from Bowen Energy Group. Have we recently made any strategic cooperation moves?" Hiroshi Noguchi, the chief of the finance department, discovered early this morning that their company account had mysteriously received an additional 1 billion US dollars!


    He combed through all of the company''s recent transaction records, but the accounts were clear and without issue. This 1 billion US dollars seemed to have appeared out of thin air.


    What was most strange was that the Bowen Energy Group had always been their coal supplier. If there were indeed a transfer, it should be them paying Bowen Energy Group, not the other way around. So why did they receive a payment from them?


    "A huge transfer?" Masumi Aoki was taken aback. As the head of the company, he oversaw all matters big and small. If something like this were true, he shouldn''t be unaware of it, right?


    "Look at this, President!" Hiroshi Noguchi lifted the tablet to Masumi Aoki''s eyes.


    "1 billion US dollars? That can''t be right. It would have been surprising enough if they weren''t hurrying us for payment; how could they be transferring money to us? Could it be a mistake? But with such a large amount, how could there be an operational error?" Masumi Aoki was completely puzzled.


    "No, that''s not right!" Masumi Aoki suddenly thought of something. Though the import-export contract had been signed years ago, he had been involved in drafting and revising it. Although there were annual updates, one figure had always remained fixed.


    1 billion US dollars was exactly the penalty for breaching the contract!


    With that realization, Masumi Aoki broke out in a cold sweat. Why would they receive a penalty for breach of contract? Naturally, it was because the other party intended to breach. According to their contract with Bowen Energy Group, they were obliged to export over 50 million tons of premium coal to them every year!


    "Could they have encountered some problem?" Masumi Aoki immediately searched for Oliver''s contact information and called him without delay, without even considering the time difference.


    ...


    "How could this young man, Zhang Menglong, be so rich?" Oliver floated in his private hot spring, constantly pondering the matter of Zhang Menglong.


    When they were on the phone, Zhang Menglong just transferred 1 billion US dollars directly into their account.


    Less than 2 minutes after hanging up, their account received another cash transfer of 50 billion US dollars!


    This money was for Zhang Menglong to buy all of this year''s coal export quotas to the Kaibong country¡ªand at a price massively above the usual!


    According to the previous business model, Zhang Menglong only needed to make a down payment and then settle the payments quarterly.


    But Zhang Menglong paid the entire amount at once and even arrogantly told him that if the money was in excess, the surplus was to be considered his personal compensation.


    If it wasn''t enough, he could ask for more at any time!


    At the last auction, Zhang Menglong had brought out over 100 billion US dollars in cash, and this time it was another 50 billion, in addition to his acquisitions like the Weibo platform and NetEase Music.


    Just the cash he had used already exceeded 200 billion US dollars!


    The previous world''s richest person''s entire assets, including fixed assets, didn''t even reach 200 billion US dollars!


    ```


    With that money, Oliver suddenly became over the moon.


    Although Kaibong was their biggest customer, they were not swift in paying. Every attempt to collect payments involved begging and pleading; they would not see a penny until the very last day stipulated in the agreement. Oliver had long since run out of patience with this.


    This time, he finally found an opportunity!


    The 1 billion US Dollars, he didn''t even notify them, he just slapped it onto Kaibong Corporation''s face. He had even envisioned the bewildered and utterly troubled expression on President Masumi Aoki''s face when seeing the money.


    "Mr. Oliver, President Masumi Aoki from Kaibong Corporation is on the line for you," Oliver''s female secretary''s voice came through a small loudspeaker beside the hot spring bath.


    "Tell him I''m taking a bath right now, it''s so enjoyable, I don''t feel like talking business; tell him to wait until I''m done soaking!" Oliver said with utmost enjoyment.


    "It used to be that I needed to go through you to make money, so I endured it, now that I have a wealthier partner, who would care about you guys?" Oliver muttered to himself.


    "What? He is taking a bath?" Masumi Aoki on the other end of the line turned red with fury upon hearing the relayed message, but he suppressed his anger and continued, "Could you please ask Mr. Oliver when he will be done with his bath?"


    "Mr. Oliver said, he will talk when he feels like it, and as for when that will be, it depends on his mood."


    "Bang!" Masumi Aoki slammed his desk hard, struggling to restrain himself, "Please tell Mr. Oliver, I''ll contact him again in half an hour!"


    "What the hell is going on?" Masumi Aoki''s face contorted viciously. Oliver had always been very careful about maintaining their direct relationship, so why had his attitude changed so suddenly?


    After waiting anxiously for half an hour, Masumi Aoki called Oliver again.


    At this time, Oliver had just finished drying his hair as he walked out. He hit the speakerphone button, "Yasa, translate for me!"


    "Mr. Aoki, what''s so urgent?" Oliver took his time responding.


    "Mr. Oliver, what does that 1 billion mean? Is Bowen Group cutting off cooperation with us?" Masumi Aoki asked, "With such high prices and volume, could you find a second buyer aside from us?"


    "Mr. Aoki, aren''t you asking the obvious?" Oliver chuckled, "That 1 billion US Dollars is the contractual penalty for breach of agreement, and as for our new client, they offered a higher price, so naturally, we chose them!"


    "Who did you sell to?" Masumi Aoki inquired; to offset the 1 billion breach of contract fee with their import scale and per ton price, the other party had to raise the price by at least 10 US Dollars a ton!


    "Our new customer is a generous man from Huaxia!" Oliver laughed, this was also Zhang Menglong''s instruction¡ªto just tell them if asked, "He is the current world''s wealthiest man, Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Masumi Aoki''s face changed, "What price did he give?"


    "40 billion US Dollars to buy out your Kaibong''s share in our Bowen Coalfield imports!"


    "Is he out of his mind?" Their plan in Kaibong for this year was to import 75 million tons from them, which with the current prices, wouldn''t even be 50 billion US Dollars, yet Zhang Menglong had given eight times that amount!


    "Mr. Oliver, do you truly believe he can pay this amount?" Masumi Aoki sneered.


    "My dear President Aoki, the generous Mr. Zhang has already wired the money to our account," Oliver responded.


    "What?" Masumi Aoki''s expression turned as unsightly as if he had eaten excrement, "Mr. Oliver, was our previous cooperation not satisfying enough for you?"


    Instantly, Oliver cursed Masumi Aoki''s ancestors in his mind.


    Satisfactory or not, didn''t he have any Cred Points? The other party paid upfront without even receiving the goods! And you? Your price isn''t even a fifth of theirs, and you also owe money!


    One would have to be insane to choose you!


    "President Aoki, I am not someone who disregards friendship," Oliver said sarcastically, "but as merchants, naturally we sell to whoever offers a higher price. Just offer more than Mr. Zhang, and I assure you, I will break the contract and sell the coal to you right away!"


    "Also!" Oliver added, "The breach of contract fee in our agreement with Mr. Zhang is 10 billion US Dollars, and that sum would also need to be covered by you, oh!"


    ```

 Chapter 304 302 Ive Heard This Reason Before

    "Hahaha! A true talent, Oliver really is a talent!"


    While making this call, Oliver''s other phone was connected to Zhang Menglong. He truly wanted to see those flustered faces of the Kaibong people.


    During their conversation, Zhang Menglong heard every word, not one missed; these were not the phrases Zhang Menglong had taught him. Oliver spoke the Underworld lingo as fluently as he did!


    Offer more than Zhang Menglong? That''s just ridiculous. Kaibong''s power system annually relies on government funds, and the national budget can only allocate so little, especially since the economy had contracted due to the pandemic, the budget for coal-fired power this year wasn''t even 10 billion US Dollars.


    And the penalty fee alone in the contract signed between Zhang Menglong and Oliver was 10 billion US Dollars; their pitiful funds couldn''t even cover the breach penalty!


    "Increase his pay," Zhang Menglong laughed. A person like this must be paid more!


    "Mr. Oliver, considering our past cooperation, could you answer a question for me?" Masumi Aoki asked.


    He wasn''t an idiot. Zhang Menglong''s actions were clearly targeting their Shogun Red Co., Ltd., but such targeting was definitely not without reason! To randomly spend tens of billions of US Dollars just to target someone seemed too costly, right?


    But he didn''t understand why Zhang Menglong was buying up all that coal; Shogun Red Co., Ltd. had virtually no interactions with Zhang Menglong, let alone any grievance.


    "Feel free to ask, Mr. Aoki. Answering some questions is still possible."


    "Mr. Oliver, did our Shogun Red Co., Ltd. inadvertently offend Mr. Zhang Menglong at some point?" Masumi Aoki asked.


    "No, no, no," Oliver burst into laughter, "Your Shogun Red Co., Ltd. isn''t even worthy of being offended by Mr. Zhang!"


    Though Shogun Red is a hybrid of private and state-owned enterprise, its valuation is merely 20 billion US Dollars.


    To Zhang Menglong, plucking a little from those hundreds of billions of US Dollars could turn Shogun Red''s entire world upside down. In Zhang Menglong''s eyes, a company of that size was like an ant in the eyes of a lion, simply not qualified to be targeted by him!


    Hearing this, Masumi Aoki felt almost like cursing his mother; a company with a market cap of several billion dollars, and yet not qualified to offend Zhang Menglong?


    "Then..."


    "I think that it must have been your Kaibong country that offended Mr. Zhang Menglong," Oliver chuckled, "because not only in our Bowen Coalfield''s share, Mr. Zhang Menglong has also bought up all the coal in other Australian coal fields!"


    "What?" Masumi''s expression changed. What on earth was Zhang Menglong trying to do?


    "I guess it won''t be long before other coalfields will also be sending you breach of contract fees," Oliver said just as a rapid series of footsteps broke into Masumi Aoki''s office.


    "Section Chief, President, we''ve just received another transfer of 500 million US Dollars from Sydney Goya Energy Group!"


    "How could this happen? They all..."


    "I can answer that for you," Oliver said, "I handled this on behalf of Mr. Zhang. Now in all of Australia, no coal will be sold to Kaibong!"


    "You... You''re monopolizing!" Masumi''s face twisted.


    "Monopoly? No!" Oliver smiled, "Our coal continues to be exported to countries like Huaxia and India. How could that be called a monopoly? It''s just that our share isn''t sufficient to supply Kaibong anymore. I hope Mr. Aoki can understand!"


    "Why are you helping him?" Masumi interrogated. To secure all the coal fields in Australia in such a short time required not just money but also connections, and Oliver must have played a significant role in this.


    "This," Oliver chuckled, "Mr. Zhang Menglong personally gave me 1 billion US Dollars to handle this task, one billion US Dollars! Isn''t money enticing? Besides, the price Mr. Zhang offered was several times what you did. Anyone who wouldn''t sell would be a fool. It''s just a few phone calls for me; why wouldn''t I help?"


    Oliver continued, "Rather than that, I''d suggest Mr. Aoki look into what exactly your country did to upset Mr. Zhang. When I was just listening to Mr. Zhang, it seemed this was only the beginning."


    "Just a beginning? What does that mean?" Masumi Aoki panicked suddenly.


    There are many wealthy people in the world, but no one has ever been able to stand up against the machinery of a nation.


    Yet, Zhang Menglong demonstrated through his actions that the only reason they couldn''t shake a nation was merely because they weren''t rich enough. As long as you have enough money to destabilize a nation''s economy, you can shake that nation.


    "I''m afraid Mr. Aoki will have to investigate that himself. Of course, you could also wait a bit; perhaps it won''t be long before you naturally find out!"


    Masumi Aoki put down his phone and sat blankly in front of the window, unsure of what to think.


    "Mr. Aoki, Mr. Takao is here!" Masumi Aoki''s secretary knocked on the door.


    "Please, let him in!" Masumi Aoki urged.


    This Mr. Takao, full name Takao Aoyama, was the deputy to the minister of the Energy Department of Kaibong. Their companies communicated and coordinated with the Energy Department through Takao Aoyama, and commands and important directives from the Energy Department were also conveyed through him.


    "Mr. Takao, is there something you need to report this time?" Masumi Aoki asked.


    He still dared not mention the issue of coal imports, a matter that concerned national livelihood. If addressed too severely, he, as the president, would have to apologize to the entire nation!


    "There''s an emergency meeting!" Takao Aoyama said, "The car is already outside; Mr. Aoki, please gather your things and come with me immediately!"


    "Is there some special situation?" Masumi Aoki was somewhat uneasy; it had never happened before that Takao Aoyama personally came to pick him up.


    "The minister didn''t say, only that I should come to fetch you."


    Takao Aoyama''s expression was unusually serious, and Masumi Aoki dared not ask further and quickly left the company with him.


    ...


    "President Tsumi, President Ryuichi?" When he arrived at the meeting room, Masumi Aoki saw several familiar faces. They were other coal and electricity developers from Kaibong, but together, they still did not match the scale of Shohan Red Corporation.


    "You..." Masumi Aoki was about to ask something when footsteps were heard outside the door.


    "The Minister!"


    Everyone immediately stood up¡ªthe Minister of the Energy Department had personally come!


    The Minister of the Energy Department was a very burly middle-aged man. By his side were several assistants. The minister''s face looked extremely serious.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, due to the urgency of the situation, I had to gather you all here," the Minister of the Energy Department began, "we just received news that several Middle Eastern countries have stopped supplying us Kaibong with natural gas."


    "What?"


    "How can that be?"


    "Why?"


    Natural gas generation accounted for a quarter of Kaibong''s electricity production. If the natural gas supply was cut off, their nuclear and coal-fired power stations would be under immense pressure.


    The Minister of the Energy Department grimly smiled, "The reason is absurd¡ªthey actually said it was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions!"


    "What kind of nonsense excuse is that?"


    "This..." Masumi Aoki suddenly began to sweat on his forehead, "this reason, it feels like I''ve heard it somewhere before?"

 Chapter 305 303 They Arent Just Protesters, Are They?

    The Energy Department''s minister hadn''t noticed the despair on Masumi Aoki''s face but continued, "Although the Middle East has halted their natural gas supply to us, our other suppliers can still provide a small amount of natural gas."


    "While other energy sources can replace natural gas, some countries'' energy facilities must be powered by a natural gas network. For this part of the supply, I''m afraid it will be very difficult to spare any for civil power generation, commercial power generation, and industrial power generation."


    "Minister, do you mean we need to increase the proportion of coal-fired power generation?" a coal power merchant asked.


    There was a hint of joy on his face; if the nation was going to increase the proportion of coal power, it naturally meant that money would be poured into this area. That indicated that these state-owned coal power enterprises would receive a large sum of funds, and there were substantial interests to be excavated.


    "Exactly!" the Energy Department''s minister said, "This year''s natural gas proportion can only reach a maximum of 5%, which means that this year''s coal import volume must at least double from the previous year until we find a new natural gas supplier."


    "This will likely take about one and a half to two years!"


    "Minister, that''s a trivial matter!" a coal power company''s boss said, "We have always maintained a long-term cooperation with Sydney''s Bowen Coalfield. Because our enterprise is quite small, we only import twenty million tons of coal each year. But if the nation needs it, I am confident that we can increase the import to sixty million tons!"


    "Minister, it''s pretty much the same with us! Last year we imported twenty-five million tons of high-quality coal from Yinhei''s Sumatran Coalfield. As far as I know, they produce sixty million tons of coal each year for domestic demand, but still have an excess of over thirty million tons each year. I think it''s no problem for us to double our import volume as well!"


    Listening to the enthusiastic voices of the coal field bosses, Masumi Aoki suddenly let out a cold laugh.


    "President Masumi, why are you laughing?" the Energy Department''s minister suddenly fixed his gaze on Masumi Aoki.


    "It''s useless!" Masumi Aoki said bitterly, "This year, our Kaibong country shouldn''t expect to import a single ton of coal from any coal field!"


    "Hahaha, President Masumi, you have quite a sense of humor. We have long-term cooperation with those coal fields. Why wouldn''t they earn money if they could? Our contracts last at least three years, and a breach would incur a high penalty. Those coal enterprises wouldn''t do such foolish things!"


    "Right, President Masumi, it can''t be that your import volume can''t meet our country''s emergency needs this year, can it? Nipa Corporation is so big; such a trivial matter shouldn''t be a problem for you!"


    "Indeed, the coal fields cooperating with Nipa Corporation amount to more than all of ours combined. Importing a few tens of millions or even a hundred million tons more shouldn''t be too difficult, right?"


    Even though they were all enterprises from Kaibong country, Nipa Corporation, as a large company, was naturally the target of many envious eyes. They were the largest coal power merchant in the nation, receiving the most resources from the state, and their profits were the highest each year. Many coveted their resources!


    "Enough!" Faced with their ridicule, Masumi Aoki shouted angrily, "You idiots have no idea what''s going on! If you don''t believe it, then call your beloved suppliers and ask if they have any coal to sell you!"


    Everyone''s expression changed. This was the office of the Energy Department''s minister, not the president''s office of Nipa Corporation. Masumi Aoki dared to slam the table here; wasn''t this showing disrespect to the minister?


    But his actions made the other presidents realize there must be a real problem; otherwise, Masumi Aoki wouldn''t have acted so irrationally.


    "Let me check first," the president of Nipa Corporation was the first to pull out a phone, "Minister, please excuse me for a moment."


    "Mr. Aoki, please feel free," the Energy Department''s minister wasn''t angry. He stared at Masumi Aoki, not the first time he had dealt with him. Masumi Aoki always seemed humble and mild-mannered, at least in front of this high-ranking minister, and had never lost his composure like this before.


    "Rosshan, it''s Aoki!"


    Everyone pricked up their ears to listen to President Aoki''s conversation.


    "Hahaha, long time no see," Aoki exchanged pleasantries, "The thing is, this year we hope to increase our import quota from the coal fields. I''m aware that Mr. Rosshan''s mines have at least thirty million tons of stock each year, and I''d like to take all that off your hands, offering you a satisfying price!"


    "What?" Suddenly, Aoki seemed to have received some shockingly unexpected news, "How could this be? Mr. Rosshan, we have a contract!"


    Aoki''s expression grew increasingly dark, "This... what price have they offered you?"


    "200 US dollars a ton? How is that possible? That price is more than double the historical high. Rosshan, you mustn''t be deceived by them!"


    "The other party has made the payment already? They have booked a year''s supply of coal? But our..."


    "I..."


    Wumu sounded very excited, but before he could finish, the other party had already hung up the phone.


    "Mr. Wumu, what''s happened?" the Minister of the Energy Department quickly inquired.


    "The owner of the Yinhei Sumatra Coalfield said that someone has taken over their entire coalfield intended for sale to us in Kaibong, offering a price of 200 US dollars per ton, and they''ve also paid the penalty fee for breaking the contract!" Wumu''s face had turned a bit pale, "Mr. Masumi Aoki, what... what is going on?"


    "Let me try!" Another president immediately contacted his own suppliers but still brought back despairing news."


    "Tsarist Russia''s Berchozl Coalfield has also canceled their cooperation with us; someone has expressly offered to buy all the coal meant for our Kaibong at 180 US dollars per ton!"


    "At the Sydney Coalfield, someone has bid 240 US dollars per ton..."


    One after another, the presidents made calls and received the same surprising results: coal sales to other countries from these coalfields had no issues, with the price and quantity unchanged; however, all the coal meant for their Kaibong had been snatched up at higher prices!


    Just as Masumi Aoki had said, there was no coal available for their Kaibong from any coalfield in the world!


    "Mr. Masumi Aoki, what exactly is going on? Please explain!" In the conference room, everyone''s eyes were focused on Masumi Aoki''s face.


    "I don''t know what''s happening either, all I know is that this is all done by that Huaxia man named Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?"


    "Our Kaibong has not offended him, right? Why would he do something like this?"


    "I think the Minister might be more aware of this matter than we are!" said Masumi Aoki.


    He was certain that these coal businessmen and Zhang Menglong had absolutely no connections, and it was even less likely that they had offended him; there was only one possibility¡ªthat their government had done something to harm Zhang Menglong''s interests, so he was retaliating this way!


    Of course, this was just a conjecture by Masumi Aoki.


    "Are you sure it''s Zhang Menglong?" The Minister''s face turned extremely grave; as a high-ranking state official, he naturally knew that Kaibong had seriously interfered with Zhang Menglong''s import of new earth minerals.


    Regardless of whether the Huaxia people could produce high-performance chips, with no raw materials, even if they had the technology, it would be impossible to achieve anything.


    "Mr. Oliver from the Bowen Coalfield told me personally," Masumi Aoki said, "I even suspect that Zhang Menglong intentionally let us know that this was all his doing."


    "Moreover, I suspect the cutoff of natural gas is also related to him," said Masumi Aoki, "Zhang Menglong told Mr. Oliver that he is buying the coal that was meant for us also as a contribution to combat global warming."


    "Bullshit! Is he trying to cut off the lifeline of our Kaibong?"


    "What exactly does he want to do?"


    "Does he really want to declare war on our entire country by himself?"


    "This Huaxia man... bastard..." They had anticipated that Zhang Menglong might retaliate, but they did not expect the counterattack to come so swiftly and fiercely!


    Zhang Menglong was not playing by the rules at all, and with his first strike, he had essentially blocked off more than half of their nation''s energy imports! Ultraman fighting monsters didn''t start with blasting rays right off the bat. Don''t young people today have any sense of martial virtue at all?

 Chapter 306 304: "True Fragrance" Will Never Be Absent

    "Mr. Zhang, the natural gas supply to Kaibong from the Middle East has already been stopped, but there are still some countries'' gas resources that are not under your control, though their proportion is not high and won''t affect your plans."


    "Hmm, very good!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "What about the coalfields?"


    "All the coalfields in Australia have been completely bought out, and just this part alone has cut off more than 90% of Kaibong''s supply," Hong Yi said, "However, the order was to make sure they couldn''t buy a single ton of coal, which did take some effort, but by now, Kaibong should have already hit a wall."


    "You have worked hard." Zhang Menglong reclined with one leg crossed over the other, "Those turtles must be panicking now! They even refused to export rare earth minerals to us, let''s see who can outplay whom!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you actually didn''t need to go through so much trouble," Hong Yi said, "In the western Seido region of Kaibong, there is a large piece of land that your ancestors bought. If you used that land to threaten them, they would surely compromise."


    "Am I the kind of person who bullies others with power?" Zhang Menglong said with a face of integrity, "If I did that, others would definitely call me despicable and shameless! But by purchasing the coal that was originally going to be burned by Kaibong, that is supporting sustainable development and contributing to the mitigation of global warming!"


    Hong Yi couldn''t help but roll her eyes, she was already used to Zhang Menglong''s hypocritical behavior. "Despicable and shameless"? When he used other people''s deposits in Qingqiu to force them to compromise, didn''t he know about being "despicable and shameless"?


    "Mr. Zhang, Kaibong has now taken this matter to the international magazines, it seems they want to use the power of public opinion to force you into submission?"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow and immediately turned on his phone.


    "Kaibong''s coal import blocked, credited to actions of Huaxia''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    This bold headline had become the top story across major media today.


    "What''s happening? Today''s news is quite unusual!"


    "What does ''blocked'' mean? Does Mr. Zhang have such great power that he can block a developed country like Kaibong from importing energy? To say it''s blocked just like that?"


    "I''ve heard some rumors over here, I have a friend who works at an energy company in Australia, their company deals in coal mining, part of which was to be exported to Kaibong. However, I heard a few days ago that a new buyer outbid others for the coal that was supposed to go to Kaibong, offering $240 per ton, even covering the penalty fees!"


    "What? $240 a ton? Holy shit, I remember when the coal price was at its highest, It was just over $100 per ton, right? With the current import-export situation, $60-70 per ton is already really good, this is simply more than double!"


    "You guys do the math, Kaibong imported nearly two hundred million tons of coal last year, if they continue at this rate this year, that''s $48 billion at $240 per ton! How rich is Mr. Zhang exactly?"


    "No no no! That''s not even the highest price, another friend of mine said their coalfield was also leased to some mysterious boss, with an offer of $320 per ton!"


    "Impressive! With this move, Mr. Zhang really stirs up a big scene!"


    "What''s really going on? Why did Mr. Zhang suddenly take action against Kaibong?"


    "You don''t know? Mr. Zhang wanted to import rare earth minerals from Kaibong for making photoresist, but apparently, Kaibong refused to sell, this is probably retaliation!"


    "That''s ruthless! Without the coal, won''t their coal-fired power plants just become useless decorations?"


    "Don''t believe everything you hear!" Zhang Menglong immediately spoke out through his social media platform, "With environmental pollution being so severe in recent years, a large part of it is caused by burning coal, especially in those industrially developed countries. By buying up that coal and stacking it up somewhere without burning it, isn''t that indirectly protecting the environment?"


    "As for accidentally taking a share meant for our friends in Kaibong, I can only apologize. You can go and buy from other coalfields. If you''re short on money, you can come and borrow from me!"


    "Hahaha! I give this reason 99 points, and withhold one point for fear Mr. Zhang becomes arrogant!"


    "I believe this reason! Those people from Kaibong are clearly maliciously slandering Mr. Zhang!"


    "Hahaha, normally, wealthy people just own the mines. Mr. Zhang went one step further ¡ª he''s practically building a mine with two hundred million tons of coal!"


    ...


    The strong condemnation from the people of Kaibong seemed utterly meaningless to netizens, who were not only not going to blame Zhang Menglong, but also praised him in their hearts for his slick move.


    But the attitudes of the countries that had good relations with Kaibong were completely different. When the big brother was in trouble, how could they not offer help?


    "We demand that Zhang Menglong immediately return those coal resource shares to Kaibong and publicly apologize!"


    ...


    "What is this? What small country? Palau? I''ve never even heard of it!"


    "I know about this one. Long ago, they almost got assimilated by Kaibong and their current leader has a very strong pro-Kaibong stance."


    "I think they are insulting Mr. Zhang. Going to fetch four of five hundred billion US Dollars in cash, and you think Mr. Zhang can''t produce it? Are you fucking kidding me!"


    "Not very harmful but extremely insulting, I suggest Mr. Zhang directly report this to the International Court for an insult charge!"


    "Mr. Zhang already said, he is contributing to the global environment, how can you mortals not understand Mr. Zhang''s great ambition? Oh, I can hardly keep this up, Mr. Zhang, could you settle my payment later!"


    ...


    "Any Tom, Dick, or Harry thinks they can jump up and make a fuss!"


    Looking at those so-called strong condemnations, Zhang Menglong felt not the slightest disturbance and even felt like laughing. America hadn''t even spoken yet, and those countries, barely able to feed themselves, were worried about themselves and still had the audacity to support Kaibong in protest?


    "Mr. Zhang!" Hong Yi said from the side, "Those small countries almost completely rely on coal for their power generation, do you want me to cut off their coal supply as well?"


    Numbers popped up on Hong Yi''s computer, "Mr. Zhang, the combined annual coal import of these small countries doesn''t even reach 5000 tons, and they mostly import from Australia and Yinhei. Given our previous cooperation, it''d be easy to buy out their importing share."


    "No need," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "These countries are too pitiful. I can''t bear to cut off their electricity."


    "They''re not very effective internationally, but they still make some noise."


    "Well," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "those coal resources we cut off from Kaibong, let''s gift some to them!"


    "Huh?" Hong Yi was stunned. They were helping to speak up for Kaibong, and you want to gift them coal? What kind of reverse operation was this?


    "It''s okay, you help me spread the word, I''ve got their coal supply covered for the next ten years. They should know what to do!"


    ...


    "What? Giving us ten years'' worth of coal? We import 800 tons of coal a year. That''s several billion US Dollars over ten years! That would save our country a huge amount of money!"


    "Really? You''re serious? Got it, got it, we know what to do!"


    "Hmph! Kaibong invaded our country before, leaving serious impacts, and we''ve been wanting to stand up against them for a long time!"


    When those small countries received the call orchestrated by Hong Yi, they were overjoyed as if they had found money!


    Although they had always looked up to Kaibong, they had never received any form of aid from Kaibong, whether economically or militarily.


    Now, with such significant benefits laid before them, billions of US Dollars might not mean much to large countries, but for some small countries, it could be equivalent to a year''s GDP!


    Faced with such temptation, who cared about face? They quickly changed their previous statements.


    "Our country strongly condemns the blood-splattering actions of Kaibong!"


    "Kaibong emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases each year. Mr. Zhang''s actions aim to protect the environment, which is a critical rescue operation concerning all humanity!"


    "What''s happening?" Seeing those small countries that previously supported Kaibong switching sides, both the domestic and international netizens were extremely surprised.


    Seeing the latest reports, Zhang Menglong revealed a satisfied smile, "Indeed, ''smells good'' might be delayed, but it never fails to show up!"

 Chapter 307 305: What Kind of Ulterior Motives Could I, Zhang Menglong, Possibly Have?

    "Menglong, good news!" The next day, Zhang Menglong received an exhilarating phone call.


    "Professor Chen, you sound so excited, it must mean that our photolithography machine technology has conquered the major hurdles, right?"


    "Hahaha, that''s right!" Professor Chen Hui said, "After three months of technical analysis and R&D, we have fully digested and absorbed your drawings, and the first prototype has also been manufactured. We can now move on to mass production of the photolithography machines!"


    "Great!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed. He had thought that, at the earliest, Silicon Moonlight wouldn''t be able to start production until May or June of this year, but it was only March now, and everything was almost ready!


    "However, we still need a precision equipment manufacturing assembly line. With our current technology, we can''t reach the necessary level yet, and might need to seek assistance from foreign companies."


    "Professor Chen, do you know of any companies that have this capability?" Zhang Menglong asked. Although he had the technology for precision instruments as well, creating so much from scratch in such a short time was beyond his limited energy and time.


    "Currently, Europe''s Omos and Bao both have the capability to meet our precision requirements," Professor Chen Hui said.


    "Hong Yi, could you come over for a moment?" Zhang Menglong called out.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do?"


    "Acquire the precision machinery factories of Omos and Bao for me!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was as casual as if he were asking someone to buy two buns for him, "How long will it take?"


    Hong Yi immediately brought up the information of both companies, "Mr. Zhang, Omos is a state-owned enterprise, which might make the acquisition a bit difficult, but Bao is a private tech company, with a total market value of less than 10 billion US dollars. I can complete the acquisition of most of the shares before the stock market closes tomorrow."


    Professor Chen Hui, listening on the phone, sighed. He had initially meant to just rent a production line, or buying one would have been enough to meet the production needs.


    But Zhang Menglong didn''t even ask and jumped straight to acquiring the companies. How are they supposed to respond to that? Otherwise, might as well conquer all the chip companies in the world, make them yours, and there would be no need for any independent research and development anymore.


    "Menglong, after our discussion, all that''s left is the raw material issue," Professor Chen Hui said, "By the end of April, we can start formal production, but if the new mineral mine can''t deliver, we might have to delay the start of operations."


    "Don''t worry about that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "In at most a week, they will be coming to us, unless their nuclear plants and new energy power stations can manage to double their power output!"


    "The coal acquisition was to pressure them?"


    "What goes around comes around!" Zhang Menglong said, "If we don''t hurt them, how will they know we are not to be trifled with? To be honest, I also cut off their natural gas supply. Those gas wells in the Middle East are actually under my control!"


    "Hahaha!" Professor Chen Hui laughed over the phone, "Alright then, we will wait for your news!"


    ...


    "Why so many calls recently, it''s not that dead gay guy Wang Ling again, is it?" Zhang Menglong had just hung up when his cell phone rang again. After all, there weren''t many people who knew his number; it was just his closest friends.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello," a scholarly voice came from the other end, but the voice was unfamiliar.


    "I''m Zhang Menglong, may I ask who this is?"


    "Sorry to bother you, let me introduce myself first, I''m Zhou Zhengkang, the President of the International Chamber of Commerce."


    "Hello, President Zhou," Zhang Menglong replied politely, "Is there something you need from me, President Zhou?"


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s a bit of trouble," President Zhou said, "Today, representatives of Shang Hongwan Corporation complained to us, claiming that you''ve monopolized the coal imports, and I wonder..."


    "Great, those who can''t kill me with public opinion start playing this game with me," Zhang Menglong wasn''t surprised, as he had anticipated that the other party would resort to such tactics to pressure him.


    "Trying to pressure me with this?" Zhang Menglong sneered, but his private purchasing behavior hadn''t violated any national or international law.


    "Ah? When did I ever monopolize their coal imports?" Zhang Menglong feigned innocence, "I have no idea!"


    "Mr. Zhang, representatives of Shang Hongwan Corporation claimed that you purchased all the coal that the world''s major coalfields originally intended to export to them, which severely impacted their company''s development."


    "So, that''s happening?" said Zhang Menglong, "I did buy that coal, but I didn''t know it was theirs! You''ve seen the news online, haven''t you? I''ve stated before that the reason I acquired those coals was mainly to slow down global warming, I never targeted anyone specifically!"


    "And I didn''t even buy that much, just 200 million tons, only 200 million tons of coal, can that be considered a monopoly?" Zhang Menglong said in a nai?ve tone, "If that''s really the case, then they are too poor. When I first learned about this a few days ago, I thought it was only a small part of their share!"


    "Ah?" President Zhou was stunned, "Too poor?"


    If wealth in a society were judged by per capita GDP, then Kaibong would be several times wealthier than Huaxia!


    "Just 200 million tons? Our Huaxia needs about 30 billion tons per year, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the coal produced by our own Huaxia coal mines and coalfields is enough for our consumption and we even export the surplus, but they virtually lack coal assets, nearly 99% of their coal relies on imports, and last year their total imports were only around 180 million tons, you buying 200 million tons all at once, isn''t that the same as buying up their entire share? "


    "That''s rough," Zhang Menglong said with a tone of pity, "Really a pitiful country. I thought those 200 million tons wouldn''t make much of a difference. Accidentally, I almost bankrupted them, my mistake, my mistake!"


    "But you can''t entirely blame me, I was purchasing coal from those coalfields, but they said that next year''s quota was already sold out. I offered to pay them more, including the penalty fee. I didn''t know they were cutting off their coal!"


    Zhang Menglong sounded surprised, "Could it be that they''ve been so unscrupulous in doing business that all the coal owners are dissatisfied with them, causing such a united front? My only wish is world peace, how could I harbor any ill intentions? This is all a misunderstanding!"


    President Zhou''s expression was a mix of laughter and tears. Having lived for most of his life, he could naturally tell that Zhang Menglong was making excuses, and his sarcastic explanation had even mocked Kaibong''s lack of land resources, almost as if he could accidentally cause their downfall.


    After all, they were a developed country, yet in the mouth of Zhang Menglong, they turned into a fragile and poor country?


    Truth be told, even President Zhou secretly cheered for what Zhang Menglong did, but as the matter had escalated to his attention, he couldn''t just ignore it, could he?


    "Mr. Zhang, the representative of Shang Hongwan Corporation is currently in my office. Since this is all a misunderstanding, I wonder if it would be convenient for you to come over?"

 Chapter 308 306: Subsidize the Liquidated Damages

    "Alright, since it''s a misunderstanding, let''s just talk about it face to face. Better to resolve enmity than nurse it," Zhang Menglong replied cheerfully.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang is willing to resolve this peacefully, that''s naturally the best!" Director Zhou sighed in relief. However, he didn''t know about Kaibong''s corporation''s refusal to sell the new soil minerals to Silicon Moonlight and still thought this was all just an accident¡ªotherwise, why would Zhang Menglong agree so readily?


    The meeting was scheduled for two that afternoon, and Director Zhou was already waiting at the door for him.


    "Mr. Zhang, welcome, and thank you for your support in our work."


    "Of course, of course!" Zhang Menglong nodded repeatedly, "Let''s hurry up and go, don''t keep others waiting, lest they say we don''t understand the rules."


    "Please, Mr. Zhang!" As they walked, Director Zhou introduced Zhang Menglong to this envoy.


    This representative was named Jintianjing Long, 42 years old, born a businessman and also a very capable person.


    Jintianjing Long was sitting in the conference room, discussing strategies with his two assistants.


    They certainly knew why Zhang Menglong had taken such measures against Kaibong. He wanted to use it as pressure to force the nation of Kaibong to open the export of new soil minerals to Silicon Moonlight.


    Situated on tectonic plate boundaries with frequent geological activity, Kaibong''s territory, although lacking many conventional mineral resources, possessed several rare metal resources, with new soil minerals almost considered a national treasure.


    Calling it a national treasure was because it was unique to Kaibong, but that didn''t mean it was scarce¡ªthe reserves of new soil minerals were not only substantial but could even be described as extremely abundant, with over 20 million tons located near the active volcanoes of Mount Asu.


    The new soil minerals mainly contained several rare metal elements found in scant amounts in the Earth''s crust. Currently, human technology didn''t utilize them in many fields, with the semiconductor industry being the largest consumer.


    However, the current photoresist technology didn''t use these metal elements, but Kaibong''s scientists, through research, had found that replacing them with metals from the new soil minerals could at least double the functionality of the photoresist.


    It''s just that a very stable formula had not been created yet.


    When they learned that Silicon Moonlight wanted to import new soil minerals, they immediately felt a deep unease.


    The way Silicon Moonlight treated European and American suppliers was no secret, and just this point alone showed their current determined attitude, almost set on embarking on the path of independent research and development.


    Whether they had the capability or not still remained a secret, but in the matter of importing new soil minerals, the people of Kaibong saw some clues and even boldly speculated that the people of Huaxia might have possibly developed a new formula.


    Whether their guess was right or wrong, they made a decision immediately, refusing to export new soil minerals to Silicon Moonlight!


    Rare earth minerals are important, but coal resources are equally important! Negotiating in this manner was their last resort!


    Before this, they had almost inquired with all global coal suppliers, but either their coal was already fully booked, or had been bought up by Zhang Menglong, or belonged to some countries with bad relations, which they were not willing to let go of something akin to kicking someone when they''re down.


    Even though they had raised the price to 80 US dollars per ton, far above the market rate, the suppliers still mocked them gleefully and refused their requests.


    As for increasing the proportion of nuclear and renewable energy generation, that was merely a dream within the next decade. Nuclear power was good, but reactor technology issues and past accidents had already given Kaibong a taste of bitterness.


    After much thought, the only way left was for Zhang Menglong to give up these import shares and cancel the coal field orders, which would allow Kaibong to restore its electricity supply.


    By now, their coal reserves would last no more than 20 days. If they couldn''t resolve this within 20 days, the power supply would be severely affected, followed by a series of butterfly effects.


    "This is likely to be a rather challenging negotiation!" So far, Jintianjing Long had not figured out how to deal with this negotiation with Zhang Menglong, as he had received a strict order: they must secure the coal, and they absolutely could not sell the New Earth Mine!


    "Mr. Zhang, let me introduce Mr. Jintianjing Long from Kaibong, along with his two assistants!"


    "Mr. Long, this is Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "Hello, Mr. Long," Zhang Menglong greeted politely.


    "Mr. Zhang seems not very punctual. I remember that I invited you for 2 p.m., and now it''s already half an hour past that time," Jintianjing Long directly started to challenge Zhang Menglong, needing to appear strong enough to possibly make Zhang Menglong yield.


    Jintianjing Long''s face turned red. To tell the truth, he despised the domestic industry, but he had no choice, as this industry had become a very important part of the market in his country Kaibong. Forcefully shutting it down would cause serious social issues.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a serious occasion, isn''t it inappropriate to talk about such matters?" Jintianjing Long said angrily, wondering how such a serious issue could be less important than Zhang Menglong watching a film?


    "How is it inappropriate?" Zhang Menglong retorted. "How are such matters not serious?"


    Zhang Menglong had long been shameless, never needing such a thing as face, and when facing someone shameless, if you are not even more shameless, then how can you win?


    "Hehe, Museum Director Zhou, Zhang Menglong said with a playful grin, "and I bought it from their official store in Kaibong, so that counts as a local specialty."


    "You!" Jintianjing Long was on the verge of erupting, the insult of the words "local specialty" was too severe.


    "Alright, you two," Museum Director Zhou quickly intervened, "today we are here to resolve the conflict between Mr. Zhang and your country. Let''s not talk about these off-topic matters."


    "Exactly, I, Zhang Menglong, dealing with multimillion-dollar figures every minute, took time out to come here as a courtesy. Don''t squander the face I''m giving you!"


    "Mr. Zhang! Mind the influence!"


    "Hahaha, sorry, sorry, I tend to speak too straightforwardly," Zhang Menglong said with a playful grin, "Mr. Long, tell me, what exactly did you invite me for this time?"


    "Mr. Zhang, regardless of whether your acquisition of those coal reserves is truly for global warming concerns or deliberately targeting us in Kaibong, I hope you stop such conduct and return the coal quota that rightfully belongs to us."


    "Sure! Of course!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What?" Both Jintianjing Long and Museum Director Zhou were stunned. When had Zhang Menglong become so agreeable? Just like that, he agreed? This wasn''t logical!


    Zhang Menglong stretched out a hand on the table.


    "What do you mean, Mr. Zhang?" Jintianjing Long asked, puzzled.


    "Nonsense, penalty for breach of contract!" Zhang Menglong said, "I have contracts with them, ranging from 10 billion to 100 billion US dollars each, and if I recall correctly, the total is 27 billion US dollars. Mr. Long, please compensate me for this penalty."

 Chapter 309 307: Do You Want Love at $1000 per Ton?

    "What did you say?" Kim Tanaka''s face changed drastically.


    Indeed, he had thought everything too simple just now. When Zhang Menglong agreed so readily, he really thought he had intimidated him, but it turned out he was the clown himself!


    Because of the disruption in natural gas supplies, the directive from above stated that this year''s coal import must reach at least 350 million tons, and the price should also be controlled at 80 US dollars per ton.


    Giving the current international situation, even 65 US dollars per ton would be considered a high price.


    If they imported at 65 US dollars per ton, domestic coal power businesses would have a huge margin of profit, each and every one of them would definitely be scrambling for it!


    At 80 US dollars per ton, 350 million tons would be 28 billion US dollars, which was the total budget they had prepared for the coal import this year.


    But Zhang Menglong had started off by demanding 27 billion US dollars in penalty fees. If they really deducted this portion of penalty fees, with 1 billion US dollars left, how much could they import then?


    Who the hell set such a high penalty fee when signing the contract? Weren''t you afraid of not being able to pay up when the time came?


    Kim Tanaka was on the verge of going mad.


    However, when Zhang Menglong signed the agreement back then, he had not considered this issue at all.


    First of all, the money for buying coal had been paid upfront for the entire year by Zhang Menglong, so for him, there was no possibility of a breach of contract.


    Even if such a situation were to arise, a mere 27 billion US dollars meant nothing to him; if he had to pay it, he would simply pay it. After all, when Zhang Menglong had made the purchase, he had paid much more than a mere 27 billion US dollars in premium. If he really cared about this sum, he would not have driven the price so high.


    "What''s the matter, you don''t believe me? Afraid that I''m going to swindle you?" Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, make a copy of those contract duplicates for Mr. Tanaka to review, so he doesn''t accuse us of embezzling their money!"


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang," said Hong Yi, "Director Zhou, may I borrow your printer, please?"


    "Miss Hong, right this way."


    A moment later, Hong Yi entered the conference room with a stack of contract documents.


    "Please have a look, Mr. Tanaka," Zhang Menglong moved the stack of documents in front of Kim Tanaka.


    "Bowen Coalfield, penalty fee is 10 billion US dollars!"


    "Sydney Coalfield, penalty fee is 4 billion US dollars!"


    "Sumatra Coalfield, penalty fee is 5 billion US dollars!"


    ...


    Looking at these staggeringly high numbers, Kim Tanaka''s hands began to tremble uncontrollably.


    Not only these penalty fees but also the import amounts stipulated in the contracts; even the cheapest coal was priced at 220 US dollars per ton!


    Sometimes, whether to impose a penalty fee or not could be resolved through mutual negotiation between the two parties. If they reached a peaceful negotiating agreement to terminate the cooperation, there was also the possibility of waiving the penalty fees.


    But this was completely different!


    The highest price Kaibong country was willing to offer was only 80 US dollars per ton, yet the lowest price Zhang Menglong was asking for was more than double theirs, and some even reached an unimaginable 400 US dollars per ton!


    If you asked others if they were willing to cancel the cooperation and not buy the coal priced at several hundred dollars per ton, and instead sell their coal to you for several dozen dollars per ton, anyone with a bit of sense would not agree to this deal.


    Selling to Zhang Menglong, they could easily make tens of billions of US dollars! Moreover, the payment was settled on the spot with no delays!


    Selling to Kaibong country, let''s not talk about whether they would make as much profit as the change from Zhang Menglong''s transactions, but just the thought of begging and beseeching for their payments later was draining in itself.


    "Negotiate to cancel this contract? They must have bubbles in their brains if they think that''s happening!"


    "So there''s no way the penalty for breach of contract could be any less!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that penalty is an agreement you made with those coalfields. It''s hardly fair for us to bear the breach of contract penalty, is it?" When Jintianjing Long spoke these words, he even seemed to lack confidence.


    "Mr. Jintian, are you the idiot, or am I the idiot?" Zhang Menglong said without any courtesy.


    "Mr. Zhang, please watch your language!" Having been called an idiot to his face, Jintianjing Long''s expression turned very ugly.


    "Mr. Jing Long, considering the relations between our two countries, I made a significant sacrifice in relinquishing this batch of coal to you, and now you treat me like a fool? Do you think I''m running a charity, losing $27 billion for nothing?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "When I bought that coal, I paid the full penalty for any breach. Do you think you would have received the compensation so easily upon receiving the cancellation agreement if I hadn''t?"


    "My heart aches for nothing!" Jintianjing Long cursed inwardly. Does it make any difference to you whether you buy that coal or not? If you don''t buy the coal, will you have no hot water for showers or no fire for cooking?


    His nation, Kaibong, needs that coal for power generation, while for you, it''s merely a bargaining chip for negotiations.


    "Mr. Zhang, that batch of coal is of no consequence to you; there''s no such thing as a heart-wrenching sacrifice, right?"


    "How can you say it doesn''t exist?" Zhang Menglong argued with a righteous tone, "I am an environmentalist. Those coals carried my dream of energy conservation and emissions reduction. I gave them to you, which means sacrificing my great dream of contributing to the greenhouse effect. Isn''t that a sacrifice?"


    "Wow, what a grand dream, it almost made me cry!" Hong Yi listened with a stunned expression; Zhang Menglong''s ability to talk nonsense seemed to grow stronger year by year.


    "Mr. Zhang, since we are not negotiating the penalty for breach of contract, you might as well sell the coal directly to us. That would amount to the same thing."


    "That works!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "A thousand dollars a ton, how much do you want?"


    "What? A thousand US dollars a ton?"


    "Are you robbing us?"


    Jintianjing Long and his two assistants immediately stood up in outrage; a thousand dollars a ton was more than ten times the market price!


    With their $27 million, they couldn''t even buy 30 million tons of coal!


    Thirty million tons of coal would probably only last them a month, right?


    "Rob, you say? Don''t be so offensive. I am a businessman; a businessman has to make some profit, right?" Zhang Menglong justified strongly, "The Americans sell iPhones for ten thousand a piece when the cost is only a little over two thousand¡ªthat''s making a profit of four times, isn''t it?"


    "The average price of these coal shipments was about $300 a ton, and that''s without factoring in transportation and storage costs! Selling it to you for a thousand dollars a ton is not even three times the price. What gives you the right to accuse me of robbery?"


    "And besides, you seem to really enjoy those iPhones!"


    "Their costs only account for materials. When you add up the research, development, advertising, and other costs, it''s far more than that. How could that be the same?" Jintianjing Long retorted.


    "Then what about the time I spent talking to them on the phone, negotiating the deal? Doesn''t my time, energy, and saliva count as added value?"


    "You''re twisting words to suit your argument!"


    "My time is worth that much money," Zhang Menglong stated, "like it or not, a thousand dollars a ton, take it or leave it. If you don''t want it, get lost. I won''t sell. You can''t force a transaction, can you?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!"


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong slammed the table and stood up, "Please remember, you are the one asking me, not the other way around. Don''t think that by waving your Kaibong flag I''ll be intimidated!"


    Zhang Menglong enunciated every word, "In my eyes, you''re nothing but a fart!"

 Chapter 310 308: I Have Plenty of Time and Money

    "It seems that there is no need for us to continue our discussion today," Zhang Menglong stood up, "Director Zhou, it''s not that I don''t want to give you face, but they have come here with no sincerity at all. I think it''s better to wait until they realize the reality!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait!" Director Zhou looked troubled, "1000 US dollars per ton is indeed a bit too expensive. I think the price can still be adjusted appropriately."


    "Alright, I''ll give Director Zhou some face," Zhang Menglong sat back down, "I don''t have any other aspirations, I just hope for world peace, enemies should resolve rather than deepen their enmity, right? Since that''s the case, I''m not against selling at the cost price to you!"


    "Based on the average price of 300 US dollars per ton, you''re asking for 3.5 billion tons, which amounts to 1050 billion US dollars. Add to that a penalty of 270 billion, a total of 1320 billion US dollars. I am particularly generous, I''ll only ask for 1000 billion US dollars, the rest of the change I don''t want, consider it making a friend!"


    Kim Tae In-ryong was stricken on the spot, was he short of the 320 billion US dollars? He was short of 1000 billion US dollars! The money they planned for their financial planning wasn''t even enough to pay the change of this sum! Even if Zhang Menglong sold to them at cost price, they still couldn''t afford it!


    You say you''re buying coal, but why are you messing up the market price? Is it just to make it unaffordable for them?


    "Mr. Zhang, personally, I believe we should respect the market," Kim Tae In-ryong said righteously, "the current market price is 65 US dollars per ton, but considering Mr. Zhang''s loss, we can offer 80 US dollars per ton!"


    "Get lost! Idiot!" Zhang Menglong cursed loudly on the spot, "You think I''m a charitable donor selling you coal at the average import cost of 300 US dollars per ton for 80 dollars per ton?"


    "Director Zhou, you heard it, who is robbing who here?" Zhang Menglong knew these Kaibong people were shameless, but he never imagined they could be so brazen!


    He inflated the prices, anticipating this scenario today, but he never imagined that the Kaibong people would actually have the audacity to state that price!


    When quoting that price, Kim Tae In-ryong''s face also turned crimson with embarrassment, but what can he do? They really don''t have that much money!


    If they were as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, would they still be bickering here?


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get angry, their demands are indeed a bit excessive," Director Zhou also felt he could not stand by, his aim was to mediate the conflict between both parties, not to help the Kaibong people bully those from Huaxia.


    "Actually, I have another solution," Zhang Menglong said, "You can also spend money to buy coal from other countries!"


    Zhang Menglong was saying this and couldn''t help laughing, "I know your country has a good relationship with Australia, otherwise, 90% of your imports wouldn''t come from them. As long as you offer a slightly higher price, I think they would be willing to sell the coal they originally exported to Tsarist Russia and America to you!"


    Kim Tae In-ryong''s face turned as black as if it were poisoned.


    Trying to snatch the coal shares from Tsarist Russia and America? Do they have a death wish?


    Although Tsarist Russia''s development level may not match Kaibong, they are a notoriously combative nation. If they dared to do that, they believe the next day Tsarist Russia''s pilots would fly bombers directly to them!


    As for America, that''s their big brother. Would a little brother steal from his elder? Wouldn''t that be courting death?


    Although other small countries also import from Australia, their shares combined wouldn''t even be enough to fill their gaps, and it would be used up in a month or two, making international relations a mess. It''s seriously not worth the loss!


    "However, Mr. Kim, if you are willing to open up the export of new earth from your Silicon Moonlight mines to us, then I might consider asking for a little less money!" Zhang Menglong said very directly.


    "New earth ore?" Director Zhou pricked up his ears, indeed, Zhang Menglong had other motives!


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we are unwilling to export, but our domestic demand is too great, the new earth ore we extract is barely enough to meet our internal needs!"


    "That''s not a problem!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "I can organize my own team to dig in your country. Huaxia may not have many other things, but we do have an abundance of excavators. I could directly purchase Lanxiang Technical School¡ªthe mining would be top-notch!"


    "What''s the matter? Unwilling?" Zhang Menglong saw that they did not mention anything about it and immediately lost interest, he wasn''t in a hurry anyway!


    Originally, production was scheduled to start in May, and now all the preparatory work was basically completed. He still had one or two months to play with the Kaibong people, to see who would lose patience first!


    "Since you''re not willing, then there''s nothing I can do!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Director Zhou, if they ever come with sincerity to talk, they can contact me at any time!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong took Hong Yi and left.


    "Bastard!"


    ...


    A week quickly went by, and Kaibong seemed to have vanished without a trace, with not the slightest movement from their side.


    "Hong Yi, there''s no movement from Kaibong?" Zhang Menglong found it a bit strange.


    "Not at the moment," Hong Yi said, "However, according to the data collected by our intelligence organization, the coal stockpile in Kaibong is now less than 10 million tons, which at best, will only last for half a month."


    "No worries, no hurry. How about the company?"


    "The employees'' situation has basically stabilized, and the production line was transferred to our hands three days ago. The first batch of photolithography machines has started to go into production, and in Dongji City, the simple factory buildings have also been erected, and most of the recruiting is complete."


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "However, Silicon Moonlight has recently run into some trouble."


    "What trouble?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s not a big issue, but it is indeed a bit troublesome," Hong Yi said, "Recently, the regulatory bureau of Baodao Province has received multiple anonymous reports claiming that Silicon Moonlight has fire safety hazards. The bureau has been sending people almost every day these past few days to conduct investigations. These frequent probes don''t greatly affect the company, but they do have a considerable impact on the morale."


    "Oh? How so?"


    "Many employees feel that there must be some problem with the company, or that we''ve offended someone, causing widespread anxiety," Hong Yi explained.


    "If I''m not mistaken, it must be the Kaibong people stirring up trouble," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Mr. Zhang guessed right, it indeed is the Kaibong people!" Hong Yi affirmed, "Kaibong has many descendants in our Huaxia, many of whom were chess pieces prepared during WWII. But after the war, they stayed in Huaxia, some assimilated entirely by our people, integrating completely into our society. Yet some still held onto their original ideologies."


    "You''re saying there are such people inside Silicon Moonlight?"


    "Yes, and not just a few," Hong Yi said, "Those anonymous reports were done by these people."


    "But it''s also true that Silicon Moonlight has these issues, since its growth was too rapid and the upgrade of the company buildings simply couldn''t keep up with the expansion of the production scale, so some fire hazards are inevitable. Usually, these minor issues can be overlooked, but if someone insists on making a fuss, it''s unavoidable."


    "Moreover, I suspect that there might be Kaibong spies in the market supervision bureau!"


    "Good grief, that''s practically espionage!"


    "Hahaha, you could say that," Hong Yi said, "Just this morning, they notified us that if Silicon Moonlight doesn''t resolve these issues, some facilities will have to cease operation. By then, even if all our raw materials are ready, we won''t be able to start production."


    "I was wondering why they''ve been so quiet lately, and here they are playing these little tricks," Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly, "No matter, let them play their games. I have plenty of time and money!"

 Chapter 311 311: 309 Then lets build a fire station

    "Mr. Zhang, how do you plan to handle this?"


    "How long would it take to optimize and renovate all those facilities?"


    "About two months," Hong Yi said. "After all, all facilities need to be used and renovated at the same time, so it''s not possible to use all the time fully."


    "What if the company completely shut down and just did this one thing? How long would that take?"


    "If that''s the case, the construction time could be controlled within 10 to 15 days!" Hong Yi estimated.


    "Then let''s give the Silicon Moonlight staff a long vacation!" Zhang Menglong said. "Clear out all the places and time!"


    "What about the wages for this period..."


    "Pay them in full according to the original salary!" Zhang Menglong said. "There shouldn''t be any orders during this period, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, according to your instructions, after the last acquisition of Silicon Moonlight, all orders in the factory have been stopped," Hong Yi replied. "Now all the employees are basically just doing routine maintenance and some daily sorting work."


    "Anyway, we were already spending money to keep them, and they have nothing to do at the company, so might as well send everyone home to rest!"


    "Give an extra allowance to each person according to different job levels, let them go on a trip, and then come back after all the company''s issues are resolved!"


    ...


    "They''re giving us a long vacation? With full pay?"


    "My God, I can''t believe we just had the Spring Festival holiday and now there''s another long vacation. This company is like heaven!"


    "I joined the company through campus recruitment last October and just started my internship last week, and I already got a 5,000 yuan allowance!"


    "20,000? This bonus is even more than my annual bonus!"


    "What? Everyone gets this money?"


    "I''ve asked around, the assembly line workers and interns in the workshop each get 5,000, p5 level junior engineers get 10,000 each, p6 level senior engineers get 20,000, supervisors get 50,000, managers 100,000, directors 200,000, and it''s all paid out in one go. The notice was just posted today, and within less than twenty minutes, the money was already in our bank accounts!"


    "Good heavens! The new boss is so generous. But wasn''t our company supposed to be running out of money?"


    "I heard that our new Chairman made another round of investment. Apparently, without a word, he threw another 50 billion Huaxia currency into it!"


    "He really doesn''t care about money!"


    ...


    This brag-worthy news spread quickly.


    We just had the Spring Festival holiday, and now we got another half-month paid leave, even including travel allowances, making all the netizens incredibly envious.


    "Today is another day to be jealous!"


    "Mr. Zhang, just how much money do you have?"


    "I don''t know how much money Mr. Zhang has, but I believe the zeros in his bank account might be longer than the digits on your ID card."


    "Boss Zhang, is your company hiring? I want to work there, the money''s not important, I mainly appreciate your business vision!"


    ...


    "What? This Huaxia person really shut down the company and gave all the employees a vacation?" In an office of Silicon Moonlight, a middle-aged man was speaking on the phone in fluent Kaibong language.


    "Yes, he even gave everyone a hefty allowance to go on a proper vacation. The construction team has already moved in today, and at this rate, it will take less than half a month to solve all the problems!"


    "This Huaxia man, he''s really so rich it''s outrageous!" The voice on the phone clearly sounded a bit grudging.


    "Has Huaxia not put pressure on Zhang Menglong yet?"


    "Impossible!" the voice said, "The contracts Zhang Menglong signed with those coal fields are black and white. Huaxia could ask Zhang Menglong to cancel the contract or resell the coal, but the penalty and price are too high. We cannot buy imported coal at the original price unless Zhang Menglong nods himself!"


    "But is our approach effective?" the middle-aged man questioned.


    "Hmph! Isn''t Zhang Menglong importing new earth minerals just to develop chips? His company is a total mess, I don''t believe he has the energy to fight us. In the end, he will be the one to compromise!"


    "And you, why haven''t you managed to obtain even the slightest bit of information for so long?" the voice sounded somewhat angry, "Have the Huaxia people really developed advanced photolithography machines and photoresist?"


    "These are the company''s top secrets, and moreover, the research site and production area are not here, so..."


    "Forget it, I will have others investigate these matters. Your most important task now is to create chaos for me. It would be best if you could use official means to take down this company. The organization won''t forget your contribution!"


    "Yes!" said the middle-aged man, "I''ve indeed found a very serious issue recently. I have a good relationship with people in the company''s finance department, and I''ve noticed that their books..."


    ...


    Employees of Silicon Moonlight began packing up to go home, and at this moment, a new construction crew suddenly drove into the industrial town.


    "What''s going on? Why is there another construction crew? Didn''t one come this morning already? Why are there even excavators? Are they here to clear the land?"


    "Look, there are so many building materials. The maintenance of the company''s factory and office building doesn''t need all of these, right?"


    "No, I feel like the company is going to build something. But I haven''t heard about any construction projects recently!"


    "Alright, what are you all lingering around here for?" Xu Huan, the chairman''s assistant, walked into the crowded company lobby.


    Now, Zhang Menglong conveyed many matters through Xu Huan to the other senior management in the company. His status had risen accordingly, and even the company shareholders had to give him some face. Naturally, the ordinary employees and management respected this highly favored person.


    "Assistant Xu, we''re just curious. The construction crew already came this morning, didn''t they? What''s this situation now?" someone couldn''t contain their curiosity.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, just responding to the government''s call," Xu Huan said, "Remember the leaders'' inspection a while back? They mentioned our company had some firefighting issues and safety hazards."


    "Chairman Zhang said, just refurbishing our building''s hardware is not enough, we must foresee and prevent potential issues. In case of a fire or something, we''d still have to call the fire brigade. But, our factory is in a remote location, so it takes 40 minutes for the nearest fire brigade to get here. Thus, Chairman Zhang decided to just build a fire station ourselves!"


    "What? Build a fire station?"


    "My gosh, is that necessary?"


    "Chairman Zhang is planning to build it to the scale of a special service fire brigade, with 20 fire trucks, all from imported Mercedes-Benz and MAN, plus two Scania imported aerial ladder trucks that are 101 meters, ensuring our company''s fire safety is foolproof!"


    "I just looked it up, that Scania aerial ladder truck Assistant Xu mentioned, do you know how much it costs?"


    "It''s not in the millions, is it?"


    "20 million a piece!"


    "Sss! That''s really spending big money!"


    "Isn''t it? But everybody says that devils are tough to deal with. Our company has been constantly targeted recently, and surely those Westerners are behind it all!"


    "Haha, they think they can take on our company with tactics like that? They clearly don''t know who Chairman Zhang is. As long as it can be solved with money, then there isn''t a problem!"


    "Still, being targeted like this feels really uncomfortable!"


    "Hahaha, you guys didn''t forget who Chairman Zhang is, did you? He''s done so much, when has he ever been at a disadvantage? I bet he''s brewing a big move!"


    "Then let''s just enjoy our travels and watch the drama unfold!"


    "Hahaha, despicable! But I like it!"


    ...

 Chapter 312 310: The Structure of Super God Academy

    "Dear Zhang Menglong, congratulations on your acceptance into the High Polymer Materials Department of the Materials Science College at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. The combined Master''s and Doctorate program will span five years. Please bring your relevant documents and proceed to the school on 9.1 to complete the enrollment procedures."


    "Finally got my hands on this thing!" A silly smile crept across Zhang Menglong''s face as he held up the admission notice.


    "What are you so happy about?" Lu Yiyao laughed, "You didn''t even smile like this when you got acceptance letters from all those world-class universities. Harvard even wanted to hire you as a professor!"


    "That''s different. I have an attachment to my alma mater," Zhang Menglong patted his chest, "It won''t be long before there''s an Academician named Zhang Menglong at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Keep dreaming, it''s not that easy to become an Academician!" Lu Yiyao chuckled, "That math problem from last time would, at most, earn you a title of mathematics professor."


    "Just you watch," Zhang Menglong said, "Your man is not only the richest person in the world but also the wisest. I can come up with a groundbreaking invention anytime I want!"


    "Keep bragging. I''m off to practice my singing. The postgraduate re-examination for Music College is coming up, and I need to prepare well," Lu Yiyao said with a worried look.


    "Didn''t you say you found me two vocal coaches? Where are they?" Lu Yiyao suddenly showed a look of expectation.


    "Miss Lu, the two teachers have arrived," Hong Yi entered with two individuals.


    "Ah... this..." Upon seeing the two people behind Hong Yi, Lu Yiyao abruptly stood up, her facial expression somewhat dumbfounded.


    "Mr. Domingo, Madonna, you both must have had a long journey!" Zhang Menglong stood up to greet them.


    "Mr. Zhang, you are too kind. Your private jet was very comfortable and we were well taken care of along the way. It wasn''t tough at all!"


    Domingo, one of the top three male tenors in the world, and Madonna, an American singer of Italian descent. Any one of these individuals alone stands as a world-class singer with immense influence and impact.


    Lu Yiyao knew Zhang Menglong would likely invite some impressive people to teach her, but she never expected two legends to show up!


    Both Domingo and Madonna were no longer young and had withdrawn from the entertainment industry to lead their retirement lives.


    Especially Domingo, who had even retired his voice for many years, refusing numerous offers from music colleges to teach.


    "How much did you spend?" Lu Yiyao asked quietly.


    "Miss Lu, there''s no need to feel embarrassed, and we don''t shy away from these matters," Domingo''s aged voice responded, "Although I no longer perform or teach, the terms Mr. Zhang offered were something I couldn''t refuse. Starting today and for the next two months until your postgraduate interview, I will teach you vocal music. Mr. Zhang is paying me 50 million US dollars."


    "I will teach Miss Lu some contemporary singing techniques and the skills to write and compose songs, although the terms are slightly less than what Mr. Domingo received," Madonna said with a smile. In the presence of a great artist like Domingo, it was likely no singer would dare to omit the title "teacher," not even Madonna.


    "You''re ridiculous!" Two months of lessons, and Zhang Menglong might have spent close to a hundred million US dollars, thought Lu Yiyao, feeling the pinch.


    "My girlfriend deserves only the best," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Teachers, I entrust Yiyi to you for this period."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. We''ve heard Miss Lu''s performances; she has both talent and originality. We cannot promise to make her a world-class singer in two months, but for any music college audition worldwide, she''ll make the judges feel unworthy!" Domingo confidently stated.


    "I''m relieved to hear you both say that!"


    "Hong Yi, is everything set up? And take care of the teachers'' necessities and accommodations."


    "Everything is ready, Mr. Zhang. It''s all in the building next door," Hong Yi replied.


    "Miss Lu, shall we start immediately?" Madonna suggested kindly.


    "Then shall I get going?"


    "Good luck, the future Song Goddess Lu!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed happily.


    ...


    "Hong Yi, I need to do some research. Don''t disturb me until I come out," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang." Hong Yi was quite curious. With the postgraduate exams over, what could Zhang Menglong be researching by locking himself in his room? But she didn''t need to ask; her job was to follow his instructions.


    "Gou Dan, activate the Super God Academy!" Zhang Menglong immediately said after closing the door. He had accumulated over 800 Cred Points during this time!


    Passing through the colorful screen of light, Zhang Menglong once again arrived at the wondrous Super God Academy.


    "Principal! You''re finally here, Principal!"


    "Principal, you haven''t been here for over a month, we''re almost starving to death!"


    He had barely stepped into the school when three figures threw themselves at Zhang Menglong''s feet.


    "Holy crap! I forgot to feed them!" Zhang Menglong remembered that since the last time he came to Super God Academy and summoned Teacher Ye Qiu, he seemed to have not come back at all.


    "Principal, I have kept your teachings in mind and didn''t dare to eat anything from the academy, but you can''t just neglect us!"


    "Hahaha, my apologies, my apologies!" Zhang Menglong quickly left the school and stealthily brought back a big bag of stuff from the supermarket.


    "Slurp slurp!"


    "Yummy yummy!"


    "Oh my, this is so delicious. Who would have thought there are such good things? Is this called instant noodles, Principal?"


    "This self-heating hotpot is not bad either!"


    "And this milk tea, are these little balls really pearls?"


    The three teachers ate to their satisfaction, but Zhang Menglong didn''t pay them any attention. Gou Dan had told him that once he summoned ten teachers, a new function would be unlocked.


    Zhang Menglong now had over 800 Cred Points!


    "Gou Dan, release the seals of seven teachers for me!"


    "Seal release initiated!"


    Suddenly, the sky was roiling with wind and clouds, the ocean started to surge and roar, and seven beams of light descended from the heavens. Within those beams, several men and women slowly walked out.


    "Qiao Feng pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Nie Xiaoqian pays her respects to the Principal!"


    "Yan Chixia pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Little Master of China pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Xiong Ba pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Wu Xingyun pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Feng Qingyang pays his respects to the Principal!"


    "Holy smokes, how come so many big shots arrived this time?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in astonishment. Qiao Feng was a character that anyone who had read wuxia novels or seen wuxia movies would definitely recognize.


    Nie Xiaoqian and Yan Chixia were characters from "A Chinese Ghost Story," Little Master of China was that chef with special effects for cooking, Xiong Ba was the domineering gang leader from "Feng Yun," Wu Xingyun was the real name of the childlike empress from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," and then there was Feng Qingyang, who was superb in his mastery of the Dugu Nine Swords.


    This time, so many characters from the martial arts world had appeared!


    "Congratulations, Principal, for gathering seven teachers!" Gou Dan''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear, "The school is now opening enrollment to external students, with a total of 10 spots available for the first term!"


    "School administrative system format complete. Principal, you can now set up administrative positions and faculty positions for each college on your own."


    "Wow!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes went wide. The school was actually going to enroll students from outside! That meant, he could bring people from the outside into Super God Academy to learn the knowledge and skills here! This was absolutely earth-shattering!


    Zhang Menglong contained his excitement. With only 10 spots available for the first term, he had to carefully consider his choices. He certainly couldn''t bring just anyone into the school.


    And he needed to give some serious thought to this business of setting up positions!

 Chapter 313 311: Teachers, Stop Fighting

    Zhang Menglong, up until now, had only been as big an officer as a department head in the student council. He really knew nothing about how a school''s system was set up, luckily all of this information could be found online.


    "Nie Xiaoqian, you''re still here! See how I''ll deliver you today!" While Zhang Menglong was still pondering the issue of the school system, Yan Chixia suddenly charged at Nie Xiaoqian with his treasured sword.


    "Yan Chixia, Ning Caichen and I are truly in love. Now that the Black Mountain Old Demon is no longer blocking us, why do you insist on tearing us apart!" Nie Xiaoqian''s face, which could topple cities and kingdoms, carried a hint of melancholy as she retreated tens of meters, dodging Yan Chixia''s sharp Sword Qi.


    "Humans are humans, ghosts are ghosts; it''s hard to draw the bones in painting dragons and tigers. There''s a different path for humans and ghosts, don''t you understand this principle? We, who cultivate the Tao, absolutely cannot allow such circumstances in the world! Die!"


    In an instant, the plaza was crisscrossed with Sword Qi. Even from a distance, Zhang Menglong could feel the power of the Sword Qi¡ªYe Yin might not even be able to withstand Yan Chixia''s Sword Qi attack.


    After all, in this setting, Yan Chixia''s world already had a system of Ghost Gods, and that kind of power was absolutely beyond imagination.


    Now, without Ye Yin by Zhang Menglong''s side to protect him, if he were to be hit by the Sword Qi, Zhang Menglong would probably be doomed!


    "Dean, you don''t need to worry. With the ring, nothing in Super God Academy can cause you any harm," Teacher Tony said as he sipped the soup from his instant noodles.


    "Have those two always been like this?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Always like this, for hundreds of years!" Tony said. "I guess they''re just too lonely here at Super God Academy. Since we teachers can''t be killed here, Yan Chixia knows this too. I guess he''s just trying to kill time."


    "Well, that''s another strange couple added to the mix!" Zhang Menglong said. "Where''s Ning Caichen?"


    "The previous dean thought he was useless and didn''t bring him over."


    "That''s quite realistic!"


    "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing, stealing my spicy strips and milk tea! That''s from the dean; aren''t you afraid the dean will get angry?" Takumi Fujiwara guarded his food, while the boy in red and white clothes stared curiously at the food in his hands.


    "I''m just studying it; I''ve never seen such peculiar food!" said Zhonghua Xiaodangjia. "If I can figure out the ingredients and recipe for this food, we could just grow our own food in the academy in the future, so we won''t have to bother the dean to prepare food for us!"


    "I understand the logic, but why are you drooling? Don''t come any closer!"


    ...


    "Hmph, a bunch of juniors. If this were in my World Association, I would definitely hit them with Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "Hahaha, Elder Xiong, you''re as hot-tempered as ever!" Feng Qingyang coldly watched it all.


    "Old witch, do you mind?"


    "What did you say? Say that again?" Wu Xingyun''s face changed; she hated being called an old witch the most.


    "I said old witch! Over a hundred years old and still dressing like a young maiden every day, isn''t that shameless!"


    "Xiong Ba, do you really think my Lingjiu Palace''s martial arts can''t compare to your Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi?"


    "Hahaha, I''ve been longing to experience Elder Tonglao''s Eight Desolates and Unique Sovereignty skill!"


    "Let''s go over there to fight then!"


    ...


    "Ah, these people, sealed for decades, look like they''ve all gone bad!" Feng Qingyang shook his head as he looked at the messy scene.


    "Senior Feng, how about we drink together?"


    "Haha, great!"


    ...


    "This damn place, it doesn''t look like a school at all!" Zhang Menglong looked at the chaotic scene. Even if actual students were to come, they''d be scared off by such a scene!"


    "Everyone freeze!" Zhang Menglong shouted, and at that moment, the world of Super God Academy seemed to be constrained by some power, freezing all the teachers in place, "Anyone who fights again will get a thunderbolt from me!"


    "Hehehe, Dean, we were just messing around!" Yan Chixia quickly withdrew his True Yuan Force.


    "Hahaha, Dean, Teacher Wu and I were just sparring, our relationship is actually quite good!" Xiong Ba laughed heartily, completely lacking his previous arrogance.


    "Dean, I''ll stop by your office later to give you a massage; I''m really good at it!" Nie Xiaoqian sent Zhang Menglong a flirtatious look, even emphasizing the word "skills."


    "Ahem!" Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Ms. Nie, this is a proper school, how can you say such frivolous things in public? Remember, you are a teacher. When you come to my office later, I''m going to have to give you some ideological education!"


    "The new dean is also a lecher!"


    "Really, just like his grandfather and his father!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, it''s really a family trait!"


    The teachers immediately began whispering among themselves.


    "Alright, quiet!" Zhang Menglong looked serious, "Since we''re going to start enrolling students, the school must become formal, and we can''t continue this messy behavior!"


    All the teachers quieted down and listened intently to Zhang Menglong speak.


    "Although we only have ten teachers now, we still need to have a complete setup," Zhang Menglong said, "Nie Xiaoqian, from now on, you will be the director of admissions. You''ll be responsible for receiving students when they come to the school!"


    "Director, huh? Sounds like a high position!" Nie Xiaoqian appeared behind Zhang Menglong like a ghost, her delicate and smooth palms lightly caressing his cheek, causing him to instantly get goosebumps.


    "Tony, you will be the dean of the Automation Academy. When teachers of the same specialty appear, you will manage them all!"


    "Xiao Dangjia, the school''s cafeteria will be in your hands from now on!"


    "Takumi Fujiwara, you''ll be the dean of the school''s Automotive Academy!"


    "Ye Qiu, dean of the Esports Academy!"


    "Yan Chixia, dean of the Ghost Hunting Academy!"


    "Dean, our school doesn''t have a Ghost Hunting Academy!"


    "I say it does!" As soon as Zhang Menglong''s words fell, a huge, eerie, and terrifying academic building slowly rose, with the sounds of ghosts howling subtly emanating from the academy."


    "Thank you, Dean!" Yan Chixia was overjoyed; being the dean of a division, the power must be just beneath the dean, right?


    "As for the dean of the Martial Arts Academy..." Zhang Menglong glanced over Feng Qingyang, Xiong Ba, Qiao Feng, and Wu Xingyun.


    Each of them stared at Zhang Menglong with burning eyes, each eager to claim the title of dean of the Martial Arts Academy.


    "Dean, let me take it. I''ve managed the World Association for decades; I can definitely help you manage the academy!"


    "You''re full of it!" Wu Xingyun was the first to object, "I am the master of Lingjiu Palace of Piaomiao Peak, and both the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands are under my command; managing an academy is naturally easy for me!"


    "Both of you, the Beggars'' Sect is the largest sect in the world; if we talk about scale, surely no one can match up to our Beggars'' Sect, right?"


    "Humph, have the young people these days lost all modesty? Although I, Feng Qingyang, have been in seclusion, I''m not vegetarian; being a dean, you must at least have the martial prowess to command respect, right?"


    "Hahaha, so you mean to say, we need to fight it out then?"


    "Let''s fight, I, Xiong Ba, have never been afraid of anyone; you all only know about my Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, but I also have a body full of high-class martial arts!"


    "Humph! My years of hard cultivation of Inner Strength, do you think it can''t match up to yours?"


    "My Dugu Nine Swords can break down all martial arts in the world; who among you is my match?"


    "Boom!"


    "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!"


    "Paiyun Palm!"


    "Xiaowuxiang Gong!"


    "Dugu Nine Swords, Qi Breaking Style!"


    "Damn, they start fighting at the drop of a hat!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Teachers, stop fighting!"

 Chapter 314 312 Can I Evade or Avoid Taxes with All My Wealth?

    "Hahaha, how about that, my Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is not just for show, right?" Xiong Ba stood proudly in the air, surrounded by a faint blue stream of energy, looking incredibly dominant.


    Qiao Feng, Wu Xingyun, and Feng Qingyang all looked somewhat pale.


    Indeed, all three of them were strong, but the world they came from was just a normal martial arts world, whereas the Feng Yun world was already considered a high martial arts world, so there was a gap in the level of the world itself.


    How could a bunch of martial artists compete against someone who is already half a step into cultivation?


    "Hmph!" Although they were unconvinced in their hearts, they indeed were no match for him, so Wu Xingyun and the others had no choice but to admit defeat.


    "Alright, since Teacher Xiong Ba has won, from today onwards, Teacher Xiong Ba will be the dean of Martial Arts Academy!" Zhang Menglong announced, "Qiao Feng and Feng Qingyang, the two of you will be the deputy deans!"


    "What about me?" Wu Xingyun immediately became anxious.


    Zhang Menglong gave a slight smile; he already had a plan in mind. Wu Xingyun, with her strict demeanor, would be wasted if not given the role of director of education! With her standards, she would definitely be terrific at educating the students.


    "Teacher Wu Xingyun, you will temporarily take the position of director of the academic guidance office! All the students, their morals, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics, will be under your management!"


    "Thank you, Dean!" Wu Xingyun was overjoyed. Although she did not get the position of dean of the academy, being a director of academic guidance seemed to be not a bit less important than being the dean of a branch academy!"


    "Now that everyone is satisfied with their positions, I will begin preparing to enroll students. I hope that the teachers will cooperate well in the future to make our Super God Academy flourish!"


    "Understood, Dean!"


    "And then there''s this..." Zhang Menglong looked at the plaza that had turned into a mess after the fierce battle, feeling a bit of a headache.


    But in an instant, the ground of the academy began to move, and in a moment, it had restored itself to its original state!


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed with admiration.


    "And with 100 Cred Points, let''s learn something!" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the four teachers before finally settling on Xiong Ba. He had seen for himself the power of the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, capable both offensively and defensively, and it was definitely a high-grade martial arts technique. It was the best choice before summoning those teachers from the fantasy and mythological worlds.


    There were four martial arts techniques taught by Xiong Ba: Heavenly Frost Fist, Paiyun Palm, Wind God Leg, and Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi. Zhang Menglong glanced over them and realized that the highest skill among all other teachers was only Level E, with only Xiong Ba''s Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi just about reaching Level D.


    "Gou Dan, copy Xiong Ba''s skills for me!" Zhang Menglong prayed in his heart, "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, seventy percent relies on hard work! Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, seventy percent relies on hard work!"


    "Congratulations, Dean, for acquiring the Level D skill, Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "Sweet!" Zhang Menglong revealed an ecstatic expression; after being so unlucky for so long, he finally got something good!


    Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi:


    The so-called "Three Parts" refers to the enduring strength of the Wind God Leg, the formidable force of the Paiyun Palm, and the cold inner strength of the Heavenly Frost Fist; "Return to Origin" is the fusion of these three distinctly powerful inner strengths into one, creating the extremely fierce "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi."


    When combined with the skill Three Parts Divine Finger, it has the power to shock heaven and earth and make ghosts and gods weep, but what''s even more impressive is that if Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi can merge into a unity, it would be inexhaustible and endlessly powerful!


    "What an awesome description!" Even though Zhang Menglong didn''t quite understand it, he knew at a glance that it was something formidable.


    "If I ever encounter those so-called psychics and mutants again, I''m sure I could twist their heads clean off!"


    "Dean, although you have obtained the Inner Cultivation Methods and techniques, inner strength needs to be cultivated gradually. You can now practice the Three Elements Unite mental method, so keep up the good work!" Gou Dan reminded him.


    "Damn, I thought I could be as awesome as Xiong Ba straight away, but that was wishful thinking." Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "Dean, while cultivating inner strength depends on you, with this academy and the endless treasures of heaven and earth, are you still worried about the speed of your cultivation? You might surpass what regular people can achieve in several years with just a few days of cultivation, so that''s not a problem!"


    "Hehe, that''s true!" Zhang Menglong glanced at Yao Chen''s Medicine Valley. "If I can summon him sooner, popping pills will be as normal as eating."


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong thought of the "Fighting Spirit Pill." Ye Yin had said that her family consumed them just like eating food. Surely, getting some for himself wouldn''t be too difficult, would it?


    "Ye Yin!" As he stepped out of Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong immediately called out.


    "Mr. Zhang, were you looking for me?"


    "Yeah, do you have any Fighting Spirit Pills there? Give me some!" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, but you..." Ye Yin hesitated.


    "Don''t worry, I''m now one of you!" Zhang Menglong activated his Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi. Although his inner strength was almost gone, the unusual surge of energy changed Ye Yin''s expression.


    Ye Yin knew that Zhang Menglong must have learned the secrets of human body cultivation from that place!


    "Mr. Zhang, let me arrange it. I''ll have it delivered to you within half an hour at the latest!" Ye Yin said.


    "Great, thanks for the trouble!"


    ...


    True to her word, in less than twenty minutes, Ye Yin handed a delicate little bottle to Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, here are 20 pills, that should be enough for you for a while. If you need more, just let me know anytime!"


    "Thanks for your effort!" Zhang Menglong shook the bottle, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, 100 billion Euros each, this bottle is worth twenty trillion Euros!"


    "But in my family, it seems like it''s not worth much!"


    Zhang Menglong carelessly took out a pill and popped it into his mouth.


    Shortly after, a fierce medicinal power emerged, filling Zhang Menglong''s limbs and meridians as if his body was about to burst.


    Zhang Menglong immediately started to cultivate using the mental method of Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, and only then did the feeling of swelling pain gradually subside, eventually even giving him a sense of exhilaration.


    Before he knew it, a whole night had passed, and Zhang Menglong still maintained the same posture as the previous night; the power of that Fighting Spirit Pill had been fully digested.


    "This is actually my body!" Zhang Menglong felt his chest and abdominal muscles, which had become incredibly defined. It seemed as if his body was filled with new strength; this one night of cultivation had pretty much given him a new body.


    "Mr. Zhang, your body''s strength, muscle density, and nerve reaction speed are now almost on par with a level one mutant!"


    "So soon?" Zhang Menglong was pleasantly surprised. He knew that creating a level one mutant required not only an investment of several billion or even tens of billions of US Dollars, but also a vast number of test subjects and a lot of time, and yet, he achieved it in just one night!


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you awake?" Hong Yi''s voice came from outside the door.


    Zhang Menglong rubbed his hair, pushed the door open and walked out.


    "Mr. Zhang, you gave instructions not to disturb you, but there have been some emergencies that need your attention."


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "Just now, Silicon Moonlight''s CFO told me that today the company received a notice from the tax bureau. There seem to be many issues with Silicon Moonlight''s accounts, even claims of tax evasion!" Hong Yi said.


    "I''m so wealthy, and I would evade taxes?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s likely an issue left by the former chairman. But if we don''t handle it, it could indeed cause some serious problems!"


    "Is it found out by the tax bureau?" Zhang Menglong asked, considering that Silicon Moonlight had been operating for many years and problems like this should not have only been discovered now.


    "As far as I know, someone reported it!"


    "The Kaibong people again?" Zhang Menglong immediately thought of the previous report on the fire safety issue.


    "Yes!" Hong Yi nodded. "But there''s also the shadow of those chip material suppliers from Europe and America.


    "Well then!" Zhang Menglong let out a cold laugh, "I don''t go looking for trouble with them, but they''re stepping over the line?"


    "Hong Yi, arrange a flight. I''ll go to the treasure island first to deal with this tax issue," Zhang Menglong said, "Once that''s settled, I''ll go and properly deal with those guys!"

 Chapter 315 313: Push the Posts Insulting Me to the Top of the Hot Searches

    The next day, Zhang Menglong hurried to Baodao Province, and in his Silicon Moonlight factory, most of the employees had already taken their holidays, but there was still a small number of people and leaders who volunteered to stay and continue working.


    "Xu Huan, it seems your prestige in the company isn''t bad!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile; ever since they had walked through the door, the staff, after calling out ''Director Zhang'', would always call out ''Assistant Xu''.


    "That''s all thanks to Director Zhang''s high regard," Xu Huan replied, "If it weren''t for Director Zhang prizing me, I wouldn''t have such a grand stage."


    "That''s also because you have the capability," Zhang Menglong arrived at his own office, which was almost never visited by anyone, but was cleaned every single day and kept spotless.


    "What exactly is the situation with this tax matter? Tell me about it."


    "It''s a long story," Xu Huan said, "I was still a student at that time, and I heard that back then, Silicon Moonlight was still a startup company. Its scale and output value were far from comparable to what they are now, and making a profit from those small orders was incredibly difficult¡ªeven paying the employees'' salaries was fairly hard."


    "As you know, the corporate tax rate isn''t low; a large portion of our annual profits is used to pay taxes. So, at that time, the chairman started to look into ways to deal with the tax issue."


    "Was this tax evasion scheme his idea?" Zhang Menglong felt that the previous chairman should not have been the kind to cut corners. Not to mention other aspects, at the very least, he didn''t choose to be a traitor under the threats from Western suppliers, his stance was entirely correct. Even if he had his faults, they couldn''t have been too serious.


    "Strictly speaking, it''s not really tax evasion or avoidance as such," Xu Huan explained, "I checked the company''s accounts before you took over, and five years ago, they really were just legitimate tax avoidance methods!"


    Legal tax avoidance is straightforward; it involves using legally allowed means to reduce one''s tax rate or taxable items. Even now, many companies are using this method; some businesses can pay more than 90% less in taxes through legal tax avoidance scheming!


    Although this method may not be entirely aboveboard, it is still an operation within the bounds permitted by law. Even if the tax authorities discover it, they cannot find any loopholes.


    "But five years ago, Baodao Province went through a tax reform that closed off many loopholes, and the tax avoidance methods our company had used before all became prohibited."


    "Because Silicon Moonlight pays an extraordinarily high amount of taxes each year, even though we underpaid a large portion, the relation between the tax authorities and the chairman was quite good. Over the years, they turned a blind eye, so we never had a problem before!"


    "So this time, because of an anonymous report, the tax authorities had no choice but to take action, and that''s why they came to trouble us?" Zhang Menglong quickly understood the crux of the issue.


    "That''s right, and according to feedback from the tax authorities, it was an internal employee who made an anonymous report. This blows matters up even more. I suspect there''s someone manipulating the situation behind the scenes!"


    "Oh? How do you know?"


    "Look at this!" Xu Huan opened several social media platforms where various troll posts had already caused an uproar on some websites.


    Assorted posts slandering Zhang Menglong were rampant: from calling him a ''world''s richest man avoiding taxes'', to ''unscrupulous businessman'', to ''caring only about profits and not fulfilling obligations''.


    "Wow, they are all freshly created accounts," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This is clearly the work of a paid internet army!"


    "It''s definitely a paid internet army, but once they start setting the tone, it will blow up sooner or later."


    "It hasn''t hit the trending searches yet!" Zhang Menglong glanced at Weibo and did not see even a hint of it on the hot search list!


    "Director Zhang," Xu Huan said with a wry smile, "It''s almost as if you''re disappointed it hasn''t hit the hot searches. This does no good for your reputation, and it''s a significant blow to Silicon Moonlight. Even if we produce chips in the future, if this credit issue isn''t resolved, I''m afraid not many merchants will be willing to buy from us, especially since our products haven''t been tested by the market and don''t carry any persuasive power."


    "Xu Huan, how many tax loopholes do we have in the company currently?"


    "The amount is enormous," said Xu Huan, "over the past five years, the total tax we''ve underpaid amounts to more than 30 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "That much?" Zhang Menglong was also startled, he had no background in finance and accounting, and was completely clueless, "Is paying taxes always this intense?"


    "Mr. Zhang, as the saying goes, ''with great power comes great responsibility''. The more profitable the enterprise, the more taxes it naturally pays," explained Hong Yi, "Take Mr. Ma Yun''s Alibaba, for instance. Their annual revenue is around 150 billion Huaxia currency, and just the taxes they pay exceed 50 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "Tsk tsk..."


    "Silicon Moonlight''s average total revenue for these years is also roughly around 30 billion. The tax system in Baodao Province doesn''t differ much from other regions, so the total estimated taxes would also be around 50 billion. It''s not surprising that underpayment by 30 billion in taxes went unnoticed."


    "This looks like no small matter!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," said Xu Huan, "If this gets blown up even further, it will eventually become public knowledge. I think it''s best if you use the resources at your disposal to suppress this matter until we''ve made up for the unpaid taxes. Then we wouldn''t have to worry about idle gossip."


    "No need," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I think some things are better blown out of proportion!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you..." Xu Huan was puzzled; he had no idea what Zhang Menglong was thinking. How could making a big fuss benefit them?


    "Hong Yi," commanded Zhang Menglong, "help me arrange to use all the channels under my name to hype this up as much as possible, the bigger the better, ideally the whole world should know about it!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang." Though Hong Yi also didn''t understand what Zhang Menglong was up to, she followed his instructions.


    In Huaxia, traffic is basically controlled by those large internet companies, and Weibo remains the unchanged battlefield for the onlooking masses.


    With the workings of the staff, the first post immediately turned a glaring red, even adding an "explosive" symbol to it.


    "Silicon Moonlight evades 30 billion in Huaxia currency over five years!"


    A brief headline, but the staggering number was incredibly eye-catching. 30 billion, for 99 percent of people in this world, was certainly an astronomical sum.


    "Silicon Moonlight? Isn''t that Mr. Zhang''s company?"


    "Tax evasion? Mr. Zhang''s company evaded taxes? My God, more than 30 billion!"


    "Wait, just over 30 billion? I feel like this is an insult to Mr. Zhang. Add another zero and I might believe it a bit more!"


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang''s fireworks alone cost several billions, are you telling me he evaded 30 billion in taxes over five years? Do you think I''m an idiot?"


    "Let me tell you a joke, Zhang Menglong evaded taxes, and it was 30 billion!"


    ...


    "What... what''s going on?"


    The manipulators behind the scenes, who were originally gleeful about the issue''s rising heat, were suddenly dumbfounded. What''s with these Huaxia people? Instead of outrage over such a serious issue, people not only didn''t believe it, but the whole thing turned into a joke?

 Chapter 316 314 I Took Over

    It had only been half a day since the issue began to ferment, and netizens mostly treated it as a joke, but then a compelling piece of evidence appeared online.


    This evidence displayed Silicon Moonlight''s tax records from the past five years, showing that they had indeed underpaid taxes by 30 billion!


    Reporters never let such issues slide, and immediately, someone went to check with the tax office in Baodao Province and indeed, they found that Silicon Moonlight had been evading taxes!


    "Well, this really clinches it, huh?"


    "How could President Zhang do such a thing?"


    "Could it be that President Zhang''s company is just too big, and he has to pay too many taxes every year that he accidentally forgot one?"


    "Still defending him? It''s confirmed, and still defending him! Typical of the brain-dead fans!"


    "Crook! Just one company underpaid 30 billion, he must have at least a dozen companies, right? So that''s how you become the world''s richest man, now I see!"


    "I just checked, evading such a huge amount of taxes, which is over thirty percent of the due taxes, could result in three to seven years of imprisonment. It looks like President Zhang is really in trouble this time!"


    ...


    "What the hell were you thinking?" Wang Ling immediately called Zhang Menglong after seeing the news, "You dare to engage in tax evasion? Have you lost your mind?"


    "Don''t get worked up!" Zhang Menglong replied calmly, "Do you think I have a motive to do this kind of thing? It''s only 30 billion Huaxia Yuan. I''ve already spent over 500 billion Huaxia Yuan just on donations for building high-speed rail in Dongji City!"


    "Damn, that''s true!" Wang Ling almost forgot, the astronomical figure of 30 billion is just petty cash for Zhang Menglong."


    "So what''s going on?" asked Wang Ling.


    "I only acquired this company last year!" Zhang Menglong explained, "These are all residual issues from before!"


    "Then why don''t you explain it?" Wang Ling said, "Isn''t Weibo yours? Explaining this should be simple, right? Just publish the date on your stock transfer agreement, prove you just took over, and show these issues aren''t related to you. Wouldn''t that solve everything?"


    "You don''t understand, someone is trying to take me down! Ending this quickly would just disappoint them, wouldn''t it?"


    "Someone is targeting you? Who?"


    "People from Kaibong, Europe, America, those countries and suppliers that hold the semiconductor technology. None of them want to see us Huaxia independently developing chips. They want to disrupt our backend!" Zhang Menglong explained to Wang Ling.


    "So this is..."


    "Tell me, how high is the interest in this matter?" Zhang Menglong countered.


    "Nonsense, of course, it''s caught everyone''s attention¡ªnot just in Huaxia but netizens around the world are watching. You''re the world''s richest man now! The world''s richest man dodging taxes, that''s huge news! The global media is focused on this topic!"


    "Then tell me, how could I miss such a great advertising opportunity?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m planning to start a live stream!"


    "Live stream? What kind of live stream? Explaining this?" asked Wang Ling.


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "In this live stream, I plan to flaunt my wealth!"


    ...


    "Good lord, what''s going with these live streaming platforms today? The front page is dominated by one live stream room, which doesn''t even have any content or title. Has it been hacked?"


    Netizens today opened the live stream room, but on the homepage, there was one very special live stream room, not just on Huaxia''s domestic version but exactly the same internationally.


    Where there''s smoke, there''s fire. These live stream rooms immediately attracted considerable attention and even in this empty live stream room, millions of viewers gathered to chat.


    "Can''t believe over a million people are as bored as I am!"


    "Hahaha, wondering what this live stream room will actually live stream. Yuan Fang, what do you think?"


    "My lord, I use Fast Play!"


    "Symbian! Symbian!"


    ...


    "Here it comes, there''s a picture now!"


    Just when the audience was utterly bored, the live stream room''s picture suddenly lit up, and a new title appeared¡ªI Pay Taxes, I''m Honorable!


    "What''s this nonsense?"


    "This camera work is making me dizzy! Can the cameraman get fired on the spot, please?"


    "Isn''t that President Zhang in the shot!?"


    "Good heavens, is this a Rolls-Royce with a starry sky top, inside a car? Good heavens, I never thought I''d one day see the interior of a Rolls-Royce!"


    "What''s this for?"


    "Mr. Zhang, say something, Mr. Zhang!"


    The live chat instantly became chaotic with greetings, swearing, shouts of ''666'', and calls of ''hubby''.


    "Hello, everyone," Zhang Menglong''s face turned towards the camera, "as you can see, I am on my way to pay some taxes!"


    "Good heavens, only thinking of paying taxes after getting into trouble, what a scammer!"


    "Exactly, if he hadn''t been caught, was he planning to evade forever?"


    No sooner had Zhang Menglong spoken than the live stream was filled with insulting comments.


    The news spread rapidly, and a huge number of viewers flooded into the live stream, with the numbers jumping from over a million to several million. Across the national platforms, the viewers even reached a staggering fifty million!


    Zhang Menglong''s car stopped at the entrance of Baodao Tax Bureau, and he headed straight inside.


    "Hello, what service are you here for?"


    "I, I''ve been evading taxes, and I''m here to pay what I owe!"


    Upon hearing this, the receptionist was flabbergasted. Who on earth goes directly to a tax bureau and admits they''ve evaded taxes and need to pay?


    "6666!"


    "Worthy of my Mr. Zhang, winning just with his presence!"


    "Hahaha, that employee must have so many question marks in their head right now!"


    ...


    The employee had been looking down, sorting papers, and only looked up upon hearing this shocking answer.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang?" The employee immediately stood up, drawing the attention of many around her.


    "Is that Zhang Menglong? What''s he here for?"


    "I heard his Silicon Moonlight missed out on taxes worth over 30 billion, probably here to get fined, right?"


    "He still has the face to come here? He has shamed all of us in business!"


    Whispers circulated in the vicinity.


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment, I''ll call our director." Zhang Menglong''s company''s tax issues were too extensive to be handled by just one clerk.


    "Go ahead, I''ll wait."


    Shortly, a middle-aged man whose hair was nearly gone hurried out from an office inside.


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am the director of the tax office, my last name is Chen."


    "Hello Director Chen," Zhang Menglong said politely, "I am here to address the tax issues of the company. Given the amount of tax I evaded, how many years would that be?"


    "Good heavens! He straight up asked about the prison term!"


    "What kind of move is this?" the audience was instantly dumbfounded.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s been a mistake!" Director Chen hurriedly said, "The information we confirmed earlier was not wrong, but it was not complete. We just found out that you only took over as Chairman last year, hence the company''s tax issues are not directly your legal responsibility.


    "Damn, so that''s how it is!"


    "I knew it, Mr. Zhang is so rich, how could he evade taxes? 30 billion is just pocket change for Mr. Zhang!"


    "Everyone, stand up, apologize!"


    "Sorry, Mr. Zhang!"


    In just this short dialogue, Zhang Menglong completely cleared his association.


    "However, Mr. Zhang, although you do not need to assume legal responsibility, you might still need to address these unpaid taxes. I suggest you deal with the previous chairman, as this matter technically has nothing to do with you!"


    "No need!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Since I am now the chairman of Silicon Moonlight, I cannot just ignore this. I will take responsibility for all the unpaid taxes!"

 Chapter 317 317: 315

    "666, awesome, awesome!"


    "Goodness, took over 30 billion just like that? I, Uchiha Gou Dan, am willing to call you the takeover hero!"


    "I get it now, the title of this live stream is wrong. It''s not ''I pay taxes, I''m proud,'' this live stream should be called ''Zhang Menglong''s Wealth Flaunting Show!''"


    "Everyone sit down! What''s the excitement about? It''s just a mere 30 billion Huaxia currency, just a bit of pocket change for President Zhang. Are you looking down on Boss Zhang or what?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, are you serious?" Director Chen confirmed.


    "Of course, I''m serious. How do we pay? Directly by card?"


    "Xiao Li!" Director Chen directly called over a staff member.


    "Mr. Zhang, we will immediately create a temporary supplementary payment note for your company''s account. Log into the tax system through your company''s account to pay the tax," the staff member known as Xiao Li said.


    "Xu Huan, is it done?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Director Zhou, take a look!" Xu Huan said while contacting the company''s financial director.


    "President Zhang, the total tax of 31.823641823.23 yuan has been paid in full!" Hong Huan reported back.


    "Please check it, Director Chen."


    Director Chen immediately gave Xiao Li a look, and after some operations, Xiao Li promptly reported, "Director Chen, Silicon Moonlight''s tax payment has all arrived!"


    "Mr. Zhang, thank you for your cooperation. Your supplementary payment is completed. We hope that in the future you can supervise your company to pay taxes on time and in full to avoid similar misunderstandings," Director Chen said.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Director Chen," Zhang Menglong nodded and made a polite gesture, "By the way, this matter shouldn''t be settled yet, should it?"


    "Eh?" Director Chen was stunned, "Your due taxes have been paid. There''s no problem now."


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong said, "Consultant Liu, please come out for a moment."


    It was only then that everyone noticed that Zhang Menglong had brought three people with him this time; his personal assistant Hong Yi, the executive assistant of Silicon Moonlight Xu Huan, and a middle-aged man in a suit and tie.


    This middle-aged man was Silicon Moonlight''s dedicated legal consultant, Liu Yufeng.


    "Consultant Liu, according to the regulations of Bao Island Province, what are the penalties for tax evasion and fraud?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "President Zhang, according to Article 201 of the law, taxpayers who engage in deception and concealment for false tax declarations or fail to declare, evading a large amount of taxes, which constitute over ten percent of the payable tax amount, shall be sentenced to no more than three years in prison or detention, and fined; for a very large amount, constituting over thirty percent of the payable tax amount, shall be sentenced to no less than three years and no more than seven years in prison, and fined," Liu Yufeng replied.


    "Goodness! President Zhang has gone mad!"


    "Even after it was said that everything was handled, is he still looking to trouble himself?"


    "I really don''t understand this move. Is my brain not working?"


    "Can someone explain to me what exactly this is all about? Is President Zhang trying to impose penalties on himself?"


    Countless question marks floated up on the barrage of comments.


    "What exactly is this Huaxia person doing?"


    "An interesting Huaxia person!"


    Foreign netizens were also baffled one by one.


    "Mr. Zhang, this matter has nothing to do with you. There''s absolutely no need for you to take this responsibility!" Director Chen didn''t even know what to say anymore.


    "No, no, no, that won''t do!" Zhang Menglong spoke righteously, "Our Silicon Moonlight hasn''t paid taxes in full for five years. That 30 billion must have created quite a funding gap for the nation''s construction, right?"


    "Ever heard of the butterfly effect? A small butterfly flapping its wings can provoke a typhoon. The impact of this 30 billion is likely incalculable. If we don''t impose a penalty, I won''t feel right about it!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, then... Forget about going to jail, it wasn''t your doing. If you really can''t live with it, then just pay a fine or something."


    "Right, that''s what I''m saying!" Zhang Menglong stated, "We should pay a fine as compensation for any losses we''ve caused the country. It''s only fair!"


    "Advisor Liu, how is the penalty for tax evasion calculated?"


    "Mr. Zhang, according to regulations, the penalty ranges from 50% to five times the amount of the tax due or underpaid," replied Advisor Liu.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s pay the 50% then. Xiao Li, issue the bill!" said Director Chen.


    "Wait a second!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was serious, "Director Chen, how can you do this? It''s 30 billion we''re talking about. With such a huge sum, how can you only charge the minimum penalty? If you don''t impose a heavier fine, I won''t be able to sleep tonight!"


    "Ah... This..."


    "In my opinion, we should apply the maximum standard, and fine five times!"


    "Wow!" The scene erupted in gasps, and the live stream also went silent.


    "Has he gone mad? More than 30 billion, and five times that is a fine of over 150 billion!"


    "Damn! I''m astounded; that''s what Mr. Ma''s company Alibaba makes in a year''s revenue."


    "Mr. Zhang, could you possibly be any more flamboyant?"


    "This isn''t about admitting wrongdoing, this is showing off wealth! 150 billion Huaxia yuan, I earn 200,000 a year, without eating or drinking, I''d have to start working from the ''Lantian man'' era to earn that much!"


    "From the Lantian man era is already good; I only make 100,000 a year, I''d have to start from the prehistoric apes!"


    ...


    "I don''t like odd numbers, let''s round it up to 1.6 trillion!"


    "Mr. Zhang," Director Chen said with a wry smile, "it''s really not possible. According to the law, the maximum is up to five times. 1.6 trillion is already beyond that limit. If you were to really pay such a fine, our financial statements for this year would be a mess!"


    "Is that so!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Then never mind, just pay 1.55 trillion. Comrade Xiao Li, please take care of it!"


    "Director, this..." Xiao Li had never entered so many zeros in his work life.


    "Do as Mr. Zhang has asked!" said Director Chen through gritted teeth.


    "Yes!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a penalty directed at an individual, you probably can''t use the company''s money," said Director Chen.


    "No problem, it was always coming out of my own pocket!" Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, make the transfer!"


    A few minutes later, a colossal fine entered the tax system.


    "Mr. Zhang, you have completed the payment of the fine."


    "Thank you for your efforts, Director Chen. We will take our leave now!"


    "Have a good day, I''ll see you out!"


    ...


    "This Huaxia person, just how much money does he have?" Jin Tianjing Long also finished watching the live stream.


    Initially, he thought that this tax issue, if not bringing down Zhang Menglong, would at least bring him considerable public opinion pressure. However, unexpectedly, the live stream turned into an excellent promotion.


    Now the whole world knew that Zhang Menglong was unimaginably wealthy, not only that, but he was also highly credible, voluntarily taking on social responsibility, and willingly paying a huge fine that he could have completely avoided. Most crucially, he showed no change in expression as he pulled out 1.5 trillion Huaxia yuan without the slightest sign of pain.


    The most crucial thing was that after he paid the money, there was even a perverse smile on his face, as if getting fined 1.55 trillion was an incredibly joyful event!


    "No, this can''t go on!" Jin Tianjing Long muttered to himself, "If Huaxia really develops high-end chips, then at that time, just Zhang Menglong''s credibility and financial power could attract a large number of orders, and we would be out of the picture. We absolutely can''t let him continue!"


    "Mr. Ryu?ze!"


    Sitting opposite Jin Tianjing Long was a man with a somewhat sinister appearance, his bangs covering half his left eye like a visual kei hairstyle.


    Jin Tianjing Long moved Zhang Menglong''s information in front of him: "I want this man''s life!"

 Chapter 318 316 Im rion man

    "Control him! Kill him!"


    "Flash now, flash now!"


    "Damn it! What kind of trash game is this? Huaxia''s team gets worse every year. How could they get flipped with a ten thousand dollar lead?"


    Zhang Menglong was so angry he almost smashed the TV remote on the floor.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s making you so angry?" Hong Yi asked, approaching with a stack of documents.


    "It''s this crappy team!" Zhang Menglong spoke irritably, "Tigers in domestic fights, dogs in foreign battles!"


    "Mr. Zhang, why don''t you form your own team?" Hong Yi smiled, "Didn''t you say you wanted to create an Esports Olympics with Mr. Wang Ling?"


    "Wang Ling is already recruiting team members. He should be able to settle it by next month," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have some news that might make you even angrier."


    "In Esports, being unskilled is the original sin. What could make me angrier than this?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Someone wants to kill you!"


    "What the hell?" Zhang Menglong actually chuckled, "Which guy is bold enough to want to kill me? How much is he paying? If it''s less than a trillion US dollars, then I''m pretty annoyed."


    Although the incident in Europe had happened a long time ago, the memories were still vivid in Zhang Menglong''s mind. Ye Yin''s strength had made him almost unafraid of such things.


    Moreover, Zhang Menglong wasn''t the person he used to be. Now, his strength could probably match a Level Three mutant, and it had only been three days since he began practicing the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi internal cultivation methods.


    "It''s a person from Kaibong," Hong Yi said, "an assassin organization. However, it''s a bit different as it has some backing from official psychic organizations, sort of a peripheral agency of theirs."


    "Is it Ryuzo Ichiro?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, this is the information on the organization. You might want to look it over," Hong Yi handed the documents to Zhang Menglong.


    "A secret base in the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean, a total of 300 people, 50 regular logistics personnel, 250 enhanced human ninjas, 200 Genin with strength at around three energy units, 50 Chunin, strength four to five energy units."


    "Ryuzo Ichiro, former Chunin squad leader of the Ninja Department, Chunin strength, and about six energy units intensively," Zhang Menglong looked over the documents, getting a rough idea about the organization.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are many such organizations around the world. A part of them are civilian organizations, mostly living on the edge and the difficulty of their tasks is much higher than ordinary mercenaries or assassin organizations, typically involving assassination of key figures or inciting local wars," Hong Yi explained.


    "Another part includes national organizations or some regional groups whose individual power is relatively strong, like those people you met last time in Europe."


    "What''s their lineup like?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The other side has prepared two Chunin and ten Genin, planning to make a move on your way back to Jiangnan City tomorrow. Tonight, they will infiltrate Baodao Province using their maritime equipment," Hong Yi responded, "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to arrange someone to deal with this organization?"


    "No need, I''ll handle this matter myself," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You mean..."


    "With Ye Yin with me, aren''t you reassured?" Zhang Menglong smiled.


    "Indeed!" Hong Yi grinned and nodded. With Ye Yin around, the safety of Zhang Menglong was completely assured.


    "Always being harassed like this isn''t a solution, it''s time to hit back," Zhang Menglong revealed a mischievous smirk, "Heh, I suddenly have a naughty idea..."


    ...


    "Teacher Tony! Teacher Tony!" Zhang Menglong found a hidden spot and dashed directly into the Super God Academy.


    "Principal, what can I do for you?" Tony appeared before Zhang Menglong, radiant with excitement.


    Ever since the last time Zhang Menglong had summoned the chef prodigy and left behind some seeds and animal younglings, it had only taken a few days for the ample energy of the Super God Academy to create a bounty of cattle and sheep everywhere. His incredible culinary skills could turn various things into delicious food, and these teachers were enjoying this comfortable life for the first time.


    "Teacher Tony, lend me your armor for a bit!" recalled Zhang Menglong. Gou Dan had mentioned that, as long as he had cred points, Zhang Menglong could also take things out from the academy.


    Although he was much stronger than before, against those experienced enhanced human ninjas, he probably still lacked a bit. Having Ye Yin take action was somewhat unfulfilling, but if he borrowed an Iron Man suit for the task, wouldn''t that be thrilling?


    Using such technological weapons against mutants and enhanced humans should be like slicing through butter, right? "A human body on par with deities" wasn''t just boasting.


    "Which set of armor does the dean want to borrow? The price for each set is different!" Teacher Tony revealed a sly merchant''s smile.


    "How many cred points for that Mark 50?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "This set isn''t cheap, the rental for every minute is 10,000 cred points."


    "Damn! What a robbery!" Zhang Menglong roared. Right now, he only had 112 cred points, he couldn''t afford even a second!


    Moreover, this rent was even calculated by the minute, which was simply a bit of a scam.


    "Dean, the power of the Mark 50, with your Earth''s current science technology, could easily destroy several cities. The price isn''t considered expensive!" Tony said with a forced smile, "Plus, this was the price set by the former dean. We can''t go against it."


    "That makes sense!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "According to the movie''s plot, the Mark 50 could contend with a deity-like Thanos for several rounds, 10,000 cred points for one minute of Thanos-level combat power, this price isn''t really expensive!"


    "Is there anything cheaper?"


    "Considering the cred points you currently have, I suggest you rent the Mark 7 armor, it''s only 10 cred points per minute, 10 minutes should be enough for you to do a lot of things."


    "Mark 7, the one from Avengers 1 that handled the nuclear bomb?" Zhang Menglong remembered Mark 7 could even battle with Thor.


    "Show me the specifics!" Zhang Menglong said.


    Armor model: mark7


    Height: 1.98 meters


    Weight: 300 pounds


    Assembly: Laser-guided tracking deployment


    Maximum flight speed: Mach 40


    Ammo capacity: Micro-missiles, 30 pieces


    Weapons: Hand laser, elbow anti-equipment missile


    Usage conditions: More than three units of energy strength


    Usage cost: 10 cred points/minute


    "With my remaining cred points, even with a flight speed of Mach 30, it would take about 3 minutes to fly from the treasure island to that base. That''s 6 minutes round trip, plus 5 minutes for showing off, that should be enough!" Zhang Menglong immediately calculated in his mind.


    "Teacher Tony, I''ll take this Mark 7!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Exchange successful!"


    "Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh!"


    Several red metal parts suddenly flew down from the Stark Industries building, perfectly assembling on Zhang Menglong''s body.


    "Welcome to use the Mark 7 armor, sir. Now I will teach you the operating methods through neural-sync transmission!" Jarvis''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ears.


    "Awesome!" At this moment, Zhang Menglong''s mouth could only utter exclamations, no other words could be spoken.


    In an instant, Zhang Menglong understood all the operating methods.


    "Boom!" The armor turned into a stream of light and shot up into the sky, the thirtyfold speed of sound making Zhang Menglong''s blood surge. This was truly a man''s romance!"


    "I''m Iron Man!" Zhang Menglong shouted excitedly.


    "Jarvis, set the destination, I''m terrible with directions!" Zhang Menglong commanded.


    "Navigation set, estimated time of arrival 3 minutes 09 seconds, shall we depart immediately?"


    "Let''s go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong shot straight out of the Super God Academy window, then disappeared into the night sky amidst the faint night haze.


    "What the hell?" Ye Yin stared blankly at the streak of fire from the rooftop, "What on Earth is Mr. Zhang up to? This is really spooky!"

 Chapter 319 317: You Guessed Right, But No Prize

    "Jarvis, I won''t get shot down as a UFO while flying like this, will I?" Although the sensation of flight was incredibly exhilarating, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but worry a bit.


    "Mr. Zhang can rest assured, the Mark 7 is equipped with a very powerful anti-detection system. At least with the current level of technology on Earth, even if we are detected, nothing can be done about it, not even leaving behind an image!" Jarvis declared with utter confidence.


    "That''s good to hear!" Zhang Menglong felt much more relieved.


    Surpassing 30 times the speed of sound, Zhang Menglong quickly left the jurisdiction of Baodao Province and entered the Pacific Ocean. For ordinary humans, the immense acceleration would be enough to cause serious harm to the body, and even now, Zhang Menglong couldn''t completely ignore this strain.


    "Mr. Zhang, numerous strong life signals have been detected ahead, moving towards our direction at high speed!" About two minutes into the flight, Zhang Menglong suddenly received a warning from the artificial intelligence, Jarvis.


    "Report the details!"


    "Two entities have an energy intensity of 5 units, ten entities have an energy intensity of 3 units, estimated to intersect our path in 12 seconds!"


    "Can you send the specific images?"


    "Transferring images now!"


    A picture suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Menglong. It was an underwater vehicle with a very peculiar shape, resembling a submarine, but with a distinctly different design that greatly reduced water resistance. At least, Zhang Menglong had never seen such a fast-moving underwater vehicle before.


    Then, the image inside the vehicle was also transmitted to Zhang Menglong, where twelve individuals in distinctive black wetsuits sat quietly.


    They all wore masks over their faces, and each had a sword resembling a Tang Sword slotted behind them, all exuding that strong Kaibong aura.


    "Commence information comparison!" The veils on the faces of the twelve ninjas seemed to vanish instantly, revealing their true identities. Information collected by Hong Yi was immediately retrieved from Jarvis''s database. These twelve ninjas were the ones sent by Kaibong to assassinate him!


    "Talk about a small world!" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Perfect timing!"


    "Jarvis, begin analyzing the metal material''s strength!"


    "Analysis complete. The laser weapon carried by the Mark 7 armor can still easily cut through the material after being weakened by seawater!"


    "Technology truly is the primary productive force!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t praise enough. Wasn''t having an artificial intelligence like Jarvis too convenient?


    "Since that''s the case, I''ll take you out first, then destroy that base!"


    ...


    Inside the submersible, a few previously silent Kaibong people finally began to converse.


    "Captain, the mission given from above was just to kill a wealthy businessman. Is it necessary to dispatch two teams?"


    "Yeah, captain, a regular person with bodyguards will at best be slightly better at martial arts than the average person; I think even sending out one team is overestimating him," someone else said.


    "You''re underestimating them!" A Chunin spoke, "Although he is just a regular person, don''t forget his wealth rivals that of many nations. With enough money, you can make the devil turn the millstones, and with enough money, 99% of things in this world can be done!"


    "That''s right," another Chunin interjected coldly, "They have a powerful system that allows them to tap into human potential without relying on technology. It''s called ancient martial arts. These Ancient Martial Artists exist mostly in families and have much greater freedom than us ninjas and the American mutants."


    "When I was a Genin just like you, I encountered a wealthy man protected by an Ancient Martial Artist. I did kill him, but not without cost. And to my knowledge, that Ancient Martial Artist wasn''t even particularly formidable!"


    "There''s such a thing?" Those Genin had only heard of a special operations group called "Longxia," but they knew very little about Ancient Martial Artists.


    "These Ancient Martial Artists are not official state forces, so they must earn their own development funds. They accumulate wealth by running businesses in the secular world and also work as bodyguards for the rich. Of course, the price is terrifying, but for our target this time, money is just a number. It''s highly likely that such people are protecting him!"


    "Even if he is willing to spend a lot of money, he might even hire Psychics and Mutants from other countries!" said a Chunin. "I have studied a lot of information about this target. If he didn''t have any protective forces around him, with his ability to attract trouble, he would have been killed 10 times over by now!"


    "Beep beep beep!" Just at that moment, an alarm suddenly sounded from a device on the ship.


    "What''s going on? Is a target approaching? Have we been discovered?"


    "Impossible, our Sub-Shark is coated with the latest technology. Even our current technology can''t detect it; it''s impossible that we''ve been found. It must be a powerful energy source approaching!"


    "There''s no target showing on radar!"


    "Detector has found a powerful energy source, speed 30 Mach, shape undetectable, location undetectable, Energy Level... 12 units of Energy Intensity!"


    "What? 12 units of Energy Intensity? That''s the strength level of a Divine Ninja, how is this possible!"


    "The alarm is getting louder!"


    "No, the direction of the approach is not us, it''s our base! We just happened to run into it!"


    "Powerful energy source approaching! Intensity has risen to 15 units!"


    "Our ship..." The voice had barely finished when a red beam of light swept through the center of the whole ship. Where it passed, the metal melted, and the voice of that Ninja was abruptly cut off, as a vertical slice appeared on his body.


    "Number 2! Number 3!"


    Two Chunin shouted for their subordinates, but eight of the ten Genin were sitting in the path of that laser cut and had already completely lost their signs of life.


    By now, seawater had begun to pour in, and the ship''s reactor was showing signs of explosion.


    "Go!" The remaining four Ninjas immediately abandoned the ship. One of them created a vacuum bubble in the water, enveloping them as they instantly floated to the surface.


    "This...this is impossible!" The pupils of the four Ninjas dilated rapidly. Hovering above them was a red metal man, his palms still glowing with the afterglow of the laser.


    Iron Man, this globally popular comic book character, appeared before them. Could there be anything more absurd in the world?


    "Iron Man?"


    "Am I still dreaming?"


    "Is this real? An American?"


    "Surprised? Unexpected?" came a young voice from the armor.


    The Kaibong Ninjas looked at each other. From this armor, they felt a huge threat to their lives!


    "Correct answer, you win a prize!" Zhang Menglong said mercilessly. "The reward is to send you off to meet God!"


    A sweep of red light, and the four men didn''t even have time to react before a slash appeared on their necks, then their bodies slowly sank into the depths of the Pacific Ocean...

 Chapter 320 318 Ill leave after I tear this down

    "A bunch of nobodies, wasting five precious seconds of my life!" Zhang Menglong emotionlessly glanced over the calm ocean and continued toward the Enhanced Human Ninja base.


    Those twelve ninjas died without ever knowing who had killed them.


    "Mr. Zhang, please be aware that 80% of the hand laser energy has been consumed. Please use it sparingly!"


    "Damn, I just fired once, and it''s this lousy already?" Zhang Menglong complained.


    "Mr. Zhang, the continuous cutting action you just performed consumes energy tens of times faster than normal. Of course, if Thor could give you a smack with his hammer, your energy would be fully recharged!" Jarvis said.


    "You''re quite the joker," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. The Hammer of Thor might be a great power bank, but its usage cost could probably match that of a Mark 40 suit, right?


    "Forget it, I still have 30 micro-missiles left. It shouldn''t be a big problem to take down a puny base!"


    ...


    Deep in the Pacific Ocean lies an uninhabited island covered in green vegetation, an island bought privately over a decade ago, away from regular shipping routes.


    However, no buildings or signs of human activity can be found on the island.


    But unbeknown to anyone, beneath this island lies a massive underground space housing a very special organization.


    This underground area is divided into various zones: research, training, living, and command. Every person within these spaces emits an aura of sharpness, keeping outsiders at bay.


    In a silver building at the center resides the operational command center of the base, where ninjas on missions can contact and be monitored by the command center.


    On a monitor, life signal indicators representing more than a dozen life forms suddenly went dark, throwing the communication officer into a panic.


    "Leader, the life signals of Team Three and Team Twelve, who were dispatched to Huaxia, have disappeared!"


    "What? In what location?" the leader immediately asked.


    "Approximately 1500 kilometers from the base towards Huaxia''s Treasure Island Province!" the staff member replied, "The time interval of death... less than 0.5 seconds!"


    "What? Did they encounter someone from Longxia?"


    "I''m sorry, leader, our men left almost no information. This is their last audio transmission."


    "Play it!"


    Shhh...


    "Iron Man?"


    "Am I still dreaming?"


    "Is this real? Is it the Americans, or the Huaxia people?"


    Shhh...


    "Iron Man? What are they talking about? Were they all drunk?" the leader slammed the desk, unable to deduce anything valuable from the information.


    Did they encounter Iron Man in the ocean and get killed by him? Even if he told a schoolchild this, likely no one would believe it.


    "I''ll go find Mr. Ryuzo!" The leader immediately left the command center and headed to the nearby training area.


    "Mr. Ryuzo?" The leader knocked on the practice room''s door, but as soon as his hand touched the metal door, he felt a burning sting.


    He pressed his palm closer to the door; clearly, it had been engulfed in high heat.


    The leader knew well that their chief, Mr. Ryuzo, a Level Eight Enhanced Human, was the lab''s most successful experiment. His cells could generate extremely high temperatures, and he could even turn into a blazing flame.


    "Click!" The door automatically opened, and a wave of scorching steam emerged from the room. A muscular man with his upper body bare walked out, his skin even emitting a faint red glow.


    "What is it you need?" Mr. Ryuzo asked coldly.


    "Mr. Ryuzo, a few hours ago, the two squads we dispatched to Huaxia were lost in the Pacific Ocean; we have completely lost contact with the Sub-Shark." The team leader reported.


    "What happened?" Ryuzo''s complexion changed. Every Enhanced Human was a precious asset, and two Chunin were the backbone of this base. This was no small loss.


    "It''s unclear, everything happened too quickly. Before they died, they mentioned ''Iron Man''. I don''t understand what that means."


    "Iron Man?" Ryuzo also appeared puzzled. Was that some kind of code, or did it have some special meaning?


    "Boom!"


    Just then, the entire base violently shook, and a hole more than five meters in diameter suddenly appeared above them as a metallic figure in red and gold fiercely burst into the base.


    "Beep beep beep beep!"


    "An intruder has violently entered the base!"


    "All combat personnel immediately assemble at the central area of the base!"


    All the Enhanced Humans in the base quickly gathered in the central square, and the moment they saw the intruder, everyone froze, including Ryuzo Ichiro.


    "Mr. Ryuzo... this..." The expression on the team leader''s face was somewhat distorted.


    "This is impossible!" Ryuzo Ichiro''s face grew terribly fierce. Now he knew what the two squads meant by their last words before they lost contact ¡ª it really was fucking Iron Man!


    "More than two minutes have passed since the signal disappeared, covering a distance of 1500 kilometers. Its flying speed must be at least 30 Mach!" The command center team leader calculated the data of the armor, which made his breathing somewhat constricted.


    All the defensive weapons in the base were aimed at the silhouette hovering in the air, but nobody dared to make a move.


    "Who''s your boss?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    No one answered.


    "Whoosh!" A miniature missile shot out from the armor and landed on a building.


    "Boom!" A ball of fire instantly engulfed it, and the explosion razed the building to the ground.


    "Damn, such powerful force!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise. Judging by the power of the miniature missiles, probably only 10 would be necessary to destroy the entire base!


    "Who are you?" Ryuzo Ichiro stepped out from the crowd, his body temperature starting to rise.


    "Damn, a wild non-mainstream!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing Ryuzo Ichiro''s style.


    "Looks like you''re the boss here?" Zhang Menglong patted his armor and spoke in fluent Kaibong language, "Clearly, I''m Iron Man, don''t you know? You guys don''t have any entertainment normally, right? That''s too pitiful!"


    "Your Excellency, it appears that the members of our organization were killed by your hand? I wonder where we have offended you?" Ryuzo Ichiro said.


    "You sent people to kill within my Huaxia territory, and you still dare to ask where you have offended me?"


    Ryuzo''s complexion changed. Their operations were highly confidential; unless there was a mole, how could it be leaked?


    "Are you dispatched by Zhang Menglong?" Ryuzo didn''t understand the full extent of Longxia''s power, but he was aware of the general capabilities, and such technology, let alone in Huaxia, even America with its most advanced technology couldn''t produce it.


    The only possibility was that Zhang Menglong, a man wealthy enough to rival nations, had somehow manufactured this armor!


    At that thought, a chill ran down his spine.


    "Your Excellency, this is a special base of Kaibong. I hope you will leave immediately to avoid any unnecessary conflicts!" Ryuzo Ichiro lowered his tone, as the command center leader had told him that the energy intensity emanating from the armor was more than ten units!


    Such power had already surpassed the standards of a level nine Enhanced Human. In this base, no one could contend with such an entity!


    "Fine, I''ll dismantle this place then leave!" Zhang Menglong scoffed. "Jarvis, lock the missiles and destroy all the facilities on the island!"


    "Swoosh!" Ryuzo Ichiro''s face instantly went pale.

 Chapter 321 319 This is Just the First Step

    When the missile silos in the chest and shoulders of the Mark 7 opened for an instant, a lethal threat enveloped the entire base.


    Zhang Menglong had only a few minutes, and chatting with these people would merely waste his cred points, so he chose to take action directly!


    After Jarvis''s precise calculations, it immediately locked onto the most perfect shooting points, and dozens of missiles trailing long flames instantly flew out in all directions.


    "Bastard!" Ryuzo Ichiro was the first to rush out. With the strength of a Level Eight Enhanced Human, ordinary thermal weapons had long since lost the ability to harm him; he would even dare to withstand the force of a missile explosion head-on!


    A fierce blaze ignited on his body as he directly faced a micro-missile.


    Although it was a micro-missile, its power was unknown how many times greater than the current level on Earth, so how could it be blocked by a Level Eight Enhanced Human?


    The entire building was instantly reduced to ashes, and the massive shockwave sent Ryuzo Ichiro''s body flying.


    His body was dripping with blood; if not for his strong cell vitality and life force, the power of this explosion would have been enough to erase him from the world.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    Dozens of missiles exploded in succession, and in an instant, the whole underground base turned into a human purgatory. This base, which took years to build and cost billions of US dollars, was gone in a matter of seconds.


    "Such strong armor! Such destructive power!" A weapons expert donning a white lab coat stood dumbfounded under the protection of numerous enhanced humans as he watched Zhang Menglong, "To create such a thing, not to mention the initial investment, just the manufacturing cost must be hundreds of billions of US dollars, right?"


    "Old man''s got quite an eye," Zhang Menglong smiled at the weapons expert, "But to our boss, money''s just a number. He has hundreds of such suits of armor! This is just the first step!"


    These were the last words Ryuzo Ichiro heard before his consciousness plunged into a coma.


    "Hundreds of suits... Zhang Menglong..."


    ...


    "Mr. Ryuzo! Mr. Ryuzo!"


    When Ryuzo Ichiro woke up again, he was lying in a hospital. Thanks to his strong cell vitality, his external injuries had almost healed, but the depletion of his cells left his body extremely weak.


    He knew that the people Zhang Menglong sent were just trying to show power, not to massacre; otherwise, none of the hundreds of people in that base would likely have survived.


    "Minister!" Suddenly, Ryuzo Ichiro realized that it was none other than Minister Kuroishiwa from the Energy Department who had awakened him!


    "Mr. Ryuzo, are you alright?" Kuroishiwa asked with concern. Even for him, a Divine Ninja-level Enhanced Human deserved some respect.


    "Thank you for your concern, Minister. I''m okay, but Base Nine..." Ryuzo Ichiro felt helpless at the thought of the metal man, "I''m sorry, I was incapable, I couldn''t defend Base Nine."


    "How are the others in the base?" asked Ryuzo Ichiro.


    "Still in a coma!" replied Kuroishiwa, "After the opponent left, they dropped something similar to a shockwave bomb throughout the base. You''re the first person to wake up. Tell me, what exactly happened at Base Nine?"


    "You might not believe it, but it was all done by a Huaxia man wearing Iron Man equipment!"


    "Iron Man?" Kuroishiwa seemed skeptical, even thinking Ryuzo Ichiro''s mind wasn''t fully clear. But since Base Nine was scorched earth with nothing left, they had no way to verify any useful information.


    "I wouldn''t believe it either if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes!" Ryuzo Ichiro said, "That thing''s flying speed exceeded Mach 30, its attack energy over 12 standard energy units. Our weapons couldn''t leave any mark on his armor, and his maneuverability was extremely high, with a wide variety of weapons. It''s definitely not something any country today could achieve in terms of weaponry."


    "Was it developed by Longxia?" asked Kuroishiwa.


    In every country, these special organizations and departments are independent entities. They possess their own R&D departments, and many of their technologies are classified, like the SubShark that the dozen or so ninjas rode in, which is one such technological product.


    However, it was clear that Iron Man''s armor was many times more powerful than theirs.


    "No, it should be what the target of this operation sent out," Ryuzo Ichiro replied.


    "Zhang Menglong?" The look of shock on Kuroshi''s face was hard to hide. If that was truly the case, Zhang Menglong''s wealth could rival that of an entire country, and the armed forces he controlled could do the same!


    This was by no means the same concept! No matter how wealthy, one was powerless before the machinery of a state, but if the armed forces reached this standard, then even a country would be helpless against him!


    "12 standard energy units. Such power could even rival a Level Nine Enhanced Human!" Kuroshi said.


    "I''m afraid that''s only a very small part of the power Zhang Menglong controls!" Ryuzo Ichiro said, "Before I passed out, I heard that man say there are hundreds of such armors under Zhang Menglong''s command!"


    "What? Impossible!" Kuroshi shook his head.


    "Although I don''t know if it''s true, unless several Divine Ninjas from the Ninja Department personally take action, we won''t be able to kill him," Ryuzo Ichiro said, "And I suspect there is a mole inside our organization!"


    "What makes you say that?"


    "Our operations have always been meticulously planned, but on our way to the island province of Huaxia, in the Pacific Ocean, we were ambushed by the forces under Zhang Menglong, which means our operation plan has been exposed!"


    "Investigate!" Kuroshi ordered coldly to someone behind him.


    "Yes, Minister!"


    "Minister, there''s something I''m not sure I should say!"


    "Speak!"


    "Before, when we and the European and American raw material suppliers acted against Zhang Menglong''s companies, he didn''t bother with us. But this time, we sent people to kill him, which may have crossed his bottom line. I heard him say, ''This is only the first step.''


    "Only the first step?" Kuroshi frowned. Could it be that Zhang Menglong would take further actions?


    "You rest up, leave the rest to us!"


    "Minister," Ryuzo Ichiro said, "Perhaps stopping Zhang Menglong from importing new earth minerals was not the wisest move. So far, he''s been unscathed, while we''ve lost our natural gas and coal supplies, and now we''ve lost base number nine. Is this cost worth it?"


    Kuroshi remained silent.


    Ryuzo Ichiro sighed,


    ...


    "Damn, that''s expensive!" After destroying base number nine, Zhang Menglong immediately returned to Huaxia. Looking at his Cred Points, which were now in the single digits, Zhang Menglong suddenly felt the pinch.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you just go out? I''ve been looking for you for a long time and couldn''t find you."


    "Oh, just went out for a stroll," Zhang Menglong said casually. From the time he set out to his return, it was no more than ten minutes in total. Except for Ye Yin, no one knew he had already taken a trip to Kaibong and even destroyed one of their bases.


    "Right, what did you want to see me about?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have found all the information on the chip suppliers you asked me to look into," Hong Yi handed a document to Zhang Menglong, "What do you need these for?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled mischievously, "It is only proper to return a favor. They caused a strike at Silicon Moonlight and disrupted the stability of our company. We need to repay the gesture. I, Zhang Menglong, am not the type to take a beating lying down!"

 Chapter 322 320: The End, Zhang Menglong is Coming

    "Ah, who would have thought that our Huaxia''s five-thousand-year civilization would be so suppressed by this tiny chip that we couldn''t rise again? It''s truly lamentable," Zhang Menglong perused the list of companies.


    Apart from those developed European and American countries and Kaibong, even a tiny place like Qingqiu Country has a world-class semiconductor enterprise.


    "Mr. Zhang, this was a product of the era. Actually, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, our country''s chip technology was only five to six years behind America, and far ahead of Qingqiu Country. However, its development was completely reliant on the market, without any policy support. Plus, with foreign chips rapidly capturing the market, that led to the current situation."


    "But Qingqiu Country recognized this point in their time of backwardness and took direct national action to fund independent research, which is why they could eventually surpass us."


    "It seems that, aside from claiming other countries'' things as their own, they''re not completely useless!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do? The nature of those companies almost always involves the state, and it would be very difficult for you personally to acquire their shares. Moreover, most of their core personnel have signed non-compete agreements. If you''re thinking about poaching everyone to turn them into shell companies, I''m afraid it''s not going to be easy!"


    Zhang Menglong''s previous methods for taking down companies were rather straightforward¡ªeither buy them outright and do with them as he pleased, or poach all their key people. However, these tactics were clearly not going to work this time.


    "Who said I was going to do that," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Those companies should be surrounded by a not-so-small industrial chain, right?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "Just like Silicon Moonlight, these large tech enterprises are surrounded by numerous raw material suppliers, machinery and equipment dealers, and so on. But these enterprises are not as technologically advanced; they''re mostly labor-intensive industries or have some degree of automated production."


    A faint smile played at the corners of Zhang Menglong''s lips. Hong Yi felt a chill looking at Zhang Menglong''s expression but was certain that he must have some cunning plan in mind!


    "Qualcomm Electronics!" Zhang Menglong glanced at the materials and finally set his eyes on this particular company.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you interested in this company?" Hong Yi asked. "Founded in 1985, they''ve been involved in 3G, 4G, 5G technologies around the world, and their collaboration with Kaibong is very close. After many years of partnership, America holds a 51% stake, and Kaibong holds a 49% stake, making it one of the world''s leading communication technology companies!"


    "That''s the one!" Zhang Menglong declared. "Change the plans, we''re not going back to Jiangnan City tomorrow; we''re heading to America first!"


    ...


    "Hong Yi, who is currently managing our family''s assets in America?" On the plane, Zhang Menglong sipped his fine wine and nibbled on snacks as he suddenly became quite curious about this matter.


    "You might have heard of them; the Duber family is in charge," Hong Yi replied.


    "The Duber family? The one that started from the arms trade?" Zhang Menglong sought confirmation. The Duber family too was a family of legend, among the oldest, most mysterious, and wealthiest in America.


    "Yes, them," Hong Yi said.


    "No way? The Duber family''s assets were reported to be only 150 billion US dollars in the 1990s. It is said that the Rothschild family in Europe have assets exceeding 500 trillion US dollars! But the Rothschild family is just a minor part of the Dorellas clan. The Duber family''s assets wouldn''t even come close to a finger of the Dorellas''s, would they?"


    "Those are just online rumors," Hong Yi said seriously, "The Rothschilds'' assets are calculated based on a 6% compound interest, and in reality, they''re estimated to be around 34 trillion US dollars."


    "As for the Duber family, their actual assets probably have three more zeros."


    "150 trillion?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by the staggering number. "That''s truly astronomical. How did our family get involved with the Duber family?"


    "That''s a story from over two hundred years ago," Hong Yi said, "You know, the Duber family started from gunpowder, but in that era, it was a very dangerous business. Throughout history, the Duber family''s gunpowder factories exploded at least five or six times. The blast in 1818 wiped out their fortune, and even their founder, Yled Duber, nearly died in that explosion."


    When that explosion occurred, Zhang Menglong''s great-grandfather, Zhang Fei, was in America conducting a wine business. He lived near the Duber''s gunpowder factory, and the sky-high flames and explosion jolted him from his sleep.


    Zhang Fei had immediately stepped in to rescue Yled and his wife from the exploding factory. At the time, they were poisoned and burned all over their bodies; with the medical conditions of those days, there was absolutely no chance of survival. However, Zhang Fei used two Spirit Pills to snatch them directly back from the Grim Reaper''s grasp.


    After that incident, Yled, the founder of the Duber clan, treated Zhang Fei as a deity and was even willing to follow him for life to repay the life-saving grace.


    But Zhang Fei refused. He greatly admired for Yled''s grateful and virtuous character, so he personally financed to cover all the losses caused by the factory explosion and even guided Yled into the wine business.


    Behind several of Yled''s subsequent investments was the shadow of Zhang Fei, and they gradually became the largest business family in America. Yled always remembered the kindness of the Zhang Family, vowing to serve the Zhang Family loyally forever.


    "Who would have thought there were such stories. My predecessors really ran around the world, doing everything short of conquering it!"


    "However, in order not to expose the connection between the Duber family and the Zhang Family, the Duber family was split into two parts, operated respectively by the eldest and second sons of this generation. What outsiders see of the Duber family is just the portion managed by the second son of this term''s family head. The rest, even America can''t find out!"


    ...


    America International Airport, a convoy was waiting in the airport. Normally, outside vehicles are not allowed inside the airport!


    "Mr. Kriya, who are these people? How can they come in through the special passage?" An airport staff member who was new to the job had never seen such a scenario before.


    Under normal circumstances, only the visits of important foreign personnel to America would allow for the entry of designated vehicles to meet and greet. There had been no recent news of a visit from any significant personage to America, had there?


    "Didn''t you see that emblem?" The old staff member known as Mr. Kriya replied, "That emblem is the Clan Emblem of the Duber Family, and that''s their convoy!"


    "The Duber Family?" The new staff member was shocked. This family was as mysterious and powerful as the Rothschild family in Europe, yet a household name.


    "See the man in the suit at the head of the convoy? That''s James Duber, the next head of the Duber family. When he comes to the airport, even the president comes out to greet him. If such a personage has come in person, he must be here to welcome some important figure."


    "Who is so important that even Mr. James has been roused?" For these employees, a figure like James was as unapproachable as the president himself; they hardly had any dealings with him.


    The appearance of the Duber family at the airport to welcome an unknown figure was completely unforeseen, and for America''s media, that was absolutely big news. Upon receiving the information, hordes of media flocked there.


    They were unable to enter the airport and could only observe everything from a distance in the waiting hall.


    "Here it comes! It must be that private jet!"


    "That private jet looks like Boeing''s BBJ; the base price of the jet alone is over 80 million US dollars."


    "Huh? The writing on it... a Huaxia plane?"


    "Someone''s coming out! Quick, change the lens!"


    "That face... it looks like... Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man?"


    "What? Zhang Menglong has come to America?"


    "It''s over! America is going to be in turmoil!"


    ...

 Chapter 323 321 Mr. Zhang Today

    With the use of zoom equipment, the media were finally able to see clearly the youth who descended from the plane¡ªit was none other than Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man!


    Up to now, Zhang Menglong had visited many places, and wherever he went, turmoil seemed to follow. His ability to stir up trouble had almost made people around the world tremble with fear.


    In Qingqiu Country, he had nearly caused the entire country''s economy to collapse. In the end, the finance department sang "Conquest" live, completely disgracing the nation.


    While in Europe, he had almost allowed a group of lunatics to sweep the Champs-Elysees. He even made an investigator named Murray perform a pole dance in front of the whole world. That day was simply a nightmare for the Kingdom of Frankfurt, and the video of that pole dance still remained active on major video platforms around the world.


    He took a trip to the Province of Treasure Island in Huaxia. He directly drove away the chip suppliers, completely expelling them from the Huaxia market. Although this did not have a significant impact on Zhang''s reputation, it caused related American and European firms to lose 60% of their market share, forcing them to increase their chip exports to other countries. The indirect losses were considerable.


    Now, this scourge had come directly to America. According to the previous script, it seemed that America was about to go through yet another turbulent time!


    Currently, what all media were most concerned about was why the leader of the Duber family had personally gone to welcome Zhang Menglong. Did they have some business cooperation between them?


    However, according to their understanding, although the Duber family had some business dealings with enterprises in Huaxia, even dating back to the Qing Dynasty era, these businesses should have no relation to Zhang Menglong. So what was this all about?


    "Mr. Zhang, this gentleman is Mr. James Duber, the leader of the Duber family for this generation," Hong Yi introduced.


    "I apologize, Mr. Zhang. In such an occasion, our entire family should have come to welcome you. However, my partner and younger brother are attending to some urgent business matters, so only I have been able to come to meet you. Please forgive our discourtesy!" After saying this, James bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong at a ninety-degree angle.


    "Look! Mr. James is actually bowing to Zhang Menglong!"


    "What in the world is going on?"


    "Quick! Catch this on camera; it''s definitely going to be today''s headline news!"


    The media immediately recorded this scene.


    Although Zhang Menglong was the world''s richest man, no one ever thought he was truly invincible. The Duber family''s publicly declared assets were only 150 billion US Dollars, but no one really believed that their assets were just that much, as this figure dated back 30 years.


    In these 30 years, the Duber family had encountered nearly no setbacks in business. Under such a length of time, their assets must have increased several fold¡ªwho wouldn''t believe that?


    Even two or three years ago, the leaders of the Duber and Rothschild families had a meal together. According to some photos leaked at that time, their relationship seemed quite amiable, not at all like what one would expect between a clan leader of a family with assets worth 500 trillion US Dollars and one with 150 billion.


    Therefore, in the eyes of those in the media, the Duber family''s assets were at least on a similar level to those of Zhang Menglong.


    So far, the Duber family had grown tremendously, with an enormous number of members and businesses spanning various sectors. Meanwhile, public knowledge about Zhang Menglong indicated he was just a second-generation rich inheritor, and his family was not well-known, which also highlighted a significant gap between them.


    And now, the sight before them was James Duber of the Duber family showing such respectful behavior towards Zhang Menglong, which was quite thought-provoking.


    "Mr. James, aren''t you worried that the media will gossip about making such a grand gesture to welcome me today?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "If they start spinning stories, it might affect your business or even bring trouble from higher authorities. I''m not exactly popular right now."


    "They''re just annoying bugs," James coldly said, "and the authorities wouldn''t dare do anything to our family."


    "A long time ago, our Duber family facilitated the ''Louisiana Purchase,'' which doubled the land area of America. America didn''t have the funds to buy back that land, and now they still have to pay our Duber family a 77 billion US Dollar interest every year."


    "Goodness gracious, America owes you that much money?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, no wonder James was not worried about repercussions. With their influence in the Americas, they could practically ignore some constraints. Others were dependent on their whims, rather than the other way around.


    "Mr. Zhang, after my father and brother finish their business, they will come back home to meet you immediately. For now, I will take you to our estate," James respectfully said, "We''ve already had the chef prepare dinner. I hope your stay in America goes smoothly!"


    "Thank you for your hard work!" Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi got into the car, and the motorcade left the airport, disappearing at the end of the road.


    ...


    "World''s richest man Zhang Menglong visits America, personally welcomed by Duber family leader James Duber!"


    "James Duber bowed to Zhang Menglong in public, his attitude respectful!"


    "What exactly is Zhang Menglong aiming for with his visit to America? Our newspaper will continue to follow this story!"


    ...


    Several hours later, a flood of articles appeared online, and instantly, everyone knew that Zhang Menglong had arrived in America.


    "The head of the Duver family personally welcomed him; Mr. Zhang certainly carries a lot of clout!"


    "No idea what Mr. Zhang is here in America for this time, does any big shot have a guess?"


    "Just a few days ago, Mr. Zhang was again seen in the Silicon Moonlight in the Bao Island Province. Haven''t Europe and America stopped their supply of high-end chips and raw materials to Huaxia? I''m absolutely sure Mr. Zhang is here for that."


    "That doesn''t make sense! Mr. Zhang said he wanted to develop things independently; he only needs to import new earth minerals from Kaibong now. If he were to go anywhere, it should be Kaibong, so what is he doing in America?"


    "Whatever he is here for, I just feel it''s definitely not anything good!"


    "Hahaha, friends in America, you''re on your own now!"


    "That day, they finally remembered the fear dominated by Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    The Duver family''s mansion was extraordinarily luxurious, even four times larger than the last time at the Rothschild estate in Europe, and the whole family had an air of traditional solemnity.


    After a lavish dinner, James had his son personally escort Zhang Menglong to his room. James''s son, named Otto Duver, was a 21-year-old young man. During this time, Otto would also assist Zhang Menglong with his affairs.


    "Mr. Zhang, did your girlfriend not come with you?"


    "Oh, she has her graduate interviews soon, so I only brought my assistant," Zhang Menglong said. "Why do you ask?"


    "Just didn''t want Mr. Zhang to be lonely at night," Otto said. "If you want someone to accompany you to sleep tonight, Mr. Zhang, I can arrange it immediately."


    "No... I''m here for serious business!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang; every room in our mansion has excellent soundproofing, so you don''t have to worry about your assistant going back and telling your girlfriend," said Otto with a smirk implying ''I understand.''


    "In the drawer of your bedside table, there''s a small notebook and a phone that I''ve specially prepared for you. I won''t disturb you any longer," said Otto, turning around and closing the door behind Zhang Menglong.


    "Young people these days, really, what do they think about!" Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on the exquisite bedside table. He pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, "I''m just curious, only curious!"


    Zhang Menglong opened the bedside table, took out the small notebook, then opened the first page.


    "Special contact info for female celebrities!"


    "Top-tier female celebrities (sexy type), 28 numbers."


    "Top-tier female celebrities (pure type), 32 numbers."


    ...


    "Holy shit!" Zhang Menglong quickly stuffed the notebook back in the drawer. "These foreigners sure know how to have fun..."

 Chapter 324 322 Im Here to Give Everyone Money

    Flipping through that thick stack of female celebrities'' contact details, Zhang Menglong saw several women who were worshiped as goddesses, even including Kristen, whom he had met once before in Europe.


    The phone number was very special¡ªthis number represented the entire Duber family. Calls made from it to these actresses were like imperial decrees.


    Of course, they could choose to ignore the calls, but the consequences would likely be dire. Being subtly tormented or even blacklisted within the industry are just the basic repercussions.


    "Focus on martial arts and cultivation, not women!" Zhang Menglong suppressed those thoughts in just a few breaths. "Isn''t practicing the ''Three Elements Unite'' mental method for a night more fragrant?"


    ...


    A night of cultivation not only made Zhang Menglong feel refreshed, but it also slightly improved his physical fitness. After washing up, he stepped out of his room, ready to start stirring things up today.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you sleep well last night?" Otto asked with a sly, fawning smile. It was clear he didn''t think Zhang Menglong could resist the allure of those voluptuous and beautiful actresses.


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes. Otto was the typical rich second-generation¡ªuneducated, with only money and women on his mind. Still, as long as he didn''t do anything too outrageous, Zhang Menglong couldn''t be bothered to meddle in Duber family affairs.


    "Mr. Zhang, my father has instructed that during your stay in America, I can mobilize any resources to assist you with your affairs," Otto said, excited.


    As a core member of the Duber family, he naturally knew more about how vast the family''s resources were than outsiders. But such authority rested in the hands of his grandfather, father, and uncles. Their generation wasn''t qualified to meddle with it.


    However, this time with Zhang Menglong coming to America, someone needed to accompany him. At the same time, the family''s business couldn''t be neglected. So, after some discussions, James handed over authority to Otto, marking the first time he had such significant power!


    Within the family''s resources, including connections, money, and even that mysterious guard team, Otto could now use them unconditionally and limitlessly, as long as he reported to his father.


    Of course, this was also a test from James for Otto, given that the family''s assets would inevitably be handed over to Otto''s generation eventually.


    "Then follow me during this time," Zhang Menglong declared. Otto clearly was a joker¡ªhaving such a cheerful presence around could make the trip to America more interesting.


    "That''s great!" Although Otto wasn''t very familiar with Zhang Menglong, his father and grandfather had always said that each generation of the Zhang Family was exceptionally talented. By following them, one could learn many useful things. They had repeatedly emphasized this: if there was a chance to stay by Zhang Menglong''s side, he must listen and learn earnestly.


    "Following Mr. Zhang, I''m sure I can learn a lot!"


    "This kid got on the thief''s ship without even realizing it!" Hong Yi muttered under his breath. Following Zhang Menglong indeed taught a lot, such as being sly, shameless, spouting nonsensical talk, and wielding money as power.


    "Mr. Zhang, where to? I will immediately arrange a driver for you."


    Zhang Menglong already had a plan, and he grandly declared, "To Silicon Valley Town!"


    Silicon Valley Town, located in the western part of America, was an internet information hub. There, centered around Qualcomm Electronics'' headquarters, hundreds of large factories had been established, forming a highly representative industrial cluster.


    "Sure, I''ll notify the pilot and driver right away!" Although Otto didn''t understand why Zhang Menglong wanted to go to such a backwater industrial area, the family elders had repeated one instruction: never question Mr. Zhang''s actions.


    "Do you have industries there?"


    "Yes," Otto responded. Although he was a spoiled heir, he knew somewhat about the family''s industries. "We have 42 factories there, involved in machinery assembly, parts production, metal smelting, raw material supply, and so on. The scale is about 80 billion US dollars."


    "The information online is really deceiving," Zhang Menglong chuckled. The Duber family''s assets are only 150 billion US dollars? Just in one industrial town, their assets are close to 100 billion US dollars!


    "Which is the biggest company?"


    "Bona Communications, mainly dealing with mechanical components. The primary partner is Qualcomm Electronics," Otto replied immediately.


    "Good, let''s go there," Zhang Menglong said. "Is there a way to gather the owners of those factories?"


    "It might be a bit difficult since not all owners are in their factories," Otto explained. "But out of more than 700 factories, I should have no problem bringing together four to five hundred company owners. We Duber family definitely have that kind of clout."


    "Summon all the bosses to Bona Communications, I have made other arrangements."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it will take us about two hours to get there from here, and by that time, we guarantee they will already be waiting for you there!"


    ...


    The private plane of the Duber family landed at an airport in the western part of America, and the cars on standby immediately took them to the Silicon Valley town, a symbol of Western civilization.


    Although it was an industrial area, after decades of development, it was nothing like a typical industrial zone but had evolved into a fully-fledged modern technology innovation area, even comparable to some of Huaxia''s quasi-first-tier cities.


    "Who would have thought it could be so prosperous here!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed.


    "Actually, five years ago, this place was just a rundown industrial town!" Otto said. "Previously, these places were labor-intensive industries with a workforce mainly of low educational background, who had little to no demands on quality of life. But as automation increased, it gradually attracted many high-tech talents. How could they, accustomed to living in big cities, endure such an environment?"


    "Then what happened?"


    "A large-scale human rights movement erupted, with workers striking en masse," Otto continued, "Then the local government couldn''t withstand the pressure, and not wanting to lose the economic benefits generated by this area, they had no choice but to attract large investments, building supermarkets, cinemas, schools, amusement parks, and other facilities, and that''s how it developed into what we see today."


    "Geez, true to a nation that venerates human rights. If this were in our Huaxia, if you don''t want to work, someone else will. Forget about striking; they could dock your salary just for taking a paid bathroom break!" Zhang Menglong said, his tone a mix of mockery and praise.


    ...


    At Bona Communications, hundreds of corporate executives and bosses were gathered in a large plaza. Just over an hour ago, they all received an invitation from the chairman of Bona Communications.


    If it had been a regular chairman of any company, they wouldn''t have cared, but everyone in this area knew that it was the rising Duber family that controlled Bona Communications. An invitation from the Duber family¡ªwho would dare to slight them?


    Even if some bosses were unavailable, they still sent their confidants; unless they truly had no trustworthy people to send, over 500 of the more than 700 invited companies were present!


    "Everyone, do you know why the people of the Duber family have gathered us all here?"


    "Who knows? It seems like everyone got the notice at the last minute. I was supposed to go on a business trip to Europe today and even had to cancel my flight!"


    "We can''t afford to offend them, with their large family and massive business."


    ...


    "They''re here, they''re here!" As everyone was chattering away, a group of people walked in.


    "That''s the chairman of Bona Communications!"


    "Who are those young people in front of him? Why is the chairman of Bona Communications so respectful to them?"


    "I don''t know, they might be members of the Duber family. Hmm? And there are also people from Huaxia?"


    "That... Isn''t that the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong?"


    "What''s he doing here?"


    ...


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Zhang Menglong approached the crowd.


    "You must all be curious why you were invited here today, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "I won''t beat around the bush. Today, I''m here to give you money!"

 Chapter 325 323 I Am Very Vindictive

    "Ah?"


    "Giving away money? What does that mean? Are they going to invest in us?"


    "Is there really such good fortune?"


    Many business owners and executives were suddenly all abuzz. Could there really be such pie-in-the-sky opportunities in the world?


    Most of these 500-plus companies weren''t very large, so even an investment of tens of millions of US dollars would be of significant help to them.


    Although most people didn''t know much about Zhang Menglong, it was said that whenever he spent money, he did so in units of billions. If Zhang Menglong was really willing to invest, it would be an absolute godsend for them!


    Some people knew that Zhang Menglong had come to America; could it be that he was here this time to make investments?


    In capitalist countries, whoever has the money is the boss. They couldn''t care less about what Zhang Menglong wanted to do; as long as it didn''t affect their money-making, he could do whatever he pleased. And if he could help them earn money, they''d welcome him with open arms and treat him like the God of Wealth himself!


    Not only them, but even Hong Yi and Otto had their faces full of question marks, completely unaware of what Zhang Menglong intended to do.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that? We don''t quite understand!"


    "Your question is a good one," Zhang Menglong needed someone to take the initiative to ask, "May I know how to address this business owner?"


    "Just call me Old Jason, I''m the owner of a car parts factory," the first business owner to ask a question replied.


    "Would it be possible to disclose the assets of your company?"


    "Of course," Old Jason replied with a hearty laugh. Even if he didn''t say, with the Du bo family''s capabilities, finding out such information would be a piece of cake. Their assets were nothing compared to even the decimal points of the others'' wealth, so there was nothing to hide, "My company''s assets are about 24 million US dollars!"


    "Very good," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "To thank Mr. Jason for asking the key question, I am willing to inject 30 million US dollars into your company!"


    "Otto, arrange the transfer!" Zhang Menglong turned and said to Otto.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Otto approached Old Jason, "Mr. Jason, please provide your company''s account details!"


    The sudden surprise left Old Jason with a somewhat stiff expression. He had long wanted to expand his business scale, but due to financial pressures, he hadn''t been able to make a move. This money was enough for him to take more orders and expand his company''s business by two or three times!


    He reported his company''s account number with a trembling voice, and in less than a minute, he received a text message from the bank.


    The crowd immediately erupted into a frenzy. Nothing had been explained yet, and here was 30 million US dollars being thrown at an unknown company on the spot. Was Zhang Menglong really so rich that he was at odds with money?


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a question!"


    "Mr. Zhang! I have a question too!"


    Asking questions seemed to bring investment, and the business owners went crazy one by one.


    "Everyone, please calm down!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Since I''ve invited you all here, naturally everyone will get a share, but I have one condition!"


    "Please tell us, Mr. Zhang. As long as it''s within our capabilities, we will definitely satisfy you!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, most of the town''s business owners are here. Even if it''s beyond our reach, we''ll find a way to fulfill it for you!"


    "My requirement is very simple!" Zhang Menglong continued, "The money I invest in your companies, you must take half to give your employees a raise, with an increase of no less than one hundred percent, until this portion of the money is used up! Employees who have left other companies to join do not qualify!"


    "With the remaining money, if you make a profit, I only want 50% of the profits. If there is a loss, I don''t want a single penny back!"


    "That''s it?"


    The request was strange, but not very difficult to fulfill. Although half the investment would be lost, this investment was all in cash!


    Take old Jason''s company, for example, they spent 15 million US Dollars giving their employees a raise, but the remaining 15 million US Dollars exceeded their company''s working capital, it was at most a smaller profit.


    Although he had to share 50% of the profits with Zhang Menglong, Zhang said it was only 50% of the returns brought about by his investment, which was entirely profit! And if there were losses, he wouldn''t need to ask for a single penny back!


    In other words, this money was almost no different from something gained for free; they didn''t need to pay any price at all. Not to take this deal would be foolish!


    "If everyone has no objections, just sign on this agreement," Zhang Menglong said as he distributed the prepared agreements he had printed out.


    "No problem, I''ll sign!" The bosses scrutinized the document one by one, and after making sure there were no traps, they decisively signed their names.


    For every enterprise, Zhang Menglong ensured that the investment was no less than the assets of the company. With more than 500 enterprises ranging from several million to over a hundred million US Dollars in assets, Zhang Menglong gave away only 20 billion US Dollars in total.


    20 billion US Dollars in cash flow, this sum appeared astronomical to those businessmen, but for the entire Duber family assets, it was merely a drop in the bucket.


    The businessmen left one by one, brimming with joy. The first thing they did when they returned was to double the workers'' wages in accordance with the agreement!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, what exactly are you doing this for?" Otto finally couldn''t contain his curiosity after all the bosses had left.


    "Otto, if you were an employee of a company and the employees of other companies around you, doing work with lower technical content, yet earning higher salaries than you, what would you do?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course, I''d be angry!" Otto replied without hesitation, "They don''t generate as much value as I do, why should they earn a higher salary? If it were me, I''d switch jobs!"


    "But what if you can''t switch or don''t get a raise even if you do?"


    "Then I''d protest! Strike!"


    "Wait a minute!" Otto suddenly seemed to realize something.


    Before Zhang Menglong''s arrival, his father had told him that Zhang Menglong was probably here to settle personal scores, and his target was likely the chip suppliers in Europe and America.


    In this Silicon Valley town, resided one of the world''s largest telecommunications companies, Qualcomm Electronics!


    At Qualcomm Electronics, the number of workers and engineers accounted for over 80% of the entire company''s workforce, and their average salary was about 4,500 to 5,000 US Dollars a month, whereas the surrounding enterprises had an average salary of about 3,000 to 3,500 US Dollars a month¡ªthere was a considerable gap in wage levels.


    With Zhang Menglong''s move, the wages of employees at those companies doubled, even surpassing Qualcomm Electronics'' employees, yet they were doing the same work as before. Would they be willing to accept it?


    He understood, he understood it all!


    Zhang Menglong''s 20 billion US Dollars was not about idle investment; it was aimed to bring down Qualcomm Electronics!


    Wait until a few days later when the workers at Qualcomm Electronics learn of this, they''d surely feel discontent. With just a little maneuvering, in this land of the free, Zhang Menglong could create quite a stir!


    "Mr. Zhang, given your personality, are you really content with helping these Americans make money with these 20 billion?" Hong Yi couldn''t help but ask.


    "No worries, the cost is passed on to the consumers!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "When our chips are ready, if they want to buy, we''ll charge them double the already doubled price. It''s up to them to take it or leave it!"


    Hong Yi showed an expression that said it all made sense now. Zhang Menglong didn''t care about spending money domestically, but when it came to spending abroad, he was more of a miser than the God of Wealth himself!


    "Otto, do you have a way to contact the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union or the higher-ups?"


    "Of course, what do you want to do?"


    "Help me set up a meeting. I want to discuss a deal with them, a deal that could guarantee a life of luxury for generations!"


    Zhang Menglong, with hands clasped behind his back, walked out of the hall, "I, Zhang Menglong, am someone who holds very strong grudges!"

 Chapter 326 324: Lets Talk About an Eight-Digit Deal

    Bernas had originally been an ordinary engineer at Qualcomm Electronics. He was 35 years old this year and had joined the company after graduating from college. However, due to his average technical skills and abilities, his rank had never advanced beyond that of a mid-level engineer.


    But over the decades, as others came and went, he remained, for a variety of reasons.


    While he wasn''t skilled at flattering and currying favor, he found a sense of superiority among the junior engineers and assembly line workers and, to his surprise, actually managed to become quite close with them.


    When the Qualcomm Electronics workers'' union was formed, he received the support of the majority of the workers and became the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union!


    In many capitalist countries, companies have labor unions. These unions are not established by the companies themselves but are spontaneously organized by the employees and are not directly managed by the company.


    The purpose of a labor union is to fight for the rights and benefits of the employees, and nowadays, many large enterprises in Huaxia are gradually seeing the emergence of such organizations as well.


    As the President of the union, Bernas not only had an additional income but also held a status in the company that was no less than that of some senior engineers and executives. Representing the interests of 80% of the company''s employees, his words carried a lot of weight among the workers, and even the leaders did not dare to offend him lightly.


    With this role, Bernas led a rather comfortable life at the company.


    But one day, he received an anonymous call. Someone had made an appointment to meet him at Mogate Bar that evening and requested that he come alone, without bringing anyone. Moreover, the caller emphasized it was a good thing!


    Bernas''s life was already quite good, but human desires are endless. Besides, the meeting place was a bar bustling with people; he had no concerns about foul play or ulterior motives from the other party.


    With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, he arrived at Mogate Bar as agreed.


    "Excuse me, are you Mr. Bernas?" As soon as he pushed open the door of the bar, a bartender approached him to ask.


    Bernas nodded,


    "Right this way, please. A guest has been waiting for you for a long time," the bartender led Bernas to a private booth by the window, where a young stranger was seated.


    "Thank you for your trouble, you may go now," the young man pulled out a stack of bills and placed them on the menu.


    Bernas twitched at the corner of his eye. The stack of bills must have amounted to at least several dozen. Although Mogate Bar was the finest in town, its prices were only mid-range; the largest tips were usually only a few tens of US dollars, rarely exceeding 100 dollars.


    Yet this young man had casually given away thousands of dollars, his largesse was breathtaking!


    His gaze quickly swept over the young man''s attire, which bore no logos, but both the materials and the craftsmanship were exquisite.


    "No need to look any further; my clothes are custom-made," the youth said with a smile, "Please, take a seat!"


    Facing such a profound presence, Bernas instinctively obeyed the young man''s command and sat down, "Sir, were you the one who had someone call me?"


    "You are Bernas, the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union, right?"


    "Yes," Bernas nodded.


    "Let me introduce myself," the young man sipped the red wine before him, "My name is Otto Duber. You might not know me, but you must have heard of my father; his name is James Duber!"


    "Whoosh!" As soon as Bernas heard that name, he stood up impulsively, shock written all over his face.


    "You... You are the son of the Duber family?" No wonder his gestures were so generous; to the whole of America, the Duber surname almost sounded like royalty!


    "Mr. Otto, what do you need me for..."


    "My master wants to meet you," Otto said.


    "Your master?" Bernas''s brain started racing. Was it his father? Or his grandfather? Or another core member of the Duber family?


    But why seek him out? He''s just an ordinary engineer, albeit with a slight position at Qualcomm Electronics, but if the higher-ups truly wanted to deal with him, his role as the union president wouldn''t much matter¡ªafter all, no matter how supportive the employees are, they''re still wage earners who need to eat.


    And in front of the Duber family, he was as insignificant as an ant, what could he possibly do to draw the Duber family''s attention?


    "The call should have made it clear, my husband has a business deal he wants to discuss with you, if it goes well, you could earn at least an eight-figure reward!"


    "Eight figures?" Breina''s eyes bulged roundly, that''s at least ten million US dollars! He couldn''t earn that much in a lifetime without eating or drinking!


    "Interested? If you are, come with me!" After saying that, Otto stood up and headed for the second floor of the bar.


    The second floor of the bar consisted of private rooms offering great privacy, but of course, the security was much less¡ªwhich meant that if the Duber family wanted to do something to him there, it would go unnoticed.


    But thinking it over, he was just an ordinary person, and even if it meant offending the Duber family, he didn''t have the capability for such an act. Fortune favors the bold¡ªlet''s gamble!


    He mustered his courage and walked into one of the private rooms on the second floor, where, apart from Otto, there was also an East Asian young man about Otto''s age.


    Was this the "Mr." that the young master of the Duber family had mentioned? But he seemed too young, didn''t he?


    "Mr. Breina, please take a seat!" Zhang Menglong pointed to the seat in front of him, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "You''re Zhang Menglong?" Breina sprang up from his seat.


    Zhongtong Electronics had been one of the upstream companies for Silicon Moonlight; they produced Crystal Chips that were sent to Silicon Moonlight for packaging and testing. He also knew that the current richest man in the world, Zhang Menglong, had acquired Silicon Moonlight and even ousted several American shareholders.


    These shareholders were actually the executives of Zhongtong Electronics!


    If a direct relationship were to be drawn, Zhang Menglong and Zhongtong Electronics were absolutely on opposing sides! How could there be anything good from him reaching out today?


    "Don''t panic," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "if I have a grudge, it''s only with Zhongtong Electronics. What are you worried about?"


    "That''s true!" Breina calmed down a little.


    "So Mr. Zhang, why approach me..."


    "Not long ago, several executives from your Zhongtong Electronics colluded with Kaibong people to cause trouble at my company, instigating employees at Silicon Moonlight to strike, and reported supposed fire hazards and tax loopholes," Zhang Menglong listed one aggravation after another, "these things have irked me, so I''m planning to retaliate!"


    Although Breina didn''t say anything, he was mentally bashing Zhang Menglong thoroughly.


    You''re the richest man in the world, why be so petty? You want retaliation for every negative against you? Are you still in kindergarten? Only children are that vengeful!


    But then he suddenly remembered what Otto had said before, that Zhang Menglong wanted to discuss a business deal with him, and if it worked out, he could earn millions of US dollars!


    "What do you want me to do, Mr. Zhang?" Breina asked.


    "Aren''t you the president of the union? I assume you have some clout among the workers, right?"


    Breina''s eyes lit up; Zhang Menglong was recognizing his influence among the workers! He knew that Zhang Menglong must want him to use his clout to do something.


    Though the target was his own company, if the money was right, what can''t be done? Ten million dollars was more than he could ever earn in his lifetime; if this deal went through, he could live comfortably without working a day more in his life!


    "At Qualcomm Electronics, I was elected union president with over eighty percent of worker votes," Breina immediately showed his worth, "Mr. Zhang, what do you need me to do for you?"


    "Simple, I want you to lead your workers in a massive strike!"

 Chapter 327 325: Let Them Go on a Paid Strike

    "Mr. Zhang, you''re putting me in a difficult position," Berenas said with a troubled expression. "Although I hold some influence among the workers, the matter of striking isn''t something I can just declare on my own!"


    If the employees really went on strike, then they would inevitably receive no compensation at all. Everyone needs to support their families, and without an income, how would they survive?


    Moreover, without any good reason, he couldn''t prompt the company''s employees to strike. The company provided excellent benefits and the workload was moderate; at least the employees were very satisfied with the overall situation at the company.


    If he were to lead a strike under these circumstances, the workers would probably ignore him entirely. Even worse, if this reached the higher-ups, he would be the first to be fired. Then he wouldn''t be able to talk about being the president of the union, he might even lose his job!


    "Of course, I certainly wouldn''t ask you to do such a thing without good reason," Zhang Menglong pulled out a stack of contracts and placed them in front of Berenas, "These are the strategic investment agreements I''ve signed with several hundred companies in Silicon Valley Town. You can take a look."


    "Investment agreements?" Berenas picked up a document curiously.


    "Employee salary increases must not be less than 100%!" Berenas''s eyes widened; Zhang Menglong not only invested a significant amount in those companies but even set conditions for increasing employee wages. Was this his preparation?


    "Now, do you see a way forward?" Zhang Menglong smiled.


    "Yes! Of course, there is!" Berenas was suddenly excited.


    What kind of people were they employing in their company? The management came from top universities, and the engineers were highly experienced. Even the assembly line workers had been strictly selected.


    Qualcomm Electronics was undoubtedly the best company in Silicon Valley Town, with the best treatment and brightest future prospects. Nearly everyone was desperate to join this company.


    But Zhang Menglong had doubled the treatment of other companies'' employees! Ordinary workers were earning salaries higher than Qualcomm Electronics engineers; who the hell could tolerate that?


    Did they want to switch jobs? They could! But Zhang Menglong''s contract specified that employees who switched jobs would not receive salary increases.


    That meant, even if Qualcomm Electronics'' employees wanted to seek other opportunities, there was no way they could, unless they left Silicon Valley Town. If they wanted to make a living, they would have to stay at Qualcomm Electronics.


    Even if Berenas didn''t instigate it, when the whole workforce learned of this news, they would probably be outraged. Using his influence and prestige among the workers, he was confident that he could motivate at least fifty percent of them to strike in protest.


    Berenas voiced his confidence, expecting Zhang Menglong to be pleased, but Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "50%? That''s not enough! I need at least 80% of them to strike!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s unrealistic!" Berenas analyzed, "Even if the company''s treatment causes dissatisfaction among the employees, most of them are aged 30 to 35¡ªthey have elderly parents and young children to support. This is the age when they need money the most. They need income, and even if the salaries are low, they will keep working!"


    "That''s true!" Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment. When people are in dire straits, as long as they have an income, no matter how tough, tiring, or unfair the conditions, they will endure it; not everyone has the courage to break the pot and strike.


    If the company''s upper management conceded to raise wages due to pressure, then that would be one thing; but if the strike failed and the managers didn''t compromise, they wouldn''t only lose the income from the strike period but also fail to maintain their own rights.


    The most critical point is that those companies could afford such high salaries because Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man, was manipulating things behind the scenes; this money was basically free, and they didn''t care at all about raising wages.


    But it was different for Qualcomm Electronics; if they also doubled employee salaries, it would be a huge cost, a loss the entire company might not be able to bear.


    If it dragged on for a month or two, even if the company could afford it, the employees might not.


    "Does your union have a union fund?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes!" Berenas answered, "The union''s funds come from dividends from the company''s annual revenue. We use it to purchase gifts for employees on special holidays or to reward employees who make outstanding contributions to the company."


    "Give me the account number!"


    Berenas immediately rattled off a string of numbers. Due to the employees'' support, he had always managed this fund.


    "Otto, restrict this account to transferring 100 million US dollars!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    A moment later, Berlainas received a text from the bank, confirming the account had indeed received a huge sum of 100 million US dollars!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you...?"


    "Aren''t they worried about losing their source of income?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Well, if we let them strike with pay, there won''t be any problems, right?"


    "Paid strike!" I''ve heard of getting paid to poop, but never a paid strike.


    "For employees willing to participate in the strike, I will compensate them with their full monthly salary, and even double it as a bonus. I have only one requirement: the scale of this strike must be large, and it must last a long time!"


    "With your word, I am confident that over 90% of the people will go on strike!"


    Not only not needing to work, but also receiving double the salary¡ªwho wouldn''t want such a deal!


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "from today, I will deposit 100 million US dollars into this account every month. After the strike ends, whatever money remains in this account will be your bonus!"


    "Really!?" Berlainas seemed to have heard the most beautiful language in the world.


    The account holds 100 million US dollars!


    The union has about 7,000 members, each with an average income of about 5,000 US dollars. Even with a double bonus, it averages 10,000 US dollars per person.


    Even if all employees join the strike, it would only amount to 70 million US dollars a month, and he could earn 30 million US dollars a month! Just this amount of money alone was enough for him to squander indefinitely.


    If the strike goes on for several more months, then...


    "What I, Zhang Menglong, have said, will never be taken back!"


    "Good! Mr. Zhang, then I wish us a fruitful cooperation!"


    ...


    To prevent Berlainas from doing anything unpredictable, Zhang Menglong had Ye Yin quietly install a tiny listening device in Berlainas'' pocket. This listening device, the size of a grain of rice, was developed by one of Zhang Menglong''s scientific research institutions and could cover a radius of 10 kilometers with its signal!


    With this listening device, Zhang Menglong would monitor Berlainas'' every move!


    After leaving, Berlainas did not return to his company dormitory but continued to stay at the bar.


    He immediately contacted several other members of the Qualcomm Electronics union, and soon, five or six people gathered in a private room of the bar.


    "Berlainas, it''s so late, what do you need us for?" a tall black man asked.


    "Did you strike it rich?" another union member said, "The basic consumption in this bar''s private room costs thousands of dollars, you didn''t win the lottery and are treating us to drinks, did you?"


    ...


    "Everyone quiet down and listen to me!" Berlainas put on a serious expression, "The jackpot I hit this time is even bigger than the lottery!"

 Chapter 328 326: As the President, Its My Duty

    "Bigger than the lottery? What do you mean?" Everyone''s interest was piqued instantly.


    "Our company must have offended someone!" Berenice said.


    "What?"


    "Offended who?"


    "Is it serious?"


    For these workers, their job was their only means of providing for their families. If the company suffered a setback because it had offended someone, the impact on them would be enormous.


    "We''ve offended the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!" Berenice said, "None of you can let this slip, I called you here first because I trust you!"


    "Zhang Menglong? That Huaxia guy?"


    The group immediately lowered their voices. They were not unfamiliar with the name; it had appeared in the media just a few days ago, even capturing photos of his meeting with the Duber family, America''s most powerful clan, who treated him with great respect.


    "You may not know this, but Mr. Zhang Menglong isn''t just the world''s richest man; he''s also the chairman of Silicon Moonlight!" Berenice said.


    "He''s the chairman of Silicon Moonlight?"


    "No wonder!"


    "Could it be that he''s come to America this time to deal with us at Qualcomm Electronics?"


    As employees of Qualcomm Electronics, they might not understand some internal logics, but it was common knowledge within Qualcomm that one of its directors had tried to force Silicon Moonlight to stop selling high-end chips to Huaxia''s interior.


    It was said that the director was humiliated by Zhang Menglong and kicked out of Silicon Moonlight''s board of directors.


    The conflict between Qualcomm Electronics and Silicon Moonlight could almost be described as irreconcilable!


    If it were the Silicon Moonlight of the past, that would be one thing; after all, they couldn''t produce Crystal Chips themselves, and without the supply from Qualcomm Electronics, the company was practically doomed, so a broken relationship wouldn''t matter.


    But with Zhang Menglong taking over as chairman of Silicon Moonlight and even claiming that he would conduct his own R&D, it was a completely different story. Anyone in the world who knew of Zhang Menglong was aware how rich he was, a sum that remains unknown to this day!


    "That''s right, he''s come to deal with Qualcomm Electronics!" Berenice said, "But this is an opportunity for us!"


    "Our opportunity?"


    "Exactly!" Berenice said, "Mr. Zhang Menglong just approached me, hoping I could help him with a task."


    Berenice roughly recounted his recent conversation with Zhang Menglong, of course, deliberately omitting some details about the compensation.


    "He''s ruthless!"


    "In Huaxia''s words, it''s like killing a thousand enemies and harming ourselves by eight hundred!"


    "That''s only how it seems to you," Berenice said, "To Mr. Zhang, twenty billion US Dollars might not even count as a drizzle. Mr. Zhang cares only for results, not money!"


    "So, you''re saying, we just need to incite a workers'' strike to threaten the company''s top brass, to make some concessions to Mr. Zhang, is that it?"


    "Once it''s done, each of you will receive a reward of one million US Dollars!" Berenice said, "And Mr. Zhang promises that if Qualcomm falls, he''ll help us find other jobs, with no less compensation than we have now!"


    "One million US Dollars?" Everyone was ecstatic. With that money, they could even consider retiring on the spot!


    "I''m in!"


    "With a deal this good, only a fool would pass it up!"


    "I''ve long wanted to quit working for these vampires!"


    "Alright, then tomorrow we will..."


    ...


    "Duke, have you heard? The engineers at Crystal Mechanics got a raise recently!"


    "Really? How much did it increase?" asked an engineer named Duke nonchalantly. In their eyes, those small companies around them couldn''t possibly raise their wages to the level of Qualcomm Electronics, no matter how much they increased. And this Kla Machinery was just a small company with a scale of a few million US dollars.


    "It doubled, the salary for engineers went up to 4000 US Dollars!"


    "What? 4000 US Dollars? How is that possible?"


    "I also thought it was impossible at first, but I have a friend who works there. He told me that they did indeed raise the salaries!"


    "Bang!" After speaking, he slammed his fist hard on the table, "It seems our company''s boss is really tight-fisted. I''ve been an engineer here for ten years, and my salary is just 4000 US Dollars!"


    Although Duke was still looking down and working on his own stuff, it was obvious that his expression had changed!


    The engineer who was spreading the news sneaked a glance at Duke''s expression and then revealed a sly smile. He was one of the union members who went to meet with Brenner yesterday!


    However, this was only the beginning of the spread of the news...


    "What? The production line engineers at Sidac Electronics got their salaries raised to 5000 US Dollars? That''s on the same level as our mid-level engineers!"


    "The salary increase at Onic Communications is even more outrageous! Their assembly line workers'' salaries have gone up to 4000 US Dollars, mid-level engineers to 6000 US Dollars, and senior engineers have reached 8000 US Dollars!"


    "Why? Why are the assembly line workers'' salaries higher than our engineers''?"


    The next morning, a piece of gossip gradually spread among the employees, and naturally, Brenner was the one who spread it.


    But seeing is believing, most people thought the reliability of this news wasn''t high, so they didn''t pay too much attention to it.


    However, in the workforce, there are always some people who delve into matters too deeply, and some of them started inquiring about the salary and benefits of nearby enterprises through their own connections.


    And to their astonishment, the results they got were exactly the same as those being circulated within the company!


    The employees of Qualcomm Electronics, doing some of the highest content work and creating the most profit for the company, were receiving the lowest wages in the whole town!


    Instantly, the crowd was seething with anger!


    "No way!" A union member suddenly put down his work, "Why should we endure such exploitation? We should demand a raise from the company!"


    Everyone was thinking the same thing in their hearts, but as an old Chinese saying goes: the gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out, and no one wanted to be that bird.


    But when the first person voiced their inner thoughts, the others quickly let go of their caution.


    "That''s right! We have to uphold our rights! Why should we put up with this kind of injustice?"


    "A friend and I came to Silicon Valley Town together, I went through several rounds of interviews to get this job, working overtime almost every day, while he just took an ordinary job, leaving on time every day, and now he makes 1000 more US Dollars a month than I do! Why?"


    "The company must have faked their profits! All that money must have gone to the shareholders!"


    "We need to protest against the company!"


    "Exactly! We can''t be submissive lambs, or else the company''s exploitation of us will only get worse."


    "We need a representative to negotiate with the company on our behalf!"


    "Who''s willing to go?"


    "Don''t we have a union? Let the union people do it!"


    Suddenly, dozens of eyes focused on Brenner, who was silently working among the crowd.


    "Brenner, you''re the President of the Qualcomm Electronics Union, you should represent us and talk to the company!"


    "That''s right! We all support you! With us behind you, the company wouldn''t dare do anything to you. You just need to speak out for all of us!"


    Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Brenner revealed a profound smile, but he quickly suppressed it.


    With an exceedingly noble tone, Brenner said, "Since everyone trusts me, as the President, it is my duty!"

 Chapter 329 327 Hey, everyones here

    The boardroom at Qualcomm Electronics was buzzing as shareholders gathered to review the work summary of the previous year.


    Beyond the state-owned portion, the remaining shares of Qualcomm Electronics were split among 12 major shareholders, with the chairman holding 8.74% of the stock, making him the individual with the highest private ownership in the company.


    The second-largest shareholder controlled 7.88% of the shares, granting these two shareholders the most influential voices at Qualcomm Electronics.


    The chairman, named Mobai, was a quintessential American who made his fortune in the cable business and now had assets nearing ten billion.


    The second largest shareholder was a Kaibong native named Ye Zhizetian, who graduated from Kyoto University in Kaibong. Since his university days, he had been a prominent figure and had single-handedly founded a chip design company.


    Mobai and Ye Zhizetian met at an international conference, where Ye Zhizetian had given an industry-sharing presentation that resonated profoundly with Mobai''s own forward-thinking ideas!


    Afterward, both sold their shares in their companies to form a partnership that created Qualcomm Electronics. With decades of development, the company had reached its current standing. Within the company, Mobai and Ye Zhizetian commanded immense respect, and even the state sometimes deferred to their opinions and judgments.


    "This year, due to the gloabl pandemic, our production growth rate has slightly slowed down. However, compared to the same period last year, there is still a 5% increase, and this is the result of the hard work of all shareholders and our entire company!" said Mobai, smartly dressed, as he chaired the shareholder meeting.


    "Chairman, after we gave up on a part of the Huaxia market, today''s orders might be reduced significantly!" a shareholder mentioned.


    "Hmph!" Mobai snorted coldly. "Silicon Moonlight is truly ignorant. To pass up making money for the sake of clinging to sentimental values is absurd!"


    Indeed, a significant portion of their business had previously been connected to Huaxia through Silicon Moonlight, and it could be said that a large majority of their orders came from the Huaxia people. The rupture in the partnership with Silicon Moonlight indeed had a huge impact on them.


    "But it doesn''t matter. We''ve supported a new packaging and testing factory in our neighbor, the country of Indus. Their labor costs are lower than Huaxia''s, and although their demand is only half of Huaxia''s, our company is still working hard to explore new partnerships. This year''s turnover won''t see much change."


    Mobai''s words were undoubtedly a powerful morale booster for the shareholders. What they were more concerned about was whether their own interests would be harmed. To whom their Crystal Chips were sold was of little concern to them.


    "Chairman, I''ve heard some rumors from our employees recently, and I think it''s necessary to mention them!" another shareholder suddenly said.


    "What rumors?"


    "Lately, the companies in Silicon Valley Town, for some reason, have significantly raised their employees'' salaries, and this has had a considerable impact on the morale of our workers!"


    "Hahaha," Mobai laughed dismissively, "Indeed, as our town''s industry chain grows larger and the welfare of workers improves, it''s not a problem to increase benefits."


    "How about this? Starting from next month, we''ll adjust all worker wages universally, increasing them by 5%¨C8% based on their performance assessments."


    Such an increment was entirely sustainable for Qualcomm Electronics.


    "Chairman," the shareholder hesitated, "You know, I often deal with nearby businesses and have good relationships with some company bosses. I confirmed with them this morning that these rumors are not unfounded, and the extent of their wage increase might differ greatly from what you imagine."


    "How so? How much can these companies, with such thin profits, possibly increase their employees'' wages?"


    "Mr. Mobai, the information I''ve received states that starting two days ago, over 500 companies in Silicon Valley Town raised their wages... by 100%, and it''s a blanket increase!"


    "What?" Mobai gasped in shock. He had always focused on strategic corporate matters and never bothered with such trivialities, but hearing this number made him take a sharp breath.


    A 100% wage increase for employees, covering everyone ¨C could those companies still make a profit? Could their margins support such a massive salary hike?


    "What''s going on?" Mobai asked.


    "They''ve signed NDAs and couldn''t disclose specifics to me, but they told me that a big player has come to Silicon Valley Town and has invested tens of billions of US Dollars in these over 500 companies!"


    "Tens of billions of US Dollars?" This time, Mobai could not remain composed.


    "The state of the company''s employees is very poor now, and their enthusiasm for work has reduced a great deal. Yesterday, there even were some operational mistakes in two workshops that have never occurred before. For our company, this is definitely not good news!"


    "Mr. Mobai, why don''t we also increase the employees'' wages according to this ratio?" a shareholder suggested.


    "Mr. Borsal, our headquarters has 8,000 employees, and the monthly payroll is over 50 million US dollars. If we double it, we''ll be adding an extra 50 million US dollars in costs each month, which comes to 6 billion US dollars a year. That means our shareholders'' dividends will be reduced by 6 billion US dollars. Are you willing to accept that?"


    "This..."


    For the dozens of shareholders present, a loss of 6 billion US dollars meant an average reduction of 50 million US dollars each; this could even be considered a colossal loss!


    "Someone wants to disrupt the whole Silicon Valley town''s industry, even targeting us at Qualcomm Electronics!" After some thought, Yajizieta came up with an analysis.


    "Who could it be?" Mobai asked, "An investment of tens of billions of US dollars, it must not be an ordinary person who can accomplish this!"


    Suddenly, both of them thought of the same person. They looked at each other and finally exclaimed in unison.


    "Zhang Menglong!"


    Zhang Menglong''s appearance in America a few days ago had caused a lot of unease among many people, but no one knew what he was really here for.


    However, Mobai and Yajizieta could sense something.


    Employee strikes, fire safety issues, tax problems¡ªbehind all these events were the shadows of their Qualcomm Electronics, aiming to force Zhang Menglong to give up his so-called independent research and development and continue cooperating with their Western countries.


    But Zhang Menglong''s approach was completely out of their realm of understanding.


    Employee strikes? He simply fired all the striking employees!


    Fire hazards? He directly shut down operations for repairs and even constructed a special fire brigade right in front of the company!


    Tax evasion? He drove straight to the tax bureau on a live broadcast, cleared all the taxes in one go, and even voluntarily accepted a penalty five times the fine!


    This kind of operation simply made them want to stand up and shout ''666'' in unison.


    Originally, they thought Zhang Menglong would have some sort of counterattack, but as of a few days ago, besides handling these issues, he hadn''t made any responsive actions.


    But now they realized that what was inevitable would still come!


    Spending lavishly, investing in hundreds of companies for free and causing those companies to raise wages, thereby catalyzing unrest among Qualcomm Electronics'' employees¡ªthis was Zhang Menglong''s revenge!


    "Chairman, we can''t just remain passive, can we?"


    "Yes, if employee morale continues to decline, I fear problems will arise!"


    "Thump, thump, thump!" At that moment, a knocking sound came from outside the conference room.


    "Who is it!" Mobai gave a look to his assistant.


    His assistant opened the door, but none of the shareholders seated recognized the person standing outside.


    "Hey! Everyone''s here?" Borenas made himself at home as he walked over to the board of directors'' seats, casually pulled out an empty chair, "Carry on, don''t mind me, I''ll talk about my matter after you''re finished."

 Chapter 330 328 A Great Socialist Home

    "Who are you?" Mobai stared at this unfamiliar face, who was wearing a Qualcomm Electronics badge. He looked like he must be an employee of their own company, but how could a regular employee dare to barge into a shareholder meeting and even behave so casually?


    "Boss, this man seems to be Berlaines, the President of our Qualcomm Electronics labor union," Mobai''s assistant whispered.


    "The President of the union?" Mobai sneered, "Get out! Do you think you can just walk in here whenever you like? Who is your leader? You can just get out right now!"


    "Hahaha!" Berlaines burst out laughing, "Dear shareholders, since I have entered this shareholder meeting today, I had no intention to continue working here.


    Yoji Zetan''s gaze lingered on Berlaines for a moment, he suddenly had a bad feeling. The surrounding companies had just raised salaries, and there had been some changes in the employees'' moods. Now the President of the union had arrived¡ªwhat good could come of this?


    "What exactly do you want to do?" Mobai also calmed down, his demeanor clearly showing an attitude of nothing to lose, and this Berlaines definitely had something to say.


    "Mr. Mobai, Mr. Yoji Zetan, as the President of the Qualcomm Electronics union, I came here today representing the collective voice of our 7000 production line workers," Berlaines said with a smile, "You must also be aware that all companies in the Silicon Valley towns have implemented salary increases, going up as much as 100%. Our Qualcomm Electronics employees also demand an increase at this rate!"


    "You''re dreaming!" Mobai thought of Berlaines''s intentions as soon as he knew his identity, but he still couldn''t help but curse loudly. Talking about wage increases with them, the capitalists, wasn''t this essentially asking for their lives?


    "Mr. Mobai, please, don''t be angered. This is only the first request from all our employees," Berlain spoke with the phrases "all employees" repeatedly, positioning himself on a moral high ground, "You might want to hear the other voices of our broad workforce."


    "Alright, you speak, I''m all ears!" Mobai responded with a laugh instead of anger, in this nation that champions freedom, employee protests, strikes, and even demonstrations were all very normal. Since its establishment, Qualcomm Electronics had encountered several similar incidents.


    But as the saying goes, ''for every clever move, there is a countermove''; as long as the capital remains in the hands of these capitalists and as long as each employee needs to make a living, they will inevitably submit to capital. This is a truth tested through hundreds of years of history.


    Feeling confident, he believed he could resolve even the most complex situations.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Mobai truly is a Chairman, your demeanor is indeed different," Berlaines gave Mobai a strong compliment, "Then I shall speak!"


    "According to the laws of this continent, a worker''s work hours should not exceed 40 hours per week, that''s 8 hours per day," Berlaines stated, "We demand a reduction in weekly work hours, not exceeding 35 hours per week, and we also demand an additional week of paid annual leave!"


    "We heard that our former collaborator, Silicon Moonlight from Huaxia, had given all their employees half a month off recently, even providing subsidies for all employees to go on vacation. We demand the same treatment, at least one paid vacation each year, with the company covering our travel expenses!"


    "You''ve completely lost your mind!" All the shareholders'' faces turned grim, what does being a capitalist mean? It means exploiting the workers through manipulation of capital! Every single demand Berlaines made severely damaged the interests of the capitalists.


    Silicon Moonlight might do this because their boss, Zhang Menglong, doesn''t regard money as important!


    If they were as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, sure, these things could be considered! But can you find another person as wealthy as Zhang Menglong in the world? That''s simply impossible!


    "Our union unanimously believes that the value we create for the company is no less than the value created by the employees of the companies around us and Huaxia''s Silicon Moonlight, so I think it is entirely reasonable for us to have the same benefits," Berlaines proclaimed.


    "As the President of the union, seeing our company''s employees work so hard yet not receiving the remuneration they deserve, I feel deeply pained. As the President of the union, I feel it is my duty to stand up and convey the demands of the employees; we can do without what others lack, but what others have, we must also have!"


    The reasons given by Berenice were simple, others have it, others are inferior to us, so we must have it too!


    "There are also people who die in their thirties, why don''t you go and die?" After hearing so many harsh demands, even Mobai with his good temper found it difficult to control his anger.


    "Mr. Mobai, I am here negotiating on behalf of the company''s employees and you insult me with such language. Because of this, I reserve the right to sue, and in a couple of days, a lawyer''s letter will be delivered to your office!"


    "Hahaha! Well done! I like this person, he is talented!" Zhang Menglong, who had been listening to Berenice''s negotiation, clapped while sipping his coffee.


    From the moment he walked in, he positioned himself as the representative of all employees. Morally, he was on invincible ground, and when he made demands, they were logical and well-founded. The final move of warning with a lawyer''s letter, Zhang Menglong was sure, was not taught by him to Berenice.


    "What if we disagree?" asked Mobai.


    "If you gentlemen do not agree with our reasonable demands, then we will go on strike to defend our rights!"


    "Are you threatening us?" Mobai slammed the table.


    "Mr. Mobai, our employees have the right to strike, and I believe our demands are reasonable and contain no element of threat. If you think our demands are unreasonable, you may choose to fire us."


    Fire them? It was a joke!


    If this had been America a few years ago, only company executives would have employment contracts, and firing an employee only needed a single word without any financial compensation.


    But two years ago, America revised a new act; if an employee is to be dismissed, even if they have not completed one year of service, a month''s wages must still be paid as compensation.


    Berenice just mentioned that he represents 7,000 people! In their company, some employees have worked for over ten years; if 7,000 people were fired, their company could shut down directly.


    Even if they had the money, the departure of 7,000 employees could halt the company''s operations, which would not possibly recover for three to five months.


    Zhang Menglong could afford to do this because he was not afraid of losing money, but there was only one Zhang Menglong! His method of suppressing strikes could not be replicated by anyone.


    "Humph! Strike, don''t you all need to live?" a shareholder sneered.


    He had encountered strikes more than once, but due to the pressures of life, few strikes lasted until the end, and it was always those striking workers


    "I''m not afraid to tell all the shareholders that our union recently received a sum of financial support. During the strike, our union will provide double the salary to all participating employees as a subsidy, until we obtain what we want!"


    "Double the salary? Where do you get so much money from?" the shareholders exclaimed.


    "A gentleman who heard of our plight sponsored us a sum of money," Berenice said, "He is a great socialist!"

 Chapter 331 329: If Youre Not Convinced, Come and Kill Me

    "Socialist Home?" Hearing these words, Mobai and Yajize Tian immediately exchanged glances.


    Coming from a socialist country and baring enmity with them, who else could it be besides Zhang Menglong?


    In that instant, they all understood! Zhang Menglong was truly here to target Qualcomm Electronics this time!


    Were it not for the official US backing, Zhang Menglong''s net worth alone would suffice to buy out Qualcomm Electronics completely, but since he couldn''t purchase it, he could sabotage it. As long as the employees went on strike, how could their company continue to operate normally?


    Just now, Berlainas had said the strike would continue until the company compromised with them or it would go on indefinitely.


    With Zhang Menglong''s financial resources, even supporting these employees for a lifetime would be a piece of cake. With his financial backing, the strike would never stop!


    Not having to work and yet receiving double the salary was such a huge benefit¡ªhow could the employees possibly give it up? They would be delighting in the company''s stalemate with them for years, better yet, a lifetime!


    "This Huaxia man''s tactics are really vicious!" Infelite, who once shared ownership in Silicon Moonlight, lamented.


    After being ousted from the board by Zhang Menglong, Infelite had joined forces with the president of Silicon Moonlight''s union, hoping to force him into agreeing to their conditions through a strike.


    But Infelite completely failed to anticipate that Zhang Menglong simply did not fear losses, and straightaway fired those causing trouble, paying out whatever was owed, even willing to spend money to support idlers when the company wasn''t bringing in any revenue.


    But that''s just how rich and capricious he was; Infelite could only slink back to America dejectedly.


    Several months had passed, and just when he was about to forget such an incident had ever taken place, the same situation was unfolding at Qualcomm Electronics. The playbook was exactly the same as before.


    What was different was that Zhang Menglong wasn''t afraid of losses, but they were!


    "What benefits did Zhang Menglong offer you to instigate the workers into striking?" Infelite demanded.


    "Mr. Infelite, that is slander against me!" Berlainas replied, "I''ve made it very clear, this is the collective decision of all our employees. I do not know the gentleman supporting us. I only know that he calls himself a ''successor of socialism.'' Whether he is the Zhang Menglong you speak of, I really have no idea."


    "What successor of socialism!" Infelite clenched his fists. Those who called themselves "successor of socialism"¡ªif that person wasn''t Zhang Menglong, he would directly swallow up Qualcomm Electronics!


    But Berlainas didn''t admit to it, and they had no recourse; the threshold for defamation was very low in this country. If he couldn''t produce evidence, then Berlainas could just as well send him a lawyer''s letter of warning!


    "Alright, we''ve made our demands clear. If the company doesn''t meet our terms, starting this afternoon, we begin our strike. The board members can continue their meeting," he said.


    Having said that, Berlainas swaggered out of the meeting room.


    ...


    The boardroom fell silent; after such a disruption by Berlainas, who still had the heart to carry on with this board meeting?


    They had just secured orders from several Asian countries, now just waiting to produce the Crystal Chips for delivery and make money. With 7000 employees now opting to strike, their workshops were left with no one; how could they produce any Crystal Chips?


    They also had a critically important order recently, a government procurement that was due at the end of the month. Plus, 80% of the work was already completed. Under normal circumstances, there was more than enough time within a month, but now, production for this order was forced to halt.


    When the time came, what could they use to explain themselves to the acquirer?


    "Zhang Menglong, that bastard Zhang Menglong!" Infelite took out his phone. As a former shareholder of Silicon Moonlight, he had Zhang Menglong''s contact in his phone.


    "Zhang Menglong, what on earth are you up to?" Infelite roared into the phone.


    "Who are you?"


    "I am Infelite!"


    "Oh, Mr. Infelite, what can I do for you?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly, "Did you hear about my trip to America and want to treat me to a meal?"


    "I''m not treating you to anything!" Infelite wished he could literally devour Zhang Menglong.


    "Then what do you want with me? I''m taking a dump and still have to scroll through TikTok, quite busy here!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s always taking a dump with you!" Infelite''s face turned red with fury. The last time he had someone look for Zhang Menglong to negotiate, he hadn''t even seen Zhang Menglong''s face because the excuse given was that he was busy taking a dump.


    "Zhang Menglong, let''s not beat around the bush. What do you really want?" Infelite asked accusingly, "It was you who instigated the employee strike, wasn''t it?"


    "Mr. Infelite, let''s not make the conversation so unpleasant, okay? Don''t just slop every dirty accusation onto me!" Zhang Menglong replied calmly, "Otherwise, be careful I might sue you for defamation!"


    "I only went out for drinks last night because I had nothing else to do, and as it happened, I got along famously with Mr. Bernalius and heard about their plight. Out of compassion, I decided to help them," Zhang Menglong added, "You know me, helping friends is what I love most!"


    "You''re full of shit!" Infelite cursed angrily.


    Did the world''s richest man travel thousands of miles to America just for tourism? Is it just a coincidence that he happened to come to Silicon Valley and just accidentally ran into Bernalius and got along with him like a house on fire?


    No one would believe such a story.


    But with Zhang Menglong denying everything, what could Infelite do?


    "I am saying, you at Qualcomm Electronics, with such a big company, can''t even pay a bit of salary; I''m embarrassed for you!"


    "Zhang Menglong, those company employees'' inexplicable raises, you''re involved in that too, aren''t you?" Infelite suddenly got much smarter. The salaries those companies were offering were clearly more than they could afford. Where would they get so much money? It had to be Zhang Menglong supplying it!


    "That''s right, I gave those more than five hundred companies a total of 20 billion US Dollars, but you have no proof!" Zhang Menglong said in an irritating tone.


    "What good does it do you to spend billions of US Dollars on something like this?" Infelite asked.


    "It doesn''t get me any good!" Zhang Menglong said blandly, "Just a few billion US Dollars, I don''t care about that money, but if it makes you unhappy, then it''s money well spent to me!"


    "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll sue you for destroying the market?"


    "Go ahead!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I have never heard of a rule that says you can''t pay employees a high salary. I have only heard about minimum wage standards, but there''s no maximum wage limit. You are too poor to pay, and you don''t allow others to do so?"


    Infelite''s teeth were grinding so loudly, and his breathing became much heavier, indicating just how furious he was.


    "Zhang Menglong, you are courting death! Don''t forget, this is America, not Huaxia!" Infelite''s extreme anger almost made him lose his reason.


    "Oh, I''m so scared! If you can''t stand it, come and kill me!" Zhang Menglong replied mockingly, "Oh, by the way, I have started recording this call, and every word you just said will serve as evidence in court!"


    "You... you..." Infelite, already not a young man, felt his blood pressure skyrocket after hearing this, and he actually collapsed straight away.


    "Mr. Infelite! Mr. Infelite!"


    "Call an ambulance, quick!"


    ...

 Chapter 332 330: Want to See My Balance?

    As the sound of the siren faded away, the ambulance carrying Infelite disappeared into the distance, but a deeper gloom shrouded the boardroom.


    "That damned Huaxia man, Zhang Menglong," Mobai gritted his teeth and said, "who would have thought he would really spend so much money! What is his purpose, merely to annoy us?"


    "Whatever the reason, we absolutely cannot let those employees go on strike. If we don''t complete the project delivery by the end of the month, we will lose at least several hundred million US Dollars."


    "So, what can we do? Give them a raise, increase their vacation time? How much money would we lose annually? I disagree!"


    "Exactly! If we agree this time, there will be a next time and a time after that. Are we supposed to compromise every time they make a fuss?"


    "I firmly disagree!"


    The attitudes of the shareholders were incredibly staunch; for capitalists, money was even more important than life itself!


    "Everyone, don''t panic. The situation is not that bad yet!" Yeji Zetian said.


    "Mr. Zetian, do you have any solution?" The shareholders immediately turned their gaze toward Yeji Zetian. In the entire Qualcomm Electronics, Yeji Zetian was almost like a strategical brain, reviving the company from several life-and-death crises.


    "Actually, it''s simple," Yeji Zetian said, "These employees are only feeling this way because they can''t tolerate seeing people from other companies earning higher salaries, which causes psychological imbalance. If we lower the cost of labor in the town''s market, their mentality will be balanced, and naturally, there will be no more trouble."


    "But how can we do that? Can we even interfere with the internal affairs of other companies?" someone asked.


    "Gentlemen, don''t forget why this Silicon Valley town was established!" Yeji Zetian said, "Could the economy here have thrived without Qualcomm Electronics?"


    "Right! Although there are many companies in Silicon Valley town, over fifty percent have business dealings with us. Without our orders, they couldn''t even survive!"


    "Exactly! If they want to continue cooperating with us, then they should restore the normal wages of their workers!"


    "It''s just like Mr. Zetian!" the shareholders laughed, "We almost forgot, Qualcomm Electronics is the king of this Silicon Valley town!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s trouble!" Otto knocked hurriedly at Zhang Menglong''s door.


    "What''s the matter, why the rush?" Zhang Menglong stepped out of the room.


    "Recently, some company owners came to me. They want to terminate the agreement with us," Otto said. "Most of their business comes from Qualcomm Electronics as they are downstream companies, and now Qualcomm Electronics is blackmailing them to immediately restore the workers'' salaries through contractual obligations."


    "These people react quite swiftly!" Zhang Menglong seemed to have anticipated this situation.


    The owners of those companies were actually filled with doubts about Zhang Menglong''s strange investment behavior. If they knew that Zhang Menglong''s target was Qualcomm Electronics, perhaps many would not have signed the agreement.


    The reason is simple, they rely on Qualcomm Electronics to survive in Silicon Valley town. If Qualcomm Electronics collapses, upstream companies won''t be able to sell their raw materials, and downstream companies won''t be able to acquire Crystal Chips and other products.


    Although Zhang Menglong offered a substantial amount of money, risking their long-term development for this sum seemed a loss they could hardly accept.


    "Those owners are right here in our company now. What do you suggest we do now?"


    "Let''s go meet them!" Zhang Menglong confidently walked towards the door. As the saying goes, for every skilled man there is a stronger one, and since he had already anticipated this point, he naturally had countermeasures ready.


    ...


    "Here they are, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Otto have arrived!"


    The hundreds of company owners were initially chattering among themselves. When they saw Zhang Menglong walk into the company, they immediately fell silent.


    "Hello everyone!" Zhang Menglong smiled and greeted them, "I wonder what matters have brought all of you here, leaving your busy schedules behind?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you are putting us in a difficult position! How could you use us as tools to congregate against Qualcomm Electronics?" one owner, though unhappy, dared not offend Zhang Menglong and could only say with a forced smile.


    "Exactly, Mr. Zhang, you are cutting off our livelihood! If Qualcomm Electronics goes down, at least half of us will go bankrupt. Your investment, although large, is something we could earn in five or ten years, but without it, our future business would be gone!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we will return all the money you gave us, let''s pretend we never signed the agreement!"


    "That isn''t exactly simple," Zhang Menglong showed a troubled face, "Our agreement clearly states that unilateral breach of contract would require paying double the amount as compensation."


    "Mr. Zhang, your agreement also stated that this contract is on the premise that it does not affect our normal operations. Now it clearly has exceeded this premise, and we have the right to terminate the agreement early!"


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong said, "Aren''t all of you just worried that the collapse of Qualcomm Electronics will affect your businesses! What if that scenario doesn''t exist?"


    "Who would believe that!"


    "Indeed, I heard that 7,000 employees at Qualcomm Electronics are preparing to strike. If they do strike, how can the company continue to operate?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your family has a large business. Please spare us small business owners!"


    "Everyone, do not panic just yet. When I said that such a situation doesn''t exist, I didn''t mean it in that way!" Zhang Menglong slowly said.


    "Not in that way? Then what do you mean?"


    "The orders you previously had with Qualcomm Electronics, I, Silicon Moonlight, will take them all!" Zhang Menglong said, "And I will increase the price by fifty percent based on their price!"


    "Fifty percent!?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you serious?"


    Increasing the price by fifty percent, their profits would nearly double.


    "If any of you have concerns, I''m ready to sign a five-year contract directly with you!"


    The chip industry chain of Silicon Moonlight, Zhang Menglong had only deployed a part so far, but his factory was bound to grow bigger and bigger. The orders that Qualcomm Electronics could handle, his Silicon Moonlight could also handle!


    As for that fifty percent price increase, Zhang Menglong still could adhere to the glorious tradition of "fleecing one''s own flock!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what about us?" the downstream business owners suddenly became anxious. Zhang Menglong might be able to buy raw materials and equipment, but he couldn''t provide them with the upstream products they needed!


    Such as Crystal Chip, which Silicon Moonlight was currently unable to produce. Although they had heard rumors that Zhang Menglong was about to initiate some independent R&D, the long period such R&D required meant that reaching the world-leading level would be impossible in less than three to five years. Were they expected to wait three to five years?


    "I know, if I told you all that Huaxia has developed high-performance chips, you definitely wouldn''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong candidly said, "But I''m willing to enter into a wager agreement with you. Whatever Qualcomm Electronics can provide you, we can provide the same, and if we fail, I''ll compensate you as much as your annual turnover!"


    "Really?" The bosses'' eyes lit up one after another.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we don''t trust you, but if it really comes to that, do you really have enough money to compensate us?"


    "Yes, we know you''re extremely wealthy, but these downstream companies collectively have an annual turnover of over a hundred billion, a massive industry scale. We can''t afford to gamble!"


    "After all this talk, you''re just afraid I don''t have the money, aren''t you!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    The bosses immediately bowed their heads in silence, tacitly agreeing with Zhang Menglong''s statement.


    "This is also human nature," Zhang Menglong said, "To prove that I have the financial capability, would you like to check my balance?"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone, "Why not appoint a trustworthy representative from among you to check."


    "Mr. Brian, you run the biggest business among us, you go!"


    "Yes, Mr. Brian, we trust you!"


    The crowd immediately nominated a man in his fifties.


    "Alright," the businessman named Brian stepped forward, "Mr. Zhang, I will take the liberty of being this witness."


    Zhang Menglong recited a series of account numbers, "Mr. Brian, this is one of my savings accounts at Swiss Bank. You can check it directly."


    "Okay." Brian entered Zhang Menglong''s account information into a computer, then authenticated it using Zhang Menglong''s identity information.


    "No problem, this is Mr. Zhang''s savings account," Brian said as he communicated with others, while he clicked the "check balance" button.


    When he saw that string of numbers, Brian''s facial expression instantly froze.


    "Mr. Brian, have you checked it?"


    "Mr. Brian, how much balance is there in Mr. Zhang''s account?"


    "Mr. Brian, please speak up!"


    Brian swallowed and counted the digits again, "One, ten, hundred, thousand... trillion, quadrillion... a total of over twenty-five trillion..."


    "Twenty-five trillion US dollars?"


    "No! It''s twenty-five trillion Euros, and I didn''t mention the extra three hundred billion Euros..."

 Chapter 333 331 We Are for Poetry and the Distance

    God damn spare change, over thirty billion Euros have actually become mere loose change?


    The expressions on the faces of the bosses present were like they had just eaten shit.


    "Mr. Brian, are you sure you haven''t misread?" someone asked for confirmation once again.


    "I have confirmed it three times now, there is no mistake, it is indeed over twenty-five thousand three hundred billion Euros!" Brian said emphatically, "If any of you doubt my eyesight, I''m sure Mr. Zhang wouldn''t mind having someone else come up to verify."


    "Just to be on the safe side, I... I will verify it myself!"


    Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Please, go ahead."


    "My God, it really is..." Though he had mentally prepared himself, he still gasped at the sight of the string of numbers.


    "This is just the amount I have in Swiss Bank," Zhang Menglong said, "If you have reviewed my profile, you should be well aware that in Qingqiu Country, just in Qingqiu Bank alone, I have several hundred million trillion Qingqiu Currency. Just this sum alone, I believe, is more than enough to buy out all of your companies!"


    Besides surprise and admiration, the hearts of these bosses had almost lost the ability to do anything else.


    "Now, do any of you still doubt my capability to pay the penalty fee?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over everyone''s faces, but nobody dared to meet his eyes anymore.


    Over twenty thousand billion Euros in cash deposits, ah, that''s something normally only a country could produce, isn''t it? If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they would have definitely thought it was a bluff.


    "Mr. Zhang, we believe you, Suberk Electronics is willing to continue with our contract!"


    "I from Kebel Machinery am willing as well!"


    ...


    At this moment, the life and death of Qualcomm Electronics were instantaneously unrelated to them; they even hoped that Qualcomm Electronics would go bankrupt directly, so they could maintain a long-term cooperative relationship with Zhang Menglong.


    "Otto, sign contracts with the bosses!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Although Otto felt heartache over such a huge financial loss, he supported Zhang Menglong''s decisions unconditionally, one hundred percent.


    But he was now suddenly pondering in his mind, what exactly did his father and grandfather expect him to learn by following Zhang Menglong? This wasn''t at all like the storming through the business seas as he had envisaged!


    ...


    "Mr. Zeda, you really do have prophetic foresight. Those entrepreneurs have already gone to Bona Communications, which is an asset of the Duber family. According to the news from the past two days, the one behind the scenes manipulating things must undoubtedly be Zhang Menglong!"


    An employee sent by Zeda to survey the situation reported back in Zeda''s office.


    "Humph! I would like to see what else this Zhang Menglong can do!" For the first time in the past two days, Mobai showed a smile, "But by doing this, won''t we end up opposing the Duber family?"


    "What about the Duber family, even if they are the biggest family in America, they are just a commercial family. Our Qualcomm Electronics has governmental support behind us, surely they wouldn''t dare do anything to us?" Zeda said with full confidence.


    "But Mr. Zeda, our company''s employees have already started striking today. I did a count of the numbers, and 7,125 people are on strike. All production lines have been completely halted."


    "No problem, I estimate that after tomorrow, there will be news from those companies that wages will be restored to normal levels. Then our employees will regain their sense of superiority and won''t have any negative emotions anymore! Naturally, they will return to their positions. A three to five-day stoppage won''t have too much of an impact, as long as the orders are delivered at the end of the month."


    "Hmph, these damned workers," Mobai sneered, "once this matter is over, I''ll make sure Breinas can''t cope in the whole of Colorado State! And as for those who participated in the strike, nobody''s getting a single cent of their year-end bonus this year!"


    "Of course," Zeda''s eyes were also filled with gloom, "this time, we must make them hurt, so such a thing won''t happen again in the future!"


    ...


    A week quickly passed by, and Mr. Zeda continued to have people scout for insider information from those enterprises, but so far, there was still no notice of any pay cuts!


    In such a situation, even Yeji Zeida couldn''t help but show a worried expression.


    "Mr. Zeida, what exactly is going on here? Didn''t you say that those companies would restore their salary levels within a maximum of three days? Why haven''t we heard anything yet?"


    "Don''t panic!" Facing the shareholders'' questioning, Yeji Zeida still maintained his composure. "It seems our attitude has been too mild! I''ve already sent Mr. Skech to knock some sense into them, so we should hear news soon!"


    "Mr. Zeida, there''s trouble!" Skech, the marketing director of Qualcomm Electronics, burst into the conference room.


    "Skech, take it easy, what''s the matter?" Yeji Zeida suddenly felt a sense of unease.


    "As per your instructions, I approached several companies with the threat of contract termination to pressure them into quickly restoring wage standards, but their attitude was completely different from a week ago, they said if it''s about terminating contracts... it''s not like they can''t survive without us at Qualcomm Electronics!"


    "What? Their attitude really is like that?" All the shareholders suddenly stood up.


    "Yes, they''re very firm, as if they''ve already found a new supply chain."


    "Impossible! In this Silicon Valley town, besides us at Qualcomm Electronics, who else can give them such large orders?"


    "Mr. Zeida, I heard some rumors, but I''m not sure if they are true," said Skech hesitantly.


    "What rumors?"


    "I heard that Mr. Brian of Suberk Electronics has recently landed a very large order, about the same size as our previous contract but at prices 50% higher than ours. They''ve already started purchasing raw materials!"


    "What? 50% higher than ours? Our total profit margin is just about 50%; is that man crazy?"


    "Smack!" Yeji Zeida suddenly thought of something. "No! That man might not be crazy; it could very well be Zhang Menglong!"


    ...


    As one of the world''s leading electronics technology companies, Qualcomm Electronics'' headquarters had been the site of a week-long workers'' strike, which quickly drew media attention, with scores of journalists flocking to the small town in Silicon Valley to get the scoop.


    As the leader of the strike, Berlinas naturally became the focus of media attention, and surprisingly, Berlinas, who was caught in the eye of the storm, agreed to an interview with the media.


    "Mr. Berlinas, is it true that you led the employees of Qualcomm Electronics to strike?"


    "Mr. Berlinas, we''ve been told by senior management at Qualcomm Electronics that you''ve made a lot of unreasonable demands. Is this true?"


    "Mr. Berlinas, according to insiders, you were urged by certain individuals to take the actions you did. How do you respond to that revelation?"


    When Berlinas appeared in front of the reporters, dozens of microphones were passed to him, and each question was sharply delivered.


    "Cough cough! Please, everyone, quiet down. Today, since I''ve decided to take your interview, I will definitely answer all your questions. There''s no need to rush."


    The journalists immediately quieted down to listen intently to Berlinas''s responses.


    "First of all, the statement that I led this strike isn''t entirely accurate. Although I am a leader, I was elected by all employees involved in the strike to negotiate with the company. I represent the fundamental interests of the broadest base of employees, not my own selfish desires!"


    "Next, our demands are entirely reasonable. You, my friends from the press, can look into it. Despite being a leading enterprise in the semiconductor and communication industries, our salaries at Qualcomm Electronics are still not reaching even 60% of the average level in this Silicon Valley town. If our wages don''t increase, we might starve to death!"


    "As for the last point, that is slander and false accusation against me," said Berlinas, speaking with righteous indignation, "we''ve never taken instructions from anyone for our strike; we do it for the poetry and the distant lands!"


    ...


    "Damn! Well said!!" Watching Berlinas''s live interview, Zhang Menglong clapped his hands with approval. "Such eloquence is wasted in that broken factory working as an engineer! I suggest the Chinese Department at Yanjing University hire him directly as a professor!"

 Chapter 334 332 I Cant Stand Being Wronged by Others

    As the leader in the communications industry, Qualcomm Electronics'' large-scale strike immediately caught the attention of the entire world.


    Through media photos and videos, workers were seen enjoying their time at home during happy times and when they were discontent, they would group together, waving flags and wielding megaphones, wandering around the factory.


    Normally, workers living in the factory toiled in front of machines, but now, in protest of the company''s refusal to raise wages, they even started to "happy" up in the factory with poker and beer, transforming the once bustling and dignified company into one that had lost its usual atmosphere.


    At the beginning of this year, just as the economy showed some signs of recovery, many businesses placed massive orders for chips from Qualcomm Electronics, with quantities even doubling from the previous year, involving orders amounting to tens of billions of US dollars!


    But upon hearing this news, corporations were immediately restless. With 7,000 workers on strike and the factory desolate, what would happen to their orders?


    In a matter of days, Qualcomm Electronics'' executive offices were bustling with customers pressing for their orders, some seeking to cancel contracts, others demanding compensation, scaring the shareholders from making appearances for several days.


    If not for Qualcomm Electronics having some state-backed assets, the attitudes of those business partners would probably have become even more irate!


    What was surprising was that other businesses in Silicon Valley town were still thriving, with several even expanding production and aggressively purchasing raw materials, as workers, now receiving double wages, worked with exceptional vigor.


    With Qualcomm Electronics in such a state, how could these companies that were supposed to rely on Qualcomm Electronics to survive show no panic? This puzzled the reporters.


    The news quickly spread to Huaxia, and regarding the dire situation of Qualcomm Electronics, aside from those who had bought stock in the company, no one expressed sympathy.


    It was Qualcomm Electronics that initiated the chip sanctions against Huaxia!


    How could the netizens of Huaxia pass up the opportunity to kick someone when they''re down?


    "Weren''t you all so arrogant? Didn''t you want to block our country''s chip industry? Now you can''t even afford to pay salaries?"


    "That union president named Berlina is really amusing, even bringing up ''poetry and distant lands.'' I suspect there''s a Huaxia person behind him writing his speeches!"


    "Complaining about starving if they don''t get a raise? Isn''t that a bit too Versailles? Their average wage levels are almost the equivalent of 30,000 Huaxia currency!"


    "I always feel like someone''s pulling the strings behind the scenes. If he''s not being directed, I''ll live stream myself eating five tons of shit!"


    "The guy above is scamming for free drinks again, but I''ll take that bet¡ªI wager ten tons!"


    "I suddenly have a bold thought. Didn''t Boss Zhang just go to America a few days ago? You guys think..."


    "Holy shit! The more I think about it, the more frightening it seems. Don''t forget, President Zhang of Silicon Moonlight has some beef with a few shareholders of Qualcomm Electronics. Initially, a shareholder from Qualcomm Electronics wanted Silicon Moonlight to continue doing chip packaging and testing, then sell to other countries, forbidding sales to the Huaxia continent, and he was directly kicked out by President Zhang."


    "Hi everyone, I''m a member of the Silicon Moonlight union. That shareholder is called Infelite. He even once bribed our union President to strike as a threat to President Zhang, who then fired him!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s visit to America was already a very sensitive matter. Many eyes were watching him, and some even learned that he had recently appeared in Colorado State, where Qualcomm Electronics is located in a place called Silicon Valley town!


    Connecting all the dots, netizens were almost certain that Zhang Menglong must be behind this strike!


    "@ZhangMenglong, President Zhang, tell me honestly, did you do this? I suspect you''re the one paying the staff of the companies around Qualcomm Electronics to increase their salaries."


    "Be more confident in the comment above, remove the words ''I suspect''"


    "This is absolutely insane!"


    "President Zhang, quickly tell us how you did it, I promise I won''t tell anyone!"


    "What are you all talking about? I, Zhang Menglong, am a decent person, how could I possibly do such a thing? (joking)" Zhang Menglong immediately responded to the netizens'' questions on Weibo.


    Afterward, Zhang Menglong even posted a few photos, "I came to America for tourism, this is the evidence!"


    When netizens opened the photos Zhang Menglong posted, they were laughing so hard they flipped over.


    "Hahaha, President Zhang, if you''re going to use stock photos at least remove the watermark, my friend circle has at least 5 people using this picture as a background!"


    "Seeing President Zhang post a joking emoji I knew it, nobody is cheekier than President Zhang."


    ...


    Foreign media have to say, their sense of smell is really not bad, and soon someone publicly extended an interview invitation to Zhang Menglong online.


    After all, it was not something to be proud of, so many people thought Zhang Menglong would keep silent, but unexpectedly, he gladly accepted the interview!


    A large number of media turned up for the event, all preparing various questions, eagerly awaiting Zhang Menglong''s arrival.


    The moment Zhang Menglong appeared, the whole venue instantly boiled over.


    "Please everyone quiet down!" Zhang Menglong somehow brought a megaphone from nowhere, making the scene almost comedically laughable, with the richest man in the world looking like a street vendor hawking wares.


    After a burst of laughter, the media journalists also stopped the noise, waiting to hear what Zhang Menglong had to say.


    "I called this press conference mainly to clarify the recent events," Zhang Menglong said word by word, "There have been rumors recently that the strike fund for Qualcomm Electronics was provided by me, and I am here to clarify that this is no rumor!"


    "Wow!" As soon as he finished speaking, there was a wave of astonishment from the media on site; Zhang Menglong actually admitted to it at such a public event.


    "Mr. Zhang, why did you do this? Is it really as the executives of Qualcomm Electronics said, that you did this in retaliation for Qualcomm Electronics'' chip blockade against Huaxia?"


    "No no no, I don''t even care about their lousy chips, I wouldn''t want them even if they were given to me for free," Zhang Menglong said, "I did this to uphold the light of justice."


    "One evening I was bored and drinking in a bar when I suddenly overheard Mr. Berlanas and friends discussing salaries. I was outraged on the spot, is this how Qualcomm Electronics treats people? Toiling for you, and yet you pay them less than the other workers around?"


    "They wanted to uphold their rights but feared they would lose their livelihoods if they went on strike. I thought to myself, with great power comes great responsibility, I can''t just watch such unfairness happen around me, I must do something! So, I generously donated to support the Qualcomm Electronics workers in this righteous battle!"


    "He''s talking nonsense!" Watching the live interview, Mobai and others immediately felt infuriated; Zhang Menglong was twisting the truth with eloquence, blatantly seeking revenge yet portraying himself as a defender of justice.


    "Mr. Zhang, in America, countless injustices occur, and you only supported the strike of Qualcomm Electronics workers, your words are hardly convincing!"


    "That''s a great question!" Faced with such a sharp critique, Zhang Menglong wasn''t the least bit flustered, "Let me tell you, I, Zhang Menglong, am a person who takes things to heart. The thing I can''t stand the most is being wrongly accused. Are you saying I am targeting Qualcomm Electronics?"


    "Fine then! Starting now, I decide I will continue to provide strike funds for Qualcomm Electronics workers until the workers voluntarily end the strike or those who slander me apologize to me!"

 Chapter 335 333 Workers Fund Foundation

    "Mr. Zhang, are you officially declaring war on Qualcomm Electronics?" a reporter asked sharply.


    "Declare war?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Are they even worthy? They''re just a company with a market cap of several tens of billions of US dollars; I don''t even consider them worth my attention!"


    "However, your words just now irritated me, I originally only felt pity for those workers and wanted to help them out, but since you think I''m declaring war, then I''ll just satisfy you!"


    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s response, all the reporters'' faces suddenly changed; they could tell that Zhang Menglong was ingeniously shifting the blame back onto them!


    Zhang Menglong''s statements were highly provocative. Even a cornered dog will bite, and who doesn''t have a temper?


    Some people might think that Zhang Menglong was simply acting on a whim, seeing that the Qualcomm Electronics employees were being treated unfairly and impulsively supporting their strike.


    But you wrong him by claiming he is targeting Qualcomm Electronics, and when pushed into a corner, he went for broke! You say I''m targeting them, right? Fine! I''ll target them for you to see!


    "Hahaha! No problem, I''ll play along with whatever false accusations you make, I shouldn''t carry this blame for nothing, right?"


    "Zhang is still Zhang, his tactics are just too clever, that eloquence, must be from De Yun Society, right?"


    "Zhang isn''t just out for revenge on Qualcomm Electronics, he''s out to completely destroy them!"


    "So ruthless! Too ruthless!"...


    Originally, this press conference was just a spectacle for everyone, since employee strikes are nothing uncommon in these Western countries.


    Usually, such employee strikes are just a way for workers to vent their emotions, after all, everyone needs to eat, right? Who can endure not having an income for long?


    But now the Sect Leader is directly funding their strike, even doubling their salaries! He just said that this financial support will continue until the workers voluntarily stop striking or those slandering Zhang Menglong publicly apologize to him.


    Under such circumstances, would the employees voluntarily stop striking? Not working yet getting twice the usual salary, isn''t that appealing? Why would they stop striking?


    As for how long the strike funds provided by Zhang Menglong can last, someone calculated that with over 7000 Qualcomm Electronics employees participating in the strike and an average salary of about 5000 US dollars, double that would be 10,000 US dollars.


    So Zhang Menglong would need to provide them with 70 million US dollars a month, which amounts to 840 million US dollars a year.


    Is 840 million US dollars a lot? It''s a lot, for ordinary people, it''s the amount of money one would have to start working from the Jurassic period to earn!


    But is it a lot for Zhang Menglong?


    Not at all! Zhang Menglong casually spends 500 million Huaxia yuan on fireworks and pays a tax correction fine of 150 billion Huaxia yuan. He''s not even happy if the fines are too small. With his financial power, supporting these workers until their deaths would likely be an easy feat for him.


    As for those slandering Zhang Menglong to publicly apologize, where did those words come from? They came straight from the mouths of Qualcomm Electronics executives, asking them to apologize to Zhang Menglong is akin to them bowing down to him, isn''t it?


    The relationship between Qualcomm Electronics and Silicon Moonlight of Huaxia had already been at loggerheads. Asking them to willingly apologize to Zhang Menglong is arguably harder than getting the employees to give up their strike.


    "This... this isn''t what we meant..." the reporter suddenly backed down, realizing that these reporters might just have become the instigators for Zhang Menglong to declare full-scale war on Qualcomm Electronics.


    Is Qualcomm Electronics strong?


    Strong! They control the world''s most advanced electronic communication technology and can sanction the electronics industries of Huaxia or even the whole world with just one sentence.


    But one step above the divine power is the demonic power. As long as they have not achieved 100% automation and still need workers, Zhang Menglong''s tactic could completely ruin them.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think your behavior is a bit too much?" a reporter from a major magazine questioned.


    "I know the saying, ''When in Rome, do as the Romans do,''" laughed Zhang Menglong, "but now we are not in Huaxia, we are in America. I should follow the law, but tell me, did I incite Qualcomm Electronics'' workers to strike?"


    "This..." The reporter was at a loss for words because every worker''s signature was on the strike announcement from Brelanas, proving that they had all voluntarily decided to strike.


    Moreover, their reasons for striking were quite justified; their workload and work output were higher than nearby companies, yet their wages were lower. Those reporters had to ask themselves, what would they do if they were in that situation?


    Without a doubt, they would also choose to strike!


    So there was no inciting nature in Zhang Menglong''s actions.


    "Since my actions haven''t broken any laws or discipline, is it any of your business?" Zhang Menglong retorted directly.


    "My money was earned by myself, I haven''t stolen nor robbed, I will spend it how I want, what''s it to you?" And I also want to say, "Being rich really allows one to do whatever one wants, if you disagree, you can also throw money at me!"


    "So resolute! I''ve decided to totally become a fan today!"


    "I used to really dislike rich people, but I don''t know why, now it feels damn good!"


    No one expected Zhang Menglong to be so tough in such a public setting. The media reporters had come with various questions, but at this moment no one dared to ask anything, seeing the frightened look on the reporter just now, who would dare to ask questions carelessly?


    "Right, to prove that I''m not targeting Qualcomm Electronics, I want to announce a decision!"


    The press conference went completely silent.


    "I plan to establish a Worker''s Fund! Whenever employees from any company feel there is unfair treatment, they can send a representative to me for assistance, and I will support them at twice their wages. Don''t call me great, I just want all the workers to be happy!"


    Zhang Menglong turned to Hong Yi and said, "This fund doesn''t need much money to start with, just prepare 100 billion US Dollars for now! That Brelanas from last time seems quite good, let him represent all the workers to manage this foundation!"


    "Damn! 100 billion US Dollars?"


    "Hahaha, Worker''s Fund, that kills me!"


    "Damn! That''s so cunning! This logic is incredible, you think I''m targeting a particular company? Sorry, I''m targeting all companies!"


    "It''s got the flavor of the Senior Disciple with the severed water flow!"


    "It''s done!" The reporter felt a blackout before his eyes, even a chill arose in the hearts of the reporters; even if Zhang Menglong originally planned to target Qualcomm Electronics, it was just one company after all.


    There''s certainly an impact, but America still has many leading telecommunications electronics companies; even if the worst comes to the worst and this company goes under, there are still other companies.


    Today''s broadcast was a national one, meaning there are countless people currently watching this show on TV. If this foundation were to be established, one can only imagine the kind of strike frenzy it would incite nationwide.


    According to social statistics, every year there are more than ten major strikes, and if this foundation really gets established, that number could potentially increase tenfold or even a hundredfold, making the eventual impact nearly impossible to predict.


    By then, a significant part of the blame will be placed on these reporters; who asked you to pose these weird questions? If you hadn''t pushed Zhang Menglong into a corner, would he have lashed out and done all this?


    Should anything actually happen following this broadcast, it would be a double victory, a time to apologize to the people of the nation!

 Chapter 336 334: Not Going on Strike Seems Out of Place

    No journalists dared to ask more questions, and Zhang Menglong had said almost everything he wanted to say. Of course, he didn''t actually plan to turn America upside down; he just wanted to teach Qualcomm Electronics a good lesson. He, Zhang Menglong, was not to be trifled with!


    "Hong Yi, how''s Kaibong doing?" Zhang Menglong returned to his residence and suddenly remembered the Kaibong issue. Half a month had passed, and by now Kaibong must be on the verge of tears, right?


    "They''ve managed to procure a batch of coal from other countries, averaging almost 90 US dollars per ton, but even at that price, they only managed to buy less than 10 million tons, since other countries need it for themselves too. That''s pretty much scraping it from their teeth," reported Hong Yi.


    "Collectively, all their coal power companies still have about 5 million tons of coal, which will probably run out in a week at most."


    "Aren''t they in a hurry?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile on his face.


    "In a hurry? How could they not be?" Hong Yi said, "In the past week, they''ve organized several meetings. Now, they''re divided into two factions: one wants Kaibong to agree to sell new soil mines to Huaxia, and the other wants to carry on with the blockade plan. It''s become quite a mess."


    "You know, one of the biggest shareholders of Qualcomm Electronics is from Kaibong. Because of his connections, many of Kaibong''s electronics information industries are built around Qualcomm Electronics as their core. Now that Qualcomm Electronics is in trouble, they''re also having a tough time. Out of so many electronics giants, you specifically targeted Qualcomm Electronics. Kaibong people are no fools and can guess your intentions."


    "Looks like they''re still somewhat aware," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Keep an eye on them. I''d like to see if they can last through this week."


    "You go ahead with your work!" Zhang Menglong signaled, receiving a call from Wang Ling.


    "Boy, you sure did work fast. You''ve just arrived in America, and you''ve already turned everything topsy-turvy!" Wang Ling sounded thrilled.


    "What do you mean ''topsy-turvy''? It''s not like I''ve killed someone," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Am I the kind of person who would take a loss without striking back? They had it coming!"


    "Anyone who crosses you really must have bad karma!" Wang Ling exclaimed.


    "What''s up?"


    "It''s like this¡ªthe esports Olympics events have all been applied for, and we''ve already started talking about game licensing with several companies."


    "How did it go?"


    "So far, we''ve tentatively set 10 game events, including CS, PUBG, King of Fighters, Dota, Warcraft, StarCraft, League of Legends, etc. The developers of eight other games have already granted us licenses, but Riot Games and Blizzard have refused us."


    "Oh? Why?"


    "Isn''t it because they want to control their influence?" Wang Ling said, "Warcraft and League of Legends each have an annual world championship as the organizer, and they make a fortune just from the annual sponsorship naming rights. These are already top-level events in the world. If we create an Esports Olympics, wouldn''t our influence surpass theirs?"


    "True!" Zhang Menglong nodded. The corporate sponsors whose naming rights fees are fixed each year and are usually exclusive would have to choose one of the two if there were two large events, and in terms of scale, they would definitely go for the bigger one.


    "Alright, I''ll deal with this when I get back to Huaxia. How is your new club doing?"


    "I''ve organized ten teams according to these ten esports, all manned by talented players I''ve scouted. This time at the esports Olympics, we''ll definitely make a breakthrough," Wang Ling said confidently.


    "What breakthrough!" Zhang Menglong said, "If we participate, we must win the championship. The whole world must know that Huaxia is number one in everything, even in playing games. We must play better than anyone else!"


    "It''s not that easy!" Wang Ling said with a bitter smile, "After so many years of competition, our Huaxia teams and those from Europe, America, and Qingqiu have had mixed results, and even three years ago, the League of Legends was dominated by teams from Qingqiu Country. Besides, our strength in FPS games is also somewhat weaker; winning the championship is a bit..."


    "Don''t worry, I will personally take the role of head coach. By then, I''ll definitely wipe out the competition from all directions, crushing everyone and everything in my path, human or divine..."


    "Get lost! Every time I play games with you, it''s just a bunch of annoying moves. I''m already full, and you still want to spoon-feed me. If you become a coach, our team probably won''t even qualify for the last Olympic spot!"


    "Ever heard of ''a person can change a lot in three days''?" Zhang Menglong used to be pretty bad at gaming, but now he''s been learning from the gaming legend Ye Qiu for a while. No matter the game, he''s confident he can become a legend. "Don''t believe me? We''ll just have to solo it out when the time comes!"


    "Solo it is then¡ªwatch me smash your head in when the time comes!"


    ...


    All the employees of Ozik Electronics announced a strike, dissatisfied with the company''s attendance system!


    All the production line workers of Sieryl Semiconductor announced a strike. The union president claimed that long-term overtime caused physical burnout among the employees. The strike demands reduced overtime hours and increased overtime pay.


    Seventy percent of the employees at Dokro Alloys went on strike. The leader of the striking workers said that there were too many male colleagues and too few female colleagues, demanding an increase in the hiring of female workers!


    Fifty percent of the employees at Mosaic Communications went on strike. The union president said that since everyone else was striking, they would feel out of place if they didn''t strike too.


    ...


    In just one night, employees from over thirty American companies staged large-scale strikes, each with different reasons.


    Everyone saw Zhang Menglong''s interview content. As long as you strike, you get double pay. Even if the company had no issues, employees would definitely find some just to strike! After all, everyone has the right to strike, and even the state can''t interfere!


    As the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" administrator, Berlinas was extremely busy today, but he thoroughly enjoyed this bustle. To those strikers, he seemed like a pioneer, a leader, and even a hero!


    "Mr. Zhang, today more than thirty companies have applied to the Worker''s Fund, involving around 12,000 people. The expenditure this month might be about 80 to 85 million US dollars. Do you think this money should be..."


    "Just over thirty companies? Give it to them!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand grandly and ordered the funds to be transferred immediately.


    The "Worker''s Fund Foundation" was highly efficient, and since all the money was in cash, it took less than half a day for the funds to be distributed to the accounts of those strikers.


    "It''s really double the salary!"


    "The fund is real! Just strike, and you''ll get double the pay!"


    "fuck, then why even work? Brothers, let''s strike too!"


    ...


    That very afternoon, workers from over forty more companies announced they were striking.


    "Mr. Zhang, this afternoon, another forty-plus companies, totaling 8982 people, have applied for the ''Worker''s Fund,''" Berlinas reported.


    "Transfer the money!" Zhang Menglong''s reply was casually succinct, as if the money wasn''t even his.


    ...


    "Hong Yi, keep track of how much money we''ve spent in America during this period," Zhang Menglong said. "I''m going to reclaim it all, with interest, in the end!"

 Chapter 337 335: You Guys Are Already Down Before Ive Even Started?

    The employee strike naturally affected the company''s bosses and shareholders the most.


    They were simply baffled, the company had been operating just fine, and suddenly the employees started striking out of the blue.


    The employees demanded a wage increase and reduced overtime hours; these demands sounded reasonable at first listen, but upon closer inspection, none of their requested pay raises were below 50%!


    Do you think that''s excessive? Want to negotiate? The employees at Qualcomm Electronics demanded a doubling of their salaries¡ªour demand for a 50% raise isn''t excessive, is it?


    Incredibly, the striking teams formed a sort of competition between themselves¡ªwhat? You''re asking for 50%? Then we demand 60%!


    You''re asking for a decrease of 3 hours in the weekly working time? No way! We demand a reduction of 5 hours!


    What? You demand the annual bonus to be no less than two months'' salary? Damn! We asked for less, only one month! Hurry up and go back to renegotiate with the boss!


    You demand the company should provide at least half a month''s paid vacation leave for travel each year? Then we''re not satisfied! We demand two such leaves a year!


    Soon, each factory became a tangled mess, and this was only the first day since Zhang Menglong announced the establishment of the "Worker''s Fund Foundation." The strike frenzy was just beginning in this state, and if it continued for another day or two, the Continent might witness the largest strike in history!


    The bosses of those companies were both fearful and angry; in their eyes, this employee strike was ultimately caused by Qualcomm Electronics!


    If they hadn''t offended Zhang Menglong, Zhang wouldn''t have set up this "Worker''s Fund Foundation," and their employees wouldn''t have just started striking out of nowhere.


    Several company bosses angrily went to Qualcomm Electronics, desperately seeking explanations from the board members, even demanding that they reconcile with Zhang Menglong immediately, or else face a direct lawsuit in court!


    The entire capital market was in chaos, but surely the state couldn''t just stand by and do nothing, right? The senior executives of Qualcomm Electronics immediately contacted the stakeholders who controlled those state-owned assets.


    However, they received a very desperate response, being told that Qualcomm Electronics must resolve this matter properly, and no assistance would be provided!


    Under pressure from all sides, the board of Qualcomm Electronics finally cracked. A few directors sat in the conference room with furrowed brows, looking like they had aged years in just a few days.


    "What on earth is Zhang Menglong capable of, that even the authorities can''t handle him?" Mobai''s lips trembled. He racked his brain but couldn''t figure it out¡ªdoes Zhang have connections at the top? But he''s a Huaxia person!


    "I heard a rumor that members of the Otto family are involved in this," Zeda said, "Outsiders might not know, but everyone working here should be well aware that the Otto family''s influence goes far beyond what is publicly displayed."


    "What do we do now? Are we really going to have to submit to Zhang Menglong?"


    "If Qualcomm Electronics wants to survive, there''s no other way but to submit to Zhang Menglong," Zeda sighed. Zhang Menglong was the most difficult adversary he had ever encountered and the only one who had left him completely at a loss.


    In this world, 99% of matters can still be solved with money. If it can''t be solved, then it just means there''s not enough money. But this matter isn''t part of that 1%!


    All eyes simultaneously turned towards Infelite, who had been the brain behind several schemes against Silicon Moonlight.


    "Whomever provoked Zhang Menglong should take responsibility for resolving this," someone said.


    "You... you all... don''t forget that you all agreed with my approach at the time, and everything I did was for the company!" Infelite said in panic.


    "You apologize to Zhang Menglong, or we''ll immediately expel you from the board," Mobai threw aside past friendships at that moment, "Don''t doubt whether I have the power to do so!"


    Infelite''s body trembled. Although he was also a shareholder of Qualcomm Electronics, the differences between shareholders were vast; Mobai''s net worth and influence were far beyond Infelite''s.


    "Alright! I''ll go!" At this moment, Infelite had no other choice. A few months ago, he could never have imagined that one day he would be so humbled, begging a Huaxia man whom he once looked down upon.


    ...


    While Qualcomm Electronics was frantically busy, Zhang Menglong was preoccupied with a video call with Lu Yiyao, as if the events unfolding in America had nothing to do with him at all.


    "You, always stirring up trouble wherever you go. Why does every place you visit end up with an incident that the whole world knows about?" Lu Yiyao complained.


    "It''s not my fault, it was Qualcomm Electronics who started sabotaging my company first, should I just take a beating and not fight back?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "But this has blown up too big, I''ve even heard the news here in Huaxia. In Colorado State alone, over 200 companies have gone on strike, totaling over 30,000 workers. This has seriously affected the local economic development and social stability. Aren''t you afraid they''ll come after you?" Lu Yiyao expressed her concern.


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly realized this point. Logically, with such a big mess he had created, it was preposterous that the higher-ups hadn''t come troubling him. "Could they really just be watching me make a mess of things?"


    Zhang Menglong had originally wanted to use this incident to force the local authorities to intervene indirectly, thereby applying pressure on Qualcomm Electronics.


    "Otto!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I assist you with something?" Otto asked respectfully.


    "Qualcomm Electronics has state-owned capital in it, right? Now that the company is in this condition, why haven''t the higher-ups shown any reaction?" Zhang Menglong believed Otto would know something.


    "Oh, rest assured, Mr. Zhang, we''ve already given them a heads-up. The higher-ups definitely wouldn''t dare to let out a peep, and they would even proactively exert pressure on Qualcomm Electronics. As long as it doesn''t involve leaking core industrial technologies, they should agree to any conditions you put forth unconditionally."


    "There''s such a thing? How did you manage that?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s just a difference in social systems. In capitalist countries, there''s a high degree of freedom, and money is everything. If you have enough money, you can even compete for the presidency, no matter how obscure you are, and even win it!"


    "And you guys..."


    "We''re not interested in governing the country!" Otto laughed, "However, now out of the 50 states in the nation, 37 state governors are the result of capital operation by our Duber family. If we so wish, we could replace those governors next year. In this continent, our Duber family''s word is law!"


    "Impressive, impressive!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but start applauding.


    "Oh, there''s a call!" Temporarily disconnecting the video with Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong answered, "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, hello, I... I''m Infelite..."


    "Oh, Mr. Infelite!" Zhang Menglong smiled with satisfaction. "You''re a busy man; what brings you to waste time on a lowly Asian like me?"


    Infelite''s complexion changed, Zhang Menglong''s barbed manner was all too clear.


    "I''m here to apologize," Infelite took a deep breath, "Last time at Silicon Moonlight, it was my fault for insulting Huaxia people and I shouldn''t have used those underhanded methods. Please, I beg your forgiveness."


    "Forgive you? Hmph!" Zhang Menglong sneered, "It seems Mr. Infelite lacks sincerity. A phone call with a simple sorry is supposed to settle things? Better rethink your approach before coming to see me again!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone with a snap, "I wondered how long you would last; you''re giving in before I''ve even put in the effort!"

 Chapter 338 336: Mr. Zhangs Definition of Sincerity is "Cheng Yi

    "Mr. Zhang, Infelite is here,"


    "Oh? How did he know I was staying at this hotel?" Zhang Menglong asked, curious.


    "After all, Infelite is a shareholder of Qualcomm Electronics and holds some sway in this region. It''s not surprising that he could find out your hotel check-in details through certain connections,"


    "True," Zhang Menglong nodded and continued to watch the TV drama, "Did he bring anything with him?"


    "Mr. Infelite only brought an assistant and seems to have carried nothing," Otto inquired, "Should I bring him up?"


    "Tell him that my girlfriend''s birthday is next month." Otto was taken aback, but after a moment, a sly smile appeared on his face. Good lord, Zhang Menglong was indirectly demanding Otto''s "sincerity"!


    Otto had heard about the past grievances between Infelite and Zhang Menglong. Given Zhang Menglong''s temperament, how could a simple "sorry" possibly settle everything? He was definitely going to make Infelite bleed!


    At the hotel lobby, Infelite was already frantic; just this morning, the strike had intensified, with over 400 businesses experiencing large-scale walkouts, even spreading to other states.


    If Colorado State was in such turmoil, why would other states settle for less?


    The Governor of Colorado had also received calls from other Governors today. If this issue was not immediately suppressed, he, the Governor of Colorado, would be deemed the villain of the entire America!


    The pressure cascaded down, finally landing squarely on Infelite.


    He had already received a warning from the Governor: if he couldn''t secure Zhang Menglong''s forgiveness within two days, he might even be charged with treason, facing a potential sentence of over 50 years in prison!


    At his age, a 50-year sentence was almost no different from a death sentence. With vast fortunes and numerous lovers, how could he possibly resign himself to spend his remaining years in prison?


    Infelite, still in bed embracing a lover, had received a call and immediately rushed to the hotel where Zhang Menglong was staying without even time for a meal.


    Seeing Otto in the lobby, Infelite hurried over like a submissive dog, knowing well that the man before him was a scion of the Duber family. If he couldn''t afford to offend Zhang Menglong, he couldn''t offend this person either.


    "Mr. Otto, what did Mr. Zhang say? Will he see me? I came today with the intention to sincerely apologize," Infelite said spiritedly.


    "Mr. Zhang asked me to relay a message to you," Otto said coldly.


    "Please tell, Mr. Otto!"


    "Mr. Zhang said his girlfriend''s birthday is next month."


    "Ah? That..." Infelite''s expression was almost identical to Otto''s when he heard the remark, "Mr. Otto, what does that mean? Could you please elucidate?"


    "Humph!" Otto scoffed. If Infelite couldn''t even comprehend that message, he might as well not appease and just prepare to spend his life in prison.


    "This... Noye, you''ve always been sharp-minded, and you''ve studied in Huaxia. What exactly does his statement mean?" Infelite turned to his female secretary.


    "Mr. Infelite, it''s clear what he means. You did not bring enough sincerity!" the secretary said without hesitation.


    "I came with full sincerity!" Infelite''s mind was stuck on a single track; he thought the "sincerity" Zhang Menglong spoke of was just the literal "sincerity."


    "I spent five years in Huaxia and interacted with many Huaxians. In their language system, much is implied. Telling you his girlfriend''s birthday is next month means you should bring a substantial gift as an apology. That''s the ''sincerity'' he''s asking for!"


    "This greedy Huaxian!" Infelite gritted his teeth, "A gift, you say? Very well, I''ll give one!"


    After all, Infelite was a billionaire worth over a billion US dollars, and parting with a gift was still manageable for him.


    "Didn''t I just buy a new car? Bring it here!" Infelite said, his face pained. It was a limited edition pink custom McLaren 650R, initially intended as a present for one of his mistresses.


    "Yes, sir, I''ll handle it immediately!"


    ...


    Three hours later, a truck stopped at the entrance of the hotel, and a brand-new sports car was unloaded.


    The McLaren 650R, a new high-performance car released by the McLaren company and an advanced model of the McLaren 650S, even had a price tag of over three million US dollars in America. This limited edition custom model was double the price, with only ten units available worldwide. It had taken Infelite quite an effort to get his hands on one.


    This hotel was regarded as the best in the entire city. Although supercars frequently came and went, a global limited-edition supercar was not something you could see every day. When it appeared at the entrance of the hotel, it immediately drew a lot of attention.


    "Oh my dear, such a stunning car!"


    "A limited edition of the McLaren 650R! Someone actually dared to drive it out!"


    "You can tell it''s a new car just by looking at it, I wonder what VIP is staying at this hotel."


    "Quick, take a picture, I''ll post it on Instagram as soon as I get back!"


    "Hey, isn''t that Mr. Infelite?"


    "Who''s Infelite?"


    "He''s a shareholder at Qualcomm Electronics. I have a friend who works there, but he''s been on strike for several days now!"


    "What''s he doing here? Is this sports car his?"


    "Mr. Infelite''s assets are more than ten billion dollars. It''s normal for him to buy a car like this, but why pink?"


    "Could it be a gift for his lover?"


    "Hahaha, quite possible!"


    Listening to the whispers around him, Infelite''s old face felt somewhat unable to hang on.


    "What are you doing here again?" Otto walked irritably to the entrance of the hotel, "Did you understand Mr. Zhang?"


    "I understood!" Infelite immediately conjured a smiling face, "Please help me convey to Mr. Zhang through Otto that I''ve come with sincerity!"


    After speaking, Infelite also pointed to the sports car behind him, "I heard that Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend has her birthday next month. This is a little token for Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend. I hope Mr. Zhang won''t find it too cheap."


    The surroundings suddenly buzzed with noise, this car was actually a gift from Infelite to Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend!


    Everyone knew that Zhang Menglong had stirred up Qualcomm Electronics considerably, turning him into the "public enemy" of the working world. Many were guessing how long they would last.


    Who would have thought that just three days into the strike, Qualcomm Electronics'' shareholder Infelite would already be bringing a gift to apologize¡ªand such an expensive one at that!


    "It''s too extravagant, a sports car worth millions of dollars! I couldn''t afford it even if I worked my entire life."


    "So this is how the rich apologize. Today has really been an eye-opener."


    "Is that all?" Otto frowned, "Take your junk metal back!"


    "What? Junk metal?" Infelite''s expression twisted, a car worth six million dollars was referred to as junk metal by Otto?


    "Hmph! Just a broken car worth millions. Do you think our Mr. Zhang is that easy to send off?" Otto sneered, "I still don''t see Mr. Infelite''s sincerity."


    "Mr. Otto, this is my sincerity!" Infelite said hurriedly.


    "Mr. Zhang said ''sincere billion,'' as in a billion dollars! Anything under a billion dollars isn''t worthy to be called ''sincerity''!"

 Chapter 339 337: Its Good When the Money Arrives, No Matter Who Comes

    "A wreck? Is this actually considered a wreck? Can I get one of these wrecks then?"


    "I''ve always heard that the richest man in the world doesn''t play by the rules. Today, I''ve really seen it for myself."


    "Only gifts above 1 billion US dollars count as sincere? This is going to bankrupt Mr. Infelite!"


    "You might not know this, but Zhang Menglong is currently known as the God of Cars in the racing world. Not long ago, America''s God of Cars went to challenge him with a stake of 1 million US dollars. Guess what he said?"


    "What did he say?"


    "He said if you don''t have the money, don''t bother coming to race him. For any stakes below 10 billion US dollars, he wouldn''t even consider it! To him, this 1 billion US dollars probably truly lacks sincerity."


    "Oh, my God, he''s literally a devil! Does his money fall from the sky or something?"


    "If money were really falling from the sky, it must mean that the sky is Zhang Menglong''s plane dropping cash!"


    With another mention of 1 billion US dollars, it stunned the people near the hotel witnessing this event. Infelite''s total assets were just about 1 billion US dollars, and recently, Qualcomm Electronics'' stock had already been halted twice. Most of his wealth was in shares of Qualcomm Electronics, which had sharply dropped his personal fortune to less than 800 million US dollars!


    Where was he supposed to get this 1 billion US dollars? Even if he sold all his stocks and all his luxurious cars and houses, that still wouldn''t sum up to 1 billion US dollars! He would even need to borrow money from friends to come up with 1 billion US dollars.


    "Mr. Zhang said, if Mr. Infelite''s sincerity isn''t enough, he won''t meet with you," Otto said, "By the way, unless something unexpected happens, Qualcomm Electronics'' stock is still going to be halted tomorrow. The stock market hasn''t closed yet, so if you sell your shares now, you might get a bit more money."


    "1 billion US dollars? He''s a madman!" Infelite glared fiercely at Otto''s departing figure, knowing he could never come up with that 1 billion no matter what.


    Holding onto his current net worth was all thanks to the shares of Qualcomm Electronics, asking him to sell those shares was almost no different from killing him.


    "Let''s go!" Infelite looked bitterly towards the direction of the hotel and stormed off with his assistant.


    ...


    "The national strike event has expanded further, with over 500 companies on strike and more than 100,000 workers!"


    "Qualcomm Electronics'' stock plummeted as soon as the market opened, falling to less than 70% of its original value!"


    "Zhang Menglong announces an additional investment in the Worker''s Fund Foundation!"


    The next morning, these three pieces of news exploded like a bombshell across the Continent of America.


    Zhang Menglong had actually increased the funding for the Worker''s Fund Foundation¡ªdid he want the entire workforce of America to go on strike?


    "Infelite, you bastard, what have you done?" Barely awake, Infelite received an anonymous call.


    "Who are you to talk to me like that?" Infelite responded discontentedly, still not recovered from the yesterday''s encounter with Zhang Menglong.


    "I am Liz Hebert!"


    Still groggy, Infelite suddenly became wide awake, "The... the Governor..."


    "You idiot, I told you to apologize to Zhang Menglong, not provoke him further. What have you done? He just doubled the funding for the Worker''s Fund Foundation!"


    "What?" Infelite went pale with fright.


    "You still feel like sleeping?" Hebert said coldly, sneering, "Fine, keep sleeping. If I don''t see Zhang Menglong cancel that damned fund by tonight, prepare for prison!"


    "It''s over!" Infelite was instantly wide awake. The warning he had received yesterday was via Mobai. Although he was incredibly anxious, he didn''t believe he would really be arrested; perhaps Mobai was just applying pressure. That''s why he dared to leave after being upset yesterday.


    But today, it was the Governor himself who had called. If he truly couldn''t satisfy Zhang Menglong today, he had no doubt that he would be sent to prison tonight!


    If he had known that the comment was not a threat, he would''ve begged Zhang Menglong for forgiveness even if he had to kneel on the ground all of last night without sleep!


    "Right, money!" At this moment, Infelite could no longer care about money. If he were to be imprisoned for 50 years, what use would having more money be!


    He immediately opened his stock account, but the green color plunged him into despair instantly.


    If he had listened to Otto yesterday and sold his stocks and luxurious houses and cars, he might have barely scraped together 900 million US dollars or even more. With some borrowed money based on his relationships, he might have reached one billion.


    But the cliff-like stock plunge this morning had cut almost one hundred million from his personal assets!


    In just one night, he had lost a full 100 million US dollars! Now, he needed to borrow 200 million US dollars to make up the one billion!


    Infelite began frantically calling various banks, hoping to secure a loan.


    In his glorious days, the bank managers would beg him to deposit money, even bringing expensive gifts during the holidays to visit him.


    But now, he had become a persona non grata at all banks. Although they were unaware of Infelite''s issues with Zhang Menglong, seeing the situation at Qualcomm Electronics, most assumed it was going downhill; lending money to Infelite seemed like a sure loss. Who would dare lend him money?


    Having no choice, he placed his hopes on other shareholders of Qualcomm Electronics.


    "You brought us to this state and still have the face to borrow money? Get lost!" Although everyone was involved in the Silicon Moonlight incident, in the eyes of those shareholders, Infelite was the main culprit. They too had suffered massive losses recently; not kicking a man down was already merciful, how could they possibly lend him money?


    In desperation, Infelite began searching online for lending institutions, but these lenders charged very high-interest rates. Most critically, where would he find an institution that could lend him 200 million US dollars?


    Infelite, as if he had lost his soul, sat blankly in front of the computer.


    "Do you still need money? We can solve your urgent needs. There''s no cap on the loan, just sign an agreement to apply!"


    An advertisement appeared on Infelite''s computer, suddenly sparking a glimmer of hope in his eyes.


    He tried entering his personal information. After an assessment, he was actually approved for a loan of 200 million US dollars!


    The agreement was simple: if he couldn''t repay the money, he would repay through labor.


    In his desperate situation, Infelite hastily glanced over and immediately applied for the money. Surprisingly, the platform had some unknown backing; within just ten minutes, 200 million US dollars had really been deposited into his account!


    Infelite felt as if he had been reborn, immediately liquidating all his stocks and mortgaging his house and car to finally gather 1 billion US dollars in cash!


    He rushed to Zhang Menglong''s hotel with the bank card containing the cash.


    "Back again? Did you bring enough sincerity?" Otto glanced at Infelite derisively.


    "I brought enough!" Infelite handed over the card with both hands, "This card holds my sincerity, it is for Mr. Zhang''s girlfriend''s birthday gift. I hope Mr. Zhang will meet with me!"


    "You wait here," Otto casually took the card. To him, one billion US dollars was just another number.


    A few minutes later, Zhang Menglong, dressed in pajamas, walked out of the elevator.


    "Mr. Zhang, you finally agreed to see me!" Infelite was nearly moved to tears.


    "Oh!" said Zhang Menglong sarcastically, "Mr. Infelite, you''re really too kind. It was expensive for my girlfriend''s birthday!"


    If looks could kill, Infelite would have slain Zhang Menglong a thousand times over. It wasn''t just expensive for him; it was bankruptcy! Yet Zhang Menglong was still acting here.


    Deliberately in front of Infelite, Zhang Menglong stuffed the card into his bathrobe pocket. "Mr. Infelite, it''s good that the money came, but what kind of people are you bringing here!"

 Chapter 340 338: You Go to Sea to Pay off the Debt

    Infelite almost spat out a mouthful of old blood, "What do you mean ''as long as the money is here, anyone can come''?"


    He, Infelite, had even borrowed from loan sharks to gather the billion dollars, just to meet Zhang Menglong, begging for his forgiveness.


    "Since the gift has arrived, I won''t keep Mr. Infelite any longer. I thank you on behalf of my girlfriend!" Having said that, Zhang Menglong turned and made a move to leave.


    "Snap!" Infelite fell to his knees, "Mr. Zhang, please let me go! If you don''t call off that ''Worker''s Fund Foundation'' today, I''ll end up in jail for treason!"


    "Is it that serious?" Zhang Menglong exaggeratedly exclaimed, "But what does it have to do with me?"


    "Of course it does!" Infelite almost clung to Zhang Menglong''s thighs, "Mr. Zhang, please let me go. I dare not do anything against Silicon Moonlight anymore, I''ve already sold all my shares, I no longer have the capability to target Silicon Moonlight, and I''ve also signed off on a 200 million dollar loan. I really know I was wrong!"


    "A 200 million dollar loan, are you talking about this?" Zhang Menglong''s mouth curved into a slight smile, signaling Otto with his eyes.


    Otto stepped forward and placed a document in front of him.


    "This..." Otto looked at the document before him, it was actually his loan agreement, with his own signature, the pact he borrowed 200 million dollars from through that online organization!


    "How... how is this thing in your hands?" Infelite was terrified.


    "Oh, that organization just happens to be mine, what a coincidence, it must be said, Mr. Infelite, we really are fated!"


    Only an idiot would want to be fated with you!


    A terrifying conjecture suddenly appeared in Infelite''s mind, from receiving threats to his borrowing money, it seemed like a hand had been advancing everything behind the scenes, finally pushing Infelite into the unknown abyss.


    "You! You plotted against me!" Infelite''s face twisted with anger and despair.


    "Plot against you? You think you''re worth that?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "How is it possible that as soon as I need money, your lending company just happens to appear? This must all be your doing!"


    "Damn, I just happen to be too rich! The money''s mine, what do you care what I use it for? Plus, did I force you to borrow the money? It''s written in black and white, you borrowed willingly, and your signature is right there, that''s evidence!"


    "Fine!" Infelite let out a strange laugh, "I will repay this money to you sooner or later!"


    Although Infelite now had nothing, he still had his abilities, a two billion debt wasn''t something he couldn''t repay, provided he had enough time.


    "I''m sorry Mr. Infelite, I require you to return this money to the company now!"


    "Are you joking? Who asks for money back immediately after lending it? It''s not written in the contract!"


    "Mr. Infelite, please look carefully at the last line in the contract."


    "Small print? What small print?" Infelite suddenly panicked as he scrutinized the document and indeed, he saw a line at the end.


    "Final interpretation rights belong to the platform!"


    The line was in extremely faint, tiny font; it was almost invisible unless carefully examined!


    "You''re scheming against me?" Infelite glared furiously at Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s all written there in black on white, Mr. Infelite. You really were careless. What if someone demanded your life as payment for your debts? You would have lost even your life, wouldn''t you?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Mr. Infelite is truly an elite in the workplace, so let''s base your labor capabilities on an annual salary of one million US Dollars. Including interest, you would work for me for 200 years to pay off the debt. Of course, if Mr. Infelite manages to produce 200 million US Dollars plus the accompanying interest earlier, we may terminate our labor relationship earlier."


    "You!" Infelite was now absolutely certain. This was Zhang Menglong''s trap!


    In fact, he wasn''t wrong at all; this so-called lending platform was just hastily acquired by someone at Zhang Menglong''s request. With Zhang Menglong''s current computer technique, which he inherited from Iron Man, hacking into someone''s computer was a piece of cake.


    He had assessed Infelite''s assets, and under the premise of Qualcomm Electronics'' stock crashing, if he were to gather one billion US Dollars, selling his stocks would fall far short. The banks wouldn''t lend him money under such conditions either. His only way out was to take out high-interest loans.


    Zhang Menglong directly hacked the website link into his computer, and sure enough, Infelite took the bait. Zhang Menglong had never intended to let Infelite off so easily.


    "Of course, Mr. Infelite, you may choose to leave now," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but tomorrow, you should receive a subpoena from the court. How many years might two hundred million warrant?"


    In Huaxia, failing to repay a loan is just a civil lawsuit, but in America, failing to pay a huge sum could actually result in a prison sentence!


    The muscles on Infelite''s face twitched uncontrollably. He had never imagined that he, Infelite, after decades of dominance in the business world, would be driven to this extent by a Huaxia youth barely in his twenties.


    "Fine! I''ll work to pay off the debt!" Infelite gritted his teeth. Working for two hundred years was absolutely impossible, but perhaps he could still borrow a little money from some connections to stabilize Zhang Menglong; that was crucial for now.


    "Where is your company located?" Infelite asked.


    "Director Otto, could you please come here?" Zhang Menglong called to an Asian man sipping tea not far away.


    "Director Otto?" Confusion spread across Infelite''s face. Did Zhang Menglong intend for him to work on a film set? What could he possibly do? Act?


    "Come, Mr. Infelite, let me introduce you. This is Director Otto, a very famous director from Kaibong. He specializes in shooting romantic action films. Many stars owe their fame to him!"


    Infelite''s expression froze instantly.


    Romantic action films? Wasn''t that a signature industry in Kaibong? Zhang Menglong was...


    "Director Otto, this is the actor I''ve recruited for you. Let''s set his fee at 100,000 US Dollars per film. Mr. Infelite is, after all, a well-known businessman, and this rate befits his status."


    "Ha ha ha, anyone recommended by Mr. Zhang, we will certainly pair him with the best actresses!" Director Otto laughed. "So, Mr. Zhang, here''s to a pleasant collaboration!"


    "To a pleasant collaboration!"


    "Wait a minute!" Infelite suddenly tensed up, "Actor? What do you mean?"


    "This is the job I''ve arranged for you!" Zhang Menglong explained. "With a regular job, Mr. Infelite, it would take a long time to pay off these debts! But with this job, it''s calculated by the number of productions. One hundred thousand US Dollars per film, two hundred million is merely two thousand films. If Mr. Infelite is diligent, perhaps he can clear his debts within a year!"


    "You... you want me to make those kinds of films?" Infelite stepped back involuntarily, two thousand films per year; given his age, he estimated he would literally die on set!


    "No! I will absolutely not accept this kind of work!"


    "That''s not up to you," Zhang Menglong once again raised the contract, "All interpretation rights belong to the company, which means me. The only job available now is this one, so..."


    Zhang Menglong flashed a devilish grin, "Mr. Infelite, get ready to act in films to pay off your debts!"

 Chapter 341 339 It was you who teased me first

    "Alright, let''s put an end to this matter!" Having punished Infelite, Zhang Menglong saw no need to continue stirring trouble in the Americas,


    for if he were to collapse the economic and social systems of this country, to whom would he sell the chips produced in the future?


    Zhang Menglong disbanded the "Worker''s Fund Foundation". Without financial backing, the fever of the workers'' strike naturally subsided, and it was estimated that the situation would last at most another month before all enterprises could gradually return to normal production.


    Of course, Qualcomm Electronics was the most affected. Although workers had started to return to work one after another, several projects were already showing signs of delay.


    Moreover, even though the strike lasted only a few days, for a large tech company like this, a production line unattended for a few days would need at least a week to be maintained and inspected. By the time their production lines restarted, it could be half a month later.


    Qualcomm Electronics faced massive delay compensation fees, which for the company, now with a greatly reduced market value, was truly adding insult to injury.


    But this was the consequence they deserved. To Zhang Menglong, it didn''t matter that Qualcomm Electronics sanctioned the semiconductor industry of Huaxia, but they used unscrupulous methods to disgust them, and he wasn''t one to just take it lying down.


    "In the future, you can offend Huaxia''s companies, but never use illegitimate means, or else Qualcomm Electronics will be your fate!" Someone with a keen mind understood the ins and outs of the situation and immediately convened the company''s executives to issue this stern directive.


    "Mr. Zhang, President Zhou just called. He said that a representative from Shang Hongwan Corporation has come again and hopes to speak with you calmly and as soon as possible," Hong Yi said with a smile.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong smiled knowingly, "It seems they can''t handle it anymore, huh!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, just two days ago, during maintenance, some technical problems were discovered in the nuclear reactors of several Kaibong nuclear power stations. Eight stations have temporarily shut down, and this pressure was shifted to the coal power systems. Their last bit of savings is also about to run out."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, what a pitiful country," Zhang Menglong clicked his tongue.


    "Did President Zhou bring any message?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    "President Zhou said that Mr. Ryuzo Ichiro from Kintaii is willing to negotiate under any terms."


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Please inform Xu Huan for me. Have all the staff at Silicon Moonlight get ready, and ask Professor Chen to prepare as well. Our photoresist raw materials will be arriving soon."


    "Right away, Mr. Zhang."


    "Let''s go! We set off to return to Huaxia!"


    ...


    Ryuzo Ichiro had his hands full during this period. The last assassination attempt on Zhang Menglong was a complete failure. The entire base number nine was leveled to the ground, with dozens of precious Enhanced Ninja dead, and even Ryuzo Ichiro, the Divine Ninja, was severely injured.


    Every Enhanced Ninja took billions of US Dollars to cultivate, and the direct economic loss from this failed assassination exceeded ten billion dollars!


    Through the information brought by Ryuzo Ichiro and those surviving Enhanced Ninja, they learned that Zhang Menglong''s forces contained masters comparable to, or even surpassing, level nine.


    Searching through the ruins of base number nine, the Kaibong people eventually found several storage devices that might be repaired. From the restored footage, they witnessed a scene they would never forget.


    A person in an Iron Man armor just barged into base number nine, hovering in midair as if an emperor surveying his domain with one glance.


    The base''s internal defense system launched a barrage of attacks on him, but aside from causing a few sparks on his armor, it was almost completely ineffective.


    The terrifying miniature missiles he carried, each explosion having enough force to easily destroy a building, left the Mutants at the center of the explosion either dead or crippled.


    Especially when that "Iron Man" left, the remark he made was shocking: Zhang Menglong actually has over a hundred suits of such powerful armor!


    What does this imply? If there really were over a hundred suits of armor like that, then it would be as if they had over a hundred Divine Ninjas surpassing level nine at Kaibong. With such a force, they could probably sweep through the Second World!


    Although it''s impossible for Zhang Menglong to possess that many armors, they firmly believe that the number of such armor in Zhang Menglong''s hands is definitely more than just one!


    Some suggested sending someone to assassinate Zhang Menglong again, but the idea was immediately rejected by those higher up.


    If they were really to make a move against Zhang Menglong again, they would need to employ a Divine Ninja. Not to mention that the Second World Convention had stringent rules that prohibited Enhanced Humans above level nine from taking action at will, otherwise, the Psychics of Longxia would not turn a blind eye.


    Even if they truly managed to infiltrate Huaxia and come face to face with Zhang Menglong, could they say with certainty that they could eliminate Zhang Menglong? Based on the data, that "Iron Man" reached an attack energy intensity of 15 units!


    This is a combat power that only a Level Five Divine Ninja would possess, and there are only a few such individuals in the entire Kaibong. If they were to dispatch a Divine Ninja haphazardly, chances are they would be slaughtered!


    Kaibong does have top-level Divine Ninjas, and it is said that the founder of the Dark Ninja has even reached the brink of breaking through the Divine Ninja level. However, such individuals are no longer bound by any external factors and even the Prime Minister must treat them with courtesy.


    To ask such a person to kill a merchant? You''d be slapped to death first!


    The energy problem is becoming more and more severe. To deal with the current shortage of power supply, Kaibong has even implemented various electricity rationing measures. But these measures have had little effect and have even provoked strong reactions from the general populace.


    In the past few days, the whole of Kaibong has been driven almost to a dead end. After some discussions, they finally decided to agree to export their new soil mines to Huaxia!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Kintani has already arrived." President Zhou was already at the door of the chamber to welcome Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Ryuzo Ichiro. The last time he came, this Ryuzo Ichiro was sitting in the office drinking tea, looking superior, but today, he didn''t dare enter and was standing outside with President Zhou waiting for Zhang Menglong to arrive.


    "Mr. Kintani, long time no see," Zhang Menglong greeted deliberately.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it''s been a while," Ryuzo Ichiro said cautiously, as today he came with a mission. If he could not get that batch of coal from Zhang Menglong, there was no need for him to return to Kaibong.


    "May I know what Mr. Kintani wishes to discuss this time?"


    Ryuzo Ichiro thought to himself, isn''t this just feigning ignorance? Don''t you have some idea of why I''m here? You just want me to admit I''m here to beg you, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, as you know, our coal supplies in Kaibong are extremely scarce right now. We are aware that you are in great need of new soil ore. If you are willing to sell your coal to us at a price of 80 US Dollars per ton, we are willing to open up the export of new soil ore to Huaxia!"


    Ryuzo Ichiro stated his purpose directly, as he really didn''t have much time left.


    "Alright then, I''m willing to purchase your country''s new soil ore at a price of 10,000 US Dollars per ton. Let''s start with 4 million tons this year!"


    Ryuzo Ichiro''s face instantly changed, "10,000 US Dollars per ton? Are you joking?"


    New soil ore, a rare metal mineral, normally trades around 40,000 US Dollars per ton!


    "You were the one joking with me!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "With my average cost of 300 US Dollars, you''re asking for 80 US Dollars per ton, aren''t you the one joking?"

 Chapter 342 342: 340

    "Mr. Zhang, you should be well aware that the prices of our new soil minerals exported to Europe and America exceed $40,000 per ton. Your price is simply too low!"


    "It''s not low. Isn''t it just a quarter of the normal price?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I import this coal at a cost of $320 per ton, and the price you offer is also just a quarter, and I haven''t even counted the warehousing costs during this period. In comparison, it''s already very conscientious!"


    "$10,000 per ton, that''s my price. If you think it''s too low, you don''t have to sell it!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m not in a hurry anyway!"


    Kim Taejing felt a bitterness in his heart that he couldn''t express. True, you''re not in a hurry. You have plenty of money to support your employees; even delaying for a year or two is not a problem.


    But they couldn''t wait! Not to mention a year or two; they couldn''t even drag it out for a week. This was a matter crucial to the livelihood of the people! If there wasn''t enough coal imported this week, the whole Kaibong would directly fall into a predicament of power shortage.


    But the price Zhang Menglong proposed was simply outrageous.


    At $80 per ton, Zhang Menglong indeed would lose three to four hundred billion US Dollars, but are coal and new soil minerals commodities of the same grade?


    The export price of 400 million tons of new soil minerals reached $1,600 billion USD, and if calculated at $10,000 per ton, their loss would amount to $1,200 billion USD, which was almost like taking their lives!


    "Alright! Mr. Zhang, let''s do this: we''ll buy that batch of coal from you at the average price you purchased it for! Isn''t that worth over $400 billion USD? We''ll deduct this amount from the cost of your import of new soil minerals. You want 400 tons of new soil minerals, so we only need $1,200 billion USD. Does that sound fair?"


    Even though they would still lose more than three hundred billion US Dollars, these mineral resources weren''t visible cash; at most, it was just earning a bit less.


    Losing $300 billion USD was much better than losing $1,200 billion USD, wasn''t it?


    At this juncture, obtaining that batch of coal from Zhang Menglong''s hands was the most crucial.


    "No, no, no, Mr. Kim, $300 per ton was the price then, it''s not the price anymore!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Now, I can sell this batch of coal to you, but the price has doubled to $600 per ton!"


    "You!" Kim Taejing pointed at Zhang Menglong, his upper and lower teeth visibly trembling as though he wanted to grind his teeth in frustration.


    "Mr. Kim, I had offered you the price of $300 per ton last time, but you didn''t agree. I had also warned you that if you came to me to buy again, it wouldn''t be at that price!"


    Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I still maintain what I''ve always said: I am a businessman, and naturally, a businessman needs to make money; or else, should I go drink the North Wind?"


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you think this is a bit excessive?"


    "Mr. Zhang, perhaps we could discuss this price again?" Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere, even President Zhou couldn''t help but start mediating.


    "President Zhou, I made it very clear. If it was last time, I might have sold it for $300 billion USD per ton, considering the face of our countries'' relations, but not this time." Zhang Menglong was unwavering.


    "Mr. Zhang, you are deliberately stirring up trouble!" Kim Taejing said, "We have already tried to meet your price, but you are insatiable. Is this the right attitude?"


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong slammed his palm on the table, and a thick Inner Strength surged from his palm, actually cracking the marble surface of the table!


    Zhang Menglong''s current Inner Strength could kill a Level Four Mutant or Enhancer as if slaughtering a dog¡ªa slap emitted could shatter the internal organs of even an elephant to pieces; had he not pulled back some of his strength, the marble table would have shattered into pieces instantaneously.


    But even so, it still gave President Zhou and Kim Taejing quite a shock.


    This was a solid marble table after all; who had seen someone able to crack a piece of marble with a slap? Not to mention the terrifying strength, would ordinary bones not be shattered?


    "He is not an ordinary person!" Having dealt with Dark Ninjas before, Kim Taejing was well aware that there were some extraordinary individuals in this world. He had actually always thought that Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary person!


    "Kim Taejing!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "You know very well what mess you''ve made; if I didn''t have some abilities, wouldn''t I have already died in Baodao Province last time?"


    "What?" President Zhou''s expression faltered. What did Zhang Menglong mean by that? He almost died in Baodao Province? Could it be that Jintianjing Long had secretly used some underhanded methods?


    Given Zhang Menglong''s tough stance today, even though he is Zhang Menglong, if he had been targeted by an assassination attempt, he definitely wouldn''t negotiate business calmly.


    "Mr. Zhang, I don''t understand what you are talking about," Jintianjing Long said unflinchingly. With President Zhou here, how could he possibly admit that they from Kaibong had sent someone to kill Zhang Menglong?


    "Fine! 600 US Dollars it is!" Jintianjing Long gritted his teeth. Although there was less than 100 billion US Dollars in profit left, it was still a profit. Their country''s new soil mines were rich in resources; just consider it as if a little bit from the reserves was lost.


    "Mr. Jintian, don''t be anxious," Zhang Menglong revealed a hint of a smile, which in the eyes of Jintianjing Long, instantly turned ominously terrifying, "600 USD per ton was the price two minutes ago. Now the price has risen. I want to double it, 1200 USD per ton!"


    "Hiss!" Upon hearing the number Zhang Menglong called out, President Zhou couldn''t help but inhale a breath of cold air.


    The market price of 60 USD per ton skyrocketed to 1200 USD per ton¡ªnearly a twentyfold increase. This wasn''t just a lion''s mouth wide open; this was outright daylight robbery!


    At this price, their Kaibong''s 4 million tons of new soil ore was practically no different from being given away for free.


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far!" The rage in Jintianjing Long''s heart erupted like a volcano.


    "I''m not holding a knife to your necks forcing you to buy," Zhang Menglong laughed, "You can completely decide not to buy."


    "Or you could take some money and ask other countries, see if they are willing to sell their coal to you. By then, I will still buy your new soil ore for 40,000 USD per ton!"


    "If we could get coal, would we be crazy to come to you?" Jintianjing Long had already cursed all the curse words he could think of in his mind.


    "All right, now it''s 1300 USD per ton," Zhang Menglong, arms crossed in front of his chest, watched with a playful smile, "From now on, every extra minute will see an increase of 100 USD per ton."


    "You!"


    "Only 50 seconds left in the next minute!" Zhang Menglong opened the stopwatch on his phone.


    Jintianjing Long''s face twitched as if paralyzed; he of course knew why Zhang Menglong was being so uncompromising this time. If it weren''t for their last attempt to assassinate Zhang Menglong, things wouldn''t have escalated to this point.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Zhang Menglong''s revenge would be so fierce, not only destroying one of their Dark Ninja bases but now even seizing their achilles heel relentlessly¡ªthis was truly losing both the wife and the troops!


    "Only 30 seconds left! Think fast!"


    Jintianjing Long''s entire body was twitching, "Fine! Let''s do it at the price you mentioned!"


    "Haha!" Zhang Menglong finally showed a satisfied smile.


    "Tomorrow, I will arrange for someone to take over the goods, farewell!" Jintianjing Long felt that every second he stayed here drove him closer to madness, leaving these words behind, he immediately turned and left.


    He had just taken a few steps when he heard Zhang Menglong''s voice from behind.


    "President Zhou, I''m in a good mood today. Let''s have dinner tonight!"


    "Hahaha! Getting a free ride is just too sweet!"


    "Cough cough..." Jintianjing Long suddenly felt a surge of blood rushing up...

 Chapter 343 341: You are all quite weak

    The import of coal was urgent, and the very next day, Jintianjing Long immediately sought out people to work with Zhang Menglong on the handover of the new earth mine and coal.


    The price for 4 million tons of new earth mine was 160 billion US Dollars, and the batch of coal Kaibong needed had soared to 1300 US Dollars per ton, bringing the total close to 200 billion US Dollars!


    In other words, Kaibong had to pay Zhang Menglong nearly 40 billion US Dollars more! And this sum just happened to level out the money Zhang Menglong spent on importing coal fields from Australia.


    Zhang Menglong had essentially gotten the 4 million tons of new earth mine from the Kaibong people without spending a penny, his only real loss being some logistics and storage costs. Compared to the massive 160 billion US Dollars, these costs were almost negligible.


    "Hmph! Sending someone to kill me? Letting you bleed this much is already quite merciful!" Zhang Menglong sneered. Had it been according to the temperament of his ancestors, they might have used planes, tanks, and nuclear bombs to flatten this little island country!


    "Zhang Menglong, are you back yet?" Just as Zhang Menglong finally found some free time, he received a call from Wang Ling.


    "Man, I have rested for less than half a day and here you are harassing me. Did you install a surveillance camera in my house or what?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "If you''re free this afternoon, why don''t you come see my team?" Wang Ling suggested.


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong was someone who loved playing games, and although he used to be terrible at them, it didn''t stop him from enjoying them. Moreover, he was eager to see the skill level of the people Wang Ling had recruited.


    "Hehe, let me tell you, you''re definitely going to be blown away. I''ve spent a lot of money to put this team together!"


    "Oh? Then I really must take a good look!"


    ...


    Wang Ling''s club was located in an esports town in the Jiangbin District of Jiangnan City, a very bustling gaming industry belt with game development companies, game operations companies, and esports clubs.


    According to Wang Ling, many teams that had participated in world-class competitions were headquartered in this place!


    Wang Ling''s club occupied a new seven-story building. Initially, a gaming company was supposed to move in, but due to the pandemic''s impact, the company went bankrupt before it could settle in, and Wang Ling took a big chunk of the startup capital provided by his father to buy the building.


    "How is it, not too shabby, right?" Wang Ling took Zhang Menglong around the club for a tour. The building housed the players'' and coaches'' dormitories, tactical discussion rooms, training rooms, and a whole floor dedicated to living and recreational facilities. Despite its modest size, the club was fully equipped to meet the daily needs of the players.


    "What''s this room for?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing to a few rooms in the corner of the floor with the dormitories. "Guest rooms?"


    Wang Ling chuckled, "You don''t understand this industry. Esports players have a very strict time management, and under normal circumstances, they aren''t allowed to leave the base. However, some of the guys still need to exchange feelings with their girlfriends once in a while. I call these the relationship exchange rooms!"


    "My man!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh, "I didn''t expect you to be so humanized."


    The two arrived at the floor with the training rooms, where each esports title had a designated training area. Orchestrating the setup, Wang Ling led Zhang Menglong into the first room.


    This was the League of Legends team''s training room, and all the players were in the midst of their practice sessions.


    "Clap clap clap!" Wang Ling clapped his hands, "Everyone, take a short break, I''d like to introduce you all to another shareholder of the club!"


    Upon hearing Wang Ling''s call, the players and coaches turned their heads. The moment they saw Zhang Menglong, many faces lit up with surprise.


    "Holy cow! Boss Zhang! Our other shareholder is Boss Zhang!"


    "Momma, I''ve seen him in person now, Boss Zhang, please give me an autograph!"


    "Boss Zhang, I''m a fan! Can I get a photo with you?"


    "Me too, me too!"


    "We''re all your fans!"


    This sudden enthusiasm caught Zhang Menglong off guard.


    "Come, let me introduce you to some of the strongest players on our team!" Wang Ling pulled out a few people from the crowd.


    "This is the captain of the League of Legends team, Yu Yunwei. You might not recognize the name, but you''ve definitely heard his gaming ID¡ªhe''s ''destiny.''"


    "He''s ''destiny''!?" Zhang Menglong had often seen videos of this player on a small streaming site when he used to play games. His moves were stunningly brilliant, with a mix of boldness and refinement, managing to solo-kill world champions several times in solo queue.


    "The kinggo club next door has always wanted to sign him, even offering him 20 million per year, but he didn''t accept. Now he''s been recruited by me!" Wang Ling said proudly, "With him as our trump card, we''ll definitely make a splash at this year''s World Esports Olympics!"


    In the League of Legends team, including both starters and substitutes, there were a total of 12 players. Zhang Menglong could tell that the other 11 people all respected Yu Yunwei greatly. In the esports circle, skill is the only pathway to respect.


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong nodded. "Let''s go look over there!"


    "This is the Street Fighter players'' training room!" Wang Ling introduced.


    "Boss!" All the players stood up, except for two who were in the midst of a match.


    "Hey, what are you two doing? The boss is here!" The coach hurriedly urged them.


    "No worries, let them finish this round!" Zhang Menglong smiled, knowing that esports also required high levels of concentration and that even practice matches shouldn''t be disturbed by external factors.


    "These two were also costly acquisitions for us," Wang Ling said, "one is Luo Ling, last year''s national cybercafe champion, and the other is the champion from Island Province, Wei Weihai, but he has quite the temper. Relying on his strength, he''s not very friendly to other teammates, often shaming others."


    "Moreover, neither of them acknowledges the other as superior, both wanting to be the team captain. They''ve been competing for a long time with alternating wins and losses."


    "Ok!"


    A minute later, the match ended, Luo Ling winning by a sliver of health.


    "Damn! Just a bit more!" Wei Weihai was so frustrated he nearly threw the controller.


    "Hahaha! There, I won this time!"


    "Cut it out, we played 8 rounds today, each won 4, it''s just a tie, nothing to brag about," Wei Weihai retorted.


    "Alright, come meet Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang," the coach immediately said.


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wang!" The two men gave a slight bow to Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling.


    "You two are both champions?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Sort of," they replied, each with a hint of a defiant smile on their face.


    "I just heard from Wang Ling that you two are competing to be the team bully?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    The expressions on their faces changed slightly, then they said, "Mr. Zhang, it''s really because their skills are too poor. According to the current schedule, each city must select one team, then the teams from all cities will compete to form one provincial team, and only the strongest three provincial teams can enter the Esports Olympics. By our current standards, we''re far from good enough."


    "So that''s your excuse for shaming others?" Zhang Menglong asked sternly. He had no say in other clubs, but in his, Zhang Menglong''s club, no such behavior would be tolerated!


    They averted their gaze, seemingly unwilling to respond to the question.


    "So you mean, if someone is stronger than you, it''s alright for them to humiliate you just the same?" Zhang Menglong''s lips curved slightly.


    "I just watched your match," Zhang Menglong said, "and in my opinion, both of you are pretty weak!"

 Chapter 344 342 Hes Pretending to Be a Grandson

    "Are both of them pretty weak?"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the surrounding team members all showed surprised expressions.


    Although the audience for Street Fighter is not nearly as large as global smash hit games like League of Legends, when it comes to the difficulty of the gameplay, it is actually not at all inferior to those games.


    A Street Fighter expert can win against a regular player''s three characters with just one character without losing a sliver of health, and Luo Ling and Wei Weihai were almost at that level.


    In the entire Street Fighter gaming scene, they had notable reputations. In the finals of the last National Street Fighter Internet Cafe Competition, Luo Ling''s endgame execution in terms of refinement and difficulty even garnered praise from many international players; it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to describe it as an instant classic.


    It was because of this competition that Luo Ling suddenly gained a huge following of fans, both domestically and internationally, and even the world champion of Street Fighter spoke very highly of him.


    In the eyes of the other team members, although the two of them were somewhat arrogant and overbearing within the team, they absolutely recognized their strength. If those two were to be described as "weak," then what did that make them?


    Although Zhang Menglong was their boss, every esports player had their own dignity. Zhang Menglong could say their work was inattentive and not proactive, but insulting their level of play was something they could absolutely not tolerate!


    "I heard that both of you have quoted a price of 2 million a year?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    The two snorted coldly, implicitly confirming the figure, even though this price was a bit of an exaggeration for them. Among professional Street Fighter players, even the top international players only have a base salary of about 200,000 US dollars, excluding competition prize money.


    "But in my eyes, even giving you 200,000 Huaxia currency a year would be too high!"


    "What?" Both widened their eyes in disbelief. Although the team they were on before was not as formal and large-scale as Wang Ling''s club, a base salary of 200,000 Huaxia currency was an insult to top-tier players like them!


    "What? Not convinced?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "But in terms of your skills, that''s all they''re worth!"


    "Boss Zhang!" Luo Ling finally couldn''t hold back.


    "Luo Ling, what are you going to do?" the coach immediately restrained Luo Ling. However, Luo Ling shrugged off the coach''s hand, completely ignoring his authority.


    "It''s fine, let him speak," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Boss Zhang, since you say our skills are poor, yours must be ''peerless,''" Luo Ling intentionally stressed the words "peerless," "how about we spar in a match, so this noob can have his eyes opened?"


    Wang Ling''s face suddenly changed at this. Having known Zhang Menglong for so long, when they hung out together, the thing they did most was play games. However, Zhang Menglong was like a gaming black hole; whenever he watched a game, his commentary made him seem like a world champion, but when it came to actually playing, he was incredibly bad.


    Especially with fighting games, Zhang Menglong took the term "noob" to a whole new level. When facing off against Wang Ling, he was almost always defeated three to one or even sometimes three against two, and to date, he had not won a single time.


    Even after every loss, Zhang Menglong would blame his keyboard or controller, but Wang Ling knew very well that each piece of Zhang Menglong''s gaming equipment was worth no less than a hundred thousand. His computer was a supercomputer used as the mainframe, the display screen had military strategic-level clarity, and even his mouse was diamond-encrusted.


    To describe Zhang Menglong''s gaming skill, there was only one phrase¡ª"to be bad is the original sin."


    In the esports circle, the value of APM (Actions Per Minute) varies between games. For instance, in games like Warcraft, where the same button is often repeatedly pressed, even an APM of 300 can have a lot of fluff.


    However, for fighting games, the APM is solid and without any fluff. According to Wang Ling''s records, Luo Ling''s APM surpassed 321, and according to official data, the current world champion''s APM is roughly around 347, which is a quite frightening figure.


    Now that Luo Ling, the Huaxia champion, wanted to have a go with Zhang Menglong, Wang Ling believed that if Zhang Menglong did his best, he would perform quite well if he could take down even half of Luo Ling''s health bar. It was even quite possible he wouldn''t land a single effective hit!


    If Zhang Menglong agreed, he was sure to be humiliated and suffer a complete defeat, but if he refused, Boss Zhang would no longer have any authority or credibility going forward. Whether Zhang Menglong accepted the challenge or not, it was not a good situation for him.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong could fire them for the sake of his dignity, but such high-level players are not easily replaceable, and their loss would certainly be a blow to the team!


    "Of course!" To everyone''s surprise, Zhang Menglong actually agreed immediately. "However, I have one condition!"


    "What condition?" Luo Ling asked.


    "If you win, I''ll raise your salary to 5 million a year, and I won''t care how you throw your weight around in this team!"


    "Fine!" Luo Ling agreed without a second thought. In his mind, he had never even considered the possibility of losing, as money and skill had no correlation whatsoever.


    "And if you lose?" Zhang Menglong asked in return.


    "If I lose, I''ll let you dispose of me as you wish!"


    "There''s no need for that," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. "If you lose, you''ll work for me for free for three years and are forbidden from insulting your teammates ever again. How does that sound?"


    "Deal! It''s settled!" Luo Ling said eagerly, as if the salary of 5 million US dollars a year was already within his grasp.


    "Let''s go." Zhang Menglong picked up the controller,


    The rules were simple: each player chose three characters, and a player would lose once all three of their characters were defeated.


    Both players selected the same characters¡ªRyu, Ken, and Chun-Li¡ªexcept that the order in which they were deployed was slightly different. Zhang Menglong''s order was Ken, Chun-Li, Ryu, while Luo Ling had chosen Chun-Li, Ryu, Ken.


    "Luo Ling doesn''t plan on leaving any face for the boss!" When the onlookers saw Luo Ling choose Chun-Li first, they immediately had a bad feeling. Chun-Li was the character Luo Ling was most proficient with and was also his signature character. He had once managed to pull off a 41-hit combo in a competition, instantly beating a professional player''s character with full health.


    "Round 1 ready fight!"


    Luo Ling''s hands moved at an unimaginable speed, launching a torrential barrage of attacks on Zhang Menglong, who appeared like a complete novice, being hit with a 35-hit combo by Luo Ling''s Chun-Li.


    "Damn! I can''t bear to watch this!" Wang Ling covered his eyes with his hand, his expression showing embarrassment, "Going head-to-head with a national champion, isn''t this just asking for trouble while trying to save face?"


    The other team members also looked at Zhang Menglong with pity. In this team, aside from Wei Weihai, no one had ever forced Luo Ling to use his third character.


    Following this trend, it looked like Zhang Menglong wouldn''t even be able to deal a bit of damage.


    "Round 2 ready fight!"


    "Pop pop pop..."


    Another 37-hit combo, and Zhang Menglong was taken down in seconds again!


    "Luo Ling, leave some face for the boss!" Wei Weihai purposely said loudly.


    Indeed, in the third round, after a series of practiced combos, Zhang Menglong was left with only a sliver of health. One more hit and the forced damage would take away that last bit of health, declaring Zhang Menglong''s complete defeat in this contest.


    When everyone''s gaze turned to Zhang Menglong''s face, wanting to see his expression, he actually revealed a strange smile.


    "Well, that''s about right!" Zhang Menglong said. "Now I''m going to tell you just how ''lousy'' your skills are!"


    "Hmph, tough talk!" Luo Ling muttered to himself, his hands moving rapidly once again.


    "It''s over!"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, a salary of 5 million a year, and it''s so easy to get. I''m jealous!"


    "Wait a second! Boss Zhang blocked it!"


    "What? Blocked the chip damage? Is this blocking?"


    What they referred to as blocking was a brand-new defensive system where a player, just before the opponent''s move hit them, could push the joystick to the right or downwards and block the attack completely without losing any health!


    But this maneuver demanded extremely high reaction time and operation speed from the player.


    "Just once, it must be luck, right?"


    "Definitely luck. Even a beginner can manage that kind of block occasionally!"


    But what happened next had everyone''s eyes wide open.


    Zhang Menglong''s expression was calm, his hands moving rhythmically, and Luo Ling''s following 13 attacks were all perfectly blocked by Zhang Menglong using the blocking technique!


    Luo Ling''s expression instantly froze.


    "This... This is impossible!"


    Wang Ling''s eyes were filled with disbelief. "This guy, he was pretending all along!"

 Chapter 345 343: I Let You Three Health Bars

    "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" Luo Ling seemed to become a parrot all at once, even stopping his hand movements in the process.


    Blocking a skill 13 times in a row had occurred in the history of Street Fighter, though not without precedent.


    It was during the Street Fighter World Semifinals six years ago, when a player named Kaibong, alias Daigo Umehara, faced off against a Chinese American player named Justin in the final match.


    Right from the start, Justin''s character "Chun-Li" unleashed a dazzling sequence of moves that brought Daigo''s character "Ken" down to a sliver of health, identical to Zhang Menglong''s situation just moments ago, where any simple attack landing or skill being blocked followed by forced health deduction would mean a direct loss for Daigo.


    At that point, Justin still retained a third of his health, a virtually guaranteed victory considering the level of world-class players like him.


    Amidst the roaring audience, Justin executed Chun-Li''s signature move "Spinning Bird Kick." This skill involved a series of close-quarters continuous strikes, a rapid forward dash followed by 14 successive attacks, culminating with a kick that knocked the opponent into the air. Within this combo, the rhythm of each blow was unpredictable.


    Theoretically, any skill or attack in Street Fighter could be blocked by the blocking system, but accomplishing this in actual combat proved extremely difficult. To block this series of strikes, one had to distinctly perceive the characteristic and timing of each attack and execute flawlessly precise operations.


    What followed was a classic moment in Esports history, perhaps only comparable to that famous scene in League of Legends where the player with the surname Lee made a miraculous comeback kill with his character "Zed" at a sliver of health.


    Against all odds, Daigo proceeded to block his opponent''s attacks 15 consecutive times while on a sliver of health, eventually making an incredible comeback.


    What does this signify?


    Such blocking is valid only within the 7 frames before the opponent''s attack hits; with this game''s technical settings at 60 frames per second, 7 frames amount to 0.116 seconds.


    That is to say, when Justin executed the combo, Daigo had merely 0.116 seconds to react and defend, and over the next 3 to 5 seconds, he had to replicate this precise timing 15 times!


    Even after more than a decade, this legendary video continues to circulate online, amassing billions of combined views across various versions. This moment has been dubbed the "EVO moment" in the Esports community.


    Decades have passed, yet no one in the Street Fighter community has been able to replicate this epic feat¡ªnot even Daigo himself!


    Although Zhang Menglong''s 13 consecutive blocks fall short of Daigo''s record, the difference is certainly narrow. If the first block could be chalked up to luck, then these 13 perfect blocks were by no means something that could be summed up by mere chance!


    "Come on, continue!" Zhang Menglong beckoned Luo Ling with a hand gesture.


    "I refuse to believe in this evil magic!" Luo Ling rallied for a counterattack, but Zhang Menglong showed no intention of going on the offensive. Instead, he once again displayed his miraculous blocking skills!


    This time Luo Ling''s Chun-Li attempted her signature 37-hit combo, which had reached an incredible 41 hits when he was at his best. Such a combo could deplete two full health bars, a scenario typically seen only when there''s a substantial gap in skill between the players.


    As if inspired by Zhang Menglong, Luo Ling entered a state of almost divine operation.


    "37! 38! 39!...45!" An incredible 45-hit combo, breaking the highest combo record in Street Fighter history!


    It is known that once a health bar is depleted, the match is essentially over, and continuing a combo becomes extremely challenging. Only world-class players can manage this, and due to the immense disrespect it demonstrates, it is generally avoided, making 45 hits an intimidating number!


    "This...this is too exaggerated!"


    "My god, is this even human?"


    "How on earth do his eyes and nerves work?"


    Zhang Menglong managed to block all 45 hits, executing 15 seconds of precise operations that undoubtedly surpassed human limits.


    "His APM must have been at least over 350!"


    "Damn! I didn''t record it! If I captured that, it would''ve gone viral within the community!"


    "So Zhang is also an undiscovered Esports master!"


    "I think Zhang couldn''t find any rivals in the Esports world, so he retired to become the world''s richest man."


    ...


    "What are you spacing out for? It''s not over yet!" Zhang Menglong''s hands flew over the controls, seizing an opening to break through the defense, and with a flurry of movements, the "Rising Dragon Rupture" took Luo Ling''s health bar down to nothing.


    But everything was far from over, the combo was still going!


    12, 13, 14...27, 28...52, 53...71!


    A total of 71 hits in the combo!


    "KO!"


    "Damn... a 71-hit combo!"


    "He''s not just any noob; he''s a national champion!"


    "This power, it''s terrifying... Playing against a national champion is like a national champion playing against a noob."


    "Too strong, no wonder Zhang just said they were both noobs, he''s totally outclassed them¡ªcalling them noobs is already giving them too much credit!"


    "Then what are we?"


    "Trash? Soggy trash chicken? Which one are we?"


    ...


    "I refuse to believe it, two health bars and I still can''t take down a sliver of yours!" Luo Ling''s face was twisted.


    The fourth game started right away, with Luo Ling intending to take the initiative, but Zhang Menglong''s controls were even faster! Even before Luo Ling completed a full set of moves, Zhang Menglong launched him with a Rising Dragon Punch, followed by a combo that wiped out his health bar, leaving him no chance to respond from start to finish.


    "Come on, I''ll give you one last chance!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile as the final game began.


    This time, Zhang Menglong didn''t make any moves, letting Luo Ling''s combos come at him, but the block after block nearly drove Luo Ling to despair. Zhang Menglong''s defenses seemed impregnable, as precise as a computer and terrifying!


    "Alright, it''s about time!" With little space left to block, Zhang Menglong''s hands suddenly doubled in speed. The situation quickly reversed from taking hits passively to an aggressive onslaught. A heavy kick broke through the defense, followed by a gorgeous 66-hit combo that signaled the end of the match.


    "Did you see that? Zhang''s controls just now, he managed to counter-attack while blocking!"


    "The gap between those combos was only 12 frames, and Zhang had to block and counter within that 0.2 seconds. The difficulty and speed of those controls are at least twice as high as before!"


    "Guess how high Zhang''s APM was just now?"


    "I couldn''t tell from his controls, but it must have been over 400, right?"


    "Oh my, is there anyone in the world with an APM over 400?"


    "There is! Have you read The King''s Avatar? Ye Qiu can do it!"


    "Hahaha, those from novels don''t count!"


    ...


    "Are you convinced?" Zhang Menglong put down the controller and looked at Luo Ling with a smile.


    Luo Ling hung his head in silence; his mentality had almost collapsed after Zhang Menglong perfectly blocked those 45 hits in a row.


    "Why don''t you give it a try?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wei Weihai, "Same terms, beat me, and it''s a 5 million annual salary."


    "I... I..." Wei Weihai stammered, unable to speak. His skills were almost the same as Luo Ling''s, and if Luo Ling was beaten to that extent, how could he fare any better?


    "Don''t be such a wimp!" Zhang Menglong taunted, "If you think I''m too good, I can give you three health bars!"

 Chapter 346 344: Its Me Alone Surrounding Them 12

    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking. How could I possibly be your opponent?" Wei Weihai backed down immediately.


    Luo Ling and his skill level were very close, and even Luo Ling had been beaten badly. If he stepped up, his fate would probably be about the same, so why should he go up there and humiliate himself?


    "So, are you willing to accept the defeat?" Zhang Menglong asked, possessing Ye Qiu''s true skills. Although Zhang Menglong''s APM couldn''t reach Ye Qiu''s terrifying levels, achieving seven to eight hundred was not a problem at all.


    Especially after practicing Three Elements Unite, Zhang Menglong''s reaction speed, visual acuity, and more had greatly improved. Even within 0.1 seconds, he could make several efficient actions, of course, provided the equipment could support Zhang Menglong''s high-frequency operations.


    "I admit defeat!" Although Luo Ling was somewhat proud, for Esports players, skill is the hard truth. Zhang Menglong defeating him with just a sliver of health left showed that their skills were not on the same level at all.


    Especially that spectacular blocking skill. Back then, Daigo Umehara''s 15 blocks were called operations impossible for humans, and Zhang Menglong actually blocked three times his attacks. How much more difficult was that?


    Even the world champion would likely be far from Zhang Menglong''s match!


    Such a boss was worthy of his respect!


    "Starting today, I will work for you for free for three years, and I assure you, insulting teammates will never happen again!" Luo Ling said earnestly.


    In the previous competition, Luo Ling had indeed shown significant improvement, and he was only nineteen years old. Even three years later, at just twenty-two, being income-less for three years wasn''t particularly hard for a top player like him.


    What he hoped more was to learn the skills and techniques from Zhang Menglong if he stayed here. Even if it cost a million annual salary, he would be willing to consider it a tuition fee.


    "What about you?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wei Weihai.


    "The same for me," Wei Weihai said with a wry smile.


    "Good, as long as your attitude is right," Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "I''m not a vampire. I was just teaching you a lesson. There''s always someone better, don''t think you can just insult your teammates because you think you are strong. You should know, there''s always someone better than you, unless you are Zhang Menglong!"


    "Damn! So Versaille!" Wang Ling cursed, "Where on earth did you get such terrifying operations? Last time at your home playing Street Fighter, you were hammered flat like a winter melon. Where did the real Zhang Menglong go?"


    "I was just being low-key!" Zhang Menglong said, "I fear if I am too amazing, I''ll have no friends later."


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a question I want to ask you. Why at the beginning, you didn''t make any effective moves until the last sliver of health before you started to counterattack? If my last combo did a little more damage, maybe even that sliver of health wouldn''t have remained."


    "I... I was just observing the characteristics of this game version," Zhang Menglong said, "I hadn''t played this version before and wasn''t so familiar with character control and the like, so I needed some time to get used to the operations."


    "You... You are playing this version for the first time?" Luo Ling''s pupils dilated significantly.


    It is known that even in the same game, each different version has some differences in various details. Any differences, such as the frame rate of each animation, the reaction time of each skill, etc., can affect operations.


    Even professional players need quite some time to adapt to each game version update. Even for these 2D fighting games, they usually require a few days to a few weeks of adaptation period.


    But Zhang Menglong had completed this process in just a few minutes, which was truly inhuman!


    "I hadn''t touched this version before, so it took a little time," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Damn!"


    "This is Ye Qiu alive!"


    "I give up!"


    "This level could easily thrash the world champion!"


    "Mr. Zhang, why don''t you just become our coach!"


    "Yeah, if you coach us, we''d definitely win the championship at the Esports Olympics this time and thrash those European and American losers!"


    "Cut it out, competing and coaching are totally different things!" Wang Ling said.


    "Well, that''s not necessarily true," Zhang Menglong had learned not just personal techniques and awareness from Ye Qiu, but also training methods and other related skills.


    In Zhang Menglong''s mind, there were many training methods. Although it was impossible to become as awesome as him, it was no problem to improve the team by one level if they stuck with it for a while.


    "How about this, starting today, I''ll also serve as the head coach of our club!" Zhang Menglong''s statement shocked everyone, freezing the atmosphere in the entire training room.


    True, Zhang Menglong was indeed the boss, but "to each his own craft" applies here; Zhang Menglong''s Street Fighter skills were indeed terrifying. Even as a coach, he was qualified.


    But the club''s Esports teams weren''t limited to just one; each game had 1 to 3 coaches who each had profound insights into their respective domains. How could they wholeheartedly accept Zhang Menglong''s leadership?


    "What''s the matter? You guys have issues?" Zhang Menglong looked at everyone''s expressions and became a bit displeased.


    "Old Zhang, what the heck are you doing!" Wang Ling said bluntly, "If you want to coach the Street Fighter team, I have no objections, but for the other games, are you up to it?"


    "This Esports Olympics, since we''ve organized it, we must win every event. Starting today, I will serve as the main coach of the club, and I will decide the training plans for all events!"


    "Old Zhang, doing this, what about the other coaches? It''s not likely that they will accept your authority."


    "No problem, call everyone over. Today, I''ll really show you what I can do!"


    Saying this, Zhang Menglong pushed the door and walked out of the Street Fighter training room.


    "Let''s go, let''s go! Time to watch the show!" The members of the Street Fighter team quickly followed, feeling that something exciting was definitely going to happen today.


    "Which team is this?"


    "It''s the PUBG team, there are eight members. They seem to have an international exchange match today; it probably hasn''t ended yet?"


    "Oh? Let''s have a look!" Zhang Menglong led the way inside.


    PUBG is a shooting strategy game where 100 players are dropped onto a map, teams of four, and can scavenge for various equipment and weapons. The map also contains safe zones and toxic zones. The safe zone shrinks gradually, forcing all players into a small area for a final showdown, and the last surviving team wins.


    "Damn it! This is such bad luck, these damn dogs have teamed up to corner our Huaxia team!"


    "If it were a one-on-one, I could take on their entire team by myself!"


    Without needing the team members to explain, Zhang Menglong understood the situation. Even though forming alliances wasn''t part of the game, this behavior was unrestricted. As long as an agreement is made, teams can gang up on another team.


    Clearly, their team was being targeted by players from other nations.


    Now the entire team was down to one struggling member; the enemy''s encirclement was closing in. With three full teams, twelve players in total, it was only a matter of time before he would be killed and eliminated.


    "Let me take over!" Zhang Menglong lightly patted the player''s shoulder.


    The player glanced at Wang Ling, who nodded. Since things had already reached this point, they might as well let Zhang Menglong give it a try.


    "E12-person encirclement, let''s see how you escape!" Wang Ling said with interest.


    "Escape? Why would I want to escape?" Zhang Menglong picked up the mouse, "It''s me who''s surrounding those 12, not the other way around!"

 Chapter 347 347: 345

    "Well, that''s some big talk!" Wang Ling thought Zhang Menglong was just spouting nonsense. This game wasn''t like Street Fighter, a combat game where blocking was an option. Even if one wore the highest-level bulletproof vest and helmet, any hit from a bullet or bomb blast would cause blood loss.


    With the numerical advantage, unless the opponent''s shooting was of the "Merciful Shooting Technique" or the "Human Body Outline" shooting skill, it would be very hard for one person to win against a team.


    Moreover, because he was ambushed as soon as he hit the ground, all he had on him was a pistol and a rifle with only 30 bullets left, nothing else!


    Even because of his recent escape, he had been hit by a barrage of bullets, and his health was now less than half. In his hiding place, there were no medical supplies, so there was no way for him to replenish his health.


    He was now trapped in a two-story building, with the remaining three teams watching him from three different directions. As soon as he dared to show his head, they would turn him into a sieve.


    In this situation, where he was almost out of ammunition and supplies, even escaping seemed like a luxury, let alone a miraculous turnaround.


    "Huaxia man, come out quickly, and let us blow your head off!"


    "Hahaha, feeling the pinch, Huaxia man? Admit that you''re all trash, and we''ll let you go!"


    "Huaxia man, if you call us grandpa, we might consider using only pistols!"


    The 12 of them openly taunted Zhang Menglong with their voice chat. In their eyes, they could crush the Huaxia player at any moment.


    "Bashi people, Kaibong people, Frankfurt people!" Through their language, Zhang Menglong instantly identified the origins of the three teams. "They actually teamed up, how interesting!"


    "That''s too much!" The PUBG coach, who had studied in Frankfurt for a while and was quite proficient in French, knew full well they were being provoked, even if the other team members couldn''t understand the language. They could tell from the tone that these people were definitely provoking them.


    "Watch this!" Zhang Menglong said with a grim smile, "The Grim Reaper starts to collect souls now!"


    "Where have I heard that phrase before?"


    "I remember it was a PUBG streamer on Bilibili. Whenever he said this, he''d either get blown up by bombs or shot to death."


    "Maybe Zhang is thinking if he''s going to lose, at least he''ll lose with some flair?"


    The teammates looked at each other with helpless expressions in their eyes. They only hoped that Zhang Menglong could take down one or two enemies, so they wouldn''t lose too miserably.


    "To the east, a sniper in the factory building; behind the wall, two people; right below me, someone is hiding at the base of the wall; to the southwest..." Zhang Menglong quickly analyzed the position of each enemy.


    "And one smoke grenade?" Zhang Menglong glanced at his backpack. "Then it''s not difficult at all!"


    Zhang Menglong threw a smoke grenade right in his room, and as the smoke spread out, the four enemies to the east immediately lost sight of the window where Zhang Menglong was located.


    "Number 1, the Huaxia man has thrown smoke!"


    "No worries, listen for his footsteps. His only option is to jump out of this window unless he can take all four of us down in the instant he jumps out. Otherwise, as soon as he shows himself through the smoke, we''ll kill him!"


    "The Huaxia man is coming out!"


    "Fire!"


    Everyone immediately peeked out of their cover. They were scattered in different positions, but Zhang Menglong only had one exit. Even with top-notch skills, could he instantly shoot at three enemies?


    Zhang Menglong''s mouse swept across an irregular curve.


    "Pop pop pop pop pop pop!" Six gunshots rang out, and two sprays of blood burst from the heads of the three people hidden in the small factory and behind the wall.


    Zhang Menglong immediately twisted his view. In the instant before he hit the ground, another two pops were heard!


    Amid a puff of blue smoke, four boxes appeared in the four corners of the map.


    In a training room on the other side of the Earth, four dumbfounded Bashi people didn''t even realize what had just happened until now.


    Suddenly, they slammed their mice and keyboards down in a fury, roaring in anger.


    "My God! Oh my God! How is this possible?"


    "Ow! Damn it!"


    "Impossible! He must be using cheats!"


    All four of them were at full health and had at least Level Two helmets, and the gun Zhang Menglong was using was an AK47, which has tremendous power. Indeed, if this gun hit the head twice in succession, it could kill them.


    They were one hundred percent certain that Zhang Menglong had taken them out with just 8 bullets, each bullet hitting their heads with precision, and this was during full-auto fire!


    What does this mean?


    The firing rate of the AK47 is 10 rounds per second, and Zhang Menglong only needed 0.8 seconds to take out all four of them!


    Theoretically, it''s possible ¡ª if one designs a precise trajectory for the gun muzzle to follow over the positions of their heads and adjusts the muzzle''s moving speed according to the distance between them, this kind of operation could indeed be executed.


    But is such an operation possible?


    The AK47 is powerful, but its recoil is even greater. In the sky, a gun''s recoil is magnified several times. Without using the wrist to adjust the position of the muzzle, the impact points of the two bullets would be worlds apart!


    Those expert players would counteract the shooting deviation caused by recoil by adjusting the gun muzzle in the opposite direction of the recoil with their wrists ¡ª this is what''s called "recoil control" or "spray control".


    However, this type of control necessitates an extremely good understanding of the gun''s recoil, as well as very high APM and operational precision. And this recoil control is only practical for targeting a single enemy. Even for many players, they would need 15 or even a full magazine of 30 bullets to possibly bring down an enemy at medium to long range.


    After all, even with recoil control, the bullet impact can only be kept within a small degree of deviation.


    But for the four of them, each spaced more than 10 meters apart, not only did Zhang Menglong need to offset the recoil through nuanced control, but he also had to manage the rhythm and speed of the gun''s movement. Is this even humanly possible?


    And he did it in 0.8 seconds, no less! In comparison, that block parry from before is nothing! This is a god-tier play!


    Although he had taken out one squad, there were still 8 enemies left. The battle was far from over!


    Zhang Menglong immediately moved behind a surrounding wall and frenziedly looted the bodies.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, a Kar98k, a suppressor, an 8x scope, some nice loot!"


    ...


    "Nani? How did Bash''s team get wiped?"


    "This Huaxia man didn''t jump kill, he''s still alive!"


    "Trash, to be wiped by a single player, are they playing with their asses?"


    "Charge! We can''t let that Huaxia man get away!"


    The eight people from the other directions rushed towards the source of the gunfire.


    In the PUBG training room, all the players and coaches, including Wang Ling, were dumbstruck.


    "What did I just see?"


    "AK mid-air spray, 8 bullets and 4 headshots, those 4 were at full health, scattered in four different directions?"


    "He must be using cheats, right? Liu Yi, aren''t you afraid of getting banned?" a few teammates asked the player who had been operating the computer a moment ago.


    "I''m not your damn sister! I didn''t use any cheats! That was all Zhang''s play just now!"


    "Holy shit, that''s outrageous!"


    "This... this is beyond my realm of knowledge!"

 Chapter 348 346: The Way to Stop the Fight is to Kill Both Sides

    "There''s no way there are cheats!" the coach immediately stood up and said, "I installed detection systems on everyone''s computers. If cheats were activated, the computer would have crashed with a blue screen!"


    "So that means... fuck!"


    "Guys, come see a wizard in action!"


    "Stop training! Everybody stop training! Come watch Boss Zhang show off!"


    Hearing the call, players from other esports disciplines also hurried over from their training rooms, quickly packing the large training hall to the brim.


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong, equipped with new gear, was like a hunter waiting for the arrival of the other two teams.


    "Where are they?" When the two teams arrived at the previous battlefield, all that was left were four empty boxes.


    "Bang!" A loud noise and a player in the crowd immediately hit the ground.


    "W140, to the left!" Being professional players, they were able to pinpoint the direction of the gunshots almost instantly."


    But by this time, Zhang Menglong had already switched from his sniper rifle to an assault rifle, still the same AK47 as before!


    "On the rooftop!"


    But by now it was too late!


    "Dadada..."


    12 shots rang out, and six helmets flew up. A four-man squad instantly turned into four boxes, while Zhang Menglong swiftly ducked back into cover.


    "Fuck! That''s insane, right?"


    "This is the legendary ''not a single bullet wasted''!"


    "This calculation ability, can a human brain really achieve this?"


    "I was just watching Boss Zhang''s hands. I couldn''t even see how he was controlling the recoil!"


    "Hold on, you guys!" The coach suddenly ran to the side and took out a computer, "Each of your computers is custom-built, and you can check your APM during operation through the system. I have to see what level Boss Zhang''s APM has reached!"


    The coach opened the system and pulled up the recent record. When he saw the number, he involuntarily took a deep breath.


    "Coach, how much? Just say it!"


    "Yeah Coach Xue, just how much APM?"


    The players were all incredibly curious.


    "Boss Zhang''s operation of killing 4 enemies in 0.8 seconds had an APM of about 480."


    "As for that recent flurry, the APM was 572!"


    "Hiss!"


    "Shit!"


    "That''s a solo for how many years APM!"


    "Does anyone in the world have that APM? And it''s all effective action without any fluff!"


    "Could this be the legendary ''gun fu''?"


    "Such a pity, there''s still one that got away!"


    "What got away? Haven''t you noticed, Boss Zhang is smiling?"


    "That smile, why do I feel a chill down my spine?"


    "I suspect Boss Zhang let him go on purpose!"


    "Be confident, drop the ''suspect''!"


    ...


    "What the hell is going on? Did that Huaxia person use cheats?"


    "Quick, complain to the organizers immediately, we demand an inspection of that Huaxia person''s setup!"


    "Captain, the administrator of the competition service area reported back, there''s nothing wrong with the opponent''s setup."


    "What? How is that possible? With an AK burst fire, 12 bullets, all hitting heads, and 6 different people at that, how could it not be cheats?"


    "But the servers for the competition are all under the organizers'' controls, there shouldn''t be any loopholes."


    "A Huaxia person, such a terrifying player has emerged?"


    ...


    At this time, the only survivor left from the three teams was a Kaibong player, hiding behind a wall, and his three teammates were all struggling to make their way toward him.


    "Damn it, how could this happen?" The Kaibong player was sweating profusely, his gaze fixed on the direction where the Huaxia player was hidden. But for some reason, he didn''t follow up with more shots to finish the job.


    "Pull me up first!" another Kaibong player said, "I''ll direct you, you pull me up!"


    "Okay!"


    A few seconds later, a fallen Kaibong player was rescued by a teammate, planning to take medicine to recover health.


    "Pff!" With a crisp sound, an arrow stuck in his butt, and his dwindling health instantly emptied again.


    "That Huaxia guy is shooting hidden arrows from the corner!"


    "Get in the house! Get in the house!"


    "Ptsh!" Another arrow flew, directly killing a fallen Kaibong player, striking precisely in his chrysanthemum area.


    "Pop, pop!" Two more arrows came, hitting the chrysanthemums of another two fallen players.


    "Hahaha! Devil! He''s simply a devil!"


    "Not much damage, but extremely insulting, I now understand why Zhang just left one alive."


    "Bang!" The Kaibong player slammed the door shut and ran into the room where Zhang Menglong had just been, warily scanning his surroundings.


    "Throw away all your weapons, take off your clothes and pants, run around this house three times, and I''ll let you go!" Zhang Menglong also turned on the voice chat and said in fluent Kaibong language.


    "Huaxia guy, you''re dreaming!" the Kaibong player tried hard to locate Zhang Menglong, but he just couldn''t see him anywhere.


    Zhang Menglong relied on the surrounding obstacles to precisely block the Kaibong player''s line of sight and even muffled his footsteps, the Kaibong player had no idea Zhang Menglong had quietly approached a corner.


    In Zhang Menglong''s backpack, he had discarded all his guns and collected a whole backpack of grenades from those 11 corpses.


    "Huaxia guy, dare to leave your name!" the Kaibong player said.


    "My name is Thor!"


    Before the Kaibong man could react, one grenade after another flew into the room he was in.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    ...


    An all-encompassing bombardment left no space for the Kaibong man to hide, so he jumped straight out a window, only to be greeted by a black frying pan.


    "Duang!"


    With a crisp sound, he too became a box.


    "Ah! Damn it!" the frustrated Kaibong player cursed loudly in the training room.


    "He''s humiliating us!"


    "Damn Huaxia guy!"


    "Definitely cheats, how could anyone headshot with every bullet from an AK? Absolutely cheats!"


    They too chose to report Zhang Menglong, but the feedback was still that the opponent did not use any auxiliary tools.


    The PUBG official organized this match, there was no possible favoritism, and there should be no technical loopholes. That meant this Huaxia man had reversed the situation through his own strength!


    As unbelievable as it was, it was an ironclad fact!


    Zhang Menglong, all alone, continued in the match. At this point, there were still over 60 players in the game, and the consecutive eliminations by the same ID immediately caught the attention of all players.


    This match was also being live-streamed, and the director immediately switched the camera over to this player.


    The commentator began to narrate the match from the perspective of this Huaxia player.


    "I''m your dad, this is a player from the Huaxia team."


    "He has just eliminated 11 players by himself in one minute. According to the record we''ve just obtained, the Huaxia team encountered the encirclement of three teams upon landing, all three teammates were killed, and he alone accomplished a miraculous turnaround!"


    "My god! He killed those 12 players using only 21 bullets! 20 from the AK47 rifle and the remaining one from the 98K, and the last one, he actually took out with a frying pan! This is unbelievable! Is this the mysterious power from the East?"


    "According to our monitoring, this player''s operating environment is clean, with no use of any cheating software! Oh, this is unscientific!"


    "Now he has to finish the rest of the match alone, let''s focus our attention on him and see how he plans to complete the match by himself!"


    "Look, he''s seen two teams fighting on the other side! He''s charging in!"


    "He''s gotten surrounded by the two teams!"


    "No! Wrong! It''s those two teams that have gotten surrounded by him alone!"


    "He took 19 seconds to wipe out two full teams, all without taking a single shot!"


    "He''s surrounded two teams again! Is he there to break up the fight? His way of breaking it up seems to be taking out both sides! So hardcore!"


    "He''s charging into the final circle! He alone is holding back two teams; they don''t dare to rush in, they''re running out of med kits!"


    "The match is over! He''s truly a god!"

 Chapter 349 347 All Villains

    "Congratulations to Huaxia''s LSP team for winning this online exchange competition, and the player I''m your dad for earning the title of MVP with an astonishing kill count of 37 people!"


    "There''s definitely something shady going on, I simply don''t believe he didn''t cheat!"


    "Has anyone ever seen a guy with just one gun block a dozen people outside the poison circle, popping heads with every peek?"


    "That''s nothing¡ªour team saw worse, from 800 meters away with just two taps, he took out both our snipers!"


    "That''s nothing, our team got wiped out by his bow and arrows!"


    "That''s child''s play, I was up close with a submachine gun, and he deflected all my bullets with a frying pan before one-hitting me to death with it!"


    "We played several rounds against an American team, and every time he showed up he''d break up the fight. We told him to mind his own business, and then he just killed us all!"


    "Even hacks aren''t this ridiculous!"


    Players from each team were at a loss for words. The game had been out for years, and they had played countless matches, but who had ever seen a slaughter like this?


    If a team was down to one person, they''d try to survive as long as possible. Who would rush headlong into a fight between two teams?


    But no matter the protests, the official response was that Huaxia''s player "I''m your dad" had not used any cheats.


    And that day, nearly every PUBG player around the world remembered this ID. The first-person video of the match went online and garnered hundreds of millions of views on the first day.


    "Did we win? Did we really win?"


    "Am I dreaming? The world champions from the last exchange, the Bull team, were in this too!"


    "The Bull team? You mean that bunch of chickens that got sent packing by a grenade from our boss while driving?"


    "Oh, them. I thought they were just some wild chicken team from a random club. I had no idea they were last year''s world champions!"


    After the match ended, the team members still wore stunned expressions. Zhang Menglong''s gameplay was simply too horrifying. His screen never stayed on any one view for more than a second. His brain''s processing speed for images, quick reflexes, and shooting skills made every professional player want to kneel in worship.


    "Watching that made me a bit dizzy; I need to go throw up!"


    "Same here, and I''m a pro player. Am I getting motion sick from 3D?"


    "Wasn''t Zhang''s speed of switching screens and perspectives several times faster than a normal pro player?"


    The coach nodded, "According to the data I''ve got, Zhang''s average APM was over 450. His switching frequency was more than three times higher than your average pro player, and his shooting was terrifyingly accurate, not a single bullet missed, and he never hit anything but the head!"


    "Damn! Not even aimbot cheats are this precise!"


    "What are you all spacing out for? That''s basic stuff for me. I haven''t even shown a third of my strength yet!" Zhang Menglong stood up, "I''ll take on the role of head coach for the PUBG team, any objections?"


    No one objected, because in the just-concluded match, Zhang Menglong displayed not only incredible shooting skills but also nimble and unpredictable tactics. Crawling in the grass, ambushing¡ªanyone can do these, but knowing how to find the best cover and move after taking down an enemy, that''s profound skill!


    "Zhang Menglong, have you been undergoing some sort of secret training recently?" Wang Ling pulled Zhang Menglong aside discreetly.


    Wang Ling had played PUBG with Zhang Menglong before, but Zhang''s "Merciful Shooting Technique" and "Human Silhouette Targeting Technique" could hardly hit anyone!


    Even with a good player carrying him, Zhang Menglong''s average kills per game were only 0.75. His main contributions were to attract enemy fire and act as a mobile ammo depot and medic.


    Yet his performance today was like a human-shaped computer, almost inhuman.


    "To tell you the truth, one day I just had a breakthrough with the energy channels in my body, and since then, my skills have improved leaps and bounds. No matter what the game is, just a couple of tries and I''m sweeping through everything!"


    "Keep on bragging!" Wang Ling didn''t believe a word of Zhang Menglong''s tall tale, but considering Zhang''s mysterious background and that formidable bodyguard named Ye Yin he met a few months back, weird things happening to Zhang didn''t seem all that strange.


    "League of Legends team members, come over here!" Wang Ling shouted loudly.


    The 12 team members immediately gathered around, "Boss, what are your orders?"


    "Yunwei, you five starting players play a match with Director Zhang to test his skills. Director Zhang, you can pick four others from the team members?" Wang Ling wanted to see just how well Zhang Menglong could handle the game.


    "Then it''ll be you four!" Zhang Menglong casually pointed, "Just take care of your own minion waves. As for the jungler, as long as they know how to jungle, it''s fine. Mid lane is mine."


    "You''re going to lane against Destiny?" Wang Ling was taken aback, "This kid is renowned for his mid lane play, having solo killed Brother Li several times in solo queue, and his skill shot accuracy is extremely high. He''s really good at predicting the enemy''s movements."


    "No problem, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong led the team to their stations without hesitation.


    Zhang Menglong casually picked LeBlanc, the Deceiver, while Yu Yunwei immediately chose his signature champion Xerath. All of Xerath''s abilities are skill shots, which means they have very high damage potential but require substantial player accuracy.


    If the skill shot hit rate is very low, then even an entire game''s damage could end up being less than 4396, prompting the taunting saying that playing Xerath you must invest in an Infinity Edge and Statikk Shiv.


    However, since Yu Yunwei joined the club, every scrimmage and ranked game he played was recorded, and his Xerath had a skill shot accuracy of 78.21%, an absolutely staggering figure!


    "What kind of movement is this?" Right off the bat, Yu Yunwei unleashed several abilities, but Zhang Menglong''s movement was as if he was using a script, dodging every one of the five abilities thrown at him, and Yu even missed a few minions.


    Every time he tried to land an auto-attack, Zhang Menglong would perfectly stay out of his auto range. Just as he raised his hand, the auto-attack would be canceled.


    Seizing the right moment, Zhang Menglong executed a perfect combo followed by a flash, securing First Blood effortlessly.


    With the first kill, the game completely turned into Zhang Menglong''s showcase. Wherever he went on any lane, he would at least force the opponent to miss a crucial ability, and his skill shot accuracy astonishingly reached 100%!


    "Double Kill, Triple Kill, Quadruple Kill, Penta Kill!"


    Zhang Menglong''s LeBlanc roamed the battlefield like the Grim Reaper, cornering every opponent.


    "How is that possible! He had no vision, how could he know I was in that spot?"


    "What kind of play is this? How come his chains are twice as long as everyone else''s?"


    "Damn, it''s only 15 minutes and he already has a dozen kills? Why even play at this point!"


    "Has his champion learned the Flying Nimbus? How can he dodge even auto-attacks with just his positioning and brush jukes?"


    In just fifteen minutes, Zhang Menglong was utterly unstoppable, and by the 17th minute, he single-handedly pinned all five opponents in the fountain, unable to escape. This was an assassin mage, not a tanky warrior!


    "APM... averaging 571!" The coach yet again revealed jaw-dropping figures.


    "Now, as far as my being the head coach is concerned, does anyone have an objection?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes swept across all of the coaches'' faces, finally resting on Wang Ling''s, "If you have doubts about my ability, we can play a couple more games, any game you want!"


    "I''m convinced!" At this moment, Wang Ling could no longer find a reason to refuse.


    "Also, make sure to have a substitute player slot on every team!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "You''re planning to..."


    "If you can''t beat them, then I as the head coach will take the stage!"


    Suddenly, everyone at the club bore a villainous smile. They had just witnessed Zhang Menglong''s gaming skill and understanding firsthand.


    At this Esports Olympics, if Zhang Menglong were to compete...


    Tsk tsk tsk, the thought is too ferocious and brutal!

 Chapter 350 348 Only Idiots Would Compete in Their Contest

    After a reassignment of personnel, Zhang Menglong became the major shareholder and head coach of the club, also serving as a substitute player for all esports disciplines.


    In order to improve the players'' skills in a short period of time, Zhang Menglong also designed a training program based on his knowledge of esports, which was certain to lead to significant improvement quickly.


    "When did you learn to code?" Wang Ling asked with surprise, watching Zhang Menglong''s fingers clatter across the keyboard. He knew that wasn''t Zhang Menglong''s major.


    "What are you writing there?"


    "I''m writing a game program that can help players enhance their reaction time and dynamic visual ability."


    "Awesome!" Wang Ling exclaimed. "You''re the most inspiring rich second generation I''ve ever met!"


    "Keep it low-key!"


    ...


    "It''s done!" Zhang Menglong returned the computer to Wang Ling. "For this game, each player must train for at least 30 minutes per day. In one month, their level will definitely be a big step up from now, and that''s effective for every esports discipline."


    "Ok, I''ll have someone arrange it right away," Wang Ling told the former head coach as he called him over, "Coach Dai, I''m leaving the training in your hands."


    "Don''t worry, boss, I''ll make sure the players follow through," Coach Dai assured.


    ...


    "Old Zhang, our team is now shaping up, and we''ve also secured the right to host the Esports Olympics. We just have Riot and Blizzard left to deal with. If they don''t grant us authorization, and we proceed with hosting their games, we could be in a lot of trouble," Wang Ling expressed concern.


    "You''re talking about Riot and Blizzard, right?"


    "Exactly. Following their development over the past few years, they''ve nearly become the big brothers of the game industry. They are very protective of their status in the industry, and as you know, because of the pandemic, last year''s World Championships were postponed until now, and the current year''s event will take place in May."


    "And the timeline for our Esports Olympics is also starting in May. If it were any other year, it might not matter, but with this year''s scheduling conflict, they definitely won''t let us run major events related to their games, which is why they''ve rejected our request."


    "That''s not surprising," Zhang Menglong remarked, "Our competition is selected through a qualifying process, picking out the best teams from around the world to participate. Just the selection period alone takes a month, then add the knockout stages, finals, and semi-finals, and all in all, it''ll be over two months. Teams would have to choose one over the other."


    "So what do we do now?" Wang Ling asked, "So far, the world events hosted by Riot and Blizzard are the most influential for these games. Although our Esports Olympics sounds grand, it''s still only the first edition, and it lacks the same level of prestige."


    "If the prestige is low, then we''ll just raise it!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Start by spreading the news that the champion of each discipline will get a prize of 100 million US dollars, the runner-up 50 million, and third place 20 million!"


    "Are you being serious?" Wang Ling thought Zhang Menglong was only joking last time.


    "Nonsense, of course I''m serious. When have I ever said I was joking?"


    "Damn, 170 million US dollars for one discipline, 1.7 billion for ten disciplines. My father only gave me that much money in total, and we''ve already spent a great deal of it building this club. How could the measly sponsorship fees cover but a fraction? How are we going to make a profit?"


    "When did I ever say I was looking to make money?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll cover the costs, as for the profits, we''ll divide them according to the shareholder agreement."


    "Are you out of your mind?" If it went according to that, Wang Ling would indeed make a fortune, but Zhang Menglong was clearly going to lose money!


    "Do you have some grudge against money or what?"


    Zhang Menglong obviously couldn''t tell Wang Ling that he could earn Cred Points just by spending money, right? He probably wouldn''t understand it anyway, and might even be scared to death if told.


    "Haven''t I told you that I''m not the least bit interested in money?"


    "Here we go again!" Wang Ling was speechless. "Forget it, you''re the boss; what you say goes. I''ll just follow you and make my earnings."


    ...


    Time quickly moved on to April, and the preparations for League of Legends Season 11 were already underway. Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, the fans could only watch the matches from their homes via live stream, their desire to attend the events in person amplified countless times.


    The lineup of sponsors this year was also unprecedented, with every business keen to take advantage of the post-pandemic industry recovery.


    Riot Games'' overwhelming publicity put them on major media outlets time and again.


    "Damn, the prize pool this year has actually accumulated to 50 million US dollars, which is unprecedented in history!"


    "Yeah, the first S Tournament''s prize was only 500,000 US dollars, even last year''s prize pool was just 12 million US dollars. This year it has exploded by so much, the competition is definitely going to be incredibly exciting!"


    "Based on last year''s champion prize ratio, this year''s winning team can take home 25 million US dollars. Even if the club takes a 10% cut, all the players can still split 22.5 million US dollars, which is more than 100 million!"


    "It looks like the teams this year will be going all out to get into the World Championships, the qualifiers will definitely be thrilling!"


    Countless League of Legends players were filled with anticipation for this competition.


    "The first Esports Olympics will be held at the Olympic Center in Jiangnan City, Huaxia. Countries from around the world can send teams to participate with the following ten Esports events: Street Fighter, CSGO, League of Legends, Warcraft... Each country can send up to three representative teams, with the champion''s prize money at 100 million US dollars, runner-up at 50 million US dollars, and third place at 20 million US dollars."


    This piece of news spread like a bomb across media outlets big and small all over the world.


    "100 million US dollars for the champion?"


    "Holy shit, who is the organizer, so rich? Is it the World Olympic Committee?"


    "No, I checked, it''s a newly registered company, with Wang Ling as the legal representative, holding a 49% stake, and the major shareholder is Zhang Menglong, holding a 51% stake."


    "Organized by Zhang? No wonder, so lavish!"


    "From April to May? And there''s a League of Legends event? But isn''t there also the S11 tournament? What do we do?"


    "What the hell? With a championship prize of 100 million USD and another at 25 million USD, only an idiot would participate in S11!"


    All the major clubs around the world received this news at the same time.


    You have to know, maintaining a club is extremely costly, take the nation''s top League of Legends teams for example, perhaps a top-level professional player''s annual signing fee alone is up to ten million, and the annual expenses can definitely reach tens of millions.


    However, the prize money from the domestic top competitions is just so little, and living off sponsorships is extremely difficult for these clubs.


    The earliest Esports clubs had to carefully budget travel expenses, accommodation, and meals every time they went out to compete until things slightly improved in recent years.


    So for those clubs, making money is very important, this is an opportunity for them to get rich overnight. If they win the championship, perhaps they will have several years of operational costs covered!


    "Sign up! Quickly go sign up!"


    "But boss, we''ve already signed up for S11, we don''t have more energy..."


    "Are you brain-dead? There''s a fourfold difference in the prize money, why still go for S11? Cancel the S11 registration, inform all the players, prioritize preparing for the Esports Olympics. Just win the championship, and the club will only need 20 million US dollars, the rest you coaches and players can split!"


    "80 million US dollars? Great! I''ll sign up immediately!"


    ...


    "Have you heard? The Esports Olympics champion''s prize money is 100 million US dollars, with the runner-up and third place having 50 million and 20 million respectively!"


    "What? Even the third-place prize money can match the S11 champion''s prize!"


    "Yes! Participating in the S Tournament would drain three generations of wealth, so why not rush to sign up for the Esports Olympics? Maybe in two months, we''ll be living in a villa by the sea!"


    ...


    "Huh? What? 100 million US dollars in prize money?"


    "Coach Liu, we''re not going to S11, we''re aiming for the Esports Olympics!"


    ...

 Chapter 351 349: Do They Dare to Go All-In Against Me?

    For the owner of Riot Games, the recent years had indeed been quite favorable.


    Although the outbreak last year caused a delay in the S11 tournament, seemingly causing them to earn much less than in previous years, that was not actually the case.


    For a long period, everyone had been confined at home, doing nothing but eating, drinking, eliminating, sleeping, and playing games. According to operational data feedback, "League of Legends" saw an average online user and duration increase of at least 30% above the norm!


    A huge number of visitors meant substantial traffic, and with traffic came monetization. They had already made a fortune through advertising. Subsequently, Huaxia''s agent, Tengxun, released several new skins, allowing Riot Games to rake in vast profits once again.


    Last year''s revenue had grown by 27%, firmly placing them among the top two leaders in the gaming industry.


    With a year''s worth of pent-up consumer spending, the resurgence at this year''s S11 tournament led to a massive explosion of income, just through advertising and sponsorship fees alone, they had earned a fortune, and this year''s revenue would likely be another astonishing figure.


    Luo Huade was now the largest shareholder of Riot Games. Initially, Tengxun had planned to wholly acquire the company. When the share acquisition reached 20%, Luo Huade immediately took action, securing the largest portion of the shares. Otherwise, the company would have belonged to Huaxia by now.


    Now, Riot Games had become Luo Huade''s money-making tool. It seemed that under Tengxun''s agency, the game could control the market as it pleased, but in reality, Tengxun was just a tool.


    When Zhang Menglong sent Wang Ling to ask Mr. Ma for the rights to host the tournament, it should have been an easy task. However, surprisingly, the authorization to host the tournament had not been given to Tengxun. Luo Huade''s aim was to keep all the influence firmly in his own hands!


    "Humph, the Esports Olympics? These mere Qingqiu people also want to hold such a high-level tournament?" In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, Luo Huade looked towards the east, "The world will not allow a League of Legends tournament bigger or more influential than the S tournament to exist!"


    "Dong dong dong!"


    "Come in!" Luo Huade said.


    A strikingly dressed assistant hurried into the office, "Boss, I have some very bad news."


    "What''s the news?" Luo Huade frowned.


    "Originally, 80% of the teams that had registered for S11 have now canceled their registration."


    "What?" Luo Huade''s eyes widened.


    Each year''s S tournament allows the last champion''s region to send three teams, with the other regions sending a maximum of two teams. Those regions fought bruising battles all year for these slots. For any team, qualifying for the S series was a tremendous honor.


    In previous years, teams who secured a slot probably couldn''t wait to burn incense and pray in gratitude for this hard-won opportunity, even going so far as to heavily promote themselves.


    If they could win the S tournament, it would undoubtedly be a national celebration, a glory every League of Legends club and pro player dreamed of!


    Moreover, this year''s prize pool had increased several times over past years, with the championship team''s prize being 25 million US dollars! Last year''s entire prize pool didn''t even have this much money. Did they not want this money? Had they all gone mad to withdraw from the competition?


    "What''s going on? Why are they withdrawing?" Luo Huade asked.


    "They have switched to register for the Esports Olympics'' League of Legends tournament hosted by Huaxia."


    "What? That knockoff tournament?" Luo Huade said, "What''s so good about participating in that? Does it have any value? It''s hardly more than an upscale internet cafe tournament, and if we don''t grant them the rights, they won''t even have the qualifications to host it!"


    "But boss, all those teams that have won world championships have signed up for the Esports Olympics, including Qingqiu Country''s SK2, DSB team, Europe and America''s NC team, Huaxia''s KG team, FX team. The only teams that haven''t canceled their registration are those second-rate ones hoping to snag an S tournament championship,"


    Luo Huade''s face twitched, all the world champion teams had joined¡ªhow could this still be considered a clone contest without any real value?


    An S tournament''s area could include several countries, while the Esports Olympics allows a country to send three teams, making the bloodshed reach its peak. Only then could the true world champion be determined!


    "Boss, it''s not just that, their prize money is outrageously high," the female secretary continued to report, "The champion reward is 100 million US dollars, the runner-up gets 50 million US dollars, and the third place gets 20 million US dollars, all after taxes. Our championship prize is on the same level as their third place after taxes!"


    "Then we increase the money," Luo Huade thought for a moment and then gritted his teeth. It doesn''t matter if we earn a few billion US dollars less this year. The status of this S tournament can absolutely not be shaken by this so-called Esports Olympics!"


    "Raise the champion and runner-up prize standards to match theirs, and I refuse to believe that with the same rewards, they''d still choose to participate in the S tournament!"


    "Riot Games raises S11 prize standards, seemingly determined to compete with the Esports Olympics until the end!"


    "Man, Riot''s really going all-out here!"


    "Damn, are they out of their minds? Didn''t they do any background check before making decisions? Don''t they know who the major sponsor of this tournament is?"


    "Get a top trending spot for Mr. Zhang in advance!"


    The latest news from Riot Games caused quite a stir, but in Huaxia, everyone had a spectator''s attitude; they knew, when it came to spending money, no one in the world could outperform that man.


    "Boss, Riot Games has increased the prize money, should we re-register for S11?"


    "There''s no need," the boss of an Esports club in Huaxia revealed a profound smiling expression, "Our players are in peak condition this year, which is a good thing for us!"


    ...


    "Old Zhang, have you seen the news? Riot''s brought their prize money up to our level, seems like they''re really going all-in this time!"


    "They can still afford that amount of money," Zhang Menglong laughed. Five years ago, Riot''s annual revenue had already exceeded 1 billion US dollars, last year it broke through 2.5 billion US dollars. Taking away costs, turning over a billion or more a year is easy.


    Although taking nearly 200 million out for prize money did hurt, it was an expense they could afford!


    "If they want to play, let''s play along!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Increase the champion and runner-up prize money tenfold, cover all travel and accommodation expenses for the participating teams!"


    "You really are going all out!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but be astonished. Is this a competition or charity?


    "In the end, the prize money is still ours," Zhang Menglong confidently stated, "And how much money could the travel and accommodation fees even amount to?"


    Wang Ling could already envision the collapsing expression on Riot Games'' boss''s face.


    A tenfold increased prize pool¡ªthat''s 1.7 billion US dollars. It''s as if they''ve worked for nothing all year. Betting everything in this aggressive play, could Riot Games really keep up with such a huge wager?


    Zhang Menglong sneered, "They want to compete with us, eh? I''d like to see how they bet against us."

 Chapter 352 350: Luo Huade, I am Your Father

    "Boss, this competition isn''t officially organized," he had just checked. "It''s a project applied for by a newly registered company in Huaxia, and they spent 200 million US Dollars to purchase the trademark from the Olympic Committee."


    "200 million US Dollars?" Luo Huade was already astonished. This was practically a sky-high price for a trademark, and not something you could just buy with money. Such a trademark, probably countless eyes were fixed on it, and the people behind this company must have incredibly powerful means."


    "Who is the owner of this company?"


    "The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    Luo Huade''s expression immediately froze.


    Originally, he didn''t know much about this man from Huaxia, even after Zhang Menglong became the world''s richest man. He had never paid attention to him.


    But recently, Zhang Menglong had established the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" in America, causing hundreds of factories to go on a large-scale strike, with some lingering effects even now. Even their programmers at Riot Games, who often worked overtime, almost joined the strike.


    In such circumstances, Luo Huade couldn''t possibly claim he didn''t know who Zhang Menglong was!


    He knew that the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" had initially dumped 100 billion US Dollars in cash into it, and the very next day, they added another 100 billion US dollars. This immense wealth was practically comparable to that of a country!


    200 billion US Dollars spent was one thing, but its use to sponsor strikes meant the money was basically irrevocable. Was this person really so rich that he was afraid of dying wealthy?


    Not to mention a mere 1.7 billion US Dollars, even if he really continued to contend with Zhang Menglong, he estimated he could raise the prize money to 17 billion US Dollars! Moreover, he absolutely couldn''t come up with 1.7 billion US Dollars for this prize, he didn''t even have the qualifications to gamble with Zhang Menglong!


    "Boss, this competition isn''t officially organized," he had just checked. "It''s a project applied for by a newly registered company in Huaxia, and they spent 200 million US Dollars to purchase the trademark from the Olympic Committee."


    "200 million US Dollars?" Luo Huade was already astonished. This was practically a sky-high price for a trademark, and not something you could just buy with money. Such a trademark, probably countless eyes were fixed on it, and the people behind this company must have incredibly powerful means."


    "Who is the owner of this company?"


    "The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong!"


    Luo Huade''s expression immediately froze.


    Originally, he didn''t know much about this man from Huaxia, even after Zhang Menglong became the world''s richest man. He had never paid attention to him.


    But recently, Zhang Menglong had established the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" in America, causing hundreds of factories to go on a large-scale strike, with some lingering effects even now. Even their programmers at Riot Games, who often worked overtime, almost joined the strike.


    In such circumstances, Luo Huade couldn''t possibly claim he didn''t know who Zhang Menglong was!


    He knew that the "Worker''s Fund Foundation" had initially dumped 100 billion US Dollars in cash into it, and the very next day, they added another 100 billion US dollars. This immense wealth was practically comparable to that of a country!


    200 billion US Dollars spent was one thing, but its use to sponsor strikes meant the money was basically irrevocable. Was this person really so rich that he was afraid of dying wealthy?


    Not to mention a mere 1.7 billion US Dollars, even if he really continued to contend with Zhang Menglong, he estimated he could raise the prize money to 17 billion US Dollars! Moreover, he absolutely couldn''t come up with 1.7 billion US Dollars for this prize, he didn''t even have the qualifications to gamble with Zhang Menglong!


    "Boss, what should we do then?"


    "Don''t panic," Luo Huade was a veteran in the business world for over a decade, "we still control the rights to the event. No matter how high their prize money or how grand their event, as long as they dare to hold it, a single lawsuit from us could bankrupt them!"


    The secretary''s eyes darted around anxiously. Bankrupt them? Do you know how much assets they actually have? One trillion? Two trillion? Five trillion or maybe ten trillion? And the amount is definitely in US Dollars.


    "But boss," the secretary asked worriedly, "it was because Qualcomm Electronics'' executives offended Zhang Menglong that he caused such a significant uproar. Although our company is dominant in the gaming industry, we are far smaller than Qualcomm Electronics, more than ten times smaller. If they use the same tactics against us..."


    "Moreover, I have also heard about some of Zhang Menglong''s history," she continued. "His most common strategy against his opponents is to buy their shares or support their competitors, defeating them from a commercial standpoint. I''m worried..."


    "You don''t need to worry needlessly," Luo Huade said confidently, "the gaming industry is different. There''s hardly any company out there whose games could compete with ours. Even if there were, our players have been conditioned by the market; getting them to switch to a similar game would be extremely difficult."


    "Also, our company isn''t listed, he can''t use any acquisition methods."


    "And one more thing," even Luo Huade was somewhat shocked as he spoke, "because of the recent strike incident, America directly amended its labor strike law. It won''t be so easy for employees to go on strike anymore!"


    For a country to change its law because of a foreigner was an exceedingly rare occurrence, Luo Huade was dumbfounded when he first heard about it.


    "Old Zhang, we''ve already offered a two hundred million US dollar licensing fee, and Riot Games still hasn''t agreed!" Wang Ling had thought that would make them cave, but it seems he had underestimated Luo Huade''s tenacity.


    When Tengxun acquired the LPL broadcast rights back then, they only spent eighty million US dollars; two hundred million was already a very high price.


    "They really are in their death throes," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "What should we do? If they bite down hard and we hold the competition without the official license, there could be legal issues."


    "No worries, let the gamers take care of the game stuff," Zhang Menglong said as he opened Weibo and posted an update.


    "Sorry everyone, because Riot Games has been delaying giving us the rights to host the competition, this Esports Olympics might not be able to include League of Legends, but we will keep trying. We hope everyone won''t do anything extreme to attack Riot Games."


    "Damn, what do they mean, eh? They can''t pull together the prize money, so they use this tactic to stop our competition?"


    "That''s so shameless, right?"


    "Hahaha, President Zhang, can''t you speak something more down-to-earth? Do you think we are fools who can''t understand?"


    "Okay, we get it. We definitely won''t do anything extreme, nor will we attack Riot Games!"


    "Guys, I just created a group, those who know, know!"


    That night, as usual, Zhang Menglong planned to practice his Three Elements Unite Internal Cultivation Methods, but suddenly his phone vibrated several times; he received a few screenshots from Wang Ling.


    "Hahahaha!" Seeing the content of the screenshots, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh; Summoner''s Rift had turned into a complete troll fest, the players'' IDs were more show-offy than the next.


    "Luo Huade I Am Your Dad 001."


    "Poor Bastard Luo Huade."


    "Riot Games Are Dogs 001."


    "Luo Huade''s Dad Soars to the Heavens."


    Huaxia was already the biggest audience for League of Legends, and most of the game''s players were young people, with a huge part being fans of Zhang Menglong!


    That afternoon, group after group of one hundred to a thousand members was created just like that, a little conspiracy blooming throughout these groups.


    Starting from 8 p.m., hundreds of thousands of players changed their ID nicknames, Summoner''s Rift was filled with Luo Huade''s ''fathers'' and ''mothers'' running everywhere.


    "Damn! Dude, your name crosses a line. My ID is ''Luo Huade''s Dad 0182'', how come you''re ''Luo Huade Entire Family Dies 2001''?"


    "Guys, get him!"


    "Hahaha, sorry, hurt a friendly there, I''ll go change it quick!"


    Meanwhile, far away in America, Luo Huade saw this report and trembled with rage, "They think they can force me to license with this tactic? No way, get these accounts banned right now!"

 Chapter 353 351: You Dare to Mess with Zhang Menglong?

    One evening, Riot Games banned a whopping 2.7 million accounts, and nearly all of those accounts'' IP addresses originated from Huaxia, which made Luo Huade feel somewhat fearful and alarmed by Zhang Menglong''s influence.


    Now, with over 300 million registered players, League of Legends boasts more than 78 million players from Huaxia. According to official data, there are over 18 million active users, with the highest number of concurrent online users exceeding 6.7 million.


    2.7 million accounts changing their names simultaneously to protest the monopolistic behavior of Riot Games was a call to action so powerful, even cults would feel ashamed.


    "Fuck! You''re banning my account? I won''t stand for this. Don''t they know I''m known as the ''Ban Duelist''?"


    "Luo Huade, is your family register just filled with your own name? Banning my account?"


    "I swear, may your wife cheat on you and definitely get caught!"


    "I wish upon you a car accident where you die on the spot and the culprit is definitely to blame!"


    "I wish you take a shit and it makes absolutely no splash!"


    "I wish you a death sentence that''s definitely postponed!"


    "I wish your high insurance premiums are definitely paid out!"


    "I wish your burial spot is definitely a feng shui treasure land!"


    ...


    The players who had been banned simply couldn''t tolerate it. Many had invested a great deal of time and money into the game, some rich players spending tens of thousands in just skins. What could they play if their accounts were banned?


    "@Riot Games, unban our accounts quickly, or else we uninstall the game!"


    The players'' voices of protest caused an uproar online.


    "What? They dare to ban our accounts?"


    "Fuck! Don''t they know that we Huaxia players have the largest population base and the strongest spending power? Where do they think all the money they earn each year comes from?"


    "It''s my first time seeing someone so arrogant towards their financial backers!"


    "Brothers, uninstall and let''s move. We can''t just be bullied like this!"


    "A crusade begins! Sing the war anthem!"


    ...


    This was destined to become an event recorded in Esports history. That very evening, enraged Huaxia players organized a massive boycott.


    Over 40 million players uninstalled League of Legends from their computers, and the sheer volume of uninstalls left Luo Huade somewhat panicked.


    "Boss, the players from Huaxia are reacting quite fiercely. Wasn''t our approach a bit too harsh?" Luo Huade''s secretary couldn''t help but speak out, "Banning 2.7 million accounts in one evening is bound to upset the players."


    "Hmph! Those arrogant Huaxia people, they always think protests will work," Luo Huade feigned calm, "Don''t worry, they have been domesticated by this game for many years, and many of them can''t even live without League of Legends. In a few days, they''ll all download it back."


    Watching the stubborn Luo Huade, the female secretary sighed, hoping everything would unfold as he imagined.


    However, Luo Huade truly underestimated the Huaxia players.


    For a whole week, that 40 million user base only recovered by less than 200,000, and Huaxia''s servers became eerily quiet. The activity level didn''t even reach one-tenth of an ordinary day!


    With the sharp decline in active player numbers, the time to set up a match became exceedingly long¡ªon average a game took over 20 minutes to start, and as for high-level games, sometimes it could take an hour or two just to get into a match!


    For most people, playing games is about passing spare time, but if most of that time is spent waiting, who could endure that?


    In the following week, the number of players who spontaneously uninstalled games once again reached the millions!


    As for in-game item purchases, they were pathetically low. In previous monthly financial reports, League of Legends'' revenue far exceeded other games, but this month, it shockingly fell to third place!


    "What''s going on here?" Shareholders wore displeased expressions on their faces the moment they got the monthly financial report. Other people''s games were getting better and stronger, so why had their revenue dropped by 20% from last month?


    The foolish actions of the company caused severe player attrition, and their competitors were overjoyed. If they kept growing bigger, where would there be room for others to develop?


    This type of multiplayer competitive game had already matured. Many large game developers also had the capacity to develop such games, but because players were accustomed to playing League of Legends, these games had very little room to thrive.


    But who knew what was going through the head of the current person in charge at the company¡ªwho had a brain fart, it seemed. Why provoke Zhang Menglong of all people? Could someone like him be so easily provoked? The number of active players in Huaxia had halved overnight, which was an unprecedented opportunity for some developers!


    If one could ride this wave and develop a game, perhaps in a few years, there would be another powerhouse like them!


    Within two weeks, more than 10 similar games launched, some even spending a hefty sum on advertising, eagerly seizing the suddenly vacated market share.


    This news sent the company''s shareholders into panic; if the Huaxia market took a hit, their annual profits would fall by at least 40%!


    In the eyes of the shareholders, as long as money could be made, nothing else mattered! The company''s operations had always been entirely managed by Luo Huade, and the other shareholders just took care of earning profits. If there were problems with profitability, the blame was on Luo Huade!


    "Luo Huade, what on earth are you doing? How could you ban so many player accounts without the consent of the shareholders'' meeting?"


    "I heard Zhang Menglong is willing to spend 200 million US Dollars to buy the rights to our tournament. Why didn''t you sell? This year is just a special case. Our S championship accidentally coincided with the Esports Olympics. Can''t we just postpone it for a few months?"


    "I don''t care about status. That''s not our concern. Our concern is only how much money we can make!"


    "Luo Huade, your actions have severely affected our shareholders'' interests. We are now united in calling for your impeachment as the chairman!"


    "That''s right! You''re unfit to continue as the chairman. I think Huaxia''s Mr. Ma is the most suitable candidate for the chairmanship of the board. We all trust his understanding of the gaming industry and his ability to make money!"


    "I agree, I also support nominating Mr. Ma as the new chairman!"


    Ma Hua: "Is this happiness coming too suddenly?"


    ...


    Although Luo Huade held the highest percentage of shares in the company, if all the other directors united, they could surpass Luo Huade in terms of share proportion. If they moved to impeach Luo Huade, he would have no way to resist.


    "You... you all... Have you considered that if the Esports Olympics were really held in Huaxia, our S series would only be second-rate from now on!"


    "I don''t know if the S series will be a second-rate competition, but I do know if you go against Zhang Menglong, our company will soon become a second-rate company!"


    "You... Ridiculous. To think you all would be scared off by a man from Huaxia." Luo Huade wore a sad smile, "Is that all your brains can comprehend, just immediate profit?"


    But the shareholders didn''t pay any attention to Luo Huade. Indeed, they were genuinely intimidated by Zhang Menglong.


    Now, nearly all American enterprises had labeled Zhang Menglong as "untouchable." In a capitalist country, capital is everything. Money makes the boss, and Zhang Menglong''s wealth was so vast it could even impact the economic-political system of the country.


    If they infuriated him, the consequences would be very severe!


    "Luo Huade, the shareholders'' meeting has unanimously decided that you are no longer the chairman. From now on, all company affairs will be taken over by Mr. Ma Hua!"


    "Mr. Ma Hua, we hope you can lead the entire company in a better direction!"


    "Certainly, certainly!" Ma Hua''s face was filled with wrinkles from smiling. As the new chairman, he would have much more room for maneuver. He might even have the chance to gradually usurp other shareholders'' stakes, thereby completely controlling the company.


    "You will all regret this!"


    Luo Huade left behind a vengeful glare and then stormed out of the room.

 Chapter 354 352: Leave some food for others

    "The S11 Global Finals continue to be postponed, now expected to take place in November!"


    "Riot Games has authorized the League of Legends competition at the E-sports Olympics!"


    "All banned accounts have been unbanned. As an apology, all skins are on sale for 30% off for a limited time! The lottery system now includes all limited edition skins, available for three days only!"


    As soon as Ma Hua took office, he immediately implemented a series of measures.


    "Damn, Ma Hua has become the chairman? It''s over; from now on, League of Legends is going to turn into Krypton Gold League!"


    "That''s true, but those vintage limited skins were impossible to pull from the lottery before. Isn''t it great that they''re available for these three days?"


    "I clearly know this is a money-scamming trap, but I still chopped off my hand."


    "Brother, me too!"


    ...


    After some bargaining, the final licensing price was set at 150 million US Dollars, and with the explosive income from this batch of skins, they made almost half a month''s revenue in just three days, directly covering the losses of the previous month.


    Although this behavior would decrease the value of the skins and the players'' spending desire might drop for a while, who is Ma Hua? He says he''s releasing vintage skins, says there''s a 1% chance of winning, but if you believe that, you''re an idiot!


    Once in Ma Hua''s hands, Riot Games quickly turned into a massive money-making machine; players clearly know it''s a trap, yet they still dive headfirst into it, and that''s his talent!


    Watching Riot Games give up the fight, Blizzard also announced three days later that they would open their licenses, selling the rights to host the competitions for two games included in the E-sports Olympics to Zhang Menglong for 200 million US Dollars.


    Thus, the Esports Olympics officially kicked off!


    Over 200 countries and regions worldwide couldn''t keep calm in the face of such massive prize money. Even many small countries formed teams at the government''s behest. Initially somewhat gimmicky, the E-sports Olympics suddenly elevated with the appearance of these government-backed teams.


    In the last week of registration, the number of signups surged. Incomplete statistics showed that 178 countries had registered teams; in comparison, even the actual Olympics in Yanjing in 2008 had only 204 participating countries.


    Starting from city competitions and moving up level by level, each category selected three teams, with every country sending 30 teams to Huaxia!


    The client''s efficiency is quite low, resulting in a certain loss of business.


    After a month of intense qualifying competitions, 178 countries, over 2,000 teams, and a total of more than 16,000 professional players came to Huaxia!


    Such a large-scale esports event attracted attention not less than that of an Olympics. Moreover, with Zhang Menglong''s various promotional efforts, countless eyes turned to Huaxia''s Jiangnan City, which naturally brought immense benefits for the city''s publicity and development.


    Jiangnan City''s Culture Bureau went all out, lending the entire Jiangnan Olympic Sports Center to Zhang Menglong for free for a month. In that time, the E-sports Town where Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling''s esports base was located transformed into an Olympic Esports Village.


    After a month of professional training, the club members were thoroughly impressed with Zhang Menglong''s training methods. Their handling, awareness, and speed had almost fully improved; the club''s combat power soared spectacularly!


    They defeated several popular teams in a row, even including several past world champion teams. LSP Club''s name became legendary within just one month.


    In ten esports events, they made it into the top three in every single one. If it weren''t for professional referees and live broadcasts at every match, some might even suspect the E-sports Olympics were rigged.


    The sudden rise of the LSP team naturally attracted a lot of attention. To study their tactics and each player''s strengths, people spared no effort in gathering information.


    But to this day, the identity of the LSP team''s head coach remains a mystery. To build a club with such strong combat capabilities, the head coach''s abilities are, naturally, outstanding.


    The opening ceremony of the Esports Olympics at the Jiangnan Olympic Sports Center officially began. Tens of thousands of spectators gathered here, eager to admire the prowess of these professional players, and the media were all desperate to cover it.


    One by one, the teams appeared outside the venue in various impressive forms.


    "Damn, those guys really deserve their reputation, requiring only two motorcycles for over thirty people. They truly are as tough as steel lions!"


    "Man, speaking of a fighting nation, if I didn''t know today was the Esports Olympics, I''d think these guys were here for the UFC."


    "The God Mei has arrived, the God Mei has arrived! I hope he can once again perform his famous blocking Divine Technique this year."


    "Look, the LSP team is here!"


    Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd.


    "Ahh! That''s destiny, he''s so handsome in person!"


    "I heard they came up all the way from the open selection, hardly losing a match. Only the SK2 team from Qingqiu Country can compare with such a record."


    "SK2''s strength is indeed formidable, having won the League of Legends world championship three times. This Esports Olympics is definitely going to be spectacular!"


    "Can someone explain to me what the LSP Club''s name actually means?"


    "Obviously, it means ''Old Color Critics''; everyone from the players to the coaches to the owner is an old color critic!"


    "Record videos, they all love shooting videos."


    "Crapshooters, they can all crap a lot."


    "And here we go into my favorite part of talking nonsense ..."


    The three representative teams from Qingqiu Country walked expressionlessly down the welcome path, their eyes never straying from the LSP Club team.


    KS2''s head coach, Jin Hui-en, said coldly, "No matter how strong this LSP team is, our goal at SK2 Club this year is to take at least three championships! We Qingqiu Country are the strongest esports nation! When Huaxia encounters us, they have no other option but to lose!"


    ...


    "Welcome to our guests who have traveled from afar. The first Esports Olympics is filled with life because of your arrival. Let us introduce the teams from various countries!" the big screen at the Olympic Sports Center announced as it displayed the first team.


    "First up is America''s MVP Club, with 27 members, 12 of whom have won world championship titles. Their head coach this year is Mr. Steve, a gold medal coach with over ten years in the esports industry, also holding three world champion titles himself!"


    "Next is the NQ team, which includes a legendary player who has consecutively won the CS world championship for 12 years. Will anyone break his legend this year? Their head coach is Mr. Leo!"


    ...


    "Here''s the very familiar SK2 Club, which has nearly dominated League of Legends in Qingqiu Country since En Jing got married, lifting Lee''s strength to a new level. Look, his teammate Tui Bang is even smiling¡ªis he paying tribute to Season 7?"


    ...


    "Lastly, it''s our Huaxia''s LSP Club. Everyone is well aware that they rose from obscurity to reach the Esports Olympics arena, qualifying in ten events. Next, I am going to reveal a closely watched secret, their head coach!!"


    "Oh my gosh! Their head coach ... is actually Zhang Menglong!"


    "Damn! Is that the legendary coach?"


    "Dude! He can make money and be a mathematician, and now he''s stepping into the esports arena too?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I beg you, stop showing off and leave some opportunities for others!"


    ...

 Chapter 355 353: The Head Coach Starts Warming Up

    "What the hell, what kind of move is that? How come players from the lsp club are so fierce?"


    "I knew the Huaxia team was strong in Dota and Warcraft, but fighting games like King of Fighters and Street Fighter have always been dominated by European and American players!"


    "Who''s that player from Huaxia?"


    "I know, her name is Luo Ling. Wasn''t she the champion of last year''s net cafe competition in Huaxia''s continental region?"


    "Net cafe competition? But she''s up against last year''s world champion. Is this a heavyweight match?"


    "What world champion? Have you ever seen a net cafe champion rub the world champion''s face on the floor? This is ridiculous!"


    "Yeah, almost got comboed with a ''one two three'', this world champion''s skill seems pretty inflated!"


    "KO!"


    "The match is over. Congratulations to Huaxia''s lsp team for winning the gold medal in the Street Fighter event! America''s mvp club has to settle for second place with regret, while Qingqiu''s GMP team takes the bronze. Let''s cheer for them!"


    "lsp!"


    "lsp!"


    "Old Color Critic!"


    "Damn, why do I feel like they are cursing at us!" the faces of the lsp team members were all somewhat embarrassed.


    "Next, let''s interview the players from the lsp team," the host walked over to the winning team, "Please tell us, lsp club members, winning the gold medal in such a major competition on your first try, and even blanking the former champions, how do you feel right now?"


    Luo Ling touched her nose, "Uh... I don''t think we were too strong, but rather our opponents were a bit weak. They fell before I even went all out!"


    Wei Weihai shook his head, "Nothing special to feel, to be honest. This level of performance wouldn''t even qualify for a sparring partner in our lsp team, so I don''t really have a great sense of achievement."


    Team member A: "In a best of three series, I didn''t even get the chance to play. I have nothing to say."


    Team member B: "I''ve never thought about winning the world championship. I''m not the least bit interested in the world title."


    Substitute player: "I just want to say one thing, the head coach is awesome!"


    "No wonder they were trained by Zhang Menglong. Each one of them is like the old Count of Versailles."


    "What''s with the cryptic talk here? They all seem like members of the Demon Cult to me."


    The audience on-site were roaring with laughter, while the mvp players were all ashen-faced.


    Last year''s world championship, both Luo Ling and Wei Weihai has participated, but neither of them even made it to the quarterfinals with their skills. They couldn''t imagine that in just one year, their skills would have improved to such a remarkable extent.


    "This head coach must have some special training methods. He''s very strong!" The mvp coach didn''t blame his players. He watched their entire match and realized that the skills of the opponents almost completely crushed theirs, whether it was the effective operations per minute or the ability to seize opportunities, they were by no means comparable to his players.


    "Head coach, if this continues, lsp team is going to take home all the gold medals at the Esports Olympics!"


    "No! We absolutely can''t let the Huaxia people be so proud!"


    "But their strength is overwhelming. We have no confidence in any of the remaining events when faced head-on," a coach said.


    He had studied the videos of every match that lsp team had played and the conclusions he drew were almost enough to drive him to despair.


    "Then let''s not face them head-on!" Steve, mvp''s head coach, said with a dark expression, "No matter what, we absolutely can''t let the Huaxia people take all the gold medals. Their prestige internationally is already too strong; we can''t let them rise any further, in any domain!"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Next Monday is the PUBG competition, and these battles are anything but fair," said Steve, "I bet the other countries are not feeling too good after being beaten like this, right? Tonight, you go and invite them for me. I''ll treat them to drinks!"


    ...


    The competition was in full swing, and the members of lsp team seemed to have hacks activated as they charged through the battlefield. They were ahead in awareness, extremely fast with their hands, and their team coordination was seamless.


    Out of ten events, lsp club had already nabbed the gold in five, and in the remaining ones, they exhibited a terrifying dominance in four.


    The last event, League of Legends, had lsp team and Qingqiu Country''s sk2 team placed in different regions, making it temporarily impossible to discern the disparity in their strength. In their respective regions, they both demonstrated overwhelming dominance.


    Both lsp team and sk2 team commanded Thunder and Lightning in their regions. Except for lsp team losing a minor match against Huaxia''s veteran RDG team, they won all other matches!


    And SK2 was even more terrifying, Player Li He''s performance this year was even more formidable than during his peak several years ago¡ªthey advanced straight to the finals with an undefeated record in their division!


    As the most iconic esports competition, the tickets for this final match sold out a week prior, and prices online surged to three times their normal value!


    The spectator seats capable of accommodating twenty thousand spectators were completely filled, and at the center of the venue, the match was broadcast live on a massive LED screen.


    Twenty thousand people watching live, with the global viewers surpassing 100 million through the live stream¡ªthis championship match even had more prestige than the S tournament!


    "The banning phase is over for both sides, let''s officially move into the game!" the commentators started their live commentary of this thrilling match with palpable tension.


    "We can see that SK2''s players are very aggressive¡ªthey''ve already grouped up and invaded LSP''s jungle!"


    "Oh no, LSP team''s SOA player is caught out alone, Li Ge''s Galio actually learned Taunt at Level One!"


    "SOA is locked down! He''s been killed!"


    "His teammates followed up, but the enemy team''s all five are there!"


    "Ah! Losing three players in a Level One team fight and having their jungle invaded, LSP''s start is very disadvantageous!"


    SK2 is truly a veteran strong team; they have a wealth of experience in big matches. Although the LSP players have been trained by Zhang Menglong, they had only formed the team a month ago, and the coordination between teammates had not yet reached a level of seamless understanding.


    Additionally, most of them were not professional players before, and under such pressure, it''s very difficult to perform to their fullest capabilities.


    In the first match, with a significant disadvantage from the start, SK2''s team demolished the base in just 18 minutes.


    "Yes! Hahaha! What LSP team, what Huaxia''s pride, our Qingqiu Country''s team is the strongest!" SK2''s coach, beaming with pride, watched his players. The past few days, their other squads had been beaten soundly, but today they finally recovered some ground!


    "No worries, everyone just do your best, and let''s aim to make a comeback in the next game!" the LSP coach consoled the players, but it was, after all, the finals; playing under the shadow of a lost point, the players'' morale was understandably low.


    In the second match, LSP''s performance left much to be desired, with frequent mistakes from the players, even causing chaos in their own ranks. Li Ge and Push''N Bang played with daring and showmanship, steady as ever, and brought the match to match point.


    What infuriated the Huaxia audience most was that at the end of another game, SK2''s top laner played with just one hand, holding a cup of milk tea in the other, as he casually destroyed LSP''s base!


    "Damn it! Just play the game, what''s the meaning of insulting us?"


    "God, such poor sportsmanship, and they call themselves an international team?"


    "Truly embarrassing!"


    ...


    Carried away with pride, SK2''s club taunted on their own social media platform:


    LSP can start thinking about what to have for dinner in an hour.


    The resting time plus the match duration for a League of Legends game generally doesn''t exceed one hour. This final is a best-of-five, and they had already won one match. Implicitly, they were suggesting that everything would be over after the next match, aiming for a 3:0 sweep against LSP.


    This provocating tone immediately sparked resentment among countless Huaxia viewers, but facing such a situation, they didn''t have much confidence to rebut.


    And LSP''s top laner went even further, posting on his personal social media:


    I''m planning to play with my feet for the last match!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re sorry," the disheartened team members said one by one, returning to the training room.


    "It''s okay, you''ve performed very well," Zhang Menglong consoled the team members, "I wasn''t planning to step in, but since they''re talking trash and provoking us, I can''t stand it anymore."


    ...


    "According to messages from the LSP team, in the final match point, they''ll be switching in a substitute player¡ªit seems they''ve prepared a trump card!"


    "Oh! They''re coming out, let''s see who their substitute player is?"


    "Huh? Isn''t that their head coach?"


    "Look, the head coach is warming up!"

 Chapter 356 354: I Also Happen to Be Used to Playing Games with My Feet

    "What the hell? Isn''t that Zhang Menglong? How did he get on the field, is he devising strategies for this match?"


    "No way! Their team coach is still there, the top laner is missing."


    "Look, he''s wearing the top laner''s tag, he''s going to play top lane!"


    "Isn''t he the head coach?"


    "Just now, the Olympic Committee announced a message, when the lsp team registered, Zhang Menglong not only registered as lsp''s head coach, but he also filled a substitute spot for every item!"


    "This actually works?"


    "Theoretically speaking, this doesn''t break any rules. It''s like in the Olympics, right? If you have enough stamina and ability, you can sign up for all the events!"


    "But can he actually do it?"


    "This... I don''t think he can."


    "Dude, don''t scare me, it''s already 2:0. If we lose another match, God knows how sk2 and those bastards from Qingqiu Country will mock us."


    "Back in the days, Principal Wang used to stream games playing duo with Zhang Menglong. When he played, it was like the Grim Reaper had arrived; wherever he went, teammates would drop dead, never warding, always getting lost on the map."


    "We''re doomed."


    ...


    In the spectators'' seats, some audience members were already preparing to leave. In their view, it was almost a match without any suspense. The dominance of sk2 this year was too terrifying, with each player almost in the state of a yearly S tournament FMVP.


    But what they didn''t notice was that in this match, each lsp player looked energetic and wore a thick confidence on their faces, a stark contrast from the first two games!


    "Oh, my God, lsp''s top laner Zhang Menglong has actually chosen Vayne top lane, a niche pick for this version! Vayne has been greatly nerfed in this version. Up to now in the Esports Olympics, she has only been played 3 times and lost all 3. Is he challenging the meta?"


    "Wait! Player Zhang Menglong suddenly started taking off his shoes. What''s he doing? Are his shoes uncomfortable and affecting his performance?"


    "Player Zhang Menglong has started adjusting his seat, he''s lying down!"


    "He''s taken off his socks and put his feet on both the keyboard and mouse. Is he planning to play the game with his feet?"


    "Let''s have our floor manager go and confirm Player Zhang Menglong''s actions!"


    ...


    A staff member hurried onto the game stage, and for the sake of transparency in the competition, all communications between players and organizers were broadcasted.


    "Player Zhang Menglong, may I ask if there is a problem?"


    "Not at all," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Don''t worry, I''ve washed my feet so they won''t kill anyone. If sk2 loses later and claims that my feet affected their performance, you must testify for me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you really planning to play the game with your feet?"


    "Yes!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "Didn''t sk2''s top laner Jan say he was going to play with his feet next game? It turns out, I''m actually quite used to playing games with my feet."


    "Hahaha!" The audience burst into laughter, and a series of "66666" floated up on the live stream''s chat.


    "Too sassy, too sassy!"


    "Low on damage, high on insult!"


    "I get Zhang''s strategy now; he''s planning to go for an extreme one-for-one. Knowing he can''t beat the opposing top laner, he''s using this provocation to make him play with feet, effectively removing a key player! If the other doesn''t play with his feet, that would mean he chickened out. Even if they win, they''ll be laughed at."


    "Brilliant!"


    "Typical Zhang, layering tricks like an old mother pig wearing a bra!"


    "This..." The staff member looked at the referee.


    "What? Is there a rule that you can''t play the game with your feet?"


    "This... indeed, there''s no such rule," the referee said, somewhat helplessly, "Then we should respect Player Zhang Menglong''s gaming habits!"


    The staff member left the stage, and the match returned to its normal course. However, in the spectator stands, waves of shouting had already begun.


    "Jan, play with your feet!"


    "Yeah, didn''t you say you could win playing with your feet in the last match? Didn''t get scared, did you?"


    "Waste, so much for being the world''s number one top laner, did you earn that title by bluffing?"


    ...


    "No worries, just play with your feet!" the sk2 coach said, "Even so, the cooperation of our other four will still crush them. Pick a functional top laner, and jungle can help top lane more, a sure catch every time!"


    "Alright!"


    ...


    The match had started, and SK2''s top laner, Jan, picked the old reliable Sion, a hero that was both tanky and had crowd control. In team fights, all he needed to do was stand in the front and soak up damage. No high-skill maneuvers were required¡ªit was a hero well suited for "foot play."


    "Idiot, try playing with me using your feet," Zhang Menglong sneered coldly, dismissing any so-called tactics from his mind!


    The Three Elements Unite Inner Strength that he cultivated was not only based on the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi but also a technique to unlock the human body''s potential, aiding him in perfectly controlling any organ.


    Zhang Menglong had mastered the Three Elements Unite mental method to a very profound level, and his strength had reached six units of Energy Intensity, equivalent to a Level Six Mutant!


    Whether it was his fingers or his toes, Zhang Menglong could control them all perfectly. For him, there was no difference between playing a game with his hands or his feet!


    If there was a difference, it was that playing with his feet required him to lie down, which made the experience more comfortable!


    "Ding!"


    "Ding!"


    "Ding!"


    Zhang Menglong''s hero, Vayne, smoothly last-hitted minions, even occasionally landing a few hits on the opposing Sion. In contrast, the enemy player managed to last-hit only two out of the first wave of six minions and had lost half of his health.


    "Is... is he seriously playing with his feet? Are his fingers on his feet or what?"


    "I can''t even play this smoothly with my hands!"


    "He''s using the brush to dodge minion damage, too; that kind of move requires constant clicking!"


    "Did you see his positioning? Every time he auto-attacks, he repositions five times. Even uzi only repositions three times after an auto-attack!"


    "Damn, the jungle''s here, how shameless!"


    "Damn it, his positioning just dodged Gragas''s E flash! Was that just luck?"


    "Outrageous!"


    "He''s starting to kill!"


    "Kill! Don''t let any of them escape!"


    "Double kill! He achieved a double kill using his feet!"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Shit!"


    "My mom''s asking me why I''m kneeling watching the game!"


    "Guys, is my kneeling posture standard?"


    "Hey, move over a bit when you kneel. I''ve got no room to kneel here."


    "Zhang Menglong, the eternal god!"


    "How is this even possible?" In the camp of SK2, the top laner Jan was already losing his composure.


    After playing professionally for 10 years, and winning the world championship three times with Li He, he had never imagined that one day he''d be double killed by an opponent who was foot-controlling under the premise of having jungler support on his side¡ªit was absurd!


    "Play with your hands!" Li He commanded while he himself was playing.


    "Captain, but..."


    "Winning is more important than face. The audience will only remember you as a world champion, not how you won!"


    Jan nodded, reluctantly picked up his mouse and keyboard amid a barrage of "boos," and put his feet down.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong also shifted his body. Just as everyone thought he would switch to using his hands, Zhang Menglong adjusted to a more comfortable position and lay down, casually picking up a cup of coffee from nearby and started drinking.


    "He''s still going to play with his feet!"


    "Is this even a match in the Esports Olympics?"


    "Murder with psychological warfare, if SK2 still loses, they might as well apologize to the entire nation."


    "Damn, no, Zhang''s charging in with his ultimate!"


    "He dodged Sion''s airborne control with his movements!"


    "He dodged Sion''s ultimate chain crash with his movements!"


    "He''s kiting in range; Sion can''t even touch him!"


    "Another solo kill!"


    "Zhang Menglong is awesome!"


    The arena, which had been filled with gloom just minutes before, was now boiling over with excitement!

 Chapter 357 355: Even a Clogged Dog Can Win

    Since the game League of Legends came into existence, countless large and small competitions have passed, but a match with such a unique style as today had never occurred before.


    The Esports Olympics, a League of Legends event considered more prestigious than the S tournament, saw the head coach actually participating in the game!


    The head coach playing was surprising enough, but who has ever seen someone play a game with their feet?


    Playing with his feet was one thing, but what did it mean for him to chase after two or three people and beat them single-handedly?


    For a moment, the audience couldn''t tell whether Zhang Menglong''s skills were too strong or if the sk2 team members were just too weak.


    With coordinated attacks from the jungle, one kill after another, Zhang Menglong nearly broke through the top lane by himself.


    The other members of the lsp team were hiding under their towers, farming minions; they only needed to keep up in terms of economy. Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s terrifying skills and awareness, they believed that even if five players ganged up on him, Zhang Menglong could still escape comfortably, perhaps even killing one or two!


    "It''s only 8 minutes in and he''s already pushing into the high ground. If we don''t catch him now, he''ll become invincible soon!" the top laner of sk2 urgently began calling his teammates.


    "Let''s go together, five people catch him! I refuse to believe we can''t kill him at least once!" Li He clenched his teeth. Five people ganging up on one might not be advantageous, but if they continued to be dominated by Zhang Menglong like this, it would greatly affect their team''s morale. He had to die once!


    "They''re desperate now, they''re desperate!"


    "Damn! Shameless, five on one!"


    "Boss Zhang, run, they''re coming for you!"


    "The rest of you, hurry to take the dragon and get the tower!"


    The audience, with their god''s-eye view, could see sk2''s members converging towards Zhang Menglong''s top lane. Zhang Menglong, alone, paced back and forth in front of the opponent''s high ground. The player Jan didn''t dare to come out; the equipment gap was daunting. With just a few hits, he could even be killed diving under the tower!


    "Zhang Menglong is too arrogant. Does he think this is a casual match?"


    "One man taunting in front of the enemy''s high ground, does he think the other sk2 players are just decorations?"


    The viewers from Qingqiu Country watched, gritting their teeth. The dominant display by Zhang Menglong made them very uncomfortable.


    In the eyes of Qingqiu Country, esports had always been their strong suit. Today, a man from Huaxia had blown them away using his feet; how could they ever hold their heads high after this?


    "Here they come!" Seeing all his teammates arrive, Jan finally showed a smile and charged forward to control.


    "This broken car thinks it can hit me?" Zhang Menglong looked relaxed, but his mind was constantly focused. His brain worked like a computing machine, always monitoring his opponents'' movements, skill releases, and fine manipulations.


    With a move, he easily dodged Sion''s ultimate, controlling him and stunning him against the wall.


    "Ding! Ding! Ding!"


    Three basic attacks directly took away one-third of his health.


    But by that moment, the other teammates had arrived, recklessly casting skills at Zhang Menglong. If even one hit, he would be instantly killed by a burst of damage.


    Yet, at that moment, Zhang Menglong had already predicted the sequence and angles of all their skills.


    "What? I predicted his movement direction for that skill, how could he possibly dodge it?"


    "He predicted your prediction!"


    "What kind of operation is this? Is he a computer? How can he make such fine maneuvers?"


    Zhang Menglong agilely weaved through the crowd, any non-targeted skill failed to hit him, and as for those unavoidable damages, he could definitely minimize the impact on him!


    The spectacular operations had both the live audience and the stream viewers boiling with excitement. Wasn''t this match much more thrilling than Boruto?


    "Kill! Kill them all! Don''t let a single one escape!"


    "Damn! How could he dodge that?"


    "That''s outrageous, he even predicted the hook!"


    "Clearly, Boss Zhang predicted his prediction!"


    "What about this skill then?"


    "Zhang Menglong predicted the rival''s prediction of his prediction of their prediction!"


    "In this wave, while the opponents are on the first layer, Zhang is out in the stratosphere."


    "Classic thousand-layer cake move."


    "Look at the rival''s top laner, already donning the Mask of Pain.''"


    "Hahaha, his expression looks just like a dog''s!"


    ...


    "Double Kill, Triple Kill, Quadruple Kill!"


    Five people surrounded Zhang Menglong, but he killed four of them with his dizzying moves, only letting Li He escape with a sliver of health left, and Zhang Menglong, thanks to his equipment, actually managed to refill his health completely!


    "Damn! Five against one and four got killed, can''t you guys play?"


    "What are you talking about? This is basic stuff!"


    "What the heck! You''re one against five and still let one get away, Zhang Menglong, do you even know how to play?"


    "Exactly, you corner five and still let one escape, if you can''t play with your feet then don''t!"


    "I can tell from the tone, it''s typical Underworld speech."


    The sk2 team deployed five players to catch Zhang Menglong, but he killed four of them alone, and his teammates immediately started grabbing resources, pushing towers and created a substantial economic gap.


    "It''s over..."


    The unstoppable lsp team, led by Zhang Menglong, stormed the rival''s high ground and ended the game at the 12-minute mark.


    "Too much, it''s not even 15 minutes yet, not even giving them a chance to surrender!"


    "Exactly, give them a break! Think about the international implications!"


    "Zhang did give them a break! They played with their feet but still couldn''t catch up!"


    ...


    "What? Zhang entered the game? And won with his feet?"


    "Damn! I left too early! Can I still go back to watch the game?"


    Upon hearing the news, the departing spectators hurried back to the venue, instantly reviving the somewhat deserted arena.


    After every match, the hosts would interview the winning team, and naturally, Zhang Menglong became the spokesperson for this match.


    "Mr. Zhang, as the main coach, why did you join the game?"


    "Oh, the food at our club is too good. Yesterday we had a seafood dinner, and our starting top laner along with the substitutes all got diarrhea, so I had to step in temporarily. I didn''t play very well, don''t mind me!"


    The host chuckled awkwardly, as Zhang Menglong surely started talking Underworld talk again.


    "So, Mr. Zhang, why did you choose to play with your feet this game? Many believe it''s disrespectful to the Qingqiu Country players."


    "Not at all. Their top laner said he would play with his feet this match. If I had used my hands, wouldn''t that have been bullying? But he really couldn''t handle it!"


    "What do you think was the key to winning this match? I noticed that lsp''s teamwork was very tight. I think it''s inseparable from each team member."


    The host was clearly hinting for Zhang Menglong to follow his lead.


    "It''s not really that we''re too strong," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "it''s mainly that the other team is too weak. Playing against such a team, tying up any random dog as the top laner would have won the game!"


    Any perceptive observer could see that the match was entirely carried by Zhang Menglong. Without him, lsp team''s fate would not have been much different from the first two matches.


    If they had another dog in the top lane, this team probably wouldn''t stand a chance against any regular team, clearly an insult implying sk2 is a worthless team!

 Chapter 358 356: They Didnt Say How Many Hands to Use

    "Old Zhang, that was so satisfying!" Wang Ling exclaimed with excitement, "When I saw their top laner talking trash, I really wanted to rush to their base and beat them up. What world''s number one top laner? In front of you, they''re just the top laner who''s easiest to kill in the world!"


    "Coach, how on earth do you pull off those moves with your feet? It''s amazing; we can''t even do it with our hands!"


    "Coach, are you still holding back on us?"


    Winning that match had greatly boosted the team''s morale. With Zhang Menglong joining, it wasn''t just about fixing a best-of-five from two losses; the other team couldn''t win a single game!


    "Alright, if you guys can win this year''s S11 by your own strength against SK2, I''ll teach you everything!" Although Zhang Menglong only had ten student slots in the Super God Academy at the moment, it didn''t mean there wouldn''t be more in the future.


    According to his estimate, once the ten student slots for this session were filled, more teacher and student slots would likely be unlocked. It seemed he needed to start looking for students soon.


    The second match was about to start, and all the players were eagerly looking forward to Zhang Menglong''s next performance.


    "Members of Team LSP, please hold on a moment!" Right before they were about to go on stage, they were stopped by the staff of the Olympic Committee.


    Although Zhang Menglong and his team were the hosts, the esports Olympics were still managed by the Olympic Committee, which had dispatched a special team to handle various affairs arising during this esports Olympic event.


    "May I ask what Mr. Fox wants?" Wang Ling asked as the team leader.


    "Mr. Wang, the thing is, SK2 has lodged a serious protest against your top laner playing the game with his feet. They believe it is a highly disrespectful action. So please, for the next match, could Mr. Zhang Menglong, your top laner, stop using such behavior?"


    Wang Ling immediately felt indignant. When the SK2 team engaged in verbal insults on social platforms, there was no sign of the Olympic Committee stepping in; so why were they jumping out now when Team LSP was fighting back?


    "Mr. Fox, I believe you must have received numerous messages about SK2''s inappropriate comments on social platforms. Aren''t you going to take any action against that? They said that one could win with feet, so we''re just respecting their opinion and cooperating with them," Wang Ling said assertively but calmly.


    "Mr. Wang, verbal skirmishes before a match are common in any sport, and I think that''s in line with the Olympic spirit of competition. However, on the field of play, such things should not be brought up," replied Fox.


    "If Mr. Zhang continues to play with his feet in the next match, we will consider disqualifying Team LSP from any further competition."


    "Damn it! So you''re ganging up on us, huh?"


    "Why the hell should we just sit back and take their insults while being disqualified for fighting back?"


    "You''ve been bribed, haven''t you?"


    All the players were instantly filled with righteous anger. The actions of the Olympic Committee were clearly targeting their Huaxia''s LSP team!


    "It seems these people are really unhappy with us winning so many championships!" Zhang Menglong was slightly taken aback, but not surprised.


    The LSP team''s prominence was too great; so far, in all the concluded events, Team LSP had won all the gold medals, an outcome that was extremely embarrassing for the clubs from other countries.


    How could people from other countries be happy if Huaxia monopolized all the gold medals at the Olympics? The same was true for the esports domain! Besides, Fox was European, and with the European teams performing poorly, it was not surprising they wanted to come together to suppress the Huaxia team.


    "No worries. If I can''t use my feet, I won''t use them," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "But aren''t they afraid of losing even more miserably?"


    "Even if they lose, the SK2 team still wants to witness your true strength. Only by defeating the opponent with your full strength can you truly respect your opponent, right?" Fox said, taking the moral high ground.


    In fact, after this match, the SK2 team from Qingqiu Country knew very well that they had no chance of defeating Team LSP today. With the opponent operating with his feet, the five of them couldn''t take him down, and instead, four were killed; could such moves be made by humans?


    If they were beaten by feet three games in a row, they would probably become the laughing stock of other teams.


    "Didn''t you say you could win with your feet? So how come you got reverse-swept with them?"


    But if Zhang Menglong is playing normally, at worst they would only be bested in skill, and wouldn''t have to suffer humiliation.


    The reason they lost four players in a five-against-one was partly due to Zhang Menglong''s operation, but his equipment lead was also a significant factor. If they had targeted Zhang Menglong frantically from the start, perhaps they would have stood a fighting chance and might even have won the match to redeem themselves!


    But no matter what, they absolutely couldn''t let Zhang Menglong continue to be so arrogant!


    So Qingqiu Country submitted an application to the Olympic Committee, requesting to ban Zhang Menglong''s behavior, and Fox, who naturally didn''t want the Huaxia team to win ten championships in a row, was only too willing to comply with such a request.


    "Fine, then I won''t use my feet in the next match."


    "It''s not just that you can''t use your feet!" This Fox clearly knew Zhang Menglong''s tricky ideas very well. He could play games with his feet, not to mention with his tongue or his butt; there was nothing he couldn''t do, "You can only use your hands to play the game."


    "Alright, hands it is then!"


    ...


    Amongst the cheering, players from both teams once again stepped onto the stage, but now the SK2 team clearly lacked their initial arrogance and instead wore solemn expressions as if they were facing a formidable enemy.


    "Coach, are you really going to use hands?" The team members had all witnessed Zhang Menglong''s terrifying gameplay; if he used his hands, he could even finish a match all by himself!


    "What can I do when the Olympic committee has spoken?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands.


    "Damn, they''re not even worthy of our coach playing the game with hands against them!"


    "Exactly, even playing with his feet was already giving them too much credit!"


    "And that Fox, he''s clearly in cahoots with them!"


    The team members were each indignant. They were all young and full of spunk, it didn''t matter if they were insulted, but they had to return the insult with interest.


    What''s this about a temporary setback bringing calm waters, or taking a step back to open up the skies? This is about a temporary setback causing a brain hemorrhage, taking a step back leading to infertility!


    "I just agreed to play with my hands, but I never said how many hands I''d use!"


    The team members were stunned, then they once again displayed the evil grins of the whole crew.


    Who was Zhang Menglong? A millennia-old hermaphrodite, Huaxia''s craftiest, the Theological Academy''s Hong Shixian of Esports, how could he let himself be at a disadvantage? Zhang Menglong had more tricks up his sleeve than the paths they had walked in their entire lives!


    In this match, Zhang Menglong''s chosen hero was the Time Assassin Ekko, a jungler type assassin.


    "He can play other roles too?"


    "Zhang Menglong, forever a god!"


    "I''ve got the script ready, General Zhang alone will cut through all three lanes, killing wherever he goes!"


    "Hmm? General Zhang isn''t using his feet this match?"


    ...


    "Okay, we can see that the match has already started!" the three commentators got into the zone.


    "SK2''s jungler Zhang Menglong has entered the enemy''s jungle. Is he really invading alone at level one?"


    "Wait, let''s take a close look at the camera work from the director. In Zhang Menglong''s left hand is a cup of milk tea, what does this mean? Is he planning to have afternoon tea during the match?"


    "The enemy''s bottom lane and jungler are both heading his way! He''s not planning to retreat!"


    "Oh! My God, it''s unbelievable, he''s charging in!"


    "He dodged the crucial control skill! His ability casting is so precise, directly hitting all three opponents!"


    "He''s going in again, took out the enemy support, oh my God, he''s really like a computer, his movement and operation are terrifying."


    "Thanks to the director for this close-up, we can see Zhang Menglong''s expression is very relaxed, he just took another sip of his milk tea!"


    "No way! His left hand hasn''t let go of that cup of milk tea from the beginning! He was playing one-handed just now!"


    ...

 Chapter 359 357 I will use only one foot

    In the director''s camera, Zhang Menglong''s face was calm, his left hand holding a milk tea which he leisurely poured into his own mouth, while his right hand stood in stark contrast to his left.


    Zhang Menglong''s keyboard was placed vertically, close together with the mouse, making it possible for one hand to span both the keyboard and the mouse. He used his right hand''s ring finger and pinky to operate the mouse while the remaining three fingers took care of the keyboard, creating a blur of fast-moving fingers due to the high-speed operation.


    "Operating the keyboard and mouse with one hand, those fingers are wasted if not playing the piano!"


    "Lang Lang would feel offended."


    "Damn, even Kato Taka would cry if he saw this! So terrifying, so terrifying!"


    "Could this be the legendary Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger?"


    "This is the true definition of a keyboard warrior. If anyone were to clash with Zhang online, they''d definitely die miserably!"


    Zhang Menglong was like a real assassin. Whenever he appeared on that lane, the opponent had to give up crucial life-saving skills the first time, and by the second appearance, they were doomed!


    The Lsp team was unstoppable, and just as the competition reached a critical moment, suddenly, the game was paused.


    "What''s the matter? Did the power get cut?"


    "Is someone secretly turning off the power?"


    "Damn, shameless, Time-Space team?"


    "Could it be that Qingqiu Country can''t stand losing?"


    Instantly, there was a buzz of discussion among the audience, and the camera zoomed in on the players on the field. The players from the sk2 team looked bewildered, indicating it wasn''t they who called for the pause, while the Lsp team players looked around at each other, equally clueless about what had happened.


    "What happened?" the referee immediately went onto the field, "Who called for the pause?"


    "It was me, I called for the pause," Zhang Menglong raised his hand.


    "What''s the situation? You didn''t get a cramp from moving your hands too fast, did you?"


    "It''s possible. Many professional players have to retire because of hand conditions. Who can bear such high-intensity operations?"


    "No, look! Zhang''s keyboard is smoking!"


    "Holy cow! My buddies and I are shocked. Did that keyboard just explode?"


    "Sorry, Ref, my keyboard seems to have broken," Zhang Menglong lifted the faulty keyboard.


    "Tech, come and take a look!" the referee immediately called for the onsite hardware technician.


    The technician picked up the keyboard and after looking at it for a moment, his expression froze, "This... This is impossible!"


    "What''s up? What''s wrong with this keyboard?"


    "The keyboard malfunctioned because it was overloaded beyond its response capacity. The maximum theoretical APM that this keyboard can handle is about 720, which is an operation intensity of 12 times per second. Currently, the highest recorded APM for any player hasn''t exceeded 400, this..."


    "Wow!" The crowd gasped in amazement.


    "An APM limit of 720? Did Zhang''s operation exceed 700 APM? Has he turned his fingers into spirits?"


    "I don''t know what his APM is, I can''t even see how his fingers were moving."


    "All my life, this is the first time I''ve heard of someone overloading a keyboard."


    "..."


    "Ouch!"...


    "Am I really that fast with my hands?" Zhang Menglong was slightly surprised himself. He remembered that his last test hadn''t shown such high numbers¡ªcould it be that his skill level in "Three Elements Unite" had increased, improving his hand speed as well?


    "Damn! Showing off?"


    "Let me translate what Zhang said: I''m not even interested in having such fast hand speed, I don''t even know I could be that fast!"


    "Zhang''s girlfriend is really lucky!"


    "That ghs one, the internet is not outside the law!"


    "Bro, your account is gone!"


    ...


    Soon, a new keyboard was brought in, and the match continued. Although there had been a few minutes of rest, SK2 was still in a dazed state, and in just a few minutes, their team''s economy had fallen behind by over ten thousand!


    No matter how good the skills are, under such a huge economic disadvantage, a beating is inevitable, except for one team that never gets wiped out. During the thirteen-minute first team fight, the LSP team achieved a total wipeout and then flattened the base even before the dragon had spawned.


    "Is it over?"


    "That''s it? Ended in 18 minutes?"


    "I had barely taken off my pants and you showed me this?"


    "Thought they were so great, aren''t they the ones who hype themselves up online as though they''re invincible gods?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, I think you owe us an explanation!" Fox stormed into the LSP team''s resting room, fuming.


    "What explanation? What did I do?" Zhang Menglong looked innocent.


    "We already warned your team before the match, so why did you still use such humiliating tactics?"


    "I did as you said," Zhang Menglong replied, "You told me to use my hands, didn''t I use my hands?"


    "But we didn''t say to use only one hand!" Fox roared.


    "You didn''t say I couldn''t use just one hand either," Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "And it''s not like I did it on purpose to use just one hand. You saw it, my other hand wasn''t idle, I was drinking milk tea!"


    "Drinking milk tea over competing in a match, is milk tea really more important?"


    "Of course, how could the importance of a match compare to that of milk tea?" Zhang Menglong said, "If I drink it after the match, it would get cold and wouldn''t taste good. Would you like a cup? Signature soy milk Jade Kirin, Mr. Fox, you definitely can''t get this in your country!"


    "You..."


    "Me?"


    "I''m going to disqualify you!"


    "Fine, then I''ll withdraw all sponsorships and prizes from this match, and you can find someone else to take over! I''m not running this match!"


    "You...." Fox was so angry he almost had an asthma attack.


    If this were a regular Olympics, who would dare to speak to him like this?


    But this time, Zhang Menglong was the money-big-daddy. All the facilities and prizes, anything involving money, were sponsored by him. If he withdrew his funding, these Esports Olympics couldn''t continue. Would the Sports Commission really let him off?


    "Hong Yi, help me send a message to the Sports Commission. I''m very dissatisfied with the person they''ve sent, and if I see him in the next Esports Olympics, I won''t spare a single penny!"


    "Okay, Mr. Zhang, I''ll call the chairman of the Sports Commission right away!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I....." Fox had always been arrogant. He had almost forgotten that Zhang Menglong was not just a regular player, but the organizer of this match. Without him, there would be no match. He was actually threatening to cancel Zhang Menglong''s qualification¡ªwas he in the late stages of Parkinson''s?


    "Get lost!"


    ...


    After two matches of being dominated, the entire SK2 team''s spirit was nearly broken. All five players wore the Mask of Pain, still convinced this match held no surprises; the only question was whether Zhang Menglong was going to play with his feet or just one hand!


    Zhang Menglong took his seat, put one foot on the table, held up a cup of milk tea, and laid back, "Come on, this time I''ll just use one foot!"


    ...


    "The LSP team has now blocked SK2''s fountain entrance; they''re starting to spawn camp!"


    "The SK2 team players are anxious, but they simply can''t come out¡ªcoming out means certain death!"


    "They can only watch helplessly as LSP''s super minions flatten their crystal."


    "They are truly miserable. If Heaven hadn''t blessed Zhang Menglong, the Esports Olympics would be eternally bleak!"


    "Let''s congratulate Huaxia''s LSP team on winning the gold medal in the League of Legends event at this Esports Olympics, and give the silver medalists from Qingqiu Country, the SK2 team, the same applause!"


    ...


    Amidst the earth-shattering applause, Zhang Menglong calmly put down his headset: "Esports is really interesting!"

 Chapter 360 358: The Opposite Side Deployed a Division of Troops

    "Players from Huaxia are truly hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" exclaimed Steve, the head coach of America''s MVP team, as he vanished into a corner of the venue.


    The Sk2 team walked out of the arena, heads hung low. Their coach, Bai Zhixian, had a steely look on his face. Normally, he would have reprimanded all the players after such a consecutive three-game loss.


    But this time, he was utterly devoid of anger. It wasn''t an issue of player performance or team cohesion; it was simply that Zhang Menglong was monstrously skilled!


    "Coach Bai, perhaps now we have an opportunity to talk?" Steve suddenly appeared before Bai Zhixian, "How about we grab a coffee together?"


    Earlier, they had approached several teams from Qingqiu Country, hoping to collaborate in PUBG to collectively tackle the Huaxia team. Although those teams, high in their own esteem, had initially declined, considering their recent crushing defeat, he believed Bai Zhixian''s attitude might have changed.


    "It would be my honor!" Bai Zhixian nodded slightly. The strength of the Huaxia team had surpassed their imagination. If they didn''t take action, the lsp team would monopolize all the gold medals this time.


    This would significantly damage their status in the Esports domain on an international scale, potentially impacting commerce and even politics¡ªthe reach of Olympic influence.


    Bai Zhixian followed Steve into a hotel. That evening, Steve had reserved a large private room which surprisingly gathered dozens of people, all head coaches of the 25 teams that made it to the finals.


    "Coach Hiram? Coach Rog, you all..."


    The coaches smiled at Bai Zhixian, their expressions tinged with embarrassment. While they shared a common goal, their actions were somewhat disgraceful.


    "Thank you all for coming tonight. I believe our purpose here is clear to everyone. PUBG is the only event that involves multiple factions, and I think it''s our only chance to defeat the Huaxia team," Steve stated bluntly.


    "Coach Steve, actually, I don''t think it''s necessary. Sure, they''re strong in other events, but those are based on one-on-one. The beauty of this game lies in its complexity and unpredictability. I don''t think we need so many teams to target the lsp team!"


    "Exactly, even the top teams could be wiped out if attacked by just two other teams simultaneously."


    "I know that''s what you all think, but I''d like you all to watch this video first!" Steve turned on a computer, and a replay of a match appeared on the projector¡ªit was footage from a month ago when Zhang Menglong played using a teammate''s account!


    In the footage, a player kept switching among his weapons. As soon as he fired, someone would fall. His shooting was almost infallibly accurate!


    "What? Eight 7.62mm bullets taking down four opponents with Level Two helmets and armor in a spray? That has to be a cheat!"


    "And every shot a headshot, it''s definitely an aimlock cheat!"


    "Coach Steve, there''s no point in showing us this. I''ve seen cheats that cover themselves in frying pans or fly around with Gatling guns!"


    "Hahaha, right, remember last year''s cheat match? Although banned, it was labelled a battle of the gods!"


    "Official monitoring data shows that this player did not use any assistance tools or cheats!" Steve explained.


    "What?" That statement stunned everyone. If this was genuinely achieved by a player, it was indeed terrifying.


    "At that time, our team was in that match, I personally witnessed that player, with a bow and arrow, ambush and wipe our whole team single-handedly without us even seeing him!"


    "Was that player Huaxian?"


    "That player, named ''I''m your dad'', is from the lsp team."


    ...


    A moment of silence.


    "I think, we need to join forces."


    "Yes, otherwise the scene in this video might happen again."


    "None of us can afford to lose face like that!"


    "Our team from England will join!"


    "We''re in, too!"


    "Coach Steve, you make the arrangements!"


    "Great!" Steve was delighted, "My idea is, everyone follows the lsp team when they parachute. We prohibit combat among ourselves, and I refuse to believe 96 people can''t take down just four of them!"


    "Agreed!"


    "Seconded."


    "No objections here."


    "Once the lsp team is dealt with, the remaining matches will be every team for themselves!"


    ...


    After nearly a month of intense competition, the Esports Olympic Games finally reached the last day of the schedule, with Huaxia''s lsp team having secured a dominant 9 gold medals in various events, and the final event was the championship match of PUBG!


    25 teams, 100 players, all vying within one map for an incredibly thrilling contest!


    The viewership for this match reached an all-time high in the history of esports, and if today Huaxia''s lsp team could again become champions, they would create another legend in the history of esports.


    "Unexpected, isn''t it? A brand new team and they manage to grab so many world championship titles on their first major contest."


    "Yeah, I know a few of them, they used to be just minor streamers, I heard one of the Warcraft players was even thrown in as a freebie by another team."


    "There''s also a player who used to be a substitute in another professional team and barely got to play, a solid waterboy, who would have thought he would now become a world champion, his value has increased more than tenfold!"


    "This team, it''s just terrifying!"


    "They should be able to make history, right? I think they''ll definitely take the crown in this match, too."


    "I don''t think it''s certain, this is a 25-team match, and although the rules don''t allow it, theoretically, it''s possible to gang up on fewer opponents. Later they will just say it was tactical planning, that reason is just too subjective!"


    "Zhang Menglong''s hate level is so high, won''t he get mobbed by the 24 teams?"


    "Ah, this..."


    ...


    "It has started, the match has started!"


    "Hmm? Why is everyone still in the plane and not jumping?"


    "lsp team''s four members have jumped!"


    "Quick, look, the remaining teams have jumped too. They all dropped in the same residential area!"


    "Oh boy, it''s a battle royale from the start! Going directly for the final circle?"


    "Wait! Those two teams both landed in the same house, why aren''t they fighting?"


    "They are actually exchanging resources!"


    "No way! Quick, check the mini map, they seem to be surrounding something in the middle!"


    "That''s lsp team! Damn! They want the 24 teams to siege lsp!"


    "This... a whole division''s force surrounding lsp?"


    "Damn, I protest! Shameless, bullying the few! This is rigged!"


    ...


    The audience below protested vehemently, and curses filled the live feed, but the match continued uninterrupted.


    "Just as expected!" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, sitting in the lounge, "These bastards want to play tricks with me, huh?"


    He took out a walkie-talkie, "Coach Su, plan B!"


    Coach Su on the field understood and smiled slightly, then coughed twice.


    "Snap!" Just then, an lsp team player collapsed to the ground clutching his stomach, his expression twisted in pain.


    "Pause the match!" Seeing this, the referee immediately halted the match.


    "What''s going on?"


    "It appears to be a sudden case of gastroenteritis. He can''t continue playing in this condition," said the lsp team''s medic. "We request to bring in a substitute player."


    "Agreed!" The referee thought for a moment. In the event of such situations during a match, substituting a player was within the rules.


    "Who will you substitute?"


    "Head coach, Zhang Menglong!"

 Chapter 361 359: Theres a Legend About Him

    "They''re switching players, they''re switching players!"


    "Zhang is taking the field!"


    "But under these circumstances, it doesn''t matter who they send in. Even if Zhang is exceptionally skilled, they''ve only got four players. The enemy outnumbers them by 24 times!"


    "Who cares, kill as many as you can. At least show some fighting spirit in the match, right?"


    "Yes! That''s right! Let them know that even if they band together to besiege our Huaxia team, we''ll still bite off a chunk from them!"


    The Huaxia audience below was chanting the name of the lsp team. At this moment, esports fans across the country were cheering for the lsp team.


    "Humph, what good is all that noise?" sneered the coaches of the other teams. Under the joint encirclement of 96 professional players, unless they were cheating, no amount of extra hands would save them from being eliminated!


    "Look, Zhang brought his own peripherals this time! When he plays League of Legends, doesn''t he usually use someone else''s keyboard?"


    "It seems like Zhang is getting serious this time!"


    Professional competitions allow players to bring their own equipment for familiarity, as long as it is inspected by the on-site referees.


    "Mr. Zhang, we need to check the equipment you''ve brought, please."


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong handed over the keyboard, "Be careful, there are 107 carats of diamonds encrusted on my keyboard."


    On hearing this, the referee''s hands trembled, nearly dropping the keyboard on the floor.


    What the hell? Why encrust diamonds on a keyboard? Are you so flush with diamonds that you''ve run out of places to use them? Maybe you should consider placing a few hundred carats on your home toilet seat?


    "The equipment is fine," the judge carefully handed the keyboard back to Zhang Menglong, "This custom-made keyboard should withstand an operation intensity and precise response above 800 APM."


    "Holy crap? 800 APM? Does he need such high-performance gear?" The audience was taken aback by the referee''s comments.


    Actually, most slightly advanced keyboards can withstand high APMs, 800 isn''t an exaggerated number, but to accurately respond to over 800 APM is truly frightening.


    For example, if someone presses 10 keys on a keyboard in one second, low-precision keyboards could only recognize six or seven of those keys, and they wouldn''t even accurately register the sequence of key presses.


    However, a high-precision keyboard could perfectly replicate the sequence of those 10 button presses. That''s the difference in keyboard performance.


    But in most cases, such a high response rate isn''t necessary. If Zhang Menglong brought out such advanced gear, that means ordinary keyboards no longer meet the basic requirements of his operations!


    "Is everyone ready?" Zhang Menglong sat down in his seat and cracked his knuckles.


    "Ready!" Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s previous performance, all the team members were brimming with aggression.


    "Excellent!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "From now on, this place shall be known as Zhang Menglong Square!"


    ...


    "The game continues!"


    As the referee''s voice rang out, the game proceeded. Zhang Menglong controlled his character to land on the ground at the fastest speed and ran straight into the nearest room, while the other three teammates landed nearby.


    But within just a few dozen meters around them, at least 20 enemies had landed, having already traded resources and acquired strong combat capabilities.


    In contrast, it seemed Lady Luck was not on the side of Zhang Menglong and his team, as the other teammates only found very ordinary weapons.


    "Damn, what bad luck, only a machine gun?" The audience tensed up as the room Zhang Menglong entered contained only a DP-28 machine gun with 120 rounds of ammunition, a Level One helmet, and a backpack.


    "It''s over, they''re surrounded by enemies. He can''t even leave the house. The moment he shows his head, there might be ten 8x scopes aiming at his forehead."


    "Chickens all busted, we''re done for..."


    The DP-28 was indeed a very powerful machine gun, but it had a fatal flaw¡ªits recoil was too terrifying. If a player didn''t know how to control the recoil, after a few shots, the muzzle could fly up to the sky and start shooting at planes!


    "We won!" The moment Zhang Menglong found the gun, he knew the match had ended. For him, it didn''t matter what kind of gun it was; as long as it was a gun, he could make it have zero recoil!


    "Tell me what''s going on around you," Zhang Menglong communicated calmly with his teammates.


    "I''m Number 1, I''m in the SW128 direction, I have 4 full squads around me, exactly in my four directions. They''re not moving yet, two snipers are watching me, and the rest are still gathering equipment."


    "I''m Number 2, as soon as I landed 8 idiots chased me down and started punching me. I grabbed a gun and killed three of them, then another guy with a gun killed me..."


    "I''m Number 3 in the SE78 direction, I have five squads around me, and they''re getting ready to storm the building."


    "Boom!" Suddenly, the sound of a grenade explosion rang out.


    "Coach, I''ve been blown up....."


    "No worries, just wait to win lying down!" Zhang Menglong had already grasped the general movement of the enemies. About one-third of them were still scavenging for equipment. After all, they each wanted to win and wouldn''t focus entirely on hunting them down. This was the opportunity for their lsp squad!


    "We''ve just landed and only two of us are left, how are we supposed to fight?"


    "Look fast, another member of the lsp squad is being surrounded!"


    "His shooting is so accurate, one against four and he knocked down two, badass!"


    "What a shame, if it were a fair match, they would probably be champions again."


    "Now only Boss Zhang is left, he has to fight against ninety-something people, how can he win?"


    ...


    "The first squad!" Zhang Menglong, keeping track of the line of sight and footsteps, spotted four enemies in one direction. They were from a squad called GUN. They must''ve known he was in their direction but didn''t know which side of the building he was on.


    "Second-floor window!" A player from the GUN squad was the first to spot the emerging Zhang Menglong. The professional player''s quick reaction time allowed them to instantly set their sights on the only window on the second floor.


    But by that point, Zhang Menglong had already opened fire.


    "What a joke, one machine gun against four of us, possible only if every bullet hits the head!"


    "Tat-tat!" A burst of gunfire sounded, and four boxes suddenly exuded green smoke.


    Out of a magazine of 47 bullets, Zhang Menglong had 40 left. Three of the four had Level Two helmets, which needed two headshots to be killed, and the remaining one had no helmet¡ªa single shot would mean a headshot. Zhang Menglong''s seven bullets hit his enemies'' heads with deadly precision.


    Still in burst fire!


    Zhang Menglong leaped out the window, and the instant he hit the ground, he fired off a shot in one direction.


    Over two hundred meters away, a sniper who was hiding behind a window watching the area had a spray of blood burst from his head.


    "What just happened?" The expressions on the faces of the four GUN squad members were still frozen. They hadn''t even fired their guns yet!


    Through the slow-motion replay of the death, they witnessed the astonishing scene¡ªZhang Menglong''s machine gun fired seven steady shots in a burst, headshotting all four of them!


    "It''s him! He''s the one!" One of the squad members suddenly recalled a legend that had been circulating in the entire PUBG player community over the past month.


    "He... Zhang Menglong is ''I''m your dad!''"

 Chapter 362 360: We Cant Create Such a Powerful Cheat

    As such a highly anticipated match, the director had his camera locked onto Zhang Menglong, and over a hundred million Esports enthusiasts around the globe witnessed that unbelievable moment.


    "This scene, why does it feel so familiar?"


    "I know, are you talking about that world exchange match a month ago?"


    "Are you referring to I''m your dad, who, single-handedly, killed dozens of people and stormed into the finals?"


    "That''s him. I''ve only seen such marksmanship on him, but unfortunately, that match was played on a temporary server, and no one knew who he really was, only that he was from a Huaxia team."


    "Could this person be President Zhang?"


    "Besides President Zhang, who else do you think could execute such maneuvers?"


    "I suddenly feel like the match has just begun!"


    ...


    "First aid kits, eight-times scopes, 98K... This group is stacked!" Zhang Menglong wiped out several packs clean in a matter of seconds, then moved to another room, as several teams began rushing his way.


    "Da-da-da!" Another burst, and four smoking crates appeared on the map again.


    "He''s over there!"


    "Da-da-da!"


    "Where did that grenade come from?"


    "Boom!"


    The entire match map instantly descended into chaos. As Zhang Menglong navigated the map, any place he passed was bound to erupt with short, intense gunfire.


    Although there were alliances among different teams, it''s worth noting that there is Friendly Fire damage among teammates, let alone among allied teams. The more chaotic the scene, the higher the rate of accidental injuries.


    "Idiot, how could you fire like that!"


    "Who are you shooting at? Come save me!"


    "Asshole! Why did you finish off your own teammate?"


    ...


    "Da-da-da!" Zhang Menglong fired another burst, and several hundred meters away, four players, barely visible without a four-times scope, fell down, while Zhang Menglong''s machine gun didn''t even have a basic scope fitted!


    "He... he burst headshot four people over 300 meters away?!"


    "How did he manage that?"


    "That''s outrageous! Moving targets at such a distance, even with sniper rifles, are extremely hard to headshot. And he did it with a burst? And they were all headshots?"


    "There''s definitely something wrong!"


    Foreign players began protesting loudly. In just five minutes, Zhang Menglong had wiped out six full teams single-handedly!


    If they weren''t seeing it wrong, it seemed like none of Zhang Menglong''s bullets had hit anywhere other than the head! If this wasn''t aimbot, they''d literally eat their monitors!


    As if hearing the audience''s cries, the director gave a close-up of Zhang Menglong''s hands. There he was, madly controlling the mouse during the burst-fires, pressing down the gun so hard it almost reached his own groin.


    Some keen observers did a slow-motion comparison of the recorded match footage and Zhang Menglong''s gun control moves. An unbelievable scene emerged¡ªevery movement of Zhang Menglong''s mouse corresponded exactly with the recoil offset direction shown in the footage!


    This meant that Zhang Menglong was precisely controlling the recoil with great expertise in firearms and wrist movements, reaching a level only achievable by computers. Though theoretically possible, the practical difficulty was almost indescribable.


    Just two words¡ªinsane!


    Meanwhile, the style of the battlefield was gradually changing.


    "Zhang Menglong is here! Everyone, charge!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong is in this building area, everyone be careful!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong is inside, everyone retreat!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong is here, everyone run!"


    ...


    "Those who want to make it to the final circle, get out of this city fast, it already belongs to Zhang."


    ...


    When there were less than 30 players left, the city had only one person left, Zhang Menglong, and the streets of the city were littered with loot boxes. On Zhang Menglong''s screen, the kill count was a staggering "57".


    "Where is everyone? Come out!" Zhang Menglong, using the all-map voice chat and riding a tricycle, drove up and down the streets, but the city was already empty, and the remaining players had fled this place of trouble toward the safe zone.


    "No one left? How boring!" Zhang Menglong updated his equipment and sped off toward the safe zone as well.


    "Is this... is this really a professional match? Is this actually the Esports Olympics?"


    "It''s simply a massacre, how is this one school of players surrounding one person? This is like a deity surrounding a school!"


    "I, Zhang Menglong, really haven''t cheated!"


    ...


    "Oh no, how could the final circle be like this?" The Huaxia players groaned in dismay when they saw the location of the last final circle.


    The final circle appeared on a mountaintop, and besides a few rocks on the mountain, there were absolutely no covers around!


    The twenty-some players who had escaped were now all gathered on the mountaintop, forming a fan-shape and staring down below, ready to shred Zhang Menglong with bullets the moment he tried to ascend.


    Since he was in the city before, where there were plenty of covers, Zhang Menglong had a lot of room for maneuver. But now, Zhang Menglong had only two choices: either be killed by the toxic gas or get shot dead while storming the mountaintop under concentrated fire.


    Even if Zhang Menglong''s shooting skills were outstanding, the few seconds it would take to potentially take out more than twenty people were enough for him to be killed several times over!


    "These little tricks?" At that moment, Zhang Menglong was on a mountain top over a kilometer away. At that distance, even with an 8x scope, one could only see some blurry pixels moving.


    This distance was already beyond the effective range of any weapon in the game!


    "What''s he planning to do?"


    "Could it be that he..."


    Just then, Zhang Menglong jumped out of the car, tied a C4 explosive to the back of the vehicle, and set the timer for 15 seconds. Two seconds before the explosion, he attached another C4 to the car.


    "Boom!" The enormous blast sent the car skyward, and after flying several hundred meters, the second C4 exploded, giving a second burst of momentum in mid-air.


    Looking at the trajectory of the flight, the landing spot of the car seemed...


    "Look, what''s that in the sky?" The twenty-some players on the mountaintop suddenly saw a fireball flying towards them.


    "Looks like a car!"


    "Is it coming right at us?"


    "Run!"


    "Boom!"


    Twenty-some loot boxes spread across the mountaintop...


    "This... this... I''ve only seen such scenes with an up master on BiliBili, and now someone has pulled it off in a professional competition..."


    "Was this explosion''s distance and angle calculated directly with his brain?"


    "Newton would be impressed!"


    "Is this not a cheat?"


    "Buddy, I specifically make cheats for this game, and we''ve created dozens of them. A cheat this fierce... we really can''t make it!"


    "Congratulations to the lsp team from Huaxia for winning the gold medal in PUBG at the first Esports Olympics, finishing this year''s competition with gold medals in all categories! Let''s give them the warmest applause!" the host exclaimed as if pumped up on adrenaline.


    "Champions! Champions!"


    ...

 Chapter 363 361 Outsiders Not Allowed Entry

    Following the championship victory of the lsp team, the first Esports Olympics also finally came to an end, but even though the competition was over, the esports fever continued to ferment.


    Wang Ling immediately struck while the iron was hot, founding an esports school¡ªwith Zhang Menglong as the brand''s marquee attraction, the esports community dubbed this school "Esports Whampoa Military Academy."


    Each course was personally taught by members of the lsp team, and coupled with Zhang Menglong''s teaching methods that far surpassed those of the current era, any esports player who graduated from here would certainly have the strength to contend for world championships.


    With this Esports Whampoa Military Academy, Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong could make a fortune just by sending esports talents to various clubs in the future, where the signing fee for a single player could be as high as tens of millions, and their only costs were for the venues and accommodations.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in these matters; he suddenly realized that he hadn''t entered the Super God Academy for quite some time.


    "Holy shit! 2,300 Cred Points?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim when he checked his Cred Points. He hadn''t spent much money recently, but he hadn''t skimped on the swagger, and had somehow amassed an enormous amount of Cred Points over the past two months!


    "Hahaha, Gou Dan, summon 10 more teachers for me!" Zhang Menglong shouted, "Hey God, send me a few more awesome teachers!"


    "Dean, you cannot unlock more teachers until you have recruited 10 students!" Gou Dan gave Zhang Menglong an icy reply.


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. With all these Cred Points, how could he not be able to spend them?


    "The condition was set by the previous dean; the Super God Academy''s intelligent management system prioritizes the rules set by the last acting dean as the highest priority command!"


    "Damn, it''s just recruiting students, I''ll go right now!" With such a great opportunity at hand, the first people Zhang Menglong thought of were those around him¡ªLu Yiyao, Wang Ling, Qin Feng, and his roommates and friends.


    "Dean, not everyone is qualified to enter the Super God Academy."


    "Ah? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Only those with a Basic Potential Index over 10 are eligible to study at the Super God Academy. Up to this point, there''s no one among your acquaintances who meets this criterion."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but swear. A Potential Index of 5 was already considered average for humans, while scores of 6 or 7 were considered elite. As for those with a Potential Index of 10 or more, they could no longer be considered ordinary people.


    So far, only the Psychics, Mutants, and the like whom Zhang Menglong had encountered possessed such Potential Indices. Oh, and their dog too¡ªthough he wasn''t sure if the Super God Academy admitted dogs.


    "Does this mean ordinary people have no chance?" Zhang Menglong pressed.


    Having the Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong clearly understood that immortality wasn''t just a legend. Owning the academy meant that one day he, like his ancestors and parents, would possess a prolonged life.


    If the people around him couldn''t do the same, he would have to watch them gradually age and die... Thinking about this made Zhang Menglong feel somewhat uneasy.


    "The host need not worry about these," Gou Dan immediately said, "The Super God Academy is a miraculous place, where nothing is impossible. Don''t forget, there are many Alchemy Masters in the school, and plenty of elixirs can alter the potential of a human body."


    "Right," Zhang Menglong nodded, "it looks like I need to take this more seriously. Gou Dan, is there any way to detect people with a Potential Index over 10 at any time? Checking one by one is just too slow."


    "The dean can directly activate the scanning authority of the dean''s ring. It only costs 10 Cred Points per hour and allows you to sense the presence of eligible individuals within 10 kilometers at any time."


    "Only ten kilometers?" Zhang Menglong complained, "Aren''t you a product of an advanced civilization? Aren''t you embarrassed not to use light years as a unit of measurement?"


    "Certainly, the scanning cost for a billion light years is 1,000,000,000 Cred Points per second!"


    "Hehehe, do you think I just farted!"


    Since he had made the trip, Zhang Menglong naturally couldn''t leave without doing anything else. He spent a few hundred Cred Points to learn several E-grade Skills from a few teachers.


    Wu Xingyun''s "Life and Death Talisman," Liu Mauxing''s "Special Grade Culinary Arts," Yan Chixia''s "Exorcism Art," and Feng Qingyang''s "Dugu Nine Swords." Bolstered by the Inner Strength cultivated through the Three Elements Unite method, Zhang Menglong now figured he could hold his ground against a Level Seven Second World human!


    "What a cool sports car!"


    "That''s a limited edition Koenigsegg, pressing the accelerator uses up my salary for a month, damn..."


    "Damn, driving so slowly, are they just showing off?"


    Zhang Menglong drove the car leisurely through the streets of Jiangnan City. The cost of 10 Cred Points per hour wasn''t too exorbitant, but finding someone with a Potential Index of 10 in the vast sea of people was incredibly difficult.


    Name: Liu Chan


    Potential Index: 3


    "Three parts dog''s strength, utter trash!"


    ...


    Name: O''Leary


    Potential Index: 8


    "Not bad, but just a little bit short."


    ...


    Name: Ruben Fei


    Potential Index: 9


    "Damn, is this for real? How can someone so ugly have a Potential Index of 9?"


    ...


    Name: Cai Xukun


    Potential Index: 1


    Zhang Menglong: "..."


    ...


    Name: Chen Bingyu


    Potential Index: 11


    "!!"


    Zhang Menglong''s spirit suddenly surged!


    According to what Gou Dan had told him, in the average population, there might be only one person with a natural Potential Index above 10 out of hundreds of thousands. With Jiangnan City''s population of 9 million, there were probably only thirty to fifty such individuals, and it was quite unexpected for him to encounter one while just strolling through the streets for a couple of hours. His luck was indeed quite good!


    Zhang Menglong immediately pinpointed the other party''s location, which was very close to him, about 3.5 kilometers away in a Chinese medicine shop. It was the largest traditional Chinese pharmacy in Jiangnan City, said to have a history of over 300 years, a very old and established brand.


    Zhang Menglong stepped on the accelerator and immediately headed in that direction.


    "What a beautiful girl!" Zhang Menglong slowly parked the car by the roadside and saw a tall girl walking out of the pharmacy towards a red Maserati.


    "Quite the young wealthy lady," Zhang Menglong immediately searched for this girl named Chen Bingyu''s information.


    ...


    Name: Chen Bingyu


    Race: Human


    Identity: Chairman of Bingyu Media


    Potential Index: 11


    Gift: Ancient Martial Arts


    Skill: Basic Internal Strength (G), Nameless Boxing Technique (G)


    "Ancient Martial Arts?" Zhang Menglong''s eyebrows knitted slightly. Through Ye Yin, he had a little understanding about Ancient Martial Artists, and it was unexpected that he would meet one today.


    Zhang Menglong didn''t hesitate to follow her.


    The Maserati drove out of the northern suburbs of Jiangnan City, an area that was developed relatively late with lots of wasteland and farmland. The car headed straight towards a hill known as North Half Mountain.


    "There''s actually such a small manor on this hillside?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. On the mid-slope, there was indeed a group of small villas that seemed quite quaint yet exuded a luxurious aura.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are a few dozen energy reactions above Level Four nearby and three above Level Seven," Ye Yin''s voice rang in Zhang Menglong''s ear. "This must be the nesting ground for an Ancient Martial Arts Family."


    "Who would''ve thought there would be such families in Jiangnan City? Quite interesting indeed!" Zhang Menglong stepped on the accelerator, intending to follow, when suddenly, several figures leaped from the surrounding woods and landed right in front of Zhang Menglong.


    These people were dressed in uniform, with expressions on their faces that were faintly arrogant, as if everyone owed them two million.


    "This area is off-limits to outsiders. Please leave immediately, or face the consequences!"

 Chapter 364 362: Ive Contracted This Mountain Top

    "Hey, this northern half of the mountain is a public place, why can''t I go up?" Zhang Menglong said displeasedly.


    "This isn''t a place you should be coming to, nor is it a question you should be asking!" The leader still spoke with an icy tone.


    "You don''t recognize me?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. It wasn''t that he was vain, but by all logic, there shouldn''t be many people in Huaxia, or even the whole world, who didn''t know him. Yet, this young man seemed to have never seen him before.


    "I don''t care who you are, leave immediately. This is your last warning!"


    "Wow, so arrogant?"


    "Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin''s voice suddenly rang out, "this Ancient Martial Arts Family holds a very special status in society. They generally live in secluded places rarely visited by others, and aside from those members who gather wealth for their families, they seldom interact with the outside world. If you want to go up this mountain, it might not be easy."


    "Did they buy this mountain?" Zhang Menglong communicated with Ye Yin telepathically.


    "This..." Ye Yin hesitated, and then said, "Mr. Zhang, these Ancient Martial Arts Families, although unlike Longxia, are not directly controlled by the state, they have aided the country in resolving many invasions by second-world humans, so they have certain special rights. As long as it''s an uninhabited place, they can freely settle there and have absolute autonomy within a certain area."


    "So, this place isn''t bought by them, right?"


    Ye Yin couldn''t help but roll her eyes. She had been trying to explain just how special the Ancient Martial Arts Families were, but Zhang Menglong''s attention was entirely on whether they bought the mountain.


    "Since they didn''t buy this place, why can''t I go up there?"


    "Sir, their autonomy is extensive; they could even kill people outright until these acts were curbed in recent decades. If a common person tries to forcefully enter the territory of an Ancient Martial Arts Family, it absolutely won''t end well."


    "What if I must go up there?"


    "Then we will fight our way up!" Ye Yin replied, "Mr. Zhang, are you here for that girl?"


    "No kidding, or else am I here to race cars?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "I have already checked the details of this girl for you, Mr. Zhang. Miss Hong Yi has already responded to me."


    "Oh? Tell me about it?" Zhang Menglong only knew her name was Chen Bingyu and that her Potential Index had reached 11 points. The rest was rather meaningless information.


    "This Chen Bingyu is the most outstanding person of this generation in the Chen Family. You may not know, practicing ancient martial arts is different from having supernatural abilities. Those with supernatural abilities are strongest in their middle age. As they age, their bodily functions decline, and most supernatural abilities weaken."


    "But Ancient Martial Artists grow stronger the more they practice. However, their growth rate is very slow. Generally, if a family fully supports a member, it''s quite an achievement to become a Level One Ancient Martial Artist by age 20. Chen Bingyu, however, became a Level Two Martial Artist at 18 and this year at 21, she already has a chance to challenge becoming a Level Three Martial Artist."


    "Oh, so what?"


    "Nothing much..." Ye Yin felt somewhat speechless. In the circle of ancient martial arts, someone like Chen Bingyu is considered a treasure, but it''s a bit... in front of Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong had been practicing the Three Elements Unite mental method for only a few months, powered by a continuous supply of Fighting Spirit Pills, and his strength was already stronger than that of a Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist. Generally, Martial Artists of Level Seven were at least in their sixties.


    "Aren''t you going to leave?"


    "Mr. Zhang, they are insolent. Let me teach them a lesson for you!" Ye Yin''s murderous intent surfaced, for him, insulting Zhang Menglong was an unforgivable offense.


    "It''s possible but unnecessary," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "If I beat them up and storm up there, wouldn''t that make me seem a bit overbearing? We are civilized people, and civilized people should talk first!"


    "Fine, I''m leaving now, and I''ll come back later!" Zhang Menglong immediately drove away.


    "What did he say?" Several guards from the Chen Family looked at each other.


    "He seems to have said he''s coming back later."


    "Sneaking around tracking our young lady, he''s definitely up to no good. If he dares come back, don''t blame us for being impolite!"


    ...


    "Hong Yi, I want to buy a plot of land. I want to see the land development agreement within an hour!"


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    An hour later, Zhang Menglong''s car once again stopped at the foot of the mountain, and the group of young men who had blocked Zhang Menglong before appeared again, only this time their expressions were exceptionally gloomy.


    "You dare to come back?"


    "Why wouldn''t I dare?" Zhang Menglong said, "This is a society ruled by law, don''t tell me you plan to claim the mountain as your own? It''s as if you''ve bought this place."


    "Even if we haven''t bought this place, since our Chen Family has taken a liking to it, it is now our territory. Ordinary people like you aren''t qualified to go up!"


    The young man suddenly struck out towards the side, a strong inner strength surged out, leaving a palm imprint one inch deep on the trunk of a tree.


    He was more than five meters away from that tree. If that strike had hit a person, it would undoubtedly result in shattered bones and ruptured internal organs.


    "Clap clap clap clap!" Amid the astonished gazes of the youths, Zhang Menglong actually began to applaud.


    "Not bad, not bad, do it again!"


    "Is... is he not afraid at all?"


    "Is he an idiot?"


    ...


    "Kid, whether you are genuinely dumb or just pretending, this is Chen Family''s place. You better leave here quickly, or else the next palm strike will be on you!"


    "Oh, sorry, I have leased this mountain now," Zhang Menglong said, "In other words, this place is now mine, I am the master here, you can all leave!"


    "What did you say?" The men were stunned.


    "What? Don''t believe it?" Zhang Menglong walked forward, throwing a stack of documents into their hands, "I have already spent 12 million to buy the development rights for this piece of land, now I want to go up and have a look, any objections?"


    The young man flipped through the documents, which were clearly development contracts from the Jiangnan City Land Bureau, selling the development rights for the northern half of the mountain at 12 million for three years, directly to the young man in front of them!


    "You better leave quickly, or I''ll call the police! You are trespassing on private property!" Zhang Menglong swaggered towards the mountain.


    "What do we do?"


    "What do we do? We are an Ancient Martial Arts Family, we have privileges. Even if he has bought the place, as long as our Chen Family doesn''t agree, even the documents from the Land Bureau cannot bind us!"


    "Then him..."


    "Break his legs and throw him out!"


    "Stop right there!" the leading youth shouted to Zhang Menglong.


    "What else is there?" Zhang Menglong turned around.


    "You still can''t go up! If you don''t leave, don''t blame us for getting rough!"


    "Oh? Ready to get rough?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "I am a reasonable person, which is why I didn''t just rush up. Now that I''ve leased this mountain, and you still won''t let me go up? I talk reason with you, and you act like hooligans to me?"


    "Stop wasting words with him, I think he''s just some clan''s pawn sent here to deliberately cause trouble!"


    "Go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong channeled his full inner strength and stamped down, the powerful force instantly cracked the road surface, and a network of fine cracks spread out like a spider web.


    Zhang Menglong extended his right hand, crooked his index and middle finger, "Come at me!"

 Chapter 365 363: Collecting Protection Money

    "What powerful inner strength!" As they looked at the cracked ground, the three young martial artists from the Chen Family were somewhat astonished. This ground was not composed of cement but was a road paved with hard bluestone; ordinary martial artists couldn''t possibly break it with a single stomp, let alone ordinary people.


    With just this move they could confirm that the youngster before them was no ordinary person!


    "Move in!" They really would not dare to strike at ordinary people.


    Although the state granted them great freedom and power, there was one rule: generally, ancient martial artists were absolutely prohibited from harming ordinary people. However, if the opponent was also an ancient martial artist, then many of those concerns were dismissed.


    As the saying goes, matters of the jianghu are resolved within the jianghu; being martial artists themselves, once a dispute arose, they would settle it with fists. Even if there were casualties, it would remain a matter between the two parties. If it were brought before mundane authorities, it would be an utterly disgraceful matter.


    These young individuals were merely ordinary descendants of the Chen family, but as martial artists, each of their combat abilities far exceeded that of a battle-hardened special forces soldier.


    Though their physical strength and power might not match that of a special forces soldier, the advantage of ancient martial artists lay in their ability to generate "inner strength" from their bodies, which allowed them to exert tremendous force with every movement, and even project this inner strength externally, attacking like a force of nature.


    Even a Level One martial artist, as long as they cultivated inner strength, could punch with the force of a thousand catty. To think, even a professional boxer like Tyson only punches with a force of around 400 pounds, which is less than half that of a Level One martial artist.


    The three martial artists immediately rushed towards Zhang Menglong from three different directions, their speed incredibly fast boosted by their inner strength.


    "Bring it on, no more babbling!" Zhang Menglong stepped back half a step and gathered his inner strength, "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi! Three Elements Unite."


    "Boom!" A tremendous force of inner strength spread from his body, to the point that the intensity of the inner strength became visible to the naked eye!


    "This inner strength! He is a Grandmaster!" Feeling this immensely strong inner strength, the three martial artists felt almost as if they were suffocating.


    Materializing inner strength was an indication of a Level Seven martial artist and above, and nearly all such martial artists were considered pillars of the Ancient Martial Arts World, known as Grandmasters!


    A Grandmaster-level ancient martial artist possessed the ability to establish a family clan or a martial sect, and was definitely not someone to be trifled with!


    But to reach the Grandmaster level, talent, effort, and opportunity were indispensable. Normally, it would take an ancient martial artist at least sixty to seventy years to reach the Grandmaster realm.


    A Grandmaster in his early twenties was simply beyond their comprehension! A hundred Level Two martial artists would be no match for a single Grandmaster''s palm strike!


    Zhang Menglong then created three after-images on the spot and suddenly charged at the three individuals, with his immense aura so oppressive that they couldn''t even move.


    "Paiyun Palm!"


    "Heavenly Frost Fist!"


    "Wind God Leg!"


    Gigantic inner strength burst forth, directly sending the three young men flying.


    The raging inner strength wreaked havoc inside their bodies, their little inner strength shattered in an instant and then began destroying their muscles and bones...


    In this move, Zhang Menglong hadn''t even used a fraction of his strength. With his current realm, just a bit more force, and these three would likely have been beaten to death."


    "Snap!" The three young martial artists each fell in a heap, blood streaming from the corners of their mouths, their eyes filled with terror.


    They had actually provoked a Grandmaster power! Such a figure, even the Clan Leader of their Chen family would need to be extremely courteous. If it had been someone with a slightly worse temper, they might already be dead by now.


    But a Grandmaster power in his early twenties, which power had fostered him?


    Until now, in the entire Ancient Martial Artist World, the youngest Grandmaster ever was one who had entered the Grandmaster Realm at the age of 37. He had already broken through the Grandmaster Realm and reached the higher Mythical Realm, becoming the strongest in the entire Huaxia Ancient Martial Arts World.


    In terms of strength, even the leader of "Longxia" might not be stronger than him; whenever they met him, they would respectfully call him a Martial God.


    A decade or so ago, the leader of "Longxia" and the Martial God had a major battle. It was said that the battle was inconclusive, and because of their fight, there was a severe geological shift in the Himalayan region.


    The leader of "Longxia," along with the human leaders from America, Tsarist Russia, and Kaibong of the Second World, was named one of the four most powerful figures, which illustrates the immense strength of this Martial God.


    However, in the last few decades, no one like the Martial God has emerged, nor has there been anyone under 40 who could advance to the Grandmaster Realm.


    If this young man were to reach the age of the Martial God, his strength...


    "No! Absolutely impossible for there to be such a young Grandmaster!" The three immediately dismissed this thought from their minds.


    It is known that Huaxia''s ancient martial arts are quite magical, many of which have the effect of prolonging life, and Huaxia has also passed down Alchemy. Both these ancient martial arts and Alchemy can make one appear as young as a youth.


    They believed that Zhang Menglong must be some old freak who had consumed certain elixirs or practiced some magical martial arts!


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong was walking towards them, and a devilish smile was even on his face.


    "Predecessor, the three of us were blind to Taishan and didn''t recognize that the predecessor is a Grandmaster Martial Artist. Please forgive us!" The three young men immediately struggled to kneel on the ground.


    When facing ordinary people, Ancient Martial Artists generally adopt a superior attitude, but in front of a Grandmaster, they can only bow and scrape!


    "Weren''t you three very arrogant just now? Didn''t you say you were going to break my legs?" Zhang Menglong squatted in front of them and said.


    The three were suddenly at a loss for words. Who knew you, sir, were a Grandmaster? If their elders knew they were going to break the legs of a Grandmaster, their own legs would be broken by their elders!


    The Chen Family in the world of Ancient Martial Arts was already a sizeable clan, but within their family, there were only three Grandmasters.


    As for the Mythical Realm powerhouses, they were truly the stuff of legends! People like them didn''t even qualify to interact with a Mythical Realm Martial Artist. Most of the time, Mythical Realm Martial Artists were secluded, striving to break through even higher limits, only emerging when the Ancient Martial Arts World or even the nation was in danger.


    It could almost be said that if the Mythical Realm powerhouses don''t show up, then the Grandmaster Martial Artists will forever be revered as gods.


    "Predecessor, we were reckless just now. We are willing to apologize to you." The three continuously kowtowed toward Zhang Menglong.


    "Alright, I forgive you."


    "Thank you, Predecessor, thank you!" The three were immediately overjoyed and hastily kowtowed several more times to Zhang Menglong.


    "Don''t call me Predecessor; I am only in my twenties, and it sounds like some old antique," Zhang Menglong said in displeasure.


    "Then... What should we call you?" Although they didn''t believe Zhang Menglong was only in his twenties, the three of them dared not show it and could only continue to humble themselves.


    "Just call me ''Big Handsome.''"


    "Big... Big Handsome..." The three were immediately at a loss for words; this predecessor''s taste seemed a bit... quirky.


    "Predecessor, what brings you here, if I may ask? I can immediately inform our leader, and he will definitely treat you passionately," asked the lead young martial artist.


    "I was only planning to look around," Zhang Menglong said, "but now that I have leased this land, and you are living on my mountain, I think it''s time I collected some protection money."

 Chapter 366 364: Give 500 Billion a Year

    "Protection... protection fees?" the three young men were baffled again. Their family had been "ruling the roost" in this area for over a decade and it was the first time anyone dared to approach them about protection fees.


    "Nonsense! You''re on my turf, so of course, you have to pay protection fees!!"


    Zhang Menglong clapped his hands on the development agreement, "I have an agreement right here, authorized by the land bureau of Jiangnan City, black on white. Don''t even think about reneging!"


    The three martial artists were on the verge of tears. Why did they feel like this elder was kind of a rascal? Typical grandmasters had that ethereal, sage-like vibe, not this constant chatter about money. But they dared not refuse openly.


    "Elder, how do you plan to collect these protection fees? We can go and inform our family head. If the price is reasonable, we will definitely deliver it with both hands," said the young martial artist cautiously.


    "Hmm..." Zhang Menglong wobbled his head, "This place is a feng shui treasure. The southeastern corner is surrounded by Cupid''s star, and the northwestern corner shows a ''all rivers run into the sea'' situation. Anyone living here is bound to reap love, career, and money. So, the protection fees will definitely not be cheap."


    "Just say the word, elder. Our Chen Family still has some assets; a trivial amount of rent is nothing," they now just wanted to get this deity out and consider the money spent as a disaster averted.


    To martial artists of grandmaster rank, even the three grandmasters in their own family had to be cautious around them, and who knew what kind of powers backed this grandmaster? Offending him was definitely not a wise choice.


    "I won''t ask for much, just 500 billion a year!" Zhang Menglong blurted out.


    "500 billion!?" The three young martial artists'' eyes nearly popped out.


    Their entire Chen Family didn''t even make 500 billion in a year!


    In Huaxia, those so-called wealthy individuals only appeared wealthy superficially; they might personally own a lot, but compared to some families, there was a world of difference.


    Especially these Ancient Martial Arts Families, their background was incredibly strong!


    You have to understand, these Ancient Martial Arts Families have developed over centuries, at least a few hundred years of history each. Though their family fortunes might not compare with those from a lineage lasting 5000 years like Zhang Menglong''s, they were still far beyond what any tycoon could match.


    Whether in politics, business, or other domains, shadows of these Ancient Martial Arts Family members are everywhere, their wealth-gathering capability terrifyingly strong.


    But the expenses of these Ancient Martial Arts Families were also horrifying; the daily cultivation resources needed by the family youth were practically like burning money, and most of the family''s yearly income could hardly be saved.


    "Elder, you''re too fond of jokes. Our Chen Family doesn''t even make 500 billion Huaxia currency in a year."


    "When did I say it was Huaxia currency? I was talking about US Dollars!" Zhang Menglong said seriously.


    "US Dollars?!"


    "Or did you think it was Zimbabwean currency?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "Can''t even cough up 500 billion, and you boast small assets? I''m speechless," Zhang Menglong muttered.


    "500 billion not available? Why don''t you ask around and see how many people in the world could produce 500 billion in cash?" The three young men literally wanted to grab a brick and crack open Zhang Menglong''s head.


    "Forget it, you don''t look like you can produce that sum, I''ll just go directly to your family chief!" After speaking, Zhang Menglong turned and left.


    "Elder!"


    "Elder, don''t leave!"


    A grandmaster-level martial artist barging into their Chen Family stronghold was no minor matter, but they had no means to stop him.


    "What to do? It looks like this grandmaster isn''t here for something as trivial as rent collection. He must have other motives."


    "Be confident, remove ''seems like'' and ''perhaps,'' he definitely has other motives."


    "We openly provoked him, yet he spared our lives, maybe he isn''t here to cause trouble,"


    "We should quickly inform the Elder. I hope nothing bad happens to our family."


    ...


    In the most central courtyard of the Chen family residence, an elder with white hair lay on a bed, his body flowing with profound Inner Strength. However, his face was tinged with black, and each breath seemed to require all his strength.


    Sitting in front of the window was a girl named Chen Bingyu, holding a bowl of medicine. The medicine emitted a strong scent of Chinese herbs that could easily cause nosebleeds with just a slight sniff by ordinary people.


    "Elder Jiang, is there really no way to cure my grandfather''s poison?"


    This bowl contained a medicinal solution brewed from a millennium-old ginseng, an ingredient almost impossible to buy, even with money. The Chen family had gone through great difficulties to obtain it from the Tibetan Area.


    "It''s difficult," Elder Jiang shook his head, "The poison in your grandfather is not ordinary; it''s the deeply toxic Inner Strength of the Ding Family''s deadly poison palm, something that ordinary medical methods cannot remove. If it wasn''t for your grandfather''s profound Inner Strength, he might have died from organ failure on the spot."


    "Even with this millennium ginseng, we can only sustain him for half a month at most. If we don''t find the Antidote in that time, not even millennia-old ginseng can save him."


    "It''s all because of me," Chen Bingyu started crying, realizing that if it weren''t for her, her grandfather wouldn''t be in such a deadly situation.


    The Ding Family was also one of the ancient Ancient Martial Arts Families, but they did not follow a righteous path. From a young age, the Ding family members began to temper their bodies with poisonous medicines, slowly changing their cultivated Inner Strength to be highly toxic.


    However, this deadly poison did not invade their bodies but would invade the body of their opponents during combat. Without the Ding family''s secret Antidote, death was almost certain.


    Initially, the Jiangnan Chen family almost had no interactions with the Ding family, but in a gathering of Ancient Martial Arts sects, the third-generation heir of the Ding Family, Ding Muyun, fell in love with Chen Bingyu at first sight and began his relentless pursuit afterward.


    However, Chen Bingyu, who had been focusing on her cultivation for many years and knowing the Ding family''s bad reputation in the Ancient Martial Arts World, was naturally unfazed by the womanizing Ding Muyun.


    Unexpectedly, just a month ago, Ding Muyun came to the Chen family, bringing his Elder to personally propose a marriage, bluntly demanding that the Chen family betroth Chen Bingyu to him.


    Such an act naturally met with opposition from the Chen family.


    But they did not expect that Elder Ding Weiming of the Ding family would openly confront the Chen family right there.


    The Chen family''s strength was not inferior to that of the Ding Family; on the contrary, the Chen family had three Grandmaster Martial Artists, while the Ding family had only two, one being this elder and the other Ding Muyun''s grandfather.


    But nobody could have imagined that this Elder from the Ding family had exceptionally advanced from a Level Seven Martial Artist to a Level Nine in just a few years! Even his Inner Strength''s toxicity had grown immensely stronger than before.


    With just one palm strike, he gravely injured Chen Bingyu''s grandfather!


    The severe toxic Inner Strength entered his body, torturing the Grandmaster to the point of a fate worse than death.


    The Ding family, notorious for its ill repute, had always been very low-key in the Ancient Martial Arts World, but this time they changed their usual stance to become extremely arrogant, even annihilating several smaller families, subtly indicating their intention to make a big move.


    Before they left, they delivered a message stating that what the Ding family wanted, no one could refuse. They hoped that the next time they came, they would see Chen Bingyu willingly returning with them to the Ding Family!


    "Elder, there''s trouble!" Just then, an ordinary disciple of the Chen family approached Elder Jiang.


    "What happened?" Elder Jiang''s face immediately darkened, "Have they come again?"


    "No," the young disciple said, "Our disciples guarding the mountain have sent news that a Grandmaster Martial Artist has broken in."


    "A Grandmaster Martial Artist? What''s going on?"


    "He... he said he has taken over this mountain and wants to charge us protection money, asking for 500 billion a year!"

 Chapter 367 365: Taking Her to Settle the Debt is Also Fine

    "Asking our Chen Family for protection money?" Elder Jiang slammed the table in anger, "Really, anyone dares to shit on our heads now!"


    These Ancient Martial Arts Families wielded significant influence in secular society; many of their descendants established martial arts schools or similar organizations, and they somewhat involved themselves in the less savory industries as well.


    They were the ones usually extorting protection money, so when had it ever become someone else''s turn to demand it from them?


    "Do you know who the other party is?"


    "Unclear," the Chen Family Martial Artist shook his head, "But apparently, it seems to be a young man around twenty years old. It appears he bought the development rights and usage rights from Jiangnan City''s Land Development Bureau for the Northern Half Mountain."


    "A young man around 20 years old? A Grandmaster Martial Artist?" Elder Jiang was stunned, "Could it be one of those old guys who swallowed a Miracle Elixir?"


    The Martial God residing in Huaxia was already over 150 years old, yet he maintained the appearance of a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties,


    "Hmph! Does he not realize that the Northern Half Mountain is our Chen Family''s territory?" Elder Jiang grew even more upset.


    Although the Chen Family wasn''t top among the Ancient Martial Arts World, they were undoubtedly a well-known large family, and other families generally showed them some respect.


    The behavior of this person, who also seemed to belong to the Ancient Martial Arts World, was an absolute provocation toward their Chen Family.


    "Grandfather Jiang, could it be someone sent by the Ding Family again?" Worry crossed Chen Bingyu''s face.


    "If it''s someone from the Jiang Family, that''s even better. We can just force them to give us the antidote!" Though Elder Jiang sounded very tough, his expression was clearly filled with gravity.


    Chen Bingyu''s grandfather and he were both Level Seven Martial Artists, but in terms of strength, her grandfather was even more powerful. Yet now, he was barely clinging to life in bed; so how could he possibly stand up against the Ding Family''s expert?


    Even if it wasn''t that Grandmaster who seriously injured the Chen Family head, the Ding Family members had sinister Inner Strength. In a fight of equal strength, he estimated he would be at a disadvantage.


    But the situation was dire, and as an Elder of the Chen Family, with the old head critically injured, he had to step forward.


    "Go fetch the Second Elder," Elder Jiang ordered.


    It was impossible to agree to marry Chen Bingyu to that young master of the Ding Family, but with the Ding Family''s growing arrogance and aggression, a fierce battle seemed inevitable; this was already a matter crucial to the survival of their Chen Family.


    "Grandfather Jiang, I... I should just agree to their demands..." Chen Bingyu glanced at her painfully suffering grandfather, then at the Chen Family Martial Artists prepared for an imminent threat, and her defenses immediately crumbled.


    "What are you saying!" Elder Jiang had watched Chen Bingyu grow up since she was young. With no children of his own, he saw her as his own granddaughter, "Even if it costs me my old life, I absolutely won''t hand you over to the Ding Family."


    "That''s right, the Ding Family has gone too far, we absolutely cannot compromise with them!" Several of Chen Bingyu''s elders also declared resolutely.


    "Let''s go!"


    ...


    "These Ancient Martial Arts Families are not as old-fashioned as I thought." Zhang Menglong surveyed the surrounding buildings, noting that each small villa exuded a very modern architectural style, and even several luxury cars were parked around, more resembling an affluent neighborhood.


    "Mr. Zhang, these Ancient Martial Arts Families also keep up with the times. That antiquated way of life is now rarely seen; they even use high-tech machines to assist in training their descendants and employ some novel medications to enhance cultivation speed, which is quite modernized," Ye Yin said.


    "Oh, here they come!" Zhang Menglong heard a series of hurried footsteps, his lips curling slightly upward.


    Chen Family had brought over twenty people, among whom, apart from that Elder Jiang, there was another older man; the rest were mostly Ancient Martial Artists below Level Seven.


    Chen Bingyu''s gaze fell on Zhang Menglong, and she seemed to feel she had seen this face somewhere before but couldn''t recall where exactly.


    "So young!" At the sight of Zhang Menglong, everyone was stunned momentarily. Though they had been prepared, seeing such a young Grandmaster Martial Artist still gave them a shock, unsure what kind of old monster could possibly lurk beneath such a youthful appearance.


    "Are you the Grandmaster Martial Artist," asked the elder surnamed Jiang, bowing slightly toward Zhang Menglong, "Your eminent presence at Chen Family is not greeted from afar, please forgive us."


    "Don''t be so formal, everyone, just make yourselves at home, ha!" Zhang Menglong said in an easy-going tone.


    The elder''s forehead sprouted several blue veins¡ªit was clearly their home!


    "Your visit to the Chen Family, may I ask what advice you could offer?" Elder Jiang held back his anger as he spoke.


    "You don''t have mobile phones here? I thought those gatekeepers below had already informed you," Zhang Menglong said incredulously, "I''m here to collect protection fees!"


    "Putting it this way makes me seem quite unreasonable," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "Let me rephrase that, I''m here to collect rent!"


    "Sir, the Chen Family has been stationed here for decades, don''t you think your demand is a bit excessive?"


    "Damn, I''ve been on Earth for 20 years, is this Earth mine then!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Under the heavens, all land belongs to the sovereign; does this land belong to the state, do you have a property ownership certificate, do you have a lease agreement?"


    "This..." The elder surnamed Jiang was at a loss for words; those Ancient Martial Arts Families and schools almost always took lands by force, and no one had ever asked them for property ownership certificates before.


    "You don''t have one, but I do!" Zhang Menglong then took out a land development and use agreement, "See this, approved by the Land Bureau, this mountain belongs to me for the next three years. If you want to stay here, shouldn''t you pay me some rent?"


    "I''m not asking for much, only 500 billion a year; you take care of water, electricity, and gas yourselves, how about that?" Zhang Menglong said with a grin.


    "It seems you are not here to collect either protection fees or rent, but to create trouble!" Elder Jiang''s tone suddenly turned cold.


    "Why can''t you people be reasonable!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "I''m clearly owed rent, yet you say I''m making trouble. Those people below even wanted to hit me, and I haven''t even asked for emotional damages yet!"


    "Since you have a land use agreement, it''s right for our Chen Family to pay some rent if we inhabit this place, but isn''t 500 billion a bit excessive?"


    "Actually, I''m not that hard to talk to," said Zhang Menglong smiling, "If you can''t pay up, trading with people is also an option."


    Zhang Menglong pointed at Chen Bingyu, who was standing behind the two elders, "If she comes with me, I might consider reducing the rent!"


    A flicker of panic and surprise crossed Chen Bingyu''s face, and she couldn''t help but step back two paces.


    "Are you from the Ding Family?" As soon as Zhang Menglong began asking for Chen Bingyu, they instantly assumed he must be a master Grandmaster from the Ding Family.


    But the Grandmasters of the Ding Family numbered only two, and they had met them before. Was there another hidden Grandmaster in the Ding Family?


    "As a Grandmaster, why must you act so covertly?" The two elders from the Chen Family took a step forward, "If your Ding Family wants to take Bingyu away, you''ll have to step over our corpses first!"


    "The Ding Family?" Zhang Menglong paused, "What the hell is the Ding Family?"

 Chapter 368 366: I Am the Top Dog of This Mountain

    "You''re not from the Ding Family?" The two elders were startled, and Zhang Menglong''s expression did not seem feigned, but why did he ask for Chen Bingyu as soon as he spoke? "Elder, do you know me?" Chen Bingyu stepped forward, not knowing why her intuition told her that Zhang Menglong seemed to bear no malice.


    "I don''t know you," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Forget it, let''s stop pretending, I actually came here to find you."


    "To find me? Elder, I..."


    "Stop, stop, stop, don''t keep calling me elder, I''m only 22 years old, you might even be older than me!"


    "22 years old?"


    All the people on the scene were suddenly stunned. This Grandmaster claimed to be only 22 years old? Could it be that he used some special means to look so young?


    "What? Don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong''s hand slipped into his trouser pocket.


    The martial artists of the Chen Family immediately became alert, and even the two elders began to exhibit fluctuations of inner strength in their bodies.


    "Why are you all so nervous?" Zhang Menglong pulled out an ID card, "Look, I''m a post-95, 22 years old, stop calling me elder, you''re making me feel old."


    "How is this possible?" The people from the Chen Family compared the photo on the ID card with Zhang Menglong''s face, and except for the slight immaturity in the ID photo, there was almost no difference; he was indeed the person on the document.


    But a 22-year-old Grandmaster? Could it be that the disciples who passed the message got their information wrong?


    "Wait, are you Zhang Menglong?" Chen Bingyu finally remembered why this face looked so familiar.


    Although she was from an Ancient Martial Arts Family, Chen Bingyu also helped manage some of the family''s assets, and her Bingyu Media was one of the Chen Family''s enterprises. As the chairwoman of a company, she could not possibly be unaware of the richest man in the world.


    "Bingyu, you know him?" Elder Jiang asked.


    "He''s the current richest man in the world; there are few in the secular world who do not recognize him," Chen Bingyu replied.


    "He''s really only 22 years old?" Elder Jiang was still somewhat incredulous.


    "If the media''s reports are not wrong, he should indeed be 22 this year, and he is also currently a senior in college."


    "Finally, someone who recognizes me, I thought all you Ancient Martial Arts Families were off the grid," Zhang Menglong stuffed his ID card back into his pocket, "Now do you believe I''m really 22 years old?"


    "22 years old, a Grandmaster, and the richest man in the world, who exactly is this young man, and why does he want to find Chen Bingyu?" Elder Jiang fell into deep thought.


    ...


    "Oh? So many people here, could it be that you knew I was coming today?" At this moment, a boastful and youthful voice floated from a distance.


    This voice was carried over by inner strength; the saying ''hearing his voice before seeing his person'' was probably about situations like this.


    A black Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance of this villa complex.


    A young man dressed in casual wear was the first to step down from the car; he could be considered handsome, but there was an unsettling aura about his eyes and eyebrows, seemingly the so-called natural villain''s face. The voice just now must have come from his car.


    Afterward, an elderly man with white hair and beard stepped down from the back of the car; he had the demeanor of a transcendent being, standing respectfully behind the young man.


    "Strange, why is there such an uncomfortable feeling about him?" Zhang Menglong frowned. This feeling wasn''t from the young man''s appearance or temperament, but from an unusual kind of inner strength emanating from him, which was somewhat nauseating.


    "Mr. Zhang, the inner strength in him is strange," Ye Yin said, "This inner strength contains a strong toxicity, which seems to be some kind of biological toxin. It''s really strange."


    Zhang Menglong quickly scanned the two men before him. The young man was named Ding Muyun, a Level Four Martial Artist, and the elder was Ding Kui, a Level Nine Martial Artist. However, their Potential Indexes were quite average, both not reaching 10 points.


    "It seems these are the people from the Ding family that Elder Jiang mentioned earlier," Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that he had coincidentally stumbled upon some annual major event today.


    ...


    "It looks like you have decided to hand the person over to me," Ding Muyun walked forward. His gaze lingered on Zhang Menglong for a moment then quickly moved away, seeing no need to take a second look at a young man around 20 years old.


    "Bingyu, had you simply agreed to me right from the start, wouldn''t that have eliminated all this trouble?" Ding Muyun said with a smile. "Our Ding family isn''t what it once was; soon, the entire Ancient Martial Arts World will revere our Ding family. What I, Ding Muyun, desire, I must possess!"


    "Ding Muyun, hand over the antidote now!" Chen Bingyu glared at him furiously.


    "Of course I can give you the antidote," Ding Muyun replied, "as long as you marry me. Once we''re family, your grandfather will be my grandfather, and I naturally will provide him the antidote."


    "You are shameless!"


    "Chen Bingyu!" Ding Muyun shouted angrily, "don''t think that because I fancy you, you can speak to me so recklessly. I have been patient enough with you; do not try to push my limits."


    "I''m giving you one more chance, be my woman and then have your Chen family submit to my Ding family, or else don''t blame me for being ruthless today."


    The faces of the Chen family members changed. They were actually demanding the Chen family''s submission!


    Since when had the Ding family, which had always been just an ordinary family, become so ambitious? What had they experienced recently? Not only had the strength of their two Elders improved so significantly, but they had also developed such ambition. Did they find a powerful backer?


    "Think you can intimidate us, Ding Muyun? Do you think everyone at Chen family has a spine of jelly?" the two Elders of the Chen family stepped forward insistently.


    "Great, my favorite thing is to gnaw on tough bones," Ding Muyun said with a smile. "Elder Second, please handle these two stubborn old men."


    "Yes, young master!" The designated Elder Second bowed slightly to Ding Muyun, his Inner Strength suddenly bursting forth like a monstrous form, charging towards the two Chen family Elders.


    Although both Elders of the Chen family were Grandmasters, the difference in power between Level Seven and Level Nine Martial Artists was monumental. Coupled with the erosion of this deadly Inner Strength, it took just one move to repel the two old men.


    "Elders!" The surrounding Chen family disciples immediately crowded around.


    "Stay back!" the two Elders shouted. A dark, toxic aura enveloped them, containing such fierce poison that any contact by those below Grandmaster level could be lethal!


    "Elder Second, kill everyone except Chen Bingyu," Ding Muyun left the command and then turned towards his car.


    "To be enemies with our Ding family really is asking for death!" That fiercely toxic Inner Strength surged once again. At this moment, the two Elders were using all their Inner Strength to fend off the previous attack, leaving them no energy to resist this strike.


    If struck, even they would be severely injured or even die on the spot!


    "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "What?" Ding Kui''s face suddenly changed. A tremendously powerful force arose from his side¡ªa spherical surge of massive Inner Strength. Its power was so immense that it shattered rocks wherever it passed.


    He could only counteract with his palm, the force pushing him back almost ten steps before he could steady himself.


    "Who... who are you?" Ding Kui realized that the attacker was the very young man they had overlooked earlier!


    "I''m the boss of this mountain!" Zhang Menglong declared. "You dare to bully the people under my protection on my own turf; do you think I don''t exist?"

 Chapter 369 367: Compensation for Mental Distress Should Be Given, Right?

    Ding Kui''s palm was trembling slightly. The burst of Inner Strength from Zhang Menglong just now was so potent and fierce that, although it lacked any particular special characteristics, it was incredibly pure to an unbelievable degree.


    He had sparred with countless Ancient Martial Artists in his lifetime, but he had never encountered such pure Inner Strength.


    In Huaxia, ancient martial arts are a very ancient heritage, and many of these traditions had already vanished over time, like Tai Chi and Yi Jin Jing, which were top-notch ancient martial arts in very ancient times.


    But as these traditions have been passed down to the present, much of their essence has been lost, and similar ancient martial arts have gradually become more about health preservation and the cultivation of mind and body.


    The reason those Ancient Martial Arts Families have continued to this day is that they possess complete cultivation methods! However, the quality of these cultivation methods is inconsistent, some are mediocre, some yield twice the result with half the effort, and some require the assistance of unorthodox practices, often resulting in significant differences in the outcomes.


    The biggest difference is the purity of the Inner Strength cultivated, and the strength of the Inner Strength demonstrated by Zhang Menglong is unmatched among all those he had seen.


    He could feel that Zhang Menglong''s realm was just that of a Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist, yet that recent move he made would likely be difficult for even an ordinary Level Eight Ancient Martial Artist to withstand.


    All that nonsense Zhang Menglong was spouting earlier was automatically filtered out by him, claiming to be the big shot of this mountain, he was obviously someone the Chen Family had brought in to stand up for them!


    "I am Ding Kui, the second elder of the Ding Family. May I ask for your esteemed name?"


    "I am Zhang Menglong, the class monitor for the Polymer Materials department under the School of Materials & Science at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    Ding Kui: "..."


    "Is that format incorrect? Let me try again," Zhang Menglong changed his introduction, "I am Zhang Menglong, the top-ranked solo player in the Zaun server within the League of Legends national server district two!"


    "Zhang Menglong? Are you that Zhang Menglong?" Even Ding Muyun, who was about to get into his car, halted his steps, unable to fathom the incredible strength of the young man he had glanced at in haste.


    "Otherwise, which Zhang Menglong would I be?"


    "Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man, is also an Ancient Martial Artist," Ding Muyun said, somewhat surprised.


    "Young Master, this Zhang Menglong is a Level Seven Martial Artist!" Ding Kui informed.


    "What?" Ding Muyun''s pupils dilated several times over in an instant. Ding Muyun, who had average talent, only experienced a rapid increase in strength after a recent fortunate opportunity. Even so, he was just a Level Four Martial Artist at best.


    Zhang Menglong was at least five years younger than him, a Level Seven Martial Artist¡ªthat was Grandmaster level. How could this be possible?


    "Mr. Zhang has impressive skills, to have such Inner Strength at such a young age, I admire that!"


    "I didn''t want it either," sighed Zhang Menglong, "I don''t like Inner Strength one bit, I have no interest in it. But my strength doesn''t allow otherwise!"


    Ding Muyun''s mouth twitched slightly. Zhang Menglong''s ostentatious humility was almost enough to provoke someone to hit him. How many Ancient Martial Artists spent their whole lives without reaching the level of strength that Zhang Menglong possessed?


    He had some understanding of Zhang Menglong. This Zhang Menglong was unimaginably wealthy, and to date, no one knew exactly how much money he had. It seemed that his background was not just about being rich.


    A Grandmaster at only 22, such an achievement was even more terrifying than the Martial God of yore. How exactly did Zhang Menglong accomplish this? Practicing ancient martial arts wasn''t something achievable with just money.


    "Mr. Zhang, today''s issue is a private matter between me and the Chen Family, and I hope Mr. Zhang can stand aside. If Mr. Zhang visits my Ding Family someday, I will definitely treat you with the courtesy due to an honored guest." Zhang Menglong''s background was unfathomably deep, and Ding Muyun was no fool; avoiding enmity with him was naturally the best course of action.


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong rejected outright without a second thought, "I just made it clear, I am the boss of this mountain, and everything on this mountain is under my protection. Since the Chen Family lives here, I have to look out for them. If you say kill someone and you kill, say kidnap a woman and you kidnap, then what does that make me look like?"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong brought out the development agreement again, "See this? I have evidence right here. If you leave now, I can pretend nothing ever happened. After all, ignorance is no fault, right?"


    "Not this development agreement again..." The people from the Chen Family looked dejected. Did Zhang Menglong not realize that such a thing held no binding power for people from the Ancient Martial Arts Families? In the mundane world, those with money may be in charge, but in the Ancient Martial Arts World, those with the biggest fists rule.


    Zhang Menglong''s strength was indeed formidable; just the move he used earlier made both elders from the Chen Family feel inferior. But Ding Kui was a Level Nine Martial Artist, just a step away from touching the Mythical Realm!


    In Huaxia, while the number of Ancient Martial Artists wasn''t large, there were still several hundred thousand, or even close to a million.


    But the number of Martial Artists in the Mythical Realm would absolutely not exceed a hundred.


    That Zhang Menglong could repel Ding Kui just now was already unfathomably surprising, but it was a sneak attack. If the two were to face off directly, Zhang Menglong would definitely be no match for Ding Kui!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you determined to oppose my Ding Family?" Ding Muyun''s expression suddenly turned cold.


    "Seriously, you bully my people on my turf, and you dare say I''m the one opposing you? That logic is just flawless!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you may have great influence in the secular world, but we are now resolving this matter in the way of the Ancient Martial Arts World. Don''t make trouble for yourself!" Ding Muyun said, "My politeness isn''t because I''m afraid of you. If you don''t know what''s good for you, you might not have a chance to spend that money of yours in the future."


    "Are you threatening me?"


    "Mr. Zhang can think so," Ding Muyun said, "The secular police won''t intervene in matters of the Ancient Martial Arts World, and even if I kill you here today, no one will cause me any trouble!"


    "With just that sentence you uttered, it''s no longer about whether I leave or not," Zhang Menglong''s expression became incredibly dangerous, "The opportunity has already been given to you. Leaving today won''t be so easy anymore."


    "Oh?" Ding Muyun suddenly let out a cold sneer, "I wonder what Mr. Zhang will require to let us leave?"


    Ding Muyun''s words were thick with sarcasm.


    Zhang Menglong was indeed very strong, and his background might be even stronger, possibly with a Martial God from the Mythical Realm backing him up; but today he was just one person, and Ding Kui was a Level Nine Martial Artist. It was obvious who was superior and who was inferior. Could it be that he thought he, a mere Level Seven Martial Artist, could defeat a Level Nine Martial Artist?


    "Reset to zero!" Zhang Menglong opened the calculator app on his phone, "Let me first tally up an account here. You''ve hit my people here, so the medical expenses are on you, right? Let''s start with 100 billion."


    "Then, you scared my people, so there should be compensation for emotional distress, right? Let''s count that as another 100 billion."


    "Look at this ground, all damaged. Though I was the one who took action, you''re the responsible party, so you should cover the costs for these damages, right? That''s another 100 billion."


    "Also, I''ve been a coward since I was young. Your earlier threats might have given me a psychological illness. Medical expenses, compensation for emotional distress, nutrition fees, loss of work¡ªthese can''t be omitted, right? Let''s ballpark it to 500 billion."


    "Oh, and by the way, you entered my territory without my permission, so let''s calculate entry fees and parking fees at another 100 billion each."


    "That brings us to a total of 1,000 billion. Are you paying in cash, by card, or direct transfer? I can give you a discount if you don''t need a receipt!"

 Chapter 370 368: I Heard You Wanted to Beat Me to Death

    The Chen Family looked at Zhang Menglong barking madly there, their expressions turning stranger one after the other. Couldn''t he see that the current situation was not that friendly towards him?


    Not only did he not leave, but he actually dared to demand money from them? A hundred billion for entrance and parking fees? This was far beyond a swindler¡ªthis was outright robbery!


    "Enough!" Ding Muyun roared unbearably, "You refuse the toast only to drink a forfeit, then today, you will leave with them. Second Elder, no survivors, kill them all!"


    "Mr. Zhang, shall I just kill them?" Ye Yin''s voice arose cold and detached by Zhang Menglong''s ear. In his heart, anyone who dared to disrespect Zhang Menglong must die.


    Although Zhang Menglong had obtained the family''s legacy, after all, he had only practiced for two or three months at most. From a normal person to a Level Seven Martial Artist in two months¡ªthis would probably scare a large number of people to death if word got out in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    But with his current strength, facing this Ding Kui, he likely still lacked mastery.


    "You don''t need to take action; I can deal with it myself!"


    "But..."


    "Don''t worry, if I really can''t beat him, then you can take action."


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Gou Dan," Zhang Menglong''s fingers lightly brushed over the President''s Ring, "I remember I can use the strength of the teachers in the academy temporarily, right?"


    "Yes, as long as the president pays some Cred Points, he can temporarily add the strength of the teachers onto himself. The Cred Points consumed vary according to the strength level of the teachers."


    "What are the strength levels of those teachers right now?"


    "The strength level of Xiong Ba, the teacher and president of the Martial Arts Academy, is classified as level nine of the Mythical Realm, and the cost is 30 Cred Points per minute. The headmaster, Wu Xingyun, is level seven of the Mythical Realm, with a cost of 25 Cred Points per minute, teacher Qiao Feng..."


    "Add Xiong Ba''s realm onto me temporarily!" Zhang Menglong ordered. "If I''m going to show off, I have to do it thoroughly!"


    "Yes, President!"


    In an instant, an astonishing power surged from the ring of the president into Zhang Menglong''s body, his Inner Strength becoming many times stronger in a blink of an eye. He even felt that he could shatter a mountain with a single punch!


    The reason why masters of the Mythical Realm seldom took action was that, like Psychics who surpassed level nine, they could unleash terrifying power with a simple gesture. A single person could overthrow a small city or even a small country¡ªtheir existence could be described as human-shaped nuclear weapons!


    Even Grandmaster-level Martial Artists could cause massive destruction, which was why the Second World Convention had various clauses to restrict these people; otherwise, the secular world would have been destroyed by them long ago.


    As for level nine of the Mythical Realm, probably to this date, none of the existing Ancient Martial Artists or Psychics had reached such a height.


    "Boom!" An earth-shattering aura transformed into a visible ripple that spread from around Zhang Menglong. At that moment, it seemed as if the air around him had solidified.


    "You... you..." Ding Kui, who was about to take action, was the first to bear the brunt. The suffocating power made it extremely difficult for him to breathe, as if a vacuum pump sucked away all the air around him.


    A profound sense of powerlessness arose from the depths of his soul, and his expression had completely solidified.


    He had once had the fortune to see a Martial God of the Mythical Realm, but compared to the aura of this young man, that master seemed weak as a chick.


    Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, his body floating up like a ghost, hovering about half a meter off the ground. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture that of a recluse from the outside world.


    Floating in midair, this was the mark of a Mythical Realm Martial Artist!


    "You are not a Grandmaster-level Martial Artist, you... you are of the Mythical Realm..."


    Ding Kui''s voice trembled with extreme fear. A Grandmaster at 22 was already exceptional, yet he had hidden his true realm¡ªamong those of the Mythical Realm, he was definitely a top contender!


    Not looking at the face, he even suspected that a Martial God had descended here.


    "Flight, the power of a Battle King, terrifying indeed!" This wonderful sensation made Zhang Menglong a bit intoxicated. Still, his Sixth Sense told him that even in this state, he seemed no match for Ye Yin.


    "What''s the matter, surprised or not?" Zhang Menglong said, "I hear you want to kill me, come on then, not hitting me is like not giving me face, and if you don''t give me face, you can''t blame me for going berserk!"


    "How... how is this possible..." If Zhang Menglong were just a Grandmaster, Ding Muyun might be wary, but definitely not afraid; but who could have expected him to be a super-expert of the Mythical Realm!


    "Our Chen Family is saved!" The two Elders of the Chen Family had blood at the corners of their mouths and their complexions were turning black, but their faces still looked incredibly excited. At least in terms of alliances, they stood on the same side as Zhang Menglong, otherwise, he wouldn''t have stepped in to help them.


    "Not hitting me? Then you''re just forcing me to go mad!" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, and a powerful surge of Inner Strength struck Ding Kui''s body directly.


    Ding Kui''s body, like a cannonball, shot out dozens of meters in an instant. His chest caved in, and blood spurted from his mouth like it was free, crashing to the ground like a rag doll.


    He hadn''t even fought back. Just a wave of aura was almost enough to kill this Level Nine Martial Artist!


    "Mythical Realm, this is the Mythical Realm..." Chen Bingyu stared blankly at Zhang Menglong, with a hint of light flowing in her eyes.


    "Don''t fall in love with me, I''m just a legend." Zhang Menglong smiled at Chen Bingyu.


    "Gou Dan, we''re done here!" One minute for 30 Cred Points, even Zhang Menglong felt a pinch, but his display just now seemed to have shocked everyone around so much that he suddenly gained over a hundred more Cred Points, even making a small profit.


    "Nice feature, I''ll have to use this more often!" Zhang Menglong walked over to Ding Muyun, who by this time was almost scared stiff.


    A Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm could easily wipe out the Ding Family, and even though the Ding Family was at its peak, they stood no chance against such a powerful Mythical Realm expert!


    "Mr. Zhang... Mr. Zhang, it''s a misunderstanding, I was just joking before..."


    "Really? But I wasn''t joking," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "100 billion, pay up for the medical and emotional distress and then you can take him away."


    100 billion in cash, the entire Ding Family couldn''t come up with that much cash on hand! They''d have to liquidate fixed assets to come up with it, but that was the Ding Family''s foundation!


    A vicious look flashed across Ding Kui''s face, "If you kill me, those old guys will never get their hands on the antidote!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong revealed a strange smile, "Have you heard of the Life and Death Talisman?"


    "?" Ding Muyun was stunned for a moment. Wasn''t that a technique from martial arts novels?


    "I think this little thing suits you," Zhang Menglong looked around. The Life and Death Talisman was a tiny sliver of ice that, once injected into a person''s acupoint, could cause excruciating pain, like living death, unless cured by an antidote.


    "But there''s no water," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment.


    "Heh, spit!" Zhang Menglong spat saliva into his palm, looking at the stunned faces of those from the Chen Family.


    Is this really a Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm? Why does he seem like a pervert?


    "Life and Death Talisman!" Almost invisible slivers of ice shot into Ding Muyun''s body in an instant.


    Almost immediately, an indescribably itchy sensation took over Ding Muyun''s body, as if countless ants were crawling all over him.


    "Ah!" Ding Muyun howled, even beginning to tear at his own clothes.


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze lingered on Ding Muyun''s crotch, "Tsk tsk tsk, enoki mushrooms, huh."


    The juniors from the Chen Family also followed Zhang Menglong''s gaze.


    "Little toothpick?"


    "More like a sewing needle!"


    "I can''t see clearly, can someone bring me a magnifying glass?"


    ...

 Chapter 371 369: What Kind of Atrocious Words Are These?

    Under the torment of the "Life and Death Talisman," Ding Muyun''s body was covered in blood from his own scratching; he pleaded and cried profusely, no longer displaying the arrogance and self-importance from earlier.


    "This ''Life and Death Talisman'' is really as mighty as the legends say!" Zhang Menglong was also using the Life and Death Talisman for the first time. Isn''t this thing more effective for forced confessions than any severe torture?


    "What... what exactly did you do to me?" Ding Muyun asked unclearly.


    "To think you''re someone from an Ancient Martial Arts Family and haven''t even watched ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils''? Not knowing about the Life and Death Talisman, illiterate!"


    "Impossible, these are all fictional techniques from martial arts novels, how could they possibly be real?" Ding Muyun was incredibly frightened.


    "If you don''t believe it, then there''s nothing I can do," Zhang Menglong said helplessly as he spread his hands.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, I was wrong!" Ding Muyun cried with tears streaming down, "I shouldn''t have attacked you, and I definitely shouldn''t have spoken rudely. Please, let me go."


    "Call me daddy!" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous tone.


    "What?"


    "Didn''t you understand? I said call me daddy!" Zhang Menglong stated.


    "You... you''re being too bullying!" Ding Muyun bit his lip tightly.


    "Pfft, you won''t even call me daddy; why should I let you go?" Zhang Menglong said exasperatedly. Back in school, he and his roommates would playfully adopt father-son roles. Whenever he didn''t want to get up, asking a roommate to bring food or to mark him present in class required calling them "daddy."


    "If you dare, kill me; but making me bow my head and call you daddy is impossible!" Ding Muyun said defiantly.


    "Why are these people from Ancient Martial Arts Families so inflexible?" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Whoever has a son like you is really unlucky. You should think it over again; every time the Life and Death Talisman acts up, if it exceeds 20 minutes, you''ll lose your Inner Strength completely and die, you know?"


    "Daddy!"


    "The so-called Wang Jingze''s Law of True Fragrance arrives though late!" Zhang Menglong still overestimated Ding Muyun. He talked tough, but in the end, he was just a man afraid of death.


    Zhang Menglong casually flicked a brown pill into Ding Muyun''s mouth, the antidote to the "Life and Death Talisman," which could prevent the talisman from acting for a month. This was once used by the Tianshan Child Grandmother to control island masters and cave masters.


    Now, in this world, only Zhang Menglong had the capability to produce such an Antidote. Even if the Martial God himself intervened, he would probably be helpless against the Life and Death Talisman.


    As the medicine took effect, Ding Muyun gradually recovered. His body and face were covered in scratches, looking like a prisoner who had undergone severe torture. The expensive clothes on his body were torn to shreds, appearing even more miserable than the Elder of the Ding Family lying unconscious in the distance.


    "Grandpa Jiang! Grandpa Wu!"


    At that moment, the two Chen Family Elders who had been severely poisoned and depleted of their Inner Strength suddenly vomited blood and collapsed, unable to withstand the invasion of the poison anymore.


    "This is bad!" A knowledgeable elder from the Chen Family quickly checked on them, his expression instantly turning very grim, "Bingyu, the toxic Inner Strength in these elders is even more severe than in your grandfather. The poison is spreading fast, and in less than three hours, it will invade the heart and brain. Their Inner Strength isn''t as resilient as your grandfather''s, I''m afraid..."


    Tears instantly welled up in Chen Bingyu''s eyes. If not for their attempt to protect her, the two elders wouldn''t have recklessly intercepted the second Elder of the Ding Family.


    But detoxifying this toxic Inner Strength could only be managed by someone from the Ding Family... yet why would anyone from the Ding Family willingly hand over the Antidote?


    Suddenly, her gaze fell on Zhang Menglong, a super expert of the Mythical Realm who might be able to remove their severe poison, or at least coerce Ding Muyun to yield the Antidote.


    "Mr. Zhang," Chen Bingyu mustered her courage and said, "I''m begging you to save my grandfather and the two elders. Weren''t you looking for me? I''m willing to go with you!"


    "Bingyu!" Chen Bingyu''s relatives immediately tried to stop her, "Don''t be reckless!"


    "You haven''t even asked me what I wanted you for," Zhang Menglong said, revealing a playful expression.


    "As long as you''re willing to save them, you can do anything you want!" Chen Bingyu said through clenched teeth.


    Chen Bingyu was not narcissistic; she was very confident in her appearance and figure. Since she was young, she had been the goddess of many, otherwise, Ding Muyun wouldn''t have been so obsessed with her.


    Although he was a forebearer of the Mythical Realm, Zhang Menglong also held another identity¡ªthat of the world''s wealthiest man.


    Chen Bingyu was somewhat aware of the numerous absurd things Zhang Menglong had done in the past, and in her view, Zhang Menglong was nothing more than an uneducated heir to a fortune.


    What could an uneducated heir want with a woman? Normally, there wouldn''t be a second guess, probably Zhang Menglong was also coveting her body.


    But now, it seemed she no longer had a choice, unless she was willing to abandon her grandfather and the two elders.


    "Okay, remember what you said, I can help save them, but you have to come with me immediately afterward."


    "Okay!" Chen Bingyu nodded seriously.


    "Ye Yin, can the Inner Strength be forced out of them?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, according to the Ancient Martial Arts World, it requires the strength of the Mythical Realm," Ye Yin replied, "based on the strength Mr. Zhang, you just demonstrated, it will only take ten minutes to neutralize the poison in the Inner Strength."


    "Ten minutes per person, that''s 300 Cred Points. For three people, that''s 900 points... damn," Zhang Menglong did a quick calculation. Even if he borrowed power from other teachers, he would need at least 300 Cred Points, which was too much of a loss?


    "If doing it myself isn''t cost-effective, then..." Zhang Menglong''s ill-intentioned gaze suddenly fell on Ding Muyun.


    This look made the Chen Family members tremble down their spines.


    "I''ll give it! I''ll give it!" Ding Muyun hurriedly crawled to the side of the already unconscious Elder, searched him for a moment, and finally found a deformed little bottle.


    "Dilute it with water and drink it, then with the aid of another''s Inner Strength, the poison in the Inner Strength can be resolved in at most half an hour." Ding Muyun immediately handed the thing to Zhang Menglong.


    "Here, catch!" Zhang Menglong directly tossed the thing to Chen Bingyu.


    "Uncle, please take care of the two Elders and my grandfather," Chen Bingyu carefully handed the bottle to a middle-aged man beside her.


    "Hey, one more thing. When will you give me back my 100 billion?" Zhang Menglong asked Ding Muyun.


    How the hell do I owe you 100 billion?


    Ding Muyun was going crazy.


    "No worries, I''ll give you a month to raise the money. The Life and Death Talisman will act up again in a month, and if you have the medical fees and compensation for mental distress ready, I will help you neutralize the Life and Death Talisman on you, or else you might as well go check which cemetery looks good!"


    The moment Ding Muyun heard this, he panicked, "I''ll go raise money right away!"


    He picked up the Elder, who had barely a breath left, and hurriedly fled from the Chen Family residence as if running for his life.


    "Alright, according to our agreement, you should come with me now," Zhang Menglong said to Chen Bingyu.


    Chen Bingyu hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped forward.


    "Bingyu!" The Chen Family members immediately held back Chen Bingyu.


    "It''s okay, Mr. Zhang wouldn''t necessarily harm me," Chen Bingyu comforted her family.


    "Bingyu, if he asks you to do something you''re unwilling to do, even if our Chen Family is ruined, we will seek justice for you!" Chen Bingyu''s uncle said earnestly.


    ...


    Following Zhang Menglong down the mountain, the two did not speak a word all the way until Zhang Menglong drove to a secluded small forest.


    "Get ready!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Right... right here?" Chen Bingyu looked at Zhang Menglong''s Koenigsegg, aware that many wealthy people have peculiar habits, enjoying doing ''those things'' in special places.


    But on such a cramped sports car, it was also...


    "Let''s make it quick here!"


    Chen Bingyu bit her lip, then as if making a decision, began to take off her clothes.


    "This is my first time. If you don''t mind your car getting dirty, then as you wish."


    "Damn! What are you doing? I''m a decent person, you... don''t mess around!"


    "You..." Chen Bingyu''s face showed astonishment, "You brought me here, isn''t it to...."


    "Listen to yourself, what nonsense is this? What are you thinking?"

 Chapter 372 370: They Must Be Fools, Right?

    "You''re seeking me out because... because..." Although she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Chen Bingyu couldn''t help feeling a tinge of disappointment. Perhaps women were just that contradictory at times.


    "Whoa, bro, my mind is blown," Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "I''m a man with a girlfriend, and my girlfriend is beautiful, sweet-voiced, and has a great temperament. You can insult my looks, but don''t insult my character!"


    Chen Bingyu''s cheeks reddened; it wasn''t her fault for misunderstanding. Zhang Menglong had taken her to a deserted place and said, "Let''s start." What else could she think of starting other than that sort of thing?


    "So what exactly are you looking for me for?" Chen Bingyu was even more puzzled now, "We haven''t had any connection before, have we?"


    "I only set my sights on you today," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I see that you have an exceptional physique, a rare martial arts talent that comes once in a hundred years, so I wanted to take you as my student."


    "Take me as your student?" Chen Bingyu was initially stunned, but then she suddenly remembered the power Zhang Menglong wielded as a Mythical Realm warrior...


    Warriors of the Mythical Realm were top-tier figures in the second world. They were highly respected in any country they visited. If they wanted to take on students, the line would probably stretch around the Earth twice.


    If she could study under Zhang Menglong, it would be like a pie from the sky for her, a dream situation that every Martial Artist yearns for, being guided by someone from the Mythical Realm!


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask you a question?" Chen Bingyu asked.


    "Loved before, got money, no hookups, no time, 180 centimeters, 18 centimeters, two hours..."


    Chen Bingyu: "... I just wanted to ask you, are you really only in your twenties?"


    With the wealth and resources at Zhang Menglong''s disposal, making a fake ID shouldn''t be a problem, right? Maybe this identity was just a cover to hide his Martial Artist identity, and he might be an old monster over a hundred years old.


    "Isn''t that obvious? Do you need me to show you all my student IDs from elementary school to university, my blood-type records, and my birth certificate?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "No need, it''s just that your age, with such great strength, really is surprising," Chen Bingyu believed Zhang Menglong''s age mostly. An old monster over a hundred years old shouldn''t be teasing like that, right?


    "So will I be learning from you in the future?"


    "I don''t have that kind of time," Zhang Menglong laughed, "To be frank, I''m the headmaster of an academy. There are many capable teachers in my school. They are willing to pass on all their skills to you, as long as you want to learn."


    "School?" Chen Bingyu said in surprise. In the Ancient Martial Arts World, schools usually exist in the form of sects. "Are you a Sect Leader of a sect?"


    "No, no, no. Our school is a very modern one," Zhang Menglong explained, "Not only do we teach ancient martial arts, but we also teach calligraphy, creative writing, esports, racing, cooking, and so on. Whatever you wish to learn, my school probably has it."


    Chen Bingyu smiled wryly. If Zhang Menglong were the Sect Leader of a sect, she would have been overjoyed. The existing ancient sects are much stronger than the Ancient Martial Arts Families, and you can''t just join them if you want; they also require high-quality talents.


    But with Zhang Menglong''s school teaching such a mixture of things, how could it possibly offer anything useful?


    "Mr. Zhang, how many people are in your school now?"


    "Right now, besides the ten teachers and myself, there are no students. If you''re willing to come, you''ll be the senior sister," he replied.


    "Mr. Zhang, if that''s the case, then my answer might disappoint you," Chen Bingyu said. A school with only ten teachers and not a single student was perhaps a bit too ramshackle?


    And Zhang Menglong had said he wouldn''t be in charge of teaching. Who knows what kind of mixed quality those teachers might be? At least in her own family, there are several elders to guide her.


    "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, in my school, the Martial Arts Academy has the most teachers, and they are all from the Mythical Realm."


    "All from the Mythical Realm?" Chen Bingyu felt as if she had been struck by lightning.


    In today''s Ancient Martial Arts World, only Martial Artists of the Mythical Realm are qualified to establish their own sects. However, those Mythical Realm warriors generally only oversee their sects, with teaching typically done by Level Four to Level Six Martial Artists.


    To become a direct disciple of those Grandmaster Martial Artists was incredibly hard already, and only the rarest talents among the Ancient Martial Arts prodigies might catch the eye of a Mythical Realm warrior and be taken as their direct disciple.


    In Zhang Menglong''s school, all the teachers are from the Mythical Realm, and they personally teach the students.


    Do you realize what that means? If she attended Zhang Menglong''s school, she would suddenly have several teachers from the Mythical Realm. For any Ancient Martial Artist, this is beyond their wildest dreams!


    "What do you think? Interested?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re not joking with me, are you?" Chen Bingyu still found it hard to believe.


    "My school is not for just anyone. You happen to meet my requirements, which is why I''ve come here to find you."


    Zhang Menglong, as if performing a magic trick, suddenly produced a golden scroll in his hand, "If you''ve made up your mind, sign your name on it."


    "This..." Chen Bingyu confirmed that there had been absolutely nothing in Zhang Menglong''s hand just moments before, and just this act alone was astonishing.


    It seemed to be some kind of leather scroll, with four purple gilt characters printed on it¡ª "Super God Academy."


    Chen Bingyu unfolded the scroll, and it contained a simple message:


    Chen Bingyu, congratulations on being accepted as a student of the Martial Arts Academy of "Super God Academy." If you are willing to accept this admission notice, please sign your name on it.


    "This is my chance!" Without any hesitation, Chen Bingyu immediately signed her name.


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t appeared today, Chen Bingyu could almost imagine the fate that would have befallen her family, the Chen Family. Today, she had witnessed the true power of a Mythical Realm powerhouse and hoped that one day she could step into that realm. Perhaps this was the key to unlocking the door to that realm!


    In an instant, a flash of brilliance passed, and the scroll floating in mid-air burst into flames, before violently diving into Chen Bingyu''s brow and disappearing without a trace.


    Chen Bingyu was startled, but she suddenly discovered that something seemed to have been added to her mind, like the image of a mysterious and shimmering door!


    Chen Bingyu tried to communicate with the door, and in front of her, the door in her mind actually emerged.


    She looked at Zhang Menglong with eyes full of disbelief.


    "Congratulations, you''re now a student of Super God Academy. Shall we go in and have a look?" Zhang Menglong was the first to walk in.


    Chen Bingyu took a deep breath and followed behind Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "This... this is unbelievable!" As she looked at everything before her, Chen Bingyu''s expression froze. Not even in a dream could such a scene occur.


    Suddenly, two figures streaked across the sky, their powerful Inner Strength almost scattering the clouds above. That kind of power was simply more terrifying than what Zhang Menglong had displayed earlier!


    Just as Zhang Menglong had said, they were all from the Mythical Realm!


    "Xiong Ba! You bastard, you''ve stolen my instant noodles again; you''re asking for it!"


    "Old witch! It''s just a bowl of instant noodles, was it worth chasing me for three hours?"


    "You still have the cheek to say that, I found my missing spicy sticks in your office last time!"


    ...


    Chen Bingyu''s mouth twitched slightly. Are these two really high-level Mythical Realm experts? Aren''t they just fools?

 Chapter 373 373: 371

    "Xiong Ba, you''ve gone too far. Even if you''re the dean of a branch academy, that doesn''t give you the right to be so unreasonable! The person who ate my Planet Cup last night was you, right?"


    "Xiong Ba, you''ve already drunk three times the amount of my milk tea. If you don''t give us an explanation today, I''m definitely going to tell the principal and have him punish you severely!"


    ...


    Xiong Ba floated in the sky, his facial expression shifting unpredictably. Ever since Zhang Menglong brought a pile of food to Super God Academy, Xiong Ba had been like the seal on his gluttony was broken. For Earth''s delicacies, he simply couldn''t get enough.


    With the top-level chef Liu Mauxing becoming more and more proficient in cooking those foods, the Super God Academy could almost achieve a self-sustaining lifestyle now.


    However, a notable feature of the Super God Academy was that its teachers would neither die nor age and similarly, no matter how much they ate, they would neither gain weight nor burst from overeating.


    Taking advantage of his profound skills, Xiong Ba never regarded the other teachers highly, snatching or stealing whatever food he fancied, which nearly turned the entire academy against him!


    "Fine!" Xiong Ba wiped the oil from chili sticks off his mouth corner, "One of you wants to kill me over instant noodles, another over chili sticks, and another over the Planet Cup. Today, I''ll let you all witness what true supreme martial skills are!"


    In an instant, the sky and earth changed color. As a high-martial world, Xiong Ba''s strength had already surpassed that of ordinary martial artists. With just one more step, he could even reach the power level of the worlds described in fantasy novels ¡ª the strength of the ninth level of the Mythical Realm. Even if all the teachers of the Super God Academy combined forces, they might not be his match.


    "Crack!" The sky was filled with flashes of lightning, and pale blue Inner Strength swirled around Xiong Ba. To Chen Bingyu, he appeared almost divine.


    ...


    "What on Earth is this school?" Although Chen Bingyu knew nothing about Super God Academy, as soon as she stepped into the school, a group of high-ranking Mythical Realm experts was fighting over things like instant noodles, chili sticks, and milk tea.


    These trifles were worthless in the outside world, let alone valuable to experts of the Mythical Realm. Many ordinary people were uninterested, yet these teachers were fighting fiercely over these insignificant items.


    Why did this school seem somewhat unserious?


    "Nie Xiaoqian! Come out, you actually stole my tissue while I was in the bathroom again?" Yan Chixia yelled while holding up his pants, searching everywhere for Nie Xiaoqian.


    "Hee hee hee, Yan Chixia, chase me if you can, and if you catch me, I''ll let you have it, heh heh!" Nie Xiaoqian''s laughter echoed across the Super God Academy''s square, but only her voice could be heard, not her person.


    "Hey beauty, how about you sleep here with me tonight?"


    Chen Bingyu suddenly felt chills all over. Her whole body was engulfed by a cold aura, as if she were in an ice cellar, and a ghostly voice echoed in her ears.


    Chen Bingyu had never believed in ghosts or spirits, but this feeling gave birth to a sincere fear.


    Suddenly, a pale face appeared in front of Chen Bingyu. It was an extremely beautiful face but utterly bloodless and even emitted an aura that made one''s heart tremble.


    "What the hell are all of you doing?" Zhang Menglong roared angrily. It was his first time bringing students here, and he had expected these teachers to give him some face, but these people were up to all sorts of mischief inside the academy.


    "The dean is here! The dean is here!"


    "Quick, come down and line up!"


    "Damn, Yan Chixia, why do you smell like crap?"


    "Obviously, my paper got stolen by Nie Xiaoqian!"


    "Hahaha, I say you two just get together; Ning Caichen isn''t here anyway!"


    "Right, right, I can even drive your wedding car for you, it''ll be slick and stylish!"


    "I can make my armor create a super-sized fireworks display for you."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, these... are they really..." Although she comes from an ancient martial arts family and has lived in the city since childhood, how could Chen Bingyu not recognize these characters?


    Xiong Ba is the tyrant of the Feng Yun world, a major villain who murders without blinking an eye, and now he is here engaging in petty theft of instant noodles and milk tea.


    The Lady of Tian Shan from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a boss who has a particular fondness for spicy strips!


    Yan Chixia and Nie Xiaoqian are sworn enemies in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story. If it weren''t for their common enemy, the Old Black Mountain Demon, they would be at each other''s throats, but here in this place, these two are actually flirting. Could it be that Ning Caichen''s head has turned into a grassland already?


    The critical point is, these characters are all fictional, yet now they stand right in front of her, alive and breathing. How can she possibly accept this?


    "That''s right, they are those characters from anime, movies, and novels," Zhang Menglong responded.


    "This is just too incredible!" Chen Bingyu shook her head repeatedly, "Am I dreaming, or have I gone mad?"


    "This is actually quite hard to explain," Zhang Menglong laughed, "But you just need to know one thing, all these people are now teachers at the Super God Academy, and I am the dean of this academy!"


    "Xiong Ba, come here!"


    "Eh, Dean, what can I do for you?" The previously haughty Xiong Ba now came up to Zhang Menglong''s side, cringing like a little chicken.


    "This is the first student I recruited, her name is Chen Bingyu, and I''m handing her over to you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Rest assured, Dean, we will definitely teach her well!" Xiong Ba pounded his chest in assurance.


    "And Nie Xiaoqian, don''t scare the new students anymore," Zhang Menglong chided, "If you keep this up, I''ll have to punish you!"


    "I know, I know!" Nie Xiaoqian looked utterly aggrieved, "If it really comes down to it, we can find a secluded place later, and you can punish me in private!"


    "My god!" Zhang Menglong suddenly wondered if allowing Nie Xiaoqian to become the director of admissions was a mistake. If some male students come to the school, they might all get entangled by this thirsty female ghost.


    "Chen Bingyu, these are all teachers at the Martial Arts Academy," Zhang Menglong introduced, "Xiong Ba is the branch dean, Teacher Wu Xingyun is the head of instruction, and the rest are all lecturers. From now on, they will be teaching you."


    "Hello, teachers!" Chen Bingyu politely bowed to them. Although these teachers seemed unreliable, each of them was undoubtedly a master in the practice of ancient martial arts!


    "Young lady, I see excellent innate abilities in you. You should follow me and learn the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi. I''ll teach you the Internal Cultivation Methods of Three Elements Unite, and within five years, you should certainly reach the Mythical Realm."


    "Three years!?" Chen Bingyu''s eyes lit up dramatically. Given her current pace of cultivation, advancing to a Level Four martial artist in three years would already be a luxury, let alone reaching the Mythical Realm in three years. That would definitely make her a legend in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "Psh!" Wu Xingyun immediately protested discontentedly, "What''s so great about your Three Elements Unite? She should learn my Eight Desolates and Six Unities, the Sole Exalted Art. I can also teach her Beiming Divine Art, and as long as she absorbs more inner strength from others, she can reach the Mythical Realm within three years!"


    "Old witch, how dare you steal my student? That so-called God-breaking Art of yours is all tricks and deceits, not worth learning at all!"


    "Nonsense, your Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is too yang and too rigid, completely unsuitable for a girl. If she learns it, she''ll end up turning into a tomboy."


    "Humph, having a powerful fist is the real deal. Can you beat me?"


    "Dare you fight me using only Level Seven Mythical Realm inner strength?"


    "Let''s fight then; I''m not afraid of you!"


    "Let''s go!"


    ...


    "Uh..." Xiong Ba and Wu Xingyun started fighting the moment a disagreement arose, leaving Chen Bingyu alone, speechless, "This really doesn''t seem like a proper school..."

 Chapter 374 372: Zhang Ritian of the Ritian Sect

    "Nie Xiaoqian, you take her to register first, just arrange her in first grade for now, and we''ll slowly adjust the school''s framework later," Zhang Menglong said to Nie Xiaoqian.


    "Alright, Dean," Nie Xiaoqian''s slender arms encircled Chen Bingyu''s waist, "Come on, little sister, let''s sit in my office. Although I''m the director of admissions, I have my own courses too. I can teach you 108 poses, guaranteed to make any man fall for you..."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Chen Bingyu ran out of Nie Xiaoqian''s office. Nie Xiaoqian, naturally flirtatious, seemed to be in heat recently, flirting with anyone she saw, male or female, a process that made Chen Bingyu quite uncomfortable.


    "Hahaha! How about that, old witch? Even with equal strength, you are still no match for me. Now do you admit my Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi is superior to your ''Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies Sole Exaltation Art'' and Beiming Divine Art?"


    At that moment, Xiong Ba and Wu Xingyun had just finished a fight, and it seemed Xiong Ba had the upper hand again.


    Xiong Ba approached Chen Bingyu, his overwhelming aura causing her breathing to slow significantly.


    Xiong Ba extended a finger and gently touched Chen Bingyu''s forehead, "This is the incantation for the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi Inner Cultivation Methods. Ponder on it by yourself. My class is tomorrow morning. You must attend. The rest of the time, you can arrange as you like. That old witch''s skills aren''t great, but there are still some things worth learning from her."


    "Thank you, teacher!" Chen Bingyu exclaimed happily.


    Although the Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi Inner Cultivation Methods were profoundly esoteric, Chen Bingyu found them almost impossible to comprehend.


    However, having come from an Ancient Martial Arts Family, these methods were many times more advanced than the inner cultivation methods passed down in her Chen Family for hundreds of years; perhaps Xiong Ba''s claim of advancing to the Mythical Realm in five years wasn''t just bragging.


    "Alright, go on with your tasks," Zhang Menglong waved his hand, then snapped his fingers, and they were transported by a beam of light to a leisure area filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers.


    "This place is truly astonishing!" Chen Bingyu said, filled with interest towards everything at Super God Academy.


    "This is just a part of the academy," Zhang Menglong smiled, "and these teachers are just the most ordinary part of the academy''s faculty. You''ll see later."


    Chen Bingyu was a smart person. Although everything before her seemed like a dream, she knew what she should and should not ask. Having such an opportunity was already very fortunate.


    "Bingyu, I have something I''d like to ask you," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Dean, please speak. If there''s any way I can assist you, I will do my utmost," Chen Bingyu said.


    "You''ve seen that Super God Academy has many teachers, but currently you''re the only student," Zhang Menglong said, "not everyone is qualified to enter Super God Academy for studies. If I were to find a group of exceptionally gifted individuals like you, do you have any suggestions for me?"


    Chen Bingyu pondered for a moment. "Are you looking to recruit some Ancient Martial Arts prodigies?"


    "That''s right," Zhang Menglong nodded. "Do you know of any Ancient Martial Arts Families with famous prodigies? When the time comes, I can just make a trip there, use a mix of deceiving and coercing, and it shouldn''t be too difficult."


    Chen Bingyu couldn''t help but laugh. If those prodigies knew about a place like Super God Academy, they''d probably be desperate to get in, eager for guidance from experts of the Mythical Realm; only a fool would refuse!


    And with Zhang Menglong''s strength, if he really decided to take someone by force, probably no one could stop him.


    "Dean, actually, there''s no need to make it so complicated," Chen Bingyu said, "in fact, there''s a good opportunity coming up soon."


    "Oh?"


    "You should know, in our Ancient Martial Arts World, there are many sects, large and small. It''s much like secular universities. Every June, these Ancient Martial Arts sects recruit disciples."


    "Goodness, so you also have entrance exams?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "The thresholds of these Ancient Martial Arts sects are very high. If one doesn''t have genuine skills, even if they come from a prominent Ancient Martial Arts Family, they won''t be given any favors," Chen Bingyu said, "it''s fair to say, anyone who qualifies to enter an Ancient Martial Arts sect is at least one of the elite youths from the major families."


    "Interesting," Zhang Menglong nodded thoughtfully. It would be much easier to select from a group of elites than to find those with a Potential Index over 10 in the vast crowd.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s interest, Chen Bingyu continued, "Currently in Huaxia, there are 27 martial arts sects of various sizes, and every June, they gather on a small island in the south for a large meeting."


    "Each sect presents some of their elite disciples to spar and also to recruit family heirs to strengthen their own forces. Those gifted individuals also choose their sects based on the results of these sparrings¡ªit''s a two-way selection."


    "How many people?"


    "Based on last year''s scale, over 1270 young Ancient Martial Artists from various families came, but only about 500 were favored by these sects."


    "Finding 10 people out of a thousand shouldn''t be too difficult," Zhang Menglong mused.


    "Alright, then we''ll go there and see!" Zhang Menglong decided right then.


    ...


    It is now mid-May, and there are only half a month left until that grand event. Zhang Menglong spends his days playing games at home and occasionally goes shopping with Lu Yiyao, leading a relaxed and comfortable life.


    As for Chen Bingyu, she was practically obsessed, spending almost all her time at the Super God Academy, where many teachers guided her intensively. Her strength has increased dramatically, breaking through from a Level Two Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist in just half a month!


    The Three Parts Return to Origin Qi of Xiong Ba, Qiao Feng''s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, the Tianshan Granny''s "Little Formless Strength" from the Carefree Sect, and Feng Qingyang''s Dugu Nine Swords¡ªshe learned a bit of all these arts, making her a formidable opponent even for ordinary Level Five Martial Artists.


    Seeing such incredible progress in Chen Bingyu, the Chen Family''s reverence for Zhang Menglong deepened. This time, the Chen Family will also attend that provincial meeting of the Ancient Martial Arts World, and Chen Bingyu will participate under the name of Zhang Menglong''s student.


    The recruiting event for the Ancient Martial Arts sects will be held on a deserted island named Skyedge Island, located in the southeastern part of Huaxia, accessible only from a port in the nearest city, East Sea.


    In recent days, this port has welcomed a group of particularly special guests. They arrived in groups, calling each other brothers and Sect Leaders, and even wore clothes grossly out of step with modern attire, as if about to start shooting a period drama.


    However, East Sea City is indeed the former residence of the martial arts novelist master Jin Yong, so it''s not unusual for many film and TV crews to come here for location shoots, which didn''t attract much attention from the local residents.


    But these last two days, the boat rental business in East Sea City has been exceptionally good, and these guests have been very generous. These people seemed very interested in going out to sea, even offering deposits that exceeded the prices of the boats themselves.


    On the morning of June 6th, many teams composed of both old and young appeared in the port, with some even recognizing each other and politely greeting one another.


    "Is this all you could rent?" In a team of 12 people, an elder with white hair looked somewhat displeased. They were facing a somewhat dilapidated small fishing boat, which clashed starkly with their luxurious attire.


    "Master, I''m sorry, but with over twenty sects and one hundred thirty Ancient Martial Arts Families, and us arriving too late, we couldn''t rent a suitable boat," a young man said with difficulty.


    "Forget it," said a black-clad elder at the back of the team in a calm voice, "This time we''re here to recruit students, not to compete. The boat is a bit worn, but it''ll do!"


    "Yes, Sect Leader." An Elder glared at the young man but still headed toward the boat.


    "Hey, friends!" Just as the team was about to head to the ferry, suddenly a young voice called out to them.


    The group turned around and saw a young man in secular clothing approaching them, his hand holding a dog leash with a silly Husky on it, and a girl of similar age following behind him.


    "I see your boat is old and seems a bit unsafe. Why not come with us? My boat is bigger and safer," the young man invited warmly.


    "Oh?" The elder smiled, "That would be wonderful! I am Liu Tong, the third Elder of the Liu Family from the southwest, may I know how to address this young gentleman?"


    Although the young man was a junior, his enthusiastic invitation had given great face to their Liu family and moreover, he was dressed quite luxuriously, likely also from a prominent family. Liu Tong''s tone became much more polite.


    "Elder Liu is too polite. I am Zhang Ritian from the Ritian Sect!"

 Chapter 375 375: 373

    If it had been an ordinary family, Zhang Menglong naturally wouldn''t have bothered to greet them, but when he entered the port, he had Gou Dan scan the area, and surprisingly found a promising youngster with a Potential Index of 12 points, even more outstanding than Chen Bingyu. This person was in the Liu family team.


    The Liu family team consisted of eight people, including the elder Liu Tong and the black-clothed Clan Leader, plus another elderly man, and the remaining five were all young people,


    Among these young people, three appeared to be in their twenties or thirties. Their realms were all around Level Two, and the other two were even younger, one a Level One martial artist, and the other, according to Zhang Menglong''s examination, was an ordinary person.


    Yet, it was this ordinary youth who had a Potential Index reaching 12 points and possessed a Gift known as "Lieyang Physique." Gou Dan explained that this so-called "Lieyang Constitution" was a type of natural, special physique.


    If one were to cultivate Ancient Martial Arts, the Inner Strength developed would carry some scorching characteristics, giving a significant advantage in battles due to this fiery Inner Strength.


    Logically, such an individual should be highly prized, yet he was still just an ordinary person and seemed to hold a low status within the team.


    "Ritian Sect?" The elder named Liu Tong was taken aback, as all Ancient Martial Arts Families and sects were intricately connected.


    Although it was common for some sects to decline and others to emerge over time, such matters in the Ancient Martial Arts World were widely known almost instantaneously.


    There hadn''t seemed to be a sect called Ritian Sect emerging in the past two years, and most crucially, the name of this sect and the young man sounded quite unserious.


    Would a respectable person be named Zhang Ritian? Would a respectable sect be called Ritian Sect? Although he had thousands of questions in mind, it was embarrassing for him to ask them outright.


    "May I know where the Sect Leader of your Ritian Sect is? We would like to express our gratitude to him," although somewhat skeptical, if Ritian Sect truly existed, there must be a Martial God of the Mythical Realm presiding over it; their own family head, the black-clothed elder, was merely a Grandmaster.


    "I am the Sect Leader of our sect," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "You might find this amusing, Elder Liu, but our sect currently has only two members."


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai at Zhang Menglong''s feet barked discontentedly.


    "Oh, and also our Ritian Sect''s Divine Beast. So, I suppose that makes us two and a half," Zhang Menglong added, and only then did Wang Cai quiet down contentedly.


    "We are here to find some talented individuals at this gathering of Ancient Martial Artists and recruit them into our sect."


    "You are the Sect Leader?" Liu Tong widened his eyes and immediately probed the realms of Zhang Menglong and Chen Bingyu. Chen Bingyu possessed the strength of a Level Four martial artist, a highly rare talent even among the major families and sects for someone his age.


    However, he found he couldn''t discern the cultivation of this young man called Zhang Ritian! As for the dog, he completely ignored it.


    Generally, only two scenarios could cause this phenomenon: either Zhang Ritian was an ordinary person, or his realm far exceeded his own.


    Although their Liu family''s martial arts were not particularly powerful, they possessed a unique ability to sense the life essence of martial artists and thus determine a person''s age, health, and so on.


    This young man''s life essence suggested he was just over 20 years old. Liu Tong was a Grandmaster ¨C could this 20-year-old also be a Grandmaster? Not even a Martial God could have such cultivation at that age.


    "It seems he is just an ordinary person," Liu Tong quickly concluded in his mind.


    "Could this be some rogue sect?" Liu Tong pondered.


    The twenty-something acknowledged sects in the Ancient Martial Arts World all had Martial Gods of the Mythical Realm presiding over them, and these sects were recognized by the entire Ancient Martial Arts World.


    However, there were also some rogue sects within the Ancient Martial Arts World that were of mixed quality. A few martial artists dared to call themselves a sect, which in reality was very similar to some social gangs in nature; unrecognized in the Ancient Martial Arts World, but thriving in society by undertaking shady jobs with their martial prowess.


    Liu Tong surmised that this so-called Ritian Sect was probably such a sect.


    Considering this, Liu Tong wanted to quickly distance himself from Zhang Ritian, as his Liu family, although not a top family, certainly disdained association with such rogue sects.


    "Ah, let''s go, my boat has arrived!" Zhang Menglong suddenly pointed in the direction of the harbor.


    "This..." Behind Zhang Menglong, Chen Bingyu''s pupils dilated significantly, "Principal, is this what you were referring to as your boat?"


    "Yeah, what do you think, it''s huge, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    In the distance on the sea horizon, a colossal object suddenly appeared before everyone''s eyes¡ªthree hundred meters long and forty meters wide, it looked like a moving sea fortress.


    This was the retired aircraft carrier Zhang Menglong had purchased in Europe before the Chinese New Year! After sailing for several months, it had finally arrived from Europe to Huaxia, stationed in the East Sea area ready to await Zhang Menglong''s command.


    "This is more than just big," Chen Bingyu was at a loss for words, "this isn''t just a ship, this damn thing is an aircraft carrier! Is it not too ostentatious to ride an aircraft carrier out to sea?"


    "Holy shit! What is that? An aircraft carrier?"


    "How come I didn''t know we have an aircraft carrier stationed here in Huaxia?"


    "It''s not... This is a shipping port; even if there were an aircraft carrier, what would it be doing here?"


    At the port, prepared to set out, the martial artists were all dumbfounded; this sight was simply too shocking. Many of them had spent a lot of money renting various kinds of boats, and many families even owned properties in the East Sea city, including some luxurious yachts.


    But even the most luxurious yachts paled in comparison to this aircraft carrier!


    "Wait a minute, take a closer look!" a martial artist suddenly said, "There are no weapons on the ship! I think I saw helicopters, a helipad, a golf course, a swimming pool..."


    "This... that''s a super private cruise ship converted from an aircraft carrier!"


    "Who is so rich?"


    "Is this something money can buy? Can someone tell me how one could get an aircraft carrier? And even if you get it, can you get a navigation permit?"


    "This is ridiculous! Could it be an asset of some sect?"


    "That''s not right, even the largest sects around Jiangzhe are only third-rate; how could they have such capability?"


    "There are characters on the ship!"


    "Ri... Ritian?"


    "There''s writing on the other side too, and a logo, Ritian Sect? This is the Ritian Sect''s aircraft carrier."


    "Ritian Sect? Which sect is that? How come I''ve never heard of such a sect in Huaxia? Was it established recently?"


    "To have such capability, even if we leave aside how strong Ritian Sect is, its assets could definitely rank at the level of a top-tier sect!"


    Suddenly, everyone started inquiring about the Ritian Sect, and this name instantly became known among all Ancient Martial Arts Families and sects.


    "This... Sect Leader Zhang, is this the asset of your Ritian Sect?" The elder named Liu Tong suddenly even changed how he addressed Zhang Menglong.


    A nobody sect possessing an aircraft carrier? This Ritian Sect certainly wasn''t simple!


    In the Ancient Martial Arts World, the fist is the largest; second only to money, with money being resources. Having enough resources to cultivate a host of capable martial artists is why many families and sects strive to build relationships with worldly tycoons.


    At that moment, Liu Tong harbored the thought of making connections with this Zhang Ritian, no matter if it was a nobody sect; as long as there was money, even a nobody could turn into a phoenix.


    "Yeah, our sect has just been established and hasn''t begun to acquire many assets yet, so we are just making do with this for now!"


    "Making do with this..." Liu Tong glanced at the small shabby boat his own family had rented, then at the aircraft carrier, and muttered to himself, "I wish I could ''make do'' like this too!"

 Chapter 376 374: Creation 101 in the Ancient Martial Arts World

    Under the caress of the sea breeze, Zhang Menglong and others enjoyed fine red wine and the unique scenery atop the aircraft carrier, as if they were at a hotel on an island with no hints of bumpiness or swaying.


    Although the aircraft carrier had been hurrying along for the past few months, Zhang Menglong had already arranged for the best designers and most exquisite craftsmen to transform it into a seaside resort during its voyage.


    Its cruising speed was 20% faster than the largest private yacht currently available. The carrier featured hotels, amusement parks, streets, and even artificial hills and waterfalls. The cost of this refurbishment even surpassed its original building cost!


    "Thank you, young brother Zhang, for your warm hospitality," even the always silent Clan Leader Liu opened up, "I am Liu Wenyu, the current Clan Leader of the Liu family, and this is our family''s second elder, Liu Mo, and third elder, Liu Tong."


    Liu Wenyu continued, "These four are outstanding youths of our Liu family''s generation. We hope they can be accepted as disciples by an Ancient Martial Arts sect during this trip, then our journey will not have been in vain."


    Among the four individuals Liu Wenyu mentioned, the youth with a Potential Index of 12 was not included. Zhang Menglong was quite puzzled¡ªdid these people have something wrong with their brains, not knowing to discover such a genius?


    "And who is this one?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing at the youth.


    "Oh, this is my grandson, Liu Yunyi," Liu Wenyu sighed, "He has been defective since childhood. We have used so many resources that even a pig would have cultivated some Inner Strength, yet he has made no progress and is not even a Level One Martial Artist yet."


    "Defective?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment.


    "Director, by ''defective'' it means that there are some innate flaws in the meridians, and even if Inner Strength is cultivated, it will rapidly drain away. Such a person might never become a Martial Artist in their lifetime, no matter how many resources are used," Chen Bingyu whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "I see, no wonder," Zhang Menglong nodded. It was no surprise that such a genius was so neglected in the Liu family.


    "Starting from the second half of the year, he''ll manage some of the family''s businesses. We can''t just let him stay at home and waste resources, right?" Liu Wenyu did not hide his disdain for his grandson.


    In Ancient Martial Arts Families, having such an underachieving descendant was a great shame, even though this innate condition was beyond Liu Yunyi''s control.


    "Yunyi, starting next month, you''ll manage the Keyu Corporation. From now on, there''s no need for you to waste your energy on cultivation," Liu Wenyu said.


    "Understood, Grandfather," Liu Yunyi''s eyes could not mask his disappointment. His dream since childhood was to become a towering Martial Artist like his father. Therefore, he had always worked harder than others, and had spent more sweat than anyone else.


    Managing the family''s assets might sound quite good, but they all clearly understood that it almost amounted to being isolated from the core of the family.


    From then on, although he would still have no worries about food or clothing and could even be considered wealthy, in essence, he would only become a money-making machine for the family.


    "Such a pity," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "why not let him join my Ritian Sect then."


    "This..." Liu Wenyu hesitated.


    Of course, his hesitation wasn''t about reluctance¡ªthe presence of Liu Yunyi at home at least helped manage the family''s business, but transferring him to Zhang Menglong''s care had no benefit to them.


    "Clan Leader Liu, may I ask how much profit does the Keyu Corporation make annually?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "There''s no need to hide it," Liu Wenyu spoke candidly, "It''s just a small listed technology company, with a net profit of only about fifty or sixty million a year."


    "How about this? Let Liu Yunyi stay with our Ritian Sect to cultivate, and I''ll give the Liu family one hundred million a year as compensation. How does that sound?"


    "One hundred million?" Liu Wenyu''s face lit up with surprise, "Huaxia Yuan?"


    Liu Yunyi had never learned business; placing him there was just because he was a direct descendant and trustworthy, although he didn''t actually boost the company''s profits; their business would earn its usual amount every year.


    Even without sending Liu Yunyi over, this company could still make so much money every year, so this one hundred million was purely earned for nothing!


    Trading a useless person for one hundred million US dollars a year¡ªonly a fool would refuse such a deal!


    "Not satisfied?" Zhang Menglong slightly furrowed his brow, "Then let''s make it one hundred million dollars!"


    "Willing! Of course, I''m willing!" Liu Wenyu''s smile grew even wider, although he didn''t know if Zhang Menglong had lost his mind to take interest in a useless person, having a naturally defective person meant no losses for them, it would be foolish not to take the money.


    "Yunyi, did you hear that? It''s your good fortune that Mr. Zhang has taken a liking to you, from now on you''ll train with Mr. Zhang''s Ritian Sect!" Liu Wenyu decided there and then to sell his own grandson.


    "Grandfather, I..." Liu Yunyi''s face turned beet red; he had a thousand and one reasons to refuse. Although the head of this Ritian Sect was wealthy, he was just an ordinary person like him, and it was impossible for him to fulfill his dream of becoming a martial artist.


    "Are you going to defy my decision?" Liu Wenyu''s face instantly darkened, "Obey me, or I will disown you from the Liu family!"


    Liu Yunyi felt a sudden chill in his heart; ever since he found out he was inherently defective, his family never provided him with any resources. His father, his mother, everyone treated him with extreme coldness, and now his own grandfather actually wanted to "sell" him to some no-name sect.


    But what could he do?


    "I understand," Liu Yunyi felt utterly desolate in an instant.


    "Hahaha! He must see me as a fool inside, but he has no idea that I''m striking it rich with this move!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed in his heart.


    Ye Yin had just revealed to Zhang Menglong that this inherent defect was merely some minor physiological abnormalities, and that as long as a master of level five or higher in the Mythical Realm helped him clear his channels, it would be easily resolved, and then he would be an unmatched genius!


    "You''re Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, a young man from the Liu family finally recognized Zhang Menglong. He had always felt this face looked familiar, but he could never recall who it was, until now, realizing it was none other than Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man.


    "You know my brother?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly in response.


    "Brother? You..."


    "Oh, right," Zhang Menglong laughed, "My name is Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong is my twin brother, it''s not strange that you think we look alike."


    Chen Bingyu tried hard to restrain her laughter on the side; she really couldn''t keep up with Zhang Menglong''s train of thought.


    "Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong..." The young man wasn''t sure if he believed him or not, as he muttered these two names under his breath.


    "By the way, Clan Leader Liu," Zhang Menglong asked, "it''s my first time attending this grand event, I''m not sure what the rules are for recruiting disciples?"


    "Hahaha," having made a fortune, Liu Wenyu was in a very good mood, "It''s actually quite simple. Each event is divided into two stages. The first stage allows young people from each family to show their skills, with each family sending no more than five members for random one-on-one martial contests, ultimately ranking them in the Genius Ranking."


    Zhang Menglong nodded; these competition rules were fairly standard, nothing unusual, "And the other stage?"


    "That''s when the big families and sects compete!" Liu Wenyu said excitedly, "The organizer will prepare nine seats, each big family and sect can send members to occupy these seats, and if all seats are taken, anyone dissatisfied can challenge them, until the nine major powers are decided!"


    "Then it''s the mutual selection between these sects and the geniuses, naturally, the geniuses ranked higher on the Genius Ranking and the sects that make it to those nine seats are the top picks for both parties."


    "Choosing nine out of dozens of sects?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt this rule seemed familiar, "Good lord, this is basically the ''Produce 101'' of the Ancient Martial Arts World!"

 Chapter 377 375: Scoundrel, Pay Up!

    "President Liu, I have already had the money transferred to your account,"


    Liu Wenyu immediately had someone check the family''s bank account.


    "10 billion US dollars?" Liu Wenyu''s hand almost couldn''t hold the phone. Hadn''t they just agreed on one billion US dollars a year? What did this 10 billion US dollars mean?


    "Oh, transferring the money year by year seemed troublesome, so I just paid it all at once. That should be enough, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Enough! Of course, it''s enough!" Liu Wenyu''s face was all smiles.


    This Liu Yunyi was merely a cripple who couldn''t practice Ancient Martial Arts. Given the lifespan of an ordinary person, it would be a miracle if he lived to 100 years.


    Moreover, having the money transferred all at once in advance allowed the Liu family to do many things!


    "Yunyi, from now on, you will follow Mr. Zhang. From this moment, although you are still a descendant of the Liu family, everything should prioritize Mr. Zhang''s Ritian Sect. Understand?"


    "Grandfather, I understand," Liu Yunyi replied, as if he had completely resigned himself to his fate.


    "Yunyi, this is Chen Bingyu. She joined our Ritian Sect a month before you. From now on, you should address her as senior sister,"


    Liu Yunyi glanced at the smiling Zhang Menglong, then walked from the Liu family crowd to sit beside Zhang Menglong and Chen Bingyu.


    "Are you very reluctant?" Chen Bingyu asked with a smile as she looked at Liu Yunyi.


    Liu Yunyi remained silent. Of course, he was reluctant - a thousand, ten thousand times reluctant.


    "Hehehe," Chen Bingyu let out a string of silvery laughter, "You will soon change your mind."


    Liu Yunyi was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chen Bingyu with a puzzled expression.


    "Mr. Zhang''s capabilities are far greater than what you see, and being favored by him is your good fortune," Chen Bingyu said. "From today, your life will be completely different from before."


    "Senior sister, is Mr. Zhang really that amazing?" Liu Yunyi asked, his skepticism slightly shaken by Chen Bingyu''s confident gaze.


    "Your congenital deficiency might seem irreversible to ordinary people, but for Mr. Zhang, it''s a simple fix!"


    After studying at the Super God Academy for a month, Chen Bingyu had gained a basic understanding of the entire school, and the more she learned, the more she realized how magical and powerful this place was.


    In this school, there were even hundreds of teachers from various worlds, each with their own skills. Besides leaving this school, there was almost nothing they couldn''t do!


    Xiong Ba had promised her that she would reach the Mythical Realm within five years, and that was even being modest! Not to mention anything else, just having a few Array Masters or Alchemy Masters unsealed by the school would enhance their cultivation speed by several times!


    "Can it really fix my physical condition?" Hearing these words, Liu Yunyi''s breathing grew rapid. It had always been a sore point for him; if it could help him change his constitution, he wouldn''t just join this Ritian Sect - he''d be willing to do anything!


    "You might not believe it, but just a month ago, I was only a Level Two Martial Artist," Chen Bingyu said. "But after following Mr. Zhang, I am now a Level Four Martial Artist!"


    "A month, from a Level Two Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist?" Liu Yunyi''s shock was unmistakable.


    Although he couldn''t cultivate Ancient Martial Arts himself, all his peers were Martial Artists. Having grown up around them, hadn''t he seen enough to understand?


    While advancing from a Level Two Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist isn''t that high of a realm, the transition from a Level Three Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist marks the leap from a Junior Martial Artist to a mature Martial Artist. For an ordinary Martial Artist, just bridging this gap could take two or three years.


    A month from a Level Two Martial Artist to a Level Four Martial Artist might be something unprecedented in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World.


    In an instant, Liu Yunyi''s expression towards Zhang Menglong underwent a significant change. If what Chen Bingyu said was true, then this man was truly too mysterious.


    Two hours later, a fairly large island appeared in their view. The island was only less than 3 square kilometers in area, with the highest peak just over 100 meters above sea level, and there were almost no other large islands within ten kilometers.


    But today, hundreds of various types of fishing boats and yachts surrounded this usually quiet uninhabited island, and suddenly there were over a thousand people!


    Riding a small yacht from the aircraft carrier, Zhang Menglong and his group landed on the island.


    "Selling Pan Yun Palm Technique, a Level One martial arts method. Exchange for an equivalent course is also acceptable!"


    "Selling a first-grade elixir concocted by Grandmaster Jin from the Mt. Cang Lan Qi Cultivation Sect, can temper a Quasi-Martial Artist''s physique with almost no side effects, the best choice for nurturing young clan talents. Only three available, priced at 5 million, with an authentication certificate!"


    "The latest creation from Yunfeng Sword Sect''s Artifact Refiner, made from deep-sea mysterious iron, incredibly sturdy, reaches the standard of a Level Two weapon. Price negotiable, only one available, with testing proof."


    "American-imported sparring machines capable of withstanding punches from Martial Artists below Level Six, providing feedback on various data and offering cultivation tips. Priced at 20 million US Dollars each, better price for bulk orders!"


    "Tiancong Sect is recruiting outer sect disciples under 20 years old who have reached at least a Level One Martial Artist. Last year, our sect ranked 9th in the placement battle, with opportunities to become Inner Sect Disciples. Limited to 10 people only!"


    ...


    Stepping onto this island, Zhang Menglong initially thought he would encounter that familiar martial arts world aura, but the scene was almost entirely different from what he had imagined.


    In this temporarily erected harbor area, there was surprisingly a marketplace where those so-called sects and families had set up stalls, some selling martial arts and mental methods, some offering cultivation resources, others selling weapons, and some recruiting disciples.


    "Damn... they even have roll-up banners... Isn''t this way too grounded?" Zhang Menglong suddenly recalled the recruitment fairs he attended during his third-year summer vacation at university.


    Moreover, he realized that this society''s ancient martial arts community was utterly different from those depicted in films and TV shows; aside from their slightly limited information, many things were modernized, including the use of high-tech products to assist in cultivation, which was quite eye-opening.


    While hastily put together, the market was well-organized and resembled a corporate exhibition rather than a makeshift setup, evidently showing that the organizers had invested considerable effort and resources.


    "Who are the organizers of this event?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "They''re from the Ancient Martial Association," the elder named Liu Tong replied.


    "There''s an association in the Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Led by the Martial God as its President, each year sects and families ranked in the top nine places send a representative to serve as an association council member, mainly to handle major incidents in the Ancient Martial Arts World."


    "I see," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "It''s the Ding Family!"


    "Those bastards! They even dare to show up?"


    "Shh, keep it down. They''ve already destroyed six major and minor families and sects; don''t let them hear you."


    "What kind of opportunity did the Ding Family get to suddenly become comparable to the top-tier families and sects?"


    "I heard that the Ding Family''s Grand Elder has already broken through to the Mythical Realm. I remember seeing him two years ago when he was still just a Grandmaster in the Level Seven Martial Artist."


    "Can''t we just avoid them if we can''t afford to provoke them? Just don''t mess with them, and it will be fine."


    Following the direction of the voices, a group of about twenty people confidently descended from a luxurious yacht, their expressions haughty, barely acknowledging the surrounding Martial Artists.


    The surrounding Martial Artists also hurriedly avoided them; this family was already notorious, and their sudden, mysterious rise had unsettled many other families.


    "Damn, it''s them!" Zhang Menglong immediately spotted Ding Muyun, the young master of the Ding Family, and Ding Kui, the second elder in the crowd.


    Because of the special nature of their family''s Inner Cultivation Methods, the Dings had grown accustomed to the odd looks from others, relishing the fear and reverence in people''s eyes. This was the confidence that power brought them!


    "You scoundrel! Pay back the money!"


    Suddenly, a voice rang out near Ding Muyun''s ear; Ding Muyun''s smile immediately ceased, replaced by a fear as if encountering a demon.


    His gaze shifted to Ding Kui, seeing that he returned the same look.


    "He... he''s here too!"

 Chapter 378 376: Have You Not Eaten?

    Zhang Menglong''s voice suddenly caught the attention of the surrounding martial artists.


    The Ding Family was now in its heyday; who would dare to speak to them with such a tone and attitude? In the Ancient Martial Arts World, fighting and killing were common, especially among top-level martial artists. Even if someone killed another in broad daylight, no one would dare to object.


    "Who is this person to speak to the Ding Family like that?"


    "It looks like the Ding Family owes him money?"


    "Hmm? He''s not even a martial artist? Could he be a peripheral member in charge of managing the family''s assets? Is he looking for death?"


    "I think I''ve seen this person; isn''t that aircraft carrier docked in the harbor his?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, I just walked past him, and it seemed like he was called Zhang Ritian, a member of the Ritian Sect."


    "What Ritian Sect? I''ve never heard of such a sect. Can any Tom, Dick, or Harry now attend our annual grand gathering of the Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Look, aren''t those people from the Liu Family? Why are they so close to this Ritian Sect person?"


    "They''re probably going to be unlucky too."


    ...


    Suddenly, a burst of whispers arose around them, and the Liu Family members'' faces changed immediately; they had never anticipated that Zhang Menglong would suddenly come into conflict with the Ding Family.


    The current Ding Family was no longer what it used to be, with a Martial God of the Mythical Realm sitting in power; they were beyond the reach of the Liu Family.


    The Ding Family was known for its bullying and unruly behavior. Even if Zhang Menglong had a strong background, he was just an ordinary person, and the only martial artist with him was a Level Four. If the Ding Family became enraged, it was possible they could kill him with a single slap.


    Being so close to Zhang Menglong, the Liu Family might end up as collateral damage. It was better to quickly disassociate themselves.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have a few old friends to meet, so we must take our leave," said the head of the Liu Family hurriedly.


    "Oh, sure, feel free to go!" With Liu Yunyi, this prodigy, the Liu Family held no more value for Zhang Menglong.


    "Hey, what''s your name again, Ding Muyun, right? When exactly will you pay back the 100 billion you owe me? Let me tell you, you only have two or three days left before your Life and Death Talisman activates. If you don''t have the antidote by then, you''re a dead man."


    This month was the most painful one Ding Muyun had ever lived since he was born.


    When Zhang Menglong spoke of the Life and Death Talisman activating, he meant its power would fully erupt, but that doesn''t mean it wouldn''t activate normally!


    The Life and Death Talisman, a supremely Yin object, would act up due to the temperature changes when it was hottest at noon. Although not as powerful as the monthly major eruptions, it could still make life unbearably painful.


    This month, every day, Ding Muyun suffered the torment of the Life and Death Talisman. The Ding Family searched for famous doctors and even performed several CT scans on him, but they found nothing in his body.


    The elder named Ding Kui was even more miserable. Zhang Menglong''s burst of energy that day shattered his sternum and even damaged his meridians, causing his strength to plummet from a Level Nine Grandmaster to Level Seven.


    Having been reduced to this state, the Ding Family certainly would not let it go. Ding Muyun was the only male of this generation in the Ding Family; if something happened to him, the family line would end.


    Although the Ding Family was financially strong, coming up with 100 billion Huaxia currency in cash was almost impossible, so resolving this matter through physical force was the only possibility!


    At that time, Ding Moyi, Ding Muyun''s grandfather and the strongest in the Ding Family, was training in a martial art and had instructed the family not to disturb him before this grand event, which is why the issue had been dragging on till now.


    After coming out of seclusion, Ding Moyi had become a Level Three, top-level Martial God and even achieved great success in his martial arts practice. In a rage, he wiped out two rival families and even killed a Martial God!


    Originally, he had planned to seek Zhang Menglong for an explanation on behalf of Ding Muyun after the grand event had ended, but unexpectedly, he ran into his nemesis earlier than anticipated!


    "Grandfather, it was him, he is the one who injured me and the second elder!" Ding Muyun suddenly remembered, this time he was not alone; his grandfather was also a powerful fighter in the Mythical Realm, who might not lose to Zhang Menglong!


    Moreover, he had personally seen his grandfather kill a Martial Artist of the same Mythical Realm with one palm strike. In his heart, apart from the Martial God, his grandfather was almost an invincible fighter!


    "Oh, you are his grandfather?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze rested on the fierce-looking old man.


    Ding Muyun had an unpleasant, disgusting feeling about his Inner Strength, making him feel that something was not quite right with the Ding Family.


    "You are his grandfather, then you should be able to make decisions, right? Your grandson has been causing trouble in my territory, and now he owes me 100 billion...no, including one month''s interest, I won''t ask for much, just 1200 billion!"


    "Isn''t that asking a lot? What kind of interest accrues 20% in a month? Even loan sharks aren''t that ruthless, right?" The surrounding Ancient Martial Artists were all stunned.


    Did this young man really not know that Ding Moyi was a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm?


    Let alone getting this money back, just injuring two people from the Ding Family, given their character, meant they were already intent on a fight to the death; how could he still dare to ask for interest?


    "Are you that person?" Ding Moyi sized up Zhang Menglong from head to toe.


    To be able to injure the second elder merely with his aura alone meant he was definitely a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, but Zhang Menglong was unbelievably young; how could he be in the Mythical Realm?


    "Could he be using some method to disguise his age and realm?" wonder signed Ding Moyi.


    But the more he thought about it, the more cautious he had to be in dealing with such people. Ding Moyi admitted he was no saint, but he had survived up to now because, apart from his luck, he was always extremely cautious.


    "I''ll give you a chance, heal the injuries on my grandson, then chop off your own hands and feet. If you''re lucky enough not to die, we''ll let this matter rest!" Ding Moyi emitted a fierce aura, clearly suppressing his urge to kill.


    "I''m trying to reason with you, why do you like to play dirty?" Zhang Menglong helplessly touched his forehead, "Alright, I got it, you want to fight, right? Bring it on!"


    Zhang Menglong extended two fingers and gestured to Ding Moyi.


    "You little beast, you''re asking for death!" Being provoked like this by a young man was intolerable even for an ordinary Martial Artist, let alone for him, a powerful figure in the Mythical Realm!


    He believed, even if Zhang Menglong was a high-level expert in the Mythical Realm, he could not match him with his unique Inner Strength and techniques!


    Ding Moyi suddenly moved, and all anyone saw was a faint afterimage; his figure had already appeared in front of Zhang Menglong, and his hand, glowing with dark Inner Strength, was now an inch away from Zhang Menglong''s chest.


    Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "Gou Dan! Give me the power of the Mount Heaven Grandmother!"


    "Boom!" The palm strength, capable of shattering a mountain peak and compounded with venomous Inner Strength, hit Zhang Menglong directly in the chest, the palm wind even cracked the ground around them.


    "This young man is done for!"


    "This... Three days ago, the Sect Leader of the Luo Yun Sect died under the very same palm, and it was said that just one palm strike shattered all his bones, turning his body so venomous it had to be cremated."


    "Isn''t it better to enjoy life with money instead of muddling in these troubled waters?"


    This palm hit Zhang Menglong squarely in the chest, leading everyone to believe he was undoubtedly going to die!


    But then, Zhang Menglong took out his hand from his pocket and casually popped a piece of gum into his mouth.


    "Is that all the strength you have? Didn''t you eat?"

 Chapter 379 377 Get to Know the Beiming Divine Art

    "Impossible, this absolutely cannot be!"


    Ding Moyi lifted his head to look at Zhang Menglong''s calm face as if his entire worldview was collapsing in that moment.


    His palm strike was not only extremely fierce but also contained powerful corrosiveness, which could even corrode a martial artist''s inner strength, greatly reducing its power.


    Even martial artists at level two or three of the Mythical Realm, if they took such a forceful strike, would either die or be seriously injured.


    But he found that his strike was like hitting a solid metal figure impervious to swords and spears; his palm strength could not move Zhang Menglong''s body at all.


    And the special inner strength, of which he was so proud, seemed as if it were blocked by an invisible membrane, completely unable to penetrate into Zhang Menglong''s body.


    "Hit me with another couple of those." Zhang Menglong turned around, using his back to face Ding Moyi.


    "What kind of monster is he?" The martial artists were staring wide-eyed.


    Since he emerged from seclusion, Ding Moyi had even challenged several renowned experts in the Mythical Realm and even fought to a draw with a Level Four Mythical Realm martial artist! His Yin Erosion Palm technique had spread throughout the Ancient Martial Arts World in just a few days.


    This strike, which did not even shake Zhang Menglong''s body, and now, with Zhang Menglong turning his back to ask him for two more strikes¡ªsuch a disdainful request was unheard of until now!


    "Good grief, it''s not lethal but highly insulting. This is a palm technique that could kill a Level Three Mythical Realm martial artist with one hit, and he thinks it''s a massage?"


    "He''s too arrogant! I''ve heard this palm technique can corrode inner strength; he might have blocked the first strike, but he might not withstand the second."


    "Even if he withstands the palm strength, if even a trace of inner strength invades his body, he is likely to die on the spot!"


    ...


    "Boy, you are digging your own grave!"


    Being able to directly withstand his strike, Ding Moyi believed Zhang Menglong''s inner strength must be incredibly profound, but forcefully using inner strength to resist, he definitely couldn''t withstand many more attacks.


    Thinking this, he immediately urged his inner strength; if he had only used eighty percent of his power in the previous strike, this time he used his full strength, enough that even a dinosaur might be slapped to death.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    The intense friction of the palm strength with the air even produced bursts of sonic booms, but his strikes still felt as if hitting cotton.


    Within Zhang Menglong''s body, a very special force was slowly flowing. Ding Moyi''s palm strength and virulent inner strength had indeed penetrated into Zhang Menglong''s body, but this force not only resolved all the palm strength but also completely refined the inner strength, turning it to his own use.


    Outsiders only knew about Tianshan Tonglao''s signature martial arts, Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies, Sole Dominance Technique, and the Life and Death Talisman, at most the Tianshan Plum Breaking Hand, Flower Pinching Finger Technique, and Little Wuxiang Skill.


    But do not forget, in the backdrop of this martial arts novel, Tianshan Tonglao is also a member of the Xiaoyao Sect, and in terms of seniority, she is even the Sect Leader Xiaoyaozi''s elder sister, while the most famous technique of the Xiaoyao Sect is the Beiming Divine Art, a skill known to resolve all martial arts in the world and absorb others'' inner strength for one''s own use.


    "He really blocked them all!"


    "He didn''t even use his hands; he completely blocked them with inner strength. Could he be a Level Five or higher expert of the Mythical Realm?"


    "Ritian Sect, Zhang Ritian, I remember it now!"


    "What Zhang Ritian, he is Zhang Menglong! That world''s richest man, he doesn''t have any brother, are you all idiots?"


    "What? No wonder he''s so rich, even able to pull out an aircraft carrier..."


    "But shouldn''t he be only in his twenties? Could it be that being that rich makes even the Mythical Realm worthless?"


    "The power behind his family is probably terrifyingly unimaginable!"


    "Hmph, no matter how powerful, can it compare to the Martial God?"


    ...


    "Sir, I own a foot massage shop called Net Ease Foot Path, and I''m planning to add some massage and scraping services. I see you are quite good at scraping, how about coming back with me to be a director? I''ll pay you 20 million a year to teach my technicians how to scrape. What do you think?"


    Seeing Ding Moyi gasping for breath, Zhang Menglong actually felt somewhat reluctant, considering it wasn''t easy for an old man to demonstrate such a series of combined moves.


    "How dare you insult me?" When had Ding Moyi ever been humiliated like this? Even the few famed Mythical Realm masters in the Ancient Martial Arts World had to sigh after exchanging hands with him.


    Now, was there anything more infuriating than a young lad in his twenties ridiculing his palm technique as mere scraping?


    "So, do you now understand Mr. Zhang''s strength?" Not far away, Chen Bingyu said with a smile to Liu Yunyi, whose expression had turned to one of shock.


    Liu Yunyi had heard about the matters concerning the Ding Family.


    In fact, the history of Ancient Martial Arts in Huaxia can be traced back to a very ancient era. At that time, countless Ancient Martial Arts masters were born; exaggeratedly speaking, it was as if Mythical beings walked everywhere, and martial artists were less significant than dogs, with even those surpassing the Mythical Realm being not in short supply.


    However, due to some reasons yet unknown, the practice of Ancient Martial Arts gradually declined. Many martial artists'' legacies vanished with the passage of time.


    Some existing Ancient Martial Arts families and sects inherited only the scraps of that era''s systems over the lengthy timelines, while others coincidentally discovered some relics left by the powerhouses of that era.


    Two years ago, the Ding Family had found some inheritances left by a cultivator from that era at a certain location. These mental methods in the inheritance highly matched the Inner Strength techniques practiced by their family, and it was because of digesting these inheritances that the Ding Family suddenly rose.


    Now, Ding Moyi, among the Mythical Realm masters in the Ancient Martial Arts World, was a quite notable figure. But for such a character to give it his all and yet not even make Zhang Menglong shift his feet was unbelievable!


    "What level of martial artist is Mr. Zhang exactly?" Liu Yunyi''s gaze towards Zhang Menglong had completely changed.


    After being hit with so many palms in a row, probably even a Level Five Mythical Realm martial artist wouldn''t be able to withstand it, right? Yet there he was, making cheeky remarks as if it was nothing; this was way beyond his understanding!


    "What Mr. Zhang has shown is just the tip of the iceberg," Chen Bingyu said. "But Mr. Zhang has never been the kind to take hits and not return them. This Ding Moyi is in for some bad luck."


    ...


    "What exactly is this technique?" Sweat had begun to form on Ding Moyi''s forehead.


    "The Beiming Divine Art from the Carefree Sect, care to know about it?"


    "Do you think I''m an idiot? This made-up stuff wouldn''t even deceive a three-year-old!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    When Ding Moyi saw Zhang Menglong''s expression, a rather eerie feeling suddenly emerged in his heart. And when he tried to withdraw his Palm Strength from Zhang Menglong, he shockingly discovered an irresistible pulling force emanating from Zhang Menglong''s body!


    "My... my Inner Strength!" Ding Moyi was horrified to find that Zhang Menglong''s body was like a pump, furiously devouring the Inner Strength from his body, and his face was even distorting due to that pulling force.


    Level Three Mythical Realm, Level Two Mythical Realm, Level One Mythical Realm...


    In just a few breaths, Ding Moyi''s realm had actually plummeted from the Mythical Realm, regressing to a mere Grandmaster martial artist!


    "Damn, this Inner Strength is disgusting, it makes one feel nauseous!" Zhang Menglong immediately ceased operating the Beiming Divine Art. Ding Moyi flew out like he was electrocuted, and at that moment, his skill level was only that of a Level Eight Grandmaster martial artist.


    "What... what have you done to me?" This was the Inner Strength he had cultivated after secluding himself for two years and spending immeasurable energy and wealth!


    "Didn''t you say you didn''t believe in the Beiming Divine Art?" Zhang Menglong shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, do you believe it now?"

 Chapter 380 378: I Wont Kill You, Ill Just Humiliate You

    "Grandpa!"


    "Family head!"


    The Ding Family members quickly crowded around and helped Ding Moyi up.


    "Family head... you..." The great elder of the Ding Family was also a martial artist of the Mythical Realm, Level One. He immediately noticed that Ding Moyi''s cultivation of inner strength had shockingly plummeted from the Level Three of the Mythical Realm to a Level Eight Grandmaster martial artist!


    Practicing ancient martial arts was a process of unlocking human potential. During this process, human genes would undergo a transition, and strength was merely a secondary effect brought by this genetic shift.


    If one entered the Mythical Realm, at a minimum, a human''s lifespan could increase to over 150 years, even exceeding 200 years. That''s why many grandmaster martial artists spent their entire lives unable to step into the Mythical Realm.


    Falling from the Mythical Realm to the Grandmaster level was more terrifying than a nightmare for any martial artist!


    "He drained all the inner strength from my body!" Although he was reluctant to admit it, Ding Moyi had to face this reality; his efforts over the past two years had been utterly wasted.


    "What kind of martial arts is this? I have never heard of any that could devour someone else''s inner strength." The great elder looked at Zhang Menglong with eyes full of fear. If their family head, a martial artist of the Level Three Mythical Realm, had been drained by Zhang Menglong, his fate would likely be even worse!


    "He just said that this technique is the Beiming Divine Art."


    "Beiming Divine Art? But isn''t that a technique from a novel?"


    "Right, he even made up names like Zhang Ritian and Ritian Sect, so what''s so strange about making up a form of martial arts?" Ding Moyi said enduringly through the intense pain, "Perhaps he has stumbled upon some powerful ancient martial arts from the prehistoric era by chance."


    "A martial art that can absorb an opponent''s inner strength is far too terrifying..."


    The surrounding martial artists had also noticed the change in Ding Moyi''s realm and beyond reveling in his misfortune, it also caused them to reassess this so-called wealthiest person in the world.


    "Ding Moyi has actually been defeated..."


    "A technique that can devour inner strength, what kind of martial arts has he practiced?"


    "He''s only in his twenties. Given a few more years, perhaps even the Martial Gods won''t be able to suppress him!"


    "I... don''t even know if Ritian Sect is taking disciples this time."


    "Damn! Right! I heard that Ritian Sect was just established by Zhang Menglong and hasn''t even been filed with the Ancient Martial Association yet. There aren''t many people yet; joining would be like skyrocketing to success!"


    ...


    As the power of Tianshan Tonglao dispersed, Zhang Menglong returned to his original realm, but he found that his strength, originally at Level Seven, had reached Level Eight!


    Actually, the inner strength Zhang Menglong had absorbed from Ding Moyi was enough for an ordinary martial artist to advance from Level Seven to Level Eight dozens of times. But how pure was Zhang Menglong''s inner strength?


    To him, Ding Moyi''s inner strength was practically like trash, needing several rounds of refinement and condensation to match his inner strength''s purity. After circulating in his body a few times, it barely helped him break through.


    Even so, this gain was quite substantial, at least saving him a week or two of cultivation time.


    "Come on, let''s go again!" Zhang Menglong, having tasted the benefits, was eager for more experiences that could potentially make him a true Mythical Realm martial artist soon.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s strength, if the Ding Family members dared to make a move, they would be insane¡ªwho would want their hard-earned inner strength to benefit someone else?


    "I mean, why do you people enjoy fighting and killing so much? It''s only right to pay debts. Your grandson owes me money, so he should pay me back. With one month overdue, there should be interest. I''m talking reason with you, but you just want to play dirty!" Zhang Menglong said righteously.


    "Zhang Menglong, do I owe you money? That''s just blatant robbery!" Ding Muyun glared angrily at Zhang Menglong.


    "Everyone, look, everyone, look!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice, "They are still being unreasonable! You guys be the judge, I bought a piece of land in the suburbs of Jiangnan City. The Land Bureau granted me development and usage rights. So, doesn''t this land belong to me?"


    The crowd nodded in agreement. Since the government had granted the development and usage rights, the ownership of the land was naturally indisputable.


    "So, if people live on my land and pay protection fees on my land, shouldn''t I protect them?"


    The martial artists nodded again. Although it was never openly discussed, the collection of protection fees was very common in the Ancient Martial Arts World. You pay the protection fee within my territory, I protect you¡ªit''s only fair and square!


    "Then, this Ding Muyun, he stormed into my territory with his thugs, bullied the people on my land, and destroyed the flora on my land. Shouldn''t I ask them for compensation?"


    "This seems okay too." This logic, having listened to it, was reasonable and flawless.


    "Don''t listen to his nonsense!" Ding Muyun said, "We admit we are not as skilled, but have you ever heard of someone demanding 100 billion Huaxia yuan in total for emotional distress, medical, and parking fees?"


    "100 billion?"


    "Fuck! That''s just blatant robbery!"


    "Epic, epic!"


    "That does seem a bit much..."


    "Be confident, drop the ''seems''!"


    "But if it were me, if someone bullied my people on my territory, I guess I''d be even more outrageous!"


    ...


    "What''s wrong? Weren''t you being all arrogant just now? Playing hooligan didn''t work, now you want to reason with me?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m also a world''s wealthiest man. You might want to ask around. In my case, it''s always about billions of US dollars. Right now, it''s only billions of Huaxia yuan, which is already a bargain!"


    "That''s actually true," Chen Bingyu whispered to Liu Yunyi, "You don''t know, but some time ago, when foreign racers came to challenge Mr. Zhang, he''d start with a bet of 10 billion US dollars, and he wouldn''t care for any less!"


    "But, sir, is what Mr. Zhang doing really not going to be a problem?" Liu Yunyi was a bit worried.


    "Don''t worry, the small Dong Family doesn''t even register on Mr. Zhang''s radar!"


    Chen Bingyu knew that Teacher Xiong Ba at the Martial Arts Academy branch was at the peak of the Mythical Realm. With such strength, even a Martial God emerging wouldn''t scare Zhang Menglong. Of course, she didn''t know that these teachers couldn''t leave Super God Academy, otherwise she wouldn''t be so confident.


    Zhang Menglong swept a meaningful look over the members of the Ding Family, "But now I don''t want to reason with you. I still prefer to play the hooligan. Just now, you hit me a total of 17 palms, 10 billion for each palm, making it 170 billion, plus the original 1.2 trillion, which rounds it up to 3 trillion!"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Many people choked on hearing the number, this rounding up added yet another 100 billion¡ªit really was hooliganism!


    "Zhang Menglong, we are not as skilled as you; if you want to kill, then kill, the Ding Family is not made up of cowards!" Ding Moyi, aged over seventy, had seen it all and was quite tough, "It''s either us or them in the end!"


    The elders of the Ding Family immediately stood in front of Zhang Menglong, ready to face death bravely.


    "Kill you?" Zhang Menglong shook his head like a rattle drum, "I''m not that kind of person. I am a law-abiding, honorable party member. How could I kill someone?"


    "What on earth do you want?"


    "I won''t kill you. If you don''t pay the money, I''ll just humiliate you!"

 Chapter 381 379: You Are Not Even Comparable to a Dog

    "I know, coming up with 300 billion in cash might be difficult for you, but I am not one to be overly fond of money,"


    "Then what do you want?" the people of the Ding Family stared at Zhang Menglong.


    "Real estate, luxury businesses, intellectual property, company shares¡ªI am open to anything. Just come up with 300 billion, and we can let today''s issues slide. I will also help remove the Life and Death Talisman from that fool Ding Muyun, how about it?"


    "Damn!" The surrounding martial artists gasped in astonishment; they had thought Zhang Menglong would offer some grand reasoning when he claimed not to be interested in money, but what was the difference between what he demanded and money itself?


    Sure enough, when rich people say they don''t care about money, they''re absolutely bullshitting!


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t go too far, don''t force us into a corner where both sides perish!" A few of the Ding Family elders seemed ready to throw caution to the wind.


    Originally, the Ding Family only had two elders, both merely Grandmaster level martial artists. However, since they acquired that inheritance, aside from the family head Ding Moyi and the severely injured second elder, three additional martial artists had broken through to the Mythical Realm. Now, the Ding Family''s strength was definitely qualified to compete with top-tier clans.


    It was true that Zhang Menglong had defeated Ding Moyi, but Zhang Menglong''s victory was largely due to the Beiming Divine Art, which could dissolve inner strength. If the three of them attacked together, Zhang Menglong might not be able to withstand them!


    "You think you can force a showdown with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered. Opening with Xiong Ba''s classic line, he added, "Well, I''ll show you what true superior martial arts really are!"


    "Attack! Attack him from three different directions at once. I refuse to believe he can fend off all three of us simultaneously!" Like fierce tigers, the three elders surged out, immediately surrounding Zhang Menglong from three directions.


    "Yin Erosion Fist!"


    "Yin Erosion Legs!"


    "Yin Erosion Palm!"


    Besides one Inner Cultivation Method, these three martial arts techniques were the most powerful elements from that inheritance. Apart from Ding Moyi, who had trained in all three techniques, each elder specialized in one, achieving even greater proficiency than Ding Moyi due to their dedicated focus.


    Three pale gray inner strengths transformed into fist force, palm force, and leg force, attacking Zhang Menglong. To prevent Zhang Menglong from using his bizarre martial arts to dissolve their inner strength, they avoided physical contact, and while emitting inner strength externally was hugely draining, its power could increase exponentially.


    Knowing how formidable Zhang Menglong was, they held nothing back and went straight for kill shots.


    "Gou Dan!" Zhang Menglong immediately deducted another 30 Cred Points to gain Xiong Ba''s inner strength. The astonishingly fierce aura instantly made the surrounding martial artists step back several paces.


    "He wasn''t even using his full strength just now!"


    "This aura... I''ve only ever felt it from the Martial God..."


    "No... I suspect that even the Martial God might not be stronger than him!"


    In reality, none of these people had ever seen the Martial God in action. But the power Zhang Menglong demonstrated was undoubtedly the most formidable they had ever witnessed!


    "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!" Zhang Menglong used his inner strength to form an almost invisible protective shield around his body. The three blasts of inner strength hit it and didn''t even cause a ripple.


    "Watch closely and learn what true peerless martial arts are!"


    In a blur before everyone''s eyes, Zhang Menglong''s figure split into three, as if darkening the earth and sky in an instant with flashes of lightning and a sudden drop in temperature. His cultivation had reached a level that could alter the weather!


    "What exactly is this technique?"


    "In Huaxia, aside from the Martial God and the Captain of Longxia, probably no one can match him!"


    "At such a young age, how did he achieve this?"


    While all the martial artists were still in shock, Zhang Menglong''s Phantom Body moved.


    "Wind God Legs!"


    "Paiyun Palm!"


    "Heavenly Frost Fist!"


    "Such fast leg techniques!" one of the phantoms flashed as if in the void, each second delivering dozens of kicks and boxing one of the Ding Family elders into retreat, trapping him with no escape. He managed to block only the first kick, and the subsequent attacks fell on him like raindrops!


    "This palm technique, to be so ferociously powerful!"


    "And that fist technique, it can actually cause a sudden drop in temperature, could this be the legendary attribute of Inner Strength?"


    In an instant, three surrounded Ding Family martial artists flew out in three directions, landing on the ground, spitting out blood.


    "Hiss!" Not far off, there were Chen Family martial artists in the crowd, including one of the youths who had guarded the gate that day! Seeing this scene, he instantly remembered the fear he felt one month earlier and even now, he felt a faint pain in his chest.


    "If he had used this power in the beginning, my entire village would likely have been wiped out by now!"


    ...


    "Shift to the power of Celestial Maiden of the Mountains!" Zhang Menglong''s Cred Points were then deducted by more than twenty.


    But showing his face like that, Zhang Menglong had already gained several hundred Cred Points, and those fifty points being deducted didn''t bother him one bit!


    "Beiming Divine Art, absorb!"


    The three elders had just flown out when Zhang Menglong unleashed a force that pulled them back to him, absorbing all the Inner Strength they had painstakingly cultivated into nourishment for himself.


    In just under a minute, the remaining power of the three couldn''t even reach the level of a Grandmaster!


    "Such rubbish, only this little power!" Zhang Menglong curled his lip, their combined Inner Strength wasn''t even half of what Ding Moyi had earlier, and it didn''t even cause a ripple after circulating in his body.


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand casually, and the three nearly drained elders crashed back into the crowd of the Ding Family.


    Every martial artist watching Zhang Menglong''s ruthless methods felt chilled to the bone, but the eyes of Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi glowed with fervor and admiration; this was the power they aspired to!


    "Giving you another chance, are you going to pay up or not?"


    "Hmph!" The people of the Ding Family turned their heads to one side, their faces set in a look of defiance to the death.


    "Good! If that''s the case, then I''ll humiliate you," Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, and a powerful Inner Strength transformed into an invisible wave, rushing towards the people of the Ding Family.


    The Inner Strength, containing the power of the Mythical Realm, was controlled exceptionally exquisitely. The martial artists of the Ding Family were of varying strengths, yet after that wave of Inner Strength, not a single person could remain standing, but, just as crucially, no one was shaken to death either.


    He whistled, "Wang Cai, bite them!"


    No sooner had the whistle blown than a recently matured husky, tongue out, ran out from some bushes nearby.


    "This..." Chen Bingyu recognized the dog, wasn''t this the one brought by Zhang Menglong?


    "Headmaster, even though they are already injured, they are still martial artists, and..." Chen Bingyu worried even injured, these martial artists were like skinny camels bigger than horses; would it not be easy for them to kill a dog with one palm strike?


    But the next moment nearly overturned everyone''s understanding. The husky''s actions were so swift and its strength so great, it was no weaker than a Grandmaster martial artist!


    This was no husky, it was practically a prehistoric tiger!


    "Ah! Don''t bite me! Don''t bite me!"


    "What kind of monster is this dog? My Inner Strength can''t even harm him!"


    "Beast, how dare you urinate on my head!!"


    "Beast, you... Ah!"


    Over a dozen martial artists, including several who were Mythical Realm experts, though severely injured under the impact of Zhang Menglong''s Inner Strength which could match level five or six martial artists, were now being bitten bloody by a husky and even had it urinating and defecating on their heads!


    "Tsk tsk tsk..." Zhang Menglong shook his head, "How can you guys be even worse than a dog!"

 Chapter 382 380: It Seems the Humiliation is Not Enough

    "How is that dog so fierce!"


    "It''s utterly ruthless, is that really a dog? Even a Level One Martial Artist wouldn''t be injured by a dog, right?"


    "I think I saw a Grandmaster strike its leg with a palm, but the dog seemed to be unharmed, its body is like that of a monster."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Wang Cai happily returned to Zhang Menglong''s side, obediently sticking out its tongue.


    Wang Cai possessed a Potential Index exceeding ten, which meant it could also enter the Super God Academy. However, there were no teachers at the academy capable of instructing a dog, so its progress was not as rapid.


    One should know that the energy within the Super God Academy is extremely dense, and even an ordinary person would become healthier and extend their lifespan after spending some time there. Every time Zhang Menglong entered the academy, he would bring Wang Cai with him. Coupled with its unique physique, it was able to slowly cultivate on its own!


    Moreover, ever since Zhang Menglong first fed Wang Cai a Fighting Spirit Pill and discovered it could withstand the potency that only a Grandmaster Martial Artist could endure, he fed Wang Cai a Fighting Spirit Pill every few days!


    Even though Wang Cai had no Inner Strength or demonic power, its body had become extremely formidable due to these things, and it wasn''t an exaggeration to say it was impervious to swords and spears.


    Relying solely on its flesh and blood, Wang Cai could directly kill a fully energized Level Seven Grandmaster Martial Artist! As for these old, weak, sick, and disabled foes, biting them was just like playing for Wang Cai!


    However, this scene completely overturned the world view of the other onlookers; a group of Martial Artists being bitten, and having a dog poop and pee on them. If this got out, it would undoubtedly become the laughing stock of the entire Ancient Martial Arts World!


    Even now, some people couldn''t help but laugh. The Ding Family had no Mythical Realm masters at present, and their strongest was just a severely injured Level Eight Martial Artist. What did they have to fear?


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked twice at Zhang Menglong, seemingly asking how its performance was.


    "Not bad at all!" Zhang Menglong bent down to stroke Wang Cai''s head, then took out a pill from his clothes.


    The fragrance of the Fighting Spirit Pill spread instantly, causing countless Martial Artists to breathe heavily all at once.


    For Martial Artists, the most important are Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts, but the next most crucial thing is this kind of Miracle Elixir. High-level elixirs are even more precious than Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts!


    "This... this is an elixir!!"


    "Such a rich fragrance, what level of elixir is this?"


    "Elder Xu, you are an Alchemist, can you evaluate it?"


    "This..." the elder referred to as Elder Xu even turned pale from shock, "this... this pill fragrance... top note... base note... I think I''ve read about this elixir in ancient texts!!"


    "This! This is an Immortal Pill!"


    "What? Did you say this is an Immortal Pill!"


    Upon hearing this, the Martial Artists all boiled over with excitement.


    Legend has it that Emperor Qin Shi Huang once dispatched Xu Fu overseas in search of the secret to eternal life. Xu Fu found an Immortal who gave him three Immortal Pills. These pills were of heavenly might, allowing a Grandmaster Martial Artist to rapidly break through to the Mythical Realm in a short period of time!


    It was said that a few months ago, such an Immortal Pill appeared at an auction in Europe. Various countries sent representatives with vast amounts of funds to compete for it, but in the end, it was unclear who obtained it.


    And now, an Immortal Pill had reappeared! What''s more, Zhang Menglong was actually going to use it to feed a dog!


    Before the Martial Artists had a chance to intervene, the Fighting Spirit Pill had already been swallowed by Wang Cai, who then contentedly ran off to play on the beach.


    "This... is this really an Immortal Pill?"


    "An Immortal Pill that can make a Grandmaster break through to the Mythical Realm, he''s actually using it to feed a dog?"


    "My... my blood pressure is a bit high."


    They had no chance to curse any further when Zhang Menglong took out another Immortal Pill, identical to the first, and popped it into his own mouth.


    "He has more? He still has Immortal Pills?"


    "He had two Immortal Pills on him! But wasn''t there supposed to be only one left in the world?"


    "I get it! Did he perhaps find some legacy? Not only did he inherit that mystical Inner Strength and martial arts, but he also has a bunch of Immortal Pills?"


    "Damn, what kind of luck is this?"


    "Brother, why are you clenching your fists? Don''t tell me... don''t tell me you''re thinking of stealing his stuff?"


    "Bro, I respect you for being a real man, but I think you''re not even worth one finger poke from Zhang Menglong."


    "Hahaha, my palm is just a bit stiff, wanted to get some exercise, you''re thinking too much."


    ...


    "Damn, why does it taste a bit off? Spoiled?" Zhang Menglong spat out the Fighting Spirit Pill onto the ground, then took out another one.


    "The... the third one!"


    "How many more does he have?"


    "He actually spat it out? That''s an Immortal Pill, for crying out loud! Others can only dream of getting such a thing!"


    "Even if it''s gone off, it''s still an Immortal Pill, wouldn''t it be reasonable to expect it to elevate someone to the peak of a Level Nine martial artist, if not breaking through to the Mythical Realm?"


    "Hmph! A bunch of spineless things, not letting go of something someone else spat out."


    "What the heck! Who are you calling spineless? You''re the one running like lightning!"


    "Wait for me, are you all born in the year of the rabbit or what?"


    "Drop that Immortal Pill, I saw it first!"


    "Hahaha, I got it, I got it!"


    "Hand it over quickly, or I''ll wipe out your entire family!"


    "If you have the guts, come and snatch it, oh! I''ve swallowed it!"


    ...


    "Tsk tsk tsk, a bunch of yokels," Zhang Menglong shook his head. These Fighting Spirit Pills were indeed good stuff, but for him, they were essentially as many as he wanted, and the cost was almost negligible.


    "Alright, do you want me to keep humiliating you?" Zhang Menglong looked at the Ding Family members.


    "Alright, you won," Ding Moyi wiped the dog shit off his face, "but our Ding Family really can''t cough up 300 billion. Our corporate assets total up to only about 120 billion, take it all if you want."


    "Pah, you think you can joke with me?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Riyu Technology is yours, right? Just this company alone is worth 20 billion US dollars, then there''s Hengyi Petrochemical, with a market value of 18 billion dollars, Wanting Medical Equipment, worth 8 billion dollars, and you own several chain hotels worth more than 30 billion Huaxia currency..."


    Ding Moyi''s face grew uglier by the second. Their family''s wealth was indeed more than 120 billion, even much more, but many of the assets were so secret that not even their own family members knew about them, yet Zhang Menglong could name them all.


    When exactly had he investigated the Ding Family?


    "It seems that the humiliation isn''t enough," Zhang Menglong shouted, "Wang Cai!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s call, Wang Cai sprinted towards him again.


    Seeing Wang Cai, the Ding Family members instantly shrank back. This dog was just too terrifying; the damage it caused was extremely high, and the insult it delivered, unbearable. Being humiliated by people was one thing, but they really didn''t want to be humiliated by a dog again.


    "We''ll give it! We''ll give the 300 billion, okay? We''ll give!" Ding Moyi finally crumbled.


    "What 300 billion, it''s 400 billion!"


    "You!" A look of furious anger appeared on Ding Moyi''s face.


    "Just now, you injured my beloved dog. 100 billion can be considered its medical expenses."


    "Are you intentionally picking a fight? Does this dog look injured to you?" The descendants of the Ding Family were screaming hysterically in their minds. They were the ones injured just before, weren''t they?


    "What? Not willing?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "Then you can''t blame me."


    "Wang Cai, continue!"


    "Woof woof woof!"


    "Ah! Don''t bite my balls! Ah!"


    ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤

 Chapter 383 381: Everyone present is... oh my

    "Hong Yi, please take care of the transfer of shares for those companies; someone will come to sign the documents later,"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I''ll handle it this afternoon!"


    ...


    After being humiliated by Wang Cai twice, the Ding Family finally collapsed. In the Ancient Martial Arts World, sometimes face is more important than life. A loss of 400 billion in assets, although a severe blow, was not enough to destroy the Ding Family.


    To get Wang Cai to lift his precious paws, they had to agree to cede a large amount of the Ding Family''s assets, including businesses, real estate, houses, and stock options, finally reaching the sum of 400 billion Huaxia currency.


    "If you had repaid the money earlier, none of this would have happened!" Zhang Menglong called back Wang Cai with satisfaction and casually shot two streams of inner strength at Ding Muyun''s acupoints.


    Ding Muyun spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with crushed ice and would no longer suffer from the Life and Death Talisman.


    "Look at you, if it weren''t for you, your family wouldn''t have had to suffer such misfortune. Truly pitiful," Zhang Menglong left these words and then departed with two people and a dog.


    At that moment, Ding Muyun''s face turned pale as Zhang Menglong''s words had squarely placed all the blame on him.


    Upon reflection, if Ding Muyun hadn''t lusted after Chen Bingyu''s beauty, he wouldn''t have provoked Zhang Menglong. Without provoking Zhang Menglong, the Ding Family wouldn''t have fallen into such a state today!


    Now, the strongest in the Ding Family was only a Level Eight Grandmaster Martial Artist.


    Although they still possessed their Internal Cultivation Methods and martial arts secrets, recovering to their former realm would take at least three to five years, perhaps even longer due to the significant loss of family assets.


    In recent times, the Ding Family''s reckless actions had already made them enemies with many families and sects.


    The families were manageable, but those sects housed experts of the Mythical Realm. With the current state of the Ding Family, even a Level One Mythical Realm Martial Artist could sweep through them; they would not leave any chance for the Ding Family to struggle on.


    Once this grand event concludes, the threshold of the Ding House might very well be completely trampled...


    ...


    "What a lucrative deal!" In contrast to the despair of the Ding Family, Zhang Menglong''s mood was as sweet as honey sweetened with sugar. He had just spent 100 billion, and now he earned back 4000 billion, along with hundreds of Cred Points, even his inner strength had ascended to the standard of a Level Eight Grandmaster Martial Artist, "The Ding Family really is my lucky star!"


    Zhang Menglong and his group had arrived quite late, only occupying a small part of those who attended this grand event at the entrance of the island.


    But, the celestial and earthly changes caused by Zhang Menglong''s deployment of Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi had caught everyone''s attention, and word about him quickly spread.


    "What? Several Mythical Realm experts from the Ding Family were crippled?"


    "Done by Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest? Isn''t he just a student in his twenties?"


    "Killing a Mythical Realm practitioner in one move... How strong is he? He must be at least Level Five in the Mythical Realm, right?"


    "The Ritian Sect... With Zhang Menglong''s strength, even if he were the only one in that sect, absolutely no one would dare provoke it."


    "From now on, the Ancient Martial Arts World will have to reckon with one more top-level sect force."


    ...


    All the major forces began inquiring about the Ritian Sect. Having good relations with this sect would be like having a powerful supporter!


    The Chen Family and the Liu Family, having had some interactions with Zhang Menglong, were overjoyed. They had members in Zhang Menglong''s Ritian Sect. If their families faced troubles in the future, Zhang Menglong might help them out of respect for Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi, right?


    The head of the Liu Family suddenly fell into deep thought, originally thinking the Ritian Sect was just some amateurish makeshift sect. But now, that was clearly not the case!


    Zhang Menglong was an unfathomably powerful Mythical Realm expert, whose dog even consumed the legendary "Immortal Pills." How could such a person invest so much for nothing?


    Upon further consideration, there must be something about his grandson, Liu Yunyi, that attracted Zhang Menglong''s interest, hence his request.


    At this thought, a tinge of regret surfaced in his heart; it appeared he had earned 100 billion, but who knew that after the truth was revealed, his loss might be a top-level expert overlooked by his family?


    At this moment, Zhang Menglong and others had already arrived at the center of the island, where thousands of Ancient Martial Arts experts gathered, making it a bustling scene.


    At the center of the island, a huge platform had been erected. The younger generation from various families would compete here to determine the ranking on the Genius List.


    On the edge of the martial arts competition stage, there were nine ordinary wooden chairs. However, not everyone was qualified to sit on these chairs; even those who managed to sit on them could be thrown off at any time.


    "People from the Ancient Martial Association are here!" Amid a bustle, a few master martial artists appeared in the venue.


    Although there were many experts from the Mythical Realm present, people from the Ancient Martial Association were treated with a degree of deference, even by them.


    "Bingyu, do you want to have a go?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "The age limit for this competition is 30, and I think you can''t find an opponent under 30 in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World."


    "Of course, except for me," Zhang Menglong added, "It would also give our Ritian Sect a boost in prestige."


    "Principal..." Chen Bingyu said somewhat speechlessly, "Even calling it Super God Academy sounds better than Ritian Sect!"


    "That won''t do!" Zhang Menglong said seriously, "The name must be loud and domineering; if not, I don''t mind if you change it to Blast Sky Gang later."


    "Fine, let''s stick with Ritian Sect..."


    The official competition hadn''t started yet, but there were already people sparring on the stage. Of course, these were all friendly matches between the younger generation under 30, serving as entertainment for those master martial artists and experts from the Mythical Realm.


    At that moment, two young martial artists on the stage were fighting an evenly matched battle. After over a hundred moves, one of them finally admitted defeat.


    "One 22 and the other 25, both are Level Two martial artists; such talent is considered quite impressive."


    "Yes, I heard that this year in the Long family of Neichuan Sichuan, there emerged a genius who is already a Level Four martial artist at 27!"


    "Really? I''ve heard there aren''t a few geniuses under 30 who reached Level Four this year, including Ding Muyun from the Ding family, who also reached Level Four through that inheritance."


    "Hmph, how can those kinds of side sect skills compare to the Long family? After all, the Long family has the oldest inheritance, and the Ancient Martial Association reserves a spot for them every year, plus the Inner Cultivation Methods and martial arts of the Long family are probably not weaker than those of the Ding family!"


    "Yeah, their family''s Inner Strength naturally carries a trace of intense fire attribute; I heard that Long Lin''s Dragon Flame Break even has a bit of his grandfather''s skill!"


    "Old Master Long is truly a towering figure; it looks like in this Genius Ranking, Long Lin will definitely be among the top three, perhaps even challenging for first place!"


    "Look, isn''t that Long Lin?"


    The moment the previous young man retreated in defeat, another young man stepped onto the stage, his face showing calm confidence and the pride of a favored son of heaven.


    "Long Lin of the Long family, here to seek guidance!"


    The other young man''s expression changed drastically at once; he was only a Level Two martial artist, and someone like Long Lin, a Level Four martial artist, could probably kill him with a single punch!


    "Brother Long, I know my skills are inferior and shall not embarrass myself!" The young man wisely stepped down from the stage.


    "Hmph! Trash!" Long Lin snorted coldly, "Does anyone dare to come up?"


    "Damn! A 27-year-old Level Four martial artist? Who would dare, that''s just asking for trouble!"


    "Forget about trouble, if you''re not careful you could end up dead; the Long family''s boxing is brutally fierce, who can withstand it?"


    "I heard that Long Lin is not only powerful but also very arrogant, and he likes humiliating his opponents the most."


    Observing the quiet whispers from the crowd below, Long Lin wasn''t annoyed. What he loved the most was this sort of situation¡ªeveryone fearing and revering him!


    "I think this one can take a beating; you should give it a try," Zhang Menglong said to Chen Bingyu.


    "Principal, but he..." Liu Yunyi had heard of Long Lin''s reputation, and although Chen Bingyu was also a Level Four martial artist, male martial artists naturally had gender advantages, so he probably...


    "Humph, are you all scared?" Long Lin still taunted the crowd below, "It''s not personal, but what I meant to say is, all you guys are..."


    "Ouch!" Following a scream, Long Lin''s body suddenly flew out.


    "Who?" Everyone suddenly noticed that where Long Lin had been standing, there now stood a woman!


    "Chief Disciple of the Ritian Sect, Chen Bingyu!"

 Chapter 384 382 The Warm-Up is Over

    The female martial artist who suddenly appeared in the arena immediately caught everyone''s attention. Except for the grandmasters, almost no one saw how she appeared on the stage; it was as if she had used instant teleportation.


    "Chen Bingyu? Isn''t she from the Chen Family of Jiangnan City? I''ve heard that she''s just over 20 years old and is about to break through to Level Three martial artist!"


    "She... she is actually a Level Four martial artist!"


    "Such profound inner strength! What did she just say? Is she the Chief Disciple of the Ritian Sect?"


    "Is this really Bingyu?" The members of the Chen Family were all dumbfounded.


    In the past month, Chen Bingyu had hardly returned home. Her family only knew that she seemed to be training in ancient martial arts with Zhang Menglong, but they didn''t understand the details.


    In less than a month, she had directly crossed the huge gap between a Level Three and a Level Four martial artist! Ordinary martial artists, let alone in a month, would laugh in their dreams if they could advance one level in a year or two!


    Is Zhang Menglong performing magic?


    "Hahaha! This is my Chen Family''s descendant, hahaha!" The old patriarch of the Chen Family laughed, his face full of wrinkles. Although Chen Bingyu was now partially affiliated with the Ritian Sect, she still had Chen Family blood flowing through her veins and her relationship with the family had not faded due to Zhang Menglong; she had always been part of the Chen Family!


    A few meters away, Long Lin got up from the ground. Although Chen Bingyu''s attack was swift, the Long Family was known for its fierce and strong inner strength, both in attack power and defensive power. That kick had only caused him a bit of pain.


    "My sect leader said, that phrase can only be spoken by him; others are not worthy!" Chen Bingyu said, looking at Long Lin.


    A slight curve formed on Long Lin''s lips. It had been a long time since he had encountered such a formidable opponent, and this one was even a woman!


    "If you can beat me, I will take back what I just said. But if you lose, even if you are a woman, I will not show mercy."


    "Show mercy? You are not worthy."


    With a month of training, Chen Bingyu had built up an immense confidence. Truthfully, Long Lin''s strength didn''t even put any pressure on her.


    "Flame Dragon Force!" Without further words, Long Lin mobilized his full inner strength, his body becoming burning hot, and even the surrounding air seemed distorted due to the high temperature.


    It is said that when the elder of the Long Family fully exerted Flame Dragon Force, his inner strength would even condense into high-temperature flames that scorched the enemy without harming himself, extremely formidable.


    "Dragon Flame Break!" Carrying a powerful momentum, Long Lin charged towards Chen Bingyu like a wild beast.


    "Elder Long, your family''s Long Lin is still the same, so hot-tempered, without a shred of pity for the fairer sex." Not far away, several senior members of various families were gathered, watching the competition between the younger generation.


    "Hahaha," Elder Long laughed heartily. "I can''t help it; this brat was born a martial fiend. Women and men are the same in his eyes. How is he ever going to carry on the lineage of the Long Family?"


    "He''s not even afraid of killing the daughter of the Chen Family."


    "I remember that the Chen Family doesn''t even have a warrior from the Mythical Realm, and yet they''ve managed to raise such an outstanding junior, truly no small feat!"


    "Didn''t you hear? She joined that Ritian Sect."


    "The very same sect established by that young man who took down that old ghost, Ding Moyi, with one move?"


    "Interesting, really interesting!"


    "But our Long Family doesn''t produce weaklings. I indeed want to see what''s so special about this Ritian Sect''s martial arts techniques."


    ...


    Many people were secretly sweating for Chen Bingyu. Zhang Menglong''s prowess was undeniable, but that didn''t necessarily mean Chen Bingyu was equally formidable, and amongst martial artists of the same level, Long Lin was definitely top-tier!


    "What? She''s not dodging?"


    "She''s actually going to confront Long Lin head-on? Does she not care about her own arm?"


    In front of everyone''s astonished eyes, Chen Bingyu actually charged towards Long Lin''s Dragon Flame Break.


    Dragon Flame Break, a martial technique reserved for core members of the Long Family, was fierce and powerful. Coupled with scorching inner strength, even ordinary Level Five male martial artists found it tough to withstand.


    "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!"


    A golden dragon-shape Inner Strength burst forth from Chen Bingyu''s palms, the sound of the dragon''s roar echoed across the entire martial arts platform, and the robust Inner Strength even caused Long Lin''s expression to change.


    Female martial artists, due to some inherent deficiencies, actually have a lower purity and strength of Inner Strength compared to male martial artists of the same level; in the Ancient Martial Arts World''s Mythical Realm, those ranked at the top are almost all male martial artists.


    However, Long Lin felt that Chen Bingyu''s Inner Strength was not any weaker than his, and even lacked a bit of the feminine softness in her Inner Strength, possessing more of a male martial artist''s vigor and fierceness.


    "Boom!"


    Palm Strength clashed with fist strength, causing the two forces of Inner Strength to react violently in an instant.


    This platform was specifically designed for martial artists under the age of 30, so it was only built to withstand the battles of Level Three and Level Four martial artists.


    But the fluctuations caused by the battle between Long Lin and Chen Bingyu had clearly far exceeded the capabilities of martial artists of that level. The collision of their Inner Strength blasted a deep hole in the platform, causing stone chips to fly and dust to fill the air.


    "Thump thump thump!" Chen Bingyu took three steps back and then stabilized her stance.


    To everyone''s utter surprise, Long Lin actually took more than a dozen steps back before stopping. His fists trembled slightly, and even his facial expression was full of astonishment.


    In a direct confrontation of strength and Inner Strength Cultivation, he had actually lost!


    "Smack!" The Long Family''s patriarch forcefully slapped his chair, and he involuntarily stood up.


    The Elder Long was an influential figure in the Ancient Martial Arts World, renowned for his keen insights. With just one glance, he recognized the extraordinary nature of Chen Bingyu''s palm technique.


    "This palm technique is fierce and powerful, and it can even add a hint of animal essence to the outward release of Inner Strength. Such martial arts are indeed rare in this world!".


    There are indeed many martial arts in the Ancient Martial Arts World that imitate animal movements in forms and techniques, enhancing one''s hand-to-hand combat skills, but only in technique.


    However, adding such essence to Inner Strength significantly increases the difficulty. Such martial arts can definitely be called rare treasures. Until now, not many ancient martial arts techniques in the Ancient Martial Arts World possessed such power.


    And today, they had seen such skills in a young female martial artist in her early twenties.


    "Does the Chen Family actually possess such techniques?"


    "To think it''s even more powerful than the Long Family''s Dragon Flame Break, it''s unbelievable that the small Chen Family has such deep roots!"


    The Chen Family''s martial artists suddenly found themselves the center of attention from many martial artists.


    "Family head, do we have such palm techniques?"


    "Nonsense! I wouldn''t even dare to dream of it. If our ancestors had left us such powerful techniques, I could literally wake up laughing from my dreams!" said the Chen Family''s patriarch, clearly frustrated.


    If their family had such techniques, would they have been bullied by the Ding Family like that before? They, too, wanted to possess such formidable techniques. But their strength did not allow it. The Chen Family''s martial arts were considered second-rate at best in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "Then this technique of hers..."


    "It''s probably from that Ritian Sect of hers," the Chen Family''s patriarch said. "To have caught the eye of Mr. Zhang, that is Bingyu''s good fortune!"


    ...


    "Not bad!" Chen Bingyu shook off her hands, "The warm-up is pretty much done. Now let''s properly exchange a few moves!"


    "Warm-up? This was just a warm-up?"


    "Damn, we''re all martial artists under thirty, so why is there such a huge gap between people?"


    "Listen to that, can that even be considered human speech?"


    "Typical of Zhang Menglong''s speeches, always cryptic and elusive."


    ...


    "The girl has great perceptiveness!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help wanting to clap. He had never taught Chen Bingyu such words. "She has the potential to inherit my mantle as the king of eccentric banter!"

 Chapter 385 383: Come Fight Me if You Dare

    "Great! Great!" the old patriarch of the Chen Family said excitedly, his eyes brimming with tears, "Our Chen Family has finally produced a truly unique genius!"


    In head-to-head combat within the same realm, he could actually stand equal to Long Lin, a genius of the Long Family''s generation, and even slightly overpower him. Such news was sufficient to raise the Chen Family''s prestige by a notch in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "In the recent clash at the port, Zhang Menglong used two types of martial arts. One was bizarre and could convert a martial artist''s Inner Strength for his own use. The other was robust and agile with astonishing power, who would have thought that the Ritian Sect still had a third, such impressive martial art!"


    "I think I just heard that girl say the name of the palm technique is the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Isn''t that a skill from novels?"


    "Who cares if it''s from novels, I think even the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from the novels can only be of this caliber."


    "Just these three martial arts alone are enough to make the Ritian Sect a major powerhouse in the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    ...


    "This isn''t a technique from the Chen Family!" Long Lin looked at Chen Bingyu, his face full of confusion.


    He had grown up basking in the aura of a genius and up till now, no martial artist of the same rank had ever managed to suppress him in a direct confrontation. And yet, today he had been pushed back by a girl?


    "Of course it''s not our Chen Family''s technique," Chen Bingyu smiled, "This is an exclusive secret of the Ritian Sect. Join our Sect and I''ll tell you all about it!"


    The reason why Zhang Menglong had let Chen Bingyu step forward to test the grounds was precisely because Long Lin was also a rare genius, and even his Potential Index surpassed that of Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi, reaching an astounding 14 points!


    If he could study at the Super God Academy for a while, his strength would even far surpass the former two!


    Although Long Lin was a bit arrogant, considering it unbearable for the heaven''s justice not to school the pretentious, wasn''t this exactly the age to show off? Liking to show off doesn''t mean his intentions are not pure!


    "Our Ritian Sect has just been established, and the threshold for recruiting members is still quite low. If you are willing, just call me ''Senior Sister'', and then you''ll be the fourth member of our Ritian Sect!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked dissatisfiedly upon hearing this; he might not be human, but he also had dog rights!


    "Sorry, the fifth member of our Ritian Sect!" Chen Bingyu quickly corrected herself.


    "Grouped with a dog?" Long Lin''s face showed anger.


    Indeed, the martial arts of the Ritian Sect were powerful, and even he was somewhat tempted, but to call a girl five to six years his junior ''Senior Sister'' and to be on par with a dog, how could he remain calm?


    "Woof woof woof!" Hearing Long Lin''s words, Wang Cai barked even more fiercely.


    Then, to his surprise, Wang Cai actually stood up on his hind legs, raised his forelimbs, opened his paws, and then gave Long Lin the middle finger.


    "This dog understands human speech?" Long Lin, who had seen his fair share of extraordinary events, was seeing for the first time a dog giving him the middle finger; was there still justice left in this world?


    Before Long Lin could curse aloud, he saw Zhang Menglong quickly hugging Wang Cai.


    "Forget it, forget it! Wang Cai, that''s enough, no need to get angry with him. It isn''t worth it!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked a few times, then whined twice and rolled his eyes at Long Lin.


    "My god, this dog is possessed!"


    "It''s my first time seeing a dog that can give the finger!"


    "Was it cursing just now with that whining?"


    "Are the dogs of the Ritian Sect all this awesome?"


    "Shush! Keep it down, this dog is no ordinary dog. We just came up from the docks, and that dog must either be a special breed or it has cultivated abilities!"


    "Are you kidding me? Dogs can cultivate too?"


    "I swear I saw it with my own eyes¡ªit slapped a Level Six injured martial artist to the ground with a single palm. When a severely injured martial artist from the Mythical Realm attacked, hitting it on its leg, it still bounced around lively. You tell me, is this an ordinary dog?"


    "I suspect this dog''s power is no weaker than a Grandmaster!"


    ...


    Hearing the whispers around him, Long Lin felt a shudder of fear.


    A dog that could match a Grandmaster? Was there anyone in control of this world?


    Although he viewed the Ding Family as fools, a martial artist at Grandmaster level remains at that realm. Even with his talents, Long Lin knew he stood no chance against a Grandmaster, not even an injured one.


    And yet, this dog had managed to injure a Grandmaster!


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t held it back from rushing into the arena just now, he might have been beaten by a dog by now!


    But in the current situation, Long Lin felt he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Though prideful, he wasn''t foolish. Chen Bingyu, despite being a female martial artist, demonstrated through her just-released move that her strength was undoubtedly no less than his!


    Long Lin had already used eight-tenths of his power, and he believed Chen Bingyu definitely still had reserves. If the match continued, it would probably be difficult to end without issues.


    "That''s enough, the comparison ends here!" Just then, several Grandmasters from the Ancient Martial Association hurried over to give him a way out. They clearly saw Long Lin''s embarrassment. If the match continued, it was likely the Long Family would lose face.


    "Now, let the ranking battle of talents officially begin," one of the Grandmasters of the Ancient Martial Association pulled out a container with bamboo slips, "Draw slips with the same number to pair up for combat. Rankings will be done according to wins and losses; those with lower rankings may challenge those with higher ones until no challenges remain. Is everyone clear on the rules?"


    No one had any objections to the rules. The one-on-one battles could likely mean that two highly skilled participants could meet early and eliminate one of the talents.


    But this challenge mechanism prevented such internal damage, ensuring a relatively fair ranking outcome.


    "Don''t draw that woman, or even Long Lin, just not that woman!"


    The martial artists participating in the draw silently repeated this mantra, fearing Chen Bingyu more than Long Lin.


    "Young lady, it''s your turn!" the Grandmaster from the Ancient Martial Association approached Chen Bingyu.


    "She won''t be participating," Zhang Menglong spoke.


    "What?" Everyone was startled. With Chen Bingyu''s strength, she was absolutely capable of securing a highly coveted rank, even potentially clinching the top spot¡ªa one-battle fame opportunity that would be a fantastic promotion for the Ritian Sect. Why would Zhang Menglong give it up?


    "And your thoughts, young lady?" the Grandmaster confirmed.


    "I''ll follow the Sect Leader''s decision," Chen Bingyu said.


    "This competition isn''t that interesting," Zhang Menglong sighed, "If she joined, the rankings would lose all suspense."


    "He''s too disdainful! With so many of us here, can''t even one prove to be a match for her?"


    "Is he trying to attract attention with this tactic? These tricks are too clumsy, aren''t they?"


    "The Ritian Sect, really too arrogant for words!" Even many old monsters from various families and Sects frowned. Wasn''t this tantamount to saying all the disciples they had trained were useless? Who could tolerate that?


    "What''s the matter? Don''t agree?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the young martial artists surrounding him, "I''m a straightforward person. Compared to the talents nurtured by our Ritian Sect, the rest of you are just pathetic. If this offends anyone present, feel free to come and hit me!"

 Chapter 386 384: The Spotlight Must Be Mine

    "Insolent fool!"


    "Is he challenging the entire Ancient Martial Arts World?"


    "Defeated a mere Ding Family and now he''s so arrogant?"


    Zhang Menglong''s attitude suddenly infuriated many elders of the Ancient Martial Arts World; when they were dominating the Ancient Martial Arts World, Zhang Menglong''s father was probably still drinking milk. Since when did it become the time for a junior to make such audacious statements?


    "No matter!" Although several of the most prestigious Ancient Martial Artists also felt dissatisfied, they controlled their emotions, "The battle for the Sects'' and families'' positions is about to begin. With him being so arrogant now, if he doesn''t compete for one of the nine seats later, it would be laughable indeed!"


    "Exactly, as long as he dares to sit in one of those seats, someone will definitely throw him down fiercely. Let''s see how he resolves it then!"


    ...


    "So, today''s battle for the nine seats of the Ancient Martial Association and the talent ranking battle will begin concurrently. I believe that everyone here must be very familiar with the rules by now. The forces of the martial artists who obtain the nine seats will become members of the Ancient Martial Association''s council for the next year. I don''t think I need to elaborate any further on the importance of this battle, do I?"


    "Begin!" At last, the old monsters who had been silent from the start, meditating with their eyes closed, finally spoke.


    "Alright, those who feel they are qualified to occupy these nine chairs, please take your seats first!" declared a grandmaster from the Ancient Martial Association. Then he quietly moved to the side. The stage was now his.


    The scene immediately fell into silence; no one dared to act rashly unless they were Ancient Martial Artists with extreme strength, for anyone else stepping up would surely face a barrage of challenges.


    "Hmph, since no one else is stepping up, then I will not be polite." The old patriarch of the Long Family stood up first, walking directly to where the chairs were situated. After a moment''s hesitation, he sat down on the chair marked with the number "5".


    "Long Zun, Clan Leader of the Long Family, Level Five of the Mythical Realm, an old monster who lived for 145 years!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but click his tongue, indeed practicing ancient martial arts could extend one''s life. If one ignored Long Zun''s silver hair, with his ruddy complexion and firm skin, he looked merely like a man in his fifties.


    "Old Dragon, you actually dare to sit directly in the fifth chair this time, it seems your Dragon Flame Burst has improved again!" Another elder stood up chuckling. Without any hesitation, he directly took the sixth chair.


    "Wang Baijin, Level Five of the Mythical Realm, 137 years old!" Zhang Menglong could clearly see each of their profiles.


    In fact, the Potential Indexes of these two old monsters had also reached above 10 points, but it was a pity that they were too old, as Super God Academy required that the maximum age must not exceed 28 years.


    "It seems you two have some self-awareness!" yet another elder stood up, emitting an intense low atmospheric pressure. Zhang Menglong noticed that deep within his pupils, there was a faint flicker of electric arc.


    "President, this is the Clan Leader of the Gu family. It''s said that he has reached Level Six of the Mythical Realm. The Gu family naturally possesses a very special constitution. The Inner Strength they cultivate carries a trace of lightning''s destructive power, which, during a clash of Inner Strength, can even paralyze the opponent''s entire body."


    "Level Seven of the Mythical Realm, Gu Wuzhi, 163 years old, Potential Index 16!" This was the highest Potential Index person Zhang Menglong had seen so far! And this Gu Wuzhi''s strength was Level Seven of the Mythical Realm, he was clearly hiding his true power!


    Zhang Menglong turned his gaze to the young members of the Gu family who were participating in the ranking battles. Among them, there were actually two whose Potential Index had reached the standard of 10!


    Zhang Menglong''s mood suddenly became much more excited; this Gu family was simply a godsend for him!


    Without saying a word, Gu Wuzhi directly seated himself in the chair marked with the number "three".


    "By the way, Sect Leader Zhang, this is Ritian Sect''s first public appearance. I''ve heard that Sect Leader Zhang''s divine powers are unparalleled, and with a single move, he disabled several Mythical Realm experts of the Ding Family. You surely won''t just stand by and watch in this competition for seats, will you?" asked a sect leader in a somewhat sarcastic tone.


    "Indeed, Sect Leader Zhang, I heard you plan to take a few students this time; this is a great opportunity!"


    "You wouldn''t be too scared to step up, would you?"


    ...


    "Very well, since you all are so enthusiastic, it would be quite impolite of me not to step up."


    Zhang Menglong stood up and headed directly toward the nine seats.


    "Which seat will he go for?"


    "I think his strength, at most, is only good for the ninth seat, maybe he''ll even be challenged and lose it!"


    "Hahaha, let him be so arrogant, this time we must give him a taste of hardship!"


    "Wait, he''s still moving forward, does he have an interest in the top five?"


    "The top five are only for Martial Artists in the Mythical Realm Level Five and above to vie for, does he think he has that strength?"


    "He''s moved up to the third seat!"


    "The second seat!"


    "Could it be that he..."


    In the midst of the Martial Artists'' astonished gazes, Zhang Menglong walked straight up to the first chair and sat down, then took out a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket and began cracking them open as if he were watching a lively show.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve got some nerve, is that a seat you can just sit in as you please?"


    "Do you even understand the rules? Is that seat something you can just touch? Get down from there right now!"


    The Martial Artists one by one became extremely agitated as if a switch had been triggered inside them.


    "Is this C seat not allowed to be taken?" Zhang Menglong said, somewhat depressed. "Just because you guys don''t dare to sit doesn''t mean I can''t, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you know who that number one seat belongs to?"


    "Whose?"


    "That''s the Martial God''s seat!" finally someone blurted it out.


    Martial God might have established the Ancient Martial Association alright, but he also runs a massive family, and Martial God''s strength is acknowledged by the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, with no one daring to challenge his authority.


    Anyway, whether there are challenges or not, the final first place will definitely belong to Martial God, so why should they even fight over this seat?


    Therefore, there has always been an unwritten rule in the Ancient Martial Arts World: anyone can participate in the seat challenge, no matter how you fight or wrestle, but the first seat must be left empty as a sign of respect for Martial God.


    The second place in this seat challenge is the honor Martial Artists dream of competing for!


    To date, this tradition has been maintained for twenty years!


    "Martial God? So what about Martial God? Did he buy this seat?" The Sect Leader countered. "This C seat is mine, and if that Martial God is not convinced, he''s welcome to come and challenge me one-on-one!"


    "What a bold claim!"


    "I can''t stand for this!" a Mythical Realm Level Four Martial Artist stepped forward, "Are you going to step down yourself, or shall I throw you off?"


    "Count you in!" Zhang Menglong shouted. "Is there anyone else who objects? Speak now or forever hold your peace! If there''s anyone else..."


    "I object too!" Another Mythical Realm expert stood up.


    "Good, you''re in too. Anyone else?" Zhang Menglong called out.


    "Me as well!"


    One after another, the Mythical Realm experts stood up to defend the dignity of Martial God, and amazingly, a full 12 Mythical Realm Martial Artists came up to challenge Zhang Menglong!


    "Great," Zhang Menglong laughed. "Taking you on one by one is too troublesome. So let''s do it this way, everyone who objects to me sitting in this C seat, join in at once, the more the merrier!"

 Chapter 387 385: The Scrap Copper and Iron We Use for Chopping Firewood

    "Zhang Menglong, you''re way too arrogant. Do you really think you can take on the entire Ancient Martial Arts World by yourself?" A Mythical Realm Level Four Martial Artist stepped forward, a hulking figure with a golden staff slung across his back. He looked like a sturdy middle-aged man, but in fact, he was a curious old monster over a hundred years old.


    "Where''s the logic in what you''re all saying?" Zhang Menglong was perplexed, "There are clearly nine seats here. Aren''t they meant to be sat on? What''s the problem with me sitting here?"


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "I get it now, this is one of your unspoken rules, isn''t it?"


    The ears of the Martial Artists present were burning.


    Of course, everyone knew this was one of the Ancient Martial Arts World''s unspoken rules. The central seat had always been reserved for the Martial God, and no one had ever dared to sit there. Occupying that seat symbolized a challenge to the authority of the Martial God!


    But when Zhang Menglong pointed it out so openly, everyone''s face struggled to maintain composure.


    "This is where I have to criticize you!" Zhang Menglong spoke with an air of wisdom beyond his years, "How can there be unspoken rules in a competition that''s supposed to be fair and just? As an outstanding youth of the 21st century, I must break these unspoken rules. If he really has the ability, just throw me out of the seat, otherwise, go sit at the back!"


    "Are you provoking and insulting the Martial God?!" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, the Martial Artists filled with righteous indignation. In the hearts of many Martial Artists, the Martial God was almost a deity-like figure.


    Actually, seventy years ago, during Huaxia''s darkest times, not only did the foreign powers force open Huaxia''s gates with their guns and cannons, but powerful organizations of Mutants from other nations also stormed into Huaxia.


    The strength of a country is ostensibly reflected in its military, technological, and economic prowess, but behind the scenes, an even more crucial factor is the strength of the official Mutant organization!


    At that time, Huaxia lacked the team "Longxia," and local Psychics and Ancient Martial Artists spontaneously banded together to oppose those foreign Mutants and Psychics.


    Initially, a group of immensely powerful European and American Mutants and Psychics invaded Huaxia, and in direct confrontations, Huaxia''s most prestigious Psychics and Ancient Martial Arts experts were either killed instantly or defeated and fled with serious injuries.


    So following that, Huaxia plunged into darkness.


    Later, the Martial God and the current captain of "Longxia" emerged. They engaged in a confrontation with several super-strong individuals from the second-world nations of the West and other countries.


    No one knows exactly what happened in that battle which took place in the Himalayan Range. It''s said to have triggered countless avalanches, even causing shifts in the local geography, to the extent that the elevation of Mount Everest rose by nearly ten meters.


    After that conflict, the two strong individuals who walked out of the Himalayas were from Huaxia, while those Western Mutants and Psychics were left behind in those snowy mountains forever.


    It''s rumored that their opponents were over a dozen individuals equal to or beyond Level Seven of the Mythical Realm!


    Since then, the descendants of Huaxia began their counter-offensive.


    If it weren''t for the Martial God and the leader of "Longxia" standing up, perhaps Huaxia would have walked a completely different future by now.


    Therefore, the Martial God became the deity of the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, even appearing as the Guardian God of Huaxia, as if his presence alone ensured that no one dared to invade Huaxia.


    And now, Zhang Menglong was challenging their faith ¡ª how could they tolerate that?


    "What you have is blind worship!" Zhang Menglong said word by word, "Although the Martial God indeed did a lot for Huaxia, it''s a separate issue from the battle for this seat. So what about the Martial God? Does he get a bye? As long as he is stronger than me, I will willingly step down."


    It''s not that Zhang Menglong truly cared about the C seat; it''s just that the central seat came with the right to prioritize the selection of geniuses. In previous years, the most outstanding talents were all taken in by the Martial God. If the Martial God chose those Martial Artists with a Potential Index over 10, then what was the point in Zhang Menglong even bothering to show up today!


    "Anyway, I''ve settled myself in this C seat. If you''re not convinced, let the Martial God come in person. If he wins, I won''t say another word, but if he loses, he should sit in the second seat."


    "Ignorant child, do you think just because you managed to deal with the Ding Family, no one in the Ancient Martial Arts World can touch you?" The old man with the staff drew his golden staff, "Today, I''ll properly discipline you on behalf of your elders and teach you to respect your seniors!"


    "Whoosh!" The sound caused by the fierce friction of the golden staff in the air made the eardrums of the surrounding ordinary Martial Artists ache.


    "Old Man Yuan''s Fierce Sky Staff has gotten several times more powerful than last year!"


    "Zhang Menglong is only skillful in Inner Strength, but Old Man Yuan''s staff technique doesn''t rely on Inner Strength¡ªDing Moyi probably couldn''t even withstand a single blow from him!"


    "Zhang Menglong''s in for it now!"


    "Gou Dan, give me Xiong Ba''s inner strength!"


    "Director, according to your current authority, you can only use each teacher''s ability once per day!"


    "Damn it, why didn''t you tell me sooner?" Zhang Menglong''s expression changed. He had used up Xiong Ba''s and Tianshan Tonglao''s powers for the day to show off. Although the remaining teachers were all at the Mythical Realm, Xiong Ba was in a completely different league compared to them.


    If the Martial God came at him later, he would have to ask for Ye Yin''s help, which would be so embarrassing! If he didn''t ask Ye Yin, should he borrow Iron Man''s armor? That would be utterly lacking in martial ethics!


    "Give me Qiao Feng''s power first!" Zhang Menglong said hurriedly.


    The power of Qiao Feng''s Level Seven Mythical Realm immediately poured into Zhang Menglong''s body, but his expression didn''t ease much because there were three martial artists at Level Seven of the Mythical Realm among this group of old monsters!


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong struck the elder''s staff with his palm, and the force that came through it changed the elder''s face instantly.


    In his mind, Zhang Menglong was at most at the same realm as him, and this strike, even if it didn''t hurt him, should at least push him back.


    But Zhang Menglong stood unflinchingly, and the force transmitted through the staff actually cracked his tiger''s mouth.


    "This kid is rather tough!"


    "Let''s go together!"


    "Zhang Menglong, for insulting the Martial God, we will definitely make you pay today, don''t blame us for ganging up on you!"


    "Those who insult the Martial God, kill!"


    Seven martial artists of the Mythical Realm, not minding their status, took action directly¡ªtwo of Level Seven, three of Level Six, and two of Level Four. Such power was even enough to flatten a small country.


    Furthermore, each of them took out their weapons. The weapons used by these Mythical Realm martial artists were definitely not ordinary!


    "Lin Zhen Nan, that old man, actually brought out his renowned weapon!"


    "That''s a Level Three weapon. Even strong practitioners within the Mythical Realm have to go broke to find a master artifact refiner to craft such a weapon."


    "And that pair of heavy hammers belonging to old Zhou of the Zhou Family is also a Level Three weapon, said to be made from a rare extraterrestrial metal meteorite. He spent 27 billion US dollars to buy that piece of meteorite from a European organization!"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, never thought I''d see so many Level Three weapons today. With weapons like these, even martial artists of Level Seven Mythical Realm wouldn''t dare to catch them barehanded, right?"


    "Want to show off weapons with me?" Zhang Menglong smiled, and a purple longsword appeared in his hand with a flash of sword light.


    "Swoosh!"


    A streak of purple light flashed by, and all the weapons aimed at Zhang Menglong were sliced through as if they were tofu.


    "What?"


    "My divine weapon!"


    "How is this possible?"


    The martial artists stared blankly at their weapons. A Level Three or higher weapon was absolutely one of the rare divine weapons in the world; describing them as iron-cutting was no exaggeration. It had always been them cleaving other people''s weapons, never their own being shattered!


    "What... what weapon is that?" Everyone stared at the sword in Zhang Menglong''s hand, even forgetting to attack.


    "Oh, this thing? It''s just some scrap metal used for chopping wood and splitting trees back home, casually brought from one of our farms."

 Chapter 388 386: Oh My God, The Martial God is Trembling

    "I''m chopping NM''s firewood here! You''re using such a divine weapon to chop wood, doesn''t your conscience hurt?"


    Capable of slicing tofu like it cuts through Level Three weapons, such a weapon must be at least Level Four or above!


    But the forging techniques for weapons above Level Four had been lost more than 500 years ago, and even if they existed, they were relics from the distant past.


    To this day, the number of existing weapons above Level Four is limited, and many weapons that appear in Western mythology, like the Sea Urchin Trident, Augustus''s Long Hair, Reaper''s Spear, and so on, were created by the skilled craftsmen of that era.


    In Huaxia, the most famous Level Four weapons are those ten divine artifacts, and it is said that the long-lost Xuanyuan Sword is an even more incredible Level Five weapon!


    In fact, the ten divine artifacts currently on display in the Huaxia museum are all replicas; such divine weapons, even after a thousand years, would still be as sharp as ever. To put them in a museum would be a complete waste.


    The few existing Level Four weapons are in the hands of the core members of Longxia. In the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, only Martial God has a special status, so the country gifted him one of the divine weapons.


    As for Level Five weapons, according to Huaxia''s historical records, only a few weapons like Huaxia''s Xuanyuan Sword, Pangu Axe, Northern Europe''s Eternal Spear, Sword of Victory, and Kaibong''s three divine artifacts could reach that level, and to date, there is no evidence that any of these items have truly existed.


    It''s almost safe to say that Level Five weapons are completely unfindable on the modern Earth! If one really appeared, it wouldn''t just cause a stir in Huaxia, but a sensation throughout the entire world.


    A single Level Five weapon could undoubtedly turn Huaxia into the hegemon of the second world!


    As for using a Level Five weapon to chop wood? Have you gotten your brain caught in a door? You''re so awesome, why don''t you just ascend to heaven?


    "What now, don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "I really just grabbed it from the farm, don''t believe me? Ask my dog!"


    "Woof Woof Woof! (I testify, what he''s saying is true)"


    This sword really was found by Zhang Menglong on his family''s farm, and there was more than just one of these things!


    These items were crafted by the ancestors of Zhang Menglong when they studied at the Super God Academy with master refiners like Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang. Since they were all practice pieces, they ended up being casually left on those farms for the servants to chop wood and weed the grounds.


    You might not believe it, but even the cleavers that Zhang Menglong''s family chef uses to chop ribs are those Level Four and Level Five weapons left over from the past. It''s just that the chefs didn''t know their true value and thought that these knives were just somewhat sharper than usual.


    The reason Zhang Menglong picked up this sword was simply because he liked the color purple; this sword was purple. That''s it! According to Ye Yin, this was a Level Five weapon with a history of over 300 years.


    "And I thought you all had some sort of divine weapons, that can''t even beat a wood-chopping knife."


    The martial artists couldn''t voice their bitterness!


    Each of their Level Three weapons was worth billions or even hundreds of billions of US dollars. Now, in Zhang Menglong''s mouth, they had all become worthless!


    But what could they do to argue? The weapon was in his hands, if he used it to chop wood, then it was a wood-chopping knife; if he used it to sharpen pencils, then it was a pencil sharpener; if he used it to chop ribs, then it was a kitchen knife!


    Against Zhang Menglong''s sword, their weapons were fragile as glass; that was the undeniable truth!


    "Come on, weren''t you all going to join forces to teach me a lesson? Hurry up, I''m Pikachu''s itchy brother, asking for a beating!" Zhang Menglong exhibited a beg-for-beating expression, which even made Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi feel a bit embarrassed.


    Damn, this dean is awesome, but he doesn''t seem very smart.


    The martial artists looked at each other, none daring to take a step forward!


    If they wanted to take on Zhang Menglong, they would first have to consider whether their bodies were as durable as those Level Three weapons!


    In ancient martial arts, there is a branch that does not cultivate Inner Strength but rather tempers their own bodies.


    Yet even a Level Seven Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm couldn''t compare to a Level Three weapon when it comes to solidity; a mere scratch from Zhang Menglong''s sword could potentially cripple them, so who would dare to step forward?


    "If none of you are stepping up, then I''ll just keep sitting here!" Zhang Menglong crossed his legs and continued to sit comfortably in the C position.


    "Zhang Menglong, if you dare, fight without that weapon of yours! What kind of hero relies on a weapon that can slice through iron like mud?"


    "Cut the crap!" A ring of mechanical metal suddenly appeared on Zhang Menglong''s arm, spreading crazily over his right arm until it enveloped his entire limb.


    "Boom!" A red beam of light shot directly at the martial artist.


    "What the hell is that?!" The martial artist was stunned, quickly mobilizing his inner strength to resist the red beam of light, but with his Mythical Realm Level Five strength, his inner strength was shattered the moment the red light hit, blowing him away with a powerful shockwave and leaving a red burn mark on his chest.


    "Zhang Menglong! You are shameless!"


    "You actually used a technological weapon!"


    "You are a disgrace to the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    The martial artists immediately started cursing. In their circle, using technological weapons was the most looked down upon thing. Of course, ordinary technological weapons couldn''t harm a martial artist; within 20 meters, even a Level One martial artist could minimize the damage from firearms.


    As for those above Level Four, just the inner strength alone was enough to withstand the impact of ordinary bullets. To be able to knock back a martial artist from the Mythical Realm, Zhang Menglong''s weapon must have been extraordinary.


    "Who told you I, Zhang Menglong, belonged to the Ancient Martial Arts World?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Sorry, but the rules of your Ancient Martial Arts World don''t bind me. I am free of all taboos!"


    "A Level Five weapon at will, and such a terrifying firearm, what background does he come from?" Zhang Menglong''s means instantly intimidated a large group of martial artists, silencing everyone for a moment.


    "If no one else dares to challenge me, then this C position is mine." Zhang Menglong contentedly removed Iron Man''s arm.


    To harm martial artists above Level Five of the Mythical Realm, one would need a model marking 20 or above. In just one minute, Zhang Menglong''s Cred Points had dropped by 100.


    But ever since he set foot on this island, the prompt for gaining Cred Points had not stopped. Showing off brought him joy and also made him stronger.


    "This year''s Ancient Martial Arts Conference seems very interesting, hahaha!" Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in every martial artist''s ears.


    Upon hearing this voice, the martial artists'' spirits, which had been downcast just moments ago, were immediately lifted.


    "Martial God! That''s the voice of the Martial God!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, the Martial God is here. I''d like to see how you handle the mess you''ve made today!"


    "Martial God, we beg you to deal with this disgrace to the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong? 22 years old, with the strength of the Mythical Realm, truly extraordinary!" An unassuming old man had appeared in a corner of the venue, seemingly taking a leisurely stroll, yet with each step, he moved tens of meters as if by magic.


    "The Zhang Family shouldn''t have the capability to teach such a genius," the plain-looking old man stopped in front of Zhang Menglong, "but genius or not, the Ancient Martial Arts World won''t allow you to break the rules. Leave this place!"


    "Yin Wuyi, 196 years old, the peak of Level Nine in the Mythical Realm," Zhang Menglong was also somewhat surprised. This Martial God''s strength had actually reached the level of Xiong Ba!


    "Ye Yin, can you... can you take him on?" Zhang Menglong was nervous, he couldn''t use Xiong Ba''s power now, and if Ye Yin couldn''t handle it, given how excessively he had shown off today, he might just die right there.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, killing him will be as easy as slaughtering a chicken!" Ye Yin''s response was still full of confidence.


    "That''s good to hear!" Zhang Menglong immediately regained his calm.


    "So you are the Martial God?"


    "Hehehe, you''re the first young man to speak to me so casually. I can give you a chance, you..." Suddenly, the Martial God''s words stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on a symbol at the corner of Zhang Menglong''s clothes.


    His hands and arms began to tremble involuntarily at that moment, and even his expression lost its erstwhile arrogant coldness.


    "What... what did I see?"


    "My god... the Martial God... he seems to be shaking..."

 Chapter 389 387: It Appears Again!

    "What on earth is going on?"


    Everyone had noticed the anomaly with the Martial God.


    Since the battle more than 70 years ago, the name of the Martial God had resonated throughout the Second World. For global psychics, mutants, and the like, apart from a few high-ranking experts of the same level, almost everyone else lost their courage at the mere mention of the Martial God''s name.


    The Martial God had always been unfazed in the face of any adversity, even when confronting a certain captain from Longxia, he had never shown the slightest hint of cowardice.


    But now, they could clearly see not only shock but also a hint of fear on the face of the Martial God.


    "Why is the Martial God constantly staring at that symbol?" Someone keenly noticed that the Martial God''s gaze was fixed on an inconspicuous emblem on the hem of Zhang Menglong''s clothing.


    It was a symbol similar to a Hexagram, with the heads of two beast-like creatures on either side, apparently the brand logo of the clothing.


    "What''s his situation?" asked Zhang Menglong, completely puzzled as he stared at the Martial God. He could no longer use Xiong Ba''s power, and by himself, he had no way to confront the Martial God. He had even prepared to call Ye Yin to help him fight, and had even started fabricating Ye Yin''s background.


    Who knew that the situation would deviate entirely from the script, with the Martial God getting scared silly just by seeing the logo on his clothes. What was this maneuver?


    "Ye Yin, what exactly is this thing?" asked Zhang Menglong curiously. "If I remember correctly, every piece of my clothing has one of these symbols. Isn''t this the logo of my family''s private clothing workshop?"


    As for this emblem, Zhang Menglong had never paid much attention to it, even many of the servants and employees in his household had this symbol on their clothing.


    The Martial God got freaked out by a logo?


    "Mr. Zhang, this is not some clothing workshop''s logo, this is your family''s clan emblem!" said Ye Yin seriously, "This symbol has been around for more than 4000 years, and it is a symbol of your family''s honor and history."


    "What the fuck, our family has a clan emblem?"


    "Even those small families with only a hundred or two hundred years of history have their own clan emblems, how could your family not have one?" Ye Yin laughed, "If it weren''t for your ancestors'' lack of ambition, the whole world would have been unified thousands of years ago."


    Ye Yin continued, "You might have never noticed, but ordinary employees and staff aren''t entitled to wear clothes bearing the clan emblem; only those who have truly become part of the Zhang Family are awarded the honor of wearing the clan emblem."


    "The clan emblems also vary in rank; Mr. Zhang, you being a direct descendant of the Zhang Family, yours is of the highest grade. The use of the two beast heads is also the highest rank specified in the family genealogy, others are not entitled to use these beast heads on their emblems."


    "Well, that''s really something," Zhang Menglong''s attention returned to the Martial God. "Could he recognize my family''s clan emblem? But even if he recognizes it, there''s no need to be scared like this, right?"


    "As for the matters of the Martial God''s era, I really don''t know. Please wait a moment, I will have Ms. Hong Yi look into it!"


    ...


    Yin Wuyi had indeed recognized the emblem. A memory that had been buried for over 70 years suddenly emerged from his mind.


    That day had determined the fate of Huaxia''s future. Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe, the current captain of Longxia, had challenged 16 experts from the world''s powerful nations of the Second World.


    At that time, one of them was a Mythical Realm Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist and the other was a Level Seven God-tier Psychic, representing the highest combat power of Huaxia''s Second World at the time.


    However, their opponents were no less formidable; among these 16 enemies, 12 were high-ranking experts of the same level as them, and the remaining four were only slightly weaker.


    This was Huaxia''s last chance. If it had been one-on-one, they were confident they wouldn''t lose to anyone, but 2 against 16, their defeat was merely a matter of time, they had not even considered the possibility of surviving!


    Actually, that battle was not initiated by the two of them, but by 16 superpower individuals from the major powers as a final opportunity for Huaxia; if the people of Huaxia won, they would leave Huaxia, but if the two of them lost, then this 5000-year-old civilization would utterly sink.


    So in this war, there was no room for retreat!


    The battle was extremely brutal; just at the outset, Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe were severely injured, but together they managed a desperate strike that instantly killed those four Level Six peak Divine Technician Psychic users and super Mutants.


    But with just this single clash, they almost lost all mobility; Yin Wuyi''s chest bone was shattered by a super Psychic from Europe, known as Thor, and the powerful electric current left his entire body paralyzed.


    Meng Tianhe was impaled by a Level Four weapon, which was a mythological weapon from the West, the Lance of Archinus!


    This spear possessed a kind of energy that devoured life force; if it weren''t for the fact that the life force of a Divine Technician Psychic was extremely resilient, he might have died within seconds of the spear penetrating his body.


    However, those 12 super-elite fighters from the major powers at most suffered some minor injuries, and the battle seemed almost devoid of suspense.


    But what they didn''t expect was an uninvited guest entering their battleground, a man with handsome features who was unmistakably from Huaxia, dressed in a thick down jacket, wearing glasses, and standing on a snowboard as though he was skiing in the Himalayas.


    This scene completely baffled them; although they were not fighting at Mount Everest, this area was still at an altitude of over 6000 meters, who in their right mind would ski there? In an era with such primitive technological equipment, it was outrageous enough for an ordinary person to climb such heights, let alone to ski¡ªthat was courting death!


    Who knew this Huaxia man would take off his ski mask and start cursing, saying that their fight had triggered an avalanche, completely ruining the skiing area he had been searching for days, and telling them to get lost immediately!


    A super Psychic from Germany acted right on the spot, as killing an ordinary Huaxia person in their eyes was no different from killing a chicken.


    This German super Psychic was known as the King of Ice and Snow, specializing in ice and snow Supernatural Abilities, with abilities so strong that a mere thought could freeze thousands of miles, turning everything into ice sculptures.


    However, before this young man, his abilities completely failed!


    What followed was a scene Yin Wuyi would never forget for the rest of his life!


    With just a glance from this young man, a giant Ice and Snow Giant hundreds of feet tall rose from the mountainside and with a single punch, turned this so-called King of Ice and Snow into a pile of smashed flesh.


    Who was the King of Ice and Snow? A Level Seven super Psychic, renowned worldwide among super Psychics as a mighty force, yet he was killed by a mere glance from an unknown young man. Wouldn''t that scare you?


    The group of Divine Technician Psychics and super Mutants from the Western powers assumed this young man was a high-level reinforcement from Huaxia, and they launched a ferocious attack on him simultaneously.


    But the young man just gave a cold laugh, a golden Illusory Sword hundreds of feet long descended from the sky, nearly splitting the entire mountain range in two, and even the geological upheavals created another massive peak.


    As for the group of Mutants and Psychics, not even their bones could be found.


    For Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe, the arrival of this mysterious young man was nothing short of a divine weapon descending from the heavens. With these superpowers gone, the other second world humans from these powers posed almost no threat at all.


    They informed the young man of the entire incident and thanked him for his intervention, but the young man simply did not care and told them emphatically not to tell anyone that he was responsible for this before he left.


    After some discussion between them, they finally decided to keep the identity of this mysterious young man a secret, taking all the events upon themselves.


    The young man did not leave his name, and his face was covered with snow, which made it difficult to see clearly; the only thing they remembered was the emblem on his clothes.


    Over 70 years passed, Yin Wuyi became a Martial God and had nearly forgotten about that incident and that person. The story of that great battle had been told thousands of times, and subconsciously, they themselves had become the protagonists of the story.


    Today, that emblem appeared once again!

 Chapter 390 388 My great-grandfather just wants to go skiing

    "Mr. Zhang, the general situation is this," at this time, Ye Yin also conveyed the information Hong Yi had passed back to Zhang Menglong.


    The incident itself was rather simple; the young man who appeared skiing in the Himalayas years ago was Zhang Menglong''s great-grandfather, Zhang Kang.


    Zhang Kang merely wanted to find a suitable slope for skiing, but just as he had found a nice slope, those people began to brawl, the tumult of the battle triggering an avalanche that destroyed the slope stained with blood.


    With a temper already prone to flare-ups, Zhang Kang believed that tolerance led to childlessness and retreat to the end of one''s lineage; he stormed onto the battlefield right then and there.


    He had actually intended only to break up the fight and, by the way, teach these bastards who disturbed his skiing a lesson, but to his surprise, that fellow called the King of Ice and Snow attacked without a word.


    With no other choice, since mediation failed, Zhang Kang thought he might as well kill them all and, incidentally, make some contribution to the country. To Zhang Kang, this was just a trifle, but it became etched in memory for seventy years for Yin Wuyi, a Level Seven Ancient Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm, and Meng Tianhe, a Level Seven elite Psychic.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong could hardly imagine the extent of his great-grandfather''s strength at the time, but Ye Yin told him that he couldn''t even match a single finger of his great-grandfather!


    "Are you the Martial God they speak of?" Having his great-grandfather as a backdrop, Zhang Menglong straightened his spine instantly, confident that unless this Martial God was in the late stages of Parkinson''s, he wouldn''t dare raise his voice, let alone act hostile in his presence.


    "I am Yin Wuyi, unworthy to claim the title of Martial God before you, sir. It''s merely an empty honor bestowed by the people of the Ancient Martial Arts World," under the gaze of thousands of Martial Artists, Yin Wuyi bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong.


    "What... what did I just see? The Martial God bowed to Zhang Menglong?"


    "What on earth is happening here?"


    "The Martial God even says he dares not call himself Martial God in his presence?"


    In an instant, the faith of these Martial Artists crumbled.


    According to the script, shouldn''t the Martial God have started teaching this ignorant brat a lesson directly? Something seemed off with this script!


    The Martial God was an extremely proud man and one with a bad temper at that. There were times when several highly skilled degenerates emerged in the Ancient Martial Arts World, and the Martial God showed no mercy, slaying them with a single blow.


    But in front of Zhang Menglong, why did the Martial God seem like a well-behaved child, even speaking in hushed tones?


    "Martial God! This ignorant brat not only challenges the entire Ancient Martial Arts World but even insults you. Please, Martial God, deal with him!"


    "Martial God, what''s happened to you?"


    "We implore the Martial God to act, to remove this disgrace from the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    "Are you trying to kill me?" Yin Wuyi turned suddenly, his eyes seeming to shoot out countless sword beams. Merely with a look, there appeared a sword mark hundreds of meters long on the ground.


    In those days, Yin Wuyi, merely a Level Seven Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm, could not perceive how strong Zhang Kang was. Was he at the Tianyuan Boundary, a realm only speculated to exist and not seen for hundreds of years, or perhaps even higher?


    If a warrior of the Mythical Realm could live over two hundred years old, was it strange for such a person to still look so young now?


    If Zhang Menglong really was that mysterious expert who had acted all those years ago, with 70 years passed, who knew if this man was about to ascend to immortality.


    He, a Martial Artist, was going to fight with someone nearing cultivation immortalization? Was he simply tired of living after all these years?


    The roar of the Martial God instantly silenced everyone. They looked at Zhang Menglong with completely changed eyes.


    If the Martial God alone could intimidate the whole Ancient Martial Arts World, and yet he didn''t dare to offend Zhang Menglong, just how powerful was he?


    "It seems you have recognized this emblem," Zhang Menglong said, pointing to the Clan Emblem on his person.


    Actually, after leaving the Himalayas that year, Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe immediately used all the resources at their disposal to search for this mark, but they came up empty-handed. It wasn''t simply a brand of clothing; it represented a certain force, even a certain identity!


    "I cannot forget the life-saving grace and the patriotism you showed in that battle," Yin Wuyi said, "If it were not for you, Brother Meng and I would probably have been slaughtered by that group of experts from the powerful countries."


    "What?"


    "The one who took action that year was Zhang Menglong? Impossible, wasn''t he not even born at that time?"


    "Weren''t those people killed by the Martial God and the captain of Longxia? What exactly is going on?"


    "This is preposterous!"


    ...


    "I''m very sorry; due to your instructions to keep your intervention a secret, we could only take the credit ourselves." As discussions arose all around, Yin Wuyi openly admitted, "If you blame me, I accept it, but I hope you won''t take your anger out on Meng Tianhe."


    The martial artists suddenly had a realization; so that''s what happened that year!


    But it didn''t make sense, this Zhang Menglong looked like a show-off who was all about appearances¡ªhaving done such a great deed, how could he keep such a low profile?


    "You are mistaken, it was not I who acted that year, but my great-great-grandfather," Zhang Menglong said, "The symbol you saw is just the clan emblem used by the direct line of the Zhang Family."


    "So that''s how it is," Yin Wuyi''s expression underwent no change; regardless of whether Zhang Menglong was the man from back then, even if he was his descendant, he still deserved his respect.


    "May I ask if your great-great-grandfather is still well?" Yin Wuyi inquired cautiously, "If possible, I would like to meet him again."


    "Oh, there''s no need for that, my great-great-grandfather loves to travel all over the place. Now I have no idea where he''s goofing around. You know, people like him never age." Zhang Menglong certainly didn''t know which parallel world his great-great-grandfather was messing around in by now, maybe playing mahjong with the Jade Emperor in the world of Journey to the West.


    "That''s truly a pity," Yin Wuyi shook his head, "I wanted to thank the elder in person for saving my life."


    "To be honest, my great-great-grandfather wasn''t that noble," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "The thing is, you were fighting so fiercely, you destroyed the natural ski slope he had found; that''s why he came to find you. When he couldn''t stop the fight, and those idiots started attacking him, he had no choice but to kill them all."


    "This... This is the truth of what happened that year?"


    "One man killed more than a dozen top-level experts just for skiing?"


    "Damn! Are all the people from the Zhang Family so flamboyant?"


    "Learning something new... That reason is just too damn badass."


    "So you''re saying, Zhang Menglong has a great-great-grandfather who already far surpassed the Martial God and Longxia seventy years ago?"


    "And he''s still alive?"


    "This... No wonder Zhang Menglong has such formidable strength at just over twenty years old; how powerful must his great-great-grandfather be now? Could he already be at that Heavenly Origin Realm level that hasn''t been breached by anyone for hundreds of years?"


    "To kill more than a dozen top-level experts with one move, he must have been in the Heavenly Origin Boundary already; could it be that theirs is a family that has been passed down intact from that era?"


    "This Ritian Sect is absolutely invincible!"


    ...

 Chapter 391 389: Barely at the Level of My Familys Bodyguard

    "No matter the reason, it''s a fact that Mr. Zhang''s great ancestor saved me and also a fact that he protected Huaxia, he deserves our respect," Yin Wuyi said with utmost sincerity.


    "From today on, whenever you see this symbol, it represents the most honored guest in the Ancient Martial Arts World. Do you understand?" Yin Wuyi''s gaze swept over all the martial artists present, "If anyone dares to disrespect Mr. Zhang, I''ll be the first to kill him!"


    The martial artists all nodded in agreement, trembling with fear.


    Although today the image of the Martial God had crumbled in their hearts by a great deal, no one could shake his status in the Ancient Martial Arts World. He alone could shock the entire Ancient Martial Arts World!


    As for offending Zhang Menglong? That would take more than a simple lack of sense.


    Leaving aside his unfathomable strength, easily defeating several renowned martial artists of the Mythical Realm who attacked together, and even casually destroying their weapons, this was no longer about who dared to disrespect him; rather, it was about how many people even qualified to disrespect him.


    And today, the entire Ancient Martial Arts World also understood that Zhang Menglong had a great ancestor who was at least at the legendary Heavenly Origin Realm seventy years ago and was still alive! Just this person alone, if he was determined to make a big move, could probably dominate the world with ease, right?


    The so-called Heavenly Origin Realm was already a legendary realm; according to ancient texts, such a person could destroy a city or even a country with a single move.


    Could it be that the Zhang Family would only have one expert at the Heavenly Origin Realm?


    Even to the Ancient Martial Association, in the eyes of the Zhang Family people, they were worth less than nothing. How could they not treat such a person with the utmost respect?


    "Now, I am sitting in this seat, none of you should have any objections, right?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over the crowd, "If there are any dissenters, feel free to come at me. I promise I won''t bully anyone using my position!"


    The threatening look in the Martial God''s eyes disappeared in an instant; it was clearly a warning to them that Zhang Menglong was merely being polite, and they better not take it seriously. Anyone who really had a problem would be the first to be cut down by him.


    "Alright, continue with your business," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly, pulling out a handful of sunflower seeds from somewhere and entering spectating mode.


    Everyone knew that with the support of the Martial God and his family behind him, Zhang Menglong and his Ritian Sect were on an unstoppable rise; that topmost seat of the nine was now indisputably his.


    "Mr. Zhang, you must have other purposes for coming here today, right?" Yin Wuyi asked respectfully. With the background of Zhang Menglong''s family, if they wanted to dominate the world, the whole world would be theirs by now. What would they care about a mere permanent director''s seat in the Ancient Martial Association?


    "I am here for recruitment this time," Zhang Menglong stated, "However, my requirements are quite high, ordinary talents do not qualify to be my students. I heard that today''s conference is full of geniuses, so I came to have a look."


    Zhang Menglong continued to explain, "To recruit students, I can''t just show up without any display of my abilities, right? So I could only join them in their play."


    "You want to recruit students?" Yin Wuyi was taken aback. No one in the Ancient Martial Arts World knew better than him how terrifying Zhang Menglong''s family background was, with at least one elder at the Heavenly Origin Realm and himself reaching a level at just over twenty years old that others would only achieve at the age of one or two hundred. Their way of nurturing talent was simply incomparable to those of other sects and families.


    If one became part of the Ritian Sect, it was almost like getting a guaranteed spot in the Mythical Realm, and there might even be a chance to explore the Heavenly Origin Realm!


    Thinking about this even made Yin Wuyi''s breathing become heavy.


    Stuck at the peak of level nine in the Mythical Realm for more than thirty years, to this day he hadn''t seen the slightest sign of a breakthrough, not even a clue. Perhaps he was destined to be stuck at this level for life.


    "Mr. Zhang, would it be convenient for you to talk about the situation of your school? I am quite familiar with the Ancient Martial Arts Families; maybe I can help you spot some good students."


    Zhang Menglong of course knew Yin Wuyi was trying to draw him out, but Zhang Menglong didn''t mind, "Currently, my school is preparing to recruit the first batch of students, divided into small, medium, and large classes. The first small class aims to recruit at least ten people, and for now, I have recruited only two."


    Yin Wuyi''s expression stiffened, small, medium, and large classes; this sounded like kindergarten. Could he get any more infantile?


    "The small class has a three-year curriculum, with the graduation requirement being the Mythical Realm; the medium class has a six-year curriculum, and the graduation requirement is the Heavenly Origin Realm; the large class has a permanent curriculum, but one needs to be above the Heavenly Origin Realm to enroll."


    Yin Wuyi was split open on the spot as soon as these words were said. What did this imply? Cultivating a Mythical Realm martial artist in three years? Allowing a martial artist to break through from the Mythical Realm to the Heavenly Origin Realm in six years? Was he kidding?


    Yin Wuyi had been the most dazzling genius in the Ancient Martial Arts World for the last two or three hundred years, with none to rival him! Yet, it took him forty years to break through to the Mythical Realm and more than a hundred years to reach the peak of the Mythical Realm.


    Zhang Menglong had compressed that time by more than tenfold! To cultivate an ordinary martial artist to the Heavenly Origin Boundary within such a timeframe... that was just absurd!


    But Yin Wuyi''s sixth sense told him that what Zhang Menglong said might very well be true!


    "Do you find it incredible?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m not afraid to tell you that half a year ago, I was just an ordinary person."


    "Can... can I join?" Yin Wuyi suddenly became excited, "I''ll enter the middle class... No! I''ll even take the junior class!"


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Yin Wuyi. His potential indeed exceeded 10 points, but his age was just too great. Currently, the Super God Academy''s requirement for the first batch of students was to be under the age of 30, and there was nothing he could do about it.


    "You''re too old!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, "I''ll look for you when the school opens up a class for the elderly."


    "A class for the elderly..." Yin Wuyi couldn''t help but show a wry smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me handle the recruitment of students," Yin Wuyi stood up and said to the leaders of the major Ancient Martial Arts Families, "Today, Mr. Zhang plans to recruit at least 8 students in the entire Ancient Martial Arts World. If your families have exceptionally gifted younger members, this is an opportunity!"


    The leaders of the Ancient Martial Arts Families looked at each other. Zhang Menglong was indeed formidable, and his background was astonishing. But for some reason, possibly because of Zhang Menglong''s irreverent character, they all felt a hint of resistance deep inside.


    Zhang Menglong stepped forward. He knew these people might need some encouragement.


    "I know you may doubt the quality of my school," Zhang Menglong took out a small porcelain bottle and, the moment he opened the stopper, the fragrance of the pill overflowed.


    "Immortal Pill! That''s the scent of an Immortal Pill!"


    "He really has more Immortal Pills!"


    "There must be at least ten in that bottle, right?"


    "He''s taken out another bottle. How many Immortal Pills does he still have?"


    "No, this scent is even stronger than Immortal Pills!" An alchemist from one of the families started flipping through an old book, "This fragrance... could it be the legendary Spirit-Transcendence Pill?"


    "Elder Qiu, what is the Spirit-Transcendence Pill?"


    "The Spirit-Transcendence Pill... It''s something that can assist martial artists in breaking through to the Heavenly Origin Realm. But its pill recipe has been lost for 1200 years, and even if it existed, many of the medicinal ingredients have long since gone extinct. How did he... How ancient is his family''s heritage?"


    "Seeing how eager you are, I''ll give you one!" Zhang Menglong took out a Spirit-Transcendence Pill and tossed it to Yin Wuyi. In reality, this substance was not what the Super God Academy called a Spirit-Transcendence Pill, but a "Sovereign Supreme Pill" concocted by the Pill Sovereign, Yao Chen, which was an elixir that could help a Battle King break through to a Battle Emperor!


    Yin Wuyi, with trembling hands, caught the Sovereign Supreme Pill, fearing that Zhang Menglong might change his mind, he swallowed it down immediately.


    In an instant, over thirty years of Yin Wuyi''s hard cultivation exploded with the power of the elixir, his aura began to expand wildly, the clouds in the sky dispersed from the rising waves of power, and the entire island trembled under this force.


    Beneath Yin Wuyi''s aura, everyone felt as insignificant as ants.


    "Is this... is this the legendary Heavenly Origin Realm?"


    "A realm that hasn''t been reached in hundreds of years, it''s too fearsome."


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong looked at Yin Wuyi with the proud eyes of a father, "Not bad, not bad, you''re barely at the level of my family''s bodyguards now."

 Chapter 392 390: Im Just Calling You Guys

    ```


    Barely at the level of your family''s bodyguard? Are all the bodyguards in your household at the Heavenly Origin Realm? How are you so freaking awesome?


    Excluding Zhang Menglong''s monstrous family, Yin Wuyi is absolutely the first person in hundreds of years in the Ancient Martial Arts World to reach this realm. Even for the Zhang Family, it should be something only those core members can achieve, right?


    "Damn, you don''t believe me?" Originally, Zhang Menglong thought that after saying that sentence, he would at least score a couple hundred cred points, right? However, he didn''t get any cred points at all; clearly, these people just thought Zhang Menglong was spouting nonsense.


    "Laying it all out there now, no more pretending. Today I''m going to flaunt a little!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Ye Yin, come out and greet everyone, will you?"


    "Mr. Zhang, when have you ever been low-key?" Ye Yin muttered, then slowly materialized behind Zhang Menglong.


    "You dare say that again! Just try repeating that!" Zhang Menglong came up and gave Ye Yin a couple of knocks on the head, "In front of so many people, I need to save face!"


    Ye Yin wore a look of grievance but dared not say a word.


    "This... there''s actually been someone by his side all along!"


    "None of us noticed him, but he looks to be only in his twenties, right?"


    "Is he his bodyguard?"


    Yin Wuyi was still reveling in the euphoria of breaking through the Heavenly Origin Boundary, but the moment he saw Ye Yin, his joy dissipated into nothing.


    To the average person, Ye Yin looked like a completely ordinary young man, with not the slightest hint of Inner Strength or any other energy.


    But Yin Wuyi, who had already ascended to the Heavenly Origin Realm, could feel much, much more than they could!


    Having broken through to the Heavenly Origin Realm, the Inner Strength within Yin Wuyi had transformed into another, higher-grade power. In ancient texts, Heavenly Origin Realm martial artists are already at a high martial phase, with something called Yuan Force flowing through their bodies.


    Now he is more than ten times stronger than he was just before!


    Yet in front of Ye Yin, he still felt a sense of awe, as if gazing up at a tall mountain; his strength seemed trivial in Ye Yin''s presence!


    This must be a peak Heavenly Origin Realm expert, or perhaps even a master of a higher realm! Such a person seemed to be Zhang Menglong''s personal bodyguard!


    If he wasn''t having a hallucination just now, not only did Zhang Menglong hit and scold this super expert but even gave him two smacks on the head in front of so many people, and yet the young man didn''t get angry at all, nor did his expression reveal the slightest displeasure.


    "Let me introduce you all; this is my personal bodyguard," Zhang Menglong said, "A normal Tianyuan-tier martial artist, he could probably blast a hundred or eighty of them to death with just a fart!"


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the Ancient Martial Arts World''s system, my power is only at the peak of Heavenly Origin Realm. I could only severely injure a normal Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist with a fart at most; I couldn''t possibly blast a hundred or eighty to death," Ye Yin said naively.


    "Why are you spouting so much nonsense? If I say it can blast them to death, it can blast them to death," Zhang Menglong reprimanded in a low voice, "Now be quiet, don''t speak anymore, you''re affecting my swagger!"


    "Right, did you guys just now not believe that all my bodyguards are at the Heavenly Origin Realm?" Zhang Menglong challenged.


    No one spoke up. Given Zhang Menglong''s identity and status, it wasn''t too strange to have a Heavenly Origin Realm expert as a bodyguard, but the claim that all his family''s bodyguards were at the Heavenly Origin Realm? That seemed far too absurd.


    "Alright, I got it, you still don''t believe me!" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "Actually, I''m not trying to brag or show off or anything, I just wanted to prove that I am an honest person."


    "Ye Yin!" Zhang Menglong gave Ye Yin a look.


    Instantly picking up on it, Ye Yin rolled up his sleeve, and only then did Zhang Menglong notice for the first time that there was a tattoo of the Zhang Family Clan Emblem on Ye Yin''s wrist!


    The Clan Emblem tattoo emitted a faint green light, acting like a communication device; suddenly, in countless corners of the Earth, individuals with the same tattoo felt a burning sensation on their wrists.


    "The Clan Emblem... The master is summoning us."


    "From the direction of southeast Huaxia."


    ...


    The Ancient Martial Arts Conference venue suddenly quieted down, and everyone''s eyes were gathered on Zhang Menglong and Ye Yin.


    Then, as if a breeze just wafted by, a ripple coursed through the air around them.


    ```


    ```


    "Swoosh!" In the blink of an eye, the sky above the island was suddenly covered with dense figures! They appeared out of nowhere in the air as if they had teleported.


    They were uniformly dressed, each donning a black cloak, adorned with the uniform Zhang Family clan emblem at the back. Their presence exuded an air of invincibility!


    "Is this... ten thousand? Or twenty thousand?" If the scene he witnessed 70 years ago was the most shocking for Yin Wuyi, then the current spectacle had completely overturned that shock.


    The densely packed figures in the sky, each and every one of them had a weaker aura than him. In other words, there were as many super-powerful beings on the par with the Heavenly Origin Realm as there were people!


    "Zhang Family''s First Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Zhang Family''s Second Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    ...


    "Zhang Family''s Eighteenth Guard Squad of 1000 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Zhang Family''s Personal Guard Squad of 200 members, all present and accounted for!"


    "Personal Guard Squad..." Yin Wuyi stared fixedly at the 200 people suspended at the highest point in the sky; they gave him a feeling almost identical to the one Ye Yin gave him.


    "Eighteen thousand people in the Tianyuan, 200 at the Tianyuan peak," Yin Wuyi''s face had already stiffened, "So many high-grade Tianyuan experts have been hidden in the world all along, and here I was, thinking I was among the few strongest on Earth."


    "Hahaha..." Yin Wuyi laughed bitterly as if he were stimulated by the sight.


    ...


    "Master, the Zhang Family Guard Teams are fully assembled. Please issue your orders!"


    "Oh, it''s nothing, you can all go back, I was just calling you out," Zhang Menglong said, "It''s so tiring for everyone being busy all the time; you need to come out now and then to unwind and adjust your mood, to avoid any psychological problems."


    "I suddenly really want to kill him!"


    "Over ten thousand Tianyuan, are you joking, brother?"


    "He... he''s so insufferable, isn''t he afraid of being killed by his own subordinates?"


    "Yes!" Over ten thousand people disappeared just as mysteriously as they had appeared, without a hint of dissatisfaction, but the shock they left behind lingered for a long time.


    "Alright, I''m a pretty low-key person, so let''s not spread the news about today," Zhang Menglong jingled two bottles in his hand, the clinking of the elixirs inside causing every martial artist to blush.


    "Let''s talk about the recruitment instead," Zhang Menglong said, "At my school, supply of these elixirs is guaranteed; you can eat them like meals as long as your body can handle it."


    "Elixirs aplenty?"


    "I get it now! Those bodyguards of his, they must have all been cultivated in the same way! Mass production of Tianyuan realm?"


    "So, if we join his school, maybe after a while, we, too, can step into the Tianyuan realm?"


    "Damn it! Were we actually hesitating earlier? Are we idiots?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a son who''s very talented, 22 years old and already a Level Three martial artist; he will definitely meet your requirements!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have two sons, do you think they qualify? If they don''t, I''ll go make more with my wife tonight!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I own many properties in the secular world, I am willing to trade assets worth 200 billion US dollars for a spot!"


    "Get lost! You dare to mention 200 billion US dollars? I''ll put up 500 billion US dollars!"


    "Mr. Zhang, my daughter is also a genius, and she''s especially beautiful, our family accepts unwritten rules! Her twin sister, I can send her along too!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong wore an embarrassed smile on his face: "You... you guys are so saucy..."


    ```

 Chapter 393 391: This Isnt a Proper School, Is It?

    The so-called courage under the promise of great reward meant that with such a powerful incentive, it wasn''t just the offspring of those families who were tempted. Even those brilliant martial artists from sects and clans considered their options.


    Certainly, their sects had been generous to them, but even if those sects were exceptionally powerful, the most they could do was to train them up to the Mythical Realm, and that too was a matter for several decades later.


    However, joining Zhang Menglong''s school meant that the Mythical Realm was just a starting point. Perhaps they might even touch upon the legendary Heavenly Human Realm. At that point, what would their own sect mean? They would have to be extremely respectful to them, even if it meant betraying their sect.


    "Bastard, our sect has nurtured you for over a decade. Is this how you repay us?"


    "Elder, I''m only going undercover. Once I find out the secrets of Zhang Menglong''s school, I will definitely return to our sect and glorify it!"


    "Bullshit, I see the way you drool over Zhang Menglong''s elixirs. Do you think I''m an idiot?"


    ...


    "Sect Leader, Master, I just think that Zhang Menglong''s place will surely gather a lot of talents. Competing with other talents there will allow me to grow faster. I don''t care about elixirs at all, I''m not interested in them one bit."


    ...


    "Junior brother, how can you do this? Leaving your sect without looking back¡ªhow heartless! You''ve disappointed your senior brother deeply!"


    "Senior brother, you ran faster than me, so stop pretending to be a saint."


    "I don''t want to see you stray from the path. I need to keep an eye on you, that''s the only way to fulfill the trust your family placed in me!"


    ...


    Dozens of sects and families, over two hundred talented individuals, gathered before Zhang Menglong. Among these two hundred people, there were no less than 27 young martial artists with Potential Indexes over 10.


    "Gou Dan, can I recruit more than eight students?"


    "Principal, based on the number of teachers we have now, the maximum number of students we can accommodate is one hundred."


    "So I can take them all, eh?" Zhang Menglong nodded. "Still, we can''t just take anyone!"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over those 27 people once again.


    "Hong Yi, I need the information on these people in the shortest time possible, including their growth experiences, personality traits, character, and so on." Zhang Menglong snapped a photo and sent it straight to Hong Yi via his phone.


    "Give me three minutes!"


    ...


    Hong Yi''s efficiency was indeed astonishing. In less than half an hour, all the information was sent to Zhang Menglong.


    "Born with a lightning attribute Inner Strength constitution, not bad, I''m taking this one!"


    "Born with Divine Power, physical strength more than three times that of martial artists of the same level? I''m taking this one, too!"


    "Holy crap, impressive, having watched 6,524 movies, truly talented, a must recruit!"


    "This one''s too ugly, ruins the image of the school."


    ...


    Out of these 27 people, Zhang Menglong eliminated 9 who had particularly poor conduct, deciding to take the rest into his Super God Academy.


    The selected were overjoyed while the rejected were gloomy, beating their chests and stamping their feet.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m clearly stronger than him, why did you choose him and not me?" A youth with a somewhat pale face asked unwillingly.


    He was 24 years old and had reached Level Three as a martial artist¡ªa rather impressive feat for his age. His Potential Index was also a considerable 12 points.


    As for the one he was referring to, that person''s strength was merely that of a Level One martial artist. Could he really not compare to someone like that?


    "Are you sure you want me to tell you the reason?"


    "I must know!" the young martial artist nodded and said.


    "Because you have poor conduct!" Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Ever since I started learning ancient martial arts, I''ve never bullied anyone with my skills. How could you say I have poor conduct?"


    "You molested a sow when you were 15 years old!"


    "You... how do you know... you''re slandering me!"


    "Don''t doubt the intelligence gathering capabilities of the Zhang Family!" Zhang Menglong held up a photo in front of him. Although it was slightly official, it was clear that this was the young man in question. He was doing unspeakable things to an old sow.


    "You... I wondered how that old sow in our family''s pigpen died in such a depressed state, famous for being mysteriously disheartened. Turns out we have a disgrace like you!" The young man''s elder shook his head disappointedly, "Our family is truly unfortunate!"


    "Father, let me explain!"


    ...


    "What on earth can''t he do?" Everyone showed looks of surprise. Even the strongest national intelligence agencies couldn''t uncover a young man who had profaned a sow in his own pigpen ten years ago, could they?


    In this world, was there anything that counted as a secret to Zhang Menglong?


    Especially those who had done something shameful, they quickly shrank back, terrified that Zhang Menglong would also reveal their dirty deeds.


    "Come with me!" Having found the people he was looking for, Zhang Menglong had no desire to stay in this godforsaken place any longer.


    The group of young martial artists nodded and followed Zhang Menglong off the island.


    Back on the aircraft carrier, Zhang Menglong gathered everyone in one room, then laid out a dozen scrolls on the table.


    "Sign your names. From today on, you''re also students of Super God Academy," Zhang Menglong said with a smile as he looked at them.


    "Super God Academy? I thought it was the Ritian Sect?" The young geniuses were all taken aback.


    "This is the alias we''ll use in our travels in the martial world," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Sign your names, and come with us!"


    With a mental command from Zhang Menglong, a slender door appeared out of thin air. Zhang Menglong walked straight through it with Chen Bingyu.


    This sight astonished everyone, but what they felt even more was curiosity and anticipation. They looked at each other, then without hesitation, wrote down their names and followed in Zhang Menglong''s footsteps, entering a new world.


    "Congratulations, Headmaster, on completing the mission. The Academy''s student capacity has increased to 1,000, and the number of teachers that can be unlocked has risen to 30!"


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong revealed a surprised smile. This meant he could free up 20 more teachers!


    He had already accumulated over 2,000 Cred Points. If he wanted, he could gather all these teachers immediately!


    "Unlock 10 teachers for me first!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    Ten beams of light descended from the sky. Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, his eyes filled with expectation, and the new group of students who had just entered the school were also full of surprise and curiosity.


    "Thor greets the Headmaster!"


    "Uchiha Itachi greets the Headmaster!"


    "Amuro greets the Headmaster!"


    "Hachishin Taichi greets the Headmaster!"


    "Yao Chen greets the Headmaster!"


    "Yao Chen!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up with excitement. He had been looking forward to this teacher for a long time. As long as he learned his Alchemy Technique, he could allow his loved ones and friends to enter Super God Academy as well!


    "Wait, why do these people look so familiar?"


    "Newton greets the Headmaster!"


    "Einstein greets the Headmaster!"


    "Zhou Shuren greets the Headmaster!"


    "Cang Jingkong greets the Headmaster!"


    "Kato Ei greets the Headmaster!"


    "What the..." Zhang Menglong''s gaze turned to the new students of Super God Academy.


    "Why do I feel like this isn''t a normal school?"


    "I''m thinking the same thing. With those two teachers showing up, this clearly isn''t any ordinary school!"


    "I think... we may have been a bit hasty."


    "I..." Zhang Menglong became somewhat at a loss for words. The first few teachers were somewhat normal, but how come these two great figures had also appeared?


    "I... I think I can explain!"

 Chapter 394 392: Theres No Technological Content

    "Thor, Uchiha Itachi, why don''t both of you serve as teachers in the Martial Arts Department!"


    Thor and Uchiha Itachi possessed far greater strength than Xiong Ba and the others, yet they lacked interest in management, preferring the more leisurely and comfortable role of instructors.


    "Tai Yi, you will be the head of the Beast Taming Department, Amuro, you''ll join Takumi Fujiwara in the Driving Department, and Yao Chen, the Pharmacy Department is yours to oversee!"


    "Yes, we will follow the principal''s arrangements!"


    "Newton, Einstein, the Physics Department will be under your care, and Zhou Shuren, why don''t you become the head of the Literature Department?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze finally settled on the two true educators.


    "How about both of you join the Life Sciences Department..."


    After organizing all the teachers, Zhang Menglong breathed a sigh of relief. These two were not ordinary people; one careless move could easily invoke the wrath of censorship!


    The students all came from Ancient Martial Arts Families and schools, and Zhang Menglong directly arranged for their administration majors to be in the Martial Arts Department. Now they were all first-year students in small classes, and starting from today, they would embark on a new life!


    ...


    Basking in the sunlight of the East Sea, Zhang Menglong lay in the aircraft carrier''s swimming pool while video chatting with Lu Yiyao.


    Under the guidance of two music masters, Lu Yiyao''s progress was incredibly rapid. In the retest at Jiangnan Music College, she was directly admitted as a graduate student to the Pop Music Department with the highest score. In a couple of days, she would move permanently from Gusu to Jiangnan City, then began their unabashed days together.


    "I need to take a call," Zhang Menglong ended the video call. It was from his mentor, Professor Han Jinyu.


    "Professor Han, it seems you have good news!"


    "Hahaha, indeed!" Han Jinyu laughed heartily. "Our first batch of chips has completed all the processes, a total of 120 million, and after inspection, the defect rate is less than three in a billion. The precision of the equipment you developed is really too high!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled. This was technology from Iron Man Tony, far ahead of the current era, such precision was just the basics for him.


    "What about the other results?"


    "All have met our expected success. The world''s most advanced technology can produce 5nm chips, and this technology has been used in the trials of 6g technology. But our chips have reached the 2nm threshold, completely bypassing 6g technology, ready to challenge even higher levels of technology!"


    "Great!" Zhang Menglong showed a gratified smile.


    5g technology is already gradually being scaled up. The data transmission speed of 6g technology will be dozens of times that of 5g, and online, it''s at least a hundred times faster than 5g technology!


    In this era of information, if the speed of information transmission can reach a difference of hundreds of times, the resulting disparity will be like heaven and earth!


    "Menglong, there''s one more thing," Professor Han was a bit reluctant to speak.


    "Go ahead."


    "Such a big event, the state is bound to get wind of it. Although the market and other countries are still unaware of our current achievements, it is impossible to escape the state''s intelligence network. The Science and Technology Bureau has already contacted me."


    Zhang Menglong was not at all surprised!


    Huaxia''s chip technology started late, and even state-led projects have so far been unable to mass-produce 10nm level chips. Zhang Menglong, however, was able to mass-produce 2nm chips, outstripping all technological powerhouses in the world. How could the state remain indifferent upon receiving such news?


    "If you''re free tomorrow, come to the Jiangnan City Science and Technology Department. There''s an old man who wants to meet you."


    "Elder?" Zhang Menglong was startled, "Which elder are you talking about?"


    "You''ll know when the time comes," Han Jinyu sold him a cliffhanger.


    "Alright, please pass the message that I''ll definitely be there tomorrow."


    ...


    The following afternoon, when Zhang Menglong arrived at the Technology Department, Professor Han Jinyu and Professor Chen Hui had already been waiting for him at the entrance.


    "Menglong, when you meet the old man later, you must be polite. Don''t be brash like you are with other people, understand?" The two accompanied Zhang Menglong inside while earnestly reminding him.


    "Who exactly are we meeting that you''re being so secretive?" Zhang Menglong asked as they walked through the winding corridor to a room.


    Military personnel armed to the teeth stood on both sides of the room. They inspected the three men thoroughly before letting them enter.


    Only two people were in the room, an old man and a young man. The younger one appeared to be in his thirties and exuded an extraordinary aura of heroism, a feeling Zhang Menglong had only previously sensed from the captain back in Longxia.


    "This is a person from Longxia!" Zhang Menglong instantly confirmed the young man''s identity and became even more puzzled. What kind of person could command Longxia''s personnel as personal guards?


    "Menglong, you''re here? Please sit down!" The old man''s voice was very kind, and the moment he turned around, Zhang Menglong was stunned.


    "You... You''re Chairman Zhou..."


    Zhang Menglong was born into a remarkable family, and in terms of power and influence, his family was unrivaled, with no need to concern themselves with an entire country. But the man before him was a true great man! He had devoted almost all his life''s work to the country.


    He had actually retired many years ago, but his heart still lay with the country, and in the hearts of the people of Huaxia, he had left a deep imprint.


    "Haha, I''ve already retired. You can dispense with that title. If you respect this old man, you can call me ''Old Zhou''!"


    "How could I possibly do that?" Zhang Menglong hastily refused.


    "There''s nothing wrong with it. Moreover, I do have a favor to ask you this time."


    "Just say it!" Zhang Menglong patted his chest.


    "You probably already know why I''m here. I''m interested in the high-end chips mass-produced by your company," Old Zhou said, "You must be aware that after the chip technology blockade, the country''s situation has been far from good, with the development of communication technology greatly restricted, deeply affecting the comprehensive national power."


    Zhang Menglong nodded, understanding that science and technology are the primary productive forces.


    "If we could master your technology, our country''s scientific and technological strength could almost leap an era forward. It would also extend to the military, national defense, the economy, and other aspects."


    "Old Zhou, whatever your request, please say it," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Can you transfer the core technology of the 2nm chips to us?" Old Zhou earnestly asked, "Of course, the country won''t let you suffer any losses. You can make any demands, whether it''s corporate policy or something else. Naturally, the country will give you a satisfactory patent fee."


    "I know that you must have invested a lot of resources in developing this entire technology. For the country to directly ask for it might feel like reaping where it hasn''t sown, but..."


    "Hahaha, Old Zhou, you''re too courteous. If we start talking about money, that would hurt our relationship! As for the chip technology," Zhang Menglong did not take it to heart at all, "giving away such things with no significant scientific content, I could give a hundred to the country with no issue!"

 Chapter 395 393: Let Me Do the Splits for You

    "No technological content?"


    The two professors beside him wished they could slap Zhang Menglong to death.


    The 2nm chip technology is not exclusive to other countries, but it is still only in the stage of a small number of experimental samples and has extremely high costs and low production volumes, nowhere near mass production and industrialization.


    This is a completely different concept from mass production.


    Frankly speaking, any country that masters 2nm chip technology can, within just a few years, achieve world-class communication technology, thereby affecting economics, politics, military, and other areas, leaping to the status of a technological powerhouse!


    According to the current pace of chip technology development, it will take at least 5 more years to achieve mass production of 2nm chips, and until now, countless hurdles have not been overcome.


    Solving any of these challenges starts at a cost of tens of billions of US Dollars, and any successful scientific research can earn a professor or even an Academician title. Are you fucking telling me there''s no technological content?


    If this thing has no technological content, then what does?


    "Menglong, what the hell are you talking about in front of Professor Zhou?" Han Jinyu quickly pushed Zhang Menglong, this brat really dares to show off in front of anyone now?


    "I''m serious!" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "This level of technology, I can easily come up with hundreds of them! I have as many technologies more advanced than this 2nm chip as you want!"


    "You''re getting more and more outrageous!" Han Jinyu said, "How old are you? How much knowledge could you possibly have amassed since you were in the womb?"


    "Professor Han," Professor Zhou waved his hand, Zhang Menglong''s outrageous claims not only didn''t anger him but made him even more curious about this young man. Not everyone dares to brag so boldly in front of him, "Can I take a look at your scientific achievements?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Do you have a computer?"


    "Back to Rui!" Professor Zhou told the young man from Longxia.


    The young man immediately handed over a computer.


    "What kind of brick is this?" mumbled Zhang Menglong.


    A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed the face of the young man called Back to Rui, "This is a supercomputer specially prepared by the nation for special departments, costing over 8 million US Dollars. Mr. Zhang, you probably can''t buy a better computer than this anywhere."


    "Oh, come on," Zhang Menglong operated it casually for a moment, "This smoothness, the response time, it''s rubbish compared to my home''s supercomputer!"


    "Supercomputer? You have a supercomputer at home?" Professor Zhou asked, "What rank is it?"


    "Which one are you asking about?"


    "Which one? You have more than one?" Even with Professor Zhou''s good temper, he couldn''t help but feel the urge to beat Zhang Menglong up. Were supercomputers something you could just get casually?


    "At the place in Jiangnan City where I stay most often and in my hometown, I have one that''s in the petaflop class. In both Yanjing and the Magic City, I have one at the hundred-petaflop level. In other countries, I guess there''s one hundred-petaflop computer per place."


    "You... your technologies were developed with those computers?" Professor Zhou asked with widened eyes.


    "Not really," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I just use them to play games and watch movies. You have no idea, some console games when you play, even the most expensive computers can get stuck, but this thing will never lag!"


    "I... cough cough cough!" Professor Zhou nearly had an asthma attack after hearing this.


    Although Huaxia has quite a few supercomputers, there are only two in the petaflop class, "Tianhe-1" and "Xingyun," and Zhang Menglong''s family has two of them, which are even used for watching videos and playing games¡ªthis is beyond the description of a prodigal son.


    But thinking about it, for someone who uses a supercomputer daily for games and movies, an 8 million US Dollar supercomputer really would seem like nothing more than a brick.


    "You... just show me those technologies first..." Professor Zhou was afraid asking any more questions might give him a heart attack.


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong logged into a database he had developed and opened a file.


    "Actually, I just played around with this full set of 2nm chip technologies. Here, I have the technology for 0.2nm chips, including photolithography machines, photoresist, and other equipment. I think this kind of thing is truly worthy of the nation."


    "0.2nm?" Not to mention Old Zhou, even the two professors were suddenly wide-eyed, how many years ahead is this compared to the current technology? Probably more than ten or twenty years, right?


    "Professors, please take a look," Old Zhou said.


    "Old Zhou, this is not our area of expertise," the two professors said. One was an expert in organic polymer materials and the other a mechanical expert. They could give it a try with the photoresist technology, but for the rest, they couldn''t provide any professional advice.


    "You can find someone to take a look," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Are there any semiconductor experts in Jiangnan City?" Old Zhou asked.


    "There are," Chen Hui said, "Academician Hu Chun from Jiangnan University is an authority in the semiconductor domain. If you need, I can contact him for you right now."


    "I''d appreciate that, Professor Chen."


    ...


    "What? 0.2nm semiconductor technology?" Upon hearing this news, Academician Hu Chun almost flipped the table in his lab, "Are you messing with me? This isn''t a joke, is it?"


    For a leading figure in the semiconductor industry, there are few people in Huaxia who understand better than Academician Hu Chun what this represents.


    "Old Zhou is right here, who would dare to mess with you? We''re in the city science and technology hall. The technical materials are also here. You know that my expertise is just the photolithography machines. There aren''t many people who have delved as deeply into semiconductor technology as you have."


    "Good! Wait for me, I''ll be there immediately!"


    ...


    In less than twenty minutes, an old man whose hair had already fallen out rushed into the room, looking harried; several guards outside the door almost mistook him for a dangerous element and detained him.


    "Where is it? Where?" Academician Hu Chun asked urgently. Seeing Old Zhou, he restrained himself a bit, "Sorry, Old Zhou, I got a little carried away."


    "Academician Hu, you are the expert in this area, please take a look at these materials and see if there are any issues," Old Zhou didn''t mind. It''s these science fanatics that push the nation''s technological development forward at rocket speed.


    Hu Chun took the computer and casually browsed through a few pages. His expression went from calm to excited, from excited to stunned, and finally from stunned to a complete deadpan.


    "Carbon-based chips... They''ve actually broken through the limitations of silicon-based materials!"


    Just this point alone surpasses current technology by an unfathomable margin!


    Based on the atomic diameter of silicon-based materials, 0.2nm was already considered the limit for chips. Hu Chun felt that if someone really had developed 0.2nm chip technology, it would only mean that they had pushed silicon-based materials to their limits.


    But using carbon-based materials was absolutely a revolutionary change for the industry. Setting aside the significance, the difficulty was definitely ten to a hundred times greater than that of 0.2nm silicon-based chips!


    "This... where did this come from?" Professor Hu Chun asked with a trembling voice. With his understanding of the industry, to make chips like these would take at least 20 years, "I must meet this expert!"


    He hadn''t done an in-depth examination of the materials, but he believed they were extremely reliable! The person who could organize this information had to be a hundred times stronger than him!


    Everyone''s gaze fell on Zhang Menglong; Hu Chun''s gaze also followed the others until it rested on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "You... Are you this expert?"


    "Don''t look at me like that," Zhang Menglong said, a bit uncomfortable under their scrutiny, "Or else, should I do a split for you first?"

 Chapter 396 394: Why Dont You Become the Academician?

    "Academician Hu Chun, how is this material looking?" Old Zhou asked with a gaze brimming with anticipation.


    "I still have a few questions to confirm," Academician Hu Chun suppressed his excitement and thrill, "I hope you don''t mind if I call you Menglong?"


    "You are too kind, Academician Hu," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Please ask any questions you have, I will make sure to answer them."


    "This kid is heading for a fall!" Han Jinyu''s face showed a somewhat awkward expression.


    Even if Zhang Menglong really came up with the 0.2nm chip technology, it must be the result of a long period of research conducted by a large number of researchers he hired due to his family background, right?


    It''s a huge industrial chain involving many disciplines including, but not limited to, physics, chemistry, mathematics, mechanics, and even a very fine division within each discipline, such as the field of physics which includes mechanics, high energy physics, and so on.


    In such complex research, it is impossible for one person to be involved in the entire development process. At most, they might participate in one or a few research aspects.


    Academician Hu Chun is a leader in the semiconductor field, with at least thirty years of research experience in the chip industry. His knowledge, while not extremely profound in every field, at least touches the core; otherwise, he wouldn''t have obtained the title of Academician.


    Probably not a single one among the researchers backing Zhang Menglong would be able to answer Academician Hu''s questions, right?


    As for Zhang Menglong, he is no prodigy, never having won any competition award. Academician Hu Chun could probably stump a professor with just a random question, let alone Zhang Menglong. How could he possibly have an answer!


    It would be impossible even if he started learning about semiconductors while still in the womb!


    "The electron mobility of carbon crystal transistors can reach 1000 times that of silicon crystal transistors, with a peak operation speed 5 to 10 times faster, and power consumption only 1/10th of silicon crystal transistors. It sounds very tempting, but carbon is too reactive, and its dielectric constant is relatively low. How will you resolve this?"


    "This is actually quite simple!" Zhang Menglong began to explain non-stop. In the world of Iron Man, their nano technology is nothing short of magical for current humans. Carbon-based chips had long since replaced silicon-based chips, and 0.2nm was just the beginning for carbon-based chips!


    "This kid... really knows his stuff!"


    Although his research was in the field of polymer materials, many disciplines are interconnected. In the domain of nanotechnology, both non-polar and organic materials are relevant.


    The methods of nano material preparation spoken by Zhang Menglong seemed like the opening of a door to a new world for Han Jinyu.


    He quickly took out a notebook and began to take notes frantically. If he could apply these materials to his own research, he might even have a chance at aiming for the title of Academician!


    The more Academician Hu Chun listened, the more astonished he became. Nearly half of what Zhang Menglong spoke about was still at the theoretical stage, some were merely at the conceptual phase, and there were even one or two views that no one had ever put forward before!


    But what was most terrifying was that he could describe these extremely profound matters in the simplest language possible, making them comprehensible to them without any difficulty!


    Could this really just be a young man in his early twenties?


    In fact, if it had been a few months earlier, although Zhang Menglong could have understood these principles, he would not have been able to explain them so thoroughly.


    But Zhang Menglong summoned both Einstein and Newton just yesterday!


    After they entered the Super God Academy, they did not cease their research. Their research directions and depth had reached frightening levels; they wanted to study anything they did not know.


    From something as small as an atom to something as large as a galaxy, their accumulation of knowledge was beyond what Earth''s civilization could imagine.


    Now the two of them had lost interest in science, and their biggest hobby was studying theology. According to them, at the end of science lies theology!


    After spending a few hundred academic credits, all the knowledge they had accumulated over the years had become Zhang Menglong''s. Quantum mechanics, quantum entanglement, relativity theory, and even mathematical knowledge, astronomical knowledge, and more.


    Over the years, Einstein and Newton had also developed a large amount of material that still exists only in theory, such as Gauss weapons, anti-gravity devices, nuclear fusion engines, and anti-matter weapons.


    Things that would only exist in sci-fi films and novels, many had already become reality! Moreover, in the Super God Academy, there are real objects of these things!


    Even if it is the principles of these devices, Zhang Menglong could talk with you for three days and nights without pause. Compared with these, the carbon-based chip was simply the difference between elementary school and doctoral study.


    For Zhang Menglong''s current level of knowledge, explaining the technology of carbon-based chips is nearly no different from explaining an elementary school math problem.


    But the materials on these technologies were simply too vast; over 70% of the content was a technical blank. If one were to fully understand it all, they would have to lecture non-stop for three months and three nights.


    "What kind of monster are you exactly?"


    Professor Hu Chun''s mentality had completely collapsed. Now, he even began to suspect whether Zhang Menglong was an alien being from an advanced civilization. In just an hour or two of conversation, Professor Hu Chun felt that what he learned exceeded his research of the past two or three decades.


    "I''ll take that as a compliment," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Old Zhou, I''m leaving this information with you, but I''m not responsible for implementing it."


    "Good! Excellent!" Old Zhou grabbed Zhang Menglong''s hand, "On behalf of the nation, I thank you for your contribution."


    He got his hands on 0.2nm chip technology; what the hell did 2nm matter anymore? Forget about it!


    "Oh, and there are many other pieces of technical information in my folder. If you''re interested, you can take them and have a look. But be warned, some of it might be beyond your comprehension even if I gave it to you," Zhang Menglong added.


    "Quite the boastful talk!" Han Jinyu took the computer, "I want to see what other technical information you have."


    "I want to see too, it''s crazy enough that one domain is like this, but you have more?"


    Even Old Zhou leaned in curiously.


    When they saw the names of the folders, everyone was petrified.


    "Space Orbit Technology."


    "Cancer Cell Targeted Treatment Technology."


    "Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet Technology!!!?"


    "Airborne Electromagnetic Railgun Technology!!?"


    "Global Ecological Purification Technology!!?"


    "Anti-gravity Engine Technology?"


    "Nuclear Fusion Technology?"


    ...


    "Strong Interaction Material Technology."


    "Curvature Spaceship Technology?"


    "Wormhole Technology?"


    "Solar Furnace Technology?"


    ...


    The first few pieces of technology seemed to be within the scope of modern science''s comprehension, but as they looked further, the names of these items were nearly incomprehensible to them.


    Setting everything else aside, weren''t "Curvature Spaceship" and "Strong Interaction Material" things from science fiction novels? Could they actually be created?


    And humans had only just confirmed the existence of black holes through gravitational waves, and now you''re telling me you can already create wormholes? Without three to five hundred years, modern scientists wouldn''t dare to even dream of such things!


    "Can I... can I swear? Are you sure this isn''t just clickbait?" Professor Han Jinyu felt like his scientific research dreams were shattered.


    "These things are all still in the conceptual and theoretical stage, right?"


    Professor Hu Chun took out a notebook and slammed it on the table, "Why don''t you take over as the academician instead? I''m not worthy; I''ll just be your assistant..."

 Chapter 397 395 I Dont Understand

    "Menglong, are you serious about these things?"


    It wasn''t that they didn''t want to believe Zhang Menglong, but the names of these documents were simply too intimidating.


    Now, Huaxia had only just produced the fifth-generation fighter jet, and the concept of the sixth generation was only recently proposed, yet Zhang Menglong had already come up with both the design blueprints and related technical documentation?


    Human civilization''s space exploration was still at the stage of manned rockets, and we couldn''t even break through the third cosmic velocity to leave the Solar System, but here was Zhang Menglong producing wormhole technology and light-speed engines?


    This was already beyond their field of knowledge!


    "Of course I''m serious," said Zhang Menglong.


    "But how on earth did you manage to develop these things?" There were two professors and an academician present, all acutely aware of how difficult scientific research is, especially breakthroughs in some fundamental sciences that might take decades to achieve, and Zhang Menglong was just barely over twenty!


    "You''re not an alien, are you?" Han Jinyu looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a monster.


    "Looks like I''ll have to dig out my household register, ID card, and birth certificate just to prove I''m an Earthling," said Zhang Menglong, shrugging helplessly.


    In truth, if it had been anyone else, they would definitely not have readily shared such advanced scientific and technological knowledge with the world, not even with their own nation, because of the immense implications involved, and no one could guarantee their absolute safety.


    But these concerns were not within Zhang Menglong''s consideration. After seeing just how powerful his own family was, he didn''t care about external factors at all; the only things that could influence his actions were his own code of conduct and moral standards, nothing else.


    "Menglong, can we have a little time?" asked Academician Zhou. "I need to verify these materials."


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Academician Zhou stepped aside and immediately dialed a very special number; those who knew this number were all extremely important to the nation.


    "It''s me, Old Zhou. Zhang Menglong is very cooperative and willing to share his technology with the nation without compensation... No, he doesn''t have any other demands... He''s also in possession of even more advanced technologies that surpass our era, but we are unable to judge whether these things are real or not!"


    "Yes, I need a group of scientific authorities, in physics, chemistry, environment, biology, medicine, and so on, at least those with academician titles or above. Please arrange for someone to immediately bring them to Jiangnan City; I''m waiting for them at the Bureau of Science and Technology!"


    ...


    "Menglong, I''m afraid we may need you to stay here for a few more hours," said Academician Zhou apologetically. The matter was simply too significant; before it was handled properly, nobody was allowed to leave the room or communicate with the outside world.


    "It''s fine, I didn''t have much else to do today anyway, but I am getting a bit hungry, heh heh..."


    "Hahaha, Hui Rui, go get some food ready, let''s not mistreat Menglong!"


    ...


    After a full three hours, a group of special people arrived at the Jiangnan City Bureau of Science and Technology.


    Under the protection of a special team, they entered the Bureau of Science and Technology secretly. There were 27 people in total, each one an academician, and not just any academician. They were the ones who filled the gaps in many fields for Huaxia and pushed this nation from weakness to strength.


    Any one of them was a national treasure; if they had wanted to ride a giant panda out, it''s likely no one would dare to utter a word of protest!


    "That was fast!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised.


    After all, these academicians didn''t live in the same place. To gather all of them from all corners of the country within just three hours and bring them here was no easy feat.


    "Academician Yuan! Academician Xu!"


    "This... Academician Qian has come? Hasn''t he been retired for almost ten years?"


    "Academician Fang, the recipient of the Two Bombs, One Satellite Medal!"


    Academician Hu Chun was already a leading figure in science, but the academicians appearing before him this time were such that even he would respectfully refer to as teachers!


    Academician Yuan laid the foundation for Huaxia''s bioengineering technology, feeding over a billion people in Huaxia; Academician Xu was the chief engineer and chief designer of the fifth-generation fighter jets; Academician Qian was the founding father of Huaxia''s nuclear technology.


    In any country around the world, these individuals would almost be revered as deities. Many of Huaxia''s academicians and professors were their students, and now, incredibly, they had all come!


    For these people, wealth and fame had long since become inconsequential. At this age, what they cared about was being able to make significant breakthroughs in their domains of expertise and to add a little more understanding to this unknown world.


    But upon hearing the names of these unimaginable pieces of technical data, they were invigorated as if they had received a shot of adrenaline, with one academician, who had been hospitalized for heart disease, even climbing out of his sickbed to rush here.


    ...


    "Old Zhou, you said you have the design blueprints for the sixth-generation fighter jet? Show them to me quickly!"


    "Old Zhou, I finally managed to spend a few days with my granddaughter, and now this targeted therapy technology for cancer cells has me hooked, I won''t let this go!"


    "Let me have a look at the data on that controlled fusion technology. I need to go for oxygen therapy after this!"


    "Why are you in a hurry for oxygen, I still have to go back for surgery this afternoon tonight. What about the railgun technology stuff? Come on, let me have a look!"


    ...


    The twenty-some academicians started clamoring like madmen; if they couldn''t see these things, they wouldn''t be able to die peacefully!


    "Hui Rui!" Old Zhou gave Hui Rui a look, and in those past few hours, he had prepared over twenty supercomputers, each loaded with a corresponding set of data that couldn''t be copied or altered, only viewed.


    But those old academicians didn''t care at all, snatching them and immediately delving into the research.


    "Paper! Give me paper!!"


    "This... hahaha, so the principle is like this. I''ve researched for 37 years, a full 37 years, hahaha!"


    "Gravitational waves! To think that gravitational waves could be created in this way, why didn''t I think of it!"


    Several of the elderly men were so moved they began to weep loudly, a sight that was indeed somewhat tear-jerking.


    "Professor Tu, what''s wrong?" Hu Chun approached a professor whose expression was stunned, apparently frightened by the technical document in his hand, "Are you also so excited that you''re nearly incoherent?"


    "I..." The professor surnamed Tu had a bitter smile, "I thought with my fifty years of research in nuclear fusion technology, I had become a pioneer, but damn, I can''t understand a thing in this document on nuclear fusion technology!"


    Another professor standing nearby turned around, holding a document on wormhole technology, "I... damn it, I can''t understand anything at all!"


    "Hahaha, I thought I was the only one who couldn''t understand. Turns out none of us can, haha!"


    "What the...?"


    ...

 Chapter 398 396 I Wrote it Casually

    Soon, the sky had darkened, and one after another, the old Academicians put down the documents in their hands.


    The information contained in each document was incredibly extensive. They had spent several hours just on a brief technical overview and were far from a deeper understanding.


    "Professors, is there any issue with these materials?" Zhou Weimin asked expectantly.


    "I''ve reviewed the technical documentation for the sixth-generation fighter jet, and there are no major issues. Many findings are very similar to the conclusions we''ve drawn from our experiments."


    "It''s pretty much the same on my end. Although I can''t understand everything, just these over two hundred pages of introduction have highlighted many limitations and misconceptions in my original research direction. I think there shouldn''t be any problem!"


    "Hmm, no issues on my end, but I need to set up a research team to verify these conclusions. If there are no problems, the primary stage of this technology can be achieved within five years."


    "I... I better not say anything. I can''t even understand what I''m looking at; probably need to go back and study it slowly."


    ...


    Receiving affirmations from these experts, Zhou Weimin couldn''t help but beam with joy. If these technical texts could be transformed into actual products, Huaxia''s overall national power could surely leap forward dramatically in the short term.


    Not to mention anything else, just this seemingly simplest sixth-generation fighter jet¡ªif they could be the first to produce it¡ªHuaxia would command air superiority worldwide, with no rivals for at least three to five years!


    As for the period after the next three to five years, if Zhou Weimin wasn''t mistaken, he had just seen a technical documentation called "Mobile Warrior MS."


    "Zhou Lao, where exactly did these materials come from?"


    "Yes, these technologies are incredibly advanced, even the least developed among them is at least five to six years ahead of our time! Some are even still in the realm of human imagination."


    "You haven''t discovered something left by an extraterrestrial civilization, have you? I''ve heard that quite a few artifacts from the three-star pile excavation in Huaxia were unearthed recently, and some say they''re from an Advanced Civilization in the universe."


    "Or did you find remnants of the Atlantis civilization? That documentation for the biological engineering technology was truly shocking. I remember biological engineering was the specialty of Atlantis civilization."


    ...


    Facing a barrage of questions from the Academicians, Zhou Weimin could only laugh and cry; these old experts, despite their age, still possessed such vivid imaginations!


    However, without such rich creativity and imagination, it would have probably been difficult for them to achieve such tremendous accomplishments in their domains.


    "These materials were given to me by Menglong," Zhou Weimin said, "You must have all heard of Huaxia''s youngest world''s richest man, the one who effortlessly solved the math problem that had perplexed the world of mathematics for two hundred years while taking his postgraduate entrance exam."


    "What? All these were provided by him?"


    "This... sheesh, my 70 years seem to have gone to the dogs."


    "The younger generation is indeed frightening, indeed."


    "To come up with these technical materials... He''s only in his twenties, I can''t wrap my head around it!"


    "Ah, old timer, this might just be what you call a genius!"


    ...


    "Zhou Lao, I''m entrusting all these documents to you, please make sure to keep them safe."


    "I''m aware," Zhou Weimin said earnestly, "Huirui, back up this file to our Huaxia''s ''Donghuang Clock'' system, and apply for a transmission interface."


    "Yes!" Huirui nodded. The "Donghuang Clock" system was a secret system developed by a group of Huaxia Scientists. It stored all the crystallized achievements of Huaxia civilization, including historical culture, advanced technology, and certain special secrets.


    In terms of security performance, there wasn''t any hacker in the world who could breach it.


    Last year, a clandestine team of hackers from twelve countries had launched an attack on the "Donghuang Clock," but the Donghuang Clock''s operators, using only three people, easily fended off hundreds of attackers and tens of thousands of botnet computers, without even a single breach.


    This showed just how powerful the system was.


    "There''s no need for all that trouble; I''ll just send it directly to you," Menglong said as he began operating a supercomputer.


    "Hehe, Menglong, this is not the same as sending an email," Zhou Weimin chuckled, "The ''Donghuang Clock'' system is highly secure. Without requesting an internal data interface, no data can come in or go out."


    "Pitter-patter!"


    ```


    "Snap!"


    "Alright, take a look now!"


    "What?" Zhou Lao''s eyes twitched suddenly.


    He immediately used his access privileges to open the ''Donghuang Clock'' system''s browsing interface, and the document Zhang Menglong had submitted had already appeared in the list!


    He had used a supercomputer to bypass the internal interface and forcibly stuffed the data in!


    What did this imply? He had actually breached the "Donghuang Clock"! And it seemed to have taken him only about a dozen seconds¡ªhow could that be possible?


    "You... how did you do that?" Zhou Lao asked incredulously.


    "Pretty simple, by using this gadget to connect to my home supercomputer, then using my home 6G network to transmit it straight in."


    "I''m asking how you managed to get through the data barriers?"


    "Is that so difficult?" Zhang Menglong said, "I wrote a small program that obtained the highest authority of this, what''s it called, system, and then just slipped through!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong continued to rat-a-tat-tat away at the keyboard, "Zhou Lao, no offense, but this Donghuang Clock system of yours is really quite shoddy, full of holes and bugs. Let me fix them for you!"


    "This..."


    Zhou Lao and the other Academicians were utterly shocked; they were very familiar with the "Donghuang Clock" system, and in their eyes, it was simply unbreakable. Even if someone could infiltrate Huaxia''s People''s Great Hall, they would still stand no chance of breaching the "Donghuang Clock" firewall.


    But Zhang Menglong had not only done it, he was now even going to help them fix the vulnerabilities!


    For the developers of "Donghuang Clock," this was a severe insult, plainly an act of magnitude upon their pride!


    "Alright!" In a matter of minutes, Zhang Menglong closed his computer, "Now this system is somewhat decent."


    "Wait a moment!"


    Zhou Lao took out his phone and made a call.


    "Is this the ''Donghuang Clock'' control room? This is Zhou Weimin. Was there a system hiccup just now?"


    ".... What? How is that possible?"


    ...


    "Zhou Lao, what happened?" Seeing Zhou Lao''s vacant gaze, the old Academicians were extremely curious.


    "They told me that just now, their mainframe was directly hacked, and someone seized the highest level of control. Unless they cut the power and restart, there''s no way they could take back control, but doing so would destroy all our country''s data accumulated over decades!"


    "Did he truly hack the Donghuang Clock?"


    "He didn''t just hack the Donghuang Clock," Zhou Lao said with a wry smile, "he also fixed 274 bugs, fortified the firewall, and even implanted a segment of self-optimizing code, which can monitor all attacking behaviors and form a counterattack on its own, while simultaneously strengthening the system against similar intrusion methods."


    The security evaluation of the Donghuang Clock system reported, the safety factor had risen from 2787 to 18902, and this number was still climbing at a rate of 2¨C3 per minute.


    "Self-optimizing upgrade?" Everyone knew what that meant.


    Although Artificial Intelligence technology had started to emerge, it was absolutely not applicable in such a domain yet, for current AI was too primitive, too mechanical. Even the most advanced deep learning AI had an intelligence index of merely 1.


    Each increment in the deep learning index doesn''t simply add up like one plus one equals two; the level of intelligence grows exponentially!


    "Menglong, your AI..." asked an Academician who had dabbled in the field of AI, "what''s the estimated intelligence index of this AI you wrote?"


    "Oh, just something I whipped up casually, around 10 or so I guess!"


    "Casually whipped up?"


    "Fuck! I £¤@%£¤#...#...£¤%"


    ```

 Chapter 399 397: Zhang Menglong is a Prophet

    "Hui Rui, encrypt this information at an S-level. Only top-level authorization will allow access, and ensure all messages are confidential!"


    Although Zhang Menglong seemed dismissive of the information, Zhou Lao was well aware of the consequences if such data were to be known by some foreign intelligence organizations.


    No country wanted to see Huaxia become so powerful. Soon, large numbers of spies and even psychics would try to infiltrate Huaxia, and then the entire country would likely descend into chaos.


    "I understand!" Hui Rui nodded solemnly.


    "Today, we begin establishing Huaxia''s Ninth Research Group," Zhou Lao announced another decision, "Academician Qian, you will lead this group. You will have free rein over the national scientific research resources, and I hope this information can be transformed into real national power as soon as possible."


    Although Academician Qian had retired long ago, he was still at the forefront of scientific research. This important task was not only a recognition for him but also a challenge he relished.


    "The rest of you may set up sub-research groups and choose technologies in your areas of expertise to focus your research. All personnel you recruit will also belong to this Ninth Research group, and they will be treated to the highest standard!"


    "Zhou Lao, we have a problem," one of the academicians said.


    "Academician Qiao, please speak."


    "To be honest, many parts of this data have surpassed our current level of basic research theory and have branched into entirely new domains. It might take us a long time to fill these gaps, but having someone to guide us would certainly benefit our work."


    "Hahaha!" Zhou Lao laughed, "You mean, you need a teacher, right?"


    The expressions on the academicians'' faces were sour. At their level, people would often beg to have them as teachers; when would they need someone else to teach them?


    But Huaxia also had an old saying, "Let the most capable be the teacher." The person who had developed these technologies must know so much more academically and knowledge-wise than them, making them more than qualified to be their teacher.


    "Menglong, look at this..." Zhou Lao felt somewhat embarrassed to ask, given he had already taken so much from Zhang Menglong, and now to ask him to join the research group...


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong laughed, "If I can dedicate one day each week to answer questions from all the academicians, just organize the time."


    Contributing to the country was something Zhang Menglong was very willing to do.


    "Hahaha, great!" Zhou Lao was especially happy. With Zhang Menglong willing to help, the Ninth Research Group was truly like a tiger that had grown wings, "In that case, I will give you the title of scientific research consultant for the group, with treatment and rank according to the highest standards. This also reflects a bit of the country''s sincerity."


    "Since it''s like this, then I won''t be shy!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "There''s one more thing I hope to get Zhou Lao''s approval for."


    "Speak!"


    "You know we have just completed the development of the 2nm chip in two fields, and it will soon be launched on the market. I hope to have the right to set my own prices without any market or macroeconomic controls."


    "You mean..."


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong laughed outright, "I am a conscientious businessman. Although my company is the only one in the world that can produce these 2nm chips, I will absolutely not engage in direct or indirect monopoly. But if some ulterior-motived people want our chips, regarding the price..."


    "Hahaha! You little rascal are absolutely rotten to the core!" Zhou Lao instantly understood what Zhang Menglong was planning, "Okay, I will decide to grant you the right to set your own prices, but..."


    "But what?"


    "But those Western vampires who want the chips, we absolutely can''t just give them away easily," Zhou Lao revealed a cunning smile, "and the price, it needs to be at least doubled!"


    An elderly and a young man exchanged glances, then both revealed sinister smiles.


    The academicians couldn''t help but swallow a gulp of saliva. Although Mr. Zhou usually appeared amicable, he was notoriously venomous in his diplomacy, managing to insult representatives without using a single profanity¡ªsome even thought he was complimenting them.


    As for Zhang Menglong, his cunning was almost universally recognized by every Huaxia person. The collision of these two individuals felt almost like they had met their matches too late in life.


    "Ah, why did you have to provoke anyone but us Huaxia..."


    ...


    "Breaking news! Huaxia''s Silicon Moonlight has completed mass production of the 2nm chip, which, upon testing, reduced energy consumption to 40% of current top market chips and increased capability by 60%, yet the cost is only 10% more than the new 5nm products!"


    The news shocked the entire world!


    "What? Wasn''t Huaxia just beginning to develop their own research? They only achieved mass production of the 22nm chip last year, how could they possibly have developed a 2nm chip now?"


    "In our plans, it would take another three years to achieve mass production of the 2nm chip. How did they manage it?"


    For most countries and manufacturers, it was merely shocking, as the core technology had always been controlled by developed countries who largely relied on imports; thus, they didn''t care which country achieved mass production as long as they knew how much it would cost them.


    However, this news plunged the Kaibong suppliers in Europe and America directly into a state of unrest.


    "Huaxia people! Damn Huaxia people! They actually did it!"


    "Zhang Menglong... He wasn''t just joking around; he truly has the capability to develop high-end chips!"


    "Boss, the Minister of the Department of Scientific Research just called to inquire when we would be able to achieve mass production of the 2nm chip," Mobai''s secretary said with an ashen face.


    The Minister''s tone had been very somber, even bordering on dangerous.


    "Bang!" Mobai smashed his fist on his desk, "Do they all have pig''s heads on their shoulders? We just managed to achieve mass production of the 5nm chip last year. Not to mention 2nm, even the 4nm chips won''t be mass-produced until next year at the earliest. Completing mass production of 2nm chips within three years would already be a great achievement!"


    "Boss, but as you know, the people above don''t care about anything else; they just want results!"


    "Then tell them we can''t do it!"


    "Are we really going to report that back?" the secretary hesitated.


    "What else can we do? Can I magically produce them?" Mobai said, "Huaxia''s rise has been too fast; they should have foreseen this day coming. Qualcomm Electronics used to be the world''s top chip factory; now, in the eyes of Huaxia people, we''re just a pile of trash. If they want a 2nm chip, let them buy from Huaxia!"


    As he spoke, Mobai''s expression morphed into a grim smile, "Do you remember what that young Huaxia man, Zhang Menglong, once said?"


    The secretary shook his head.


    "He said that one day, we will be begging to buy their chips," Mobai initially thought it was just a sarcastic remark, "He really is a prophet, isn''t he?"


    Perhaps one day, that prediction will come true, but with Huaxia''s current pace of development, that day would be at least ten years away or even longer. Yet, what he never expected was that, in just half a year, that day had already arrived.


    "Don''t forget what we have done," Mobai sneered, "We enacted a chip blockade against Huaxia, which caused significant turbulence in their domestic technology market. Huaxia has never been a country that swallows its broken teeth willingly. To buy their chips, it won''t be easy."

 Chapter 400 398: Nuclear Energy Ahead

    "Awesome, awesome, President Zhang is simply the shining light of Huaxia''s technology!"


    "Goodness, a 2nm chip has been developed, surpassing other countries by three to five years. From now on, we no longer have to regard the suppliers'' attitudes.


    "Hahaha, keep on blocking, continue blocking! Now hurry up and prepare to beg us, won''t you?"


    "As arrogant as you were before, today you''ll be just as humble for this old man!"


    "Hahaha, guys, Silicon Moonlight is controlled by President Zhang. And who is President Zhang? Do you think he''s such a kind man?"


    "Ahaha, I''ve already started laughing. I''ve even begun mourning for those countries¡ªhope their wallets are okay!"


    ...


    This news tremendously exhilarated the entire Huaxia, especially when netizens learned that the company belonged to Zhang Menglong, multiplying the sensation.


    The mass production of the 2nm chip heralded the beginning of a new round of market reshuffle.


    Now that only Silicon Moonlight could mass-produce this chip, other countries wishing to purchase could only turn to them.


    What? Unwilling to buy? That''s fine, no one is forcing you, but please be prepared to be eliminated by the market!


    After the 2nm chip becomes popular, mobile phones, computers, and other communication devices will undergo a qualitative change in a short period, with significant performance improvements, substantial energy reduction, and the price fluctuating by at most about 10% from the original.


    Who would be foolish enough to use devices that have been phased out when there are superior performing ones available?


    And that''s just for civilian use, not to mention the significance for military use which goes without saying. In this age of information, if you lag in information, you''re bound for a beating!


    The 2nm chip could completely advance information technology to the 6G era, which would then influence a country''s power!


    The very night the news was announced, countries around the world immediately convened emergency meetings and reached a consistent goal¡ªif they wanted to ensure not falling behind in development, they must import the 2nm chip from Huaxia!


    From the next day, airplanes from various countries headed toward Huaxia, some with full sincerity, some with respect, and of course some with unease.


    In just a few short days, the stock of Zhang Menglong''s Silicon Moonlight surged, actually skyrocketing tenfold, making the old shareholders and company employees almost ecstatic.


    To ensure fair and open bidding, this tender will also be broadcast live around the world.


    Of course, before the tender, as usual, there will certainly be praise for Zhang Menglong''s Silicon Moonlight, followed by answering some related questions.


    "Mr. Zhang, is the technology for this 2nm chip developed completely independently by Silicon Moonlight?" a journalist from Europe asked.


    "Correct," Zhang Menglong replied calmly.


    "However, as we know, toward the end of last year, Huaxia''s chip mass production technology was still at the 22nm level. How did you achieve this world-leading breakthrough in less than half a year? Did you steal research secrets from other countries?"


    "Whoosh!" As soon as this question was asked, the room filled with jeers; the journalist was clearly picking a fight.


    "Fuck! Shameless, if your own country is crap and can''t get it done, you come to pick on ours?"


    "Laughable, if you had research secrets worth stealing, how come we were the first to finish industrialization?"


    "Get lost! I rnmmp!"


    "I hope your mom has a group workout tonight and drops dead!"


    ...


    In the face of such a question, Zhang Menglong merely smiled, "May I ask, which country are you from?"


    "America."


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Oops, you''ve caught us! Yes, our technology was certainly stolen from you guys!"


    "Hahahaha! I bet a hundred bucks that President Zhang is about to start being ironically nutritious again!"


    "Warning, high energy up ahead!"


    "No, nuclear energy ahead, all units prepare to evade!"


    ...


    "So, Mr. Zhang admits it?" the reporter was still aggressive.


    "I had no choice then, our country''s chips were restricted, and I was in a hurry. In my panic I just whipped out a little console and searched on Baidu for how to mass produce high-end chips, and then I accidentally stumbled into your resource library. I thought it was just a link to Baidu''s document repository, so I casually downloaded it. Later I discovered it was actually your country''s secret. It was my oversight!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Zhang really is an old Yin-Yang master here. If they continue to say that Zhang Menglong is stealing secrets, it''s like indirectly admitting that their secret information protection is like a search engine¡ªanyone can just go in and grab the secrets. Now, do you admit that''s an embarrassing situation or not?"


    "Brilliant! That moron reporter thought he was on the third floor, but our Boss Zhang''s play was stratospheric!"


    "The moment he spoke, you knew he was a master trickster!"


    ...


    The reporter''s face turned red, and he quickly shut his mouth and sat down.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a question here!" Another reporter stood up.


    "Feel free to ask your question!"


    "According to the list your company released, the core engineer of this technology is a descendant of our people from Qingqiu Country, so this technology should belong to Qingqiu Country. Please return the technical documents to us promptly."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong chuckled dismissively, "Actually, there''s something I''ve been reluctant to mention, fearing it would be disgraceful to your country."


    The reporter looked puzzled. What could possibly be so shaming for his country?


    "Since you''ve put it that way, I guess I have no choice but to reveal this news to you," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "You might not be aware, but our Zhang family has a history of several thousand years, and your Qingqiu Country was just established a few hundred years ago by a group of slaves who fled from the Zhang family to Qingqiu!"


    "If you don''t believe it, I have the genealogy of the slaves right here," Zhang Menglong spoke into the intercom, and immediately the massive LED screen behind him displayed a long list of names.


    At the very end was the name of the first monarch of Qingqiu Country from the monarchical period, Jin Juguang. If you traced the list upwards, it showed the names of Jin Juguang''s lineage, leading all the way to a Zhang family slave named Jin Shan Dog.


    Although it was unclear whether this was all a spoof, the names three generations up all matched correctly.


    "You go back and check with the descendants of that first monarch, compare it to your genealogy, and see if it''s exactly the same before you come here again, okay?"


    "Of course, if you are eager to recognize your ancestry and return to your roots, I am standing right here; you can call me ''Master''." Zhang Menglong was still smiling.


    "Hahahahaha! Boss Zhang, you''re truly a genius, you''ve killed me with laughter!"


    "Who would have thought, Qingqiu people? The entire universe is yours, but your ancestors were just a slave in Boss Zhang''s household!"


    "This is true without a single dirty word, I''m already kneeling."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we are now in an era of global shared development. I think Huaxia should make this technology public so that all humans can progress together!"


    "Damn! A Kaibong person?"


    "WTF, moral hijacking?"


    "Then why don''t you make your cutting-edge technology public? Idiot."


    This question immediately provoked a flood of well-wishes from countless people for the reporter''s family.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong was still smiling, "Then I think your country has indeed done something commendable on that front. After all, your country''s romance action films have indeed been shared with the entire world, contributing to the common progress of all humanity."


    The reporter''s face turned red. Could you stop bringing up our romance action films, dammit?


    "Hahahahaha!" The room erupted in laughter.


    ...

 Chapter 401 399 This is Our Oversight

    With the questions from these reporters, those who had prepared tricky questions suddenly all lost their nerve.


    They had seen what Zhang Menglong was capable of with his smooth talking; no matter what they asked, he could render them speechless. As long as Zhang Menglong wasn''t embarrassed, they were the ones who felt awkward.


    "It seems that you all mustn''t have much else to ask," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I believe the main issue you''re all concerned about this time must be about imports, right?"


    Upon hearing this, journalists from various countries immediately perked up, as this was their most important task for the trip.


    If Zhang Menglong refused to export, they would have ample fodder to sensationalize countless reports under the guise of "monopoly," which would undoubtedly tarnish his reputation.


    Pressured by the Monopoly Law and other constraints, Zhang Menglong would undoubtedly have to open exports. Even though they couldn''t obtain the core technology, being able to import such high-end chips from Huaxia could at least alleviate their technological lag for a considerable time. As long as they didn''t fall behind now, there would always be a chance to catch up later.


    "In fact, many people believe that we in Huaxia bear grudges," Zhang Menglong said, "However, you may have underestimated us. Huaxia has always been a magnanimous nation. Whether it be our former partners or those who wish to curb our development, we treat everyone equally. We will not prohibit exports to any country!"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "We''ll offer two things to the entire world: one is the 2nm Crystal Chip, and the other is the finished 2nm chip products. Countries interested in importing can choose how they want to import based on their own processing technology. Of course, there is a slight difference in price between the two import methods."


    There were also some industry experts present, who all nodded. There is a manufacturing process from the Crystal Chip to the chip, and many large semiconductor companies handle this manufacturing step. However, not every country has the technology to do this.


    "Tomorrow, I will prepare the relevant contract signing details at Silicon Moonlight, and we welcome countries interested in collaboration to come and discuss!"


    "President Zhang is so generous!"


    "President Zhang is mighty!"


    "President Zhang 666!"


    "Have you seen the bearing of our Huaxia? Loser?"


    Zhang Menglong''s speech had the entire audience boiling with enthusiasm. Huaxia had now reached the pinnacle of the world in technology. The era where we had to look at others'' faces to act is no more; now others need to consider our stance!


    Not only that, but Huaxia''s grandeur was also fully exhibited today.


    You once embargoed our chips for fear that our communication technology in Huaxia would develop too quickly and surpass you.


    Now, our communication technology has reached number one in the world through our own efforts, but we are still willing to export this technology worldwide. That''s because we are not afraid of you surpassing us; we fear no challenges!


    What kind of confidence is that? This is Huaxia''s confidence!


    ...


    The next morning, representatives from hundreds of communication and semiconductor companies from around the world gathered in the Silicon Moonlight reception hall.


    Zhang Menglong''s pricing was very transparent. The export price for a single 2nm Crystal wafer was 580 US Dollars, while the finished products were priced at 820 US Dollars. This was only about 10% higher than the 5nm chips, which was a very acceptable price for many manufacturers.


    Silicon Moonlight''s scale was already immense, but because it was still relatively new and many pieces of equipment were waiting to be produced, it would take about half a year to reach the current maximum production capacity.


    Half a year later, Silicon Moonlight''s single-crystal wafer manufacturing capacity had reached over 100 million pieces, and the production number of single chips had reached 1.2 billion.


    In Zhang Menglong''s plan, large and small subsidiaries would start to be built all over the country and around the world to surely meet the global demand for high-end chips.


    One morning, hundreds of orders ferociously smashed their way toward Silicon Moonlight, with the smallest order scale reaching several hundred million US Dollars, and Tsarist Russia even smashed down a colossal order worth tens of billions of US Dollars! Just from the down payment, Zhang Menglong had already made a killing.


    And after the overhaul of the technological process, Zhang Menglong had long reduced the cost to an unimaginably low level.


    The cost price of a 5nm chip was about 418 US Dollars, with the selling price around 740 US Dollars, but Zhang Menglong''s export price stood at 820 US Dollars, with a cost of less than 100 US Dollars!


    Others thought that Zhang Menglong''s pricing would hardly make him any money, but in fact, he was making a killing! That''s the power of technology!


    "What? Why is our import price so high?"


    The representatives from Qualcomm Electronics were dumbfounded when they received the export contract; on the contract, the price per single chip wafer exceeded 1600 US Dollars, and the finished chip price exceeded 3200 US Dollars! That was four times the import price of other countries!


    If they imported at that price, they would surely go bankrupt!


    Not only that, but while the delivery dates for other countries generally ranged from half a year to one year, their delivery date was set for three years later!


    Three years later, they might already be able to mass-produce 2nm chips themselves; why would they need Silicon Moonlight''s chips then?


    The representatives from Qualcomm Electronics turned around and found quite a few people holding contracts similar to theirs; these people all shared one common feature¡ªthey had once implemented chip blockades against Huaxia.


    "Call your head over here, we want to protest!" the group immediately voiced their protest to the business department of Silicon Moonlight.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I am the Minister of Commerce; may I know what your problem is?" A middle-aged woman dressed in professional attire arrived at the contract-signing location.


    "Is there a problem with your contracts? Why is our price four times higher than that of other countries?"


    "Oh, I apologize, that was our oversight," the woman said, "Please draft a new contract immediately!"


    "That''s more like it!" The representatives from Qualcomm Electronics and other countries showed a satisfied expression instantly.


    However, the instant they received the new contract, their expressions turned as if they had eaten shit, because the price had been revised from four times to eight times higher!


    "I am sorry, but our boss''s order was to double the import price for you, I don''t know which staff member mistakenly changed it to a super multiplier; I apologize to everyone here."


    "You..." The representatives were so angry they couldn''t even speak, "And why do we have to wait three years for the delivery time?"


    "There''s nothing that can be done about that," the woman said helplessly, "Business is so good right now, and we can''t keep up with the demand. Of course, we have to adhere to a first-come-first-served policy. Since none of you have signed the contract yet, doesn''t it make sense that your shipments would be the last? I think that''s very fair!"


    Hearing this explanation, they finally understood¡ªall the talk of grace and generosity, every word from Zhang Menglong, was nonsense; he simply couldn''t let them off that easily, these once benefactors!


    Zhang Menglong was clearly planning to dupe them once more¡ªthis man from Huaxia, really deviously good!

 Chapter 402 400: What I Fear Least Is Fines

    "Beep beep beep beep!" Zhang Menglong was sitting in his office, appreciating this year''s report.


    More than two hundred factories around the world had signed contracts with Silicon Moonlight, with the total amount of contracts reaching over a trillion US dollars, which was absolutely unprecedented in the entire semiconductor industry.


    Because there had never been any company that had achieved such a technological monopoly in the semiconductor industry, where several companies often ran in parallel, thus the global market share was divided into several pieces.


    But this time, only Zhang Menglong''s Silicon Moonlight had the production capacity, they had no other choice, in this case, who else could make money if not Zhang Menglong?


    Once, companies like Four Stars Group were upstream in the Huaxia semiconductor industry, but now, they had become Silicon Moonlight''s biggest downstream.


    It had to be said that the folks from Qingqiu Country were flexible, directly ordering several hundred billion US dollars worth of single wafers from Silicon Moonlight, so that they could also act as middlemen to earn a processing price difference, which could temporarily and barely maintain their status within the semiconductor industry.


    Not only that, Silicon Moonlight also signed agreements with many countries to establish branch factories, after all, relying on a single company for production, the supply of chips was still quite strenuous, and there was a very long delivery cycle.


    But if the factories were opened in those countries, then they could also make maximum use of the local manpower and material resources to significantly shorten this process.


    Almost the entire world welcomed Huaxia to open factories in their countries. At one point, even the number of factory heads that Silicon Moonlight had to dispatch globally seemed somewhat insufficient.


    "Menglong, you''ve done very well," said Zhou Lao, keeping in touch with Zhang Menglong frequently since their last meeting, "Our Huaxia can hold our heads up high now, and it''s all thanks to you!"


    "Hahaha, Zhou Lao, you flatter me. I''m really just in it for the money, not as noble as you imagine," laughed Zhang Menglong, "You helped us secure a 90% tax reduction, I should be thanking you."


    "What''s that? The things you''ve given to the country, let alone 90% tax reduction, even giving you a large sum of money wouldn''t be too much," laughed Zhou Lao, "But I heard that you offered those Westerners and Kaibong folk eight times the price? You really are ruthless!"


    Zhou Lao originally thought that simply doubling the price, four times the price, was already very aggressive, but he didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to pull off an ultimate doubling.


    "I still think I''m being too kind to them," said Zhang Menglong, "The fact that I''m willing to sell to them is already their greatest luck, and as for this ultimate doubling, they can take it or leave it!"


    "Although we''ve given you the relevant policy support and domestic monopoly law cannot reach you, you need to be careful. A large part of the International Antitrust Committee consists of Westerners, and they might come looking for trouble."


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "I''m actually hoping they come looking for trouble!"


    "Ah?" Zhou Lao was taken aback, not understanding what Zhang Menglong meant.


    "Hehe, that''s a secret!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Ah, speaking of the devil, I need to take a call!"


    Zhang Menglong picked up the office phone, "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong. May I ask who''s speaking?"


    "This is Mobai!" came a voice with an unfriendly tone from the other side.


    "Oh, Mr. Mobai, it''s been so long, have you missed me?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s dispense with the pretense," said Mobai, "Your pricing is outrageous. I demand a fair and just import price!"


    "How is this price unfair or unjust?" asked Zhang Menglong, "Your company previously refused to supply us with wafers. Compared to your company, we''ve been extremely considerate."


    "Oh, right, I remember saying something along the lines of ''when the time comes, you will definitely be kneeling in front of Silicon Moonlight''s doors, begging us to sell you the chips,'' and if you come to me in that way, I might just change the price from double to super double!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you are going too far!" Mobai struggled to control his emotions. If they really did kneel in front of Silicon Moonlight, they would never be able to hold their heads high again.


    "I haven''t finished yet. If you kneel in a more creative manner, I might even consider giving you just double the price," Zhang Menglong continued, "And if you call me ''Daddy'' twice, who knows, I might just give it to you at the original price?"


    "Bang!" Mobai slammed the table hard, "Zhang Menglong, you need to understand that the International Union now has Monopoly Laws, and what you''re doing is a serious monopolistic act. If we sue, you will definitely be punished by the Monopoly Law."


    Initially, when they arbitrarily imposed a blockade on Huaxia, it was because they had many suppliers; they could spread the risk of being accused of monopoly.


    But now, with Zhang Menglong alone on top, this behavior of monopoly could truly be substantiated!


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong just responded indifferently.


    "Oh?" Mobai suddenly felt like he was punching cotton.


    Wasn''t Zhang Menglong supposed to show weakness due to the fear of punishment by the International Antitrust Law? Why did he seem totally unafraid?


    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, I''m going to take a shit!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, "There are always some dumbasses who think they''re really something."


    "You!" Just as Mobai was about to explode, all he was left with was a dial tone.


    ...


    Nearly half a month had almost passed, and Zhang Menglong had almost forgotten about this matter when Xu Huan brought him what seemed like bad news.


    "Boss Zhang, there''s trouble! This morning, members of the International Antitrust Committee served us with a notice. Silicon Moonlight has been accused of monopoly by Qualcomm Electronics and 12 other enterprises from various countries, and now they have started an investigation against us."


    "Oh." Zhang Menglong remained completely indifferent.


    "Boss Zhang, if this charge is confirmed, we may face a huge fine."


    "A fine?" Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became excited.


    "Have you heard of Fimo International? It is one of the world''s top three tobacco giants. A few years ago, they were sanctioned by the international antitrust organization for engaging in monopoly, paying a fine of 1.12 billion US dollars," Xu Huan thought Zhang Menglong was excited because of the fear of the fine and immediately began to explain the seriousness of the situation.


    "Based on our company''s current export scale, if the International Antitrust independently confirms our monopolistic behavior, our fine will at least amount to several billion US dollars!" Xu Huan''s tone was very grave.


    "Oh? Is that so?" said Zhang Menglong, "Xu Huan, listen carefully, make sure to fully cooperate with their investigation, give them any documents they want!"


    "Ah? Boss... Boss Zhang, don''t we need to take any measures? This..."


    "If they want to fine, let them fine. After all, the thing I''m least afraid of is fines," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Go on and prepare a few new contracts. Don''t just double it; go for the ultimate double, raise the export price by 16 times!"


    "Ulti... Ultimate double?" Xu Huan''s mouth twitched. Zhang Menglong was really ruthless. When others went to the International Antitrust to complain, he was ready to utterly crush them!

 Chapter 403 401: First Pay a Fine for 10 Years

    "After investigation and evidence gathering, Silicon Moonlight is suspected of international monopoly, and the International Antitrust Association will impose a fine of 3 billion US Dollars on Silicon Moonlight. In addition, it has ordered the cessation of its monopolistic practices within six months. This fine is the highest ever for monopoly behavior to date!"


    A major news story instantly hit the front page of International Weekly.


    Having achieved mass production of the 2nm chip, the name Silicon Moonlight was unparalleled in international prominence, attracting the attention of major media around the world.


    But just a few days later, such negative news appeared, and once again the situation became turbulent.


    "CNM, what the heck? Just because their own country''s R&D level is crap, they come after us for monopoly? It''s downright ridiculous!"


    "I saw it, it was filed by Qualcomm Electronics, Galaxy Technology, and a few of those former semiconductor companies together."


    "Damn, where do they get the confidence? When they were blocking our Huaxia chips before, why didn''t I see this antitrust organization fine them?"


    "Brother, you''re being naive, aren''t you? This antitrust organization was founded by their Western countries to begin with. Though the United Nations has recognized their enforcement powers, essentially, it''s an organization that protects capitalist interests."


    "Seriously, I''m enlightened now, so it''s just double standards? Officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people aren''t allowed to light lamps, is that it?"


    "Isn''t it just 3 billion US Dollars? Can''t we crowdfund it with a few dollars from each person to raise 3 billion US Dollars? I must support President Zhang in this!"


    While Western countries were secretly cheering, there was a chorus of curses from the domestic public.


    In this period, Silicon Moonlight had virtually become the pride of national production, acknowledged by both the scientific research community and the industrial sector. And now, to be sanctioned in such a disgraceful manner? That''s absolutely intolerable, right?


    ...


    "Menglong, do we need the power of the nation to intervene on this matter?" As soon as he saw the news, Mr. Zhou immediately called Zhang Menglong. "Their penalties are unreasonable and clearly aimed at suppressing Silicon Moonlight. We can protest to the United Nations!"


    "No need!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. A fine of 3 billion US Dollars? It was practically making Zhang Menglong''s mouth crooked from all the smiling.


    Three months, ah! It had been three months since the Cred Points exchange feature was activated. He had to think every day about how to spend money. Do you know how he spent these three months?


    Finally, he had the chance to spend some money again. He couldn''t thank them enough, even wished they''d add another zero to the fine.


    As for letting this damned antitrust agency profiteer from the fine? What a joke. Who is Zhang Menglong? Others might make a small profit, but he would never lose out.


    The companies that complained about him to the antitrust organization were all large-scale chip suppliers, with annual chip supplies numbering in the billions. Unless they were really giving up on the industry, they would still have to buy chips from Zhang Menglong.


    One chip cost a few hundred US Dollars, and after a severe markup, that''s almost ten thousand US Dollars! They would have to pay hundreds of billions of US Dollars for several tens of millions of 2nm chips. Wasn''t this measly 3 billion US Dollars just a drop in the bucket?


    How could Zhang Menglong let anyone shear his fleece?


    "I can handle this matter myself," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. "They want to see a spectacle, don''t they? Well, I''ll give them a show!"


    "Mr. Zhou, those technologies I handed over to the nation must be costing a pretty penny to realize, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly asked out of the blue.


    "Yes," Mr. Zhou sighed. The stuff was good, with ready data and documentation, but to actualize it, that was a sky-high figure. "The country is currently planning to invest 2 trillion Huaxia currency into these projects over the next three years; there''s still quite a funding gap!"


    "Leave the money to me!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "What do you mean?" Mr. Zhou quickly objected. "No, the nation has already taken too much from you. We absolutely can''t take any more!"


    Mr. Zhou believed that for Zhang Menglong''s wealth, shelling out 2 trillion Huaxia currency was like playing a game. But he really couldn''t bring himself to ask for more.


    "No, no, no, it''s not me who''s paying," Zhang Menglong''s tone became increasingly abnormal. "There''s always some generous international friends who are willing to donate, right?"


    Mr. Zhou: "???"


    ...


    "Xu Huan, how are we supposed to pay this fine?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The International Antitrust Association has a dedicated account, we just need to transfer the money into it!"


    "Alright, go ahead and do it," Zhang Menglong said.


    "President Zhang, are we really not going to try to contest this?" Xu Huan knew that Zhang Menglong was not one to lack for money. When it came to the last tax penalty, he voluntarily paid several times the fine, and that was when Xu Huan felt his worldview had already collapsed. Was Zhang Menglong planning some kind of audacious move again this time?


    "There''s no need," Zhang Menglong said, "we''re the only ones capable of producing 2nm chips now. According to the Monopoly Law, a market share over 50% is considered a monopoly."


    "We could completely restructure Silicon Moonlight into two or even three separate companies to operate. That way, we could avoid the accusation of monopoly," Xu Huan suggested the best method he could think of to Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you think I care about this little fine?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "I want to show them that it doesn''t matter if it''s some small International Antitrust Organization or even the King of Heaven himself, they can''t make me bow down!"


    "This..."


    "A 30 billion US Dollar fine and they''ve given us half a year to make rectifications, right?" Zhang Menglong confirmed.


    "That''s correct! But if we fail to stop the monopolistic practices according to the demands of the International Antitrust Association within the six-month period, there will be further penalties, and the fines are likely to be even higher!"


    "Transfer 100 billion US Dollars to that account!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "You... What did you say? I must have heard wrong..." Xu Huan''s mouth formed an O shape in shock.


    The organization was only asking for a 30 billion US Dollar fine, and here Zhang Menglong was instructing him to transfer 100 billion US Dollars? What kind of sly move was this? What kind of tactics was he planning to play?


    "Think about it, we''ve just started mass production of 2nm chips, and next there will be 1nm, 0.5nm, and so on. It''s not that I look down on them, but they really can''t produce these. So won''t I still be a monopolist?"


    Zhang Menglong expressed his genuine helplessness. It was not that he wanted to monopolize the market, but other companies simply lacked the production capacity. Even if they didn''t want to monopolize, they had no choice, right? Who''s to blame if the others were too incompetent?


    Zhang Menglong went on, "Since we''re bound to monopolize sooner or later, and after half a year we will still have to pay fines, just deposit 100 billion US Dollars into their account. They can deduct the money when it''s due. It should be enough for 10 years, right? If it runs out, I''ll just top it up again!"


    "Should I just shut down right here and now?" Xu Huan stood there, stunned, thinking Zhang Menglong''s level of operations had evolved from a Rookie to a WarGreymon.


    That account is meant for the International Antitrust Organization to collect fines, not some hair salon card that you can top up with value and use bit by bit!


    That''s an official antitrust organization, not a hair salon. Could you at least show some basic respect?


    Even if you were really preparing to pay fines for 10 years, wouldn''t it be better to keep those remaining billions in a bank to earn interest, which would be at least a few billion a year? Isn''t that money enticing?


    "What are you standing there for? Get going; use the same account as last time!"


    "Uh..."


    "Also, draft a few more contracts," Zhang Menglong said, "cancel the original Ultimate Doubling Contract, and give them the Mother of All Tomb Desecration Doubling, charging other countries 32 times the price, with a minimum order of 10 million chips!"


    "Cough cough cough!"


    At 32 times the price, a single chip would be at least 25,000 US Dollars, and 10 million chips would be over 200 billion US Dollars. He''s not just trying to nick a little extra cash; he''s going for the kill!

 Chapter 404 402: Dont Bother Me

    In a luxurious hotel in a certain American city, a lavish banquet was underway. Not only were the sect leaders of leading semiconductor companies from around the world in attendance, but there was also a special guest, none other than the president of the International Antitrust Organization, Roberts.


    "Mr. Roberts, I must thank you for your assistance this time!" Mobai raised his glass, "Without your generous help, who knows how long that Huaxia kid would have continued to swagger!"


    "Hahaha, it''s just one Huaxia person, nothing difficult to handle," laughed Roberts, "No matter how big the enterprise, as long as the country in which it is registered is a member of the United Nations, our Monopoly Law applies to them."


    "That Huaxia person, unexpectedly, he actually managed to independently develop a 2nm chip, and we have never felt so stifled before!"


    "Yes, our own 5nm technology has just matured, to reach that stage is still going to take quite some time, and who knows how the Huaxia people did it."


    "This is not what we should be concerned about," another person said, wearing a sly smile, "No one wants to see Huaxia rise. This document, no matter what, must be obtained."


    "Oh? Could it be that your... units have already been deployed?"


    "Hahaha, not just us, surely you have already been itching to move, right?"


    "Mutually so!"


    "Not to be spoken of, not to be spoken of!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Others shouldn''t even dream of getting a piece of this industry. And that Huaxia man even dared to super double our prices; he really thinks he can dictate this market?"


    "Hahaha, you''re talking about super doubling? We''ve gone for the ultimate doubling!"


    "Enough said, we''ve been beaten with the ultimate doubling."


    "Rest assured, gentlemen!" said Roberts, "Our investigation results are already out, and I have already penalized him according to the highest standards! If they do not continue to modify their practices, they will receive an additional fine every six months, and in a few months at most, I think they will start to open up their exports normally."


    "Indeed, gentlemen should first consider how to surpass the Huaxia people in technology, or else this situation won''t last long!"


    "Wait," Mobai suddenly thought of something, "Mr. Roberts, what is the highest penalty for a monopoly enterprise under the Monopoly Law?"


    "A fine of 3 billion US Dollars!" Roberts said proudly, "According to his current behavior, in fact, a warning of just 5 million US Dollars would suffice, but I used my authority to directly raise the fine to the maximum standard!"


    "Only 3 billion US Dollars?" Mobai suddenly felt a jolt, as if something wasn''t quite right. He remembered that the last time Zhang Menglong had initiated a strike and established some Worker''s Fund Foundation, he had easily thrown in 100 billion US Dollars.


    For someone like Zhang Menglong who doesn''t treat money like money, an additional 3 billion wouldn''t cause him any pain at all.


    "Only?" The entrepreneurs present stared at Mobai; 3 billion US Dollars was not a small number, and many of their companies did not even make that much in net profits in a year.


    Such a fine, applied to any of their companies, would likely knock them flat.


    Qualcomm Electronics was big, but Mobai''s tone couldn''t possibly be that exaggerated, could it? When had he learnt to humblebrag like the Huaxia people?


    "Is this already the highest penalty?" Mobai continued to confirm.


    "Yes, this code was approved 12 years ago after being recognized by all member countries of the United Nations; initially because the amount was too high, it underwent several revisions before finally settling on 3 billion."


    "It''s over," Mobai''s eyes went dark.


    "Mr. Mobai, what''s wrong?"


    "Forget 3 billion, even 30 billion US Dollars wouldn''t make him blink, such a fine is nothing to him!" Mobai said, "Do you know about the large-scale strike event that happened in our country recently?"


    "I''ve heard something about it, it seems to have been instigated by that Zhang Menglong." Someone responded.


    "You may not know, but this Zhang Menglong spent a hundred billion US Dollars to set up a foundation to support that strike," discussing this matter, Mobai once again felt profound humiliation. If it weren''t for giving up on Infelite, the situation could have had a severe impact on the nation''s economy.


    Not too long ago, he had contacted Infelite; despite her advanced age, she was still in Kaibong shooting films to pay off debts, reportedly taking on three movies a day, surviving on goji berries and ginseng. Yet, such a life might have to continue for several more years...


    "Excuse me, I have to take a call." At that moment, Roberts'' phone rang.


    "Hmm, it''s me, what''s the matter?" Roberts asked, as the call was made by his assistant.


    "President, we just received a huge sum of money in our fine collection account."


    "The fine account? That money came from Huaxia, didn''t it?" Roberts said. If that Huaxia person really didn''t care about money like that, then the fine should have already been received, "It should be 3 billion US dollars, just report it up!"


    "Yes, it''s funds from Huaxia, but..."


    "But what?"


    "But the amount isn''t 3 billion US dollars; it''s 100 billion US dollars!"


    "What?" Roberts suddenly couldn''t stand still, "Are you sure it''s that company called Silicon Moonlight from Huaxia?"


    "Yes, it''s them, and they left a note."


    "What note?"


    "They said this money is to prepay the fines for the next ten years. If it runs out, they said to just ask for more ¨C any request for corrective measures is out of the question."


    "Bang!" Roberts slammed the table hard, "He is challenging the authority of the anti-monopoly agency!"


    "Mr. Roberts, what has angered you so much?" the entrepreneurs immediately asked.


    "This Huaxia man... He actually paid a fine of 100 billion US dollars all at once... He said it''s to prepay for ten years'' worth of fines, and we can ask for more once it''s used up."


    "What? He''s so arrogant?"


    "Isn''t he afraid of sanctions?"


    "Damn! Didn''t we just say? The highest penalty is only 3 billion US dollars for half a year. Even if we wanted to increase the penalty, the Monopoly Law wouldn''t allow it!"


    "Mr. Roberts, is there really no special measure we can take?"


    "This... If we want to change the regulations, we need to draft them six months in advance, go through round after round of assessments, and even if it eventually passes smoothly, it will take at least a year and a half!"


    "A year and a half? By the time their chip technology progresses, Huaxia''s communication technology will have skyrocketed in a year and a half!"


    "Not just Huaxia, other countries that import their chips will catch up quickly too."


    "How can he be so rich?"


    ...


    "Mr. Mobai, why do you look off? Are you feeling unwell?" At that moment, someone suddenly noticed Mobai''s hands trembling slightly and his expression had become particularly grim.


    "This Huaxia man!" Mobai spoke through gritted teeth, "He just sent me a new contract, raising the price by 32 times."


    "Fuck, we received it too, our price went from 8 times to 16 times!"


    "Us too..."


    "Still a minimum order of 10 million chips, even if our dozen or so companies just order 10 million, that''s at least several trillion US dollars!"


    "He''s robbing us in broad daylight!"


    "Look, that Huaxia guy named Zhang Menglong has posted on Twitter and Facebook!"


    "What did he say?"


    "He... he said... he''s already paid the fines for ten years, unless the Monopoly Law changes, otherwise don''t bother him..."

 Chapter 405 403: You Guys Figure Out a Way to Beg Him

    "Do we really have no other way to sanction him?" Mobai put down his glass. He''d led a successful life, but ever since Zhang Menglong entered his life, he hadn''t had a good night''s sleep!


    "There is no other way for now," Roberts shook his head, "This is already the harshest penalty under the Monopoly Law. To increase the penalty, like he said, we would have to amend the legislation."


    "Dammit!" Mobai slammed his glass onto the floor in anger.


    ...


    The news that Silicon Moonlight had been sanctioned by the International Antitrust Association caught the attention of not only domestic audiences and related corporations, but it also sparked widespread international interest.


    After all, there were hundreds of companies, even countries and regions, that had signed cooperation agreements with Silicon Moonlight, some of which had already paid hefty deposits or advance payments.


    If Silicon Moonlight were to be sanctioned at this time, encountering production or financial chain issues, it would inevitably impact their orders.


    In the past few days, many countries had made new arrangements regarding the mass-produced 2nm chips, which were tied to their overall national development. If this batch of ordered chips couldn''t be delivered successfully, the preliminary work done for these arrangements would become meaningless and could even result in significant losses.


    Therefore, the survival and development of Silicon Moonlight were closely related to them!


    For two consecutive days, Silicon Moonlight''s phones were nearly blown up by calls from the leaders of those corporations and countries. They had to repeatedly confirm whether the chips could be delivered on time and if the factories could be established as planned in those countries.


    At this time, Zhang Menglong posted a message on his social media platform.


    It was a screenshot of a fine, a transaction record of 100 billion US dollars, with a sentence.


    "All our partners can rest assured, I''ve already deposited 100 billion US dollars in the International Antitrust Association''s fine account, enough for them to deduct for ten or eight years. This sanction will not impact Silicon Moonlight at all!"


    This message, like a fighter jet in Versailles, spread wildly within minutes of being posted.


    "They only fined you 3 billion US dollars, and you just transferred 100 billion US dollars into their fine account? Do you think it''s a bank?"


    "I''ve always known President Zhang was a trendsetter, but I can''t even understand his actions now that he''s getting all showy."


    "President Zhang, you''ve shocked my jaw out of place, I''m on my way to the hospital now, can you arrange for my medical expenses?"


    "President Zhang, does your mom know you''re provoking the International Antitrust Association like this?"


    "I just checked the regulations of the international antitrust law, and the most severe punishment for monopoly behavior is to require company divestiture. But since the entire company is owned by Huaxia, even if you split it, it would still be Huaxia''s, and President Zhang would still be the major shareholder. Whatever way you wanted to control the market, you could, and as for the fine, the cap is only 3 billion US dollars."


    "Only? Have you old fans become so bold now that you don''t even care about 3 billion US dollars?"


    "I guess by this time, the foreigners must be completely dumbfounded."


    "I want to interview the President of the International Antitrust Association. What exactly does he feel right now?"


    "I''m the President, and I''ve already started calling for daddy..."


    ...


    The corporations and countries that had partnerships with Silicon Moonlight felt a huge weight lifted off their hearts when they saw this message.


    This partner was truly incredible. It was their first time seeing someone dare to go head-to-head with a major global institution like the International Antitrust Association, and most importantly, they really couldn''t do anything about Silicon Moonlight!


    The fines have been paid off for you, and all ten years have been settled in one go. What reason do you have to interfere in other people''s business? They have the power to punish, not to enforce; that power belongs only to their respective countries.


    Even if they don''t accept it and start preparing to amend the legislation, let''s not talk about whether it can be passed. Even if everything goes smoothly, by the time the new laws are enacted, a year and a half will have gone by, and the chips they want will have already been delivered.


    Even if they truly wish to craft new legislation, this involves the direct interests of over a hundred countries, while there are only about a dozen of you. This ten-to-one disparity will make you go cold.


    Who knows what Zhang Menglong will have come up with by then, leaving you unable to do a thing after a year and a half. Frustrating, isn''t it?


    "Huaxia achieves a breakthrough in 6G technology, planning to start widespread adoption of 6G technology early next year!"


    "Huaxia''s sixth-generation fighter jet technology revealed for the first time; 2nm chips drive AI technology''s rapid development. Huaxia may be the first nation to upgrade fighter jets to the sixth generation!"


    "Huaxia makes a breakthrough in unmanned exploration; the ''Infinite Sea Domain'' probe to delve into the world''s deepest trench!"


    ...


    After completing mass production of the chips, Zhang Menglong handed a batch of samples directly to Chief Zhou. In just one week, these chips were quickly deployed across various domains.


    With the guidance of Chief Consultant Zhang Menglong, they managed to break through a multitude of longstanding technological barriers within a week, nearly monopolizing the world''s science journals.


    At that moment, the whole world panicked!


    Huaxia''s foundation in basic sciences had a late start, and many of its technologies lagged behind those of developed countries. But now, it seemed like the nation had taken some sort of stimulant, making leaps and bounds in progress¡ªhow could anyone withstand this?


    The scariest part was that it had only been one week. By the time they developed the capacity to manufacture 2nm chips, Huaxia''s communication technology would likely be unbeatable forever. How could they wait for that?


    "We must import 2nm chips from Huaxia!"


    That very night, the high-ranking officials of these countries immediately convened emergency meetings. The rise of Huaxia was terrifying, leaving them no time or energy for petty scheming. Now, the most critical task was to procure chips from Huaxia!


    After an all-night meeting, they assessed their needs, which ranged from 30 million to 180 million 2nm chips.


    At the current Blood Mother Summit''s price, doubled by Zhang Menglong, this casually amounted to several hundred billion to over a trillion US Dollars in total!


    Even for a superpower like America, it would be a strain to fork out such an amount in one go, and afterwards, they might not even have the finances to invest in research and development. What would be the point then?


    Furthermore, they needed the chip deliveries expedited, and they required a batch of samples to start research immediately. Once the chips arrived and the technology was mature, they could start industrialization and scaling at once.


    The next night, Mobai and others received notification that they must procure a batch of 2nm chips from Zhang Menglong at the original price by any means necessary. It was a national assignment!


    "But we''ve already soured relations with him; Zhang Menglong won''t likely sell us the chips on time and at the original price!" Mobai''s hand shook as he held the phone. He couldn''t afford to offend the person on the other end of the call.


    The initial measures were actually the nation''s decisions, and now Mobai was expected to clean up the mess? Were those higher-ups thinking with their rear ends?


    Zhang Menglong said, unless they knelt at Silicon Moonlight''s door to beg him, would he, the Chairman of Qualcomm Electronics, truly demean himself to such an extent?


    "I don''t care about that!" The person on the other end of the line said with an unquestionable tone. "Regardless of how you beg him, within half a month, I want to see the contract, or you''ll fare no better than Infelite!"


    "Click!" Mobai slumped into his office chair, "It''s over..."

 Chapter 406 404: Choose One to Kneel Down By Yourselves

    It wasn''t just Mobai that received such an order; other leading semiconductor companies in various countries also received the same deadly mandate!


    The first batch to complete the signing had already secured the 2nm chip samples, and various research works had begun. At this pace, it wasn''t just Huaxia that might surpass them.


    For several days in a row, Mobai faced a dilemma. Having to kneel in front of Silicon Moonlight and plead with a Huaxia person was more humiliating than being killed!


    But if he didn''t do it, his own fate would definitely be tragic!


    However, while Mobai could wait, the people above him couldn''t! Ridiculous events began happening around him; his wife and daughter were kidnapped, his house mysteriously caught on fire, and his car was covered in various threatening languages.


    He finally realized that this was a warning from the higher-ups for his inaction!


    If he maintained his current attitude, it was very likely that his close ones would get hurt!


    After a week of torment, he finally broke down!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Mobai has called. He... he is asking if you are currently ''taking a dump''? Is it a good time to talk?" Xu Huan felt somewhat awkward to say this.


    "What? Hahaha!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but burst into laughter, "He has a day when he grovels too? Wasn''t he all high and mighty last time he hung up on me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I can answer that," Hong Yi chuckled beside him. "This Mr. Mobai has indeed been through a lot this week. He only has one week left. If he can''t sign a contract with us at Silicon Moonlight within this time, his family will suffer."


    "That bad?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt some sympathy for Mobai, but this sentiment was abruptly cut off. Why hadn''t he thought of this day when he was flaunting his power before?


    Of course, Zhang Menglong also knew that Mobai was not the main culprit, but he just couldn''t find a particularly good reason or way to strike back at those above him yet. Still, teaching a lesson always needed to be done step by step.


    "Pass me the phone," Zhang Menglong said, taking the phone from Xu Huan.


    "Good morning, Mr. Mobai. Have you had breakfast?"


    "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhang. I''ve already eaten," Mobai replied with a strained smile, "I was wondering if you''re free recently. I would like to personally come to Huaxia and discuss a business matter with you."


    "Oh, you mean the chip matter, right? Haven''t I already sent you the quote and the contract? If you want to buy, just put down the order quantity and sign off on it!"


    Mobai cursed internally, mmp, are these even human prices? Only ghosts from the Underworld could afford such rates!


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve come with sincerity. Your price is a bit too high. I think there might have been some deep misunderstandings before. I hope we can talk properly this time and resolve our misunderstandings,


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "I''ll be waiting for you at Silicon Moonlight tomorrow morning. I indeed want to see how much sincerity you''ll bring!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, do you really plan to meet him?" Knowing Zhang Menglong as Xu Huan did, how could he possibly just agree to meet Mobai so easily?


    "Hahaha, do you think I am such an easy person to speak with?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Like I said, if they want to buy our chips, fine, they can accept this exorbitantly inflated price, or they can kneel before Silicon Moonlight until I''m satisfied!"


    "By the way, Mr. Zhang, leaders from Kaibong''s Xunguang Technology in Europe and Qingqiu''s Galaxy Technology among many other companies have also called, wanting to have a serious talk with you."


    "Sure, arrange for them all to come over tomorrow morning!" Zhang Menglong suggested.


    "Alright, I''ll go arrange that."


    "Wait!" Zhang Menglong stopped Xu Huan, "We have guests coming, we must prepare the hospitality items."


    "Are you referring to..."


    "Go buy a truckload of durians. Distribute the fruit flesh to the employees for today''s fruit for the afternoon tea, but keep the durian shells!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I don''t understand, what does this have to do with durians?" Xu Huan was puzzled, wasn''t it supposed to host them properly? Didn''t it mean to serve the fruit flesh? Moreover, not everyone loves eating this stuff¡ªis this how we test their sincerity? It doesn''t seem quite right, does it?


    "Xu Huan, after all this time you''ve been with me, how can you not understand the most basic etiquette? People are coming from far away to request our help, can we let them kneel on the cement floor?"


    Xu Huan: "???"


    Boss, your mom knows how badass you are, right? People come all this way to ask for your favor, and you have them kneel on the cement floor¡ªthat''s not too nice. But is it okay if they kneel on durians?


    ...


    Early the next morning, Mobai took his private jet to Baodao Province, and then rushed towards Silicon Moonlight.


    It was just an ordinary day for Silicon Moonlight, yet the company welcomed quite a few guests of special importance. They were all giants in the semiconductor industry, each having had a significant influence in the field.


    Mobai suddenly realized that it wasn''t just him visiting today; there were several old acquaintances too, including some he had dined with last time alongside Roberts.


    "Mr. Sekroni, Mr. Li Xianyun, Mr. Gu Xiong, you all..." Mobai saw a profound helplessness in their eyes, "Don''t tell me you guys also..."


    "Ah!" Those magnates all sighed and then reluctantly nodded. Their purpose today was the same as Mobai''s, having gone through what Mobai had experienced a few days earlier, making them more or less brothers in adversity.


    "Everyone''s here, huh?" At that moment, Xu Huan walked out from the company to personally welcome them at the entrance.


    "Let me introduce myself. I''m Xu Huan, the chairman''s assistant to Mr. Zhang Menglong. You can just call me Xiao Xu."


    Xu Huan, fluent in several languages, had no difficulty communicating with them.


    "Mr. Xu, where is Mr. Zhang and when can he meet us? We are all very anxious," Mobai said impatiently.


    "Mr. Zhang is having a shit. He said you guys should wait for a bit, and meanwhile, he wants to see today''s sincerity from you!"


    "Shitting and showing sincerity again!" The expressions on Mobai and others'' faces suddenly looked awful. They had a quite ominous premonition rising in their hearts.


    "We all came with sincerity and hope Mr. Zhang can see that," the boss of Chuangji Technology, Mr. Sekroni, said.


    "We would love to believe in your sincerity. That''s why we have prepared all these things!" Xu Huan pointed to a patch of ground near the company''s main gate, where various items were laid out.


    Durian skins, broken glass, instant noodles, keyboards, washboards...


    "Mr. Zhang said that as soon as he''s done shitting, he will come to meet you. Until then, he hopes you can kneel here and wait for him; as for what to kneel on, you can pick something yourselves!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re pushing it too far!" The magnates burst out swearing on the spot, "Even if we die here, we will not kneel before you!"


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang doesn''t necessarily demand that you do business with us. If you do not wish to wait for Mr. Zhang, you are free to leave. We also offer to reimburse your flight tickets," Xu Huan continued, "But as for what will happen if you cannot complete the task, we have no clue."


    "You..."


    Remembering the nightmare they endured a few days ago, they lost all their resolve in an instant.


    "Mobai, why are you running so quickly?"


    "Crap, since we have to kneel anyway, might as well find the most comfortable one, right?"


    "Didn''t you just say you''d rather die here than kneel?"


    "I was just talking nonsense!"


    "Sekroni, you..."


    "What are you spacing out for, do you really want to kneel on broken glass? I think this washboard isn''t bad!"


    "FUCK, you dare to steal my durian skin!"


    "What''s this? This..."


    "These are custom-made kneeling pads by Mr. Zhang. They might look even, but they''re studded with crushed diamonds!"


    "Mr. Gu Xiong, you can''t crush these noodles, because if they break, Mr. Zhang won''t meet you, you know!"


    ...

 Chapter 407 405: Its All Tricks

    "Look over there, why are several people kneeling?"


    "Eh? Aren''t those the leftover durian peels from our meal yesterday? Just looking at them makes my knees hurt!"


    "Hahaha, and why''s there someone kneeling on a washboard?"


    "There''s even someone kneeling on instant noodles. Did these guys piss off their wives and get punished to kneel? Is this the Ear-Tugging Boyband or what?"


    This was the busiest time for the company, as employees were constantly moving between the office building and the factory. And there they were, kneeling in the most conspicuous place, creating a grand spectacle of public humiliation.


    "That guy looks so familiar, where have I seen him before?"


    "Holy shit! Isn''t that the chairman of Qualcomm Electronics? I think I saw him last year when he came to terminate our collaboration and blockade our chip imports. He was so arrogant back then!"


    "I know that one; it''s the chairman of Galaxy Technology! These people seem to be bosses from top semiconductor enterprises!"


    "Hahaha, I heard about this; our boss Zhang pulled off a crazy stunt. Those guys sanctioned our country''s chip industry in the past. Now that our company can mass-produce 2nm chips, we''re charging them several times the price of other countries!"


    "Fortunes change in the blink of an eye; it''s only been a few months, and they surely never expected to be in this situation!"


    Employees began taking out their phones to take photos and videos upon seeing this scene.


    Last year, they had indeed felt frustrated as the company was forced to shut down. Even before Zhang Menglong took over, there had been massive layoffs, and salaries and benefits were reduced¡ªall thanks to these executives. Now, seeing their downfall was incredibly satisfying.


    At this moment, Mobai and the others wished they could find a hole to crawl into. This was nothing less than a large-scale social execution, an unprecedented level of humiliation for them.


    "It''s been ten minutes, why hasn''t Zhang Menglong come out yet?"


    "Didn''t he just go to take a dump? Could he be constipated?"


    "Don''t jinx it. If he''s constipated, how long will we have to kneel?"


    The unlucky fellow kneeling on diamond dust might as well have welded the Mask of Pain onto his face. Although his knees didn''t present a bloodbath, the tiny diamonds had already pierced his skin, and his knees were now a deep red.


    "Bro, can we switch places? My knees are about to give out on this washboard."


    "Get lost! I''m already kneeling so comfortably on the washboard, have I gone mad to trade with you? Who''s your brother?"


    "What did everyone used to say? We should share a common hatred, our enemy is Zhang Menglong, we need to help each other!"


    "That''s a totally different story!!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, I''m dying of laughter, I''m about to split open, these guys are so funny!"


    "You might not believe it if I say it, but a bunch of billionaires worth tens or even hundreds of billions are almost fighting over a washboard here."


    "It''s really a dog-eat-dog situation, hahaha!"


    "Boss Zhang, you''re so wicked, even setting up a livestream. I can''t, I''m gonna have to send you an airplane [gift]!"


    "Cut it out, sending Boss Zhang an airplane? Be careful, or Boss Zhang might send you an airplane, one that actually flies!"


    Mobai and the others could never have imagined that Zhang Menglong''s humiliation of them was not merely to this extent.


    Not far from where they were kneeling, a small camera was hidden, and tiny recording devices were installed in those durian peels and on the washboard.


    Now, these images and recordings were being streamed live on Huaxia''s largest streaming platform! Everyone in Huaxia knew they were kneeling in front of Silicon Moonlight''s door, waiting for Zhang Menglong.


    "Xu Huan, go see them. It''s getting hot, so take them something to drink!" Zhang Menglong said as he comfortably enjoyed the air conditioning and Ha?agen-Dazs while looking at the sweaty figures of Mobai and the others.


    "Boss Zhang, they''ve been waiting for 20 minutes now. Aren''t you going to meet them?" Xu Huan asked.


    "Just 20 minutes, still early days!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "If that''s all the sincerity they can muster, it''s far from enough!"


    "What if they ask where you are, what should I say? You''re still shitting?"


    "Just tell them I''m constipated!"


    "Uh..." Xu Huan was embarrassed; this was live streaming after all. Did Zhang Menglong really have no care for his public image?


    ...


    Although it was only May, the temperature on the treasure island had already approached 30 degrees Celsius. These bosses, each with a large belly and prone to sweating, were suited up, and even after just 20 minutes of kneeling, their backs were already soaked with sweat.


    Of course, some were sweating from pain, especially the guy kneeling on instant noodles, who was about to lose feeling in his legs trying not to crush the noodles.


    They truly wanted to slap their thighs and leave this place, to find somewhere to take a good bath.


    But they didn''t dare, if they just walked away, they were finished!


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the weather''s so hot, you all must be having a tough time waiting, right? Mr. Zhang has specifically sent me to bring you something to drink!"


    Seeing Xu Huan approaching, everyone perked up, "Assistant Xu, can we see Mr. Zhang now?"


    "I''m sorry, everyone, Mr. Zhang said he''s been a bit constipated recently and might need to use the bathroom a bit longer, so I''m afraid I must ask you to wait a little while longer," Xu Huan said, "You''ve all come with sincerity, so you wouldn''t mind waiting a bit more, would you?"


    "Haha, constipation? Goddamn constipation!"


    "Mr. Zhang is really killing a thousand enemies and sacrificing eight hundred of his own with such remarks, isn''t he? How could he say something like that?"


    "I bet 100 bucks he''s somewhere enjoying the air conditioning, eating cold treats, and watching the show!"


    "I bet another 100 bucks he''s shameless and still laughing right now!"


    ...


    "Of course, of course, we don''t mind..." The executives from Mobai and the other companies showed a smile of resignation. Dare they say they mind?


    Having something to drink to quench their thirst was already great!


    "Here, try the spicy hot pot base that Mr. Zhang prepared for our distinguished guests from afar!"


    Seeing the bubbling hot pot base, the audience revealed twisted smiles.


    "This... this has to be a joke!"


    "F*ck! Hahaha, where''s the promised beverage? Do I have a misconception about the word ''beverage''?"


    "How is this not a beverage? Are hot drinks not worthy of being called beverages?"


    "Goddamn hot drinks!"


    "Mr. Zhang, just how many more wild ideas do you have in your head?"


    "666666!"


    "I suddenly feel so sorry for them."


    "Pity the fool has his reasons, hadn''t it been for Mr. Zhang, tell me how many companies in Huaxia would have gone bankrupt, how many people would have lost their jobs? They had it coming!"


    ...


    "Please... Please thank Mr. Zhang for his kindness. We are not thirsty." They cursed Zhang Menglong''s ancestors eighteen generations deep in their hearts, but they still had to wear smiles on their faces, knowing very well that drinking that would make them transcend reality on the spot.


    ...


    An hour passed, and under the scorching sun, these dozen or so people were nearly passing out.


    "Gentlemen, Mr. Zhang has finished his dump, and seeing your sincerity, he invites you to discuss the contract!"


    Xu Huan''s voice instantly awakened them from their daze.


    "We''ve finally made it!" They exchanged glances, nearly shedding tears of excitement.


    The signing went smoothly, and when they got their hands on the contract, disbelief painted their faces.


    "Then, I wish us a successful collaboration!" Zhang Menglong shook hands with them as a token gesture.


    "It''s our honor!" The semiconductor giants, holding the contract, could finally go back and report.


    But Zhang Menglong''s next statement nearly killed them on the spot.


    "Xu Huan, the 1nm chip process has already begun to improve steadily, let''s prepare to start mass production in three months!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang!"


    Mobai: "???"


    Sikroni: "Meow meow meow?"


    Gu Xionggang: "Nani?"


    They had just secured the order for 2nm chips, and now Silicon Moonlight was already preparing to mass-produce 1nm chips? This...


    Zhang Menglong doesn''t take responsibility for killing people, does he?


    This is all a set-up!

 Chapter 408 406: How Many Thousand Years Would You Like?

    About the 1nm technology, Zhang Menglong wasn''t purely using it to irritate those chip suppliers; within three months, he indeed had the capability to industrialize it.


    However, if this industrialization were to scale up, it would still require the synchronized progress of many auxiliary technologies. Given the current pace of technological development, only a small portion of mass production could be completed after three months.


    Of course, although this mass production wouldn''t be sufficient for market proliferation, it was more than enough for the country to use for research and development.


    Pity those guys who kneeled under the scorching sun for half a day and spent a great deal of money, only to obtain a batch of chips that might be obsolete in a few months; they probably would be devastated once they got back.


    But all these had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong; his joy was built upon these people''s despair; some things you initiated, then you must pay the corresponding price.


    All this time, he had been busy with these messy matters and hadn''t met up with Wang Ling and the others for a long time. As if by telepathy, just then, Zhang Menglong received a call from Wang Lin.


    "Old Zhang, Qin Feng is in Jiangnan City, want to come out and gather?"


    "Sure!" Lu Yiyao was moving to Jiangnan City today, and Zhang Menglong had Hong Yi send someone to help, so he was the only one at home.


    The location chosen was a seafood restaurant owned by Zhang Menglong. Not just anyone was privileged enough to dine there; at this place, a meal without a six-figure sum was unimaginable.


    Don''t ask why it''s so expensive; all the seafood was flown in from around the world on international charter flights. Some of it went directly to Zhang Menglong''s home freezer, and the rest was delivered to this restaurant, arguably providing the freshest top-level sea flavors you couldn''t find elsewhere.


    "Old Zhang, long time no see, huh? I didn''t expect, within just a few months, you''ve stirred up so much," Qin Feng said with a laugh, "those guys really suffered at your hands.


    "They had it coming!" Zhang Menglong joked, "What about you, you went for military training?


    Compared to the last time they met, Qin Feng lacked the casualness typical of second-generation heirs and somewhat surprisingly, had gained an air of military austerity.


    "You noticed that?" Qin Feng said, somewhat surprised, "You know, my grandfather used to be a soldier, and this time, he said he wanted to train me. Right after the last racing event, he tossed me into the military camp for a few months!"


    "That figures," Zhang Menglong laughed, "those few months of training seem to have greatly enhanced your ideological awareness!"


    "Speaking of which, you''ve been in the military camp, how come you have time to visit Jiangnan City today?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Nothing much," Qin Feng replied, "It''s almost time for the old man''s 100th birthday, and I''m here to prepare a birthday gift for him."


    "A birthday gift? What kind of birthday gift does Qin the Young Master need to personally run here to find that a simple word wouldn''t have others scurrying to deliver?" Wang Ling teased.


    "This is no ordinary gift," Qin Feng said, "As you know, my grandfather lived through those times. Not to mention his injuries, and although he has always been robust, he''s getting on in years and his health is declining year by year. So, I thought of getting something special to nourish his health."


    At this point, Qin Feng''s tone became much more mysterious, "You might not know, but our families are quite unique. As for how unique, I can''t tell you, but I heard that in Jiangnan City, there''s a Chen family that possesses a ginseng plant over 1000 years old!"


    "A thousand-year-old ginseng?" Wang Ling gasped.


    Although the term "thousand-year-old ginseng" is often mentioned in various TV dramas and literary works, for a herbaceous plant like ginseng to live over a thousand years is nearly impossible. Only a few special varieties, growing in specific environments, could potentially achieve such an age.


    Some say it''s nonsense that ginseng can extend life. However, scientific studies have shown that ginsenosides in ginseng indeed enhance the antioxidant capability of human cells, and fundamentally, aging in humans is about battling oxidation.


    In 1993, a 325-year-old ginseng was auctioned for ten million US dollars, a staggering amount back then. If it were in the current times, its value could be counted in the billions.


    "This time, I''m here specifically for that thousand-year-old ginseng, hoping it can help regulate our old man''s health. If it could extend his life span, we, as descendants, would naturally be delighted."


    "Wait, this Chen family you speak of..." Zhang Menglong suddenly felt, could this family be Chen Bingyu''s?


    "There''s really no other family quite like them," Zhang Menglong pondered, "only ancient martial arts families are completely unknown to the secular world, and as for the surname Chen, it seems there''s only one such family."


    "They were willing to sell it to you?" Wang Ling asked, "If I had something that good, I definitely wouldn''t sell it."


    "I had prepared 500 million this time, and contacted them over a month ago. The Chen family, considering the old man''s past services of protecting the family and the country, was willing to part painfully with the ginseng and sell it to me."


    "Oh, and let me introduce this Brother Chen to you guys. Speaking of which, we met in the military camp. You would never guess, but he is about my age and has already become the champion of countless national military competitions!"


    With that, Qin Feng took out his cellphone.


    "Brother Chen, I''ve arrived in Jiangnan City. I am having dinner with two friends. How about you join us? We could also talk about the ginseng matter!"


    "What!"


    Qin Feng suddenly stood up fiercely, "Didn''t we agree... and now this happens?"


    "Well... I can''t really blame you, probably it''s just my old man''s bad luck!"


    Qin Feng sat down in the chair, his face showing disappointment.


    "Old Qin, what''s going on?" Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong eagerly asked. It sounded like there might be an issue with the millennium ginseng.


    "He said his family''s old man got injured and poisoned a while back, and they used the thousand-year-old ginseng to save his life, so..."


    "Such a coincidence? You sure they aren''t fooling you?" Wang Ling was clearly skeptical.


    "No, it should be true," Zhang Menglong remembered that the Chen family''s old man had been poisoned by the Ding family''s toxic inner strength, and it seemed that ginseng was probably used to suppress the old man''s injuries.


    The efficacy of a thousand-year-old ginseng strong enough to withstand the assault of inner strength only slightly below the Mythical Realm was indeed impressive.


    "You must be talking about the Chen family from North Ban Mountain?"


    "You know them?" Qin Feng exclaimed.


    "Sort of," Zhang Menglong nodded, "The Chen family''s old man indeed was poisoned recently, so he probably didn''t deceive you."


    Although surprised at how Zhang Menglong knew this ancient martial arts family, Qin Feng felt a wave of disappointment¡ªthis trip to Jiangnan City seemed futile.


    "But, if you''re looking for millennium ginseng, they aren''t the only family that might have it," Zhang Menglong smiled, "I might be able to help you find out."


    "Oh? Really?" A glimmer of hope sparked in Qin Feng''s eyes.


    "Hong Yi!" Zhang Menglong dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Lu and I are almost packed up, and we should be home by five in the afternoon."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I have something else to ask you, do you know where I can get millennium ginseng?"


    "Millennium ginseng? Your family has plenty of those, how many thousands of years are you looking for?"

 Chapter 409 407: The 5000-Year-Old Medicinal Field

    "Millennia old? Your question leaves me a bit lost for words," Zhang Menglong was visibly embarrassed on the spot.


    What is a millennial ginseng? That really counts as an extremely rare treasure, priceless, and unobtainable even with wealth.


    To casually ask for millennia-old ginseng? Can ginseng really live that long?


    "Hong Yi, though I''m not as well-read as you, don''t try to fool me. It''s already unimaginable for ginseng to live a thousand years, let alone two or three thousand," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, I wouldn''t dare to deceive you," Hong Yi responded, "As far as I know, your family established a medicine field in Changbai Mountain thousands of years ago where a variety of precious medicinal herbs were planted, including ginseng. They range from a hundred years old to five thousand years old!"


    "Five thousand-year-old ginseng?" Zhang Menglong was so frightened he almost peed a few drops. Wasn''t it agreed that ginseng couldn''t turn into spirits after the founding of the country? Wouldn''t a five thousand-year-old ginseng become a spirit?


    "Actually, I''m also curious about this. I only know that such a medicine field exists, but I''m not quite clear about the specifics. Do you need millennium ginseng?" Hong Yi inquired.


    "I''m asking on behalf of a friend," said Zhang Menglong, "Give me the contact information for the person in charge of that medicine field, and I will pay a visit myself."


    ...


    "Gou Dan, do you know about this?" Zhang Menglong quickly communicated with the Artificial Intelligence Gou Dan of the Super God Academy.


    "Headmaster, there''s nothing unusual about that. It''s just some genetic modification technology combined with some planting techniques," Gou Dan replied. "Your ancestors mastered genetic technology a long time ago through Super God Academy. As you know, things from the academy can''t be taken out of school, so, to preserve the ancient alchemy, your ancestors extensively planted genetically modified plants."


    "I see," Zhang Menglong replied, feeling slightly more at ease. However, mastering such advanced bioengineering technology over five thousand years ago still seemed incredibly astonishing.


    ...


    "Menglong, how is it going? Any news?" Qin Feng inquired with a look full of expectation.


    "Yeah," Zhang Menglong nodded, "How many millennia do you need? How many pounds?"


    "Pounds?" Wang Ling and Qin Feng''s eyes widened. "Can you not be so pretentious? It would already be impressive if you could procure one millennium ginseng, and you''re talking about pounds? Do you think it''s radishes we''re dealing with?"


    "You might not believe it, but in our family, millennium ginseng isn''t really that different from radishes!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Come to my house early tomorrow morning, and I''ll take you to a place!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong and the others then boarded a private plane headed towards Changbai Mountain Airport.


    Changbai Mountain is a vast mountain range, spanning across Huaxia and Korea. In Huaxia territory, the highest peak is Baiyun Peak, at an altitude of 2,691 meters, and the mountain''s Heavenly Lake at the summit is enveloped in mystery. Legend has it that there''s a monster living in the lake, attracting many adventurers.


    "When did your family get a piece of medicine field in Changbai Mountain?" Wang Ling asked curiously. "I know ginseng is abundantly produced in Changbai Mountain, but I''ve never heard of any privately-operated medicine fields, and isn''t this a tourist area?"


    Qin Feng was also very curious.


    "It''s a long story from the past," Zhang Menglong explained. "Actually, I don''t know much about it either. I just found out we have a medicinal garden here and someone will lead us there shortly."


    The plane landed smoothly at Changbai Mountain Airport, which was just a dozen kilometers from the Changbai Mountain scenic area. When they arrived, a car was already waiting for them.


    Two people came from the car, one was a man in his sixties, and the other was a young man of similar age to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang!" The elderly man and the young man bowed to Zhang Menglong, "Let me introduce myself, my last name is Zhong, just call me Old Zhong, and this is my grandson, Zhong Ze Sheng."


    ```


    "Hello," said Zhang Menglong politely, "Uncle Zhong, has my family''s medicinal field always been under your care?"


    "How could I have such ability?" Old Zhong laughed, "I''m just an old bag of bones who has guarded this medicinal field for merely a hundred years. Our Zhong family has been guarding this field for your family generation after generation for about two or three thousand years now."


    "Two or three thousand years?" Wang Ling and Qin Feng were petrified on the spot; didn''t that mean they would have to count back to before the Common Era?


    Qin Feng had always taken pride in his own family, as the Qin family was also a prominent family in Huaxia. Their elder had started conquering lands for Huaxia at an early stage, which was why they had gained such a status now.


    Putting aside power and influence, if only considering heritage, compared to the Zhong family, they were practically like little brothers!


    Even if it were a fallen family, if it left behind a few broken pots and rusty pans over two or three thousand years, by then, they would be rare antiques, how inferior could they be?


    And now, a family with a heritage of two or three thousand years was merely managing a medicinal field for Zhang Menglong''s family, how ancient could his family be?


    Until now, his understanding of Zhang Menglong had been limited to his wealth; he had never imagined that his family also had such a history!


    Zhong Zesheng drove them to the foot of Changbai Mountain. Here, there was a very special cableway that was not for tourists, but exclusively for the Zhong family''s use in accessing the medicinal fields.


    After a 30-minute ride on the cableway, they finally arrived at a valley between two mountain peaks, where there was actually a tunnel that led straight inside the mountain!


    "Wow, if no one knew better, they might think we''re here for some adventurous tomb raiding!" Wang Ling wrapped herself tighter in her down jacket.


    "Ssss!" Having passed through the somewhat dim tunnel, a blinding light pierced through several holes above their heads and into the interior of the mountain.


    "Ssss!" Wang Ling was stunned, Qin Feng was stunned, and Zhang Menglong was stunned as well.


    No one knew that inside of Changbai Mountain there was an enormous space with no end in sight, akin to a unique botanical garden with various medicinal herbs planted in different areas, and hundreds of people in uniform were working diligently here.


    "Is... is this all your family''s people?" Wang Ling asked.


    "Uncle Zhong, this is also my first time here, can you give me a brief introduction?" Zhang Menglong looked around the medicinal garden with curiosity.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Uncle Zhong spoke, "Our Zhong family currently has a total of 2,176 members, with those capable of working all tending to this medicinal field."


    "This internal space was likely excavated by your ancestors 5,200 years ago. The total area of the medicinal field is 20 square kilometers, but due to a geological change 1,200 years ago, it has been divided into 12 regions. The area you are in right now is the largest of them."


    "We grow a total of 367 types of medicinal herbs, out of which 212 species have already gone extinct in the outside world, but here, we have managed to mass-produce them!"


    ...


    "5,200 years..." In their minds, other than "holy shit," Wang Ling and Qin Feng could find no other words. 5,200 years ago, was not that when Huaxia civilization was just beginning to emerge? And the Zhang family already existed back then?


    Moreover, hollowing out a mountain, even with modern technology, would be a daunting task, let alone 5,000 years ago¡ªit was beyond their comprehension!


    "What is that over there?" Zhang Menglong pointed to the silvery-white buildings not far away.


    "That is the biological engineering lab," Old Zhong said, "We have been dedicated to genetic engineering research, and our current technology far surpasses the world''s peak standards. The medicinal effects of the herbs we grow here are definitely several times that of regular ones!"


    "I... I''m flabbergasted... ah bah, ah bah..."


    ```

 Chapter 410 408: Feel Free to Pull It Out

    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Hong Yi asked me to find out if this time it''s your friend who wants a thousand-year-old ginseng?"


    "That''s right," Qin Feng hurried to say.


    "How many thousands of years would you like?"


    "Cough cough cough!" Qin Feng coughed vigorously again. To ask such a question, aren''t you afraid others will curse you for being pretentious?


    "Uncle Zhong, let''s go have a look now!"


    "Okay, Mr. Zhang, everyone, please this way." Uncle Zhong led them directly toward the depths of the herbal field.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have grown three types of ginseng here, which were cultivated a long time ago. These varieties have a high content of ginsenosides, and their antioxidant capacity gets stronger as they age," Uncle Zhong explained as they walked.


    "Does this kind of ginseng really have life-extending effects?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Ginsengs under 500 years don''t really have a stable effect," Zhong Zesheng said. "Mr. Zhang, I am in charge of the research here, and I understand this better than my grandfather.


    "According to our current research data, ginsengs that are 500 to 1000 years old can reduce the oxidation rate of human cells by about 1% to 2%, which can extend the life of a healthy person by about a year."


    "What about ginsengs that are 5000 years old?" Qin Feng pressed.


    "Depending on the different physical constitutions of people, they can generally prolong life by 5 to 8 years. Of course, only the first-time consumption is effective, and if taken a second time, it will only have health-preserving benefits."


    "We''re here!" Zhong Zesheng pointed to a huge fertile area. "This is the planting area for the ginsengs, the soil here is also a high-nutrient mix that we have formulated based on our research, each square meter costs about 270,000 Huaxia currency."


    "270,000 per square meter?" Even Wang Ling, who had seen countless great scenes, couldn''t keep calm at this moment. This dozens of square kilometers of soil, it''s simply an astronomical figure!


    "Is this all ginseng?" Zhang Menglong squatted down, dug casually in the soil, and quickly found a piece of ginseng.


    "Holy shit! It''s this long?" Zhang Menglong pulled it out of the soil, and the root was actually over a meter long!


    "Dammit!" Qin Feng slapped Zhang Menglong''s hand. "Do you have any common sense? Do you think this is like pulling up radishes? How many roots do you break off with such pulling?"


    Qin Feng looked distressedly at the severed roots. "With such a long root system, it must be at least two or three hundred years old, right?"


    "Yes," Zhong Zesheng said with a smile, "The ginseng in this area was cultivated since the late Qing Dynasty, roughly two to three hundred years, not many¡ªjust over thirteen thousand."


    "Over thirteen thousand?" Ordinary ginsengs that are two to three hundred years old could easily sell for millions, and these have been genetically optimized. Just these alone, could they be worth tens of billions of Huaxia currency?


    "How many ginsengs are there in total here?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.


    "We have around 50,000 that are under 500 years old, but the largest quantity is the 500 to 1000-year-olds, about 120,000. Of the 1000 to 2000, 2000 to 3000, and 3000 to 4000-year-olds, there are roughly 20,000 each; 10,000 are between 4000 to 5000 years old, and over 40,000 that are more than 5000 years old."


    "Over 40,000 that are more than 5000 years old? How much money is that worth?" Zhang Menglong simply couldn''t imagine the value of the ginsengs planted here.


    "The ones over 5000 years old are the first batch planted here when your ancestors were quite interested in cultivating medicinal herbs, so the quantity of that batch was large. Initially, there were over 200,000 plants, it''s only a pity that the geological changes 1200 years ago directly damaged more than half of them."


    "That hurts!" Zhang Menglong held his heart. 150,000 ginsengs over 5000 years old¡ªthat''s truly a sin.


    "Old Zhang, your family is too awesome. With these things, are you trying to cultivate into immortals?" Aside from amazement, Qin Feng had no other way to express his shock.


    In fact, Qin Feng was half right; although Super God Academy had an even more amazing herbal field, getting things out of there would require a price. That''s why Zhang Menglong''s ancestors began cultivating on their own, integrating the properties of those herbs into the ones here using genetic engineering.


    The ingredients for the elixirs that the Zhang Family is currently refining actually come from this herb field, speaking of cultivation, it does quite fit the bill indeed.


    "Go ahead and help yourself, take a few pounds more, it''s no problem at all!" Zhang Menglong said generously, when it came to his friends, he was definitely not stingy.


    "Much appreciated!" Qin Feng was immediately overjoyed, his family''s old patriarch was already 100 years old, and at that age, no one knew when his time would come. If there was a way to let him enjoy a few more years of twilight life, the Qin Family would be willing to pay any price.


    "Ze Sheng, go get him some hemp bags!"


    "Hemp bags? Do you really think we''re pulling up carrots?" Qin Feng opened his backpack and took out an intricately made wooden box that could surprisingly be opened and folded, clearly he had come well-prepared.


    Qin Feng rolled up the legs of his pants and ran straight into the depths of the ginseng field like an enthusiastic harvester.


    "Old Zhang, can I..." Wang Ling immediately came over with a sly grin on his face.


    "Uncle Zhong, grab a few for my friend here, we''ll take them with us when we leave."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang."


    "Anything else?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Something more special."


    "Yes," Zhong Ze Sheng said, "there''s a kind of Autumn Cloud Stalk extinct for over 1,800 years with anti-cancer properties. It can''t cure cancer, but it works many times better than chemotherapy to effectively inhibit the spread of cancer cells, at least stabilizing the disease. With regular consumption, cancer patients can live a normal life until their natural death."


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, if this stuff was available on the market, those wealthy cancer patients would probably spend their entire fortunes on it.


    "There''s also the Dragon Yang Sunflower, its fruit has aphrodisiac effects, good for treating male diseases and enhancing male function."


    "What do you want this stuff for?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously, "Why do I feel like your research institute doesn''t seem very serious?"


    "Well..." Zhong Ze Sheng scratched his head, "this was something your great-grandfather... he had a hobby, which was beauties. He liked to change his companion nearly every night, so, you understand..."


    "Damn! I have an old lecherous ancestor like that?"


    ....


    "Achoo!"


    In a world where Dou Qi was rampant, someone who looked almost identical to Zhang Menglong suddenly sneezed.


    "Damn, who''s cursing me?"


    "Zhang Moname, if you''re going to kill me, just do it. What''s the point of tying me up? Even if you''re a Dou Saint, I will never bow down to you!"


    Zhang Moname immediately showed a sleazy smile, "Queen Medusa, why reject me from a distance? I have here a Heaven Rank cultivation technique called Yin Yang Harmony, with which if we cultivate together, we can quickly break through to Dou Di..."


    "Dream on, do you think there''s no one in this world who can deal with you? Dou Saint is not the peak of this world!"


    "Are you talking about Dou Di? Oh, right, just yesterday I beat up someone from Emperor Huntian, and I''ve already thrown him into Super God Academy, his wife is now on my bed."


    ...


    "Old Zhang!" Wang Ling quietly pulled Zhang Menglong aside, "Could I get some of that stuff for myself? A friend of mine, he''s a bit incapable, asked me to keep an eye out for this type of medicine, I..."


    "Oh, I get it," Zhang Menglong glanced at Wang Ling''s lower half, "your friend needs it, I know!"

 Chapter 411 409: Invest 10 Billion

    "Old Zhang, thanks a lot for this time, I''ll remember your favor!" A few minutes later, Qin Feng returned with a ginseng almost four to five meters in its root system.


    "Gosh, such a huge ginseng," Wang Ling marveled at the enormous root system. "The biggest ginseng I''ve ever seen had a root system of less than two meters in total. If this thing were to be sold, it''d probably cause quite a stir, right?"


    "More than just a stir," Qin Feng laughed. "There are just too many rich people in the world, but sooner or later, they all have to face birth, aging, sickness, and death. If there''s something that could let them live five or six years longer, those tycoons would probably go insane!"


    In fact, Qin Feng had a deeper reason he hadn''t mentioned. Although he was the rightful heir of his generation in the Qin Family, he still had many brothers and sisters. He wanted to stand out among them and become the next leader. Merely having ability wasn''t enough.


    And this thousand-year-old ginseng would not only prove his ability, allow him to impress his many brothers and sisters, but also show that he had exceptional connections.


    Moreover, extending the old master of the Qin Family''s life by five or six years was a very important and meaningful matter for the entire family, nothing less than a monumental achievement!


    "Just taking this one?" Zhang Menglong asked. "Are you looking down on me? Take more, they''re all worthless stuff!"


    "I''ll be damned..." Qin Feng almost slammed the ginseng he was holding to the ground. Worthless stuff? Believe it or not, I could burn down your entire medicinal field with a single fire! We are already this close, why play it cool? Could it kill you?


    "Look at him, not caring one bit about his image!" Zhang Menglong pointed at the sack in Wang Ling''s hands. It was packed full with precious medicinal herbs. If these were to be auctioned off, Wang Ling''s net worth might skyrocket into the ranks of Huaxia''s wealthy.


    "Why even be polite with him?" Wang Ling said nonchalantly. "Don''t you know this guy runs a dog-sized enterprise? To us, these are rare treasures, but in his eyes, they''re probably no different than radishes and garlic. You''re only thinking about your family''s old man, but what about your parents?"


    "Makes sense!" A lightbulb went off for Qin Feng. Right, if his family''s old master could live longer, how could he forget his own parents?


    "Any more sacks? Give me one too!"


    "There are more than a dozen over there, take them yourself!"


    "Damn it! I saw this one first!"


    "Son of a bitch, ginseng is everywhere around here, why fight me over this one?"


    ...


    By the time he got home, it was already evening. Lu Yiyao and Hong Yi were also back. Starting in September, Lu Yiyao would be a student of the Popular Music Department at the Jiangnan Arts University. Naturally, she couldn''t continue living at school on Zhang Menglong''s turf, so from today on, she would start living a shameless cohabitation life with Zhang Menglong.


    After some activities best left to the imagination, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were embracing each other, leaning on the pillows. They had longed for this kind of life for so long.


    "Have you thought about how to arrange the three months before graduate school starts?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I plan to participate in a reality show talent contest." Lu Yiyao seemed to already have a plan. "This season''s ''Children of Tomorrow'' features several powerful mentors. I can definitely learn a lot from them."


    "A talent contest?" Zhang Menglong shook his head. "Those things are all scripted, and if you want to learn, I can find you the best musicians in the world, whether it''s pop, operatic singing, lyric-writing or composing."


    Lu Yiyao of course believed in Zhang Menglong''s capabilities. Even as his woman, she still had no idea just how powerful his methods could be. Not to mention other things, if it were anything money could solve, she believed there was nothing Zhang Menglong couldn''t do.


    "I wouldn''t want that," Lu Yiyao laughed. "Some skills can be taught by good teachers, but others, not so much. In the show, I can gain plenty of stage experience. Plus, don''t you think it''s fun to be around so many people with the same interests and hobbies?"


    "Fun, yes," Zhang Menglong looked troubled. He knew these kinds of shows generally involve about three months of closed training, and they had just finally started their shameless cohabitation. Now to be separated for three months, Zhang Menglong was absolutely not willing!


    "Hmph! You just can''t get enough of my body!" Lu Yiyao pouted. "I don''t care, today I must convince you!"


    "Convincing me is out of the question, but if you want to seduce me to sleep, you can try!"


    "Ah! Zhang Menglong, you weren''t this racy before!"


    "That was me disguising it well in the past!"


    "Alright, then today I''m going to make sure you sleep soundly!"


    ...


    More than an hour later, Lu Yiyao had fallen into a deep sleep. Zhang Menglong tucked her in and quietly left the room.


    "Mr. Ma," Zhang Menglong dialed Ma Hua''s number, "I hope I''m not disturbing you at this late hour?"


    "Was about to sleep," half the night had passed, and Ma Hua was already feeling drowsy. If it had been anyone else looking for him, he might have cursed them out on the spot, but the moment he saw the caller was Zhang Menglong, his sleepiness completely disappeared.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s up this late?" Since their last meeting in Europe, Zhang Menglong hadn''t contacted him, so a call at this hour must be urgent!


    "Do me a favor."


    "What is it that Mr. Zhang needs help with that I can assist you with?" Ma Hua was genuinely intrigued. Had he really become big-shot enough to be of help to Zhang Menglong? He certainly wasn''t aware of it.


    "This year, I''m taking care of all the sponsorship and investment for your company''s ''Future Star'' program."


    "Since when did you start paying attention to these entertainment industry matters, Mr. Zhang?" chuckled Ma Hua.


    "My girlfriend has nothing better to do and wants to join your ''Future Star'' program. If she really goes, it will mean two or three months of closed training. As an investor, visits to the set would definitely be more convenient."


    "Tsk tsk, young people," Ma Hua quickly understood Zhang Menglong''s intention. Visits to the set? Just say you don''t want to be a monk for three months; can''t you be a bit more direct? We''re adults here, after all.


    "Also, I don''t want any scripted scenarios in this year''s competition."


    "Done!" Ma Hua knew this was a great opportunity to get closer to Zhang Menglong. "Now that you have spoken, Mr. Zhang, I''ll personally take charge of this year''s ''Future Star''."


    "By the way, how much do you plan to invest?"


    "Hmm... let''s go with 10 billion!"


    "How much?" Ma Hua nearly thought he misheard. Looking at the past few years, they had already been wildly spending money to garner attention and popularity, but the cost for one season''s production was only about 3 billion.


    Zhang Menglong had said 10 billion right off the bat. If he really spent that much, he would definitely not be able to recoup the costs!


    "This season, I want the best mentors, the best equipment, the best production, and the best traffic promotions. If 10 billion isn''t enough, I''ll add another 10 billion!"


    "This isn''t investing!" Ma Hua had only heard about Zhang Menglong''s extravagant spending, but now he was truly witnessing it firsthand. This wasn''t just burning money, this was treating mortal world money like it was Underworld money!


    "Alright, I''ll set up a special team to arrange it tomorrow!"


    ...


    "Hmm?" Just as Zhang Menglong had put down the phone, another call came in. Who could it be this late at night?


    "Old Zhou?" Zhang Menglong was puzzled. Old Zhou was getting on in years. Was he not sleeping in the middle of the night to have a heart-to-heart with him?


    "Old Zhou, do you need something this late at night?" Zhang Menglong answered the phone.


    Old Zhou''s tone was unusually serious: "Menglong, there''s been an incident!"

 Chapter 412 410: Have a Cup of Milk Tea and Enjoy the Show

    "Mr. Zhou, please don''t panic, take your time!" Zhang Menglong tried his best to soothe Mr. Zhou''s emotions.


    For someone like Mr. Zhou, who had experienced countless trials and tribulations throughout his life, it would take more than a trivial matter to cause such severe distress to his emotions.


    "Our Donghuang Clock system has been attacked, and our technical staff are barely holding on!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was genuinely surprised this time. After all, he had already enhanced the Donghuang Clock system with a piece of simple Artificial Intelligence the last time. It was like an organic being, constantly refining and strengthening itself.


    By now, the defensive power of the Donghuang Clock system should be at least twenty to thirty years ahead of its time. The technology of this era could not possibly inflict any effective damage to it.


    "Do you know who the attackers are?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I suspect they''re after the data in the system," Mr. Zhou said, "but we don''t know the identity of the other party. Just fending off their attacks is already extremely difficult, we simply don''t have the capacity to trace their origins!"


    "I''m guessing it''s those countries stirring up trouble again," Zhang Menglong said. He had recently completed the mass production of the 2nm chip and, together with the endless technological breakthroughs from Huaxia, it''s likely that the developed countries'' apprehension toward Huaxia had reached an all-time high. It was not out of the question that, in a fit of desperation, they would attack Huaxia''s Donghuang Clock system to steal these confidential data.


    You should know, the data stored in this system were not just ordinary research findings and technical materials. Even the materials that Zhang Menglong initially handed over were stored here. If the system really were to be breached, it would be no joke.


    "Leave this to me," said Zhang Menglong, his gaze suddenly took on a dangerous edge.


    For him, ever since mastering Tony Stark''s Artificial Intelligence technology, he was the god of the entire network!


    Though, so far, the most he had used this technology for was to hack into Kaibong to search for original, uncensored artistic works. But that didn''t mean Zhang Menglong''s skills were limited to just that!


    For him, Earth''s network was like his own backyard. If he so wished, he could uncover any country''s secrets, find scandals in the personal computers and inboxes of any country''s leaders!


    As for Huaxia''s network, that was his territory. And now someone dared to run wild on his turf? How could he bear with that?


    Zhang Menglong immediately turned on his computer, his fingers dancing across the keyboard like he was playing the piano, and within seconds, he had hacked into the Donghuang Clock system, acquiring the highest level of Administrator permissions!


    "Mr. Zhou! Our Administrator permissions have been taken over!"


    "What? Has the system been breached?" Mr. Zhou''s face changed color drastically. Having the administrator permissions snatched away, wasn''t that a clear sign that the system had been breached?


    "Not yet!" a technician, drenched in sweat, said, "The attack is still ongoing, and this person must have bypassed our defense system and directly accessed the highest permissions. His skills are probably even higher than those attackers!"


    "These skills, why do they remind me of that person from a few weeks ago?" The technicians suddenly recalled a strange incident that had occurred not too long ago.


    They had their system''s administrator permissions effortlessly taken, but instead of causing damage or stealing data, that person uploaded several files into the system. They even casually fixed several bugs and implanted a piece of Artificial Intelligence capable of optimizing the system continuously!


    If it weren''t for that master''s operation at that time, their system would probably have fallen to these mysterious attackers by now.


    "Menglong, is that you?" Mr. Zhou quickly asked.


    "Don''t be nervous, I''ve taken the Administrator permissions," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Tell the technicians to take a break. I''ve ordered them some milk tea!"


    "Milk... milk tea?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Zhou''s other phone started ringing¡ª it was a delivery guy''s call!


    "Hello, this is Chou Tuan delivery service. Someone just ordered 127 cups of milk tea for you. May I know how to reach your address? We seem unable to locate it on the map."


    "This..." Mr. Zhou was utterly stupefied.


    This was his private phone number; he had never used it to contact Zhang Menglong. How could Zhang Menglong possibly know it?


    Furthermore, the Donghuang Clock system''s headquarters was a highly secretive location. Its address wasn''t marked on any public maps¡ªit could only be found by the Donghuang Clock system''s staff!


    What was even more baffling was that Zhang Menglong somehow knew that there were exactly 127 people here at the moment. Could it be that he had installed a camera here?


    "What other capabilities does this kid have?" At this point, Mr. Zhou was completely astounded by Zhang Menglong''s power. It seemed not even mobilizing the nation''s resources could achieve this, could it? Did Zhang Menglong have people inside the Donghuang Clock system''s department?


    But that shouldn''t be possible, every staff member undergoes strict political vetting, there''s absolutely no way this kind of problem could arise.


    "This is outrageous!" Mr. Zhou could feel that Zhang Menglong inexplicably ordered them over a hundred cups of milk tea, likely trying to prove his ability and thereby getting them to relax.


    "You all... take a break!" A few minutes later, Mr. Zhou returned to headquarters with several people carrying hundreds of cups of milk tea, "Have some milk tea, let''s not worry about the system now, everyone just sit back and enjoy the show!"


    "Have milk tea?"


    "Enjoy the show?"


    All the technical staff looked at each other in disbelief. This was the Donghuang Clock system! If it were breached, the nation''s secrets would be lost. How could they be asked to drink milk tea and enjoy the show? What on earth was going on with Mr. Zhou today?


    "Look, the Administrator account has started to set up new network defenses!"


    "So fast! Does he have ten hands or what?"


    "No, this isn''t a manual operation, this is Artificial Intelligence!"


    "How is that possible? How could Artificial Intelligence have such responsive capabilities?"


    "How, with current technology, could such Artificial Intelligence be created?"


    The technicians suddenly wished they could press their faces against the screens of their monitors.


    "What''s wrong?" Mr. Zhou asked, as he was completely clueless about technical matters.


    "The person who took over the Administrator privileges has implanted a new Artificial Intelligence in the Donghuang Clock system. According to my estimate, this Artificial Intelligence''s depth is at least over 200?"


    "Intelligence depth?"


    "Yes, with the current level of technology, the best Artificial Intelligence developed by Kaibong country has an intelligence depth of about 2.4, which is globally recognized as the highest!"


    "This Intelligence is a hundred times more powerful than the most advanced one available now!"


    ...


    "Jarvis, help me wipe out this bunch of people, then help me track down their location. How dare they strike at Huaxia, do they think they''re living too comfortably?"


    Although Zhang Menglong had learned Tony''s Artificial Intelligence technology, he didn''t currently have enough time to create high-grade Artificial Intelligence; after all, Jarvis was also the fruit of Tony Stark''s many years of labor.


    So Zhang Menglong simply borrowed Tony''s Jarvis directly from the Super God Academy.


    The cost wasn''t very high, only five Cred Points per minute, which Zhang Menglong could easily afford!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhou, their attacks have been blocked! Their offense can''t find even the slightest vulnerability!"


    "It''s perfect, with such defensive power; even if the attack strength were increased tenfold, it would still be impossible to break through the Donghuang Clock!"


    "Mr. Zhou, is this your mysterious helper? Incredible! Why not lure them over to work here!"


    "Alright, brothers, watch the master''s performance! Time for milk tea!"


    "Do you have Milo? I want it hot!"


    "I want soy milk Kirin!"


    "Who wants a passion fruit double blast?"


    ...

 Chapter 413 411 Im Just an Ordinary Huaxia Handsome Guy

    In a secret base in the southeastern part of Huaxia, eight Asians dressed in uniform were gathered together, observing a century-scale cyber warfare.


    In fact, the person who initiated the attack on the Donghuang Clock system this time was just one person, and they could never have imagined, the individual was merely a boy under the age of 15.


    His name was Okan Mugo, a Kaibong, but in this world, his information had long since disappeared; to this world, he was already dead.


    Okan Mugo suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Three years ago, his condition had been confirmed, and as his bodily functions gradually declined, the medical world had branded him a "living dead."


    The life of 12-year-old Phyllis suddenly plunged into despair. He indulged in the internet as if it could make him forget his pain.


    But something miraculous happened to him. Once, his computer was invaded by a mysterious website, which displayed only a sentence and two options.


    "Want to understand the meaning of life? Really want to... live?"


    "Yes!"


    "No!"


    Confused at the time, Phyllis immediately chose "Yes".


    Since then, he had completely disappeared from his original world. He arrived at a place called "Main God World," where he had to survive in one dangerous world after another, which might be movies or novels. Here, if he survived a world, he could earn some points.


    With these points, he could exchange for anything!


    Yes, anything!


    He cured his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and gained unbelievable powers. At last, narrowly surviving death multiple times, he collected enough points to buy his freedom, and left the "Main God World."


    Returning to reality, due to unclear and undefinable reasons, part of his power was stripped away, but even so, he still possessed intelligence, strength, and knowledge far beyond ordinary people.


    The other seven people by his side had similar experiences. They were teammates who had fought side by side in that world.


    After returning to the real world, they all exhibited certain abilities that were beyond ordinary, and because of these anomalies, they were quickly targeted by the "Dark Ninja" organization of Kaibong.


    Although their strength was halved, their formidable, unique abilities were such that even several Divine Ninjas of the Dark Ninjas could do nothing about them!


    Eventually, Kaibong granted them a special designation called "Returners." There were only eight Returners, six men and two women. They had all the privileges and resources of the Dark Ninjas but were not under the jurisdiction of the Dark Ninjas; they reported directly to the top echelons of Kaibong!


    Over the years, there had hardly been a situation requiring their intervention, but this time, as Huaxia rose, Kaibong felt the pressure and directly sent this group of "Returners" to break into Huaxia''s Donghuang Clock system and steal technologies, including but not limited to mass production technology for 2nm chips.


    The technological level of the Donghuang Clock was indeed leading the world. Even Kaibong''s top hackers might struggle to impact the Donghuang Clock system, but the capabilities of the "Returners" were not to be underestimated by the standards of this world.


    In Okan Mugo''s eyes, the Donghuang Clock system was quite good and indeed very powerful, but breaking through it would only take a matter of two extra minutes or two fewer minutes.


    "Okan, what''s the matter with you? A minor system, and you haven''t breached it in ten minutes? Have you been just playing games on your computer these years?" a burly, bald Kaibong man said.


    This man appeared simple-minded, but his strength was enough to effortlessly tear apart a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his muscle density could withstand the most powerful anti-material weapons.


    "Yeah, Kaibong, back in the world of Biohazard, the Red Queen''s system was much more powerful than this so-called Donghuang Clock. You killed that Artificial Intelligence bitch in just three minutes. What''s going on this time?"


    "Cut the chatter!" Kaibong''s expression turned very serious. He was shocked when he first attacked the Donghuang Clock¡ªthe overall framework of the system seemed quite ordinary, but hidden within it was a segment of advanced Artificial Intelligence.


    This AI-built firewall actually withstood his intrusion for ten minutes!


    The technicians of the Donghuang Clock were outstanding in their own right, but for Kaibong, calling them garbage wouldn''t be an exaggeration¡ªtheir defenses were like flesh and blood trying to withstand modern artillery.


    But the presence of this Artificial Intelligence was like dressing these people in bulletproof armor. Although they were still doomed, they could struggle for a short time!


    It was this ability to struggle that kept Kaibong attacking for a full ten minutes!


    But what he never expected was that just when he was about to succeed, another new Artificial Intelligence appeared within the Donghuang Clock''s system, and the strength of this one far exceeded his imagination!


    Can you imagine? It was originally like two armies clashing, you are in a warship while the opponent has only cavalry and infantry with melee weapons, but suddenly, they transform, pulling out Evas and Gundams¡ªwhat the hell is this!


    "Crackle!" Kaibong''s operating speed got even faster.


    "Dammit!" Kaibong''s demeanor suddenly changed dramatically, and even his eyes, originally black, turned to blue!


    "He''s unlocked his Gene Lock!" His companions'' faces also turned grave.


    Gene Lock is the most important trait for those who have been through endless worlds, greatly enhancing their brain capacity. In this state, no external factors can affect them, their strength, speed, physical stamina, and thinking abilities, among others, undergo astonishing changes.


    Normally, people can only unlock the Gene Lock in a life-or-death crisis, and once unlocked, as long as they survive the nearly gene-crushing backlash, they can freely control this power.


    Now that Kaibong is directly using the power of the Gene Lock, it shows that he''s already using his full strength!


    Besides his combat abilities, Kaibong''s strongest asset is his IT skills¡ªuntil now, one could say the entire world held no secrets from him!


    But now he''s met an even stronger opponent!


    "Swoosh!" Kaibong''s computer suddenly went into a blackout. His computer was directly hacked by the opposing tech!


    "How is this possible!" Even in an absolutely calm state, Kaibong''s face was filled with shock.


    This computer was not a product of this era, but something he brought from the Main God world; its performance was almost akin to a supercomputer capable of processing tens of billions of operations. Plus, with his skills, it had always been him hacking others¡ªwhen had it ever been his turn to be hacked?


    Just when they were all dumbfounded, lines of Huaxia script popped up on the computer screen.


    "Little noobs, you thought you could stir up trouble in our Huaxia? Sorry, but you''ve successfully gotten my attention! I give you ten minutes to strip off your underwear, put it on your heads, and then get the hell out of Huaxia, or I''ll come and smash your den in a bit!"


    "Who are you?" Kaibong immediately typed a message. The opponent had such skills¡ªcould they also be from that world? But as far as he knew, since the Main God world had existed, they were the first group who had accumulated enough points to escape from that place.


    "Don''t ask who I am, my online name is Gu Tianle, just a humble, handsome guy from Huaxia!"

 Chapter 414 412 Just a Few Rotten Rats

    "People from the Main God world? Oh boy, I really thought that was a place that only existed in novels. You really do live and learn!"


    Zhang Menglong was holding a thick stack of information, which contained all the details about these eight individuals.


    Actually, aside from those eight individuals themselves, even the key figures from Kaibong were unaware of their origins, because they had never mentioned it to any outsiders.


    However, they didn''t know that when they left the Main God world, a bodyguard from the Zhang Menglong family who was in charge of monitoring the Kaibong area had learned everything.


    It seemed due to some restrictions, when they first returned from the Main God world, they all had an Energy Intensity of 19 units, which at that time only allowed them to fight to a draw with the various "Nin Gods" and "Nin Emperors" of Kaibong.


    In the span of half a year, the "Returners''" strength had recovered to between 23 to 27 Energy Units, which is equivalent to Martial Artists at the third to seventh step of the Heavenly Origin Boundary. If you exclude those related to Zhang Menglong, this group of Returners would find no match on Earth today.


    Today if it weren''t for him, Huaxia''s Donghuang Clock system would probably be completely scrapped. Not only would key technical data be stolen, but even Huaxia''s important secrets could have been taken¡ªthis was no small matter.


    The most important part was that this group of "Returners" wasn''t attacking remotely from within the Kaibong Boundary, but instead had brazenly come right into Huaxia territory and, using unknown methods, had managed to evade the surveillance of "Longxia."


    "Old Zhou, it''s all taken care of now. I''ve also reinforced the Donghuang Clock system on this occasion. With the system''s strength this time, even if it encounters an invasion several times more powerful than this one, it shouldn''t run into any problems," said Zhang Menglong.


    The defense system that Jarvis had personally established was likely impenetrable even if Zhang Menglong, with his current technical skills, were to personally take action against it.


    "Menglong, you''ve been bothered again," Old Zhou sincerely thanked him, while casually popping a few pearls and coconut jellies into his mouth.


    "However, the invaders this time aren''t just any ordinary people," said Zhang Menglong. "They are all from Kaibong, now inside a spy base within Huaxia. Given that this operation has failed, I wouldn''t rule out the possibility of them taking more extreme actions."


    "Not just any ordinary people, could it be that you..."


    "Hahaha, Old Zhou, actually, I know that young man called Hui Rui by your side is not an ordinary person either."


    "Good lad, it seems you know a lot!" Just from this sentence, Old Zhou could directly infer that Zhang Menglong certainly knew about the existence of the second world and that it was even possible someone similar was by his side.


    "Is it people from Kaibong''s ''Dark Ninja''?" asked Old Zhou.


    "Not them, but they are more troublesome than the Dark Ninjas," Menglong replied.


    "What do you mean by extreme actions?"


    "Since they''ve failed through system invasion, they''re very likely to pursue threatening actions against you or other important individuals."


    "They''ve got some nerve!" Old Zhou slammed the table. "Do they still think we''re as easily manipulated as we used to be?"


    "Don''t worry, Old Zhou. Today, I''ll wipe out these rats in one fell swoop!" Zhang Menglong naturally would not allow these dangerous elements to remain in Huaxia.


    "Do you need me to send someone to help you? Although I''m retired, I can still pull some strings to get some people over from Longxia."


    "No need," Zhang Menglong declined, "These people are formidable, Longxia wouldn''t be able to handle them."


    "Even Longxia can''t handle them?" Old Zhou was surprised, "Then you..."


    "Rest assured," Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Just tonight, there might be some illogical events happening, and tomorrow I might need Old Zhou''s help in controlling public opinion."


    "Alright, I''ve got this. Just be careful."


    "Just a few lousy rats, leave them to me!"


    Zhou Lao hung up the phone and fell deep into thought, "What else does this kid know that I don''t?"


    ...


    "Ten minutes have passed, it seems you didn''t cherish the opportunity I gave you!"


    Another line of text appeared on Gangmu Wu''s computer screen.


    "Huaxia people, don''t be so smug. Although we can''t break through the Donghuang Clock system, there are a hundred ways for us to get what we want!"


    "No, you have no chance, because this year you will die in Huaxia, and by this time next year, the grass on your graves should already be over a meter tall," Zhang Menglong quickly typed several more lines, "Tomorrow night, I''ll build a bar on top of your graves, open it for free, and have people dance on your graves every single day!"


    "This Huaxia man is looking for death!" One of the eight Returners emitted a green glow; in the Main God Space, he had exchanged for the bloodline of the Giant, and although he wasn''t as strong as the real Giant, in extreme anger, his strength could even reach an energy intensity of 28 energy units, which is close to the strength of Level Eight of the Heavenly Origin Boundary!


    "Calm down!" said the most composed young man among the eight.


    He was a slender and handsome young man, but everyone knew that in the reincarnation worlds of the Main God Space, he was a king!


    In his state with his potential lock unlocked, his combat strength could even exceed 30 energy units!


    "Our mission this time is just to get Huaxia''s technological information; let''s not deviate from our objective. Merely in information technology, surpassing Gangmu Wu is enough to show that this Huaxia man is no ordinary person!"


    "So what, should we really do as he said and strip down to our underwear, put it on our heads, and roll out of Huaxia?"


    "Hmph! As far as I am aware, the strongest in Huaxia is nothing more than a Martial Artist at the peak of the Grandmaster Realm and a Psychic with an energy intensity of 19 energy units. Do you think there''s anyone in Huaxia who could harm us?"


    "Hahaha! That''s true! Hui Jie, your Gene Lock has reached Level Five; at full burst, you can reach an energy intensity of 30 units."


    "Since we can''t succeed in the shadows, let''s take the direct approach," said the young man known as Hui Jie, "Gangmu, start by investigating who is the highest Administrator of those technologies in Huaxia!"


    "Wait!" Just then, the woman with a pair of special glasses suddenly spoke up, "Before that, we might have to deal with a bunch of trash first, "12 in total, the strongest with a combat power of 72, a mere 7 energy units intensity, by Huaxia''s classification of the second world''s powers, they''re just Level Seven Psychics."


    "They''ve arrived quite fast; it''s only been a few days since we arrived in Huaxia, and Huaxia''s Longxia special forces have already found our trail. You have to admit they are somewhat capable."


    "But truly, they are not afraid of death. Don''t they know who we are?"


    "Of course not, otherwise why would they dare come?"


    "Hahaha, Level Seven Psychics? By their classification, we must be at least Level Twenty-plus Psychics, right?"


    "Good, it''s been a long time since I''ve killed anyone. Today will be a good day to teach the Huaxia people a lesson, to remind them that this world wasn''t theirs to command in the past, it isn''t now, and it certainly won''t be in the future!"


    "Correct, hahaha, the future belongs to Kaibong!"


    "Bang!" The building''s doors were directly shattered by an explosive force, and immediately 12 Longxia Psychics charged into the building.


    "Huaxia Longxia special forces, please lay down your arms immediately!"


    ...

 Chapter 415 413: Xia Gangmen Kailie

    If Zhang Menglong were here, he would definitely recognize the captain of this 12-man squad as Gu Yuanwu, whom he had once met in Europe as a member of the Longxia special operations team.


    At that time, Gu Yuanwu was a Level Six Psychic, and after more than half a year of training, he had now become a Level Seven Psychic!


    According to the regulations of the Second World Convention, Second World humans of Level Seven and above are generally not allowed to leave their own country''s territory. Following Longxia policy, Gu Yuanwu has become a member of the "Defender" department within the Longxia group.


    The Defenders'' task is simple, that is, to prohibit any other country or organization''s Second World personnel from infiltrating their territory. Once such individuals are detected, they must be dealt with immediately.


    More than 70 years ago, the battle in the Himalayas¡ªwhere Martial God Yin Wuyi and Longxia group leader Meng Tianhe became famous¡ªnot only deterred the whole of Huaxia but also shocked the entire world.


    In fact, over the years, various countries and regions around the world have committed violations of the Second World Convention, but no one has dared to step into Huaxia, making the Defenders a rather idle department.


    Gu Yuanwu was assigned to the Jiangzhe division a month ago, mainly responsible for defending the coastal areas. As usual, Martial Artists patrolled the jurisdiction every day, carrying the most advanced equipment to ensure they could detect any unusual individuals immediately.


    The patrol personnel''s work shift was 12 hours. But a few days ago, when the shift team arrived at the base for the routine handover, they had to wait an extra two hours, as the previous shift''s members had not yet appeared.


    Such a thing had never happened since the establishment of the Defenders!


    They immediately launched an investigation and, a few hours later, they found the bodies of this group of team members on a coastal island.


    It was clear that a battle had taken place on the island, but the traces of the battle were not severe, indicating that the fight did not last long.


    By joining the Defenders, these warriors were ready to sacrifice themselves at any moment, but when they saw the bodies of their comrades, they couldn''t help but shed tears.


    Their ends were truly tragic; not a single person was left with a complete body¡ªthey looked as if they had been torn apart by some incredibly strong creature, leaving only a pile of shredded corpses!


    In order to avenge their fallen comrades, Gu Yuanwu''s squad launched a thorough investigation immediately and, just an hour ago, they finally located the group of individuals. Hurrying all members of the support team, Gu Yuanwu led the way to confront them directly.


    "Another bunch of annoying bugs!" The bald strongman showed a relentless expression, "I''m saying, if you''re going to come after us, couldn''t you bring more people? Your previous batch of teammates didn''t even last a minute, and you few will probably hold out for at most two minutes."


    "Did you kill them?" Gu Yuanwu''s anger flared instantly.


    "If you''re talking about that trash left on that island, then yes, it was me," the bald strongman licked his lips, "The sound of bones and muscles being torn, it''s such a marvelous melody!"


    " You sick freak!" One of the female members of Gu Yuanwu''s team couldn''t control her emotions, as one of the Psychics torn apart was her fiance?.


    "Zhou Ke, stay calm, these people are tough!" Gu Yuanwu immediately restrained the female team member.


    Although it was their first encounter, he instinctively felt a tremendous oppressive force from these Kaibong people, even a bit suffocating.


    "You''ve got some insight as a captain," said the strongman, "I remember you guys should carry that life energy detection device, right? Why don''t you check out how strong our life energy is."


    One of Longxia''s team members hesitated for a moment, then operated a watch-like device on their wrist, and immediately a surprisingly high number appeared on it.


    "Yuan Cheng, what''s wrong? Is the opponent really strong?" Considering the way their comrades were brutally killed, he had been prepared.


    The situation here had already been reported to the higher-ups, and all they had to do now was to buy time.


    "Twenty... twenty-seven units of energy intensity."


    "What? Twenty-seven?" All the Longxia team members were momentarily petrified.


    Gu Yuanwu was already the strongest person in the squad, his strength was only seven units of energy intensity.


    You have to understand, the unit of energy intensity increases exponentially¡ªa combat strength of eight units of energy intensity is at least twice as strong as a Psychic of seven units!


    Even that man they viewed as a god, the leader of Longxia, only had an energy intensity of 19 units!


    What did 27 units of energy intensity mean? One person could single-handedly sweep through all the Second World organizations in the world!


    "25 units, 26 units... 25 units!"


    That team member named Yuan Cheng pronounced a series of numbers that almost spelled despair.


    "Is there a problem with the device?"


    "No, the instrument isn''t the problem!"


    The entire answer sent a chill down everyone''s spine.


    Not to mention them, even if the captain of Longxia had been here, he wouldn''t have been able to delay these people!


    Now they knew why their comrades hadn''t even been able to send out a distress signal. The gap in strength was too vast, and with such a disparity in power, this was no distress signal; it was a death knell!


    "Since we''re all here, let''s finish this," the Kaibong named Hui Jie Rock Second spoke as if discussing something trivial, "Act quickly, let''s resolve this and leave as soon as possible. If this gets too big, it''s not good for us either."


    "Hahaha, what is there to fear? Even if the whole world knows of our existence, what does it matter? Who has the capability to punish us?"


    "You don''t listen to what I say?" Hui Jie Rock Second''s eyes flashed sharply.


    The burly man immediately shut his mouth. It was apparent he deeply feared the skinny youth. The power contained within his seemingly frail body was terrifying beyond imagination.


    "Too late!"


    In an instant, everyone was enveloped in darkness, and today perhaps none of them would leave this place alive!


    The burly man walked forward with a sinister laugh. With every step he took, the ground cracked beneath his feet.


    "A shocking thunder in the sky, the old timer makes a stunning entrance!"


    Suddenly, a greasy voice echoed through the building.


    "Who!" The burly man immediately went into full combat readiness, but he couldn''t sense any energy fluctuations around him.


    A moment later, distorted figures began to appear around the building, causing the expressions of the eight people to change dramatically.


    "Beep beep beep!" Shocking numbers began to appear on the glasses of one of the female members.


    "Energy intensity 29, 29, 29... a total of 100 energy intensity 29 reactions!"


    "What? How could Huaxia possibly have so many..."


    "Ugh!"


    "Ugh!"


    "Cough cough cough!"


    Just then, two young men appeared before their eyes as if they had teleported instantly.


    One of the youths was dressed in black, his facial expression unchanging.


    The other was wearing pajamas and slippers, bending over in a corner and vomiting violently.


    "Ye Yin, what the hell is wrong with you, why is it so disgusting?" Zhang Menglong cursed as he continued to vomit.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s nothing to be done about it. Your physical constitution is too weak; after undergoing that spatial teleportation, some physiological reactions are inevitable."


    "Damn, if I had known, I wouldn''t have come, ugh..."


    "Who are you?" The eight Returners'' relatives were filled with caution. Suddenly 102 people had appeared, and besides the youth vomiting crazily, not one was weaker than them.


    "You are Hui Jie Rock Second? You''re Okan Ki? You are Mizu Hanakaze..." Zhang Menglong listed off the eight people''s names.


    "Who the hell are you?" Not even many of the higher-ups knew the names of these eight people.


    "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My online name is Gu Tianle, just an ordinary handsome guy."


    "You''re that person?" Okan Ki''s gaze towards Zhang Menglong was full of loathing.


    "But I also have another Kaibong name, you can also call me Kai Gate Kai Lie!"

 Chapter 416 416: 414

    "Gangmen Kaile... Huaxia people, do you think we don''t understand Huaxia language?" Hui Jie gritted his teeth at Zhang Menglong.


    In the Main God Space, learning a language was a minor expense; with just a few points, one could master all the languages of the world''s nations and regions, so they knew the mockery and playfulness in Zhang Menglong''s words as soon as they heard them.


    "Oh? You actually know Huaxia language!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "It seems that the cultural influence of our Huaxia has become more and more formidable over the past two years, huh? How does that song lyric go again? The whole world is speaking the language of China, what we say is becoming increasingly international!"


    "Enough!" Hui Jie''s gaze swept over the elite guards of the Zhang Family, a hundred men with an energy response intensity of 29. What in the world is going on with society now?


    In that Main God Space, humans kept breaking through their potential, surpassing themselves in life-and-death struggles, but before they left the Main God Space, the number who had achieved this level of strength was very few.


    Their individual combat potential was invincible anywhere in the world, even that person in Kaibong who was called the "Human God" had to be extremely cautious and obsequious when meeting them.


    After obtaining information about the Second World, they had become even more arrogant; any one of them was a master of over twenty units of energy intensity, fully capable of rampaging through this world with no one to check them.


    Even when dealing with the top figures of Kaibong, they never had a superior-subordinate relationship but merely a cooperative one.


    The reward for this mission was as high as 100 billion US dollars!


    They originally thought this mission would simply be a formality. Even if they could not get the data through hacking, kidnapping would be the alternative! The strongest psychic in Huaxia was only a ninth-level, and he simply could not contend with them!


    The information from those idiots in Kaibong was clearly mistaken!


    Huaxia not only had incredibly fearsome hackers but also so many elite fighters. Was the intelligence organization in Kaibong just loafing around?


    However, this group of "Returners" was not too desperate; they were merely surprised and wary.


    With the same 29 units of energy intensity, their combat abilities weren''t necessarily equal; they had gained various miraculous powers and items in the world of the Main God, which they also inherited when they returned.


    Most importantly, they had all stimulated the potential locks within their bodies. Hui Jie had unlocked the fifth order of potential lock, and the other seven were also at Level Four. Once they unleashed their potential, their combat power would increase exponentially.


    They were almost absolutely confident that with the same energy intensity, they would definitely be stronger!


    Against a hundred such powerful individuals, they weren''t particularly afraid!


    "You...you are... Zhang Menglong?" Gu Yuanwu recognized Zhang Menglong in an instant, and the matter of the Immortal Pill being eaten by Zhang Menglong''s dog still festered in his heart.


    "Captain Gu? What a coincidence to see you here, what are you doing?"


    "We''ve lost several comrades recently, and after many days of investigation, we''ve tracked down this place," Gu Yuanwu said with a heavy tone.


    "Huaxia people, do you think we are afraid just because you have more people?" Hui Jie''s face showed little fear. In the Main God Space, they faced dangers and desperate situations far more severe than this, and they had long since developed extraordinary mental resilience.


    "Your strength is indeed a surprise to us, but that''s all it is¡ªa surprise! You mere mortals will never understand just how miraculous the Main God Space is!"


    "You mere mortals will also never know just how powerful the Zhang Family is," Zhang Menglong was seething for the first time, "Ye Yin, beat him half to death for me first!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Upon receiving Zhang Menglong''s command, Ye Yin was as indifferent as ever.


    Ye Yin''s movements were ghostly; he appeared like a phantom in the midst of those Kaibong people. Before they could react, Ye Yin had already struck.


    "Such incredible speed!" the skinny woman exclaimed in alarm. Their dynamic vision had become much stronger than slow-motion replay, yet they were utterly unable to capture Ye Yin''s trajectory.


    "No, he''s not moving at high speed, he''s instant teleporting!" Hui Jie''s face paled dramatically.


    High-speed movement is not the same concept as instant teleportation. High-speed movement merely refers to moving so fast that it becomes difficult for the naked eye to discern, essentially a combination of speed and strength, like Flash, the superhero.


    But instant teleportation is different. It involves moving from one place to another in an instant on a spatial level. This isn''t something that can be achieved by mere physical strength!


    "Thump thump thump..."


    Ye Yin''s speed was dazzling, and with a series of sonic booms, the eight individuals flew out in the same direction.


    "Boom!" The entire building collapsed with a thunderous crash under the force of their violent collision, yet those eight Kaibong people didn''t fall, instead adopting defensive stances.


    "He actually has someone like this under his command!" Now, Gu Yuanwu finally understood why Zhang Menglong could return to Huaxia unscathed back then. With such a bodyguard by his side, how could those weaklings possibly hurt him?


    "Those returning from the Main God space truly are different!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but marvel. Until now, as long as Ye Yin made a move, no one could withstand a single strike, yet this group hadn''t fallen.


    "His strength is great, his speed is fast, and he must have grasped a certain level of the Space Law," the eight Kaibong people quickly communicated amongst themselves.


    "In our team, only the captain has comprehended the Laws, and there''s actually someone on Earth who can do it too?"


    "What are you blabbering about," Zhang Menglong said impatiently, "today, all of you are going to die! Ye Yin, start by smashing that bald guy''s head!"


    "Huaxia people, you''re too arrogant!"


    The hot-tempered bald brute''s face turned fierce as his skin began to turn green, and his height and build were changing drastically.


    In the Main God space, he had exchanged for the Giant''s bloodline, which granted him immense strength when he was extremely angry.


    Since returning to Earth, there had never been anyone who could force him to use his bloodline power because no one could push him to that extent!


    However, at this moment, Ye Yin appeared once again, grabbing his ankle with one hand. An irresistible brute force surged from his foot, and his massive heavy body was uncontrollably thrown into the air.


    The brute was astonished to find that no matter how he struggled, he couldn''t break free from that one hand!


    "Boom!" With a loud noise, his body was fiercely smashed to the ground.


    "Awesome!" A deep sense of satisfaction surged from within the hearts of the Longxia team members. The suffering their comrades endured, they were determined to repay a hundredfold with blood!


    "Ye Yin, smash him hard!" Zhang Menglong roared.


    A surge of incredible strength erupted from Ye Yin''s body as he once again swung the burly man and smashed him down hard.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"

 Chapter 417 415: You Call That the Hammer of Thor?

    "What''s going on? An earthquake?"


    "Our area isn''t prone to earthquakes, how could there be one?"


    "But didn''t you see the water glass moving?"


    "So what? The three-child policy was just introduced, everyone nationwide is busy making babies, isn''t it normal for the building to shake more violently?"


    "But... but..."


    "Enough ''buts''. Why not seize the day, let''s also..."


    ...


    "Thud!" Ye Yin discarded the half-dead bald brute she had been beating, tossing him aside like trash.


    Two deep indentations had formed on either side of Ye Yin''s body, with dense cracks spreading over a hundred meters around. Such striking force could easily trigger a severe earthquake!


    Fortunately, this area was in the suburbs, surrounded by silent factories. Otherwise, such a loud noise would have definitely attracted the attention of the nearby residents.


    Even so, the closest residential area, over ten kilometers away, still felt a clear tremor.


    At this time, the bald brute no longer had the arrogance he''d shown earlier. He lay on the ground like a dead pig, drenched in blood, his skin split open in places. Under Zhang Menglong''s orders, Ye Yin had nearly beaten him to death without actually killing him, which was nothing short of torture.


    "Thump! Thump!"


    The heartbeat, audible to the ears, made the brute laugh coldly as he stood up. The wounds on his body were visibly healing at an incredible pace!


    The transformation process that was half-finished hadn''t come to an end. At this moment, the bloodline power of the Hulk had finally been activated! Not only that, but his eyes had turned completely white. A ferocious aura instantly permeated the air.


    "Fall back!" Hui Jie commanded, "He''s unlocked the Gene Lock!"


    With the Hulk''s bloodline activated, it was enough to boost the brute''s strength to an energy intensity of 29 units. The Gene Lock could squeeze out all his potential, bringing his combat power infinitely close to 30 units of energy intensity!


    "Beep! Beep! Beep!" The detector on the female member from Longxia''s wrist emitted a fierce alarm, and then it actually burst open with a "bang."


    "His power... has it exceeded the limit of the detector?"


    "What''s the limit of the detector?" Gu Yuanwu inquired.


    "29. Such strength has only been recorded in ancient texts about Ancient Martial Artists, the peak of Heavenly Origin Boundary! Our team leader has defined this realm as the peak of Psychic surpassing the gods, but he himself has yet to even touch the threshold of a Psychic surpassing the gods. This guy has already surpassed that realm!"


    "A power that hasn''t even been defined yet?" Gu Yuanwu clenched his teeth, "How could these Kaibong people possess such power? With such formidable beings, they should have dominated the world long ago!"


    "These people really have some skill!" Zhang Menglong stared at the green figure, the headmaster''s ring displaying all his information right before Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    Name: Shan Menggang


    Race: Human (Gene Mutation)


    Potential Index: 103


    Gift: Strength, Speed, Physical Durability


    Skill: Endless Rage (E), Self-Regeneration (E)


    With a Potential Index of 103, this Kaibong man was second only to the youth named Hui Jie, whose Potential Index reached an astonishing 123!


    It seems the Main God space indeed unleashed all their potential.


    "Ye Yin, can you handle it?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but feel worried.


    "Don''t worry Mr. Zhang, the skills your father taught us are much stronger than this!" Ye Yin''s eyes too turned completely white in an instant, but unlike Shan Menggang''s ferociousness, his aura became incredibly calm, almost blending in with the surrounding environment.


    "A fifth-order potential lock? He''s unlocked a fifth-order potential lock? How is that possible? How could anyone do that in a normal world?" This time, Hui Jie was truly panicked!


    Such a person''s strength definitely wouldn''t be below my own!


    There was only one person who had unlocked the fifth order potential lock, which was him. But on Zhang Menglong''s side, there were still 100 people. If all these people were as strong as this guy, 100 super experts with fifth order potential locks... then what''s the freaking point of fighting?


    They might as well just kneel down and call us daddy on the spot!


    Shan Meng Gang barely even had the chance to showcase his destructive power before he was picked up like a little chick by Ye Yin.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    "So awesome, how does he have such an amazing bodyguard?"


    "I''ve seen this scene before, in The Avengers, where the Hulk smashes Loki into the ground just like that!"


    "So incredible, isn''t this a being who has surpassed the super-divine psychics? Why does he look like a weakling?"


    The people of Longxia had just experienced a shock, and in just a few seconds, the situation had reversed. The monster they thought was invincible was now being rubbed against the ground!


    "Alright, stop gawking, and attack!" Zhang Menglong shouted. "Every single one of you from Kaibong here count as one, and beat them senseless; you don''t need to give me any face, but don''t beat them to death! Treat men and women equally!"


    "Yes!"


    The 100 personal guards of the Zhang Family burst out with a power not the least bit weaker than Ye Yin''s, a force so strong it even made the air around them seem to solidify.


    "Prepare to retreat, use that teleportation array!" Hui Jie Rock II was very clear that today they could not possibly kidnap a key person of Huaxia anymore to force them to hand over the technical data. Now, even escaping with their lives was an extremely luxurious wish!


    That female team member flipped her wrist, revealing a purple scroll in her hand. She laid the scroll on the ground and channeled a force into it, causing it to immediately burst forth with a gorgeous purple light.


    "Captain, buy me five seconds!" the Kaibong woman said.


    "Five seconds..." Hui Jie Rock II glanced at the 100 personal guards of the Zhang Family. He wasn''t confident he could handle any one of them, let alone all hundred together, who could beat him to death on the spot!


    "They''re trying to make a getaway!" Zhang Menglong saw through their intentions with a single glance. Although he didn''t know exactly what the scroll was about, it was definitely something for escaping!


    "Don''t let them get away!"


    "Damn you, Huaxia people! You made me waste a treasure!" Hui Jie Rock II gritted his teeth, "To leave us behind, first withstand my move!"


    Hui Jie Rock II immediately entered the state of the fifth order potential lock as well, and his right palm flashed with lightning, conjuring a hammer with a very familiar shape!


    "What''s this thing?" Zhang Menglong took a quick look at that hammer.


    Hammer of Thor (Imitation)


    A one-time item, capable of unleashing an energy burst of 35 energy intensity units!


    "35 energy intensity units?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. This was no joke; his personal guards would likely suffer heavy casualties even with one hit, considering that even Ye Yin, at full power, could only barely reach an energy intensity of 32 units.


    "Gou Dan! What realm is Thor?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Headmaster, an unawakened Thor''s realm is 39 units of energy strength, using his power consumes 100 Cred Points per second!"


    "And the Hammer of Thor?"


    "100 points per second!"


    "Give me a five-second real man!" Zhang Menglong steeled his heart; what''s 1000 Cred Points? Today, he was determined to keep this group of beasts right here.


    "Zzzzz!" Electricity sparkled around Zhang Menglong, "Your toy hammer also dares to be called the Hammer of Thor?"

 Chapter 418 416 This Matter Isnt Over

    "How is that possible?" Hui Jie Yan Er''s attention suddenly shifted to Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong was clearly the leader of this group of enigmatic strongmen, but Zhang Menglong''s true realm had obviously not even reached 10 units of energy intensity, so he truly had no right to garner Hui Jie Yan Er''s attention.


    But now, the power emanating from Zhang Menglong was instilling deep fear in him, a fear he had only felt in the Main God space when facing those ultimate bosses.


    Such as the evil Sword Immortal and Leader of the Moon Worship Sect in "The Legend of Sword and Fairy," the Blood Demon of the Ghostly Spring in "Mount Shu," the Undying Sacrificer Imhotep in "The Mummy," and so on.


    Super bosses like these, even top-tier Reincarnators had to pay a significant price to defeat. For someone like Hui Jie Yan Er to charge in single-handedly would truly be akin to courting death!


    What''s more, the hammer in Zhang Menglong''s hand was even more awe-inspiring!


    The Hammer of Thor he held was a replica, but it could definitely harness more than half of the power of the original. According to the classifications of the Main God world, the Hammer of Thor was an S-class item. For a powerful individual like Hui Jie Yan Er to exchange for it had also cost him a great deal, and it was his last reliance to lead his team out of the Main God world alive!


    With this S-class item, he even shattered one of the heads of the three-headed dragon that Emperor Qin Shi Huang had transformed into in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"!


    But at this moment, although Zhang Menglong''s Hammer of Thor appeared identical to his, he felt his own Hammer of Thor trembling in fear! That was a tremble of terror!


    "Die, all of you!" Zhang Menglong''s body shot forward like an arrow, with intense blue light, nearly condensed into plasma, radiating from the Hammer of Thor.


    "Huaxia man, do you really think you''re Thor?" Hui Jie Yan Er also concentrated all his power into the war hammer in his hand, with lightning flashing across his body.


    "Sorry, but these five seconds, I damn well am Thor!"


    "Boom!" The two Hammers of Thor collided, and Hui Jie Yan Er''s hammer immediately became riddled with dense cracks. With intense explosion following, it instantly turned into a sky full of metal shards.


    And the remaining force, barely reduced, struck Hui Jie Yan Er''s body fiercely.


    His chest caved in instantly, but because the potential lock was activated, allowing him to shut off the body''s sense of pain, he didn''t let out a sound, nor did he fall, for he still wanted to live!


    "Die for me!" Zhang Menglong roared, as he once again raised the Hammer of Thor high.


    "Why does he have such strength?" Hui Jie Yan Er''s pupils dilated several times over. To take another blow from Zhang Menglong''s hammer, he feared he might soon lose his life. "No! I can''t die! I have only just come out of the Main God world, I have only enjoyed half a year of happiness, how can I die just like that?"


    Hui Jie Yan Er''s face suddenly contorted with ferocity as he grabbed an already half-dead Yama Mengang and threw him at Zhang Menglong.


    "Hui Jie!" The other teammates immediately displayed expressions of incomprehension.


    They had come together from that world, surviving countless encounters with death, but Hui Jie Yan Er had never abandoned a companion, let alone used them as shields.


    But only Hui Jie Yan Er knew that because in all those previous crises of death, as long as they kept breaking through, exceeding and challenging themselves, there was always a chance to survive!


    But the Huaxia man before him was too strong, so strong it was suffocating, even killing any desire to resist. Even if he emptied himself of his potential, there was no way to bridge such a huge gap in strength!


    Moreover, there were a hundred superpowerful individuals looking on eagerly.


    "Consider this your repayment for the times I saved you in the Main God world!"


    Hui Jie Yan Er grabbed the remaining people and hurled them one by one at Zhang Menglong.


    "Hui Jie! You..."


    "No, I don''t want to!"


    "Aah!"


    They struggled fiercely, but Hui Jie Yan Er, with his Level Five Gene Lock activated, was too strong. They had no power to resist!


    "Get away! All of you, get away!"


    Zhang Menglong, wielding a hammer alone, sent those Kaibong people flying. In his eyes, these people had killed residents of Huaxia, so they were as good as corpses already¡ªZhang Menglong did not show the slightest mercy.


    But this indeed bought Hui Jie and Yan Er enough time!


    Five seconds flashed by, and with a burst of purple light, Hui Jie and Yan Er disappeared from the spot with an evil laugh.


    "Something like a teleportation array?" Zhang Menglong''s power had faded too, and his expression wasn''t one of relief. These people came from the Main God world and had too many bizarre things on them; it turned out they actually let Hui Jie and Yan Er escape.


    "Mr. Zhang, how should we deal with these people?" Ye Yin dragged the Kaibong people, whom Zhang Menglong had hammered half to death, to his side, "They''re still breathing, but their ability to heal is very strong; probably with a few days'' rest, they can fully recover. Should we just kill them?"


    "What do you all say?" Zhang Menglong looked toward the members of Longxia.


    "Kill them! Avenge our comrades!"


    "Yes! We must tear his body to shreds, make it even worse than what happened to our companions!"


    Recalling the terrible state of their companions, they wished they could dismember these Kaibong people on the spot.


    "Wait, I have a good method!" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Sometimes, death is not the worst outcome; a fate worse than death is truly the most tragic!"


    "Right, how did you control that Dragon King?" Zhang Menglong asked Ye Yin, "Being a water attribute Psychic, he shouldn''t be obediently causing artificial rain on our farm, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, we have a type of elixir that can control people. If they don''t receive the antidote after a while, they will suffer from severe pain and even brain damage."


    "Shove one in each of their mouths!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    Afterward, his gaze swept over the Kaibong people one by one.


    "Green Giant bloodline, born with Divine Power."


    "This one should be taken to Africa for mining; diamonds on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; gold on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; coal mines on Sundays; no rest all year round, work until death from exhaustion, if not tired to death then work until old age and death!"


    "Possessor of the Magma Fruit, able to control flames and magma?"


    "You, go set up some hot springs and make him heat them every day!"


    "Wind attribute Psychic? Take him to our wind power station to generate electricity!"


    "Animal controller, don''t we have several pastures at home? Let him take care of the herding!"


    "Healing and Purification System? This one, this is good, all the sewage discharged from our factory in the future will be purified by him!"


    ...


    "That''s harsh!" Seeing the Kaibong people neatly arranged by Zhang Menglong, Gu Yuanwu suddenly felt some sympathy for them.


    These warriors were never afraid of dying in battle, but humiliation was even more painful to them than death.


    These were top-level fighters in the world. Wherever they went, people would be utterly respectful upon seeing them.


    Don''t say that individual force is worthless in the face of national power. That''s because individual power isn''t strong enough. As long as it is strong enough, one could disregard the rules!


    And these were such people!


    But now, these people were actually going to mine coal, stoke furnaces, generate power, herd... This was truly killing them, heart and soul!


    "This isn''t over yet!" Zhang Menglong looked toward the spot where Hui Jie and Yan Er had disappeared, "Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find you!"

 Chapter 419 417: Trillion Bounty

    "Master Zhou, this is what happened!" Gu Yuanwu reported the incident in detail to Master Zhou.


    "It''s astonishing that such formidable eight individuals have appeared in Kaibong," Master Zhou''s expression turned grave. He turned to another middle-aged man beside him, the current captain of Longxia, Huaxia''s strongest Psychic, Meng Tianhe, "Tianhe, if it were you, how confident are you in defeating this group of people?"


    "Master Zhou, aren''t you joking?" Meng Tianhe said with a bitter smile, "With an energy intensity close to 30 units, a single fart from them could blow me to death."


    "I never expected Zhang Menglong to have such a tremendous power behind him!" Master Zhou couldn''t help but exclaim. He had been in his position for many years, but he never knew that Huaxia had such a powerful family hidden away!


    If it hadn''t been for the previous occasion where he met Zhang Menglong, he would still be in the dark.


    However, it was inevitable, since Zhang Menglong could even easily investigate the location of the Donghuang Clock system''s headquarters, and knew even how many people were inside. His information gathering capabilities far surpassed those of Longxia, so it wasn''t at all surprising that they could evade Longxia''s detection.


    "A few days ago, I met with that old man Yin Wuyi," Meng Tianhe said, "Do you remember I told you before, 70 years ago, the one who killed that group of powerful international Psychics wasn''t me or Yin Wuyi, but rather a young man who appeared to be in his twenties?"


    "Hmm!" Master Zhou nodded, "Could it be that this young man is related to Zhang Menglong?"


    "Yes," Meng Tianhe nodded, "Zhang Menglong is a descendant of that young man, but we have been unable to find any information about them."


    "However, he evidently does not set his sights here," Master Zhou said with a smile, "We will have many opportunities to deal with this young man in the future, so maintaining a good relationship with him is the most important thing."


    ...


    Several days had passed since that night, and the other Kaibong people had already awakened. They struggled, but when the elixir took effect, they could only become docile lambs.


    "More heat! Haven''t eaten yet? Are you damn trying to freeze me to death?" Zhang Menglong yelled.


    At the bottom of this extinct volcano''s hot spring, the lean Kaibong youth''s body shook, he quickly increased the output of the fire, and the temperature of the hot spring immediately surged up and down.


    "Are you trying to roast me alive? Don''t you know how to control the temperature?" Zhang Menglong cursed angrily, "What use is your Magma Fruit ability if you can''t even boil water properly? If you can''t manage that, you might as well drop dead!"


    The Kaibong man had unspeakable grievances. After all, he was once a prominent figure in the world of One Piece, even having battled characters like Luffy. His past glory was gone, and now he had been reduced to stoking a fire for a rich second generation. Had he known this would be his fate, he would rather have stayed in the Main God world, where dying would have been better than enduring this humiliation!


    Despite their family''s vast information network, they couldn''t even find a trace of the Kaibong named Hui Jie Yanzai!


    "Still no news?" Zhang Menglong''s face didn''t look good.


    "I am very sorry, Mr. Zhang," Ye Yin''s voice sounded in Zhang Menglong''s ear, "We have deployed all our resources, but we still haven''t found any trace of this Kaibong. It seems he must possess something special to evade our search, and we can''t even confirm which continent he''s on now."


    "Quite the feat, indeed," Zhang Menglong''s smile held a chilly undertone, "Since we alone aren''t enough to find him, then let''s mobilize the power of the whole world!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do?"


    "Send his portrait to the leaders of countries all around the world. Whoever provides any reliable information about Hui Jie Yanzai will be rewarded with one trillion US Dollars!"


    "Yes, I will immediately arrange for someone to do it!"


    To Zhang Menglong, one trillion US Dollars was merely a small figure; he didn''t even wince at the cost. Finding the Kaibong man and finishing him off, Zhang Menglong was willing to pay any price. This was the consequence for those who dared violate Huaxia!


    "Also, get the plane ready for Kaibong," Zhang Menglong said. "I thought that after teaching them a lesson a while back, they''d restrain themselves a bit and behave, but it seems they still haven''t felt the pain!"


    "Do I need to inform Miss Hong Yi to make some preparations?" Ye Yin asked. "Are you planning to cut the power, the water, or the gas this time?"


    "Do I seem like the type to be unreasonable?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. "I''m just planning to have a good time in Kaibong. Isn''t this my undergraduate graduation coming up? I won''t see many classmates after this, so this trip will be like a graduation vacation!"


    "Then I''ll immediately arrange accommodation for you!"


    "What''s there to arrange?" Zhang Menglong said. "Me going to their Kaibong is giving them face. They should be the ones preparing all this!"


    ...


    "The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, has issued a trillion-dollar bounty on a murderer!"


    Within less than an hour after the order was given, the whole world knew about the bounty.


    "My gosh, a trillion dollars? What kind of grudge is this?"


    "You get the reward for providing valid information? Isn''t this too generous?"


    "Why even work at all? Just go look for the guy; if you find him, you''re set for life, with nothing to worry about in terms of food and drink!"


    "It''s not just about not worrying about food and drink. The current second richest person on the Forbes list is worth only 200 billion dollars. With this bounty, you could become the world''s second richest person!"


    ...


    "What''s wrong? Still can''t get in touch with Hui Jie?" At Kaibong''s Dark Ninja headquarters, Nin Emperor Jiuyuan Xiu was talking with a middle-aged man in a suit.


    "We''ve made contact, but he''s not in a position to move right now," Jiuyuan Xiu said. "Who would have thought Huaxia would be a place so full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, someone who could make all eight of them submit."


    "Zhang Menglong..." The middle-aged man muttered the name with a bad expression, "A trillion dollars, that''s quite the grand gesture."


    "Even though Hui Jie didn''t succeed this time, I believe the people of Huaxia will not let things rest," Jiuyuan Xiu said.


    "Yes," the middle-aged man said, sinking into thought. Although the grudges of the second world aren''t settled in the open, Zhang Menglong doesn''t play by the rules. Moreover, with his power, the second world''s conventions simply don''t have the strength to bind him.


    The middle-aged man''s phone suddenly chimed. He took it out, glanced at the message, and his expression immediately froze.


    "What''s wrong?" Jiuyuan Xiu inquired.


    "This..." A bitter look came over the middle-aged man''s aged face, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. The border crossing office just informed us that Zhang Menglong will be coming to Kaibong tomorrow."


    "What does he want?" Jiuyuan Xiu''s tension was obvious. Even with the title of Nin Emperor, he had to bow and scrape before people like Hui Jie and his group. Now, seven out of this group had been captured alive, and their leader Hui Jie looked like a stray dog. If Zhang Menglong was here for trouble, they would be utterly powerless to resist!


    "He says he''s coming for a vacation," the middle-aged man said with a wry smile. "After what has just happened, he says he''s here to tour Kaibong? I don''t believe him for a second!"

 Chapter 420 418 Why Spend Money

    "How''s it going? Have all my classmates been notified?"


    "Mr. Zhang, everyone has been notified, from your elementary school to university, totaling over 200 classmates. Out of them, 187 have confirmed they would like to travel together," Hong Yi said. "According to your plan, I will arrange to have all your classmates picked up and brought to Jiangnan City''s private airport tomorrow."


    "Don''t bother with any large commercial planes, that''s pathetic!" Zhang Menglong said. "Arrange for 20 private jets instead, about ten people per plane should be more comfortable. Make sure all the flight personnel are top-notch; none of my friends can be slighted."


    "Rest assured," Hong Yi said, "but about the accommodations in Kaibong, are you sure you don''t want me to arrange anything?"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Someone will personally take care of it for me when the time comes. I expect they''ll be calling any minute now."


    Hong Yi looked utterly confused. "What do you mean? Does Zhang Menglong have some wealthy friends in Kaibong as well?"


    Zhang Menglong gave a mysterious smile. "Have we submitted our departure requests yet?"


    "Yes, they were submitted half an hour ago and have all been approved."


    No sooner had Zhang Menglong spoken than his phone began to ring.


    "Kong your Qi Wa, Oh Lei Wa..."


    "Kong, kong, kong, kong your sister, can''t you speak human language? If not, get lost!" Zhang Menglong cursed, clearly knowing who was on the line but after an incident days before, he had grown quite distasteful of certain people from that country.


    The caller evidently hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to be so irate and was completely thrown off.


    "Damn, turned out to be a mute, bye bye then!"


    "Tapping on the hemp bag... No, no, no, wait a minute, Mr. Zhang!" The voice on the other end finally sounded disoriented and panicky.


    "Oh, so you can speak human language," Zhang Menglong crossed his legs, "who are you?"


    "Mr. Zhang, let me introduce myself first. I am a representative from the Kaibong Immigration Office, my name is Ju Jingxiong."


    "Your parents must be really hardworking, having to dig a well to..."


    "Mr. Zhang, what did you say?"


    "Oh, I said my Kaibong name is Gangmen Kailie, nice to meet you."


    "Mr. Zhang, you really love to joke," Ju Jingxiong was no fool, he knew Zhang Menglong was mocking them.


    In fact, Ju Jingxiong was not from the immigration office at all, but a member of the ''Dark Ninja'' from Kaibong, assigned to gauge Zhang Menglong''s intentions.


    Kaibong had an incredibly powerful team of eight, the seemingly weakest woman in the group had nearly beaten their ''Nin Emperor'' to death with a single move.


    It was known that the Nin Emperor''s strength was comparable to a peak level supernatural psychic, and he was on par with the captain of ''Longxia'' and the ''Martial God'' from the Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia.


    Keep in mind, Zhang Menglong had so far visited Qingqiu Country, the Kingdom of Frankfurt, and America; wherever he went, he inevitably stirred up a storm, either throwing the local economies into chaos or humiliating people severely.


    Now, Zhang Menglong was basically on the blacklist of every country; who would dare let him in?


    "I''m not joking, I just picked that name a few days ago. Sounds nice, doesn''t it?"


    "Nice... nice..." Ju Jingxiong said grudgingly, but internally, he was cursing, ''Nice my ass, who the hell uses words like Gangmen as a surname?''


    "What do you want? I''m busy packing my bags."


    "Mr. Zhang, please, no need to rush with your packing. I called to confirm, what''s your purpose visiting Kaibong this time? If it''s nothing urgent, maybe you shouldn''t come at all?"


    "What do you mean? You looking down on me?" Zhang Menglong started blustering, "Am I an international criminal or a terrorist?"


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get worked up," Ju Jingxiong quickly tried to soothe Zhang Menglong''s mood, "I didn''t mean that. I mean, are you coming to Kaibong for some special matter?"


    "Nonsense!" Zhang Menglong said. "I''ve clearly written that I''m coming for tourism!"


    "You''re really just coming for tourism?" Ju Jingxiong clearly didn''t believe it, knowing Zhang Menglong''s nature was vengeful.


    It was already outrageous that he hadn''t flown in on a fighter jet dropping atomic bombs over Kaibong.


    "Otherwise, are you hoping I bring an army to flatten Kaibong?" Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became menacing.


    "No, no, no!" Ju Jingxiong panicked, "If you''re here to tour, then of course, we welcome you. I have a suggestion and would like to hear your thoughts."


    "Go ahead!" Zhang Menglong''s smirk widened.


    "Given your status visiting Kaibong, we must certainly offer you the best hospitality. I believe this is your first visit to Kaibong, so I can arrange a special reception team for you, which will take care of your accommodations, itinerary, transportation, and more, all for free! If you have any special requests, we will try to accommodate them."


    Although he mentioned a dedicated reception team, it was actually a form of disguised caution and surveillance to ensure Zhang Menglong wouldn''t cause trouble in Kaibong. As for expenses, how much could a trip cost?


    "There''s such a good deal?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your high status visiting our country is an honor for us, so naturally, we''ll provide you with the most thorough service!" Ju Jingxiong wiped his sweat, knowing that having people watch Zhang Menglong''s every move in Kaibong was a mandate from above. It seemed Zhang Menglong was quite gullible.


    "But you know me, I''ve lived in a well-off family environment, used to being pampered. I must travel in a Rolls-Royce, eat the most expensive and freshest food, and stay at least in a six-star hotel''s presidential suite. Without these, I easily get upset."


    "Damn rich family conditions!"


    Ju Jingxiong forced a smile. "Of course, of course, we are fully aware of that, Mr. Zhang, no worries at all. We will arrange everything as per your requirements."


    "I appreciate it," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. "But this time I''m also bringing some friends; they''re all my classmates from childhood. You know, we''re all from the same circle with similar living standards. If their food and accommodations are not up to par, they get moody. If they''re unhappy, I get moody, and who knows what might happen then."


    "Understood, understood!" Ju Jingxiong agreed promptly. "May I ask how many friends you are bringing this time?"


    "Not many, just over two hundred," Zhang Menglong replied.


    Ju Jingxiong: "I rnmmp..."

 Chapter 421 419: Not Being Willful is Not Giving Me Face

    Ever since the private airport in Jiangnan City was constructed, today had been its busiest day. Zhang Menglong''s nineteen private jets were all parked here, accompanied by over a hundred crew members and pilots, marking the biggest flight mission the airport had seen in years!


    Dozens of vehicles were parked in the airport parking lot, as youths dressed in various styles, carrying luggage and backpacks, disembarked from one luxury car after another.


    "Hi, good to see you all¡ªI''m Zhang Menglong''s junior high classmate."


    "Hahaha, nice to meet you¡ªI''m his college roommate!"


    "I met him at a tutoring class."


    "I know him from cutting Budweiser beer bottles."


    "I''m his online friend; we met in a resource exchange group!"


    "Bro, I have a friend who wants to join the group, give him an invite."


    ...


    Even before Zhang Menglong arrived, his friends had already started chatting in small groups.


    When they found out Zhang Menglong was the world''s richest man, their jaws dropped in disbelief. Having been invited by him was quite flattering¡ªafter all, most of them came from ordinary families. Even the wealthy ones among them were nowhere near Zhang Menglong''s league.


    Because the topic of Zhang Menglong was so explosive, everyone talked as if they were long-time friends, completely unbeknownst to each other.


    "Tsk tsk, a world''s richest man had been right by my side for four years and I had no clue!"


    "Dammit, I was his elementary school classmate for six years and I didn''t know he was so rich! You know, back then he even borrowed money from me to buy spicy strips¡ªhe couldn''t afford a pack that cost only fifty cents at that time, and he still hasn''t paid me back!"


    "You guys don''t know how poor this guy was before, always taking advantage of us. If it weren''t for the videos and photos online, I''d suspect someone with the same name was trying to scam us!"


    "We definitely need to give him a good tease this time. We haven''t been in touch for so many years, and now he suddenly remembers us."


    "Hahaha, exactly!"


    "Here he comes!"


    Amid roaring sounds, a limited edition Aston Martin Valkyrie parked inside the airport, and Zhang Menglong, sporting sunglasses and looking very dashing, stepped out of the car.


    "Comrades, hello. You''ve all worked hard!" Zhang Menglong waved and walked towards the crowd.


    "Goodness, this guy hasn''t changed at all, just like before!"


    "You scoundrel!" cried Zhang Menglong''s roommate Xu Li as he and others rushed up and grabbed Zhang Menglong by the neck.


    "How long has it been since you''ve been back to the dorm, hmm? Now you remember us?"


    "Exactly, just leaving such a huge company in our hands and acting all hands-off. We''re under a lot of pressure, you know?"


    "Yeah, the Nas Group we''re talking about, with thousands of employees. The most we used to manage was leading a student council department with just over a dozen people. I''m spending every day reading for an MBA now, half a year already, do you know how we''ve been living these past months?"


    "Alright, alright!" Zhang Menglong quickly broke free from their mock assault, "If you don''t want to manage, then give me back my shares and go back to your jobs!"


    "Hahaha, no, we''re just kidding!"


    "Really, Menglong, you''ve been stirring up trouble everywhere lately, you must be exhausted. Let me give you a shoulder rub!"


    "Dad, what''s our route to Kaibong like? Does it include a visit to any adult entertainment stores? I want to check in; I''ve heard there''s a Tiger''s Den shop where my idol, Momotani Teacher, works!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s other friends and classmates were green with envy. What does it mean when one man prospers and his companions rise to heaven?


    They had just heard clearly, Zhang Menglong had actually transferred half of his company''s shares to his three roommates! The Nas Group, a publicly-listed company with billions in Huaxia currency in assets, and he just gave it to them like that?


    But she''s a roommate, having lived and dined together for many years, their relationship is much stronger than ours. You can''t envy that!


    "Haha, thanks everyone for coming today, long time no see!" Zhang Menglong greeted everyone one by one. Although he might not have seen some for many years, he could still call out their names when he saw them.


    "Hahaha, when Zhang sir is treating, how could we not show our respect?"


    "Exactly, plus we haven''t started working yet, the reevaluation tests are nearly done, and most have almost started their internships. It''s just about taking a few days off, right?"


    "No worries, I will compensate for the loss caused by these days off," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Hong Yi, go see where they are all working. If it''s under my companies, have someone take extra care of them. If it''s other companies, pull some strings to give them a nudge. If they don''t comply, just buy them out."


    "Got it, Mr. Zhang, I''ll arrange for someone to handle it," Hong Yi nodded.


    Happiness truly came too suddenly!


    Actually, many people took great risks to come here today.


    You should know, how fierce the competition in society is and how difficult it is to get a suitable internship. Zhang Menglong had arranged a plan for more than a week. A week without going to an internship would significantly affect their conversion assessments.


    But this time, it wasn''t with others, but with Zhang Menglong, the richest man in the world. A little leakage from his fingertips was enough for them to lavish for a lifetime. Such an opportunity to climb the social ladder isn''t always available!


    Unless they were someone who previously had bad relations with Zhang Menglong, anyone who refused his invitation was absolutely foolish!


    Clearly, they all made the right gamble now. With the connections arranged by Zhang Menglong, wouldn''t they skyrocket in their own companies? A friend of the boss; who wouldn''t show them some respect?


    "Is everything arranged?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "All set," Hong Yi nodded, "Shall we leave now?"


    "Let''s get ready to leave."


    "Okay," Hong Yi took out his phone and sent a message. Along with a series of orderly footsteps, hundreds of flight attendants walked over methodically.


    "Holy shit! This body, this face? Incredible! Are these really flight attendants?"


    "Aren''t these supermodels maybe? That''s the level of Victoria''s Secret, right?"


    "What the hell! Isn''t that Angeli? Last year''s global beauty pageant champion, why is she here working as a flight attendant?"


    "Whimper, that pilot is so handsome! I really want to ask for his WeChat."


    "Being rich is truly blissful!"


    ...


    "Let''s go, everyone pick one!" Zhang Menglong pointed to the luxurious private jets and said, "10 people per jet, otherwise it''ll be too crowded."


    "Crowded?" Everyone showed a bitter smile. These were Boeing 747s converted into private jets, each able to carry hundreds of passengers. Now with only 10 people each, crowded?


    "This time, make sure to eat, drink and play well. If you don''t have fun, it means you are not respecting me!"


    "Then we certainly won''t hold back!" Zhang Menglong''s friends laughed one after another, "Are we going to eat you into bankruptcy this time?"


    "Bankruptcy? Even if Huaxia Bank goes bankrupt, he wouldn''t!"


    "You could eat through generations and he still wouldn''t go bankrupt!"


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Don''t worry, this time it''s not me who''s paying. Someone from Kaibong will take care of us!"


    "Ah? Who? A friend of yours?" roommate Xu Li curiously asked.


    "Hehe, keeping it a secret for now. You''ll see when we get there," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Don''t you dare save money on my account. The more indulgent, the better. If it''s not extravagant enough, that means you''re not respecting me. I''ll be furious!"

 Chapter 422 420 We Should Follow the Local Customs

    ```


    "Tsk tsk tsk, such a rich kid!"


    "This is the first time in my life I''ve seen an airplane with a swimming pool."


    "And supermodels giving you spa treatments, I didn''t even know what position to sleep in to have this kind of dream!"


    Zhang Menglong''s roommates walked around the massive cabin, the Boeing 747 was indeed flying quite smoothly, which even made one feel like they were in a holiday villa, not on an airplane.


    "Gentlemen, three CEOs, you''re at least directors of a listed company now, are you really that shocked by these things?" Zhang Menglong had long since grown accustomed to this lifestyle.


    "Come off it, we''re busy every day, sure we''ve saved quite a bit of money, but when do we have the time to enjoy it? This is actually the first vacation we brothers have had in months!"


    "Hey, Old Zhang, you''re really kindhearted to gather so many classmates together like this?"


    "Right, others might not know, but we''ve lived with you for over three years, do we not know what kind of person you are? A belly full of bad water!"


    "What''s this about a graduation trip, it must be an excuse, right?"


    "Just spill it, what''s your scheme this time?"


    "Based on previous experience, you went to Qingqiu Country once and cut off their water and power for several days, went to America and caused some huge strike movement, this time going to Kaibong, it''s not that someone from Kaibong offended you, right?"


    "And you''ve called so many of us here, we can handle eating, but if it''s fighting, don''t drag us into it!"


    Indeed, as friends who had lived under the same roof for several years, Sun Yulei and the others had a tight grasp of Zhang Menglong''s character.


    "Hahaha, true to my instincts, you guys caught on!"


    "Fuck!"


    "Really? What have they done to you?"


    "Could it be because they pixelated something, and that''s what pissed you off, so now you''re going to mess with them?"


    "Respect, totally like you, this reason seems very plausible!"


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong cursed angrily, "Remember that guy called Hui Jie Yanie I put a bounty on?"


    "Who doesn''t? A one trillion bounty, higher than the GDP of a whole lot of countries for the year. Right now, how many people around the world are looking for this Hui Jie Yanie!"


    "That bastard really is unlucky, messing with a guy like you who can simply crush him with money!"


    "But what did he do to you that made you offer such a huge reward to find him?"


    "Did he cuck you?"


    "Did he steal your family''s rice?"


    "Did he desecrate your family''s grave?"


    "Can''t you three spit something more precious out of your dog mouths?" Zhang Menglong laughed and cursed, but his eyes suddenly turned serious, "You guys know that recently, my company completed the mass production of the 2nm chips, and Kaibong sent a bunch of... enmmm, let''s say spies, to steal my data."


    "Looks like they didn''t manage to steal anything, but was there really a need to spend so much money on a manhunt?"


    "Hmph!" Zhang Menglong sneered, "If it were just that, a lesson would have been enough, but what I can''t forgive is that during their infiltration into Huaxia, they killed a team of our Huaxia warriors?"


    "What? Are they asking for death?"


    "Fuck! I''ll destroy these little sunsh... sunny day Kaibong friends!"


    "Damn, can we tolerate this? Do they still think it''s the late Qing period? Great Qing collapsed long ago!"


    "Eight of them in total, I''ve captured seven alive, but the last one escaped," Zhang Menglong said, "But this isn''t over! I say it''s a trip, but you guys understand the real purpose!"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "As you know, a small Kaibong, I could crush them with money; I can buy up their energy imports anytime, destroying their country''s economy, tossing a few trillion US Dollars their way, their economic system would quickly collapse, but that''s not satisfying enough!"


    "So you''re thinking..."


    "Of course, I want them to live every day in fear and trepidation," Zhang Menglong said with a cold smile, "Tell me, if a person who could collapse your country at any time enters your territory and has a deep blood vendetta with you, what would you do?"


    "That''d make it hard to even shit smoothly!" Zhang Menglong''s roommate seemed to have figured out his intention.


    "Exactly, I want to be the one chasing them in their dreams every night when they sleep!" Zhang Menglong said, "This time, they will ostensibly arrange a group of people to take care of us, but in reality, they''re just monitoring me to ensure I don''t do something outrageous in Kaibong."


    "So, what''s your plan?"


    "Someone is here to wine and dine me, what do you think I plan to do?" Zhang Menglong revealed a cunning smile, "Eat theirs, drink theirs, whatever is the most expensive and outrageous, that''s what we''ll do!"


    "Don''t worry, no matter how outrageous you guys get, if they dare make a peep, that means I lose," said Zhang Menglong, "Right now, they probably just want me to have enough fun and return home. Any request I make, they will satisfy unconditionally!"


    "Unconditional satisfaction? So, can I ask to drive a sports car on the streets every day?"


    "Yes!"


    "I want to eat the best salmon sashimi every day and stay in the best presidential suites!"


    "Yes!"


    ```


    "I want the best singer of Kaibong to accompany me to KTV!"


    "You want whoever to accompany you, just pick them yourself!"


    "I want Teacher Sanjou to give me a spa treatment!"


    "Do it! You can even call over all the other teachers, but don''t blame me if your body can''t take it!"


    "I want Ishiyuan Satomi to spend a lovely night with me!"


    Suddenly, three gazes fixed on Xu Li!


    "You have the nerve to covet my wife?"


    "Damn! You''re asking to be killed! The ten-dollar girls are mine!"


    "You dare to insult my goddess?"


    ...


    After a bit of horsing around, the four of them collapsed on the sofa.


    "Anyway, once we get there, you guys should be as extravagant as possible. If you''re not extravagant enough, I''ll be angry with you! Let''s not talk about anything else, just dining alone should cost them at least a few billion US dollars, right?"


    "Dude, there''s like 200 of us, at ten billion US dollars, each of us would need to eat 5 million US dollars'' worth. Do you think we''re pigs?"


    "Can''t finish eating? Wouldn''t you pack it? Don''t you do international express delivery to your friends and family? Let the person responsible for hosting us in Kaibong pay for the postage!"


    "Hahaha! You''re the clever one, we would never have thought of that!"


    "You''re sharp! Thinking of such good things for us!"


    "These three years of doting on you weren''t in vain."


    "Get lost!"


    ...


    The plane landed at Kaibong''s largest international airport, where 19 massive private jets lined up in an orderly descent, attracting many curious onlookers.


    "Hey there, Mr. Kaibong, we''ve already arrived at the airport," Zhang Menglong hurriedly phoned Kaibong, "Your service attitude isn''t great, is it? The plane''s arrived and we haven''t seen your people; are you trying to make me lose my temper? I heard you''ve recently secured South African imported oil, I think your allocation might..."


    "Mr. Zhang, the staff I arranged are already there, how could we possibly keep you waiting?" came the obsequiously pleasant laughter from the other side, "I''ll immediately have them come inside the airport to welcome you!"


    "Hurry up, it''s a bit sunny here. If my fair-skinned female classmates get tanned, and they get angry, then I''ll get angry. And if I get angry..."


    "Mr. Zhang! Mr. Zhang! I''m right here!" Before he could finish, a motorcade promptly appeared in their view, a uniform fleet of Maybachs led by a Rolls-Royce, with a slick-looking middle-aged man waving at him.


    The moment he got out of the car, the middle-aged man sprinted over to Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, I''m Noki Kimura, sent by Mr. Kaibong to welcome you!"


    "Oh, hello," said Zhang Menglong graciously, "I am Zhang Menglong, these are a few of my best friends."


    "Nice to meet you," Noki Kimura immediately realized the unusual relationship between Xu Li and the other two with Zhang Menglong, these were all big shots who must be treated well, "May I know how the gentlemen would like to be addressed?"


    "Oh, since we''re in Kaibong, might as well follow the local customs, my Kaibong name is Kazura Kyujiro!"


    "Knock your seven, I''m Hikawa Tai Alloy."


    "I am known as Chrysanthemum Door Ajar!"


    ...


    "The rest of you introduce yourselves as well, don''t let people think we''re impolite!"


    "I''m Matsushima Nanako."


    "I am Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles."


    "I''m Wangzai QQ Candy."


    "I''m Happy Match-3."


    "I am the Online Celebrity Dirty Bun."


    ...


    "I''m Ogura Eiko."


    "I''m Fluttering Moth."


    "My name is Chive Pocket."


    "I am Kotone Saiko."


    "I''m called Kameda Ichigiao!"


    Zhang Menglong: "You all truly are geniuses, go ahead and give yourselves a hand in the public screen..."

 Chapter 423 421: We Get Dizzy in Cars Under 5 Million

    "My name is Tsuchiya Harukai."


    "I''m a real estate agent."


    "I am Oshima Nishio."


    "I am Daisai Hachiko!"


    ...


    Noki Kimura had listened to nearly two hundred Kaibong names all at once, and his head buzzed incessantly. Was he really a Kaibong? Why did these Kaibong names sound legitimate yet completely unfamiliar?


    Although Noki Kimura knew Huaxia language, he didn''t understand it profoundly enough to grasp the meanings behind their names.


    "Mr. Zhang, did all these friends of yours study abroad in Kaibong?" Noki Kimura asked.


    "Not really, mainly because your Kaibong culture is widely popular in our Huaxia, so everyone has been exposed to it to some extent," Zhang Menglong laughed, "We always need to step out of the country, out into the world, and it always helps to have a nickname when mingling abroad."


    "Nickname? Do you mean that musical instrument?" Noki Kimura was puzzled.


    "No, no, I mean what we call a foreign name," Zhang Menglong said sarcastically, "Nowadays, your Kaibong culture is indeed very popular worldwide."


    "Really?" Noki Kimura showed a pleased expression. There was no reason to be unhappy when someone else praised his country, "It seems like Mr. Zhang really appreciates our Kaibong culture."


    "Absolutely, not just me, my buddies here love it too, right?" Zhang Menglong nudged his friends nearby.


    "Yes, yes, yes!"


    "Absolutely, we really love your culture!"


    "My computer is filled with the gems of your culture!"


    "Really?" Noki Kimura''s eyes brightened, "May I know what aspects of our Kaibong culture do you all appreciate? The art of ninja? The tea ceremony? Or our cuisine?"


    "I like Teacher Momotani."


    "I like Teacher Ozawa."


    "I like Teacher Kato."


    "I like Teacher Aoi."


    "Well, I still like Teacher Nozomi!"


    "Haha, brother, let''s borrow a phrase to speak!"


    "Can this slope even be driven on?"


    ...


    Noki Kimura''s mouth twitched. He had really been bewitched to believe that Zhang Menglong would appreciate their country''s culture.


    Not long ago, during Zhang Menglong''s press conference about chips, he had even retorted sharply to the pointed questions from Kaibong journalists.


    He felt bitter inside, having walked right into a trap. Could Zhang Menglong likely show them any kindness, considering a group of psychics from Huaxia had died at the hands of Kaibong people? Not taking extreme measures as retribution was already a blessing.


    But there were still many girls present. Couldn''t they refrain from mentioning adult films? Didn''t the people of Kaibong have any honor?


    "Noki Kimura, may I know which actress you like?" Zhang Menglong asked with a threatening smile, "Please think carefully before answering. I only like to socialize with people with common interests. Otherwise, I get upset, and when I''m upset, I tend to throw tantrums, and when I throw tantrums, I like to buy oil..."


    "Mr. Zhang, I rather like Teacher Hashimoto," Noki Kimura said stiffly, forcing himself to give a half-truth.


    "Hahaha, a man of the same taste, Mr. Kimura!"


    "I think we will get along very well!"


    Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "When I return to Huaxia, I will definitely give you good feedback!"


    "Mr. Zhang, shall I start the journey and take you to the hotel?"


    "Sure!" Zhang Menglong said, "Everyone, pack up your things, let''s head to the hotel to drop them off, and then plan what we''ll do in the next few days!"


    "Sure thing!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this way, please," Noki Kimura made a "please" gesture, "I have arranged the transportation for everyone."


    "Hmm, thank you, Mr. Kimura," Zhang Menglong led the way forward.


    "Wait!" Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s expression turned sour.


    "Mr. Zhang... Mr. Zhang, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Noki Kimura immediately looked anxious; after all, his superiors had repeatedly emphasized that during Zhang Menglong''s stay in Kaibong, everything had to be perfect to ensure absolute satisfaction!"


    "No, I just suddenly thought of something, and I''m not in a good mood."


    "You... Are you dissatisfied with our arrangements?" Noki Kimura quickly scanned the surroundings, but he couldn''t spot any issues.


    "You arranged this kind of vehicle to pick us up?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the row of Maybachs.


    "This... Is there a problem?" Noki Kimura asked stutteringly. These cars were all priced over 2 million each, and it had taken him a long time to assemble such a fleet. Even the leaders of Kaibong didn''t travel with such high specifications.


    "Ugh!"


    "Ugh!"


    "Ugh!"


    Without warning, Zhang Menglong''s roommates suddenly began to retch violently.


    "What... What''s going on?" Noki Kimura was totally flustered, especially as he watched Zhang Menglong''s increasingly gloomy face, and Noki Kimura didn''t know what to say.


    "What''s the problem? You dare ask me what the problem is?" Zhang Menglong''s tone was full of reproach, "Bringing such cars to pick us up, do you look down on us?"


    "What?" Noki Kimura was dumbfounded. What does he mean by "such cars"? These were over 2 million-priced Maybachs, and the foremost Rolls-Royce was even priced over 10 million. Wasn''t this lineup grand enough?


    "I thought you could really provide us with thorough service. It seems I overestimated you," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Don''t you know we get carsick?"


    "Carsick?" Noki Kimura was even more baffled. You haven''t even gotten into the cars yet. Are you just making a fuss?


    "Didn''t you know? My friends here have been pampered since childhood and have never ridden in any car priced below 10 million. They get sick in cars priced below 5 million. Are you trying to make my classmates vomit to death?"


    "If only I could curse in Huaxia!" If Noki Kimura knew how to swear in Huaxia, he would have already started cursing.


    He had never heard of anyone getting sick in cars priced below 5 million. What, do you think you''re a delicate princess? Is this some kind of mental germophobia?


    "It seems you have no sincerity at all!" Zhang Menglong said coldly. "Even the transportation is subpar. I guess the lodging must be no better."


    "Mr. Zhang, what are you saying? We have prepared everything carefully..."


    "Carefully prepared? You call this carefully prepared?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the expensive Maybachs. "I''m not asking for some limited edition supercar, but a fleet of Rolls-Royces isn''t too much to ask for, right?"


    "Is that not too much?" Noki Kimura felt like he was hearing the funniest joke in the world.


    "It''s clear you don''t welcome us to tour Kaibong," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "Friends, I think we should just go back to our country. There''s nothing interesting here."


    "Mhm!"


    "Yes!"


    Zhang Menglong''s classmates immediately chimed in understandingly.


    Noki Kimura had been internally cursing. Except for Zhang Menglong, which of these guys wore clothes totaling more than a thousand yuan? Yet, they claim to get sick in cars priced below 5 million? They probably haven''t even ridden in a car worth more than 500,000.


    Isn''t this nitpicking?


    "Hong Yi, I''m not in a good mood, buy me that oil field in South Africa. I can''t cheer up without spending some money!" Zhang Menglong said, thumping his chest.


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, but that oil field has stakes from many countries. It might be difficult..."


    "Pay whatever the penalties are, I don''t lack a few hundred billion US dollars."


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang. I''ll take care of it immediately!"


    "Mr. Zhang, wait a minute!" Noki Kimura panicked when he heard this. Zhang Menglong''s classmates being sick in cars below 5 million might be a bluff, but his capability to buy an oil field in South Africa was definitely real!


    This was their last lifeline for oil supplies in Kaibong. If that went away, how would they survive?


    "Give me a moment, I''ll arrange it right away!"

 Chapter 424 424: 422

    Dark Ninja headquarters, the Nin Emperor and Kaibong were closely monitoring the movements of Zhang Menglong.


    Ever since they heard that Zhang Menglong was going to enter the realm of Kaibong, they had almost gone without sleep. The Demon King had come to Kaibong; wasn''t he about to turn the heavens upside down?


    Before Zhang Menglong left Kaibong, they absolutely could not sleep a wink.


    "Zhang Menglong has already arrived at the airport in Capital City of Kaibong." This was the first time the Nin Emperor had ever shown such awe towards someone because that man, who had knocked him down with a single move, was now being chased by Zhang Menglong like a dead dog, hiding here and there.


    "No matter what, no matter how great the cost, we must stabilize his emotions! This is the supreme command from that one above, not only the Dark Ninjas, but all departments across the nation will do their utmost to cooperate."


    "Who would have thought that our Kaibong would have fallen to the point of having to please a Huaxia youth in every possible way," the Nin Emperor shook his head, his former pride and self-respect were now completely gone.


    "Hehehe, what can be done unless you can get rid of him?" Kaibong said fiercely.


    The Nin Emperor''s face turned pale, even Hui Jie and the second had come to this end, wasn''t going there just seeking death? Not to mention Zhang Menglong, it was said that recently, one of Huaxia''s Martial Gods had broken through to the Tianyuan Boundary, a realm no one had reached in five hundred years, and now people from the second world were filled with fear towards Huaxia; he couldn''t even get past the Martial God!


    "What''s the status on Hui Jie and the second now?" Kaibong asked.


    "His injuries have healed now, but right now the whole world is searching for him, and there''s a very special force that is rigorously monitoring everything at all times. If it weren''t for some special methods he has, he would have been discovered by now," the Nin Emperor answered.


    "A special force? Zhang Menglong''s people?"


    "Hui Jie didn''t say, but I guess it''s ninety percent likely. The fact that he''s become so frightened, I really can''t imagine what kind of power is behind Zhang Menglong."


    "Does he have a way to deal with Zhang Menglong?"


    "He does, but he says he needs time!"


    "Then we..."


    "Can only first appease Zhang Menglong''s emotions," the Nin Emperor clenched his fist, "Right now we can only bear the burden of humiliation."


    Just then, the Nin Emperor''s special communicator rang.


    "Noki Kimura? What is it? Have you picked up Zhang Menglong?"


    "I picked him up, but..."


    "But what? I''m telling you, no matter what method you use, you must not let Zhang Menglong develop any negative emotions or else the consequences, you understand!"


    "Nin Emperor, Zhang Menglong has now made a demand that I can''t meet, I can only..."


    "What demand?"


    "He complains that the motorcade we provided isn''t luxurious enough."


    "What? A fleet of pure Maybachs and Rolls-Royces and he''s still not satisfied?" Kaibong heard everything clearly from the side.


    "Zhang Menglong says that his friends have been spoiled from a young age and cannot bear to ride in cars worth less than 5 million. If they ride in cars worth less than 5 million, they''ll get carsick."


    "Garra!" The Nin Emperor''s fist creaked, "He''s just looking for trouble!"


    "So what shall we do..."


    The Nin Emperor''s raised fist slowly loosened and in the end, it dropped powerlessly, "Agree to his demand, arrange it."


    "He said the minimum requirement is a fleet of Rolls-Royces, he brought nearly two hundred people, where are we supposed to find dozens of Rolls-Royces!" Noki Kimura was on the verge of tears.


    "I will mobilize the nation''s resources, I refuse to believe that emptying the entire Capital City, we can''t find dozens of cars worth over five million each!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already consulted with the higher-ups," Noki Kimura approached Zhang Menglong obsequiously, "The issue with the motorcade was indeed our oversight, we didn''t consider thoroughly enough, we will immediately send a fleet that satisfies you."


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong adjusted his sunglasses, "At least you show some sincerity."


    Zhang Menglong turned to Hong Yi and said, "Hong Yi, I''m feeling better now, I don''t want to spend money anymore, the South African oil mine can wait."


    "Sure, Mr. Zhang!"


    "Phew!" Noki Kimura let out a sigh of relief, he had managed to placate this big shot.


    But he knew that although the Dark Ninjas had a lot of funds, most of it was spent on research. Where would they find the money for dozens of cars worth over 5 million each?


    "Is this going to require the higher-ups to pitch in and mobilize the entire Capital City?"


    ...


    Twenty minutes had passed, and Zhang Menglong was getting a bit impatient.


    "Mr. Kimura, why are you handling this so slowly? It''s been twenty minutes, and you can''t even secure a few cars?"


    "Mr. Zhang, we are doing our best," Noki Kimura said with a forced smile, "but you know, it''s not easy to find dozens of cars worth over five million each. We''re working on it as quickly as we can."


    "Not easy to find? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Menglong said, "I could find dozens of cars worth tens of millions in just one of my garages. You''re telling me a whole country can''t find this many cars? Are you looking down on me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, how could I dare? You are our most esteemed guest, I..."


    Just then, with a rumbling sound, a motorcade drove into the airport.


    Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Paganis... all the cars were extremely valuable.


    Upon receiving Zhang Menglong''s request, Dark Ninja immediately activated all available privileges, summoning all luxury car rental and sales companies in Capital City together.


    Keep in mind, some of these sports cars only have two seats, and we''re talking about nearly 200 people here¡ªit would take at least a hundred-plus cars to handle that!


    "Look, why are there so many sports cars at the airport?" The roaring engines immediately diverted the attention of passengers waiting for their flights; they then noticed not only a grand motorcade in a corner of the airport, but also a neat row of airplanes of the same model.


    No wonder so many flights were delayed today. With close to 20 planes at the airport, where would there be space for other aircraft to land and take off?


    "Is someone important arriving?"


    "And there are so many planes. It looks like they''re all part of a series."


    "These are all Boeing 747s, huh? And what''s that logo on the planes? Are they private jets?"


    "Twenty private jets? What kind of family wealth is this?"


    "Wait a minute, why does this look so familiar?"


    "That plane, I think I saw it in the Global Daily a while ago!"


    People immediately began searching for that piece of information, since close to 20 private jets showing up at an airport wasn''t something you''d see often.


    "Found it! This... This plane is the same as the one that appeared in America a few months ago, they all have this logo!"


    "That plane is... it''s Zhang Menglong''s!"


    "Zhang Menglong? Which Zhang Menglong?"


    "Nonsense, who else but the world''s wealthiest, Zhang Menglong!"


    "What? Zhang Menglong has come to Kaibong?"


    In just a few minutes, this news spread like wildfire, causing a wave of panic throughout the airport.


    Who was Zhang Menglong? He wasn''t a terrorist, but he commanded a respect that made him even more feared than any terrorist in the world!


    Why? Just think about what happened the last time he visited America, and you''ll understand!


    "I... I''m going overseas!"


    "It''s over, Kaibong is done for!"


    ...


    Unlike the ashen-faced people of Kaibong, the Huaxia students and tourists who came to Kaibong lit up upon hearing the news.


    Zhang Menglong was not only in Kaibong but had brought so many people with him; there must be some major scoop in the offing!


    "Boss Zhang is here? Boss Zhang hardly ever travels abroad unless it''s for something big!"


    "How many times has he gone out? Has there ever been a time when he didn''t cause a stir?"


    "Hahaha, seems like there hasn''t!"


    "It''s over, this place is going to fall. I just hope it doesn''t affect us."

 Chapter 425 423: Not Used to Staying in Hotels

    Zhang Menglong''s arrival at Kaibong spread across the world like a virus, with countless eyes from all over the world focusing on this tiny land at Kaibong, and a great number of countries immediately provided special coverage on this event.


    A massive motorcade was driving on the streets of Kaibong Capital City, where the streets should have been very crowded, but a special lane was opened just for them, despite the traffic lights being red all the way!


    Other people''s cars could be stuck, but Zhang Menglong''s absolutely could not. If his car got trapped and he started losing his temper, then all their previous efforts would have been for naught.


    Zhang Menglong, Hong Yi, and their roommates were sitting in a Rolls-Royce, while Noki Kimura was nervously tucked in a corner, always watching Zhang Menglong''s expressions.


    "Fantastic, this is the first time I''ve felt what it''s like to be treated like a big shot!" Xu Li exclaimed. To receive such VIP treatment on his first trip abroad was something he hadn''t even dared to dream of.


    "Exactly!" Sun Yulei laughed. "Menglong, where''s Miss Lu from your family? Why didn''t you bring her along?"


    "Oh, her? She''s participating in some ''Future Star'' audition, probably at a training camp right now!"


    "Damn! She''s got a boyfriend like you, what''s she doing in an audition?" Xu Li commented. "You''re not doing your job as a boyfriend. You should''ve just bought the ''Future Star'' program outright and scripted a champion narrative for Miss Lu in your family!"


    "Right, or you could have just organized your own competition. What''s the point in participating in that kind of thing?"


    "No worries," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "I''ve already bought all the naming rights for that program. I can''t guarantee anything else, but at least there won''t be any scandals. If Yiyi knew her championship was bought with my money, she''d probably give me an earful."


    "Hahaha, who would''ve thought that the fearless Boss Zhang was actually under the thumb!"


    "What do you mean ''under the thumb''!" Zhang Menglong immediately got unhappy. "This is called respecting women, what do you know!"


    "Alright, alright, alright, you''re the rich one, so whatever you say is right!" Sun Yulei handed his phone to Zhang Menglong. "Look, the whole world has started reporting on your movements now."


    Sun Yulei had opened up a live broadcast from an international news channel, where several experts in economics and political science were analyzing the reasons behind Zhang Menglong''s visit to Kaibong.


    "Today we are honored to have with us Mr. Parkinson, a professor from the Havard School of Economics, and Mr. Doppler, a professor of International Relations at Stanford University. As you both know, the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, appeared in Kaibong just a few minutes ago. What are your thoughts on this?"


    Professor Doppler cleared his throat, "As everyone knows, this world''s richest man acts oddly and unpredictably, and every time he travels abroad, it''s purposeful and typically quite disruptive. We cannot rule out that there may be some conflict between him and Kaibong."


    "I share the same view," said Professor Parkinson. "According to the data we currently have, Zhang Menglong''s personal assets remain an unknown quantity, but he has previously deployed more than 2 trillion US Dollars in cash. Such an immense sum of money is enough to create havoc in the economic system of any country."


    "So, in your opinion, how long can Kaibong hold out?"


    "If we are talking about economic measures, then at most one week, I expect Kaibong will succumb. If he employs other methods, we cannot make a judgment at this time."


    "And do you believe there are any ways to restrain his actions so far?" the host continued to ask.


    The two experts looked at each other and then sighed and shook their heads, "So far, none of his actions have broken any laws or regulations. Many things in this world can be managed with money, and unfortunately, all of his aims to date have been achievable purely with cash."


    "That''s right. Take the world''s anti-monopoly law, for instance, we used the harshest penalties, yet he managed to resolve it effortlessly with money, and legally, we couldn''t find any fault. To my knowledge, the international anti-monopoly organization has already started to actively prepare a new set of legislation!"


    "Hahaha, God, this is the first time I''ve heard of a global organization drafting new laws specifically for one person!"


    "So, let''s talk off the record, what methods do you think Mr. Zhang Menglong will employ to deal with Kaibong?"


    "Based on our previous experience, he needs only to deploy a few hundred billion US Dollars to buy up one of their energy supplies outright!"


    "Here''s an interesting piece of data, Kaibong imports a great deal of paper annually from Huaxia, including toilet paper. If Zhang Menglong were to use his resources to cut off Huaxia''s paper exports, they might very well run out of toilet paper!"


    "Hahaha, that would indeed make for a pitiful country. Let''s have a moment of silence for Kaibong."


    "Amen~"


    ...


    Reports like these appeared in massive numbers online, and nearly the entire world was discussing how on earth had Kaibong offended Zhang Menglong?


    Noki Kimura naturally heard the news they were broadcasting, and at this moment he almost wished he could find a hole to crawl into.


    Can''t you mock us behind our backs? To play such a video in front of me, do I not have any dignity? Are we from Kaibong not human?


    But he didn''t dare to show any hint of these feelings on his face.


    "Hahaha, Noki Kimura, look, they are so stupid, I''m just here for a visit, and they actually think I''m here to deal with your country, isn''t that hilarious?" Zhang Menglong even deliberately showed the phone screen to Noki Kimura.


    "Hahaha, yes, it''s very funny!" Noki Kimura chuckled dryly a couple of times.


    Funny my ass, funny? Do you not have any sense of moral baseline, you overbearing jerk? All the bamboo shoots on the mountain have been taken by you, even the pandas are starving!


    "I suddenly feel like singing a song!" Zhang Menglong blurted out impulsively.


    "Sing, I haven''t sung for so long!"


    "Let me connect to the Bluetooth," Zhang Menglong turned on the player, and as a passionate tune played, a soaring voice sang out.


    "Big knives! Chop at the heads of the devils, our nation''s armed brothers, the day to resist the war has come, the day to resist the war has come!"


    ...


    "I..." Noki Kimura''s forehead throbbed with veins, "Zhang Menglong, if today I don''t kill..."


    Zhang Menglong''s glare filled with killing intent suddenly focused on Noki Kimura, who at this point had nearly reached the threshold of the Mythical realm, while Noki Kimura was merely a Chunin!


    Suddenly, Noki Kimura realized this was someone even the Nin Emperor feared, someone without a home, who was forced to scurry like a rat!


    If he lost his temper, he might enjoy a brief moment of satisfaction, but he absolutely couldn''t bear the consequences that would follow!


    "Zhang Menglong, if today I don''t kill... kill a tuna to give you a fresh taste, I wouldn''t be able to live with myself!" Noki Kimura''s back was drenched in sweat. Thankfully, he was quick enough to spin the conversation around.


    "Great, then I''ll look forward to tasting Mr. Kimura''s culinary skills," said Zhang Menglong, "but I have nearly two hundred people here, it seems Mr. Kimura is going to have to splurge."


    "Certainly, certainly!" Noki Kimura hurriedly nodded and bowed, "We''ve arrived Mr. Zhang, we''ve arranged the best hotel in the country for you, this presidential suite is priced at 120,000 Huaxia currency per night!"


    "What did you say? Stay in a hotel?" Zhang Menglong''s expression darkened.


    "...Is there a problem?"


    "Don''t you know that we can''t adapt to the local conditions when we leave Huaxia, that we''re not used to staying in hotels?"


    "Then what would you..."


    "My demands are not high, just a detached villa for every three to five people. It doesn''t have to be big, just make sure it has a swimming pool, a gym, a KTV, a private cinema, and that should about cover it."

 Chapter 426 424: Thats So Embarrassing

    "You really want a standalone villa and you''re telling me your demands aren''t high?"


    Kaibong is only so big, but it''s ridiculously overpopulated, which has led to a gold-price-per-inch situation, with those real estate developers wishing they could build up to outer space.


    Of course, there are villa districts in Kaibong, but are they something ordinary people can afford? Even in this Capital City, the cheapest villa wouldn''t be less than ten million Huaxia currency.


    A group of three or five people needing forty villas just to fit in? That''s too many people for so few villas!


    The most crucial point is, even if someone built those villas, they would be sold, not left empty waiting for you to live in. Where would you find such villas immediately available, all connected and unoccupied?


    He even suspected that Zhang Menglong was deliberately making things difficult for Fat Tiger!


    "Mr. Zhang, the hotel we''ve arranged for you absolutely boasts top-notch service quality and standards. Each room is about 200 square meters, perfectly fine for housing five people, and the hotel provides 24-hour service, we..."


    "What? 200 square meters for five people, are you trying to squeeze us to death?" Zhang Menglong continued using his shameless tactics, "Even the servant''s family of three in my house has at least 100 square meters of living space, and it''s all luxuriously furnished. You think you can fool me with this shoddy hotel?"


    "I wake up every day from a bed that spans dozens of square meters, ride a small electric scooter through kilometers-long corridors, then take a yacht across a swimming pool just to reach my bathroom. I''m not asking for accommodations that posh, but you should at least provide the basics for survival, right?"


    "Pfft!"


    "Hahaha!"


    The people behind Zhang Menglong already began to cover their mouths, laughing. The ultimate Versailles doesn''t even come close. Who needs to travel through kilometers-long corridors and take a yacht just to reach the bathroom? Wouldn''t you die if you were in a hurry to pee?


    What does it mean by saying 200 square meters for five people is crowded to death?


    Most of Zhang Menglong''s classmates have already landed internships, but even those in big companies might earn only about four to five thousand yuan a month.


    In Jiangnan City, where every inch of land is worth gold, a 15 square meter single room could cost 2000 to 3000 Huaxia currency per month, and that''s all they could afford to rent with their financial means.


    If 40 square meters per person is considered cramped, what would their tiny living spaces count as?


    Why do they all seem to feel offended?


    "But Mr. Zhang, according to you, we need to find at least forty villas. You wouldn''t want your friends to be separated, where are we supposed to find so many villas so quickly?"


    "Are you saying I''m uneducated?" Zhang Menglong''s tone was filled with anger, "I''ve already investigated. In the southern part of Capital City, there''s a villa district called Benmoku New Town. The villas there barely meet my standards, and I remember there are at least seventy to eighty of them, right?"


    "This..." Noki Kimura was like he had been struck by lightning.


    Indeed, this place called Benmoku New Town is a villa district, recently built, with each villa''s construction area ranging from 800 to 1200 square meters, all luxuriously designed. There are already 97 completed villas, with another 30 to 50 to be finished by the second half of this year.


    But keep in mind, this villa district is specifically reserved for those who have devoted a lifetime of diligent service to the country and high-ranking officials! Even the most important leaders of Kaibong today live there.


    Anyone qualified to live there has a status of utmost importance!


    Even including the family members of the Dark Ninja, Nin Emperor, and many high-ranking officials of the Dark Ninja live there!


    Are they supposed to evict these important figures'' families to make room for Zhang Menglong and his companions? Did he really think himself an Emperor?


    "What? Not willing? Never mind then!" Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, let''s go to the Maple Evening Manor in Fertile Mountain!"


    "Maple Evening Manor!?" Noki Kimura''s pupils dilated, "Is that Mr. Zhang''s manor?"


    "Yes, what about it?"


    Everyone in Kaibong knew of the existence of this estate!


    It was built at the base of the Fertile Mountain and was so large it almost resembled a small town. Besides the people performing daily maintenance, no one lived there. Even the high-ranking officials of the nation were unaware of who the owner of the estate was.


    Decades ago, a severe economic crisis had once hit Kaibong, and to cope, many plots of land were sold off. That area was one of the sections sold.


    All they knew was that the piece of land was bought by a Huaxia entrepreneur, but the specific details of the entrepreneur remained unknown because only a representative had signed the land deed.


    The mystery had finally been solved¡ªit turned out that the estate belonged to Zhang Menglong!


    As for the size of the estate, saying it could accommodate 200 people was an understatement¡ªit could easily house 2,000 people without feeling crowded!


    Without them, Zhang Menglong would still have a place to live, but it would definitely affect his mood, and if he chose to take advantage of the situation...


    "No, we absolutely cannot let him be dissatisfied with our arrangement!" Noki Kimura immediately said, "Mr. Zhang, since we''ve already told you that we''ll take care of everything during your visit here, how could we possibly let you pay and arrange things yourself? Give me a few minutes, I need to make another call!"


    "Alright, hurry up then!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.


    "Zhang Menglong, why are the people of Kaibong so afraid of you?"


    "Yeah, why do they do whatever you say? I just checked and the villa area you mentioned is where the top management of Kaibong''s families lives. If we move in, where will they go? Can they really evict those people just for you?"


    "The face you carry, my god, this isn''t just a matter of money anymore, is it?"


    Apart from Zhang Menglong''s roommates, his other friends were still unaware of these details.


    The luxury motorcade that had picked them up had already been quite an embarrassment; could they really sacrifice their own interests for Zhang Menglong now? That would be nothing short of national humiliation!


    "What? He wants to stay in Benmu New Town? That''s where the country''s high-ranking officials and Dark Ninja top officials'' families live? Has Zhang Menglong lost his mind?" Upon hearing this news, the Nin Emperor and the digging champion wished they could personally go and kill that bastard right there!


    But what else could they do? This was a father figure! And not just any father figure, but a significant one! Weren''t they forced just to indulge him?


    "When Hui Jie Yan II appears, you''ll pay a thousandfold for the humiliation we''ve suffered today!" the Nin Emperor and the digging champion suppressed their anger.


    "Give it to him, give him as many houses as he wants!" the Nin Emperor said through clenched teeth.


    "What about your families..."


    "I will handle it, didn''t we book hotels? Have them stay in hotels for a few days. Immediately organize a group to tidy up the houses, call in some staff from the hotels, and make absolutely sure he has no other issues to complain about!"


    "Yes!"


    "How is it going?" Zhang Menglong asked Noki Kimura cheerfully.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have arranged everything properly!"


    "Haha, I am really sorry about earlier; only after my friends told me did I learn that the place is where your country''s high-ranking officials'' families live, and it seems there isn''t any extra space available for us."


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang, we will temporarily relocate these families to another place. Your satisfaction is our utmost priority."


    "Hahaha, how embarrassing that is!" Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "Coming to your country to visit, and not only do you provide room and board, but your people also have to stay at hotels to make space for us, ah..."


    Noki Kimura, looking at Zhang Menglong''s feigned ignorance, couldn''t believe that Zhang didn''t know the purpose of that place. Still pretending now? What the heck is he pretending for?


    "Sigh!" Noki Kimura sighed. Zhang Menglong had only been here for two hours but had already caused so much trouble. In this period, they were probably going to suffer.

 Chapter 427 425: I Heard You Have a Caoji Sword

    Within minutes, Kaibong''s Cabinet immediately convened an emergency meeting.


    Regarding Zhang Menglong''s excessive demands, everyone was clearly very angry, but they could only swallow their anger and remain silent.


    Half a year ago, the Reincarnators squad led by Hui Jie Yan had burst onto the scene, almost turning the entire Second World of Kaibong upside down. Several ancient Ninja families were destroyed, the Nin Emperor was seriously injured, and conventional weapons couldn''t scratch them, let alone touch them.


    The Reincarnators squad appeared to be under Kaibong''s command, but in fact, they didn''t take orders from anyone; this was a situation where individual power had transcended national authority!


    Even when facing the leader, Hui Jie Yan and others never used any respectful language!


    You couldn''t do anything to them; if they cursed you to your face, what could you do about it? Can anger kill a person?


    Moreover, Hui Jie Yan and his team had experienced countless killings in that world of reincarnation; they felt no psychological burden in killing, they would just do it if they wanted to.


    They even killed a powerful Ninja in the Cabinet right in front of Kaibong''s leader, and the strength of that Ninja was second only to the Nin Emperor''s.


    But considering the immense benefits they could bring to Kaibong, they endured the slight and even paid a great price to reach some understanding and agreements with them.


    They had to be so careful with the Reincarnators squad, and as for Zhang Menglong, who could easily destroy the squad, how could they dare to provoke him?


    It''s just a small villa area, isn''t it? Even if they wanted to stay in the places where Kaibong''s Cabinet ministers lived, would they dare to let out a peep of protest? They must also clean and prepare meals, waiting for you to move in!


    "For this matter, you guys communicate with your families, let them stay in those presidential suites temporarily. It won''t be too much of a hardship, and let them return home after Zhang Menglong leaves Kaibong," someone said.


    "Sigh, this is the only way, now we can only meet all his conditions, hoping Hui Jie Yan can find a solution to deal with Zhang Menglong soon!"


    ...


    "What? You want us to move out?" The families of the officials were immediately unwilling after hearing the news, "How long have we struggled to be able to live in such a place? Have you been so frightened by a Huaxia person? Isn''t this pathetic? I absolutely won''t move out!"


    "Stupid woman! Do you think we got to live here because of your abilities?" the official burst into fury. He had enough trouble dealing with Zhang Menglong''s anger, did he have to endure his wife''s as well?


    "If we don''t move out, then we''ll get a divorce, and you''ll never come back!"


    "Gaochuan Hui Xiong, have you gone mad? You want to divorce me over some stinking kid from Huaxia?"


    "If we don''t agree to his demands, our entire country will be in trouble, do you want to live on the streets, you idiot woman?"


    "This... Is it really that serious?" the woman finally became a bit panicked.


    "If it wasn''t this serious, do you think we would make such a decision? Not just you, but everyone in this villa has to move out until the Huaxia man leaves!"


    "What on earth is going on? Why are you so fearful of him?"


    The man named Gaochuan Hui Xiong said word by word, "If he wants to make our Kaibong''s economic system collapse, it only takes one phone call!"


    ...


    Half an hour later, cars stopped at the entrance of Motoki Newtown, this villa area. Those dressed in opulent finery, men and women, young and old, all carried their luggage onto the vehicles, their expressions full of unwillingness, and some even had tear stains on their faces.


    But what could they do? They had no choice!


    A convoy full of people also drove into the villa area at almost the same time. These were the best hospitality professionals selected from the top-level hotels in Capital City, skilled and meticulous in their work, with some excelling in back-rubbing, others with astonishing cooking skills, and some capable of providing special services.


    Not only that, their appearance and temperament were quite outstanding, very much fitting the aesthetic standards of Huaxia people, capable of attracting many envious and admiring glances on the street.


    But this time, they were merely attendants for the daily living of Zhang Menglong and his party.


    Apart from people, there were also various daily necessities, food materials, tools, and equipment, among other things...


    ...


    As dusk fell, Zhang Menglong and his entourage finally arrived at Motoki Newtown. The luxurious architectural style and majestic decorations completely awed Zhang Menglong''s friends.


    This was where they would be staying for the next period of time!


    "Mr. Zhang, villas No. 1 to No. 72 have all been cleared for you and your friends. You are free to choose rooms to move into. For the other villas, we have not completed the renovations yet. We can only apologize for the inconvenience for the time being," someone said.


    "Forget it," Zhang Menglong said with a resigned look, "Although it''s a bit of a compromise, it''s barely acceptable. Let''s just temporarily stay here!"


    Noki Kimura rolled his eyes, he was just being a tad polite, okay? What''s this about "suffering"? So many people in Kaibong would love to have this kind of "suffering" and even he didn''t qualify for it!


    "Guys, we''ve got over 70 villas here, just group up and figure it out yourselves, alright?" Zhang Menglong yelled.


    Everyone was already eager and burst into the villas with their luggage.


    "Holy crap! How can you run so fast?"


    "Damn it, I called dibs on this villa first!"


    "Motherfucker, why didn''t I see you running this fast to win glory for our school at the sports meet?"


    "Looking for roommates here, ladies first!"


    "Do you have no shame? A girl living with you will lose her virtue by nightfall, won''t she?"


    "Are you a dog?"


    ...


    "Let''s go, we can all stay in one villa," Zhang Menglong said with a content smile as he watched the bustling crowd, then turned to his roommates.


    "Mr. Zhang, where would you like to go first tomorrow?" Noki Kimura asked. "We''ve arranged a dozen travel routes for you in advance to ensure you can visit every corner of Kaibong."


    "Too many people can be inconvenient when traveling," Zhang Menglong replied. "We''ll just go in groups to different places. Please take care of my classmates, Mr. Kimura. I don''t want to hear that they didn''t have a good time eating or playing. I don''t have many strengths, just loyalty. If my friends aren''t happy, neither am I, and I can''t predict what I might do if that happens."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang!" Noki Kimura immediately promised. "We will treat your friends as we would you, ensuring they won''t be slighted in the least. The attractions will be closed to the public while you''re in Kaibong, to give you the best travel experience!"


    "Well damn, they''re closing it just for us?" Everyone was quite surprised; Kaibong really had its share of hardcore people.


    "Then we''ll leave it in Mr. Kimura''s hands."


    "No trouble, no trouble at all!" Noki Kimura quickly replied.


    "What''s for dinner?"


    "We have arranged for over a hundred of Capital City''s finest chefs here, capable of cooking nearly all the cuisines of the world. It mainly depends on what you''d like to eat," Noki Kimura said respectfully.


    "Let''s have barbecue then. We''ve been on the road all day, let''s fill up with something substantial, and we can start enjoying Kaibong''s delicacies tomorrow," Zhang Menglong suggested. "How about a whole roasted lamb?"


    "Sure, I have no objections!"


    "And add some fruit salad, to temper the heat!"


    "Mr. Kimura, let''s do that!"


    "Right away, Mr. Zhang. I''ll go prepare it immediately!"


    Before long, a fragrant whole roasted lamb was wheeled into their villa by several chefs.


    "Gentlemen, please!" Noki Kimura said.


    "I''ll try it first!" Sun Yulei couldn''t wait any longer, instantly picking up a knife and starting to carve into the roasted lamb.


    It seemed to be his first time cutting a whole lamb, and his knife skills were very clumsy; he was already sweating by the time he cut off a piece of meat.


    "Tastes good!" Sun Yulei couldn''t help exclaiming.


    Hearing this evaluation, Noki Kimura immediately smiled. They were satisfied ¡ª that''s what mattered!


    "It''s just that this knife isn''t very sharp!" Sun Yulei added.


    "I''ll get someone to bring a few sharp knives right away!"


    "Wait!" Zhang Menglong stopped Noki Kimura.


    "Do you need anything else, Mr. Zhang?"


    Zhang Menglong revealed a mischievous grin, "I''ve heard that your country possesses an exceptionally sharp weapon called the Caoji Sword. Why don''t you bring that over for meat cutting?"

 Chapter 428 428: 426

    "What did you say?" Noki Kimura was stunned, and so were Zhang Menglong''s roommates.


    The Caoji Sword was one of the three divine artifacts of Kaibong, along with the Three-Inch Mirror and the Three-Inch Qiong Jade, all esteemed as sacred relics of the Royal Family!


    In many folk tales of Kaibong, stories of these three artifacts are widespread, and they are famously known in other countries as well.


    However, to date, these three items had never been exhibited in any public locations; whether they truly existed was still a secret worth pondering.


    If they didn''t exist, Zhang Menglong''s request was utterly nonsensical!


    But even if they did exist, these were national treasures! They represented the glory and sanctity of a nation''s Royal Family¡ªdid you really want to use such a divine weapon to slice roast lamb? Weren''t you afraid of harming your karmic virtue?


    Why don''t you use the Square Sky Halberd to shave your head or the Xuanyuan Sword for a manicure?


    Even if you''re going to make an outrageous request, it should at least be achievable, right?


    "I mean, borrowing that Caoji Sword of yours for a bit¡ªI''ve heard that the Caoji Sword is exceptionally sharp; whether it''s for cutting meat or slicing salmon, it would be remarkably good," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Old Zhang, I think you''re getting carried away!"


    "Aren''t you afraid of accidentally cutting your own mouth?"


    "Isn''t using such a thing for these tasks way too overkill?" whispered the roommates, "Besides, who knows if this artifact actually exists."


    "Even if it''s a divine artifact, it''s just a tool, right? Do you guys know about the Tai''a Sword, one of the great divine swords of Huaxia?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, we know!" everyone nodded.


    "I heard that it appeared in an auction many years ago and was bought by some mysterious buyer, who then vanished over the years."


    "That was bought by my dad," Zhang Menglong said, "and now it''s used for chopping wood on one of our farms."


    "Last year, I bought a watch!"


    "Aren''t you afraid of facing divine retribution?"


    "I damn well..."


    "If the Cultural Heritage Bureau finds out what you''ve done, you should get ready to ''drink tea'' in jail!" Sun Yulei said, as someone deeply respectful of cold weapons, Zhang Menglong''s actions were utterly disdainful to him.


    "Sorry," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "but this thing is originally owned by our family!"


    Sun Yulei: "???"


    "Are you a descendant of Gan Jiang, Mo Ye, or Ou Yezi?" the three asked, but those ancient weapons masters didn''t bear the surname Zhang.


    "No, but one of my ancestors was their master; all the ten great divine swords were forged under my ancestor''s guidance, and the materials were also supplied by him. Doesn''t that make them my family''s items?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Give it a break, why don''t you go ask Aisin-Gioro Puyi¡ªthe whole Forbidden City used to belong to his family, but didn''t he need to buy a ticket when he visited the Forbidden City later?"


    "That''s because the Great Qing was no more!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Our family is not the Great Qing, forget it, you wouldn''t understand anyway."


    Zhang Menglong turned his head towards Noki Kimura, "Mr. Kimura, I think you wouldn''t be so stingy as to refuse to lend me a tool for cutting lamb chops, right?"


    "This..." Noki Kimura was simply not in a position to decide!


    Indeed, not only did the Caoji Sword exist, but the other two artifacts did as well!


    The Caoji Sword was an impressive weapon, having flowed into Kaibong from Huaxia many years ago, a divine weapon crafted by ancient Huaxian artifact-refining standards, classified as a Level Four weapon!


    It had always been a symbol of the Kaibong Royal Family, representing supreme imperial authority and the power to command beneath only one person and above tens of thousands.


    The Caoji Sword that is currently enshrined in the Royal Family is actually a fake. The real Caoji Sword, as the weapon of the Nin Emperor of Kaibong, has always remained by the Nin Emperor''s side.


    The Nin Emperor considers it his most powerful companion and supreme glory. Why would he ever agree to lend it to Zhang Menglong to cut lamb?


    "Mr. Zhang, to tell you the truth, the Caoji Sword simply doesn''t exist. It''s just an ancient legend in our Kaibong," Noki Kimura hurriedly explained.


    "Mr. Kimura, are you really taking me for someone who is uneducated?" Zhang Menglong said, slightly angered, "Although I''m only an undergraduate, there''s nothing my family doesn''t know when it comes to information and intelligence!"


    "If I''m not mistaken, the underwear you''re wearing today should be pink!"


    "How did you kno..." Noki Kimura blurted out instinctively, and by the time he wanted to forcibly shut himself up, it was already too late.


    This was one of his biggest quirks. Except for his closest people, no one should have known this fact. How could Zhang Menglong possibly know?


    "Mr. Zhang, you really shouldn''t joke about such things, I''m a real man, how could I possibly wear pink underwear?" Noki Kimura said, keeping a straight face.


    But given his reaction just now, all explanations seemed feeble.


    "Alright, no more explanations, we all believe you, you are definitely a real man!"


    "Tsk tsk tsk! So unforeseeable!"


    "So this is the color a tough guy should like!"


    At this moment, Noki Kimura wished he could find a hole to crawl into.


    "Mr. Kimura, as far as I know, the Caoji Sword is right beside your Nin Emperor. If you''re not willing to help me borrow it, then I''ll just have to make a call myself!"


    Zhang Menglong took out his cell phone and started operating it.


    "You''re kidding, right?" Noki Kimura looked puzzled, knowing that in their Dark Ninja community, they generally don''t use devices like smartphones.


    Imagine you''re in the middle of a very secretive mission, and suddenly your cell phone rings, or electromagnetic interference catches the enemy''s attention¡ªthat''s just asking for trouble!


    "My phone can detect any frequency of electromagnetic waves," Zhang Menglong laughed, "As long as that person has a communication tool nearby, there is no one in this world that Zhang Menglong can''t contact!"


    At the Dark Ninja headquarters, the Nin Emperor was training a few of his top ninjas when suddenly his communicator slightly vibrated, but this frequency was not from anyone he recognized.


    He hesitated for a moment but eventually answered the call.


    "Are you there? What are you doing? Lend me the Caoji Sword!" a young voice came from the communicator.


    "Who are you?" The Nin Emperor was baffled, wasn''t it normal to introduce oneself first?


    "Oh, my name is Okada Kazi, and you must be Okada Kazuo, right?"


    "I am Okada Kazuo!" the Nin Emperor blurted out in shock, immediately putting on the Mask of Pain, "Are you Zhang Menglong?"


    "Haha, sorry, I got your name wrong," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''m currently having a meal at your family villa, just borrowing your Caoji Sword to cut a whole roasted lamb!"


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you think our Kaibong is?" the Nin Emperor suppressed his anger. He knew that Zhang Menglong was staying in a villa that belonged to his family, which was undoubtedly a great insult to him.


    Now he even dared to ask for the Caoji Sword, to use it to cut lamb? He was the Nin Emperor! Did he have no shame?


    "Not lending it?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Fine, if you''re not lending it, just remember that I believe your headquarters is on Qiuzhi Island. I''ll send someone to demolish it soon!"


    "You! How did you know?" The Nin Emperor was shocked. Their headquarters was known only to the Dark Ninjas, and even within the Kaibong Cabinet, only a handful know of it.


    "Nonsense, I even know your contact details, how could I not know your hometown?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Remember, I''m only giving you the duration of one song!"

 Chapter 429 427 My Favorite Thing is to Humiliate People

    "Bastard! Bastard!"


    Being hung up on, the Nin Emperor Okada Kazuo flew into a rage out of humiliation, causing the entire Dark Ninja base to tremble with his furious roars and surging power.


    Ever since becoming the Nin Emperor of Kaibong, aside from being outwitted by Hui Jie Iwagaki, when had he ever suffered such an indignity? Even the one from Kaibong would offer him respectful courtesy, so which of their members wasn''t respectfully deferential towards him?


    He conceded to Hui Jie Iwagaki because he was no match, but how dare a green Huaxia youngster point fingers and give directions to him? He had endured this for quite a while already.


    Even a block of wood would get angry, so did Zhang Menglong really think he was so easily molded and pushed around?


    "Your Excellency Nin Emperor, what are you planning to do?" Seeing Okada Kazuo''s murderous aura, Juejing Xiong suddenly became nervous, "You must not act recklessly. Even Hui Jie Iwagaki suffered a setback against him, you..."


    "I am a samurai!" the Nin Emperor declared, "The dignity of a samurai like me has been trampled to this extent. I would rather die than continue to endure such humiliation!"


    "But... but you''re just blindly courting death this way, and have you thought about the consequences if Zhang Menglong takes his anger out on our nation?" Juejing Xiong tried to calm his emotions.


    Indeed, he wasn''t afraid to die, but he still had family, and a nation to which he owed loyalty!


    But if he continued to tolerate this, Zhang Menglong''s behavior could become increasingly excessive, and one day he would find it unbearable!


    At that moment, a red pill appeared in the hand of the Nin Emperor.


    "Your Excellency Nin Emperor, you..."


    Juejing Xiong instantly recognized what was in the Nin Emperor''s hand. It was a drug developed by the researchers of Kaibong, combining some ancient Huaxia alchemical techniques with modern science to greatly stimulate the body''s strength and potential.


    However, this stimulation was almost at the expense of the user''s lifespan; so far, none of the experimenters had survived the side effects of the drug, and even for him, the Nin Emperor, the chances of survival wouldn''t exceed ten percent!


    If he took this pill, he could instantly reach the legendary Divine Ninja realm, which is the Tianyuan realm for the ancient Huaxia martial artists!


    "I refuse to believe that he has protection 24 hours a day. As long as I find an opportunity, I can certainly kill him!" Okada Kazuo said, "If I fail, there''s another thing!"


    In Okada Kazuo''s hand appeared another pill, this one black. It was a highly toxic drug that would cause his body to dissolve instantly if he chewed it in his mouth, leaving no trace whatsoever.


    Even if he failed in his assassination attempt on Zhang Menglong, without a body, there would be no evidence, and Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be able to trouble Kaibong.


    "Rest assured, I will definitely not leave any evidence behind!" The Nin Emperor''s eyes had the resolve of someone facing death, "Even if I starve to death, or die standing, or get pushed into the sea and drown, I will absolutely not bow down to that Huaxia kid!"


    "Have you ever heard of the ''real fragrance'' principle of Wang Jingze? It''s always just late but never absent!"


    "Who?"


    "Who is it?"


    Okada Kazuo and Juejing Xiong abruptly stood up as a voice echoed around them, but there was no presence of any person in the place!


    "Since you asked so earnestly!"


    "Then... then I will... mercifully tell you."


    "Can''t you talk straightforwardly? Your dilly-dallying makes us look amateurish!"


    "But Mr. Zhang, I feel so embarrassed!"


    "Shut up, as long as we''re not embarrassed, they''re the ones who should feel awkward!"


    "To prevent Huaxia from being destroyed!"


    "To defend the peace of Huaxia!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, I really can''t say it, it''s too embarrassing!"


    "Can''t you believe it without being so shy? What''s there for a big boy like you to be embarrassed about?"


    The two voices had almost begun arguing with one another.


    "Ugh!" The moment Zhang Menglong appeared, he immediately started dry-heaving again. Thankfully, he hadn''t eaten any of the barbecue from before, or else he would have thrown up by now.


    "You... you''re Zhang Menglong?" Okada Kazuo and Kuetsu Yuichi recognized the Huaxia man from the photo immediately.


    "Precisely, the very one standing before you!"


    "What are you doing here?" Okada Kazuo stepped back two paces, alert.


    "Nonsense, you were just plotting to kill me with someone else, and now you''re asking why I''m here?" Zhang Menglong said with a cold laugh, "Wasn''t it just about borrowing your Caoji Sword to slice some lamb chops? Do you really need to harbor such a deep grudge against me for that? Do you even know who I am? The last person who said they wanted to kill me, well, I''ve already turned their grave into a nightclub!"


    "How could you possibly know?" Okada Kazuo''s face was filled with horror. It had been less than two minutes since he talked about killing Zhang Menglong, and there was no one else around. What had he done? Did he get a proton from the Trisolarans?


    "Bullshit, is there anything I don''t know? I even know your wife is meeting her lover tonight!"


    "You... Zhang Menglong, you..."


    "Don''t get mad, don''t get mad. Tonight, I''ll have someone shoot a video and send it directly to your email. Which format do you prefer? AVI? RMVB? MP4?"


    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve gone too far!" Okada Kazuo swallowed a red pill.


    "I''ve gone too far? Kaibong people kill in Huaxia, and now you''re plotting against me as well? Who exactly is going too far?" Zhang Menglong scoffed.


    "What the hell?"


    Okada Kazuo''s body seemed to boil, his temperature began to rise rapidly, adrenaline pumped, and in an instant, his power broke through the shackles of a Divine Ninja!


    "Popping pills?" Zhang Menglong stepped back two paces. Right now, at most he could handle a Divine Ninja Level one or two, but this Okada Kazuo could probably kill him instantly.


    But even if Okada Kazuo had been drinking fake alcohol, he still couldn''t reach the level of Hui Jie Yan II!


    "Ye Yin, take him down!"


    At Zhang Menglong''s command, Ye Yin''s foot landed squarely on Okada Kazuo''s abdomen.


    "Boom!" His body flew like a cannonball, smashing through the surrounding mountain walls, and flew out of the underground base.


    Kuetsu Yuu''s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. Even after taking an enhancement drug that costs life as a price, the Nin Emperor was still knocked down so effortlessly?


    Now he finally understood why even Hui Jie Yan II and his group were completely outmatched in Huaxia¡ªwho the hell could win against him?


    "Damn, you didn''t kill him with just one kick, did you?" Zhang Menglong asked reproachfully, "We''re here to sightsee, not to kill. This makes it very hard for me to explain!"


    "I''ll go check," Ye Yin disappeared on the spot and a moment later, he dragged Okada Kazuo by the foot and threw him in front of Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, he has one breath left, he won''t die. But it seems like there''s some kind of force enhancing his genes. The enhancement is progressing too fast, it''s exceeding the limits his body can tolerate."


    "What should we do, then?" Zhang Menglong asked, "I''m not done playing yet!"


    "I can take care of it!" Ye Yin placed a hand on Okada Kazuo''s chest, and as power surged in, the collapse of Kazuo''s genes began to slow down, and eventually stopped! His realm even stabilized at the Ninjitsu level!


    A look of disbelief appeared on Okada Kazuo''s face. Not only did Zhang Menglong not kill him, but he also helped him advance, breaking through to the Ninjitsu realm that no one had reached for hundreds of years!


    "You... Zhang Menglong, what is it that you actually want to do? Why didn''t you kill me?"


    "Did you think I was as despicable as you?" Zhang Menglong said, "I told you I came for sightseeing, and that''s what I mean. I will not kill any Kaibong people."


    "But I seem to recall you saying something like, even if you starved to death, died standing up, got pushed into the sea and drowned, you would never bow to me?"


    "You... what are you trying to do?"


    "I don''t want to do anything!"


    Okada Kazuo: "???"


    Kuetsu Yuu: "No way, sir, this broken road too?"


    "Do you know what I like the most? To humiliate people!"

 Chapter 430 428: Just Want to Experience the Joy of a Wealthy Woman

    "Zhang Menglong, if you''re going to kill me, then kill me!" The Nin Emperor defiantly turned his head to one side. The moment he swallowed that red pill, he had already prepared himself for sacrifice.


    "Who do you think I am, Zhang Menglong? I said I wouldn''t kill, so I won''t kill! I said I''d humiliate you, so I must humiliate you!"


    "Mr. Zhang, now you can do whatever you want to him. Because of the genetic collapse aftermath, he won''t be able to move for hours!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong''s expression instantly became perverted.


    "Mr. Zhang, you..." Kaibong had intended to step in to stop him, but a single look from Zhang Menglong made him retreat several steps.


    Indeed, he wielded great power within the Cabinet, but one should remember that he was just a common man. In the eyes of Psychics and Ninjas, he was nothing but an ant.


    "You want to stop me?" Zhang Menglong glanced at him. "Or are you suggesting that I should humiliate you as well?"


    Kaibong''s facial muscles violently twitched a couple of times before he finally sighed and stepped back several paces.


    "See, this is all the spirit your country''s people have!" Zhang Menglong mocked. "It''s clear as day that none of you have ever carried guns together, or visited brothels together¡ªnot a bit of revolutionary camaraderie amongst you!"


    But Okada Kazuo didn''t even glance at Zhang Menglong, instead turning his head to the side.


    "Yo, you''ve still got some backbone!" Zhang Menglong raised his hand and delivered a slap.


    "Slap!" The sound echoed throughout the room, and a bright red handprint appeared on the Nin Emperor''s face.


    Kaibong''s body jerked, Zhang Menglong''s strike was really vicious!


    "You..." The Nin Emperor trembled with rage. He desperately wanted to tear Zhang Menglong limb from limb, but at that moment, his body had completely lost the ability to control itself, speaking was as if there was a knife twirling in his throat.


    He, the esteemed Nin Emperor, had been defeated before, but always fair and square. When had he ever been humiliated and rubbed into the ground like this?


    To him, Zhang Menglong''s power was almost negligible, like that of an ant, and it was precisely because the damage was so low that the insult was so profound!


    "Damn it! That hurts!" Zhang Menglong yelled, holding his hand.


    The physical strength of the Nin Emperor was far beyond his, and even if the muscles and bones of the face were a bit more fragile, they were not to be trifled with¡ªthis slap almost shattered the bones in his hand!


    As if beside himself with rage, Zhang Menglong stood up and aimed a kick at the Nin Emperor''s face.


    "This is for plotting to kill me!"


    "This is what you get for sending Kaibong people to cause trouble in Huaxia!"


    "This is for murdering people!"


    "This is for having such thick skin!"


    Zhang Menglong knew his kicks wouldn''t kill, but he poured all his strength into each one. Soon enough, the Nin Emperor''s face was swollen and bruised.


    At that moment, a large group of uniformed people burst in. Ye Yin''s kick had triggered the base''s self-protection and alarm mechanisms.


    However, since the disturbance was coming from the Nin Emperor''s area, they hesitated for a long time before daring to rush in.


    In that instant, they witnessed the most unforgettable scene of their lives.


    Their esteemed Nin Emperor, previously held in such high regard, almost like a deity, now lay collapsed on the ground like a dead dog, while a young man with black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin kicked at his face one foot after another.


    And Cabinet Minister Kaibong, like an exceedingly docile little kitty, curled up in a corner, chanting, "I don''t see it, I don''t see it."


    Was this a dream?


    "Release the Nin Emperor!"


    The loyalty of the Dark Ninjas to the Nin Emperor was almost beyond faith, even surpassing their loyalty to the nation; given the choice, they would not hesitate to choose the Nin Emperor over their country.


    Seeing the Nin Emperor subjected to such humiliation, how could they stand it?


    "Ye Yin, don''t let a single one through. Make them stand and watch the show!"


    "Yes!" Ye Yin''s gaze shifted toward the ninjas, and the temperature around plummeted, as the air''s moisture actually condensed into a thin layer of ice at their sides, and this ice was even sturdier than steel!


    Like sculptures, the ninjas were frozen in place, and they couldn''t adjust their field of view at all. The moment they opened their eyes, they had to watch the Nin Emperor being humiliated under Zhang Menglong''s crotch!


    "You''re so arrogant! I''m standing right in front of you now, come and kill me!"


    "All I wanted was a better place to live and better food, was that too much to ask?"


    "I said I was traveling at my own expense, yet you all had to be so enthusiastic. But if you don''t have the money, why pretend to be a big shot? Isn''t that shameful?"


    "And you say I''m being unreasonable? You''re even trying to assassinate me? Do you want to fly into the sky and rub shoulders with the sun?"


    ...


    "Ahh!" Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, the Nin Emperor roared in fury, summoning all of his strength to regain control of his body and grabbed Zhang Menglong''s foot.


    A force started to converge within his body¡ªit was like a balloon being inflated to the point of bursting at any moment!


    This was the power of a divine-level ninja. When they found themselves in desperate situations, they could self-destruct, causing damage that far exceeded their realm in a small area.


    In general, such a method was only chosen when they were utterly out of options and wanted to perish together with their enemy.


    He couldn''t do anything to Ye Yin, but Zhang Menglong wasn''t nearly as strong; his body absolutely wouldn''t be able to withstand the impact of his own power!


    "Bad news!" Ye Yin hadn''t anticipated such a sudden move. By now, Zhang Menglong was enveloped in a golden glow. With such power, even a Mythical Realm peak martial artist would be instantly melted!


    "In my presence, you don''t even have the qualifications to blow yourself up!"


    The instant the Nin Emperor chose to self-destruct, Zhang Menglong immediately utilized the Dean''s ring authority to merge Uchiha Itachi''s realm with his own, with consumption of 100 Cred Points per second, which was a painful loss for Zhang Menglong!


    "Alien God!" In a flash, Zhang Menglong''s consciousness took over Okada Kazuo''s body. His self-destruction process came to an abrupt halt and was even locked down by Zhang Menglong with some kind of shackle.


    At this moment, he truly lost his last resort; even self-destruction was no longer an option!


    Seeing this scene, Ye Yin breathed a sigh of relief. If Okada Kazuo had really self-destructed just now, he might have been able to save Zhang Menglong, but the latter would have been more or less injured, and such negligence would be absolutely unforgivable for him!


    He immediately used his mental power to envelop the entire island, to prevent such an incident from happening again!


    "How... how could this be possible!" Okada Kazuo''s mentality completely collapsed at this moment. He couldn''t win in a fight, and he couldn''t even die! And what was that terrifying power that flashed momentarily on Zhang Menglong? He was certain that even if he reached the pinnacle of Ten Nin, this young man could kill him with just a look!


    "Damn it! You caused me to lose hundreds of Cred Points!" Zhang Menglong was pushed to the edge; he absolutely had to regain his footing¡ªno one likes being in the red!


    "It seems that beating you up is no longer a way to humiliate you!" Zhang Menglong shook his head and actually took out two steel wool pads from his body.


    "What... what are you going to do?" Zhang Menglong''s move was beyond his comprehension. Aren''t these the things that people from Huaxia use to wash dishes?


    "Nothing much, just wanting to experience the joy of a wealthy lady!"


    Zhang Menglong unbuttoned Okada Kazuo''s clothes and lifted the steel wool pads in his hands.


    "Hehehe!"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t mess around, I warn you!"


    "Hiss! Ahh!"


    "Ahh!"


    Screams echoed throughout the Dark Ninja headquarters.


    "Monitoring detected that the Dean has caused a huge shock to those around him, awarding 100 Cred Points!"


    "Monitoring detected that the Dean has caused a huge shock to those around him, awarding 100 Cred Points!"


    ...


    "Damn, that''s a lucrative deal!"

 Chapter 431 429: Are there any... late-night activities?

    "What a tough nut, your face is so thick that, even after rubbing it for ages, I couldn''t get a single mark on it!" Zhang Menglong gasped for breath, collapsed on the ground. It''s no wonder he''s a Sky Ninja¡ªhis physical resilience is indeed exceptional!


    "Zhang Menglong, if you have the guts, kill me. What kind of humiliation is this?" Okada Kazuo glared at Zhang Menglong with eyes full of hate. Under the control of Zhang Menglong''s "Alter Heaven God" technique, he had long lost control over his body, almost truly in a state where he could neither live nor die as he wished.


    "You people always talk about fighting and killing. Now we''re supposed to be building a harmonious society; how can we kill people? Besides, killing is illegal, and I am a law-abiding, honorable Party member," Zhang Menglong said, "I won''t kill you. I just want to humiliate you. Are you mad, huh? Are you?"


    "You... you..."


    "Are a total stud?"


    "Pffft!" Unable to contain his anger, Okada Kazuo finally spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    "Hahaha, I just love the look on your face when you''re so annoyed by me but can''t do anything about it!" Zhang Menglong continued to mock.


    "So mean!" Ye Yin clenched her fists, "I want to hit him now..."


    "You, come here!" Zhang Menglong looked over at Kaibong who had curled up into a ball not far away, "You keep scrubbing his back!"


    "Me?" Kaibong didn''t dare! Although he was a high-ranking official in the Cabinet, his status was nowhere near that of Okada Kazuo''s. If Zhang Menglong didn''t finish off Okada Kazuo today, he would certainly have his head twisted off by Okada Kazuo.


    "Stop looking, it''s you!" Zhang Menglong tossed the steel wool pad into his hands, "If you don''t scrub him, then I''ll scrub you!"


    "I..." Kaibong glanced at Zhang Menglong, then at Okada Kazuo. If he really got scrubbed by Zhang Menglong, even if it wasn''t fatal, he''d still lose a layer of skin!


    "Mr. Nin Emperor, I''m so sorry..." With a bitten lip, Kaibong took the steel wool pad and began to scrub Okada Kazuo.


    "Ye Yin, let them go!"


    "Yes!"


    The ice encapsulating the ninjas melted away, but they dared not make a move. Even the Nin Emperor was being kept in check; what could they possibly do? They could even put their Nin Emperor in danger.


    "Form a line here!" Zhang Menglong ordered, "Groups of three, give him a back scrubbing!"


    Zhang Menglong rummaged through his bag and pulled out several more steel wool pads.


    Ye Yin''s eyes widened in disbelief. Why on earth was Zhang Menglong carrying so many steel wool pads? He knew nothing and dared not ask anything!


    "What are you waiting for?" Zhang Menglong saw them unmoved, "If you don''t come scrub, I''ll take your Nin Emperor to film a romance action movie tomorrow! And each of you will have to participate as juice boys!"


    "That''s too cruel, downright dirty and shameless!" Ye Yin turned his head away; the scene was too beautiful to bear.


    "I''ll count to ten!"


    "Ten!"


    "Seven!"


    "Two!"


    Did your math teacher major in Physical Education or what? Is this your idea of counting to ten?


    The Dark Ninjas immediately buzzed to the front and formed a well-ordered line.


    "Lord Nin Emperor, we''re sorry, but it''s for your honor. Choose between a back scrubbing and movie casting!" The ninjas all revealed helpless expressions.


    The Nin Emperor closed his eyes, his head tilted up at a forty-five-degree angle, not letting the tears from the corners of his eyes fall...


    Many of these ninjas were of a high realm, and they scrubbed with far more strength than the feeble Kaibong.


    "Ah!"


    "Hiss!"


    "Zhang Menglong!"


    ...


    An hour later, the Nin Emperor''s body was bright red, nearly all his capillaries broken, and the several steel wool pads were stained red with his blood.


    "Where''s your Caoji Sword?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    The Nin Emperor remained silent.


    "Oh, here it is!" Zhang Menglong spotted the samurai sword lying to the side and casually picked it up.


    "Oh, it turns out to be a Tang Sword. Looks like it''s from the craftsmanship of our ancient ancestors," Zhang Menglong weighed the sword in his hand, indeed a Level Four martial artifact. Although its shape was different, its craftsmanship was almost identical to that of Huaxia''s ten Divine Swords; probably also a masterpiece of his ancestors.


    "Look at you. All I did was ask to borrow a knife to cut some meat, and you had to escalate it to this ''irreconcilable'' extent. If you''d just lent it to me, wouldn''t all of this trouble be avoided? Why get a thrashing?" Zhang Menglong put his hand on Ye Yin''s shoulder.


    "Let''s go, my lamb chops are probably cold by now, I''ll have to reheat them. No need to see me out; I hope I don''t have to come to such a lousy place again, and hopefully, you won''t give me another reason to," Zhang Menglong sneered, "If there''s a next time, this base will probably cease to exist!"


    Destroying Kaibong''s Dark Ninja headquarters, not even the world''s second-most powerful organization dared to make such a claim. But Zhang Menglong did. Destroying a mere base was not so different from smashing a pigsty to him.


    "Busy with my studies, goodbye!"


    Zhang Menglong and Ye Yin disappeared from the spot just as they had arrived.


    ...


    "Nin Emperor!" As soon as Zhang Menglong left, all the ninjas crowded around.


    "We beg the Nin Emperor to forgive our sins. We did it for the Nin Emperor''s chastity!"


    "Yes, Nin Emperor, our loyalty to you remains unchanged through the ages."


    "Nin Emperor, just say the word, and we''ll go find Zhang Menglong right now!"


    "Find him? Find your own heads," the Nin Emperor cursed loudly, "Loyalty? I saw how happily you messed up just now!"


    "Was that you just now? Chanting slogans in a one-two fashion, weren''t you?"


    "And you, where are you rubbing? Don''t you know that the backside is the most vulnerable?"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, one day, I''ll make you pay a painful price!"


    ...


    "Achoo!" Just after getting back home, Zhang Menglong sneezed loudly, "Man, I could catch a cold with this body of mine? It must be that son of a turtle cursing behind my back!"


    "Ye Yin, go back and slap him twice!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    "You... how come you''re back? Didn''t you already take the Caoji Sword?" As soon as they saw Ye Yin appear, everyone was once again enveloped with fear.


    "To insult Mr. Zhang behind his back deserves a slap!"


    "I... I didn''t!"


    "That''s why you deserve a slap!"


    "Ah!"


    "Ah!"


    ...


    "Where have you been?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were lounging on the sofa, picking their teeth.


    "Went to get a sword," Zhang Menglong lifted the Caoji Sword in his hand, "Are you guys reincarnated starving ghosts? You''ve finished eating already?"


    "Hey, don''t worry, we ordered another portion for you!"


    "That''s more like it!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "Is this the national treasure of Kaibong, the Caoji Sword?"


    "I thought it was a sword. Turns out it''s just a samurai sword, huh?"


    "Idiot, this is clearly a Tang Sword. Is this thing fast?"


    "We''ll just cut and see later!"


    "Here it comes, here it comes, the second whole roasted sheep is here!"


    "Man, it really is sharp, cuts through iron like mud!"


    "We''ll slice some salmon with it tomorrow to see!"


    ...


    After another round of gorging themselves, Zhang Menglong and his friends, full and satisfied, lay on the sofa belching.


    "Mr. Zhang, if there''s nothing else, I''ll head down first. We have plans to travel tomorrow, so you should rest early," Noki Kimura thought, wanting to get away from this crazy place as fast as he could, hoping after all this they would finally rest.


    "Rest? I''ll rest my ass! If the moon doesn''t sleep, neither do I!"


    "Are you the bald baby?"


    "Scram!" Zhang Menglong cursed at Xu Li, "It''s only this time and you''re already resting. Don''t they have nightlife in Kaibong?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you thinking..."


    "I just want to ask if there are any of those... late-night activities!"

 Chapter 432 430 Do We Girls Not Deserve It?

    "Late-night activities?" Noki Kimura confirmed, "You''re talking about *that* kind of late-night activity?"


    "What other kind is there?" Zhang Menglong glared at him.


    "Oh! I get it! I get it!" Noki Kimura suddenly understood what Zhang Menglong meant, "I know there''s an old saying in Huaxia, ''A young man who isn''t frivolous is a wasted young man''. Mr. Zhang is indeed a man of passion!"


    "You got it?" Zhang Menglong showed a sleazy grin.


    "Got it, we''ve already prepared everything for Mr. Zhang, I''ll go arrange it now!"


    "Go on, hurry up!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    "Just a moment, Mr. Zhang. Our arrangements will surely satisfy you!" Noki Kimura dashed off, leaving the villa in a hurry.


    ...


    "Damn, this place isn''t big, but they even have late-night activities!"


    "That''s right, the place seems quite legit, wonder if they have French ones."


    As they spoke, Xu Li and the others started stripping off their clothes and pants.


    "Wait a sec, wait a sec, what the hell are you doing? Going for a bath so early? Even if you guys are close, you don''t have to bathe together, right?" Zhang Menglong looked at them with disgust.


    "Didn''t you say there were late-night activities? I''m just getting ready!"


    "Hahaha, I wonder which teachers will be there, I hope to see Teacher Yuuki Nozomi!"


    "I prefer Teacher Ayami!"


    "Then Teacher Itano is mine!"


    "What are you thinking?" Zhang Menglong kicked each of them, "Do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am that kind of person? Sneaky, shameless, despicable, and vile?"


    "Um, yeah!"


    "What else?"


    "Do you even need to ask?"


    The three of them stood up, rubbing their butts, looking aggrieved.


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong cursed, "We''re here to travel, not for some happy-ending massages. The late-night activities I meant are legitimate ones, like playing mahjong, Werewolf, KTV, clubbing, and the like. What were you thinking?"


    The trio blushed, then shamelessly retorted, "We''re talking about clubbing. Isn''t it a bit more comfortable to jump around without our clothes?"


    "Exactly! Wearing clothes just gets in the way of my performance!"


    "Damn, what month is it already, how can Kaibong be so crowded?"


    ...


    "The way you guys drop your pants so skilfully breaks my heart," Zhang Menglong said with a look of contempt, "I''m sure you have a history."


    "Don''t spout nonsense without proof," they protested.


    "Exactly, after all this time, don''t you understand us? We''ve been boys the whole time."


    "Right, Zhang Menglong, if you misinterpret us like that, then we can''t be friends."


    "Oh, then let''s not be friends. Give me my company back, and you can fend for yourselves in Kaibong!"


    "Don''t, daddy!"


    "Our mistake, our mistake!"


    "We are vile, sneaky, and shameless!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, the nighttime activities you asked for are here!" At this moment, Noki Kimura returned, brimming with excitement, followed by several beauties.


    "Holy shit! Ten-dollar girls?"


    "Holy shit! Yui Aragaki?"


    "Holy shit, Kudo Kyoka?"


    "This...this is Yuuki Nozomi?"


    Zhang Menglong and the others instantly recognized the four women in front of them; they were all famous actresses from Kaibong, the legitimate kind! Some of them were even very popular in Huaxia!


    The actresses wore strained smiles on their faces; they never imagined they would one day be treated as playthings and sent to another man''s doorstep.


    Just a few days before, they had all received an urgent notice from their talent agencies, and astonishingly, the orders had come directly from the Cabinet!


    In Kaibong, idols'' status is very low. Some minor celebrities might even face indecencies from fans in public, and even A-list actresses are just protected a little better.


    Their agencies made it very clear: if required to please a Huaxia youth with their bodies over the coming days, they had to comply unconditionally; otherwise, not only would their own reputations be destroyed, but their families could also face dire consequences.


    This tactic was almost identical to how the politicians of Qingqiu Country had threatened Lisa and the others when Zhang Menglong was there!


    They had integrity, they would rather die than submit, but their families were their vulnerabilities. Faced with such threats, they had no choice!


    "Mr. Zhang, you must recognize these ladies, they are some of the most famous stars in Kaibong. They will be very willing to accompany you during these long nights while you are in Kaibong," Noki Kimura said with a smile, treating the actresses not as humans but objects.


    "What are you waiting for?" Noki Kimura threatened.


    Shivering, the four actresses then took heavy steps towards Zhang Menglong and his gang.


    "Eight people, just enough for two tables of mahjong!" Zhang Menglong said softly, "How shall we split up?"


    "Me and Xu Li, you and Yulei, I want the ten-yuan girl and Kudo Kyoka!"


    "Okay! The remaining two are ours!"


    "Honestly, aren''t we being too nerdy doing this?"


    "What, you want to be a beast instead? You think I won''t snitch to your goddesses when we get back?" Zhang Menglong threatened. There were things he could do and things he couldn''t¡ªthis was his own moral code.


    He could humiliate Okada Kazuo and others with impunity because Hui Jie, Yan, and other Second-class individuals'' incursions into Huaxia had their shadows all over it!


    He could fiercely blackmail and trouble the group of Kaibong politicians; it was the price they deserved to pay.


    But these girls were innocent!


    "We''re not planning to do anything!"


    "Exactly, we just thought of playing mahjong or Werewolf, it''s you who''s thinking dirty!"


    The three guys'' crushes were all known to Zhang Menglong. With this threat, they immediately caved on the spot.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, please enjoy your meal at your leisure, I won''t disturb you anymore!" Noki Kimura slunk back with a shifty expression, and when he opened the door, several astonished faces appeared outside.


    That was Zhang Menglong''s high school deskmate, Shi Wen, a girl with a tongue as sharp as anyone from Zaun, and Zhang Menglong had learned half of his own biting wit from her.


    There were several other boys and girls with her, all from the desks surrounding Zhang Menglong''s in high school. Even after going to college, they would still get together for meals during the summer and winter holidays when they were home, a relationship that was second only to these roommates.


    Upon seeing those female stars, Shi Wen immediately gave a disdainful look, "Oh Zhang Menglong, I see why you left so many classmates hanging in the room, just so you could engage in some unmentionable, non-child-friendly activities on your own!"


    "Yo, yo, yo!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk!"


    The rest of the crowd also started to look excited.


    "Everyone, come quick, Zhang Menglong has got something juicy going on!" Shi Wen shouted outside.


    "Juicy? I like!"


    "Front row!"


    "Damn, where''s my DSLR? Live streaming!"


    "Which teacher showed up, I want to check it out too!"


    In less than two minutes, almost everyone had gathered outside the villa where Zhang Menglong was staying.


    They all looked at Zhang Menglong and the other three with peculiar expressions.


    "I can explain!" Zhang Menglong and the others quickly took their hands off the keyboard to prove their innocence.


    "You have one minute to explain yourself, and every word you say now will become evidence in front of your girlfriend!" Shi Wen aimed her phone camera at Zhang Menglong.


    "I... I say I called them over to play mahjong and Werewolf, do you believe that?"


    "Pssh!"


    "You think you''re fooling anyone?"


    "I believe it!"


    "Sly old man, up to no good!"


    Shi Wen flashed a devilish grin. Having been Zhang Menglong''s deskmate for so long, she knew his character like the back of her hand.


    Who was Zhang Menglong? A well-known devoted dog, love-struck, all ears when it came to romance! Even if he had ten times the guts, he wouldn''t dare step out of line! His earlier explanation sounded far-fetched, but it was absolutely true¡ªhe really could do something so nerdy!


    But she just wanted to tease him.


    "No way, you must find a way to keep our mouths shut today! And just hush money isn''t enough!" Shi Wen declared.


    "So what do you want?" Zhang Menglong shot back.


    "You guys are allowed to find beauties, so why can''t we girls go after handsome guys?"


    "Haha! Right!"


    "Are we girls not worthy?"


    With that, the girls all got riled up.


    "I want Furukawa Yuki to watch a drama with me!"


    "I also want a massage from Masaki Suda!"


    "I want Tomohisa Yamashita to sing karaoke with me!"


    ...


    "Hey, hey, hey, didn''t you say just a massage? Why the drooling?"


    "Just sing if you''re going to sing, why are you stripping?"


    "Wow, sister, you''re so naughty!"

 Chapter 433 431 Arrange an Aircraft Carrier for Me

    "Alright, that''s it for now. Can you help us find these people?"


    Zhang Menglong handed Noki Kimura a form, which contained the names of hundreds of famous male and female actors and singers from Kaibong. Of course, there were also a few special requests including several teachers.


    For instance, among the famous female teachers and the famous Mr. Kato, Mr. Shimizu, and so on.


    Of course, everyone mainly wanted to see the world, after all, they were respectable people! (dog head for safety)


    "This..." Holding the list, Noki Kimura''s hands trembled uncontrollably. What did Zhang Menglong think their country was? Wasn''t it enough that they ate and lived well? Now they even started wanting women and men?


    If you wanted one or two, that would be understandable since they were prepared for that. But now he wanted hundreds? Was this some kind of wholesale?


    This wasn''t an ancient Huaxia brothel or a gigolo club! They were a legitimate country. Could they get a little basic respect?


    "Don''t worry, we won''t do anything inappropriate. We''re respectable people, just asking them to keep us company!"


    "Keep you company?" Noki Kimura knew the meaning of "keep company" in Huaxia''s terms: to accompany eating, drinking, and that other thing. He could understand if those male students needed such services, but why did Zhang Menglong''s female friends need them?


    Are these really respectable people? Do they have some misunderstanding about what respectable people are?


    Kaibong was already a quite open country. Since when did Huaxia surpass them in this regard?


    "Yeah, keep us company. To sing songs, play mahjong, and board games. What''s wrong with that?"


    "You guys must all be a bunch of nerds, right?" Noki Kimura couldn''t help but curse inwardly. With so many handsome men and beautiful women here, they just wanted to sing songs, play cards, and play games? Doing something more scandalous isn''t appealing?


    "Mr. Zhang, but these people might not all be in Capital City, it might not be very convenient," Noki Kimura explained with difficulty. "Moreover, many artists have contracts, and many might be busy recording programs or something. Asking them to drop their work to come here is a bit..."


    "So, you mean we''re not worthy?" Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "No, no, no, Mr. Zhang, I definitely didn''t mean that!" Noki Kimura had just received information from Yuki Furukawa. The entire Dark Ninja headquarters was now in chaos, with the Nin Emperor critically injured by the joy ball from a wealthy woman. Now all the Dark Ninjas were in total disarray.


    At this moment, who dared to look down on Zhang Menglong? Who had the qualifications?


    "It''s just some contracts. They can be terminated," Zhang Menglong said. "Do you need me to cover the termination fees?"


    "No, no, no, that''s a small matter; of course, we''ll handle it!" Noki Kimura''s heart shed tears of poverty. The economic losses they incurred today were probably already substantial, and this round of termination fees would likely be astronomical. And all these expenses would come from their Cabinet.


    "Then, would you like me to provide a few private planes to pick them up?" Zhang Menglong continued.


    "These are small matters as long as Mr. Zhang is satisfied!" Noki Kimura hastily said.


    "Then I''ll trouble you, Mr. Kimura," Zhang Menglong said. "Come on, brothers and sisters, we''re off to the central mansion in the villa district. Tonight, everyone must rock the house!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s requests could not be ignored, together with the notifications from the Cabinet resources, those talent agencies dared not mention anything about penalties. Who would dare demand money from the Cabinet? They might as well quit their jobs!


    Those male celebrities could never have imagined that they would one day be summoned by a group of female students from Huaxia. This was absolutely ridiculous!


    An hour later, the first group was driven into the villa district.


    "Woohoo! Yuki Furukawa, my husband!"


    "Draw your swords, sisters, this is my husband!"


    "So handsome, I''ve changed my mind. I don''t want to just sing with him!"


    "Sister, do you mind group activities?"


    "Count me in!"


    "I''m signing up too!"


    "What?" The celebrity called Yuki Furukawa was petrified on the spot. Had he walked into a Silk Cave? Why did those Huaxia girls'' eyes look like they wanted to devour him alive?


    "Um, Mr. Kato, I''m a fan of yours, could you teach me your unique skill? Don''t worry, I''ll only use it to pick my nose."


    "Handsome guy, handsome guy, why don''t you smile? Show us a transformation of Kamen Rider!"


    "Can I take a close-up photo with you?"


    "Wow wow wow, can I touch your chest muscles?"


    "Can I touch your Adam''s apple?"


    "Can I touch your..."


    "Um... miss, please calm down."


    "I suspect you all are playing some kind of game, but I have no proof."


    "Eh, what''s the noise about? Someone''s driving here; the wheel has already rolled over my face."


    Zhang Menglong: "What kind of monsters are you all!"


    ...


    After a night of revelry, everyone was sprawled across the mansion, sleeping; such carefree days were like a dream for everyone.


    "Damn! Who are you! Where is your hand!"


    "Geez! Don''t press your head against my butt!"


    Everyone gradually woke up from sleep, and the scene was chaotic again.


    After the noise, everyone went back to their rooms to wash up; today, Zhang Menglong planned to go fishing at sea!


    Kaibong is a major fishing nation, where fishing is a very ceremonial activity, and you can also enjoy the beautiful seascapes and play in the sea.


    More than twenty people joined Zhang Menglong''s team. Under Noki Kimura''s arrangement, they arrived at the nearest port, which was said to not only be rich in fishery resources but also offer views of dolphins surfing the waves.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have arranged all the fishing gear for you, the weather is great today, and we have also prepared sunscreen equipment for you!" Knowing Zhang Menglong''s fussiness, Noki Kimura made very thorough preparations this time, confident that Zhang Menglong couldn''t find any fault!


    "This rod isn''t bad!" Zhang Menglong, though he didn''t understand fishing rods, flexed it a couple of times; it was flexible. Although he had never fished, acting professional was still important.


    "Of course!" Noki Kimura said excitedly, "This is the best limited-edition rod from the finest company in Kaibong, priced nothing less than an ordinary sports car."


    "All the bait we have prepared is also top-notch, even better than what people eat!"


    "Not bad, not bad, Mr. Kimura is considerate!" Zhang Menglong nodded; damn, he couldn''t find a single fault and that annoyed him.


    "Mr. Zhang, the boat is here!" Noki Kimura pointed to the three yachts approaching swiftly. Each yacht, priced over 20 million US dollars, was borrowed from several of the wealthiest people in Kaibong. The yachts, over 30 meters long with high wind and wave resistance levels, were quite high-end indeed.


    "Is that it?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the yachts.


    "Is that it?" Noki repeated Zhang Menglong''s words. Weren''t such yachts enough? This was the kind of equipment Kaibong''s wealthiest used for fishing trips. Was Zhang Menglong still unsatisfied?


    "Mr. Kimura, you arrange this kind of thing for our fishing trip?"


    "Mr. Zhang, these are the best yachts we could find!"


    "No no no," Zhang Menglong said, "you know I am very rich, and many people think of kidnapping me and then demanding a ransom, so what if we encounter pirates?"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, these are our Kaibong''s waters; it''s impossible to encounter pirates here!"


    "I''m saying just in case!" Zhang Menglong said, "What if my friends and I run into trouble, can you be responsible? What if we encounter some large fishes, like whales or sharks; your yachts can''t withstand that, right?"


    Noki Kimura knew Zhang Menglong was forcefully raising demands again. Damn it, the bodyguards you brought just beat up our Nin Emperor, you roam around the headquarters of Dark Ninja as if it''s a stroll in the park, now you tell me you''re afraid of danger?


    "So Mr. Zhang means..."


    "Just to be safe, arrange an aircraft carrier for me!"

 Chapter 434 432: I Dont Care, You Guys Figure It Out

    "You really need an aircraft carrier to escort you for fishing? Why don''t you just go up to the sky and shoulder the sun while you''re at it?"


    Noki Kimura thought Zhang Menglong''s request yesterday was already too much, but today''s was even more preposterous!


    An aircraft carrier! A nation''s strategic piece of equipment, and you think you can just summon it on demand? It''s not just about money. If word of this got out, Kaibong would become the laughingstock of the world.


    Moreover, Kaibong''s aircraft carrier deployment has significant strategic importance. If withdrawn, many neighboring countries might start getting ideas, which could be detrimental to national stability!


    "Mr. Zhang, isn''t your request a bit..."


    "Do you think I''m being excessive?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "You don''t know yet? My family owns a private aircraft carrier. I travel by it when I head out to sea. Is it too much to ask for one to protect me while I fish?"


    Zhang Menglong immediately pulled out his phone and played a video.


    The video clearly showed Zhang Menglong''s "Sun Seeker" private yacht that was modified like an island, but it was evident that it was converted from an aircraft carrier!


    He really has a private aircraft carrier?


    When you think about it, he originally owned an aircraft carrier. Asking for one to accompany him doesn''t seem too unreasonable!


    "I bought this from America, it''s nuclear-powered, impressive, isn''t it?" Zhang Menglong boasted.


    "Impressive, impressive." Noki Kimura could only nod; this wasn''t just figuratively impressive¡ªit was genuinely stunning!


    "If you don''t want to, that''s fine, I''ll just bring my own carrier. Although it''s an aircraft carrier, it has no weaponry, so it shouldn''t affect your country, right?" Zhang Menglong said, "Whether or not it can fight isn''t important, having a big guy nearby provides a sense of security!"


    "Are you actually mad?" Zhang Menglong''s friends whispered among themselves.


    Even without any weapons, it''s still an aircraft carrier. You''re literally sailing it into someone''s territory; that''s nearly an act of war!


    Refuse him entry? Zhang Menglong definitely wouldn''t let it go; allow it? That would be a national humiliation, plus! This was indeed a tough dilemma for them.


    "Don''t you have four active service aircraft carriers? Would it kill you to send one over? I''ll cover the fuel costs!" Zhang Menglong said flamboyantly.


    "Man, is this just about the fuel costs?" Noki Kimura was on the verge of tears. A casual redeployment might seem simple, but it was a matter of setting off a chain reaction¡ªnothing to be reckless about!


    "Why don''t you make a call?" Zhang Menglong said. Or do you want me to call them myself or pay a visit to your Cabinet personally?


    "Please, no trouble, Mr. Zhang!" Noki Kimura panicked when he heard Zhang was considering a visit to the Cabinet. Just the other night, he''d turned the Nin Emperor into a pig-headed figure at the Dark Ninja headquarters. If Zhang got into the Cabinet, what then? The whole place would turn chaotic.


    If Zhang Menglong pulled out that ''Rich Lady Pleasure Brush'' or something...


    "I''ll contact them immediately, I think there''s room to negotiate!" Out of options, Noki Kimura could only pull out his phone again.


    "Oh, and prepare two basketball hoops. We might get tired of fishing and decide to play some basketball on the deck!"


    "Oh! And, get a few barbecue grills ready. We like it fresh!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s demands, which no one dared refuse, led Kaibong''s Cabinet members to warmly greet Zhang Menglong''s entire family. They gladly dispatched the nearest aircraft carrier.


    With the aircraft carrier, Zhang Menglong and friends disregarded those invaluable yachts. Who needs bicycles?


    The entire aircraft carrier''s deck was cleared up, temporarily setting up barbecue areas, rest areas, and entertainment zones so quickly that even Zhang Menglong had to admire their speed!


    ...


    "This is awesome!" Zhang Menglong and company floated in the azure sea under the dazzling sunlight, atop the clear ocean, with some frolicking in the sea, while others fished from dinghies.


    "Have you guys caught anything yet?" shouted a few others starting a fire on the deck, "We''re about to char over here, where''s the fish?"


    "Do you even know how to fish? If not, we will!"


    "Damn, what fish, I haven''t even seen a hint of a line! If you''re so capable, you come do it!"


    "Wasn''t this area supposed to be a fishing Holy Land? The tourism videos made it seem like the fish here were swarming like a market day. Was that all false advertising?"


    "And what about the dolphins?"


    "Mr. Kimura?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly fell on Noki Kimura, "It seems like your fish aren''t very welcoming to us, my friends are having a terrible experience!"


    Just as Noki Kimura''s ears had gotten a bit of relief, he hurriedly explained, "Mr. Zhang, you can''t blame us for this. It''s June now, and the fishing ban starts just before July every year. Right now, it''s mostly just young fish; it''s the off-season for fishing!"


    "Damn! Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly angry, "You brought me here to fish without any fish? And barbecues? Are you out of your mind, or am I?"


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t be angry, just calm down a moment!" Noki Kimura quickly tried to soothe Zhang Menglong''s mood, "How about I send someone over with some fresh fish, and we can start the barbecue right away?"


    "Did we come here just to eat?" Zhang Menglong said, "We are diligent and brave people of Huaxia, we enjoy the fruits of our own labor the most! If we didn''t catch the fish ourselves, we''d rather starve than eat a single bite!"


    "But this..." Noki Kimura said, "If we go to the nearest fish farm, it will take at least three hours, and that area might have some fish, but..."


    "No way, what are we supposed to do for three hours? By the time we get there, it''ll be dark. Are we supposed to fish in the dark?"


    "Then..."


    "I don''t care, you figure it out!" Zhang Menglong said, "In half an hour, I want to see lively fish jumping around here, everything from ribbon fish to pomfret to yellowtail, and dolphins and whales and sharks too; if not, consider the consequences!"


    After speaking, Zhang Menglong turned to Hong Yi, who was reading next to him, and said, "Hong Yi, I''m really unhappy right now, you get it, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I understand!"


    "Wait!" An idea suddenly struck Noki Kimura. People are often pushed to their limit in desperate situations, and at that moment, Noki Kimura thought of a solution, "I''ve got an idea now!"


    "Well, hurry up then!"


    "Yes!"


    Noki Kimura quickly initiated communication with the Nin Emperor of the Dark Ninja.


    "What''s up?" The Nin Emperor''s wounds had almost healed after a night of recuperation, but the humiliation he endured made it hard for him to face anyone even now.


    "Nin Emperor, Zhang Menglong wants to fish now, but it''s not the peak season and there are hardly any fish in these waters, and he''s even asking for sharks and whales..."


    "Tell him to go to hell!" The Nin Emperor immediately lashed out.


    "Nin Emperor, please calm down, now is not the time to get angry."


    "Then what am I supposed to do? Pull fish out of thin air?" the Nin Emperor said gruffly.


    "Though we can''t conjure them, we can bring some from other areas!"


    "You mean..."


    "We deploy members of the Dark Ninja to capture these fish species in other waters and then transport them to the area where they are..."


    "What? I, a dignified Dark Ninja, have to do something like pleasing a Huaxia man?" The Nin Emperor already had a vivid picture in his mind, filled with indignation!


    "But right now, we have no other choice."


    "Damn it!" The Nin Emperor stomped his foot angrily, "All Level Seven and above ninjas, listen to my command!"


    The rustling sound filled the air!


    A large number of ninjas appeared before the Nin Emperor.


    "Willing to die for the Nin Emperor!"


    "Listen to my command, now you... go fish for me..."

 Chapter 435 435: 433

    The ninjas of the Dark Ninja had never imagined that one day they would become a group of fishermen.


    Shadows darted through the ocean, dragging nets in their hands, frantically fishing around the Kaibong area, and then delivering the catch to the area where Zhang Menglong and his friends were.


    "Red snapper caught, now heading to the target area!"


    "Squid caught, heading to the target area!"


    "Spiny fish caught, heading to the target area!"


    Kaibong had deployed all ninja of Level Seven and above, who brought all sorts of fish from all directions to the area surrounding Zhang Menglong and the others.


    ...


    "Holy smokes! We''ve got a bite!"


    "Look, suddenly there are so many fish below!"


    "What fish are those?"


    "Who cares what fish they are, if they''re edible, they''re good fish. You guys up there, hurry up and start a fire!"


    "Suddenly, a large school of fish appears, I feel there must be something fishy. Yuan Fang, what do you think?"


    "Based on my analysis, this is probably a phenomenon of ocean currents. A dense school of fish followed the currents to our location, it''s really our lucky day!"


    Laughter and cheers instantly rang out over the sea.


    ...


    "These damn Huaxia folks, talking about currents, it''s all our hard work!" Those ninjas frantically fishing felt murderous upon hearing this comment. Couldn''t they respect their backbreaking efforts? They were working so hard!


    "Brothers, do you feel like we''re missing something?" suddenly, someone said.


    "Right, wasn''t this the place where you can enjoy the sight of dolphins riding the waves? There are plenty of fish, but not a single dolphin in sight. Were we deceived?"


    "Exactly, I was hoping to see sharks and killer whales too. Close encounters with these massive creatures must be thrilling!"


    "And also, I want to see whales, especially blue whales. Aren''t they the largest mammals on Earth? It would be even better if we could see them spouting water!"


    "Losers, what''s so great about blue whales spouting water? The teachers spraying water during our party yesterday were way more exciting than any blue whale!"


    "Can this road even be taken?"


    "Good grief, that caught me off guard!"


    "Can I switch to minor mode?"


    ...


    "Mr. Kimura, you must have heard my friends'' demands by now?" Zhang Menglong turned to Noki Kimura, "They want to see dolphins, watch sharks, see spouting waters. It''s rare for them to come here, and I don''t want them to go back with regrets. You get what I mean, right?


    "I... screw me, Immortal, damn it!" Noki Kimura exploded upon hearing the request.


    You want fish? No problem, Kaibong''s fisheries resources are rich, and if needed, we''ll go fish some from the Pacific Ocean for you.


    But dolphins and sharks might not be so hard to find, yet blue whales? Are they something you can just casually find? Even if we did find them, how much time would it take to drag them here?


    A creature tens of meters long, necessitating measurement in tons; such beings, even a Divine Ninja can''t handle!


    And you still ask for them to spout water? If Noki Kimura could spout water, he''d wish he could spout it right now for Zhang Menglong to see! See how standard my spouting posture is?


    But when it comes to speaking, he couldn''t muster a single fart!


    "Same old, same old. I don''t care how you do it, but I want to see dolphins, sharks, and blue whales!" Since Zhang Menglong was acting capricious, he might as well go all the way!


    "Okay... I''ll figure out a way!" Noki Kimura aged a lot in a moment. He made up his mind that once Zhang Menglong returned to Huaxia, he would immediately retire and live a hermit life in the mountains, no matter what, rather than stay in the Dark Ninja. What in the world was this human suffering!


    The already exhausted members of the Dark Ninja, dragging their weary bodies, were just about to leave, but their communicators rang again.


    "First squad, catch 100 dolphins within half an hour!"


    "Second squad, capture more than 50 sharks within half an hour!"


    "Third squad, capture over five orcas within half an hour!"


    "Fourth squad, everyone look for a blue whale, you definitely have to bring one here!"


    ...


    "Mr. Kimura, this...this is impossible, we can''t do it!" All the Dark Ninja members had put on their Masks of Pain, did he think they were Doraemon? Finding these things in half an hour might as well just kill them!


    "I don''t care how you do it, I just want the results!" Noki Kimura gritted his teeth and said, by now it was a total mess, if they couldn''t pull this off, the last to suffer would be he, Noki Kimura!


    ...


    Half an hour later, under the afterglow of the setting sun, suddenly flashing figures began appearing on the distant sea surface.


    "Dolphins! There really are dolphins!"


    "Oh my God, there are so many, isn''t this just wonderful?"


    The girls began cheering excitedly.


    "Holy shit! Look, an island has appeared over there!"


    "What island? That''s a blue whale! A blue whale!"


    "It''s spouting water, it''s spouting water!"


    "Where''s my SLR? Hurry up and take a picture!"


    ...


    On a distant small island, hundreds of Dark Ninja ninjas were sprawled out on the ground. They were all utterly exhausted, and some even bore scars from their battles with sharks and orcas.


    That blue whale measured over 30 meters in length and weighed more than 200 tons; they had found it hundreds of nautical miles away from this area. One can only imagine how difficult it was to drag it here in just a few dozen minutes.


    Seeing the satisfied look on Zhang Menglong and others'' faces, Noki Kimura finally showed a relieved smile. It turned out that to fully tap into human potential, one had to be pushed; the supposedly impossible task was actually accomplished!


    "Zhang Menglong, who would have thought you had this trick up your sleeve? This grilled fish tastes better than any I''ve ever had!"


    "Right? This isn''t just my imagination, when did you switch careers to become a chef?"


    "Are you a descendant of the Guanyu Culinary Shop?"


    "Hahaha, have you been watching too much of the ''Idiot Apartment''?"


    "I actually see a Galaxy flowing in the distance, is it just my imagination?"


    "Duang! What kind of special ingredient did you add??"


    "Why does this scene look so familiar?"


    "Keep it down," Zhang Menglong said. This skill of his was learned from Liu Angxing, who had been in charge of the household since he was young. The culinary skills of a top-level chef were no joke; the ultimate satisfaction of the senses can indeed evoke some miraculous illusions!


    "Mr. Kimura, you worked hard today, and I''m very satisfied!" Zhang Menglong patted Noki Kimura beside him.


    "If Mr. Zhang is happy, then today''s efforts were not wasted." Noki Kimura said awkwardly with a forced smile, determined not to ever take on this task again¡ªlet whoever wants this job have it!


    "I just spoke with my friends, and over the next few days, groups of them will come here to visit, so Mr. Noki Kimura, please arrange the itinerary for these days," Zhang Menglong said, "I don''t ask for much, just the standard of today will do!"


    "To hell with today''s standard!" Noki Kimura cursed inwardly!


    A whole day! An entire day, do you know how he had spent it? Just this one day had almost killed all the Dark Ninja ninjas.


    With the configuration of Zhang Menglong''s group, twenty people at a time, it would take 10 rounds to complete. This workload, repeated another ten times, would probably kill even the formidable ninjas on the spot, wouldn''t it?


    "Hahaha, come on, Mr. Kimura, join us, don''t be shy!" Zhang Menglong continued to pat Noki Kimura''s shoulder, "Mr. Kimura, let''s keep up the good work tomorrow!"


    "Hmm? Mr. Kimura? Why aren''t you eating? You seem a bit unhappy. If there''s anything bothering you, why not share it and let everyone have a good laugh!"

 Chapter 436 434 Huaxia is a State of Etiquette

    ```


    This was the happiest time of Zhang Menglong''s friends'' lives, but for Kaibong''s Cabinet and the Dark Ninjas, it was the darkest time of their lives.


    To say they slaved and toiled for them would be an overstatement. Even bootlickers weren''t as sycophantic as they were. If one had to use an adjective to describe them, it would be "wolf-lickers"!


    Every day, Zhang Menglong and the others demanded the freshest ingredients, with the average cost of a meal for each person amounting to about twenty to thirty thousand dollars; even if breakfast was somewhat inferior, a day''s spend was at least fifty thousand dollars!


    For nearly two hundred people, that was ten million dollars, and in just ten days, one hundred million dollars!


    And that was just for three meals a day.


    Not to mention anything else, just the aircraft carrier that accompanied them for ten days of fishing, with various consumptions and direct and indirect costs, amounted to several billion dollars!


    As for use, wear, travel, and so on, when all the miscellaneous expenses were added up, the figure was astronomical!


    An incomplete tally revealed that during Zhang Menglong''s stay in Kaibong, the funds consumed reached tens of billions of dollars!


    Zhang Menglong was going back to his country tomorrow!


    Upon hearing this news, the Cabinet and the Dark Ninjas were almost jumping for joy; they even wanted to throw a party to celebrate this beautiful and memorable day!


    This devil was finally leaving!


    It wasn''t that Zhang Menglong no longer wanted to mess with them. He was simply tired of playing and couldn''t think of any new tricks; he had run out of ideas!


    In ten days, Noki Kimura hadn''t closed his eyes for a single day; his hair had even turned half white, and he was an Enhanced Human with cellular activity dozens of times higher than that of an ordinary person! Yet in just ten days, they had managed to torture him into this state!


    At the airport, a convoy slowly pulled up to the boarding gate. Today''s Capital City airport was restricted to all flights, and almost 80% of the airspace was reserved for Zhang Menglong''s private plane.


    To send off Zhang Menglong, Noki Kimura represented the Dark Ninjas, and someone from the Cabinet attended, despite ten days of torment. They were both brimming with excitement, knowing that once Zhang Menglong left, they would be liberated.


    "I truly appreciate the meticulous care you''ve all shown during this time!" Zhang Menglong was sincere with this remark; they had managed to fulfill all his requests to the letter, not missing a single one. He had to admit, they were indeed dedicated to their jobs, and he wished he could award each of them a model worker certificate.


    "As long as Mr. Zhang is satisfied, that''s great!" said the Cabinet representative, humbly, "There may have been some conflicts between us and your country in the past. We hope Mr. Zhang can see our sincerity this time. If we could turn our weapons into gifts of silk, that would be best!"


    Zhang Menglong''s expression chilled, "I''m sorry, but your repentance seems sincere. However, I don''t think I, Zhang Menglong, have the right to forgive you on behalf of those warriors who sacrificed themselves."


    The Cabinet representative''s face clearly showed embarrassment. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to be so uncompromising.


    "Of course, considering your efforts, I won''t hold you accountable for this matter. But that person, I will pursue to the end. If I find out that you are harboring him, I will come again, and next time, it won''t be as simple as bringing just two hundred people!" Zhang Menglong warned.


    "Certainly! Certainly!" said the Cabinet representative, no longer pretending to misunderstand, "If we have any news about that person, we will inform Mr. Zhang immediately. You know, he''s very powerful, even our Nin Emperor can''t suppress him. Getting rid of him would be a good thing for us."


    "I hope you truly believe that," Zhang Menglong scoffed.


    "Wait, Zhang Menglong, we forgot one thing!" said a friend suddenly by Zhang Menglong''s side.


    "What''s that?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "This is our first time in Kaibong; we should take some souvenirs back, right?" Xu Li suggested.


    "Yeah, a friend of mine asked me to bring back some posters and limited edition CDs. You know what I mean!"


    "I suspect that ''friend'' you''re talking about is yourself!"


    "But it''s a good point indeed!" agreed Zhang Menglong, nodding. They had been too busy indulging in fun and luxury in the past days; whatever they craved was immediately served, whatever they needed was promptly prepared. And now, as they were about to leave, they realized that they hadn''t actually bought anything.


    ```


    "This airport must have a souvenir shop, right? Let''s go check it out."


    "Alright!"


    "Zhang Menglong, could you wait for us a bit?"


    "Why all the trouble?" Zhang Menglong''s lips curled into a slight arc, "Our friends from Kaibong who had such a good time this time are so enthusiastic, they must have prepared some farewell gifts for us, right, Mr. Noki? Mr. Juejing?"


    "It''s your dad! Preparing your mom!" Noki Kimura and Juejing Yu looked at each other, knowing that Zhang Menglong was obviously trying to squeeze one last bit out of them before leaving!


    "Our Huaxia is a nation of courtesy, during such partings, we usually exchange some souvenirs!" said Zhang Menglong, "Friends, let''s see if we have anything on us to give to our friends from Kaibong as a memento."


    "Hmm," Xu Li nodded, "This is the hat that''s been with me for 3 months, I will painfully part with it and give it to Mr. Noki."


    Noki Kimura forced a smile, unsure what to do. This was just a plain hat that cost 15 Yuan; on some treasure site, it might even come with free shipping for 9.99 Yuan.


    They had spent so much manpower and resources to host them, and this was what they were offering in return? This friendship seemed rather cheap, didn''t it?


    "What''s wrong? Mr. Noki looks down on my friend''s friendship?"


    "No, no, no!" Noki Kimura hurriedly took it, "Such a valuable gift, how can I dare to accept it?"


    "It''s fine, later you can give something valuable in return," said Zhang Menglong, "Old Xu, what do you want? Don''t be shy, just ask, our friends are most hospitable."


    "Exactly, exactly, Mr. Xu, just say anything, whether it''s a local specialty or a souvenir, we will prepare it for you.


    "emmm... I don''t really want anything."


    Noki Kimura breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Then just give me that car!"


    "Car?" Noki Kimura turned around, and what Xu Li was pointing at was a Lamborghini, worth over 6.5 million!


    "Mr. Noki doesn''t seem very willing?"


    "Hahaha, it''s just a car, I''ll arrange for someone to get it through customs for you in a couple of days!" Noki Kimura turned and wiped away a tear, knowing Zhang Menglong was ruthless, but not realizing his friend was even more so.


    Wasn''t it agreed that gifts should be reciprocal? Why did they only have a trashy hat worth 9.99 Yuan with free shipping, while they had to give a sports car worth millions in return?


    "This is my gift!" Sun Yulei handed over his half-drunk bottle of mineral water, "Though the gift is light, the sentiment is deep, I don''t want anything either, just give me that Rolls-Royce!"


    "This is the Qingfeng brand tissue I brought from Huaxia, symbolizing the deepest friendship between our two countries. I plan to propose to my girlfriend next month, how about you give me a diamond ring? The diamond doesn''t need to be too big, three to five carats will do, but the color and cut must be good!"


    "This is half a pack of sanitary pads I''ve used, which are very precious to us girls! Yesterday, I passed by a store and saw a bunch of pink diamond earrings in a display case, it was only about 200 million US dollars, can I have them?"


    "I didn''t prepare any gift either, here''s a booger for you, I just want a set of limited edition signed CDs from Momotani teacher!"


    "I... I''ll perform a split for you, I don''t want anything from you either. I saw Mr. Noki''s daughter yesterday, she''s pretty, and I don''t mind an international romance..."


    Noki Kimura: "Are you even human?"


    ...

 Chapter 437 435: Are You Trying to Compete with Me in Wealth?

    "Thank you, Mr. Kimura and Mr. Kuetsu for your warm hospitality. We''ll be heading back now, and I''ll send someone over to take care of the gifts later!"


    This time, Zhang Menglong was truly satisfied!


    Each of his friends had managed to extract gifts worth at least several million Huaxia dollars from Kaibong¡ªasking for cars and houses was just the basic norm!


    The loss of billions had caused them immense pain, but they still had to put on a face that showed they felt honored.


    "As long as Mr. Zhang is satisfied, these are just minor issues... minor issues!"


    "Well, a thousand miles of companionship must end at some point, so we''ll be heading back to Huaxia now. We shall meet again!"


    Under the gaze of many airport passengers, Zhang Menglong''s entourage grandly walked onto the private plane that had been prepared well in advance.


    "Hopefully, we''ll never meet again, best if not even in the next lifetime!" Noki Kimura and Kuetsu Yu? smiled and waved, overwhelmed with mixed feelings, relieved that Zhang Menglong was finally leaving.


    Instantly, Noki Kimura took out his communicator, "Nin Emperor, I have something to tell you. I plan to quit the Dark Ninja... Yes, I''m thinking of finding a place to farm!"


    Kuetsu Yu? also sighed, "Mr. Cabinet Member, I would like to resign. I''m of age now, and it''s time to give the younger generation a chance..."


    ...


    "That group looks like General Manager Zhang!"


    "They''ve left?"


    "Look, isn''t that Mr. Kuetsu Yu? from the Kaibong Cabinet? And who is that kidney-deficient-looking person next to him?"


    "Don''t know, but why are they all wearing the Mask of Pain?"


    "Maybe they''ve recently lost a family member?"


    "I think it must be related to General Manager Zhang."


    "Be confident, remove ''must,'' didn''t you see the tears in their eyes?"


    "Are they that reluctant to part with General Manager Zhang?"


    ...


    Soon, Zhang Menglong and others returned to Huaxia, where he arranged for his friends to be taken home before heading straight to the location where Lu Yiyao was filming.


    With Zhang Menglong''s investment, this season of ''Sunshine Tomorrow'' had become extraordinarily wealthy. The training location provided was a resort owned by Zhang Menglong, and this time, both media publicity and content marketing were on an unprecedented scale.


    But what frustrated all the viewers was that this season''s show had no title sponsor!


    According to insiders, the sponsor had requested to remove all advertisements, but had given a staggeringly large sponsorship!


    Everyone was baffled; aren''t title sponsors supposed to capitalize on the program''s traffic for advertising? This mysterious sponsor did not include any advertisements or brand exposure, what was he aiming for? There''s no money to be made from this!


    Was this about charity or philanthropy?


    Because Zhang Menglong had recently appeared in Kaibong, not many people linked him with this incident, but suspected someone else instead.


    This person, named Hua Ye, was a very famous second-generation wealthy individual in Huaxia over the past two years. His fame was not as high as Zhang Menglong''s or Wang Ling''s, primarily because he was relatively low-key. What made him famous was his fortune of 120 billion Huaxia dollars a year ago, placing him at the top of the under-30 billionaire list in Huaxia.


    He returned from studying in England and at 24, he founded the nation''s largest online education institution. After three years of operation, the company went from being established to being publicly listed.


    His personal capabilities were exceptional, and his family background was also quite extraordinary. It was said that his family influenced the entire business and political spheres of Huaxia, having significant power, even once seen dining respectfully with Qin Feng!


    Who is Qin Feng? His family''s patriarch was a conqueror; there were wealthier families in Huaxia, but none warranted such respect from him, which cloaked Hua Ye''s family background in mystery.


    Later, more people began to investigate his identity, and the more they dug, the more terrifying the discovery¡ªHua Family''s influence was unimaginably vast, especially prominent across Huaxia about a decade ago, exhibiting a high-profile and flamboyant style.


    However, for some unknown reason, over ten years ago, the family suddenly vanished from the public eye; while their power and wealth remained intact, they became incredibly low-key, to the point where ordinary people didn''t even know about them, and many had forgotten their existence.


    At the time, it was speculated that perhaps their high profile had drawn a warning from above.


    According to incomplete statistics, the Hua Family''s estimated assets exceed 500 billion US dollars¡ªlikely even more!


    This time, amongst the 100 participants of ''Sunshine Tomorrow,'' one was named Hua Yuhan. Paparazzi had captured photos of Hua Ye visiting Hua Yuhan at the filming site, initially thought to be a major scoop, but it was later confirmed that Hua Ye was her older brother!


    Thus, it was easy to conjecture; with his beloved sister participating in the show, Hua Ye had spent a fortune on sponsorship without any advertising, fitting well with his family''s low-profile style. Everything made sense!


    "Sir, I''m sorry, you can''t go in!" Zhang Menglong arrived at the entrance of the shooting base and was quickly stopped by security.


    "Do I have to notify you every time I come to my own house?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "You... you are... Mr. Zhang Menglong?"


    "Your eyesight isn''t half bad!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "My apologies, Mr. Zhang, I didn''t recognize you earlier," the security guard quickly stepped aside to let him pass, adding, "We were instructed that anyone could be stopped, but we must never stop Zhang Menglong!"


    ...


    "I''m dead tired!"


    "Yes, who would have thought that recording a show could be so exhausting!"


    "Exactly, the first performance is over, and we can finally rest properly for a couple of days!"


    "Don''t bother me, I''m definitely sleeping in tomorrow!"


    Dozens of girls streamed out from the recording site of the show. Lu Yiyao said goodbye to several contestants she had gotten along quite well with and entered her dorm.


    Although Zhang Menglong''s incident at Gusu University had caused a sensation, it was soon suppressed, and all information about Lu Yiyao was deleted. He had always protected Lu Yiyao well, so except for a few close people, no one knew she was Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend.


    "Guess who!" As soon as she entered the room, Lu Yiyao felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind.


    "Ah? When did you get back?" Even without seeing him, Lu Yiyao could smell Zhang Menglong''s familiar scent.


    "Just got back!" Zhang Menglong kissed her neck right away.


    "Stop, I just finished performing, I''m all sweaty!" Lu Yiyao quickly wriggled out of Zhang Menglong''s embrace.


    "It''s fine, I like the natural scent," Zhang Menglong laughed, "and the bathroom in this room is big enough. I can help you scrub your back!"


    (Two hours omitted)


    After some age-inappropriate activities, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao enjoyed a delicious dinner, both faces still flushed with satisfaction.


    "How have the past ten days been?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Not bad," Lu Yiyao said, "I''ve met quite a few friends these days. They are all so talented! They can sing and dance, and some can even do acrobatics!"


    "You''re not bad yourself." Zhang Menglong smiled. With coaching from two great masters, Lu Yiyao should be considered the strongest vocalist among all the contestants.


    "I heard today was your first performance?"


    "Yes," Lu Yiyao said, "this time they''re eliminating a third of the contestants!"


    "Then you must have ranked first!" Zhang Menglong said confidently.


    "That''s not necessarily true." Lu Yiyao laughed, "Everyone has some unique skills this time, and although I sing well, dancing really is my weak point. But I chose the vocal group for this assessment, so it shouldn''t be too bad!"


    The results of Sunshine Tomorrow are composed of combined scores from several instructors and the public. The final debut spots are also decided by these viewers and instructors.


    So, a contestant''s popularity largely determines their level of favoritism, and actual ability is not the decisive factor.


    "No worries, I''ll check for you!" Zhang Menglong directly called Hong Yi.


    "Hong Yi, can you check the results of Sunshine Tomorrow''s first performance for me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Lu is currently ranked second."


    "Second eh, that''s not bad," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "But Mr. Zhang, there''s something fishy about the number of votes for the first place!"


    "Hmm?" Zhang Menglong narrowed his eyes. If someone could beat Lu Yiyao with genuine talent, he wouldn''t mind, but if they used any underhanded tactics...


    "The first place is a girl named Hua Ye. She has nearly 200,000 more votes than Miss Lu, and a large portion of these votes have been purchased by an organization!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Buying votes? Are they trying to see who has more money?"

 Chapter 438 436: Buy Her to the Last Place

    "What''s wrong? Why do you look so upset?" Lu Yiyao noticed the unusual expression on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "Oh, it''s nothing." Zhang Menglong shook his head, not wishing for Lu Yiyao to know about these things.


    "Ah, don''t worry, second place is already very good. I even thought making it to the top five was impossible!" Lu Yiyao said. "Hua Yuhan is really amazing, she sings beautifully and dances wonderfully. If I were a boy, I''d definitely be smitten by her!"


    "You''re so naive!" Zhang Menglong flicked Lu Yiyao on the nose.


    "But I''m not bad either. I''ll definitely surpass her," Lu Yiyao said, "You don''t know, our season has even got the Asian Dance King as a coach! What''s that look for? I''m not talking about the multiplayer kind of thing! I''m talking about Zhang the King! He even praised me for my dance gift!"


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong smiled. The title of Asian Dance King held by Zhang the King indeed had more value than that of the multiplayer sport kind. If Zhang had acknowledged her, it meant that Lu Yiyao''s dance gift was really something.


    After all, Zhang Menglong had emphasized repeatedly that, aside from ensuring no underhanded tactics were used, he treated Lu Yiyao as a regular contestant, offering no special considerations.


    "Alright, just rest well for these two days. After all, it''s just the initial stage that has just finished and voting has only just begun. Who knows, maybe in two days the final count will show you''ve surpassed that Hua Yuhan?"


    ...


    At 7:00 PM, the production team of the "Future Child" announced the voting situation on the first day. Hua Yuhan was temporarily in first place with 1.78 million votes, while Lu Yiyao was in second with 1.59 million votes. The third-place contestant didn''t even reach a million votes; there was a clear gap.


    The data had just been released, and the audience began their heated discussion.


    "What? Lu Yiyao is only in second place? Impossible! Isn''t her singing miles better than Hua Yuhan''s?


    "It might be because Hua Yuhan included a dance performance in her act. Honestly, her dancing really isn''t bad!"


    "But isn''t that too exaggerated? Most of my friends voted for Lu Yiyao. How could she be beaten by nearly 200,000 votes? That''s not scientific!"


    "Could there be some foul play? Isn''t it said that this Hua Yuhan is Hua Ye''s sister, whose net worth is in the billions of US dollars? It wouldn''t be hard for her to buy some support."


    "Damn, these protective fans are truly nauseating. Just because she has more votes than your idol, you start attacking her?"


    "What are you talking about the horse for? It''s a fact. All the judges rated Lu Yiyao as the best in vocal music. Isn''t this vote buying otherwise?"


    "Brothers and sisters, let''s vote again. We must catch up in the number of votes!"


    "Exactly, let''s show them the difference between true fans and paid ones!"


    ...


    Half an hour later, Lu Yiyao''s votes unexpectedly began to skyrocket. At the closest point, she was less than twenty thousand votes behind Hua Yuhan!


    At this time, Hua Yuhan''s votes also surged from behind, widening the gap to over a hundred thousand votes again!


    "Well, this obvious vote buying," Zhang Menglong listened to Hong Yi''s report.


    All of Lu Yiyao''s votes were genuine and valid, but of Hua Yuhan''s votes, only about 1.2 million were real; the rest, hundreds of thousands, were all purchased!


    "Want to play, huh?" Zhang Menglong''s tone was icy. "Hong Yi, do you know how to buy these votes?"


    "Mr. Zhang, this area is quite complex. The votes bought by Hua Yuhan are all from real people, so they are very safe and not easily exposed, but they are quite expensive, costing about 5 to 10 Huaxia currency per valid vote."


    "Broke guy, hundreds of thousands of votes, that''s only a few million spent!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Hong Yi, this kind of thing shouldn''t be difficult for you, right?"


    "Of course, if Mr. Zhang needs it, I can arrange it right now," Hong Yi said, "How many do you need to buy?"


    "Let''s start with a few hundred million tickets!"


    "Ah?" Hong Yi was stunned, "Mr. Zhang, isn''t that a bit too exaggerated? Over a hundred million tickets for one person clearly looks like buying votes!"


    "Hahaha, what I meant was, distribute these tickets among all the other contestants," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Didn''t the auditions admit over 60 people? Sell two million tickets to each person, and directly make that Hua Yuhan the last one!"


    "She likes buying tickets, right? Let''s see how many she can buy!"


    ...


    "I didn''t expect that girl named Lu Yiyao to be so popular!"


    In another room, a girl with a beautiful appearance and a sexy figure was on the phone with someone. She is Hua Ye''s sister, Hua Yuhan, a princess-like figure of the Hua family.


    Hua Yuhan''s greatest passion is singing and dancing. She has no interest in business or politics, and the Hua family doesn''t lack people in those areas, so she is free to do whatever she wants.


    Hua Yuhan has always been dearly loved by Hua Ye, so he took her participation in The Future Child very seriously. He even contacted the organizers at the beginning, hoping to prepare a champion''s script for Hua Yuhan!


    But he didn''t expect, his request was rejected. They said the program''s sponsorship had already been fully booked, and the sponsors did not allow any predetermined candidates¡ªall contestants had to win based on their own merit!


    Hua Ye wasn''t too concerned about this. Not to mention that Hua Yuhan had studied vocal music and dance from a young age under some well-known musicians and dancers, and her skills were quite good. Even if someone was better, with the Hua family''s resources, wouldn''t this still be easy to handle?


    Starting half a month before the show, Hua Ye began using his resources to generate buzz and popularity. Even the photos of him visiting Hua Yuhan were deliberately leaked to the media. By the time the show started, she had already garnered a lot of attention.


    In the first round of rankings, she showcased her strong skills and caught the attention of many mentors. Strong skills, strong background, and a kind-hearted persona drew in a large number of fans.


    Just when she felt she had victory in her grasp, Lu Yiyao''s emergence shattered her confidence.


    Before the graduate school retest, Lu Yiyao had trained with Domingo and Madonna for a month or two. Her training had not stopped after that, and Zhang Menglong had arranged many vocal and instrumental teachers from around the world for her. It could be said that from the beginning, Lu Yiyao was on the path of mastering her craft!


    During the rankings competition, as soon as she opened her mouth, she gave countless audience members goosebumps, even earning extremely high evaluations from the mentors. They openly stated that among the 100 contestants, she was unmistakably the number one vocalist.


    Since then, Hua Yuhan paid extra attention to Lu Yiyao, and she also told her brother, Hua Ye. Hua Ye had also started preparing early, buying a large number of fans and internet troops to boost Hua Yuhan''s popularity.


    After the public performance ended, Lu Yiyao''s votes soared like a rocket, far ahead of other contestants, while Hua Yuhan, though not doing badly, only managed second place!


    Having some insider information, Hua Ye immediately mobilized his online army to start voting for Hua Yuhan, hence the visible discrepancy in the vote numbers that the audience saw.


    "This Lu Yiyao is indeed quite impressive," a young man''s voice came from the phone, "But don''t worry, Yuhan, you will definitely debut in the final c position. I just spent 5 million US dollars buying votes for you, Lu Yiyao can''t catch up!"


    "Brother, I knew you''re the best to me!"


    "Hahaha, this little thing, leave it to me, as long as you''re happy!" Hua Ye laughed, "I''ve already heard that the next round''s performance will be in the form of assistive singing and acting. I''ll find you the most capable guest performer, and you''ll definitely stun the whole audience!"


    "Wait," the tone of Hua Ye suddenly became serious.


    "What''s wrong, brother?"


    "My assistant told me that there has been a strange surge in the contestants'' vote numbers, and now even the person ranked last has reached 1.2 million votes!"

 Chapter 439 437: Who Did She Offend?

    "Hmm, this one''s not bad! She''s pretty and has nice legs. Hong Yi, give her a million votes!"


    "Damn! The Digimon theme song? It''s totally my jam, this is some great song choice. Wang Yufei? I''ve got to remember her. This person definitely needs to move up, Hong Yi, give this one also a million votes!"


    "Why does this person look so familiar? Where have I seen her before?" Zhang Menglong focused on a girl of similar age to him in the replay of the performance.


    "Mr. Zhang, this contestant''s name is Luo Qing, and she''s your junior high school classmate. We invited her to Kaibong, but she refused because she wanted to be on this show."


    "So that''s it," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I was wondering why she looked so familiar. She must debut, brush her up to second place, that''s good enough!"


    "What''s this dance? A rehabilitation exercise for disabled persons? Never mind, just brush her to the second to last place, she''s definitely not making a debut anyway."


    When it came to vote manipulation, Zhang Menglong entirely went by his own preferences.


    He wasn''t the kind of person who enjoyed playing behind-the-scenes games, but if someone else wanted to play dirty, Zhang Menglong was ready to play to the end!


    Apart from Luo Qing and a few other performance stages he particularly enjoyed, Zhang Menglong almost stuck to the initial rankings when vote manipulating, of course, leaving a last-place spot for Hua Yuhan.


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!" In the manor lent to the Future Star contestants by Zhang Menglong, a girl rushed to another room and knocked urgently on the door.


    "Luo Qing? What''s up, I''m still taking a shower here!" A girl, drying her hair, poked her head out of the room, "What''s the big rush?"


    Both girls were contestants on this season''s Future Star, coming from the same talent agency, and after two and a half years of training, they finally made their appearance on the stage of Future Star.


    However, on a stage brimming with talent, their performances seemed to fade into the crowd, and they weren''t well-known to many viewers. Their evaluations placed them in the mid-tier among the hundred contestants, barely advancing them to the public performance round.


    "Feifei, did you see the support ranking?" Luo Qing asked.


    "What''s there to see? Aren''t you clear about our level? Advancing to the public performance itself was good enough, and since the public performance doesn''t eliminate anyone, whatever rank we reach is fine, as long as we do our best!" The girl known as Feifei was quite philosophic about it.


    In fact, before she took a shower, she had seen the newly announced public performance rankings: out of sixty, she was in 47th place with over 130,000 votes, while her friend Luo Qing was in 45th place with over 140,000 votes.


    If they didn''t make a significant breakthrough in the upcoming training, they were likely to be eliminated in the next elimination performance.


    They were from an ordinary talent agency with limited resources. The hundred and something thousand votes they received were a result of mobilizing a large number of fans. The company didn''t have the surplus funds to support two artists who were still filled with uncertainties.


    "Look at it again now!"


    "What''s the point? Even if I look again, at most we''ll gain another ten or twenty thousand votes. What good will that do?"


    "Will you just look again?"


    Feifei opened her phone skeptically and clicked on the voting list. The number next to her name made her pupils dilate several times over.


    1.27 million votes?


    It wasn''t just her; Luo Qing''s vote count had also risen to 1.3 million! Their rankings had suddenly shot up into the top ten!


    "What''s going on?" The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion.


    "I don''t know either. I just had dinner, and when I opened the ranking, it had turned into this!"


    ```


    "I''ll make a call to the company!" Feifei was very clear about her situation; she had just completed the trainee program and barely had any fans, let alone wealthy ones who would spend money to vote for her. This surge in votes must be the company''s doing!"


    "President Liu, this is Feifei. I wanted to ask if the company has spent money to buy us votes?"


    "Wang Yufei, have you not woken up yet? Have you seen what kind of performance you put on stage? Others chose songs that are well-known to the ear, and what did you pick? The theme song of Digimon? Did you think you were singing for children? Look at your own vote count; you still think the company would spend money on votes for you, you..."


    The voice on the other end of the line suddenly stopped. Wang Yufei''s company boss had just seen two astonishing vote counts on the leaderboard; Wang Yufei''s "Butterfly" ranked 5th, while Luo Qing''s rendition of "Darwin" was in 7th place.


    This sudden rise in ranking even made the two of them hot topics within just a few hours, with their popularity skyrocketing.


    "Hahaha, you two did very well. From now on, pour your hearts and souls into the competition; I will use the entire company''s resources to create momentum for the two of you!"


    Seeing their ranking, the boss''s attitude completely changed. These were two new artists brimming with potential. If they could really debut, they would undoubtedly become the company''s cash cows!


    After hanging up the phone, Wang Yufei and Luo Qing exchanged glances. It was clear from the boss''s reaction that their votes were not the result of the company''s intervention. Could it be that they had some super-rich fan among their followers?


    As for the idea that their talent attracted the audience? What a joke. They were keenly aware of their own abilities.


    As artists, they were very familiar with the practice of vote manipulation. If those were indeed real votes, then the financial investment behind their more than two million votes would definitely exceed ten million! They didn''t believe their current commercial value could reach that level.


    "Who could it be?" Wang Yufei fell into deep thought. "Luo Qing, do you have a sugar daddy backing you up?"


    "Hahaha, even if I had a sugar daddy, he would only vote for me, not for you, right?"


    "Maybe you have some rich relatives?" Wang Yufei said.


    "Come on, my dad is just a fisherman from a small island; almost all my relatives work in fishing. Where would I get a rich relative?" Luo Qing replied. "But speaking of that, I do have a very wealthy middle school classmate."


    "Oh? Who?"


    "Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest Zhang Menglong?" Wang Yufei raised her voice. That''s just very wealthy? Isn''t that practically invincible wealth?


    "But we haven''t been in touch for a long time," Luo Qing said. "Half a month ago, he sent someone to tell me he was organizing a big gathering to travel to Kaibong, but I had to decline because I was participating in this event. We haven''t been in contact since."


    "Could he be the one voting for you?" Wang Yufei speculated.


    "But my relationship with him wasn''t that good; I used to beat him up!" Luo Qing laughed. "Besides, even if he was voting for me, what about your votes? Do you have such a wealthy friend too?"


    "Wait, look, the vote counts of the others are increasing too!" Wang Yufei had been monitoring the vote counts closely. She just refreshed the page, and the rankings of several contestants had jumped significantly, with increases of at least seven or eight hundred thousand votes!


    "Lu Yiyao moved up to first place!"


    "Luo Qing, you''re now in second place! I''m in fifth place!"


    "What? What about Hua Yuhan? Wasn''t she in second place?"


    "Others'' votes are rising too quickly; she has fallen below the top ten!"


    "How is it that the rankings suddenly became so chaotic?"


    "Could someone be manipulating things behind the scenes?"


    "I see it now; someone is targeting Hua Yuhan!" Luo Qing, with her sharp intuition, quickly realized the situation. "Who could she have offended?"


    ```

 Chapter 440 438: The Fight Between Deities

    All the contestants saw a crazy rise in their rankings, except for Hua Yuhan whose votes still grew slowly. If this wasn''t targeting her, then who was it targeting?


    It was very likely because Hua Yuhan had offended someone, and that person wanted her to fall to the very bottom! Therefore, they crazily cast votes for the other contestants!


    But her vote count was over a million! To push Hua Yuhan to the last place meant that this person had to bring over a million votes to each of the other 59 contestants!


    Even if it''s just a few million for one person, adding up all those people would also amount to billions!


    This was just an ordinary performance with no eliminations, where even the last place could continue in the competition. Spending billions on something like this, what kind of deep hatred could this be?


    The next morning, the fans monitoring the vote rankings were all stunned.


    Lu Yiyao took the lead with 2.89 million votes, while Luo Qing, who was just mediocre, shockingly moved up to second place. And Luo Yuhuan, originally very popular with a lot of attention, had her votes drop dramatically to the very last place!


    Although she still had 1.92 million votes, the one above her had over 2 million votes!


    "Someone is buying votes to suppress Hua Yuhan!"


    Someone bluntly pointed this out.


    "Has someone gone mad? How much money does this even require?"


    "I remember last night, just at the beginning, the person in second to last place was at the bottom with just over 20,000 votes. This ''god'' has given her over two million votes!"


    "Guys, I specialize in this field. To manually add 2 million votes would cost at least seven to eight million!"


    "Seven to eight million? That''s just for one person. He voted for dozens of people; isn''t that going to cost several billion?"


    "Damn, does this person have so much money they don''t know where to spend it?"


    "Why does this person want to suppress Hua Yuhan? Do they even dare to provoke the Hua Family?"


    "Check this data out. A few hours right after the performance ended yesterday, Lu Yiyao was leading, but then Hua Yuhan''s votes suddenly started to rise abnormally. What do you think about that?"


    "Is Hua Yuhan buying votes?"


    "Goodness, look at the analyst here! Hua Yuhan bought votes to get to the top spot, and someone got upset!"


    "Who could it be? Could it be Lu Yiyao? Isn''t she a novice with a father who''s an alcoholic and a gambler, not signed to any agency, didn''t even have a single fan before this competition, who would buy votes for her?"


    "Maybe she also has a rich backer, doesn''t she?"


    "Throwing billions into an ordinary showcase isn''t just a rich backer; it''s practically the God of Wealth!"


    "Haha, just watch. The Hua Family isn''t going to let this slide; there''s bound to be something thrilling happening soon!"


    ...


    "Brother! How did this happen? My votes have been pushed to the last!" Hua Yuhan, seeing that her vote count was at the bottom, was so furious she smashed some stuff around and immediately told her brother, Hua Ye.


    "Don''t worry, as the Hua Family, we have dealt with people far beyond their capabilities," Hua Ye said with a cold laugh.


    The Hua Family was unassuming, but that didn''t mean they''d stomach an insult! On the contrary, the Hua Family cared greatly about face! Hua Ye had publicly declared Hua Yuhan as a direct descendant, yet someone dared target her. This was a blatant provocation to the Hua Family!


    "Leave this matter to me," Hua Ye said darkly but then he smirked. "Want to push Yuhan to the last place? You''ll pay a price thirty times over. I would like to see how much money you have to fight against our Hua Family!"


    "Buy an additional 2 million votes for Yuhan!" Hua Ye could easily mobilize personal assets worth over ten billion Huaxia yuan and 2 million votes cost under ten million Huaxia yuan. If the other party continued to compete, they would have to pay thirty times the price!


    Sure enough, as everyone had guessed, by morning, Hua Yuhan''s votes suddenly spiked again!


    In just a few minutes, her count broke through the 2 million barrier, and then, it soared past 2.50 million, 3 million, and finally stopped close to 4 million! Her ranking once again climbed to the first place!


    "It''s starting, it''s starting!" Never ones to shy away from drama, everyone was fixated on the leaderboard. Suddenly, this child of the future became the highlight of the whole internet; such events were indeed rare!


    "Hahaha, I just checked out Teacher Wang Feng''s Weibo, and sure enough, he''s about to release a new song again!"


    "Hahaha, how amazing! Whenever Teacher Wang releases a new song, something big is bound to happen in the world!"


    "Do you think this tycoon will continue to buy votes for everyone?"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, that''s more than 2 million votes for each person. That''s at least four or five billion right there."


    "Has this guy gone mad? Others only need to buy votes for one person, but he has to buy for 59 people. Even with a lot of money, that''s unsustainable!"


    "Hehe, just a few billion," Zhang Menglong said emotionlessly as he looked at the vote rankings. "Hong Yi, don''t ask me anymore. As soon as Hua Yuhan''s votes go up, immediately buy votes for everyone else and just maintain the current ranking!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    "By the way, what is this Hua Family all about?" Zhang Menglong continued.


    "Just a major Huaxia family with substantial assets, about 50 trillion Huaxia currency. Many family members are high-ranking officials in Longxia. Do you remember the ''Dragon King''?"


    "Oh, the one in charge of artificial rain at our farm?"


    "Yes, he is also from the Hua Family. But as I''ve told you, they offended your father. They used to be very high-profile and active, but after your father gave them a slight warning, they became much more subdued."


    "Ah, so it''s that unfortunate family," Zhang Menglong laughed. "Okay, I got it. Go handle it!"


    ...


    At 10 AM, as all netizens were sleepy from waiting, the vote rankings started to stir again!


    "It''s starting! It''s starting!"


    "Everyone''s votes are increasing, and sure enough, only Hua Yuhan''s aren''t!"


    "Lu Yiyao is back in first place, five million votes!"


    "Hua Yuhan''s dropped to third place!"


    "Dropped to fifth place!"


    "Tenth place now!"


    ...


    Two hours later, Hua Yuhan''s ranking had once again plummeted to last place!


    "Ssss, terrifying, absolutely terrifying! These two rounds of voting together must have cost close to ten billion, right?"


    "Who is this guy? Ten billion! Couldn''t he have spent that on a private jet, a yacht, and a large villa with a garden instead?"


    "The world of the wealthy is indeed beyond our understanding!"


    "How much money must be spent just for the sake of pride!"


    ...


    "I want to see how long you can keep up!" Hua Ye waved his hand grandly, "Give Yuhuan 10 million votes right now!"


    "Hua Yuhan''s votes are rising again, this time up to 10 million votes, and someone directly gave her over six million votes behind the scenes!"


    "Momma Mia! It''s starting again! That big boss has started voting again! He''s going all out! Fifty-nine people, each getting six million votes, that''s nearly 20 billion Huaxia currency!"


    "Boo hoo hoo, I''m crying!"


    10 million votes, under normal circumstances, that would only appear during the final performance of a show; this is just the first performance, and the air is already filled with this much tension!


    The onlookers were dumbfounded. This wasn''t just about being stubborn; it was practically a battle of gods!

 Chapter 441 439: Dont Challenge My Pocket Money with Your Family Assets

    "Can we find out who exactly is suppressing Yuhan''s ranking?"


    Repeatedly pushed down, Hua Ye wasn''t too bothered about the money spent, but it dealt a significant blow to his pride and self-esteem.


    Qin Feng and his peers were quite renowned in Huaxia as the second generation of influential figures, to whom others would respectfully address as ''Young Master Qin,'' simply because their fathers were the founding heroes of the era. As long as his father was alive, the Qin Family would prosper.


    Qin Feng''s father''s generation had also entered the core circle, and in just three to five years, even without his grandfather, their family''s foundation would remain unaffected.


    Qin Feng was a benchmark among the second generation, and even Wang Ling''s status didn''t quite compare!


    Yet, someone like Qin Feng would still respectfully address Hua Ye as ''Brother Hua'' or ''Young Master Hua,'' because within the nation''s forces, there was a special group among whom the Hua Family commanded significant resources.


    Even the leader of the "Longxia Special Action Team" was closely related to their family, which was their greatest reliance!


    Although their family had become much more low-profile than before, those with true status knew of the Hua Family''s existence, and no one dared provoke them.


    "I''m sorry, Young Master, I have activated all the resources I could to find this person''s information, yet no data about them can be obtained!" the middle-aged man beside Hua Ye said with trepidation.


    This was the first time he had seen Hua Ye so angry, because so far, this was the first person who had dared to confront Hua Ye directly.


    "Useless!" Hua Ye scolded, "What about Longxia''s resources?"


    "We have already used them..."


    "What?" This time, Hua Ye''s expression turned rather ugly. Although he couldn''t access much of Longxia''s higher privileges, just the portion he could use had always been enough to get any information he desired, yet even Longxia couldn''t find this person''s data!


    "Could he also be associated with Longxia?" Hua Ye pondered deeply, even wondering if this person''s clearance was higher than his; otherwise, it would be impossible to hide their details from Longxia''s intelligence!


    "Young Master, I feel this person''s identity is extraordinary, and it would not be suitable for us to continue battling against him."


    "Not suitable? Are you suggesting that our Hua Family is afraid of them?" Hua Ye laughed, "Is there really any family in the entire Huaxia stronger than ours?"


    The middle-aged man was at a loss for words; indeed, no family in Huaxia was bigger than the Hua Family, but remember why they shifted from a high-profile to a low-profile demeanor¡ªit was because they had offended someone they shouldn''t have years ago!


    "I want to see how much wealth this person really has to compete with our Hua Family!" Hua Ye laughed, "And what our Hua Family wants, no one has ever been able to stop us; it would be ridiculous if we couldn''t even get the championship of a mere talent show!"


    "Young Master, should we continue to manipulate the votes?"


    "He likes to play, right? Then let''s continue the game. Add another fifty million votes for Yuhan!"


    "Young Master..."


    "Aren''t you listening to me?"


    "Yes, I''ll do it right away!"


    ...


    "Fifty million! Fifty million votes!"


    "Damn, even last year''s final debut stage only had about thirteen million votes at most! Isn''t this obviously vote manipulation?"


    "Brother, it''s no longer about whether or not votes are being manipulated; it''s now about both parties firing shots at each other!"


    "Do you guys think this person will dare to continue? If this continues, it would be 59 times the cost, easily fifty billion. How many people in Huaxia can come up with fifty billion?"


    "Does anyone have a way to get into the vote manipulation business? I feel like this is a money-making opportunity."


    "Old driver, take me with you!"


    "Suddenly, I have a bold idea!"


    "Brother, I also have a bold idea."


    "Are you talking about that man?"


    "777777? The will of seven?"


    "Get lost, upstairs!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Hua Ye just had his subordinates add 50 million votes for Hua Yuhan."


    "Haha, look, he''s getting desperate!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed, "I''ve never seen anyone so oblivious. He thinks I can''t come up with fifty billion? It''s a pity that the money will just end up in the pockets of those rigging the votes..."


    "Mr. Zhang, do you want to continue following this?"


    "Of course, to compete against him. I really want to see how much money his family can provide for him as the next Sect Leader of the Hua Family," Zhang Menglong continued, "By the way, look into his family''s company and try to tighten their finances. It''s not that I care about the money; it''s just that those ticket scalpers making a profit off me really annoys me."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    ...


    "It has started, it has started!"


    At six in the evening, a new surge in vote counts began, and Hua Yuhan''s votes started skyrocketing as if strapped to a rocket.


    Just as everyone else was about to pay attention to other people''s vote counts, hers began to double in speed!


    "20 million votes now!"


    "30 million votes now!"


    "Hua Yuhan''s votes have surpassed 50 million now, this is insane, are these real tycoons doing something?"


    "Is their money even real money?"


    "You... you guys, look, Lu Yiyao''s votes have already reached 70 million and are still rising!"


    "Damn! Even the last place has exceeded 60 million votes now, how much money is that? 5 billion? 6 billion? Is he serious?"


    "Mr. Zhang, stop pretending, I know it''s you!"


    "Hahaha, I also think it''s Mr. Zhang. In all of Huaxia, as mischievous as this, I can''t think of anyone else but Mr. Zhang!"


    "Alright, I''m going to reveal a secret I''ve kept for a long time. I am a student at Gusu University, and last year Mr. Zhang drove his sports car to our campus to find a girl. Lu Yiyao is a student at our Gusu University, you get it now, right?"


    "Damn! So that''s how it is!"


    "Exactly! That Hua Yuhan used vote rigging to push down Lu Yiyao''s ranking, and Mr. Zhang won''t have it!"


    "Man, after so many times they still haven''t learned their lesson? Don''t they know that so far, anyone who has dared to challenge Mr. Zhang has been unlucky?"


    "But this Hua Family is not ordinary either, Mr. Zhang might not have it as easy as before this time!"


    ...


    Two hours later, Hua Yuhan was pushed to the very back again.


    But the other contestants'' vote counts didn''t stop increasing, 70 million, 80 million...


    "No more hiding, I''m laying my cards on the table!" Zhang Menglong posted on his Weibo, "I''m the one messing with this thing, and if you want to sabotage the fair competition, you''d better ask if I agree first. Thinking of using such tactics to win the championship? Dream on!"


    "6666! It''s definitely Mr. Zhang! I knew it was you!"


    "It''s him, it''s him, it''s definitely him..."


    "Why can the person above send audio?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve met your match this time, this Hua Family is extraordinary, you have to be careful out there, don''t get ambushed, or maybe you should write a will first, I can be your son."


    ...


    "Keep buying, keep buying!" Hua Ye looked at Zhang Menglong''s provocative Weibo post and was hysterically furious, "He thinks he''s rich? Buy 1 billion votes, let''s see if he can still afford it!"


    Hua Yuhan''s votes once again soared, returning to the top spot on the leaderboard, exhausting the vote-rigging agencies for the day.


    "Man, has this guy gone mad? 500 million votes?"


    "The biggest winner this time must be Mr. Ma! He must be laughing behind the scenes already, right?"


    "But Mrs. Hua Ye is too naive, they might be more powerful than Mr. Zhang, but when it comes to money, have you forgotten Mr. Zhang''s Worker''s Fund Foundation in America? He casually gave away hundreds of billions of US dollars, do you think he cares about this money?"


    ...


    Indeed, no matter how much Hua Ye rigged the votes, Hua Yuhan''s ranking remained firmly at the very last place.


    And Zhang Menglong spoke out publically again: "Don''t challenge my pocket money with your family assets, ok?"

 Chapter 442 440: How Is One Heavenly King Enough?

    "This is outrageous!" Hua Ye smashed the marble table in front of him with a slap of his hand.


    Outsiders all thought that Hua Ye was just an ordinary person with an extraordinary background, but in fact, he was also a psychic with considerable strength!


    To Hua Ye, 10 billion, although not a huge number, was definitely not a small amount either. He believed that helping Hua Yuhan win the championship should cost at most a few hundred million.


    But unexpectedly, a Zhang Menglong appeared out of nowhere, directly going all-in against him!


    "Has anyone investigated what the background of this Zhang Menglong really is?" Hua Ye asked. It used to be impossible to figure out who this person was. Now that they knew it was Zhang Menglong, it would be ridiculous not to find any information about him, right?


    "The information about this Zhang Menglong is very complicated!" the middle-aged man beside Hua Ye said. "Before September last year, Zhang Menglong was just a very ordinary person, with an average family and education. But after October, he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation."


    "What about his parents?"


    "According to the information we''ve gathered, Zhang Menglong''s parents are both from a working-class background."


    "Working class? What a joke! Am I, Hua Ye, going to be smashed to death by a working-class person''s money?" he asked through gritted teeth. Was there some misunderstanding about the working class?


    "But after October, we couldn''t find any information about Zhang Menglong''s parents at all, not even any relatives. It''s as if he''s the only one in this world."


    "Is that even possible?" Hua Ye''s eyes widened. "It seems his family background is just a facade, to have escaped the intelligence network of Longxia..."


    "What about their assets?" Hua Ye continued to inquire.


    "Based on our estimates, the personal net worth of all the enterprises with Zhang Menglong as a shareholder or legal person exceeds three trillion US dollars!"


    "Three trillion?" Hua Ye''s body trembled slightly. Even their entire Hua Family didn''t have much more in total assets than that.


    "That''s just an estimate," the middle-aged man continued, "of these assets, his fixed assets account for over two trillion, and of the remaining nearly one trillion US dollars, just the money displayed in his Qingqiu Country bank accounts far exceeds this amount. We have every reason to suspect that this is just the tip of the iceberg of his total wealth!"


    "How could he possibly be so rich? Is his family printing money?" Hua Ye had to admit that competing in financial strength with Zhang Menglong was truly like hurling eggs against a rock!


    Zhang Menglong could easily throw out several hundred billion US dollars without even blinking, while he, Hua Ye, was not yet the confirmed successor of the Hua Family, and even if he were, their family''s liquid assets couldn''t match several hundred billion US dollars.


    For Hua Ye at the moment, spending a few billion dollars was enough to cause him trouble within his family.


    Even if he had put down 5 billion US dollars to gamble with Zhang Menglong, considering that Zhang Menglong could casually throw out a few hundred billion dollars in America to subsidize workers, would it be strange for him to pull out 300 billion dollars to suppress Hua Yuhan?


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ll remember you!" For the first time, Hua Ye felt a profound sense of helplessness when competing financially with someone.


    "Young master, do we continue betting?" the middle-aged man asked.


    "Continue? Continue your ass! What do I have to bet against him? My life? Our entire family can''t outbid him, aren''t you just rubbing it in?" Unable to vent his anger elsewhere, he lashed out at the middle-aged man beside him, showering him with a torrent of abuse.


    ...


    Lu Yiyao''s final vote count stopped at one hundred million, and Hua Yuhan''s numbers didn''t move again. That situation lasted for three whole days!


    Everyone knew that Hua Ye had lost!


    "Another one killed by President Zhang''s money."


    "Alas, such precious youth, why did they have to show off against President Zhang?"


    "Take him away, next!"


    "This is the consequence of challenging President Zhang''s pocket change with family assets. Please take note, ladies and gentlemen!"


    This farce gradually subsided among the enthusiastic discussions of netizens.


    On the seventh day, the program team directly announced the results of the first round of public performances, and although the audience already knew what the outcome was, a large number of people still gathered in front of the live broadcast.


    "Let''s congratulate the first-place winner of the performance, Lu Yiyao from the Jiangnan Music College!!"


    "6666, worthy of being Zhang''s woman, that singing voice is incredible!"


    "I''m a music student myself, and her singing not only has our Huaxia''s ornate style, but I also sensed the high notes of Western opera and pop singing. Although they''re fused together, it has a strong personal touch, super impressive!"


    "Should her highest note in the performance already be the ceiling for sopranos?"


    "Where are you putting my world''s highest note, Wu Qiang? My high note is higher than anyone else''s in the world!"


    "Hahaha, look at Hua Yuhan''s expression."


    "That''s not just a Mask of Pain, that''s practically a ''death mask''¡ªa major social death scene right there."


    "Wasn''t it good being in second place? Why mess with vote rigging, and now complete self-sabotage, huh?"


    "Gotta say, her professional skills are still very strong, and those votes were all brushed up by her brother, Hua Ye. A brother wanting to boost his sister is pretty normal, right?"


    "Can this even be whitewashed? How much, count me in."


    ...


    The recording of the program continued, and Hua Yuhan had no intention of withdrawing from the competition. Since she couldn''t win by playing dirty, she would let the stage do the talking!


    The second round of public performances would take place in half a month, and within this half month, half of the contestants would be eliminated, leaving only 30 members to advance to the next round of performances.


    The rules of this performance were very interesting. Everyone would offer an individual stage, and they could invite anybody to participate. Theoretically, one could even invite various big names to support their act.


    As everyone knows, the pulling power of a big shot is very strong. If one manages to invite a super-popular star, the fan effect they bring can be terrifying.


    At this point, it all depended on how strong the personal connections of the contestants and the energy of their backing companies were.


    "Brother, we can''t afford any problems this time." For Hua Yuhan, this performance was her chance to turn things around.


    "Don''t worry, this time we''ll do it above board," Hua Ye said, "Zhang Menglong is just rich, but having money doesn''t mean he can do everything. Right now, the entertainment industry''s top influencers are just a few people¡ªWang Zhan, Xiao Yibo, Suspenders. None of the bosses of their agencies dare to offend the Hua Family, and the program team didn''t say we could only invite one guest!"


    Hua Yuhan immediately smiled. The combined fan base of these few people could nearly hold up half the sky among Huaxia''s youth. Even though their fans didn''t get along with each other, if they appeared on the same stage, they would have a common goal, benefiting herself in the end!


    "I can handle the guest arrangements for you, but your performance must be perfect, understand?"


    "Yes!" Hua Yuhan trembled with excitement, already looking forward to her own stage!


    ...


    "Supporting guests?" On the other side, Zhang Menglong was also aware of the news, "Yiyi, how are you planning to go about it?"


    "I want to try something different," Lu Yiyao said, "But I don''t have many friends in the entertainment industry, so I''m afraid I''ll need your help with the singing guest."


    "What''s this ''help'' or ''no help''? Since when have you been so formal with me?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "But if we''re going to do this, we have to make it shockingly good. That Hua Yuhan, if she wants to show off, we''ll slap her down with a single blow!"


    "You''re not going to invite some big king of singing to support me, are you?" Given Zhang Menglong''s style, such a possibility was quite large.


    "Of course not," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "How could one king of singing be enough?"

 Chapter 443 441: The Strongest Lineup in History

    "Top-level traffic star Wang Zhan, Xiao Yibo, and Cai Kunxu confirmed to participate in the recording of ''Sons of the Future''! They will attend as Hua Yuhan''s support singing guests!"


    An explosive news piece appeared on the internet.


    It''s known that among these three, fans of two of them had once erupted in an earth-shattering battle, and now the two appearing on the same stage had sent all fans into a frenzy.


    The internet has no memory, and negative news about Hua Yuhan almost vanishes completely, replaced by anticipation for this performance stage and admiration for the Hua Family''s enormous clout.


    Rehearsing a stage together isn''t something you can pull off in just a few hours¡ªit takes at least a week of rehearsals and practice to achieve a seamless performance.


    As top-tier celebrities, their schedules are absolutely packed. To carve out a week, no, even half a day, is incredibly challenging.


    Wang Zhan and Xiao Yibo were both filming their new projects in different crews, while Cai Kunxu was recording a variety show. To get them to stop filming is not just about having money¡ªtheir bosses behind the scenes are not simple characters!


    Being able to have these three as support singing guests under such circumstances truly shows how powerful the Hua Family is.


    "Charge!"


    "Yibo!"


    "Battle!"


    "Hubby!"


    "Looking forward to Hua Yuhan''s performance stage!"


    "I''ve got my votes ready, just waiting to cast them!"


    "Those who don''t vote aren''t Huaxia people!"


    ...


    Hua Yuhan''s support was unprecedented for a time.


    But the fans of Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had an entirely different attitude.


    The previous battle of wealth was like a fight between immortals; Zhang Menglong emerged as the victor with an overwhelming presence, and even Hua Ye didn''t let out a peep by the end. Would Zhang Menglong stand by and watch his girlfriend get outshone? That''d be nonsense! When had Zhang Menglong ever admitted defeat?


    "Haha, a bunch of braindead fans think you can win just by bringing in a few traffic stars?"


    "You''re underestimating Boss Zhang. If it''s something money can take care of, there''s nothing he can''t do!"


    "Do you really think Boss Zhang is nothing but money and looks? Do you really think Boss Zhang has no connections or background? Just with money, he could get to where he is now?"


    "Ridiculous! A bunch of mortals trying to compete with a god of wealth, I''m actually starting to look forward to the performance stage!"


    "I''m making a note of it here. If Lu Yiyao''s presence at the time can''t beat that Hua Yuhan, I''ll live stream myself eating five tons of shit!"


    "Bookmarking this! Making sure OP doesn''t go back on their word."


    "Boss Zhang, say something! Who have you invited? Are you going to heaven to ask Lu to bring down the Buddha?"


    "It''s got to be nothing less than superstar-level at least! Don''t forget, when Boss Zhang defeated Yi Network Music, he bought the rights to almost all of the top-level singers'' works. With his money, do you think those superstars could resist?"


    ...


    Just as they guessed, if Zhang Menglong was to choose, he''d go for the superstars!


    Traffic stars have massive fan bases, sure, but don''t forget, compared to those real superstars, their singing abilities are leagues behind!


    It may seem that those few have a large share of the entertainment market, but does it mean that those Gods of Song and superstars are no good anymore?


    What a joke! Even if they aren''t active in the circle anymore, their works still resonate in the streets and alleys. Mention their works, and people can immediately recall the titles and the names of the creators¡ªthose are the eternal classics!


    Guo Fuchen, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Huaxia, had dominated the music world for decades and had now withdrawn from the entertainment industry to enjoy a happy life with his lovely wife.


    As usual, he was playing with his child in the garden when suddenly, his phone vibrated, and a notification from the bank made his whole body jolt.


    Dear Mr. Guo Fuchen, your foreign exchange account ending in 9834 has received 100,000,000 US Dollars!


    "A hundred million dollars?" Seeing the number, Guo Fuchen''s pupils dilated considerably.


    As one of the top guns, his net worth had already exceeded 2 billion Huaxia currency five years ago, owning luxury cars and mansions, living a carefree life of wealth and comfort.


    Now, he was managing several companies, and they could all be described as smooth sailing.


    But beneath this quality of life, he also spent money fiercely. Although his total assets were now close to 30 billion Huaxia yuan, most of them were fixed assets, and there were only about two or three billion in liquid funds.


    This 100 million US dollars accounted for a whole fifth of his fortune!


    "Who the hell sent this money?" Guo Fuchen called his wife over, but she also had no idea what was going on.


    At that moment, his personal phone rang with an unfamiliar number.


    First, there was a baffling large transfer, and now a stranger''s call; all this made him very nervous.


    "Hello, may I speak with Mr. Guo Fuchen?" The voice on the other end sounded very young.


    "Speaking, who''s this?"


    "Let me introduce myself. You might have heard of me, God of Song. My name is Zhang Menglong. I was the one who sent that money just now."


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?" Although he had been out of the loop enjoying time with his family, the news of the world''s richest man changing hands was something everyone knew about. Zhang Menglong had also directly purchased the rights to his songs from his original agency, which meant they had almost no contact.


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the meaning of sending me such a large sum of money all of a sudden?"


    "I''d like Mr. Guo to do me a favor," Zhang Menglong said straight to the point, "This is a deposit. If Mr. Guo is willing to help, the other half will be transferred to Mr. Guo''s account afterwards."


    "Please go ahead, Mr. Zhang," Declining to make money was foolish, especially such a substantial amount. This one billion was just half of the deposit; a fee of two billion would amount to half his fortune!


    "I hope Mr. Guo can serve as a guest singer for my girlfriend," Zhang Menglong explained the situation briefly.


    "Is that it?" Even a world tour concert wouldn''t bring Guo Fuchen tens of millions of Huaxia yuan.


    Now that he was getting older, his ability to earn wasn''t as fearsome as when he was younger, and here he was, about to earn two billion dollars just for spending a week on a program as a guest singer. Wasn''t that practically a giveaway?


    "Just that!"


    ...


    On this day, many bigshots in the Huaxia entertainment industry received such a deposit, and Zhang Menglong wasn''t satisfied to only reach out to domestic stars¡ªhe extended his reach overseas.


    "Andy Lau, are you free? Help sing a song?"


    "Who are you? Do I know you?"


    "Never mind who I am. My girlfriend is competing in half a month and needs a group of guest singers."


    "What do you think I am, a street singer? Guest singing? And a group of them?"


    "A deposit of one hundred million, another hundred million for the final payment, in US dollars!" Zhang Menglong threw down his trump card.


    Ding! Dear Mr. Liu, your foreign exchange account ending in 9834 has received 100,000,000 US dollars!


    Andy Lau''s eyes widened in shock: "Sing! What song? No, wait! Any song works!"


    ...


    "Jay Chou, short on cash lately?"


    "Teacher Gong, taking private gigs?"


    "Mr. Domingo, do you have some time? Two billion dollars for a week, all expenses covered!"


    "Mr. Carreras..."


    ...


    "Still feels like something''s missing," Zhang Menglong murmured, thinking.


    "Right! Besides backing vocals, we definitely need a few dancers and some instrumentalists!"


    Zhang Menglong continued making calls.


    "Teacher Luo? No, no, not about time management, aren''t you the King of Dance? I was hoping you could help out with some dancing!"


    "Lang Lang, is that you? Yes, it''s me, Zhang Menglong. Could you help me out? Oh, you''re not interested in money? What about a Chopin-played piano I have over here, Interested in that?"


    ...


    This time, he was going to put together the strongest lineup in history!

 Chapter 444 442: Trouble for the National Team Sitting in the Jury Panel

    The second round of the performance was an elimination system, where half of the 60 contestants were brutally eliminated!


    To achieve a good ranking in this competition, all the contestants, backed by their agencies, spared no effort in rehearsal and preparation, inviting the most excellent guest performers they could find at all costs.


    The contest for the championship between Hua Yuhan and Lu Yiyao was the biggest highlight of this season''s "Future Child," with audiences camping on the live broadcast channel early, waiting for the show to start.


    The barrage was almost completely dominated by the fans of Hua Yuhan and her three invited guests, as if the rankings for this performance had been decided and Hua Yuhan had already become the top contestant.


    Under countless eyes, the program officially started, and, as usual, the efforts of each contestant during the preparation period were introduced first, followed by their respective performances.


    Because of the elimination aspect, the quality of this performance was visibly higher than the first one, and the invited guests all had very skilled business abilities and stage presence.


    Unless it was outrageously bad, it all welcomed rounds of applause.


    Of course, with the program''s buildup, everyone was looking forward to Hua Yuhan''s and Lu Yiyao''s performances, especially Lu Yiyao, whose guest performer was still a secret yet to be revealed by the program team!


    For half a month, the media had gone crazy, using various channels to dig up insider information, even going as far as to bribe program insiders with a hefty sum for firsthand news, yet even insiders had no clue who she had invited!


    Meanwhile, another piece of news was leaked ¨C the investor of this season''s "Future Child" turned out to be Zhang Menglong!


    No wonder this investor didn''t need any brand exposure, did no advertising, and seemed like a philanthropic fool.


    But Zhang Menglong, who doesn''t treat money as money, could indeed do such a thing!


    So, Zhang Menglong''s furious action for his beloved is understandable.


    With his money invested, he demanded that the program team be fair and transparent, with no tricks or scripts. But the Hua Family was not playing fair ¨C how could he tolerate it? If you want to spend money to secure first place, then he, Zhang Menglong, could spend money to throw you to the last place!


    Under immense anticipation, Hua Yuhan''s performance finally started!


    As the spotlight lit up, Hua Yuhan appeared on stage like a fairy, and the gentle music echoed through the stage, immediately drawing a wave of tearful applause.


    As she began to sing, the audience slowly closed their eyes. It had to be said that Hua Yuhan''s skills were excellent; her vocal strength almost overshadowed most of today''s young singers, and this time the stage was fully live, meaning her voice was almost unprocessed.


    For a newcomer to have such a voice was already quite remarkable!


    A few lines of lyrics later, the music suddenly changed from soft to rhythmically intense, and three young and handsome figures appeared on stage ¨C one in a black suit, one in a white suit, and the other in vibrant overalls.


    "Ahh! Hubby! Hubby (*beep*) me!"


    "Oh my, too handsome, I''m rushing in!"


    "This is literally the stage of the century, girls, it''s time to show our unity, hurry and vote for Hua Yuhan!"


    "Male gods and a fairy, I''m so jealous!"


    ...


    The voting system had been open since each contestant started their performance, and now, halfway through the program, the leading contestant had only surpassed a little over an hour of voting.


    But in that hour, their votes had only reached just over 60,000.


    However, Hua Yuhan''s votes, within just four minutes of her performance, skyrocketed to over five million votes, nearly a hundredfold difference, and her vote tally was still climbing as if on a rocket.


    This showed the astonishing level of popularity Hua Yuhan had achieved with the support of these three top-tier celebrities.


    "Damn, nearly six million votes in five minutes, who else could have such a support rate?"


    "Is this the power of a top-tier celebrity? Absolutely terrifying!"


    "Zhang is really meeting his match this time; there probably aren''t many in the entertainment industry who can top them now,"


    ...


    "Contestant Hua Yuhan has presented us with a perfect stage. Although we''re only halfway through the performance, I think there isn''t much suspense about who the champion will be,"


    The mentors all gave very high evaluations; Hua Yuhan''s stage quality was extremely high, and the stage effects were meticulously designed. One could tell that the gown she wore was expensive. For this performance, she must''ve invested a great deal.


    After Hua Yuhan''s performance, the remaining shows suddenly became tasteless, and some people even left the live broadcast, with only a part of the audience sticking around because they believed that man definitely couldn''t lose.


    ...


    "So next up, let''s have Miss Lu Yiyao bring us her performance on stage!"


    As the lights dimmed, a spirited piano sound erupted, and a spotlight shone at the edge of the stage where a man in a suit was playing an ancient piano.


    When the camera zoomed in, everyone clearly saw his face.


    "It''s Lang Lang!"


    "Wow, they even got this piano master to come? But still not quite on par with the previous three, eh?"


    "Well, no helping it, though he''s an international piano master, the charm of a celebrity superstar is just different!"


    "Quiet! What''s that sound?" Someone suddenly held their breath as a voice like a siren echoed across the stage, and on the other side of the stage, a slender man appeared.


    "Zhou Shen! Vitas! Damn, these are really two sirens!"


    "Wait, what about this rich baritone voice? That''s not them, is it?"


    "Hmm? Who are those two white-haired old men? This voice is too terrifying, right?"


    "Damn! Those are Domingo and Carreras, two of the world''s top three tenors who are still alive!"


    "What the heck? What kind of lineup is this? Just ten seconds in, and the intro vocal harmony is sung by these world-class singers?"


    "Another person is coming out!"


    "Leon Lai?"


    "Jacky!"


    "Aaron Kwok!"


    "Leon Lai!"


    "Damn, the Four Heavenly Kings? How long has it been since these four big shots last appeared together?"


    "And the time management master, Teacher Luo? Tsk, tsk, tsk, his waist is moving too fast!"


    "Wait? What are they doing? Backup dancing? The Four Heavenly Kings doing backup dancing for her?"


    "It''s not over yet!"


    Every time a new guest appeared, the audience thought everyone was already there, but then another major guest would show up.


    "Teacher Tengger?"


    "Teacher Gong Lina?"


    "Jay Chou? Why has he lost weight? Has he finally stopped drinking bubble tea?"


    "And JJ Lin!"


    "Eh? Wait, where are the judges? Weren''t there supposed to be five mentors? Why are none visible?"


    "Damn! The judges are all on stage! You are supposed to be judges, can''t you keep a bit of your dignity?"


    "Damn... did they just bring the entire entertainment industry up here?"


    ...


    "Teacher Tan Jing? Teacher Liu Huan?"


    "Teacher Han Hong?"


    "What the hell, even the national team is out here? What''s even the point anymore? Is this the power of Zhang''s money?"


    "This is just a smackdown, compared to the national team, how did the previous performance even count?"


    "Members of the national team, could you please take your seats at the judges'' table?"

 Chapter 445 443: These buildings are where we live

    "Lu Yiyao has come out!"


    In a haze of smoke, Lu Yiyao appeared right in the center of the stage.


    Today, she was radiantly beautiful. Zhang Menglong had specially invited a master makeup artist to meticulously design her makeup, and Lu Yiyao, already quite attractive, seemed like an angel descended to earth with the makeup''s enhancement.


    "What a gorgeous dress!"


    Lu Yiyao''s dress, as if carved from diamonds, sparkled with multicolored lights from every angle. It was adorned with numerous gemstones, luxurious yet not at all vulgar.


    Twelve designers and dozens of master tailors had rushed to prepare this dress in a week, using only the most expensive materials. The diamonds embellishing the dress weighed over 1,000 carats in total, with hardly any diamond smaller than 1 carat. All were uniformly cut and of the same hue.


    This dress cost over 30 million US dollars and was the only one of its kind in the world!


    "Don''t you think the necklace on her neck looks familiar?"


    "The blue, heart-shaped pendant? Heart of the Ocean?"


    "Wasn''t that thing long lost to the depths of the ocean? Must be fake, right?"


    "Hahaha, are you joking with me? Does Director Zhang need to use fake items? Even if it''s not the real Heart of the Ocean, it''s definitely a replica made to the exact specifications."


    "If it''s real, that would be terrifying, experts estimate its value to be at least tens of millions of US dollars."


    "She''s literally wearing a house!"


    "A house? Have you seen many houses worth over a billion US dollars? I''m definitely floored!"


    ...


    Lu Yiyao showcased what it meant to floor everyone with her opening note. Her voice instantly shifted everyone''s attention to her singing.


    Under the tutelage of numerous famed teachers, Lu Yiyao''s voice was like a finely polished masterpiece, and at that moment, all the top celebrities became just backdrops to her.


    The audience was stunned by Lu Yiyao''s singing, and for a moment, they even forgot to vote. It was only halfway through the song that thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.


    "This is definitely a future star, her singing skill is unmatched!"


    "Not a single note off, and her personal flair is just too distinct. It''s truly magical!"


    "Not voting? If she doesn''t win the championship, there''s definitely some foul play!"


    Accompanied by Lu Yiyao''s powerful singing and the brilliant performances of the guest artists, Lu Yiyao''s show came to a close.


    Unlike Hua Yuhan''s stage, even though she had three popular stars helping her, all three were too dazzling. In this collaborative stage, they seemed not to be there to complement Hua Yuhan but to engage in a collaborative performance.


    In Lu Yiyao''s stage, however, everyone became her supplement, even the most glittering stars were merely supreme support; no one could overshadow Lu Yiyao''s brilliance, and they all tried their best to be the perfect backdrop.


    And these supporters were not just one or two, but dozens! Each of them at least had millions or tens of millions of followers!


    To have these influencers willingly play secondary roles, there was only one explanation: the money was right!


    Ding! Your account ending in 9822 has received 100 million US dollars!


    Ding! Your account ending in 3842 has received 100 million US dollars!


    ...


    As soon as the performance ended, almost everyone simultaneously received an account notification.


    A trace of a smile crossed their faces. With money, you could make the devil turn the millstone, let alone Yama ¨C 100 million US dollars to perform on stage is money too good not to earn!


    In the moment all the audience came back to their senses, Lu Yiyao''s votes began to shoot up like a rocket. In less than two minutes, it doubled Hua Yuhan''s tally, leaving no trace of competition.


    "Compete with me?" Zhang Menglong watched the live stream in his manor''s room, "Far from my level. It''s like the national team playing against amateurs, isn''t it?"


    After both of their public performances ended, there was no more excitement left. The outcome was predictable¡ªLu Yiyao in first place and Hua Yuhan in second, but the disparity in their vote counts was almost fivefold, worlds apart in popularity.


    ...


    The performance had ended, and only 30 contestants remained on stage. In the next two weeks, all contestants would go through another elimination round on the stage, and finally, among the 15 contestants, the last 9 would debut.


    Of course, such a competition would not always be pervaded by a dense smell of Gunpowder; occasionally, there would be some entertaining programs from the show''s crew, which was precisely why these segments were so appealing.


    For this episode, the crew would give all contestants two days off, which would be recorded live to document each contestant''s life and later edited into a complete program.


    The crew would visit each contestant''s home and witness a day in their lives, which was the biggest specialty of this episode compared to previous ones!


    As the current top favorite and the first-place contestant in the performance, Lu Yiyao naturally received the most attention; more importantly, she also had another identity, being Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend.


    For those viewers, this was not just an opportunity for Lu Yiyao alone but also a chance to get a deeper understanding of Zhang Menglong, to see what the daily life of a girlfriend of the world''s richest man was like, and naturally, it also reflected what the life of the world''s richest man was like.


    Early in the morning, the crew had already arrived at the specified location, and the audience was all waiting in front of the live broadcast, which had reached an unprecedented viewership of over forty million people, even forcing the crew to add several live broadcast rooms to accommodate such a large number of viewers.


    The number of visitors to such live broadcasts was previously only seen in the League of Legends Championships.


    "She''s coming out! She''s coming out!" With a shaky camera, several towering buildings appeared in the live broadcast, and not far in front, Lu Yiyao was waving to the crew, while Zhang Menglong stood smilingly beside her.


    "Mr. Zhang! It''s the real person!"


    "He looks much more handsome than in the photos and videos!"


    "I''ll respectfully call him ''hubby'' first!"


    ...


    "Psh, and I thought the world''s richest man would live somewhere else, if not in an estate, at least a luxury villa?" Some discordant voices appeared in the barrage.


    "Looks like the land in Jiangnan City is really tight, even rich people like Mr. Zhang can''t buy a villa."


    "Idiots, maybe Mr. Zhang is just used to living in villas and wants to experience the life of ordinary people!"


    "Exactly, do you know the manor used by the ''Son of the Future'' program crew? That was provided by Mr. Zhang for free, do you think he couldn''t afford a villa? His villas are probably spread out all over the place!"


    "Just keep being jealous!"


    ...


    "Good morning!" Lu Yiyao greeted the crew warmly.


    "Miss Lu, it''s an honor to document your day today; may we come in?"


    "Of course!" Lu Yiyao and Zhang Menglong stepped aside to let them in.


    "Miss Lu, this is a city center apartment, it must not be cheap, right?" the host chatted as they walked.


    Lu Yiyao turned her gaze to Zhang Menglong; she had never cared about this issue.


    "It''s okay, the price now is about 120,000 US Dollars per square meter," Zhang Menglong said casually.


    "Damn! 120,000 US Dollars? A person like Mr. Zhang, even if it''s a flat, must at least have a two or three hundred square meter one, right?"


    "That''s not less than tens of millions, right? Moving to another place could really get you a villa!"


    The barrage suddenly filled with envious voices.


    "What floor are we going to?" the host continued to ask.


    "Which floor would you like to visit first?" Lu Yiyao asked in return.


    Host: "????"


    "Miss Lu may have misunderstood my question; I mean which floor do Miss Lu and Mr. Zhang live on?"


    "Oh," Lu Yiyao replied, "you misunderstood me, these buildings are all our places to live; which one would you like to see first?"

 Chapter 446 444 This Is My Daily Life!

    "What the heck?"


    "Did I hear that wrong? Did Lu Yiyao just say they live in all these buildings?"


    "Isn''t each building at least seventeen or eighteen stories high? Each floor must be at least five or six hundred square meters, right? At 120,000 per square meter, how much would that cost? One times seven is seven, two times eight is sixteen, three times eight is International Women''s Day..."


    "Stop counting, it''s probably longer than your phone number."


    "Just a moment ago we were feeling that it was a bit beneath Zhang to live in a place like this. Has Zhang just let himself go completely? People buy apartments one by one, but you, my friend, buy them building by building? And seven at a time?"


    "Is this really the production crew from ''Children of the Future''? I suspect you''re undercover agents sent by the ''Versailles programming team''. What in the world is this if not suffering?"


    "Just showing off wealth in a live broadcast?"


    "6666!"


    ...


    It took the host a very long time to recover from this shock. Just like the viewers, she initially thought Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were only living in one of the apartments, or at most had bought an entire floor.


    Who would have known that all seven buildings belonged to Zhang Menglong? This was beyond her realm of knowledge! Wasn''t it troublesome for just two people to live in such a huge place? Maybe they even needed to change floors and elevators just to go to the bathroom.


    She composed herself and said, "True to Mr. Zhang''s residence, it''s really a great surprise to us."


    "It''s nothing, just a place to settle down," said Zhang Menglong casually, "Let me give you a tour."


    The host was thinking exactly that. Two people living in a villa complex with seven buildings, each over twenty stories high¡ªthis was huge news. Today''s live broadcast ratings would definitely reach a very terrifying number.


    She believed that as long as the live broadcast was explosive enough, more and more viewers would tune in!


    As expected, more and more people flocked to the channel, and the number of viewers in the live broadcast room once again surged past 50 million!


    Some people had just watched Hua Yuhan''s daily life. She lived in a single-family villa, but even if that villa was luxurious, it was only a four-story building with a construction area of 1,400 square meters.


    In comparison, Zhang Menglong''s residence included multiple stories and tens of thousands of square meters'' worth of villas¡ªand there were seven of them!


    This start of the show was a direct knockout, wasn''t it?


    "I''ve always heard that Mr. Zhang has collected a lot of luxury cars; could we have the honor to feast our eyes?" the host asked with great anticipation.


    "Aren''t you here to film Yiyi''s life today? Why would you want to see this stuff?" Zhang Menglong countered.


    "This is also a part of Miss Lu''s life, and I believe the fans of Miss Lu would also like to have a glimpse," the host quickly responded.


    "Alright then," Zhang Menglong led them into the underground parking garage.


    The moment the lights turned on, dozens of luxury cars appeared before the live broadcast camera.


    "Hiss..."


    "Apollo''s Sun God, Aston Martin''s Valkyrie, Pagani''s God of the Winds... each one costs millions of US Dollars, right?"


    "And there''s Koenigsegg! The whole series! Every single model! All of these are limited edition cars!"


    "Venom, xxrx, One, Bugatti... This isn''t a garage, this is clearly a car show!"


    "Huh? Someone''s coming in?" The camera suddenly focused on the entrance of the garage, where a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her fifties walked straight up to a Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance.


    Upon seeing Zhang Menglong, she immediately greeted him respectfully as the boss.


    "Boss, do we have guests today?"


    "Yes," nodded Zhang Menglong, then he said to the production crew, "Everyone should stay here for dinner today, and you can sleep here tonight if you need to. You can get any working equipment directly from me."


    "How could we impose?" The staff immediately showed surprised smiles, but they were still polite in their response.


    "It doesn''t matter," Zhang Menglong turned to the woman and said, "Auntie Liu, buy a bit more for lunch, the vegetables I shipped from Australia don''t seem to taste as good as the pure farm vegetables from the West Street market."


    "Got it, I was thinking the same today."


    After speaking, Auntie Liu got into the Rolls-Royce and drove off, leaving everyone in astonishment.


    "What''s the situation? Is this auntie from Zhang''s domestic staff?"


    "What''s the meaning of this? Going grocery shopping in a Rolls-Royce?"


    "Holy crap!"


    "Damn!"


    "Zhang, does your family need someone to buy groceries?"


    "I could just die right here. Even their domestics are driving those kinds of cars?"


    "Mr. Zhang, who is that relative of yours?" the host thought it might be one of Zhang Menglong''s relatives¡ªwho else would let a vegetable vendor drive a Rolls-Royce to go shopping?


    "That''s our housekeeper," Zhang Menglong said, "Recently their usual cars broke down, so they''re just using these temporarily."


    "You guys might think this auntie is just a domestic worker," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "but Aunt Liu is a national Level One athlete and a graduate student from Qingbei University."


    "What the heck! Since when is a Rolls-Royce considered a substitute car?"


    "Even domestic workers have such high standards now?"


    "Alright, I''m not worthy!"


    "Let''s go, we''ll take a look upstairs," Zhang Menglong said, taking the production crew with him in the elevator to the floors where they lived their daily lives.


    The room''s interior opulence surpassed everyone''s imagination, with paintings hanging on the walls that were extremely valuable masterpieces, and the decorative objects were also antiques¡ªit was just like walking into a museum.


    "Ah~~~" At this moment, a deep, rich male voice came from upstairs.


    "Mr. Zhang, Miss Lu, what''s that sound?"


    "Oh, those are a few vocal teachers I hired for Yiyi," Zhang Menglong explained, "They''re probably warming up their voices right now!"


    "Speaking of which, it''s about time for my vocal practice," Lu Yiyao said.


    The camera shifted directly to another floor of the building, which combined two large flats into one with a ceiling height of ten meters¡ªthe place where Lu Yiyao regularly practiced.


    In the room, several people were warming up their voices, and by a piano sat a figure. There was also someone playing a violin, another playing a guqin, and one playing a suona...


    "These are..."


    "Oh, these are all Yiyi''s teachers," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "She''s going to participate in ''Child of the Future'', so of course it''s best to learn as many skills as possible. That''s why I hired a group of teachers for her."


    "Wait, I''ve seen that person before! On the program a few days ago!" someone immediately recognized one of the vocal teachers.


    "Domingo! One of the world''s three great tenors! Did Mr. Zhang not only invite him as a guest but also keep him as a teacher?"


    "Evgeny Kissin! The world''s current top-ranked piano master, even Lang Lang lags a bit compared to him!"


    "Itzhak Perlman! The world''s most outstanding violinist¡ªhe retired several years ago, didn''t he? Mr. Zhang even brought him over?"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, how much money does it take to hire these people?"


    "With a boyfriend like that, did Lu Yiyao save the Earth in her past life?"


    "Save the Earth? She practically saved the whole universe, okay?"


    After finishing two hours of practice, Lu Yiyao and Zhang Menglong continued to stroll around with the members of the production crew.


    "This is the swimming pool."


    "The rooftop is a golf course."


    "The building opposite has a helipad on the roof."


    "What''s this place?"


    "Oh, this is our cat''s lair!"


    "Mr. Zhang and Miss Lu keep cats? They must be pricey, right?"


    "Just ordinary Siberian golden gradations!"


    "Siberian golden gradation? What kind of breed is that?"


    "Siberian Tigers!"


    ...


    "Cut!" With a flicker on the screen, the live broadcast suddenly cut off.


    On the broadcast screen, a few large characters appeared:


    This live broadcast contains displays of wealth that go against socialist core values and has been temporarily banned!


    "???"


    "Damn it? Banned?"


    "Wow, one live broadcast and it''s already against the core values of socialism¡ªthat''s impressive!"


    "This has to be the most intense broadcast ever."


    "What the heck!" Zhang Menglong was also somewhat speechless, innocently spreading his hands, "I''m not showing off wealth, nor is this against socialist core values. This is just my everyday life!"

 Chapter 447 445: What’s Beethoven’s Piano Compared to This?

    Lu Yiyao''s live stream abruptly stopped, and after the program team''s painstaking negotiations, the broadcast resumed several hours later, but it mainly focused on capturing Lu Yiyao''s daily activities. As for the luxurious seven buildings owned by Zhang Menglong, they were intentionally downplayed by the production team.


    As a result, when the live content was edited into the show, everything around Lu Yiyao, except for her, was almost entirely blurred. Perhaps this is the difficulty of life!


    Of course, Zhang Menglong''s seven buildings instantly became a trending topic, and the question of just how wealthy Zhang Menglong truly is once again became the focus of national attention.


    ...


    "Brother, can''t we find any information at all about Zhang Menglong''s background?" Hua Yuhan had never felt such humiliation. Ever since she joined this program, all her glory had been overshadowed by Lu Yiyao.


    In terms of singing ability, Lu Yiyao was leagues ahead of her! As for dance, during the first episode of the program, Lu Yiyao could hardly dance and moved stiffly like a robot.


    But after nearly two months of recording the program, she seemed like a completely different person, displaying amazing dance explosiveness in the next episode.


    Of course, everyone guessed that Zhang Menglong must have invited some master to teach Lu Yiyao. Combined with her own hard work, her dance level naturally improved dramatically. Now, her dance skills were at least at the level of someone who had trained for two and a half years.


    As for wealth, Hua Yuhan, who had never worried about money, experienced despair for the first time. It had always been her family throwing money at people! But this time, they were almost buried alive by a mountain of money, losing even the courage to keep fighting.


    "Not a trace!" Over the past month, Hua Ye had exploited all his resources to investigate Zhang Menglong''s background. He not only failed to find any information but even received a warning from the leader of Longxia!


    The captain of Longxia never cared for such matters. It was said that after the Martial God had broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm recently, he was also crazily searching for ways to break through further, barely engaging in the affairs of Longxia. Why would he bother with these petty fights between kids?


    His personal warning clearly meant something very different.


    "Could it be that Zhang Menglong is from an Ancient Martial Arts Family?" Hua Ye was certain that Zhang Menglong had no connection with Longxia; otherwise, it would be impossible for him to find no information whatsoever.


    Only someone from an Ancient Martial Arts Family could make the boss of Longxia cautious, as Longxia had no influence over the Ancient Martial Arts World. However, he had never heard of any major family with the surname Zhang in the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    "Brother, it''s the final debut performance. I don''t want to be Lu Yiyao''s background anymore!" Hua Yuhan''s words were filled with grievance and resentment. Since the beginning of the competition, she believed she would be the most dazzling star, but in the past two months, she had been completely outshined by Lu Yiyao.


    "Don''t worry. In the final competition, no external help is allowed. It will be a solo stage for individuals. Besides instruments, nothing else can be used. Even if he is extremely wealthy, he can''t surpass the limits of the instruments themselves, right?" Hua Ye said confidently.


    For example, if you choose to sing and play the piano, even the most top-level piano is only worth a few million at most. Even if you are extremely wealthy, you need to be able to buy a more expensive piano!


    Even if it were encrusted with diamonds, as long as Zhang Menglong could afford it, he, Hua Ye, could afford it too!


    "Brother, what have you prepared?" Hua Yuhan asked curiously.


    "Hehe, haven''t you been learning the piano and violin since you were young?" Hua Ye said, "Then you''ll perform a solo show. I''ve got you the most unique piano and a one-of-a-kind violin!"


    "What?"


    "I''ve already sent it to your personal practice room. You can go take a look!" Hua Ye said mysteriously.


    Hua Yuhan immediately ran to the practice room with great excitement. A car was parked downstairs, and several staff members were working hard to carry down a piano.


    "A Steinway grand piano?" Hua Yuhan asked. Unless it was a piano made of diamonds, this was the ceiling of what a piano could be. And even if a piano were really made out of diamonds, the resonance of the diamonds would not allow it to produce a pleasant sound.


    "Hahaha, if it was just a mere Steinway grand piano, it wouldn''t be worthy of your final stage," Hua Ye said. "Lift the cover and see for yourself."


    Hua Yuhan curiously uncovered the cloth, revealing an old, and even slightly decayed piano. She was quite baffled¡ªher brother actually prepared a broken piano for her?


    Just as she was about to complain and lose her temper, her eyes suddenly caught a string of text on the piano''s triangular support.


    It was an engraved name.


    "Beet... Beethoven? This is Beethoven''s piano?!" Hua Yuhan exclaimed in surprise.


    Known as a household name, the music master Beethoven had owned seven pianos in his lifetime, six of which had been collected by the national museums. One Graf, however, had gone missing in 1847.


    If she remembered correctly, this was that very Graf piano! And it was actually in her brother''s possession!


    "How do you like it?" asked Hua Ye indulgently.


    "I love it!" Hua Yuhan couldn''t hide the joy in her eyes, "This thing must have cost a lot of money, right?"


    This piano represented not only the top-level craftsmanship of that era but also symbolized art and history.


    "I bought it from an auction last year for 27.5 million US dollars. It was originally intended as your birthday gift for this year, hoping it can help you achieve good results."


    Hua Ye continued, "I had several craftsmen restore it, and its sound quality is absolutely top-level!"


    "And this violin," Hua Ye continued, "the violin once used by Heifetz! I believe Zhang Menglong could buy more expensive violins, but definitely not one more valuable than this! This time, in terms of hardware, we will absolutely not lose to them!"


    ...


    "Oh, is that so?" Zhang Menglong listened to Hong Yi''s report, "Beethoven''s piano and Heifetz''s violin¡ªthose Hua siblings really are sparing no expense!"


    "Yes, both of these instruments are worth several tens of millions of US dollars. If they appear on stage, they will surely cause quite a stir. They''ve calculated this quite well."


    "Is there a better violin?" Zhang Menglong asked, they absolutely couldn''t lose in this aspect!


    "The four pianos used by Chopin, Liszt''s three pianos, the two violins used by Paganini, Mozart''s piano... they are all here with you," Hong Yi reported a list that contained over a hundred instruments from the great music masters.


    "But in terms of historical and artistic value, they''re all about the same. This time the stage is a solo stage and we can''t win with quantity, so there probably won''t be much of a contrasting effect," Hong Yi said truthfully.


    "So are we just going to be surpassed like that?" The order of the final competition placed Lu Yiyao following Hua Yuhan. Even if both of their equipment had such sensational effects, it would be greatly diminished after Hua Yuhan''s first performance.


    "Mr. Zhang, to win, we don''t necessarily need Western instruments," Hong Yi said with a smile, "Our Huaxia''s guqin is no less inferior to theirs!"


    "A guqin? Isn''t it unsuitable for playing and singing?"


    "An ordinary guqin, of course, wouldn''t suffice, but what about the Fuxi Qin?"


    "What... what? The Fuxi Qin?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily dumbstruck. Wasn''t that a divine artifact, on par with the Donghuang Clock and Xuanyuan Sword, from the legends? And it actually existed?


    Why did it seem like the whole style had suddenly changed?


    "You may not know, but while the Fuxi Qin is indeed a divine artifact, it is also a miraculous musical instrument. It can control people''s emotions with its melodies. It''s a creation of your ancestors," Hong Yi said with a smile, "Compared to the Fuxi Qin, Beethoven''s piano is nothing!"

 Chapter 448 446: I Can Fight 10 of Someone Like You

    According to the rules of "Child of the Future," all the accumulated votes from previous rounds were cleared for the final stage performance. This meant that everyone was back at the starting line again, and whoever shined brightest on the final stage could potentially rise from the ashes and debut in first place.


    For this opportunity, the 15 contestants who made it to the final stage went all out, using every trick they had. The talent agencies also did their utmost, deploying all their resources to support them.


    Based on the popularity of this season''s "Child of the Future," even the contestant debuting in the last place was estimated to receive resources comparable to the top three from previous seasons. The graduating class of this season would undoubtedly become the cash cow for their companies, bringing in profits totaling tens of millions each year.


    The final stage performance, held at the Huaxia Magic Capital Sports Center in the form of a concert, saw its tickets sold out within less than ten minutes of going on sale. Over twenty thousand seats could not satisfy the frenzy of the fans, with scalped tickets online reaching prices comparable to those of top-tier singers'' concerts.


    The final stage was to start at 7:30 p.m., but the audience had already arrived half an hour early. As the sole investor of the entire show, Zhang Menglong naturally had a VIP seat.


    Even though "Child of the Future" was under Tengxun, only the producer and director of the program were responsible for it. Ma Hua, as the head of the company, typically didn''t care about such talent shows because their revenue couldn''t compare to that from gaming.


    But this time, he made an unprecedented appearance at the finals, simply because Zhang Menglong was there.


    "Mr. Ma, I didn''t expect to see you here. Do you also enjoy watching these talent shows?" Zhang Menglong casually chatted with Ma Hua.


    "Since Mr. Zhang is here, how could I not come," Ma Hua laughed, "Plus, you''re the sole investor of this season. Even if I''m not interested in these shows, I should at least show my respect."


    "Well, you made the right choice this time," Zhang Menglong said, "I guarantee you''ll remember today''s performance for the rest of your life."


    "Then I must look forward to it!" Ma Hua didn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s words, as the previous performances had already deeply impressed him.


    Especially that one performance with a lineup of national team helpers, each one of them a legend, each capable of holding a concert that sold out instantly. Even if Ma Hua himself tried, he might not be able to invite one, yet Zhang Menglong managed to get them all on stage, happily playing supporting roles.


    "Mr. Zhang, the guests you invited for that last performance must have taken a lot of effort?" Ma Hua asked tentatively.


    "Not much effort, it was quite simple," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Two hundred million US dollars per person, one phone call and I had them all invited."


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Ma Hua coughed violently. Those dozens of people, each at two hundred million US dollars, meant that Zhang Menglong spent over ten billion US dollars just on the invitations!


    To him,


    Ma Hua''s entire net worth wasn''t even fifty billion US dollars, his liquid assets were merely a few billion at best. Probably apart from Zhang Menglong, no one else could manage, nor mimic this feat.


    "It seems the Hua Family didn''t lose unjustly!" Ma Hua exclaimed.


    "That''s just child''s play," Zhang Menglong said, "Today''s performance by Yiyi will be even more spectacular than the last."


    Ma Hua was stunned, wondering what could be more shocking than the last performance. Was his imagination limited by poverty?


    "However, Mr. Zhang, you must be careful. The Hua Family has a significant background," Ma Hua said with a bitter smile, "When they first approached me to invest in this show, I had to resist immense pressure to turn them down."


    Under normal circumstances, Ma Hua wouldn''t dare offend the Hua Family. Their influence was too vast, and if they wanted to target him, they could easily do so.


    Ma Hua was gambling, he was betting that the forces behind Zhang Menglong were even greater than the Hua Family!


    "This choice is very wise," Zhang Menglong said confidently, "You might think that the Hua Family is a huge, overshadowing entity, but to me, they''re nothing!"


    "What a big talker!" As soon as the words fell, an angry voice sounded behind Zhang Menglong.


    Ma Hua''s body stiffened because Hua Ye had appeared in the VIP seats, seemingly out of nowhere.


    It makes sense, though, considering it was Hua Yuhan''s final stage. How could her brother, Hua Ye, not come to support his sister?


    "Well, I just remembered I have some matters to attend to, I''ll take my leave first," Ma Hua could already feel the air around him growing tense.


    You could say it''s okay for Zhang Menglong to talk behind someone''s back, but to be caught in the act is just too embarrassing, right?


    Zhang Menglong turned around, meeting Hua Ye for the first time. They were about the same age and equally handsome. With such family background and personal qualities, he definitely was one of the top figures in society.


    "Oh, a Psychic?" Zhang Menglong keenly sensed the fluctuations of Supernatural Abilities around Hua Ye, approximately at the Level Six Psychic''s power. If not relying on drugs, at this age, he must be quite formidable.


    "So, you are Zhang Menglong?" Hua Ye looked at Zhang Menglong with an arrogant and unfriendly gaze, filled with frivolity, his sense of superiority clear for all to see, "You are the first one who dares to confront our Hua Family!"


    "And you must be the poor jerk?" Zhang Menglong shot back unapologetically, "You''re the first one daring to compare wealth with me."


    Hua Ye''s mouth twitched slightly, unable to refute the statement, "Zhang Menglong, do you realize what the consequence of provoking our Hua Family is?"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily at a loss for words, "Who''s provoking who here? A fair competition, and you want to play dirty, as an investor of this program, maintaining the integrity of the competition, did I do wrong?"


    "Whatever our Hua Family does, no one has ever dared to question whether it''s right or wrong!" Hua Ye knew he wasn''t reasonable, but he absolutely wouldn''t show weakness.


    "Well, now there is," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Don''t think just because your Hua Family has big influence in Huaxia that you can look down on everyone. I''ll say it again, your family means nothing to me!"


    "Very well," Hua Ye said, half-smiling, "I hope you can keep smiling in the future!"


    "Are you threatening me?" The temperature around Zhang Menglong plummeted suddenly. Now that his realm had reached Level Three of the Mythical Realm, his emotions could easily affect the surrounding environment.


    "You... You really are an Ancient Martial Artist!" Hua Ye felt the surge of intense Inner Strength from Zhang Menglong, more pure than any other Martial Artist he had encountered!


    "Isn''t that obvious? Are you blind?" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    "How is that possible..." Although Hua Ye was a Psychic, he had considerable knowledge about Ancient Martial Artists. A Level Three Martial Artist in the Mythical Realm would be at least seventy or eighty years old. Zhang Menglong was only in his twenties. Even the most gifted Psychic couldn''t achieve this level of power so quickly.


    "Do you think I still can''t smile now?" Zhang Menglong flashed a row of white teeth, "Don''t think you''re tough. I could take on ten like you by myself!"

 Chapter 449 447: Its Just a Broken Qin

    "Zhang Menglong, having this strength at your age is quite impressive, but if this is your source of pride, let me tell you, in our Hua Family, you are nothing!"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "I''m speechless. From start to finish, the one putting on an act here is you. Would it kill you people to have a little less sense of superiority?"


    "Fine, I won''t waste my breath on you," Zhang Menglong had no patience to continue talking with this kind of person. Everyone here is a rich second generation, so how can there be such a big difference? Did these people really think their family was the Royal Family, that everyone must revolve around them?


    It seemed like Hua Ye treated Zhang Menglong as a hypothetical enemy, but in reality, Zhang Menglong had no intention of becoming his enemy, because to be his enemy, no one was qualified!


    "It''s starting, it''s starting!" With the commotion, the entire venue suddenly became quiet, as if only that shining stage existed in the world.


    Every contestant in this competition tried their best to showcase themselves: their instruments, their music, their dance.


    Zhang Menglong''s investment made anyone who thought of rigging the voting give up the idea, and his showdown with Hua Ye became a lesson for those who tried to rig votes. This season of Future Star became almost the cleanest talent show in recent years.


    This gave all the contestants a dazzling sense of hope. If they could win today''s stage, then the future would be star-studded!


    With the host''s opening remarks, one after another, the stage performances ensued, and the applause and cheers from the crowd were unending.


    "Now, let us welcome Hua Yuhan to bring us the final stage performance!"


    Despite the previous vote manipulation, Hua Yuhan''s professional skills had indeed attracted a large number of fans, and suddenly, numerous corners of the venue lit up with Hua Yuhan''s support signs.


    An ancient piano rose from the center of the stage, and with the central LED screen, everyone''s eyes were fixed on that piano.


    "What''s going on? Such an old piano? Are you kidding me?"


    "The wood is almost rotten! With all the wealth of the Hua Family, can''t they get a decent piano?"


    "Just dead, could it be that during the vote manipulation against Zhang Menglong, all the money was spent?"


    "Hahaha, are they that down and out?"


    A flurry of whispers arose among the audience.


    Although the surrounding voices were negative, Hua Yuhan and Hua Ye always maintained their smiles because they knew that the world would never lack connoisseurs, and soon they would realize how foolish their mockery was.


    "What a beautiful gown!"


    "I''ve seen this in a Fashion Week magazine! A famous dress by a Frankfurt designer showcased at the Milan Fashion Week. I heard a tycoon bid 6.5 million US Dollars for it, but it wasn''t sold!"


    "My God, another person dressed in a ''building'' coming to perform!"


    "Hmm? Why did I say ''another''?"


    ...


    Hua Yuhan sat on the piano stool, and as the first note fell, the whole venue immediately became silent. It was Beethoven''s Moonlight Sonata, a song Hua Yuhan had carefully arranged for this competition!


    "Isn''t this sound too clean?"


    "I study piano, and the sound of this piano could only come from one worth at least several hundred thousand dollars."


    "Such an old piano and it still has such sound?"


    "That''s what you don''t understand. Pianos, like wine, need a certain amount of aging to reach the perfect level of sound. Of course, it''s not always better; if the piano is rotten, there''s nothing good to say."


    "Really? Don''t you get the feeling, she''s like a female Beethoven!"


    "Wait a moment! I just remembered!" Whether it was people at the venue or those watching the live broadcast, suddenly a part of the audience seemed to realize something and then took out their smartphones to start searching for some information.


    "This... this piano... it looks like one Beethoven played!" The images on their phones were almost identical to this piano!


    "Graft, a piano that had been missing for nearly 200 years!"


    "Yes! That''s the one, did you see? There is Beethoven''s name on it, and even the scratches and the grain of the wood are exactly the same!"


    "My goodness, could these all be national treasure-level historic art pieces?"


    "Wow, performing on stage with a national treasure? That''s incredibly bold."


    "Did she change it herself? The melody is wonderful, and the lyrics aren''t bad either!"


    "Look, she''s switched to the violin now!"


    "Such versatility! Absolutely versatile!"


    Hua Yuhan''s performance brought countless surprises to many people, and her improvement was clearly evident in competition after competition, possessing all the skills a mature artist needs with high completeness!


    After the stage performance ended, the applause from the audience still lasted for a long time, and support for Hua Yuhan skyrocketed.


    "Mr. Zhang, not bad at all for my younger sister''s performance, right?" Hua Ye looked at Zhang Menglong as if challenging him, even Hua Ye himself was a bit surprised that his sister could achieve such a level.


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong casually commented, "but still far behind our Yiyi."


    "Humph! I really want to see what you can really do!" Hua Ye scoffed, believing he had done everything to perfection, thinking that if Zhang Menglong could do it, he was merely copying.


    "Next, let''s welcome Lu Yiyao with her stage performance!"


    "Wow!" The applause thundered on site, and in the over two months of recording this show, Lu Yiyao''s fan count reached a terrifying more than 20 million, even surpassing many well-established top celebrities by a lot!


    "Look, what is she holding? A guqin?"


    "Strange, is she going to sing with the guqin? I have never seen such a style before."


    "This feels a bit weak compared to Zhang''s grandeur, shouldn''t she at least bring out a Chopin or Liszt piano? I remember Lu Yiyao can play the piano too."


    But when the first note was played, everyone fell silent, the sound of the guqin seeming to possess magical powers, transporting everyone''s consciousness to an ethereal Immortal Realm.


    The song Lu Yiyao sang was an ancient-style song, her voice sweet and soft, harmonizing perfectly with the guqin''s sound, and it seemed as though a dancing fairy appeared before everyone''s eyes.


    "Is... is this an Illusionary Realm?" Hua Ye''s forehead sweated profusely, and, as a Psychic with immense spiritual power, he felt as though he was hypnotized at that moment.


    No matter what he tried to bring himself back to consciousness, he could not escape from the world created by the guqin''s and the singing''s sounds.


    "This guqin sound is bewitched!"


    "What... what kind of sound is this!"


    "Impossible!"


    In many corners of the city, groups of old folks suddenly opened their eyes and directed their gaze towards the direction of the sports stadium.


    "This kind of guqin sound carries an ancient vibration, could this be an instrument made with ancient artifact refining techniques?"


    "No, throughout Huaxia''s history, only the legendary Fuxi Guqin could have such an effect, how could the Fuxi Guqin appear in a variety show?"


    "Check! Check it out immediately!"


    Countless families sprang into action at that moment.


    Legend has it that the Fuxi Guqin, just like the Xuanyuan Sword, is a Level Four weapon, its sounds can mesmerize and inspire allies, absolutely the strongest support equipment for Psychics and Martial Artists with powerful spiritual power!


    The guqin sound finally ended slowly, and everyone came to their senses only to realize they had been in the sports stadium all along, but the Immortal Realm just now felt incredibly real.


    "How about that, convinced?" Zhang Menglong looked at the stunned Hua Ye.


    "You... what on earth is this instrument?" Hua Ye asked unwillingly, determined to understand if he was to lose!


    "Nothing special, just a broken guqin," Zhang Menglong said, "dug it out from one of our family''s storerooms, seems it''s called the Fuxi Guqin or something..."

 Chapter 450 448 Were Just Playing in the Competition

    "The Fuxi Qin?" Hua Ye''s pupils shook violently.


    As long as one is a Huaxia person, they would definitely not be unfamiliar with the name of the Fuxi Qin, which is as famous as the Xuanyuan Sword in Huaxia legends¡ªa divine artifact!


    Up to now, its existence has never been confirmed, but if it really exists, then it must be at least a Level Three or even Level Four weapon!


    If it were to appear, it would undoubtedly cause an earth-shattering sensation in the entire second world of Huaxia. Countless psychics and ancient martial artists would probably go all out to get their hands on it.


    Such a treasure would be an incredibly hot potato to handle. However, Zhang Menglong not only displayed it, but he actually brought it to a talent show to be used as a musical instrument!


    According to legend, the Fuxi Qin is a treasure that can manipulate the spirit and soul. It can create an Illusionary Realm, and the greenish jade-like ancient qin before their eyes definitely possesses such magic power!


    In Hua Ye''s judgment, this item was very likely indeed the Fuxi Qin!


    With that thought, he couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Using the Fuxi Qin to participate in a talent show was like using a cannon to swat a mosquito. What kind of a wastrel does such a thing? Didn''t Zhang Menglong know how to write the words ''squandering heavenly gifts''?


    Beethoven''s piano indeed is a treasure, but at best, it is a cultural relic, whereas the Fuxi Qin is a divine artifact¡ªwasn''t this a dimensionality reduction attack?


    Without a doubt, Lu Yiyao''s votes directly crushed Hua Yuhan''s with an absolute advantage.


    But at this time, Hua Ye''s attention was no longer on the talent show competition. Although Hua Yuhan was his most beloved sister, the appearance of the Fuxi Qin was an unexpected gain.


    The Hua Family was flourishing like the midday sun. If they had a chance to obtain this Fuxi Qin, then their family''s heritage would definitely rise dramatically!


    Hua Ye left the spectator''s seat without uttering a word; Zhang Menglong thought he had left because he was too ashamed to face people after seeing his sister''s loss, completely unaware that Hua Ye had set his sights on the Fuxi Qin.


    ...


    "Dad, it''s me!" Hua Ye immediately dialed his father Hua Tianze''s number. Hua Tianze was the current helmsman of the Hua Family and also a Level Eight super psychic!


    In the whole psychic world of Huaxia, his power was second only to the captain of Longxia!


    "Aren''t you busy dealing with Yuhan''s affair? I thought you had forgotten about me, your father. Don''t you remember how I warned you? Being low-key is the latest principle on our Hua Family''s ancestral teachings. Look at what you''ve done recently, as if you are scared that others won''t know about the Hua Family," Hua Tianze''s voice carried a hint of anger.


    Lately, Hua Ye had become a hot topic online¡ªnegative news at that. If it had been positive publicity, it might have been fine, but all he attracted was negative attention.


    "You may dote on Yuhan, but there must be a limit!"


    "Dad, I have a very important matter to tell you!" Hua Ye interrupted Hua Tianze''s reprimand.


    "What is it?" asked Hua Tianze.


    "Something resembling the Fuxi Qin appeared at Yuhan''s competition!"


    "What? The Fuxi Qin?" Hua Tianze stood up abruptly.


    As the head of the Hua Family, he knew much more than others!


    Whether it was the Xuanyuan Sword, the Donghuang Clock, or the Fuxi Qin, the Bow of Shooting Sun, these were not just fabrications from myths and legends. The so-called mythical legends were definitely not made up from thin air; they were based on some prototypes that could be studied.


    These famous divine artifacts were treasures forged by the ancient artifact refiners of Huaxia thousands of years ago. It''s just that they have now all disappeared into the river of history.


    According to some rare ancient texts, the Fuxi Qin is a Level Four weapon, activated by spiritual power. It can not only materialize spiritual power to cause physical attacks similar to Mental Shock, but most terrifyingly, it can control a person''s thinking!


    Such a thing appeared in a talent show? How could that be possible?


    "Are you sure?" Hua Tianze knew his son was not an unreliable person.


    "I''m certain!" Hua Tianze nodded, "More than twenty thousand people at the scene seemed to be taken to a place that doesn''t belong to this world the moment the qin''s music sounded."


    "You, too, are no exception?"


    "Yes," Hua Ye admitted, "I didn''t have any way to break free from that illusionary realm either."


    "Whose hands is that thing in?" Hua Tianze pressed.


    "Zhang Menglong," Hua Ye said, "the richest man in the world!"


    "The richest man in the world?" Hua Tianze fell into thought. His son had suffered at this person''s hands, so naturally, Hua Tianze had investigated this Zhang Menglong.


    He had access to far more resources than Hua Ye could imagine, yet the information he obtained was hardly any different from his.


    "Dad, this Zhang Menglong is an ancient martial artist!"


    "Oh?" Hua Tianze''s gaze grew more profound. According to the information he had, Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary person. Of course, his wealth had already conferred him power, "What realm is he at?"


    "Mythical realm. The gap in strength between us is too great, I couldn''t make out the specifics."


    "A Mythical realm in his twenties?" Hua Tianze couldn''t hide his astonishment.


    "Dad, this is an opportunity for us," Hua Ye said, "Although Zhang Menglong has money, and indeed his strength is remarkable, our family has many who are stronger than him. If we get our hands on this Fuxi Qin..."


    "But have you thought about what kind of power might be behind this Zhang Menglong?" Hua Tianze countered.


    "Think about it, we know all the powerhouses in Longxia, there''s definitely no Zhang surname among them. As for the ancient martial arts world, besides the Martial God who has recently broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm, others at their strongest are only at Mythical Realm Level Eight. There is no such Zhang Family, even if he has some background, it''s within our capacity to deal with."


    "Don''t forget why our Hua Family is so low-profile now," Hua Tianze warned, "Ten years ago, we offended someone we shouldn''t have. Your Dragon King uncle''s whereabouts are still unknown. Huaxia is vast, and sometimes things are not what they seem!"


    "But Dad, this is the Fuxi Qin!" Hua Ye persisted, "It''s such a waste for it to fall into the hands of someone who doesn''t understand its value and power."


    "This Zhang Menglong is just wealthy. For all we know, he might have just bought the Fuxi Qin from somewhere, thinking of it as a particularly special ancient qin. His family background may not be as terrifying as we imagine."


    "How confident are you?" The attraction of the Fuxi Qin was something Hua Tianze couldn''t resist.


    "Eighty percent!" Hua Ye declared.


    "Fine," Hua Tianze steeled his heart, "I''ll have your two uncles help you. Make sure the job is done neatly and impressively. As long as we have the Fuxi Qin, I can handle any fallout that comes our way!"


    "I will definitely get the Fuxi Qin!" Hua Ye was overjoyed.


    His two uncles were Level Seven super psychics. In the whole of Huaxia, there were very few stronger than them.


    "Fuxi Qin... If I can get it, I will surely be the next Clan Leader of the Hua Family!"


    ...


    "Miss Lu, we''re from Shengshi Media. We''re willing to offer you a contract of 200 million for one year, hoping you can join us!"


    "Idiots, can you even say 2 billion without blushing? Miss Lu, we from Starry Sky Media offer 500 million!"


    ...


    After the award ceremony ended, Lu Yiyao was immediately surrounded by agents and scouts from various management companies, making it impossible for her to move.


    The champion of the ''Child of the Future'' was definitely a golden goose!


    "Make way, make way!" When Lu Yiyao was at a loss, Zhang Menglong pushed his way through.


    "Please go back, everyone!" Zhang Menglong said, "We just joined the competition for fun. We''re not short on money!"

 Chapter 451 449: All Ten Divine Artifacts Are Ours

    "Mr. Zhang, if Miss Lu signs with our Huaxia Culture, we guarantee that we can put all of the company''s resources behind her. Miss Lu is sure to have a very good development!"


    "Huaxia Culture? Even Huaxia Culture has come?"


    "It''s said that they sign no more than three artists a year, and nearly all of them become hugely popular. They''re actually interested in Lu Yiyao."


    "Mr. Zhang, please consider it!" the agent said earnestly.


    "Sorry, we''re not interested in signing with any agency," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "You should be well aware that it''s not difficult for me to make someone famous if I want to."


    The agent''s face turned red. Their company''s resources were unique in the industry, but Zhang Menglong was right. Compared to Zhang Menglong, their resources were pitifully weak. Even if they emptied their entire coffers, they couldn''t achieve the national team lineup that Zhang Menglong had for the penultimate performance.


    "Mr. Zhang, then may we take the liberty of asking why Miss Lu is participating in the competition in the first place?" the Huaxia Entertainment agent continued. "I believe it must be more than just for fun."


    "Hahaha, well, you''re not wrong there," Zhang Menglong laughed. "Actually, it''s like this. Yiyi got admitted to the graduate program at the Music College of Jiangnan, but school doesn''t start until September. It was too boring just waiting, so we came to the Son of the Future to give it a try and see what level she''s at. It just so happened that she carelessly took the championship."


    All the agents and scouts in attendance were left awkwardly speechless.


    Does that explanation differ from "joining the competition for fun"? You''re bored, so you enter a competition filled with elite contestants, and then incidentally win the championship. Are you the author of this Versailles literature?


    Keep in mind, these top 100 contestants are from the most influential entertainment companies in the nation, and they are the best of the best, some of whom have been in training for seven or eight years.


    Standing out among these people, not to mention the effort required, is impossible without talent.


    "So, we really don''t have any plans to use this championship title for anything else. You might want to consider the runner-up. Who knows, they might be interested?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    The runner-up? Hua Yuhan? With her family background, does she even need an agency to promote her? She could just register her own company and go solo.


    All right, we''re heading home now. Thanks for your effort, everyone.


    Zhang Menglong took Lu Yiyao by the hand and disappeared into the crowd.


    ...


    "Menglong, what exactly is this guqin you''ve given me?" Lu Yiyao asked while examining the instrument in her hands repeatedly on the way home.


    Although she was just an ordinary person, Lu Yiyao could feel its extraordinariness and even felt like she was being pulled into a beautiful world by the mysterious music it produced when she played it.


    "This is the Fuxi Qin," Zhang Menglong said while driving.


    "The Fuxi Qin? The legendary one?" Lu Yiyao''s eyes widened. "Stop joking, how could such a thing really exist?"


    "Don''t believe it?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "It''s all right. You''re bound to find out about some things sooner or later. There''s no harm in telling you now. In fact, not only the Fuxi Qin, but the Xuanyuan Sword, the Donghuang Clock, the Kunlun Mirror, and those kinds of things, they all really exist."


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, you''ve played so many games you''ve become delirious, haven''t you?" Lu Yiyao laughed loudly.


    "You don''t believe me?" Zhang Menglong said. "Do you remember that golden sword in the entrance hall of our house?"


    "The one with the dragon pattern carved on it?"


    "That''s the Xuanyuan Sword," Zhang Menglong stated. "I use it as a guardian for the house."


    "And have you noticed that every time I get hungry and want to eat, I go and strike that small clock in the room?"


    "Isn''t that what you use to signal the chefs to serve the meal?" Lu Yiyao remembered that Zhang Menglong never had to call to arrange for food; he just had to ring a bell, and it seemed like the chefs in another building could immediately hear his summons.


    "That''s the Donghuang Clock. I thought it was a waste to keep it in the storage cabinet, so I started using it as a dinner bell."


    "Also, that farm we went to for barbecue last time, the ax that the servant chopping wood in my family''s farm had... that was the Pangu Axe."


    Lu Yiyao''s mouth dropped open. "You aren''t going to tell me that the vanity mirror in our room is the Kunlun Mirror, are you?"


    "Wow, you''ve even learned to jump in with answers!"


    "Then that pot we used to stew soup last time..."


    "That was the Shennong Cauldron!"


    "No wonder it had such a strong medicinal smell!"


    "And that colorful stone we used to crack walnuts, that''s the Nuwa Stone."


    "What about the demon-refining pot?" Lu Yiyao continued to ask.


    "I lent it to Uncle Ding, the gatekeeper, to drink liquor from."


    ...


    "Are all the ten Divine Artifacts in your family''s possession?" Lu Yiyao had played with many things and had some basic understanding of the ten Divine Artifacts.


    Zhang Menglong''s use of these trinkets... truly vivid and full of flair, but utterly useless.


    "Hold on, what exactly does your family do, how come you have those things?" Lu Yiyao wasn''t sure if those things were real, but the Fuxi Zither in her hands told her that what Zhang Menglong was saying was probably the truth.


    "Hm, how do I put it!" Zhang Menglong said with an odd tone, "Just think of my family as a big clan that has existed since the beginning of our Huaxia civilization!"


    "Existed since the beginning of Huaxia? For more than five thousand years?" Lu Yiyao felt her worldview crumbling in an instant. Despite being with Zhang Menglong for so long, she only knew he was wealthy. She really wasn''t clear about his family.


    "Didn''t you say your mom was just a housewife and your dad was just a sailor?"


    "I used to think that too, but then they stopped pretending and came clean, and suddenly I turned into a rich second-generation kid."


    "Where are they now? Really traveling around the world?"


    "Uh... I guess you could say that."


    "Then those items..."


    "They were crafted by my ancestors," Zhang Menglong replied, "so it''s natural for these items to be in my family. There''s nothing strange about it. But why hide away such practical things?"


    "Yeah, practical..." Lu Yiyao was at a loss for words.


    No wonder the mirror on the dressing table had no wires, but as long as she sat in front of it, she could clearly see her own face, even at night.


    No wonder Uncle Ding''s liquor flask always had an endless supply of liquor!


    No wonder the frail-looking servant at Zhang Menglong''s farm could fell a tree requiring three people''s embrace with a single axe swing.


    ...


    "If you tell me now that your whole family practices cultivation, I''ll believe it."


    "You''re just pulling my leg, I wouldn''t believe it unless you showed me!"


    "How can I prove it to you in the middle of the night?" Zhang Menglong was about to argue, but suddenly, he felt a familiar aura approaching him.


    "Hua Ye?" Zhang Menglong''s lips curled into a strange smile, "Speaking of the devil, it seems they''ve taken a liking to my Fuxi Zither."


    Apart from Hua Ye, Zhang Menglong also sensed two auras very similar to his own following behind. It seemed they were in a bustling area, so they dared not act recklessly.


    "Yiyi, didn''t you say you didn''t believe it?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll prove it to you in a bit!"


    Zhang Menglong pressed down on the accelerator, his car roared to life, suddenly changing direction and heading towards the outskirts of the magic city...

 Chapter 452 450: Flashy and Extravagant

    "Aren''t we going home?" Lu Yiyao looked at Zhang Menglong curiously, as they were heading in a direction completely opposite to where Zhang Menglong lived.


    "There are a few tailgaters behind us, we''ll deal with them first," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    "Tailgaters?" Lu Yiyao glanced back; the car following them was quite familiar, and it seemed to have been trailing them for a long time, "Should we call the police?"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong laughed, "The police can''t handle these people, nor do they have jurisdiction over them."


    "Are they here to kidnap you?" Other than that, Lu Yiyao couldn''t guess; these people surely weren''t after her, a girl who won the Future Child Championship but gave up several lucrative contracts, right?


    "They''re probably after the zither," Zhang Menglong said.


    "The Fuxi Zither?"


    "This thing... well, being one of the top ten Divine Artifacts of Huaxia, it''s not just of historical and cultural value," Zhang Menglong explained, "In the hands of certain extraordinary people, it becomes a very lethal weapon."


    "You''re not going to tell me that there are cultivators and psychics in this world, are you?" Like any ordinary girl, Lu Yiyao enjoyed novels and sci-fi movies, her mind filled with vibrant fantasies.


    But this time, she had guessed right.


    "Ah! Zhang Menglong, there''s someone ahead!" As the car entered the suburban area, surrounded only by a quiet wilderness and dark woods, a figure suddenly appeared on the road ahead.


    But Zhang Menglong didn''t brake; instead, he harshly stepped on the accelerator. After all, it wouldn''t kill him!


    "Thump!"


    The dark figure was flung away, and Hua Ye never expected that Zhang Menglong''s reaction upon seeing a person was not to brake but to accelerate. The guy must be seriously ill!


    Luckily, he was also a powerful psychic. The energy he emitted formed an invisible protective film around him, so the speed of nearly 120 mph just tossed him away without causing any harm.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s car wasn''t so lucky; the custom-made Koenigsegg''s front was massively dented, the windshield cracked, and even the airbags were triggered.


    Zhang Menglong used his Inner Strength to protect himself and Lu Yiyao, so beyond being frightened, Lu Yiyao was unharmed.


    "He... he''s unharmed!" Lu Yiyao was somewhat sweaty as she watched the perfectly fine Hua Ye approaching them.


    Goodness, at nearly 120 mph, a normal person would''ve been reincarnated by now, but this man was flung over ten meters and was still walking without trouble. What kind of monster was this?


    "Remember what you just asked me?" Zhang Menglong touched Lu Yiyao''s head, "Cultivators, psychics, they really do exist in this world!"


    Although she had just witnessed such an unbelievable scene, hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, Lu Yiyao still felt stunned.


    "Hey, you smashed my car, pay up!" Zhang Menglong shouted at Hua Ye ahead, "This is a unique custom-made Koenigsegg, completely undrivable after being smashed like this, $125 million, ZFB or bank transfer?"


    Hua Ye''s face was full of fury. It was bad enough that Zhang Menglong hadn''t braked, but to say that he had smashed the car? In what world does a person smash a car instead of a car hitting a person?


    "There''s a dash cam in my car, and you popped up right in front of me. The speed limit here is 120 mph, and I was driving at 117 mph; even if I had killed you, I wouldn''t be held responsible!"


    "Zhang Menglong!" Hua Ye hated ramblers the most, "Let''s cut the small talk. You know why I am here today! Hand over the Fuxi Zither. I won''t hold a grudge for the insult you threw at the Hua Family!"


    "Pay for my car, and I might forget about you showing off in front of me!" Zhang Menglong replied just as rudely.


    "Zhang Menglong, I admit you''re stronger than me, but on this planet, you can never be the strongest," Hua Ye said with a dark expression, "Since you are also an Ancient Martial Artist, then you must know about the Longxia Special Operations Squad. Our Hua Family might appear to be just a financial and political family, but our core members are all high-ranking officials in Longxia!"


    "Oh, and then?" Zhang Menglong asked disdainfully.


    "What is Longxia?" Lu Yiyao didn''t know why, but facing such a setup, her heart not only lacked the slightest fear, but even more, she was curious.


    "It''s a special organization of the state. The people inside are the ones with special abilities you mentioned," Zhang Menglong explained, "Some can spit fire, some can spit water, and some can turn invisible. You can think of them as similar to ''Calabash Brothers''."


    Hua Ye''s mouth twitched. Someone was actually comparing Longxia to something meant for kindergartners like ''Calabash Brothers'', and he had always considered joining Longxia as a matter of pride.


    "Strange, since they''re from Longxia, they shouldn''t be unaware of me," Zhang Menglong was curious, recalling that he had fixed those Kaibong people last time; logically, Longxia should know who he was.


    "Mr. Zhang, that incident has been classified as an SS-level secret by Longxia and has been sealed off. Apart from the people involved, no one knows about your strength," Ye Yin explained to Zhang Menglong in a whisper.


    "No wonder, I was wondering why they were so bold."


    "Zhang Menglong, I know you can talk, but I''m not here to argue with you this time. I''m giving you one more chance, hand over the Fuxi zither. Keeping it would only waste its value."


    "I''m also giving you another chance," Zhang Menglong pulled out his mobile phone and took out a payment code, "Hurry up and pay the damages, I can call Mr. Ma now to raise your Alipay transfer limit!"


    "You''re looking for death!" This time, Hua Ye was genuinely angry. His serious attitude was met only with Zhang Menglong''s joking, which he found absolutely insulting!


    But he knew very well that his strength was far inferior to Zhang Menglong''s.


    "Uncles, we need your help this time!"


    "No trouble!" Two robust figures echoed in the night sky.


    "It''s unbelievable that the Fuxi zither really exists in this world. It seems that it''s destiny for our Hua Family to rise up, hahaha!"


    "Mythical Realm Level Three; having such strength at this age is impressive, but before us, it counts for nothing!"


    "Who''s playing tricks here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, these two are core members of our Hua Family. They are both Level Eight super psychics, having these two uncles personally deal with you is already giving you a lot of face." Hua Ye laughed. Even if Zhang Menglong was formidable, he was no match for these two uncles.


    In fact, these two people and another one of his uncles were triplets; the three were adopted by Hua Ye''s grandfather since childhood. All three were born with activated supernatural abilities, and their talents were astonishing.


    The eldest, Hua Qiu Yun, had the ability to hide his body within the surrounding space, a born assassin and killer, known as Asura among the psychics, a notorious murderer.


    The middle brother, Hua Qiu Feng, controlled energy. He could create an armor around his body impervious to blades and spears, and even transform this energy into a ten-meter-high giant, also holding the title of Asura among psychics!


    The youngest, Hua Qiu Yu, was a psychic of the water system. He could instantly utilize the water vapor in the air to form ice spears, piercing his enemies full of holes.


    However, ten years ago, the youngest Hua Qiu Yu mysteriously disappeared, leaving just the two of them, and the Hua Family owes their current status to their considerable merits!


    "Zhang Menglong, other than Longxia''s captain, no one has been able to handle these two uncles of mine. Don''t waste your effort. You''re a smart person; you should know how great the gap in strength is. I advise you not to resist," Hua Ye said confidently with a smile.


    "Ye Yin, pull those two out for me!" Zhang Menglong said, unable to find them, but surely Ye Yin could!


    "Ah!"


    "Ouch!"


    Two screams suddenly echoed in the void, followed by two figures falling in front of Zhang Menglong like dead pigs.


    "What a joke!" Zhang Menglong showed a look of disgust, "Compared to those from Hui Jie and the others, they''re far inferior, all flash and no substance!"

 Chapter 453 451: The Dragon King Works at My Home

    "Mr. Zhang, these two individuals'' supernatural abilities have been sealed by me. They won''t be able to use a hint of their powers for the next three hours. Do you want me to deal with them directly?" Ye Yin stood meticulously by Zhang Menglong''s side as he spoke.


    Witnessing this scene, Hua Ye trembled slightly due to extreme astonishment and fear.


    After all, these two uncles were Level Seven super-psychics! In Huaxia, or even on a global scale, their strength was top-notch; so much so that even leaders of foreign countries and major organizations were polite to them.


    But now, they were lying on the ground like dead dogs, and his faith had collapsed in an instant! Those two godlike figures in his heart had been subdued effortlessly by someone else!


    Hua Ye''s gaze fell upon Ye Yin. This young man was almost his age, but the power emanating from him quashed any thoughts of resistance.


    Defeating two Level Seven psychics in an instant¡ªwas he a level nine psychic, or a Heavenly Origin Realm super Ancient Martial Artist? Why did Zhang Menglong have such a powerful figure by his side? And he seemed to show a great deal of respect for Zhang Menglong, almost like his bodyguard.


    "Look at you, pretending to be all that. I actually thought I was encountering a master, but it turns out you''re nothing but a pushover," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "All flash and no substance!"


    Zhang Menglong looked at the two individuals on the ground who had completely lost their ability to fight and shook his head again.


    "You just mentioned one called Asura and the other War God?" Zhang Menglong looked towards Hua Ye. "You were bragging quite confidently just now, and then this happened?"


    "I..." Hua Ye was left speechless, having no idea that Zhang Menglong had such a formidable bodyguard. He had never heard of such a young super-strong figure in either the psychic or Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia!


    "Menglong, this..." Lu Yiyao was also startled by the sudden appearance of Ye Yin. Even though she wasn''t a psychic or a martial artist, she could instinctively sense an extraordinary aura emanating from this man.


    "Don''t be afraid, he is Ye Yin, my personal bodyguard arranged by my dad, protecting me around the clock."


    "Around the clock?" Lu Yiyao''s complexion changed slightly, clearly thinking of some peculiar things.


    "Rest assured," Zhang Menglong smiled, "he wouldn''t dare look at things he shouldn''t see."


    "Yes, Miss Lu," Ye Yin said, "when you are together with Mr. Zhang, I will automatically block out any information about you and will only be responsible for external defense."


    Hearing this, Lu Yiyao finally breathed a sigh of relief, "He''s been with us all the time? But how come I''ve never seen him before?"


    "He has some very special abilities," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Ye Yin, you can leave now."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang." Ye Yin took two steps back, then disappeared in front of them as if he had evaporated into thin air.


    "How did he do that?!" Lu Yiyao exclaimed in surprise.


    "That''s the special ability I mentioned." Zhang Menglong explained, "I''ll tell you more when we get back. I need to take care of this situation first."


    Zhang Menglong shifted his gaze to Hua Ye''s face, "Didn''t you just threaten me by saying you would be unpleasant if I didn''t hand over the Fuxi Qin? Now I''m really keen to see how you''re going to be unpleasant to me!"


    Zhang Menglong, who had reached Level Three of the Mythical Realm, exuded an aura towards Hua Ye that bore down like a mountain, almost suffocating him and turning his face the color of a liver.


    "Didn''t your father ever teach you to check someone''s background before you take action? Otherwise, if you kick an iron plate, it''s going to backfire on you."


    "Who exactly are you?" This time, Hua Ye was certain that Zhang Menglong''s background was far more terrifying than what he had investigated. Although he was filled with fear, curiosity prevailed. He mustered the courage to speak, "According to my investigation, there''s no character like your bodyguard in Longxia or the Ancient Martial Arts World!"


    "Then your information is outdated," Zhang Menglong said. "Don''t assume everything you see is correct. Some things are only what others want you to see. Did you know about the recent breakthrough of the Martial God into the Tianyuan Realm?"


    Of course, Hua Ye was aware of this. It wasn''t a secret in the Ancient Martial Arts World at all, and the stronger the Martial God became, the more apparent the benefits for Huaxia.


    It was precisely because of the Martial God''s breakthrough that Huaxia and some enemy forces had obtained huge gains and advantages in certain territorial or political struggles, all due to this event.


    The forces that once coveted Huaxia suddenly became quiet and ceased their aggression.


    But most people could only see the surface of this matter and knew very little about the details.


    He only knew that the Martial God had recently received some great fortune, and according to his investigation, it seemed that the Martial God had obtained a pill even more precious than an Immortal Pill, which had allowed him to break through to a realm that nobody had reached in hundreds of years.


    "Is this matter related to you?" Hua Ye instinctively realized this.


    "He was able to break through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary because I rewarded him with a pill!" Zhang Menglong said lightly.


    "What?" Hua Ye''s pupils dilated several times in an instant.


    If such a Miracle Elixir truly existed, it would definitely be extremely precious. The fact that Zhang Menglong could give one away meant that he didn''t even take such things seriously.


    Something that could allow someone to break through from the ninth level of the Mythical Realm to the Heavenly Origin Realm, what kind of bloodshed and carnage would ensue if this information got out to foreign lands?


    "Also, since you are from Longxia, then you should know about the SS-level secret incident that happened recently, right?"


    "You know about that?"


    "Nonsense, I was the one who caused it," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You?" Hua Ye knew very well that not just any major event had the qualifications to be classified as SS-level by Longxia. Such matters definitely had very serious implications for the entire nation, and perhaps even for the entire Second World.


    "If you were smart, you would first ask your so-called captain of Longxia whether he has the guts to steal my things!"


    "There''s one more thing!" Zhang Menglong continued, "Do you know about the Dragon King?"


    Upon hearing these two words, it wasn''t just Hua Ye who concentrated his spirit; even the two Psychics lying nearly unconscious on the ground from Ye Yin''s beating immediately focused their attention.


    "Does the Dragon King''s disappearance have something to do with you?"


    "Ten years ago, your old man crossed my dad, so my dad gave him a lesson. As for that so-called Dragon King, my dad thought his water attribute Supernatural Abilities were not bad, so he brought him back to our farm to do artificial rain farming."


    "You''re full of shit! The Dragon King is the most gifted, the most powerful, and the proudest Psychic of the Hua Family. How could he possibly..."


    Before Hua Ye could finish his words, Zhang Menglong directly found a video on his phone and played it.


    In the video was an endless field with various crops planted. A middle-aged man wearing a hat walked into the center of the field, and suddenly the sky darkened tremendously. With a flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder, heavy rain began pouring down from the sky, and all the crops greedily absorbed the water from nature.


    "Is... Is that really the Dragon King?" Hua Ye had seen photos of the Dragon King at home, and the resemblance between that man and the one in the video was uncanny.


    A powerful Psychic, actually using his powers to artificially indunate the fields with rainwater?


    "Is... Is that really the Dragon King?" In his father''s stories, the Dragon King was a towering figure, someone whom Hua Ye had admired like a hero since childhood.


    And now, the Dragon King had become a laborer for Zhang Menglong''s family?


    This was utterly preposterous!

 Chapter 454 452: That person is Zhang Menglongs father

    "Hua Qiuyu, what the hell are you doing?" At this moment, a stream of curses came from the side, "How many times have I warned you? When it rains, it should be gentle. Are you trying to drown the crops in the fields with this heavy rain?"


    The overseer held a golden whip in his hand, and from a distance of over a dozen meters, a golden light struck directly across his back, immediately flaying the flesh open on Hua Qiuyu''s back.


    "Is... is that the legendary God-beating Whip?" Lying on the ground, the brothers Hua Qiuyun and Hua Qiufeng looked at the whip in the overseer''s hand, recalling the descriptions in ancient books; the God-beating Whip was also a divine weapon in Huaxia''s history!


    "Ahh!" Hua Qiuyu screamed in agony, for the God-beating Whip could harm not only the physical body but even the soul, making him wish for death with just one lash.


    "I told you to stop this reckless rain-making!"


    "Mr. Zhang pays you 8000 US dollars a month for food and accommodation to work. Is this your work ethic?"


    "Snap!"


    "Splash!"


    Whip after whip lashed on Hua Qiuyu''s body, and likewise struck deep into the hearts of Hua Ye and the others.


    ...


    "You! It''s you!"


    At that time, lying on the ground, Hua Qiuyun and Hua Qiufeng suddenly remembered that incident.


    10 years ago, when their family was at its peak, they accidentally offended a mysterious figure. Since then, the Dragon King disappeared, and their entire family suddenly became extremely low-key.


    The outside world speculated that it was perhaps their excessive showiness that had incurred the displeasure of those above, leading them to become somewhat more subdued.


    But in reality, it wasn''t like that at all. After sorting out the Dragon King, that person burst into the Hua Family, beating up their experts, smashing and tossing things around in the Hua household.


    The entire Hua Family had to pay with money and land, bowing and scraping just to placate that person''s anger, like grandchildren.


    Even within the Hua Family, this was a huge secret because the incident was too disgraceful; being beaten up on their own doorstep, humiliated thoroughly, and then unable to do anything about it but to send the intruder off with their tails between their legs¡ªsuch a matter was not just shameful to disclose publicly but also an utter humiliation even within the family!


    Years had passed, and the incident had gradually faded from the memory of the Hua Family, but on this day, they recalled the fear of being dominated by that mysterious figure ten years ago.


    At that time, Hua Qiuyun and Hua Qiufeng were present. Back then, they were Level Five super psychics, considered top experts in their era!


    But the opponent, with just one look, dispelled their supernatural abilities, a gap so vast it was despairing.


    Only now did they notice that Zhang Menglong bore a 90% resemblance to that man from back then!


    "The incident from 10 years ago was you..." Upon hearing what Zhang Menglong just said about the Dragon King, Hua Ye realized that his father had offended Zhang Menglong''s father ten years ago. Though the Hua Family couldn''t be said to have collapsed since then, they had certainly been greatly weakened.


    Today, he had repeated the mistake by provoking Zhang Menglong, and he could scarcely imagine the consequences. If Zhang Menglong, in a fit of rage, stormed the Hua Family just like his father had, putting aside whether anyone in the Hua Family could withstand Zhang Menglong''s bodyguard, just the fact that he had provoked Zhang Menglong meant that the elders in his family would probably not let him off the hook first.


    Is this the kind of person you can afford to provoke?


    But how could he have known it would be such a coincidence? His father had offended Zhang Menglong''s father, and he had offended Zhang Menglong¡ªis this what they call fate?


    "Mr. Zhang, this might be a misunderstanding, I..." At this moment, if Hua Ye were to persist in his obstinacy, then he must have a problem with his brain. The man his entire family couldn''t afford to offend¡ªwhat gave him the right?


    Did he even think of robbing the Fuxi zither from someone else? On what grounds?


    "Misunderstanding?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the two people on the ground and said, "I don''t think this is any misunderstanding. You crashed into my car, tried to rob me, and even threatened me. Now you''re telling me this is a misunderstanding? Are you an idiot, or am I an idiot?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I was wrong in what happened this time, and I want to apologize to you," Hua Ye, who could bow and unbend, said, "I damaged your car, and whatever the compensation should be, that it shall be. I hope you can forgive me."


    "Forgive you? If apologies were useful, then what would we need the police for?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "If I weren''t capable enough today, would you have let me go?"


    Hua Ye was stunned for a moment. If today Zhang Menglong were just an ordinary level three martial artist from the Mythical Realm, he would definitely commit the act of silencing him by murder.


    A Divine Artifact like the Fuxi zither, news of it must be kept under wraps, absolutely not letting anyone know any information about it. Even if Zhang Menglong honestly handed over the Fuxi zither, they couldn''t possibly let him go!


    "I had already given you a chance at the beginning. If at that time you had compensated me honestly and apologized, I could have treated you like a fart and let it go. Now, it just isn''t that simple anymore."


    "Look, this Dragon King now earns a monthly salary of 8000 yuan at my house, with room and board included. Life is quite comfortable. I think, why don''t you guys come work at my house too? 8000 a month, until you repay the debt of 125 million US Dollars, then you can go back."


    Hua Ye''s expression turned to that of extreme alarm. With a monthly 8000 yuan for three people, that''s 24,000 yuan. Based on 125 million US Dollars, they would have to work for over thirty thousand years without eating or drinking to repay the debt!


    "What? Unwilling? That''s fine too. Just repay the money you owe me in one go," Zhang Menglong said, "For emotional distress, 10 billion US Dollars. For loss of time, 10 billion US Dollars. You frightened my girlfriend, another 10 billion US Dollars. This car of mine is a limited edition that money can''t just buy; let''s also call it 10 billion. Plus a pacification fee, another 10 billion US Dollars. After that, I won''t bother you."


    "50 billion US Dollars? Why don''t you just rob me?"


    "No, it''s 50 billion US Dollars per person," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I am robbing you!"


    "I don''t have that much money," Hua Ye said through clenched teeth. The maximum funds he could use amounted to only several billion US Dollars, which weren''t even enough to cover the smallest fraction of their ransom.


    "You don''t, but your dad might," Zhang Menglong said, "Go ask your dad to spend the money to redeem you! I''ll give you one chance to make a call."


    A series of twitches crossed Hua Ye''s face. He had bragged with certainty about this matter, and he could already imagine the furious expressions and tones of his father upon learning of this incident.


    But he believed that if he couldn''t produce the money, Zhang Menglong would definitely do something like sending them off to work. This man truly was capable of anything!


    "Fine, I''ll call!"


    Hua Ye took out his mobile phone and dialed his father''s number.


    "How''s it going, is the matter settled? Did you get the Fuxi zither?" Hua Tianze''s voice came from the other end of the phone, filled with anticipation and excitement. If they could really get their hands on the Fuxi zither, their family''s status in Longxia would definitely rise by a significant step, even giving them the strength to directly confront the leader of Longxia!


    "Dad... we failed," Hua Ye said dejectedly, "This... I was horribly mistaken."


    "What happened?" Hua Tianze''s heart suddenly clenched, "Does this Zhang Menglong have some other origin?"


    "Dad, do you remember what happened in our family ten years ago?"


    Hua Tianze''s face turned to stone, as a despairing possibility entered his mind, "This Zhang Menglong, is he related to that man?"


    "That person, he is Zhang Menglong''s father..."

 Chapter 455 453 I Feel Like This Money Is Less

    "What did you say?" On the other end of the phone, Hua Tianze was completely petrified, with the scene from ten years ago vividly flashing before his eyes.


    At that time, he had just taken over the reins of the Hua Family from his father, and it seemed he had reached the pinnacle of his life, nearly dismissing anything and anyone out of hand.


    In his heart, there was nothing the people of the Hua Family couldn''t do, nor anyone they couldn''t offend. He acted arrogantly, and under the premise of not violating the moral bottom line, everything he did was based on his own preferences. If there was something he wanted to do, no one could stop him, and anyone he disliked was bound to face misfortune.


    It was during a gala that he had this encounter. The event gathered almost all of Huaxia''s power and wealth elites. The cause of the incident was simple, at a corner, Zhang Xiaoyun, holding a glass of red wine, bumped into Hua Tianze.


    Actually, the red wine did not spill on Hua Tianze''s clothes, but only a few drops landed on his leather shoes, and Zhang Xiaoyun had immediately expressed his apologies.


    Generally, those who do not seek death naturally will not die. At that time, blinded by the immense resources in his grasp, Hua Tianze uttered a sentence in front of many upper-class elites to Zhang Xiaoyun.


    "Lick my shoes clean, and we will pretend this never happened."


    It had already been a year since Hua Tianze had taken power, and in that year, countless people had been humbled under his hand, yet he was thriving, and the backgrounds he could call upon were well known.


    Whether it was the political or military realm, the shadow of the Hua Family was evident, and what was most terrifying was that Hua Tianze always had a man in his thirties protecting him closely.


    This man, although not looking very strong, even rather slender, had made countless people who openly or covertly targeted him disappear without a trace.


    Once, due to a business matter, he came to war-ravaged South Africa, where the trade meeting of that regime was located right at the center of crossfire among three armies.


    That night, the three armies launched a sudden attack on the area. Over 2000 people were killed or injured, and almost the entire area was littered with corpses, yet Hua Tianze walked out of that death zone unscathed.


    It was said that when he left there, a torrential rain fell over the entire place, washing away all the bloodstains.


    Later, it was rumored that his greatest reliance for sauntering around such a place safely lay with his bodyguard.


    Thus, no matter how outrageous Hua Tianze''s actions were, no one dared to question anything he did, and his acts of insult were not isolated incidents; they almost always ended with the others capitulating.


    As for Zhang Menglong''s father, Zhang Xiaoyun, during this gala, almost no one recognized him, and people only started paying attention to him when they realized he was an uninvited guest.


    A man with no background dared to provoke someone like Hua Tianze?


    Everyone felt that eventually, the unlucky man would definitely obey and submissively lick Hua Tianze''s shoes clean in Hua Tianze''s presence.


    But to everyone''s surprise, that man merely smiled and then, as if shooing away trash, uttered one word.


    "Scram!"


    Since Hua Tianze''s birth, no one had ever dared to say such a word to him, and after he took control of the Hua Family, almost everyone who met him spoke respectfully; this word had almost never appeared in his dictionary!


    The atmosphere at the scene immediately became extremely tense.


    But this was a grand gala. Although the host''s status could not compare with Hua Tianze''s, he was nonetheless one of the foremost figures in all of Huaxia. Causing trouble in this place was undoubtedly a sign of great disrespect to the host.


    Hua Tianze merely asked if the man dared to resolve the matter in a secluded place, and to his surprise, the man agreed. The two thus left the gala halfway.


    What exactly happened after they left remained unknown to anyone, but for Hua Tianze, it was almost like a nightmare.


    The first thing Hua Tianze did was to have the Dragon King teach this ignorant man a lesson, but he witnessed the biggest nightmare of his life.


    With just one punch, the Dragon King fell to the ground like a pile of trash, and the man''s aura was so oppressive that Hua Tianze could barely lift his head. It was then that Hua Tianze realized this man might also be a powerful Psychic!


    Possessing the power of the Hua Family, Hua Tianze could mobilize the entire family''s resources. At that time, the Hua Family had over a hundred divine Psychics, including even ten above Level Five among those divine Psychics. Such a force, unmatched by any non-official power throughout Asia, could even shake the second-world situation in the entire Asia.


    He immediately convened the family''s divine Psychics, a force so powerful it could shake the geopolitical landscape of the entire Asia.


    However, that man had only used his own aura, and hundreds of elite psychics from his family all knelt on the ground, with several weaker ones being crushed into bone dust by this power, losing over half of their elite psychics!


    Afterward, the man said, "This person''s water-based supernatural abilities are not bad, I''ll take him back to water my farm."


    Then he disappeared with the Dragon King as if he were carrying a little chick.


    In the following period, a terrifying financial storm swept through Asia, which seemed to specifically target their assets, causing huge losses to the Hua Family''s industries. Within just a few weeks, the family''s assets had shrunk by a third.


    What was worse, several core members in their political circle were also heavily impacted. A nearly certain election ended in direct failure, and several prominent figures were forced to step down.


    At that moment, Hua Tianze finally realized that the power of the man in front of him far exceeded his imagination!


    That night, while the entire Hua Family was discussing countermeasures, the man came uninvited through heavy guards, and this time, Hua Tianze finally broke down.


    As a price, the Hua Family surrendered a large portion of their assets as an apology, and promised to keep a low profile in their actions afterward. Only then did Zhang Xiaoyun stop.


    After this incident, Zhang Xiaoyun disappeared as if he had evaporated from the world. No matter how the Hua Family inquired, they could not find any information about him, but from then on, the entire family became exceedingly cautious.


    ...


    "Are you sure?" Recalling the events from 10 years ago, Hua Tianze shuddered.


    Ten years ago, he had provoked that man. Now, his son had offended his son. Was the world really this small?


    "I saw Uncle Dragon King," Hua Tianze said in a tone of despair, "he was working on artificial rainfall at one of Zhang Menglong''s farms, and if done poorly, he got whipped with a whip... Dad... I..."


    "You can''t be blamed," Hua Tianze said, "you did it with my permission. I share the responsibility for this situation!"


    "Dad, he wants us to pay 150 billion US Dollars as a ransom before he will release us, I..."


    "Agree to it," Hua Tianze said, "not to mention that Hua Ye is my own son, these two Level Seven elite psychics are not something that can be equated to taking out 150 billion US Dollars."


    What was most crucial was that he actually thought the 150 billion US Dollars was too damn cheap!


    Keep in mind that when he had offended Zhang Xiaoyun ten years ago, a third of their family''s assets had evaporated, leaving two-thirds from which they had to extract half in fixed assets and cash as compensation.


    Now, their losses mounted to trillions of US Dollars!


    This 150 billion, while vast, actually seemed somewhat of a bargain!


    ...


    "Menglong, aren''t you being a bit too harsh?" Lu Yiya spoke from the side. 150 billion US Dollars was nearly close to the entire fortune of the second wealthiest person in the world, and even the Hua Family might not be able to muster 150 billion US Dollars.


    "No problem, if they can''t produce it, we can always bargain!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, actually, the 150 billion US Dollars was just a figure he mentioned casually.


    "Mr. Zhang," Hua Ye bowed respectfully to Zhang Menglong, "My father would like to invite you to our home as a guest, hoping to personally apologize to you."


    "Don''t give me all this fancy nonsense, even one cent less from the ransom won''t work!" Zhang Menglong pretended to be fierce.


    "The ransom is no problem, my dad said it, it will definitely be offered with both hands!"


    "Ah?" Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiya exchanged glances, somewhat surprised at how smoothly things were going.


    "Yiyi," Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a bit of regret, "why do I feel like I asked for too little?"


    ...

 Chapter 456 454: His Dad was Beaten by My Dad

    "Mr. Zhang, please come in! This is our residence in Jiangnan City. My father has already hurried over from the Magic Capital overnight and should arrive within half an hour!"


    Zhang Menglong''s car was immediately towed away, and to express their apology, the Hua Family quickly arranged for a car to take Zhang Menglong and his party to one of their luxurious villas in Jiangnan City.


    Today, Hua Tianze was originally in Magic Capital City to meet an old friend. After learning about this incident, he immediately took a private jet to Jiangnan City. This matter, he must handle it with utmost care, otherwise, their loss might not be limited to a mere 150 billion US Dollars.


    "Brother, you''re back? I just called you, how could you..." Hua Yuhan had thought it was just Hua Ye returning, but when she saw Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao behind him, she was instantly stunned.


    Although she had never met Zhang Menglong, she was naturally familiar with this face that often appeared in the media. As for Lu Yiyao, that had been her rival over the past few months.


    "Lu Yiyao? How come you''re here? Brother, you..." Hua Yuhan had countless questions in her mind. How could Hua Ye be walking together with these two people?


    "Yuhan, don''t call Miss Lu by her name directly!" Hua Ye immediately reprimanded her sternly, "Mr. Zhang and Miss Lu are our guests. Go prepare two cups of tea quickly, using the tea leaves that dad reserves for honored guests."


    "Brother? Are you crazy? You want me to personally prepare tea for them?"


    The tea leaves that Hua Yuhan''s father used to entertain distinguished guests were rare Da Hong Pao, with limited annual production and a price even more expensive than gold. Of course, Hua Yuhan was not reluctant to use the tea leaves; after all, defeating Hua Ye in terms of economic strength was nothing to Zhang Menglong.


    But the fact that Hua Ye actually wanted her to personally serve them tea, she was the Princess of the Hua Family. When had it come to her turn to pour tea for others? Was this some kind of joke?


    "I''m not asking you in a tone meant for negotiation, I am commanding you as your brother!" Hua Ye said with a serious tone.


    At that moment, Hua Yuhan was completely stunned. Was this the brother who always doted on her? From her childhood, Hua Ye hardly ever lost his temper with her. Was he actually being harsh to her over two strangers now?


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, Miss Lu, my sister can be somewhat willful and unreasonable. I hope the two of you won''t take it to heart." Hua Ye quickly apologized.


    "It''s fine," Zhang Menglong didn''t seem to mind.


    "Mr. Hua, you''re too polite. On the show, Miss Yuhan and I are competitors, but actually, our relationship isn''t that bad." Lu Yiyao also smiled. After all, this show was meant to be broadcasted on television. Even if it was just for appearances, they had to fake a good relationship, right?


    "When dad comes over later, you prepare the tea and then go back to your room. Don''t talk nonsense anymore!" Hua Ye instructed.


    "I got it," Hua Yuhan knew that her brother was serious this time, and could only hold back the frustration in her heart and went to prepare the tea.


    ...


    "Brother, what exactly is going on? Why did you bring them two to our house?" While Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were enjoying their tea, Hua Yuhan quietly pulled Hua Ye aside. If she couldn''t get an answer now, she felt she might just burst.


    "Isn''t it all because of your actions?" Hua Ye sighed. Actually, he couldn''t completely blame Hua Yuhan, it was just that their competitiveness had been too strong. If they hadn''t broken the rules of the competition from the start, they wouldn''t have ended up on opposing sides with Zhang Menglong.


    "They have a very powerful background?" Hua Yuhan could only guess this possibility.


    "I don''t know," Hua Ye said with a wry smile, "Up until now, I still know very little about his background."


    "Then why did even dad rush over?" she knew that with Hua Tianze''s current status, even meeting leaders required an appointment.


    "Do you remember the incident from ten years ago?" Hua Ye asked.


    "Ten years ago? Are they related to that person from ten years ago?" Hua Yuhan''s eyes widened. She was not yet ten years old at that time, but that incident cast a shadow over her childhood, lingering in her heart.


    She vaguely remembered the night when the whole family bowed and scraped around somebody, the atmosphere resembling the courtiers and the Emperor during the feudal period.


    "That person, is Zhang Menglong''s father!" Hua Ye''s face bore a pale smile, "Do you know what ancient instrument Lu Yiyao used for her final performance?"


    Hua Yuhan shook her head, "I only know that instrument was truly miraculous, at that time I even thought I was dreaming!"


    "That was the Fuxi instrument!"


    "One of the ten Divine Artifacts that had long vanished from Huaxia?" Hua Yuhan exclaimed, feeling a sense of relief in her heart at that moment, "Although my instrument is worth a fortune, compared with a Divine Artifact, isn''t that a joke? I lost fairly!"


    "Asura and War God, my two uncles, tried to snatch the Fuxi instrument from him, but his bodyguards subdued them all in an instant."


    "There was such an incident?" Even though Hua Yuhan was not a Psychic, she was very aware of how formidable her two uncles were, "In Longxia, they can hardly find a few equals, and such people were subdued in an instant?"


    "We failed, so you can guess what happened after that..."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang!" At this moment, a forceful voice came from outside the door, and a middle-aged man rushed into the villa in a flurry, his gaze freezing the moment he saw Zhang Menglong.


    "He looks too much like him, those eyes and that expression are exactly the same!" Just from this first impression, Hua Tianze was certain that Zhang Menglong was unmistakably Zhang Xiaoyun''s son!


    "Are you Hua Tianze?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I am Hua Tianze!" Hua Tianze answered respectfully, "My son and daughter have offended you both, and I hope that you can forgive us!"


    Hua Tianze immediately took out several documents from a briefcase he carried, "Mr. Zhang, to express our family''s apology, here is some of our sincerity!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong took the document.


    "51% of Jinding Group''s shares, a listed real estate company, market value 80 billion US Dollars."


    "66% of the shares of Simonton Pharmaceuticals, market value 57 billion US Dollars."


    "47% of Bai Ling Technology''s shares, market value 1,200 billion US Dollars."


    ...


    These documents were all share transfer agreements, each company with a market scale of at least several billion US Dollars. Just the combined value of these company shares already exceeded 1,500 billion US Dollars!


    "Mr. Zhang, we don''t have much in the way of liquid funds, but I hope these assets satisfy you. Furthermore, here is a savings account from a Swiss Bank, containing 20 billion US Dollars in cash, this is the greatest sincerity our Hua Family can offer!"


    On the side, both Hua Ye and Hua Yuhan were somewhat bewildered; Hua Tianze''s reaction was exaggerated, to say the least. It was one thing to compensate with 1,500 billion US Dollars, but why did he seem eager to give away everything he had?


    This was simply too submissive; such an attitude was no longer groveling, this was downright abasing oneself before a predator!


    "Menglong, why is he behaving like this?" Lu Yiyao felt somewhat astonished by Hua Tianze''s demeanor, even if their family couldn''t afford to offend Zhang Menglong, there was no need to go to such lengths!


    On the way here, Ye Yin had briefed Zhang Menglong about the details of past events. That incident wasn''t as simple as the Hua Family paying off a debt; as the instigator, Hua Tianze had not only been punished by his family.


    After the Dragon King and that Psychic of the Hua Family were beaten down, Hua Tianze was hung by Zhang Xiaoyun on an electric pole for ten minutes. It was said that the screams that night could be heard for miles around.


    "I think I might know," Zhang Menglong tried to suppress a laugh, "Ten years ago, his father was beaten up by my dad. It must be a case of once bitten, twice shy!"

 Chapter 457 455: Lets See How Brave They Are

    "Mr. Zhang, take care. From now on, you are our Hua Family''s eternal guest. Whenever you need help, feel free to call me," Hua Tianze said with great cordiality as he saw Zhang Menglong out of the Hua Family''s villa, watching him until he left.


    "Dad, there''s something I don''t understand," after Zhang Menglong had gone far away, Hua Ye finally couldn''t hold back his words. "Even if Zhang Menglong''s father once inflicted heavy damage on our Hua Family, after ten years of development, our family has changed dramatically. Besides, over the past few years, Longxia and the Ancient Martial Arts World have been merging, and we might even be able to establish a connection with the Martial God..."


    "You know nothing!" Hua Tianze cut him off directly. "Do you think the Martial God is that powerful?"


    Hua Ye was stunned, isn''t the Martial God powerful? He''s considered the number one person in the second world today, and even the captain of Longxia seems to be far behind him, he is now a trump card for Huaxia!


    "Do you know what the ss-level secret that Longxia sealed off recently is about?" Hua Tianze had deep connections with Longxia and knew things that Hua Ye could never find out.


    "Dad, what on earth is it? So far, the highest level of secrecy Longxia has imposed is ''s'' level. I can''t imagine what could have prompted them to set the secrecy level so high!"


    "A few months ago, a group of Kaibong ninjas invaded Huaxia territory!"


    "What? Such a thing happened?" Hua Ye was shocked. "But it shouldn''t have caused any consequences, right?"


    "Those invaders were very strong, so much so that even our god-level psychics in charge of guarding the border didn''t notice them. They even brutally slaughtered a small squad of our Longxia!"


    "What?" Though Hua Ye was a bit of a playboy, he was still a Huaxia person and couldn''t help clenching his fists at this revelation.


    "Based on the data we gathered from the investigation and the analysis of the energy intensity lingering near the battlefield, it''s very likely that the energy level of those Kaibong people is at least above 20!"


    "At least? Surpassing god-level psychics?" Hua Ye was truly taken aback this time. "Is it the Dark Ninja Nin Emperor? Has he broken through?"


    "No! It''s an unknown squad," Hua Tianze replied, "and you know what that means!"


    Of course, Hua Ye knew. If a god-level psychic managed to infiltrate a country, it was almost as if a nuclear bomb was placed inside that country!


    A powerful psychic could be much more terrifying than any atomic bomb! And as for a ninja surpassing god-level psychics... Hua Ye didn''t dare to continue his thought.


    So far, Huaxia only had one person, the Martial God, who had broken through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary. If the other side invaded Huaxia with such a lineup, the consequences could be described as disastrous.


    "I also need to tell you, the opposing team, all eight of them, are at that level of strength!"


    "What? Eight?" Hua Ye''s eyes widened in disbelief. One such individual was already difficult to deal with, but with eight of them infiltrating, did they intend to destroy Huaxia? Moreover, since when did the tiny Kaibong possess so many powerful ninjas?


    "What does Zhang Menglong have to do with this?" Hua Ye immediately thought of this.


    "Zhang Menglong took on this matter for Longxia, capturing seven of the ninjas alive. Only one escaped, and he has put out a hefty bounty for him," Hua Tianze explained.


    "Is it that Hui Jie Yan Er?"


    Hua Tianze nodded.


    "Those seven..."


    "They met a fate even worse than your Uncle Dragon King''s. They killed Huaxia people, so I think Zhang Menglong will definitely make them experience what''s worse than death."


    "No wonder you showed him such respect." Hua Ye nodded in understanding, to himself.


    Eight ninjas at least on par with a Heavenly Originator, and Zhang Menglong could easily capture them alive, even daring to issue a global bounty. This showed that to him, these eight people weren''t even worth a fart!


    And for the Hua Family, even a single level nine Psychic could lead to their utter destruction. How could they afford to provoke someone like Zhang Menglong?


    "So, my approach is the most reasonable one so far; we can''t just appease someone like him, we must also make him happy," Hua Tianze sighed. It seemed like he generously gave away a bunch of shares to Zhang Menglong, but in reality, his heart was bleeding. An industry worth 150 billion US Dollars was, without a doubt, like cutting off their own flesh for the Hua Family.


    ...


    "The Hua Family is quite polite," Zhang Menglong let Hong Yi handle some items they had just received from the Hua Family. The combined value of these shares was nearly reaching 200 billion US Dollars¡ªthis was the entire fortune of what used to be the world''s richest man!


    "Mr. Zhang, the Hua Family has also been frightened by your family," Hong Yi said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun almost brought their entire family down back in the day."


    "Since they''ve been so sensible about it, there''s no need to pursue this matter any further," Zhang Menglong spoke, "Also, cancel the economic sanctions against the Hua Family. I imagine this will teach them a good lesson."


    "Mr. Zhang, a piece of information came in this afternoon that I think you should know about."


    "What information?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s regarding the Mahalast Family of Yinhei, who manage your family''s industries there," Hong Yi explained, "The Mahalast Family assets are worth roughly 2 trillion US Dollars, but the Clan Leader, Domute, passed away last night."


    "The Mahalasts have served your family for about 1200 years, a display of unwavering loyalty. However, Domute spent his life toiling for your assets, seldom considering his own affairs, hence he died without any children, which is quite pitiful."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong hardly paid attention to the many such family forces in each country, but because there were so many, they failed to catch his interest.


    But Domute had died childless at an old age, which made Zhang Menglong feel a twinge of guilt.


    Although his illness was unrelated to himself, if Domute had spent more time on his personal life, he might not have died alone, without anyone to send him off.


    "Let''s do this: arrange a flight for me tomorrow. I''ll personally go to Yinhei to offer my respects," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang, I''ll arrange it immediately," Hong Yi responded, "But you need to be prepared in advance."


    "Prepared? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong asked, puzzled.


    The Mahalast family heir usually follows a direct line of succession, but since Domute had no children, this has caused some complications with the inheritance rights.


    "Doesn''t he have any brothers or sisters?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "He has a cousin and a sister, and both have developed into large families by leveraging Mahalast resources. While these two families outwardly belong to the Mahalasts, their loyalty isn''t as high as Domute''s and they may have some other ideas to some extent."


    "You''re saying they might fight for Mahalast''s resources?"


    "Not just that," Hong Yi continued, "Whoever controls the Mahalast essentially controls Yinhei. The allure of such power is something few can resist. I''m afraid they might use this opportunity to try separating the Mahalasts from the Zhang Family."


    "Are you certain?" Zhang Menglong queried.


    "We don''t have conclusive evidence," Hong Yi replied, "But traditionally, the Mahalast heir prepares their will before death, and Domute was no exception. Anticipating his own demise within a short period last month, he had made a will, leaving all Mahalast assets to you. However, the lawyer responsible for the will mysteriously disappeared a few days ago!"


    "What?" Anger surged up in Zhang Menglong, which was then replaced by a cold smirk, "I do want to see how many have the guts to play such a game with me!"

 Chapter 458 456: Do I Care About These 2 Trillion US Dollars?

    To tell the truth, Zhang Menglong really didn''t care about those two trillion US dollars; his statement that he was not interested in money wasn''t just a humblebrag like that of Boss Ma.


    Though Domte had no descendants, he presumably had a wife. The family had devotedly served the Zhang Family for thousands of years, and Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have objected at all if the money had been left to his wife.


    And what if it was given to those brothers and sisters? With just a word from him, Zhang Menglong was not one to disregard relationships; after all, these assets were located in Yinhei and couldn''t be moved by Zhang Menglong. Who operated them hardly mattered, did it?


    But there''s a whole different concept between what one willingly gives and others coveting something they shouldn''t. Zhang Menglong greatly admired loyal individuals and, naturally, he detested betrayers immensely.


    Zhang Menglong believed that since they were part of the Mahalast Family, neither Domte''s cousin nor his sister should be strangers to him. Under such circumstances, if they dared to covet the family assets, they certainly must have made some preparations; this trip of his, he surmised, would probably be a trap.


    But any trap under the overwhelming power was just a fuss.


    After notifying Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong flew directly to the international airport in the capital of Yinhei, New Larie, the next morning. Hong Yi had already notified people from the Mahalast Family, and someone would meet him at the airport.


    After several hours of flight, the plane landed on schedule at the airport, where, almost like his last visit to Kaibong, dozens of black cars were neatly lined up outside waiting for him.


    Zhang Menglong''s plane was easy to recognize, as each of his private jets bore the unique family crest of the Zhang Family.


    Standing at the forefront were about a dozen people; the one dressed lavishly with a mournful expression should be Domte''s wife. It must be said, wealthy families certainly stand apart--Domte''s wife should be in her seventies or eighties, yet she appeared to be a middle-aged person in her forties or fifties.


    As for the other two, they must be Domte''s cousin and sister; the group surrounding them were probably the descendants of those branches.


    Zhang Menglong walked towards them, scrutinizing them while they, in turn, scrutinized him.


    Since their birth, each had been told that the Mahalast Family was not independent but servants of the Zhang Family of Huaxia. This was how each Mahalast defined themselves.


    The Zhang Family had bestowed wealth, honor, and status on the Mahalast Family. In front of others, they were superior, but in front of the Zhang Family, they were the humblest servants.


    As required by the teachings of Mahalast ancestors, upon meeting a member of the Zhang Family, they must address them as master, or else they would face severe punishment according to familial rules.


    Hong Yi was absolutely right in her judgment¡ªthe disappearance of the notary of Domte''s will was indeed the handiwork of Domte''s cousin and sister!


    They hadn''t originally planned this; Domte had died, leaving no children, so logically, these riches should have been inherited by the other branches.


    If that had been the case, they would still have respectfully adhered to their ancestral teachings; the Zhang Family was like their deity, and they would definitely exhaust themselves in service whenever Zhang Menglong needed the power of the Mahalast Family.


    But it never crossed their minds that the stubborn Domte would want to return all family assets to Zhang Menglong!


    You see, these branches had built their enterprises using the power of the Mahalast Family, amassing assets over a hundred billion US dollars. Although these assets were still registered under the Mahalast Family''s name, they had long been treated as their own by them.


    It was clearly written in Domte''s will that anything owned by those with Mahalast blood belonged to Zhang Menglong, including those assets!


    Upon hearing this news, they instantly became dissatisfied; why should the industries they had worked hard to build be returned entirely to Zhang Menglong?


    But they had forgotten one important point, which was also the first rule of the ancestral teachings: everything about the Mahalast Family originated from the Zhang Family. Without the Zhang Family, the ancestors of the Mahalast Family would have starved to death during a famine 1200 years ago.


    "Master, I am Mossang, wife of Domte, and these are my nephew and niece," Domte''s wife was the first to bow to Zhang Menglong, speaking respectfully.


    The two middle-aged people supporting her bowed toward Zhang Menglong with equal reverence.


    "Madam, considering our ages, all of you are my elders. I greatly admire Mr. Domte''s character. There''s no need for the title ''master''; you and everyone else can just call me Mr. Zhang."


    "Master, it''s our ancestral teachings and also the last wish of my husband. Age is one thing; rules are another," the old lady was quite stubborn.


    "Very well," Zhang Menglong nodded. It was just a title after all. Respect was something that resided in the heart, not something spoken with the lips. "I''d like to see Mr. Domte''s memorial tablet first. Mrs. Mossang, could you lead the way?"


    "Yes, please take the foremost car with this young lady!"


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong did not refuse and went directly to the front black Maybach.


    All members of the Mahalast immediately returned to their vehicles, and the convoy slowly started moving.


    "What nonsense!" In one car, the two sons of Domte''s sister immediately showed displeasure. "What era are we in that we still use the term ''master'' to address someone?"


    "Exactly, we of the Mahalast are the foremost family in all of Yinhei, and now we have to serve a wet-behind-the-ears youth. What will people think if outsiders find out? How can we face anyone in Yinhei again?"


    "Our family has played the subservient role for over a thousand years. Even the greatest of debts should have been repaid over such a long time. Why should these assets be returned?"


    "Look at her groveling!"


    "Hmph, she is, after all, Domte''s wife. If she pleases Zhang Menglong, maybe these assets will end up in her hands," they speculated.


    "Why should she? Why should an outsider take what belongs to the Mahalast Family?"


    ...


    In another car, Domte''s cousin''s line was also fiercely discussing the topic. No one could resist the temptation of 20 trillion U.S. dollars in assets.


    "Big brother, I have already reached out to the officials. Many of our Mahalast enterprises control the lifelines of the national economy; they surely won''t just watch these assets fall into a Huaxian''s hands! I''ve already informed the authorities, and they have affirmed their support for us to reclaim those assets!"


    "Exactly! In the absence of a will, the inheritance of these assets must follow the national law, and it definitely won''t end up with outsiders. Ultimately, it will rightfully become the property of the Mahalast Family, and no one will be able to take them from us again!"


    "But Zhang Menglong is not to be underestimated, don''t forget, even America has suffered losses at his hands."


    "Don''t worry, Zhang Menglong was able to command influence in those countries because he controlled many resources, but here in Yinhei, all resources are controlled by our Mahalast Family. As long as we don''t agree, he will never be able to do anything!"


    "Hahaha! Excellent, this time let''s see what this Huaxian can muster against us!"

 Chapter 459 457: If You Dont Seek Death, You Wont Die

    In the two vehicles behind, Domt''s cousins and sister from the different branches were engaged in a fierce discussion. Their spies were all over the convoy and they were not worried about being exposed. Even if they were, what could that change?


    All of Mahalast''s assets belonged to the Mahalast Family. Without Domt''s will, those would legally become their property, regardless of which country or under whose inheritance laws, these things should be distributed among the people of the Mahalast Family.


    Want to go to court? Sure, they could easily bribe a judge. Ten million should be enough, right? If not ten million, then a hundred million; if not a hundred million, then a billion.


    Talking about this enormous asset of 2 trillion US dollars, a few billion was really nothing; as long as they could secure this wealth, what did it matter if they spent a few billion more?


    But for those law enforcers, that was more money than they could make in ten lifetimes. Could they resist such a temptation?


    Moreover, the official force of Brahma Country was involved in the matter, and they believed that they didn''t even need to worry about these things themselves!


    However, what they did not know was that Zhang Menglong, in the leading vehicle, heard everything crystal clear. At such a close distance, Zhang Menglong didn''t even need to rely on Ye Yin''s power; his ears were no different to having wind-assisted hearing.


    "Mr. Zhang, your expression seems quite off," Hong Yi said.


    "It''s nothing. I just heard some rather disquieting matters," Zhang Menglong replied. "You tell me why these assets of 2 trillion US dollars have caused such a ruckus. They''ve even forgotten why their family could grow to this point and ridiculously think all this wealth belongs to their family alone."


    Hong Yi instantly understood Zhang Menglong''s words, "Mr. Zhang, were all my guesses confirmed?"


    Zhang Menglong nodded, "Not only the Mahalast Family, but even the official forces of Brahma Country want to help them take this wealth. Can you believe a country would be so shameless for 2 trillion US dollars?"


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, though Brahma Country is a large country, it is actually very poor," Hong Yi laughed, "Brahma Country is considered one of the most populous nations in the world, their population nearly matching ours, yet their annual GDP doesn''t even reach single digits compared to ours."


    "According to last year''s standards, the total GDP of Brahma Country was just over 2 trillion US dollars. Especially affected by the pandemic and coupled with backward medical standards, this year must be even worse. This 2 trillion US dollars is equivalent to a year''s GDP for them."


    "Indeed," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "This country is really poor. Just look at what their mother river is like, you can tell they don''t have the money to take care of it."


    "The government of Brahma Country even planned to spend 3 billion US dollars to manage their mother river," Hong Yi said, "but five years have passed, and they still haven''t come up with the money, especially with this pandemic, their medical system has already collapsed. If our Huaxia hadn''t stepped in to help them, they might have nearly been destroyed."


    "Mr. Zhang, do you know what makes up the assets of the Mahalast Family?" Hong Yi continued to ask.


    Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "The total assets of the Mahalast Family currently stand at 2.78 trillion US dollars, of which 2.7 trillion dollars are fixed assets. Out of these 2.7 trillion dollars in assets, over 2.5 trillion exist in the form of corporations. Do you know how much tax revenue 2.5 trillion dollars in assets could contribute annually?"


    "Don''t ask me, I''ve never looked into that!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "Let''s calculate with our country''s tax revenue for comparison," Hong Yi suggested, "The market value of Alibaba exceeds 600 billion US dollars and its tax contribution just domestically reaches almost 10 billion US dollars a year which is enough to manage the Ganges River three times over."


    "For enterprises over a 2.5 trillion dollar scale, in Huaxia they would contribute at least four to five hundred billion US dollars in taxes. Although the tax rate in Brahma Country is lower than in Huaxia, 400 billion dollars would definitely be due," Hong Yi continued to probe, "Do you know what Brahma Country''s fiscal revenue is?"


    "Ah ba ah ba..."


    "Last year''s fiscal revenue was 410 billion US dollars, which is almost a tenth of their whole country''s fiscal income."


    "Good grief, I only knew they were poor, but I didn''t know they were this poor," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim. "A family sustaining one-tenth of the country is simply outrageous!"


    "Their fiscal revenue can''t even cover the annual expenditure, almost every year their revenue is in deficit. How could they possibly want to transfer such business assets to citizens of other countries?"


    "This is truly a pitiful country, I almost wanted to donate to them..."


    ...


    The convoy soon drove into an estate, which was almost as large as a small town. It was said that this land had been directly bought by an ancestor of Zhang Menglong a long time ago, and they owned it in perpetuity.


    Although there was a modern urban vibe, the estate still had very traditional farming, implying that the Mahalast Family probably still maintained some traditional customs.


    What should have been a grand Mahalast estate, was now only bearing black and white colors, permeating a solemn atmosphere throughout the entire Mahalast Family. Within the whole family, Domte''s status was equivalent to that of an Emperor, and everyone in the family had to mourn him for a month.


    "Master, this way, please," Mossang supported by two nephews led Zhang Menglong into a memorial hall.


    "Master!" Everyone in the memorial hall knelt down devoutly towards Zhang Menglong. Many children in the family stole glances at him, as in the legends of the elderly of the Mahalast Family, this gentleman was a Deity, and Brahma Country was a nation of deep belief in Deities.


    Domte was a very thin old man, lying peacefully in the casket, his face serene and tranquil.


    Zhang Menglong stepped forward and offered incense to him, as a way to thank him for his years of devotion to the Zhang Family.


    "Master, this is a letter my husband left for you before he passed away," Mossang handed over a letter.


    Zhang Menglong tore open the letter, his expression changing somewhat. He could tell that the letter had been opened by someone else and then carefully resealed, yet it did not escape Zhang Menglong''s detailed perception.


    His gaze swept over everyone in the hall. Mossang''s lineage appeared devout and respectful, whereas Domte''s sister and brother''s families kept their heads down, not daring to make eye contact with him.


    "Hmph!" Zhang Menglong sneered and directly opened the letter.


    "Respected master, please allow me to no longer manage your properties. I, Domte, have served the Zhang Family my whole life without any betrayal. I can meet the ancestors of Mahalast with a clear conscience..."


    The content of the letter was simple: it thanked Zhang Menglong''s ancestors for bestowing everything to the Mahalast Family. He made a request to have the Zhang Family''s Clan Emblem left on his tombstone, considering it a symbol of supreme honor.


    "Who knew there were still such loyal people in this world," Zhang Menglong was reminded of Zhuge Liang''s "Memorial on the Dispatch of Troops" as he read the letter, his gaze sweeping over the others¡ªall having the same blood, yet the disparity in their nature was so vast.


    "Hong Yi, find a craftsman in the family and make a tombstone for Domte, bearing our family''s Clan Emblem," Zhang Menglong handed the letter to Hong Yi. "It was his last wish. He deserves to be regarded as one of our Zhang Family."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I will arrange it properly."


    Having dealt with these matters, it was time for Zhang Menglong to begin cleansing the house, he addressed the gathered Mahalast Family members. "By the way, Domte must have left a will, right? I would like to see it!"


    Swish!


    A great many people in the memorial hall suddenly changed their expressions.

 Chapter 460 458: You Deserve It?

    "Master, my brother died of an illness, and during that time he was always in the hospital, never went out, and apart from the doctors and our family, he didn''t meet any outsiders; I''m afraid he didn''t leave behind any will."


    Domet''s sister, a woman nearing 70 years old, immediately said.


    A person close to 70 years old, who even looked younger than Domet''s wife Mossang in appearance, had skin like a young girl''s, God knows how many hydrating and wrinkle-removing injections she had undergone.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong raised his voice.


    "Yes, master," Domet''s cousin''s two sons also quickly chimed in, "You can call the employees at Brahma Country''s notary office for consultation at any time."


    In Brahma Country, any will that was not notarized did not have absolute legal effect, but of course, during the distribution of an estate, judges would also consider the will and decide accordingly.


    That was their purpose in inspecting the will Domet had left behind, yet to their surprise, in the will, Domet had not mentioned anything about family assets, that foolish loyalty even disgusted them.


    However, after they had investigated, Domet had secretly had one of his trusted aides invite a notary to prepare a will. After thoroughly investigating this matter, they secretly dealt with that trusted aide and the notary, while also bribing everyone at the notary office and leveraging official power to intimidate them, believing that no one would dare to speak out.


    "Since that''s the case, there''s no need then." Zhang Menglong didn''t care about such an unreliable consultation; if it were him, he would have immediately bribed anyone who could leak information.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Mossang again, who clearly was unaware of this matter, only immersed in the sorrow of her husband''s death.


    "Master, although Domet didn''t leave any will, he once told me that if one day he passed away, all the family assets would be handed over to you for redistribution," Mossang said.


    The faces of many people suddenly changed upon hearing this statement.


    "Madam, when did my brother ever say this? How come we didn''t know?"


    "Yes, such things shouldn''t be said carelessly, giving everything to the Master all at once will cause trouble for the Master! As members of the Mahalast Family, we should take care of some matters for the Master, it''s our family''s mission!"


    The people from Domet''s brother and sister''s lineage seemed to be considering Zhang Menglong''s interest, but their true thoughts were obviously not these.


    "This was Domet''s decision," Mossang said with an air of authority, as though she was the queen of the entire Mahalast Family.


    Mossang even knelt down in front of Domet''s coffin, "Master, according to the traditions of our Mahalast Family, the assets of the family are to be taken over by the direct descendants, but Domet and I have been childless all these years, so we can only fail the trust of your ancestors, please handle these assets yourself!"


    "Since that''s the case, why don''t you take over!" Zhang Menglong said casually.


    "What?" The faces of Domet''s brothers and sisters changed dramatically. Although Mossang had married Domet, she didn''t have a single drop of Mahalast Family blood in her, why should she take over these assets?"


    They were about to object, but Mossang laughed.


    "Master, look at me, an old woman, what ability do I have to manage these assets?" Mossang laughed, "The only use I''ve ever had in my life was to help Domet manage the family''s internal relations, I know nothing about business, I can only fail your trust."


    "Master, we have a request, I don''t know if we should speak," at that moment, one of Mossang''s nephews spoke up, "Please forgive my frankness."


    "Speak," Mossang''s nephew clearly was the same type of person as Domet, and Zhang Menglong still had a good impression of him.


    "My aunt devoted her life to the Mahalast family. Now that my uncle has passed away, according to his last wishes, these assets should rightfully be returned to you. I hope, however, that you will leave some money for my aunt to live out her days in comfort, without having to rely on anyone else."


    "That''s only proper," Zhang Menglong had never actually planned to take back the money, and he was very confident in leaving these assets for Mossang to handle. However, since Mossang was not willing to take charge, Zhang Menglong didn''t insist.


    "Here''s what we''ll do," Zhang Menglong said, "Mrs. Mossang, you and your nieces and nephews can keep 1 billion US Dollars. Whether you invest it, manage it or start a business, that''s up to you. These assets no longer belong to me, Zhang Menglong, nor do they belong to the Mahalast family; they are yours now."


    "Thank you, Master!" Mossang''s nephew immediately knelt down to thank Zhang Menglong for his generous donation. With 1 billion US dollars per household, if managed well, even though it might not match the former glory of the Mahalast family, it would still be top-tier wealth in Brahma Country.


    "Master, we also have a request!" Apparently, because Zhang Menglong was so easy to talk to, it gave Domate''s brother and sister a misguided confidence.


    "Speak," Zhang Menglong graciously said. "As long as it''s within my power, for the sake of Domate, I will certainly do it!"


    "Master, the situation is this," Domate''s brother immediately said. "As you see, my brother has no children, and Mrs. Mossang is also unwilling to take over these assets. But you could give them to us!"


    "Give them to you?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow.


    Good grief, this was downright shameless! Originally, they had planned to take over by deceit, but seeing how agreeable he was, they now dared to ask outright!


    "Yes, even though most of the family assets were managed by my brother, some part of them was managed by us. We are very familiar with these assets, and taking them over would be quick. More importantly, we all have our own offspring. If one day we pass on, these assets can continue to be managed by them; isn''t that a perfect solution?"


    "That does sound quite reasonable!" A smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "Yes!" Domate''s brother and sister eagerly pledged loyalty. "Even though we do not carry the pure blood of the Mahalast family, we will never forget that we are also members of the Mahalast family, and we will always remember that your ancestors built the Mahalast family!"


    "Exactly! Whatever my brother could achieve, we will definitely strive to do as well!"


    "However, I seem to have some news that I''d like to share with you, if you''re willing to hear it," Zhang Menglong unlocked his phone.


    "In 2001, the Betmutra Group reported a 200 million US dollar shortfall in its accounts, eventually traced back to an accountant falsifying accounts. That same year, two luxury homes appeared under your name, Wokol, altogether valued at about 200 million dollars."


    "In 2002, a Higgs Group order was intercepted, and factory goods worth nearly 1 billion US dollars were stolen. However, the original client company still got the exact same goods in the end, and the theft case was ultimately dismissed without any consequences!"


    "In 2003..."


    Zhang Menglong detailed every instance over the past 20 years where assets under the name of Mahalast had been lost due to deficits, totaling over 10 billion US dollars!


    And all these incidents had been suppressed!


    Without exception, each of these troubled assets had been managed by the enterprises run by siblings belonging to Domate''s lineage!


    "Have you manage the assets?" Zhang Menglong scoffed. "Would I dare?


    "The fortune that Domate had painstakingly accumulated was guarded and pillaged by you, and yet you still desire the rights of inheritance? Are you even worthy?"

 Chapter 461 459: Never Seen Such a Shameless Person

    "Master, what do you mean by this?" Domte''s brothers and sisters from a branch family''s complexions changed drastically.


    In fact, in recent years, due to health reasons, Domte had already faded out of managing the family assets, and through deceiving and cajoling, the two sideline families had obtained many resources from Domte.


    After several years of management, they had almost completely transformed the entire Mahalast Family''s industry, with many key positions now occupied by their people.


    Logically speaking, everything should have been seamless!


    But the lists and details Zhang Menglong had just cited matched their actions perfectly, even more clearly than they themselves remembered regarding how much funds they had tampered with.


    "There are still Zang Family spies in the family!"


    This was their first thought.


    However, what they hadn''t anticipated was Zhang Menglong revealing their actions right on this occasion. They hadn''t yet gotten their hands on those assets. Were they really going to tear off their masks at such a critical juncture?


    "What do I mean?" Zhang Menglong said with a cold laugh, "Do you think everything you did was seamless? If I were Domte, I could literally rise from my coffin and ''Aluba'' you for three days and nights!"


    Although they didn''t know what ''Aluba'' meant, they could imagine that it certainly wasn''t anything good.


    "Master, I think there must be some misunderstanding. We have always been dedicated to the Mahalast Family, and our family''s asset growth rate has been increasing year by year. This is the result of our hard work; you can''t slander us like this!" said one of Domte''s nephews.


    "Hard work?" Zhang Menglong laughed again, "The Mahalast family''s assets account for one-tenth of Brahma Country''s tax revenue. Many are monopolistic enterprises, which ensure profits as long as this country stands. Are you really attributing these to your contributions?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Do you believe that even if I hired a pig to manage these industries, its yearly growth would exceed yours, at least the pig wouldn''t embezzle!"


    "Master, we..."


    "Or perhaps you could explain, how did the personal assets worth billions under your two families come about??"


    Of course, they couldn''t explain, for their wealth was accumulated by leeching off the Mahalast Family''s assets.


    "Enough, why bother explaining so much?"


    Domte''s elder nephew stood up, his expression filled with disdain, "Zhang, we Mahalasts have been slaves to you for over a thousand years. Even the greatest debts should have been repaid by now, right?"


    "It''s just some money, and all of it was amassed by our Mahalast ancestors over generations. What does it have to do with you? What right do you have to point fingers and accuse us?"


    "That''s right! We''ve had enough of being your underlings!" Domte''s elder niece''s son also stood up, "We call you ''Master'' out of respect for the ancestral teachings of the Mahalast Family. Don''t think we respect you that much; you''re just a rich second-generation living off your ancestors'' glory. Without your Zhang family ancestors, you would be nothing!"


    "Assasin, Kodiya, have you gone mad? How dare you speak to the master like this?" Mossang showed her authority as the matriarch of the Mahalast Family for the first time.


    "Assasin, Kodiya, you''ve gone too far¡ªapologize to the master immediately!" Mossang''s two nephews promptly said, "According to the family rules, insulting the master warrants 50 lashes and expulsion from the family tree!"


    "Hahaha," Assassin and Kodiya laughed even more wildly, "If you want to be grandchildren, do it yourself; we will never bow down to a Huaxia person. From now on, the Mahalast Family has nothing to do with the Zhang Family of Huaxia; we shall not interfere with each other''s matters!"


    "Oh? Not interfere with each other''s matters?" Zhang Menglong seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, "Are you two out of your minds? Just because you say there''s no relationship, there isn''t?"


    "Actually, I didn''t come here to reclaim these assets," Zhang Menglong said indifferently, "2 trillion US dollars in assets, do you think that''s a lot to me? I really don''t care who manages these assets. Honestly, the Mahalast Family has worked for our Zhang Family for so many years; it wouldn''t be too much to give them the money."


    Domit''s cousins and siblings were stunned all at once. He actually didn''t care about 2 trillion US dollars in assets? That was the accumulation of their entire family''s wealth over a thousand years!


    "If you had spoken nicely to me, whether you wanted to continue managing the Mahalast Family''s assets or needed some funds for your own development, I could have satisfied you; even if each household wanted one billion US dollars, what''s that to me? I might lack everything else, but money is something I have plenty of!"


    Zhang Menglong raised his voice, "But if you choose to own these assets in this manner, then let me be clear¡ªI bought a watch last year; I, Zhang Menglong, can give things to others, but I will absolutely not allow anyone to rob me!"


    At that moment, a feeling called regret spread among them. Zhang Menglong had never thought of taking back those assets!


    As long as they served the Zhang Family loyally and faithfully, they could rightfully keep those assets.


    Although the Mahalast Family''s assets exceeded two trillion dollars, they could never use that much money; a small portion of the annual earnings was enough to sustain their luxurious lifestyles for a lifetime, even though the assets fundamentally belonged to the Zhang Family, who had never interfered with their family''s affairs.


    But their pride had already been torn, and it was too late for regrets. At this critical moment, they could only see it through to the end.


    "Zhang Menglong, Domit didn''t leave any will; according to our Brahma Country''s inheritance laws, his estate should be inherited by people from the Mahalast Family, not for you to meddle with!"


    "The Mahalast Family does not welcome you now; please leave immediately!"


    "Fine! Very good!" Zhang Menglong reiterated several times, his anger reaching a peak, "I''ve seen shameless people, but I''ve never seen anyone as shameless as you; it''s truly a tragedy having such descendants in the Mahalast Family."


    "Hong Yi, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong briskly walked towards the door with Hong Yi.


    "Mr. Zhang, where are we going?" Hong Yi asked curiously.


    "To the will registration office in Brahma Country!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, the official who registered Domit''s will has disappeared; his body was found last night in a lake, and he had died from drowning. Domit''s will has also been secretly dealt with, and we can''t find any evidence."


    "That''s exactly what I hope for!"


    "Huh?" Hong Yi was puzzled. Knowing that they wouldn''t find any evidence, why would he still make the trip?


    "Do you think I came to Brahma Country just to mourn Domit?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "These scumbags of the Mahalast Family need to pay a price, and these officials in Brahma Country, as long as they dare to help them, must also pay a price. Things from our Zhang Family aren''t so easily taken!"


    "So you..."


    "This time, I''m here to make trouble," Zhang Menglong declared, "If you''re going to hit someone, you always need a reason, right? Otherwise, people will surely claim you are morally corrupt and abusing your power. This time, I''m here for them to hand me a reason to hit them!"

 Chapter 462 460: I Heard You Were at War?

    "Master!"


    Following closely behind Zhang Menglong''s footsteps, Mossang and her two nephews immediately chased after him.


    "Master, where do you plan to go?" Mossang''s nephew named Luca asked, "Although we collateral relatives are not on par with the Mahalast Family''s direct lineage, we still wield some energy in this Brahma Country."


    "That''s true," Zhang Menglong responded, his mind clouded with frustration. Brahma Country was just a poor nation; the Zhang Family hadn''t invested much effort there, so all their connections and resources were concentrated within the Mahalast Family.


    If he were to leave now, he would even have to take a taxi to the notary office!


    The thought of the world''s richest man relying on taxis for transportation within a country was quite amusing to consider.


    "You two are different from them," Zhang Menglong was genuinely pleased, realizing the Mahalast Family wasn''t entirely composed of scoundrels, "What are your two names?"


    "Master, my name is Luca Chopra."


    "Master, my name is Sintobe Gandhi."


    "Good heavens, those are high-class surnames!" Zhang Menglong recalled that in Brahma Country surnames were hierarchical, and these names were among the highest Brahman surnames.


    But that made sense, after all, a prominent family like the Mahalast wouldn''t likely intermarry with those bearing lower-status surnames.


    "You two are quite commendable," Zhang Menglong nodded in approval. Despite being middle-aged men in their forties or fifties, they treated him with great respect. Their loyalty appeared to come from the heart.


    "Have you taken over any assets from the Mahalast Family?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    Both men nodded, "Yes, but not much. All the assets combined amount to just over one hundred million US dollars."


    Though not direct members of the Mahalast Family, they nonetheless received their share of care ¨C when others ate meat, they could drink the soup.


    "Prepare yourselves."


    "Prepare ourselves?" they asked, puzzled, "Prepare for what?"


    "Prepare to take over the Mahalast Family''s assets!"


    Luca and Sintobe''s faces showed shock¡ªhow could such good fortune come so suddenly? Could it be possible for two collateral relatives like them to take over the massive assets of the Mahalast Family?


    What kind of dreams one had to have to even contemplate such an event!


    But now that the real Domte''s will had been destroyed and even the official personnel had been bribed, how would Zhang Menglong reclaim those assets? After all, by registration, everything was in the name of the Mahalast Family!


    "Do you seem to lack confidence in me?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    The men stayed silent indeed, they lacked confidence.


    "You must believe that if our family was able to support the Mahalast Family over a thousand years ago, bringing them down now would be a piece of cake," Zhang Menglong said, "You just need to be ready. I don''t want similar incidents to occur in the future!"


    A glint of determination passed through their eyes, and sharing a glance, they knelt before Zhang Menglong, "We are willing to dedicate everything to our master!"


    "Get up," said Zhang Menglong, "Arrange a car; I need to go to the notary office!"


    "Yes!" Luca and Sintobe said meticulously.


    ...


    They were quick; in less than five minutes, a car waited for them at the entrance of the Mahalast Family estate. Zhang Menglong looked back once, then with a somber expression, he entered the car.


    Zhang Menglong, accompanied by Hong Yi and others, entered the notary office where an employee immediately greeted them.


    "May I know if you all wish to have a notarial service?"


    "We wish to inquire about a will," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Is there a direct relative of the deceased present?"


    "I am," Mossang stood up, "I want to check the will of Domt Mahalast."


    The pupil of that staff member suddenly shook.


    This was something that those above had instructed, no matter who came to inquire about Domt''s will, find a reason to refuse!


    "Please wait a moment," the staff member led them to a workstation, "Muller, see if there''s a will set up by someone named Domt Mahalast!"


    The expression on the face of the staff member at that workstation also showed subtle changes, and the two made eye contact before starting to operate the computer.


    "I''m sorry, everyone, we haven''t found any will for this person named Domt Mahalast. He probably hasn''t established a will at the notary office!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "But from what I know, a person named Hamir was personally escorted to the Mahalast Family a few months ago to notarize a will."


    "Sir, Hamir drowned not long ago, but all the wills are saved in our database, and our database doesn''t have the relevant information, so I believe you must be mistaken."


    "I know you all are just working here," Zhang Menglong said, "and I don''t want to make things difficult for you, but please call your director for me."


    "Sir, do you have an appointment?"


    "No."


    "Then I''m sorry, our director is very busy and doesn''t have time to meet some insignificant people!" the staff member stated bluntly.


    "Then I will contact him myself. I want to see how busy he is." Zhang Menglong took out his phone and directly dialed a number.


    ...


    "No matter what, this Huaxia man must not be allowed to take away the assets of the Mahalast Family, understood?"


    "Yes, we will cooperate fully here!" The director of the notary office, Cook, had just ended a phone call.


    He hadn''t expected that a simple will notarization incident would alert the core leaders of the Brahma Country, but he understood once he learned of the enormous assets of the Mahalast Family.


    If these assets were recovered by the Huaxia man, it would be like cutting off an arm of the Brahma Country! This would only add to the woes of a country that was already not wealthy!


    He had just put down the phone when his personal cell phone rang.


    "This is Cook," Cook answered without looking at the number.


    "This is Zhang Menglong," Zhang Menglong spoke in fluent Brahma Country language.


    "Zhang Menglong? Zhang Menglong!?" Cook''s brain stalled for a moment, then immediately snapped back.


    "It seems you know me," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "did you just receive some kind of order? Why not tell me about it?"


    "Mr. Zhang is joking, what order?" Cook immediately recovered, "You are the world''s richest man, there shouldn''t be many people in the world who don''t know you."


    "Alright, let''s not beat around the bush; I want to see Domt''s will, so bring it out quickly and don''t waste my time," Zhang Menglong got straight to the point.


    "What will?" Cook feigned confusion, "Please be more specific. If there''s any way I can be of help, I will spare no effort."


    "Still playing dumb with me?" This response was enough for Zhang Menglong to end the call, "I know you''re aware of everything. Tell that person who''s giving the orders this message from me: if I don''t see the will tonight, he will bear the consequences!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I don''t understand what you are..."


    Cook had only spoken halfway when Zhang Menglong immediately cut him off, "Well then, it seems that you have decided that I can''t do anything about you, haven''t you?"


    "What can you possibly do?" Cook was confident internally; they had checked, and all of Zhang Menglong''s assets in the Brahma Country were under the control of the Mahalast Family, so he couldn''t disturb the country''s economic order by using the cash in the banks, nor force them to compromise through businesses.


    But somehow, he still felt a vague unease.


    "By the way," Zhang Menglong suddenly said out of the blue, "I heard you''re at war?"

 Chapter 463 461: Go Get Some Great Treasures

    This statement left Cook completely baffled.


    Weren''t they discussing the matter of the Mahalast Family''s assets? How did it suddenly turn to war?


    Indeed, Brahma Country had always been at war because of some lingering historical issues, and the battles with several bordering countries were almost ceaseless, with a terrifying amount of money invested in the military every year.


    And because so much money was spent on warfare, the economic development of Brahma Country had always been lagging behind the times, the military was flush with funds, and the people were so poor they were nearly in rags.


    Among these hostile countries, Tambat Kingdom was the most aggressive adversary, locked in a dispute over the ownership of a region for years, and even now, the fighting was relentless.


    Over the years of conflict, it was almost always Tambat Kingdom that suffered more, given that the nation was not as wealthy as Brahma Country, and they didn''t even come close in terms of population. Even if they resorted to a war of attrition, Brahma Country could still crush them thoroughly.


    "Mr. Zhang, what did you mean by what you just said?" Cook felt a sense of unease.


    "Nothing much, just expressing a bit of concern for you all," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "If you say that Domute left no will, then he left no will. However, I still want to say one thing: whatever you do, it''s best to consider what the consequences might be, and whether you can handle them!"


    After saying this, Zhang Menglong immediately hung up the phone.


    "Master, those people must have been bought off by now, they will never let us see my uncle''s will," Luca said, knowing the result of the call from Zhang Menglong''s expression.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "What I''m afraid of is that they''ll obediently turn over the will. If they''re too compliant, there won''t be any excitement to stir up."


    "Excitement?" Luca and Sintobi were both stunned. What excitement could possibly be stirred up?


    "You don''t need to worry about it," Zhang Menglong said, "Take this time to see if there are any promising young people in your family. The Mahalast Family''s assets are quite substantial, it''s not something that just one or two hundred people can handle."


    "Ah?" Luca and Sintobi were still confused. Why did it sound to them like Zhang Menglong thought reclaiming his share of the Mahalast Family''s assets would be as easy as reaching into a bag?


    It wasn''t just that the two branches of the Mahalast Family had long since decided to go their separate ways, even the officials from Brahma Country were on their side. The resistance Zhang Menglong would face in reclaiming those industries was unimaginable; conventional means would never make them willingly capitulate.


    "You must understand, in this world, there are very few things that money can''t accomplish. If there is, it''s merely because you don''t have enough of it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Menglong has a thousand ways to make them cave, but they are powerless to do anything about it!"


    "Please enlighten us, Master," both of them said, curious.


    "Do you understand finance?"


    "We''ve studied it somewhat for the sake of the family business, not expertly, but at least to a basic extent."


    "You should know that I once nearly collapsed Qingqiu Country''s economy by myself, and almost triggered a strike that would have swept across all of America!"


    The two nod their heads, such a feat is unprecedented, and on this point, Zhang Menglong has made history.


    "But Master, all of your assets in Brahma Country are tied up in the Mahalast family, and even the bank assets are held in the accounts of the Mahalast family. You''re currently unable to access them," Luca said, clearly understanding that Zhang Menglong couldn''t repeat the economic turmoil he caused in Qingqiu Country.


    "Moreover, Master, the social structure of Brahma Country is completely different from America. Our citizens don''t chase after things like rights; as long as you provide them work, they are willing to risk their lives. Countless people are seeking jobs, and nobody is willing to take such a huge risk to strike."


    "When did I ever say I would use the same method?" said Zhang Menglong with a smile, "Always using the same move would bore not just you but me as well. Men need to be cunning, with all sorts of tricks up their sleeves!"


    What else can be done?


    Their imaginations simply couldn''t soar as wildly as Zhang Menglong''s.


    "It''s quite simple, to destroy a country''s economic system, all you need to do is devalue their currency, just stir up some inflation," said Zhang Menglong, "to undermine a country''s currency system, it''s not just through internal means¡ªexternal measures can achieve the same effect!"


    "All I have to do is place a few short-sell orders in Brahma Country''s forex market, and I can wipe out their foreign exchange market. Then, they will have no choice but to buy huge amounts of foreign currency, causing their currency to naturally depreciate rapidly."


    "But that would require a massive amount of capital, even more than the assets of our Mahalast family!" Luca exclaimed.


    This was a tremendously risky operation. If done correctly, Zhang Menglong could even plunder Brahma Country''s forex market and walk away with a huge profit.


    However, if not careful, a huge amount of international capital could flood in to take part, and a misstep could lead to a loss of trillions of US dollars. That would be an excessively costly error.


    "Are you doubting my abilities?" Zhang Menglong laughed. As a family that had been around for thousands of years, what talented individuals did they not have? To say nothing of moving freely in a small Brahma Country''s capital market¡ªeven entering Wall Street would result in a brutal massacre.


    Misoperation? Careless losses? These were simply out of the question!


    Even if we took a million steps back, even if this money was squandered, as long as it would teach them a lesson, a few trillion US dollars was nothing to Zhang Menglong.


    When you have money, it''s human nature. Alas, it''s just for fun!


    Good heavens, is this what a true world-class tycoon looks like?


    Luca and the other person watched Zhang Menglong as if they were looking at a deity.


    Trillions of US dollars didn''t matter? Just to vent his spleen?


    "However, I don''t plan to play this routine," continued Zhang Menglong, "These are all minor skirmishes, not enough to really hurt them. This time, I plan to hit them hard, to leave a deep lesson!"


    "Mr. Zhang, how do you plan to handle this?" Hong Yi asked.


    "Aren''t they at war?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Besides, don''t we have a good relationship with the Tambat Kingdom? Since that''s the case, shouldn''t we help a friend in need?"


    "Are you thinking of military intervention?" Hong Yi asked, "Although it''s a bit troublesome, if you really decide to do it, it''s not impossible."


    "No, no, no, how can we do such a thing ourselves?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "What''s the current military strength gap between Brahma Country and Tambat Kingdom?"


    "Almost three to four times," answered Hong Yi, "Given the current situation, I estimate that in no more than three to four months, Tambat Kingdom will be unable to hold on. The main problem is the gap in weapons and equipment¡ªnot so much in the number and quality of combat troops."


    "Then let''s send a batch of equipment their way!" Zhang Menglong said, "Goodness, I''ve never dealt with arms before. If I want to buy a large quantity of equipment and weapons, where should I go?"


    "Naturally, you should go where the fighting is fiercest," said Hong Yi, "Those places are heaven for arms dealers, and they only care about money, nothing else. As long as you can pay, they might even supply you with the most advanced planes and tanks!"


    "Arrange a plane for me," said Zhang Menglong, "we''re going on a trip to Xuli for some fun!"

 Chapter 464 462: Immediately Host a Welcoming Party for Mr. Zhang

    "Boom! Boom!"


    "Rat-a-tat!"


    As a nation perennially engulfed in warfare, artillery fire filled the skies almost constantly, with various warlords'' planes chaotically flying overhead, occasionally dropping one down on you.


    "Good gracious, even setting off firecrackers during New Year isn''t this lively!" Zhang Menglong heard the deafening explosions and artillery fire from afar, his first time in such a perilous place.


    Apart from fighter jets, hardly any plane dared to enter this area; if shot down, there was nowhere to argue your case¡ªno one cared who you were or where you were from. As soon as you entered their airspace, you would be subjected to indiscriminate attacks.


    ...


    In this place, there were mainly four warlords, each leader known as a General, and the airspace Zhang Menglong was passing through belonged to one of these four¡ªGeneral Sartre.


    "Beep beep beep!" A signal indicating a slowly moving object appeared on the radar of a patrolling fighter jet.


    "Attention all, an unidentified target detected, proceed immediately to sector a1829 for interception!" The pilot who spotted Zhang Menglong''s plane immediately sent a message to his squad.


    "Yes, heading to the designated area now, undertake indiscriminate attacks, and destroy the target aircraft!"


    "Hahaha, actually has a civil airliner dared to come here, which idiotic country''s flight could it be?" A pilot licked his lips, looking very excited.


    "Is this place free for all?"


    "Hahaha, could it be a plane from Tsarist Russia? I''ve heard that before piloting their aircraft, they all need to drink; looks like this pilot must have overdone it today."


    The pilots chatted and laughed, not taking their target seriously at all.


    Three patrolling aircraft immediately changed course and sped towards Zhang Menglong''s direction.


    "Mr. Zhang, three fighter jets are approaching, all are fourth-generation, from various countries; expected encounter in two minutes."


    "Pfft, just fourth-generation fighters," Zhang Menglong took out a walkie-talkie, "All units, deactivate the radar jamming devices, and converge on my location!"


    "First squadron received!"


    "Second squadron received!"


    "Third squadron received!"


    ...


    Tens of fighter jets instantly converged from various directions to the outskirts of Zhang Menglong''s private plane, forming an iron bucket formation, protecting his aircraft at the center.


    "Beep beep beep beep!"


    "Beep beep beep beep!"


    General Sartre''s pilots were suddenly thrown into chaos by the relentless beeping alerts; their radar monitors unexpectedly flashed with dozens of blips!


    All these blips were within their detection range, not seen earlier but suddenly apparent now, what does this tell them? It showed that all these planes were equipped with stealth capabilities!


    To escape detection by fourth-generation fighters, these dozens of aircraft must also be at least fourth-generation. Have you ever seen someone smack stealth material on a civil airliner?


    The pilots, who had been joking around just moments ago, were literally scared to pee!


    Proceed to destroy the target? It was clearly a suicide mission!


    "Report to headquarters! 57 targets suddenly appeared! That''s 57 fighter jets!" One pilot reported hysterically to the headquarters; though filled with fear, deserting in the face of the enemy was the greatest taboo for a soldier!


    "Evacuate! The other party may not necessarily be targeting us; we are in a critical period of combat with other factions, and we absolutely cannot afford a loss of combat power, return to base immediately!"


    Relieved, the three pilots immediately turned back towards their airbase.


    "Mr. Zhang, they have withdrawn," the pilot reported.


    "Pfft, a bunch of cowards, I thought those here would be desperados!" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "Where are we heading to land?"


    "Currently, Xuli has no public airports; if we want to land, it would probably have to be in one of the warlords'' territories."


    "Let''s just do it here!" Zhang Menglong said, "Follow them and borrow their airport for a while!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" With over fifty fifth-generation fighter jets escorting, the captain had no worries at all, guessing that all the warlord''s fighters combined didn''t even number 20!


    ...


    "Beep beep beep!" Alarms were going off like crazy in General Sartre''s command center, all the warriors were thrown into chaos, all weapons at the base were aimed at the sky, but every single one of them had a solemn expression, knowing their firepower was likely not even enough to touch the enemy''s tail!


    "What on earth is going on?" A middle-aged man with a goatee and wearing camouflage burst into the command center.


    "Report, General, we have 57 aerial targets entering our territory!"


    "What? 57?" General Sartre went pale, was this a bombing raid on their base?


    "Have you contacted them?" General Sartre immediately asked.


    ''They say they just want to use our runway to land their planes," the commander said, "Those 56 planes are escorting a private plane from the central government."


    "Just to land their planes? Is that it?" General Sartre was confused, who were these people with such a massive show of force, sending 56 planes for escort? And what exactly was their purpose here?


    With the situation in this place already chaotic enough, any more foreign powers interfering would definitely blow everything up.


    "Get me on their frequency; I want to talk to them!"


    "Yes, General!"


    ...


    I''m Sartre; may I ask who you are, and what exactly is your purpose here?" Sartre asked with a hoarse and even trembling voice.


    Though he was a desperado, that was under the premise that the combat power between the two sides wasn''t vastly different, but now, if a conflict broke out, it would be a one-sided slaughter!


    "I am Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong?" Sartre felt like he had heard this name before.


    "General, this man is the world''s richest!" one of Sartre''s subordinates whispered.


    "The young man from Huaxia?" Sartre also remembered him, but damn, a billionaire, should be enjoying his life in peaceful places, what the hell was he doing in this war-ridden area? Was he out of his mind?


    "Mr. Zhang, we surely haven''t done anything to offend you, right? We have always held great respect for your country!"


    "Don''t worry, I''m not here to make trouble," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I have some business to take care of in Xuli, but isn''t it all a bit chaotic around here? I''m not comfortable without something around for protection, hence this escort formation. Don''t mind it! As soon as I land safely, they will leave."


    Hearing this, Sartre breathed a sigh of relief.


    "This is a landing fee, and I would appreciate it if General Sartre could arrange for someone to help maintain my plane when the time comes."


    "Landing... fee?" Just as Zhang Menglong finished speaking, Sartre''s offshore account immediately received a notification.


    "One hundred million... no! One billion US dollars?" Looking at that string of zeros, the Mask of Pain on General Sartre''s face disappeared instantly. What kind of landing fee is worth one billion US dollars? The world''s richest is really the world''s richest!


    Having numerous channels available, these one billion dollars were enough to allow them to add quite a batch of significant equipment!


    "Immediately lift the airspace restrictions, let them in!"


    Even without this money, would they dare to deny them entry? If the other party insisted on landing here, could they even stop them?


    The money didn''t matter; what was crucial was to make this connection!


    "General, if we lift the airspace restrictions, the security of our base..."


    "Bang!" Sartre shot the man who spoke, "This is my honored guest, you just need to execute orders, without giving your opinions!"


    "Geez!" Zhang Menglong shuddered on the other end of the phone; the warlord boss was really a warlord boss, indeed tough as they come, firing at the slightest disagreement. No wonder he could hold his ground in such a war-torn place, he was a wolf indeed!


    Sartre wiped the blood spatter off his face, "Prepare a banquet immediately; I want to give Mr. Zhang a proper welcome!"

 Chapter 465 463: I Fire a Salute to Welcome You

    "Clear the air control, clear the runway!"


    At Sartre''s command, the airspace warning for the area was immediately lifted, but the roaring sound of dozens of fifth-generation fighters in the sky still made people''s hearts chill.


    Having lifted the air defense control was akin to them taking off their clothes; if someone wanted to run amok, they wouldn''t even have a chance to resist!


    Fortunately, Zhang Menglong had not done anything to break his promise. When that Boeing 747, remodeled into a private jet, landed at Sartre''s military base, the more than fifty aircraft escorting him had all returned to base.


    "Where on earth did he get so many fighter jets?" all the soldiers wondered as they looked up at the huge formation of fighter jets.


    These fighters were all fifth-generation, but they were clearly not from Huaxia, and even if they were Huaxia''s, how could they possibly be privately owned?


    However, this was no longer their concern. The only thing they cared about was why Zhang Menglong had come to such a war-torn hellhole. Had he grown tired of the boring urban life and wanted to have a fling on the battlefield?


    The battlefield was also a place where money talked!


    If you had money, there would be countless desperadoes willing to sell their lives to you!


    Why were there more wars in poorer places? It was because they needed money, and war was the fastest way to plunder resources and get rich quickly! But similarly, you must also have money in your hands. Without money, what would you use to buy weapons and equipment? Without money, why would anyone fight and bleed for you?


    Although Sartre didn''t know much about Zhang Menglong, he had heard that Zhang had once spent a hundred billion US Dollars to establish the Worker''s Fund Foundation in America.


    Didn''t you see that he just paid a billion US Dollars in fees for a mere stop of his plane?


    If someone like that came to this place to recruit and trade, those willing to fight for him could probably line up from one border of Xuli to the other. Of course, the prerequisite is that you must have the ability to protect yourself, otherwise, you''re just a walking safe.


    In this place, black-market dealers operating in conflict zones could get you all sorts of weapons.


    Let''s not even talk about pistols, rifles, machine guns, and sniper rifles. Planes and tanks are just basic equipment. As long as your money is right, they could even get you an F-22 from America! Even if you wanted intercontinental missiles, they would dare to acquire those for you!


    So, a wealthy individual coming into this place puts a lot of pressure on these generals!


    Sartre drove a jeep directly to their air force base. All the soldiers looked at the plane with utmost vigilance. Even though it was just a private jet with no weapons, in this place, any negligence could cost lives!


    "General, what do you think Zhang Menglong is doing here?" Sartre''s deputy asked. "Apart from fighting wars, there doesn''t seem to be anything special about our place, and we shouldn''t have any dealings with him either."


    "Not sure," Sartre said, "I just heard him say he came here for some business."


    "General, I have a bold idea," the deputy said. "Do you know how wealthy Zhang Menglong is?"


    Sartre shook his head, "If he''s the world''s richest, he''s definitely worth hundreds of billions of US Dollars."


    "His liquidity is not just hundreds of billions of US Dollars!" the deputy said. "As far as I know, the assets he can mobilize are at least over a trillion US Dollars!"


    "What? Are you sure? Liquid assets?" Being a warlord in this region, Sartre himself was very wealthy, but he was still stunned by this figure.


    "It''s very close!" the deputy continued. "Now that his escorts have left, he poses almost no threat to us. We were afraid of him just a moment ago, but now, what do we have to fear?"


    "What do you mean?" Sartre seemed to grasp that his deputy had some bold ideas.


    ```


    "General, if we use him as a hostage, it shouldn''t be difficult to demand a ransom of billions of US dollars from this Zhang Menglong, right?"


    "This..." Sartre admitted, this proposal was somewhat tempting to him.


    As the largest warlord now, if he could get his hands on hundreds of billions or even trillions of US dollars, he could expand his military forces several times over and even purchase a large amount of weaponry and equipment.


    In doing so, the combat power of his troops could increase several times over what it was now, and then, he could defeat the other three major warlords in one fell swoop and become the absolute ruler here!


    Although his position might not be officially recognized, as long as he had soldiers and equipment, even official powers wouldn''t be able to do anything against him. He could even launch an attack into their stronghold and become the ruler of the country himself!


    Thinking about this, his body couldn''t help but heat up with excitement.


    "Watch for my signal later!" Sartre couldn''t resist the impulse; he decided to take a gamble!


    If he was going to do it, he had to do it ruthlessly. Even if he obtained the ransom from Zhang Menglong, he surely wouldn''t let him leave alive.


    Didn''t they see that a casual visit brought dozens of fighter jets? If Zhang Menglong were allowed to return, it would not just be inviting a tiger back to the mountain; they absolutely believed that Zhang Menglong might return with a fleet of more than a hundred fighter jets seeking revenge.


    If they were to do this, they had to make sure it was done thoroughly. Dead men can''t seek revenge.


    "It''s really Xuli, the air is even filled with the smell of gunpowder," as he opened the cabin door, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but frown; one could never appreciate how wonderful it was to live in Huaxia if they never came to such a place.


    "Yo, so many people here to receive me, I''m almost embarrassed!" Below the airplane, hundreds of people stood in two lines, staring at Zhang Menglong as if waiting for a military parade.


    Sartre walked towards Zhang Menglong from between the two lines of soldiers, a strange smile hanging on his face, which made it somewhat daunting to look at him.


    "General Sartre, it''s okay that you come to pick me up personally, but why call so many people to the reception? I''m a bit embarrassed," Zhang Menglong walked towards him too.


    "Click!" Just at that moment, all soldiers cocked their rifles, and hundreds of dark muzzles were directly aimed at Zhang Menglong.


    "General Sartre, what does this mean?" Zhang Menglong''s expression changed. But of course, it wasn''t out of fear, but out of curiosity. Who dared to aim a gun at him, could it be the courage given by Liang Jingru?


    "Hahaha, that''s of course..." Sartre had just intended to continue, but when he saw the emblem on Zhang Menglong''s plane, he stopped talking abruptly.


    "Ye Yin, what''s going on? Did you cast a spell on him?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Mr. Zhang, I didn''t do anything!" Ye Yin answered.


    "Mr. Zhang... Mr. Zhang, of course, it''s to welcome your arrival!" Sartre stammered, "Every... Everyone! Fire a salute!"


    All the soldiers hesitated, what was happening? Weren''t they just ordered to aim their guns at Zhang Menglong and coerce him into submission? Why suddenly they were ordered to fire a salute?


    But they dared not defy Sartre''s orders, and they immediately pointed their guns at the sky.


    "Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"


    After six bouts of gunfire, they put away their guns and deeply bowed to Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong was completely dumbfounded, "What on earth is going on?"


    ```

 Chapter 466 464: Legends of Our Family are Everywhere

    Zhang Menglong, as an Ancient Martial Artist, was extremely sensitive to murderous intent. Although each of these soldiers carried a certain aura of killing intent, it was just a part of their demeanor.


    The killing intent he had just felt from these soldiers was directed at him personally, which would not have been present if they had started with a salute by gunfire.


    Zhang Menglong looked at Sartre, whose forehead was dotted with fine beads of sweat. His eyes flitted about when they met Zhang Menglong''s gaze, avoiding direct eye contact like a child who had done something wrong facing an adult''s interrogation.


    Clearly, Sartre had truly intended to take action against him, but how did it turn halfway through and suddenly shift attitude?


    Even the lieutenant at Sartre''s side was completely baffled. Hadn''t they agreed on kidnapping Zhang Menglong, demanding a ransom, and then disposing of him? These orders had all been passed down to his troops as well.


    Sartre changing his mind at the last minute was one thing, but to then salute with gunfire, the highest ceremony in their military¡ªwhat was going on?


    Sartre was a military leader, and even when facing other military leaders, he never showed a hint of fear. Even once, surrounded by three leaders, he had managed to escape certain death with his absolute calm and strength.


    Having followed Sartre for nearly a decade, this was the first time he''d seen Sartre display such panic and even a hint of trying to curry favor.


    Even if Zhang Menglong was the richest man in the world, it would hardly justifying treating him with such an attitude, right?


    "Listen up, from now on until Mr. Zhang leaves Xuli, he is the most honored guest in our troops. If anyone harbors ill intentions towards Mr. Zhang, even the slightest impoliteness, you know what kind of man I, Sartre, am!"


    Sartre''s tone was full of threats, sending shivers down the spine of all the soldiers present.


    "Are we supplying his warlord forces?" Zhang Menglong asked Hong Yi. Other than this, he could think of no reason why Sartre would have such a drastic change in attitude towards him.


    "Mr. Zhang, in this place, your family has no industries or representatives," Hong Yi said, "After decades of war, this place has nothing but barren land. There''s nothing worth investing manpower or resources in here."


    "Then why did he turn into a lapdog in a second? Just now he seemed all tough and ready to go."


    "Mr. Zhang, I think I can answer that question for you," Hong Yi said with a smile, "It might have something to do with an incident from over twenty years ago."


    "Twenty years ago? I wasn''t even born then, was I?"


    "Yes," Hong Yi nodded, "This is also something I heard from my grandfather."


    Over twenty years ago, before the war, there was a beautiful flower field in Xuli where Zhang Menglong''s parents happened to be on their honeymoon. During that time, a civil war broke out in the country of Xuli, and a sudden onslaught of war directly destroyed that flower field.


    Filled with great anticipation and having prepared to take a beautiful set of wedding photos, when Zhang Xiaoyun and his party arrived, all that was left was scorched earth, and even their plane was surrounded by the warlords.


    Given Zhang Xiaoyun''s temperament, was he going to tolerate such a thing?


    Seconds later, a small army of hundreds appeared on the battlefield as if descending from the heavens, clad in uniform and bearing the Clan Emblem of the Zhang Family.


    Impervious to blades and bullets, unaffected by gunfire and shells, they annihilated the rebel forces in a matter of minutes, leaving none alive.


    As it happened, Sartre was in that army unit at the time!


    Back then, Sartre was only 15, a child soldier brainwashed by the rebel army. Because he was so young, Zhang Xiaoyun''s people did not kill him.


    But the events of that day were etched deeply into his memory. Those black-clad figures who seemed to descend from the heavens to reap the wicked were like deities, even becoming a sort of childhood belief.


    He could not remember the man''s name, nor the faces of any of those people. He only remembered the totem that represented the Zhang Family.


    More than twenty years flew by, and Sartre went from a mere underling to the captain of a squad, eventually becoming one of the four greatest military leaders. Gradually, he had started to forget that unforgettable memory from his past.


    ```


    But when he saw the emblem on Zhang Menglong''s airplane, all his memories came flooding back in an instant.


    Therefore, the moment he recognized the Clan Emblem, Sartre felt as if he had narrowly brushed past the Grim Reaper.


    More than twenty years had passed, and all the weapons and equipment had advanced far beyond what they were two decades ago, but in his eyes, those people were not human, they were deities, demons; even with twenty years of progress in weaponry, he believed that if he dared to make a move against Zhang Menglong, the outcome would be the same!


    "I didn''t expect to find our family''s legend in such a place!" Zhang Menglong said after hearing this part of the story. If Sartre was a war orphan from back then, it was not surprising at all that he was reacting this way now.


    "General Sartre, you seem to recognize me," Zhang Menglong said on purpose.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask you a question?"


    "Go ahead."


    "That pattern..." Sartre pointed at Zhang Menglong''s plane and said.


    "That''s our family''s Clan Emblem."


    "Indeed!" Sartre showed a look of realization, feeling relieved that he hadn''t acted on his impulse, or else he would be lying dead now, just like the soldiers from his old unit.


    "When I was in my teens, I had the fortune of witnessing Mr. Zhang''s elder display their divine power, and I saw that Clan Emblem then," Sartre honestly said.


    "You were thinking of attacking me a moment ago?"


    Sartre trembled all over and actually knelt down right in front of all his subordinates, "Mr. Zhang, I was momentarily blinded by folly, I hope you can forgive me!"


    Sartre''s subordinates'' eyes widened in disbelief.


    What is going on? Is this really the same Sartre they knew? How did he turn into such a docile man?


    A man in his twenties and a woman of the same age, could these two really cause any trouble at their base? Had Sartre lost his mind to drink?


    But they didn''t know that someone without Sartre''s experiences could never understand his thinking; in their minds, the guns in their hands were everything.


    "Forget it," Zhang Menglong said without any anger. Sartre was essentially an outlaw, it was no surprise that he could be tempted by riches, but regardless, he had pulled himself back from the edge.


    Plus, Zhang Menglong was not familiar with this Xuli and might need some of his help.


    "Your warning shots just saved your own life," Zhang Menglong said and proceeded towards Sartre''s car.


    Sartre wiped the sweat from his forehead. Just from Zhang Menglong''s comment, he was certain that if he really had acted just now, the scene from twenty years ago would have replayed.


    Immediately, Sartre followed, "Mr. Zhang, I have prepared food for you, I hope it''s to your liking..."


    "No need," Zhang Menglong flatly refused. He didn''t want to stay in this place too long, "I''m here on business, and dining is unnecessary."


    "If there''s anything you need, you can tell me directly. I have lived here for decades and I''m very familiar with everything in Xuli!"


    "I need to procure a batch of equipment!" Zhang Menglong said bluntly, "Got any leads?"


    "How much do you need?" Sartre asked. As a warlord, he dealt with weapon merchants on a daily basis, how else would he arm his troops?


    "Not much," Zhang Menglong replied, "Just a few hundred airplanes, a few hundred tanks should be sufficient."


    ```

 Chapter 467 465 I Have Cash Ability

    "Several hundred planes and tanks?"


    Upon hearing this, Sartre nearly dropped dead on the spot.


    Has anyone ever heard of buying these things by the hundreds? This is actual military equipment, not damn models!


    In this place, trades of this kind of military equipment occur almost daily, and dealings in war machines like planes and tanks also happen frequently, but a single deal usually involves just one or two fighters, or a tank or two at most.


    Even compared to the arms races between countries, the scale of these transactions is trivial. But even when they purchase military hardware, buying a dozen or so planes and tanks in one go would be the limit, right?


    Even for a superpower like America, the reported increase in main battle tanks last year was just over one hundred, and the cost of a fighter jet is much higher than that of a tank. Adding a few dozen planes a year is already quite alarming.


    But Zhang Menglong was talking about several hundred planes right off the bat, which almost equaled the annual military buildup of several developed countries!


    What does he want so many war machines for? Is he planning to flatten Asia or conquer the world?


    The cost of a single main battle tank is at least tens of millions of US dollars, and a fifth-generation fighter jet can even reach hundreds of millions of dollars. According to Zhang Menglong''s request, this would be a huge order of several tens of billions of dollars, the kind of deal usually only a country can afford.


    But they were absolutely certain that Zhang Menglong could totally afford it, as the subsidies he handed out to striking workers were already several times this figure.


    But this isn''t something you can get just because you have the money. You have the funds, sure, but the sellers need to have the inventory, don''t they?


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need so much military equipment for?" Sartre couldn''t help but ask. Now, Huaxia''s military equipment was already world-leading. Their own fighter jets were not inferior to any other country''s, so there was really no need to buy more, right?


    "Oh, nothing much, just aiming for world peace," said Zhang Menglong offhandedly. "I suppose that''s not something Mr. Sartre needs to worry about, is it?"


    Sartre shuddered all over; that''s right, he was just a minor warlord from a small country. The other party was a big shot. Who was he to question a big shot? Was he even qualified to do so? Was he even obliged to tell him?


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, it was presumptuous of me to ask. But I just don''t understand. The escorting fighter squadron that accompanied your landing possessed formidable combat strength; why would you still need..."


    "That''s not mine," Zhang Menglong retorted with a dismissive gesture. "Those planes were sent by surrounding countries for my escort. They belong to others. It wouldn''t be right for me to ask to borrow them again, so I have to find a way to buy my own."


    With these words, Zhang Menglong became an even more enigmatic figure in Sartre''s eyes.


    Lending military equipment is not unheard of, but it only happens between very close allies during wartime. Loaning planes and tanks isn''t as casual as lending a car. If they are shot down, it''s a huge hassle.


    Yet merely for Zhang Menglong''s visit, so many countries provided fighter jet protection. Not even the president of a superpower would receive such honor. Was he the governor of Asia or the ruler of the Earth?


    "By the way, didn''t you say you were well-connected around here?" Zhang Menglong inquired. "Introduce me to a few arms dealers; I want the largest ones!"


    "Mr. Zhang, there are at least seventy or eighty arms dealers, big and small, in this place, but less than ten have the capability to acquire equipment like planes and tanks. If you''re looking for a large quantity of the latest equipment, then I would advise you to seek out Trident," Sartre suggested.


    "Trident?"


    "That''s his code name, as well as the nickname given to him by the industry," Sartre explained. "The largest arms supplier in the world is the Hilrod Corporation; not only do they manufacture fighters, transporters, and reconnaissance planes, they also produce missiles, satellites, and rockets. Their most representative products include the F-22, F-35, and ''Trident'' missiles. They pretty much supply the entire American defense arsenal."


    "Is this Spiny Shark related to the Herod company temple?" Zhang Menglong immediately understood what Sartre meant.


    "Yes," Sartre said, "The Spiny Shark is the son of the largest shareholder of Herod Company. He was born with a ruthless streak, and he dislikes that kind of mediocre life. In fact, with his background resources, just selling weapons and equipment to various countries would have been enough for him to live in luxury for a lifetime, yet he chose to operate in such a treacherous place."


    "Because the profit margins are higher?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Exactly!" Sartre replied, "In these regions, a lot of the equipment is shady and requires special avenues for purchase, which means the prices are at least 40% or even 50% higher than the official channels!"


    "And you must know, it''s not just our Xuli Region that''s engaged in war. There''s a huge global demand for these weapons traded in the underworld, and even a company like Herod can''t satisfy this massive market!"


    "It seems that this Spiny Shark is quite capable?" Zhang Menglong expressed some interest in Spiny Shark. It looked like he might be the person he was looking for this time!


    "Yes, over the years, his channels have become increasingly extensive. Apart from the Herod Company, he has intricate connections with the top five arms dealers in the world. If you want to buy arms, he''s the right person to go to!"


    "Can you get in touch with him?" Sartre asked.


    "I can," Sartre said, "I''ve done business with him worth over a billion US dollars over the years, and I count as one of his major clients. However, the man isn''t very easy to deal with and is extremely cautious. I took some losses the first time I did business with him."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised his eyebrow. Although Sartre seemed like a tame cat in his presence, to become a warlord in such a place, he would undoubtedly be ruthless and brutal¡ªas shown by his readiness to execute his subordinates at the first sign of trouble.


    Sartre had thousands of men under his command, all well-equipped, making him the de facto power in Xuli. It was striking that someone could still make him suffer a loss.


    "You could imagine, when an underground arms dealer distributes war machines, it disturbs the balance of a region. If someone can control him, then they have a way to access more resources through his channels. On the surface, everyone is polite to him, but behind the scenes, the official military wants to kill him, and the major warlords want to win him over and control him, making his situation very dangerous."


    "That makes sense," Zhang Menglong nodded. Those who profit from war might benefit greatly, but the risks are no joke¡ªone misstep could lead to a violent death. Looking at the four major factions currently in Xuli, hadn''t all the previous warlords met with a violent end?


    "Does he have many people under him?"


    "No," Sartre shook his head, "Apart from a team responsible for his daily well-being, he only has two people, a brother and sister. The first time I did business with him, I brought a squad of 20 fully armed men. Guess what happened?"


    "They were taken care of?"


    Sartre nodded, "Because I refused to disarm, the brother and sister acted and killed all of the members of my squad. Moreover, their actions were very efficient, making their weapons seem almost like decorations. I know that Huaxia kung fu is quite miraculous. At close range, martial arts are more formidable than knives and guns. I suspect they have learned Huaxia kung fu, or maybe they have superpowers!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately laughed. These foreigners really idealized Huaxia''s martial arts. While it''s true that Huaxia kung fu is powerful within a 10-meter range, many martial arts masters can outfight guns, but that''s under one-on-one circumstances. Clearly, this brother and sister pair were no ordinary individuals.


    "Actually, I have superpowers too!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Sartre''s eyes lit up. He had long suspected that Zhang Menglong''s father''s men, just like that brother and sister pair, had superpowers. Otherwise, how could his former boss have been taken down all those years ago?


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve always been fascinated by the wonders of Huaxia. May I ask what your superpower is?"


    "I''m super rich!"

 Chapter 468 466: Damn, its huge!

    "Super... super wealthy? Does that count?" Sartre showed a sullen expression.


    Obviously, Zhang Menglong was just teasing him!


    "Mr. Zhang, if you''re going to meet with Thorn Shark, I suggest you still bring that magical bodyguard team!" Sartre suggested.


    Actually, he wasn''t worried about Zhang Menglong''s reassurance, but rather his own safety.


    Now, when he did business with Thorn Shark, he would send his men, but not once did the men he sent come back unharmed.


    For instance, if he sent ten people to make a deal, only about five or six would return, and most of the rest were almost always killed by Thorn Shark for various inexplicable reasons.


    Living in such a war-torn place for an extended period, people''s minds can easily become twisted. Once they get a moment of leisure, they release their pent-up emotions through various means and methods.


    Some choose to drown themselves in alcohol, others waste away on a woman''s belly, some vent their stress in casinos, while others become twisted inside and take pleasure in overpowering men, adding male upon male; even more are fascinated by bloodshed, becoming addicted to killing.


    This Thorn Shark had two major hobbies: one for men, and the other for murder. Luckily, Sartre was quite ugly and did not fit Thorn Shark''s aesthetic. Otherwise, his chrysanthemum would probably have bloomed the first time he did business with Thorn Shark.


    The first time he did business with Thorn Shark, he lost more than 20% of the profits. If he didn''t compromise, it wouldn''t be a matter of whether the deal could be done, but whether he could leave alive!


    Clearly, this time he was going to accompany Zhang Menglong, and if Zhang Menglong could dominate this Thorn Shark, that would be fine. But if not, Sartre estimated he would be unlucky this time as well, so the stronger Zhang Menglong was, the more at ease he felt.


    "Mr. Zhang, Thorn Shark''s two bodyguards are really powerful!" Sartre emphasized again, "Up to now, all the various forces in the Xuli Region have launched dozens of military operations against him. There was even a time when a missile was fired straight at his lair, leaving the entire area within a hundred meters in ruins, yet he still escaped."


    "Do you know what my superpower is best at?" Zhang Menglong did not take Sartre''s words to heart.


    Sartre was stunned. Isn''t being wealthy just about being able to buy everything that money can buy? But there is something in this world that you can never buy with money, and that is life!


    "The best thing about my superpower is that I can make others'' mine," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Since those two people are willing to stay by Thorn Shark''s side, it must be because he can give them what they want."


    For the people of the Second World, money is meaningless. When their physical fitness develops beyond humanity, their brains evolve as well, and the development of their brain regions far surpass some of the greatest thinkers.


    If they want to make money, whether through physical skills or smarts, that''s an easy task for them.


    Clearly, they are not with Thorn Shark for money. It''s obvious to anyone thinking with their backside that Thorn Shark must be able to provide them with something that lets them advance further in human evolution.


    "Let''s go, take me to meet this Thorn Shark!" After eating something casually, Zhang Menglong put down his chopsticks. The food in front of him might be considered a delicacy in the Xuli Region, but to Zhang Menglong, it was hard to swallow.


    But there was no helping it. The greatest dream of the people in this place is to survive. Delicacies are not a necessity for them, and given the choice, Zhang Menglong would rather eat instant noodles!


    "Alright, I''ll contact Thorn Shark for you," Sartre immediately arranged for his men to contact Thorn Shark. Thorn Shark''s whereabouts were very secretive, and even someone like Sartre needed to use some very special channels to get in touch with him.


    Half an hour later, Sartre''s men returned.


    "General, Thorn Shark''s people say the deal can be done. The location is set at the Bohemian Bar in Aletuo City, and they will allow you to bring only one person at most!"


    "Just one person?" Sartre couldn''t help but punch the wall, "This Thorn Shark is really going too far."


    Normally, if two people went, once disarmed, they would be completely without protection.


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s take some men and kill him!" Sartre was all urgency. If this continued, Sartre would simply not be able to do business with Thorn Shark in the future. The idea of going to Thorn Shark''s place with only one person ¨C he didn''t have the nerve for that.


    "It''s fine, just the two of us then," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Hong Yi, you stay here. If you need money, I''ll contact you."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi nodded.


    "Ye Yin, you stay here to protect Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "What ''I''... Do you think you can beat me as I am now?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    Ye Yin was taken aback by that statement. Zhang Menglong was merely at Level Three of the Mythical Realm, and under normal circumstances, Ye Yin could easily crush him!


    But last time, facing that Level Two from the Hui Jie family, Zhang Menglong unleashed such terrifying power that he could''ve killed him a thousand times over!


    "Alright, don''t think I haven''t noticed you sneaking peeks at Hong Yi. Do you like her?" Zhang Menglong teased with a smile. "I''m creating an opportunity for you! I can handle this little scene by myself."


    Ye Yin''s face turned crimson. Had Zhang Menglong discovered that? He had always thought he kept his feelings well concealed.


    "Why pretend? You''re overjoyed on the inside, aren''t you?" Zhang Menglong said with a lewd smile.


    ...


    An SUV came to a stop in Aletuo City. Unlike the surrounding conflict-ridden areas, this place was like an oasis in the desert, not only a modern metropolis but also bustling and lively.


    "Damn, I thought the entire Xuli Region was decked out in beggar-chic style!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, you should know everyone needs something to believe in, or else war has no meaning. To every warrior here, this place is heaven. When they''re tired from the battlefield, they come here. If anyone dares to ruin it, they''ll be an enemy of everyone in the Xuli Region," Sartre explained.


    "Makes sense," Zhang Menglong nodded. "These shop owners aren''t ordinary folks, right?"


    "Of course not. Without some skill, you couldn''t even set up a stall here," Sartre said. "The Bohemian Bar we''re going to is owned by one of the regime leaders. Outside they might be at war, but in this city, no one dares to cause trouble. However, I''ve heard that the Thorn Shark has some connections with that leader. Choosing to do business here seems to point to that."


    "Let''s go!" Zhang Menglong put on a mask and sunglasses and walked directly into the bar with DJ music playing. In this city, nobody shows their true face. It''s quite possible to have a drink with someone tonight and face them on the battlefield tomorrow, so it''s better not to recognize each other.


    The Bohemian Bar was huge, almost the size of a small shopping mall in Huaxia, encompassing various types of businesses. It was a hotspot for influencers to conduct their trades.


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong took a selfie and posted it to his social media.


    Sartre''s lips twitched involuntarily. Everyone else came here for war, and you''re acting like a tourist? Taking photos and checking in? How can you be so relaxed?


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve arrived." According to the agreed location, they were to make the deal in a private room on the third floor of the bar.


    "I''m Sartre, here to trade with Thorn Shark," Sartre said to the dozen fully armed men outside the door.


    The men exchanged glances. It seemed that their superiors had briefed them on this matter.


    "Strip off your clothes!" A dozen guns were pointed straight at Sartre.


    Sartre appeared to be used to such scenarios. He stripped down to his underwear, then walked to the front.


    "Fuck!" Seeing the astonishing bulge, Zhang Menglong cast an envious glance.

 Chapter 469 467: Strip Them First

    "Racial talent, you just can''t help but admire it!" Zhang Menglong muttered, "I''ll ask Teacher Yao Chen later if there''s an elixir in Alchemy that can do that, hehehe!"


    The soldiers had checked his clothes inside and out and then, to Zhang Menglong''s shock, started to search the only place he could possibly conceal a weapon.


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong felt nauseous all of a sudden, as scenes from Bilibili videos and certain sophisticated phrases filled his mind.


    "Isn''t this taste a bit too heavy? Aren''t they afraid of getting sick after such a thorough inspection?" Zhang Menglong looked disgusted.


    Suddenly, a cold barrel pressed against Zhang Menglong''s back, "What are you spacing out for? Move it or move it! Strip!"


    Zhang Menglong was lost in thought, and this action abruptly interrupted his train of thought.


    Zhang Menglong was not someone with a good temper. If others respected him, he would return twice that respect. If they didn''t respect him, he''d fuck them up on the spot! Don''t ask why, he was just capricious and tough!


    "Do you know that, from my childhood to now, this is the first time someone has put a gun to my head?" This rage was almost like being suddenly woken up when sleeping soundly, an unnamed fury that caused his body temperature to spike.


    "Huaxia?" The anger made Zhang Menglong blurt out in his mother tongue. Although the soldiers didn''t understand the Huaxia language, they could guess from his intonation, as the pronunciation of the Huaxia language was too distinctive.


    "Same for Huaxia people! Routine checks can''t be skipped!"


    "Hahaha, a Huaxia person! Isn''t this Sartre a General of a warlord? How come he''s bringing a Huaxia person to do business with our boss?"


    "It''s my first time seeing a Huaxia person in this place too. Huaxia is such a safe place, why would they come to a place where people are killed at the drop of a hat?"


    "Just a skinny monkey, I could kill ten like him with a single punch!"


    "This Huaxia fellow looks like he has soft and tender skin, I wonder if he''s just as tender to the touch."


    "Hahaha, should we ask the boss to leave this one behind to have some fun with us?"


    The soldiers started to converse right on the spot, not hiding their obscene language at all. In their eyes, Zhang Menglong was nothing but a weakling, a problem teenager. Uncooperative? A single blow with the butt of a gun would sort him out.


    "Huaxia person, why aren''t you moving? Do you need us to help you strip?"


    "And you''re not just taking off your coat, your underwear too!"


    "Hahaha, that''s right. Who knows if you''re hiding weapons in your underwear. I''ve heard in one of your TV series, someone even hid a grenade in their crotch, we can''t feel safe without a check!"


    "Have the guts, touch me and see what happens?" Zhang Menglong ignored their mockery and walked straight ahead.


    Sartre had already redressed, and when he saw the look on Zhang Menglong''s face, he knew trouble was brewing!


    As far as the people from this place were concerned, such routine checks were very normal. If there were unfamiliar people wanting to see Sartre, he''d use this method for the sake of safety, which he saw nothing wrong with.


    But clearly, Zhang Menglong was utterly unable to accept this method of inspection!


    Until now, the most terrifying inspection he had undergone was the physical exam during the college entrance exams. Then, a bunch of boys would strip naked for the doctors to check, creating a massive social death scene. Ever since then, he had sworn to himself, aside from himself and his lover, no one would ever make him take off his pants again!


    "You''d better go and ask your boss first, if he has the qualifications and the guts to inspect me!"


    "Hahaha, you brat, who do you think you are?" The soldiers laughed, "In this place, even if you''re the UN Secretary-General, you have to obey!"


    "Since you don''t want to strip yourself, we''ll have to help you with that!"


    "I''d like to see who dares to touch me!" A sharp look flashed across Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Hahaha, he says we don''t dare?"


    "Here, there''s nothing we don''t dare to do!"


    Two soldiers put down their guns and reached out towards Zhang Menglong.


    Both soldiers were over 190 centimeters tall and covered in muscles like iron. In their view, Zhang Menglong''s physique was comparable to a chick''s; they could crush him with just a squeeze.


    "Crack!" With a crisp sound of breaking bones, two screams instantly filled the entire floor.


    The wrists of those two soldiers were actually broken by Zhang Menglong!


    Their sharp bones pierced through the muscles and skin, exposed to the air, and the smell of blood instantly filled the area.


    "I''ve already warned you!" Zhang Menglong stretched out his five fingers, some of the blood staining his hand evaporated into the air.


    "They''re not here to do business. They''re here to harm the boss!"


    "Kill them! Just kill them!"


    The remaining dozen or so soldiers immediately reacted, their gun barrels all aimed at Zhang Menglong in an instant.


    Sartre almost had a stroke from fright. Hadn''t he seen the many people carrying guns? Doesn''t Huaxia have an old saying that a great man can stretch and bend? Why couldn''t they just go along with others a little?


    If you were really planning on using force, why not bring those impressive people from your family right from the start?


    You have superpowers, don''t you? Against these desperadoes, are your superpowers of any use?


    "I''ll make a bet with you," Zhang Menglong revealed a cryptic smile, "I bet your guns have no bullets!"


    "Hahaha, Huaxia man, you are asking for death!" A soldier pulled the trigger, "You lost, and your life is the price!"


    "Click!!"


    The gun didn''t fire, only the sound of the firing pin was heard.


    "How is that possible?"


    The desperadoes were dumbfounded. To them, guns were the most reliable partners. To ensure they could fire in danger, their guns were almost always loaded, even with the safety off, to the extent that every day hundreds of people died from accidental discharges in this place.


    But not being able to fire bullets was definitely a death sentence in this place, even rookies wouldn''t make such a deadly mistake!


    When they checked their guns, a bunch of iron filings mixed with gunpowder fell out of the barrels, as if some mysterious force had ground their bullets into powder.


    "How is this possible?" Everyone looked shocked, and their previous disdain for Zhang Menglong vanished. Was this Huaxia man a magician?


    "I don''t blame you for being impolite to me. After all, you''re all just working," Zhang Menglong''s anger had somewhat subsided, and now he was looking for some fun.


    "Oh, let me ask you something," Zhang Menglong said, "You''re working for that what''s-his-name ''Shark Bitch'' here, how much does he pay you a year?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s Spiked Shark, not ''Shark Bitch''." Sartre corrected him,


    "Ah?" Everyone was taken aback by the question.


    "I don''t care how much Spiked Shark pays you, I''ll give you double," Zhang Menglong said, "From now on, you work for me!"


    "Are you serious?" one of the mercenaries immediately asked, "Our boss pays us $100,000 a month, can you give us $200,000?"


    "Damn, that cheap?" Zhang Menglong thought of these mercenaries as pricey, only $100,000 a month.


    "Cheap?" A few were startled. They were already quite impressive mercenaries here. Ordinary mercenaries at most made twenty to thirty thousand US Dollars a month, and there were plenty of people willing to work for that. $100,000 was already an astronomical sum, and in their eyes, their lives weren''t really worth that much.


    "If you''re willing to work, I''ll give you five times that. This is a year''s salary paid in advance!" Zhang Menglong reached into his own clothes and placed a handful of diamonds on the inspection table.


    Each of these diamonds was several carats, with the price of a single one reaching tens or even hundreds of thousands of US Dollars.


    At the very least, there were over a hundred such diamonds in that handful, and the value could exceed a hundred million!


    "We in Huaxia have a saying about proving loyalty. If you want me to trust you, you''ll have to show your loyalty first!"


    "What do you want? As long as you have diamonds, we can kill anyone for you!" This was the creed of the mercenaries, faithful to money, not people.


    Zhang Menglong pointed at the two mercenaries with broken wrists and said, "First, pull down their pants for a routine check!"

 Chapter 470 468 No Discounts, No One Leaves

    The mercenary trade is pretty pure¡ªkeep your head where your belt is, and as long as you pay me, I''ll do whatever you say, hit whoever you want me to hit.


    If you don''t die, you get rich; if you do, you croak. Those active in this place for a few years usually end up walking away with a few million, or even tens of millions, of US dollars and then live out their lives as happy wealthy men.


    About risk, working for anyone involves risk. Even in a place like this, taking a dump might just earn you a grenade in the outhouse next to you¡ªabsolute safety doesn''t exist.


    So, for them, whoever pays more, that''s who they''ll work with, and that way, they can immediately save up enough money to get the hell out of this godforsaken place!


    Going with Thornshark, they might take five or six years to achieve financial freedom, but if their pay doubles, they could cut that time by up to 80 percent, which is very tempting for them!


    "We''re in!" one of the mercenaries immediately tossed his gun aside, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he approached the two mercenaries who''d had their arms broken.


    Having lost their arms, their combat capacity was nearly halved. With little to none difference in physical fitness and combat skills among the mercenaries, in this situation, they had no chance of resisting.


    "Lucius, we''ve fought side by side for three years, brothers¡ªyou can''t do this!" one of the mercenaries retreated, trying to protect his trousers with his broken arms.


    "Hahaha, brothers? Sorry, in this place, there''s only money, no brothers," Lucius, the mercenary, laughed, "If it were me injured right now, I think you would definitely choose the diamonds without hesitation, right?"


    Those words left the injured mercenary speechless. To be fair, they had all come to this battlefield to make money. If it weren''t for conflicting interests, they would''ve been willing to help each other out, as companions could sometimes save their lives.


    But faced with a choice between so-called brotherly affection and diamonds, he would definitely choose the diamonds without hesitation!


    "See, you hesitated." Seeing his wounded comrade''s expression, Lucius revealed a cruel smile. If there had been any guilt in his heart before, now it was entirely gone.


    "Smack!" Lucius didn''t hesitate to flip his former comrade to the ground, beginning to strip his clothes off.


    "Don''t you guys want money?" Zhang Menglong asked the others with a cold sneer.


    "My apologies!"


    "Aren''t the diamonds tempting?"


    "I quit! $500,000 over $100,000¡ªonly a fool would choose the latter!"


    With one leading the charge, the rest felt no psychological burden, and several burly men began doing unspeakable acts.


    "Damn! Pink underwear? What kind of kink is this, and with strawberries?" Zhang Menglong made a disgusted face, "People under the strain of war get this freaky?"


    "Holy shit! So small? Isn''t he African? He''s letting down the whole African population!"


    ...


    "Everyone, check thoroughly, in and out, don''t miss any spot!"


    "Ah! Don''t touch everywhere!"


    ...


    "This image is too beautiful, I can hardly look," Zhang Menglong quietly walked away, thinking he might need a year to recover from the few seconds of this scene he had seen.


    Even Sartre, having witnessed many scenes big and small, found this spectacle of forced homosexuality to be beyond his understanding.


    "Is this the power of money?" Sartre had to admit, having money was indeed like having a superpower, but of course, this was predicated on protecting your assets well.


    He believed that if Zhang Menglong hadn''t shown that incredible, almost Magical maneuver just now, once he took out the diamonds, these mercenaries would turn him into a sieve at the first chance.


    Minutes later, only the two mercenaries were left, clutching their clothes and curling up in a corner, eerily reminiscent of young lads who had just been violated.


    As for the rest, they all stood respectfully in front of Zhang Menglong, but their gazes never left the diamonds.


    "I, Zhang Menglong, keep my word. I won''t ask you to serve me for a year for these diamonds; you only need to serve me until I leave Xuli, and then our contract will be over," he said.


    "Boss, how long do you plan to stay here?" a mercenary, having changed the way he addressed Zhang Menglong, asked.


    "At most three days," Zhang Menglong said, "The smell of gunpowder here makes me very uncomfortable. Huaxia is much better. I''m afraid I might turn abnormal if I stay too long."


    "Three days?" They had thought Zhang Menglong would stay for months, but in just three days, they would earn more than 5 million US dollars¡ªfar more appealing than struggling for a year to earn just over a million dollars!


    As for betraying Lucius? Men die for wealth as birds die for food. Even if Lucius had two extraordinary bodyguards, they believed that Zhang Menglong''s Chinese kung fu was not inferior. None of them had ever seen someone crush the bullets in their magazines from a few meters away.


    This must be the legendary "Inner Strength" of the Huaxia martial artists!


    "Boss, we''ll be your most loyal bodyguards for these three days!"


    "Absolutely, even if you tell us to attack Xuli''s government headquarters right now, we wouldn''t blink an eye!"


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "Now, join me in meeting Lucius."


    "Yes, Boss!" The dozen or so mercenaries divided up the diamonds and excitedly stuffed them into their packs. They then quickly changed into their clothes with very serious expressions, fully aware that Lucius''s turf was not easy to enter.


    "Boss, after you!" Two mercenaries opened the door of the corridor for Zhang Menglong, while the others quickly donned new cartridges and coordinated with each other as they rushed in.


    "How about it, is my spending power impressive?" Zhang Menglong smiled and looked at Sartre.


    "You truly are something, Mr. Zhang," Sartre had never witnessed such a scenario. Just casually taking out diamonds worth tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of US dollars, was not something an ordinary person could do.


    He couldn''t help but take another look at the backpack on Zhang Menglong. He wondered how many more diamonds were inside.


    "There''s no need to wonder," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I own some of the world''s largest diamond mines. You might need to transport my diamonds in several hundred trucks."


    Sartre inhaled sharply. Such a display of wealth and power was truly terrifying!


    ....


    In a room on the third floor of the bar, a white man in his thirties was lounging on a sofa, watching several hot-bodied women dance. However, there wasn''t much passion in his eyes; the only things that interested him were two: US dollars and attractive men.


    "Boss, that Sartre should be arriving soon. I wonder how big of a deal he can make with us this time," said a bald, muscular man cleaning a gun next to Sartre.


    "Boss, our demands for this transaction are so stringent, I wonder if it''ll push him to the edge," another subordinate commented.


    "Hahaha, what if it does? He should realize that he''s the one begging me to buy weapons, not the other way around," Lucius said, "If he doesn''t play ball, I can make sure he won''t be able to buy a single bullet from any arms dealer in Xuli!"


    "I wonder if the people he''s bringing this time will be somewhat more delicate," Lucius licked his lips, "The people from around here reek of disgusting sweat or blood. If there''s any good flesh, make them stay after the deal!"


    "Hahaha, Boss, mind if us brothers get a taste too?"


    "Haha!"


    "Bang!" A loud noise erupted as the heavy metal door, weighing hundreds of pounds, was kicked flying.


    Zhang Menglong, who had reached the door, had just overheard their conversation. Sartre had brought him alone, and by their talk, they intended to harm him¡ªwas he supposed to tolerate this?


    The dust settled to reveal an Asian youth in casual clothes standing before them. "If you don''t give me a discount today, no one is getting out of here!" he declared.

 Chapter 471 469: They Are Already My Bodyguards Now

    "Click!"


    Suddenly, a change in the situation made everyone in the room immediately alert as they grabbed their guns and aimed them at the door.


    "Nayi zuote!" Zhang Menglong made a gesture.


    "Huh?"


    "Meow meow meow?"


    These newly hired mercenaries, all puzzled, looked at Zhang Menglong. The gesture seemed to indicate to fire, but what did that phrase "Nayi zuote" mean?


    Was it a dialect from somewhere in Huaxia?


    "The whole lot is a mess!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead. "I meant for you to take care of all those idlers!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    "Boss?" Everyone was startled. Wasn''t their boss Jiger Shark? How did this Asian youth suddenly become their boss?


    About a dozen mercenaries suddenly opened fire on the other mercenaries in the room. The people in the room hadn''t even realized what was happening before they fell to the ground.


    Weren''t they all comrades? How did they suddenly betray Jiger Shark and even shoot at them? Who could explain what was going on?


    But now, the only one who could explain it to them was probably Yama.


    There weren''t many mercenaries in the room, and being caught off guard in confusion, they were almost wiped out before they even had a chance to react. Even if a few managed to fire back, they only managed to injure two of Zhang Menglong''s men.


    One of them even rushed to Zhang Menglong''s front to shield him from bullets. Although the bullets didn''t hit any vital areas at that moment, it was clear that as long as the pay was right, these mercenaries really were willing to die for him!


    As for why they were so easily turned, Zhang Menglong boldly guessed that it was probably because Jiger Shark had owed them money. Otherwise, once word of this got out, no one in the Xuli Region would dare hire them as bodyguards in the future.


    "Are you okay?" Zhang Menglong looked at the mercenary; he wasn''t actually afraid of bullets, but the mercenary''s act of shielding him with his body was still quite touching, even if it was motivated by interest.


    "I''m fine!" the mercenary patted his chest. "Our bodies are the toughest; this injury is no different from a mosquito bite!"


    "Good fellow," Zhang Menglong casually took out a diamond and tossed it to him, "This is what you deserve!"


    The mercenary''s eyes instantly lit up with surprise.


    This diamond was almost as big as a quail''s egg. With its size and luster, as long as it was expertly cut, it could easily fetch a million US dollars!


    He had only shielded Zhang Menglong from a single shot that hit his abdomen without even harming his organs. Wasn''t this shot too profitable?


    The others looked on, unable to hide their envious expressions. If they had been a bit quicker, maybe that diamond would have belonged to them now.


    They immediately perked up, ready to shield Zhang Menglong from bullets at any moment¡ªnot for the diamond or anything, mainly because they liked being human shields.


    But at this point, the only ones still standing in the room were three people besides them.


    Jiger Shark, a silver-haired youth, and a green-haired loli stood on either side of him. In front of them on the ground lay several deformed bullets as if they had been fired at something extremely hard.


    Facing the intrusion of Zhang Menglong and others, they merely showed some surprise without any panic. They had faced such situations countless times, some even several times larger than this.


    "Sartre, is this how you still do business with me?" Jiger Shark looked at Sartre, his gaze flashing over Zhang Menglong, and in his eyes, Zhang Menglong even saw a trace of admiration.


    "Fuck, I''m going to vomit," Zhang Menglong thought of this man being gay, feeling his stomach churn as the night''s dinner stirred in his intestines.


    "Jiger Shark, this time I''m just a middleman," with Zhang Menglong by his side, Sartre also had more confidence than usual, "The one who wants to make a deal with you is my friend here."


    At this time, Ji Shark finally focused his attention on Zhang Menglong. "Asian?"


    Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Kaibong?"


    "Qingqiu?"


    "Your grandfather was from Huaxia," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Hahaha, Huaxia people," Ji Shark laughed, "My favorite is the Huaxia people. Sartre, since you brought me such good prey, you can leave. I will let bygones be bygones for what you have done this time."


    "Turn him into a sieve!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes suddenly carried a murderous aura.


    "Dada Dada!"


    The mercenaries didn''t hesitate at all and directly aimed their guns at their former boss, followed by a burst of gunfire.


    But at that moment, Ji Shark revealed a cruel smile, and the white-haired young man beside him suddenly turned into an afterimage, moving swiftly in front of him.


    All the mercenaries, including Sartre, were stunned. Where had they seen such a scene before? Was this still human? Wasn''t this something seen only in science fiction movies?


    Flash? Quicksilver? This isn''t scientific!


    In just a few seconds, a whole clip of bullets was fired, and the white-haired young man reappeared. He opened his five fingers, and the bullets clattered to the ground.


    "He... he can catch bullets?"


    "Monster! He''s a monster!"


    The mercenaries panicked immediately.


    They knew that these two were highly skilled; even ten of them couldn''t beat one in a fight!


    But they never knew that these two also possessed such abilities, which clearly surpassed the category of humans.


    "Originally you all could have lived, but since you''ve seen secrets you shouldn''t have, I''m afraid you all have to stay here," Ji Shark said. These two were his biggest trump cards and the foundation of his establishment in this place. Only when he was at his wit''s end would he let them take action.


    But once they did take action, Ji Shark would kill anyone who saw everything.


    "But before that, I want to ask you one question," Ji Shark addressed the mercenaries, "What exactly made you turn your guns on us?"


    "The reason is simple," said the mercenaries, though still frightened, they responded directly, "He pays us five times what you do, and he paid a whole year in advance. We''ve never seen such a generous boss!"


    "Exactly, you haven''t even paid us for last month yet. We work for you just for the money. Strictly speaking, if you don''t pay us, we can work for someone else any time!"


    "Did you hear that?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "They are my bodyguards now."


    "You have a lot of money?" Ji Shark looked at Zhang Menglong. A rate of $100,000 a month was already very high in this place, let alone multiplying that by five and paying a year''s salary in advance¡ªthat would amount to tens of millions of US dollars! Was he crazy, or did he just have too much money to spend?


    "Fairly wealthy," Zhang Menglong said, "Just leaking a little through the cracks in my fingers could crush you."


    "You''re very arrogant!"


    "Fairly arrogant, I guess. With a gay like you, if I were your dad, I definitely would have slammed you against the wall back in the day!"


    "Huaxia man, are you trying to provoke me?" This title didn''t turn Ji Shark off; instead, he became more interested in Zhang Menglong. "I''ll keep you by my side for a year, then kill you!"


    "I originally just wanted to do business properly," Zhang Menglong sneered, "but now I''ve changed my mind!"

 Chapter 472 470: Mix with Me too

    "Changed your mind?" Throneshark seemed to have heard the biggest joke, "So how do you plan to deal with me then? You just saw that your men can''t even hurt me."


    With the twin brother and sister by his side, Throneshark felt an incredible sense of confidence; he had seen them withstand the impact of a missile. What''s a bunch of bullets and guns worth, anyway? Even if Zhang Menglong''s men were ten times more numerous, he wouldn''t be afraid.


    "I plan to strip you naked and hang you at the entrance of this bar so that everyone passing by can kick your ass!"


    "Huaxia man, do you have any idea who these two people beside me are?"


    "Super Saiyans?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    The siblings seemed a bit indignant, but they had an agreement with Throneshark; they would only make a move when he told them to.


    "Since you''re all going to die anyway, I might as well tell you a bit more before you do. After all, not everyone is worthy of knowing this," Throneshark laughed, "These two are the great Mutants. Don''t think that everything in sci-fi movies is fake. I''m telling you, it''s all real!"


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong responded indifferently, "I see, and then what?"


    "And then what?" Throneshark short-circuited on the spot.


    Is this a normal response from a person?


    Those who had tried to kill him in the past revealed intense fear and shock when they found this out, and Throneshark really enjoyed that kind of emotion from his enemies.


    But Zhang Menglong''s response made him feel like he was punching cotton.


    "Awkward silence, isn''t it? Feeling embarrassed?" Zhang Menglong mocked.


    The mercenaries, including Sartre by his side, were speechless. How was their boss looking like such an idiot? Teasing at a time like this? Was he not afraid of teasing his way into breaking his legs?


    "Actually, I have supernatural abilities too," Zhang Menglong said.


    Sartre rolled his eyes; he already knew Zhang Menglong''s supernatural ability was being rich. But could the price he named possibly tempt those two?


    He didn''t know the full extent of the two''s abilities, but he had a rough idea; being able to catch bullets with their bare hands, this meant their visual acuity, physical strength, reflexes, speed, and other indicators were at least dozens of times, if not much more, than that of ordinary humans!


    People like that, no matter what they did, there would always be someone willing to pay a lot of money to hire them.


    In this world, there are definitely plenty of people who need protection and are richer than Throneshark!


    But they chose to follow Throneshark, which means he had something they were interested in.


    "My ability is being super rich. I can make these mercenaries and bodyguards become my bodyguards and have them willingly call me ''Boss.'' Do you believe that?"


    "Hahaha!" Throneshark laughed again, "Fine, I''ll give you ten minutes. I really want to see just how powerful your cash ability is."


    "Bro and sis, how much did he offer you? Zhang Menglong will pay ten times that!"


    "Zhang Menglong?" Throneshark frowned. Although they were always at war in this place, they still watched international news every day. After all, they made war fortunes, and if the war in this area expanded or stopped, they would certainly have to look for another way out.


    Even though he didn''t pay much attention, he knew that Zhang Menglong was that legendary world''s richest man said to be unbelievably rich and omnipotent.


    "A hundred million US dollars a year!" The young man said offhandedly.


    "Come work for me. I''ll give you a billion US dollars a year, with social insurance and housing fund contributions upon employment, never owing you wages, and a year-end bonus to boot. How about that?"


    "Idiot!" mumbled Throneshark to himself.


    Not to mention 1 billion, even 10 billion US dollars would hold little allure for the brother and sister!


    Thorn Shark met them four years ago.


    The boy was named Luca, and the loli was Elisa. They were special products of a secret laboratory, an attempt by humans to create psychics.


    However, like the first generation of mutants from America, they too were failed products. Although they retained a human appearance and powerful abilities, their bodies could not withstand the intense evolution because this enhancement was built upon high-speed genetic evolution. As a result, their cells were constantly decaying.


    Luca had awakened the ability of high-speed movement. He could move at speeds far beyond the limits of human vision, and his body had become incredibly durable, resistant to blades and firearms, and able to withstand the impact of anti-material weapons.


    The loli named Elisa had awakened a spiritual power. She could crush a tank with her thoughts and create barriers to block missile attacks.


    During an experiment, Elisa''s power exceeded the limits that the equipment could endure, leveling the entire research base. To survive, the siblings began wandering around the world.


    They found a drug among the ruins of the base that could prevent their bodies from collapsing¡ªa complex plant extract that required high-precision equipment, which they had no way of producing on their own.


    It was a chance encounter that brought them together.


    Thorn Shark''s business wasn''t just arms dealing. Thanks to his family connections, he even had access to special channels. Failed experimental products from secret organizations were just waste to those entities, but to certain specific groups of people, they were treasures!


    While selling arms, Thorn Shark also dealt in failed genetic potions that could awaken human potential. Among these potions was the extract that could help sustain the lives of Elisa and her brother!


    The three of them came together in such an extraordinary way¡ª they ensured Thorn Shark''s safety, and in return, he provided them with the medication they needed.


    Over the years, not only had they survived, but their awakened powers had grown stronger, even surpassing the threshold of God-level psychics.


    As for the 100 million US dollars annual salary, it was merely a symbolic gesture. Thorn Shark was willing to give, and they had no reason to refuse.


    But to them, Thorn Shark had an irreplaceable significance. Even if they were offered 10 billion US dollars, they wouldn''t be tempted.


    This was the source of Thorn Shark''s confidence!


    Without him, they could only survive for a few months before dying from cellular collapse.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the cells in your bodies are always in an unstable condition, constantly on the verge of collapse, aren''t they?"


    "How did you know?" Zhang Menglong''s pinpoint accuracy in identifying their problem shocked the siblings, "Could it be that you are also... "


    "No! I''m not! Don''t talk nonsense!" Zhang Menglong immediately issued a triple denial, "However, you might consider that following this gay dude, you won''t die for the time being, but you need to rely on a certain drug to sustain your cells. Once that supply is cut off, you''re going to die regardless!"


    "But if you follow me," Zhang Menglong said, revealing a mysterious smile, "I can cure the flaws in your bodies and even help you grow stronger!"


    Upon hearing this, the eyes of Luca and Elisa almost lit up.


    Despite the drug that halted the collapse of their cells, it essentially enhanced their cellular activity, allowing the rate of cell death and regeneration to barely even out.


    It''s important to note that the number of times a human''s cells can divide in their lifetime is limited¡ªwhat is referred to as aging¡ªso such balance would result in a much shorter lifespan for them.


    But if they could be cured, they could enjoy life like normal people and harbor strengths that ordinary people could never possess.


    "Don''t believe him!" Thorn Shark immediately interjected, "He must be deceiving you. How could he possibly have that ability? Don''t think I don''t know that your Huaxia''s psychics have all been naturally awakened thus far, and the research in human intervention has been almost non-existent. How could you possibly help them?"


    "Hmph! Idiot," Zhang Menglong scoffed, "My grand Huaxia, with its five thousand years of history, has wonders beyond your comprehension as a gay dude."

 Chapter 473 471: If You Cant Get It, Humiliate Then Kill

    "How do you propose to prove it?"


    Zhang Menglong''s condition undeniably tempted Kabu and Elisa.


    Since childhood, they had been used as experimental subjects to be cultivated as weapons of war. In that laboratory, they had endured pain that was unimaginable to ordinary people, an experience that had eroded their emotions.


    Their relationship with thorny shark was merely a partnership; if one day thorny shark could no longer provide them with the life-sustaining medication, they would leave him without a backward glance.


    In the absence of any alternative, they would also try their best to protect the safety of thorny shark. It was purely transactional, devoid of any emotional investment.


    If someone told them that they could prevent their cells from collapsing and allow them to be healthy like normal people, they would surely abandon thorny shark immediately!


    But they needed robust evidence to persuade them.


    "Take these," Zhang Menglong casually tossed over two Fighting Spirit Pills.


    Whether it''s Ancient Martial Artists, Psychics, or Mutants¡ªessentially, all are a leap and evolution in human genetics.


    Ancient Martial Artists strengthen their bodies through daily training while optimizing their genetics; the process is slow but free of side effects, usually taking decades to see significant effects.


    Psychics are individuals born with particularly active genes, innately stronger than average people. This inherent strength subtly fortifies their bodies during growth, allowing them to withstand the immense strain from genetic leaps.


    However, Mutants mostly undergo genetic mutations and leaps due to external forces. Before these changes, they were mostly ordinary people, which is why their bodies couldn''t withstand the drastic changes and collapsed.


    The effect of a Fighting Spirit Pill is actually to accelerate the speed of genetic leaps, and its potency helps to shape the strength of human cells, keeping the severe changes within bearable limits.


    If the energy intensity of these two siblings was within 10 units, then a single Fighting Spirit Pill could repair their bodies while helping them advance. But now, it could only help alleviate the collapse of their bodies.


    After all, those responsible for alchemy in the Zhang Family were limited in skill; they couldn''t replicate the abilities of the teachers at the Super God Academy directly, and their alchemy technique was merely average.


    But Zhang Menglong had now safely copied Teacher Yao Chen''s alchemy technique; given the materials and time, he could concoct any elixir!


    Now certainly wasn''t the time for alchemy. Zhang Menglong merely needed to gain their trust for now, so two Fighting Spirit Pills should suffice!


    "What is this?"


    Kabu and Elisa observed the two pills carefully, having never seen something like this, yet the fragrance emanating from the elixirs aroused their desire.


    "Don''t just eat them, they might be poison!" Thorny shark immediately intervened. Kabu and Elisa were his last resort, and he absolutely couldn''t afford to let anything happen to them.


    Over the years, he had made too many enemies. He had managed to live lavishly by relying on them, otherwise, he would not know if he could even leave the Xuli Region alive.


    But they ignored thorny shark''s warning. Their instincts told them that not only was there no danger from these items, but they might even be exceptionally beneficial to them!


    "Twist it, lick it, dunk it, and the taste will be even better!"


    Kabu and Elisa tossed the Fighting Spirit Pills into their mouths.


    Moments later, a miraculous power seeped into their bodies.


    The drugs given by thorny shark could preserve their lives, but they worked by accelerating cell division to replace dead cells.


    Because their cells were constantly dying, their bodies were always in pain¡ªthough after so many years, their pain nerves had somewhat numbed.


    Yet at this moment, they felt an unprecedented ease in their bodies. They realized that a world free of physical pain could become so wonderfully pleasant in an instant!


    They were certain that this kind of pill was truly curing their bodies at the root!


    "How many more of these do you have?" The two looked at Zhang Menglong with eyes suddenly ablaze with eagerness.


    "As many as you need!" Zhang Menglong said with a relaxed air, "However, the efficacy of this plaything isn''t strong enough, it treats the symptoms but not the root cause. You still need to use it over a long period, but I have something even better. After one second of difficult decision-making, I made a decision that goes against my ancestors, as long as you side with me, I will give you something that can truly cure you!"


    A second of difficult decision-making? Kabu and Elisa glanced at Zhang Menglong''s expression, where exactly did it show any difficulty in making a choice?


    Go against the ancestors? What''s with all the drama with this Huaxia man? Just tell us what decision your ancestors made!


    "What do you think? Want to consider it?" Zhang Menglong once again extended an olive branch to Kabu and Elisa.


    In fact, Zhang Menglong didn''t even value the abilities of these two. Not to mention his own family''s guard team had many who were much stronger than them, as long as he had the Super God Academy, he could mass-produce people even stronger than them!


    But Zhang Menglong just wanted to peeve that dead queer, hey, just for fun!


    All eyes from Sartre and the Thorn Shark were focused on the sibling pair, now everyone was waiting for them to make their choice.


    A moment later, after exchanging glances, the siblings silently moved to Zhang Menglong''s side.


    "Boss!"


    "You... you..." Thorn Shark really panicked at that moment, now his hired mercenaries were either won over by Zhang Menglong or had been shot into sieves just a moment ago. Without Elisa and her brother, he was nothing in this place, his head could be smashed at any moment!


    "Sorry, you previously provided us with medicine, and we offered you protection, so we''re even now. As for your money," Kabu and Elisa threw their bank cards on the ground, "All the money you gave us is here, not a cent spent."


    The Thorn Shark looked at the two bank cards, each account held several billion US dollars, but you wouldn''t dare to pick them up.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, weren''t you going to do business with me?" Thorn Shark said nervously, "In this Xuli Region, if it''s about buying military hardware, I''m the top one, and no one dares to claim the second place. Whatever weapons and equipment you want, I can get them for you!"


    Thorn Shark immediately started to prove his worth. If Zhang Menglong ordered the mercenaries to open fire now, without protection, he would instantly turn into a pile of gore.


    "Really, anything you can get your hands on?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Absolutely!" Thorn Shark guaranteed, "If I can''t get it, then no one in this Xuli Region can!"


    "Alright then!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Can you get the fifth-generation fighter jets?"


    "Yes!"


    "The newest main battle tanks, can you get those?"


    "Yes! I can get any country''s models!"


    "Missiles?"


    "Which type do you want? Except for nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles, I can figure out a way to get the rest!"


    "Well, well, quite capable," Zhang Menglong said, a bit surprised. Even though the guy was a queer, he certainly had many connections.


    "Here''s the deal, start by getting me 500 of the newest fighter jets and tanks, 1000 missiles of various types, the more powerful the better, and don''t worry about the cost!"


    "500 units?" Hearing this staggering number, Thorn Shark''s pupils dilated severalfold. Was he planning to arm a legion? Were the Huaxia people preparing to dominate Earth?


    "Can''t do it?" Zhang Menglong looked at Thorn Shark''s expression and felt it was quite doubtful, "If you can''t do it, then it''s insult first, kill after. What use do I have for a worthless person?"

 Chapter 474 474: 472 Chapter: It Should Cost What It Costs

    "Strip his pants off, tie that thing with hemp rope, and hang him at the entrance of this bar. Set up a sign: five bucks a pop!" Zhang Menglong ordered his mercenaries.


    This brutal order was something they had never heard before. Although the Challenger looked like a pretty boy, he definitely weighed around 80 kilograms. Could that thing really hold up? Wouldn''t this literally castrate him on the spot?


    Also, what''s with five bucks a go? All this shit about dealing with people, Zhang Menglong seriously didn''t do anything of the sort!


    "Wait! I can get them! I can get them!" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s order, Challenger panicked.


    Was this even a human thing to do? You see, he had already offended almost every warlord in the Xuli Region; if they had the chance, those people would definitely retaliate against him a hundredfold. How could he withstand that?


    "Are you sure?" Actually, the number 500 was just something Zhang Menglong had casually mentioned; he guessed that their company couldn''t even produce 500 fighter jets and main battle tanks in a year, right?


    Parts of them had already been sold to various countries and regions. Where would they get enough to sell to them?


    "I''m sure!" Challenger said, "With my capabilities, I can get up to two hundred, but I have other connections too. As long as the price is right, my channels can get even more!"


    "Oh? Got a quote?"


    "One moment, please!" Challenger scuttled over to a nearby table and started rummaging through it, then found a tablet with a partially shattered screen, "The weapons and equipment I can get are all here!"


    "Fighter jets, AWACS, tanks, armored vehicles, cruisers..." Zhang Menglong glanced through, spotting at least a dozen major categories and hundreds of subcategories, "I definitely need to get Mr. Ma from Tianpig Mall to open a flagship store for you! You''d be top1 in the industry!"


    Zhang Menglong opened the fighter jet category, selecting the fifth-generation fighter jets section.


    F-22: Cost is 150 million US dollars; selling price is 278 million US dollars.


    F-35: Has ABC three types, costing 120 million, 150 million, and 135 million US dollars respectively, selling for 193 million, 235 million, and 218 million US dollars respectively.


    Sukhoi Su-57: Cost is 40 million US dollars; selling price is 79.2 million US dollars.


    X-2: 80 million US dollars, selling price is 138 million US dollars.


    ...


    Not many countries possess the technology of the fifth-generation fighter jets, so the list included less than ten types of fighter jets. Except for Huaxia''s Jian series, which weren''t for sale, almost all active fifth-generation fighter jets worldwide were available.


    "These prices really aren''t cheap," Zhang Menglong muttered, almost double the cost price.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s a necessary evil. To get a fighter jet, every part of the process needs connections. For a jet that costs 100 million US dollars to build, I can only make at most 20 million US dollars on it!"


    "The profit margin isn''t that high," Zhang Menglong nodded. You see, those influencers in Huaxia make at least 30% commission on sales, compared to them, Challenger was quite the conscientious seller.


    "Is it complicated to operate?" Zhang Menglong was curious about how they managed to pull off such a big deal.


    "Actually, the method is quite simple: when placing orders through official channels, we just grease some palms to order a few extra jets, then we take our commission and bribe the procurement departments of those countries, managing to secure two or three jets each time."


    "How many do you have on hand right now?"


    "For fifth-generation fighter jets, I have a total of 263. If you only want fourth-generation ones, I can easily get you 500!"


    "Forget it, I''m not interested in that junk," Zhang Menglong said, "Add all these to my cart!"


    "Cart?" Challenger was puzzled.


    "I mean, I want all these fighter jets!"


    Challenger was overjoyed. Selling a single fighter jet was extremely challenging; sometimes the buyers would even die suddenly after placing their orders, making such occurrences all too common!


    This caused him to have a surplus of weapons equipment on hand.


    Although he lost a squad of bodyguards this time, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise by landing such a huge order. If it went through, he''d earn at least 10 billion US dollars, equivalent to working in this region for ten years!


    That was just the fighter jet part.


    Zhang Menglong then opened the tank list. Compared to fighter jets, there were many more types of tanks, and also in great numbers. Just picking any main battle tank, Challenger could secure forty or fifty units.


    "I''ll dictate, you jot them down," Zhang Menglong said.


    "T-90 main battle tank, give me 20 units, and prepare 10 sets of corresponding equipment."


    "AMX main battle tanks, give me 20!"


    "This one''s cool, Merkava, let''s go for 30!"


    "Challenger 2, let''s take 30 of those!"


    "How many is that now?"


    "100 tanks? That''s it? Keep adding!"


    "K2, another 30!"


    ...


    "Is this... are we ordering in a restaurant or what?"


    "Have you ever seen anyone order 20 or 30 dishes at a restaurant?"


    "Must be wholesale, huh?"


    "Who''s ever seen someone wholesale tanks?"


    "Truly, you meet all sorts of bosses if you live long enough."


    A group of mercenaries exchanged glances, just these fighters and tanks should be almost enough to take down the Xuli Region, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve already picked 670 tanks, are you sure you want more?"


    "Alright, let''s leave it at that for now, if it''s not enough, I''ll get more from you!"


    "This missile is nice, has a damn impressive kill radius! Give me 50!"


    "Shit, they got these smart robots too? Only 12 million US dollars each? I''ll take 200!"


    ...


    Soon, almost all the weapons and equipment Zhang Menglong had asked for, except for the fighters, had been secured.


    "Mr. Zhang, the other fighters you need, I''ll have to contact some friends of mine," Thorn Shark glanced at the super-smartphone on the table, which could rival a computer.


    "Suit yourself," Zhang Menglong said offhandedly. Even if Thorn Shark made calls to summon people, he wasn''t worried at all; more would just mean more heads to collect.


    "Dinks, it''s me, Thorn Shark. I hear you''ve got over 40 fifth-generation fighters... Yes, I have a buyer here who wants 500 of them, cash on delivery!"


    "Berg, it''s me. Didn''t you say you were going to offload a batch of fifth-generation fighters? Whatever you have, I''ll take them all!"


    ...


    Thorn Shark made several phone calls. It was unclear how he had such influential friends, but he actually managed to gather 500 fifth-generation fighters!


    Such firepower was enough to flatten a small country!


    "Mr. Zhang, although I can source the fighters from those friends, we should settle accounts clearly even among brothers. We always pay first before delivery," Thorn Shark said, somewhat unwillingly, but still pushed through, "However, I can offer them to you at a 5% discount!"


    "No need for the discount," Zhang Menglong replied. "I''m not short of change. Just give me their account details, and I''ll transfer the money directly!"


    Thorn Shark immediately shared the arms dealers'' account information with Zhang Menglong, and also gave him their contact details, leaving it to him to negotiate the handover locations.


    For over two hundred fighters, Zhang Menglong dished out more than 30 billion US dollars, a gesture that left the mercenaries seeing stars; this boss was really freakishly rich!


    "Mr. Zhang, about the fee between us," Thorn Shark approached with a playful grin, "I just did the math, and it''s 47.934 billion US dollars. I''ll take the initiative here; just pay me 47 billion US dollars, and we''re good!"


    "47 billion? Didn''t I say I wanted a discount?"


    "Is this not a discount?" Thorn Shark was stunned. This was nearly a discount of ten billion, yet still not enough?


    "Did you forget? I just mentioned a bone-breaking discount! Do you know what a bone-breaking discount is?" Zhang Menglong patted Thorn Shark''s face. "I think it might be more appropriate to switch the unit from US dollars to Huaxia currency, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 475 473: Mainly Aiming to Enhance International Friendship

    "47 billion Huaxia yuan?"


    It still sounded like a terrifying figure, but wasn''t this nonsense? The cost of this batch of weapons alone was 42 billion US dollars¡ªit really was a massive discount!


    "Mr. Zhang, you can''t be this harsh!" Thorn Shark was almost in tears.


    Indeed, with his resources, he could receive the goods before payment, but what would he use to explain to the company when it was time to pay? He had worked hard for many years, accumulating only a few billion; even if he sold himself, he couldn''t cover this debt!


    "That''s true," Zhang Menglong had almost forgotten Thorn Shark hardly had any money. If he actually went through with it, Thorn Shark might not be able to secure the equipment. "I did go a bit too far!"


    Hearing this, Thorn Shark sighed in relief, as it seemed Zhang Menglong was willing to pay.


    "Give me your account number!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Yes! Yes!" Thorn Shark hurriedly gave Zhang Menglong a foreign account number.


    "Hong Yi, it''s me, Zhang Menglong, transfer the money!" Zhang Menglong immediately gave the account number to Hong Yi. "I have OCD, make it a round number!"


    Thorn Shark was delighted. He had heard that Zhang Menglong indeed had OCD, always disliking leaving any loose change from any transaction.


    Normal people rounded down, but he did the opposite, always rounding up. The 47.9 billion might well become 50 billion once transferred, and he could make a whopping 8 billion US dollars in profit from this deal!


    Although the goods had been supplied by his friends, in their line of work, there was a rule¡ªanyone who brought in the business could take a commission. Taking 2 billion from a few hundred billion didn''t seem unreasonable at all!


    All things considered, he stood to make at least 10 billion US dollars from this deal, all in cash, and Thorn Shark could instantly jump into the realm of world-class tycoons!


    At that thought, he almost laughed out loud.


    "Ding!" Thorn Shark''s phone beeped, but the display showed his account had only received 40 billion US dollars. His expression froze instantly.


    40 billion US dollars! He had to contribute 2 billion of his own funds as cost. Even with his friends'' commissions, he wouldn''t make a single cent from this deal!


    "Mr. Zhang, you..."


    "I just said, a discount means a discount. Do you think my word, Zhang Menglong''s word, can be taken back just like that?" Zhang Menglong''s tone was aggressive. "Or I could pay in full, but I''d hang you outside a bar, five bucks a pop; you decide for yourself!"


    Thorn Shark''s face turned a rainbow of colors in an instant.


    Indeed, he had initially provoked Zhang Menglong and just not being dealt with was already quite fortunate; to demand profit was beyond ignorant.


    He was sure that if he were hung outside the bar, within moments, a hundred Barrett rifles would blow his head apart, and even his corpse might be paraded through the streets, a spectacle that was somehow beautiful to imagine.


    "I''ll choose the first option..." Thorn Shark lowered his head. Everything he''d worked for over ten years in this place was destroyed in an instant.


    ...


    "Sartre, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong gave no further attention to Thorn Shark and walked away. As long as Thorn Shark didn''t want to die, he would surely complete this deal.


    "You two, guard him and get him to a safe place," Zhang Menglong told Kabu and Elisa, the siblings. "Don''t let him die before the trade is complete!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    ...


    It must be said, these arms dealers, as vicious as they are, do have an impressive business attitude. On the third day, Zhang Menglong received word that all the weapons and equipment he requested were ready; all they needed now was a location for delivery.


    Of course, these items couldn''t be sent directly to the Kingdom of Tambat; otherwise, it would probably scare them half to death.


    The entire nation only possessed a total of 1200 fighter jets, and their own fifth-generation fighter jets were still in conceptual stages, at most boasted about on PowerPoint presentations. The fighter jets they developed themselves were nothing but low-tier junk.


    Even a butt could figure out the vast difference in combat ability between fourth-generation and fifth-generation fighter jets¡ªit was like earth and sky.


    Even though one fifth-generation fighter jet might not blast 10 fourth-generation fighter jets out of the sky, in an actual battle, a few long-distance missiles from the former, and you wouldn''t even catch a whiff of their exhaust. 500 fifth-generation fighter jets could completely rout the entire fighter fleet of the Kingdom of Tambat!


    Plus a few hundred tanks and thousands of missiles¡ªwho wouldn''t wet themselves at the sight?


    "It seems we should first go and say hello, no need to do good deeds anonymously," Zhang Menglong chuckled. After all, someone had to take receipt, right?


    ...


    In a military base''s command center, a middle-aged man, looking to be in his fifties, furrowed his brows deeply.


    He looked at a map in front of him, his face grim. The map was dotted with red pins marking areas they had lost. After years of attritional warfare, they had been pushed to the edges of this disputed zone. They could afford to lose at most three more strongholds before declaring defeat in this war!


    "What''s the extent of our losses now?"


    "Reporting, General, up to now, we have lost 375 fighter jets, 207 tanks, and 2709 warriors. The enemy has more fatalities, but other losses are less than a third of ours."


    "General, there''s no way around it, we are simply outmatched. The enemy has deployed twice as much weaponry and manpower as we have, which is five times our numbers. The quality of our equipment isn''t much inferior, but in this war of attrition, we are definitely at a disadvantage!"


    "How did the budget request go?" the General continued.


    "General, the Brahma Country increased their budget this year. They spend hundreds of billions of US Dollars annually on military expenditures; our country simply can''t match that!"


    "Are we really going to lose this war?" The General''s face was filled with reluctance.


    At that moment, the communication system in the command room buzzed.


    "General, we''ve received a transmission from an unknown frequency!"


    "Is it from Brahma Country?" the General asked.


    "No, the frequency is from Asia, but it''s not Brahma Country''s. It seems to be a private frequency!"


    "A private frequency? Connect!"


    The entire operation room fell silent, everyone held their breath, eager to hear who it might be.


    "Excuse me, is this General Aiful?" The person on the other end spoke in fluent English mixed with the language of the Kingdom of Tambat, carrying a very young voice.


    "This is me, who are you?"


    "You can call me Lei Feng!" Zhang Menglong answered. "I hear your war with Brahma Country isn''t going too well?"


    "Who the hell are you?" Pained and prodded internally, General Aiful grew agitated.


    "Never mind who I am, just know that I''m someone who can help," Zhang Menglong said, "At noon in three days, I''ll have a batch of military support delivered to your camp. I hope you guys clear some space in advance; the shipment is a bit large, I''d worry there won''t be enough room!"


    "Why would you want to help us?" Aiful didn''t know whether to trust his words, but if they were true, such help wouldn''t come for free. He didn''t believe in free lunches. "What do you want?"


    "I mainly want to promote international friendship," Zhang Menglong replied, "If Huaxians ever come here as tourists, just make sure they''re well taken care of¡ªthat''s all!"

 Chapter 476 474 We Are Not Worthy

    "You... you are from Hua..."


    "You can eat crap, but don''t talk crap!" Zhang Menglong immediately interrupted General Afuer''s words, "I am not, I haven''t, don''t talk nonsense!"


    Although General Afuer didn''t continue, he was certain in his heart that the person who had called him must be from Huaxia.


    Their relationship with Huaxia was quite good, almost the closest of allies, but such assistance had never existed in history.


    Even though he didn''t know how many weapons and equipment the other party had prepared to support them, what did it mean for them? It seemed the person on the other end of the phone had no intention of revealing their identity.


    "This is all my own idea," Zhang Menglong said, "I just wanted to make friends with General Afuer, that''s all."


    "I''ll believe that when hell freezes over!" General Afuer, despite being over fifty and an experienced veteran, was nobody''s fool. How could such a thing ever deceive him?


    Could it be that Brahma Country''s idiot had offended this person, so they were holding a grudge and seeking revenge through this means?


    But how much power could one person have? The gap between them and Brahma Country wasn''t small; it was almost double. If it was just a few hundred guns or a few hundred bombs and grenades, that wouldn''t be of any use in this war.


    If there was to be any significant turning point, wouldn''t it require at least several dozen fighter jets and a vast amount of tanks and armored vehicles?


    Support of such a scale would require at least a hundred and eighty billion US dollars, which is not something one person could afford.


    "Do you really have no ulterior motive?" Afuer still couldn''t help but voice his doubts.


    "You''ll know when the equipment arrives!"


    After speaking, Zhang Menglong directly hung up the communication channel.


    "Hong Yi, go arrange it. That batch of military equipment I purchased, send it all directly to General Afuer. Remember not to let neighboring Brahma Country find out, if they get prepared, that would be troublesome!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang, I will ensure everything is meticulously organized!"


    ...


    After receiving Zhang Menglong''s call, General Afuer immediately summoned all his subordinates.


    The truth was he still wasn''t certain about the caller''s purpose.


    If the other side was truly going to deliver weapons to their troops, they would have to cross their territory. If this was a trap by the people of Brahma Country, that batch of weapons could lead to very serious consequences.


    But if they were to blockade the border, although they would avoid such danger, if the Huaxia really intended to help them and provide a batch of military support, they would miss an opportunity of a lifetime!


    Of course, General Afuer wasn''t harboring much hope, as without a significant number of heavy weapons and tanks or jets, there would be practically no impact on the overall situation!


    "Tighten the surveillance on the border. If any unknown individuals or a large number of military equipments are spotted, report to me immediately!"


    "Yes!" Afuer''s subordinates immediately took orders.


    Originally, the outcome of this battle had been predictable; the only question was how long they could hold out. Now, they were waiting for a miracle!


    Nothing happened on the first day, the second day was the same, and as evening came on the third day, most people had lost patience.


    That mysterious Huaxia man had said that a large batch of military equipment would be delivered within three days, and the end of three days was fast approaching, making it seem like it was just a joke.


    The sky gradually darkened, and the patrolling pilots were preparing to return, as it was relatively more dangerous to carry out flying missions at night in this region of chaos.


    "Don''t let your guard down. Although it''s much safer here compared to the frontlines, you must always pay attention to the defense system!"


    "Yes, General!"


    As usual, the warriors in the defense command center activated the nighttime mode of the defense systems, which, under their watch, made it nearly impossible for both air and ground targets to breach their blockade!


    "Have you guys heard? Our General Afuer received a mysterious call a few days ago, saying that a batch of military equipment would arrive within three days." The night deepened, and the bored officers and warriors started chatting idly.


    "Isn''t that nonsense? Who would give us reinforcements out of the blue? Other countries would rather enjoy the show the bigger it gets, maybe even take the chance to gain some advantages."


    "I heard about it, it''s already the third day, if they were really going to send help it should''ve arrived by now. Our General must''ve been duped!"


    "That''s enough, stop gossiping. Are you in a position to casually discuss matters regarding the General?"


    ...


    "Beep beep beep beep!" Just then, their dashboard started blaring violently, the whole room flashing with red lights.


    "What''s happening? A night-time enemy attack?"


    "Report the data!"


    "Threat level, 120!"


    "What? 120?" Everyone shuddered in fear.


    This threat index reflected the defense system''s data, with the number representing the severity of the danger they faced at that moment.


    Under normal circumstances, if it was just a feint by the enemy, with three to five fighter jets patrolling the fringe, the threat level would be around 10-20.


    If it was a formal assault, and the threat was minor, manageable by a small force, it would be about 50.


    If the threat level reached 80, then it was a danger to the whole troop, and the current threat level on the battlefields between Tambat Kingdom and Brahma Country permanently stood above 80.


    Should the threat index exceed 100, it essentially meant national disaster, indicating that their troops were almost incapable of dealing with such a level of threat.


    Since the establishment of the system, they had never encountered a situation surpassing 100; this time it had shot up directly to 120. They might as well lay down their weapons and surrender¡ªwasn''t that the same as lying down and waiting to die?


    "Do we have visuals?"


    "Transmitting imagery now!"


    An operator immediately relayed the visual information.


    "Hiss!" Everyone drew in a sharp breath of cold air.


    The sky was densely packed with fighter and transport planes, most of which they''d never even seen before. As for those transport planes, almost all were supersized, with chains dangling below them carrying either tanks or armored vehicles.


    This massive scene was simply like a world war!


    "Is this an enemy attack?"


    "Quick, scramble our fighters to intercept!"


    "Intercept my ass, report the data first!"


    "Re... Reporting, a total of 1,300 targets, of which around 500 are suspected fighter units, 800 transport planes, and over 700 resembling tanks, other targets unidentified!"


    "500?" Upon hearing this number, everyone lost the will to resist; their country''s total number of fighter jets was just over 1,000, and these were distributed across various military districts, most already deployed on the front lines. Their own troop had only 200 jets, all outdated fourth-generation fighters!


    Intercept? A volley of their missiles could flatten your command center along with this military camp¡ªwhat intercept are you talking about?


    If the other side was truly launching an attack, they stood no chance at all, only adding to their casualties.


    "It''s wrong, this isn''t an attack! With so many countries in the world, which one dares to deploy such troops for an assault now? And as for our tiny nation, this kind of equipment used against us, I even feel we don''t deserve it!"


    "It''s reinforcements! It must be the reinforcements General Avril mentioned!"


    "Mother of god! 500 fighter jets, at least 700 tanks, did our General sell his own body or what?"


    "What are you waiting for? Report to the General at once!"


    ...

 Chapter 477 475: What Are Those Trash Still Doing Here?

    "General, should we intercept? The enemy is nearing our defense area, and if we don''t intercept now, we will be completely wiped out once they attack!"


    Upon hearing this news, the expressions on Aver''s face shifted constantly¡ªthe risks were just too great! If this was a premeditated attack and he let the enemy in, he would become the sinner of the entire nation!


    "Have we sent a communication request to them?"


    "There''s been no response from them at all!"


    "This..." Aver found himself in a dilemma. If the other party really were delivering equipment, they could simply tell him! This forced him to doubt their origins and motives.


    "General, that message on the communication frequency came again!"


    "Quick! Connect!" Aver was like a man reprieved.


    "General Aver, it''s me; my people should have already delivered the stuff to you!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "This... Sir, is that squadron of 500 fighters and 800 transport planes yours...?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, that''s mine!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Is the place ready? There''s a lot of stuff, I''m worried there won''t be enough room!"


    "Is it really yours?" Aver was ecstatic¡ªit felt like encountering a divine benefactor, "But why didn''t you reply to our communication requests? We thought it was an enemy attack..."


    "Isn''t it to keep some sense of mystery? Hahaha, isn''t it shocking?" Zhang Menglong laughed on the other end.


    Shocking? More like terrifying¡ªalmost enough to trigger a heart attack! If they''d reached the alert line in another two minutes, Aver wouldn''t have known what orders to give!


    How bored must this person be? Isn''t this mysterious enough? Must he exceed those heart-stopping moments?


    "I''ve delivered the items to you, the rest is up to you," Zhang Menglong said, "By the way, do you have enough pilots and tank drivers?"


    "Enough! Enough!" Aver quickly replied.


    In truth, the Tambat Kingdom had a very secret special forces unit. This unit wasn''t large, totaling only 1,000 people, but their military education made them incomparable to ordinary warriors.


    They were familiar with the use of mainstream battlefield weapons and equipment, capable of fighting ten at a time.


    Though the Tambat Kingdom''s equipment was limited, this did not mean they didn''t invest heavily in military forces. Nearly half of their annual budget was spent on these people, with the training of each elite warrior costing up to 100 million US dollars!


    Now was the time for them to enter the battlefield!


    "Since that''s enough, I can rest easy. Otherwise, I''d have to find a bunch of people to fly them," Zhang Menglong continued, "But at this point, I have a request!"


    "Please, tell me!" Aver was not surprised. Although the quality of the batch of equipment was unknown, the quantity was very sincere. As long as the demand wasn''t too excessive, he was willing to agree.


    "Beat them hard for me, don''t hold back! For those you capture alive, make sure to humiliate them for three days and nights before sending them back!"


    Aver, who had prepared a speech, suddenly forgot what to say. What kind of request was that? Even if he hadn''t mentioned it, they would have hit back hard anyway. Over the years, they had endured enough humiliation and anger¡ªthey needed an outlet!


    As for insulting those people, while humiliating prisoners of war was dishonorable in a war, humiliation could be both physical and mental. They just needed to mentally devastate them without leaving a trace of evidence.


    "Rest assured, we will definitely hit them hard!"


    "Oh, regarding the method of insult, I have sent a document to your system. Just follow it when the time comes. I am off to play King of Glory now, goodbye!"


    "Ah? You..." Before Aver could say more, Zhang Menglong had already hung up the phone.


    "Our system?" Aver paused, wondering which system the mysterious Huaxia man was referring to. Their national defense system? But how could an external document be transferred into it?


    If he could do this, didn''t it mean that their network security had no secrets from him?


    Thinking of this, Aver actually felt fear. But then he thought, if they could just send over a batch of equipment and wipe out their military, what value would their information have to him?


    He immediately logged into the national defense system with his own privileges, and indeed, within a folder in the system, he found a brand-new text document. The time uploaded was a minute ago, and the channel used for the upload was surprisingly their central network!


    "This Huaxia man is truly a monster!" Afur couldn''t help but exclaim. He then opened the file, which was written in Tambat script, and the title was "Thirty-Eight Styles of Troublesome Pigs.""


    "First style, upside-down head wash; second style, boiling water chrysanthemum burn; third style, three-speed electric fan day; fourth style, steel wool bath scrub..."


    Looking at each item in the document which did not seem cruel but evoked rich imagery in one''s mind, Afur''s facial expressions gradually twisted.


    What kind of deep hatred had driven this Huaxia man to seek revenge on them with such measures?


    Afur looked in the direction of their longstanding opponent and couldn''t help shaking his head, "Perhaps, this is the mysterious power from the East?"


    "Prepare the plane immediately; we''re heading to Base Three!"


    Base Three was the direction Zhang Menglong''s batch of military equipment was sent to; it was about 120 kilometers from the front-line battlefield. Given the speed of a military aircraft, a few dozen minutes would be sufficient to arrive.


    "Clear for takeoff! Disengage the alert!"


    "Begin clearing the runway!"


    Indeed, the squadron, after entering Tambat Kingdom, maintained its original speed and route, showing no intention of attacking whatsoever.


    Under the green light all the way, they reached the airfield of Base Three. At that time, most of the planes on the runway had already been cleared, and the first batch of 20 fighter jets began to swoop down for a landing.


    "Have you seen that fighter jet? It seems very strong."


    "Idiot, that''s the Su-57, the fifth-generation fighter jet of the Combat Nation!"


    "What? A fifth-generation fighter jet? Doesn''t that mean these 20 fighter jets could blow up over a hundred of our junk planes at Base Three?"


    "There''s more coming! That''s an F-22! They even have America''s fifth-generation fighter jet!"


    "My God, could all those fighter jets be fifth-generation?"


    "This... brother, can you fly one?" Two pilots looked at each other in disbelief.


    "I... This is beyond my knowledge! The most advanced I''ve ever flown in my lifetime is the fourth-generation fighter jet!"


    "Look, there''s more! That''s the F-35! Even a B-2 bomber!"


    "That''s Kaibong''s X-2, also a fifth-generation fighter jet!"


    "How much would all this cost?"


    "At the very least, a few hundred billion, I guess, in US dollars."


    More and more planes began to land; the airfield, which had been cleared entirely clean, quickly became rather crowded, and soon there was scarcely any room left for nearly 400 aircraft.


    At that moment, Afur finally arrived at Base Three. Looking at each of these fighter jets, he could hardly contain his tears; he wished he could fly one directly onto the heads of the Brahma Country people and slam it down.


    "General, our airfield isn''t enough," a warrior hurriedly reported to Afur.


    "What? We''ve run out of space?" Afur chuckled bitterly. Before, there was a shortage of equipment, but now there was an excess, with not enough space to accommodate it.


    "How many fighter jets did we originally have?"


    "We had a total of 178 fighter jets."


    "Take them all away; park them wherever you can. As long as the people are safe, even ditching the jets in ravines is fine," Afur had never been as extravagant as he was today, "500 fifth-generation fighters, what do we need those scraps for? Forget them, forget them all!"

 Chapter 478 476: How Could Dad Possibly Be Wrong

    The third base of the Tambat Kingdom had its warriors busily working until dawn to receive all the equipment.


    Although everyone''s face showed some fatigue, there was a faint excitement hidden within this exhaustion.


    Who had ever seen such advanced equipment? At best, they''d only seen it on the PPTs of those weapon experts, who boasted as if they were divinely inspired, yet couldn''t produce a thing and lived in a dream every day.


    But today, all these things actually appeared before their eyes, and some of the equipment was even fiercer than what they had seen in the PPTs!


    They could even imagine what sort of dead-parent expressions the damn people from Brahma Country would have when they saw this batch of extremely powerful equipment a few days from now. At that thought, they all became incredibly motivated.


    "Hahahahaha!" Looking at these equipment, General Afur could hardly stop himself from salivating.


    These generals had no interest in other things, but two things were fatally attractive to them: warriors who could fight and advanced military equipment. This was vividly exemplified by Li Yunlong, and Afur, as a leader, was no exception.


    As for the fourth-generation fighter jets he previously treasured, they had already been cast out of mind, to be declared obsolete and dragged away to be sold as scrap metal.


    "Have you finished tallying?" General Afur shouted.


    "Report, General, the tally is complete!"


    "Quick!" Afur said impatiently, his eyes gleaming with light. Even as a general, it was his first time seeing so many state-of-the-art equipment.


    "For the fighter jets, we have a total of 50 F22s, 45 F35s, and 10 B2 bombers... a total of 500 aircraft, all fifth-generation fighter jets!"


    "Hahaha, go on! Continue!" Afur was so delighted that he practically regressed, "What else is there?"


    "Twenty T-90 main battle tanks, twenty AMX main battle tanks, thirty Merkava main battle tanks, thirty Challenger 2 main battle tanks... a total of 670 tanks, all world-class mainstream battle tanks! Each tank also comes with a large amount of accompanying equipment and consumables."


    "Besides these, there are thousands of missiles, including..."


    ...


    A list recited, and the warrior responsible for the tally found his lips going dry. What kind of person could provide these equipment? Even a country couldn''t supply all this, could it? The total price must be close to 100 billion US dollars, right?


    "Which idiot from Brahma Country offended that mysterious person from Huaxia? This is really pinpointing one''s own demise, and they found it too precisely. If I were a general of Brahma Country, I''d be the first to execute him!" Afur was thankful that this incident didn''t occur in the Tambat Kingdom, or else they would be the unlucky ones.


    Actually, these past few days, he had his subordinates investigate what outrageous act Brahma Country had committed to provoke such a fierce retaliatory strike.


    But the results of the investigation showed that everything was normal; there hadn''t been any conflicts with Huaxia, at least not on an international level, where things continued as usual.


    Moreover, this reason could basically be ruled out, for the fighter jets that were sent included the F-22 and F-35, highly advanced fifth-generation jets belonging to America. They would sell these to any country but definitely not to Huaxia.


    The reason is simple. Even if those countries got their hands on these fighter jets, they would be nothing more than tools to them, as their technical level couldn''t possibly decipher the jets'' weaknesses and technology.


    But it''s a different story with Huaxia. Being capable of developing their own fifth-generation fighter jets, they absolutely had the ability to analyze the weaknesses of these aircraft, and then who would be the air supremo would be anyone''s guess.


    Of course, what they didn''t know was that for Huaxia now, fifth-generation fighter jets didn''t mean squat. They had already gotten their hands on the designs and principles of the sixth-generation fighter jets, and it''s possible that the finished products of the sixth generation might appear on the international stage in no more than half a year.


    What F22, what F35, what B2 stealth bombers, even if they were given to them for free, they couldn''t care less to give them a glance, considering selling them as scrap metal a waste of time!


    Since this was the situation, there was only one possibility left: this batch of equipment was privately gifted to them!


    "General, I have an immature speculation," Afur''s deputy said.


    "Go ahead."


    "I suspect that this person is very likely Huaxia''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man?" Afur asked.


    "Correct, the value of this batch of equipment absolutely approaches 100 billion US Dollars. I ask you, who else in this world could cough up such a large amount of cash besides him?" the deputy analyzed, "Currently, the person ranked second on the Forbes list has a total asset of just over 200 billion US Dollars, and his liquid assets are at most in the tens of billions. Apart from him, I can''t think of anyone else."


    "Moreover, who else would be so outrageous and capricious as to drop 100 billion US Dollars on such a large quantity of military equipment out of anger? Only this person could afford to be this capricious with their money," the deputy added, "Of course, I don''t rule out some special family powers, but they are generally very low-key and wouldn''t do something so capricious."


    "Listening to your analysis, I conclude that this possibility is too high," Afur nodded, "To meet the three characteristics of being Huaxian, wealthy, and capricious, I''m afraid there''s no second person like that in the whole world."


    "Draft a document for me to send to the Central Government," General Afur said, "From now on, prohibit any form of conflict with Huaxians. If it''s our fault, we must apologize with the best attitude and the fastest speed!"


    "What if it''s their fault?" the soldier asked, wondering if it was really necessary to draft such a document for one special Huaxian. Moreover, would it really be so unreasonable?


    "Slap!" Afur slapped the soldier across the face.


    The soldier looked aggrieved; he hadn''t said anything wrong!


    "Do you know why I slapped you?" Afur asked.


    The soldier shook his head.


    "If it''s their fault, then it''s also our fault first for letting them make that mistake! Remember, they will never be wrong! Fathers don''t make mistakes! I suggest we directly incorporate this rule into the criminal law!"


    This rule seemed quite preposterous, but upon careful consideration, it wasn''t without sense.


    Not to mention that the Huaxians had provided them with so much equipment this time, they were grateful and treated them like fathers without any problems.


    As for offending the Huaxians again, one only needed to see what happened to Brahma Country to understand. Whoever brain hemorrhaged and made such a decision was a lesson to be learned!


    "Reassign some of the frontline troops here, and immediately start adjusting these weapons and equipment!" Afur finally showed the authority a General should have, "Request the Vulture Special Forces from above, it''s time to blow the horn for the counterattack!"


    "But General, we now have only three strongholds left on the front line. If we transfer more manpower, I''m afraid the fortresses will be taken quickly. Should we reconsider this?"


    "Reconsider my ass! Besides those warriors who fight every day, who can become familiar with the use of this batch of equipment in a short period of time?" Afur said, "As for those strongholds, abandon the first two immediately, and everyone retreat to the last line of defense. At all costs, hold out for five days!"


    "Five days? General, we..."


    "I don''t want to hear excuses; I''m asking you, can you hold out for five days?"


    "We can!"


    "Then go arrange the orders immediately!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    General Afur slowly clenched his fist; after five days, he was determined to make the enemy pay back everything they had taken during this period, with interest!

 Chapter 479 477: Was There an Earthquake?

    Having dealt with everything, Zhang Menglong had returned to Brahma Country, and Mossang''s relatives arranged a temporary residence for him. While it wasn''t as luxurious as the Mahalast Family''s standards, it was comfortable enough, as Zhang Menglong didn''t hold much regard for material comforts.


    "Master, where exactly did you go during this time? We were worried that something had happened to you," Luca and Sinto asked with concern.


    They looked at Elisa and Luca, the siblings next to Zhang Menglong. How had their master managed to bring back a handsome young man and a little sister on his trip?


    For some reason, these two gave them an inexplicably oppressive feeling.


    "It''s nothing, I just went to Xuli," Zhang Menglong said. "Oh, by the way, this is Elisa and Luca. They were my bodyguards while I was in Xuli."


    "Bodyguards? Someone like you needs bodyguards?" Hearing this, Luca and Elisa couldn''t help but show bitter smiles.


    They very well knew that Zhang Menglong was no ordinary man, even stronger than both of them! Not to mention his financial capability; did he really need any bodyguards?


    "You went to Xuli?" They widened their eyes. Xuli, a place notorious for its brutality¡ªwasn''t it too risky? One could be blown to bits without anyone even left to collect the remains.


    In such a place, hiring bodyguards was the basic approach, but who had ever seen such bodyguards¡ªa young boy and a little girl? Whom were they protecting?


    But what was Zhang Menglong doing in Xuli? Wasn''t he safe where he was?


    However, according to ancient tradition, they should not question their master''s actions. They curbed their curiosity, guessing that Zhang Menglong''s trip to Xuli might have something to do with the Mahalast Family affairs.


    What could he have done? Hire a group of mercenaries to wipe out the entire Mahalast Family? The Mahalast Family was vast, with part of its business involving security and military equipment¡ªthey could field an army whenever they wished.


    Not to mention, the Mahalast Family members had infiltrated all sectors of the country. Many of the country''s key figures were intricately linked to the Mahalast Family.


    Thinking of bringing in mercenaries? They would first have to get past the Mahalast''s gatekeeping, else they wouldn''t even make it into Brahma Country!


    Even if they did make it in, the Mahalast''s resources could make these mercenaries disappear in an instant. Even if they could infiltrate, carrying only light weapons would be the best they could manage. No matter how strong they were individually, their overall power was massively limited¡ªhow could they possibly match a proper army?


    But beyond that, they really couldn''t guess what Zhang Menglong had done in Xuli¡ªsurely he wasn''t planning to turn himself into a human bomb and die alongside them? That would be totally unnecessary!


    "How has the Mahalast Family been lately?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "They are currently dealing with the family assets, most of which have already been transferred to the hands of the uncle''s brothers and sisters. Some members who were very loyal to you have been replaced as well; although they aren''t being persecuted, they have been stripped of all real power, and some have even been exiled from the family."


    "Really!" Zhang Menglong laughed angrily, "Domet''s seventh memorial hasn''t even passed, and they are already so anxious to divide the assets. They truly are his good siblings!"


    "How many people do you two families have available?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "We are just a side branch of the Mahalast Family. Although much stronger than the average minor family, we are still just a side branch. In total, we probably have about 180 people," Luca replied.


    "Good," said Zhang Menglong to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, transfer some money to the accounts of Luca and Sinto. Start by transferring one billion US dollars to each."


    "That much?" They were shocked. The master really thought big, almost embarrassed to speak in terms other than billions.


    "This money isn''t for you," Zhang Menglong instructed, "It''s for those who were persecuted and driven away by the Mahalast Family. Your job is to gather them up. This money is to help them settle in. Tell them, once I retrieve the family assets, they will be the core members of my new representation in Brahma Country."


    "Oh, and arrange for Elisa and Luca as well," he added, "When it comes time to recover the Mahalast Family assets, they will assist you."


    "Yes!" The two nodded, "We will make sure to arrange everything properly for these people."


    "Master, we''ll get on it then!"


    "Wait!" Zhang Menglong stopped them, "Who told you to leave? Come and watch a movie with me!"


    "A movie?" The two were startled. What did that mean? Was their boss in the mood to watch a movie? But even if it was a movie, wouldn''t it be more appealing to invite some young and beautiful girls instead of them, two old men in their forties and fifties?


    "Just sit down, and you''ll see!" Zhang Menglong instructed Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, you can start now!"


    "Okay!" Hong Yi took out something that looked like a USB drive and plugged it into the TV screen in front of them, and the little device immediately started flashing red, while the TV screen also cooled down.


    "Ye Yin! Don''t panic, the live broadcast is starting!" Zhang Menglong shouted into a walkie-talkie.


    The screen shook violently, clearly, the person recording this segment seemed to be startled.


    "This... this seems to be the Kexlam region, right?" Luca recognized the scene in the video immediately, which was the contested land between Brahma Country and Tambat Kingdom.


    "Mr. Zhang, war correspondent Ye Yin will bring you the latest from the front lines!" Ye Yin''s face appeared on the camera. "Hong Yi, can you see me?"


    "Get out of the way, don''t block the camera!" Zhang Menglong took out a bag of sunflower seeds and started cracking them open, Hong Yi laughed with her hand covering her mouth, apparently, her relationship with Ye Yin had grown closer over the past few days.


    "What''s the situation on the front lines?"


    "A few days ago, the fighting between Tambat Kingdom and Brahma Country was still very fierce, with neither side giving way. However, due to the gap in military power, Tambat Kingdom had always been at a disadvantage. But for some reason, a few days ago, Tambat Kingdom suddenly contracted their defenses and outright abandoned two military fortresses, now pulling back to their last line of defense."


    "Exactly as I imagined," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but praise General Afral''s decision. By holding the remaining three fortresses, they would only disperse their combat power. It was better to abandon two defenses and focus all forces on the final stand. As long as they could hold on for a few days, their troops would completely grasp the new equipment, and then it would be time for a counterattack."


    ...


    The front lines of Brahma Country, where the overall commander, Pratt, was deploying the final assault.


    On the map, it was densely flagged with the blue flags of Brahma Country, signifying the areas they had occupied. In the entire Kexlam region, only one-eighth of the territory remained.


    "General, they just keep defending, not engaging us at all, and utterly regardless of cost. Every time we send out fighter jets, they directly activate all their anti-aircraft weapons. If we force an attack, the losses will be substantial!"


    "It doesn''t matter," Pratt was confident about winning this battle. "They''ve been holed up there for five days now, always using this costly method. Their backup supplies can''t keep up. When they''re out of ammunition and food, we won''t even need to make a serious effort, just continue the feint attacks without actually striking!"


    "Yes!"


    "Prepare for a sortie, Seventh Flying Squadron. Remember, it''s just a feint, conserve the ammo and missiles!"


    "Yes!"


    "Unit 07 of the Seventh Squadron is ready, requesting takeoff orders!"


    "Unit 08 is ready, requesting takeoff orders!"


    ...


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, the ground emitted a dull noise, and a flight commander made a gesture to pause the takeoff, then lay down on the ground, pressing his ear tightly against it.


    "Boom... " The dull noise continued.


    "What''s happening? Is it an earthquake?"


    ...

 Chapter 480 478: Who Exactly is the Cheater Nation?

    Minutes later, the roar gradually faded, and the commander stood up again, "It must have been a minor earthquake that just occurred, the impact isn''t significant, we can continue with the takeoff!"


    With the deafening sound of 11 engines, 11 Mirage 2000s took to the sky, heading towards Tambat Kingdom''s last line of defense.


    "Number 7, should we give them a taste of two missiles later?"


    "Didn''t you hear the order from above? We are only feigning an attack; save resources whenever we can."


    "But this kind of flying mission is too boring."


    "Exactly, those Tambat people are like turtles, using their anti-aircraft guns to hinder us."


    "They''ve held up for five days, I reckon they don''t have much ammo or ground-to-air missiles left, maybe this time we can really buzz their heads."


    "Hahaha! Competing with us for territory, but they don''t consider the huge gap in our military strength?"


    "Indeed, even our worst fighter jets have been upgraded to nearly fourth-generation fighter jets, while they''re still using those outdated third-generation ones. What can they fight us with?"


    "Alright, focus! We''re getting close to their defense line, definitely don''t want to get shot down by their anti-aircraft artillery, that would be too embarrassing!"


    ...


    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" The Tambat warriors on the ground detected the incoming fighter jets immediately, "Get the anti-aircraft guns ready, prep the ground-to-air missiles!"


    After successive air raids, the warriors of Tambat Kingdom had become like startled birds, issuing defensive commands almost as a conditioned reflex.


    "Report! We only have seven ground-to-air missiles left!"


    "What? Only seven left?"


    "Report, we are almost out of anti-aircraft ammunition too!"


    "Damn it!" The commander smashed the cup in front of him, "Why hasn''t the support from the third base arrived yet? Weren''t they supposed to be here today?"


    "Commander, what should we do?"


    "Fire! Use up all the last ammunition, but we have to hold this defense line at all costs!"


    "Yes! Fire!"


    "Open fire!"


    The whole frontline erupted in flames as countless bullets, intertwined with the seven ground-to-air missiles, soared towards the 11 Mirage 2000s.


    "Hahaha, is this all the trash anti-aircraft missiles they have left?" The eleven pilots showed a relenting glare, such basic ground-to-air missiles wouldn''t even take down third-generation fighter jets, how could they possibly touch their nearly fourth-generation ones?


    "Looks like they''ve run out of ammo and rations!"


    "Hahaha, let''s go, burst in and let them taste our autocannons!"


    "Right, they said no missiles, but autocannons shouldn''t be too much, right?"


    "Be careful, ensure your own safety during low altitude flight!"


    "Yes!"


    The 11 fighter jets immediately began to dive, and their mounted autocannons roared into action. The autocannons on fighter jets are not to be underestimated, as a single round could tear half a body apart upon impact¡ªboth the caliber and shock of such weapons are terrifying.


    "Find cover!"


    "Take cover!"


    "Where are the reinforcements? How come they haven''t arrived yet?"


    The warriors of Tambat, having reached a state of exhaustion, were starting to panic. Although they also had fighter jets, they were no match for the enemy, and had very few missiles and autocannons left¡ªso poor that they could barely afford fuel.


    "Swoosh!"


    Just at that moment, a missile, trailing a white flame, streaked over their heads and hit a Brahma Country fighter jet right on the wing.


    "Boom!" the whole aircraft instantly burst into flames, and only the unconscious pilot, ejected by the safety system, descended with the parachute, his fate unknown.


    "What''s that?" All the Tambat warriors and Brahma Country pilots were shocked at once.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"


    As they gazed in astonishment, a shadow suddenly appeared in the sky¡ªa vast formation of fighter jets was speeding towards them, and at a glance, there were at least a hundred and eighty of them.


    "F-22! F-22 fighter jets!"


    "Fifth-generation fighters? No wonder they blew up their jet with one shot."


    "20 planes? 30 planes? Are they trying to conquer the sky?"


    "Is this our reinforcement?"


    "Comrades, you''ve worked hard; leave the next fight to us!" The voice came through the communication channel linked with the fighter squadron.


    "It''s friendly forces! Our reinforcements have arrived!"


    "Hahaha! Unbeatable! With a hundred fifth-generation fighter jets, let''s see how they can still be arrogant!"


    "Fight back!"


    "Revenge and vindication!"


    "What the hell is this?" The very moment they saw that mighty formation of fighter jets, their hands were trembling uncontrollably.


    How the hell were they supposed to fight? Their jets might be generously called fourth-generation fighters, but by Western standards, Mirage 2000 was really just a third-generation fighter. In countries like the Fighter Nation, it was considered a fourth-generation jet.


    But the F-22s were universally acknowledged fifth-generation fighters; their stealth materials were nearly undetectable by these third-generation jets. In a real fight, they would be like blind men, even unable to lock their weapons onto the enemy fighter jets!


    One F-22 could easily toy with their formation!


    And before them, God damn it, were 100 fifth-generation fighters of the same caliber, just these 100 jets alone could slaughter their entire force!


    "Boom!" A burst of fire shot up from the ground at breakneck speed, and a Mirage 2000 pilot instinctively maneuvered the jet to evade.


    "I''m an ace pilot, how could I be shot down by a ground weapon?" he exclaimed with pride. In this battle, from start to present, he had downed 17 enemy jets¡ªan ace amongst aces!


    But before he could make out who fired at him from the ground, a golden light shot up wildly from below.


    It came from fifty armored vehicles, which were mounted with the fearsome surface-to-air missiles.


    Clearly inscribed on the barrel was a string of characters¡ªS-400.


    The S-400 missile system, rumored to cost 1.2 billion US dollars a unit, equating to 60 billion US dollars for the equipment on these fifty armored vehicles!


    The Tambat Kingdom was even poorer than their Brahma Country, how could they possibly afford to spend 60 billion US dollars on S-400 missile systems?


    The salvo formed a near-impenetrable net; there was almost no room to dodge!


    10 Mirage 2000s turned into the least beautiful fireworks in the sky.


    In their final moments, they spotted amidst the explosions an even more terrifying sight in the distance¡ªa massive formation of hundreds of tanks. Although the tanks were of different models, their formidable military posture alone made them realize, a huge twist was about to unfold in this battle, but they would never live to see it!


    ...


    "What''s going on?" Luca and Sinto were stunned, sitting motionless as they watched the live broadcast.


    Of course, their loyalty to Zhang Menglong surpassed the feelings for their nation, but they couldn''t understand how the destitute Tambat Kingdom suddenly possessed such expensive equipment?


    Just the cost of that one round of S-400 salvo had to be calculated in billions of US dollars, right? Were they willing to ruin their country''s future for this? But even if they had the money, could they possibly buy F-22 and F-35 fighter jets from America?


    Everyone always said that their Brahma Country was like a nation with cheats enabled, but they had never seen a scene like today. Who the hell had the real cheats?!

 Chapter 481 479: General, Lets Surrender

    "General, the fighter jets we sent for the feint at the front line have suddenly lost contact!"


    The communications engineer responsible for ground contacts immediately reported this news to General Pratt of Brahma Country. Usually, this kind of loss of contact essentially meant that the aircraft had been destroyed; very few had ever returned to base after going missing.


    But this was highly abnormal. Since the hostilities had begun, there had been hundreds of battles, big and small, yet the most severe single battle had not resulted in more than ten fighters being destroyed.


    Moreover, the Tambat Kingdom was already in a desperate state, running out of ammunition and provisions. How could they possibly have the capability to destroy so many of their fighters?


    "Is there any signal coming back?" Pratt asked.


    "We''ve only received a burst of very chaotic signals, likely jammed by some device. We''re unable to reconstruct any valid information from those fragmented bursts."


    "What in the world is going on?" A trace of worry appeared on General Pratt''s face; he had a very bad feeling about this. As a soldier, his sixth sense was often very accurate; this feeling had even helped him escape certain death several times before.


    "General, could it be that another country has sent them reinforcements? Isn''t the Tambat Kingdom in good relations with them?"


    Pratt knew who the engineer meant by "them," a nation that had awoken. In recent decades, their rate of development had been alarmingly fast, surpassing many countries that had once been far ahead of them and even leading in many domains.


    If it was true that they had provided military support to the Tambat Kingdom, then they might as well surrender without a fight, for no nation in the world could confidently declare they could secure a victory against them in war.


    "Impossible!" Pratt immediately dismissed the possibility, "Their principle is to never interfere in the affairs of other countries unless their own security is threatened; they would never do such a thing, not with countless eyes watching them from all around the world.


    "Find a way to investigate the front line immediately; we must figure out why those fighters went missing!"


    "Yes!"


    "General!" Just as the engineer turned to leave, a communicator stumbled into the command room, almost knocking General Pratt''s door off its hinges.


    "What''s the rush? Do you even resemble a soldier right now?" Pratt was not pleased to see his subordinate in such a panic; even if the sky were falling, he would be standing firm.


    "Just now, we received a message from our forces at the very front,... they said... "


    "What did they say?" Pratt''s heart started beating faster, knowing from the soldier''s expression that it could not be good news.


    "Our forces at the front have been overrun, and Tambat Kingdom forces have taken back a position we had captured a few days ago¡ªthey''ve begun a counteroffensive!"


    "What?" Pratt had considered many possibilities but never imagined that their forces would be overrun.


    This was their nation''s most elite force, sacrificed at great expense in hopes of completely reclaiming the Teslam area.


    Nearly half of the country''s 1,400 fighters had been deployed to the front lines, supported by countless powerful artillery, rendering Tambat Kingdom''s troops nearly incapacitated during this period of the campaign.


    The two sides'' military equipment differed in quantity by a factor of two at the onset of the war; after some time, this ratio had only grown. Even if Tambat Kingdom''s forces were twice as strong now, at most they could just barely maintain a defensive stance. How could they possibly launch a counteroffensive? Were their troops vegetarians?


    "What exactly is happening at the front?"


    "General, Deputy General Icas at the front says Tambat Kingdom forces suddenly appeared with a large number of advanced military equipment. Our troops were no match for them. Within less than 20 minutes, our first position fell and they are now advancing towards the second position."


    "What? Only 20 minutes? Did they send over 200 fighter jets?" General Pratt had never heard such outrageous numbers. Their main forces were behind, and the frontline troops had about a hundred fighter jets, but even so, that was still a very powerful force. How could it be so easily overwhelmed?


    "General," the reporter uttered with a bitter smile, "the enemy didn''t have just 200 jets, at least three to four hundred, and all of them were fifth-generation fighters, all mainstream fifth-generation fighters. And that''s just the aerial strike force. They also have more than 500 main battle tanks and over 300 armored vehicles, each equipped with the most advanced missile systems!"


    "How could this happen?" General Pratt''s face was filled with intense shock and disbelief.


    "Can you imagine? A thousand missiles launched in an instant, our air defense network could at best intercept only two-thirds, surviving for 20 minutes was already a miracle!"


    ...


    "General! The latest news from the front, we have lost our second stronghold!" Another warrior rushed in, "20 bombers directly charged into our battle position, destroying our military equipment into ruins. Until they left, we didn''t even know what model the target bombers were!"


    "How bad are the losses?"


    "Extremely severe, more than 80% of our fighter jets and tanks parked at the base are damaged. There were only a dozen casualties; it seems they didn''t come to kill but to destroy our military hardware and weapons!"


    "Where are the troops now?"


    "They have retreated to the third stronghold, but Tambat Kingdom''s fighters and tank groups continue to advance, heavy tanks leading the way, planes providing air support. The most crucial thing is they don''t care about losses, as soon as they engage, it''s missiles and artillery. This isn''t war; this is burning money!"


    "Where did they get all these things from?" General Pratt couldn''t figure it out. How could the impoverished Tambat Kingdom afford so much money?


    This level of military equipment would cost at least eight or nine hundred billion US Dollars, their entire country''s GDP is just over 200 billion US Dollars a year, do they even need to develop their country?


    The most important thing is, how did they manage to obtain those advanced fifth-generation fighters and main battle tanks? Even if you have the money, it''s not certain someone would sell them to you!


    "General, with the situation like this, in at most one week, we will completely lose control over the Xsram Domain, and they might even continue pushing forward without stopping."


    Pratt fully believed in this possibility, a country that had endured humiliation for so long and suddenly possessed such tremendous military strength, they could do anything!


    ...


    "General, our third stronghold is under strong attack!" Before the previous situation could be processed, news from the third stronghold also arrived.


    "Report the situation! Return the status!"


    "Report, General, the enemy has deployed 500 fighter jets, a hundred of which are attacking our base," from the other side, explosive sounds and air raid sirens continually sounded, "the remaining four hundred have already crossed our defensive lines heading towards the rear. General, please come up with a plan quickly!"


    "Boom!"


    ...


    The call wasn''t even finished, and General Pratt''s face had already turned pale.


    The Deputy General took a deep breath and uttered a sentence he himself could hardly believe, "General, I ... we should surrender!"

 Chapter 482 480 International Social Death

    "What? Say that again?" Pratt''s eyes turned red in an instant. They had only been fighting for a couple of hours and now they were already contemplating surrender?


    "General, I am not afraid of death. As a soldier, I have long accepted the inevitability of life and death. If there were any chance of victory, I would definitely risk my life to fight, but this battle is simply unwinnable!" Desperation was written all over the Deputy General''s face.


    "General, not to mention the state of our troops'' equipment, even if we were to pool all the military strength of the country, could we win?" As a leader, the Deputy General was acutely aware of the true extent of their national military power.


    After years of attrition, their national forces were left with over 1,000 combat aircraft, but half of these were third-generation fighters, and the other half were near fourth-generation fighters. Tambat Kingdom, although they possessed only 500 aircraft, had fifth-generation fighters!


    One fifth-generation fighter taking on five third-generation fighters is like child''s play. Even if they exhausted all the military strength of the country, they would not prevail, and this was just the aerial part.


    Such a battle would only increase unnecessary casualties and the loss of national resources unless they also received external reinforcements. Otherwise, their ultimate defeat was inevitable.


    This statement stumped Pratt completely.


    Could they win?


    Although he was reluctant to admit it, Pratt knew the answer in his heart. If it really was as reported, their chances of winning were almost zero!


    "Send all the imagery data and report files over; I need to contact the higher-ups!"


    ...


    "What? Tambat Kingdom has received military reinforcements?" This news immediately spread throughout Brahma Country, causing widespread panic.


    "F22s and F35s? Has America intervened?"


    "We protest, what right do you have to intervene in our dispute with Tambat Kingdom?" The people of Brahma Country immediately lodged a complaint internationally.


    "Get lost, don''t mess with us!" America also responded strongly, stating that the issue had nothing to do with them.


    Although many of the involved equipment was manufactured in America, it should be noted that these items are not only used by them but are also sold internationally.


    Of course, such a massive outflow of equipment certainly posed some issues, and they immediately launched a thorough investigation within their largest arms manufacturing companies.


    After thorough investigation and evidence gathering, several international actors responded, stating that this matter had nothing to do with America. Their active-duty planes were all accounted for, and there had been no official channels for such large-scale military weapon sales recently. This was clearly not a normal situation.


    "We protest, the fighting nation should not meddle in our affairs!" After getting no information from America, they directed their accusations toward the fighting nation, as the equipment also had traces of their involvement.


    "It was us, you got a problem, let''s sort this out with a fight!" True to their reputation as a fighting people, they didn''t bother to explain and simply settled with a direct challenge!


    This response shocked the people of Brahma Country; they dared not engage them in a fight?¡ªwasn''t that asking for trouble?


    Days of investigation and protests made the frontline situation increasingly dire. The army of Brahma Country was in disarray, while the spirits of the Tambat forces were high. They not only reclaimed the land that had been previously occupied but had also nearly taken control of over 95% of the entire region.


    In just a few days, the army of Brahma Country had lost more than 300 combat aircraft and 500 tanks. They also tried to wield a large number of long-range missiles to target and destroy this tank formation and combat aircraft squadron.


    However, the air-tight missile defense system of the Tambat Kingdom precisely intercepted their missiles, and their response was a barrage of 500 long-range missiles that nearly turned the soil of the region upside down.


    Apart from the tremendous loss of equipment, the loss of manpower in Brahma Country was also terrifying. Although not many died, Tambat Kingdom captured hundreds of prisoners of war and locked them all up in their POW camps!


    The troops of Brahma Country, clinging to the last bit of territory, hardly dared to leave their strongholds for fear of endless artillery fire awaiting them outside.


    In fact, it was not that the soldiers of Tambat Kingdom could not penetrate the small stronghold. Although geographically favorable for defense, in the face of absolute military power, these factors were merely fanciful.


    It was only because beyond that point lay the internationally recognized territory of Brahma Country; their weapons were simply too powerful and could accidentally impact some small border towns of the enemy.


    Fighting within disputed territories was legitimate, but advancing further would mean aggression, which was a completely different matter. Thus, the troops of Tambat also seemed somewhat hesitant.


    Seizing this opportunity, they frantically requested military resources from the outside world, even offering substantial rewards, but no country took notice of them.


    Tambat now was no longer the Tambat of the past. With 500 fifth-generation fighter jets, their comprehensive military strength could rank in the top 10 globally!


    If one were to support them, it implied that they too had to deploy such formidable military strength in support.


    But in the entire world, how many countries could deploy 500 fifth-generation fighter jets? A mere handful! Yet, how much manpower and resources would such military support consume? It would start at least at ten billion US dollars, right? Compared to the benefits proposed by Brahma Country, it was undoubtedly a losing deal!


    Those who wanted to help lacked the capability, and those with the capability did not receive enough funds, which directly led them to a situation of isolation and helplessness.


    However, the situation also caused some restlessness among the troops of Tambat. Although Zhang Menglong had provided them with many resources, they were eager to develop the areas they had reclaimed.


    As long as the people of Brahma Country did not surrender and sign the peace agreement, the region was still far from peaceful, and war could resume at any moment. If not for being pushed to the limit, the people of Tambat truly detested war.


    "General, they still refuse to surrender," a delegate tasked with persuasion duties reported to General Afur, "General, they are really shameless. They can''t win, yet they refuse to surrender, and now they''re hiding and we really can''t do anything about them."


    "Stay calm," General Afur was reading a book at his desk.


    After interactions with Zhang Menglong, he had attempted to learn some things from Huaxia, and a week of study yielded significant insights. He slowly put down the Tambat-language version of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, then said, "There is a saying in Huaxia, ''Attacking cities is inferior, attacking hearts is superior!''"


    "General, what does that mean?"


    "We now have a huge advantage in military strength, but they still haven''t announced their surrender. Do you know why?"


    The delegate shook his head; if he knew, Brahma Country would have already surrendered.


    "Because they still have hope in their hearts, some lingering faith. If we want them to surrender, we must crush their beliefs, shatter their spirit!"


    "How can we accomplish that?" They had fought many tough battles; defeating an enemy physically was easy, but crushing someone''s belief was not a simple task.


    "It''s simple¡ªinsult them, destroy their morale, make them experience what shame and ''social death'' on an international level feel like, so they lose the courage and face to continue in this war!"


    Having said that, General Afur took out a piece of paper, the ink still fresh, "This ''Thirty-Eight Disgraceful Acts'' was given to us by that generous person from Huaxia, and this will be our strongest weapon in this battle of hearts!"

 Chapter 483 481: Snatching the Bamboo Shoots

    During this period, the international community paid widespread attention to the conflict between Brahma Country and Tambat Kingdom. How could two nations, so vastly disparate in military might, experience such a sudden and dramatic reversal overnight, with Brahma Country suffering a crushing defeat?


    An influx of war reporters arrived in Brahma Country and Tambat Kingdom by plane, and General Avril was very enthusiastic about opening up the site for their visit.


    The mighty line-up of fighter jets and tanks shocked the world¡ªinstantly. How did the traditionally weaker Tambat Kingdom suddenly come to possess so many advanced pieces of equipment? With such combat power, even throughout Asia, the number of countries that could defeat them would not exceed five!


    Especially America and the warrior nations¡ªthey just couldn''t figure it out. They clearly hadn''t sold that much weaponry to them. How did they suddenly come to possess so many of their military''s current armaments?


    Could it have been through smuggling, purchasing from underground arms dealers? But leaving aside whether arms dealers could supply so much equipment, even if they could, the value of such equipment, worth a hundred billion US Dollars, would be unaffordable for any country, let alone such a small one. How could they possibly come up with the funds?


    For a time, the Tambat Kingdom was the focus of the entire world!


    They had won their victory, and at the same time, they wanted to tell the whole world that the Tambat Kingdom was not to be trifled with!


    As for Brahma Country, a completely different atmosphere prevailed. Their warriors were all dispirited, resembling the sick and the weak¡ªthey had lifeless eyes, sustained only by the last sliver of belief that kept them on the battlefield.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," one day, General Avril gathered all the reporters who had come to visit. There were nearly a hundred of them from countries around the world, "Today, I would like to invite you to visit the front lines of the battlefield."


    Upon hearing this news, the reporters were both excited and scared. Going to the front line meant they could get first-hand information, but the danger was also very high.


    "Rest assured, we''ll arrange tight security measures," General Avril said confidently, "As for Brahma Country, they have no power left to resist us, and we are confident about protecting everyone''s safety."


    The reporters looked at each other¡ªit was a tough choice.


    "I''ll go!" A reporter from the warrior nation was the first to stand up. "What''s the big deal about war? What kind of war reporters are we if we''re scared to go to the battlefield?"


    That statement ignited the competitive spirit of all the reporters.


    "Let''s go! Death is the worst that can happen!"


    "Exactly, we''re all war reporters. Who''s ever been afraid of the battlefield?"


    ...


    On that day, General Avril also personally went to the front line. Along with the reporters, his troops also brought along a group of special people¡ªprisoners of war from Brahma Country''s army.


    In fact, during this period, the prisoners of war had been living quite comfortably. They were provided with good food and drink by Tambat''s warriors, and there wasn''t even a hint of abuse. Some of them even felt the impulse to switch nationalities and join Tambat right there and then.


    "General Avril, you brought the prisoners today. Are you going to return the captives to them?" the reporters asked curiously.


    "General Avril, may I ask if you could tell us the benefits of returning the prisoners?"


    Under normal circumstances, during a war between two armies, returning prisoners of war usually required one side to pay a price. After all, conducting a war costs money, so asking for a ransom in exchange for releasing people is not unreasonable, right?


    But General Avril shook his head, "Actually, we''re not heading to the battlefield to fight today, but to deal with these prisoners of war."


    "What?" The reporters were taken aback, "Are you going to execute these prisoners? But according to the international warfare treaty, the victorious countries are forbidden from slaughtering prisoners of war!"


    "I never said I was going to kill these prisoners," General Avril smiled, "However, regarding their fate, I hope you can broadcast it in real-time to the media in your country."


    Such good fortune?


    They had carried out many reports from war zones, but it was rare for the other side to allow direct live broadcasting. Furthermore, in their home countries, as long as the footage wasn''t too gory, it was permissible to show. General Avril had just said there would be no killing of prisoners, so what would be there to fear?


    Soon, under the protection of the main forces, they arrived at the front line positions.


    "Here they come, they''re here again!"


    Warriors from Brahma Country conducting reconnaissance in the distance spotted traces of the Tambat Kingdom''s army and immediately panicked.


    After this period of fighting, they were truly like startled birds; with such a stark difference in strength, they could only take hits.


    "All units on alert!"


    "Everyone keep an eye on them, report immediately if there''s any attack!"


    Orders were passed up the chain of command, and even General Pratt was alarmed. Dark circles loomed around his eyes, as he hadn''t slept well for several days due to the ongoing conflict at the front. To boost morale, he had even come to the frontline himself, sharing the same food and shelter with the warriors responsible for the last line of defense.


    But when the Tambat Kingdom''s troops advanced to the safety line, they stopped their assault and instead began to set up camp and even started to install electrical equipment.


    "What exactly are they planning?" Pratt stared at the surveillance footage coming from the front. In the past encounters, they always came with weapons, of course, those that were relatively less powerful. They couldn''t breach their defense but could deplete their living force and resources.


    But this time, it looked like they had no intention of fighting.


    The more this was the case, the more unsettled they felt. Could this be some kind of trick by the Tambat people?


    "Everyone, increase your vigilance; we must not miss any of their movements!" Pratt issued the order.


    An hour passed, and under the high-focus military command, a makeshift camp was nearly complete. As they wondered what the Tambat people were truly up to, a group of prisoners of war was led out from the midst of their troops.


    "They are prisoners of war, our captured warriors!" the soldiers from Brahma Country shouted.


    "What does this mean? Are they going to execute our warriors right before our eyes?" The warriors of Brahma Country ground their teeth in anger. Were they using this method to break their psychological defenses?


    "No, they wouldn''t dare do that. Although Tambat is strong now, they would never dare to violate international laws of war."


    "So what are they up to?"


    It wasn''t just them; even the war correspondents were frantically discussing what they were intending to do.


    This batch of prisoners numbered over a hundred, and they wore expressions of resignation to their fate. As soldiers, the thing they feared the least was death.


    "Come, change their clothes!" ordered a commander as he stepped forward.


    "Change clothes?"


    "Are they going to replace their prisoner uniforms? Are they really going to release the prisoners?"


    "Doesn''t seem likely. Brahma Country hasn''t sent anyone to take custody of the prisoners. Are they going to send them back directly?"


    As the reporters discussed amongst themselves, the warriors of Tambat answered their questions with their actions.


    They came over with the clothes to be exchanged, and it was noticeable that the warriors were all smiling!


    These were individuals who had undergone special military training and generally would not smile unless they really couldn''t help it.


    The reporters looked towards the clothes in their hands and were all taken aback.


    Black silk, white fishnet stockings, high heels, bunny girl outfits, nurse costumes, maid outfits, lingerie¡ªall of them were women''s clothing!


    Now they understood what the earlier mention of changing clothes meant.


    They weren''t here to release prisoners; they were here to humiliate these prisoners and, by extension, to embarrass the troops of Brahma Country!


    This is outrageous!

 Chapter 484 484: 482

    "Aren''t each of you ready to embrace death? Aren''t you all made of iron bones with your military souls aflame? Then I suppose these clothes shouldn''t matter much to you, should they?" The Commander, too, was doing this for the first time, his smile gradually becoming twisted.


    As a military man, he actually despised using such tactics; after all, soldiers could be killed but not humiliated. If they fell into the enemy''s hands, it would be better to be executed publicly in such clothing than to live in disgrace.


    But the moment they thought of the lands that had been taken away, of the people who had been displaced by the war, these mental burdens suddenly disappeared.


    Seeing these outfits, the prisoners of war went berserk. They started to struggle violently, fearing not only for their own loss of face but also that their forces would become the laughing stock of the world. What was this¡ªa cross-dressing squad?


    However, their struggle was in vain. Several Tambat warriors swarmed them, relishing the rare opportunity to dress someone in women''s clothing¡ªmiss this village, miss this shop.


    They quickly stripped the prisoners naked and dressed them in the prepared women''s clothing.


    "Makeup artists!" the Commander shouted, "Give them makeup, darken the blush, and use ''Death Barbie Pink'' for the lipstick!"


    Half an hour later, these iron-boned soldiers had transformed into drag queens. At that moment, the journalists went crazy; such an interesting scene was definitely international news!


    "Click! Click!" Flashes and shutters flickered continuously, and some people even started setting up live broadcast links on the spot¡ªthey were actually going to stream it live! This was indeed killing by crushing spirits!


    As for those soldiers who had changed into women''s clothing, they lost their proud, commanding presence and hung their heads, not even daring to exchange glances with their comrades. This was too damn humiliating!


    "Huaxia''s military strategies are indeed amazing!" Looking at the completely transformed prisoners from Brahma Country, the Commander glanced at the "Thirty-Six Moves of The Saucy Pig" in his hand, "I wonder which brilliant Huaxia military strategist could devise such a tactic to attack the mind¡ªthis is just the first move, and it has already shattered their military spirit!"


    The Commander''s face was uncontrollably filled with admiration and awe; they couldn''t have thought of such a method.


    Such a public execution made the prisoners wish they could die on the spot, but their hands and feet were all restrained, and a specially made device in their mouths prevented them from biting their tongues and committing suicide. This was their first experience of not being able to live or die as they wished.


    To put it succinctly, the damage was minimal, but the humiliation was extreme!


    This scene was witnessed not only by the Tambat warriors and journalists but also by the people of Brahma Country.


    "General, they..."


    "What''s wrong?" General Pratt looked worried, "Is there a problem at the front? Are they slaughtering our prisoners?"


    "No... not that... You should see for yourself," the soldier''s mouth twitched, his expression evasive; he really couldn''t bring himself to say it!


    Pratt pulled up the front-line footage, and the instant he saw it, his blood pressure doubled.


    Were these still their Brahma Country warriors? What the hell was that bunny girl in high heels and black stockings? And what monster was wearing a pink dress? Was this cosplay? Cross-dressing was bad enough, but makeup too?


    Not only that, a few speakers nearby were playing a bizarrely catchy tune.


    "Come on, have fun, there''s still plenty of time~"


    ...


    Pratt''s face changed colors like he was poisoned, turning fiery hot with shame. It was utterly humiliating!


    "General, the Tambat people even sent something from the front line for you."


    "What is it?"


    "We haven''t opened it, but we''ve checked it, and it''s not dangerous." The soldier handed over a box.


    "Hmph!" Pratt tore open the box, and when he saw what was inside, his blood pressure shot up again, blood rushing to his head, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood, passing out on the spot.


    "General! General!" A crowd of soldiers quickly gathered around and rushed Pratt to the hospital.


    Out of curiosity, someone took out the contents of the box, which contained a white blouse, a violet JK skirt, a pair of white knee-high socks, and a pair of black women''s leather shoes...


    ...


    That day, a very special live broadcast appeared on an international channel, hosted on a unique streaming platform created by a tech god named Okwa. He established the site using special methods, creating an independent site that no government could control unless someone with superior tech skills could hack into it.


    On this platform, many people streamed unspeakable content for profit, since no one could regulate them, and countless viewers were interested in watching. Okwa made a fortune from the subscription fees of the platform''s members.


    Just minutes before, the platform had been hacked for the first time since its creation, and even the platform''s coding had been altered. All the streams were shut down, except for one, which showed a live broadcast of the front line where Tambat and Brahma Country converged!


    Originally, the website visitors were very angry. They were all paying members, and this was what they were given to watch?


    But when they saw the content of the livestream, everyone went crazy. Wasn''t this much more thrilling than those other things? The livestream attracted the attention of countless people instantly, and the news spread far and wide, causing numerous netizens to start bypassing internet restrictions.


    "Wasn''t it said this website required a membership for $200 a year? How''d I get in directly?"


    "Didn''t you hear? Some big shot cracked it this morning. Probably all the code has been changed!"


    "No way, someone hacks the site not to make money?"


    "Damn, 24 million viewers? Are these numbers for real?"


    "A channel can handle 24 million people and not lag? Must be fake data, right?"


    "Isn''t this too many comments? Are they all bots?"


    The livestream had started the moment the captives were brought up, and netizens from around the world were interacting through the comments.


    "Isn''t this the battlefield between Tambat and Brahma Country?"


    "Damn, they''re not really livestreaming a war prisoner massacre, are they? That would totally violate international humanitarian spirit, right?"


    "Someone''s coming over in women''s clothes!"


    "Holy crap, I''ve seen that lo-dress before; my girlfriend just bought one recently, it cost over 2000 Huaxia dollars!"


    "Bloody hell, bunny girl outfits? And Harley Quinn''s clothes? JK skirts?"


    "Damn, what are they up to?"


    "Guys, I''ve got a wild idea!"


    ...


    A few minutes later, the comments exploded with laughter, "hahahaha", and suddenly, over 100 burly men transformed into cross-dressing divas¡ªa sight too glorious to behold, especially with that music playing.


    "I heard Brahma Country got beaten so bad yet didn''t surrender. Is this Tambat''s psychological warfare? Hahaha! How can I not split my sides laughing?"


    "Stop making me laugh; I just had hemorrhoids surgery yesterday, and I swear my stitches are about to burst."


    "What kind of devilish tactic is this? It''s crazy, pandas are almost starving to death, who the hell came up with this?"


    "You hear this BGM? Isn''t this ''Itchy''? Could it be some Huaxia person''s idea? Tambat recently opened a special reception travel route to Huaxia people, all expenses paid upon arrival; maybe they''re the ones giving Tambat ideas?"


    "This is just a massive scene of social death!"


    "Hahaha, you guys didn''t just hack a game; maybe you should just escape Earth tonight!"


    "I suggest you all head directly to Mars. No one on Mars will recognize you, and no one will laugh at you!"


    ...

 Chapter 485 483: The Consequences of Offending This Young Master

    The live stream was still ongoing, but the crowd of onlookers continued to grow, from an initial 24 million eventually reaching 30 million, and finally surpassing 50 million. The number was still crazily climbing.


    That day, Brahma Country''s hotline was nearly exploding with calls. Although it seemed just a military incident, it had undeniably escalated to involve the entire nation.


    Whenever someone saw a person from Brahma Country, they would immediately rush up with their smartphones, pointing to the content on the screen and saying, "Look, is this your cross-dressing troop?"


    Within Brahma Country, it was still manageable as everyone was from the same nation¡ªembarrassment was shared among their own. However, for the students abroad, it was disastrous. They wished they could just find a crack to crawl into, even feeling the urge to leave Earth altogether.


    This was no longer just social death; it was an international social extermination. Only hiding on Mars would spare them from further mockery.


    Of course, Brahma Country also had many tech giants. Seeing their country fall into such a predicament, how could they possibly stand by and watch themselves become a laughingstock on an international scale?


    Among the world''s top hackers, one ranked eighth was from Brahma Country. Known online as Rio, he had been studying hacking from a very young age, and his skills were recognized internationally.


    Later, he was recruited to become the head of the national security center. Naturally, only he and a select few at the upper levels of the government knew this, as exposing the identity of a top hacker could cause him immense trouble due to his past actions.


    Hundreds of hackers spontaneously organized and launched a storm-like attack on the streaming platform, but its defenses were virtually impenetrable!


    Finally, under the national hackers'' call, Rio finally appeared. However, after 20 minutes of effort, he only gave a one-sentence Evaluation¡ª"There is no one on this planet who can infiltrate this website!"


    With this statement, all illusions were shattered, and the shameful image continued to be broadcast globally!


    ...


    The live stream was still ongoing; all the crossdressing bigwigs were lined up in several rows, and truckloads of people were being driven to the front lines, seeming as though something else was set to continue.


    "Ah bah ah bah ah bah!" A few Brahma Country soldiers started struggling and roaring uncontrollably under pressure.


    But soon, a Tambat warrior, fluent in Brahma Country''s language, approached one of the soldiers, "I know what you''re trying to say¡ªyou want us to end your misery quickly, but we want to humiliate you, just for fun!"


    The translation of this statement was immediately translated by the bosses in bullet screens, triggering another uproar of laughter.


    "So, has Huaxia''s slang become so widespread now, haha?"


    "I''m seriously starting to suspect there''s a mole from Huaxia in the Tambat army!"


    "Have some confidence in the post above, remove the ''suspect,'' I don''t believe any other country has this kind of popular slang¡ªit''s not something just anyone could say."


    "So, has Huaxia''s slang become so widespread now, haha?"


    The soldier''s face flushed, but he was firmly held by several warriors, and his mouth was gagged with a special device preventing him from committing suicide, leaving him impotently raging on the spot.


    "It seems you are still not quite convinced," the Tambat warrior chuckled. "Actually, if you lose your will to fight just like that, it''s no fun at all. Our general has prepared some other gifts for you!"


    Crate after crate was unloaded from the trucks, and small carts pushed them towards the crossdressing soldiers. The first row of carts appeared to be metal beds with control devices and several metal buttons on them.


    All netizens held their breath¡ªcould this be some incredibly gruesome human experiment?


    "Why does this thing look so familiar?"


    "It seems like something I''ve seen on some low-end site."


    Some Huaxia netizens suddenly caught a whiff of something familiar, but since it was hard to associate it with war, they couldn''t figure out what it was.


    A Brahma Country soldier was forcibly strapped onto the metal bed, leather ropes binding all his limbs. As the motor started, the bed began to rotate, and the captive''s head slowly turned towards the ground, hanging him upside down.


    Then, a transparent barrel moved out from underneath the bed, filled with water and spinning rapidly through a propeller inside.


    "Fuck, pink underwear? Isn''t this too slutty?"


    "What the hell is going on here?"


    "A bucket? What''s that? Shampoo?"


    "Why is there an electric fan too?"


    Under the astonished gazes of many, the head of the Brahma Country prisoner was stuffed into a transparent bucket, and a warrior began to apply shampoo on his head.


    "Upside-down hair washing? What kind of sorcery is this?"


    "Fuck! I know what this is, it''s an upside-down hair washing machine. I''ve seen it on Bilibili, made by a craftsman named Handicraft Geng!"


    "Damn, even the Minister of Justice''s equipment has been exported and gone international?"


    "Why do I feel like the style is off, isn''t this supposed to be about dealing with war prisoners? This scene is nothing like I imagined!"


    "This tactician must be one of our Huaxia folks, or someone who studied in Huaxia. Otherwise, nobody could pull off such a brain hemorrhage-inducing act!"


    Netizens from other countries were utterly confused. What the heck is all this? Netizens from Huaxia were just as baffled. What''s the point of upside-down hair washing for these prisoners?


    While everyone was figuratively scratching their heads, another soldier turned on the electric fan, then cranked it up to the third speed setting, and brought it in front of the prisoner.


    "Guys, I suddenly guess what he''s going to do next."


    "I think I guessed it too."


    A Tambat warrior suddenly stripped the prisoner of his pants and pushed the electric fan right up there.


    "Ah!" A scream instantly filled the room, and all viewers involuntarily clenched their legs. The physical and mental torture was absolutely terrifying, perhaps even more cruel than what the Nazis had in their POW camps?


    "Wait, they''ve also taken out a steel wool pad!"


    "Someone brought over a basin of boiling water. What''s that? A funnel? Where are they going to pour it?"


    ...


    "Ah!"


    ...


    The live broadcast camera gradually zoomed out, revealing the entire frontline. Over a hundred Brahma Country prisoners were neatly arranged; some were facing the three-speed electric fans, some were being scalded with boiling water, some were being scrubbed all over with steel wool pads, some had a lit cigarette stuck in their mouths, some were having cigarette ash water poured down their throats, and some were upside down eating instant noodles...


    The physical harm of these punishments was not high, but the humiliation was extreme. And those Tambat Kingdom warriors were very accurate with their actions, merely insulting them and causing pain without drawing a single drop of blood.


    But for the whole of Brahma Country, it was an utter disgrace. Not only had they lost the battle, but their warriors were also suffering such humiliation in front of the enemy lines. They might have to wear masks in shame thereafter.


    ...


    "Master, did you do all this?" Luca and Xinto, upon seeing this scene, immediately guessed that it was all Zhang Menglong''s doing; only he could come up with such lewd stuff.


    "Yes!"


    "Was that batch of equipment also purchased by you?" Combining this with Zhang Menglong''s visit to Xuli a few days ago, everything clicked.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong said, lounging with his legs crossed and a smug look on his face, "Dare to offend me, and this is their fate!"

 Chapter 486 484: Directly Confronting the Face

    "Too ruthless!" Luca and Xintobi looked at Zhang Menglong, their lips trembling continuously.


    They had originally thought Zhang Menglong could only helplessly handle the situation, perhaps by some economic means in a roundabout rescue strategy, but they had not expected Zhang Menglong to not only stand firm but also deliver a fierce slap on the face of Brahma Country.


    Up to now, Brahma Country probably still doesn''t know why Tambat Kingdom suddenly, like someone cheating in a game, started killing anyone in their path, even those protected by religious status, and they have held several meetings to study what unspeakable deals Tambat Kingdom has recently made with any country.


    But they never imagined that all of this originated because they had provoked Zhang Menglong.


    Luca and Xintobi suddenly felt relieved, even somewhat fortunate.


    In fact, before Zhang Menglong''s arrival, two currently powerful members of the Mahalast Family had privately approached them hoping they would join in a coalition to resist Zhang Menglong, the dictator.


    In reality, Luca and Xintobi didn''t particularly care for Zhang Menglong, but having been brainwashed by their parents'' generation with many ideologies, and being believers in the Deities, becoming traitors would mean their souls would plummet into hell after death.


    This was the reason they had refused the invitation.


    But now it looked like their choice was absolutely correct, because it wouldn''t be long before the consequences of this event began to radiate outward, and eventually Brahma Country would surely discover that the instigator was Zhang Menglong.


    But they had no evidence, since Zhang Menglong had always acted independently in this matter¡ªdid they expect Tambat Kingdom to admit that the military resources came from Zhang Menglong? Dream on!


    As long as Zhang Menglong denied involvement, then this whole affair had nothing to do with him, and what happened next would entirely depend on Zhang Menglong''s interests.


    Not yielding? Not caving in?


    If you guys are that tough, that''s fine too!


    But know this, the contested areas between Tambat Kingdom and Brahma Country aren''t limited to just this one spot¡ªthey even include land three times as large, all of which became Brahma Country''s possession as the victor in historical wars.


    Yet, no international conclusion has been drawn regarding these places.


    Since no conclusion has been reached, then it comes down to whose fist is bigger and who can fight¡ªthose places will belong to them.


    It''s easy to imagine what comes next will be a storm of blood and fury; soon, Tambat Kingdom''s planes and tanks will begin to bombard that region, and given Brahma Country''s current combat capabilities, lasting a month would be impressive.


    In the past, it took them five years to conquer this area!


    Negotiation? The weaker side has no right to negotiate!


    International power intervening?


    When Tambat Kingdom was being attacked those years ago, you all kept quiet, but now you speak up because Brahma Country is being hit? Isn''t this just blatant bullying? Such actions will not only spark widespread international debate but also affect the credibility of those spokespeople. As long as they have any sense, they wouldn''t wade into these muddy waters.


    As for what kind of agreement Zhang Menglong and Tambat Kingdom have struck, Luca and Xintobi aren''t sure, but they are certain of one thing: as long as Zhang Menglong doesn''t say stop, they will definitely keep going!


    By then, the losses for Brahma Country will not just be close to three trillion US Dollars in assets, but even the country''s development will suffer a tremendous setback.


    The Mahalast Family''s assets, to speak frankly, Zhang Menglong really doesn''t care for, but if they want to play games with him, Zhang Menglong will play them to the end, and this is just the beginning!


    If Luca and Xintobi had chosen to cooperate from the start...


    Hiss! They can''t even dare to imagine such an outcome!


    ...


    The first broadcast lasted three hours, during which the whole world saw the intelligence of the Huaxia people. The jokes and memes shared online were actually brought to life, and the most important thing was that these antics didn''t cause much physical harm¡ªthough the trauma to the soul was unspeakable.


    Three hours later, even the soldiers from Tambat responsible for "administering punishment" were a bit physically overdrawn¡ªnot from exhaustion, but from laughter.


    Two entirely different expressions appeared on the front lines of the battlefield: on the Tambat side, it was as if it were a festive celebration, everyone was excited and happy; meanwhile, the people of Brahma Country all wore gloomy faces, layering on their Masks of Pain.


    At that moment, the only thing the audience on the livestream platform wanted to say was, "joy and sorrow do not convey alike. I just find them noisy..."


    "All right, everyone''s had a hard day, let''s come back from Huaxia tomorrow!" General Afur exclaimed, his face glowing with excitement. This was the brightest moment of his life, his most glorious time.


    "Coming back tomorrow?" The reporters were all stunned. How could it be that after today''s severe actions, you still haven''t had enough?


    Afur glanced at the piece of paper in his hand, "Today we only executed six items of ''Teasing the Pig in Thirty-Six Ways''; we will continue for the next five days."


    Afur said to the reporters, "You all can go write an article. This statement represents our stance¡ªunless Brahma Country chooses to surrender and agrees to our negotiations, we will be here every day to put on a performance!"


    ...


    The live broadcast ended, but its impact continued to radiate. The recorded version of the broadcast began spreading through various countries, going viral on social platforms like YouTube and Facebook.


    That night, the cumulative views exceeded 200 million, and by the following morning, they had surged past 500 million!


    "What on earth is happening? Can someone explain to me what is going on?" The upper echelon of Brahma Country was outright furious.


    Brahma Country, after all, was a civilization with a long, albeit impoverished, history that they could be proud of.


    But this war had undeniably affixed an ugly label on their millennia of civilization that could never be removed¡ªhenceforth, whenever this country was mentioned, today''s humiliating scene would come to mind.


    Cook, although merely the boss of a notary office, also kept an eye on national affairs. After watching segments of the live broadcast, his face was clouded with a heavy gloom.


    He always felt that this incident was linked in an intricate and indistinct way to events from a few days ago.


    "I heard you are at war?"


    This sentence suddenly appeared in his mind¡ªit wasn''t long ago that Zhang Menglong from Huaxia had left those harsh words before departing.


    He had originally thought it was just a way to vent emotions, but now, it seemed it was not so simple.


    He immediately called a friend responsible for immigration control, who told him that Zhang Menglong had left Brahma Country for three days some time ago. According to registration records, his destination was Xuli!


    All links became instantly clear now.


    What place is Xuli? A place with constant warfare, where battles never ceased!


    Who is in that place? Two types of people: desperados and those who profit from war. If one wanted to buy some military gear, that place was undoubtedly the correct choice.


    As to how Zhang Menglong could manage to purchase such a large quantity of arms, Cook couldn''t imagine, but that didn''t mean Zhang Menglong couldn''t!


    Combining this with the methods and styles of the Tambat Kingdom, there was a distinct Huaxia flavor, a strong Zhang Menglong flavor.


    Upon realizing all these, one answer was on the verge of surfacing.


    Zhang Menglong''s words were definitely more than just empty rhetoric! He was showing through actions that there was nothing he, Zhang Menglong, couldn''t do!

 Chapter 487 485: You Can Eat Shit Randomly, But You Cant Talk Nonsense

    With this speculation in mind, Cook immediately reported his thoughts and his leader through his own network of contacts, and the speculation quickly garnered serious attention.


    The higher-ups discussed and concluded that the likelihood of Zhang Menglong being behind this was indeed quite high.


    There were only three possible scenarios for the military support to Tambat Kingdom, one being state-level support, but this possibility had been largely ruled out as the countries with the greatest suspicion had provided their proof.


    The second possibility was the action of some international organization against Brahma Country, but Brahma Country hadn''t offended any international organizations. Even if there were a real desire to target them, there would need to be a purpose, right? Yet up to this point, no one had contacted them to negotiate any conditions.


    As for the last possibility, it must have been an individual''s act.


    Weapons and equipment worth 100 billion US dollars¡ªordinary people simply wouldn''t have the financial power to afford this, but Zhang Menglong was no ordinary person. They believed that even if it were ten times that amount, as long as someone could get the goods, Zhang Menglong would be able to pay for it!


    Furthermore, Zhang Menglong had the motive to carry out such an act, and his movements strongly suggested this. All things considered, if this wasn''t done by Zhang Menglong, then he was behind it, pulling the strings. If not, they might as well stand on their heads in front of a running fan!


    Now they were the ones at fault and in a weaker position; they definitely wouldn''t dare to further worsen their relationship with Zhang Menglong rashly. But they had to confirm whether or not it was Zhang Menglong who did this so they could think about how to deal with the matter thereafter.


    After gathering multiple opinions, Cook finally received an order: to probe Zhang Menglong and see if he could get any leads from him.


    Upon receiving this task, Cook felt utterly distressed. What kind of unlucky job was this? Based on previous experience, did anyone who dealt with Zhang Menglong ever end well?


    You say it''s clearly someone else''s assets; why do you have to scheme against them? Are they not paying you taxes or what? Such a massive enterprise, even if returned to Zhang Menglong, could he really move it back to Huaxia? As long as it remains in Brahma Country, what difference does it make from Brahma Country''s own industries?


    But you just had to privatize someone else''s assets, and now, look what happened. You''ve offended them, and when pushed to the brink, they directly join your enemies against you¡ªis this the situation you wanted?


    This clearly wasn''t Cook''s idea, but he had to clean up this mess, cursing the ancestors of those politicians in his heart.


    But there was no helping it. Even as a bureau chief, in a department with little real power, he was still just a lowly worker, who could only silently take orders from the higher-ups.


    Cook reluctantly dialed Zhang Menglong''s number, but his mind was still searching for the right words¡ªhow should he start? Should he just outright ask if this was Zhang Menglong''s doing? It would be strange if Zhang Menglong admitted it.


    Shoot the breeze about family and personal matters? He wasn''t friends with Zhang Menglong and any person with half a brain wouldn''t use such an approach to communicate.


    But the call had already gone through, and Cook could no longer ponder.


    "Hello, I am Zhang Menglong!" Zhang Menglong carried a what-do-you-want-to-talk-about expression through the phone. He was completely aware of everything Brahma Country had been doing these past few days and knew they had begun to suspect him.


    But Zhang Menglong was not flustered because he hadn''t left any traceable evidence regarding the matter. Furthermore, he couldn''t wait for the people from Brahma Country to come to him. If they put up with it silently, where would he vent his frustration?


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, this is Cook. We had been in contact a while back."


    "Oh, Cook?" Zhang Menglong began to blather, "How about the proposal I made last time? Your Apple Inc. is now valued at 2.1 trillion US dollars, I offered to buy it for 3 trillion dollars¡ªa price that''s quite sincere, and I''d pay in cash, all at once!"


    Cook was bewildered on his end, thinking what nonsense this was. He was Cook, the Public Notary Bureau Director from Brahma Country, not that Cook from America who sold phones. Even if you couldn''t distinguish the names, you should at least be able to tell the difference between English and the language of Brahma Country, right?


    Buying Apple Inc. for 3 trillion dollars in cash¡ªwhom are you trying to impress with such grandiosity?


    "Mr. Zhang, I am the Cook from Brahma Country''s Public Notary Bureau, not the Cook you just mentioned." Knowing that Zhang Menglong was doing this on purpose, Cook could only silently endure.


    "Oh, oh, oh, hahaha, sorry Mr. Cook, I''ve been busy acquiring Apple Inc. and accidentally mistook someone for you," Zhang Menglong said without an ounce of apology. "May I ask why Mr. Cook is looking for me? Did you find that will?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve made myself perfectly clear that there''s no such will to begin with, so there''s nothing to find, is there?"


    "Then why are you bothering me? Idiot, wasting my time!" With that, Zhang Menglong hung up the phone.


    Cook was on the verge of tears at the other end, wondering if this person was trained in face-changing. How could he switch attitudes so abruptly? Couldn''t he give someone the time it takes to sing a song to talk?


    At this moment, he really felt like quitting, but he had no choice and had to steel himself to call Zhang Menglong again.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is Cook, I just..."


    "Oh, Mr. Cook? Ahaha, I just had a call from an idiot with the exact same name as yours, I almost mistook him for you."


    Cook felt a vein throbbing on his forehead as he suppressed the urge to commit murder and spoke in a low voice, "Mr. Zhang, I am the same Cook who called you just now."


    "Why the hell is it you again, don''t bother me if there''s nothing important, I''m on my way to acquire Apple Inc.!"


    "Wait, Mr. Zhang, please don''t hang up," Cook hurriedly said, "I really have never seen the will you mentioned, but I promise, if it really exists, I will make every effort to find it for you!"


    "Why didn''t you say so sooner?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Now, what do you want with me? I''m very busy, I have a big deal worth three trillion US dollars to discuss."


    Cook was going insane. Could they please stop mentioning buying Apple Inc. and throwing around figures like three trillion US dollars in cash? Even the entire wealth of the Mahalast Family didn''t amount to three trillion US dollars. He suspected this was some kind of hint.


    "Mr. Zhang, I heard you left Brahma Country recently for a trip to Xuli?"


    "Yeah, so what? I''m not a citizen of your country, why do you care where I go?"


    "Mr. Zhang, that place is so dangerous with constant warfare, what were you doing there?"


    "Nonsense, I was there for tourism, what else?" Zhang Menglong said unapologetically, "I bought a new villa that I wanted to redecorate and wanted to reference Xuli''s style, is that not okay?"


    Cook was speechless. He knew about styles like Northern European, Mediterranean, American, and Japanese, but had never heard of Xuli style. Was it a style where everything was in ruins?


    Are you insane? Who in their right mind would want to live in a house styled like that?


    "Mr. Zhang, are you aware of the recent conflict between our country and the Tambat Kingdom?"


    "Of course, didn''t you guys get walloped? The prisoners of war were even dragged to the front line, dressed up in women''s clothing, stood on their heads while washing their hair and eating instant noodles, smoked backwards and drank ash water. It was hilarious!"


    "Laughing at your mother? If this has nothing to do with you, I''d do anything backwards myself!" Cook said, clenching his fist as he listened to Zhang Menglong''s irritating voice.


    "Mr. Zhang, surely this matter doesn''t involve you, does it?"


    After a few seconds of silence, Zhang Menglong spoke with a tone of grievance, "Mr. Cook, you can eat whatever crap you want but you can''t just say anything. Do you have evidence?"

 Chapter 488 486: Did You Guys Misunderstand Something?

    "Mr. Zhang, that''s not what I meant, only because this matter involves our national security, so I must be sure," Cook quickly explained.


    "Is it your superiors who sent you to investigate me?" Zhang Menglong''s tone was quite decisive, as if he had nothing to do with anything.


    "Mr. Zhang, after you left Brahma Country you went to Xuli, and then these kinds of incidents started happening on our front lines. I think we have some rights to be suspicious, don''t we?" Cook said, "Moreover, the way the Tambat people treat prisoners of war, we can''t help but suspect that your country has a hand in it."


    "Do you have evidence?"


    "This... I..." Cook was directly choked by these words; they didn''t have any damn evidence!


    Did they expect to send someone to Xuli for an investigation? Who would dare to go to such a place, where people are devoured without leaving any bones behind? One misstep and it''s dying in a foreign land, so what''s there to investigate?


    Even if they did go, whom would they ask? Go directly to those arms dealers and ask if there''s a person named Zhang Menglong buying arms from them?


    You have to know that these people recognize money, not faces, and they also have absolute professional integrity, definitely not exposing their customers'' information.


    Of course, it''s not because of any reputation; betraying customer information only leads to two results: one, the customer gets killed and they''ll never have repeat business; the second is the customer kills the person doing the investigation and then also causes trouble for them.


    Whichever the case, there''s no benefit for them, so unless it''s absolutely necessary, they definitely will not betray any customer information.


    Therefore, getting evidence in Xuli that Zhang Menglong sold arms is virtually impossible.


    Of course, to make the Tambat Kingdom admit they received arms from Zhang Menglong is even less likely, so this is almost an unsolvable proposition!


    "It seems like you don''t really have any evidence!" Zhang Menglong said, "No matter what your reasons are, you coming here inexplicably suspecting me of these activities, that is defamation of my reputation, You can choose to remain silent, but from now on, every word you say will be taken as evidence in court!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by this?" Cook frowned, listening to Zhang Menglong''s words, it seemed as if he was about to file a complaint?


    "I have already recorded our conversation just now, and in a few days, I will have my lawyers contact you," Zhang Menglong had already lost the desire to play tai chi with Cook.


    Now they were in a weaker position, but it seemed they still hadn''t realized their current situation; not begging his forgiveness is one thing, but to actually dare to question him? Did they really think Zhang Menglong was easy to provoke?


    "Hong Yi, copy the record of today''s conversation and then bring my team of lawyers to Brahma Country, I''m going to send them a legal notice!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this might be somewhat difficult to manage," Hong Yi said, "Although your lawyers have been through strict selection and their expertise is impeccable, this is only true in countries with a well-established legal system. In a country with such a backward foundational system, it could be very hard to accomplish anything, and even if the process goes ahead, it might take a year and a half."


    "A year and a half? I can''t wait that long," Zhang Menglong quickly shook his head.


    "I suggest you hire local lawyers to defend you, which might be more appropriate."


    "Do I have lawyers in Brahma Country?"


    "Yes," Hong Yi said, "but those lawyers are registered under the Mahalast Family''s name, and given the current situation, you might not be able to use them."


    "Man alive." Zhang Menglong felt a surge of nameless fury in his heart, like walking into his own backyard, suddenly wanting to defecate, but then being told that the toilet that originally belonged to him was now unusable, and he must go outside to find a public restroom."


    "Luca," Zhang Menglong asked, "which is the largest and best law firm in Brahma Country?"


    "Master, the best law firm in Brahma Country is Brahma Special Law Firm, which has a history of over 20 years in practice, and nearly all of the top domestic lawyers have come from this firm," Luca said.


    "Alright, let''s go there," Zhang Menglong said.


    ...


    As a leading law firm domestically, Brahma Country''s Para Law Firm concentrated nearly the topmost national legal consultation team. Their litigation cases were essentially unbeaten; in Brahma Country, seeing the opposing counsel from this firm often meant one might as well surrender directly.


    Of course, the threshold for the firm was extraordinarily high. The top lawyers from common firms were merely errand runners here, but even an errand-runner lawyer was in at least the top 20% of the income pyramid in the entire Brahma Country.


    Correspondingly, the firm''s charges were exorbitantly high. Even the cheapest lawyer charged more than 20,000 Rupees per hour for consultation, far exceeding the average monthly income of a regular Brahma Country worker.


    "Sir, are you here for legal consultation, or do you have other needs?" As soon as Zhang Menglong walked into the office, a young girl immediately approached him.


    The girl was very beautiful. In a country where dark skin was prevalent, finding someone as fair as her was quite difficult. It seemed that even the standards for ordinary staff here were incredibly high.


    "I am here to file a lawsuit," Zhang Menglong declared. "Find me the best legal team you have here."


    The girl hesitated momentarily. The fees for their top legal teams were terrifyingly high. She glanced at Zhang Menglong''s attire and then at Luca and Syntobey behind him. This group seemed like they were not short on money.


    "Gentlemen, we have three tiers of teams here. Each team is furnished with two lawyers and several staff members. The Level Three team charges 50,000 Rupees per day, Level Two team charges 120,000 Rupees a day, and Level One team is 250,000 Rupees per day. The fees are calculated from the day you file the case to the day it is concluded."


    "Is there anything better?" Zhang Menglong continued, not satisfied with even the 250,000 Rupees option, which was merely a bit more than 20,000 a day. How different was that from the price of cabbage?


    "There is," the girl looked troubled, "but they are the founders and partners of our firm. They charge based on the complexity of the case, so..."


    "Don''t worry about the money. I just want to know how skilled they are."


    "Sir, rest assured," the girl responded confidently, "our two founders have together handled over 200 defenses to date, without a single loss."


    "Done, then. Just call them over," Zhang Menglong decided.


    "This way, please, sir," the girl urged, not daring to delay. The staff responsible for monitoring at the reception had just quietly informed her that these folks had arrived in a Maybach, a car priced over 50 million Rupees¡ªnot something just anyone could afford. They certainly had the financial capacity!


    Upon hearing this news, the two founders of the firm immediately set aside their current tasks. Even if they didn''t clinch a deal, connections like these were invaluable. It was with such professional integrity that they had managed to grow the firm to its current size.


    "Let me introduce you to everyone. These two gentlemen are Mr. Sharuk and Mr. Mortian, the founders of our firm."


    "Welcome to our firm," the two founders warmly shook hands with Zhang Menglong, and then the one named Sharuk suddenly thought of something.


    "You... Are you Mr. Zhang Menglong?"


    "What? Zhang Menglong?" Mortian was also startled.


    "Gentlemen, don''t be alarmed," Zhang Menglong smiled, "I came here only seeking some legal assistance. I''ve heard about your extensive experience and undefeated record, so I''d like you to help me with a lawsuit."


    "Mr. Zhang, if it is concerning the Mahalast Family''s asset issues, I''m afraid we can''t assist you," Sharuk and Mortian had also received warnings recently. They were strictly forbidden from meddling in any disputes involving the Mahalast Family.


    "No no no, you might have misunderstood. Who said I wanted legal assistance with the Mahalast Family''s matters?"

 Chapter 489 487 Full and Idle

    Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but sneer inside. He was aware of the shamelessness of the people from Brahma Country and the Mahalast Family, yet he hadn''t expected them to stoop to such a level.


    Others would handle such affairs with extreme discretion, for fear that public knowledge could lead to an adverse opinion. However, these people had no shame and began to use various means to prevent Zhang Menglong from taking over the assets without any hesitation.


    Of course, when Sharuk and Mordiyan mentioned those words just now, they also revealed an embarrassed look on their faces. They had once gone to understand the legal issues from the people of the Mahalast Family after receiving the order. The fact shocked them, but it also left them feeling somewhat helpless.


    The founder of the Mahalast Family turned out to be a Huaxia person, and this family, with nearly 3 trillion US Dollars in assets, was not at all from their Brahma Country!


    The current head of the Mahalast Family had not left any descendants and had intended to transfer the assets back to Zhang Menglong. But to his surprise, the collateral members were unwilling; they even colluded with higher authorities to seize all the assets and thought of various ways to create obstacles.


    Although they both despised such behavior, their country was not as democratic and free as Western nations. They had no choice but to obey.


    But Zhang Menglong actually said he did not come for matters concerning the Mahalast Family''s assets. Then what else could he have come for?


    "You''re not here for the lawsuit over the assets of the Mahalast Family?" they asked again for confirmation.


    "Such trivial matters, I can settle by myself. What''s the point in suing a small family?" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, his face full of disdain and indifference.


    Sharuk and Mordiyan exchanged glances. If showing off were punishable by law, Zhang Menglong would have probably been shot by now, right?


    Good grief, we''re talking about nearly 3 trillion US Dollars in assets here. There aren''t many families larger than this in the whole of Brahma Country, let alone Asia. And you''re telling me this is just a small family?


    Nearly 3 trillion US Dollars in assets is considered a minor matter, doesn''t saying such a thing make you afraid of being struck by lightning?


    But this couldn''t help but evoke a vague sense of excitement in both of them. The world''s richest person was indeed worth the title, treating nearly three trillion US Dollars in assets as insignificant. So, how much was his net worth? 10 trillion? 20 trillion?


    If Zhang Menglong wasn''t here for the matters of the Mahalast Family, then accepting his case wouldn''t be considered as going against the wishes of the higher-ups.


    A person who doesn''t care about 3 trillion US Dollars, would their remuneration be small if they managed to handle his case?


    In the past few years, the world''s richest person at the time divided 200 billion US Dollars in assets during a divorce, and it''s said that the lawyer responsible for their property division also received commissions counted in billions.


    This 3 trillion US Dollar case could probably command at least ten times the commission, right? After this job, it would be like working diligently for hundreds or even thousands of years!


    But according to Zhang Menglong, the case he needed to deal with was likely even bigger than the Mahalast Family''s 3 trillion US Dollars worth of assets. Just the thought was thrilling. If they handled it well, they could just retire to villas by the sea and quit running a law firm, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, whatever case you have for us, just say the word. We may not rank high internationally, but in our Brahma Country, nobody is more professional than we are. Even the world''s top lawyers might not be able to surpass us in our country!" Sharuk said with utmost confidence. This was their battleground, and no one in this country could surpass their understanding of each and every law. That was their source of confidence.


    "Good," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction. "You must have heard about the recent military conflict between your country and the Tambat Kingdom being quite severe."


    The two men could only offer a wry smile. His description was too understated. What does ''quite severe'' mean? It was an utter disaster. Their troops were simply rubbed face-down on the ground by the enemy, and even their captives were dressed in women''s clothes and humiliated at the frontlines for three days. Their Brahma Country was on the verge of becoming the world''s laughing stock.


    Even the military parade scheduled for a few days later had been postponed. Now, having a parade would only remind everyone of those images of soldiers in miniskirts and stockings.


    "Today, the head of your so-called Public Notary Office actually called me up to ask if I was behind this incident. Can you believe how absurd that is?" Zhang Menglong said, righteously indignant as if he had absolutely nothing to do with the matter.


    "Mr. Zhang''s acting skills¡ªif they don''t give him an Oscar, it would be so unfair!" Hong Yi was communicating inside with Ye Yin, who was hidden in the shadows.


    "Hahaha, having been with Mr. Zhang for so long, I''ve gotten used to it. Mr. Zhang has always been this shameless."


    "Ye Yin, I think I hear someone talking behind my back about how handsome I am!"


    While they were chatting idly, Zhang Menglong''s voice actually cut in, "Nice, Ye Yin, you actually talk behind my back, calling me shameless. Your year-end bonus is super halved this year!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I..." Ye Yin was not only a bit panicked but also surprised. Zhang Menglong''s power had increased so rapidly that it was almost unbelievable. Now, Zhang Menglong could even forcefully intrude into this type of Brain Quantum Waves exchange. It seemed from now on, he could no longer casually talk behind Zhang Menglong''s back.


    "Remember this!" Zhang Menglong said viciously.


    ...


    "Ridiculous... indeed quite ridiculous..."


    Facing Zhang Menglong''s question, Sharuk and Mortian could only agree.


    One person assisting a country to win a war sounded indeed very far-fetched, but for some reason, when this was attributed to Zhang Menglong, they always felt that such a feat seemed like just a basic operation for him.


    They had heard that the reason the Brahma Country was defeated was that the Tambat Kingdom''s troops suddenly had a lot of advanced military equipment.


    To get the equipment, actually, you only need two things: connections and money, both of which Zhang Menglong just so happened to have. At this moment, they suddenly felt like Zhang Menglong was the type to strike first and play the victim!


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask why they would accuse you of this?" Mortian asked.


    "I don''t know, maybe they''re jealous of my handsomeness and talent." Zhang Menglong took out his phone and played the recording from the call.


    Listening to the contents of the recording, their faces grew increasingly grim. If they were only 30% suspicious that Zhang Menglong was involved in this matter before, now they were 70% suspicious.


    "So the reason you came here today is..."


    "I plan to sue your notary office, that Cook, and the whole series of people above him who have slandered and libeled me!"


    "You... Could you repeat that, please? We must have heard wrong," Sharuk and Mortian said as they began to sweat uncontrollably from their foreheads. Good lord, this wasn''t just suing one person; this was practically going to court against an entire country.


    Were they out of their minds? Whether they won or lost this lawsuit, they feared that after this, both of them would have no place in the entire Brahma Country.


    The most crucial part was, no one directly accused them of interfering in the war; they just reasonably suspected and tried to draw out their words, and now they wanted to sue? Was it really reasonable to be so capricious?


    And could they honestly say, hand on heart, that they had absolutely nothing to do with this matter?


    That wasn''t suing; they really suspected that Zhang Menglong was just idle and looking for trouble after having his fill.


    "Mr. Zhang, there might be some difficulties with that, we..."


    "500 million!"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not about the money, the key issue is..."


    "US dollars!"


    "Mr. Zhang, but..."


    "Each person!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we will definitely handle this matter for you beautifully!"

 Chapter 490 488: Make It Deadly

    $500 million per person¡ªa fortune sufficient for them to live a lifetime without ever running out of money. How many people in the world possess $500 million in cash?


    As for offending one''s own country? What can''t be done? After this big score, they could completely take their families and children and flee the country. Which nation would not have a place for them? Perhaps in other countries, they could be even happier and more content¡ªas long as they had money.


    "Mr. Zhang, what are your demands?" Sharuk and Mortian asked. If Zhang Menglong were to make some meaningless demands or ones that were simply unachievable, such as demanding Brahma Country to compensate him billions of dollars in emotional damages, they would simply give up.


    It wasn''t that they lacked the skill, but rather that Brahma Country simply couldn''t come up with several billion dollars in cash to compensate Zhang Menglong. Even a few billion would likely force this impoverished nation to sell everything but the kitchen sink.


    "My demands are not high; I just want a full apology from top to bottom."


    "That''s it?" Both were stunned.


    How did this sound like two people in a spat, one spending a billion dollars on a lawsuit just to force an apology out of sheer spite? Could one get any more capricious? In all their years of legal practice, they had never encountered such an outrageous case.


    What baffled them most was, if you sue someone, demanding money is one thing¡ªbut not even wanting compensation, just an apology, and even sinking a billion dollars into it? Was it worth it? Anyone without five years of Parkinson''s wouldn''t engage in such self-destructive behavior.


    Or was it that Zhang Menglong had become so capricious that spending a billion dollars was the same to him as spending ten, and as long as it made him happy, any amount of money was inconsequential? If that was the case, they had nothing to say¡ªyou''re the boss when you have the money.


    But who would reject money? For that billion dollars, even if the people of Brahma Country had done nothing wrong, they would still have to nitpick and find some fault!


    "How confident are the two of you about this matter?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you charge them with defamation, this case might be hard to win because their actions have not caused any direct harm to your reputation for the time being, and they did not directly accuse you of anything in their voice chats, which lacks persuasive power," Sharuk analyzed.


    "Then, in your experience, on what grounds should I sue?"


    They exchanged a look, and then, years of unspoken understanding led them to think of the same term simultaneously.


    "Human rights!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. How did this turn into a matter of human rights? "Can you explain that to me?"


    Seeing their expressions, Zhang Menglong knew this was reliable.


    "Mr. Zhang, it was mentioned in the call records that they knew your whereabouts intimately. This indicates that they have been surveilling your every move in secret, which is far from friendly behavior."


    Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. Indeed, the power of money was unmatched; these two had found such a unique angle in just a few minutes.


    Right, how could you know I went to Xuli? Doesn''t that show you''re investigating and watching me?


    Of course, as a nation, it is necessary to manage immigration, and recording Zhang Menglong''s movements was not a problem¡ªany country would document that information.


    However, keeping files is one thing; surveilling someone''s movements is quite another. Generally, only highly dangerous criminals or other individuals under administrative surveillance would be allowed access to such information.


    Although Zhang Menglong was blacklisted by many countries, legally speaking, he had no issues.


    To put it mildly, it was a country''s routine measure for its own safety.


    But if taken seriously, this could be seen as surveillance, a violation of personal freedom.


    "Mr. Zhang, as long as we make a case out of this, suing them will be extremely easy," Hong Yi said. "Just think about how many foreigners are in Brahma Country, whether they''re students or tourists. If they knew every move they made in this country was being watched, what do you think their reaction would be?"


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but praise. These two were really bent over by five hundred million US Dollars; they were ready to throw their integrity out the window and start causing trouble for their own country on the spot, and with such precision at that!


    The number of foreigners residing in Brahma Country year-round is as high as five to six million. Once these people realize they have no privacy while living in Brahma Country, the resulting impact would turn the world upside down.


    Keep in mind, some of these people are Westerners, who value democracy and freedom the most. Let them know about this, and I''m afraid they''d all go insane.


    And this matter definitely won''t just ferment within Brahma Country. As the saying goes, good news stays at home, but bad news travels far. If this information were to get back to their home countries, it would probably grab the attention of all the nations that cherish freedom. This butterfly effect is truly terrifying.


    If we go down an even darker path, since they''ve surveilled foreigners, who''s to say the locals aren''t being watched as well?


    Although it''s impossible for Brahma Country to have the manpower and resources to monitor its population of over a billion people, by that time, with public opinion flying everywhere, everyone would be suffering from paranoia, and those emotions would be uncontrollable.


    Zhang Menglong has seen the power of public opinion plenty of times back home!


    "Mr. Zhang, we have a very wide network of contacts throughout Brahma Country. We can get in touch with a large number of media outlets to blow this thing up," Hong Yi assured him.


    "We can edit this recording and amplify the part where they monitored your personal freedom."


    "Moreover, given that you''re the world''s richest man, that title alone is enough to draw a massive amount of attention. This will be very beneficial to the fermentation of the incident."


    "Brilliant!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but want to applaud them.


    He had originally just wanted to charge them with defamation, but with just a few words, these two lawyers elevated it to a matter of human rights, and they were also shifting the focus from Zhang Menglong alone to all of the foreign population and even the entire populace of Brahma Country.


    This was going for the jugular!


    "Mr. Zhang, we are 100% confident that we can make them lose the case. You can leave this matter entirely to us," they said confidently.


    "Hong Yi, transfer six hundred million US Dollars to their foreign exchange account!" Zhang Menglong ordered.


    "Six hundred million?!" They stiffened at such a terrifying number. "Mr. Zhang, this money..."


    "Five hundred million of it is your down payment," Zhang Menglong stated. "You''ll need funds to arrange those media outlets, so consider this hundred million US Dollars your miscellaneous expenses. Once the job is done, the remaining five hundred million will also be immediately transferred to your account."


    Happiness came so suddenly that even after signing the contract with Zhang Menglong, they were still a bit dazed; the amount of money nearly knocked them over on the spot.


    Of course, they had to handle the matter efficiently. After Zhang Menglong and his party left, they immediately put aside the cases they were handling.


    What are those other cases even worth? Added up, they don''t come close to what they would earn from greasing palms and managing public opinion for Zhang Menglong''s case. Serving this ''big boss'' well was now their top priority.


    "Honey, get ready to move. Look into which country has the easiest immigration process and sort out our immigration papers immediately. By next month at the latest, we''ll be ready to make a run for it!"


    "The firm? Forget it, what do we need it for? We''re about to have five hundred million, in US Dollars!"


    "I didn''t rob a bank!"


    ...

 Chapter 491 489: We Admit Defeat

    About the legal notice warning from Zhang Menglong, those politicians in Brahma Country had not taken it to heart, after all, the most pressing matter right now was the frontline battle. Could Zhang Menglong really dare to sue them in court?


    But what they didn''t realize was that Zhang Menglong indeed dared. While they were still frantically busy due to the frontline conflict, they actually received a subpoena from the court.


    Those who received the subpoena included the head of the notary office, Cook, the immigration head, Hank, and some other senior officials, totaling nearly 10 people.


    When Cook saw the court''s subpoena, he was actually quite disdainful because he was very clear that his actions could not possibly constitute defamation. During his communication with Zhang Menglong, it had all been in an interrogative tone, and he had never flatly accused him as the instigator of all. To say that it was defamation was, in fact, rather unconvincing.


    However, when he read the contents, he suddenly saw black before his eyes. Zhang Menglong was not suing him for defamation at all, but had charged him and the other heads of various departments with the crime of "human rights violation"!


    He was immediately dumbfounded. All I did was ask if you went to Xuli to buy arms, how the hell did you slap me with such a serious charge?


    Defamation is actually a minor issue when you look at it because it only involves an individual.


    But when it comes to human rights, that''s a whole different ball game; there are numerous intricacies involved. At a time when the whole world advocates for human rights, if this charge is proven, they will instantly face the finger-pointing from thousands!


    The most exaggerated part is, the violations of human rights were committed by these special individuals, necessarily implying the loss of national credibility, resulting in social turmoil. Zhang Menglong was aiming to wreck their entire country!


    Just as those who received the subpoenas began to discuss their legal strategy, a bombardment of news media coverage exploded. Newspapers, TV stations, social media platforms, mainstream media, they all actually began broadcasting the news.


    The headline of the news was simple yet brutal:


    "World''s Richest Man, Zhang Menglong, Sues Brahma Country for Human Rights Violation"


    The world''s richest man, what an impactful title, almost everyone who saw this news would click on it to read further. Zhang Menglong even cooperated with a video interview, which was a journalist''s questions and his responses.


    "Mr. Zhang, could you please tell us about your decision to sue Brahma Country for human rights violations?"


    "Speaking of which, I get angry," Zhang Menglong immediately demonstrated his Oscar-worthy acting skills, "A friend of mine from Brahma Country recently passed away, so I came here to pay my respects. But what I didn''t expect was that from the moment I set foot in this country, my every move was under tight surveillance. Tell me, if this isn''t a violation of human rights, what is it?"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone and played the recording from that time.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to our investigation, you departed Brahma Country on a private plane at 15:30 on that day, heading for Xuli, and returned to Brahma Country the following morning. We have reason to suspect that you..."


    After this recording was played, the journalist''s expression also changed. If the authenticity of this recording could be proven, then the crime of monitoring Zhang Menglong''s personal freedom could be directly confirmed.


    "According to the laws of Brahma Country, only judicial authorities have the right to access immigration records, and they must have corresponding evidence to prove that I have endangered national security in order to monitor me. But I''m just an ordinary person; I came to see my friend. Did I do anything wrong? By what right do you monitor my whereabouts?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Is it so that in your country of Brahma, we foreigners have no right to safeguard our privacy? I now have reason to suspect that you have been keeping a 24-hour watch on me!"


    Zhang Menglong''s speech grew more and more outrageous, but his words carried significant incendiary power.


    Everyone who heard it agreed; what he said made sense. If you''re already monitoring the man''s movements, who''s to say you aren''t having someone watch him around the clock? If that''s not the violation of human rights, then what is?


    "Wow, is this bullying us Huaxia people?"


    "Damn, a crappy country dares to conduct surveillance? Your own citizens are human, but foreigners aren''t, and they can''t have their own privacy and space?"


    "I think Mr. Zhang''s lawsuit is justified. We must rely on legal means to resolutely protect our legitimate rights!"


    "I think this is no longer just a matter of restricting personal freedom; this has become a social issue!"


    ...


    The discussion of the matter grew more and more serious, and within just half a day, it had already spread to other countries.


    Human rights is an eternal topic. Eastern countries may not have as many people who tightly cling to it, but in Western countries, those two words are even more important than their own lives.


    How many Westerners, for the so-called human rights, refused to wear masks or quarantined at home during the worst of the pandemic? Such is their perverse adulation for human rights.


    Once the news broke out, tens of millions of human rights activists reached a climax inside their skulls. They vehemently criticized the invasive actions of Brahma Country, especially those social organizations dedicated to protecting human rights, which organized a wealth of declaration activities.


    The most exaggerated case was when some people spontaneously took to the streets of Brahma Country and held a protest that amassed a thousand participants.


    Had it been the people of Brahma Country, they would have been taken away directly, but these were foreigners, whom they simply didn''t dare to handle casually.


    Facing pressure from all sides, the people of Brahma Country were nearly driven mad.


    Zhang Menglong demanded an apology, which wasn''t a difficult matter in itself, but even with an apology, would this affair simply end there? In the hearts of others, this wasn''t an isolated case, they were still under the surveillance of Brahma Country, and such a so-called apology seemed far too trivial.


    Unless they could prove Zhang Menglong had done something illegal or disorderly, their surveillance of him would be deemed reasonable and lawful. Otherwise, the accusation of human rights violations was nearly completely substantiated.


    But what could they use as evidence?


    A trip by Zhang Menglong to Xuli could prove he bought arms to support Tambat Kingdom? Such reasoning was obviously not convincing, in a society that demands evidence, without it they were slandering!


    You can''t just surveil him because Zhang Menglong is the world''s richest person, can you? This reasoning is not tenable either.


    Unless they admitted that they aspired to seize all of the Mahalast Family''s assets owned by Zhang Menglong, and that they had monitored him out of fear that he might take some extreme actions.


    If that were the case, the turbulence caused by the infringement of personal freedom could be minimalized to the greatest extent, but such a scandal would be enough to make them spurned for a year and a half.


    But this might be their only option.


    These people understood well that Zhang Menglong didn''t genuinely want to sue them for human rights violations, he just wanted to stir up some excitement for the public to see.


    Media from all over the world were reporting on this case, and they didn''t believe that Brahma Country''s level of attention was so high; they were convinced that if there wasn''t a hand operating behind the scenes, it would be unbelievable.


    To have so many media outlets report at once, how much money would it take to buy this kind of heat? Other than Zhang Menglong, there would be no one else so indifferent to the cost, having money and being capricious was his most significant label after all.


    ...


    "The last line of defense on the front has fallen!"


    After more than a week of standoff, under immense military disparity, Brahma Country finally couldn''t hold on any longer, and all its troops retreated back to the country, with the entire disputed territory thoroughly occupied by Tambat Kingdom.


    But they didn''t stop there. Tambat Kingdom began to reorganize its forces, preparing to launch an attack on a second disputed territory!


    Late at night, another urgent meeting was secretly convened, as the nation was now steeped in a crisis within and without.


    "It''s no use! If we keep fighting, we''re finished!"


    "Our losses have already exceeded 3 trillion US Dollars! The longer we drag this out, the greater our losses will become!"


    "Go find Zhang Menglong, we concede! Give him back all the assets!"

 Chapter 492 490: I Dont Want It Anymore

    "General Afur, have you been quite happy recently?" Zhang Menglong made a call to Afur using a special route.


    Afur instantly recognized the voice as Zhang Menglong''s, "Mr. Zhang, thank you for your support to our Tambat Kingdom. We''ve already taken back a piece of lost land, and we will reclaim the remaining three pieces one by one. We are willing to offer you any 100 square kilometer area, which you can use for whatever you want!"


    "What Mr. Zhang, what are you talking about? I don''t understand," Zhang Menglong feigned ignorance. "I''m not surnamed Zhang, my name is Long Aotian."


    Afur was at a loss for words, thinking at this point, why still play dumb? Aren''t we all men, why can''t we just speak frankly without mincing words? It''s not like he could sell Zhang Menglong out, could he? He believed that if he dared to do such a thing, by tomorrow, a neighboring country might come flying over with 1,000 tanks and 1,000 fighter jets.


    Zhang Menglong had managed to keep Brahma Country in line, and he could surely do the same to their Tambat Kingdom.


    "Yes, yes, Mr. Long, I made a careless mistake," Afur quickly apologized, "May I know if Mr. Long has any instructions for us?"


    "No instructions to speak of; I''m not particularly interested in that 100 square kilometers of land. I just wanted to discuss with you, regarding those four disputed territories, it would be fair for you to take three of them. Don''t bully them too much; just enough to make your point," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Long, we''ll follow your advice," Afur hastened to say. In truth, they were already extremely satisfied with having recovered that piece of land. Being able to recapture two more was like their ancestors'' graves were smoking¡ªafter all, some of the areas were only disputed and didn''t originally belong to Tambat Kingdom.


    "When the time comes, follow my lead," Zhang Menglong said. "You should know that I have some scores to settle with Brahma Country. For now, you can play it by ear. When it''s nearly enough, slow down the pace. If they come begging me for mercy, then we might as well give them a way out."


    Of course, Afur knew Zhang Menglong must have past disputes with Brahma Country; he was practically suing the entire nation. Although there was no verdict yet, the whole world was calling for human rights and freedom, and Brahma Country was like a rat crossing the street, chased by everyone.


    "Yes, we''ll wait for Mr. Zhang''s news!"


    Having finished this call, Zhang Menglong lay down directly to wait for Brahma Country to beg him, judging by the current situation, he guessed their morale must have been nearly shattered.


    "Luca, Sindtobi, get ready to take over the Mahalast Family," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Yes!" Although they didn''t know where Zhang Menglong got his confidence, his assured demeanor naturally infected them.


    Indeed, in less than an hour, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "I thought they could hold out for several more hours, but that''s it," Zhang Menglong answered the call, "Hello, who is this?"


    "Mr. Zhang... it''s me, Cook," Cook hurriedly added, "I''m that Cook from the Public Notary Office of Brahma Country, not the Apple one."


    "What''s the matter, we are in a sensitive period before the court session, with one side as the plaintiff and the other as the defendant. Isn''t it a bit irregular to be in contact privately now?" Zhang Menglong challenged, "If Mr. Cook has something to discuss, let''s wait until after the court session!"


    Cook instantly became anxious. The counterattack of Tambat Kingdom had only been going for a week and they had lost a piece of land. Now they had started attacking the second place with great momentum. Didn''t they have to wait until after the court session?


    Considering the court process, gathering evidence, pre-trial, trial and so on, a month was inevitable. In a month''s time, it''s not just about taking down those three remaining disputed territories; they could march straight to the capital.


    "No, no, Mr. Zhang, we have important matters to discuss with you this time."


    "What''s up? Looking to settle in private?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''m fine with settling privately, but I won''t ask for much, just 100 billion US dollars."


    Cook almost spat blood on the spot, can they be at least slightly reasonable? Demanding 100 billion US dollars just like that, if they had 100 billion US dollars, they wouldn''t be getting ground into the dust by Tambat Kingdom.


    "Mr. Zhang, what I wanted to say is, we have found Mr. Domit''s will that you mentioned last time!"


    "Oh? Didn''t you say he never made a will? Now how come you''ve found one? Did you use ''Impure World Reincarnation'' to bring him back to life and then had him write it?" Zhang Menglong asked with a sneer.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re quite the joker, it was a mistake on our part. One of our staff made an error in filing the information after notarizing Mr. Domit''s will, which led to this situation."


    "Really? You, the number one family in Brahma Country, the richest people, can actually make a mistake when making a will? You think you''re being funny?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Mr. Zhang," Cook hurried to clarify, "we''ve reviewed Mr. Domit''s will, and he suggested in the will that the Mahalast Family was founded by your ancestors and that the Mahalast Family was just managing the assets for your family. After his death, he wished for all assets to be transferred under your name. We have deemed this will valid after our assessment."


    "Oh? Is that right?" Zhang Menglong remained utterly calm.


    "However, Mr. Zhang, according to our laws, inheritance by non-direct relatives is subject to a certain percentage of estate tax. As per the regulations, the estate tax rate is 20%. Based on our calculations, the Mahalast Family''s assets amount to approximately 27.95 trillion US dollars, which means we need to deduct 5.59 trillion US dollars."


    "Hahaha, that''s hilarious, the assets were originally mine, just returning to the rightful owner, and I need to pay taxes?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, he thought these people could be a bit smarter, but even now they were pulling these stunts. A 20% inheritance tax? He couldn''t believe they had the nerve to say it, their greed was just too unsightly.


    "Forget it, I don''t want it!"


    "Huh?" Cook was startled. What did he mean by he didn''t want it?


    "I mean, I can''t be bothered with these assets. Give them to whoever you want, I''m not short of 5.59 trillion US dollars, nor am I short of 27.95 trillion US dollars. You''re giving me so little, trying to treat me like a beggar?"


    Is this what they call treating someone like a beggar? Even after the estate tax deduction, that''s still over 22 trillion US dollars. Do they really think it''s okay to toss around that kind of money like it''s for a beggar?


    "Alright, let''s end our call here. I went to check out the Xuli style decoration last time and found it quite nice. Now I''m planning to go see the Ira style decoration, so I''m just giving you a heads up and saving you the trouble of continuing to monitor my moves."


    Cook panicked on the spot. Ira couldn''t be much better than Xuli; it was also a place rife with war. By the sound of it, it seemed like he was about to procure another batch of military arms from Ira!


    What were these arms for? Obviously, to keep supplying the Tambat Kingdom.


    Zhang Menglong was indirectly telling him that he was totally unsatisfied with their handling of the matter. Since he was unsatisfied, it meant he would let the Tambat Kingdom keep attacking them until they came up with a solution that pleased Zhang Menglong!


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment, I''ll go inquire again right now, we can negotiate the estate tax."


    "No need to negotiate," Zhang Menglong said, "You better understand, it''s you who are asking me, not the other way around. My patience is limited, and I really couldn''t care less about those 3 trillion dollars. Do whatever you want with them, but let me tell you, I am very annoyed!"

 Chapter 493 491: 100 Trillion US Dollars

    "What? Did he really say that?" Upon hearing Cook''s feedback, the top echelons of Brahma Country immediately began slamming the table one after another.


    "We''ve already given him a way to back down, what exactly does he want?"


    "He''s displeased? We''re even more displeased. We''re a populous nation; should we really bow and apologize to someone like him?"


    "If we''re pushed too far, we''ll make sure both parties suffer!"


    "Both parties suffer?" A middle-aged man sitting in the corner sneered, "What will you use to make both parties suffer, your shit-filled heads? I''ve said from the beginning, don''t mess with Huaxia folks, and especially not Zhang Menglong. You brought this on yourselves!"


    "Mahar, is now the time for such talk?" Another middle-aged man was clearly annoyed but lacked any confidence to refute. This legislator named Mahar was the only one who had suggested not to meddle in the affairs of the Mahalast Family.


    "Exactly, is our country really afraid of one man? Even the strongest individual power is nothing but dust before the might of a nation''s machinery," another legislator argued.


    "Oh, is that so?" Mahar laughed, "That''s only because poverty has limited your imagination. Of course, one person can''t contend with the machinery of a nation, but that''s simply because that person isn''t powerful enough. If someone possesses a wealth of a hundred trillion US dollars and commands an army of tens of thousands of fighters, do you still think such a person can''t compete with a nation?"


    This question stunned everyone present. If one individual really had such wealth and power, forget contending with a nation, they could even sweep through Earth, right?


    "Take a look at this!" Mahar threw a stack of files onto the table.


    This was Mahar''s investigation into Zhang Menglong. "Setting aside his military prowess for the moment, do you know how much money Zhang Menglong actually has?"


    "Qingqiu Country, 820 billion US dollars, Huaxia 8 trillion US dollars, America, 6.8 trillion US dollars, England 4.62 trillion US dollars... 98.93 trillion US dollars? How is that possible?"


    This document clearly listed the amount of money Zhang Menglong had deposited in various countries; according to the current exchange rate, the total was nearly a hundred trillion US dollars! The global GDP for a year doesn''t even come close to this number.


    "And this is just the cash that Zhang Menglong has on hand!" said Mahar, "Including his real estate assets, this number might even be several times higher!"


    "That''s impossible, his declared assets amount to just over a trillion US dollars!"


    "Idiots, let me ask you, if he has the Mahalast Family managing his assets in Tambat Kingdom, wouldn''t he have similar families doing the same in other countries? Do you really think he would be so foolish as to register all his assets in his own name?"


    This question abruptly awoke everyone from their dreams.


    No wonder Zhang Menglong could ignore assets worth three trillion US dollars so indifferently; those were just a drop in the bucket compared to his total wealth. He wasn''t pretending not to care¡ªhe genuinely didn''t care!


    "You think he provided support to Tambat Kingdom simply because he had no other options?" Mahar said, "With a flick of his finger, he can manipulate that hundred trillion US dollars and make our entire Brahma Country''s economy crumble. During this process, he could even absorb vast amounts of capital through finance. He chose this approach only to express his dissatisfaction!"


    Mahar continued, "And here you are, still discussing how to deal with him. Do you really think you stand a chance against him? A hundred trillion US dollars¡ªwhat country could withstand the economic war he could wage? Are you still nai?vely believing that an individual cannot match a nation?"


    This speech rendered everyone present utterly silent; the astronomical figure rendered them speechless, and it turned out they were the fools!


    "Mahar, where did you get these documents?" someone asked. If Zhang Menglong had spokespersons like this in various countries, it would be impossible to get the total of these asset figures in principle.


    "Mr. Hui Jie Yan, it''s time for you to show yourself."


    The air distorted, and a gaunt figure appeared.


    If Zhang Menglong were here, he would immediately recognize this person as Hui Jie Yan, whom he had been searching for months.


    The current Hui Jie had undergone a tremendous change from several months ago; the aura emanating from him had become more unfathomable. In order to kill Zhang Menglong, he had bided his time in hiding for months. Now, he felt confident enough to face Zhang Menglong in battle!


    Within the space of the Main God, he had once obtained a very special object. However, because it was too dangerous, he had never dared to use it. But now, he had no choice. After enduring torturous agony, he had succeeded. This time, he was out for revenge!


    "You... You are that Hui Jie, Hui Jie Yi?"


    "Mahar, this is a meeting of our council; why did you bring him here?"


    Suddenly, several powerful presences appeared in the office. As an ancient nation, Brahma Country also had many powerful humans from the second world as important council members, and naturally, they would have their protection.


    "Be careful, Mr. Chairman, this man is very powerful!" The psychics of Brahma Country had grave expressions on their faces. The strongest among them had reached the level of a Level Seven super psychic, but their instincts told them that this man was even stronger than they were.


    "If I really wanted to do something, do you think you could stop me?" Hui Jie Yi sneered, and out of the void, a pitch-black claw materialized, snatching up the three psychics and hoisting them into the air.


    All the council members were dumbfounded; their nation''s three strongest psychics were held in Hui Jie Yi''s hand like chicks.


    "Mr. Hui Jie!" Mahar hurriedly tried to mediate.


    "Hmph!"


    The black claw dissipated into a dark mist, and the three psychics were discarded aside like trash.


    "Mr. Hui Jie, what exactly do you want from us?"


    "I''d like to propose a cooperation," Hui Jie Yi said, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? We have a common foe; don''t you want to eliminate him?"


    "How do we cooperate?" They, of course, wanted to eliminate Zhang Menglong. "With your strength, killing him should be an easy task, right?"


    "If he could be killed so easily, why on Earth would I have a global bounty on my head?" Hui Jie Yi''s face was filled with resentment. "I am confident I can kill him, but I need a bit of help from you."


    "How do you want us to help you?"


    "I need to enter your Brahma Temple!"


    "What? That is absolutely not possible!" The council members immediately met this demand with strong opposition.


    The Brahma Temple was a historic relic of the Brahma Country. Of course, that was only for the ordinary people, but it was also the cradle of psychics for the Brahma Country!


    This Brahma Temple bore many ancient legends of the Brahma Country. They suspected it was a remnant left by those powerful beings of the past. This place held the powers left by those beings, and those with unique physiques who entered this place had the chance to gain these powers.


    It was said that the temple harbored the power of the Ghost Gods, and for the faith of the Brahma Country, the Ghost Gods were sacred and majestic. How could they possibly allow a foreigner to enter?


    "It''s your choice!" Hui Jie Yi declared, "Unless you''re willing to sacrifice your dignity and apologize to this man from Huaxia, allowing your pride to be trampled under his feet."


    "Give us some time," the council members said, their faces grave. If Zhang Menglong''s wealth was as terrifying as Mahar''s information suggested, they could just play dead.


    Half an hour later, they gave their answer.


    "Fine, you may enter, but you must promise us that you will eliminate Zhang Menglong!"

 Chapter 494 492: Have You Always Been So Brave?

    "Strange, why have these people not shown any reaction these past two days?"


    Zhang Menglong was somewhat puzzled. The army of the Tambat Kingdom had already recovered half of the second lost territory by now, and logically, the people of Brahma Country should have been panicking to death. But after that last phone call from Cook, there had been no news from them, which was obviously not scientific.


    "Could it be that they don''t want those territories anymore?" Zhang Menglong found it strange. Those four pieces of land combined were larger than many countries, and the value of land cannot be measured by money alone. Just the estimated value of the first piece of land already exceeded three trillion US dollars. Wouldn''t they feel the pain?


    "Ye Yin, is there no news from that side?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, our intelligence has encountered some blind spots," Ye Yin said, "A few days ago, Brahma Country held an emergency meeting, but our intelligence agents'' perception was blocked by some force, and we have no idea what happened inside."


    "Is that so?" This time, Zhang Menglong was genuinely surprised.


    His family members, each one with an energy intensity index over 30, and on this Earth, except for the encounter with the squad led by Hui Jie Yen II, he hadn''t even come across anyone with more than 20 points of intensity.


    "Wait, you''re not going to tell me that that idiot Hui Jie Yen II dared to come out, are you?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, according to the information we''ve received, the energy fluctuations detected in that area are very much in line with Hui Jie Yen II."


    "Well, well!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "So they think they can take over my assets and now they even dare to join forces with a man like Hui Jie Yen II. No wonder they have quieted down; they must be planning to unite against me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that man named Hui Jie Yen II is very strong, and now that he dares to come out, it means his strength has grown significantly compared to before. I''m afraid we might not be able to handle him," Ye Yin said.


    The last time Hui Jie Yen II flared up in full force, he had already exceeded the scope of their capabilities.


    "He''s getting stronger, but so am I," Zhang Menglong said, and although his Cultivation in the Ancient Martial Arts was not yet at the Heavenly Origin Realm, his teachers inside were all formidable figures. As long as he had enough Cred Points, he had nothing to fear.


    The so-called Main God Space paled in comparison to his Super God Academy, and these Reincarnators were just playthings of the Main God Space, whereas Zhang Menglong was the master of the Super God Academy, a gap that was not insignificant.


    "Good then, let''s first take care of this Hui Jie Yen II before dealing with those damn Brahma Country people," Zhang Menglong instructed, "Have all the guards mobilized; even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, find that Hui Jie Yen II for me!"


    "Zhang Menglong, are you looking for me?" a voice echoed hauntingly in the room.


    "Boss!"


    "Mr. Zhang!"


    Elissa and her brother immediately guarded Zhang Menglong like bodyguards, with Ye Yin appearing as if facing a great enemy.


    Zhang Menglong glanced over him, activated the authority of the Super God Academy ring, and the information about Hui Jie Yen II immediately appeared before his eyes.


    Name: Hui Jie Yen II


    Race: Human


    Role: Reincarnator


    Potential Index: 157


    Gift: Evil Spirit Body


    Combat Power: 42 units of energy intensity


    Evaluation: Devoured an evil spirit creature from a parallel timeline, gaining the ability to manipulate ghost gods, but still could be smacked to death with one slap by 100 people from Super God Academy.


    "Wow, he has become so powerful?" Zhang Menglong remembered that the last time Hui Jie Yen II appeared, he had only 30 units of energy intensity. Disappearing for a few months, he had significantly improved; no wonder he now dared to come knocking.


    Also, what in the world is this Evil Spirit Body? Devoured an evil spirit creature? This most likely has something to do with the Main God Space, but the latter part of the evaluation instantly relieved Zhang Menglong.


    "Gou Dan, pull up the information for our Super God Academy''s teachers whose strength exceeds 40 units," he said.


    Name: Thor


    Race: Asgardian


    Role: Full-time teacher, Martial Arts Academy


    Potential Index: 257


    Gift: Thunder and Lightning


    Combat Power: 51 units of energy intensity


    Evaluation: He was merely a god of hammers, but then he awakened and turned into a mobile power bank!


    ...


    Name: Uchiha Itachi


    Race: Human


    Identity: Ninjutsu Teacher at the Martial Arts Academy


    Potential Index: 237


    Gift: Illusion Technique


    Combat Strength: 52 energy intensity units


    Evaluation: Oh, my foolish brother.


    ...


    Name: Hachishin Taichi


    Race: Human


    Identity: Teacher at the Beast Taming Academy


    Potential Index: 12


    Gift: Beast Taming


    Combat Strength: Fluctuating


    Evaluation: He''s just a nobody, but he has a fighter named Agumon.


    ...


    Name: Yao Chen


    Race: Human


    Identity: Dean of the Alchemy Academy


    Potential Index: 317


    Gift: Alchemy, Playing with Fire


    Combat Strength: 55


    Evaluation: This man is much better at fighting than at alchemy.


    "Wow, can each of them fight so well?" Zhang Menglong was surprised that each of the newly summoned teachers seemed capable of easily defeating Hui Jie, and he was unexpectedly, that Thor had awakened at some point, his combat strength jumping directly from 39 units to 51 units.


    "It seems you now understand the huge gap in strength between us," Zhang Menglong remained stunned in place as Hui Jie sensed that Zhang Menglong had realized the gap in strength and fell into a stupor.


    "Hand over your secrets, and perhaps I can let you off," Hui Jie was greatly interested in Zhang Menglong''s secrets, capable of cultivating tens of thousands of experts who were invincible in the Reincarnation World, creating a family that had lasted over 5000 years; he couldn''t believe that Zhang Menglong had no secrets.


    Once he got Zhang Menglong''s secrets, then he could take his place; this world would become his backyard.


    "If you kneel now, erase all your powers, and spend your life in mourning at the graves of those warriors who died in Longxia, I might consider letting you live out your life."


    "Hahaha!" Hui Jie burst out laughing maniacally, "Zhang Menglong, it seems you do not realize how strong I have become. I''ve obtained the power of the Ghost Gods from the Brahma Country, and now, I am utterly transformed!"


    A faint black ghostly shadow appeared around Hui Jie, and the entire villa began to shake violently, as if it were about to collapse at any moment. An entity with an energy intensity over 40, if it truly fought, could easily destroy a city!


    "I will kill you, and then your spirit will also become part of my power!"


    "Ghost Gods'' power?" Zhang Menglong frowned. He was not scared but merely curious.


    "Dean, that temple is a power left behind by a being from a parallel world that accidentally passed through Earth, a creature with a very high genetic level. The source of power for those psychics in Brahma Country comes from this place. It looks like Hui Jie has somehow absorbed the power left by those Ghost Gods."


    "So that''s it," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Turning yourself into something neither human nor ghost, truly disgusting."


    "It seems you are not willing to hand over your secrets to me," Hui Jie revealed a ferocious smile, "then I''ll just have to kill you and search your body!"


    A huge ghostly shadow rose from Hui Jie''s body and instantly shattered the villa. If not for being in the suburbs with no one else around, it would have been enough to cause a massive panic throughout Brahma Country.


    With a massive body over 20 meters tall, the overwhelming power made even Ye Yin feel suffocated.


    "Are you sure you want to fight me?" Zhang Menglong rubbed his ring, the already high 5000 Cred Points giving him an immense sense of security, "Before we start, let me ask you a question."


    "Are you trying to buy time?" Hui Jie laughed. "Don''t worry, there''s no one capable of saving you, but I''ll let you ask your question. I wouldn''t want to seem unkind, hahaha!"


    "I want to ask you if you''ve always been this brazen, you idiot?"

 Chapter 495 493: Then This Matter Cant End Well

    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, have you gone mad with arrogance? Parading your confidence at a time like this," Hui Jie laughed maniacally. With an energy intensity of 42 units, he had already surpassed most of the bosses in the Main God space. Hui Jie was absolutely confident in his invincibility.


    "Well then, take your so-called confidence to hell with you. I hope in the world below, you remain the wealthiest in the world, hahaha!"


    In an instant, Hui Jie''s eyes turned deadly serious as countless ghostly shadows flew out of his body.


    "Brahma, Vishnu God, Shiva God?" Data on several of the ghostly figures appeared before Zhang Menglong''s eyes. "Goodness, he''s truly turned all the Ghost Gods of Brahma Country into his own power.


    "Sadako, Kayako... and the evil spirits of Kaibong... Disgusting," Zhang Menglong showed a look of disdain, "Impressive indeed, but they are no more than projections of the power of high-grade beings. Even if they were to come in person, I''d have nothing to fear, perhaps their real bodies are still at the Super God Academy!"


    "Zhang Menglong, go to your death, hahaha!"


    The power of the ghosts was silent and invisible, but the overwhelming energy field caused Ye Yin and others to see an Illusionary Realm before them, far beyond what they could handle.


    "Have you ever heard of exorcism by physical means?" At this seemingly perilous moment, Zhang Menglong revealed a mysteriously eerie smile.


    "Gou Dan, lend me the power of Teacher Yao Chen and the Hammer of Thor. Today I''m going to perform a physical exorcism!"


    "Yao Chen''s power consumes 200 Cred Points per second, and the Hammer of Thor consumes 100 Cred Points per second, start timing!"


    ...


    Hui Jie watched coldly as Zhang Menglong was surrounded by ghosts, but as a white flame ignited at the center of the ghosts, the surrounding temperature plummeted abruptly.


    In an instant, it was as if the entire world had been cast into the freezing cosmos, with water vapor in the air crystallizing into ice flowers. If there were a temperature detector here, it would find that the temperature had dropped to below minus 200 degrees!


    As for the temperature of the flame, it was approaching absolute zero!


    Flames and light are exactly what ghosts fear the most, but ordinary flames can only harm the creatures of this space. Ghosts have an extraordinarily special carrier; they have no physical form, and their energy is just a projection from another world. Ordinary flames can at most restrict them, but can''t harm them.


    But this ancient Strange Fire, being one of the most renowned Strange Fires, was powerful enough to harm the ghosts from that space!


    In just a moment, even the strongest spirits of Brahma, Vishnu God, and Shiva God were frozen into ice blocks, and the ice blocks were even burning, consuming their spirits.


    The fire spread like an explosion, bypassing Ye Yin, Hong Yi, Elisa, and the others, and headed straight for Hui Jie.


    Hui Jie seemed to have seen the most terrifying thing in the world. The power emanating from Zhang Menglong at this moment was several notches stronger than his, and the flames he released were his nemesis!


    The first thing that came to Hui Jie''s mind was to run for his life. He had never anticipated that even now, there was still a huge gap between himself and Zhang Menglong.


    But this time, the gap was so large that he couldn''t even escape!


    When the white flame shone its reward, Hui Jie was frozen in the bone-chilling fire, his expression froze in fear, despair, and regret, but there was no cure for regret in this world.


    "Hammer of Thor, grant them all transcendence!" Zhang Menglong held the Hammer of Thor high, and instantly dozens of thunderbolts struck down, shattering all the ice. The ghosts frozen within the ice perished instantaneously under the assault of thunder and lightning.


    Thunder and lightning were the ultimate bane of ghosts!


    Hui Jie''s body was charred black by the April thunder, and though he wasn''t dead, without the power of those ghosts, his realm plummeted immediately, his power falling to less than 30 units of energy intensity.


    If he were to be killed, he would be dead by now, but Zhang Menglong had never thought about killing him because he wanted him to live a life worse than death.


    Zhang Menglong pointed at Hui Jie Yan''s head, and the flame, under precise control, directly flowed through Hui Jie Yan''s entire body, sealing all his strength.


    Around his blood vessels and meridians, it was as if a membrane had appeared, restricting his energy. Unless someone with more than 50 units of Energy Intensity helps him break this membrane, he would remain a cripple for life!


    "Kill me! Why won''t you kill me!" Hui Jie Yan, stripped of his power, was like a fish out of water, bereft of all sense of security, a feeling that drove him to despair.


    "I said, I would make you wish you were dead," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Hong Yi, arrange a plane to send him to the Longxia Martyrs'' Base!"


    "You want me to guard their graves?"


    "No, no, no!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I want you to wail for them! Starting today, you must cry for 24 hours non-stop every day, continuously cursing yourself as worse than pigs and dogs. I will have someone watch you, and if you stop for even a second, I will have them whip you!"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Although you can''t use your powers, I know your physical strength is still far beyond that of a normal person, so you won''t die even if you don''t sleep for ten or eight years, and getting lashed a few hundred times a day won''t do much either."


    "You''re simply a devil!"


    "Slap, slap!" Zhang Menglong stepped forward and slapped him twice, leaving two red handprints on his face, "I am the devil, I am ruthless, so what? If you''re not satisfied, come and fight me!"


    "But you can''t beat me, are you infuriated?"


    Hui Jie Yan''s face turned red, and if he were a Saiyan, his rage would probably be enough to transform him into a Super Saiyan by now.


    Unfortunately, he wasn''t, and now, aside from having a robust body, he was just an ordinary person, his fury impotent and ineffectual!


    "Take him away!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand, and Ye Yin whisked Hui Jie Yan away like carrying a chicken chick.


    ...


    "Whew!" Zhang Menglong let out a sigh of relief. The capture of Hui Jie Yan was a load off his mind. He looked to the east and slowly bowed to the Heroic Spirits of the Longxia members.


    "Master?"


    "Quick! Hurry inside and find the master!"


    "Master! Are you alright?"


    By this time, Luca and Cinto, along with a group of people, had finally arrived at the villa. Zhang Menglong liked quiet, so their residence was about two to three kilometers away from his, surrounded mostly by a garden.


    But now, both the villa and the garden had turned into ruins.


    "I''m fine," Zhang Menglong nodded, Luca and the others had arrived quickly, but Zhang Menglong had dealt with Hui Jie Yan even faster, "They sent someone to kill me, but I killed them instead. It''s a pity, though, your villa has been destroyed."


    "Hahaha, Master, what''s a villa? As long as you''re alright." Luca said, "It''s outrageous that they dare send someone to kill you!"


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "No worries, they can''t harm me. But since they dared to send someone after me, they''ll have to pay the price for this action."


    "I was originally planning on letting it go if they apologized and returned all the assets, but since they''re hell-bent on digging their own graves, this matter can''t end so peacefully!"

 Chapter 496 494: You Write for Forbes Magazine?

    Late at night, a piece of dreadful news reached the Speaker of the Parliament in Brahma Country.


    "Speaker, we can''t contact Mr. Hui Jie Yan anymore!"


    The Speaker was suddenly blinded, as if the sky was about to collapse.


    To cooperate with Hui Jie Yan, they had paid a terrible price, not only tearing their faces with Zhang Menglong, but even sacrificing the future of their own country!


    In that temple, the power of the Ghost Gods had been entirely devoured by Hui Jie Yan, leaving only a small amount of power, which was so weak that it could hardly create a Psychic.


    The Psychic power of their Brahma Country could have been ranked in the top ten in the world, but after this batch of Psychics passed, they would be without successors unless they conducted human experiments like those Western countries and tried to create Mutants through technology.


    But it must be known that the Western countries had been on this path for over 50 years, and they were already late! Unless they attached themselves to those Western families, by then, there would inevitably be many humiliating terms of national degradation.


    Zhang Menglong was not eliminated, the temple was destroyed, and the front line was still in urgent need, as of today, their second contested territory had also been captured, and just yesterday they even aired a live broadcast, humiliating those prisoners.


    They are likely to start attacking the third territory with renewed vigour in a couple of days.


    All of this stemmed from their greed, for the three trillion US Dollars of assets of the Mahalast Family, what was the price they paid if not more than three trillion US Dollars?


    The Speaker seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.


    "Tomorrow morning, go find Zhang Menglong!" the Speaker said, "No matter what conditions he proposes, we agree! Before that, release the apology statement first!"


    "Apology statement?" Some members of the parliament were somewhat confused.


    Regarding the lawsuit Zhang Menglong filed against them, the parliament had analyzed it, either admitting that they monitored the movements of foreigners, which is to admit their so-called human rights violation.


    Or openly admit that they wanted to usurp Zhang Menglong''s assets, proving the uniqueness of Zhang Menglong.


    Clearly, the former charge was almost anti-human, and once admitted, the consequences would be explosive.


    The latter, although somewhat more acceptable, blatantly displayed their shamelessness to the fullest.


    We want to swallow your assets, and to understand your every move and any possible defensive or retaliatory actions, we monitored you, doesn''t that make sense?


    But from then on, Brahma Country''s reputation would likely become rotten and stink, for a country that would covet someone else''s assets is not only embarrassing but also despised.


    "Admit that we coveted the assets of the Mahalast Family," the Speaker said through clenched teeth, "Try to guide public opinion towards Domte''s younger siblings! Downplay our role in it!"


    "That''s the only way," the members nodded, if they claimed they were deceived into doing this, it might be somewhat more acceptable to the people.


    ...


    Apology Statement: Here, we sincerely apologize to Mr. Zhang Menglong from Huaxia. There were indeed actions of monitoring his movements, but Brahma Country has never violated the human rights of the general public. Mr. Zhang''s case is indeed an exception.


    The Clan Leader of Brahma Country''s largest family, the Mahalast Family, passed away, leaving three trillion US Dollars of assets by a will to Mr. Zhang Menglong. However, some members of the Mahalast Family wanted to embezzle the assets and conspired with some corrupt officials, secretly monitoring Mr. Zhang''s movements, an act not endorsed by the state will.


    The individuals involved have been severely punished, and we hope the international community can view this matter with a discerning eye...


    Once the news was released, the reaction was surprisingly good. The voices accusing Brahma Country of anti-human and anti-social behaviors vanished without a trace, and even though it was unknown whether those punished were scapegoats, at least they admitted their mistake.


    Moreover, it indeed played a significant role because Zhang Menglong was essential in this incident''s origin. While the surveillance was illegal, it was indeed understandable from a human perspective. The public only cared about whether such monitoring was widespread; as long as it was not, it didn''t concern them much.


    Of course, this was just part of the reason; a bigger reason was that the news about the vast assets of the Mahalast Family being returned to Zhang Menglong.


    Actually, most people didn''t know about the Mahalast Family, but after some investigation, they realized that this wasn''t just a family; it was more like the overlord of a country!


    The Mahalast Family, established an astounding 2000 years ago, now has countless members spread across the nation, with family businesses involved in manufacturing, energy, real estate, medical care, finance, and other sectors, practically covering every aspect of life in Brahma Country.


    You could almost say that if one day the Mahalast Family suddenly disappeared, the entire social system of Brahma Country would instantly collapse. Their existence was that terrifying!


    And indeed, the family''s assets nearly reached three trillion US Dollars!


    Note that in the statements from Brahma Country, the word used for these assets was "return," not "inheritance." In other words, these three trillion US Dollars originally belonged to Zhang Menglong!


    On the Forbes ranking list, his current asset evaluation still stood at 1.2 trillion US Dollars, which obviously now seemed erroneous, as his assets in just Brahma Country alone amounted to three trillion!


    "Good grief, General Manager Zhang missed it again, right? I knew his wealth wasn''t just this tiny bit."


    "Good grief, three trillion US Dollars, that''s even higher than the total assets of Apple Inc., isn''t it?"


    "Can''t blame the people of Brahma Country really, if it were me, I''d be drooling too!"


    "Did anyone notice the word ''return''? Could this money have been lent to the Mahalast Family by Zhang Menglong''s family?"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, it''s truly deeply terrifying to think about!"


    ...


    That day, Forbes Magazine''s hotline was once again overwhelmed.


    "How can your magazine operate like this, can''t you be a bit more accurate?"


    "Is this supposed to be the world''s most authoritative wealth magazine? This is it? You can''t even get the assets of the richest person in the world right, better not embarrass yourselves!"


    The editors at Forbes Magazine felt like dying.


    Before last year, Forbes Magazine would publish a rich list once a year, but since Zhang Menglong appeared, the whole ranking list had been modified back and forth at least five times.


    His personal assets were updated from 200 billion US Dollars to 500 billion, 700 billion, then 900 billion, and 1.2 trillion US Dollars.


    Every time everyone thought this must be all his wealth, suddenly, he announced new assets.


    This time it was good, previously it was increases of several hundred billion US Dollars, but this time it suddenly jumped up by a freaking three trillion US Dollars!


    Announcing assets is easy, just a matter of flapping your lips, but it''s different for them. They''re a magazine company; from content editing to layout to publishing, it all takes time and costs money, they suspected Zhang Menglong was targeting them.


    And this time, they really dared not to amend it arbitrarily anymore, who could say for sure that including these three trillion US Dollars he wouldn''t have more assets? Today they announce the Mahalast Family, tomorrow another Hamapi Family, could they even keep running the magazine?


    Why not give the pen to you, why don''t you write for Forbes Magazine?


    They were totally losing their minds!


    Finally, after much deliberation, Forbes Magazine once again published a number, estimating Zhang Menglong''s assets at 5 trillion US Dollars!


    This staggering number directly outstripped the second place by 20 times. Was this really the wealth a human could possess?


    But regarding this number, the parliamentarians of Brahma Country just sneered.


    Total assets of 5 trillion US Dollars? Just start by multiplying his cash assets by 20 times and then talk!

 Chapter 497 495: Collecting Some Protection Money Isnt Too Bad, Right?

    The next morning, a parliament member named Dalit gave Zhang Menglong a call.


    "May I speak to Mr. Zhang?"


    "I fuck your mom, are you fucking sick in the head? Calling people so goddamn early in the morning, don''t you know others are sleeping? Hermaphrodite with a rotten ass, fuck off!"


    "Beep beep beep..."


    Dalit didn''t even get to say a word and was directly stunned by a burst of beautiful Huaxia language.


    He had anticipated that Zhang Menglong might be grouchy from waking up, and only now, under immense pressure from above, did he make the call. It''s past 11 and you''re still asleep, are you a pig?


    As a member of parliament with high authority, who would dare to speak to Dalit like that? If it were an ordinary person, they would have been arrested for treason by now. This was absolutely intolerable... but the intolerable must still be endured!


    After a torturous wait, Dalit made another call to Zhang Menglong in the afternoon.


    This time, Zhang Menglong truly was awake; he was lying in bed, browsing the news.


    He really hadn''t expected that by oversleeping a few hours, so much would have happened?


    Brahma Country issued an apology, Forbes Magazine yet again changed the asset amounts on their ranking list.


    "Looks like these assholes are ready to cave," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. They must have heard about Hui Jie''s death by now. They can''t do anything openly or underhandedly now, other than to cave in. They have no other choice.


    "Mr. Zhang, I am Dalit, a member of Parliament from Brahma Country. Did you sleep well last night?"


    "Sleep well my ass!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t some high-class individual. It was all because of Hui Jie last night. After he finished washing up and went to bed, it was already around one or two in the morning. How could he have slept well?


    "Mr. Zhang, based on our intelligence, the man you''ve been seeking, named Hui Jie, actually infiltrated our Brahma Country. We are currently searching for him nationwide," Dalit said, unfazed and talking bullshit.


    Those involved in politics must learn what can be brought up openly, and what must be communicated in veiled terms, even if both parties are well aware and tacitly understand each other.


    "Oh, that person broke into my residence yesterday and I killed him. Do you need me to cooperate with you for a statement?" Zhang Menglong played along with Dalit''s act.


    "Is that so? That''s great news. Congratulations Mr. Zhang," Dalit quickly replied, "Based on what we know, this Hui Jie was extremely dangerous. Mr. Zhang, you''ve removed a potential threat for us. On behalf of our parliament, I thank you."


    "Enough, what do you want from me?" Zhang Menglong didn''t want to waste time chatting with these people. His graduate studies were about to start, and he was anxious to settle the Mahalast Family''s business and hurry back to Huaxia.


    "Mr. Zhang, according to the notary Cook, we place great importance on your matter. We have confirmed that the Mahalast Family''s assets are indeed your personal property, and there''s no issue of inheritance in the transfer of property. Therefore, you need not pay any inheritance tax. Regarding the will, I have already sent someone to deliver it to you."


    "Wouldn''t it have been easier to do this from the start and avoid all this trouble?" Zhang Menglong sneered. These people are just vile, only realizing their mistakes after suffering the consequences, and now the price for rectification was too high.


    "Since that''s the case, I''ll be heading back to Huaxia once I''ve handled these matters. Thank you for your cooperation. If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up now."


    "Mr. Zhang, wait!" If Zhang Menglong simply returned to Huaxia, their front line would collapse. It seemed that Zhang Menglong was not even close to calming down yet.


    If you think about it, those assets were Zhang Menglong''s to begin with, and now it''s just a matter of returning them to their rightful owner, but with their previous attempts to obstruct and assassinate, by putting themselves in his shoes, they would be unable to endure it, too!


    But this matter was too important, and even if they had to swallow their pride, they had to speak up!


    "Mr. Zhang, you should know that our front-line battles are very intense right now. How do you view this situation?"


    "I watch it on fast-forward!"


    "Uh..." Dalit was choked up in an instant. Zhang Menglong''s speech was truly profound and incomprehensible. What on earth was fast-forward? He definitely had to look up this information later. "Mr. Zhang, I heard that your country has a good relationship with the Tambat Kingdom. Do you have any method to alleviate this war?"


    "Damn, do you think I''m a national leader or something?" Zhang Menglong said speechlessly, "The fight is between you Brahma Country and Tambat Kingdom; what does it have to do with us? I''m just an ordinary student. Does what I say even matter?"


    Dalit was speechless. You call yourself an ordinary student? Have you ever seen an ordinary student who can throw hundreds of billions of US dollars to help others wage war?


    Have you ever seen an ordinary student who can turn a country upside down the moment they set foot in it?


    Have you ever heard of an ordinary student who became the world''s richest person at just over 20 years old?


    "Besides, aren''t you fighting over just some territory? I guess after they''ve captured those areas, they will probably stop. By then, they likely won''t continue the fight. I think if you''re smart, you should just give up those disputed lands. They won''t mess with the officially recognized territories of a country."


    Dalit felt like crying. His forebears had worked so hard to secure that piece of land. How could they give it up just like that?


    "However, though I don''t have much say in our country, I do have some connection with the King of Tambat," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "To be honest, actually, the King of the Tambat Kingdom is my dad''s friend''s third cousin''s fourth cousin''s dad''s neighbor''s son''s close friend. I often go to their house for dinner."


    Good lord, are there really such complex family relations in this world?


    Dalit knew Zhang Menglong was definitely bluffing, but at this moment, he could only pretend to believe it.


    "Mr. Zhang, would you be willing to give us a hand?" Dalit asked humbly. Given the current situation, they no longer had any bargaining chips. They needed to fully play the role of the grandson, not just merely play it, but to be the obedient one.


    "I could help," Zhang Menglong said, "But you know, all our relations are personal, and it seems not too good to involve state affairs, right? At most, I can persuade them to leave you a piece of land."


    "Even a piece would do!" Dalit said. That was the bottom line given to him by the Speaker. Now, they could only try to save what little they could.


    "However," Zhang Menglong rubbed his fingers together, "human relationships run out if overused, and my face isn''t infinite. I help you guys secure some territory, and you guys..." Zhang Menglong rubbed his fingers together again, "shouldn''t you also pay me a little protection fee?"


    "Nani?" Dalit was nearly shocked into exclaiming in Kaibong language by Zhang Menglong''s words. He was truly astonished by Zhang Menglong''s shamelessness.


    Zhang Menglong even had the face to ask them for protection fees?


    And why were they in such a predicament now? Wasn''t it because Zhang Menglong bought a huge batch of arms in Xuli and sponsored them to Tambat Kingdom? Essentially, wasn''t that just the same as Zhang Menglong hiring an army to attack them?


    Yes, it was they who did something they shouldn''t have, they were greedy for the Mahalast Family''s 3 trillion US dollar fortune, they had nothing to say about that.


    But for Zhang Menglong, ordering the Tambat Kingdom to halt its offense was probably as simple as saying a word. After all, their current achievements were all thanks to Zhang Menglong''s help. If Zhang Menglong told them to stop the offense, would they dare to continue?


    Just by moving his lips, Zhang Menglong was here openly demanding a protection fee. Now they knew why Zhang Menglong was so wealthy. Robbing everywhere around the world, it would be strange if he wasn''t rich.

 Chapter 498 496: Beg for the rest of your lives

    ```


    "What''s wrong with asking for a little protection fee when I''m practically securing your national security by leveraging my contacts on your behalf?" Zhang Menglong continued shamelessly.


    Wait, no, how could this be considered shameless? The arms he provided to the Tambat Kingdom were almost worth 100 billion US Dollars, not to mention the cost was still there.


    But Zhang Menglong was certainly a cunning businessman; how much he''d profit from the markup and how to fleece them was entirely up to him, after all, he was now the only one who could help them out of their desperate situation.


    "Not excessive at all, it''s perfectly reasonable," Dalit had no choice but to agree, despite desperately not wanting to. They first tried to seize other people''s assets, faced retaliation, and then sought alliances to kill Zhang Menglong. It seemed not too excessive for him to ask for some compensation for his troubles.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will make a request to the speaker about this, but this protection fee...," Dalit hesitated, "As you know, our country isn''t very wealthy at the moment, we don''t even have the funds to manage the river we consider our mother. I hope you can give us a discount."


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong replied, "I''m not unreasonable, since you''ve already mentioned it, I''ll certainly give you a big discount!"


    Hearing this, Dalit''s expression eased slightly. If it was only a few billion or even tens of billions of US Dollars, they could reluctantly manage to pay.


    "In that case, I''ll just take 10 billion US Dollars from you out of generosity!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that...," Dalit nearly spewed a mouthful of blood, wasn''t that supposed to be a big discount? How could there still be 10 billion US Dollars after the discount?


    "Mr. Zhang, isn''t that a bit too much?"


    "Too much? How could that be?" Zhang Menglong replied, "I recall your country spends upwards of 500 to 600 billion US Dollars annually on the military. Isn''t it a bargain to spend 10 billion for peace of mind?"


    "Oh, I mean 10 billion US Dollars a year!"


    "A year?" Dalit had initially thought it was a one-time payment of 10 billion US Dollars; wasn''t this making Brahma Country into a long-term wage earner for them?


    "Of course, you can choose not to pay this fee," Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly, "I''m not short of money. I''m only offering help out of pity for your plight. If you''re ungrateful, then forget it."


    "What do you call offering help?" Dalit was so aggravated he wanted to apply a red buff to Zhang Menglong''s head right there and then. Wasn''t this blatantly outrageous?


    While Dalit cursed Zhang Menglong inwardly, he kept a forced smile on his face.


    "Mr. Zhang, I need to discuss this with our council members. Would it be okay to give you an answer in a few minutes?"


    "Of course."


    ...


    A few minutes later, Dalit called Zhang Menglong back. After some haggling, they finally settled the protection fee at 5 billion US Dollars annually.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong truly didn''t care about the money; he just wanted to vex them purely for the sake of it.


    In the afternoon, Dalit personally came to Zhang Menglong with the Mahalast Family''s property will and, of course, the first year''s protection money.


    "Mr. Zhang, this card has been specially prepared for you. The protection fee for each year will be transferred into this account. We''ve already deposited the first year''s 5 billion US Dollars, and you can verify it."


    "Oh, that was quick," Zhang Menglong handed the card to Hong Yi, "Check it."


    "Mr. Zhang, this is an International Bank savings card, it indeed has 5 billion US Dollars," Hong Yi immediately reported after checking the account.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have paid the protection fee, now about this matter..."


    "Oh, right, I''ll give them a call now!"


    Zhang Menglong took out his phone and dialed General Avril''s number.


    "Is that General Avril? It''s me."


    "Zhang... Mr. Long."


    "General Avril, stop the military actions after taking the third piece of territory," Zhang Menglong said straightforwardly.


    ```


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Is that how it ends?" Dalit stood there, dumbfounded by the side. "Thou call that ''pulling strings''?" That''s outright giving orders, okay?


    Do you even dare deny it was not you who bought the equipment to support Tambat Kingdom? Otherwise, why would they be so polite to you, so willing to listen and obey? Even if you are pretending, could you at least try to act a bit? Can''t you give us some basic respect?


    This protection fee of 5 billion US dollars each year, settled with just a phone call¡ªthis is just too easy to earn.


    At this moment, Domt''s cousins and sister also arrived.


    "Please forgive us, Master!"


    The first thing they did upon arriving in front of Zhang Menglong was to kneel down.


    They had learned from those few senators that the sudden surge in Tambat Kingdom''s military power was Zhang Menglong''s doing, and that''s when they started to panic.


    They thought Zhang Menglong could only suffer the loss silently, but who could have expected him to respond with such drastic measures?


    The entire country was almost toyed to death by Zhang Menglong alone, what storm could they possibly stir up?


    Suddenly, they came to realize that betraying Zhang Menglong was an extremely foolish act.


    "Master, they coerced us!" Domt''s niece was quick to point at Dalit, "No matter how powerful our Mahalast Family might be, we''re only part of this country. We couldn''t compete with them, that''s why we compromised. Master, please spare us!"


    "What did you say?" Dalit immediately became furious upon hearing this.


    The Mahalast Family controlled over 10% of the entire country''s tax revenue, and a massive number of state enterprises were in their hands. It could be said that they affected the very foundation of the entire country.


    For so many years, they had held the Mahalast Family in high regard, so this was outright lying through their teeth. Had it not been for their determination to take over the Mahalast Family''s assets, the members of the Parliament wouldn''t have fully cooperated.


    Watching this dog-eat-dog scenario unfold, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help feeling angry and amused. With such a country and such siblings and cousins, Domt probably felt very unlucky.


    "All right, Mr. Representative, you may leave now. I need to tend to some internal family matters," Zhang Menglong said.


    Dalit let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Zhang Menglong would no longer trouble their nation. With this, his mission was also concluded.


    A few dozen of Domt''s unlucky relatives had arrived, and now they were all kneeling before Zhang Menglong, not even daring to raise their heads to look at him.


    As for Luca and Sintobe and others, they now stood proudly behind Zhang Menglong, their faces expressing utmost excitement. The Master was truly the Master¡ªhis possessions were untouchable, even by the force of an entire country!


    Thinking back on what Zhang Menglong had promised them, they couldn''t help but begin to breathe more rapidly. The entire Mahalast Family''s assets, which they hadn''t even dared to dream of, were now within their reach.


    "I have an announcement to make," Zhang Menglong said, "From today on, all assets of the Mahalast Family will be managed by Luca and Sintobe. Their status will be the same as Domt''s was. Do you understand?"


    "Understood!" At this time, they couldn''t dare to argue.


    "I despise betrayal the most," Zhang Menglong stated, "Can anyone tell me, what does the familial code dictate as the punishment for betraying the Zhang Family?"


    "Expulsion from the family, confiscation of all assets, and henceforth forbidden to use any family connections!"


    "Now, you may leave!" commanded Zhang Menglong. "Luca, I have a task for you. Strip them of all their assets. If they take a single penny from the Mahalast Family, I will consider replacing you!"


    "Yes, Master, I will complete the task!"


    Zhang Menglong''s words plunged Domt''s siblings and cousins into the depths of despair, but his next sentence completely shattered them.


    "Sintobe, I want them never to be able to leave Brahma Country, and not a single enterprise or individual in the entire Brahma Country shall employ them!" Zhang Menglong decreed to those betrayers, "For the rest of your lives, you will live by begging!"

 Chapter 499 497: Are You Interested in Expanding the Campus?

    Having been away from Huaxia for so long, the first thing Zhang Menglong did upon returning was to indulge in an intimate rendezvous with Lu Yiyao, of course, those scenes were premium content.


    ...


    "So you made all those who betrayed you go begging?" Lu Yiyao, lying on Zhang Menglong''s chest, had her mouth wide open the entire time as she listened to his story.


    "If it weren''t for my ancestors, the Mahalast Family would have died out over 2000 years ago. These unworthy descendants don''t even know gratitude, and they even want to monopolize the assets. Who else should I teach a lesson if not them?"


    "Buying all those military supplies to support the Tambat Kingdom and dressing war prisoners in women''s clothes in front of both armies'' lines... What in the world is in your head? Is it all shit?" Lu Yiyao had long known what Zhang Menglong was like, but each of his actions refreshed her understanding of the term "flamboyant."


    When it came to flamboyant maneuvers, if Zhang Menglong claimed he was second in the world, then from the time Earth was born to its destruction, no one would dare to claim they were first.


    "Hahaha, it''s not all shit, there''s also you!" Zhang Menglong said sleazily and planted a kiss on Lu Yiyao''s face.


    "No thanks, I don''t want to mix with that crap."


    "Hahaha, starting next week we''ll officially become graduate students. What are your thoughts, Student Lu Yiyao?"


    "Speaking of that makes me upset!" Lu Yiyao pouted, "I''m afraid we can''t go to and from school together anymore."


    "Ah? Why?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback. The distance between Jiangnan University of Science and Technology and Lu Yiyao''s Music College was just one street, merely a fifteen-minute walk.


    He even had Lamborghini customize a small electric scooter for him, after all, some joys you just can''t experience in a sports car.


    "Isn''t it because of last year''s pandemic, this year''s graduate enrollment has increased," said Lu Yiyao with a sunken tone, "This year our Music College has increased enrollment by 20% compared to last year, and the classrooms and dorms in this campus area aren''t enough. According to the school''s arrangements, our pop singing major has to move to another campus."


    "Which campus?"


    "The one in Lindong District."


    "Damn! Doesn''t that mean we''re going to be in a long-distance relationship?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse. Although both Lindong District and the Jiangdong District, where Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was located, were within Jiangnan City boundaries, one was to the east, and the other to the west, and the distance between them was a full 40 kilometers.


    Although Zhang Menglong had a private plane and transport was not an issue for him, this completely lacked the sweet flavor of a campus romance.


    Zhang Menglong had always had a deep fixation on campus love; his dreamy romance involved attending classes together, wandering together in a corner of the campus, eating together in the cafeteria.


    But if Lu Yiyao truly went to that campus, then all these scenes wouldn''t come to pass.


    With this thought, Zhang Menglong''s face suddenly darkened.


    "Alright, don''t be unhappy. It''s just a bit farther away, right? I can still have dinner with you at home in the evening!" Lu Yiyao coaxed.


    "It''s not the same at all. Bah, we still have three years of grad school!" said Zhang Menglong, "I''ll think of something. There''s no way I can let you go to that godforsaken place. This is practically turning into a long-distance relationship."


    "Pfft!" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but laugh out loud. Although 40 kilometers was within the same city, in this traffic-heavy city, it indeed qualified as a long-distance relationship.


    Even with a well-developed subway system, it would probably take two hours to cover those 40 kilometers, which a regular person really couldn''t bear in terms of time cost.


    Although Zhang Menglong had a private plane, in the city, he could only use a helicopter, which he couldn''t just fly whenever he wanted to. Each flight required approval, and it was very troublesome, so it was no surprise Zhang Menglong was so agitated.


    Zhang Menglong dialed Hong Yi''s number, "Hong Yi, there''s something I need your help to think about a solution for."


    Zhang Menglong briefly explained the situation to her, "See if there''s any way to resolve this, whether it''s possible to switch the specialty that''s being transferred to the campus in Lindong District to another one?"


    "Mr. Zhang, that might be a little difficult. The colleges in Jiangdong District have already filed with the education authorities. If we want to make changes, we still need to go through a long approval process."


    "What about the Lindong District?"


    "Because the Lindong District campus has just been completed, the related procedures might be delayed by a month or two. We can start with the pop singing major''s residency to operate."


    "Is there a way?"


    "There is, to expand the Jiangdong District campus of the Music College. As long as there''s a new college building to accommodate those students, the problem would naturally be solved."


    "Forget it," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes outright; expansion was simply a matter of money, and if spending a few billion could give Zhang Menglong a perfect graduate love life, he definitely wouldn''t skimp on that money.


    But if they really were to expand, just constructing one college building might take two to three years, by which time they''d all have graduated¡ªwhat would be the point then?


    Moreover, the school couldn''t just expand whenever they wanted. Although he could expedite the approval process through Mr. Zhou''s connections, you need land to expand, to begin with!


    The Music College was surrounded by universities on three sides; it certainly couldn''t expand into another school, could it?


    And on the other side, there was a game company''s headquarters; you can''t exactly tear down their building to make room for the school expansion, right? And building construction requires time, doesn''t it?


    Wait a minute!


    Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up!


    Wasn''t the game company''s headquarters building already a perfect teaching building? A company with networks, communications, electricity, and so on, all well equipped.


    They just needed a slight renovation and to transport some teaching equipment inside. As long as they had enough personnel and high efficiency, it would take at most a week to start taking shape.


    "I''m really a genius!" Zhang Menglong slapped his own head brimming with wisdom. Didn''t this solution just come to him?


    "Hong Yi, help me find the phone number of the president of the Music College."


    "What are you up to?" Lu Yiyao looked at Zhang Menglong, who was visibly excited. "What clever idea did you come up with this time?"


    "Heh heh, you''ll know in a bit."


    It took less than a minute for Hong Yi to send the phone number to Zhang Menglong''s mobile. It was only a little past eight o''clock now, so unless the president was very health-conscious, he shouldn''t have gone to bed yet.


    ...


    The start of the university semester was indeed a headache for all teachers. After a day full of work, Gao Yuewei, the president of the Music College, finally had some time to himself.


    "It really doesn''t let one live in peace!" Hearing his phone ring again, Gao Yuewei couldn''t help but show a wry smile.


    "Hello, this is Gao Yuewei." Based on Gao Yuewei''s experience, the caller was either some professor or a student''s influential parent; these were all too common sights for someone who had been president for so many years.


    "Hello, President Gao, I''m Zhang Menglong, a student from the neighboring Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "A student of Science and Technology?" Gao Yuewei was taken aback; this was an utterly unrelated connection. Why would a student from Science and Technology contact him? And how did this student have his private number?


    Zhang Menglong? Why did that name sound familiar? It wasn''t a student from the Music College who''d caused trouble elsewhere and was now coming to him to complain, was it?


    "Is there something I can help you with, student?" President Gao asked.


    "President Gao, are you interested in expanding the campus?"

 Chapter 500 498 Mainly Because I Dont Want a Long-Distance Relationship

    "Ah?" Principal Gao''s mind was already a mess and this perplexing question had left him completely baffled.


    "Oh, I mean expanding the existing campus in Jiangdong District," Zhang Menglong added.


    Expand the campus? He was certainly interested. Given the current situation, the number of students taking postgraduate entrance examinations was increasing by hundreds of thousands each year, and the number of students recruited was also growing steadily.


    If they expanded the campus, they could increase enrollment, which would be an achievement for him as the principal!


    But such a laborious and costly endeavor, from applying for a site to approving funds, to breaking ground, couldn''t be even considered without three to five years'' time.


    The most critical step was applying for funding. Just reviewing the expansion project would take an immense amount of effort, after all, government money doesn''t fall from the sky. The annual budget is limited, and countless schools are vying for it.


    As an arts institution, the Music College of Jiangnan University ranked top nationwide. However, compared to those universities focused on science and engineering, they were left far behind. Scientific research at science and engineering universities was the most expensive, leaving the Music College without even a taste of the funding.


    The Lindong District campus project started the bureaucratic process eight years ago, taking two years just to get off the ground and another three years for financial approval. The campus construction itself took another three years, and that was in an out-of-the-way location.


    Even though the school''s territory had expanded, this brought up management issues. Two campuses would inevitably require an increased teaching staff and administrative costs.


    If they could expand the main campus, not only would it enhance the university''s influence and reputation but also reduce management difficulty and increase cohesion. Undoubtedly, it would bring significant benefits.


    But how to expand? What could they use for the expansion?


    Three sides of the campus were surrounded by schools, and the other side was a large company with over two thousand employees in a twenty-plus-story office building. Were they supposed to demolish the company''s building to rebuild?


    Even if they had land for construction, there were nearly ten universities in Jiangdong District. Which school had enough land? They were all covetously eyeing each piece of available space.


    Especially Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, which had mysteriously come into a considerable sum of money this year, recruiting teachers and constructing buildings like crazy. They even bought a plot of land in another university district. The rumor was that the construction payment was in place and they were just short of starting the work.


    This made him enviously green with envy!


    "Young man, what exactly do you want? I''m quite busy here. If there''s nothing else, please do not disturb my work," Principal Gao still maintained his composure. Could this student be a show-off sent by Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?


    "Principal Gao, I just want to ask you one question, do you want to expand the campus or not?" Zhang Menglong asked, word by word. "If you do, I''ll provide the money, pull strings for the application, and all you need to do is submit a proposal to the higher-ups."


    "Young man, don''t joke around," Principal Gao was utterly speechless. Had this student lost his mind?


    "Bang!" Just at that moment, someone burst into the principal''s office.


    "Director Wu, what''s the matter?" The principal frowned. Director Wu was the head of the finance department at the university, handling almost all of the school''s accounts. He was known to be both meticulous and conscientious.


    "Prin... Principal, has our school applied for any big projects recently? Why hasn''t anyone told me about such a major issue?" Director Wu asked.


    "A project? What project?" Principal Gao was completely puzzled. "Are you talking about that academic review project?"


    "No!" Director Wu was frantic, "I''m talking about a construction project for the school that requires funding."


    Seeing the principal''s blank stare, Director Wu realized that the school likely hadn''t applied for such a project, or perhaps the principal didn''t know if it had, but that made no sense.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Principal, our school''s account just received a large sum of money with no name attached, no remarks, and we can only trace a remittance account and the bank."


    "How much money?"


    "500 million!"


    "What?" The principal stood up abruptly. "There''s no information about this money?"


    This was no small matter. The school needed to do financial reporting every year, and if the accounts didn''t add up, that was a very serious issue. An inexplicable extra 500 million just appearing out of the blue¡ªsuch a massive discrepancy could almost force him into early retirement.


    "Principal Gao, this money was transferred by me," at this moment, Zhang Menglong''s voice came through the principal''s cellphone.


    "Director Wu, you step out first," the principal waved his hand, then returned to his seat and took deep breaths to calm himself."


    "This student, did you really transfer this money?"


    "What else? Do you need me to report the account number and transaction number to you?"


    "That won''t be necessary," the principal said suddenly remembering something.


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology? He seemed to recall hearing that the reason Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had suddenly become so wealthy was precisely because a student donated a large sum of money. Of course, this was just hearsay and had not been verified.


    Could this be that student?


    He just introduced himself as Zhang Menglong.


    Wait a minute, isn''t the current richest man in the world named Zhang Menglong? He... he''s a student at the neighboring Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?


    In an instant, all the pieces fell into place.


    Prosperous students, whether out of true love for their alma mater or for vanity''s sake, almost always make some donations to their schools, but even big entrepreneurs donating one or two million is already remarkable.


    By Principal Gao''s estimation, the construction projects at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology couldn''t come in under 1 billion. Apply for state funding? Their non-Double First Class university, why would they be granted such funding?


    As for relying on alumni, how many outstanding alumni would it take to come up with such a large sum of money?


    But if there''s a world''s richest man, that''s a different story. A whimsical donation of 10 billion to one''s alma mater isn''t impossible, right?


    The latest Forbes list seems to show the world''s richest man now has a total wealth exceeding 5 trillion US dollars! Converted into Huaxia currency, that''s over 30 trillion. These 1 billion are just a drop in the bucket!


    "Student, are you... are you that Zhang Menglong?"


    "Shush, keep it low key!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Little Zhang, is what you''re saying true?"


    "The money''s been transferred to your school''s account, what else could be false?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve calculated that if the school needs to expand, it''ll require arranging a lot of matters, allocating educational resources is also a big beginning, I think 500 million should be about right."


    "But... you''re from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, even if you''re donating, shouldn''t you donate to Jiangnan? Why donate to us?" The principal was somewhat perplexed. This was beyond his realm of understanding. Could it be that too much money was the problem?


    "My girlfriend is at your school," Zhang Menglong explained, "Your school is expanding enrollment and moved the department where the popular music major is located to the new campus in Lindong District. My girlfriend and I were nearly in a long-distance relationship; how could I not be anxious?"


    "So I thought about expanding the Jiangdong District''s campus a little, so she could stay in Jiangdong District. It''s not a big deal about the money, mainly I don''t want a long-distance relationship."


    "Just for that?" The principal was stunned. This was the most absurd decision he''d ever heard in his life.


    Just because you and your girlfriend weren''t on the same campus, you were ready to throw in 500 million to help someone else''s school expand? What kind of family could do such a thing?


    If you have 500 million, why even bother going to school? Other people need to struggle, do you? Just drop out and live together, date however you want without worrying about a long-distance relationship.


    Are you out of your mind? Are all rich people this foolish?

 Chapter 501 499: Is the Building for Sale?

    "President Gao?" Zhang Menglong had not heard a voice from the other side for a long time and couldn''t help but ask, "President Gao, we''re all graduate students now, so dating at this time shouldn''t count as puppy love, right?"


    President Gao was momentarily speechless. Back in his hometown, children of their age could already "handle soy sauce" (a Chinese expression for being able to handle adult tasks), was his silence because the two of them were dating? His silence was because this surprise was a bit too big, it was almost turning into a shock.


    "No no no, I''m not some traditional old fuddy-duddy, how could I have any objections to you two dating?" President Gao quickly said. Even if he did have objections, he certainly couldn''t voice them, could he? If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong and a girl from their school dating, how could such good fortune fall into the lap of their school?


    "That''s good to hear. I wonder what the principal''s attitude is towards expanding the campus at this time."


    "If the campus could be expanded, that would certainly be a good thing," said the principal. "But the Jiangdong District now is not the Jiangdong District from five or six years ago. At that time, this area was still considered the suburbs of Jiangnan City, lacking in supporting facilities, and acquiring a piece of land was not difficult. Now, applying is not as easy as before."


    When Zhang Menglong had started university, the housing prices in Jiangnan City had not skyrocketed yet. The campus across from their school put up banners offering units at 6,999 per square meter, and nobody even glanced at it, while back in Zhang Menglong''s hometown, houses cost over 10,000 per square meter.


    But three years later, after the Asia Summit was held in Jiangnan City, housing prices soared by several folds. The homes that were originally selling for 6,999 now had secondary market prices that exceeded 35,000, and this was just in a relatively poor location of Jiangdong District.


    In contrast, the best locations in Zhang Menglong''s hometown had only increased to just below 20,000.


    Now, if the school wanted to apply for land to expand the campus, the budget would be terrifying, and even with money, it wouldn''t necessarily be possible to secure it.


    Of course, considering Zhang Menglong''s finances and connections, maybe there really might be a way to do it.


    "Principal, I remember there''s a planned piece of land near Chaohai Road in the Jiangdong District. I think we can find a way to use that place," suggested the principal.


    "Chaohai Road?" Zhang Menglong shook his head quickly, "That''s five or six kilometers away from here, too far. My meaning is to expand on the existing campus!"


    "How could that be possible?" said the principal. "Everything around us is either schools or companies, how can we expand? Are we supposed to build underground?"


    It''s not to say that this isn''t a solution, but it seems that Jiangnan City''s subway is just below their school, so this is probably not very likely.


    "What do you think about that Yanhun Online Game Company next to our Music College?"


    "It''s a very good company, it''s been listed for five years, has more than 2,000 employees, and should be ranked within the top three in Jiangnan City and top ten nationally for online gaming companies."


    "I''m not asking you about how the company is, I''m asking you about that building?"


    "Ah? The... the building?" President Gao took a moment to catch on.


    "Over twenty floors, quite impressive-looking. I heard they hired a world-renowned designer, and the cost of construction was close to 500 million. It can be considered a landmark corporate building of Jiangdong District already."


    "How about using that building as a teaching building for the school?"


    "What on earth are you talking about?" President Gao was so startled he slipped into his local dialect.


    When you asked me how that company was, you had your sights set on their building already?


    Isn''t this nonsense? You say you have your sights set on it, but even if you have the money, do you think they will sell it to you? If they sell it to you, what about their work? Even if they need to find office space, there is nowhere to go in the meantime.


    "As long as President Gao has no objections, then let''s proceed this way."


    "That... I..." President Gao''s mind was of course blooming with joy. A building worth nearly 500 million, and that''s the price from five or six years ago, wouldn''t it be wonderful to use? But he was the president of a college, and even if there was a huge opportunity to freeload, he absolutely couldn''t laugh out loud, unless he really couldn''t help himself.


    If he said he wanted it, if someone found out, they''d definitely say he has a thick skin.


    But if he said he didn''t want it, wouldn''t such a great opportunity, such a fine building, be wasted?


    "Alright, I got it!" Zhang Menglong understood as soon as he heard the principal''s hesitant tone.


    "Hold on, what do you understand?"


    "Hehe, Principal Gao, I''ll leave the application to you, and I''ll handle the rest. Just arrange for the vocal music department to stay on this campus, we still have a week, that''s enough!"


    After finishing, Zhang Menglong immediately hung up the phone.


    Principal Gao opened the window of the president''s office, looking at the majestic building just across the street, and couldn''t help but admire, "Truly wonderful!"


    ...


    "Very well, let''s push forward with this project, this year we aim to reach 30 billion in revenue with this game!"


    Lei Jia, the boss of Yanhun, had just completed the final launch work for a game project. As one of the first generation of gamers, Lei Jia had brought his company''s market value to nearly 80 billion before turning 40.


    Compared to giants like Tengxun, he couldn''t quite match up, but he was definitely one of the top players in the industry.


    This game had taken them three years, from developing the game engine to the final development, all independently done. It received an excellent response during the testing phase, and if successful, the company''s market value could even have the chance to break through a hundred million!


    Overlooking the entire Jiangdong District from this 20-plus-story building, Lei Jia''s eyes still sparkled with the same spirit and ambition as before.


    To outsiders, Lei Jia might already seem very successful, but in his own eyes, he was still an entrepreneur. An 80 billion market value, in his view, was far from enough! His dream was to become Huaxia''s second Tengxun!


    He had the technology, the team; what he needed most now was funding. With enough capital, his team and the independently developed game engine could develop even cooler games and compete with the hottest games on the market!


    But making games is a very costly endeavor, no, it''s burning money! The cost of developing a game is incredibly high, and even if the game successfully launches, there''s no guarantee players will spend money on it.


    His confidence, however, did not move the other shareholders. Those shareholders just hoped the company would grow steadily without investing in some flashy new games that could potentially waste all their money without any returns, leaving them with losses in the end, right?


    Therefore, the project Lei Jia advocated for had not passed the shareholders'' meeting decision, and he could only carry out projects he didn''t like, even though they indeed could make money.


    "I am Lei Jia, may I ask who''s calling?" Lei Jia casually picked up the phone that had just rung, not even glancing at the unfamiliar caller ID.


    "Hello Lei Sir, I''m Zhang Menglong, sorry to disturb you at this time."


    "Mr. Zhang?" Lei Jia was startled, "Are you that... um... the Mr. Zhang from the Forbes rankings?"


    As an internet entrepreneur, Lei Jia was naturally familiar with the name, and scrolling through social media was also one of his hobbies.


    "Yes, that''s me."


    "What can I do for you, Mr. Zhang?" Lei Jia was curious; although his company was listed, it really hadn''t any comparison to someone like Zhang Menglong. In his eyes, perhaps only a handful of people named Ma and a few others in Huaxia were worthy of association with him.


    "Oh, nothing much, just wanted to ask Mr. Lei, about Yanhun Tower¨Cyour building. Is it for sale?"

 Chapter 502 500: How about I just acquire the company directly?

    "This is your plan?" Lu Yiyao, standing beside him, was already speechless after listening to Zhang Menglong''s phone call.


    She had just seen him laughing like a maniac and thought he had come up with some great idea, but to her surprise, it was still the same old approach¡ªsmashing the problem with money, simple and crude!


    "What do you think, isn''t it brilliant?" Zhang Menglong said proudly. Many people could think of spending money, but to spend it in this way was not something just anyone could think of.


    "You''re incredible, truly worthy of being you," Lu Yiyao did not try to dissuade Zhang Menglong because she knew that he would absolutely not take her opinion into consideration on this matter.


    "What the hell?"


    On the other end of the phone, Lei Jia was completely stunned. What did he mean by "Is the building for sale"? They had just met, and the first thing he asks is whether he''s selling his building? What the heck was this move?


    "I want to buy the building owned by Mr. Lei, and I hope Mr. Lei can bear the pain and part with it. As for the price, you can name it, and I absolutely won''t bargain!" Zhang Menglong was not one for beating around the bush; after all, the need to do so meant a lack of confidence, but for Zhang Menglong, he could afford any price, so why not be direct and forceful?


    "This..." Mr. Zhang, your request is a bit abrupt, you''ve got to give me a moment to process this.


    Lei Jia couldn''t help but rub his temples. Dealing with really rich people like this was just too much¡ªyou disagree on something, and they want to buy your skyscraper. How are you supposed to deal with that?


    "It''s like this," Zhang Menglong said, "I study at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, and my girlfriend is at the Music College. Because her school is expanding enrollment, the old campus isn''t enough, so she has been assigned to the new campus. I was thinking, if the old campus could be expanded, she wouldn''t have to move, and we wouldn''t have to be in a long-distance relationship."


    "That''s your reason?" Lei Jia didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. Just because of a wish like this, you actually want to buy our building? Is your imagination made of black holes?


    "Yes," said Zhang Menglong in the tone of someone sipping green tea, "Mr. Lei, you should be able to understand my feelings, right?"


    I understand my ass! Lei Jia felt like exploding on the spot.


    They weren''t a tiny workshop, not one of those little companies with a dozen people who just needed an office building and some computers to work.


    They were a publicly traded company with over 2,000 employees. Aside from office space, they needed a place for servers, and lots of space for their staff to exercise and relax. It wasn''t a place that you could just pack up and relocate.


    Now for the sake of your romance, should I move my 2,000 employees to live under a bridge? Isn''t this request a bit too outrageous?


    "Mr. Zhang, there are more than 2,000 employees in my company, top to bottom. Perhaps it''s you who should be understanding towards us."


    "Mr. Lei, I''ve done some estimates. The Flame Soul Building cost about 470 million to construct initially. Let''s round it up for simplicity, and call it 500 million as a goal," Zhang Menglong started doing the math.


    "According to the average property price of around 9,200 yuan per square meter in our district at that time, the average price in Jiangdong District is now about 38,000 yuan. Following this increase, the current price of the Flame Soul Building should be around 20 billion."


    "Then I also considered that you will have a lot of things to deal with, including employee arrangements and the transportation of company equipment, so I''m offering 30 billion to buy it outright. What do you think of this price?"


    "Cough cough cough!"


    The figure made Lei Jia cough violently. With an opening hand like a royal flush, how could one respond?


    To sell? The company would then have to uproot itself for a long time to come, finding an office space that could accommodate 2,000 people was no easy task, and even though the money was enough to build another skyscraper, that would take another two or three years.


    Not to sell?


    The offer was too good to pass up.


    Strictly speaking, the price of the building was indeed around 20 billion now, but who has ever heard of employee subsidies and equipment transportation costs running as high as 10 billion? It''s foolish to miss out on easy money, he even thought about giving up the gaming industry for real estate¡ªwithout lifting a finger, a net profit of 10 billion in five years, would that not be tempting?


    He hesitated. After all, the company was not solely his, and while the price was attractive enough to sway him, it wasn''t an instant win and thus also hard to persuade the other shareholders.


    Moving the company would obviously result in a significant turnover of staff, which would greatly affect the stability of the company.


    "It seems that Mr. Lei isn''t quite satisfied with the price," Zhang Menglong said without getting angry. After all, for such a big matter, no one could make a decision right away, but this also showed that the attack of 3 billion wasn''t powerful enough.


    Lei Jia remained silent.


    "4 billion!"


    "Hiss!" Lei Jia immediately put on the Mask of Pain.


    The last time someone had thrown around money like this was years ago when Tengxun wanted to acquire their Yanhun Network. Unexpectedly, a few years later, the scenario had hardly changed, although the person was different.


    "5 billion?"


    On the other end of the phone, Lei Jia had already started pinching the space between his eyebrows; who could withstand this? Zhang Menglong, are you a demon?


    Suddenly, an idea flashed through Lei Jia''s mind.


    He had always dreamed of developing a new game, but this game broke from the existing mature market models, and the shareholders opposed it. That was because, although the company had a high turnover, strictly speaking, its profits weren''t that high.


    Purchasing IP costs money, development costs money, game operation costs money¡ªmoney was required everywhere, and when all was said and done, the profit margins were actually very limited.


    But if they had this 5 billion, they could do a lot more; what about taking a portion for a gamble?


    They could completely rebuild a new team; the old team would continue with the previous projects while the new team could go all in on developing the new game. Even if it failed, how many billions could they possibly lose in a year?


    This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!


    "6 billion?!"


    "7 billion?"


    In the moment of thought, Zhang Menglong had already begun to run wild with his offers, as if the unit behind the numbers wasn''t ''billion'' but ''yuan''.


    "8 billion?"


    "Hold on!" Zhang Menglong checked the information about Yanhun on his phone, "Its market value is only 77 billion. Since the sum I''m offering has exceeded its market value, why don''t I just buy the entire company instead?"


    "Mr. Lei, I''ve changed my mind. I might as well just acquire the company. If I became the majority shareholder, then wouldn''t I be the one calling the shots in the company?"


    "Ah, this..." Lei Jia had never seen this kind of move before.


    You wanted a relationship so bad that you were willing to expand a school; for the sake of expanding the school, you planned to buy a building worth 2 billion. But as you kept increasing your offer, you suddenly realized you''d offered too much, enough to acquire the company, and then you decided to go ahead and buy it.


    Even with a few extra peanuts to munch on while drinking you couldn''t make a decision so incredibly rash, could you?


    With those 8 billion, why bother going to graduate school? If you love being in love and staying close together so much, take that money and travel the world; stick together however you want.


    Are you out of your mind? If you''re not ill, then take a few steps! He was simply speechless!


    No, he absolutely couldn''t allow Zhang Menglong to acquire the company. Otherwise, if he had the final say in the company, who knew how many years it would take for his project to get off the ground?


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s really no need, truly no need!" Lei Jia hurriedly said, "It''s just a building, not worth so much. How about we settle for the compromise price you mentioned, 5 billion? What do you think?"


    "It''s not about the money for me; it''s your attitude towards love that has moved me. I am really touched," Lei Jia said with conviction, "This favor, I''ll definitely help with!"

 Chapter 503 501: I Dont Understand Young Peoples Love Affairs

    Spending 5 billion to purchase this building, even if the equipment inside was given for free, Zhang Menglong had nearly doubled his expenses.


    But upon closer reflection, from certain angles, providing them with some subsidies was not entirely unreasonable.


    In this city where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, corporate relocation is indeed a very painful matter, especially for larger companies. If your company moves and it''s not too far, that''s still manageable. But if it''s far? That would definitely lead to a large-scale staff turnover.


    Those who live nearby, who could get to work in just a few minutes, suddenly find themselves commuting several kilometers or even tens of kilometers away, with their travel time multiplied several times over.


    For single folks, perhaps finding a new place to rent could solve the problem, but what about those with families? Are they supposed to buy another house near the new company location?


    Even if they were to rent a different house, what would happen to their original one? Letting it go would mean losing a big chunk of rent, and subletting is a hassle.


    The key issue is that their contracts with Flame Soul Network specify the work location as this address. If employees decide to resign because they can''t fulfill their labor contract due to the company moving, they could claim compensation.


    Some small companies generally specify the city in their contracts, but it''s mainly the very large firms that list a specific address, partly because of company stability and also as a symbol of the company''s size and scale.


    But who the hell knew someone would pay twice the price for their building? They could never predict that, otherwise they definitely wouldn''t have written the exact company address in the contract.


    As a result, the company would need to prepare a large sum of money to compensate the staff who''d resign, and, at the same time, recruitment efforts and penalties for project delays and such would also be significant expenses. So strictly speaking, they didn''t make as much as double the money.


    Regardless, it was a surefire profitable deal, the kind that doesn''t come around every day. Suddenly having a few extra billion in cash was incredibly helpful for the company''s development.


    "Immediately look for a new location," Lei Jia started handling the preparation for the new company site.


    "Wait, remember to definitely not choose anywhere near any universities or close to our current company," although what happened with Zhang Menglong was unlikely to happen a second time, Lei Jia was genuinely frightened by this experience. Money is good stuff, but it''s also troublesome. What if... you know!


    Having dealt with the principal of the Music College and the boss of the Flame Soul Network game, what followed was simply a matter of getting approval.


    For Zhang Menglong, Mr. Zhou was his best channel.


    "Hehehe, Mr. Zhou, have you eaten yet?" Zhang Menglong called Mr. Zhou with a cheeky grin on his face.


    "Ah, you little rascal finally thought of me. I thought you were too busy causing me trouble overseas," Mr. Zhou said, puffing his beard and glaring. "Recently, the international community hasn''t been too kind in their evaluations of us. Some say that our Huaxia is almost becoming the Zhang family''s!"


    "Who the hell said that? Don''t listen to their bullshit!" Zhang Menglong cursed outright. "If I find out who it is, I''ll send a whole bombing squadron over there!"


    Mr. Zhou was left speechless, who threatens people like that?


    But Zhang Menglong''s words confirmed that the sudden appearance of a large cache of arms in the Tambat Kingdom was most likely provided by him. Of course, he knew that Brahma Country, and probably the whole world, was aware of it too, but nobody dared to say it outright.


    However, it can''t be denied that he was extremely bold in his actions. Push him too far and this kid could do anything. Fortunately, he was a Huaxia national; otherwise, they would be too nervous even to hold their chopsticks steady while eating.


    "It''s not my fault this time. Someone was trying to take away my property, shouldn''t I go all out to protect it? My dad always told me, ''As a child from a poor family, you have to take charge early, and you have to have integrity. Fight not for the steamed buns, but for the principle...''"


    "Stop stop stop, you''re a child of a poor family?" Mr. Zhou would believe others crying poor, but Zhang Menglong whining about poverty? That''s just a load of bull.


    "Don''t think I don''t know that those 300 billion probably don''t even catch your eye, right? And that number published on the Forbes list is definitely not your entire asset."


    "Who told you that?" Zhang Menglong immediately got unhappy, "If you don''t believe me, just look at my bank card and debt support treasure, if it''s over 500 bucks, I lose!"


    "Oh, come on," Old Zhou teased with a laugh, "I know you rich folks never spend your own money, don''t try to bluff me. Talk business, why are you looking for me? I don''t believe you''ve got nothing better to do than to think of this old man."


    "Heh heh heh, isn''t it because I need your help?"


    "You need my help?" Old Zhou was genuinely surprised this time, "What is it that you can''t get your hands on?"


    "It''s about my girlfriend," Zhang Menglong briefly explained the situation, "so I could only think of this method."


    Old Zhou on the other end of the phone gaped in surprise, "So without further ado, you just went ahead and bought the company building next to the Jiangnan Music College? I really can''t understand the way you young people date!"


    "Something like that. It was a last resort. You wouldn''t want to just stand by and watch me do long-distance dating, right? That''s so exhausting!" Zhang Menglong said with feigned grievance.


    "The guy who spends 50 billion to buy a building is crying poor to me?" Old Zhou couldn''t help but give a wry smile, "Have you settled things with the president of Jiangnan Music College?"


    "All settled," Zhang Menglong said, "The school just needs to knock down a wall and frame the Flame Soul Tower inside. I''ll cover all the construction costs, equipment transportation fees, and he has no objections. Now it''s all up to your approval."


    "You little rascal, you take care of things quite thoroughly. Alright, I''ve got this one for you," Old Zhou said, "But I have one condition."


    "Say it, whether it''s climbing a mountain of swords or descending into a sea of flames, I won''t even blink an eye!"


    "You, just give me less trouble, that''s the biggest help you could give me. This time the higher-ups are a bit displeased with you. If it wasn''t for me holding them back, you''d be in some serious trouble!"


    "Heh heh heh, got it, got it," Zhang Menglong joked, "I''m starting school next week, and from then on, I''ll only immerse myself in scientific research, study hard, publish papers, and strive to contribute to the country and society!"


    "Don''t give me that!"


    Although he said so, Old Zhou knew very well that if a conflict really arose, the one who wouldn''t be suffering was definitely Zhang Menglong. Not to mention the huge impact his actual assets could have on the economy of the country and even the world, just the power he held in his hands meant nobody dared to touch him.


    The combined forces of the entire Longxia and the Ancient Martial Artist Association might not even be able to knock a single hair from one of his bodyguards'' heads. This was the level reached when personal martial strength was taken to the extreme.


    So in fact, what Old Zhou hoped for more was to maintain a balance in the relationship with Zhang Menglong. For instance, the data he handed over to them last time had been of tremendous help to the country.


    In the recent war between the Brahma Country and the Tambat Kingdom, everyone saw the power of the fifth-generation fighter jets. The loss ratio reached almost 1:15, which means, a single fifth-generation fighter jet could almost outfight a dozen fourth-generation jets!


    Now many countries are putting their full force into developing fifth-generation fighter jets in an effort to catch up with the developed nations.


    But what they don''t know is that the fifth-generation fighter jets are already obsolete in Huaxia''s eyes.


    According to the information and blueprints provided by Zhang Menglong, within a maximum of three months, Huaxia''s sixth-generation fighter jets would take the international stage, and they might even debut on National Day, at that moment, catching the world by surprise!


    That day, the world will focus on Huaxia!

 Chapter 504 502: Why is the gap so big?

    With the help of Professor Zhou, all the procedures encountered green lights, and the approval for the school''s expansion was obtained in just three days. Seduced by money, over the course of one week, a significant portion of Flame Soul Tower was vacated, leaving at least a dozen floors empty.


    With 5 billion Huaxia currency, they immediately rented a space in an internet park for three years and invested 2.5 billion to sign a two-year construction planning project with the local development bureau. In two years, they would have an office building even larger than the original one.


    Lei Jia''s project also received unanimous approval from the shareholders because of this funding. Now that they had money, they weren''t afraid to burn through it. Let him play; after all, this was money he had earned.


    Even after accounting for the compensation for employees who had left and the budget for recruiting new staff, they still had over 2 billion extra!


    On the fifth day, the person arranged by Zhang Menglong began the transformation of Flame Soul Tower. Such a large space was more than enough to accommodate an entire college, and since Flame Soul had its own employee dormitories, there was even no need for the school to build new ones.


    The students of the vocal music department were ecstatic when they heard the news!


    One of the reasons they applied to Jiangnan Music College was naturally because the college ranked highly in the country, but there was another reason: Jiangnan City was a very dynamic and prosperous city.


    However, when they received their admission letters and saw the campus location, most of them were dumbfounded. Although Lindong District was part of Jiangnan City, it had been districted from another city years ago and was on the very edge.


    Though a subway had been connected this year, just a one-way trip to the city center took two hours, practically shattering their dreams of Jiangnan.


    But this interim notice was like a huge surprise. Jiangdong District couldn''t compare to the city center, but with only half an hour of public transport to get there, it was totally acceptable.


    Moreover, after years of development, the amenities in Jiangdong District were by no means inferior to those in the city center. Places like Jintai Plaza and Baida Plaza, and Longhe Tianjie, were more than enough to meet the students'' daily entertainment needs.


    The collection of opinions on the campus change was almost a formality. Who would want to stay in that kind of place when they could be somewhere lively and bustling?


    On September 1st, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao both entered their postgraduate careers with excitement.


    "You go see your advisor first, I''ll also go greet Teacher Han, and I''ll come find you for lunch at noon!" After dropping Lu Yiyao off at the school, Zhang Menglong rode away on his little electric scooter.


    ...


    "Why isn''t Menglong here yet!" At the entrance of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, a group of young men and women in their twenties were looking out at the crowded throng.


    From a few somewhat smooth foreheads and hairlines that could almost pass for nobility, it was clear that most of these people were graduate students.


    Thanks to Zhang Menglong, Han Jinyu''s research group was now one of the wealthiest in the world, and their stipends far exceeded the salary of general doctoral graduates.


    According to their field, masters would earn an average of 8,000, doctorates 15,000, but now, just the graduate students alone were earning labor fees of over 200,000 a year. This didn''t even include the annual bonuses, and his seniors were really rolling in money.


    Meanwhile, most of the other students'' labs didn''t have stipends, and even if they did, it was at most 400. I don''t know about other schools, but that was the standard at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    Of course, the intensity of their scientific research was different, but as long as the money was right, not only did increased research intensity not matter, but even 996 wouldn''t be an issue.


    In fact, the social aversion to 996 isn''t because the workload is too high; it''s more about the imbalance between effort and reward. If you''re not paying extra, why should I work overtime for you?


    But as long as you pay enough, what''s selling a little bit of your soul?


    In their eyes, Zhang Menglong was now a sugar daddy. Otherwise, with everyone so busy with their research, who would want to waste time welcoming a new graduate student?


    "Seniors, juniors!" At this moment, a Panamera pulled up at the curb, immediately catching the attention of many.


    A young man got out of the car and greeted the group of seniors enthusiastically.


    His name was Zhang Minglei, a graduate student of this year because his family was involved in the polymer materials industry. This year, with the resources from Zhang Menglong, Han Jinyu had been nominated as an academician and was said to have a good chance of passing the review, so Zhang Minglei came with admiration.


    His family was very well-off; he was amicable, and he also had a very good appearance. He had always been the center of attention from people around him. In his view, even at this graduate student stage, he would still be very well-received.


    Before coming to the university, he had already made contact with his advisors and fellow students and even sent local specialties from home to his seniors. At least, when he arrived at the university, they would take care of him a bit, right?


    "Seniors, I''m Zhang Minglei," Zhang Minglei ran up excitedly. It seemed that his relationship-building had not been in vain, as his seniors were actually there to welcome him!


    "Oh, you''re Minglei, hello."


    "Junior, hold on a second, we have someone else to pick up, or you can go to the lab first, and we''ll go see Professor Han together later."


    "What''s going on? Why are they all so indifferent?" This plot development was nothing like what Zhang Minglei had imagined.


    Under normal circumstances, shouldn''t the seniors be welcoming him very warmly? Why did they just nod at him and then ignore him? Aren''t they going to look at his car at all? At least in his student days, few people could drive such a car, right?


    Zhang Minglei followed their gaze, and it seemed they really were waiting for someone. Who could possibly be more important than him to merit his seniors'' attention?


    He parked his car to the side and followed his seniors meekly, outright ignoring the glances from the people around him. Now he just wanted to know why he was being snubbed.


    "Here he comes, the junior''s here!"


    "Junior, over here!"


    Zhang Minglei looked in the direction of the voices; it was a young man his age, dressed in very plain casual clothes, riding an electric scooter that¡ªincredibly¡ªhad a Lamborghini logo on it.


    Seeing this, Zhang Minglei couldn''t help but laugh. Since when did Lamborghini make electric scooters? This must be something he bought a sticker for and put on himself, right?


    How could there still be such a chuuni person at the graduate student stage? And such a person received such an enthusiastic welcome from the seniors?


    "Junior, it''s so hot today, are you thirsty? Have some water!" A senior sister immediately handed him a bottle of water.


    "Junior, come on, let me help you with your things."


    "Junior, yesterday I found a really good barbecue place. Let''s go eat tonight, bring your girlfriend, and the meal''s on me!"


    "Junior, do you want to rest in the lab for a bit? Yesterday I swiped the most prized tea leaves from Professor Han''s stash. I''ll brew some for you to try; it''s something he usually reserves for hosting leaders!"


    About ten seniors surrounded Zhang Menglong, with one pushing his scooter, another carrying his bag, one helping him drink water, and even a senior sister holding an umbrella over him, treating him almost like a treasure in their hands.


    Zhang Minglei stood to the side, not knowing what to do with himself.


    What''s happening? We''re all new first-year graduate students; why is there such a huge difference in the way people are treated?

 Chapter 505 503: Turns Out I Am the Clown Myself

    "Where''s Senior Brother Zhao?" Zhang Menglong looked around. The other PhD senior brother, Zhao Wuhuan, wasn''t here.


    "Oh, Old Zhao went to pick up some other juniors," the eldest senior brother Zhu Mengchao said, "Let''s head to our research group first. It''s too hot outside, and we''ve prepared some ice-chilled watermelon for you, frozen with a vacuum cooler. It''s absolutely rock solid!"


    "Hahaha, it''s not poisoned, is it?" Zhang Menglong knew that his senior brothers were capable of doing anything with lab equipment, like using an ultrasonic cleaner to wash crayfish, a vacuum oven to roast meat, or a grinder to crush walnuts.


    Anyway, besides scientific research and proper work, they could do wonders with lab equipment.


    "Absolutely not!" another senior brother assured him, patting his chest, "Before we froze the watermelon, we removed all the chemicals, and we even washed it inside and out several times. There''s definitely no poison!"


    "Uh..." Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Based on his experience, these senior brothers and sisters were not exactly the most reliable, and it would probably be better not to eat anything from the lab.


    "Here comes your senior brother Zhao!" Zhu Mengchao waved toward someone in the distance.


    "Senior Brother!" Zhang Menglong also waved his hand and saw five students following behind his senior brother Zhao Wuhuan¡ªtwo boys and three girls¡ªwho were probably his cohort''s fellow disciples.


    "Let me introduce you," Zhao Wuhuan said, "Zhou Kai, Wu Yue, Lin Yiyi, Yin Xiaoying, Liu Rui."


    "Hello Senior Brothers and Sisters!" The five new graduate students quickly greeted.


    "I''m Zhou Kai, from Wenchuan."


    "I''m Lin Yiyi, from the northeast."


    ...


    "Nice to meet you."


    "I am Zhang Minglei," Zhang Minglei quickly seized the opportunity to make his presence felt, casually showing off the key to his Panamera, "We''re all classmates now, and we must take good care of each other in the future. My family deals with the import and export of polymer materials. If you''re interested, you might consider our company after graduation. I can decide to offer you a satisfactory salary."


    Upon hearing this, the eyes of the five students brightened. Hadn''t they come here for postgraduate studies because Professor Han was on the verge of becoming an academician and for his reputation?


    And the most direct meaning was to help them find a satisfying job after graduation.


    The students of an academician, whether it''s research institutions or colleges, aren''t they all highly sought after?


    If a very familiar and close person could help arrange jobs for them, wouldn''t that be even better? If they were on their own, even with a postgraduate degree, they might not necessarily find a particularly good job.


    "I cannot promise too much, but a yearly salary of 150,000 RMB the first year after graduation is definitely no problem!"


    "150,000?" Everyone was somewhat aware of the market.


    According to the current salary range, even in first-tier cities, a graduate student with their education level could earn 100,000 RMB a year¡ªabove the average. 150,000 RMB was already a very desirable figure.


    From Zhang Minglei''s words, this seemed to be just the minimum. If relations were good, maybe even 200,000 RMB could be on the table!


    "Ahaha, Minglei, let''s add each other on WeChat. We''re all fellow disciples now, we should keep in touch more."


    "Which dorm are you in? 414? What a coincidence, we''re roommates too!"


    Suddenly, the new graduate students began to revolve around Zhang Minglei as their center, even overshadowing the attention given to the senior brothers and sisters.


    "If you seniors have this thought, you can also talk to me, my family will definitely take good care of you."


    "That''s not necessary for us. We are doing well studying here, and we plan to continue with scientific research under Professor Han after graduation," the eldest senior brother said with a smile.


    Being already 30, Zhu Mengchao could see right through those little schemes. It was nothing but an attempt to form cliques, to be treated better during his research studies so he could slack off and still graduate.


    He wanted to laugh but had to save some face for his junior brother.


    A $150,000 annual salary is indeed not low outside, but in their research group, it''s crap. As long as everyone seriously conducts scientific research, they can make over a hundred thousand just in basic labor fees per year, plus bonuses from the projects¡ªI mean, $200,000 is something you can earn with your eyes closed!


    And for him, Zhu Mengchao, his earnings last year exceeded $400,000, which was more than twice what a typical PhD graduate makes.


    "By the way, bro, what''s your name?" Zhang Minglei looked at Zhang Menglong.


    "Zhang Menglong, uh, currently settled in Jiangnan City, I guess."


    "Zhang Menglong? Ha, your name is the same as that of the richest man in the world!"


    "The richest man in the world?" Everyone was startled, but they vaguely remembered that although Zhang Menglong was from Jiangzhe, he wasn''t from Jiangnan City but from an island city nearby. It must be a case of two people with the same name.


    "He is just..."


    "Enough, senior brother, we should hurry to school; don''t make Professor Han anxious," Zhang Menglong pulled his senior brother who was about to speak for him.


    "That''s true." Everyone was grown up and knew very well that there was no real need to state certain things out loud. It''s not illegal to put on a charade, as long as it doesn''t affect their interests.


    "Junior brother, you came to school on this thing?" Zhu Mengchao pushed Zhang Menglong''s electric scooter with a strange expression on his face.


    The others thought Zhang Menglong just shared the same name as the richest man in the world, but they were clear that he was the richest man himself, owning a fortune of five trillion US dollars. And here he was, riding an electric scooter to school¡ªdidn''t that clash a bit too much with his status?


    Even if he didn''t drive a flamboyant sports car, driving a modest three to five million car for grocery shopping wouldn''t be too outrageous, right? Especially since this new junior brother had just looked down on them.


    "Heh, senior brother, you shouldn''t underestimate this little gadget," Zhang Menglong patted his scooter, "this was customized for me by Lamborghini. Despite its size, it''s made entirely of carbon fiber, weighing only two-thirds of a normal electric scooter. Its horsepower and top speed are definitely no less than those of a motorcycle!"


    "Wow, that must have cost a fortune?" Everyone''s expressions changed as they looked at the electric scooter, a Lamborghini electric scooter that was probably unique in the world.


    "Didn''t cost a thing," Zhang Menglong laughed, "the manufacturing cost is only about 1.2 million, but I didn''t spend much since that company belongs to my family."


    Zhu Mengchao''s hand shook violently as he wheeled the scooter¡ªjust one slip and he''d never be able to afford the damages.


    "Junior brother, with something this valuable, you''d better push it yourself, haha..."


    "Junior brother, why did you come with just a scooter? Where''s your luggage?"


    "Oh, I''m not planning to stay on campus," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Aren''t you living in the city? Wouldn''t it be inconvenient to travel back and forth every day?"


    "I bought a house at Lanting Villa just across the school. I''ll be living there for a while. It''s only a ten-minute ride and very convenient."


    Zhang Minglei, standing nearby, suddenly stopped his previously superior grin. As a local from Jiangdong District, he knew that Lanting Villa was a villa area; the prices weren''t incredibly high, but it was definitely a upscale residential area with average prices over $70,000 per square meter, and the smallest homes there were over 600 square meters!


    If he wasn''t bragging, how rich must he be?


    Combining the recent behavior of the other senior brothers and sisters, a bold thought suddenly crossed Zhang Minglei''s mind.


    "Senior sister, what does Menglong''s family do?" Zhang Minglei quietly asked a senior sister with whom he was on good terms.


    "You!" The senior sister rolled her eyes at him, "The world''s richest man, do you really think he just shares the name?"


    Zhang Minglei felt as though he''d been struck by lightning.


    Thinking about the foolish acts he had just committed, he was so embarrassed he could dig a three-bedroom, one-living room apartment with his toes. Had he actually been showing off in front of the world''s richest man?


    Was he the clown?

 Chapter 506 504: Isnt it Just a Subject Competition?

    Throughout the trip, Zhang Minglei muted himself completely, and the other research students who had joined him behaved submissively as well.


    Good grief, even though everyone was about the same age and also colleagues in the same research group, the man was the world''s richest person; how could they treat him like they would any ordinary individual?


    However, what everyone felt more than anything else was a sense of astonishment mixed with delight. As the saying goes, "when one man achieves enlightenment, his pets ascend to heaven." In any case, considering their ties as fellow disciples, he would probably be able to refer them to some job opportunities in the future, right?


    Not to mention anything else, just pulling out a graduation photo with the world''s richest person would surely make anyone take a second glance at you.


    When they arrived at the laboratory, Han Jinyu was sitting inside with a cheerful smile, drinking tea.


    This year, ever since he met Zhang Menglong, life seemed as if he had activated a cheat code.


    He had secured several national-level projects in succession. With the vast resources and funding provided by Zhang Menglong, he made tremendous breakthroughs in the academic field, publishing papers far surpassing his previous records in both quantity and quality.


    But these were merely his academic achievements.


    With the high-performance carbon nanotube modified materials, he landed a 1 billion enterprise project, the service fees alone being beyond the reach of an ordinary professor in their lifetime.


    The current Han Jinyu enjoyed both fame and wealth, a far cry from the man who had hit rock bottom a year before, begging for money from businesses far and wide.


    Now, businesses were practically wearing out the threshold of his office, hoping to entrust him with projects; especially those companies that had rejected him outright before, they were humbly ingratiating themselves like little brothers.


    Han Jinyu now also held the title of Dean of the School, and anyone wanting to use their Particle Collider had to go through his approval.


    You are a professor? Get in line, there are plenty more who have already made reservations before you.


    You are an Academician? I''m sorry, but you will also need to queue up. Do you think there are few Academicians waiting in line?


    Yet he never forgot that all he had today originated from his student Zhang Menglong.


    "Yo, Menglong, you''re here! Have a seat," Han Jinyu said, immediately standing up and even taking the initiative to pour him a cup of tea upon Zhang Menglong''s arrival at the school.


    "Teacher, you two chat first, we''ll go get busy," the senior classmates greeted Han Jinyu and then left the office.


    Following the long-standing tradition, all students who joined the research group needed to select their research topics after joining, which involved their future research focus and thesis.


    "Everyone should know each other by now," Han Jinyu maintained the dignity befitting a prospective Academician in front of the other students, "Let me first state the rules of our research group. Graduate students who want to graduate, it''s very simple, two projects, two second-tier SCI papers, or one first-tier SCI paper, and you can graduate!"


    Upon hearing this, all the students showed pained expressions.


    Publishing an SCI paper is not a difficult task, as long as you''re earnestly engaged in scientific research, there''s generally no problem.


    However, to publish a second-tier or even first-tier SCI paper is not an easy feat. Even in some lower-ranked schools, such achievements could qualify someone for an associate professorship or even a full professorship.


    Every year, many students driven to despair by pressure commit suicide, a portion of them are researchers unable to get their papers published.


    In Han Jinyu''s lab, the treatment might be good, but the demands were unquestionably high.


    The students nodded one after another, understanding that the more challenging the topic, the higher its value, which naturally would be more beneficial for their future.


    "These are the research projects I will undertake this year. Everyone can choose according to their own interests. Once selected, for the next three years, you can work on these topics with your senior brothers and sisters," he said.


    Han Jinyu placed more than a dozen research reports in front of them.


    "New Preparation Methods of Graphene Performance Techniques"


    "Construction of Super-Hydrophobic Structures on Carbon Nanotube Surfaces"


    "High Flame-Resistant Polyester"


    ...


    Faced with these dazzling array of projects, everyone was pretty much bamboozled and could only choose the ones with the most impressive-sounding names. As for whether they could actually produce any results, that was up to their luck.


    "Menglong, you''re the only one left."


    "Uh... this..." Zhang Menglong edged closer to Han Jinyu''s ear, "Teacher Han, can we have a private chat?"


    "You all go and get to know your senior brothers and sisters, Menglong and I need to discuss something," Han Jinyu said directly to the other students.


    Having money means having privileges, and everyone was well aware of this. With the status of the world''s richest man, even if Han Jinyu let Zhang Menglong graduate directly, it would probably be a very easy thing to do.


    As for papers, as long as the teacher simply adds a student''s name when writing papers, that would suffice.


    "Alright, they''ve all gone out now, so what is it you want to say?" Han Jinyu asked with a smile.


    "Teacher Han, I have something to discuss with you," Zhang Menglong said with a playful smile, "You know, I''m really busy usually, and doing scientific research is such a time-consuming thing, and it''s quite meaningless. Can I not get involved in these things?"


    "No way!" Han Jinyu said outright, "Although that''s something, I can be a principled teacher. On this matter, I will definitely not give you an easy pass."


    "What if I donate 10 billion for your research funds?"


    Han Jinyu nearly had an internal injury on the spot. He had never seen a student try to graduate by throwing money at a teacher before. This is university, is this how you play the game?


    "No... I can''t do that!" Han Jinyu said, holding back his sadness as he refused Zhang Menglong''s request. There were things he was willing to compromise on, but he would not make mistakes on matters of principle.


    "Teacher Han, you know that these topics are so uninteresting for me, it''s like asking a university student to do ''one plus one equals two'', which is quite insulting to my intelligence and a complete waste of my valuable time. My time should be spent on more meaningful things."


    "An insult to intelligence?" Han Jinyu nearly spat out blood after hearing this.


    Take the first project, for example. As a hot topic currently, graphene''s preparation process is difficult and expensive, with ultrapure monolayer graphene even selling for thousands per gram, far more expensive than gold.


    But currently there are only a few preparation processes in the world. If someone could develop a new, efficient method, not to mention winning a Nobel Prize, such an achievement would definitely make top universities around the world extend olive branches to them.


    This illustrates just how difficult the project is, and even a small breakthrough in this domain could easily result in a published paper.


    Zhang Menglong called these difficult projects an insult to intelligence?


    But then Han Jinyu suddenly remembered the technologies that Zhang Menglong had contributed to the country.


    Things like the anti-gravity engine or controlled nuclear fusion, aren''t those ideas that humans currently don''t even dare to think about?


    Back then, old authorities and experts surrounded Zhang Menglong, bombarding him with questions, and he answered them smoothly. That scene was still vivid in Han Jinyu''s mind.


    Zhang Menglong''s capabilities were always a question mark in Han Jinyu''s head.


    He might indeed be able to easily accomplish these tasks, it didn''t seem impossible.


    "Here''s the deal, if you can accomplish one thing for me, I''ll agree to what you''re asking. After that, even if you don''t come to school, no one will dare trouble you!"


    "What''s that?"


    "Our university is going to have a disciplinary competition soon. This competition affects our university''s national ranking and whether we can become one of the new key universities. Universities from all over the country will participate, covering domains like chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, and so on."


    "If you can help the school get into the top 18, then we can talk!"


    "How long does this competition go on?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "One to two months."


    "Deal!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh. One or two months in exchange for three years of peace, this was a good deal, "Is it just a disciplinary competition? How hard can it be?"

 Chapter 507 505 Set a Small Goal First

    "Don''t underestimate this discipline evaluation, this is our only chance in decades to improve our standing," Han Jinyu placed a stack of documents in front of Zhang Menglong, "Take a look at this first."


    Zhang Menglong opened the stack of documents; the title of the documents read "National Top-level Scientific Research Education Pilot Universities Selection Notification."


    Having gone through the college entrance and graduate entrance exams, Zhang Menglong was very familiar with the classification of schools by rank; universities categorized as 985 and 211 were the strongest competitors when it came to job hunting.


    Many companies specify that graduates from 985 and 211 universities are preferred, and some even exclusively hire from these universities.


    However, there was no helping it; these category universities had completed their projects in the last century, and although many current universities have surpassed these in terms of teaching prowess, they cannot join their ranks, leading to much distress among many institutions.


    There are 39 universities in the 985 category, and 112 in the 211 category, while Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s current overall ranking is 128th in the nation, which is perfectly competitive with those institutions.


    In recent years, the country had initiated the selection for double first-class universities. Although there were some discrepancies in titles compared to the 985 and 211 projects, the competitiveness in the job market was very decent, at least much higher than those of students from ordinary Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 universities.


    However, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had faltered in its bid for the double first-class discipline last time, missing by one place, which was truly regrettable.


    This time, it was a new reshuffling of rankings across Huaxia''s universities; according to this document, there were only 18 spots available for becoming pilot universities, which had a much higher Gold Value than 985, 211, or double first-class standards.


    If they could achieve this title, it would mean that their university would transform from a second-tier to a prestigious university overnight, which was immensely important for the institution''s future reputation and student recruitment.


    Of course, to vie for these 18 spots, universities nationwide were going crazy; those ranked higher aimed to maintain their schools'' glory, while those ranked lower aspired to surpass them.


    The evaluation this time was divided into several dimensions, one being the students'' evaluations of their school''s teaching quality. Actually, this was a very flexible aspect; as long as the professors were willing to spend time making calls, most students were willing to give their alma mater a good review, making nearly everyone start from the same point.


    The second aspect was the scientific research achievements of the schools over the past decade.


    These scientific research projects were not limited to provincial and national projects but included all industry-beneficial projects undertaken by businesses.


    Here, the disparity between schools was significant, as national project selection tended to favor prestigious universities.


    In Jiangnan City, for instance, most of the national fund evaluations each year went to Jiangnan University, one of the top three universities in the nation, whose scientific research achievements were undoubtedly exceptional.


    Of course, quantity was one factor, but quality was another, and this time, Zhang Menglong''s 2nm chip development project was credited to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, spotlighting the institution globally.


    The third aspect was the publication situation of the schools, which directly related to the universities'' scientific capabilities. Superficially, it seemed all schools started from the same line, since anyone willing to put in the effort had the chance to publish papers, regardless of which school or professor they were, as publishers only cared about quality.


    But remember, the better-ranked schools had better equipment and more funds; even the most clever homemaker cannot cook without rice.


    The final aspect was that each school had to present its most confident project, along with all current achievements, to all participating institutions and judges for a demonstration, the score of which was a composite given by everyone.


    So although it appeared to be an opportunity for all universities, everyone knew well that only schools ranked in the national top 50 had a real chance of selection.


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, ranked beyond the top 100, almost became a laughingstock among neighboring institutions during the selection, who sneered at them for overreaching.


    Correct, you currently have money and equipment, but you have only been nouveau riche for one year; compared to other institutions, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is significantly weaker in legacy.


    Perhaps in three to five years, they might have the strength to compete with the top universities, but definitely not today!


    Yet, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology refused to believe in fate; even if there was only a 0.01% chance by participating, it was still a chance, but if they didn''t participate, there would be no chance at all. What was more important, opportunity or pride?


    Actually, Han Jinyu originally had no hopes either, but then he suddenly thought of Zhang Menglong. If this kid could come up with such an incredible contraption, maybe there really was a way?


    "Professor Han, at what level is our school currently?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    Han Jinyu responded with an awkward smile, "Our student satisfaction is very high, with an almost 100 percent good rate."


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong looked at Han Jinyu, wanting to hear more, but Han Jinyu stopped talking.


    "Hmm? That''s it?"


    "That''s it!"


    "Who exactly gave our university the courage to participate in this?" Zhang Menglong felt a bit embarrassed, "Isn''t this just humiliating ourselves by participating?"


    "You cheeky brat! Show some respect, the president and I applied for this!"


    In fact, Han Jinyu was holding onto some hope since the evaluation of scientific research outcomes and papers was based on a scoring system, according to the quality of the projects and papers, the review panel would assign scores.


    Han Jinyu dared to apply because he thought the chip development project would definitely score high, which made him somewhat overconfident.


    Indeed, the project scored exceptionally high; regular provincial projects got 10 points, national projects 30 points, but this chip project had been awarded a high score of 320 points!


    But that was the only impressive thing Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had to showcase; other universities might not have such high-quality projects, but they had quantity on their side.


    Take Huaxia Academy of Science Research, for example, their total score reached an astounding 2430 points, they didn''t even compare to the fractions there!


    As for papers, the gap was even bigger. Those top universities could publish a dozen or even twenty articles a year in top-level journals like Nature, Science, Cell.


    It was questionable if Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had published as many papers since its founding as those universities published in a single year.


    When Han Jinyu saw this gap, his morale completely collapsed. This was simply like sticking their faces out for other high-profile universities to slap!


    Out of the 74 participating universities, their current ranking was 62, almost at the very bottom.


    Upon learning this, Zhang Menglong showed a helpless expression, "Professor Han, you''re really just torturing yourself to save face, don''t you have any clue about our school''s real weight?"


    "How dare you talk like that!" Han Jinyu slapped Zhang Menglong on the head, "I''m just asking if you have a solution. If not, just come to the research group and work on scientific research honestly. Others might graduate with two papers; you''d need at least five!"


    "Professor Han!" Zhang Menglong was speechless.


    "Heh, heh!" Han Jinyu showed a sly smile. He knew very well that with Zhang Menglong''s capabilities, not to mention five papers, he was capable of producing ten, "So, it''s either help our university clinch this pilot title or dutifully do research for three years. Choose one!"


    For the first time, Zhang Menglong realized that Han Jinyu could be quite shameless. No wonder he was his advisor. He wondered if he could choose to drop out?


    But upon further thought, if he really managed to achieve this, his "Cred Points" would likely reach an astronomical number, right?


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong thought for a moment, "let''s set a small goal first¡ªpush the ranking into the top three within one month!"

 Chapter 508 506: Lets Start with 200

    "Top three?" Hearing this tone, Han Jinyu was totally shocked. In his view, making it into the top 18 was already an incredible feat, let alone calling it a miracle would not be an exaggeration.


    Top three? Wasn''t that reaching the level of world-renowned universities like Qingbei University and Huaxia University? Did he think they were just twiddling their thumbs?


    To put it bluntly, one college''s achievements could annihilate their whole school. Speaking such words, wasn''t he afraid of twisting his tongue?


    "Is top three very difficult?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Wanting first place isn''t impossible either, it''s just that we should consider the feelings of those prestigious schools a bit. I''m afraid it would be too much of a shock for them."


    "You are the biggest boaster I have ever met, and you''re my own graduate student, unbelievable!"


    "Teacher Han, how many science and engineering professors do we have in our school?"


    "Professors and associate professors together, probably around one hundred and twenty or thirty."


    "Hmm, then I''ll just need two or three hundred projects," Zhang Menglong said, "Teacher Han, could you inform those professors and have them list the details of their research directions for me? In a couple of days, I''ll get each of them a national-level research project."


    "Are you crazy?" Han Jinyu blurted out.


    Setting aside how hard it is to apply for national-level projects, in bad years, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology might not even secure one. Hoping to get over a hundred projects? Nonsense!


    Even if he could apply successfully, to expect results within a month? That''s a joke, right? Those national-level projects, without spending three to five years, what significant results could be expected?


    "You don''t need to worry about this, it''s all small stuff," Zhang Menglong laughed, "As long as we have the capacity to undertake these projects, even if we don''t ask for them, the nation would beg us to work on them."


    "Alright, then I''ll watch your performance. I''ll handle the mental preparations for those old guys."


    "Hehe, sorry for the trouble, Teacher Han. After a month, chances are we won''t have many opportunities to meet."


    "First get your tasks done before you start saying such things. Don''t give me that nonsense!"


    The two, old and young, laughed heartily in the office.


    The day after the report was the weekend, and Zhang Menglong planned to take a trip to Yanjing to visit Teacher Zhou, and he was also taking Lu Yiyao with him for fun.


    Teacher Zhou''s residence was a very ancient courtyard, surrounded by tranquility, making one feel as if they had returned to the illusion of the seventies or eighties.


    "Oh, Menglong is here!" Teacher Zhou''s wife had passed away early, now only he and a few carers arranged by the state lived there, he didn''t have much to do every day, his only hobby was pottering around in the courtyard with plants and flowers, he wasn''t involved much in state affairs anymore.


    "And he''s brought his girlfriend!" Teacher Zhou walked up as affectionately as if he had seen his own junior.


    "Hello, Teacher Zhou, my name is Lu Yiyao, Menglong often mentions you!" Lu Yiyao carried herself with the grace of a lady in such settings.


    "He mentioned me?" Teacher Zhou looked skeptical, "The last time I spoke with him on the phone I was still lecturing him, what good did he have to say about me?"


    "Teacher Zhou, you''re seeing me a bit too narrowly, am I that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said with feigned grievance, "I even brought you a gift, it looks like I can only throw it away now."


    "Don''t!" Teacher Zhou snatched the exquisitely packaged box from Zhang Menglong''s hands, opening it with the anticipation of a child.


    The packaging of the box was very elegant, but inside was only an unimpressive-looking item.


    "What''s this? Are you trying to poison me to death now thinking I''m so old?" Teacher Zhou blustered, expecting Zhang Menglong would have brought some fine wine, as old people do enjoy a good drink.


    "This is certainly not poison, this is an Immortal Pill. If you take it, you''ll stay vigorous for another twenty or thirty years!"


    "Come on, I think you''re a quack selling fake medicine."


    "Fake medicine? If you don''t believe me, ask around at the Qin Family, the old General Qin is so healthy because he took my medicine."


    "What did you say? Old Qin took your medicine?" Upon hearing this, Old Zhou suddenly became invigorated.


    He had a very good relationship with Old Master Qin from the Qin Family. A few months ago, General Qin''s old wounds relapsed, and he almost didn''t make it through. The doctors said that even though he survived this time, he probably had only a few months left.


    But during his last visit to see General Qin, he had actually gone directly to the troops and even sparred with those young special forces on the ring!


    An old man nearing a hundred years old sparring with special forces in their early twenties, can you believe it? He even thought at one point that it was General Old Master Qin''s final rally before death.


    Later, he found out that on Old Master Qin''s birthday, his grandson Qin Feng had acquired some Miracle Elixir for him. Now, despite his age, his physical condition was almost like that of someone in their thirties or forties, and there were medical reports to prove it.


    When this news got out, the entire elite society in Yanjing was in an uproar. They all tried hard to find out from Qin Feng where they could get this thing, but all efforts were in vain.


    To think that the Miracle Elixir had actually come from Zhang Menglong.


    "Good lad, this gift of yours isn''t light," Old Zhou accepted it with a grin. At this age, who wouldn''t want to be healthier?


    "So, what trouble have you stirred up this time?"


    "Look at what you''re saying. Do I look like the kind of person who stirs up trouble?" Zhang Menglong responded.


    "With confidence, remove ''look like,'' and you are exactly that kind of person."


    "Now you''ve hurt my feelings. I came here to make contributions to the country this time."


    "Believe you, and I''d be a fool," Old Zhou rolled his eyes at Zhang Menglong, "Spill it already."


    "Hehe, do you know anyone in the Technology Department?"


    "The Technology Department? What do you need them for?"


    "Isn''t the Ministry of Education currently evaluating scientific research universities for piloting? I want to secure some projects for our school."


    "You''re asking me to make a mistake," Old Zhou''s expression became somewhat unnatural. "This is a matter of principle. I''m afraid I can''t help you with that. The country only allocates so many projects each year, and everyone depends on their own abilities. I can''t just give them to you; other universities would have objections if they knew."


    "Old Zhou, just tell me, how many of our national projects are completed each year?"


    "This..." This question made Old Zhou embarrassed.


    Anyone involved in the scientific research system knew that, regardless of the project, there was a lot of fluff. Some projects might show some results in the laboratory but were absolutely unfeasible industrially, ending up as merely academic exercises.


    And the nation''s research funding was thus wasted on these projects.


    Each year, if about a dozen or so projects truly made a difference, it was already a significant advancement for the country.


    "It''s about twenty to thirty percent," Old Zhou inflated the number a bit.


    "In one month, I could complete one hundred percent of all projects and wouldn''t need a single dime from the state for research funding. All I ask is that the projects be named under Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "Are you serious?" Old Zhou said. "Those projects are not something your university can handle. Even if you spent three to five years, the academic groups at the Huaxia Academy of Science may not be able to complete even one. Don''t boast to me here."


    "Of course, I''m serious. Do my previous records have any fluff?"


    Thinking this over, Old Zhou suddenly realized that the person in front of him was not just any ordinary graduate student; he was Zhang Menglong!


    "How many projects do you want? I''ll go ask for you."


    "Not too many, just start with a couple hundred!"

 Chapter 509 507: Castrate Newton for Me

    "A couple hundred? Do you think these scientific research projects are wholesale?"


    Upon hearing the number Zhang Menglong had mentioned, Old Zhou almost had a heart attack, as Zhang aimed to monopolize the nation''s annual scientific research projects single-handedly.


    "That''s just absurd!"


    "Old Zhou, you can''t say that," Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous grin, "those projects need to be done by someone, don''t they? I can do them quickly and well, and won''t cost the government a penny. Either way you slice it, the country profits!"


    "Do you even know what these projects are?" Old Zhou directly asked, "Even if I handed those projects over to you, could you really start working on them right away? Just organizing the research domains, creating research plans, and preparing researchers would take three to five months. One month? You''re dreaming."


    "Old Zhou, how about we make a bet," Zhang Menglong proposed, "Just give me one day, and I''ll have all the theoretical analyses and research plans completed. If I can''t do it, you can say I farted in front of you today!"


    "Oh? That confident?"


    "I call it capability!"


    "Hmph, your theoretical analysis and research plans don''t count unless the project leaders review them and agree!"


    Hearing Old Zhou soften slightly, Zhang Menglong knew he had a chance, "Okay, just tell me the general themes and directions of those projects."


    "Hold on!" Old Zhou pulled out a very old-fashioned cell phone, then took out a phonebook and started flipping through it.


    He dialed a number, then glared at Zhang Menglong, "Just wait!"


    "Hello, old Xu, it''s me, Old Zhou. This year our nation''s scientific research projects are still coordinated by you, right? Oh, yes, could you send me those details? Yeah, I have someone here who wants to check out these projects, right..."


    After wrapping up the official business followed by some small talk, a stack of documents began printing from the fax machine in Old Zhou''s study a few minutes later.


    Over a hundred pages, covering the themes and summaries of the nation''s 158 projects for the year.


    "Take a look for yourself," Old Zhou said as he sipped his tea, "Don''t say I didn''t warn you; none of the projects that qualify as national-level scientific research are simple¡ªthey are not only theoretically robust but also highly applicable."


    Zhang Menglong picked up the documents and casually flipped through a few pages:


    "Biometallurgical Engineering Technology," "High-Performance Power Battery Fabrication Technology," "Wearable Health Monitoring Devices," "Theoretical Foundations and Research Methods for SiC MEMS-based Satellite Precision Positioning and Attitude Control Microthruster Arrays"...


    "What is all this mess," Zhang Menglong, although filled with extensive theoretical knowledge, found it difficult to immediately produce something tangible.


    "Hahaha, confused now?" Old Zhou couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, "A night''s worth of theoretical analysis scheme? I could give you all the time in the world and you''d still come up empty-handed!"


    "Old Zhou, same time tomorrow, we won''t miss the date!" Zhang Menglong might not be able to figure it out alone, but that didn''t mean no one else could!


    ...


    "I need to take a dump!"


    Back at his villa in Yanjing, Zhang Menglong quickly found an excuse to slip into the bathroom alone, and as the mystical portal rose, the restroom was left with nothing but a strong smell.


    "Gou Dan, summon another batch of teachers for me!"


    Zhang Menglong dashed into Super God Academy screaming, with all the students studying there stunned, not understanding what he needed.


    This time, Zhang Menglong was flush with wealth, possessing thousands of Cred Points, and he summoned 20 teachers directly!


    "Arthas greets the Dean!"


    "Thanos greets the Dean!"


    "Copernicus greets the Dean!"


    "Galileo greets the Dean!"


    "Tesla greets the Dean!"


    "Taro Nanko greets the Dean!"


    "Taro Higashi, I have met the Dean!"


    "Grey Wolf, I have met the Dean!"


    "Cao Zhengchun, I have met the Dean!"


    "Lin Dong, I have met the Dean!"


    "Hawking, I have met the Dean!"


    ...


    "Wow, we''ve completely broken through the dimensional barriers!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but complain.


    Not sure whether it was because he was eager to acquire some scientists, but of the 20 teachers, more than half were experts from various domains, almost gathering all the scientists from his biology, chemistry, and physics textbooks he had studied from childhood.


    As for the others, even Thanos showed up. He remembered that his parents had just captured Thanos for this parallel universe when they had left. He wondered if snapping his fingers with the Infinity Gauntlet could really wipe out half the population of the world.


    He remembered that Taro Nanko was Ultraman''s human form, and Taro Higashi was Kamen Rider Black. He had to admit, those with the name Taro really were handsome guys, but what were Grey Wolf and Cao Zhengchun? What strange things had slipped into this group of teachers?


    Zhang Menglong directly assigned all the teachers to an administrative structure. At Cao Zhengchun''s strong insistence, Zhang Menglong established the Eastern Depot specifically for punishing students who broke the school rules. Of course, Zhang Menglong also reminded him, education is fine, but no knives!


    "All teachers, please come here and gather around!" Zhang Menglong summoned all the teachers of Super God Academy to his side.


    "Dean, do you have any instructions?" the scientists asked timidly.


    "These materials," Zhang Menglong slapped a stack of documents on the table, "ten projects each, according to our current technological level on Earth. Within one day, provide all the theoretical analyses and precise plans for each project, including any accurate supporting data."


    The teachers immediately showed a distressed look. In their own worlds, they had conducted scientific research carefree. Coming to Super God Academy, although they had lost their freedom, they had gained eternal life and unlimited depth in their research. They thought their daily tasks would just be teaching.


    But they hadn''t expected to also face the exploitation of Zhang Menglong, the capitalist.


    "Cough cough, Dean, all of us only have deep studies in our specific domains. Some of these tasks are beyond our expertise. One day might be quite difficult..."


    "You could fool someone else with that, but me?" Zhang Menglong pointed at a moving huge building in the distance and said, "Over there gathers the most advanced technological knowledge from various universes. These projects are the most basic and foundational within those frameworks of knowledge. Your brains are developed enough that you could comprehend them thoroughly in minutes. Are you trying to be sloppy with me?"


    Zhang Menglong said fiercely, "Or do you not want to work?"


    Zhang Menglong shouted, "Supervisor Cao!"


    "At your service!" Cao Zhengchun, dressed in a splendid robe, appeared beside Zhang Menglong. "Dean, what are your commands?"


    "I''m giving you another authority. From now on, teachers who do not submit to the management should also be handled by the Eastern Depot. You cannot randomly hit, scold, or insult students, but you can do so with the teachers!"


    "Yes!" Cao Zhengchun immediately revealed a sinister expression. After all, the teachers at Super God Academy wouldn''t die; even if a limb were severed, it could grow back, so he had no psychological burden undertaking these tasks.


    "This bunch of old guys just defied my order, hand them over to you for processing. Make an example of one, castrate Newton first."


    "As you command!"


    Upon hearing this command, Newton immediately pissed himself. Although they couldn''t die at Super God Academy, they still felt pain. They were not those high-force value chart teachers, so what resistance could they offer against Cao Zhengchun?


    "Dean, we were just joking earlier," Newton said with a bootlicking smile. "Such a task, why would you need a day? Half a day is enough!"


    "Yes, Dean, aren''t we here just to serve you? This work is no different from adding one plus one, not to mention providing theoretical analysis. Even writing several papers straight up wouldn''t be a problem!"


    "Rest assured, Dean, we''ll leave the materials here. Come and pick them up this time tomorrow. If we can''t deliver, do with us as you will!"


    "Humph, that''s more like it!" Zhang Menglong left the Super God Academy with a swaggering laugh.


    The teachers breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Ah, this damned capitalist!"

 Chapter 510 508: I Cant Walk Because My Legs Are Numb from Squatting to Poop

    "Kid, how did that brag of yours from yesterday turn out? If you can''t produce the plan, you might as well not have come today; I''d be embarrassed for you to see me," Zhang Menglong teased on the phone early in the morning.


    Last night, after taking the elixir Zhang Menglong had given him, he woke up feeling as if he''d been reborn; he hadn''t felt this relaxed in decades.


    "Hey, you''re challenging me now, huh? Turn on your fax, I''ll send over a report first for your friend to check out," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "and you''d better come pick me up in your car if you want to see me later, otherwise I''m not coming!"


    "Calling you fat and you really start to huff and puff, okay, I''m waiting!"


    "Hmph, no one at the National Science Department is getting a day off today!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone and found an excuse to sneak into the Super God Academy.


    "Where is everyone?" Zhang Menglong yelled, "Are you trying to get into Eastern Depot? Oh come on..."


    "Here we come!"


    Newton, Copernicus, Einstein, and others ran out from a portal, each holding a stack of documents, with heavy dark circles under almost everyone''s eyes.


    To them, these research projects were child''s play, but explaining these things clearly with current basic physics and technology levels indeed took a lot of their energy.


    More than a hundred projects, more than a hundred of files, all together could almost fill a car.


    "Dean, mission accomplished!" Newton wiped the sweat from his forehead; after working day and night, he had finally managed to save his brethren.


    "Not bad, not bad," Zhang Menglong patted the thick stack of documents; these were enough to advance Huaxia''s scientific and technological levels by at least five to ten years!


    "You guys have worked hard; I''ll raise your salaries next year!" Zhang Menglong patted Newton''s shoulder.


    Newton and the others were speechless as if they were getting paid to begin with; even if they had salaries, there was nowhere to spend it, being eternal slaves to the Super God Academy was their destiny.


    Back at his residence, Zhang Menglong directly faxed a document to Old Zhou.


    Over a hundred pages, it could even pass for a doctoral thesis.


    Of course, Old Zhou wasn''t involved in academic research; he simply couldn''t understand these things and casually passed the document to Old Xu.


    Old Xu, referred to here, is a retired academician named Xu Dengfeng, now in his nineties but still robust and always restless, so the state entrusted him with organizing all the major scientific research projects each year.


    Although there was always a large project evaluation group each year, the final approval of the projects still required Xu Dengfeng''s decision, as he believed only those genuinely capable of undertaking these projects deserved the national projects.


    The document Zhang Menglong sent over was a technical plan called "Targeted Cancer Cell Treatment," which involved locating cancer cells with a certain isotope and precisely targeting them with nanoscale slow-release particles.


    Cancer research has always been a global focus, an unshakable priority in scientific research projects.


    Academician Xu''s expertise was in high-energy physics, a field far from understanding this plan that encompassed chemistry, biology, and medicine. He immediately contacted a friend of his.


    Academician Xu''s friend, an 83-year-old professor who was also an academician, began trembling with his hands halfway through reviewing the research plan.


    This wasn''t just a planning report; it was practically a strategy guide!


    The plan covered everything from drug preparation to testing, and then to mass production, including detailed introductions and even predicted experimental results.


    In other words, as long as someone had this document and if the data were accurate, with the right equipment, they could fully realize this project.


    The suggested approach in this project book was highly innovative, even surpassing contemporary understanding, but with his academic level, the feasibility of this plan was likely very high, requiring just a little time to verify the data!


    If all the data matched expectations, they could complete the drug testing in half a month, and move to human testing in another half; as long as the results were problem-free, they could immediately start mass production!


    The only pity was that the drug mentioned in this document was effective only against stomach cancer.


    But stomach cancer is currently the type of cancer with the largest proportion. If stomach cancer were conquered, it could almost be said that humans had defeated half of all cancers.


    He had researched cancer his whole life and considered himself an authority on the subject, but in the presence of the owner of this proposal, he felt like his level was that of a primary school student compared to an academician.


    He had merely slowed down the spread of cancer cells and controlled the progression of the disease, but there were some side effects on healthy cells as well.


    Yet others could directly achieve targeted treatment, which had hardly any impact on the human body, and it was a cure!


    What did this mean? It was a blessing for all humanity!


    "Old Xu, where did this project plan come from?" he immediately shared his opinion with Xu Dengfeng.


    "It was Old Zhou who gave it to me. What do you think?"


    "The thinking is very advanced, and the feasibility is high. If we officially start experimental testing, a preliminary research results report could be obtained within a month!"


    "Is it that impressive?" Xu Dengfeng immediately stood up, "Guard! Guard!"


    "Academician Xu, what is it?"


    "Help me arrange a vehicle; I need to go to Old Zhou''s place!"


    "Wait a minute, stop by my place and pick me up. I''m going too!"


    ...


    "Thud, thud, thud," the door to Old Zhou''s house was almost busted open by a series of urgent knocks, "Old Zhou! Open up!"


    "Why have you come?" Old Zhou looked puzzled. Although they both lived in Yanjing, Academician Xu was famously averse to going out, except to his own home and research institute¡ªit would be considered his loss if he went anywhere else!


    And not just him, another high-ranking academician from the Medical Academy had come along with him.


    "Cut the chat, where is he?" Academician Xu began searching through his yard.


    "Who?"


    "The person who gave you this data!"


    "This data..."


    "Old Gao said, this thing exceeds our current level by too much. Hurry and call this person out. This national project must be handed over to him. If he''s unwilling to take it, I''ll go directly to the chairman and have him personally request it!"


    "Isn''t that a bit exaggerated?" Old Zhou had never seen Academician Xu so agitated.


    "You don''t understand!" said Academician Gao, "Right now, the whole world is researching cancer treatments. If we are the first to produce results, the entire world''s medical field will recognize us, Huaxia, as the authority. With such a promising project report in hand, how can I not be excited?"


    This data, aside from a portion of core molecular formulas that was obscured, contained very complete information; otherwise, Professor Xu might have even considered unilaterally retaining this report without making a sound.


    "But you''ve made a wasted trip," Old Zhou said with a resigned smile. "This data was faxed to me; the person isn''t in my house."


    "Then tell him if he''s willing to take on this project, he can name whatever research funding he needs¡ª30 million, 50 million. If that''s not enough, I''ll apply for more! This thing could advance our country''s cancer treatment technology by at least five to ten years ahead of Western countries!" Academician Xu offered.


    "This kid," Old Zhou thought, shocked by the magnitude of what Zhang Menglong had concocted in just one evening¡ªthe potential was indeed very high.


    "You sly kid, hurry over here. Someone wants to meet you!" Old Zhou quickly informed Zhang Menglong.


    "Come over? Sorry, Old Zhou, I took too long on the toilet just now and my legs went numb. I can''t walk if no one comes to pick me up!"

 Chapter 511 509 I want all the projects

    "Don''t get cocky with me, kid!"


    Talking about legs going numb from squatting too long while taking a dump, if what Zhang Menglong said was actually true, there would be ghosts. He just confidently told me over the phone that if I wanted him to come over, I''d have to pick him up personally, and lo and behold, in less than an hour, all of it had come true.


    "Academician Zhou, I have a lot of research materials here, and if I were to accidentally drop a copy while coming to you, and someone from another country picked it up and took it away, it would be a huge loss for our nation!"


    "You have more than one copy of your research plan?" Having more than one copy of this cancer treatment plan, which was already over a hundred pages, was unimaginable, and he never even considered preparing all the plans for more than a hundred projects for one single night.


    Even if he really had the ability to analyze all the theories and technologies, he couldn''t possibly type them all out in one night, right?


    "I told you, I''m taking on all 100-plus projects, of course, I prepared everything. Let me tell you, there''s a lot of it, and if I came on my own, it''s really possible I might accidentally lose a copy, and then the responsibility..."


    "Wait there, I''m coming over personally!" This time, Academician Zhou was truly scared.


    If Zhang Menglong really had over a hundred research plans, and if they were all of the same quality as the one he held, then what he was carrying was doubtless the lifeline of the nation for the next five to ten years; he really couldn''t let Zhang Menglong come on his own.


    So what if he had to swallow his pride for the sake of these materials?


    "You all wait, I''m going to pick him up." Academician Zhou said to the two Academicians, then after making sure they were well taken care of, he immediately set off with the national security officers arranged for him.


    The drive from Academician Zhou''s place to Zhang Menglong''s residence usually took half an hour, but under his constant urging, they made it in 20 minutes. Since Zhang Menglong had notified the security guard, Zhou faced no obstacles and drove straight into the villa complex.


    Villas with an average price tag of 1.8 million and a starting price of 80 million ¡ª none of these caught Academician Zhou''s attention at that moment. He rushed straight to Zhang Menglong''s house and began to pound on the door.


    "You little brat, open the door!"


    Lu Yiyao opened the door, and upon seeing Academician Zhou in a flurry, she was slightly stunned.


    Here was a man who could remain composed and witty even when dealing with diplomats from several countries, yet now he seemed all flustered. What on earth had happened?


    "Academician Zhou, why have you come?"


    "Where''s that rascal Zhang Menglong?"


    "He... he''s upstairs playing games. Should I go call him for you?"


    "Playing games? With such an important matter at hand, and he''s still playing games?" Academician Zhou was both irritably amused and amused at Zhang Menglong''s lack of seriousness towards these scientific achievements.


    Every one of these scientific accomplishments were enough to shock the world, and with something so valuable in hand, Zhang Menglong actually had the nerve to play games?


    But it was also amusing because it was just so Zhang Menglong to behave this way.


    In his eyes, these things were not important at all, which indirectly meant that Zhang Menglong must have far more precious and advanced technological projects up his sleeve.


    "Please have a seat, I''ll quickly go upstairs and drag Zhang Menglong down."


    When Zhang Menglong came down from upstairs, he was still immersed in the throes of the King''s Canyon.


    "Chase him! Kill him! Quadra kill! Penta kill! Nice!"


    "Next game, next game, I''m taking mid this round!"


    ...


    "Enough with your playing!" Academician Zhou snatched the phone from Zhang Menglong''s hand, "There''s an extremely urgent matter, hurry up and come to my house with me!"


    "Academician Zhou, didn''t you say for me to just go back to Jiangnan City, to save my own face and yours from embarrassment? Why should I go to your place?"


    "You start heaving just by calling you fat, huh?" Academician Zhou seemed to be getting used to Zhang Menglong''s maddening way of speaking, "Where are the materials?"


    "Hehehe, don''t be angry, here they are!" Zhang Menglong pointed to the stack of white papers on the table.


    "What are those documents?" Old Zhou''s eyes almost popped out.


    The stack of files, though neatly placed on the coffee table, had melon seeds scattered on top of some, and melon seed shells spat out on others.


    This was precious research material, not some trash paper!


    "Oh, there are two more copies over there; I have no idea what happened, but one leg of that table was a bit short, so I used them to prop it up."


    Seeing the direction Zhang Menglong pointed, Old Zhou''s blood pressure nearly doubled!


    It was bad enough that he used those precious research documents to spit out melon seed shells, but he even used them to prop up a table leg! If the old folks at the National Academy of Sciences saw this, they would probably whip out a 40-meter long sabre and give Zhang Menglong a couple of slashes.


    "You''re really not afraid of damaging these documents?" Old Zhou asked with a bitter smile.


    "If they get ruined, can''t I just write another set?" Zhang Menglong said, unconcerned.


    "What if they get lost? To put it bluntly, if these things were accidentally misplaced and fell into the wrong hands, do you know what the consequences would be?" This was what Old Zhou was most worried about.


    If they fell into the hands of someone from another country, those documents would no longer belong to Huaxia, and even if they came up with the same research findings, others could easily claim Huaxia had plagiarized them.


    "So someone else uses them, that''s all," Zhang Menglong said, spreading his hands, "at most, I''ll just spend a little more time and elevate the research to another level, more outstanding than theirs, and that''s it, right?"


    At that remark, Old Zhou''s mouth twitched, "What, are you saying that you just casually came up with those research findings?"


    "Yeah," Zhang Menglong uttered another infuriating sentence, "I''m afraid if I write too profoundly, if it surpasses the present era by twenty or thirty years, the people in charge of the project won''t understand it, right? Then I won''t get the project, will I?"


    "Come on, grab these documents and come with me! You''re having lunch at my place today!"


    Old Zhou dragged Zhang Menglong in a fluster toward his home.


    ...


    "Old Xu, I''ve brought the person!" Before even entering the yard, Old Zhou began shouting loudly.


    Academician Xu and Academician Gao hurried out. Their gazes only lingered briefly on Zhang Menglong before moving away¡ªthey thought, how could such a young person have conducted this research? Probably a descendant of some scholar, right?


    "Where is the person?"


    "It''s him!" Old Zhou pointed at Zhang Menglong.


    "Him?"


    "What? You don''t believe it?" Zhang Menglong was used to being underestimated because of his age.


    Although the documents were not written by him, he understood all the theoretical knowledge at a glance, and he could even deduce more from it. His knowledge was already much richer than that of the academicians, "So, should I leave?"


    "It''s him," Old Zhou nodded, "Do you know Academician Fang''s controlled nuclear fusion project? He provided the theoretical support for it."


    "What?" The two academicians were instantly shocked¡ªthe controlled nuclear fusion project was a national secret-level project, and even if they knew it was underway, less than ten people were not part of it.


    Such a major project was supported by theories from a young man?


    One subject was physics, the other was medicine; wasn''t this spectrum too wide?


    "Hehehe, don''t leave now!" Both academicians suddenly wore big smiles on their faces.


    "Menglong, let me introduce you: this is Academician Gao, who specializes in cancer research, and this is Academician Xu, an expert in high-energy physics. He''s the one managing all the national projects."


    Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. Pointing at the documents in the hands of a few security guards behind Old Zhou, he said, "Academician Xu, I''ve finished writing all the project proposals, including theoretical analyses and experimental schemes. I want all of your projects!"

 Chapter 512 510 Isnt this solved?

    "Is that all?" Academician Xu''s pupils suddenly doubled in size. They originally thought that the documents following were just some data or supplementary materials about Zhang Menglong''s cancer targeting treatment. He could never have imagined that those were actually the research proposals for the other 157 projects this year!


    "May I take a look?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but you can''t back out after you''ve seen it!"


    "If the quality of your stuff is the same as this one, not to mention giving all 158 projects to you this year, giving you next year''s projects wouldn''t be a problem either!"


    As the project leader, Academician Xu knew these national projects all too well. Most domestic scholars vied for these projects merely for title selection and research funding.


    In the early stages, they indeed put forth a lot of effort in preliminary research, but once the project was secured, they started slacking off. After three to five years, they would submit a report on the project''s conclusion, with eighty percent of the projects almost having no practical effects.


    Not to mention anything else, the report on cancer targeting treatment by Zhang Menglong alone was already worth more than their project conclusions.


    He didn''t care what Zhang Menglong''s purpose was for applying for these projects. As long as he could properly research these, these matters had nothing to do with him; he only cared about the results.


    Concerning physics research, Academician Xu ranked among the top ten domestically. Most projects on physics research, even if he couldn''t delve deeply, he could still grasp the general idea.


    He extracted several reports on physics research, and the very first one excited him almost to death.


    In this national project, the requirement was merely to study the microscopic particles of materials and derive some fundamental physical laws regarding microscopic particle mechanics.


    Yet in this report, Zhang Menglong not only verified these laws, he even researched an application method!


    "Strong Interaction Material!"


    This term, once found only in science fiction novels, had appeared for the first time in a scientific research project proposal.


    The report clearly narrated some derivations of the laws on material microscopic mechanics and the conclusions from some experimental data, and even elevated the topic further!


    The Strong Interaction Material is a terrifying material from the science fiction novel "Three-Body" that can alter the forces between microscopic particles of a material, securing them together from the level of quarks, thus increasing the density of the material to extreme levels, making its strength and hardness exceed the strongest known materials on Earth by hundreds to thousands of times!


    If such a thing could genuinely be manufactured, to say nothing of other domains, just the military domain alone could lead to the direct collapse of other countries!


    Subsequently, the remaining reports, one by one, seemed to open the doors to a new world for Professor Xu, presenting endless concepts and new theories that drew him back to his student days of fervently absorbing knowledge.


    "The younger generation is to be feared, truly to be feared!"


    "How about it, Academician Xu, about what we just discussed..."


    "Give me three days. I want to verify the quality of these project proposals with others. If there are no problems, I''ll hand all these projects over to you."


    "OK!" Zhang Menglong agreed readily, knowing that such scholars would definitely not engage in any underhanded dealings academically.


    "Professor Xu, may I make a request?"


    "Don''t, don''t call me Professor; I''m not worthy," Academician Xu joked. But in truth, if all these were written by Zhang Menglong, then there is no one in the world qualified to be his teacher. "Go ahead, what''s your request? Do you need funding or manpower?"


    Now, it was no longer Zhang Menglong worrying if Academician Xu would give him these projects, but rather Academician Xu worrying if Zhang Menglong would be willing to take them on.


    In the past, having no other alternatives, Academician Xu had to select the most reliable and capable individuals from the applicants to take on those research projects.


    If Zhang Menglong truly could take on these, within a few years, Huaxia could achieve significant breakthroughs and leaps forward in both fundamental and applied sciences. By then, even if Academician Xu should pass away, he could do so with a smile from beyond.


    "If you are willing to take on these projects, I can apply for at least ten million in funding for each project!"


    These numbers even shocked Elder Zhou; this added up to a total of over ten billion yuan in funds. Under normal circumstances, the annual national budget for these projects was only about fifty to sixty billion yuan.


    From this, it can be seen that Academician Xu truly cared a great deal about this matter.


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I can cover the research funding myself."


    "This..."


    "Haha, Elder Xu, you don''t need to save money for this young man," Elder Zhou laughed, "Your money probably doesn''t even match the interest he earns from his bank in a few days!"


    "You..."


    "His name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "You are Zhang Menglong?" Xu suddenly laughed, he had just actually asked the world''s richest man, with a wealth of trillions, whether he needed research funding.


    Although these were two different matters, it still felt a bit like playing the lute to a cow. Even the national yearly investment in all Science construction wouldn''t come close to Zhang Menglong''s wealth.


    "So what are your requirements?"


    "I hope these projects can be credited under the name of our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Okay!" Academician Xu originally thought it was a tremendous request, but it turned out to be only a matter of nominal attribution.


    Although other schools might have some opinions when the time comes, if you have the capability, you can do it too, but the question is, can you?


    What he produces overnight, you probably couldn''t research even a bit of it in a year, right?


    These research achievements were enough to shut those top universities up!


    ...


    In three days, Xu, bearing these materials, visited nearly all top-tier research institutes in Huaxia; anyone who saw these materials was shocked for an entire year, and they even suspected that Academician Xu might have hijacked some alien''s database.


    Having obtained these authoritative confirmations, he could finally entrust these projects to Zhang Menglong with confidence.


    As per Zhang Menglong''s request, since these projects were to be given to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, naturally, they needed to be communicated through the school level.


    As the director of the school''s scientific research center, Han Jinyu received a call from the National Science and Technology Commission.


    "Is this Professor Han from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?"


    "Yes, it''s me. Who is this?"


    "Hello, I am Xu Dengfeng from the Science Commission."


    "Academician Xu!" The drowsiness induced by the hot midday was instantly dispelled from Han Jinyu on hearing the name.


    "Professor Han, I am here today to discuss something with you."


    "Please speak." Han Jinyu was somewhat surprised. Xu Dengfeng was the head of the Science Commission, responsible for all national projects, and to receive a call personally from him¡ªaside from the chip project which had concluded, he hadn''t taken on any major national projects in recent years.


    "This year, the nation has a total of 158 scientific research projects, and after the committee''s discussion, all are to be undertaken by your university. I wonder what Professor Han thinks about this?"


    "What... What?" Han Jinyu nearly lost his balance.


    What did 158 scientific research projects mean? At Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, they had managed to secure just one national level scientific research project in the past three years. For these 158 projects to come at them all at once was literally earth-shattering!


    "Your university, regardless of any difficulties, whether in terms of funding or personnel staffing, can mention them all; we will prioritize them for processing."


    "No... No problem!" Suddenly recalling Zhang Menglong''s earnest promise a few days earlier, along with the task of gathering research projects from the university''s professors, Han Jinyu instantly understood.


    What kind of magic had Zhang Menglong used to make Academician Xu hand over all 158 key national research projects to them?


    Merely undertaking these projects, even if temporarily without results, also spawned 10 points each, for a university capable of undertaking projects also demonstrated its research capabilities.


    These 158 projects, even if there were no results after a month, would still tally up to 1580 points, enough for them to compete with top-ranked universities.


    Just after hanging up, Zhang Menglong''s call came through.


    "Menglong, what on earth did you do?"


    "Nothing much, just slightly showcased my prowess, wasn''t it just about the selection of pilot universities? This aspect of project selection, hasn''t this solved it?"

 Chapter 513 511: Which Invention Should Be Used to Win the Nobel Prize?

    The information for the 158 projects was sent directly to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology the next day. Upon hearing this, the entire school''s faculty and students entered a state of preparation for battle.


    The 158 projects were assigned to 158 teachers at the school. Even though everyone''s domain of research differed slightly, with Zhang Menglong''s guidance material, as long as the foundational disciplines were the same, there was hardly any difficulty.


    Lack staff? With tens of thousands of students in the school, if you told them that national-level projects were recruiting, every student in science and engineering would go crazy. They would definitely scramble to secure a spot in a research team.


    If they could be part of a national project, it was an absolute bonus for their future job prospects or academic advancement!


    Of course, if these materials were to be published, it wouldn''t be a matter of just a moment, after all, theoretical analyses and experimental plans could be written up quickly, but papers needed lots of data for support; you surely couldn''t just put predicted data in a paper, right? That would count as academic fraud.


    Even though not a single paper had been published yet, their second evaluation''s score had already reached 1580 points, together with the previous 320 points, making it 1900 points in total.


    With this score, among the dozens of universities competing, they could already rank in the top 20!


    But there is never a wall that doesn''t let the breeze through. The news of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology cornering this year''s 158 scientific research projects had spread within a few days, sparking a storm across all the universities in the country.


    Who could accept this? It wasn''t just Jiangnan University of Science and Technology eyeing these projects; other schools also wanted to use the scores from these 158 projects to boost their rankings.


    Usually, the evaluation takes place at the end of June every year. For this national scientific research project competition, many schools'' research teams had put in a great deal of effort, with some even having published some of their research findings in leading international journals.


    It felt as if a duck already cooking in a pot had suddenly flown away; claiming there was no trickery involved, who would believe that?


    On the surface, all the universities remained quite calm, and many principals even called the principal of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology to "seek advice" on their experiences. But behind the scenes, the competition among these top universities was not so clean, and many articles began to fiercely criticize Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    The provocative power of the written word is immense. These messages quickly spread from the universities to the national graduate and doctoral student groups. You see, many of them also wanted to join these national-level projects to soar in their careers. The actions of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology undoubtedly cut off their opportunities. How could they tolerate this?


    "Academic Fraud or Behind-The-Scenes Capital at Play, How Exactly did Jiangnan University of Science and Technology Secure 158 National-Level Projects?"


    An article running into tens of thousands of words appeared online, raising massive doubts about Jiangnan University of Science and Technology and containing a large amount of sharp criticism that virtually dismissed the university as worthless.


    As the article heated up the trend lists, an academic row exploded between the academic communities.


    "Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, a third-tier university, dares to do this? 158 projects? Do they even have the scientific capability?"


    "Heh, I finally understand now. As long as a school has money, even national projects are up for sale."


    "Though the projects were bought, and the school''s scientific hardware facilities are among the top in the world, can their people cut it? I remember, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology doesn''t even have one academician, right?"


    "What are you saying, haha, isn''t there a Professor Han who was nominated for an academician this year? I remember Jiangnan University of Science and Technology publicized this for an entire week; they nearly announced it to the whole world."


    "An academician, wow, how impressive. How many academicians does our school have again? 20? 30? They are so awesome, daring to take on so many projects with just one academician; there must be some dirty PY trading behind it, right?"


    "Tsk tsk tsk, true enough. After all, the current world''s richest person is from their Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, they really are loaded now."


    ...


    Online, the mockery of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had been unending, but, of course, they didn''t have the tone of those who couldn''t eat grapes and say they''re sour; instead, they started attacking the faculty directly. Regarding the faculty, the people at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology really couldn''t find any point to argue against.


    The truth is, their academic heritage is lacking, and there really isn''t much they can do about it. Now, with such severe competition within the country, all the genuinely capable and excellent people naturally go to those prestigious universities like 985 and 211, and the compensation offered by those institutions is also higher.


    With no rebuttal heard, the curses online grew even more intense.


    "@Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, are you left speechless? If you had a bit of self-awareness, you''d quickly return the project and stop engaging in these underhanded tactics. Just wait two or three years when you can''t present any research results, and see how you wrap things up."


    "This kind of school, can they even produce any decent research results? I remember their last national-level project, and the best academic achievement was just getting a paper published in a tier-one SCI journal."


    The slightly better schools can make any national project flourish, not to mention tier-one SCI articles. Sometimes they even appear in those top-tier academic journals.


    "They really are too much!"


    As the director of the research center of the school, Han Jinyu felt an urge to flip the table as he read these comments.


    "If they are so capable, why don''t I see them taking all the projects?"


    "Mr. Han, they now suspect we got the projects through backdoor dealings," said Zhang Menglong, flippng through documents, "Actually, silencing them is quite simple."


    "How so?"


    "The thing is, they feel unfair because our school''s research capabilities are poor. If it were Qingbei University or Yanjing University, these top-tier universities taking on so many research projects, they would only feel discontent."


    "But that''s an indisputable fact. Our professors are at most Yangtze Scholars or part of the Hundred Talents Program, Thousand Talents Plan. In institutions like the Huaxia Academy of Science, maybe even a Tai Chi-playing old man at the park or on the street is an academician. How can we compare?"


    "Research capabilities are merely about articles. Since they aren''t satisfied, why don''t we just publish more papers to settle this?"


    "Zhang Menglong, this is no joke," Han Jinyu said, "You might not have experienced the process of publishing a paper. From submission to initial review, it can take several months, and it might take up to a year to get it published."


    "I remember my senior said that those top-tier journals respond within just a week or two, right?"


    "Those journals have high submission thresholds. If the quality of the paper isn''t up to par, they''ll reject it outright. With a rejection rate over 95%, quick results are typical. But if it passes the review, things like expert evaluations also take several months. By then, the pilot university selection would be over, and we would have already drowned in spit."


    "Is there a way to speed up the whole process?"


    "Yes!" said Han Jinyu, "If the level of your article surpasses everyone else in the world, even reaching the level of a Nobel Prize, they will definitely publish your article at the fastest speed."


    "Nobel Prize, huh?" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "What are you thinking about?" Han Jinyu laughed, "Are you perhaps thinking of publishing a Nobel Prize-worthy article within a month?"


    "No," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "I''m just thinking about which invention I should use to win the Nobel Prize."

 Chapter 514 512: You Will Come to Beg Me

    "Which invention should I use to win the Nobel Prize..."


    Zhang Menglong''s words left Han Jinyu speechless; other researchers exhaust their lives just hoping for a tiny breakthrough in the existing domains of human science, and winning a Nobel Prize is something most dare not even dream of.


    And here Zhang Menglong was, pondering which invention to use to snatch the Nobel Prize. Wasn''t that infuriating?


    If it were someone else, they would have lashed out in anger. What kind of sleep position must one adopt to dream up such nonsense?


    But it seemed Zhang Menglong genuinely had the credentials to make such a claim. The technologies he handed over to Huaxia, things like controlled nuclear fusion, anti-gravity devices, curvature drive engines, and the like¡ªany of them could indeed qualify for a Nobel Prize!


    "Damn it, got shown up by him again!"


    ...


    "This is so troubling, what should I write about?" Zhang Menglong stood in the library of Super God Academy, gazing at the endless ocean of books that represented the crystallization of wisdom and civilization from various parallel worlds.


    Any one of those books could contain a sentence that might shatter the current understanding of human knowledge.


    "It can''t be too mundane, or it won''t shock them," Zhang Menglong fretted, "nor can it be too advanced. If I were to create a time machine, I''d probably scare a whole bunch of people to death. I can''t build one on Earth with the current technology in a month''s time."


    "Settle down, let''s stick to basic physics!" After pondering for a moment, Zhang Menglong still decided to tackle a basic physics problem. Firstly, these kinds of problems usually involve very mature research and are not too far beyond human understanding.


    Secondly, precisely because they have been well-researched yet remain unproven, should they be confirmed, they would create an explosive effect, much like when Zhang Menglong solved a mathematical problem during his graduate exams that had troubled mathematicians for two hundred years.


    "''A Detailed Explanation of Cosmic Dark Matter''," Zhang Menglong lightly tapped on the bookshelf, and detailed information about the book appeared on his holographic screen, amounting to more than two million characters, rivaling the word count of a high-quality web novel.


    A hundred years had passed since dark matter was first hypothesized, and countless humans had tried to prove its existence through various experiments, but so far, none had succeeded.


    Based on current theories, humanity has put forward several hypotheses: weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, and all sorts of exotic terms.


    Many experiments have shown that WIMPs are a form of "hot dark matter," contrary to the "cold dark matter" that humans had speculated, and the existence of axions remains unproven to date, with humans having only proposed certain characteristics for them.


    However, in another parallel world almost 99% identical to Earth, humans proved the existence of dark matter about 12 years ago.


    In fact, dark matter is composed of another type of massive elementary particle, and with modern technology, its existence could be proven, provided the testing methods are appropriate.


    Compared to inventions that take years or decades, this type of proof-based achievement is the quickest to be verified by humans as existent.


    Of course, it also involves a significant amount of experimentation. Zhang Menglong spent several hours digesting the literature, and then he went to Han Jinyu to request assistance.


    "You want to prove the existence of dark matter?" Han Jinyu nearly fell off his chair upon hearing the news. Although his main focus was on polymer materials, he was quite clear about basic physical research since several of his former classmates were specifically conducting research on the subject at the national high-energy physics laboratory.


    "Professor Han, it''s a bit difficult for me to do this alone, so I wanted to ask if I could borrow some of your students to suspend their current research and help me with data monitoring and analysis."


    "How confident are you?" asked Han Jinyu.


    "100%!" Zhang Menglong declared emphatically, "But I''ll need at least 20 people skilled in the use of various instruments, as well as some with strong mathematical skills."


    "I''ll help you find them!" Han Jinyu agreed without hesitation. If what Zhang Menglong said was true, it would absolutely shake the entire global physics community¡ªa Nobel Prize in Physics was certainly within reach.


    If that Physics Nobel Prize were to be associated with Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, then who would dare say afterward that their faculty wasn''t strong or that their scientific research capabilities were weak!


    "Menglong, can I ask you something?"


    "What is it?"


    "Can you add me to this project? I, Han Jinyu, have been engaged in scientific research for over forty years and can proficiently use various instruments. I even obtained a double degree in mathematics during my graduate studies; I am definitely the person you''re looking for!" Han Jinyu''s eyes almost seemed to emit light.


    "Alright, alright, alright," Zhang Menglong simply couldn''t resist the impact of that gaze, "Then we''ll put your name as the corresponding author when the time comes!"


    "Really?" Han Jinyu almost couldn''t resist picking Zhang Menglong up and planting two kisses on him, "Then I''ll go right now!"


    ...


    When they heard about a research project that could challenge for the Nobel Prize, the entire research group went crazy!


    The eldest apprentice brother immediately packed a suitcase from home, brought a tent, and planned to sleep right in the lab for this period of time!


    The younger apprentice sister broke up with her boyfriend on the spot, saying that men would only slow down her pace to win the Nobel Prize!


    The second apprentice brother, who had just undergone surgery a few days ago, removed his IV drip and climbed out of his hospital bed. In the face of scientific research, personal health was nothing!


    Under Zhang Menglong''s organization, earth-shattering research began in the laboratories of Jiangnan University.


    Nine days later, everyone in the research group had turned into wild people; the female apprentices'' hair was disheveled, so oily it could be used for cooking, while the male apprentices all sported dark circles under their eyes and had a disgusting stench of bad breath. However, on the computers in the laboratory, those hundreds of data files were the result of their nearly sleepless weeks of work.


    During that time, Zhang Menglong had also prepared the template for the paper, merely waiting to fill in these data.


    "Perfect!" Zhang Menglong hit the last key, "Everyone is tired, go back and sleep. Just wait to receive the award next month."


    It was clear to them that the Nobel Prize could be awarded to a maximum of three people at the same time, and at most they could only have their names listed; although they couldn''t get the title of Nobel laureate, being mixed among those names was honor enough for them to apply for a distinguished professorship at any university!


    You should know that except for the eldest apprentice brother, none of them were even thirty years old. Such an achievement would absolutely make them the envy of their peers!


    Zhang Menglong opened his computer and started to submit the paper. Zhang Menglong couldn''t even be bothered to look at those lesser journals and directly submitted to top international journals like Nature and Science.


    Zhang Menglong was well aware that from submission to initial review, it would take at least a week, and he didn''t have that much time to waste here. He found the magazine''s phone number and called it.


    "Hello, this is the editorial department of Nature magazine."


    "Hi, I just sent in a submission, could you please expedite the process?" Zhang Menglong politely said.


    "I''m sorry, sir, but we have a first-come, first-served policy for reviewing submissions. We can only review your manuscript after we have looked at the other submissions."


    As a world-class journal, their editorial department received a large number of submissions every day; such phone calls were nothing new to them.


    "But my paper could win the Nobel Prize in Physics."


    "Hahaha, someone just now said their paper could win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry," the editor immediately showed a disgusted expression, as if saying nowadays every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinks they can throw their trashy manuscripts at them.


    Zhang Menglong was not angry, "In a while, you''ll be the ones coming to me!"

 Chapter 515 513: The Greatest Discovery of the Early 21st Century

    "Utterly nonsensical!" the editor at Nature journal put down the phone and continued with their peer review work.


    "What''s up with Gamas?" a colleague joked, placing a cup of coffee on his desk.


    "Nothing much, just someone wanting me to rush their review, claiming they are this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics laureate," Gamas sipped his coffee, his tone laced with mockery.


    "Hahaha, I got calls from three Nobel Chemistry Prize and two Nobel Prize in Physics laureates just yesterday," Gamas'' colleague laughed, "Turned out their papers weren''t even third-class in quality."


    At their Nature magazine, submissions were categorized into four quality levels; the lowest was Level Three, which were utterly mediocre articles that were usually sent back immediately. Such articles accounted for over 90% of all submissions.


    Level Two articles had a certain academic breakthrough and, after some revisions, had the chance to be upgraded to Level One.


    As for Level One articles, they were the ones that required the editors'' attention; if they reached Level One quality and were modified and supplemented with additional data, they stood a great chance of being published in the magazine.


    The top-level articles absolutely had to be breakthroughs in topic selection and be rich in content, typically resolving fundamental issues in certain disciplines or achieving significant breakthroughs in application, where the economic benefits could be measured in upwards of one billion US dollars.


    However, such articles were rare; top-level articles might only be encountered once every few years, and once discovered, the editors would compete vigorously for them.


    Should they be lucky, and the content of one such article won a world-class award, their names as editors would also appear in the corresponding publication, and the most direct benefit would be a generous prize sum.


    "Why don''t you just pull it out from the archives and take a look, maybe they really could win the Nobel Prize?"


    "Hahaha, if you want to check it out, be my guest, but don''t disturb my work here!" Gamas expressed his headache, "It''s been a long time since I''ve seen a high-quality article. If there aren''t any good submissions this month, the chief editor is going to have issues with me."


    "Then you carry on; I''ll see if I can fish out any good articles," Gamas'' colleague returned to his desk and began sifting through today''s hundreds of submissions.


    This scene was nearly a daily occurrence in every top-level journal.


    Although history had seen many cases where, for instance, a Nobel Chemistry Prize winner''s manuscript was rejected or left unseen in the archives for a year or two, those were exceptions. How many Nobel laureates could there be in a year? What were the odds it would happen to be their turn?


    "There really are no high-quality submissions today," Gamas'' colleague Mohad started browsing the submission system.


    "Evidence that Cats Can Be Solid and Liquid Based on ''Low Bond Number''"


    "What a zoo this is, to think that someone would write such an article!"


    "Y-Earphones for Baby Education in the Womb"


    "Baby pod... well, well, what''s this... a recording device?"


    "Determining Human Preferences for Durian via Brain CT Scans"


    "They dare say they''re going for the biology award with this stuff?"


    "The Impact of Wearing Underpants on Mice Mating"


    "... Oh God, is there any hope left for humanity?"


    Actually, this wasn''t Mohad''s first encounter with such absurd articles; their submission system frequently showcased such bizarre pieces, which were indeed a rather entertaining part of their otherwise monotonous work.


    "The Trap Capture Method as Proof of Dark Matter''s Existence in the Universe"


    Suddenly, an article with a particularly eye-catching title grabbed Mohad''s attention.


    Humans have been studying dark matter for a hundred years now, but so far, there has been no progress; currently, the number of research groups studying dark matter worldwide is less than one-third of what it was a decade ago.


    There''s no helping it; studying this thing often requires extravagances like particle colliders, and even if some outcomes are obtained, there''s virtually no direct financial gain apart from prestige, so gradually many people have also given up.


    It seems that articles proving the existence of dark matter haven''t really appeared in several years. In Mohad''s recollection, the latest one seems to be from four years ago, but it was rejected by a peer review expert due to a very obvious academic error at the time.


    If any of these articles had a chance to win the Nobel Prize, then the one represented by this title would definitely be a contender; as long as someone can prove the existence of dark matter, they would undoubtedly be a Nobel Prize in Physics laureate.


    "Astronomical telescopes, particle colliders, cosmic background radiation observation...sheesh, this research group really does have money," Mohad was somewhat amazed at the equipment used in this paper, not something ordinary research groups have the ability to utilize.


    "Could it be from a national royal observatory or some research institute like that?" Mohad glanced at the mailing address of this paper, "Huaxia, Jiangzhe Province, Jiangnan City, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology? A university?"


    Mohad immediately looked up the information; was Jiangnan University of Science and Technology a prestigious university in Huaxia?


    "Ranked 128th in Huaxia, world ranking... This kind of school has these kinds of resources?"


    "The corresponding author is just a title holder of Huaxia''s Thousand Talents Plan, not even an Academician; this really is laughable." Mohad was just about to reject this paper outright; a third-class university and a third-class scholar, could they solve a problem that has troubled the whole world for a hundred years? That would be ridiculous, right?


    But when he saw the logical validation and the massive data that followed, he actually found that the author''s train of thought was so clear he could understand it himself!


    As an editor for a world-class academic periodical, Mohad used to work in academia too, but the differences between disciplines and topics are vast. Even with some scientific literacy, under normal circumstances, it would be very difficult for him to understand these papers, but this one was so clear.


    He immediately put down the work in his hands with excitement and started to meticulously review this paper, even consulting a large amount of supplementary material simultaneously. At least there were no common sense errors he could find throughout the article, which was very complete; if the data weren''t falsified, the conclusion should be quite convincing.


    "No, this has to go to the reviewers immediately!"


    Mohad''s instincts told him that this was an extraordinary paper, and even if the conclusions were wrong, if the validation process was worthwhile, it wouldn''t be impossible to publish it in a periodical.


    If this proof is correct...


    Mohad''s breathing became rapid; then this paper could very likely directly win the Nobel Prize in Physics, and if he were this paper''s handling editor, he could be promoted to chief editor next year based on this achievement!


    The chief editor of Nature, a position many ordinary scholars wouldn''t even dare dream of, its status is even higher than that of an average professor!


    He immediately sent an email to a few scholars he knew, hoping they would read this paper thoroughly.


    Normally, these scholars drag their feet when reviewing, giving feedback within a month or two, which would already be considered very efficient.


    But on the third day, Mohad received a phone call from a professor at the Royal Institute of England.


    "Professor Pritt, have you finished reading that manuscript?" Mohad asked cautiously.


    "Hmm."


    Mohad could tell that there was something off about the professor''s mood.


    "Professor, what''s the matter? Is there a problem with that paper?" Mohad continued to ask. If the quality of the paper was too poor, it would be a waste of time for many professors, and they would usually be very angry.


    Could I have been mistaken? Mohad began to doubt himself.


    "Mr. Mohad," the professor named Pritt took a deep breath, "this will be the greatest discovery made by humans in the early part of this century!"

 Chapter 516 514: See You in the Huaxia Finals Circle

    ```


    "Professor, you mean..." Mohad''s heart suddenly began to pound violently.


    Could it be that a casually picked article on a whim was about to ascend to legendary status? Could such good fortune really befall him?


    "The author of this article is simply too brilliant," Professor Pritt said with tremendous excitement, "I really can''t believe that someone could explain such complex principles so clearly with such basic science. This isn''t a scientific paper; it''s a work of literature!"


    "The data inside..."


    "Although I haven''t verified all the data yet, I used my connections to have the national observatory help me measure the cosmic background radiation data, and it''s less than one part in a million off from the observations in this article. I''ve also reproduced the optical trap used to capture dark matter, and dark matter truly is a type of low-throughput particle we''ve never discovered before!"


    "Are you saying that this article genuinely proves the existence of dark matter?"


    "90% sure it''s true, the remaining data I still need to verify," Pritt said, "Whose article is this? Is it Professor Gins from the European Physical Society? As far as I know, only his laboratory has the deepest expertise in this area. If anyone could have such breakthrough results, I think it could only be him."


    "No," Mohad said, "this was submitted by a third-tier university in Huaxia."


    "What?"


    "Hard to believe, isn''t it?" Mohad continued, "I checked on this university the other day, and it''s really quite ordinary, but there was a major change last year. They built a world-leading automated laboratory, and their equipment is even comparable to that of the Royal Physical Society of Europe!"


    "Huaxia funded a third-tier university to build such a lab?"


    "No, from what I understand, the world''s richest man from Huaxia, named Zhang Menglong, is affiliated with this school. It seems that he made a huge donation that allowed Xu Ai to build such a laboratory."


    "And believe it or not," Mohad added, "that Zhang Menglong is one of the authors of the paper, and what''s more, he''s the first author!"


    "My God, what kind of devil is he?"


    ...


    Mohad sent the article to five reviewers, and in the following two days, these reviewers called him one after another.


    Typically, these editors and reviewers would communicate via email, so their personal calls indicated just how seriously they took this matter.


    At first, these professors also had just skimmed through out of curiosity, but as they read on, they discovered they had opened the door to a new world. This Huaxia man was truly amazing; he had actually solved a problem that had plagued the world of physics for 100 years!


    Apart from one set of data from the particle collider, the rest of the data had all been reproduced in the laboratory, which meant that these data were real and valid, not fabrications or flukes.


    This almost certainly proved that this article, indeed, proved the existence of dark matter in the universe!


    "Mohad, I believe this author has submitted to more than one journal, and you must, by any means necessary, ensure that the Huaxia person chooses to grant publication rights to us at Nature, and we cannot let Science snatch it away,"


    Upon receiving this news, the editor-in-chief gave Mohad an ultimatum.


    "I''m retiring next year," the editor-in-chief said, "if you secure this article, then I can recommend you as the next editor-in-chief. No, even if I don''t propose it, with such an achievement, you''re definitely the top candidate for editor-in-chief. You know, this article is very likely to win the Nobel Prize!"


    Upon hearing this news, if it weren''t for the time difference, he would have wished to call Jiangnan University of Science and Technology right away.


    "Mohad, good for you, who''d have thought you''d have such luck!" Gamas looked at Mohad with envy. When editors sent out emails to schedule reviews, they were assumed to be the article''s handling editor, though it wasn''t an official procedure but a tacit rule in the publishing industry.


    There was no chance for anyone to take the article from Mohad, so others could only envy and resent him.


    "Hahaha, Gamas, didn''t someone call you last time to review an article? Maybe he really will be a Nobel laureate someday?" Mohad joked.


    "As if I''d have such luck," Gamas said, though he began rifling through his desk phone to look up that call.


    Using the resources of the editorial office, he directly traced the source of the call, which turned out to be from a place in Huaxia called Jiangnan City.


    Gamas didn''t know the name of the caller, nor the title of his paper; he could only enter the address into their database for a fuzzy search. The results showed that before the call this morning, there had been only two submissions from this city.


    One was from Jiangnan Industrial University, and the other was Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    ```


    Gamas''s expression was petrified on the spot.


    Could it be that the person who had called him that morning was the one who had proved the existence of dark matter?


    "Gamas, what''s wrong with you?" Mohad looked at Gamas with his idiotic expression, "Don''t tell me I actually guessed right?"


    Gamas hurriedly made a callback using that contact information.


    The person who answered was still the same young man as last time.


    "Sir, are you the author of the article ''The Trap-Catching Method as Proof of the Existence of Dark Matter''?"


    "Yes, it''s me," Zhang Menglong seemed to already be looking through the void at this editor''s cousin on the other side of the phone, "What''s the matter?"


    "Nothing... nothing much, I just wanted to tell you that your article has passed our initial review," At this moment, Gamas was almost in tears.


    It was because of his own misplaced confidence that he had missed an article that could have won the Nobel Prize!


    "Oh, if it''s passed, then it''s passed. Anyway, I wasn''t planning to continue signing with you guys."


    In an instant, Gamas felt his heart turn to ash.


    "Gamas?" Mohad waved his hand in front of Gamas''s face.


    "Mohad, I''ve screwed up," Gamas''s hands were trembling, "The person who called me that day was the author of this article."


    "What are you talking about?" Mohad also felt darkness before his eyes.


    He knew what Gamas had said to this author; he had mocked him, saying that he received calls from a hundred Nobel Prize winners every day.


    But who could have imagined that the person on that phone call was actually a big shot, and they had managed to offend him!


    If for this reason the author decided not to sign the article over to their magazine, the consequences would be unbearable for them.


    Not to mention whether they could keep their jobs, even if they did, they would definitely become the laughing stock of the entire publishing industry, and even the entire scientific community.


    To have rejected a Nobel Prize winner, this damn thing could be written into history textbooks! They couldn''t afford such a loss of face!


    "Gamas, if you can''t secure the signature, think about how you''re going to resign!"


    Mohad directly called the editor-in-chief, "Editor-in-chief, I need to take a leave. I''m going to Huaxia, even if I have to beg, we must get him to sign the article with us!"


    ...


    Almost on the same day, the other magazines to which Zhang Menglong had submitted also received feedback from their reviewers, and their findings were strikingly consistent.


    "What? 12 experts all approve of this article?"


    "What did you say? The majority of the data upon testing is reproducible?"


    "Gins has approved this article?"


    ...


    "Go! To Huaxia, we leave on the flight tonight!"


    "I don''t care how you do it, by tomorrow daylight, even if you have to swim, you must get to Huaxia!"


    "Oh? The editors from Nature and Physics Reports are also going? Alright then, see you in the final round in Huaxia!"

 Chapter 517 515: Isnt it just a Nobel Prize?

    "Professor Ding, I have assigned this project to your group. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me at any time."


    "Professor Liu, this project is exactly in your field of research. I have collected all the necessary knowledge points in this file. The initial understanding might be difficult, but let''s keep in touch!"


    ...


    That day, all professors of engineering and science from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology gathered at the school''s research center. Over a hundred professors and associate professors listened quietly to Zhang Menglong as he assigned tasks, much like students.


    Although Jiangnan University of Science and Technology did not yet officially have an academician, there were several scholars who held titles such as Yangtze Scholar, Young Plan, Thousand Talents Plan, Hundred Talents Plan.


    "Feel free to ask me if you have any questions," a phrase they usually said to their students, but when had it been the case for someone else to guide them?


    However, they obediently listened like chicks. Some of the professors had strived for years without ever seeing a national project, yet Zhang Menglong managed one hundred fifty-eight projects in a year¡ª who would dare to disobey him?


    Throw money at it? Was this something you could solve by throwing money? The state didn''t lack funds either, and if it were simply a matter of money, it would have blown up on social media the next day.


    Initially, some expressed disdain, but once Zhang Menglong easily analyzed a topic, far surpassing their understanding, everyone fell silent.


    Ignorance isn''t a sin, but arrogance is!


    Moreover, everyone now shared a common goal ¨C to emerge as a dark horse in the national scientific research university evaluation occurring a month later and to triumph astonishingly ¨C a truly heartwarming achievement, wasn''t it?


    "Zhang Menglong, I have a question," a professor said with a troubled expression.


    "Please go ahead, Professor Gu."


    "Currently, the internet and the scientific community have a rather poor opinion of our school, which greatly impacts us. Is it really appropriate for us to have so many projects?"


    "There''s nothing inappropriate about it," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "They''re just jealous. Once they are all convinced, they will keep quiet."


    "It''s not as simple as you make it sound," Professor Gu said. "Although we now have advanced equipment and are confident in handling these topics, producing results isn''t something that happens overnight. We old folks might be criticized harshly for a year, and not everyone can endure that."


    "Don''t worry, Professor Gu," Zhang Menglong said. "This skepticism won''t last long, at most ten days to half a month."


    "That quickly?"


    "I think we might have some leads by today!"


    All the professors looked puzzled. Had Zhang Menglong spent money on some PR?


    "Hello, may I know if this is the Scientific Research Center of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?" Just then, a foreigner with a bag entered. The man bore a Western appearance, not particularly handsome, but quite manly.


    "What''s going on? Weren''t we supposed to have an important meeting here without letting anyone in?" Han Jinyu chided the professor responsible for logistics and storage at the research center.


    "I''m sorry, Professor Han, he insisted on coming in, and I couldn''t stop him," said the female professor, and given the significant difference in their builds, she truly couldn''t have stopped the foreigner had he insisted on entering.


    "Never mind, you may leave," Professor Han said angrily.


    "Excuse me, sir, what can I do for you? This is a private area of our school, and if you wish to visit, please go elsewhere," Han Jinyu said, holding back his anger.


    "I''m sorry, but I am actually looking for this Scientific Research Center," the foreigner said. "Let me introduce myself, I am Mohart, an editor from the journal ''Nature.'' I am here to meet... umm... Mr. Zhang Menglong and Mr. Han Jinyu. Are these gentlemen here?"


    The foreigner spoke in heavily accented Huaxia language, which showed some understanding and sincere respect for Huaxia culture.


    Even Han Jinyu, who had been quite angry, softened a bit upon the clumsy presence of the foreigner. However, hearing the title ''editor from ''Nature,'' all the professors, including Han Jinyu, showed looks of astonishment.


    ''Nature,'' along with ''Science'' and ''Cell,'' are considered the three most prestigious scientific journals globally. Getting published there meant significant contributions to human advancement, and everyone around the world aspired to have an article featured in these journals.


    However, the acceptance rate at ''Nature'' was extremely low, and Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had managed only one paper in one of its subsidiary journals in the past three years.


    Despite these achievements, after graduation, the student was immediately appointed as a professor at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    The most astonishing part was that even this university couldn''t retain him, as he was then specially appointed as a professor by another prestigious institution.


    According to the standards of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, anyone who could publish an article of this caliber would receive a cash reward of 1.5 million just from the university itself.


    This shows just how prestigious this journal really was.


    And today, the editor from Nature actually paid a personal visit.


    What did this mean, had he come to solicit a manuscript? It certainly wasn''t likely that he was here for tourism. But did their school have any professors impressive enough to warrant such a visit from an editor? Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu?


    Even if they had submitted an article and it was accepted, at most they would have received an email or a phone call.


    Unless, this article was not just publishable by Nature, it must have held even greater significance.


    "I am Han Jinyu."


    "I am Zhang Menglong."


    Upon seeing this Mohawk, Zhang Menglong already knew the visitor''s background.


    "May I ask, who is in charge of the paper on dark matter?"


    "Dark matter?"


    "Isn''t Han Jinyu supposed to be researching polymer materials? When did he start studying such fundamental physics?"


    "They dare to research this? The whole world has been burning money on it for a hundred years and hasn''t figured anything out, yet they managed to publish a paper?"


    The professors present immediately began to whisper among themselves.


    ...


    Han Jinyu glanced at Zhang Menglong and then tactfully stepped behind him. Although he was the mentor, the project, from its initiation, testing, to the final analysis and writing of the paper, was all managed by Zhang Menglong. Han Jinyu had only played a supporting role and did not dare nor wish to take the credit.


    "Mr. Zhang, we sincerely invite you to publish this paper in our magazine, and if you have any requests, you can freely make them!"


    This statement once again shocked everyone. The editor from Nature personally came to solicit a paper and even declared that any demand could be freely made. Just what level was their paper?


    "Why should I publish my paper in your magazine?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "Are you that impressive?"


    Is Nature just impressive?


    All the professors genuinely wanted to slap Zhang Menglong on the spot. This was Nature! Nature! Their laboriously written papers didn''t even qualify for a chance at revision, and Zhang Menglong dared to question if they were impressive.


    A regular professor with a Nature paper could use this accomplishment to try for an academician or even a slightly lesser title.


    "Mr. Zhang, our Nature is the most authoritative science magazine in the world!"


    "Just one of them, right?" Zhang Menglong remarked, "Science isn''t necessarily worse than you."


    "Mr. Zhang, if you are willing to publish your paper in our journal, we are willing to support your application for this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics and cover all the review expenses!"


    "The Nobel Prize?" If the professors were just surprised earlier, now they were absolutely dumbfounded.


    The Nobel Prize? Such a thought was beyond their wildest dreams. What posture in sleep would even conjure such a dream?


    Yet, Zhang Menglong merely showed a disdainful smile, "Psh, just a Nobel Prize? Do you think I care about that?"

 Chapter 518 516: Preventing You from Distributing Bonuses

    "Is it just a Nobel Prize?"


    Are these the words of a sane person? If you had eaten just one more peanut while drinking, you wouldn''t have made such an inflated statement!


    Everyone looked at Zhang Menglong as if they were seeing a monster.


    Up to now, how many people from Huaxia had won a Nobel Prize?


    If we consider the strict international criteria, there have been only two, one in literature and one in medicine.


    If someone could win a Nobel Prize, the whole country would definitely celebrate for at least ten days or half a month.


    Zhang Menglong''s paper actually reached the level of competing for the Nobel Prize in Physics. This was way beyond their comprehension!


    And with such credentials, Zhang Menglong even refused? Was there something wrong with his brain? What an honor this was!


    "Watch him, I''m going to get a knife right now!" a professor suddenly couldn''t contain himself.


    "Count me in, I''ll bring a flamethrower!"


    "I''ll bring a bottle of sulfuric acid!"


    "Get me my high-frequency particle cutter! I''m definitely going to chop him up today!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you need to think this through; this is the Nobel Prize in Physics we''re talking about, the dream of countless scientists," Mohart said. "The credentials of our journal can help you avoid a lot of trouble."


    "What you can offer me, perhaps Nature can offer me too," said Zhang Menglong. "And I gave you the chance, but you didn''t want it, didn''t I tell you that my paper could win the Nobel Prize in Physics? And yet your editor cursed me?"


    Now they all understood.


    It wasn''t that Zhang Menglong didn''t care, but that he was holding a grudge! An editor had rejected his manuscript, and he probably harbored resentment.


    But to be fair, even if they were editors, if someone called them claiming their paper would win the Nobel Prize in Physics, they would have also cursed back, perhaps even more harshly.


    Is this the year when anyone casually writing a paper can claim to be a future Nobel laureate?


    But to hold a grudge over such a trivial verbal dispute, are you not being silly?


    If they could win a Nobel Prize, not to mention just being verbally insulted, even if it meant standing naked in front of a three-setting electric fan, it would be a profitable deal for a Nobel Prize!


    At this age, can''t you be a little less childish and a bit more mature?


    "Mr. Zhang, this was our editor''s fault. I apologize to you on his behalf," Mohart quickly said. "Regarding that person, we have already issued the appropriate punishment and have fired him from our magazine. I hope you won''t elevate his personal actions to our magazine level, and I hope you won''t miss this valuable opportunity."


    "Valuable opportunity?" Zhang Menglong sneered. "Is this opportunity really that precious? The selection for the Nobel Prize happens every year, but a bad mood could affect my appetite for days."


    "Are you Huaxia people out of your minds?" Mohart was almost swearing. What do you mean by saying the Nobel Prize selection happens every year?


    You should know, these scientific achievements are very effective. Sometimes you have already reached a result, but someone else publishes their paper before you. Such situations are common in the academic world.


    This paper has already been viewed by many reviewers. Surely, many people already know the methods, but as long as the paper isn''t published, the achievement doesn''t count as Zhang Menglong''s.


    Not to mention a year, even a few months, someone will improve this method, and then the first person to prove the existence of dark matter won''t be Zhang Menglong, and the Nobel Prize in Physics will belong to someone else.


    Could it be that he could make another breakthrough next year? That''s unlikely, isn''t it?


    "May I ask which of you are Mr. Zhang Menglong and Mr. Han Jinyu?"


    At that moment, five or six foreigners suddenly rushed in, pulling and dragging each other as if they were afraid they would be too late to get a word in with Zhang Menglong.


    "I am the editor-in-chief of ''Science''!"


    "I am the editor-in-chief of ''Frontiers in Physics''!"


    ...


    "You see, you only sent one editor, while others brought their chief editors. I should go with someone who shows more sincerity!" Zhang Menglong said, showing no intention of wanting to continue dealing with Mohat.


    "Mr. Zhang, please choose us! Our magazine publishes the fastest!"


    "Bullshit, you take three to five months per manuscript. When I graduated, I submitted to you, and even rejecting took five months. When would you publish it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, our magazine is willing to offer you a $500,000 manuscript fee, just sign this agreement, and we can transfer the money immediately!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I have a daughter..."


    "Enough! Quiet! I''m so damn annoyed!" Zhang Menglong began bluntly, "I have only one demand: whoever can meet my needs the fastest will get my article!"


    The professors present had never seen such a scene!


    Journals with an impact factor above 10 are already considered top-level, and none of the journals represented by today''s editors have an impact factor below 20. They were actually scrambling for Zhang Menglong''s article!


    Looking at their sleep-deprived appearances and heavy dark circles, it seemed as if they hadn''t slept for a day and a night. They must be crazy.


    "Mr. Zhang, please state it. Whatever the requirement, we can meet it!"


    "Good. Within three days, I want to see my article published in a journal, and within half a month, I want to see my name appear in this year''s Nobel Prize."


    "This..."


    This demand wasn''t just excessive, it was way over the top!


    These journals generally publish once a month, and they had just issued one a few days ago. No matter how they rushed, it could only appear in next month''s issue.


    Of course, this was negotiable, after all, they owned the publishing houses.


    But did they have any say in the Nobel selection committee? True, the announcement date for this year''s Nobel Prize was fast approaching, but there were still two months left. Were you asking the Nobel selection committee to adjust their schedule to just half a month later?


    Half a month was barely enough to verify your thesis results. Isn''t this nonsense?


    "Well, looks like I''m asking too much of you," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "let me make a call first."


    "Hong Yi, do you know which organization selects the Nobel Prize in Physics?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences."


    "Give me a contact!"


    Soon, Zhang Menglong got a phone number of one responsible person at The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.


    "Is this Professor Claude?"


    "Yes, who is this?"


    "Well, I wanted to ask, when is this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics being announced?"


    "About 54 days from now."


    "Could we possibly advance it to within half a month?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    On the other end of the phone, Professor Claude was utterly baffled. Who are you? Do you think you''re Nobel himself to just say ''advance it''?


    Professor Claude was just about to curse out an idiot and hang up the phone when Zhang Menglong quickly said.


    "If you agree, I will immediately donate 10 billion US Dollars to the Nobel Foundation. If you don''t, then I will buy the entire Nobel Foundation. I believe the current market value is roughly 49 billion krona, right?"


    "You... who are you?" As a selector for the Nobel Prize in Physics, having lived for many years, Professor Claude had never encountered such a demand¡ªsomeone outright threatening to buy the Nobel Foundation!


    "My name is Zhang Menglong," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Don''t doubt my financial capabilities. I could easily turn all your foundation''s investments into bubbles, preventing the Nobel Foundation from distributing a single dime of prize money this year!"

 Chapter 519 517: Heaven Did Not Create Me, The Keyboard Warrior

    Who has ever seen a scene like this?


    Professor Claude really hadn''t ever seen such a thing!


    Someone had called the Nobel Foundation directly, demanded they select the award winner early, or else threatened to buy out their foundation entirely¡ªthat was totally a Zhang Menglong move! Having money really meant you could do whatever you wanted!


    Professor Claude knew the name Zhang Menglong and was also aware of his previous cunning moves. The words he had just said, he could certainly follow through on!


    "Mr. Zhang, please calm down!" Professor Claude hurried to appease Zhang Menglong''s emotions, "Give me 10 minutes, I can''t make this decision alone, I need to gather the other members of the foundation."


    "I''ll only give you five minutes!"


    Zhang Menglong put down the phone, and everyone around him looked at him as if they were looking at a monster. Daring to threaten the Nobel Foundation, he was probably the first in history to do so.


    ...


    Less than five minutes later, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have just discussed and decided to agree to your demands," Claude said. Could they really not agree? If they didn''t, their foundation''s money would turn into bubbles at the shock of the capital market in an instant.


    Not being able to give out the Nobel Prize money would surely become a historical joke.


    "As for the submission deadline, let it be in ten days!"


    "This... that only leaves us five days to review, this... our personnel might not..."


    "Professor Claude, I believe there''s nothing money can''t solve. If there aren''t enough people, just hire more. I think a sum of 10 billion US dollars is more than enough to recruit a legion of professors to do the review for you, right?"


    "But if the timeline is moved up, many papers won''t be able to apply, and we would lose many outstanding candidates."


    "I don''t see it that way," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This year, there''s only one who is qualified to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, and I think this one achievement is big enough to shut up all those with objections."


    "Fine!" After a fierce mental struggle, Professor Claude gritted his teeth and agreed, "We will send out the relevant notices within half an hour."


    "Thank you for your cooperation, Professor. The promised 10 billion US dollars will be transferred into the foundation''s account shortly."


    "Hong Yi, I, Zhang Menglong, am making the payment!"


    ...


    "See, wasn''t that easy?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands.


    Zhang Menglong''s maneuver left everyone speechless. It looked like the Nobel Foundation had made a huge compromise, but they had tearfully earned 10 billion US dollars, and were probably laughing like mad behind closed doors now.


    "The Nobel Prize will be evaluated in half a month, so I''m only giving you this much time. Whoever can publish their paper the fastest and submit our manuscript to the Nobel selection committee first, I''ll sign with that journal."


    "Mr. Zhang, we can publish the manuscript within a week and complete the Nobel application in 10 days!" Mohat, the editor from nature, was the first to promise.


    "One week to publish, 10 days to apply¡ªcan anyone do it faster?"


    "We can publish in five days and complete the application in eight days!" the editor-in-chief from science almost growled, since he was an editor-in-chief, he had much more authority than the other editors.


    "We can publish in four days and complete the application in seven days!" the editor from Frontiers in Physics shouted out an even more astonishing number.


    "Have you all gone mad?" Mohat looked at each red-faced editor, "You just published an issue two days ago, and now you''re publishing again? Would your editor-in-chief agree with this?"


    "If the editor-in-chief doesn''t agree, I''ll beg him; if that doesn''t work, I''ll beg the boss!" the editor from Frontiers in Physics seemed ready to make a supreme sacrifice.


    "Three days, we only need three days!" Mohat shouted once more an unimaginably short time, "We can finish the Nobel Prize application within five days!"


    "Mohat, you''re just a regular editor, how can you make such a promise? Aren''t you afraid of losing your job?"


    Mohat scoffed, what if he lost his job? If he became the editor responsible for a Nobel laureate, who would dare fire him? Even if he were fired, there would be countless journals eager to hire him, he wasn''t afraid at all.


    Although Zhang Menglong''s article was of very high quality, as long as the Nobel Prize had not been awarded, he would never be a Nobel laureate. Who could predict the variability?


    Mohat was gambling, betting that this article would surely win the award!


    The other editors looked at each other, ultimately falling silent; they simply didn''t have Mohat''s resolute determination!


    "Fine, since that''s the case, I''ll sign with Nature," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have prepared the contract, you just need to sign," Mohat trembled as he handed the contract to Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong didn''t hesitate and signed his name directly on it.


    "Mr. Mohat, if you don''t fulfill what you promised me, then I think Nature magazine doesn''t need to be an authority in scientific research anymore," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "After all, publishing is still publishing, whether it''s scientific journals or adult magazines, don''t you think?"


    This remark caused Mohat to shudder; this young man was truly terrifying.


    He had heard that Zhang Menglong had once purchased a company called NetEase Music in Huaxia because its owner had offended him, and he had turned it into a foot massage parlour. Now NetEase Footpaths had become the largest health care provider in Asia and even expanded into Europe, can you believe that?


    Mohat believed that if he didn''t accomplish what Zhang Menglong had asked, it wouldn''t be long before Nature magazine could potentially become the world''s largest adult magazine publisher.


    Pictures were already forming in his mind!


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, whatever it takes, I will definitely secure it for you," he promised.


    "Since that''s the case, I am reassured," Zhang Menglong laughed, "You''ve all traveled from far and wide and must be tired, why not rest for a night in Huaxia? Tomorrow, I''ll arrange for a plane to take you all back to your countries."


    "Then, thank you Mr. Zhang." Although they did not succeed in securing Zhang Menglong''s article this time, they still gained a favorable impression of Zhang Menglong''s attitude.


    The editors gradually left, and at this time, the professors from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology finally couldn''t contain their curiosity.


    "Menglong, Teacher Han, what''s all this about? What kind of articles have you been submitting to these journals for them to come here, scrambling one after another?"


    "Yes, and they even mentioned the Nobel Prize in Physics; I just heard something about dark matter, isn''t that a basic domain of physics?"


    "You should ask Menglong about that." Han Jinyu directly pushed Zhang Menglong forward.


    "Hahaha, it''s not a big deal," Zhang Menglong said, "Our school has gained so many national-level projects, and other universities are not convinced, right? So, I thought if we won a Nobel Prize, they would finally shut their mouths. If they think they''re so great, they can publish too!"


    "So, Teacher Han and I, along with our senior brothers and sisters in our research group, spent a few days proving the existence of dark matter, then casually sent off an article."


    "Menglong, how confident are you?" an older professor asked.


    "Pretty sure, just a Nobel Prize after all, it''s not that difficult!"


    "Do you hear yourself talk? Teacher Han, look at the student you''ve mentored!"


    "A dozen people, just a few days to prove the existence of dark matter? My goodness! That''s something many worldwide haven''t proven in a century!"


    "Absolutely no difficulty!"


    "Since that''s the case," that old professor suddenly became excited, "I''ve been enduring insults for so many days, I can hardly hold back. Once Menglong truly wins the Nobel, I''ll let them know what it means when the Internet says ''without me, the keyboard warrior, the internet would forever be in the darkness of night!''"

 Chapter 520 518: Heard Were a Crappy School?

    "Professor, take it easy, don''t hurt your back," Zhang Menglong shook his head as he watched the old professor''s excited expression, these elderly scholars were indeed quite advanced in age, but their thinking was still on the cutting edge, and many of their ways had been adopted by the younger generation.


    "I''ll go and have our school''s new media department write up a few articles first!"


    "I''m going to get my grandson to teach me how to post on Weibo!"


    "I''m going to ask my granddaughter how to talk so that I sound Versailles!"


    The pent-up emotions of these past few days compelled these older scholars to eagerly find an outlet, and now their chance had finally arrived, this time, they were determined to vent all the grievances they had endured!


    ...


    "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces that this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics will be revealed in half a month, with nominations closing in 10 days!"


    True to Professor Claude''s promise, in just half an hour, this news was broadcast via various channels.


    The entire physics community was instantaneously filled with lamentations.


    "What? There are only 10 days left? It''s going to take me a month to complete my data! I should be the most likely candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physics this time!"


    "It''s not fair, why the early review? It''s not fair to us!"


    "I demand a postponement; this is a desecration of the labor results of our vast numbers of scientific researchers!"


    The scientific community was in an uproar, with those who had already obtained results reveling in schadenfreude, while those who couldn''t make it to this year''s nominations were left in utter despair.


    However, no matter how much they argued and protested, it was all in vain, for such individuals were in the minority after all, and each of those qualified to vie for the Nobel Prize in Physics had already invested a lifetime of effort into their research; waiting another month, or even another year, made little difference to them.


    On the contrary, those average yet confident scholars who believed themselves to be strong contenders for the prize did not realize how ridiculous their behavior appeared before the truly illustrious and competent scholars.


    Of course, another piece of news somewhat diminished the attention on this explosive news item.


    Because the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics would come with a staggering prize fund of 10 million US dollars!


    It is worth noting that last year''s Nobel Prize only had a prize amount of 1.1 million Huaxia currency, and with this prize pool suddenly increasing nearly 60-fold, who could take that lightly?


    The massive prize fund immediately silenced the complaints; instead of griping here, it was better to give it another shot, perhaps even submit a paper before the deadline¡ªwho knew, one might win?


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s paper was published with exceptional smoothness; originally scheduled for three days, it was on the second day that he received news from Mohat that his article on dark matter was given a special issue by Nature journal¡ªjust for him!


    While Nature has indeed published special issues in the past, these were almost always for articles written by Nobel-level award winners, and typically featured three to five articles, never just a single article on its own.


    As soon as this paper was published, it immediately caused an uproar around the world!


    "Huaxia''s Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s Han Jinyu research team successfully proves the existence of dark matter"


    This headline transformed Jiangnan University of Science and Technology from a third-rate global institution into a trending term overnight.


    A problem that had confounded humanity for 100 years was solved by a second-tier professor''s research team from a third-tier university¡ªwhat could be bigger news than that?


    Even more impactful was the fact that the first author of the paper was none other than Zhang Menglong¡ªnot a namesake, but the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong himself!


    "There''s a problem here; this is definitely suspect. How could a rich and unlearned second-generation heir possibly have the ability to prove the existence of dark matter?"


    "This must be a monetary transaction! There''s a scandal!"


    "I''m skeptical about the entire paper. Perhaps Zhang Menglong used his wealth to buy someone else''s scientific research results. He could definitely afford it, for the Nobel Prize in Physics this year, although there''s a prize of 10 million US dollars, I believe that for something like this, Zhang Menglong might as well be able to throw down 100 billion US dollars!"


    Before the positive news could emerge, many malicious comments had already appeared online.


    Many of Zhang Menglong''s fans could not stand it any longer and spontaneously came out to defend him.


    "Are the people suspecting monetary transactions out of their minds? A problem that nobody has been able to prove for 100 years, try buying a solution with money and see how that goes?"


    "They''re just keyboard warriors, aren''t they? Just babbling without engaging their brains, right?"


    "Don''t forget, when Zhang Menglong was studying for his graduate degree, he solved a mathematical problem that plagued humans for a full two hundred years. A challenge of a ''century-level'' difficulty is nothing, as if he couldn''t solve it?"


    "It''s almost time for the Nobel Prize in Physics to be awarded. Do you guys think there''s any chance of winning?"


    "Bloody terrifying. If he really wins, that would make him our Huaxia''s third real Nobel laureate!"


    ...


    "If you think I bought this with money, then there''s nothing I can do. Why the hell should a decent person bother explaining so much to idiots?"


    Zhang Menglong directly posted a status on his own Weibo.


    Instantly, the comment section blew up.


    "666! Bravo Zhang, nicely done. I despise these kinds of people; if they have the skills, why not publish a paper like this themselves?"


    "Exactly, why should we decent folks bother explaining to idiots?"


    "Idiot: It''s so damn annoying, feels like I''ve been insulted."


    ...


    After ten days of grueling waiting, this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics finally came to its announcement day.


    Countless media, scholars, universities, and more were all paying attention to the news from The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.


    Under the watchful eye of the world, Professor Claude appeared on the live broadcast.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, after five days and the review of more than 2000 authoritative professors, we have selected this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics laureate from over 300 candidates."


    "They are..."


    "From Jiangnan University of Science and Technology in Huaxia, Zhang Menglong and Professor Han Jinyu for their paper ''The Trap Capture Method''s Proof of the Existence of Dark Matter in the Universe''!"


    "Awesome!"


    In an instant, the whole world was shaken.


    If people were only shocked a few days ago when they learned that this university had successfully proven the existence of dark matter, then now, it was earth-shaking news. Their scientific research had received global authoritative recognition; the Nobel Prize was undoubtedly the most authoritative accolade in the physics community!


    "This is our Huaxia''s third Nobel Prize, and all the laureates are genuine Huaxia natives!"


    "Who dares to belittle Huaxia now!"


    At this moment, every student at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was on an emotional high. After being dismissed as a trashy school for so long, all their grievances were vented out now.


    "Didn''t they say our school is trash? Sorry, but we have a Nobel Prize, do you have one?"


    "@SoAndSo University, @SuchAndSuch University, I heard you''re really amazing. How about snagging a Nobel Prize to show us? If you can get one, our university will give up all these projects to you!"


    "Who was it last time that said our university''s scientific research strength was weak? So you must have won a Nobel Prize, right? Surely more than one?"


    "No way, no way, could there actually be any prestigious Huaxia university that hasn''t won a Nobel Prize yet?"


    "Your students must be so disappointed in you, right? Unlike us, we just feel sorry for your school!"


    "Anyone else disagree?"


    ...


    At this moment, the students from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology were pushing the term "shade-throwers" to the next level.


    Students and professors from other universities were livid. Not having received national projects was bad enough, but now they had to put up with being named and mocked. The schools that had been most severely criticized before practically suffered a mass targeting by thousands from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    So what if you have a bunch of Academicians? You''re awesome because you have Academicians, but no matter how great you are, can you match up to winning a Nobel? Among all the Academicians in Huaxia, so far, only one has won a Nobel, right?


    They were seething inside, yet they couldn''t refute anything¡ªafter all, he won the Nobel Prize; he was truly amazing!

 Chapter 521 519 That Will Definitely Be a Shura Field

    Overnight, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology went from a second-rate institution to world-renowned, and the online skepticism about the university''s credibility ceased.


    Questioning Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s standard was now tantamount to questioning the credibility of the Nobel Prize in Physics, which meant doubting the scientific research capabilities of Huaxia people on a global level.


    If you continue to say that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s scientific research is no good, you are basically saying that Huaxia people are no good, and that would warrant an apology to the entire nation! Just blossom and end it all.


    "Strive for a hundred days, I want to attend Jiangnan University of Science and Technology" became the strongest slogan shouted by high school students and those studying for postgraduate exams.


    Today''s Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had undoubtedly become a heaven for studying physics.


    The good news kept on coming, and the very next day, Han Jinyu received notice from the Huaxia Academy of Science that he had secured this year''s academician slot; all that was left was to go through the motions.


    As a Nobel winner, if they didn''t confer upon him the title of academician, it really would be somewhat indefensible.


    Han Jinyu went from an almost unfunded professor to holding the titles of academician and Nobel Prize in Physics laureate; not just the president, but even governors had to treat him with due courtesy.


    That night, countless universities sent out olive branches to Han Jinyu; there were even several Ivy League schools from overseas that offered him very generous terms.


    "Professor Han, we at Stanford University are willing to offer you a 2 million US Dollar annual salary and solve your green card issue in America!"


    "Professor Han, if you come to Harvard University, we can make you a dean directly, with an annual salary of 3 million and a one-time immigration subsidy of 5 million US Dollar, plus a villa, but we hope you would change your citizenship!"


    ...


    Han Jinyu almost immediately declined them all without a second thought.


    Money? Did he lack money now? Enterprises eager for collaboration with him almost broke down his office door, and while his annual income wasn''t as much as several million US Dollars, a few million Huaxia currency was still quite effortless for him.


    He, a person who devoted himself to research every day, had no need for so much money; his children''s housing and education had long been settled, and beyond a certain point, money was just a number.


    Han Jinyu was a scholar, someone who pursued scientific research, and he clearly understood that staying by Zhang Menglong''s side was incredibly meaningful for his own academic proficiencies.


    Strictly speaking, he merely basked in Zhang Menglong''s glory for this Nobel Prize in Physics, but with the many cutting-edge insights gained from Zhang Menglong, as long as he integrated and applied them, he might well have a chance to win another Nobel within a few years through his own effort!


    Moreover, he was currently managing all the scientific research projects at the university; if he went to another school, he might not have the same rights and treatment. He wouldn''t trade his position at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology for ten Harvard professor positions combined!


    Besides, they wanted him to change his nationality¡ªhe wasn''t stupid. If he took the Nobel and then decamped, he would be criticized viciously by the entire nation.


    "Professor Han, do you have a moment?" a professor with a rather sly look came into Han Jinyu''s office.


    Han Jinyu''s gaze immediately darkened, and a faint anger seemed to permeate the air.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong noticed the change in Han Jinyu''s mood; they''d known each other for so long and he''d never seen him this angry before.


    "It''s a long story," Zhu Mengchao, the eldest apprentice brother, whispered, "That''s Professor Yu. He used to follow Professor Han''s research team as a lecturer. Professor Han promoted him all the way to professor, hoping he would take up the mantle of our research team, but who knew he would defect halfway and cozy up to a Yangtze Scholar at our university."


    "So he''s seeing Professor Han rise again and decides to turn back to the light?" Zhang Menglong sneered, finding such a person utterly despicable.


    Just then, Han Jinyu''s phone rang, and he left Professor Yu hanging while he answered it, but Professor Yu still shamelessly took a seat on the nearby sofa.


    The phone call lasted for well over half an hour.


    "Ah, sorry for keeping you waiting, Teacher Yu, I''ve just been so busy lately," Han Jinyu said, "Graduate admissions for next March, and it''s only September now, yet already hundreds of students from across the country have contacted me wanting to apply for my graduate positions. Even after I changed my phone number, they still found it. Annoying, isn''t it?"


    "Hahaha! Teacher Han really knows how to humblebrag," Han Jinyu''s students snickered as they hid in the lab.


    But it was the truth. Being a student of a Nobel laureate wasn''t something just anyone could claim. Was it any wonder people were vying for the positions early? There were even rumors that a Yanjing University student had rushed over from miles away last night, even hoping to bring their own funding to join the team.


    "He had it coming," the eldest senior brother said, "You guys don''t know, after he left, how much he pretended to comply but acted otherwise. He screwed up so many projects of Teacher Han''s."


    "Teacher Yu, did you need something?" Han Jinyu asked.


    "Teacher Han, it''s just that I''ve been away from the group for so long, I missed our lab''s students, so I came back to visit."


    "Done looking? If so, please leave. I have a press conference later tonight with Menglong," Han Jinyu said as he began to organize his things, "Menglong, are you ready?"


    "Ready," Zhang Menglong cooperated and stepped out, "Let''s go, Teacher Han. I hear that hundreds of professors and scholars from all over the country and the world have come today."


    "Wait, Teacher Han!" Professor Yu quickly said, "I just wanted to ask if our research group still needs people. I still have some feelings for this place."


    "Oh, we''re still short on people!"


    Professor Yu''s face lit up with joy, but the next words sent him plummeting down.


    "Meng Chao, doesn''t our lab still need an Administrator to take care of the chemicals and equipment? If Teacher Yu is willing to stoop to that level, then you should help him get settled in," Han Jinyu said.


    "Sure, Teacher Han!"


    ...


    "Teacher Han, there''s no need to be upset over such people," they were on their way to the television station, and it was obvious that Han Jinyu was still a bit upset.


    "I''m not upset," Han Jinyu suddenly laughed, "It''s just too damn satisfying. I''ve been looking forward to a day like this. This two-faced bastard, I didn''t want to curse in front of so many people earlier. Such people are simply a disgrace to the academic world..."


    Watching Han Jinyu like this, Zhang Menglong was almost dumbfounded. Such beautiful Huaxia language, who knew Teacher Han was also a language artist!


    Soon, they arrived at the Jiangnan City International Exhibition Center. For this press conference and academic seminar, nearly all of Huaxia''s media resources had converged here.


    The organizers had sent out over 1800 invitations, all of which had been accepted, and thousands of scholars who hadn''t been invited had asked to participate. An event of such magnitude had caught the attention of the entire world.


    The live broadcast starting at 19:30 was packed full of people an hour or two in advance.


    "6666666!"


    "Where there''s Boss Zhang, there''s always something big happening. I boldly guess that today there will definitely be excitement to watch!"


    "I hope those idiot reporters don''t ask some bizarre questions, or I think Boss Zhang might just blast them, and show off while he''s at it."


    "Confidence, bro, drop the ''might''."


    "Guys, I heard that an organization in Europe that specializes in dark matter research has expressed considerable skepticism about Boss Zhang''s achievements. Apparently, they''re among the invited today. They seem to have been researching for decades, and I heard they might have had some breakthroughs in the last two years. Today, they might start some trouble."


    "Start trouble? That''s exciting. It''ll definitely be a Shura Field!"

 Chapter 522 522: 520

    Time froze at 19:30 in the evening, and just the live viewership of CCAV1 had reached 3 million. Along with the coverage from national media, social media, and international daily attention, the number of people tuning in to tonight''s broadcast had grown to an uncountable extent.


    The host for tonight was named Sa Xining, who graduated from Qingbei University. Actually, he used to be a legitimate host, but ever since he interviewed Ma Yun, he started to let loose.


    Ever since then, in every variety show and hosting gig, audiences could hear him bragging, "Qingbei University is not bad," "I didn''t take the college entrance exam, I was recommended," becoming the first generation of Versailles.


    "Regret creating Alibaba Jack Ma, Qingbei is decent Sa Xining, average looks Gu Tunnue, the ugliest of the family Liu Yifei," this meme just emerged out of thin air.


    As the host of tonight''s press conference, it''s believed that this will be a spectacular meeting.


    "Good evening, everyone," Sa Xining appeared in the live broadcast, and the barrage of comments went crazy with "paying respects to the grandmaster."


    "The Nobel Prize, in our eyes, has always been almost a legendary award. Until now, our country has only had two predecessors who received this award, the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Nobel Prize in Medicine. However, in the domains of physics, chemistry, and others, our country was still a blank slate. But just the day before yesterday, we broke through the void in the field of Physics!"


    Sa Xining''s monologue was very provocative, and coupled with the background music, many Huaxia people actually felt a surge of emotion.


    "Now, let''s welcome this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics laureates, the director of the Science Research Center at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, Professor Han Jinyu, and his student Zhang Menglong!"


    "Whoo-hoo!" Applause rippled through the venue. In the academic circle, there is also star-chasing, especially among scholars who have studied dark matter for a long time. They regard the two as idols, and scholars both domestically and internationally appeared extremely excited.


    Of course, there were exceptions. Those people scornfully looked at the others who were clapping around them, staring angrily at the two people on the stage as if they had stolen their scientific achievements.


    "First, please introduce yourselves."


    "Hello, everyone. I am Professor Han Jinyu from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "The good man is me, I am Zhang Menglong!" Zhang Menglong continued his usual goofy style, drawing laughter from both the audience and the online comments.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang is really as witty as the legends say," Sa Xining, with his wealth of hosting experience, was unfazed by any kind of guest and handled the situation with eabullse.


    "As the first batch of Huaxia recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics, I wonder what your current feelings are?"


    "I am very excited and feel very honored," Han Jinyu had prepared numerous scripts for tonight''s interview; he was even reciting them while using the bathroom this morning, "It represents the increasing strength of our country''s scientific research and proves that we Huaxians are in no way inferior to anyone. We too can stand out among the many candidates for the Nobel Prize."


    "I feel no fluctuations in my emotions, and I even feel like laughing a bit," Zhang Menglong appeared much more composed compared to Han Jinyu''s fervent speech, "It''s just a Nobel Prize, after all; it wasn''t all that difficult."


    Sa Xining''s expression suddenly changed; he suddenly remembered the fear of being dominated during an interview with Ma Yun a few years ago.


    "Mr. Zhang, could you share with us when you started preparing your research for this subject?"


    "Actually, I hadn''t planned on competing for the Nobel Prize in Physics at first," Zhang Menglong said, "But I think you all must have heard that our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology received 158 national-level scientific research projects this year. Many schools were unsatisfied, thinking our school''s scientific research capacity is lacking, thinking we didn''t deserve so many projects, suspecting there was foul play."


    Sa Xining''s face turned mournful; this was a live broadcast, after all, and spilling everything like this made him feel incredibly awkward as a host.


    "So I was pissed off, it was simply intolerable, backing off would mean complete disaster," Zhang Menglong spoke passionately, "I was thinking, I must demonstrate some real strength to prove that the scientific research capability of our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is the strongest. So, after a discussion with Professor Han, I decided to write a paper for a high-profile journal."


    "So, you didn''t expect to win the award initially?"


    "Of course not," Zhang Menglong said, "I actually had no interest in the Nobel Prize in Physics and had only heard about it before. But strength doesn''t lie; when we submitted our paper half a month ago, several editors and chief editors from publishing houses came running to Huaxia wanting our manuscript. I just randomly signed with one, and then I won."


    "66666!"


    "Damn it, got showboated by him again."


    "I want to know the size of the mental shadow Sa''s got now."


    "Hahaha, from now on, Teacher Sa is going to undergo another transformation."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, Professor Han," Sa Xining maintained a high level of professional integrity as he continued, "our understanding is that your research group has always been engaged in the application of high polymer materials in the industrial domain. When did you start to turn your research direction towards fundamental physics like dark matter?"


    "Our group has never specifically studied dark matter," Han Jinyu said, while giving Zhang Menglong a look.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong agreed, "actually, it all started from the internet criticism against our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. We thought of many plans, but our polymer industry research is very difficult to gain high recognition in academia, so we Googled and saw that the dark matter topic hadn''t made any progress in 100 years, and therefore we chose it."


    "So...you mean to say, from the time you decided to research this project to the time you won the Nobel Prize in Physics, it was less than a month?" Sa Xining''s expression turned uglier than if he had eaten shit.


    "To be precise, it should be 23 days. We initiated the project, conducted testing, wrote the paper - all of that took, maybe five or six days in total. Actually, it was pretty tiring."


    "Actually, we just wanted to prove our school''s strength. This Nobel Prize was really just something we picked up along the way, nothing much to make a big deal about."


    The pair on stage, one old, one young, played off each other perfectly, exemplifying "Versailles" to the fullest.


    "Fuck!"


    "Damn!"


    "Can you believe it?"


    "Tiring? People have been researching it for a hundred years without success, and you researched it for five or six days and claim it''s pretty tiring?"


    "This level of ''Versailles'' is something probably no one else can learn in this lifetime."


    "You might not believe it, but they only received the Nobel Prize because someone insulted their school, and in a fit of pique, they just casually picked up an award."


    "Hahaha, this truly is a legendary experience," Sa Xining tried to smooth things over; had it not been for the live broadcast in front of tens of millions, perhaps billions, he would have smashed the microphone and left, "Both of you have thoroughly embodied the robust spirit of our Huaxia people. Regardless of the reasons, our Huaxia people indeed have the strength!"


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Sa Xining said, "So today, we also have many media friends and scholars in the audience who surely have many questions about your research. Let''s give the floor to them."


    A blond Western scholar was the first to stand up: "I am Sebek from the Royal European Institute of Physics, and I hold great skepticism towards your research achievements!"


    Whoosh!


    The crowd instantly buzzed with shock.


    What was expected has come...

 Chapter 523 523: I love you

    Everyone knew someone would come to the press conference today with the intention of causing trouble, but no one expected them to show up so quickly.


    "Damn! Who the hell is this guy? Guys, let''s send him to Africa to mine coal!"


    "This guy is blatantly here to mess things up. With my temper, don''t anyone try to stop me!"


    "What''s the matter? Can''t stand to see us Huaxians being awesome, huh? Picking faults? Sing me a war song!"


    The audience from Huaxia couldn''t contain their all energies even before Sebek from the European Royal Institute of Physics could start voicing his doubts.


    Sebek, 54 years old this year, had been researching the field of dark matter for nearly 30 years. Before Zhang Menglong, most of the frontline information about dark matter came from his and another lab led by Professor Gins.


    Just last year, their research had made a tremendous breakthrough, and Sebek was confident he could successfully prove the existence of dark matter and decode its composition within three years.


    Three years wasn''t too long, because other than Professor Gins, no other organization in the world could come close to their research. Recently, Professor Gins hadn''t made significant breakthroughs and catching up with him in three years was nearly impossible.


    At that time, Sebek was full of confidence that he definitely had a chance to win the Nobel Prize in Physics before he turned 60!


    But who knew that halfway through, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology would solve this fundamental physics problem straight away.


    Even if he wrote a superior paper three years later, the second place would never be remembered, nor could he use the achievement of proving the existence of dark matter to compete for the Nobel Prize in Physics anymore.


    At that moment, his world collapsed, and he couldn''t sleep for several days. It felt like you had saved money for a long time, arranged a matchmaker, bought a wedding house, prepared a bride price, and were about to propose to your future father-in-law when your girlfriend was snatched away by someone else, even having been roundly claimed by another.


    Who could endure that?


    When he learned that Han Jinyu''s team had always been working on high polymer materials and had never touched anything related to dark matter before, he instantly had suspicions.


    They solved in one week what others couldn''t achieve in 100 years?


    He admitted there were geniuses in the world, but even a genius couldn''t accomplish this in just a few days; there must be some trickery involved. He had to expose their academic fraud in front of global media and scholars today!


    "Mr. Sebek, feel free to ask any questions." Zhang Menglong was well-prepared for someone to cause trouble, but all his knowledge was genuinely acquired. He neither bribed nor robbed; what did he have to worry about?"


    "What I''m going to say next might sound a bit harsh, and I''m not sure if it should be said."


    "If you''re not sure if it should be said, then don''t say it!"


    "Hahaha!" The room suddenly burst into laughter, as Zhang Menglong skillfully counterattacked.


    Exactly, if you''re not sure it should be said, why say anything at all?


    Unsure if it''s appropriate to say? Then don''t say it!


    Don''t blame me for speaking bluntly. Then you just don''t say anything!


    No doubt about that!


    Sebek, who was already not very fluent in Huaxian, was completely dumbfounded by the counterattack. Young people show no respect, not talking sensibly at all!


    He could only continue in English, "I just heard Mr. Zhang say, your research team wrote the paper within a week of the project''s establishment?"


    "What''s that bird language? Speak Huaxian, I don''t understand!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t bother replying to him, especially since the other party was clearly there to cause trouble; could you really expect him to be polite to someone trying to ruin his day?


    "Hahaha, I remember the last time Mr. Zhang solved that math problem, he fluently responded to journalists from several countries in their languages, even going so far as to curse them out. And now he tells me he doesn''t understand English?"


    "I just want to say four words, utterly (gan) lacking (de) integrity (piao) (liang)!"


    "No problem, why speak a foreign language in Huaxia?"


    Fortunately, this time, one of the students who had studied in Huaxia came with Sebek. Although not as fluent as a native speaker, basic communication was still not an issue. The teacher and the student talked and translated alternately, creating an atmosphere akin to international negotiations.


    "Mr. Zhang solved a problem that had perplexed humans for 100 years in just one week. I want to ask, can everyone accept this result?" the student translated for Sebek, "Moreover, Mr. Zhang and Professor Han had never dealt with any subject on dark matter before."


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    "We suspect that Mr. Zhang stole someone else''s scientific research results!" Sebek stated bluntly.


    "Wow!" The scene erupted in an uproar.


    It was not that no one had suspected this, and if Zhang Menglong and his team had researched for seven years, perhaps it could have been more convincing. But seven days? That was almost an insult to their intelligence.


    But no one would raise such a doubt in such a setting, as it blatantly meant slapping someone in the face in front of the whole world.


    "Mr. Sebek, you can eat shit randomly, but you can''t talk nonsense. Millions, even billions, of people worldwide are watching this live broadcast right now. Afterwards, I will instruct my lawyer to sue your country," Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "Zhang Menglong, I know you are very rich. Now I suspect you bought someone else''s research results with a large sum of money. You can sue me, but ask everyone if they believe you. This is simply an insult to the intelligence of all scholars!"


    "An insult to your intelligence?" Zhang Menglong sneered. "Let''s do the math now, Mr. Sebek. How long have you studied the subject of dark matter?"


    "28 years!" Sebek said without hesitation, proud of the figure.


    "So, according to Professor Sebek''s estimate, when will you be able to solve this subject?"


    "At most three years!"


    "Okay, add three more years, that makes 31 years. Let''s count a year as 365 days," Zhang Menglong continued, "I only spent seven days studying dark matter. So 31 times 365 divided by 7 equals 1616 times, rounding 1616 gives us 2000... My intelligence is 2000 times higher than yours!"


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang is simply a math genius. Did he learn his math from the PE teacher?"


    "Somebody help me, Hua Luogeng is rolling in his grave!"


    "Keep going, Mr. Zhang, we''ll hold down the coffin lid for you!"


    "Brilliant! Mr. Zhang is truly a veteran keyboard warrior!"


    "He analyzed it so logically, I actually can''t refute it."


    ...


    "See, since our intelligence differs by 2000 times, I think a little insult to your intelligence shouldn''t be too much, right?"


    "Oh, I also solved a mathematical problem that had troubled humans for over 200 years in just a small fraction of the time of an exam. By that calculation, my intelligence could be a few million," Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "To you, this issue about dark matter may seem tough, but to me, it''s hardly more complicated than one plus one equals two. If it weren''t for needing to write a paper to prove it, I could even prove it in less time. Why do you use your idiotic perspective to question my genius capabilities?"


    "Instant kill, explosive output!"


    "If I were Sebek, I would be crying out loud by now."


    "A world-class professor just got called an idiot by Mr. Zhang, and he can''t even refute it. Doesn''t that just burn?"


    "Damn, he nailed it again!"

 Chapter 524 522: Can You Handle It If I Prove It to You?

    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask, with your country''s vast population of over a billion people, so far only two individuals have received the Nobel Prize, and both of them are extremely old. This shows that Huaxia is considerably behind the rest of the world. The achievements you spoke of earlier don''t prove that you really have the ability."


    "Is that so?" In that moment, Zhang Menglong felt a surge of anger, "It seems you simply think us Huaxians are not up to par, Mr. Sebek, and that you hold some national prejudice against us, right?"


    Sebek didn''t answer, but his expression made it clear that this was exactly what he was thinking.


    "Our Huaxia civilization''s five thousand years of history produced inventions like papermaking, printing, gunpowder, and the compass¡ªweren''t these inventions that shocked the world?" Zhang Menglong challenged. "If it wasn''t for Huaxia, you''d probably still be wiping your ass with a rough stick after taking a shit, right?"


    "Hahaha!" The Huaxia audience, who were also incensed, suddenly burst into laughter. When it came to creativity, Huaxia shone brightly in the scientific domain while these Western countries didn''t even know whether they existed.


    "But that''s just the past of your Huaxia, nothing worth boasting about."


    "Fine, let''s talk about the modern era," continued Zhang Menglong, "anyone who dares say their manned spaceflight technology surpasses that of Huaxia, please raise your hand?"


    Zhang Menglong scanned the audience, and indeed, nobody dared raise their hand.


    To date, Huaxia''s manned spacecraft have a success rate of 100%, while other countries? There have been several launch failures in history, which cost the lives of many hard-trained astronauts¡ªthis already said it all.


    "So, what now? Speechless, are we?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Not long ago, our Huaxia completed the development of the 2nm chips. If I remember correctly, to import chips from our country, you were kneeling in front of my Silicon Moonlight for several hours, weren''t you?"


    After these words, many people lowered their heads in shame. Who knew that Zhang Menglong would secretly start a live stream at that time? It was practically a scene of mass social death, a dark chapter in the history of these Western countries!"


    "So it''s clear, whether we look at modern times or ancient history, you have no place to criticize the research and development capabilities of the Huaxian people!"


    "Well said!"


    "I''m actually sweating here; isn''t this much more thrilling than Boruto?"


    "President Zhang is forever a god!"


    "Although President Zhang can be really showy when he flaunts, today he''s truly dashing!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong took a deep breath: "Alright, Professor Sebek, you can go home and wait for the court summons. Unless I am appeased for ten or eight years, I won''t let this go. I have more than enough money to spare for this game."


    "And yes, get an ambulance ready; I fear this fellow may just have a stroke from sheer anger."


    Zhang Menglong''s string of eloquent remarks directly caused Sebek''s blood pressure to skyrocket. He didn''t believe it, he knew others didn''t believe it, but there was nothing he could do¡ªnobody could produce evidence to the contrary.


    "Alright, I know that everyone here harbors doubts about our research achievements," Zhang Menglong said, "I understand that, but I still have to say that regarding the research on dark matter, we have not plagiarized anyone''s work because nobody has the level of expertise that we would need to plagiarize."


    "How can you prove that?"


    "Actually, I don''t need to prove anything," Zhang Menglong replied, "But I believe that if I don''t prove anything, various keyboard warriors will attack us Huaxians online for academic plagiarism, claiming our Nobel is undeserved."


    "I think there are still many unsolved mysteries in the world. How about I solve a few more? That should be enough to demonstrate my capability, right?"


    "No way!" Someone sarcastically called out from below, "Who knows if you haven''t already prepared for all this stuff in advance, or perhaps you''ll use one lie to cover up another?"


    "Right, you can''t pick the topics yourself. We must choose them, and we must control the timing."


    All those who doubted Zhang Menglong''s academic achievements stood up in unison at this moment.


    "Just a moment ago, everyone was nodding along, and now with someone leading the charge, they start causing trouble. These people are truly despicable!"


    "This I cannot accept. Why is it that when people from other countries win the Nobel Prize no one questions it, but when Huaxia wins, there''s an uproar of skepticism? Double standards much?"


    "Look at them acting as if they''ve never seen the world. Can''t Huaxia produce geniuses?"


    The whole of Huaxia erupted in curses.


    "Okay then," surprisingly, Zhang Menglong actually agreed. He was actually ready to accept this challenge in front of hundreds of millions of people around the world!


    "So, those seated, please set the questions. Whether it''s astronomy, geography, medicine, or history, if I''m stumped, I lose."


    "Zhang Menglong is awesome! (voice crack)"


    "Just for that statement, from today on, you are the one and only True God!"


    "But honestly, I''m a bit anxious. Zhang''s act is a bit grand. I''m worried he can''t live up to it. Even if he started learning from the womb, is it possible to amass that much knowledge?"


    "Wouldn''t he have had to start learning since Pangu created the world?"


    "Mr. Zhang, please begin your performance!"


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, since you are so confident, let''s take the liberty of asking you a question," a scientist from the Royal European Academy of Physics took the initiative to stand up.


    "May I ask how to address this gentleman?"


    "My name is Perle, Mr. Zhang may not have heard of me."


    "In that case, Mr. Perle, please state your question."


    "Since Mr. Zhang is tackling the task of proving the existence of dark matter, I would like to know if Mr. Zhang can prove the existence of something else."


    "What is that?"


    "The soul!"


    "Wow!" Whether it was the audience on-site or the live stream, the place exploded at that moment.


    "Damn! That''s impudent. Is that something that can be proven?"


    "Isn''t this already proven? I heard that when a person dies, their mass decreases by a few grams. Isn''t that the soul?"


    "Mr. Zhang, human research on the soul is still at a stage of trying to prove its existence. If you can prove the existence of the soul within a week, and analyze the substances that make it up, then we''ll acknowledge your genius!"


    Zhang Menglong said nothing, while Perle looked at Zhang Menglong''s expression and revealed a triumphant smile. He wanted Zhang Menglong to be unable to step down.


    How do you prove the existence or non-existence of something like the human soul? If it truly is something full of mystery and fantasy, there''s just no way to prove it!


    Isn''t this asking the impossible of someone to prove something that can''t be proven?


    "Are you sure?" Zhang Menglong flashed a mischievous smile.


    "Of course, if Mr. Zhang finds a week to be difficult, a month is also acceptable," Perle said with a smile.


    "If you really want to know the answer, I can tell you now, the human soul does indeed exist."


    "Hahaha," Perle laughed, "Since the soul truly exists, I wonder if Mr. Zhang has any way to prove it? Just talking won''t be very convincing."


    "You make a good point," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "The key thing is, if I really prove that ghosts exist, can you handle it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I have a lot of courage, and I believe in science. Even if the human soul really exists, it''s not necessarily something to be afraid of."


    "Oh? Are you sure?"


    "Well then," Zhang Menglong showed a sly grin, "we won''t need a month. If you really want to know whether the human soul exists, I can prove it to you right now!"

 Chapter 525 523: Scared to Pee on the Spot

    "Brothers, did I hear wrong, or did Zhang actually say he''s going to prove the existence of the soul!"


    "Damn, a live ghost-catching show? I''ve never seen such a scene before?"


    "Is this really something that can be broadcast? Does it conform to socialist core values?"


    "If souls are really brought out, it''ll be another huge battle between idealism and materialism!"


    No one expected a press conference to escalate to such a situation.


    "Haha, how ridiculous, the existence of the soul?" A group of older scholars who believed greatly in science all revealed a look of mockery.


    "You''re the ignorant ones," Zhang Menglong retorted unabashedly, "Have you seen a person''s soul? If not, then shut up, it will make you look foolish, calling yourselves scientists. Haven''t you learned to regard everything with a scientific perspective despite your age?"


    "Alright then, we would be grateful if Mr. Zhang could demonstrate the existence of the soul for us ignorant people."


    Those harboring ulterior motives wore the look of spectators to a show, firmly believing proving the existence of the soul was downright impossible!


    "Miss, may I use the bell charm on your ankle?" Zhang Menglong approached one of the staff members and pointed at an accessory on her ankle,


    "Of course," the girl took off the bell charm and handed it to Zhang Menglong.


    "Next is the moment to witness a miracle!"


    While everyone looked on with confusion and disbelief, Zhang Menglong began to shake the bell charm he held, which emitted a sound at a fixed and special frequency.


    "What''s he doing?"


    "I don''t know, why do I feel so creeped out?"


    "A Nobel Prize in Physics laureate is actually declaring he''ll prove the existence of the soul to the whole world; it''s just too outrageous."


    "Zhang looks like some fortune-teller!"


    Suddenly, the bodies of those scholars who had doubted Zhang Menglong seemed to freeze in place. Their pupils dilated several times over in an instant, and then their rigid bodies began to tremble slightly.


    "Ah!"


    "Don''t come over! Don''t come near me!"


    "Help! What is this thing!"


    Their eyes turned bloodshot, and they began retreating in panic, flailing their arms as if some terrifying entity was attacking them.


    But to the people around, it looked as though they were suddenly suffering from Parkinson''s disease.


    "What''s wrong with these people? They haven''t seen ghosts, have they?"


    "How is that possible? Is this really science?"


    "If the soul of a person truly exists, then it is necessarily composed of a material, just one that might be beyond our understanding."


    At this moment, the whole world was plunged into shock.


    Some suspected Zhang Menglong had rigged something, but this challenge was raised on the spot, leaving no time for Zhang Menglong to prepare. As for those scholars, they truly held great animosity towards him, so they couldn''t be shills.


    Could Zhang Menglong really have used some method to make them witness the existence of the soul?


    In fact, before he arrived at the Super God Academy, Zhang Menglong did not believe in any supernatural beings, but the existence of Yan Chixia and Nie Xiaoqian convinced him that souls do exist.


    A human''s soul is an energy entity, invisible and intangible. However, when these energy particles vibrate at a very special frequency, once they resonate with the human body, they can be seen.


    Of course, this kind of energy is an unconscious entity and poses no threat to humans. After a period of time, it will transform into other forms of energy in nature.


    Only under some very special circumstances do these energy entities carry some of the instincts they had in human life.


    Zhang Menglong rang the bell specifically to modulate the frequency of the soul energy to match that of those scholars.


    Each individual''s fixed frequency is different, so only they could see it; of course, such manipulation is impossible for ordinary people and instruments. Zhang Menglong also used some of his own abilities to a certain extent.


    Therefore, the scholars showed expressions of panic because they saw souls surrounding them, roaming aimlessly like individuals stripped of consciousness, and once their frequencies aligned, those souls with special instincts would detect their presence and might launch extreme attacks.


    More importantly, the human soul retains certain characteristics from the time of death. Those deaths caused by car accidents, falls, or fires made the appearance of these souls quite terrifying.


    That was precisely what had just happened.


    Zhang Menglong stopped shaking the bell, and the souls that had appeared before those five or six scholars vanished all at once. They suddenly seemed drained of all strength and collapsed to the ground.


    And the look they gave Zhang Menglong was filled with fear!


    Because they did not understand the nature of the soul, humans often harbor fear towards the unknown.


    "Gentlemen, were you satisfied with my demonstration just now?" Zhang Menglong lifted the bell in his hand, "If any of you think I''m an academic fraud, I can let you have another look. You could also find some instruments to study the physical composition of these souls; maybe the next Nobel Prize will be yours!"


    "No, no, no!"


    The expressions of several people instantly turned to sheer panic again. They did not want to witness such a scene ever again; that few seconds of terror might take a lifetime to heal.


    "What is that smell? Why does it stink so much?"


    "Damn, look at the ground¡ªthey''ve pissed themselves!"


    "Hahaha, they got scared *piss*less, huh?"


    "Right, who were they again? From the Royal Physical Laboratory of Europe?" Someone deliberately said their origins aloud.


    "Staff, please escort the professors to change their underwear. Put the cost of the underwear on my tab," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Make sure to buy a good pair, lest others say that we Huaxia people not only lack in scientific research capabilities but are also stingy."


    "Hahaha!"


    "That was a murderously incisive remark!"


    "I really want to know what they actually saw."


    "No, you don''t!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, what did you just do?" Sa Xining asked bravely.


    "Didn''t they want me to prove the existence of the soul? I simply let them see for themselves."


    "Sorry for giving everyone a scare," Zhang Menglong spoke to the camera, "Actually, the soul does indeed exist. If any scholars are interested, they could study it from the perspectives of energy and physics. The key lies in frequency. If we can improve the precision of our highest-accuracy frequency measurement instruments by an order of magnitude, proving this conclusion should be quite easy."


    Zhang Menglong returned the bell to the staff member and went back to the interview area, "So, does anyone have any more questions?"


    The scene was silent. Although they had only seen the reactions of the scholars from the Royal Physical Laboratory, regardless of whether there was any trickery involved, Zhang Menglong seemed to possess much knowledge unknown to them.


    "If not, then I ask you to shut your mouths from now on and stop doubting the capabilities of the Huaxia people. We are the country with the longest history in the world, and our wisdom is not something you people can question."


    "Indeed, we went through a period of decline, but now, Huaxia is no weaker than any other country."


    Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "By the way, if there are still doubts about Huaxia, our National Day is in half a month. As usual, we''ll hold a grand military parade and warrior demonstration, and I hope you will do us the honor of watching!"


    ...

 Chapter 526 524: Theyre Probably Artificial Idiots

    The press conference ended in an atmosphere brimming with national fervor and scientific enchantment, and the skepticism online had almost vanished, replaced by curiosity about Zhang Menglong.


    What kind of person could become the world''s richest man while simultaneously achieving such daunting success in both mathematics and physics?


    Everyone has two shoulders and one head, so why are you so exceptional? Why do they feel as if they were just making up the numbers in the world?


    Of course, for Zhang Menglong, as long as no one else was causing trouble for Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, and no foreigners were questioning Huaxia''s capability, he couldn''t care less about the rest.


    Only one week remained until the selection of the pilot institutions for scientific research education, and the final slot would be announced on-site after the last showcase of scientific achievements.


    During this period, the faculty and students at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology were fully energized and sprinting, managing to achieve visible results in 24 of their 158 projects in just one month.


    The school''s scorecard had already been posted on the educational network. Yanjing University was at the top with a total score of 7840, followed by Qingbei University with 7720, and Jiangnan University was third with 7690.


    The gap between these three schools was extremely close, and according to the competition rules, the last contest could award a maximum of 3000 points, making any school a potential winner!


    Of course, the subsequent competition was also very motivating, with the gap between each school being only a matter of a few points, making this final showcase of scientific achievements likely to be a contest full of uncertainties.


    The recently famous Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, with those 158 national projects, a Nobel Prize, and an additional score from 24 national-level projects, had reached a total score of 7520, ranking fifth and surpassing numerous prestigious 985 and 211 universities.


    This dark horse had shocked all the universities nationwide; who could have imagined that a mere ordinary university could achieve such great results?


    If they could present a significant research outcome during the finals, they had a good chance of securing a spot in this round of pilot scientific research education.


    However, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, now under the spotlight, also faced many doubts. They had indeed won the Nobel Prize in Physics, but that was basic physics research, while this competition focused on applied science!


    You must transform your research outcomes into works that significantly benefit or contribute to human industries or other domains, or else they are almost non-competitive.


    So far, aside from the chip project, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology lacked any high-impact entries for the competition.


    This selection had a rule: one project could not be used for two different contests, meaning their strong chip project couldn''t serve as their entry for this fourth contest.


    Although there were many applied scientific research projects among the 158, many were underdeveloped due to the short timeframe, easily exposing flaws in the final review stages.


    Because of this, Han Jinyu found himself puzzled and helpless.


    "Han teacher, do you know about the other schools'' entries?"


    "I''ve inquired slightly, and although the projects haven''t been officially submitted, a lot of internal information has already leaked. This year''s hottest project is Artificial Intelligence!"


    "Artificial Intelligence," murmured Zhang Menglong, lost in thought. Indeed, this era is digital, with more and more human work being replaced by Artificial Intelligence.


    But Artificial Intelligence is still in its nascent stage, a topic that ignites passion around the world, with many universities even establishing related majors for it.


    Previously, the national robot competition gradually evolved into a preliminary Artificial Intelligence competition, where exceptional works could be seen every year.


    "It seems that the top-ranked schools have all chosen this project?"


    "Yes, Qingbei University, Yanjing University, and Jiangnan University all prepared their Artificial Intelligence works, and of course, some majors that specialize in medicine even applied it to the medical field, earning a higher score often for these interdisciplinary projects."


    Han Jinyu said, "As far as I know, Jiangnan University had prepared an AI capable of performing surgery autonomously. Just a few months ago, they completed a heart surgery using this AI technology, and it was a huge success."


    "That''s true. Now that it''s the era of Artificial Intelligence, we also need to keep pace with the times," Zhang Menglong said. "Mr. Han, let''s also register for Artificial Intelligence then."


    "You''ve got to be kidding!" Han Jinyu said with a wry smile, "Our school''s robots are decent, but in terms of information technology, we''re totally outclassed by those top schools. Their AI robots can perform surgery, while our AI cars can barely drive without crashing into a wall, let alone perform complex tasks. They''re practically mentally handicapped. Are you planning to win by making our opponents die of laughter?"


    Last year at the national robotics competition, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology didn''t even pass the provincial level. Their autonomous navigation robot, due to a programming error, veered off the designated route and crashed into a wall.


    It was said that the participating students fled back to school overnight, and it even became a hot topic online, marking a dark chapter in their history.


    "Mr. Han, you do have some credibility in our school''s AI technology."


    "Get lost!" Han Jinyu glared at Zhang Menglong.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Han, let''s go with Artificial Intelligence," Zhang Menglong said. "I''m not hiding it anymore, I''m laying my cards on the table. Of all the domains, AI is my strongest suit!"


    "Hmm?" Han Jinyu''s eyes widened. Despite both being in scientific research, the difference between their fields was too great. His previous research was based on physical chemistry, while AI research was all about information technology, or in other words, coding!


    "I''ve seen your transcript, remember your Level Two VB test in sophomore year? Scored 50, failed the retest, and even had to retake the course, right?"


    "Uhh... that was me being low-key, saving my real strength!"


    Actually, Zhang Menglong was genuinely a coding novice, and up until now, he hadn''t even obtained his National Computer Level Two certification!


    But it''s worth noting, his first summoned teacher was Teacher Tony, and when it came to AI research, Zhang Menglong had the longest exposure, even the defensive AI segment of Huaxia''s top IT entity "Donghuang Clock" came from Zhang Menglong himself.


    Medical robots? Autonomous driving? All weak in the presence of Zhang Menglong''s skills!


    Perhaps what others concocted seemed like top-level AI, but in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, they were nothing but mentally handicapped AIs!


    "Are you confident?"


    "When have I ever done something I wasn''t sure of?" Zhang Menglong retorted. "Mr. Han, don''t forget, once this is done, I''m graduating, and you can call me for my diploma. Other than that, I won''t be around much."


    "Let''s talk when you''ve actually done it!"


    Ultimately, Han Jinyu heeded Zhang Menglong''s suggestion and listed Artificial Intelligence on the final project submission.


    "Do you need someone to cooperate with you?" Han Jinyu asked. "Which domain of AI do you want to develop?"


    "Which domain? Of course, all of them!" Zhang Menglong said. "Have you ever seen a high-IQ individual shine only in one domain? True Artificial Intelligence has both human judgment and computer precision!"


    "Alright, I''ll be watching!"

 Chapter 527 525: It Will Be a Massacre

    Three days later, the Huaxia Education Network announced the specific location and schedule for this project exhibition. Due to the previously settled points, many schools gave up on the spot. Though there were some that still had confidence, the enormous gap in points meant that even a perfect score in the fourth competition wouldn''t secure them victory.


    Since it was like that, why bother at all? It seemed better to just give up and avoid embarrassment, so in the end, only 47 institutions entered Qingbei University to participate in this scientific research pilot for universities.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, forty-seven institutions, and thirty-three projects are all related to Artificial Intelligence."


    "My goodness, this is practically a grand battle of Artificial Intelligence!"


    "It''s unavoidable, now it''s the era of information and Artificial Intelligence. Those top-level universities are all making breakthroughs in this direction; naturally, it''s the best method for them to showcase their strength."


    "I heard that not long ago students from Yanjing University and Qingbei University participated in a robotics competition and achieved good rankings, right?"


    "Qingbei University''s Go-playing robot received an international second-class award, and Yanjing University''s bionic robot received a third-class award. The weight of this prize is very high. The work that got the first-class award is at least five to eight years ahead of us in the Artificial Intelligence domain. This achievement is already quite impressive."


    Scholars and universities following this event were immediately filled with anticipation for this battle of the gods. Suddenly, they thought of that dark horse university¡ªJiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    In fact, most people knew very little about this university, only being aware that its textile and fashion design disciplines were ranked among the top three nationally, but the rest was better left unsaid.


    One would have thought they might come up with something within their field of expertise, but unexpectedly, they also chose Artificial Intelligence, taking on those elite universities head-on!


    You should know that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had indeed participated in related competitions before, but their results were quite dismal. In fact, their past competitors even called their works "Artificial Idiots," a dark chapter of their history that some malicious people had dug up.


    A somewhat blurry video appeared online¡ªit was the video of the Jiangnan University of Science and Technology team participating in the national robotics competition provincial selection from back then!


    "Hahaha, what is this thing? Can this even be called Artificial Intelligence? The term ''Artificial Idiot'' really hits the nail on the head."


    "No way, no way, are they really so deluded as to enter an Artificial Intelligence research achievement for evaluation? Isn''t that just asking for humiliation?"


    "Don''t be so sure, their university now boasts an Academician and a Nobel Prize winner. Maybe things have changed in the past few years?"


    Although there were various voices online, those that were full of mockery and ridicule still made up the majority, particularly from some competitors who even started provoking on the internet.


    "I''m not sure by what means Jiangnan University of Science and Technology got the Nobel Prize in Physics, but their research on Artificial Intelligence must be really ''outstanding.'' I look forward to our confrontation!"


    Someone immediately traced the owner of this post¡ªhe is a doctoral student from Qingbei University, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, and it was his team that won that international award!


    When he graduated from his master''s program, the Huawei Group had invited him, initially offering an annual salary of 800,000 yuan. Now, having already signed to join Huawei upon graduation, his salary had soared from the original 800,000 yuan to 2 million. His story even once caused a sensation online.


    If others had made such trash talk, they would have been wiped out by the public, but for someone with real talent like him, not many people dared to retort.


    It wasn''t just the student from Qingbei University; the person leading the team from Jiangnan University also declared a public challenge against Jiangnan University of Science and Technology online. Both were from Jiangzhe province, but there could only be one king, and that was them!


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology aggressively snatched up 158 national projects. In previous years, Jiangnan University could have taken on at least ten research projects, translating to several billion in research funds. For the universities, this was tantamount to an existential feud.


    But since they had won the Nobel Prize, they really had no grounds to argue, and now that it was their own domain of expertise, wasn''t it their time to strut?


    "Jiangzhe once only had one key university, and that was us, Jiangnan University. The strongest university in the future will also be us. Certain nouveau riche should never dream of usurping the throne."


    ...


    "Really interesting, they''ve even formed a united front," Zhang Menglong looked at the messages and couldn''t help but let out a cold laugh. As a seasoned keyboard warrior, he just couldn''t resist. After battling it out in Zaun for so many years, he was unable to out-cuss a bunch of academics?


    "I hereby officially announce that I will personally lead the team in the fourth match of the scientific research pilot universities!"


    "Damn! It''s Boss Zhang again!"


    "Isn''t Boss Zhang a researcher in mathematics and fundamental physics? Does he even understand this kind of stuff?"


    "I finally understand what a genius is now."


    "I have a feeling he''s going to show off again."


    Zhang Menglong''s fan group instantly erupted into waves of excitement.


    "I know many schools look down on us. Do you think your Artificial Intelligence is strong? Sorry, but I want to say one thing, all the Artificial Intelligence you guys developed, in my eyes, is just Artificial Idiocy!"


    "Arrogant!" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s provocative rebuttal instantly sparked the anger of many, not just the students from those universities but even teachers.


    "I''ve been teaching for so many years, and I''ve never seen such an arrogant student. Does he really think he''s omnipotent?"


    "Our school''s Artificial Intelligence technology is recognized as top-level in the world, and someone actually called our Artificial Intelligence ''Artificial Idiocy''?"


    "Fine, let''s see what kind of work they can come up with!"


    "Go and test the code again, this time''s demonstration absolutely cannot falter!" The team leaders from each university immediately started the final preparations for the competition in a few days, determined to humble this arrogant Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    "Hahahaha, this brat just can''t change his bombastic ways!" Although Professor Zhou stayed secluded, he had also heard about Zhang Menglong''s actions.


    "Old Zhou, shouldn''t you remind this kid not to be so high-profile? During the last live stream when he tried to prove the existence of the soul, a lot of people had issues with it," another old-timer beside Professor Zhou remarked.


    "Old Wu, don''t think of it as some superstitious nonsense. As long as the existence of the soul can be proven, then it is science. Since it''s science, why can''t it be displayed for the public to see? Besides, this brat really does have the ability; it''s okay for young people with talent to be a little bit arrogant. If I were as capable as him, I would be even more outrageous!"


    "So, you think he could make a name for himself in this Artificial Intelligence competition?" Old Wu with the surname Wu asked.


    "This is just child''s play for him."


    Others may not know, but Professor Zhou knew that the level of Artificial Intelligence in Zhang Menglong''s possession was beyond the wildest imaginations of these so-called experts and scholars.


    The present Donghuang Clock system, with the help of that stretch of Artificial Intelligence from Zhang Menglong, had an attack-defense capability at least a hundred times greater than before, and it was still growing. Starting with only defense capabilities, it had now even acquired offensive powers, and those who tried to invade the Donghuang Clock suffered heavy losses one after another.


    Such Artificial Intelligence had already surpassed the technology of the era.


    "Just wait and see, that match will be a slaughter!"

 Chapter 528 526: There is No Firewall in Front of It

    Due to the reduced number of participating schools, the committee decided to schedule the final evaluation for September 25th.


    In the last few days, all the schools were engaged in extremely tense preparations, all that is, except for Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Zhang Menglong, as usual, was enjoying his campus romance with Lu Yiyao.


    He even spent more time at Jiangnan Music College than at his own school. To those unaware, they might even think he was a student of the Music College.


    "Menglong, how are things going with the preparation? Can you show me?" Han Jinyu couldn''t help but seek out Zhang Menglong the day before they departed.


    Many schools'' entries had already been exposed through various channels, yet only Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s remained unseen.


    Everyone was praising their school for its excellent secrecy, but only Han Jinyu knew that he hadn''t seen a damn thing, not even sure whether they had actually produced anything at all, so leaks would indeed be surprising.


    "Ready, yeah," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Where''s the stuff?"


    "Stuff?" Zhang Menglong asked in return. What stuff?


    "Your artificial intelligence must have a vessel of some sort, right? What have you made?"


    "Han Teacher, artificial intelligence is just a program. What does it need a vessel for?" Zhang Menglong casually remarked, "Ergouzi, turn off the lights for Han Teacher!"


    "Snap!" The lights in Han Jinyu''s home suddenly went out.


    "How... how did you do that?" Han Jinyu was astonished.


    His home was equipped with smart appliances, indeed controllable by voice, certainly a manifestation of artificial intelligence, but the system was programmed with the voices of his family, not accessible to outsiders.


    And with Zhang Menglong living dozens of kilometers away, how on earth did he manage this? Remote control?


    "Han Teacher, this is what real artificial intelligence looks like," Zhang Menglong said, "It can appear anywhere on the internet, cracking your smart home''s firewall through the network and then taking control of the appliances."


    "Oh, right, Ergouzi is the name I chose for this AI!" Zhang Menglong stated, "Ergouzi, say hello to Han Teacher!"


    "Swoosh!"


    With Han Jinyu''s computer in standby mode, it suddenly unlocked by itself, and a Wu Yanzu avatar appeared on the desktop, "Hello Professor Han, I am Ergouzi, the boss of the artificial intelligence world¡ªno, I am the Iron Man of the AI domain, also known as Artificial Wu Yanzu. You can call me Ergouzi!"


    "Are... are you talking to me?" Han Jinyu had seen AI that could converse with humans before, but this tone and way of speaking, so characteristic of Zhang Menglong''s style, seemed hard to achieve with mere code, right?


    Top-tier artificial intelligence requires human emotions and personalities, which involves psychological knowledge. Integrating this into AI is quite challenging.


    "Yes, Han Teacher, don''t worry. Watch how I play with those AI dimwits tomorrow. Their level of intelligence isn''t even close to mine. When the time comes, all you need to do is shout ''666'' in the contestant leaders'' area."


    "You... are amazing," At this point, aside from the plain and simple "amazing," Han Jinyu could find no other adjectives.


    "Han Teacher, just get a couple of senior students. Let''s all go to Yanjing together tomorrow. Although we won''t need to do much, it''s important to have a strong presence."


    "Sure!" Han Jinyu was already excited. He actually harbored doubts whether Zhang Menglong was all talk, but now it seemed that even if the AI had no other tricks, its ability to communicate with humans alone was enough to stun everyone.


    ...


    That evening, Han Jinyu arranged for a few students from his research group to go with them to Qingbei University for the competition. After all, they wouldn''t need to exert much effort¡ªwhy not treat it as a funded vacation?


    Of course, how could Zhang Menglong let everyone take domestic flights? Isn''t it nicer to fly on his private jet?


    "Menglong, where''s your AI entry for the competition? Let us have a look!" The senior brother, despite specializing in materials, was very interested in the field of artificial intelligence, after all, it''s at the forefront of science.


    "Oh, it''s flying the plane right now!"


    "Whoosh!" Including Han Jinyu, everyone''s face instantly turned ashen.


    Now isn''t the time when no one is researching autonomous flight in this domain. In fact, it''s an extremely popular field at the moment. However, based on current outcomes, it''s rather disheartening to talk about.


    In some tests, the so-called intelligent driving would run right over a dummy without a hint of avoidance; there was no trace of intelligent scientific research. If this thing were to be really implemented in industry, it would be incredibly dangerous without at least a decade or eight years of development.


    The complexity of flying an airplane compared with driving a car is unfathomable, and he actually dared to let an Artificial Intelligence fly an airplane? If there''s one operational error, the consequences could be catastrophic!


    "Menglong, you''re joking with us, right? Aha ha ha!" The eldest senior brother laughed awkwardly.


    "Not at all, if you don''t believe it, go check the cockpit." Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    The senior brothers and sisters quickly rushed to the cockpit and through the glass; there was indeed no one in the cockpit! The airplane was really flying on its own!


    "Menglong, we have no grudges against you, there''s no need for us to die together, right?"


    "Senior brother, Er Gouzi''s intelligence is much higher than that of ordinary humans. It could even handle a Gundam with ease, let alone a mere commercial aircraft. There won''t be any problem," Zhang Menglong reassured.


    While Er Gouzi''s capabilities might not match those of Iron Man''s Jarvis, it still possesses half of that ability. Zhang Menglong had put a lot of effort into tinkering with it and if it couldn''t even handle an airplane, it wouldn''t be worth the embarrassment.


    "Is Er Gouzi the name of this Artificial Intelligence?" Zhang Menglong''s senior sister asked bravely, "Is this an autonomous driving AI you developed?"


    "Hahaha, Er Gouzi''s skills go far beyond just this," said Zhang Menglong. "Er Gouzi, how much longer until we reach Yanjing?"


    "Based on the current flight speed and Yanjing''s ground traffic calculations, we will arrive at Qingbei University in one hour and 14 minutes."


    "Then order us some milk tea and have it delivered directly to the hotel."


    "Orders have been placed according to the preferences of the master and his senior brothers and sisters."


    "Master: Passionfruit double blast, half sugar, no ice, add coconut jelly and pearls."


    "Eldest senior sister: Taro milk tea with bobas, no sugar, less ice."


    "Junior senior sister: Soy milk jade kirin, half sugar. You are in your menstrual period, it is recommended to drink warm."


    ...


    "How does it know I like this?"


    "This is unbelievable. I''m actually thinking about taro milk tea with bobas right now!"


    "How... how does it even know about my menstrual cycle?" The junior senior sister blushed but was more shocked than embarrassed. Even her boyfriend wasn''t this aware of her menstrual cycle!


    "These are all results Er Gouzi came up with through big data analysis," laughed Zhang Menglong. "By analyzing everyone''s past purchase records, it can deduce your preferences. As for junior senior sister''s... well, you girls must have those period tracker apps, right?"


    "It can access that data too? Don''t those company databases have firewalls?"


    "According to current information technology, there is no such thing as a firewall in front of Er Gouzi," said Zhang Menglong.


    "That''s too impressive!"


    "I''m suddenly looking forward to tomorrow''s competition."


    "I''m ready to watch Er Gouzi sweep the floor with the other schools'' Artificial Dumbasses."

 Chapter 529 527: Flashy and Ostentatious

    When they arrived at Yanjing Airport, another plane from Jiangnan City had just landed too, and the two teams bumped into each other as they were leaving the airport.


    "Oh, isn''t this Professor Han? Oh my mistake, it''s Academician Han now." An elderly man from the opposite team said with a hint of sarcasm.


    "Academician Ding, long time no see," Han Jinyu greeted warmly, but his tone was incredibly flat.


    Knowing the power of Zhang Menglong''s Artificial Intelligence, Han Jinyu felt almost certain of victory. Since he had already secured the championship in advance, why should he care about the opponent''s pre-match provocations?


    The more the opponent jumped around now, the more they would embarrass themselves later, and facing someone''s provocation with an indifferent expression was obviously more infuriating to them than reacting angrily.


    "Big brother, who is this?" Zhang Menglong whispered to Zhu Mengchao.


    "This is the director of the Scientific Research Center at Jiangnan University, named Ding Yi, who is also an Academician. Moreover, he has some history with Teacher Han!"


    "Oh? What happened?"


    "Actually, Teacher Han was supposed to teach at Jiangnan University years ago. After a competition, only one hurdle remained. Academician Ding was in charge of this matter at that time, and due to some differences in academic views, Academician Ding outright rejected Teacher Han with a single vote.


    "There was such an incident? Indeed, it''s a small world where enemies meet," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Academician Han is now quite prominent at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology," Academician Ding''s tone clearly had a tinge of sourness, "A Nobel Prize winner, who would have thought that the person our Jiangnan University once looked down upon would have his day."


    "That''s all thanks to Academician Ding," Han Jinyu laughed, "If Jiangnan University hadn''t rejected me back then, I might still be just a lowly professor."


    "Is this the team Academician Han is leading this year?" Ding Yi quickly changed the subject, as lingering on the Nobel Prize would forever prevent him from holding his head high. "I heard your school also opted for Artificial Intelligence as their project?"


    "Yes," said Han Jinyu. "But it can''t compare with Jiangnan University, after all, our school''s Artificial Intelligence project is only at an initial stage. Tomorrow, we should still ask for some advice from Academician Ding''s team."


    "Hahaha, of course! After all, our school''s Artificial Intelligence is top-ranked globally. Still, if your school wants to catch up, it will need some time. After this evaluation, perhaps, Teacher Han could consider bringing someone over to our team to learn."


    "This old guy, playing humble just made him even more arrogant," Han Jinyu cursed inwardly, If he went, wouldn''t that be admitting his inferiority?


    "Oh, by the way, let me introduce someone. This is Dr. Wu Shuo from our school, who led his team to win the third-class award in the last world competition on Artificial Intelligence," Ding Yi said. "Wu Shuo, say hello to Academician Han."


    "Academician Han, hello," Wu Shuo was a somewhat greasy young man whose head was already a bit bald, indicating he had truly dedicated a significant portion of his life to scientific research. With that receding hairline, by the standards of Great Qing, he''d be a prince, "I''ve always heard that Jiangnan University''s Artificial Intelligence is quite renowned, especially in the field of intelligent navigation. I hope to see it this time."


    "Damn!" A fellow student by Zhang Menglong''s side couldn''t help but curse. The intelligent navigation aspect of Artificial Intelligence was previously criticized by universities nationwide as "Artificial Idiocy." It was unexpected that the other party would be so blunt.


    "So much for a prestigious university, their character doesn''t seem that great."


    "Hey, we shouldn''t generalize. Just because someone has ability but no manners, we shouldn''t smear the whole school," Zhang Menglong said, "But facing such people, I usually choose to clap back."


    "Hello Academician Ding, I am Zhang Menglong, the project leader from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "You''re Zhang Menglong?" Academician Ding couldn''t help but take another look at Zhang Menglong, a 20-something Nobel Prize winner who even kept silent in the face of global scholars at a press conference. Such a person was indeed formidable.


    "I know your school focuses on Artificial Intelligence in medical fields," Zhang Menglong glanced at Wu Shuo, "May I ask if this year''s project from your school involves the domain of artificial hair transplantation?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Brutal!"


    "Deadly attack!"


    "Damn, I feel offended," a fellow student of Zhang Menglong also touched his somewhat balding head.


    "You!" Wu Shuo glared at Zhang Menglong furiously.


    "Hey, it''s helpful for personal growth to throw a few harsh words before the competition. Let''s end it here," Han Jinyu quickly intervened, "We''ll head back now, see you on the field tomorrow."


    "Hmph, let''s go!"


    The group immediately got onto a coach bus.


    Ding Yi looked out through the car window, "Wu Shuo, you must perform well tomorrow, you must let them know the gap between a prestigious university and a third-class university."


    "Yeah, I..."


    Before he could finish speaking, a row of brand-new Maybachs pulled up at the curb, Han Jinyu and Zhang Menglong among others laughed and chatted as they got into the cars, creating a stark contrast to their ordinary bus.


    "Hmph...so what if they have money?"


    ...


    Since dozens of schools were participating, the evaluation time given was only two days, so this time the schedule was very tight. At 8:30 am, the first school''s presentation started.


    Qingbei University reserved an area for all the attending schools, and when Jiangnan University of Science and Technology appeared, it immediately drew quite a bit of attention.


    "Here they come, the people from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology are here."


    "Is that Zhang Menglong? He''s so young, it''s unbelievable that someone so young could win the Nobel Prize."


    "Not only does he have such achievements in the domain of basic physics, he''s even leading a team to compete in the Artificial Intelligence competition. Is there really such a genius in the world?"


    "Look, I don''t know how much more advanced they are compared to a few days ago, but if they score highly again this time, then I''m thoroughly convinced by their school."


    ...


    "Now let''s welcome the first school to the stage to present," the host moved on to the main topic, "they are representatives from Xidu University of Electronic Science and Technology, and their chosen project is Artificial Intelligence."


    A somewhat chubby young man walked to the center of the stadium, while others helped to lift a robot, taller than a human, onto the stage, "This is a high-precision image recognition Artificial Intelligence our school has developed over several years, its recognition accuracy is more than twice that of the most advanced similar Artificial Intelligence currently available on the market..."


    ...


    Whirring noises!


    After the students from Xidu University of Electronic Science and Technology finished their presentation, it immediately provoked a round of applause; indeed, their precision was too advanced and the jury directly awarded them a final score of 2670.


    Afterward, schools one by one came forward to present, and those who dared to bring their own work naturally had great confidence in it. After more than a dozen schools, the highest score was still held by Xidu University of Electronic Science and Technology, with the lowest being only 1920.


    "Next, let''s invite the representatives from Jiangnan University!"


    Wu Shuo, with a confident smile, walked up to the podium, "Our school has brought a minimally invasive surgical robot this time, and we have successfully completed a case of kidney removal surgery with it, here are the related technical and video materials!"


    ...


    "Incredible, worthy of being Jiangnan University, their Artificial Intelligence is truly world-class."


    "To be able to complete such a moderately difficult surgery with almost no human assistance, the computing precision is simply too exaggerated."


    "We still can''t match them!" Even the previously best Xidu University of Electronic Science and Technology felt inferior.


    The project scored 2800, and Jiangnan University was now firmly in the first place.


    Subsequently, Qingbei University and Yanjing University also displayed their projects, scoring 2750 and 2820 respectively, these three schools almost monopolized the top three rankings.


    "Next, let''s welcome the project presentation from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    "Here they come!"


    "I wonder what they can bring out."


    "Huh? Wait, are they also doing Artificial Intelligence? Where''s their robot?"


    All the judges were extremely curious.


    Just then, Zhang Menglong walked to the center of the stage, "Excuse me, I thought all the schools boasted online about their wonderful projects, but now it seems, they''re all just flashy without substance!"

 Chapter 530 530: 528

    "You say our stuff is all flash and no substance? Then what about your work? Bring it out, why don''t you?"


    "Arrogant! Have the youths of our Huaxia degenerated to such an extent?"


    Zhang Menglong''s words immediately incited a passionate uproar, their comments more vulgar than the last, seemingly forgetting that before today, they had used the same language to mock Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    "Hahaha!" Unlike the others, the elderly scholar sitting at the center of the judges'' panel actually laughed appreciatively, "Young man, you''ve heard them; they''re all calling you arrogant."


    Zhang Menglong glanced over the old man''s name tag, and the information 2DG had found was immediately relayed to him through the earpiece.


    The elder''s name was Guo Wenqiu, an Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and even more so, a founding figure in all of Huaxia''s information technology; in other words, without him, there would be no Huaxia''s information technology of today.


    So he had such a title; no wonder he could be the center of attention in today''s judges'' seat.


    To such a venerable elder, Zhang Menglong dared not show the slightest disrespect, "Grandpa Guo, it''s not entirely my fault, they started with the heavy insults. We, the younger generation, have fiery tempers, isn''t this just reclaiming some dignity?"


    "Moreover, they''re not even right; a person without ability bragging is arrogant, but someone like me with ability, no matter how excessive my words, is just stating the plain truth."


    "Oh?" The elder seemed quite satisfied with Zhang Menglong''s response, "It seems you are very confident?"


    "Of course."


    "Alright then, let''s begin the presentation of your school''s work."


    "Hello everyone, I am the Artificial Intelligence from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, codename 89757, but you can call me 2DG!" An animated cartoon character actually appeared directly on the projector which was supposed to display the introduction PPT.


    "Pfft! Isn''t that just a recorded video edited together? And you call that Artificial Intelligence?" sneered a coach from a university in the northwest, their product being a smart wearable device that could monitor various physiological indicators of the human body ¡ª a hot field in the current applications of Artificial Intelligence.


    "Shut up will you, that so-called ''smart wearable device'' of yours is at best ''wearable dumb tech''. The accuracy of the body indicator detection is off by at least 1.5%, with such a huge error margin you still dare to showcase it?"


    "This..." The student was dumbfounded on the spot; only they knew the significance of that discrepancy in accuracy. How could this Jiangnan University''s AI have calculated it so quickly? Putting aside why it could identify their skepticism, the fact it rebuked them without any delay, and how it seemingly obtained their monitoring data was almost impossible!"


    "Holy shit! Awesome! This AI even knows how to curse?"


    "Is this really just an intelligent program? I can''t curse half as well as that!"


    "Is this your work?" Academician Guo was somewhat dumbfounded; as an expert in the field, he deeply understood how difficult that exchange was.


    Clearly, the student''s words were an improvisation, which ruled out the possibility of fraud.


    Thus, the AI first had to perform voice recognition to understand the meaning of those words, then it had to analyze the data of the school''s project and reach a conclusion, and finally, it delivered a rebuttal tinged with mockery.


    This demanded exceedingly high standards for voice recognition, data processing, emotional simulation, and so forth, not to mention the incredibly fast operating speed, which was beyond imagination.


    Currently, there are AIs in the world capable of conversation, but their response times often require several seconds, and their answers come off as stiff, definitely lacking such rich emotion!


    "What are you looking at, not satisfied? I''m talking about you, Qingbei University. Aren''t you guys impressive at chess? How about a game?"


    "Teacher Guo, this..."


    "Sure, let''s have a match. Academics, right? Without putting it to the test, how could we know the gap between us?" said Academician Guo to the team leader from Qingbei University, "I wonder what Academician Li''s thoughts are?"


    "Let''s have a match then," replied Academician Li confidently; their Artificial Intelligence had defeated world champions in Go, even boasting a winning rate of over sixty percent against that AlphaGo.


    Qingbei University''s AI carrier was a robot about the height of a human, which with mechanical strides, took a seat and struck a rather professional pose.


    2DG''s data swept over the venue, and the robot that was sitting on the side, being prepared for adjustment, suddenly sprang to life!


    "What''s happening? Why is ''Asian Dance King'' moving on its own?" panicked the project leader of that school.


    "Our data''s been hijacked; we''ve lost control of it!"


    "No, this is impossible, a segment of code implanted itself automatically, and the level of data processing... impossible, it has already surpassed the processing speed of our chip..."


    "No need to panic, guys, just borrowing your robot for a bit," Zhang Menglong said, "Er Gouzi''s data doesn''t need to go through any database or chip to work. Strictly speaking, Artificial Intelligence can no longer describe him. It''s more fitting to call him artificial life."


    Academician Guo''s gaze was now filled with deep shock. Such a mode of Artificial Intelligence hosting was at least ten or even twenty years ahead of today''s technology level!


    Er Gouzi stepped forward and sat down on the chair, extending a hand to the opposing robot, "You go first, trash."


    "Our robot only has simple electronic sound effects, yet it can autonomously synthesize vocal lines with these sound frequencies?" the developers from the robot''s school were dumbfounded.


    The Artificial Intelligence from Qingbei University could only play chess and was absolutely incapable of speaking. This fact nearly caused the Qingbei University students to faint with anger. After all, you couldn''t possibly open your mouth to curse back when an Artificial Intelligence is insulting you, right?


    They steeled their hearts; if they couldn''t out-curse it, they''d prove themselves with strength!


    The robot from Qingbei University made the first move.


    "Snap!" Er Gouzi didn''t pause for even a second, directly making the second move.


    Five seconds later, the third move was made.


    "Snap!"


    "Damn it, can you hurry up?"


    "What are you dawdling for, keeping fish?"


    "Are you going to move or not? If not, just admit defeat quickly!"


    "All the audience and judges were stupefied. This Artificial Intelligence was way too sassy, right? It''s been talking non-stop from the beginning, simply trash-talking in its simplest form, enjoying it to the fullest.


    But the Artificial Intelligence from Qingbei University couldn''t compete with it in terms of processing speed. Er Gouzi hardly needed to think before making a move because, with every piece it played, its immense computing power could predict all possible moves of the opponent and come up with the best solution.


    In contrast, the opponent needed at least five to ten seconds to process each move, and in terms of processing speed, it was completely blown away.


    "Trash!"


    "You call this playing chess?"


    "What kind of Artificial Intelligence are you? Calling you Artificial Imbecile is a compliment. You''re just a pile of scrap metal!"


    "Take your time, I''m gonna go breakdance!"


    While Qingbei University''s Artificial Intelligence was still processing, Er Gouzi actually started to bust out some street dance in the middle of the sports field, eliciting waves of cheers.


    "Bro, you lost!" Ten minutes later, Er Gouzi placed the final piece, declaring victory, "Kneel down and sing ''Conquest'' for me!"


    ...


    "Amazing, absolutely amazing, this is what you call real Artificial Intelligence!"


    "Zhang Menglong wasn''t being arrogant just now. He was right; when someone is capable, being arrogant is just telling the truth."


    "This isn''t just an Artificial Intelligence, it''s practically a human being with a super-brain!"


    "I''m starting to worry that this Artificial Intelligence named Er Gouzi is preparing to rule over humans."


    ...


    "Great! Just great!" Academician Guo was so excited that his face turned red, "This is Artificial Intelligence, this is the pride of Huaxia''s science and technology!"


    "I''m so relieved..." Academician Guo''s smile abruptly ceased as he collapsed straight backward...

 Chapter 531 529 This is Your Honor

    "Academician Guo!"


    The sudden collapse of Guo Wenqiu plunged the scene into chaos. Over the past few years, many pillars of Huaxia had passed away, including several founding fathers and pioneers of important projects. Huaxia could truly not afford to lose such great individuals anymore.


    "Everyone step back, give Professor Guo some space," a young man sitting behind the academician quickly climbed over the seats. "The professor has a heart condition and has been relying on medication to manage it. He was supposed to go to the hospital for a check-up today, but he postponed it until the day after tomorrow because of today''s review session. I was worried something like this might happen!"


    The young man''s expression was clearly one of remorse. If only he had insisted that Guo refrain from serving as a judge, perhaps this situation would not have arisen.


    "Call an ambulance quickly!" someone immediately shouted.


    "No, there''s no time. We need to perform emergency first aid!" the onsite paramedics immediately responded. "Academician Guo''s blood pressure is already dropping, I''m afraid we can''t wait for the ambulance!"


    "Isn''t the Medical Academy at Qingbei University also very good? If we can''t get to the hospital in time, let''s take him to your facility!" a student of Guo Wenqiu hurriedly suggested.


    "Hurry, first conduct an imaging test on the heart area," the dean of Qingbei University Medical Academy immediately began to organize the rescue efforts, and the entire review meeting was forced to halt.


    ...


    "How is it?"


    A large crowd had gathered, waiting for the results. When they saw the doctor come out, they immediately surrounded him.


    "The situation is very bad," the doctor shook his head, "Academician Guo''s condition is quite complex. He has a severe thrombosis in his heart, and it is evident that this clot has been there for a long time."


    The doctor asked, "Are there any relatives of Academician Guo here?"


    A middle-aged man and woman quickly ran out from the crowd, "We are."


    "You should be well aware of Academician Guo''s condition. Why haven''t you attempted a coronary bypass surgery before? Isn''t this akin to having a ticking bomb implanted in the patient?"


    "The doctors suggested it," the middle-aged man said, "but my father is already very old, and the location of his thrombosis is extremely dangerous. The risk of the heart bypass surgery exceeds 60%. How could we dare take such a risk?"


    "Sigh," the doctor sighed, "But medication at most only slows the worsening of the thrombosis. It''s merely a way to buy time. Now, Academician Guo must undergo surgery immediately, any delay could be fatal..."


    "Doctor, does Qingbei University have the capabilities to support this surgery?"


    "The school''s equipment is not a problem, but the issue is, currently, there are no more than three people in the country who are capable of performing such a complex surgery. Only one is in Yanjing, but he went to Europe two days ago for an academic conference. By the time they rush here, I fear..."


    "Doctor, what about you?"


    "Doctor, please, you must save my father. He has devoted his life to the country''s information industry. He can''t just..."


    The atmosphere at the scene instantly grew intensely solemn, and nobody dared to speak.


    Although this doctor was also a master surgeon, he had never experienced such a surgery and had no confidence whatsoever.


    "But... even the cardiovascular specialists in the whole of Yanjing probably don''t have the confidence to take on this surgery. Even if that one person came personally, the success rate wouldn''t exceed forty percent."


    The doctor produced the heart scan image of Professor Guo, "Look, Academician Guo''s thrombosis is concentrated in this area, a region where the blood vessels are most densely packed. Any small mishap could cause massive bleeding in the coronary artery, which demands very high precision and skill from the surgeon."


    "It''s less about the surgeon''s skill and more about Academician Guo''s luck," he said.


    "This..." Though the words were disheartening, many authorities in the medical field present said nothing, signifying their agreement with this conclusion.


    Without surgery, Academician Guo was doomed, but even with it, it was a gamble with very slim chances of success. No one dared to undertake the surgery, as a failure could lead to a lifetime of infamy.


    The children of Academician Guo looked at each other, "Professor Bai, this surgery can now only be entrusted to you. No matter what the outcome is, we definitely will not blame you, but we just hope you can give it your all."


    "This..." Professor Bai was not afraid of being blamed, but should the operation fail, he himself would find it hard to accept the result, and might even blame himself for a long time.


    "How about I give it a try," at this moment, a very young voice rose from the crowd.


    "You?" Everyone looked towards the source of the voice, and it was none other than Zhang Menglong who had made a big impression just earlier.


    "Menglong!" Han Jinyu quickly tapped Zhang Menglong, "This is a matter in the medical domain, what are you meddling for?"


    "Young man, you are..." Academician Guo''s son stepped forward and asked. At this moment, the person standing out to brag either had to be a fool or truly remarkable, but they hoped it was the latter.


    "My name is Zhang Menglong, I am here as a student attending the evaluation of key scientific research projects at universities," Zhang Menglong said, "Of course, you might also recognize me, though not necessarily for anything good."


    "Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest person?" They were stunned for a moment, but this wasn''t their focus. They had heard Zhang Menglong had won this year''s Nobel Prize in Physics. "Does young brother Zhang know how to perform surgeries?"


    "I don''t," Zhang Menglong said. Although there were many medical course instructors at the Super God Academy, previously Zhang Menglong had not copied any skills from them,


    Of course, through the ancient spirit cold fire of Medicine Sovereign Yao Chen or other abilities, Zhang Menglong could also precisely help Academician Guo eliminate the thrombosis, but such methods were too sensational for the current, public setting.


    The expression of Academician Guo''s son instantly became angry. Was this a time to joke? Causing trouble without medical skills?


    "Although I can''t do it, Er Gouzi can," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Er Gouzi?"


    "It''s my Artificial Intelligence entry for this contest," Zhang Menglong explained, "It is proficient in multiple domains, and surgery is not beyond its capabilities. With this level of surgery, it should be able to achieve a hundred percent success rate."


    "Really?" A glimmer of hope flickered in the eyes of Academician Guo''s children.


    "How is that possible?" Academician Ding Yi immediately voiced his skepticism. Their Jiangnan University''s Artificial Intelligence was the top in the country and even in the world in the domain of surgical operations, but currently, they were only capable of performing some medium-difficulty excision surgeries. They simply could not handle this level of surgery.


    How could their Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s Artificial Intelligence accomplish this? The difficulty gap was more than ten times greater.


    "Just because you can''t doesn''t mean others can''t," Zhang Menglong said. "However, I need to borrow Academician Ding''s surgical robot for a moment, and I need to swap in the highest precision scalpel and other tools."


    "Young Brother Zhang, are you really confident?"


    "Do you have any better options?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    His question stumped the middle-aged man. By this point, there really were no better options, but he believed in miracles. A young man in his twenties not only could become the youngest world''s richest person but also the youngest Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, must have something special about him.


    Maybe he could bring some surprises.


    "Then we entrust everything to you," the middle-aged man and woman bowed deeply to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Guo, do you really plan to trust him?" Ding Yi looked incredulous.


    "Academician Ding, we have no other choice," the middle-aged man bowed again to Ding Yi, "Academician Ding, we hope to borrow your institution''s equipment."


    "Alright," although he was somewhat reluctant, under these circumstances, Ding Yi couldn''t refuse.


    "Little Wu, switch to the high-precision surgery equipment."


    "Thank you, Academician Ding," Zhang Menglong smiled confidently, "In a moment, you''ll find that allowing my Artificial Intelligence to operate this device will be the greatest honor for you all!"

 Chapter 532 532: 530

    After rigorous disinfection, Academician Guo was taken into the operating room, where the Artificial Intelligence developed by Jiangnan University also entered the operating theater.


    This was a surgery that attracted nationwide attention, and those following it included not just the onsite contestants but also audiences from all walks of life through media broadcasts, all of whom were silently praying for Academician Guo in their hearts.


    It seemed they were also wary that Zhang Menglong might do something outrageous, so the surgery was being broadcast on a small scale, ensuring at least that they could clearly see what Zhang Menglong was doing. If he was spouting nonsense earlier and intended to do anything disrespectful to Academician Guo, they could intervene at a moment''s notice.


    "You''re not going in?" Everyone stared at Zhang Menglong. Now, besides that one machine and a few Jiangnan University students who were ensuring the stability of the control mechanisms, there was no one else in the surgery room, not even Zhang Menglong, the inventor of the Artificial Intelligence.


    "Why should I go in? I don''t know surgery," Zhang Menglong said, exasperated. His presence might just add to the chaos.


    "But don''t you need to operate the Artificial Intelligence?"


    "Please, this is Artificial Intelligence, not some remote-controlled robot. What''s there for me to operate?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "But at least you need to input relevant information, right?"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong said, "Er Gouzi can automatically recognize images and information from instruments and come up with the best surgical plan by itself. Besides, I don''t understand that stuff, it''s better left to the AI."


    "Leave everything to the Artificial Intelligence?"


    This response made everyone break out in a sweat. Even for the Jiangnan University surgery, they would have processed some data input beforehand, outlined the entire procedure, and then executed it.


    If they hadn''t misheard, Zhang Menglong seemed to have only said one sentence to the AI named Er Gouzi, "Er Gouzi, it''s all on you now. It''s your time to shine."


    Just how much courage and boldness did one need to do such a thing? Have humans really become incapable of stopping Zhang Menglong?


    "If anything goes wrong, you''re the first one I''ll shoot!" Academician Guo''s grandson also hurried to the scene. He was a young soldier, and came so hurriedly that he even brought his service pistol with him.


    Although he didn''t understand why his father and aunt had agreed to such an absurd thing, he had his own methods of handling situations. Should any surgical failure occur due to the performance of the Artificial Intelligence, he would be the first to draw his gun on Zhang Menglong.


    The surgery began, and the robotic arms started moving. Everyone fell into a state of tension.


    "Er Gouzi, order some milk tea for us," at this moment, Zhang Menglong actually felt like drinking milk tea, "Teacher Han, what would you like? Bubble tea?"


    "Can you at least look a bit concerned?" Han Jinyu was almost going crazy.


    Wait a minute! Wasn''t this Artificial Intelligence supposed to be performing surgery inside? Zhang Menglong was now even asking it to make time for ordering milk tea. Was this really treating a life-or-death situation as a joke?


    Just as someone was about to scold Zhang Menglong for his flippant behavior, their attention was captured by the sight on the operating table, leaving them in shock.


    The robotic arms of the machine were carrying out the surgery with incredible precision, while outside, the voice of Er Gouzi confirming the milk tea order echoed, as if the AI performing the surgery inside and the one ordering milk tea outside were two totally different entities.


    "Er Gouzi, play another song!"


    "Just how much information can your Artificial Intelligence process simultaneously?" Han Jinyu couldn''t help asking.


    "I haven''t tested the upper limit, but managing several hundred surgeries of the same difficulty level simultaneously shouldn''t be a problem," Zhang Menglong casually said.


    The surgery was still proceeding tensely, with everyone but Zhang Menglong watching the operating table with bated breath.


    Now it had reached a critical moment, Academician Guo''s chest cavity had been opened. Next, the robotic arms needed to precisely locate each blood clot and then remove them.


    At this moment, any slight miscalculation resulting in contact with surrounding blood vessels would lead directly to a failed surgery.


    "Hey, don''t be so tense, it''s all routine!" Zhang Menglong sipped the pearls in his bubble tea, "Damn, should have added some more coconut jelly, I was careless!"


    Everyone chose to ignore Zhang Menglong''s words. The robotic arm surprisingly steady, this was not only because of the precise algorithms of Zhang Menglong''s Artificial Intelligence but also due to the mobility and accuracy of Jiangnan University''s robotic arm.


    If the hardware was not up to par, no matter how intelligent Er Gouzi was, the surgery could not have proceeded.


    "Success! The first segment of the thrombus has been successfully cleared!"


    As one segment of the blood vessel was cleared, Academician Guo''s blood pressure visibly improved, prompting a cheer from everyone there. Following this pace, the remaining vessel clearance was just a matter of time!


    12 blood vessels clogged with thrombi, if left to a highly experienced surgical maestro, would likely take tens of hours to clear, and that''s on the premise of a smooth surgery.


    Yet, Er Gouzi managed to complete the blood vessel clearance in just half an hour; the process was impeccable and precise. Even Ding Yi revealed a surprised look this time, and although he was struggling with acceptance, he had to acknowledge Er Gouzi''s skills.


    In comparison, their Jiangnan University''s Artificial Intelligence was truly not even at the level of being called "Artificially Challenged."


    Next was the stitching process, where Er Gouzi even tied a flashy Huaxia knot.


    The entire surgery took less than an hour, the dosage of the anesthetic was very precise, and the amount of blood lost was only a third of what the experts had estimated.


    And those two students responsible for monitoring did nothing the whole time, because Er Gouzi didn''t encounter any issues. Their presence was simply superfluous, they were utterly redundant like salted fish.


    The numbers on the monitoring devices told them that the surgery was very successful; Er Gouzi had truly created a miracle!


    The professor in charge of inspections immediately conducted a full-body check on Academician Guo, "Academician Guo''s physical condition is very good. Observing him for one night, he can be transferred to a regular ward tomorrow!"


    "Zhang, my young brother, thank you!" With that, Academician Guo''s son and daughter actually started to kneel before Zhang Menglong.


    "Brother Zhang, I was impolite just now. If you feel dissatisfied, you can slap me right across the face!" Academician Guo''s grandson was quite principled, apologizing to him directly.


    "Oh, there''s no need for that, truly no need," Zhang Menglong hurriedly stopped them, "I didn''t do much, I just drank a cup of bubble tea, watched two episodes of ''Losers'', listened to a few songs, that''s all. It''s all Er Gouzi''s merit."


    "Young Brother Zhang''s Artificial Intelligence is really impressive," Academician Guo''s son, who is also engaged in related work, couldn''t realize the immense technical complexity involved.


    What should be noted is that Er Gouzi didn''t make any corrections while operating that machine; just the sheer adaptability alone has already outdone all the Artificial Intelligence in the world.


    "Keep it down, it''s all basic operation!" Er Gouzi''s voice came through Academician Guo''s son''s phone, almost causing him to toss the phone away.


    "Just a heart surgery, even a cerebrovascular clearance surgery is a minor operation," Er Gouzi said with utmost confidence.


    "However, with the current situation, it seems our review will have difficulty proceeding," Zhang Menglong said with a troubled look.


    "No worries, even though Academician Guo isn''t here, our words still carry weight," a few other judges approached Zhang Menglong, "We now announce, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s Artificial Intelligence scores 2999 points."


    "Why deduct a point from me?" Zhang Menglong asked, puzzled.


    "This one point is to prevent you from becoming arrogant!"


    ...

 Chapter 533 531: Im Afraid of Nobel Prize Involution

    "The following universities have been awarded the title of pilot universities for scientific research, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, Qingbei University, Yanjing University, Jiangnan University, Modu Transportation University... Relevant documents and qualifications will be issued to each school after three working days!"


    "Yeah!" A thunderous cheer erupted from the campus of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    They had never imagined that their modest school could one day compete alongside schools like Yanjing University and Qingbei University!


    "Increase the scores, boost the scores for next year''s college entrance examination!"


    "Damn, I''m going to fire my boss in a couple of days, what the hell, he used to mock us that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was just a regular first-tier university, I want to see who dares to offer us third-tier salaries now!"


    "Used Artificial Intelligence to complete a surgery that no one dared say was 100% successful, really freaking awesome."


    "More than just awesome, President Zhang was even using this Artificial Intelligence to listen to music, watch movies, and order milk tea, and he wasn''t even a bit nervous, which is the most ridiculous part!"


    "Menglong, we owe you so much!" Han Jinyu said as he looked at the document with tears streaming down his face.


    "It''s nothing, I initially just wanted to be in the top three," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "If it weren''t for Academician Guo''s incident, I wouldn''t even have let Er Gouzi show off its surgical skills, I wanted to keep a low profile, but the power didn''t allow it."


    "Junior brother, would you speak more like a human, please!"


    "Junior brother, you''ve already made so many universities lose face."


    "Exactly, all those prestigious old schools, and you just beat them in front of so many media outlets, they''re really embarrassed."


    ...


    "Teacher Han, although our school now has so many titles, after all, our school''s foundation is still weak, and we can''t rely solely on one person."


    "Yes," Han Jinyu sighed, while Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is currently in the limelight, he was very aware that all the glory was brought by Zhang Menglong. If one day he really left the school, those glories might never return.


    "How about this, Teacher Han, does our school have any spare professor positions now?"


    "Hmm... There originally wasn''t, but since our school has now become a scientific research pilot, this year we should be able to open up about 20 more positions, are you thinking of..."


    "I have some friends who have achieved some feats in various scientific research domains, and I think they could help our school''s research work."


    "You know those kinds of friends?" Han Jinyu was a bit surprised, "How good is their research level?"


    "Average, I suppose, just messing around for a few months and grabbing a Nobel Prize should suffice," Zhang Menglong said, "but still, it''s better to let them scatter across different disciplines, otherwise it''d be really awkward if they cause internal competition."


    Everyone has heard of internal competition. For example, in the past, an ordinary undergraduate could apply to be a civil servant, but now, those civil servant positions are competed for by graduates from universities like Yanjing University and Qingbei University, that''s what is called internal competition.


    But have you ever heard of the Nobel Prize being subject to internal competition? How incredible must this group of people be to bring competition to the Nobel Prize level?


    "Those friends you mentioned, are they actually just you?" Han Jinyu felt that having one Zhang Menglong in the world was already bizarre enough, having more would be too much for his heart to take.


    "I''m not making this up out of nowhere; if you''re free tomorrow, I''ll bring them over to meet you."


    "Sure, I''ll wait for you guys tomorrow."


    ...


    Super God Academy.


    Xiao Dangjia: "Teacher Yao, hurry up, my barbecue is ready, come and start the fire!"


    Yao Chen: "Coming, coming! I''m just refining a few more Digestive Pills, so we don''t get indigestion later!"


    Hachishin Taichi: "You guys are excessive, Tyrannomon is my most important partner, how can you just roast its meat and eat it?"


    All teachers: "Anyway, no one dies here, a piece of meat will grow right back, don''t be stingy!"


    ...


    Einstein: "Newton, come on, help me dismantle this Gundam, I want to study how this floating cannon is controlled."


    Newton: "Where''s my screwdriver?"


    Amuro: "Let go of my Gundam!"


    ...


    Wu Xingyun: "Xiong Ba, I''ve learned an Eight Extremes Collapse from Yao Chen during this time, and I want to compete with you again for the dean''s position!"


    Xiong Ba: "Hahaha, old witch, do you think I only know Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi? I just learned a Spicy Heavenly God technique from Teacher Uchiha Itachi!"


    Students: "Fight! Beat him up!"


    Cao Zhengchun: "All of you quiet down! Do you have no regard for school rules and regulations? The Eastern Depot needs talents like you!"


    ...


    "What the hell, are these people even human?" Zhang Menglong, watching the chaotic Super God Academy, was speechless. Not only were the teachers going crazy with their divine skills, but the students were also joining in the fray.


    "Stop the noise, all students gather here!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    Instantly, the whole school fell silent. These teachers feared neither heaven nor earth, but they did fear Zhang Menglong.


    "Dean!" All the students from Super God Academy surrounded him, "What do you need us for?"


    The number of students at Super God Academy had been increasing. After Zhang Menglong brought in a group of people last time, they continued to recruit many potential newcomers through a method of old students mentoring new ones, and now the number of students had surpassed 100.


    "Who among you have chosen classes taught by scientists like Teacher Newton, Teacher Einstein, or Teacher Galileo?"


    From the crowd, about twenty young men and women stepped forward, who were generally more tranquil people, not fond of fighting and killing, hence they chose courses related to natural sciences, medicine, and the arts.


    "You''ll accompany me to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology tomorrow. Hang up a title of honorary professor, and from then on, spare one or two days every week to guide their scientific research. Prepare your research results tonight, and tomorrow, come with me to show off."


    ...


    "Are these the scholarly friends you mentioned?"


    With a look of astonishment, Han Jinyu eyed the twenty or so young people beside Zhang Menglong. These youngsters, about half male and half female, were mostly in their early twenties, and the younger ones appeared to be only about thirteen to fifteen years old.


    At such ages, were these the people Zhang Menglong mentioned who could casually earn a Nobel Prize in a few months? Who would believe that?


    Could it be that like attracts like to such an extent now? Nobel laureates hanging out with other Nobel laureates?


    "Yes, those are them," Zhang Menglong said, "but they''re all very busy usually, sparing at most two days a week to guide our school''s teachers. Just appoint them as honorary professors."


    "But they..." Han Jinyu looked troubled, "Menglong, it''s not that I don''t believe you, but they are all too young. Even if I believe, if I report to the university, the president won''t believe it either."


    "I understand your concern," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Mr. Han is testing us, everyone, show Mr. Han your research results."


    A somewhat slow-witted young boy stepped forward and handed Han Jinyu a research report.


    "Mr. Han, my research focuses on human genetic optimization. I can remove disease-causing genes from human DNA, creating theoretically perfect humans."


    "In the field of genetic engineering?" Han Jinyu flipped through the document casually, filled with dense formulas and a plethora of popping concepts, which were beyond his understanding.


    "You... how old are you this year?"


    "I''ll be 14 in three days," the boy answered innocently.


    "Mr. Han, my research area is plasma weapons, I am 16 this year."


    "This is my research on the treatment of ALS in humans. According to the current theoretical data, it should be curable. I am 21 years old."


    ...


    "I..." Han Jinyu''s face went pale, "I feel like I''m just a waste..."

 Chapter 534 532: All Villains

    To verify the quality of those articles, Han Jinyu quietly asked a few professors with whom he has good relationships to evaluate some of its content, and the result was surprisingly exaggerated. Each of those professors kept asking him where on earth he had obtained these research results.


    It was at this point that Han Jinyu truly believed that Zhang Menglong''s friends indeed possessed such capabilities; these professors, who were in their fifties, sixties, or even seventies and eighties, seemed as ignorant as children in front of these young people.


    Having passed Han Jinyu''s scrutiny, the rest was merely a formality. Each of them was given the title of an honorary professor at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, but their job was not to teach the students; instead, they were to lecture the professors at the school!


    As the cool breeze of late September signaled the end of the month, Zhang Menglong, having completed the task assigned by Han Jinyu, was utterly free. His plan for the next three years was simply to enjoy life, and then wait to receive his diploma.


    Of course, he might consider pursuing a doctorate, but given his current achievements, he was more than qualified to be a professor. Going for a doctorate would be nothing more than a formality.


    "Ah, the days of not showing off do feel as lonely as snow," Zhang Menglong sighed, looking out at the scenery outside the villa.


    Although he was free, Lu Yiyao still had classes. When she went to class, Zhang Menglong had to find his own fun, which basically meant playing games or singing with Wang Ling and others. It was rather bland, to say the least.


    However, on this particular day, Zhang Menglong did receive a call from Elder Zhou, who usually had a reason for visiting¡ªit was rare for him to show up without one. He wondered what it was this time.


    "Elder Zhou, what''s up? Missed me after a few days?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Miss my ass!" Elder Zhou said, "I have two things to tell you. First, you saved Old Guo a while back, and the higher-ups have given you quite the commendation. You should keep up the good work."


    "It was just a passing effort," Zhang Menglong replied, "And the second thing?"


    "The second matter is interesting; it all depends on whether you are interested or not."


    "Come on, spill it. Don''t keep me hanging!" urged Zhang Menglong.


    "Tomorrow, our old neighbors, Kaibong and Qingqiu, are holding a joint military technology exhibition, touted as a historic friendly exchange."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong immediately smiled, "Aren''t those two always at loggerheads? Their historical grudges are so deep, fighting a war would make more sense than this."


    "Being as smart as you are, you must have guessed it."


    "Let me guess, the Russians are behind this, right?"


    "Hit the nail on the head!" Elder Zhou declared, "They are getting restless because we Huaxia have been cracking mathematical problems, winning the Nobel Prize in Physics, and making big breakthroughs in the chip industry. In a few days, it will be our National Day, and we have a military parade coming up."


    "So they want to show off their military equipment before our parade," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "If our current military equipment isn''t as good as theirs, it''ll be quite an embarrassment. But it seems like they''ve miscalculated."


    "Yes!" Elder Zhou suddenly laughed, "They''d never guess in a million years the wonderful things you''ve provided us."


    "How''s the research and development coming along?"


    "What R&D?" Elder Zhou said pragmatically, "You''ve finished the development for us. If they can''t get it right from the design and theory diagrams, then they''re pretty useless. We''ve already completed a few prototypes by now. Of course, the quantity isn''t great, but it''s definitely enough for a demonstration."


    "Which ones?"


    "Three sixth-generation fighter jets have been completed. They''re not only equipped with distinctive Artificial Intelligence but also feature an Anti-gravity Engine and a controllable nuclear fusion Energy reactor. Plus, they''re armed with mechanical Particle Cannons. Also, we recently launched a tactical satellite equipped with a gravity gun. In theory, it can conduct strategic strikes on any area in the world at any time!"


    "Awesome, that was quick!" Zhang Menglong originally thought that in these few months they might have managed to produce a single sixth-generation fighter jet, so he was quite surprised to hear they had accomplished so much more.


    "But it''s exhausted a few Academicians. They were so enthusiastic about their work that you couldn''t pry them away ¨C all thanks to you, young man!"


    "How can you blame me?" Zhang Menglong immediately showed a wronged expression, "At worst, I''ll just give you a few more of the Miracle Elixir Spirit Pills like the one you took last time."


    "Hehehe, remember that you said this yourself¡ªit''s not me forcing you!"


    "But Elder Zhou, you still haven''t told me what the second thing is!"


    "You might not believe it, but we have received an invitation from them to watch this military exhibition. I was thinking about asking if you''re interested. If you are, I''ll take you along."


    "Of course, I''m interested!" Zhang Menglong immediately got excited. He was considering how to make fun of those people. Showing off their so-called ''most advanced'' weapons in front of Huaxia now is like waving an ax in front of Lu Ban. What they considered cutting-edge was essentially what Huaxia''s troops were left to play with.


    "Alright, get ready; I''ll be waiting for you at the capital''s airport tomorrow. Since you have your own plane, I won''t arrange for someone to pick you up."


    "Got it, I''ll be there on time!"


    ...


    The next morning, Zhang Menglong arrived at the airport early, and from a distance, Elder Zhou was already waving at him.


    "Elder Zhou!" Zhang Menglong waved back and ran over, but when he saw who was standing with Elder Zhou, he was momentarily stunned.


    "General Xing..."


    "Just call me Elder Xing like you call Elder Zhou," the old man said kindly to Zhang Menglong, "I''ve heard many stories about you, and I like you a lot."


    Zhang Menglong''s face immediately turned red, being liked by such a great person made him feel somewhat embarrassed.


    "Let me introduce you; this is General Zhu, General Xu, General Qin!"


    "I know this young man!" General Qin was indeed Qin Feng''s grandfather, "Thank you for your miracle elixir; it''s thanks to you that this old man can live a few more years."


    "It was just a small effort, nothing much," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    There were also several young officers present, about a dozen or so in total. Together with the security team, this was their star-studded group heading to the military exercise area.


    "Elder Zhou, didn''t you mention that there was some weapon expert joining us today? Why did you bring this kid along? He''s not a soldier; what''s he doing coming with us?"


    Some people there didn''t like Zhang Menglong; they felt his style of doing things was too self-centered, and he was too arrogant.


    "The weapon expert I mentioned is him!" Elder Zhou said with a smile, pointing at Zhang Menglong.


    "Him?" Several gazes suddenly focused on Zhang Menglong, "He''s the weapon expert? Elder Zhou, are you joking? I admit he''s got some talent in physics and mathematics, but those are purely theoretical, not the same domain as weaponry."


    "All that stuff we''re preparing to showcase for the National Day, he provided the information for it!"


    This statement immediately silenced everyone. Concerning this matter, to protect Zhang Menglong, it had always been kept in a state of secrecy.


    Many people were guessing who was behind these amazing achievements, but no one expected it to be Zhang Menglong.


    "You mean the design schematics for our sixth-generation fighter jets, the controllable nuclear fusion reactors, the particle cannons, all that was based on the technical information he provided?"


    "Exactly!" said Elder Zhou, "Now do you still think he doesn''t have the right to join us?"


    "Sorry, young man, I apologize for my behavior just now!" General Xu, who had just shown dissatisfaction with Zhang Menglong, immediately apologized to him.


    As soldiers, what they hoped most to see was a strong motherland, and for them, enhancing the national defense was their contribution.


    And the information provided by Zhang Menglong had undoubtedly strengthened Huaxia''s national defense many times over; such a man was worthy of their respect!


    "You''re too kind," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "This time we''re going, not to mock others but purely to give them some pointers, right, everyone?"


    "Hahaha! Exactly!"


    "Yes, to give them guidance."


    "Are their so-called modern equipments even up to par?"


    In an instant, everyone turned into scoffers!


    ...

 Chapter 535 533: I Call This Comprehensive Development

    The region chosen for the military exchange was in the Pacific Ocean, originally thought to be close to Kaibong, but unexpectedly, this so-called exchange area had nearly approached Huaxia.


    The location was sensitive but had not yet reached the minefield, one must admit, aside from showing off military might today, there were some other underlying intentions.


    "These people sure know how to pick a spot!" Mr. Xing''s expression became quite displeased.


    "Hmm, luckily they are still quite far away. I assure you, if they dare to come near the border, I will send them right back to their homeland."


    "Hahaha, General Qin, don''t be so hot-tempered," Zhang Menglong laughed, "they haven''t violated our territory. Strictly speaking, this all complies with international regulations, and we can''t really fault them for anything."


    "Looking at your smile, I feel like you have some tricks up your sleeve again," Mr. Zhou noted Zhang Menglong''s expression; typically, when he showed this expression, it meant someone was going to be in big trouble.


    "Hehehe, no can tell, no can tell, saying it now would spoil the fun!"


    ...


    The helicopter landed on the deck of an aircraft carrier, where three generals were already waiting for them.


    As it was an international event, certain protocols had to be observed. General Qin and a few other generals greeted those generals with seemingly warm welcomes.


    "The one with the small mustache is General Bei Qi from Kaibong, the fat one is General Jin from Qingqiu, and the old man is Arthur, he can be quite a handful," Mr. Zhou whispered to Zhang Menglong, introducing him to these figures who were very influential in the military and frequently appeared in the news.


    "Welcome, friends from Huaxia, to our exchange," said Arthur, acting like the host despite being in Kaibong, while the other two seemed like his subordinates.


    "General Arthur''s gracious invitation is something we naturally have to accept," Mr. Xing laughed, "but I never thought we would one day chat here together."


    "Hahaha, today we are all friends here, we only talk about technology, not state affairs!" Arthur laughed.


    "That would indeed be best." Although he said this, everyone was as clear as a mirror inside; even if they only discussed technology, if they discovered that today''s showcased new equipment was truly impressive, they probably wouldn''t be able to sleep for three days and nights.


    Though they might not necessarily go to war, the presence of military deterrence was constant. A weak nation has no diplomacy, that is an iron rule, and for a powerful nation, what matters most is who has the stronger fists.


    "Today our main agenda is to showcase a batch of new fighter jets and weapons, hoping our friends from Huaxia could give us some feedback and guidance," the three generals said.


    "Of course, we in Huaxia are always very open; we will gladly give you guidance," General Qin said unabashedly.


    That''s right, gladly and openly guide you. Though your weapons may seem outdated to us, as a responsible major country, it''s only right to give you some valuable advice.


    The three generals'' faces stiffened slightly.


    What''s going on? This wasn''t how the script was supposed to go. Their mention of "guidance" was meant to be polite. In Arthur''s eyes, even though Huaxia''s technology had rapidly advanced, they were still decades behind industrially, and their weaponry was somewhat inferior to theirs.


    Don''t be fooled by the fact that both Huaxia''s Jian-20 and America''s F-22 and F-35 are fifth-generation fighter jets; Huaxia''s Jian-20 has only recently been released, while the F-22 is a product of the 1990s.


    Even though the F-22''s design concepts are somewhat outdated, its performance is genuinely solid. Its vector thrust allows for instant acceleration. It indeed has much stronger maneuverability, and there''s also a gap in the weaponry the aircraft carries.


    This time, the fighter jets they plan to showcase have made new breakthroughs, even incorporating some cutting-edge concept weapons. They cannot claim to completely outclass the Jian-20, but they certainly have comprehensive dominant power.


    Even if it was about guidance, it was them who would be guiding Huaxia''s weapon research. Have you ever seen a backward country guiding an advanced one?


    Under normal circumstances, shouldn''t these people from Huaxia be saying, "We dare not guide, we are here to learn"?


    But this General from Huaxia had an attitude as if he was here to guide. It wasn''t just him; the expressions of the others also showed not a hint of discomfort, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Could it be that Huaxia had developed some secret weapon during this time? They remembered that not long ago, Zhang Menglong held a press conference where he mentioned that Huaxia''s National Day was coming soon and many new types of weapons would be showcased.


    But even so, decades of disparity could not have allowed them to surpass these developed countries now, could it? Their so-called new weapons were probably just relative to the current arsenal of Huaxia. Compared to them, they would definitely still be several years behind!


    Moreover, now that the words were out, it was not possible to take them back, and they were destined to suffer this loss, silent as they might be.


    "Cough cough," Arthur coughed twice, "Let me introduce our weapon expert, Professor Madison."


    Arthur brought a middle-aged man forward, "Professor Madison is our country''s most outstanding weapon expert, and this time, America''s new equipment will be introduced by him."


    "This is Mr. Dongwu, the weapon expert from Kaibong."


    "This is Mr. Li Jianyi, the weapon expert from Qingqiu."


    The three generals took turns introducing their respective weapons experts; each one of these individuals was highly esteemed, each a genius in their own right. They had also paid a great price to recruit these experts into their departments dedicated to weapon development.


    "This is Mr. Zhang Menglong, our weapon expert from Huaxia." General Xing patted Zhang Menglong''s shoulder.


    Dozens of eyes suddenly focused on Zhang Menglong.


    It was only then that they noticed Zhang Menglong was also present at the event.


    When had he gotten mixed up with these generals from Huaxia?


    And a weapon expert?


    By now, there were scarcely anyone who did not recognize Zhang Menglong, the solver of a mathematical problem that had plagued humans for 200 years, the Nobel laureate who proved the existence of dark matter, the foundation layer of the entire high-tech chip industry, the world''s richest man, and the most troublemaking person in the world.


    A 20-something achieving all these was already ridiculously unprecedented; now you tell me he''s also a weapon expert? Who could handle that?


    The three generals, upon seeing Zhang Menglong, gritted their teeth; it was this young man who had stayed in their countries for just ten days to half a month and caused them direct losses of at least a hundred billion US dollars. In their eyes, he was nothing short of a disaster!


    If there were no other people around now, they might have drawn guns and put an end to Zhang Menglong to satisfy their anger, but now, in front of so many people, they had to pretend to be magnanimous.


    "I had long heard that Huaxia''s Mr. Zhang was a hero from a young age. Seeing him today, I find him truly exceptional," Arthur, suppressing the urge to strangle Zhang Menglong, said, "You claim to be a weapon expert? Today, we are here to slap the face of Huaxia''s weapon experts. Let''s see how you wrap this up!"


    "Mr. Zhang is also knowledgeable about weapons? That really surprises us," the other two generals said somewhat sarcastically.


    "Somewhat, somewhat," Zhang Menglong replied, "As a successor of socialism, my teacher taught me from a young age to be well-rounded in morals, intelligence, physical health, and aesthetics, so I developed a little in various domains."

 Chapter 536 534 Barely Able to Drive, Right?

    Fully developed? Were you studying from the womb? Even if that''s the case, it''s impossible for you to master so many disciplines to their extremes simultaneously!


    The generals and weapons experts from the three countries were left dumbfounded by Zhang Menglong''s words.


    General Arthur was the first to break the silence, "Now that everyone is here, let''s get started. The journalists and media friends from various countries are waiting for our display."


    Zhang Menglong looked up and, sure enough, several helicopters were floating in the sky, with the logos of several well-known Kaibong television stations on them.


    "Then we''re all set for an eye-opening experience."


    ...


    "The military display begins!" At a command, most of the aircraft carrier''s deck was cleared, leaving a smooth runway, and three distinct fighter jets slowly rose from within the deck.


    The national flags painted on them made it clear that these three planes belonged to their three respective countries.


    "Let''s start with us!" General Jin from Qingqiu Country nodded at the weapons expert surnamed Li.


    "Begin the test flight!" Li Jianyi gave the command into the intercom.


    The silver-white fighter jet on the far left immediately ejected two blue flames from its tail, and the fighter jet roared into the sky.


    "This is our newly developed fifth-generation fighter jet, the NK-2 type, with an overall length of 18 meters, a wingspan of 13.5 meters, and a height of 4.8 meters, with a typical take-off weight of 2.1 tons."


    "This is much smaller than the current fifth-generation fighter jets in service," General Qin nodded. "During combat, such size can greatly enhance its agility and maneuverability."


    Li Jianyi nodded proudly, "That''s correct. We''ve used a new type of metal material on the fuselage, which is highly durable and weighs only about 80% of the conventional alloy, significantly reducing the weight of the aircraft."


    "It''s quite fast, isn''t it?"


    "The cruising speed is 1.88 Mach, with a maximum speed of 2.37 Mach."


    "That speed is even faster than the F22," as the first fifth-generation fighter jet in service, the F22 has almost become a standard for comparison among fifth-generation fighter jets.


    "The turbojet propulsion device on the aircraft is all our own development, with a maximum thrust reaching 172 kilonewtons, and we''ve also adopted thrust vectoring technology, allowing the engine nozzle to deflect ¡À15 degrees vertically."


    "Wow, these guys'' technology is really not bad," Zhang Menglong believed that America''s core technologies were definitely not freely given to Qingqiu, as those were the tools they used to feed themselves; at most, they would have provided some advice and guidance, but certainly with reservations.


    However, the fact that they were able to develop power technology surpassing the F119 turbojet engine on their own, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but admire them, especially since their previous generation of fighter jets was far inferior to this one.


    "Our NK-2 is equipped with 8 air-to-air rockets, and the latest power devices have extended its range to 120 kilometers, with the effective kill radius increased by 10% compared to our previous fourth-generation air-to-air missiles."


    "It''s just a pity that our research on stealth coating hasn''t made much progress; it''s still somewhat inferior to the technology used on your country''s B2 bomber, with the stealth effect being only about 95% of the B2''s."


    This statement by Li Jianyi was actually a bit of boasting.


    The B2 stealth bomber is a relic of the last century, yet up to this date, no country has been able to replicate the stealth technology it uses, which is of an incredibly high level of technical complexity. Achieving 95% of the B2''s stealth capability essentially outperforms all other countries.


    "This NK-2 model fighter jet is obviously top tier among the world''s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and even in terms of overall strength, it''s slightly stronger than the F-22!"


    As they looked at the stunned expressions of Huaxia''s generals, Li Jianyi and General Jin immediately revealed smug looks. It seemed that the Huaxia people were truly shaken by their technology.


    Although their J-20 once caused a worldwide sensation, after all, this is an era of constant technological updates. It appears that they have now been caught up by Qingqiu Country, otherwise, why would they show such expressions?


    "Your country''s NK-2 has indeed been eye-opening for us, but during this period, Kaibong hasn''t been idle either," Professor Dongwu also gave the order for takeoff.


    The Kaibong fighter jet didn''t launch at high-speed like the NK-2 did. It first taxied at a relatively slow pace, and then incredibly, two nearly hundred-meter-long terrifying flames shot out of the plane''s engine nozzles.


    The speed almost instantly exploded, shooting out with an unimaginable initial velocity.


    "This..." Li Jianyi''s expression was somewhat dazed. This engine was very special; it required a period of power accumulation, but once fully activated, the instantaneous power could exceed 200 kilonewtons. Such an engine was still in a developmental phase in their Qingqiu Country.


    The Kaibong fighter in the air maneuvered in an extremely eerie way, a clear result of this special engine. Its vector engines could produce almost double the thrust in an instant, creating a force that could change the direction of the plane in a moment¡ªa terrifying level of maneuverability.


    "This is our Yun-4 stealth fighter. Although our stealth capabilities are not as strong, the maneuverability has reached an extreme. The top speed can hit Mach 3, and the engine nozzles can pivot ¡À25 degrees vertically. It just requires a higher physical standard from the pilots. Only the most elite can tame it."


    "Now it''s our turn," General Arthur had been restless for a while. The black fighter jet pursued without falling behind, its speed surprisingly faster than the Yun-4.


    "Our F-45 employs an unprecedented four-engine design! The top speed is Mach 3.5, and the turn capability has more than doubled due to the top and bottom array of engines!"


    "Can your pilots withstand such intense acceleration?" weapon experts from Kaibong and Qingqiu asked in unison.


    To increase speed, they could simply add more engines, but they also had to consider if anyone could fly the machine. The multiple g-forces from acceleration could be unbearable even for specially trained pilots.


    "Our cockpit uses a buffering device that can reduce the force from acceleration by a third to a half, well within what pilots can endure," boasted the American weapons expert. This technology was their latest, and absolutely no other country could imitate it at present.


    "Most importantly, we''ve achieved semi-automated operation," General Arthur said. "It''s more accurate to consider this F-45 not as a fifth-generation fighter, but as a sixth-generation fighter in the making."


    His words sent shockwaves through the room. Kaibong and Qingqiu were just stepping into the era of fifth-generation fighter jets, and here was the big brother already working on the sixth generation? Their confidence shattered in an instant.


    Operated only by Artificial Intelligence, that''s the hallmark of a sixth-generation fighter. Once fully AI-operated, there''s no need to design with pilots in mind. Fighters'' structural integrity will be the sole concern, allowing performance to increase exponentially!


    Arthur glanced slyly at the expressions of Huaxia''s generals who were extremely somber, even carrying a weighty atmosphere.


    Internally, Arthur felt a rush of satisfaction. Huaxia people, weren''t you swaggering arrogantly not so long ago? Wasn''t your pride sky-high? All that is nothing, strength is what truly counts. Now, can''t boast much, can you?


    "I wonder, Mr. Zhang, what do you think of the performance of our latest fighter jets from several countries?" Arthur asked with a sarcastic tone.


    "Well..." Zhang Menglong hesitated for a moment.


    "Please feel free to enlighten us, Mr. Zhang. Speak freely," Arthur thought Zhang Menglong was so shocked by the massive performance gap that he was speechless.


    "Then I''ll speak the blunt truth," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "Your F-45, well... it''s barely good enough to fly!"

 Chapter 537 535: Call Them an Ambulance First

    Zhang Menglong''s statement turned the faces of the three weapon experts present completely dark.


    As weapon experts, they deeply understood the enormous human and material resources required to enhance their equipment to the present level, and their research outcomes could almost certainly be bought by any country willing to pay whatever price necessary.


    In the world, their technology was undoubtedly the ceiling!


    Yet this ceiling-level technology had become, in the words of Zhang Menglong, merely "barely usable." To utter such a claim here, did he not fear being killed on the spot?


    "So, Mr. Zhang, you have results that are more advanced than our technologies?"


    They had intended to use this opportunity to suppress the recently soaring morale of the Huaxia people, confident that they could accomplish this. However, their reaction seemed a bit off!


    Zhang Menglong spoke with the air of someone who believed he was the best in the world, completely disregarding them, who were among the finest in fifth-generation fighter jets.


    This left them with no outlet for their pent-up energy.


    But once again glancing at the expressions of the Huaxia generals, who were still stunned, weren''t they? You see your generals looking so surprised, and you''re still here posing your ass off?


    "Uh, it might be a bit of a blow to your confidence to say this, but honesty has always been a virtue upheld by us Huaxia people, and I must tell you that indeed we do," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang really knows how to joke," Qingqiu Country''s weapon expert Li Jianyi laughed, "The expressions on your generals'' faces are still quite shocked; I think our technology must have brought you all a great surprise. There''s no need for Mr. Zhang to save face like this, right?"


    "Shocked?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the generals'' expressions, "They are indeed in shock and perhaps you truly have given them a big surprise, but maybe your idea of a surprise is slightly different from ours."


    Zhang Menglong nudged Old Zhou with his elbow, "Old Zhou, don''t act like you''ve never seen the world before, man, they''re asking us a question!"


    "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Old Zhou suddenly snapped back to attention, "These three fighter jets are indeed quite shocking and very surprising to us."


    Hearing Old Zhou''s evaluation, the generals and weapon experts from the three countries immediately smiled. You see, your leader admits their fighter jets are impressive, so what''s the point of persistently arguing otherwise?


    However, the second half of Old Zhou''s statement immediately put a Mask of Pain on their faces.


    "I am indeed shocked that even after so long, your country''s military technology is only at this level? If that''s really the case, it is quite surprising to me, and I think we might as well slow down our pace of progress and wait for you, which could save our nation quite a bit."


    "Yeah, they say it''s almost the sixth-generation combat capability, but still requires a human to pilot it, which seems a bit outdated, don''t you think?"


    "Exactly, still using such old-fashioned turbocharged engines, while power has increased quite a bit, it''s just like the difference between a color TV and a big-screen color TV. I didn''t speak just now not because I was too astonished, but because I couldn''t figure out how to put it politely to you."


    In normal times, these generals wouldn''t be so confrontational, and while there might be intense private disputes, on the surface, everyone would still appear to coexist peacefully.


    But today, they chose such a sensitive area for their military exchange and already had a bellyful of anger, so none of them gave any face at this time.


    The way they spoke completely broke the mentality of the three generals and weapon experts. It was bad enough with Huaxia''s Zhang Menglong being so arrogant, but how could there be such a large group of equally impressive individuals? How were they supposed to compete?


    Suppressing his rage, General Arthur spoke coldly, "In your eyes, are our three fighter jets really that inadequate?"


    "Don''t be discouraged, your fighter jets aren''t completely useless," Zhang Menglong said, "They should have no problem against the fourth-generation fighter jets of those backward countries, so you don''t need to be too hard on yourselves."


    Arthur was roaring inside, If you can''t speak properly, then don''t speak at all. It''s a pity; a fine person ruined by a motormouth. Is this supposed to be consoling? Better not to have said anything at all!


    However, Arthur''s mood hadn''t calmed down when General Qin added another comment, "Actually, as guests, we shouldn''t speak so directly today, but since you all said at the beginning that you wanted us to offer guidance and not hold back any opinions, we can only comply with the host''s request. We hope you don''t mind."


    "Don''t mind... Of course, we don''t mind," Arthur said with a smile that looked like he wanted to devour someone, thinking to himself, are you sure you didn''t leave out the second half of your sentence? Was it "Even if you mind, what can you do, come and hit me?"


    General Qin continued with great earnestness, "Scientific research isn''t something that happens overnight. Although your fighter jets are only just barely satisfactory, isn''t that progress compared to before?"


    "Since all the generals and Expert Zhang are so confident, then we have no choice but to boldly make a request," said General Arthur.


    "Please, General, go ahead."


    "In a couple of days, it''s going to be your country''s National Day, right? According to your country''s traditions, there will be a grand military parade, and the latest domestic equipment will be on display. I assume your country''s fighter jets must be much more advanced than any of ours, and I wonder if we might have the opportunity to come and see them."


    "Ah... This..." Zhang Menglong showed a troubled expression, and the other generals also hesitated somewhat.


    "Is it inconvenient?" Arthur said with a laugh. It seemed they were just putting on a brave front after all, proclaiming themselves as the best in the world when in reality, perhaps their fighter jets were only on par with the J-20, right?


    To be honest, the J-20 is indeed decent, but when compared to the F-22, it still falls short. At best, they''ve upgraded to the level of Kaibong Qingqiu jets, and with Kaibong Qingqiu''s guidance, maybe their development might even surpass Huaxia''s. Their own fighter jets were probably not even worth showing.


    Now that they had requested a visit, the people from Huaxia were showing their hesitation.


    "It''s not exactly inconvenient," said Zhang Menglong, actually feeling ecstatic inside. He had been wondering how to trick them into coming to Huaxia to see their military equipment, and now they were directly charging in. They''re really too confident!


    "We''re only worried that it might be too much of a shock for you all and that you might lose your confidence. We would feel a bit guilty then," he said.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, you''re too humorous. We''re eager to witness your country''s powerful equipment," Arthur said.


    "Since General Arthur is so interested, naturally we welcome you," said Elder Xing, "Then we will arrange for someone to welcome the general at the airport."


    "Can we join as well?" General Kim of Qingqiu didn''t want to be left behind.


    "We too want to witness Huaxia''s divine weaponry," General Bei Qi echoed.


    "Then the three of you come together," Elder Xing said, giving Zhang Menglong a knowing look.


    ...


    The arms exhibition ended not on the best of notes, of course, the only dissatisfied ones were those three generals. The moment they were back on the plane, Zhang Menglong and the others couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    "Oh my goodness, that was hilarious, you have no idea how hard it was for me to hold it in just now!"


    "Yeah, did you see Arthur''s face, looking like he had lost all will to live?"


    "They really are too confident in themselves. But they have no idea that in front of Huaxia''s current equipment, their weapons are like toys."


    "Menglong," Elder Xing said, "you''ll also come to the parade. Your tongue is sufficiently sharp."


    "Elder Xing, I''ll take that as a compliment," Zhang Menglong replied, relishing these occasions the most. "I suggest we call an ambulance for them in advance. I''m afraid they might be so shocked that they pass away right there on the spot."


    ...

 Chapter 538 538: 536

    With a blast of cannons, Huaxia welcomed another National Day, filling the nation with a festive atmosphere akin to the New Year.


    "So you''re saying that inviting those generals over today was just a trap you set?"


    "Daring to prowl near our country''s domain is just a warning," Zhang Menglong reclined on his private jet''s chair, "If I don''t play them to death today, then I''m not a Zhang!"


    "You," Lu Yiyao poked Zhang Menglong''s forehead, "should consider the relationships between countries too, don''t make it too ugly."


    "Actually, there''s nothing much to consider."


    "How can that be? If a fight really starts, it''s the common people who will suffer." Lu Yiyao said.


    "No, no, no," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Do you know under what circumstances a fight would break out? It happens when there is a possibility of victory. If they know they have no chance of winning, and they still fight, then they are idiots."


    "Today, I want them to understand that the gap between us, Huaxia, and them is no longer slight. If a fight really were to break out, they would just be beaten badly by us. In the face of absolute power disparity, any strategy is nonsense."


    ...


    "Hey, is this your girlfriend?" At the airport, Mr. Xing and others were waiting for him, with those generals standing nearby.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Her name is Lu Yiyao."


    "That''s a pity," General Qin sighed, "I was just thinking I have a granddaughter."


    "Hahahaha," laughed all the generals around, "If Menglong were single, we''d have to compete with you seriously, who doesn''t have a granddaughter?"


    "Humph!" General Qin suddenly put on a playful grin, "Menglong, would you mind having one more girlfriend?"


    Zhang Menglong: "I''m directly shocked for an entire year..."


    ...


    "They''re here!" Mr. Xing pointed at a special international flight in the sky.


    "Let''s go, let''s receive our guests!"


    Surrounded by a throng of media, General Arthur, General Bei Qi, and General Kim walked down the airplane, naturally accompanied by a few weapon experts and a security team.


    They waved to the surrounding media with natural smiles on their faces.


    "Mr. Zhou, look how happy they are smiling."


    "The happier they smile now, the uglier they''ll cry later."


    "Hehehe..."


    ...


    "Huh? Strange, why are there foreigners at this year''s National Day?" When these generals appeared, the viewers prepared to watch the parade on TV showed curious expressions.


    "Didn''t yesterday''s news say that this year we''ve invited a few generals from Kaibong, the Americans, and Qingqiu Country to watch our parade?"


    "Look, isn''t that President Zhang?"


    "Why is he here? Isn''t that Mr. Zhou beside him? And Mr. Xing, his background is incredible!"


    "Look, President Zhang is smiling so creepily!"


    "There must be a conspiracy."


    ...


    "Welcome, everyone, to Huaxia to watch our parade." Mr. Xing and the generals shook hands one by one.


    "Hahaha, today we''re really looking forward to a spectacle, hope you won''t disappoint us."


    "Certainly, certainly!"


    Mr. Xing and others led the guests to the viewing platform.


    "The parade, begin!"


    With resounding and uniform steps, the immaculate troops of Huaxia marched out.


    Every person''s movements were impeccably coordinated, and in preparation for the annual military parade, the warriors had undergone repeated training, starkly contrasting with other nations'' less disciplined troops.


    Countless children of Huaxia watched this scene, unable to hold back their tears of pride.


    "Boom!" A perfectly aligned sequence of Jian-30 fighter jets sliced across the sky, painting a spectacular rainbow.


    "So this is your country''s latest fighter jet?" Arthur asked as he looked at the Jian-30. It wasn''t bad, but at most it was on par with the NK-2, likely just some modifications based on the Jian-20, hardly a breakthrough.


    "General Arthur, no need to rush to judgment; these are just our display models," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, pulling out a walkie-talkie. "Longyin-1 type fighter jets, prepare for inspection!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, three silver-grey fighter jets appeared before their eyes!


    "How...how is this possible!" Arthur and others'' pupils dilated several times in an instant; they were sure these planes hadn''t just flown in, but had appeared out of thin air!


    The visual effect was like suddenly lifting an invisible cloak that had been covering them, a shock beyond words.


    "Damn! What did I just see?"


    "This...this appeared out of nowhere, right?"


    "No way, this is what you call a stealth fighter, truly freaking invisible."


    "Wait, how is this plane floating in the air? Where is its propulsion system? Where are the exhausts?"


    ...


    "How...how is this possible?" The three military experts, who had spent their lives studying military equipment, were seeing such an outrageous scene for the first time.


    What is referred to as a stealth fighter is not truly invisible; it only uses special coatings to evade detection by electronic devices, yet these three jets had actually achieved this.


    "Oh, it''s just optical camouflage," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "A little trick, nothing to be amazed at."


    "Optical camo?" This technology was not solely the subject of military research; numerous scholars from various fields had been exploring it, but to no substantive avail so far.


    "How does this plane fly? There''s no propulsion device, no flames, not even a sound."


    "Well, the energy source is a small-scale nuclear fusion reactor which theoretically doesn''t require any other energy source for extended operations," Zhang Menglong explained. "And for propulsion, we''ve utilized an anti-gravity system. Oh, and it doesn''t need a human pilot since it''s entirely operated by artificial intelligence. This is Huaxia''s latest sixth-generation fighter jet. What do you think?"


    "Controllable nuclear fusion...anti-gravity system...Artificial Intelligence piloting..."


    These terms that appeared only in sci-fi films and novels were now erupting from the mouths of those weapon experts, their expressions somewhat stiffened.


    "Smack!" The weapons expert named Li Jianyi slapped himself, "I can''t believe I''m not dreaming..."


    Almost noiselessly, the three fighter jets soared into the sky like ghosts with optical camouflage activated, not even registering on radar.


    "If such three fighter jets were to fly over our country, they could directly bomb our Presidential Palace and leave, and we wouldn''t even know who did it!" A chill ran through General Arthur''s heart, the thought too horrifying.


    Facing such three fighter jets, invisible to both the eye and radar, an enemy that could bombard you without you even knowing their location, how could one possibly cope?


    "Did Mr. Zhang develop all this?" The crowd turned towards Zhang Menglong.


    "Just tinkering around," Zhang Menglong said. "Took quite a while though, a full three months!"


    "Three months?" The expressions on the three generals'' faces looked as if they had swallowed something foul.


    He''d researched this for just three months with such a dissatisfied expression? Not to mention three months, even three years wouldn''t suffice for them to achieve such results.


    Just tinkering around? Was this the kind of technology one could develop just by tinkering?


    Nuclear fission wasn''t even refined by them, and controllable nuclear fusion was a technology possibly decades away from realization. They even began to suspect whether Zhang Menglong was an extraterrestrial!


    "Incredible!" Though there wasn''t direct textual description, the viewers could feel the strong impact through the video. This was their Huaxia!


    "Look at those foreign generals, how awkward their smiles are."


    "Is that even smiling? They''re clearly crying."


    "It''s too sad for them; they might need a lifetime to get over these few minutes of shock."


    ...

 Chapter 539 537: How about we start with 100 planes?

    ```


    "General Qin, are these all developed by Mr. Zhang?" Finally managing to calm themselves somewhat, several generals turned their heads towards General Qin.


    If that was really the case, then this person was truly terrifying. Academics, industry, military¡ªeverything had undergone massive transformations because of his emergence. If such a person were alive for even a day, he would pose a huge threat to the entire world.


    They even foresaw that in a few years, Huaxia might already master sword flying and inventory the swords, while they were still struggling with parking a car in reverse.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang is our country''s most outstanding weapons expert. The core technologies of these weapons were all developed by Mr. Zhang," General Qin nodded and said, "But these three Dragon Stealth fighters have more capabilities than this."


    "They have other functions?" Everyone was taken aback and immediately continued to look up at the sky.


    "Begin the defense test!" Zhang Menglong spoke into the walkie-talkie.


    A small squadron of J-30s turned in the sky and then hurtled straight towards the three Dragon Stealths, with several missiles trailing flames targeting the Dragon Stealth fighters.


    "F*ck! What''s going on, have the fighter''s weapons systems gone haywire?"


    "Damn it, those are Thunderbolt-20 missiles, one shot and a main battle tank would be gone, what the hell are they doing?"


    "Is this showing off wealth? Isn''t that unnecessary?"


    All spectators showed confused expressions, with some even exclaiming loudly.


    "General Qin, this..." Arthur''s expression was one of extreme distress. Even if you have lots of money, isn''t this too wasteful? There''s the nuclear fusion reactor, anti-gravity thrusters, optical camouflage technology... How much does one plane cost?


    We want it if you don''t!


    And if a nuclear fusion reactor were to explode, its power wouldn''t be weaker than a nuclear bomb''s explosion.


    Solar energy burns because of the constant nuclear fusion taking place inside of it. If the sun were to explode, anyone could imagine the consequences.


    Were they planning on taking all the spectators on the square with them in their reckless display?


    But the next scene completely shattered their confidence and pride.


    "Boom!"


    Missiles hit the Dragon Stealth fighters one after another, resulting in a huge mushroom cloud of black smoke in the sky.


    The squadron of J-30s shot past the explosion zone, and the strong airflow directly dispersed the thick fog in the sky, revealing the three Dragon Stealth fighters still intact, without even a trace of scorching on their surfaces.


    "Holy sh*t! 6666!"


    "Awesome, my great Huaxia!"


    "Invincible, with these fighters we''re invincible. Tanking Thunderbolt-20 missiles without a scratch, who the hell would dare to compete with us for air supremacy now?"


    "How was this possible? Energy shield? AT field?"


    "Buddy, have you been watching too much Gundam? Is this the kind of technology our era can produce?"


    "Damn it, didn''t you listen to the TV presenter? Anti-gravity engines and nuclear fusion reactors have been developed, are you still talking about the technology of our times? Are those things from this era?"


    ...


    "General Arthur?" Zhang Menglong waved his hand in front of Arthur''s eyes, "General Arthur?"


    "Ah? Oh!" Arthur and others finally snapped out of their shock at this moment.


    His heart was filled with fear and perplexity.


    ```


    He knew that Huaxia''s Thunderbolt 20 missile was no less formidable than their Sidewinder, and if this fighter jet could withstand the Thunderbolt 20''s strike, it would definitely withstand the Sidewinder as well.


    When two armies engage in battle, not to mention whether they could spot each other, even if they discovered one another, if the enemy just hovered motionless in the air and let them attack, they wouldn''t be able to touch a hair on their head!


    Now they finally understood why the Huaxians had such a reaction upon seeing their fighter jets a few days ago. Indeed, they had the capital to show off, and their latest technology, upon which they prided themselves, was really nothing in front of the Huaxians.


    Guidance? Their piece of junk was leagues behind, and even if offered guidance, they wouldn''t understand it!


    Would a university professor explaining high-grade mathematics to a primary school student be comprehensible?


    "I wonder, General Arthur, what do you think of our Dragon Hidden fighter jet?"


    "We are far behind in terms of technology," although he was reluctant to admit it, could Arthur really puff up his cheeks and pretend to be a big shot?


    That day, Zhang Menglong dared to speak that way because they were truly exceptional, while if they were to say the same, they''d simply be fools. "Mr. Zhang, what alloy is this Dragon Hidden fighter jet made of? Can you share that with us?"


    "There''s nothing that can''t be said, actually. The material is very simple, plastic!"


    "That''s impossible!"


    Arthur exclaimed on the spot, plastic could stop a missile? Did he think this was a toy gun firing BB pellets?


    "This is true," Zhang Menglong explained, "however, this plastic is a bit special, as we have made it into a Strong Interaction Material."


    "Strong Interaction Material?" General Arthur was startled; he had heard the term but was unaware of its specific meaning.


    The weapons expert by Arthur''s side immediately explained, "General Arthur, Strong Interaction Material compacts matter into an extremely dense state, so smooth that even under a microscope magnified a million times, all the basic particles composing the matter are nailed down securely, with massive density and a strength hundreds of times greater than the strongest substances on Earth."


    "But... but this kind of thing only exists in science fiction novels!" The weapons expert was on the verge of questioning his existence. The material''s iconic representation was the ''Droplet'' mentioned in ''Three-Body'', which could destroy 2,000 human starships by direct impact alone, illustrating the power of Strong Interaction Material.


    If the Dragon Hidden were genuinely made of this material, it wouldn''t even need any weapons. In combat, it could just ram into the opponent''s face¡ªthat would be the end of them.


    "It''s actually quite simple," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "it''s just that this thing is quite heavy. A fighter jet of this sort almost weighs as much as an Ultraman, and if it weren''t for the anti-gravity device, it couldn''t even begin to fly."


    "What a pity," Zhang Menglong suddenly shook his head.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you regret?"


    "Oh, I only regret that there hasn''t been enough time. We''ve only built these three fighter jets, otherwise, if we see any country we don''t like, we could take them down in the morning, issue ID cards in the afternoon, administer COVID vaccines the next day, and open clubs for dancing the day after."


    "Cough cough cough!" Arthur choked, but what Zhang Menglong said was undeniably true.


    They don''t even need a squadron of fighters; just these three alone could rule unchallenged anywhere. They even suspected that not even nuclear weapons could pose much of a threat to it.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask about the cost of this fighter jet?"


    "Not too expensive, about 320 billion US dollars each."


    "320 billion..." That price could build about 3,000 F-22s, but truth be told, even 3,000 F-22s wouldn''t stand a chance against a single Dragon Hidden.


    An incomparable shell, powerful drive, and nearly infinite endurance¡ªthis is truly invincible!


    The parade was drawing to a close, and the Generals were starting to think about leaving. They must bring this vital news back immediately and discuss future military arrangements.


    The existence of these three fighter jets had already altered the current global military landscape.


    "May I know how many of these Dragon Hidden fighter jets your country plans to produce in the first batch?"


    "Uh..." Zhang Menglong looked at Elder Xing, "How about we start with a hundred? If money is tight, I can lend some to the nation."

 Chapter 540 538: Not Convinced? Wanna Fight?

    "100 aircraft..." Several generals'' faces were twitching.


    32 trillion US dollars, that was Huaxia''s GDP for several years!


    But they asked themselves, if they had this technology, would they be willing to spend that money to build 100 hidden dragons.


    Their answer was an absolute yes, some statuses couldn''t be bought with money, but if there were 100 hidden dragons, they could definitely deter the whole world and win more benefits for them.


    If Huaxia really had 100 hidden dragons... they shuddered at the thought, who would dare to provoke them then?


    "Oh, by the way, let me show you Huaxia''s latest weapon,"


    "There are new weapons? Where?"


    "In the sky," Zhang Menglong pointed to the sky, "on a satellite we launched two days ago, we haven''t actually tested it yet, so we don''t know if the power is sufficient."


    "Satellite weapon? This..." If the three warplanes were just fear and shock, now they were desperate.


    The concept of satellite weapons had been proposed long ago; whoever took the lead in controlling satellite weapons could attack any location on Earth at any time. Such an attack could not be warned against, defended against, or evaded; one could only withstand it hard!


    Even when this concept was proposed, opinions began to draft a United Nations'' bill. With a sharp sword hanging over their heads, which country could sleep soundly? But because this concept was too advanced, humans unanimously recognized that it would take at least twenty or thirty years to come into existence, so legislation was not as urgent.


    And now, had Huaxia actually developed it?


    "Let''s find a place with no people," said Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Xing, let''s do it in the South China Sea, that place is not very peaceful, so there aren''t many people there."


    "Okay, let''s do it there!"


    "Space-orbital mechanical particle cannon, fire!"


    "Fire!"


    In the sky, a strong beam of light streaked across, like a meteor. The diameter of that beam was up to a hundred meters; it passed through the cosmic space and the Earth''s atmosphere, having dispersed a bit but still retaining over 90% of its energy.


    "Boom!"


    The beam struck the South China Sea in Huaxia, a large amount of seawater evaporated under the immense energy.


    The so-called mechanical particle cannon launched a particle beam with a huge kinetic energy, and the massive impact and energy immediately generated giant waves, sending hundreds of meters high waves spreading out around.


    "What... what is that?"


    On the borders, a fleet that had been conducting exercises two days before saw a massive beam of light descending from the sky, followed by a giant wall of water hundreds of meters high.


    "Quick, turn! Turn!"


    But it was too late, the spread of the energy and the speed of the waves were just too fast.


    The force of the water flow directly swept the fighter jets and various equipment on the aircraft carrier''s deck into the sea, and seven destroyers were flipped over. After the giant wave passed, only the bare deck of the aircraft carriers remained in this fleet.


    "Quick, assess the damages!" the fleet immediately began to tally the damages.


    "Report, no deaths among the personnel, 24 are missing!"


    "37 fighter jets destroyed, the rest fell into the sea, uncertain if they can still be used!"


    "Report, all destroyers are completely damaged."


    ...


    "General, a sudden tsunami has caused heavy losses to our fleet..."


    General Bei Qi received the news from his subordinates; such losses almost amounted to a complete annihilation of the entire carrier group.


    In the group, the aircraft carrier actually only had strategic significance, without the destroyers'' escort and without the fighter jets, it was just a floating, huge target on the sea, worthless!


    "He intentionally targeted that area!" Bei Qi glared angrily at Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, was this an intentional attack on our fleet?"


    "Attack?" Zhang Menglong replied with a look of grievance, "The area I experimented in was in my own territorial waters. General Bei Qi, you can eat whatever you like, but words should not be thrown around carelessly. Do you need me to release the video? I can prove my innocence."


    "So our fleet was lost for nothing?" Bei Qi gritted his teeth.


    "Blame me? Who told you to be wandering around my house?" Zhang Menglong said to General Arthur, "General, may I ask you a question?"


    "Please, Mr. Zhang."


    "If someone appears in my house with a gun, and I shoot and kill this idiot, would that be illegal?"


    Arthur, of course, understood what Zhang Menglong meant, and although he wanted to help General Bei Qi argue, he couldn''t just blatantly lie, "According to our laws, that would be a lawful action."


    "There you see!" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "General Bei Qi, I just want to ask you, we were clearly conducting experiments within our own country''s territory, so why did your fleet run into trouble? If you had just stayed at home, would you have been affected?"


    "That''s just sophistry!" Bei Qi roared; at this point, he had somewhat lost his reason. As a general, with the army suffering such losses, he might end up facing a military court.


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong retorted. "Even if it is, what do you plan to do about it? Wanna fight about it?"


    His words left Bei Qi completely stunned.


    Indeed, even if Zhang Menglong did it deliberately, what could he do?


    Fight? Could they win?


    He had a hundred reasons to believe that Zhang Menglong could secretly take control of a dragon stealth fighter tonight, sneak into their turf, smash their sacred temple, and then leave without a trace, not even leaving a hint of his involvement.


    Even if you knew he did it, you couldn''t do anything about it, relying on optical camouflage and unbelievable stealth capabilities, they simply couldn''t capture any images.


    Then Zhang Menglong would say, "Yes, I did it, but you have no evidence. You think you can bite me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, aren''t you being a bit too much?"


    "You want to stand up for it?" Zhang Menglong sneered coldly.


    "I..."


    "Well then, you choose a method. I still have three trillion US Dollar in Qingqiu Currency in a bank in Qingqiu Country; I''ll go withdraw it tomorrow."


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem," General Jin hurriedly said, "Well, I think Mr. Zhang was right; they were experimenting in their own country, how could it possibly affect you? What you''re doing is clearly acting like a thief shouting ''catch the thief!''"


    "Exactly!" General Arthur, seeing Zhang Menglong''s gaze, also cowered, "As world police, we absolutely cannot allow such behavior."


    Bei Qi, incredulous, stared at the two generals; his mindset completely collapsed! He had seen shameless, but he had never seen such shamelessness.


    "No more problems, then?" Zhang Menglong looked at Bei Qi.


    "No... no problems..."


    "No problems then let''s continue the weapon display," Zhang Menglong said.


    "There''s more?" They thought that was already the entirety of the Huaxia weapon display. Could there possibly be even more terrifying weapons? How were they supposed to live with that?


    "The following equipment was also inspired by Mr. Bei Qi''s country," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Our country provided inspiration?" Bei Qi asked curiously.


    "Although it''s still a rather outdated model, with current technology, we are barely able to mass-produce it."


    "What exactly is it?" The three generals were full of curiosity.


    Zhang Menglong grabbed a walkie-talkie, "Huaxia''s First Mobile Squad, move out!"


    A massive 20-meter tall red mecha, leading another ten blue gigantic mechas, took off from behind them, causing the parade audience and even the warriors to let out a thunderous cheer.


    "Is this... is this Gundam?"


    "No, this is Zaku, a real man''s ride!"


    "Red Comet, three times the speed, I''m fired up."


    "Sing the war song!"


    "Man, this is outrageous! What is it that great Huaxia cannot create?"

 Chapter 541 539 Cultural Export

    The shock of the National Day celebration became the hot topic of the entire world for more than a month, with military experts from various countries crazily analyzing Huaxia''s batch of new weapons.


    In the end, they reached a consensus, the current air supremacy belonged to Huaxia!


    That afternoon, Kaibong immediately withdrew the fleet; all that was left of their fleet were the bare decks of the aircraft carrier and a few fighter jets that had taken on water and it was uncertain if they could even start. What was the use of keeping them?


    If the Huaxia people launched one of those mechanical particle cannons again, the aircraft carrier they had spent a fortune to build would also become a pile of scrap metal sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Of course, that was assuming there would be some wreckage left.


    The international landscape also underwent earth-shattering changes, with statements and news flooding media all over the world.


    ...


    This information couldn''t help but evoke the sentiment that a weak country has no diplomacy; a strong fist is the fundamental way to secure a place in this international arena.


    "Old Zhang, where are you? I''ve been knocking on your door for ages and there''s no one there!" Wang Ling, who hadn''t been in touch for a long time, sought out Zhang Menglong again.


    "Studying. I''m not living there anymore; I''ve been staying near the school recently." Zhang Menglong said, "What made you think of me today, President Wang?"


    "How would I dare? You are now Huaxia''s weapons expert, a Nobel Prize laureate, something us ordinary folks could get in touch with?"


    "Now you''re just showing off. You, the big son of the Wang family, still count as an ordinary person? If that''s the case, then do the rest of us even stand a chance of living?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Come to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Just this morning, I got a batch of top-level black beef shipped over from Australia. I''ll treat you to a barbecue tonight."


    "Hehe, wait for me, I''ll be right there!"


    ...


    "Wang Ling, over here!" Zhang Menglong waved to the Bentley.


    Wang Ling got out of the car, alongside a very sweet-looking girl.


    "Damn, how come you''ve changed girlfriends again?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Isn''t this already the fifth one this year? With an average of one every two months, that''s really something, Big Young Master Wang."


    "Shush!" Wang Ling quickly gestured to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh? There''s actually someone you, Big Young Master Wang, are afraid of?" For once, Zhang Menglong found something fresh; the women usually around Wang Ling were afraid of making him angry. After all, their relationships were just transactions of wealth and beauty. As soon as Wang Ling became bored or found it troublesome, he would promptly switch girlfriends.


    The women were also very sensible; they were all quite clever. They only hoped to gain some resources from him during their time dating and maintain a good relationship for as long as they could, which is why they were generally cautious and well-behaved.


    As for a woman whom Wang Ling would treat with such care, Zhang Menglong has never truly seen one until now.


    "What, have you fallen for real this time?" Zhang Menglong teased, "You''re only in your early thirties; there''s still time to mend your ways."


    To Zhang Menglong''s surprise, Wang Ling actually nodded.


    "You''re not serious, are you?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed; he was just joking, "She doesn''t mind your past romantic exploits?"


    "You don''t understand," Wang Ling shook his head, and for the first time, Zhang Menglong saw a depth and a touch of story in his typically nonchalant expression.


    Zhang Menglong recognized that look, one that spoke of emotions only a person who had been hurt could have.


    Zhang Menglong remembered that Wang Ling once mentioned in an interview that he didn''t know his family was rich until high school or college. So, perhaps something happened back then due to his family being average.


    It led to Wang Ling, having discovered he was a super-rich second-generation, dating all sorts of beautiful women, as if in retaliation.


    He thought carefully, and realized the possibility was indeed high!


    "What are you daydreaming about?" Wang Ling punched Zhang Menglong lightly, "Bro, I feel like I''ve found the best destination in my life," said Wang Ling, "From today on, if I take another look at those internet celebrities, I, Wang Ling, am a dog!"


    "Enough with that. I''ve already had my second dog record that line, hoping you can break that so-called law of the universe known as Wang Jingze''s Law."


    "I''ll tell you about our thing when we have time later," said Wang Ling, "This time, I''m mainly here for two things. First, have you seen the final cut of ''Three-Body''?"


    "I have," Zhang Menglong replied, "As expected from the work of top-level actors and a top-level team, this time''s box office is definitely going to be a huge hit."


    "I have no doubts," the project was overseen by Wang Ling himself, and it was one of the few things he had put his whole heart into.


    "I''ve already promoted it on my Weibo, and this weekend, all the cinemas under the Baida Group will immediately start showing the movie. The advance box office has already broken through 800 million!"


    "800 million?" Zhang Menglong was truly startled by the number.


    "Do you even understand what this means? Even the highest advance box office of The Avengers series was just over 500 million."


    "Actually, I''m not that surprised," Zhang Menglong said, "Just the ''Three-Body'' IP alone is worth this box office!"


    You need to know that among people born in the 80s and 90s, the influence of ''Three-Body'' is extremely formidable. Just look at B site''s entirely block-made ''My Three-Body,'' which has amassed a whopping ten billion accumulated views and a 9.7 rating.


    As the winner of the Hugo Award back in the day, this novel did not only cause a sensation domestically, but also had an astonishing impact abroad. The author''s imagination was truly terrifying, so much so that after reading the novel, you can''t help but utter the word "incredible".


    "That''s great news, so why do you look like you''re not very happy?"


    "''Three-Body'' has no problem opening up the market in the domestic scene, but we''ve encountered a lot of resistance with its release abroad," said Wang Ling, "The several film companies I talked to all refused to show ''Three-Body''. I even lowered the price, but they all were unwilling."


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong expressed his skepticism, "Is the anticipation for this work by foreign audiences very low?"


    "Not exactly," Wang Ling said, "It''s actually quite understandable. Do you know what happened when America''s superheroes and Kaibong''s tokusatsu were introduced into Huaxia?"


    Zhang Menglong fell silent. To be fair, Huaxia''s film and television works really weren''t that great. After thinking carefully, apart from the sheep on the green grasslands, he couldn''t recall any globally renowned film and television IPs in a moment; it''s only been in the past two years that Nezha and White Snake have begun to showcase the progress of Huaxia''s animation effects.


    Among today''s youth and teenagers, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and so on, have all become a part of their childhood and their idols.


    That is a very powerful concept, "cultural export"!


    The cultural export of one country has a very serious impact on the culture of other countries. Take the Hanfu culture that has risen in popularity in Huaxia in recent years for example; now you can see people wearing Hanfu all over the world, and even on international trade platforms, those who sell Hanfu are making a killing.


    The neighboring Cosmos Country has even started to apply for Hanfu to be recognized as their own intangible cultural heritage, though I don''t know what or whom they want to commemorate by doing that.


    This shows the enormous influence of cultural export.


    In the ''Three-Body'' film and television adaptation, whether it''s the philosophical and wise Luo Ji or the heroic character Zhang Beihai, once the show airs, they are bound to become heroic figures among humans.


    Maybe before long, we won''t hear anyone saying "I''m Iron Man" or "Kamen Rider transform." Instead, phrases like "Natural selection, move forward by four" might take their place.


    Those foreign cultural agencies do not want to see such a situation arise.


    "What now? They allow themselves to export culture, but they won''t allow us to spread ours," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "We really need to properly promote this ''Three-Body'' culture!"

 Chapter 542 540 The Joy of Spending Money

    "Old Zhang, this is not a simple matter," Wang Ling said solemnly, "In the last two years, our country has also implemented many countermeasures against the cultural output of other countries, and other countries have also begun to gradually implement them. It''s very difficult to penetrate their markets."


    "What''s there to be afraid of," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I believe that there are still many things in this world that can be achieved with money. During the Huaxia dynasty, others could use foreign artillery to force open our national gates, and now we can do the same."


    "You want to start a war? That''s not necessary, Zhang Ge, cool down," Wang Ling knew for sure that Zhang Menglong definitely had the capability.


    The Longyin fighter was developed by Zhang Menglong himself, and for him, 320 billion US Dollars was equivalent to just ten bucks for an ordinary person. If he really wanted to, he could easily establish several Longyin; not to mention opening national gates, smashing the Presidential Palace would be a breeze.


    But precious friend, we don''t want to stir up such things!


    "Am I the type who is unreasonable and overbearing? We live in a civilized society; we can''t behave like that!"


    "So what are you... planning to use money to smash open their gates?" Wang Ling guessed Zhang Menglong''s plan as if he could read his mind. However, for a person as outrageously rich as Zhang Menglong, aside from this method, there were no other innovative tactics, except for perhaps the manner of ''smashing''.


    "What''s your plan?"


    "Simple!" Zhang Menglong said, "Now, movies have become an indispensable part of people''s lives around the world. What do you think would happen if they suddenly had no movies to watch?"


    "Isn''t that obvious? They''d go crazy," Wang Ling replied, "Probably start protests in the streets, advocating for cultural freedom, for human rights."


    "You''re not thinking of buying up all the cinemas in the world, are you?"


    "Correct, now the stakes are high," Zhang Menglong said with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    "When Mr. Zhang makes a move, it''s on the scale of a nation, and it starts at a minimum of hundreds of billions of US Dollars¡ªmy poverty can no longer limit my imagination."


    "But your vision is still too small!" Zhang Menglong said, "If I wanted to buy cinemas, I would only buy a portion. If I didn''t acquire all of them, and the rest of the audience simply went to other cinemas to watch movies, I wouldn''t lose out, but I''d end up boosting the economic growth of their film industry, and that would make me unhappy."


    "You can only buy half?"


    "I think what Mr. Zhang means is that a large part of those top media companies are state-owned enterprises, and even with money, they would not be willing to sell. That''s not something that can be achieved just by having money," the girl beside Wang Ling suddenly spoke.


    "Look at that, your girlfriend is clever. How could you not think of something so simple," Zhang Menglong said, "Of course, if we really wanted to, it wouldn''t be impossible, but it would escalate to the level of state affairs and would inevitably cause some trouble. Zhou Lao has warned me several times. I''m not afraid, but I still want to show some respect to others."


    "By the way, you haven''t even introduced her to me yet," Zhang Menglong said discontentedly.


    He couldn''t help but give the girl another look. Her beauty was secondary; what was most important was the extraordinary demeanor she possessed, which certainly could not have been cultivated by any ordinary family.


    "Hahaha, I''m sorry, I''m sorry," Wang Ling chuckled apologetically, "My girlfriend, Jiang Qiyuan, Qiyuan, I suppose I don''t need to go through the formalities of introducing you, right?"


    "Ms. Jiang, hello."


    "Mr. Zhang is too polite. You are a friend of Wang Ling''s, ''Miss'' is a bit too distant."


    The instant their hands touched, Zhang Menglong actually felt an unusual ability emanating from Jiang Qiyuan, unlike Inner Strength and not Supernatural Abilities either.


    "This Jiang Qiyuan comes from no ordinary background," Zhang Menglong thought with extra caution, "Could she be from one of those special Ancient Martial Arts Families?"


    Wang Ling might be rich, but Zhang Menglong was very clear that to an Ancient Martial Arts family, his wealth wasn''t impressive. Although Wang Ling could be unreliable at times, he was still his friend.


    Jiang Qiyuan was also startled because she felt a vast and boundless power emanating from Zhang Menglong.


    "Gee, now whether or not to mess with other countries depends on their say-so, the progenitor of Versailles is definitely you," Wang Ling said with no words to spare, "So what''s your plan?"


    Zhang Menglong came back to his senses, thought for a moment, "Naturally, to mess with the source!"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Those movies need to be shot and produced, they always need rights, right? Nowadays, films are either adapted from novels or comics, there''s always a corresponding author, and foreign countries protect these rights much more fiercely than ours. Unless there are rights bought out completely, all the rights still belong to the authors."


    Wang Ling laughed. Authors nowadays are no fools. Once they know their work has such great commercial value, they wouldn''t possibly sell all their rights. At most, they would sell the adaptation rights for films and such, and even then, there would be significant time restrictions.


    "Hehe!" Zhang Menglong also started laughing, "As long as those authors don''t cooperate, not a single one of their movies will be released. By then, their cinemas will have nothing to show. At that time, won''t they have to negotiate terms with us?"


    Jiang Qiyuan watched the two in disbelief. Was this how the richest heirs of Huaxia discussed tactics?


    "But buying those rights is going to be terrifyingly expensive, right?" Jiang Qiyuan said, "Moreover, if you make them retract all adaptation and broadcasting rights, that''s going to be a substantial compensation fee. Even if we can achieve tens of billions at the box office, it would still be at a loss."


    "Do you think he makes films to make money?" Wang Ling spoke for Zhang Menglong, "I''ll tell you, this guy''s biggest wish in life is to spend money. Having him make a bit of cash is more painful for him than death. Don''t ask why, with money comes caprice!"


    "Wow, now you''re even answering for me," Zhang Menglong said, "It''s not important whether or not I make money. The main thing is that this wave of cultural dissemination must go out; it would be such a waste if these excellent works were only adapted for our domestic market."


    "However, old Wang, I might still need your help with this," Zhang Menglong continued.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I''m already on the international blacklist," Zhang Menglong laughed, "If I try to leave the country in normal fashion, they''ll probably set up a mobile warning line 100 meters around me. You''ll have to step in for this job; I''ll just sneak around behind you."


    "But to buy these rights, we will still need to act on behalf of a company, which I obviously can''t do."


    "No worries, my family has related media industries in many countries around the world. I can handle the procedural stuff," Wang Ling said, "We don''t need to cover every single country anyway. As long as we''ve secured all the populous ones, our goal will be 90% achieved."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll go with you when the time comes. You take the lead, and I''ll pay the bills!"


    "Hahaha," Wang Ling rubbed his hands together in excitement, "I never thought I''d be able to experience the joy of being you, Zhang. Brilliant."


    "There''s no need to rush into action," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "First, we''ll talk to them through normal channels again. If that doesn''t work, we''ll proceed with the plan. We can''t just go all-out from the start; people will accuse us of lacking martial morality."


    "You''re trying to play the good guy after being a bitch," Wang Ling laughed and cursed, "But I like it!"


    "Hahaha, awesome!"


    Standing by, Jiang Qiyuan watched the two with their deeply cunning looks, stunned. Were these really the once top rich heir of Huaxia and the current number one tycoon in the world? To her, they seemed more like two sleazy businessmen!

 Chapter 543 541: The Meeting Gift

    "Where shall we go first?"


    "Hehe, I''ve already inquired about it," Wang Ling said with a smile, "You should know that Avengers Six has already completed its sample film, and right now, the whole world is making a fuss over its promotion. The day after tomorrow, Disney''s related personnel will come to Huaxia for the event."


    "Aren''t we supposed to be looking for the author? What does the film company have to do with us?"


    "That''s where you''re unaware," Wang Ling explained, "After old man Stan passed away, the disputes within their family have been incredibly chaotic. Although Marvel''s rights are currently held by Disney, the original copyrights and intellectual property rights were with the old man. Strictly speaking, the old man transferred the rights to Disney, with the agreement of just enjoying the profit shares."


    "Now that the old man has died, according to the relevant laws, all the copyrights of his works have passed to his descendants, which is that woman named Jessie Lee."


    "Will that Jessie Lee come to Huaxia too?"


    "Bingo!" Wang Ling snapped his fingers, "Jessie is the primary legal heir of the old man, but his descendants aren''t limited to her. Although nominally she''s the primary heir, in reality, the disputes are quite fierce. She needs a lot of media exposure to solidify her status."


    "It appears you''ve gotten smarter too," Zhang Menglong said appreciatively.


    "Hehe, as long as we find a way to get the rights from this Jessie, America''s cultural output to the world will be halved instantly."


    "You''d better be mentally prepared," Zhang Menglong said, "Our country has plenty of trolls, and if Marvel can''t produce new works later on, those keyboard warriors definitely won''t let us off the hook."


    "Pfft," Wang Ling said with a scoff, "If I were afraid of keyboard warriors, I would have been done for years ago when I was showing off online. And can''t our country produce any top-level IPs? As long as there are even more outstanding works, believe me, in a couple of years, so-called Marvel works will be out of date."


    "Moreover, we''re not trying to suppress them forever. We just need to restrain them for a short period. Once the Three-Body series hits the market and our culture goes out into the world, they can do whatever they want. Everyone will be competing on a level playing field, and the strength of the works will speak for themselves."


    "Your words have really opened my eyes," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "Let''s go meet Miss Jessie first then."


    ...


    A flight from America landed at Huaxia''s Magic Capital Airport, where a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty stepped out with her slender legs, surrounded by a few assistants.


    At the time of the old man''s death, he was 95 years old, but his daughter, that is, Jessie, was just in her early thirties. It has to be said that wealthy people tend to have younger wives. Wouldn''t the age difference in an ordinary family mean they were more like grandfather and granddaughter?


    "How''s the event schedule looking?" Jessie asked her assistant.


    "Miss Jessie, all the plans have been arranged. Tomorrow night Disney will hold a press conference at the Magic Capital''s Media Culture Center. They have specifically reserved 20 minutes of free time for you, where you can first introduce the new works as planned, and then announce the ownership of the rights."


    "These ungrateful wretches, the moment my father passed away they were eyeing his rights, but what about my dear brother and sister," Jessie couldn''t help but sneer coldly.


    "This time we also need to make use of Huaxia''s broad media power. They have a large population and high coverage for the works. As long as they remember you, they will naturally recognize this matter, and the official media will certainly stand with us by then."


    She was waiting at the airport entrance for the organizers to come and pick her up when a black Rolls-Royce unexpectedly stopped in front of her.


    "Since when did Disney spend so lavishly?" Jessie was surprised, but her expression changed when she saw the license plate of the Rolls-Royce, as it was a Magic City plate from Huaxia, bearing the number 88888, a string of digits.


    A woman in a purple leather skirt got out of the car and stopped in front of Jessie.


    "May I ask if you''re Miss Jessie?"


    "That''s me, and you are?"


    "Hello Miss Jessie, my name is Hong Yi. My husband would like to meet you, and he has a business proposal he wishes to discuss with you."


    "Negotiating business with me?" Jessie was somewhat surprised. "Who is your husband?"


    "You''ll know when you get there."


    "Do you think I would go anywhere with someone whose background is a mystery?" Jessie knew she was in Huaxia and not in their own country. Although in some ways, Huaxia was even safer than their country, one must always be wary of others.


    "This is a gift from our sir for our first meeting, a welcome to Huaxia and a tribute to your father." Hong Yi took a square box from the car and opened it directly in front of Jessie.


    Under the dazzling sunlight, a string of gemstone necklaces sparkled enchantingly¡ªred, green, yellow, purple, blue, orange. Six huge gemstones instantly captured Jessie''s gaze, making it hard for her to look away.


    "These are six natural diamonds customized according to your father''s works. Each one is almost in its original form, averaging 125 carats, with a total value of 240 million US Dollars. Our sir hopes you will like this gift."


    "This is for me?" Jessie''s eyes widened.


    As someone born into a wealthy family, she naturally recognized what the diamond necklace in front of her signified. Each diamond was likely a rare treasure, and this necklace, fashioned from six "Infinity Gems," was an unparalleled work of art.


    "Yes, this is a gesture of our sir''s sincerity in inviting you. If you don''t grace us with your presence, then please accept this as our sir''s respect for Mr. Stan, your father."


    "Your sir really is very sincere," Jessie nodded. "In that case, I must accept this courtesy."


    "Miss Jessie!" Her assistant immediately tried to intervene.


    "Are you worried about my safety?" Jessie asked. "If someone wanted to harm me, it would likely just be for money. With such a generous offer from this gentleman, he surely isn''t someone lacking funds. Even if someone were to exploit all of my value completely, I don''t think I''d come close to one ten-thousandth of this mysterious sir''s wealth. Wouldn''t you agree, Miss Hong?"


    "Miss Jessie is really very clever," clever women always appreciate clever women. "Our sir has already prepared lunch. Please, Miss Jessie."


    "Thank you."


    ...


    The car stopped at Zhang Menglong''s residence near the school. Although the university town was lively and noisy, this villa area was still very elegant and quiet.


    "Please, Miss Jessie," Hong Yi led Jessie into the villa.


    "Here she comes," Zhang Menglong exchanged a glance with Wang Ling and walked out into the courtyard.


    "Are you Mr. Zhang Menglong?" Jessie recognized Zhang Menglong at a glance.


    "You are the son of that Mr. Wang from Paramount Pictures, right?"


    "You know me?" Wang Ling was surprised; he thought he wasn''t very famous abroad.


    "I''ve had a few collaborations with your father''s company, so I know of you." Jessie smiled. "I''m truly honored to receive an invitation from you both upon my arrival in Huaxia."


    "Please take a seat, Miss Jessie," Zhang Menglong led her into the dining room. "This is codfish specially brought in this morning."


    "I don''t really like to enjoy a meal with questions hanging over me," Jessie was also a very formidable woman. "Why don''t you tell me the purpose of my invitation today first?"


    "Miss Jessie is really straightforward," Wang Ling said. "Since that''s the case, let''s get straight to the point. We would like all the original rights to the Marvel works that Miss Jessie holds, including the rights to adapt the comics and movies, and everything related!"

 Chapter 544 542: They are just brushing off a beggar

    "Now that all film and television IP rights for my father''s works are at Disney, you should go talk to Disney if you want to buy the rights, why come to me?" Jessie said with a laugh.


    "Miss Jessie, since we''ve come to you today, it''s naturally because we''ve done our homework," Wang Ling said. "While it''s true that the rights to your father''s works are currently with Disney, that''s all based on a licensing agreement."


    Jessie''s face changed color, this was almost a family secret. How could Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong possibly know about it?


    You see, this IP is practically equal to a mountain of gold and silver. If it became known that the rights were not held by a company but by an individual, it would spell disaster for their family.


    At that time, countless people would want to get their hands on the rights from them and it might even lead to some extreme incidents. For this reason, related companies had all signed confidentiality agreements.


    "Miss Jessie, no need to be nervous," Zhang Menglong said. "There''s nothing in this world that I don''t know about. Of course, besides the parties involved, only the two of us know about this matter. We''re not looking to use this information as a threat against Miss Jessie, because our only goal is the rights."


    "But why should I sell them to you?" Jessie said. "With these rights, I can collect a hefty sum in royalty fees every year."


    "To my knowledge, the agreement your father signed authorizes Disney to manage the rights, including all film and television rights, merchandise rights, and so on, but you only get 100 million US Dollars in royalty fees per year. That doesn''t seem like much, does it?"


    "In a year, just the merchandise from Marvel alone can generate over 2 billion US Dollars in revenue for the company."


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "Only 100 million US Dollars in royalty fees per year, are they treating you like a beggar?" Wang Ling extended one hand. "If Miss Jessie is willing to transfer the rights to us, we can offer five times that amount!"


    "Five hundred million US Dollars?" Jessie''s breathing became somewhat heavy, they were starting with a bang, aiming to outbid her with cash!


    She had seen bidding wars before, but doubling the bid was already a shocking scene, who had ever seen an opening bid quintupled? Shouldn''t the bidding go up gradually? If this were an auction, some people would probably be cursing by now.


    Moreover, to call an annual revenue of 100 million US Dollars after taxes ¨C pure income for doing nothing but enjoying a life of leisure ¨C treating one like a beggar, have you ever seen such a well-off and carefree beggar?


    "I admit, I am tempted by the offer," Jessie said. "But you must realize, rights can''t just be retracted on a whim. Our contracts have substantial penalties for breach."


    "I am aware," Wang Ling said. "The penalty in the contract is 10 billion US Dollars, isn''t it? Old Zhang!"


    "Okay," Zhang Menglong put down his phone. "Miss Jessie, perhaps you should check the balance on your overseas card."


    Jessie suddenly realized something and hastily logged into her account to check the balance. The long string of zeroes overwhelmed her.


    "I assume this puts your mind at ease, Miss Jessie?"


    "Gentlemen, your offer is indeed..." Jessie struggled to find the right adjective, "I suppose I have no reason to refuse. But I still want to know, why did the two of you go to such lengths to acquire these rights from me? Even if you were to make movies, it would take a long time to earn back those billions, wouldn''t it?"


    "We''re just looking to consolidate the film industry a bit," bluffed Wang Ling. He obviously couldn''t tell Jessie that they intended to put a hold on Marvel''s new releases, unless Jessie truly became money-hungry to the extreme and could stand by as her father''s proud creations were subjected to such treatment.


    "Is that really the only reason?"


    "Yes, so we''d like Miss Jessie to help us get in touch with a few other authors," Wang Ling produced a list, filled with names of those holding rights to works slated for recent release.


    Of course, to mask their real intent, they had also added some other names to the list.


    Seeing the list, much of Jessie''s suspicion faded.


    A normally thinking person wouldn''t imagine someone trying to control international cinema and media releases in such a manner, would they?


    Jessie was now convinced, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were indeed planning to integrate the entire movie industry.


    But what did that have to do with her? As long as her father''s works continued to thrive in the market, why should she care about the fate of others? All that mattered to her was making money.


    It didn''t matter who held the copyright, her annual income could still increase by fivefold. Whether it was Huaxia or America making money, it made no difference to her¡ªmoney was all that was real.


    "I know most of these people. I can help you contact them, but what''s in it for me?" Jessie continued to ask.


    "If Miss Jessie is willing to help us sign these contracts, then for each contract, I can offer Miss Jessie a reward of 100 million US Dollars!"


    Jessie''s lips twitched, wow, these two Huaxia rich second generations really know how to splash the cash!


    "Since that''s the case, I wish us a pleasant partnership. I believe that with your financial strength and resources, my father''s works will certainly see better development," Jessie said, her words tinged with dignity, even if everyone knew the real score.


    The father of Marvel, Stan Lee, indeed had an extensive network. In just a few days'' time, Jessie helped them sign eight contracts. Shockingly, at the original press conference, she even publicly declared that she would reclaim the copyrights, and without the new copyright owner''s permission, any media would be forbidden from using any Marvel intellectual properties!


    Disney was immediately furious that night. Weren''t they just advertising for the new movie release? How did this mess happen?


    Clutching their contracts, Disney went straight to Jessie, trying to intimidate her into retracting her statement immediately.


    But when Jessie tossed that icy 10 billion US Dollar penalty fee in Disney''s face, they were utterly dumbfounded.


    With this incident, the whole world worried whether the latest Avengers six could be released on time. On the announced release day, Paramount Pictures of Huaxia announced that Avengers six would be released as scheduled, but only within the Huaxia region. If other countries wanted to show the film, they were welcome to negotiate copyright issues with Paramount Pictures!


    Wang Ling also updated a message on her microblog, and she added an emoticon pack to mock the companies that had refused her theaters at the time.


    "Damn! 6666, I was wondering who had the deep pockets to acquire Marvel''s copyrights. Turns out it was our very own big-shot Wang!"


    "You guys see this schedule? ''Three-Body'' and ''Avengers six'' are both releasing at the same time, and ''Three-Body'' has gotten the majority of the screenings."


    "Damn! Why does Avengers six have so few screenings? I can''t even buy a presale ticket. Wang Ling, are you a dog? Who wants to watch that dumbass movie ''Three-Body''?"


    "I knew there would be biting dogs that would show up. Is our Huaxia cinematography worse than others? I just like watching ''Three-Body''!"


    "I support ''Three-Body''! This time I''m standing firmly with Principal Wang!"


    "Well done!"


    ...


    As this news exploded in Huaxia, it also caused a sensation abroad.


    This was the work that so many people had been waiting for over a year, and now it was not being released?


    Disney faced a dreadful backlash that very day, but Disney was helpless¡ªthe original copyright wasn''t with them; the penalty fee had been paid, so what could they do?


    "Hurry up and buy the rights in Huaxia!"


    "If we can''t see the movie within a week, you''ll all be waiting to go bankrupt!"


    "What kind of rubbish companies are you, to let such important copyrights slip away?"


    ...


    Watching the chaotic film industry, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling exchanged smiles¡ªthat was exactly the effect they wanted!

 Chapter 545 543 This Is Not A Question I Need To Consider

    Overnight, the entire global film industry was on the verge of collapse.


    The Avengers IP had a countless number of fans, each release earning at least a billion US dollars in box office revenue. The entire global film industry counted on their big earnings, and now it had all turned into a bubble.


    But as one wave settled, another rose. Authors of equally anticipated blockbusters like Fast & Furious 10 and Godzilla vs. Ultraman also inexplicably announced they were reclaiming their copyrights.


    The media companies were lambasted one after another, but they were powerless! Although they had collected a sizable amount in liquidated damages, it was almost akin to over-exploiting their brand.


    Take Disney for example, their turnover last year was roughly over 60 billion US dollars, and this 10 billion dollars in liquidated damages was, in a sense, pure profit.


    However, once this incident came to light, they had to pull all The Avengers merchandise from their shelves worldwide, and the number of visitors at Disney parks around the globe decreased by nearly half the very next day¡ªthe impact of losing the copyright was significant.


    If this public relations crisis wasn''t resolved, they might have started on a downward spiral from today on!


    The wealthy had already taken flights to Huaxia to watch movies, and as for the general populace, they urgently needed an outlet for their emotions.


    Abroad, due to so-called human rights and freedom, those fervent fans went crazy, with numerous cinemas even coming under attack, leading to direct economic losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars.


    Some even declared that if they couldn''t get the rights, they''d smash a cinema a day!


    Such scenes occurred not just in one country, but almost everywhere across the world except for Huaxia.


    And at that moment, the instigator of this event was sitting in a chic sky cafe, enjoying a delightful afternoon tea.


    "I thought it was going to cost a lot of money, but with the liquidated damages, it''s just 200 billion US dollars," Zhang Menglong said, sipping his tea with a smile.


    "If Mr. Zhang thinks it''s too much money, why not just give me the 200 billion," Wang Ling said in anguish. Although the money was provided by Zhang Menglong, it was spent through Wang Ling''s hands.


    In Wang Ling''s view, spending this money was almost no different from burning it. The only difference was that ordinary people would be breaking the law by burning money, while Zhang Menglong wouldn''t.


    "Look at you. Wouldn''t it have been nice to enjoy a bit of luxury with those 200 billion?"


    "It''s fine," Zhang Menglong waved his hand dismissively, "I''ll have Hong Yi adjust the oil prices tomorrow, and I reckon it will all be recouped in a few days."


    "You''re ruthless!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but give a thumbs up. After all, the oil fields in the Middle East were all owned by his family, weren''t they?


    "Though I didn''t expect cultural export to be so fearsome," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but click his tongue in amazement, "Even the sasaeng fans and brain-dead fans in Huaxia aren''t this extreme."


    "If they weren''t this extreme, we wouldn''t have been able to carry out our plan," Wang Ling laughed, "Now, only in Huaxia can people watch these movies. Those cinemas have the original reels, but they dare not show them. Don''t you just wonder if they are furious?"


    "Reminiscing about your own tragic experience when you were rejected?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Exactly," Wang Ling said, "When I was negotiating the screening rights for Three-Body, I was almost giving it away for nothing, and they still called our movies trash and refused to accept them. Can you believe how infuriating that was?"


    "It is indeed a sad state of affairs," Zhang Menglong said, "Now, those who know a good thing when they see it are fewer and further between. Do you know how much Liu Cixin sold the Three-Body rights for back in the day? Only 100,000! Now, without several tens of millions or even a billion, who would dare to think about it?"


    "Hahaha, but now it''s not about us begging them," Wang Ling said with a smirk, "Want the screening rights to those movies? Beg me first, and only after pleasing me will I consider the price!"


    "See, isn''t the call already coming through?" Zhang Menglong said, pointing at Wang Ling''s phone with a laugh, "Put it on speaker, let me also share the joy."


    "Just the person in charge of Huaxia at Venus Media," Wang Ling said with a smile as she answered the phone and then turned on the speaker.


    "Hello, this is Wang Ling!"


    "Mr. Wang, good afternoon. This is Arriet. We spoke a few days ago, do you remember?" A timid voice came from the other end.


    "Oh, are you the one who said that all our Huaxia''s films are trash and even threw my sample disc onto the floor?" Wang Ling began with an air of sarcasm.


    He was utterly fearless now!


    Venus Media was the largest media company in the Americas, having almost integrated more than 70% of the cinemas throughout the continent. Just to get a film into their hands was almost equivalent to reaching thousands of households across the whole Americas.


    The clients eager to collaborate with their cinemas were endless. Perhaps during the off-season, they might have considered screening "Three-Body," but now was the height of the movie release season, and blockbusters were coming out one after another, the entire film industry looking like gods battling it out.


    Even for their cinemas at Venus Media, arranging the showtimes for those blockbusters was difficult, how could they possibly exhibit a film that was almost expressly prohibited by many nations, with strong cultural influences?


    So, when Wang Ling went to talk to them, he was rejected without a second thought, and even had his sample disc swept off the table onto the floor.


    But just a few days ago, the loss of the rights to three major films directly cost them a massive loss, with 12 theaters smashed, not to mention the stock price took a dive.


    When Arriet learned that the film rights were now in the hands of Huaxia''s Paramount Pictures, he almost broke down. He had just offended them, and now he had to ask for a favor¡ªwasn''t this a scene straight out of a social nightmare?


    But he had no choice. With the pressure mounting from above, if he couldn''t secure the rights, not only was his job at risk, but their company was headed for big trouble. He spent two entire hours psyching himself up before he finally mustered up the courage to call Wang Ling.


    "Mr. Wang, there may have been some misunderstandings between us in the past, please allow me to explain my impolite behavior back then."


    "Do you take me for a fool?" Wang Ling, always outspoken and confrontational, felt insulted by such a suggestion.


    "Mr. Wang, based solely on the 500 million your father gave you, you''ve made a multiple of that, something I truly admire. How could I possibly try to deceive you?"


    "Damn, flattery feels good!" Wang Ling mouthed to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Wang, how about we increase the original price by 10%?"


    "10%? Do you think I care about that small amount of money?" Wang Ling said with a sneer, "Do you know how much we spent to buy all the rights? 200 billion US dollars. Do I care about your 10%?"


    The figure made Arriet''s face turn worse than if he had eaten shit. Are you sick in the head? Even if all the box office earnings for these films were credited to you, at most you''d see an income of just over a hundred billion.


    To make 100 billion, you freaking spent 200 billion dollars, is this something Earthlings do?


    Arriet was not an idiot to have reached his position; he knew Wang Ling''s ultimate goal must be related to "Three-Body."


    "Mr. Wang, let''s hear your terms. Do you want us to arrange screenings for ''Three-Body'' at the same time?" Venus gritted its teeth and said, "To be frank, our cultural department has issued a clear directive that ''Three-Body'' is banned from broadcast in the Americas, and we are helpless."


    "Oh!" All he got back was a cold "Oh."


    "Oh?" Arriet, for a moment, didn''t know what to say. What did that "oh" mean? Was it a yes or a reluctance to sell?


    Wang Ling scoffed, "Mr. Arriet, how to make your cultural department accept this work, I believe, is not a problem I should be contemplating. At most, I just won''t sell. The 200 billion dollars is something we can just write off, and even if we were to throw the completed film in the trash, we truly wouldn''t care."

 Chapter 546 544: Price Increase Now

    "Was it your Academician Yuan who fed you too much, leading you to create messes like this at the meeting?"


    "I''ve encountered partners who aren''t short on cash, but never to this extent, goddamn it. Have you ever seen someone throw something worth 200 billion US dollars into the trash? Even if your family printed money, they couldn''t sustain this kind of lavishness."


    "Are you this awesome? Do your relatives even know about it? Folks like you must be seriously ill!"


    "Mr. Wang, have you considered the consequences of this action?" Seeing that bribes weren''t working, Airette directly invoked global citizens, "Do you know how many millions of people worldwide are anticipating this movie? The people of Huaxia have seen it, but what about other countries? Aren''t you worried about their reactions?"


    "You think I''m easily scared?" Wang Ling scoffed, "Attempting moral coercion with me? Let me tell you, as long as I am devoid of morals, no one can morally coerce me! Weren''t humans still doing what they needed to do hundreds of years ago when there were no movies? Can''t we survive without movies?"


    "You''re ruining a classic work!"


    "I won''t deny that it is indeed a classic work, but there are plenty of superior works in this world, and their authors haven''t said a word. What are you yapping about here for?"


    "Aren''t you worried about global condemnation?"


    "Hahaha, are you challenging my forte?" Wang Ling said, "Huaxia might not be rich in many things, but we are abundant in keyboard warriors. I can easily hire tens of thousands of masters from Zaun with just a little money. If your parents are still alive, feel free to come to Huaxia and criticize!


    Airette couldn''t understand what Wang Ling was talking about, as only Huaxia people could comprehend such Zaun culture.


    "Mr. Wang, don''t forget that Paramount Pictures has assets worldwide. Once the fans find out that you bought the rights and restricted the screening, the impact might not just be on us at Venus Media. I''m saying this for the bigger picture, hence why we are currently publicizing that we''re in active negotiations."


    "You tell them, I beg you to tell them," Wang Ling said, "I love it when people threaten me. Let me tell you, first, I''m not afraid to trash a few small cinemas. I''ve already spent 200 billion US dollars, am I afraid of smashing a few cinemas?"


    "Second, the assets of Huaxia people are not to be trifled with. Our country''s weapon expert, Mr. Zhang Menglong, has recently taken a great interest in the domain of personal property protection. He invented a security system specifically designed to protect private domains. If I remember correctly, your laws allow killing if someone commits a crime on private property, right?"


    "Oh, by the way, we Huaxia people are not known for our good temper," Wang Ling said with a smile, "You can be tough, but the tougher you get, the more excited we become!"


    Wang Ling''s words plunged Airette into an absolute freeze. He had thought Wang Ling was just a know-nothing rich second generation who randomly played around after learning a bit, but now he realized this man was a complete lunatic!


    The productions are in our hands; we sell if we want to, and if not, then we won''t!


    You''re free to criticize us; we can hire a troll army to fire back. No one in this world can live without money.


    If you desire to smash our cinemas, we welcome you to think over whether the funeral industry at your end needs some business expasion recently?


    It''s just that brutal and straightforward!


    "State your terms," Airette sighed. This Huaxia man was truly a negotiation maniac, bereft of any negotiation techniques. His only principle seemed to be, ''I''m rich and with wealth, I can do whatever I want.''


    "Our term is simple," Wang Ling said, "If you want the screening rights to those movies, OK, but only if you first agree to screen ''Three-Body''. Its screening share must not be lower than any other movie, and ''Three-Body''s'' licensing fees must be double that of the others!"


    "That''s impossible!" Airette flatly refused.


    Let alone convincing the cultural regulators to agree to screen ''Three-Body'', even if they did allow it, they would definitely control its screening frequency.


    Moreover, although he had heard of ''Three-Body'', it was, after all, a Huaxia production, and its potential market impact was still uncertain; to bring it in at twice the cost of other blockbuster movies risked a significant loss.


    "Then I''ll give you four words, gowey gen, get lost!" Wang Ling bluntly hung up the call.


    "Act tough with me? Dare to threaten me? They still haven''t grasped who needs whom!"


    "It''s okay," Zhang Menglong consoled, "Give them a few more days, and they''ll know what true despair is."


    "Are you that confident?"


    "Rest assured, although this is purely a market situation, once it reaches a certain level, it will affect social stability. The high-level officials of those countries will not stand by and watch their societies turn into chaos over a few movies. In the end, they will be the ones to compromise."


    "Once someone truly finishes ''Three-Body,'' they will understand the charm of Huaxia science fiction. By then, even if they want to stop it, they won''t be able to!"


    "By the way, did those cinemas take measures to prevent recording?" Wang Ling asked, "If a pirated version gets out, our plan''s effectiveness will be greatly diminished."


    "Don''t worry about that," Zhang Menglong said, "I have already written a new piece of Artificial Intelligence software. As soon as any pirated link appears, if you click on it, your computer will play ''Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf'' non-stop for 24 hours."


    "Hahaha, that''s harsh! This might even turn into a powerful form of cultural export!"


    "Hahaha!"


    ...


    That day, Wang Ling received another dozen calls from film companies around the world, with the highest offer already increased by 50%. But whether it''s 50% or 500%, Wang Ling didn''t have any interest at all.


    Want the rights? Sure, agree to my terms first. If not, there''s nothing to discuss.


    But none of the negotiators could make a decision on such terms.


    "Let''s give a benefit to our overseas compatriots," Zhang Menglong added fuel to the fire, "every person with Huaxia nationality gets a free 4K Blu-ray resource as a welfare gift!"


    The students studying abroad were feeling frustrated. It''s not that they couldn''t afford to go back and watch, but the mandatory two-week quarantine upon arrival was a time cost they couldn''t afford.


    But the warmth from their motherland thrilled them no end.


    When they discussed the content of movies that foreigners couldn''t even see on the streets, it finally ignited the last fuse.


    "xxx saw massive street protests, with 300 citizens wearing Iron Man helmets pulling banners demanding the government quickly introduce related resources!"


    "Last night, 27 cinemas across the Americas were attacked, 19 cinemas in Europe were damaged..."


    "xxx company announced a strike, ''The Avengers'' won''t screen, the company won''t work!"


    ...


    Three days later, amid the increasingly loud public calls, the cultural agency in the Americas was the first to compromise.


    Although allowing ''Three-Body'' into the country would severely impact domestic culture, if they did not take action, the impact would be on the national economy and social stability. Compared to that, they preferred to withstand the cultural shock.


    They harbored a slim hope that maybe even if the movie came, it might not attract viewers and its cultural impact might not surpass that of the decades-entrenched superhero series.


    The companies allowed to distribute the movie felt as if pardoned and immediately started contacting Paramount Pictures.


    "President Wang, after discussions at the senior level, we are willing to agree to your conditions!" Venus was still the first to contact Wang Ling, as they were big enough, and the pressure they faced was substantial.


    "Is that so? But I''m sorry, with the recent severe inflation, our licensing fees have gone up again!"


    ...

 Chapter 547 545: I Sincerely Cut Down an Aircraft Carrier

    Wang Ling''s outrageous asking price had nearly every cinema cursing him as a profiteer.


    Indeed, the "Three-Body" books sold well, but its film adaptations had never been tested in the market. Who knew if anyone would actually buy tickets? With such high licensing fees, if no one watched, they might not even recoup the cost.


    Moreover, those familiar with "Three-Body" knew all too well just how vast its worldview was. To date, humans had not touched upon the true second or four-dimensional space. How, then, were they expected to film the related content that came later on?


    Even if the first installment did not involve such grand visuals, the demands it would place on the actors, the filming process, the technology, and the post-production were undeniably immense challenges.


    If it was well-made, it could indeed be a masterpiece.


    If not, it would basically be no different from "Dou Qi''s Equine Transformation" and "Fortress of Intellectual Disabilities" ¨C not just subjected to harsh criticism but potentially a disaster in terms of profit.


    However, faced with this kind of package deal, they were helpless. What could they do about it?


    In the end, cinema after cinema paid a hefty price for the rights to these works and, as per Wang Ling''s demands, scheduled "Three-Body" at the highest screening rate.


    Of course, due to these exorbitant licensing fees, the ticket price for "Three-Body" was double that of other films. They had given up hope of making a profit and only hoped that the box office revenue from other popular films could offset the costly fees.


    Their investment did not disappoint, as the pent-up enthusiasm from moviegoers over the course of more than a week was quite frightening. Due to the high scheduling rate, presale tickets were at least twice the usual amount, which greatly relieved the cinema owners.


    Presales exceeded the previous release by 30%, a growth rate that was quite pleasing.


    As for those who couldn''t get presale tickets, they started to wonder, were these people crazy? They should have increased the scheduling rate for popular movies, but instead, they gave the highest rate to a Huaxia production.


    Can Huaxia people even make sci-fi movies?


    In the eyes of most foreigners, Huaxia''s filmmaking supposedly blew most of its budget on casting, leaving just pennies for special effects, a practice that had long been criticized.


    Because of Wang Ling''s previous threats, these people did not know that the delay of those popular films was intended for foreign markets to accept the "Three-Body" movie.


    "Could this really be a masterpiece? Otherwise, why would they have such confidence to place it in such a prominent position?"


    Many of those waiting tried watching the film.


    Not looking would not matter, but one look was like opening the doors to a new world.


    Not to mention the effort Zhang Menglong put into casting for this film, but he also invested a huge sum to construct the massive project that was Red Coast Base.


    The final filming and special effects teams were top-level, and he adhered to one principle: if it could be done without special effects, he absolutely would not use them!


    Most importantly, Zhang Menglong made virtually no alterations to the original text, something almost impossible for any film adaptation.


    This resulted in the film''s runtime reaching a staggering four hours. The final visual effects were undoubtedly stunning. Four hours without a dull moment made one marvel at the breadth of Huaxia''s imagination and the excellence of the production team.


    Where there was a first group, there was a second group. The effect of word-of-mouth was terrifyingly effective. Though the price was high, the film''s duration was twice as long as other hot films, which was not unacceptable.


    The first day, a theater that could hold fifty people had only seven or eight attendees.


    The second day, surprisingly, the occupancy rate reached 50%.


    By the third day, it was fully booked.


    "Three-Body" spread like a viral phenomenon across the world, captivating audiences not just with its vast universe, but also with its deep analysis of human nature and grounded presentation of scientific concepts.


    After one week, "Three-Body" had surpassed "The Avengers" in total global box office revenue, creating a cinematic miracle!


    "Add more screenings! Give me more screenings!"


    Businesspeople chase profit, and without the restrictions of the cultural authority, cinema owners had only one belief: "money."


    They now felt as though they were fools. Wang Ling had practically given this film to them for nothing, asking for only 2% of box office share ¡ª and they had all refused.


    Now, not only was the licensing fee a major expense, but also the box-office revenue split was exorbitantly high. When adding up the national box office, we earned at least several billion US dollars less.


    If we had known it would be like this, even if it meant going against the Culture Bureau, we would have taken on this film!


    The explosive growth of "Three-Body"''s box office caused one sci-fi storm after another in the domestic market, prompting its investors, Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, to be invited to a live interview show.


    "Mr. Zhang, we meet again," the host was once again Sa Xining, whom he had met before.


    "Yes, we meet again," Zhang Menglong replied politely.


    "The last time we were on the show together was when you won the Nobel Prize in Physics, and to think, less than a month later, and for a completely unrelated theme¡ªthe movie industry¡ªdo you have anything you''d like to say?"


    "Not much," Zhang Menglong said, "I just don''t want people to think that I''m someone who relies on his looks to make a living. I rely on my talent."


    "Hahaha, talent? Or do you mean financial talent?"


    "To be honest, even if you have money, can you win a Nobel Prize in Physics? Can you produce such a high-quality movie?"


    "Indeed, I admit that Mr. Zhang is a man who can surpass me in both looks and talent."


    ...


    "Actually, there are many details in this work that are worth taking the time to analyze slowly. However, as the host, today I have a personal question I hope Mr. Zhang can answer."


    "Please ask, Teacher Sa," Zhang Menglong said.


    "How exactly was the scene with the ''Guqin Project'' filmed?"


    The so-called "Guqin Project" was that epic scene from the first film.


    On Judgement Day, the Three-Body Organization ETO''s seaward fleet base was crossing the Panama Canal when it was sliced into 50 cm iron pieces by nano-material ?Flying Blade".


    All the members of ETO were bisected at the waist, and the entire ship disintegrated.


    In the movie, this scene felt so realistic that it gave people chills.


    "Did you use a new type of special effects set for that? Was it filmed using the same methods as when ''Titanic'' sank?" asked Sa Xining. When ''Titanic'' was made, a certain scale model was built to film the sinking scene, and he speculated that a similar technique might have been used this time.


    "Oh, that scene? That wasn''t done with special effects, I actually cut a real aircraft carrier!" Zhang Menglong spoke as if it were a very ordinary matter.


    Sa Xining: ¡Ô;¡ã§Õ¡ã)


    Audience Member A: "What the fuck?"


    Audience Member B: "Jiangzhe swear word!"


    Audience Member C: "Magic City swear word!"


    Audience Member D: "Northeast swear word!"


    "This... this is truly unimaginable," Sa Xining said, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.


    "That ''Flying Blade'' is a super high-strength graphene material developed by Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Its fineness is ten times smaller than the ''Flying Blade'' in the original text, and four times stronger, but getting the Panama Canal to let us film this scene took quite an effort!"


    "The Judgement Day you saw was a retired aircraft carrier that I bought and modified; it cost about 5 billion US dollars!"


    "I rnmmp!"


    "Abababa."


    ...

 Chapter 548 546: Wang Ling Got Beaten

    "50 billion US Dollars for a few minutes of footage, I had to watch it several times just for Mr. Zhang''s investment!"


    "Brothers, let''s go for the second and third screenings!"


    Right after the show aired, the box office of "Three-Body" unexpectedly soared, and those who thought it was a gimmick and wanted to expose it also crowded into the cinemas, contributing another wave to the film''s revenue.


    Up until now, the global box office of "Three-Body" had unexpectedly surpassed 50 billion US Dollars, almost doubling the previous record!


    And the Red Coast Base, which was heavily funded by Zhang Menglong earlier, had suddenly become a tourist destination for the whole world.


    What was most unbelievable was that the wreckage of the "Judgement Day" had somehow been directly moved into this Red Coast Base theme park, undoubtedly shutting up those who were crying foul.


    Just as Wang Ling''s father had predicted, this project required a huge amount of funds initially, but once it became a hit, the costs were quickly recouped. Based on the current daily turnover, all the money spent by Zhang Menglong would be recovered in a year and a half, and everything after that was pure profit!


    Subsequently, Wang Ling took advantage of the heat to announce that "Three-Body 2: Dark Forest" would start filming in a week, with all the key characters returning.


    As soon as this news was released, film fans around the world were boiling with excitement, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the second major work.


    Box office shares, shares in the film base, and peripheral shares made Wang Ling earn a fortune. Following Zhang Menglong, he got so much more than just meat to eat; it was incredibly profitable!


    He couldn''t help but feel fortunate that he had walked into that sports car club with Qin Feng and met Zhang Menglong; otherwise, he would still be messing around with some low-grade live shows with minor internet celebrities, nowhere near his current glory.


    ...


    "Honey, tonight I''m on an infusion, infused with what? Thoughts of you."


    "Babe, today I want to write you a letter, what kind of letter is it? It''s ''I love you'' beyond belief!"


    "Babe, today I read works by scholarly authority Wang Zejian, what Zejian? My heart for you is as clear as day and night!"


    ...


    As the face of "Three-Body," Wang Ling was unrivaled in popularity during this period.


    But one day, a very popular topic suddenly exploded online.


    It was Wang Ling''s chat history with a female internet celebrity, and as the former top second-generation rich kid, Wang Ling appeared in the chat history like a smitten flatterer, spouting all sorts of tacky love phrases to this internet celebrity.


    This message suddenly shifted the societal winds, with a succession of insults following.


    "Turns out you can''t teach an old dog new tricks, probably the price wasn''t negotiated properly, huh?"


    "Hahaha, even principal Wang is a flatterer, what reason do we have to despise flatterers?"


    "It turns out that rich people are the same when it comes to women."


    "I thought principal Wang would communicate by sending a red envelope and then one sentence, send a red envelope then another sentence. Seems I was carried away, overestimating these wealthy folks."


    "What''s the scenario?" others didn''t understand, but Zhang Menglong was quite aware.


    Recently, Wang Ling had been utterly focused on a girl named Jiang Qiyuan, who was almost always by his side during their meals.


    Moreover, as an expert at distinguishing jerks, Zhang Menglong was certain that this time, Wang Ling was serious.


    Words and actions can deceive, but the eyes cannot, and Zhang Menglong could also feel that when Wang Ling was saying some cheesy stuff, there was no fluctuation in his spiritual power, which means what he said was a true reflection of his heart.


    So, he''s involved with an internet celebrity now? A few months ago, Zhang Menglong would have believed it; after all, changing girlfriends for him was as easy as performing magic, and whether or not to be a simp was his own choice since it wasn''t he who was doing the simping.


    But now, there must be something fishy. Perhaps this female internet celebrity wants to stir up some publicity by riding on Wang Ling''s coattails? After all, it wasn''t the first time such a thing had happened, and Zhang Menglong had grown accustomed to it.


    However, Zhang Menglong didn''t care much. Wang Ling wasn''t the type to suffer silently if he were wronged. If it weren''t for this incident, he would have been more anxious than anyone, so Zhang Menglong just watched purely for the entertainment.


    "You like the salty scent of the sea breeze..." The song "Under the Sea" by Phoenix Legend, adapted on Zhang Menglong''s phone, started to play. Zhang Menglong had never paid attention to his ringtone, merely remarking, "Back then, singing a couple of verses of yoyo was enough to split half the money. Now, with so many more lyrics, it''s getting harder for Teacher Zeng Yi to make money."


    "Wang Ling?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the caller ID, and what a coincidence it was. He had just seen a message about Wang Ling, and now he was calling. Could they have some sort of telepathy?


    "Yuck, disgusting!" Zhang Menglong quickly dismissed the disgusting thought, "I say, Young Master Wang, what big news have you stirred up recently? Your simp quotes are really making the rounds online now."


    "Babe, I need to get an infusion tonight..." Zhang Menglong started to mock.


    "Fuck off," Wang Ling cursed, sounding somewhat exasperated. "Others might not know I''ve gone straight recently, but don''t you know? Someone is trying to screw me over."


    "Who did you offend?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Who dares to mess with you, Principal Wang? There can''t be many across the country, right?"


    "Cut the crap and come save me. Some bastards have thrown me into the Qiantang River!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was stunned, "What happened?"


    "I''ll tell you later. If you don''t come save me now, I''ll be fish food," Wang Ling said.


    "Send me your location!" Zhang Menglong quickly put on his coat. "Yiyi, I''m stepping out to fish a dumbass out of the Qiantang River!"


    His villa was less than 4 kilometers from the riverbank, and within minutes, he had arrived.


    It was nearly 11 p.m., and the riverbank was almost deserted. With a sweep of his spiritual power, Zhang Menglong actually found Wang Ling below the embankment.


    Clutching at a crevice in the embankment, the night wind by the river made him keep catching his breath. The embankment, nearly ten meters high and very smooth due to water erosion, was impossible for an ordinary person to climb. Without help, Wang Ling was genuinely in mortal danger!


    At this point, Zhang Menglong couldn''t hold back anymore; his inner strength surged out, instantly freezing a small section of the riverbank, and then he pulled Wang Ling out all at once.


    "You..." Wang Ling had seen such scenes before. The last time was in Europe when he had watched Ye Yin display superhuman strength. Now, Zhang Menglong had also turned into such a monster.


    Wang Ling, reeking of garbage, quickly grabbed a coat from Zhang Menglong, "This damn thing, someone wants to kill me!"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t speak; he noticed several bruises on Wang Ling''s face, garments torn, and even a deep wound on his leg.


    "Were you beaten up?" Zhang Menglong narrowed his eyes, "Who did it? Is it related to that internet celebrity thing?"


    Wang Ling nodded, "It''s my business. Don''t get involved; I don''t want to drag you into this."


    "Drag me into this?" Zhang Menglong was even more surprised, "You''re joking. What could possibly drag me into this?"


    "Did you just freeze the river?" Wang Ling asked, "Don''t tell me my eyes are playing tricks. Last time, your bodyguard did something similar. Don''t treat me like a fool."


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong admitted openly.


    "Those people, they have the same abilities," Wang Ling said. "And they might be even more capable than you and Ye Yin. They will kill!"

 Chapter 549 547: No More Pretense, Laying the Cards on the Table

    "You really have so little faith in me?" Zhang Menglong patted Wang Ling''s shoulder, sending a life-force filled energy flowing through Wang Ling''s body.


    His wounds began to heal visibly fast, the bruises dissolving quickly, and in a matter of seconds, his skin was left with nothing but some scabs, no other signs of injury.


    "Wow, awesome!" Wang Ling couldn''t believe his eyes as he looked at his body, the fiery pain he had felt before had vanished completely, "I had no idea you had this ability?"


    "My abilities are much more than you think," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do you even consider me a friend?"


    "Of course, who wouldn''t want to cling to Boss Zhang''s coattails!"


    "Then tell me the full story," Zhang Menglong said, "Even if you don''t tell me, I''ll find a way to find out. There''s hardly anything in this world that I can''t dig up."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Joking aside, not going to lie, if my family wanted to unify the world, Earth would have been under the Zhang surname thousands of years ago, but now it''s not much different, you could call me the Mayor of Earth Village," Zhang Menglong half-joked.


    "So you''re our landlord, forgive my oversight!"


    "Stop messing around, tell me who was so vicious, and also, who exactly is Jiang Qiyuan?"


    "Do you know why I keep switching girlfriends?" Wang Ling suddenly became somber.


    "You''re not going to tell me it''s because of Jiang Qiyuan, are you?"


    "Right," Wang Ling said, "Actually, I''ve known her since we were childhood friends, but her family''s background is somewhat special; before she went to university, she just vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace."


    "How is that possible?" Zhang Menglong was surprised, finding a person nowadays is really easy, how could it be possible for a wealthy family like Wang Ling''s to not be able to find someone?


    "Not just her, her entire family disappeared too. The house they lived in was left empty. Just a month ago, she reappeared, and later I found out she comes from a world unknown to ordinary people."


    "Ancient Martial Arts Families?"


    "How do you know?" A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Ling''s face, but he soon regained composure. Since Zhang Menglong had abilities similar to those people, it seemed not so strange that he knew about the Ancient Martial Arts Families.


    "I''ve fought almost every one of those Ancient Martial Arts families," Zhang Menglong said, "Even the so-called Martial God of the Ancient Martial Arts World barely reached the standard of my family bodyguard after my guidance."


    "Whoa, that''s pretty badass!" Wang Ling rolled his eyes, but for some reason, his gut told him that Zhang Menglong was telling the truth.


    "However, I know her family is somewhat special in the Ancient Martial Arts Families," Wang Ling added, "She said the reason she disappeared for a while is because her body is special, so she was chosen by a place in the Ancient Martial Arts World called Realm Island. She stayed there for eight years and said she had to reach the Grandmaster Realm to come and go freely."


    "Grandmaster? So, Jiang Qiyuan has reached the Grandmaster realm now?"


    "I don''t quite understand, but according to what she said, she should have."


    "And she''s only about twenty-six or twenty-seven, right?" Zhang Menglong fell silent. According to his understanding of the current Ancient Martial Arts World, to reach the so-called Grandmaster realm, one would typically need to be at least forty or fifty years old, a twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old Grandmaster Martial Artist, that must be considered a genius among geniuses.


    "Hong Yi, within five minutes, help me find out about a place called ''Realm Island''!" Zhang Menglong immediately sent a message to Hong Yi.


    Seeing Wang Ling like that, Zhang Menglong simply brought him back to his own home. While he was taking a bath, Zhang Menglong opened the information collected by Hong Yi.


    This "Realm Island" was indeed an island, but this place was very unique. It was located in a public maritime area of the Pacific Ocean and its uniqueness lay in it being situated in an independent space. Ordinary people couldn''t see it, and it could only be found through precise positioning.


    Currently, it was hypothesized that it might be a special region produced by the overlay of two time-space dimensions or it might be a special spatial relic left behind by another civilization long ago.


    Realm Island didn''t belong to any country, but it attracted people from various nations. Periodically, through global organizations in the Second World, Realm Island would recruit exceptionally gifted individuals. It was akin to a secluded Immortal Realm, and other than the people on the island, nobody knew of its existence.


    Zhang Menglong''s subordinates had found this place purely by chance when they were passing by that area of the sea and sensed some unusual fluctuations.


    This was an area rich in energy, and cultivating ancient martial arts and supernatural abilities here was several times faster than in the outside world. However, the oxygen concentration and gravity conditions here were different from the outside world, and not everyone could withstand them.


    The guard from the Zhang Family had only roughly scanned the area. The highest energy level here was the Tianyuan realm, so they hadn''t paid it much attention.


    After all, for the Tianyuan realm individuals, one fart from the Zhang Family could kill a bunch.


    "Man, your bathtub and toilet are encrusted with diamonds; you''re really living the high life," Wang Ling cursed as he walked out of the bathroom, "Thanks for today."


    "Stop being disgusting. Eat something first. You look like you saw a ghost," Zhang Menglong said, "I understand a bit about Realm Island now, but who exactly beat you up?"


    "I don''t know the origins of this person, but my guess is eight or nine out of ten that he''s from Realm Island," Wang Ling speculated, "After all, Qiyuan hasn''t left that place for many years, and the people connected to her are probably from there too."


    "Oh? Could it be a love rival?" Zhang Menglong asked with a wicked grin.


    Wang Ling seemed to accept the possibility of this love rival, "The first time I met Qiyuan, he appeared, initially just warning me to stay away from Qiyuan. I thought he was just a lunatic, but today, right after I dropped Qiyuan off at her home, he ambushed me on my way back. He even wrecked my Aston Martin."


    "You''re lucky you didn''t die this time," Zhang Menglong estimated the attacker must at least be a Grandmaster-level in strength, and killing Wang Ling would have been a breeze.


    "He also said, this was the last time he''d warn me," Wang Ling wiped his nose, "But am I such a coward? If he''s capable, he should just kill me!"


    "Hahaha, let me ask you, do you want revenge?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course, do I look like someone who would meekly submit after being hit?" Wang Ling said fiercely, "If I ever run into him, I swear I''ll kick his guts out, fighting over a woman with me!"


    "Hahaha," Zhang Menglong laughed, "As long as you have that spirit, I''ll help you."


    "You''ll help me?" Wang Ling looked surprised, "From what that guy said, it seems like he has a lot of power on that so-called Realm Island. I''m just a rich second-generation; what can I do? Rich people rely on technology, poor people rely on mutations. Can I rely on mutations or technology?"


    "You can rely on me, your dad," Zhang Menglong declared, "Whatever Realm Island, whatever Ancient Martial Arts Families, if you want, I''ll take you there to smash that broken Realm Island myself."


    "Are you saying you have some Miracle Elixir that could make me a ''Battle King'' overnight, capable of striking the elderly home at Nanshan with my fists and kicking the kindergarten at Beihai?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong let out a sly smile, "No use pretending anymore, I''ll lay it all out, I''m actually the dean of a really badass school!"

 Chapter 550 548: Get to Know the Ultraman Transformation Device

    "Gou Dan, what conditions are needed to bring an ordinary person in?"


    "Impossible," Gou Dan bluntly refused, "because Super God Academy is a very special independent space, which only those whose Potential Index reaches that limit can enter."


    "Is there any way to increase the Potential Index of an ordinary person?"


    "Yes," Gou Dan replied, "an elixir concocted by Teacher Yao Chen called Spirit-breaking Pill can help people improve their Potential Index."


    "Okay then," to prove himself directly, Zhang Menglong disappeared from the living room in front of Wang Ling and immediately returned after getting the elixirs from Yao Chen at Super God Academy.


    "You... you..." Wang Ling pointed at Zhang Menglong, too astonished to speak, "You just now, that door... You''re an alien, right?"


    "That''s the entrance to my school," Zhang Menglong said mysteriously, "It''s a gateway to a new world for you."


    "Open it quick, I want to go in and have a look!" Wang Ling said impatiently, "No kidding, if I hadn''t seen you guys casting spells with my own eyes, I''d never believe it."


    "Casting spells my ass, haven''t you heard the saying that the end of science is Theological Academy? This is also science," Zhang Menglong said, "But before you go in, I need to do something first."


    "What''s that?"


    "My school isn''t just any place that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can wander into, if your physical condition doesn''t meet certain standards, going in there would mean death."


    He shuddered at the word "death," "So what do we do?"


    Zhang Menglong casually took out some ingredients for the Spirit-breaking Pill, "Alchemy!"


    "Damn, are you playing Cultivation with me?" Wang Ling wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Come on, start your performance."


    "Hold on," Zhang Menglong rushed into the kitchen, and then found a pressure cooker.


    "You''re calling this Alchemy? Isn''t this for cooking soup?" Wang Ling almost burst into laughter, "Haven''t you seen Battle Through the Heavens? Even if you''re concocting elixirs, at least pull out an Alchemy Furnace for me, will you?"


    "Only losers use Pill Furnaces!" Zhang Menglong shoved those ingredients into the pressure cooker, expertly sealed the lid, "If it weren''t for the lack of time, I''d have created a fully automatic portable elixir-cooking rice cooker for you."


    "The times really have changed."


    "Whoosh!" As Zhang Menglong''s palm ignited with that cluster of bone-chillingly cold flame, Wang Ling''s mocking expression instantly vanished because he could feel the air around him turning spine-tinglingly cold, and even his damp hair began to develop ice crystals.


    "Such a cold flame," Wang Ling said in disbelief, "You''re not going to tell me this thing is the Bone Cold Fire from the list of Strange Fires, are you?"


    "You know your stuff, bro!" Zhang Menglong controlled the Bone Cold Fire to envelop the pressure cooker, which then started to float and spin in mid-air.


    "Ow!" Wang Ling slapped himself hard, "So what''s your level now? A Battle King? Or perhaps a Battle Emperor?"


    He himself couldn''t quite believe he was asking such a question, which would probably get him a direct admission to the psychiatric hospital if asked in front of anyone else.


    "I''m not quite sure," although he spent every day showing off without spending much time on cultivation, with his abundant resources, particularly after switching from Xiong Ba''s Three Elements Unite to the Burning Art given by Yao Chen, Zhang Menglong shifted from martial arts to Cultivation.


    Now, having reached the Heavenly Origin Boundary and able to fly freely, he should at least be at the Battle King''s level, right?


    Actually, he might be even stronger, if he could awaken Xiao Yan from his slumber and acquire all the Strange Fires, thus upgrading the Burning Art to a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique. But alas, his luck was rotten, so the level of the Burning Art was stuck at Xuan Rank, unable to break through.


    Of course, he had inherited the Deity''s physique from Thor and learned techniques like Susanoo from Uchiha Itachi, among others, making his comprehensive strength incredibly frightening.


    "What a fragrant smell!" Just then, Lu Yiyao, wearing pajamas, walked out of her room, "Are you making a midnight snack?"


    When Lu Yiyao clearly saw what was happening, her pupils dilated, and she rubbed her sleepy eyes. After all, aside from his prowess in money-making, Zhang Menglong had never shown any supernatural abilities in front of her.


    "I must be really groggy," Lu Yiyao scratched her messy hair and went back to her room.


    Zhang Menglong could only laugh helplessly. Nevertheless, this batch of pills wouldn''t just yield one or two pieces. It was time for Lu Yiyao to also enter Super God Academy, not to become very powerful, but at least to maintain her youth forever.


    Soon, a thick pill fragrance filled the entire room, and Zhang Menglong began to slowly weaken the Bone Cold Fire. The broken spirit pill wasn''t anything particularly high-grade. In that fantasy world, it was simply an elixir for enhancing one''s inherent potential. Although rare, it still fell far short compared to those elixirs that could defy heaven, change one''s fate, or even revive the dead.


    Opening the lid of the pressure cooker, Zhang Menglong clattered out three pitch-black pills, each almost two to three times the size of a quail''s egg...


    "Can you even eat this thing?" Wang Ling picked up one, "Wouldn''t you choke to death if you swallowed this? Can I chew it? Would that affect the efficacy?"


    "Why the hell do you have so many questions?" To be honest, Zhang Menglong had this question too the first time he took an elixir, but in order to appear professional, he had to fake it.


    He slapped the pill straight into Wang Ling''s mouth.


    "Cough cough!" Wang Ling''s face instantly turned the color of a pig''s liver, and it took several minutes for him to recover.


    "Fuck, why do I feel like I''m going to have diarrhea?" A gurgling sound came from Wang Ling''s stomach, and some black grime began oozing out of his pores as well.


    "This is changing your physique and potential. Clearly, you haven''t read enough fantasy novels!"


    "Fuck! Get out of the way, I need to use the toilet!"


    ...


    After a full half-hour of torment, Wang Ling came out of the toilet looking utterly drained. Although he felt weak, he could sense his body had been rejuvenated, his thoughts were very clear, and his mind didn''t quite feel like his own anymore.


    "14 points on the Potential Index, not bad at all!" Zhang Menglong used the headmaster''s ring to scan Wang Ling''s Potential Index, which had risen from 6 to 14 points. For an elixir that was not considered precious to do this, he felt quite surprised.


    "Come on, let''s take a look at my school!" Zhang Menglong took the lead, stepping into the light curtain.


    Wang Ling hesitated for a moment before following closely behind.


    Just like everyone who set foot in Super God Academy before him, Wang Ling''s gaze lingered on every inch of the land.


    "Unicorn Awakening Mode!"


    "Floating Cannon!"


    ...This was the Autonomous Driving Academy.


    "Turtle School Qigong!"


    "Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger!"


    "Dugu Nine Swords!"


    ...This was the Martial Arts Academy.


    "Quick, help me calculate this formula. I think I got a parameter for the curvature engine wrong just now!"


    "Hahaha, I finally set up a controlled nuclear fusion reactor!"


    ...This was the Physics Academy.


    "Hahaha, handsome, don''t leave just yet!"


    "Nie Xiaoqian, you''re flirting with the underclassmen again!"


    ...This was the Exorcism Academy.


    "Is this school... is this a proper school?" After looking around for a long time, Wang Ling finally came out with this question.


    "Of course it is. We teach everything here," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "I''m thinking about what I can teach you so that you''ll be able to seek revenge in the shortest amount of time. The martial arts path is definitely too slow; without many years of practice, you definitely won''t be able to beat others. It looks like we''ll have to take the sci-fi route."


    Zhang Menglong casually took out a Divine Light Rod, "Do you want to become light? Have you heard of an Ultraman Transformation Device?"

 Chapter 551 549: Armor Integration

    "Thump thump thump!"


    The next day, while still basking in the sweet dreams of early morning, the door of Zhang Menglong''s home was frantically pounded on.


    "What''s going on? Demolition time?" Zhang Menglong, still groggy from waking up, made his way to the entrance, only to see that the alloy door of the villa had been dented with several deep fist marks, reminiscent of a scene from "Kung Fu." "Practicing the Tathagata Palm?"


    Zhang Menglong opened the door, and Jiang Qiyuan stood at the doorway, her face fraught with worry.


    "Where''s Wang Ling? Is he alright?"


    "I mean, sister, can''t you let a person have a good sleep early in the morning? You''ve almost smashed our door to bits," Zhang Menglong immediately complained, feeling speechless about the door. What did it ever do to you?


    "Where''s Wang Ling?" Jiang Qiyuan continued to press.


    "He''s fine," Zhang Menglong shouted, "Wang Ling, Jiang Qiyuan is here looking for you. And later, you need to settle the bill for a new door, alright?"


    Wang Ling had only managed to fall asleep around two or three in the morning after the shocks of the previous night. However, after a session of marrow cleansing and physical enhancement, he bounced out of bed quickly upon hearing Jiang Qiyuan''s voice.


    "Why didn''t you tell me about the matter with the Realm Child?" Jiang Qiyuan asked, her voice tinged with a sob.


    "Realm Child?" Both Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling looked puzzled.


    "You know, the person who hurt you," Jiang Qiyuan glanced at Zhang Menglong, seemingly reluctant to speak.


    "Menglong is one of us. Just say whatever it is," Wang Ling said.


    "He''s the next heir of Realm Island," Jiang Qiyuan continued, "You have no idea how powerful he is. Don''t think today''s technology is anything special. According to the levels of the Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia, he''s already a Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm. You may not grasp what this means, but he can flip a car over with his hand, and bullets and missiles can''t harm him. Do you understand how dangerous he is?"


    "Alright," Wang Ling abruptly pulled Jiang Qiyuan into his arms, "aren''t I fine now, without any problems?"


    Jiang Qiyuan gritted her teeth and, under Wang Ling''s astonished gaze, pushed him away.


    "Maybe we shouldn''t contact each other anymore," she suggested.


    "Why?" Wang Ling asked incredulously. "It''s been eight years. I''ve finally seen you again, and now you''re telling me we shouldn''t be in contact?"


    "Don''t you get it?" Jiang Qiyuan said helplessly, "They are not bound by the mundane world. They will really kill you!"


    "I just have one question for you, are you willing to be with me?" Wang Ling asked earnestly.


    Jiang Qiyuan hesitated for a moment.


    "If you are willing, I don''t care about any Realm Child or Realm Island. Whoever stands in my way, I will take them down!"


    "Epic, give it up for him!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but applaud upon hearing these bold words.


    "You don''t understand," after cultivating on Realm Island for eight years, Jiang Qiyuan knew all too well just how strong Realm Island is. Now in the Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia, only the Martial God had broken through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary, and the master of Realm Island had already stepped into the Heavenly Origin Realm for decades when Jiang Qiyuan first learned of its existence.


    And on Realm Island, there was more than one expert of the Heavenly Origin Realm!


    With such power, it was enough to sweep across the entire second world, let alone those mundane forces. How could Wang Ling''s insignificant strength possibly contend with Realm Island?


    "Qiyuan, why are you speaking with someone who doesn''t understand anything?"


    At that moment, a young voice came from outside the villa.


    Jiang Qiyuan''s face suddenly changed, "Realm Son? How did he get here?"


    As if to prove his own strength and sense of superiority, the youth whom Jiang Qiyuan referred to as the Realm Son kicked the iron gate outside the villa and sent it flying.


    The gate flew like a meteor for more than a dozen meters and crashed right onto the Koenigsegg parked in Zhang Menglong''s yard.


    Although this title might sound strange, the youth''s attire was no different from that of a common person, with dark eyes, yellow skin¡ªa standard Asian appearance.


    "Wang Ling, I believe I''ve warned you that if you approach Qiyuan again, I''ll make you evaporate from this world. I''ve already given you two chances, but it seems like you don''t cherish your life?"


    "Who the hell do you think you are!" Zhang Menglong frowned and glanced at his car. It was a Koenigsegg, newly customized by the company specifically for him, valued at 120 million US dollars. He had only been driving it for three days, and now someone had turned it into this?


    "Building repair costs, 20 billion US dollars; car repair costs, 20 billion US dollars; emotional distress compensation, 20 billion US dollars. Pay the money and then you can get lost!"


    "And what are you supposed to be?" Realm Son looked at Zhang Menglong as if he was looking at a fool, "I threw him into the Qiantang River yesterday, and now he''s in your house. Looks like you saved him?"


    "Hmm?"


    "You even dare to meddle in the matters of Realm Island, I must say, you''ve got guts!"


    "You dare to smash even my Zhang Menglong''s house; you must really be tired of living," retorted Zhang Menglong directly.


    "I know you are the richest man in the world, but in the eyes of us from Realm Island, you are nothing! We''ve already given you a chance, so don''t blame me now."


    "Realm Son, please don''t..." Jiang Qiyuan immediately stood in front of the youth, "I will go back to Realm Island with you right now, please let them go."


    "Qiyuan, you don''t have to ask him," Wang Ling pulled Jiang Qiyuan behind him, "This jerk beat me up yesterday, and today I just happen to be full of anger."


    "Hahaha!" The youth looked at Wang Ling and started laughing, "It seems like you still don''t understand what kind of person I am."


    A thick surge of energy suddenly spread from the youth''s body, several times purer than ordinary inner strength, and his realm was probably around Level Three of the Mythical Realm.


    "Wang Ling, I''ll leave the chance to play the hero to you," Zhang Menglong led Lu Yiyao, who was startled awake by the door being kicked and still somewhat shocked, to sit on the sofa, then asked the housekeeper, who remained calm, to prepare some coffee.


    Zhang Menglong''s actions completely subverted what the youth known as Realm Son had believed.


    What exactly was going on? Had he not seen him kick a several-hundred-kilogram heavy gate just now? And could he not feel the trembling force he possessed?


    It was not his first time showing off in front of ordinary people; previously, everyone would prostrate before him in fear, but Zhang Menglong and the others treated him as if he was nothing. Even the person who looked like a housekeeper seemed nonchalant.


    What he didn''t know was, as the Zhang Family''s housekeeper, what kind of big events hadn''t she seen? Just a gate, that was nothing; and did he think the housekeeper was just an ordinary person?


    One should know that many of the Zhang Family''s retired security guards, after getting older, stayed with the Zhang Family to do some chores, and if they pushed the housekeeper too hard, the consequences would be severe.


    "You don''t want to live anymore?" Seeing Wang Ling approach, the youth still had a cold smile, "Even if Qiyuan begs me today, you won''t live until tomorrow. But don''t say I didn''t give you a chance, I''ll give you the opportunity for one sentence, whether you call for help or whatever."


    Wang Ling''s mouth twitched, "Are you sure you want me to shout just one sentence?"


    Wang Ling''s smile caused a brief moment of confusion on the youth''s face. What kind of smile was that? Mockery? Disdain? Relief?


    "Then don''t regret it," Wang Ling suddenly struck a pose so incredibly cheesy, it even made Jiang Qiyuan feel a bit embarrassed.


    "I have never done anything I regretted." The youth clearly thought Wang Ling had a serious mental issue.


    "You will regret it this time!" Wang Ling crossed his fists in front of his chest, then violently pulled them to his waist, "Emperor''s Armor, Integration!"

 Chapter 552 550: Sir, The Times Have Changed

    "Hahaha!" The young man known as Kaibong trembled with laughter, "Armor Integration? I thought you were going to turn into light."


    If Wang Ling were a student, behaving like this would basically forfeit his mating rights for four years. Who in their right mind, without suffering a stroke for at least two or three years, would do something so cringeworthy?


    "What... what exactly is he doing?" Jiang Qiyuan''s forehead was streaked with black lines. Since she had known Wang Ling, when had she ever seen him do anything so outrageous?


    Armor Integration? The Emperor''s Armor at that? Did he think he was dreaming? A tokusatsu show? Does he think Toei is his family business?


    "Killing someone like you is simply an insult to my intelligence," the young man had originally thought Wang Ling would call the police for help or something, but who would have known that he would actually, actually break down on the spot like this? Has he been watching too many Armor Warrior shows?


    But what nobody noticed was that, a golden ray of light was ejected from the Sun, which was one astronomical unit away from Earth. This light formed a curved ripple in space and in just a few seconds, traversed a stretch that light itself took eight minutes to travel.


    In the face of the youth''s ridicule, a sneer of mockery flashed across Wang Ling''s lips. The actions might be a bit over the top, but who was the real idiot?


    "What is that?" The sudden appearance of the golden light nearly blinded the young man, the beam shooting through the void and enveloping Wang Ling altogether.


    "What... what''s going on?" Jiang Qiyuan couldn''t help but step back, sensing a mysterious power within the column of light, not supernatural abilities, not inner strength, but something much more noble than either.


    The beam of light swathed Wang Ling for merely an instant before vanishing. From within the golden radiance, a golden figure in extravagant and exaggerated armor slowly emerged.


    "I haven''t read much, is this some kind of magic trick?" Lu Yiyao stared blankly at Zhang Menglong. Although she hadn''t watched that particular tokusatsu drama, Lu Yiyao had heard of the Armor Warrior and knew what the Emperor''s Armor looked like.


    But witnessing such a scene unfold before her eyes, how could she accept it?


    "Yo, little Wang summoned the Emperor''s Armor," at that moment, the domestic housekeeper who had gone to prepare coffee once again walked by calmly, "But your armor isn''t as nice as the set Mr. Xiao Yun summoned before."


    After setting down the coffee, the housekeeper walked by slowly; she frowned at the shattered glass and debris on the ground and then, with a murderous aura, turned towards the stupefied Kaibong, "Little bastard, I just finished cleaning up, and you''ve made a mess again. If it weren''t for Mr. Zhang''s instructions to let Mr. Wang handle this, I would throw you straight into the Qiantang River!"


    Having said that, the housekeeper slowly exited the living room.


    The young man certainly heard the domestic housekeeper''s words. He was starting to question his entire existence. When did a housekeeper dare to speak to him like this? He was Kaibong from Realm Island, even people from the second world would treat him with the utmost respect. Had he actually been scorned by a housekeeper?


    And weren''t you the slightest bit shocked by what you saw? Acting so nonchalantly, had you been through World War II?


    And who was going to explain to him this phenomenon right in front of him? Was this really the Earth he knew? Wang Ling had actually integrated with armor, which was absolutely absurd!


    "Summoning the Emperor''s Armor, the usage cost is 20 Cred Points per minute, with an effect of 25 units of energy intensity."


    Zhang Menglong found that by deducting double the energy intensity, he could also let the students of Super God Academy use the items from the academy for a short period!


    25 units of energy intensity, that''s the power of a Level Five Heavenly Origin Boundary. Wang Ling could even drag the owner of Realm Island across the ground!


    "Hehe!" The laughter of Wang Ling came from beneath the golden armor as he swung his body slightly, reveling in the feeling of power for the first time, realizing he could be so awesome.


    He had forgotten that last night he had made his choice among various technology paths. Transforming into Ultraman might make the news, piloting a Gundam would require time to get used to the controls, and the size of a Gundam wasn''t exactly small. Kamen Rider belonged to the decent Kaibong from Japan, which he looked down upon.


    In the end, he had chosen the power of the Emperor''s Armor filled with the aura of Huaxia from the Armor Warrior series.


    "Dadada." Wang Ling took step by step towards the young man, "I remember last night you wrecked my Aston Martin, punched me twice in the face, and even threw me into the Qiantang River, right?"


    "What ''Emperor''s Armor,'' stuff for tricking kids!" the young man simply did not believe that such power truly existed in this world, and even if it did, it was definitely not achievable in this era.


    His body moved swiftly, gathering all his strength to launch a leg whip towards Wang Ling''s head.


    "Bang!" The kick landed solidly on Wang Ling''s neck, but his body didn''t even wobble. Such strength felt like nothing more than a tickle to Wang Ling, who wielded the power of the Emperor''s Armor.


    "Didn''t have breakfast?" Wang Ling sneered.


    "Auntie, give this customer a cup of cappuccino," Zhang Menglong also egged on from the side.


    "Impossible! This can''t be possible!" Just yesterday, Wang Ling was a piece of garbage without any power to resist in his hands. His kick would have shattered even a slab of iron, yet it couldn''t break Wang Ling''s neck!


    He immediately adjusted his stance and sent several punches flying towards Wang Ling''s chest.


    "Bang bang bang!"


    Sparks flickered off the chest armor, showing that the punches were quite powerful, but they only managed to elicit a few sparks, which undoubtedly felt like scratching an itch.


    "Are you trying to scrape my skin?" Wang Ling twisted his neck, "Though it''s quite comfortable. Menglong, you won''t mind if I destroy your house, right?"


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong said, "If there''s one thing I have plenty of, it''s houses. Plus, even if it gets destroyed, I won''t be the one paying for it. This guy still owes me 60 billion US dollars."


    "When the hell did I owe you 60 billion US dollars? Did I ever say I would repay you?" The young man hadn''t had the chance to retort before Wang Ling made his move!


    He lifted his foot and kicked towards the young man.


    Such was the power of this kick that it could send a several-hundred-kilogram beast flying hundreds of meters into the sky; the force unleashed was so terrifying that it was difficult to measure with numbers.


    The young man quickly shielded his chest with both hands, already sensing the terrifying force of the kick.


    "Wow, it''s the first time I''ve seen someone take a Knight Kick. He''s like an iron fool," Zhang Menglong covered his eyes.


    "Boom!" The young man flew out like a cannonball, crashing through the walls of Zhang Menglong''s house and leaving them in ruins.


    Wang Ling walked over to the remnants, "I didn''t even exert myself, and you''re already down?"


    "Crack!" Stones tumbled down as the young man''s arms contorted into an unnatural state; the kick had broken both of his arms.


    Not only that, but his chest caved in, and his mouth was filled with blood.


    The kick had nearly killed a Mythical Realm Level Three Martial Artist!


    "You... what kind of trick did you use?" The young man clutched his chest, his speech broken and intermittent.


    He could not have imagined that a person he could have casually killed yesterday was now capable of nonchalantly killing him.


    If he had known something like this would happen today, he would never have merely thrown Wang Ling into the Qiantang River yesterday; instead, he would have taken his life directly!


    Wang Ling patted his chest, "Mister, times have changed. Do you think this is still the era where everyone is devoted to practicing martial arts? Right now, I could easily crush you to death with one hand!"

 Chapter 553 553: 551

    ```


    "These are the two punches you gave me yesterday!" Wang Ling slammed his fists into the young man''s face twice, holding back as he didn''t dare hit too hard; an accidental overuse of strength could easily crack the skull open.


    Even so, he probably couldn''t avoid a severe concussion, which left him looking far more miserable than Wang Ling had been the day before.


    "Also, you dumped me into the Qiantang River yesterday, right?" Wang Ling picked him up like a small chicken and tossed him into Zhang Menglong''s swimming pool next to them, instantly turning the whole pond red with blood.


    At that moment, Wang Cai was swimming comfortably, but the sudden presence of a blood-drenched intruder in its territory enraged him. He furiously bit the young man several times.


    A dead camel is still larger than a horse; an average dog would have been slapped dead with a single hit from the young man. However, with a dog trained at Super God Academy like Wang Cai, even the Island Master of Realm Island would probably have some fear.


    "Are you done yet? Had enough?" Zhang Menglong immediately canceled Wang Ling''s Imperial Armor outfit.


    Wang Ling was far from done. Seeing his armor disappear, he cast a resentful glance at Zhang Menglong, "Why did you deactivate my transformation?"


    "For crying out loud, it was hard enough to save up those Cred Points; playing around like this will eventually waste them all!" Zhang Menglong said irritably. If he weren''t on good terms with Wang Ling, he really wouldn''t want to squander his Cred Points on him like this.


    "Forget it, I guess if I hit him any more he''ll die." Wang Ling also settled back on the sofa, savoring the freshly prepared coffee from the auntie.


    "Wang Cai, give me a hand, drag him over!"


    "Woof woof!" Wang Cai leapt out of the swimming pool and grabbed the nearly unconscious young man by the leg, flinging him in front of Zhang Menglong and the others.


    "Good boy!" Zhang Menglong stuffed a handful of elixirs into Wang Cai''s mouth, and Wang Cai contentedly went back to sleep.


    "Menglong, who exactly is this person?" Lu Yiyao had held back for so long and finally couldn''t help but ask.


    "An old rival in love of Wang''s, from a power similar to Ancient Martial Arts Families called Realm Island. It was him who threw Wang Ling into the Qiantang River yesterday," Zhang Menglong explained. The night before, Zhang Menglong had also made Lu Yiyao swallow a Spirit breaking Pill, so she now fully understood Zhang Menglong''s real background. Last night, she had been in shock for quite a while.


    "Wang Ling, what on earth happened just now?" Among the four, Jiang Qiyuan was the most surprised.


    She certainly knew that Wang Ling was just from an ordinary wealthy family, whereas this young man was the next Island Master of Realm Island. On the Island, apart from the current Island Master, there were very few who dared not obey him.


    His strength was unanimously recognized as the best among his generation on the Island; not to mention anyone daring to lay hands on him, only the older generation could surpass him.


    And now, he was lying on the ground like a dead dog, with the most outrageous part being that it was Wang Ling''s doing!


    "I told you, my strength is much greater than you can imagine, so don''t keep things from me in the future!" Although Wang Ling''s words were a bit greasy, they still carried a hint of a domineering CEO''s aura.


    That sentence left Jiang Qiyuan unable to refute. The power Wang Ling had just shown was literally pressing the youth on the floor to rub the ground; even the lowest estimate of his strength was above the Heavenly Origin Realm.


    In Ancient Martial Arts Families, that kind of power could virtually sweep across the entire Ancient Martial Arts World.


    Even in Realm Island, there were barely a handful of people who could stand against him.


    "What do we do with this guy?" Wang Ling''s anger had mostly subsided after beating the person up, and he had never really intended to kill anyone.


    "Let''s have him compensate us first," Zhang Menglong glanced at the somewhat messy courtyard, the collapsed walls, and the bloodstained swimming pool, "What the hell, running into a madman first thing in the morning."


    Zhang Menglong took the half-finished cappuccino in his hand and splashed it directly onto the young man''s face.


    The young man shuddered and came to, but now with severe wounds all over him, if not for the sustenance of his Mythical Realm Inner Strength, he would have died several times over by now.


    All he felt was an intense burning pain all over his body, with his leg wound barely feeling anything anymore.


    ```


    "You... You all... Realm Island won''t let you get away with this!" Perhaps due to being accustomed to superiority from a young age, the young man''s first words were actually a threat.


    "Are you sick in the head," Wang Ling kicked him in the head again, "you''re lying at our feet right now, and you still dare to be so arrogant?"


    "Wang Cai, bite his basket off for me!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Not far away, Wang Cai shook his head; it didn''t want to touch such a filthy thing with its mouth.


    "Forget it, just kill him!" Zhang Menglong walked over to the entrance and picked up an exaggeratedly designed golden sword.


    As a cultivator, what kind of divine weapons had not the young man seen?


    To his astonishment, he found that this ornament-like item placed casually at the entrance, as if meant to ward off evil spirits, was at least a third-grade weapon!


    A third-grade weapon was also something that on Realm Island only his teacher, the Island Master, possessed!


    Who exactly was this person? Not to mention having such an impressive domestic helper at home, or that their dog had at least the strength of the seventh or eighth grade in the Mythical Realm, but even a random decorative piece in the house was a rare treasure¡ªwhat kind of family background was this!


    What kind of fortuitous encounter had Wang Ling gone through to be able to summon such a terrifying armor, and could it possibly have something to do with the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong?


    Could it be that they were out-of-touch on the island and the secular technology of the world had developed to a point where it could contend with the Heavenly Origin Realm? Could someone please explain this to him?


    "Don''t, don''t, don''t! Please don''t kill me!" An adult''s breakdown sometimes happens in just an instant.


    "If you were this submissive earlier, wouldn''t we have avoided so much trouble?" Zhang Menglong put the Xuanyuan Sword back at the entrance, "Speak up, what''s your name, where are you from, and why did you want to kill Wang Ling?"


    "My name is Tong Wei, I come from Realm Island, and to kill him¡ªobviously for Jiang Qiyuan."


    As it turned out, over the years, Jiang Qiyuan had also demonstrated powerful cultivation talent on Realm Island, which drew the attention of Tong Wei, the direct disciple of the Island Master.


    But Jiang Qiyuan had always been devoted solely to her cultivation for many years and had never paid him any attention. She had only one goal¡ª to cultivate to the Mythical Realm as soon as possible and then have the authority to leave Realm Island to find Wang Ling.


    After leaving Realm Island, Tong Wei followed her out, wanting to see who exactly she was eager to meet. Witnessing the intimacy between the two, Tong Wei was moved to kill.


    Only, he was really unlucky. If it were someone else, he might have succeeded. Unfortunately for him, Wang Ling was a friend of Zhang Menglong.


    "Let''s do this, I won''t extort you," said Wang Ling, "You damaged one of my cars yesterday, let''s call it 20 billion US dollars. Then you injured me: medical expenses, nutritional supplements, lost wages, emotional distress¡ªlet''s bundle that up for another 20 billion US dollars. You scared my girlfriend, so I''ll charge you another 20 billion. That''s not too much, right?"


    "He really did learn the essence from you!" Lu Yiyao whispered to Zhang Menglong.


    "Plus, you just now also owe Menglong another 60 billion US dollars. That makes 120 billion in total. Pay off the money, stay away from Qiyuan in the future, and you can take off!"


    "What 60 billion!" Zhang Menglong was not happy, "He just dirtied my swimming pool as well, another 20 billion US dollars for cleaning fees, and he scared my dog, add another 20 billion!"


    "So, that''s 160 billion, will that be by card or cash?"


    Tong Wei had seen shameless before, but never this shameless. Even if this villa were demolished, it wouldn''t be worth 20 billion US dollars, right?


    He knew what Wang Ling''s car was¡ªa few million for an Aston Martin¡ªyet they dared to ask for 20 billion US dollars?


    "What''s the matter? No money?" Wang Ling chuckled sinisterly, "If you have no money, then just forget about leaving!"

 Chapter 554 552: Your Aunt Is Still Your Aunt

    "Bump!"


    "Three bamboos!"


    "Two dots!"


    "Hahaha, winning on self-drawn tile!"


    ...


    Two groups of four people had just enough players for a game of mahjong, and somehow, they had inexplicably begun to sit in the living room and started playing the national quintessence.


    Meanwhile, the construction crew called in by Zhang Menglong had already started repairing the damaged places in the house.


    Tong Wei was curled up in a corner of the villa, shivering with fear. His eyes were helpless, not understanding why these people acted as if they couldn''t see him.


    Couldn''t those workers see a person covered in blood lying in this room? Wouldn''t normal people, even if they didn''t call the police, at least give him a few different looks?


    But after these construction workers arrived at the villa, besides glancing at him when they first arrived, they acted as though he didn''t exist.


    Little did he know that these people, who appeared to be from a construction crew, were actually from Zhang Menglong''s own people. How could they betray their own young master?


    "If this keeps up, I''m really going to die!" Although he was highly skilled, Tong Wei''s injuries this time were too severe. He gradually felt his life force slowly ebbing away, his eyelids getting heavier, and his body increasingly numb.


    "I can only seek help from the elders this time."


    In truth, Tong Wei had sneaked out. The people of Realm Island had no idea, and his teacher and several top figures of Realm Island still thought he was in seclusion for cultivation.


    If they were to find out he had snuck out of Realm Island for a woman, he guessed his bones would be broken.


    But now he had no other choice. If this continued, he would die; even if the people of Realm Island found out, he would at most face some punishment.


    He immediately used Realm Island''s unique method of communication to transmit news of his injuries to Realm Island.


    In the depths of the Pacific Ocean, there was a distortion point in time and space, like an isolated Immortal Realm of eternal bliss.


    An elder with a European appearance, radiating an aura of grim killing intent, suddenly opened his eyes.


    "This kid, really ran off," the elder''s eyes emanated a hint of murderous intent, "So there''s someone who dares to touch my Realm Island''s people. It seems that after so many years without leaving the island, the outside world has forgotten about the existence of Realm Island?"


    The elder said to his disciples, "Tell the Island Master for me, I''m stepping out!"


    ...


    "Kong!"


    "White tile!"


    "One bird!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, how did you bomb out again? I thought you were all-capable, but it turns out there are things you can''t handle too!" Wang Ling taunted with laughter.


    "Fuck, I''ll go learn mahjong from Sparrow God in a couple of days and obliterate you!"


    "Impressive with cheats, huh?"


    Zhang Menglong said fiercely, "How much do I owe you now?"


    "2.52 million!" Wang Ling said with a smile, "Thank you for your generous tips, Boss Zhang."


    "Dammit!" Zhang Menglong directly transferred the money.


    "You guys are playing so big, aren''t you afraid of being caught for gambling?"


    "No, they only go after big money for gambling, this is just chump change!" Zhang Menglong said carelessly.


    "Uh..." Jiang Qiyuan was speechless. You can lose over two million in a few rounds of mahjong and you''re telling me it''s just chump change? Isn''t that enough for a jail sentence?


    "No problem, if that doesn''t work, I''ll just smelt a batch of gold next time, and we can use gold as chips, right?"


    "You''re always the clever one!"


    They started shuffling the tiles again.


    "Wang Ling, how do you plan on handling the stuff online? You''ve already been dubbed the ''Ancestor of Brown-nosers'', ''King of Greasiness'', and that internet celebrity was still bashing you on her livestream yesterday."


    "Oh, right, if you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten," Wang Ling stood up and walked back to Tong Wei, delivering a kick to his butt, "That guy who attacked me, you hired him, didn''t you?"


    Tong Wei didn''t speak. He thought that once the Elder from Realm Island arrived, we''d see if they could still be so arrogant.


    "Not talking, huh?" Wang Ling wasn''t angry, "No matter, whatever means they used, there will always be some traces left behind."


    When the time came, Wang Ling could just casually ask Stark for a piece of Artificial Intelligence code to help him find the records of those shady transactions and post them online to clear his name.


    "Bang!" Wang Ling kicked him again, "Ungrateful jerk!"


    "Do you really think people from my Realm Island can be moved by your mortal whims?" Just as Wang Ling finished that kick, a voice as sonorous as a Buddhist chant filled the villa.


    "Elder! Elder! I''m here, save me!"


    Hearing that voice, Tong Wei started shouting as if seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.


    "Hahaha, you''re all dead meat now, the Elder from Realm Island is here; I want you all dead!" Tong Wei''s face twisted with venom, as if he wanted to tear Wang Ling and the others to shreds right there and then.


    The elderly Westerner stood at the entrance of the villa, wearing a long black robe, his eyes filled with intense rage.


    He had not expected Tong Wei to be beaten so badly.


    "Doesn''t he look a bit odd, an old foreign guy wearing a black robe like from ancient Huaxia?"


    "Hahaha, might be playing cosplay."


    "Did you hear earlier, that Tong Wei was shouting for the ''Elder''? I thought all Realm Islanders were Asians. Turns out they''ve got Europeans, too."


    A few people whispered among themselves, completely disregarding the old man who had just appeared.


    "Useless, can''t even handle a few worldly people," the Elder said with disappointment.


    "Elder, these aren''t ordinary people," as if suddenly feeling an immense injustice, Tong Wei cried out hysterically, "He freakin'' knows Armor Integration, Armor Warriors, Emperor Heroes, do you even know what that is?!"


    "Nonsense!" The Elder didn''t know what Armor Warriors were, or what Tong Wei was talking about, assuming Tong Wei was just making excuses for his incompetence.


    "Hey, old man, you his elder, right?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Got money with you? He owes us 160 billion US dollars. Pay up, and you can take him with you."


    "What?" The Elder''s mouth twitched.


    Had the youth of today become so fearless through ignorance? He glanced at Tong Wei again, "You''ve thrown all the face of Realm Island away!"


    "If you haven''t brought the money, then go back," Zhang Menglong said, "come redeem him when you''ve scraped together the cash."


    "Seeking death!" A lethal aura blazed in the Elder''s eyes.


    "Excuse us! Make way!" Before the Elder had the chance to make a move, the housemaid rushed over with a broom, "I just finished cleaning up. Are you ill? Can''t you respect the results of others'' hard work?"


    "Mr. Zhang, is this your guest?" the maid turned and asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Don''t know him." Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "If he''s not Mr. Zhang''s guest, then don''t get in the way!" The maid brandished the broom at the old man, "Go on, get out, is Mr. Zhang''s house the sort where just anyone can waltz in?"


    "Damn woman!" When had the Elder ever been treated like this?


    A worldly maid dared to shoo him away with a broom.


    "Menglong!" Wang Ling tensed. He obviously knew that this old man was the elder Tong Wei had called for, and he must be more formidable than Tong Wei, while the Zhang family''s maid was just an ordinary person. If she were to get hurt, she wouldn''t be able to take it.


    "Eh, no worries, don''t be nervous," Zhang Menglong consoled, "Did you think anyone could just work as a maid at my place?"


    "Huh?"


    At that moment, as the Elder tried to grab the maid''s neck, his arm was seized by a hand that seemed rather thin and dark.


    "You!" The Elder looked terrified, the maid''s strength rendered him immobile!


    "Old geezer, you dare to strike in Mr. Zhang''s house?" The maid tightened her grip on the Elder''s arm, causing it to make cracking sounds, and in an instant, his face was covered by the Mask of Pain.


    What in the world was this place? How could a maid be so horrifying? He was a master of the Heavenly Origin Boundary!


    "How about it?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Your auntie is still your auntie, huh?"

 Chapter 555 553: Do you know that Im in charge of this part of Earth?

    "Menglong, about the auntie at your house..."


    Wang Ling had been to Zhang Menglong''s house more than once, and he had seen this auntie several times as well. Her last name was Gu, and she was mainly responsible for the household cleaning and shopping.


    Auntie Gu was usually very polite to everyone, and she always had a smile on her face. She treated Wang Ling very warmly and politely, but now it seemed that this was just an appearance.


    Lu Yiyao was also surprised. In Jiangnan City, aside from Zhang Menglong, the person she had the most contact with was Auntie Gu, a woman who cared for her meticulously just like a mother, yet she felt like she didn''t know her at all!


    "Didn''t I tell you before, not just anyone can work at my house," Zhang Menglong said, "Auntie Gu used to be my mom''s personal bodyguard when she was young. Even Ye Yin might not be able to beat her."


    "Everyone in your family is a monster, right?" Wang Ling''s mouth twitched.


    "Also, the security guards in the residential buildings in the city center, he used to be my dad''s bodyguard. He just retired and had nothing better to do, so he came to find something to keep himself busy."


    "You might not believe this, but do you think those people who look like construction workers are just ordinary workers?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the group of workers who were cleaning up the collapsed wall.


    "You''re not going to tell me that they are all experts too, are you?"


    "These are basic skills for our household staff," Zhang Menglong said, "They might not be as powerful as Ye Yin, Auntie Gu, or Wang Bao''an, but any one of them could sweep through Realm Island."


    "I''m fucking shocked for a whole year." Wang Ling had not expected that these seemingly ordinary people he had met before were all deeply hidden super-skilled masters. Perhaps this was just what a household of the Earth''s chieftain was like.


    "You people, coming here early in the morning to smash and make noise, don''t you know there are children living in this villa area? Our neighbors were about to call the police!" Auntie Gu gripped the arm of the second elder and advanced step by step.


    The second elder didn''t dare to move at all, feeling as if the slightest movement would twist his hand into a pretzel.


    "You think being an Ancient Martial Artist is something special? Realm Island, I''ve never even heard of it. I don''t care what you do outside, but if it affects my work again, I''ll demolish your so-called Realm Island tonight!"


    "Shit, Auntie Gu is really fierce!" Wang Ling whispered.


    "It''s my first time seeing Auntie Gu lose her temper," Zhang Menglong whispered back; the usually kind and cordial aunt was unexpectedly irritable today.


    "Let''s drop it, Auntie Gu, I''ll handle this matter myself," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Okay, then I''ll go prepare lunch for you." Auntie Gu glared at the second elder, and finally released his arm, "Dare to smash the wall again, and I''ll smash you!"


    Instantly, the second elder began grimacing in pain while rubbing his arm. The woman''s strength was so terrifying, she might even surpass the Island Master. What kind of household was this, where even a housekeeping auntie was so formidable?


    Although there had been no real fight, he knew very well that if he had gotten into a fight with Auntie Gu just now, his end might have been similar to Tong Wei''s.


    "Is there anything else? If not, you may leave," Zhang Menglong waved his hand. It was clear that this second elder wanted to impose himself; he probably didn''t prepare any compensation.


    Now the second elder truly realized that Tong Wei had provoked a monster this time. With his abilities, using force wouldn''t save Tong Wei, let alone himself!


    "Young master, I am the second elder of Realm Island. Tong Wei inadvertently offended you all, and I''m here to apologize on his behalf. But Tong Wei is the Direct Disciple of our Island Master. I hope you will allow me to take him away. If you ever visit Realm Island in the future, we will make sure to treat you well," the second elder said somewhat submissively.


    "That won''t do!" Wang Ling was the first to object, "He damaged our cars and houses, and he even threw me into the Qiantang River yesterday. You think a simple apology is enough?"


    "This card contains 10 million US dollars, which should be enough to compensate for your losses," the second elder took out a bank card from an international bank. The power of Realm Island spread across the world, and it was easy for them to come up with a few million US dollars.


    "Are you treating me like a beggar here?" Wang Ling pointed to the Koenigsegg and said, "Just this car alone costs hundreds of millions of US dollars. Are you kidding me?"


    "How about this, everyone calculate your losses and give me a figure," the second elder compromised, hoping to avoid a direct conflict with these people.


    "Didn''t he tell you?" Wang Ling pointed at Tong Wei and said, "He owes us 160 billion US dollars."


    "Wait, I''m not in a good mood now, and I''ve decided to double the compensation for my mental distress and my girlfriend''s, making it a total of 200 billion US dollars."


    Hearing this, the second elder almost spat out blood. You''re just short of writing the words ''robbery'' on your face, aren''t you?


    Pulling out a few hundred million US dollars was not a problem for Realm Island, but 200 billion US dollars, that was an astronomical figure for anyone.


    "If you don''t have the money, just get lost," Wang Ling grew much tougher now. "Come back to ransom this fool once you''ve gathered the money."


    "Are you really choosing to oppose Realm Island?" The second elder''s expression became much darker at that moment.


    "Maybe you really are powerful, but the dignity of Realm Island is not something anyone can trample on," the second elder said. "Realm Island''s members have businesses all over the world; with just one word from me, I could destabilize the global economy. Perhaps you aren''t afraid, but can your country handle it?"


    "Hahaha, Menglong, he''s flaunting his wealth in front of you!" Wang Ling laughed as if he had heard the funniest thing. Shouldn''t this line belong to Zhang Menglong?


    "Hong Yi, come here!"


    Hong Yi walked into the living room and looked calmly at Tong Wei lying on the floor and the second elder flaunting his power. "What do you need, Mr. Zhang?"


    "Help me check exactly how much direct assets Realm Island has."


    "Mr. Zhang, when investigating Realm Island, it was already clear their liquid and fixed assets worldwide amount to approximately 10.7 trillion US dollars," she said.


    The second elder was surprised. He knew that the assets of Realm Island were certainly calculated in trillions of US dollars, but he didn''t know the exact figure; that this woman could investigate everything so thoroughly slightly alarmed him.


    "That''s not a small amount," Zhang Menglong remarked. Such massive assets could indeed destabilize the world economy.


    "How long would it take to take over these assets?"


    "At the fastest, 17 days."


    "Good, I''ll give you 20 days. I want to make these Realm Island people so poor they can''t even afford their pants!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang. I''ll start arranging it now."


    "17 days... to take over all the assets of Realm Island?" The second elder of course thought this was a joke. How could anyone achieve such a thing? Unless a person''s total assets were ten times, a hundred times, or even more of 10 trillion US dollars.


    But could anyone possess such terrifying assets? Even if Zhang Menglong was the richest man in the world, it was impossible. Moreover, according to the Forbes rankings, Zhang Menglong''s assets were just under 10 trillion US dollars, right?


    "Do you know who has the oversight over this part of the Earth?" Zhang Menglong sneered. "Considering your threat earlier, I think this compensation needs to be super-doubled. I''m giving you three days to gather it. If you can''t, not only will this grandson not survive, but I''ll personally take over the money myself!"

 Chapter 556 554 Flatten that broken island

    "Okay, I''ll think of something right away, and I hope that for the next few days, no one harms Tong Wei."


    At this point, it wasn''t something the Second Elder could decide on his own anymore.


    "Of course, I am a man of my word," Zhang Menglong said, "but I suggest you better not try any tricks. You won''t be able to bear the consequences. Don''t doubt what I say!"


    "Excuse me for disturbing you all, I take my leave!" After looking at Tong Wei, who had lost the excitement and fervor he had on the ground, the Second Elder stepped out of the villa.


    "Second Elder, Second Elder!" Tong Wei called out as if he had a sudden burst of energy, but the Second Elder did not come back.


    "Stop calling for the Second Elder," Zhang Menglong said as he injected a stream of energy into Tong Wei. This energy could sustain his life for this period, but it wasn''t enough to heal his injuries. After all, the kidnapping victim shouldn''t die, right?


    "Come on, let''s continue playing mahjong!"


    "What''s for lunch?"


    "Braised chicken with rice?"


    "Are you freaking kidding me? You''re the world''s richest man and that''s what you have for lunch?"


    "The chicken I''m talking about is the Indonesian metal chicken, costing four million a pop."


    "Damn, then let''s have that."


    ...


    "What? Tong Wei was kidnapped?" The Second Elder brought this news back to Realm Island''s master after returning.


    The Island Master of Realm Island is called Tong Xiao, a super martial artist at the sixth stage of Heavenly Origin Realm.


    A hundred years ago, he serendipitously found a special spatial-temporal distortion point in this place. There, the environment greatly aided cultivation, with cultivation speed surpassing the outside world by several times, and it also held many marvels beyond his imagination.


    He later established a school here, living a secluded, idyllic life.


    He occasionally went out into the world to gather people with martial arts gifts. Some were natural psychics, others were ancient martial arts prospects with extraordinary physique. In any case, as long as they had exceptional abilities, he welcomed them all.


    After a hundred years of development, Realm Island had now become a sacred place in the hearts of people from the second world. Countless people longed to train on Realm Island, but no one knew where it was. Only those with exceptional talent were chosen to enter Realm Island for training.


    Tong Wei was adopted by Tong Xiao many years ago after a fire. In the blaze, Tong Wei''s parents were devoured by the fire demon, but Tong Wei seemed to have a natural affinity for fire which allowed him to survive the flames.


    Tong Xiao brought the exceptionally gifted Tong Wei back to Realm Island and raised him as his own child. The young Tong Wei, thanks to Tong Xiao''s dedicated training, now possessed the strength of the Mythical Realm.


    How could Tong Xiao sit still with Tong Wei severely wounded and kidnapped?


    "Who exactly was it that even you had to give way?" Tong Xiao managed to control his emotions. The Second Elder was also a master of the Heavenly Origin Realm. In the whole world, perhaps only the President of the Ancient Martial Association, Martial God, would be formidable enough to make him wary.


    "A housekeeper," the Second Elder said, even he found it hard to believe.


    "What? Ridiculous!"


    "Island Master, I know it sounds unbelievable, but see for yourself." The Second Elder rolled up his sleeve, revealing a clear handprint on his arm where the bruising was even turning purple. "The woman grabbed my arm, and I couldn''t break free despite all my strength."


    "How can such a person exist? I have roamed the world for a hundred years and have never heard of such a person," the Island Master fell into silence. The Second Elder might lie, but the bruise on his arm wouldn''t.


    To grab the Second Elder''s arm and immobilize him was something he himself could do, but certainly not as effortlessly as the housekeeper had done.


    "How on earth did Wei''er get involved with such a person?"


    "It''s all because of that girl from the Jiang Family," the Second Elder sighed.


    "Jiang Qiyuan does have exceptional talent; she ranks in the top five in talent of this generation on Realm Island. It''s normal for Wei''er to take a liking to her."


    "Where is her family?"


    "Still on Realm Island."


    "Keep an eye on them, and don''t let her family return to the secular world. If we can''t get Wei''er back, that''s the only chip we have to negotiate with them."


    "Yes, Island Master," the Second Elder nodded, "And they say if we want to ransom Tong Wei, we need to prepare a ransom of 200 billion US dollars."


    "What a joke. No matter how powerful they are, our Realm Island is not a soft persimmon. If they have the ability, let them come directly to Realm Island. I''ll make sure none of them make it back!"


    "Island Master!" At this moment, a young man approached with an anxious expression on his face.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "Island Master, we just got a message from our members in the secular world. The businesses under the name of Realm Island have been attacked by various means, and now there is a significant financial problem."


    "What?" The Second Elder''s face changed color suddenly.


    "Do you know what''s going on?"


    "That young man named Zhang Menglong said if we don''t pay up, he will find a way to do it himself. He says he will swallow up all our businesses in the secular world within 20 days."


    "That''s quite a bold claim!" A murderous air enveloped the Island Master, "I really want to see what kind of ability he has to contend with the businesses of Realm Island."


    "You tell those people, give them the authority to mobilize the resources of the whole Realm Island. Swallowing up the industries of Realm Island? Even a country can''t do that!"


    ...


    "Qiyuan, what''s wrong?"


    After finishing their meal, Wang Ling noticed that Jiang Qiyuan seemed somewhat restless.


    "I can''t contact my parents!" In Jiang Qiyuan''s hands was a rectangular metal tag, a device for people from Realm Island to communicate with the outside world.


    "Are your uncle and aunt on Realm Island?" Wang Ling asked.


    Jiang Qiyuan nodded, "When I went to Realm Island, they came with me. They were planning to return to Modu next week. As long as my cultivation reached the Mythical Realm, they could become important members in charge of managing the industries of Realm Island and wouldn''t need to stay on the island all the time."


    "Don''t worry, Tong Wei is in our hands, they wouldn''t dare do anything to your uncle and aunt," Wang Ling consoled her, "I''ll go find Menglong!"


    ...


    "What? She can''t contact her parents?" Zhang Menglong''s face darkened upon hearing the news.


    "They are probably just temporarily controlled. They''re likely trying to force us using this method," Wang Ling speculated.


    "I was thinking this matter of paying them off would just settle it, but it looks like we really have to take a trip to that wretched island." Zhang Menglong said.


    "I''ll go with you!"


    "No, it''s too dangerous!" Jiang Qiyuan immediately objected, "You''ve never been to Realm Island, you don''t know what kind of place it is. If someone who isn''t from Realm Island enters on their own, they would die a miserable death. Even the Island Master himself, when he first entered Realm Island, would have died if not for sheer luck."


    "Is that so?" The two were surprised.


    "Realm Island has existed for a very long time. Over the billions of years, many ancient creatures from Earth have entered that world. Under the influence of the island''s power, they have become very powerful. Even Martial Artists at the Heavenly Origin Realm are just at the bottom of the food chain there. If not for the natural barrier that exists on Realm Island, we wouldn''t be able to survive there at all."


    "Oh."


    "Oh?" Jiang Qiyuan was taken aback, "You can''t take the risk, even if it''s to save my family. It''s not worth it."


    "Don''t worry, those things can''t hurt us," Wang Ling, who had seen all sorts of things at Super God Academy, wasn''t intimidated by a mere Realm Island, "Tomorrow, we''ll go flatten that broken island!"

 Chapter 557 555: Can You Eat This Thing After Removing the Head?

    "Are we really going to Realm Island?" Jiang Qiyuan looked at Zhang Menglong and the others'' serious expressions and confirmed once again.


    "Your parents are locked up on the island because of this unlucky guy, we can''t just stand by and let them die, right?"


    "Then I''m coming too!" Jiang Qiyuan declared.


    "Ah, we can handle this small matter ourselves. Why don''t you go shopping with Yiyi instead, just use my card."


    Jiang Qiyuan was speechless. Her parents were still on Realm Island, how could she feel at ease going shopping? Moreover, Realm Island was such a dangerous place, it was absolutely impossible for her to let others risk their lives for her.


    "Menglong, I also want to see that place." At this moment, Lu Yiyao tugged at Zhang Menglong''s sleeve, "Such a magical place, I''ve never been there before!"


    "No way, absolutely not!" Jiang Qiyuan immediately objected. Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were both very strong, even able to handle someone like Tong Wei.


    But Lu Yiyao was just an ordinary person. In Realm Island, a place fraught with peril, if you didn''t have the strength of the Grandmaster Realm, you''d almost have no ability to defend yourself!


    Realm Island was like a huge primeval forest. In the center of this forest was their usual practice area, which was safe because it was shielded by a natural barrier. That''s why the people of Realm Island could practice there with peace of mind.


    When Jiang Qiyuan first entered Realm Island, the master of the island directly brought her in, but to come and go freely required one to rely on their own strength to move through the jungle.


    After a hundred years of exploration, the people of Realm Island had drawn a map of the island, marking every dangerous area.


    Even the owners of the island risked life and death when entering those most hazardous areas, where numerous creatures beyond the Heavenly Origin Boundary lived.


    And to leave the island using the safest route on the map, one also needed the ability of a Grandmaster to just barely fend for oneself. This was the minimum requirement for the islanders to leave Realm Island, otherwise, they would spend their whole life practicing there until death.


    This safety was only relative. On those paths, formidable creatures occasionally appeared. If luck was bad, Zhang Menglong and the others would not even be able to protect themselves, let alone Lu Yiyao.


    This damn thing was an adventure, not a vacation. Wasn''t it a joke that Lu Yiyao wanted to come along?


    "Do you really want to go?" Zhang Menglong asked for confirmation again.


    "Mm," Lu Yiyao said. She had just learned about the existence of Super God Academy and was now very interested in these things beyond her usual understanding, "Will it be very dangerous?"


    "It''s okay. If you want to go, I''ll take you. With me around, nothing will endanger you!"


    "Zhang Menglong, this is no joke. You have no idea how dangerous Realm Island is!" Jiang Qiyuan was almost driven insane. Zhang Menglong was simply a madman, "Do you think we''re going on a vacation? Even in Earth''s ordinary primeval forests there are venomous insects and wild beasts. You''re joking with your life!"


    "Don''t worry, no matter how dangerous Realm Island is, it won''t hurt us," Zhang Menglong didn''t heed her warning at all, "We need to prepare well. Snacks, water, maybe bring a barbecue grill too?"


    "You..." Jiang Qiyuan laughed out of frustration. Seriously, were they really going on a picnic?


    "Forget it, do as you please!" Jiang Qiyuan silently made a decision in her heart. If they encountered any danger, she would fight for their lives, even at the cost of her own. After all, she was the cause of it all.


    ...


    That evening, they all stayed at Zhang Menglong''s house. The next day, with the sound of a helicopter, everyone gathered on the helipad on top of the villa. A huge military helicopter was waiting for them.


    Zhang Menglong, Wang Ling, and Lu Yiyao all put on camouflage gear for jungle exploration, with two characters written on the back¡ªRitian.


    Jiang Qiyuan couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears at this sight. They really were embarking on a jungle adventure.


    Against those ancient creatures, armors would be useless, and in this moment, they could only pray for safe passage, hoping they wouldn''t encounter any troublesome creatures.


    "What the hell is Ritian?" Wang Ling asked.


    "We at Super God Academy always go by the name of Ritian Sect when dealing with outsiders. Since we''re going to meet those from the second world, we''ll have to declare our sect, right?" Zhang Menglong said, "You can think of yourself as the Elder of Ritian Sect."


    "Sounds not bad, but this guy looks half dead. He''s not going to die on the way, is he?" Wang Ling gave the grounded Tong Wei a kick.


    "You''re bringing him along?" Jiang Qiyuan was utterly flabbergasted; taking a nearly dead person to the jungles of Realm Island was just asking for trouble¡ªit would be impossible to flee if they encountered danger.


    "Of course, I need to bring the bargaining chip to ransom. Right, Wang Cai?"


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai wagged its tail by Zhang Menglong''s feet.


    "You''re bringing a dog too?" Jiang Qiyuan really wanted to crack open Zhang Menglong''s head to see what kind of madness was inside.


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai immediately started barking in dissatisfaction.


    "Wang Cai doesn''t like it when people call him a dog, he is now the Ritian Sect''s Divine Beast, you should show him some respect,"


    "Divine Beast..."


    Upon hearing these words, Gou Dan instantly puffed out his chest and raised his head, looking quite imposing.


    "He even understands human speech, this... this world is too crazy..."


    Jiang Qiyuan had thought that discovering the existence of Realm Island was already an incredibly magical event in her life, but today she realized that all those previous shocks and what she now knew about Zhang Menglong were nothing in comparison!


    "Let''s go!"


    The group boarded the plane, and with a strong gust of wind, the helicopter disappeared into the sky...


    ...


    In the Pacific Ocean, in a deserted area of international waters, several dolphins were chasing the waves.


    As a huge shadow descended, all the dolphins scattered.


    "Is this the area?" Zhang Menglong scanned the region with his Dou Qi.


    Indeed, there was a special area on the sea''s surface. His Dou Qi penetrated it like entering a bottomless pit.


    "Yes," Jiang Qiyuan said, "when entering Realm Island, you need to wrap your body with Inner Strength, otherwise you''ll just pass by that space."


    "I got it, is everyone ready?"


    Wang Ling and Lu Yiyao both put on goggles: "Ready!"


    "Woof!"


    "Rea... ready," Tong Wei said weakly, "Can I have something to eat? I haven''t eaten in two days."


    "Shut up, I didn''t ask you!"


    "Jump!"


    Zhang Menglong grabbed Lu Yiyao, Jiang Qiyuan grabbed Wang Ling, and Wang Cai had Tong Wei in his mouth, as the trios of people and dog plunged from the sky. Just two meters above the sea''s surface, everyone disappeared instantly, as if they had fallen into another space-time continuum.


    "Thud!" Everyone landed on the ground, a moist earthy scent filling their nostrils immediately, and even a faint smell of blood mixed within it.


    "Is this Realm Island?" Zhang Menglong looked around. The surroundings were covered with dense primeval forests, and there was a faint light source in the sky, but everything seemed dim.


    "This is amazing!" Lu Yiyao looked around, excited and curious.


    "How about we build a house here and come for vacation when we have nothing to do?"


    "Sure!"


    "Watch out!" Suddenly, a sharp whizzing sound came towards Lu Yiyao from the side, causing Jiang Qiyuan to scream in shock.


    But Menglong was faster, his hand reaching out and catching the incoming creature.


    The creature had the shape of a wasp, only much elongated, nearly as big as a palm.


    Such a small thing, yet it had three to four units of energy strength on it.


    "It''s an Arrow Bee," Jiang Qiyuan said, "Although it''s not poisonous, it''s very fast, and even a Grandmaster Martial Artist can get pierced if careless!"


    "Huh!" A flame ignited in Zhang Menglong''s palm, intending to burn the insectoid creature into nothing.


    But soon, a savory scent that was hard to describe came from the creature in his hand, and despite having tasted many delicacies, Zhang Menglong''s appetite was greatly whetted.


    "Wait," he suddenly had a bold idea, "Can you eat this thing if you remove the head and the tail?"

 Chapter 558 556: Realm Island on the Tip of the Tongue

    Zhang Menglong ripped off the Arrow Bee''s head and stinger, then took a bite.


    "Wow, this tastes even better than Australian lobster!" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect the meat of the Arrow Bee to be incredibly tender and even quite bouncy. Not even the Kobe Australian lobsters from his private farm tasted this good.


    He couldn''t resist and quickly took another bite, the shell cracking satisfyingly, the meat fine and chewy.


    "Let me try?" Lu Yiyao seemed unscared by the sudden earlier attack, and bravely took a bite from the strange creature.


    "Oh my God! This is so delicious! I''ve never eaten meat this tasty before!"


    "Give me a bite too!" Wang Ling, seeing the two so enthralled, couldn''t help but ask.


    "Wow! Delicious!"


    "Woof woof woof!"


    A palm-sized Arrow Bee, divided among three people and a dog, was gone in a few bites.


    "This..."


    As someone who had lived on Realm Island for eight years, Jiang Qiyuan knew very well that although the Arrow Bee was one of the weakest creatures here, even a Grandmaster could suffer from an incautious encounter.


    And generally, Arrow Bees were social animals. They usually hid in the nearby rainforest, launching sudden attacks now and then. Compared to those grandiose beasts, their stealthy strikes were the deadliest.


    The people of Realm Island almost invariably avoided these creatures. Were they actually eating Arrow Bees like lobsters?


    As for Tong Wei, his jaw had practically hit the floor. This was beyond his comprehension! Even as a warrior from the Mythical Realm, he wouldn''t dare mess with this!


    "I''m not even close to done!" Zhang Menglong kicked Wang Cai, "I''m your master, and you''re competing with me for food? The last bit was all taken by you!"


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai retorted dissatisfiedly. Everyone saw it; if he got it quickly, could you blame him?


    "Jiang Qiyuan, do you know where there''s a big group of Arrow Bees? I''m planning to pack some to take back and eat."


    "I..." Jiang Qiyuan had never seen anyone dare to be so brazen on Realm Island. Were they crazy, or were the monsters of the island no longer a threat? Couldn''t they give this place, where even a Tianyuan realm expert had to be cautious, a minimum of respect?


    "Um... Arrow Bees are generally social creatures. There''s likely a hive nearby."


    "Wang Cai! Find it, race extermination plan!"


    "Woof!" Wang Cai responded and jumped straight into the surrounding bushes, capable of immediately finding the scent of the Arrow Bees with his sensitive nose.


    "Zhang Menglong, your dog will be fine, right?" Jiang Qiyuan asked worriedly.


    "Don''t worry, my dog is not an ordinary dog," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. Wang Cai, who had been fed elixirs for a year and even spent time at the Super God Academy with him, was already incredibly powerful.


    "Woof!" Amidst a fierce roar, a dazzling firelight suddenly erupted not far away.


    "Let''s go!"


    Zhang Menglong and the others grabbed Tong Wei and rushed over.


    There was a hive almost as big as a tomb, already completely scorched. At least seventy to eighty Arrow Bees were smoking on the ground, and Wang Cai was already feasting.


    "Damn! Grab your tools!"


    "Save some for me!"


    "What are you fighting over, you can''t eat that much, can you?"


    "Pah, it''s burnt!"


    "Yiyi, where''s the cumin and pepper I asked you to bring?"


    "Right here, do you need onions?"


    "Throw in another handful of cilantro!"


    A few people sat around a fire, the still-burning hive giving off the vibe of a campfire gathering.


    Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Jiang Qiyuan also had a bold thought¡ªmaybe she could try some too...


    "Hmm! Delicious!"


    "How is it, delicious, right? You folks just don''t know how to appreciate good food. Living here all these years and never trying it out, what a waste! Here, beauty, try it with some satay sauce," he said.


    "Bring me another one!"


    "Wuwuwu, I want to eat too!" Tong Wei, abandoned on the side, could only watch everyone else eating and drool to himself.


    "Aow!"


    It seemed that the bright light from Er Gouzi''s flame earlier had attracted other creatures lurking in the jungle. A creature, two meters tall and resembling a dinosaur, suddenly pounced from a tree.


    "It''s a Kou Chi Dragon!" Jiang Qiyuan exclaimed, "That''s a beast from the Mythical Realm, its bite force exceeds 10 tons, and it can run at a top speed of over a hundred meters per second!"


    Actually, when Jiang Qiyuan left Realm Island this time, she was chased by a Kou Chi Dragon. Luckily, she was close to the exit, and the dragon was just a juvenile. Being a Grandmaster in her realm probably was the only reason she more or less escaped with her life.


    It must be a descendant of a dinosaur that strayed into Realm Island, she thought. Its body covered in scales, even a typical master of the Mythical Realm would struggle to hurt it.


    "Wang Cai! You''re up!"


    "Woof!" While picking at his teeth, Wang Cai leapt forward and clamped onto the neck of the Kou Chi Dragon.


    "Crunch!" A crisp sound echoed as sharp teeth pierced through the scales on the dragon''s neck, crushing its throat.


    With a hoarse, weak cry, the Kou Chi Dragon collapsed powerlessly to the ground.


    "It...it killed a Mythical Realm Kou Chi Dragon with one bite!" Jiang Qiyuan pointed at Wang Cai, her face etched with disbelief.


    Now, Tong Wei finally understood why a mere dog could make him so subservient; this wasn''t an ordinary dog at all. A dog that could kill a Mythical Realm creature, what the hell was it? A Skyscreamer?


    What kind of people had he gotten involved with? He thought his Ancient Martial Arts skills were impressive, but could Zhang Menglong have attained cultivation?


    He remembered a popular saying online: those who practice martial arts should never mess with cultivators...


    Wang Cai drug the corpse over to Zhang Menglong and then barked at him twice.


    "You mean... try roasting it?"


    "Woof!"


    "Shing!" A sharp, common knife appeared in Zhang Menglong''s hands out of nowhere.


    "Is this a third-tier weapon?"


    "Yes, this is Chengying, one of the top ten Divine Artifacts of Huaxia, perfect for slicing meat!"


    Zhang Menglong''s culinary skills were not to be underestimated¡ªhe sliced off one of the Kou Chi Dragon''s thighs with a single stroke, then effortlessly cut it into uniform thin slices, and subsequently pulled out a grill from the independent space within his ring.


    "Whoosh!" White Bone Cold Fire ignited, and under Zhang Menglong''s meticulous control, the meat of the Kou Chi Dragon started sizzling and oozing oil.


    "The highest quality ingredients often require the most simple cooking methods: olive oil, cumin powder, pepper salt, black pepper..."


    "Damn, I can''t take it anymore!" Wang Ling grabbed a slice of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.


    "Hiss¡ªOh¡ª"


    "Woof, woof, woof!"


    ...


    After a hearty meal, everyone was satisfied. Not only was the meat extremely delicious, but it was also very nutritious, and they couldn''t eat much more.


    "Right, what did we come here for?"


    "Seems like we came to rescue someone."


    "Oh yes! Right!" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "Let''s rescue them first, and after that, we can hunt a few more monsters to take back."


    "You guys still remember you''re here to rescue someone?" Though slightly frustrated, Jiang Qiyuan felt a bit more confident with the mysterious and powerful display from Zhang Menglong. Perhaps this time, they really could rescue her parents from Realm Island.


    "Jiang Qiyuan, is there anything else we can eat? I''m thinking of building a villa here, come and vacation, hunt occasionally. The food here is really good, I think it could even be featured in a show like ''A Bite of Realm Island''..."


    ...

 Chapter 559 557: Never Heard of Such a Despicable Request

    The Realm Island was vast, and it was estimated that even a Martial Artist from the Heavenly Origin Realm clad in magical armor would need several hours to traverse this jungle, but when Jiang Qiyuan first emerged from here, it took her nearly two days!


    Jiang Qiyuan still remembered how difficult it was when she first came out: during the day, she had to be careful not to make too much noise as she traveled, and at night, she had to bury herself in a mound of earth or find an extremely perilous spot to prevent those creatures from attacking her in the dark.


    But this time, she finally understood what it meant to be arrogant and high-profile!


    They didn''t bother to conceal their tracks at all, and even spoke loudly and carelessly. Zhang Menglong even had music blaring from his device. If the people of Realm Island saw this, they would definitely think they had gone mad.


    Yet, Jiang Qiyuan had to admit that they were truly badass!


    Their ostentatious behavior did not fail to attract the attention of the powerful beings hidden in the jungle.


    But this was no longer an adventure show; it was clearly a gourmet cooking program!


    Wang Cai, like a super bodyguard, stayed vigilant around them, ready to alert at the first sign of danger.


    Moreover, most of the time, there was no need for Zhang Menglong to take action himself ¨C that dog alone took out ninety-nine percent of the creatures along the way.


    Jiang Qiyuan admitted that she had never seen such a fierce dog in her life. Have you ever seen a dog less than half a meter tall bite to death a creature over three meters tall?


    Have you ever seen a damn dog that could spit fireballs from its mouth? Do you think you''re Agumon or Tyrannomon?


    As for Zhang Menglong and the others, they fully unleashed their inner Bear Grylls; on this Realm Island, anything that seemed edible couldn''t escape their mouths.


    If he kept eating like this, the island''s ecosystem was bound to collapse!


    Wang Ling summoning an unbelievably majestic emperor armor was already mind-blowing, but when she saw Zhang Menglong kill a Tianyuan-realm creature with a single punch, she was completely convinced.


    "Wang Ling, what level of strength does Zhang Menglong actually have?" Jiang Qiyuan cautiously asked Wang Ling. To deal with a Heavenly Origin Realm creature so easily, he must be at least at the fifth or sixth level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, right? Maybe even stronger than their Island Master.


    "I don''t know," Wang Ling shook her head, "I only found out how badass my brother was the night before last."


    "Your emperor armor..."


    "Borrowed it from him, how about that, isn''t it wickedly handsome?"


    "What kind of monster is he exactly?"


    ...


    They marched on triumphantly, unstoppable by man or Buddha; Jiang Qiyuan and Tong Wei discovered for the first time that Realm Island could be such a safe place.


    Because they were accompanied by Lu Yiyao, who knew no martial arts, and a nearly dead Tong Wei, it took them close to three hours to reach the true core territory of Realm Island.


    It was a vast natural lake, and within this lake was a large island, leaving only a channel less than ten meters wide, resembling a moat around the island.


    All those who trained on Realm Island typically lived on this island, while the lake acted like a natural barrier keeping everything else at a distance.


    "This is the core area of our Realm Island," Jiang Qiyuan said.


    Suddenly, Tong Wei, who had been as motionless as a dead dog, burst forth with strength and broke free from Wang Cai''s mouth.


    Wang Cai, being an inherently lazy and gluttonous dog, had just had a full meal, and at such times, he would usually be either napping or flirting with female dogs, already dozing off.


    Tong Wei leapt into the air and plunged straight into the lake.


    "Master! Save me, Master!"


    "Woof woof!" Having let Tong Wei escape, Wang Cai could no longer save face. It immediately chased after Tong Wei.


    "Be careful!" Jiang Qiyuan hadn''t even time to stop him when Wang Cai had already pounced out.


    "Thud!" It was as if he had hit a solid iron door. Outside this lake, there seemed to be a huge stand blocking inside from out. Accompanied by a red glow, Wang Cai was violently flung out.


    It howled in pain, crashing heavily onto the ground.


    However, it should not have sustained fatal injuries. Wang Cai stood up again and rubbed against Zhang Menglong''s feet vigorously, looking very aggrieved.


    "Alright, alright, I know you feel wronged!" Zhang Menglong stuffed several elixirs into its mouth.


    "What the hell is going on?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The reason our Realm Island is named so is that there''s a very special Barrier here," Jiang Qiyuan explained. "At the center of this island is an ancient tree with a magical power that can create a huge Barrier around the island, preventing anyone from entering or leaving."


    "How did he get in then?" Zhang Menglong pointed at Tong Wei.


    "Because we have this!" Jiang Qiyuan took out something that looked like an Amulet from around her neck. "This contains wood chips from that ancient tree. Only those carrying the wood chips can enter; otherwise, they''ll be repelled by that power."


    "This power is truly nothing small," Zhang Menglong said. Even Wang Cai, with the strength of a Tianyuan Boundary master and a physique perhaps even stronger than a Martial Artist of the Tianyuan Realm, had been bounced out. This Barrier was not to be underestimated.


    "Hahaha, you can''t get in now, can you?" Tong Wei seemed to have regained his sense of superiority.


    "Idiot, can''t I just use Jiang Qiyuan''s wood chips to get in?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "No," Jiang Qiyuan said, "the first time you use the wood chips, you must drop a drop of blood on them, which is also a measure Realm Island takes to prevent outsiders who accidentally obtain it from intruding into Realm Island."


    "Good lord, it''s a DNA password lock." Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but mock.


    "Zhang Menglong, so what if you can fight? You can''t even get in here now!" Tong Wei began to taunt him from inside. "And Jiang Qiyuan, you bitch, I will definitely kill your parents!"


    After two days of torment, Tong Wei had become a bit psychotic. His affection for Jiang Qiyuan had turned into loathing.


    "Tong Wei, if you''re so capable, come out. Does hiding in there like a shrinking turtle not embarrass you?"


    "Hahahaha, I just won''t come out!" If Tong Wei dared to come out now, he''d be a fool. He already knew how formidable Zhang Menglong and the others were; running out again would be like seeking death.


    "If you dare, come on in," he slapped his face, making it sound. "Come on, come hit me! Aren''t you all so capable? Isn''t everyone in your family a peerless master? How come you all turned into trash at this time?"


    Tong Wei poured out his frustrations from the last two days. His mentor had once told him about the Barrier''s immense strength; even a Martial Artist at the peak of the Tianyuan Realm might not be able to break it.


    On the other side of Realm Island lurked a very terrifying creature. The first time the Island Master entered Realm Island, he provoked it.


    At that time, the Island Master had just stepped into the Tianyuan Boundary, and the creature''s mere roar nearly made him unable to stand. He was lucky to find a piece of that giant tree''s branch and finally escaped into here.


    It is said that in its fury, the creature almost destroyed a quarter of the island''s jungle, taking decades for the ecology to recover.


    If such a creature couldn''t destroy the Barrier, what made Zhang Menglong think he could?


    "Hahaha, you can''t get in, can you? You can''t hit me, right? I''m so itchy, come kick me!"


    "Damn it, I can''t take it anymore," Zhang Menglong rolled up his sleeves. "I have never heard such a perverted request in my life. Don''t stop me. Today, I, Zhang Menglong, must kill him!"

 Chapter 560 558 Bloodline Suppression

    "Gallala!"


    The lake in front of them suddenly began to freeze, and several figures elegantly landed. There were both men and women among these people, most of them elderly, but although their hair was graying, their skin was exceptionally smooth and tender, emanating a kind of celestial aura.


    Among this group, the Second Elder, whom they had just met yesterday, was present; standing at the forefront was an old man in a black robe. He had a typical square face, with a beard that hung from his chin, exuding a presence of formidable power without any need for anger.


    "Wei''er!" the black-robed elder helped Tong Wei up.


    "Master, I thought I would never see you again!" In an instant, all of Tong Wei''s grievances were released, "Master, you must take revenge for me."


    "I will certainly avenge you for this affront," the black-robed elder said with a raging momentum.


    "Youngsters, isn''t it a bit too much what you did to Wei''er?"


    "We went too far?" Zhang Menglong hadn''t spoken yet when Wang Ling couldn''t hold back, "I was just driving peacefully, and this idiot blocked me and beat me up, then threw me into the Qiantang River. If it weren''t for my brother rescuing me, I wouldn''t have survived, and now you''re telling me that I went too far? Are you playing the double standard?"


    Wang Ling was always confrontational, blunt with both heaven and earth whenever he saw something he disliked, regardless if the other party was an elder.


    "Even if Wei''er was wrong first, seeing him hurt like this, you should have stopped, shouldn''t you? Why attack the industries of our Realm Island?"


    In just one night, the industries of Realm Island had faced severe attacks; many listed companies had seen significant asset devaluation, leaving shareholders in fear for themselves.


    "Your disciple hit me without reason, demands compensation, right? He wrecked my brother''s home, that requires compensation, right? ''A life for a life and a debt to be paid''¡ªisn''t that the right thing? Since you don''t wish to settle the debts yourself, we had to resort to our own methods."


    "Don''t you think you''re being too excessive? We on Realm Island don''t enjoy complications, but that doesn''t mean we are easy to provoke!" the elder said authoritatively.


    "Damn, it really is absurd, old man. Clearly, it was your fault first, and yet you pose as the victim? Plus, what do you mean by trapping my girlfriend''s family on Realm Island?"


    "Jiang Qiyuan, are you also helping outsiders against our Realm Island?" a female martial artist behind the elder said.


    "Teacher, I..."


    "I no longer acknowledge you as my student!" the old woman scolded, "Bringing outsiders into Realm Island already violated the first island rule. From now on, you are no longer a person of Realm Island!"


    "Enough!" Wang Ling pulled Jiang Qiyuan into his arms, "I won''t waste more words with you. Pay up, release them, and we will leave immediately!"


    "What a joke!" the elder scoffed. "Do you think Realm Island is a place where you can come and go as you please?"


    "Then dare to step out of the barrier and fight us!" Zhang Menglong again relaxed his sleeves that he had just rolled up.


    "Teacher, we can''t fight them!" Tong Wei immediately said, "Wang Ling has a high-tech weapon on him that can unleash power comparable to the Heavenly Origin Realm, and on the way here, Zhang Menglong killed a Tyrant Fear Lizard with a single move."


    "Is that true?" the elder''s face became slightly more solemn.


    He had already heard from the Second Elder about how extraordinary these people were, but he had not witnessed it himself.


    The Tyrant Fear Lizard was the result of a group of prehistoric Tyrannosaurus Rex that strayed into Realm Island; they were over eight meters long and more than three meters tall, with a strength comparable to a fifth-order Heavenly Origin Realm expert, similar to the western Demon Dragon.


    Even the lord of Realm Island facing one would only be a fifty-fifty situation, not possibly able to kill it.


    And this young man named Zhang Menglong had killed it with just one move? How formidable must his strength be?


    "Scared?" Seeing that the people of Realm Island did not respond promptly, Wang Ling started to swagger, "If you''re scared, then pay up and release them!"


    "Do you think there''s no one on Realm Island capable of dealing with you?" The owner of Realm Island sneered, releasing his energy to the max, a visible white energy almost enveloping the entire Realm Island and disturbing many creatures hidden in the jungle.


    "What''s he doing?"


    "Don''t know, maybe he''s turning into a Super Saiyan?"


    "Aow!" Before the words had settled, a terrifying roar suddenly erupted from the other end of the island, startling a large swarm of avian creatures into the sky as if some terrifying creature was approaching them.


    "Let the Wuseng have some fun with you guys!"


    "Wuseng? What''s that?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "That''s bad!" Jiang Qiyuan''s face paled, "Wuseng is what I told you about, the most dangerous and terrifying creature on the entire Realm Island. It should have had the strength of the peak of the Heavenly Origin Realm a hundred years ago, and now it has probably broken through the Heavenly Origin Realm!"


    "Hahahaha, dying at the claws of the Umbrox is a stroke of luck for you!" Tong Wei said with wild laughter.


    "Thud!"


    "Thud!"


    One by one, trees as tall as a hundred meters fell down as some immense creature rapidly approached them!


    "Roar!" A giant black beast suddenly leapt out of the jungle.


    This creature, with a gorilla''s body and a lion''s head, stood over ten meters tall, its muscles covered in a keratinous shell, radiating a wild and fierce aura.


    "Umbrox, tear them to shreds for me! Hahaha!"


    Name: Umbrox


    Race: Mutated Canine


    Potential Index: 27


    Energy Intensity: 32 units


    Gift: Strength


    "My, indeed it''s a creature that has transcended the Heavenly Origin Realm!" Zhang Menglong recognized all the information about this creature at a glance.


    "I really can''t deal with this thing," Zhang Menglong was formidable, able to fight even at the peak of the Heavenly Origin Realm, but this creature had surpassed that realm and was beyond his capability to handle.


    "Woof, woof, woof!"


    At this time, Wang Cai unexpectedly volunteered to fight.


    "Wang Cai, you''re no match for it, you''ll be squashed flat!"


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Wang Cai told Zhang Menglong that it wanted to recruit a subordinate but needed to borrow the power of the Super God Academy.


    "Recruit a subordinate?" Zhang Menglong paused, then he suddenly realized that this creature called Umbrox seemed also to be a kind of mutated canine, but no matter how mutated, a dog is still a dog.


    "Roar!" Er Gou growled towards the sky, its bark transforming into a sound similar to a wolf''s howl.


    "Fine, this time I''ll let you show off!" Zhang Menglong directly approved the use of the Cred Points for Wang Cai.


    Instantly, the sky darkened, and a hundred-meter-tall giant canine phantom rose up, its immense oppressive presence making even Zhang Menglong feel a chill.


    "Gou Dan uses the power of the Howling Celestial Dog, deducting 100 Cred Points per second."


    "Roar!" The phantom roared at Umbrox, and Umbrox''s ten-meter-tall frame appeared minuscule in front of the phantom.


    The Howling Celestial Dog, that is an Immortal, the king among dogs, and its power can directly suppress all canine creatures by bloodline!


    "Awoo!" Umbrox showed a face full of fear and reverence, growled lowly, and actually lay prostrate in front of Er Gou, even burying its head deep into the ground.


    "What... what on earth is that?" The people on Realm Island had seen the most powerful being in Umbrox, but now the giant phantom summoned by Wang Cai could only be described as a miracle.


    They were already very impressive as Martial Artists, but turns out their opponents are actual cultivators!


    You tell me, if you''re not a cultivator, how else at your twenties could you topple monsters of the Heavenly Origin Realm? How can an ordinary dog make an ancient creature like Umbrox submit?


    Wang Cai cut off the power of the Howling Celestial Dog and returned to its harmless appearance, but its divine prowess had already suppressed Umbrox by bloodline and wholly conquered this creature that had transcended the Heavenly Origin Realm.


    Wang Cai jumped onto Umbrox''s head, barking at it.


    Umbrox''s eyes suddenly fixed on the people inside the barrier.


    Everyone felt a sudden tightness.


    This has really escalated!

 Chapter 561 559: Taste My Italian Cannon

    The black rhino was actually subdued by someone... No, it was actually subdued by a dog! Is there no law left in this world?


    When the master of Realm Island, Tong Xiao, first intruded into Realm Island, he was nearly killed by this monster, the black rhino.


    Being a dominant species originally from Earth and having been nourished by the magical environment of Realm Island, if it were placed in the mythological tales of Huaxia, it would undoubtedly be considered an ancient fierce beast!


    Surpassing the Heavenly Origin Boundary in power, Tong Xiao believed that there was no one in this world capable of subduing it.


    Yet now, the creature he deemed invincible had been intimidated by a mere dog, and without even a fight, it obediently became someone else''s subordinate; this was completely beyond his understanding!


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked twice at the black rhino, seemingly issuing some command, then surprisingly stood up on its hind legs and pointed with its short paws towards the people hidden within the barrier.


    However, the black rhino let out two resentful growls, then shook its head helplessly.


    Wang Cai was trying to command the black rhino to destroy the barrier, but had the black rhino the capability to do so, no one on Realm Island would have escaped its clutches already.


    These humans had provoked it time and again, and it wanted to kill the people of Realm Island more than anyone else.


    "Hahaha!" Tong Wei burst into laughter again, "So what if you''ve tamed the black rhino? You still can''t get in, can you? Just scram already!"


    Tong Wei continued to threaten, "Jiang Qiyuan, if you ever want to see your parents again, then you better quickly persuade them to stop oppressing Realm Island''s businesses and also never lay a hand on Realm Island again!"


    "You..." Jiang Qiyuan glared at Tong Wei in anger, "You despicable, shameless bastard!"


    "Damn it, shameless!" Wang Ling clenched her fists, but it was to no avail.


    "Hahaha, I just love seeing you all annoyed at me but unable to do anything about it!"


    "Enough!" Tong Xiao interrupted Tong Wei, "Do you want to embarrass us even further today? This disaster was caused by you, don''t you have any sense of reflection?"


    "Ladies and gentlemen, it''s said that we don''t get to know each other without a fight. May I ask where all of you are from, and who you were taught by?"


    Although he had not seen Zhang Menglong and the others in action, just hearing Tong Wei''s description and observing Wang Cai''s extraordinary abilities, Tong Xiao did not dare to take them lightly, especially their origins, which he cared about greatly.


    Being so young and yet so skilled, if there was not a mastermind behind them, he absolutely would not believe it; he had to carefully consider whether Realm Island could withstand the wrath of that unknown individual or organization.


    "Huaxia Country, Jiangzhe Province, Jiangnan City, Sect Leader of Ritian Sect, Zhang Menglong!"


    "Deputy Sect Leader of Ritian Sect, Wang Ling!"


    "Woof woof woof!" (Ritian Sect''s Guardian Divine Beast, Wang Cai)


    "Ritian Sect?" Tong Xiao fell silent. He seemed to have heard of this Ritian Sect from several Ancient Martial Arts Families before, but when he asked in detail, these people refused to say anything more about Ritian Sect, as if it was some taboo.


    Are Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling actually from Ritian Sect?


    And Zhang Menglong is the Sect Leader? That''s impossible, if Zhang Menglong is the Sect Leader, then where does his massive skill come from?


    "May I ask who is Sect Leader Zhang''s master?"


    "Sorry, I am self-taught!" Zhang Menglong answered.


    Tong Xiao naturally didn''t believe this. Self-taught? Who could be self-taught and, at the age of 20, instantly kill a Level Five Heavenly Origin Boundary creature?


    "Sect Leader Zhang, as you''ve seen, no matter how formidable you are, you cannot break our barrier. Continuing here is just a waste of time and energy. How about we talk about terms?"


    "Alright, let''s hear it," Zhang Menglong was actually curious to see what these terms would be.


    "Sect Leader Zhang, my disciple Tong Wei has already been injured to this extent and has paid the price for his reckless behavior. Let''s just end it here. If you leave Realm Island, from now on we''ll stay out of each other''s way. After you leave Realm Island, I will send someone to return Qiyuan''s family to the mundane world and no longer interfere with her and Mr. Wang''s affairs."


    "Okay," said Zhang Menglong, "but you still have to pay back those few hundred billion US dollars you owe me."


    "So there''s nothing to discuss?" Handing over a few hundred billion US dollars in compensation to Zhang Menglong was absolutely impossible. In this era, for Realm Island to grow and develop, money and resources were indispensable.


    "If that''s the case, then let''s just all wait here and see who can outlast whom!" Tong Xiao had clearly lost his patience to continue negotiating.


    In this ecosystem of Realm Island, they could be entirely self-sufficient. Worst comes to worst, they just wouldn''t leave the island. Did Zhang Menglong really think he could stand guard here forever? Did he not have a life to live?


    "Let''s go!" Having said that, Tong Xiao was ready to lead his people back to the island in the lake.


    "Did I say you could leave?" Zhang Menglong suddenly spoke up.


    "Zhang Menglong, we''ll do as we please. What can you do about it?"


    "You think I really can''t break through your shell?" Zhang Menglong revealed a cold smile. "You''re all underestimating me, Zhang Menglong."


    "Gou Dan, exchange for that newest invention from Gauss, the Italian Cannon!"


    Item Name: Italian Cannon


    Scientific Name: Anion Destruction Cannon


    Usage Cost: The Anion Cannon is a technological weapon that doesn''t consume Cred Points when summoned alone and requires an Energy Crystal Core to operate.


    A Level One Crystal Core can produce 10 units of destructive energy, each costing 2 Cred Points;


    A Level Two Crystal Core can produce 20 units of destructive energy, each costing 10 Cred Points;


    A Level Three Crystal Core can produce 30 units of destructive energy, each costing 50 Cred Points;


    A Level Four Crystal Core can produce 40 units of destructive energy, each costing 100 Cred Points;


    A Level Five Crystal Core can produce 50 units of destructive energy, each costing 200 Cred Points;


    These Crystal Cores are actually a type of highly compressed natural energy crystal, which are everywhere in a volcano at the Super God Academy. Normally, they''re casually picked up by people for experiments and don''t count as anything precious.


    But to take these out of Super God Academy indeed costs a hefty sum of Cred Points.


    "Boom!" A cannon with a gaping maw materialized on the ground in front of Zhang Menglong.


    Its barrel was about three meters long and nearly as wide as a washbasin in diameter, with a massive metal component at the rear, providing an extremely powerful visual impact.


    "Hahaha, a cannon? You''re going to try and break through this Barrier with a cannon?" Tong Wei laughed loudly. How impressive could a technological weapon be?


    The so-called Emperor Armor summoned by Wang Ling was already a pretty impressive piece of equipment, right? But it could only exert power equivalent to the Tianyuan Boundary at most. To break their Barrier, even ten times that power might not be enough!


    This cannon didn''t look remarkable, but did it possess some great power?


    "Let me show you the power of my Italian Cannon!" Zhang Menglong spent 100 Cred Points and directly exchanged for a Level Four Crystal Core.


    It was a red Energy Crystal that looked like a gemstone, translucent and lustrous, yet containing terrifying energy within.


    "What is that?" The people of Realm Island looked at the item in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "It looks like an Ancient Origin Crystal!" Someone speculated.


    "What? An Ancient Origin Crystal?"


    Ancient Origin Crystal was an extremely scarce resource on Realm Island. Depending on their purity, they varied in several levels and exhibited different colors.


    The major use of Ancient Origin Crystals was to accelerate the training of Martial Artists. Even people with the Gift of Supernatural Abilities could directly absorb the power of Ancient Origin Crystals to enhance their abilities.


    But only those with exceptional talents and significant contributions could get a small piece.


    This was clearly a very high-grade Ancient Origin Crystal!


    What did this mean? This thing that looked like a cannon required an Ancient Origin Crystal to power it? What in the world was this device?

 Chapter 562 560 Actually, We are Cultivators

    The people of Realm Island were on high alert. Ancient Origin Crystal was a great thing, but it was also very dangerous.


    Once destabilized by some external force, an Ancient Origin Crystal could potentially explode violently.


    There was once a member from Realm Island who unfortunately encountered a creature of the Heavenly Origin Realm in the jungle. In his panic, he attacked the Ancient Origin Crystal the size of a fingernail that he was carrying with his supernatural abilities.


    The crystal exploded violently, and the creature of the Heavenly Origin Realm was enveloped in the blast, leaving no remains.


    This incident proved that Ancient Origin Crystals could be used as a very powerful weapon.


    They had never seen an Ancient Origin Crystal the size of a fist, and they also didn''t know what the red Ancient Origin Crystal represented; their instinct just told them it was very dangerous!


    Zhang Menglong fumbled around on the Italian Cannon for a long time, but couldn''t find where to insert the Ancient Origin Crystal.


    "Damn, how does this thing even work?"


    "Holy shit, if you don''t know how to use it, why did you bring it out just to show off?" Wang Ling said exasperatedly, "I had my lines ready, pants down, and you just stand there? Aren''t you embarrassed?"


    "As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassed ones are you guys!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Wait a sec, let me find the manual!"


    ...


    "Teacher, do you think maybe we''re being too nervous?"


    "Maybe? This thing doesn''t seem very powerful at all."


    "Maybe we''re just making a big deal over nothing. How could any weapon possibly break through our barrier?"


    "Exactly, it''s so inconvenient to use, you can tell it''s not high-tech."


    Watching Zhang Menglong operate, the people of Realm Island somehow felt an inexplicable sense of safety.


    ...


    "Forget it, let''s not bother!" Zhang Menglong directly retrieved the manual using the Dean''s ring, and finally found a switch.


    "Click!" An energy slot popped out from the Italian Cannon, revealing a hollow sufficient to place the Level Four Crystal Core.


    Zhang Menglong inserted the Crystal Core into the machinery behind the barrel, and instantly, a red light spread out, this force, ten times stronger than when the Wusi assaulted the barrier...


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai barked at the Italian Cannon, the highly sentient dog aware of how powerful the device was.


    Wusi also trembled and hid behind Wang Cai, as if in the face of this immense power, only his boss Wang Cai could offer him some semblance of safety.


    Zhang Menglong had seen how terrifying 40 units of energy could be before; when he had used Yao Chen''s power to take down Hui Jie Yan second, the guy had energy as high as 42 units.


    But this was essentially the huge difference between technological weapons and human cultivation, in terms of imposingness, technological weapons were far more terrifying!


    "Back up! Everyone retreat quickly!" Tong Xiao shouted loudly, as a Martial Artist of the Heavenly Origin Realm, no one could sense the terrifying power in the cannon more than him.


    When did humans invent such a horrifying weapon? He was on the island just five or six years ago, had human weaponry advanced so much in just a short span of five or six years?


    Could this be the legendary technological explosion?


    "Could this barrier actually be broken?" For the first time, Tong Xiao doubted the strength of Realm Island''s barrier.


    "Everyone, cover your ears, we''re firing!"


    Zhang Menglong was the first to pull Lu Yiyao behind a large tree a few dozen meters away.


    According to the manual of the Italian Cannon, when using a Level Four or higher Crystal Core, individuals who haven''t reached the Heavenly Origin Realm must stay over twenty meters away.


    "Fuck! You could''ve said that earlier!" Wang Ling also hurriedly grabbed Jiang Qiyuan and ran.


    "Woof woof woof!" (Little brother, follow big brother!)


    ...


    The red light grew brighter, enveloping everything within a 10-meter radius.


    Moments later, accompanied by a deafening blast, the entire barrel emitted a fierce vibration, and even the ground split open with numerous fine cracks.


    A huge red energy beam shot directly towards the barrier.


    "Boom!"


    It seemed as if the entire Realm Island was trembling. The invisible barrier was stirred by the power of the Italian Cannon, creating layers of red ripples. The strong energy gnawed at the barrier, emitting a creaking sound.


    "Crack!"


    Suddenly, a crack appeared in the sky.


    The crack quickly expanded, widened, and then spread across the entire island, as if it could shatter completely at any moment.


    The roaring of the Italian Cannon lasted for a full 10 seconds, until the energy was completely depleted, and the red light slowly extinguished.


    At this moment, above the entire Realm Island, the barrier was refracted by a red force. It had become extremely fragile, as if it only needed another hit to completely break.


    "Rumble!" A loud noise came from deep within the Realm Island, and then, the crack began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye!


    But no one knew that on the central ancient tree, thousands of meters tall, large swathes of leaves began to wither.


    Since humans had arrived on Realm Island, this ancient tree had never withered.


    The power of the barrier stemmed from that ancient tree; it was using its own power to repair the barrier!


    At this time, no one on Realm Island could remain calm. Tong Wei''s arms and legs were trembling. That last shot had almost broken the barrier of Realm Island!


    But fortunately, their Guardian God did not disappoint them. The barrier had held up, helping them block this terrifying attack.


    "This thing is really powerful!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim. An energy impact of 40 units, even a small town could be leveled, yet it was actually blocked by this barrier.


    "You''ve tried as well, your power cannot break this barrier. Give up!"


    "Who said we can''t break it?" Zhang Menglong then pulled out ten Level Four energy crystals and one Level Five energy crystal core from his body. These items could be returned to the Super God Academy for Cred Points if not used.


    "Ten... he still has ten of those Ancient Origin Crystals?" At this moment, Tong Wei, who had just been gloating, was stunned.


    The power unleashed by one red Ancient Origin Crystal had almost shattered their Realm Island''s barrier; what would ten times that amount do, shatter the entire space?


    Especially that black Ancient Origin Crystal, even though it was a hundred meters away, he could feel a power filled with death and destruction emanating from it.


    "This is probably even more terrifying than the red one!"


    "Never mind, using this seems a bit pointless!" At this moment, Zhang Menglong actually put away the Italian Cannon and all the energy crystal cores.


    "What are you doing? Why are you putting them away?" Wang Ling asked curiously.


    "I think, the matters of the Ancient Martial Arts World should be resolved in the way of the Ancient Martial Arts World. What''s the point in using high-tech weapons?"


    "That makes some sense," Wang Ling nodded his head, "So what do you plan to do?"


    Zhang Menglong stepped forward, twisted his neck, making a crackling sound.


    "Didn''t you just ask from whom I learned?" Zhang Menglong said to Tong Xiao, "I indeed am self-taught, but you might not know, my study wasn''t in ancient martial arts."


    "Not ancient martial arts? Are you a Psychic or a Mutant then?"


    Everyone knows that one cannot achieve proficiency in ancient martial arts quickly.


    But Psychics are different. Some people with unique physiques might have the power of an Ancient Martial Artist who''s trained for decades when activating their Supernatural Abilities.


    Maybe Zhang Menglong is a freak!


    "No!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Actually, we practice cultivation."


    "Have you ever heard the saying, ''those who practice martial arts should never mess with cultivators''?"


    "Sorry, but unfortunately, you''ve messed with one!"

 Chapter 563 561: We Came Here Risking Our Lives

    "What do you mean?" The people of Realm Island had not yet recovered from the shock of Zhang Menglong''s words.


    Cultivation? They believed in science, not these fanciful tales of gods and ghosts!


    "Gou Dan, I need to borrow Teacher Uchiha Itachi''s power!" Recently, Zhang Menglong had amassed a considerable amount of Cred Points, and he could now be considered quite wealthy!


    In an instant, an indescribable force filled Zhang Menglong''s body, and for the first time, he realized that a person''s power could be so immense.


    Unlike Thor''s physical strength, this power stemmed from the mental and spiritual realms.


    "Swoosh!" His eyes suddenly turned into two bright red Blood Wheel Eyes, as if to absorb everything in sight in a flash.


    "Susano''o!"


    "Boom!"


    An awe-inspiring power burst forth, and a blue giant over a hundred meters tall appeared above Zhang Menglong. It wielded a sword in its left hand and a shield in its right, as if a deity had descended upon them.


    "This... this is just ridiculous!" Wang Ling looked up at the Susano''o that Zhang Menglong had summoned.


    He knew that Zhang Menglong was powerful, but having seen him take action for the first time, he was still astonished. Was such power really attainable by humans?


    If Wang Ling could barely accept it, it was because he had been to Super God Academy; forget Uchiha Itachi, he had even seen Ultraman.


    But for others, this scene of breaking through dimensional barriers was enough to shatter their worldview.


    Especially Tong Wei, who hadn''t even recovered from the shock of the Emperor''s Armor, and now even the Susano''o from Naruto was summoned before them. If not for the pain from his wounds, he would have wondered if he was still asleep.


    "Boom!" With a step forward from the blue giant, the entire Realm Island trembled under its immense force.


    "What kind of monster is he?" Tong Xiao considered himself well-versed in wonders, but he had no explanation for this spectacle.


    The Anion Destruction Cannon had already scared him half to death, and he could feel that the giant''s power far surpassed that of the cannon.


    "Break!" Zhang Menglong commanded the colossal blue giant, swinging its sword towards the Barrier.


    "Boom!" The entire light screen trembled violently, and the almost-healed cracks visibly spread apart once more.


    This attack was merely the pure physical strength of the giant!


    "Thud!" This time, the shield impacted, and the cracks in the Barrier widened again.


    "Boom!"


    On the third strike, the Barrier could no longer withstand the impact of Zhang Menglong''s power and shattered into pieces of energy that slowly drifted down.


    The entire process took less than five seconds!


    With the Barrier now thoroughly destroyed, the giant tree at the center of Realm Island seemed to have been dealt a heavy blow. Its leaves withered and turned yellow in an instant, and it no longer had the excess energy to repair the Barrier.


    The giant''s apparition slowly dissipated, leaving Zhang Menglong standing calmly in front of the ruins of the Barrier, observing them with a detached gaze.


    "You see, your shell couldn''t stop me after all!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "This..." At this moment, Tong Wei''s legs began to weaken.


    Zhang Menglong''s three plain, unadorned strikes had shattered their greatest reliance. If such power were to hit them, perhaps not even ashes would remain, would they?


    "Didn''t you just say you wanted me to come in and kill you?" Zhang Menglong looked at Tong Wei and said, "I''ve never heard such an outrageous request in my life, but I am someone who likes to help others, so I''ll grant your wish!"


    "Wang Cai!"


    "Woof!" (Go get ''em, little brother)


    With a low growl, the creature moved slowly towards the people of Realm Island.


    "Teacher, save me!" Tong Wei hid behind Tong Xiao, his adult composure collapsing instantly, and at that moment, he was truly falling apart.


    Tong Xiao was in despair, too. He had raised a person for twenty years and considered him his own child; he wanted to save him, but what could he do?


    The creature before them was a being that had surpassed the Heavenly Origin Boundary, and it could kill Tong Xiao with a single slap!


    As an Elder who had lived for over a hundred years, familial affection was a pleasant addition to his life, but it was certainly not what he valued most.


    A son could be replaced even if lost, let alone an apprentice?


    Now that the Barrier had been shattered, even if Zhang Menglong and his group were to leave now, the encroaching creatures of Realm Island could easily breach their daily living and cultivation spaces.


    We don''t need many, just five creatures of the Heavenly Origin Boundary level, and all these people would be finished, unless they left this place.


    "Are you going to save him?" Zhang Menglong looked at Tong Xiao.


    "I... I don''t know him."


    "Teacher?" Tong Wei looked at the teacher, who had always shown him so much affection, in disbelief as he chose to abandon him, and on the spot, his eyes filled with tears.


    "Wang Cai, tell your lackey not to kill him."


    "Woof woof woof!"


    The creature stretched out its stubby claws to grab Tong Wei, and no one dared to stop it.


    "Thud!" Like a dead dog, Tong Wei was thrown at Zhang Menglong''s feet.


    The wounds on his body were reopened, and he immediately cried out in pain, grinding his teeth.


    Zhang Menglong kicked him in the butt.


    "Weren''t you acting all tough? Weren''t you jumping around just now? Didn''t you want me to hit you?"


    "Thud!"


    "Are you still pretending?"


    "Thud!"


    "I''m here now, and I''m still hitting you. What are you going to do about it?"


    "Thud!"


    "You asked for a proper beating, so here it is, no holding back!"


    Zhang Menglong relentlessly kicked him more than a dozen times, and finally, Tong Wei''s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    Zhang Menglong kicked Tong Wei aside and walked in with Wang Ling and the others.


    "And what about Qiyuan''s parents?" Wang Ling asked, "Or are you planning to continue threatening us with them?"


    At this point, how could the people of Realm Island dare to do so?


    Zhang Menglong''s power was terrifyingly overwhelming. Who knew what level of being he had become? He might actually be a cultivator!


    They had a hundred reasons to believe that if Zhang Menglong wanted to, they would all be wiped out before they could even lay a hand on Jiang Qiyuan''s parents.


    At that time, not a single person on Realm Island would survive.


    "Hurry up, aren''t you going to fetch the people?" Tong Xiao ordered.


    An Elder quickly rushed back and brought Jiang Qiyuan''s parents out politely,


    Jiang Qiyuan''s parents were both ordinary grandmaster martial artists. Although their freedom had been restricted, they had merely been scared a little, clearly showing that the people of Realm Island hadn''t dared to harm them.


    Jiang Qiyuan''s parents were obviously puzzled. Who had their daughter brought back with her?


    Wasn''t Tong Wei the master of Realm Island''s chosen disciple? Why was he now lying half-dead on the ground?


    What about the Barrier of Realm Island? How could outsiders come and go as they please?


    And that creature, like the legend, how come it was hiding behind a husky, licking its paws?


    "The people have been delivered. Please, Sect Leader Zhang, show mercy and spare us," Tong Xiao pleaded with a bow.


    The fate of everyone on Realm Island now hung on Zhang Menglong''s thoughts¡ªthey couldn''t help but humble themselves.


    "What are you talking about? Do I look like the kind of person who is unreasonable?" Zhang Menglong said righteously, "I came here today for justice. Now that the people are returned, as long as you compensate us with money, we can consider the matter settled."


    "200 billion US dollars, right?" Tong Xiao gritted his teeth. "Third Elder, transfer part of our assets to Sect Leader Zhang!"


    "What 200 billion?" Zhang Menglong shook his head. "That was the old price. We''ve come all this way to this wilderness... no, to rescue people, and we should raise the price a bit, right? After all, we''re taking our lives in our hands by coming to such a dangerous place!"


    "Taking your lives in your hands?" Tong Wei, who had just regained some consciousness, almost passed out again.


    Do you look like you''re here on an adventure? You clearly ate your way here! Can you really say such things and not feel a twinge of conscience?

 Chapter 564 562 This is clearly my territory

    ```


    "Just name your price, and we''ll pay the compensation," Tong Xiao had no negotiating power left at this point. Although it hurt him like cutting off his own flesh, it was still better than losing his life!


    "I won''t ask for much, just 300 billion US dollars, and we can settle this matter!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt a bit of pity for the old fellow. With such a disciple, he really had suffered through eight lifetimes of bad luck.


    "Fine, 300 billion it is!" Although the sum of 300 billion US dollars was still astronomical, if they gritted their teeth and moved heaven and earth, they could come up with the funds. I will arrange for someone to handle the transfer of the related assets in a couple of days.


    "Very well!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction. Since he was in a stronger position, he wasn''t afraid of Realm Island''s people pulling any tricks.


    Having rescued the people and secured the money, the folks from Realm Island thought these people would finally leave Realm Island, right? But looking at Zhang Menglong, he seemed to have no intention of leaving at all.


    "Gentlemen, you''ve got what you wanted, you should be able to leave now, right?"


    "Leave? Why should we leave? Shouldn''t you be the ones leaving?" Zhang Menglong replied with an innocent look.


    "What?" People from Realm Island showed their astonishment. What did he mean? Did they intend to take over Realm Island?


    "Sect Leader Zhang, what do you mean? We''ve released the people we were supposed to release, and we''ve paid the compensation we were supposed to pay. Are you still planning to occupy our homeland?" an Elder spoke up.


    "What do you mean ''your'' home? Who says this is your home; do you have any proof?" Zhang Menglong challenged.


    "We have lived on Realm Island for a hundred years, isn''t that proof enough?" Tong Xiao retorted.


    "Huh, so by that logic, since I''ve lived on Earth for 20 years, does that mean Earth belongs to me?"


    "You''re being unreasonable!" One of the Realm Island Elders exclaimed, "Do you think just because you have strength, you can do whatever you want?"


    "Exactly, you''re right. Having strength indeed means you can do whatever you want. Does that make you angry?"


    As soon as Zhang Menglong finished speaking, Wang Cai and the Brutish Beast behind him started to menacingly move forward.


    Yes, they were simply inferior to him. If Zhang Menglong decided to play rough, they really had no means to counter.


    "Come back!" Zhang Menglong called back the Brutish Beast and Wang Cai, "Wang Cai, what''s the matter with you? Haven''t I taught you that you shouldn''t just think of resorting to violence and that you should win people over with virtue?"


    "You have the nerve to talk about winning people over with virtue?" The people from Realm Island had seen the shameless, but never someone this shameless.


    Who was it that just bombarded their Barrier with the Italian Cannon?


    Who had just shattered their Barrier with three strikes of the Susanoo?


    And who was kicking and punching Tong Wei just a moment ago?


    Weren''t you the one who thought of solving everything with violence?


    "Now, please leave my private territory immediately!" Zhang Menglong pointed in the direction of the exit of Realm Island.


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t push us too far!"


    Many of the people on Realm Island were over a hundred years old. Many had severed ties with the secular world and didn''t even know where they would go if they left. Realm Island was their home.


    "I haven''t bullied anyone too far. Asking you to leave my private territory is both justified and lawful. In any country, in any region, I am in the right."


    "And what proof do you have that this is your private territory?"


    "I have a deed of ownership!" Zhang Menglong produced a red booklet with words on it that no one else had seen.


    The sea area at the entrance to Realm Island, though a public maritime zone, belonged internationally to four small countries surrounding it, solely because they didn''t see eye to eye with each other, resulting in joint management.


    The night before departing, Zhang Menglong instructed Hong Yi to purchase that stretch of the sea.


    This was just an area of the sea that no one passed through, meaningless to these countries; it wasn''t a fishing ground nor did it have rich fishing resources.


    ```


    For these four countries, this place was essentially negligible.


    And Zhang Menglong had given each of these small countries 100 million US dollars, so they happily and eagerly sold him this sea area, even issuing all the relevant documentation to prove that this place belonged to Zhang Menglong.


    This proof was valid all around the world.


    "See for yourselves, everything within a 15-mile radius of this area belongs to me personally, which includes Realm Island. So, tell me, isn''t this now my private territory?"


    "You''re shameless!" The people of Realm Island nearly bled from their eyes as they glared at Zhang Menglong.


    A few hundred million US dollars was, after all, a modest amount of money for Realm Island; they could have casually bought this sea area and rightfully made it their own.


    But who would spend such money on a place with no owner? Moreover, no one in the world would compete with them for this isolated place.


    Little did they expect that someone like Zhang Menglong, a real stickler, would actually spend money to buy the ownership of the sea area and then come to negotiate with property certificates in hand.


    They really felt like cursing their luck!


    They couldn''t win in a fight, and in terms of reasoning, they were also in the wrong. Who had they ever offended?


    At this time, everyone vented their anger on Tong Wei. If this useless man hadn''t offended someone like Zhang Menglong for the sake of a woman, they wouldn''t have been subjected to such a thing.


    Only, they never reflected on their own issues. Had they been nicer and not used Jiang Qiyuan''s family as a threat, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have gone to such lengths.


    "Let''s go!"


    After much deliberation, Tong Xiao still chose to compromise.


    Although they had lost the cultivation resources of Realm Island, their Sect was vast and strong, and even if they were to start over in the secular world, they could still make something of themselves. As long as Tong Xiao was there, Realm Island would never perish.


    "Build a villa over there, and bring that lake water in!"


    "We can set up a golf course here."


    "That area can be made into a barbecue spot. When there''s nothing to do, come here and hunt a few monsters for a taste of freshness."


    ...


    Watching Zhang Menglong enthusiastically planning the renovations, the people of Realm Island only felt a deep sense of helplessness. The place where they had lived for decades was about to be transformed into someone''s private resort. This was truly like being uprooted and displaced.


    "Old Zhang, isn''t this a bit too harsh?" Wang Ling looked at the elderly, women, and children of Realm Island, showing a touch of sympathy, "Some of these people are innocent. Maybe we should leave them some space?"


    "Yes, actually some of these people have really been quite nice to me," pleaded Jiang Qiyuan on their behalf.


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "let''s leave them a bit of space."


    Zhang Menglong wasn''t such an unreasonable person. Wang Ling was right; punishing only those primarily responsible and those who had failed in their duties was sufficient.


    After all, Realm Island was big, and he didn''t need that much space. Now that Wu Gui was subdued, there were no more forbidden areas on Realm Island, so it wasn''t out of the question to leave some living space for the people.


    "Okay, then let''s head back!" Zhang Menglong patted Wang Ling on the shoulder.


    "Old Zhang, I won''t say much, but thank you this time," Wang Ling sincerely thanked him. If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong''s intervention, not to mention helping Jiang Qiyuan rescue her parents, even his own life would probably have been in jeopardy.


    "Don''t go on about such nonsense," Zhang Menglong laughed, "If you''re really thankful, you''d call me ''dad,'' and that''d be better than anything else."


    "Get lost!"


    ...

 Chapter 565 563: Wet the Bed Together and Watched Movies Together

    On the helicopter back to Huaxia, Zhang Menglong had just turned on his phone when he received a message¡ªit was a wedding invitation, along with a short note.


    "Menglong, I''m getting married at Jiangnan Spring Hotel next Saturday. If you have time, come have a drink to celebrate."


    "This guy, we haven''t been in touch for so long, and now he''s getting married, just telling me now¡ªreally not cool!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but reveal a smile filled with nostalgia.


    "What''s up, smiling so happily¡ªdid you get a message from some girl?" Lu Yiyao asked.


    "Am I that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said sternly, "Ever since I''ve been with you, I''ve adhered to a man''s virtues. You''re framing me! It''s a childhood friend of mine who''s getting married."


    Zhang Menglong handed her the phone, "Look!"


    The invitation featured a very young and handsome groom, a tall man over one meter eighty, with a neat short haircut, bright eyes, and the bride beside him was also very charming and beautiful.


    For some reason, though, in this photo Zhang Menglong always felt something was off, as if there was a lack of wedding joy and an addition of a solemn atmosphere.


    "Probably just overthinking it," Zhang Menglong shook his head, he''d been running into some odd incidents lately which made him almost paranoid.


    "Zhu Xiaoyu, I''ve mentioned him to you."


    "So this is Zhu Xiaoyu, quite handsome," Lu Yiyao praised.


    Zhang Menglong was outgoing and cheerful, so he had a lot of friends, but from childhood to adulthood, if anyone was closest to him, it was naturally Zhu Xiaoyu.


    The two had been in the same kindergarten, then the same elementary school, middle school, and high school.


    As kids, they were notorious for their mischief; Zhang Menglong was the one who plugged car exhaust pipes with stones, and Zhu Xiaoyu was the lookout.


    They had wet the same bed, watched dirty movies together, fought side by side, and had been scolded together¡ªhardly anyone had a better relationship than they did.


    Most importantly, Zhu Xiaoyu had once saved his life! Of course, he believed


    But it seemed Zhu Xiaoyu wasn''t very lucky; although he had the chance to get into a first-class university during the college entrance exams.


    Due to feeling unwell, he did terribly on the exams, not even making the cut for undergraduate programs. His family then pulled some strings to send him to the military, and when he left, it was Zhang Menglong who saw him off.


    Because of the strict management in the army, the two hardly exchanged words after that. The last time they met was during the first semester of freshman year; later, Zhang Menglong couldn''t even get in touch with him, which had worried Zhang Menglong for a long time.


    Later, Zhang Menglong found out that Zhu Xiaoyu had been heavily relied on in the army because he performed very well, and with his excellent physical fitness from being a short-distance running champion in the city team in his youth, he seemed to have been transferred to the police force to become a narcotics officer.


    After that, Zhang Menglong never contacted him again; probably because the job was too special. Zhang Menglong had seen many drug enforcement movies, maybe calling him at the wrong time when he was undercover in some drug lord''s house.


    Of course, this was just Zhang Menglong''s overactive imagination.


    As he gained a new circle of new friends, Zhang Menglong inadvertently forgot about this friend; perhaps that wasn''t very nice of him, but it wasn''t entirely his fault. After all, if he didn''t reach out, Zhu Xiaoyu should have made some contact himself, right?


    Seeing his invitation today, all of Menglong''s memories came flooding back.


    "Are you going?"


    "Of course, I have to go¡ªhow could I not?" Zhang Menglong said, "We had a deal back then, if one of us didn''t show up at the other''s wedding, he would have to strip and snap the other guy''s ''little brother.''"


    "Men and their bad taste!" Lu Yiyao expressed disdain.


    "We even agreed that if we had a boy and a girl in the future, we would set them up for arranged marriage. If it was two boys or two girls, they would become brothers or sisters."


    "It seems your relationship is really not ordinary," Lu Yiyao said with a fujoshi''s grin, "You two didn''t have a ''sword fight,'' did you?"


    "What does ''sword fight'' mean?" Jiang Qiyuan, curious, turned to ask Wang Ling.


    "Uh...that kind of sword fight is when two guys are very close, and then they practice swordsmanship with each other." In order not to lead Jiang Qiyuan astray, Wang Ling explained very seriously.


    "Come with me when the time comes," Zhang Menglong said, "You might not need to meet my other friends, but this one you must meet."


    "Should we give him a call in advance?" asked Lu Yiyao.


    "No need for that, we''re brothers, no need for such courtesy," replied Zhang Menglong, "A wedding is no small matter. Preparing wedding photos, dowry, buying this and that - he must be overwhelmed right now, we shouldn''t disturb him. We''ll just go directly when it''s time."


    "We''ll definitely be there!" Zhang Menglong immediately replied with a message.


    He glanced outside the window, four years had passed, and he wondered how his brother was doing.


    ...


    In Dongji City, within a neighborhood called Blue Mountain Home, a handsome young man smiled as he put down his phone.


    "This guy, having not seen him for so many years, who knows what he''s up to now." Zhu Xiaoyu struggled to stand up. He picked up his crutches, glanced at the empty sleeve of his trousers, and then at the prosthetic leg beside him, "If this kid knew I''d lost a leg, who knows how he''d tease me!"


    Zhu Xiaoyu had just returned from military service last month. Previously, due to working in a very special environment for a long time, his contacts with the outside world were highly restricted, and even his girlfriend was allowed to see him only once a year on special visiting opportunities.


    As a narcotics detective, Zhu Xiaoyu was actually a Commander, and he did not need to go to the frontlines to grapple with desperate criminals.


    But it was a very important case, and because of it, three brave narcotics officers had sacrificed themselves from their team. This time they received a crucial tip that, if seized, would allow them to take down a major international syndicate in one fell swoop!


    If the syndicate were to be dismantled, it would deal a significant blow to drug lords in the entire region and might even lead to uncovering more drug trafficking groups, aiding domestic anti-drug efforts.


    To ensure the success of the operation, Zhu Xiaoyu also joined the effort. They successfully infiltrated the enemies'' stronghold, trapping them inside a building.


    But they underestimated the desperation of the cornered crime boss, who chose to go down together with the police in a last stand!


    Two warriors were killed on the spot, and to save a young recruit, Zhu Xiaoyu also lost his leg.


    After the incident, he was awarded a First-class merit, but due to his disability, he could no longer serve on the frontline. Instead, he was reassigned to work at a local military unit, taking on a clerical role that required less physical effort.


    Fortunately, because of his previous commendations, he received steady rewards and the government also granted him a substantial sum in the high tens of thousands as compensation. Moreover, through his connections, he was able to purchase a house in this neighborhood at less than half the market price.


    In their unit, Zhu Xiaoyu was undoubtedly seen as a hero, and the girl who had waited for him for four full years did not spurn him because of his disability, giving him the hope to continue living.


    "Zhu Xiaoyu? What''s going on with you? Didn''t you say the banquet has to be held at a hotel of at least the Dongji Elegance caliber? Hosting it at a place like Jiangnan Spring Hotel, do you want to shame our family?"


    A bitter smile appeared on Zhu Xiaoyu''s face; his girlfriend was a good girl, but his mother-in-law... was quite another story.

 Chapter 566 564 What Im Referring to is Bitcoin

    Zhu Xiaoyu''s mother-in-law, named Wang Lijuan, was a woman with a beefy face who stormed into Zhu Xiaoyu''s newly prepared marital home. Her expression was rich with contempt, disgust, and helplessness.


    By her side was a scrawny old man and a girl¡ªthis girl was Ye Wei, the one who had waited for him for a full four years.


    "Mom!" Ye Wei shook Wang Lijuan''s arm, "You know Xiaoyu''s situation. To buy this wedding house, we''ve borrowed all the money we could. This is truly his limit."


    "Shut your mouth!" Wang Lijuan pointed at the girl and said, "If it weren''t for your current pregnancy, which we can''t terminate, do you think I would agree to this marriage? Marrying a cripple? Why don''t you just marry a beggar? I''ve introduced you to so many outstanding men, but you just couldn''t be satisfied, insisting on marrying a poor soldier?"


    Wang Lijuan pointed at the wall full of honor certificates and medals, "Are these things of any use? A veteran soldier, with that bit of salary plus disability subsidies, only earns a few thousand yuan a month. The son of General Manager Wang I introduced to you last year, his family is in real estate, earning tens of millions of yuan a year. Are you out of your mind?"


    "Even though General Manager Wang''s son isn''t that good-looking, and even if you don''t like him, the son of Director Zhang is quite handsome and now works in the bureau. He makes around two hundred thousand a year. The key point is his high social status!"


    Zhu Xiaoyu''s parents were also in the house discussing some details, but in front of their daughter and future in-laws, the woman showed no consideration for Zhu Xiaoyu''s dignity.


    She wasn''t wrong. Although Zhu Xiaoyu had many honors, society is pragmatic. His income in this eighteenth-tier city was barely enough to avoid starvation.


    Although the benefits from his unit were decent, with housing provident fund and social security being quite substantial, compared to local civil servants, his income was still a bit lacking¡ªmerely three or four thousand yuan a month in hand.


    She had mentioned before that the price for a table at the Jiangnan Spring Hotel was 1888 yuan, which was already considered quite low in the wedding market. But the other hotel she demanded, for a basic banquet table, cost 3888 yuan.


    In Dongji City, which wasn''t very large, locals would know the standard of Jiangnan Spring Hotel just by inquiring a little.


    But this was already Zhu Xiaoyu''s limit.


    Wang Lijuan''s demands really were high, with a bridal price of at least 188,888 yuan, a full set of ''five gold'' jewelry, and a living space of at least 120 square meters required.


    How could a family as ordinary as Zhu Xiaoyu''s meet such demands?


    Even though it''s just an eighteenth-tier city, the price for a better location in Dongji City also revolves around twenty thousand yuan per square meter. Even in slightly less desirable locations, you can''t escape a price of thirteen to fourteen thousand yuan per square meter.


    Zhu Xiaoyu had brought out all of his savings and pension to barely cover the down payment. As for the rest, it was his parents'' money saved for their old age.


    But even so, it was still a far cry from Wang Lijuan''s requirements. If it weren''t for Ye Wei being six months pregnant, at a point where termination was no longer an option, she would never have agreed to this marriage.


    Zhu Xiaoyu''s parents were trembling, clearly trying very hard to suppress their anger.


    Indeed, their son was disabled, but he was also their greatest pride. He was injured for the country, for the people¡ªhe deserved everyone''s respect!


    But they dared not retort. After all, with his condition, it wasn''t easy to find a good girl in this realistic society. Since Ye Wei didn''t mind his disability, even if it meant swallowing a major grievance, they had to endure it!


    "Mom," Zhu Xiaoyu said through gritted teeth, "I know I''ve wronged Weiwei, but our family really has no money left."


    "Of course I know you have no money left," Wang Lijuan said sarcastically, "But don''t you still have another house? At current prices, that could be sold for seven or eight hundred thousand at least."


    Wang Lijuan''s expression seemed to be considering the children''s future, "In-laws, considering your age, isn''t everything we do for our children? You could take two or three hundred thousand and build a small villa in the countryside. With the rest, we could have a grand wedding and even buy a car for the kids. Wouldn''t that be good?"


    "No!" Zhu Xiaoyu immediately responded, "My parents have worked hard their whole lives; all they have left is this house. It absolutely cannot be sold!"


    "Fine," Wang Lijuan sneered, "then don''t you even think about taking my daughter away!" She said, "Let''s go, we''re going home!"


    "Mom!" Ye Wei struggled, but she wasn''t as strong as Wang Lijuan and could only cast a helpless look towards Zhu Xiaoyu.


    "Son... maybe we should just buy this house..." The empty house now only had Zhu Xiaoyu and his parents left in it.


    "Dad, Mom, there''s no negotiating this!" Zhu Xiaoyu said, "I''ll figure something out. I still have a few friends who I''ve been close to since childhood. Even if I have to beg them, I must borrow the money!"


    ...


    "How do I look in this suit?" Zhang Menglong asked, repeatedly checking himself in the mirror while wearing a brand-new suit.


    "You look great, so vain!" Lu Yiyao said as she sat in front of the dressing table where an international makeup artist, invited by special arrangement, was finishing her makeup for the day.


    "Today, no matter what, my brother must be given proper respect!" Zhang Menglong said, "Hong Yi, have you taken care of everything I asked you to?"


    "Mr. Zhang, everything is taken care of," Hong Yi replied, "Several leaders from Dongji City are willing to serve as witnesses for Mr. Zhu''s wedding."


    With Zhang Menglong''s help, Dongji City now boasted the largest integrated circuit automation base in the country, achieving in just a few months what used to take a year in GDP.


    Not only that, but the construction of the high-speed rail leading to the provincial capital was also underway with great enthusiasm.


    The local officials'' achievements had been unanimously praised by their superiors, and even by next year, several leaders from Dongji City were expected to be promoted.


    Most of these achievements could be credited to Zhang Menglong.


    When they heard that Zhang Menglong''s best friend was getting married and that Zhang Menglong would be there in person, they knew they had to make time to serve as wedding witnesses, no matter how busy they were.


    "What about the gift I prepared?"


    "Mr. Seville and his assistants worked overtime for a week and have already finished that set of wedding dress and suit. It was delivered this morning; I''ve arranged for someone to send it over in advance."


    "The other gifts you prepared have also been air-freighted over. Their wedding is officially starting at 6 pm, and we won''t miss it."


    "That''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Mr. Zhang, how much cash gift do you plan to give?" Hong Yi asked, "Even if you two are best friends, you can''t skip the wedding gift."


    "Hmm... let me think," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll give 8888."


    "Ah?" Hong Yi was startled, "Mr. Zhang, isn''t that a bit stingy?"


    Who was Zhang Menglong? The world''s richest man! The ruler of Earth! A large portion of the wealth around the globe belonged to him, either directly or indirectly.


    Even his casual bets with people started at a hundred billion US Dollars. So why was he offering only this much for his own brother''s wedding? Could this be some special agreement they had from the past?


    After all, for a normal friend, the number 8888 is already not small, and when Zhang Menglong and Zhu Xiaoyu first got to know each other, he was just a kid from an ordinary family.


    "Did I say I was giving 8888 in Huaxia currency?"


    "8888 US Dollars?" Hong Yi pondered but still, that wasn''t much. According to Zhang Menglong''s usual habits, even if he didn''t give 888.8 billion, giving 88.88 million was basic, right?


    "I was talking about Bitcoin!"

 Chapter 567 565 What kind of family conditions are these?

    "Hong Yi, is the plane ready?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s ready, you can leave at any time," Hong Yi replied, "but there is something I''m not sure whether I should tell you or not."


    "Hong Yi, when did you start beating around the bush, what could possibly be so hard to say?"


    "Your friend, Mr. Zhu''s situation is not very good, but we feel that he really does not want you to know about it, so..."


    "What happened?" Zhang Menglong''s expression instantly turned serious. A man doesn''t need too many friends, a few trustworthy ones are enough, and for him, Zhu Xiaoyu was such a person.


    "Mr. Zhu was injured during a drug enforcement operation, his left leg was amputated, and also his mother-in-law is very harsh," Hong Yi still told Zhang Menglong all the information she knew.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this earlier?" Zhang Menglong''s tone became very angry, and this was the first time he had reprimanded Hong Yi.


    Of course, he knew what Hong Yi was concerned about, but Zhu Xiaoyu''s current situation simply made him too agitated to calm down.


    He had now inherited wealth spanning half of the Earth, living a high-class life every day, enjoying everything that ordinary people could not. He was comfortable.


    However, his brother whom he grew up with had lost a leg, was living in hardship, and was being pressured by his mother-in-law to sell the house his parents had for retirement. How could this be acceptable?


    Although no one knew about this and no one would fault him, just the thought of it made Zhang Menglong feel uneasy.


    "Prepare the plane, I''m going back to Dongji City now!"


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, this was my negligence." Hong Yi also knew that she had made a mistake.


    "Forget it, this isn''t on you. Xiaoyu did not want to let me know, and you respected his wishes, it''s not your fault." Zhang Menglong calmed down his own emotions.


    "But doesn''t he know what kind of person I am now?" Zhang Menglong wondered, "Given our close friendship, how could I not help him with this little favor?"


    If Zhu Xiaoyu had just asked, it wouldn''t matter if it was a few thousand dollars'' worth of banquet tables, or even thousands of villas, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t blink an eye. Their relationship was almost like that of real brothers.


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhu had just recently left the frontline of drug enforcement. During his service, he spent most of his time investigating drug lords and had hardly any time to keep up with things online, so it''s normal that he doesn''t know about your current status."


    "True," Zhang Menglong nodded. Thinking from another perspective, if he were Zhu Xiaoyu, he wouldn''t ask either.


    In Zhu Xiaoyu''s mind, Zhang Menglong had just graduated from college; if he was making enough to support himself and pay for rent and utilities, that was already quite good. How could he have spare money to help him?


    "This guy, he''s really too much!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Hong Yi, my brother''s wedding can''t be shabby, what can we do?"


    "All the invitations have already been sent out, and many guests are probably on their way to that hotel by now, it''s too late to change locations," Hong Yi said, "since we can''t change the exterior, let''s change the substance!"


    "Good thinking!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "Now, gather the freshest, high-end ingredients from all over the world to Dongji City, and then invite the world''s best chefs to the hotel to cook personally. One million US Dollars, two million US Dollars, I don''t care how much they quote, tie them up if you have to bring them over!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang. You also have a team of chefs at home for your personal service, do you need them there too?"


    "Bring them over, take the best with you," Zhang Menglong ordered, "and take that Kaibong pheasant sword to chop the ribs, use the Sky-turning Seal to crack walnuts, and the Xuanyuan Sword to slice the steaks, don''t you dare skimp!"


    "If it''s too late to tailor suits, then go buy ready-made ones. I want works from the world''s top designers!"


    "If there aren''t enough luxury cars for the motorcade locally, then use my private jets to bring them from all over the country, or even the whole world. It must be at least 99 Rolls-Royce big!"


    ...


    Today is an auspicious day, and Zhu Xiaoyu was all dressed up and spirited, ready to pick up his bride early in the morning.


    For this wedding, several of his old comrades-in-arms took extraordinary leave to serve as his groomsmen, and many of his fellow fighters from wealthier families drove their own cars to form his wedding convoy.


    However, Zhu Xiaoyu wasn''t in a particularly good mood, still haunted by the words of his mother-in-law from two days ago. Moreover, these past few days, Ye Wei''s mother had not let her step out of the house at all.


    Ye Wei messaged him, saying that if her mother really wouldn''t let Zhu Xiaoyu pick her up, then she would elope with Zhu Xiaoyu at the time. After all, they had the means to make a living anywhere. Why should she have to endure her mother''s ugly face?


    It was this message that offered Zhu Xiaoyu considerable consolation, knowing that his beloved was still on his side.


    "Mom, Dad, I''m off to pick up Wei Wei," Zhu Xiaoyu straightened his suit.


    "Alright," Zhu''s father patted Zhu Xiaoyu on the shoulder, "no matter what happens, don''t be too rash. Endure if you can. Bringing Wei Wei back is what''s most important."


    "I understand, Dad."


    The convoy set out, led by an Audi A6, followed by more than a dozen cars of various brands. Although it couldn''t compare to the grand bridal processions of wealthy families, it was at least respectable.


    The two families didn''t live far apart, and it took less than 40 minutes for the convoy to enter Ye Wei''s residential complex.


    "Crackle and pop!" The relatives on Ye Wei''s side set off firecrackers upon seeing the convoy, and a group of children quickly swarmed forward, surrounding the cars for wedding sweets.


    This was a local custom, and Zhu Xiaoyu was well prepared, handing out all the wedding sweets from the cars to the children.


    But then, a group of middle-aged women quickly gathered around, and among them was Ye Wei''s mother, Wang Lijuan.


    She was dressed in red, which might have seemed festive, but her face betrayed no joy. In her eyes, Zhu Xiaoyu''s motley convoy just wasn''t impressive enough.


    There were many relatives and friends present, and whose daughter hadn''t married better than Ye Wei?


    A wedding comes only once in a lifetime, and one should spare no expense to make it glamorous. The least impressive bridal parties even had a uniform lineup of BBA vehicles, starting with at least 10 cars. Zhu Xiaoyu''s convoy was nothing but a disgrace to her family, wasn''t it?


    "Bridegroom, you can''t get out of the car without paying the fee!" one of the bridesmaids blocked the lead car''s door, stretching out a hand towards Zhu Xiaoyu.


    Zhu Xiaoyu handed over a red packet in a hurry, but the packet wasn''t particularly thick.


    The bridesmaid quickly tore open the seal, then whispered to Ye Wei''s mother, "Auntie, it seems to be only two or three thousand."


    "Two or three thousand?" Wang Lijuan''s face turned red with anger. Zhu Xiaoyu really was stingy. A mere two or three thousand for the car door fee? What would that leave for the entry fee, and the fee to depart? Nothing at all?


    "This won''t do, we can''t let him out so easily!" Wang Lijuan, as if seeing the ridicule on the faces of the relatives around her, angrily approached the car, throwing the red packet back inside, "Zhu Xiaoyu, what do you mean by this? Is this pittance meant to humiliate our family?"


    Zhu Xiaoyu forced a bitter smile. His family really didn''t have any money left. Whatever could be borrowed, had been borrowed; even his boss had been approached for a loan.


    Ye Wei''s mother held out her hand, "Let me tell you, without this amount, don''t even think about entering our house!"


    "5000?"


    "What five thousand, fifty thousand!" Wang Lijuan declared, "If you don''t have it, don''t even think about taking Wei Wei away today. I don''t care if you need to borrow, steal, or rob. Without fifty thousand, you can''t marry her!"


    "Beep beep!" Just then, a series of car horns broke the awkward silence at the scene, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound to see a blue Rolls-Royce driving into the complex.


    The car was adorned with bunches of bright roses ¡ª another wedding car!


    "Hiss!" The people around showed envious looks. They didn''t recognize the model of the car, but nobody was unfamiliar with the Rolls-Royce emblem.


    "My goodness, a Rolls-Royce for the bridal pick up ¡ª what kind of family does that!"

 Chapter 568 566: This is Mr. Zhus Motorcade

    "A Rolls-Royce, that''s got to be at least four or five million, right?"


    "Brother, Rolls-Royces have different grades, too. This is a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Subtracting various taxes, once it gets to our country, it probably costs no less than twenty million."


    "A blue Rolls-Royce Phantom, could this be that one Coupe?" No matter which corner of the world you''re in, there will never be a shortage of people known as car experts.


    "Dude, do you recognize this car?" A young man eagerly handed over a cigarette.


    "Hahaha, I''ve seen it online. There''s supposed to be only one of these cars in the whole world, priced at 170 million. I believe it belongs to Mr. Rowan Atkinson, but I''m not sure if this car is real because Rowan was seen driving around not too long ago."


    "Fuck, there''s more than one!"


    No sooner had the blue Rolls-Royce Phantom arrived than another five white Phantoms followed, each adorned with hearts made of roses, epitomizing the word ''luxury'' to the extreme.


    "If this procession came to marry me, I''d be willing to drop dead on the spot!" The girls at the scene all wore lovestruck expressions.


    "I haven''t heard of any girls from our community getting married recently!" Wang Lijuan enviously watched the procession, then thought of her own disappointing daughter.


    Marrying off like this is a skill in itself! Even if these cars were rented, that still shows they have the means. According to current luxury car rental market rates, renting a car isn''t that expensive, but the deposit sure is. For a car like a Rolls-Royce, you''re talking about a security deposit of at least several hundreds of thousands, right?


    The deposits for these cars probably total over a million. Isn''t that way better than that lame son-in-law of mine?


    "Auntie! Come quick, you have to see this!" called out a nephew of Wang Lijuan at the entrance of the community.


    "What is it? Can''t you see I''m busy?" Wang Lijuan walked out curiously, but in that instant, she was dumbfounded.


    The six Rolls-Royces were not the whole of the procession. In the central lane of their community, two neat rows of Rolls-Royces were parked!


    Ten cars? Twenty cars? There were way more! And the parking space in the community was simply not enough for so many vehicles; some had already spilled onto the road outside!


    Drivers in the community who had planned to go out simply left their cars where they were!


    Joking aside, with so many luxury cars parked here, a small scratch or dent could bankrupt them. Who would dare to drive carelessly?


    "99 cars! A total of 99 cars!"


    "Holy shit! A wedding procession of 99 Rolls-Royces? Even a member of the European Royal Family wouldn''t have such a grand lineup at their wedding, would they?"


    "Don''t we only have one Rolls-Royce in Dongji City?"


    "That''s not even the point. Even if all the luxury car rental companies in Dongji City combined their inventories, they couldn''t rent out 99 Rolls-Royces! Besides, those Phantoms at the front, you can''t just rent them with money. Who the hell is getting married?"


    As Wang Lijuan watched the mighty procession, her jaw practically dropped. As a middle-aged woman who was always hopping around the neighborhood gossiping, she had her finger on the pulse of every family in the community. Which girl in this community could boast having such a lineup to fetch her for marriage?


    With such a display of these cars, the bride must have saved the planet in her past life!


    Seeing the procession, Wang Lijuan''s temper flared up more and more. Her limp son-in-law''s wedding entourage combined didn''t compare to even one wheel of these cars!


    If the marriages were on different days, it would have been bearable, but now, facing this together, the immense gap was blatantly apparent; it was like a social death scene on a grand scale! Who could withstand this?


    At this time, Zhu Xiaoyu had no mood to care about the procession. Fifty thousand, where could he possibly gather that amount now?


    His mother-in-law would definitely not mention the number just casually. Since she had stated that figure, it meant she really wanted it.


    And now, with such a striking contrast next door, it was not about lowering standards anymore¡ªif they didn''t raise the price that would be a surprise!


    "Mom, I''ll figure out the money later. Let me go up and pick up Weiwei. So many people are watching, it''s embarrassing," Zhu Xiaoyu pleaded.


    "You still know what embarrassment is?" Wang Lijuan sneered. "My daughter must have been blind to fancy a good-for-nothing like you. I just said¡ªfifty thousand, not a penny less, or you won''t be taking Weiwei from here! It''s already shameful enough; we''re not afraid of losing more face!"


    "But..."


    "Click!" At this moment, the door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe opened, and a middle-aged man dressed in a suit, who exuded the air of someone in a high position, walked towards them.


    "Could it be that Bridal Escort is actually living in the same building as us?" At this moment, Wang Lijuan almost wished she could bury her head in the ground.


    Seeing the middle-aged man approaching, everyone couldn''t help but make way for him.


    But they were puzzled. Wasn''t the motorcade here to pick up the bride? Why was there only one person stepping out? And this person didn''t seem to be the groom; which groom wears gloves? He seemed more like a driver?


    The middle-aged man didn''t go upstairs but stopped alongside Zhu Xiaoyu''s motorcade and then knocked on the window of the lead car.


    "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Zhu Xiaoyu?"


    "It''s... it''s me." Zhu Xiaoyu said nervously, not recognizing the middle-aged man in front of him, and if things hadn''t gone wrong, he should have no connection with people who drove Rolls-Royces in his life.


    "Mr. Zhu, your motorcade has arrived. When can the bride come down?"


    "Ah?" Not only Zhu Xiaoyu but everyone at the scene was stunned.


    This middle-aged man said this is Zhu Xiaoyu''s motorcade?


    "I''m sorry, but could you have made a mistake? This... this here is my motorcade." Zhu Xiaoyu said, embarrassed, "You might have the wrong person; perhaps I am not the Mr. Zhu you''re looking for."


    "May I ask if your name is Zhu Xiaoyu?" the middle-aged man asked again for confirmation.


    "Yes, my name is Zhu Xiaoyu."


    "Then there''s no mistake."


    "Are you sure the Zhu Xiaoyu you''re looking for is him?" Even Zhu Xiaoyu''s former comrades were dumbfounded. Could it be a case of shared names? But the likelihood of that was incredibly small, almost as likely as Mars colliding with Earth.


    "Weren''t you schooled at Kindergarten No. 38, then went on to First Primary School, First Middle School, and for high school, you attended Dongji Central High School?"


    "How did you know?"


    "That''s right, it''s indeed you!" the middle-aged man said, "Mr. Zhu, today we are responsible for picking up your bride; this motorcade has been prepared for you!"


    "Whoosh!"


    After repeated confirmations, the people at the scene finally believed that this motorcade was truly Zhu Xiaoyu''s!


    But how could he, a disabled veteran with a monthly take-home pay of three to four thousand, afford such a motorcade?


    Nearly a hundred Rolls-Royces, even if they were all rented, would require a deposit of tens of millions. Could someone who couldn''t even produce a down payment of fifty thousand afford it?


    Ye Wei''s mother, Wang Lijuan, stood thunderstruck.


    She thought the untouchably luxurious motorcade, incredibly, had been arranged by her disabled son-in-law? How was that possible?


    Could it be that Zhu Xiaoyu had made some friends over these few years?


    But that was impossible. How many rich people could there be at their workplace?


    If indeed he had come into contact with wealthy people over the years, there wouldn''t be just a few; every drug lord he had caught was worth at least ten million!


    But those people were either in prison or harbored a deep hatred for him, wanting him dead. Were they insane to spend money on such a luxurious motorcade for him?

 Chapter 569 567: Did She Take the Wrong Medicine?

    "What on earth is going on?" Zhu Xiaoyu''s head was spinning.


    In his life, he basically had no relation to cars like Rolls-Royce, but now 99 Rolls-Royces were neatly arrayed in front of him, throwing him into a panic.


    "Sir, are you sure you haven''t made a mistake? How could I afford to hire such a convoy?" Zhu Xiaoyu pointed to the cars behind him. "As you can see, the wedding car procession I managed to put together was sponsored by my comrades-in-arms and colleagues out of friendship. I couldn''t afford to hire a fleet of this caliber."


    "Mr. Zhu, this fleet isn''t rented, but belongs to one of your friends, so you don''t need to pay," the attendant explained.


    "My friend?" Zhu Xiaoyu was even more confused now. He had many friends, but none that he knew had struck it rich. Could it be that he missed something while working in the drug enforcement unit for these past few years?


    "Mr. Zhu, your friend will arrive at the wedding venue later. You should go and pick up the bride first. The makeup artist and stylist we''ve arranged for you are already preparing in the hotel."


    "Oh... okay..." he murmured.


    "But..." Zhu Xiaoyu glanced again at his future mother-in-law, Wang Lijuan. He had just been told that if he didn''t have 50,000 yuan today, he shouldn''t think about stepping through the door. He really couldn''t get past this hurdle!


    "Mom, about the money..."


    "This fleet is his?" Wang Lijuan was dumbfounded.


    She had thought it was a super-rich tycoon''s wedding procession, but it turned out to be for helping Zhu Xiaoyu pick up his bride. Wasn''t that too dreamlike?


    "What''s all this talk about money? I was just joking earlier. Did you really take me seriously? Could I possibly keep my own son-in-law out?" By Wang Lijuan''s age, wasn''t it all about face?


    Why did she reject Zhu Xiaoyu? It wasn''t because he was a cripple, but because of the poverty that his disability implied!


    If Zhu Xiaoyu were a millionaire, it wouldn''t matter if he was disabled, an old man, divorced, or even with a child, Wang Lijuan would never have treated him with such an attitude.


    Now, with a convoy worth billions here to pick up her daughter, who could boast such an honor?


    From now on, everyone in the entire neighborhood, even the whole street, would know that when her daughter Wang Lijuan got married, the wedding procession consisted of 99 Rolls-Royces, and the grand fleet even blocked the streets of the neighborhood.


    Even ten, twenty years later, this legend would be passed down to this generation. This wasn''t just about satisfying her vanity; it was practically a glory for the ancestors!


    To drive away Zhu Xiaoyu now? Would she be an idiot to do so?


    Even if Zhu Xiaoyu was still a disabled pauper, he had such friends, and their relationship was obviously significant. With just a little help from them, it would be as if one person gained the way to heaven, and even the chickens and dogs ascended with him. Wang Lijuan was very clear about such important connections!


    With this thought, she immediately changed her demeanor to the opposite of how she had been when demanding money from Zhu Xiaoyu.


    "Move aside, who dares to obstruct my son-in-law from coming up to fetch the bride?"


    Wang Lijuan stood with her hands on her hips. "Everyone, move aside, don''t you see these are expensive Rolls-Royces worth millions? These are the wedding cars Zhu Xiaoyu is using to pick up Ye Wei. Can you afford to pay if you scratch or bump them?"


    "Capture it, give these cars a close-up!" Wang Lijuan told the videographer, knowing that if she didn''t record this scene, she would regret it for life!


    Zhu Xiaoyu was taken aback by Wang Lijuan''s sudden shift in attitude. Ever since he''d first met his future mother-in-law, she had never been so amiable toward him¡ªcalling him "son-in-law" so affectionately, it was as if she couldn''t wait to marry him off.


    "Make way, make way!" Wang Lijuan shouted, "Our son-in-law is getting out of the car. He is a first-class merit military man who has sustained injuries and has trouble walking. If any of you cause him to trip or stumble, I won''t let you get away with it!"


    Accompanied by his comrades, Zhu Xiaoyu approached the entrance of their apartment building. As per tradition, the bride''s family members were supposed to block the door, demanding drinks and red envelopes¡ªnone of that could be missed!


    "Disperse already, don''t block our son-in-law from picking up the bride!" Wang Lijuan cleared the way like a warrior.


    In fact, she had arranged for these people herself. Half an hour before, she had instructed them to definitely not let Zhu Xiaoyu go up easily, insisting they should at the very least extort a red envelope worth tens of thousands.


    "Xiaoyu, your mother-in-law isn''t as scary as the rumors say!" Zhu Xiaoyu''s comrade-in-arms remarked as they watched Wang Lijuan''s bustling presence.


    Others'' bridal sides would desperately block the path, refusing to let the groom in without getting their due. Their family, however, had the mother-in-law personally clearing the way, showing no mercy to anyone standing in her path. Some of them had been groomsmen more than once. Where had it ever been so easy? They had been fully prepared to be intoxicated by the bride''s relatives causing trouble at the wedding.


    "Hehehe," faced with his friends'' questions, Zhu Xiaoyu could only laugh helplessly. This wasn''t about his mother-in-law being nice. If they saw Wang Lijuan''s true colors, they wouldn''t have these questions.


    Obviously, it was the super luxurious top-level motorcade that had changed Wang Lijuan''s attitude.


    Ninety-nine Rolls-Royces to pick up the bride, who else would have such grandeur at their wedding? Perhaps the media in Dongji City were already swarming in, ready to capture the footage. What a glorious honor this was!


    Zhu Xiaoyu had no doubt that without this motorcade, Wang Lijuan would still be trying to extort the fifty-thousand entrance fee from him downstairs.


    Now, he grew even more curious about which friend of his had such incredible resources. Even if these were rented, it would require tens of millions in deposits, and the middle-aged man had said the fleet wasn''t rented but belonged to a friend of his!


    Who the hell buys ninety-nine Rolls-Royces at once? Does he own the Rolls-Royce company? Even the world''s richest person couldn''t do this, right?


    Soon, the wedding procession arrived at the doorstep, but the door was tightly closed with only a QR code for payment pasted outside.


    "Sssrip!"


    Wang Lijuan tore off the payment code instantly, "Open the door, whoever dares to block my son-in-law will answer to me, open it now!"


    A bridesmaid in her dress timidly popped her head out, "Auntie, wasn''t it you who told us to block the door?"


    "Nonsense, when did I ever say that?" Wang Lijuan didn''t even blush as she denied it, "Hurry up and let my son-in-law in. If you cause any delay, see if I don''t deal with you later!"


    Ye Wei, who was in the room, had been worried about Zhu Xiaoyu all morning. She knew her mother''s character better than anyone. Once Wang Lijuan had set her mind on something, nobody could change it, not even Ye Wei''s father had any say.


    She had made up her mind that if Wang Lijuan really made things difficult for Zhu Xiaoyu, she would just elope with him. After all, they already had a child, there was nothing to hesitate about.


    Hearing the commotion outside, Ye Wei quickly sat up from the bed.


    "Click!" The door was pushed open, and to her surprise, standing in the doorway was Zhu Xiaoyu with a bouquet in his hands.


    What''s going on? That morning she had overheard her mother and the bridesmaids plotting that without fifty thousand yuan, they absolutely wouldn''t let Zhu Xiaoyu through the door.


    Of course, she knew about Zhu Xiaoyu''s financial situation. Buying a house, the wedding shoot, arranging the banquet, it was already impressive that he could come up with five thousand yuan, let alone fifty thousand. For that amount, he''d probably have to sell a kidney.


    Then something even more outrageous happened; Wang Lijuan was affectionately patting Zhu Xiaoyu on the shoulder, inquiring about his well-being.


    "Xiaoyu, did you wake up early this morning? You''ve worked hard!"


    "And to all the groomsmen, you''ve all worked hard, too. These gifts are for you, please don''t be shy!"


    This version of Wang Lijuan, even her own daughter Ye Wei had never seen before. What''s going on with her? Did she take the wrong medicine today?

 Chapter 570 568: Lets Make Do With the Limited Time

    "Lazy girl, get up quickly! Xiaoyu is here to pick you up, we need to leave right away!" Wang Lijuan grumbled as she urged Ye Wei, "Hurry up, don''t keep Xiaoyu waiting, his Rolls-Royce fleet is still downstairs waiting for us!"


    "What?" Ye Wei almost doubted her own hearing.


    What''s happening? Rolls-Royces? Could Zhu Xiaoyu afford such cars? Given his situation, it would have been impressive enough if he and his friends could scrape together a decent convoy of cars.


    The relatives at Ye Wei''s home were even more astonished; they knew Ye Wei had found herself a lame partner and said they were coming to the wedding today, but it was more about flaunting their superiority.


    But hearing that Zhu Xiaoyu was coming in a Rolls-Royce, some of their faces turned sour on the spot.


    Even the wealthiest among them only rented a basic entry-level Bentley at the time, which was still a notch below a Rolls-Royce.


    "Lijuan, you''re joking, right? There''s no need to save face like this. Everyone knows your son-in-law is just a clerk at the police station. Even if you want to brag, make it believable, okay?"


    "Exactly, we''re all family here; we won''t mock you. There''s no need for this."


    "Who said I''m bragging?" Wang Lijuan puffed up her chest, "My mouth might lie, but your eyes certainly won''t deceive you, right? The cars are parked right below; you can go see for yourselves!"


    "Really?" The relatives crowded doubtfully at the window and looked down.


    This is just preposterous! The entire neighborhood was blocked by the fleet of cars, and the most absurd part was that, usually, even if someone did rent a luxury car for a wedding, only the lead car would be a luxury vehicle; the rest would be somewhat nicer cars.


    But this entire fleet was composed of Rolls-Royces; had they gone mad with wealth?


    "A blue Rolls-Royce Phantom? I''ve seen it online¡ªit''s a car worth over a hundred million! Isn''t that car limited to one unit worldwide? How could it be here in our shabby place?"


    "And those five white Rolls-Royces are all Phantoms as well, at least twenty or thirty million each!"


    "Is this really here to pick up Ye Wei?"


    "Impossible!" A somewhat portly middle-aged woman said, "Lijuan, this must be someone else''s fleet, right? They just happened to be picking up someone in our neighborhood. Your lie is too far-fetched."


    "You all live nearby; you know the people in our complex. Do we have anyone else getting married today?"


    This question left the relatives speechless.


    "And, the people downstairs waiting for the groom all heard it. If you don''t believe me, ask them," Wang Lijuan said, tilting her head high with pride, love it or doubt it¡ªthe truth is the truth!


    "Mom, it''s true, I heard it myself; the driver who got off the car said he was here to pick up Weiwei," a girl blocking the door downstairs told the woman.


    "What?" The woman''s face changed.


    Seeing their reactions, Wang Lijuan felt even more triumphant.


    "Why are you all standing here? My son-in-law and his comrades came over early in the morning; hurry up and move some chairs for them to sit!"


    These groomsmen were all born of special forces, and they were the only ones who could handle such a tough mother-in-law.


    They had already mentally prepared themselves, whether for drinking or for push-ups; these were what the special forces excelled at.


    But unexpectedly, they didn''t have to do anything to get in. Fetching the bride? Wedding pranks? The Asura Field for groomsmen? Is that all?


    "No, we can''t leave just yet; the groom has not put the engagement ring on the bride yet!" shouted a relative from the bride''s side.


    Following the customs of Dongji City, they rarely had an engagement process, but they needed to prepare five rings in a marriage: one proposal ring, a pair of engagement rings, and a pair of wedding bands.


    Actually, most people getting married would omit the engagement rings to save money; they couldn''t be worn long and weren''t seen as necessary.


    Zhu Xiaoyu had made a simple handmade ring out of a bullet when he proposed, which, to them, was undoubtedly the most valuable thing.


    Zhu Xiaoyu had the wedding rings prepared, but those were for use during the wedding ceremony and were still at the hotel. He didn''t have any other rings, and his financial situation wouldn''t allow him any extra expenses anyway.


    "An engagement ring!" Zhu Xiaoyu and Ye Wei had hardly reacted before Wang Lijuan spoke up in their defense, "What era do we live in that we still adhere to such old customs? I think you''re just trying to make things difficult for our son-in-law!"


    "Lijuan, you can''t say that. These are the traditions handed down by our ancestors. How can we simply discard them?"


    "When our Yao Yao got married, our son-in-law prepared a diamond ring over one carat, 150,000 it was!"


    "Exactly, if your son-in-law is so capable, then surely an engagement ring is indispensable?"


    First comparing children''s academic achievements, now who''s marrying better, this circle of comparison never ends.


    That Rolls-Royce motorcade had really made the Wang family stand out. All the snide comments they had prepared suddenly became choked in their throats.


    Now that there was a chance, how could they not scramble to regain some face?


    "Oh, is Yao Yao''s husband that wealthy?"


    "Well, not like our girl who just married a sales manager from a small company. Their wedding rings were worth only seventy to eighty thousand."


    The relatives were all glancing and commenting, and it was hard to tell if they were being modest or boasting. For most people, a diamond ring worth thirty to fifty thousand was already quite good.


    All of a sudden, Wang Lijuan''s face soured, as it seemed that even Zhu Xiaoyu arriving with a fleet of luxury cars wouldn''t shut these gossipy women up.


    "I..." Zhu Xiaoyu and Ye Wei looked at each other, unsure of what to do.


    Zhu Xiaoyu knew that Ye Wei didn''t care about this, but after all, family gatherings were still to happen in the future, and this could become a handle against her.


    "Sorry Mr. Zhu, there was something I forgot to give you earlier." At that moment, the middle-aged driver who had driven the lead car walked into the room and handed Zhu Xiaoyu a box.


    "This..."


    "This is the ring our boss prepared for you," said the driver, "but the boss said there wasn''t much time, so it was put together in a rush. Just make do with this for now."


    Zhu Xiaoyu received the box, as everyone crowded around, eager to see what kind of ring it was.


    The instant the box opened, a dazzling blue hue immediately caused everyone''s pupils to dilate several times over.


    It was a massive Blue Diamond ring. No one there had ever seen a diamond so large in their lives¡ªthey had not even seen one a tenth of its size!


    Zhu Xiaoyu''s hand, holding the box, trembled uncontrollably. This was a rush job? Making do? What kind of person could utter such words?


    "This couldn''t be a moissanite, could it?" An off-key voice arose from the crowd. They all look the same, and we''re not experts, who knows if it''s real or fake?


    The middle-aged man turned a deaf ear to this comment, "Mr. Zhu, this diamond is called the Harry Winston Blue Diamond, weighing 13.22 carats. In 2014, it was auctioned off at Christie''s Auction House for the price of 23.4 million US dollars. Our boss bought this diamond ring from the head of Harry Winston this very morning."


    "Over 23 million US dollars?"


    "Holy shit!"


    "What kind of friend is this? Does he need more friends?"


    "My God, such a big diamond ring, wouldn''t you need ten bodyguards just to wear it out?"


    "Who wants to give me a diamond ring worth over 23 million? I''d like to make do with that too!"


    "Oh, right, this is the certificate."


    When the middle-aged man took out the certificate, thick as a thesis paper, all those who had been skeptical fell silent.


    A diamond ring worth a hundred and fifty thousand, seventy to eighty thousand?


    Does that kind of small diamond even deserve the name ''diamond''?

 Chapter 571 569: Why Even Rent a Wedding Car?

    The scene was as if time had stood still in a strange event, not a single woman present could avert her gaze from the diamond in front of her.


    A diamond ring worth over twenty million, just one glance was enough to boast about for a year in front of one''s relatives and friends.


    "Xiaoyu, what are you waiting for in the cold? Hurry up and put it on for Weiwei!" At this moment, Wang Lijuan was the most anxious one, her daughter was about to wear a diamond ring worth over twenty million, and who would dare boast about how well their daughters were married in front of her after this?


    In their circle of middle-aged women, this was simply a dimensionality reduction attack! They were freaking invincible!


    "Is this really for me?" Zhu Xiaoyu was still somewhat hesitant.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhu, it is the second wedding gift from our boss."


    "The second one?" If the convoy of wedding cars was the first gift and the diamond ring was the second, does that mean there would be a third and fourth?


    He couldn''t help but pinch his leg that wasn''t disabled, feeling a sharp pain. He wasn''t freaking dreaming! Not even with all the sleeping positions in the world could he dream of such a thing!


    "Zhu Xiaoyu, aren''t you going to hurry up? If you keep this up, the neighbors rushing to drive out will be blocked!" a groomsman reminded.


    Zhu Xiaoyu quickly came back to his senses, handing the box to Ye Wei, "Weiwei, are you willing to go with me?"


    "I am willing!" Of course, Ye Wei was willing, even without the diamond ring, even if Zhu Xiaoyu had nothing, she was willing to follow him!


    Zhu Xiaoyu smiled, slipping the ring onto Ye Wei''s finger, the huge diamond radiating a dazzling brilliance under the slanting sunlight.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, I''m so envious I could die!"


    "Boo hoo hoo, such a big diamond ring, how much good karma did Ye Wei accumulate in her past life! A lifetime''s worth wouldn''t be enough, right?"


    "Quick, take a photo, a close-up!" Wang Lijuan hurriedly called the cameraman to work, afraid that in the next moment the diamond ring would no longer belong to Ye Wei. She must develop the photos of the convoy and the ring, frame them with the best frames, and hang them in the most conspicuous place at home!


    "Right, and the appraisal certificate! Otherwise, people might think what Weiwei is wearing is just glass!" Wang Lijuan didn''t forget to take a dig at her several cousins at this moment.


    "Let''s go!" Zhu Xiaoyu picked up Ye Wei. Even though he was missing a leg, his physical condition was still excellent. Ye Wei''s bridal dress was only about a dozen pounds heavy, all together barely over a hundred-seventeen pounds or so, no issue at all!


    "Make way, all of you, clear the path!" Wang Lijuan charged to the front again, leading the charge. My son-in-law has difficulty moving his legs; if anyone bumps into him, I won''t let it go!


    Wang Lijuan kept calling son-in-law, afraid others wouldn''t know Zhu Xiaoyu was her son-in-law.


    "Oh, right Mr. Zhu, our boss was worried you''d miss some etiquette due to the rushed wedding preparations, this is a meeting gift for your relatives!" the middle-aged man took out another box.


    "This isn''t money, is it?" someone curiously peered over.


    The box was opened, inside were red envelopes, but these envelopes didn''t look very thick, from the outside they seemed to hold at most 100.


    Frankly, given the situation, a small red envelope with 100 was already not a small sum, but remember, after the shock of the car convoy and the diamond ring, a mere 100 Yuan red envelope was hard to satisfy the people present.


    "Mr. Zhu, the boss said you should handle these red envelopes yourself."


    Zhu Xiaoyu paused, then took out a stack of red envelopes, "Mom, please distribute these red envelopes to the relatives."


    "Alright, good!" Wang Lijuan quickly handed out the envelopes, distributing about forty or fifty.


    "I say, Lijuan, your Xiaoyu is doing so well, with such good friends to support you, these hundred-dollar red envelopes don''t seem quite enough!" A few relatives started to pick at it.


    "Hmm? What''s this?"


    Contrary to everyone''s expectations, the envelopes didn''t contain money, but a small piece of paper.


    On the paper were several strings of numbers.


    "What''s this? I thought there would be a lot of money, but they''re fobbing us off with a piece of waste paper?" A woman crumpled the paper into a ball and casually threw it into the newly lit brazier, which the bride had to step over on her way out, symbolizing not carrying any dirty things with her.


    "This looks like a website address." A young man curiously opened the webpage, which redirected to a platform, "Yibi Network? A virtual currency site??"


    "Could this be an account?" He tried entering the account and password, and the last string of numbers was a two-factor authentication code. Sure enough, he logged into the account.


    "There''s a coin?" He clicked on the account, which displayed, "Bitcoin: 1."


    "Bitcoin? A Bitcoin? There''s a Bitcoin in this account?" The young man trembled excitedly with both hands. He had no idea how many red envelopes one coin could be worth, it could even cover a respectable wedding!


    "What? A Bitcoin account?"


    All the young people at the scene were boiling with excitement. Who didn''t know about Bitcoin these days? It had already risen to over fifty thousand US dollars each, which translates to more than three hundred thousand Huaxia currency!


    "Bitcoin? What''s that?" The woman who had just spoken asked curiously, "Isn''t that some kind of supermarket token? How much can it be worth?"


    "Mom! Bitcoin is a type of virtual currency, and it''s currently selling for over three hundred thousand Huaxia currency on the market!"


    "What? Over three hundred thousand? Are you sure?" The woman was flabbergasted. She rushed to find the piece of paper with the account and password she had just thrown into the fire basin.


    But by that time, where could the paper be found? It had already turned to ashes.


    "Damn it! In all my life, I''ve never seen anyone give away Bitcoins in red envelopes!"


    "Just now there were like forty or fifty red envelopes, right? Forty or fifty Bitcoins, that''s more than ten million!"


    "There must have been a couple hundred envelopes in that box, right? How much is that? A billion? My goodness!"


    Wang Lijuan was stunned. Just who exactly was her son-in-law connected to?


    And what had she just done? She had actually given away more than ten million in red envelopes? If she had known they contained Bitcoins, would she have given them out one per person?


    "Lijuan, this... I accidentally..." The woman from before shamelessly wanted to ask for another one.


    "That won''t do, one for each person, I can''t show favoritism!" After all the sarcastic comments she had made, now she was coming to her? Wang Lijuan would be surprised if she gave her another one, and besides, a three hundred thousand red envelope, the idea of giving one away without feeling heartache was simply impossible, even though it wasn''t her money.


    "Lijuan, your son-in-law is too amazing!"


    "Lijuan, your family stole the show today, over three hundred thousand¡ªnow we can renovate our house completely!"


    "Lijuan, we definitely should interact more in the future."


    Wang Lijuan suddenly became the central figure among the middle-aged women; if not now, then when to cozy up? If Wang Lijuan was in a good mood, that was another red envelope¡ªthey could even buy another house!


    "Let''s go!" Zhu Xiaoyu led Ye Wei over the fire basin and out the front door.


    The crackling sound of fireworks started up outside the door again, and when the driver opened the door to the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, any last suspicions from the crowd instantly dissipated. The car had indeed come to pick him up!


    "What are you all dazed for? Get in the car!" urged the drivers.


    "We can ride too?"


    "Damn, I''ve never been in a Rolls-Royce in my life!"


    "My legs are feeling a bit wobbly."


    "Hey, bro, you''re not driving the wedding car anymore?"


    "With this car, why would I drive a basket? I''ve never been in a Rolls-Royce in my whole life!"


    "Crack, crack, pop!"


    The grand procession of cars sped off into the distance...

 Chapter 572 570 We Are Just Workers

    The motorcade arrived at the hotel entrance, where a huge poster stood outside the hotel.


    "Congratulations to Mr. Zhu Xiaoyu and Ms. Ye Wei on your wedding!"


    This poster took up the entire entrance of the store, and almost everyone who passed by could see it.


    "Hmm? I remember there are several other weddings being held here today, what about their wedding announcements?" Zhu Xiaoyu was a bit puzzled. Although Jiangnan Springtime wasn''t exactly a high-end venue, it was well-known that wedding banquets almost always had to be booked a year in advance, and especially for those dates.


    If you really couldn''t get a reservation, even if you had the money, you wouldn''t have any choice but to look for the next best thing at a slightly less prestigious hotel¡ªafter all, the hotel might wait for you, but the auspicious dates won''t.


    "Excuse me, are you Mr. Zhu Xiaoyu and Ms. Ye Wei?" a server with a sweet smile approached.


    "Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed across Zhu Xiaoyu''s face.


    He had personally come to book the hotel at that time, and he had met all the staff here, but now he didn''t recognize a single person in this lobby.


    Moreover, he remembered that the servers at Jiangnan Springtime all wore proper suits as their uniform, and now all of them had switched to traditional cheongsams, which, admittedly, matched the name of the hotel perfectly.


    Had the hotel undergone such massive changes in just a few weeks?


    "Those cheongsams aren''t cheap, huh!" Among the guests attending the wedding, some were in the clothing business. They could tell at a glance that the workmanship and materials of the cheongsams were not of low value. Such quality silk was definitely considered high-end on the market.


    "How come all the servers look like talent show stars?" Someone else remarked by then. The male servers were tall and handsome while the females were beautiful and elegant. This standard seemed higher than even the best hotels in Dongji City, right?


    Jiangnan Springtime was just a second-rate hotel, when did it become so wealthy?


    "I am Zhu Xiaoyu, please help me find Manager Huang," said Zhu Xiaoyu, who had dealt with this Huang when booking the hotel.


    "I apologize, Mr. Zhu, our hotel has changed owners, and all the staff have been replaced. Manager Huang no longer works here."


    "What about my wedding banquet..." Zhu Xiaoyu became anxious, as he had paid a deposit, and it would be troublesome if the hotel refused to honor the agreement or raised the prices at this point.


    "Mr. Zhu, rest assured, we will take care of your wedding banquet entirely today, and the entire hotel will be serving only your pair of newlyweds!"


    "Ah? What about the others? I remember there are three other weddings and a graduation party scheduled for today."


    "That''s right, the boss has declined all other events."


    "Declined?"


    "Yes, the boss has already arranged for stylists and makeup artists to be in your hotel room, please go with the bride to get ready."


    "We have already..." Zhu Xiaoyu started to say they had already prepared themselves and didn''t need it, but the receptionist didn''t give him the chance to finish.


    "Mr. Zhu, our boss has prepared a suit for the wedding and a bridal gown for you as the third gift."


    "Is your boss him?" Zhu Xiaoyu now understood that this mysterious friend of his was the new owner of the hotel.


    To help him have a respectable wedding, he had spent a fortune on a luxurious motorcade and a ten-million-dollar diamond ring, and now he had even bought the entire hotel!


    Even though Jiangnan Springtime was only average in terms of prestige, it wasn''t something a few million could settle, and all the staff had been replaced, and other people''s events had been canceled, involving penalties, severance pay, etc.¡ªthis couldn''t be settled without tens of millions, could it?


    "Mr. Zhu, please follow me!"


    There wasn''t enough time for the hotel to undergo renovation, but they managed to refresh everything at record speed. Many old items had been replaced with new ones, and the stage for the wedding had been carefully arranged.


    "Isn''t... isn''t that the God of Song??"


    "You must be seeing things, how could the God of Song be here?"


    "Damn, he looks exactly the same, it can''t be a high-quality imitation, can it? Zhang Xueyou? Jacky Cheung?"


    "Our boss has invited him to perform at your wedding reception," said the hotel front desk.


    "How much money did your boss spend?"


    "We wouldn''t know about that," the receptionist said with a smile, "but the boss didn''t just invite the God of Song, there are also several popular singers and veteran actors with real clout. Today''s wedding will be hosted by the host of the Spring Festival Gala, and they should be backstage practicing now!"


    "This... this is just outrageous!"


    "This is truly a display of financial power!"


    "Weiwei, just who is your husband''s friend?" one of Ye Wei''s bridesmaids asked quietly.


    "I don''t know either!" Ye Wei''s face showed her frustration; not to mention her, even Zhu Xiaoyu himself was completely in the dark.


    "Let me take you to get your makeup done first!" The receptionist led them to the elevator; the close relatives had already entered the banquet hall, and the rest of the guests followed.


    Once they arrived at a hotel suite, a group of people was already waiting for them inside.


    "This is the internationally renowned makeup artist, Miss Shariel, and her team. Your suits and Miss Ye''s wedding gown are all in the next room. I''ll leave you to it," the receptionist said, and then she left.


    "Shariel? Is that really Shariel?" a niece of someone from the bridesmaids group, Wang Lijuan, exclaimed in amazement.


    After high school, she had gone to vocational school to study beauty care, and she was currently working in the beauty industry, so she was very familiar with it.


    Shariel was one of the most famous makeup artists in the world, and just last year, her team was in charge of the makeup for the Oscar night. It was rumored that the team''s appearance fee was measured in the millions of US Dollars for just one day.


    Setting aside how much her skills were worth, the luxury makeup products she used were already an extravagance.


    This wedding actually managed to invite Shariel''s team? And it looked like Shariel was going to personally design their look!


    It was known that even for Oscar night, all the work was done by her team and Shariel was only directing and supervising. How powerful was this boss to have someone like her personally on the job?


    "Teacher Shariel, sorry to trouble you today," Zhu Xiaoyu and Ye Wei said politely.


    "No need to be courteous," they hadn''t expected Shariel to speak fluent Huaxia, "we''re just hired workers after all. Your friend''s offer was something I couldn''t refuse."


    "May I be so bold as to ask how much your appearance fee is for this time?" asked Ye Wei, knowing the question was somewhat impolite, but she asked boldly nonetheless.


    However, Shariel didn''t seem to be embarrassed by this question, which was not unanswerable.


    "Your friend offered me 50 million US Dollars!"


    "Hiss!"


    "Fifty million? My god!"


    "They''re insane, this isn''t a wedding, it''s just burning money!"


    Even Zhu Xiaoyu''s mouth twitched when he heard it.


    "Mr. Zhu, no need to be so surprised. This amount of money is probably like a drop in the ocean for your friend," Shariel said with a smile. "And my fee doesn''t even compare to the price of the wedding gown in that room!"


    "What? She means that wedding gown is worth more than 50 million US Dollars?"


    "How can a wedding gown be so costly?"


    "Hurry, Weiwei, let''s feast our eyes!"


    Ye Wei''s family members were all dumbfounded, and so were Zhu Xiaoyu''s family members.


    Zhu Xiaoyu and Ye Wei walked to that door and slowly opened it.


    It was a wedding gown out of every girl''s dream, so beautiful it was beyond description; whoever owned it must be the happiest woman in the world!


    Shariel approached, "This is the work of the Italian designer, Mr. Kings Duang. All the details are handmade, the crown features a rare blood diamond weighing 40 carats, and the material costs of the entire wedding gown alone exceed 120 million US Dollars!"


    Shariel joked, "This gown, I was almost tempted to run away with it!"

 Chapter 573 571 Is It Really Me Getting Married?

    "And there''s this suit; although it''s not as expensive, it was handcrafted by Mr. George Armani''s successor. Its value starts in the tens of millions of US dollars."


    "Is this really our wedding?" Ye Wei asked Zhu Xiaoyu, tilting her head,


    Everything was so dreamlike, so fantastical that even in their dreams, they wouldn''t dare imagine something this extravagant.


    "Both of you, let''s start with the makeup. It won''t be easy to finish all the styling before the wedding this afternoon," Shariel said with a smile, "This wedding dress alone takes two hours to put on. We''ll have to do makeup and dress you at the same time."


    Ye Wei''s relatives and friends looked on enviously, glowing with admiration. A wedding dress that took two hours to wear? Wasn''t that even more luxurious than the apparel of emperors and princesses? If they had the chance to wear such a dress, they would be willing to die on the spot!


    "Go ahead!" Zhu Xiaoyu patted Ye Wei on the shoulder, "Today, you will be the most beautiful bride."


    Zhu Xiaoyu had let down his guard now; this mysterious friend of theirs was clearly not short of money, and even if there were any scheming behind his actions, what could they want from him? What would they want from a poor man or a cripple?


    Being someone who had returned from the battlefield, he was already riddled with wounds; he had been shot in the lungs, stomach, and kidneys, and even if it came to selling organs, he wouldn''t be the one considered.


    Moreover, with so much money, one could buy lives; what organs couldn''t they buy?


    So he was almost sure that there wouldn''t be any plots from the other party, and they must be a friend who would risk his life for him; otherwise, why would anyone, however rich, help him?


    "Zhang Menglong?" Zhu Xiaoyu thought of a possibility, setting aside his comrades, his top friend would naturally be him.


    But Zhu Xiaoyu and Zhang Menglong had almost grown up together, with just a street separating their neighborhoods, and their parents were very familiar with each other, Zhang Menglong''s home almost as familiar to him as his own.


    The financial condition of Zhang Menglong''s family was just slightly better than his; if he really had made it rich, it would have been on his own merit.


    But Zhang Menglong had only just graduated from college. Even if he had started a business during college, could he have earned a billion-dollar fortune?


    No, the actions taken so far were not within the capability of someone worth merely a billion.


    The spending so far had reached several billions, possibly even in US dollars, so this person''s assets must be tens to hundreds of times that amount!


    Such a person would likely only appear on the Forbes list.


    Although he never paid attention or had the energy to pay attention to these things, was Zhang Menglong even capable of making it on the Forbes list? He was more likely to make it on the Kaibong male actors'' list!


    If it wasn''t him, then who could it possibly be?


    Zhu Xiaoyu pulled out his phone and called Zhang Menglong right away, still using the number from when he had just graduated, "Menglong, where are you? What time will you arrive?"


    "I''m on the way, about an hour or two more. I''ll definitely be there before your wedding starts!" Zhang Menglong replied calmly.


    "Okay, I''ll wait for you!"


    "I must be overthinking it," Zhu Xiaoyu hung up the phone. Zhang Menglong''s reaction was too normal. Based on Zhu Xiaoyu''s understanding of him, if this guy had come into money and helped him with such a grand wedding, he would definitely start showing off over the phone.


    ...


    True to her reputation as a world-famous makeup artist, Shariel quickly finished designing their looks.


    Zhu Xiaoyu was naturally handsome and sunny, plus the unique aura of a soldier, he simply embodied the epitome of manliness.


    This suit had also been meticulously designed; it was originally a finished product, but considering Zhu Xiaoyu had been a soldier and then a policeman, Zhang Menglong had the designer work overnight to redesign and modify it, adding elements of a military uniform to the suit.


    The epaulets on the shoulders, the badges on the chest, were all reflections of his honor.


    "Squeak!" Another room''s door opened, and out walked an angel in pure white.


    Though Ye Wei''s appearance could only be considered slightly above average, there is a saying that there are no ugly women, only lazy ones. The makeup skills, which could be described as Demon Art, were already superbly handled by Huaxia''s folk makeup artists.


    And how could someone like Shariel, a national team level master, be outdone by them?


    The exquisite makeup simply transformed Ye Wei into a Banished Immortal, and the wedding dress, worth over a hundred million, elevated her aura several levels higher.


    "I wonder if you two are satisfied with today''s design?" Seeing the amazed expression in their eyes and the stunned looks of the relatives around them, Shariel knew he had succeeded.


    ...


    The wedding proceeded according to the planned itinerary, and as the groom, it was natural for him to go and receive the guests in the hall. Since Ye Wei was accompanied by family, he wasn''t worried, so he greeted everyone and went downstairs.


    As he just walked into the hall, a soft and romantic piano piece began to play.


    "The music quality in this banquet hall is really not bad," Zhu Xiaoyu entered the hall, but the scene inside was not the chaotic mess he had imagined, but eerily quiet instead.


    All the guests, including his relatives who were usually the loudest, were sitting in their seats.


    "What''s going on?" Zhu Xiaoyu looked around and his gaze immediately landed on a crystal piano at the edge of the banquet hall.


    This was a piano made with a crystal shell, all of its internal components were clearly visible. A man in a tailcoat, slightly portly, was performing on it. His expression was so immersed it was almost exaggerated, but his fingers danced on the piano keys like nimble spirits.


    "Is that Lang Lang!?" Through the projection on the big screen, Zhu Xiaoyu saw the pianist''s face.


    This person was performing at his wedding? No wonder everyone was so quiet. Normally, one would only see such a performance at a Lang Lang concert!


    "Xiaoyu, what are you dazed about? Go greet the guests! Most of the family relatives have arrived, and your friends should be here soon, too. We must not lose our manners!" Zhu Xiaoyu''s mother quickly pulled him towards the door.


    "Ah, please!"


    "Hahaha, long time no see, no see! We haven''t met since graduation, have we?"


    "You''re too kind, too kind!"


    Zhu Xiaoyu greeted each of his old classmates and friends one by one. It had been many years since they last met, and he had almost evaporated from the social world, disappearing for four years. He was very surprised and grateful that these friends were willing to come.


    "Huh? Why are there foreigners here?" Zhu Xiaoyu was startled; he didn''t know any foreigners, except, of course, for those international drug dealers.


    "Excuse me, sir, have you perhaps come to the wrong place?" Zhu Xiaoyu asked.


    "Is this Mr. Zhu Xiaoyu''s wedding?"


    "Yes, that''s me."


    "Then I''m at the right place," the foreigner smiled, "My name is Tom Cruise, and I am honored to have been invited to your wedding."


    "Tom Cruise?" Zhu Xiaoyu racked his brain for this name, which sounded very familiar, but he just couldn''t place it.


    "Tom Cruise! You''re that Tom Cruise!?" Before Zhu Xiaoyu could react, his best man had already started screaming behind him.


    "Yes, that''s me," Tom Cruise was in Huaxia these days for the promotion of a movie. Although he had planned to leave today, he received an invitation yesterday from someone he couldn''t refuse.


    "My goodness! May I have your autograph?"


    "Of course!" Tom Cruise laughed, "But today''s star is our groom, let''s talk more about this inside!"


    "Haha, having a friend like you, it would be rather redundant to give a traditional red envelope," Tom Cruise handed over a box, "A small gift to wish Mr. Zhu a happy marriage."


    "Please, come in!" Zhu Xiaoyu quickly invited the movie star into the wedding hall.


    "Let''s see, what is it?" The groomsmen curiously crowded around.


    "Isn''t this inappropriate?"


    "What''s inappropriate about it? Foreign customs are different from ours. If you openly unwrap the gift and show happiness, they''ll be happier!"


    Zhu Xiaoyu, still unsure, opened the package to find a golden figurine, Tom Cruise''s first Oscar statuette! He actually gave such a precious and meaningful item as a gift to Zhu Xiaoyu!


    "This..." Zhu Xiaoyu looked at the groomsmen around him, "Is this really my wedding?"

 Chapter 574 572 My Brother Must Be Impressive

    "Xuanyu, do you think your friend will invite any other impressive people?"


    "Exactly! We''ve had top domestic singers and stars, international actors, even world-class pianists, and now you tell me someone even more impressive might show up? I believe it!"


    "I really have no idea," Zhu Xiaoyu spread his hands.


    No sooner had his voice faded than a bald foreigner with a beaming smile walked into the hotel.


    "And who might this be?"


    "Holy shit! You don''t recognize Poladi?"


    "What, he''s the world''s richest man, Poladi?" Zhu Xiaoyu''s shock kept escalating to new levels. Damn, even the world''s richest man was stirred by his wedding?


    "World''s richest man? That''s in the past," said one of Zhu Xiaoyu''s groomsmen, "now who doesn''t know the world''s richest is our Huaxia man?"


    "Oh? A Huaxia person? I''ve been away for four years; the world''s richest has changed hands?" Zhu Xiaoyu exclaimed in surprise, "Who? Ma Hua or Ma Yun?"


    In Zhu Xiaoyu''s mind, probably only these two entrepreneurs could topple those financial magnates and top the Forbes list.


    "Come on, how long has it been since you''ve been online? The current richest man in the world is Zhang Menglong. His wealth published in the Forbes ranking is twenty times that of Poladi!"


    "Twenty times? Isn''t that at least several trillion?" Zhu Xiaoyu''s eyes bulged, "Wait, what did you say the world''s richest man''s name is?"


    "Zhang Menglong, everyone in the world knows, except for you?"


    "Zhang Menglong? How come that''s the same name as my childhood friend?" Zhu Xiaoyu laughed, "But that kid couldn''t possibly have made it this big. He used to hit me up for money every now and then, either for gaming or chasing girls. I don''t even know if he''s still pursuing his master''s degree or working now."


    "Hahaha, what a coincidence," his colleague passed over a photo of Zhang Menglong, "Here, take a look, this is him!"


    "Whoosh!"


    Zhu Xiaoyu''s pupils suddenly dilated several times over.


    Although it had been four years since he''d seen Zhang Menglong, they were brothers who grew up together. Despite some subtle changes from four years ago, he was certain this man was definitely Zhang Menglong!


    Fuck! Case closed!


    Zhu Xiaoyu finally realized who this person was. Apart from Zhang Menglong, which other friend of his could have such capability?


    But to go from an ordinary student to the world''s richest in four years? That''s just too dreamy, isn''t it?


    Before he had time to find Zhang Menglong and ask for an explanation, one big shot after another appeared.


    "You... you''re Jordan?"


    "Holy shit, Zhu Xiaoyu, he''s given you his basketball shoes and the championship ring!"


    ...


    "Look... Ma Hua''s here too!"


    "Just a small gift, a League of Legends account with all champions, all skins, plus a 100-year membership."


    ...


    "Ma Yun''s shown up too!"


    "Mr. Zhu, I''ve already increased your negative balance limit on Huabei to limitless, and you don''t have to repay it."


    ...


    Leaders from the Dongji City Municipal Office have arrived!"


    ...


    At this time, Ye Wei''s family also came down from the suite above. Seeing the room full of distinguished guests, they were once again petrified.


    These individuals whom they had only seen on television and in the media were now all in front of them. Those unattainable big shots were also conspicuously present.


    Wang Lijuan''s eyes swept over them, and those people were actually all looking at her with flattering eyes. When had she, a woman from an ordinary class, ever received such treatment?


    Those who had ridiculed her in the past for marrying a disabled son-in-law had now all shut their mouths. Which of their daughters had such treatment?


    "My God! Diamonds?" A cry of astonishment came from the hall.


    Zhu Xiaoyu and others greeting guests outside looked in the direction of the voice; by this time, the distribution of wedding candy boxes had already begun.


    But this wedding candy gift box wasn''t the batch ordered by Zhu Xiaoyu''s parents. Each box was about as big as a small suitcase¡ªthis wasn''t just a candy gift box anymore, it had become a wedding candy gift trunk!


    Inside the trunk were many compartments, and the largest one was filled with wedding candies of brands they had never even seen before. But the most outrageous part was that each box also contained immeasurably valuable gifts.


    Just one person had found a diamond necklace in their candy gift box!


    Although the diamond was far from comparable to Ye Wei''s Diamond Ring, it was at least four or five carats, or even larger. Looking at the cutting technique and craftsmanship, it was worth at least several million.


    Such gifts were not given to just one household, but to every individual¡ªevery person who attended the wedding, even an infant, received a portion!


    There were a total of fifty or sixty banquet tables at the scene, each with about a dozen people. All together, there were six or seven hundred guests.


    Not counting the other items in the gift package, their value was now measured in the billions!


    "What is this? A VIP card for all airlines in the world?" They pulled out a golden card, and the instructions on the back said that as long as you book an hour before the flight''s departure, you could fly for free!


    "And there are free cards for most chain hotels around the world!"


    "With this thing, you can just up and go on a trip anytime!"


    "My god, attending a wedding could literally make your wealth skyrocket overnight!"


    ...


    "This guy, how many things has he been secretly keeping from me?" Zhu Xiaoyu''s heart was filled with mixed emotions.


    "Xiaoyu, long time no see!"


    Finally, that familiar voice sounded outside the door. Zhang Menglong, dressed in a white suit, was arm in arm with a beautiful and charming girl.


    "How about it, are you satisfied with the gift I gave you?" Zhang Menglong opened his arms towards Zhu Xiaoyu.


    "You scoundrel!" Zhu Xiaoyu cursed with a laugh and immediately embraced Zhang Menglong, "You, kid, haven''t been seen for four years, and you''ve already become the world''s richest man?"


    "Hahaha, what does the world''s richest man Zhang Menglong have to do with your brother Zhang Menglong?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Thank you, Menglong."


    "Thank me my ass," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do you even consider me a brother anymore? You had such a big event and didn''t tell me about it? If it weren''t for my assistant telling me about your mother-in-law giving you a hard time, I would still be in the dark."


    "You''ve been thoughtful," Zhu Xiaoyu looked around at all the guests, "If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong, let alone such a grand wedding, I might not even have been able to afford a wedding car."


    "When the brother of Zhang Menglong gets married, it has to be grand! These esteemed guests are the third gift I''m giving you!"


    "As for the fourth gift," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Follow me."


    Zhu Xiaoyu had practically no guard up against Zhang Menglong. Everyone might hurt him, but Zhang Menglong never would.


    The two went to a room upstairs in the hotel.


    "What gift that''s so secretive? Someone might think we are here to fence," Zhu Xiaoyu quipped.


    "Get lost, I''m as straight as they come," Zhang Menglong said teasingly, "Xiaoyu, do you trust me?"


    "Nonsense."


    "Drink this." Zhang Menglong took out a jar with a light golden glow.


    "What is this?" Zhu Xiaoyu asked, taking it with curiosity.


    "Something good, you''ll know once you drink it."


    "Anyway, you wouldn''t poison me," Zhu Xiaoyu said with a chuckle, not hesitating for a moment before drinking the potion.


    "This tastes disgusting," Zhu Xiaoyu''s face contorted in disgust. But after a moment, a tingling sensation began to spread from his amputated limb, followed by an unbearable itch.


    "Clang!" His prosthetic limb fell to the floor.


    The itching grew stronger and eventually turned into severe pain.


    But as a soldier who had been on the battlefield, Zhu Xiaoyu endured it, feeling as if his leg was growing back!


    Yes, it was regrowing! His severed leg was actually growing back at a visible rate!


    "Menglong, this..."


    "Giving you a fully intact leg, this is the final wedding gift I''m presenting to you!"

 Chapter 575 573: They Are Courting Death Themselves

    That day, two major news stories broke in Dongji City.


    The world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, appeared at an ordinary public servant''s wedding.


    This disabled public servant miraculously regained a perfectly functioning leg.


    The former piece of news was somewhat acceptable, but the second was utterly preposterous.


    Medical science had advanced to a stage where most complex diseases had been conquered; however, until now, no one had ever developed technology for limb regeneration.


    Due to Zhang Menglong''s presence, many naturally linked him to this event.


    Everyone knew Zhang Menglong was a genius in mathematics, physics, and Artificial Intelligence. If he had developed a drug that enabled limb regeneration, it wouldn''t be too surprising!


    Yet if this were true, it would undoubtedly cause a tremendous stir worldwide.


    How many people worldwide suffer disabilities due to accidents or other causes? Many, to preserve their lives, had no choice but to amputate, facing even worse conditions than Zhu Xiaoyu.


    Their dream was to escape wheelchairs, shed the label "invalid," and stand up once again. This news undoubtedly offered them hope for a new lease on life!


    "Mr. Zhang, was it you who cured your friend''s leg?"


    "Mr. Zhang, could you really be the one true god of this world?"


    "Mr. Zhang, when will this drug be officially available for use?"


    Zhang Menglong''s Weibo was bombarded with hundreds of thousands of comments that day; even many media outlets frantically tried to contact him through various means. However, with the aid of Artificial Intelligence, most harassing messages were blocked.


    But the matter was too significant, serious enough that the higher-ups were informed, and everyone understood what this technology truly meant.


    "Menglong, it''s me!" Without any other option, Zhang Menglong had to answer Old Zhou''s call.


    "Old Zhou, I knew you would call me." Zhang Menglong showed a wry smile, he obviously knew what the public reaction would be after Zhu Xiaoyu''s case became well-known, and he had no intention of hiding or denying it.


    Netizens weren''t fools; the underlying logic was easy to deduce.


    "Then you also know what I''m going to ask you?" Conversations between smart people were typically quite effortless.


    "Yes, I cured my friend''s leg!" Zhang Menglong openly admitted.


    "Good lad!" Old Zhou couldn''t help but praise him outright. "I''m not surprised at all, given that you could develop targeted cancer therapy, devising limb regeneration technology seems quite normal."


    "You wouldn''t just be calling to ask about the truth, would you?"


    "Hahaha," Old Zhou laughed heartily, "Isn''t this just coming to ask for a favor?"


    "The logic behind it is actually simple," Zhang Menglong said. "On Earth, many organisms can regenerate their limbs, like squids, geckos, and even earthworms, which can be cut in half and become two new beings. I simply extracted this part of the gene from their bodies, modified it, and then integrated it into the human body."


    "Are you talking about genetic engineering?"


    "It can be understood that way," Zhang Menglong said.


    He could have arrived at Zhu Xiaoyu''s wedding much earlier but was delayed in preparing that particular dosage.


    This represented very high-grade civilization technology, even involving something called "gene welding."


    Because the genetic sequences of different organisms are quite diverse, forcibly transferring other organisms'' genes into humans could introduce great instability.


    This technology temporarily welds a part of specific genes onto human genes, allowing it to function for a short time before eventually dissolving and disappearing.


    According to current Earth''s technology, it might take several hundred years before such capability could be achieved.


    "Old Zhou, to be honest, it''s not that I don''t want to provide it to you, but with today''s technology, even if I gave you all the data, it would be impossible to mass-produce it for ten or twenty years."


    "Is it that difficult?" Old Zhou sounded somewhat disappointed.


    Actually, he did this just for a few of his friends.


    Many founding fathers had lost parts of their bodies in the war. Although they were also approaching the end of their days, every time he saw their disabilities, Old Zhou was very saddened.


    "However, if you want a small sample, I can provide you with some," Zhang Menglong said, "Is ten enough?"


    "Enough! Of course, it''s enough!" Old Zhou had only expected three, but he hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to be so generous.


    "Then I''ll have someone send it over tomorrow," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha, good, come visit Yanjing more often when you have time," Old Zhou said, making polite conversation again.


    ...


    "Old Zhou really is something. At his age, instead of enjoying his peaceful days, he''s still busy with this and that," Zhang Menglong shook his head and hung up the phone.


    "Yiyi, are you ready?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I''m ready," Lu Yiyao sat in her personal esports chair at home, looking a bit anxious, "Oh, I really can''t play games, why do you have to drag me into this!"


    "Hahaha, with a genius like me playing with you, what''s there to fear?"


    "Wang Ling, get online!" Zhang Menglong quickly sent a message to Wang Ling.


    This was a new game recently released by Baolei Games. As a big brother in the gaming world, each game from Baolei caused a huge stir in the market.


    Two years ago, the explosive popularity of PUBG made many fall in love with the exhilarating sensation of its war-torn battlefields. However, Baolei had integrity and didn''t just mimic this game. Instead, they started a new team and created a new game called "Domination Era."


    The introduction to this game was very attractive. Its map was almost made at a 1:1 Earth scale, dividing it into different regions based on current countries and territories on Earth.


    Each country had established a server, and players from that country would automatically enter their respective country upon joining the game.


    This was a war game where players from different countries could attack other countries'' territories to gather resources and further develop their own nation. All players from a country would unite to develop their technology, defend against foreign aggression, and attack other nations.


    If a country was completely occupied, it would disappear from the map, and only one country would survive to the end of a season, after which a new season would begin.


    Of course, the game had some unfair elements. Many countries had very small land areas, while countries like Huaxia, with large territories, had incomparable resources, and the population base also affected the number of game players from each country.


    So, to maintain balance, the game incorporated special protection mechanisms, such as Huaxia miners only managing half the efficiency of those from smaller countries or even less.


    Initially, humans were still in the primitive age of cold weapons. Humans could develop their technology on their own; if you were fast enough and creative enough, you could even pilot a Cosmic Warship directly into other countries.


    That was the charm of this game.


    Today, this game officially entered its open beta, so Zhang Menglong and others invited a large group of friends to start making a commotion.


    Not only was Wang Ling there, but all their friends were involved too. Although it was just a game, in a sense, it was like a virtual world!


    "Hahaha! Wang Ling, you look so ugly, why are you bald!"


    "Damn! I thought the character models were standardized; I skipped the customization phase directly!"


    "Hahaha, why is your hair green!"


    A dozen virtual characters gathered together, wearing primitive animal skin clothes. According to the game''s pace, it was just the beginning, and the biggest threat to humans was actually nature.


    In the map, many wild beasts would appear, and if a character died, there would be some penalties that would affect the overall progress of the country.


    "Let''s check the map, where are we?" Zhang Menglong opened the map, and surprisingly, their location was right at where Jiangnan City used to be.


    "This game is really well-made," even Zhang Menglong couldn''t help praising.


    However, suddenly, his expression turned very ugly. Some things on the map directly crossed his red line.


    "Well, well," Zhang Menglong scoffed, "Baolei is really asking for trouble!"

 Chapter 576 574: Dont Take It Personally

    "Old Zhang, what''s going on? Why aren''t you talking?" Wang Ling couldn''t help but speak out amidst the silence coming from Zhang Menglong''s end of the voice call.


    "Just open the map and see for yourselves!" Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "The map?"


    Hurriedly, Wang Ling and the others opened the game map, and instantly, their faces darkened too.


    Although to avoid sensitive international issues, all the country and city names on the game map were altered¡ªfor instance, Huaxia in the game is called Dragon Continent, America is called Dun Continent, and Kaibong is called Nin Continent.


    Despite the names, as everyone looked at the layout of the map, it was inevitable for them to make the associations¡ªthe mighty, proud rooster was unmistakably Huaxia.


    At a cursory glance, this map almost had no significant differences from the actual map of Huaxia, but a closer look revealed many discrepancies.


    For example, the island at the very bottom of the Dragon Continent had been separated out into its own region and was named Nanzhou.


    An island in the eastern sea territory of the Dragon Continent had even been drawn within the boundary of Ren Zhou Country.


    Even if this was just a game and the names were different from current nations, Zhang Menglong couldn''t stand it; it was obviously a sneaky way of causing trouble!


    "Smash!" Zhang Menglong heard the sound of a cup being slammed down; it was from Qin Feng.


    "Motherf*cker!" Qin Feng cursed vehemently, "The territory my grandfather fought for with his own hands, you bastards dare to mess with it in this game? F*ck your game!"


    "Damn it, Balor games, I''m going to call them right now and give them a piece of my mind!"


    They had started out with the intention of enjoying a new game; who would have thought they''d encounter something like this right at the beginning? Were they supposed to just put up with it? Their mood was instantly ruined, and they even felt like killing someone.


    "Calm down," Zhang Menglong said, "What''s the use of roaring about it here? Only the powerless express their emotions with words," he added, suppressing the anger in his heart, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t furious.


    "No way we can play this game today."


    "Indeed, even if you gave me a million US dollars to play this game, I''d still feel disgusted."


    "Shall we do something about it?"


    "Definitely!"


    "I''ll check out the situation first," Zhang Menglong said, "I remember during the open beta, over 10 million Huaxia players had registered accounts for ''Era Overlord.'' Given the current situation, tons of players must be aware of it by now. Anyone with a High-Grade education would definitely not turn a blind eye."


    Zhang Menglong opened the internet, and sure enough, the topic had already exploded by then.


    Countless posts were furiously dissing Balor''s actions, accusing them of disrespecting history, their country, and the world.


    "I just called Balor''s headquarters to complain, and they actually told us that everything in the game is virtual content and asked us not to make direct associations. BS, are they seriously ill? Do they think we gamers are idiots?"


    "Good lord, I''ve seen shameless, but never this shameless."


    "Keep calling, don''t expect peace until we get a proper explanation!"


    "F*ck, their desire to screw us over never dies, brothers, charge!"


    That night, Balor''s phone lines were almost constantly busy. Initially, rational Huaxia gamers simply questioned the meaning behind this map and demanded an immediate halt of the open beta and a correction of the map.


    But Balor''s response remained, "Everything in the game is virtual content; please do not associate it with reality."


    Almost simultaneously, Balor''s official website and social media issued public relations statements, echoing the same line, urging Huaxia''s gamers to be rational and to halt their extreme actions, threatening legal action to protect the company''s interests if necessary.


    However, these words clearly didn''t satisfy Huaxia''s gamers. You think just because it''s a game, you can mess around? If you have the audacity to create a game based on the world''s map, then you must respect history and the facts.


    This response directly detonated all the Huaxia players.


    You''re not playing fair, are you? You''re acting like a hooligan, huh? Fine, you think we won''t play the hooligan too?


    Huaxia''s players continued frantically making phone calls, and as soon as one got through, they wouldn''t reason with you but would instead unleash a torrent of Zaun-style insults.


    "Hello, this is the customer service center for Kaibong Games, how may I help you?"


    "I bought a watch last year, and I''m your dad!"


    "Is this Kaibong? I''ve just booked a cremation slot for your boss, I''m calling to ask how well-done he wants to be?"


    "Tell your boss, my mom''s gone."


    "Tell your boss to hurry up and buy two koi fish to bless his dear mother so she doesn''t kick the bucket tonight."


    "My little koi fish really tm wants to have an adventure in your damn stinking high."


    ...


    "Boss, the players from Huaxia are making a lot of noise," said the head of marketing at Kaibong Games, in a luxurious office building, passing feedback to their boss.


    "No problem, they''re just impotent fury, just ignore them. It''s just a game, they shouldn''t take it personally, it''s ridiculous," the boss replied dismissively.


    "But boss, we could lose our Huaxia users, and you know Huaxia could be our biggest market," the marketing head argued.


    "Don''t worry, that won''t happen," Michel, the president of Kaibong, said confidently. "Don''t forget, this is a competition among global players. The Huaxia people are very competitive. If they stop playing this game, there''ll be no place for Huaxia players in ''Era Overlord'', and they''ll soon be invaded by players from other countries."


    "By then, they''ll lose more than just those two places. If the entire Dragon Continent falls, they''ll become the joke of the world," Michel chuckled. "So, they absolutely won''t give up on this game."


    "You always think ahead, President," the marketing person said. "President, may I ask a question? Was this a designer''s mistake, or did we do this deliberately?"


    "Hmph!" Michel scoffed. "That''s not something you need to know."


    The marketing head was startled; it was indeed a sensitive question.


    "Sorry, President, I spoke out of turn." he said. "Aren''t you afraid of any special actions from the players'' side? Don''t forget, Huaxia has that person."


    "You mean Zhang Menglong?" Michel replied. "He''s nothing to be afraid of. Apart from having money, he has no other skills. Kaibong is now state-owned; he can''t buy us with his money. The gaming industry has a high entry barrier, they have no capability to develop a game company that can compete with us now, so it''s impossible to affect us through market competition!"


    "As for poaching staff or striking," Michel continued, "the country already amended the new labor law last month. His tactics can no longer pose a threat to us. So even if he has money, he can''t do anything."


    "Then we can rest easy."


    ...


    Indeed, as Michel said, it was just a game. Everything was virtual, and even if they borrowed elements from the world map, they could always find an excuse to say it was just a map adjustment, not to be linked with reality.


    Strictly speaking, there were no loopholes to be found.


    The Huaxia players were indeed taking the boycott of the game very seriously. For a solid two weeks, the activity of Huaxia players in the game was less than a million.


    Yet, this game sparked a craze worldwide, especially in Kaibong and the treasured island region of Huaxia. They were only too eager to see this kind of map.


    Because the Dragon Continent was vast and rich, it naturally developed more slowly under the game''s balancing mechanics. With fewer Huaxia players, while the Dragon Continent was still in the primitive age, some countries had already advanced to the Bronze Age. If the gap continued to widen at this pace, it would only get bigger!


    At this point, the Huaxia players panicked. For the dignity of Huaxia players, they had to endure quietly.

 Chapter 577 575: Let Them Know What Cruelty Means

    "Era Dominators" forum, a gathering place for all game players, had become incredibly lively ever since the game officially launched.


    In the beginning, players shared tips on how to survive the early stages of the game, how to craft rudimentary weapons, and how to hunt edible animals.


    Latter on, they shared methods of building towns and constructing structures.


    The game afforded players a high degree of freedom and involved many scientific principles. Without some basic knowledge, many aspects of the game would have been impossible to advance.


    To build more complex items, blueprints were required, and these became a means of trade and mutual development among the different gaming regions.


    In the second week of the game, a server called Shepherd Continent actually tried to launch a tentative attack on the land of Dragon Continent!


    This was the gaming guild of the Shepherd Continent''s nation, which had only 27 members, but they were skilled and experienced. After some time in the game, they had honed their strategies and methodologies.


    They collected fire sources generated by random lightning to drive away wild beasts, hunted using homemade tools, and had tamed a herd of very strong horses.


    Then, armed with wooden and stone-crafted armor and weapons, these 27 people charged into Dragon Continent''s territory.


    But it was important to realize that Huaxia players were highly concentrated in developed areas in the southeast and north, while the west had a smaller population and a lower base of players.


    Most crucially, due to a half-month boycott of the game, the local players'' development was at a very low level. While others had already begun epic hunts, they were still gathering materials and struggling for survival.


    The 27-man cavalry swept into Dragon Continent like wolves among sheep, effortlessly trampling one player settlement after another, slaughtering Dragon Continent players and plundering their resources.


    But Dragon Continent''s players had no power to resist. It wasn''t a matter of skill or strength, but a disparity between eras!


    In just a few days, this group of 27 had seized land equivalent to an entire city in Dragon Continent, marking the area with Shepherd Continent''s flag.


    The proud players of Shepherd Continent began to openly mock those from Dragon Continent on the internet.


    "Hahaha, Dragon Continent players are just too weak. Just 27 of us sent you running for your lives. You guys really aren''t up to it!"


    "Such vast primitive land, such rich resources, and you just wasted them. What a pity."


    "Huaxia people should stick to their low-level esports. When it comes to grand strategy war games, they''re like useless trash."


    ...


    The players from Huaxia were furious.


    With so many games in the world, which one didn''t have a place for Huaxia players? The esports level of Shepherd Continent''s nation was so poor that many games didn''t even bother to set up a separate server for them.


    Yet in this game, they had the audacity to publicly ridicule Huaxia''s players.


    But what could they do? Being behind meant getting beaten; this was a truth deeply understood by the people of Huaxia through history. The gap between eras sometimes couldn''t be bridged merely by numbers and wisdom.


    They were already far behind the players from other countries in the game. To catch up, they would have to put in much more effort.


    Alright then, you''ve unilaterally handed over our land to others? No problem, we''ll take it back ourselves!


    More and more players joined the game, not just for the thrill of victory but for a matter of pride.


    ...


    "How about that? Didn''t I tell you that Huaxia people care too much about face? They would never allow themselves to be bullied without fighting back. Even if they know that we''re doing this on purpose and want to boycott our game, how long can they hold out?" Michel said in his office like he had the situation completely under control.


    "You indeed have a long-term vision, boss!" The head of the marketing department was now holding those statistical data in his hands.


    During the first week of the game''s release, Huaxia had only tens of thousands of players, which was laughably small compared to the vast player base of Huaxia. If any game reached such levels in the Huaxia market share, it could essentially be declared dead on arrival.


    But half a month later, the number of players skyrocketed from tens of thousands to several million, with the peak concurrent online number exceeding 5 million, and that figure was still climbing crazily.


    The reason was simple; the initial disparity in the game led Huaxia players to lose a significant amount of territory.


    After Shepherd Continent''s probing, the surrounding players found that Dragon Continent''s players were too weak, and there were not just a few servers stronger than Shepherd Continent. If those weaklings from Shepherd Continent could invade and expand their territory, why couldn''t they?


    Therefore, the surrounding servers launched a coordinated attack plan on Dragon Continent¡ªthe time to expand their territory was now, as once the Huaxia players flooded in, there wouldn''t be so many easy pickings left.


    Gaming is all about community; when everyone heard that the Huaxia players were being bullied, how could they tolerate that? So they joined the game, one after another, in droves.


    ...


    "Look at these people; they said they were going to boycott the game at first, and now there are millions of players. It''s embarrassing!" Wang Ling said angrily, "They have no spine."


    "That''s not entirely true," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "On the contrary, our Huaxia players have too much spine. They don''t want to lose in any domain, which is why we''re seeing this kind of situation."


    "But you know, as the game progresses, the gap between the different servers will only grow wider, and the half-month we missed at the beginning has already doomed us. We won''t be able to survive till the end of this season."


    This was also a lesson from history. Early-developing countries and late-developing countries became today''s developed and underdeveloped nations. Moreover, the development environment in the game is nothing like reality. If you want to catch up, you need a relatively stable environment for growth.


    This game is designed as a war game; expecting a stable development environment is utterly impossible!


    "I think I understand the purpose of Thunder and Lightning now," Zhang Menglong said, "In recent years, the Esports atmosphere in Huaxia has been excellent. They first undermine our players'' morale with the map issue, slowing our development a step behind. By the time we realize it, it''s already too late, and then our Dragon Continent will be carved up by the major servers, leaving our Huaxia players utterly humiliated."


    "They''ve played their cards well," Wang Ling said coldly, "and it seems they''ve succeeded."


    "This matter won''t just end like this."


    "Do you have a plan?" Zhang Menglong''s tone told Wang Ling that he was gearing up for action again.


    "Simple. Make them restart the service, wipe all the previous data, change the map back, and issue a public apology to us!"


    "If they''d agree to that, I''d directly call you daddy!" Wang Ling certainly wished it could be so.


    But let''s not even talk about restarting the servers and wiping the data, which would significantly affect players from other servers. It would undoubtedly impact the game''s reputation and cause a massive loss of players.


    And as for them issuing a public apology, that''s likely an impossible task as well.


    "They must do it," Zhang Menglong''s lips curved slightly upward, "or else I will show them what cruelty means."

 Chapter 578 576: Gentlemen First, Villains Later

    "Hong Yi, help me look up the phone number of the owner of Thunderstorm Games, and also get me his personal profile." To deal with someone, naturally, one must know both the enemy and oneself to achieve invincibility in every battle.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already sent you his contact information, and here is his profile for you to take a look." In less than 5 minutes, Hong Yi had sent him a set of documents.


    "Michel, 31 years old, truly young," Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected the owner of Thunderstorm to be a post-90s.


    Michel was not the first owner of Thunderstorm. The company was originally founded by three students from a university, who developed it from scratch with their superb skills and advanced ideas.


    However, for a company to grow big, the involvement of capital is essential, and Michel became the largest shareholder afterward.


    Michel is a true American; his father started in cross-border e-commerce, making him a second-generation rich kid.


    Having been exposed to eSports from a young age, he had many of his own ideas in this area and had his own dreams.


    In his early years, he also competed in eSports and had organized many Esports clubs. In this year''s Esports Olympics, several of the competing teams were ones he had trained from scratch.


    He had thought he could shine in this Esports Olympics, but the LSP club formed by Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling turned out to be so powerful that they beat Esports players from all countries decisively and swept all the gold medals outright.


    This made Michel very dissatisfied. Why could Huaxia players be so powerful? After being overshadowed by Qingqiu Country in eSports, now being stepped on by his old rival Huaxia sparked this thought in him.


    He must make Huaxia players lose badly!


    ...


    "How''s the situation with the servers recently?" Michel lay comfortably on his office chair.


    "All the servers are almost full, I think we can introduce some paid items for conversion soon, we estimate the monthly turnover could reach ten billion scale."


    "You know that''s not what I''m concerned about," Michel said blandly, "I was the one who led the development of this game, and I have absolute confidence in its profitability. I want to know what impact it can have on the world of eSports!"


    "I understand!" His subordinate immediately knew what Michel wanted to know.


    "Currently, 127 countries and regions have applied for servers, and according to our comprehensive statistics, America is ranked first, Qingqiu second, and several European countries take from third to seventh place. As for Huaxia...hahaha, they are ranked past 70th!"


    "Hahaha!" Michel couldn''t help laughing out loud.


    "Currently, several surrounding servers have launched attacks on the Dragon Continent area, and they have already lost 7.5% of their original land area. Now, Huaxia players have adopted a new strategy, tightening their defense and giving up the outlying land. But with the mechanics of this game, unless they cheat, they simply can''t catch up."


    "Cheating, hahaha," Michel laughed even harder, this game''s engine had taken them more than three years to build; let alone cheats, even the chance for bugs to appear was next to none.


    In the system, they also added a self-check device, any external interference once detected is met with immediate account suspension, even auxiliary plugins that facilitate operation without affecting game balance couldn''t be incorporated.


    At that moment, Michel''s phone rang, "You may leave now, keep me posted if anything arises."


    The head of the marketing department left the office, and Michel answered the phone, "This is Michel."


    "This is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Shush!" Hearing this name, Michel''s back went instantly damp; it was a name that caused headaches for entrepreneurs and politicians all over the world.


    But a moment later, Michel regained his composure, "So it''s Mr. Zhang. I''ve long admired your reputation. Mr. Zhang managing to get my private number truly impresses me."


    "As long as I want to, I could even get your wife''s phone number," Zhang Menglong said bluntly.


    "Mr. Zhang is quite the joker," though feeling infuriated inside, Michel held back for the moment, wanting to know the purpose of Zhang Menglong''s call.


    One could figure it out easily, it was definitely about that game.


    He had analyzed Zhang Menglong, and besides being wealthy, his most prominent trait was patriotism.


    It had been several weeks since the incident with the game map, and according to Zhang Menglong''s habits, he should have spoken up long ago. Why was he approaching him only now?


    "I wonder what Mr. Zhang would like to discuss?"


    "I don''t like beating around the bush, so I''ll get straight to the point," Zhang Menglong said directly, "I want you to shut down ''Dominators of the Era'' immediately, wipe all current game data, and restore the Dragon Continent''s map to how our Huaxia map was."


    "Wow, do Huaxia people discuss matters so straightforwardly? Starting with such a heavy demand?" Michel realized that Zhang Menglong was indeed different from those he''d dealt with before.


    At his level, almost everyone desired respect, and if there were any real disputes, they definitely wouldn''t bring them up directly. This was an unwritten rule in the business world.


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, I''ve heard about this matter abroad," Michel had already figured out how to respond, "I have great respect for history and facts, but you should also understand this game. It''s a world completely different from ours; we''ve only referred to the world map."


    "I remember your game''s promotions stated that the scenes were built exactly according to the world map at a 1:1 scale."


    "That''s just the media''s doing, you can look into it. There has never been any official statement," Michel countered, "Virtual worlds, Mr. Zhang, should we really tie them so closely to reality? Doesn''t that seem a bit childish?"


    "I''m sorry, I''m only a 23-year-old guy, a college student, how mature do you think I can be?" Zhang Menglong''s principle was simple: if you reason with me, I''ll reason back, and if you play dirty, I''ll play dirty, too.


    You call me childish, and childish I am, what can you do about it?


    "Mr. Zhang, if you insist on taking it personally, there''s nothing I can do, but stopping the servers is out of the question. As an entrepreneur yourself, you should understand the tremendous impact it would have on our game and our company''s reputation if we were to stop the game or even wipe the data."


    "That''s not my concern," Zhang Menglong stated, "Mr. Michel, you should understand, as an adult, you are responsible for your actions."


    "I''m sorry Mr. Zhang, but I don''t think I''ve done anything wrong, so I don''t see any need to bear the so-called responsibility you''re talking about. You can sue our company in any way you like, but believe me, your accusations are likely to be ineffective."


    Michel had already consulted legal advisors; their official promotions had never stated that the map was based on the world map. It just resembled it, and if people insisted on associating it, there was nothing he could do, right?


    "Mr. Michel, I always try to be a gentleman first and a scoundrel second, but please don''t force me to do something I''d rather not."


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, I know you''re wealthy, but that move doesn''t work on me unless you can directly beat my PUBG with a game."


    "So you mean you''re unwilling to shut down the game, unwilling to alter the map, and even unwilling to apologize, is that right?"


    "Hmm?"


    "Very well," Zhang Menglong said, "Have you ever heard of a ''Twilight of the Gods'' occurring in PUBG?"


    "Uh?" Michel was taken aback; he hadn''t heard of it. Twilight of the Gods, wasn''t that a story from their Western mythology?


    "No worries, you''ll know in a few days."

 Chapter 579 577 Esports "Twilight of the Gods

    "Twilight of the gods? Nonsense!" Michel scoffed after hanging up the phone, completely disregarding Zhang Menglong''s words, dismissing them as a juvenile''s joke.


    "Come to my office." Michel summoned his assistant to his office.


    "Notify the higher-ups, we must keep a close watch on Zhang Menglong''s every move, and make sure his assets don''t impact our market," Michel ordered.


    "Yes!"


    "Also, warn all the major domestic video game production companies to not let this Zhang Menglong play his acquisition game. His funds are enough to buy all the game companies in the world. If they unite, we really can''t compete with them in terms of development capabilities."


    Based on past experience, Michel anticipated the various means Zhang Menglong might employ to sabotage their game, Thunderous Games, but unfortunately, this time Zhang Menglong did not plan to use capital as his method of attack.


    "By the way, have you heard of the Twilight of the Gods?" Michel suddenly asked, seemingly on a whim. He remembered Zhang Menglong''s expression as he laughed strangely, which made him somewhat uneasy.


    "Twilight of the Gods? You mean what happened last year in PUBG?"


    "Tell me about it?" Michel''s interest piqued.


    "It was really just a farce," said Michel''s assistant, "It was a battle of cheats."


    "Cheats?"


    "Yes, actually, that competition was more for entertainment, with 100 cheat developers from all over the world taking part in one game for a showdown, and it was live-streamed worldwide. There were all sorts of cheats like invisibility, wall-hacks, headshots from 800 miles away¡ªevery conceivable cheat."


    "Such a thing happened?"


    "Most of those people were later arrested, it was just eye-catching hype, not worth mentioning. However, it did create a significant impact on PUBG at that time, as the existence of cheats disrupted the game''s balance and greatly affected the players'' experience."


    "I see," Michel was completely indifferent to this matter. Cheats were only a problem for companies with imperfect technology, allowing others to take advantage. He had utter trust in his own game engine and was not afraid of such trivial matters.


    ...


    "How did it go? Any results?" Wang Ling and others couldn''t wait to follow up as soon as the call ended.


    "Isn''t that obvious?" Zhang Menglong said, "If a single phone call could make him listen to me, he probably wouldn''t have the guts to do what he did."


    "That''s true," Wang Ling nodded, "Now, who doesn''t know the might of young master Zhang? Stirring up trouble in Huaxia means going against you, right?"


    "So, what do you plan to do about this?" Qin Feng also asked. His resources were all in the military, and he was almost powerless in these types of situations. He certainly couldn''t just send in a few stealth jets to bomb the headquarters of Thunderous Games, right?


    "This is easy to handle," Zhang Menglong already had a plan in mind, "They want to play, don''t they? Well, let''s play with them to the end!"


    "What do you mean, continue playing this game?"


    "There''s no need, I feel sick just looking at this game now," Zhang Menglong expressed his disgust, "Isn''t their behavior just to undermine the fairness of the game? Do you think that in terms of destroying the fairness of the game, our Huaxia players have ever feared anyone?"


    "Are you talking about using cheats?" Wang Ling instantly caught on.


    Back in the day, there was a game that swept through Huaxia and was a part of many people''s childhoods¡ªAdventure Island. Its popularity was staggeringly high among the post-90s generation in Huaxia at the time.


    However, the prevalence of cheating software domestically led to a loss in the game experience, with almost every monster map filled with studios farming for Gold Coins. The officials turned a blind eye, doing nothing to address the issue.


    Nowadays, the players of Adventure Island have dwindled significantly, with many continuing to play out of nostalgia.


    This shows that the damage caused by cheats to a game is absolutely fatal. If one wants to destroy a game, cheats are indeed the best weapon.


    "I''m afraid that won''t work," Wang Ling said, "Do you think nobody in our country has tried? Many studios have attempted to find exploits in ''Era Dominator'' to develop cheats, but so far, no one has succeeded."


    Wang Ling continued, "It seems they''ve added a very powerful plugin to the game engine. Anything that isn''t part of the system is treated as a cheat and is subject to an almost indiscriminate ban. Plus, the penalties are severe. Once the cheat system detects an infraction, there''s no warning, just a direct account ban for 100 years."


    "Our Huaxia players are already having a tough time as it is. If there''s a wave of bans, we''ll probably be laughingstocks," Qin Feng also said, worrying.


    "Don''t dismiss my plan so quickly," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Don''t forget, my Artificial Intelligence technology crushes the rest of the world. Who cares about a few cheat programs? Even if I get my hands on their core code right now, what''s so difficult about altering the map to turn the entire game into our Dragon Continent''s domain?"


    "Damn, why didn''t you say you had this skill earlier?" Wang Ling quickly said, "Hurry up, change their map, change it all to our Huaxia territory, hahaha!"


    "Do you think that''s interesting?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "I don''t think it''s thrilling enough!"


    "Then what do you think would make it thrilling?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Of course, it''s to stage a ''Twilight of the Gods.'' Don''t you think it would be electrifying if a Cosmic Warship suddenly appeared overhead while all the other countries were still in the Stone and Bronze Ages?"


    "Goodness me, nobody can outplay you in cunning!" Wang Ling''s mind was already picturing it; just the thought was incredibly thrilling, wasn''t it?


    "Aren''t you guys relying on that few weeks'' advantage to develop technology up to the Bronze Age? Aren''t you relying on the power of your cavalry and weapons to invade the lands of Dragon Continent?"


    "Have you ever imagined the fear of being dominated?"


    Not another word, Zhang Menglong immediately opened up his computer and started writing code.


    "What to create?" Zhang Menglong began pondering.


    "Hmm... let''s start with the basics: infinite stamina, Infinite Life, mining speed increased by 100 times, all items drop rate increased by 100 times, one-click kill for all creatures."


    "Blueprints for tanks, planes, machine guns, cannons."


    "Then the design of a Cosmic Warship, and add the design of a Gundam!"


    "How about an Ultraman Transformation Device?"


    "A Kamen Rider transformation belt."


    "Armor Hero transformation devices."


    "Iron Man''s armor."


    "Then couple that with some genetic engineering technology, emm, Superman, Hulk..."


    "Too many conventional weapons, let''s get into Cultivation!"


    "Strange Fire items, the Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger manual, Burning Art Cultivation Technique, Martial Soul System..."


    Zhang Menglong added everything he could think up into the game, and he almost couldn''t stop himself from laughing. This cheat was just too powerful; he could already imagine the look of despair on the faces of the foreign players when they saw these cheaters appear in the game.


    "Snap!" In one night, Zhang Menglong finished coding this complete set of cheats and posted it online. Only players from the Dragon Continent region could use it, and thanks to his Artificial Intelligence, it could even conduct real-time online qualification analysis. Any foreign players who snuck into Dragon Continent and tried activating it would be instantly banned!


    In other words, only the true warriors of Huaxia could use it!


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Let the feast of this frenzied extravaganza begin!"

 Chapter 580 578 Too Brutal

    "Bastards, these damned dogs, they''re attacking again!"


    A player from Dragon Continent respawned at the Respawn Point and furiously pounded his keyboard.


    "If it weren''t for my late start by two weeks, you losers would''ve been smashed to bits by our Dragon Continent players!" Overcome with anger, the player quit the game, "What a crappy game, it''s just targeting players on our Huaxia server. This filthy behaviour that destroys the fairness of the game, I might as well stop playing!"


    The player returned to the game forum to check out the current state of "Era Overlord."


    Now, the Dragon Continent region''s ranking had fallen to beyond 80th place.


    Actually, following a normal development speed, even if they couldn''t catch up with the first tier of countries, breaking into the top ten wouldn''t have been difficult.


    But players from other servers were almost trying to nibble away at the Dragon Continent every day, leaving the players on the Dragon Continent server with little time to focus on development, as most of their time was spent repelling invaders.


    War inevitably led to player deaths, and the death penalty system brought various negative effects to players, which affected the overall skill level of players on the entire server.


    As a result, after a week, the ranking of the Dragon Continent not only didn''t increase, it actually fell further.


    In the forums everywhere, there was mockery of the Dragon Continent players, but there was not a single word about the despicable antics of the game developer ¨C because it was the kind of situation they enjoyed!


    He exited the international forum and entered the exclusive forum area for Dragon Continent players, looking at posts that were either calls for assistance from various cities or requests for various materials.


    "What is this?"


    He suddenly saw a post titled by "Magical Girl Lubenwei," which had a simple content, "Do you want to know the meaning of life? Do you want to truly live..."


    "What the hell? Ran into ''Infinite Terror'' or something?" The player chuckled as he clicked on the post, "Bro, you''ve successfully caught my attention!"


    The player clicked on the post, but there was only one link inside.


    "What''s this?" He copied the link into his security software, which showed that it was risk-free and seemed to lead to a resource storage platform he had never seen before.


    Out of curiosity, he clicked on it and found there was just one file, with the name "Smash Your Mom''s Stinking Hai with Impunity cheat."


    "A cheat?" The player was taken aback, "Isn''t it said that using cheats gets you banned for 100 years? Who''s still dabbling in this?"


    "But that''s a saucy name," he downloaded the cheat file out of curiosity and borrowed a new ID card from a family member to register a new account, so that even if he got banned, it wouldn''t affect his main account.


    Meanwhile, many other Huaxia players also opened this link, some laughed it off and closed it right away. Others, like this player, clicked through and downloaded the cheat.


    "Let''s give it a shot!" The first player who completed the download logged into his new account, created a new character, and then launched the cheat program.


    Just when he thought the system would immediately alert and ban his account, he actually managed to log in successfully!


    "It wasn''t detected?" The player showed a look of surprise, as he saw a new button in the bottom right corner of his operation panel that was not originally part of the system.


    He tried clicking it, and suddenly, a new interface appeared.


    Smash Your Mom''s Stinking Hai with Impunity cheat


    Basic Information Modification: Character life 0¨CInfinite, Character stamina 0¨CInfinite, Character mining speed 0¨C100 times (customizable, no upper limit), Character woodcutting speed 0¨C100 times (customizable, no upper limit)...


    Super weapon design blueprints mall (requires collection of corresponding materials):


    Unlimited Ammo Gatling Gun: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Italian Cannon: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Handheld Laser Cannon: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Dragon Hidden Main Battle Tank: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Main Angel Number Cosmic Warship: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Freedom Gundam: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Gundam 00-ELS: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    ...


    Cold Weapon Mall:


    Xuanyuan Sword: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Unparalleled Sword: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Blood-Drinking Savage Saber: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    ...


    Cultivation Mall (newly added proficiency system):


    Fallen Heart Flame: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Nine Dragons Thunderous Flame: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    ...


    Tokusatsu Category:


    Kamen Rider Faiz Belt: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Time King Belt: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Sevenger Ultraman Glasses: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    ...


    Bloodline Category (require collection of corresponding materials):


    Uchiha Bloodline: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Hulk Bloodline: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Superman Bloodline: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    Saiyan Bloodline: Price 0, Stock 99999+


    ...


    Support Functions:


    Instant Teleportation, Hide ID, Damage Rebound


    ...


    "Holy shit, that''s awesome!" Staring at the cheat''s description, the player was astonished, "Does such a brutal cheat really exist in this world?"


    "It''s not just all talk, is it?"


    Even the mature cheats on the market had many issues, such as being unstable, disconnecting, lagging, data errors, and so on.


    This cheat''s features looked so powerful, heaven knows if it was really as formidable as it claimed.


    He tried selecting the Instant Teleportation feature, and the moment he clicked the button, the world map popped up, with a new icon appearing. As long as he clicked the corresponding location with the icon, he would be able to complete the teleportation.


    He clicked on the Himalayas in Dragon Continent.


    The screen switched, and he had gone from a plain to a snowy and icy location!


    But the area was frigid, and without the appropriate gear to keep warm, a character''s life would rapidly decrease.


    The player''s life began to slide down at a rate of one point per second after a minute, and at this rate, it wouldn''t take two minutes before he would die.


    He immediately used the Infinite Life function, and his health bar, which originally had only 100 points, suddenly turned into "???"


    "Damn, that''s too awesome, right?"


    The more the player used it, the more excited he became. Just these two features alone made him invincible. If other server players tried to invade, even if they couldn''t be beaten, he could outlast them with unlimited health!


    To know that to conquer a region, you either had to kill all the players on the map once or have more than half the players in the area surrender. If their health was infinite, they could fight to the end against players from other servers.


    What good are your weapons? My blood is infinite!


    "So the other features..."


    He glanced at the product list and immediately bought a blueprint for an infinite Gatling gun.


    "Metal*200, Special Ore*200, Gunpowder*1000..."


    A bunch of materials were listed, all of which could be collected through the mining system and others, and with the infinite efficiency multiplier feature, what might take a group of people several days to gather could likely be done in seconds!


    According to the game''s setting, such a thing was permitted to exist, but its blueprint was definitely not something that could be created in this era.


    The player immediately began to search for the sources of these materials. With the Instant Teleportation feature, even the hardest-to-reach places became easy to access.


    In fact, Zhang Menglong could have directly sold the finished products in the mall, but he felt it was necessary to let players enjoy some of the fun of the game.


    Five minutes later, all the materials were collected.


    "Craft!" Using the game''s built-in forging system, a black Gatling gun appeared before him!


    "Dadadada!" Accompanied by the roar of metal, bullets flew in all directions, and the surrounding cliffs were pockmarked with craters. After a continuous barrage, the machine gun was still spitting flames.


    This thing really had infinite bullets!


    "Now, the other items..." The player looked at the mall interface and pondered deeply.


    "Damn, that''s just brutal!"

 Chapter 581 579: Dragon Continent Deploys Troops, Not a Blade of Grass Grows

    As the first player discovered the "Do-Whatever-the-Fuck-You-Want Cheat," this cheat immediately disappeared from the forums, but it didn''t vanish without a trace; instead, it spread among a small circle of people.


    That player immediately told his friends about it. During this period, not only were they pissed off by the game company''s thunderous tactics, but they were also deeply irritated by players from other servers. The appearance of this cheat sparked a bold idea in them.


    So you like to destroy the game''s balance, huh? Fine, then we''ll break it thoroughly!


    In the Dragon Continent server, located deep in a mountainous map in the Jiangnan area, a group of players gathered. There weren''t many of them¡ªonly about twenty or so members of the gaming guild the player belonged to.


    A player named "Magical Girl Kato Taka" asked in the chat room, "What''s the urgency that has brought everyone together so hastily?"


    Magical Girl Eget: "Yeah, I still have to pick up my daughter from school today. Can''t we talk about it tonight?"


    Magical Girl Special-Penguin: "Guys, I discovered something freaking awesome. You definitely won''t believe that there''s such an amazing cheat in this world!"


    Magical Girl Ding Sanshi: "Bro, your account is gone. This game is too harsh on cheats. I reckon the game''s smart administrator has already detected you."


    Magical Girl Special-Penguin: "Don''t worry, I''ve already activated the blocking feature. Not to mention just mentioning a cheat, even if I used a cheat right now, they wouldn''t be able to detect it!"


    The player known as "Magical Girl Special-Penguin" walked to the edge of a cliff and actually jumped down from it.


    His guildmates panicked all at once. In this game, the heights are very realistically simulated; with the cliff''s height being over a hundred meters, jumping down would surely lead to death. According to the game''s penalty measures, after a player dies, all their efficiency and states are halved for 24 hours.


    The players from the Dragon Continent were already in dire straits. Now with him committing suicide, wasn''t he depleting the vital force of the Dragon Continent players? In the current state, any contribution from a player was extremely valuable.


    Everyone immediately rushed to the edge of the cliff, but just then, a purple light flickered at the bottom of the cliff, and the "Magical Girl Special-Penguin" who jumped off slowly ascended back into the sky, sporting a pair of purple wings that flashed with thunder and lightning behind his back!


    "What the fuck? Dou Qi Wings? A Battle King expert?"


    "Damn, how can you fly? This game only has a technology system, not a cultivation system, right?"


    "Bro, did you glitch something?"


    The players from the Magical Girl guild were all dumbfounded. How was this possible? This was just freaking outrageous!


    "This is called a Flight Combat Technique, Purple Cloud Wings for your information," "Magical Girl Special-Penguin" said proudly.


    "How the hell did you do it? Did you spend money? No, that can''t be right, this game hasn''t even opened the recharge function yet. Even if it had, it would only be cosmetic, but if you can fly, that''s already breaking the game''s balance."


    "Like I said, I activated a super awesome cheat!" "Magical Girl Special-Penguin" said, "You guys definitely won''t believe it, but it not only has a lot of assistive features, but there''s also a very rich item mall. And it seems like it''s not for making a profit, as all items are free."


    "Look at my health now!"


    All players clicked on "Magical Girl Special-Penguin''s" avatar, and in his personal status, his health was actually indicated by a "???" sign. Everyone was a veteran netizen, and under normal circumstances, this kind of display meant the number was too high to calculate!


    No matter how much you level up in this game, or what equipment you wear, the maximum health is 100. Equipment can at most only boost your defensive power and resistance; it doesn''t change this fixed value.


    "Let me show you something even more awesome!" "Magical Girl Special-Penguin" landed on the ground, the "Purple Cloud Wings" dispersing, and he casually took out a strangely shaped item from his bag.


    "This... this design, don''t tell me..."


    "Ultraman!" The item burst into a blinding light, and all the players were temporarily blinded. A few seconds later, their computer screens gradually restored clarity.


    "This... this can''t be possible!"


    "Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!"


    "What the fuck!"


    "Damn it!"


    Before them stood a giant over 50 meters tall, with red and blue stripes adorning its body, radiating a holy glow that gave off an immense sense of oppression.


    "You turned into light?"


    "What the heck kind of cheat is this? It''s freaking awesome, right?"


    As veteran players of such games, they all knew the limitations of cheats, which typically exploited certain loopholes in the system to alter the gameplay, but generally, they weren''t too outrageous.


    For instance, the most infamous in PUBG was "Twilight of the Gods," where the ultimate winner was a player with an aimbot and wallhack, capable of killing opponents across half the map with a single shot.


    Besides that, there were mostly just speed hacks, invisibility cheats, and so on.


    But turning into Ultraman is just nonsensical, isn''t it? Is this really a cheat? It''s practically a brand new game, right?


    Three minutes later, "Magical Girl Super Iffy" reverted to her original form, "The author must be out of his mind, bringing Ultraman into this and still following the three-minute rule."


    "No ban notice appeared?" someone asked.


    "Nope, the cheats'' description says that all data sent back to the server is further modified, so unless someone records a video on the spot, the data won''t show we''re cheating!"


    "But that''s still not safe. If there''s evidence, they can start banning accounts. Although it''s a lot of work, it''s just a matter of time."


    "Heh, you think they have the final say on banning accounts?" "Magical Girl Super Iffy" laughed, "This cheat has a super awesome feature called ''Reverse Ban''!"


    "What''s Reverse Ban mean?"


    "Simple, it means directly banning the game system administrator''s account!"


    He opened the guild chat and posted a screenshot of the operation interface there, causing an explosion of excitement in the entire guild''s chat.


    "Epic! You can actually ban the administrators? This big shot surely didn''t just get his hands on the server''s core code, right?"


    "Is there a mole?"


    "Magical Girl Super Iffy" decided to go all in, sharing such a fantastic item for everyone to see¡ªhe opened the super item store and started taking screenshots of all the dazzling items and posted them in the chat.


    "Seriously, I thought having an Ultraman Transformation Device was already absurd, but now you''re bringing in a Saiyan Bloodline? What the heck is that?"


    "Gundam? The romance of a man''s life!"


    "And there''s even a Cultivation System, my god, Sword Control Technique?"


    ...


    "Quick, quick, post the link in the chat! I gotta download one!"


    "Hahaha, those foreign players think they''re all that, huh? Time to let them experience what it''s like when game fairness is shattered!"


    "They were the ones who broke the rules first, so they can''t blame us!"


    "Before that, we need to establish an alliance. Just the twenty-something of us isn''t thrilling enough! How can we keep something this fun to ourselves?"


    "Hehehe!"


    "When Dragon Continent goes to war, not a blade of grass grows!"


    ...

 Chapter 582 580: There is Someone Flying in the Sky

    "Tonight, Nin Continent will send 5,000 players to attack the Lake Jian region of Dragon Continent!"


    A declaration of war appeared on the global forum of "Era Dominator".


    Historically, other server players'' attacks on Dragon Continent had been without warning, because the overall strength of Dragon Continent''s players was just too weak. Although they had a large player base, once they were spread out across all combat zones, the numbers seemed embarrassingly inadequate.


    Not only that, but the average rating of Dragon Continent''s players ranked 87th. In other words, as long as the server ranked before Dragon Continent didn''t have a huge disparity in numbers, it was very difficult for Dragon Continent''s players to defend.


    Moreover, these sudden attacks made the crushing victories even more one-sided.


    Now that the Nin Continent''s players have issued a challenge to Dragon Continent, it undoubtedly gave Dragon Continent''s players plenty of time to prepare!


    The players of Dragon Continent had developed up to the Late Bronze Age, and their weapons now included stone-throwing carts, bows, and other war weapons. If they started setting up defenses in advance, it was very possible that Nin Continent''s players would suffer a loss.


    But they were so brazen in their provocation, which suggests that Nin Continent''s players were very confident in this operation.


    "Damn! Bring it on, who''s afraid of whom?"


    "Come on, if you dare, come at us. Are our stone-throwing carts, repeating crossbows, and siege crossbows just for show?"


    "One comes, I kill one, two come, I kill a pair, all Nin Continent players can go to hell!"


    This provocative behavior caused the curses of Dragon Continent players to surge louder and louder.


    If you ask who has occupied the most of Dragon Continent server''s land so far, it''s definitely the Nin Continent''s players, who have been coming every few days. Each time, Dragon Continent''s players suffered heavy losses, not only in terms of many players receiving death penalties but also in the massive loss of land resources.


    But then a message of despair was received.


    The players of Nin Continent had nearly reached the Steam Age, and they already possessed some firearms!


    Even the weakest firearm was something Dragon Continent''s players could not withstand at the moment.


    You should know that in this world, there is a high degree of freedom. Not everything has to have a real-world prototype. As long as your imagination is rich enough, you can understand the game''s mechanics, and if you come up with a design, gather enough materials, then you can create it.


    Last time, when a server near Dragon Continent invaded, they actually brought in a mobile metal fortress pulled by beasts, which in reality, even strong beasts couldn''t move. But here, it became a reality.


    That moving fortress could even shoot out various cold weapons, directly annihilating a city of the Dragon Continent server.


    Thus, in this game, you don''t really need to worry about whether Newton''s coffin lid would stay shut. If everything strictly followed reality, what would be the fun in the game?


    "Kill them all, burn everything down, plunder everything!"


    "Dragon Continent players are trash; hand over all those resources to us Nin Continent players!"


    "Dragon Continent players might as well surrender. If you keep dying, you''ll fall outside the top 90 rankings!"


    The players of Nin Continent provoking madly, as in their eyes, the players of Dragon Continent were nearly defenseless, and the fact was, in usual battles, it took the sacrifice of four or five players just to kill one Nin Continent player.


    "Even if we all die in battle, we will never surrender!"


    "We, the people of Huaxia, have never surrendered. We didn''t surrender in history, and it''s impossible in the game."


    "If you want to plunder our server''s resources, then step over our dead bodies first!"


    ...


    Righteous indignation filled the Huaxia players, driving them to rage.


    "Forget defense, no need to defend, I''m going straight to the Lake Jian combat zone!"


    "Why mine? Go fight people!"


    "Brothers, grab your weapons!"


    "The Emperor''s expedition sets out, leaving no blade of grass!"


    A massive number of players rushed toward the Lake Jian region. The combat zone of Lake Jian, which originally had less than 20,000 players, suddenly surged to over 50,000 players!


    With the influx of a vast amount of resources, one after another defensive fortification appeared along the coastline, with the coast acting as the barrier of the combat zone.


    ...


    "Menglong, did you hear the news? Nin Continent''s players are going to attack our Dragon Continent today, 5,000 people ¨C that''s no small number! What do you think, should we go reinforce them?"


    "Forget it, with your level and equipment, even an outdoor wild boar could kill you, what are you going there for?" Zhang Menglong scoffed. Wang Ling, since logging in on the first day, had been resisting "Era Dominator" to the fullest, ignoring all the taunts from players of other servers as if it was nothing.


    As a result, his character now had nothing but a bare head.


    "Fuck! So we just watch Dragon Continent server get blown up?"


    "Who says our server''s going to get blown up?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Today they''re sending 5,000 people here, not a single one is going back alive!"


    "Really, you seem pretty confident?"


    "Heh heh, let me show you something."


    ...


    "Holy shit! Awesome! I so wanna play!"


    "Meet up at the Lake-Jian Warzone at eight tonight, don''t miss out!"


    ...


    By eight o''clock, over fifty thousand players from the Dragon Continent had gathered at the boundary of the Lake-Jian Warzone, staring out at the vast ocean.


    Although players from the Dragon Continent could already build wooden boats, those canoes simply couldn''t support long-distance sailing, let alone reach the Nin Continent on the other side.


    However, players from the Nin Continent could cross this vast ocean, which showed that the gap between the two sides was already quite significant.


    On the shore, a large wooden wall had been erected, with a stone-throwing cart every few dozen meters. Most of the Dragon Continent players'' resources were concentrated here¡ªthis could almost be considered their peak combat strength!


    "They''re here!"


    A player in a canoe landed on the shore, "They''ve arrived!"


    With a giant shadow looming, a monstrous shape emerged in the night¡ªa huge ship that resembled a moving fortress, packed with players from the Nin Continent. On this mammoth fortress, there were gun barrels as dark as abysses.


    "Boom!"


    Without any communication, players from the Nin Continent initiated the attack, with projectiles dragging flames toward the Dragon Continent players'' walls.


    "Boom!"


    "Crack!"


    The ostensibly sturdy wall had almost no defensive power and was instantly shattered under the barrage of fire, flames engulfing the entire defensive line of the Dragon Continent''s players!


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"


    Dragon Continent''s players also retaliated immediately, sending a dense shower of arrows hurtling toward the transport of the Nin Continent players.


    But unexpectedly, their fortress-like ship suddenly transformed into an impervious turtle shell, blocking all of their attacks from the outside!


    In just a few minutes, the players from the Nin Continent had landed!


    "Fuck! What is this? A tank? With a wooden shell?"


    "Damn it, we can''t even break a wooden shell!"


    "Crap! This thing breathes fire!"


    ...


    Facing weaponry that far surpassed their own era, the resistance of the Dragon Continent players seemed feeble and hopeless.


    "Hahaha, you''re all trash!"


    "Today, the Lake-Jian Warzone belongs to us, the Nin Continent!"


    "Kill! Loot!"


    The 5000-man battle team was comprised of 12 guilds from the Nin Continent, and their Presidents gathered together, watching the almost one-sided massacre with excited grins on their faces.


    "In a couple of days, after we''ve reorganized, we''ll establish a base right here!"


    "Right, that will save us a lot of time, and we can even have the lifestyle players come here to mine and farm directly."


    "We must seize more resources from the Dragon Continent as soon as possible, so that we''ll have a chance to compete with the players from other top-level servers in the future."


    They were already envisioning the future, as if domination over all servers was within their grasp.


    "Look up there, is there something in the sky?"


    "It''s just birds, nothing to see."


    "No, it looks like someone is flying!"


    "How is that possible? No warzone has been able to produce planes yet, right?"


    "No, it''s not a vehicle, there''s someone flying on a sword!"


    "...My God? How is that even possible?"

 Chapter 583 581: Holy Shit, Ruthless

    "Look, what''s that?" Not only the players from Nin Continent but also those from Dragon Continent server of Huaxia had spotted a figure in the sky, looking like a Banished Immortal.


    He was a young man dressed in primitive beastskin clothing. In this game, beastskin was practically the lowest grade and cheapest clothing available, clearly indicating that this player hadn''t been playing for long.


    However, a player like him was actually standing on a Flying Sword, which emitted a white fluorescence, just like the kind of aura that laid-back big shots seemed to have.


    "When did this game get this kind of item? An advanced item?" According to a certain company''s nature, as long as you pay money, you can become incredibly powerful, but in this game, there had been an official statement: any advanced items would be sold only if they did not affect game balance.


    If true flying swords were possible, it would''ve broken the game balance long ago, and also gone against their initial intent when designing this game.


    Moreover, this item was clearly filled with Huaxia elements. Could you imagine seeing superheroes from other countries riding flying swords?


    "Brothers of the Nin Continent battle zone, I''m here to help you!" shouted the "Sword Immortal" wearing the primitive outfit.


    "He''s just one person, shoot him down!" cried out the President of the Nin Continent Guild.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    A dozen or so cannon barrels pivoted, targeting the figure in the sky. If he maintained his previous height, their shells wouldn''t come close to touching him, but the flyer, charging at the Nin Continent players'' wooden fortress, had now entered the range of their cannons!


    "Donghuang Clock! Activate!"


    In an instant, a golden ancient clock flew out from the player, hovering above his head and forming a faint golden Protective Shield around his body.


    The shells striking the golden Protective Shield seemed to scrape off harmlessly, not even reducing the Dragon Continent player''s speed.


    Seeing this formidable approach, the Nin Continent players, for some reason, felt a faint fear in their hearts.


    "What''s there to fear? It''s just one person, and we have 5,000. Charge! Take him down!"


    "Little devils, all of you are going to die!"


    Suddenly, two dark barrel holes appeared on the player''s shoulders, now charging energy. A moment later, two beams thick as a tree trunk blasted out from the barrels.


    "Rumble!"


    The beams slammed into the Nin Continent players'' fortress, a surging torrent of energy engulfed an area hundreds of meters around, erasing the fortress in an instant.


    At the Nin Continent''s Respawn Point, over two thousand players appeared out of nowhere, startling the surrounding players immensely.


    The sudden appearance of more than 2,000 players at the Respawn Point meant that the same number had just died abruptly in the game!


    This level of mass death usually only occurred with major natural disasters!


    "Buddy, did you guys encounter a volcanic eruption or something?" a few Nin Continent players asked curiously.


    But those 2,000 players were still dazed on the spot; they had no idea what happened. They only saw the Flying Sword-riding Huaxia player on their screen, emitting two pillars of light from his shoulders, and then their lives were suddenly wiped clean and they found themselves teleported to the Respawn Point.


    "Did we just die?" At that point, those two thousand plus players realized the gravity of the situation! Over 2,000 of them had just been one-shot by a Huaxia player with a mysterious weapon?


    ...


    At the scene of the incident...


    The newly arrived 3,000 Nin Continent players stared dumbfounded at the site where the fortress used to be. The thick steam over the sea informed them that a high-temperature energy mass had once been present.


    "Who is that guy?"


    "What is that on his shoulder? A laser cannon? But we''re only at the steam age in the game, and someone has already created such a thing? That''s impossible!"


    "Could it be... a cheat?"


    "No way. If it was such an awesome cheat, he would''ve been banned by now, right?"


    "Bro, where did you come from?" A player from the Nin Continent war zone ran over to greet him.


    "Brothers, I''m just the vanguard. There are many others behind me. Today, we''re going to ensure that these Nin Continent players won''t have a return trip!"


    The Flying Sword-rider sheathed his cool-looking sword into the scabbard on his back and then struck an overdramatic pose.


    "Flame Dragon Armor, combine!"


    "Swoosh!" A red light fell from the sky, enveloping the player''s entire body. When the bright light faded, the player was clad in armor that looked strikingly metallic.


    ```


    "??? What the fuck?"


    "Damn it?"


    "What the hell?"


    Not only the players from Nin Continent, but also those from Dragon Continent were dumbfounded. Was this still the same game they knew? This was beyond their imagination!


    "My guild''s brothers are here to support too!"


    Suddenly, a noisy tumult spread around, as if a huge army was approaching the battlefield!


    "Look! Something else is coming from the sky!"


    "Blue particles... Is that the Celestial Being Gundam from Gundam 00?"


    "And who''s that guy in red underwear? Superman? He''s actually flying in the sky!"


    "There''s also someone with golden hair, a Saiyan?"


    "Something''s emerging from the sea too! A nuclear submarine? Have those players from that battle zone already advanced to the nuclear era?"


    "What in the world is going on?"


    The sudden appearance of this mighty force took all players from Dragon Continent by surprise; they couldn''t understand what was happening.


    "Fuck, this is heartless!"


    "Is this a cheat?"


    "No shit, if it''s not a cheat, you explain to me how Super Saiyans are popping up?"


    "Who the hell created this cheat? It''s freaking awesome!"


    "Give me a cheat like that, and I can unify the whole ''Era Dominator''!"


    "Brothers, let''s kill!"


    A roar erupted from these godlike players, and at that moment, the players from Nin Continent became their punching bags.


    "Turtle... Wave... Energy... Blast..." A blue column of light descended, and hundreds of Nin Continent players perished amid screams.


    "Hammer of Thor!" Thunder roared, and hundreds more Nin Continent players were annihilated by the thunderous force.


    "Green Lotus Earth Heart Fire! Fallen Heart Flame! Nine Dragons Thunderous Flame! Buddha''s Fury Lotus!"


    "Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger, fingertips move heaven and earth!"


    "Spebellim Ray! Ultraman''s Eight-Part Light Wheel!"


    "Gaia Energy Cannon!"


    "Mechanical Particle Cannon!"


    "Proton Laser Cannon!"


    The once overconfident players of Nin Continent instantly plunged into terror and chaos.


    They had thought it was going to be a one-sided slaughter, but how had it suddenly turned into this scene? How on earth did so many deities suddenly appear in a server that was still supposedly stuck in the Bronze Age?


    Machine guns, tanks, airplanes, they could tolerate, since it was expected for those designs to eventually appear and be manufactured in the later stages of the game.


    But with Super Saiyans and Ultramans showing up, that''s just ridiculous. You can keep a game realistic, but not underworldly realistic. How are other servers'' players supposed to compete?


    Minutes later, not a single Nin Continent player was left alive on the battlefield.


    Twelve guild presidents from the Nin Continent stood at the respawn point, dazed as if turned into chickens. Before they were killed, it seemed they saw someone using the Kaibong language to send a public screen message.


    "Bro, wanna buy cheats?"


    At this moment, the players from Kaibong finally realized.


    "They''re cheating! Those Dragon Continent players are cheating!"


    ```

 Chapter 584 582: Server Extinction Plan

    "Dammit, players from Dragon Continent are cheating!"


    "Where are the game administrators? Don''t you care that someone is using cheats?"


    "Damn it! Damn it! Didn''t they say this game wouldn''t have any cheats? Can someone explain this to me?"


    5,000 players gathered at the same respawn point, and then they all started cursing loudly.


    They didn''t even know the details of the other players, and at first, they even suspected they might be NPCs.


    You should know, in this game, each battle zone has its own guardian, who is also the ultimate guardian god of the entire server. If the guardian god is killed, it means their server has completely fallen, and it will be marked by other servers.


    Each server''s guardian is very special, like in Nin Continent, their guardian is a Super Ninja who has trained for a thousand years.


    At first, they even thought that the player flying with a sword might be the guardian of Dragon Continent, given the strong Huaxia style of the elements.


    If that guy with the sword flight had pulled out a 40-meter giant sword, that would have been one thing, but when the shoulder-mounted laser cannon appeared, the style changed completely. If they''d really put out such an NPC, the game designers must have lost their minds.


    But the scenes that followed were even more absurd¡ªSuperman, Ultraman, and Super Saiyans all showed up. Could these also be NPCs? Even if they were NPCs, these guys shouldn''t be appearing on the Dragon Continent''s server.


    So they concluded that these people must be players from Dragon Continent, and there was no other explanation except for cheating why the players could be so powerful.


    They had hoped to plunder Dragon Continent, but instead of making a steal, they ended up losing heavily. Not to mention the loss of so many resources, 5,000 players died in unison, who could withstand that?


    You should know, Nin Continent players originally had less land and fewer players, so the loss from this battle was already huge.


    The angry players from Nin Continent immediately started filing complaints to the Explosion Company and wildly spread the video footage they had recorded on forums.


    Initially, only the players from Nin Continent and those from Dragon Continent who participated in this server battle would know about this event, but once the video came out, the whole forum turned extremely lively.


    "Exciting!"


    "Damn! Who created such a ruthless cheat? That''s freaking awesome!"


    "I''m going to make a statue of this god and worship it!"


    "That''s so satisfying! Weren''t you declaring war on us, Dragon Continent? Weren''t you great? Weren''t you going to wipe us out completely? Now who''s been taught a lesson?"


    The players from Huaxia were absolutely thrilled, even though cheating is inherently bad, and many of them despised it themselves¡ªit''s all under the assumption of a fair and just gaming environment. You play the game nicely, and I play the game nicely, and we don''t interfere with each other.


    But then you mess around on the map, intending to make us angry and lose confidence? Did you think we would just roll over and take it? It wasn''t us who first broke the balance of the game; it was the company that struck first.


    With this moral high ground, the players from Huaxia used the cheat without any psychological burden¡ªthis was the principle they adhered to: Do not offend me, and I will not offend you!


    However, for other players, everyone seemed a bit apprehensive. You bring up all sorts of demons and monsters, now Dragon Continent has become like a battlefield for gods, who would dare to provoke them?


    Even if tens of thousands of them invaded the server of Dragon Continent, if they just deployed one player, not to mention a Super Saiyan, even a plane or tank would be tough for them to withstand!


    Who knows if the frenzied Dragon Continent players would launch a counterattack? You should know that the players from the nearby servers have not been kind to them during this time.


    With such an army coming out, which server could withstand it? Wouldn''t they cleanse the six realms and sweep across the Eight Desolates, leaving no one unscathed?


    According to the power of this cheat, they might even be able to take down all the servers of the game in just one night!


    Seeing this video, they panicked. Who knows what other powerful features this cheat might have? They even managed to bring in Gundam, so wouldn''t producing a nuclear weapon be within reason?


    A few strikes on one server, considering the current progress of civilization in this game, no server would be spared from disaster.


    At this time, the best way to deal with it was to immediately report the situation and request the game officials to ban the related accounts.


    That night, the customer service department at Stormblast blew up again¡ªthey hadn''t yet recovered from the barrage of complaints from Huaxia players a while ago, and today they faced another wave of furious complaints.


    "Didn''t you say that there would absolutely be no cheats in this game? What is this? I demand compensation for the losses suffered by Nin Continent players!"


    "Look at this, cheats are bad enough, but they even brought in Ultraman and Superman¡ªswinging a 40-meter long machete at us. What are the techs in your company even doing, can''t they detect this?"


    "We demand the immediate ban of the accounts of the related players!"


    ...


    The tech department at Stormblast was incredibly busy at that moment, frantically checking the system for possible bugs. However, upon inspection, they didn''t find any bug that could cause system vulnerabilities, and the game data of those reported players was all normal, with no incidences of infinite health, nor any appearances of Super Saiyan or Ultraman data.


    "The data on the Huaxia server has not shown any problems. We ask all players to be rational. This may be the result of maliciously edited special effects videos."


    This statement appeared on Stormblast''s official website half an hour later.


    How could the players accept this explanation so easily? Players on other servers who have not experienced it personally might somewhat accept this answer upon watching the video, but how could players on Nin Continent accept it? They were the real victims, almost beaten to a pulp!


    The players from Nin Continent started lodging complaints one after another, but Stormblast was incredibly confident in their technology and even put the system data as proof on their official website.


    Among those playing the game were quite a few tech whizzes. Now that the system data was out, what more could they do? According to this data, these players'' game data was completely normal. If cheats had been used, surely there would be abnormal data recorded in the database.


    For a time, the players from Nin Continent actually faced widespread criticism.


    "Such trash, they blame cheats because they can''t win!"


    "Embarrassing!"


    "I, Lu Benwei, have never used cheats!"


    ...


    But no one knew that under a snow mountain in Dragon Continent, a secret base was gathering tens of thousands of players from Dragon Continent, preparing for a massive plan.


    "Brothers, have you all downloaded the cheat?"


    "Download complete, all tests passed, all combat materials are ready!"


    "A total of 57,234 people, all assembled!"


    "Very good! Then, the ''Era Dominator'' server extinction plan, starts now. First squad move east, second squad move west, third squad go south, fourth squad head north. We aim to end the battle within an hour, let''s wrap up this season!"

 Chapter 585 583: Ban the Administrators Account for Me

    "Damn, what kind of cheat did these Huaxia people develop that even the system can''t detect it?" A Nin Continent player who had just died in battle was mining with a sunken heart.


    Because of the death penalty, his mining efficiency had decreased by 50%, and all his physical attributes had also dropped by 50%. Although he still had some weapons on him, he had to be very careful about potentially dangerous beasts approaching.


    Suddenly, the whole game screen shook violently, and a black crack appeared in the distant sky.


    "What''s going on?" The player panicked, having played the game for over a month and never having seen such a scene before. Could it be that there were new gameplay mechanics introduced after today''s update?


    But the next second, he was dumbfounded, as the black dot rapidly enlarged, and a colossal object appeared right before his eyes.


    "Cos... Cosmic spacecraft?"


    According to the game''s scale, the length of the cosmic spacecraft reached several thousand meters, and its width was almost two kilometers. The metallic texture and the immense oppressive force made it clear to him that this was something that wouldn''t appear in the game even at its later stages!


    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Beams of colorful lights shot out from the cannons of the spaceship, turning any place they struck into scorched earth.


    This feeling was like playing PUBG and encountering a bombing zone; if you were out in the open, all you could do was pray for good luck.


    However, the difference was that in PUBG, buildings on the map couldn''t be destroyed, so players could hide inside structures to avoid the bombing.


    But in "Age of Dominance," to enhance the game''s realism, any building that sustained a certain degree of attack would be destroyed!


    And the firepower of the cosmic warship clearly exceeded what the buildings in the game could withstand.


    What was even more absurd was that there was no game mechanic to destroy the basic model of the map ¨C in other words, no matter how strong an attack was, it couldn''t destroy a mountain or create a crater on the ground.


    But damn it, these attacks did just that! They had gone far beyond the scope of game mechanics!


    Suddenly, a beam of light came shooting towards the player. In his dying moments, he saw a totem on the ship, representing the Dragon Continent players.


    "It''s the Dragon Continent servers'' players! They''re attacking us!"


    The worst fear had come true. The player who had just respawned immediately tried to inform his guild of this news, but it was too late, for a giant over 50 meters tall had already appeared at their respawn point!


    "Ultraman? Taro Ultraman?"


    But this Taro Ultraman was no longer the hero from Kai Bong''s movies protecting humans; with one slap of his hand, he smashed a Nin Continent building, causing the over-fifty-meter-tall structure to collapse in an instant, killing all the players inside.


    The respawn point was like a fountain, with players emerging continuously after death at an unimaginable pace!


    This scenario indicated that players from Nin Continent were dying in large numbers, and it wasn''t just this city ¨C other cities were also under attack by Dragon Continent players!


    "Superman has appeared in City One, destroying our community''s infrastructure!"


    "Hulk has appeared in City Three, and already 7 guilds have been wiped out!"


    "Giants appeared in City Nine, the same ones from Attack on Titan!"


    "What are you fussing about? Our City Thirteen got hit by Aokiji freezing the entire city!"


    ...


    Such scenarios were not only unfolding on the Kai Bong server''s Nin Continent, but almost all other servers as well.


    "Thanos has appeared on the Continent of Mi, and with a snap of his fingers, he wiped out half the players on our server!"


    "Middle East Continent''s server has been hit by a nuclear bomb, and all the players have been killed once!"


    "A group of Ghost Riders appeared on Continent of A3, riding their motorcycles and killing and setting fires everywhere!"


    The entire "Age of Dominance" had become a complete mess.


    "Hahaha, how thrilling!" Wang Ling was wielding a 40-meter-long saber, swinging it wildly without fear of hitting his own people, as all the players from Dragon Continent had activated cheats and wouldn''t lose any health even if they were struck by the blade.


    "Awesome!" Qin Feng, who had exchanged for the demonic lotus purifying fire, casually unleashed a fierce flame that incinerated everything into nothingness.


    "Damn it, I told you to stop messing around and invading our Dragon Continent''s servers!"


    ...


    "Report! Dammit, admins who spoil it all, come take a look, your game has gone crazy!"


    "That bastard keeps saying our Kaibong people are spreading rumors and causing trouble, now do you all know? The plugins used by Huaxia players are terrifying!"


    "What kind of plugin is this, that can not only conjure up various things but also make the database display all normal?"


    ...


    The programmers at the company were completely befuddled; they had checked the data and found no issues, yet in the interface of the test account they created, a Pikachu was wreaking havoc with its lightning, how could they admit there was a problem with their code if they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes?


    "This won''t do, the other party''s methods are too clever, they''ve implanted a new code in our core program, and we simply can''t crack it."


    "Then physically ban the account, if these bugs can''t be fixed, then just delete the accounts, erase all the data of these Huaxia players!"


    "Right, delete the accounts, just remove the data!"


    ...


    "It has been detected that you are using illegal software that disrupts game balance, an administrator will now process your account for a ban, for a duration of 100 years!"


    Wang Ling was having a blast when a warning popup suddenly appeared on his game interface.


    "Dare to ban my account? As if you''re qualified?" Wang Ling immediately opened the external plugin interface at the bottom right, "You want to ban my account? Dammit, I''ll just ban your admin''s account!"


    Wang Ling directly pressed a button labeled "Administrator Ban Account."


    Eight hundred miles away, the computer desktop of the system administrator who was processing Wang Ling''s account for a ban suddenly showed a prompt.


    "Sorry, you do not have permission to perform this operation!"


    "Warning, your account has been suspended!"


    "What?" How is this possible?


    Administrator accounts have the highest level of access next to system developers, dammit, besides those who control the core code, who could ban their accounts?


    "Oh my God, my account has actually been suspended!"


    "My account has been suspended too!"


    "Tech? Where''s Tech? What on earth are you doing, how did you get our accounts suspended?"


    "Impossible, we haven''t done anything?" The tech staff were flabbergasted; they were already at their wits'' end dealing with the bugs, where would they find the time to ban their own administrators'' accounts?


    "What''s going on here, why were our account permissions suspended, hurry up and check!"


    "Got it!" A technician immediately opened the account permissions panel, and sure enough, all the system administrators'' accounts were greyed out.


    He tried to add these permissions back immediately, but at that moment he found that his code had stopped working!


    He opened the game engine to see what was happening, but something even more terrifying occurred, he, as the system developer, could not log into his own account!


    "Someone has hijacked our main server! Our core code has been attacked!"


    "What? How can this be?"


    The chief technician''s face turned pale, this situation meant that they had completely lost control over the game! They could no longer manage any operations in the game!


    He smashed his water cup furiously onto the floor, "Dammit, what the hell are these Huaxia people up to?"

 Chapter 586 584 But You Have No Evidence

    Many instances of game hacking had arisen in world history, with numerous gaming companies facing severe data destruction consequences, even leading players to suffer significant losses and demand compensation.


    However, such invasions were generally within controllable limits as even the most skilled hackers couldn''t manage to destroy the version data and core data of the games.


    Banning the accounts of game administrators, though, was unheard of and unseen. A company whose administrator permissions could be arbitrarily plundered was good for nothing, right?


    Such an incident had just occurred in Thunder Games today. Not only were the administrators'' accounts banned, but the technical administrators'' accounts had been locked too!


    This was just like treating the game as if they had developed it themselves.


    What''s most critical was that this was merely a small part of a cheat tool''s function!


    Without the technical administrator accounts, the hundreds of technical staff at Thunder Games were just clueless about what to do¡ªwith even the highest authority accounts gone, this almost meant they had nothing to do with the game anymore. How were they supposed to handle this?


    But thinking about it more, the opponent was so proficient it was magical; even if they could keep modifying the code, what would it matter? The opponent had a hundred ways to mod the game at will.


    At this time, Wang Ling and others had already started a massacre among the players of Dragon Continent in Nin Continent, almost every player had been killed once, and the respawn point was packed with people.


    They were all seething but dared not speak. To the left stood an Ultraman, to the right was an Attack on Titan, in front was a Gundam, behind was a Cultivation master, and a Super Saiyan even hovered above.


    Who would dare make a rash move in this situation? Any movement from them meant death!


    "Nin Continent players have all been killed by us once, now it''s just about destroying their respawn point, and Nin Continent will be wiped out!" said a few from Dragon Continent, who were responsible for the destruction operation of the Nin Continent server.


    "Great, let''s finish them off quickly and then go for a late-night snack!"


    The Cultivation master drew a sword from his hand, and a 400-meter-long giant Sword Qi slashed directly towards the stone pillar at the respawn point.


    This was the most important thing in every battle zone, equivalent to the crystal in League of Legends. Once destroyed, the entire Nin Continent battle zone would be occupied by players from Dragon Continent.


    "Boom!" But things didn''t go smoothly, an invisible barrier suddenly enveloped the stone pillar, and the Sword Qi only made the barrier tremble violently without entirely destroying it.


    Just then, with an explosion of a dark shadow, a figure clad in an ancient Ninja attire slowly emerged from the black fog.


    "The Guardian of Nin Continent! It''s the Guardian of Nin Continent! He''s come to save us!"


    "Guardian, the players from Dragon Continent are wrecking our Nin Continent, hurry and kill them, drive them away!"


    "Guardian, you''ve finally come!"


    The players of Nin Continent seemed to find their backbone in an instant.


    Each server''s Guardian was a very powerful entity, and even in the late stages of the game, it required a significant investment of manpower and resources to have a chance to eliminate one.


    At this stage, a server''s Guardian was an invincible existence!


    "Who are you, daring to invade our land of Nin Continent?" the Guardian from Nin Continent spoke with a sinister voice, "Leave Nin Continent immediately!"


    "Hahaha! Yes, get out of Nin Continent!"


    "Did you hear that? Leave, or none of you Dragon Continent players will leave alive!"


    "No! Don''t let them go! Guardian, they''ve killed every one of us once; we can''t let them go that easily!"


    A significant feature of this game was the use of Artificial Intelligence technology, and each server''s Guardian was controlled by AI, affected by environmental and player factors, not merely static NPCs.


    "What Guardian? Come out and fight one-on-one!" a Dragon Continent player shouted, tapping on his operational panel on the outside twice. His character''s eyes suddenly gained several red patterns.


    "Insolent Dragon Continent player!"


    The Nin Continent Guardian coldly spat out a phrase and then slowly withdrew a sparkling Samurai sword from his back.


    "Bang!" He exploded into a cloud of black mist, appearing like a ghost behind the Huaxia player, the sword viciously stabbing into his back.


    All the players from Nin Continent cheered jubilantly, worthy of being the Guardian God of the entire server, striking lethally in one blow!


    Several seconds passed, and the Huaxia player did not die. Instead, he turned around and performed a system-built dance towards the Guardian God of Nin Continent.


    "How did he not die?"


    "Wait! Look, his health is still full, how is that possible?"


    "I have a special item here that allows me to check the opponent''s state, let me see!"


    "He... why are his health and defensive power marked as ''???''?"


    "Sorry, brothers, to disappoint you!" the Huaxia player typed a long string of taunting words.


    "Spicy stuff!"


    A massive force suddenly emanated from his body, and within a radius of several hundred meters, all players from Nin Continent were killed again, and that so-called Guardian of Nin Continent was flung far away.


    "Susanoo!"


    A gigantic shadow that was a hundred meters tall arose from the ground and grabbed the Guardian of Nin Continent in one swoop.


    Although a powerful NPC, the Guardian of Nin Continent''s strength was limited, and the power of this cheat greatly surpassed that of the so-called guardian!


    "Heavenly Illumination!"


    Black flames enveloped the Guardian God of Nin Continent; the guardian couldn''t even let out a scream before disappearing into the black flames.


    "What a joke, some guardian!"


    The towering Susanoo smashed the pillar that represented Nin Continent.


    All players of Nin Continent saw a pop-up on their screens at the same time.


    "Your server has been destroyed. You will not be able to log in to the competitive mode of the game until the next season starts."


    "It''s over!" The players of Nin Continent saw nothing but darkness, and the area on the map that once belonged to them was now occupied by the totem of Dragon Continent.


    ...


    "Quit the game!"


    "Trash game, ruins my youth!"


    "Boycott the game full of sudden betrayals!"


    "Are you managing the game with your butts, letting cheats run rampant?"


    Having lost their server, the players of Nin Continent had no outlet to vent their frustrations but to frantically call customer service and rage impotently on the game''s forums.


    Michel, the boss of the game company, received this news immediately.


    According to their estimates, once the cash system of the game went live, it was supposed to generate billions in monthly revenue, and every season, expected to last between one and one and a half years, was supposed to bring in several billion US dollars.


    Now that the game had turned out this way, let alone a year and a half, it couldn''t even last a day. The players of Dragon Continent, wielding powerful cheats, unstoppable by anyone, pressed forward in their attacks!


    After 10 minutes, 5 servers fell; after 20 minutes, 17 servers fell; after 30 minutes, 42 servers fell... An hour later, all servers had fallen, and the players of Dragon Continent had achieved the ultimate achievement of wiping out all other servers.


    Suddenly, Michel remembered a warning that Zhang Menglong had given him; at the end of their last conversation, Zhang Menglong had asked him if he had heard of "The Twilight of the Gods." Now, he had not only heard of it but had witnessed it first-hand.


    With that thought, he immediately made a call to Zhang Menglong.


    "Zhang Menglong, was this your doing?"


    Zhang Menglong, having anticipated Michel''s call, curved his lips into a smile, "But you have no proof!"

 Chapter 587 585: Its Impossible to Compensate with Money

    "Zhang Menglong, don''t be too smug; I''ve recorded this entire phone call, and all of it will serve as evidence for us in court!" Michel said, "Our Huaxia division of our Storm Cloud game company will formally file a lawsuit against you!"


    In Michel''s hand was a small recording device; as an old fox, he was very experienced in playing these tricks.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Michel," Zhang Menglong said with a calm and collected smile, "In Huaxia, recording audio without the other party''s knowledge has no legal effect. Moreover, I advise you to throw that thing away immediately, or it might become very dangerous!"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you think I, Michel, am easily frightened?" Michel gripped the recording pen even tighter in his hand.


    "Show him some color," Zhang Menglong seemed to say to someone who wasn''t there.


    Suddenly, the recording pen in Michel''s hand eerily exploded, instantly covering his hand in blood.


    Michel let out a scream of anguish, how could this perfectly fine recording pen just inexplicably explode like that? Even if there were mechanical issues inside, it shouldn''t have exploded to such an extent!


    "You... was it you?" Michel''s tone was filled with panic.


    "I just warned Mr. Michel, but it seems Mr. Michel did not appreciate my kindness," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "What sorcery did you use?" Michel was frantic, wondering if Zhang Menglong, who could do such a thing from a great distance, might also have his life in his hands?


    Although it was now a society governed by law, such eerie methods still made him shudder. He had heard that Huaxia people possessed some very miraculous powers¡ªcould this be the legendary power from the East?


    "What do you think?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "You guess whether I''ll guess?"


    "You guess whether I think you''ll guess or not?"


    "Huaxia people, enough is enough!" Michel said, "Even if you don''t admit it, the fact that you Huaxia people use cheats is absolutely nailed down, and such actions will be scorned by the entire world."


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong said indifferently with a smile, "That''s interesting. Then let me ask you, is your behavior of tampering with history and facts a glorious deed?"


    "I''ve said it before, this is just a virtual world, everything is nonexistent; if you insist on taking issue, that''s your problem. Even if you intend to resolve this matter through legal action, our Storm Cloud company is ready to see it through!"


    "Of course," Michel said through clenched teeth, "no matter which route you take, you will never win!"


    "You see, a dog can''t change its habit of eating feces," Zhang Menglong said resignedly, spreading his hands, "but I never planned to resolve this issue through legal channels. Even if we were successful, at most we would fine you some money and make you change the map¡ªwouldn''t that be letting you off too easily?"


    Michel was about to say something when his other phone vibrated, displaying a very crucial piece of information.


    "Zhang Menglong, it''s no longer about how you confront us; now, you should consider the rage you will face from the Huaxia game companies!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow, "What can you do to me? I, Zhang Menglong, have a hundred ways to bankrupt your lousy company, but you are powerless."


    "Zhang Menglong, do you really think you can do whatever you want with money?" Michel said, "Now you Huaxia people are notoriously infamous, obtaining victory in the game in such a way is utterly shameful!"


    The players from Dragon Continent resorted to using cheats to directly take down all other servers, seriously damaging the overall gaming experience, and even some small country''s servers, which only planned to play a peaceful life simulation game.


    Even if they were to be hacked by someone else''s server, they probably would have to wait until the mid to late stages of the game, right? At least they could enjoy a long period of gaming fun.


    But the Huaxia players used cheats to end this season''s game outright; they hadn''t yet had their fill, and they hadn''t even deeply experienced the game before it was over.


    This feeling was like a couple in the depths of love, ready to engage in some deeper communication, exploring the origins of humans, but then someone suddenly flipped their bed, pants down, and this is what I get to see?


    So, gamers around the world were loud in their complaints.


    Because of this, gamers from dozens of countries around the world publicly declared a boycott of Huaxia''s games, and many agents importing Huaxia games into foreign countries were severely warned and punished by the gaming companies.


    They demanded an increase in operational costs for the games. Although this action seemed to violate contractual agreements, there was a clause in the contract stating that if any negative impact from Huaxia agents resulted in adverse consequences for the game''s operation, they had the right to demand compensation or even terminate the contract.


    The agents, to stabilize their suppliers, had no choice but to satisfy these excessive demands.


    If converted into direct economic loss, this would probably be at least on the order of tens of billions of US Dollars.


    Not only that, gamers in many countries, in protest, even banned VPN access to Huaxia''s servers, meaning Huaxia players could no longer access these foreign servers through any normal channels.


    You see, many of Huaxia''s players were once calling the shots on foreign servers. With such a thing happening, their reputation was naturally severely impacted.


    In other words, Huaxia players'' reputations were now stinking all around the world, and games worldwide began to boycott Huaxia players!


    "Fine!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Alright, pretty impressive, a bunch of hypocrites. When you guys messed up the games with bugs and glitches, no one spoke up for justice. When our Huaxia players stood up in rebellion, you make a fuss, but now I see clearly."


    "But these crappy games of yours, you think we care about them?" Zhang Menglong suddenly smirked coldly.


    Michel''s secretary came at the sound and had already bandaged the wounds on his hand, "Zhang Menglong, it seems you still don''t understand. The games made by your people don''t have a single one that is well-known in the world, aside from plagiarism what original creations can you do? Isn''t it supported by our foreign games that your game market is still afloat?"


    "What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Without our games, your Huaxia game industry will crash and burn!"


    "So what do you want?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask, Michel wouldn''t have told him about this if he didn''t have something in mind.


    "Compensate us for the losses in the failed games!" Michel had already thought this through. The failed games had a significant influence among gaming companies worldwide, and they initiated this boycott. After all, when the big brother speaks, the little brothers have to listen, whether they want to or not.


    "How much money do you want?"


    "10 billion!"


    "My my, aren''t you bold," Zhang Menglong wasn''t at all surprised. For someone like Michel, it would be strange if he didn''t take the opportunity to extort a huge sum now.


    "Alright, 10 billion Vietnamese Dong it is then, I''ll transfer it to you in a bit."


    "Zhang Menglong, are you still playing slick up to now?" Michel''s anger was starting to become uncontrollable, "I''m talking about US Dollars!"


    "Look at you, getting all worked up," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "Paying is out of the question, it''s impossible for us to pay in this lifetime, let those games be gone, we Huaxia will just develop our own! Bye-bye now!"

 Chapter 588 586: Time to Shuffle

    "Hahaha, what a huge joke," Michel finally couldn''t hold back his laughter, "Your Huaxia game engines, it''s not personal, but all company''s engines are trash, and most of your games are not even original!"


    "Well, you''ve learned our Huaxia cliche?s quite well," Zhang Menglong remained calm inside, "But you severely underestimate me, Zhang Menglong. However, I must warn you, if you later want the rights to represent our Huaxia games, the cost will be substantial."


    "Ridiculous!" Michel said contemptuously, "Your games will never be as sophisticated as ours. No foreign players will buy into your games, nor will anyone play games from your cheat-developing nation again."


    "Nice hat trick," Zhang Menglong had seen Michel''s shamelessness by now, "Let me remind you, Michel, if you want to represent our Huaxia games by then, I think you''d have to give at least 51% of your shares, I might reluctantly consider it."


    "Idiot!" Michel hung up on Zhang Menglong''s call directly, Zhang Menglong''s confidence simply seemed irrational to him.


    "Boss, is your hand okay?" Michel''s assistant hurriedly asked.


    "Nonsense, what do you think? Don''t just stand there; arrange a car to the hospital!" Michel barked.


    "Wait, go and get the PR team to do something first, hire a batch of Huaxia internet mercenaries to consolidate the story of Zhang Menglong developing cheats, I want him ruined!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    ...


    "Over 90% of the world''s gaming companies jointly announce a boycott against Huaxia players!"


    "Numerous popular games shut down Huaxia''s access to international servers."


    "Shocking, the mastermind behind this ''Era Overlord'' incident is..."


    "Informed sources reveal, the development of the cheats may be linked to the world''s richest man."


    ...


    Under the manipulation of internet mercenaries, the whole incident began to ferment wildly.


    "Fuck! Shameless bastards, it was the explosive company that started the trouble first, yet they''re boycotting our Huaxia players? What a joke!"


    "Double standard dogs, boycott our games? We''ll boycott yours too!"


    "Even if President Zhang did this, I still support him!"


    Players who were aware of the backstory of the ''Era Overlord'' incident began to voice their support for Zhang Menglong. Although this approach wasn''t highly commendable, it did allow them to vent their anger, letting those people know that Huaxia players are not to be trifled with.


    However, this was only about the game ''Era Overlord''. There are many games in Huaxia, many of which are hits, and the impact of this incident affected not just one or two games but a whole slew.


    These issues certainly dealt the biggest blow to the players.


    "Damn! I was almost at the top rank abroad, and now you block my account?"


    "Fuck! I''ve spent hundreds of thousands on this game, and now you''re telling me I can''t log in?"


    "What does ''Era Overlord'' have to do with our other games? Even if they were misbehaving first, couldn''t you think of another solution rather than resorting to such extreme measures?"


    "Well now, nobody can play games!"


    "Zhang Menglong is an asshole!"


    "Being rich doesn''t make you right! I thought you were the pride of Huaxia, just a disgrace, a shame!"


    ...


    The amount of abuse directed at Zhang Menglong was quite significant, but it''s hard to tell which were from internet mercenaries and which from real Huaxia players.


    However, the majority of Huaxia players still stood unified with Zhang Menglong. This incident reminded them of the chip blockade, a similar coalition against Huaxia formed by other countries.


    Facing the boycott, the primary target was Huaxia''s largest gaming company, Ma Hua''s Tengxun, though now most of the company''s profits came from social networks and self-developed games. Still, representing foreign games was a significant part of their revenue.


    In just a few days, Tengxun Gaming''s daily turnover decreased by 20%.


    The accumulated loss was significant. And that was just the direct loss. They also had to spend billions to compensate other gaming companies.


    Wangyi Games was also severely affected by the incident, their losses were not much less than Tengxun''s.


    ...


    But Zhang Menglong''s mood wasn''t affected by these things at all. He continued to eat and drink as if it had nothing to do with him.


    "What does cursing the world''s richest man have to do with me, Zhang Menglong?"


    "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Ma Hua and Mr. Ding Sanshi have invited you to dinner tonight. I wonder if you are available." Hong Yi asked Zhang Menglong, who was playing a domestic game with Lu Yiyao.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong was not surprised at all. Although he was pleased by the situation, it had indeed caused a severe impact on the game industry of Huaxia, and their two companies had suffered the most.


    "What''s their mood like?" Zhang Menglong asked playfully.


    "They are fairly calm, but there is a bit of helplessness in their tone."


    "Hahahaha," Zhang Menglong laughed. "Fine, tell them I''ll be on time. Just let me know the location."


    ...


    "You say it later!"


    "You say it!"


    "No way, our company was previously redeemed by him, our Wangyi Music turned into Wangyi Footcare. What if he gets upset and our Wangyi Games turns into Wangyi adult products?"


    The two gaming moguls of Huaxia were playing tai chi in a room, neither willing to directly convey their thoughts to Zhang Menglong.


    "You know Zhang Menglong''s character as well. He has always despised evil, especially on such principled issues. In his view, there''s nothing wrong with his actions," Ma Hua sighed. "You know he already hates us capitalists; the issue with 996 hasn''t even cooled down yet!"


    "He''s here!" The two heard some footsteps and immediately fell silent.


    "Long time no see, gentlemen!" Zhang Menglong walked into the private room unapologetically and sat down.


    He calmly picked up the menu and ordered a few dishes. "Order whatever you want, I''m paying today!"


    Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi were speechless. Today was obviously their organized dinner, how had Zhang Menglong taken over as the host?


    "Gentlemen, why aren''t you two smiling? Is there something making you unhappy?" Zhang Menglong asked mischievously.


    Nonsense, it''s more than being unhappy, we''re about to lose our minds, okay?


    Though Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi had countless curses in their minds, they couldn''t do anything but endure. Their companies were publicly listed, and given Zhang Menglong''s financial strength, he could easily crush them.


    "Mr. Zhang, stop pretending you don''t know," Ma Hua finally spoke up. "You developed the cheat, didn''t you?"


    "I did," Zhang Menglong admitted generously. He was bold enough to acknowledge his actions.


    "This time you were a bit impulsive. There were certainly better ways to handle the situation," Ding Sanshi said. "The impact on our gaming industry has been too severe, the losses for our two companies are... beyond words."


    "It seems today you two came to settle scores?"


    The two kept silent.


    "Don''t you think Huaxia''s game development technology is good?"


    The two were stunned for a moment, not expecting Zhang Menglong to throw out this question.


    "Although domestically made game engines are constantly being updated, there is still a gap compared to international engines, which is why we have to rely on foreign technology and import many games."


    "Are you content with that?"


    Content? Of course not! If they had such engines, they could make better games and earn money from other countries, not just from their own people.


    "So this isn''t a bad thing, but a miracle," Zhang Menglong said. "Isn''t it just a boycott of our games? Why can they boycott? Because our game quality isn''t good enough. If everyone was deeply engrossed in them, would a boycott be effective?"


    "But our technology..."


    "Do you think I can write such cheats, but can''t make better games?" Zhang Menglong revealed a meaningful smile. This was why he agreed to come today!


    "Are you saying..." The two suddenly saw the surprise in each other''s eyes.


    "The gaming industry needs a reshuffling!"

 Chapter 589 587: The Pattern Is Too Small

    Zhang Menglong''s statement excited both Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi. As the first generation of game developers in Huaxia, they naturally hoped that games developed by Huaxia could stand at the top of the world.


    But the reality is that most of the games that are currently popular around the world weren''t independently developed by Huaxia. That''s a fact.


    "But doesn''t it take quite some time to develop a game?" Ma Hua said, noting that the development of a large-scale game often took years.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong''s technical skills were exceptional. Being able to create such a cheat program proved his skills were far above the development team of "Era Overlord." They believed that Zhang Menglong definitely had the capability to make even more outstanding games.


    But having skills was one thing, whether he could achieve results was another matter altogether.


    To develop an excellent game, even with a decent team, it took at least six months to two or three years, all of which required the accumulation of time.


    True, Zhang Menglong wasn''t short on money, and he could afford to spend a year or so even without making a profit.


    But the Huaxia gaming market couldn''t afford to wait that long. Without any outstanding domestic games, they would have to endure being carved up by foreign game developers, with huge amounts of money flowing into the pockets of foreigners, which was certainly not a pleasant thing.


    "President Zhang, have you thought about how much we stand to lose each year if our Huaxia gaming industry faces unfair boycotts?" Ma Hua sighed, "IP derivative products, game recharge commissions, and such, the annual loss is at least tens of billions."


    "So what are you implying?" Zhang Menglong felt there was more to their words.


    "President Zhang, actually, I don''t think we need to be at loggerheads with them. It''s just a matter of pride for them, and frankly, if everyone sat down for a meal and talked it over, it would likely get resolved."


    "Yes, President Zhang, it doesn''t seem worthwhile to suffer such significant losses to our gaming market just for a moment of satisfaction."


    "You want me to apologize and show weakness?" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "Gentlemen, do you know what conditions he offered me? 10 billion US dollars. Do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am an idiot?"


    "This situation is of your own making!" Ding Sanshi muttered under his breath.


    Zhang Menglong laughed without taking Ding Sanshi''s complaint to heart. After all, strictly speaking, this matter was indeed related to him. Both of them had suffered losses recently, so it was understandable that they had some grievances against him.


    "I know that both of you have suffered a lot this time, and I know that today you have many issues with me, Zhang Menglong. Furthermore, I realize that you don''t only want me to bow to Prophet for your own sakes," Zhang Menglong said, "But have you ever thought whether you would be willing to see our gaming industry remain in this half-dead state forever?"


    The two men were silent. As the first generation of gamers, they certainly hoped their games would be hot domestically and sweep across the world.


    "Last year, our country''s chip technology was at the mercy of others, and we had to act according to their whims. But now, I, Zhang Menglong, have made those Western countries beg for our chips. In the gaming industry, I also want to reach the point where others have to act according to our expressions, rather than surviving by compromise!"


    "Sigh! All of this needs time, it all requires time!" Ding Sanshi said.


    The once wildly popular "Dream Journey to the West" had paved a golden path for NetEase''s games, but now it had gradually become a game of nostalgia. The old players were leaving, the new players were not interested, creating a significant pain point.


    Although they were also developing a new engine and new games, the market response was not good. Compared to those finely-crafted foreign productions, their efforts seemed somewhat clumsy and inadequate.


    Indeed, their game engine upgrades were fast, but they had started too late. The top gaming companies were advancing just as rapidly, and there was a long road ahead if they wanted to catch up.


    "How long would it take for us to build up our own market independently?" Ma Hua took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, "We can''t afford to wait."


    "That''s exactly why I was willing to accept the invitation from you gentlemen today." Zhang Menglong had eaten quite a bit, his appetite much better than Ding Sanshi''s and Ma Hua''s.


    "Come on, I''ll show you a real treasure!" Zhang Menglong said mysteriously.


    "A treasure?" Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua quickly finished off the goose liver and steak on the table, "See what?"


    "You''ll know when you get there."


    Zhang Menglong took out his mobile phone and called Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, get ready, I''m bringing Mr. Ding and Mr. Ma over for a visit."


    After speaking, Zhang Menglong directly led the way out.


    The two exchanged glances, then quickly followed.


    Arriving at the elevator, Ding Sanshi eagerly pressed the button to go down, but Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "The place is a bit far, we won''t drive, let''s take the helicopter!"


    This hotel was Zhang Menglong''s own property, and he could use the helipad on the roof whenever he wanted.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you know we were coming back to look for you today?" Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua asked.


    As well-known domestic tycoons, they naturally had their own helicopters, but one must understand that helicopters couldn''t just fly anytime¡ªthey''d create chaos in the skies, wouldn''t they?


    Direct departure to the sky required prior coordination with air traffic control, providing a flight plan at least a day in advance and paying a deposit each time.


    Furthermore, even if the flight plan was cancelled, the deposit wouldn''t be refunded, since the relevant departments incurred corresponding expenses in manpower and resources.


    They had just issued the invitation to meet with Zhang Menglong today; if he could now take them flying, it meant Zhang Menglong must have applied for this flight route at least yesterday.


    If it wasn''t for Zhang Menglong''s incredible skills in dealing with the related departments, then he must have the ability of a Prophet, having already known they were coming back today.


    Regardless of the reason, it was evident that Zhang Menglong was not to be underestimated.


    "I didn''t know," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "Do you have connections in the air traffic control department?" Ding Sanshi continued to inquire.


    "I don''t know anyone," Zhang Menglong still shook his head.


    "Then why doesn''t your flight need advance flight record submission?"


    "But I did submit," Zhang Menglong was puzzled by their questioning, "I submit every day."


    "Submit every day?" They were both astounded.


    "Yes, since I never know when I''ll need to use the helicopter, I just made routine submissions for all potential helipad locations and places I might go, so I can leave anytime."


    "How many routes do you need to submit daily?"


    "If it''s within the country, then over three thousand routes a day," Zhang Menglong roughly estimated.


    "But if you don''t use them every day, wouldn''t all those deposits be wasted?" They knew how much a single route would cost, with an annual package for one route amounting to at least a million US Dollars.


    Three thousand routes, and they believed Zhang Menglong would hardly use them once a day, so this money was almost completely wasted!


    That''s tens of billions gone to waste in just one year!


    "Then consider it a donation to the nation!" Zhang Menglong patted Ma Hua on the shoulder, "Only a few tens of billions a year, it''s convenient for me and it contributes to the country too, isn''t this a good thing? Your vision is still too small!"

 Chapter 590 588 Basic Operations Not 6

    Having heard this, Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi''s faces went from green to purple.


    Even though they were rich, they were not as wealthy as Zhang Menglong.


    Take Ma Hua for example, he once cashed in 22.4 billion US dollars from his shares in Tengxun over 10 years, which averaged 2.24 billion US dollars per year.


    Spending ten or twenty billion a year, he might as well give up eating, drinking, and having fun just to sustain these 3000 routes¡ªit wasn''t a matter of doing something beneficial for himself or the country; it was purely charity!


    Now they finally understood why Zhang Menglong could easily produce 500 billion US dollars to purchase his Tengxun shares. Their realm of living was simply not on the same level as his.


    The lifestyle they aspired to had become the baseline in Zhang Menglong''s eyes, and those billions spent yearly were just to maintain something they seldom used.


    As both were in a daze, they arrived at the rooftop and indeed, a helicopter was already preparing for takeoff.


    "Is this an AW139 helicopter?" Ma Hua, with his broad knowledge, recognized the model of the helicopter. "I saw Bezos arriving in one of these when I went to America for a university lecture exchange."


    Ding Sanshi quickly checked the price of the helicopter, which had a market reference price of 106 million yuan.


    "A helicopter worth over a hundred million, President Zhang really is willing to invest," Ding Sanshi hastily flattered. His own private helicopters, although numerous, did not cost more than 20 million for the most expensive one, and he had felt the pinch at that time.


    Zhang''s single helicopter was equivalent to all of his own.


    "A billion is just an empty shell," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Come on, it''s still about fifteen minutes away."


    Zhang Menglong boarded the helicopter.


    It was only when they entered the aircraft that they understood what Zhang Menglong meant by "an empty shell."


    Inside the helicopter, world-famous paintings hung on the walls, and antiques were displayed. It was likely that the value of these items combined could buy the helicopter several times over.


    "Never mind, I''ll just keep my mouth shut!" Ding Sanshi resignedly seated himself on the sofa.


    "I''ll keep silent too. Being friends with President Zhang is just too tiring," Ma Hua said helplessly, "I have been working my whole life, and even when I was the richest man in the world, I never felt so powerless."


    In front of those people, although Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua and the others were a notch below, the gap in their wealth was visible. The difference between his assets and Bezos''s was less than four times.


    Even though that difference was still over a hundred billion US dollars, it seemed like a goal he could pursue in his eyes.


    But Zhang Menglong''s assets were simply too despairing. Forbes''s estimate of his assets was 10 trillion US dollars, which was 2000 times his wealth.


    His assets were capped at 50 billion US dollars, hahaha, 2000 times¡ªand he bought a watch last year!


    A mere fraction of Zhang''s daily travel expenses already exceeded his annual net income, how could he compete?


    Throughout the trip, the two sat on the sofa as quiet as obedient cronies, thankful that after about fifteen minutes, they reached their destination.


    "Is this E-sports Town?" Both glanced out the window. This was an electronic industrial park in the southern part of Jiangnan City, where Zhang Menglong''s lsp team was stationed.


    Ever since his lsp team won the championship at the Esports Olympics, this town had truly taken off. E-sports industries throughout the country gradually began to shift towards this area, with many training teams setting up bases here. The lsp team''s members were basically the honorary coaches for these teams.


    Under Hong Yi''s management, the town''s catering and entertainment, esports peripherals, real estate, and other industries also began to move in. Without investing too much in other aspects, Zhang Menglong earned a tremendous fortune once again.


    "President Zhang, you didn''t bring us here just to play games, did you?"


    "Correct, I have come to take you to play games," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Zhang Menglong led them into the lsp club, where all the team members training there quickly approached upon seeing him.


    After that Esports Olympics, Zhang Menglong had become an eternal god in the domain of esports, and whether it was former lsp members or the new ones, they all worshipped him.


    As long as Zhang Menglong was around, the entire esports industry would be under his reign, as eternal as the long night.


    "How''s the game coming along?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "After months of continuous testing and modifications, we''re unable to make any more groundbreaking changes," the team leader of ISP said.


    "Hmm, if so many esports players haven''t suggested any modifications, then there shouldn''t be any major problems," Zhang Menglong nodded, "You guys keep at it, I''ll take the two bosses for a tour."


    "Yes!"


    Zhang Menglong led Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi into a room plastered with posters of more than a dozen games. Although these games were unfamiliar to them, they could still tell that these included mainstream tower push games, shooting games, strategy games, fighting games, and more.


    "Wanna give it a try?" Zhang Menglong offered them a pair of glasses that looked like a pair of real moxibustion instruments.


    Both were gaming enthusiasts, and they could tell at a glance that this was a VR gaming device; they didn''t hesitate to put it on.


    Zhang Menglong started up the computer in front of him and directly launched a game called "Star Realm Bloodsong."


    "Damn!"


    The moment the game started, both of them fell to the ground and hastily removed the VR glasses.


    "Hahaha, how was it, bosses? My game''s pretty good, right?"


    "Is this a game? Not just a VR video?"


    The moment they entered the game, they were directly placed in a war-torn battlefield where a shell exploded right beside them.The immersive experience startled them both.


    It was freakishly realistic!


    "This is a game similar to PUBG; you two can keep trying it out."


    Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua put the glasses back on once more.


    With the mental preparation, they were much braver, but they soon realized that while this game''s mechanics were similar to current shooting games, the experience was just too exaggerated.


    You see, even though there are VR games available now, they are limited to those mini-games, at most some adventure games.


    But this one actually puts you right on the battlefield!


    Those whizzing bullets, the explosions, the scenery.


    What surprised them the most was that they weren''t holding anything in their hands. Yet in the game, the weapons, grenades, and even vehicles and other equipment felt as if they could be seen and touched!


    Known that glasses can only simulate the visual senses, headphones simulate the auditory senses, but what about the tactile sense? How did he manage that? Moreover, their device had no headphones. Where was the sound they were hearing coming from?


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong said with a mysterious smile, "I''ve incorporated a very unique technology into this VR glasses, called ''Omnitouch Technology,'' which simulates all senses on your body!"


    "How is that possible?"


    "But you just experienced it," Zhang Menglong wasn''t surprised at their reaction at all.


    The so-called "Omnitouch Technology" is actually a type of neural simulation technology. The high-tech design documents that Zhang Menglong had given to Professor Zhou before contained this technology; it could even stimulate human nerves to manipulate external mechanisms. What was being used in the game was merely the surface of this foundational technology.


    Of course, at the normal rate of development, this technology wouldn''t emerge for another 8 to 10 years.


    "What do you think the market response would be like if this game were released?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''d be sensational! Absolutely revolutionary!" Ma Hua said.


    Ding Sanshi: "All I want to say right now is 6666."


    Zhang Menglong: "Keep it simple, no overpraising."

 Chapter 591 589: This is Something Zhang Menglong is Capable of Doing

    "Zhang, is this your capital to compete against the storm?" At this moment, Ma Hua and the others had a completely different mindset than before.


    "Yes, so from beginning to end, I have never taken the threat of the storm seriously," Zhang Menglong said.


    Since the LSP team won, Zhang Menglong had started developing these games.


    Even if Michel hadn''t troubled him, he would have initiated this revolution on his own.


    Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi exchanged glances, and they both saw a trace of concern in each other''s eyes.


    "Do you two have any questions?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Zhang, this indeed seems like a good game, and the player experience is unprecedented," said Ma Hua, "but, Zhang, making a good game isn''t enough just on its own."


    As a seasoned gamer, Ma Hua knew there were many conditions to make a game a smash hit.


    First, the lower the requirements for the gaming equipment, the lower the barrier for the players. For instance, games like Minesweeper, Solitaire, and Little Tyrant can be played to their full potential.


    But if you want to play a game like PUBG, once the equipment cannot support it, if the performance isn''t powerful enough, then the gaming experience will be like a slideshow.


    In such cases, even the best of games won''t have many players willing to pay for them.


    With these VR games, players have to invest a lot of money in buying the equipment, just this one condition will exclude countless players right at the threshold.


    This is also the biggest reason why VR games haven''t been able to become widespread so far.


    "Hahaha, that''s what you need not worry about," laughed Zhang Menglong, "This set of equipment may look high-end, but its value lies in its core chip, and right now we are the most powerful chip-supplying country, and we have full control over the cost."


    "How much does it cost to run this equipment?" Ma Hua immediately asked.


    "A regular computer can support the conditions needed for the game to run, and the cost price of this VR equipment is 184 US dollars!"


    "That cheap?" exclaimed Ma Hua.


    This was definitely great news!


    You see, Zhang Menglong manufactures these himself, he doesn''t need to share profits with anyone, so the pricing was entirely up to him. If he chose to sell at cost price, then this price under 200 US dollars, for anyone who has experienced the game, won''t feel a pinch!


    In the spending levels of Jiangnan City, a regular college student can''t get much for a meal out.


    As long as the brand makes a mark, this $184 device will definitely not be a barrier to this game!


    Even more radically, he could give away the device for free with the download of the game, and once you''re into the game, Ma Hua had a thousand ways to trick the money out of your pocket.


    Wouldn''t it be game over with a constant 648-yuan charge?


    Next, Zhang Menglong dropped another bomb.


    He had developed a total of 14 games, all of which could be accessed through this one piece of VR equipment!


    Averaging it out, this meant each game cost only a dozen or so yuan!


    A random game on Steam costs several tens of yuan, how strong would the market competitiveness be!


    "There''s still one issue!" Ma Hua suddenly remembered a critical factor, "What about your servers?"


    This question cooled down Ding Sanshi''s head, which had just been heated up in excitement.


    They had just seen the game''s graphics, which were virtually identical to reality. To run it on a computer, you wouldn''t believe how many graphics cards it would burn through.


    But now, thanks to Zhang Menglong''s chips, the country had already popularized 5G technology, and VR equipment could replace both the display and the graphics card, reducing the demand on equipment, but undeniably putting a terrifying strain on the servers.


    So much game data flowing back to the servers¡ªif the computational power, processing capabilities, and storage capacities were insufficient, a server crash would just be minutes away, severely diminishing the gaming experience for players.


    "Hahaha, that''s not a problem at all!" Zhang Menglong stamped his foot, "The server is right here underground!"


    "Can I take a look?"


    "Of course!"


    Zhang Menglong led them down in the elevator to the basement level.


    The moment the elevator doors opened, the tech-infused corridor that seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie completely astounded them.


    The server storage rooms of Tengxun Games and Wangyi Games were already quite large, but Zhang Menglong''s server was immeasurably bigger.


    "How big is this server room?" Ma Hua asked.


    "About twenty to thirty thousand square meters."


    "Twenty to thirty thousand?" The two were even more stunned. "Even for a huge server, does it need to be this massive?"


    Their company''s game servers were at most a few hundred square meters.


    "The game server itself isn''t that big," Zhang Menglong explained. "But to support the operation of the server, I set up a supercomputer for technical data support, so it takes up quite a bit of space."


    "Supercomputer?"


    Hearing these words, the two were dumbfounded.


    "I''ve divided the game data into tens of thousands of cores and loaded them onto this supercomputer through some technical development," Zhang Menglong explained. Though this thing had great computational power, you couldn''t just use it to play ''Minesweeper'' immediately¡ªit''s more about its computing capabilities.


    "This is really something only you, Zhang Menglong, could pull off!"


    Some things can be bought with money, such as Zhang Menglong''s mansion, Zhang Menglong''s private plane, or even his 3000 domestic flight routes; anything is possible with money.


    But setting up a supercomputer? Is that something money can buy? Even at a national level, that''s considered a strategic-level resource!


    What can a supercomputer do?


    Quantum-level mathematical analysis modeling, molecular-level chemical formula analysis, weather data analysis and forecasting, design of spacecraft and fighter planes, intelligence analysis, cosmic information analysis, and exploration of the origin of the universe.


    To use such an incredible device for a game server is truly astounding.


    "This thing is great, gaming is incredibly fast, and watching videos is extremely smooth. Not to mention, using it to mine Bitcoin when free is also excellent. Spending several billion US Dollars to get this is truly a bargain!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s boasting had left Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi speechless, but since the equipment issue was resolved and the server problem was addressed, this game''s advantages were nearly unparalleled.


    With the support of supercomputing, this game would hardly suffer the common issues of server overcrowding or errors that typical games face.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by showing us this?" the two grasped the essence.


    They saw the excellence of this game. If it went live, their market share would be completely seized by Zhang Menglong. Whether it was Tengxun or Wangyi, gaming made up a huge part of their revenue, and they would go bankrupt naturally without Zhang Menglong having to acquire them.


    "Don''t panic," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "As you know, promoting games is also very important. I don''t own any famous gaming companies, but Wangyi Games and Tengxun Games are experts in this field. I think it would be best to let you manage these fourteen games."


    "Really?" Their eyes gleamed brighter than a cat''s at night.


    They were literally being handed a fortune-making opportunity!


    "I only have one requirement," Zhang Menglong said, emphasizing each word, "Crush PUBG for me!"

 Chapter 592 590: Experience the Game and Get a Villa

    "Please have some tea!" the front desk lady of the lsp team placed three cups of coffee on the table.


    It took nearly two hours, but Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi had tried out all 14 games, and what was most distinctive was that these 14 games not only had PC versions but also mobile versions. Moreover, as they were all implemented through VR glasses, aside from different platforms, all the data and gameplay were completely interoperable.


    This completely solved the current market issue where computer and mobile game data couldn''t be synchronized, and it was nothing short of a groundbreaking innovation.


    In this way, they not only occupied the PC gaming market but could also engage in fierce competition in the mobile gaming market.


    It was simply the embryonic form of a massive gaming empire!


    "President Zhang, we''re very curious as to why you would choose to partner with us?" This seemed like a pie falling from the sky, and even now Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi felt somewhat overwhelmed.


    "It''s simple, because you have the capability to maximize the value of a game," Zhang Menglong said.


    In terms of game operations, Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi both had a wealth of experience, and Zhang Menglong''s team just happened to be in need of such talent, which is why he chose to share this plan with the two of them.


    "But the most important point is this, both of you are from Huaxia, and our goals align, it''s that simple!"


    "How much is the agency fee for the games?" Ma Hua asked with a serious tone.


    It came down to the most critical issue. Zhang Menglong had chosen them as game operators, and to put it nicely they were operators, but more critically, they''d become instruments for Zhang Menglong''s profit-making.


    In reality, within the relationship between game developers and operators, the developers usually hold a more passive position.


    The reason is simple, a good game that nobody buys is worthless! Why are players willing to spend money and ''Krypton Gold''? The presence of operators is indispensable.


    According to Tengxun, as operators, they took almost 70% or even more of all profits!


    That''s because most game developers lack operational capabilities. As for those who have it, they simply don''t need any game operators; they can set up on their own, handling both operations and development.


    For Zhang Menglong though, this was not an issue at all. He himself was an excellent brand name. If he wanted to sell a game, a single advertisement like "The Game Recommended by the World''s Richest Man" could blow up the entire market.


    The reason Zhang Menglong wanted to hand over these matters to them was simply that he was too lazy to deal with it himself.


    But this changed their positions entirely.


    If Zhang Menglong wanted to operate the games himself, he could dominate the entire market. Gradually eating into the game market that NetEase and Tengxun had built over the years was just a matter of time.


    If they were unwilling to cooperate or to accept Zhang Menglong''s profit-sharing ratio, their end would be simple. In a short few months or at most a couple of years, NetEase Games and Tengxun Games might just be taken over by Zhang Menglong, turning into NetEase Adult Products and Tengxun Spa and Bathhouse.


    Therefore, in the matter of profit sharing with Zhang Menglong, they understood that they didn''t have much room for negotiation.


    "I don''t care how you operate or how you charge, but I want 50% of all profit."


    "You only want 50%?" This figure was far lower than their expectation! They even thought that Zhang Menglong might aim high and ask for seventy or even eighty percent!


    "Hahaha, you two have lost quite a bit of money recently. When I, Zhang Menglong, eat meat, it''s only right that I let you have a sip of the broth!"


    A 50% share, that was far more than a sip of broth.


    They had absolute confidence that as soon as their games launched, they could obliterate all blockbuster games within three months to become the new blockbusters themselves.


    How much market share was there in the global gaming market?


    50% would let them take off directly!


    By then, the market value of Tengxun Games and Wangyi Games, even if it increased by several times, would just be a matter of time.


    "Also, I''m not just providing you with games, but also advertising support," Zhang Menglong said, "I want the best advertising results, I don''t care if you hire the most expensive stars or engage in the most lavish ad traffic placements, I want the whole world to know about my game within a month!"


    "Mr. Zhang, if you do it this way, you probably won''t make much money off this game," Ma Hua said.


    "I never said I wanted to make money," Zhang Menglong laughed, "When I started making these games, it wasn''t for the money either."


    "What? You don''t plan to make money from games? Then why develop these games?"


    "Why else? The lousy games on the market get on my nerves after playing for a while, and there are so many idiots, the gaming experience is just too poor. If I develop a few games myself, they can all follow my plan, and I don''t need too many players, just me and my friends playing would be enough."


    "Damn!" Ma Hua couldn''t help but curse.


    Zhang Menglong''s purpose was indeed pure!


    Because the games on the market didn''t cater to his tastes, he decided to develop his own!


    To develop these games, he even went to the lengths of using a supercomputer!


    The joys and sorrows of humans really do differ.


    "Mr. Zhang, to be frank, based on our operating strategy, it''s possible to beat those games in a year or half a year, but if we want to create a sensational effect in a short time, we''ll inevitably need some publicity stunts. As long as the topic is explosive enough and cuts to the core, we''ll achieve the best results."


    "Like what?"


    "For example, the first 100 people to download the game could receive a limited edition VR device, or some attractive gaming merch."


    "Publicity is a good idea!" Zhang Menglong thought for a moment, "But your approach won''t work, people won''t know what kind of game it is and the stuff you give won''t be appealing."


    "Besides, if it''s just for the first 100 downloads, people will uninstall it right after downloading. Everyone is so busy, who would waste time trying out a new game? Car loans and mortgages don''t just disappear, right?"


    "Wait!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up, "Since we are going to spend money, let''s go all out."


    Zhang Menglong continued, "We can add a type of item in the game that can be obtained once a certain progress level is reached, and these items can be used to exchange for various things!"


    "Limited edition equipment, game skins!" Ma Hua immediately said.


    "What limited edition equipment and game skins, those things don''t have the slightest attraction for me!" Zhang Menglong said, "What are people striving for nowadays? Just money. What''s the most direct form of money? Real estate and women, we can''t give away women, that''s illegal, but we can give away real estate!"


    Zhang Menglong took out a piece of paper and started writing, "First prize, a villa worth 50 million yuan, limited to 1 person; second prize, a large flat worth 20 million yuan, limited to 10 people; third prize, real estate worth 5 million yuan, limited to 50 people; fourth prize, a sports car worth 2 million yuan, limited to 100 people; and consolation prizes, cars worth up to 1 million yuan, limited to 500 people!"


    Zhang Menglong pushed the paper towards them, "Advertise using this standard!"


    "Brilliant!" Ma Hua said, "This prize will definitely have an incredible appeal. We can just arrange a few insiders to act as plants, but the topic will absolutely take off!"


    "Plants!" Zhang Menglong slammed the table, "Do I, Zhang Menglong, need plants to do things? These prizes must be fair and just, and all redeemable!"


    "What? You''re not just doing it for publicity? You''re serious?" Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi stood up immediately.


    "Sorry, I''m rich enough to be capricious! If they provoke me, I''ll smash them with money!"

 Chapter 593 591 Infertility Leads to a House Full of Children

    After his last phone call with Zhang Menglong, Michel couldn''t help feeling restless for some reason.


    Zhang Menglong''s tactics were simply too numerous; he could play tricks on someone to bewilder and embarrass them, and even flaunt his wealth significantly.


    But this time, things were eerily quiet. The entire American economic market was calm, and there weren''t any drastic changes in the gaming market either; everything seemed to be under his control and as expected.


    The calmer it was, the more nervous he became; knowing Zhang Menglong''s character, it was impossible for him to just give up and retreat.


    Moreover, even if Zhang Menglong behaved, both Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi were also unusually quiet.


    You should know that their companies were among the ones most severely impacted in the Huaxia gaming industry; this all just wasn''t scientific!


    During this period, Michel''s assistant had been keeping an eye on Huaxia, but had not obtained any significant information.


    All they knew was that Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi had met with Zhang Menglong and went together to the E-sports Town in Jiangnan City, but afterward they went their separate ways.


    What they discussed there remains unknown.


    ...


    That day, a new game simultaneously appeared on the homepage of both Tengxun Games and PUBG Games.


    This was indeed a rare occurrence, not to mention how a new game would choose two operators; most games are exclusively represented by one company.


    Given that these two gaming giants were always in a state of competition, it was almost impossible for such a thing to happen.


    This definitely signaled something extraordinarily unusual; these two companies coming together meant they were operating something far beyond a mere ordinary game!


    "Huh? A VR game? That means you need to buy VR equipment. What the hell is this about?"


    "How many people would really play this, considering the equipment alone must cost at least a thousand bucks."


    "A survival action-shooting game as well? Isn''t that the same formula as ''PUBG''?"


    "Cut it out, VR technology isn''t even mature yet; who would play this thing!"


    Although this game had a high exposure, not many people were willing to download it.


    ''Self-developed''¡ªthese two words made many people give up on the game immediately. It''s not that there weren''t any domestic game developers that had tried this genre before, but the results were hilariously poor, unable to withstand the competition from already established games.


    What''s more, most of the players were concentrated on games developed by a few established companies; with no players, who would waste time playing this new game?


    Usual games have closed beta tests, open beta tests, and then public beta tests, but here you are, coming out of nowhere with a new game without any market testing. How confident are you really? Was it Liang Jingru who gave you the courage?


    "VR equipment for only 200? Hahaha, can something that cheap even be playable?" Some players clicked into the official game website, but this is just the mentality of Huaxia consumers.


    Too expensive, and I can''t afford it; too cheap, and I feel it''s no good.


    This news quickly reached Michel''s ears.


    "Oh? They made a new shooting game?" Michel was quite surprised, "Just a few days and they want to challenge our market? They''re probably desperate, buying trash games from some third-rate developers."


    "Boss, this is a VR game, and there''s never been a bona fide VR-oriented strategic survival game on the market before. I think we shouldn''t underestimate it," said Michel''s assistant.


    "Have you experienced this game?"


    Michel''s assistant shook his head, "I''m sorry boss, this game is only available in the domestic market, and you can only register an account after having a Huaxia ID and going through real person authentication. Moreover, they have clearly stated that they are currently refusing foreign agencies."


    "A joke," Michel scoffed, "What kind of games can Huaxia people make with their technology, and they even restrict nationality and region. Do they think people would buy their lousy games? With such high costs for VR games, even if they were made well, not many people would play them."


    "But boss, their gaming equipment is only 200."


    "200? Ha ha ha ha!" Michel laughed even more wildly, his worries completely vanished at that moment.


    His company, Explosive Mines Games, also developed VR games. For a decent gaming experience, even the cheapest VR equipment needed nearly 1000 Huaxia yuan.


    What kind of junk could you make for 200 yuan? How terrible must the quality be to justify that price?


    "They can''t possibly be thinking of using that kind of game to declare war on us, can they?" Michel said, "The confidence of Huaxia people is really over the top. Such a product couldn''t shake even a small company, let alone challenge the gaming development level in Huaxia."


    ...


    As expected, even with Tengxun and Wangyi giving it the best promotional spots, the game''s first-day stats were pitiful¡ª128,090 true homepage visits, 980 downloads, 15 orders.


    For the early operational data of a game, this could almost be considered a flop.


    "The people nowadays!" Zhang Menglong, Ding Sanshi, and Ma Hua sat together, not at all troubled by the data as their major bombshell had not yet been dropped.


    "Both of you, are your ad spots ready?"


    "Ready," the two chuckled. Though Tengxun relied on games for profit, their greatest competitive edge lay in traffic and social networking; their advertising impact was tremendous.


    "Experience ''Operation: Thunder Elimination,'' win a villa worth up to 50 million!"


    At 8 PM, an advertisement instantly flooded all channels¡ªTengxun News, Weixin pushes, Muyin ads, Weibo, and so forth; the announcement of the game link and its ads covered everywhere.


    "Play games to win a villa? Are they joking?"


    "Ma Hua is scamming people again. Given their track record, the odds of winning must be zero, right? They''ll probably use an employee to pretend to be the winner."


    "Please, there is no need for such hyped-up stuff. How long would you need to develop games to earn back all those villas and cars?"


    "Absolutely outrageous. Do they take us for fools? Firm resistance it is!"


    ...


    "Boss Ma, Boss Ding, your reputations aren''t doing you any favors!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Look, people don''t believe you even when you offer them money. When I played one of your games, it had a 90% win rate, yet I didn''t win anything after 10 tries¡ªI would have won millions if I had bought lottery tickets with that probability!"


    "Hehehe," Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi chuckled sheepishly, "We''re just trying to make a living, after all, everyone needs to support their families."


    "Forget it, it''s all up to me now!"


    Zhang Menglong finished editing his Weibo post and instantly published it on the platform.


    "I''m paying!"


    A simple three words plus a link.


    As soon as the Weibo was posted, the read count, shares, and likes skyrocketed like a rocket.


    1000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000...


    "What? Boss Zhang is paying?"


    "Damn! Who can resist that? Had he said this earlier, I would''ve downloaded the game this morning!"


    "I wouldn''t believe anyone else saying this, but when Boss Zhang says it, I feel like killing everyone here to stop you from competing with me for a spot."


    "Crap! Ma Hua, your damn website server is so rubbish, it can''t handle this amount of downloads!"


    "Ding Sanshi! I''m going to curse your lineage to be barren if your neglect costs me this 50 million villa!"


    ...

 Chapter 594 592 Michels Biological Mother

    The sudden surge in traffic was so massive that it far exceeded Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua''s expectations. They never imagined that Zhang Menglong''s influence was so great; by comparison, their own reputations seemed laughable.


    "Overtime! Techies, get in right now and work overtime, this quarter''s bonuses are doubled!"


    Seeing a glimmer of hope, Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi became excited all at once. They had tried the game, and they were willing to bet on their A-cups that anyone who played it would instantly fall madly in love with it.


    "200 bucks? Even if the game is trash, I''ll take it. What if I win the prize?"


    "Even if I don''t win, I want to lower the game''s chances of winning!"


    "If I win the prize, I basically won''t need to struggle for the rest of my life!"


    "Damn, why hasn''t the official website been fixed yet? Ding Sanshi, you little (da)(sha)(bi)."


    ...


    "Gentlemen, your website really can''t withstand much, can it? It''s about to collapse with just this number of visits?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    Exchanging glances, Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua felt helpless; they had never experienced traffic of this magnitude in their time making games.


    Under normal circumstances, their official website could easily handle a high volume of traffic, but that was predicated on one condition: that the game''s download rate wasn''t as high. Because every download request sends information back to the database, this occupies the server''s memory.


    But who was just logging onto the website to have a look now? Clearly, everyone was here to download the game. As many visits as there were, there were that many downloads. The ratio was close to 90%.


    This enormous volume of data traffic had already surpassed the limits of Tengxun and Wangyi, even with players being diverted onto two separate platforms. Otherwise, the whole website would have already crashed.


    "How much longer until it''s restored?" Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua had already started cursing over the phone, as the situation was embarrassingly out of their hands. "If it''s not fixed within half an hour, you technical directors better start writing your resignation letters. Neither Tengxun nor Wangyi will want you!"


    "But boss, there''s nothing we can do. Our server''s processing capability is only so much. Unless we add new servers or computing units to divert and process the load, otherwise..."


    "I don''t want your excuses; I don''t care the cost, just go and solve it now!"


    "Ma, why make things difficult for your own people?" Zhang Menglong typed away furiously on the computer before snapping it shut, "Done!"


    "Ma! Ma! The server can keep up with the computing load now!"


    "That''s not right! The data volume hasn''t decreased, it''s still rising. How is this possible!"


    "Someone wrote a plug-in to divert our data, process it, and then send it back. How did they do that?"


    "Absolutely impossible! That would require the highest level of access to our server; how could an outsider get that? If it were possible, they could even access our core data!"


    Tengxun''s technical director was instantly flustered. As their main profit generator, the firewall for their game database was on the same level as those safeguarding their social media data.


    In other words, if someone could easily access their game data, they could just as easily get to the social media user data, posing a great threat to the company''s security!


    Ma Hua glanced at Zhang Menglong.


    "No need to look. I did it," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Your servers couldn''t handle the load, so I gave you a hand. Now that you''ve got the support of my supercomputer, even a hundred times more registered users could be handled with ease."


    "You... when did you write the interface?"


    "Just now," Zhang Menglong replied. "It''s just a firewall; it took mere seconds to get through."


    "This..." Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi instantly broke into a sweat. Zhang Menglong was truly terrifying. If he wanted to attack Tengxun, he wouldn''t even need to use money for a takeover. He could just meddle with their database, mess with user data, and the angry users could tear Tengxun down the next day.


    "It''s a good thing we''re partners now, not enemies." This thought painfully struck both Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi at the same time.


    ...


    Having downloaded the game, it was now time to wait for the logistics. That very night, Zhang Menglong got in touch with Meituan to start delivering the first batch of VR devices throughout Jiangnan City.


    Because he hadn''t anticipated this situation in advance, Zhang Menglong didn''t mass-produce VR devices, and now his factory had started to produce continuously day and night, yet currently there were only 500,000 units available.


    As for the next batch of devices, it wouldn''t be available until at least another week.


    So, this batch of prize winners would come from these 500,000 people, and the winning ratio was even frighteningly high!


    "Fuck! I got one!"


    "Mom and Dad will never have to worry about me not being able to afford a house again!"


    "Selling ''Operation Thunder Strike'' equipment, 5000 bucks, take it or leave it, turning a ten thousand percent profit and reaching the peak of life is not a dream!"


    "Shit, are there scalpers for this too?"


    ...


    The fastest players received their gaming equipment the very next morning after the official game release.


    The mechanism for exchanging rewards was very simple. Inside the buildings in the game, there was a chance that a creature called "Michel" would appear, and as long as you shot it dead, there was a chance that it would drop a virtual doll prop called "Michel''s Mom."


    And those mansions and luxury cars were exchanged for through the "Michel''s Mom" prop.


    The first player who collected 999 "Michel''s Moms" could exchange them for a villa worth 50 million!


    This wasn''t a time for probability; it had almost become a feat of endurance. As long as you were persistent enough, you could even earn several dozen "Michel''s Moms" in a single day. If fast, you could collect 999 in just one month!


    Of course, a player could only exchange once, and in active response to the national game addiction prevention system, the daily login time for this game was 8 hours. Once you exceeded the game time, you would be immediately required to log off.


    All the players who snatched up the devices started to play this game frantically. Initially, they simply thought it was a means to make a fortune and planned to drop it after the drawing.


    But unexpectedly, they found that this game was just too ridiculously well-made. Just such a small device could support such an enormous and high-quality game!


    For the first time, they experienced what was called "omni-touch technology"!


    With just a pair of VR goggles worth 200, they could almost immerse themselves in the battlefield, an effect that could only be achieved by the gaming helmets and cabins mentioned in those online gaming novels.


    Gradually, the first batch of players even forgot that their initial goal was just to freeload those mansions and sports cars!


    The most important thing for a game is word of mouth, and at this time, through word-of-mouth, the game''s reputation was completely established, and some gaming YouTubers even posted first-person view videos of the game on various sites.


    "This game is freaking awesome!"


    "PUBG is nothing! Who cares about not being allowed to play on foreign servers? We''re ditching our old games; whoever wants to play, let them play!"


    "Let''s be real, ''Operation Thunder Strike'' is simply the benchmark for survival shooter games."


    "Can someone tell me who Michel is?"


    "Idiot, Michel is the CEO of the company behind the ban. Can''t you see this is a counterstrike by our Huaxia game developers against them?"


    "168 cm tall, 50 kg, B-cup, with a master''s degree or higher, sweet-looking, looking for a boyfriend with a lot of ''Michel''s Moms''!"


    "I''m 170 cm, 55 kg, D-cup, and a master''s degree holder, players with over 300 ''Michel''s Moms'', check this out!"


    "No way, sis, can even this be so competitive?"


    ...

 Chapter 595 593: Its Impossible to Work

    "Damn Ma Hua, damn Ding Sanshi, I''m going to kill you!"


    Upon finding out that Huaxia had not only made him a special NPC in the game but even turned his own mother into an exchangeable item, Michel felt like spiraling into the heavens.


    "Sue them for me, I want to sue them until they''re broke, get me the best lawyer!" Michel screamed hysterically.


    "I''m sorry, boss," Michel''s assistant said, "we just sent a legal notice to Huaxia, but they told me that all this is just part of the virtual world and nothing exists for real, please don''t take it personally!"


    "Crack!" In his extreme anger, Michel crushed the glass cup in his hand, shards embedding deep into the flesh of his palm, and the other hand nearly got ruined too.


    But at this moment, the rage inside him was clearly more heart-wrenching than the pain in his hands.


    This was exactly the same tactic they used on Huaxia players before! Well, now the tables have turned.


    "Boss, if we try to sue them in this way, I''m afraid there''s not much chance of winning," the assistant said helplessly.


    "Get me a doctor!" Michel''s chest rose and fell violently, he struggled to calm himself down, "How''s the game doing?"


    "A week after launch, the download count has already surpassed 13 million!" the assistant reported a despairing number to Michel.


    What does a download count of 13 million imply? The mobile game PUBG, with multi-aspect heating and crazy advertising, reached 13 million downloads in a month after its launch¡ªdefinitely a miracle in game history!


    But keep in mind, this is a mobile game, and in the current market, due to its portability and smaller size, its download count far exceeds that of PC games.


    A PC game reaching 13 million downloads in a week isn''t just a miracle; it''s a godsend!


    "Moreover, today Tengxun and Wangyi jointly announced that the mobile version would launch in half a month, and the mobile game data would be interoperable with the PC version with little to no differences. Once the mobile version launches, its download count is even expected to far exceed this figure!"


    "How did this happen?" Michel looked somewhat dazed.


    The gaming setup costing only 200 per set¡ªthey''re making a revenue of 1.3 billion without the players spending a single penny ingame! Even after deducting the costs, making several billion is more than possible.


    With Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi''s operational skills, scamming some money from these players would be too easy, it''s a huge market!


    "Wait," Michel reassured himself, "they must just be capitalizing on the hype for the game, 50 million villas, millions in sports cars, I just don''t believe they can really deliver these things. Once their lie gets exposed, all the players will withdraw immediately, I just can''t believe they can produce any good game!"


    "Boss, there''s some very bad news," the assistant said, "according to our information, this game isn''t developed by some copycat company, Zhang Menglong is the producer of this game, and he''s financing those rewards, you know, to him, this amount of money is nothing."


    "It was him!" Michel felt an itch in his teeth just hearing that name.


    "And that item... its naming, too, was chosen by Zhang Menglong..."


    "Ah! This damn Huaxia person!" Michel kicked over the table in front of him; this was indeed something Zhang Menglong would do. He should have known.


    "Most importantly, this game is doing extremely well in the market," Michel''s assistant continued, "now the game''s rating on their platform is up to 9.8, the highest so far, and the Huaxia players have already started to promote the game on their own."


    "How about our Overwatch Battlefield on the Huaxia server?" Michel asked nervously.


    "The number of active users is dropping every day," the assistant spoke gravely, "today is the 17th day since their game officially began operations, and Overwatch Battlefield''s activity has dropped 83% compared to the first day."


    "In other words, our game is being replaced!"


    "And PUBG?"


    "The activity has dropped 67%, and the number keeps increasing day by day..."


    "What magic does this game have?" Michel wondered aloud.


    "Two reasons, one is that this game is really sophisticated, I don''t know how they did it, a 200-unit device achieving the effect of a ten-thousand-unit device, plus their data handling is incredibly strong, managing millions of players online with virtually no server fluctuation."


    "And the second reason?"


    "The second reason is, as long as they collect enough of your mother..."


    "Get out! Get out now!" Michel roared.


    "Boss, let me finish!" Michel''s assistant had also misspoken just now.


    "Speak!"


    "Now all the people from our Huaxia branch company have relayed back that the employees from Huaxia have started playing this game too. It''s a very bad sign, the whole company is in panic, and some are even starting to say that our company is going to collapse."


    "Issue a notice to them, tell them, whoever dares to play this game, fire them immediately!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    ...


    "Quickly! Attack! Another Michel has appeared!"


    "Hahaha, it exploded, I just exploded another ''Michel''s Mommy'', I now have 998!"


    "Damn, what kind of luck do you have?"


    "I''ve been playing so long and I only have just over 800, what kind of shit luck is this? Are you a shill?"


    "Hahaha!"


    During the lunch break at the Huaxia branch of Thunder Network, a group of Huaxia employees were engaged in a match while wearing VR glasses.


    "What are you all doing!" Someone suddenly slammed their hands on the table.


    "Claro, you may be our leader, but it is lunch break now, you have no right to interfere with what we do!" The Huaxia employee took off his glasses.


    "Just now headquarters sent a message, any of you who continue playing ''Operation Thunder Strike'' will be fired for violating company rules and regulations!"


    "Damn!"


    "Screw you, using headquarters to pressure us!"


    "Forget it, we''ll play again in the evening!"


    A few colleagues put down their devices, what''s the use in resisting, can''t mess with work, right?


    "What''s with you? Didn''t you hear what I said?" The leader from the headquarters called Claro pointed at the only Huaxia employee who hadn''t taken off his glasses yet.


    "Scram! Don''t hover around me, it''s lunchtime, you can''t manage this!"


    "You, HR will come see you this afternoon, you''re fired!"


    "Okay, I''ve worked here for three years, compensate me three months of salary first!" The Huaxia employee said with a smirk as he took off his glasses, "If it wasn''t for the house mortgage, I would have left you long ago, all you know is how to exploit us Huaxia employees, you idiot!"


    "Good, very good! I''ll make sure HR notes down that your conduct in the company was deplorable, I wonder which company would dare to hire you!"


    "Hahaha, sorry, but working for someone else is out of the question, I''m never working for anyone else again, write whatever you want, I don''t care!" the Huaxia employee said, "I''ve already collected 999 ''Michel''s Mommies'' and redeemed the 50 million mansion, I don''t need to work another day!"


    "You believe in that kind of speculation?" Claro had always thought it was just a stunt, even if someone had that much money, who would be so bored as to give away that kind of money as a prize?


    "Dude, you''re reckless, what if it doesn''t pan out, wouldn''t you be screwed?" a colleague, who usually got along well with him, whispered.


    "No worries, I''ve been wanting to quit for a while, even if it doesn''t pan out, I''ve made up my mind to leave today!"


    "Ha! You can pack your things and get ready to clear out!"


    Half an hour later, the HR from the Thunder Network branch arrogantly placed a termination letter on his desk.


    "Zhou Zishu, you can leave after handing over your duties this month!"


    "May I ask who Mr. Zhou Zishu is?" Just then, a young man clad in a yellow robe and wearing a helmet walked in, "Here''s a local express delivery for you!"

 Chapter 596 594: Did They Even Deserve the Face?

    "Hello, I''m Zhou Zishu." The middle-aged man called Zhou Zishu raised his hand.


    "Here''s your express package, please sign for it."


    "Oh, thank you," Zhou Zishu took the box, "I don''t seem to have bought anything for the company recently?"


    Zhou Zishu unboxed it, revealing a thick stack of documents encased in an envelope, which bore the logos of both Tengxun and Wangyi, as well as an icon for "Operation Thunderstruck."


    "Could it be..."


    He eagerly tore open the box, and there it was, a property transfer agreement right before his eyes, and a smaller envelope besides.


    He opened the envelope and instinctively began to read aloud.


    Mr. Zhou Zishu:


    Congratulations on being the first to collect 999 of Michel''s mothers in "Operation Thunderstruck." According to the game''s rules, you may choose one of the following prizes:


    A villa worth 50 million: 1/1


    A large flat worth 20 million: 10/10


    A property worth 5 million: 50/50


    A sports car worth 2 million: 100/100


    Any car model worth within 1 million: 500/500


    Note: All prizes can also be directly exchanged for equivalent cash.


    "Fuck!" Zhou Zishu couldn''t help but exclaim excitedly.


    "Zhou Zishu, what are you doing? Do you want me to add a couple of lines to your employment termination agreement?" Claro came over, cursing and swearing.


    "Sorry, boss, I''m not serving here anymore, write whatever you want!" Zhou Zishu threw the signed agreement at Claro.


    "Zhou Zishu, you always bend the rules, even if you want to resign, you need to go through a month of work handover, the project isn''t finished yet, you can''t leave!" Claro said, arrogantly.


    "I know, it''s just a penalty, I''ll pay it!"


    Zhou Zishu was a middle-aged man, nearing 40, and in fact, people like him had little competitive edge in the workplace anymore, his salary had not been raised for a long time, but the company had kept him because his work ability was still acceptable.


    As Claro knew, Zhou Zishu still had over a decade''s worth of loans to repay, struggling with a 13,000 monthly mortgage while his income was only 18,000 per month.


    If he broke the agreement and resigned immediately, he would not only lose three months'' salary in compensation, but also have to pay two months'' salary as a penalty.


    "Zhou Zishu, do you realize what you''re doing? Two months'' salary is 36,000, do you think your family can afford this kind of expense now?"


    "You don''t need to worry about that!" The current Zhou Zishu, now the owner of 50 million in assets, didn''t even blink at the sum of 36,000.


    He slapped the agreement on Claro''s face, "Listen up, I''m leaving now, and no one can stop me! You idiot!"


    After saying that, Zhou Zishu strutted out of the office, "Guys, why keep working? Hurry up and play the game, collect Michel''s mothers! Hahaha!"


    ...


    "He... I got it, his prize got fulfilled!"


    "Fuck! For real?"


    "Now I know why he had such courage, if I had 50 million, I''d have fired that bastard Claro on the spot too!"


    "Lemon tree above, lemons hang, under the lemon tree you and I stand, I''m soured."


    "I''m soured too!"


    ...


    "Fuck! It got fulfilled, really fulfilled!"


    "Do you guys know? A colleague of mine collected 999 Michel''s moms and actually got a large flat in exchange, and he said it could even be converted into cash!"


    "Someone just had a Ferrari delivered right to our company''s doorstep for an intern who just graduated; I was shocked!"


    "President Zhang is just President Zhang, so straightforward. This must be the pleasure of the wealthy!"


    Gradually, more and more people gathered 999 Michel''s moms. At first, some thought it might be a setup, but they slowly realized that even people around them were becoming these lucky individuals, some of them even becoming the fortunate ones themselves.


    This caused the game''s reputation to surge once again, player activity skyrocketed, and downloads became terrifyingly high.


    In the first month, the game shockingly reached 32 million downloads.


    Though the game was of high quality, it required a computer, which was far less convenient than mobile devices, so players began shifting their focus to the mobile versions.


    A month into game operation, Tengxun Games and Wang Yi Games announced that the mobile version would be immediately released and asked all players to please wait patiently!


    ...


    However, a week passed, and although the game app appeared on the Android market, there was still no sign of "Mie Lei Action" on the Cashew Store, and iOS users had already started cursively their dismay.


    "@Ma Hua@Ding Sanshi what''s going on? Why hasn''t it launched yet?" Zhang Menglong posted a message in the group chat of the three. According to their plan, the mobile app should have been launched a week ago.


    "Can''t explain in a sentence or two, let''s have a video conference!"


    Zhang Menglong realized that there might be some issues.


    "F**k! What''s going on with you two?" Two people with dark circles appeared in front of the camera, showing obvious fatigue, both Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi.


    "Don''t even mention it, these past few days have been suffocating us!" Ding Sanshi complained, "Do you know how disgusting this damn Cashew store is?"


    "How disgusting?"


    "They do not allow our Huaxia games to enter!"


    "Are they stupid or what? Passing up money?" Zhang Menglong cursed outright.


    "Of course they''re not stupid; they just want too high a price!" Ma Hua said, "People from Cashew said that everyone is now boycotting our Huaxia games, and once the app goes online, it will likely cause much dissatisfaction and could possibly harm their reputation."


    "Normally, we have to give a 30% revenue share as a technology service fee to the service platform, and for certain small and microenterprise products it''s even as low as 15%, do you know how greedy they are?"


    "How greedy?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "They actually want a 70% technology service fee; isn''t this robbery?"


    "What? They want 70%?"


    Zhang Menglong was of course aware of how much added value these games brought. Once converted into an app, the monthly turnover would likely be in millions of US dollars or more. He could understand Cashew wanting a higher share.


    But 70% was exorbitant; it was almost like they were working for the Americans.


    "What are they even thinking?"


    "We obviously refused!" Ma Hua stated, "But you know, the players are too enthusiastic right now. In order to stabilize their emotions, we''ve been doing public relations for a week, so we''ve ended up like this."


    "It really must have been tough on you," Zhang Menglong could imagine the kind of pressure they were under. No one could withstand it.


    "So do we have no other app markets to consider now?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "President Zhang, as you very well know, although the reputation of domestic phones is improving, Cashew phones are still the mainstream in the market. It''s possible to download through other means, but those avenues are, strictly speaking, illegal."


    "So what you''re saying is, either stay out of the Cashew app store or give them 70% of the revenue?"


    "Exactly, that''s what they mean."


    "That''s utter nonsense, giving them a platform is already giving them face!"


    "But we can''t just not use the Cashew store, right?"


    "Of course, we still need to use it," Zhang Menglong sighed, aware of the long road ahead in achieving mobile domestication, "but to get them to loosen up, I have a thousand ways. Since we''ve caused a stir, let''s not hesitate to stir up Cashew as well!"

 Chapter 597 595: Let Them Take a Vacation First

    "You want to take on Cashew?"


    Hearing this, Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi both respected Zhang Menglong like a real man.


    After so many years of development, Cashew had already become a commercial giant; there weren''t many companies in the world that could shake its presence.


    Although the performance of domestic systems like the Xiaolong System was quite decent, compared to Cashew''s iOS system, honestly, there was still a considerable gap.


    In fact, the processing performance of many domestic processors wasn''t slower than the iOS system, but they had a fatal flaw: their phones were quite smooth when they first started using them, but as time passed, the running speed would become very slow.


    Therefore, Cashew''s phones still stood unchallenged in the world and were favored by a large number of users.


    There was no choice; since the games had to run on their system, they had to be launched on their platform, even if it meant being at their mercy. In this era, technology was what mattered.


    Originally, Cashew''s 30% cut was greatly criticized. After some protests, it was reduced to 15% for some companies, but then Wang Yi and Tengxun demanded a 70% cut, which was truly excessive.


    It''s foolish not to make money, but those people already saw the potential of this game. If it were launched in the Huaxia Cashew store, then the game''s popularity would further increase. Once it became known by foreigners, it would definitely provoke considerable resistance.


    You know, foreigners, they are the greatest lovers of human rights.


    If you use cheats and destroy the game balance, then we''ll boycott you. Anyway, if your game is trash, we''re too lazy to play it.


    But if you make a good game, who cares what you did before? Everyone just plays, who can refuse a good game? Even if it''s expensive, there are always people in the world who have plenty of money.


    Although Huaxia people now claim that this game will not be opened to the outside world, everyone knows that this is just their counter to the leaked game, as long as the interest is right, they would still open it.


    What should drive it? Naturally, it''s those players who want to play the game but can''t.


    Zhang Menglong was simply masterful in executing these maneuvers, and inciting public opinion was his forte.


    Those involved in the game leak almost guessed what Zhang Menglong wanted to do.


    Once this game became popular in Huaxia, it would naturally catch the eyes of foreigners. With the market and reputation the game had now shown, it would definitely drive foreign players crazy.


    You block Huaxia''s game, not allowing them to sell it abroad?


    Sure, I''ll accuse you of violating our human rights. Everyone has the right to play games; you not allowing Huaxia to establish overseas servers is a violation of our human rights!


    Then, one by one, foreign operators will inevitably go to Wang Yi and Tengxun to negotiate terms.


    They''ve suffered a huge loss at their hands before; could they easily open services to you? When the time comes, with a sky-high agency fee and commission, could you refuse it?


    If you agree, then you''d fall right into Zhang Menglong''s trap. At that time, a huge amount of funds would flow from abroad to Huaxia.


    You don''t agree? All players start boycotting your games, and soon not only will you stop making profits, but your company might even collapse directly, and in the end, won''t you have to compromise with the Huaxia people?


    So now Cashew''s goal is very clear, it''s that you better not think about having this game on your platform, and if it does appear, fine, you''ll have to pay a much higher price.


    In the Huaxia app market, this game has to give 70% of its revenue to Cashew, and in foreign markets, they even demand 80% of the revenue as a technology service fee, which is practically extortion.


    This game either stays quietly in Huaxia, or it''s just a way for Cashew Company to make money. This is technological hegemony!


    You Zhang Menglong think you''re so great? You think you have money? Why don''t you create a service platform just like Cashew''s? But given the current proliferation of mobile software, apart from the Android market, no company is capable of competing with them.


    This is the source of their confidence!


    "This is not easy to handle!" Ma Hua sighed, "They are one of the top companies in the world, do you know Luo Yonghao? He came up with the Hammer smartphone, claiming to defeat Cashew, but eventually he ended up owing the bank 600 million and had to rely on live-streaming to pay off his debt."


    "Yes, this isn''t an easy thing, especially now that the new iPhone 13 has already been released. This model has been upgraded, and the clarity and functionality of the camera are no less impressive than Huawei''s P30, directly enhancing your beauty. The performance has even embraced a new processor, features that domestic phones cannot match."


    "Another crucial point, the price of Cashew''s products isn''t as unattainable as before. This model''s price has dropped to 80% of its original cost, and it''s very likely that their market share will further increase," Ma Hua explained worriedly, "Some economists estimate that after the release of iPhone 13, their market value will see an explosive increase."


    "Oh? They are releasing a new phone?" Upon hearing this news, Zhang Menglong didn''t show any signs of helplessness; instead, he looked even more excited.


    The two were taken aback. Had Zhang Menglong thought of a good plan?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you have any ideas?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong smiled, "since they need to sell phones, they always have to assemble them in large quantities. I remember their OEM and assembly plants are in Huaxia, right?"


    "Yes, currently, 16 out of Cashew Company''s 20 contract manufacturers are here in our Huaxia."


    "After all, this is a labor-intensive industry. Labor costs are low in Asia, and many companies like to establish their assembly plants in places like Huaxia or India. Basically, our labor is cheap!"


    "Hehe, if those factories were abroad, I really couldn''t do much about them, but as long as they are domestic, I can think of various ways to deal with them!"


    Zhang Menglong''s face revealed a sly smile, "You know, they have already flooded the market with their advertisements and it''s really hot right now. What would happen when it comes time to start selling, but they can''t produce the goods?"


    "Hahaha, need we even say? They''ll probably be torn apart!" Ma Hua said, "Currently, the first batch of buyers of the Cashew phones need to pay an advance, and if they can''t deliver the phones after taking the customers'' money, it''s going to be very interesting. The compensation issues alone could make them extremely distressed!"


    "Are you planning to buy out these contract manufacturers and then shut them down?" Ding Sanshi speculated.


    "How could that be?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''m a businessman with professional integrity. How could I engage in such actions?" Zhang Menglong spoke righteously, "If I shut down these factories, at least hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people would lose their jobs, and these people are all from Huaxia. I certainly wouldn''t want to be condemned by everyone."


    "Then what do you plan to do?"


    "Let them take a few months off, continue to pay them their salaries, and even provide them with travel expenses, and let them return only after Cashew Company''s release event is over."


    "But if the product''s delivery is delayed, it will involve a considerable penalty fee."


    "I''ll just pay it," Zhang Menglong laughed, "After all, these factories aren''t really high-end enterprises, the penalties won''t be that massive, maybe a few billion US dollars at most. I''ll consider it a gift to them, but their losses will be more than just a little!"

 Chapter 598 596 Ill Support You All

    "Hong Yi, have you found the information I needed?" Zhang Menglong laid on the sofa, his hand gliding through Lu Yiyao''s hair, looking every bit the part of a wealthy landowner.


    Lu Yiyao was engrossed in a novel called "Ancestral Tycoon System," "Menglong, this person called Fang Jueyu really resembles you!"


    "Hahaha, maybe he is me from some parallel universe?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Mr. Zhang, there are currently 16 Cashew Company OEM factories in Huaxia in total, 7 belong to Fitter Health, 2 to Fengshuo Technology, Bibidi, Wanbao Computers, Yindahua, and Skyworth Group each have one factory, Quanta Computer has three factories, they almost make up 80% of Cashew Company''s hardware production."


    "Are these companies able to get control completely into my hands?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Bibidi, Wanbao Computers, Yindahua, and Skyworth, you already own more than 60% of the shares in these companies, as the largest shareholder, you can issue any order anytime, with Fengshuo, you just need to acquire another 4.1% of the shares, and you''ll also have the highest decision-making power, Quanta has many cooperations with us, so there shouldn''t be much problem."


    "So it''s just Fitter Health left?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "Fitter Health has always followed in Cashew''s footsteps, they have virtually become Cashew Company''s outsourcing factory now."


    "It''s unlikely they would easily give up cooperating with Cashew," Hong Yi continued, "Once their relationship turns sour, it''s highly possible that Fitter Health won''t receive orders from Cashew anymore, and the company would be doomed."


    Hong Yi added further, "Mr. Zhang, do you know how many employees Fitter Health has now?"


    "A few hundred thousand?"


    "It''s nearly reached 1 million today!" Hong Yi said, "Most of their orders come from Cashew, once they lose them, it would inevitably lead to several hundred thousand people losing their jobs; please forgive my frankness, but this method is akin to cutting off one''s nose to spite one''s face."


    "I understand," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll talk to their boss."


    Zhang Menglong dialed a number, which was the personal mobile number of Zhang Quantan, the chairman of Fitter Health.


    "Hello, I am Zhang Quantan, may I ask who is calling?" A rather refined voice came from the other end.


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang, I am Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Zhang Menglong clearly heard something being knocked over from the other end. Did his name really carry such an overwhelming dominance?


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope I haven''t offended you there? I''ve always honestly been involved in the OEM industry, paying taxes on time every year, promptly paying my employees as well, with all benefits and overtime according to standards, and I haven''t messed with anything..."


    Zhang Menglong: "???"


    He hadn''t even said anything yet?


    "Don''t panic, I didn''t say you did anything wrong; I''m not here to cause trouble," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh and cry. This Zhang Quantan actually had a bit of a variety show vibe to him, but this also made him feel positively about this entrepreneur.


    An entrepreneur who supported a million workers was indeed admirable.


    "Scared to death, but not completely scared to death!" Zhang Quantan muttered softly, "I thought I did something wrong."


    "Is my reputation that bad?" Zhang Menglong asked, tongue-in-cheek.


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you need from me?" Zhang Quantan asked. Even if he wasn''t here to cause trouble, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be calling him for no reason at all, especially since they hadn''t had any previous interactions.


    "I wanted to ask Mr. Zhang if you''ve recently received production orders from Cashew?"


    "Yes," Zhang Quantan responded directly; his Fitter Health has always been an OEM for Cashew Company, and that wasn''t a secret to Earthlings.


    "When is the delivery scheduled for?"


    "This year''s launch event has been postponed to November, and the official release is tentatively set for around December 1st. We need to deliver 80 million units of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro and various new models by mid-November."


    "That sounds like a tight production schedule," Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "It is indeed a bit tight," Zhang Quantan said with a laugh, "which is why all our production lines are working overtime. According to the current pace, completing the delivery by November 15th shouldn''t be a problem¡ªand of course, I pay the workers overtime according to the legal requirements!"


    "I know, you''ve always been a somewhat conscientious entrepreneur, at least not by squeezing the workers with 996 schedules without overtime pay," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "This time, I specifically wanted to talk to you about related matters."


    "What''s the matter?" Zhang Quantan inquired, "I know you''re now producing VR equipment, but our orders are already fully booked, so if you''re hoping we could manufacture for you, we could only slot you in after December."


    "No, no, no, I hope Mr. Zhang could give all the workers on the production lines of our company a holiday!"


    "Ah?" Zhang Quantan was taken aback, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Nothing much," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I''ll be straightforward¡ªthe Cashew Company has really annoyed me, and I''m not happy, so I want to make them unhappy too."


    "It''s already October now, and according to your delivery schedule, there''s about a month left. I hope that during this month, you can give your company''s production line workers a paid month off."


    "That''s impossible!" Zhang Quantan exclaimed. He was a businessman, not a philanthropist. With a million workers, even at a salary of ten thousand per person, just the wages would cost 10 billion Huaxia currency.


    According to their contract with Cashew Company, the latest delivery date is November 20th. If they miss this date, they would have to pay 5% of the order value as a penalty, which amounts to 4 billion US Dollars for this batch''s order price of 80 billion US Dollars.


    Furthermore, for every additional 10 days delay, they would have to pay another 5% in penalties.


    "That cheap?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise, "You earn so little from assembling a phone?"


    Zhang Quantan gave a bitter smile, "We''re in a labor-intensive industry. The assembly cost of a phone is just twenty to thirty US Dollars, and our profits are at most a few tens of dollars per unit."


    "Then don''t do it," Zhang Menglong suggested, "I''ll give you 100 billion US Dollars. Give your workers a month off on double pay, and pay off whatever penalties need to be paid. We''re not short on money!"


    Zhang Quantan''s bitter smile deepened, "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we don''t want to help you out, but you know, the majority of our orders come from the Nut Company. If this collaboration goes sour, we might never get their orders again. Then who will provide for my workers?"


    "I''ll support you!" Zhang Menglong asserted, "If Mr. Zhang is willing, I''ll assign all future subcontracting of electronic devices under my name to you. While I can''t promise too much, it will certainly be more than what Nut offers."


    "You... you have such industries under your name?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Wansen Electronics, Jinluo Technology, they are all my businesses, and right now I have a huge order too¡ª1.2 billion VR devices for subcontracting. Are you interested?"


    "Wansen Electronics? Jinluo Technology?" Zhang Quantan''s breathing grew heavy. Those were Fortune 500 companies, all under Zhang Menglong''s ownership?


    And that order of 1.2 billion VR devices, such a volume was truly frightening!


    "Can you guarantee that you will have that much business for us every year?"


    Zhang Menglong confidently asserted, "There will only be more than that. It just depends on whether your staff can handle it, Mr. Zhang!"


    "Enough! Enough!" Zhang Quantan quickly replied, "To hell with the damned Cashew Company. I''ve been displeased with them for a long time. We only earn 25 dollars per phone, they really treat us like cheap labor. From now on, even if I work for Mr. Zhang, I will never work for the Americans again!"


    "Hahaha, excellent!" Zhang Menglong extended a hand, "Then here''s to a successful collaboration!"

 Chapter 599 597 Im Just a Considerate Boss

    At the Fitukang factory, the workers were desperately working on the assembly line; most of these workers had a low level of education and had nothing but their physical strength. However, Fitukang did not require highly educated talent, as they had developed their own mature employee training system over the years.


    Adequate salary, necessary subsidies, this was enough to keep these workers motivated.


    Despite these jobs being somewhat unskilled, in reality, a worker''s monthly wages, including overtime fees, could reach as high as seven or eight thousand, even higher than some white-collar salaries.


    Of course, this was the result of rotating shifts and intensive overtime work, but the workers were very willing to work overtime, as it meant they could earn a little more money.


    "Everyone, stop for a moment!" At this time, the workshop director entered the assembly line, "You can all leave work today. For the next month, there''s no need to come to the company!"


    "What?"


    "What do you mean? Does the company not have orders anymore? Are you going to disperse us?"


    "Don''t we still have orders from the Cashew Company?"


    "Director, I have a family to support at home. The company can''t disperse us!"


    The workers began to panic. Without this job, they might find it very difficult to find suitable work elsewhere. How would they be able to support their families?


    But at this time, the workshop director showed a smile.


    "Don''t be nervous, the company isn''t going to disperse everyone. The boss saw that everyone has been working overnight shifts and it''s been very tough, so he wants to give everyone a month''s holiday," the director explained.


    "Director, we''re not tired, and we don''t need a holiday," an employee quickly said, knowing that taking a holiday meant that they wouldn''t get paid for that month. They would rather endure hardship than have a month of rest.


    "Exactly, Director, we can work overtime, we can even give up overtime pay, but we can''t stop working!"


    "Everyone, hear me out!" the workshop director raised his voice, "The month''s holiday isn''t for you to do nothing, but rather it''s for everyone to go out and travel, have fun, and during this period, you''ll still get your salaries!"


    "Giving us a holiday and still paying our wages?" The workers even doubted their own ears, thinking the boss must have had his head run over by a car when he went out. With millions of Fitukang employees, their monthly salary was close to ten billion!


    "Not only will your salaries be paid, but they will also be doubled!"


    "What? How is that possible?"


    "Director, stop joking with us."


    The workers burst into an uproar.


    "You can go out and check, the money has already been transferred to your accounts."


    "Really?" One worker went outside the signal blocking area and turned on his mobile phone, and indeed, a message from the bank had been sent to his phone.


    "Fourteen thousand? Is it really double the salary?"


    "I also got over thirteen thousand!"


    "I got close to twenty thousand!"


    "Man, how hard did you work overtime?"


    ...


    Although the money was now in their hands, the workers still felt uneasy.


    "Director, after a month, when we come back, the company won''t get rid of us, will it?"


    "Hahaha, you can rest assured," the director said, "Yesterday we just received a big order, an assembly order for 120 million VR devices, enough to keep you all busy for several months! And this is just a part of it."


    "So what are we all waiting for? Let''s get off work!"


    "Screw it, let''s go!"


    "Hey hey, turn off the machines!"


    ...


    "That concludes all there is to our new product this year, thank you, everyone from the media and our peers, for coming to our launch event!" Cook bowed toward the audience, ending this year''s Cashew Company product launch amidst applause.


    "Boss, have some water!" His assistant handed Cook a bottle of water and wiped the sweat off his forehead, "Boss, you were fantastic today, even better than we had anticipated."


    "Really?" Even though he knew it was probably just flattery, Cook gladly accepted the compliment, "How are our pre-sales looking?"


    "Just a moment," the assistant opened an app on the tablet, where numbers were soaring, "Based on the current trend, our pre-sales should be about 15% to 20% higher than last year."


    "Excellent," Cook showed a satisfied smile. More than 80% of Cashew Company''s profits came from hardware sales, with market shares exceeding 200 billion US dollars each year. This double-digit improvement was no joking matter.


    "With sales up, the supply chain has to keep up. When is our first batch of products due for delivery?"


    "By the 20th of next month," the assistant said, "As usual, they will be assembled at our 18 factories globally. They''re all long-term partners; there shouldn''t be any surprises."


    "As a precaution, let''s confirm the progress today!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    It was 9 p.m. in America, which meant it was daytime in Huaxia; Cook''s first call went directly to Zhang Quantan.


    "Hello, General Zhang, this is Tina."


    "Oh, Miss Tina, it''s late at night over there, isn''t it? What''s up at this hour?" Zhang Quantan was leisurely sipping tea while watching the news.


    "It''s nothing major. I just wanted to ask how our batch of orders is coming along? By now, it should be more than 80% complete, right?"


    "I''m sorry, Miss Tina, but we are currently at about 50% progress."


    "What?" Tina suddenly stood up on the other end of the phone, "General Zhang, this isn''t what we had agreed on. Are your workers slacking off? I am very dissatisfied with this progress!"


    "Miss Tina, please don''t rush," Zhang Quantan spoke slowly, "My workers have been working incredibly hard lately, putting in extra hours. They need a good rest. They are not beasts. We''re in a socialist country, not a capitalist one; we value humanity here."


    "How many days do they need to rest?" Tina asked coldly.


    "Not many, just about a month."


    "A month? General Zhang, are you playing me for a fool? Our product launches in a month, and you''ve only reached 50%, and now you''re giving your workers a holiday? Do you want to pay a penalty?"


    "It''s just some penalty money, right?" Zhang Menglong''s 10 billion US dollars had been accounted; these few billion in penalty money were now a trifle to Zhang Quantan, "Just deduct it when it''s time."


    "What exactly do you mean, General Zhang?"


    "I mean nothing specific. I''m just a boss who cares about his employees. Is that wrong?"


    "Are you trying to start a feud with Cashew Company?" Tina threatened, "You should know, without our orders, you wouldn''t be able to sustain your workers. I need you to send all your workers back to their stations immediately to work overtime!"


    "Fuck off!" Zhang Quantan cursed blatantly. He had been waiting for this day for a long time, "You damn capitalists, we put in so much manpower, and how much do you pay us per phone? A few hundred dollars per phone, and we only make about twenty-something Huaxia currency. Do you think our Huaxia labor is crap?"


    "Let me tell you, we quit!" Zhang Quantan roared, "Come get your batch in two months. I''ll transfer those billions in penalty money to your account later, and my employees are not for you Americans to comment on. Get lost!"

 Chapter 600 598: Hes Sick, with Affluenza

    "What in the world is going on?" Tina buzzed on the other end of the phone.


    She had dealt with Zhang Quantan not just once or twice. To put it a bit dramatically, their Cashew Company was nearly the bread and butter for Futukang¡ªif they lost their orders, let alone affording their employees, the company would essentially collapse.


    Although she was just Cook''s assistant, even a eunuch beside the Emperor could wreak havoc on a country, so being the assistant to the CEO of Cashew was not something anyone could do. Her background and abilities were outstanding, hence Tina could almost represent Cook outside.


    Thus, Zhang Quantan was also very cautious and even somewhat submissive with her, this assistant. If he offended this young lady, perhaps a single word from her could immediately make Cashew switch to another contract manufacturer.


    What on Earth was lacking? Just not enough contract manufacturers?


    But today, Zhang Quantan''s attitude had clearly exceeded her expectations; he spoke to her with an attitude indicating he no longer cared.


    "Has Zhang Quantan lost his mind?" Tina said, gritting her teeth.


    "What''s the matter? Why do you look so upset? Has something gone wrong?" Cook suddenly felt uneasy.


    "Boss, something''s gone wrong at Futukang," Tina reported truthfully, "Zhang Quantan, I don''t know what got into him, has given their entire workforce a month off! Currently, all product progress is only at 50%."


    "A month? Our products are launching in a month, can we wait till then?" Cook burst out furiously, "How have you been monitoring the progress?"


    "Boss, I had no idea this would happen; just two days ago, I had a video call with the person in charge at Futukang. Their employees were practically working in three shifts, fully committed to production, and they even assured me that they could definitely deliver on time."


    "If there really has been a problem, it must have been in these last two days..." Tina fell into thought.


    "You mean, someone has been sabotaging Futukang in these two days?"


    "Yes," Tina said, "The people at Futukang have always followed our pace closely, and without any special reason, they would not terminate our cooperation. Now to take this attitude, they either have found new long-term orders, as we indeed press them hard on profits, and he has been dissatisfied with us for some time."


    "If that''s not the reason, then it must be someone else''s instigation," Tina analyzed, "Huawei''s phones? They also recently completed their new product release yesterday, and their product does not have much competitive advantage over ours, could they be trying to hit us through the supply chain this way?"


    "It should not be Huawei," Cook said, "They have their own factories, first of all, it''s not possible for them to give orders to Futukang, and if they were to attack us this way, the cost would simply be too high."


    Cook was a shrewd businessman, "Futukang''s one million employees, if all were put on leave, the net cost for this month would be over ten billion Huaxia currency, plus the penalty they have to pay us, such costs, Huawei can''t afford!"


    "First, ask the other companies¡ªbesides us, Futukang currently has less than 50% of orders fulfilled; other contract factories can''t have issues too, if we fail to deliver on time, just compensating clients will cost us an astronomical sum, and it could severely impact our company''s reputation as well."


    Tina immediately dialed the other contract factories'' CEO''s again.


    But her expression gradually darkened, and towards the end, she even felt somewhat limp and powerless.


    "Boss... all the other factories have shut down too," Tina said, "Their reasons are exactly the same, giving all their workers a vacation, and now almost all contract factories are empty except for a few maintenance engineers and cleaners."


    "What on earth is going on?" With only one month left until delivery, even if they substitute factories now, finding a company with the capability to process the order would take several days. Furthermore, all their assembly materials are piled up in the warehouses of the current companies; there is simply no way to transfer them, not to mention the complex and tedious steps of signing contracts. It''s inconceivable that production could start within a month!"


    "Tell them, if they don''t send back the workers immediately, don''t expect to get any more orders from our Cashew Company in the future," Cook roared angrily.


    "Boss, I''ve already told them, but they said this small change wouldn''t make a difference. They''ve already secured a batch of new orders, and will start production as soon as the employees return from their holidays. Whether or not they have our orders doesn''t matter much to them."


    "What? That''s ridiculous! What other company can supply such a large volume of orders? The whole world is using our products; only we have such strong sales capabilities!"


    "They said that they''ve received a batch of orders to manufacture VR equipment, and the profit they get from processing one piece is almost double what they get from us!"


    "VR equipment?" In that moment, Cook realized, "I know who''s behind this!"


    If anyone''s VR equipment is the talk of the globe right now, it is naturally Zhang Menglong''s, with a unit cost of 200 US Dollars, yet vastly superior to VR equipment costing thousands.


    Their Cashew Company makes hardware devices, and they''ve also managed to obtain a sample of this particular VR device through some channels. The performance of the device greatly exceeded their expectations; it''s hard to believe that a device costing 200 US Dollars could achieve such performance.


    Even if their Cashew Company invested a higher cost, they couldn''t achieve this!


    Not long ago, he had just rejected requests from Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi. He also knew that this particular game had financial backing from Zhang Menglong, so clearly, this was definitely Zhang Menglong''s doing, and no one else could pull off something like this!


    In conflict with Cashew, wealthy, and capricious¡ªcould there be a second person like this in the world?


    "The workers from these companies together number at least five million. Taking a one-month holiday, that''s a cost of 50 billion Huaxia currency. Add on the compensation we are due for breach of contract... Did his money come from a windfall?"


    "Boss, don''t forget, in order to disrupt our labor market in America, he spent several hundred billion US Dollars to fund foundations that subsidize workers. A few hundred billion in Huaxia currency is pocket change for him."


    "And what about his orders? Each company''s order spans from at least 40 million devices, and many as hundreds of millions. Does he really think he can sell so many devices?"


    Cook found this utterly ridiculous. Their Cashew products are used worldwide, and he wouldn''t dare claim they could sell so many devices in a year.


    Considering the "Operation Thunder Strike" hasn''t yet launched internationally, based on the current domestic scale, the order volume would only be tens of millions devices, at most. Even stretching it, a hundred million in sales is the upper limit, right?


    What about the remaining devices? Piling them up in the warehouse? That''s purely losing money!


    "Boss, I think we need to view this Huaxia person from a different angle," Tina said, "A device costing 200 a piece, even if he doesn''t profit a penny and gives them away, what could the cost be? A hundred million units is just 20 billion, a billion units only 200 billion. Even if he spends 200 billion a year to support these subcontracting companies, what''s it to him?"


    "Is he insane!?" Upon hearing Tina''s analysis, he even felt that this was something Zhang Menglong could indeed do. Reminiscent of the chip crisis, wasn''t Zhang Menglong funding the entire Silicon Moonlight then? Not only refraining from layoffs and salary cuts but also increasing their salaries¡ªhe literally had more money than he knew what to do with!


    "My dear boss, Zhang Menglong might indeed be insane," Tina said with a helpless smile, "His illness is one of wealth. If he gets upset, he smashes money on you until you can''t retaliate. It''s incurable!"

 Chapter 601 599 My Girlfriend Isnt Interested in Small Diamonds

    "How long would it take to find a new contract manufacturer now?" At this point, getting angry was of no use.


    "At the earliest, it would take two weeks," Tina said, "But all our component processing is currently done at factories like FutuKang, and even if we finalize a deal with a new contract manufacturer today, they can find all sorts of reasons to delay the process."


    "Moreover, if Zhang Menglong has the ability to make companies like FutuKang follow his lead, he could easily persuade other companies to turn down our orders. The liquid portion of his assets is probably already higher than the market value of our Cashew Company."


    "Are you suggesting we can only reconcile with him?" Cook said.


    "Boss, the situation now is that they can survive without this game, but if we can''t find a contract manufacturer, we won''t!"


    Although it was a difficult fact to accept, the reality was that their financial power could overthrow an entire country. Cashew Company might be impressive, but could they really compare to a country?


    "Boss, have you ever considered that this might actually be an opportunity for us?"


    "What do you mean?" Cook''s eyes lit up. His assistant was a person full of ideas. Since she started working with him, she often proposed very meaningful suggestions, which made Cook willing to listen to her.


    "You should be well aware that although our Cashew Company is an internet company, currently over 80% of our revenue comes from hardware sales, with software sales accounting for less than 20%. Among internet companies, this is quite a rare situation."


    "Go on!"


    "The whole world is resisting Huaxia''s games now, but please believe me, my intuition tells me that Huaxia''s games will not only prevail but will also rapidly become exceedingly popular worldwide!"


    "I have no doubts about that." Cook had also seen the data for "Operation Thunder Strike"; so far, the game''s download count had already exceeded 20 million, and the rising trend had just begun to slow down slightly. This download count had even surpassed all mobile games to date! "Imagine, if PC games are like this, to what extent will mobile games be popular?"


    "I remember, during the same period, ''League of Legends'' had about 9 million downloads in Huaxia, and there was a mobile game from Huaxia called ''Honor of Kings'' that had around 13 million, right?"


    "That''s correct!" Tina continued her analysis, "Its performance has surpassed all the games on the market to date, so its trend will inevitably push towards the whole world. Moreover, the popularization of VR games is absolutely the trend of an era."


    "I have no doubts about that!" Cook said, as people''s demands for entertainment were rising. Combat in computers and mobiles could no longer meet their entertainment needs, and the emergence of somatosensory games and VR games was a testament to this trend.


    "If I were the boss of Thunder Games, I would definitely not choose to suppress the development of this game with those methods. Instead, I would try every possible way to become their distributor. Getting the distribution rights is like tapping into a constant flow of revenue, and we could also get access to part of the code, which would be greatly helpful for our game development level."


    "So, how do you suggest we collaborate?"


    "They want access to the mobile market and foreign markets, and we have the platform, channels, and resources. We can totally have a win-win cooperation. Going against the market trend has been proven time and again throughout history to be the most foolish choice."


    Cook was deep in thought.


    The measures taken for this game had indeed been decided after game developers like Thunder Games approached him. As an American, he didn''t want to see the gaming industry dominated by Huaxia.


    But he had forgotten one thing: he was a businessman, and businessmen need not consider national interests. What mattered to them was simply how much money they could make.


    "Help me arrange a dinner with Zhang Menglong, invite him to my home as a guest, the sooner the better!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s quite the bold move, gifting them over fifty billion Huaxia currency just like that, you really are generous!" After hearing about Zhang Menglong''s actions, both Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi were stunned.


    They had thought that at most, Zhang Menglong would use his means and resources to restrict a few contract manufacturers, but little did they expect that he would spend over five hundred billion directly giving those companies'' workers a lengthy holiday.


    Five hundred billion! Even Ding Sanshi would need to liquidate his entire assets to come up with such a colossal sum of money.


    "There''s nothing generous about it," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I set a course that requires those workers to travel this month. Since it is travel, they must spend money, and over 80% of the national travel industry is supplied by my company. The money is just moving from one pocket to another."


    Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua exchanged looks and then simultaneously rolled their eyes. Wealthy people could certainly be enviable.


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong chuckled as he looked at his phone.


    "What is it, Mr. Zhang? Any good news?"


    "Cook invited me to visit his home this weekend," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Visit? Does he know you were the one behind the factory incident?"


    "No way? He actually invited you to visit? Shouldn''t he hate you to death by now?"


    Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua were both somewhat puzzled, wondering if Cook was planning to throw in the towel. They had dealt with Cook before, and he was a very proud person, never admitting anyone was better than him, let alone showing any sign of submission.


    "At least this Cook has some brains, unlike that idiot named Michel."


    "Mr. Zhang, do you plan to go?"


    "With your current capabilities, can you promote the game across the country and even around the world without relying on the Cashew platform?" Zhang Menglong asked in return.


    Even for Zhang Menglong, it wasn''t feasible to have that capability in a short amount of time.


    Using a smartphone has become a habitual part of one''s life, a necessity, unlike games, which are entertainment items. It was similar to Zhang Menglong''s own transition from using QQ to WeChat, which also involved a significant change.


    Until a platform emerges that can compete with Cashew in China, before users'' habitual behaviors change, this is the reality.


    To launch the game successfully, they currently couldn''t do without Cashew.


    Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua also shook their heads, unable to think of any solution.


    "Isn''t that settled then?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "But since we are going to talk business, I have ways to maximize our profits. After all, if this game doesn''t work out for me, it''s just a plaything anyway. It would be quite easy for me to crush Cashew."


    Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua were on the verge of tears. Yes, if this game doesn''t work out for you, it doesn''t matter, but not for them. With internal and external troubles in the Huaxia game industry, Zhang Menglong''s plaything was their last lifeline.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll bring back good news!"


    ...


    True to the style of the Sect Leader of the Cashew Company, Cook arranged to meet Zhang Menglong on a private island of his, which contained a very large top scorer area, Cook''s favorite place to visit when he was alone.


    Zhang Menglong''s private plane landed at the capital''s airport in America, and then a helicopter arranged by Cook took him to the small island called Santoia.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m overjoyed to have you here!" Cook greeted Zhang Menglong as if they were old friends, opening his arms wide.


    Of course, with Cook being so courteous, Zhang Menglong also had to play along a bit, showing a look of disdain as he hugged Cook.


    "Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend Lu Yiyao."


    "I''ve long heard about Mr. Zhang''s beautiful girlfriend. Today I see she is much more beautiful than many Hollywood actresses!"


    Cook wasn''t just paying compliments; Zhang Menglong had gotten quite a few treasures for Lu Yiyao from the Super God Academy. With the nourishment of these rare treasures, her skin had become radiant and smooth, and even her facial features had grown more perfect.


    "You flatter her too much, Mr. Cook," Lu Yiyao responded with the grace of a well-bred lady.


    "This is my pet, Wang Cai. I hope Mr. Cook won''t mind that I brought him without notifying you first."


    "Hahaha, I don''t mind at all, I really enjoy keeping pets. I have quite a few of them in my estate, and I will have someone take good care of it later."


    "This is my gift for Miss Lu, a welcoming gift," said Cook as his supermodel girlfriend, not yet thirty years old, handed over a box with a strand of diamonds necklace inside.


    It was a rare blood diamond, nearly 4 carats in weight, worth over 12 million US dollars. This demonstrated just how much Cook had invested in today''s meeting with Zhang Menglong.


    Cook thought he had given Zhang Menglong enough face, and expected Zhang Menglong to be delighted; but unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong put on a straight face.


    "I apologize, Mr. Cook, but my girlfriend isn''t interested in loose diamonds!"

 Chapter 602 600: Is this dog here to scam us?

    Cook''s hand froze in place.


    Valued at 12 million US dollars, a rare blood diamond nearly 4 carats in weight, turned into so-called "chips" in Zhang Menglong''s mouth? There''s boasting, but not like this.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Cook, diamonds of this size are merely what my household servants use, or perhaps embellishments on other pieces of jewelry. Every pendant my girlfriend wears is carefully selected and designed, and diamonds smaller than 10 carats are not worthy of gracing her neck," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Menglong!" Lu Yiyao glared at him.


    Although he spoke the truth, putting it this way was somewhat disrespectful. At Zhang Menglong''s side, Lu Yiyao''s status was akin to that of a matron.


    Initially, Lu Yiyao was quite uncomfortable with this. Such jewelry was heavy, expensive, and only matched with low-cut gowns, hardly everyday wear.


    Every time she accompanied Zhang Menglong to slightly formal gatherings, she had to choose from hundreds of necklaces. For her, a 10-carat diamond was merely the entry point; actual jewelry pieces almost always exceeded 20 carats unless the color was exceptionally rare.


    As for 4 to 5-carat diamonds, they were barely suitable for her earrings.


    Zhang Menglong''s arm wrapped over Lu Yiyao''s shoulder, "Yiyi, even for the sake of appearances, we shouldn''t have to settle, right?"


    His tone was calm, without any pretense¡ªbecause this was a fact!


    Cook, however, felt embarrassed. He had hoped that this gift would somewhat ease their strained relationship, but instead, it was summarily rejected.


    And what''s this about ''settling''? This isn''t some cheap necklace costing 9.9 with free shipping on Taobao, this is a diamond necklace worth 12 million US dollars! If this is what settling is, he''d willingly ''settle'' a hundred, no, a hundred and eighty times a day.


    How did a fine young man come to possess such a mouth?


    "Menglong! Mr. Cook meant well, isn''t this quite impolite?" Lu Yiyao took over the necklace.


    "Miss Lu truly is a lady of refined upbringing, generous and proper in her actions and demeanor. Molina, you should learn from Eastern etiquette." Seeing that Lu Yiyao gave him a way out, Cook''s expression eased slightly.


    Although Zhang Menglong was no good, his girlfriend was indeed sensible.


    Cook was feeling grateful when Lu Yiyao spoke again.


    "I may not need this, but I could give it to my sisters!"


    "That''s not enough," said Zhang Menglong bluntly, "you''ve got so many sisters, and there''s only one necklace. Don''t you need to treat everyone equally? Otherwise, some get it and what about the feelings of the others?"


    "That''s true. I will just gift it to the cleaning lady at home then, I recall she has a daughter."


    "Yes, let''s do that!"


    ...


    The couple had clearly decided what to do with the necklace right in front of Cook.


    He had hoped the gift would curry favor with Lu Yiyao and perhaps flatter Zhang Menglong, but instead, he ended up slapping his own face.


    If you''re going to regift something meant for you to someone else, at least have the discussion privately! Having it right in front of me is like slapping me in the face, isn''t it?


    Cook had felt grateful to Lu Yiyao just moments ago, but now it seemed he was too hasty with his gratitude. The couple were two peas in a pod: both devils in their own right.


    "Mr. Cook, I tend to be quite straightforward when I speak, which often offends people, but what bad intentions could I, Zhang Menglong, possibly have? Right?" he said.


    "Hahaha, indeed, even in our Western countries there are many as frank as Mr. Zhang," Cook said with a forced smile, even as he cursed Zhang Menglong''s entire family registry in his mind.


    Is this what you call straightforward? If you can''t speak properly, then shut up. You know you''re going to offend people, so why the hell do you still talk? If it weren''t for your wealth, wouldn''t you have been beaten to death for your arrogance by now?


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s not stand around here. I''ve arranged for lunch, the freshest seafood meal; let''s talk over food," said Cook.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Then we''ll be imposing on your hospitality."


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Menglong was about to leave, but Wang Cai actually hugged his leg in a very human-like manner.


    "What''s wrong with Mr. Zhang?" Cook turned and asked.


    "No idea," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "Our Wang Cai doesn''t seem very willing to let me go."


    Cook looked down at Wang Cai, having never seen such a special dog before.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, your dog is really funny."


    "Woof woof woof!" Suddenly, Wang Cai barked at Cook without warning, frightening him so much he almost fell to the ground.


    For some reason, even though it was clearly a Husky, it gave him the illusion that there was a lion lying in front of him.


    "My apologies, Mr. Cook. Our Wang Cai scared you," Zhang Menglong said with no sign of apology on his face. "Wang Cai hates it when people call him a dog. I forgot to warn you, my mistake."


    At Super God Academy, Wang Cai was simply the darling of all the students. He was intelligent and stronger than any student, truly like a big brother. Zhang Menglong even granted him the title of Ritian Sect''s Divine Beast Guardian. Now, Wang Cai has become so arrogant he refuses to acknowledge himself as a dog.


    "It''s quite rare to see such a spiritually aware... animal," said Cook, impressed. "Mr. Zhang, you''re unique and so is your dog. We also have a lot of animals at home, all of them with top-level racing bloodlines. I''ll show you later."


    "Mr. Cook, this little guy seems angry!" Zhang Menglong spread his hands helplessly. Wang Cai was now in a big mood, and sometimes even Zhang Menglong''s Lu Yiyao couldn''t calm him down.


    It was now lying on the ground, making a rumbling sound in its throat, clearly angry.


    If Zhang Menglong hadn''t warned him not to misbehave in advance, Cook might have been knocked to the ground by Wang Cai, and he might have even ended up covered in dog urine.


    "Hahaha, that''s easy to deal with, just give him some good food," a housekeeper from the manor called out, immediately running out with an exquisite bag. She placed a pure silver dog bowl inlaid with diamonds on the ground and poured a full bowl."


    "This dog food is custom-made. It''s made from the finest ingredients and costs about 300 US dollars per pound. It''s not only nutritious but tastes great, too. Your pet will definitely love it."


    But Wang Cai was ungrateful and kicked the bowl over with his foot, scattering the expensive dog food all over the ground. The bowl also crashed to one side with a "duang" noise.


    A Divine Beast Guardian of the Ritian Sect being fed dog food? Wasn''t that treating him like just any other dog?


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." All the dogs in Cook''s family were fed this kind of dog food. What kind of dog would refuse such luxurious dog food?


    "My apologies, Mr. Cook. Our Wang Cai never eats dog food."


    "He doesn''t eat dog food? Then what does he eat?"


    "For instance, A5 Kobe beef steaks, blue lobsters from France, Almas caviar, and Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon wine."


    Cook''s mouth twitched. These were some of the world''s most top-tier ingredients. Even he couldn''t eat so lavishly all the time. Was this still a dog? It was eating better than 99% of the people in the world.


    "Huh? What did you say?" Zhang Menglong leaned down, pressing his ear to Wang Cai''s mouth.


    "Oh, you''re saying if there''s no foie gras from France, American black truffle chocolate ice cream, and Antarctic krill you won''t get up?"


    "What? You want a large portion?"


    Zhang Menglong stood up again. "That, Mr. Cook, you heard it yourself. He''s got a bit of a temper, and I can''t control him anymore."


    Cook hid his hands behind his back, then clenched his fists tightly.


    Is this really a dog raised by humans? It must be a monster, right? And today, did this dog come here to pull a fast one on him?

 Chapter 603 601: What a Big Appetite

    Although he was a world-class tycoon, Cook didn''t have as many airplanes as Zhang Menglong, who could eat the freshest, top-level ingredients from all over the world every day. He really couldn''t provide the items Wang Cai wanted to eat.


    Fortunately, his estate did have quite a bit of high-quality beef, foie gras, and many vintage wines, which just about managed to appease Wang Cai.


    After a satisfying meal, Wang Cai directly found a tree and climbed up in a couple of moves to take a nap on top.


    "Mr. Zhang, it..."


    "It''s fine, don''t worry about him. He likes to do this when he''s full. Just let him be."


    "Alright, let''s go inside then."


    "Sure."


    ...


    Though Cook''s island wasn''t very large, the holiday estate was exquisitely built with all facilities fully equipped, which clearly took a lot of effort.


    At the very front of the estate, there was a huge lawn where three dogs, two cats, one alpaca, and a tiger rushed towards Cook as he approached.


    "Haha! Stop it, we have guests today!" Cook petted the animals'' heads.


    "Mr. Cook''s pets are extraordinary. He even has a tiger," Zhang Menglong noted as he watched the white tiger. Probably only such super-rich individuals could own such wild animals.


    I wonder how many servants it eats in a meal.


    "Her name is Bodi. I bought her for 5 million US dollars from a wildlife smuggler. Raised from a cub, she''s been tamed and has a very good temperament!"


    "This German Shepherd here is a retired military dog. I bought her at an auction for 1.25 million US dollars."


    "And this cat, she''s a leopard cat, very rare with heterochromatic eyes. I even had a long dispute with Bezos over her, but in the end, I managed to buy her, haha."


    Cook introduced his pets, each one pricy and unique in its own right, but strangely, all the cats and dogs he owned were females.


    "After feeding them, remember to take them for a walk," Cook instructed.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Cook!" the servant replied respectfully.


    ...


    The dining area was a fully transparent restaurant. Though it was very sunny outside, it didn''t feel hot or glaring at all inside. Coupled with the endless sea outside, it was indeed quite pleasant.


    Four people were seated, and the designated host immediately poured them some red wine.


    "Mr. Zhang has honored us with his presence today. Let me toast to Mr. Zhang first," Cook said, his face glowing as he raised his glass.


    "Mr. Cook is too kind. I''m also honored to receive your invitation."


    Both of them symbolically took a couple of sips, and the atmosphere instantly lightened up.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sure you can guess why I invited you here," Cook said.


    "I can probably guess," Zhang Menglong laughed. "It''s about the workers, right? I''m really sorry, I didn''t know those companies had taken orders from Mr. Cook."


    Zhang Menglong explained, "As you know, our gaming market is booming right now, but due to insufficient preparation in the early stages, our VR devices simply couldn''t keep up with the demand. Therefore, we need a significant boost in production capacity immediately to produce a batch of devices, which is why we turned to our Huaxia factories."


    "You also know that I have always been a conscientious entrepreneur. Those workers had already been working overtime for over a month. Their mental and emotional state was poor, and I was worried that this situation might affect their work efficiency and enthusiasm. That''s why I thought about giving them a month off."


    "You can really spin a tale! If I didn''t know what kind of person you, Zhang Menglong, are, I might have believed you!" Listening to Zhang Menglong''s excuses, Cook really felt that there was no one else in the world with a thicker skin than Zhang Menglong.


    Saying that the equipment is in urgent need of production is one thing, saying you want to give the workers a holiday is another; don''t these two statements sound inherently contradictory?


    If you want to exact revenge, just say it outright. We are all adults here; there''s no need for such pretense.


    "Mr. Zhang, as you know, our Cashew Company has just released its latest product, and we have already received a large number of orders. If there''s a problem in the supply chain at this time, it could have a severe impact on us."


    "Ah, that''s really unfortunate," Zhang Menglong hurriedly said, "I actually hadn''t noticed that. My fault, my fault, I''ll punish myself with three drinks!"


    A $200,000 bottle of red wine, Zhang Menglong finished in no time, which made Cook ache¡ªnot for the money, but because with such vintage wine, once a bottle is gone, it''s gone.


    This thing is red wine, which needs to be savored, not beer; who drinks it like that?


    "This is my fault!" said Zhang Menglong, "Lately, our gamers have been pushing us hard, and the listing of our game on your company''s platform has also been delayed. I''ve been a bit overwhelmed lately and mishandled some things, I hope Mr. Cook doesn''t take it to heart."


    Zhang Menglong''s words sounded self-critical, but Cook clearly understood that Zhang Menglong meant if you had smoothly allowed Operation Thunder Strike onto the Cashew store, none of this would have happened.


    "Mr. Zhang, I know you have grievances about this," Cook said with a troubled expression, "You might see that our Cashew Company is large, but this time we also faced considerable pressure with dozens of top-level gaming companies jointly boycotting your Huaxia games. It''s been a real headache for us."


    "How about this!" Cook made a determined appearance, "I''ll handle the pressure from this side. I''ll arrange for Operation Thunder Strike to be listed as soon as possible, placing it in the fastest way to our market and giving you the best promotional spot!"


    "I heard from Ma and Ding that you''re asking for 80% in tech fees, isn''t that a bit too high? Other companies only charge 30% or even 15% for their tech services, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, let me be frank, the price was just to scare off Wang Cai and Tengxun by making it tough for them. The 15% tech service fee is our discount for small businesses. We''re not supposed to offer people like you such a discount, but since Mr. Zhang is straightforward, I am willing to list Operation Thunder Strike for a 15% tech service fee."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised; Cook was so easy to talk to? Even if they opened up the listing, and he wasn''t being overcharged, he had estimated that he would still need to pay a 30% tech service fee, but now it was just 15%, which was really strange.


    "Mr. Cook, just say whatever demands you have."


    "Hahaha, I dare not make demands, I just hope that we can both achieve a win-win through cooperation," Cook handed over a contract to Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, you might want to take a look first."


    "You want to be the American general distributor for Operation Thunder Strike?" Zhang Menglong now understood why Cook was willing to offer such favorable terms.


    "You want 70%?" Zhang Menglong sneered coldly, that''s quite a big appetite!


    Indeed, companies like Tengxun, being distributors, split revenue with video game developers 70:30 because they are large and influential enough to demand such sums.


    Though Cashew Company is a massive entity, honestly, if Zhang Menglong wanted to promote the game in America, it wouldn''t be difficult; he could just buy a video game company and start the promotion. As long as there''s money, he could make the game famous by sheer financial force.


    "Mr. Cook, isn''t asking for 70% a bit overly ambitious?"


    "Mr. Zhang, I think it''s not too much at all," Cook laughed, "I know that Mr. Zhang is very wealthy, but this is America, not Huaxia, and our Cashew has the best channels and the strongest team. Isn''t there a saying in Huaxia, even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake? If you promote on your own, you may face pressures from all sides."


    "For example, from major American game manufacturers, even from governmental bodies. After all, if your game enters America, it will definitely have a serious impact on our gaming industry, and the top-level people won''t turn a blind eye, while we can perfectly solve these issues."


    "I understand," Zhang Menglong nodded. Cook''s last two sentences¡ªone was flattering him saying his games were good, the other was threatening him, implying that if he tried to promote games in America without their help, he would find it very difficult."


    The atmosphere at the dinner suddenly became tense.

 Chapter 604 602 We Should Support Free Love, Right?

    "Mr. Cook! Mr. Cook!"


    The servant''s cry of alarm suddenly broke the silence at the dinner table.


    "What''s the matter? Can''t you see I''m discussing business with Mr. Zhang?" Cook''s tone instantly turned angry.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Cook, but... but those pets of yours..."


    "What about them?" As soon as his pets were mentioned, Cook immediately grew tense.


    Each of his pets was worth millions of dollars, and the cost of their upkeep over time was astronomical. Most importantly, each pet was unique. If one were to be injured or die, he would be absolutely heartbroken.


    "Mr. Zhang''s pet... it... it..."


    "I''ll go take a look," Cook hurriedly put down his utensils and walked outside.


    The moment he reached the garden, he fell apart.


    He saw his pets scattered all over the ground, wailing and groaning in agony, with intermittent traces of blood, as if they had just been through a great battle.


    "What happened?" Zhang Menglong was also surprised. Although Wang Cai was not an ordinary dog, Zhang Menglong had repeatedly instructed him not to harm humans or other animals at will. He shouldn''t have lost control and bitten or scratched Cook''s pets.


    "Where is Wang Cai?" Zhang Menglong asked the nanny.


    The nanny pointed to another patch of shrubs beside them, from where a series of roars could be heard, apparently belonging to Bodi, the white tiger.


    That was Cook''s favorite pet, and like a sheep prodded by a stimulus, he immediately pushed through the shrubs and rolled over to the other side.


    He was stunned by what he saw.


    There was Wang Cai, mounted behind the white tigress called Bodi, rhythmically thrusting back and forth, making a range of odd noises from his mouth.


    The tigress clearly wanted to resist. If it were any ordinary dog, it would stand no chance against this white tigress''s swipe.


    Although she was domesticated, lacking much wildness, she still consumed a great deal of meat daily, and there were specialists to tame and train her. She might not be like a wild tiger, but a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, let alone that she''s a damn tiger!


    But was Wang Cai an ordinary dog? Even a martial artist at the Heavenly Origin Boundary would be hung up and beaten by him. He could hold down ten such tigresses with one hand.


    "Wow!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but laugh when he saw this scene.


    A dog daring to ride a tiger? This really was something you don''t see every day.


    "Woof woof woof!" Wang Cai turned around, raised his head to look at Zhang Menglong, as if to say, "Big brother, am I awesome?"


    "You''re really freaking awesome!"


    "Holy shit! It''s that big?" Zhang Menglong noticed Wang Cai''s "little brother". As a dog, he truly was the king among dogs.


    Now he finally understood why all the cats, dogs, and even the alpaca had fallen over, unable to get up, with blood everywhere. Creatures of those sizes really couldn''t withstand such treatment.


    Probably on this island, only Cook''s white tiger managed to be an even match for Wang Cai.


    Cook''s head buzzed. His pets had been desecrated by a Husky?


    His pets were absolutely the purest in bloodline and other characteristics. Even for breeding purposes, he would seek out the best partners. But the current scene was truly difficult for him to accept.


    An outsider dog not only ate his food on his territory, now he was even desecrating his pets. This... was an outrage to gods and men!


    "Mr. Cook, I suddenly feel like even a mighty dragon can suppress a local snake, don''t you think?" Zhang Menglong tilted his head as he looked at Wang Cai.


    "Mr. Zhang, your dog doing such a thing to my pets, you have to give some sort of explanation, right?" The other animals might be fine, but his precious German Shepherd and Rottweiler were probably doomed.


    Seeing how fierce Wang Cai is, it''s likely they''ll end up giving birth to some weird creatures, totally ruining the prestigious bloodline of his dogs!


    It''s just a few million US Dollars, he wouldn''t be so heartbroken over it, but the value of these dogs'' bloodline simply can''t be measured by money!


    "Mr. Cook, you''re mistaken!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "This is natural attraction, the call of the heart. Although they are of different species and bloodlines, we can''t arrange their marriages, we should support free love!"


    He didn''t feel the slightest bit guilty about it. His Wang Cai was a divine dog; if it was love at first sight, then the puppies born from the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler would definitely be extraordinary.


    Maybe by then Cook would have a group of dog bodyguards comparable to psychics and ancient martial artists. Wouldn''t that be a boon for him?


    Being favored by Wang Cai is an honor for his pets.


    As for those cats, the alpaca, and that white tiger, Zhang Menglong was helpless. He wasn''t some Holy Mother, so if they were spoiled, they were spoiled. At most, he would just provide a dowry for Wang Cai!


    "Free love..." Cook was almost angry enough to bleed from his gums. Look at this scene, does it look anything like free love? You, the owner, have no shame, and your dog is just as unrestrained.


    "I know, you think my Wang Cai is just an ordinary Husky, without any noble bloodline, but don''t you think it''s touching?"


    "Touching?"


    "Yes, it''s like a poor man breaking free from the shackles of class. Have you seen ''Titanic''? Doesn''t this remind you of the story between Rose and Jack?"


    "Heh heh heh, yes, it does..."


    Does it remind me of your horse? Do you think you''re witty? Are you polite? Your damn dog is spoiling my pets on my territory, and you''re still here talking nonsense?


    At this point, Wang Cai had finished venting its physical energy, while the white tiger named Bodi lay weakly on the ground, making whimpering sounds and looking at Cook with pitiful eyes, like a young girl violated looking at her father.


    "Mr. Cook, I must apologize on behalf of my Wang Cai for its rudeness and haste," Zhang Menglong said, "From now on, I''ll give you 10 million US Dollars a year, as a dowry for my Wang Cai."


    "Dowry..." Cook was so frustrated he was itching with irritation, but what could he say now after what had happened?


    "Have someone clean this up, and check if they are injured. If they are, take them to a pet hospital for treatment immediately!" Cook sighed, today was just his unlucky day.


    "All set, Mr. Cook, I''ve finished reviewing the contract," back at the dining table, Zhang Menglong handed the contract to him, "I''m okay with the game distribution, but we need to change our profit share."


    "7:3 split is fine by me, but I take seven, you take three!"


    "That''s impossible!" Cook flatly refused, "You''re asking for too much."


    "No, no, no, Mr. Cook, it seems you haven''t quite grasped the situation," Zhang Menglong said, "If it were any other company trying to launch a game in the Americas, without your support, it would indeed be difficult, and I agree with the saying that a mighty dragon can''t defeat a local snake."


    "But you''ve seen, my dog can overpower your tiger on your turf, so why can''t I, a dragon, suppress a local snake?"


    "I..." Cook was at a loss for words, unable to refute. Can you not bring the dog into this?


    "Besides, in my eyes, you''re not even a local snake, you''re more like an earthworm!" Zhang Menglong said, "I might as well tell you, I''m not just making this one game, ''Operation Annihilation''."


    Cook was surprised. The quality of "Operation Annihilation" was witnessed by all. To develop such a game, certainly a lot of effort had been invested. There were more such games?


    "So, for the future of the gaming industry pie, it will be I, Zhang Menglong, who calls the shots!"

 Chapter 605 603: Ill Hit You If I Say I Will

    "Mr. Zhang, what would you do if we don''t come to an agreement today?" Cook didn''t directly answer Zhang Menglong''s statement but asked him this question instead.


    "It''s not difficult to resolve; it just means spending a bit more time and investing a bit more manpower," Zhang Menglong said, "I would simply create a new brand to replace your Cashew Company."


    Cook was stunned. Such a statement might not hold much weight if it came from anyone else, but coming from Zhang Menglong, it was really worth considering.


    "Actually, you are well aware that I can develop a gaming engine like this, and it wouldn''t be difficult to develop an operating system more powerful and convenient than your iOS. It''s merely the cost of changing user habits."


    "Are you saying you have already developed a system that''s better than my iOS?" Their Cashew Company held its position in the world partly because their product designs were highly advanced, and partly because of their powerful functionality.


    "Of course, you might not believe it," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Actually, I was planning to invest a few hundred billion US dollars to create another brand," he spoke of "a few hundred billion US dollars" as if mentioning a few thousand dollars, "but there''s no need, after all, I prefer to keep a low profile, and I''m quite lazy."


    Cook''s mouth twitched twice as if he was about to say something, but he managed to hold it back.


    How credible were Zhang Menglong''s words? His instinct told him every word Zhang said was true!


    It felt as though a mighty, invincible sword hung over their heads all the time, ready to strike at any slight misstep.


    In his lifetime, he''d never imagined that the existence of their Cashew Company was merely because someone couldn''t be bothered to exert effort to take them down.


    "Alright," Cook gave a wry smile, "I agree to your terms; I''ll take just a 20% share, but I hope, Mr. Zhang, you can grant us one condition."


    "Go ahead."


    "I hope, Mr. Zhang, that under any circumstances, you would show some leniency towards our Cashew Company, at least offer us a chance."


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Cook symbolically, "Now, we are partners too. I, Zhang Menglong, have never exploited friends, but I also hope that my friends don''t scheme against me, or do anything against my will. I hope that under any circumstances, you will firmly stand by our side."


    Cook understood what Zhang Menglong meant; once their games were promoted across all channels, they were bound to clash fiercely with every major gaming manufacturer. To continue the cooperation with Zhang Menglong, even if he didn''t fight alongside Zhang, he had to remain a disinterested observer at least.


    "Mr. Zhang, our ultimate bottom line is to not take sides. I hope you can understand our position!"


    "Then let us hope for a pleasant collaboration!" Zhang Menglong had never counted on Cashew Company''s help anyway; if they stayed out of it, he would face much fewer troubles.


    "To successful cooperation!" Cook sighed in relief; dealing with someone like Zhang Menglong was exhausting. He was just a young man with no complexity, but his wealth made it impossible to confront him directly.


    ...


    "Start deploying the mobile games, then translate the games into the world''s mainstream languages; our counterattack begins now!"


    Upon returning to Huaxia, Zhang Menglong immediately communicated this news to Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi.


    "Starting today, everyone works overtime!"


    "What? Overtime pay? Listen up, complete the project on time, and the project bonus doubles, every three days ahead schedule, the bonus doubles again?"


    "Ah? The company''s making a fortune? More than making a fortune, if this project succeeds, we''ll be the strongest game supplier in the world; are you still talking to me about money?"


    Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi were energized as if injected with adrenaline, and employees of NetEase Games and Tengxun Games began to work overtime like mad.


    You see, in these gaming giants, often the project bonuses exceed their salaries, meaning, if they finish on time, this quarter''s salaries could double!


    Three days ahead, that''s triple the amount; six days ahead, that''s four times!


    Don''t think that those entrepreneurs'' 996 is merely exploitation; indeed, without overtime pay, it''s exploitation! But even so, people still rush forward wanting to work 996.


    But if the pay is right, not just 996, even 007 is possible; with the right pay, the company becomes home, living and eating there isn''t a problem at all.


    Under such motivation, the project progressed as swiftly as the wind.


    In the first week, the game "Operation Thunder" appeared on the homepage of the Cashew Store.


    In the second week, the American version of "Operation Thunder" was launched directly by Cashew Company, sweeping across the whole of America like a tidal wave.


    This superbly crafted game, with its endless modes and cutting-edge equipment, along with an immersive experience, astounded every player.


    Why are mobile games popular? It''s because they can be played conveniently¡ª a single game might only take 20 minutes, making it highly efficient for fragmented time use.


    And "Operation Thunder" offers an experience far surpassing that of PC games, yet with the convenience of mobile games.


    At this time, both Wangyi and Tengxun also released a new announcement¡ª"Operation Thunder" would launch a new kind of VR device with greatly optimized size based on the original, looking almost like regular glasses for nearsightedness, and priced at only double the original.


    A $400 portable VR device¡ªthis price still maintains a high level of competitiveness!


    "We Americans will definitely not play any games developed by Huaxia again! They are a nation of cheaters!"


    "Boycott Huaxia games, boycott ''Operation Thunder''!"


    When the game was just launched, American players were still fiercely boycotting it.


    However, when the first American player tried it after being persuaded by his Huaxia friend, they all began to exclaim from deep within, "It''s so good!"


    In just a few days, the download statistics in America were terrifying, showing a trend even more drastic than continuous stock market surges, achieving the miracle of ten million downloads in a week!


    Massive orders flowed from America to Huaxia, and reservations for the devices extended up to two months later, with nearly every player waiting for the import of the equipment.


    The direct impact of this phenomenon was a sharp drop in the statistics of many battlefield shooting survival games.


    "PUBG" player activity decreased by 57.2%.


    "Overwatch Battlefield" player activity fell by 72.3%.


    ...


    "How could this happen? How could Cashew collaborate with that bastard Zhang Menglong?" Michel, holding the data report, trembled with both hands wrapped in bandages.


    "Boss, our game''s activity is plummeting every day, and this is only because ''Operation Thunder'' devices are currently in short supply,"


    "forcing many players to continue playing our games because they have no choice."


    "I''ve heard that Wangyi and Tengxun have recently acquired several production lines. Their total production capacity could definitely exceed hundreds of millions a year. Once the device production is up, our games might not have any space to survive."


    "I know," Michel gritted his teeth, having tried the game himself; he knew just how far behind "Operation Thunder" their "Overwatch Battlefield" was. Anyone with a normal brain would absolutely not choose theirs.


    "Abandon Overwatch Battlefield!" Michel felt like it was a necessary sacrifice, "They make battlefield games, we will simply not compete with them anymore. Disband the ''Overwatch Battlefield'' team and channel all resources into ''Warcraft.'' Role-playing and real-time strategy games are where we won''t lose!"


    ...


    "Overwatch Battlefield" announced it would cease operations!


    In Huaxia, Zhang Menglong and others received this news immediately; the trio looked at each other and instantly revealed smug smiles.


    "Thinking cutting off one arm would allow for a full retreat?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I told you I''d hit you hard!"


    "Gentlemen, we can start the second phase of our strategy now!"

 Chapter 606 604 I Have a Very Bad Temper

    "Global shooting strategy games have been overshadowed by ''Operation Annihilate,'' with an estimated market share domination of over 80%."


    "Experts say ''Operation Annihilate'' is superbly crafted and its engine and rendering capabilities surpass the top-level game engines on the market by more than five years. They predict that for the next five years, no other game in terms of quality will be able to compete with it."


    "Steam delists ''PUBG,'' shifting the focus of the game''s operations."


    "Blitznet delists ''Overwatch Battlefield,'' disbands the team, and transfers core developers and operators to the ''World of Warcraft'' team. Blitznet''s manager claims that the company will invest 20 million US dollars in team optimization and expansion, further strengthening the market competitiveness!"


    ...


    "Damn right, this time our Huaxia games have truly risen, directly flipping over so many established game companies."


    "Can''t help it, such a powerful VR game, plus the game costs are so low, it''s practically a dimensionality reduction attack. With proper promotion, this result is not at all surprising."


    "It''s still Zhang Menglong''s awesome move. Have you heard of getting houses and cars for playing games? Even my dad, who''s in his fifties, is fighting with a Kar98k on the battlefield."


    "Stop it, bro, my grandpa is playing it."


    "I dreamt that my ancestors came to me in a dream to get my whole family to play together. Who can resist such temptation!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, can we start preparing the recharge system now?" According to Ma Hua''s usual style, once the traffic is up, not making money is asshole play!


    "What''s the rush?" Zhang Menglong didn''t care about making money at all, "When we''ve killed off all other companies and we''re the only one left, do you still worry about not making money?"


    In fact, you can''t blame Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi for being so anxious. After all, their companies had taken a big hit recently. Although the game hadn''t monetized yet, costs for operations personnel, advertising, etc., were still pouring out. Even though they were wealthy, it still hurt. "Check your emails," Zhang Menglong said calmly.


    The two exchanged glances, then opened their emails, only to see a list of companies and contact methods in their inbox.


    "These people came to me a few days ago, wanting to obtain the agency rights for ''Operation Annihilate''!" In fact, when the Cashew Company obtained the Americas agency rights for ''Operation Annihilate'' a few days ago, many companies started to contact him by all means, hoping to acquire the agency rights for various regions.


    Of course, Zhang Menglong ignored them. As a cad, he knew how to fish¡ªwhen your bait is good enough, you never have to worry about not catching fish.


    Seeing the rising download numbers in the Cashew Store these past few days, these game companies are getting anxious one by one. If there''s only one battlefield shooter game that can survive on the market, it''s undoubtedly ''Operation Annihilate.'' Obtaining the agency rights early, who worries about not getting their share of the benefits later?


    Of course, Zhang Menglong was well aware that these game agents would definitely start with high demands, so he decided to string them along for a while. Then they would realize who was in need and who truly held the power.


    "You two bosses can take care of the agency rights negotiations. I don''t care how much you negotiate for the revenue share, whatever you secure is yours, but I want half of this game''s revenue."


    Their eyes suddenly lit up. Strictly speaking, Zhang Menglong was actually the developer of this game, and their companies would be considered agents. Usually, game developers wouldn''t be able to secure such a high percentage.


    But this didn''t apply to Zhang Menglong. They had originally hoped to get a 30% revenue share from Zhang Menglong, which would have been quite good. But this far exceeded their expectations!


    Of course, they wanted to make more money. It was impossible for the two companies to fight each other. Haggling with Zhang Menglong again would be utterly stupid, so if they wanted to make money, they had to squeeze those agents!


    "Leiya Games? Sony Games..." Ma Hua smiled as he recognized one familiar friend after another on the list.


    He still remembered when there was a foreign boycott against Huaxia games and players, these "old friends" were the first to stand on the opposing side.


    All talk of friendly cooperation and mutual development was nonsense. They were quicker than anyone when it came to kicking someone when they were down.


    And they even demanded a large sum of money as compensation for damaging their brand image, and reduced the commission share for Tengxun game agencies. Ma Hua hadn''t forgotten any of these actions.


    And now, they were all lining up in wait, eager to obtain the distribution rights for their games¡ªwasn''t this an ironic reversal of fortune? Ma Hua''s mind was already filled with such images.


    "Aren''t you all mighty? Don''t you think your games are the best in the world? If you''re that capable, don''t come seeking to license our Huaxia games!"


    "You want to be an agent? First, pay up!"


    An excited smile lit up Ding Sanshi''s face, too. He had already thought of how to disgust these fair-weather friends, and now they had the chance for revenge and to air their grievances!


    ...


    "Gentlemen, we can start launching ''Divine King''s World'' now!" Zhang Menglong announced.


    "Just one?" Ding Sanshi was taken aback. Why launch only one? Their games were currently riding a wave of popularity, and releasing all of them would surely create a sensational impact.


    "Mr. Zhang, since we''re going to release the remaining 13 games anyway, why not do it all at once?" Ma Hua asked. "Wouldn''t that make the impact even more stunning?"


    "That won''t do!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "If I kill them with a single slap, that''s no fun at all. I like to play it slow."


    Zhang Menglong continued, "The Cashew Company has already pulled ''Overwatch Battlefield'' from their shelves and is channeling all their financial and human resources into ''World of Warcraft,'' right? Not just them, but several other companies are also focusing their games on the role-playing genre."


    "Just imagine, once they''ve poured in all their resources, time, and money, and then suddenly, a game that can instantly crush theirs appears on the market. What do you think will happen to them? The same goes for other games!"


    "Hiss!" Zhang Menglong''s words sent chills down Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi''s spines.


    If Zhang Menglong were to release all of their games at once, they would essentially dominate most of the market. It''s true that even if other game companies tried anything, they wouldn''t be able to compete with them.


    But these companies had survived until now for a reason¡ªthey had their ways of thriving. It was possible for them to find some gaps to live in among these 14 types of games.


    And this was predicated on the assumption they still had enough manpower and resources to get through the transition period.


    If they couldn''t pull off the big client-based games, they could completely switch to developing mini-games¡ªaren''t some small mobile and online games making tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, in monthly revenue?


    Once they released all of their games, opponents would be immediately aware and could quickly change strategy, focusing all their funds and manpower where it''s needed most.


    But what if they released the games one by one?


    Every time a new game comes out, the companies would have to redirect their staff and funding to another game. By the time they''ve spent all their money, another game could be rolled out.


    By then, they would have invested heavily, but a new, superior game would emerge, leaving them with nothing.


    It''s like you''ve worked for ten years, finally saved up some money, made the down payment on a house and you''re about to propose to your dream girl. Then suddenly, a rich second-generation guy appears, flaunting his sports car and mansion¡ªhow are you supposed to compete? The girl leaves with him, and you''re left with a load of debt.


    This was precisely the effect Zhang Menglong wanted to achieve!


    "Alas, bamboo shoots!"


    "All the bamboo shoots on the mountain have been snatched up by you!"


    Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi couldn''t help feeling relieved that they were on the same side as Zhang Menglong. This man was not only frightening but also damn cunning!


    "Challenging my bottom line?" Zhang Menglong didn''t feel the least bit cruel. Survival of the fittest is the way of nature, the same goes for business competition, and more so because Leiya Games had hit his breaking point, "Sorry, but I have a very bad temper!"

 Chapter 607 605 He Split Open

    "Sony Games bought the exclusive agency rights to Kaibong''s ''Operation Thunder Strike'' for 30 million US dollars!"


    "Leiya Games bought the exclusive agency rights to ''Operation Thunder Strike'' in Western Europe for 42 million euros!"


    "Yinchao Games for 46 million US dollars..."


    When it came to showing off, Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua couldn''t compare to Zhang Menglong, but in terms of business negotiations, as long as it wasn''t someone as rich as Zhang Menglong, whose faucets at home flowed with oil, they were experts at ruthlessly devouring their competitors.


    Their current position was clear¡ªthey were the ones seeking to secure the game''s agency rights, not Tengxun Games and Wangyi Games begging them to represent it! If they weren''t interested, there were other companies lined up, waiting for the chance.


    Once they lost this game, it would be like losing the market''s stickiness. The activity of their other games would also immediately start to decline¡ªa risk they couldn''t afford to take.


    Merely from selling licensing rights, they had amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in cash flow, completely replenishing their recent losses in an instant.


    And that was just the agency fee. Future in-game item sales and peripheral revenues would continue to flow into Huaxia in an unending stream of dollars and euros.


    Furthermore, through negotiations, they had overturned many previously unfavorable agreements and even successfully secured much greater profit margins.


    ...


    "These idiots, paying so much money for a game''s agency rights, are really stupid," Michel muttered after a period of recovery. His hands had almost healed, though they still bore many noticeable scars.


    "Boss, those companies either don''t primarily focus on huge online games or have subpar development capabilities. Relying on others'' games is always a last resort," Michel''s assistant commented.


    "Exactly," Michel confidently declared, "Even if we fail with this game, we still have many more self-developed games. ''World of Warcraft'' will always be our unstoppable brand!"


    "How are things going lately?" Michel inquired, "I''ve split up the entire ''Overwatch Battlefield'' development team and invested millions of dollars in game development. If we don''t see results, the director of R&D and the director of operations are up for replacement!"


    "Don''t worry, boss, the situation is quite good," the assistant reported, "We''ve increased our R&D team by half. The latest map update added three new maps and a new game mode. During this period, our game''s online user count has surged 30% beyond our previous peak, and our revenue in the latter half of this month is nearly double that of the first half!"


    "Also, because of the excellent recent gaming data, the three operators who were hesitant about representing our game contacted us these few days. Moreover, they have offered an agency fee that is 10% higher than before and also agreed to our commission rates."


    "Hahaha, excellent, that''s how it should be!" Michel laughed in satisfaction, "Shooting games are just a piece of the cake. If they want a piece, let them have it. We''ll just stay out and continue our development. Since the market allows for all our games to perform well, we just need to excel in one."


    "We''ll give them the agency rights, but the agency fees need to be increased by 20% over the previous rate!" Michel declared, "If they''re unwilling, let''s find someone else. There are plenty of others eager to represent our games."


    "Yes, boss!"


    Michel contentedly sipped his tea, then began browsing on his computer.


    "What is this game?" Suddenly, he noticed a new icon appeared on the Cashew Company market¡ªits download count was zero, yet it was ranked first on the recommendation list.


    Ususally, this meant either the game''s developer was highly famous with a proven track record of high revenues, prompting the Cashew Company to offer them this prominent spot.


    Or, the company splurged a fortune to secure this top spot.


    Even so, in this battlefield-like app market, not everyone could simply pay their way to the top.


    Michel curiously opened the game.


    Developer: Tengxun Games, Wangyi Games


    "Them again?" Michel felt an inexplicable panic inside, as if something were stuck in his throat.


    "Multiplayer online role-playing game?" Seeing the game category, Michel''s expression grew even more uneasy. Their ''World of Warcraft'' was also a multiplayer online role-playing game.


    "It can''t be, how could such a game as a mobile game achieve anything? With such a small screen, it simply can''t render the effects of a PC game!"


    He continued reading the introduction.


    "VR games, ''Operation Thunder Strike'' developed by the original team!"


    At that moment, Michel was stunned.


    "Boss, something has gone wrong!"


    Just then, an assistant rushed in frantically.


    "What happened?"


    "Boss, our official forum has been hacked!"


    "What?" Michel stood up abruptly.


    "What''s the matter? Explain it to me carefully!"


    "At exactly 8 p.m. tonight, our official forum suddenly experienced a surge of traffic from every country in the world, which was endorsing a game called ''King of Gods''."


    Michel immediately opened the game forum. Because ''World of Warcraft'' had undergone a revision during this period, many veteran players had returned, and the average number of online users had reached its historical peak, thus the forum''s activity was also very high.


    Magical Girl Michel: In this era, people still play ''World of Warcraft,'' such an ancient game that hasn''t been phased out yet?


    Abyss Michel: Everyone, take a look at ''King of Gods,'' a game with a brand-new engine, exquisite graphics, and a game map more than ten times larger than ''World of Warcraft.'' Ordinary phones and computers can handle it.


    Michel the Hermaphrodite: Download the game now and you''ll have a chance to receive a special item "Michel''s Mother''s Sigh," and a luxury yacht is waiting for you!


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong! It''s you again, Zhang Menglong!" Michel clenched his teeth in anger, he didn''t even need to guess who had hired these troll accounts.


    But these IPs came from all over the world; he simply couldn''t accuse Zhang Menglong of anything.


    Initially, the players were dismissive of it, thinking if a game is well-made, then surely people will envy it, and after running for so long, the real veteran players, who are sentimental, wouldn''t just switch because of a few words to this so-called ''King of Gods'' over ''World of Warcraft.''


    However, this game had hundreds of millions of players, and in 2014 alone, it was recorded that the number of characters exceeded 500 million!


    Among these hundreds of millions of players, many downloaded ''King of Gods'' out of curiosity, most of whom had previously downloaded ''Operation Thunder Strike'' and purchased VR equipment.


    Regardless of whether the game was enjoyable or not, they couldn''t let their specialized equipment go to waste!


    After trying it, they were stunned to discover that the game far exceeded their expectations; its quality was truly on par with ''Operation Thunder Strike'' in the genre of survival games.


    In comparison, ''World of Warcraft,'' beyond the so-called nostalgia, was truly annihilated!


    "I tried it, and this new game is really good, everyone should give it a try!"


    "My God, this VR level is so real, I feel like I''m fighting in a brand-new world!"


    ...


    Within just a few days, ''King of Gods'' downloads surged from zero, even surpassing the initial downloads of ''Operation Thunder Strike''!


    "Player activity decreased by 34%, revenue fell by 47.5%."


    "Boss, those agents have already refused to cooperate with us, and I heard they''ve headed to Huaxia overnight."


    "Boss, this quarter, although we''re still investing more in ''World of Warcraft,'' we''ve been hit by ''King of Gods'' and our active user numbers keep dropping. Should we continue development?"


    Michel stared blankly at the screen, he was utterly devastated!

 Chapter 608 606: Thank you for pushing me

    Looking at the company''s financial data, Michel seemed to age considerably all at once, his expression shifting from initial confusion to sudden understanding, from reluctance to resignation.


    "Abandon all PC games and focus all our R&D attention on lightweight H5 games!" True to his keen business acumen, Michel instantly made the correct decision.


    "Boss, don''t we have other games? Are we really going to give up on the games we''ve painstakingly developed over the years?" The assistant had been with Michel since he arrived at BlizzGame, witnessing the company''s growth and strength and watching these games evolve from a demo to titles generating tens to hundreds of millions in revenue.


    Abandoning these games was undoubtedly a cruel decision.


    "Haven''t you figured out Zhang Menglong''s intentions?" Michel said with a bitter smile, "Do you know why he only released ''God-King''s World'' now, instead of a month ago?"


    "Isn''t it because of the limitations of their technical team''s development capabilities? After all, a game like this can''t be created overnight. I think the planning for these two games probably began a couple of years ago."


    "No, you''re underestimating Zhang Menglong," Michel said, "Don''t forget, besides his unfathomable wealth, his personal capabilities are also extremely fearsome."


    "A young man in his early twenties, who solved a mathematical problem that had stumped the academic world for 200 years, won the Nobel Prize, and used his own artificial intelligence to successfully perform a surgery that even top experts only had a twenty to thirty percent chance of accomplishing¡ªif we look at him with the eyes of an ordinary human, we''re bound to lose miserably!"


    "You mean..."


    "The sequence of this game''s release is definitely not a coincidence. I think Zhang Menglong has been ready for a while. He was waiting for us to go all in on another game, and then crush us directly through this game, rendering all our investments futile."


    "That''s impossible! How confident must he be in his own game to dare to do such a thing?" the assistant asked incredulously.


    "Because he is Zhang Menglong," Michel said, "I believe, even if we now abandon World of Warcraft and pour all our energy into another PC game, he will immediately come out with another game to defeat us."


    "To achieve that, how strong must one''s development capability be?"


    "I''m beginning to suspect that this person is extraterrestrial," Michel said with a wry smile, "Do as I say. Continuing to invest in these games is already meaningless. In six months to a year, every game on the market will be replaced, and our costs may well exceed the revenue."


    "But if players protest... You know very well, many veteran players have spent a lot of cash on in-game items. If we shut down the servers, we will face a dire situation!"


    "Then we''ll just sell these games and compensate the players," Michel said, making the painful decision, "There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''A short pain is better than a long pain.'' Since we can see the future, why struggle any longer?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, have you heard the news? BlizzGame is planning to shut down all their major PC game servers within six months!" Knowing this news, Ma Hua immediately reported it to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh? He''s quite smart." Zhang Menglong did not expect Michel to react so quickly.


    "Then our previous plan might not be feasible," Ma Hua sighed. Although they already made a tidy profit, it was a pity they couldn''t successfully deliver the killing blow to BlizzGame.


    "Our previous plan is indeed unfeasible, but there are other ways," Zhang Menglong said with a sly smile, "It was hard to beat them head-on before because they were deeply entrenched in PC games, and ordinary game companies and products truly couldn''t shake them."


    "But now it''s different," Zhang Menglong continued, "They''ve lost their advantage in PC games, and switching to the small game market now is not their area of expertise. Any company has the qualifications to become their competitor!"


    "Well, well," although Zhang Menglong was indeed very crafty, outmaneuvering his enemy felt really exhilarating.


    "So you''re saying that whatever game they develop, we''ll just follow and develop the same?" Ma Hua asked.


    "No need!" Zhang Menglong replied, "Games, after all their variety, come down to just a dozen or so types. Even if they make H5 games, they can''t escape these categories. The only advantage of H5 is the small size of the games, no need for large download packages, so as long as you have a smooth internet connection, you can open the games anywhere."


    "And my games can do that too!"


    "How is that possible?" As someone who came from a development background, Ma Hua was acutely aware of the issues with game memory, such as their once-developed game ''Honor of Kings,'' whose client took up one or two gigabytes.


    After playing for a while, you''d find that after a series of patches and upgrades, the damn thing was now over 10GB.


    The advantage of H5 games is that you don''t need to consume a large amount of memory to download a game client. It''s like a website ¡ª it can run directly through caching, which is very convenient for players.


    However, the quality of the game may drop due to this feature, and it places high demands on the game engine as well.


    For example, no company has the technical development capability to turn a 10-plus GB game like "Honor of Kings" into an H5 game to date, nor is there any engine that can achieve this.


    "Take a look at what this is?" Zhang Menglong sent Ma Hua a temporary URL.


    Ma Hua opened the webpage on his phone and, as the progress bar quickly filled up, the game interface for "Godking World" loaded.


    "This... you turned ''Godking World'' into an H5 game?"


    "Exactly," Zhang Menglong said, "And with the now widespread 5G technology, there won''t be any issues with game data transmission. My engine can H5-ize all these 14 games!"


    "Incredible, truly incredible!" Ma Hua exclaimed excitedly.


    The race for big PC games had cooled, as had the market for mobile app games. The gaming company Storm Games had been hoping to struggle on with their H5 games, but Zhang Menglong''s move had directly blocked their last path of retreat!


    With this combination of moves, NetEase Games and Tengxun Games could claim they completely dominated the entire gaming market.


    "There''s no better time than the present, let''s start preparing the release today!"


    "Good, we''ll get our people to work overtime immediately!"


    ...


    "What? Triple project bonus? Get me up, I can work more overtime!"


    "Damn, where''s my tent? Honey, pack up my towel, toothpaste, and toothbrush for me, I''m going to be living at the company this week!"


    "Although it''s been a brutal month, I''ve made a year''s salary. Once the project is over, I''m going to take a long vacation to play around ¡ª the company even approved a month of recuperation leave!"


    ...


    Three days later, all PC, mobile, and H5 versions of the 14 games went live, and the whole gaming world was filled with lamentation!


    "Bang!"


    The door to Michel''s office was kicked open by several people, and the shareholders of Storm Games glared at Michel furiously.


    The gaming industry had taken a hit, and stock prices of listed gaming companies worldwide plunged, hitting the limit down for seven consecutive days within a week, causing the shareholders'' assets to evaporate like steam.


    Nobody knew why the games from Huaxia had suddenly become so awesome!


    And just now, Zhang Menglong had posted a message.


    "Actually, I just wanted to develop these games for something to play when I had nothing to do. Thanks to Mr. Michel of Storm Networks for pushing me, now I''m sharing the games I developed for everyone to play together!"


    This statement pointed the finger directly at Michel; he instantly became the nail in the eye of the entire gaming industry.


    If he hadn''t messed with the game maps, he wouldn''t have driven the Huaxia people to this point, would he?!


    Although all the companies were enjoying the drama at that time, none of them would attribute the cause to themselves ¡ª they all just needed a scapegoat.


    "Michel, from today onwards, you are no longer the chairman of Storm Networks!"

 Chapter 609 609: 607

    "Hahaha, Menglong, isn''t that a bit too harsh?"


    "Dying of laughter, but not quite dead yet, I bet Michel is completely chilled to the bone by now."


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s Weibo post, Wang Ling and the others burst into uncontrollable laughter.


    This Weibo post was a veritable killer weapon!


    How many gaming companies around the world went bankrupt due to this shock in the gaming industry? Apart from some niche game genres, it was almost a total wipeout.


    With more refined production, smoother operation, and better gameplay experience available, why would anyone choose your games? Of course, they turned to the new games jointly released by Tengxun and NetEase. By now, if you''re not playing their games, you''re already out of the loop.


    Of course, some players supported by nostalgia are exceptions, but can nostalgia be eaten? Obviously not. Without profits, games naturally get taken down; once the games are removed, the companies surely run out of revenue and collapse sooner or later.


    The bosses of those companies knew that Michel was the instigator, and how could they tolerate that?


    They were just making games peacefully, not seeking great wealth, only smooth sailing.


    You guys had to, for a bit of ridiculous pride, provoke the players from Huaxia, and having provoked them was bad enough, you had to go and provoke Zhang Menglong.


    He originally made those games just for his own entertainment, but you had to meddle and provoke him; now, with all the trouble caused, you even dragged so many other gaming companies down with you.


    Targeting Zhang Menglong and his team was beyond their capability, and besides, he hadn''t used any unfair business tactics this time. His victory relied completely on the game''s good reputation, and you couldn''t fault it at all.


    So they could only turn to Michel; if it weren''t for his stupid actions, their games wouldn''t have been altogether blown away!


    That very day, Michel was impeached by the shareholders of Storm Network, and he was stripped of his chairman position.


    Another shareholder with the largest stakes immediately took over his position, and his first act was to mend fences with the two gaming companies from Huaxia.


    Developing their games was simply a waste of money; they knew their limits. With their current capabilities, there was no chance they could develop better games than those from Huaxia. Now the only way out was to become their agents.


    ...


    Sitting in the chairman''s office, Reliable was a picture of unease.


    If it were before, he would have been celebrating his new position with friends at a hotel by now, but what was left to him was a complete mess.


    "Chairman, it takes the originator to untie the knot. If Storm Games wants to survive, we have to turn to Zhang Menglong." Unable to think of any good ideas despite pondering for a long time, Reliable had no choice but to bite the bullet and dial Zhang Menglong''s number.


    "Hello, this is Zhang Menglong, may I ask who''s calling?"


    "Hello Mr. Zhang, I am the chairman of Storm Network..."


    "Get lost!"


    Reliable hadn''t even finished speaking when Zhang Menglong had already hung up the call.


    Facing this outcome, Reliable wasn''t surprised at all, but he still had to make that call!


    "Mr. Zhang, I am from Storm Net..."


    "Get lost!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I am from Storm..."


    "Beep beep beep!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I am not Michel!" Reliable almost cried, couldn''t someone let him finish speaking.


    "Oh, not Michel, huh? You should have said so earlier. Did you guys change chairmen?" It was only then that Zhang Menglong was willing to lend Reliable an ear or two.


    "Mr. Zhang, Michel has already been impeached by our shareholders, and he is no longer the chairman. I am the newly appointed chairman, Rayley," Rayley hastily said, "I know there have been some misunderstandings before, and this time I hope we can clear the air."


    "Do you know what this Michel did?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Michel took it upon himself to alter the game''s map, which had a significant impact on your country. All this was his own doing," Rayley hastily shifted all the blame onto Michel, "After we received complaints, not only did he fail to address them, but he even made excuses. Such behavior is simply deplorable. Unfortunately, our board members were kept in the dark, otherwise, we would never have allowed such things to happen."


    "Since it was your mistake, I don''t care whose fault it is, you should know that there is a price to pay for making mistakes," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    He certainly wouldn''t believe that these people were completely unaware of it. Even if they hadn''t supported Michel''s actions, their attitude of turning a blind eye made him sick.


    "Of course! Of course!" Rayley quickly said, "I have already instructed the company''s relevant departments to draft an apology letter, which will soon be formally issued to the players in Huaxia."


    "Just an apology is enough?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly.


    "No, no, no!" Rayley realized Zhang Menglong was still not satisfied, "We have investigated Michel and found that he committed many illegal acts during his tenure. All his assets and shares will be confiscated by the company as compensation."


    "Not enough!" Did they really think such things would appease him? Michel deserved it for what he had done.


    "Mr. Zhang, I understand your point," Rayley said, "We have already called for a total industry boycott against Michel. He will find no refuge in the gaming industry in the future."


    "With his capabilities, though, even if not in the gaming industry, finding a job wouldn''t be too hard, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, because of the damage Michel''s actions have caused to the gaming industry, it has attracted the attention of higher-ups. I am confident I can persuade them to put Michel on an enterprise blacklist throughout America!


    This is extremely harsh¡ªthis means that no matter where Michel tries to get hired, his rights won''t be protected, and no one would dare to employ someone who has been blacklisted by the country.


    If he still wants to work, he''ll likely have to resort to low-level manual labor or odd jobs."


    But for someone accustomed to a top-tier lifestyle, this would undoubtedly be a bitter ordeal.


    "At least you have some sincerity." This approach satisfied Zhang Menglong greatly. A punishment fitting for someone who disrespected their country!


    "Mr. Zhang, if you are satisfied with our handling of this, then I hope you can give us a chance. We would very much like to handle Tengxun and Wangyi''s games, knowing that you are behind their development... the agency fees and commissions are negotiable!"


    "You should discuss this with Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi," said Zhang Menglong.


    Rayley was pleased; that meant Zhang Menglong would no longer interfere with their agency matters. They might just have to pay a bit more, earn a bit less, but after all, the survival of the company was paramount.


    "Also, I plan to open an electronics factory in America," Zhang Menglong said, "As you know, transporting these VR devices really isn''t convenient and dealing with labor issues..."


    "Mr. Zhang, we can handle that!"


    "No, no, no, that''s not what I mean," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I mean, although Michel made mistakes, we don''t need to utterly crush him. Since my factory needs workers too, why not just let him work there? I can reserve a position for him on the assembly line!"


    Rayley''s mouth twitched slightly¡ªwere you not just talking about utterly crushing him?


    From being the chairman of a publicly listed company to working on an assembly line in an electronics factory¡ªit was like grinding someone''s dignity into the dirt.


    "Oh, by the way, how old is Michel this year?"


    "He should be 32," Rayley answered.


    "Then sign him for a 30-year contract, working in the electronics factory until retirement. If he performs well..."


    "Then you''ll forgive him?"


    "If he performs well, then offer him a reverse promotion, a demotion and a pay cut. If not, it''s the same demotion and pay cut!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you are truly devilish," even Rayley couldn''t help but say, already picturing Michel''s miserable life ahead. Have you ever heard of someone working hard only to receive a reverse promotion?


    "Hehe, thank you for the compliment!"

 Chapter 610 608: Is it that aka100,000 Volts?

    "Zhang, our games'' recent development trend is very good. Just in Huaxia alone, the total turnover of our 14 games has surpassed ten billion, and if we add the turnover from our global agents, multiplying it several times over wouldn''t be impossible,"


    "Yes, Zhang, now even some small countries want to become agents for our games. Even if a mosquito is small, it''s still meat. I think we shouldn''t limit our agency areas so strictly,"


    In the span of two months, the 14 games developed by Zhang Menglong had nearly dominated the global market. The large gaming companies had either gone bankrupt or become their agents.


    As the company distributing the games, Wangyi and Tengxun had made a killing, and of course, as the big boss behind the scenes, Zhang Menglong''s assets had exploded once more. He was earning money from the entire world, and besides paying taxes, half the income was his, and he didn''t even have to pay employee salaries. This revenue was truly terrifying.


    "Leave these affairs to you guys to worry about, I just care about collecting money,"


    "Great! We definitely won''t let you down!" With Zhang Menglong''s tacit approval, Ding Sanshi and Ma Hua were overjoyed. It was clear that Zhang Menglong had undertaken this venture merely to punish Michel from Thunder Network.


    Michel had become a thorn in the side of the entire Americas, and the country had even restricted his departure. It was impossible for him to flee abroad and make a living.


    Due to tax evasion, he had lost almost all of his property, and in reality, he was to face decades of imprisonment, but the new chairman of Thunder Network had managed to fish him out of jail through connections.


    Of course, not to save him, as he could at least get free food and drink in prison.


    But back in society, he needed to worry about his daily meals and living costs, and after searching for more than a month, he found no job. He later discovered he had been blacklisted and could not sign a labor contract with any legitimate company.


    But he had no choice, he had to make money, so he worked alongside those laborers he had once looked down upon, and it was in the factory owned by the Huaxia man he hated the most, named Zhang Menglong, doing the most menial physical labor.


    At that moment, he realized how ridiculous his previous actions had been, only now it was far too late.


    ...


    "Menglong, are you ready?"


    "All set," Zhang Menglong hurried out of the dressing room, pulling up his pants as he went.


    Today was Lu Yiyao''s birthday. Zhang Menglong had originally wanted to go all out, like organizing a birthday concert exclusive to Lu Yiyao, where he could invite musicians and stars from around the world to celebrate with her.


    However, Lu Yiyao had refused, as for her, celebrating her birthday with her loved one and friends was the simplest joy.


    "You can''t cause any trouble today. I haven''t seen Xi Xi and the others for a long time, and we must catch up properly today!"


    "Hey, do you see me as the kind of person who causes trouble?" Zhang Menglong said aggrieved, "As long as no one troubles me, I definitely won''t go looking for trouble!"


    "That''s more like it!" Lu Yiyao hooked onto Zhang Menglong''s arm, and the two of them walked outside together.


    The birthday party was arranged at the St. Field Hotel, the most top-tier hotel among the properties owned by Zhang Menglong. In this hotel, just an ordinary room cost tens of thousands for one night, and you couldn''t have a meal for less than a hundred thousand yuan.


    Of course, the service and food here were absolutely first-class.


    Zhang Menglong parked the car right by the hotel entrance, casually tossing the keys to the receptionist outside.


    The Koenigsegg keys, the receptionist didn''t even dare to park the car for a while; of course, if he knew that this young man was the hotel owner, he would probably be even more flustered.


    But to keep a low profile, Zhang Menglong had Hong Yi book a private room for him without telling the hotel staff he would be coming.


    "Xi Xi!" Lu Yiyao waved at a girl in the hotel lobby.


    "Yi Yi!" the girl ran over with a smile.


    "Guo Yuqian, you know her, you met her when we met for the first time," Lu Yiyao introduced.


    "Yuqian, there''s no need for introductions with him, right?"


    "Hahaha, who doesn''t know Boss Zhang," Guo Yuqian laughed, "and thanks to Boss Zhang''s gift when we first met, we now have the financial strength to pursue our dreams."


    After getting together with Lu Yiyao, Zhang Menglong had not only treated her roommates to a meal, but he also gave each of them an apartment, a car, and some expensive jewelry.


    Securing a foothold in Jiangnan City was an incredibly difficult task as buying property there was a huge challenge. At times, sacrificing one''s dreams for it wasn''t considered out of the ordinary.


    But with these gifts, they almost no longer had any burden of survival, which meant they could freely chase their dreams. Lu Yiyao''s three roommates, including Guo Yuqian, who had become a somewhat famous musician, and Zhan Bingning and Sun Ruowen, who had both entered the entertainment industry as budding actresses, all owed their fortunes to Zhang Menglong''s generosity.


    "Today we definitely need to treat you to an expensive meal. Boss Zhang wouldn''t mind, would he?" Guo Yuqian was as straightforward as ever.


    "Hahahaha, why would I mind? I own the whole hotel; no matter how much you eat, you could never eat me out of house and home."


    "This is your hotel?" Though Guo Yuqian knew Zhang Menglong was outrageously wealthy, the luxury of the hotel still left her a bit flabbergasted.


    "I think next time you find out which hotel isn''t mine, then you can show me that surprised look," Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Yiyao, isn''t living with someone like this very painful?" Guo Yuqian pulled Lu Yiyao aside, "Being shown up at Versailles every day! Ordinary people couldn''t stand it."


    "I''ve gotten used to it already, and let me tell you, last time..."


    Women always have endless things to talk about when they meet. Watching the two women start chattering away, Zhang Menglong was too lazy to get involved.


    "Strange, why haven''t Bingbing and Ruoruo arrived yet? They are always the most punctual at any dinner party," said Lu Yiyao as she glanced at the time. They had agreed to meet at six in the evening, but it was almost half-past six now.


    "I''ll make a call and ask," Guo Yuqian promptly took out her phone. She couldn''t get through to Chen Bingning, but Sun Ruowen did answer her call.


    "Aren''t you guys coming over? We''ve been waiting for ages!"


    "What? You can''t get in touch with Bingbing?" Guo Yuqian''s face changed at once, "Why didn''t you say so sooner? We''ll come over right away!"


    "What happened?" Zhang Menglong had a feeling something was amiss.


    "This afternoon, Bingbing had a screen test for the leading role in Zhang Bufan''s new movie. She planned to come together with Ruoruo after the test, but when it was time to meet, there was still no word from Bingbing."


    "Zhang Bufan? The one known as aka hundred thousand volts, the Huaxia powerhouse, the human Pikachu?" Zhang Menglong quipped, "He acts too?"


    "Stop joking!" Lu Yiyao slapped Zhang Menglong, "Even if it was just a screen test, it should''ve been over by this late. I hope nothing''s gone wrong."


    "With that kind of production team, there shouldn''t be any problems. However, the screen test location is close by; Zhang Bufan''s studio is in the vicinity, and Ruoruo is waiting for them just downstairs from the company."


    "You can never be too sure, I''ve heard that Zhang Bufan isn''t exactly the most upright person. But nothing too outrageous should happen inside the company building. I''ll accompany you to check it out."


    "Waiter, prepare a car for me!" Zhang Menglong called out to a nearby waiter nonchalantly.


    "I''m sorry, sir, we don''t provide that service here!"


    "Others might not, but I must have it." Zhang Menglong handed over a gold-plated card, causing the waiter''s expression to turn tense.


    "Mr... Mr. Zhang, I''ll get it ready right away!"


    ...

 Chapter 611 609: You Might as Well Change Your Name to Hu Qian

    After crossing several streets, Zhang Menglong saw the imposing office building appear before his eyes, complete with a conspicuous sign on the 16th floor: "Hu Bufen Studio".


    This office building was rented by many freelance stars as their studio, and only those with a broad and significant fan base could afford such a setup, which is why the building''s security was exceptionally strict. It was all to prevent obsessed fans from slipping in and causing troubles for the artists inside.


    As soon as they got out of the car, they found Sun Ruowen pacing back and forth in front of the building, her face visibly agitated, her eyes repeatedly scanning the upper floors.


    The moment she saw Zhang Menglong and the others appear, she suddenly seemed to find her backbone.


    "You''ve finally come!" Sun Ruowen''s tone was tinged with a sob.


    "What''s the situation? Still no contact?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, she went in at three o''clock, and the other actors auditioning have already left, but there''s still no word from Bingbing. I''ve called several times, and no one answered; I just called again, and now it''s even saying the phone is switched off."


    "This doesn''t seem right," Zhang Menglong frowned. If Chen Bingning had just been busy, she wouldn''t have turned off her phone, as she surely knew her friends would worry if they couldn''t get in touch with her.


    Moreover, she wasn''t someone without a sense of time. Now, they were already over forty minutes past the time they''d agreed to meet for a meal. No matter how busy she was, surely she could find the time to send a message?


    "Something must have happened," although Zhang Menglong didn''t usually pay much attention to entertainment industry gossip, he occasionally chatted with Wang Ling, picking up various tidbits.


    Many singers and stars seemed to have upstanding public personas, but behind the scenes, all sorts of things went unenumerated, including affairs, and group activities; just recently that time management guru Mr. Luo got ousted, hadn''t he?


    But who would have known he was such a scandalous figure before that? In these matters, public relations often became the perfect cradle to nurture misconduct.


    As for Hu Bufen, Zhang Menglong had heard about him; he was not a Huaxia national, but from California, only here because his popularity in Huaxia made it a good place to make money. He remembered Wang Ling once mentioning Hu Bufen was nicknamed the "California Cannon King".


    Of course, the truth of that was unclear, after all, the man was quite handsome and had many fans. As long as he was single, consensual relationships were no one''s business, and Zhang Menglong couldn''t be bothered with such trivial matters, taking them just as gossip without probing whether they were true or false.


    But now, this situation forced Zhang Menglong to doubt Wang Ling''s words.


    "Let''s go up and take a look!" Zhang Menglong immediately led the way inside.


    "Excuse me, sir, do you have a visiting appointment?" a security guard immediately stopped them.


    "No."


    "Then I''m sorry, you cannot go inside."


    "Do you know who I am?" Zhang Menglong glared at the security guard.


    The guard scanned him from head to toe, "I don''t care who you are, you can''t go in without an appointment!"


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong was amused by the anger, what era was it that people still didn''t recognize him?


    "I''m going up first!" Not knowing what the situation was, and having no time to waste with the guard, he vaulted over the iron gate and disappeared into the stairwell in just a few moments!


    "Hey! You can''t go in!" The guard panicked, having never encountered such a nimble young man before.


    "We have an unauthorized entry into the building, unauthorized entry into the building!" The guard immediately relayed the message to the people inside the building.


    Then he looked at Lu Yiyao and the others with a hostile face. If he couldn''t stop Zhang Menglong, could he not stop these three women?


    "Hong Yi, sister? Menglong and I are now at the Jincheng Building... Yes, my friend might have an issue, and this security guard won''t let us in!" Chen Bingning was missing, and Lu Yiyao was also a bit nervous, but she didn''t want to just wait for news from Zhang Menglong, so she immediately called Hong Yi.


    "What? Mr. Zhang is here?" The person in charge of the Jincheng Building suddenly couldn''t stay calm when he heard the news. The Jincheng Building belonged to Tenghui Group, which was owned by Hong Yi''s father. In other words, the Jincheng Building was Zhang Menglong''s!


    "Did he storm in angrily?" The person in charge of the Jincheng Building immediately felt something was wrong. What could possibly make Zhang Menglong so impulsive?


    "Quick, notify everyone, all the security in the Jinchen Building must not act rashly. Mr. Zhang''s safety is the top priority. If Mr. Zhang needs help, meet all his needs under legal circumstances!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong moved through the stairs like a fierce tiger, even faster than the elevator. The people walking on the stairs only felt a strong breeze brush past them. It seemed like something whisked by, but they couldn''t see anything with the naked eye.


    He maximized his perception because he had only seen Chen Bingning once and couldn''t remember her scent. He could only rely on sounds to locate her.


    The entire building appeared in his mind like a complete map.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s activity in rooms 1608 and 1632 on the 16th floor!" Ye Yin was also helping Zhang Menglong find her, and quickly targeted two locations.


    "I got it!" By then, Zhang Menglong had reached the 16th floor and immediately charged into room 1608.


    Inside, a man and a woman were kissing, but this woman was clearly not Chen Bingning. It seemed like two regular employees from the Hu Bufan studio were romantically involved there. Their panic-stricken faces said it all.


    "Sorry, sorry! Continue!" Zhang Menglong quickly withdrew, feeling a bit guilty for disturbing the young couple.


    He immediately went to the door of room 1632. This time, to be cautious, he focused all his hearing on this room.


    "Baby, mine is very big, you''ll have to endure a bit!"


    A voice with an electronic tone echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind, almost recharging his phone battery. This unmistakable voice was undoubtedly that of the Californian electric eel, Hu Bufan!


    Zhang Menglong also noticed another woman in the room, but for some reason, she was collapsed on the sofa. Zhang Menglong sensed through energy that her bioelectric current was very weak, as if her body functions were being restricted by something.


    Combining this with Hu Bufan''s words, two letters immediately popped into his mind.


    "MJ?"


    A surge of anger instantly ignited in Zhang Menglong''s heart. The girl inside was most likely Chen Bingning. How could such a thing exist in this studio? Was this even a studio anymore?


    Zhang Menglong kicked open the door of the room. A girl, scarcely dressed, lay disheveled on the sofa, almost fully exposed.


    Zhang Menglong took off his jacket and threw it over the girl, while Hu Bufan watched him with a panicked face.


    "You... You''re Zhang Menglong?" Hu Bufan never thought Zhang Menglong would appear here. Was he omnipresent? He had just succeeded, and now it was ruined.


    "You call that big?" Zhang Menglong disdainfully looked down and commented, "That''s like a cotton swab. It''s really embarrassing for me to watch."


    "Brother, I think you should change your name, don''t call yourself Hu Bufan anymore, call yourself Hu Qian!"

 Chapter 612 610: Do I Need Evidence to Mess with You?

    ```


    Hu Bufan had already done this kind of thing more than once.


    As a top-level celebrity with massive influence, Hu Bufan actually didn''t lack female companionship at all, and with a beckoning call, his tens of millions of fans could be lined up from miles away.


    But in order to maintain his public persona, he worked hard to put on the appearance of a gentleman, even keeping a proper distance from female celebrities in public on many occasions. His so-called "gentleman''s hand" had several times been praised by the public.


    However, no one knew that he was actually just not that interested in women who were a bit older; his favorite type was the young girls just out of school¡ªthe younger, the more excited he got.


    He had many tricks up his sleeve, whether it was selecting roles for music videos or movies. He also loved frequenting bars, where he could easily charm most girls. Occasionally, he would even hunt for his prey on Weibo, then strike using his celebrity halo.


    And many girls fell for those halos of his because becoming the girlfriend of a top-tier celebrity was definitely something to boast about. Even if it couldn''t be made public, their vanity was greatly satisfied.


    Of course, there were times when he encountered some very difficult girls, and Hu Bufan''s methods became much meaner, to the extent that he''d stop at nothing.


    In fact, similar incidents had been exposed many times, but every time Hu Bufan''s studio managed PR very swiftly, often smoothing things over with cash.


    As a top figure in the entertainment industry, he calculated his annual income in billions. So, for him, spending a few hundred thousand or a few million to deal with these issues was completely negligible.


    This time, he was "selecting his concubines" as usual, and Chen Bingning, who had just left school not long ago, sweet-faced and tall, "luckily" became his prey.


    However, he had not anticipated that his sugar-coated shells would be utterly ineffective against Chen Bingning.


    As a friend of Lu Yiyao, Chen Bingning indirectly received plenty of resources. Want a house? Zhang Menglong had already given her a large flat in Jiangnan City, with an average price of one hundred thousand per square meter, covering more than two hundred square meters.


    Need a car? The Maserati worth over two million had become her daily ride. The unlimited gas and maintenance cards that Zhang Menglong gave her meant that she didn''t have to spend a dime on the car.


    And then there were various pieces of jewelry. Although not as lavish as Lu Yiyao, she still had several pieces of earrings and necklaces worth tens of thousands of US dollars. Hu Bufan''s usual tricks that seduced young girls had no effect on her!


    The so-called wealthy upbringing, I guess it has this kind of effect, right? Unless Hu Bufan''s offers were increased tenfold, they really meant nothing to her.


    In fact, Chen Bingning was puzzled too. After all, she had been a fan of Hu Bufan for five or six years. In her heart, Hu Bufan was an outstanding person, which was why she had chosen to audition for the female lead role today. She just never expected to see another side of Hu Bufan.


    Chen Bingning was a girl with very solid principles. Encountering such a situation, she chose to leave right away, but she didn''t expect the other party''s tactics to be so despicable; she lost consciousness before she could react.


    "Mr. Zhang, I never expected you would come to my studio. I have admired you for a long time!" Hu Bufan hurriedly put on his pants and hid his "golden needle mushroom."


    Who was Zhang Menglong? If he had not realized who Zhang was after a year of exposure, he''d be practically disconnected from society. Zhang was definitely someone unpredictable, who acted outside the norm and whose thoughts no one could fathom.


    Sometimes he appeared like a rich and wasteful second-generation heir, while other times like a justice-filled angry youth. Hu Bufan just couldn''t understand why Zhang Menglong would appear here today. Was there something he wanted to collaborate on or was it just a pass-by?


    Could it be that Chen Bingning had some relationship with Zhang Menglong?


    Thinking of this possibility, Hu Bufan started to tremble. If Chen Bingning was Zhang Menglong''s woman, then he was ready to be done for!


    The last time, wasn''t the boss of Wanyi Music caught doing something similar by Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling, and then got sent straight to prison? And even Wanyi Music ended up being changed into Wanyi Foot Bath. He believed his own studio wasn''t much stronger than Wanyi Music.


    "Don''t bother putting them on; I can''t see your ''lil bean sprout'' clearly anyway," Zhang Menglong said with contempt. "Ah, such a tall guy, over one meter eighty, it seems all the length went to your height."


    ```


    A series of twitches crossed Hu Bufan''s face. Previously, many women had acted alongside him on their own volition, actually liking him, so he had come to believe that he was truly impressive. The sentence Zhang Menglong heard just now had almost become his standard opening line.


    "Even that rat Ding has two of you, what a tragedy..."


    At this moment, a group of people suddenly burst into the room, frightening Hu Bufan to the point where his pants nearly fell off.


    "Bingning!" Seeing Chen Bingning''s disheveled appearance, Lu Yiyao and Sun Ruowen immediately gathered around her.


    Chen Bingning was still in a dazed state, clearly under the influence of some drug.


    Having learned a few things at Super God Academy along with Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao quietly used her own ability to purify the drugs from Chen Bingning''s system and used her bioelectricity to help her regain consciousness.


    Surrounded by a crowd, when Chen Bingning realized her situation, she broke down instantly and buried her head into Lu Yiyao and Sun Ruowen''s chests, sobbing softly.


    "How can you just barge in here? Everybody out!" The whole scene made Hu Bufan and his agent panic. If only the involved parties were present, even if something happened, there would still be room to maneuver. But if outsiders got involved, the whole situation could spiral out of control.


    But to their surprise, the security guards didn''t move an inch, completely ignoring Hu Bufan''s orders.


    "Mr. Zhang, the manager sent us to ensure your safety. Please give us your orders!" said the security team leader respectfully.


    Normally, they wouldn''t dare to mess with Hu Bufan''s studio, but his boss had just informed him that the entire building belonged to the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong. Could Hu Bufan''s studio really be more influential than Zhang Menglong? There was no need to ponder which side to take!


    "Close the doors. No one is allowed to speak of what happens here. Anyone who learns of today''s incident must not be let go. Delete all the surveillance footage of this room from the monitoring room!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" The security team leader immediately went to carry out the order.


    "Menglong, how can you let them delete the footage? That''s all evidence!" exclaimed Lu Yiyao in a panic.


    "Think carefully, what''s more important? The evidence or the girl''s honor," Zhang Menglong pointed to the surveillance camera and said, "How many people in this situation end up being threatened by photos and videos and are too scared to speak out? You don''t want anyone to see this footage of Chen Bingning, including law enforcers, right?"


    "But..."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve already had the footage deleted," said the security team leader, who was very quick on his feet.


    "Good," Zhang Menglong turned his gaze to Hu Bufan, "Explain today''s events!"


    Originally frantic, Hu Bufan grew bold when he heard that Zhang Menglong had actually deleted the files.


    He couldn''t believe that Zhang Menglong would let such important evidence be deleted. Was he insane? Afraid of a leak, couldn''t he just delete the original and keep a copy for himself? Now, as long as he denied everything, there was absolutely no evidence left, and with his persona as a ''gentleman'' in the entertainment industry, nobody would ever believe he was that kind of person!


    "Mr. Zhang, I thought it would be respectful to discuss a solution since we can negotiate," Hu Bufan said.


    "There''s no negotiation," Zhang Menglong said with a tone that brooked no argument. "Confess to everything you''ve done, announce your withdrawal from the industry, and turn yourself in. That''s your only way out."


    "Mr. Zhang, I am showing respect by suggesting we negotiate. Now, you have no evidence. I think it''s better for both of us not to turn hostile. My fans'' influence might not be something your money can beat!"


    "Oh? Really?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "You want evidence? But do you really think I need any evidence to bring you down?"

 Chapter 613 611: Ill Be the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Entertainment Circle

    "Chen Bingning, crying won''t solve any problems. You are Yiyi''s friend, and I will handle this matter to the end!" Zhang Menglong walked over to Chen Bingning and said.


    Chen Bingning stopped sobbing. Indeed, many people become very desperate in such situations, especially if the opposing party is from a powerful and influential family, pursuing the matter might still end up unresolved.


    But she was different, she had a good friend whose boyfriend was one of the richest people in the world. Perhaps, in his view, there was nothing in the world he couldn''t handle. Compared to those people, she was already very lucky.


    "I just want to ask you one thing, and I respect your decision. If you want to settle this privately, just name a price, and I''ll make sure you get it. If you want to pursue it further, I''ll make sure he ends up in jail. Also, rest assured, I will not let any information about you be leaked."


    The whole room suddenly fell silent. Hu Bufan was also waiting for Chen Bingning''s response, knowing all too well how formidable Zhang Menglong could be. Until now, no one had ever managed to best him. If he chose to settle privately, as long as the amount wasn''t absurd, he''d rather pay off the trouble.


    If Zhang Menglong truly wanted to take it as far as he had indicated, Hu Bufan would have to take some other measures. No matter how powerful Zhang Menglong was, he definitely wasn''t going to surrender without a fight!


    He had over fifty million fans, and his influence domestically was extremely terrifying. If anyone tried to smear his reputation, even with the truth, his fans would aggressively retaliate unless there was solid proof.


    But this time, all the information had been cleaned up by Zhang Menglong himself, making it impossible to gather any evidence, so where would the solid proof come from?


    As for other victims, he of course believed that Zhang Menglong was capable of finding each of them, but most of the traces had already been cleaned up; those willing to testify would probably be few and far between.


    Furthermore, considering Zhang Menglong''s character, he would likely prefer not to expose those girls to social and media harm.


    So, even if Zhang Menglong wanted to take it to the end, Hu Bufan might not necessarily lose. In fact, if Zhang Menglong couldn''t produce evidence, it might even cause him much trouble.


    A few minutes later, Chen Bingning''s voice was heard, "I want to pursue this to the end. I believe there are definitely more than one or two people who have been harmed by him. I hope such a person will lose the ability to harm others forever."


    "If that''s the case, why not just castrate him?" Zhang Menglong revealed a fierce smile.


    "Boss, what does ''castrate'' mean?" a security guard asked.


    "It''s like neutering, usually something done to cats and dogs to eliminate their fertility," the head of security murmured softly.


    "Comparing to cats and dogs, Mr. Zhang is really something!"


    ...


    "Did you hear that?" Zhang Menglong looked back at Hu Bufan, "It''s still the same condition, admit everything you have done, announce your withdrawal from the industry, then turn yourself in, and be sentenced as the law dictates. I won''t use any other means against you."


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "No more nonsense, I''m giving you three days. If I don''t see a statement from your studio within three days, I will handle it my own way."


    "Yiyi, let''s go." Having said that, Zhang Menglong took the three girls and left Hu Bufan''s studio.


    ...


    "Brother Zhou, what do you think about this?" After Zhang Menglong had left, Hu Bufan''s complexion immediately darkened, his heart harboring a certain amount of fear towards Zhang Menglong.


    Zhou Zong, full name Zhou Zong, was Hu Bufan''s agent and assistant, and he was also his best accomplice in these shameless acts. Many girls were harmed, and he was closely involved, even once participated in group activities with him¡ªtheir relationship was closer than brothers.


    "Bufan, we might be in big trouble," Zhou Zong''s face also looked terrible, "You know who Zhang Menglong is, what he does is never just talk. If we don''t do something to satisfy him in three days, his earlier words were definitely not just to scare us."


    "Do I really have to quit and confess?" Having achieved fame young and amassing millions of fans, if one day he found himself notorious and left with nothing, Hu Bufan would absolutely not be able to accept it.


    "Of course not," Zhou Zong said, "But we must do something even if Zhang Menglong uses his influence to attack you later. We will have enough capacity to fight back."


    "How so?"


    "Strengthen your public persona!" Zhou Zong said, "The gentleman persona you''ve built before needs to be further reinforced. Isn''t there a charity gala soon? There will also be a red carpet event, and almost half of the entertainment industry''s female stars will be attending. At that time, act more gentlemanly, donate a bit more."


    "I understand!" Hu Bufan grasped the meaning from Zhou Zong. As long as he maintained his current persona unyieldingly, even if Zhang Menglong hammered at him, as long as there was no solid evidence, he wouldn''t be easily brought down.


    You say Hu Bufan is a scumbag messing with male and female relations? Didn''t you see him maintaining a very gentlemanly distance from so many female stars, and even necessary physical contact was conducted in a gentlemanly manner? Without evidence, your accusations are mere slander!


    This was exactly the effect they wanted!


    With such an incident occurring, the mood at the birthday party naturally could not continue. Zhang Menglong sent Chen Bingning home, Sun Ruowen stayed to look after her, and Zhang Menglong went straight home with Lu Yi Yao.


    All along the way, Zhang Menglong''s face was gloomy, "A good birthday turned out like this, sigh."


    "Menglong, why are there so many people like this in the world?"


    "Perhaps it''s just human nature," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "The more a person lacks something, the more they become obsessed with it. That Hu seems to need this kind of way to satisfy his perverted heart.


    "I didn''t used to like Wang Ling that much, but now, by comparison, I think he has grown on me a lot," Lu Yi Yao said.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Wang Ling, although his romantic life is a bit all over the place, at least every time he falls in love, he is serious about it, willing to spend money, and does it through legitimate means. It''s just that he changes girlfriends frequently, but at least it''s all above board."


    "But some people are rather sinister, with mean methods. The kind of people I despise most in life," Zhang Menglong spoke more and more angrily, "A Californian living off our Huaxia and mistreating Huaxia''s girls, and yet he''s supported by a bunch of mindless fans. It''s truly ridiculous."


    "That''s how the entertainment industry is; what you see is mostly what they want you to see. How many more like Hu Bufan are there in the entire industry?"


    "Wang Ling used to act like the disciplinary inspector of the entertainment circle; looks like I''ll have to take on this role now," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll make sure to bring this issue to a resolution."


    ...


    The three days passed quickly, and just like Hu Bufan had designed, at the charity gala, he donated five million directly under his own name to the regions affected by the flood.


    During the red carpet walk, he consistently maintained a very good distance from the female stars, and he also managed to dodge some physical contacts very cleverly.


    His studio immediately bought him a trending spot, with headlines like "Hu Bufan''s Gentleman''s Hand" and "Hu''s Gentleman Touch" filling up the whole Weibo.


    His fans were also madly supporting him, praising his behavior, and his popularity surged crazily once again within two or three days.

 Chapter 614 612: Sue with Any of the 127 Law Firms at Your Disposal

    "You just won''t quit until you hit rock bottom!"


    Zhang Menglong looked at these articles and found the wording to be ridiculously ironic.


    After two days of company and conditioning, Chen Bingning''s condition had greatly improved, and Zhang Menglong''s timely appearance had prevented a tragedy. At least she wasn''t too deeply hurt.


    The auditions had actually ended at 5:30, and by the time Zhang Menglong and his crew arrived, it had been over for more than an hour.


    He also found it outrageous. A lot could happen in an hour. Could Hu Bufan really be as bad as Wang Ling said?


    Could it be that he''s incompetent? Didn''t he spend that hour taking drugs?


    Zhang Menglong tossed these messy speculations aside. Now was not the time to fuss over these "details". Chatting or not, somebody had died everyday!


    "@Hu Bufan, I''ve already given you the chance, but since you didn''t cherish it, I''ll have to do it my way!"


    Zhang Menglong directly posted a status on Weibo and tagged Hu Bufan''s official Weibo.


    With tens of millions of followers, Zhang Menglong was constantly being checked on Weibo, especially since he liked to post about giving away houses and cars when he had nothing better to do, which to many was a shortcut to riches.


    Within a few short minutes, the message began to ferment.


    Hu Bufan''s behavior over the past few days had earned him quite a following, and he was at the peak of his popularity. And now, Zhang Menglong was picking a fight with him?


    "What opportunity? Is there more juicy gossip?"


    "What''s going on? Is Boss Zhang going up against Electric Eel? Thrilling!"


    "Protect the best, Hu Bufan!"


    "Boss Zhang, I have no objections to who you confront. But if you come after my husband, I''m turning against you!"


    "Are you jealous, huh? Can''t stand seeing others succeed? Are you tired of stirring trouble everywhere?"


    ...


    Without any news having come out yet, many of Hu Bufan''s fans were already anxious. In their hearts, their idol was a god, inviolable and sacred, and for Zhang Menglong to trouble their idol was to trouble them.


    "I personally witnessed Mr. Hu Bufan using drugs with the intention of taking advantage of a girl three days ago. I hope Mr. Hu can promptly admit his mistakes and take the initiative to turn himself in to the authorities and announce his permanent exit from the entertainment industry. We don''t need such a corrupt beast in show business!"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t hold back at all, exposing everything that had happened that day and stating his demands.


    This left the onlookers flabbergasted.


    This was no minor scandal. With fifty million fans, the impact was terrifying. If it got confirmed, never mind how many people would have their "houses" collapse, it would definitely set off a horrific storm of public opinion.


    Having done this, there was basically no chance of turning things around.


    "Boss Zhang, you can''t just say anything recklessly. We need evidence to make accusations!"


    "Woah, such a big scoop! Does it call for a PowerPoint?"


    "Doesn''t this require a Word document? But is Word big enough?"


    "Is it because Wang Xingren is holding a concert soon?"


    "Damn, it''s true, there''s a Wang Xingren concert in a week. Good lord, to think such an outrageous persona still stands unshaken!"


    "I always thought California Cannon King was joking around. Who would''ve thought it was true? I absolutely believe what Boss Zhang says!"


    "Impossible, right? Wasn''t he the gentleman walking the red carpet a few days ago? When that actress accidentally fell, he helped her up just with his arm. How could such a person do such things?"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you have to bite everyone you see? Don''t you find such talk disgusting?"


    "So what if you''re rich? Can you go about recklessly slandering others because of your wealth?"


    "@Hu Bufan Studio, sue him right away!"


    "Zhang Menglong apologize!"


    Only minutes had passed, and tens of thousands of comments had surged forth like a tide. If Zhang Menglong hadn''t upgraded the Weibo server, this explosive topic might have crashed the server by now.


    The onlookers went crazy with gossip, while the fans furiously denounced Zhang Menglong, demanding he produce evidence, or they''d sue him for defamation.


    "I''ve got solid evidence in my hands, but I don''t want the victims to suffer any more harm. The tone of this Weibo post isn''t up for discussion; it''s an order. If you don''t follow my instructions, I''ll make sure you regret it. I mean what I say. I won''t reveal the evidence, but trust me, I''ll dig to the very bottom!"


    Soon after, Zhang Menglong posted screenshots of all the law firms under his name on Weibo.


    "I have a total of 127 law firms under my name. Sue me if you dare; I''ll take on every single case. Let''s see if you have the guts to sue me!"


    "Holy shit, that''s badass! This is what a real man looks like!"


    "Boss Zhang, I support you. We definitely need to protect the victims, but you also have to protect yourself. Don''t let those bastards find an opportunity."


    "127 law firms, damn, the top ten firms in the nation are all yours, who would even bother to sue you!"


    "Go ahead and sue me, I''ve got 127 law firms ready to back me up all the way. This is freaking awesome, just like a hero straight out of a feel-good novel!"


    "@HuBraggartStudio, if you think this is defamation, hurry up with a lawyer''s warning letter!"


    "@HuBraggartStudio, no more talking? Don''t tell me you''re off preparing your PR countermeasures?"


    "@HuBraggart, Fanny speak up, we all know you''re not like this."


    "Yeah, Fanny, we all support you. Just say the word, and we''ll believe you unconditionally!"


    ...


    "Son of a bitch, Zhang Menglong is actually serious!"


    Within Hu Bofan''s studio, his complexion had turned incredibly somber.


    This was practically coercion!


    Hu Bofan himself was feeling guilty. If he stayed silent now, it would appear as if he was conceding to these accusations, which meant he might as well wait to face the music.


    But if he issued a statement, it would be an all-out war with Zhang Menglong!


    "We''ve got no other choice," Zhou Zong said, "If we don''t respond soon, we''ll be even more at a disadvantage."


    "Then issue it!" Hu Bofan clenched his teeth. It was already a fight to the death.


    Official Statement:


    Mr. Hu Bofan has been renowned for his integrity and talent since the beginning of his career, and he has absolutely not committed any acts against the law or morality. Regarding Mr. Zhang Menglong''s inappropriate accusations, the studio reserves the right to pursue legal responsibilities.


    The statement was also accompanied by several photos, such as snapshots of Hu Bofan''s gentlemanly gesture and content about his donations, among other things.


    This was a message to his fans that he was truly a decent person, incapable of committing such heinous acts.


    "Really shameless to the extreme," Zhang Menglong was no exception; people like him had long abandoned any moral standards. Could you really expect them to have a shred of shame?


    "If donations are a sign of a pure heart, then haven''t I already reached sainthood?" Zhang Menglong quickly posted another Weibo, followed by nine screenshots.


    xxx Red Cross: 20 billion Huaxia currency


    xxx Hospital: 30 billion Huaxia currency


    xxx Flood Relief Donation: 20 billion Huaxia currency


    ...


    "Boss Zhang is so domineering!"


    "This lit a fire in me, smash the reblog button for a beating!"


    "Too awesome, damn!"


    "What''s the point in flaunting your wealth? Have the balls to show some real proof?"


    "Zhang Menglong, you scumbag, do you really think you can do whatever you want with money?"


    ...


    "Stupid brain-dead fans!" Zhang Menglong was at a loss for words when he saw the insults. Are these celebrities really like their own fathers that they need such protective fans?


    Hachi, the faithful dog, wouldn''t watch their shows if it wasn''t for these kinds of fans!

 Chapter 615 613: Terminate the Contract with Him Within 3 Days

    "Damn, Menglong, what''s going on? How did you end up clashing with the California Electric Eel? Did he offend you? You''re splashing quite some mud there!" It seemed Wang Ling couldn''t digest the gossip and couldn''t help but call Zhang Menglong.


    "This isn''t really slinging mud, the victim is Yiyi''s friend," Zhang Menglong briefly explained.


    "Pfft!" Wang Ling couldn''t help but laugh, "Sorry, off-topic, but is it really that small?"


    "It''s super tiny," Zhang Menglong was speechless, "How should I describe this feeling? It''s like you think you''re picking your nose with your finger, but it actually turns out to be just a cotton swab, you get what I mean?"


    "Hahaha, killer!" Wang Ling held his belly, Zhang Menglong''s description was just too apt, "So, what are you planning to do?"


    "I''m going for a full-on hammer blow," Zhang Menglong had never thought of sparing Zhang Bufan, he Zhang Menglong wasn''t a saint. If this had happened to someone else and he didn''t know about it, he wouldn''t bother, but since it happened to a friend nearby, it was undoubtedly a death wish.


    "You''d better be careful, with his over fifty million followers, if there are a couple of million brain-dead fans among them, that''ll be enough for you to handle.


    "Hahaha, I''m really not scared," laughed Zhang Menglong, "I actually hope those brain-dead fans are as foolish as possible. Once this Zhang Bufan gets hammered by me, they''ll absolutely lose their minds. By then you''ll see just how miserable he can get."


    "Dude, I''m only on the second floor and you''re already out in the stratosphere with this round."


    ...


    Zhang Bufan''s scandal suddenly sparked a heated discussion online, and of course, the lines were clearly drawn between fans and haters.


    Most importantly, many self-proclaimed victims had come forward, posting chat records and other evidence online through their friends and various channels.


    Regardless of whether these posts were true, an incomplete count had the number of victims reaching thirty, most of whom were between ages 18 to 20. Outrageously, there were even minors aged 16 and 17!


    "This is my sister''s personal ordeal. Originally, she planned to live with this secret, but with Director Zhang stepping forward, she felt compelled to support him. These are the chat records left by Zhang Bufan at that time!"


    "Damn, what kind of person is this, asking girls to drive 300 kilometers to meet him? Does he want a free ride?"


    "When President Wang drives 300 kilometers to meet someone, and Zhang Bufan asks someone else to drive 300 kilometers to meet him, you really see who has the moral high ground."


    "To be honest, President Wang is really classy, by comparison, he''s practically a saint!"


    "Disgusting, I''m gonna puke. If it weren''t for Director Zhang revealing this, I''d still believe he was as good as people say online!"


    "Still, we can''t just believe Director Zhang and those chat records alone, who knows if they''re even real?"


    "True, let''s be rational here, this evidence can only be corroborative, definitely not conclusive."


    "Damn, even now are you still gonna whitewash this?"


    "Some are still enjoying the gossip, while others are already mourning at the grave."


    ...


    "Can''t believe there are actually people willing to come forward and spill the beans?" Zhang Menglong looked over the 30 or more articles, some of which were likely stirred up by haters, but he believed some must be true.


    "Louis Vuitton... damn, why are these ads so annoying?"


    A beast like him even endorses so many products?


    Zhang Menglong casually checked and found that Zhang Bufan was indeed the spokesperson for various top brands in Huaxia and globally. No wonder he could rake in billions in Huaxia and still have money to engage in such deeds.


    Zhang Menglong directly made a call to the boss at Weibo.


    "Zhang... President Zhang, do you have any instructions?" The entire Weibo was ablaze with activity, and among those involved was Zhang Menglong''s account manager, who seemed somewhat at a loss. Was Zhang Menglong about to play the authority card again?


    "Take down all the ads endorsed by Hu Bufan for me. I feel sick just looking at his face now!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "But President Zhang, those ad slots were paid for by the brands. If we do this, it would be like breaking the contract innocently, and the brands will come after us."


    "I told you to take them down, why all the fuss? It''s not them who will be coming after us, but I who will be going after them!" Zhang Menglong said, "Starting now, lock the top trending spot on Weibo for my account. I''m going to play the authority card again today!"


    "But President Zhang, your actions... the higher-ups will disapprove!"


    "That''s not your concern!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone and immediately called Academician Zhou.


    With such a big fuss, even someone of Academician Zhou''s age couldn''t possibly be unaware.


    "You troublemaker, are you stirring up trouble again? When did you start acting as the entertainment industry''s disciplinary inspector?" Academician Zhou''s reprimand carried a hint of indulgence.


    "I had no choice. I was just celebrating my girlfriend''s birthday that day, and then that mess happened. If it hadn''t involved me, fine, but since it did, I have to see it through. I''m just giving you a heads-up first."


    "So, this thing is for real?" Academician Zhou''s tone became much more stern, "I''ve always said those celebrities need to be disciplined. Every time it''s all talk and no action. With such a situation now, let''s see what they have to say one by one!"


    "Menglong, I give you the authority to handle this matter as long as you keep it within bounds. This time, we must thoroughly clean up the entertainment industry!"


    "That''s what I was waiting to hear!"


    With Academician Zhou''s firm support, Zhang Menglong proceeded without any reservations.


    These stars strut around so arrogantly just because they have some popularity and money? An academician has to take any advertisement to treat his wife''s illness, and he gets condemned for it, while an actor earns more than a billion a year and a bunch of mindless fans treat him like a god. What kind of values are those?


    "A Californian making money in Huaxia, I''d like to see how you do it!"


    Zhang Menglong directly tagged all the brands that Hu Bufan endorsed in a Weibo post.


    "@Louis Vuitton, @Lancome, @L''Oreal, @Porsche... A public figure should maintain a public figure''s image. Someone like this doesn''t deserve to earn Huaxia people''s money or be any brand''s spokesperson. I give you three days to terminate your contracts with him, or else you''ll bear the consequences!"


    "666, awesome, President Zhang is really tough!"


    "President Zhang is right; a celebrity with a tainted record doesn''t deserve to be an endorser. Terminate the contract immediately!"


    "Not just terminate the contracts, they should also pay compensation. This person has damaged your brand''s image, you must sue them for all they''re worth!"


    All the tagged brands were thrown into panic.


    What''s going on here? Was it easy for them to pay such high prices to get Hu Bufan as their spokesperson? A single endorsement cost tens of millions or even more.


    If Hu Bufan really was a tainted celebrity, that would be another matter, but with no solid evidence yet, if they terminated the contracts now and later there was a twist in the situation, wouldn''t that give their competitors an advantage?


    But if they didn''t terminate the contracts, they had seen what Zhang Menglong was capable of. Not to mention these big brands, even if they united, they couldn''t compete with even a finger of Zhang Menglong!


    They felt like they were walking on a tightrope now, with dangers at both ends.


    All they wanted was to enjoy the spectacle, but how did they end up being part of the spectacle themselves? The joke was on them? They really had it tough!

 Chapter 616 614: You Wont Terminate the Contract, Right?

    "What on earth is Zhang Menglong trying to do?" Seeing that Weibo post by Zhang Menglong, Hu Bufan immediately panicked.


    All these big brands like Louis Vuitton, Porsche, Lancome¡ªthey might be big and successful, but in front of Zhang Menglong, they''re no different from the small vendors on the street.


    His presence was like opening a seven-star restaurant in a snack alley¡ªif he wanted a shop to go out of business, then it would go out of business.


    Zhang Menglong''s post was essentially a command. Although it didn''t state the consequences, thinking with one''s butt was enough to know that if they chose not to terminate their partnership with Hu Bufan, it wouldn''t be long before they''d have to worry about more than just finding a top influencer to endorse their brand¡ªthey''d have to worry about whether their company would survive at all.


    "Brother Zhou, the director of Porsche''s Huaxia division just called to say they want to terminate their partnership with Brother Fan!"


    This news came just minutes after the post was made.


    "That''s not acceptable, we have a contractual agreement. They can''t just terminate it unilaterally, or they''ll have to pay a penalty of 50 million!" Zhou Zong immediately said.


    "Brother Zhou, they say that Brother Fan''s improper behavior has damaged their brand''s reputation. They don''t just want to terminate the contract, they''re even demanding 20 million in damages for defamation."


    "What? They want compensation? Ridiculous!" Zhou Zong slammed the table angrily, "Right now, Zhang Menglong is just making up charges out of nowhere. If there really was such an issue, we wouldn''t need him to deal with it¡ªthe relevant departments would have already been in touch. There''s no such thing as damage to reputation!"


    "We absolutely can''t be suppressed by him!" Zhou Zong immediately said, "Have the PR department release an article right away to counter Zhang Menglong''s claims. Those chat logs provided by those people have no credibility whatsoever. We have to fight against this sort of slander!"


    "Yes, Brother Zhou!"


    Zhou Zong slumped onto the sofa, out of breath, thinking that even if the situation continued to ferment, there would be a more gradual process.


    Who knew that Zhang Menglong wouldn''t reason with you and now, even without definitive proof, directly threatened all the major brands to terminate their contracts with him. How were they to defend against this?


    "I believe those brand representatives aren''t idiots. In the current situation, Zhang Menglong doesn''t have solid evidence. They can''t terminate our contract without any concrete proof that Fan is so-called ''disreputable artist'', they wouldn''t dare to really terminate the contract!"


    But they were still wrong. Indeed, some brands hesitated and didn''t respond immediately, but many other brands chose to terminate their contracts right away.


    "Tengxun Video announces the termination of their brand endorsement advertising with Hu Bufan!"


    "Wangyi Music announces the termination of their three-year brand endorsement deal with Hu Bufan!"


    Minutes after Zhang Menglong''s message was posted, Wangyi and Tengxun''s official Weibo accounts each released their messages.


    Tengxun and Wangyi, with their 14 games, were raking in money hand over fist. What''s just tens of millions in penalties? If it needs to be paid, then it''s paid!


    Moreover, paying the penalty was only a temporary situation. Ma Hua and Ding Sanshi were well aware that once Zhang Menglong set his mind on doing something, he would carry it through to the end, and he never engaged in meaningless or immoral acts.


    They were sure that Hu Bufan must have done something. Although they had no evidence now, they believed that sooner or later, Hu Bufan could be exposed by Zhang Menglong!


    By then, if the disreputable artist''s charges were proven true, not only could they get back the penalty they''d paid, but they could also demand the corresponding damages from Hu Bufan according to the contract.


    And now, a small temporary price was a small price to pay for winning Zhang Menglong''s favor¡ªa deal that was definitely profitable without any loss!


    Holding a similar view were the majority of Huaxia''s brands as well as some foreign ones. In just three short days, nearly 20 brands forcibly terminated their partnerships with Hu Bufan!


    Facing such a trend, even a portion of Hu Bufan''s fans started to panic.


    Although Hu Bufan always said that these were just rumors, to date, Zhang Menglong hadn''t received any legal notice. Doesn''t this indicate that they simply didn''t have the courage to sue Zhang Menglong?


    The brands, one after the other, terminated their contracts¡ªwas it not just fear of Zhang Menglong''s threats, but because they had gotten wind of something?


    Gradually, even without concrete evidence, public opinion started to lean more towards Zhang Menglong''s direction.


    "Not bad, at least they have some brains," Zhang Menglong looked at the announcements from the brands. "Hong Yi, how many brands are left that have not terminated the contract?"


    "There are still seven foreign brands including Lancome and Givenchy," replied Hong Yi.


    "It seems that some people are still harboring illusions," Zhang Menglong sneered. "If they are not taught a lesson, they''ll think that my words are a joke."


    ...


    "Mr. Hubert, it''s me, Zhang Menglong!"


    The owner of Givenchy was so startled by the call that he nearly jumped.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang..."


    "Mr. Hubert, it seems you haven''t taken my words to heart, have you? Has Givenchy become too proud, or is Zhang Menglong unable to wield a knife anymore?"


    "Mr. Zhang... well, uh, there''s still no definite outcome regarding Mr. Hu''s affairs, right? We can''t terminate the contract with him for violating moral standards and damaging the brand unless it''s a misunderstanding..."


    "Misunderstanding?" Zhang Menglong laughed coldly. "So, you''re not terminating the contract, is that it? Then I''ll just have to call the Dorellas family and let them talk to you."


    "What... the Dorellas family?" This name sent a shiver down Hubert''s spine. Was this a name that could be casually mentioned in Europe?


    "I dare to ask, Mr. Zhang, what relation do you have with the Dorellas family?"


    "Their family''s head is a servant in my household!" Zhang Menglong said. "If you don''t believe me, I can have the head of their household call you shortly, but I don''t guarantee they will be as friendly as I am."


    "I... I''ll arrange the termination right away!"


    Where would Hubert dare to doubt any longer? First of all, not many people knew about the Dorellas family, and the fact that Zhang Menglong could so casually divulge this name meant he was indeed on that level. Hubert would rather err on the side of belief than disbelief!


    "If I don''t show you some color, you really think I''m just farting, huh?" Zhang Menglong


    ...


    "Givenchy announces the termination of its endorsement contract with Hu Bufan!"


    Following Givenchy''s announcement, other brands such as Lancome and Louis Vuitton also chose to stand together, and of course, whether their owners discreetly called Hubert is unknown. But if they knew about Zhang Menglong''s connection with the Dorellas family, they would probably be scared out of their wits, right?


    Thus, all the brands that had endorsement deals with Hu Bufan had ended their partnerships with him.


    "Snap!"


    At this moment, Hu Bufan was like someone who had all his strength drained, collapsed on the sofa.


    Even though the breach of contract payments had earned him a good sum, he was well aware of what he had done, and though he had covered his tracks cleanly, guilt still haunted him. If by any chance solid evidence was found one day, he would have to pay back every cent of that money, even potentially providing hundreds of millions in compensation!


    The best strategy in the Thirty-Six Stratagems is to retreat!


    An idea arose in Hu Bufan''s mind. In Huaxia, he was definitely no match for Zhang Menglong. Even if Menglong couldn''t find conclusive evidence, just by spending money, he could crush him completely, turning his life into something akin to imprisonment.


    The best option for him would be to return to California!


    "Notable! Disaster has struck!" At that moment, Zhou Zong came over. "We''re finished this time!"

 Chapter 617 615: Roll Back to Your Hometown

    "What''s happened now?" Seeing Zhou Zong''s panicked appearance, Hu Bofan''s heart skipped a beat, and he thought that something truly serious must have occurred since even a few days ago, when he was caught on the spot by Zhang Menglong, Zhou Zong had never shown such an expression.


    "Do you remember the girl from the bar last year?"


    "You mean Yu Mengzhu?"


    "Exactly! It''s her!"


    An image of a girl immediately surfaced in Hu Bofan''s mind. She was the girl who auditioned for the female lead in his new song''s music video last year, but in reality the choice for the female lead had been settled long before, and it was also a top female star.


    However, nobody on the outside knew, and Hu Bofan, as usual, used such excuses to "select a concubine" among the commoners, and that girl named Yu Mengzhu was one of them.


    At that time, Yu Mengzhu was in the prime of her youth, just turned 17, and because she liked Hu Bofan, she signed up for the selection. Her 168 cm height, long legs, and well-proportioned figure were truly rare among girls her age!


    And Hu Bofan repeated his old trick; he took this girl''s body. Afterwards, not only did he clear Yu Mengzhu''s shopping cart, but he also promised to make her his girlfriend. The nai?ve and ignorant Yu Mengzhu foolishly believed him.


    But as the California Cannon King, how could Hu Bofan possibly only satisfy himself with one girl? He continued to mess around outside and neglected Yu Mengzhu. Later on, Yu Mengzhu''s family couldn''t stand it and made a scene several times, but with strong public relations and money, he still managed to suppress the matter.


    Only this time, Yu Mengzhu actually stood up and even produced many chat records as evidence!


    If it were just ordinary chat records, a simple "They''re fake" could easily dismiss them. In this day and age, who can''t photoshop?


    But in one chat record, Hu Bofan actually took a photo from his own first-person perspective, and that day he had just gone to record a show. The clothes, pants and shoes he wore on the program that day matched perfectly with the photo, and the dates also matched up perfectly!


    This was seriously bad news, it was a completely solid piece of evidence!


    Putting aside whether Hu Bofan had used any disgraceful methods or not, his affair with an underage girl was almost an indubitable fact!


    Feeling the urgency, Hu Bofan quickly opened Weibo, and Zhang Menglong, who had always been at the top of the trending searches, had now been replaced by this Yu Mengzhu''s solid evidence. The title even displayed a bright red "Explosive," and it had become a hot topic for national discussion!


    "Damn it! What a scumbag, I can''t believe I used to think he was incapable of doing such a thing."


    "Fans who couldn''t see through him, do you need more solid evidence? Is this hammer heavy enough for you? Keep defending your ''daddy'' now!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, I even doubted you. Looks like you should be the chief discipline inspector of the entertainment circle from now on."


    "Damn, what did I even fan? A mushroom? A labor camp convict? My youth is totally wasted!"


    ...


    Despite such revelations, there were still a massive number of fans speaking up for Hu Bofan. Some even found ways to get Yu Mengzhu''s contact information, and she was dragged into a maelstrom of extreme cyberbullying.


    "Although that young lady has been somewhat what you may call it, she did have the guts," Zhang Menglong could still somewhat admire Yu Mengzhu.


    How many girls of that age are not smitten with someone? Being slept with by one''s idol is definitely something to brag about, and Zhang Menglong could totally understand that.


    But what Zhang Menglong admired was her courage to stand up and speak out because even if she brought down Hu Bofan this time, she would be labeled with unspeakable tags in the future, be viewed through tinted glasses, and her ordeal would not be forgotten as time passed.


    No matter what her motives were, exposing a person like Hu Bofan early on would definitely prevent many girls from being harmed by such scum, and in a sense, that was certainly a good thing, wasn''t it?


    "Keep this topic trending, don''t let her posts be washed away." Zhang Menglong immediately commanded the people at Weibo, then he had his intelligent program monitor all the data on the internet, blocking the information of those who cursed at Yu Mengzhu or attempted to perform cyberbullying against her!


    "Give her a billion!" Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi, "If her future is ruined, this money can at least make sure she''s well-off for several generations!"


    In Zhang Menglong''s eyes, at this time, Yu Mengzhu was just a tool, but he still respected her as a person. Since she had chosen this path, Zhang Menglong felt it was necessary to do something to help her.


    As the incident fermented, the relevant departments finally took action. Previously, due to insufficient evidence, they had been unable to deal with Cannon King, but now they had strong evidence, and any further sophistry was pointless.


    A notice called "Urgent Risk Avoidance Notification Regarding Discredited Celebrities" was issued by the headquarters, which severely criticized Cannon King''s behavior. They also reminded all brands and businesses to take effective measures promptly to avoid the negative impact caused by Cannon King''s actions.


    Moreover, they announced that they would investigate to the end the disgusting behavior of Cannon King towards underage girls!


    The official statement confirmed the affair, and once the relevant departments spoke, any rebuttals were nonsensical.


    Following the official response, the entire entertainment industry blacklisted Cannon King. All the music videos and records that were halfway through recording came to an abrupt end, and he was replaced on variety shows. In the entertainment industry, he had become a pariah.


    Cannon King''s public persona collapsed. Was this the same ambassador for charity, the same gentlemanly Cannon King? He turned out to be such an incredibly shameless and despicable person!


    The fans'' world collapsed!


    Over fifty million fans plunged in number in a very short time, and those who didn''t unfollow him did it only to curse him a couple more times.


    Just as Zhang Menglong expected, the fans defended Cannon King passionately before, and now they were cussing him out in the same fervor.


    "Trash, get out of Huaxia!"


    "Leave, is a single word. I''ll say it just once!"


    "Why aren''t you talking now, huh? Are you looking for a ghostwriter to draft a statement?"


    "Cannon King, we believe in you, you''re definitely not this kind of person (dog head)."


    "I actually fantasized about being with you¡ªyour thing is so small, even a magnifying glass couldn''t find it, right?"


    "He should go after those girls who faint at the sight of needles, so he wouldn''t need to use drugs!"


    "A grave for our fallen friend above, my 40-meter long blade was too swift to retract, mind your words in your next life!"


    "Hello, Cannon King, when you announce your exit from the entertainment circle, can you tell me which teammate has body odor?"


    ...


    All the brands were ecstatic, especially those who bet that what Zhang Menglong said was true. They were not only getting their contractual penalties back, but they could also demand hefty compensation for brand damage from Cannon King''s studio.


    This was no longer just about how much money Cannon King would lose; it was about how much debt he would accumulate!


    The endorsement of a single brand could be as little as ten or twenty million, and as much as eighty or ninety million. Behind these pricey contracts, if the brand image were tarnished, the costs would be terrifying indeed.


    You talk about twenty or thirty million, he''s talking about forty or fifty million, and when you add up the dozens of brands, the demanded compensation amounts approached a billion!


    So far, Cannon King had only made two or three dozen billion at most. Some of this money was spent on mansions, some was invested, and he simply didn''t have enough to cover the compensation!


    After selling houses, companies, and shares, he was still buried in debt; and those creditors couldn''t even find his hiding place.

 Chapter 618 616: Swim Back Home

    "Has Bingbing''s mood been okay these past few days?"


    "Much better," Lu Yiyao replied, "after all, she hasn''t suffered any substantial harm. It''s just that she''s still been somewhat traumatized and has been having nightmares often these days. She relies on medication to maintain quality sleep."


    Lu Yiyao added, "Didn''t Ruoruo and I take her to see a doctor after we got back last time? The doctor said that kind of medication is very special."


    "How special?"


    "It can paralyze a person''s nerves, removing all ability to resist, but it allows one''s consciousness to become extremely clear. It feels like your body is being taken away from you, but you can clearly see everything that is happening to your own body."


    "Bastard!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but curse again, what Hu Bufan did was even slightly against human ethics; he really was crazily challenging the moral limits of humans.


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong ordered, "mobilize all my resources to find out the origin of this medication, I want an entire shutdown!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang." Hong Yi nodded, these small tasks were absolutely easy for her.


    "What''s the situation with Hu Bufan now?" Zhang Menglong continued to inquire.


    "All the companies under his name have already been deregistered, most of his assets have also been transferred overseas. After the bankruptcy liquidation, about 5.7 billion yuan in funds are left. He''s now preparing to move to California."


    "Still over five billion?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise, "Didn''t the losses from those brands bankrupt him?"


    "You might not believe this, but despite Hu Bufan being utterly unscrupulous, he is actually a person who pays his taxes in full," said Hong Yi, "The previous estimate of his total assets being 20 to 30 billion was actually incorrect, his total assets are nearly 40 billion!"


    "That much?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, in the past two years, the fees he received for several endorsements and variety shows have mostly exceeded one billion each. Even just for recording a variety show, his income reached as much as 80 million."


    "It really is a mad gold rush," Zhang Menglong remarked, "Those who contribute greatly to national progress are chided for not having scholarly integrity if they live stream and sell millions in courses.


    Their wives'' medical expenses can''t be covered, and you''re talking to me about the sentiments of scholars? Why aren''t these scumbags criticized?"


    "After getting this money, he didn''t buy luxury cars or houses like other stars such as Sasha, but hired a professional financial team to manage these funds. Although he always took the ''steady'' route, over the years, the operation of these funds could easily double his assets with an annual return of 20%.


    "No wonder he still had so much money left after paying off so much!"


    "Isn''t the police handling this?" Zhang Menglong asked, as online users had tagged many departments, and the relevant departments had already started a thorough investigation of Hu Bufan. With some of the victims bravely stepping forward to cooperate, logically, it should be impossible not to find a breakthrough.


    "This involves the issue of nationality," Hong Yi explained, "Although Hu Bufan committed these acts in Huaxia, he is a Californian citizen. Even though we have the authority to deal with domestic crimes, it seems Hu Bufan also has quite a few connections in California. After communicaions between both sides, Hu Bufan will return to California after his visa expires, to be handled by the relevant local departments."


    "Well, he really acts like he''s above us, can''t we touch him now?" Zhang Menglong sneered.


    "Yes, if California does not take any action, according to the relevant regulations, we can take sanction measures, but now with their involvement, it''s not easy for us to proceed."


    "What do you think will happen to him once he gets to California?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I''ve already investigated Hu Bufan''s background. Many of his relatives in California hold official positions, and through those connections, it''s likely that he''ll merely receive a light judgment. Moreover, Hu Bufan''s popularity globally is very high, and his notoriety in Huaxia won''t much affect his reputation abroad."


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but swear profusely, "So we can''t let him go back?"


    "Mr. Zhang, we can''t do that," Hong Yi said, "we don''t have the authority to interfere with deportation matters."


    "No, no, no, who said I was going to interfere with his deportation?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "He needs to take a flight back to California, doesn''t he? If he can''t buy a ticket and can''t go back, that can''t be blamed on me!"


    "Mr. Zhang, the sale of airline tickets is beyond our business scope, we can''t ask airlines not to sell tickets to Hu Bufan."


    "Yeah, I know," Zhang Menglong said. "Whether they sell them or not is up to the airline, but whether we can buy them, that''s Hu Bufen''s problem now."


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao exchanged glances, then smiled knowingly.


    "You always have an endless supply of bad ideas in your head!"


    "Hahaha, just average, third best in the world!"


    ...


    "What? The tickets are sold out? How is that possible? I ordered as soon as they went on sale, and I''m not even traveling to a high-traffic area. How could they be sold out all at once?"


    "I have a very important business negotiation to attend. If I miss it, the company will lose a big deal!"


    "What? Can''t even get tickets to such a lousy place? Are you kidding me?"


    ...


    The next day, the phone lines of all the national airlines were blown up. Every outbound flight ticket was sold out.


    The airlines themselves were puzzled. How could this happen? It was outrageous! All the tickets had been bought at the same instant, but they came from different regions and were purchased by different identities.


    If it was some kind of hacking software or a system bug, consider this: buying plane tickets requires real-name registration, so where did all these IDs come from?


    But if it was an organized, premeditated plan, how many people would it take? How much funding would it require?


    Most importantly, what was the point of doing this? To prevent Huaxia''s people from leaving the country?


    Since the purchases were all legitimate, the airlines had no choice but to tell the consumers that unless someone cancelled or transferred their ticket, they really had no chance of traveling abroad.


    Just when everyone was extremely frustrated, a Weibo post appeared.


    "Anyone needing to travel abroad, please contact the following numbers. All tickets are 20% off the original price. As long as you''re not Hu Bufen, the transfer will be immediate!"


    "Dammit! Did Zhang do this?"


    "I get it! He''s trying to keep that Californian, Hu Bufen, from going back!"


    Recently, experts had also analyzed what Hu Bufen''s eventual fate would be, but the actual outcome disappointed everyone. Once his visa expired and he returned home, it would be hard to sanction him domestically.


    Unexpectedly, to prevent Hu Bufen from leaving Huaxia, Zhang Menglong actually did such a thing!


    Although it became a bit troublesome for people who really needed to buy tickets, with a 20% cost reduction, why wouldn''t everyone be happy about saving money? Moreover, Zhang Menglong had arranged for someone to handle all the procedures; they only needed an ID and money, hardly needing to do anything else.


    Most crucially, this move directly trapped Hu Bufen in Huaxia, which was extremely satisfying!


    Countless people went to Hu Bufen''s Weibo to leave comments.


    "Think you''re amazing just because you''re from California? Now see how you get home!"


    "Wait to be sanctioned by socialism, you disgrace!"


    "You don''t necessarily need a plane to return to your country. We aren''t stopping you; why don''t you just swim back to California?"


    ...

 Chapter 619 617: You Forced Me

    "Hahaha! I''m dying of laughter, General Manager Zhang''s moves are getting more impressive by the day, it''s just astounding me!"


    "Buying so many tickets must have cost a fortune, right?"


    "No, no, no, you guys should think about it ¡ª how many flights go overseas each day, how many people can fit on each flight, and how many people would Zhang need to charter so many flights?"


    "Damn, the more I think about it, the scarier it gets ¡ª this isn''t something money alone can accomplish!"


    "@Hu Bufan, we''re not trying to make it hard for you. Just swim back to California, and we won''t pursue this matter anymore!"


    "Hahaha, traversing half the Earth just like that ¡ª why don''t you go do another variety show instead? Wouldn''t a variety show earn you 800 million? This swim could easily net you 800 billion?"


    "That''s too harsh, Zhang is going to snatch up all the bamboo shoots on the mountain; the pandas will starve!"


    "That''s pretty badass, but I like it!"


    ...


    At first, everyone had some complaints about Zhang Menglong''s maneuver, but once they understood what he was actually up to, it immediately drew a chorus of cheers.


    "What 20% discount? I don''t need it ¡ª just to see that guy get screwed over, I''d gladly give you an extra 20%!"


    "Fly back? Will he compensate? He should only deserve to swim back!"


    "Swim back, and we''ll forgive you!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, that bastard!"


    Having heard this news, Hu Bufan''s hatred for Zhang Menglong had reached a peak. Was he a mad dog, capable of doing such a thing?


    He tried to make those few calls, but as soon as they heard it was Hu Bufan trying to leave the country, they simply hung up the phone!


    It wasn''t just the flights to California he couldn''t buy; he also couldn''t book any other flights, and his plan to fly back home with connections fell through.


    More exaggeratedly, he found some completely unrelated people hoping to buy tickets, figuring he could just transfer them a couple of times. As long as the tickets were held by his people, he could manipulate them into his own hands.


    But Zhang Menglong''s people seemed to have surveillance in his house; the minute they saw a name arranged by Hu Bufan, they seemed to know just by looking at it.


    A few days ago, they had already received subpoenas. If he couldn''t return to California by the specified time, he would face legal punishment under Huaxia law.


    Based on the crimes he had committed and the current evidence chain, they could almost lock down the things he had done before ¡ª things involving MJ, LJ, and minors; his future was filled with doom.


    "Mom, please think of another way for me!" Hu Bufan looked at the middle-aged woman next to him, dressed like a posh lady.


    "Am I not thinking of a way for you, mom?" the woman said impatiently. "Sleeping with women is one thing, but you can''t even clean up your tail properly!"


    The woman made a phone call and after speaking a few words, her facial expression gradually shifted from serious to relieved.


    "Okay, I''ve pulled some strings and arranged for someone to bail you out. Before the hearing date, someone from California will send a chartered flight to pick you up. Even if Zhang Menglong is rich and powerful, he can''t interfere with an official aircraft, right?"


    "Mom, you really know how to get things done!"


    ...


    "What? He escaped?"


    Upon receiving this news, Zhang Menglong was furious, "Did someone sell him a ticket?"


    "No, Mr. Zhang, it was Hu Bufan who contacted officials in California, and they sent a chartered flight to repatriate him."


    "And the verdict there?"


    "They said all these were testimonials from the Huaxia side, lacking solid evidence, and the charges didn''t hold!"


    "Who gave that verdict?"


    "The President of the Supreme Court of California," Hong Yi said, "this person was favored by Hu''s father. His father held a high position in California, and his mother was influential in a local state-owned enterprise. He is indeed a rich second-generation and a political second-generation."


    "Good! Very good! Excellent!" Zhang Menglong said three times in succession, "California, right?"


    "Prepare 10 trillion US dollars for me, I want to blow up California''s capital market!" Zhang Menglong raised his arms and yelled. How dare they save those above him? Wasn''t this courting death?


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, there''s no need to use such methods to destroy California''s economy," Hong Yi said with a smile, "their currency market is not very active, and it would probably be slow to collapse them financially."


    "Then what should I do?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Through the market," Hong Yi said, "California is a very special country. Their economic development heavily relies on foreign countries, and this nation has an absurdly high debt. Their per capita income increases by one US dollar, their debt increases by 1.79 US dollars, and 53% of the population is on the verge of personal bankruptcy."


    "Ah bah, I don''t understand." Zhang Menglong hadn''t studied economics, so it was hard to understand without the fundamental knowledge.


    "Simply put, if you withdraw the foreign industries from their country, the local bank interest rates will skyrocket, leading to a slew of free industries and personal bankruptcies in the short term, and the whole country would collapse."


    Hong Yi continued, "Due to the impact of the pandemic, many Huaxia entrepreneurs have withdrawn from California. During that period, the national interest rate increased by more than a point, and millions filed for bankruptcy!"


    "Such a tiny interest rate, it has so much power?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi said, "you should never underestimate the power of the market."


    "I don''t care anymore, just go ahead and operate, whether it''s money or resources, I want to see them pay the price!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    "Tenghui Group announces its withdrawal from the California market!"


    "127 Huaxia factories collectively exit California''s industrial belt."


    "56 Huaxia high-tech enterprises leave California!"


    Within a week, no one knew what had happened, but California''s key economic sectors had collapsed.


    California''s economy relied on the real estate, manufacturing, and high-tech sectors. Due to its unique geographical location and other characteristics, it depended on foreign investments. Once these investments pulled out, the country faced a fatal economic blow.


    "In one week, California''s banks raised their interest rates three times, with a total increase of over 2%. The government has already intervened, but to little avail!"


    "Overnight, millions in California went bankrupt. What exactly was the reason?"


    "Why would so many Huaxia industries abandon California?"


    The drastic changes over the week had caught the attention of economists worldwide.


    California''s high-level officials were in total disarray, and the mass bankruptcy of the people made their situation extremely difficult. It was truly hard to accept that such a vast country had its economy devastated in just a week.


    After finishing his tasks for the day, Finance Minister Mo An was up late at night. He was utterly exhausted after the week, and today''s efforts finally managed to keep the interest rate increase controlled at 2%, but he knew well that if this trend couldn''t be curbed, the banks'' rates might continue to rise tomorrow.


    He tried to communicate with the Huaxia enterprises to find out why they were withdrawing, but no one gave him an answer.


    At that moment, a mysterious call came through.


    "Hello Minister Mo An, are you wondering why so many enterprises have left your country?"


    "Who are you? Are you involved in this matter?" The youthful voice on the phone felt eerily familiar to Mo An.


    "Industries worth hundreds of billions of dollars. How many people in the world do you think can simply make them move?"


    "Are you Zhang Menglong?" Mo An''s mind quickly pictured a person.


    "You guessed right, but there''s no reward!"


    "Why would you do such a thing?" Mo An asked, his teeth clenched, "Our country hasn''t done anything to offend Mr. Zhang, has it?"


    "Not entirely," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "this matter is something your country has forced me to do!"

 Chapter 620 618: Whatever Crime You Want, Ill Add It To You

    "Mr. Zhang, I don''t understand what you mean," said Moan, "We in California have always maintained a good relationship with your country and have never interfered with any principled issues. Where does this talk of ''forcing'' come from?


    "Minister Moan, don''t be anxious. You might not be aware of this matter since you are from the economic sector and not the legal system, so it''s understandable that you might not be in the know. But, perhaps you could first take a look at the recent news from Huaxia before we continue."


    "News?"


    "A few days ago, your country, through connections, rescued a scumbag from Huaxia who had committed some very infuriating acts. However, because he had your country''s nationality, some people had him sent back to your country and even got rid of all his responsibilities. This has really upset me!"


    "Goddammit, who the hell did this?" Moan cursed to himself in his heart.


    The legal system screwed up, and now it''s up to those in the economic system to clean up the mess? If he found out who was behind this, he''d skin them alive!


    What era is it that people dare to assist someone whom Zhang Menglong is dealing with?


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will certainly coordinate all relationships to deal with this matter. If there truly is such a scumbag, it would be a disgrace to us Californians!"


    "You have three days. If I can see a satisfactory result, those factories will be reinstated, and I will use my funds to help you stabilize the bank interest rates, and even solve your inflation problems."


    "Really?" For one person to save a country''s economy seemed like a joke, but now anyone with a bit of sense wouldn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s words.


    It had been revealed that he had assets worth 10 trillion US dollars. With assets of such a scale, it was easy to either bring a country to its knees or revive it, depending on his willingness.


    "But if I don''t see that result," Zhang Menglong sneered, "I''ll prepare 10 trillion US dollars in cash and dump it directly into your foreign exchange market. I remember your foreign exchange market only has a little over a trillion US dollars in it, right?"


    This was an outright threat.


    California''s currency market wasn''t very active, but what did 10 trillion US dollars mean?


    With the right moves, just two to three trillion US dollars could trigger a slaughter on America''s Wall Street, taking away a massive amount of capital.


    With 10 trillion US dollars, even a third-rate team could easily empty California''s currency market.


    Their national debt was already worrisome, and if such a scenario occurred, the issue with bank interest rates wouldn''t just be about a few percentage points¡ªit would be whether the banks had any money to lend, or if they could even survive.


    The average citizen''s debt ratio could increase several times overnight, and bankrupting half the country''s people and factories in one night wouldn''t be impossible!


    And all this hung on a single thought from Zhang Menglong!


    "10 trillion US dollars in funds, in cash!" Moan was close to tears.


    Are the people at Forbes Magazine idiots? Who said Zhang Menglong only had 10 trillion US dollars in total assets? The man could casually throw around 10 trillion US dollars in liquid cash, so tell me, wouldn''t his total assets be closer to forty or fifty trillion US dollars, if not more?


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t worry, I''ll immediately arrange for someone to investigate this matter. Since this person committed the crime in Huaxia, he is a criminal of Huaxia, and thus, a criminal of California¡ªhe absolutely should not go unpunished!"


    Zhang Menglong almost laughed at this sudden pledge, "You''re not even going to investigate if he actually did anything wrong? What if our people made a mistake?"


    "No need to investigate; it''s definitely his fault. If it''s not his fault, then it''s California''s fault!"


    "Such a bootlicker!" Moan''s sycophantic attitude left Zhang Menglong truly at a loss for words. What more could he say when the man was being so obsequious?


    "Then I will wait for the news from Minister Moan."


    "Assistant! Assistant?" Moan called out loudly.


    "Minister? Are you off work yet? I''ll arrange a car for you."


    "Off work? No one is allowed to leave today. I need you to investigate something at top speed," Mo An said, "Has anyone from the judicial system recently used any national resources?"


    By the way, who has been deported back to America from Huaxia recently?"


    The assistant''s face flickered with unease, making sure no one was around before he said, "Minister, are you referring to the incident with Hu Bufen?"


    Hu Bufen? A Huaxia national? How could he be deported back to our California?" Mo An was puzzled.


    "Hu Bufen is just a name in Huaxia; his real name is Chris, the son of the second-in-command at our Prime Minister''s Office," the assistant explained, "It seems he ran into some trouble with his endeavors in Huaxia and was deported back to California and managed to have his charges dropped through some connections."


    "Old Chris dares to do such a thing?"


    "Shh!" the assistant said, "Minister, even though they are the second-in-command, they are still powerful people from that place. We in the finance department have no dealings with them, and we''d best not provoke them!"


    "Idiot, do you know that our country''s economy is now in crisis because of those two bastards, big and small?" Mo An said, "Has he also become senile, not realizing the kind of trouble his son has gotten into?"


    "Minister, do you know what caused those recent incidents?"


    "It was Zhang Menglong''s doing!" Mo An said helplessly, "And he said if this matter isn''t resolved, he will bring 10 trillion US dollars to sweep our market. Do you think Old Chris has enough heads to take responsibility for this?"


    "Is this Zhang Menglong related to those victims?" Mo An asked.


    "Not at all," the assistant shook his head. In order not to allow Old Chris''s son to be tried in Huaxia, he paid for an entire Huaxia airplane''s tickets to prevent him from coming out. It was Old Chris who used his connections to pick him up by plane."


    "Idiot! Doesn''t he know how stubborn Zhang Menglong is in his dealings?" Mo An slammed the table, "10 trillion US dollars! 10 trillion! It could cripple our national economy from just the impact. This man is a monster, a deep chill!"


    "Minister, what should we do?"


    "Get all the information together; we''re going straight to the Prime Minister tonight! We might not be able to handle Old Chris, but he surely can!"


    ...


    "What? Zhang Menglong? Him again?" Upon hearing the news, that person in California couldn''t stay calm either.


    "How should we deal with it?" Mo An sighed, "Zhang Menglong is only giving us three days, or he''ll crush us with 10 trillion US dollars. If that money hits, our country''s inflation rate would increase by several times in the short term!"


    "What three days? It will be too late to deal with it in three days! Clean this up tonight! Can our country afford to offend Zhang Menglong? Who can afford to? Call him back immediately."


    "But... what should I say to him?" Mo An asked.


    "Old Chris, relieved of his duties and dealt with! Let him reflect in prison!"


    "What about Old Chris''s son?"


    "What charges did Huaxia press against him?"


    "Drug trafficking, rape..."


    "Whatever charges Huaxia has pressed, we''ll press the same here. If Zhang Menglong is still not satisfied, just ask him directly what he wants, and I''ll add it on! If these offenses don''t carry a sentence in our country, then change the nation''s criminal law!"


    ...

 Chapter 621 619: The Entire Super God Academy Mobilizes

    "California''s relevant departments have already confirmed Hu Bufan''s actions in Huaxia and, according to local laws, sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment!"


    Under California''s legal process, it usually takes at least six months for an offender to go from being sued to the end of the trial, and some drawn-out cases could even drag on for three years.


    How could Californians have the nerve to drag it out? Zhang Menglong was ready with a trillion US dollars, ready to crush them at any moment. Forget dragging it out for three years, three months, they''d probably overturn the heavens if they dared to drag it out for three days.


    Gathering evidence, verification, sentencing, all completed within three days¡ªsomething that even Hu Bufan himself wouldn''t be able to conclude so quickly in Huaxia under related procedures.


    The moment he was handcuffed, Hu Bufan''s mentality collapsed completely. Hadn''t he already returned home? Given his family''s background and influence in California, even if they couldn''t keep him completely out of jail, dragging it out for a year or more to minimize the issue wasn''t supposed to be difficult, right?


    He thought he had escaped from the jaws of death, only to find out he had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire¡ªhis mentality was completely shattered!


    ...


    "That''s how it should be!"


    "Fuck, only sentenced to ten years? He seriously got off easy."


    "Not bad, not bad, California is a country with a great landscape."


    "One frail young master, one California eel, with these two visionaries, let''s see who dares to pull this kind of stunt in the entertainment industry again."


    This sentencing had netizens exhilarated. A ten-year sentence meant that by the time he got out, in an entertainment industry that changes so quickly, a person like Hu Bufan who lacked any significant works would quickly be forgotten.


    Years later, once his name came up again, the only labels attached to him would be California eel, California Cannon King, Hu sign, Hu painful acupuncture¡ªthese humorous terms.


    Seizing the opportunity, relevant departments began to wield a broad sword, reshuffling the entertainment industry, with a sweeping tax evasion investigation that dragged down a large number of celebrities.


    An office specifically for whistle-blowing against the entertainment industry was also directly established¡ªprovided you had sufficient evidence, you could report anyone on this platform.


    "Not bad, not bad, Californians do seem to know the bigger picture," Zhang Menglong saw California''s official announcement, not just about Hu Bufan''s arrest, but also the judge who presided over the case and Hu Bufan''s father were all implicated, awaiting their punishment under California law.


    "In the future, if anyone wants to report these artists, as long as your evidence is sufficient, you can come directly to me. Even if it might affect your career and prospects later on, don''t worry, I''ll support you!"


    Zhang Menglong updated a message on Weibo again, and in just a few minutes, the comments soared into the tens of thousands.


    Who could withstand this? Many people chose to swallow their anger and stay silent when faced with these issues out of fear for their career and prospects, right? Zhang Menglong''s "Don''t worry, I''ll support you" seriously caught them off guard!


    Suddenly, everyone in the entertainment industry felt endangered. There used to be a very strong bond between everyone, but with Zhang Menglong stirring things up like this, who would dare to cause trouble? Several stars who had been involved in such matters before were now in a state of panic, some even fell into depression.


    In the following month, relevant departments not only received a myriad of complaints from people working within the entertainment industry but also received several voluntary surrenders.


    When the departments asked for the reasons behind their surrender, even the staff members were dumbfounded.


    For any artist with a history of indiscretions, providing Zhang Menglong with leads that proved to be true could earn a reward of 1 million Huaxia currency, and for those with more serious charges, this reward could even multiply tenfold!


    Seeing this news felt like being on a wanted list, living in constant fear, unable to eat or sleep¡ªwho could withstand this? The torment of such suffering was even worse than coming forward to surrender!


    Man, that''s a full deterrence meter right there!


    Who is actually in charge of the supervision department? How about you, Zhang Menglong, take the head position?


    Even though the head of the relevant department was somewhat frustrated, this was, after all, good news. As they say, heavy rewards lead to brave deeds. Under such strict monitoring measures, the entire entertainment industry suddenly became pure and adorable.


    ...


    "Okay, let''s play again next time!" Zhang Menglong took off the equipment and stepped out of the Esports room at home.


    "Menglong, come quick!" Seeing Zhang Menglong finish his game and come out, Lu Yiyao hurriedly called out loudly.


    "What''s up?" Zhang Menglong leaned over to Lu Yiyao''s phone screen, "What happened?"


    "Menglong, the typhoon''s impact is severe this year, huh?" Lu Yiyao said, worried as she looked at the information on her phone, "The extreme weather is getting more and more severe. Several places around the country are experiencing heavy rain, and some have even surpassed historical highs."


    "This really is serious," Zhang Menglong looked at the series of reports and immediately showed a worried expression.


    Actually, regarding typhoons, Zhang Menglong had never felt too much about them, having grown up in Dongji City, an island city, where they experienced several typhoons every year.


    Being by the sea, although the wind and waves were strong, they rarely caused disastrous consequences. After all, even with the heaviest rainfall, the water would simply run off into the sea, avoiding flood disasters.


    Zhang Menglong still remembered that during typhoon days were his happiest times because school would be closed, and he loved running around in the wind.


    But for inland cities, such typhoons causing intense rain could be fatal. Once the city''s flood drainage system had issues, it could lead to a disaster.


    In some cities, due to the sudden surge in rainfall, the streets were already severely waterlogged, and even the subway systems didn''t escape the calamity.


    "Menglong, many people in the affected areas are trapped by the torrential rains and floods," Lu Yiyao said.


    "I didn''t expect the disaster to be this severe," Zhang Menglong hadn''t heard about such disasters for a long time and had almost forgotten that typhoons were also very dangerous extreme weather events.


    "Let''s help these cities," Lu Yiyao said.


    "Mm," Zhang Menglong nodded. Even if Lu Yiyao hadn''t mentioned it, with such a situation, he felt he should contribute whatever little he could.


    "Hong Yi! Donate 1 billion in my name to the local Red Cross for flood relief!" Zhang Menglong immediately arranged, "Wait!"


    "Mr. Zhang, is there anything else you''d like to order?"


    "Don''t donate money," Zhang Menglong said with a cold laugh, "They charge a 10% management fee."


    Zhang Menglong was well-informed about certain organizations'' systems, knowing that this 10% management fee was extremely flexible and could breed corruption.


    "Let''s do this. Donate the money to the Han Hong Foundation; I trust this foundation," Zhang Menglong stated, "And purchase 1 billion worth of emergency supplies. I don''t care by what means, but get them to the local Red Cross at the fastest speed possible."


    "Understood," Hong Yi went to carry out the orders.


    "Ye Yin!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m here!"


    "Immediately gather everyone at home and initiate a rescue operation in the disaster-stricken areas. Try to keep a low profile, and unless absolutely necessary, try not to expose your powers in front of ordinary people. Go there as volunteers!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!"


    With a thought, Zhang Menglong, along with Lu Yiyao, entered the space of the Super God Academy.


    Now, the Super God Academy had grown to have over a thousand people, each with their exceptional skills.


    The Zhang family was formidable in combat, but their abilities were too singular. The members of the Super God Academy could be even more useful at times like this.


    "All students of the Super God Academy, assemble!"


    At Zhang Menglong''s command, all the students arrived in front of him within seconds, through the teleportation feature of each building.


    "Dean!"


    "Students, this typhoon has caused severe damage to many places, and a vast number of residents are in distress. Local rescue manpower is severely insufficient, and I need your help."


    "Dean, it''s a small matter for us!"


    "Dean, we can volunteer!"


    "Dean, take us with you for the relief work!"


    "Good!" Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction. Those admitted to the Super God Academy truly met the grade in character, "Super God Academy, mobilize all forces!"

 Chapter 622 620: The Return of the Ritian Sect

    Continuous heavy rain had submerged the downtown area of Nanhe City, with countless vehicles trapped in the floodwaters, their engines severely damaged due to prolonged soaking. Yet, the rainfall still far exceeded the city''s flood discharge capacity.


    Disaster relief personnel were doing their best to carry out rescue operations, but the number of affected people was simply too great. Roads, streets, residential areas, factories, and so on were all waiting for human rescue.


    In a bus, the water level had already surpassed the chests of many passengers, and it was only a little more than a head''s height away from the top of the bus. Many children even had to be held by adults to barely keep breathing.


    All the passengers were trying to stay calm, but the chill seeping into their bodies still sent shivers to their hearts.


    Some might ask, why didn''t they dare to leave the bus to seek survival? Didn''t it seem a bit like they were locking themselves in?


    Unlike some coastal or island cities, Nanhe City was an inland city where the general proficiency in swimming wasn''t very high, and the outside storm along with the violent wind made the currents extremely turbulent.


    Even accomplished swimmers might not be able to move freely in such turbulent water, let alone most of the people inside were landlubbers.


    If they left the bus immediately, it could be even more dangerous, as no one knew what sharp objects could be hidden in the raging torrents or what heavy objects were being swept away.


    "Wenwen, do you think we could die here?" Two girls were holding onto the bus''s metal bars, their lips turning purple from the cold, and their speech had even begun to tremble.


    "Don''t worry, we won''t. Although the situation is a bit bad now, we are not in some remote place. Plus, someone on the bus has already called the police, so someone should come to rescue us soon," Wenwen reassured, though she was in a very bad state herself. It was her "special" day today, and being submerged in such dirty water for a long time had made her feel extremely uncomfortable. There was even a sharp pain that suggested she might have gotten an infection.


    But to encourage her friend, she still managed a pained smile.


    "Creak!" Suddenly, a loud noise came from the bus, which violently shook.


    "Ah!" The people on the bus screamed.


    You have to understand that with the current water level, it was high enough to cover the width of the bus. And with everyone''s current standing position, it would be impossible to quickly adjust to lying on their sides. Combined with panic, if the bus fell over, many passengers would likely lose their lives in the floodwaters.


    But then they realized the water level around them was dropping!


    No! It was the bus that was rising! And the bus was even slowly moving forward!


    "Is there something underneath?"


    "Did someone come to save us?"


    The passengers showed smiles of relief as if they had just survived a great disaster.


    Not far away, in a high-rise building, a young man''s hands were constantly moving. Every time he waved his arms, a vehicle under his gaze would be dragged out of the water and then moved towards a relatively high and safe area.


    "Damn, controlling so much metal all at once, even Magneto would be exhausted," the young man muttered to himself as he popped a Snickers bar into his mouth.


    He pressed his earphone, "Zhou Keshi, I''ve more or less finished searching this street, how about you?"


    "I''m almost done here too. There''s an elderly person living alone trapped in the first floor of the residential complex. I''m on my way there now. The old person''s vital signs are still there, so there should be no problem."


    "And you, Gu Wen? How''s it going on your side?"


    "The situation in the subway is terrible, the water level has risen above the subway. A few of us are carrying the subway carriages out. We need more people to help!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll get a brother with strong spiritual power to come and help you, as long as the water doesn''t keep seeping in, you''ll be fine!"


    ...


    At this critical juncture, a large group of mysterious forces suddenly emerged in Nanhe City, some carrying trains and subways, others using skills like controlling metals and telekinesis, and inexplicably, the masses were evacuated to safe places.


    The emergency workers were also dumbfounded, asking how exactly those people escaped, but even the affected masses themselves couldn''t explain how it happened,


    Left with no choice, media workers could only define it as "the mysterious power of the East."


    But no matter how good the secrecy work was, there were still moments of exposure, as the Super God Academy students were helping to rescue those vehicles and subways, separated from the disaster victims only by the glass and doors of the cars.


    Sometimes, they had no choice but to reveal themselves, especially when rescuing those who were injured but still conscious.


    "Mysterious rescue personnel made their first appearance, with eyewitnesses seeing a young man tear open a car door with his hands and rescue the people inside, the youth claimed to be a member of the Ritian Sect with the nickname ''Tear Tile Star''."


    "A mysterious figure rushed into an underground mahjong parlor in a neighborhood and rescued 14 people, the young man claimed to be the Ritian Sect''s ''God of Gamblers Gao Jin''."


    "A mysterious figure broke into a hospital surgery room with damaged standby power equipment, and after completing two complex surgeries, he left proudly, claiming to be from the Ritian Sect with the nickname ''Flat Xixi Bird''."


    "Someone caught footage of a mysterious person carrying a section of the subway out of the subway station!"


    "Who exactly are these people claiming to be from the Ritian Sect, and what connection do they have with the Blast Sky Gang?"


    ...


    Similar mysterious figures appeared in many parts of Nanhe City, and the public went from initial panic to later calm and even ecstatic excitement at their presence.


    However, there had to be an explanation for these people''s existence. It''s barely believable that a person could tear open a car door, but to carry a subway car filled with dozens of people while parkouring, that''s just too outrageous, right?


    The relevant authorities had no choice but to immediately declare that these mysterious figures were elite soldiers specially trained by the state, rare in number, and absolutely loyal to the country, assuring the citizens to be at ease.


    "What in the world is going on? Where did all these Psychics come from?" At the headquarters of the special operations group, the higher-ups were completely baffled. They indeed planned to dispatch Psychics to assist in the rescue.


    But they had only just assembled their forces when these people popped out of nowhere. Estimating their numbers, there were at least several hundred. Aren''t all the Psychics in the country registered with them and forcibly recruited into the special operations group? Even those too old to move around had people specially watching over them, and they hadn''t moved at all!


    "Ritian Sect?" Captain Meng Tianhe of the special operations group suddenly remembered his friend known as the "Martial God," mentioning the sect founded by the young man named Zhang Menglong. Were all these people from the "Ritian Sect"?


    To be able to carry such heavy train cars, these people must be at least Level Six or Seven Psychics. What the hell was going on?


    But now wasn''t the time to ponder these questions. The city was too large, and there were too many people trapped, even with the help of these individuals things were still tense.


    "Longxia special operations team, move out! Try not to have any conflicts with the Ritian Sect!"


    "Captain, could the Ritian Sect be some kind of nefarious civilian organization? Should we investigate and if there''s an issue, take them down?"


    "Take them down, take them down, take them down!" Meng Tianhe directly gave the man three knocks on the head, "Remember, we in the Longxia special operations group can''t afford to mess with the Ritian Sect. If anyone''s going to take down someone, it would be them taking us down!"


    "No way?" Members of the Longxia group showed incredulous expressions.


    "Don''t doubt it," Meng Tianhe said seriously, "The reason the Martial God was able to break through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary was because the founder of the Ritian Sect casually gave him an ancient elixir. If any of you dare to provoke the Ritian Sect, I''ll be the first to twist your heads off!"

 Chapter 623 621: Wild Consumption

    More and more mysterious figures appeared on the front lines of disaster relief and rescue operations, and a large number of people were evacuated from the hazardous areas and subsequently placed in safe zones.


    Of course, many people were left behind on this day forever, as the psychics were not omnipotent. They could only do their best in search and rescue efforts.


    But then a new problem arose. Although the people were safe, the floodwaters had damaged the city''s infrastructure, with many factories submerged and a great deal of food contaminated. Suddenly, Nanhe City''s supplies became extremely scarce.


    At this time, the national cohesion immediately stood out, with large amounts of donations pouring in from across the country. No amount was too small, be it a dozen or twenty, no amount was too large, be it thirty thousand or fifty thousand. Many enterprises, individuals, internet celebrities, and stars all took up this social responsibility.


    Wuli Taotao donated 3 million Huaxia currency!


    Angela Babe donated 1 million Huaxia currency!


    ...


    This was support from the entertainment industry.


    PDD donated 5 million Huaxia currency!


    Li Jiaqi donated 2 million!


    ...


    This was the strength of the internet celebrity and esports circles.


    Xinzang Tiaodong donated 100 million!


    Tengxun donated 100 million!


    ...


    These were donations from businesses.


    What was particularly touching was that many businesses already in difficult straits also generously opened their wallets without regard for the future.


    The national brand Hongxinerke had been reporting losses for several years, with last year''s report showing a deficit of 220 million. Yet, even under such circumstances, they still managed to donate 50 million Huaxia currency to support the disaster-stricken area.


    Huiyuan Juice had recently announced bankruptcy and restructuring, and this same enterprise made a very admirable decision; they donated a hefty 5 million Huaxia currency. Compared to the giant corporations, this figure might seem insignificant, but it was all they could muster from their dwindling resources.


    Mixue Bingcheng also donated 22 million, despite their modest profit margins of one or two Huaxia currency per item.


    For a moment, netizens online were touched by these conscientious national enterprises.


    In contrast, some cola and some dashes seemed somewhat embarrassed. Of course, it''s not about moral coercion from the netizens; it''s just that without comparison, there is no hurt.


    "Damn, I''m getting old, my eyes tearing up from ''Rasengan,''" even Zhang Menglong felt a bit teary-eyed after seeing this information.


    Indeed, as many netizens said, many businesses might have had marketing motives, but even if it was for marketing, they did not hesitate to donate. So what if it was for marketing?


    "No, I must go and support them!" Zhang Menglong opened the live video streaming platform app and went directly to Hongxinerke''s livestream.


    As a company that emerged in the last century, Hongxinerke had experienced a rise and fall. They were the first sports brand to go public in the nation, and during Zhang Menglong''s childhood, their name and slogans were often heard.


    However, indeed, in recent years, the brand had all but disappeared. Although they still had stores in many third- and fourth-tier cities, first-tier cities had long been dominated by Nike and Adidas.


    Hongxinerke had five live broadcasting rooms, and their traffic was not high. At peak times, a few hundred viewers was considered quite good, with daily orders ranging between fifty thousand to one hundred thousand.


    In the live broadcasting room, a host was explaining the products as usual. With just a few dozen to two or three hundred online viewers, the room was relatively quiet, and while there were occasional sales, they were pitifully few.


    "Babies, this pair of shoes is really comfortable for running, and the price is really affordable, only 199, and they''ll last you for several years. If you like them, just place your order through the link," the host said without air conditioning in the room. After saying a lot, the host went to the side to take a sip of water and cast an inquiring glance at the central control.


    The operators shook their heads. Sales were disappointing today; after several hours of live broadcasting, they hadn''t even reached a hundred thousand. Everyone had a look of defeat.


    They didn''t have much budget for traffic promotion, and relying solely on manpower for broadcasting was really difficult.


    "Hong Yi, let the tech team make an adjustment, bump their live rooms to the top of the list and hurry to have people post about it online!" How could they let such national enterprises go bankrupt? They must be supported!


    "What? A nearly bankrupt company still donated 50 million?"


    "I''ve heard of this brand; I bought a lot of their stuff when I was a kid!"


    "Let''s go and support their live room!"


    "Guys, if this enterprise goes down, it''s related to every one of us!"


    Actually, many people already knew about Hongxinerke''s good deed, but they couldn''t do much more than admire it.


    But those posts suddenly woke them up. They could go and buy products from them to show support. The most expensive items were only a couple of hundred; who couldn''t afford that?


    Anyway, we always have to wear clothes and buy shoes, right? Why not just buy them from whoever''s selling?


    "Vivi, this... this... the numbers in our livestream..." the person in charge of the broadcast stared at the screen, eyes suddenly lighting up with excitement, "we broke a thousand!"


    "Wait a second, now it''s over five thousand!"


    "Over ten thousand now! And it''s still increasing!"


    "What?" The host named Vivi immediately stood up and walked in front of the camera.


    Before she could even see what had happened, another voice came from the person in charge.


    "Vivi, all the links we just put up have been snapped up!"


    "Snapped up? Didn''t we put up more than a dozen links, each with a stock of two to three hundred?"


    "All gone, in just one second!"


    "What?" The host looked at the livestream, where the barrage of comments was nearly blinding.


    "Why are you still standing there, stunned? Post more links!"


    "Hurry up, you don''t need to keep talking, just post the links, we''ll buy them ourselves!"


    "Put up your most expensive stuff!"


    ...


    "Quick, go adjust the inventory!"


    The operators of the livestream immediately got busy, with massive amounts of stock being transferred over, but even their pace of posting links couldn''t keep up with the viewers'' speed of placing orders.


    "Sorry, we''re out of this style!" the host apologized.


    "You still have one on you, hang the link for that one!"


    "Everyone, be sure to pay attention to the shoe sizes, we''re covering shipping insurance for all of you, so if the size doesn''t fit, you can send them back for an exchange!"


    "Impossible, if the size isn''t right, it''s definitely my feet that are to blame!"


    "If the size is wrong, I''ll chop off my own feet!"


    "I solemnly declare, today I bought a complete outfit from Hongxin Erke, if I don''t look good wearing it later, it''s because I''m not handsome enough, it has nothing to do with Hongxin Erke''s products!"


    Host: "Sorry everyone, we''re truly out of stock on this item, not a single pair left, even the ones on the host''s feet are already packed for you all!"


    "Just send me the tag, I''ll sew it on myself!"


    "I don''t need the shoes, just send me the shoebox."


    "I only need one shoe!"


    "Who the hell bought 15 pairs by themselves? Are you freaking a centipede or what?"


    Host: "Babies, we''ve sold out of all our clothes!"


    "Bring out the down jackets, I''ll turn on the AC and wear them!"


    "Pre-sell the down jackets, ship them to me in November!"


    "Post the links for sewing machines and fabrics, I''ll make them myself!"


    Host: "Babies, because the volume of orders is just too big, our shipment may run a bit late."


    "No problem, we can just confirm receipt ourselves, if the platform penalizes you for slow shipping, we''ll blow up the platform!"


    Host: "Our boss said, everyone please don''t shop blindly, make sure to consume rationally!"


    "You guys are the ones wildly donating, and we''re supposed to consume rationally?"


    "We want to shop wildly!"


    "Tell your boss to mind their own business!"


    "Bring it on!"


    ...

 Chapter 624 622: Give Me a 15% Discount

    Five live streaming rooms were suddenly flooded with countless customers, and the stock in all five rooms lasted only a few minutes before running out, even making it difficult to adjust the inventory.


    However, the faces of the hosts and staff at Hongxinerke were all aglow.


    Usually, their live streaming rooms wouldn''t sell 50,000 yuan in a day, but now, one room''s highest turnover exceeded one billion yuan, and the least still had forty to fifty million!


    The factory had started working overtime to rush production, and the sewing machines were almost smoking!


    Upon hearing the news, the owner of Hongxinerke rushed to the live streaming room overnight, initially wanting to take advantage of this hard-to-come-by traffic for a live broadcast session, but by the time he arrived, everything had already sold out.


    With no choice, the owner had to become an entertainment host. A shopping live stream, having nothing left to sell, began showcasing talents.


    "Hahaha, I''m dying of laughter, am I still in a sales live stream?"


    "Host, drop the link!"


    "Host, put up the link for the guitar in your hands, I can still buy that!"


    "Buy stuff at Hongxinerke in the morning, have a cup of Honey Citrus in the afternoon, and go trash Hu Qian on Weibo in the evening, what a fulfilling day!"


    "Guys, they''ve run out of stuff to sell, let''s shift our battleground!"


    "Right! Noble Bird next door just declared bankruptcy and donated 30 million!"


    "They also have a debt of 4 billion, right? Let''s go, charge!"


    ...


    Soon, Noble Bird''s live streaming room faced the same situation, with everything in the room selling out, but this still couldn''t hold back the enthusiasm of the netizens.


    The products might have sold out online, but there were still offline stores!


    The huge throngs of netizens then stormed into these conscientious state-owned enterprise retail outlets and started their frenzied shopping.


    "Give me ten of these!"


    "This pair! This pair! This pair! I want them all!"


    "Sir, we''ve really sold out!"


    "Hey! Don''t be rough, let''s talk nicely, don''t strip off the model''s clothes!"


    ...


    The offline stores were quickly stripped bare as well, with not a single item of clothing or pair of shoes left in sight, even the clothes and trousers on the models were directly bought by the crazy shoppers.


    What''s more absurd, some people who couldn''t get clothes or shoes picked up a clothes hanger, threw down a hundred-yuan bill, and left, which both touched and amused the staff at Hongxinerke.


    Kind-hearted netizens also began to remind everyone that unless absolutely necessary, please do not return the purchases. A return would cause severe inventory issues, which for these companies already in dire straits, would be a catastrophic disaster.


    Yet the netizens also expressed en masse that they would never return the products even if it meant calling off an engagement.


    A sales revenue of over one billion created a miracle in live stream selling, and an almost zero return rate was another miracle in the e-commerce industry, showcasing the solidarity of the people of Huaxia.


    By the time the CEO of Hongxinerke got home, it was already the next day. To handle the company''s debts, he had sold the company''s cars and even went to the live stream on a shared bicycle, getting annoyed when the bicycle was taken by someone else.


    But with the help of netizens, the company was revived from the brink, reigniting a fierce fighting spirit within him.


    He had just gotten home when he received a call from an unknown number.


    "Hello, I''m Wu Guang. May I ask who this is?"


    "Hello President Wu, this is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong? President Zhang?" Wu Guang was somewhat flattered. Over a decade ago, when his career was at its peak, he had even met many big shots who were usually only seen on TV.


    But now, he was just a small owner of a declining private enterprise in the sports apparel brand, and he was burdened with debts of several billion yuan. His company was always in a state of loss; what business could he possibly have with someone like Zhang Menglong?


    However, he was not afraid of anything, as he never did anything unscrupulous and did not worry about Zhang Menglong causing him any trouble.


    "I don''t know what President Zhang would want with me."


    "I''d like to order a batch of sportswear from you," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "20 million sets of sports equipment, including outfits, pants, shoes, and jackets! I have already transferred the funds to your company''s account!"


    "Tw... Twenty million sets?" The number immediately made Wu Guang''s lips twitch.


    In all his years of business, he had scarcely received orders for tens of thousands of sets, and now suddenly there were 20 million sets in one go¡ªhow could anyone handle that?


    "Wife, check our account!" Wu Guang immediately said to his wife beside him.


    Wu Guang''s wife quickly logged into the company''s account, and the string of zeros almost made her jaw drop.


    "20 billion? No, no, no! 200 billion?"


    According to the usual selling price, each piece of their sports apparel would sell for around 200 yuan. The items Zhang Menglong ordered would not exceed 1000 yuan per set. Even if calculated at cost price, it would be just a few hundred yuan.


    If it''s a bulk wholesale, this wholesale price could even be brought down to five or six hundred or even four or five hundred!


    But the price Zhang Menglong was offering was directly 1000 yuan per set with no discounts at all¡ªcould this be the legendary world''s richest man?


    "Mr. Zhang, this price is a bit..."


    "What, is the price reasonable?" Zhang Menglong asked. "Give me a quote, and I''ll transfer the difference."


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that," Wu Guang said with a wry smile, "usually, when we have such large shipments, we can offer a discount. If you order more than ten thousand sets from our factory, we can give you a 50 percent discount."


    "What, you look down on me, huh?" Zhang Menglong suddenly became displeased, "A discount is fine, but 50 percent is too much, 15 percent I can consider!"


    Wu Guang was dumbfounded. Goodness, these netizens have been spending until they''re out of their minds, how has Zhang Menglong also begun wild spending?


    "President Zhang, our company has already improved a lot with everyone''s help. I know such a large order from you is to take care of us, but you really don''t need to waste like this."


    "What waste? How come you have no sense of the big picture? A small-minded thinker!" Zhang Menglong said, "You had your fun with wild donations, and I haven''t had enough fun with wild spending yet. You have to take this 200 billion whether you want it or not!"


    "Just contact me directly when this batch of clothes is ready!" Having said that, Zhang Menglong hung up the phone.


    "What''s going on?" Wu Guang couldn''t help but laugh and cry. It was his first time seeing business done this way; wasn''t this just forceful buying and selling? But damn, this forceful sale was kind of endearing.


    "Thank you!" Wu Guang put down the phone. With this 200 billion, not only could the company''s debts be cleared, but they could also use this fund to make a comeback and try once again to compete with Adidas and Nike.


    But Zhang Menglong''s spree was just beginning.


    "Hello? Is this the owner of Honey Citrus Tea? I want to order 50 million cups of drinks! Huh? Delivery? No need for delivery, just hand them out on the street once they''re ready!"


    "Hello? Huiyuan Juice, right? Yes, I want 10 million boxes of juice, not for myself to drink, I just feel like supporting Africa while I''m free recently!"


    "Noble Bird, huh? Zhang Menglong here, I want 20 million sets of clothes! Huh? Can''t produce that much? No problem, I can wait 10 years to receive the goods!"


    "Fangda Group, isn''t it? What do you sell again? Oh, you sell steel ... well, since I''ve made the call, why don''t you refine a few ten thousand tons of steel for me? Huh? Build what ... um ... build rockets, I guess!"


    ...


    No disaster is too great to overcome, as long as everyone works together; there''s no hurdle we can''t clear!


    Several days later, the flood slowly receded, leaving the whole of Nanhe City and other affected areas in a mess, but everyone believed that in front of the industrious people of Huaxia, there were no insurmountable difficulties; rebuilding these things was just a matter of time...

 Chapter 625 623 I Suddenly Feel Like Laughing

    "Menglong, I can let you skip classes and don''t require you to attend project assignments, but you should at least show up for the final exams. If all the exam sections in your file are empty, it''s going to be tough for me to graduate you!"


    "Alright, alright Teacher Han, I''ll come," Zhang Menglong shook his head helplessly. He thought he could completely escape from school. Had he known earlier, he would have accepted the offer from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology to be a distinguished professor.


    Wouldn''t that title of distinguished professor trump any graduate or doctoral student? If he wanted, he could easily become an academician in any country.


    "Ah, another unremarkable year has passed," Zhang Menglong slouched on the sofa. He had been idle for a long time, spending his days at the Super God Academy slacking off, and discussing the origins of humanity with Lu Yiyao at night. Life without showing off really is lonely as snow.


    There were now over 50 teachers at the Super God Academy, but Zhang Menglong encountered something quite troublesome: it was getting harder and harder to earn Cred Points!


    You see, when he was unknown, anything he did caused a sensation, even cruising the streets in a sports car would earn him heaps of Cred Points.


    But now? The threshold for showing off kept getting higher, and Cred Points harder to come by. After unlocking a batch of new teachers, his Cred Points had dwindled to almost nothing.


    "Actually, just leading a calm and stable life seems pretty nice." Zhang Menglong scrolled through Weibo out of boredom when suddenly a news alert piqued his curiosity.


    "Qingqiu Country unearthed a relic, discovering a multitude of cultural artifacts and evidence of human activity, even signs representing civilization, suspected to be from a once prosperous kingdom!"


    "Oh? Such a tiny place actually had remnants of an ancient civilization?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat surprised. It seemed this civilization had a very distant past. Naturally, because there were few photos and they were all external, he couldn''t make much of a judgment.


    "Who knows what stuff this group will come up with," thought Zhang Menglong, critical of a nation that, to its core, suffers from an inferiority complex, doing nothing but pilfering from other countries and messing around with heritage applications. He guessed that with such a civilization unearthed, this country would once again consider itself the center of the universe.


    However, to be fair, it was indeed a stunning archaeological discovery. This ancient kingdom was built around an active volcano and seemed to have been buried due to an eruption, reminiscent of the ancient city of Pompeii.


    Experts, after preliminary estimates, stated that the underlying layers had at least two or three thousand years of history, which means this country was already established before the Common Era!


    Qingqiu, as a nation, had a history of being destroyed and recreated repeatedly; strictly speaking, its history spanned just over a hundred years. Compared to a five-thousand-year-old civilization like Huaxia, it was utterly insignificant.


    But they never accepted this. What wasn''t theirs, they claimed as their own, always conjuring up some mischief. Any nation that had ever appeared in that region, regardless of any actual connection to Qingqiu Country, was claimed as their history.


    Even so, this patchwork of histories was barely half as long as Huaxia''s civilization.


    Yet they never stopped striving to make their civilization shine brighter and stronger. Such a monumental archaeological discovery had the historians of the entire Qingqiu Country in cerebral ecstasy.


    Goodness gracious, at least two to three thousand years of history! That''s older than the earliest record of modern human civilization in their dilapidated place, and it might even predate their old neighbor Huaxia, one of the four great ancient civilizations.


    How could they sleep without showing off this to the whole world?


    The very night the ancient kingdom was discovered, Qingqiu Country formed an expedition team. In order to increase the team''s influence, they extended invitations to archaeologists worldwide, hoping they would come together to excavate this great civilization.


    While it sounded like a generous act, it was clearly a boastful display!


    "Come see! Our country had a state existence thousands of years ago, aren''t we impressive?"


    This sentence might as well have been written directly across the faces of the Qingqiu archaeologists.


    Though the invitees felt a bit uneasy, based on current information, the civilization of this ancient country did seem very old, possibly even older than that of the four great ancient civilizations.


    If they missed out on excavating this civilization, it would truly be regrettable, so those archaeologists set aside their grievances and rushed to Qingqiu from all over the world.


    The excavation was proceeding frantically, with many finely crafted artifacts being unearthed from the ruins. After carbon-12 isotope testing, these artifacts were found to be over 5000 years old!


    The world''s earliest civilization, the Babylonian civilization, only had a history of so many years!


    With this result, the entire Qingqiu Country went mad!


    5000 years of history, the oldest Babylonian civilization dates back to 3500 years ago, doesn''t that mean their history might even predate the four great ancient civilizations?


    Even though at that time their ancestors may have been slaves somewhere, unknown to them, as long as it was on their land, those were their ancestors. If they felt there was a bloodline connection, then there was one, and no one else''s words mattered!


    "It turns out we are the nation with the most ancient history in the world!"


    "The world should now recognize the existence of five great ancient civilizations!"


    "What five great ancient civilizations, the title of the four great ancient civilizations can''t be changed, the country with the shortest history should just roll out, this title belongs to us Qingqiu!"


    "This is a significant archaeological discovery; this day should be recorded in the history books!"


    ...


    In those large international forums related to history and entertainment, suddenly a large number of Qingqiu Country screen names appeared, as if the event had activated the bloodline sleeping within their DNA.


    They had only one goal: to let the whole world know that this newly emerging civilization was theirs, Qingqiu Country''s civilization!


    The ancient country was immediately patented by the people of Qingqiu Country and submitted for various cultural heritage registrations, as if they feared someone might steal it.


    "I''m speechless, since when does anyone owning the land where something is found mean they own its history?"


    "Then if our country has a bunch of dinosaur fossils, does that mean our country becomes the birthplace of dinosaurs?"


    "Haha, if their country finds traces of ancient apes, are they going to claim that their country is the origin of humans?"


    "I''m dying of laughter, but I haven''t completely died yet, a bunch of people who don''t even know their own ancestors are here talking about the new four great ancient civilizations. Back in that era, their Qingqiu ancestors didn''t even know where they were struggling to survive.


    This kind of pathological sense of superiority instantly triggered ridicule from all netizens.


    But at this moment, Qingqiu Country announced another astonishing discovery, they had found a place resembling an altar underground in this ancient city.


    And at this location, there was a gigantic gold structure over five meters tall! It was not the kind of building you would live in, rather a golden symbol that seemed to represent the totem of this great civilization.


    That more than 5000 years ago, someone could refine gold with such high purity and forge it into this form, and even maintain its luster after 5000 years today, the technology is absolutely far beyond what should have been possible in that era.


    This was nothing short of a new miracle! Its existence might even be compared to the likes of the Sphinx of Giza of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens and other wonders, with some historical scholars from Qingqiu Country even suggesting this artifact might have been left by extraterrestrials, making the whole thing more mysterious and outrageous!


    "This thing?" Zhang Menglong stared at the symbol, his face suddenly becoming somewhat stiff.


    "Why do I suddenly feel like laughing."

 Chapter 626 624: The Country Founded by Our Slaves

    ```


    "What''s got you laughing like that?" Lu Yiyao, dressed in a bathrobe, took a seat next to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mua, so delicious," Zhang Menglong unabashedly planted a kiss on her face, "Do you know about the recent archaeological discovery in Qingqiu Country?"


    "I''ve heard some," Lu Yiyao nodded, "It''s said that this ancient civilization is at least over 5000 years old, even older than the ancient Babylonia. It''s hard to believe there was an even earlier civilization in the world."


    "But those Qingqiu people really have a knack for claiming glory," Lu Yiyao couldn''t help but mock, "I remember their ancestors were just a nomadic tribe over two thousand years ago, right? They were even captured and enslaved, and now that they''ve luckily found a good place and established a country, they start trying to expand their meager history."


    "Hahaha, no kidding!" laughed Zhang Menglong.


    "But honestly, this ancient country does have some skills. If I remember correctly, even our Huaxia didn''t master the technology to make gold artifacts until a dozen centuries before AD, right?"


    Lu Yiyao took out a tablet and opened the photo that had already gone viral on Weibo.


    The photo had sparked endless debates among netizens. After verification by dozens of archaeologists and scientists from various countries, a fairly accurate age was confirmed; it was crafted approximately 5600 to 5800 years ago.


    The gold totem stood at about 5.72 meters with a maximum thickness of 51 centimeters, weighing several tons. Judging by some of the samples, its gold purity was 99.98%!


    Such craftsmanship was simply incredible for that era.


    At least according to human current understanding, no other civilization at that time could surpass that marvelous nation.


    "This has to be the greatest archaeological discovery of the century!"


    "Damn, such a thing was actually discovered within the territory of Qingqiu Country; it''s like the heavens are blind."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, they''re at it again. Alright, alright, it''s all yours; the whole universe is yours!"


    "This emblem must be a symbol of their nation, right? The design is quite impressive."


    "But there''s no helping it, they were lucky that it was found on their land. It seems that ultimately, the civilization will be attributed to Qingqiu Country."


    "The four great ancient civilizations are about to become five, this is really screwed up!"


    ...


    "Menglong, why do I feel like I''ve seen this thing somewhere before," Lu Yiyao suddenly thought of something, "I feel like I''ve seen this emblem before?"


    "There!" Zhang Menglong nodded toward a wall nearby, "Isn''t that emblem on the wall?"


    Sure enough, dangling on the wall was a purple totem that, at a cursory glance, appeared nearly identical in shape to that in the photograph; however, upon closer examination, one could still spot some slight differences.


    "Yes, that''s it!" Lu Yiyao stood up excitedly, "I remember this is your family''s clan emblem, isn''t it? It''s practically identical. Could it be that your family descends from that kingdom''s royal family?"


    Lu Yiyao, though in her twenties, still had as imaginative a mind as a little girl.


    A 5000-year-old kingdom¡ªif it had not been utterly destroyed and had developed to the present day, would probably be an enormous family or a major power, right?


    I got it! Now I understand everything!


    Zhang Menglong could very well be the descendant of that kingdom from 5000 years ago, possibly even of the royal family. That kingdom had been proliferating all along, leaving its mark all over the world, and by now, it had turned into a behemoth that spanned the entire globe!


    ```


    You should know that anything with a history of thousands of years, even a spittoon, can be invaluable; if the preparations started 5000 years ago, wealth and land would be at one''s fingertips!


    In that era, what was considered worthless has now all turned into the fortunes of Zhang Menglong!


    No wonder his enterprises span the globe, no wonder so many colossal countries and families around the world bow down to him; in these 5000 years, his family must have conquered them all!


    "What are you thinking about!" Zhang Menglong poked Lu Yiyao''s head, "You''re daydreaming; you might as well write a novel with all these twists and turns. I am not a descendent of any ancient kingdom''s royal family!"


    "Then what exactly is going on?"


    "Take a closer look," Zhang Menglong said as he took a purple totem directly off one of his garments, "do you see a difference?"


    "His is gold, yours is purple!"


    "Look more closely!"


    "Hm? The sun-shaped pattern on your totem seems to have more jagged edges, and the people depicted on it seem to be dressed differently, your totem is much more exquisite and luxurious!"


    The entire pattern is roughly in the shape of the sun, surrounded by a ring of light with a hammer and knife at the top, and the sun''s body is carved with a very complex relief. Upon careful examination, there are indeed quite a few differences between the two patterns.


    "But you''re right about one thing, it''s not a coincidence; our family does have some connections to this country!" Zhang Menglong said, "It involves some history of our family, I don''t think I''ve ever gone into the details of our family''s history with you, have I?"


    "What, Mr. Zhang, you''re interested in telling me about it today?" Lu Yiyao had always been very curious about the history of Zhang Menglong''s family, but so far, Zhang Menglong had only revealed the tip of the iceberg to her.


    Zhang Menglong wrapped his arms around Lu Yiyao, "You''ve been mine for a long time, and you''ll eventually be the mistress of the Zhang Family. Indeed, I''ve been late in telling you some things, but our family''s history is so extensive, I haven''t even remembered it all myself; let Hong Yi explain to you instead."


    "Hong Yi, come here, bring a ppt!"


    As the largest affiliated family of the Zhang Family in Huaxia, every direct descendant of the Hong Family learns, from birth, not about astronomy, geography, music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, but the history of the Zhang Family; they must know the origins of this immense family by heart.


    Soon, Hong Yi arrived with a computer connected to a television, and she actually had a ppt presentation prepared!


    As the saying goes, Huaxia has a history of five thousand years, and the rise of the Zhang Family also began five thousand years ago. Specifically, Zhang Menglong''s ancestors received the Super God Academy in 3915 BC, which is more than 5900 years ago, nearly 6000 years to be exact!


    With the miraculous aspects of the Super God Academy, his ancestors quickly broke through the limitations of human genetics, significantly developing their brain domains and achieving a physical condition far beyond ordinary humans. In the lands of Huaxia, they established the earliest city-states.


    Being strong and wealthy, no tribes dared to contend with them at that time, and the Zhang Family came to possess a vast amount of land and slaves.


    To announce their supreme status, that ancestor of Zhang Menglong created such a family crest.


    The colors of the clan emblem were purple, red, and gold. The purple was reserved for the direct descendants of the Zhang Family, entitled to wear this color of the crest. The red was for the confidants of the Zhang family and other affiliated families, tribes, and so on. As for the gold, though it looked quite noble, it was actually the lowest grade among these three colors.


    The gold represented the slaves and servants of the Zhang Family!


    As the Zhang Family grew ever stronger, many of the once subsidiary forces and tribes gradually dispersed to expand the family''s territory. Some vanished into the streams of time, losing to nature and disease without the protection of the Zhang Family.


    But there were also lucky ones; they learned various skills from the direct descendants of the Zhang family, such as farming, metallurgy, or other special abilities. With these skills, they established their own civilizations.


    Judging by this golden emblem, the country was actually established by the slaves of Zhang Menglong''s family over 5000 years ago!

 Chapter 627 625: Trouble You to Acknowledge Your Ancestry and Return to the Clan

    ```


    "Is...is this really a country that your family''s slaves built?"


    Having listened to those dozens of pages of PPT, Lu Yiyao finally understood what kind of monster Zhang Menglong''s family was. They had inherited wealth for 5000 years, and had an advantage beyond human imagination. Even if 10 generations suffered from a brain hemorrhage, they could not help but be wealthy!


    But a newly uncovered civilization, one that attracted the attention of the whole world and even surpassed the four great ancient civilizations, was actually created by the slaves of Zhang Menglong''s family¡ªthis was somewhat mind-boggling.


    "It should be," Zhang Menglong was actually not very sure, because he never knew which slave branch of his family had established such a kingdom. If it weren''t for the clan emblem representing the Zhang Family, he wouldn''t have thought this civilization was created by his family''s slaves.


    "Hong Yi, do you know?"


    "I know," Hong Yi said, "We have detailed records of every branch of your family, including the affiliate families and slaves. This should come from a slave tribe called Abushe that established the civilization."


    "Could you elaborate?" Zhang Menglong requested.


    "Sure," Hong Yi replied, "That year, it should have been when your ancestor broke through a realm, and because it caused the surrounding energy to fluctuate, it led to a severe thunderstorm, and his power even caused a serious earthquake. These forces completely destroyed the city they had built."


    "After your ancestor broke through, it seems he sensed that there were rich resources in the southeast area of Asia, so he directly took the Zhang Family''s direct descendants and a small part of the affiliate families and left, leaving the remaining affiliate families and slave families to migrate elsewhere to make a living."


    "So this Abushe tribe was more or less left behind?"


    "Yes," Hong Yi nodded, "According to the records, the clan leader of the Abushe tribe had a very cute son. Your ancestor liked this child very much, so he taught them some advanced metallurgy and agriculture. Even compared to now, except for a lack of some tools, it was not at all outdated."


    "They migrated to what is now the land of Qingqiu Country?"


    "Correct," continued Hong Yi, "At that time, it was a very quiet dormant volcano. But since it had erupted in the distant past, the ash it produced created fertile soil, making the area ideal for living in that era. So they established a civilization there, cultivating land, procreating, and practicing alchemy."


    "To honor your ancestor, they built an underground palace and cast their clan emblem in gold."


    "So why didn''t they continue to prosper?"


    "It was the volcano that caused the problem," Hong Yi explained, "Talk about bad luck, the volcano that hadn''t erupted for hundreds of thousands of years, erupted just over three hundred years after they established the ancient country. Almost all of the people of the ancient country were not spared; they were buried under thick volcanic ash until recently when they were uncovered."


    "That''s really quite a pity," Zhang Menglong lamented, if it weren''t for that disaster, perhaps there would be no such country as Qingqiu today, right? Maybe it would have been another great nation comparable to the four ancient civilizations and still eminent today.


    "By the way, has our family left behind any other civilizations?" Zhang Menglong wondered.


    "There are," Hong Yi asserted, "Gandaya Civilization, Aztec Civilization, Mayan Civilization, Mesopotamian Civilization, and many other ancient civilizations were established in relation to your family, including many that exist in mythology, which were indeed real."


    "No wonder," Zhang Menglong said, not very surprised.


    Take Gandaya Civilization, for instance, it was said to have the ability to foresee the future. Men in this civilization even had a third eye on their foreheads, a third eye that possessed miraculous powers.


    But after all, legends are just legends, and these seemingly incredible stories have not been acknowledged.


    However, thinking about it now, perhaps those legends are indeed true. Since the people of the Zhang Family had obtained such god-like powers from the Super God Academy back then, what''s so impossible about teaching some of those slaves and affiliate families?


    Never mind prophesying the future or having a third eye, having horns on the head or a tail behind wouldn''t be anything unusual!


    ```


    "This time I''m really punching above my weight!" After hearing the story of the Zhang Family, Lu Yiyao had no other emotion besides shock, "What''s the difference between this and saying the Earth is your family''s? Am I actually dating the Earth''s ''Ball Master''? Good lord!"


    "Keep it down, keep it down!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "But it looks like this civilization really has nothing to do with Qingqiu Country. If they insist on claiming a connection to this civilization and that they are descendants of it, I have no objections. After all, having one more country''s descendants of slaves isn''t a bad thing."


    "Hahaha, you''re so bad!"


    "I just hope they don''t get too arrogant, otherwise..."


    Before Zhang Menglong could finish his sentence, his gaze had already turned somewhat cold, "I''m really fed up, where do they get their sense of superiority from, daring to challenge the four great civilizations?"


    "What happened?" Lu Yiyao asked curiously.


    "Look," Zhang Menglong handed her his phone, "they''ve started applying to the United Nations for recognition as one of the new top four ancient civilizations of the new world!"


    The historians of Qingqiu Country have been incredibly busy these past few days, with some applying for heritage status, others registering patents, and some even going as far as to apply for trademarks.


    An ancient nation with a history of over five thousand years, if they could associate themselves with it, it would be their proudest achievement!


    Just recently, a historian from Qingqiu Country announced they had found evidence in some ruins that could prove the people of Qingqiu Country are descendants of this ancient civilization!


    In a mountain village in Qingqiu Country, there''s a very small and somewhat backward tribe, which has built a temple. Inside the temple, there is a life-sized statue of a deity, adorned with a totem exactly similar to that of the ancient civilization!


    The elders of this village say that their tribe has been living in this mountain village for as long as they can remember, surviving through modern wars and the modernization of cities without erasing their village, and even they don''t know how long they have been there.


    This is a huge bombshell! Once the people of Qingqiu Country package this story, these villagers become direct descendants of the ancient civilization, making Qingqiu people the descendants of the ancients, no doubt about it!


    With such a move, the people of Qingqiu started having a collective cerebral climax, and once their heads start spinning, they easily make foolish choices.


    They didn''t ask the international organization to change the four great ancient civilizations to five, but rather, they hoped to replace the old four great ancient civilizations with a new set!


    And they intend to take the place of the once-five great ancient civilizations!


    It might not seem like a big deal, but Huaxia is considered to have the shortest history among the four great ancient civilizations, according to the world-recognized information.


    Even though Huaxia''s Xia Dynasty civilization can be traced back further, its existence isn''t recognized by the world''s history and archaeology; they only recognize the beginning of Huaxia civilization from the Shang Dynasty, around 1500 BC.


    And if one really had to be removed from the list of great ancient civilizations based on history, it would be Huaxia facing dismissal!


    Which Huaxia person could tolerate this?


    You''re hitting up an ancient civilization and now you dare challenge Huaxia with its five thousand years of culture? Have your brains been filled with crap?


    No wonder Zhang Menglong''s blood pressure rose upon reading the message. Haven''t you been beaten enough before?


    Zhang Menglong opened Facebook and directly tagged the official Qingqiu Country account that had announced the information.


    "So you say you''re descendants of that ancient civilization, huh? They used to be slaves owned by my family. Please hurry up and come acknowledge your ancestry!"

 Chapter 628 626 The Big Shots Have All Come Out

    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong is starting to talk nonsense again, but I like it!"


    "I think it might not necessarily be nonsense, you see, Zhang''s family is so wealthy, maybe it really has been passed down from that time? Maybe he is even a direct descendant of that ancient civilization!"


    "Upstairs, here''s the pen, I won''t watch this year''s Hugo Awards if your work isn''t there!"


    Regarding Zhang Menglong''s statement, netizens merely adopted a teasing attitude, for the kingdom from over 5000 years ago seemed too disconnected from the current era, even close to mythological times.


    What kind of family can maintain itself for 5000 years without decline and still survive to this day?


    Even the oldest family of Confucius only has a history of 2500 years, and it''s not to say that Confucius had no other ancestors before him, but everyone only knows about Confucius, so 2500 years is already the limit for a family lineage.


    If that family really did continue to this day, that would be nearly 6000 years of history, which is indeed a bit exaggerated to think about.


    Even now, whether the people from that small mountain village are truly descendants of that kingdom is filled with uncertainty, heaven knows if it''s just a fabrication made up by Qingqiu Country.


    So, regarding Zhang Menglong''s statement, netizens just laughed it off; maybe he couldn''t stand it anymore and decided to post that message to mock those self-deprecating folks?


    The moment he posted it, it seemed to directly hit those people''s sore spot; they are the world''s oldest civilization, after all. In their hearts, Qingqiu Country is already considered the leader among the new top four ancient civilizations of the world, the foremost of the new top five civilizations of the world, how could they tolerate their grand civilization being slandered.


    Qingqiu''s historians and archaeologists suddenly turned into trolls and keyboard warriors, picking up their keyboards to confront Zhang Menglong online, even those who couldn''t use computers had their grandchildren or similar relatives register accounts on Weibo in Huaxia or other social media platforms for them.


    "@Zhang Menglong, we demand that you immediately apologize to our Qingqiu civilization!"


    "What does it matter if you are the world''s richest person? Can the world''s richest person just talk nonsense? A price must be paid for belittling our civilization! And you also have to leave the group of ancient civilizations as an apology to us!"


    "This is malicious slander and envy of our great civilization, Zhang Menglong, you must apologize, or you will be the criminal of the entire world''s civilizations!"


    "Look, this is the so-called world''s richest person, the so-called youngest Nobel Prize winner in human history? Is this the greatest mathematical genius in nearly a century of human history? I think he must be one just fishing for fame and recognition, right?"


    ...


    It was one thing for the people of Qingqiu Country to crazily insult Zhang Menglong, as they are two different races and civilizations, and they naturally didn''t get along¡ªyou insult me, and I insult you back, and it''s done!


    But what was totally unexpected was that even domestically, many people expressed dissatisfaction with Zhang Menglong, and some academic authorities even strongly protested.


    "@Zhang Menglong, we should respect every civilization, your behavior is a desecration and destruction of history!"


    "@Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, is this the kind of student your school educates? Education should begin with morality, your school should focus more on improving students'' moral and ideological education, not embarrass us internationally!"


    "The discovery of the ancient Qingqiu civilization is indeed a great archaeological discovery, even if we don''t acknowledge them, but it has indeed been excavated from the land of Qingqiu and rightfully belongs to them, your remarks are too narrow-minded."


    ...


    "Ah, why are there so many fools in this world?" Zhang Menglong felt both amused and annoyed.


    Are the people of Qingqiu Country your fathers? Why defend them like this?


    They want to kick us out of the group of the world''s four great ancient civilizations and the top five civilizations of the world, and you''re still acting like lapdogs here.


    Zhang Menglong did not confront them face-to-face, but instead just updated his status again.


    "Ignorance is indeed humanity''s greatest sorrow! You think this is a grand civilization, but it is just a civilization created by slaves, that''s all."


    ...


    "Menglong, what are you doing?" As Zhang Menglong''s mentor, with Jiangnan University of Science and Technology being insulted, he definitely couldn''t stand it. Now he was even under tremendous pressure from the university president.


    "Professor Han, I was just stating a fact, telling the truth, that country really was built by our servants!" Zhang Menglong didn''t know how else to get him to believe him.


    "Stop spouting nonsense! Were your family''s slaves the ones who established a civilization over 5000 years ago? Why don''t you claim they created all human civilization?" Han Jinyu exclaimed, "Our school is now the laughingstock."


    "But I really am telling the truth; how about I find someone to prove it?"


    "Are you serious?" Listening to Zhang Menglong''s tone and considering his unfathomable background, it suddenly seemed not so impossible!


    "I actually wanted to keep a low profile, but since everyone is criticizing me, I have no choice but to prove my innocence," Zhang Menglong sighed, "but the situation might get a bit out of hand."


    "What do you mean? Don''t do anything rash, hey!"


    ...


    "Hong Yi, notify a few families, have them say a few words!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong posted three photos on social media.


    "This is the clan emblem passed down through generations of our direct descendants." This was the caption for the purple emblem.


    "This is the mark used exclusively by our affiliated families." This was the caption for the red emblem.


    "This is the totem used by our slaves." This was the caption for the golden emblem.


    On the purple emblem, the relief depicted a person sitting on a throne, wearing clothes that were lavish and exaggerated, like a supreme ruler.


    The red emblem featured a group of people kneeling on the ground, dressed in simple attire.


    The golden emblem showed everyone lying face down, naked, completely embodying the subservient appearance of slave servants.


    "Holy shit! Is this really Zhang''s family clan emblem?"


    "No way, could what Zhang said actually be true? This is too outrageous!"


    "Could this be a hastily concocted lie?"


    "I remember now, at that one Nobel Prize in Physics award ceremony, Zhang was wearing a garment with that purple insignia!"


    "Yes, yes, I remember too. This couldn''t have been made up on the spot; it doesn''t add up with the timeline!"


    ...


    While all netizens were frantically discussing these various clan emblems, a person named Kapus Dorelas suddenly posted a picture on his personal social media account.


    The picture was exactly the red emblem that Zhang Menglong had released.


    Who is Kapus? Outsiders only knew him as a prominent European politician, but very few knew that he came from the Dorelas family, the underground rulers of all of Europe!


    Those who knew his background were instantly shocked.


    What does this mean? Zhang Menglong had just posted that update, and someone from the Dorelas family was already acknowledging their presence¡ªwere they admitting to being Zhang Menglong''s family''s affiliate?


    Before they could recover, the clan leader of the European Rothschild family also shared the totem on his social network, but theirs was neither purple nor red; it was the same golden totem, exactly like the one excavated from that relic!


    What? The Rothschild family are Zhang Menglong''s slaves?


    This... is there some severe illness going on?

 Chapter 629 627: You Guys Go Dig Over There

    Some people may not know what the Torres family is, but the name Rothschild is thunderous to anyone''s ears.


    In legends, the Rothschild family has been mythologized. Some even say they are the most deeply rooted and wealthiest family in the world, an unshakeable presence throughout Europe.


    Such a family, astonishingly, publicly acknowledged themselves as slaves to the Zhang Family of Huaxia in this manner!


    "If you''re going to be slaves, can''t you keep it down a bit? Is there anything glorious about this situation? Why does it seem like you''re so desperate for everyone to know you''re someone''s slaves? Can''t you have at least a little bit of dignity?"


    But this was just the beginning. Huaxia''s largest real estate enterprise, the huge Tenghui Group, also went public by sharing their clan emblem on domestic and international social platforms.


    Like the Torres family, they too have a red symbol signifying their status as a vassal power of the Zhang Family, whose position is even higher than that of the Rothschild family!


    Following them, the Sect Leader of the Rockefeller family shared a golden symbol. This wealthy family with a six-bag heritage conceded at this time that they were a vassal family of the Zhangs!


    Yet the shock didn''t end there. More and more families and enterprises began to share these symbols, most of which were gold, and only a minority were red.


    In Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, wherever there were people, there were shadows of Zhang Menglong''s affiliate powers and slaves, as though they were omnipresent.


    "Speak up, will you? By staying silent, are you really admitting that you''re vassals and slaves to the Zhang family?"


    "What''s the meaning of posting just a picture? Have you all become mute?"


    Countless people on social media platforms were frantically asking questions. It was then that the Sect Leader of the Rothschild family, said to possess tens of trillions of US dollars in assets, spoke up.


    "Being able to become slaves to the great Zhang Family of Huaxia is the greatest honor for our Rothschild family!"


    "Wow!"


    This message exploded like a bombshell, with the Rothschild family admitting their connection to the Zhang Family of Huaxia. They actually took pride in becoming slaves of the Zhangs. What sort of world was this?


    Someone tallied up that there were a total of 12 families belonging to Zhang Menglong''s affiliate powers and clan, with over a hundred being their slave forces.


    Without even mentioning international influence or regional deterrence, just based on assets, any family or enterprise capable of becoming an affiliate force to Zhang Menglong needed to have total assets in excess of one trillion!


    A trillion! This was ten thousand goals that ordinary people couldn''t achieve in a lifetime, and it was merely the basic threshold for becoming a slave to the Zhang family.


    Upon hearing this news, the people of Qingqiu Country were mentally devastated!


    Their pride in their 5000-year civilization, the betting chip they hoped to use to break away from their brief history, became incredibly cheap at that moment.


    "5000 years of history? Yes, it does sound quite impressive, but you''re still just slaves, aren''t you? Your master is alive and well; what right do you have to boast of your illustrious past?"


    While both slave families, others still had over a hundred thriving branches, but what about you? You were buried under thick volcanic ash thousands of years ago. If you were capable, you''d have continued like the Zhangs until now. Isn''t that shameful?


    "Hahaha, I''m dying of laughter. More than 5000 years of history, huh? Impressive, impressive!"


    "Right, didn''t you organize a national ancestral recognition event just the other day? Now that you''ve seen your ancestors'' clan, aren''t you obliged to make a statement?"


    "Ah, what unfilial descendants! You even dare to slander your ancestors'' master? This is akin to murdering one''s ancestors. If they knew, their tombs would be ablaze, wouldn''t they?"


    "LMAO, you guys really know how to stir things up. You started acknowledging your ancestors without even clarifying who they were, and now aren''t you embarrassed? Call Master Zhang your lord!"


    ...


    In the past few days, netizens of Huaxia were feeling so stifled. Everyone was vying for the title of the ancient civilization of the Four Great Ancient Nations, who the hell would be convinced by that?


    But there was nothing they could do. Archaeologists and scientists from all over the world had jointly authenticated this relic, which is indeed a product of nearly 6000 years ago. It''s rightly the first among ancient civilizations. Even if they were angry, there was no way around it.


    But now things are looking up. The founder of this civilization, dating back more than 5000 years, was just a slave of Zhang Menglong''s ancestor. Zhang Menglong is from Huaxia, so doesn''t that mean that this ancient country is essentially a slave of the Huaxia people?


    If the people of Qingqiu hadn''t gone looking for trouble, it would have been fine, but they insisted on recognizing someone as their ancestor, and nothing could hold them back. Now how embarrassing is that?


    With this relationship turning into such a mess, don''t the Qingqiu people end up becoming slaves to the Huaxia people?


    The turnaround came so fast it was like a tornado, and netizens of Huaxia were laughing like crazy. It''s the first time they''ve seen someone so desperate to be recognized as slaves. Talk about awkward, right?


    But soon, the people of Qingqiu Country came up with a new countermeasure.


    It''s true that your totem resembles ours, but we have the carbon-12 element decay test as evidence. Its history of nearly 6000 years is recognized by the entire world.


    You, Zhang Menglong, come up with three emblems and claim they are yours?


    It''s quite possible that the three emblems of the Zhang Family were inherited from that ancient civilization. Maybe Zhang Menglong himself is a descendant of that civilization.


    After all, there is no evidence to prove that the other two emblems presented by Zhang Menglong have an earlier history than theirs, nor any evidence to show that these three emblems were created by the Zhang Family!


    "Shameless!"


    "Damn! These people always manage to find a loophole!"


    Everyone indeed had no chance to refute, unless at this time another ancient relic was excavated, and by chance, it contained the three Clan Emblems of Zhang Menglong, as well as the names of these Zhang Family people.


    If not, those people from Qingqiu could come up with other bizarre reasons to deny the fact that they were slaves of the Zhang Family.


    Although it''s infuriating, their argument is not without merit; they have evidence to prove the totem is more than 5000 years old. But who knows when exactly the three Clan Emblems of the Zhang Family came into existence?


    If someone now presented these three Clan Emblems, could they also claim that the ancient nation discovered in Qingqiu Country was established by their slaves more than 5000 years ago?


    "Alas, I was trying to keep a low profile," sighed Zhang Menglong, "but why do they keep asking for trouble?"


    "Sect Leader Zhou, I need to ask for your help with something!" Zhang Menglong made a call to Sect Leader Zhou.


    "What''s the matter now?" Sect Leader Zhou chuckled, "You''re butting heads with people from Qingqiu Country, I can''t just intervene and help you willy-nilly."


    "No need," said Zhang Menglong, "I just want you to help me contact some archaeologists. I hope to use their influence to gather a group of archaeological and historical authorities from around the world."


    "What are you up to?"


    "Didn''t those people from Qingqiu say they think we can''t come up with evidence?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Since I dare say they are slaves who branched off from our household, our family must have established an ancient nation even earlier. They''ve all attacked me openly, I can''t just do nothing, can I?"


    "What, your family really left behind ruins?" This time, it was Sect Leader Zhou who was shocked. Huaxia has unearthed too many ancient civilizations already, but none dating back more than 5000 years have been found so far.


    If there really were such a civilization, even if it had nothing to do with Zhang Menglong, it would definitely be a major discovery in the archaeological history of Huaxia!


    Zhang Menglong sent a map to Sect Leader Zhou, marked with a red circle, "Sect Leader Zhou, have someone dig there. Just go down about seventeen or eighteen meters, and they''ll find out whether I''m telling the truth or not!"

 Chapter 630 628: Saw a Ghost

    This was an extremely detailed map of Huaxia, and the circle drawn by Zhang Menglong encompassed a region in the western part of Huaxia, which was almost as large as a modern city.


    "Menglong, are you saying there is an ancient city buried beneath this place?" Zhou Lao found it hard to believe, as the area marked by Zhang Menglong on the current map was a vast desert with no vegetation around and an extremely harsh environment. Could such a place have hosted a civilization over 5000 years ago?


    It is well-known that the establishment of ancient civilizations was heavily dependent on the environment. Taking the civilizations discovered in Huaxia so far, all were in the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins, thriving by mountains and rivers.


    If a civilization had been established in a desert, what would they have eaten or drunk? This simply did not meet the environmental conditions for civilization establishment of that era.


    "Why not find out by digging?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Although this place is now a desert, over 5000 years ago, it was considered a geomantic treasure land."


    "I do not doubt that," Zhou Lao said. The geological activity in this region was relatively active, often with movements of tectonic plates. Geologists had once speculated that this area was not always a desert, as fossils of aquatic life had been excavated from the sands.


    This area was very unusual, as typical geological movements go through a process, unless those caused by volcanic eruptions or earthquakes that result in rapid changes.


    However, according to the data measured, there had been no significant alterations in the geological deep layers over thousands of years, yet traces of geological changes were evident on the surface.


    This was very strange, as the sources of earthquakes are generally very deep. How could there have been changes on the surface, but no variation internally?


    "How about this, if you are skeptical, I will cover the excavation costs," Zhang Menglong said. "But you need to involve more authoritative experts; I do not want to see those people from Qingqiu Country later deny everything with a mess of excuses."


    "There''s no need for that; the state is still very wealthy. If there is indeed such a large-scale archaeological discovery, no matter how much is spent, it will be worth it!"


    ...


    The Kumtag Desert, one of the eight great deserts of Huaxia, was unusually cold and dry in winter. At night, temperatures even fell below zero, and almost no normal person would venture into the desert at such a time.


    In the night sky, a beam of light gradually expanded and landed in the center of the desert¡ªHuaxia''s newest Longxia stealth fighter jet, marked with the symbol of the "Longxia Special Operations Group."


    Two men and a woman, all dressed in special leather outfits, stepped out, then glanced around at the endless desert.


    "What the hell is headquarters thinking, sending us to do an archaeological investigation in this godforsaken place in the middle of the night?" a young man with fiery red hair, appearing to be in his twenties, said reluctantly.


    "Exactly, does investigating this require the people from Longxia?" The girl also expressed impatience on her face.


    The people from Longxia usually handled important and dangerous missions. Investigating a desert was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. Were all the archaeological teams useless?


    "Enough with the complaints," said the slightly older man, "Headquarters mentioned that there might be a large ancient city about seventeen or eighteen meters underground. Due to the high difficulty and cost of excavation at such depth, they want us to verify whether the information is accurate.


    "How could there possibly be a city so deep?" the young man scoffed. "There''s no volcano here. Even if it were buried by volcanic ash, it wouldn''t be at a depth of seventeen or eighteen meters, right? That city called Pompeii was buried about six or seven meters only."


    "Exactly. The average depth of this desert is only about three or four meters, and then it''s the rock layer. The city can''t possibly be buried under the rock, can it?"


    "Enough talk, since the command has been given from above, let''s follow the order," the team leader said. "If there really is an ancient city buried here, it would be a tremendous discovery!"


    "I''d rather be fighting those damn international psychics on the border for three hundred rounds. Digging here really isn''t interesting!" Although the young man said this, he still obediently began to follow the instructions given.


    A glint of blue light flashed in his eyes, and the sand in front of him moved as if alive, crazily surging around. His ability was to control rocks and sand; if his supernatural abilities were strong enough, he could even trigger an earthquake above magnitude 10!


    "Captain, look, isn''t that the rock layer below?" A sand pit over ten meters in diameter appeared in front of the young man, but inside the pit was the hard, barren Gobi.


    "I''ll check it out!" The squad''s captain leaped down and took out a device to start testing the ground.


    "Captain, it surely won''t be there. If there was such a big city below, it would have been discovered long ago. Someone must think we are fools!"


    "Not quite right!" the captain suddenly said, "The composition of the rock layer here is different from the data!"


    "What?" At this moment, the faces of the two young team members changed, "What do you mean?"


    "Look, according to the records, the rock layer here should have been formed by a geological change 120,000 years ago, but this layer is showing only 20,000 years old, such a fault shouldn''t exist!"


    "Are you saying that this... this rock layer was moved here from somewhere else?" As a Psychic with the ability to manipulate earthen rocks, the young man knew this ability the best.


    "That''s right, this rock layer must have been moved here by other means."


    "That''s impossible! According to the map, this city spans over 20 square kilometers. Even the leader''s supernatural abilities couldn''t support shifting such a massive rock layer. How could people from 5,000 years ago have managed it? Could it be aliens?"


    "I too am more inclined to believe this was the work of aliens," the captain took a deep breath, "If this really was done by Psychics of that era, they must have been incredibly powerful. Probably they would need at least 30 units of energy to barely manage it?"


    "Don''t jump to conclusions; let''s see what''s below first!"


    "Yes!"


    Everyone''s mood shifted from initial impatience to being filled with curiosity. This was not only a huge discovery for geology and archaeology but potentially a monumental find in understanding the origins of Psychics for humanity!


    "Crackle!" The underground rock layers started to tremble.


    "Su Nian, help me out. The rock layer is too tough here, all granite, and I''m struggling alone!"


    The Psychic named Su Nian joined in as well.


    Cracks extended from the ground, one meter, two meters, five meters, until they nearly reached ten meters, and they finally found an underground space!


    "It''s not solid below! There''s a huge space underground!"


    The three exchanged glances, almost certain now that the information above was accurate¡ªthere truly might be a city underground!


    "Let''s go down and look!"


    All three being Earth Attribute Psychics, they finally opened a crack spanning several meters that was passable for a person.


    They directly jumped down along the crack and with a cloud of dust swirling, they landed on a flat surface, even though they could see nothing around them in the pitch dark.


    "Here we go!" A stick of the latest technological light source was thrown out, instantly illuminating the surroundings as bright as day.


    "This..." The three men''s lips kept twitching, "This... this is flipping insane!"

 Chapter 631 629: That is, one of them

    This was an ancient city-state that had been sealed in dust for over 5,000 years, its architectural style was distinctly different from those of ancient Huaxia, possessing a touch of modern design aesthetics.


    The entire visible area of the city was filled with well-arranged buildings, with neat and squared structures, giving off the feeling that the whole city was planned by a city planner.


    Take the Huaxia of the early this century as an example, regardless of whether in the city or countryside, people''s living standards were uneven: some lived in luxurious apartments and villas while others could only reside in self-built brick houses.


    But in this city, although there was still a distinction resembling that between nobility and commoners in architecture, the style and color scheme were very consistent. Either this city had already achieved so-called "common prosperity" over 5,000 years ago, or the rulers of the city had extremely strong governance to unify the architecture.


    "This is incredible, the exteriors of these buildings even have the smoothness of reinforced concrete structures," the three strolled along the streets of the ancient city, where neat buildings line the broad avenues, preserving surprisingly well despite some damage from unknown causes.


    "Could this really be a city built by extraterrestrials who visited Earth?" the young man exclaimed. "To say these are constructions from over 5,000 years ago, if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I''d never believe it even if you killed me."


    "This is absolutely a miracle in architectural history!"


    "Look over there, fast!"


    The lead captain pointed ahead as he spoke.


    The remaining two directed their lights forward, and their pupils dilated several times over.


    "This... this is simply a miracle!"


    In front of them was a vast abyss, as if someone had forcefully carved it out of the earth, at least fifty or sixty meters deep, located right at the center of this underground city. And within this pit, an imposingly magnificent palace was built!


    Its architectural style, even by the standards of the current era, was quite avant-garde, with a pyramidal shape, but with block-like protrusions on each side, resembling aerial rooms. Its total surface area was even comparable to an imperial palace!


    "Was this built by the masters of this city?"


    "To have such architectural and design capabilities over 5,000 years ago, if this isn''t a relic of an alien civilization, I''ll eat this entire city!"


    "That emblem!" the female team member named Su Nian pointed at the pinnacle of the building, "That symbol!"


    "That''s the emblem of the ancient city unearthed by Qingqiu Country!"


    "No, the one from Qingqiu Country was made from pure gold, this emblem is made from purple crystal!"


    The three leapt up to the peak of the building, touching the purple totem.


    "No, this isn''t amethyst, this is... this is an amethyst diamond!"


    "What? An amethyst diamond?"


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    If the relic discovered by Qingqiu had such a high purity of gold it was already miraculous, but it was still possible, as gold can be melted; given enough gold, the totem could be created.


    However, the size of this amethyst diamond totem was even bigger than the one made of gold from Qingqiu, and it was a single, seamless whole, which meant the diamond was intact!


    A seven or eight meter diameter diamond, could that be possible?


    "Aliens! Definitely aliens!" the young man said, "The outer planets of the Solar System with their high atmospheric pressure and great forces, in such an environment, huge diamonds could form. This must have been moved here by aliens from another planet, it''s confirmed!"


    But no one paid attention to his muttering; they were focused on the patterns above, "A purple totem, with the relief of a king standing under the sun, it''s exactly the same as the clan emblem Zhang Menglong displayed!"


    "Zhang Menglong is an alien!"


    "Enough! Stop with the aliens and not aliens," the captain, thoroughly annoyed by the young man''s constant talk of aliens, interjected.


    "Captain, there are two other totems!"


    On one side of the palace there was a plaza, and on the plaza stood two totems, one gold and one red copper, just like the other two emblems that Zhang Menglong had provided!


    In ancient times, the value of copper was greater than that of gold, which is also very consistent with the characteristics of the Ancient Era.


    "This discovery is truly magnificent, we must immediately take the news back!"


    "Hmm!"


    ...


    A huge ancient city relic has been discovered in the Kumtag Desert of Huaxia, now calling archaeologists, geologists, and historians from all around the world to explore together!"


    The next day, a message spread throughout the world.


    A 50 square kilometer underground city!


    Isotope testing dates the city''s buildings to around 3850¨C3950 BC!


    City relics identical to the Qingqiu civilization''s ancient country were discovered!


    The three clan emblems displayed by the world''s richest man, Zhang Menglong, appeared in the city!


    One explosive news story after another came out, and those who were originally engrossed in studying the Qingqiu Country''s ancient civilization instantly found their magnifying glasses less appealing.


    It wasn''t long ago that Zhang Menglong claimed the ancient country''s founders were merely their slaves and even showcased several of his family''s emblems.


    But the people of Qingqiu Country not only refused to acknowledge it, but they also lambasted his ancestors for generations.


    However, in just a few days, reality began to slap them in the face.


    With the evidence laid out, how could they explain it?


    Although there was no textual evidence to prove the status of those three emblems, their placement, size, and the reliefs upon them in that ancient city of Huaxia were enough to illustrate the differences between them!


    Furthermore, prior to this, no one had ever found these three emblems, so they couldn''t possibly be fabrications by Zhang Menglong.


    When the first group of scholars entered the underground palace and emerged, their faces were still enveloped in unsubsided shock; this ancient city was beyond their imagination. If Zhang Menglong truly was a descendant of this ancient nation, or even a descendant of the creators of this ancient city... this world was too crazy!


    "Holy shit, Zhang''s family history is literally like a myth!"


    "If this relic hadn''t been excavated today, I''d swear I would never believe such a thing."


    "A family line that has lasted for more than five thousand, nearly six thousand years, my goodness, even their everyday objects left behind would be invaluable cultural relics and antiques after 6000 years. How could they not be rich?"


    "Hilarious, the people of Qingqiu Country actually wanted to exclude us from the four ancient civilizations, thinking their own civilization was something extraordinary."


    "Haha, didn''t they admit to being descendants of that ancient country? Doesn''t that make them the slaves of Zhang''s ancestors? This really is a heritage of servitude."


    "The slave actually thinks they can oust their own master from the five great civilizations, I''m laughing my head off."


    "Keep being arrogant, keep on jumping around, no matter what you say, you''re still slaves, once a slave, always a slave!"


    "I always thought Zhang was just a rich second generation, but it turns out my vision was too narrow."


    "Brother upstairs, you''re not alone; we all had too narrow a scope. Zhang is at least a rich thousandth generation!"


    ...


    "Old Zhang, you... you''ve truly surprised me too much!"


    Wang Ling and Qin Feng, along with Zhang Menglong, were in the same group chat. After learning the news, the two simultaneously sent a message.


    "It''s really nothing noteworthy," Zhang Menglong humbly said, "I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but my strength just doesn''t allow it, my ancestors had changed homes several times, and this is just one of the more ordinary ones!"

 Chapter 632 630: Do I Need a Permit to Enter My Own Hometown?

    The excavation of the ancient city in Huaxia suddenly made Huaxia the center of the archaeological world.


    Indeed, many ancient civilizations'' cities had appeared in history, but none had been preserved so perfectly, especially the palace-like building at the very center of the city, which was nearly 100% intact.


    How could such an archaeological discovery not excite people?


    "Let''s go, pack up and head to Huaxia!"


    "Why even bother with Qingqiu Country''s relics? Huaxia''s ancient city belongs to their ancestors, they are the masters! If we are going to study anything, we should study the master''s house; studying a slave, aren''t you embarrassed?"


    "Qingqiu Country even has the nerve to charge research fees while Huaxia opens theirs for free to the whole world; who cares about that dump, Qingqiu¡ªlet whoever loves it go there!"


    Scholars who had planned to go to Qingqiu Country and even had their tents set up there turned around and rushed off to Huaxia instead. The other ancient city that had been bustling just a few days ago suddenly became sparsely populated, only left with their own researchers and visiting crowds.


    The heritage application from the United Nations came through at this time.


    Qingqiu Country''s hope to replace Huaxia as one of the four great ancient civilizations and five great ancient cultures was ruthlessly rejected, and even the reasons for rejection were filled with mockery towards them.


    If it weren''t for the new ancient relics discovered in Huaxia these past two days, they really would have been terrified into submission.


    The relics are indeed in your country, no doubt, but they don''t belong to you at all; this ancient nation is clearly a branch of that ancient city in Huaxia!


    If you insist it''s yours, that''s fine too; it only means you''re indirectly admitting you''re descendants of slaves. If you insist on acknowledging your efforts... well, we have no choice, submit another application if you acknowledge this.


    When Qingqiu Country received the rejection, their people were absolutely dumbfounded. What now? Continue to apply? That would surely make them a laughingstock to the entire world, the name ''slave civilization'' permanently affixed to their faces.


    But if they don''t reapply, this significant archaeological discovery becomes utterly laughable, and it would directly link its existence to Huaxia.


    Speaking of this ancient city relic, nobody would think it''s a Qingqiu Country relic but rather a Huaxia relic.


    A relic in their country that really belongs to another country, how utterly embarrassing to admit!


    Yet, faced with a choice between dignity and reputation, they finally chose reputation. If they admitted they were descendants of Huaxia''s slaves, they could only flee to Mars in the future, as no one on Mars would recognize them.


    ...


    After geological exploration, the area of the underground city was roughly 48.6 square kilometers, with an average depth of about 17 meters below ground. The city was topped by a vast desert, and aside from this entrance torn open by Huaxia''s psychics, the rest of the rock layers were completely intact!


    This gave rise to two issues.


    First, was this city built underground from the start, or was it originally above ground and sank due to some unknown reason?


    Second, how exactly did a city buried dozens of meters beneath a rock layer suddenly reemerge?


    These were the most curious questions among all scholars who entered the relic.


    Just as everyone was astounded by this relic, Huaxia''s most authoritative archaeological institution suddenly announced that this city''s discovery was not due to some chance event; instead, the precise location was revealed by someone, hence it was explored and discovered!


    And that person was none other than the world''s richest, Zhang Menglong!


    At that moment, everyone suddenly remembered. Yes, hadn''t Zhang Menglong said? The ancient city relic in Qingqiu Country was their family''s slave''s, and the symbol was also a totem used by their clan emblem in the slave branch. Now, Zhang Menglong had precisely revealed the location of this underground ancient city; couldn''t this verify that all he had claimed was true?


    All the pieces matched¡ªtotally spot on!


    Moreover, the clan emblem of the Zhang Family was the symbol representing the supreme status of this ancient city, which clearly suggested that his ancestors were very likely the high officials, rulers, or even the owners of this city!


    At that time, more of the hot topics had shifted directly from that ancient city to Zhang Menglong.


    Titles like "Ancient Country Prince", "Wealth of Generations" and various other labels were attached to him.


    A family lineage that has lasted for over 5000 years¡ªwasn''t that more thrilling than studying the history of a nation? How many countries in the world could boast such history? Its rise and fall, isn''t it intriguing?


    Those involved in archaeology and history promptly sprang into action, quickly establishing a new topic and discipline.


    "Go ahead and research, if you can really uncover something then you win," Zhang Menglong said helplessly with a smile as he watched the news.


    Though his family''s influence could overshadow the sun, they indeed rarely stepped into the public eye or engaged in anything too showy. Most endeavors were carried out through their affiliated or servant families, and he was the only one in the Zhang Family who appeared in such a high-profile manner.


    This chance directly propelled Huaxia from fourth place among the four great ancient civilizations to first!


    The United Nations didn''t acknowledge the Xia Ynasty''s civilization, claiming that Huaxia''s civilization only reached back to 1500 BC, right?


    Now that the evidence is in your face, with an ancient city from almost 4000 BC emerging, can you still claim Huaxia''s history is only 3500 years old?


    Any ancient kingdom or civilization pales in comparison to Huaxia''s!


    "Menglong, there''s an unveiling ceremony at the ancient city tomorrow, do you have time to attend?" Zhou Lao sent Zhang Menglong an invitation, "You might also have to accept some interviews. You know, this matter has gained too much attention, and the calls are overwhelming internationally. We can''t handle it alone."


    "Hahaha, sure, I''ll go tomorrow," Zhang Menglong laughed, intrigued about the site¡ªit felt like returning to an old home he had never met, familiar yet unfamiliar.


    ...


    The Kumtag Desert, originally a place where no birds would even bother to defecate, was bustling with countless scholars and experts flocking from around the world, as Huaxia had promptly built a massive research base right at the entrance.


    Although still under construction, the electricity and water supply equipment were already able to meet the daily needs of the base.


    In this area, various transport and off-road vehicles were buzzing around in constant activity.


    Zhang Menglong''s helicopter landed on the temporary helipad, and he stepped off the plane wearing sunglasses.


    At the entrance of the ruins, many scholars were queuing to get in. Those who were qualified to come to this unveiling were all internationally renowned historians, geologists, and archaeologists, each bringing along their own team of at least a dozen members, and some were even eager to move their entire studios here.


    A city of over 5000 years¡ªhow many secrets and stories must it hold?


    "Please line up and show your permits and invitations!"


    Staff members were maintaining order at the entrance while shouting loudly.


    With the support of Longxia, an elevator sufficient to lift dozens of people at once had been constructed at the entrance, and of course, there was also a reinforced and secured staircase for walking up and down.


    "Excuse me, sir, could you please show your invitation and entry permit?"


    When it was Zhang Menglong''s turn, the staff members immediately stopped him.


    "Do I need a permit to return to my own old home?" At this moment, Zhang Menglong finally understood how Puyi felt when he entered the Forbidden City back then¡ªhaving to buy a ticket to return to his own home?

 Chapter 633 631: Let Them Know What Huaxia Civilization Means

    The staff member was taken aback, "You''re returning to your own home? Who do you think you are?"


    But shortly thereafter, Zhang Menglong took off the sunglasses from his face.


    "Are you Mr. Zhang?" The staff member instantly recognized Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, it''s me," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I''m certainly not Puyi. I don''t need a permit or an invitation to enter my own house, right?"


    The staff member immediately started laughing too, as he had been briefed earlier that Zhang Menglong was today''s special guest, and they were instructed to treat him well upon his arrival.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s remark did amuse him, reminding him that the last person who needed to buy a ticket to enter his own house was an emperor, Puyi could surely relate.


    "Zhang Menglong! It''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang Menglong has arrived!"


    Aside from the scholars, there were also many media representatives who had been invited, and they quickly turned all their cameras towards Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, may we conduct a brief interview with you?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what exactly is your true identity? Did your family really build this ancient city?"


    "Mr. Zhang, could you share some secrets of your family with us?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, thank you all for coming to my house so warmly," Zhang Menglong said, adopting the manner of a host, "I will answer all these questions tonight at the press reception. Please, no rush for now."


    The facial expressions of the site staff were twitching, ''Come over to your house as guests,'' such bold words to say! Even Puyi wouldn''t dare to say ''welcome to my house'' when bringing people into the Forbidden City, what a move to turn guests into hosts!


    But upon reflection, the statement wasn''t incorrect. If the city was indeed built by Zhang Menglong''s ancestors, then claiming it as his family''s was completely legitimate!


    "Mr. Zhang, please, come in. The representatives of the scholars are already waiting for you below."


    "Waiting for me? What for?" Zhang Menglong was taken aback.


    "Those foreign scholars say, since it was your ancestors who built this ancient city, you must have a profound understanding of it. They are all hoping that you could introduce them to the city."


    "Dammit," Zhang Menglong knew well that these people were trying to set him up with a challenge.


    You claim it was built by your ancestors, right? If it''s something from your family, you must know it best. If you can''t elaborate, then you''d be a fraud. Then the so-called 5000 years of cultural heritage would face rampant skepticism from the outside world. If that happened, it wouldn''t be just Zhang Menglong losing face, but the whole of Huaxia.


    "Alright then, I''ll give them a tour!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled and stepped onto the elevator.


    If they were a normal family with over 5000 years of heritage to pass on, it''d be a wonder if he could explain anything! But when the city was built, all of its structure and data were backed up in the database of the Super God Academy''s dean''s ring, and Zhang Menglong could access it anytime.


    "Gou Dan, sync all the information about this city to my memory!"


    "Yes, Host!"


    With a burst of data flow, Zhang Menglong''s memory suddenly filled with a wealth of information about the city.


    This city was established in the year 3902 BC, and it took 24 years to complete. At its most prosperous, it was home to hundreds of thousands of humans!


    In fact, this all started with the first ancestor from Super God Academy whom Zhang Menglong obtained. Originally, he was just an ordinary member of a primitive tribe, in that era without writing, and the surname Zhang was developed later on.


    It was later that he gave himself a more modern name, calling himself Zhang Yuge.


    With the power of Super God Academy, Zhang Yuge became a master surpassing any psychic of the age within a few months, and he absorbed a large amount of knowledge from advanced universal civilizations. He conquered the entire tribe with his astonishing wisdom and power, becoming the undisputed king of the tribe.


    Zhang Yuge only wanted to lead his tribe to grow and develop, but he later encountered invasions by other tribes and was forced to conquer them as well.


    The struggles of that era were merely for survival resources; the stronger the tribe, the more they were envied, until after their tribe had annexed a dozen or so other tribes, no one dared to challenge them anymore.


    When other tribes were still using backward weapons, they had already invented firearms. How could they possibly fight against that?


    By then, Zhang Yuge''s tribe had grown to thousands of people. To survive, they found an oasis abundant in resources, which is where this city was established.


    More and more tribes came to admire the place, until eventually, the population reached hundreds of thousands. At Zhang Yuge''s command, this city was created!


    The main materials used were similar to reinforced concrete; although they could not compare with the real thing, they were incomparably more solid than any straw huts, wooden houses, or ordinary stone dwellings!


    Then came the earliest forms of agriculture and animal husbandry. Zhang Yuge also found various seeds of edible plants and taught the knowledge of cultivation to a group of his closest associates, who were friends from his original tribe.


    He captured many young animals and began breeding them; the entire city could be completely self-sufficient and thrive.


    In that era, just surviving was an incredible feat, and the powers and knowledge displayed by Zhang Yuge were nothing short of divine! The most loyal tribes gradually came to regard Zhang Yuge as a deity, creating three totems, dividing all people related to him into three classes.


    Later, growing weary of power and wealth, Zhang Yuge began to pursue higher things, strength and immortality. He kept studying in Super God Academy until one day, his power finally reached a certain level.


    Just like Zhang Menglong''s parents went to those parallel universes, Zhang Yuge also planned to explore those worlds. So he disbanded the entire city and handed over Super God Academy to his only descendant. All the original inhabitants of the city also left.


    As a memorial, Zhang Yuge''s descendant used the power of the earth to seal a part of the city that had been damaged by Zhang Yuge''s breakthrough, beneath the ground, hoping it would become an eternal secret!


    As for those city inhabitants, they went eastward, westward, southward, northward, carrying the seeds of civilization and knowledge all over the world. Agriculture, cultivation, construction, and even knowledge of genetic engineering. A subsidiary tribe in the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins established the earliest Huaxia civilization.


    A slave tribe in Qingqiu territory built an equally prosperous city.


    Some tribes crossed the seas to Africa and established a culture as splendid as ancient Egypt.


    Some civilizations by the sea created a city of science, whose master was once Zhang Yuge''s best friend from the same tribe. He learned genetic engineering knowledge and other sciences, and that civilization was called Atlantis!


    Many civilizations disappeared into the long river of history, while many others left various brilliant cultural relics. But almost all current human civilizations, to some extent, have some connection with the city that Zhang Yuge once built.


    Translated into the modern Huaxia language, the name of this city is "City of Origin," meaning that it is the origin of all human civilizations!


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we are over here!" a scholar called out to him, waving, "I am Zhu Jianfeng, the director of the Huaxia Historical Museum."


    "Director Zhu, it''s nice to meet you." Zhang Menglong shook hands with him politely.


    "Mr. Zhang, you should be careful, these little devils and old Rooskies here today are all here to pick a fight," Director Zhu said quietly, pointing to some foreign scholars nearby who were buzzing with conversation, "they think this is a lie concocted by us in Huaxia."


    "No matter, ignorance has always been their shortcoming. Once they''ve seen the relics, they will understand what Huaxia civilization truly is!"

 Chapter 634 632: Because They Are Low-level Slaves

    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve been waiting for you for a long time, you''ve finally arrived!" A golden-haired foreigner greeted Zhang Menglong in fluent English. He was quite young, looking to be in his thirties, a different kind of presence compared to the group of old antiques surrounding him.


    Zhang Menglong casually glanced at him.


    Name: Montgomery Dole


    Race: Human


    Status: President of the World Ancient Civilization Research Association


    Potential Index: 9


    Gift: Languages, Ancient Languages


    Skill: Mastery in Languages, Mastery in Archaeology


    Evaluation: Barely qualifies as a high-quality human male


    "Hilarious," Zhang Menglong laughed out loud, the Super God Academy''s ability to evaluate was as pointed and cheeky as ever.


    However, this Montgomery truly had something notable. The study of ancient civilizations relied on the accumulation of knowledge; generally, those with some renown were quite advanced in age, and many archaeologists were still excavating at the front lines well into their seventies or eighties.


    That such a young man could become the President of the World Ancient Civilization Research Association showed that Montgomery was indeed skilled and knowledgeable.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is Mr. Montgomery Dole, the President of the World Ancient Civilization Research Association," Director Zhu introduced.


    "What kind of organization is this? It''s not something you can just buy your way into, right?" Zhang Menglong muttered under his breath.


    "Mr. Zhang, the Ancient Civilization Research Association is currently the most authoritative archaeological institution in the world. They were established in the early 19th century and have a history of over 200 years. In this time, they''ve discovered a large number of ancient human relics."


    "As for Montgomery, the ancient civilization known as Skoda was discovered and excavated under his leadership in the past few years. His linguistic capabilities are extremely strong; he''s even deciphered the languages of 8 ancient civilizations, which is very helpful for humankind''s study of ancient information."


    "No wonder he became President at such a young age," Zhang Menglong nodded to himself.


    Unearthing ancient civilizations isn''t that impressive; if you''re lucky enough to dig one up, that''s enough.


    But that alone is not sufficient; you also have to make your findings speak. Otherwise, these items are no different than antiques and lose their significance for research. Understanding these ancient scripts, that''s what truly matters to humanity.


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Montgomery," Zhang Menglong said, shaking his hand perfunctorily.


    "Mr. Zhang, I once found an ancient European civilization with many similarities to this city. I spent five years studying its culture and language and have gained a deep understanding of these civilizations."


    "Oh? Then Mr. Montgomery, you are quite impressive!"


    "I wouldn''t dare claim to be impressive in front of Mr. Zhang," Montgomery stated humbly, but his face showed not the slightest embarrassment, "I''ve heard that this civilization was left by your ancestors. I believe you must be very familiar with this ancient city, and I hope to gain a better understanding of this civilization through you and also to verify my past research findings."


    Montgomery''s words sounded polite and respectful, but within his words, he had already taken for granted that Zhang Menglong was very knowledgeable about this civilization.


    If you say this thing was made by your ancestors, then you must certainly understand its internal structure, culture, and script very well.


    But if you cannot articulate these things, wouldn''t that suggest that all the talk about a 5000-year lineage is nothing but empty boasts, just a crown Huaxia people have forcefully placed upon themselves? Wouldn''t that be utterly disgraceful?


    But in reality, even if this thing was indeed created by your ancestors, detection data has shown that this city has been buried for thousands of years. Not to mention Zhang Menglong, even if his ancestors were alive, they might not remember the information about this city.


    And after five years of research, Menglong had not mastered all the information about the buildings and ancient artifacts, but he was confident that he understood much more than Zhang Menglong.


    ...


    "This place is what''s called the slums," Zhang Menglong said as he walked along, introducing based on the information in his mind, "At the height of the city''s prosperity, it was home to a population of over 200,000, with about seven or eight thousand houses built for ordinary residents.


    "Here is the breeding ground, where my ancestors tamed a total of 12 types of wild beasts that could be utilized."


    "Oh, and over here, this is a large plantation mainly used for growing fruits and vegetables."


    ...


    After thousands of years of changes, many things have become completely unrecognizable from their original state, especially these breeding and planting areas, which, from the outside, are just several empty plots of land.


    But based on the annotations at the edges and those ancient characters, Menglong could confirm that everything Zhang Menglong introduced was true!


    Isn''t that a bit too preposterous? This city has been sealed underground for thousands of years, even if this city really belongs to your family, could it be that you''ve been passing down a design blueprint generation after generation?


    Zhang Menglong''s introduction mesmerized the archaeologists, some of whom had even forgotten that their main purpose today was to find a way to make Zhang Menglong look foolish. Instead, they became deeply engrossed in those stories and descriptions.


    "Actually, you can notice, civilizations like those of ancient Egypt and Babylon, many of their architectural styles actually have some similarities with this city."


    "Indeed," the experts nodded, finding traces of this city on those buildings, and even the Pyramids, known as a wonder of the human world, were designed with reference to the central palace here.


    "In fact, those civilizations were established by slaves and subordinate tribes that split off from our city."


    Zhang Menglong made a shocking statement.


    "Mr. Zhang, you can''t speak recklessly like that. We respect the ancient Huaxia civilization, but to say that those civilizations are evolutions of Huaxia''s slaves and affiliates seems somewhat inappropriate, doesn''t it?"


    "I''m simply telling the truth," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "including your country''s Skoda civilization, which was also established by a slave family of ours."


    Menglong''s face changed instantly.


    The Skoda civilization was discovered in their country and was one of Menglong''s proudest achievements, even claiming that the Menglong civilization was the cradle of all European civilization, with a history that could be traced back to 3000 years ago!


    But now Zhang Menglong was telling him that their civilization was also a slave civilization? They were descendants of slaves? Who could accept that?


    "Mr. Zhang, that doesn''t quite match what you said before," Menglong said, "You mentioned that your slave families would all have a gold Clan Emblem as a symbol, but we have not found any trace of this totem in our Skoda civilization."


    "Yes, this I can attest to!"


    "We have all visited that site, and there wasn''t any gold mark!"


    Menglong smiled at Zhang Menglong as if to say that his lie had been exposed, curious to see how Zhang would wriggle out of it.


    But Zhang Menglong just sneered, "There is one thing you all may not know: not all slaves are worthy to become slaves of our Zhang Family, nor are they all entitled to use our Family emblem."


    "In this city, slaves were also stratified, being a slave of our Zhang Family and having the honor to use the Clan Emblem meant a status higher than that of the outside upper class."


    Zhang Menglong continued, "So in other words, the people who established your civilization were just a group of Low-level slaves from this city, unworthy of using our Clan Emblem, not even worthy of worshipping it!"

 Chapter 635 633: Are you scared just like that?

    "Huzzah!" Director Zhu looked at Montgust, whose face had already twisted somewhat, and couldn''t help but laugh inwardly.


    These people, relying on their extensive experience and superior knowledge, had always treated them with a condescending attitude. It was as if it were Huaxia''s honor that they had deigned to participate in the excavation of this ancient civilization.


    They spoke as if, without their help, no one would be capable of conducting the survey and research work on the relics.


    Frankly, Director Zhu hadn''t held much hope initially; he wasn''t entirely sure whether Zhang Menglong''s ancestors were indeed the builders of the relic. A family with a history extending over more than 5000 years sounded like something straight out of a movie or novel.


    Furthermore, the relic had been hidden from the sun for thousands of years. Even if it was indeed created by his ancestors, Zhang Menglong might know nothing about its internal structure or the construction of the city.


    For instance, take the Forbidden City today. There are many descendants of imperial nobles, including those of Emperor Chengzu, who built the Forbidden City.


    But if you were to ask those descendants who have never visited the Forbidden City what it looks like inside, or the function of different areas, eight or nine out of ten would have no clue.


    But he really hadn''t expected that Zhang Menglong''s understanding of the city would reach such a degree. The ever-confident Montgust couldn''t find a single fault, and even the Skoda civilization he took pride in turned out to be constructed by slaves from Zhang Menglong''s family.


    What''s truly laughable is that these weren''t just any slaves; they were low-level slaves without the right to use the Zhang Family''s clan emblem, even lower in status than the civilization unearthed in Qingqiu Country!


    The situation seemed like a mad dog barking and snarling at a person, who turns out to be the dog''s master¡ªit was downright ridiculous.


    Of course, Director Zhu didn''t know whether what Zhang Menglong had said was true or false. But to mock Montgust, who was brimming with a sense of superiority, was quite satisfying.


    "Zhang Menglong, you must apologize to our civilization!" Montgust demanded, his face red with anger.


    As the President of the World Ancient Civilizations Research Association, he was superior in personal capacity, education, and birth. If it became known that their nation was a civilization built by slaves, he would undoubtedly become the butt of jokes within the association.


    And in his eyes, their civilization was grand; he could not accept this reality.


    "What I''ve stated is merely a fact, Mr. Montgust. Why are you so agitated? Even if they were slaves, that was in the past. Nowadays, everyone is equal!"


    "Zhang Menglong, this is a matter of our national dignity," Montgust said sternly. "Simply based on the similarity in architectural style, you slander our great civilization. Don''t you think this is too much? What proof do you have that our ancestors were slaves from this city?"


    "Are you sure you want me to prove it?" Zhang Menglong asked with an exaggerated expression. "As long as I am not embarrassed, it will be you who ends up feeling uncomfortable."


    "If you can demonstrate that this city was indeed built by your family and prove that our ancestors truly were slaves of this city, I will admit that our ancestors were slaves of your ancestors!" Montgust replied, his face reddening a bit more, seemingly carried away.


    "But if you can''t prove it, you must admit before the entire world''s media that you are a liar and apologize to our great civilization!"


    "Alright," Zhang Menglong smiled, "but if I can prove it, will you call me ''Master''?"


    "Agreed!"


    "Great!" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Then I will trouble everyone to follow me, and to the members of the press, please bear witness. I fear he may deny it later."


    The media reporters were incredibly excited. A bet this thrilling, if they could secure firsthand information, could definitely cause a sensational effect!


    "Humph, if you can truly prove it, I, Montgust, can afford to lose!"


    "Now, please join me in visiting the castle of my ancestors!"


    Zhang Menglong led the way towards the massive pyramid-shaped fortress at the center.


    Everyone followed with eyes full of wonder and longing, regardless of which nation this civilization belonged to. Such a glorious history deserves the respect of every person!


    "This castle has a total height of 66.66 meters, with 8 levels, from bottom to top, respectively the industrial, entertainment, storage, and residential areas and so on, all of which embody the civilization and wisdom of our Zhang Family!"


    "What is this place?" a scholar asked, staring at a room almost as huge as a soccer field.


    There were many large tools placed inside the room, yet no one could discern what exactly these oddly shaped objects were.


    "Weapon... metal... forging..." Mundenges read the inscriptions on the stone slabs outside the room and quickly deciphered some of the words, "Seems like this is a place for forging weapons?"


    "Correct," Zhang Menglong nodded, "It seems Mr. Mundenges truly has a deep understanding of the civilization established by my ancestors!"


    Mundenges was actually quite astonished; the text he had extracted from the Skoda civilization, although slightly different from this city, was almost 70% similar!


    Historically, no matter how you looked at it, their Skoda civilization was intricately connected with this city, and perhaps indeed had splintered off from it.


    Suddenly, he began to feel slightly disheartened.


    "Can we go in for a visit?"


    "Mr. Zhang, may we take photographs?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong nodded. To him, these items were practically worthless, and even if taking photos caused damage to the structure, he wouldn''t mind at all. Although these items were left by his ancestors, he had inherited so many that one or two less would hardly make a difference.


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." Director Zhu was anxious. Do you really consider this your personal property? Now that this has been unearthed by the state, it belongs to the nation. When did it become your call to make? Whose responsibility would it be if something gets damaged?


    "Sigh, never mind, never mind," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "everyone, let''s not take photos after all. This now belongs to our Huaxia, and it wouldn''t be right for me to intervene, especially since I haven''t proven it to be my family''s property! Just looking around is enough!"


    "Is there a light source? It''s so dark!"


    "Idiot! A city from over 5000 years ago and you''re asking this kind of question? Have you had a brain haemorrhage?"


    "Hahaha, living so long in modern cities, I''ve forgotten we are in an ancient city."


    "Make way, I''ll turn on the light!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong walked to the side of the room and pressed on a protruding stone.


    There was a sound of rocks moving, and to everyone''s astonishment, light sources appeared at the top of the room and grew brighter and brighter until the whole room was illuminated.


    "How is this possible? A city from 5000 years ago, and they have lights?"


    "Amazing!"


    "My god!"


    "Nani?"


    "Xiba!"


    "Ula!"


    All the scholars let out exclamations. When did Edison invent the light bulb? That was in the 19th century, and you''re telling me there were lights over 5000 years ago?


    At this point, they were either suspecting that Zhang Menglong''s family were aliens, or that his ancestors had time traveled from the modern era.


    Zhang Menglong dusted the ashes from his hands, "It''s just a rare stone that activates the luminescent substance on it upon contact with oxygen in the air!"


    "You''re kidding, right? Don''t tell me just that has scared you?"

 Chapter 636 634: Who Said This Is Yours?

    ```


    "It''s just unbelievable," Curator Zhu said, looking at the bright ceiling. He certainly knew that many rocks in nature can glow, such as fluorite, which emits fluorescence when heated or rubbed.


    But he had never heard of rocks that could light up a place as if it were daylight.


    Of course, everyone was very clear about one thing: many ancient civilizations each had their own characteristics and brilliance, many of which even surpassed the standards of this era, leaving even scientists baffled.


    If people could perform cranial surgery thousands of years ago, what''s so surprising about a glowing rock?


    "The founder of this city must really have something to do with Zhang Menglong!"


    Suddenly, everyone realized this fact. Only someone who was extremely familiar with the city could know it so well that they could find the "light switch" with a flick of the hand¡ªwasn''t this their own home?


    The shock lasted only for a while before everyone quickly regained their composure, and their attention was refocused on the so-called weapon forging room.


    "My God, is it that large? Is this an Alchemy Furnace?"


    "A civilization more than 5,000 years ago had mastered metallurgy skills? That''s amazing!"


    "What kind of metal is this? Blue metal? It seems different from any metal I know! Such a smooth exterior, this must be the work of a very advanced technique."


    "Are these molds for weapons?"


    "Is this a spear? A sword? A knife?"


    "What is this thing, a helmet?" Monguester picked something up and put it on his head; it fit just right and truly looked like a refined helmet.


    "Mr. Monguester, what are you doing? Please take that spittoon off!"


    "Spit... spittoon?"


    "Pfft!"


    "Hahaha! God, a helmet! You''re killing me with laughter!"


    "What is a spittoon? Is it another name the Huaxia people use for helmets?"


    "Um... Let me enlighten you, a spittoon can be understood as a portable toilet, used for urinating and defecating."


    "What?"


    All the Huaxia scholars and media reporters present couldn''t help but burst into laughter. It was their first time seeing someone wearing a spittoon as a helmet on their head and still thinking they looked cool.


    Monguester quickly took the unidentified metal object off his head. Although so many years had passed, and even if there was stool leftover inside, it would have probably turned into a living fossil by now, the thought alone was nauseating!


    "Clang!" He gratefully threw the object onto the ground.


    "Mr. Monguester, please watch your behavior!" The Huaxia scholars immediately protested in displeasure. Even though it was a spittoon, it was a spittoon from more than 5,000 years ago. An object that old, even a lump of feces would be considered a cultural relic. What did he mean by throwing it to the ground so carelessly?


    Monguester also immediately realized his gaffe and turned red without saying a word.


    Were the people of this city sick? Leaving something for defecation just lying around, weren''t they afraid of accidentally kicking it over?


    "Let me introduce you," Zhang Menglong said, "this is a metallurgical tool invented by our family, capable of smelting metals with melting points over 20,000 degrees Celsius!"


    "Impossible!" A young scholar exclaimed, "The metal with the highest melting point, tungsten, is only about 3,700 degrees Celsius. How could there be a metal that withstands 20,000 degrees Celsius? And what would require such a high temperature to melt? You Huaxia people are really boasting too much."


    "What you don''t know doesn''t mean it doesn''t exist!" Zhang Menglong said with a cold sneer. He kicked the spittoon over, "Take this thing and use your so-called high-tech to test what a super metal is. Our ancient Huaxia alchemy civilization is much more incredible than you know. Don''t challenge our wisdom with your ignorance!"


    "So, Mr. Zhang, are there any finished products left here? Weapons forged with such a tool must all be considered divine weapons, right? We would be honored to have the opportunity to see them."


    "I remember there should be a few here." Zhang Menglong walked over to a cabinet, which was locked with something similar to Kongming Lock. He pulled out a few metal rods, and with a "whoosh," a door opened.


    It was as if a dusty tome of over five thousand years had been flipped open, revealing in its pages the vast and profound essence and history.


    ```


    Inside the door hung a cluster of pitch-black items: guns, tridents, swords, and other types of weapons such as staffs and spears ¡ª and there were quite a few of each. It appeared they were all mass-produced.


    "This! This is!" Several Western scholars'' eyes turned blood-red in the instant they saw a few of the items inside. They charged towards the door exhibiting the weapons like bulls, their gazes repeatedly sweeping over a long spear.


    "This...this object is..."


    "Yes, it''s exactly like the one described in the myths and ancient texts!" An archaeologist pulled out a thick book, then found a yellowed piece of sheepskin inside it. On the sheepskin was a drawing of a black long spear.


    Next to the spear were a few ancient characters that had already been translated.


    "Spear of Eternity!"


    "It''s Odin''s weapon!"


    "It''s actually here!"


    The Western scholars shouted excitedly.


    In legend, Odin was the supreme Creator God, and for many people, this was nothing more than a story.


    Yet, in the eyes of different people, the same world can be completely different, especially through the eyes of these archaeologists and scholars of ancient civilizations ¡ª myths were never just myths!


    After a lengthy period of research, they found that those so-called ancient myths likely evolved from various civilizations, and the so-called Odin was likely a very powerful leader of an ancient Western civilization tribe. The Spear of Eternity was a weapon forged with extremely special methods.


    It was incomparably sturdy, not even Taihuo could destroy it, and its owner could be invincible in attack and unbeatable in battle. In the perspective of Western psychics, this so-called Spear of Eternity was a Level Three and even possibly a Level Four weapon!


    However, as time passed, it disappeared into the vast expanse of history.


    Now, it had appeared here!


    "This Spear of Eternity is Western property! How could it be here?"


    "Who says it''s your property? How can you prove that?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands helplessly.


    "This is a myth passed down in the West, of course it belongs to Western civilization. It must be that you Huaxia people stole our Western treasure by some means!"


    "Exactly, this object shouldn''t be here. It should be in our Western exhibition hall, admired by all!"


    "You thieves who steal treasures!"


    These Western scholars were all very emotional; how could they not be excited upon seeing the treasure of legend?


    In their legends, the era in which all beings lived might even be more ancient than Huaxia''s civilization of over 5000 years!


    "Damn, our country has written several novels about Earth, and I could claim Earth belongs to our country," Zhang Menglong said contemptuously, "I''ve seen shameless people, but never someone so utterly shameless. I bet it was just someone from the West who saw this weapon and gradually it became a myth."


    "Then how can you prove the Spear of Eternity is yours?"


    "Is proof so hard?" Zhang Menglong walked over and grabbed the spear, and the heavy sensation in his hands surprised him ¡ª this thing was even more impressive than Huaxia''s ten Divine Swords!


    He could at least easily hold Chengying while chopping mutton, but this thing, he could hardly lift with one hand!


    "See for yourselves!" Zhang Menglong twisted the handle of the spear, "Mundungus, you''re well-versed in our Huaxia ancient civilization''s language, aren''t you? Translate for them, so they don''t accuse me of spouting nonsense!"


    "This..." Mundungus hesitated, looking at it and then mumbling, uncertain whether to speak.


    "Mundungus, what''s written on it?"


    "Yeah, do tell!"


    "It reads... ''Made in Huaxia...''"

 Chapter 637 635: We Mass Produce These

    "This is impossible!"


    "Over 5000 years ago, the name Huaxia didn''t even exist, how could there be such inscriptions from that time?"


    "That''s right, this must be a scam, it''s a huge scam!"


    A group of scholars pointed excitedly at Zhang Menglong and others, "Quick, take a photo of these sensational fraudsters, they must have entered the city earlier and tampered with it!"


    "Who knows, the so-called three Clan Emblems, and the family with 5000 years of heritage might also be entirely fictitious, it''s all just a lie you made up!"


    "The name Huaxia has been around for less than a hundred years, you pulling off something like this is truly ridiculous!"


    Not only the scholars, but even the media reporters were disheartened, shaking their heads, especially the reporters from Huaxia, who even wore expressions of embarrassment.


    Even if they knew nothing about ancient civilizations, such an obvious flaw wouldn''t be believed by anyone with a bit of sense, would it?


    It''s like placing a mobile phone in your family''s ancestral grave and then widely publicizing it, inviting a bunch of media to excavate your ancestral grave, and finally claiming that this mobile was invented by your ancestors'' ancestors. Would anyone believe that? Are they really treating people like idiots?


    "Click! Click!"


    International media finally found their chance, just now Zhang Menglong had been so prominent, now was the perfect moment to capture his social death. The lies forcefully debunked were such foolish lies, his face must be turning blue by now, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you fabricate such a lie?"


    "Mr. Zhang, as the world''s richest man, already a household name, why would you still want to use such means to elevate your fame? Is it just because you have nothing better to do?"


    "Mr. Zhang, is your so-called family with 5000 years of history also entirely fictitious and made up?"


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you think such a poor lie would deceive the public?"


    The international reporters, like in a major battle, directed their barrage at Zhang Menglong. In several previous press conferences, Zhang Menglong''s responses almost always made these international reporters lose their minds. Now having found such an opportunity, shouldn''t they take the chance to get back their ground?


    "This is impossible! We absolutely haven''t tampered with anything here." Director Zhu immediately explained, "This site, since its excavation, has been under very strict control, with 24-hour surveillance, preventing anyone from tampering here."


    Director Zhu was also puzzled. As the administrator of the Ancient City excavation project, ever since the city was unearthed, there had always been people stationed here monitoring it, and no one had ever intruded, not even if Zhang Menglong had really tampered with it, it was impossible to evade so much surveillance.


    Moreover, it was said that the state had also stationed a mysterious military unit here, not even a fly could get in.


    But the scene before him was just too outrageous, without one hundred percent confidence, he would absolutely maintain the same skeptical attitude as these foreign reporters.


    "Humph! That''s just what you Huaxia people claim," Montenegro immediately retorted, "You say that the relic was discovered on that day, it was that day? Maybe you had already discovered this Ancient City long ago and were preparing this lie for a long time before announcing it!"


    "Exactly! Do you have evidence to prove that no one has ever come in? Neither your surveillance nor your statements hold any public credibility!"


    "Do you think I look like I''m joking?" Faced with so many cameras, Zhang Menglong''s expression remained utterly composed. "Who says the word Huaxia only appeared now? If you don''t believe it, just bring someone to verify the age of this thing!"


    The scholars exchanged glances. "Mr. Zhang, this time in order to detect the relics in the site, we have brought some physicists and a lot of equipment over here. If the lie is debunked by us, I fear you wouldn''t be able to save face!"


    "Help yourself!" Zhang Menglong shrugged, indicating he didn''t mind at all, "Need someone to help?"


    "Mr. Zhang, this..." Director Zhu looked troubled.


    "No worries, let them come. I will explain this matter to Elder Zhou!"


    ...


    Soon, a vehicle loaded with testing tools entered the Ancient City. Fortunately, the streets of the Ancient City were very wide, making it easy to arrive at the palace entrance.


    "Only a few people came?" Zhang Menglong shook his head as he looked at them.


    "Mr. Zhang, this test can mostly be done with instruments; we don''t need too many people."


    "No, no, no, what I mean is, with so few people, you might not be able to move the weapons inside!"


    "Hahaha!" Mengdong Ge laughed, "Mr. Zhang, even if it is the heaviest metal, it weighs just a few dozen kilograms. If one person can''t lift it, two people would still have more than enough strength!"


    "Get to work, but be careful not to damage the antiques here!"


    "Yes, President!" Several workers from the Ancient Civilization Research Society immediately began to prepare to lift the Spear of Eternity that was stuck in the ground.


    However, quickly, their expressions froze. Even with the strength of two men, lifting a few dozen kilograms should be easy, right? But they struggled and even failed to pull it out from the ground!


    "This is unscientific. Everyone, together!"


    Five people gathered around, but the spear remained immovable.


    "I told you earlier to bring more strong people, awkward now, isn''t it?" Zhang Menglong pulled out the Spear of Eternity and carried it out of the palace.


    "Are you sure you want to use this thing as a weight?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the electronic scale in front of him, its capacity being only a few hundred kilograms at best.


    "Bring out our largest electronic weighing device!" Fortunately, they were prepared. This device''s maximum weighing limit was 5 tons, which should be enough for any case.


    "3870.26 kilograms, nearly four tons? What on earth is this? How can a metal have such a high density?" Mengdong Ge and the others were astounded by the number¡ªit was dozens, if not hundreds of times denser than ordinary metals!


    On Earth, there simply existed no metal with such properties!


    Such a high density, based on humanity''s current understanding, could only possibly exist in the matter found on neutron stars or white dwarfs, right?


    Soon, a bunch of instruments were connected to the Spear of Eternity, initiating the data analysis of this weapon.


    "1020g/cm3, its density is more than 100 times that of steel and 50 times that of the densest metal known on Earth!"


    "With the instruments we have brought, we cannot measure this metal''s melting and boiling points. Our highest instrument temperature is 7000 degrees Celsius, but its melting point might exceed 10000 degrees Celsius!"


    "According to isotope testing, this spear is over 5000 years old, including the traces left on it!"


    "What?"


    Hearing the initial data, everyone was marveling at Earth''s mysteries, realizing that there indeed existed such a metal of immense density and high melting point on Earth.


    But the latter half of the statement left them dumbfounded¡ªwas this thing actually made by the Huaxia people over 5000 years ago? Zhang Menglong really wasn''t lying!


    More than 5000 years ago, was this civilization called Huaxia already formed?


    "Ah, it''s just a broken spear, what''s there to study? And what''s with naming it the ''Spear of Eternity,'' so pretentious. It was just used by my ancestors for exercising and hunting, nothing remarkable," Zhang Menglong said, "This thing was even mass-produced in my ancestors'' time, it''s only you who treasure it as a jewel!"

 Chapter 638 636: Do I need to prove it again?

    "Hahaha!"


    "I just knew it, how could Mr. Zhang possibly need to resort to such methods to create hype?"


    "Exactly, this is just a basic operation of our ancient Huaxia culture!"


    "A mere hunting spear, how does it become the Spear of Eternity once it enters the culture of Western mythology?"


    "Mass-produced common ware, and yet they treat it as a treasure from legends, hahaha, I thought it was something incredibly powerful!"


    "The most amusing part is that they think it''s a national treasure, still made by our old Huaxia ancestors, oh, the irony."


    The Huaxia scholars and reporters who had just been mocked immediately launched their counterattack.


    The data analysis is right before your eyes, a counterfeit made with modern craft? If you''re so skilled, try melting this special metal and then reshaping it. You don''t believe it, do you?


    "As far as I know, this metal was excavated by my ancestors from a meteorite crater long ago, and there''s no second piece like it to be found in the world. Moreover, apart from my ancestor''s techniques, I think no current technology in the world can melt and reshape it."


    This wasn''t a lie, although humans can now produce temperatures of a trillion degrees, such high temperatures cannot be maintained for long, and capturing a momentary instance is already a significant breakthrough.


    Even if it were possible to maintain, the energy consumed every second is terrifyingly enormous, simply not something humans can endure.


    But relying on these seemingly unimpressive big guys, how could the humans of that time have had the wisdom to create an environment with temperatures high enough to melt metal?


    "Oh, by the way, it''s not just this so-called Spear of Eternity," Zhang Menglong rummaged through the metal smelting chamber and brought out one item after another.


    "This one is your so-called ''Fur of the Grim Reaper Anubis''!"


    "And this is the ''Scepter of Holy Light''."


    "This is the Eye of Horus, which was actually just a mask used by the noble class at the time to cover their faces, not as mystical as you claim."


    "Trident of Poseidon, are you going to tell me this belonged to Poseidon too?"


    Zhang Menglong dropped weapon after weapon on the ground, all the Divine Weapons mentioned in Western myths could be found here, and not just one of each.


    And what truly caused despair was that each item bore a mark.


    "Made in Huaxia!"


    Their minds were blown!


    At this moment, a terrifying thought emerged in their minds.


    The relic was indeed almost 6000 years old, and the "Made in Huaxia" inscription was also from over 6000 years ago, but words that appeared just a thousand or two thousand years ago could easily vanish in the river of time.


    Huaxia had seen countless dynasties, and had developed into the present-day Huaxia. Could it be that there was an invisible hand behind the scenes, steering the course of history?


    To put it plainly, was there a person or an organization that wanted Huaxia to continue to this day, so subtly influencing the tide of history, ensuring Huaxia''s standing at the pinnacle of the world? All of this, as if foretold by someone five or six thousand years ago, was already in the future they envisioned?


    If it was really so, the Zhang Family was truly terrifying.


    He could make a phrase from over five thousand years ago last until now, even resonating globally; does that also mean that over the millennia, if he wanted anything to disappear, he could easily make it so?


    "Although I don''t care about these things, after all, if I wanted more of them, I could have as many as I wanted. But after all, these are our Huaxia''s possessions; just take some pictures and admire them when you go back," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh, by the way, please revise those so-called Western legends of yours. Those weapons were created by our Huaxia. Adaptation isn''t fabrication, storytelling isn''t nonsense-talking. I''m giving you one month, and if I don''t see those legendary tales corrected, heads will roll!"


    "What does ''heads will roll'' mean?" Reporters and scholars looked at each other, bewildered.


    One thing they all realized was that this civilization was indeed magnificent; they had mastered technologies that left modern people in awe and had even slapped them in the face with this revelation.


    "Everyone, please continue inside!" Zhang Menglong continued to lead the way ahead.


    He stopped in front of an ancient door which seemed like a very sacred place. The two stone doors were bigger than any other they had seen along the way, and not only that, there were inscriptions of an ancient city''s script on them, accompanied by murals and annotations on the sides.


    "These are the three totems!"


    On the wall, the three totems were arrayed in order of purple, red, and gold.


    "This purple represents the supreme deities, red represents the envoys of the deities, and gold represents the deities'' servants," Montague translated the text above, albeit begrudgingly.


    "Besides these, there are many other clan emblems that have evolved from these three totems," The scholars examined the totems closely, which were assigned to a fourth level.


    "These represent the totems of slaves," said Montague, symbols of a rank even lower than that of servants.


    "Look, this is the Skoda civilization''s totem!" An observant scholar found a familiar symbol among the hundreds of totems. He had studied the Skoda civilization and recognized the symbol that had been found at one of their altars!


    Montague''s face turned white in an instant. He had just said that these represented slaves, a rank even lower than servants, and now, he found the emblem of his own esteemed civilization among these ignominious ranks!


    No matter if this civilization was truly established by the ancestors of Zhang Menglong or not, one fact had become clear¡ªthat the Skoda civilization really was the lowest of the servants to these city masters!


    At that moment, Montague broke down, his hands hanging limply, his eyes devoid of spirit, as if he had lost his soul.


    "Why don''t we go in and have a look," suggested Zhang Menglong, slapping a protrusion by the door. With a shudder, the two doors opened, revealing a huge space that could rival a stadium meant for tens of thousands of people.


    Inside this space was an arrangement of countless seats, and in the center stood a gigantic statue that appeared to be made of the same black super metal!


    "Is that the statue of the city master?"


    "It must be. Judging from the inscriptions outside, the city master was venerated as a deity. Only he would have the right to have a statue erected and worshiped!"


    The spotlight beams illuminated the statue standing 50 meters tall, almost extending from the very bottom to the top of the castle. Ultraman was probably only about this height.


    The moment they saw the face of the statue, the air around them seemed to solidify.


    All eyes involuntarily turned towards Zhang Menglong, whose face bore an almost identical resemblance to the master of the statue!


    "Look at the ring on his hand!" someone pointed out, referring to the statue''s finger.


    Indeed, on Zhang Menglong''s finger was a ring identical to the one on the statue. It was the ring that had been passed down through generations of the Zhang Family, symbolizing the highest status of the dean of the Super God Academy!


    "Sorry about that. Our Zhang Family genes are quite strong. I do look quite similar to my ancestors, don''t I?"


    This wasn''t just a resemblance; they were practically clones!


    Weren''t these pieces of evidence enough to prove that Zhang Menglong was a descendant of the city master?


    Zhang Menglong struck the same pose as the statue, "Friends, do I need to present anything else to prove my lineage?"

 Chapter 639 637: Is It Interesting to Be an Emperor Over High-Quality Males among Humans?

    "Does anyone still have doubts?"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice echoed throughout the entire altar.


    The dozens of scholars and media people present looked at each other. If the statue itself is a spitting image of you, plus there''s an ancestral ring, what else could they doubt?


    "No way, you''re not doubting anymore?" said Zhang Menglong, "You should have a heart that seeks the truth, shouldn''t you? Isn''t that what scientific research is all about? You guys are making it too easy for me; I feel so unchallenged!"


    "fuck!"


    "Shit!"


    "Dammit!"


    "For real!"


    "mmp, he''s pulling it off again!"


    Not only the foreign scholars, but even the Huaxia reporters and scholars found it difficult to listen any further. Can''t you stop acting high and mighty? Is there any need to speak with such sarcasm? Your profession must be an onmyoji, right?


    "If you still don''t believe me, we can check the DNA!" said Zhang Menglong, "I don''t know why, but there might be something really strong in our family''s genes since we can only have one child per generation. If there were multiple pregnancies, the others would definitely end up as stillbirths. My ancestor happened to have twins, and the one that died was made into a mummy and buried in a tomb in this palace!"


    Zhang Menglong continued to speak, "Compared with ancient Egypt''s mummification techniques, our technology was so much more awesome. Even after five or six thousand years, there would be no rot. With today''s technology, we should be able to extract DNA to perform a bloodline test, if you need it, I could go dig up my family''s ancestral tomb!"


    "Damn, this guy is ruthless!"


    Director Zhu and the other Huaxia scholars twitched at the corners of their mouths. Usually, people would dig up a tomb only if they had deep hatred.


    And here you are, ready to excavate your own family''s tomb to prove your innocence¡ªwhat kind of grudge is this? It was their first time seeing someone willing to dig up their own family''s ancestral tomb. Aren''t you afraid that the ancestor would jump out of the grave to give you a thrashing?


    "No... no need, I think everyone no longer has any doubts," said Director Zhu hastily. If Zhang Menglong kept going, he feared Zhang Menglong would actually summon his ancestors to prove his innocence. If it really came to that, this would be a huge deal!


    "We... have no more questions."


    "These evidences have already proven that Mr. Zhang is indeed a descendant of the city''s builder."


    "The civilization of Huaxia is indeed profound and long-standing, we truly admire it from the bottom of our hearts!"


    "Stop it!" Zhang Menglong said, "Isn''t this the time when you should suspect that I transported the statue in from outside?"


    "Also, the people of Qingqiu Country could suspect that I underwent plastic surgery to resemble the statue!"


    Zhang Menglong then raised his hand to show off his ring, "And this ring, it could just be merchandise!"


    Facing Zhang Menglong''s provocation and ridicule, they truly had no power to refute.


    Was the statue brought in? The thing is over 50 meters tall, as big as Ultraman. Transporting such a huge object, no matter the method, would be a massive project¡ªhow could it go unnoticed? Are they all suffering from cataracts?


    As for plastic surgery, just find any doctor to check and it would become clear.


    This was clearly Zhang Menglong''s way of irritating them.


    Indeed, it was they who ridiculed Zhang Menglong to the utmost at the beginning. Now getting slapped in the face by him could be considered retribution.


    As for continuing to doubt Zhang Menglong, they really didn''t have the courage anymore because, even if they wouldn''t admit it verbally, they had already acknowledged the truth in their hearts.


    If he is not the descendant of the city builder, how could he know the layout so intimately, and how could there be a statue that looks exactly like him?


    "I thought I heard someone say earlier that if I could prove that my ancestor built this city, they would admit to being a descendant of my family''s slaves. Now who was that person?" Zhang Menglong continued to speak with mocking sarcasm.


    "Just go ahead and broadcast my ID card, why don''t you!" Montesquieu cursed Zhang Menglong hundreds of times in his heart, bitterly invoking Zhang Menglong''s ancestors.


    ```


    But by then, many cameras were already pointed at his face, and he had no choice but to force a smile. He had dug his own grave, and he had to fill it even if it meant getting on his knees!


    "Master... Master!" Mendongues called out reluctantly.


    "The wind is too loud, speak up, I can''t hear you!"


    "This bastard!" Mendongues gritted his teeth as he looked at Zhang Menglong, "Master!"


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong unapologetically accepted the title.


    Mendongues''s face turned red with embarrassment; after today, not only would he lose face, but he also anticipated being cursed ferociously when he returned to his own country.


    From then on, their country would be forever branded with the "descendants of slaves" label.


    Are you out of your mind? A perfectly decent person, yet you insist on provoking Zhang Menglong and even making this kind of bet? You''re practically rubbing your own and your country''s dignity into the ground!


    "Alright, alright, the Great Qing has long since perished, and there''s no such thing as a slave system anymore," Zhang Menglong laughed, "From now on, just show some respect when you see Huaxia people, or else I''m afraid your ancestors will come back in dreams to scold you!"


    Mendongues forced a smile, but he was well aware that no matter how he faced Zhang Menglong today, from now on, the moment the people of his country saw a Huaxia person, they would inevitably feel an indescribable sense of inferiority that stemmed from their bloodline.


    Even if they were prospering now, no one would forget that thousands of years ago, their great ancestors were nothing more than slaves to a Huaxia person, and low-level ones at that.


    Well, there you have it, suppression through the bloodline!


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s getting late, we should start the opening ceremony and the press conference," Director Zhu urged from the side.


    Having visited so many places and conducted numerous scientific tests in between, it was now time for the scheduled event.


    "Sure, let''s go over there!"


    ...


    Exiting the underground ruins, everyone arrived at the temporary camp set up in the desert. By this time, the camp had already gathered thousands of archaeologists, ancient civilization researchers, geologists, media personnel, and more from various countries.


    Director Zhu took the stage and delivered a splendid speech, then formally announced the opening of the ruins to the world, willing to research the civilization that had been passed down for over 5000 years along with the rest of the world.


    The grandeur of a great nation was immediately met with cheers and applause. That was the magnanimity only a powerful country possessed!


    "I believe everyone knows that the world''s richest man Mr. Zhang is a descendant of the builder of this city," Director Zhu said, "Today, we have also arranged an interview with Mr. Zhang for the journalists and reserved half an hour for their questions."


    "Now, let''s turn the stage over to Mr. Zhang Menglong!"


    Accompanied by applause, Zhang Menglong walked onto the stage and casually took a seat on the sofa.


    The host was still Sa Xining, who couldn''t help but show a helpless smile the moment he saw Zhang Menglong, remembering the fear of being dominated by Zhang''s top-level Versailles rhetoric just a few months ago.


    "Mr. Zhang, we meet again!" Sa Xining said.


    "Yes, and I think we are going to see each other even more in the future."


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve always had a personal question I''ve wanted to ask you."


    "Please, go ahead!"


    "Considering your family has been passed down for so long and could have been rich enough to rival countries, didn''t any of your ancestors ever think about becoming Emperor and uniting the whole world?" Sa Xining asked.


    This question was very interesting, and many people perked up their ears.


    "What''s the point of being an Emperor?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "As an Emperor, you have to worry every day about whether your people have enough to eat or clothes to wear, occasionally suppress rebellions; can being an Emperor be as interesting as being a high-quality man among humans?"


    ```

 Chapter 640 638: Take a Look at My Houses Floor Plan

    "Hahaha! Director Zhang is indeed Director Zhang; that mouth of his seems born for Versailles, and now we have high-quality men of humanity making a timely reference!"


    "But his words are indeed faultless. How tough must it be to be an Emperor, how many of them died from overwork? Wouldn''t it be so much better to be a carefree billionaire instead of a derided foolish ruler?"


    "Did you see the international news just now? It has now been thoroughly proven that Director Zhang is the descendant of the owner of this relic."


    "In that era, didn''t that make him pretty much equivalent to an Emperor?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang is as witty as ever," Sa Xining hurriedly took over the conversation, "but I''m curious, why did your ancestors abandon such a city they established? Was it because of geological changes?"


    After preliminary research, scholars discovered that there was a major shallow geological upheaval here more than 5,000 years ago, which buried this city underground.


    However, the cause of this geological upheaval remains inconclusive to this day.


    "That''s right," Zhang Menglong bluffed, "there are two reasons. One is that my ancestors predicted this severe geological change through certain methods. Although the city was advanced, it wasn''t enough to resist Mother Nature, so he decided to abandon it."


    "Your ancestor had such abilities?" The earliest human understanding of geological activity is associated with the seismoscope invented by Zhang Heng.


    "That''s all basic stuff," Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "And the second reason?" Sa Xining continued to ask.


    "Well, the city that my ancestors built here was probably the largest and most prosperous city for humans, but one day he felt the world seemed too empty. There were no signs of civilization elsewhere, so he decided to let our Huaxia blood flourish and take root around the world."


    "So he proposed the concept of ''surrounding the cities from the countryside,'' blossoming everywhere through time, and establishing one civilization after another."


    "The heck, ''surrounding the cities from the countryside,'' isn''t that Chairman Mao''s famous quote?"


    "They had ''surrounding the cities from the countryside'' 5,000 years ago?"


    "According to his account, aren''t all civilizations in the world originated from Huaxia?"


    "This is no longer simply ''originating from Huaxia''; it''s as if all world civilizations originated from Zhang Menglong''s family."


    "Such a robust reason, I actually believed it!"


    ...


    "I object!" an international reporter immediately stood up, "According to Mr. Zhang, are all civilizations originated from the Zhang family?"


    "Tonsils, take a seat. It''s not your turn to get inflamed. We''re in the interview stage, not the Q&A stage yet. Hold your questions!" Zhang Menglong didn''t even deign to glance at the impolite reporter.


    "Hahaha! Director Zhang is dominating!"


    "Hold your questions if you have them; it''s not your turn to speak yet. Why are you trying to draw attention?"


    "Look, you hit a sore spot; they''re getting anxious!"


    An interpreter rushed to the reporter''s side and whispered in his ear for a long while; the reporter bit his lip but eventually sat down.


    "You can choose not to believe what I say. If you don''t believe it, just walk out and turn right, as if your belief somehow benefits me. Sorry, I''m not impressed, nor do I care!" Zhang Menglong said, and without giving them another look, acted indifferent, as if he couldn''t be bothered.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, every time you speak, you refresh our understanding. Of course, I am also willing to believe that everything you say is true," Sa Xining said, "We all know, Mr. Zhang has already proven to all authorities today that this ancient city was indeed established by your ancestors. So next, we would like to hear more stories about this city."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, we are very interested in this city and hope you can tell us about every detail," many curious scholars from the audience also shouted.


    "Okay, then I''ll tell you about it!"


    At that moment, the projection screen behind showed a plan of the city drawn after manual measurements to date. Most areas of the city had already been discovered and were outlined on this diagram.


    However, it was clear that the scholars'' exploration was still very preliminary, and the diagram was merely a rough distribution of the structures, especially the central fortress, which was only roughly partitioned, rather crude indeed.


    "What''s up?" Zhang Menglong looked at the organizers.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is so you can better explain to us."


    "But isn''t this map too shabby? How am I supposed to explain?" Zhang Menglong passed over a USB drive, "Put this in!"


    The museum director hesitated before opening it. In such a situation, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have loaded it with a few romance action movies to cause a stir, right?


    "Wow!"


    The moment the file was opened, the entire scene erupted in amazement.


    This is... This is actually a perfect panorama! It not only perfectly showcased the splendor of the city from 5000 years ago, but even restored the landscapes of the region as explored by the scientists!


    "This is the panorama of our family''s home!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "My God! There''s actually a panorama!"


    "Good heavens, snap a photo of this!"


    "Oh, sorry, my mistake, it''s not a panorama, it''s a floor plan!" Zhang Menglong stood up and began to explain.


    "Hahaha, a floor plan, what a goddamn floor plan!"


    "The poor tears of those enslaved by their mortgages."


    "I always thought my 200 square meters were impressive, maybe one of Zhang''s ancestral toilets is more than 200 square meters, huh?"


    "Those with 125-square-meter homes are trembling."


    "95-square-meter homeowners are begging online."


    "Renting commoners are exclaiming experts within."


    "What others call a large flat, good lord, Zhang has bagged an entire city, a proper landlord indeed."


    ...


    "Our city is located at the edge of a desert oasis, with plains to the north, an oasis to the south, grasslands to the east, and glacial mountain ranges to the west; one could say it''s an extraordinary place. If it were in the modern world, it would definitely be of the standard of river-view and school-district houses!"


    "Look, both waterways and roadways here are highly developed, making it an ideal habitat for human development; that grassland teems with a variety of wild animals, serving as a natural breeding farm!"


    "Such a prime location, if you manage to buy it... sorry, I used to work part-time in real estate sales, even won the sales crown! Occupational hazard!"


    ...


    "Isn''t Mr. Zhang from De Yun Society?"


    "Is he really introducing the city, or do I feel like he''s trying to sell us a house?"


    "This is just ridiculous!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong got more and more excited as he spoke.


    "This is the living area for our family''s low-level slaves, with a total construction area of about 10 square kilometers!"


    "This is the plantation zone, this is the pasture area, this is the market place."


    "This is where my ancestors normally lived; the spots I marked in red are where I''m taking our scholars today. Now, this place, about 1200 square meters, is one of my ancestor''s toilets."


    "Through this corridor of about 2.4 kilometers is where my ancestor usually slept; but to be honest, the designer was pretty rubbish¡ªhe had to walk through a 2.4-kilometer corridor to go to the toilet every morning after waking up."


    "This 20,000-square-meter area is a gym; my ancestor and his 27 wives exercised there regularly."


    ...

 Chapter 641 639: Do You Have Any Objections?

    "This is the blueprint of my ancestor''s house. If you need the dimensioned drawing, I can provide that too..."


    "Okay, okay, Mr. Zhang, a blueprint is fine, there''s no need for a dimensioned drawing," Sa Xining finally found an opportunity to cut Zhang Menglong off. The interview was originally planned for one hour, but Zhang Menglong went on for one and a half. If he were in real estate sales, what house wouldn''t sell?


    He truly believed that Zhang Menglong had the potential to become a top real estate sales champion. It was a real waste of talent that he didn''t get promoted to manager during his industrious and thrifty summer job.


    "If you''re interested, you can follow my Weibo," Zhang Menglong said, "I also regularly post some fan benefits, such as houses, sports cars, villas, and the like."


    "Hahaha, that concludes our interview segment," Sa Xining couldn''t wait to get off the stage¡ªand then follow Zhang Menglong''s Weibo. Who would expect such a good deal?


    "Now, I''ll turn our stage over to Mr. Zhang and the present media journalists," Sa Xining said, "Friends from the press, feel free to start asking your questions."


    All the journalists had been waiting for a long time, and they had many questions they wanted to ask, some serious and others just looking to cause trouble.


    "This gentleman!" Zhang Menglong randomly pointed to one of the most excited foreign journalists.


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang," the journalist straightened up his appearance, "Mr. Zhang, from your introduction we learned that the city your ancestors built had remarkable achievements in agriculture, animal husbandry, construction, and even science. Did they really accomplish all that on their own?"


    "What do you mean by your question? Could it be done by anyone else?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "That''s not what I mean. After all, humans from over five thousand years ago, both intellectually and physically, couldn''t possibly reach the standard of modern humans. I suspect it could be something like aliens..."


    "People also say the pyramids were made by aliens. Is it that hard to acknowledge someone''s excellence?" Zhang Menglong firmly believed in the existence of aliens; he was convinced that humans were not alone in this universe. But if you''re going to explain everything unexplainable with aliens, then please just get lost!


    "Next!" Zhang Menglong didn''t give the journalist another look, "Everyone only has one chance to ask, so please ask some intelligent questions. Otherwise, it makes me look dumb and you look dumb too!"


    "This gentleman!" Zhang Menglong pointed to another person.


    "Mr. Zhang, my next question might be a bit sharp, hope you''re prepared!" the journalist said with a grin that did not reach his eyes.


    "Go ahead and ask, I knew I''d face all sorts of questions today, so I''m prepared to answer them." Zhang Menglong said relaxedly.


    "As we know, among all the races of mankind, the people with the best physical condition are black, and the smartest are us white people. Asians are not very outstanding in any aspect, so I do not agree with your claim that all the world''s civilizations spread from Huaxia!"


    "Damn! What is this crap? The Great Qing is no more, and now there''s still someone spouting this kind of discourse?"


    "Damn it! Get out!"


    "Wearing your goddamn colored glasses? White people are great?"


    "Hmm?" Zhang Menglong felt the journalist had more to say, and signaled him to finish.


    "Mr. Zhang, I am a supporter of racial equality, and my previous statements may not have been quite correct, but I was indeed stating a fact," the journalist hurriedly explained, not daring to leave behind any hint of racial discrimination, "What I just said is all backed by evidence."


    "In terms of physicality, let''s take the Olympic Games as an example. In track and field events, it''s predominantly black athletes who have the advantage. The current world record holder for sprinting, Mr. Bolt, is a black man, and he has almost turned the event into a one-man show. You can''t deny that, can you?"


    "Mr. Bolt is indeed a legend, and the athletic Gift of African descent athletes is also remarkable." Zhang Menglong did not doubt this fact.


    "As for intelligence, let''s use data from ten years ago. White Nobel Prize winners numbered 896, while Asians and blacks only had 24 and 22 respectively. Mr. Zhang, you can''t dispute that, can you?"


    "Indeed."


    "Then I think my question is entirely reasonable. If your ancestors'' tribe, being Asians, were inferior to other races in both athletic and intellectual talent, on what basis could they be the seed of world civilization? Therefore, I believe this statement is utterly incorrect. Perhaps our other civilizations intersected with it, but at most, we were merely influenced."


    "I understand," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but I can also give you some examples."


    ""African athletes indeed possess strong talents in track and field, but that doesn''t imply that Huaxia can''t produce outstanding athletes. Mr. Su from our Huaxia became the first person to break the ten-second barrier in the 100 meters, and his records are continuously refreshing the Asian ones!"


    "As for intelligence, I find your example downright laughable," Zhang Menglong continued, "If it weren''t for our Huaxia''s invention of the compass, you probably wouldn''t have been able to sail the seas to get to Huaxia!"


    "If it weren''t for our creation of gunpowder, the era of firearms in the world would have been delayed by several centuries!"


    "If it weren''t for our invention of paper-making, you would probably still be using stones to wipe your ass right now!"


    "The wisdom of Huaxia people is far greater than you can imagine!"


    "Well said!"


    "In terms of intelligence, in terms of invention, Huaxia people are the ones you will always need to look up to!"


    "You''re so inspiring!"


    But then the reporter laughed again, "However, Mr. Zhang, when it comes to honors received, it''s an undeniable fact!"


    "Discussing results without considering the preconditions is hooligan behaviour," Zhang Menglong said, "Previously we Huaxia were constantly caught in the whirlpool of old history, we were still driving out foreign invaders when many of your countries had already begun the Industrial Revolution. You had stable societies for research, while we were still figuring out how to survive."


    "If you think that under such preconditions you can claim your white people are smarter, then there''s not much I can do about it," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "But I hope you realize that Huaxia has only developed for 70 years since peace till now, and yet, our country''s many technologies are already at the peak of the world. To reach this stage, you took one hundred or even two hundred years. I want to ask, who is the one with the lower IQ?"


    "The so-called problems that have troubled you for 200 years, I solved them casually while studying for my postgraduate research. Those high and mighty Nobel Prizes in your eyes are worthless to me; I could snag one every fortnight if I please. Huaxia people are inferior to others?"


    "I give that Versailles [sarcastic brag] a perfect score!"


    "Well spoken, I really want to lick my husband''s mouth!"


    "Calm down, beauty, I want to lick it too!"


    "They just can''t stand to see us do well, they just don''t want to acknowledge our cultural output!"


    "They''re just jealous! They''re probably a bunch of sour pickled fish, right?"


    "@Sour Pickled Fish pay for your advertisement!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s rebuttal rendered the reporter speechless, his lips twitching for a long time, "Mr. Zhang, the situations you mentioned are not the general rule, but merely exceptions!"


    "Then my ancestors are the exception, my ancestors were just that awesome, do you have a problem with that?"

 Chapter 642 640: Used as a Guardian for My House

    ```


    "Splash!"


    Zhang Menglong''s words elicited a wave of applause from the audience, his speech was like an incredibly exciting debate, persuading most of those present.


    "Do you think I would get angry when you ask these kinds of questions?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Sorry, I''m not angry at all. In fact, I wish you would ask more of these questions so that I can show off a bit more!" Zhang Menglong said unabashedly.


    The audience burst into laughter. Indeed, if you don''t give us the chance to show off, how awkward would it be for us to do it ourselves? What constitutes a successful boast? It must involve having a face presented to you for a good whack¡ªthat''s when it feels most satisfying.


    "This lady!" Zhang Menglong pointed to another reporter.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me clarify, I''m not here to cause trouble. I really respect your family history and Huaxia''s culture," the female reporter stated her position right away.


    "Thank you for your understanding!"


    "But I do have a question," the female reporter said, "If your family was so powerful in that era and all its branches spread all over the world, then in these more than five thousand years, your family must have always maintained its glory and strength. The members of your family should all be very outstanding."


    "I''m a student of the History Department at Harvard University, and I''m very interested in Huaxia''s history. Moreover, I''ve studied Huaxia''s history for a long time, but I haven''t found any historical records relevant to your family. How do you explain that?"


    Just like Zhang Menglong, his wealth alone ensured he could not possibly be unknown in this era; even if he wanted to keep a low profile, it would be extremely difficult.


    For families like the Rothschilds, their strength is known all over the world.


    And the Dolores family behind the Rothschilds might not be known to the public, but the leaders of various European countries are aware of their existence and live in trembling under their intimidation.


    And the Zhang Family had the power over all these other families, being recognized as their master. Their influence must be overwhelming¡ªhow could there be no news of them at all?


    At least before Zhang Menglong, almost no one knew about the existence of this family.


    "That''s a very good question," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Have you watched ''The Truman Show''?"


    Many in the audience nodded. ''The Truman Show'' is a very appealing movie where a group of people created a game in which everyone except the protagonist is an actor, including his neighbors, parents, and even his wife. He is the clown being manipulated in this game.


    "Actually, what I want to say is that as long as my power is strong enough, I can do whatever I want behind the scenes, and all you can see is only what I want you to see!"


    "But how much power does that require?" the reporter exclaimed.


    "Actually, many historical transitions are related to our family," Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s talk about Huaxia. Do you know about the Battle of Zhuolu?"


    "That''s the earliest battlefield recorded in history, where the Yellow Emperor fought against Chiyou at Zhuolu, ending in Chiyou''s defeat," the female reporter recited the history fluently.


    "Do you know the disparity between the tribes at that time?"


    "As far as I know, Chiyou''s tribe was far more powerful than the Yellow Emperor''s tribe. Chiyou was the inventor of metal weaponry, known as the God of War, and also the progenitor of Eastern shamanic rituals. He was superior in both combat capability and military management."


    "It seems this beautiful lady truly understands our Huaxia culture very well!" Zhang Menglong sincerely praised, acknowledging that even many from Huaxia were unaware of this information.


    "Actually, I''m quite curious. At the beginning of the war, Chiyou''s tribe had an absolute advantage, but in the later stages, they were turned around by the opposing side, which is quite incomprehensible. And I think many researchers of Huaxia''s history are also curious about this."


    ```


    "Actually, the reason is very simple," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "the Yellow Emperor''s people secretly found Chiyou''s mount and promised him that as long as he helped the descendants of Yan and Huang, he would have food and shelter guaranteed!"


    "Hahaha, General Manager Zhang is spouting nonsense again!"


    "Big Bear: Sorry Chiyou, they promised food and Accommodation!"


    "Miss Politeness: Are you a panda?"


    "Just kidding," Zhang Menglong said, "actually, this matter does have a little connection with our family."


    Everyone perked up their ears; whether true or false, this sounded like an incredibly fascinating story.


    "When my ancestors gave up that city, they found the natural environment of the Yellow and Yangtze River basins to be more conducive to living, so they settled down near there, just close to those two tribes."


    "Chiyou''s defeat is related to your ancestors?"


    "Sort of, but it''s also their own bad luck," Zhang Menglong explained, "Chiyou trained his troops every day to strengthen his military forces. If there was no war that day, they would train from dawn to dusk, making such a racket."


    "Training troops is one thing, but do you know what else? They clanged and banged making weapons all day long. Do you have any idea how disturbing that noise was? My ancestors at the time lived near their camp and were almost driven to a nervous breakdown!"


    "Could it be Chiyou''s defeat was due to your..."


    "My ancestor was so aggrieved, the more he endured, the angrier he got, stepping back only to be sterile, he directly led several of his allied tribes and raided Chiyou''s camp overnight, beat them up good. That Chiyou, I heard, was especially stubborn, and ended up having several teeth knocked out by my ancestor."


    "Later, when they fought the next day, everyone was listless and got slaughtered by the Yellow Emperor''s troops, losing their helmets and armor. It was their first defeat. The Yellow Emperor then pursued the victory and wiped out Chiyou''s forces."


    "This... this is just too unbelievable," everyone listened, dumbstruck. This wasn''t a recounting of history; it was more like an reenactment of a myth.


    Yet it was so fantastical. The event that determined the fate of Huaxia''s development was actually facilitated by Zhang Menglong''s ancestors? How powerful were they at the time to be able to storm Chiyou''s camp and give him a thrashing?


    According to this, if Zhang Menglong''s ancestors had wanted to annihilate both tribes, unifying Huaxia would have been a piece of cake, right?


    "But regarding this point, do you have any evidence?" the reporter asked, "It''s only your side of the story after all."


    "You want evidence?" Zhang Menglong connected his phone to the big screen with screen mirroring, "I don''t know if any of you recognize this thing!"


    It was a photo, showing what appeared to be a villa. At the entrance of the villa was a dark red blade, which seemed to bear the marks of age judging by the rust on it.


    "That''s the Chiyou Demonic Blade!" An archaeologist immediately stood up.


    In an instant, all the Huaxia scholars stood up.


    Legend has it that during the Battle of Zhuolu, Chiyou possessed something called the Chiyou Demonic Blade, while the Yellow Emperor''s sword was the Xuanyuan Sword. Though the Xuanyuan Sword hasn''t been displayed, Huaxia announced one year that it was found in a tomb.


    But as for the Chiyou Demonic Blade, up to now, there was no physical evidence whatsoever.


    "This thing has been in one of our family''s villas. If you''re interested, you can have it tested to check its age," Zhang Menglong said, "after my ancestor gave him a beating, as a lesson, he took this demonic blade away. Now it''s serving as a protective talisman in our house!"

 Chapter 643 641: Because of Their Major in Health Preservation

    "Who can tell me if this thing is really real?"


    "Boss Zhang has already said, if anyone doubts it, they can go to his house at any time to test the knife. He''s made the offer. Could it still be fake after that?"


    "Speak of reason, doesn''t this thing need to be handed over to the state?"


    "If it truly is an inheritance passed down from his ancestors, why the hell should he hand over a legally inherited item?"


    "This, damn, I heard that the Chiyou magic knife is on the same level as the Xuanyuan Sword, right? This is absolutely a national treasure, and he just keeps a national treasure at home to protect his house?"


    The audience on-site and those watching the livestream were staring intently at the dark red treasure knife in the photo, their eyes filled with excitement. If this item was really the one lost by Chiyou over 4000 years ago, this would be huge news!


    It''s no wonder then that the once powerful Chiyou was defeated by the Yellow Emperor. Setting aside the fact that his tribe''s warriors had been stripped of their mettle, even the treasure knife that represented his supreme rule had been lost; it would have been strange if he had won.


    Zhang Menglong''s ancestor actually changed the entire history of Huaxia!


    "Of course, you can choose not to believe. Perhaps many people are guessing that the Chiyou magic knife was just a stroke of luck our family found on the battlefield, as I obviously can''t summon Chiyou to confront this issue face to face."


    "Hahaha!" Laughter erupted at the scene momentarily.


    "I''ll say it again, whether you believe it or not actually means nothing to me. If you don''t, I won''t miss a piece of flesh off my back!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I am very willing to believe you," the female reporter said, "Just by looking at the city your ancestors built, we can see the greatness of your ancestors. I believe that even the tribes of Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor couldn''t have been stronger than your ancestor''s city!"


    Archaeologists have found some weapons from that era, and it''s true that Chiyou was skilled in weapon forging, but the quality of those weapons is, to put it mildly, indescribable.


    They are certainly not bad for fighting, but we''ve all seen the weapons from Zhang Menglong''s ancestral home. If these two types of weapons were to collide, the outcome would be as obvious as it could be if you think about it with your "backside."


    It''s just hard to believe, what kind of person would have to be able to lift such heavy weapons. Is everyone in Zhang Menglong''s family born with infinite divine strength and a special gift?


    After all, not even an Olympic weightlifting champion could lift something that weighs several tons.


    But if they really could use such weapons, then defeating Chiyou''s forces would indeed be a piece of cake.


    However, in that era which seems like mythology to modern Humans, perhaps such things are not completely impossible, right?


    "Actually not only in Huaxia, my family members are actually quite idle. When they have nothing else to do, they like to meddle in affairs, especially international ones," Zhang Menglong said. "If it weren''t for my ancestors, actually many of you might not even have your current nationality, or even exist in this world."


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that?" a young European reporter asked.


    "Sir, which country are you from?"


    "I am from the Kingdom of Guitecli," the reporter answered.


    "Hmm, my family does have some connections with your Kingdom of Guitecli," Zhang Menglong said. "Guitecli is indeed a country with a very long history. If we trace it back, it should go as far back as over 700 years before Christ."


    "Mr. Zhang is very knowledgeable about our history?"


    "To you, your history is something from books, but for our family, since as early as 2000 BC, we''ve had our eyes and ears spread all over the world. The so-called history you speak of is merely the everyday occurrences that happened around us. We have understood these histories generation after generation through the oral accounts from our elders."


    Actually, Zhang Menglong was just spouting nonsense. What oral accounts from his elders? Even with their remarkable learning capabilities, the history of some nations spans thousands of years. To learn it all would cause one''s brain to explode.


    Their method of learning was simple and crude: they''d inherit and replicate memories directly through the Super God Academy. The next generation could just copy and paste whatever knowledge they wanted.


    So, in the memory of Zhang Menglong, there was the history of almost every country and even the unknown secrets and gossip¡ªall of which he was privy to.


    "In your history, there was once a significant political upheaval, the one that determined your future direction. At that time, you weren''t known as Guitecli yet, but as the country of Guitecli. The name of the then-emperor seemed to be Leibida, who was later annihilated by a man named Wu Dawei, who then officially became the first Emperor of the Guitecli Empire."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, that was around 30 to 40 BC. Wu Dawei was a great Emperor. He led the then kingdom of Guitecli to establish a strong imperial system, laying a foundation for the burgeoning development of our nation."


    "However, you may not know that Wu Dawei''s victory wasn''t easy since he had to face both Anthony and Leibida, two major powerhouses at the time," the young reporter said.


    At that time, the Guitecli Empire was in a tripartite struggle with three governments fighting against each other and their powers being very close.


    "In your history textbooks, the reason for Wu Dawei''s victory is probably described as his active reforms, stabilizing people''s livelihoods, winning the hearts of the people, and ultimately prevailing, right?"


    The reporter nodded. That was indeed how it was described in the textbooks he had learned from.


    From the sound of it, Zhang Menglong seemed to suggest there was more to the story?


    "Actually, the truth is, Wu Dawei received a huge sponsorship that included gold, diamonds, food, and fabrics. With these, he actively improved the people''s living conditions, and that''s how he won the support of the people and united the entire Empire in the end."


    "Sponsorship?" The reporter was confused. This part was definitely not in their history textbooks!


    "That''s right! I remember there''s a passage in the legend of our country!" An Guitecli historian suddenly stood up, "Back then, Wu Dawei worshipped a Deity, and before the war, he prayed to the Deity for three days and nights. The Deity was moved by him and brought wealth in food to the whole nation, helping him to unite the country''s strength."


    "Exactly, the Deity mentioned in your legend is actually my ancestor, Mr. Zhang Baiting," Zhang Menglong said.


    "That''s an exaggeration!" exclaimed the historian, "According to the myth, the wealth was enough to fill the national treasury three times. If converted to the equivalent value today, those assets might exceed 500 billion US dollars! Excuse my frankness, but I don''t believe your ancestor would have given away 500 billion US dollars'' worth of wealth just to help Wu Dawei!"


    "Of course he wouldn''t, without good reason!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "My ancestor was touring the Guitecli Empire at the time because he was quite fond of massages, so he frequented those massage parlors. Compared to the territories of the other two leaders, there was one massage parlor in Wu Dawei''s land whose techniques greatly satisfied him."


    "Your country always resorted to war, and once war broke out, you would slaughter the population. My ancestor worried that if Wu Dawei lost, he could never enjoy such authentic massages again. That''s why he decided to help Wu Dawei win!"


    "Oh, and there''s another reason," Zhang Menglong added, "there was a yogurt shop in Wu Dawei''s territory that tasted exceptionally good!"


    Zhang Menglong''s words left everyone on site dumbstruck as wooden chickens.


    What kind of creature is your ancestor? If you''re just here to mess around, why get involved in people''s wars? Do you have a sickness or something?


    And all because the massage parlors in Wu Dawei''s territory were more professional and the food tasted better, you invested assets worth 500 billion US dollars to help him win this war?


    Is this what they call the whims of the wealthy?

 Chapter 644 642: I Still Want to be an Ordinary Person

    "Mr. Zhang, forgive my frankness, but the things you''re discussing are just too radical for our worldview. If this is all true, do you have any evidence to support it?"


    "True..." Zhang Menglong hesitated, "My ancestors didn''t exactly get a receipt from Wu Dawei."


    "Oh, right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly smacked his head, "I remembered something that I think can prove what I''m saying is true."


    "What is it?"


    "Just a moment," said Zhang Menglong as he took out his phone and dialed Lu Yiyao''s number.


    "Menglong, why are you suddenly calling me? Miss me?" Zhang Menglong''s phone was still connected to the live multimedia, and everyone heard this voice instantly.


    "Damn, that was careless!" Zhang Menglong''s face was immediately emblazoned with capital letters of embarrassment. Was this content the audience could watch without paying?


    At that moment, the live chat went absolutely wild.


    "This is seriously awkward, Boss Zhang, oh, it hurts!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you have your days too haha."


    "Even this turns into a love display, really, officer?"


    "Menglong, why are you suddenly calling me?"


    "Well, of course, I miss you!"


    "Hahaha, this is a massive social death live on air!"


    Lu Yiyao seemed to have also heard the commotion from the venue and immediately lowered her voice.


    "Menglong, is there someone with you? Why is it so noisy?"


    "Aren''t I today''s interview guest?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''m live right now!"


    "What? Live?" Lu Yiyao panicked immediately, "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    "This... I... It was a mistake!" Zhang Menglong said, "Turn on your video for a second and help me out. Go to the shareholder''s exhibition room in the library and take a picture of that Wu Dawei''s scepter."


    "Wait for me," said Lu Yiyao without asking why, she never had any extra questions when it came to Zhang Menglong''s requests.


    "What did he just say? Wu Dawei''s scepter?"


    "Does that thing really exist?" The historians and archaeologists from Italy began to whisper amongst themselves excitedly.


    According to legend, after Wu Dawei was victorious in war, he built an altar for the deity he worshipped, but to this day, no one has discovered where this altar is located.


    What''s more, it was said that to venerate this deity, Wu Dawei expended a vast amount of wealth to find a super red diamond weighing 720 carats!


    This diamond was even larger than the one on the scepter of the Queen of England, known as the Star of South Africa, and such a large red diamond was absolutely unique!


    Wu Dawei crafted a scepter approximately 40 centimeters long out of pure gold, the scepter was bedecked with various precious gemstones, and the handle was inlaid with this red diamond.


    Such an item, if it existed today, would unquestionably be a priceless treasure!


    However, so far, the Italian archaeologists and historians had only found information and pictures about this scepter in ancient books, beyond that, there were no records of the actual item.


    It was as if this scepter mysteriously vanished soon after it was made and could never be found again.


    At this time, the voice call between Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had turned into a video call, and the backdrop had changed from a resplendent living room to a somewhat dimly lit room.


    This room was like a library, neatly arranged with shelves after shelves, some adorned with vases, some with cold weapons, and others with paintings and other antiques.


    All these shelves were made into custom display cases, likely vacuum-sealed to prevent oxidation from damaging the contents.


    "Is this Mr. Zhang''s library?"


    "This has got to be bigger than a museum, right?"


    "My god, is this what a rich person''s library looks like?"


    "Excuse my ignorance, does anyone recognize what these things on the shelves are?"


    "Holy shit! Isn''t that Tang Yin''s Plum Blossom Painting? That''s his missing work, I''ve heard our teacher talk about it!"


    "Yo, brother, sharp eyes!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "That indeed is the original Tang Yin''s Plum Blossom Painting. It was given to one of my ancestors by Tang Yin himself shortly after he painted it. Strictly speaking, not many people should know about it."


    "My teacher is a descendant of Tang Yin''s students, he only heard his elders mention this work; I can''t believe it actually exists." The scholar marveled, "I didn''t expect Mr. Zhang to even have such a thing."


    "It''s nothing," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Actually, my family has every one of Tang Yin''s works."


    "How is that possible? What about those in the museums?" someone immediately asked.


    "Tang Yin always prepared two pieces for every painting he did, and the most successful one would be sent to my ancestors. So, if it''s in a museum, my family has it; if it''s not in the museum, my family still has it."


    "Isn''t that an ancient Egyptian gold mask?"


    "Is this... is this the Pharaoh''s Scepter?"


    "That''s the Caozhi Sword of our Kaibong, a national treasure!"


    "Sorry my friend!" said Zhang Menglong to the person from Kaibong, "I only collect valuable items. That so-called Caozhi Sword of yours is an imitation of a weapon forged by my ancestor and doesn''t deserve a place in my library. It belongs to my ancestor."


    "As for your Caozhi Sword, it''s quite sharp, so my family uses it to cut beef." Zhang Menglong explained; he had taken this artifact from the leader of Kaibong''s Dark Ninja and had never returned it.


    "This is really... all the treasures of the world are here, right?" People in front of the live-stream were dumbstruck as they watched his collection. Although many items only flashed across the screen briefly, many of the viewers were knowledgeable scholars, well-versed in history and artifacts, almost able to recognize them at a glance.


    Many things lost to history appeared in his home.


    No need to visit a history museum if you want to see treasures, just come to Zhang Menglong''s house.


    "Found it," Lu Yiyao finally said, having located a showcase at a corner that was somewhat more refined than the others, with spotlights at each corner. There lay the Scepter that exists only in legends.


    "Here it is," Zhang Menglong stated, "After Wu Dawei finished this Scepter, he gave it to my ancestors first, so none of you have seen the real thing. My ancestors just tossed it in a storage room, and it was only a matter of decades before my father and grandfather sorted it out."


    "This is truly... astonishing!"


    "The depth of Mr. Zhang''s family legacy really puts us to shame."


    After seeing all these items, many people could not retain a shred of skepticism.


    Zhang Menglong''s collection contained artifacts mentioned in legends and historical records thousands of years ago; if those were not enough to demonstrate their family''s influence throughout history, what could?


    The only explanation was that they were incredibly low-profile, low-profile enough not to let others know their wealth but quietly accumulate fortune and power in the background.


    "Does anyone have any doubts left?" Zhang Menglong swept his gaze over them, but this time, no one dared to question him further.


    Zhang Menglong turned off the video, "Actually, I showed you these not to boast or anything, but just to clear my name. Deep down, I still prefer to live as an ordinary person!"

 Chapter 645 643: Are They Planning a Rebellion?

    "Zhang Menglong wants to be an ordinary person, which is the most absurd thing I''ve ever heard in my life."


    "I have never seen such a shameless person."


    "Unless you erase everyone''s memory, who would consider him an ordinary person?"


    ...


    In a lively discussion, Zhang Menglong''s interview had drawn to a successful close, although the live audience at the time consisted only of archaeologists and historians. However, as the content fermented, more and more people became aware of the unfathomable depths of the Zhang family.


    Having inherited a family legacy of over 5000 years, even if those ancestors had amassed a worthless collection of broken bowls and pots, by this era, it would undoubtedly amount to a wealth rivaling that of nations; and now they also knew, the 10 trillion US dollars in assets Zhang Menglong declared were indeed plausible!


    If your family had such a legacy of 5000 years, provided your ancestors had a bit of foresight and a grander vision, you might not be as wealthy as Zhang Menglong, but at least great wealth would absolutely be no problem!


    For the general public, Zhang Menglong and they had little in common, at most everyone online could joyously interact a bit. Whether rich or powerful, what did it have to do with them?


    However, for those nations, it undeniably sent a huge danger signal!


    The discovery of this city, the history validated by Zhang Menglong, instilled a profound fear in all nations regarding this matter¡ªthe origin of world civilization stemming from Zhang Menglong''s family was a statement better believed than doubted!


    All nations immediately conducted investigations within their own countries and were astonished to find inexplicable historical gaps and various unknown debts, more or less.


    Moreover, many of these debts had no creditor to be found. Historically, many had chosen to default, but their consequences were often very tragic.


    They then realized that the creditor was still around, and incredibly powerful!


    After this, they instinctively linked these matters with the mysterious and ancient family of Zhang Menglong.


    In a European country, a head of state was looking worriedly at a report, while his assistant stood quietly in front of him, not daring to speak.


    "Leader, after two weeks of investigation, we''ve discovered a lot. First, our country has always had a debt of 3 trillion US dollars from our war of independence, but this money wasn''t owed to the colonial empires; it was owed to a person who aided our country back then."


    "Can you find out who this person was?"


    The assistant shook his head, "Our Ministry of Finance is responsible for annually withdrawing a portion from the nation''s taxes to transfer to an offshore anonymous account, beyond that, there are no other leads!"


    "Useless!" the leader shouted angrily, "We owe a debt of 3 trillion US dollars, and you''re telling me you don''t know whom it''s owed to?"


    "I''m sorry, Leader," the assistant sighed, "As far as I know, your predecessor also investigated this person but came up with nothing."


    "Do you think this person could be Zhang Menglong?" the leader asked.


    "It''s not impossible," the assistant replied, "According to Zhang Menglong, his ancestors wandered all over the world; they not only helped the Yellow Emperor of Huaxia defeat Chiyou, but also helped Wu Dawei unify the Guitecli Empire, so supporting our country in the war of independence might be a possible event."


    "Ah... three trillion US dollars, we have yet to pay back even half, and it''s a huge annual expenditure for our country."


    "Leader, I understand your thoughts, but I advise you not to entertain such ideas. The previous leaders emphasized repeatedly that while other debts can be repaid slowly, this particular one must not be meddled with!"


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "The former leader Bieber once had a year where he did not continue to pay off his debts. Do you know what happened?"


    "What? I have never heard of such a thing before!"


    "We first received a warning from an anonymous phone call. Three days later, our country''s currency market suffered a severe financial shock. That year, we were supposed to pay back 45 billion US Dollars of debt. On that day, a mysterious speculative capital group raided our financial market and directly earned 45 billion US Dollars!"


    "There''s such a thing?"


    "It seems like we only lost 45 billion US Dollars, but many institutions went bankrupt, causing a series of effects that led to our losses exceeding 200 billion US Dollars!"


    "After they plundered that money, we never received similar message warnings again, but we all know that this speculative capital group must be related to our creditors!"


    "And this piece of land? 125 square kilometers, already as big as a city, and it doesn''t even belong to the nation?" the leader continued to ask.


    "This... This piece of land was also lost during the independence war," the assistant sighed, "because in the early days, the nation''s economy was still recovering, and the GDP combined was not enough to pay the debt. Therefore, the founding leader decided to exchange the permanent use right of this part of the land for 20 years of debt interest exemption."


    "Our country is so small? 125 square kilometers of land, this is simply a national disgrace!"


    "Leader, a man with such capabilities, I really think it is very likely to be the ancestor of Zhang Menglong!"


    "No, we absolutely cannot let our country''s lifeline be in someone''s hands like this!" The leader''s face showed a resentful expression, owing money, owing land, this is simply the humiliation that only colonized countries during the colonial era would have!


    "You mustn''t be reckless, leader," the assistant cautioned, "Don''t you know how difficult it is to deal with Zhang Menglong? Even Kaibong, America, and Qingqiu have lost to him alone. Not to mention anything else, just his 10 trillion US Dollars incoming, in at most three days, our country''s economy would regress 20 years, or even longer."


    "No, who said I am going to face him alone?" The leader showed a sly smile. Since this has happened in our country, I believe we are definitely not the only one."


    "Zhang Menglong is so arrogant and rampant just because he has money, right? But no matter how rich he is, if he can oppose one country, one continent, can he really stand against the entire world?" he said.


    "You mean..."


    "Unite the world''s powers and strike at Huaxia''s financial market! Although Huaxia is very powerful now, if it''s about finances, the forces of Europe and America could easily defeat them by just deploying a fraction of their strength. I just don''t believe Zhang Menglong will just watch his country''s financial market collapse!"


    "Once Zhang Menglong enters the arena with his funds, thinking he''s only facing a few countries'' joint attack, he won''t expect our trump card later. By the time he realizes he''s facing most of the world, he won''t be able to withdraw!"


    "At that time, we can not only divide up a large part of Huaxia''s financial market, but we can also wipe out all of Zhang Menglong''s funds. What is there to fear from a penniless Zhang Menglong?"


    "But leader, how sure are you that you can convince them?" the assistant asked worriedly.


    "One hundred percent!" the leader said confidently, "In the world, no country would allow another country to monopolize and dominate the world. They would not allow a person to stand on top of a nation''s head and defecate. The reason no one has acted yet is just because they do not have enough power. But as long as there is enough power..."


    "Understood, leader. I''ll immediately contact the European nations!"


    .....

 Chapter 646 644: Theyre All Here to Give Money

    Dozens of countries in Europe.


    "Head of State, our country has a debt of 800 billion US Dollars and we have to repay about 20 billion US Dollars in principal and interest each year!"


    "Who is the creditor?"


    "Not sure..."


    ...


    "Head of State, I''ve completed the review. Historically, our country had no debts, but at the founding of our nation, we mortgaged a gold mine and a diamond mine to an unidentified person in exchange for several billion in funds for national infrastructure."


    "Can''t the owner of the gold mine and diamond mine be traced?"


    "They can be traced. The owner is a person named Lorneico Durolas, who unexpectedly acquired the ownership of these two mines about twenty years ago. I suspect he is just a holder."


    "What? Did you say the person''s last name is Durolas?"


    ...


    "President, 56% of the shares in our country''s construction projects belong to others, and more than 27 billion euros in dividends must be transferred to that account each year!"


    "Leader, 30% of our energy industry is controlled by the Rothschild family."


    ...


    Eventually, from initially having no clues, all leads finally pointed to many major European families and these families had just recently declared themselves as attached or slave families of Zhang Menglong!


    Since they acknowledged their identity, it also meant that all these things belonged entirely to Zhang Menglong!


    Having established this information, they were shattered on the spot. Over forty countries and regions in Europe, almost forty of them owed something to Zhang Menglong!


    Some owed money, some owed land, and some of their core projects and industries were controlled by him, even some of the Presidential Palaces were built on the land of those forces attached to Zhang Menglong!


    "He is too dangerous!"


    This was the first reaction of all the leaders upon learning this news. Whether it was debt, land, or those core project constructions, they all had leverage in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    If one day Zhang Menglong threatened them with these things, they would be completely powerless to defend themselves!


    "We must unite!"


    Everyone sent their most trusted people and envoys to start contacting people from other countries, but they hadn''t anticipated that everyone surprisingly had the same goal, instantly forming a united front!


    Their goal was simple; through financial means united together, they would turn all of Zhang Menglong''s assets into nothing, and then they would no longer be at anyone''s mercy!


    Zhang Menglong''s power stemmed merely from his ability to splash money. Once he could no longer splash money, he was just a slightly smarter college student, unable to shake any country.


    At that time, debts and the like, even if they were not repaid, what could Zhang Menglong do about it?


    The news spread from Europe to Asia, from Asia to Africa, then from Africa to Americas and Oceania, forming an anti-Zhang Menglong alliance.


    A total of 97 countries, comprising half the world''s countries, 70% of the population, and 75% of the wealth, such a force was sufficient to shake any nation and such an alliance would have been impossible to establish in the past. But now, they had set aside so-called history, and so-called prejudices and united together.


    ...


    "Awesome! Truly worthy of our Huaxia''s diving dream team, even the splash is smaller than when we throw dumplings in our household!"


    "Table tennis is invincible too! That Ito has been totally smashed by Sasa''s child, all that talk about only her being able to defeat the Huaxia people, they were just deceiving her!"


    "Aww, why the tears? Only if Ai Fukuhara is crying does she deserve to be consoled; let Ito cry if she''s been beaten to tears!"


    "6666, Su God is stronger this year, a score of 9.83! I remember my time was 100 seconds 9.53 meters, right?"


    "This kangaroo has such magical moves; the Gen Z kids are too strong. They just take a summer break to join the Olympics and grab a few gold medals on the way home."


    "A 14-year-old diving champion, huh? At this rate, wouldn''t they dominate the sport for another 20 years?"


    "What kind of referee is this? A foot practically in my face and still scoring 14.7?"


    "I really admire these referees, physically impaired but still sticking to their posts! Damn it!"


    "Deducting points for not paying tribute to the judges? Seriously, do you have no shame, I pay my respects to your stinky highness!"


    Miles away in Huaxia, Zhang Menglong was watching this year''s Olympic broadcast with Wang Ling, Qin Feng, and others. This Olympics had grabbed everyone''s attention like never before.


    Huaxia''s athletes had turned it into a children''s sports meeting; the younger they were, the more terrifying their prowess. The Gen Z was beyond unbelievable.


    Some Gen Z had already won Olympic gold medals, while other Gen Z were still saying, "Some Gen Z have started winning Olympic gold medals."


    However, many blind referees and shady dealings also infuriated Zhang Menglong and others. But Huaxians are just that magnanimous. Trying to play dirty? No problem, we just need to be far enough ahead, so even if you blow the whistle, it won''t work!


    In the diving events, the first place and the rest were a whopping sixty to seventy points apart. Go on, keep scoring randomly!


    In weightlifting, my dear Huaxia lifters beat your silver medalists'' final scores on their first attempt!


    Table tennis, whether it''s 3:0 or 4:0, everyone''s getting swept!


    Rugby? With a score of 29:0, are Kaibong''s teams just trash fit for shaving bald? Dry trash or wet trash?


    After watching these matches, Zhang Menglong didn''t feel the Olympic spirit awakened within him, but the deep-seated spirit of resistance against Japan in his soul sure was stirred.


    "Awesome!" as the closing ceremony concluded, they finished this Olympic journey with the absolute supremacy of topping the gold medal table!


    "Mr. Zhang!" At that moment, Hong Yi approached, bending down to whisper something in Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    Zhang Menglong''s face revealed a slightly mischievous smile, "Oh? Are they planning a rebellion? How many countries, and how much money have they prepared?"


    "A total of 97 countries, they have currently amassed 500 trillion US dollars, and moreover, they''ve brought in a bunch of financial masterminds from the global financial markets and even some operators who have weathered several financial storms. They''re really set on this!"


    "Is there enough time to prepare?"


    "There shouldn''t be any issues," Hong Yi replied, "They plan to make their move on the third of next month, we still have half a month, which is more than enough time to prepare our funds."


    "Half a month, how much can we raise?"


    "More than they will, that''s for sure!" Hong Yi promised. "As long as we handle it well, we can take all of their 500 trillion US dollars. If any international speculators come looking to profit from the chaos, we might even earn more!"


    "Hahaha, good!" Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s start slow, initially playing weak to make them think I''m running low on money. That will attract lots of speculators with their funds to the fray, and just when they think they''re on the verge of a fortune, we''ll swoop in!"


    "Should we inform Old Zhou about this?" Hong Yi asked.


    "Let''s keep it anonymous," Zhang Menglong replied. "If the old man finds out, he would be really worried, but we just need to give Huaxia''s financial market some time to prepare!"


    "Yes, I''ll get straight on it!"


    ...


    "Menglong, what''s going on?" Wang Ling asked. "Is something the matter?"


    "Nothing much," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "A small matter, someone is planning to send me money."


    "Is that even a thing?" Qin Feng exclaimed in surprise. "There are actually people in the world who would send you money? Don''t you have enough already?"


    "I''m helpless too, but if they insist on giving it, I can only reluctantly accept. I don''t want it, but they are determined to stuff it into my pocket, it''s really a brain teaser!"


    ...

 Chapter 647 645 Impending Storm

    It was an ordinary Christmas. The streets were filled with a cheerful Christmas atmosphere, brightly lit and bustling,


    but due to the cultural boycott policies of recent years, people''s enthusiasm for Christmas had actually waned.


    In fact, people''s love for Christmas was not so much about the holiday itself, but rather a fondness for all festive occasions, and Christmas, being such a romantic holiday, was naturally beloved by many couples.


    "Come on, everyone gets an apple!" At the Huaxia Metropolis Currency Exchange, the general manager, along with a few staff members, wheeled in a cart, "One apple per person, today is Christmas, the foreigners are off work, our workload today should be relatively light, let''s aim to get off work by four o''clock!"


    All the staff immediately showed excited expressions.


    Although it was a state-managed organization, working in high finance was not that easy, as they needed to maintain trading volumes and keep the currency market in balance.


    The importance of the currency market to a nation was beyond question, for it determined the exchange rate between a nation''s currency and international currencies in circulation. If there were significant fluctuations, it could have a substantial impact on a country.


    For example, if the Huaxia currency''s exchange rate dropped over a period, the direct result would be the devaluation of the Huaxia currency, raising the cost of imports and leading to an overall increase in prices, thereby directly reducing international purchasing power.


    Next would come severe inflation, and as for the consequences of hyperinflation, anyone with a bit of knowledge in economics would understand.


    But if the currency exchange rate rose, it would lead to increased costs for many foreign investors, resulting in a mass withdrawal of foreign capital from Huaxia. For Huaxia, whose infrastructure was still not quite perfect, this was not a good thing.


    Therefore, in the currency exchange market, maintaining exchange rates within a stable range was crucial. If significant fluctuations occurred, the nation would inevitably need to invest substantial funds to stabilize market volatility.


    Zhang Menglong''s ancestors were once the instigators of financial crises by attacking other countries'' currency markets.


    The most iconic examples of this were in Germany in 1923 and Venezuela in 2018.


    At the beginning of 2018, one US Dollar could be exchanged for 10.3 Venezuelan Boli?vars, but 11 months later, one US Dollar could exchange for 248,520 Venezuelan Boli?vars.


    In less than a year, the currency had devalued by tens of thousands of times!


    Those who understood this period of history knew that the United States was the perpetrator behind this financial disaster.


    Most of Venezuela''s foreign exchange reserves were in US Dollars, and their economy was based on oil, which was priced in US Dollars worldwide.


    Having offended America due to certain reasons, they faced direct economic sanctions. Unlike Huaxia, which could find roundabout ways to save itself even under sanctions, Venezuela, being a small country with limited foreign exchange reserves, had no choice but to spend its US Dollars!


    Consequently, Venezuela''s supply of US Dollars soon ran dry. The nation''s agriculture and industry couldn''t meet the people''s needs, and there were no foreign reserves to cover imports.


    Afterward, to meet people''s needs, Venezuela could only resort to massive printing of money, which temporarily solved the problem, but given the enormous quantity being printed, they even had to ask other European countries and some underground printing facilities for assistance.


    However, it must be recognized that the market has its self-regulating abilities. Printing money can save a country in the short term, but once market adjustments catch up, hyperinflation inevitably sets in, with prices soaring by tens of thousands of times. All the money in the world is useless in such a situation!


    Eventually, they couldn''t even afford the transport fees to bring their money home, their currency''s international credibility was lost, it became worthless, and the entire domestic market and national economy were completely dominated by foreign currencies like the US Dollar and Euro.


    At that time, all sorts of gold, jewels, antiques, art pieces, and even houses became worthless, with stacks of money lying on the ground uncollected.


    At this point, the only valuable thing left was food, because, for Christ''s sake, with currency being trash, people couldn''t even afford to eat.


    With these lessons from history, various countries began to establish specialized organizations to cope with such situations, and nations also provided considerable foreign exchange support to avoid similar circumstances and maintain stability in the currency market.


    In the bustling currency exchange market of the Metropolis, hundreds of traders were concentrated; their job was to monitor the currency market every day and respond to any emergent situations.


    Until now, even when faced with the biggest financial bombs, these teams have been able to keep fluctuations in exchange rates within a very reasonable range. The most significant impact they have experienced over the years was a single-day fluctuation that did not exceed 1,000 points, or 10%, and in the subsequent period of operation, they immediately reversed this fluctuation to the greatest extent.


    The stability of the nation''s competitive spirit is inseparable from these elites. Of course, their income is very high. Even some of the junior traders have annual salaries ranging from 500,000 to 800,000. Correspondingly, the industry''s threshold is also very high.


    "Alright, everyone, perk up. We can''t afford to take it easy just because today is a special day. Last Christmas, those international speculators attacked us without any ethics, wiping out 500 points of our exchange rate right from the start. If we hadn''t reacted promptly, we might have really been caught off guard!"


    "Hahaha, Boss, maybe if you played Honor of Kings a little less, you wouldn''t be using such terms."


    "Don''t worry, we''ll keep an eye on it while we eat. There won''t be any problems!"


    "Yes, the last time that happened was eight or nine years ago. Now that our economic strength is so formidable and our foreign exchange reserves exceed 3.2 trillion US Dollars, which international speculators would dare play with us?"


    "Unless their funds are more than double ours, it''s impossible for them to shake us."


    "Hahaha, exactly! As long as they dare to come, we''ll shear a hefty amount of wool off them!"


    "Just a reminder for you all, don''t capsized in the gutter!"


    "Got it!"


    The traders ate their breakfast while opening up their trading systems. It would be the start of the market in five more minutes.


    "Ding dong!"


    With the loud sound of the alarm, the traders all switched into work mode, a complete turnaround from their casual and lazy demeanor moments before.


    ...


    At the other side of the ocean, another group was also in a state of high alert.


    This time, they had gathered resources from almost all the financial traders in Europe and America, and a powerful team of thousands was now connected through a special IP address network.


    "Has everyone''s funds arrived?"


    "Relax, they were ready days ago! We''ve prepared thousands of bank accounts, fully loaded with ammunition!"


    "Excellent! We''ve made ample preparations this time and can play with them slowly. Let''s start by sending a greeting, give them some time to react. Even if we lose, we''ll make sure they lose convincingly!"


    "Though Huaxia''s foreign exchange reserves are at 3.2 trillion, this time we''ve prepared more than ten times their funds. We don''t even need to use leverage; we can cripple them just by throwing money!"


    "Hahaha, then let our European division take the lead!"


    "No matter who it is, according to our agreement, all profits will be distributed based on contribution after the operation."


    "No problem!"


    The head of the European division started to prepare for the attack!


    "Let''s start with a few large short-sell orders to smash their exchange rate down!!"

 Chapter 648 646: Big Trouble

    In the currency exchange market of the Magic Capital, the market had only been open for five minutes today when dozens of massive short-selling orders came crashing down without warning.


    What is the concept of short selling, or going short?


    For instance, if the exchange rate of Huaxia currency is 7, and you predict it will soon fall to 6.9, then you use 100 US Dollars to exchange for 700 Huaxia currency, during this time, you can earn interest on these 700 Huaxia currency.


    Then, if the exchange rate successfully drops to 6.9 as you predicted, you could use 690 Huaxia currency to buy back 100 US Dollars, and the extra 10 Huaxia currency along with additional interest would be your pure profit.


    Going long, on the other hand, is the opposite operation.


    However, this short-selling operation is not something you can just do anytime. If the exchange rate of Huaxia currency starts rising while you are short selling, then you are essentially going to lose money, the more sharply the Huaxia currency rises, the more severe your loss will be.


    This requires you to have strong trading skills and substantial economic power to suppress the exchange rate, then the money is almost like it''s made for free.


    But, if your funds are not strong enough and your trader doesn''t have such impressive skills, whether you lose money or make money depends on the mood of the market and other traders. Only the "prophets" can make money on such unknowns.


    A few years ago, it was forbidden to perform such short-selling operations in the Huaxia market, but due to the increasing flexibility in trading, such operations were also allowed a few years ago. Some institutions use these means to make a bit of money, but their power is not strong enough, whether it rises or falls, it''s still up to the country to decide.


    So even if they really make money, it''s just like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat, just coincidentally aligning with Huaxia''s currency policy.


    "Short orders right at the opening?" A trader skillfully checked those orders, but the terrifying amounts made his hands shake violently.


    There were a total of 24 short orders, each exceeding one billion US Dollars!


    24 orders, that''s 24 billion US Dollars!


    This market nearly handles the country''s entire foreign exchange transactions, with an average annual total transaction volume reaching around 30 trillion US dollars, averaging to about 100 billion US dollars in daily trading volume.


    But this 100 billion US dollars in total volume involves exchanges among various currencies, what total volume? You sell to me, I sell to you, it''s not a unilateral buying and selling!


    These 24 short orders, totaling 24 billion US dollars, already exceeded the exchange''s regular reserves of foreign currency. After all, under normal circumstances, who would suddenly place orders for 24 billion US dollars? Their reserves of a few billion US dollars were usually enough to cover daily operations.


    "Everyone come here, there''s something wrong with these orders!"


    Such massive short orders indicate that the other party has a lot of US dollars; otherwise, they couldn''t place such large orders so casually. In the trading market, the maximum leverage is 10 times, even if the other party used ten times leverage, they must have at least several billion US dollars in hand!


    Several billion US dollars in liquid assets, even a country can''t easily produce that amount!


    "It could be major international speculative capital making trouble!" Some experienced traders immediately got a sensitive sniff.


    "To be able to come up with such a huge amount of funds to attack our foreign exchange market, this is definitely not ordinary international speculative capital!"


    "Liu Xingyao, go report this, we might need to request access to the bank''s foreign exchange reserves at any moment!"


    "Group leader, is it necessary to be this nervous?" someone questioned.


    "I suspect these funds are definitely not all the funds the opponent has in their hands!" the experienced group leader Wang Chendong said. He was nearing 50 years old and had been in this industry for 25 years. He had experienced many economic crises, his sense of smell was extremely sharp, and most importantly, he was very experienced!


    "Normally, if the opponent only has this much capital on hand, they would choose to carry out such operations close to the close of the market, because at that time people''s attention is often the most lax. Whether it''s in foreign exchange or stocks, pressing down prices at this time, it''s difficult to remedy the situation timely within the same day."


    "But they came out with such a big amount of funds right from the start, this means they are telling us this is just an appetizer, they have even bigger funds behind it!" Wang Chendong''s face broke into an excited smile, it had been a long time since he encountered such an opponent.


    A 24 billion US Dollar short order directly caused today''s Huaxia currency exchange rate to plummet by 500 basis points!


    9:30, many foreign exchange investors were rudely awakened from their sleep.


    Many wealthy individuals make money through the foreign exchange market, and typically have specialized teams that manage these assets for them. They only need to provide the funds and let these professional institutions handle everything.


    But today, just after they logged into their accounts, the startling figures made them panic.


    "What''s going on? Why did it drop 500 basis points right at the start? Millions of US Dollars just evaporated?"


    "What exactly are you guys doing? I entrusted you with my funds, tens of millions of US Dollars, and earned only 2 million US Dollars in a year, and now it''s all gone in one morning?"


    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t worry. I''ll call right away and ask. It might just be an adjustment at the market opening, and it could stabilize soon!"


    ....


    The account holders panicked, and the exchange suddenly became frenzied. One call after another poured in asking what exactly was going on; some even demanded to cancel orders to stop losses, turning the scene into complete chaos.


    The initial drop of 500 basis points was merely the beginning and a signal.


    For instance, if a company''s market value drops significantly, it largely indicates issues in operations and losses, signaling a bleak outlook for its future. The situation is similar in the currency market.


    The method to counter short-selling is to go long, and this operation equally requires money!


    Since the opening of the market, the rate had already fallen by more than 800 basis points! The currency market isn''t like the stock market, which has limits on how much it can rise or fall; as long as the momentum isn''t stopped, it can keep dropping!


    There have been instances where some countries'' currency value fell by up to 40% in a single day, indicating how intense the battle in the foreign exchange market can be.


    "Apply for foreign exchange funds from above right away, start going long; we can''t let them push the rate down!"


    "Roger!"


    The dozens of traders in the group immediately got to work, and dozens of buy orders were placed, injecting hundreds of billions of US Dollars directly into the currency market.


    Surely, the downward trend in the rate soon stabilized, briefly bouncing back to around a 600-point drop and began to recover slightly.


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they were well aware that the opponent''s attack had just begun, and what followed would be a real war without smoke!


    ...


    "Group leader, the people from Huaxia have started going long to counteract our short-selling orders, 200 billion US Dollars, the rate is already recovering."


    "They have taken the bait!" In the European division, the leader smiled, "A 200 billion US Dollar order, although not much, still makes for a good appetizer. Let''s first take a few billion dollars from them, and keep playing!"


    "Their authority can barely access a few hundred billion US Dollars at most, to increase further, they''d need to use the foreign exchange reserves of major banks, which won''t be available in minutes, giving us plenty of time to make our moves!"


    He immediately ordered, "Keep dumping!"


    ...


    "Group leader! They''ve placed over 20 more short-selling orders!"


    "Keep going long, if we''re short of people, pull from other groups!"


    "Group leader, these... these short-selling orders total over 500 billion US Dollars now, we don''t have enough US Dollars in reserve at our exchange!"


    Wang Chendong''s expression suddenly changed, this was really bad!

 Chapter 649 647: Dont Scare Them

    When a sizeable short position of 500 billion US dollars was placed, the exchange rate of the Huaxia currency plummeted by nearly 1,000 basis points in an instant. A 16% depreciation in a single day is a lethal blow to a huge economy like Huaxia!


    "What''s going on? What exactly is happening, who is attacking our currency market?"


    "The Huaxia currency depreciated by 16% in just half an hour? How is the Shanghai Stock Exchange handling this?"


    "I''m giving you an hour, stabilize the exchange rate immediately!"


    The news quickly reached the higher-ups, and such an incident was no small matter. It immediately drew serious concern and could potentially lead to a repeat of the Venezuela situation.


    "This absolutely can''t be the work of a normal institution or international speculative capital. This is a targeted, organized, and disciplined attack against our economic market!" A determination was made right away regarding the situation.


    "No matter who it is, we absolutely cannot allow the Huaxia currency to continue depreciating. Our country''s economic construction is so massive that even a 1% change has a huge impact, let alone a sudden 16% devaluation. Banks won''t even be able to issue loans!"


    "Convene all banks immediately for an emergency meeting!"


    ...


    The incident happened suddenly, and it couldn''t be dragged out for long. The exchange rate of the Huaxia currency kept falling. In just the time it took to report the issue, the devaluation of the Huaxia currency was near 20%, enough to trend on social media!


    Not only people in the financial sector but even average citizens were aware of the situation.


    How serious is currency devaluation? Anyone who has studied economics knows that inflation is the most direct result of currency devaluation, followed by rising prices, adjustments in bank interest rates, and so on, all of which directly affect the domestic economy.


    Since last year, mortgage interest rates have risen by more than 1%, causing many young people in need of housing to cry out in despair.


    Should inflation occur, banks are likely to further tighten lending, and interest rates may continue to rise. House prices are already causing enough despair; if interest rates rise further, even more people won''t be able to buy houses.


    Isn''t the current culture of "lying flat" caused by not being able to afford houses? Since I can''t afford it anyway, why should I work hard? Getting by is good enough!


    Next would come a decline in output and a halt in national development.


    All things are causally related! The nation absolutely cannot stand by and watch this happen!


    ...


    "The upper echelons have approved the use of all foreign exchange reserves to combat this attack, and you must suppress the opponent''s aggression!" the director of the Shanghai Stock Exchange immediately issued a command to fight to the death. He had already made a vow. If he failed, even if the authorities didn''t deal with him, the public would not let him off.


    "Team Leader Wang, I''m entrusting you with command of all the traders. You now have the highest authority. Can you handle it?"


    "As long as we have enough money, there won''t be a problem!" Wang Chendong accepted the daunting task. With the nation''s 3.2 trillion US dollars in foreign exchange reserves, no organization, no matter how powerful, could possibly defeat them!


    "Everyone follows my lead. Today we suspend all other operations. The opponent has come prepared this time. I estimate their funds to be between one to two trillion US dollars. If we win this battle, everyone will feast. If we don''t, then we all submit our resignations!"


    According to their wage structure, a large portion of their pay comes from business commissions.


    This time around, the opposition has thrown down 500 billion US dollars, combined with the earlier 240 billion. If handled correctly, trapping all of their short positions, then they can take a big bite out of them.


    At least several tens of billions of US dollars, possibly even upwards of a hundred billion! This money is essentially shearing wool from sheep! Most of it will go to the banks, after all, they are providing so much in US dollar foreign exchange and also bearing huge risks; a part also stays in the stock exchange.


    But as the vanguard of this battle, the higher-ups have just made a promise to reward their entire team with a 1% commission!


    "Don''t overlook this 1%; as long as they can bite off 10% of this $740 billion, that''s $74 billion, and their team will be able to split $7 billion!"


    "There are over 200 people on the team, averaging out to $3.5 million per person, in US dollars. Even after taxes, that''s probably more than what many people make in several years of work."


    Upon hearing this news, the entire team was almost howling with excitement.


    With $3.2 trillion as their backing, they never even considered the possibility of losing! On this battlefield, apart from operations, financial power actually has a greater influence, and they didn''t think their operations would lose. So in their eyes, this money was as good as being handed to them for free!


    The team began to go long heavily, dumping $300 billion directly into the currency market, because that was their main battlefield. They had more control and agility, almost as if they were equipped with a halo of double leverage. As long as the opponent''s funds were within double their amount, they were almost absolutely confident!


    $300 billion in funds were thrown down, and the exchange rate suddenly surged by 1,200 points. Even the smaller institutions and private speculators knew that with such large amounts of money, it had to be government intervention!


    As long as the nation''s strength was present, the economy would absolutely not collapse. To make money, one must follow the policy, follow the nation!


    The scattered funds also began to go long. Although they were small individually, together they added up to hundreds of billions, even a trillion US Dollars in scale!


    "We''ve pulled it back!" Wang Chendong said with an expression full of confidence, "Now that you''ve come, I won''t be polite!"


    "Keep going long, push the exchange rate up another 500 points. Let''s take a 5% bite to ease the frustration!"


    "Got it!"


    "As long as you can''t pay enough margin, I can even make you blow up. $750 billion, and our bonus could increase tenfold!" Wang Chendong exclaimed with a commanding presence.


    "Team leader, they''ve upped the ante again!"


    "Damn, how do they still have so much capital? Another $500 billion, that''s already over a trillion US Dollars. There aren''t many countries in the world with a dollar reserve exceeding a trillion!"


    "This isn''t private capital; this is definitely nation-level!"


    "No, that''s impossible for just one country. This is probably the action of several countries working together; one country simply can''t have such vast financial power."


    "Have they all gone mad? Given Huaxia''s economic importance in the world, if our economy collapses, it would bring down several other countries with it, and even affect the whole world. Can they afford such consequences?"


    "Unless they have other objectives!"


    "That is not our concern right now. What we need to worry about is how to stabilize the fall of the Huaxia currency exchange rate." Wang Chendong glanced at the plunging Huaxia currency which, despite their previous maneuvers that had given retail investors a lot of confidence, had still fallen by 10% from before the market opened.


    "At this point, we can only fight," Wang Chendong knew there was no other choice, "Even if we have to use up all our foreign reserves, we must fight them to the end. Keep going long!"


    ...


    The currency market was engaged in an exceptionally fierce battle, yet the instigator of it all, Zhang Menglong, remained very calm.


    "Mr. Zhang, they''ve prepared $50 trillion. Our Huaxia foreign exchange reserves absolutely cannot withstand that. Right now, they''re toying with us, but if they get serious, we won''t last even half an hour. Should we intervene?"


    "Don''t rush!" Zhang Menglong watched as if enjoying a play, "They''ve been suppressed for so long, they should be allowed to let off some steam. If I intervene now, won''t I scare them away? What if they take off with their money, then where would that leave us?"


    "Our Huaxia currency market has already been harvested by them for nearly $100 billion!"


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong remained nonchalant, "What they harvest now, I''ll have them spit out a hundredfold later!"

 Chapter 650 648 Are You Interested in Making Money Together?

    At this moment, the currency market battle had escalated to a do-or-die situation. Any slight relaxation by one party would immediately put them at a disadvantage, and retreating now would incur a severe cost.


    Up to now, both sides had flared up with intense competitiveness ¡ª it was as if leaving now would be an admission of defeat!


    "It''s already 5 trillion US Dollars! How much money do they still have?" Wang Chendong''s hands were shaking, the opponent''s financial resources were far more formidable than he had imagined.


    "The Huaxia''s trading team is actually this powerful!" The European side was also deeply alarmed. Compared to Huaxia, they had spent twice the manpower and financial resources. Weren''t the most powerful financial talents in Europe and on America''s Wall Street? Why did Huaxia still have such capable traders?


    The European team''s chips had already reached 7 trillion, while Huaxia''s foreign exchange market input had also almost reached 4 trillion US Dollars!


    Unknown until revealed, Huaxia''s foreign reserves were not just the publicly announced 3.2 trillion US Dollars ¡ª they far exceeded this figure!


    This was an experience Huaxia had gleaned from years of struggling on the international platform: never reveal your full hand, always leave a surprise for your opponent!


    In fact, Huaxia''s true foreign exchange reserves were close to 5 trillion US Dollars!


    But this time, they had miscalculated. Who the hell would have thought that one day half the world would unite to launch such a massive attack on Huaxia''s economy and market?


    Even if they had predicted it, there really was no way to resist it. After all, the war on currency was still about who had more money. The US Dollar was just America running its printing presses, and even if Huaxia could save up, could they accumulate 10 trillion? 20 trillion? 30 trillion? This was undoubtedly impossible.


    Of course, even America could not print money indefinitely, but this gap was still very hard to bridge.


    5 trillion US Dollars thrown in, any country''s foreign exchange market would have been obliterated, but in this war, it merely stirred a wave.


    The Huaxia currency''s exchange rate returned to the morning''s 6.67, but then a sell order of 300 billion US Dollars plunged Wang Chendong into despair.


    They had used up all their ammunition, and with so many long positions, once they started to press down the stock price, they would face a margin shortage, and at that point, they might even risk a margin call!


    What is called a margin call? It meant that the smashed 5 trillion US Dollars would be completely lost, and the foreign exchanges painstakingly accumulated over the years would all become the spoils of others!


    "Calculate our current losses," Wang Chendong said with a grave expression.


    "Leader, based on the current exchange rate, our funds have already been plundered by 800 billion US Dollars! Even if they do not continue to invest, I estimate that today''s exchange rate will break 7.5, and our losses will definitely exceed 1 trillion US Dollars!"


    "It''s over," Wang Chendong thought of the military order he had set in the morning, and his vision went dark.


    At this point, forget about any bonus, he didn''t even know if he could keep his job, losing 5 trillion US Dollars from the national foreign exchange reserves would be the biggest stain of his lifetime!


    At three in the afternoon, the foreign exchange market closed, and everyone''s face was shrouded in gloom.


    The opponents had clearly made enough for the day, so they did not continue their attack, but they had been utterly defeated.


    Today''s loss had reached 1.07 trillion US Dollars, which was simply the biggest loss in Huaxia''s history in financial market confrontations!


    The Huaxia currency''s exchange rate directly hit 7.721, almost returning to the levels from more than a decade ago!


    But no one blamed Wang Chendong, because the opponents had invested over 10 trillion US Dollars in this confrontation. Whoever took his place would have lacked the confidence to do better, and might even have been defeated when the opponents escalated to 70 or 80 trillion US Dollars.


    In the evening, a trending search swept the nation into panic ¡ª the Huaxia currency was devalued, and prices might surge tomorrow.


    The four major banks had already adjusted the lending rates to 6.1%, but it was foreseeable that tomorrow it would not stay at this figure, and the adjustment range would definitely be beyond imagination! It was even uncertain whether loans could still be issued.


    Prices rose, bank interest rates rose, but wages did not increase, and, naturally, the consequences need no explanation!


    That evening, an urgent meeting was immediately convened. Regarding this sudden situation, they ultimately could only conclude one thing: to stabilize the current situation, they had to start printing money! But this was just a temporary solution; if they couldn''t find a permanent fix, they might end up the next Venezuela.


    What made people most desperate was that the Modu Exchange had already exhausted its US dollar foreign exchange reserves, and they still didn''t know who their enemy was this time!


    ...


    "Old Zhang, did you see the news?"


    "What news? I''m playing games! Wanna join?"


    "You''ve still got the mood to play games at this time, you don''t know what happened today?" Wang Ling almost screamed.


    Because of his close relationship with Zhang Menglong, Wang Ling''s father had begun to slowly hand over his assets for Wang Ling to manage. With Zhang Menglong''s help, the past year had been extremely smooth, counting money until their hands cramped.


    A few months ago, Wang Ling had also invested 10 billion US dollars in the foreign exchange market. With his team''s management, they had made a few tens of millions of dollars in the past few months.


    But who would have thought that something like this would happen today, the Huaxia currency was plummeting!


    Due to Zhang Menglong''s influence, Huaxia''s prestige around the world had been increasing, achieving outstanding accomplishments in various domains, so the Huaxia currency had been appreciating recently. Wang Ling had aggressively gone long when he entered, and with this major trend, it was simply a sure win.


    Today, however, he not only lost all the previous gains but even ended up with a net loss of 1.2 billion US dollars!


    Since Wang Ling started investing, when had he ever faced such a loss in one day?


    "It''s just currency devaluation, no big deal," Zhang Menglong laughed, "In the trading market, as long as you haven''t withdrawn your investment, you never lose!"


    "You really have a good mindset!" Wang Ling said speechlessly, "Locked in there, who wants to withdraw? But these losses are visible; I just can''t believe you''re so calm. You must have thrown money in here too, right? How much did you lose today?"


    "Not much, just lost 30 billion US dollars!"


    "Not much... I really want to assassinate you tonight!" Wang Ling''s mouth twitched. His entire fortune wasn''t even 30 billion US dollars, and to lose so much in one day, Zhang Menglong was indeed very calm.


    "There are many who want to assassinate me, take a number and line up!"


    "Stop messing around, my dad got some inside information. This time it''s not international speculative capital nor financial institutions. It could be certain regions conspiring to deliberately attack our currency market!"


    "I know."


    "You know?"


    "Nonsense, they''re targeting me," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Their attack on our currency market is simply to force me to make a move, probably scared them off recently."


    "They''re targeting you?"


    "An alliance of 89 nations'' financial forces. Do you think our few trillion US dollars in foreign exchange reserves can hold them off?"


    "What? Are they insane? Do they want to declare war on us?"


    "Declare war? They''re not worthy," said Zhang Menglong, "However much money they brought this time, I''ll at least skim half of it. Are you interested in getting rich with me?"

 Chapter 651 649: Lets Make Money Together

    "What does that mean?" Wang Ling asked.


    Zhang Menglong''s composure once again exceeded Wang Ling''s expectations. What kind of person could stay so calm in the face of financial attacks from 89 countries? Had he resigned himself to his fate, or did he have a card up his sleeve?


    He believed that Zhang Menglong could take on one country by himself; over this past year, he had proved countless times that he indeed had that capability. But damn it, taking on 89 countries at once? Was he even human?


    "It''s only 89 countries. Even if all of the countries joined forces, I wouldn''t be afraid," Zhang Menglong said confidently.


    "What else do you know about this?"


    "You know, last time our family''s old house was dug up and now the whole world knows our family is incredible. So they went back and did some digging."


    "Digging what?"


    "Digging up debts," said Zhang Menglong, "These countries either owe our family money or land, or our family controls their vital industries. If you were the boss of these countries, what would you do?"


    "I definitely wouldn''t sit by and watch my country being strangled. If it were me, I would either take you out or take away your bargaining chips."


    "So there you go," Zhang Menglong shrugged, "Their goal is to shatter all my assets, to turn me into a pauper. As a pauper, even if they default on their debts, what could I do to them?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "This time, all the developed countries are involved. They have gathered 50 trillion US Dollars intending to first bring down our currency market, then they figure I definitely wouldn''t watch our country''s economy get destroyed and would surely step in to help stabilize the exchange rate."


    "At that moment, they could blow up all the positions I''ve established and make me lose everything. If I am penniless, in their eyes, I no longer pose any threat."


    Zhang Menglong effortlessly analyzed all this.


    "That''s insane. Kid, what the hell have you done to make 89 countries hate you to the bone?"


    "I don''t know, maybe they''re jealous of my good looks," Zhang Menglong said shamelessly.


    "50 trillion a year... Man, how much is the world''s GDP for a year? They really are determined. Do you really have that much confidence?" Wang Ling found it hard to imagine how Zhang Menglong would confront this force. 50 trillion US Dollars could crush a country with its sheer weight.


    He knew Zhang Menglong''s wealth was far more than 10 trillion US Dollars, but it surely couldn''t exceed 50 trillion US Dollars, could it?


    "What did you mean when you said you were interested in getting rich together?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong showed a mischievous smile, "Making money alone is no fun. Shared joy is a double joy. I could take them on alone if I really needed to, but I, Zhang Menglong, am such a noble person!"


    "Cut the crap, get to the point!"


    "They are now focusing on attacking Huaxia''s currency market. They must have mobilized all the US Dollar reserves they can, and if not, at least the greater part of it. Their own currency markets must be extremely fragile right now. If I hit them at this time..."


    "Wuhu, time to get rich!"


    "But to hit their currency markets, I too need a sum of money. I''ll let you guys in on this opportunity. You''d better start crowdfunding now. The money we earn from them, I''ll distribute to you guys according to the proportion."


    "You little shit, you''re planning to rob half the Earth!" Wang Ling was shocked by Zhang Menglong''s audacious plan.


    "It''s only polite to return a gesture. Since they think so highly of me, Zhang Menglong, I naturally have to give them something in return, lest they say I''m impolite."


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s sure and confident manner, Wang Ling finally began to waver.


    "How sure are you, kid?"


    "100%!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "How many traders do they have?" Wang Ling knew a thing or two about these matters; he never fought a battle without preparation and a high chance of winning.


    "About 1,800 top traders," Zhang Menglong answered, "right now, they''ve probably only used three to four hundred. A good half of their firepower hasn''t been brought into play yet."


    "And what about you?"


    "As many as I need!" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly, "My family selects a group of highly gifted individuals in finance every year and sends them to a special place for training. Their teachers are all from Super God Academy; by now, there should be about 20,000 to 30,000 of them."


    "They all serve as honorary consultants in various consortiums, and some who like freedom just trade stocks and make tens of millions for pocket money each year. But I''ve already notified them. As soon as I give the command, they''ll enter battle mode!"


    "Damn, no wonder you''re not worried at all!" People from Super God Academy, that''s definitely a case of one man doing the work of thousands. Even though Zhang Menglong''s teams were just the students of Super God Academy''s students, Wang Ling still had confidence that they''d overwhelmingly crush those so-called trading pros.


    "This is literally free money!"


    Now that he knew Zhang Menglong''s plan and his resources, Wang Ling''s gloom vanished instantly, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement and joy.


    "Wait for me, I''m going to find some people now!"


    "No rush, the market doesn''t open until tomorrow morning. Plus, I''m not planning to counterattack in the next couple of days. Let''s play along with them, let them get a bit confident. Once they''ve inflated and thrown in enough chips, that''s the perfect time to harvest the leeks."


    "You sneaky old fox, starting to play dirty," said Wang Ling, "If a third world war breaks out because of you, Zhang Menglong, I wouldn''t be surprised in the slightest."


    "Rest assured, a third world war is absolutely impossible," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "If anyone even thinks about it, they''ll disappear immediately!"


    "Damn, wait for me, I''m going to raise some cash. If I win this time, I''m going straight from a bike to a motorcycle, villa by the sea!"


    ...


    "Dad, do you have any money left?" Wang Ling directly phoned his father.


    "Why are you asking me for money again? Haven''t you made a lot recently? I''ve never seen a second-generation heir who''s better at mooching off his parents than you, and you''re my own flesh and blood, unbelievable!"


    "Dad, I have an investment to make. Give me all the cash you''ve got, you won''t regret it."


    "Impossible, don''t even think about it. Even if you disown your father today, or castrate yourself to end my lineage, I wouldn''t give you a penny!"


    "It''s a Menglong project!"


    "What? A Zhang Menglong project?" Wang Ling could hear the sound of a chair crashing to the ground on the other end, "Hold on, I''ll transfer the money to you right now. Is 3 billion US dollars enough? If not, I''ll mortgage my assets to borrow more!"


    "...damn it, who''s your son anyway?"


    Wang Ling successfully got 5 billion US dollars from his old man. This was the maximum amount of cash he could raise in a short time, mortgaging everything mortgageable. If they capsized this time, the Wang family''s assets would halve at the very least!


    "Not enough!" Wang Ling muttered to himself. To upend a country''s foreign exchange market, even if only one-tenth of their wounded capital survived, 5 billion US dollars wouldn''t be enough to turn the tides. He had to gather more funds, even if it meant crowdfunding.


    "Qin Feng, got any cash on hand? I have a project for you, guaranteed gains, a tenfold to a hundredfold return isn''t a dream!"


    "I''m not dreaming!"


    "I''m not in a pyramid scheme!"


    "I''m not signing up to be a male model!"

 Chapter 652 650: Noon has Arrived

    ```


    Whether it was the foreign exchange market of Jiangnan City or the numerous banks of Huaxia, no one had a good night''s sleep that night.


    The next day when the banks opened, they directly announced an interest rate hike to 7.9%, which immediately triggered infinite panic. That damn thing is inflation, a harbinger of economic collapse!


    In various supermarkets and stores, there was already a frenzy of panic buying of daily necessities. If people didn''t buy now, perhaps it wouldn''t be long before the price of pork could soar to a few hundred or even thousands per pound, and by then, they wouldn''t even be able to afford a meal.


    In some places, even riots had started to break out.


    As for the Jiangnan City trading market, the entire hall was filled with a somber and heavy atmosphere.


    Today, everyone had chosen to come to work early without prior agreement, looking at each other before they exchanged helpless wry smiles. This time, they had truly encountered a massive problem.


    Wang Chendong had dark circles under both eyes. Although anyone in his position would have been the same, he was the one operating some of the funds after all, and he had put a tremendous amount of pressure on himself. He even cried several times in the middle of the night, for he felt that it was all his own doing.


    If nothing unexpected happened, once the market opened today, the opposition would continue to hammer in sell orders to drop the exchange rate. With an additional investment of around 5 trillion US dollars, they would be facing the risk of a margin call!


    Although they had pooled some funds from a few friendly nations, even Pakistan mobilized their entire country''s effort but could only scrape together 20 billion US dollars.


    Brother, that''s truly all we have, we really can''t pull out even a bit more!


    But after scraping everything together, they had only managed to gather 1.5 trillion US dollars. Even if they wanted, 1.5 trillion could be dumped without making as much as a splash¡ªmuch like how Huaxia''s diving team could make the tiniest splash, so insignificant would be the impact of that money when thrown into the market!


    "It''s started!" Along with that familiar sound of the starting bell for work, it also became the Grim Reaper''s scythe, harvesting not only wealth but also the happiness of the people of Huaxia.


    "200 sell orders, with a capital scale of 1 trillion US dollars! The exchange rate continues to decline, devaluing further and has now broken through the 8-yuan mark!"


    This voice made everyone feel utterly powerless.


    "Use the foreign exchange reserves from aid, throw it in!"


    At this point, what other choice was there?


    "We''ve come back to within 8 yuan, at 7.98 now!"


    "150 sell orders, amounting to 800 billion US dollars! It''s breached 8 yuan again!"


    "Keep throwing in!"


    ...


    "180 sell orders, with a capital of 1.2 trillion US dollars! The current exchange rate is 1:8.06, and it''s still rising!"


    "Push back!"


    "Team leader, we''ve exhausted all external aid!"


    "What?"


    "Team leader, it''s at 8.12 now!"


    "Team leader, it''s now 8.15!"


    "Team leader, they have harvested a round, and we have lost close to 320 billion US dollars!"


    "Team leader, let''s pull out, our losses are already huge. If we continue like this, we''re going to face a margin call."


    "We can''t withdraw the funds, if we do, all these losses would be in vain. Plus, our exchange rate would directly exceed 1:10, the economic system would collapse!"


    "But if we don''t pull out..."


    ...


    "Ha ha ha, only 1.5 trillion US dollars of external aid, they don''t know that this time we have prepared a whopping 50 trillion, what''s 15 trillion to us? They still cannot compare with us!"


    "They''ve run out of ammunition, and now, even if they want to borrow more, no one is willing to lend to them."


    "We''ve barely flexed our muscles and already reaped close to 1.5 trillion US dollars. Today, let''s go all out and directly devour Huaxia''s 5 trillion US dollars and that 1.5 trillion!"


    "Keep hammering the sell orders, smash the exchange rate to above 13 yuan. They definitely won''t be able to cover more margin, and we''ll just force them into a margin call!"


    "I refuse to believe that at this stage, Zhang Menglong won''t take action!"


    In the European division, the traders had joyful smiles of victory on their faces. They had never operated such a massive amount of capital in one go; with such funds, even a pig could easily reap the rewards, let alone them, the finance elites.


    ```


    ...


    "Team leader, the exchange rate has exceeded 12 yuan, and our remaining funds are not enough to pay the margin!"


    "Team leader, my 12 accounts have been liquidated!"


    "Team leader, half of my 27 accounts have also been blown out!"


    "Team leader..."


    This operation had nearly liquidated a third of their accounts, and there were still more accounts being blown out continuously.


    Liquidation meant that they couldn''t even recover their principal. The losses had directly exceeded 1 trillion US dollars!


    "Damn it!" Wang Chendong gritted his teeth. If he had to take the blame, so be it. He couldn''t just watch the foreign exchange reserves that had taken years to accumulate scatter away in just two days!


    "Cancel the orders!"


    "Wait, team leader! New funds are coming in, and they''ve started going long."


    "What''s the use," Wang Chendong shook his head, "Even if the retail investors band together, we can''t stand up to such vast sums of money."


    "That''s not right, team leader. This is a very large sum of money, 500 positions going long, with total funds exceeding 2 trillion US dollars!"


    "What did you say?" Wang Chendong felt as if he had heard the most wonderful sound in the world.


    "The exchange rate is warming up again, it''s already back to 11 yuan!"


    "This batch of accounts has started dumping money again, this time 3 trillion US dollars! Now the exchange rate is 1:9.8!"


    "This is insane, 5 trillion US dollars dumped in two minutes. Who on earth has this much money?"


    "Did the top brass get foreign aid?"


    "With operations this fast, there must be at least a thousand people, right?"


    "The Huaxia currency is still appreciating, it''s back to the original exchange rate, my god, they''re incredible!"


    "Who exactly is it?" Wang Chendong looked out the window. Although he had no idea what was happening, it seemed like they might have hope again!


    ...


    Two hundred kilometers away in Jiangnan City, Zhang Menglong was staring at the market exchange rate in a studio that looked like an internet cafe?, having summoned a group of people to Jiangnan City so he could see all the developments firsthand.


    "Boss, we have pushed the exchange rate back up, it''s now back to the level at the opening day of trading!" A twenty-something young man was rapidly managing his accounts as he reported the situation to Zhang Menglong in a calm voice.


    "I see."


    Zhang Menglong leisurely stood up and downed the bottle of AD calcium milk in his hand. "You guys have had a blast for more than a day, that should be enough, right? It''s noon now, have you guys prepared your wallets?"


    "Boss, should we just blow them out?" the young man asked. "Give me another 3 trillion US dollars, and I can blow all their accounts in five minutes."


    "What''s the rush?" Zhang Menglong smacked him on the head. "How much money have they thrown in? Just over 10 trillion, less than a quarter of their total capital. Blowing out their accounts would just cycle 10 trillion US dollars, is that all you aspire to?"


    "Let them keep dumping!" Zhang Menglong said. "With each of our dumps, we need to give them the illusion that we only have so much money. When they think they hold the winning cards, that''s when we''ll deliver the fatal blow. By that time, their money will be all tied up, unable to leave. The 50 trillion US dollars will all bear the name Zhang!"


    "Boss, can we get a bonus at the end of the year?"


    "Of course, the bonuses will increase! A billion US dollars per person, is that enough?"


    "Enough! Hahaha, guys, get to work. The boss has spoken. Let''s leave them without enough money to buy underwear when they go!"


    Zhang Menglong: "I never said that!"


    ...


    "Suddenly 5 trillion US dollars?" Even though the exchange rate was steadily controlled around 6.6, the head of the European division didn''t panic at all. They had only utilized a quarter of their strength.


    "Zhang Menglong, so you''ve finally shown up!"


    "Notify the American division, follow the plan, and commence Operation Dragon Slayer!"

 Chapter 653 651 Despair, You Foolish Brothers

    "Zhang Menglong has started to make his move, ready to engage in full-force resistance!"


    Faced with Huaxia''s reserve funds, the united team didn''t show the slightest hint of concern, because the difference in strength between enemy and ally was crystal clear. The funds they had prepared exceeded Huaxia''s foreign exchange reserves by tenfold. There was no way they could lose!


    However, Zhang Menglong''s assets had always been an unknown factor.


    $10 trillion? That''s a joke. Just the cash that his few affiliate families could mobilize was no less than two to three trillion US dollars! They had every reason to believe that the liquid assets Zhang Menglong had at his disposal were certainly no less than $10 trillion!


    If he were to really dig in his heels, coming up with $15 trillion or even $20 trillion wouldn''t be out of the realm of possibility!


    An individual possessing tens of trillions of US dollars in assets¡ªif this were in the past, they would have never believed it, but this was an undeniable reality!


    The tens of trillions of US dollars they had consumed before left them with around 40 trillion that they could mobilize now, conservatively estimated at twice that of Zhang Menglong''s. But even with twice the difference, they couldn''t guarantee a sure victory.


    "Everyone be cautious. This person is terrifying. So far, no one has ever gotten the better of him. If we''re going to hit him, we need to knock him out with a single blow, and absolutely not give him any chance to catch his breath!"


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Boss, they''ve started!" The young man operated the accounts while explaining the confrontation between the two sides to Zhang Menglong in the simplest possible terms.


    "Their funds are indeed abundant, tossing around several hundred billion US dollars as if it were nothing."


    "Throw another five trillion in!"


    "All right!"


    Short selling and going long were at a deadlock. The sudden addition of $5 trillion completely broke the balance, devouring half of the opposing funds cleanly.


    "Five trillion US dollars? I want to see how many sets of five trillion you can pull out today. Continue to short sell!"


    ...


    "Damn it, this is a battle of the gods, truly a battle of the gods!" The atmosphere in the entire trading market morphed from the solemn and tense beginnings to an uproarious frenzy.


    These traders had handled funds ranging from a few million to several billion US dollars, but damn it, who had ever dealt with trillion-level funds¡ªand in US dollars, no less? This was a scene they had never witnessed before!


    "This is the first time in my life I''ve seen such an exciting showdown. We currently have the absolute upper hand. Their rate of operation is too fast, exceeding the opponent''s by more than double, but the frequency of their trades is even more than double ours. Either their traders are extremely strong, or they have several times more people than the opponent."


    "Our people are very experienced; they''re going long while simultaneously buying up the dollars from the short sellers to stabilize the exchange rate."


    "But I''m afraid we still might not have enough funds!" Wang Chendong''s face showed his concern. "Look, even though the exchange rate has stabilized for now, our people clearly do not dare to buy recklessly. The pace at which they''re going long is kept the same as the opponents'' short selling. This indicates that our people are still somewhat tentative."


    "Yes, they''ve given us hope. Let''s just hope they don''t let us down."


    ...


    "You think you can take us on with that little?" The other side apparently also saw Zhang Menglong''s bluffing stance. If their funds were so flush, according to their pace and frequency of operations, they could definitely drive up the pace of going long to lower the exchange rate and force margin calls when their rivals couldn''t keep up.


    But they weren''t doing so, which was a clear sign that Zhang Menglong''s people were probing their bottom line.


    "No matter, let him see our strength! He tossed in five trillion US dollars, did he? Then we''ll follow suit¡ªthis time, we''ll smash in ten trillion!"


    ...


    "Ten trillion? How much money do they even have left?" At that moment, Wang Chendong and his people couldn''t do anything. They had stopped operating; now what would determine their ultimate fate was the outcome of the battle between both sides.


    "Several hundred billion dollars'' worth of fresh short positions have appeared; it must be the international hot money!"


    "Damn, trying to rob in the midst of a fire?"


    "These damn bastards, if it weren''t for this situation, I''d make them each pay severely!"


    The hotshot traders in the market were all ready to shoot fire from their eyes.


    They had no choice but to accept defeat to these strong opponents, given their overwhelming financial strength that crushed theirs. There was nothing to say!


    But to let these speculators turn a profit was something they could not stand!


    "Just wait. Whatever you gulp down now, you will regurgitate later!"


    ...


    "Boss, there''s a massive wave of short-selling again!" The young man''s hands moved so fast that they were nearly a blur, but his tone remained as calm as ever. "We''ve reached the warning line in our positions; we need to increase our margin, or our orders will be consumed by them."


    "No problem," Zhang Menglong directed, "continue to increase the margin, but don''t add to all of it, just boost some of the funds."


    "But if we do that, part of our accounts will burst!"


    "Let them burst then. How else will we get them to continue pouring in money if we don''t let them get a taste for it?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    ...


    "They can''t keep up!"


    "Prepare the funds, and in 10 minutes, move collectively to blow up all those accounts!"


    ...


    "Move now!"


    "My position''s been blown!"


    "They''ve started to transfer funds to use as margin!"


    "Then attack the account they''re transferring funds to, catch them off-guard!"


    "Perfect!"


    "Hahaha! That''s all Zhang Menglong''s got."


    "Hahaha, without sufficient funds, no matter how many people he''s got or how capable they are, how long can he keep up this robbing Peter to pay Paul strategy?"


    "Report the results!"


    "I''ve transferred 21 billion US dollars!"


    "I''ve transferred 37.7 billion US dollars!"


    "50.2 billion US dollars!"


    "Nice one, brother!"


    "Give me a total!"


    "Reporting to the team leader, one-third of Zhang Menglong''s positions have burst, and we''ve transferred 3.6 trillion US dollars this round!"


    "Don''t stop now; continue to smash it. I''m going to make this Zhang Menglong the world''s biggest debtor today!"


    ...


    "Another few hundred short orders!"


    "It''s over, the exchange rate has hit over 10 yuan again!"


    "35 quadrillion, they''ve invested 35 quadrillion already, is this all the world''s banks joined together?"


    "He''s done well to last this long."


    ...


    "Xu Ze, how much money do we have left?" Having lost 3.6 trillion US dollars, with the remaining tens of trillions also completely locked, Zhang Menglong wasn''t worried at all.


    "We still have five or six quadrillion, boss. What do you want to do?"


    "Forget it, continuing to play isn''t fun anymore. Smash them with three batches of 10 trillion each. After the remaining tens of trillions are further hit a couple of times, there won''t be much left. Leave them one or two trillion US dollars as margin, and we can close the net!"


    "Despair, my foolish brothers!" With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Menglong walked straight out of the place. He already knew the outcome. All he had to do was wait for the money to be counted.


    "All right!"


    "Brothers, start preparing to close the net!"


    ...


    "Team leader, they''ve started going long!"


    "Three trillion US dollars!"


    "Another three trillion! What''s going on, he still has money!"


    "No, he was just feigning weakness. He wanted to trick the enemy into continuing to short. Now they want to leave but it''s too late!"


    ...


    America and Europe.


    "Impossible, how does he still have money!"


    "Wait, it''s a trap! Pull out! Cancel the orders! He doesn''t just have 20 trillion US dollars, he has more money!"


    "It''s too late! Their operational speed has suddenly tripled! His team must have at least ten thousand people!"


    "What? Ten thousand people? Where in the world are there so many financial experts?"


    "Hurry, add more margin!"


    "I''m about to blow up here; give me double the margin, now!"


    "Fuck! I''ve blown up!"


    "I''ve blown up too!"


    "It''s over."


    ...

 Chapter 654 652: Who Should We Start With?

    "It''s over!"


    The sudden margin call was like setting off fireworks, one after another and in batches.


    Fortunately, they had prepared a backup plan. Some people had left a conventional amount, twice the usual funds as the margin, but nobody had anticipated that they actually needed to use that money!


    Half an hour later, the smokeless war finally ended, and they had completely failed!


    "How much money is left?"


    "7... 7 trillion US Dollars."


    "Cough, cough, cough!" The person in charge almost coughed up blood.


    From 52 trillion US Dollars, now only 7 trillion remained. The remaining 45 trillion had all become Zhang Menglong''s spoils of war; even the reserve margins might not have left much of the 7 trillion US Dollars.


    He was not sure whether he should be happy for the 7 trillion US Dollars or cry over the 45 trillion.


    "Tens of thousands of financial talents, over 50 trillion US Dollars in liquid assets," thinking of these numbers, all the traders were terrified. Could there actually be someone who alone could take on the whole world? Was there anything more absurd than this?


    The craziest part was that their computers had been hacked just then, displaying four words in 36 different languages across everyone''s screens.


    Translated into Chinese it read, "Thank you, boss!"


    Some of the older traders had strokes on the spot. Yes, they had indeed sent a huge sum of money to Huaxia... no, to Zhang Menglong.


    As long as Zhang Menglong withdrew from the foreign exchange market, all these funds could be immediately liquidated!


    Over 100 trillion US Dollars...


    Damn, all the US Dollars in the foreign exchange reserves around the world put together couldn''t take him down now. This time, not only did they fail to simply kill Zhang Menglong with one strike, but they even nurtured a more formidable Zhang Menglong. It was like feeding kills in League of Legends!


    Suddenly, they realized something.


    They believed, Zhang Menglong certainly understood what happened today and definitely knew who was behind it; for now, Zhang Menglong was busy calculating the spoils, so he remained quiet.


    But what kind of person was Zhang Menglong? He was Huaxia''s power plant, the human Pikachu, aka 100,000 volts... sorry, the wrong person has entered, wrong set.


    What kind of person was Zhang Menglong? He was someone who would never miss an opportunity to show off. If bitten by a mosquito, he''d whip out the Italian Cannon, and if bitten by a dog, would bite one back.


    Would he let them off?


    100 trillion US Dollars, even if he attacked the foreign exchange markets of 100 countries at the same time, he would effortlessly start a bloody massacre!


    An average of 1 trillion US Dollars per country!


    How many countries have foreign currency reserves over a trillion US Dollars?


    Until today, America''s currency was the US Dollar, ranked number one; Huaxia had 3.2 trillion US Dollars, ranked second; Kaibong had 1.6 trillion US Dollars, ranked third... oh, the third place is just left with 700 billion US Dollars now!


    That means, by targeting 100 countries, Zhang Menglong could easily overturn 97 of them!


    He alone was a hundred times scarier than an economic crisis!


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    "Who is it, who is it? Rushing for a death wish?" Zhang Menglong was just enjoying an afternoon''s sunlight spa when the knocking made him somewhat irritable, "Su Pa Ido''s smile is not as cheap as yours, the July afternoon sun is not as shameless as you!"


    "Old Zhang, you haven''t started yet, have you?" Wang Ling rushed into Zhang Menglong''s house and rudely grabbed an apple to munch on.


    "Not yet, why are you in such a hurry? We haven''t even handled the domestic issues yet. Let''s wait until I have them dumfounded before we retaliate. You''re making me feel like you''ve got ulterior motives for me," Zhang Menglong adjusted his open bathrobe.


    "Get lost, I''m not interested in men!" Wang Ling showed a disgusted expression, "How''s the situation on your end? There are still three days this week, can you sort it out?"


    "Who do you think you''re underestimating?" Zhang Menglong said, "Sorting out those shrimp soldiers and crab generals, half a day is enough."


    "Blow it out your ear!"


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s cell phone rang¡ªit was a video call from Xu Ze.


    "Looks like it''s done!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile as he answered the video.


    "Boss, it''s handled!"


    "Oh, that was quick. How did it go?"


    "We''ve made a profit of 45 trillion US dollars," Xu Ze said, "damn them, some of them got away. They even managed to scrape together a few hundred billion US dollars from somewhere and paid up the margins on some accounts. Under our barrage, they didn''t burst their positions but took off with 60% losses."


    "Not bad, I''m quite satisfied with this result."


    "Oh, and those international speculators trying to take advantage of the fire? I dealt with them too¡ªjust a small fund of 300 billion US dollars, just spare change."


    "I''m actually..."


    Wang Ling standing beside Zhang Menglong had pretty much turned to stone.


    What the hell is this, Zhang Menglong only entered the market this morning, right? It''s barely past two in the afternoon, the forex market hasn''t even closed, and Zhang Menglong has already knocked off work?


    And what''s with ''dealt with them on the way''? 300 billion US dollars¡ªthat''s enough to buy out Wang Ling''s family''s conglomerate ten times over!


    What''s the point of wars in history? To plunder wealth, to seize resources!


    Could even the First and Second World Wars combined have netted 45 trillion US dollars?


    Undoubtedly impossible!


    45 trillion US dollars! Zhang Menglong achieved it in half a day; he practically sheared half the world''s wool, earning what half the world would in one year!


    "You''re seriously ruthless! Not opening for three years but feasting enough for three years once you do!"


    "No, it''s more like you''ve opened once and can now feast for 3000 years!"


    "My fault?" Zhang Menglong shrugged, "People were stuffing money into my pockets left and right; I can''t just not take it, can I? All I did was defend myself. What evil could I, Zhang Menglong, possibly harbor?"


    "Give me a break," Wang Ling, whose priorities had shifted from the 45 trillion US dollars, said, "what do you plan to do now?"


    "I''ll take care of those speculators first. I need to stabilize the domestic market," Zhang Menglong said, "today the interest rate is adjusted to 7.9%. I don''t know how many businesses and families will go bankrupt. I need to resolve these issues quickly, otherwise I won''t even feel good about this money."


    "You do seem quite concerned about the nation, but what about those people? You''re not planning to deal with them?"


    "Deal with them! Of course!" Zhang Menglong said, "have you heard of the Tathagata Palm Technique?"


    "Of course I have heard of it¡ªregretting the overconfident dragon, flying dragon in the sky, hidden dragon in the abyss... Oh wait, that''s the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. The Tathagata Palm Technique is the one that comes crashing down from the sky..."


    "I''m not talking about that Tathagata Palm Technique. I''m talking about the Tathagata Palm Technique from ''Love Apartment,''" Zhang Menglong laughed, "the loser must be slapped ten times by the victor, whenever and wherever, without resisting, no matter the force used, but the victor cannot wear a ring."


    "What about it?"


    "The scariest part of the Tathagata Palm Technique isn''t the beating; it''s that you never know when it''s going to hit you," Zhang Menglong said with a sly smile, pulling out a list with the names of 89 countries and the US dollars they contributed.


    "Dang, it''s like a death note!"


    "Tell me, what do you think their mood is right now?"


    "They don''t know when you will start to retaliate, nor from when you will start," Wang Ling understood Zhang Menglong''s point, "so right now they must be panicking like crazy, probably can''t even sleep well."


    "Exactly," Zhang Menglong said, "that''s why I''m not in a hurry to deal with them. I''m going to wait until they''re numb with fear, have begun to forget this matter, and then give them a nasty surprise out of the blue!"


    "Fuck... they''re really not human, and you''re really a beast!"


    "Hehe, so who should we start with?"

 Chapter 655 653: They Lack Mental Toughness

    "Boss, we''ve already stabilized the exchange rate and withdrawn all the funds."


    Three days later, Zhang Menglong received feedback from Chen Ze''s side. The withdrawal was actually not any simpler than smashing the market because in the past two days, when they went solo, it was a move for a move, maintaining a rough balance overall.


    Currently, there is nearly a hundred trillion US Dollars hanging in the market. If withdrawn all at once, the currency market would still collapse instantly, so it still needed to be handled slowly.


    However, being able to completely stabilize the currency market in three days also demonstrated the strength of these traders.


    "Well done, you guys worked hard. How much money did we make this time? Take 10% of it for yourselves!"


    "Hehe, boss, I won''t be polite then," Chen Ze laughed. By that calculation, each of them would receive hundreds of millions of US Dollars. Wasn''t that delightful?


    "Boss, what about the remaining funds?"


    "Distribute them according to the contribution of each family," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Those loyal families should get some reward. I don''t need my share, after all, who it belongs to ultimately, it is still mine."


    "They will certainly be very grateful for your generous gift," Chen Ze said a few polite words before hanging up the phone.


    ...


    These days, it seemed calm internationally, but behind the scenes, everyone was very anxious.


    Given Zhang Menglong''s temperament, where was there a time he had been hit without striking back? Even though he was the final winner this time, if he could endure, he wouldn''t be called Zhang Menglong. Even a tiger would get annoyed when bitten by an ant, let alone a proud person like Zhang Menglong.


    The 89 fools involved had long been prepared to face Zhang Menglong''s storm, but three days had passed, and Zhang Menglong seemed to have disappeared. Even if he was busy sorting through the spoils and couldn''t think of them momentarily, shouldn''t there be some action by now?


    Zhang Menglong not only showed no sign of retaliation, but he also hadn''t even posted on his friend circle or Weibo. This was outrageous. Could it be that this time Zhang Menglong was that magnanimous?


    Or was he afraid that dealing with 89 countries at once would cause a bad international reaction, so he decided to let them off the hook?


    Impossible!


    They immediately ruled out that possibility. Unless Zhang Menglong had really been kidnapped, even if he didn''t make a major earth-shattering move, he would definitely find a way to fiercely shake them down.


    To expect Zhang Menglong to forgive and forget? Only if the chicken in "Journey to the West" had eaten up the Mountain of Rice, the dog licked clean the Mountain of Noodles, and fire had broken the chains.


    Such a scenario was as absurd as installing a switch on the sun, putting railings on the Yellow River, designing a reverse gear for airplanes, or tiling the Great Wall with ceramics.


    A week passed, and Zhang Menglong still made no move.


    Those people were not only failing to relax, but they were also becoming even more panicked. They would rather have Zhang Menglong hit them with an atomic bomb now than to suffer such torture. Could the storm not be more intense?


    "The president of the largest bank in the Americas, Mr. Podolia, has resigned voluntarily. His attending physician stated that Podolia recently developed a severe mental illness and could no longer continue working!"


    "The European Monetary Management Committee''s Goldfus resigned yesterday, claiming the job pressure was too great and that he, being advanced in age, could no longer handle such a high load. His duties will be taken over by the Vice President Ritar."


    "Today, in the EU countries, three presidents voluntarily resigned, the reasons are unclear, but their aides stated that their sleep quality has been poor lately, and one even fainted in parliament."


    ...


    It might be normal for one or two people to experience such issues, but within a mere week, 17 heads of major banks worldwide had resigned, 22 countries'' leaders had significant changes, and even a dozen people developed depression!


    This matter was worth pondering. Even on Huaxia''s social media, where international affairs are generally not of much concern, it sparked heated discussions.


    "Gosh, what''s happening lately, so many big shots stepping down, are they all pursuing poetry and distant lands now?"


    "I feel there''s something off with this whole situation. I don''t know the others, but I know that Jinfusi from the European Monetary Management Committee¡ªI saw him on the news last time. Heck, the guy is only 32. At 32, he''s telling me he''s too old? As if he''s really that old!"


    "Why do I feel like they must have provoked someone, and are all avoiding something by doing this in such a unified way?"


    "The analysis above makes sense but who could be so powerful as to scare so many people at the top of the world''s pyramid into becoming like this?"


    "Yuan Fang, what do you think?"


    "There must be something fishy going on here!"


    ...


    However, the second week, the situation became even more outrageous, and the headlines were one shocking item after another.


    "Vice Chairman Rital of the European Monetary Management Committee refuses to accept the position of President, claiming, ''Whoever wants the job can have it, I definitely won''t do it!'' "


    "22 countries held elections for new presidents this week and, based on current registration results, not a single senior official has signed up!"


    "Explosive news, an insider claims, once taking on these positions, one will face unknown horrors!"


    "Damn, no one''s stepping up for president. Maybe I should just sign up!"


    "This is so weird, what''s this unknown terror about? There is no need to scare them to this extent, right?"


    "Now I believe that those who resigned must have really sensed some dangerous aura."


    ...


    "Menglong, this move of yours is brilliant!" Seeing these news items, Wang Ling immediately knew that Zhang Menglong''s "Tathagata Palm" was effective.


    Faced with such great provocation, Zhang Menglong had not made any effective retaliation or response for such a long time, they probably fear even going to the bathroom without preparing to run away.


    So many people are suffering from depression, mental issues, and even some dream of Zhang Menglong chasing them, imagine the level of psychological pressure?


    No wonder those people gave up such high positions. When it comes time to clean up the mess, whoever loves it can deal with it! Anyway, they skedaddled first, and even if the country falls, they can pretend it has nothing to do with them.


    "You say their mental strength is that poor?" Zhang Menglong also laughed at the news, surprised by his own deterrent power. Today, even more than a dozen countries conducted military exercises as if to tell him not to come over.


    "I bet these days when those people close their eyes, all they see is your face."


    "That is indeed an honor," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "but I hope they would be a bit tougher inside. Otherwise, when I retaliate later, it''ll all be new faces. Even if I end up killing them, there will be half the pleasure lost."


    "Boy, you''re almost more terrifying than nuclear deterrence, to scare half the world like this. I don''t think there''s a second person in the world who can do it. I''m just waiting eagerly to watch the show now."


    "By the way, how much money have you gathered?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I''ve pulled every string I can, and I''ve raised 120 billion US dollars. I''ll transfer it to you in a bit, just send me an account."


    "To be honest, whether you have this money or not seems to make no big difference!"


    "Screw you, I''ve stretched my face thin for this. If you can''t make a double for me, I''ll come to your house every day to freeload!"


    "Hahaha, don''t worry," Zhang Menglong laughed. 120 billion US dollars may not be enough to handle those developed countries, but it''s certainly enough to sort out the smaller ones, "if we don''t make it to double, I''ll rob 2400 billion US dollars for you!"

 Chapter 656 654 This Video Conference Is Very Lively

    On the third week, three international bank presidents resigned! Two presidents stepped down!


    On the fourth week, seven international bank presidents resigned, four presidents stepped down!


    In just one week, over 30 large bank heads had stepped down, with more than half of the positions remaining unfilled. Twenty-eight presidents from Europe and America had resigned, and to date, 23 countries had no one running for election!


    "This won''t do, we can''t just sit here waiting for death!"


    "Exactly, we can''t keep scaring ourselves anymore. If this continues, even if Zhang Menglong doesn''t take action against us, we''ll end up developing mental illnesses due to anxiety!"


    The remaining national leaders finally realized this one month later. Zhang Menglong intended to dissolve their spirits with a tactic akin to boiling frogs in warm water.


    Zhang Menglong was not unprepared for revenge; his retribution had already begun; they simply hadn''t realized it yet.


    At that moment, the liaisons once again reached a unified understanding. Since they couldn''t defeat Zhang Menglong economically, they might as well try to physically eliminate him!


    At 23:30 Huaxia time, a virtual network meeting saw the attendance of important figures from all the member countries that had participated in the operations against Zhang Menglong a month ago. Even countries where the presidents had resigned sent representatives.


    Based on their understanding of Zhang Menglong, even with those people resigning, Zhang Menglong would definitely not let their countries off. Instead of sitting around waiting for death, it was better to eradicate the problems completely to prevent future troubles!


    "How come only 88 people arrived?" The person in charge of the meeting was still the big brother from America; he was also the general commander of the American operation and represented the higher-ups from America.


    Brutus scanned the screen, "Which country hasn''t shown up yet?"


    "Kaibong''s representative is absent."


    "What, are they thinking of chickening out at this time?" Brutus scoffed coldly, "Do they think Zhang Menglong would spare them?"


    "The people from Kaibong said whatever the consequences, they are willing to bear them themselves."


    "Such a bunch of cowards!" Several officials expressed their contempt for Kaibong.


    "Achoo!" The representative from Kaibong suddenly sneezed at this time. He was the one in control of Kaibong''s economy and was the one who decided to opt out of this assassination operation against Zhang Menglong.


    Because not long ago, he had learned some secrets: Zhang Menglong was not just wealthy. His subordinates were all competent and extraordinary, including Zhang Menglong himself, who was a super expert with unfathomable strength!


    He had also heard about last year''s incident with Hui Jie Rock II, and he broke into a cold sweat for the decision he made earlier. Such a critical matter and no one had informed him!


    These people had already lost a fortune and now wanted to kill Zhang Menglong. But could they? At least their Dark Ninja had already been severely taught a lesson by Zhang Menglong; even their national treasure Divine Artifact had been used to slice steaks.


    Most importantly, the man called a Martial God among their Dark Ninja was still lying in Kaibong''s specially designed ICU. Unless he had lost his mind, he wouldn''t even think about troubling Zhang Menglong.


    Now, all he could think about was how to appease Zhang Menglong''s wrath. As for the other countries, he had no inclination to care about them anymore. As for their fate, Kaibong was still eager to see them get beaten up by Zhang Menglong. After all, it couldn''t just be them getting hit; they were quite happy to see this outcome.


    ...


    "Alright, forget about them. Everyone should know why you''ve all been gathered here," Brutus said, "Our last plan failed. Zhang Menglong will sooner or later take retaliatory actions against us; we must prepare in advance."


    "Send out the secondary forces of our countries, just kill him and be done with it!"


    "Idiots! Do you think Huaxia''s Longxia Special Operations Group is there for show?" someone berated immediately.


    "If it was before, maybe there was a chance, but now the Martial God of Huaxia has surpassed the Mythical Realm and broken through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary. Who else can be his opponent?"


    "What about the seven kings of America?" someone immediately asked. "Wasn''t it said that they reached the peak of divine Psychics a long time ago? Hasn''t any of them broken through after all these years?"


    "Regrettably, six of them have failed," Brutus said, "However, one of them has already touched the threshold of a new realm but needs more time to completely break through this level. I don''t plan on disturbing him."


    "Then our meeting today is a waste of time! Without Martial Artists at the Heavenly Origin Boundary level, we can''t even step into Huaxia!"


    "Exactly! And now I seriously suspect that Zhang Menglong definitely has other masters by his side!"


    "Yes, think about it. If his family has really been passing down their legacy for five to six thousand years, then mastering Huaxia''s ancient system of cultivation, it''s absolutely possible that several masters could emerge."


    "That''s right, I''ve heard that Huaxia''s ancient martial arts originated from that time. The reason why Huaxia''s ancient martial arts aren''t as formidable as before is because many legacies have disappeared in the long river of history. But their legacy has never been broken, and there could even be masters at the Heavenly Origin Boundary level protecting Zhang Menglong."


    Everyone discussed heatedly. They all wanted to take down Zhang Menglong, but among the Psychics in their countries, some nations didn''t even have a single divine Psychic. What the hell could they do?


    "Alright, we know that you are all just wary of the Martial God," Brutus said. "If we can''t get in, we just have to wait for Zhang Menglong to come out!"


    "As for the high-level masters you are wary of by Zhang Menglong''s side," Brutus said with a sneer, "if such people truly exist, do you think Zhang Menglong''s forebears would have just watched Huaxia go through that period of modern history?"


    "That''s true!"


    "Exactly, given their intolerant nature, had they such formidable people, they would have retaliated like Genghis Khan and conquered all the neighboring countries long ago!"


    "But how will we know when he''s coming out? If he never leaves, are we just going to wait forever?"


    "He will come out soon," Brutus said with a sneer. "What do you think our country has been investing so much in Huaxia''s enterprises for? We can get a lot of their core data, including chat logs from some social media software."


    "What information have you obtained?"


    "Huaxia is about to have winter break. Zhang Menglong now has another identity as a graduate student at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. He has already planned to take his research group''s seniors and juniors, and his girlfriend on a half-month trip to Africa. The moment he leaves Huaxia will be our chance!"


    "There''s such an opportunity? This is truly a godsend!"


    "Yes, hahaha, they have to take a plane to go abroad, right? We''ll handle it so neatly that not even a trace will be left behind."


    "Exactly! Plane accidents that kill people are nothing out of the ordinary, right?"


    ...


    "This video conference of theirs is quite lively!"


    No one had expected that in Jiangnan City, Huaxia, Zhang Menglong was listening to their entire plan through a device.


    Infiltrating a minor dedicated network was hardly a challenge for Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, should I go and wipe them all out now?" Ye Yin asked from the side. "I could make all the organizations of the Second World disappear in one night! They actually dare to plot against you, which is simply unforgivable!"


    "No, what would I do for fun if you wiped them out?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "If they want to play, let''s play along with them a little longer!"

 Chapter 657 655 Bring it on

    Another year was drawing to its close, and the corporate drones were making their final push, striving for performance goals, bonuses, and the chance to return home for the New Year!


    But for Zhang Menglong, his days were pretty much the same, his only tasks were to watch others strive, chase targets, hand out bonuses, and then ponder where to go for fun tomorrow.


    Zhang Menglong''s senior classmates were about to graduate too, and Han Jinyu offered them excellent terms to keep them in Jiangnan City. However, since they were on the verge of graduation, a sense of ceremony was in order, so they decided to just take a trip to Africa together.


    Although Africa was not as developed as Europe, its natural landscapes were truly spectacular, and it was the only place where one could see numerous untouched tribes and rainforests.


    They had planned to invite Han Jinyu as well, but now Han Jinyu had become an Academician and even had the title of Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Recently, Zhang Menglong had provided him with a lot of advanced materials in materials science and physics, and Han Jinyu had sequestered himself away for three months.


    Having assimilated this knowledge, Han Jinyu had leaped to a new level. To tell the truth, though he already had those titles, they were mostly thanks to Zhang Menglong''s influence, but now, he truly possessed the genuine knowledge and skills!


    In just one month, he published two papers, both of which were accepted by the top international journals, Nature and Science. Now, if he wasn''t on his way to give lectures or conduct seminars at other universities, he was on his way to earn money from enterprises. As for traveling, he didn''t have much interest anymore.


    "Menglong, you''re such a bro, actually thinking of your seniors!" Seeing Zhang Menglong, the eldest senior brother gave him a bear hug.


    Senior brother Zhu Mengchao had married and had kids during his PhD studies. Back then, the university only provided a subsidy of 7000 Huaxia currency per month, hardly enough for him to support his family. On top of that, the pressure from his mother-in-law had recently led him to buy a house, further increasing his financial burden.


    Zhang Menglong''s arrival completely changed his life, dramatically altering his fortunes. Now, his income was more than enough to cover his mortgage and family expenses and even afford better education for his child, earning him newfound respect from his once disdainful mother-in-law.


    It was similar for the others; their current treatment within the research group offered salaries that many people of their age at big internet companies could not match.


    "Family doesn''t speak of two homes," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. His seniors had taken great care of him while he was working on his thesis, "Oh, that reminds me, senior brothers and sisters, you''re graduating next year. I don''t really have anything special prepared, but please consider these small gifts as a token of my sentiments."


    "Junior brother, why be so formal? It''s the thought that counts, no need for gifts. We have already benefitted a lot from your help!" said two soon-to-be-graduated senior brothers and a senior sister.


    This year, after accounting for living expenses, each of them had managed to save two to three hundred thousand Huaxia currency, which in some ordinary second- or third-tier cities would even suffice for a down payment on a house.


    Not only that, although the title of Nobel laureate belonged to Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu, all the participants'' names appeared on the list at that time. In the past few months, they had received countless offers from universities all over, with even the world''s top 10 willing to accept them with full scholarships following the interviews.


    As for the terms offered by related enterprises, they were even more outrageous ¨C none was under a yearly salary of 500,000, a figure beyond the wildest dreams of graduates in this field.


    Of course, in the end they chose to stay at the university.


    Do you think their income inside the university couldn''t match that of the enterprises? That''s naive! Could the students of a Nobel laureate be that simple?


    When the president of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was promoted to Academician, he sold his patents in a bundle to enterprises for 1 billion Huaxia currency, with his right-hand men receiving millions, or even tens of millions, each.


    And how could an Academician be compared to a Nobel laureate? They had recently received a call from a foreign party, offering to purchase one of Han Jinyu''s patents for 120 million US dollars.


    Following Han Jinyu was sure to lead to boundless financial prospects.


    "Seniors, please don''t be shy," Zhang Menglong said as he pushed a few small boxes towards them, "Graduation ought to be marked with some ceremony, after all."


    "Since you put it that way, we won''t stand on ceremony!" The seniors took the boxes, "Do you mind if we open them now?"


    "Of course not."


    "Ah! This!" Yin Yuan, the junior sister, let out an exclamation as she opened this so-called "small gift."


    Inside was a bulky booklet labeled "Real Estate Certificate," along with a set of keys.


    This "small gift" was a property deed!


    "Jiangnan Yayuan!" Seeing the name of the residential complex inside, Yin Yuan was even more surprised.


    Jiangnan Yayuan was actually quite an ordinary place when Zhang Menglong had just started university, and he clearly remembered banners advertising a price of 6999 per square meter hanging there, but they couldn''t sell!


    After the conclusion of the Asian summit, real estate prices in Jiangnan City soared, multiplying by three to five times in a flash, and by the time Zhang Menglong graduated from his undergraduate studies, the price at Jiangnan Yayuan had risen to over 40000 per square meter.


    By that time, the prices had already surprised many people.


    And the most outrageous was this past half-year.


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology outperformed all major national universities, obtaining the title of a pilot scientific research university, plus a large number of top-level journal articles and the Nobel Prize in Physics, their overall ranking jumped from 128th in the country to top 10!


    Originally, Jiangnan University was the only prestigious university in Jiangnan City, but now Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was catching up.


    How expensive are the houses near Jiangnan University? The cheaper ones are close to an 80,000 unit price, and the more expensive ones have exceeded 120,000!


    And this was when the real estate speculators also began to exert their strength, with slogans like "Live next to a Nobel Prize winner" and "Future prestigious university district housing," and so on, pushing up the housing prices in the entire surrounding area of Jiangnan University by more than 50% again.


    As the closest neighborhood to Jiangnan University, even just separated from the university''s dormitory area by one street, Jiangnan Yayuan''s prices had more than doubled!


    The current average price in Jiangnan Yayuan is 112,000 yuan per square meter!


    But even so, there was still more demand than supply for these houses.


    The house that Zhang Menglong was gifting them was not only in Jiangnan Yayuan, but was also a 198-square-meter townhouse!


    This "graduation small gift''s" value had directly soared past 20 million Huaxia currency!


    "I''ve already paid off all the property fees included in the title deed, and I''ve also had someone redecorate those houses a bit. They should be ready to move into in two or three months," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "If you guys stay at the university as senior brothers and sisters, you''ll need to settle down eventually. You can''t possibly continue living in the university, can you?"


    "Menglong, this gift of yours... it''s actually... kind of hot to handle!"


    Like Yin Yuan, the other two elder brothers'' gifts were also a townhouse in Jiangnan Yayuan.


    They did acknowledge that they really took good care of Zhang Menglong, and that care had started before they were aware of Zhang Menglong''s identity, without mixing in any interests, but they didn''t feel their care was worth 20 million either!


    Moreover, the funds Zhang Menglong provided for their research group could be considered an indirect way of repaying them, but this time it was just too blunt and straightforward.


    "Just take it. Honestly, I''ve made a huge profit recently!" Zhang Menglong revealed a mysterious smile, "Do you know about the big battle in the currency market last month?"


    "You''re not the one who..."


    "Just humble me," Zhang Menglong said, "I fleeced capitalism of a huge swath of wool, pocketing hundreds of trillions of US Dollars."


    "Wow, hundreds of trillions of US Dollars? Now I have absolutely no psychological burden!"


    "Then I''ll just consider this a graduation gift from the capitalist countries."


    "Property deed, hand it over to me!"

 Chapter 658 656: Do You Think This is a Normal Airliner?

    Looking at the three of them, everyone showed envious eyes.


    Struggling in Jiangnan City, nearly half a lifetime''s worth of energy was spent on housing. If one could own a house, the pressure for the rest of their life would be greatly reduced. With their current income and future prospects, this was simply blissful!


    "Junior brother, have I not been good to you? Last time you were doing an experiment, it was me who watched the equipment for you..."


    "Junior brother, your senior sister has always treated you like family..."


    "Senior brother, do you think I''m annoying?"


    ...


    "Hahaha, alright alright, stop faking it," Zhang Menglong laughed, "everyone will get their share after graduation!"


    Zhang Menglong turned to those seniors who were doing their graduation projects in the research group last year, just like him, "You guys prepare well for the postgraduate exams. As long as you can get into Professor Han''s grad program, your senior brother will also have a reward for you!"


    "Long live junior brother/senior brother!"


    "Junior brother/senior brother is the best!"


    Zhang Menglong was never stingy with people around him, and especially not now when he had recently come into a windfall. Now was the time he was rolling in money. A few houses were nothing¡ªcouldn''t the money just earn interest, and in a few minutes, he''d have made it all back?


    "Yiyi is here." Zhang Menglong saw another car approaching them. This time, Zhang Menglong not only brought his own lab mates but also invited Lu Yiyao''s seniors and juniors.


    "Here, let me introduce you; this is my girlfriend, Lu Yiyao!"


    "Hello seniors, hello, juniors," Lu Yiyao greeted everyone warmly.


    "Yo yo yo, we''ve long heard that our junior brother''s girlfriend is a big beauty, and today we finally get to see her!"


    "Wow, junior sister, how do you maintain such good skin? My goodness, Menglong, aren''t you washing her with SK-II every day?"


    "That must be more than just SK-II¡ªwould a bottle worth a thousand or two match our junior brother''s status?"


    "Alright already, cut the flattery. Our junior sister is naturally beautiful, what do you all know!"


    "You''re the one full of flattery, your whole family is full of flattery!"


    "Hahaha!"


    ...


    "By the way, let me introduce, these are students of my advisor," Lu Yiyao said, "Senior Hu Jiaxin, Senior Liu Xingyu; the three of us even formed a band!"


    Hu Jiaxin and Liu Xingyu were both very pretty girls. They were tall and fashionable in their attire.


    "My seniors are all single too, so I''m tossing the chance to you guys," Lu Yiyao said mischievously.


    "Hello," Zhang Menglong greeted generously, "I didn''t prepare any welcome gifts today, but when we go to Africa, I''ll take you all to visit a few of my family''s diamond mines. If the seniors see any diamond jewelry they like, just say the word."


    "We won''t be polite then!"


    "Who would have thought, our junior sister is actually the girlfriend of the world''s richest man, tsk tsk tsk, really basking in reflected glory."


    Hu Jiaxin and Liu Xingyu came from quite impressive family backgrounds themselves, after all, not many in music studies are poor, but this was their first time meeting someone like Zhang Menglong, who casually offered diamonds.


    "What are you spacing out for?" Zhang Menglong quickly gave his single seniors a knowing look.


    The senior brothers of Zhang Menglong immediately caught on.


    "Come on, the senior sister of my junior brother''s girlfriend is our senior sister too. Senior sister, let me carry your luggage for you!"


    "Senior brother, have you no shame? You''re a doctoral student, this kind of manual labor should be left to us strong and robust juniors!"


    "Hey, what''s wrong with you guys, forgetting our brotherhood just because of a beauty?"


    "You bunch of louts, so quick to forsake friends for fancies!"


    Zhang Menglong''s senior sisters grumbled and complained.


    ...


    Considering there were girls this time, Zhang Menglong had switched up the entire cabin crew, not just the beauties, but also the hotties!


    "Mama mia! Wu Yanzu?"


    "This... Leonardo DiCaprio? He''s not playing with water guns anymore? Holy smokes, so handsome!"


    "Takuya Kimura? Ahhh, help me! How can he still be so charming at almost 50?!"


    ...


    Who could have imagined that the flight attendants on this trip would be some of the most handsome men in the world!


    "Senior sister, senior sister, you''re drooling!" Lu Yiyao was somewhat embarrassed to see her seniors lose their composure.


    "Senior sister, keep it together, you have the eyes of a creep right now!" The reaction from Zhang Menglong''s senior sisters was no different.


    "Keep it together? How can I keep it together? It''s Leo! He''s slimmed down, and he''s not playing with water guns anymore. Do any other men in the world even matter?"


    "What about Takuya Kimura? Can you bring him over here, would Shizuka Kudo agree to that?"


    "Menglong, can I get their autographs?"


    "Of course, you can!"


    "Can we take a photo with them?"


    "That''s also possible!"


    "Can I touch their pecs?"


    "Senior sister, that comes at an extra price."


    ...


    As the roaring sound filled the air, the plane took off.


    "This plane is so big, it''s almost like being on the ground!" Apart from Lu Yiyao, it was everyone else''s first time on a private jet, and for some, it was their first time on any plane.


    "It''s a modified Boeing 787," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "It has a total capacity of nearly 400 people. With only a dozen of us, it''s naturally very comfortable."


    "This must''ve cost a pretty penny, right?" the eldest senior brother said.


    "Well," Zhang Menglong nodded, "the plane itself was relatively cheap, but the modification costs were a hundred times its original price!"


    "A hundred times? You didn''t stuff it full of antiques, did you?"


    "Not at all," Zhang Menglong revealed a mysterious smile, "It''s not just an ordinary private jet, you know."


    "We''re first heading to South Africa. Someone will be there to receive us. We should be almost over the Indian Ocean by now."


    "Wow, that''s really grand!"


    "Just a little bit lacking in business!"


    "Captain, activate panoramic mode!" Zhang Menglong gave the command to the pilot.


    "Holy shit!" Zhu Mengchao, who was next to the window, lost his balance and fell to the floor. He pointed at the front in terror¡ªthe plane''s outer wall had seemingly disappeared, as if they were flying in mid-air.


    "This plane''s interior uses a panoramic technology," Zhang Menglong explained, "From the inside, you can see the entire view outside, and you can even adjust the transparency. What do you think?"


    "This is just too magical!" everyone gasped in wonder.


    "Look, what are those small black spots ahead?"


    "Are they birds?"


    "No way, we''re in the stratosphere. How could there be birds? And so many of them?"


    "Beep beep beep!" Suddenly, an alarm sounded on the plane, "Boss, a squadron of fighter jets is approaching us at 1.8 Mach!"


    "A squadron of fighter jets?"


    "They''re not coming for us, are they?"


    "Probably not, maybe they''re just passing by?"


    Many people were traveling abroad for the first time and encountered such a scenario. They were just on an ordinary private plane, and facing 12 fighter jets¡ªif there was any misunderstanding or conflict, a disaster was inevitable.


    "We''ve already requested a legal route. Please inform us of your intentions; otherwise, we will send out an alert and seek international assistance!"


    The captain immediately sent a message to the other party, but received no reply.


    "Boss, our signals have been jammed, we can''t send any messages! They must be targeting us!"


    "This is... over..."


    "Menglong, could it be those... are they here for revenge?" Thinking about Zhang Menglong''s actions from a month ago, his seniors quickly connected the two events.


    12 fighter jets¡ªdo they even stand a chance at survival?


    "Don''t panic, what''s the big deal about 12 fighter jets?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Did you think my plane was just a regular airliner?"

 Chapter 659 657: A Group of Mortals

    "Menglong, how can you stay so calm at a time like this? These are 12 fighter jets! Fighter jets!" All of Zhang Menglong''s brothers were panicking.


    They were just in their twenties, with their best years and a brilliant future ahead of them. Now, a single missile could end their lives; just minutes ago, they were basking in the joy of travel, and the next second, they fell into the abyss of despair.


    "Land! Hurry up and land, if we land now and hide in the ocean, we might still have a chance!"


    "Right! Let''s make an emergency landing at sea! I just saw plenty of life-saving equipment. Their fighter jets won''t be as powerful over the sea!"


    "Everyone, don''t panic," Zhang Menglong reassured, "Didn''t I tell you? I modified this plane at a great cost. Just 12 fighter jets? Even if it were 12 aircraft carrier fleets, I could still beat them black and blue."


    "There are missiles coming!"


    At that moment, though the panoramic mode, everyone saw two missiles trailing fiery tongues heading towards them. At such a high altitude, a strike by a missile would mean certain death with no hope for finding an intact body¡ªa miracle in itself!


    "Ah!" All the girls on the plane except Lu Yiyao screamed.


    Although Lu Yiyao didn''t know the specifics of the modifications Zhang Menglong had made to the plane, she knew him well enough to be sure he had a trump card. Plus, even if it were just a regular plane, Ye Yinye secretly protecting them would take action at once.


    Therefore, panic was the last emotion they needed!


    "Unlock the highest authority, activate the AT field!" Zhang Menglong didn''t know to whom or what he was speaking.


    "Voice band verification successful, welcome, respected Mr. Zhang, the AT field is now deploying for you."


    No sooner had the electronic voice finished speaking than the two missiles appeared right in front of them. But just a meter away from the cockpit, they seemed to hit something and erupted into a violent explosion.


    Two Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, some of the most powerful missiles to date!


    Some had already closed their eyes, waiting for death to come, yet nothing happened¡ªnot even a slight shake or a whisper of sound.


    "What''s going on?" one of Zhang Menglong''s brothers opened his eyes, only to see their plane completely unharmed, and not far behind them, a black mushroom cloud hovered¡ªthere had indeed been a tremendous explosion.


    But this explosion hadn''t hurt them at all, as if an invisible force had kept it outside the plane.


    At that moment, he clearly saw a golden wall of light around the plane!


    "AT field? Menglong, did you just say AT field?" Zhang Menglong''s brothers, who had also been fans of anime, knew that apart from Gundam, the next big thing was Evangelion EVA.


    Zhang Menglong''s mention of the AT field referred to a technology from that anime series, known as the Absolute Domain.


    The visualized AT field appeared as a golden, polygon-shaped enclosure. It could block almost all conventional weapons, including physical impacts and high-energy, high-temperature blasts.


    In the anime''s settings, unless neutralized by another AT field, no force could harm anything inside the AT field, which earned it the label of Absolute Defense!


    However, this was a technology from anime¡ªin other words, something that existed in imagination; it was likely that humans wouldn''t be able to truly develop this technology for decades, if not a century.


    "How about that, awesome isn''t it?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Even if their missiles were a hundred times more, they couldn''t penetrate this AT field and harm us. So rest easy!"


    "How did you manage this?" Zhu Mengchao exclaimed in amazement, our country''s military weapon technology has advanced rapidly this year, but we couldn''t have invented something like this, could we?


    "No more pretending. It''s time I came clean!" Zhang Menglong pulled out a bright red notebook from his pocket.


    It read with a few words: Huaxia Special Weapons Senior Consultant Expert: Zhang Menglong.


    "You... you are the national senior weapons consultant expert?" Although Zhu Mengchao and the others did not know what that really meant, such a title was undoubtedly shocking. They knew that Zhang Menglong was very knowledgeable in the fields of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, but since when did he become so familiar with weapons as well?


    "You may not know, but the Longyin fighter jet developed by our country this time was based on my design," Zhang Menglong explained, "The strong interaction material, anti-gravity propulsion engine, and cationic polar cannon on it are all based on the theoretical and technical models I provided."


    "This AT field is a technology I only recently realized. It hasn''t been put into mass production yet but was only experimented on my own aircraft; however, it seems that the effects are not bad."


    "You are a monster!" Zhu Mengchao now even doubted whether Zhang Menglong was a human, as he had even turned a technology that existed only in anime settings into reality.


    If this thing were used in Huaxia''s army, then Huaxia''s military equipment could definitely be said to be invincible. Not to mention the strength of the strong interaction material, even the most advanced Sidewinder missiles wouldn''t leave a mark on it, not to mention your missiles needing to reach it first!


    "Everyone, don''t panic; with the strength of this AT field, even if our aircraft were to collide directly with their fighter jets, only their fighter jets would be destroyed!" Zhu Mengchao said reassuringly, now confident.


    Although the girls had never heard of any AT field, seeing Zhu Mengchao and Zhang Menglong so confident, they too breathed a sigh of relief.


    ...


    "What''s going on? Why haven''t they been shot down?" a fighter pilot several kilometers away noticed that Zhang Menglong''s aircraft was still on their radar.


    "Maybe it was a misfire, let''s do it again!"


    "This time, let''s attack all together, to ensure foolproof success!"


    "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!" 24 missiles once again headed towards Zhang Menglong''s aircraft like a barrage.


    "Expand the AT field to maximum!"


    "Yes, the AT field!"


    The golden shield instantly spread out around, almost enveloping the entire aircraft within a five to six-meter radius.


    The missiles formed mushroom clouds upon impact, but they still did not inflict any damage to the aircraft.


    "Damn it! There''s something wrong with his plane!"


    The first attack might have missed, but this time''s volley couldn''t possibly have missed because the radar data showed they hadn''t changed their flight status. If they couldn''t hit such a sitting duck, they didn''t deserve to be called air force elites.


    Suddenly, they remembered that the recently showcased Longyin fighter jet by Huaxia seemed to have displayed such formidable defensive power. Could it be that Zhang Menglong''s aircraft was also made from this so-called strong interaction material?


    Given Zhang Menglong''s capability and wealth, such a thing seemed quite possible. He was so wealthy, he must value his life very much.


    "Luckily we were prepared!"


    "Electronic missile bombardment prepared!"


    Having witnessed the formidable power of the strong interaction material last time, scientists worked day and night to find a method to break it, which was to force the vibration of particles to escape constraint and bombard with electrons, disrupting the balance of forces among the particles!


    However, this time they miscalculated. Zhang Menglong''s aircraft used even more advanced defensive technology, and the bombardment by electronic missiles, being a high-energy attack, utterly failed to penetrate his AT field!


    "Alas!" Watching the 12 approaching fighter jets, Zhang Menglong shook his head, "A bunch of mortals!"

 Chapter 660 658: Is Garbage Also Considered a Machine?

    ```


    "Impossible, why did the electronic bomb also fail? In the simulation experiment, it only took half a second to break down the structure of the strong molecular interaction material. Could our experimental results be wrong?"


    At the moment of the failed attack, the pilots first doubted their own technology.


    After all, with their current scientific and technological capabilities, even the most developed countries can''t produce that kind of strong interaction material, and the electronic bomb is only theoretically able to destroy strong interaction material, but so far, it has not been used in real experiments.


    "No, look, what''s that golden thing around them?"


    "Such a high energy reaction! They''re not relying on strong interaction material; they''re relying on that high-energy protective shield!"


    "Fuck! Is this the kind of technology humans should have now? What kind of monsters are the Huaxia people?"


    "Idiot, they''ve even invented the anti-gravity engine; what else is there that the Huaxia can''t make at this point?"


    "To use such advanced technology not on fighter jets but on civilian planes, Zhang Menglong is truly extravagant."


    "Stop dawdling and evade!" said the combat squadron''s leader. "Don''t get hit by that energy field; our fighters can''t withstand such a powerful energy impact!"


    ...


    "Install it!" Zhang Menglong told the captain.


    "Yes!" As the captain, he had witnessed the process of the missiles transforming and exploding, and at first, he was indeed frightened, but the psychological quality of a pilot is so strong, now he was as confident as ever!


    If this thing could block a salvo of dozens of missiles, what would it matter if they charged head-on?


    He even continued to increase the speed of the plane, a crazy expression on his face.


    "Menglong, your captain is from Russian airlines, isn''t he?"


    "No, he used to fly fighter jets with the Russians, so his style is a bit fierce, plus he drank a small bottle of vodka before taking off; he might be a bit tipsy."


    "Take it easy with him; don''t let us be delivered to the pearly gates by the captain instead of getting killed by the fighters."


    "Whoosh!" A sharp sound of air friction ensued as the 12 fighters and Zhang Menglong''s plane brushed past each other, maintaining a very safe distance. They then continued to turn around, forming an encircling gesture and remaining relatively still with Zhang Menglong''s group.


    "No way, I must post this on social media!" Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao''s fellow apprentices took out their phones and began snapping away, knowing there was no danger, what were they afraid of?


    But being attacked by fighter jets wasn''t something everyone could experience; such an event had to be posted on social media, as well as on Weibo and TikTok¡ªthis could definitely go viral!


    "Watch me mock them!" Zhang Menglong took out a computer and began to infiltrate their communication channel. In just a few seconds, he found the communication channel of those few fighters.


    Zhang Menglong opened the broadcast, casually played a beat on the nearby speakers, and amidst the rhythmic music, he began to mock the 12 fighters:


    Is it even possible, garbage also counts as a machine?


    Ignore them, ignore them, a bunch of morons also want to slay?


    They never had any cred points in their hearts,


    Because your boss knows heart-reading magic,


    Don''t be surprised, cause my IQ is unbelievably high;


    A bunch of little brothers, in front of me, you have no secrets;


    No audacity, one glare and you give up;


    With just a casual effort, you all bravely sacrifice yourselves,


    vroom


    ...


    "Epic, epic! Add some auto-tune and it would be even more epic."


    "Apprentice brother, you''ve got that California electric eel vibe."


    "Apprentice brother, I can do this too. Look at this noodle, it''s long and wide, just like this bowl, it''s big and round, you all come here for a meal, think the food is delicious, you come here for a meal, it''s like I''m happily serving you noodles!"


    "Shut up! I, aka the Prairie Outlaw, won''t accept this!"


    "Yo yo, check it!"


    ...


    "Where''s that beat coming from?"


    ```


    Compared to the playful atmosphere aboard Zhang Menglong''s aircraft, the pilots of those 12 fighter jets wore gloomy expressions, their private communication channel had actually been hacked!


    All of them were military elites who had studied the Huaxia language, and they naturally couldn''t miss the slowly oozing sarcasm in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    This Huaxia man had actually started to live broadcast rap. They had never seen such audacity in their lives, someone who, surrounded by 12 fighter jets, could still use rap to diss them.


    But there was nothing they could do. Faced with Zhang Menglong''s AT-position shell, they couldn''t punch through or destroy it¡ªthey were in despair!


    They were now about to cross the Indian Ocean, and once they left the maritime area, their operation would have to be declared a failure. This was definitely not good news because they had been given very strict orders. If they didn''t succeed, they could almost be brought before a military court.


    "Damn it, call headquarters for reinforcements, let all the reserve forces join in! I refuse to believe their energy field is infinite. Just a few more attacks, and once the energy is exhausted, it''ll just be an ordinary aircraft!"


    "Yes!"


    "Calling for reinforcements, position..."


    "Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"


    Dozens of fighter jets that had been deployed around the Indian Ocean rose again, flying at high speed toward the reported position.


    "Boss, a large number of targets are approaching. 48 in total, all of them are fifth-generation fighters from various countries!"


    "Oh? It seems these countries have all been stimulated," Zhang Menglong remarked. A few months ago, not many countries possessed fifth-generation fighters. Perhaps the powerful dominance shown by the Long Yin fighter jets had driven them to despair, prompting them, under such heavy pressure, to achieve technological breakthroughs.


    A total of 60 fighter jets circled Zhang Menglong''s aircraft so tightly that not even an insect could get through.


    "Attack! Drain his energy at all costs!"


    "Boom!"


    "Boom!"


    Sparks flew and lightning flashed, onlookers might wonder if another great tsunami was about to occur in the Indian Ocean. The vessels on the sea saw only the clouds in the sky continuously making loud noises, with flashes of light glittering, and some even thought they had encountered a thunderstorm, hastening to the nearest port at the fastest speed.


    Indeed, Zhang Menglong''s AT force field consumed energy, and the energy reserves in the combat aircraft were depleting with the constant attacks from the 60 fighter jets.


    With a crisp sound, a small crack finally appeared in the golden force field.


    "It''s working!"


    "Continue the attack! The Huaxia man is almost done for!"


    "Increase the density of the attacks!"


    At this moment, they had only expended half of their ammunition, and in their eyes, Zhang Menglong was already nearly defeated!


    "Menglong, what should we do? Is your thing going to break?" Zhu Mengchao, seeing that crack, clearly lost his composure from before.


    "Hmm, if the energy is exhausted, it''ll break. Now, there''s only about 10% energy left."


    "Ah? What do we do now?"


    "It''s fine, not a big problem!" Zhang Menglong continued in a raised volume, "Housekeeper, help me start the solar furnace!"


    "Solar furnace activated!"


    In the belly of the aircraft, a conical machine suddenly let out a deep rumble, and simultaneously, green energy particles began to diffuse from a machine.


    "Solar furnace? You''ve got a solar furnace on this plane? How''s Gundam supposed to live with that?"


    The so-called solar furnace is a power device from the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam 00," an almost perpetually operating energy mechanism.


    It can produce almost infinite numbers of photons'' subtypes¡ªGN particles. The principle is that the evaporation of heavy particles causes mass breakdown, generating a huge amount of GN particles, thereby producing tremendous energy.


    This kind of energy can not only give the machine that carries it buoyancy against gravity but can also form high-energy particle attacks and even create a shield as powerful as the AT position''s protective shield.


    Its biggest feature is that its energy is virtually inexhaustible!


    "Starting energy replenishment, 10%, 12%, 15%... 98%, 100%, energy replenishment complete!"


    The golden AT field reformed in an instant, and affected by GN particles, all electromagnetic communication devices on the opposing 60 fighter jets were rendered useless!


    Seeing this scene, everyone was astonished once again.


    "Relax, this is just something I tinkered with when I was bored. It''s all basic stuff!"

 Chapter 661 659: Not a Single Fighter

    "Menglong, what kind of grudge do you guys have? They actually sent 60 fighter jets to take you down?"


    "I''m really speechless too, it''s not like I earned them 45 trillion US dollars, right? Was that really necessary?" Zhang Menglong shrugged his shoulders, "And it''s not like I actively went after that money, they tried to show off and it backfired on them. Is it my fault?"


    "45 trillion..." Lu Yiyao''s senior sisters twitched at the corner of their mouths.


    In this society, sometimes a few thousand or even a few hundred bucks can drive people to take risks; in those war-torn countries, a few million dollars can find you a bunch of desperadoes willing to risk their lives for you.


    Without 45 trillion, can you say they wouldn''t rack their brains to take you out?


    But now it seems that these people don''t have the ability to kill Zhang Menglong.


    "Deactivate the AT field, increase the distribution of GN particles, expand the GN shield!" Zhang Menglong named these unintelligible terms.


    The golden force field around them vanished, replaced by a green energy field made up of particles that constantly flickered, resembling the beautiful aurora borealis.


    Yet these particles are sub-particles of photons, possessing very powerful capabilities that can affect magnetic fields and electromagnetic waves. According to the settings in anime, this technology would be at least 200 years ahead of this era.


    Zhang Menglong had put in a great deal of effort to barely scratch together one of these; with this solar furnace, Zhang Menglong''s private plane could fly without the need for fuel, and even stationary hovering was no issue¡ªit was about a hundred and fifty years more advanced than anti-gravity devices.


    The moment the solar furnace was activated, the natural tremors of the plane engines ceased, they were as stable as if standing on flat ground.


    "Alright, don''t bother with those guys anymore, unless they use nuclear weapons, they''re not breaking through my protective shield!"


    "Slap!" Zhang Menglong''s junior brother gave himself a hard slap on the face.


    "Junior brother, why are you hitting yourself? Gone crazy and started hitting your own face?"


    "Senior brother, I feel like I must be dreaming!" Zhang Menglong''s junior brother was close to tears, "Don''t lie to me because I''m uneducated, what''s this AT field, solar furnace GN particles, aren''t all these things from anime? I must still be asleep!"


    "Yeah, senior brother, damn, I''ve been studying physics for over a decade, there''s not even a theoretical model for this stuff, and you bring this out. I feel like my world view for the past few decades has just collapsed."


    "You''re showing me this stuff and it''s almost the same as telling me that there are superpowers and magic in this world!"


    "There really are superpowers and magic!" Zhang Menglong pursed his lips, but seeing everyone already overwhelmed, he thought it better not to shatter their world views any further.


    ...


    "Fuck, what in the world is this thing?" The pilots of the 60 fighter jets were now somewhat losing it.


    They had just glimpsed some hope, only for this mysterious green glow to emerge from the plane, which caused all of their electronic equipment to fail, and they even had to aim manually for attacks.


    Even without system assistance, as elites, their hit rate was still very high, and at this moment, it seemed like their potential was forced out, scarcely a single missile went amiss.


    But even such relentless bombardment hadn''t caused him any harm; all the missiles on the fighter jets were spent, and the ammunition for the machine guns was almost depleted. Their planes were no different from regular airliners now.


    "Friends to the left, friends to the right, friends above, friends below, why have you stopped attacking?" Zhang Menglong taunted wildly over the dedicated communication line.


    They really wanted to curse back, but all their devices were malfunctioning, communications were jammed, and only Zhang Menglong was spouting off on his own. They were helpless to respond.


    "Your missiles don''t pack much punch, huh? This is what you brought to fight me? Tell your scientific research team to go apologize with their deaths, spending so much money to make such weak weapons?"


    "Why have you stopped? Is that all you''ve got? Men can''t be this quick! Do you need me to recommend a few hospitals? They''re all owned by my family, and I guarantee they can help you last longer and rejuvenate your vigor!"


    "How do you look now? Are you meaning to escort us now? Forget it, you''re just embarrassing yourselves!"


    ...


    "Ah, that damn Huaxia man, I want to perish together with him!" These fighter pilots had somewhat lost their heads, how could they tolerate such provocation? After flying fighter jets for so many years, this was the first time they had been taunted by a private jet!


    "Idiot! Do you think you qualify to go down with him? Our missiles can''t even hurt him; did you see that green light? If you just charge in, you''ll be the only one shattered into pieces!"


    "But they''re about to leave the Indian Ocean, and if we attack them then, we''ll receive warnings from other countries!"


    "But dear brother, we have run out of ammunition, even if we leave the Indian Ocean, we can no longer continue the attack."


    ...


    "Menglong, it''s not a solution for them to keep following us like this," said Lu Yiyao, who, like Zhang Menglong, was not afraid of danger but detested trouble, "I always feel like our trip won''t go smoothly."


    If it were just her and Zhang Menglong out for fun, that would be one thing, but this time they had brought along so many senior and junior brothers and sisters. Although they could ensure everyone''s safety, they couldn''t provide a good experience for the group.


    It was supposed to be a casual celebration for an upcoming graduation, but who could have expected to be bombarded by 60 fighter jets right after setting off? Who wouldn''t be scared to death by that?


    Probably, it was only out of respect for Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao that no one had voiced any complaints yet. Perhaps some of the more timid were already breaking down inside, since not everyone had such strong mental fortitude.


    "That''s true!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "Being attacked without fighting back is certainly not my style. It only invites more trouble. It''s time to give them a warning!"


    "Artificial Intelligence assistant, activate the flying turret system!"


    At Zhang Menglong''s command, the aircraft''s metal hull opened up and little storage compartments appeared, from which slender metal units floated out like the Flying Swords from fantasy novels.


    The flying turrets were also weapons from the Gundam series, wireless unmanned remote attack weapons equipped with independent propulsion engines, optical photography systems, beam cannons, and control systems.


    Simply put, these were small unmanned drones with built-in attack weapons, the use of which demanded very strict conditions that ordinary pilots could not fulfill. However, Zhang Menglong had installed High-Grade Artificial Intelligence in them, and they could fully launch attacks on their own!


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" Hundreds of floating turrets scattered across the sky, their speed far surpassing that of the aircraft, and with such high maneuverability, they could even execute terrifying "sharp-angle turns"!


    "Flying turrets, take them all down for me, leave only one alive!"


    ...


    "What... what is that?"


    "Is it an unmanned drone?"


    "How can there be so many? What kind of black tech is this?"


    "Whoosh!" While the pilots were still wondering what these things were, the light from one of the flying turrets had already pierced the fuel tank of one of the fighters.


    "Boom!" The fighter jet instantly exploded, destroyed and its pilot killed.


    "It''s an offensive weapon, evade! Evade!"


    But their resistance was doomed to be futile, as the floating turrets were much faster than them, and the speed of their beam weapons was something their old Mach 2 or 3 craft couldn''t even hope to match.


    In just one volley from all the floating turrets, in less than a few seconds, the sky erupted with bursts of brilliant fireworks.


    Zhang Menglong cast a backward glance as if looking at the moon and observed the thick smoke in the sky, "Hmph, not a single worthy opponent!"

 Chapter 662 660: Zhang Menglong is Doomed

    "The last one," Zhang Menglong told the final pilot through the broadcast, "I''ll spare your life. Go back and tell the person who ordered this that I, Zhang Menglong, am patient, but that''s no reason for them to endlessly annoy me. This is your final warning. Scram!"


    The pilot was utterly terrified, with hundreds of hover cannons surrounding him, each dark muzzle aimed at him, feeling like a sword hanging over his head.


    As for his comrades, Zhang Menglong''s hover cannon all targeted the fuel tanks¡ªnone of the other 59 pilots survived; they all perished.


    They had thought this would be an incredibly easy battle, yet the battle was indeed effortless, but the ones mercilessly slaughtered were them.


    Who the hell knew this Huaxia person could whip up an AT field, a solar furnace, and hover cannons? Did you get that stuff from aliens or what? If you tell us now that the dimensional barriers have broken, we''d believe it!


    He trembled all over, vanishing into the distance as if he had just escaped from hell.


    ...


    "Meng... Menglong... did you kill people?"


    Everyone had lived in peaceful times; not to mention scenes of warfare, even squabbles among children were rare. When had they ever seen such a bloody scene?


    Though there was not a drop of blood, with the planes exploding like that, how could anyone inside survive? Even if Zhang Menglong''s actions constituted self-defense, it was difficult for them to accept it for the time being.


    Zhang Menglong''s recent command was very harsh, making them suddenly realize that the Zhang Menglong they knew before seemed somewhat one-sided; they had only seen a part of him.


    "Fellow disciples, you don''t think I''m a murderer, do you?" Zhang Menglong saw everyone''s reaction and wasn''t surprised; the first time he saw Ye Yin kill someone, he felt nauseated too, but after overcoming that psychological barrier, it wasn''t something he couldn''t accept.


    Everyone remained silent but conspicuously avoided meeting Zhang Menglong''s gaze.


    "Fellow brother, let me ask you something. If decades ago, during a war, you saw someone looting and pillaging our country, what would you do?"


    "Of course I''d grab a weapon and fight them to the death!" Zhu Mengchao said. "But Menglong, this is different; they were only attacking our economy, and moreover, these were 59 human lives, they..."


    "Fellow brother, I don''t think it''s different," Zhang Menglong said. "Do you know how much it would have affected our economy if they had succeeded one day?"


    "Let me give you a number," Zhang Menglong said. "Between 1929 and 1933, during the Great Depression, America saw 7 million unnatural deaths, whereas normally, it would be only one or two hundred thousand. That''s a five-fold difference!"


    "If our currency system collapsed, with currency severely devaluated, have you thought about the ripple effects? How many people would kill themselves over the inability to repay car loans or mortgages, how many families would be destroyed? Have you considered how many people would die unnaturally in a year? They weren''t just wrecking our economy; they were killing our people!"


    "Do you think I''m cruel?" Zhang Menglong continued. "I''m untouchable with this high-tech plane, they can''t hurt us, so there''s no need to kill them, right?"


    This statement silenced everyone; they indeed thought this way. Since they posed no threat, wasn''t it enough to just drive them away? Why exterminate them? Plus, they had families too. How many people would grieve forever if they died?


    "But think about it, if today I was flying a normal plane and we encountered them, what would have happened?" Zhang Menglong asked. "Would they spare me because I posed no threat? Would they show mercy because we have families too?"


    "So, for these people, mercy is meaningless," Zhang Menglong said. "Even though it''s a civilized society now, whether in primitive or modern society, some things may seem far away from you, but the law of the survival of the fittest is an eternal rule!"


    "Menglong, we are sorry, just now..."


    "Ha ha ha, what is there to be sorry about," Zhang Menglong said. "Actually, I should be the one apologizing. If it weren''t for us, you wouldn''t have encountered this today. However, I believe once we''ve landed, they won''t dare to mess with us anymore."


    By then, the plane had already left the Indian Ocean, and beneath them lay the vast African Plate!


    "Alright, fellow brothers and sisters, let your graduation trip begin!"


    "First stop, South Africa, here we come!"


    ...


    In an African base, a group of people gathered in an office, watching the only piece of video data brought back by the lone fighter jet.


    They watched the video, their expressions growing increasingly grave.


    "AT fields, solar furnaces, floating cannons..."


    "It''s incredible that these things have all been invented by the people of Huaxia."


    "I remember their Dragon Hidden fighter jets haven''t been equipped with these items so far, have they?"


    "I never believed in geniuses before, but now I do. Others used to describe people as geniuses, and now I think the term ''Zhang Menglong'' needs to be used to describe a genius!"


    Despite this, none of this affected their evaluation of Zhang Menglong.


    "If this man doesn''t die, Huaxia will become the wealthiest and strongest nation in the world!"


    "He must die now, we can''t let him return to Huaxia no matter what!"


    "But you saw it too, our weapons couldn''t harm him at all, whether physical attacks or energy weapons. In front of his field, they were just like scratching an itch."


    "So what do we do, just sit and watch him be so arrogant? A month ago we failed to crush him, and now we are desperate, with no choice but to fight. If he gets a chance to deal with us, how much chance do you think we stand?"


    "Exactly, last time we just wanted his wealth, this time it''s his life we''re after. If we could bear this, he wouldn''t be Zhang Menglong."


    "Not to mention other methods, just considering him managing to get a few Dragon Hidden... no, with his wealth, if you now told me he had a squadron of Dragon Hidden fighter jets under his command, I wouldn''t be the least bit surprised."


    "Then we only have one last option now!"


    "What?"


    "We must use the power of the Second World!"


    "But we don''t even know if there''s anyone protecting Zhang Menglong," someone immediately said. "You saw it, this time Zhang Menglong has revealed new tricks. If we don''t have a foolproof plan, sending people after him would just be sending them to their deaths!"


    "Don''t worry, this time I''m prepared!" Brutus said. "Isn''t it just people from the Heavenly Origin Realm? I have several of them here!"


    "What? Have a few of your psychics broken through?"


    "No!" Brutus shook his head. "Have you heard of Realm Island?"


    "Realm Island?"


    "I''ve heard of it, are you talking about that mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean?"


    "I heard it''s populated by immortals practicing their arts, but so far no one has ever actively found the island."


    "It certainly is a mysterious place, but there are no immortals there, only a bunch of ancient martial artists!" Brutus said. "Recently, it seems there was some kind of upheaval on Realm Island, splitting into several factions. A group of ancient martial artists have actually come to us and joined our Superhuman Alliance!"


    "How powerful are they?"


    "Two sixth-order Heavenly Origin Realm! Two fifth-order Heavenly Origin!"


    "Hahaha! This is truly heaven helping us!"


    "Zhang Menglong, your death is sealed!"


    ...

 Chapter 663 661 I Just Like to Insult Others

    As the snacks were served on the plane, along with the attractive flight crew, the intense feeling of fear that had gripped everyone just moments before vanished, replaced by the excitement and anticipation of embarking on a trip.


    However, Zhang Menglong wasn''t feeling as joyous. He hadn''t bothered them for a month, and did they really think he was made of clay, to be hit and scolded without fighting back?


    Last time they had only wanted to destroy his property, but this time they had taken it to the next level, actually trying to kill him with 60 fighter jets¡ªa substantial investment! Having blown up 59 of their planes, he believed that even they would be feeling the pain.


    But this time, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t just wait for them to act; at the very least, he thought, it was time to collect some interest. Or else did they still think he was made of clay? He would consider this as just some appetizers before the main course!


    "System, connect me to Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong ordered.


    "Yes, dear master, I am now connecting you to Miss Hong Yi."


    Zhang Menglong''s private line was always on standby for Hong Yi, 24 hours a day. Even across thousands of kilometers, the communication was established in an instant.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask what you need?"


    Upon hearing the voice of an unfamiliar woman, the previously noisy group of senior and junior fellows instantly fell silent.


    "Hong Yi, they made their move just now, 60 fifth-generation fighter jets. Quite the grand gesture, indeed!"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re not hurt, are you?" asked Hong Yi. After all, she was the one who had arranged for the installation of the equipment on Zhang Menglong''s plane, like the solar furnace, and had rigorously tested its performance before it could be officially put to use.


    "I''m fine, blew up 59 jets and sent one back as a messenger," Zhang Menglong said, "Since I''ve given them a wake-up call, it''s time to show them some color this time."


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do?" Hong Yi inquired. "In recent times, the 12 arms companies and weapons manufacturing companies under your name have completed a batch of Longyin fighter jets: 120 basic models and 45 upgraded ones. The upgraded ones have been equipped with floating gun systems, but it might take a few more months to configure the AT field."


    The people on the plane heard this and broke into a cold sweat!


    This year''s military parade was dominated by the "Longyin" fighter jets, which had been showcased prominently. Countless Bilibili uploaders had explained and unveiled their capabilities.


    Anti-gravity engines, basic particle cannons, strong interaction materials... Each piece of technology was a pinnacle of human achievement and could offer an invincible position in military terms.


    Military experts from every nation had analyzed its capabilities. If America''s F22 was the former ceiling of fighter jets, scoring a perfect 100,


    then the Longyin''s overall score could be 2000 or even 3000!


    Huaxia''s old neighbor, the overly dramatic Kaibong, had used a hexagon diagram to analyze Longyin''s speed, maneuverability, defensive power, attack power, stealth capabilities, and sustainability.


    Ladies and gentlemen, this jet had no weak points. A hexagonal fighter jet, if you will!


    Now, the Longyin fighter jets were being called "the Empire''s Raptor," "the Empire''s Strongest Destructive Weapon," and other such titles.


    Zhang Menglong suddenly owned 120 Longyin fighter jets? And what the hell were those 45 Enhanced Machines? This thing was already powerful, and it could still be enhanced?


    "Menglong, does your family have connections with the military or weapon development departments?" the senior fellow asked timidly.


    The existence of the Longyin could easily afford Huaxia absolute air superiority for decades to come. Such an important weapon was truly a strategic national asset.


    Even if Zhang Menglong had money, it was impossible to purchase such assets. If they accidentally ended up abroad, were analyzed for weaknesses, or were replicated, this was no joke.


    If it were not for this, how could Zhang Menglong have gotten so many Longyins? Could he possibly be the offspring of some prominent figure?


    "No, my family is just ordinary people, none of whom are in politics or the military," Zhang Menglong laughed and said.


    "Then the Longyin you just mentioned..."


    "Oh, I developed the Longyin fighter jet, including the anti-gravity engine, the basic strong interaction materials, and the basic particle cannon. I also provided all the theoretical models and detailed design plans!"


    "I... Ah ba ah ba..."


    Everyone was guessing which national genius scientist had designed these things, and no one had ever thought it would be Zhang Menglong!


    Now they understood that the entire fighter jet had been designed by him, so it didn''t seem so strange that Zhang Menglong could have a hundred or two hundred Long Yin fighter jets!


    Although private ownership of such assets wasn''t allowed domestically, it was possible overseas, and many unclaimed territories existed. With Zhang Menglong''s financial resources, what''s stopping him from building a military base?


    "Mr. Zhang, these 165 fighter jets are ready to strike at any moment. There were a total of 89 countries confronting you in the currency market before, and there are currently 88 countries involved in the military attack against you. Do you wish to launch an armed attack?"


    "Wha... What? Armed attack?"


    Everyone living in peaceful times was completely terrified.


    88 countries, that''s almost half of the Earth!


    And from the formation of those 60 fighter jets just now, it was not hard to deduce that many developed countries were involved. Ordinary developing countries and backward nations didn''t have the technology to produce fifth-generation fighter jets.


    The developed countries'' economic and military power occupied the sharpest part of the world. In other words, Zhang Menglong wasn''t just confronting half the Earth but potentially two-thirds of the Earth''s economic and weapon power!


    Has he gone mad?


    Didn''t you just say this was just to give them a wake-up call, to collect some interest? This is simply going to spark a third world war!


    Do you have some misunderstanding about the words ''reminder'' and ''interest''?


    Zhang Menglong''s female assistant is truly terrifying!


    "Hong Yi, how many times have I told you, stop always thinking about fighting and killing. We are civilized people of the 21st century; don''t always think about using those barbaric methods from the old society. If there''s a war, it will inevitably harm ordinary civilians!"


    "Then, Mr. Zhang, what do you plan to do?" Hong Yi asked, "Engage in economic warfare?"


    "What economic warfare?" Zhang Menglong replied, "I said no war means no open warfare with them. If we really fight, won''t it just be a waste of resources and harm to the people?"


    "So what will you..."


    "First, we''ll secretly hit them with one cannon!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "For example, for those 88 countries, we''ll take down a military base from each one first!"


    "Isn''t that still a military operation?" Zhu Mengchao said.


    "No, no, no," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Big brother, fighter jets aren''t just for waging war. Destroying a military base doesn''t necessarily mean killing their people or destroying their buildings; we can also break their morale, make them doubt their life choices."


    "I don''t quite understand..."


    "For instance, using a graphite bomb to destroy their communications equipment and then leaving some C language code and national essence on their military bases to humiliate them. Although it''s said that a gentleman can be killed but not humiliated, I just love to insult others!"


    "Oh, and by the way, see if it''s possible to get a few dozen or hundred tons of farm manure from the countryside. I think hurling a few buckets of dung into their command center would also be quite delightful!"


    "That''s ruthless!" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s plan, everyone couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "It''s outrageous!"


    "That''s even worse than blowing up their military bases directly!"


    ...

 Chapter 664 662 You Are So Beautiful, Chicken

    Located on a small island in the western waters of the Americas, this place is the most secret weapons laboratory in all of the Americas, almost the birthplace of the entire American military arsenal.


    It has assembled the world''s top physicists, chemists, mechanical designers, and programmers. This laboratory was established in the last century and is famous for its involvement in the design of the B2 stealth bomber and the F22.


    After the battle with Zhang Menglong, all the data obtained was immediately synced to this laboratory, where the most professional personnel would analyze all the data.


    "Everyone is clear about the purpose of this meeting, right?" a middle-aged man in a white coat stood at the front of the meeting room. His name was Springleton, he held the rank of General, and was also the highest-ranking officer of this laboratory. Many top military weapon development projects were personally supervised and followed up by him.


    Everyone nodded. These people might look docile, but many of them also held the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General. Everyone who could enter this meeting room was the elite of the elite in this laboratory!


    "You all should know, just a few minutes ago, we, along with many other countries, took our first military action against Zhang Menglong, but we failed. Out of our 60 fifth-generation fighters, 59 were completely destroyed, and only one managed to escape, and that was deliberately let go by Zhang Menglong! Do you know what this means?"


    "General Springleton, we would like to start by viewing the battle footage," a Major General said, "As far as I know, although all the fighters involved in the mission were fifth-generation, the models were inconsistent, and even though they were fifth-generation, their technology was only about the same as ours from 20 years ago, and might even have had many technological defects."


    Springleton did not say another word; he directly played the returned combat footage.


    "Hmm? These are all very mature fifth-generation fighters!"


    "Zhang Menglong only flew a civilian private plane, how did he destroy this squadron?"


    "Could it be that he hired fighters from nearby countries? But he shouldn''t have known about this in advance."


    "Impossible! Even if he had known the news beforehand, there aren''t any developed countries along this flight route that could dispatch even a few fourth-generation fighters, let alone defeat this squadron."


    "What is this?" When that golden AT field unfolded, everyone''s complexion had already changed.


    This seemingly delicate golden shield actually blocked two Sidewinder missile attacks!


    But as they continued to watch, their expressions became more and more frightened. Green glowing particles, able to fly freely, highly maneuverable, and even equipped with laser weapons¡ªthese incredible drones were actually mounted on a Boeing 787 converted into a private helicopter!


    "After our analysis, this golden shield is a kind of half-energy, half-psychic absolute domain!"


    "Half-psychic? How is that possible? That''s not scientific!"


    "There''s nothing scientific or not about it, the fact is just so." Springleton opened a picture, "This is the data measured at the time; you should know, from our human body research experiment a few years ago, a batch of test subjects produced an energy known as Brain Quantum Waves, what we colloquially call Telekinesis."


    "In the measured energy, half of the energy of this golden shield is very similar to Brain Quantum Waves, and its intensity is over a hundred times more than that of the test subjects we created!"


    "And these green particles!" General Springleton once again opened another set of data, "In these particles, we discovered some photon characteristics. They themselves don''t have energy; they are a container for energy. One of the fighters tried to capture these particles before it crashed, but it exceeded the range of the instrument!"


    Springleton opened a data file, "The energy carried by a single particle exceeded the combined energy released by 12 Sidewinder missile explosions!"


    "Wow!" The people present were suddenly in an uproar, they simply couldn''t imagine how such immense energy could be compressed into such a tiny particle and even be controllable.


    "Finally, there are these drones," Springleton continued, "They demonstrated a speed exceeding Mach 8, but from their appearance, they had no propulsion devices. We don''t even know how they managed to fly, but I found something very similar to them!"


    "What is it?" Everyone looked on curiously.


    "It might sound very far-fetched, but this is the only explanation I have!" Springleton switched the PowerPoint, which displayed images from ''Mobile Suit Gundam,'' showing Gunplays with floating cannons and Dragon Cavalry mechanisms.


    "What I want to say is, the challenge we now face is very severe, Huaxia''s military technology has far surpassed ours," Springleton said, "Even then, at the last military exercise, the Dragon Cavalry fighters that Huaxia showcased had many secrets we don''t know about!"


    "Next, our task is to decipher the principles behind these weapons and figure out how to counter, even defeat them!"


    As he said this, everyone''s faces were filled with concerns.


    Defeat them? Easier said than done, you''re talking about deciphering technology that has surpassed our era by decades, even centuries; calling it a pipe dream is an understatement¡ªit''s downright delusional!


    But they were not only scholars but also soldiers; this was their mission!


    "You are so beautiful! baby..."


    "You are really so beautiful!"


    ...


    At this moment, unexpectedly, music filled with magical melodies started to play over the entire base.


    "What''s that sound? An enemy attack?"


    "Impossible, our base is highly secretive, not many people know about it, how could someone have invaded here?"


    "Why hasn''t the base''s automatic defense system activated? Where are the enemies?"


    The base''s security system hadn''t been damaged, but looking down from above the base, there was nothing in sight except for this bizarre music!


    "Only sound, no targets... Dragon Cavalry! It must be Huaxia''s Dragon Cavalry!"


    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"


    "Our system has been breached by an unknown force, the firewall is rapidly collapsing!"


    "What? I order you, block the attack immediately! Our research holds a massive amount of weapon data, if it gets invaded and data lost, all our work will be in vain!"


    "General, it''s too late, I''ve lost my administrator privileges, the opponent has already gained highest control!"


    "Wait, he hasn''t accessed the database!"


    "He opened a video application!"


    "He opened a video!"


    "Is it a declaration of war?" All the generals looked somber, as per the usual plot development, a screen should appear introducing someone, explaining the reason for their attack, and stating their demands!


    Because terrorists had negotiated with them in this manner during some past terrorist attacks.


    The video opened, and indeed, there was a person!


    It was a long-haired man dressed in a sweater and overalls, holding a basketball in his hand.


    "Who is this?"


    "Such a young terrorist?"


    "He looks like he''s from Huaxia, so it was indeed a Huaxia attack!"


    "Turn on the quiet, listen carefully to what he says!" Everyone held their breath, eager to hear what this person had to say.


    "Hello national producers, I am cxk, a personal trainee for two and a half years, my hobbies are singing, dancing, rap, and basketball!"


    "????"


    "music!"


    "????"


    "You are so beautiful! baby... You are really, so beautiful..."

 Chapter 665 - 663 This is burning money

    The talent show that appeared on the screen completely dumbfounded everyone in the lab!


    You say you''re so awesome, already hacking into their database, why not do something decent? This is where the data and design blueprints for the world''s top weapon equipmnet are housed!


    Without exaggerating, even a developing country, if able to hack into their database and steal that data, only needs three to five years of development to jump ahead by decades and reach the level of a developed country!


    But who would have thought this intruder would actually play some inexplicable video?


    Pants down, and this is what you show me?


    Is our data not good enough for you, or have you drifted off? Could you at least show us minimal respect, at least make us feel like our research is valuable and coveted by others?


    You make us feel like the things we''ve invented are trash, with no appeal whatsoever.


    But I must say one thing, this thing is indeed a bit brainwashing; these graceful dance moves, these superb basketball skills, and those soul-filled suspender straps slipping off the shoulders, carved deep into their minds, impossible to shake off.


    "Have we not identified the intruder yet?" General Sprint shouted frantically, turning a proper strategic meeting into something akin to a talent show.


    "General, the opponent''s technology is too advanced; he didn''t just bypass our firewall, but directly demolished it. None of the firewalls could delay him for even a second, as if he wrote the code for the entire base himself!" The lab technicians were losing their minds.


    This was the most core data, and they dared to claim this site''s data security was world''s top tier, invulnerable to even the best hackers?


    They had faced tens of thousands of attacks from organizations around the world, even enduring bombardments from a multitude of botnets, but ever since this laboratory was established, throughout decades, their defenses had never been breached¡ªuntil now, they were utterly defeated!


    "He''s entered our database!" After the video played, this mysterious intruder initiated a new move.


    In their despair, the researchers found a sliver of consolation, realizing their research still had value.


    But then their spirits completely collapsed.


    This person didn''t copy any data; instead, he started tampering with it randomly within their database, including parameters of experiments and dimensions of designs.


    A 2-centimeter-long fighter jet, a 500-ton glider wheel, a 4-meter range missile, and a radar with a scanning area of 2 square meters...


    Viewing this, the researchers were nearly pulling out their 40-meter long machetes in frustration!


    "It''s okay... it can be fixed, all of this can be fixed!" they comforted themselves, as long as he wouldn''t touch the historical data or destroy the database, everything could still be restored.


    But just at that moment, this mysterious person chose to delete the modification logs!


    And he had altered data throughout the database by the tens of thousands!


    If they had to retrieve it manually, decades of research and such a massive amount of data, you might as well delete the database and run!


    At this time, another line appeared on the screen,


    "Did you think I was going to delete your database? Hey, I won''t delete it, I''m just playing with you, are you angry or frustrated?"


    "Bang!" General Sprint slammed the desk hard, "Damn! fcuk!"


    You should know, this lab''s database had the highest security rating in the Americas, and for confidentiality, all data was stored here, never backed up elsewhere!


    In other words, the original data he tampered with can''t be restored from anywhere else!


    A mess of data, and they wouldn''t likely be able to conduct any subsequent experimental designs for a while.


    "Who the hell is it!" This was the first time Sprint was so furious.


    As soon as Sprint finished speaking, the lab space echoed with two voices, one male and one female, both filled with a chuunibyou vibe.


    "Since you asked so sincerely!"


    "Then I shall show you mercy and tell you!"


    "To prevent the world from destruction!"


    "To protect the peace of the world!"


    ...


    "I think I know who it is," Sprint sighed bitterly.


    First of all, this can all be traced back to the Huaxia people, since no other nation is capable of producing aircraft equipped with optical camouflage and invisibility functions.


    Second, who harbors deep hatred for them? It is undoubtedly Zhang Menglong, especially since just a month ago they had attacked him, and just half an hour before, they had deployed 60 fighter jets to kill him.


    Third, and most importantly, no one in the world except Zhang Menglong would do such a boring thing.


    It was like someone who had mastered the Wall-passing Technique and Invisibility Technique entering the room of a deeply sleeping beauty, who was naked and would not awake. You could clearly do whatever you wanted, but instead, you chose to play "Honor of Kings" on your phone with the volume set to the maximum!


    Such disdain! It was as if they were rubbing them into the ground!


    "Activate the anti-aircraft cannons!" Sprint bellowed, "Shoot that damn dragon stealth fighter down!"


    "But General, how can we shoot it down? We don''t even know where they are!"


    "Use dry ice to attack the clouds and add dye!" Sprint, a seasoned general, was not misguided; though primitive, this method was far more effective than any optical or ray radar!


    Several drones immediately ascended into the sky, and a deluge of red liquid poured down from above. This specific red liquid only had a half-hour of color visibility; its pigment would rapidly decompose within that time frame.


    The next moment, an aircraft dyed red by the liquid appeared in the sky.


    But as they got a clear look at the aircraft, they were horrified, for its gun barrels were all open, and dozens of micro-bombs had already been fired.


    "Take cover! Take cover!"


    "Boom!"


    The missiles exploded, but they did not cause severe casualties. However, sparks flew from device after device, some even starting to smoke and catch fire.


    "It''s bad, all our electronic devices have short-circuited and failed!"


    "It''s a graphene bomb!"


    "Impossible, our equipment uses the most advanced materials, designed to precisely differentiate the strength of electric currents; ordinary graphite can''t short-circuit it!"


    "This...this isn''t graphite, it''s graphene!" several experienced technicians immediately recognized.


    Looking closely, the base was filled with countless tiny black threads, which, like circuits, caused most of the electronics in the entire base to paralyze.


    Even the electromagnetic shielding effects had completely erased the base''s communication signals! This effect was hundreds of times more devastating than that of a graphite bomb.


    The conductivity of graphene at room temperature is even more powerful than many metal conductors!


    As for its only drawback, that would be its cost¡ªit''s even pricier than gold!


    Previously, when Zhang Menglong was experimenting in his research group, one of his senior fellow researchers'' projects was on graphene, which cost up to 1200 yuan per gram¡ªseveral times more than gold!


    The yield of this graphene bomb was 200 kilograms, and the cost of these 200 kilograms of graphene alone probably amounted to hundreds of millions.


    That was more than 20 graphene missiles just now, a single attack round worth 2 billion Huaxia money.


    This isn''t an attack; it''s literally burning money!

 Chapter 666 - 664: The Bullet Contains Feces, The Feces Contains Poison

    "What the hell is he trying to do by blocking our electronic communications?" According to the base''s early warning system, a communication with the outside world is attempted every 20 minutes to ensure contact. If no signal is received by the outside for more than 20 minutes, the nearest military base will immediately dispatch fighter jets to investigate.


    The last communication was 8 minutes ago, which means that now this Dragon stealth fighter has 12 minutes to do whatever it pleases.


    In fact, the equipment in the lab is already very powerful because any weapons and equipment that are developed are then equipped in the lab.


    But that''s before saying that all of the lab''s equipment has already short-circuited, and the airplane''s takeoff and landing have to be manually operated by people. Many inspection procedures also have to be directly skipped, and the pilots are practically risking their lives by taking off.


    Even if you are in full state, do you think this scrap metal can match the Dragon stealth? Isn''t this just firing four PDDs in one shot?


    With the dominant power it displayed last time, destroying this place would only take a few shots from a mechanical Particle Cannon, and taking out everything, there would be no evidence left for anyone since there''s no image data or data records!


    If you insist that this was done by the Dragon stealth, you have no evidence, and they can completely deny it. Zhang Menglong could possibly argue that it was done by aliens, what could you do to him then?


    Suddenly, a gloom enveloped everyone''s hearts.


    "No, we can''t just take this lying down. Where''s the newly developed single combat ion cannon? Bring it out!" Sprint said through gritted teeth.


    "But General, the KT-092 is still in the experimental phase, and it''s very unstable... If an accident happens, it could likely harm the soldiers..."


    "Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?" Sprint roared, "Bring out all the prototypes immediately, and fire! I''ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong!"


    "Yes, sir!" The assistant heard the command and immediately began arranging the subordinates.


    KT-092 is their latest single combat weapon, which they had tirelessly developed overnight after learning that the Huaxia had successfully developed Strong Interaction Material.


    It must be said that when people are under pressure, their potential is limitless, and indeed they had found some leads¡ªof course, the device was still in the experimental phase.


    This weapon could break down the structure between molecules, directly defeating Strong Interaction Material at the material construction level. If successful, this was their ace in the hole against the Dragon stealth fighter!


    In the sky, the Dragon stealth, tinted with red, hovered in place. It seemed to have lost any further intention to attack and was instead constantly broadcasting all sorts of strange things.


    "Zhejiang Wenzhou, Zhejiang Wenzhou, the leather factory in Jiangnan has closed down..."


    "I am the flashiest pig in the League of Legends, I can manually reload bullets..."


    "Su Yunjin, what will you use to pay back what you owe me here?"


    ...


    "I understand now," Sprint seemed to have grasped Zhang Menglong''s intent, "He''s not here to kill and set fires; he''s here to cause chaos! He wants to destroy our will and undermine our confidence through these means!"


    "You will pay for your arrogance!"


    "Aim at the target! Fire!"


    Streams of blue-purple light beams shot towards the target in the sky from every corner of the base.


    "Boom!" Several KT-092s that were still in the experimental phase exploded directly due to instability in the devices, and several warriors were instantly disfigured by the powerful ion burning.


    But, a few still managed to shoot successfully!


    "Die, damn Huaxia people!" Sprint''s face twisted with ferocity.


    However, their hopes were about to be dashed. Theoretically, this type of ion weapon could indeed destroy the structure of Strong Interaction Material, but that''s just in theory.


    A poker card, theoretically, could kill a person too!


    Ion weapons can destroy molecular structures, but what about Strong Interaction Material? Strong Interaction Material has its atoms firmly nailed together; to break it, you need more energy than what binds those atoms together!


    Can you do that? No, you can''t!


    The beams hitting the Dragon stealth didn''t even leave a single mark!


    Seeing this, Sprint''s spirit sank.


    They had worked their guts out for months to make just this piece of junk?


    The Dragon stealth''s defenses weren''t broken, but he sure was!


    And at that moment, the Dragon stealth''s missile bay opened once more!


    "Take cover, everyone take cover!" the commander shouted, the last time it was a graphene bomb, very powerful but limited in its lethality. Who knows if this time they would really attack!


    "Whoosh!"


    Missiles trailing flames shot directly into the buildings of the base.


    "Boom!" The missiles exploded, shattering all the glass to pieces.


    "General!"


    A missile had also flown into the command center where Sprint was located.


    The major generals and brigadier generals ran towards him, recklessly sacrificing themselves. They could perish, but Sprint absolutely could not!


    "Boom!" The bomb exploded straight away.


    However, the anticipated severe pain and burning sensation did not occur. Instead of explosives, the missile was filled with a black and yellow viscous liquid!


    Instantly, a foul stench permeated the entire base!


    "This... this is..." Sprint stood up, instinctively licked his lips, and then immediately started to vomit.


    "Ugh!"


    "It''s shit!"


    "Ugh! Zhang Menglong, I... Ugh!"


    Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong could do something so indecent? The damage was not severe, but the insult was extremely strong; the whole base was submerged in an ocean of feces.


    There was firm stuff, and there was watery stuff, some even still emitted a trace of warmth. What''s worse, some remnants of what the owner had not digested remained, such as enoki mushrooms...


    "He''s a devil! He''s a demon! Ugh!"


    "If you''ve got the guts, kill us, but what''s the point of disgusting us like this? Ugh!"


    "General, I feel a bit dizzy..."


    "General, I''ve detected a large amount of toxic gas!"


    "General, there''s shit in this missile, and the shit is toxic!"


    ...


    "Ugh!" It was not just the people below; even the pilots of the Dragon Stealth fighter jets had smelled the nauseating odor.


    "Nice, is it really not more potent than the nuclear radiation of an atomic bomb?"


    "Truly worthy of Mr. Zhang, only he could think of such despicable means."


    "Sauve, too sauve! No one''s going to be able to live in this place for years."


    "But seriously, where did Mr. Zhang get so much shit?"


    "I heard he bought it from the countryside, several hundred per ton?"


    "Ugh... stop, I''m getting nauseous. I never thought in my life that someone would actually pay money for shit, let alone buy thousands of tons of it."


    "And that person happens to be the world''s richest man... Ugh!"


    "Come on, let''s move on to the next country!"


    ...


    At the same time, similar scenes were taking place in dozens of other locations.


    Of course, it wasn''t just the secret weapon research facilities that were attacked. Iconic buildings and the homes of decision makers were also targeted.


    Vast areas were enveloped in a rich smell of feces.


    Of course they were furious. But it was they who had sent the fighter jets to attack Zhang Menglong first, putting them in the wrong, and with a guilty conscience, they dared not take any excessive actions. They could only suppress the incidents by various means.


    Either they''d say the underground sewage pipes had exploded, or they''d find some other excuse.


    ...


    In such a grandiose poop-flinging event, it was bound to hit the headlines instantly! The netizens of Huaxia, who loved a spectacle, began to gawk.


    "Look at this, sewage pipes in dozens of regions around the world all exploded at the same time, isn''t that too outrageous?"


    "Great stuff, the septic tanks of several Presidential Palaces blew up. Look at the photos, that president''s face is covered in shit, with two enoki mushrooms hanging at the corner of his mouth! Ugh!"


    "Holy moly, the divine toilet of Kaibong really became a divine toilet. How much feces did they store in their underground pipes? The shit has overflowed up to their calves; the entire divine toilet is submerged!"


    "Oh my lord, my friends and I are all stupefied!"


    ...

 Chapter 667 - 665: Implementing Prevention and Control, Right?

    "What? Zhang Menglong is in South Africa?"


    Twenty minutes before the plane landed, the director of the immigration office, Delamini, had received the call and had sprung from the bed just like a flashback.


    Was there any place Zhang Menglong had visited that hadn''t been thrown into chaos? Who now would dare let a man like Zhang Menglong into their country without inviting a wolf into their home?


    Moreover, among those who had previously involved themselves in the currency market and had even organized a fighter jet attack on Zhang Menglong, they too had participated! Could this be considered a mortal feud? Was Zhang Menglong here this time to make trouble for them? Had he chosen them to make an example?


    Guilt-ridden, Delamini panicked at once¡ªletting him in meant not just for a week or two, but even if it were only three to five days, the whole country would be turned upside down!


    "Delamini, I order you to absolutely prohibit Zhang Menglong from entering the country under any circumstances. You must strictly monitor his movements and ensure he does not fault us in the slightest!"


    "But... but he has already gone through the proper procedures, all his visas are legal and compliant, we have no reason to stop him from entering, nor do we have any reason to restrict his personal freedom!"


    "I don''t care how you do it, if you can handle it, do it, if not, get out!"


    The higher-ups had directly issued a death order.


    "Zhang Menglong..." Delamini muttered the name over and over, but he was out of ideas!


    As a member of the leadership, although the attack on Zhang Menglong with fighter jets was a secret, it wasn''t completely airtight; at least, he had heard some of the news.


    They say the man had been attacked just before landing; how could his mood be good? Wouldn''t he come straight for you as soon as he got off the plane?


    According to their knowledge, Zhang Menglong''s visa was for tourism. If you now tell him not to wander around, do you believe that Zhang Menglong would explode on the spot?


    Their foreign exchange reserves were already low, merely a few hundred billion US Dollars. A month ago, they had given all they had to Zhang Menglong, and only through certain trade policies had they barely managed to keep their foreign reserves at 10 billion US Dollars.


    And how much had Zhang Menglong earned this time? A whopping 450 trillion US Dollars, 4500 times theirs! He could burst their currency market by merely tossing a bit around.


    You try to play tough with him? He can be a hundred times tougher than you!


    Delamini cursed the leadership thoroughly. Were they out of their minds to provoke Zhang Menglong, this disaster star? Couldn''t they just sit back and watch others fight? Hadn''t they considered what would happen if they failed?


    As for joining the attack, it was indeed a last resort. Since they had offended him already, they could only ruin everything.


    But if you had killed the man, then so be it. The key point was that he had come to their country for tourism¡ªwasn''t this running into sworn enemies on a narrow road?


    And now the higher-ups had completely disregarded it, throwing this mess directly onto him, Delamini. Could he not curse them out?


    But he couldn''t blame the decision-makers. Over a month ago, when they were taking stock of their resources, they had been shocked to find that their several largest gold mines, diamond mines, and oil fields weren''t owned by the state at all.


    Moreover, even their ports belonged to Zhang Menglong, and beyond that, they still owed hundreds of billions of US Dollars in foreign debt.


    If there were a chance to make these debts disappear instantly, how could they not try it?


    "Director, we only have one option now," said Delamini''s assistant.


    "You have a solution?" Delamini''s eyes lit up, his assistant was always capable of coming up with unexpectedly brilliant ideas.


    "Director, during the peak of the outbreak, all exits were strictly controlled. Their visas had been processed a week ago; I just checked the data, and they are tourist visas, only valid for a month," he explained. "If we impose quarantine on them under the pretext of the outbreak, according to United Nations regulations, we can extend it beyond 15 days!"


    Dlamini''s eyes suddenly lit up. Indeed, if they used this reason to quarantine Zhang Menglong and the others, the month-long visa would soon expire, and such tourist visas couldn''t be extended.


    Let''s not mention whether Zhang Menglong would still be interested in touring after being quarantined for weeks; even if he was, he would need to apply all over again!


    And who knows what might happen during that time? They had already made a serious enemy of Zhang Menglong this time; he didn''t believe there were only one or two people out to get Zhang Menglong''s life. Perhaps by then, he might not even exist anymore¡ªwho knows?


    The key was, if Zhang Menglong wanted to retaliate, he needed a legitimate reason, right? Those countries that had fallen victim to Zhang Menglong''s schemes only did so because they had left themselves vulnerable, allowing Zhang Menglong to rightfully retaliate against them.


    As long as they didn''t leave any vulnerabilities, if Zhang Menglong recklessly caused trouble in South Africa, not to mention whether it complied with international norms, public opinion alone would crush him, wouldn''t it?


    "Great idea!" Dlamini slapped his assistant''s shoulder, "Go issue the notice immediately, all incoming travelers must undergo a three-week quarantine for monitoring and no free movement is allowed!"


    "Yes, I''ll do it right away!"


    ...


    At this time, the mastermind Zhang Menglong had already landed at the airport in South Africa, seemingly unaffected by all the chaos that had engulfed half the world.


    Just as they were about to leave the airport, a pair of fully armed soldiers stopped them.


    "I''m sorry, sir, but you can''t leave. Since you''ve come from abroad, according to our regulations, you need to be quarantined for 15 days to prevent the spread of the virus!"


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong was completely baffled.


    The outbreak had clearly improved recently. Although international flights were still strictly controlled, showing a recent COVID-19 test result usually meant no quarantine was needed anymore.


    Zhang Menglong had been traveling around the world just by showing his COVID-19 test results, which had been smooth sailing until now. Why the sudden quarantine? Could it be that the outbreak in South Africa had worsened?


    Zhang Menglong immediately asked Hong Yi about this issue.


    But Hong Yi told him the virus''s spread in South Africa had been controlled, and most of the restrictions had already been gradually lifted half a year ago. She didn''t receive any notice related to this when she processed his visa.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s a piece of information you might have missed. In the market crash last month, South Africa also invested 50 billion US Dollars, and of the 60 fighter jets that attacked you today, 10 took off from one of their secret military bases!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong narrowed his eyes, "You mean, this regulation has just been put in place, and it might even be specifically aimed at me?"


    "Yes," said Hong Yi, "probably no one expected you to escape unscathed from an ambush by 60 fighter jets, so they completed the visa approval so promptly. I guess they''re probably panicking now."


    "Well, this truly is a narrow road for enemies!" Zhang Menglong''s expression turned unfriendly instantly. Among the 89 countries, he had just glanced at them briefly at the time; since he was going to deal with them eventually, there was no need to remember who was responsible.


    But unexpectedly, his travel destination this time was one of them.


    With almost a 50% chance, the odds were indeed very high.


    "Thinking of having me quarantined until my visa expires?" Zhang Menglong scoffed, "I wasn''t planning on dealing with you so soon, but since you don''t want me to enjoy my trip, you can''t blame me now!"


    "Quarantine to control the virus, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly laughed, "Fine then, since you want to control the outbreak, we definitely need to support that vigorously. Let''s go, it''s time to quarantine!"

 Chapter 668 666: Stop It All

    A car brought Zhang Menglong and others to a hotel closest to the airport, and the accompanying staff told them that this hotel was specially used for quarantining incoming travelers.


    However, as Zhang Menglong looked around, the hotel was bustling with people, and he could hardly see anyone wearing a mask. Could this really be considered prevention and control?


    Of course, Zhang Menglong never trusted their planning to begin with; they were purely worried that he might cause trouble here, so they intentionally made up such an excuse.


    Zhang Menglong certainly couldn''t retaliate just because they took quarantine measures, right? That would be utterly indefensible!


    These people had clever heads to come up with such a reason, but the methods were quite mediocre. You should at least have a proper quarantine hotel; look here, everyone appears to be on vacation. Does this look like quarantine to you?


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ll have to make do with staying here for the time being. If there''s anything you need, you can let us know. As our most distinguished guest, we will do our best to accommodate all your requests," said one of the staff members.


    De la Miny had arranged for them the two presidential suites on the hotel''s top floor, more than enough for a dozen people, befitting the title of the world''s richest man for Zhang Menglong.


    "Are you sure this hotel is for quarantine?" Zhang Menglong asked on purpose, "I just saw people downstairs moving around freely, not even wearing masks. Are you sure this quarantine can effectively block the virus?"


    The staff member also felt helpless. Of course, he was aware that the so-called quarantine was targeted only at Zhang Menglong, but they had been given this task only twenty minutes earlier. What can you do in twenty minutes?


    The hotel had already been full of guests for a long time, and in twenty minutes, even if they were armed, it would be impossible to drive all the guests away. Even the signs for the airport quarantine area were made in a rush and hung up temporarily.


    "Mr. Zhang, to be honest, this policy was just issued this morning. Recently, our country''s epidemic has suddenly become severe, with the emergence of a new virus strain. Because it''s all so last-minute, we are in the process of clearing out hotel staff while arranging for the quarantine of incoming travelers, which is why it seems so rushed."


    "Oh? Really? A new virus strain?" Zhang Menglong revealed an amused smile, "Was this policy really just issued, or was it released right before I landed?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you have quite the sense of humor. How could I dare deceive you about something so serious," said the staff member, "There were suddenly a bunch of new infections last week, and our confirmed case count has already surpassed 100,000."


    "An outbreak from last week, and only starting quarantine this week? And I don''t seem to have heard any international news about it. I''m not very educated, so please don''t trick me!" Zhang Menglong continued with his sardonic tone.


    "Mr. Zhang, we definitely wouldn''t dare to deceive you. The reason you haven''t seen it in the media is that we didn''t want to cause panic among the populace. Even now, we still haven''t released any related information."


    "Is that so?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Then it seems really serious!"


    "Yes," the staff member showed a worried expression, hoping that they could control it this time. Research on the relevant vaccines is also being expedited, but unfortunately, Mr. Zhang, you may have to return disappointed."


    "No worries," Zhang Menglong waved his hand, "Since it''s for the epidemic control of your country, we naturally ought to support it. We will certainly cooperate with you to complete the quarantine."


    "Thank you for understanding, Mr. Zhang." The staff member breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, with such an excuse, Zhang Menglong couldn''t find any fault. As long as they treated him well during these few days, he would have to put up with it, no matter how much he wanted to blow off steam, right?


    Perhaps Zhang Menglong might request some exotic delicacies, but during the quarantine, everyone should be treated equally. We''re already providing you with fine food, we''ve already given you the privilege of a presidential suite, it wouldn''t be good for you to use that as an excuse to make trouble, right?


    ...


    "Menglong, what''s the situation?"


    No sooner had the staff member left than Zhu Mengchao and the others looked towards him, full of confusion.


    "I had just been keeping up with the epidemic here these past few days, and there''s no mention of any variant strains. I also have a classmate here on an exchange program, and there''s no talk of quarantine either."


    "Right, Menglong, if there were such a situation, they would need to report it internationally before initiating a quarantine. They can''t just start quarantining whenever they say so. Many people are here for business talks and contracts. How could they possibly bear such a sudden loss?"


    "It''s obvious, they only want to isolate us, or more precisely, they want to isolate me!" Zhang Menglong just came right out and said it.


    "Why is that?"


    "Is it because you''re too provocative?"


    "Did you desecrate their ancestors'' graves?"


    "Did you take a dump on their heads?"


    "Please stop with your Hong Shixian antics!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t imagine what his brothers would come up with next if they kept going.


    "Among the 60 fighter jets that attacked us today, they had a hand in it," Zhang Menglong said, "When we applied for passports, in their eyes we were already dead, so they didn''t care whether we wanted to go or not, because in their minds, we wouldn''t make it."


    "But they didn''t expect us to arrive unscathed?"


    "Right," Zhang Menglong nodded, "So now they are panicking, because I''m sure to be filled with rage. They have no idea what crazy things I might do, and even less of an idea if they can handle the consequences. So, they''re trying to restrict my actions this way."


    "They''ve really thought this through," Zhu Mengchao said, "If you mess with them during quarantine, they could even use international public opinion to suppress you. Who knows what negative impact it could have on us?"


    "What? So what do we do, are we really going to be quarantined here for three weeks?"


    "That''s just too miserable, right? If we get quarantined for three weeks, we might as well go straight home for the New Year. How can we enjoy ourselves then?"


    Upon hearing this, everyone showed a disappointed look. They had hoped to see the spectacular natural wonders of Africa, to check out the diamond and gold mines, but now it looked like they were in for a three-week hotel tour.


    "Who said we''re going to be quarantined here for three weeks?" Zhang Menglong said, "Since they say the epidemic is serious, let''s just assume it''s really serious!"


    "Looking at you, you''ve got some mischief in mind again, don''t you?" Lu Yiyao could tell by Zhang Menglong''s expression that he was about to pull some tricks.


    "Anyway, everyone''s tired from flying all day, so rest well today. We''ll stay in the hotel for two days at most. I guarantee, by then they''ll be begging me to leave with tears in their eyes!"


    "Come on, start your performance!" Everyone settled down to see what exactly Zhang Menglong was planning to do.


    Zhang Menglong directly called Hong Yi''s phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, have you arrived safely?"


    "I have, but now there''s a bit of trouble; we''ve been quarantined!"


    "Quarantine? But now... I understand," Hong Yi was so well-informed, she immediately grasped the situation, "Do you need me to do anything?"


    "How much of the Zhang Family and its affiliated families'' businesses have trade relations with South Africa?"


    "Their annual import and export volume is about 500 to 600 billion, and over 80% of their trade is related to us," Hong Yi replied.


    "Oh, okay, since their epidemic is so severe now, to support their policy, let''s stop all that import-export business!"

 Chapter 669 667: This is For Your Own Good

    "Fuck! Awesome!"


    "What a move, creating something out of nothing, secretly crossing the Wei River, fabricating out of thin air, leaving me speechless..."


    Zhang Menglong''s light "Let''s stop there" sounded quite relaxed, but for this country, it was an earth-shattering event.


    Over 80% of imports and exports halted, it was like the sky had fallen, the whole foreign trade economy had collapsed!


    Keep in mind, during the worst of the pandemic two years ago, countries closed their borders and foreign trade was almost paralyzed, wreaking havoc on their economies.


    You can imagine what kind of economic fluctuations this country would experience by then.


    And it''s not like Zhang Menglong deliberately wanted to wreck their economy!


    You yourselves say your country is now plagued by the pandemic, so for us to prevent the spread, temporarily halting trade with you is perfectly reasonable. Bro, there''s no fault here! It''s for your own good!


    With this move, Zhang Menglong was just going along with their lies. You either admit that you''re targeting Zhang Menglong, or get ready to face the consequences of losing 80% of your foreign trade revenue. Choose one!


    As for whether Zhang Menglong would suffer any losses? When it comes to doing business, if there is a breach by one party, there''s a hefty price to pay in compensation and penalties.


    But the contract clearly states that in the event of natural disasters or other force majeure, these penalties and compensations can be waived!


    In other words, calling off these deals, Zhang Menglong doesn''t suffer any loss. If not trading with them, why not trade with other countries?


    And even if he had to compensate, would Zhang Menglong care about these losses? After all, he''s the guy who would replace graphite with graphene in bombs, the guy who''s so rich he''d buy shit with his money. He simply has more money than he can spend.


    "Alright, everyone should eat and drink," Zhang Menglong stretched and then hugged Lu Yiyao, "I just noticed the bathtub in this hotel is huge, hehe..."


    ...


    "Did he really just obediently go to the hotel to quarantine?" Delamini was beyond happy hearing his assistant''s report, surprised at how compliant Zhang Menglong was, not even raising a single doubt.


    "Yes," the assistant said, "but we can''t let our guard down just yet. Since we''ve already started acting, we have to play out this entire drama."


    "Right, I''ve already alerted the relevant departments. All departments will cooperate fully with us, quickly emptying the hotel guests and creating the illusion of a quarantine zone, otherwise, if he detects anything fishy, we''d indeed be unable to withstand his wrath."


    "Yes, I''ll go right away," the assistant said, "including the local traffic control, we need to ensure every part of the play is convincing."


    "Right, I''ll leave it in your hands!"


    ...


    In the South African trading port, 200,000 tons of oil ready for shipment were at the port, all the workers gazing into the distance, every piece of cargo machinery in place.


    South Africa exports over 2 million tons of oil to Huaxia every year, delivering five to six thousand barrels of oil daily.


    Today''s batch was the largest yet, scheduled for delivery at 9 AM.


    But now it was 10 AM, and the transport ship that should have arrived at the harbor at dawn was still missing, which puzzled all the workers. Huaxia''s businessmen were known for their punctuality; could an accident have occurred?


    Martin Frank, responsible for the oil import, immediately contacted the person in charge of this import.


    Huaxia Xia Zun Transportation Co., Ltd. is a company specialized in maritime transportation for domestic oil import and export. The legal person of the company is named Weng Long, who is considered an uncle of Hong Yi. This company is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tenghui Group.


    Actually, last night, the giant tanker of Xia Zun Transportation was already near the port in South Africa, but when Zhang Menglong asked Hong Yi to arrange this matter, Weng Long did not have any questions and had the company''s ship turn around on the spot.


    Import oil? How many oil mines in the world aren''t owned by Zhang Menglong''s family? Anyway, doing business in oil is just about moving money from one pocket to another.


    When this news got back to the oil company, the boss of the oil company was very angry. "You say you''re a transportation company''s boss and just stop working just like that? It''s them who will be blamed if the import mission isn''t completed!"


    But soon after, a European country contacted them, saying they had 200,000 tons of oil ready for export, asking if they wanted it, and it was even free! Apparently, due to the pandemic, the oil had devalued to a negative value and no one wanted it.


    Could they not take it? That night, the company''s ship headed straight for Europe; it wouldn''t take many days to check anyway, and as for why they could freeload, they were too lazy to care.


    "May I speak with Mr. Weng Long? This is Martin Frank," Frank asked.


    "Oh, Mr. Frank, what is it, is there a problem?"


    "Mr. Weng, I wanted to ask if your company''s ship encountered some accident on the way? I cannot reach the project manager you assigned. Our oil is already prepared at the port, waiting for your ship to arrive so we can start loading."


    "Oh, you mean that, our ship has already left," Weng Long said.


    "It has left?" Frank was stunned, "Mr. Weng, this is no joke, this is a business deal worth hundreds of millions of US Dollars. If it''s not delivered on time as scheduled, the responsibility does not lie with us."


    "Mr. Frank, we currently can''t take this oil!" Weng Long said, "We have already found another source of cargo, so we won''t need this batch of oil."


    "Not needed?" Upon hearing these three words, Frank''s face shifted immediately. 200,000 tons of oil, to be dismissed just like that? The penalty alone would be tens of millions of US Dollars.


    "Mr. Weng, are you intending to breach the contract?"


    "Not at all," said Weng Long, "Haven''t there been an outbreak of the pandemic recently in your country? If our ship enters your port, wouldn''t it need to be quarantined for several weeks? We cannot afford the delay, and we also fear that our people might bring in new cases to your country; we are doing this for your good."


    "Pandemic?" Frank was even more puzzled. The pandemic state in their country had already stabilized ¡ª there were virtually no restrictions on entering or leaving the country, only a need to carry the PCR test results from the past half month. What was this about?


    "Moreover, this doesn''t count as a breach for us: it''s written in the contract that if the transaction fails due to force majeure not accountable to humans, no responsibility is needed, just find another buyer!"


    "This..."


    200,000 tons of crude oil, isn''t something where you can just find another buyer whenever you want.


    "Mr. Weng Long, from what I understand, the pandemic situation has been controlled inside our country, and there is no need for quarantine. Where did you hear such things? It''s completely unfounded!"


    "Is it? But our boss came to South Africa for a vacation yesterday and was immediately taken to quarantine at a hotel upon arriving; this is what he told me."


    "Your boss? Aren''t you the boss of the company?" Frank was bewildered.


    "I only hold shares on behalf of my boss; you must have heard of my boss. His name is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong?" Hearing that name, Frank involuntarily shuddered; Zhang Menglong was in South Africa?


    "I''ll confirm this matter!" Frank instinctively felt something fishy; they imposed entry restrictions externally. If they really went through with it, the foreign trade that had just recovered not long ago would collapse again.

 Chapter 670 668 What kind of human suffering is this?

    Since this morning, the South Africa Foreign Trade Office has been inundated with a constant stream of inquiry calls.


    "What? Your side has stopped too? Import textiles valued at 50 million US Dollars have all been detained? Who detained them? By what right did they detain them?"


    "100,000 barrels of wine have also been detained?"


    "What? Your partners have breached the contract too? They were about to reach the port and then turned back?"


    ...


    Everything was fine yesterday, but it felt like overnight, their foreign trade had almost come to a standstill.


    More than 80% of the deals were almost all canceled!


    The shipments they were exporting, whether by air or sea, were all directly broken, and some planes even flew over their airport, circled a few times then turned back!


    As for their imports, which were supposed to be traded today, not even the shadow of the goods was seen; upon inquiry, it was discovered that all along the essential sea routes to South Africa, the shipments had been detained by those in the gulf areas!


    Even if they weren''t detained, those cargo-laden ships and planes also just turned back without even notifying them.


    Slipped away!


    The reason is simple; it is heard that a new virus strain has been discovered in your country, and the epidemic has started to break out on a large scale again. So why on earth would they go there? Isn''t their own safety the priority at this time?


    And the explanations from those responsible for detaining the ships in the gulf were identical: it was to help them control the epidemic, and the exporting countries also agreed to suspend trades temporarily!


    But you have to understand, regarding the imports, they had already paid a significant amount of deposits previously; now that the trade is suspended, when can they receive their goods?


    The most fatal issue was that some partners straightaway terminated the contracts'' citing force majeure! The final result was that they couldn''t get the imported goods nor recover their deposits.


    If this were just one or two deals, it might be bearable, but with this happening to 80% of the business, what are they supposed to do?


    What is South Africa''s biggest export? According to value, the top ten products are citrus, grapes, wine, apples and pears, corn, nuts, sugar, wool, and juice. Many of these have a very short shelf-life; don''t even talk about postponing for ten days or half a month, even one week''s delay, and the loss would be huge due to spoilage!


    Barrels of oil are now piling up at the port, and carts of fruit and wine are all accumulated there, but they all stand like the Widow''s Watch, looking toward the sea, where the trading ships are yet to arrive.


    Nelson from the Import and Export Management Office was at wit''s end with these calls; he was totally baffled. If the country had implemented these immigration management measures, he, as the director of the Import and Export Management Office, should have been the first to know the news!


    But to date, he was clueless about what was actually happening; wasn''t the national epidemic controlled a long time ago? And regarding any new viral strain, he hadn''t received any notice at all. So how on earth did this mess suddenly land on him?


    Having experienced the winter season of foreign trade a couple of years ago, he knew deeply how significant the impact on a country could be.


    As a developed country with a very high GDP per capita, they were not worried that the collapse of foreign trade would cause a severe economic depression¡ªthey had endured the toughest times.


    However, the direct consequence of the interrupted import and export was a massive shortage of reliance-imported products. Those consumables could even run out very shortly.


    Bearing in mind Africa''s geographical position, many things such as food had to rely on imports. Even now, millions of their people still do not have enough food.


    At the height of the epidemic, they even needed the United Nations to send them special food shipments to prevent a large number of people from starving to death. With this mess, weren''t they about to see a large number starving again?


    Nelson immediately made a phone call to his superiors.


    ...


    Just as Dlamini was feeling smug, he suddenly received a call from Wilson, and the news struck him like a bolt of lightning, leaving him dumbfounded.


    Anyone could guess, could this matter be unrelated to Zhang Menglong? They already told you their boss is Zhang Menglong, and you''re telling me this has nothing to do with him? He might as well drink down the 200,000 tons of oil in the port on the spot!


    But if it were just one or two companies affected by this situation, that would be one thing. Now, 80% of import-export businesses have been struck!


    Moreover, of this 80%, Huaxia''s portion of the import-export business constitutes only about 15%, with the remaining 65% being from other countries. In other words, Zhang Menglong managed to impact such a vast array of foreign trade businesses,


    who the hell can endure this!


    The more you think about this matter, the deeper you must reflect. After all, even if one person has great influence, it''s impossible to cause such a massive effect overnight!


    Even if the bosses of those companies learned about the entry and exit restrictions South Africa is now enforcing through Zhang Menglong, it would still take some time for top-down orders to be implemented.


    Just yesterday, Zhang Menglong was quarantined, and by this morning, 80% of foreign trade had collapsed. Do you really think this could be caused by an individual''s public influence?


    Furthermore, there was no news regarding his quarantine on any of Zhang Menglong''s various social media channels. In other words, no one could know his current situation through normal channels.


    There are only two possibilities for this situation.


    One is that Zhang Menglong coerced or enticed those foreign trade companies to stop their dealings with them using his wealth.


    The other is that Zhang Menglong is the boss behind these 80% of foreign trade enterprises; as the boss, whether to conduct business or not is simply his call!


    In De Ramini''s heart, perhaps the likelihood of the second reason is higher!


    Who the hell can withstand this?


    All at once, De Ramini realized why Zhang Menglong had complied so readily with their request to go into quarantine.


    Such a clever person as Zhang Menglong, how could he not know that this was just a lie? They just thought that Zhang Menglong couldn''t find any valid reason, so he chose to compromise.


    But now he knew that Zhang Menglong simply didn''t care about these petty schemes!


    You say the epidemic has become serious, right?


    No problem, since the epidemic has worsened and quarantine is needed, I''ll comply!


    But if the epidemic is indeed serious, then our foreign trade really cannot be conducted, can it? After all, in these transactions, there is a going to and fro, also a risk of infection, isn''t there?


    If by chance the virus is brought to another country, wouldn''t that cause problems?


    With 80% of foreign trade collapsing, what about the economy? What about imported materials and resources?


    He believed that Zhang Menglong absolutely wouldn''t mind this loss; with an income of 45 trillion US dollars, even just by stalling he could exhaust them to death!


    So, foreign trade absolutely cannot collapse!


    But if everything is as he suspected, the bell cannot be unrung except by the ringer, and to restore foreign trade, he must start with Zhang Menglong.


    They surely can''t tell Zhang Menglong now that there''s no mutated strain in their country and no spread of the epidemic, and beg him to resume foreign trade.


    Isn''t that just rubbing Zhang Menglong''s intelligence in the dirt?


    "What in the world is this insane idea?" It was only at this time that De Ramini realized how preposterous it was to attempt to constrain Zhang Menglong''s actions in this way.


    They were now in an extremely difficult position, faced with either accepting a collapsed economy and foreign trade, or enduring the severe societal backlash and future unrestrained wrath of Zhang Menglong.


    What kind of human suffering is this!

 Chapter 671 - 669: Trouble to show the health code

    "Ah, I had such a good sleep!"


    When the Import and Export Management Bureau and the Immigration Management Bureau were swamped with work, Zhang Menglong had just woken up from his sleep.


    The ingredients had already been prepared in the refrigerator of the hotel suite, and Lu Yiyao had also prepared breakfast.


    In the living room, everyone seemed somewhat listless, after all, they had all come with high expectations; some senior brothers and sisters had even spent a lot of money on DSLR cameras, but now, with the weather sunny outside, they could only stay cooped up in the hotel.


    "Why do you all look so unhappy?" Zhang Menglong asked while eating.


    "Menglong, didn''t you say that they would come to us today? Why is there still no movement now?"


    "Yeah, we''re not really going to be stuck in this godforsaken place for three weeks, are we?"


    "What''s the rush," Zhang Menglong pointed at the wall clock, "it''s not even 10 o''clock yet. But I guess they''re already busy to the point of desperation now."


    "Huh?" Everyone was puzzled; Zhang Menglong had only made a phone call last night, could it have taken effect already? How much influence and execution power would that require?


    "You can turn on the news and have a look, maybe there''s already news about it," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    Zhu Mengchao turned on the TV and randomly switched through channels, and one of the screens showed the port, bustling with activity.


    The port is now in complete chaos, with a large pile of cargo accumulated on one side. Some goods that should have been shipped early in the wee hours were still in the same place, and new containers continued to arrive. The port was now busier than a vegetable market.


    The mood among the merchants was uncontrollable. Nothing was happening in the country, in fact, the remaining cases had been cleared two days ago. So why was there suddenly a pandemic outbreak out of the blue?


    Many of those entrepreneurs had connections in the healthcare system, and after making inquiries, they found out that all this talk about a severe pandemic and new virus strains was completely unfounded¡ªit was all made up, moving in the shadows, a product of sheer imagination...


    Even some businesses had suffered tremendous losses in just a few hours. How would these losses be accounted for?


    The Import and Export Management Bureau had to give an explanation, didn''t they?


    And what about the cranes and workers who were ready for work, now being told that there was no work left? It''s common knowledge that many workers get paid by the job, not all countries have a complete employment system¡ªno work means no pay!


    A large number of workers were now crowding at the docks; some were cursing through loudspeakers, others had somehow obtained banners and were demanding an explanation.


    "What''s the situation? Menglong, do you have such good relationships with these enterprises that trade with South Africa?" one of Zhang Menglong''s seniors asked. "They canceled the deals so quickly?"


    "Don''t tell me you''ve started using your old tricks of coercion and temptation again? If they don''t listen to you, do you buy them out? That seems like your style of doing things."


    "Sorry," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I control 80% of South Africa''s import and export business, directly or indirectly they are all my enterprises. I''m their boss. If I tell them to stop, they have to stop for me!"


    "Brilliant!"


    "Damn! Junior, your industry chain is so wide, my apologies for underestimating you!"


    "This move really impresses your senior sister."


    "???"


    "Senior sister, cut out the flirting!"


    ...


    Everyone was educated in the High-Grade system, and they could guess the consequences of this situation: South Africa definitely wouldn''t just watch its national foreign trade system collapse. So in the end, as Zhang Menglong said, they would have to come and beg him.


    How long could they hold out?


    If there really had been an outbreak, that would have been a different story; preservation of life is most important, being alive with food and water would be good enough.


    But the key point now is that there is no such issue at all. Who knows who spread that fake news? There had been actual problems, but now they had created such a mess, and the people from the Immigration Management Bureau owed the entire nation an apology!


    What good did spreading a fake pandemic do for them? This was definitely a conspiracy!


    At this moment, countless phone calls were hitting various related departments. You could see the degree of public and social pressure everyone was under. Forget about a three-week quarantine period; they probably couldn''t last three days!


    In the afternoon, the relevant departments remained as stubborn as ducks, and finally, an extreme incident erupted.


    The Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration and the Health Bureau were actually attacked by some businesses!


    The staff of the Health Bureau was really depressed, they were just following orders, and all they did was put on a show near the airport, so why had the public''s anger been vented on them?


    Dr. Amini''s head was wrapped in a white bandage, just moments ago, as he was maintaining order, his head was struck hard with a stick.


    The businessman had mortgaged his car and house to the bank, raising several million USDs, prepared to ride the wave of this global industrial boom and make a killing.


    The deal had been struck, the contract signed, they were just short of handing over the goods, once the goods were exchanged, 10 million USDs would be directly in his account, he could redeem all the mortgaged properties and then make a tidy profit of several million USDs.


    But now, his goods had already been waiting at the port for half a day, and the business partner was telling him that due to the epidemic, cooperation would have to be delayed until after epidemic control, maybe another month!


    In another week, the bank would come to take his house and car!


    And there wasn''t even an actual epidemic, when the hell was this supposed to be delayed until?


    In anger, he and many other similar businessmen rushed to the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration and gave Dr. Amini a good thrashing.


    "It was all your great idea!" Dr. Amini looked at his assistant, but he couldn''t blame him too much, after all, at that time he really had no other choice, and he had nodded in agreement to this plan.


    "What do we do now? The virus mutation, the aggravation of the epidemic, if it was just bluffing Zhang Menglong that would be one thing, but now the whole country knows about this, those who believed it have started hoarding goods in supermarkets, and they''ve even begun to pillage and plunder.


    Those who don''t believe, like these foreign trade businessmen, are now anxious enough to kill, if this is not resolved soon, maybe someone will lob a gas cylinder in here in a moment.


    "Director, it''s the call from above!" a subordinate handed him the phone.


    "Dr. Amini! I am aware of your situation, leaving this matter to you to handle was indeed troublesome, but now we have a new strategy!"


    "A new strategy?" Dr. Amini sighed, "Sir, if I may be frank, I think the decision to go against Zhang Menglong from the beginning was a mistake."


    "But what''s done is done, we can only persist in this error," said the person on the other end of the phone, "Within three days, someone will deal with Zhang Menglong, what you need to do now is ensure that Zhang Menglong is kept stable over these three days, at any cost, he must not make any moves. After three days, this person will cease to exist in this world."


    "How certain are we?" Dr. Amini asked.


    "99%! And the 1%, unless he''s not human!"


    "Alright, three days, is it?" Dr. Amini hung up the phone.


    "Director, just now..."


    "Let''s go, to find Zhang Menglong!" Dr. Amini said, "Go and apologize to him, whatever his conditions, we accept them all, as long as the economy can be stabilized within these three days, as well as Zhang Menglong."


    Dr. Amini''s assistant did not speak, but he knew that Dr. Amini must have his own thoughts in making this decision.


    "Let''s go now!"


    ...


    The hotel where Zhang Menglong and his associates resided had been thoroughly transformed overnight into a so-called "quarantine hotel", where hardly anyone could be seen, all the staff had also received temporary training, which indeed seemed very serious.


    He and his assistant arrived at the top floor presidential suite and pressed the doorbell of the room.


    "Who is it?" a young voice came from inside the door.


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask if it''s convenient to open the door? I am Dr. Amini, the director of the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration."


    "Oh, it''s not convenient!"


    "???" Dr. Amini was stunned for a moment, what kind of person was this, could they not play by the common sense?


    "Sorry, I heard that the epidemic in your country is quite serious, if you would like to come in, please first show your health code!"

 Chapter 672 - 670: Show a Nucleic Acid Test Within 10 Minutes

    "Health... health code?"


    This term made Delamini stand rooted to the spot, clueless about what a health code was.


    "Mr. Zhang, what is this health code you speak of?"


    "Damn, you don''t even know what a health code is and you''re talking about epidemic prevention? Go apply for one first!"


    "Director, the health code is an electronic certification in Huaxia that proves one has not visited any high-risk areas and is in good health. During the worst outbreaks in Huaxia, it was mandatory to display a QR code to enter any public site," Delamini immediately explained to him.


    "But Mr. Zhang, we don''t have health codes in Africa,"


    "No health code? Any SuKang code, JingKang code, HuKang code will do¡ªany code available in Huaxia, I recognize them all here!" Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "You see, I''ve got my whole family with me, I''m responsible for my friends'' safety as I brought them out to have fun. I must ensure their safety; otherwise, I would be letting down my mentor and the parents of my fellow disciples."


    "If we get infected and then go back to our country, wouldn''t that mean bringing the virus back too? That would truly be letting down the nation and the party!"


    Zhang Menglong''s tone grew increasingly grave as if Delamini''s refusal to show a health code was an unforgivable transgression.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I absolutely haven''t been in any infection zones. Please let me in!"


    "No way!" Zhang Menglong firmly refused, "In your country, I follow local customs. If you say to quarantine, then I quarantine, and I don''t utter a word against it. However, you should also respect our customs. In our place, everyone must show a health code."


    "Why don''t you go to Huaxia now and apply for a health code?" Zhang Menglong suggested.


    "I..." Delamini was so frustrated he felt like cursing. Go to Huaxia? First, he needed to make an entry application. What should he write for the reason? I want to go to Huaxia to apply for a health code?


    Even if the Center for Disease Control didn''t drag him away, perhaps the psychiatric hospital would need to be consulted first.


    Not to mention, with such back and forth, the already frenzied workers and entrepreneurs might have blown up their capital by now.


    Zhang Menglong secretly took out his phone and sent a message to Hong Yi, "Keep an eye out, if someone named Delamini applies for a health code, try to get his code turned red!"


    Delamini couldn''t dare say there was no virus now; he believed that the moment he spoke out, this door would definitely not open for him. He had to approach Zhang Menglong with the most humble and respectful attitude; only then might Zhang Menglong''s demeanor soften just a tiny bit.


    "And no offense, Mr. Delamini," Zhang Menglong continued, "this place is a quarantine zone, relatively speaking, it qualifies as a high-risk area. You just walking in and out so casually, who knows when you might catch the virus. I really can''t let you in,"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re really worrying too much. Our hotel''s quarantine area undergoes strict disinfection, and all quarantined individuals are not allowed to leave their rooms. There''s none of what you''re worrying about."


    Having said that, Delamini even picked up an infrared thermometer and scanned his own forehead, "Look, Mr. Zhang, I don''t have a fever, how could I possibly be a virus carrier?"


    "That''s not necessarily true," Zhang Menglong said, "There are many asymptomatic carriers now. Last time I heard about an English man, his immune system almost killed the virus before they finally detected it. What if you''re an asymptomatic carrier?"


    Zhang Menglong started to play the victim, "Speaking of which, you wouldn''t know; I have been frail since childhood because my mother didn''t have enough breast milk. I grew up drinking melamine-infused formula. Although my head is filled with wisdom, it''s all come at the expense of my health. I catch a cold on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I have intermittent fevers on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday... my immunity is as bad as it gets..."


    "Who the hell would believe that?" Delamini felt like barging through the door. You''ve been frail since childhood? With your family''s wealth, you could have hired several wet nurses and practically swum in a pool of breast milk!


    "Well then, I won''t make it difficult for you," Zhang Menglong said, "after all, it really isn''t realistic, but I must ensure absolute safety for myself and my friend. Go get a nucleic acid test done and if it comes back negative, I''ll let you in!"


    "I have that!" Delamini immediately said to his assistant, "Show Mr. Zhang the photo!"


    Delamini''s assistant quickly pulled up a photo on his mobile phone, which was conspicuously Delamini''s recent nucleic acid test report.


    "This..." Zhang Menglong stroked his chin, "Nowadays, photos can be photoshopped, who knows if yours is doctored? I want to see the original nucleic acid test report!"


    "Alright, Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment. I''ll have someone fetch it right away!" Delamini immediately made a call to his office, just a half-hour drive from there.


    ...


    "You''re really a piece of work!" Zhang Menglong gave Delamini a hard time for a good while, which immensely satisfied everyone, venting the frustration of being treated like prisoners locked up in this damned place.


    Do you think you can isolate us whenever you want and release us whenever you please? We have our dignity, do you think we''ll let you trample on us?


    "Asking an African man to show a health code, that move really stumped me."


    "I was actually worried he''d scurry off to Huaxia to apply for a health code."


    "And the nucleic acid test, haha, I''d bet ten bucks that even if he brought the test report, Menglong would still find some other fault!"


    "He''s going to have to beg us nicely, right? I need to think quickly about what I want. With South Africa being so rich, demanding a few million US dollars as compensation for emotional distress isn''t too much, is it?"


    "Think bigger! With our brother''s status, we''re talking hundreds of millions of dollars here; how is a few million enough?"


    ...


    Half an hour later, Delamini returned, his nucleic acid test in hand, in a flurry of activity.


    He had just received new information that an angry mob had already stormed the health department and started wreaking havoc, demanding immediate clarification to the public and compensation for their losses.


    Because so far, to prevent Zhang Menglong from finding out about this targeted lie, the media hadn''t officially announced the cause of the riot or the fact that the epidemic was a complete fabrication, fueling the public''s rage.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve brought my nucleic acid test!" Delamini passed his test certificate through a dedicated delivery slit to Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, please look, it''s definitely free of any photoshop traces, and the seal on it is absolutely valid!"


    "Right, and here''s my assistant''s test certificate too!" Fearing Zhang Menglong might pull another stunt, he also stuffed his assistant''s test report through.


    "Hmm... 7 days ago, huh," Zhang Menglong thoughtfully said, looking at the report, "This won''t do, it''s a test from a week ago; a lot can happen in such a long time."


    Zhang Menglong sent the test reports back, "I''m sorry Mr. Delamini, but I can''t accept a nucleic acid test report from that long ago."


    "Why? As far as I know, even in your country during the epidemic, domestic flights only require a nucleic acid test report from within a week!"


    "That won''t do," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I have to ensure my safety. Please show me a nucleic acid test report from within the last 10 minutes!"

 Chapter 673 - 671 A Tiny Bit of Compensation

    "A PCR test result within 10 minutes..." Delamini''s face had already started to twitch uncontrollably.


    Let''s not even talk about conducting a PCR test, which takes several hours. Can you, damn it, get from the hospital to the hotel within ten minutes of receiving your PCR report? Are you sick? Do you want me to move the hospital here?


    It had only been one morning, and things had already turned into such a mess. How could he afford to drag this on any longer?


    Delamini finally figured it out, all these health codes, PCR test reports¡ªit was all aimed at him. Zhang Menglong wasn''t stupid¡ªclear as a bell inside, you treat me like a fool, deceiving me with talk of viral spread and mutations; don''t I have the right to treat you like fools too?


    "Actually, Mr. Delamini, since you''re already here, whatever you want to say, you can say it outside. Or even if you called me from your office, maybe that could work. I''m just an ordinary tourist from Huaxia, why bother coming in person?" Zhang Menglong said with sarcastic undertones.


    "You''re an ordinary tourist? Your whole family are ordinary tourists!" Delamini cursed inwardly twice, how many countries have you traveled to in these two years? Has any country you visited ever ended well? Even a plague god isn''t as lethal as you, right?


    But Delamini could only continue to smile and say, "Mr. Zhang, you are a distinguished guest, of course, I should visit you personally. Plus, this time I have a misunderstanding that I''d like to clarify with you."


    "A misunderstanding?" Zhang Menglong feigned surprise, "Mr. Delamini, we''re meeting for the first time today, how could there be any misunderstanding?"


    "Ah, I''m not sure if I should bring it up."


    "Then don''t mention it!" Zhang Menglong muttered, "Beating around the bush, when did our Huaxia''s cultural exports start including such trash content. Learning all the bad stuff, damn it!"


    After speaking, Zhang Menglong actually turned around and walked away.


    "Come on, let''s continue playing Werewolf!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please wait!" Delamini hastened to stop him, time had already been dragged out too long, he really couldn''t afford to waste any more, "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that I''m dawdling, it''s just this matter is too embarrassing, even making me feel somewhat ashamed."


    "Oh? How so? The Empire''s shame?"


    "The mutated virus strain we discovered was because a researcher accidentally took the wrong sample," Delamini said with his head lowered, appearing quite ashamed.


    "So you''re saying, the mutated virus strain does not exist?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "That''s great news!" Zhang Menglong appeared very happy, "As long as the virus hasn''t mutated, it should still be manageable. Though the epidemic is severe in your country now, with international help, it should be under control soon."


    As Zhang Menglong spoke, he also took out his cellphone, "Here, to support your fight against the epidemic, I''ll send tens of thousands of boxes of protective gear over. I own several biopharmaceutical companies in Huaxia and have already developed an effective vaccine. As long as everyone gets vaccinated, it should be under control soon."


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, may I ask you a question?"


    "Go ahead."


    "The trade imports and exports in our country suddenly experienced a big fluctuation today, many deals were halted temporarily¡ªdoes this have anything to do with you?"


    "Oh, you''re talking about that," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "I ordered it."


    Zhang Menglong continued, "You know, my family has been in business for over 5000 years. Our businesses span the globe. When I was isolated yesterday, I thought, if any of our businesses are dealing with South Africa, and they accidentally get infected during transactions, wouldn''t that be bad?"


    "But I didn''t know until I asked and was shocked by how many of our businesses are related to you. I got worried and immediately had them halt transactions."


    "Although treatment for COVID-19 is free in our country, I can''t burden the nation. Although these actions bring me great loss, I can only bear it quietly alone. Who asked me to be a patriotic and exemplary entrepreneur?"


    If it were someone who knew nothing at all, they might have been moved by Zhang Menglong''s vivid speech by now.


    But those who know understand that Zhang Menglong has never been one to care about money, so when did he start caring about whether he was losing money or not?


    As long as it makes him happy, such a small loss is nothing to him!


    "Mr. Zhang, the pandemic on our side has been completely controlled today, so you can completely let your companies resume trading with us," Dlamini seized the opportunity to say, "We don''t mind bearing some losses, but we hope you don''t suffer because of our pandemic."


    "No, no, no, I don''t mind taking a little loss, I recently made a big profit on a deal, safety first," Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s observe for a week or two before we talk. If it''s stable by then, it''s not too late to resume!"


    "Are you two playing Tai Chi here?"


    "It must be a mid-lane face-off, right?"


    "I think this Dlamini is about to get solo killed by Menglong."


    "Yeah, when Menglong says a little loss doesn''t matter, he really means it doesn''t matter, but they in South Africa are about to riot, they''re indeed suffering just to save face."


    "Mr. Zhang," Dlamini was almost in tears, "to tell you the truth, our country''s pandemic has been under control for a long time."


    "I know!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Then you..." Dlamini was stunned; if you knew, why are you still going along with this?


    "It''s really not easy for you guys to put on this show, so I just went along with it. We are quite tired from the day''s flight anyway, so we took a day to rest and watch your performance, which was pretty spectacular," Zhang Menglong didn''t continue to hide his thoughts.


    "But you just stopped acting?" Zhang Menglong said with regret, "I was just starting to enjoy it."


    If they kept acting, it would all fall apart! What the hell are they supposed to do if they don''t quash the rumors? The workers are about to tear down their immigration bureau and health department!


    "Mr. Zhang, since this pandemic doesn''t really exist, about those businesses..."


    "Are you a moron or am I a moron?" Zhang Menglong suddenly changed his tone, "You declare a pandemic, you enforce quarantines, and now you want me to restore foreign trade as you please? Don''t I have any face to save?"


    "Here it comes!" The expressions of Zhang Menglong''s fellow disciples suddenly became exciting. They had been equivocating for so long, and now that the truth was out in the open, it was the most thrilling moment.


    "Don''t think I don''t know that those 60 fighter jets took off from your Saint Toric experimental base, right?"


    "This..." Saint Toric was their most secret military experimental base, known to very few, and Zhang Menglong even knew that the squadron of fighter jets that attacked them had originated from there!


    Could this all have been under Zhang Menglong''s control? If so, Zhang Menglong''s intelligence network was terrifyingly extensive.


    "Mr. Zhang...this was all decided by higher-ups. I came here with full sincerity to reconcile with you, you..."


    "Sincerity?" Zhang Menglong pointed at their hands, "How come I don''t see your sincerity? Is the sincerity you''re talking about in the test reports you''re holding? There''s not even a bit of compensation?"


    Dlamini realized something, Zhang Menglong was asking for compensation!


    That said, as long as they are willing to pay up, there''s still something to be discussed!

 Chapter 674 672: Always Keep a Spare Car

    "Look at this; you''re trying to rob me of my wealth and take my life, and now you''re playing me for a fool. It''s not too much for me to ask for some compensation, right?"


    "Not too much, not too much at all!" Delamini''s head bobbed like a pecking chicken. Could he say it''s too much? To be frank, if he were Zhang Menglong, he wouldn''t bother negotiating at all. He''d rather see this country go extinct to ease his resentment.


    "We came here full of expectations, first surrounded by an army brigade, then asked to stay in this run-down hotel. Look at my senior and junior brothers and sisters, and my girlfriend. Our mood has been spoiled. What are you going to do about it?"


    "We will compensate, whether it''s for emotional distress or time lost, we will pay!"


    "There''s no need to talk about time lost!" Zhang Menglong''s lips curled into a smirk. "Can you afford my time?"


    "This..." Delamini was dumbstruck.


    "I made 450 trillion US dollars in just one day, and now you''ve quarantined me for half a day. I''ll ask for less, just 20 trillion US dollars. Can you cough that up?"


    "Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Delamini nearly died on the spot. Can you stop bringing up those 450 trillion US dollars? 89 countries joined forces and still couldn''t bring you down; how shameful is that?


    20 trillion US dollars in time loss, how could they possibly compensate for that? Let alone 20 trillion, even 2 trillion US dollars might not be possible for them to scrape together even if they sold all their assets. Forget what he just said, he''d better penalize himself for his recklessness with a drink.


    "I''m a reasonable person, an honest one; I can take a bit of injustice," Zhang Menglong continued, "but when my senior brothers and sisters, and my girlfriend aren''t happy, that really upsets me. If they are willing to forgive you, then I''ll let this matter slide."


    "Extort them fiercely!" Zhang Menglong simultaneously whispered under his breath.


    "Can I ask for 1 million US dollars for emotional distress?" a junior brother of Zhang Menglong spoke up cautiously.


    "Junior brother, you''re thinking too small; add at least one more zero!" The eldest senior brother Zhu Mengchao had completely let loose. Having spent so much time with Zhang Menglong, when had he ever talked about money in units less than a billion?


    "Just so happens that my wife wants to buy a car recently. I''ll take two cars, one for daily use, one for showing off."


    "I''m planning to propose to my girlfriend, might as well ask for a bigger diamond ring."


    "I wonder if it''s possible to get a villa."


    "Hey, you all think too small. Ask for money. With money, what can''t you have?"


    The room immediately erupted into animated discussions. This trip to South Africa turned out to have such windfalls, with people eagerly pushing benefits their way. Even without having fun, they had struck it rich!


    Outside the door, Delamini''s face had gone dark. He expected some extortion and blackmail, but did they really have to start such barefaced discussion right in front of him? Can''t you guys pretend a little bit?


    Should I leave?


    As the director of the immigration office, he knew all too well the current state of the country''s finances.


    To join the operation against Zhang Menglong, they had already emptied the country''s foreign reserves, and even their own currency had taken a severe hit. They simply couldn''t afford any more money!


    "Mr. Zhang, give me some time, for your compensation we might have to dip into the treasury, I need to reallocate resources."


    "Sure, I''m not in a hurry anyway!" Having said that, Zhang Menglong lay back on the couch with the others and began to enjoy themselves.


    ...


    "Grave, I need your help!" Delamini immediately called the director of the treasury system. The two had a good private relationship and now that Delamini had the authority to mobilize anything, he directly summoned him over.


    Luckily Grave was in the capital for work that day, and he arrived within half an hour, panting and out of breath.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is our finance director, Grave. He will be responsible for all the compensation you require!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a token of our sincerity." Grave produced a disk of international cheques that could be cashed directly in any country with a bank account. These cheques could only be issued with very high authority.


    "Don''t be shy with me; let''s split it up!" Zhang Menglong unceremoniously took the cheques and distributed them.


    Each of these cheques was for the maximum limit, 10 million US dollars, and there were over a dozen of them. Just these alone must have already dealt a heavy blow to their finances.


    "Sss!"


    "Holy shit, thanks boss!"


    "Soon as I get back I''m firing Lao Han, what do I need a PhD for when I have this much money?"


    Nobody had ever seen a check with such a large sum, 10 million US dollars. Many people wouldn''t earn 10 million Huaxia currency in their entire lives, let alone US dollars. They basically didn''t need to struggle anymore in life.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong finally opened the door.


    De La Miny''s face broke into a smile. Perhaps Zhang Menglong was ready to forgive them?


    "Let''s go!"


    "Ah? Go?" Everyone didn''t quite understand what Zhang Menglong meant. "Where to?"


    "Consider this check as payment for the house, but there''s also the cars and diamonds," said Zhang Menglong, "Let''s start with the luxury car market. I''m not going to extort you, each person can pick at most two cars, and I''ll arrange to have them shipped back to Huaxia."


    "Mr. Zhang, this..."


    "What, you thought you could fob us off with this bit of cash?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneer, "Why don''t you go and ask around, how much money did I gamble on a race last year? 100 billion US dollars. Your compensation isn''t even close to enough, and you call yourselves a developed country!"


    "If you''re not willing, forget it," Zhang Menglong pretended to turn back, "We can carry on playing Werewolf!"


    "Willing! We''re willing!" De La Miny hurriedly pleaded, "I''ll arrange the cars right now!"


    De La Miny gave Grave a disgusted look. Was he really just prepared to offer this little money, treating them like beggars?


    ...


    The biggest luxury car market in Cape Town today welcomed a group of special customers¡ªover a dozen people from Huaxia accompanied by the directors of the immigration bureau and the ministry of finance!


    As soon as the boss heard the news, he immediately dropped what he was doing to greet them.


    "These are our most honorable guests. Make a note of the cars they select, then come to the ministry of finance tomorrow to get paid!" said Grave with a pained heart.


    "Yes!" The boss naturally wouldn''t dare to have an opinion. After all, they weren''t refusing to pay, and it was rare for the dealership to sell even a few cars in a day. These dozen-plus people were sure to boost this month''s sales figures. But he did give this group from Huaxia an extra look, wondering who exactly these big shots were.


    "Fellow senior and junior apprentices, go ahead and choose, don''t be shy," Zhang Menglong encouraged.


    "Hahaha, then I won''t hold back!"


    "I want this one! The Pagani Zonda, I''ve dreamed about it so many times!" one of Zhang Menglong''s junior apprentices chose a sports car worth tens of millions without any hesitation.


    "This pink car is so cute, I want this one!" Zhang Menglong looked over, it was a limited custom model from Tushek&Spige. Not many people knew the brand, but it was on par with Bugatti, and the price tag was 5.3 million US dollars!


    "You all have no idea, just picking the most expensive ones. If you ask me, it''s utility that matters when buying a car!" A senior apprentice of Zhang Menglong walked up to a McLaren, "Why do we have sports cars? To pick up girls! This car has two passenger seats, double the fun for picking up girls, double the happiness!"


    "Damn, senior brother, you''re really something else!"


    Grave glanced at the car, thinking it was some kind of cheap vehicle, but no, this McLaren Speedtail, although not as expensive as the previous one, was still priced at 2.7 million US dollars.


    Each time they chose a car, it was like a knife was being twisted in Grave''s heart.


    Apart from Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao, everyone chose two cars each, many of them limited editions, and the price of over twenty cars had already topped 1.2 billion US dollars.


    "Just order according to this, make the purchase!" Grave said through gritted teeth.


    "Wait a second!" Zhang Menglong called out to the boss, "Make that order, but double it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this..."


    "Think about it, these cars always suffer bumps and scratches. Once you take such a car for repairs, it''s going to be a few months'' cycle. You''ve got to have a spare car, right?"


    "I can''t believe this shit!" He''d heard of spare keys, spare tires, but spare supercars? Are you out of your mind!

 Chapter 675 673: Fobbing Me Off with These Broken Diamonds?

    "Mr. Delamini, Mr. Grave, why do you two look so unhappy? Is there something wrong with your health?" Zhang Menglong asked with feigned concern, "You haven''t caught an infection, have you? Should we rush to the hospital to check?"


    "Happy my foot! We are happy!" While Delamini and Grave had smiles plastered on their faces, internally they were cursing. A simple objective that could''ve been resolved, and now you come up with a backup, the costs have just skyrocketed. How are we supposed to be happy, huh? We''re practically wearing the Mask of Pain!


    "No, no, no, we''re just too delighted. It''s our honor to make a friend of Mr. Zhang happy," the two hurriedly replied.


    "It''s all on the finance department. Tomorrow, I''ll send someone to coordinate with you!" Grave told the owner of the luxury car dealership.


    The owner was thrilled. Selling so many cars in one day, how could he not be delighted? And with the government paying, there was no worry about bad debts¡ªit was like God of Wealth had descended from the heavens.


    Including the recent check, more than three hundred million US Dollars had just evaporated, equating to nearly fifty billion South African Rand¡ªa significant number for the finance department indeed.


    "Ah, the cars are good, but they''re beyond our reach!" Zhang Menglong''s seniors also began to hint.


    "Yes, I heard these cars guzzle gas like monsters. We''re just poor students; how can we afford sports cars? They''ll just end up as showpieces in a parking lot."


    "Too bad, we were quite happy just a moment ago. Hearing you all talk like that, I suddenly feel a bit unhappy."


    ...


    "Look," Zhang Menglong translated their sentences, "My seniors come from ordinary families. Even though they own cars, as you know, buying is cheap, maintaining is costly. With these cars, a single push on the accelerator, and there goes their entire monthly salary... Look..."


    "No problem! That''s easily settled!" Delamini said, "Our company, South Africa Petrochemicals, has invested in many oil companies in Huaxia. Just leave your friends'' contact details here, and I will arrange for someone to give them a lifetime membership. Car maintenance and fueling will all be free!"


    "How can we accept that!"


    "Ah, it''s already giving money and cars, now also VIP services. We do feel a bit guilty!"


    "Is this really okay?"


    ...


    "Hypocritical Huaxia people!" Watching everyone bustling with happiness, where was the slightest shame or guilt? You were virtually robbing us!


    But the words at the tip of his tongue turned into another version, "It was our recklessness, having caused you distress during your flight. That was our fault, and these little compensations cannot make up for your emotional distress. If you continue to refuse, it would be like you are still blaming us."


    "Right, it truly cannot compensate," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Fuck!" Delamini wanted to slap himself right then. What was he thinking, saying such things? Now good, Zhang Menglong had smoothly continued on that track.


    You yourselves feel the compensation isn''t enough, so what more can I say?


    "Brother, didn''t you say you were planning to propose soon? South Africa''s diamonds are very famous. Maybe we could look at some diamonds?" Zhang Menglong suggested, "Sisters, if you like any jewelry, feel free to mention it. I believe Mr. Grave would be more than willing to foot the bill."


    "Is that right, Mr. Grave?" Zhang Menglong turned to Grave.


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang!" Grave sighed in relief, glad it was just diamonds. As a major player in the diamond industry, Grave knew the business had its fair share of markups. And it was just diamond rings and jewelry, after all¡ªhow much could it cost?


    Even the priciest diamond jewelry in retail stores amounted to just a few hundred thousand US Dollars at most. Observing that Zhang Menglong''s friends were ordinary people, picking a high-end diamond jewelry store to pacify them would do the trick.


    "You want other things? If it''s diamonds, South Africa is definitely one of the top providers. We have a diamond town where all the diamonds mined across the country are processed. You will definitely find suitable diamonds there!"


    "Oh? Now that''s something I must see for myself," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Then let''s go!"


    ...


    This so-called diamond town was merely an industrial park located less than ten kilometers from the capital. There, a plethora of jewelry brands clustered, including well-known names such as Cartier and Bvlgari.


    "Isn''t this too beautiful?" Girls can never resist the allure of diamonds. The moment they walked into the venue, their eyes nearly sparkled with light.


    "Everyone can freely choose, picking several pieces is fine too," Grave, wealthy and imposing, said.


    ...


    "Junior sister, help me take a look at this one. How about it? It''s pretty, isn''t it?"


    "I think this one looks better!"


    "Wow, 300,000 South African Rand, that''s almost 150,000 Huaxia currency, right? Almost two carats!"


    "Senior brother, your girlfriend will definitely like it!"


    ...


    "Wow! This necklace is so beautiful! And these earrings, are they really made of diamonds? They couldn''t be fake, could they?"


    "Miss, all our diamonds here are genuinely authentic!" a Huaxia employee in the showroom assured them.


    But looking at these items, Lu Yiyao remained indifferent. The diamonds embedded on the toilets in her home were several times larger than the largest diamonds in the showroom.


    Zhang Menglong also frowned. Did these people really treat his senior and junior brothers and sisters like ordinary folks?


    Indeed, for ordinary people, diamond accessories worth tens of thousands of Huaxia currency are already quite luxurious, but the world''s largest diamond mines belonged to Zhang Menglong''s family; he was very clear about these gemstones.


    Previously, a female star had said that diamonds under one carat are just melee diamonds and not valuable, but she was mocked in the media and accused of being pretentious.


    But in reality, her statement was not false at all!


    Diamonds are indeed very precious gemstones, but only those that are of a certain size and have undergone very fine processing are considered valuable.


    And these diamonds, which look like they''re worth tens of thousands, probably don''t even cost over ten thousand in production.


    Did they really think they could appease him with these ordinary melee diamonds on the market?


    "Senior brothers and sister, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong''s face showed uncontrollable anger, even they were stunned.


    "Menglong, what''s wrong, why are you suddenly so angry?"


    "Junior brother, what happened?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what''s the matter with you?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s demeanor, Delamini and Grave panicked.


    "You two still ask me what''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Do you think my friends are fools or do you think I, Zhang Menglong, am a nobody?"


    "Mr. Zhang, our diamonds here are genuinely authentic; we definitely wouldn''t dare to deceive you with fakes!"


    "These worthless melee diamonds count as diamonds?" Zhang Menglong pointed at the display case at the nearly 2-carat diamond ring priced at 500,000 South African Rand and said, "Do you want my senior brother to propose with this worthless melee diamond ring? Do you want to embarrass him in front of his girlfriend? This is an insult to my senior brother''s girlfriend!"


    "A 2-carat melee diamond..."


    "Junior brother has started again, if someone proposed to me with a 2-carat melee diamond, I would definitely marry him right there!"


    "Junior sister, you think too small, is Menglong an ordinary person? A 2-carat diamond might really be just a melee diamond to him."


    "We are us, Menglong is Menglong, please, go ahead and humiliate me with these melee diamonds!"


    ...

 Chapter 676 674: How about checking out some others?

    "Mr. Zhang, of course, we wouldn''t dare insult your friend... we..."


    "Still saying you''re not insulting my friend?" Zhang Menglong said as he pointed to the neckpiece embedded with several diamonds that Lu Yiyao wore around her collarbone.


    "This is just everyday jewelry my girlfriend wears, not even suitable for slightly formal occasions. The five diamonds on it are each over 5 carats, worth a million Huaxia currency. You try to fob off my friend with this kind of junk, and you say that''s not an insult?"


    "But... but this is already the most expensive diamond selling area on our side," Delamini and Grave immediately explained.


    "I know," nodded Zhang Menglong, "This place sells diamonds meant for ordinary people indeed, it''s considered quite high-end."


    In Huaxia, most of the jewelry stores sell diamond rings ranging from 0.3 to a little over 1 carat. According to the local pricing, diamonds worth hundreds of thousands of Huaxia currency are considered quite luxurious.


    But since there are diamonds tailored for ordinary people, naturally, there are also those meant for top-level tycoons. Those who are truly wealthy wouldn''t be caught dead wearing diamond jewelry worth just tens of thousands of US Dollars, as they''d be a laughingstock if they did.


    "Wait! There is!" Delamini said, "I remember on the top floor of this little diamond town, there are some areas exclusively meant for the wealthy. I had completely forgotten about this!"


    Delamini and Grave had come hoping to try their luck at bluffing their way through, but they didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to be so knowledgeable. It seemed they would still have to spill some blood.


    The jewelry in this area were all above 1 carat, even the largest with 5 carats of colored diamonds, and the cheapest here was worth more than two or three hundred thousand US Dollars.


    "Forget it," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Any diamond you can buy with money isn''t a good one. I remember there''s a Diamond Museum in the capital, right?"


    Upon hearing these words, Delamini and Grave''s complexions changed instantly.


    Indeed, they do have a museum, which over the decades, had collected a variety of precious diamonds excavated from South Africa. These gems were purchased by the museum and stored there, and some were even considered national treasures.


    Was Zhang Menglong actually eyeing the museum''s contents?


    "Mr. Zhang, this... the museum contains our national treasures, it really is..."


    "Exactly, exactly, I deserve to die," Zhang Menglong quickly slapped his own face, "I almost forgot they''re all national treasures. If I were to ask for them, wouldn''t that make me no different from a robber? That really wouldn''t be right, not at all!"


    "Let''s go back and continue playing Werewolf," said Zhang Menglong, "And, we''ll return all that money and the cars to Mr. Delamini and Mr. Grave. We came here to travel, not to rob."


    "When did he become so easy to talk to?" Delamini and Grave glanced at each other.


    "Mr. Zhang, about that import and export business..."


    "What about business? Isn''t the pandemic so serious, and you still want to do business? That won''t do!" Zhang Menglong said with a righteous face.


    At that moment, Delamini''s phone rang again.


    "Delamini! What exactly are you doing? The protest rows have already reached the capital. I''m giving you three more hours; if you can''t make it, someone else will take over, and someone else will take your position!"


    Upon hearing this message, Delamini broke out in a cold sweat, promptly putting on a smiling face again.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, we were just joking," All the old foxes knew the drill with a single probe.


    Don''t give it to me? Fine! I won''t insist, lest I give people something to talk about, saying I, Zhang Menglong, use strong-arm tactics.


    But then, don''t expect your foreign trade to recover, either.


    You want me to ease up? Alright, then bring me what I want, obediently and respectfully. That''s how simple the world of adults is.


    "Mr. Zhang, is it just some diamonds we''re talking about? Our land is vast and rich; we can afford to give you some diamonds as compensation," Delamini said, "The museum is right here in this little diamond town, I''ll take you there!"


    "Old fox!" Zhang Menglong muttered, "Won''t give up till they reach the Yellow River, they really want me to play rough!"


    Zhang Menglong whispered, "Later on, you guys just pick the biggest ones with the prettiest colors!"


    "You got it! I''m good at this sort of thing!"


    "I don''t feel a bit of guilt anyway. I''ve been scared out of my wits for so long; what''s wrong with taking a few of their diamonds?"


    "Exactly, this is our triumph!"


    A group of old yin-yang masters comforted themselves as they followed de Ramini into that diamond museum.


    The place that claimed to be a museum was indeed not an exaggeration; the hall defined opulence with its dazzling array of gemstone colors, utterly mesmerizing to the eye.


    "Menglong, can I have this one?" Senior Brother Wang Mingjun pointed to a pink diamond the size of a pigeon''s egg and said.


    "This..." When de Ramini saw that particular diamond, his blood pressure shot up.


    It was a 20.65-carat pink diamond, cut into a perfectly regular oval shape¡ªan absolute dream for any woman.


    More than 60 years ago, a 24.78-carat Graff pink diamond ring was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for over 40 million US dollars.


    The diamond named Cupid''s Star was mined five years ago in a South African diamond mine, and its discovery even sparked a small-scale armed conflict!


    Although it was slightly smaller than the Graff, its saturation and hue were even more intense, making its estimated value surpass that of the historic gem.


    How did those Huaxia people have such sharp eyes to spot such a national treasure at first glance?


    "Menglong, I want this one!"


    Zhang Menglong''s eldest martial sister pointed to a black diamond necklace in the display case.


    "This... this is the Wittelsbach!" de Ramini struggled to breathe.


    A unique 31.06-carat black diamond, once the property of King Felipe IV of Spain, had traveled through various hands to end up here. This diamond ring, after being redesigned and transformed, became a fringe necklace for women, and even the fringes were studded with diamonds!


    To this day, it had no appraised value; if it were to be measured in money, 80 million US dollars might just be its lowball price!


    "Junior brother, I like this!"


    "A 22.56-carat purple diamond..."


    "A 56.22-carat blue diamond..."


    These little things may look small, but the value of each far exceeded the several times the value of the sports cars they had originally chosen!


    Zhang Menglong wasn''t here for compensation; he was clearly here to rob and extort!


    An hour later, they left the museum thoroughly satisfied.


    860 million US dollars¡ªthat was the loss from this trip. It was no longer just about money, as such diamonds were almost unique; even if one had the wealth, it would be impossible to find a second piece in the world.


    "Ha-ha, with this, my marriage proposal is sure to succeed!" Zhang Menglong''s Senior Brother Wang Mingjun said confidently.


    "Senior brother, with such a huge diamond, even if senior sister refuses, you could knock her out with it and drag her home!"


    "Knock her out? Any normal woman would faint from happiness on the spot after seeing it, okay?"


    "Anything else you want? Shall we go see something else?" Zhang Menglong suggested.


    "Mr. Zhang, please no more, I beg you!" This time, de Ramini and Grave were completely overcome and actually knelt down, weeping bitterly.


    If this continued, South Africa would really become bankrupt!


    So many people were causing trouble now, and if Zhang Menglong dragged this on for another hour, thousands of countries might go bankrupt.


    "Alright, alright," Zhang Menglong suddenly felt sorry for them, "Senior brothers and sisters, how about we forgive them?"


    ...

 Chapter 677 - 675: They Might Cry

    "It seems their sincerity is good enough now, let''s restore trade!" Zhang Menglong issued an order to Hong Yi, an order that spread like a virus to all of Zhang Menglong''s industries.


    "The boss said to restore trade, back to South Africa!"


    "Turn around, go back and load the cargo!"


    ...


    "Dlamini, well done. Our foreign trade is gradually being restored, and all the riots have been suppressed!" It was impossible to eliminate the aftermath of such widespread protest activities at once, but it was now entirely within controllable limits.


    Although it took a half day late for many businesses to hand over, the losses were still within an acceptable range.


    Upon hearing this news, Dlamini''s eyes filled with hot tears. Once Zhang Menglong had left, his first action would be to resign!


    He had heard a little noise from above, it was said that they had found a way to deal with Zhang Menglong, and they were almost completely sure of it! The reason they had been so pleasing to Zhang Menglong this time was just to keep him occupied before they acted.


    But Dlamini didn''t think so. When had they ever had a full assurance against Zhang Menglong? Do you believe one could produce hundreds of trillions of US dollars to compete against half the world? If this had been before this grand competitive battle, absolutely no one would have believed it!


    Would you believe that someone could fly a passenger plane, face 60 fighter jets, and not only escape unscathed but also take down 59 of them? Yet Zhang Menglong did just that.


    Now you''re telling me you''ve figured out a way to deal with Zhang Menglong, and you''re completely sure of it? What a joke, old man, terribly wrong. As if I would believe you!


    Dlamini''s intuition told him that Zhang Menglong would probably be the last one laughing this time.


    And by then, when Zhang Menglong is targeted over and over, he might explode, right? Although he couldn''t erase South Africa from the world map, he could certainly show them what cruelty meant.


    He didn''t know what Zhang Menglong would do, but he was sure it would be even more ruthless than this time.


    "Nope, resigning and retiring aren''t enough. I need to emigrate!" Dlamini thought carefully about his earnings over the years, which had also accumulated quite a fortune, making it possible to have a good life in any nearby country. If he wanted, finding a political position would definitely welcome him with open arms.


    That has to be better than waiting to die here, right?


    "Mr. Zhang, the car chosen by your friend will be handed over to your people at the port in a couple of days. Your friend''s ID information has also been entered into the relevant system, and they can now enjoy top-level VIP treatment at those gas stations in Huaxia."


    "Hmm, I''m quite satisfied with your sincerity. Since that''s the case, let''s head back to the hotel. We shouldn''t need to be quarantined anymore, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you jest, of course not. I hope you have a pleasant holiday here. I''ll arrange someone to take you back."


    "No need, my arranged people have already arrived," Zhang Menglong pointed at a silver-white sports car nearby.


    The blinding emblem on the car caught Dlamini off guard.


    "The Mandela family''s emblem?"


    This was the largest underground family in South Africa, a family that existed even before the country was established. They owned almost all the metal mines, diamond mines, and oil wells.


    They didn''t like to hold office, but those in office were terrified of them.


    A young man stepped down from the car and bowed respectfully to Zhang Menglong, "Master, have you finished your business?"


    "Yes, thank you for coming all this way," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    The young man looked at Dlamini, "I know what you have done. Because the master is magnanimous, we won''t hold these against you, just applied a little punishment. But the Mandela family won''t stop here."


    Hearing these words, Delamini''s body began to tremble slightly.


    "Go back and tell those above you to kneel at our Mandela family''s doorstep tonight. If they kneel for three days and then resign themselves, that will suffice, but if they cannot kneel for the full three days, then news of an assassination will appear in the major media outlets!"


    The youth''s words were filled with threat, yet they sounded so calm, as if he was merely stating a trivial matter.


    Delamini did not doubt the youth''s words, for there once was a president who had issued a law that greatly displeased him. The Mandela family had given him a warning, but he naively thought he was the one in power and stubbornly enacted the law.


    A few days later, his dead body appeared on the road in front of his own house, and within a matter of days, everyone related to him had been purged, and the law was amended.


    This was the power of this family in this country.


    "Yes! I will certainly convey your message!" Delamini had not expected that someone from the powerful Mandela family would respectfully call Zhang Menglong ''Master.''


    "Master, let me drive you back."


    "Mm," Zhang Menglong nodded and followed the youth into the car.


    "Well, that''s sorted. Where should we go for fun next?" In the car, everyone excitedly resumed their discussion. They had arrived in South Africa only last night, and it wasn''t even dinner time yet. Strictly speaking, they had only wasted a little less than half a day,


    but in that half-day, they had acquired sports cars worth tens of millions, diamonds worth millions, and each person had a cross-national check worth 10 million US dollars. It was indeed a massive gain.


    They felt almost guilty not eating two shovelfuls of dirt.


    Time was plentiful, but this kind of money was not easy to come by.


    The convoy was making its way along a back road towards the city.


    "Master, there''s a car following us!" the driver suddenly said.


    "Is it Delamini''s people?"


    "No, it''s a different group, not ordinary people, but Psychics and Ancient Martial Artists!"


    "Ancient Martial Artists?" Zhang Menglong was surprised.


    He knew that this incident wouldn''t end so easily. Since they couldn''t take him down with a fighter jet, they would definitely resort to the powers of the second world.


    Among the nations involved against him, only Kaibong had withheld their hand because they knew the type of power Zhang Menglong possessed. These second-world humans might find contending with Zhang Menglong as feasible as express delivery.


    Zhang Menglong also believed that Kaibong would not inform other nations of this intelligence. After all, they all had a nefarious nature; if they had suffered, they couldn''t be the only ones taking a beating, right?


    However, what surprised Zhang Menglong was the involvement of Ancient Martial Artists. Weren''t all Ancient Martial Artists from Huaxia? Yet, there were Huaxia people wanting to confront him. Had they forgotten the fear of being dominated by the Ritian Sect?


    "Master, according to our intelligence network, the participants this time included Psychics from those nations and people from Realm Island."


    "Realm Island?" Zhang Menglong paused."You mean the native place of that guy who tried to steal Wang Ling''s girlfriend last time?"


    "Yes," the driver replied, "Recently, the people of Realm Island split into two factions, one led by the original leader. They stayed in the area you allocated to them on Realm Island and continued earnestly with their ancient martial arts training. But there''s another group, accustomed to their past influence and not content with obscurity."


    "Since you are in the country, they have nothing significant to do, so they came to America and have been in close contact with the second-world inhabitants, wanting to demonstrate their power and earn the trust of America. So this time they decided to act against you, but it seems they don''t know the target is you."


    "Goodness," Zhang Menglong smacked his forehead, "they might cry when they see me later, right?"

 Chapter 678 - 676: Burying Love - Cold Young Master

    ```


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to take care of those tails for you?" Ye Yin''s voice echoed in Zhang Menglong''s mind. Although Zhang Menglong''s strength had far surpassed that of the ordinary Heavenly Origin Boundary Martial Dancers, who ever saw a boss doing the fighting themselves?


    Even if Zhang Menglong had become the emperor of the universe, Ye Yin still had her usual mission to fulfill.


    "No, it''s fine," Zhang Menglong said, "constantly having people behind you thinking about how to deal with you is not a pleasant thing. It''s better to deal with it sooner rather than later."


    "Whoosh!" Suddenly, a red trail of fire streaked towards them from behind.


    It was a shoulder-fired single-soldier rocket launcher, which was almost impossible to evade accurately at this relative vehicle speed!


    According to its trajectory, if there were no obstacles, the last car would likely be blown up by this shot.


    But Ye Yin simply shifted her thoughts, and the missile''s trajectory altered, just grazing past the side of one of the cars before exploding in an open field.


    "Boom!"


    A ball of fire exploded on the side, causing a wave of fearful screams.


    Under what circumstances would one first be attacked by fighter jets, then quarantined, and now pursued with a rocket launcher? What kind of grudge was this?


    A public communication system was installed in these few vehicles, and the speakers immediately transmitted the panicked cries of the people.


    "Menglong, someone is... someone is shooting at us with a rocket launcher. Your car, it should be equipped with an at force field, right?" the eldest senior brother asked.


    "Sorry, senior brother, there''s no equipment on this car, it''s just an ordinary car."


    "We''re done for!" Hearing this news, everyone instantly despaired.


    The reason they could escape from the ambush of 60 fighter jets was the technology several grades higher, but now, their vehicle was just an ordinary one. If it were hit by a shot, they would immediately be off to chat with Yama.


    "Menglong, call the police, call the police!"


    "It''s too late," Zhang Menglong said, "by the time the police arrive, our bodies would have already started to decay."


    "Then what do we do? How long before we can get into the city?"


    "Another 8 kilometers."


    "That far?" 8 kilometers would take at least ten minutes to drive, and if these terrorists couldn''t finish them off in ten minutes, their effectiveness would really be too poor.


    "You all go ahead, I''ll cover the rear," Zhang Menglong immediately arranged for the convoy to stop and had the driver and Lu Yiyao get into another car, then pressed the accelerator and charged in the opposite direction.


    "Menglong! Don''t do anything foolish!"


    "Junior sister, why didn''t you stop him?" Lu Yiyao''s senior sister looked at Lu Yiyao with a puzzled face.


    At that time, she was actually holding a tablet and watching "Brothers Who Cut Through Thorns"!"


    "Hahaha, Zhao Wenzhuo really is the cure for societal folks; even those rappers are scared of him... Hahaha, I''m Hot Dog, you can call me Pup, hahahaha..."


    "??? Junior sister, is he really your boyfriend?"


    "Menglong''s going to cover our retreat, and you''re not worried about him at all?"


    "Yiyi, your boyfriend is going to face terrorists, they''re armed with rocket launchers that explode, not toys!"


    "Actually, it''s the terrorists who should be worried," Lu Yiyao laughed, "Instead of worrying about Menglong''s safety, we might as well think about what to eat tonight!"


    "Oh, right," Lu Yiyao added, "everyone can also think about what kind of compensation they want this time."


    "???"


    "I''m lost now, what does that even mean?"


    "Translate to human language?"


    ...


    "Shit!" a middle-aged man carrying a rocket launcher cursed.


    ```


    He was a strength-type Enhanced Human, and with his powerful control over strength, the recoil of such a weapon was virtually non-existent for him, an attack at this distance was simply incapable of going wrong!


    But unexpectedly, that rocket fired veered off course.


    "Bills, I told you, these weapons aren''t reliable," a skinny young man with red hair on his head said with his eyes closed, "The strongest thing will always be our bodies, technological means are nothing but a shortcut."


    "C''mon, Siyak, I was just messing around," Bills stuck out his tongue, his demeanor contrasting sharply with the muscles covering his body, "After all, our strength is almost on par with Superman''s, so we might as well use technological weapons when we can, and if we leave some energy traces, explaining it is also a hassle."


    "Afraid of what?" said the Psychic named Siyak, "We didn''t sneak into Africa this time, they''ll fully cooperate with our operation, even if we make a big commotion, someone will cover for us."


    "True," the muscular Bills casually threw the rocket launcher out the window, "What a piece of crap, even though it''s the latest model, such lousy accuracy. When we get back, I definitely need to have a good chat with their R&D department!"


    "But we should not take this lightly, I heard that Zhang Menglong took down 59 fighter jets with a civilian plane, he might even have some powerful technological weapons in his car."


    "Hahaha, I''m not afraid of technological weapons, to us, the god-like Psychics, heat weapons have lost most of their destructiveness, even if it''s a powerful weapon, we''ll have enough time to kill him before he uses it."


    "That''s true, but still, be careful. The assessment from above suggests that Zhang Menglong might even have a Martial Artist from Heavenly Origin Boundary protecting him, if we encounter one, we''ll have no choice but to run."


    "Tch!" Siyak scoffed, "Didn''t they also send an Easterner to help us? It''s ridiculous that we have to follow his commands."


    "Shh!" Bills looked around warily, "He might be nearby, don''t forget, when they first came to America, they effortlessly killed several god-level Psychics. Before our chief instructor breaks through, it''s best we don''t provoke him.


    "Hmph!"


    ...


    "Bills, they have someone turning back!" the driver suddenly said.


    "Is he actually delivering himself to us? Has he gone mad?"


    "Maybe he''s trying to buy time for his companions? Don''t Huaxia people enjoy that pointless spirit of self-sacrifice for others?"


    "Can you see who''s in the car?"


    "It looks like it''s our target!"


    "Hahaha, this really saves us a lot of time. We''re not interested in the others, as long as we catch him, our mission will be complete," Bills clenched his fists, "He must not think we are just ordinary terrorists, hahaha, I''m going to crush his bones directly!"


    "Bills, don''t mess around, we were told to capture him alive this time!"


    "Hmph, the higher-ups are really boring, sending us to deal with a little brat," Bills held a device in his hand, which showed there was only one person in the car and the Energy Intensity was only five units.


    This energy level was quite impressive compared to an average person, the equivalent of a Level Five Psychic!


    But for them, a Level Five Psychic was as weak as a chicken, almost something they could crush to death with one hand.


    "Got it!" Bills leaped from the speeding vehicle and appeared out of nowhere in front of Zhang Menglong''s car.


    He put his hands out in front, and actually managed to stop the speeding car in its tracks!


    The front end of the car was severely deformed and the hood even started to smoke faintly, but Bills didn''t move an inch; his legs were firmly nailed to the ground as if they were spiked with steel pins.


    "Quick fight, quick decision!" Bills shouted back at the other few vehicles.


    Suddenly, four other figures appeared around Zhang Menglong''s car, blocking all possible escape routes.


    "Shit!" Did I just poke the Shamate Clan''s hornet''s nest?


    Zhang Menglong laughed when he saw the five men, a bald head and the remaining four, their hair combining the colors red, yellow, blue, and green, as if they could play Flying Chess.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve got guts, staying back all alone. But we never planned to hurt your friends; you''re simply walking into a trap!" Bills said coldly.


    "Zhang Menglong? No, no, no, you''ve got the wrong person!"


    "You''re not Zhang Menglong?" The five men were startled, they''d heard that in Huaxia there''s a miraculous technique called facial disguise, could it be that Zhang Menglong had found a decoy to escape?


    "Sorry, I am Funeral¡¤Cold Youth!"

 Chapter 679 - 677: Unless Theres a Luxury Car and a Private Plane

    "Funeral Love¡¤Cold Youth? Aren''t you Zhang Menglong?"


    "Who uses their real name when they''re out and about? My pen name is ''Ninth City'' on my big account and ''Voice of the Cat'' on my small one, my stage name is ''Voice.'' You can search my works on TikTok."


    "As for the streets, I am known as Funeral Love¡¤Cold Youth, the Clan Leader of Funeral Love Family. I see that you must be members of the Funeral Love Family''s American branch, right? Don''t you greet your Clan Leader when you see him?"


    "???"


    The five psychics looked at each other, confused. None of them understood what Zhang Menglong was talking about. It seemed like he was indeed Zhang Menglong, but at the same time, not quite.


    "Smart system, search up the Funeral Love Family!" All the psychics'' specially made outfits and equipment included elemental gadgets with basic AI that could help them solve most problems.


    "Starting vocabulary search..."


    "Search complete..."


    "Funeral Love Family, a term from the Huaxia network referring to an ''internet organization'' that originated from a dance game. These players, known for their exaggerated styles and love for dance battles, have multicolored hair and form a group that accepts another ''them.'' It mostly refers to people with exaggerated hairstyles, fierce dress sense, and a non-conformist, anti-trendy vibe among hairstylists."


    Upon hearing this explanation, the expressions of the five psychics changed immediately. They knew from the description that it wasn''t a serious clan, and it even carried a strong derogatory sense. Zhang Menglong''s earlier words were actually mocking their hairstyles and hair colors!


    As it was known, so-called psychics are individuals whose cells mutate to produce strange abilities, often accompanied by changes in bodily organs.


    Their hair was the result of such bodily changes. Among psychics, they already looked quite human. In their Supernaturals Alliance, many lower-level psychics even had heads resembling pigs and dogs, only Mythical Realm psychics had the power to control their cells sufficiently to adjust their appearance.


    The five psychics, the strongest being a Level Seven Mythical Realm psychic and the weakest being a Level Four, were as formidable as masters of the Mythical Realm in the Ancient Martial Arts World, indicating just how seriously they took Zhang Menglong this time!


    "So, you five, have you watched ''Seven Dragon Balls''? The Ginyu Force also had exactly five members. Maybe you five could form a group called the Wash-Cut-Blow-Dye-Perm Squad, how about that?"


    Zhang Menglong stepped out of the car unhurriedly. He glanced at the severely deformed hood and the shattered car windows on the ground, and even the two tires had burst due to Bills''s monstrous strength.


    "My cars are all limited editions, custom-made. You guys wrecked my car, do you know you have to compensate?" Zhang Menglong pulled out a calculator from nowhere and started typing frantically.


    "Zero!"


    "This is a customized Aston Martin, limited to ten units globally, and they''re all here with me. The price is 7.6 million US dollars."


    "It''s been driven for a year and a half, let''s say it depreciated a bit, so make it 6 million US dollars."


    "The front bumper needs replacing, right? The tires need replacing, right? The wheel hubs need replacing, right? It needs a new paint job, right?"


    "With all these repairs, a 50% depreciation rate isn''t unreasonable, right?"


    "Let''s round it off, pay me 5 million US dollars!"


    "Not to mention you just blasted me with a rocket launcher, that''s 500 billion US dollars for emotional distress, I''ll let the change slide. Just pay me 500 billion US dollars and you can leave!"


    "Zero!"


    ...


    "Is he an idiot?"


    "Does he not realize what situation he''s in?"


    The five of them looked at each other, inexplicably nervous.


    Zhang Menglong was definitely not a fool; otherwise, he wouldn''t have survived till now. Yet, his carefree demeanor made it seem like he wasn''t scared at all.


    "Does he not know who we are?"


    "That''s not right either. Have you ever seen a normal person stop a car going 80 miles per hour? Been watching too many Korean dramas?"


    "Just show him our power and he''ll understand!"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you not know who we are?" Karls spoke up, "We know you''re a Level Five Ancient Martial Artist, but the world is much bigger than you imagine!"


    Whoosh!


    The psychic with red hair, called Siyak, suddenly burst into blazing flames, the temperature around him soared, and even the sand on the ground began crystallizing from the heat, yet he remained unscathed amidst the fire.


    Another psychic with green hair rapidly grew two slim vines from his feet, which, though they seemed flimsy, fiercely sliced a car in half!


    The blue-haired psychic''s eyes gleamed, and the moisture in the air quickly formed into ice spears, puncturing the car until it was riddled with holes.


    The psychic with yellow hair simply stamped his foot, and the earth surged up, forming a huge hand that grabbed the car and crushed it with a crunch.


    "Damn, what did this car ever do to you? Is that polite?" Zhang Menglong pouted, "Now the compensation isn''t just 5 million US Dollars anymore. This car has been discontinued, to restore it would cost 20 million US Dollars, plus all the materials, you guys owe an extra 50 million, let''s not even bother with the small change."


    "You..."


    Before they could say anything, Zhang Menglong spoke again, pulling out a few diamond-encrusted gold business cards from his pocket and distributing them to the five of them.


    Perhaps they were stunned, but they actually took the cards from him instinctively.


    "Brother, my family needs someone to tend the furnace, and you handle fire pretty well. You should come apply for the job. You can call this number when you''re ready!"


    "This brother, your ability seems to be controlling water, right? I''ve cut a movie base in the desert, and water is a bit scarce there. I see you have a unique talent, and you can serve as artificial rainmaker, just like that Dragon King, $8,000 with meals and accommodation included."


    "And you two, one controls earth, the other controls plants, you guys should go do desert reforestation; it''s a great project, and there''s even a national award for it if done well!"


    Lastly, Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on Karls, "As for you... with that kind of strength, if you went to a construction site to move bricks, one person could replace ten, making a million a year is not a dream!"


    ...


    "Enough!"


    Karls, clearly annoyed by Zhang Menglong''s babbling, retorted, "Zhang Menglong, do you think we came here to play house with you? Are you going to come with us willingly, or do I need to force you?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t respond, just glanced at the vehicle behind them. It was a specially modified military off-road vehicle, costly for sure, but not nearly as comfortable as his own car.


    "If you''re inviting me as a guest, couldn''t you use a better car?" Zhang Menglong complained, "I am, after all, the richest man in the world. Even if you don''t arrange a luxury car worth millions, isn''t it reasonable to expect a few higher-end models? Riding in this hard, uncomfortable vehicle, if I end up with hemorrhoids and have to see a doctor, what if I need surgery..."


    "Shut up!"


    "Do you still think you''re the richest man in the world?" Karls opened his portable device, "I know your Huaxia''s 36 strategies include the Empty Fort Strategy, and you''re just trying to appear calm, making us think you have some powerful bodyguards around, right?"


    Karls showed the readings on the device to Zhang Menglong, displaying only six signals: one reading was 5, and the remaining five ranged from 13 to 17.


    "It''s just you alone here, stop playing these pointless games!"


    "Boom!" Karls stomped on the ground hard, causing the surface to crack rapidly and spread dozens of meters.


    "Zhang Menglong, if we weren''t ordered to capture you alive, do you really think you''d still be here talking to us?"


    "Please! If I wasn''t short on Cred Points recently, do you think you would still be here talking to me?"


    "Listen, I''ll go with you alright, but only if there''s a luxury car worth over ten million and a private plane worth over 100 million US Dollars, otherwise forget it!"

 Chapter 680 - 678: Take a Good Look at Your Instruments

    "Fuck, we''ve really run into a monster!"


    Since joining the Supernaturals Alliance, Karls and his team had carried out quite a few missions already, and it wasn''t the first or second time they encountered missions like this¡ªto capture someone.


    In the past, who didn''t piss their pants at the sight of them? Some just took off running, and many more were so weak in the knees that they couldn''t even muster the strength to run.


    But today was different. Zhang Menglong not only drove straight at them but also dared to ask for compensation. Now, he was actually saying that without a luxury car and a private jet, he wouldn''t go with them.


    Come on, we''re here to kidnap you, not to invite you out to dinner as a guest, okay? Can''t you show us a tiny bit of fear? We''re somewhat terrorists here, aren''t we?


    "It seems you''re unwilling to cooperate," Karls and his team finally lost their patience. Capturing this guy was proving more exhausting than battling with other god-level Psychics for three hundred rounds. Fighting strained their bodies, but dealing with Zhang Menglong''s incessant arguing was a torture on their minds.


    Initially, they didn''t understand why Zhang Menglong could incite the fury of 89 countries. But now he finally got it¡ªeven the most patient person would be infuriated talking with someone like Zhang Menglong.


    "I don''t care. Unless you meet those demands of mine, I am not going with you," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "You say just go with you as if it''s that simple? Where''s my dignity in that?"


    "Then don''t blame us for getting physical. The order was just to capture you alive; they didn''t say anything about keeping you in one piece, you..."


    "This bowl is huge


    Don''t let vanity get the best of you


    Honest words


    This wide bowl of noodles is also very expensive


    Hold off on speaking


    Don''t want to give you a chance to retaliate yet


    Let''s just disperse


    ..."


    They were just about to make their move when Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly rang.


    "Hold on, let me take this call first!"


    With that, Zhang Menglong didn''t give them a chance to react and answered the call directly.


    "Be careful, he might be calling for backup!" the others immediately said, alert.


    "Humph! Let him call for backup. What does it matter?" Karls said, "Our preparations this time are foolproof, even if he calls in Huaxia''s Martial God, he''s not leaving here unscathed today!"


    "Hahaha, let him make the call. People like him, who are all talk, only understand when they truly experience despair. Only then will he behave."


    "What''s a few minutes going to hurt?"


    ...


    "It''s my girlfriend on the phone." Zhang Menglong pointed at his phone, then communicated to them in lip-reading.


    The five of them instantly had black lines on their foreheads. What had they done wrong? Not only did they have to endure Zhang Menglong''s mental attacks, but now they also had to deal with his love life?


    "Don''t hold me back, I''m going to kill him!" a red-headed guy named Xiayak was on the verge of collapse.


    "Don''t act rashly," Karls said, "He might just be trying to provoke us. Remember, Zhang Menglong has the ability to blow up a squadron of fighter jets."


    Karls analyzed. "He''s merely a Level Five Ancient Martial Artist. Even if he has some special equipment, he won''t hurt us. But, he might have some passive defense gear or weapons. If we let anger lower our guard, we might suffer for it!"


    Xiayak suddenly realized why Karls had been holding back; he had been worried about this!


    Indeed, they had once faced a Psychic much weaker than them during a mission, but he was equipped with a weapon powered by supernatural energy. In close combat, the enemy suddenly activated this weapon, killing one of their colleagues on the spot.


    If Zhang Menglong didn''t have a backup plan, how could he remain so calm? Thus, Karls'' analysis made sense.


    And a phone call alone wouldn''t change the situation, just as Karls had said; they were fully prepared this time.


    The Psychics of South Africa were on their side; Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to get any help, and even if he did, the powerful Easterner from Realm Island could handle all unexpected situations.


    "Oh, how is it going, have you guys reached the hotel?" It seemed like Zhang Menglong turned on the speakerphone just to annoy them.


    "Yeah, we''ve reached the hotel, just trying to decide what to eat tonight."


    "Menglong/brother, are you okay?" After just a few words, Zhang Menglong''s fellow brothers and sisters from the world asked concernedly.


    "What''s the matter, how could I be in any trouble?"


    "Menglong, you''re too impulsive, they are terrorists, how can you risk your life to cover our retreat?"


    "I know, do you still have bodyguards protecting you all the time? Have you already taken them all out?"


    "Oh, not yet," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "I''m surrounded by them now. They said they want to capture me alive and take me back."


    "What?"


    "Menglong, you... I''ll call the police right away!"


    "It''s no use, I''ve already called them, but their attitude was dismissive as if they don''t care about our lives at all. Delamini and Grave aren''t answering their phones at all, I suspect they''re involved too."


    "Menglong, you..."


    "Menglong, when are you coming back? Should we wait for you for dinner?" Unlike others who were anxious, Lu Yiyao''s voice was unusually calm, as if Zhang Menglong hadn''t been kidnapped but had merely gone on a visit.


    "I probably won''t come back, don''t save dinner for me today, we''ll see about tomorrow."


    "Okay, then we''ll go ahead and eat. We plan to go to the harbor tonight, and tomorrow I''ll take my fellow disciples to look at a few gold and diamond mines, I haven''t seen them either."


    "Right, let Hong Yi make those arrangements, I''ve got to go now, love you, mua!"


    "Mua!"


    "..."


    Blond Killer Haircut: "..."


    Green Killer Haircut: "..."


    Blue Killer Haircut: "..."


    Red Killer Haircut: "..."


    Bald Killer Haircut: "Why do I feel like we''ve been seriously insulted?"


    "Alright, Zhang Menglong, you''ve made your call, can you come with us now?"


    "Didn''t I tell you? If there''s no luxury car or airplane, I''m not going with you. If you want to force me, go ahead!"


    Zhang Menglong curled his finger, "The moves you just showed were indeed good, but did you think I was an ordinary person? Come at me! I have another nickname, ''Uchiha, One Against Seven.''"


    "All talk and no action!"


    "Idiot, do you think just because you''re a Level Five Ancient Martial Artist you can stand against us?"


    "Hahaha, do you know this device? It can detect a person''s combat strength, you are just a trash with only 5 points of combat strength, and our weakest has 14 points!"


    "Is that so? Then please turn on your device and take a good look."


    Everyone suddenly sensed that something was wrong; could Zhang Menglong actually control the Energy Intensity he was emitting?


    "Beep beep beep!"


    The numbers on the device suddenly started to rise, 5 points, 6 points, 7 points... finally stopping at 15 points.


    "See? Now do you still think I''m just trash?" Zhang Menglong laughed mockingly.


    "Hahahaha!" Several people exchanged glances, laughing even harder now.


    No wonder Zhang Menglong had not shown any fear from the beginning; he had been hiding his true strength!


    15 points of Energy Intensity, equivalent to a Level Five Ancient Martial Artist, having such strength at his age was very uncommon and he could almost do as he pleased in the whole second world.


    However, to them, this amount of power was still a bit weak.


    "So, this is your trump card, hahaha!"


    "I thought you were really powerful!"


    "Sorry, but among us five, three are stronger than you!"


    ...

 Chapter 681 - 679: Your Fireball Is Not Big Enough

    "Why waste words with him? Since he is a Martial Artist from the Mythical Realm, he wouldn''t be that easy to kill. I''ve been holding my anger back from all the nonsense we endured earlier. Let me discipline him first!" Karls clenched his fists tightly, and with the strength of a Level Seven Psychic, a single punch could even shatter a small mountain range.


    "Captain, don''t kill him, we still want to have some fun later!"


    "Yeah, Captain, leave him some breath!"


    "Got it!" Karls twisted his neck, his face revealing a ferocious smile, "Just come quietly with us. No need to suffer like this, but if you insist, we''ll satisfy you!"


    Karls''s fist, like a meteor, smashed towards Zhang Menglong''s chest with such speed and power that it left no time for reaction!


    "Vajra Indestructible Skill!" Zhang Menglong''s skin suddenly flashed a dark golden sheen, and a thick and tough power flowed through his limbs and body.


    "duang~"


    In the eyes of the other members of the Supernaturals Alliance, this punch would have cost Zhang Menglong, if not his life, then at least half of it.


    Psychics are already far superior in physical quality to ordinary people. A god-level Psychic could easily exceed a hundred meters in a second when running, and their punching power is measured in tons ¡ª and that''s just for ordinary Psychics.


    But for a power-type Psychic like Karls, his strength was many times, even tenfold, that of an ordinary Psychic, and if anyone else in the team took a punch from him, it would likely result in severe injury.


    However, the expected scene of flesh and blood flying did not occur, and even Zhang Menglong''s footing didn''t waver. Instead, Karls''s fist made a solid impact on Zhang Menglong''s chest, producing a metallic clang.


    It was as though the punch had not landed on a body of flesh but rather on a steel-forged city wall.


    Karls''s fist trembled slightly, his face suddenly flushed red, and he looked extremely pained as large beads of sweat continuously rolled down his forehead.


    He had used sixty percent of his strength with that punch, but even then, that was several times the power of an ordinary Level Seven Psychic. Force having its equal and opposite reaction, his fist felt as though it was about to split from pain.


    "Put some effort into it, didn''t you eat?" Zhang Menglong looked up, smiling at him, "And here I thought you were formidable. Is this all you''ve got?"


    "Not only are you an Ancient Martial Artist, but are you also a Psychic?" Looking at Zhang Menglong''s golden skin, Karls showed a surprised expression; only metal element Psychics could gather the metal element to their body parts to gain strong attack and defensive power.


    "What Psychic? This is called Vajra Indestructible Skill, it''s Huaxia''s ancient martial arts. Ever heard of Gu Santong, the undefeated naughty boy? If not, why don''t you go watch ''The Greatest in the World,'' that TV series, huh?"


    "Don''t get cocky!" Karls increased his strength to eighty percent, and his next punch fiercely landed on Zhang Menglong''s cheek.


    "daung!" Still, a thick sound echoed, and Zhang Menglong did not retreat half a step.


    "Can you even fight? How many days have you gone without food? You can''t even throw a proper punch, and you''re in the underworld?"


    "This is impossible!" Karls couldn''t help but retreat a couple of steps. Even if Zhang Menglong was a metal element Psychic, with a body''s defensive power several times stronger than an ordinary Psychic''s, there was still a two-level gap between them. No way could he have taken such a powerful hit without a scratch!


    "Let me show you what I''m capable of," Zhang Menglong raised his fist, "Ever seen a fist as large as a sandbag?"


    "Pegasus Meteor Fist!"


    In that instant, Karls suddenly felt a deadly sense of crisis and immediately crossed his arms in defense over his cheeks.


    Almost at the same time, a bone-chilling pain swept through his entire body, as if hundreds of fists had struck him. His chest caved in deeply, bones shattered extensively, his face showing disbelief as he spat blood and flew out.


    Wasn''t he just at fifteen units of energy intensity? How could he possess such terrifying physical quality?


    "Snap!" Karls collapsed on the ground powerlessly, his bones completely shattered, rendering him unable to move. If not for the powerful life force of a Psychic, he would be dead by now.


    "No way, you go down so easily? I haven''t even started trying yet!" Zhang Menglong blew on his fist, "I still have a few more punches I haven''t shown!"


    "He''s not just any Psychic, let''s all go at once!" The other four realized, if they still couldn''t see how terrifying Zhang Menglong was, then there must be something wrong with their brains.


    A fireball with a diameter of over a meter, carrying a scorching temperature, hurled towards Zhang Menglong.


    "Brother, your fireball is a bit small!" Zhang Menglong muttered, "Let''s see what playing with fire really means. Card Escape! Ka da kou nao ji zi!"


    A blaze erupted from Zhang Menglong''s mouth, consolidating into a huge fireball over 5 meters in diameter.


    The redhead Psychic''s fireball was instantly devoured, but Zhang Menglong''s Great Fireball Technique showed no signs of weakening.


    "Block him!"


    The blue-haired Psychic immediately conjured an ice wall made of crystals in front, and instantly a large amount of steam filled the area.


    "No good, his Supernatural Abilities are too strong, help me!"


    The remaining two Psychics also activated their abilities, erecting a wall of earth and a wall of trees in front of them.


    "Boom!" A massive explosion occurred, and a mushroom cloud formed directly on the ground.


    "How can he possibly have two types of Supernatural Abilities?" Although they barely managed to withstand his Great Fireball Technique, Zhang Menglong still greatly shocked them.


    It was common knowledge in the Second World that a person couldn''t possess Supernatural Abilities of two different elements, as having two types of energies from birth would lead to a rejection causing the body to collapse.


    And yet, Zhang Menglong not only wielded the power of metal, but now he could also breathe fire!


    "Whew! It''s a bit hot!" Zhang Menglong fanned the air with his hand, and the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped.


    "He can even control the temperature!"


    "What kind of monster is he?"


    "Not bad, managing to block my Great Fireball Technique, how about this one?"


    Zhang Menglong formed hand signs, "Water Pain, Water Dragon Bullet nao ji zi!"


    "Splish, splash, splash!"


    A vortex suddenly appeared in the artificial lake near the highway, and a massive water dragon more than 20 meters long slowly rose, and with the sudden drop in temperature around, it turned into an ice dragon!


    "Mokamoto, I xi ji zi qi kai yi kuo tan!"


    A common camphor tree by the roadside began to grow violently, ten meters, twenty meters, then transformed into a wood dragon thrashing its claws, and the two dragons swirled around Zhang Menglong, delivering a huge visual shock and mental pressure.


    "He has hidden his strength! He definitely has more than 15 units of Energy Intensity!" At that moment, these five members of the Supernaturals Alliance finally began to panic.


    Although the instruments still showed that Zhang Menglong''s Energy Intensity was 15 units, they could feel that both the quality and quantity of Zhang Menglong''s abilities greatly surpassed theirs.


    And faced with a monster possessing five types of energy, how were they supposed to fight? Perhaps only those who had advanced into the Mythical Realm could stand a chance against him?


    "Wood shield, Luxurious Sofa Technique!" Zhang Menglong casually formed another sign, and a sapling by the roadside instantly turned into a wooden chair that landed under his buttocks.


    He sat down on the chair, looking down at them with a condescending attitude.


    "You know guys, if you''re going to kidnap, could you be a bit more professional? 89 countries, and you can''t even find a few decent thugs, I''m embarrassed for you. I''d like to go with you, but my strength just doesn''t allow it!"

 Chapter 682 - 680: Its you who are surrounded by me alone

    "Look, you can''t beat me anyway, so now I''ll give you two options?" Zhang Menglong proposed. "The first option, pay up, compensate me a total of 50 billion US dollars for my property damage and distress. The second is to pick me up in a luxury car or plane."


    The two elemental dragons in the sky continued to circle, making it hard to imagine the immense amount of energy required to prevent them from collapsing.


    The red-haired psychic pulled out a vial of medicine and injected it into Karls'' thigh. It was a restorative drug developed by the Supernaturals Alliance, that could rapidly help a psychic recover from injuries, provided they were not dead. Of course, the downside was several months of weakness following the treatment, but now, they could not afford to worry about such side effects.


    With the help of this powerful recovery, Karls'' bones had somewhat healed, though he was still unfit for combat, he could at least stay conscious and perform some mild movements.


    He stood up again, but his gaze towards Zhang Menglong was clearly filled with deep fear.


    It was far too easy for Zhang Menglong to kill all five of them!


    But since they were certain of their grip on the situation, their preparations naturally weren''t limited to just this!


    Karls sent out a signal on his portable intelligence system, the summoning signal for this operation!


    This time, it wasn''t just the American Supernaturals Alliance psychics who had come to South Africa, but also elites from the second worlds of 87 other countries!


    In a bar several kilometers away, a middle-aged man with a goatee was savoring red wine sip by sip when suddenly his wristwatch vibrated, displaying a green symbol, the operation''s mark targeting Zhang Menglong!


    "Hmph! I thought the Americans were more capable. It seems they cannot handle it."


    "Karls is a Level Seven psychic, right? This Zhang Menglong has a substantial background!"


    "Actually, I''m not surprised at all. Since Zhang Menglong has the capacity to become the world''s richest man and also has a family history spanning thousands of years, even resource accumulation could have raised several experts."


    "I wonder if there will be a chance to witness the prowess of the Huaxia Martial God this time!"


    "Hmph, aren''t you afraid of dying here? That person is a Heavenly Origin Boundary expert."


    "What''s there to fear? We also have Martial Artists from the Heavenly Origin Boundary assisting us this time. If necessary, we can just invite that expert to join us and have a look around."


    "You''re right, but I thought they could hold on a bit longer."


    ...


    All over South Africa, many people received this message at this moment.


    Some were loners, others were in small groups. In an instant, they all disappeared from their original locations.


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, we indeed underestimated you, but staying here today was definitely the dumbest decision!" The moment he sent the message, Karls'' expression relaxed considerably.


    "Hmm?" Zhang Menglong crooked his finger, and the two dragons in the sky actually started bobbing their heads as if dancing, displaying an awe-inspiring control ability.


    "This time, did you think it was just the five of us?" Karls sneered. "We have 88 countries, and together we''ve sent 302 divine psychics and mutants of the same level. Now, you''re completely surrounded!"


    No sooner had he spoken than figures began appearing on the devastated highway, each one clad in various garments. Some looked human, others not even humanoid, but the one thing they all had in common was the chilling power emanating from each, with several even more formidable than Karls!


    "Karls, I thought you guys could handle it. Turns out, we need to step in after all."


    "Just him alone? I thought he had a lot of bodyguards, you guys are really useless, is this the strength of your Supernaturals Alliance?"


    "Enough with the nonsense!" Karls, unable to contain his anger, pointed at the sky and said, "Do you think he''s just an ordinary person?"


    The moment everyone saw those two spiraling ice and wood dragons, their expressions turned solemn.


    Just the skill of controlling them alone would make anyone present bow in defeat!


    And the supernatural energy contained within that one dragon was definitely beyond that of a typical Level Eight skill user.


    No wonder Karls was defeated, now they seemed to understand why, if it wasn''t for their numbers, they''d probably be running for their lives already.


    "Don''t let vanity get the better of you..."


    At the peak of the tension, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang again.


    "Hold on, my girlfriend is video calling me!" Zhang Menglong snapped his fingers, and the two elemental dragons instantly crumbled, leaving behind only shards of ice and wood.


    "Yiyi, what''s up?"


    "We''re eating now!" Lu Yiyao showed everyone with her phone, but apart from Lu Yiyao, everyone else looked heavily preoccupied. Seeing Zhang Menglong appear unharmed on the screen, their faces eased a bit.


    "At the seaside?"


    "Yeah, the lobsters here are really big, and the sea breeze is so comforting. If you''re done with your things, come over quickly! You might even get some leftovers," said Lu Yiyao in a tone so casual it seemed just an everyday chat.


    "I probably won''t make it back today," Zhang Menglong also rotated his camera around, "You see, I''m surrounded by a master''s men, and I might even have to visit their place later, you guys have fun without me."


    "Junior Brother, are you sure... you''re really okay over there?"


    "Junior Brother, those people look really fierce, am I seeing things or is there a guy with a pig''s head?"


    Although they couldn''t see the psychic''s faces, they all felt the murderous atmosphere; it was clear Zhang Menglong was trapped in an encirclement.


    "No worries," Zhang Menglong said casually, "Everyone here is so talented and charming, I almost don''t want to leave!"


    "Click!" Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly got crumpled into a ball of metal by an invisible force.


    "Enough, nobody wants to continue wasting time listening to you," said a psychic clad in carbon fiber bodysuit coldly, his aura nearly reaching an intensity of 19 units, making him almost the strongest among them.


    Metal manipulation¡ªhis power was just like Magneto from X-Men, and in some ways, he might even be stronger!


    "Damn! My Eight Star Eight Arrow Voice King phone!" Zhang Menglong looked at the metal ball in his hand, "Do you know this model was discontinued ten years ago, a collector''s item! You know what that means? Extra-long battery life of 120 days, indestructible by a hammer, waterproof up to 10 meters, can ward off evil spirits, and you can''t buy it with money anymore!"


    "Zhang Menglong, do you still think you can delay time at this point?" the psychic said, "You should regret your endless chatter because you just lost your last chance to say goodbye to your girlfriend!"


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Why are you guys always so confident? Why do you always think you can beat me? I love bragging so much, if I didn''t have some real skills, I would''ve been killed long ago, and it wouldn''t be your turn."


    "Zhang Menglong, with over 300 elite psychics, do you really think you have a chance to escape today?"


    "Escape? Who said I was going to escape? Just with this bunch of lousy fish and rotten shrimp you think you can catch me?" Zhang Menglong let out a gradually widening smile, "And you seem to have misunderstood one thing¡ªit''s not you guys surrounding me with your 300+, it''s me surrounding all 300+ of you!"

 Chapter 683 - 681: Where in Life Do We Not Meet by Chance?

    "Huaxia man, at this time you''re still here putting on airs, even if you are a warrior of the Heavenly Origin Realm, our group of more than 300 people can drown you with just a spit each!"


    "You might as well come along with us quietly."


    "You alone have caused 88 countries, more than 300 divine-level Psychics to take action together, you should be proud enough for a lifetime!"


    "Didn''t you understand what I said?" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I said, it''s not you who''ve surrounded me, but I''ve surrounded all of you. Now look around, can you still leave?"


    "???!"


    All the Psychics suddenly froze, seeing Zhang Menglong''s nonchalant demeanor ¨C could it really be a trick?


    "No, there''s still no energy response around!"


    "Wait, what is this?"


    Suddenly, someone noticed something unusual, around them an invisible wall had appeared, like an inverted bowl covering a radius of several hundred meters.


    "Boom!" Someone tried to smash this barrier, but it was all in vain. The wall seemed thin, but no matter how they attacked, they couldn''t damage it at all.


    "Don''t panic, this might be some kind of technological weapon he has developed." Having seen Zhang Menglong''s endless techniques, everyone''s acceptance had become much stronger, "As long as we kill him, there will be a way!"


    "But the mission from above was to capture him alive, if..."


    "Idiots, those above have no idea how tricky this kid is, don''t you realize it yet?"


    "That''s right! Killing him will solve everything. Anyway, we''re trapped here, we can''t get out, neither can he!"


    "How ridiculous, he actually cut off his own retreat."


    "Hey, is it that you''re all morons or do you think I''m the moron? Do I look like not that smart? Locking myself up?" Zhang Menglong taunted, "Obviously, it''s to prevent you guys from running away!"


    "Zhang Menglong, we admit we underestimated you for being able to defeat five people from the Supernaturals Alliance on your own, but you don''t think we can''t deal with you with so many of us, do you?"


    "Sorry, but that''s exactly what I think. Pick up your detectors and take another good look!"


    "Beep beep beep beep!" The energy detectors they were carrying immediately sounded an alarm, the energy reading of Zhang Menglong, which was originally only 15 units, started to rise again, shooting up to 20 points!


    What does 20 points mean? A master of the Heavenly Origin Boundary among Huaxia''s Ancient Martial Artists, existences surpassing divine-level Psychics, such people could already have lifespans of several hundred years, even break free from Earth''s gravity to fly in the air, almost akin to the Immortals in myths.


    The key point is, Zhang Menglong was only a little over 20 years old!


    They say money isn''t everything, but damn it, now they felt that money really was everything!


    They had just said, even if they faced a warrior of the Heavenly Origin Realm, they wouldn''t be afraid with more than 300 people. That wasn''t an exaggeration, but even if they could really deal with it, it would cost them greatly, even possibly half of them dying here!


    "How about that, surprised or not?" Zhang Menglong floated leisurely into the air, looking down on them with a superior gaze.


    Zhang Menglong''s realm had already broken through the Heavenly Origin Boundary, although he was still at Level Seven, but at full power, he could even unleash strength of over 30 units. To him, these more than 300 Psychics were not even worthy of being called opponents.


    "Kill him! Take action now!" All the Psychics suddenly snapped to action, facing such a strong opponent, they must use their strongest power immediately to obliterate him without leaving any chance, only then was there a sliver of hope!


    "How noisy!" Zhang Menglong''s gaze swept over those who had rushed to the front, a chill passed by them, taking away their lives and turning them into several extremely solid ice sculptures.


    "I have been lenient with you people time and again, did you really think I was made of mud?" Zhang Menglong truly became enraged this time, "First it was the fighter jets, then the Psychics, it seems my attitude toward you has indeed been too mild!"


    Zhang Menglong''s left hand slowly rose with a clump of blue flame while his right hand contained a clump of white flame. When the two flames combined, they transformed into an exceedingly beautiful flame lotus.


    "Today, I will give you an unforgettable lesson!"


    Zhang Menglong tossed the flame lotus down.


    The flame lotus, only the size of a palm, began to expand with a temperature like that of hell itself, turning the inside of the barrier into a blazing furnace.


    "Resist together, or we''ll all die!" Everyone realized the terror of the flame lotus instantly.


    In a flash, flames, walls of ice, walls of earth, almost everyone pulled out all the stops.


    Zhang Menglong merely sneered and lightly floated out of the barrier to land nearby.


    "Explode!"


    "Boom!"


    In a moment, it felt as though all of South Africa shook; the violent explosion even triggered a severe earthquake ten kilometers away in the capital, and within that barrier, it had become a human Purgatory, filled with endless screams of agony, cries for help, and weeping.


    Faced with such a scene, Zhang Menglong merely smiled dismissively. He was never the Holy Mother; if someone wanted to kill him, he would not show mercy.


    The sky had already grown dark, but this area shone as bright as day, the light of the fire persisting for over 20 seconds before gradually fading away.


    More than 300 people were unable to stand; half of them had vanished into thin air, and those who remained were missing arms or legs, or they were charred all over, with only a few barely recognizable as human shapes.


    "We stand no chance against him. Supernaturals Alliance, where is the helper you found? If he doesn''t show up soon, we''re all going to die here!"


    The psychics screamed in despair. A move that disabled 300 people, something not even half of the Heavenly Origin Boundary martial artists would be able to accomplish, and now, other than that expert of the Heavenly Origin Realm, no one could handle Zhang Menglong!


    "Zhou Boquan, what are you waiting for? Do you want to watch us all die before you make a move?" Karls, now missing an arm, shouted.


    "Who would have thought that capturing one person would actually require my intervention? You so-called experts of the second world are too useless, aren''t you?" A laugh echoed in the air, and it seemed like it was the stature of an unseen Huaxia martial artist who mastered inner strength.


    "Let''s see who it is that our 300 divine psychics can''t deal with." An elderly man dressed in simple hemp clothing arrived from the horizon, his feet standing upon a flying sword, exuding the aura of a sword immortal.


    "Oh! Isn''t this Elder Zhou from Realm Island?" Zhang Menglong had thought they found some sort of help, "My my my my! What a small world this is indeed!"


    "You... you..." The moment Zhou Boquan saw Zhang Menglong, he put on the Mask of Pain.


    Because he was supposed to kill someone in South Africa, he never asked for information about the target, as no one on Earth could stand against the people from Realm Island, except for that man.


    And yet, he had never expected that this very target would be that man!


    What kind of hellish torment was this!


    On that day, he suddenly remembered the fear that he and the people of Realm Island felt under Zhang Menglong''s control. This man single-handedly turned the perilous place known as Realm Island into a picnic spot for a holiday, even beating them to the point where they were utterly spineless.


    Even the fearsome ancient beast of the island that everyone feared had become a mere underling to his dog!


    "What''s wrong, is the food not good on Realm Island? How come you all have expanded your business to the Americas?"


    Zhang Menglong flew next to Zhou Boquan, patted his slightly plump belly, "Oh, you''ve gained weight, you all seem to have had a good time recently."

 Chapter 684 - 682: If You Dont Take Me Back, Ill Slaughter You

    ```


    Once upon a time, Realm Island was a place towering above all other beings, mysterious like a fairyland on Earth, where everyone in the world dreamed of practicing cultivation, exuding the grandeur of being supreme over the Myriad Tribes.


    But what about now? It''s all because of that damned Tong Wei, who offended Zhang Menglong, such a terrifying figure, over a woman.


    Now, they have been exiled from that fairyland on Earth and must fraternize with the primordial creatures of Realm Island, without any place of absolute safety ever again.


    However, this has also made many people realize a truth, that is, to enjoy life while they can. What''s the point of cultivating? It can only extend your lifespan by a few years, but can it really grant you eternal youth?


    Isn''t the secular world full of pleasures more fragrant? Why live like an ascetic monk here?


    Grasping this concept, Zhou Boquan, leading a few elders, resolutely chose to split from Tong Xiao''s lineage and departed Realm Island to seek a new home elsewhere.


    Returning to Huaxia was out of the question, impossible in this lifetime. If by some misfortune they encountered that scourge again, next time they might not just be driven out of Huaxia or even Earth¡ªwho knew, with that person''s way of thinking, they might be directly banished from Earth itself.


    If we can''t confront them, can''t we just avoid them? They simply made their way to the other side of the ocean and arrived in the Americas.


    Compared to Zhang Menglong and others, Zhou Boquan and these Heavenly Origin Boundary masters were practically chickens, without a single capable fighter among them. But in this Second World, they were absolute masters. After all, among any official power and underground forces, the only one whose strength exceeded the Heavenly Origin Boundary was Yin Wuyi, the ungodly figure from Huaxia.


    Just like Huaxia, every country''s borders were patrolled by official psychic organizations or Enhanced Humans. They couldn''t control their own power, so the psychics in the Americas detected them immediately upon their arrival.


    According to the rules of the Second World, any country equivalent to Level Seven psychics and above are not allowed to enter other countries without permission. They must be reported, confirmed as non-threatening, and accompanied by officials to be allowed entry.


    Of course, rules are always there to restrict the weak. Zhang Menglong, having long surpassed Heavenly Origin Boundary, still travels the world freely. Including Ye Yin under Zhang Menglong''s command and others, their realms allow them to easily evade detection, disguising themselves as ordinary people, hence they are not subject to these restrictions.


    As for another kind of people, they use great power to directly break these restrictions, and Zhou Boquan is such a person!


    Upon their arrival in the Americas, they were immediately surrounded by dozens of local psychics. Without a grandiose battle, just in a matter of minutes, many were dead or injured, including the interim head coach of the Supernaturals Alliance, who was beaten half to death.


    However, once they explained their purpose, the Americans found it laughable¡ªthese people actually wanted to immigrate to the Americas! They even expressed their willingness to comply with the Supernaturals Alliance''s orders, as long as they were given enough authority and money!


    What they have in abundance is money! With such high-level masters joining the Supernaturals Alliance, wouldn''t their combat power in the Second World be invincible?


    Not so long ago, the news of Huaxia''s Martial God breaking through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary unsettled them all, for the balance of the world had been disrupted. Therefore, all eight of the Super Alliance''s most powerful individuals began seeking ways to break through to god-like psychic levels to stand a chance against Huaxia.


    While they were still looking for their breakthrough opportunity, fluky as it may seem, several Heavenly Origin Boundary masters fell right into their lap!


    Most importantly, these individuals, although they carry Huaxia bloodlines, grew up on Realm Island with hardly any sense of national identity. Moreover, after an investigation, it was found they had no identity in Huaxia at all¡ªjust like stateless persons who sprang out of nowhere!


    This clean background, coupled with their formidable power, naturally made accepting these immigrants an easy choice for them.


    After going through a process, they were given the green light all the way; they received their green cards the very next day and became members of the Supernaturals Alliance.


    The Supernaturals Alliance has 1 chief instructor and 7 deputy chief instructors. While the Heavenly Origin Realm martial artists only held the title of deputy chief instructors, they were not bound by the chief instructor''s orders, had the same authority as other deputy chief instructors, and could choose whether or not to accept missions. If they did take on tasks, they were promised hefty rewards!


    ```


    Even the disciples of those Heavenly Origin Realm martial artists held extremely high status and reputation.


    Out of loyalty, and to demonstrate their capabilities to their new boss, within a few days, they had swept through the psychic organizations of several countries and even began to repeatedly provoke the special action teams from Longxia.


    However, before long, they encountered this matter. Considering that Zhang Menglong might have a powerful ancient martial artist for protection, they specifically invited Zhou Boquan, an ancient martial artist of Level Five Heavenly Origin Boundary, to ensure safety.


    Zhou Boquan had originally thought he was just going through the motions, as all ancient martial artists were proud, and besides, they were never short of money. Unless it was some very weak ancient martial artist, he never imagined today''s target would have any powerful ancient martial artists by their side!


    Even if there were, even if it were the Martial God, a mere Level One Heavenly Origin martial artist would not be a match for him with one hand.


    But who the hell could have expected that there were indeed no Heavenly Origin martial artists protecting this man, but he alone was worth thousands of Heavenly Origin martial artists!


    "Zhou Boquan, this is our target for this operation!" At this moment, Bills seemed oblivious to Zhou Boquan''s unusual expression, "Capture him, and we can go back and report."


    "Didn''t you hear, why don''t you hurry up and capture me, or how will you report back?"


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, please stop joking. If I knew it was you, I definitely wouldn''t have come to cause you trouble!" Zhou Boquan trembled all over.


    Who was this person before him? Casually unleashing energy over 40 units in strength, he had no way to capture him!


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, please stop joking. How would we dare to capture you?" Unless Zhou Boquan had a stroke, was Zhang Menglong someone he could provoke?


    "Look, you''ve come all the way from the Americas to Africa to capture me, which wasn''t easy. After all, you need to meet your KPIs, just to make a living, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Hurry up, tie me up quickly!"


    "Next time I take a job, I must check the order details!" Zhou Boquan had thought this would be a good opportunity to show off. Who would''ve thought it was a death trap!


    "Zhou, what''s the matter with you?" Bills, seeing Zhou Boquan looking like a frightened chick upon seeing a hawk, instantly became nervous.


    He knew Zhou Boquan, this martial artist from the East, was a Heavenly Origin realm practitioner. Although he still looked down on him, in terms of strength, he was definitely invincible within the whole Supernaturals Alliance. Could this Zhang Menglong actually be scaring him like this?


    "Shut up!" Zhou Boquan shouted, "You actually dare to capture Mr. Zhang, are you crazy or do you have a death wish?"


    "Zhou? This..." Even if Bills was an idiot, seeing Zhou Boquan''s loss of composure, he could tell that this person was someone Zhou Boquan could not handle.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is all our fault!" Zhou Boquan quickly admitted his mistake and apologized, "Please go ahead, whatever compensation you want, I will fight for you. Ignorance is no excuse, please forgive my intrusion and recklessness this time!"


    "Did I say I planned on leaving?" Zhang Menglong stretched out his hands, "I''ve suddenly changed my mind now, tie me up and take me back to see your leaders!"


    "Huh?" Zhou Boquan was stunned.


    "Huh your head!" Zhang Menglong scolded, "If you don''t take me away now, I''ll slaughter all of you right here!"

 Chapter 685 - 683: I am Considering for Your Sake

    "Zhou Boquan, you... you know each other?" Bills, clutching his severed arm, barely managed to stand up, and the other severely injured psychics also helped each other to move behind Zhou Boquan, as if only he could give them a semblance of safety.


    "Why do you think I left my homeland and Realm Island?" Zhou Boquan lowered his voice and said.


    People from the Supernaturals Alliance had heard that this man named Zhou Boquan came from a very mystical place called Realm Island, an area rich in energy with excellent conditions for cultivation, almost like a land for divine beings.


    But recently, something had happened on Realm Island, which led to some differences between Zhou Boquan and the rulers of the island, prompting him and others to leave.


    "Does this have something to do with Zhang Menglong?" Karls asked.


    "Exactly," Zhou Boquan said with a bitter smile. "He drove us all out of the core area of Realm Island and even turned it into his own resort. He''s nothing but a bandit!"


    Zhou Boquan, for the sake of saving face, didn''t mention that it was the people of Realm Island who had provoked Zhang Menglong first, who had entered the island to rescue someone.


    Upon hearing this news, Karls and the others found it even harder to breathe.


    He had heard from Zhou Boquan that on Realm Island he wasn''t the strongest, as there were several elders with far more unfathomable powers above him.


    What kind of person was Zhou Boquan? A Level Five Heavenly Originator, who, if placed thousands of years ago, could have been considered a deity. Looking at all the psychics and Ancient Martial Artists worldwide, no one could withstand a single attack from him!


    He was that formidable, so how strong must the other elders on Realm Island and the owner of the island be? Weren''t they powerful enough to dispatch a child with a single punch?


    Such a place had been forcefully turned by Zhang Menglong into his personal "colony". Doesn''t that prove that Zhang Menglong''s strength was absolutely top-tier even among the Heavenly Originators?


    So what were they doing here? Were they courting death? Did those damned politicians not bother to investigate his background before asking them to take action?


    Just now, Zhang Menglong''s move, Buddha''s Fury Lotus, had crushed their psychological defenses, and this news had plunged them into despair.


    No wonder Zhang Menglong had seemed so indifferent from the start; he was utterly invincible, so of course, he didn''t care!


    Not to mention 300 top-tier god-like psychics ¨C even if there were 3,000 or even 30,000 of them, what difference would it make? There wasn''t a single capable fighter among them; more numbers were just more to be effortlessly defeated, why would he even consider running away?


    Now Karls finally understood why Zhang Menglong''s girlfriend was so calm when she called, and didn''t even worry a bit about her boyfriend''s safety. Perhaps she was also a master; she never thought for a moment that Zhang Menglong might be in any trouble!


    Think about it, if your boyfriend went out to step on an anthill, would you worry about him being killed by ants? Of course not!


    "Got your cellphone?" Zhang Menglong patted Zhou Boquan''s chest. "Let me borrow it!"


    "Yes, yes!" Zhou Boquan quickly took out his mobile phone and handed it to Zhang Menglong with both hands, even trembling continuously, "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by borrowing? It''s just a phone. If you like it, just take it!"


    "Do I lack the money for a cellphone?" Zhang Menglong gave Zhou Boquan a glance and then dialed Lu Yiyao''s number, directly starting a video call.


    "Menglong, are you alright? Why couldn''t I suddenly reach you just now?" Lu Yiyao asked; the call had dropped halfway, and even though she knew it was almost impossible for anything to happen to Zhang Menglong, she was still somewhat worried.


    "Oh, no problem, just accidentally smashed my phone." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Junior brother, how are you? Did those people do anything to you?" Zhang Menglong''s seniors were almost pressing their faces against the phone.


    "Not at all, they were quite welcoming, even inviting me to dinner," Zhang Menglong made up, while giving those psychics a close-up with his phone.


    Anyone believing his words would be fooling themselves. Though Zhang Menglong acted as if nothing had happened, to say nothing had happened when they all could see, did they really think they were blind?


    The stretch of road they had just passed was now scorched earth; the plain road had disappeared, looking as if it had suffered a terrorist attack.


    And those hundred or so psychics who were still alive were all drenched in blood, as if they had just returned from fighting in Syria.


    You''re telling me nothing just happened? That must be a blatant lie!


    "Menglong, I saw everything, there''s blood everywhere. Have you guys started fighting?" Zhang Menglong''s senior sister''s eyes misted with a layer of water.


    "No, how could we, how could we possibly start fighting?" Zhang Menglong aimed the camera at the psychics, "Guys, you came to invite me to dinner, right?"


    Zhang Menglong, holding a fireball in one hand, eyed them tigerishly. If they said "no," he would immediately hurl the fireball at them.


    "Yes, yes, yes, we are here to invite Mr. Zhang to visit our country."


    "That''s right, Mr. Zhang has a great reputation, and we all hold immense respect for him. We were just joking with Mr. Zhang earlier."


    The group of psychics immediately replied with smiles on their faces, using their broken Huaxia language.


    But seriously, who jokes around holding a rocket launcher? Could it be that Zhang Menglong had subdued them again without their knowledge?


    Considering the previous encounters during the journey, everyone was becoming more baffled by Zhang Menglong. It seemed that no matter the situation, he could always resolve it effortlessly.


    Moreover, it appeared that Zhang Menglong was not at a disadvantage now; he had even become the dominant figure at the scene.


    "Alright, I''ll let you know in advance if I am coming back."


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, and the atmosphere at the scene instantly became even more tense.


    Except for Zhou Boquan, everyone else looked dead and alive, and it was clear that Zhou had been dealt with by Zhang Menglong before. Would such a person still dare oppose Zhang Menglong?


    "Mr. Zhang, look, your friends are anxious for you to return. Why don''t you go back first?" Zhou Boquan said cautiously.


    "No, how can I go back?" Zhang Menglong said righteously, "You came with a mission, and if I don''t go back with you, you''ll fail to report your progress, failing your KPIs. If you don''t meet your KPIs, you won''t get your salary, and without a salary, you won''t be able to support your family. I can''t just watch your family fall apart, right?"


    Saying this, Zhang Menglong began to move forward, "Please make sure to take me back!"


    As Zhang Menglong took his first step, they began to step back in unison, as if they were not facing a single person, but an entire army.


    At that moment, Zhou Boquan understood. Zhang Menglong was not considering their welfare at all! He wanted to meet the mastermind behind these repeated actions against him!


    If they really took Zhang Menglong back, the consequences would be unimaginable, but if they didn''t, they would have to meet their Maker!


    At that moment, Bills''s communicator rang.


    "Bills, how are things going? Did you capture Zhang Menglong?"


    The scene suddenly fell silent.


    Bills looked at Zhang Menglong, not knowing what to say.


    Zhang Menglong smiled at him, nodded his head slightly, and rubbed out another massive fireball.


    "Captured... we captured him!" Bills hurriedly said, "We lost half of our people, and only after Mr. Zhou took action were we able to subdue him."


    "Lost half?" The voice on the other end was very surprised, clearly not expecting Zhang Menglong to be so tough, "But capturing him is worth it. Bring him back. He must still have a lot of secrets on him. This time, this troublemaker must be completely dealt with!"


    "I''ll send a special aircraft right away. The people of South Africa will fully cooperate with you."


    "Yes!"


    After ending the communication, Bills looked helplessly towards Zhang Menglong.


    "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and tie me up! I''m thinking of your welfare!"

 Chapter 686 - 684 Are You Ready?

    In Huaxia''s Jiangnan City, at Zhang Menglong''s home.


    "Miss Hong Yi, we lost infinite communication with the master a few minutes ago; it seems he has been taken to an area beyond our communication frequency''s reach."


    "Have you contacted Ye Yin?" asked Hong Yi.


    "We have. Ye Yin''s brain quantum waves relayed a message that the master is all right; he had already dealt with those people, but it seems he started playing around again."


    "I know," nodded Hong Yi, "Mr. Zhang mentioned that if we can''t reach him, we should start taking action. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "Yes, I understand. We prepared everything half a month ago. 12,000 operators are ready, and one quadrillion US dollars in liquid funds is also in place. In half a day, it could crash the currency market in any region."


    "Alright, let''s proceed as Mr. Zhang instructed. If we can''t contact him via wireless communication within three hours, start the operation."


    "Yes!"


    ...


    After nearly three and a half hours of flying, Zhang Menglong had arrived above a kelp patch in the Atlantic Ocean. The plane began to slow down as daylight broke.


    This was the Supernaturals Alliance''s strategic plane, a single unit costing over 12 billion US dollars. It featured an alloy stronger than titanium alloy. Its immense power granted it almost a fifth of the speed of intercontinental missiles, reducing flight time from South Africa to America to under three hours!


    However, due to its high cost and the scarcity of materials, the Supernaturals Alliance had only three such planes. The fact that they had deployed one to capture Zhang Menglong indicated how seriously they regarded him.


    Despite this, the atmosphere inside the plane was rather solemn. Half of the 300 psychics on board had died, and more than half of the remaining individuals were severely injured, with only about twenty of the more powerful psychics suffering minor injuries.


    These individuals, along with Zhou Boquan, were tasked with "escorting" Zhang Menglong. They were extremely reluctant, a thousandfold over. Had they known about this mission, they would have preferred to get injured on purpose earlier!


    Zhang Menglong, although his wrists were bound with special handcuffs, continued to watch "Brothers Who Brave Through Thorns" on his tablet. The laughter sounding as if it came from a goose farm was broadcast intermittently, showing no signs of someone being kidnapped.


    "Ah!" A psychic was tending to his wounds next to him; his entire arm was almost burnt to a crisp, and another psychic was helping him disinfect it.


    Among the psychics, there was a special type¡ªthe healer. They could use their supernatural abilities to accelerate cell division and differentiation, leading to rapid healing of wounds. However, these healers were very crucial and usually well-protected, not participating in any risky operations.


    Thus, many high-ranking, severely injured psychics were sent to these special healers for treatment.


    Even for the psychics managing the wounds, the pain was intense enough to make them grimace.


    At that moment, a shoehorn flew straight into his head.


    "What are you screaming about? Slaughtering pigs? Can''t you see I''m watching a variety show? Be quiet!" Zhang Menglong glared fiercely at the psychic.


    The psychic''s eyes welled up with tears, but he dared not speak out. He could only quietly remove his own shoes and bite down on them. "Continue treating the wound."


    "Hiss! Mhm!" This time, he managed to keep silent.


    "Smack!" Another shoehorn smacked onto his head. "Can you not do this in front of me? I haven''t eaten yet, and the sight of blood turns my stomach!"


    The psychic wiped his tears and, cradling his injured arm, walked to a corner of the plane...


    An island finally appeared in Zhang Menglong''s view. It was enveloped by a multitude of signal jammers, blocking any transmission of signals. Right there, it hosted a multi-national, multi-regional base of the American-centered Psychics'' Alliance.


    In this place, extensive human body research was conducted, imprisoning many psychics.


    These psychics either went mad with murder and were thus confined here.


    Some were too powerful to control, forcibly imprisoned by unspeakable methods.


    Others were detained due to conflicting ideologies.


    Rather than a research facility, it was more akin to a prison.


    Several planes circled the sky, while patrols were constant across the island. At the plane''s landing site, a group of psychics awaited anxiously, as if facing a formidable enemy.


    "You should know what should and shouldn''t be said," Zhang Menglong threatened, "If anyone screws up my show, think carefully about the consequences!"


    All the psychics shuddered and then nodded meekly, knowing that the arrival of Zhang Menglong would soon turn this Supernaturals Alliance base into a Shura Field.


    Using the dean''s ring, Zhang Menglong scanned the entire island.


    Apart from the twenty or so psychics by his side, there were over 1200 psychics on the island, though most were weaker, with only a couple hundred above God-level psychics.


    However, deep underground on the island, there were hints of a few who were about to surpass God-level psychics, with one even reaching 22 units of energy intensity.


    But the life energy of that person was extremely weak, as if already on the verge of death.


    He was escorted off the plane and, under the strict supervision of hundreds of psychics, entered a silver-white building underground.


    "Bang!" Zhang Menglong was locked in a silver-white room, separated only by a glass pane with no one on the other side, just something that looked like a display screen.


    "Zzzzz!" Accompanied by a burst of electrical noise, several silhouettes suddenly appeared on the display screen.


    "Zhang Menglong, we finally meet," the leader said with an exceptionally radiant smile.


    "Fuck, speak Huaxia, I don''t understand that crap!" Zhang Menglong said, sitting on a chair with his legs crossed, not even glancing at him.


    "Zhang Menglong, you still dare to talk tough in this place?" the middle-aged man said, "Do you know that anyone confined here either stays imprisoned for life or dies?"


    "Who are you?"


    "Let me introduce myself. My name is Brutus, from the American Supernaturals Alliance. It was my idea to bring you here."


    "Oh, so you''re the one who invited me over?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''m hungry, you can get me some food now!"


    "Hahaha! Zhang Menglong, you''re still playing it cool here?" Brutus laughed, "Do you think we would spare your life for no reason? Your family must hold many secrets, given its 5000-year lineage, and the fact that you could kill over a hundred God-level psychics by yourself shows just how many secrets you have!"


    "And then what?"


    "Hand over your secrets, and I can grant you a slightly less painful death. Otherwise, my laboratory has many inhumane devices that I''m sure you wouldn''t want to experience," he threatened.


    "Do you know the consequences of capturing me?" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Brutus''s expression suddenly changed. Had Zhang Menglong instructed his subordinates to do something?


    "Do you really think I, Zhang Menglong, am someone who doesn''t retaliate when bullied?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "I simply haven''t bothered to deal with you yet. Right now, 12,000 operators are in place, and $100 trillion in cash flow is ready. If my people don''t contact me in three hours, your capital markets will be swiftly attacked by this money!"


    Zhang Menglong checked his watch, "Hmm, it''s been over six hours already. Too bad the markets aren''t open yet, but are you prepared?"

 Chapter 687 - 685: The Money Isnt Even Warm Yet

    Jiangnan City, Huaxia.


    "Miss Hong Yi, the master''s signal has been gone for three hours!"


    "I know," Hong Yi nodded, "Do these people repeatedly infringe on Mr. Zhang and really think he can''t deal with them? Is everyone ready?"


    "Ready, our 12,000 traders have formed 89 teams and have built their positions, just waiting for your command."


    "Good, the moment the market opens, start the operation immediately. I want to see them all blow up their accounts in the shortest time!"


    "Yes, Miss Hong Yi!"


    "Operation code name, Plan Three Lights, be prepared to stand by!"


    ...


    "Damn that Zhang Menglong!" Grave had just approved the funds swindled by Zhang Menglong from the fiscal budget, and the already tight national treasury funds had visibly decreased by a significant amount.


    Fortunately, domestic car purchases could be paid for with their local currency, otherwise, given their current US Dollar reserves, they really wouldn''t be able to pay much!


    Originally, there were only a few hundred billion US Dollars in foreign exchange, and most of it was distributed among major South African banks. In the operation more than a month ago, only forty to fifty billion US Dollars remained, and their country seemed to be poorer than ever before.


    "If someone attacks our foreign exchange market at this time, we really wouldn''t be able to withstand it," Grave smirked bitterly, but as a developed country, ordinarily no one would be bold enough to provoke their displeasure.


    "However, this is not a solution," Grave pondered for a moment. Although the country''s strength deterred ordinary people from plundering their foreign exchange market, to be feared, you must first have bullets in hand.


    But accumulating US Dollar foreign exchange through regular foreign trade transactions was truly like a drop in the bucket. Don''t look at Huaxia accumulating several trillion US Dollars in foreign exchange; that was the result of 40 years of consistent saving.


    Yet money couldn''t be conjured out of thin air. With their current market size, just a few hundred billion US Dollars flowing into their foreign exchange market could easily plunder what little they had left, and then cause the value of their own currency to plummet.


    "Director, don''t we still have a considerable amount of US Treasury bonds?" Grave''s assistant suggested, "Now is a special period, we could sell these bonds first, and continue purchasing once our reserves recover to a certain scale. Honestly, the interest on those isn''t of much value."


    "That''s a good idea!" Grave nodded, "How much in Treasury bonds do we still hold?"


    "Around 24 billion US Dollars, I suggest we sell them all," Grave''s assistant suggested, "Those large capitals dare not easily enter our foreign exchange market, but some smaller capitals are very rampant. This month, approximately 2 billion US Dollars of international speculator funds have entered our market. With this money, we can operate easily and swallow them whole!"


    "Now you''re talking!" Grave laughed, the 24 billion US Dollars in Treasury bonds'' annual return was not even 1 billion US Dollars. If they sold them, they could easily make a profit of 2 billion. Wasn''t that tempting?


    "Let''s do it then. I''ll communicate with the higher-ups. It''s a special period, so let''s go on and sell directly!"


    "Yes!"


    US Treasury bonds have a daily market turnover of six to seven hundred billion US Dollars, and the 24 billion US Dollars of Treasury bonds they introduced to the market seemed not to have caused even a ripple.


    "Hmm? Someone took them off our hands so quickly?" Although surprised, they did not take it to heart, as in truth, 24 billion US Dollars wasn''t really a large order, and many countries could easily absorb it.


    It wasn''t just South Africa; the last operation targeting Zhang Menglong had caused significant damage to many parties, even leading some countries to see decades of painstakingly accumulated foreign exchange reserves vanish overnight.


    Many people also thought of this method, after all, there were almost 25 trillion US Dollars worth of Treasury bonds worldwide. In a time when everyone was weakened, this was indeed the only way to go.


    There was no choice; the currency market needed to be stable, and foreign trade transactions still required US Dollars. If the US Dollar reserves were depleted, they would not be able to continue doing business internationally!


    Over the past month, nearly 20 billion US Dollars worth of Treasury bonds have been sold on the market!


    This was not a good sign. If these Treasury bonds found no takers, then the consequences would be nothing short of disastrous.


    If the Treasury bonds lacked buyers, the US Dollar''s credibility would decline rapidly, causing the US Dollar to depreciate rapidly. The result would be widespread inflation and economic crisis in countries using the US Dollar.


    This situation even caused these countries to break out in a cold sweat; it was like testing the edges of death with insanity!


    But unexpectedly, there were so many willing to take over the burden; perhaps it was the other half of the countries that had not participated in targeting Zhang Menglong, seizing the opportunity to harvest a wave of US Treasury bonds. After all, it''s still the most universally used currency, and as long as there''s no significant devaluation, an interest rate of just over 4 percent is quite a considerable profit.


    No one noticed, though, that even though those buyers were from different institutions, they all pointed back to the same person behind the scenes¡ªZhang Menglong!


    Of this transaction volume of 20 trillion US dollars, he had gobbled up 18 trillion worth of US Treasury bonds, with the remainder being almost gone, apart from those that could not be traded on the secondary market.


    And he had paid a price of 18 trillion US dollars to completely take in these Treasury bonds.


    To deal with other countries, just throwing money would suffice, but the biggest opponent wasn''t that simple. After all, their domestic currency is the US dollar. Trying to use money to crush them would probably require tens of trillions of US dollars, and even then, it might not be enough to break them.


    ...


    "Miss Hong Yi, we have now almost swept up all the US Treasuries on the secondary market. Most of the selling countries were those involved in targeting Mr. Zhang," said the assistant.


    "They must be congratulating themselves for buying those Treasury bonds at the time, right?" Hong Yi''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "But they might not know that they haven''t even had the chance to enjoy their money before having to cough it up again!"


    "Miss Hong, your tactics are brilliant. Knowing they''re all short of US currency reserves right now, you''ve made them hand over all their foreign reserves like this. Nearly 20 trillion, if it worked together it wouldn''t be so easy to deal with, but scattered, it''s like taking candy from a baby!"


    "Hmph! As if Mr. Zhang''s money is that easy to take? Let them have their little moment of happiness for now. Wait until the market opens, we''ll send them a big ''gift''!"


    "Once they don''t have a dime left, we''ll dump these Treasury bonds. Then we''ll see who can take over. By then... heh heh, the US dollar will probably become worthless, right?"


    "Miss Hong, it''s almost 9:30 in South Africa''s time zone!"


    "Dare to assist those damned psychics against Mr. Zhang? We''ll start with them. Build positions¡ªsmash them for me!"


    ...


    The clock in South Africa ticked to the opening of the market, and in that instant, despair descended.


    "Ding-ding-ding..."


    "This is Grave."


    "Mr. Grave, our currency market has just been flooded with 50 billion US dollars. The exchange rate has been hammered down, and our currency is plummeting!"


    "What''s going on? Where are all these short-sellers coming from?"


    "Don''t know. These short orders came out of nowhere... Another 50 billion just came in!"


    "Mr. Grave, our entire national US dollar reserves are less than 30 billion dollars. We can''t hold it any longer!"


    "Hold on! I''m going to seek help right away!"


    ...


    "Mr. Bodick, our currency market is under attack. Do you have any US dollar reserves to spare..."


    "What? You''ve been attacked too? You''ve blown up your account?"


    "Mr. Himmels, you..."


    "Ah? You want a loan too? You were hit with 200 billion US dollars?"


    ...


    With every call, Grave realized that those he''d turned to were in the same dire straits. A flood of capital had made those countries with less than 100 billion dollars in foreign reserves blow up in less than five minutes, while those with slightly more were still struggling desperately. On the other hand, it seemed that their opponent was in no hurry at all.


    Ah, just playing!

 Chapter 688 - 686: Ask Them Who Dares to Touch Me

    "Mr. Britos, it seems like your companion has something to say to you!" Confined in the interrogation room, Zhang Menglong didn''t resemble a prisoner but more like a boss who came for a visit.


    Britos turned around to see a middle-aged man beside him, looking like he was on the verge of speaking but hesitated.


    "What''s the matter? Do you have something to say?" Britos asked.


    "Britos," the middle-aged man leaned in to whisper, "just now, the currency markets of 13 alliance nations are in crisis. Over two trillion US dollars have poured into their currency markets, and four of them have completely collapsed in less than five minutes. The remaining nine are struggling to hold on..."


    "What did you say?" Britos looked at Zhang Menglong, realizing that what he had just claimed was actually true!


    "Mr. Britos, it seems you''re already aware of what has happened?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Sorry for the inconvenience, I''ve always been rather fond of life and afraid of death. Since you''ve gone out of your way to try and kill me, I can only be ready to respond at any time. How do you like this gift?"


    "Hmph! Zhang Menglong, don''t forget that you''re still just a prisoner at the foot of the throne. You have no right to negotiate with us. Do you think with these methods you can make me release you?"


    "Oh, I have no plans to leave here for the time being, do I?" Zhang Menglong casually crossed his legs.


    Clearly, Britos failed to grasp the meaning of "for the time being" in what Zhang Menglong had said. He even thought that Zhang Menglong had accepted his fate and upcoming outcome.


    "I''m thirsty. Get me a Frappuccino! I want vanilla flavor, a large one, and throw in a few macarons!"


    "Zhang Menglong!" Britos slammed the table fiercely, "Do you think we brought you here for a meal?"


    "Isn''t that the case?" Zhang Menglong replied, "Give you one hour''s time. I want to see the food I ordered in front of me."


    "Zhang Menglong, what makes you think you have the right to negotiate with us here?" Britos said, "Do you think just with these, you can threaten us? Don''t forget, our printing press prints US dollars!"


    Britos said to the person beside him, "Tell the banks to allocate a sum of money for them!"


    "Are you sure?" Zhang Menglong replied, "How much money do you even have available now? Fifty trillion or sixty trillion? You have more than two trillion national debt. If you continue borrowing money, do you even have funds to pay the debt?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "I''ve prepared a hundred quadrillion US dollars for this time, come at them with all you''ve got if you dare!"


    "A hundred quadrillion US dollars?" Britos inhaled sharply. Whose printing press was it, America''s or Zhang Menglong''s? A hundred quadrillion dollars, that''s close to their five years'' GDP. How on earth did he accumulate that? And it''s all in cash!


    "Actually, there wasn''t that much to begin with," Zhang Menglong said, "just that a month ago, I was given forty-five trillion for nothing, a huge windfall!"


    Britos''s teeth grinded with a gnashing sound. Indeed, they printed US dollars, but how could they counter such a staggering scale of funds, a hundred quadrillion US dollars? It would only end up giving more money to Zhang Menglong!


    "Mr. Britos, in just the past few minutes, three more countries have collapsed, and Zhang Menglong has already made nearly 100 billion US dollars."


    "Damn it!" Staring at Zhang Menglong''s smug expression, Britos almost wished he could flay him alive at that moment, but Zhang Menglong couldn''t be killed yet; his secrets had not been fully unearthed.


    "Mr. Britos, please help us. If our currency continues to depreciate, our nation''s economy will be finished!" The representatives of the 88 countries were all gathered here. They had hoped to redeem themselves today, but not only had Zhang Menglong not been sanctioned, they instead received one piece of bad news after another.


    "Zhang Menglong, order your people to stop their actions, or I will make you suffer first!"


    "Why so fierce?" Zhang Menglong said grievously, "If you want me to give orders, shouldn''t you at least provide me with a communicator?"


    "Give it to him!" Britos signaled to someone beside him with a glance.


    The specialized metal door opened, and a god-level Psychic entered, handing what looked like an old-fashioned cellular phone to Zhang Menglong. On this island, communication was blocked, and connecting with the outside world required special devices.


    Zhang Menglong quickly contacted Hong Yi.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve managed to escape?" Hong Yi was somewhat surprised; hadn''t Zhang Menglong said he wanted to play around for a bit longer?


    "No, they''re too welcoming to let me go," he responded.


    "Really?" Hong Yi could tell from Zhang Menglong''s tone that he was being sarcastic again.


    "Yeah, they''re going to treat me to a Frappuccino later!" Zhang Menglong said, "What''s the situation with the battle now?"


    "Our operators have already taken action in 28 target markets, and currently, 11 have blown up. The remaining 17 are still resisting, and we''ve made about 338 billion US dollars in profit so far."


    "Mmm, nicely done, keep it up, there are still 60 targets!"


    "Zhang Menglong!" Britos was furious, "I told your subordinates to stop, not to ask about the results of the battle!"


    "Oh right, I forgot the main point," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "Hong Yi, don''t stop, increase the attack intensity. Make all those 17 markets collapse within 10 minutes!"


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong! What are you doing?" Hearing Zhang Menglong''s order, the representatives of the psychic organizations from those 17 countries couldn''t hold back any longer.


    "Didn''t you tell me to stop? As soon as I blow them all up, I naturally will stop. Is there something wrong with you?"


    "You... you''re asking for it!" Their fingers pointed at Zhang Menglong, trembling uncontrollably, almost as if they were about to develop Parkinson''s from the rage.


    "I just love that look on your face, where you want to kill me but can''t," Zhang Menglong continued to provoke.


    "Zhang Menglong, do you really think we''re being so nice to you because we''re afraid of you?" Britos said, "First, break one of his legs for me."


    "This..." The two psychics standing by Zhang Menglong''s side looked at each other, aware that they were part of the 302 psychics who had participated in the attempt to capture Zhang Menglong. They had already seen how formidable Zhang Menglong was; he was only here because he wanted to play around. Otherwise, who could capture him?


    "What are you two waiting for, is my order not effective?" Britos roared.


    But the two psychics still didn''t move, their gazes constantly shifting evasively.


    "Hahaha, ask them, which one of them dares to touch me?"


    "What''s the matter with you two?"


    "Mr. Britos... I... we don''t dare!"


    "Hahaha, see, they said they don''t dare!"


    "What are you afraid of? He''s just a prisoner at the foot, his hands are cuffed, what can he do?" Britos was almost screaming.


    "Snap!" No sooner had he finished speaking than the specially made alloy handcuffs snapped, "Haven''t they told you, I wasn''t captured, I came willingly?"


    Britos'' pupils almost visibly dilated a notch, what did this mean?


    "Wait a minute!" Britos fell deep into thought.


    According to the reports, Zhang Menglong had no bodyguards, and to capture him this time, they had lost more than 160 god-level psychics, with nearly everyone else injured, which indicated Zhang Menglong''s tremendous strength!


    If he had been captured, it must have been a fierce battle.


    But Zhang Menglong didn''t look at all like someone who had been through a great battle, he didn''t even seem to have any injuries from the outside!


    If he had no injuries, how was he captured?


    "Wrong! Zhang Menglong hasn''t been subdued!" Britos had never imagined that deploying 302 god-level psychics and even employing a Heavenly Origin Boundary martial artist like Zhou Boquan, they hadn''t injured Zhang Menglong at all.


    If he wasn''t captured, then coming here of his own volition...


    Zhang Menglong tossed the handcuffs aside and pointed at Britos, "You two, go break his hands for me!"

 Chapter 689 - 687: Its Easy to Invite the Buddha, but Hard to Send Him Away

    "Mr. Zhang, we..."


    The two psychics turned ghostly pale in an instant, caught between their immediate superior on the one hand and Zhang Menglong, this devil, on the other, they suddenly felt stuck between a rock and a hard place.


    "What''s the matter, my words don''t carry weight?" Zhang Menglong clenched his fists until they crackled, "If you''re unwilling to break his hand, then I''ll start by slaughtering the both of you!"


    This statement sent shivers down the spines of the two psychics. They believed that Zhang Menglong definitely had the strength to do it, knowing that just a few hours earlier, he had defeated over a hundred divine-level psychics in a single move, and at that moment they vaguely sensed that the energy intensity erupting from Zhang Menglong had already exceeded 30 units.


    Was this something they could possibly resist?


    Even though Britos was a member of the Supernaturals Alliance, he was just a normal person, primarily responsible for the handover of work between the Supernaturals Alliance and the official centers of power, which is to say, he played a role akin to a political commissar.


    For two psychics to break the hand of an ordinary person was as easy as eating.


    But if they broke Britos'' hand, they could kiss their futures in the Supernaturals Alliance goodbye! As long as Britos didn''t die today, they would probably be relentlessly hunted down afterwards.


    But if they did not obey Zhang Menglong''s order, they might not live through the day!


    One choice held a glimmer of hope for survival; worst case scenario, they could change their names and go incognito. With their skills, they could find a living anywhere, and the wealth they had amassed over the years was more than enough for them to live like worry-free millionaires in a place Britos could never find.


    Whereas the other choice was to drop dead on the spot. Unless their brains were malfunctioning, they would never pick the latter.


    "Mr. Britos, we''re sorry, we want to live!"


    The two psychics directly left the room, heading toward where Britos and the others were.


    "What are you doing? Are you rebelling? I guarantee you, if you lay a finger on me today, there will be no place for you in the whole world!" Britos panicked, "Stop them! Somebody, come!"


    As a base for the Supernaturals Alliance, there were many other strong psychics present, and they had not taken part in the campaign against Zhang Menglong. They immediately formed a protective ring around Britos and the others.


    "Zhou Boquan, some people are trying to protect him, handle it!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "What? Zhou Boquan? You too..." If Britos had been feeling fear before, now he was utterly despairing.


    In the entire Supernaturals Alliance, no one could match Zhou Boquan, the Heavenly Origin Boundary Ancient Martial Artist. Even if everyone teamed up, they couldn''t harm a hair on his head, even if Zhou Boquan stood still and relied solely on his Inner Strength for defense, these psychics'' attacks would be like scraping an itch, such was the vast chasm between their realms!


    "Anyone who doesn''t want to die, step back!" Zhou Boquan, dressed in simple cloth, entered the conference room. His presence made the atmosphere around him congeal.


    "Zhou Boquan, the Supernaturals Alliance has treated you well. Why would you help him? Could it be that you joined the Supernaturals Alliance just for this day?" Britos stepped back with each word.


    "You all are really giving yourselves too much credit," Zhou Boquan said with a wry smile, "To destroy your so-called Supernaturals Alliance, what need is there for any plots and intrigues?"


    "Then you..."


    "You''ve always wanted to know why I left Realm Island, haven''t you? Now I''ll tell you, it all has to do with Mr. Zhang."


    "He... he''s the one who conquered your Realm Island?" In that instant, Britos really felt his blood pressure skyrocket. Zhang Menglong was that person who even the Island Master could not handle?


    At that moment, the two psychics had already rushed into the conference room.


    "You... don''t come any closer!"


    But no one heeded him as they walked straight up to Britos.


    There were two crisp "snap, snap" sounds, and Britos'' arms suddenly drooped helplessly down.


    "Hey hey hey, what are you doing? I only said to break one of his hands. Why are you two so full of malice? A man''s word is his bond; if I said one hand, then it should be just one hand. Reattach the other one!"


    One of the psychics grabbed Britos'' arm, not caring about his screams of agony, and just reattached his limb right then and there.


    "Ahh!" Whether it was being dislocated or reattached, Britos was in excruciating pain.


    "Zhang Menglong, you..." Brutus looked at Zhang Menglong, but Zhang Menglong was no longer in the room.


    "Do you now realize your situation?" Zhang Menglong''s voice rang out, and to everyone''s surprise, he was already sitting on a sofa not far away.


    Everyone in the conference room shrank into the corner, each lowering their heads, not daring to meet his gaze, fearing that Zhang Menglong would shoot the birds that stick out their heads.


    "Do you all think I have a good temper?"


    "First, you colluded to bankrupt me, then sent fighters to intercept me, and now you''ve mobilized so many psychics to capture me. Do you think I''m without temper?"


    "Let me tell you, as long as I haven''t left here, they will continue to attack your financial markets, but I guess you won''t hold out for long, right? How much money do you have left? At most, you''ve only got a few hundred billion US Dollars left, right?"


    Zhang Menglong once again turned on the communicator, directly turning the volume up to the maximum.


    "Hong Yi, how''s it going?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the financial markets of all 41 countries and regions in the time zone have all collapsed. Currently, our earnings are about 1.8 trillion US Dollars."


    "Tsk! A bunch of paupers!" Zhang Menglong showed a look of disdain; on average, this was also less than 500 billion US Dollars.


    The representatives of the Supernaturals Alliance each wore a wry smile¡ªthey had no choice. Their US Dollar reserves had dwindled significantly a month ago and what they had left now was truly the bottom of the barrel, as they were so poor they were down to their last clothing!


    "You''re still laughing?" Zhang Menglong pointed at Brutus, "You think I can''t deal with you? You think just because you print US Dollars that you would be spared this time?"


    "Hong Yi, how many US Dollar bonds do we have on hand right now?"


    "Mr. Zhang, approximately 18 trillion!"


    "Good, dump all of them!"


    "What?" Brutus went pale as he heard this; when had Zhang Menglong secretly disposed of so many bonds?


    In normal times, surely there would be buyers willing to take over and they wouldn''t have to worry about devaluation.


    But now it was different¡ªthe foreign exchange markets of all 88 countries had collapsed, their national treasuries and bank reserves completely emptied of US Dollars. Even if they wanted to take over the bonds, they didn''t have the money!


    If Zhang Menglong were to dump these bonds now, there would simply be no buyers!


    What would the result be? The credibility of the US Dollar would be lost, the country''s international status would instantly decline, leading to a rapid devaluation!


    If they had to handle these debts, they would need someone to take them on. Could domestic institutions absorb such a huge amount of debt? If they could, the majority of these bonds wouldn''t be in foreigners'' hands.


    There would only be one other option¡ªto print 18 trillion US Dollars!


    If they dared turn on the printing press, the US Dollar would rapidly devalue, inflation would surge, and the economy would collapse¡ªall in the blink of an eye.


    Moreover, the impact would mean no country would choose to use US Dollars for settlements in the future; the consequences would be fatal.


    As long as Zhang Menglong didn''t leave here, the blow would be fatal to every country represented by the people in the room!


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, this is all a misunderstanding. We''ll send someone to take you back immediately!"


    "Yes, yes, a misunderstanding. We invited you here this time only to apologize for the incidents before."


    "Exactly, you see, we''ve lost so much. You''re a magnanimous man. Just name your compensation!"


    At this moment, every person had lost all shame, ready to sell their souls if only Zhang Menglong would stop this ruthless financial onslaught!


    "Haven''t you heard an old saying from our Huaxia?"


    "The so-called ''it''s easy to invite the Buddha, but difficult to send him away.'' You beckon me over, and I come, you tell me to leave and I should just go? Don''t I have any dignity?"

 Chapter 690 - 688 Im Not Picky About Mineral Land

    "Zhang Menglong, do you really want to end up in a situation where it''s either do or die with us?"


    "What, fishing net? I prefer black silk," Zhang Menglong quipped.


    "Do you think you are the only one with a trump card? We don''t have one?" Britos said, "Let me be honest with you. This time, we''ve made extensive preparations to deal with you, and no matter how powerful you are, the people around you can''t all be that strong, right?"


    "You''ve brought a lot of friends to South Africa this time, haven''t you?" Britos threatened, "The moment you set foot in South Africa, we''ve had people watching them, and if we lose contact on our side, they will immediately take action to kill your friends!"


    "So you''re threatening me now?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed.


    "No, this isn''t a threat, I''m negotiating with you," said Britos, as if he really had leverage over Zhang Menglong, "As long as Mr. Zhang is willing to back down, stop all economic offensives, and leave this place, we can write off all past issues. How about that?"


    "Not so good!" Zhang Menglong replied bluntly, "Have I lost my mind or something? It''s clearly you who have been bothering me all the time, and now you''re talking to me about writing things off?"


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t you care about your friends?" Britos said, "With just one order from me, 10 God-level psychics will immediately take your friends'' lives. Are you a man without feelings as well?"


    "I''m begging you to do it, just get on with it!" Zhang Menglong''s tone was exaggerated, "If you don''t do it, you''re my grandson!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you will regret this!" Britos, lifting his incredibly painful arm, pressed the communicator on his wrist. "Kill all of Zhang Menglong''s friends immediately!"


    But several seconds passed, and there was no response from the other end of the communicator.


    "What''s going on?" Britos suddenly became nervous. In the few minutes before Zhang Menglong arrived at the base, to ensure nothing went wrong, he had communicated with the psychics arranged around Zhang Menglong''s friends.


    At his command, they could act at any moment.


    Yet now, those psychics had somehow lost contact with him.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, there were a total of 10 God-level psychics ambushing around Miss Lu and the others, and they have all been taken out!"


    At this point, Ye Yin also stepped out of the shadows.


    In this place, wireless communication was ineffective, but a person as powerful as Ye Yin could already communicate globally through energy.


    The politicians suddenly shrank back, realizing that Zhang Menglong had all along had a person by his side, and they hadn''t even noticed!


    "Let me introduce you, this is my personal bodyguard," Zhang Menglong said, "His strength is probably more than ten times greater than mine. If you don''t believe it, you can try it."


    "Oh, and by the way, my friends are protected by people just as powerful as him, so your talk of mutual destruction doesn''t exist!"


    "Snap!"


    Britos collapsed into his chair.


    The psychics lurking around Lu Yiyao and the others were their last trump card, but it seemed this last card had been torn to shreds.


    "I really can''t understand who gave you the courage to provoke me time and again. Was it Liang Jingru?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, it was all Britos''s plan, it has nothing to do with us!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, we were forced, as you know, we are just some small countries, we dare not disobey the orders of the Supernaturals Alliance!"


    "Mr. Zhang, please let us go. From now on, we will steer clear of the Supernaturals Alliance and will never dare to infringe upon Huaxia again, and our Second World powers will all respect Longxia!"


    At this moment, to save their lives, these people abandoned their dignity altogether, willing to do anything to preserve their names.


    "This..." Zhang Menglong looked as though he were considering, "Ever since I came in I''ve been saying I wanted a Frappuccino, but how come no one has prepared it for me yet?"


    "Mr. Zhang wants a Frappuccino, get someone to prepare it immediately!"


    "Send a Psychic over directly! Find one with Ice Attribute, absolutely must not ruin the taste of the Frappuccino!"


    "Right, Mr. Zhang also mentioned wanting to eat macarons just now."


    ...


    Minutes later, with the cooperation of several speed-type Psychics and those with Ice Attribute, a Frappuccino still perfectly preserved in flavor was delivered into Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    "Slurp!" Zhang Menglong took a big sip and immediately showed a look of enjoyment, "Not bad, not bad at all, your service is quite thoughtful!"


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s praise, those people immediately breathed a sigh of relief.


    But they were still on tenterhooks, firstly, because their currency market had collapsed, and the economy had taken a fatal hit. Even if Zhang Menglong spared them now, the impact had been made, unless a large influx of US Dollars came in to help stabilize the exchange rate.


    Secondly, Zhang Menglong was fickle, and this time they had nearly offended him to death. Now they didn''t even know if they could leave here alive.


    "Next, let''s talk about compensation," Zhang Menglong said, "Let''s settle both the new grudges and the old. Now, give me an explanation."


    "Mr. Zhang, you just say whatever compensation you want, as long as we can afford it, we will make it happen for you."


    "Forget it, who makes me such a magnanimous person?" Zhang Menglong sighed.


    Hearing this, the crowd loosened up a bit, thinking that perhaps Zhang Menglong wouldn''t demand an exorbitant compensation after all?


    "I won''t ask for much from you, just a small token, 100 billion US Dollars from each of you, and we''ll call it even!"


    "100 billion US Dollars?"


    "This is what you call a ''small token''? What do you mean by that?"


    "Is this your idea of being ''magnanimous''?"


    The people present were almost in tears.


    Their US Dollar reserves had already been stretched to the limit, and they had reluctantly sold a significant amount of US Treasury bonds to replenish them a little.


    But before they could even get their hands on this money, Zhang Menglong''s financial maneuvers had swept it clean. Now, except for America, it wasn''t just 100 billion dollars they couldn''t afford, but even raising 10 billion might require crowdfunding from the public, which might not even succeed.


    "What''s the matter? Too much, you''re not willing?" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s not that we don''t want to give, we genuinely can''t come up with that much money in dollars now!"


    "Yeah, Mr. Zhang, all the US Dollars in the world are in your hands now, where are we supposed to get that from?"


    "True," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Well, if you don''t have dollars, that''s fine too. You can give me 600 billion Huaxia currency instead, see how kind I am, even giving you a discount!"


    Burritos cursed Zhang Menglong inwardly, what kind of discount is this, your father''s? Zhang Menglong just dumped 18 trillion US dollars'' worth of treasury bonds without any buyers, leading directly to a plummet in the value of the dollar, and now the exchange rate to Huaxia currency had already decreased to 1:5.9! These 100 billion dollars aren''t even worth 600 billion Huaxia currency now!


    And what country would stockpile Huaxia currency as foreign exchange? Huaxia currency isn''t the currency used for international trade settlements!


    "Look, you don''t stockpile such a good foreign exchange as Huaxia currency, preferring to hoard these useless dollars. Now you know you''re in trouble, don''t you?"


    "How about this, I won''t make it hard for you, I''ll take any country''s currency, as long as you come up with the equivalent value of 100 billion US Dollars."


    "If you really don''t have the money, you can also offset the debt with assets, whether it''s a gold mine, silver mine, diamond mine, real estate, I''m not picky!"

 Chapter 691 - 689: Bring Money for Ransom

    ```


    "Alright! 100 billion US dollars it is!" At this juncture, they had no choice but to meet Zhang Menglong''s demands.


    Though 100 billion US dollars'' worth of currency, resources, or cultural relics and lands was not a small sum, by hook or by crook, it could be scrounged up. At worst, the nation''s economic development would be set back a few years, which was certainly better than all dying here, right?


    It''s known that nowadays, besides economic and technological levels, the most important gauge of a nation''s strength is how many powerhouses it has in the Second World; this is a country''s true foundation and simply cannot be lost here.


    "Hold on, where do you think you''re going?" Zhang Menglong noticed their readiness to leave and quickly called them all back, "Where are you off to?"


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re going back to raise the money."


    "Going back?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do you think this is a dinner invitation, that you can leave whenever you please?"


    "Clap, clap!" Zhang Menglong clapped his hands.


    In an instant, formidable auras appeared in every corner of the island. These figures floated in the sky, their power unfathomable, dressed in uniforms bearing the logo of the Zhang Menglong family.


    "Let''s see who dares to leave now!"


    This overwhelming presence made it hard for everyone to breathe.


    They thought Zhang Menglong was frightening enough; who would have guessed he harbored even more inscrutable bodyguards by his side?


    Initially, everyone thought this was the full extent of Zhang Menglong''s capabilities. They couldn''t have imagined that with a mere call to arms, such a force would appear!


    Wasn''t there said to be only one Heavenly Origin Realm expert in Huaxia, with Realm Island already being an exception? Then how to explain these hundred and eighty or so people in the sky? Had the Huaxia people activated some sort of cheat code?


    "Don''t be surprised. These are just a small squad of bodyguards from our family. In our household, there are thousands more like them!"


    "Thousands..." Everyone fell into silence.


    It seemed that what Zhang Menglong said over a month ago wasn''t just bravado; if his family had wanted to dominate Earth, they would have become the rulers long ago!


    Forget thousands, even with just ten such individuals, it would be easy to sweep across the world.


    "Everyone on the island, gather in this room, kneel with your hands on your heads! You have five minutes!"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice, bolstered by his inner strength, echoed across the entire island. Hearing this, everyone quickly dropped what they were doing¡ªwho dared to defy Zhang Menglong''s command at this point?


    In less than five minutes, over 1200 psychics and more than 500 staff members had all assembled in the building.


    Wasn''t it them who had taken Zhang Menglong hostage at first? Now, it was the other way around, with Zhang Menglong holding an entire island''s worth of people hostage¡ªit was downright absurd!


    Escape? With a hundred and eighty Heavenly Origin Realm-level experts watching from the sky, even if they had the gall, they wouldn''t dare entertain the thought!


    "From now on, stay put here, no talking, no whispering. Even for using the restroom, you''ll have to queue up!"


    "You," Zhang Menglong addressed them, "each country send a representative forward," he said. "Have your people bring the money to exchange for your people, one batch leaves per person exchanged!"


    All 88 officials, including Britos, stepped forward, one by one, with expressions that accepted their fate. They really had both paid the wife and lost the soldiers today.


    "Use your own phones! Do I need to teach you?"


    An official from an unknown country was the first to step forward and make a call.


    "Boss, this is Liz."


    "How did it go? Did you catch Zhang Menglong?" an impatient voice came from the other end.


    "He''s right beside me now."


    "Hahaha, excellent, he''s finally had it coming. Our losses won''t be in vain if we have him. Once we catch him, we won''t worry about recouping our lost funds! " the person on the line exclaimed. "Hurry up, our currency market has collapsed; we need a large amount of US dollars to stabilize our market. Get Zhang Menglong to return the money he looted last time, and tell him he has to pay back double!"


    "Boss... Although Zhang Menglong is by my side, it''s not us holding him hostage, but him that''s holding us. The officials are now wearing the Mask of Pain."


    "What? You''ve been taken hostage by him? Didn''t the Supernaturals Alliance dispatch over 300 psychics? And Zhou Boquan, isn''t he a Heavenly Origin Realm expert?"


    "Boss, Zhang Menglong is also a Heavenly Origin Realm expert, and beside him, there are at least another hundred and eighty Heavenly Origin Realm experts. Almost 2000 of us are now being held hostage by him in the Supernaturals Alliance laboratory."


    ```


    "How many people do you have over there?"


    "All 12 of our country''s only god-level psychics are here... Zhang Menglong said that he wants $100 billion in equivalent currency or other assets for our ransom, or else... or else he''ll tear up the tickets..."


    "This..." The person on the other end was frantically calculating the worth of these individuals versus $100 billion.


    Yet, quite quickly, in his mind, the scales still tipped in favor of the dozen or so god-level psychics. The investment they had made in cultivating these individuals had already surpassed $100 billion.


    Moreover, once these people were gone, their international status would plummet rapidly, and anyone could bully them. For them, already facing a currency system collapse and imminent inflation shock, this was an unbearable cost.


    "Commander, how much in US dollar reserves do we still have?"


    "Basically none left, but we still have reserves of 8 billion Huaxia currency and 30 billion Euros; the rest, I''m afraid we can only repay in gold."


    ...


    "Let''s cede those two islands to him, and add my reserves of 20 billion Euros and 12 billion pounds¡ªthat should cover the $100 billion debt."


    ...


    "Didn''t we recently discover a roommate base? The proven reserves are worth $270 billion; let''s cede half of the revenue rights to him!"


    ...


    What''s meant by "selling the iron pot to pay off debts," is that, to gather the $100 billion, everyone had emptied their last reserves.


    "Mr. Zhang..." a somewhat lean official walked up to Zhang Menglong, "no matter how we tally, we''ve only managed to gather half. Could you take an IOU from us, and we sign a contract to pay off this debt over ten years?"


    "Sure, I want 2 percent interest!"


    "This... could you go any lower?" Ordinary national bonds had an annual interest rate of around 4 percent, and Zhang Menglong had asked for 20 percent straight off; it was practically usury!


    "All right, how about 2.5 percent interest?"


    "2 percent interest, let''s settle on 2 percent!" Seeing that Zhang Menglong was about to hike the price further, he quickly took the deal, realizing he had no leeway to negotiate with Zhang Menglong.


    The interest was exorbitant, but it was paramount to resolve the immediate crisis first.


    "Mr. Zhang, we sign a $60 billion debt contract with you..."


    "Mr. Zhang, we owe you $43 billion..."


    ...


    A few hours later, the first country''s helicopter landed at the base.


    This country was still fairly wealthy, and though they had no US dollar reserves left, they had plenty of Euros and pounds. After the transfer of assets, Zhang Menglong''s wealth grew by another $100 billion.


    "Thank you, boss, and welcome to visit again! Take care, bosses!"


    The group glared at Zhang Menglong fiercely.


    Expect another time? They''d rather never see Zhang Menglong again in their lifetimes.


    ...


    "It''s just you left," after collecting a round of money, only the people from the Supernaturals Alliance remained on site.


    "Zhang Menglong, it''s just $100 billion, isn''t it? Our country is the issuer of US dollars; we can manage the amount," Britos still seemed very full of himself.


    "$100 billion was for them," Zhang Menglong said, "but as the masterminds behind this, I think punishing you with just $100 billion is too lenient."


    "What else do you want? Are you planning to go to war with the Supernaturals Alliance?"


    "Go to war?" Zhang Menglong let out a cold laugh, "Are you even worthy? You need to provide compensation a hundred times over, otherwise, none of you are getting off work this year!"

 Chapter 692 - 690: You Are Free Now

    "Zhang Menglong, you''re exploiting the crisis!" Britos''s teeth were nearly grinding.


    "No, what you said isn''t quite accurate, strictly speaking, I''m extorting you!" Zhang Menglong said unabashedly. "If you don''t like it, come and fight me. I just love that look on your face when you''re annoyed by me but can''t do anything about it!"


    "10 trillion US dollars, do you think we can come up with such a high ransom?" Britos knew that Zhang Menglong was blatantly bullying them, he was aware of it, but he was powerless against him.


    This experimental base was the headquarters of the Supernaturals Alliance! Except for a few psychics carrying out tasks elsewhere, more than 80% of America''s psychics were here, and more than 90% of the divine psychics were here, and now their lives were all in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    Forget about the Second World Convention, those who are bound by such conventions are those without power. Truly powerful individuals can ignore any rule!


    So what if Zhang Menglong violated the Second World Convention? Who could sanction him? Who would dare to sanction him?


    "I know you can''t pay now!"


    Although they were the largest users of the US dollar, in the last two years, citizens'' total deposits amounted to 80 trillion Huaxia currency, which is just over a dozen trillion US dollars.


    But even if they drained the banks, it would be impossible to gather 10 trillion US dollars for Zhang Menglong, since a bank''s money isn''t simply available as much as you have deposited, after all, banks also need to invest and loan money out.


    According to America''s 5% bank reserve requirement, the most they could immediately access was less than 1 trillion US dollars. What the hell could they scrape together to come up with that money?


    "Then I''ll give you two more options," Zhang Menglong said calmly, "First, you could just turn on the printing presses and print 10 trillion US dollars and be done with it."


    "That''s impossible!"


    Because of Zhang Menglong''s large-scale treasury bonds dumping, the US dollar had already started to depreciate severely, and the exchange rate with the Huaxia currency had already dropped to 1:5.743.


    If they started printing money now, the depreciation of the US dollar would snowball, and the situation in Venezuela would soon occur in their own country.


    "Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!" Zhang Menglong struck Britos on the head repeatedly. "You''re just a prisoner now, you have no right to say ''no'' to me!"


    "You two, break his legs!" Zhang Menglong then ordered the two psychics from before.


    "You..."


    "Snap!"


    Two crisp sounds followed, and Britos let out a scream, immediately falling to his knees.


    "You two did well, you may leave now!"


    The two psychics, as if pardoned, couldn''t wait to leave this dreaded place and from then on they left the Supernaturals Alliance to find a place where no one knew them and live as carefree millionaires.


    "Now that you''re kneeling on the ground and talking to me, do you still feel superior?" Zhang Menglong looked down and said.


    "Not printing money isn''t the only option," Zhang Menglong proposed, "After all, you already owe me 18 trillion US dollars in national debt. We might as well lump this remaining 10 trillion in together, but the interest can''t stay at just these 4 points!"


    "I am a very fair person, just now that someone, the annual interest rate is 20%. You''ll calculate it at that rate too," Zhang Menglong pulled out a calculator, "That''s 5.6 trillion US dollars of interest a year!"


    Hearing this figure, Britos almost passed out.


    Their annual GDP was only around 20 trillion US dollars. If they didn''t eat or drink and worked all year, a quarter of their income would have to go to Zhang Menglong. How could their country develop at all?


    And this was just the interest; if they had to pay off some of the principal, the amount they''d have to spend each year would be even more immense. Would the people not eat? Would the country not build? Should they all just work for you instead?


    Zhang Menglong felt no mercy for these Americans.


    In Zhang Menglong''s intelligence station, it was the Americans who initiated the invitation, gathering everyone together to find ways to deal with Zhang Menglong.


    If he weren''t capable, he would now either be bankrupt and living in poverty, or have his plane shot down and sunk to the bottom of the sea, or he would be the one who had become the prisoner.


    Victors write the terms, that''s the law of this world.


    "Or how about this!" Zhang Menglong had another idea, "You can use various means to offset the debt, henceforth, when Huaxia imports and exports, you can''t charge tariffs, Huaxia tourists in your country must have their food, lodging, entertainment, and flights all covered; all these expenses can be offset against the debt."


    Upon hearing this, Britos couldn''t help but feel that, although the condition seemed to be in their favor, wasn''t it turning America into Huaxia''s vacation resort? And a free one at that!


    He understood all-inclusive board and lodging, but what did "all-inclusive fun" mean? What exactly were you planning to play with, huh? Clarify that!


    Britos didn''t dare talk about the interest with Zhang Menglong because if he dared to mention it, Zhang Menglong would dare to raise the interest rates. He had already seen Zhang Menglong''s shameless and reverse operations time and again.


    "Alright, I''ll report this matter. We are willing to bear this 10 trillion US dollars of national debt. I also ask Mister Zhang to be magnanimous and not sell off these national debts anymore." Britos finally lowered his head.


    "Wouldn''t it have been better to admit defeat earlier?" Zhang Menglong immediately showed a content smile.


    "Hong Yi, pack up!" Zhang Menglong ordered, as he now controlled over a hundred billion US dollars in funds, and the devaluation of the US dollar was of no benefit to him.


    "Mister Zhang, this time we have earned about 5 trillion US dollars from various countries'' capital markets in total."


    "Hmm, throw 100 billion US dollars to Wang Ling and the others for distribution; consider it their bonus."


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Mister Zhang, we have agreed to all your requests, so now..."


    "What, you want me to leave on my own?" Zhang Menglong glared, "I came here how you brought me, and you''re going to send me back the same way. Didn''t your parents teach you any manners?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, I''ll arrange the plane right away!" Britos started to make arrangements.


    ...


    "Awoo!"


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong suddenly heard a beastly roar coming from beneath his feet, and even felt a surge of energy constantly flowing outward.


    "What''s going on, what kind of monster is locked up down there?"


    Britos''s face changed and he immediately explained, "Mister Zhang, some extremely vicious criminals are locked up below, among them are a few who aren''t quite right in the head, always liking to scream and shout."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong teleported and appeared directly outside the cell.


    Through a small window, Zhang Menglong saw a disheveled person inside who looked like a madman; however, his aura almost reached an energy intensity of 22 units.


    Setting aside Zhang Menglong''s people, this person was even stronger than the Divine Yin Wuyi!


    Name: Hirak Lucius


    Race: Humans


    Gift: Spiritual Power


    Note: This is a tragic experimental subject.


    "Is he someone they used for experiments?" Through the information shown on the dean''s ring, Zhang Menglong instantly got the information about this person.


    "Such anti-human acts deserve a good lesson!" Zhang Menglong stretched out a hand and easily opened the door, which even a peak-level psychic with divine powers couldn''t destroy.


    Sensing something was off, Britos had just reached the corner, and when he saw Zhang Menglong open the door, he was stunned.


    This Hirak was their most successful experimental subject so far, but because he was too powerful and had a strong autonomous consciousness, he had broken free from their control.


    Five years ago, Hirak was still at the level of a divine psychic, so they subdued him and kept him here, suppressed by some devices. Over five years, his power had become unfathomable, and his release would be a disaster for the entire Supernaturals Alliance!


    Zhang Menglong smiled at Hirak inside, "Brother, you''re free now! These people, kill or flay them as you wish; I''m heading out!"

 Chapter 693 - 691: Treat Him Like a Respected Elder

    "Ah!"


    "Rumble rumble!"


    "Help!"


    Having left the island, Zhang Menglong heard only a series of screams and explosions.


    This poor guy named Hirac, who had gone from a test subject to a prisoner, had probably accumulated a lot of rage over the years. This bout of venting was likely enough to give the Supernaturals Alliance a real headache.


    "Ye Yin, keep an eye on him. Don''t let Hirac go on a rampage, I don''t want to have unleashed a homicidal maniac."


    "Sure, Mr. Zhang, if he does anything excessive, I''ll stop him for you,"


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong stretched lazily, "Let''s go, back to South Africa!"


    ...


    By the time Zhang Menglong returned to South Africa, it was already morning, and when he opened the hotel door, everyone was already up and having breakfast.


    "Menglong! You''re back!"


    "Are you alright? Those people looked fierce, didn''t they trouble you?"


    "Menglong, who exactly were they? If it really comes to it, we should seek help from our country. Huaxia will certainly not stand by and watch its citizens threatened abroad."


    Zhang Menglong''s senior brothers and sisters were almost ready to strip him down to make sure he was truly unharmed.


    "I''m fine, here I am unscathed, right?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "They are not unreasonable. I gave them a lesson in morality, and they deeply realized their mistakes, then sent me back, even gave me lots of gifts!"


    "You probably used your fists to teach them that lesson," Lu Yiyao brought a bowl of steaming seafood porridge to Zhang Menglong, "Stop joking, eat your breakfast first!"


    "You can watch the news, it''s really not a big deal," Zhang Menglong said while eating his porridge, "They did intend to kidnap me, but I had made some preparations in advance."


    "As soon as my people couldn''t contact me, they would immediately flood those countries'' markets with significant capital, wrecking their economies. If they dared keep me, their country''s economy would be set back at least twenty or thirty years. What do you think, would they dare to do anything to me?"


    Zhang Menglong''s senior brothers and sisters were all ordinary people, so he didn''t bring up anything about the secondary world and talking about money was an easier way for everyone to understand.


    "Bravo, I knew there must be a reason for your confidence facing those ferocious terrorists all by yourself, you were prepared all along."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, money talks, only someone like you could pull off something like this."


    Zhu Mengchao turned on the morning news.


    Indeed, as a result of Zhang Menglong''s actions yesterday, dozens of countries'' currency markets had crashed, and the impact of the massive devaluation was beginning to show.


    In just one day, several countries were already experiencing severe inflation. The currency of some small countries had devaluated by more than twenty times. A box of ordinary milk was priced today at the equivalent of over 100 Huaxia currency.


    To cope with the situation, countries began frantically printing money, and the social system was also immediately adjusted, as they genuinely didn''t have a way to stop their currency from devaluing and could only temporarily stabilize domestic production with these measures.


    With the devaluation of currency, prices soared, and wages began to rise rapidly, but purchasing power plummeted significantly.


    In some countries where online payments had not yet become widespread and wages were still paid in cash, some people had to carry briefcases and sacks to collect their salaries, plunging the whole country into the panic of economic collapse.


    What was most shocking was that the US Dollar, which had always been the leader, also experienced a crazy devaluation. By today, the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Huaxia currency had actually reached 1:4.322. Such a severe devaluation had never occurred in all these years.


    This impact was almost apocalyptic. The purchasing power of the US Dollar declined, and most countries already had little US Dollar reserves. When it came to settling international trade, it was like the sky was falling.


    Goods that were originally valued at 500,000 US Dollars suddenly required 700,000 US Dollars to purchase. Everyone was already running on empty pockets, so where were they supposed to get the money?


    "Menglong, didn''t you cause all this?" Everyone stared at Zhang Menglong dumbfounded. In just one day, he had nearly stirred up the entire world''s economy!


    "I had no choice," Zhang Menglong shrugged. Since they wanted to capture me and I couldn''t contact my people, I had to force them to comply this way, right? They had it coming.


    "But, won''t this impact be too great?" asked one of Zhang Menglong''s senior sisters, who had a minor in economics. "A world economic collapse wouldn''t benefit our country either."


    "Don''t worry," Zhang Menglong smiled. "I''ve already sent 10 trillion US Dollars to our Huaxia''s Ministry of Finance, which is enough to stabilize our own currency. Of course, I wouldn''t turn the whole world upside down over my own affairs, but they still need to be taught a lesson. When I return home, I''ll handle this matter."


    "As long as you have a sense of proportion," the senior sister nodded. Zhang Menglong didn''t seem to be the kind of person who acted without considering the consequences, and she was no Holy Mother either. This might still be an opportunity for Huaxia. Taking advantage of this situation, Huaxia''s currency could potentially solidify its international status. If it could be used for international trade settlements, then Huaxia could truly rise.


    "Where do you plan to go for fun today?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "We want to play in the sea," Lu Yiyao said. "I haven''t asked Sister Hong Yi to help us arrange it yet."


    "No worries, there''s no need to bother Hong Yi with such a trivial matter. We can handle it ourselves," Zhang Menglong took out his mobile phone and dialed the office of Delamini.


    "Hello, I am the Director of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Honduras!"


    "Honduras? Wasn''t the director Delamini?" Zhang Menglong heard an unfamiliar voice.


    "Oh, sir, Director Delamini already tendered his resignation the day before yesterday. We completed the handover of work yesterday, and he has officially retired today. If you have any issues, you can directly inform me," said Honduras with utmost respect.


    Though unaware of the identity on the other end of the phone, anyone who knew the number to Delamini''s office was certainly not an ordinary person.


    "I see," Zhang Menglong chuckled. Delamini was indeed talented, but he didn''t necessarily need to find Delamini. As long as there was someone capable of getting things done, "My name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Zhang..."


    Honduras was completely petrified.


    Of course, he knew Zhang Menglong, and he knew exactly why his predecessor had resigned¡ªit was because of Zhang Menglong that he suffered from sleepless nights and even developed a psychological shadow.


    But hadn''t Zhang Menglong already been captured by the Supernaturals Alliance? And wasn''t it said that there was a nine out of ten chance that there would no longer be a Zhang Menglong? That''s why he was willing to take this position, even mocking Delamini for being as timid as a mouse.


    But now...


    "My friends and I plan to go to the seaside for fun today. Arrange it for me, you have an hour!"


    After speaking, Zhang Menglong hung up the phone directly.


    "What on earth is going on?" Honduras hurriedly dialed his superior''s number.


    "What? Zhang Menglong is already back?" Honduras''s superior certainly knew what had happened with the Supernaturals Alliance. Their plan could not be merely described as a "failure"; it was a complete disaster!


    Zhang Menglong swept tens of trillions of US Dollars from the capital markets of 88 countries, and many were even extorted by him for 100 billion US Dollars. Now South Africa still owed Zhang Menglong a debt of 27 billion US Dollars.


    "Whatever he wants, satisfy him! Treat him like royalty until he''s had his fun and leaves South Africa!"

 Chapter 694 - 692: The Most Unfortunate Pirate in History

    A few hours later, a group of people in suits and leather shoes arrived at the hotel where Zhang Menglong was staying.


    "Who are you...?" Zhu Mengchao, who went to open the door, was taken aback. Although these people seemed humble and polite, they exuded an aura of long-standing authority.


    "Hello, we''ve been sent by the Honduran director to arrange a sea excursion for Mr. Zhang Menglong."


    "Menglong, someone''s looking for you!" Zhu Mengchao shouted into the room.


    Zhang Menglong came out, "Wow, that was quick!"


    "Is this Mr. Zhang?" The leading man spoke with a nod and a humble expression, "Are you ready, sir? The yacht arranged for you is already waiting at the port."


    "Is everyone ready?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "We''re ready!" Everyone had already packed their things and was just waiting for them to arrive!


    "Miss, let me carry your suitcase for you!"


    "Sir, let me take your belongings for you!"


    "Ladies and gentlemen, we have prepared food for you in the car, in case anyone has not had breakfast just let us know, and if there''s anything specific you''d like to eat, please feel free to tell us."


    ...


    This time, Honduras really treated Zhang Menglong like a VIP. The cliche? that all schemes are meaningless before absolute power was proven by the lesson Zhang Menglong taught them this time.


    They had exhausted all possible means, not only failing to erase Zhang Menglong from this world, but also suffering a backlash¡ªnow they could only appease him with these ingratiating actions to pay for their mistakes.


    The car that came to receive them was not a particularly luxurious brand, but it was already part of the personal motorcade of the president of South Africa, even the protocol teams and service groups prepared for senior officials were brought along directly.


    At the port, a huge cruise ship was docked, over 150 meters in length, with all facilities imaginable on board, it even had an air of an "airborne garden."


    "Mr. Zhang, this is the yacht specially prepared for you by our president," said the accompanying personnel, "The yacht cost 1.2 billion US dollars to build and was constructed by South Africa''s wealthiest tycoon over five years. It has been requisitioned for your use this time."


    "You''ve really gone to a lot of trouble," Zhang Menglong could not have imagined that these people would go to such lengths to play nice, and he himself only had one yacht that could compare to the one before him.


    "How far is the place we''re going?"


    "About 20 nautical miles, it''s one of our natural fishing grounds, very well preserved and almost untouched by pollution. It''s also a natural pearl area, where you can fish, dive, pearl dive, and so on."


    "Hmm, not bad," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, "Wait, what are these warships about?"


    Zhang Menglong and his companions noticed that next to the yacht, there were military ships docked, and there was even an aircraft carrier not far away!


    "I remember, South Africa doesn''t have aircraft carriers, do they?"


    "Actually Mr. Zhang, this is not just any ordinary port, but one of our military ports," said the person accompanying them, "The area we''re heading to occasionally has pirate activity nearby, and for your safety, we will dispatch an aircraft carrier battle group to accompany you and protect you at all times."


    "As for this aircraft carrier, it is named Mizmi; we spent tens of billions to build it, and it was just officially commissioned mid-last month. You may not follow our local news, so it''s normal that you''re not aware of it."


    "Oh man, we''re just going out to fish and swim in the sea, and we''ve got a whole aircraft carrier group for escort." Zhang Menglong''s fellow disciples quickly took out their phones and cameras to take pictures.


    "Boy, if there really are pirates that show up today, they definitely didn''t check their fortune. Let''s have a moment of silence for them for three minutes."


    "Not bad, you''ve thought of everything."


    "Of course, our director emphasized repeatedly that we must ensure Mr. Zhang''s safety and make sure you have fun."


    "However, I don''t want these people to affect our mood while we''re having fun, you understand?"


    "Understood!" The man replied hastily, "I will ensure that the battle group maintains a certain distance from you, so as not to influence your enjoyment."


    "Alright, let''s set off!"


    ...


    After a 40-minute voyage, they passed through a slightly yellowed sea area, and the ocean around them suddenly became clean. The water here was truly clear, with excellent visibility¨C¨Cyou could even see the fish swimming beneath the glistening surface.


    "Mr. Zhang, this place once underwent a geological change, so a small mound of silt formed at the bottom of the sea. The shallowest part of this area is only about two meters, and there are many reefs and islands around it, creating a natural ocean playground."


    "Not only that, but due to some ocean current effects, the salt content of the seawater here is almost as low as fresh water, so it''s also known as a natural pearl cultivation field. However, if you''re not familiar with the terrain here, there''s a good chance of grounding on the reefs."


    "That''s really quite amazing," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but marvel at the wonders of nature.


    "Damn, I can''t hold it in any longer!"


    "Splash!"


    "Wow, junior sister, I didn''t expect you to be so bold!"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, senior brother, can you actually say such shameless words?"


    "Hahaha, shall we go down and have some fun too?" Zhang Menglong exchanged a look with Lu Yiyao.


    "Sure!" Lu Yiyao also changed into a sexy bikini, and the two of them jumped into the sea with a splash.


    I must say, this place is indeed a feng shui treasure. The seawater is crystal clear; you could even dive in and search for pearl oysters. Such an experience would probably be hard to come by even in Sanya, Huaxia.


    ...


    At this time, three ships that didn''t look like cargo ships were slowly passing through the area.


    There were cold cannon turrets installed on the ships, and the people on board looked somewhat fierce and some even had various disabilities.


    "Captain, the radar shows there might be a ship in that direction!"


    "Only one ship?"


    "Yes!"


    "Let''s go, take a look!"


    "But Captain, we''re almost in South Africa''s waters; if we rashly enter..."


    "We haven''t started work in a long time, what are we going to eat and drink if this continues? Since we''ve encountered it today, we''re going to make a big score!"


    The crew gritted their teeth, "Captain''s orders, change course, into South Africa''s waters!"


    "That is..." The pirate captain, with a telescope in hand, observed the distant ship and suddenly showed an expression of surprise.


    "Captain, did you discover something?"


    "That ship... isn''t that South Africa''s richest man, Brugelidge''s private yacht? Hahahaha, who would have thought we''d have such luck today!"


    "Captain, should we attack?"


    "No attacks!" the captain ordered, "Full speed ahead, we want to take these people alive. If we can capture Brugelidge, this time we could make a few hundred million US dollars at least!"


    ...


    As the pirate ship approached at full speed, Zhang Menglong also noticed their approach immediately.


    "Menglong, it looks like a ship is coming over!"


    "I know, it should be a pirate ship." Ye Yin had already helped Zhang Menglong investigate everything in advance.


    Since the Somali pirates were wiped out, those remnants had been wandering on the high seas between Europe and Africa, occasionally hijacking some ships. This group of ships was led by a pirate named Gorik.


    The last time they committed a crime was a year or two ago, but because of the pandemic, maritime transport was suspended for a long time, so they didn''t have many opportunities to commit crimes.


    Now that trade has resumed, and they''ve almost squandered the wealth they''d accumulated, so they''ve started their old trade again.


    However, facing the pirates, not a single person showed a look of fear because surrounding them was a fleet of aircraft carriers for protection.


    "Hahaha, senior brother, do you think these are the most unlucky pirates in history?"

 Chapter 695 693 Too Excited to See Pirates for the First Time

    "Mr. Zhang, according to our radar and early-warning aircraft, there is a pirate ship approaching you. It should be Gorik, a pirate who has been on the international wanted list for several years. He has dozens of lives on his hands and is extremely dangerous. Please board the ship and evade, we will send fighter jets directly!"


    When the pirate ship entered the detection range of the early-warning aircraft, the aircraft carrier group responsible for protecting Zhang Menglong had already discovered their approach. The captain immediately informed Zhang Menglong of the news through the escort team.


    "Tell them not to come!" Zhang Menglong stopped them immediately, "This is the first time in my life that I''ve encountered pirates!"


    "But Mr. Zhang, they have many people, and there are heavy weapons aboard their ship. Your yacht, although high-spec, has no weapons. You''ll have no means of defense against them."


    "I told you not to come over, so don''t come over. What''s with all the nonsense?" Zhang Menglong said, "How far are you from me now?"


    "About 3 nautical miles."


    "Have your fighter jets ready to set off at any time. I''ll let you know when you can come!"


    "This..."


    "Do you have an opinion on my arrangement?"


    "No... we dare not." The person in charge of the escort team could only pass this information on to the captain of the aircraft carrier group.


    However, they were still beating the drums in their hearts. They weren''t high enough in the hierarchy to know about Zhang Menglong''s recent feat of single-handedly taking down the entire Supernaturals Alliance. They only thought he was an ordinary person with a deep background and immense power.


    Fortunately, there were fighter jets on the aircraft carrier. As long as they took off immediately, it would take less than a minute for them to appear. All they had to do was to ensure the safety of Zhang Menglong and his peers in the meantime.


    ...


    "Captain, it seems they''ve found us. Everyone has already returned to the yacht. What should we do?"


    "Full speed ahead," Gorik commanded, "That''s just a private yacht. Its top speed is only twenty to thirty knots at most. Our speed is much faster. They won''t be able to escape!"


    "Yes!"


    ...


    "Menglong, they''re getting closer."


    "Oh gosh, I''ve never seen pirates in my life. I don''t even know if pirates all wear an eyepatch and have hooks for hands."


    "Have you been watching too many Caribbean pirates? Those are pirates of a bygone era," Zhang Menglong explained with a smile to his female followers, "Modern pirates are basically similar to military forces, wearing uniforms, carrying standard weapons, and the ships they use are pretty much combat vessels."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, just listening to that is exhilarating. I''ll have to take lots of photos later."


    "They really have guts, don''t they? We''re surrounded by an aircraft carrier group, and they dare to come over?"


    "Can''t help it, the stealth paint on the aircraft carrier group is probably way beyond their detection level. Unless they get within visibility range, their radar won''t be able to pick anything up."


    "Indeed, technology is truly the primary productive force. If they knew that we have an aircraft carrier, several destroyers, and fighter jets nearby, they''d probably be peeing themselves!"


    ...


    "Captain, their yacht hasn''t moved. Could it be that they''re scared stiff? Hahaha!" The pirates aboard the pirate ship couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing that the yacht hadn''t moved from its spot.


    "Hahaha, they must know that they can''t escape. The nearest coast is more than 20 nautical miles away; they have no chance. They might as well behave."


    "Wait a minute, Captain, the people up there look like Huaxia people!" a pirate with a telescope said, "Look, they have Asian features, and there is one of their national flags up there."


    "What? Huaxia people?" Gorik was stunned, "How could they be Huaxia people? Isn''t this yacht owned by the richest man in South Africa?"


    "Captain, what do we do? Huaxia people are not to be trifled with."


    After a long consideration, Gorik knew full well that Huaxia people were indeed not to be trifled with. A few days ago, when their pirate activities were rampant, a group of ignorant pirates had hijacked a Huaxia vessel. The next day, Huaxia sent a fleet of warships and flattened their stronghold.


    Nowadays, Huaxia could only be described as formidable.


    "Fuck it, even if the United Nations Secretary-General were here today, we''d still have to pull off this job!" Gorik gritted his teeth. "Such an opportunity seldom comes our way. If we nail this one, we could rest for at least half a year!"


    "Notify the crew, prepare to board, but try not to kill any Huaxia people!"


    "Yes!"


    With a burst of shouting and the sound of engines, three speedboats carrying more than a dozen armed pirates charged toward them.


    "They''re coming!" The members of the accompanying group panicked.


    Although they had their warships nearby, it would be a disaster once the pirates boarded. No matter how fast the planes, they couldn''t outpace a bullet. If the pirates took them hostage, even an aircraft carrier close by would be meaningless.


    "If only we''d kept a small squad of soldiers on board!" the head of the accompanying group expressed regret.


    "Mr. Zhang, there''s a refuge on board, prepared by South Africa''s wealthiest in case of such emergencies. Let''s hide in there for now; I''ll call our battleship over."


    "You go if you want, we''re not going in!" Zhang Menglong also took out his binoculars and even waved at the pirates'' leader.


    "Yiyi, grab my camera for me, will you? I need to take a few more photos¡ªmaybe get a couple with that pirate leader later."


    "Got it," Lu Yiyao wrapped herself in a bathrobe and hung the camera around her neck.


    "Are you fucking insane?" The head of the accompanying team was on the verge of cursing out loud.


    These were real pirates holding guns that could kill, murderers burdened with dozens of lives. This wasn''t cosplay, and it wasn''t some murder mystery escape room. How could you be so bold?


    Do you think just because you''re the world''s richest, they wouldn''t dare to capture you?


    Even if you have a powerful background, if they kill everyone on your yacht, who would know they did it? Be more cautious, will you?


    "Holy shit! Are those AKs they''re holding?"


    "Awesome! I''ve never seen real guns before!"


    "Do they have a Kar98k? I''m super good with an eight-times sniper scope!"


    The ones unhurried weren''t just Zhang Menglong, but also his senior and junior schoolmates. Their faces showed no fear¡ªinstead, they looked excited and eager.


    Are Huaxia people this badass now?


    If it were a few days ago, facing such a scene, they''d probably be crying by now!


    Just some pirates, and you''re impressed by a mobbing of fifth-generation fighter jets? Is that cooler than someone chasing you in a car with a rocket launcher at your back?


    But time and again, they''ve weathered crises unscathed, as if Zhang Menglong being there meant they wouldn''t face any danger.


    Although they didn''t know how Zhang Menglong would deal with the pirates, the casual look on his face told them he didn''t take these pirates seriously at all.


    If they didn''t need to fear these pirates, why not view it from another angle and treat it as an exciting experience?


    "Ding ding ding!" One after another, grappling hooks flew from the pirates'' boats, latching onto the yacht. These pirates were actually quite skilled; in less than two minutes, three speedboats and about fifteen or sixteen pirates had all reached the deck of the yacht.


    "Don''t move, we only want money, not lives. We don''t wish to kill Huaxia people; we hope you won''t force us to shoot!" The pirates raised their guns, aiming at Zhang Menglong and the others.


    "Click click!" Suddenly, a flurry of flashes went off, nearly causing a few pirates to accidentally fire their weapons.


    "What the hell are you doing?" One of the pirates immediately aimed his gun at one of Zhang Menglong''s juniors.


    "Brother, what did he say?" These pirates were speaking some language he couldn''t understand.


    "He''s asking what you''re doing?" Zhang Menglong translated.


    "Sorry... sorry, it''s my first time seeing pirates so I got too excited and wanted to take some photos; forgot to turn off the flash!"

 Chapter 696 694: I Bet There Are No Bullets in Your Gun

    After hearing Zhang Menglong''s translation, the pirates were also stunned.


    They used to be mercenaries who prowled for money, disregarding individuals, before finding and joining the lucrative business of piracy. Now, having been pirates for nearly ten years, they had encountered their professional Waterloo for the first time.


    "What does ''seeing pirates for the first time is so exciting'' mean?"


    Whipping out a camera to take photos the moment you see pirates, is that something a person with a functioning brain would do? Even a decade-long cerebral hemorrhage wouldn''t result in such idiotic behavior, right?


    In the past, every time they robbed a ship, all it took was a glimpse of their guns for people to scream and flee in terror, or be so scared they couldn''t even muster the strength to run. At most, some would attack them in a fit of panic.


    Taking out a camera and forgetting to turn off the flash was beyond their comprehension!


    Zhang Menglong slapped his junior on the head, "What''s with the flash? Is that polite? Turn off the flash before you take a photo! And remember to photoshop the picture for them later. That''s the bare minimum of respect, understand?"


    "Understood, senior brother!"


    One of the pirates knew a bit of the Huaxia language and relayed the conversation between Zhang Menglong and his junior to the others. Their jaws nearly hit the floor.


    Hey, is it really about whether or not to use the flash? We are pirates, the kind that kills. Can''t you show a little fear? It''s going to make us question our lives!


    "Gentlemen!" someone from Zhang Menglong''s entourage immediately stepped out, showing his identification, "We are South African dignitaries, and this is our most esteemed guest. Our aircraft carrier group is nearby to protect him. We demand that you leave at once, or when our reinforcements arrive, you won''t be able to escape!"


    "Hahaha, idiots, an aircraft carrier group?" the pirates burst into laughter. The most esteemed guest?


    What kind of guest is so important that a country would deploy an aircraft carrier for protection? Even the president doesn''t have that kind of clout. Can you simply dispatch a national strategic-level weapon like that?


    They knew South Africa had recently commissioned an aircraft carrier, but it was supposed to officially leave port next month. Did they think the pirates didn''t follow military news? That was their bread and butter; a misstep in intelligence could have serious consequences!


    Facing these jeering pirates, Zhang Menglong''s companions had no explanation.


    To be honest, if they were pirates, they wouldn''t believe the claim of an aircraft carrier protecting a yacht at sea either.


    "Even if you really have an aircraft carrier, you''re all in our hands now. You said it yourself, ''the most esteemed guests''. You wouldn''t want to harm your most esteemed guests, would you? Now, you''re at our mercy. Even if the aircraft carrier does come, we''re not afraid!"


    "Hahaha! Right, if we pirates were cowardly, we might as well quit!"


    The pirates mocked them, one after the other.


    "Put down everything you''re holding, hands on your heads, and squat to the side!" the pirates regained their senses and started to maintain order, "No use of any communication devices!"


    "See, this is what you call professional!" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "I see, even though I don''t know what they''re saying, they do look very professional," someone commented.


    "Senior brother, translate for us, I haven''t even passed my Level Six English, this is way harder than those listening tests!"


    "What Level Six English, they''re not even speaking English..." Zhang Menglong said.


    "So thrilling, way more intense than any escape room I''ve played before. This is like a total immersive experience!"


    "Senior brother, we''re really not going to be in trouble, right? You told us not to be afraid, that''s why we dared to act like this!"


    Although Zhang Menglong and the others squatted down obediently, they kept chattering non-stop.


    "Bang!"


    Fed up with the incessant chatter of their captives, a pirate fired a shot at the ground, causing sparks to fly on the deck. The sound of the bullet casing hitting the ground was crisp and clear.


    At this moment, the fearlessness of Zhang Menglong''s junior brothers and sisters, as well as his senior brothers and sisters, cracked.


    This was a real gun! An AK47! A single shot could blow a hole in them!


    The last time Zhang Menglong had come out unscathed against sixty fighter jets, it was because his plane had been modified for unbeatable defense and attack. That was how they managed to escape.


    But this time was different. This yacht wasn''t Zhang Menglong''s, so there definitely was no black tech to save them.


    Although there was the protection of a carrier battle group, like they said, distant water couldn''t save a fire close at hand, and now they were being held hostage.


    Those accompanying them were clearly bureaucrats, a bunch of pus - how could they be expected to subdue these pirates?


    Upon reflection, it seemed they had no real reliance; what kind of front were they trying to put up just now?


    The moment the gun fired, they were all snapped back to reality.


    "Senior Brother, they''re serious. What do we... what do we do now?"


    "Senior Brother, I was the one acting toughest just now. Will they kill me first?"


    "Senior Brother, we should''ve just called those warships over directly. Why didn''t you let them come?"


    "Don''t panic¡ªcan''t you men have a bit more courage?"


    "What are you whispering about over here?" The pirates pointed their guns at them again, "Which one of you is the owner of this ship now?"


    "It''s me," Zhang Menglong stood up, "What''s the matter?"


    "Who are you?"


    "Come on! Don''t you watch international news? You don''t recognize Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat speechless and felt slightly offended.


    "World''s richest man? You''re that Huaxia world''s richest man?" Hearing this, the pirates were suddenly excited. They had thought he was just the wealthiest man in South Africa¡ªa big catch already¡ªbut now they faced the world''s richest man!


    "Captain! We''ve confirmed the identities of the people on the ship, the world''s richest man is on board!" The pirates immediately reported.


    "World''s richest man? I know of him! That young man from Huaxia?"


    "I don''t know if it''s him, but he looks really young, probably in his twenties, and speaks Huaxia," another said.


    "I''m coming over now!" Gorik grew exceptionally excited. If it were just the richest man in South Africa, maybe they could get a few billion, even ten billion US Dollars as ransom.


    But if it were the world''s richest man, multiplying the ransom by ten times or even a hundred times wouldn''t be excessive!


    He had heard that Zhang Menglong''s personal wealth had reached 10 trillion US Dollars! That being said, 100 billion US Dollars was just 1% of his fortune; their demand for ransom wasn''t excessive at all!


    "We''ve struck it rich!" Gorik was thrilled. Maybe after this job he could just retire, no longer needing to live a life licking blood off of the blade.


    Soon, Gorik arrived on the yacht. Gorik was a tall and robust black man, his form akin to a towering black bear, emitting a strong scent of blood and violence.


    "Zhang Menglong, world''s richest man? A person from Huaxia?" Gorik spoke with the few Huaxia words he knew.


    "That''s me, what is it?"


    "We respect Huaxia very much, so we don''t want to harm you. Prepare a ransom of 100 billion US Dollars and we''ll release you and your friends!" Gorik got straight to the point.


    "What if I say I''m not willing?"


    "Simple, I''ll ask you one question, you just have to say ''not willing,'' and I''ll kill one of your friends!" Gorik pointed his gun at the head of one of Zhang Menglong''s martial brothers.


    "Ah!" The junior sisters by his side screamed in shock.


    "Bang!" Gorik fired a shot into the air, "keep quiet!"


    Everyone understood his command. The girls covered their mouths, but tears seeped from the corners of their eyes; they were truly afraid.


    As for the martial brother with the gun pointed at his head, he had grown weak and limp from fear.


    "This is the first time I''m asking¡ªare you willing to give the ransom?" At this moment, Gorik displayed his ferocity to its fullest, leaving no one doubting that if Zhang Menglong said ''no'', he would immediately open fire.


    "How about we make a bet first!" Zhang Menglong smiled, "I bet your gun has no bullets!"

 Chapter 697 695: Cant Let Such a Professional NPC Get Away

    "Senior brother, have I ever offended you before?" The junior brothe,r with the gun pointed at his head, spoke with a hint of crying in his voice, "I just ate snail noodles at your old spot a few times and used the pillow you used to sleep on as a seat cushion. Do you really need to put me in a lethal situation?"


    Now the gun was pointed at his head. Even if Zhang Menglong lost the bet, it would only be his head that got blown apart. What kind of absurd statement was that?


    The sound of the gunshot was heard by everyone just now, and everyone saw the shell that fell to the ground. And now you''re betting with someone that there are no bullets in the magazine? Do you really think you''re Yan Shuangying? Watched too many dramas, haven''t you?


    "Hahaha!" Gorik burst into laughter, "And here you are, the richest man in the world. I bet all your money wasn''t even made by yourself but inherited from your family, right? How does such an idiot like you make money in business?"


    "How do you know all my money came from my family?"


    Gorik: "..."


    "So, what do you say? Are you betting or not?" Zhang Menglong continued. "If you win, you want 100 billion US dollars, right? I''ll deliver it to you with both hands."


    "Hey senior brother! If you lose the bet, I get killed!" Zhang Menglong''s junior brother cried out.


    "Shut up!" Zhang Menglong glared at him, "If I lose the bet, I''ll give your family 100 billion US dollars for the funeral expenses!"


    Zhang Menglong''s junior brother fell into deep thought, considering whether 100 billion US dollars were a significant stake for Zhang Menglong. If it was indeed a large stake, it meant Zhang Menglong was fully aware of his risks, for he could not afford such a huge loss.


    But if the stake was small for Zhang Menglong, that wasn''t necessarily the case, and it was possible that Zhang Menglong didn''t care about the chips at all!


    After much thought, 100 billion US dollars was not a big stake for Zhang Menglong! For ordinary people, it was a fortune that could not be counted in a lifetime, but for Zhang Menglong, just messing around in the capital market could earn him ten times, a hundred times, or even hundreds of times that amount.


    Do you think such an amount of money could pressure him?


    No way!


    Realizing this, the Mask of Pain on his face even upgraded to +13.


    "But if you lose," Zhang Menglong revealed a sleazy expression, "you''ll perform a two ''s'' squat in stockings and a mini skirt on the boat."


    Gorik had no idea what an ''s'' squat meant, but he was certain that Zhang Menglong was undoubtedly going to lose! When he came, the gun was loaded with bullets, and now it had only fired one bullet, so how could it be empty?


    "Then you''re definitely going to lose!"


    Gorik, notorious as a ruthless pirate, hesitated not at all, a single life meant nothing to him; he smirked and pulled the trigger.


    Having been a pirate for so many years, he had dealt with many stubborn individuals. Even those with great courage lost their bold speeches at the sound of a gunshot and the sight of blood. Now, in peacetime, there was no longer such a spirit of sacrifice and fearlessness.


    "Click!"


    The trigger was pulled, but the chamber only made the sound of the firing pin.


    Gorik was taken aback, then repeatedly pulled the trigger several more times, but the gun still didn''t fire any bullets.


    "This is impossible!" Gorik drew the gun''s chamber and, just as Zhang Menglong had said, there were no bullets in it.


    "This is preposterous!" Gorik was both shocked and suspicious. It was his own personal gun, and he had loaded each bullet himself. How could there be no bullets?


    Zhang Menglong''s junior brother was so frightened that his legs had gone weak, and at that moment he collapsed to the ground as if his body had been hollowed out.


    Girls who had covered their eyes also dared to take their hands away then.


    "Mr. Gorik, you''ve lost!"


    "Captain, this guy is a bit spooky," one of Gorik''s subordinates warned.


    "I don''t care if he''s spooky or not!" Gorik snatched a gun from his subordinate, pulled out its chamber, confirmed that the bullets were properly loaded, and reinserted it into the gun.


    "What about this time?" This time Gorik aimed the gun at Zhang Menglong''s head, "Do you still think my gun has no bullets?"


    "Why don''t you just try it and see?" Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "You''ve got guts, Huaxia kid!" Gorik swung his gun around, aiming at Zhang Menglong''s legs. After all, he needed Zhang Menglong for a ransom and couldn''t actually kill him.


    "Click!" But, as expected, there was an unexpected malfunction again, and the bullet didn''t fire!


    "Mr. Gorik, are these your bullets?" Zhang Menglong stretched out his hand and opened it. Bullets clattered and fell out from the center of his palm.


    "This...this is impossible!" Gorik couldn''t help but step back two steps. There must be some supernatural force at play!


    Gorik once again pulled a gun from one of his men and casually pressed the trigger.


    "Bang!" This time the gun fired, and a bullet went straight through a pirate''s chest.


    "This... this... fuck!" Gorik looked helplessly at his subordinate''s face of grievance.


    How come bullets won''t fire at Zhang Menglong, but fire just fine at his own men? Did the gun grow eyes?


    "Mr. Gorik, I know you''re upset about losing a bet, but there''s no need to take it out on your own people. We''re all brothers who''ve shared life and death with you; doing this will chill their hearts!"


    The death of his man didn''t emotionally affect Gorik much. Pirates risked their lives for money anyway. If they were afraid of dying, they wouldn''t be pirates. People came and went on the ship; frankly, he couldn''t even remember the name of the man he had just killed.


    But Zhang Menglong''s eerie abilities did chill Gorik''s courage. They say the East is a land of mystery; could this be some mysterious power from the East?


    "Retreat!" After a moment''s thought, Gorik actually made the decision to retreat!


    "Hey! Don''t go!"


    "Weren''t you here to rob us? You''re leaving after just fifteen minutes? Don''t you have any professional ethics? Don''t you know you should finish what you started?"


    "Hey, hey, hey, don''t just dump guns and ammo haphazardly. You know about recycling, right? Which category does that gun fall into?"


    ...


    As the boss ordered the retreat, the pirates didn''t know why, but a palpable fear took hold¡ªno wonder the people on this ship were all so calm. They hadn''t boarded a ghost ship, had they? Surely, not all of them were specters?


    What was an orderly retreat abruptly turned chaotic when one of the pirates panicked and accidentally fired his gun when it fell to the ground.


    They trampled over each other; some even accidentally fell overboard. Some had firearms discharge accidentally, hitting their own people.


    "What''s going on?" Feeling that danger was now far away, everyone grew more daring.


    Seeing the pirates in a panic and discarding their helmets and armor, Zhuge Liang would have been proud as when he implemented the Empty Fort Strategy to scare away thousands of troops with mere bluffs, right?


    But they never figured it out¡ªZhang Menglong hadn''t even touched those pirates; how could he mysteriously disarm them?


    "A bunch of cowards; such small courage and still calling yourselves pirates, truly a disgrace to the profession!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t even had his fill of fun, and these pirates had already run off.


    "How was that, exciting, right?" Zhang Menglong asked with a smile.


    "It was quite thrilling," everyone said, "but isn''t it a bit over the top?"


    "This is real piracy, bro!"


    "Honestly, isn''t this more thrilling than an escape room?"


    "Hey, that reminds me!" Zhang Menglong suddenly had an idea, "What do you think about us hiring a bunch of real pirates for a large-scale immersive escape game event?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to his companions and said, "Quick, I''ll give you half an hour. Catch them all for me. We can''t let such professional NPCs get away!"

 Chapter 698 - 696 Are You Sick?

    Although no one knew how Zhang Menglong had managed to make those pirates flee in terror, it seemed safe now. The pirates had abandoned their gear and headed back to their own ship, then turned around and started to escape on the spot.


    As soon as the military''s accompanying group saw this, they grew braver. With their destroyers and aircraft carriers on the way, what was there to fear? Who would be afraid then? Now that the pirates wanted to run, could they even escape?


    "Call the aircraft carrier group, Mr. Zhang''s yacht has been attacked by pirates, please support us as soon as possible!" the accompanying group immediately sent out a distress call to the head of the aircraft carrier fleet.


    "What? Mr. Zhang encountered pirates?" On hearing this news, the captain immediately became tense. If Zhang Menglong or someone by his side were taken hostage by the pirates, whose responsibility would it be?


    Although it was the pirates'' doing, this incident was happening within South Africa''s territory. If something really went wrong, wouldn''t they have to be contacted? It''s your maritime security that wasn''t set right. If not you, then who else should be held accountable?


    "Fighter jets take off immediately, all warships advance at full speed, watch out for reefs! A small team takes motor boats and moves out first. We must ensure Mr. Zhang''s personal and property safety!"


    ...


    "This really is unbelievable!" Gorik still somewhat shaken, returned to his own boat.


    Having been a pirate for years, braving the storms and countless times skirting the edge of death, his courage was proven without a doubt.


    But today''s event was too supernatural, he couldn''t help but be scared! What kind of power could remotely remove bullets from a gun''s chamber? Was that even a humanly possible feat?


    "Easterners are really too mystical. From now on, if we encounter people from Huaxia, it''s better to steer clear," Gorik said to his lieutenant, "Let''s leave this area quickly, we might be visited by South African maritime police or even United Nations warships soon."


    Gorik''s head was worth 2 million US Dollars internationally, and several of his pirate leaders also had hefty bounties on their heads. Once spotted, they were literally moving money bags.


    "No....it''s bad!" A pirate lackey rushed into the captain''s cabin, appearing frantic.


    "What happened? What''s wrong?"


    "Captain...warships! There are warships in the distance! There are also airplanes in the sky, and several combat boats are already heading our way!"


    "What? Do you know whose warships they are?"


    "They are flying the flag of South Africa, and I just caught a glimpse of something very big... it seems... it seems to be an aircraft carrier..."


    "What did you say?" Enraged, Gorik immediately shot the pirate dead.


    "Go out and look!"


    Gorik and a few of his close aides walked onto the deck.


    They were already surrounded!


    Three destroyers were positioned in a triangular formation around them, with five armed helicopters circling overhead, their menacing weapons aimed at them, ready to fire at any moment.


    The combat boats below were ready, poised to storm the ship at any moment.


    In the distance, that hundreds of meters long behemoth seemed utterly despairing.


    Just now, the accompanying group had told him about the aircraft carrier group protecting the yacht, and he had dismissed it as a joke. Now, reality told him, there really was an aircraft carrier group!


    If you are the world''s richest man, you go out to sea to play around, and you say you bring a security team, that''s one thing, but you bring an entire aircraft carrier group? Can''t you afford it, you little trash, don''t you really have the power?!


    "Attention everyone on board, you are now surrounded, put down all weapons and surrender immediately, or we will attack. You have one minute!"


    It wasn''t the first time the pirates had encountered an invincible opponent, but in most cases, they had hostages in their hands. So even if they were surrounded by warships, they could negotiate with the other side using the hostages.


    But they had not been operational for a long time, where would they get hostages? Just now, they had been terrified by Zhang Menglong''s eerie tactics; who would remember to take a couple of people as hostages?


    This meant the aircraft carrier group could attack them without any restraint, as everyone on board was a pirate, and even if a missile killed them all, what did it matter? They didn''t need to take anyone alive.


    "Captain, what should we do?"


    "What else can we do? Can we win?"


    Although the pirate ship was also well-equipped, even comparable to some backward countries'' warships, they were up against a damned aircraft carrier, how could they fight that?


    If there had been any hope of winning or escaping, these desperate outlaws would have had the guts to take on the regular army.


    But the issue was, there was simply no fighting this! No pirate ship could withstand a missile, and if one missile didn''t do the job, then two would!


    As for jumping into the water to escape, did they think the enemy''s combat boats were toys? The moment they surfaced to breathe, a bullet would blow their heads off!


    Even if they managed to escape, there was nowhere to land within ten kilometers. Where could they go?


    "Just surrender! South Africa doesn''t have the death penalty," Gorik said with a helpless expression.


    "We surrender, we surrender!"


    ...


    "Smack!" Gorik was thrown down, tightly bound, in front of Zhang Menglong, "Mr. Zhang, this is Gorik, the leader of that pirate ship. How do you plan to deal with him?"


    Gorik looked up at Zhang Menglong. This man from Huaxia could not only mobilize an aircraft carrier to protect himself but could also directly command the fleet! The highest leader of this carrier strike group was actually asking Zhang Menglong for instructions on how to proceed!


    "Who on earth are you?"


    "Don''t I already know?" Zhang Menglong smiled, "Aren''t you curious why they listen to me?"


    "It''s simple, they owe me several hundred billion US dollars. It''s not too much to ask their carrier strike group to come and protect me, right?"


    "This..." Gorik was speechless; he thought Zhang Menglong had some terrifying identity, but that was it? Having money was indeed a damn superpower!


    "Now that we''ve become your prisoners, you can kill or butcher us as you please; we in this trade have long been prepared for this!"


    "Oh, we can''t do that, if we killed you, who would play with us?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How many pirates do you have on this ship?"


    Gorik was startled. Why was Zhang Menglong asking this?


    "A total of 54 people."


    "That''s too few!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "Not thrilling enough, do you have any accomplices?"


    "What exactly do you want to do?" Gorik was puzzled, what did he mean by ''not thrilling enough''?


    "We want you to join us in a game of escape room!" Zhang Menglong said, "Oh, here it comes!"


    "What''s here?"


    At that moment, a supply drop box fell from the sky, landing precisely on Zhang Menglong''s yacht.


    This was a quite large empty head, almost as big as a shipping container.


    "Clang!" Zhang Menglong opened the container and moved out set after set of equipment.


    "Hehe, brand new real-life CS shooting equipment!" Zhang Menglong said, "We''re going to play a real-life version of Caribbean pirates, isn''t that much more exciting than fishing and swimming at sea? You guys are professionals, just act as NPCs!"


    The pirates were dumbfounded, so were the officers on those warships.


    After all the effort to capture this batch of pirates, now you''re telling me you want them to act as NPCs and play real-life CS with you? Has the scope of pirate employment really broadened this much?


    Are you some kind of freak? Are you sick? Asking us, the most vicious and brutal pirates, to play with you, aren''t you afraid of getting killed?


    "You are all criminals, and according to South African law, although you won''t be sentenced to death, you''re looking at a couple of hundreds of years in prison," Zhang Menglong said, "As long as you perform well, I guarantee you the fairest treatment, at least you won''t be molested by other prisoners in jail!"

 Chapter 699 - 697: In My Past Life, I Was a Damn Pirate

    "Menglong, this isn''t easy to handle, even movies need a director, let alone these immersive escape rooms which can''t be played without a script!"


    "Yeah, we can''t just let them improvise, can we? There has to be a theme and a main storyline, right?"


    "That''s easy to fix!" Zhang Menglong immediately started arranging with Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, do we have someone who specializes in writing murder mystery scripts or escape room scenarios?"


    "This... Mr. Zhang, these are emerging industries, we don''t have such talents yet, but we do have many scriptwriters and directors."


    "No good! Specialization is key; making movies and writing scripts are somewhat different," Zhang Menglong said, "You help me post a reward now, gather a group of scriptwriters and writers for murder mysteries and escape rooms, and help me come up with a theme within two hours!"


    "Mr. Zhang, that might be difficult."


    "Two million per person in commission!"


    "Then there should be no problem. Within two hours, I''ll send you the details, but do you have any requirements for the theme?"


    "Pirates, treasure hunting, adventure, the kind with two or three hundred NPCs!"


    "But Mr. Zhang, it''s hard to find actors for such a large-scale escape room theme, not to mention the mechanical props, and the time is too tight."


    "No worries, I have ready-made NPCs and props here, you just help me with the scriptwriting."


    "In that case, I''ll get on it!"


    ...


    "Just this few people," Zhang Menglong scanned the group of pirates, most of whom couldn''t understand Huaxia language, only hearing Zhang Menglong murmuring there.


    When they caught Zhang Menglong''s gaze, the pirates all felt a bit intimidated.


    "Not enough people, I need more pirates!" Zhang Menglong told the captain.


    "But Mr. Zhang, where can we find more pirates?" Although they were instructed to meet all of Zhang Menglong''s demands, this request seemed far-fetched. Did he think pirates could just be found so easily?


    "That''s something for them to answer!" Zhang Menglong looked towards Gorik, "Mr. Gorik, I now need some more pirates. I suppose you, as colleagues, would know where they hang out, right?"


    At that time, after the crackdown by the United Nations, the Somali pirates were almost completely captured, but there were still many that slipped through the net, with at least twenty pirate groups still wanted internationally.


    These pirate groups had as few as a dozen members, and as many as a hundred, but these pirates were very cautious, and their bases were often extremely secretive, so most of them were still at large.


    However, there were actually special ways of connecting between pirates, as those in this line of work, whether it was arms or daily necessities, needed to trade, which served as the hub connecting pirates to each other.


    "You want me to betray them?" Gorik turned his head to one side. Some of these pirate leaders were friends who had faced life and death together, they had great relationships, how could he possibly betray his friends?


    "Kill or slash as you please, but try to get any information out of me? Don''t even think about it!"


    "Alright! You''re tough! You have integrity!" Zhang Menglong directly told the captain, "Captain, give them all black stockings on board, and then start a live broadcast on the international version of TikTok!"


    "But Mr. Zhang, we don''t have any black..."


    "Take this!" In everyone''s astonished glances, Zhang Menglong directly pulled out a big bundle of black stockings from his backpack.


    "Junior brother, you..."


    "Senior brother! Wuhu!"


    Lu Yiyao''s senior sisters also looked at her.


    "Junior sister, hm?"


    "Hehehe."


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re looking for trouble!" Lu Yiyao fiercely pinched Zhang Menglong''s waist.


    In front of a ship full of burly soldiers, these pirates had no chance to resist at all, each one of them donning incredibly sexy black stockings, creating a truly gorgeous scene.


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk!" Although Gorik was tight-lipped, his pirate underlings were not so principled.


    "Speak, there''s a reward if you do!"


    "About 50 nautical miles from here there is an uninhabited island, where there is a bay, which we call Paradise Bay, and at least ten pirate gangs have long taken refuge there, this place is also the spot for our daily recreational life."


    "Captain?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I''ve checked the location, there indeed is an uninhabited island there, and it''s an area that shipping routes usually don''t pass through, highly likely to be inhabited by numerous pirates."


    "Go there and fetch me all those pirates, try to keep them alive, for if they die, I''ll be short of actors," Zhang Menglong ordered.


    "Yes!" Although that area of the sea is international waters, the three countries it falls under all owed Zhang Menglong money.


    Upon hearing this news, not only did they welcome the idea, they even voluntarily sent a fleet to help Zhang Menglong capture those pirates!


    "Mr. Zhang is ridding the world of nuisances; we should all fully cooperate!"


    "If we don''t help Mr. Zhang, we don''t deserve to be human!"


    "Mr. Zhang, we will definitely support you with all our might!"


    "Mr. Zhang, everyone is full of praises for you!" claimed the official in charge of liaising, buttering him up, "Everyone thinks this is a good cause, and they even want to apply for a United Nations Peace Medal for you!"


    "No, no, no, you''ve got it all wrong," Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I just wanted to play an escape room game!"


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ve just mentioned where those pirates are nesting, and you just mentioned a reward. I don''t ask for anything else; can you let me go? I promise to turn over a new leaf!"


    "Well, I''ve always been a man of my word," Zhang Menglong nodded, pulling out another pair of stockings from his backpack, "Someone, upgrade his black stockings to white stockings!"


    ...


    "Hahahaha! What the hell! What kind of magical livestream is this?"


    "Pirates dressed in black stockings? Are they real pirates? And there''s one in white stockings too!"


    "Wow, South Africa''s first fleet, officially endorsed? They really know how to have fun, huh?"


    "That''s so amazing!"


    "Nani? Four...Four nations in one?"


    "Ciba!"


    ...


    The pirates of Paradise Bay never imagined that just because a man from Huaxia suddenly fancied playing a pirate-themed escape game, their whole lair would be raided.


    An aircraft carrier, seven destroyers, and twenty armed helicopters trapped them dead on that island.


    They had planned to hunker down inside, believing that those people would not easily break in.


    But who could have expected that these warships would start with a missile bombardment, followed by elite special forces from three countries, catching them completely off guard.


    In the end, at the cost of only one minor injury, they captured 278 pirates.


    When they heard that they had been captured only to accompany a Huaxia man in a game, tears of grievance immediately fell.


    "Everyone, change into these!" Zhang Menglong ordered the pirates to strip off their military gear and put on Caribbean pirates-themed costumes.


    The pirates cried out in grievance¡ªthey were already pirates, and now they had to switch into such ridiculous theatrical pirate costumes? Seriously, was that respectful?


    But there was no choice, with the black muzzles of guns pointed at them, they could only comply; now, they were merely tools.


    "Now, I will announce the rules!" Zhang Menglong took out the thick script and tossed it to one of the accompanying group, "All pirates must strictly act and talk according to their roles."


    "In battle scenes, you must fully cooperate and not harm my friends, but at the same time, you are not allowed to go easy. You must make it look very realistic."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong and his party, now dressed as explorers, started a treasure hunt in Paradise Bay, where the pirates nested!


    ...


    "Damn it! I told you to cooperate properly! Why are you just standing there? Take this one away and shoot him!"


    "Why are you being so fierce? You scared my junior sister! Take this one away and shoot him too!"


    "You''re a pirate; why are you smiling like a benevolent KFC uncle? Take this one away and shoot him too!"


    ...


    Pirate: "I must have fucked up in my past life to choose to become a pirate!"

 Chapter 700 - 698: Ritian International Bank

    This immersive escape room had Zhang Menglong and the others fully engaged for two whole days and nights!


    It must be said, the material written by hundreds of elite under the lure of money was indeed very good. This experience was even more thrilling than binge-watching the entire series of Caribbean pirates.


    Of course, during these two days, these pirates were also tormented quite a bit, with even several of them breaking down on the spot.


    You say we are pirates by nature, isn''t it only logical for us NPCs to be ferocious and fearsome? It''s just that your girls are too timid!


    Okay, you say to be a bit gentler, but then you complain that we''re too gentle, lacking the pirate''s presence. What do you want us to do?


    They had never regretted being pirates, but if they were given the choice again today, they wouldn''t choose to be pirates even for a mountain of gold. And if they were to be pirates, they would always keep an eye on this man named Zhang Menglong.


    After spending several more days in South Africa, they finally ended this exciting and unexpected journey. Although everyone was somewhat tired, they were indeed very happy.


    ...


    Just as they had lain flat at home for one day, Wang Ling and Qin Feng showed up at Zhang Menglong''s house.


    This time, in Zhang Menglong''s counter-attack operation, they pooled several hundred billion US dollars, but Zhang Menglong, with powerful manipulation, multiplied these several hundred billion by several times, making a fortune!


    However, this time, the two of them came to Zhang Menglong with some special business.


    "Menglong, actually this time I''m here representing our family''s old man," Qin Feng said, "You know, there are some things that are difficult to address openly. Since our family''s old man knows we have a good relationship, he sent me as a mediator."


    "What? What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong said, "I haven''t done anything illegal, have I?"


    "Not saying you''ve done anything bothersome," Qin Feng said, exasperated, "The thing you did a few days ago really stirred things up, you know what the global economic situation is now?"


    "What''s the situation?"


    "Currency in 89 countries has devalued significantly. Twelve currencies have devalued within 20%, thirty-seven currencies have devalued by 20%¨C50%, twenty-two currencies by 50%¨C90%, and the remaining eighteen have even devalued by several folds!"


    "Wow, it devalued this much in just a week?" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected his offensive to be so effective, practically destroying half of the world''s currency system!


    "Those countries are now experiencing severe inflation, especially some less developed countries in Africa and Europe. An apple there can sell for dozens or even hundreds of US dollars¡ªwho can withstand that?"


    "They can''t just watch their people starve to death, can they?" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "Of course not!" Qin Feng replied, "These countries haven''t stopped their printing presses these days, only managing to ward off the situation by printing massive amounts of currency. But this method is just like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water, it really can''t last long. The worst-hit country might completely collapse economically in about three or four days."


    "They deserve it!" Zhang Menglong actually wasn''t completely over it at that moment. "If they dare mess with me, they should be prepared to face the consequences!"


    "However, indeed, the people at the top shouldn''t make their people foot the bill. The responsible should face the consequences. Whoever did it should pay for it," Qin Feng said.


    "Our old man''s message is that it''s enough to teach them a lesson. There''s no need to break everything down. Let''s give them a way out," he conveyed.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "A global economic collapse isn''t entirely good for us either. Plus, I still have a big game to play!"


    "You have an idea?" Qin Feng asked.


    "Of course!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "If you suddenly became very wealthy, extremely wealthy, and all that money was in cash flow, what would you use it for?"


    "Hmm... Invest?" Qin Feng guessed.


    "No! It''s to open a bank!" Wang Ling suddenly realized.


    "That''s right, we''re starting a bank!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do you guys know how much money I made in the last two months?"


    Both shook their heads, but they knew it was definitely a frighteningly huge number, given that the first time, Zhang Menglong had made a whopping 45 trillion US Dollars!


    "The first time I made 45 trillion US dollars, the second time nearly 10 trillion, and the third time..."


    "Wait, there was a third time?" Wang Ling pressed.


    The first time they knew about was when they teamed up to impact the Huaxia currency market; the second time, they also knew about¡ªit was the global shock of the speculative attack tragedy just a week ago, and even both of them had made billions of US dollars.


    Everyone knew these two incidents were Zhang Menglong''s doing, but since they were guilty, they were now blamed on international speculators; they bafflingly carried the blame.


    Did Zhang Menglong do it a third time, too?


    "Nothing much, just some psychics kidnapped me, trying to extort something from me."


    "Their brains must be filled with crap, of all people to kidnap, they chose you!" Zhang Menglong was notoriously formidable, and Wang Ling was very aware of it¡ªhow dare someone kidnap Zhang Menglong, who was really blackmailing whom!


    "Then what happened?"


    "Then, the people who kidnapped me ended up surrounded by just me alone, and if they wanted to leave, they had to pay up nicely, 100 billion US dollars per country isn''t too much, right?"


    "Hilarious, isn''t that another 10 trillion US dollars?"


    "10 trillion my ass! I had conquered their currency markets already, they couldn''t scrape up that money, so I had to settle for land, gold, mines, and such to pay off the debt," Zhang Menglong said, spreading his hands helplessly, "A bunch of paupers!"


    "Now, if they want to maintain their currency stability, they need to start with foreign exchange, and I have lots of it. I might as well do a good deed this time, help them out, support them."


    "Hahaha, you''re killing us, folks!"


    "Menglong, you really have no shame, plundering them first, then lending to them, this move is just brilliant!"


    Qin Feng laughed, "They don''t even have an option not to borrow, otherwise they''d have to watch their currencies continue to devalue, and America over there can''t provide enough US dollars to help them either. In the end, they still have to come to you for loans."


    "Hong Yi, have you finished the task I entrusted to you?"


    "It''s done, Mr. Zhang," Hong Yi came over with a thick stack of documents, "I''ve registered the banking license you wanted, and the financial business authorization has also been fast-tracked."


    "That fast?"


    "The bank is established overseas," Hong Yi said, "that country still owes you 72 billion US dollars. I promised to reduce their interest a bit, and all the paperwork was greenlit all the way. If it''s a 30-year loan, it saves them a couple of a billion US dollars a year!"


    "This deal is worth it!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Do you have any plans regarding the interest rate?"


    "Well, we don''t need too much interest, just use the same rates as our country''s mortgage loans¡ª6.1% for 30 years, 5.8% for 50 years, 5.4% for 80 years, 3.9% for 100 years. They can choose either equal principal payments or equal installment payments, I can give them whatever they need!"


    "Vampire, absolute vampire!"


    "Given the current situation, they must lend out at least several hundred billion dollars to each country, right? Some might even need to borrow a few trillion, and just like that, you''re loaning out over 10 trillion easily, and just living off the interest brings in billions of US dollars a year."


    "Have you thought of a name for the bank?"


    "I thought of it long ago!" Zhang Menglong pulled out a business license from the stack, which clearly read: International Bank of Ascent!

 Chapter 701 699: This is Really Shameless

    Wang Ling and Qin Feng left Zhang Menglong''s place, and then Mr. Zhou called Zhang Menglong again.


    "Damn, is this issue really getting so much attention?" Without asking, Zhang Menglong knew Mr. Zhou must be calling about the funding issue.


    "Mr. Zhou, it''s been a long time!"


    "Yes, indeed, it has been a while," Mr. Zhou''s tone was clearly not as upbeat, "You''ve done quite a job this time!"


    "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Zhou. It''s all thanks to your excellent guidance!" Zhang Menglong said with a cheeky grin.


    "Guidance my foot! Do you really think I''m praising you?" Mr. Zhou huffed and glared, "What did I tell you? Stop causing trouble everywhere. But this time, you''ve gone and crashed the economy of half the world in one fell swoop!"


    "I can''t take all the blame for that," Zhang Menglong argued with a hint of grievance, "From the perspective of criminal law, what I did was purely self-defense, right? They wanted to plunder my wealth, so I couldn''t just stand there and let them, could I?"


    "And who knew their traders would be so easy to defeat? My people accidentally turned their money into my money. I wanted to keep a low profile, but it was my ability that didn''t allow it!"


    "Please, I know you too well. Took advantage and still playing innocent? Stop being so sarcastic with me!" Mr. Zhou couldn''t help but laugh at Zhang Menglong''s antics, "And then what? That so-called international floating capital ¨C I bet there''s nobody else but you, Zhang Menglong, who could produce such a massive amount of US dollars in cash all at once?"


    "I''m even less to blame for that!" Zhang Menglong explained, "I went to South Africa for some fun with a friend, and who would have guessed they''d kidnap me? You know how us rich folks are¡ªscared to death. I calculated before leaving that there was bound to be a disaster this time, so I told my guys, if they can''t reach me, go to town on ''em!"


    Zhang Menglong then pretended to cry and sniffle, "If I hadn''t prepared in advance, they surely would have offed me, and I''d never see you again in this lifetime!"


    "Enough already, who are you trying to fool? Don''t I know you? Even without those precautions, those people wouldn''t have been able to lay a finger on you!" Mr. Zhou asserted, "That secret base in the Americas was blown up recently, that was your handiwork, wasn''t it?"


    "Blown up?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment, but then he recalled releasing a psychic with supernatural abilities beyond those of a divine level before he left. Such a person could easily destroy an island.


    "You, you!" Mr. Zhou stressed his words, "What am I to do with you? Well done!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect Mr. Zhou to suddenly throw such a curveball, "You''re not mad at me?"


    "Why would I be mad at you?" Mr. Zhou responded, "Those robbers, I''ve been wanting to teach them a lesson for a long time. Although their last target was you, our currency market and banks took the hit first. Even though you stepped in on time, there was still an impact."


    Mr. Zhou spoke seriously, "89 countries, they really think we''re easy to push around? This time, you certainly let them have it good and proper. Even if they''re brave enough to cause trouble again in the future, they no longer have the capacity or the funds."


    "So if you didn''t call to scold me, what did you want?"


    "Hehe, to borrow some money!"


    "What?"


    "What what!" Mr. Zhou snorted, "Don''t you know, with the US dollar depreciating like it has, the global economy is so unstable, we also need a substantial amount of foreign currency to stabilize the market."


    "Didn''t I have someone transfer the money back last time?"


    "This is an opportunity to make a big move!" Mr. Zhou said, "Now, to stabilize their domestic markets, they need a lot of US dollars, so they''re frantically engaging in foreign trade. Things they were reluctant to export before are all up for sale now, and the prices are negotiable too!"


    "Seriously, which country has the money to import goods now? Isn''t this the time to stockpile some resources?" Mr. Zhou explained, "Gold, rare earths, high-precision instruments, etc. It''s all becoming cheaper than stuff in discount stores."


    "Good grief, you''re trying to loot a burning house!"


    "Hahaha, an opportunity for the cunning merchant, right? If we wait until they recover, when will we get another chance like this?" Mr. Zhou was frank, "But don''t worry. The country borrows money from you, and it will pay the interest due, not missing a cent. Let''s go with the previous US Treasury bond rate, 4.2%. How''s that sound?"


    "How much money do you want to borrow?"


    "Of course, the more the better," Zhou Lao said. "All those materials being sold around the world are almost worth seventy or eighty trillion US Dollars; if you can lend us thirty to fifty trillion, we could swallow it all!"


    "I can lend you fifty trillion, even without interest if you like."


    "Oh? You must want something, right? You''ve always been one to never let a profit slip by."


    "Hahaha, you know me well," Zhang Menglong laughed. "But it''s just a small matter for you; I''d like to ask for a favor!"


    "Spit it out; as long as I can do it, I''ll definitely help you."


    "I need you to organize an international summit for me. I''ll give you a list; these are all the countries that participated in that operation. You help me invite the heads of their finance departments to Huaxia."


    "That''s not difficult," Zhou Lao said. "This year''s World Economic Summit is being held in our country. I can find a way to push it forward, but what are you planning to do?"


    "Do good things!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.


    "What good things could you possibly pull off?"


    "Just think about it, the world economic environment is so poor right now. As a member of Earth, shouldn''t I make some effort?"


    "I know everyone is short on cash right now, so I''ve selflessly taken out my own savings to help various countries stabilize their currency exchange rates, and incidentally make a little money."


    "Speak human language!" Zhou Lao directly interrupted Zhang Menglong''s speech.


    "Hehe, isn''t everyone short on cash right now? And I just happen to have some spare cash. It''s just sitting there otherwise, so why not turn money into more money," Zhang Menglong revealed a sly merchant''s grin. "I''ve recently opened an international bank, looking to develop some foreign exchange loan services."


    "Good lad," Zhou Lao couldn''t help but let out a laugh, "So you want this old timer to be your salesman! Then I''ll need a commission."


    It was clear that Zhang Menglong had blown up their economic market and plundered their money, and now he was lending their own money back to them. This move was utterly shameless.


    And he had the nerve to call it a rescue mission. He had never seen such a brazen scoundrel.


    "I''m giving you an interest-free loan and you''re still not satisfied?"


    "Hahaha, just kidding," Zhou Lao laughed, "The new year''s right around the corner. Let''s arrange things for the day after tomorrow, I''ll help you out with this."


    "Then I owe you one, Zhou Lao."


    "It''s nothing," Zhou Lao dismissed the magnitude of the favor, considering that he had just waived a fifty trillion debt, which was a significant savings for the nation. By comparison, this small favor really seemed trivial.


    "But aren''t you afraid they won''t pay you back?" Zhou Lao asked. "What if they take the money and run, turning their backs on you?"


    "Is there such a good thing?" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh excitedly.


    Zhou Lao: "??? Is that supposed to be a good thing?"


    "If they don''t pay back their debts, then don''t I have a reason to take action?" Zhang Menglong said. "I would just be retrieving my own money from their capital markets, which isn''t excessive, right? When they''re out of money, won''t they have to come back to borrow more from me? In the end, wouldn''t my money be multiplied by a massive amount?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Lao was stunned. Who could possibly think of such a money-making scheme? This was truly shameless!

 Chapter 702 700 A Philanthropists Gift

    Over the past week, almost half the world was filled with despair, a week of despair that even the ongoing global economic crisis had not caused such widespread economic depression before.


    All countries'' currencies had devalued to a pitiful extent, with Venezuela''s past dire situation almost being crazily repeated across these 89 countries.


    To cope with this situation, their money-printing machines had started working nonstop, and even the paper and ink used for printing money had become national-level strategic materials.


    But even so, the speed at which they printed money still couldn''t keep up with the pace of currency devaluation and inflation.


    In some countries, people even needed to carry baskets to the markets to buy vegetables and use suitcases and cars to transport salaries.


    Even the US dollar, which had been the world''s reserve currency, had continued to fall to two-thirds of its original value before barely stabilizing.


    Because many of these countries were part of the Eurozone, the euro, as their trading currency, also experienced severe devaluation.


    Amid such a backdrop, the only country that still stood tall was Huaxia in the East!


    When all eyes turned to Huaxia, it suddenly made a shocking decision¡ªto move the world economic summit scheduled for March forward to just two days later.


    Initially, all countries were opposed, "You think you can just decide when we start? Who do you think you are? Shouldn''t this kind of thing be decided after a meeting and a unanimous vote by everyone?"


    The so-called economic summit was nothing more than a chance for countries to showcase their economic achievements in recent years and symbolically discuss the so-called global development situation.


    Put simply, it was a large social gathering where wealthy countries flaunted their wealth and poor countries lamented their poverty.


    Those poor countries were like individuals suffering from social anxiety, while the wealthy countries acted like they had ''social awesomeness syndrome,'' simply put, idiots.


    At these meetings, Huaxia had always managed to shock the world with its understated style and high-profile strength.


    But this time, everyone''s economic development had been severely damaged, and within just a week, the economic level of several countries had regressed to that of ten years ago, and they were still heading toward even worse conditions.


    Take urban development, for example, with the decline in currency purchasing power, many construction projects had halted unfinished. What were they to boast about at this economic summit? Their unfinished buildings? Their excavators that they couldn''t even afford to fuel?


    Everyone knew that Huaxia was the least affected by this disaster, and it had even profited considerably from it!


    Just two days ago, Huaxia spent trillions of US dollars to buy almost everything on the international market, from daily necessities to energy and aerospace products.


    You don''t want to sell? No problem, we have a lot of money; if it comes down to it, we just won''t buy. Let''s see who can last longer.


    You don''t want to lower your price? Well, forget it. Just wait until tomorrow¡ªyour country''s currency will devalue further, and we can negotiate even harsher price cuts!


    Under these circumstances, going to Huaxia was essentially throwing their face out there to watch someone else show off.


    But at this point, Huaxia burst out with another shocking piece of news. This time, Huaxia had already thought of ways to help other countries solve the economic crisis! If everyone wasn''t in a rush, we could proceed with the original plan and hold the economic summit in March, when we would share solutions with everyone.


    They could neglect other matters, but not this one!


    It had only been a week, and their economies had suffered such heavy damage. Now, for each day that passed, their economic development regressed by several years. If they waited until March, wouldn''t everything be over by then?


    Although they didn''t know what method Huaxia had found, even if it were just a gimmick, they definitely had to check it out this time. What if it were real?


    But at this time, Huaxia backed out!


    Hey, weren''t you unwilling? Then let''s stick to the original plan and take our time!


    Now all of them were anxious, ready to pay a significant price just for the world economic summit to take place the day after tomorrow!


    What? Embassies for foreign representatives?


    No need to build one, we''ll stay in hotels. There''s no need for you to arrange it; we''ll pay for it ourselves!


    "Included meals and lodging? No need, no need, we''re all simple folk, accustomed to living casually. A simple meal is enough as long as it fills the stomach!"


    "Private transportation?"


    "There''s no need for that either. We''re here to participate in the summit to gain experience and knowledge, not to be treated like lords. We can take taxis ourselves! If that''s not possible, we are fine with walking!"


    "Prepare commemorative gifts?"


    "Not necessary. We feel the air of Huaxia is the best gift for us!"


    Thus, the economic summit commenced according to Zhang Menglong''s plans.


    The venue was selected at the Jiangnan Exhibition Center in Jiangnan City, and of course, the choice of location was intentional.


    Plane after plane landed at the airport in Jiangnan City. The welcoming fleet had already been waiting for them at the airport. Despite everyone saying no need for transportation, we are a great nation, and a great nation must show great generosity.


    As for the reception at the hotel, it was also according to international top standards. Although Jiangnan City could still only be considered a quasi-first-tier city, its level of economic development and urban construction was not inferior to those metropolises.


    This allowed delegates from all over the world to witness the rise of a new international metropolis.


    On the day of the exhibition, all the delegates arrived at the Jiangnan Exhibition Center and, led by receptionists, hundreds of people surged into the venue together.


    "What do you think, will they have any methods to help stabilize our economy?"


    "I don''t know. Our economists have analyzed it already. Currently, only a large amount of US Dollar foreign exchange funds can help stabilize the exchange rate, thereby stopping the further deterioration of the economy."


    "Ah, who would have thought our losses this time would be so severe, all because of those idiots'' foolish decisions."


    ...


    "Ladies and gentlemen, you are now entering the recently established World Artifacts Exhibition in our exhibition center!" the reception staff announced. "To demonstrate the inclusiveness of Huaxia and the rich diversity of world cultures, we have specifically collected the most representative exhibits from various countries. There is still half an hour before our meeting starts, so you are free to look around."


    "This is interesting; I''d like to see what these Huaxia people mean by inclusivity."


    "Well, since we''re here, let''s have a look!"


    The representatives from various countries began to wander around the exhibition hall, but when they saw the exhibits filled with the essence of their own countries, their facial expressions suddenly became uglier than if they had eaten feces.


    "This... this item isn''t this our national treasure? How did it end up here?"


    "This is the most important thing in our history; wasn''t it previously housed in our National Cultural Exhibition Center?"


    The items displayed in the cases turned out to be their most important possessions!


    Such as Kaibong''s Caoji Sword, such as the Scepter symbolizing the royal authority of Frankfurt...


    "How did you get these items? You are robbers!" someone shouted.


    "What''s going on?" a Huaxia representative came over.


    "These are our cultural relics, our national treasures; how can they be in your exhibition hall? They must have been taken by you, all this talk of inclusivity is nothing but deceit!"


    "Excuse me, representative, please calm down," the Huaxia representative said in a measured tone. "This item was indeed under your cultural management, but just a few days ago, your country owed a huge sum to a philanthropist from our country, and this item was used by your country as collateral. We have the collateral contract to prove it."


    "That''s impossible!"


    "If you don''t believe it, you can certainly ask your superiors if this is the case."


    "Oh, and by the way, this philanthropist''s surname is Zhang, and his name is Zhang Menglong. He has already donated all these items to us at no cost."

 Chapter 703 701 Are you ok?

    "Zhang Menglong?" Many people in the room were visibly moved upon hearing this name.


    The incidents that had occurred previously were only fully understood by the higher echelons of each party. However, due to the urgency of the meeting today, most of the attendees were not significant figures; they had only vaguely heard that their country''s current predicament was related to a man from Huaxia named Zhang Menglong.


    But had they really owed Zhang Menglong so much money? To the extent that they even had to offer their national treasures as collateral for the debt¡ªthat seemed incredibly far-fetched, didn''t it?


    However, these precious artifacts were of significant concern. If they ended up in other countries, it would carry a sense of national humiliation.


    Imagine, how would the people of their nation feel seeing their national treasures in museums of other countries? How could anyone take pride in their country then?


    "Minister, I saw one of our national treasures in Huaxia," someone immediately contacted his superior, "Wasn''t that item supposed to be in our national museum? How did it end up in Huaxia?"


    "Ah..." A long sigh came through from the other end, "It''s a long story."


    "They say we owe Zhang Menglong several billion US dollars; we''ve mortgaged it to them..."


    "Indeed, that''s the case, don''t bother about it. Today, our biggest goal is to find a solution to this pressing matter. As for those items... we will someday reclaim them anyhow."


    "I understand." The representative from that country resignedly hung up the phone.


    Meanwhile, many other representatives were also confirming this matter with their leaders, and it was explained just as the Huaxia staff had described¡ªthey really were using it to pay off debt!


    "See, I didn''t deceive you, did I?" the staff member said with a smile.


    The representatives'' faces turned from green to purple as they suddenly realized that this Zhang Menglong was definitely doing this on purpose!


    You say our country owes you money, and using items to pay debts is naturally justified. But can you be a bit more humane? Can''t you keep this humiliating affair a little more discreet and hide these national treasures away?


    Now, you insist on donating them to Huaxia''s exhibition hall for display¡ªisn''t this just an intentional move to disgrace us? It''s like twisting the knife in our hearts!


    They were filled with resentment, yet they dared not speak out.


    Initially filled with anticipation to appreciate the display in Huaxia''s exhibition hall, they now saw these exhibits as columns of shame; they constantly felt as if people were looking at them with that same view.


    "Hmm? Isn''t that the crown of a king from your country from over 600 years ago?" Among today''s meeting attendees, there were also some from countries with very good relations with Huaxia; for them, this was indeed a unique exhibition.


    "I... I''m going to smoke a cigarette."


    "I suddenly have a stomachache, I need to go to the restroom!"


    "I need to use the restroom too!"


    Urine escape and defecation escape have always been the best excuses for humans when facing a major social embarrassment.


    But when they entered the restroom, reality still delivered a harsh blow.


    On the walls of the restroom hung paintings from their country!


    Even these artifacts had a friendly reminder written next to them:


    Debt collateral exhibition item from XXX country, non-staff please do not touch indiscriminately.


    Friendly reminder my ass! Could you maybe remove the first half of that sentence in your friendly reminder, or shall we just hang our national flag up there as well?


    ...


    "Wait, isn''t that the flag of Ianoya? How... how is it printed on a toilet paper brand?"


    "Hahahaha, Ianoya hasn''t mortgaged even the rights to use their own flag, has it?"


    The representative from Ianoya underwent relentless ridicule.


    Ianoya, a small country that had only emerged in the last decade or so and had a population of just over a million, had clung to the coattails of several developed nations, hoping to get a share from Zhang Menglong.


    As one might expect, their meager foreign exchange reserves stood no chance against Zhang Menglong''s onslaught, with the compensation demanded by Zhang Menglong amounting to several times their annual GDP!


    Moreover, such a small country didn''t have any valuable cultural relics; the only thing of slight worth was their land, but even that tiny spot didn''t appeal to Zhang Menglong.


    After some bargaining, they ceded a piece of land to Zhang Menglong, and then authorized him the use rights of their national flag, whether Zhang Menglong needed it for registering a trademark or a patent!


    To be honest, that tacky national flag was barely recognized by anyone; Zhang Menglong simply despised it!


    So, with a bit of a mischievous mindset, he promptly registered it as a toilet paper brand. Under his operations, a trademark registration process that normally took several months was completed in just two days, and then mass production began.


    Enya brand toilet paper, an internationally renowned trademark!


    The representative from Enya, feeling the mocking glares around, quickly snuck into a booth.


    He breathed a sigh of relief, pulled down his pants, and began to pee, then his gaze froze on the toilet beside him.


    Enya brand bathroom fixtures, designated brand of the World Economic Summit!


    "This... It''s only been a few days. How many brands has this Zhang Menglong registered with our national flag?"


    ...


    This agonizing half-hour finally passed, and the delegates tidied up their appearances and entered the center of the conference.


    In front of the major media journalists, they also adjusted their attitudes, each spirited and smiling since they now represented the face of their countries and couldn''t afford to lose face internationally.


    "Welcome, everyone, for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend our international economic summit!" the host said with a smile as he stepped onto the stage, "It''s been several years since the last economic summit, and in these years..."


    A speech, a video, and a PowerPoint presentation displayed Huaxia''s recent economic development to the world.


    Normally, representatives of each country needed to report, but besides Huaxia, most of the countries were in economic decline or had no notable progress, so the process planned for several days was completed in just three hours of sharing.


    Under the watchful eyes of all, the host returned to the stage. The next segment was what everyone eagerly awaited: What solution did Huaxia have for the current tense economic environment?


    "I believe everyone is eagerly anticipating the next segment. We know everyone is hassled by their economic troubles, and today, we have taken on the international mission to find solutions for you all."


    "What kind of solution?"


    "Yes, what kind of solution?"


    "Unless we can now get a large amount of foreign exchange to stabilize our currency rate, nothing will work."


    "It''s simple, borrow money from banks!" the host said succinctly.


    "Isn''t that obvious? If we could borrow money, would we still be in this situation?"


    "Exactly, did you deceive us here just to tell us this? Are you here to humiliate us?"


    "Even the world''s largest International Bank couldn''t issue so many loans now; they have already cut back on lending, we absolutely can''t borrow money."


    "Ladies and gentlemen, since we have gathered everyone here, we certainly aren''t joking. We have now found a bank strong enough to help everyone stabilize their exchange rates and cope with the difficulties."


    "What kind of bank has that capability?"


    "With less than several trillion US Dollars in cash flow, it''s impossible. Even all the banks in America combined don''t have that much liquidity, right?"


    "Now, let us invite the president of Nitian International Bank to the stage!"


    "Nitian International Bank?"


    "What kind of bank is that? I''ve never heard of it!"


    ...


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, a young man slowly walked up to the podium, waved at the audience below, and said, "Hello, everyone, I''m Zhang Menglong, are you ok?"

 Chapter 704 702: Love to Lend or Not, If Not, Just Scram

    "Zhang Menglong! It''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "What''s he doing here? Hasn''t he caused us enough misery already?"


    "Rising Sun International Bank? Is it his bank?"


    "I get it! It''s a trap! This is a trap!"


    The moment they saw Zhang Menglong, many people instantly understood.


    Is this their so-called solution?


    Indeed, everyone had considered borrowing money from the International Bank, but since there were too many in need of funds, and each loan amounted to billions or even hundreds of billions of US dollars, how many banks could sustain lending on such a scale?


    If anyone could lend so much money, there was only one person with the ability¡ªZhang Menglong¡ªbecause he had virtually swept up the world''s supply of US dollars!


    Everybody calculated that to stabilize the international market and return it to its previous level, a whopping 15 to 18 trillion US dollars in solid cash funds was required!


    To Zhang Menglong, this amount was merely a third of the funds he had reaped from his first counterattack.


    Indeed, strictly speaking, this was a solution, but who would want it?


    This was tantamount to a robber who had stolen their money, and now, this robber was actually asking them if they needed a loan¡ªhow despicably shameless!


    Although it all started as a mess of their own making, no one wanted to admit their mistakes.


    Emotionally, the 89 representatives present wanted to walk out right then and there, but reason told them they couldn''t leave, although they hated to admit it, only Zhang Menglong could save them now.


    If they were to run away on a whim now, who would save their economies?


    "Fuck, isn''t that boss Zhang?"


    "Boss Zhang actually came to attend the World Economic Summit?"


    "Rising Sun International Bank? How come I''ve never heard of such a bank?"


    This being a major international event, the whole summit was broadcast live, and the audience recognized Zhang Menglong right away.


    "Found it! I''ve found it. This bank is an international bank registered overseas, with a registered capital of 50 trillion US dollars... and it''s a paid-up capital!"


    "What? 50 trillion US dollars of registered capital, and it''s paid-up?"


    This information shocked netizens for a whole year.


    What is registered capital? It reflects a company''s capital and ability to resist risk at the time of registration.


    Theoretically, you could fill in any amount, it''s alright to write in several billion because these days, when you establish a company, the registered capital is by subscription, which does not require actual capital verification.


    However, once the company goes bankrupt, it needs to pay debts according to the registered capital, so generally, no one would register a very high capital.


    As for banking enterprises, verifying registered capital is necessary, because if you are opening a bank, it''s impossible to be broke, right? If you have no money, why would you even open a bank?


    To date, the bank in Huaxia with the highest registered funds is 334 billion Huaxia coins, and the registered capitals of several other major banks are also above 200 billion Huaxia coins.


    The company with the highest registered capital in all of Huaxia is 1.55 trillion Huaxia coins, of course, this capital must not be on a subscribed basis, an immediate cash payment of 1.55 trillion Huaxia coins is unrealistic.


    But these numbers are already astronomical figures.


    Now, this Rising Sun International Bank''s actual paid-up amount has reached a staggering 50 trillion, and that''s goddamn in US dollars, hugely surpassing others by hundreds of times! And these 50 trillion US dollars are all liquid assets!


    Of course, when registering as a legal entity, Zhang Menglong did not use his own name, and when registering shares, he registered only a small part.


    If he had financed everything himself, Forbes Magazine would probably have been blasted again, damn it, the guy just whipped out 50 trillion US dollars to start a bank, and you''re telling me his total assets are only 10 trillion US dollars? What are you guys even doing?


    Miles away, the headquarters of Forbes Magazine breathed a sigh of relief


    ...


    "I''m delighted to see everyone here today!" Zhang Menglong smiled. He was clearly happy¡ªas many people were queuing up to borrow money from him, and he was softening up from feasting on the interest¡ªhow could he not be happy?


    As for whether the people below were happy, that was none of his business!


    "I know that previous international speculation had caused severe economic damage, and now everyone urgently needs a substantial amount of money. Under my name, I own a bank and am willing to provide international support; therefore, I specially introduce this product called ''Love Lending or Not.''


    "Hahaha! Love Lending or Not, hahaha, I''m dying of laughter."


    "I bet fifty cents this name was definitely made up by boss Zhang on the spot."


    "Hahaha, be a little more daring, I bet five bucks!"


    ...


    "You''re talking about this international hot money, isn''t it just yourself?" Everyone in the audience knew the truth, but no one dared to break the silence.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''d like to know the benchmark interest rate of this product offered by your bank,"


    "Everyone can see on the display," Zhang Menglong opened a PowerPoint presentation, "Based on a loan unit of 1 billion US dollars, the annualized interest rate varies from 3.90% to 6.15%, depending on the term of the loan."


    To tell the truth, for such a large sum of money, the interest really isn''t high!


    Because even some banks'' financial products require more than 4% interest for just a few hundred thousand dollars.


    And they''re looking to borrow starting from several billion US dollars, the interest rate is indeed very low.


    "Once you become a member of the bank, you can also enjoy the following services," Zhang Menglong continued.


    "First! Lifetime membership at the Dawn International Hospital, you can enjoy free annual medical check-ups and free admission to the Dawn Psychiatric Hospital!"


    ...


    Who the hell wants this kind of service? Are you hoping we all go insane?


    ...


    "Second! For every 100 billion US dollars borrowed, you can enjoy a day''s interest waived!"


    ...


    Damn! You call this a deal? That''s worth over a million US dollars, do we lack these million dollars? We lack a hundred billion!


    Zhang Menglong''s list of perks was almost meaningless, it was truly a case of an idle chat being more enlightening than a formal discussion; all bullshit!


    "Now, those who want a loan can come over here and line up, I''ve brought the bank''s sales staff over, apply today, and the funds will be in your account tomorrow!"


    "Me! We want 100 billion US dollars!"


    "We want 120 billion!"


    "We want 50 billion!"


    ...


    The line in front of the sales staff Zhang Menglong brought quickly grew long.


    "What''s going on? Isn''t this an international economic summit? How did it suddenly turn into a major business event?"


    "Haha, typical Mr. Zhang, I don''t know why, but he always seems so cool."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, can we borrow 120 billion US dollars?"


    "Oh, buddy!" Zhang Menglong looked up, wasn''t this their friend from Pakistan?


    "Hey, give them a discount, don''t charge Pakistan such high interests," Zhang Menglong said, "How long do you want to borrow it for?"


    "30 years, perhaps."


    "Then charge them a total interest of 1% for 30 years!"


    "Really?" The representative''s eyes lit up instantly, they were hoping to use this 120 billion to develop their country. Although the interest rate wasn''t high, for a relatively poor country like theirs, even this annual interest was significantly high.


    Who knew that Zhang Menglong would just outright offer them a bundled interest of 30 years at 1%, meaning that for borrowing 120 billion US dollars for 30 years, they would only need to pay back 1.2 billion in interest, which was almost like having no interest at all.


    "Mr. Zhang, we want to borrow 40 billion US Dollars, can you give us a 30-year interest rate of 1% too?" Hearing the preferential interest rate Zhang Menglong had just offered, several other delegates crowded forward.


    But Zhang Menglong just glanced at him, "Who are you, do I know you?"


    "But why do they get..."


    "They are our dear friends, who are you guys?"


    "That''s not fair!"


    "You want fairness, do you?" Zhang Menglong patted the salesperson''s shoulder, "Add a point to their interest rate later!"


    "Yes, boss!"


    "Zhang Menglong, that''s too much!" The delegate immediately turned red with anger, over several decades, that one point could turn into a terrifying figure.


    "It''s my bank, I set the interest rates, take it or leave it, if not, get lost!"

 Chapter 705 703: Actually, Im from a Medical Family

    The World Economic Summit had ended amid noise like that of a vegetable market.


    With their newly borrowed money, the representatives who had been anxiously fearing the worst finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although they were all now deeply in debt, at least the immediate crisis had been addressed.


    As for the debts they owed, they would have to pay them off slowly. What else could they do? They were well aware, however, that unless Zhang Menglong suddenly died overnight, they would be overshadowed by the Zhang Family for the rest of their lives.


    "You rascal, how was business today?" Old Zhou leisurely approached from behind Zhang Menglong, "Made a good profit, didn''t you?"


    "Not bad," Zhang Menglong smiled, "I lent out a little more than 22 trillion US Dollars, and with the current interest rates, earning a few trillion US Dollars a year won''t be a problem!"


    "Hahaha, good!" Old Zhou laughed heartily. Huaxia had painstakingly saved a few trillion US Dollars over decades, and here Zhang Menglong could match a decade of the nation''s efforts in just one year!


    Whether the money was Zhang Menglong''s or the nation''s didn''t matter to Old Zhou at all, because Zhang Menglong was a Huaxian, and one filled with national pride at that.


    "The New Year is just around the corner. Any plans? Going back to your hometown?" Old Zhou and Zhang Menglong chatted about family matters.


    "I might not go back," Zhang Menglong said, "My family is no longer there."


    Zhang Menglong certainly couldn''t say that his family had already stepped through the gates of a new world, could he? If he did, Old Zhou would surely think he was insane.


    "Why don''t you bring your girlfriend to Yanjing for the New Year?" Old Zhou suggested, "You could also meet some people I''ll introduce to you."


    "Sure," Zhang Menglong considered for a moment and then agreed. After all, where else would he be spending the New Year? And Old Zhou, having no children, must feel quite lonely.


    "I need to take a call," Old Zhou''s phone suddenly rang, "Let''s have lunch together later."


    "Sure thing. You go ahead. I''ll just check my figures again." Zhang Menglong rubbed his fingers together, preparing to calculate how much money he would make from this deal, but he suddenly noticed that Old Zhou''s expression had turned very serious.


    "What did you say? Qin''s condition has worsened? What are these doctors doing? Didn''t they say he had at least a year or two left?"


    "And what about the latest targeted treatment technology?"


    "Alright, I got it. You guys take good care of Old Qin. I''ll be back in Yanjing tonight!"


    "Sorry Menglong, something urgent came up. I have to rush back. I''ll treat you to a meal another time." Old Zhou looked hurried.


    "What''s the matter? I heard you mention Old Qin just now. It isn''t Qin Feng''s grandfather, is it?"


    Old Zhou nodded, "This old man, who has dedicated his life to the nation, is facing such torment in his old age without any good returns."


    "Why is that happening?" Zhang Menglong asked. "Didn''t I give Old Qin a pill last time? Logically, given his physical condition, living another 10 years shouldn''t have been a problem."


    "After taking your pill, Old Qin indeed became much healthier and even wrestled with the new recruits at the army base at his old age," Old Zhou said, "But the old man is after all old, and last week he suddenly fainted in the camp. Everyone thought he was just too excited and couldn''t handle it, but who would have known, the old guy has acute leukemia."


    "Acute leukemia?" Zhang Menglong knew clearly. The pill he gave the old man was just to activate the activity of the body cells and help to prolong life, strictly speaking, it was just a health supplement, not a cure.


    At Old Qin''s age, his body couldn''t withstand such an acute disease!


    "After a night of emergency treatment, his condition has temporarily stabilized, but the doctor said the illness could worsen at any moment, and just now, his white blood cell count dropped again."


    Treating leukemia can be very difficult, yet also quite simple in a way: find a suitable bone marrow match and proceed with a transplant, and the current survival rates are still very high!


    Zhang Menglong had a classmate in elementary school who was diagnosed with leukemia. After a successful bone marrow transplant, he is now in excellent health.


    However, the most significant characteristic of acute leukemia is the rapid deterioration of the condition. There simply isn''t enough time to find a matching marrow donor.


    Even if a match is found, it''s uncertain whether the old general can survive the surgery given his advanced age.


    In fact, the old general had long accepted his fate, having lived a full and vibrant life. What more could he ask for?


    But his concern was the military, though the next generation of generals was very capable, he saw no one in the following generation who could take up the mantle.


    Moreover, as the highest-ranking officer, General Qin was the linchpin of the entire military. His sudden demise would greatly impact morale, possibly leading to unforeseen circumstances.


    In other words, he was the soul of the military!


    "I''ll go with you," Jiang Yezhou said, "No wonder Qin Feng has been so quiet lately. It looks like he still needs to lean on my pectoral muscles."


    "And you''re still joking at a time like this," scolded Old Zhou, "If Qin Feng were here, he''d punch you."


    "If he doesn''t want General Qin to recover, let him come and punch me!"


    "What did you say? Are you implying you have a way?" Old Zhou''s eyes suddenly lit up, "I know you''ve achieved something in the field of medical artificial intelligence, but this is serious medical science, you..."


    "Actually, our ancestors included quite a few famed physicians," Zhang Menglong stated, "Do you know what the earliest recorded medical text in history was?"


    "I do know that. The ''Inner Canon of Huangdi,''" It was one of the earliest texts and also the first among the four great classical texts of Huaxia traditional medicine.


    "No, actually not," Zhang Menglong smiled, "The Inner Canon of Huangdi is merely a small portion of another book. That book is called ''Shennong Pharmacopoeia'', and the Inner Canon of Huangdi is less than a third of its content."


    "The ''Inner Canon of Huangdi'' focuses more on traditional Chinese therapies, whereas the rest incorporates another very ancient discipline involving alchemy and medicine making!"


    "You know alchemy and medicine making?" Old Zhou said, astonished.


    In Huaxia, there are actually many alchemists and pharmacists, their heritage being very ancient and these fields arguably more profound and expansive than traditional Chinese medicine.


    But because the entry barrier is high, not everyone possesses the capability of alchemy and medicine making. Even in ancient times, individuals with such capabilities were often revered and mythicized, which led to a deterioration in the transmission of these arts.


    Modern so-called alchemists and pharmacists can only produce very rudimentary drugs.


    This is due to the extreme difficulty of alchemy and medicine making as well as the loss of medical recipes.


    "I know a bit," Zhang Menglong revealed, "That book was compiled by my ancestors. You know about Shennong, right?"


    Old Zhou nodded, but wasn''t that a mythical figure? Did his ancestors know Shennong?


    "My ancestor was Shennong!" exclaimed Zhang Menglong, "His name was Zhang Shengnong. He was deeply occupied with researching medication. During his travels across the country, he cured many complex diseases and wrote down this work. Somehow it spread and he became regarded as Shennong. Eventually, he just named his book ''Shennong Pharmacopoeia'' outright."


    "Then hurry up and follow me!" Old Zhou grabbed Zhang Menglong''s shoulder, eager and impatient, "Now, immediately, this instant, come with me to Yanjing!"

 Chapter 706 704: Its Not Like Its Anything Precious

    Time was urgent, and Zhang Menglong directly took a private jet with Elder Zhou to Yanjing. At Yanjing airport, a military jeep was already waiting for them.


    In the car was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties to fifties, radiating an iron-like aura. Zhang Menglong could tell he was from the military even without him wearing a uniform.


    "Elder Zhou, you''ve arrived!"


    "How''s your father doing now?" Elder Zhou asked. "Oh, let me introduce you, this is General Qin''s son and Qin Feng''s father, Qin Shouzheng."


    "Shouzheng, this is Menglong, you know of him."


    "Hello, Uncle Qin," Zhang Menglong had seen this man many times on television, but this was the first time he met him in reality, and his demeanor was even more distinguished than the image on TV commanding thousands of troops.


    "Hello, I''ve heard Qin Feng mention you," Qin Shouzheng said to Zhang Menglong with a slight bow, "Thank you for the gift you gave my father; our Qin family owes you one."


    Uncle Qin, please don''t do this," Zhang Menglong quickly supported Qin Shouzheng, "Qin Feng and I are friends, and his grandfather is like my grandfather. It was a simple matter of lending a hand, if you act this way, it''s too formal."


    "Alright, you two don''t need to exchange pleasantries here, let''s go see Old Qin!" Elder Zhou urged.


    "You''re right," Qin Shouzheng quickly ushered the two of them into the car.


    "Father was stable last night, but this morning, his white blood cell count dropped again, and it took several hours of resuscitation to barely maintain him, but the doctors say if it happens again, they might not manage."


    Qin Shouzheng''s tone was filled with helplessness. In fact, General Qin had lived much longer than expected, stealing quite a bit of time from the heavens, but it was truly lamentable for an old soldier who had dedicated his life to the military to suffer and leave the world due to illness.


    "Isn''t there any other way?"


    "There is!" Qin Shouzheng said. "But with the current level of medical science, whether it''s traditional Chinese or Western medicine, they can only just barely keep my father alive. If we want to cure him, we might need some other methods."


    "What methods?"


    "The ancient art of alchemy!" Qin Shouzheng said. "Thousands of years ago, it was a very magical era, where even things like elixirs of immortality appeared. Although immortality is a myth, they were indeed miraculous medicines, but most of the pill recipes and methods of concoction have disappeared. However, Longxia..."


    Qin Shouzheng glanced at Zhang Menglong, seeming to hesitate to continue.


    "General Qin, you want to talk about the Longxia Special Operations Squad, right? I know about them; you don''t need to keep things from me, I understand all about the second world!"


    "You indeed know more than I thought," Qin Shouzheng said with a smile.


    "There''s nothing surprising," Zhang Menglong replied, "if your family had been passing down traditions for thousands of years, it would be quite difficult not to know certain things."


    "That''s the case. In the warehouse of the Longxia Special Operations Squad, there are some ancient pill recipes. Some were found in ancient ruins, and some were obtained from emperors of ancient times. We have found a recipe that seems to have the potential to cure leukemia."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, leukemia should be caused by a genetic mutation. Although there is some connection to external factors, it essentially occurs at the deepest genetic level."


    "Yes," Qin Shouzheng nodded, "this pill recipe is designed to stabilize genes and solve some genetic diseases."


    "In the records, because alchemy and medicine-making were prevalent at that time, some unorthodox individuals created pill recipes that altered human genetics, turning people into monsters to enhance their physical abilities. And this recipe was intended to cure the damage caused by those substances."


    "So you''re saying that if we can produce the medicine from this pill recipe, we can cure Elder Qin?"


    "Theoretically, that is correct," Qin Shouzheng nodded, "but neither modern medicine nor science has managed to reproduce this substance. That''s why it has been left gathering dust in the warehouse, and only true alchemists and pharmacists can produce this medicine."


    "Longxia should have such talented individuals, right?"


    "Yes, indeed, Longxia has descendants and inheritors of some alchemists and pharmacists. I''ve made a request to the higher-ups, and they are now by father''s side."


    "That''s the best," Elder Zhou found some solace, "Let''s hope they can be successful!"


    ...


    The Qin family lived in an ancient courtyard house in Yanjing, and the neighborhood was almost exclusively inhabited by founding figures of the country¡ªyou might even stumble upon a child covered in mud playing outside who could have a frighteningly high-status parent.


    Elder Qin''s room was located in the innermost part of the courtyard, and there were at least four or five doctors in white coats, each known for their skillful hands, but they seemed somewhat at a loss when it came to the old man''s condition.


    Qin Fengye was there, and the middle-aged woman next to him must be her mother. Qin Feng''s demeanor was distinctly less jubilant than a few days ago when she had made billions of US dollars.


    "Old Qin!" Zhang Menglong called out.


    "Menglong, how come you''re here?" Qin Feng was surprised to see Zhang Menglong there.


    "I just happened to hear Mr. Zhou mention your family elder''s condition, so I came over to see if there''s anything I could do to help," Zhang Menglong said. "How is he now?"


    Qin Feng shook his head, "The elder is still in a coma. People from Longxia are inside trying to concoct medicine. It''s been over a dozen hours since last night."


    "Creak!" With a grating sound of a door opening, two old men with white beards, looking somewhat ethereal, came out from the inside.


    "Elder Bai, Elder Sun, how did it go? Did you succeed?" Qin Shouzheng and the others hurriedly gathered around.


    "Alas," the two shook their heads, "If our master were here, we might still have a chance to try, but our skills are truly not sufficient, and the potency of the medicinal herbs is also lacking. We have really tried our best."


    The faces of the Qin family members went pale at this moment, which was almost like a death sentence for the elder.


    The daughters and granddaughters of Elder Qin could hardly hold back on the spot.


    "Could I take a look at the pill recipe?"


    Zhang Menglong''s voice was jarringly out of place.


    "Who are you?"


    "This pill recipe is extremely precious. How could you expect to see it just because you want to?" The elder with the surname Bai immediately showed a displeased expression.


    "Minister Qin, how can you bring someone in casually on such an important matter?"


    "I brought him!" Mr. Zhou spoke up directly for Zhang Menglong.


    As soon as the two saw Mr. Zhou, they immediately hesitated to speak. Although both were Ancient Martial Artists, in front of someone like Mr. Zhou, they dared not be presumptuous.


    "I''ll go inside and have a look," Zhang Menglong walked into the room, which was still radiating warmth. It must be the heat transformed from inner strength during the medicinal concoction process.


    Although Zhang Menglong hadn''t witnessed the entire process, just looking at the clump of blackish residue, he could tell that the two men''s concocting methods were extremely crude.


    "What a waste of medicine," Zhang Menglong shook his head. These medicines, although trivial to him, were certainly rare in the secular world.


    "Mr. Zhou, I want to save people, but they won''t show me the pill recipe, so there''s nothing I can do."


    "Gentlemen, this pill recipe..."


    "There''s no harm in showing it to you!" Pressured by Mr. Zhou, the elder named Bai reluctantly handed over the yellowed scroll of animal skin. "What do you, a mere kid, understand?"


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong just sneered. Saving a life was important, so he didn''t bother to argue with them.


    "All potent drugs." Zhang Menglong took out his phone, "Hong Yi, are the people here?"


    "Mr. Zhang, they are already waiting outside the courtyard."


    "Uncle Qin, I have a friend outside who was stopped by the guards; could you please let him in?"


    Although Qin Shouzheng didn''t understand what Zhang Menglong was up to, he still nodded.


    Soon, a delivery guy from Nifeng Express ran in carrying a box.


    "Who is Zhang Menglong?"


    "Fuck! What is this?" Zhang Menglong cursed on the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, you said to keep it low-key."


    "Alright, alright, I''m busy now," Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, having never been so speechless in his life!


    Zhang Menglong opened the box and casually pulled out a plant with red leaves.


    "This... this is a potent medicinal herb that went extinct over 1200 years ago; how did you..." The two alchemists from Longxia couldn''t remain calm upon seeing what was in Zhang Menglong''s hands.


    In their body of knowledge, there was an impression of such a plant, reportedly very precious. Its sap was extremely potent, a component used in concocting high-level medicines.


    "What''s there to be amazed about," Zhang Menglong quirked his lips, "It''s not anything precious. My family''s medicine garden has plenty of them!"

 Chapter 707 707: 705

    This sentence completely changed the way the two old men looked at Zhang Menglong.


    A plant that had gone extinct 1200 years ago, and he was actually growing it in his own medicinal garden? How was that possible?


    You should know that these kinds of plants grow in extremely hot places, like the mouth of a volcano. Don''t tell me you, Zhang Menglong, live on a volcano?


    "This is impossible, where exactly did you find it? The last recorded sighting was during the Song Dynasty, when a medicine gatherer found it in a cave. It''s simply not possible to cultivate it artificially!"


    "Then you are really uninformed!" Zhang Menglong said, "We hired some psychics in our family who directly use their supernatural abilities to generate high temperatures to nurture these plants, so isn''t that viable for cultivation?"


    "That works?"


    Everyone knew Zhang Menglong was rich, but to hire psychics to do this sort of thing for you¡ªhad you really reached that level of wealth?


    "That''s not all," Zhang Menglong continued, "The psychics in our family can also help me heat up hot springs, build ski resorts, manage landscaping, artificially induce rainfall, and so on."


    "Since when have today''s psychics become so lacking in scruples?" Master Bai muttered to himself. Could it be that psychics are short of money?


    But his shock was far from over. Zhang Menglong was still taking out one plant after another from that delivery box.


    In truth, Zhang Menglong didn''t know exactly what was needed, so he had someone prepare one or two plants of everything that might come in handy.


    Yet, what were quite ordinary things to him were almost mythical to others, even to the point of being so scarce that they had never even heard of them.


    "Alright, the potency of these items should be sufficient," Zhang Menglong handed back the prescription to the two masters, "Study it carefully and learn as much as you can."


    "You understand medicine refining?" Both masters were stunned. Those were the kinds of words they would normally say to their students, but when had it turned appropriate for a man in his early twenties to say that to them?


    "Menglong, you know how to do this?"


    "Is it that strange?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Did you think the elixir I gave you last time was stolen?"


    "That was made by you?"


    "What else?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "But what I''m learning isn''t medicine refining, it''s alchemy!"


    "Alchemy!?"


    The faces of the two masters became even more nuanced. To say that they were alchemists was actually an overstatement; they had only received a superficial inheritance of medicine refining, far from being true alchemists, merely slightly more advanced than doctors.


    As for alchemists, in that distant era, they were considered superior to medicine refiners. The biggest difference between an alchemist and a medicine refiner was whether they could turn medicine into an elixir. The difference between an elixir and medicinal powders and liquids was very significant.


    While medicinal powders and liquids could refine the essence of the medicine, they couldn''t bring out its greatest effect, and often had just ten to twenty percent of the intended medicinal impact.


    But elixirs, they were the stuff of legends, with Huaxia''s legends suggesting that only immortals could concoct them.


    If you said that there were still people who knew a bit about medicine refining in this era, as for alchemy, it had been completely extinct for hundreds of years!


    "Young man, you can perform alchemy?" The attitude, tone, and address from the two old men towards Zhang Menglong underwent a huge change in an instant.


    "It''s a required skill in our family," Zhang Menglong explained, "Since I was a child, my parents would wield a rattan cane while making me learn. If I couldn''t perform alchemy, I wasn''t allowed to eat!"


    "Menglong, are you confident?" Qin Feng asked worriedly.


    "Asking me that question is like asking what one plus two equals, it''s practically an insult to my intelligence."


    "Then what do you need, I''ll help you prepare it!" Qin Feng''s hope was immediately ignited by Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Alchemy does require some tools," Zhang Menglong added, "To be precise, I need a medicine cauldron. And not the kind used for sacrifices or for burning incense in worship."


    "This..." Qin Feng''s face showed a troubled look. Alchemy had been lost for so long, to say nothing of the medicine cauldron¡ªwhere was he supposed to find one?


    "Forget it, I knew you wouldn''t have it, I never expected you to," Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "Wait a minute, we have this!" the two masters quickly said, "In Longxia''s warehouse, there''s a medicine cauldron that was exported from an ancient tomb, probably crafted three or four thousand years ago. Will that do?"


    "That will work!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "But it would take too long for you to go back and forth. I''ll just make do with what''s available here!"


    Zhang Menglong started strolling around the courtyard.


    "What''s this place?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing to a smoking area.


    "That''s the kitchen, with just one earthen stove. The old man is from back in those times, and he can''t get used to modern appliances like rice cookers and pressure cookers, so he kept these things around," Qin Feng explained.


    "Let''s go, take a look over there!"


    A group of people followed Zhang Menglong into the ancient kitchen. It was a very simple stove, with just one blackened pot on top and wood underneath. Even in rural areas, such things had become quite rare.


    "Alright, we''ll just use this as a substitute!"


    "You''re going to refine elixirs with this pot?" Both masters felt like their worldview was about to be overturned.


    In ancient texts, the conditions for alchemy were extremely demanding. Not to mention the abilities the person needed, the materials, the alchemy furnace, and a high-quality flame were all indispensable!


    Among these elements, the alchemy furnace was particularly important, as it involved whether the flame would be even, which in turn affected whether the elixir could be successfully refined.


    And now you''re telling me you''re going to perform alchemy with a pot? How do you expect those ancient alchemists to react?


    "Given the current situation, this is the best makeshift solution," Zhang Menglong walked up to the stove, and a purple flame started blazing fiercely underneath it.


    "Zhang Menglong is indeed a psychic!"


    The people around Old Zhou and Old Qin had suspected this, and today they finally had it confirmed.


    "The temperature of this flame..." Both elders were Mythical Realm experts, and they could sense just how terrifyingly hot the flame was.


    With their strength, they could also muster flames, but only about three to five hundred degrees at most, roughly the same as burning wood.


    But Zhang Menglong''s purple flame was likely at least a few thousand degrees. Even warriors from the Heavenly Origin Boundary couldn''t conjure a flame of such intensity!


    "What other secrets does he have?" Qin Feng stared blankly at Zhang Menglong. "This kid really knows how to keep a tight seal on things."


    "I''m now wondering if his capture in South Africa was staged by those people," Old Zhou whispered. "I heard that the headquarters of the Supernaturals Alliance in America turned into ruins, likely the work of this brat."


    "Zhang Menglong threw the materials into the pot, and the medicine immediately started decomposing and condensing under the high temperatures, turning into several highly concentrated drops of liquid."


    "I''ve heard that some legendary alchemists can use fire as their furnace, without the need for a pill furnace at all. Has he reached that level?"


    "Don''t speak, just watch closely. This is an excellent learning opportunity for us!"


    "Stop looking; you won''t be able to learn it!" Zhang Menglong said, multitasking between refining and chatting with them.


    This was the alchemy technique of the revered pharmacist Yao Chen. If they could learn it just by a glance, there wouldn''t be much point to it!


    Drop by drop, the medicine began to merge under the high temperature. The originally mottled tastes started exuding a fragrance, so much so that even an ordinary person like Qin Feng could feel the magic of a single droplet.


    A few minutes later, a bright red pill slowly spun inside the pot.


    "Is it done already?" Zhang Menglong started to harvest the pill, all within less than five minutes!


    Damn, frying an egg doesn''t even happen this fast! This gives off the false impression that anyone with hands can perform alchemy, you know?


    "Mr... Zhang, it''s ready?" The two masters watched him incredulously.


    "What else? Isn''t this elementary level stuff? Should it take hours?"

 Chapter 708 706 There is no disease in this world that I cannot cure

    "Elementary level..."


    The two masters were already over a hundred years old, and even then, they had spent their entire lives learning but had only managed to scratch the surface of pharmacology.


    That was merely the level of elementary students, so what did that make them? Nothing at all!


    But upon closer thought, Zhang Menglong had created this elixir in just five minutes. For him, this craft, which had been lost for a thousand years, seemed indeed to be a piece of cake. Saying it was elementary level didn''t seem to be a problem at all.


    "Qin Feng, give it to the old master to take. It should work very quickly," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Are you sure this thing is edible?" Many people in the Qin Family remained skeptical.


    With their understanding of alchemy, didn''t it require an alchemy furnace and forty-nine days of refinement before producing an elixir? Could something made so casually actually be effective?


    This thing was concocted from a dirty, garbage-like iron pot¡ªwhat if it was ineffective, or worse, harmful? Given the old master''s current condition, wouldn''t that mean he''d breathe his last right there and then?


    "I''ve made the thing for you. Take it or leave it, I''m not begging you to use it!" Zhang Menglong directly handed the item to Qin Feng.


    "Menglong, don''t be angry. Everyone is just worried about the old master''s well-being," Qin Feng quickly intervened to console him.


    "What''s there to worry about? If anything happens, I''ll take responsibility!" Qin Feng''s father, Qin Shouzheng, also stepped forward. It was a case of trying anything in a desperate situation.


    With Qin Shouzheng saying so, how could the rest of the Qin Family have any objections?


    "Menglong, this pill is so large, I''m afraid my grandfather might..."


    "I know," Zhang Menglong nodded, "Leave it to me."


    This elixir was extremely potent; if the old master were to swallow it directly, he would probably die very quickly. It needed some subtle techniques to make the effects of the elixir a bit milder.


    The room was very dim, with only a few life-support machines and vital sign monitors, aside from the lone hospital bed.


    The old master lay on the bed, his face nearly devoid of color, a complete contrast to the dignified appearance he had shown at the last military parade.


    "Menglong, we are entrusting our family''s elder to you."


    "Don''t worry," Zhang Menglong patted Qin Feng''s shoulder. This task was not difficult for him at all.


    Zhang Menglong disconnected the old master''s ventilator, and the old man''s vital signs immediately began to plummet.


    "This..."


    "Don''t panic!" Qin Shouzheng held back the others.


    Zhang Menglong gently pressed on the old master''s chest, and incredibly, the latter''s previously still chest began to rise and fall.


    Zhang Menglong placed the red pill into the old master''s mouth. Using his inner strength, he helped the old master digest the power of the elixir while also stimulating the bioelectric current to enhance the old master''s autonomous vital signs.


    The power of the medicine permeated into the cells, beginning to repair the mutated DNA, restoring the old master''s ability to produce white blood cells. Then, Zhang Menglong continued to use his own energy to stimulate the growth of white blood cells.


    "The white blood cell count is increasing!"


    "It''s miraculous; it''s only been a few minutes!"


    "Is this the ancient art of alchemy? No wonder alchemists were called immortals back then; this is truly a lifesaving skill!"


    ...


    "That''s enough for now. Just make sure to eat well for some time, and a recovery is possible in a month or two," Zhang Menglong said, "But this has somewhat overdrawn the old master''s lifespan. Originally, he had about ten years left, but after this ordeal, it''s probably down to five or six."


    "That''s already quite good," Qin Shouzheng gave Zhang Menglong a deep bow, "Menglong, thank you for this."


    "Menglong, great kindness needs no thanks," Qin Feng also bowed to Zhang Menglong, "Buying a car with Wang Ling at that store might have been my luckiest day."


    "Stop grossing me out," Zhang Menglong showed a look of disgust, "Anyone who didn''t know better would think you''re about to confess your love to me. I''ve got a girlfriend, okay?"


    "Get lost, man!"


    "Hahahaha!"


    ...


    Old Master Qin''s health had already recovered, so Zhang Menglong''s mission was completed. Since he was already in Yanjing, he simply brought Lu Yiyao over.


    The New Year''s Eve dinner this year was the most incredible one Zhang Menglong had ever had in his life.


    It wasn''t that the meal was particularly luxurious; it was the guests at this New Year''s Eve dinner that were impressively formidable.


    Ministers, generals, academicians¡ªthere wasn''t a single average person among them.


    But Zhang Menglong didn''t fall short in stature either. Just being the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in the world was enough to warrant extremely respectful treatment from everyone.


    "By the way, Menglong, what are your plans after the New Year? I remember you''re still a postgraduate student at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, aren''t you?" At the dining table, nobody brought up state affairs, and Elder Zhou casually asked a question.


    "Our school''s graduation requirements are pretty simple; just one SCI paper is enough. Now that I''ve published so many papers in Nature and Science, a lot of universities have invited me to be a visiting professor. So, I just need to attend the end-of-semester exams, and I''m kind of too lazy to go to school," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "It''s remarkable that someone as young as you has achieved so much in scientific research," Elder Zhou went on to praise Zhang Menglong, "By the way, after the New Year, there''s a global scientific research achievements exchange competition in April. Are you interested in checking it out?"


    "What''s that for?"


    "Strictly speaking, it''s sort of a scientific symposium," Elder Zhou explained, "Nearly all the world''s top scholars will be there, including those who have won the Nobel Prize and equivalent honors. If you have time, it might be worth going to learn something."


    The phrase "to learn something" made Zhang Menglong almost laugh and cry. With his current knowledge, it was others who needed to learn from him; there was really no reason for him to learn from them.


    For instance, Zhang Menglong''s highest achievement in physics was the Nobel Prize in Physics, not because that''s all he was capable of, but because it was the highest honor in physics to date.


    While the other Nobel laureates were also quite formidable, they still fell short compared to him.


    "There will also be a very intense academic debate, something you definitely can''t see on ordinary occasions."


    "Oh? So, there will be a scene of ''scholars wittily contesting with one another''?" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "Yes, during the previous event two years ago, our Professor Qian Miao had an intense debate with a dozen scholars on the concept of hyper-mysterious spaces and ultimately left them all speechless. It was truly satisfying for everyone!"


    "Now, that I''d be interested to see!" Zhang Menglong was genuinely intrigued. Professor Qian Miao was currently the finest scholar in spatial science and physics in Huaxia.


    "This time, Professor Qian Miao is leading the team. You might even have the chance to exchange ideas with him. What he''s preparing for the academic report this year has caught the whole world''s attention," Elder Zhou suddenly looked around, "Hmm? Where is Academician Qian?"


    Elder Zhou remembered that Academician Qian Miao was also on the list of invitees to this New Year''s Eve dinner, but now that the banquet had begun, his seat remained empty.


    "I''ll give him a call and check." Elder Zhou immediately took out his cell phone and called Professor Qian.


    After several rings, a young girl''s voice finally came through.


    "You''re Qian Miao''s granddaughter Qian Sijia, right? Has your grandfather left the house?"


    "What? He suddenly fell ill today?" Elder Zhou''s expression changed abruptly.


    If something happened to Academician Qian Miao, the upcoming academic conference would have no leader; this was not good news.


    "You guys go ahead and eat; I''ll go see Old Qian!" Elder Zhou excused himself, ready to leave.


    "Elder Zhou," Zhang Menglong had Lu Yiyao stay at the banquet, "Let me accompany you. I''d like to see what this strange illness is about. As you know, there''s not an ailment in the world that I can''t cure!"

 Chapter 709 - 707: Ask Him Who I Am

    The New Year''s Eve dinner was held in a large hall, not too far from the alley where the elderly lived. In just over ten minutes, Mr. Zhou and Zhang Menglong had reached Academician Qian Miao''s residence.


    "Why are there so many people?" These elders generally preferred quietness, yet the entry was bustling today. On their clothing, Zhang Menglong saw the familiar emblems of the Longxia Special Operations Team, and he even sensed that many psychics had gathered here.


    "There are even several god-level psychics?" Zhang Menglong casually scanned the area and even detected an energy almost reaching the status of a god-level psychic. "Could it be Meng Tianhe, the chief commander of Longxia?"


    Zhang Menglong knew that in Longxia, there were several powerful existences at the peak of god-level psychics, but this power had almost stepped half a foot into a higher realm, equivalent to the Heavenly Origin Boundary of Ancient Martial Artists. Likely, no one else but Meng Tianhe could possess such power.


    It wouldn''t surprise Zhang Menglong if a large group of doctors and even some of the Longxia''s alchemists had gathered here, for such national pillars deserved many doctors to diagnose and treat them if they fell ill.


    However, while these psychics were good at fighting, healing and saving lives were not their specialties. What were they doing here?


    "Mr. Zhou, why are you here?" Qian Sijia, the granddaughter of Academician Qian Miao, greeted Mr. Zhou immediately upon seeing him. Qian Sijia, about the same age as Zhang Menglong, had fair skin and beautiful features, but she looked somewhat haggard now.


    "Your grandfather missed the New Year''s Eve dinner; how could I not be worried?" Mr. Zhou said. He and Academician Qian Miao were not merely acquaintances; they had been classmates during their student days, one taking the political path and the other focusing deeply on scientific research in their quest to strengthen their country.


    Later, Mr. Zhou and that generation of elders took the lead in building a powerful nation, and Academician Qian Miao became the founder of Huaxia''s space science and aerospace technology, maintaining a very good relationship all along.


    Qian Sijia glanced at Zhang Menglong. Mr. Zhou had never had children in his life; this must be one of Mr. Zhou''s other younger relatives. She smiled and nodded to Zhang Menglong, who smiled back.


    "Oh, let me introduce, this is Menglong, Zhang Menglong."


    "This is the granddaughter of Academician Qian, Qian Sijia."


    "Hello!" Zhang Menglong shook her hand.


    "Hello," Qian Sijia looked at Zhang Menglong for an extra moment, "I''ve heard a lot about you for a long time, and I never thought we would meet under such circumstances."


    "How is your grandfather? What exactly is this strange illness he has? He was perfectly fine when I asked him to play chess last week," Mr. Zhou expressed his doubts.


    "Grandpa is still in a coma, but the doctors can''t find anything wrong," Qian Sijia said, "They say his body is very healthy, with no cardiovascular diseases or other common ailments in the elderly."


    "Do you mean that those doctors also can''t find the cause?"


    "Yes," Qian Sijia nodded, "Several expert teams from the military hospitals have examined grandpa. Apart from being unconscious, his body is getting weaker, but he has no other conditions."


    "That''s strange, it almost sounds like he''s been hexed," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, but he immediately felt his words were somewhat impolite. "Sorry, I was just speaking off the cuff."


    "No, what you said is actually what I was thinking," Qian Sijia said, "Grandpa''s room is like a cold cellar, and anyone who goes in feels chilled to the bone; the doctors can hardly bear it after a while."


    "So you invited the people of Longxia here?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes," Qian Sijia replied, "I''ve heard that our Longxia Special Operations Team members have special abilities and many are quite extraordinary, so my parents had no choice but to ask for their assistance."


    Actually, Qian Sijia didn''t really know what kind of organization Longxia was; she only occasionally heard the elders at home talk about it, but when she asked for details, the adults would not discuss it.


    "So, have they found the problem yet?" Mr. Zhou asked.


    Qian Sijia shook her head, "No, they''re helpless too. Only a few people used some magical abilities to help Grandpa maintain his body temperature, but now we don''t even know what to do."


    "Right!" Qian Sijia suddenly remembered something, "Just now, Captain Meng Tianhe from Longxia said that the feeling on Grandpa''s body gave him a sense of de?ja? vu, as if he had encountered it somewhere before, and it seemed to be related to Kaibong."


    "Are they involved again?" Zhang Menglong frowned.


    "May I take a look?" Zhang Menglong said, "Actually, I''m also a doctor. A while ago, Qin Feng''s grandfather was also cured by me."


    "You''re the miracle doctor?" Qian Sijia had also heard about the incident with Qin Feng''s grandfather. It was said that a miraculous doctor cured the elder Qin''s leukemia in just a few minutes. She just hadn''t realized that this person was Zhang Menglong, "And here I thought all you did was spend money!"


    Of course, the latter half was just Qian Sijia teasing him.


    "Hahaha, a man of many talents," Zhang Menglong laughed, "I wouldn''t want people to think I survive on looks alone!"


    "Dream on!" A couple of jokes made the two youngsters much more familiar with each other, "First, go take a look at my grandfather!"


    Qian Sijia led them straight into the courtyard, and indeed, just by approaching that room, Zhang Menglong felt a hint of chill.


    "Uncle Zhou, how come you are here?" The son of Academician Qian saw Old Zhou and suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed.


    "Do you even consider me Uncle Zhou? If I hadn''t called, I wouldn''t have known about the trouble with Old Qian!" Old Zhou chided.


    "Uncle Zhou, we just didn''t want to worry you."


    "He comes out!" A middle-aged man walked out of Academician Qian''s room, his eyes sharp, his stature upright, exuding a kingly aura, but his expression also seemed somewhat helpless.


    "Captain Meng, any solutions?" Old Zhou and others gathered around immediately.


    Meng Tianhe shook his head, "The old man''s condition is very strange. There is an extremely cold energy in his body, but it''s not a supernatural ability. My power has no effect on this energy. This force is very strong; logically, the old man should have been dead by now, but there seems to be something helping him resist this energy, so he has managed to hold on till now."


    Suddenly, Meng Tianhe''s eyelids twitched violently, and his gaze instantly fixed on Zhang Menglong who was not far away.


    His lips and cheeks trembled slightly, as if he was on the verge of saying something but hesitated.


    "You obviously have no way," Zhang Menglong walked over, "The power on the old man is quite special, and you guys can''t handle it."


    "Who are you to talk to the captain like that?" A psychic next to Meng Tianhe immediately got annoyed. Even "those people" had to greet Meng Tianhe as the captain, so what gave this young man the right to be so presumptuous.


    "Want to know who I am?" Zhang Menglong glanced at the psychic, a Level Eight divine psychic, under 30 years old, indeed quite impressive, "ask your captain who I am."


    "Captain, he..."


    "Don''t make a move!" Meng Tianhe immediately stopped the young psychic, "If he wishes, our entire Longxia special operations team wouldn''t even be enough to fill his gap between his teeth."


    The young psychic''s expression instantly turned blank...

 Chapter 710 - 708: Money Makes the Devil Turn the Millstones

    Meng Tianhe, the ceiling of strength in the Second World, was a myth of the entire Second World before the Martial God of Huaxia had broken through to the Heavenly Origin Boundary. There were no more than three people in the whole world who could rival him.


    Even now, excluding the Martial God, he wouldn''t lose to anyone, yet today he actually admitted in front of a young man that none in Longxia were his match? Could he be a monster?


    "Captain Meng doesn''t need to be like this, it could make your people lose confidence. What I have is all thanks to my parents, there''s nothing worth boasting about," Zhang Menglong said.


    Meng Tianhe gave a bitter smile. If he could, he too would want such parents.


    "Captain Meng, not to criticize you, but your progress isn''t fast enough," said Zhang Menglong. "The last time I was at the Supernaturals Alliance headquarters, I heard that their General Instructors and Deputy General Instructors have all begun preparing for their breakthroughs. If you don''t make a move soon, it might become difficult for Longxia in the future."


    "Oh, right, when I was there last time, I also discovered a Psychic who could be compared to a Level Two Heavenly Originator, which means they already have the ability to cultivate Psychics of that level of strength. You need to be vigilant," Zhang Menglong added in an old-fashioned tone.


    "The sinking of the Supernaturals Alliance base, was that Mr. Zhang''s doing?"


    "What? He did that?"


    "My god, how did he manage to do that?"


    "The Supernaturals Alliance base probably had hundreds of god-level Psychics, right? Was it really him?"


    Upon hearing this remark, the attitude of the people of Longxia toward Zhang Menglong changed instantly. Longxia worships strength, the powerful, and the nation!


    "Not entirely," Zhang Menglong shook his head. "But it indeed had something to do with me. It''s their own fault for not being careful."


    "Mr. Zhang''s deeds have dealt a heavy blow to the entire Supernaturals Alliance. Before those General Instructors return, they won''t be able to cause any more trouble," Meng Tianhe nodded slightly towards Zhang Menglong. Although on the surface things were peaceful, there had always been friction between the two organizations.


    But recently, the Supernaturals Alliance has been as meek as a grandson, reportedly losing at least two-thirds of their god-level Psychics, and several Level Eight and Level Nine members died unexpectedly. This was all thanks to Zhang Menglong''s efforts.


    "It was just something I did along the way," said Zhang Menglong casually. "Let''s talk about Academician Qian''s issue now."


    "Mr. Zhang just said that we really can''t handle it, what does that mean?"


    "First of all, the illness that afflicts Old Master Qian is not a normal sickness, which I think everyone here already knows," Zhang Menglong explained.


    The crowd nodded in agreement.


    "Qian Sijia, is there any kind of amulet on your grandfather, like one blessed by a high-ranking monk, or something similar?"


    "How did you know?" Qian Sijia asked in surprise. "My grandfather is a Buddhist believer. When he was younger, he even took a master at Putuo Mountain in the East Sea as his teacher. A few years ago, when my grandfather''s master passed away, someone brought an amulet over, which was a relic of that great master. In the master''s will, he left the amulet to my grandfather."


    "Then there''s no mistake," said Zhang Menglong. "The old gentleman must have been targeted by some unclean entity."


    This statement instantly sent a chill through the crowd.


    Many people present were party members, staunch atheists. This talk of ghosts and monsters was challenging their beliefs, wasn''t it?


    "You needn''t look at me with such skepticism," Zhang Menglong said. "These entities truly do exist objectively. I''ve said this at the previous press conference as well¡ªsouls are a form of energy that pervades existence, only their frequency is beyond human perception and very hard to detect even with instruments."


    "Do these things really exist in this world?" The people still seemed doubtful.


    "I''ve read a lot, I won''t deceive you," Zhang Menglong confidently replied, "But there''s one thing, these energy entities generally do not have consciousness and do not actively attack humans, and ordinary energy entities are not powerful enough to influence humans to any significant degree."


    "Are you suggesting that this is man-made?" Qian Sijia instantly pinpointed the crux of the issue.


    "Pretty much," Zhang Menglong said, "Has the old man offended anyone lately? Especially the kind that look like charlatans and are quite old?"


    "My grandfather has always been very humble and kind, treating his students well," Qian Sijia said, "Also, apart from his research work, he isn''t interested in anything else and shouldn''t have offended anyone."


    "Then his existence must have affected someone''s interests!"


    "That''s very possible!" The son of Academician Qian came out and said, "After the New Year, my father is going to attend an academic seminar. In this seminar, he has prepared a proposal aimed at stopping Kaibong from dumping and polluting waste fluids into the ocean!"


    "Although Kaibong has found a way to treat the wastewater and has clinically proven that marine life won''t be affected, my father''s research has uncovered that the radioactive substances can still cause genetic radiation in a portion of the species."


    "Is this information confidential?"


    Qian Sijia shook her head, "No, it isn''t because my grandfather had once initiated a joint signature campaign; however, among those who oppose the change in the law, only my grandfather has the authority, so he is to stand as the representative to expose their actions."


    "Then there''s no doubt," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I think there would be many people who wouldn''t want the old man showing up at that seminar. As long as he''s bedridden or even worse, there won''t be any influential people to publicly oppose their actions anymore."


    "But how did they manage it? They shouldn''t have had the chance to be in contact with Academician Qian." Meng Tianhe said.


    "Those devious tricks sometimes really need to be guarded against; they only need a little something from the person, be it hair or something else, to carry out such tactics," Zhang Menglong speculated, "Though their people can''t come in, it''s quite easy to get a hair or two from the old man through someone close to him."


    "Bastards!" Meng Tianhe clenched his fists, "Is there still a way to save the old man? Shall I take people and slaughter those Dark Ninjas?"


    "Hey, hey, stop thinking about fighting and killing all the time. Even if you slay them, if the energy entity isn''t eliminated, there''s no way to cure Academician Qian."


    "Are we supposed to find some monks or Taoists?" Meng Tianhe said, but even he felt that this approach was somewhat absurd.


    "Forget it, even those monks and Taoists with a bit of real skill can only deal with low-level energy entities. Against this level of entity, they wouldn''t even know how they died," Zhang Menglong said, "It must be Academician Qian''s amulet at work, resisting part of the invading force, which is why he has held on until now."


    "So what do we do? Are we just going to watch Qian old man be tormented like this?"


    "What do you mean, what do we do? Do you think I''m just sitting around doing nothing?" Zhang Menglong replied discontentedly.


    "Aren''t you only skilled in medicine? Can you even perform exorcisms?"


    "Using Holy Scripture and Holy Water like the Westerners, pouring it on Academician Qian?"


    "Or are you going to use some dog blood talisman to help the old man with exorcism?"


    The people around immediately began to speculate.


    "Sorry, but I can''t do any of those!"


    "Then you..."


    "All those methods are about fighting magic with magic. I''m a more direct and brute force kind of guy," Zhang Menglong cracked his knuckles loudly, "Have you ever heard the saying ''money talks''?"

 Chapter 711 - 709: Physical Transcendence

    "You guys wait here for a while, I''m off to buy some oranges... I mean, I''ll go negotiate with him. Whatever you see later, don''t get too nervous or scared, I''ve got this!"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong stepped directly into Academician Qian''s house.


    "Sheesh, it''s really quite cold," Zhang Menglong rubbed his arms, his newly cultivated "Nine Yang Divine Qi" flowed through his body, instantly expelling the chill, "Lucky for me I''ve got divine skills to protect me. But these Kaibong friends of ours who''ve had quite the good life are really capable, the strength of this Soul Body isn''t weak at all."


    Because the energy frequencies are totally different, even people like Yin Wuyi and Meng Tianhe can do nothing about such Energy Entities, and might even be killed by them.


    "Damn, I should''ve paid more attention when Yan Chixia and Fahai taught me," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. Since Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in things like exorcism, at the time he only learned Yan Chixia''s "Basic Exorcism," and had no idea if it''d be enough to deal with this kind of Spiritual Body.


    However, since these Soul Bodies have developed some consciousness of their own, it wasn''t necessarily a given that Zhang Menglong would have to resort to violence. After all, the ancient proverbs hold much truth.


    "Prajn?a Paramita Hrdaya, Sharingan, activate!"


    Energy surged toward Zhang Menglong''s eyes, and suddenly everything he saw completely changed. Countless unaware, weak Energy Entities were wandering around, and right in front of him was a blood-red shadow, floating above the unconscious Academician Qian, seemingly trying to invade his body.


    But on Academician Qian''s chest, a seemingly ordinary Amulet was emitting a holy light, blocking the invasion of the Soul Body. However, the light''s strength was growing weaker, clearly, it had already been weakened by the Soul Body''s assault.


    Name: Zheng Jiazi


    Race: Spiritual Body


    Potential Index: 22


    Gift: Rage


    Skill: Hair Control (E)


    Evaluation: A vengeful spirit formed from immense rage. With the Host''s current level of Taoism, he''s likely to be overpowered.


    "This thing''s that tough?" Zhang Menglong didn''t expect he really couldn''t handle it.


    "Mr. President, because the energy frequencies are incompatible, although your current strength has surpassed that of the average Heavenly Origin Boundary Martial Artist and your energy exceeds 30 units, you barely can touch it. To draw an analogy, when sound travels into a vacuum, it can''t continue forward. These Soul Bodies are like a vacuum, and your power is like sound. Do you get what I mean?"


    "No wonder Yan Chixia''s course was so complex," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. He remembered Yan Chixia''s first lesson was about how to adjust one''s energy frequency and even studying the Exorcism course required completing a year of high school physics first. Now he understood why.


    "Well, I don''t necessarily have to fight!"


    Zhang Menglong extended his hand, and a Nine Dragons Thunderous Flame blossomed directly in his palm.


    This flame contained the power of thunder and even if Zhang Menglong didn''t adjust his energy frequency, it still posed a certain threat to these kinds of Spiritual Body creatures.


    Feeling the power of this flame, the red Soul Body immediately detached itself from Old Qian and unfurled its hair, beneath which hid a pale and hideous face. Underneath those red locks were a pair of hands, sharp and deadly.


    "Motherfucker! Just looking at it could scare someone to death!" Facing such a thing for the first time, even Zhang Menglong felt some inner panic, though he understood all the scientific principles that these weren''t any mysterious supernatural beings. But doesn''t everyone have some childhood nightmares?


    "Kaibong people sure like to mess around with all this stuff," Zhang Menglong watched the raging Soul Body and quickly started to retreat back into the courtyard.


    "He''s out!"


    "Zhang Menglong, how did it go?"


    "Don''t come over!" Zhang Menglong instantly stopped the people who wanted to inquire about the situation. They didn''t have Amulets like Academician Qian, and if targeted, that would be extremely dangerous.


    "Hey! What''s your name?"


    "Ah? I... my name is Zhou Tao," the Longxia member standing in front of Zhang Menglong answered.


    "I wasn''t asking you!"


    "What?"


    He wasn''t asking a person, was he asking a ghost?


    "Hey, are you listening to me?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask, but the spiritual body simply stared at him, wanting to attack but also seemingly afraid of the flames on Zhang Menglong''s body, because it could feel that if it touched the flames, its energy would be depleted.


    And for such a spiritual entity, once its energy is exhausted, that''s the end¡ªit completely disappears and dies.


    "Oh, right, this is a Kaibong ghost, I should be speaking Kaibong language, ''Kong ni qi wa!''"


    The spiritual body cocked its head, seemingly understanding a bit.


    "A na ta nuo na ma ye wa nan de si ka?"


    "What is he saying?" Old Zhou asked.


    "It seems like he''s asking the ghost for its name."


    "Ridiculous! This is absolutely ridiculous!"


    "Do you see this flame in my hand, about the size of a sandbag? If I slapped you with it, you might just die!"


    "But I''m a kind-hearted person, I don''t like to bully ghosts. Let''s negotiate¡ªyou let Qian Academician go, return to Kaibong, do whatever you want, and I absolutely won''t meddle, how about that?"


    "I''ll even burn money for you, from the Heaven and Earth Bank, 100 trillion enough for you? It should be enough for you to live lavishly for a few thousand years down there. I''ll burn a few handsome guys for you too, absolutely based on the appearances of Kaibong male celebrities. How about Chuangu Hui Xiong; should I mention him for you?"


    "If 100 trillion isn''t enough, how about 1 quadrillion? Plus a Rolls-Royce, plus a set of Tang Chenyi products, absolutely making you the brightest catch in all of Kaibong."


    "I''m telling you now, I''m nicely talking to you. I advise you not to be ungrateful. I''m negotiating with you as a courtesy, don''t you disrespect me. If you disrespect me, I will lose my temper!"


    ...


    The people around couldn''t see the spiritual body; they could only see Zhang Menglong holding a flame in his palm and mouthing off to the air in front of him.


    "Sijia, you''ve learned Kaibong language, could you help us translate?"


    "This... okay..." Qian Sijia translated what Zhang Menglong had just said sentence by sentence.


    "He... he''s negotiating with a ghost?"


    "I''ve lived this long and this is the first time I''m seeing someone do such a thing?"


    "I''m speechless. I used to believe in science, then I believed in Management Studies, now I believe in Zhang Menglong."


    "Don''t say you''re speechless, I think even the ghost is speechless. Can you believe someone is actually bargaining with it?"


    Ghost: "I''ve never been this speechless in my life."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong rattled off a bunch, but the spiritual body still seemed to have a half-understanding look.


    Suddenly, its eyes emitted a burst of red light, and from its mouth came a piercing scream, as if someone far away was controlling it.


    The temperature around suddenly dropped a significant amount, and its hair suddenly started to wildly dance like snakes, launching an attack towards the nearest Qian Sijia.


    "It seems to have lost its autonomy completely; it''s just a puppet being controlled," Zhang Menglong quickly stepped in front of Qian Sijia.


    The Nine Dragons Thunderous Flame formed a barrier in front of Zhang Menglong, the hair instantaneously ignited, and then quickly retracted.


    However, the energy of the spiritual body had not decreased; the Nine Dragons Thunderous Flame seemed to have very limited lethality on it, at most it could only block it for a while.


    Seeing its attack was useless, it immediately turned back towards Qian Academician in the room¡ªits sole purpose for appearing in Huaxia was Qian Academician!


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but swear, "All this talking for nothing, do you really need me to give you a physical exorcism, is that it?"

 Chapter 712 - 710: The Mighty Heavenly Dragon

    ```


    "Zhang Menglong, what just happened? I felt like I was moments from death!" Qian Sijia said, as if she had just experienced a near-death event, her body even feeling a bit weak.


    "It tried to attack you just now, but I fought it off," Zhang Menglong explained, "Everyone, step back. I''m about to perform a physical exorcism!"


    "What does that mean? What''s a physical exorcism?"


    "Dunno, but it sounds pretty awesome. Everyone, move back."


    "I saw a few videos on Bilibili. It seems that so-called physical exorcism means using real weapons like knives, guns, sticks, and clubs to kill those ghosts and spirits, instead of persuading or guiding them away."


    "But that''s blatantly unreasonable, right? Our supernatural abilities can''t touch them, so how could ordinary weapons be possible?"


    "This kid''s got plenty of tricks; just listen to him," Old Zhou ordered, and everyone retreated to the entrance of the courtyard.


    ...


    "Crack, crack!" Zhang Menglong clenched his fists, producing the sound of bones grinding, "Gou Dan, activate Teacher Fahai''s power for me! And give me his exorcism set to use!"


    "To activate Teacher Fahai''s cultivation, it will consume 10 cred points per minute; the exorcism set includes the Zen Staff and the Purple Gold Bowl, consuming 20 cred points per minute!"


    Fahai''s realm was roughly around the Heavenly Origin Boundary. When Zhang Menglong''s power surpassed that of the teachers at the Super God Academy, he only needed to borrow some of their powers, which actually cost very few cred points.


    At that moment, the exorcism power surged through his entire body. Zhang Menglong instantly felt as if his strength had been renewed, even believing he could punch the spiritual body into oblivion.


    "Do you feel that Mr. Zhang''s aura seems a bit different?"


    "I feel it too... Don''t think I''m weird for saying this, but he seems to have become light itself."


    "What are those stick and bowl he''s holding? Mr. Zhang didn''t bring those when he arrived, did he?"


    "Team leader, Mr. Zhang has gone inside. Could he be in danger? That spiritual body seems pretty terrifying."


    "He told us to stay out of it, so let''s just stay put and not cause him any trouble."


    ...


    "I''m giving you one last chance, get back to your Kaibong, or I will destroy both your form and spirit!" Zhang Menglong, brandishing two magic artifacts, was suddenly filled with a lot more confidence, and the energy in his body had transformed, now possessing equal lethal force to the spiritual body!


    Unexpectedly, the corners of the spiritual body''s mouth twisted into a hideous smile. Its numerous strands of hair attacked Zhang Menglong once again.


    "Seeking death!" Zhang Menglong ignited the hair once more, and this time, flames spread directly along the hair to the spiritual body like a fuse.


    "Aaagh!" The spiritual body let out a piercing scream. Once thunder and lightning could harm a spiritual body, the damage inflicted was truly terrifying. The frequency of the scream was even on the verge of falling within the range of human hearing, causing a bone-chilling coldness that even those outside could feel.


    "Daring fiend, mighty heavenly dragon!"


    "All-honored Ksitigarbha, all Buddhas of wisdom, prajna-paramita!"


    "Boss here known as the rapper-killer, even those rappers bow down to me, and you, a dead thing, dare to pose in front of me?"


    Zhang Menglong charged forward, Zen Staff in hand.


    ...


    "Mighty heavenly dragon! Mighty heavenly dragon! Mighty heavenly dragon! (echo)"


    "Giving you face and you don''t want it!"


    "Messing with Huaxia''s folks!"


    "For looking so hideous and scaring people!"


    ...


    The disturbance in Academician Qian''s room lasted for a good ten minutes before it finally subsided.


    ```


    Zhang Menglong was also dripping with sweat as he left the room and walked outside.


    "Mr. Zhang/Menglong, how is it, everything okay?"


    "Got it done," Zhang Menglong took out the purple-gold alms bowl, and within it floated a red orb. He tossed the alms bowl into the air, and a beam of light shot down from it, astonishingly allowing everyone around to see the spiritual body!


    "Ah!" Upon seeing the fierce spiritual body, the women present let out a scream. Had they not seen it with their own eyes today, how could they ever believe in the existence of such a thing?


    "Don''t be afraid, it can''t come out!"


    Indeed, whenever the spiritual body touched the outer wall of the light column sprinkled by the alms bowl, it would scream in agony as if there was some force restraining it.


    "Everybody, civilized photography, no feeding, haha!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    "Do you think this is just a visit to the zoo?"


    "Feeding? Who would dare?"


    "But taking a couple of photos should be fine!"


    "Click! Click!"


    ...


    If this spiritual body had self-awareness, it probably would have had a mental breakdown by now. Are living people so fierce nowadays? Not even afraid of ghosts?


    "Menglong, how should we handle this thing?" Old Zhou asked, "If we leave it here, I''m afraid it might pose a danger."


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglong wore an evil smile, "Of course, it should go back to where it came from."


    "See that black nail in its chest?" Zhang Menglong explained.


    Everyone looked carefully and indeed, there really was a bloody nail plunged into the chest of the spiritual body.


    "A spiritual body of this level usually regains the intelligence of an ordinary human. It''s mostly controlled by that one nail," Zhang Menglong said, "Rather than helping it with a physical exorcism, it''s better to grant it freedom and let it settle its own scores."


    Zhang Menglong muttered something under his breath, and the black nail turned into black smoke and dissipated in an instant.


    Quickly, the frantically struggling spiritual body calmed down, its blood-red eyes turned blue, and after existing for so long, it even started to look somewhat handsome and delicate.


    It looked around curiously at everyone, appearing quite puzzled.


    "Did you help me remove the nail that the Onmyoji planted?" the spiritual body actually spoke, of course, it was speaking in Kaibong language.


    "Come to your senses?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Yes, I helped you pull it out."


    "Thank you," the spiritual body actually bowed deeply towards Zhang Menglong, and even accidentally revealed round...cough cough cough!


    "I have been controlled by that Onmyoji''s family for over a hundred years, and today I''m finally free."


    "Do you want to take revenge?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Of course!" the spiritual body replied, "They killed my family, and they turned me into this neither-human-nor-ghost appearance. But they are an ancient lineage of Onmyoji. Although my power is stronger than theirs, it''s restrained by their power..."


    "No problem, I can help you," Zhang Menglong took out his phone and began to search, "One of my ancestors was an Artifact Refiner who liked to whip up all sorts of fancy stuff. Back when Kaibong was overrun with hundreds of ghosts, he generously created Haotian Tower, specifically to capture ghosts and suppress the big ones inside."


    Zhang Menglong took something out casually, producing a treasure tower about 20 centimeters tall, "Use this thing first, wipe out that bunch of Onmyoji for me, but don''t harm any innocent ordinary people."


    "A hundred ghosts?" Zhen Yezhu looked delighted; she, of course, had heard those Onmyoji mention the hundred ghosts that once rampaged throughout Kaibong, said to be ferocious and evil spirits, with each strike taking down an Onmyoji. At that time, a deity from Huaxia had subdued them.


    If she had the help of a hundred ghosts, wouldn''t it be just a matter of minutes to deal with these Onmyoji?


    "Come find me after you''ve dealt with the matter!" Zhang Menglong handed Haotian Tower to Zhen Yezhu, "Then I''ll help you with your exorcism, and you can be free from your current state."


    "Dare to harm a leading figure from our Huaxia?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly, "Give them a real beating for me, don''t hold back on my account, if they die, it''s on me!"

 Chapter 713 - 711: Youre all researching what Ive played with and discarded.

    Not until the Spiritual Body called Zhen Yezhu disappeared before their eyes did the astonishment in their hearts slowly begin to dissipate, revealing that this world was even more mysterious than they had thought.


    "There''s no need to look as though you are facing certain death," Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Although they are everywhere, normal people cannot see these things. Qian Sijia, you even have a very cute child on your shoulder!"


    "Ah!" Qian Sijia screamed, her hair standing on end. Although she couldn''t see anything, such a comment still unnerved her.


    "All you know is how to bully young girls," Zhou Lao scolded with a laugh, "Now there shouldn''t be any problems with that old guy Qian Miao, right?"


    "Don''t worry, Academician Qian should be fine now," Zhang Menglong replied, "However, he will need some time to recuperate given his current physical state. Even though I have ways to help him recover faster, as they say, all medicines have their side effects. Elixirs have almost no impact on young people''s bodies, but for someone as old as Qian, I suggest it''s better to stick to rest and recovery."


    "Grandpa''s health is more important," Qian Sijia nodded, "But this means he probably won''t be able to lead the team to the academic conference in March."


    "That is indeed a big problem," Zhou Lao fell into deep thought, "Among this batch of Academicians, only Academician Qian has the qualifications and ability to command everyone''s respect. If we were to change the person in charge, they might not be able to control the crowd."


    "Zhou Lao, is there really no one who can replace Academician Qian?"


    Zhou Lao shook his head, "You know how it is, these researchers are all so proud. Unless someone has achieved something more outstanding than them, they won''t respect anyone else. Qian Miao has achieved a great deal in space science, aerospace science, and nuclear dynamics. That''s why everyone acknowledges him."


    "But as for the others, they have only specialized in one field, so..."


    "I understand, we need someone to carry the weight, right," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "Well, forget it, I''ll take on this task myself!"


    "You? Do you mean you''ll replace Academician Qian to lead the team for this seminar?"


    "What else? Is there anyone more suitable?"


    "This..." Zhou Lao lapsed into contemplation.


    Indeed, when it comes to achievements so far, Zhang Menglong''s Nobel Prize in Physics could crush them all!


    Be it the National Science and Technology Progress Award or the National Outstanding Contribution Award, there''s still a considerable gap in prestige compared to the Nobel Prize.


    However, Zhang Menglong is simply too young, and besides the Nobel Prize and those papers published in international journals, he hasn''t made any other significant contributions.


    Despite contributing a vast amount of scientific data, because this information is classified, others are not aware of Zhang Menglong''s achievements in other domains.


    So, those old fellows might not be utterly convinced by Zhang Menglong!


    "Let''s do this, in a couple of days, I''ll arrange a meeting for you to communicate face-to-face," Zhou Lao suggested.


    "Zhou Lao, this seems like you''re passing the buck!"


    "Hahaha, the capable have to shoulder more responsibilities," Zhou Lao promised, "If this exchange event is completed successfully, I''ll directly apply for an Academician title for you, how about that?"


    In fact, with the contributions Zhang Menglong has made, this title has long been warranted!


    Just those articles in Nature and Science alone are enough for him to hold a distinguished professorship at many universities. Even if he wished, the ministers of technology departments in many countries might respectfully ask him, "My dear Academician, which high position would you like to take?"


    If you think about it, how many Academicians are there in a country? But how many Nobel laureates are there?


    "Fine, you arrange it. This life of toil and moil, sigh..."


    ...


    Academicians from the Yanjing University task force received eight very special individuals today, their average age only 42, but all of them already held the title of Academician.


    In areas such as electronic psychology, aerospace, and physical chemistry, they were the elite among experts, and this time they were originally led by Academician Qian Miao to attend this year''s academic conference.


    "Wasn''t the conference supposed to be in March? Why have we been gathered today?"


    "I heard that Academician Qian fell seriously ill a few days ago, and his current condition isn''t very good; he still needs to rest for a while. It seems they need to find someone else to lead the team."


    "Find someone else? Besides Academician Qian, who else has the qualification to lead us to this academic conference?"


    "I suppose only Academician Ding Xu and Academician Han Jinyu are the likely candidates. If it''s someone else, I, Wang Wei, will be the first to object!" The one called Wang Wei was just over thirty, entered Yanjing University''s youth class at 12, and by 18 had obtained his Ph.D. He developed polymer material processing technology that has resulted in a US Dollar multi-billion industry chain. When he was 36, he became the youngest Academician in the history of this field.


    The others might have some slight differences with him, but those differences were definitely within visible range.


    "Click!" The door opened, and a young man walked into the conference room.


    A few scholars glanced at Zhang Menglong, "Student, you''re in the wrong place. Which research group do you belong to? Is this somewhere you can just wander in?"


    "Isn''t this Academician Qian Miao''s research group?"


    "Yes, it is. Are you a student of Academician Qian? I don''t recall him having a student like you," said another academician who was relatively close to Qian Miao.


    "If this is Academician Qian''s research group then there''s no problem," said Zhang Menglong, "let me introduce myself first, my name is Zhang Menglong."


    "Zhang Menglong? You are the world''s richest man?" The academicians exchanged looks, "I don''t remember us applying for sponsorship for this academic trip to Kaibong?"


    "My goodness, each with a pride taller than the sky," Zhang Menglong said with a resigned smile.


    These people had achieved heights in their forties that ordinary people couldn''t reach in a lifetime. Their pride was understandable, and they had each made outstanding contributions to the nation. Even if he had to conquer them, he had to keep a sense of proportion.


    "I''m not here to sponsor you," Zhang Menglong said, "This year''s academic conference will be led by me. I came here today wanting to get to know all the distinguished Academicians in advance."


    "You leading?"


    "Hahaha! Kid, are you joking?"


    "I know you are a Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, but I think your teacher, Academician Han, must have been the one leading that work, right?"


    Laypeople might not understand, but as insiders, they were well aware of how difficult it is to win a Nobel Prize. Zhang Menglong had, at best, studied a few years in university, and they didn''t believe he could have achieved such a result on his own.


    They suspected it probably boiled down to buying a spot for publicity.


    "So, you think I''m not qualified?" Zhang Menglong said with a sneer, "As esteemed seniors, I respect the contributions you have all made to the country. However, I hope you will show me the courtesy that should be afforded to me."


    "We don''t mind respecting you, as long as you prove yourself. We in research are very sincere¡ªif you have the abilities, we''ll respect you. If you don''t, whether you are the world''s richest man or a Nobel laureate doesn''t matter to us!" said the Academician named Wang Wei.


    "Unless you surpass any one of us in our own field of research, if there''s even one, we''ll acknowledge you!"


    "Exactly!"


    "Are you certain?" Zhang Menglong said, "Actually, I wanted to leave you some dignity. Forgive me for being frank, but the subjects of your research are merely what I have played around with and left behind!"

 Chapter 714 - 712: I Will Take the Lead in Showing Off

    "What did you say?"


    Zhang Menglong''s words seemed to have directly hit their sore spot.


    It was precisely because they were famous at a young age and had received the title of Academician in their 40s, they were each destined for research that could only take root in depth and not breadth.


    But they were confident within the domains of their own topics; it was impossible that anyone could outperform them, after all, these were the results of their twenty years of dedicated research.


    Now someone was claiming that what they had been researching for over 20 years was just leftovers from someone else''s play, how could they accept this?


    "Young man, you are too arrogant. That''s not a good thing."


    "For someone without ability, being arrogant really isn''t good, but what if I have the ability? So what if I''m arrogant?" Zhang Menglong walked to the head seat of the conference room, "Since everyone is here today, why don''t you give me some time. Whether I, Zhang Menglong, am qualified to lead and participate in this conference, you will see for yourselves."


    "Fine, we do want to see what you can bring to the table!" Several scholars took their seats, wearing expressions that said they were watching a show, looking at Zhang Menglong.


    "Since Academician Wang Wei is so impassioned, let''s start with Academician Wang''s topic."


    Zhang Menglong opened a PPT file, "The industrial application of high polymer materials in biomimetic cells is indeed a very nice specialty field. If it could be done well, it really could benefit many people. However, in my view, Academician Wang''s biomimetic cells are still in a very rudimentary stage, not even up to a primary level."


    "Big talk," said Wang Wei. "I admit that the current synthetic cells are indeed at a very early stage, but no one in the world has research that surpasses mine. The self-assembly of macromolecular structures in cell membrane vesicles has become a huge challenge. Apart from my research team, no one else has been able to make vesicles of varying sizes!"


    "I know," Zhang Menglong nodded. "I have never denied Academician Wang''s achievements, but in my eyes, these aren''t really much. Although you can obtain vesicles of different sizes, biological cell membranes are specific, functionalized and extremely complex, while your vesicles are uniform, am I right?"


    Wang Wei''s expression changed, becoming somewhat ugly. It was evident that Zhang Menglong had researched his topic and knew where his current research bottleneck lay.


    "Regarding how to achieve differentiation and functionalization of vesicles, you have studied for five years, but still no major breakthroughs, right?"


    "What are you getting at?" Wang Wei asked. "Although what you''re saying is true, if I can''t do it, neither can others, and my research is still top-notch."


    "Others may not be able to, but I can," Zhang Menglong flipped to the latter part of the PPT, "I have already accomplished the functionalization of vesicles with a type of nanoparticle and resolved the issue of interface compatibility. These are my research materials and the related principles!"


    Zhang Menglong spoke for over 40 minutes on this topic.


    Wang Wei''s expression went from derision at first to surprise and then settled on admiration.


    That''s because during Zhang Menglong''s presentation, he not only discussed the final results but also explained his process and train of thought clearly. If it were not for his personal experimentation and operation, he absolutely could not have spoken with such precision.


    In other words, leaving aside the truth of the results, Zhang Menglong''s understanding of this biomimetic cell research was profound, and his twenty years of research results were merely equivalent to the first 20% of Zhang Menglong''s research content in scope and substance.


    The things he researched were indeed leftovers played with by Zhang Menglong, this statement wasn''t too far off the mark.


    "As for Academician Liu, your topic is nuclear-powered rockets, isn''t it?" Zhang Menglong didn''t wait for others to speak and immediately turned his focus to another academician.


    "My nuclear-powered rocket technology has become mature. The Shenzhou 15 rocket launched at the end of last year in our country is based on nuclear power. Its power efficiency is more than double that of other rockets of the same weight, and the payload has also been significantly increased!"


    "Hmm, these indeed aren''t problems. According to current technology levels, unless it''s with another propulsion system, it almost can''t be improved upon anymore."


    Academician Liu showed a proud expression. You yourself have said there isn''t much room for improvement, so there shouldn''t be anything you can pick on, right?


    "However, Academician Liu, have you ever considered that by using nuclear fuel propulsion, the amount of radiation astronauts receive daily is nearly equivalent to undergoing seven or eight full-body scans? If we were to optimize the spacesuit, that would mean increasing its weight, which would significantly diminish the advantage of nuclear power."


    "Do you have any other solutions? The radiation from nuclear power is unavoidable, no matter who is involved!" Academician Liu said.


    "Indeed, nuclear radiation is unavoidable, but it can be isolated," Zhang Menglong opened a new ppt, "This is an alloy I tinkered with before. Using electromagnetic effects, it can weaken nuclear radiation by more than 99.8%, virtually eliminating its drawbacks."


    "But this is still a matter of materials science," Academician Liu said, "whereas I specialize in the domain of power engines. That seems quite unrelated, doesn''t it?"


    "Alright, then let''s talk about power engines," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "Next, I will introduce everyone to the Curvature Drive Engine!"


    An experiment with a similar physical principle can make the concept of curvature drive easy to understand.


    Make a small boat by folding paper, then puncture a hole in the tail of the boat, insert a piece of soap, and place it in water. You will find that the boat automatically sails forward.


    This occurs because the soap dissolves in water, reducing the surface tension behind the boat, and the boat is pulled by the greater tension in front. The Curvature Drive works in a similar manner, reducing the curvature behind the spaceship, and the ship is then dragged by the larger space in front.


    This theory has been explained in the science fiction work "Three-Body," but so far, the Curvature Drive remains only theoretical.


    Last time Zhang Menglong provided data to the nation, it included the theory of the Curvature Drive Engine. Now, a dedicated research group has been established to study it, but due to the great difficulty, the materials and data provided by Zhang Menglong have reproduced less than 5%.


    And this Professor Liu happens to be one of the heads of this research group!


    "How... how could you know the principles of the curvature engine?" Liu, the Academician, was surprised to find that Zhang Menglong had such a thorough knowledge of the curvature engine''s principles. What he found incomprehensible in the supplied materials became clear and understandable when spoken by Zhang Menglong; a short several minutes'' introduction helped solve several practical issues for him!


    "Didn''t they tell you when they gave you those materials that I was the one who organized and gave them to them?"


    "You are that mysterious scholar?"


    Zhang Menglong just smiled and did not speak, turning to look at the third scholar, "Academician Yu''s research domain is..."


    "Alright, alright, don''t go on," Academician Yu interrupted him even before Zhang Menglong could speak, "We''ve spent half our lives and only achieved so little, and you''ve surpassed us with just a few sentences. Leave us some dignity!"


    "Each generation produces its own brilliant minds. We underestimated you just now."


    "I admit you''re qualified to replace Academician Qian as the head of this meeting. I have no objections now."


    "Neither do I."


    ...


    The academicians didn''t really have any ill intentions; to gain their recognition, one had to prove to be stronger than them. Zhang Menglong did just that, so he naturally earned their respect.


    "With you leading the team this time, I''d like to see those pompous scholars from other countries be arrogant!"


    "You don''t know, at the last conference, a German scholar actually ridiculed our technology as being backward. And in that project, we truly weren''t comparable to them. It made me so angry at the time..."


    "This time, we must take back our place!"


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh, "This time, I will lead the charge in showing off!"

 Chapter 715 - 713 The Atmosphere Needs to Change

    "Mr. Zhang, we''re attending an academic conference, isn''t traveling in this manner a bit too luxurious?"


    A few academicians were riding in Zhang Menglong''s private plane, and for these scientists used to a modest lifestyle, with little to enjoy besides their white lab coats and research labs, such an airplane was indeed too extravagant.


    "What''s wrong with that?" Zhang Menglong said indifferently, "What''s the point of being alive if you don''t enjoy it? Here, try this Sprite from ''82."


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not realize how toxic those netizens'' comments can be. Look, they''ve already started," Academician Wang said as he passed over his phone. No one knew how the news got out, but their itinerary had been exposed.


    Zhang Menglong glanced at the phone, and sure enough, they had once again become a trending topic.


    Of course, the reason they were trending was not that they represented the country at the world academic exchange conference, but because their mode of travel this time broke conventional expectations.


    "Xinhua News reports that today, several of our country''s academicians have traveled together to Kaibong to participate in this session of the global science academic conference. This trip is sponsored by the world''s richest man, Mr. Zhang Menglong, who is also the leader of this academic venture."


    "It is revealed that they will not stay in hotels but in a private villa at the foot of the Fertile Mountain. Their transportation to the conference will be completed entirely by private helicopter."


    "According to investigations by Chinese netizens in Kaibong, the villa is the largest private estate in Kaibong, spanning the size of a small town, and includes facilities like a wine chateau and a private lake..."


    "Should scientific researchers abandon a simple lifestyle? Could this lead to negative value judgments?"


    ....


    Beneath these eye-catching headlines, the comments seemed particularly noxious.


    "Still calling themselves scientists and academicians, living such luxurious lives, it really tarnishes the spirit of the literati."


    "Ah, the simple lifestyle we once knew is no longer seen. Even these scientists have started indulging. What hope is there for societal progress?"


    "I hope the relevant departments will investigate them thoroughly. If they''re this extravagant just for a conference, their everyday lives must be very lavish. They might even be embezzling research funds."


    "Exactly. Are our tax dollars really supporting such indulgent people?"


    ...


    "Alas, to what extent have social mores and values become distorted?" Zhang Menglong sighed, "Although it''s just a portion of the population, we have to admit there are many who slip through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education. When did high-quality living become synonymous with a lack of values?"


    Not long ago, 65-year-old Professor Dai became a sensation. He is a gaunt old man with white hair, speaking a rustic Mandarin.


    Yet, this elderly man''s offline courses are consistently fully booked, and countless netizens follow him fanatically online, eagerly anticipating his video updates every day.


    But some netizens ridiculed him: "A role model for teachers, yet blinded by money."


    Others criticized: "A proper university professor losing all sense of literary integrity."


    What is literary integrity? Can you eat it? This was after Professor Dai''s wife was diagnosed with lung cancer.


    A box of the anticancer drug Tarceva costs 51,000 yuan a bottle, containing only 30 pills, each pill priced at 1,700 yuan, which is consumed in less than a month.


    Such medical expenses are unaffordable even for a university professor.


    What''s wrong with earning money? It''s neither stolen nor extorted; it''s earned fair and square. Which law says university professors can''t make money through live streaming?


    If Professor Dai''s case is an anomaly, then the situation of Professor Yuan, known as the Shennong of the human world, is even more disheartening.


    This elderly man developed the super hybrid rice, feeding over a billion people across the nation. Without him, half the country might still be starving.


    At a car show, Professor Yuan became the center of public debate merely for touching a Mercedes-Benz, and eventually, the discussion shifted to speculations about how many luxury cars he owned privately.


    It culminated in a furious attack on Professor Yuan.


    Zhang Menglong found this situation absurd. For someone like that, it wouldn''t matter if they just touched a Mercedes-Benz, or drove a supercar like a Bugatti¡ªwhy should anyone have any objections even if they commuted to work riding a national treasure like a giant panda every day?


    Over a decade ago, Professor Yuan''s net worth was already estimated at 100 billion. In ancient times, such a person would have had temples built and golden statues made in their honor, worshipped as a deity.


    Yet, in this era, there were still people who harbored such attitudes and criticized the lifestyles of scientific researchers.


    Take Professor Wang, for example. His industrialization of high polymer materials generated an industrial chain worth tens of billions of US dollars. If he had chosen to start his own company or sell the patents himself, he could have become a billionaire instantly¡ªand in US dollars at that!


    But he decided to contribute his patents to the nation. Now, he brings in enormous revenue for the country each year while still earning a basic salary of less than ten thousand RMB per month, with his total monthly income, including various subsidies, barely exceeding twenty thousand.


    Would adding two more zeroes to the monthly income of someone like him be too much? Zhang Menglong thought not at all!


    Academician Liu, a pioneer in nuclear fusion technology and proponent of new power devices, had made significant contributions to the country''s aerospace industry. Huaxia''s status as an aerospace power was inseparable from his contributions.


    The other academicians also had significant and notable contributions to the nation.


    Yet now, these individuals were being accused of indulging in luxuries and suspected of embezzling research funds, simply because they took a private plane or stayed in a luxurious estate during exchanges. It was quite disheartening.


    Whereas actors and celebrities owning multimillion-dollar mansions were seen as a given, were these individuals, who had made outstanding contributions to the country, expected to live in poverty forever, as if they had to be saints?


    "It''s time to change this mindset!"


    Zhang Menglong opened his Weibo, "This private plane is provided by me, and this estate is mine. They deserve such luxury. Do any of you keyboard warriors have an issue with that?"


    Zhang Menglong''s direct approach immediately won over the online community with a strong sense of justice.


    "Hell yes, that''s satisfying! I wanted to swear the moment I saw those words. What kind of nonsense is this? They don''t deserve luxury but you keyboard warriors do?"


    "They''ve created such great contributions for the country. I wouldn''t mind even if they drove sports cars and lived in mansions every day. Who are you, with no family of your own, to judge them?"


    "Talking about corrupting social morals, it''s people like you who corrupt society. I now understand why so many talented individuals leave for other countries, where their skills are valued. You guys only know how to chase celebrities and fawn over idols."


    ...


    While the topic was still being hotly debated, Zhang Menglong immediately announced another piece of news.


    "Starting today, I''ve decided to establish a Scientific Research Contribution Fund. Anyone with significant achievements can apply for a reward. Scholars who win the Natural Science Award, the Technological Invention Award, the Science and Technology Progress Award, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award will receive a cash reward of 50 million. Scholars who win the National Highest Science and Technology Award can apply for a cash reward of 100 million!"


    "Anyone who contributes to the nation''s progress, not limited to the field of science, is eligible to apply for this reward. Tomorrow, I will arrange for a team to set up an assessment panel. You naysayers can bark all you want; if I take any of you seriously, consider it my loss!"


    "Hats off to President Zhang! They deserve the money!"


    "Holy smokes! Can I still make it in time to go for graduate studies and delve into academia?"


    "It''s about time we improved the treatment of those in scientific research!"


    "From today on, President Zhang is my idol!"


    ...

 Chapter 716 - 714: You Just Need to Pretend

    Having received such rebukes, the Academicians couldn''t help but feel bitter.


    Their research funding was indeed substantial, at least in the tens of millions, but they had never skimmed a dime for personal benefit; they earned just a monthly salary of around ten thousand or so.


    They simply couldn''t understand why, after having dedicated their entire lives to the nation, they had to face such scrutiny.


    "Ding!" Their cell phones vibrated one after another.


    "What..." At the sight of the text message, their pupils dilated several times over¡ªtheir bank accounts had suddenly received a staggering sum of money.


    Some received forty or fifty million, and some even more than a hundred million¡ªthe funds originated from an organization called the "Science Contribution Fund"!


    "Mr. Zhang, is this your doing?" While an Academician was still brooding over netizens'' comments, he suddenly discovered that the "Science Contribution Fund" was actually established by Zhang Menglong, and not even 11 minutes had passed since that Weibo post!


    What did this mean? In the span of 11 minutes, Zhang Menglong had miraculously set up a dedicated team, even tracking down all their past honors, locating their bank card information, and transferring the money into their accounts.


    How''s that for lightning efficiency? The fastest man in the world?


    "Mr. Zhang, we can''t accept this money!"


    "You can!" Zhang Menglong stated firmly. "If you all aren''t eligible for this reward, then who is?"


    "But it''s just too much!" To date, the most these Academicians had possibly saved was a few hundred thousand, at most a million. Although they had seen amounts in the tens of millions, such figures had never appeared in their own accounts.


    "No worries, it''s not a big deal," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "I''ve opened a bank, making money from foreigners. A little interest added next year and it''ll all come back."


    "But this..."


    "Rest assured and take it. If anyone dares to insult you, I''ll insult them back on your behalf. They''re just sour losers¡ªlacking culture, lacking brains, only left with a keyboard. Who says researchers have to live in poverty? As long as the money is earned legitimately, who has a say in it? I, Zhang Menglong, am here to break this unhealthy mindset!"


    "Since that''s the case, we won''t stand on ceremony."


    The Academicians may not need this money for themselves, but their descendants do. If they could provide for their wives and shade their children, why not take it?


    ...


    "Menglong, we seem to be almost there."


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong leaned towards the window. The airport had cleared a large area, surrounded by many soldiers armed to the teeth.


    "What''s going on? We''re here to attend a meeting, not to carry out a terrorist attack. Why has the military turned up?" The Academicians asked curiously.


    "Indeed, even for security reasons, isn''t this a bit much? When I came here for an exchange during the pandemic, the lockdown wasn''t even half as strict as today''s security measures. This must have mobilized a whole regiment, right?"


    "It might be to guard against me!" Zhang Menglong said with a chuckle.


    Although the Supernaturals Alliance hadn''t involved Kaibong in their last operation, even further back, the headquarters of Dark Ninja had nearly been razed by Zhang Menglong. The Nin Emperor hadn''t recovered his full strength to this day and had even had several precious national treasures taken by Zhang Menglong to be used as kitchenware and household items.


    Not long ago, the Spiritual Body named Zhen Yezhu, carrying those Hundred Demons from the legends of Kaibong, returned to the Onmyoji family and slaughtered the whole family clean. Hence, they already knew that their operation against Professor Qian Miao had failed.


    Just now, they found out that this time the scientific research team from Huaxia was actually led by Zhang Menglong, and the leader of Kaibong almost died on the spot from fright. With his vindictive nature, wouldn''t he just flip their skulls open?


    So they hastily called in the troops, but they were well aware that if Zhang Menglong wanted to cause trouble, even ten times the number of people wouldn''t be enough. It was merely psychological comfort.


    However, to keep a constant watch on Zhang Menglong''s movements, they sent many heavyweights to greet him. Setting aside Zhang Menglong''s hidden forces, they owed him a debt of 500 billion US Dollars!


    Owing 500 billion US dollars is what concept? That''s daddy, and a big daddy at that!


    "Noki Kimura, long time no see!" Seeing the person who had come to greet him, Zhang Menglong heartily opened his arms.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, it has been a while," Noki Kimura''s expression bore a hint of helplessness. Why the hell did this thankless task fall on him again?


    What had Zhang Menglong done the last time he came on vacation with his friends? Making male and female celebrities spend the night with them, trading cars and diamonds for things like paper napkins, sanitary pads, and mineral water bottles, and calling it cultural exchange. He had never seen a more shameless person in his life.


    "Menglong, why does he look so pitiful when he sees you? Did you hit on his daughter?"


    "My friend did!" Zhang Menglong laughed. Last time Xu Li got the contact information of Noki Kimura''s daughter, and who knew he would actually win her over? Seiran Kimura directly ran off to Huaxia and started a shameless cohabitation with Xu Li.


    That time, Noki Kimura really lost his daughter and his troops.


    Of course, the only upside was that he was more or less related to Zhang Menglong, which meant that even if Kaibong didn''t respect him, they would at least consider his roommate Xu Li''s feelings, right?


    "Hahaha!" Hearing Zhang Menglong talk about that incident, the Academicians laughed out loud. You people from Kaibong, who usually have it easy, finally got what was coming to you!


    "Did you not expect we would meet?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "I had no choice, our Academician Qian Miao is still recovering at home thanks to your country''s hospitality, so I reluctantly have to lead the team."


    "Mr. Zhang is too modest. We also have great respect for Academician Qian. We have reached out many times before, but unfortunately, Academician Qian has declined."


    "Oh, by the way, I recall you have a family of Onmyoji surnamed Abe. I''ve been very interested in your country''s art of Onmyoji recently. I wonder if I''ll have the chance to see it this time?"


    Thinking to himself, Noki Kimura thought, why would you bring that up? That family was wiped out a week ago, and everyone died horribly. Apart from a few babies in swaddling clothes, almost no one survived, and the family''s lineage was almost ended right there.


    Don''t tell me that this has nothing to do with you, Zhang Menglong, I would never believe it.


    "Mr. Zhang must be joking. Onmyoji and such are just folk tales. We don''t have any Onmyoji families," Noki Kimura quickly changed the subject. "Mr. Zhang, let''s hurry and depart. There''s an opening ceremony today, and we shouldn''t keep everyone waiting."


    "No worries, they wouldn''t dare complain," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "Let''s go!"


    The opening ceremony of the conference had arrived, and all the researchers from the invited countries had already arrived at the venue.


    "Hahaha, we should have more exchanges. The catalysis technologies of our two labs are the most advanced internationally. We must collaborate in the future!" Just as he walked into the venue, Zhang Menglong noticed a scholar speaking enthusiastically.


    "Who is he?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "That''s Professor Proko from the Deutsches I mentioned. Last time, he openly mocked our Huaxia''s photocatalysis technology as being backward."


    "Okay, I''ll remember him," Zhang Menglong noted mentally. "From now on, no matter what they talk about or how impressive they sound, you just shake your heads and scoff. The more arrogant, the better. No matter the field or topic, you just pretend!"

 Chapter 717 - 715: Arrogant Zhang

    "The representatives from Huaxia have arrived!" With the arrival of the Huaxia scientific research team, the venue suddenly became much quieter.


    As everyone knows, in recent years, Huaxia''s scientific research has truly soared, defeating global monopolies in the chip industry and creating a semiconductor myth of its own.


    Currently, 100% of the world''s high-end chips are produced in Huaxia, with factories all over the world, bringing in a market share calculated in billions of trillions of US Dollars, and facilitating employment for millions of people.


    In the military industry, their weapon systems are now beyond comprehension. Not to mention things like the anionic ultra cannon and space orbital cannon; even the anti-gravity propulsion devices, Strong Interaction Material, and optical camouflage systems mounted on the Longyin fighter jets are things they can only imagine.


    If Huaxia can produce these, why can''t they?


    Many developed countries have had their weapon experts researching day and night, but half a year has passed, and they have made no progress whatsoever.


    The reason is simple; these are technologies that transcend the era. If you give ancient people a bunch of tools and ask them to build an airplane, can they do it?


    Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong was such an overpowered monster?


    The researchers were replaced batch after batch, burning through countless amounts of money, before they finally concluded that in the domain of military technology, Huaxia had advanced far too much.


    "That is Academician Wang from the Huaxia Academy of Sciences, the world''s most authoritative expert in the domain of high-polymer biomimetic cells, and he''s an academician before the age of 40! I fear none of us here can surpass him in this domain."


    "And that one, Academician Liu from Jiangxia University, his nuclear fuel propulsion engine was recently upgraded, I hear that in the second half of the year, Huaxia plans to launch an explorer to Jupiter powered by nuclear fuel."


    "Tsk, tsk, Huaxia''s space technology is simply the ceiling of the world now."


    "And there''s Academician Zhou, who specializes in cancer cells, wasn''t there recently someone who developed an anti-cancer drug, costing 1.8 million per dose? He has already reduced the cost to 1.5 million, and the effectiveness against cancer cells increased by three types!"


    "Wait, why is there a young man? Is he their assistant?"


    "Isn''t that Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man? What is he doing at this kind of conference?"


    "Don''t underestimate him, didn''t you watch last year''s Nobel Prize in Physics award ceremony? He was the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics!"


    "Looking at his position, it seems he is leading the Huaxia team this time, I remember the last two years it was Academician Qian Miao from Huaxia, isn''t it? Why didn''t he come?"


    ...


    The Huaxia team was already the center of attention, and under the leadership of Zhang Menglong, this team appeared even more distinct.


    Nearly no one eligible to enter this venue was under the age of 40. At age 40, in scientific research, it''s just a beginning; people like Academician Wang are indeed few and far between, and those in their early twenties are even more unlikely.


    At 20 years old, they would probably still be coping with exams; what kind of scientific achievements could they have?


    But soon, their questions were confirmed, as Zhang Menglong took his seat directly at the chairman''s position for the Huaxia representatives!


    Many researchers who had attended several conferences were surprised; how could these academicians all sit respectfully behind Zhang Menglong? What was going on?


    In fact, interesting things had happened in the previous sessions of the conference. Academicians like Wang were inherently proud, so sometimes they even argued with Academician Qian Miao over research points, and had several disputes during the conference sessions.


    Yet, Academician Qian Miao had never managed to convince him, and during this period, Academician Wang was somewhat emotional. His contributions always carried a very high sense of superiority, because in this domain, he was undeniably the world''s number one.


    So everyone knew this man was proud and hard to please. If one day he behaved like an obedient child, he must have truly met a grand academic authority.


    And today, he was actually sitting earnestly behind Zhang Menglong, even wearing a smile every time they interacted¡ªa smile that was neither mocking nor ingratiating, but respectful.


    "What magic power does he have that can make an arrogant person like Academician Wang willingly submit?" everyone wondered curiously.


    However, so far, Zhang Menglong''s most outstanding domain seemed to be only in physics. He is brilliant in one domain, but it''s not possible to be brilliant in all domains, right? Unless he''s a monster!


    The domains of scientific research are diverse; these are just a few minor domains. They believe that Huaxia could not possibly dominate in every domain; for example, Switzerland, whose medical technology has always been world-leading, and researchers from some other countries have also made remarkable contributions in certain domains.


    Therefore, this academic conference would definitely be a situation where many competed for preeminence. They just needed to present their research results, and that would be enough to impress the world!


    "So, ladies and gentlemen, our opening ceremony will now begin," the host said as he walked onto the stage, and everyone redirected their attention.


    "We are honored to have invited top scientists from 142 countries worldwide, totaling 1238 participants. The themes for this conference are environmental protection, sustainability, and innovation, and we hope everyone will eagerly share their countries'' leading achievements in various scientific domains."


    "The themes of this week-long event will be divided into 7 main halls and 62 smaller halls, each with corresponding domains and topics. Today, representatives who have prepared project introductions can come up to share their topics with us. We will sort all topics tonight, and send the schedule for the halls to everyone''s emails before breakfast tomorrow."


    "As the host, shall we start with a researcher from Kaibong?"


    A sparse round of applause sounded as an elderly professor, likely in his fifties, stepped up to the podium.


    "This is Dong Guiyuan, an expert in nuclear technology, known as the father of Kaibong''s nuclear power plants. His contributions in this field are definitely among the top five in the world."


    "However, he''s not exactly a good bird. He advocates for discharging treated waste fluids into the ocean. Although the wastewater is treated, Academician Qian Miao discovered that their so-called ''purified'' water is still full of impurities! The impact on the environment is still massive."


    "Exactly, talking about sustainability and environmental protection, it is indeed ironic."


    "Weird, why does his face look so pale? Did he see a ghost last night?"


    "Right, his lips are almost colorless."


    "Maybe he really did see a ghost!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    Dong Guiyuan had indeed seen a ghost!


    Although the incident involving Professor Qian Miao wasn''t instigated by him, the cause was still undeniably linked to this old guy. When Zhang Menglong returned Zhen Yezhu to Kaibong, he had warned him to give them an unforgettable lesson, sparing them was already very merciful of him.


    "In this conference, we have prepared several topics related to nuclear technology, including nuclear fuel, nuclear wastewater treatment, and controllable nuclear reactions," Dong Guiyuan said as he displayed the prepared PowerPoint on the big screen, showing a total of 7 related paper topics, which were their most marketable fields."


    "At that time, we welcome everyone interested to come to our hall and share the technology with us."


    "Our German research team has prepared themes including photocatalysis and virus transmission for this time."


    "We..."


    "Next, please welcome the representatives from Huaxia to introduce the topics they''ve brought."


    Zhang Menglong walked up to the podium under everyone''s watchful eyes.


    "Ahem, ahem!" Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Hello everyone, I am Zhang Menglong, the audacious Zhang!"

 Chapter 718 - 716: What Do You Want to Hear?

    "Awesome! That opening line is unbeatable!"


    "That''s Zhang Menglong, the cocky Zhang!"


    "The last time someone talked like that was the Table Tennis Demon King, right?"


    "Listening to this, my DNA is starting to ignite, oozing with dominance!"


    After all, it was a global conference, and the opening ceremony was being live broadcasted. However, the audience wasn''t very large, only some scholars and people with graduate-level education were watching.


    But Zhang Menglong''s appearance was like a free traffic-grabbing tool; suddenly, hordes of netizens poured in, and even the official live streaming channels had to add several more channels on the fly to avoid a network explosion.


    "I just heard the topics prepared by the scholars and saw the significant achievements you all have made in these scientific research domains. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to everyone here."


    "What''s that thing?"


    "Hold on, isn''t Zhang part of the attendees, not the organizer? Why do I feel his speech is kind of odd?"


    "He''s stolen the host''s lines, it''s like a massive unemployment scene!"


    "However, sorry to say," continued Zhang Menglong, "first, I must apologize to everyone because we didn''t prepare any materials in advance!"


    "Wow!" The crowd below was in turmoil, even the translator was a bit taken aback.


    This was an international conference; if you''ve prepared nothing, what are you doing here, just purely to learn?


    Or are you saying that your talents have been exhausted, that besides achievements in chip technology and physics, you have nothing else?


    But looking over at the other representatives from Huaxia, all the academicians were unfazed, even smiling, treating Zhang Menglong''s words as if he was just making a regular statement.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you implying that your country''s representatives are not planning to present anything this time and just choosing to be in the audience?" the host asked.


    "No, that''s not what I said," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "it''s really quite troubling, because our country has developed so quickly over the past two years, we have achieved very good results in almost every research field. But today''s conference is about sharing the most top-level academic achievements; however, all of ours are top-level, so which one should I talk about?"


    "Listen to this! Can you believe it?"


    "Whoa, scared me there, same old formula, same old taste."


    "Come and see, it''s a grand Versailles scene!"


    "Boss Zhang has started to show his power again, putting on an act!"


    Zhang Menglong''s incredibly arrogant remarks were just like those of a protagonist in a self-satisfying narrative. There''s no helping it, we Huaxia are just that awesome. You all chose a few fields you''re good at to report on, but sorry, we''re awesome in every field¡ªwe can''t possibly talk about all of them, can we?


    Still, many people were worried about this overconfidence. Words had been said, but if the material presented got easily overshadowed by others, wouldn''t it be pretty embarrassing?


    "It''s genuinely thrilling to watch. I remember last time that Professor Proko even used one of our experimental accidents as a case study when sharing, to highlight his own photocatalysis domain. That really pissed me off."


    "But with his brashness, won''t it be a problem if he fails to deliver?"


    "Yeah, no matter how excellent he is, he can''t possibly master every domain, right?"


    "And those academicians, at most each person excels in two or three domains, aren''t they going to make a fool of themselves this time?"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, what did you just say? I''m sorry, I might have misunderstood." Although the host was not specifically engaged in scientific research, he knew that Zhang Menglong''s statement was a bit too arrogant.


    "Oh, my apologies, I forgot that everyone here is from abroad," Zhang Menglong said with a polite smile, "Let me repeat that!"


    Following that, Zhang Menglong repeated the sentence in dozens of languages from around the world, ensuring that every person present could understand.


    It was no secret that Zhang Menglong was fluent in global languages; he had already demonstrated this once before, but even so, it still managed to shock people sufficiently.


    "Setting aside the level of Zhang Menglong''s scientific research, the fact that he is proficient in so many of the world''s languages is already very commendable."


    "Hmm! They really do like to show off. With so many subjects in the academic community, I admit that Huaxia''s academic level is very high, but is all of their work top-level in the world? Do they think the researchers from other countries are all useless?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you saying that your country has already reached a level in all domains sufficient to present at this seminar?"


    "This is trouble, they''ve run into a tough one!" Several Huaxia academicians in the audience suddenly showed uneasy expressions on their faces.


    The European professor who asked the question was an expert in mRNA drug research, owning dozens of patents.


    Huaxia''s published papers on genetic DNA transcription regulation accounted for nearly one-fifth of the global total, but their research on RNA translational regulation was almost non-existent.


    Over the past decade, European and American countries have published over 1,500 papers each year in this domain, with their research on mRNA drugs undergoing explosive growth, but Huaxia had just started in this area.


    This was something these European and American countries were very clear about, so since Zhang Menglong had said it, what he meant was that they were also impressive in the field of mRNA drugs, right?


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong nodded, "So, to accommodate everyone, I think it''s better that I openly solicit topics. If there''s a particular aspect of research you want to hear about, you can tell me today, and then we''ll answer and clarify any doubts for everyone when the time comes!"


    The phrase "answer and clarify any doubts" was posed very cleverly.


    What does "answer and clarify any doubts" mean? It implies that you need us to explain things to you when you are not up to par. The undercurrent of this phrase suggests that your work is lacking and that you should come to us to learn.


    The face of that European scholar visibly darkened. You claim to have a multitude of blank areas, what gives you the right to say such a thing? Search the top journals for articles on mRNA, and if you find one written by a Huaxia scholar, consider it a loss for him.


    But of course, in front of the media, he could not directly say that.


    So you think you''re impressive, the best in the world? Fine, let''s see how you handle this later!


    "Then I assume your country has also made breakthrough progress in the mRNA field? I wonder if we have the honor of hearing about your research, especially in vaccine self-amplification, RNA modifications, and lipid nanoparticles that encapsulate RNA."


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said to the host next to him, "Sir, could you please note down this topic for me?"


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang."


    "Anything else?"


    "Then I would like to hear about your country''s recent achievements in photocalysis," Professor Proko answered with a smile, "I hope that your country has emerged from the shadow of that laboratory explosion incident."


    "I won''t disappoint you, Professor Proko. Let''s add photocalysis to our report as well."


    One by one, scholars stood up, and the topics they raised ranged from basic to applied science. However, without exception, they all chose Huaxia''s weakest areas.


    But Zhang Menglong accepted them all without showing any sign of fear, as if he indeed had full confidence in his answers.


    "So, there are a total of 13 topics, right?" Zhang Menglong confirmed with the host, "Please bring paper and pens and your brilliant minds when the time comes so you can learn and observe well!"

 Chapter 719 717: Put on Sunglasses

    "So this time, we have collected 72 fields, totaling over 1000 topic projects; I believe this will definitely be a very meaningful conference!" the host made a final summary.


    "Wait a minute!"


    Just at that moment, an elderly man with somewhat graying hair stood up.


    "Who is he?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The chairman of the Global Scientific Research Exchange Forum, Siens," Academician Wang said, "He and Academician Qian Miao have overlapped in many research areas; the two are old rivals. However, this person harbors strong animosity towards Huaxia. With what you just did, he might make some moves."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong took another look at Siens, who was also staring back with a very peculiar look.


    "Professor Siens, do you have something to say?"


    "I have a bold suggestion regarding the process of this year''s conference. Of course, everyone is welcome to express opposing views."


    "Professor Siens, as an authority in the academic world, please feel free to speak your mind!"


    "Yes, Professor."


    Siens'' influence was indeed significant, and many in the audience were cheering him on.


    "In that case, I''ll speak frankly," Siens said, "As everyone can see, we have too many projects this year. If we spread them out and display them all, it would actually be a huge waste of resources. Many projects have conflicting times, and sometimes we can only choose between two options."


    "Absolutely!" The crowd nodded in agreement because there were indeed too many projects, often causing popular topics to conflict with one another in scheduling, leading many to miss the sessions they wanted to attend.


    "Moreover, as you all know, every year there are some academic reports of very poor quality, so I think it is necessary for us to screen all the topics beforehand. This way, we can prioritarily arrange those nascent academic resources for sharing."


    When talking about the poor quality, Siens glanced meaningfully towards the area where Zhang Menglong and others were seated.


    "Makes sense!"


    "Exactly, every year some people come to ''share'' for the sake of fame, and after listening, we find that not only does their research not help us, but it''s also full of flaws."


    "But how do we screen them? There are over 1000 papers!"


    "Exactly, we don''t have enough time to screen all of them."


    "Don''t worry, I have a method," Siens said, "Our Global Scientific Research Exchange Forum already has over 800,000 scholars from around the world. We can send these papers to them for evaluation, conducting an anonymous vote with the titles removed!"


    "That''s a great idea!"


    "Right! If we don''t know who provided the paper, then the evaluation will be very fair. Everyone can vote based on the content of the papers. The ones that rank the highest will be the most valuable."


    "I agree!"


    "I also agree!"


    "Menglong, they are targeting us!" Academician Wang and others immediately recognized Siens'' intention.


    Under normal circumstances, representatives from invited countries would have the opportunity to present their research projects and thereby increase their influence.


    However, once these research achievements are ranked, the top-rated reports will draw huge crowds, while those behind would likely find themselves nearly empty.


    This time, the scholars specifically chose topics that the Huaxia academic community is not good at; in other words, they were confident that Zhang Menglong and his team wouldn''t be able to produce high-quality academic results.


    During the anonymous voting, it wouldn''t matter which country you represented¡ªif your paper was poor, it would be eliminated. Those representatives who owed Zhang Menglong a debt wouldn''t need to worry about offending him again by giving him falsely high votes.


    This could very possibly result in all their topics being ranked towards the bottom¡ªindeed, a very embarrassing situation!


    "This old geezer, he''s quite cunning!"


    "And he even wants to conduct the evaluation tonight and announce the results tomorrow, giving us no time to prepare."


    "Menglong, are you confident about those subjects?"


    "I''ve casually researched them a bit in my spare time."


    "A bit?"


    "Are you still so confident if it was just ''a bit''?"


    "Fell right into the trap!"


    The academics immediately became worried. Research can take years or even decades; how much could be achieved by just casually studying ''a bit''? Even Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be able to cope!


    "You don''t need to worry. Trust me. Tomorrow, just act the part!"


    Siens continued on stage, "So please send your projects to our official email without your names or titles before 6 PM tonight. We have set up twelve major categories, including physics, chemistry, medicine, vitality, environment, etc. Tomorrow, we will announce the top five projects in each domain. Please look forward to it!"


    "Professor, may I ask a question?" Zhang Menglong stood up.


    "Mr. Zhang, please speak."


    "Does this voting system really have credibility? What if someone tampers with the data? The results might be quite fishy."


    "That''s an excellent question," as if anticipating such skepticism, "This system will be monitored by the authoritative departments of the United Nations, and during this period, we will not release any data nor allow anyone to access the data!"


    "In other words, before the results are announced tomorrow, no one will know what the outcomes are, so the issue you''re worried about doesn''t exist."


    "Thank you for your answer, Professor Siens. I have no further questions."


    ...


    "Menglong, what should we do?" On the way back to the villa, the expressions on the academics'' faces were grim.


    "Menglong, you''ve been too hasty this time. Although our research is not as advanced as yours, we could still hold our ground on this global stage. Why did you let them choose the subjects for us? Isn''t that increasing our difficulty?"


    "Yes, especially with the research on mRNA, our country can''t even find an academician-level expert to carry this out. Where are you going to get the data?"


    "If we don''t make the list in any of these twelve categories tomorrow, we''re going to be the laughingstock."


    "Why do you all have so little faith in me?" Zhang Menglong said reassuringly, "Actually, I''m all prepared."


    Zhang Menglong pulled out a laptop from behind him, discreetly unplugging the USB drive, "The files are all here."


    "You... when did you prepare this?"


    "Just now," Zhang Menglong responded, "I''ve been working on an Artificial Intelligence recently. It exceeds all current supercomputers in computing power and also has the capability to self-develop. Just now, it spent 20 minutes and has already advanced our projects by a whole era based on the current human progress."


    "You... you''re joking, right?" The academics looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a monster. An Artificial Intelligence conducting research in 20 minutes? How incredible must this AI be? And how incredible must the person who created this AI be?


    This is unscientific!


    "Come on," Zhang Menglong then pulled out a few boxes from the car and handed them to them.


    "Sunglasses?"


    "Everyone, this time we didn''t come here to make reports, nor to listen to others share outdated stuff," Zhang Menglong said, "We need to be clear about our purpose, be confident; we''re here to impress!"


    "Tomorrow, as soon as they start announcing the rankings, just put on your sunglasses. All we have to do is collect the awards!"

 Chapter 720 718: Anyway, the First Place is Also Mine

    For the entire academic community, this was a sleepless night.


    The world''s top-level scientific research materials ah, though these items made available for sharing were hardly secrets, procuring them through other means would be an arduous affair.


    And today, the whole organizing committee actually opened access to the worldwide scholarly forum for 800,000 scholars free of charge, allowing them to read as many papers as they wished as long as they had the time.


    From last night at 18:00 to this morning at 8:00, a full 14 hours¡ª they even wished that time could be extended.


    Over 1000 research reports, even if one person read each just once, would amount to more than 800 readings, but the actual number of readings exceeded that by more than tenfold!


    If they missed this opportunity, the cost of accessing these materials next time would be considerable, so the scholars read tirelessly, most of them reviewing dozens of papers. Their only requirement was to rate these articles on a scale of 1 to 10, nothing more.


    The next morning, the conference proceeded as scheduled, and in line with Professor Siens''s plans, a 1 to 2-hour award ceremony was held this morning to honor the top five papers in each discipline, and trophies and honorary certificates were even prepared overnight.


    Although it couldn''t compare with prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize, this global scholarly exchange forum was one of the most authoritative organizations for scientific research in the world. Recognition from this group meant that the significance behind it was not far behind that of awards like the Nobel.


    In the center of the venue stood a large screen, surrounded by 12 disciplines, and 60 honor trophies and certificates. Taking one of these trophies and certificates back to one''s own country from among the more than 1000 research reports was undoubtedly a very privileged matter.


    "So after an overnight open vote, we have obtained the preliminary results," the same presenter as yesterday said, "Last night, more than 790,000 scholars participated in the scoring, and we received more than 18 million scoring records, which shows that these articles have garnered significant worldwide attention."


    The scholars in the audience were all eager and full of confidence in their research achievements. They might not expect to win first place in their disciplines, but being within the top five shouldn''t be too much of an issue, right?


    "Announce the results, everyone is getting anxious!"


    "Yes, we also want to see if the boastful scholar from yesterday is indeed as formidable as he claimed to be!"


    "Exactly, release the results quickly, I can''t wait to go up and receive my award."


    Many in the audience were actually filled with indignation towards Zhang Menglong''s arrogant tone from yesterday; his behavior was no doubt a declaration of war against the global scientific community. Who could endure such a challenge?


    But when they turned their gazes towards the seating area of the Huaxia delegation, they were momentarily stunned.


    To their surprise, each one of them was dressed in formal attire, as impeccably suited as leading actors waiting for their Oscar moment.


    Not only that, but they all actually wore uniform sunglasses, looking straight ahead as if no one else existed.


    "Who''s going up to receive the award first?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Academician Wang should go first!"


    "Academician Liu should go first!"


    "No, Academician Zhou should go first; you are the eldest and most senior among us. It would be most fitting for you to represent us in receiving the first award."


    "No, no, no, the opportunity should be given to the younger generation. I think Menglong should go."


    "Don''t, don''t, don''t, my qualifications are rather shallow, how can I be the representative?"


    "Then shall we do rock paper scissors? Whoever wins goes up first?"


    "Alright, rock paper scissors it is!"


    ...


    "What are they doing?"


    "They haven''t even announced the rankings and they''re already discussing who goes up to receive the award? Where did they get this confidence?"


    "Haha, I think it would be quite good if they won one or two awards; they probably rank quite low!"


    "Well, that''s hard to say. You see how confident they look; shouldn''t they take home a first-place prize in every subject?"


    "You make a good point!"


    They simply regarded the behavior of the Huaxia representatives as nothing more than a bluff meant to seek attention.


    "Hey, we''re all old bones here, yet we''re going along with your act."


    "Exactly, if you don''t win any awards later, we''ll have to find a hole to crawl into!"


    "This is a global live broadcast, we can''t afford to lose face!"


    "Gentlemen, rest assured, you''ll find out soon enough!"


    "So, let''s announce the awards for the physics domain, starting with the fifth place!" A string of English appeared on the big screen.


    "From Professor Boer of Germany, for research on quantum entanglement, with a composite score of 9.372!"


    "Whirrrrr!"


    A round of applause broke out as a scholar in his fifties, beaming with joy, walked up to the award stage. Although it was only fifth place, it was important to note that there were over 200 papers in the field of physics this time. These were the results of top-level physicists from around the world, and securing the fifth place indicated a high value.


    "Fourth place, Professor Mucordova from England, for outstanding achievements in the field of neutrino oscillations! With a composite score of 9.451!"


    A blond scholar with a smile on his face walked up to the award stage, bowing slightly to the audience below.


    "Third place, Professor Garidno from Austria, for a significant contribution to laser physics on the map, with a composite score of 9.562!"


    "Hahaha, there are only two places left, I bet they must be Huaxia''s, right?"


    "Yeah, you see they are all set to receive the award. If it''s not them, I would feel embarrassed on their behalf!"


    "Second place!" The award presenter''s face evidently flashed a hint of surprise, then slowly turned his gaze towards Zhang Menglong.


    "The Huaxia delegation, for research on the curvature of cosmic space, with a composite score of 9.877!"


    The entire venue became incredibly quiet for a moment. They had all been ready to ridicule Zhang Menglong, but the display struck them with a resounding slap¡ªhis research had indeed received such a high evaluation!


    Professor Garidno had won the Nobel Prize in Physics 18 years ago for his work in laser physics!


    And now, his research had surpassed his own achievements from 18 years ago. Could it mean that Zhang Menglong''s research had surpassed what the Nobel Prize in Physics represented?


    Moreover, his score was as high as 9.877, a quite astonishing gap from Professor Garidno''s score!


    "I''ll go up first then!" Zhang Menglong adjusted his sunglasses, then climbed the award stage, "Thank you, everyone, thank you all!"


    Despite the fact that not a single person in the audience was clapping, as he had what is called "social swagger syndrome," Zhang Menglong still acted as if he was being pursued by thousands. It was only after everyone realized their own rudeness that thunderous applause began to resound.


    "Mr. Zhang, congratulations to you." Although the presenter was somewhat reluctant, he still presented the trophy to Zhang Menglong.


    "Well, it''s just second place, not first!"


    "Yes, thankfully it''s only second. Otherwise, their arrogance would have soared to the skies!"


    However, Zhang Menglong, having received the trophy, did not leave the stage but stood calmly next to the host.


    "Mr. Zhang, you can step down now, we need to announce the first place," the host said.


    "You announce it," Zhang Menglong said, "since the first place is also me, there''s no sense in going up and down¡ªit''s too much trouble. I might as well just wait right here for you to announce the results."

 Chapter 721 719: Welcome to Further Your Studies

    No sooner had the words been spoken than a chorus of hisses filled the room below.


    If they remembered correctly, when the topics for Zhang Menglong''s shared session were decided yesterday, only two pieces of research related to the physical domain, one of which had already been distinguished as second place. Could there possibly be a first place as well?


    You see, these weren''t topics that Zhang Menglong and his team came up with on their own, but tough questions thrown at them by the scholars present, targeting Huaxia''s weak and blank domains. If both topics really took the top two spots, it would undoubtedly be a slap in the face to everyone present.


    "It seems Mr. Zhang is quite confident," the host said before the results were announced, meaning that even they didn''t know the final outcome, showing that Zhang Menglong was full of confidence in his research.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "But Mr. Zhang, have you considered how awkward it might be if your other topic doesn''t win an award? The scene will be quite embarrassing."


    "I hardly think so," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "and in fact, I believe the only ones who might feel embarrassed are those sitting here."


    "Since Mr. Zhang is so confident, then I will proceed with announcing the next result," the host declared.


    "First place!"


    Even the host couldn''t conceal their shock upon seeing the final result.


    "The Huaxia delegation, for their research on quantum state superposition, scored a comprehensive 9.997 points!"


    "Applause!" A round of applause erupted from the seats of the Huaxia delegation, where these academicians with sunglasses sat unruffled, smiles on their lips, as if everything was within their expectations.


    "Did his research really take first place again?"


    "Hold on, I have a question!" Just then, a scholar from America raised his hand.


    This was a professor from Stanford University, whose field of research was the same as the topic of quantum state superposition, and their experimental group had been working on it for decades.


    Recently, they had just broken a human.record in this domain, managing to superimpose an atomic cloud in two states half a meter apart, pushing the maximum scale of quantum superposition from 1 centimeter to 54 centimeters.


    The related research paper was published in the latest issue of "Nature" magazine, and some were even certain that this would be the winner of next year''s Nobel Prize in Physics!


    The professor''s name was Lawton Laif, and he was a globally renowned researcher. This time, he had come to share his groundbreaking research in this domain. Not just him, but many scholars in the field of physics felt that even if his research didn''t secure first place, reaching the top three would be a cinch.


    But to not even make the top five¡ªhow could that be possible?


    "I suspect there''s something wrong with his research!" Lawton Laif contested.


    "Professor, one might eat nonsense, but one shouldn''t spout it without evidence. How can you so casually claim my research is problematic? Besides, the scoring was done by 800,000 scholars together¡ªis it their academic proficiency you''re questioning?"


    "Hmph!" Lawton Laif snorted coldly. "In this research area, I''m at least 10 years ahead of the rest of the world. As far as I know, Huaxia has never even conducted any research in this domain, so how could you possibly achieve a higher accomplishment than me? I suspect there was a problem with the statistics."


    "I feel the same way. Professor Laif''s research is definitely top-level, how could it not make the top five? There must be an issue with the scoring."


    "Exactly, could the votes have been added incorrectly? After all, Zhang Menglong''s topic also involves quantum state superposition."


    "Since there''s doubt about the result, why not we ask readers who have gone through these articles to share their impressions?" Zhang Menglong suggested. "I presume this forum has the capability to stream live, correct?"


    "Yeah, just ask and we''ll know, right?"


    "I agree, many people must be watching the live broadcast now, I think it''s doable."


    "Then, please wait a moment," after getting confirmation from the sponsors, the staff quickly published the hotline number.


    In less than a minute, a hotline call came through, and it was a video call.


    "That''s Professor Brian from Newton University!"


    "Yes, he is also an expert in quantum state superposition research, and his words are credible."


    "Professor Brian, do you have anything you would like to say?" the host asked.


    "Yes, among all the shared topics this time, there are 12 papers on quantum state superposition, which I have read. I think the research that extended the maximum scale record of quantum state superposition effect from 1 centimeter to 54 centimeters must belong to Professor Lautenlief, right?"


    "Yes," Lautenlief nodded.


    "Professor''s research has given me a lot of inspiration, in this respect, I indeed have a considerable gap with you," Professor Brian said humbly, "but..."


    When they heard this turn of phrase, everyone realized something was amiss.


    "In these articles, I also saw another paper that truly surprised me. Professor Lautenlief''s research, although breaking the record, was still done with a single atom. It made a quantitative breakthrough but didn''t really make any qualitative progress."


    Professor Brian turned his gaze to Zhang Menglong, "The research that successfully superimposed molecules in a quantum state should be Mr. Zhang''s achievement, right?"


    "What? Superposing molecules in a quantum state?"


    "How is that possible? It''s impossible!"


    The eminent physicists present were all in shock; even if not everyone specialized in this domain, they were all physicists and understood some of the basic concepts. The difficulty of superposing molecules in a quantum state was thousands to millions of times greater than with atoms!


    Some had even questioned whether it was possible for molecules to undergo quantum state superposition.


    "Yes, I have studied a little bit, which makes Professor Brian laugh," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha! He actually said he''s only studied a little, folks I can''t stop laughing."


    "Zhang is still Zhang, speaking as he pleases, this is simply dimensional suppression."


    "What Zhang? He is our father!"


    "So thrilling, they were just looking down on us, weren''t they? Their faces have been slapped resoundingly."


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, I hope to visit Huaxia sometime to consult with you on research in this domain. Do you have the time?" Professor Brian asked sincerely.


    "Of course, just give advance notice to our school."


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!"


    ...


    The call ended, and the place was still somewhat quiet; no one had expected this outcome.


    Especially Lautenlief, his research, which he took great pride in, had become very much child''s play in front of Zhang Menglong''s performance¡ªthe difference in difficulty between superposing atoms and molecules in a quantum state was like that between two eras!


    Indeed, his research was outstanding, but once someone saw Zhang Menglong''s work, even if his was excellent, it would immediately pale in comparison. Under such circumstances, who would give him high marks?


    As for fabrication? All data present was to be made public; the authenticity could easily be verified by repeating the experiment. No one would risk their reputation for eternity to commit such acts.


    Moreover, Professor Brian was also an expert in this field. If there was any problem with the data, he likely could tell, so the possibility of fabrication could almost be ruled out. Zhang Menglong''s research unquestionably deserved first place!


    "I''ll take that!" Zhang Menglong snatched the trophy and the certificate of honor from the host''s hands, then looked at Professor Lautenlief with a smile, "Professor Lautenlief, if you have the time, you''re also welcome to come to our school for further studies. Although you''re a bit lacking in level, you should still be able to barely understand."

 Chapter 722 - 720: The Goods Have Arrived?

    Laughton Leif''s face turned from green to purple.


    In the domain of quantum superposition, it had always been others who sought his advice¡ªwhen had it ever been his turn to seek advice from someone else?


    But now, the truth was right in front of him, and the gap between him and Zhang Menglong was indeed huge!


    Regarding the quantum state superposition in the molecular domain, he had never even set foot in it, and it had been his dream to find some breakthroughs before he died.


    And now, a young man in his twenties had achieved what he had dreamed of his entire life, which suddenly cast a shadow over his heart.


    "Ah, Professor Laughton Leif, you must stay strong!" Just as he was lost in despair, Laughton Leif felt a hand on his shoulder.


    A man dressed in a suit and sunglasses was looking at him¡ªit was none other than Professor Liu from Huaxia.


    "Losing to him isn''t shameful!"


    Laughton Leif sighed, "I didn''t expect that Huaxia''s scientific research had reached this level. I''m speechless, Professor Liu, please have a seat."


    Laughton Leif shifted to make room, assuming Professor Liu had come over to chat with him. Although their research domains were different, top scholars generally respected each other''s company, and they should have much in common to discuss.


    "No," said Professor Liu, "I''m just passing by."


    "Then you..."


    "I''m about to go on stage to receive an award. Excuse me, please!"


    Laughton Leif: "???"


    ...


    By this time, the results from the second to the fifth place in the chemistry domain had already been announced, and they were preparing to announce the first-place results.


    "First place, the Huaxia delegation, for research on lithium batteries, with a composite score of 9.837!"


    "Another win for Huaxia? Are we all just also-rans here?"


    "They''re awarding first place for lithium batteries?"


    "Rigged! Rigged!"


    ...


    Suddenly, the hotline on the stage rang again.


    The screen displayed a blonde, blue-eyed female researcher, probably in her forties or fifties. One could tell that she must have been a striking beauty in her youth.


    But now, her face bore an expression of immense anger.


    "What do you all know, do you realize how outstanding Huaxia''s research is?" the female scholar began a furious tirade as soon as the hotline connected.


    "It''s Professor Elson, the 2018 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, an expert in the lithium battery domain!"


    Many people recognized her immediately.


    "Do you understand what Huaxia''s research signifies?" Professor Elson said, "For the same volume of lithium batteries, they can increase the battery capacity to three times the original, reduce the power loss to one-third of the original, and the charging speed is at least doubled!"


    "Wow!" The entire audience was astonished.


    Ever since the prevalence of electric vehicles, the lithium battery domain had become a hot topic in applied chemistry. At first, there were many breakthroughs, but in the past two years, human lithium battery technology seemed to have stagnated.


    For instance, a few years ago, the driving range of electric vehicles increased from 300 kilometers to 400 kilometers and then surged to over six to seven hundred kilometers.


    But in these two years, it had been rare to see any car, with the same battery volume, exceed a 700-kilometer range.


    And this so-called 700 was significantly reduced by seasonal variations, a consequence of power loss.


    If it were as Professor Elson described, then the current electric cars could surpass 2000 kilometers in range without significant discharge loss, and even the charging time wouldn''t be much longer than before.


    If such batteries were produced, just by starting a new electric vehicle company¡ªone might crudely say¡ªall the current electric vehicle companies on the market would go bankrupt in an instant!


    To underestimate lithium battery research was, to Professor Elson, truly ridiculous.


    "Thank you, Professor Elson, for vindicating Huaxia!" he expressed his gratitude.


    "Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, you''re too kind. We are all pure researchers, and only such research can earn our respect. I still have some questions about the electronic effects in your work. I wonder if I could come to Huaxia to study for a while and possibly bring my students along."


    "Of course, you can!"


    "Then, see you in Huaxia!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, hurry! Go and apply for funding!" said the president of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, who was also watching this live broadcast. "Let''s build an International Exchange College, and from now on, our university will reach out to the world!"


    Two Nobel Prize-level scholars said they wanted to visit their Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. What did that mean for the university? Even the best universities in Huaxia didn''t have this treatment!


    Although the university had been producing frequent research outcomes and its rankings were already quite high, they still lacked one important indicator of a world-class university, which was international influence.


    Without significant scholars coming for exchanges, it meant that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had not yet achieved internationalization, a major factor limiting their development.


    But after this exchange event, that situation was likely to change completely. Soon, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology would become extremely popular, with scholars from all over the world flocking not just for exchange, but to learn!


    Nobel laureates coming to learn? What a tremendous publicity stunt!


    Joking aside, the world''s top research achievements were at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, all thanks to Zhang Menglong. Did they really need to neglect their strengths to exchange and study at other schools?


    ...


    "In the medical domain, the first prize winner, Huaxia delegation, on the research of curing cancer with mRNA!"


    "Cure? Did he say cure, not treat?"


    "My God? Has Huaxia already conquered a part of cancer?"


    "Incredible, how did they manage to do it?"


    ...


    "In the biological domain, the first prize winner, Huaxia delegation, on the study of plant genetic engineering!"


    "What? Plant Adaptation? All plants can easily adapt to desert environments?"


    "If this works out, there would be no more issues of land desertification in the world, transforming deserts into oases!"


    ...


    "In the nuclear power domain, the first prize winner, Huaxia delegation, on the study of controlled nuclear fusion in engine domains!"


    "They''ve achieved controlled nuclear fusion?"


    "Nuclear fusion engines? Isn''t that something that''s supposed to be at least 20 years away from becoming a reality?"


    ...


    Every announced project was causing a massive tremor in the world''s scientific domain, and then Jiangnan University of Science and Technology would gain a legion of scholar fans. In the university''s foreign affairs office, phone lines were nearly exploding.


    "Ah? Could you state your identity? Nobel laureate? Oh, okay, we''ll arrange your visit for next week, is that alright? Ah? You want to cover your expenses? How could we possibly accept that?"


    "A Harvard professor? Sorry, but for recipients of awards below the Nobel level, we might only manage an arrangement two months later. Please understand."


    "Ah? Not willing to wait? Just now, a recipient of the Nightingale Award said they''d be willing to wait for half a year. What makes you, a Cambridge professor, so special?"


    ...


    Huaxia had taken first place in 9 out of 12 domains, and the three domains they didn''t win were simply because there were no submissions from Huaxia.


    With 12 topics, sweeping the first and second places in nine domains, the Huaxia representatives could barely hold all the trophies and medals.


    "Majestic is our Huaxia scientific powerhouse!"


    "Damn, people came to attend a conference, and you guys came to shop?"


    ...

 Chapter 723 - 721: Ill Pay for Their Relocation

    The World Academic Symposium this time came to an end in an atmosphere filled with striking contrasts.


    From an initial skepticism towards the Huaxia scientific research team to the overcrowded meetings hosted by Zhang Menglong and others, once again proving Professor Wang''s "True Fragrance" Law.


    There was simply no help for it; the lectures and reports by Zhang Menglong and his team were too spectacular, crushing the most cutting-edge results of the day, and even they were able to learn a great deal from them.


    Especially for some globally watched themes, over a thousand people crammed into a conference hall meant for only two hundred, making the reporters from other countries feel quite embarrassed.


    In Zhang Menglong''s conference hall, no matter if you are a Nobel Prize laureate, no matter if you are a professor from a top ten university in the world ranking, if you can''t find a seat, you''ll have to stand and listen to the report!


    Even until the report finished, they still appeared as if they hadn''t had enough; after all, some of the core technologies and data will not be announced to the public.


    Thus, countless people surrounded Zhang Menglong, hoping to have the opportunity to study in Huaxia in the future, especially at Zhang Menglong''s alma mater, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, which must be a very humble, mysterious, and awesome place, right?


    The moment he returned to Huaxia, Zhang Menglong received a call from Han Jinyu.


    "Menglong, good news!"


    "What''s so funnily worth your personal call, Professor Han?"


    "Hahaha, guess?" Han Jinyu teased.


    "Do you guess I''ll guess?"


    "It''s so dull talking to you!" Han Jinyu said with a bitter smile, "I''ll just tell you then, our university has been upgraded again, now it''s one of the new batch of national key construction universities, with only five in the whole country, Yanjing University, Qingbei University, Jiangnan University, Modu University of Transportation, and our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!"


    At this point, Han Jinyu became very excited, "You have no idea how big of an academic sensation you caused at the World Academic Symposium. Every single one of your topics could open the eyes of Nobel laureates and awardees of the same rank, and now they are all eager to come to our school for visiting studies!"


    "It''s not just for academic visits, it''s for visiting studies! Studies! Nobel laureates coming to learn from you, do you realize what that represents?"


    "Isn''t that quite normal?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "They are not as good as us. If they want to improve, they''ll just have to come and learn properly¡ªnothing wrong with that! Be composed, Professor Han, this is all standard procedure!"


    "You don''t understand," Han Jinyu said excitedly, "in the past few days, we''ve already received more than thirty visit applications from Nobel laureates in various domains, and as for those from world-renowned Ivy League universities, professors from Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, their applications are countless. Now the whole world wants to come and visit our university."


    "Let them line up, holding a number of love!"


    "Exactly, there are even several Ivy League university professors trying to jump the queue. Seriously, Nobel laureates need to wait in line; when was it their turn to play the maverick?" Han Jinyu said with a sense of triumph.


    "It''s not just the top scholars, the number of applications now received by our school is beyond count!"


    There are foreigners in Zhang Menglong''s research group, but they are from countries like Bangladesh. To be honest, their educational level isn''t good enough to attend better universities, so they could only come to an ordinary first-tier college like Jiangnan University of Science and Technology for gold-plating.


    But now things are different. The foreign students in the school walk with heads held high with pride. Now, when they return to their own countries and tell others they studied at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, they will surely receive countless envious glances.


    In the past, both domestically and abroad, people tried every means to send students to famous foreign universities, but now everyone is desperately trying to get people into Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    In these past few days, the school has received more applications than in the previous ten years combined, and even undergraduates from Ivy League institutions are giving up the opportunity to continue their studies there, instead wishing to secure a place at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    You should know that this place has now become the center of world academic exchange. You might be walking down the tree-lined campus paths, and the person brushing past you could be a Nobel Prize laureate.


    You go to the restroom, ask the guy next door for a piece of paper, and the person handing you the paper might just be a visiting honorary professor from an Ivy League school!


    Of course, due to the explosive increase in visitors and international students, the current size of the campus can no longer accommodate so many students. According to incomplete estimates, the campus area might even need to expand three to five times in the coming years!


    "We''re already applying for other locations," Han Jinyu said, "and soon we''ll be able to have several campuses just like Jiangnan University."


    "I don''t think that''s a great idea!" Zhang Menglong said, "I still suggest that we build the whole school as one unit. It''s better for management and the integration of the school. Imagine, others walk in and see that a large expanse belongs to our school, even requiring a bus ride to get to class. How cool would that be?"


    "Although that''s a good idea and would indeed be more powerful for our school," Han Jinyu explained, "it''s just not feasible. We have Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, Jiangnan University of Finance and Economics, Jiangnan Quantum University beside us. It''s not like we can just make them move and leave the land to us for campus development, right?"


    "Well..." Zhang Menglong laughed, "that''s not impossible! We could give them two options: either merge with us and continue to grow as one, or we help them relocate."


    "You''re dreaming," Han Jinyu laughed, "even if they agreed, the Department of Education and Research would never approve it."


    "Then let''s offer them a move, I''ll show up, give them a bigger campus!"


    "Hahaha, that''s so you," Han Jinyu initially thought Zhang Menglong was joking, but then he heard the voice on the other end of the phone.


    "Hong Yi, find a way to buy all the land around our school. If there''s a company, buy land and build them another one. If there''s a school, sell them a piece of land and build them another school!"


    "Okay," Hong Yi said, "there is lots of unused land in the northern and southern parts of Jiangnan City, and given the prestige of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, I think Jiangnan City will be very willing to do more in favor of your school!"


    "Alright, let''s do it that way!"


    "Menglong, are you... are you serious?" Han Jinyu''s mouth fell open. Such a big decision, made just like that with a few words?


    "It''s not a big deal. It''s not a problem if money can solve it!"


    "Great, I''ll let the principal know right now!" Overflowing with excitement, Han Jinyu thought if Zhang Menglong could really pull this off, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology could instantly expand more than five times. All the campuses connected, what would other institutions even count for then!"


    "Also," Zhang Menglong added, "we can''t just let these international students come in so easily now!"


    "Don''t worry, we''re not short of student applications now, we''ll definitely be doing a thorough selection. They''ve got to have some academic achievements to qualify for studying for masters or Ph.D. at our school!"


    "It''s not just that," Zhang Menglong laughed, "To go abroad, don''t they have to take tests like IELTS or TOEFL? So, to come to our Huaxia, shouldn''t they at least understand some Chinese?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Isn''t there a Chinese Listening Test?" Zhang Menglong said, "To enter our school, first off, they can''t be speaking that bird language every day. They need to pass Huaxia, and the standards must be high, dialect promotion also needs to be in place. When foreigners can fluently say ''every country has its own national anthem'' in Cantonese, our education has succeeded."


    "Giggle giggle giggle... No way, Cantonese is too difficult. I feel like I''ve turned into a chicken."


    "Hahahaha!"

 Chapter 724 - 722: Everything I Said Is True

    "It''s just, Menglong, there''s something I''m not sure I should bring up," Han Jinyu began, suddenly becoming somewhat hesitant.


    "Go ahead!"


    "Your topics, although they are all named under our university, to tell you the truth, our school''s teachers in the relevant domains really can''t compare with your achievements!" Han Jinyu said, embarrassed.


    Although Zhang Menglong served as an honorary professor of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, Han Jinyu was well aware that these achievements had nothing to do with their university. If Zhang Menglong didn''t step in, no one else could handle it.


    You should know that those scholars definitely come with all sorts of questions, and with the current level of scientific research of our school''s teachers, I''m afraid they would not be sufficiently equipped to answer all the questions. When the time comes, we might expose our shortcomings.


    "This is simple," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ll send you some materials in a bit. You arrange for a few professors in the relevant fields to study them for ten to fifteen days, and they should have no problems dealing with those scholars."


    "Great!" Han Jinyu sighed with relief. "However, Menglong, it''s not a solution to always rely on you. Our university really must enhance the scientific research capabilities and knowledge base of our teachers and students. Do you have any idea how?"


    Zhang Menglong paused. Yes, in the future, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology will only become stronger, possibly even the world''s number one. With the international exchanges and scientific conferences that are bound to occur frequently, one couldn''t always depend on oneself, right?


    And even if one had the art of cloning, one person could not handle so many matters.


    Although the research conditions at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology have certainly reached a top-level standard worldwide, and even the eminent global universities probably couldn''t match things like radio telescopes and particle colliders, right?


    However, the teaching and scientific research capabilities of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology were still too weak. They had to fundamentally change this issue.


    "Let''s do this!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I have an idea!"


    "What idea?" Han Jinyu hurriedly asked.


    "Two strategies. The first one is to poach," Zhang Menglong said with a smile. "There''s absolutely no problem with the scientific hardware facilities of our university, and now we also have some fame. The only thing that fails to attract those top talents to teach here is the issue of treatment."


    "Menglong, the treatment is not a problem," Han Jinyu said. "Our university''s budget has almost quadrupled this year. We can offer salaries that are attractive enough, but as you know, these people don''t care about that. Many have already settled down in various cities. If they were to come to our university to work, it would be a massively complicated affair."


    "That''s easy to handle. I''ll donate another 10 billion US dollars to the university. Aren''t there many residential complexes near our school? We could purchase them all, transform them into residential areas for teachers, and according to different ranks, give regular residences to ordinary staff, and villas to the outstanding ones. With housing solved, I think the university can easily handle the issue of residence registration. Wouldn''t that solve the problem?"


    Han Jinyu was once again shocked by Zhang Menglong''s blunt and straightforward approach. He believed that if such terms were offered, those top scholars, especially the younger ones, would be eager to join Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    University ranking? Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is now top five in national comprehensive rankings!


    Scientific research conditions? Whatever instrument you want, you won''t find one missing in Jiangnan University of Science and Technology!


    City development level? Jiangnan City is the fastest growing among the new first-tier cities in the country!


    Treatment? They not only offer money but also houses, and not just the ones allocated by the university, but houses with property titles that you can sell if you wish!


    Gauging the current housing prices near Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, a single house could easily be worth millions.


    Who wouldn''t want such terms?


    "As for the other approach," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "Mr. Han, I plan to cultivate a group of scientific research talents for our university!"


    "You really have a way!" Han Jinyu had already been guessing whether Zhang Menglong had some secret training facility. Otherwise, even if he had been learning from the womb, it wouldn''t be possible to achieve so much on his own!


    "You help me find a group of reliable people from the university, preferably younger ones, and they must be exceptionally gifted because the training facility I use does have certain thresholds for talent."


    "Sure!" Han Jinyu immediately nodded in agreement. "Our university established a genius class last year, consisting of 39 individuals. They are all national college entrance examination champions and champions in scientific competitions from across the country. Their intelligence should be up to par."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I also cannot guarantee that all of them will be selected. As long as there are ten who can meet my standards, they will be enough to support the entire university."


    "Okay, I''ll take care of this matter. I''ll go and talk to the president about it and get you a result within three days at the latest."


    "Alright, let''s leave it at that for now!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong casually opened his phone, and in fact, among the current generation in Huaxia, except for those with a postgraduate education, very few paid attention to national scientific research.


    At most, they would praise an outstanding scholar for winning an award with comments like "so freaking awesome," "so impressive," and the like.


    But in reality, they didn''t even know the scholars'' full names; they were simply following the crowd.


    However, during this period, Zhang Menglong established a scientific research contribution foundation, suddenly making the whole nation take scientific research seriously. Countries took this opportunity to improve the treatment of researchers and perfect relevant policies.


    Then, Zhang Menglong''s performance at the international scientific research forum shocked the world, and this made even more people pay attention to research in various domains.


    Last year around this time, opening Weibo would show which celebrity was dating, who got hurt, or updates on variety shows.


    But today, when opening Weibo, half of the trending topics were actually related to technology.


    News like "Professor makes huge breakthrough in a certain domain," or "Nation invests a significant amount of funding to strengthen research in a certain area," unexpectedly sparked a nationwide craze for scientific research.


    "Huh? This trending topic is interesting." Zhang Menglong noticed that the rank of one trending topic was skyrocketing. He refreshed the page twice, and it climbed from beyond the top ten to third place.


    "A professor from East Sea Vocational Technical College actually..."


    "Wow, what year is it, and they are still using these clickbait titles? Today''s media is really brainless," Zhang Menglong said, also curious to see what kind of unethical thing this professor had done.


    However, the content of the article was quite different from what he expected; it wasn''t that the professor had done something to outrage both gods and men. Instead, he had submitted a paper to a well-known international journal, which then leaked his research and even publicly ridiculed him for being crazy.


    "A signal from outer space?" Zhang Menglong paused, the professor was in the field of astronomy, but not very famous. You could tell by the fact that he was teaching at some vocational technical college that his academic background and research capabilities were quite average."


    As for why an astronomy professor was at a vocational technical college, Zhang Menglong wasn''t surprised. After all, the competition was so fierce these days; countless top-100 students were competing for counselor positions at vocational colleges. Was it strange for a professor to take a minor position there to avoid the rat race, while casually conducting his own research?


    However, his background did raise doubts about the reliability of his research.


    "Hahaha, I know what the signal is. Isn''t it ''Do not answer, do not answer, do not answer''?"


    "The guy above is so Trisolaran; this is clearly just an academic fraud seeking attention."


    "East Sea Vocational Technical College? What kind of no-name, sketchy school is that?"


    "Isn''t that the place known for excavator training?"


    "That''s Lanxiang!"


    "He must have read too much Three-Body and thinks he''s shooting a movie or something, right?"


    ...


    The comments section was full of various aggressive remarks.


    Out of curiosity, Zhang Menglong clicked on the professor''s Weibo profile, and besides his article, there was only one recent post.


    "What I said is all true!"

 Chapter 725 - 723: A Group of Bronze Players Trash-talking about Champions

    "East Sea Vocational and Technical College?" Zhang Menglong looked up information about this school.


    It was a vocational college in his hometown of Dongji City, where basically anyone who took the college entrance exam could get in. The quality of the students there didn''t even need mentioning, not to mention a research atmosphere¡ªthe local police station could consider it a good day if they had fewer visits.


    Fights and brawls, well, attending a class was normal enough.


    "This kind of school even has a professor?" Zhang Menglong found it extremely surprising, and even more so that it was a professor of astronomy. Had the job market really become this competitive?


    To be honest, faced with such educational and professional backgrounds, Zhang Menglong thought it was utterly ridiculous when he first heard the news. You, a teacher from a technical school, couldn''t you manage your school''s discipline or delve into some political education?


    With the level of scientific research there, it''s not that I look down upon your knowledge¡ªit''s just that, even though this professor graduated from Huaxia Aerospace University, in that school, do you even have the precise equipment? Are the data you produce reliable?


    "Let me rant a bit," Zhang Menglong was about to grab the keyboard to start stirring things up, "No, wait, if I just spout off like this, how am I any different from those trolls? Even if I have to criticize, I need to have solid reasons!"


    Holding back the urge to vomit, Zhang Menglong opened an article that had been trashed by netizens.


    However, as he read on, Zhang Menglong became more and more engrossed¡ªit seemed like there really was something fishy going on!


    Zhang Menglong''s three life passions were showing off, playing the piano, and astronomy; from elementary school, you could hardly find any novels or comics in his house¡ªthe only thing he ever pestered his parents for was all sorts of astronomy books.


    Later, while his peers were still memorizing the eight planets of the Solar System, Zhang Menglong had already begun exploring the mysteries of other nebulae.


    At Super God Academy, the astronomy courses taught by Galileo and Copernicus were among his favorites.


    His reserve of astronomical knowledge was practically unmatched by anyone else in the world.


    The results of the article were unbelievable to Zhang Menglong, but the data it published, the mathematical calculations, and the data modeling were all incredibly precise and scientific.


    The field of astronomy isn''t just about having capability, because it''s also a profession full of luck.


    Take Zhang Menglong''s high school days, for example, a senior from his school had accidentally discovered a new asteroid during an astronomy club event.


    Latter, that asteroid was even named after her¡ªwhat an honor!


    Why had it been undiscovered by countless astronomers, yet found by a high school girl? It was purely luck, though the skills behind it can''t be denied, because claiming an asteroid requires estimating its diameter, orbital path, and period of revolution, calculations that can''t be done without a solid base in astronomical knowledge.


    So, regarding the professor from East Sea Vocational and Technical College, could it be a chance that he indeed discovered something that ordinary people hadn''t noticed?


    After all, like the novel "Three-Body" describes, the messages from the Trisolaris Star System were accidentally intercepted by Ye Wenjie; unless you''re monitoring your instruments 24/7 without any flaws, even Zhang Menglong wouldn''t be able to detect it.


    Astronomical observations are often fleeting, unlike other scientific research that can be recreated with enough time and funding. If you miss it once in astronomy, you might never encounter it again.


    "This might not be a stunt for attention; maybe it''s a bunch of noobs criticizing a pro!" Zhang Menglong immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.


    If the location of humans was truly discovered, perhaps the plot of "Three-Body" could really happen in reality¡ªthen humanity would be in great danger.


    "I hope I''m just being paranoid," Zhang Menglong comforted himself, although his family was extremely influential, at least invincible on Earth, but if they encountered those powerful extraterrestrial civilizations, could they still remain unharmed?


    "I must confirm this matter," Zhang Menglong immediately straightened his attitude, if it really was the case, then he must start preparing and strategizing early.


    "The netizens nowadays really are..." Observing the increasingly intolerable insults, Zhang Menglong also felt some injustice for the professor, of course, he himself would never admit that he was a hypocrite.


    "Liu Dongsheng," Zhang Menglong noted down the professor''s name, "58 years old, teaching for 25 years... has been teaching here for nearly a decade..."


    Not to mention anything else, just his impressive data analysis alone demonstrated his extraordinary academic capabilities.


    In this school, the most advanced astronomical equipment was a telescope that cost less than twenty thousand yuan, and with such devices, Professor Liu was able to come up with so many data conclusions; probably only he himself understood the efforts behind them.


    "No, such talent must be recruited!" Zhang Menglong immediately felt a desire to hire him, was Jiangnan University of Science and Technology not lacking excellent teaching staff? Wasn''t this an opportunity presenting itself on a silver platter?


    ...


    "Why do these people simply not believe me?" At the East Sea Vocational College, Liu Dongsheng, looking at the overwhelmingly negative public opinion, had an expression that was hard to discern as either crying or laughing.


    The researchers beside him also showed helpless expressions. Three years ago, they had discovered this anomalous segment of cosmic electromagnetic waves, three years of hard work had led them to believe they could astonish the world, only to end up in this predicament.


    "Professor, it''s normal for others not to believe in our low-grade school," one researcher said with a bitter smile, "If a quack claims he has found a cure for cancer, would you believe him?"


    "Indeed," Professor Liu helplessly shook his head.


    "Liu Dongsheng!" At that moment, a voice filled with anger came from outside the office, "Liu Dongsheng, what the hell are you up to? Didn''t I say not to publish that crappy research of yours? Look what you''ve done?"


    Hearing the Principal''s voice, the researchers under Liu Dongsheng immediately shrank back; dealing with a principal who could manage such a school was definitely not an easy feat.


    "Principal," Liu Dongsheng hurriedly explained, "This is a very important discovery, if..."


    "If what? Have all of Huaxia''s astronomers died off or something? Without you, no one can make this discovery?" the Principal complained, "Our school only gets so much funding each year, you''re already using it for your own research, and you even brought in so many people to help you, do you think our school is a science and engineering university?"


    "Also! Because of your stuff, our school got notorious, everyone''s criticizing our school for producing attention-seeking rubbish, and now our school''s reputation has plummeted!"


    Our school didn''t have a good reputation to begin with, did it?


    Liu Dongsheng really wanted to say this, but unfortunately, his research funding all came from the school, and if he offended the Principal, he might not have even that last bit of funding in the future.


    "Let me tell you, next year''s staffing budget will be cut by two people, and you, take a one-week suspension to reflect! Your bonus for this year is gone!"


    Having said that, the Principal blustered out of the office.


    Liu Dongsheng returned to his seat and gazed out the window, sighing deeply...

 Chapter 726 - 724: Isnt Having Hands Enough?

    In Dongji City, a neighborhood over 20 years old, Professor Liu Dongsheng dragged his weary body back home.


    Even though he was a professor, the field of astronomy wasn''t like those corporate research applications that, whether through vertical or horizontal projects, always managed to skim a bit of profit.


    It''s actually quite understandable. For instance, if you conduct a physical or chemical experiment and come out with some results, you can always find some industrial application to help improve production efficiency or quality. Businesspeople are usually very willing to sponsor such research.


    But astronomy is different. If you discover a planet, even if it''s full of diamonds and gold, what does that have to do with you? Can you make money from it? Can you turn that funding into revenue?


    You can''t!


    Thus, in general, only a very few schools offer this major, and usually, only national-level research institutions are willing to spend money on such things.


    In Professor Liu''s home. telescopes, Star Finder Scopes, and stargazing instruments¡ªall were bought at his own expense. His school could barely manage to hire a few more personnel for him; there''s no spare money for such frivolous ventures.


    Moreover, Professor Liu Dongsheng''s income was really tight. His base salary and professional supplements combined barely made seven to eight thousand yuan a month. Yet, his wife didn''t have a job, and his son was at an age where money was needed constantly. The home situation was exactly as one might imagine.


    "I told you not to get involved with these things, but you never listen," Liu Dongsheng returned home only to be met with his wife''s continual complaints. "With that time, if you had written a couple of books for a publishing house, at least you could''ve earned some money. Why do you spend every day fixated on your broken research topics?"


    "What do you know?" Others might not understand him, criticize him, Liu Dongsheng endured, but his wife not understanding him made him feel truly desperate, "If no one decrypts these waveband signals, and there is real danger, humans won''t even have time to react!"


    "Wow! You care for the whole humanity, you''re great. Have you ever thought about your family?" His wife''s grievances over many years all came pouring out. "You''re a university professor who has ended up like this, can''t even sort out your own subsistence, and yet here you are talking about humanity?"


    "Do you think you''re the only astronomer in the world? There are so many better than you, with more advanced instruments. What can you discover that they can''t? Or do you think you''re unique?"


    "Look at what they''re saying about you online now? Creating panic, disgrace, academic fraudster, speculating for fame, I went out to buy groceries today and felt too embarrassed to not wear a mask!"


    "Enough!" Liu Dongsheng shouted at his wife, "I''m not going to give up on my research, so what if they cut two staff recruitment slots? Minus two people, I can still do the research!"


    "You and your research can live together then!"


    ....


    "In light of Professor Liu Dongsheng''s actions, the school has decided to suspend him for one week for a reflective investigation, and hopes for public oversight,"


    That afternoon, the school announced on its official website and on social media channels like Weibo, the punishment regarding Professor Liu Dongsheng, but the online community didn''t seem satisfied.


    "Just a one-week suspension? Does he own the school or what?"


    "Shouldn''t at least his title be reduced? Who knows if his title was acquired through cheating and fraud."


    "Exactly, investigate his bachelor''s, master''s, and Ph.D. thesis, maybe they all have issues!"


    "Ah, our school was never that good, and now with this kind of incident, who would ever apply to our school in the future?"


    "What Professor Liu? I''ve been at the school for three years and never heard of this person! Oh, you''re talking about that idiot who wanders around the playground with a telescope every night? Then it''s fine, we need to care for the elderly with dementia."


    "He''s just an old man, don''t let him get away with it."


    ...


    "Professor Han, could you please help me out?" Unable to stand idly by while Liu Dongsheng was treated this way, Zhang Menglong reached out. Such a person should not be treated like this.


    "You still have things you need my help with? Hahaha, go ahead, if it can be managed, I''ll definitely help you," Han Jinyu promised. Now, in the school, his influence was second only to the head of the school, and even the head had to be very careful around him. There were so many people eyeing Han Jinyu, waiting to poach him, if they didn''t take care, the biggest loss would be the school''s.


    "Didn''t our school just expand a lot of its staff positions? Can I arrange for someone to come in?"


    "That''s a small matter?" Han Jinyu laughed, "Oh right, the command has come from up top, you''re now an honorary Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The proposal was unanimously approved by all the Academicians, the order should be down in a couple of days. Also, our school has now officially appointed you as an honorary professor, I was just about to tell you that."


    "As for the benefits, I won''t discuss those with you since this amount of money isn''t of much interest to you, but as an honorary professor of academician level, you''ll have three recommendation slots each year, which we''ll definitely give priority to. Normally, as long as the person you recommend passes the political evaluation, we''ll hire them," said Han Jinyu.


    "That''s fine, then I''ll claim one of those slots from you first!" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Oh? Where did you find such a big-shot?" Han Jinyu speculated, "I heard that many top academics at scholarly conferences have become your fans, and they almost wanted to worship you as their teacher right there! If you can bring over a few Nobel laureates, don''t talk about three¡ªwe could squeeze in thirty for you!"


    "Hahaha, you might not believe it, but I''m thinking of bringing over Professor Liu Dongsheng," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Liu Dongsheng?" Han Jinyu exclaimed in astonishment, "The Liu Dongsheng from East Sea Vocational and Technical College?"


    "Yes, that''s him!"


    "Why would you think about bringing him in?" Han Jinyu was somewhat speechless, "Not to mention that our school currently has no program in astronomy, even if we did, his current disreputable reputation isn''t good for our school."


    "Mr. Han, this person is extraordinary," Zhang Menglong explained, "I''ve seen his research, and without discussing whether his conclusions are correct, his subject knowledge is very solid, and his thinking and breadth in this field are truly exceptional, definitely a talent."


    Zhang Menglong didn''t mention his research findings, as doing so might potentially cause a panic.


    "It''s rare to have someone receive such an evaluation from you!" Han Jinyu laughed.


    "You actually reminded me of something," Zhang Menglong said, "Why don''t we take this opportunity to establish an astronomy program directly!"


    "You think this is like building a house? You want to just add a program whenever you feel like it?" Han Jinyu laughed incredulously, "Adding an academic program requires corresponding research achievements, Bachelor''s Points, Master''s Points, Ph.D. Points¡ªthe differences between each are significant, and without corresponding achievements, you simply can''t get approval."


    "Give me a moment, I''ll grab a pen."


    "Okay, tell me about some authoritative astronomy journals. I''ll dominate an issue first, and maybe you can start the application process for the academic program on your side?"


    "I..."


    Han Jinyu had seen impressive people, but never someone as bold as Zhang Menglong. His words left Han literally speechless.


    What does he mean by ''dominate an issue''? Does he think he owns those journals?


    But upon reflection, given Zhang Menglong''s frighteningly high standards, those journals might as well be owned by his family. Moreover, it''s likely he wouldn''t even need to pay to get published.


    Which journal would dare to refuse Zhang Menglong''s articles, unless they no longer cared for their own impact?


    "Menglong, it''s not about the quantity of papers," Han Jinyu explained, "To add an academic program, we''ll also need to undertake some provincial and ministerial scientific research projects."


    "Like which ones?"


    "Current key projects include Pulsar Physics, Gamma Burst Cosmology, Fast Radio Bursts and their data processing..."


    "Please talk to your higher-ups, I''ll have some results from a Pulsar Physics project ready for the nation soon!"


    "Pulsar Physics? When did you start working on that?"


    "Just thought of it now!"


    "Just thought of it now? And you already have results?"


    "Such foundational topics, if you just spend a day or two, isn''t having hands enough?"


    Han Jinyu: "Wqnmlgb..."

 Chapter 727 - 725: Leave Some Opportunities for Others

    "The new batch of Academicians for Huaxia has been announced, Zhang Menglong has been appointed as a dual Academician at both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Engineering Academy, becoming the youngest Academician in the history of Huaxia!"


    Just as Han Jinyu had told Zhang Menglong, the news was announced by the media a few days later, and it quickly spread through the streets and alleys.


    An Academician in his early 20s, and even still a graduate student, this was definitely big news!


    But from a certain perspective, it seemed almost like a normal occurrence.


    At the recent global academic conference, of the more than 1000 researchers who attended, which one''s level of scientific research hadn''t reached that of an Academician? Yet at such a grand event, Zhang Menglong''s research results were still wildly impressive, indicating that his academic level had far surpassed that of an Academician. Was it strange to award him this title?


    Soon someone calculated that up to now, Zhang Menglong had published more than 30 papers, all of which were featured in top journals like "Nature" and "Science".


    Being the first author on a paper in these journals could easily earn one the title of a professor.


    Following that, he had won the Nobel Prize in Physics, directly breaking the void Huaxia held in this award category.


    And that was just his academic achievements; in terms of national technological advancement, Zhang Menglong had created a trillion-level chip industry chain, which earned him the National Science and Technology Progress First-Class Award together with countless other honors.


    This dual Academician title was truly well-deserved!


    However, for these honorary titles, Zhang Menglong didn''t care at all, he even found them troublesome. Right now, his more pressing concern was to expedite the application for the astronomy academic program points at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    On a workday morning, Han Jinyu and Zhang Menglong rushed to the Bureau of Education, as these programs needed approval before proceeding.


    "Academician Han!"


    "Academician Zhang!"


    Both being Nobel laureates and Academicians, in this Bureau of Education, where academics bustled about, who in the academic circle did not recognize them? Their names were already written in Huaxia''s textbooks!


    Seeing them, people eagerly greeted them, understanding well that knowing a few prominent figures in the academic circle could be very beneficial during certain award selections or title evaluations if one had their support.


    "Menglong, I''ve brought you here, but whether the application is successful is up to you," Han Jinyu said. "If you follow the normal procedure, it takes two to three years for a bachelor''s degree authorization, five to eight years for a master''s, and over ten years for a PhD program point. It''s nearly impossible to expect it to be approved in just a few days."


    "How will we know if we don''t try?" Zhang Menglong smiled.


    Soon, they walked into the office responsible for academic program authorization. The office was spacious, but there were only two staff members, both in their forties. Here they were essentially part-time, and both held professorial titles.


    "Hey, Academician Han is here!" Han Jinyu had made an appointment a few days earlier, so their arrival was no surprise to the staff.


    "Menglong, let me introduce you to Professor Liu Jinliang and Professor Sun Chengshan."


    "Wait, you don''t need to introduce them!" The two professors quickly stood up, eagerly shaking Zhang Menglong''s hand, "This must be Academician Zhang, right? A truly young hero. We didn''t even know what academia was when we were your age!"


    "Exactly, to be an Academician at such a young age. We do not even know if we will ever be nominated for Academician in our lifetimes!"


    "You two professors are too kind; I''ve merely dabbled a bit."


    "Dabbled a bit? More like a billion bits, what others don''t achieve in a lifetime, you do in just a few days!" Han Jinyu uncompromisingly pointed out.


    "Academician Zhang, look, the people from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology don''t hesitate at all with you. Why not consider teaching at our Jiangnan University? We will directly offer you a dean position, the biggest and best office, and the finest research group!"


    "Academician Zhang, don''t listen to him. The only thing they have left at Jiangnan University is some Archaeology Institute with hardly any students¡ªall fluff!" Professor Sun Chengshan began to undercut them, "Come to Modu University of Transportation, we''ll directly give you the position of Dean of the Physics Faculty! You name your research budget each year, we absolutely won''t bargain, just two national projects per year will do!"


    "Psh, does Academician Zhang need your money? He has pocket change worth several times more than your research funds, better offer something substantial!"


    "So what substantial thing can you offer?"


    "Heh, Academician Zhang, our university has lots of ladies, and each one is both smart and beautiful. Our university is very open-minded¡ªas long as it''s sensible and legal, we don''t oppose student-teacher relationships."


    "??? Old man, you''re not playing fair, how can you throw out such a shameless bargaining chip?"


    "You disagree?"


    "Humph, Academician Zhang, our university recently established an international fashion institute, all stocked with supermodels..."


    "Stop, stop, stop!" Han Jinyu couldn''t watch anymore, these two old fellows actually recruiting right in front of him? Knowing that he had even used his own daughter as a bargaining chip previously, these two old fools were going even further, "Are you acting like I don''t exist?"


    "Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding," laughed the two professors, "But seriously, what are you two here for today?"


    "Professors, I want to apply for a new academic program point for Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    "That can be arranged!" the two professors said, "If you want to apply for a bachelor''s degree point, submit an application; normally it takes two to three years to get approved, but since you''re an academician, there are special channels. If all goes well, it can be done in a month, and you can start enrolling students next semester."


    "I want to apply for both the master''s and doctoral points at once!"


    "What?" The two were stunned for a moment, "This... this might be a bit difficult."


    "Academician Zhang, to apply for master''s points or higher, you must undertake provincial or ministerial level scientific research projects, and must present results; without a three to five-year cycle, how could it possibly be done?"


    "So, you''re saying if I already have the results, all I need to do is go through the process?"


    "Technically, yes, but currently these projects haven''t officially opened for application..."


    "You just take the ''Pulsar Physics'' project off your list; you''re in charge of that, right?"


    "That''s managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology," Professor Liu Jinliang said, "They are in the office next to ours, but it''s a national level project, how can it just be removed like that?"


    "Whack!" Zhang Menglong slapped a USB drive onto the table, "I wrapped up this project just the other day; all the data reports and application model data are in here!"


    "You''ve finished it?"


    "All done, you can send someone to verify it right away!"


    "Academician Zhang, this is somewhat irregular, you doing this... others will have objections!"


    "Who dares object?" Zhang Menglong said, "If anyone dares, I''ll complete all those projects as well and directly publish all the research results; I''d like to see what else they can research on, how they''ll apply for funds, or sustain their research groups without any projects!"


    The two professors exchanged a look; they had never seen such an audacious scholar, who would finish all the projects¡ªcouldn''t you leave a little opportunity for other scholars?


    "Wait a minute... the situation is a bit special, we need to discuss this..."


    "No worries, take your time," Zhang Menglong settled into an office chair, casually pulled out his supercomputer, "You go have your meeting; I''ll wrap up the ''Gamma Burst Cosmology'' and ''Fast Radio Burst Data Statistics'' projects in the meantime, just so you can''t say later that one isn''t enough..."

 Chapter 728 - 726: Is He Wholesale National Projects?

    "Professor Yao!" Professors Liu Jinliang and Sun Chengshan hurriedly rushed into the adjacent office of the Science and Technology Department, "Something big has happened!"


    "What big thing has you two in such a hurry?" the professor with the surname Yao turned around.


    "Academician Zhang Menglong from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology has come to apply for an astrophysics academic program point."


    "Let him apply if he wants to. Follow the procedure," said Professor Yao, "The Bachelor''s Points can be approved for him within a month. As for the Master''s Points and Doctoral Points, first, let him apply for those national projects. Once he has completed them and achieved results, he can come back to apply. Aren''t there three astronomical national projects this year? With his capabilities, securing one shouldn''t be a problem."


    "The problem now is that he has already finished the project!" said Liu Jinliang with frustration.


    "What? Finished?" Professor Yao was stunned, "These projects were only officially announced less than a month ago, and the formal applications start from next month. How could he possibly have finished already?"


    "See for yourself!" Sun Chengshan threw the USB drive onto the table, "That ''Pulsar Physics,'' he says, is already wrapped up. Now he is in our office, claiming he wants to close both the ''Gamma Burst Cosmology'' and ''Fast Radio Burst Data Statistics'' projects as well, to prevent us from making things difficult for him with insufficient project numbers!"


    "We''ve been working for half our lives and this is the first time we''ve seen someone pull off a fait accompli with national projects!"


    "That''s outrageous!"


    The so-called national projects, mostly funded projects, are hotly contested by major universities, with each project involving funds ranging from millions to tens or even hundreds of millions. These are crucial for national foundation science, economic development, and industrial progress.


    Under normal circumstances, if a faculty member of a university secures a project, they could be up for a professorship or even an assistant professorship.


    These projects often take a very long time, at least three to five years, with no upper limit and as long as they yield some breakthrough results, a national science and technology progress award is almost guaranteed.


    This indicates how highly specialized and incredibly difficult these topics are!


    But what''s outrageous is that these projects were only announced less than a month ago! During this month, researchers from various universities are probably still desperately writing their applications, hoping to take on these projects.


    But now you tell me someone has already completed these projects, even closed the cases, and not just one!


    This is beyond his comprehension!


    What''s even more critical is, he doesn''t know what to do now!


    If he approves the application, his projects haven''t even been officially registered yet; at most, they''re only independent research now!


    If he doesn''t approve it, this guy has not only taken on the project, but he has also slapped the results in front of you, and now all they need to do is perform a project acceptance.


    This kind of reverse operation left them at a loss!


    "Moreover, he also told us that for future astronomical projects, the Science and Technology Department can just propose them directly to him, and he doesn''t want a single penny of research funding!"


    "This... you witness all sorts of things if you live long enough!" lamented Professor Yao with a bitter smile.


    Normally, when people take on a project, they first look at the amount of money, the difficulty level, and whether their research group can handle it.


    But Zhang Menglong, on the other hand, says he doesn''t even need research funding, and any project the country suggests, he claims he can research it and produce results!


    What kind of supreme confidence is this?


    "Did he say anything else?"


    "That''s all, his only request is that these academic program points be applied for as quickly as possible."


    "Here''s what we''ll do," said Professor Yao, "I''ll get someone to review his results first. If there''s no problem, I''ll see if I can make a special application to the higher-ups."


    "Knock, knock!"


    "Please come in!" The office door opened, and the one knocking from outside was none other than Zhang Menglong.


    "Academician Zhang, we were just discussing your case," Professor Liu said. "Our conclusion is that we need to first evaluate your academic research. Do you have something to report now?"


    "Oh," Zhang Menglong walked in and placed two USB drives on the table, "I just finished up the ''Gamma Burst Cosmology'' and ''Fast Radio Burst Data Statistics'' projects. Why don''t you review these as well?"


    "What?" The three professors were petrified on the spot.


    They had been discussing for just about ten minutes, and in that brief period, you finished two more projects?


    "Impressive!"


    "Invincible!"


    "Monstrous!"


    ...


    National-level projects can''t be taken lightly by anyone, especially not in such special circumstances.


    These things are like patents. If a project is approved, all its findings belong to the project, and in other words, to the nation.


    But the projects hadn''t been approved yet, which means Zhang Menglong could publish this material in international journals if he wanted to, effectively making what should be national outcomes public. How could this be allowed?


    That very night, over a dozen astronomical experts reviewed these findings, and the outcome of their evaluation left them dumbstruck.


    Every project has some standards for the final results. Take "Pulsar Physics," for instance: the basic requirement is to update the parameters for currently cataloged pulsars, none of which had been updated in over a decade.


    Zhang Menglong not only updated these parameters but even expanded the potential number of observable pulsars from 170 to 300 by adjusting the technology and theory!


    These updated parameters would give the astronomical community of Huaxia a head start, propelling them to the forefront of pulsar research!


    The research for the other two projects was no less impressive. Zhang Menglong not only met the basic requirements but also added at least double the research findings expected of him based on the original workload!


    The value of these three projects was staggeringly high!


    Moreover, he had calculated all these findings through simulations, and the results, within the margins of error allowed by existing data, were so precise that they couldn''t even be sure who was correct in the end.


    Finally, they reached a verdict.


    Bachelor''s Points, Master''s Points, Doctoral Points, he should get them all! Not only academic program points but also funding, personnel, resources¡ªwhatever he needed!


    Other universities are about research, but at Zhang Menglong''s place, he''s practically wholesaling projects; if you dare to offer him a topic, he dares to complete it with speed and quality that boggle the mind.


    They even began to suspect whether Zhang Menglong had bought off a technologically advanced alien civilization, with a group of aliens whose tech far surpassed modern standards assisting him in his project research.


    If every academic institution could function like Zhang Menglong, it wouldn''t just be scientific progress for the nation, Huaxia would experience a scientific explosion!


    "Academician Zhang, we''ve submitted the necessary application for you. Within a week at the earliest, the academic program points designation should be approved. You can start assembling your team first and then recruit students next year."


    "Thank you for your efforts," Zhang Menglong expressed his thanks. The outcome was not beyond his expectations. With his current pace and level of research, he was capable of propelling an era forward; there was no reason not to give him this green light.


    "All right, that settles it," Zhang Menglong opened his Weibo and posted another trendsetting update,


    "@East Sea Vocational and Technical College''s Professor Liu Dongsheng, are you interested in teaching at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology? I''ve recently applied for an academic program point in Astronomy and would like to offer you the position of dean. The benefits will be according to our university''s standards for professors, including a housing property with land rights near the school that qualifies for registration, and an annual research budget of 100 million yuan!"

 Chapter 729 - 727: I Quit

    Who is Liu Dongsheng?


    He had been dominating the top of the hot search list for several days in a row and had been labeled with titles such as "academic fraud" and "vacuous professor." Although the school had announced a one-week suspension, the public was not satisfied and continued to criticize him even more vehemently.


    Under the intense public opinion, the school escalated the punishment from a one-week suspension to a suspension without pay, on probation for half a year.


    Only then did the controversy subside a bit, but Zhang Menglong''s Weibo post undoubtedly pushed Liu Dongsheng back into the eye of the storm.


    "Whaaat? President Zhang, I just don''t get it, why would you hire an academic fraud as the dean of your college? Are you out of your mind?"


    "President Zhang, if you''ve been kidnapped, just blink your eyes!"


    "What''s going on? Did President Zhang discover something unusual?"


    It''s well known that Zhang Menglong, as the most brilliant rising star in the scientific research community, has an unquestionable research ability, his research achievements are at least three to five years ahead of the current world''s top level, if not even more.


    If others found something different in their own research compared to his, the first thing they would suspect is a mistake in their research, not a problem with Zhang Menglong''s.


    Although many people were unclear about Zhang Menglong''s accomplishments in astronomy, those in the circle knew that just a few days ago, several national astronomy projects that were supposed to be announced were suddenly canceled.


    This made those astronomers who had been gearing up for a big project dumbfounded¡ªtrousers down, and you show me this?


    Only after pulling some strings did they find out that Zhang Menglong had already completed these research projects ahead of time, even perfectly wrapping them up!


    How does that feel?


    It''s like in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," when the Princess of Xixia is selecting a consort, and a bunch of confident candidates bring their betrothal gifts only to find that some unexpected Xu Zhu had already rolled in the sheets with her and even had the fruit of love¡ªtell me, isn''t that a huge loss?


    But this also shows that Zhang Menglong''s academic achievements must be tremendously formidable, otherwise, how could he possibly complete projects estimated to take three to five years in less than a month since the announcement?


    However, if they knew Zhang Menglong only spent two or three days on these projects, who knows whether they would be mentally devastated.


    So, in terms of astronomy, Zhang Menglong is definitely overpowering all other astronomers.


    Liu Dongsheng''s project was scorned by the entire astronomical community, but at this moment, Zhang Menglong hoped he would join him, even offering such generous terms.


    A billion a year in research funding, that instantly beats 99% of research groups around the world!


    This inevitably made them start to question their own life, wondering if Professor Liu''s work was real?


    But messages from an extraterrestrial civilization, that sounds like a sci-fi novel!


    Suddenly, everyone began to reread Professor Liu''s paper.


    As for Professor Liu himself, he was even more shocked, as he had just faced a suspension without pay and was feeling quite downhearted!


    Although at his age he had little desire to enjoy life, his son was at the age of spending money. Without his share of the support, naturally, the financial pressure was greater, which is why his wife hadn''t spoken to him for several days.


    Just post an apology on Weibo to the public and to the principal, and wouldn''t that be the end of it? Why be so stubborn?


    "Professor! Professor!"


    While pondering over research funds in the laboratory, Liu Dongsheng heard a research assistant calling out to him.


    "What''s the matter, Wang Miao?" Liu Dongsheng sounded very downcast. Since he was suspended without pay, his research team would naturally have to disband, and the future of his researchers, who had followed him for many years, had now become a problem, which troubled him a lot.


    "Professor, check out Weibo, Academician Zhang from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology is inviting you to become the dean of the ''Star Gazers'' college."


    "Academician from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology? Zhang Menglong?" Liu Dongsheng exclaimed in surprise. He certainly knew the university, which was now the aspiration of teachers across the nation, and this university had only three Academicians. There was only one Academician surnamed Zhang.


    But what is this "Star Gazers" Academy? He had never heard of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology having such an academy.


    Liu Dongsheng hurriedly opened the relevant information.


    "''Star Gazers'' Academy, a newly established academy at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, offers Bachelor''s, Master''s, and Doctoral degree programs... It was officially established just yesterday? How is that possible?"


    "Professor, he also offered you such generous terms, is he serious?" Everyone was still somewhat skeptical; they had never even imagined research funding of one billion yuan per year.


    In this shabby academy, their annual research funding was only a few hundred thousand yuan, and everything had to be scrimped and scraped for, to the extent that Liu Dongsheng even had to pay out of his own pocket.


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, possessing the world''s most top-notch hardware facilities, especially that astronomically expensive astronomical equipment, the world''s largest radio telescope, which reportedly had been completed three months ago and was still gathering dust.


    "May I ask which one of you is Professor Liu Dongsheng?"


    Just at that moment, a woman suddenly walked in.


    "I am, may I ask who you are?"


    "Hello, Professor Liu, I am the personal assistant of Mr. Zhang Menglong, my surname is Hong."


    "Miss Hong, hello." Liu Dongsheng was vaguely excited; he had just seen the message, and Zhang Menglong had already sent someone to find him?


    "I''m sorry, our Mr. Zhang has some academy preparatory matters to deal with and couldn''t personally invite you, so he entrusted me to come over."


    "Academician Zhang is so busy, I understand."


    "So, what is Professor Liu''s attitude toward Mr. Zhang''s invitation?"


    "Are all the terms that Academician Zhang mentioned real? Really offering the treatment of a full professor, plus one billion yuan of research funding per year, and even a house?" Professor Liu still had some misgivings in his heart; after all, the terms were a bit beyond his imagination.


    What kind of posture must one sleep in to have such a dream?


    "Mr. Zhang never jokes," Hong Yi said with a smile, "Moreover, Mr. Zhang said, those ordinary people who cannot understand your achievements are too vulgar, and he has always valued capable people."


    These words washed away all of Liu Dongsheng''s resentments from the recent period; there really were people in this world who could understand him!


    "However, those are just the most basic terms," Hong Yi continued with a smile, "Besides the school''s salary, Mr. Zhang will personally give you an annual salary of ten million yuan. As for the research funding, one billion is just the base, with no upper limit. Whatever staff and equipment you need, just list them for him."


    "We have only one demand of you, and that is to continue completing the projects you haven''t finished!"


    "May I have one request?" Liu Dongsheng clenched his teeth; completing his own projects was also his dream.


    "Please speak."


    "May I bring along the researchers from my project team?" Liu Dongsheng asked, "They have a high understanding of the project. Although their capabilities are a bit weak, at least their scientific research attitude is very rigorous, and it wouldn''t take extra time to form a new team."


    "Of course!" Hong Yi replied, "Mr. Zhang also specially instructed that if you have any students or team members, he welcomes you to take them along, and they will also receive the corresponding benefits and welfare according to the normal positions at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, with an additional annual salary of one million yuan per person."


    "Then, Professor Liu, what is your decision?"


    "I''ll go!" With such good research and material conditions, not going would be foolish!


    "Good, prepare yourself, and I''ll arrange for someone to pick you and your wife up, and we will also prepare the daily necessities for the house we''ve allocated to you; you and your wife can just move in."


    "Great, great!"


    After Hong Yi left, Liu Dongsheng and his researchers felt as if they were still in a dream.


    "Damn it! This lousy vocational college! I''m going to find the principal right now, I quit!"

 Chapter 730 - 728: Opening the Gates to a New World for You

    Professor Liu Dongsheng submitted his resignation to the principal that day.


    The principal was stunned. He knew little about academic matters. Wasn''t Liu Dongsheng considered academically incompetent? How had he suddenly been appointed as a dean by the newly prestigious Jiangnan University of Science and Technology? Could it be that what Liu Dongsheng had researched was really that valuable?


    But by then it was too late for regrets. Not to mention that their school didn''t really need any academic achievements. Moreover, even if they wanted to keep Liu Dongsheng, with what bargaining chip could they retain him? Their entire school was nothing compared to a small college within Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.


    Three days later, Liu Dongsheng moved his whole family to Jiangnan City. The house Zhang Menglong had prepared for him was a whopping 180 square meters, luxuriously furnished. His wife and he had never lived in such a large house before!


    Moreover, everyone in the neighborhood worked at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, so Liu Dongsheng would be surrounded by people involved in scientific research and no longer had to deal daily with troublesome students and those who knew nothing of scientific research.


    Zhang Menglong had even hired a professional domestic service team, so all cares were taken care of and he could fully focus on his research.


    As for the hardware facilities at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, he was at a loss for words. What NASA had, they had here; what NASA didn''t, they also had. The facilities at his previous school were truly just garbage by comparison.


    Now, Liu Dongsheng could freely use all the resources here at will. Had he not been in this brand-new office right now, he wouldn''t have dared to believe it!


    "Professor Liu, how do you like the setup here?" Zhang Menglong leaned against the wall, holding a cup of milk tea. No one would expect such a person to be a world-renowned great scholar.


    "Academician Zhang!" Liu Dongsheng recognized the young man before him instantly, "This place is incredible, it fulfills all my fantasies about scientific research."


    "I''m glad you like it, from now on, just focus on your research here," Zhang Menglong smiled.


    "Thank you, Academician Zhang," Liu Dongsheng expressed his heartfelt gratitude, "Without you, I don''t even know how I could continue my research."


    "In this world, the truth is always in the hands of the few," Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve read your research report very carefully, everything is very rigorous, but because of the equipment and measurement precision issues, I think a lot may need to be overturned and started over."


    "Yes, I understand," Liu Dongsheng responded, "but Academician Zhang, this really is a very important matter. Strictly speaking, I''ve stumbled upon this communication band 10 years ago, but no one was willing to fund my research, only the old principal from East Sea Technical Vocational College was willing to allocate a part of the limited school funds for my research."


    "So that was it," Zhang Menglong finally understood why such a professor would condescend to such a school.


    "Unfortunately, the old principal retired a few years ago, and the new principal only thinks about how to make money," Liu Dongsheng shook his head, "These last two years, I''ve almost been paying for the research out of my own pocket."


    "Tell me about that frequency band?"


    "It''s a signal from the Orion Nebula, only about 1500 light-years away from us, which, in the scale of the universe, is incredibly close," Liu Dongsheng explained, "Over the years, I have decoded a small amount of information from it, and some of it is data carried by Voyager 1."


    "You mean the probe that NASA launched in 1977?"


    "Yes," Liu Dongsheng nodded, "But it''s very strange. So far, Voyager 1 has only been traveling for a little over forty years, and it hasn''t even left the Solar System. How could a signal from 1500 light-years away contain its information?"


    "You suspect...."


    "Exactly, I suspect that somewhere on the edge of the Solar System there might be something like a space wormhole. We might as well boldly imagine that Voyager 1 went through a wormhole, reached some intelligent civilization, and that they obtained the data from Voyager 1, then transmitted it back with some of their own information included."


    Zhang Menglong paused, the idea sounding immensely like something out of a science fiction novel. Although he didn''t know how plausible this guess was or what the likelihood was, Zhang Menglong had always believed that there must be intelligent life other than humans in the universe.


    And now, he even had seen ghosts; was it so strange for there to be aliens in the world?


    But looking further ahead, if these guesses were true, then Earth''s coordinates had already been exposed.


    According to the sociological theories of the universe predicted in the novel "Three-Body," including the "Dark Forest Theory" and the "Chain of Suspicion Theory," this civilization may either be friendly or hostile. They wonder if humans are friendly or hostile, they guess if humans think they are friendly or hostile, they guess what humans guess about their friendliness or hostility...


    "Academician Zhang, it''s only a distance of 1500 light years. If the other party possesses technologies similar to curvature drive, I fear this distance of 1500 light years is not that far. Ten years have already been quite lengthy, we need to plan ahead..."


    "I understand," this was precisely what Zhang Menglong had been worried about, which is why he had invited Professor Liu Dongsheng here, "Please take extra care over this matter."


    Zhang Menglong had other arrangements as well, so he could not devote himself fully to this project, and unlike Gou Dan''s data, there were no theoretical data available for reference; everything had to be recalculated and derived from scratch.


    "Menglong!" At this moment, Han Jinyu walked up to the office door.


    "Professor Han, what''s the issue?"


    "I''ve gathered everyone you needed, can we start now?"


    "Let''s go , let''s meet them!"


    The genius class at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was selected from outstanding talents across the country. This class actually existed before but was previously called "Qi Xin Class," simply an elite academy scoring about 40 points higher than the JUT admissions score, calling it genius might be an overstatement.


    But now, not just anyone could enter Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. It was said that even the basic admission score had surpassed the first-tier admission scores by more than 80 points. To enter this class, one would need at least 720 points.


    Currently, these thirty-odd students were all early admissions, either through various competitions or similar avenues. The youngest among them was 14 and the oldest only 18, to call them geniuses was not an exaggeration at all.


    "Academician Zhang!" Seeing Zhang Menglong arriving, these boys and girls all showed admiring looks; a large part of why they were here was because of Zhang Menglong.


    "Hello everyone," Zhang Menglong smiled, "Today, I want to select some of you to join my special training class, it might be a few of you, or it might be all."


    Everyone was filled with anticipation, waiting for Zhang Menglong''s assessment.


    "Li Xingjie, Ying Huanghao, Liu Zige..." Zhang Menglong called out 21 people''s names, even he hadn''t expected that more than half of these people would have a Potential Index over 10 points!


    "You all follow me, the rest of you, I''m sorry, you don''t meet my requirements!" Zhang Menglong did not explain much.


    Those whose names were called were visibly excited, while the others seemed a bit disheartened, although unsure of Zhang Menglong''s selection criteria, they didn''t dare to question it.


    "Professor Han, I will borrow these people from you for now."


    "Okay," Han Jinyu nodded, "But be careful, they are all treasures."


    "Don''t worry, I''m just taking them to one place, and we''ll be back tonight!"


    ...


    A vehicle was driving towards the suburban area of Jiangnan City.


    Finally, the boys and girls couldn''t hold back and asked, "Academician Zhang, where are you taking us?"


    "A very magical place," Zhang Menglong smiled, "What you are about to see may seem improbable or even beyond your understanding, but today I am going to open the doors to a new world for you!"

 Chapter 731 - 729: I Once Believed in Science

    The bus slowly came to a halt at the foot of a mountain with few people around, and the atmosphere, for some reason, suddenly became a bit mysterious.


    "We''ve arrived," said Zhang Menglong, "Prepare yourselves, we''re heading to the school now."


    "School? Where is there a school?" The students stuck their heads out of the windows, looking around, but all they could see were trees. There were only some faint buildings on the mountain nearby, but they didn''t look at all like they belonged to a school.


    But Zhang Menglong simply smiled and didn''t explain. Out of thin air, he conjured 21 scrolls and handed them out to the students.


    On the leather scrolls were inscribed the gilded words "Super God Academy." This indeed sounded like the name of a school, but wasn''t the name a bit too over-the-top?


    "Zhang Hongjie, congratulations on being accepted to the ''Physics Academy,''" read the youngest boy as he unrolled his scroll. "If you are willing to accept this acceptance letter, please sign your name on the letter."


    Only 14 years old, Zhang Hongjie had defeated all older competitors to emerge victorious in last year''s national physics competition. Consequently, he was exceptionally admitted to the gifted class at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. He was currently focused on high-energy physics, and he planned to pursue his career in the field of physics research.


    "Ying Huanghao, congratulations on being accepted to the ''Chemistry Academy''... Mine is the Chemistry Academy," said the youngest girl.


    "I got Mechanical Academy!"


    "I''m in Biology Academy!"


    "I''ve been accepted to Medical Research!"


    The 21 students had received acceptance letters from six different academies, and all of them wore expressions filled with curiosity and anticipation as they looked at Jiang Yezhou.


    "Academician Zhang, are these academies special branches of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?" someone asked.


    Everyone knew that besides being an academician, Zhang Menglong''s only other title was that of the richest man in the world. Given Zhang Menglong''s level of wealth, it was not unthinkable that he could establish a few mysterious academies in this remote area, hidden beneath this vast land or inside the mountain itself.


    But their scope of thinking was still too limited!


    "You could say that," Zhang Menglong laughed. "However, this school was established by me and is not subject to the control of educational authorities. You can think of it as a private, unaccredited university."


    "Hahaha!" The students couldn''t help but burst into laughter. Someone was actually referring to their own school as an unaccredited university!


    Yet, even if it were truly such a university, with a person like Zhang Menglong involved, it would probably make even the world''s top universities take a step back in awe, wouldn''t it? He alone represented the strength of an entire school''s faculty and scientific research power!


    "The acceptance letters have been distributed to you all. If you wish to enroll, just sign your name on it. If you choose not to, I will have someone take you back," Zhang Menglong said, "This won''t affect your current student status, but from here on out, most of your time will likely be spent at my Super God Academy."


    "Hahaha, as long as I can learn, what''s there to fear?" The youngest, Zhang Hongjie, immediately signed his name on it.


    The scroll suddenly burst into light and began to float, catching fire in mid-air. The flames shot a beam of light directly into Zhang Hongjie''s forehead before disappearing into the air under everyone''s gaze.


    "It can burn at room temperature, so it must be phosphorous material. Being able to float, it''s somewhat similar to will-o''-the-wisps," thought Zhang Hongjie, who was naturally analytic from his physics competition background. "Wait... this... this isn''t scientific!"


    In Zhang Hongjie''s eyes, almost everything until then could be explained by science, but suddenly he found a mysterious door had appeared in his mind.


    "Hongjie, what did you find?"


    "Try it for yourselves, and you''ll know," said Zhang Hongjie, his gaze a bit vacant. Indeed, those who were naive could more easily accept these things, whereas those with their heads filled with science and academia might react like this when confronted with something that couldn''t be explained by science.


    None of the remaining students chose to give up; instead, they followed Zhang Hongjie''s lead and signed their names on the scrolls. Moments later, their expressions became even more animated than Zhang Hongjie''s had been.


    "I... My God! Am I hallucinating?"


    "I once believed in science, then I believed in management studies, now I believe in metaphysics."


    "Did you all see that? That door?"


    "Everyone saw it?"


    "Academician Zhang, what... what is this?"


    "First of all, no matter what you saw, you need to believe in science," said Zhang Menglong with a smile. "It''s just that your current knowledge is insufficient to explain these phenomena. Trust me, soon you will see even more miraculous things."


    Zhang Menglong communicated with the Super God Academy and suddenly that door appeared right in front of them.


    "Everyone come in," Zhang Menglong led the way in.


    "Let''s go!" The students exchanged looks, with no trace of fear in their eyes, only the excitement and anticipation of exploration.


    "Fuck!"


    "Oh my God!"


    "Heavens above!"


    The scene before them had completely stunned everyone; behind this door was actually a new world!


    "Let me introduce everyone," Zhang Menglong said, "Super God Academy occupies an unknown area, currently with more than a dozen academies, over 80 staff members, and more than 1,300 students. Nie Xiaoqian, take everyone to register!"


    "Heeheehee, Dean, you haven''t been here in so long!" A chill approached, and there, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a JK uniform, and over-the-knee socks, Nie Xiaoqian walked over with her long legs.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, these new students are really fresh. They might even be more flavorful than that pretty boy Ning Caichen!" Nie Xiaoqian''s eyes swept over the boys in the line, plotting some mischief in her mind.


    "Nie Xiaoqian, I''m warning you, if you peek at the boys in school while they''re using the bathroom or showering again, I''ll give your position to someone else!" Zhang Menglong threatened.


    "No, Dean!" Nie Xiaoqian said playfully, "Worst case, next time I''ll make sure they don''t find out. As long as they don''t know, it''s as if it never happened."


    Watching the exchange between Zhang Menglong and Nie Xiaoqian, everyone was astounded. Nie Xiaoqian? Wasn''t that the character from ''A Chinese Ghost Story''? Could it be that this teacher just happened to have the same name? But this teacher seemed a bit... unorthodox.


    "Let me introduce, this is Ms. Nie Xiaoqian, the head of admissions at Super God Academy!"


    "Hello, Ms. Nie!"


    "Academician Zhang, is Ms. Nie''s name just a coincidence?" a student asked.


    "She is the Nie Xiaoqian you know," Zhang Menglong responded, "Are you familiar with multiverse and super metaphysical theory? This Nie Xiaoqian is from the parallel world of ''A Chinese Ghost Story''."


    "You mean, she''s really a ghost?"


    "Sort of!"


    "Ah!" The girls immediately screamed in shock.


    "Heeheehee, I will take very good care of everyone in the future!" Nie Xiaoqian said seductively, licking her lips.


    "Nie Xiaoqian!" Zhang Menglong reprimanded, "Don''t worry, everyone, the school''s faculty won''t harm you. On the contrary, you can learn all sorts of skills from them."


    Zhang Menglong glanced at Nie Xiaoqian, "Forget it, you guys better not learn her skills, I''m worried you won''t be able to keep up nutritionally!"


    "Nie Xiaoqian, call the deans of the Physics Academy, Chemistry Academy, Biology Academy, Medical Academy, Mathematics Academy, and Mechanical Academy for me."


    "Sure thing!" Nie Xiaoqian vanished into a circle of light right before everyone''s eyes.


    A few minutes later, six circles of light rose, and six people, marching in unison, emerged.


    "Allow me to introduce, the dean of the Physics Academy Newton, the dean of the Chemistry Academy Jiggs, Professor Banner, dean of the Biology Academy, Hua Tuo, dean of the Medical Academy, Hua Luogeng, dean of the Mathematics Academy, and Tony, the dean of the Mechanical and Automation Academy."


    "Newton? Hasn''t his coffin board rotted yet?"


    "Jiggs? Isn''t that the Yordle? Can game characters also be teachers?"


    "Teacher Tony? Iron Man?"


    "Hahaha, all this may seem unbelievable to you, but you should understand parallel space theory, and we still have to believe in science," Zhang Menglong laughed.


    "Dean," someone pointed to the sky, only to see a person flying through the air on a Flying Sword, followed by a dozen others.


    "Teacher Li Xiaoyao, wait for us!"


    "Teacher, the Sword Control Technique is too hard to learn."


    "Hmph, if you can''t fly 10,000 meters in under three minutes, none of you will get your Flying Sword license!"


    ...


    "Dean, people can fly in the sky now, and you still tell us to believe in science?"

 Chapter 732 - 730: Huaxias Hogwarts

    "Li Xiaoyao, get down here!" Zhang Menglong yelled.


    "Damn, the principal is here?" Li Xiaoyao''s face changed when he saw Zhang Menglong, and he quickly descended on his flying sword to land in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong criticized, "Nie Xiaoqian, what is rule number 47?"


    "Rule 47, all teaching staff must not leave the academy''s teaching area while conducting classes!"


    "Li Xiaoyao, did I not designate a specific pathway for flying swords for you? Why did you have to come over here?" Zhang Menglong reprimanded, "Don''t you know this could scare people from other academies?"


    "Principal, I..."


    "It''s one thing for your Cultivation Academy, but what if Zhong Kui''s Ghost-Taming Class students went outside to catch ghosts? Wouldn''t that throw the whole school into chaos?"


    "Moreover, this batch of students has just started, hasn''t it? They haven''t even mastered sheathing and parking their swords sideways, and you''re already taking them out to speed around. What if something happens? Hua Tuo''s Medical Academy and Yao Chen''s Pharmaceutical Academy are going to be overwhelmed treating injured students!"


    "I''m sorry, Principal. I have been neglectful."


    "Go back and write a self-critical review, get out!"


    "Everyone back to the academy!" Li Xiaoyao led the students away, heads down and dejected, disappearing into the horizon.


    "Sorry for frightening everyone," Zhang Menglong said, "As you can see, we really do focus on the comprehensive development of our students. Besides the academic courses, the school also offers many elective interest classes that you can choose to take after enrolling."


    "Interest classes?" The students were almost petrified. One moment you''re telling us to believe in science, the next minute they see someone flying in the sky.


    And now you''re telling us these are simply interest classes? Your definition of ''interest classes'' seems to be a bit different from ours!


    "Besides this sword flying, there are also Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Beast Taming, and so on. Of course, not everyone has the talent for these, and it''s absolutely not allowed to display these in front of ordinary people. Do you understand?"


    "Understood!" For them, it was more excitement than anything else. Damn, flying on a sword must be the biggest dream for anyone who fantasizes about Xianxia! And there''s even Alchemy and Artifact Refining¡ªthis is like discovering a whole new world!


    "Alright, everyone can follow their respective professors back to their academies," Zhang Menglong said, "But remember, your major courses are still your own fields. I look forward to all of you mastering your knowledge and then continuing to research your topics at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, adding glory to our school!"


    "What are you waiting for? Applaud!"


    ...


    "What a bunch of bookworms!" Looking at the students leaving, Zhang Menglong laughed and shook his head. While these students had outstanding talents, the phrase ''high scores but low ability'' wasn''t just an empty saying. Their personalities weren''t as interesting as others'', and it seemed they would need some time to adapt to the learning life at Super God Academy.


    "But even now, these people don''t seem sufficient," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. Ever since he learned about Professor Liu Dongsheng''s research, Zhang Menglong had been somewhat preoccupied.


    The unknowns about extraterrestrial civilizations made him worry about the future of humanity.


    The so-called "technology explosion" was just a figment of human imagination. With this, Zhang Menglong preferred to remain pessimistic, believing that the technology of that civilization was far beyond that of Earthlings.


    In such a scenario, once they confirmed the existence of humans, Zhang Menglong dared not think what would follow.


    If he were just an ordinary person, then probably he wouldn''t be able to do anything¡ªof course, he might not even know about it.


    But now that he had the ability to change everything, he must do something about it.


    "Gou Dan!"


    [Is there anything the dean would like to instruct?]


    "Can Super God Academy truly only recruit people with a Potential Index above 10?"


    Zhang Menglong, although capable of refining elixirs that help humans increase their Potential Index, was essentially unable to aid many people due to limitations in raw materials. Managing just enough for his own family and friends was already a stretch.


    Although those things were abundantly available within Super God Academy, the barrier between the two worlds meant that items from the Academy could not be taken out, except when Zhang Menglong spent Cred Points to temporarily bring certain items out.


    [There''s actually another way.]


    "What method? Tell me quickly!"


    [Currently, the student population of Super God Academy has exceeded 1000, and the dean can now start expanding the academy.]


    "Expand the academy? What do you mean by that?"


    [Even though the limit on the Potential Index can''t be broken, the dean can build a real academy in the real world. You can have the students of Super God Academy teach at this school, allowing even the teachers from the Academy to come and teach!]


    "Is that even possible?" Zhang Menglong exclaimed in surprise.


    [However, the items from Super God Academy will still be non-transferable, and all items are for the teachers'' use only. They can only teach some theoretical and practical knowledge. Compared to students inside Super God Academy, their growth will be significantly lesser!]


    "Is that enough?" Zhang Menglong was already very satisfied with this option; even though it did not reach the heights of Super God Academy students, the students in this school could still learn knowledge that surpassed this era through those teachers, and even engage in martial arts and cultivation. Although it might be slower, it was better than nothing.


    "How do I build this school?"


    [You just need to find a vacant plot of land and then visualize the entire school''s plan according to your ideas, and I can materialize the entire academy for you.]


    "Awesome!" Zhang Menglong remarked. If he could really create such a school, he wouldn''t even need to operate secretly anymore and could legitimately set up a school.


    By then, this school could supply a large wave of professionals in various fields to society every year. Wouldn''t that be even more awesome than Ma Yun''s Alibaba?


    There''s just one issue: modern society places an emphasis on formal education. If he really set up a school, it might still be seen as an unaccredited institution, and nobody would participate in the first batch. The beginning is always the hardest. Figuring out how to get the first batch of students is the biggest challenge, especially since he currently lacked the energy to find them one by one.


    "Perhaps start with those Ancient Martial Arts Families," Zhang Menglong thought.


    Currently, everyone in the Ancient Martial Arts Families with a Potential Index above 10 had become a student of Super God Academy. Take Chen Bingyu from the Chen Family, the eldest disciple. With over a year of study and nourishment from various treasures, her strength had already neared the Heavenly Origin Boundary.


    Their small Chen Family had never before had a Martial Artist of the Mythical Realm.


    It was the same for the other students. Not to mention the Mythical Realm, even Martial Artists of the Grandmaster Realm used to be at least in their forties or fifties, whereas now there was a large group of Mythical Realm experts who were just in their teens or twenties.


    This was no longer a secret in the Ancient Martial Arts World; everyone was desperate to join Zhang Menglong''s Ritian Sect but had no way in.


    If Zhang Menglong were to open it up to them, wouldn''t they all be scrambling to get in?


    Not only that, these Ancient Martial Arts Families also wielded substantial influence in secular society. Once they joined and studied for a while, they would realize how amazing Super God Academy was.


    In the future, Super God Academy will be Huaxia''s Hogwarts!


    Once the school had a certain number of students, Zhang Menglong could take them to various competitions, where their capabilities would absolutely outshine any student trained by Qingbei University or Harvard University.

 Chapter 733 - 731: When in Doubt, Quantum Mechanics

    "What? Principal, are you going to start enrolling students on a large scale?" Upon hearing this news from Zhang Menglong, the students at Super God Academy were first stunned, then burst into thrilled joy.


    By now, they had become the mainstays of their respective families, even surpassing the elders and clan leaders by far. Moreover, the advanced martial arts learned at Super God Academy made fighting above their levels as simple as eating.


    Last month, Chen Bingyu from the Chen family challenged Yin Wuyi, the Huaxia Martial God. Astonishingly, with the strength of level nine in the Mythical Realm, she effortlessly defeated the legendary Yin Wuyi in three moves, becoming the new martial myth of the Ancient Martial Arts World.


    Then, the students of Super God Academy thought, if their senior sister could do it, why couldn''t they?


    In the following month, Yin Wuyi faced challenges from dozens of Super God Academy students, and almost half of them defeated him, all hailing from the Ritian Sect established by Zhang Menglong.


    Even though Yin Wuyi had broken through to the Tianyuan Boundary, it should be noted that his martial arts were merely handed down through the secular world, at best remnants or trivial aspects from a bygone era.


    But the members of the Ritian Sect were different, weren''t they? They were actually using moves from Jin Yong''s martial arts novels like Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi, Nine Yang Divine Art, Nine Yin Scripture, Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.


    And even more outrageous, they unleashed techniques from fantasy novels like Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger, Mighty Elephant Crushing the Heavens, Azure Sky Dragon Transforming Secret.


    All these were enough, whether it was martial arts or fantasy, at least it was human skills, right?


    But what even were Gaia Energy Cannon, Turtle School Qigong Wave, and Destructive Death Light? Can we not bring out things from the two-dimensional world?


    Although it seemed like there was an insurmountable gulf between their realms, these martial arts curiously managed to level the difference.


    Keep in mind, even Chen Bingyu, the most experienced among them, had only been practicing at the Ritian Sect for just over a year.


    After these dozens of battles, Martial God Yin Wuyi began to question his life, wondering how a century of cultivation was overshadowed by a young girl with only one year of learning. How could he have the face to continue in the Ancient Martial Arts World?


    Thus, after sighing that "the waves behind drive on those ahead," Yin Wuyi announced his exit from the Ancient Martial Arts World and from then on devoted himself to cultivating his life and nature, no longer involving himself in the affairs of the second world.


    When this news broke out, the entire Ancient Martial Arts World was in an uproar. The Ritian Sect actually had such prowess, with only one year of training, they produced dozens, even hundreds of martial legends¡ªwho could endure this?


    But to this day, aside from Zhang Menglong and his students, no one has been able to locate where exactly the Ritian Sect is, so they can only regard it as a legendary martial Holy Land.


    The young heirs of the Ancient Martial Arts families and sects could only train hard, hoping that one day an envoy from the Ritian Sect might appear before them.


    But unexpectedly, Zhang Menglong was now going to openly recruit students, with no limits on age, realm of cultivation, or even the threshold of the Potential Index¡ªjust as long as their morals were up to par, they could be accepted!


    "Principal, is there no limit to the number of students?" Chen Bingyu boldly asked.


    "None whatsoever," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "Can I get my entire family to join?" Chen Bingyu queried, "I''ve now taken over the family, and the rules have all been reset, very strict. The character of every member is definitely up to standard."


    "Of course, you can!" Zhang Menglong added, "However, I should clarify that this school is somewhat different from our Super God Academy; at most, teachers could only instruct and explain here. The resources available within Super God Academy cannot be brought out, so their cultivation rate will not be as fast as yours."


    "This is already very good!"


    It wasn''t like they didn''t understand satisfaction.


    In Super God Academy, they learned new techniques, and these secret manuals could also be passed on to the newcomers; however, the only difference was that the students could accelerate their cultivation with the help of elixirs and other auxiliary items refined in the academy, while the others could not.


    But even just with these manuals, they could cultivate countless times faster than those old Internal Cultivation Methods, and they could also learn those martial techniques.


    "Bingyu, since they can''t be recognized by Super God Academy, I need a fixed population for this school, a place that''s a bit more secretive," said Zhang Menglong, "so I would like to use that mountain belonging to your family."


    "Hahaha, Principal, don''t you already own that mountain?" Chen Bingyu laughed. This was good news for their family, with the Super God Academy built right at their doorstep. They might well become the hub of the entire Ancient Martial Arts World due to the advantage of proximity.


    "Then it''s settled!" Zhang Menglong exclaimed with a smile.


    .....


    The next day, behind the Chen family''s mountain, Zhang Menglong stood still with his eyes closed as if in mediation, while the anxious members of the Ancient Martial Art Families stood behind him.


    This time, thousands of people from the Ancient Martial Arts World had come, almost filling the entire back mountain of the Chen Family to capacity.


    Upon receiving the news brought by the young generations of their family, they didn''t think twice; everyone from the Jiangzhe region brought their families over immediately, as for families from other regions, they were also rapidly making their way here.


    "Junior Clan Leader, can Sect Leader Zhang really build a school here? It sounds utterly incredible," a member of the Chen Family inquired carefully.


    "Junior Clan Leader, I''m not well-educated, and I''ve never heard of a school that can spring up in an instant. You''ve attended university, could you explain this to us?"


    "Explain my ass!" Chen Bingyu cursed, "When in doubt, quantum mechanics. Everything can be explained with quantum mechanics, got it?"


    "It seems like I got it... although I don''t know what it is, it sounds really impressive."


    [Host, would you like to construct the Super God Academy''s affiliated institution here?]


    "Confirm!"


    [Please begin to visualize the layout of the academy in your mind.]


    A grand blueprint unravelled in Zhang Menglong''s mind instantly, but since it was going to be a school, it had to look like one - with buildings for the dean, administrative offices, faculty housing and a recreational area, student dormitories, auditoriums, classrooms, dining halls, gyms, libraries...


    "Begin construction!"


    With a thought from Zhang Menglong, a beam of light shot up in front of him, piercing the entire sky in an instant. Thankfully, he had chosen a blazing hot day to do this, as it would have caused quite a sensation had it been nighttime.


    Quickly, the light dissipated, and a golden gate, five meters tall and more than three meters in length, appeared in the back mountain. The golden gate slowly opened, revealing a shimmering golden membrane.


    Above this gate, there were the words "Super God Academy Affiliated Institution" inscribed in eight large characters.


    ...


    "Alright, this will now be the entrance to my school, you all can go in and have a look!"


    "Junior Clan Leader, this..." The people of the Chen Family hesitated.


    "Follow me in!" Chen Bingyu led the way inside, and the people of the Chen Family relaxed their vigilance a bit.


    "Wow!"


    "Damn!"


    "This is unscientific!"


    "Are we going to study here from now on?"


    The first-timers to the Super God Academy all wore expressions of utter amazement.


    "Principal, haven''t we admitted too many people this time?" Nie Xiaoqian looked at the thronging thousands from the Chen Family and felt somewhat at a loss.


    "Everyone shut up!" As an imposing aura descended, the chief instructor Xiong Ba, donning a golden robe and cape, walked out.


    "A master of the Tianyuan realm?" The elders of the Chen Family instantly felt an overwhelming pressure, a feeling that even Chen Bingyu had never induced in them.


    "No!" Chen Bingyu shook his head, "The chief instructor has already broken through the Tianyuan boundary. According to our Ancient Martial Arts World''s definition, he has reached the Saint Realm!"


    "What? The Saint Realm?" For the people of the Chen Family, the Tianyuan realm was already legendary, and the Saint Realm was merely theoretical.


    "You may not believe me, but Director Xiong isn''t even the strongest one here. The weakest teacher we have is at the Tianyuan realm, and the strongest can effortlessly crush Director Xiong to death!"


    "Effortlessly kill at the Saint Realm?" Now they understood why Chen Bingyu had become so terrifying after just over a year of following Zhang Menglong.


    If the teachers were all like this in the school, then damn it, even a pig could become an unbeatable fighter!

 Chapter 734 - 732: Intense Scene

    "Bingyu, how many teachers does your school have now?" asked Chen Bingyu''s grandfather.


    "There are over 80 teachers. One third of them teach cultural classes, one third teach life skills courses, and the rest are martial arts teachers," Chen Bingyu introduced. "The Sect Leader said he will arrange for the teachers to meet everyone in a while."


    Xiong Ba spoke again, "Since none of you have reached the Mythical Realm, let''s start with the first grade! Soon, teachers from each academy will introduce themselves, and then you can start selecting an academy to enroll in!"


    "First grade," the expressions on the faces of the Chen family elders all turned very strange. They were people in their seventies and eighties and to start school from the first grade in this place seemed absolutely absurd.


    "This is our school''s rule," Chen Bingyu explained. "The Mythical Realm is for second graders, the Heavenly Origin Boundary is for third graders, and the Saint Realm is for fourth graders. However, no one has been promoted to third grade yet."


    "Oh! The teachers are coming!" Chen Bingyu suddenly quieted down.


    "Teachers?" The other members of the Chen family also quieted down. They were eager to know what kind of people could teach here, and even more eager to know how Zhang Menglong managed to find so many peerless experts to become teachers.


    Had they never heard of so many Heavenly Origin Boundary masters, let alone Saint Realm masters, hidden within Zhang Menglong''s Ritian Sect''s Super God Academy?


    "Since you''re all from Ancient Martial Arts Families, from now on, you''ll be attending the Martial Arts Academy, Metaphysics Academy, Cultivation Academy, and Supernatural Academy," Xiong Ba announced. "Could the teachers from each academy please come out and meet the newcomers!"


    Suddenly, a familiar Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils bgm started playing, and a figure carrying something that looked like a boombox descended from the sky.


    "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!" a dragon''s roar echoed, and a wave of Qi sent the crowd behind recoiling several meters.


    "Hello everyone, I''m Qiao Feng from the Martial Arts Academy, and you can call me Teacher Qiao! I can teach you Internal Cultivation Methods, palm techniques, and the Ancient Stick Technique!"


    "Qiao Feng? Am I dreaming?" This name was familiar to everyone.


    "What''s going on, someone explain to me?"


    "Remember what Bingyu said? When in doubt, quantum mechanics. I think we can explain this with quantum mechanics too."


    "Teacher Qiao, you''re as energetic as ever!" The Celestial Maiden of Mount Heaven also slowly walked out, followed by a group of people who looked like they were wearing cosplay costumes. "My surname is Wu, and I''m the deputy head of the Martial Arts Academy! Our school mainly teaches the Internal Cultivation Methods and techniques of Ancient Martial Arts, which is the foundation of everything!"


    "I am Bu Jingyun from the Martial Arts Academy!"


    "I am Nie Feng!"


    "I am Duan Yu."


    "I am Shi Potian!"


    ...


    "Greetings to all newcomers, I''m Lin Dong, the dean of the Metaphysics Academy! We teach the cultivation of the natural energies between heaven and earth! To battle with men, to battle with the heavens!"


    "Xiao Yan!"


    "Long Aotian!"


    ...


    "Hello, newcomers. I''m the dean of the Cultivation Academy, the Drunken Sword Immortal. Our academy seeks the mysteries of becoming immortals and gods!"


    "I am Li Xiaoyao!"


    "Zhao Ling''er!"


    ...


    "Hahahaha, foolish humans..."


    "Speak human language!" Zhang Menglong slapped the back of that purple head!


    The giant figure immediately showed a pitiful expression. Once a big boss of the Multiverse, he was beaten up by Zhang Menglong''s parents and captured into the Super God Academy.


    "I am Thanos, the dean of the Supernatural Academy. We''re inherently gifted with Divine Power. In our academy, I can teach you to forge a god-like physique and wield the power of gods!"


    "Get lost!" A blue figure kicked Thanos flying, a teacher dressed in blue tights, pride written all over his face. "Idiot, if I hadn''t been woken up so late, when would it have been your turn, you giant purple potato, to be a deputy head?"


    Thanos, who with a snap of his fingers could destroy half the universe''s life, actually looked timid in front of this blue-tights-clad person.


    After arriving at the Super God Academy, Thanos was indeed the most powerful, with an Energy Intensity exceeding 60 units. He once wanted to challenge Xiong Ba''s position as Head of Instruction until he was taught a lesson by Zhang Menglong, which made him slightly more docile.


    That was until recently, when Zhang Menglong activated a few new teachers and, after being beaten, Thanos became the lesser brother.


    The person in the blue tight suit looked displeased, "Prince of the Saiyans, Vegeta, if you don''t follow discipline in my class, I''ll kill you!"


    "Vegeta, don''t be so fierce!" Another teacher wearing an orange training suit walked over, "Hi, everyone, I am Sun Wukong."


    ...


    There was a dead silence, no one had ever seen such a self-introduction and remained calm.


    What kind of monsters are the teachers at this school!


    "Am I still not awake?"


    "I must be crazy, having hallucinations."


    "This is outrageous... Can these people really teach us skills?"


    "I''ve heard of a technology called holographic projection, aren''t these people all projections?"


    "I know you all have doubts right now," Zhang Menglong said, "You can think of this as a product of high technology, starting today, these teachers can teach you anything you want to learn. If you want to learn gun, stick, club, fist, foot, palm, go to the Ancient Martial Arts Academy, if you want to learn supernatural abilities, go to the Supernatural Academy."


    "What, you seem still not quite convinced," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "You might not understand well from what I say, why not ask the people from your families."


    Zhang Menglong shouted towards the academy, "Students from the main campus of the Super God Academy, come out!"


    In an instant, a commotion was heard within the academy.


    A few seconds later, figures began to emerge from the dense array of academic buildings, and the thousands of people present widened their eyes at the sight.


    Because some of these figures were walking on air, some were flying with swords, some were piloting Gundams, some were driving Evas, and others were flying between the buildings on Dou Qi horses.


    "That''s my big cousin! Big cousin, I''m here!"


    "Isn''t that the cousin who disappeared last year? He''s actually here?"


    "My cousin is at the seventh level of the Mythical Realm, and he can fly? Isn''t that something only those in the Heavenly Origin Boundary could do?"


    "So they all learned their skills here!"


    After listening to Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone still hesitated, but when their relatives and friends appeared, all doubts in their hearts were dispelled. This school really was a magical place!


    "Do you still have any concerns now?"


    "I''m going to the Metaphysical Academy! I also want to fly with a sword like my big cousin!"


    "I''m heading to the Supernatural Academy!"


    "Can I become a Super Saiyan learning from Mr. Sun?"


    "Hahaha, this student, that might be a bit difficult, oh, only those with Saiyan blood flowing in them have that capability. I can teach you how to use energy and the Sky Dancing Art, Turtle School Qigong, but you''ll need to be at least in the second grade to take my classes!"


    The scene suddenly became livelier than a marketplace, with people catching up and inquiring, clearly a fiery scene of recruitment.


    "Everyone line up!" Xiong Ba shouted using his inner strength, "Seniors help maintain order, take your family and sect members to register for enrollment. If anyone disrupts the discipline, they will be expelled forever and not allowed to enroll!"


    ...


    It took several hours for the thousands of people to complete the enrollment procedures, and this was just the first day. In the following days, more and more ancient martial arts families and sects would be coming from all over the country.


    "Xiao Qian, how many people do we have now?"


    "Headmaster, there are now 1327 students at the main school, and the branch academies have already completed 3476 registrations."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, with more students, there weren''t enough teachers, and he would probably have to find a way to earn more Cred Points to summon some more teachers.


    "With over 3000 Cred Points left, I''ll keep a thousand for emergency," Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "Gou Dan, awaken 20 more teachers for me!"


    "Gu Yi has seen the Headmaster!"


    "Saitama has seen the Headmaster!"


    "Mikami Yua has seen the Headmaster!"


    Zhang Menglong: "???"

 Chapter 735 - 733: You Ran to My Backyard?

    The enrollment explosion at Super God Academy lasted for more than three days, with student numbers growing from over 1,300 to more than 10,000!


    And more and more people continued to join the various branches of Super God Academy.


    In one of the Ancient Martial Arts families, a man asked a child who looked about seven or eight years old, "Son, where do you plan to study when you grow up?"


    "I want to apply to Yanjing University!"


    "Slap!" The man slapped the young boy on the face, "What a disgrace, thinking about Yanjing University. Your goal is Super God Academy, the Ritian Sect! Today, you are punished to reflect on your behavior, and you are not allowed to eat lunch!"


    ...


    Among the 10,000 students, currently less than 200 are in their second year, with the rest all in first year. With class sizes of 40¨C50 students, all of them are developing according to their own interests¡ªsome like to engage in scientific research, others enjoy fighting and killing. Here, all dreams can come true.


    During this time, Han Jinyu noticed that the batch of students previously entrusted to Zhang Menglong had become very secretive. They attended classes during the day, did experiments in the laboratories, but as soon as night fell, they were nowhere to be found, not even their roommates knew where they had gone.


    If you say there''s something wrong with them, they attend classes on time every day; if you say there''s nothing wrong with them, they each seem to be able to vanish and reappear capriciously.


    Then, a month later, something happened that shocked the whole school and even the whole country.


    Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had a total of 21 students who simultaneously published papers as the first authors in the world''s leading journals "Nature" and "Science"!


    These papers covered various fields including physics, chemistry, and biology, and they almost pushed the depth of their research topics to a new level.


    Even several big prize winners couldn''t help admiring the depth of their research.


    Going from one article of this level every four or five years to Zhang Menglong alone being able to publish dozens at once is progress in the school''s scientific research capability. But having dozens of students publish such articles without direct instructor guidance is an indication of the educational level and student quality!


    Ask which school in the country can have students publish more than 20 articles in such journals without instructors'' guidance? And it''s different individuals who wrote them!


    This shows the students of this school are simply invincible in their capabilities!


    With this news, the reputation of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology grew even more, subtly trending toward becoming Huaxia''s number one institution!


    As for the Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia, these past few months also saw a surge of youths with exceptional gifts. Their skill realms were generally at least three or four levels higher than their peers, and they mastered very profound martial arts.


    Moreover, the leaders and elders of 8 Ancient Martial Arts Families broke through to the legendary Heavenly Origin Realm, the entire Ancient Martial Arts World underwent a thorough transformation, and the opposing Second World forces have all been frightened into withdrawal.


    Not to mention Huaxia has Zhang Menglong, just the presence of these eight Martial Gods in the Heavenly Origin Realm is enough to suppress any opposition and send shivers down their spines!


    Gradually, news about Super God Academy also spread to some of the secular population, who began inquiring about what kind of conditions were necessary to join Super God Academy.


    Although students here do not obtain any socially recognized credentials, as long as you have studied here for a while, you can become a top talent in any domain, and talent will never be buried no matter where it goes.


    Unfortunately, the news they received was that the academy was temporarily not enrolling new students, so they could only wait for an opportunity.


    ...


    "You rascal, what kind of shenanigans have you been up to lately?" Elder Zhou also heard the news and found this mysterious school to be very intriguing.


    He didn''t really care about the scientific research, after all, the emergence of so many scientific talents in the country was very beneficial for national progress and development, and he would love for Zhang Menglong to cultivate more outstanding talents.


    But matters of the Ancient Martial Arts World were not trivial. It''s known that the Ancient Martial Arts World of Huaxia has autonomy; although they and the special action team Longxia are both part of Huaxia''s Second World forces, they are essentially not one and the same.


    The Ancient Martial Arts World was accustomed to laxity, while Longxia was under the control of the state.


    Previously, the Martial God Yin Wuyi had a good relationship with the team leader of Longxia, Meng Tianhe. They had been through life and death together several times and were on par in strength. Even after Martial God advanced to the Heavenly Origin Realm, they maintained a delicate balance.


    But now, this balance had been broken. The Ancient Martial Arts World had seen the emergence of 8 new heavenly origin realm masters, and some newcomers were even using the former Martial Gods as a tool to measure their own strength, with dozens challenging them and half emerging victorious.


    In other words, there are at least twenty to thirty people in the Ancient Martial Arts World who possess the strength of the heavenly origin realm!


    The gap between Longxia''s special operation team and them is not small by any means!


    How can the second world power in the hands of the nation be weaker than the secular world?


    That''s why, following instructions from above, Elder Zhou made this phone call to Zhang Menglong.


    "I heard you started some sort of school?"


    "Hahaha, how did you find out?"


    "Stop beating around the bush with me. You don''t even have an education permit, and you dare to start a school?" Elder Zhou scolded, his beard bristling in anger.


    "Elder Zhou, that''s not reasonable of you. I''ve trained so many brilliant students who have published papers in numerous international journals. Which university can achieve that? I''m genuinely dedicated to education, to teaching people. You can''t use that as an excuse to shut down my school!"


    "Bullshit, is your school just about teaching students to do scientific research?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "I''m going to send a batch of Longxia people over to study, so you better make the arrangements!"


    "Wowee!" Zhang Menglong finally caught on. Elder Zhou was pulling strings to slot people in.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong replied with a forced smile, "You want to give people a backdoor entry, can I even say no?"


    "Hahaha, I''ll have Meng Tianhe discuss the details with you shortly. Make sure you train them well. Longxia is a pillar of the nation."


    "I got it, I''ll train a troop for you that''s ready to roar into action!"


    "That''s more like it," Elder Zhou was instantly satisfied, "Also, there''s a matter I need your help with, Meng Tianhe will fill you in on the details later."


    "Everything''s so secretive!" Zhang Menglong was truly puzzled by Elder Zhou''s demeanor. What could be so serious?


    "Thump thump!" Not even a few minutes after Zhang Menglong put down his phone, there was a knock at the door.


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s Meng Tianhe."


    "Oh, Captain Meng, come in and have a seat!" Zhang Menglong opened the door and invited Meng Tianhe inside.


    The recruiting was straightforward. They had a brief discussion; Meng Tianhe just needed to send over the people, but as for the matter Elder Zhou mentioned...


    Meng Tianhe lowered his voice and opened the laptop he was carrying, "A few days ago, an earthquake occurred in the northwestern region. Researchers conducting a scientific investigation discovered something very peculiar."


    "What is it?"


    "Volcanic ash mixed with metallic particles. Upon our investigation, these metallic particles do not match any on Earth. Moreover, this volcanic ash originated from over 2000 kilometers away, from deep within a glacier in Russia."


    "After further investigation, we found that an event similar to a meteorite impact had occurred there more than twenty thousand years ago. However, we couldn''t find any meteorite remnants until we discovered something very special deep within the Earth''s crust!"


    "What is it?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "A spacecraft!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s expression suddenly turned serious, "Some little bastards from another planet have made their way into my backyard?"

 Chapter 736 - 734: Registration for Social Practice Course Begins

    "Your family''s backyard?" Meng Tianhe''s eye twitched a little. Isn''t Earth for all humanity? When did it become your family''s backyard?


    However, upon further consideration, Zhang Menglong was incredibly wealthy and unmatched in physics. With a legacy that spanned thousands of years, if they wanted to become emperors, they probably could have conquered the entire Earth under the Zhang''s name by now, right?


    With that explanation, what Zhang Menglong said wasn''t incorrect, but aren''t you worried about others hitting back with such a claim?


    As Meng Tianhe stood there stunned, Zhang Menglong was carefully considering the matter.


    Two civilizations meeting in the vast universe was already a remarkably rare event. If Earth had interacted with two civilizations, that would be an incredibly low probability.


    "Could it be related to that matter?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but think of the communication band from other civilizations discovered by Professor Liu Dongsheng.


    "Captain Meng, please explain in detail."


    "Hmm," Meng Tianhe nodded, "Actually, this spaceship has been known internationally for a while now. Our old neighbors, the war-like people, were the first to discover it. Initially, they sent a scientific research team, but the group, consisting of over one hundred people, vanished the day they entered, never to come out again."


    "That happened?"


    "Yes, all their life signs disappeared. They suspect there''s some kind of self-defense system within the spaceship that initiates an attack on intruders."


    "Didn''t they send Psychics?" asked Zhang Menglong.


    "They did!" Meng Tianhe replied. "They sent a small team, and to be safe, they included several Level-One Psychics. In the end, only one came back, and he lost both arms and half his chest was shattered. However, he did manage to bring back some intelligence."


    "What exactly was it?"


    "A very powerful robot," said Meng Tianhe. "The images he brought back show that this thing''s speed, strength, and mobility are extremely terrifying, and it''s equipped with various high-tech weapons. The attacks from those Tsarist Russia Psychics barely produced a few sparks."


    "That powerful?" You should know that Level-One Psychics are considered peak combat strength. Ordinary metals on Earth can''t withstand their power, even titanium alloy can be dented with one punch.


    "They managed to bring back a small fragment at the risk of their lives. The strength of this metal is more than three times that of titanium alloy, and its melting point is also very high, something our current technology cannot produce!"


    Meng Tianhe opened a video. Although the video was very shaky, Zhang Menglong could still see its contents.


    The robot was about two meters long, slender-bodied. Excluding its head which wasn''t that big, it somewhat resembled the "aliens" from science fiction movies, covered in weapons. From the moment it was attacked by those ten Level-One Psychics until the end of the fight, it lasted less than 30 seconds!


    "Good grief, no wonder they''ve mastered interstellar travel technology. Truly extraordinary," Zhang Menglong exclaimed. "So, what do you need my help with this time?"


    "This mission is of the utmost importance," Meng Tianhe said. "Since something from an alien civilization has appeared on our planet, although it''s been twenty thousand years, we can''t guarantee that no message was sent out back then, nor can we ensure that our Earth''s information hasn''t leaked. We need to find more information inside this spaceship."


    "Not just that, the spaceship''s power system, life support system, and other various equipment are also of great significance for our human research, so we must go in!"


    "I understand," Zhang Menglong, although not impressed by the spaceship as he knew of many more remarkable spaceships from his extensive knowledge base, the crucial point was whether any textual information, communication records, etc., could be found inside this spaceship.


    "This time, we''ve gathered all the world''s top Level-One Psychics to explore this spaceship, but still, we are not sure, so we hope that you can lend a hand," Meng Tianhe earnestly said. "According to our understanding, you are at least of Heavenly Origin Boundary Peak strength. We need your power!"


    "I''ll think about it!"


    "Gou Dan!" Zhang Menglong began calling out to the Super God Academy''s system in his mind. "Do you know about this?"


    "Of course, according to my database, this spaceship landed on Earth approximately 23,000 years ago. It''s a Bogut-7ZNS model reconnaissance spaceship, likely from a Level Two civilization."]


    "Level Two civilization?" Zhang Menglong furrowed his brows.


    According to the classification of civilization levels, human civilization had not even reached Level One yet.


    A Level One civilization could fully exploit its own planet and engage in brief cosmic travel.


    Whereas the standard for a Level Two civilization was to develop its entire star system and undertake comparatively prolonged space journeys.


    The gap between these two levels, in terms of the scale of time, spanned tens of thousands of years¡ªa substantial difference in class.


    [As for the video that the host just watched, that was an artificial intelligence from a Level Two civilization, primarily used for exploration, not a combat-type robot.]


    "Damn, just an exploratory spacecraft''s robot wiped out a group of god-level psychics?"


    [Although it''s just an exploratory robot, according to current terms on Earth, facing god-level psychics and Martial Artists of the Mythical Realm is as easy as chopping vegetables. No matter how many come, they''re just delivering themselves¡ªa Martial Artist of the Heavenly Origin Boundary at Level Three or above might be able to inflict effective damage on it.]


    "So, you''re saying that the god-level psychics from this Second World federation exploring that spacecraft are practically on a suicide mission?"


    [That would be an accurate understanding.]


    "Do my parents know about this?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    [Your ancestors knew about this, but they weren''t interested in such Level Two civilization spacecrafts; at most, they''d have smelted it for steel. However, the productive capacity of that era was low, and it wasn''t feasible to build such large smelting equipment, so they ignored it.]


    "Are there more dangerous things on board?"


    [No conventional weapons, but such exploratory spacecrafts still have some defensive weapons. Yet, considering so many years have passed, they''re likely decayed by now. At most, they would only harm Martial Artists of the Heavenly Origin Realm, but it won''t be a problem for you.]


    "That''s good then."


    "Ahem, ahem, ahem!" Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Well, helping you isn''t out of the question."


    "Seriously?" Meng Tianhe said, "This mission will be extremely dangerous¡ªwe all need to be prepared for the possibility of not coming back. You should think it over carefully."


    "I''ve thought it through clearly," Zhang Menglong said, "but can I bring some people along?"


    "That would be great!" Meng Tianhe expressed delight. He had heard from Yin Wuyi that Zhang Menglong seemed to have a number of powerful subordinates, possibly even those above the Heavenly Origin Boundary. If these individuals could participate, perhaps the success rate of this exploration could significantly increase!


    "Then get yourselves ready. We leave in three days, and we''ll meet at the North Caucasus Mountains then."


    "Okay!"


    ...


    Meng Tianhe left satisfied, knowing this mission might not only provide a great learning opportunity for the people of Longxia but had also secured helpers for exploring the spacecraft.


    Zhang Menglong unlocked his phone and immediately opened the Super God Academy student group chat, "Enrollment for the social practice course starts now. Requirements: second-year students and above. Limited slots available, first come, first served!"


    ...

 Chapter 737 - 735: Is it not so?

    ```


    "The headquarters of Longxia is actually hidden in the Himalayan Mountain Range, no wonder it''s so well-concealed!" A plane flew smoothly through the sky, carrying not only Zhang Menglong but also 20 students from Super God Academy.


    "Dean, when I was at home in the family, I always heard that the headquarters of Longxia was extremely secretive and very secure, but I never thought I''d actually get the chance to see it."


    "However, this time I''m really looking forward to that alien civilization''s spaceship, and if I have the chance, I''m definitely going to study it intimately."


    "What? You''ve taken up a course from the Mechanical Academy as well?"


    "Hahahaha, that''s not all, I also attended courses on astronomy at the Physics Academy. When I was a kid, my dream was to become an astronaut!"


    "Your grandpa would be so pleased to hear that, he''d probably give you two big slaps on the mouth!"


    "How do you know that?"


    "Nonsense, we from the Ancient Martial Arts Families, if you don''t diligently practice Ancient Martial Arts and are obsessed with the universe and outer space instead, you think you are Sun Liancheng from ''In the Name of the People''?"


    "Hahahahaha, I''m dying of laughter, you guys are crazy. I''m actually curious to see just how powerful that robot is. Last time I sparred with Martial God, I only used eighty percent of my strength!"


    "I only used seventy percent!"


    "I only used fifty percent!"


    "Are you guys seriously competing on this?"


    Martial God: "Are you being polite?"


    "Alright, everyone quiet down!" Zhang Menglong said, "We''ve only ever done theoretical exercises in school, and today is our first time conducting a social practice lesson, but you must remember that it''s not as safe out there as it is in school. Safety first! Follow my orders in all actions!"


    "Yes!"


    "Dean, if anyone doesn''t listen, I''ll beat them up for you!"


    "Oh, right, this time we should also have some foreign friends," Zhang Menglong added, "If any conflict arises, you know what to do."


    "Don''t worry, dean, we''ll take the relationship between the two countries into account."


    "Yes, we''ll go easy. We''ll try not to kill anyone if we can help it!"


    "At most, we''ll beat them until their mothers can''t recognize them!"


    "At most, we''ll strip them of their pants and make a post on Moments!"


    "You guys are too much!"


    ...


    "Dean, a helicopter has appeared up ahead!" said the Super God Academy student piloting the plane.


    "It''s Longxia''s," Zhang Menglong replied, "Follow it, and it will guide us to the headquarters of Longxia''s base!"


    "Yes!"


    "Switch to the anti-gravity engine!"


    The location of Longxia was in a valley with a negative angle, and it was impossible for a normal plane to land there, only helicopters with high maneuverability could freely fly in such a place.


    Moreover, the nearby snow mountains were laden with numerous small laser weapons. Any unauthorized aircraft or similar objects venturing near would be immediately destroyed!


    The base of Longxia was inside the snow mountain, similar to Zhang Menglong''s enormous medicinal field. It was unknown how much manpower and resources the psychic team had exhausted to create this place.


    Inside the base, there were research labs, apartments where members of Longxia lived, training areas, and even KTV and bars, akin to a combination of a military and entertainment facility.


    ```


    It is said that the internal management of Longxia is very loose, because all members of Longxia are Psychics, but before their abilities were developed, their careers were all sorts of strange, including teachers, students, butchers, models, programmers, and even those who reviewed adult content.


    So many people of various stripes¡ªit''s too difficult to restrain them with military discipline.


    Therefore, in Longxia, there is only one command, and that is absolute loyalty to the country and to the people. As for what they do beyond their missions, they can do nearly anything as long as they don''t reveal their abilities and don''t engage in activities harmful to society.


    "Host, there are a total of 57,221 people at the base, about one-third of them are Psychics, the rest appear to be logistics personnel, and there are 3,729 people who are at the Mythical Realm or above, with 18 at level nine of the Mythical Realm."


    Gou Dan casually scanned the area and told Zhang Menglong the basic situation of the base. In a country with a population of over a billion, only tens of thousands of Psychics were produced, a very low percentage indeed. And as for the 18 at level nine of the Mythical Realm, it seems that Longxia has made considerable progress recently.


    The plane slowly landed at the periphery of the base, and Meng Tianhe was waiting there with a group of people.


    "Good morning, Captain Meng!"


    "Good morning, Mr. Zhang, welcome..." Meng Tianhe had prepared his opening remarks, but the moment Zhang Menglong stepped out of the plane, he was at a loss for words.


    The people of Longxia were each dressed in high-tech combat suits worth hundreds of thousands of US Dollars, nearly armed to the teeth.


    In contrast, Zhang Menglong wore a floral shirt, a pair of floral shorts, and flip-flops on his feet, with a pair of sunglasses on his face, looking entirely like someone on vacation!


    And, it wasn''t just Zhang Menglong¡ªeven the young people behind him were dressed ordinarily too. They wore hoodies, shirts, and jeans, along with sneakers, leather shoes, and canvas shoes.


    "Captain, is this the Zhang Menglong you spoke of?" Some of the people beside Meng Tianhe had never seen Zhang Menglong, and his casual attire made them doubt whether he was really suited for the mission.


    "Don''t judge him by his casual appearance," Meng Tianhe said. "His strength is at least above level five of the Heavenly Origin Boundary! It''s foolish to view him with the eyes of an ordinary person!"


    Meng Tianhe had not seen Zhang Menglong in action, but it was said that the headquarters of America''s Supernaturals Alliance was destroyed single-handedly by him.


    And the last time he practiced alchemy, just the fire he displayed could easily burn to death a group of Psychics!


    "What about the others?"


    "Captain, are these the people Zhang Menglong mentioned he would bring along?"


    "Aren''t they all just kids?"


    "Judging by their attire, they are from the Ancient Martial Arts Families, right? If they practice Ancient Martial Arts, reaching the Mythical Realm at the age of seventy or eighty is already very impressive. These kids in their twenties are at most level three or four Martial Artists, right?"


    "This is absurd, what''s he doing bringing these people here? Is he looking for death?"


    "Captain, I suddenly feel that it''s foolish of our superiors to ask us for help from Zhang Menglong."


    "I''ll go ask!" Meng Tianhe was also puzzled.


    He had thought that the people Zhang Menglong was bringing would be a group of assistants, but who would have guessed they were these kids from the Ancient Martial Arts Families? And to take them on an exploration of that spacecraft?


    Even they, as Mythical Realm Psychics, didn''t know if they could come back alive, let alone with these burdens. Wasn''t this just making trouble for themselves?


    "Captain Meng, what''s wrong? Why aren''t you speaking? Are you not happy that I''ve come?"


    "I... That''s not what we mean. It''s just that the people you brought... are not what I expected."


    "Oh," said Zhang Menglong, "they are students from my school, all in their second year. They usually learn theoretical knowledge at school and lack practical experience. It''s rare to have this chance, so I brought them to broaden their horizons."


    "Mr. Zhang, this is no joke!" Meng Tianhe said sternly. "They''re barely able to protect themselves. We simply cannot afford to look out for them... There are many ways to conduct social practice classes, you didn''t have to bring them here!"


    Meng Tianhe said earnestly, "Mr. Zhang, this is an adventure. Even we could potentially die there. Do you think this is a game?"


    "Isn''t it?"

 Chapter 738 - 736: Gods Fighting

    "Mr. Zhang!" Meng Tianhe was still insisting, "How can this be considered a game?"


    "Rest assured," Zhang Menglong said confidently, "they all have the ability to protect themselves."


    "Mr. Zhang, they are all from the Ancient Martial Arts Families. At such a young age, what kind of skills could they possibly have?"


    "Then you are underestimating them," Zhang Menglong replied, "Do you think the students in my school are ordinary people? Believe it or not, any one of them could easily take you all down."


    "What arrogant words!" A psychic behind Meng Tianhe couldn''t stand it any longer.


    The psychics weren''t merely relying on their own struggles; at this Psychic Headquarters, the number of scientific researchers doubled that of the psychics!


    Their daily work involved studying the body structures of psychics and the principles of supernatural abilities, rigorously devising the most suitable training methods for them.


    Moreover, combining some incomplete content from ancient alchemy with modern science based on the physical characteristics of the psychics, they had created many high-tech drugs.


    These drugs not only helped the psychics strengthen their supernatural energy but also had almost no human side effects, which is why psychics were generally young and powerful.


    They had heard that Zhang Menglong had established some backwater school. Zhang Menglong being wealthy was undeniable, but cultivating people wasn''t just about having money!


    Could decades of national investment and funds not compete with a backwater school that Zhang Menglong started less than a year ago?


    "Mr. Zhang, I respect you, but this operation is very important, and we cannot afford to have any dead weight. I''m afraid I must test the people you''ve brought," said the psychic, "As long as they possess the strength of a Level Seven divine psychic or above, I will have no objections."


    "As you wish," Zhang Menglong turned and said to the people behind him, "Bring out the weakest one!"


    "What?" The color drained from the psychic''s face; he was one of the eighteen peak divine psychics in Huaxia!


    Although he was ranked towards the end among those eighteen, he still represented one of the top combat forces in this second world. Zhang Menglong asking for the weakest person he brought to fight him was no longer just an insult, it was a humiliation!


    "Sigh!" A young man who looked about fifteen walked out from the group, "Cueing me, always cueing me, am I not at least a second-year student?"


    "Li Jinzhe, cut the chatter," Zhang Menglong cursed, "If you come out, is it not because you are the weakest? Ask them how many moves they used to defeat Yin Wuyi, and how many did you use?"


    "He defeated the Martial God?" Upon hearing this, the people from Longxia immediately became somewhat agitated.


    They had heard that recently, some young prodigies had emerged in the Ancient Martial Arts World, individuals who were very young but had defeated the mythical figure of the Martial God, Yin Wuyi!


    But to the psychics, this sounded utterly ridiculous. Yin Wuyi was a Tianyuan realm martial artist, and now even Meng Tianhe couldn''t match him, how could a group of kids possibly defeat him?


    Wouldn''t that imply that any one of those kids could single-handedly challenge any psychic in Longxia?


    "Don''t go too hard!" Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Got it," Li Jinzhe replied with a lazy demeanor, showing not even a hint of battle spirit.


    "Captain, can Li Yang handle it?"


    "No problem," Meng Tianhe replied, "Li Yang is a speed-type psychic, and he''s even faster than me!"


    Indeed, the psychic named Li Yang sprinted out like Flash, the air itself carrying a burst of explosive sounds, his speed had already broken the sound barrier!


    At such a speed, every move he made was filled with tremendous kinetic energy!


    The bodies of these psychics were harder than steel. With Li Yang''s full sprint, he could even smash a small mountain range with his body without so much as a scratch on himself!


    "Lingbo Weibu!" Li Jinzhe''s body started moving at an even faster rate!


    "So fast!" Meng Tianhe himself was amazed by this speed. He could still faintly see some afterimages from Li Yang''s movements, but Li Jinzhe''s speed had completely exceeded the limits of his vision!


    "Six-Pulse Divine Sword!"


    Sharp internal energy shot out from all directions like a machine gun, this highly compressed internal energy possessed extreme penetrating power, and would explode upon contact with hard objects.


    "Boom, boom, boom!" Each strike of the Six-Pulse Divine Sword left a pit nearly a meter in diameter on the hard ground!


    Caught off guard, Li Yang was struck by a sword Qi, and his body was instantly knocked down from high-speed movement, his chest caved in slightly, with blood at the corner of his mouth and a look of disbelief on his face.


    Not only was Li Jinzhe''s speed astounding, but his terrifying internal strength also left him unable to resist!


    He sensed that Li Jinzhe''s inner strength was actually not incredibly powerful, peaking at around Level Five or Six of the Mythical Realm, but his attacks were even more fierce than those of top-ranking supernatural psychics, which indicated that the power of this particular martial art was indeed terrifying.


    "Dean, I didn''t embarrass you, did I?" Li Jinzhe said, hands on his hips, appearing beside Zhang Menglong.


    "Embarrassing! Embarrassing! Embarrassing!" Zhang Menglong flicked Li Jinzhe''s forehead three times, "What did I tell you? I asked you to go easy, how did you end up injuring the guy?"


    "Dean, I was already holding back," Li Jinzhe said with a look of grievance, "If I were serious, he would have died!"


    "Couldn''t you have been even lighter?" Zhang Menglong pointed to the pitted ground and said, "Also, are you here to help me with demolition? This is all state property, I am a party member, how do you expect me to explain this to the party and the country?"


    Zhang Menglong quickly said to Meng Tianhe, "Captain Meng, I will compensate for this loss later, I''ll have someone donate 10 billion to Longxia for road repairs soon!"


    "Cough cough cough..." Li Yang almost spewed another mouthful of old blood. What road construction needs 10 billion? Are they trying to insult us further by harming someone?


    "Well, these are minor issues," Meng Tianhe didn''t know what else to say; this young man named Li Jinzhe made him feel a profound sense of danger. He could defeat Yin Wuyi, and Meng Tianhe suspected he would not last many moves against him.


    What kind of people has Zhang Menglong trained? Are they all freaks?


    "Captain Meng, their strength should be sufficient, right?"


    "Enough, enough!" Meng Tianhe quickly nodded. If they weren''t enough, then no one from Longxia deserved to go, "But our convention states we can have only 30 seats, and with Longxia''s 18 already going, plus you, only 9 more can join, so the people you brought... might be a bit much."


    "What?"


    "That''s not right!"


    "Dean, take me with you, I''m the most obedient!"


    "Why should our people be cut? They aren''t even as good as us!"


    "Exactly, why not cut Longxia''s number in half and let us go instead!"


    Meng Tianhe, breaking into a sweat, hurriedly explained, "Well, we''ve already submitted the list, and changing it now would complicate the process."


    "Why all the fuss!" Zhang Menglong scolded, "I''ve said it before, listen to me. Captain Meng also just said, only 11 more can go, so what do we do now?"


    "The capable ones should go!"


    "Right! Have a fight, the winners go, the losers go back to school!"


    "Great!"


    "Okay!" Zhang Menglong turned to Meng Tianhe and asked, "Captain Meng, do you have a suitable place for a martial contest?"


    "Yes, we have a dedicated combat room, strong enough to support Heavenly Origin Boundary martial artists in battle."


    "You all fight it out, one on one, the 10 winners come with me!"


    "Okay!"


    20 people then entered that gigantic room made of special metal.


    "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!"


    "Three Parts Return to Yuan Qi!"


    "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin Technique!"


    "Turtle School Qigong!"


    "King Kai Fist!"


    ...


    This room, built to withstand the attack power of Heavenly Origin Boundary martial artists, was pitted by the combat of these young fighters.


    Their attack power and momentum were simply terrifying¡ªpeople from Longxia believed even the aftershocks of the battle could seriously injure them!


    Meng Tianhe gave a wry smile, "This... this is simply like gods battling!"

 Chapter 739 - 737: Great Strength Works Wonders

    "Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger!"


    "Mount Lu Rising Dragon Tyrant!"


    "Hahaha, junior, your Mount Lu Rising Dragon Tyrant is much more formidable than last time!"


    "Senior sister, you too, your Great Desolation Imprisoning Heaven Finger can already execute the third finger!"


    ...


    In that room made of super-alloy, comparable in size to a soccer field, three gigantic fingers and a golden dragon formed of energy were locked in a stalemate, the air around them popping and cracking with explosive sounds, while the metal walls and floor had already begun to warp and twist.


    "Captain, the energy level of their battle has reached 25 units of energy!"


    "What? 25 units?" Meng Tianhe''s expression turned somewhat vacant, that was already equivalent to a level five Ancient Martial Artist of the Heavenly Origin Boundary!


    These two students Zhang Menglong had brought with him were merely at 17 or 18 units of energy just a moment ago. Unexpectedly, after they unleashed these Ancient Martial Arts with such cheesy names, their destructive power had skyrocketed to this extent.


    Are all the people trained by this school freaks?


    "I suddenly realize that when we went with Zhang Menglong to study the wreckage of that spaceship, we were the ones dragging our feet!"


    Meng Tianhe had no doubt that if he were to spar with these youngsters, they could easily beat him until even his own mother wouldn''t recognize him!


    "Boom!" At last, the combat room could no longer withstand the surge of energy. With the explosion of the several fingers and the golden dragon apparition, it blasted into a sky full of shredded metal pieces.


    "Stop fighting, don''t fight anymore, you can''t kill anyone like this!" Zhang Menglong shouted at Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi, the first two students he had recruited for the Super God Academy, whose strength was now almost equal. If they kept fighting like this, the headquarters of Longxia wouldn''t be enough for their wreaking havoc.


    "There are two spots left; you two go together!"


    "Hehe! Thank you, Dean!" Chen Bingyu and Liu Yunyi finally ceased fighting, satisfied.


    "Captain Meng, sorry for causing such destruction again, this combat training room must have been expensive, right?"


    "Probaby about 500 million US dollars!"


    "Fine, I''ll have someone build you ten more later!" Zhang Menglong said nonchalantly.


    In that moment, Meng Tianhe suddenly felt as if the country didn''t really need them.


    Wealthy, right? Zhang Menglong was richer than the country. What kind of organization couldn''t he create?


    When it comes to fighting, even the weakest member of his group could hang them up and beat them!


    If you talk about self-respect, he suddenly felt that Longxia''s special task force was nothing more than a decoration, dispensible!


    "Mr. Zhang, may I ask you a question?"


    "Captain Meng, please ask."


    "Are they really cultivated by your school?" Meng Tianhe asked.


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong replied, "they have been studying for about a year or so. How about it, the quality of our education is pretty good, right?"


    This is not just ''pretty good''; this is invincibility!


    If the people from Longxia could also achieve such terrifying improvements at his place, then after a year, what would the psychics from other countries even count for?


    "So, if we go study at your place, can we become that strong too?"


    "Hmm... some of you should be able to," Zhang Menglong said. According to the data he had now, since psychics are all the result of genetic mutations, their Potential Index usually reaches 10 points. As long as their age is within the acceptable range for Super God Academy, they can become official students.


    "Can I join too?" Initially, Meng Tianhe was dismissive of Zhang Menglong''s so-called school; even if there was a great teacher, could it really be more effective than the precise scientific analysis and training provided by Longxia?


    But after watching that godlike fight just now, he only wanted to say two words, truly awesome!


    However, for those like Meng Tianhe who are older, they could only study in the academy''s branch schools outside the main campus. Nevertheless, whatever the case, compared to their previous training methods, it was definitely twice the result with half the effort!


    "Alright, brothers who just lost, you can go back now," Zhang Menglong said, "We''ll bring back gifts!"


    The students who had just lost the competition immediately returned to the plane with gloomy faces. Their joy was gone!


    "Captain Meng, since we''re ready, let''s set off now; it''s getting late!"


    "Oh no!" Meng Tianhe glanced at the time.


    "What''s wrong?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "We agreed to meet at 12 noon. I got so engrossed in watching their contest that I forgot about the time," Meng Tianhe said, obviously embarrassed. He shouldn''t have made such a mistake, but the sparring just now was really too damn good.


    "How long will it take us to get there?"


    "With our best aircraft, it will take about three hours. We might be half an hour late," Meng Tianhe explained, "Right now, those guys all see us Huaxia as a thorn in their side. If we''re late, I''m afraid they won''t give us a warm reception."


    Meng Tianhe added, "Actually, the Alliance does not really want Longxia to participate in this exploration. With Huaxia''s current scientific advancements progressing so rapidly, if we gain any advanced science and technology from that spaceship, our development will be unstoppable, which is something none of them want to see happen."


    "Hilarious, where do they get their confidence?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "They can''t contain it anymore!"


    "You seem pretty afraid of them," Zhang Menglong noted, sensing something off about Meng Tianhe''s expression.


    "That''s not it," Meng Tianhe replied, "As far as I know, America''s eight level nine supernatural beings have made a breakthrough and now call themselves Super Divine Beings, having some damn good luck, I guess!"


    "What''s there to panic about?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "If they dare to call themselves Super Divine Beings, doesn''t that make me the father of Super Divine Beings? My students could take down ten of them each! I really want to see who dares to utter another word of nonsense, unless they have already forgotten the last time I dismantled the Supernaturals Alliance''s base."


    "However," Zhang Menglong pondered for a moment, "You do represent the pinnacle of our Huaxia''s combat power. Showing up in such a state is indeed somewhat embarrassing."


    Meng Tianhe and the others wore a helpless expression on their faces. Hey, even if it''s a fact, could you not say it out loud? What about our dignity?


    "This is for you!" Zhang Menglong took out a few exquisite little bottles, containing a potion he had concocted himself, specifically designed to enhance the activity of human gene. He had specially prepared it a few days prior.


    "What is this?" Meng Tianhe shook the little bottle, hearing the liquid inside churning.


    "Kidney treasure, one to invigorate spirit and wake the brain, two for immortal life!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is no joking matter."


    "Drink it and you''ll know. This is something I''ve been researching recently, called power. You''ve heard of power, right? Power makes miracles!"


    "This..." Zhang Menglong''s playful nature sometimes made it really hard to communicate with him. But based on Meng Tianhe''s understanding of Zhang Menglong, these things should be helpful.


    Even if they weren''t, they definitely couldn''t be harmful; with that in mind, what was there to be afraid of?


    He opened the cap and gulped it down!


    The liquid was cool and sweet, and the moment it entered his body, his cells began to boil. Moments later, he felt a groundbreaking change happening at the core of his cells!


    "My gene activation..."


    Psychics are powerful because their genes are extremely active, continually bringing about significant changes to their bodies. This change was even more dramatic than when he first discovered the mysterious power within his body!


    In a short time, his supernatural energy surged several times over, and his muscle strength, bone density, and nerve reaction speed had all doubled.


    Feeling his strength multiplied several times, he could hardly believe it. Had he broken through the shackles of a supernatural being of the divine level?


    "Mr. Zhang, this... this is miraculous!"


    "Sit down," Zhang Menglong said indifferently, "This is all basic stuff!"

 Chapter 740 - 738: First, My Name Isnt "Hey

    Actually, not everyone can benefit from this serum; Meng Tianhe was stuck at this level of strength for a long time, and had already accumulated a lot. It was just a small push that helped Meng Tianhe break through that bottleneck¡ª the rest was just him capitalizing on his well-built foundation!


    Now, Meng Tianhe has surpassed 20 units of energy! He had waited for this day for a full 12 years!


    "Mr. Zhang, they..." Although knowing that it''s a sensitive issue, Meng Tianhe couldn''t help but ask.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve prepared it for all of you," Zhang Menglong said, "Drink, drink up big gulps!"


    ...


    Minutes later, all members of Longxia onboard the plane had broken through to become God-class Psychics!


    In just a few minutes, they couldn''t believe all that had happened¡ª Zhang Menglong had brought them too many surprises today!


    "Captain, this time we''ll definitely give the Supernaturals Alliance guys a huge shock!"


    "Hahaha, yes indeed, they think only they have made a breakthrough, they''ll never expect that we have even more people who have broken through!"


    "They''ll probably wet themselves in fear, won''t they?"


    "Don''t get too cocky," Zhang Menglong reminded them, throwing cold water on their excitement, "Even if you''ve broken through, do you believe that none of you can defeat my students?"


    After hearing this, the members of Longxia were immediately disheartened¡ª it''s not nice to be so discouraging!


    "Watching you guys fight is just for laughs," Zhang Menglong said, "If you really want to show off, you need to look to us!"


    ...


    On the ice plains of Tsarist Russia, hundreds of people divided into several small teams and camps were sitting in the snowstorm, looking up at the sky.


    One of the teams consisted of only eight people¡ª the smallest in number among those present¡ª but they seemed to have become the core that everyone else revolved around, as if leading the entire scene.


    These eight people were powerful Psychics from America!


    The last time Zhang Menglong was taken to the base of the Supernaturals Alliance, the deranged test subject they released to vent its fury commenced a rampage of destruction.


    The entire base of the Supernaturals Alliance was nearly sunk; hundreds of Psychics were slaughtered while they couldn''t inflict a scratch on him.


    Continuing this way, he might endanger the entire continent of America¡ª a super God-class Psychic whose combat and destructive power were comparable to a humanoid nuclear weapon. They could easily destroy a town, and no one could stop them!


    Unable to halt his rampage, the authorities had to fire a small nuclear missile to completely obliterate him, while the original location of the Supernaturals Alliance headquarters became a lifeless wasteland.


    However, a Psychic of such caliber has undeniable research value.


    The surviving scientists of the Supernaturals Alliance promptly entered the area with radiation protection and found the intact body of the test subject!


    He was even still alive!


    Who could imagine surviving the impact of a nuclear blast? The shock was enormous!


    Although the test subject was not dead, he was no longer humanoid and had become extremely weak. He was sent to a new research institute to be studied again.


    This time, to everyone''s surprise, they found the key to breaking through to God-class Psychic status on the test subject''s body. They discovered that when the human body endures a certain level of nuclear radiation, it not only activates the genes but can also absorb nuclear energy to strengthen itself!


    A top-secret research project commenced immediately, and these eight continually progressing Psychics became the test subjects for this experiment!


    Thanks to extensive data support and decades of prior research, the experiment went smoothly and they reached their desired breakthrough to super God-class Psychics.


    Their power alone conquered the Psychics of other nations, and even the native Psychics of Tsarist Russia were forced to yield.


    "Is it time yet?" the leader of the American team glanced impatiently at the time, "Who hasn''t arrived?"


    "Chief Instructor, the Longxia people haven''t come yet!"


    The person in charge was none other than Otto Scharzman, the chief instructor of the American Supernaturals Alliance, who once stood with Meng Tianhe and Tsarist Russia''s Orevesky as the three greatest psychics.


    But now, the era of the three greatest psychics was no more!


    The eight American psychics, with seven of them having supernatural ability strengths of 21 units, and him, a full 23 units! He was feeling incredibly swollen with power now.


    "Longxia? Longxia is nothing in our eyes now; don''t they know about our breakthrough?"


    "Team Leader, we''ve already spread the news far and wide, they shouldn''t be unaware."


    "Then what do they mean, making us wait here for them? There used to be a Martial God in Huaxia, and we indeed had to show them some respect, but now, with our eight warriors comparable to the Heavenly Origin Boundary, what capital do they have to strut around in front of us?"


    "Let''s not wait for them, let''s go in!" Otto said.


    "Instructor Otto, this doesn''t seem appropriate," advised Orevesky from Tsarist Russia, "We have an accord, and we can only go in when all the accord nations have arrived, otherwise, it might cause disputes."


    "International disputes? Hahaha, that''s a joke. When has the Second World''s affairs ever been subject to international accords?" Otto scoffed, "I remember that Longxia''s Meng Tianhe has not made a breakthrough up to now, their arrival is just for the sake of having a few more spectators!"


    "Chief Instructor, I think it''s better for us to wait a bit longer," another American psychic cautiously said, "Don''t forget, Huaxia has Zhang Menglong, the one who released that test subject and destroyed our base, his strength is definitely above the Heavenly Origin Boundary."


    "Are you all holding him up so high?" Otto looked unconvinced, "No matter how strong he is, he is just a kid in his twenties, it would already be incredible for him to break through the Tianyuan Boundary, and now, I have the strength of 23 units, am I going to lose to a kid?"


    "But..."


    "Fine, we''ll wait then!" Otto laughed, "If this Zhang Menglong has the guts to show up, I''ll make him pay for his actions, for the hundreds of warriors our alliance lost, he''ll join them in their burial!"


    ...


    "The Huaxia people have arrived!" Half an hour later, a flying vehicle finally appeared in the skies above the snowy plains, and all the psychics stood up, looking in that direction.


    30 figures slowly emerged from the blizzard, and among them, the figure dressed in a tank top, beach shorts, and flip-flops was particularly conspicuous.


    "Team Leader, that''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Hello everyone, sorry to have kept you waiting!" Zhang Menglong waved his hand familiarly at them, "are you ok?"


    Many psychics lowered their heads; among them were those who had been part of the kidnapping operation against Zhang Menglong, still remembering the terror of being dominated by him.


    It looked like America had eight people who had broken through, but their suppression was obviously nothing compared to the young man in front of them.


    "Hey, are you Zhang Menglong?" Otto''s gaze fixed on Zhang Menglong, his provocative energy of 23 units directed straight at him.


    But this force strong enough to make normal people wet themselves had no effect on him at all.


    "What are you?" Zhang Menglong frowned, now only those Americans who had just broken through and had never seen the world would dare to provoke him actively.


    "Hey, Huaxia man, you''re quite arrogant!"


    "First, I''m not ''hey''! My name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Second, my surname is Zhang, and ''zhang'' means ''brash'', so what''s wrong with being a little brash?"


    "Third, you seem really displeased with me, is it because you''re jealous that I''m handsomer than you? If you''re upset, then come at me, you fuck!"

 Chapter 741 - 739: Save Once for 100 Million US Dollars

    Upset? Otto was, of course, upset. Not only had they waited so long, but as soon as Zhang Menglong arrived, he ruthlessly retorted, leaving Otto feeling anything but cool.


    New grudges compounded the old, and Otto wished he could tear him to pieces!


    But before that, he needed to weigh the difference in strength between the two sides.


    They knew there would be a conflict, but they never imagined it would erupt like a tornado¡ªbarely settled down, and they were ready to fight?


    On one side was Otto, currently the recognized strongest man in the Second World, and on the other was that demon-like young man from Huaxia, Zhang Menglong. One had just broken through a realm and needed to establish his dominance, while the other was already dominating the earth and the universe. And, importantly, they had old scores to settle¡ªno surprise they ended up fighting!


    "Wow, the dean really went literary genius on us!"


    "If the dean''s work isn''t in this year''s Nobel Prize for Literature, I''m not watching!"


    "What''s the name of that TV show? First, my name is not ''Hey,'' it''s Chu Yuqian haha!"


    "Who''s that old Russian dude over there, daring to act cool in front of the dean?"


    "Exactly, who doesn''t know the founder of acting cool? When the dean''s ancestors were showing off around the world 5000 years ago, these folks'' ancestors were probably still eating dirt, right?"


    "Who gave him the courage? Liang Jingru?"


    The students from Super God Academy behind Zhang Menglong bantered back and forth.


    But Otto and his people could understand most of the languages in the world. This Zhang Menglong was rumored to possess the strength of the Heavenly Origin Boundary¡ªfine for him to be arrogant, but who were these other people? Did Longxia not respect the strong?


    "Hold on!" Otto hadn''t yet had a chance to size up Zhang Menglong closely when his gaze firmly landed on the captain of Longxia, Meng Tianhe.


    Otto and Meng Tianhe were archenemies who, as leaders of the Supernaturals Alliance and Longxia respectively, had been feuding for more than just a decade or two. Ever since both powers were established, they began a decades-long love-hate relationship.


    The two had faced each other in combat not a hundred times but certainly eighty. They knew each other even better than their own spouses, and there were several instances where they almost killed each other.


    Thanks to Meng Tianhe''s good relations with Yin Wuyi, Meng had also received some true teachings of Ancient Martial Arts from Huaxia. He was a genius, integrating supernatural abilities with Ancient Martial Arts to create some very powerful offensive techniques, making his battle record slightly more impressive than Otto''s.


    Recently, when Otto had his breakthrough, he was thrilled to know Meng Tianhe was still at the peak of legendary Psychics. After being suppressed for so long, Otto finally had the chance to step over Meng Tianhe. He had even prepared some provoking remarks, but the moment he saw Meng Tianhe, he knew he wouldn''t have the chance to say them.


    "You broke through as well?" A disgruntled anger shone in Otto''s eyes as his wrist device flashed a number: 22. Clearly, the difference in strength between him and Meng Tianhe was not significant.


    "It''s not just me who broke through!" Meng Tianhe smiled.


    "Liu Zhennan, Zhu Enze..." Otto''s gaze swept over those familiar faces. The data told him all these people had surpassed the level of legendary Psychics, and there were even several unfamiliar faces...


    "18 people?" Otto''s body began to tremble slightly. If the people of Longxia were about the same as his, Otto would still be confident to suppress them, but now the number of Huaxia''s Psychics who had breakthroughs was more than double theirs!


    "That Zhang Menglong... 23? Just like me!"


    "Could it be those kids..." Otto then directed his scanner towards the crowd of young people behind Zhang Menglong.


    "Phew!" The scanner showed that their energy was only about 5 units in strength. Otto finally breathed a sigh of relief. If those kids had surpassed legendary Psychics, he might really start to question his life.


    The instrument doesn''t lie, but people do. In the Super God Academy, there were at least a few hundred ways to hide one''s power.


    Playing cool, huh? If you let the opponent discover your strength from the start, how would you play it cool?


    Although somewhat apprehensive of Zhang Menglong''s power, Otto had no choice but to respond after those three sentences.


    If he remained silent, wouldn''t other countries'' psychics think Otto was a coward?


    After swaggering in front of them just a moment ago, he now cowers in front of Zhang Menglong like a dog, wouldn''t that paint him as a bully and a coward?


    "Young man, haven''t anyone taught you manners back in Longxia?" Otto reluctantly said.


    "And who are you to lecture me on manners?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Do you think I came here willingly today? If it weren''t for Captain Meng inviting me personally, would I bother coming to this godforsaken place?"


    "He was personally invited by Meng Tianhe!" Otto was shocked, knowing Meng Tianhe''s haughty nature, the fact that he personally extended an invitation, could it be that Zhang Menglong was really as formidable as the legends suggest?


    "What are you looking at? You have a problem?" Zhang Menglong continued mocking, "Oh, I see now, you must be the head instructor of the Supernaturals Alliance, right? How''s this for a surprise, I raided your old base!"


    "You!" Otto nearly unleashed all his energies.


    Having his headquarters destroyed was an utterly humiliating affair, he had also come here with revenge in mind.


    The command given to him was, if possible, to kill Huaxia''s Zhang Menglong; he just didn''t expect they would clash this soon.


    "Alright, alright," Meng Tianhe suddenly tried to mediate.


    Although he was pleased to see Otto put in his place, their primary objective this time was to explore the spacecraft, not to fight. There would be other days for battle, the only question was what the date of reckoning would be.


    "We should board the spacecraft first¡ªthe blizzard outside is getting stronger, the purpose of our visit matters most!"


    "Hmph!" Otto left a harsh comment, "In the face of your Captain Meng, we''ll settle this later."


    "Please, I''m begging you, don''t do this for Captain Meng''s sake, come over and kill me right now, or you''re my grandson!" Zhang Menglong was all fired up.


    "Why is the headmaster suddenly acting so shameless today?"


    "Can''t you see? He''s deliberately picking a fight!"


    "Laughable, but not entirely laughable."


    ...


    "Menglong!" Meng Tianhe was somewhat helpless; this young man truly was a beast no one could tame.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll give you some respect and stop arguing with him," Zhang Menglong was nonchalant, there would be other days.


    "Right!" Zhang Menglong suddenly said, "You all know that we''re going to a very dangerous place today, deaths and injuries could occur anytime, I don''t need to elaborate on that, do I?"


    Everyone, including Otto, nodded; they were well aware of the dangers within the spacecraft.


    "As we are all here, I might as well not come for nothing; let''s make a deal with everyone today!" Zhang Menglong declared, "Today in Longxia, we are rolling out a rescue service. If anyone can''t hold on and needs help, it''ll cost them 100 million US dollars per rescue!"


    "What?" Even Meng Tianhe was taken aback, when did this service start? You''ve really slipped up this time!


    You know how dangerous this mission is, yet instead of thinking about how to survive, you''re figuring out how to make money? Please, act like a human being!

 Chapter 742 - 740: I Want to Post on Moments First

    "Idiot!" Otto just gave Zhang Menglong a cold look and then ignored him.


    In his heart, if he, Otto, couldn''t handle it, how could Zhang Menglong possibly manage?


    "Seeking applause at a time like this, still thinking about making money. I''m afraid you''ll earn it but won''t live to spend it!" Otto sneered and then walked aside, feeling that being with someone like Zhang Menglong could either drive him mad or annoy him to death.


    "So, does anyone need anything?" Zhang Menglong shouted, then said to Chen Bingyu and the others behind him, "Bring the stuff out!"


    Chen Bingyu quickly took out a banner from the backpack. It was a poster that read "Longxia Rescue".


    "When the hell did you make this?" Meng Tianhe was stunned, "You''ve literally opened a big hole in a sore spot."


    "Made it last night in a rush. How is it, looks good, right?" Zhang Menglong said, "Listen up everyone, our Longxia Rescue is extremely efficient. As long as you''re not dead, we can absolutely rescue you and save your life."


    "How about it, Orevesky?" Zhang Menglong asked the Tsarist psychic, who was as big as a bear.


    "Hehehe, Mr. Zhang, I think I''m quite okay, you might want to ask someone else."


    "Come on!" Zhang Menglong said, "100 million US dollars for a life, how economical is that?!"


    "Here''s the deal!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "For our grand opening today, I''ll do a big promotional event. Rescue three times, get two free; rescue five times, get five free!"


    "You must have been one of those live-streamers selling stuff before, right?" Meng Tianhe felt he could no longer control Zhang Menglong at all, what was even going through his head?


    "Mr. Zhang, I really don''t need this! If it were someone else, Orevesky would have exploded by now, even street vendors aren''t like this!"


    "Is it still not tempting enough?" Zhang Menglong continued, "Bingyu, the card!"


    "Coming, Dean!" And then Chen Bingyu actually took out a silver card and even a card reader from the backpack.


    "If you don''t like this one, we can make a card!" Zhang Menglong took out a card printed with the Longxia logo. "100 million US dollars for one card, limited to one person only. During this operation, you can enjoy our unlimited rescue service, how''s that for sincerity?"


    "You''ve actually started making cards now?" Meng Tianhe was stunned, Zhang Menglong must have been deeply influenced by those hair salon ''Tony teachers'' from before? Now issuing cards, can you possibly be any more outrageous?


    "Mr. Zhang, using Longxia''s brand for this kind of thing..." Meng Tianhe looked troubled.


    "Help me endorse it, and I''ll split half the earnings with you!"


    "Cough, cough, cough! Anyone want to make a card? Longxia Emergency Rescue co-branded card, quality guaranteed. If we can''t rescue, Longxia''s logistics will handle everything! I, Meng Tianhe, personally endorse it!"


    Meng Tianhe mumbled to himself, why not earn the money if it''s there? Plus, if we can''t rescue, you''d be dead anyway, so how would you even come to complain?


    "Sorry, we really don''t need it."


    "Mr. Zhang, although you''re really strong, I think we''re still capable of protecting ourselves."


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s not waste any more time outside, let''s go in quickly!"


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong shook his head, "You don''t want such great benefits, then just remember, once we enter the spaceship, it''ll be a different price. Then, each rescue will cost 1 billion US dollars, and if you want to make a card, it starts at 10 billion US dollars. You can''t enjoy unlimited rescues, only a 20% discount!"


    "Hey, hey, hey, think about it again, once there was a great deal in front of you, but you didn''t cherish it..."


    ...


    "Is this the place?" Zhang Menglong looked at a pitch-black channel so deep it resembled a high school exam slide, yet one couldn''t see its depth at a glance.


    "According to the data, this is the place," Meng Tianhe said, "Back then, this was a huge rift valley. That impact supposedly caused a significant geological change. This channel was dug by a Tsarist psychic, at least two kilometers deep!


    "Good lord!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but exclaim, buried over 2,000 meters under the ice mountain, no wonder it was only discovered now.


    Over 20 meters down the ice channel, by the time you reach the bottom, the speed almost surpasses that of a racing car.


    "Mr. Orevesky, are there any investors in this area?"


    "???"


    "I plan to develop an amusement project here, building the world''s longest slide and an elevator!"


    "Are you freaking insane!"


    "Hey, I''m trying to make you some money here, why are you cursing at me?"


    ....


    "This idiot, is he really here for an exploration?" Other psychics from different countries looked at Zhang Menglong, unsure of how to judge him.


    Below them was a huge glacial cavity, hundreds of meters high and immeasurable in area.


    "Where''s the spaceship?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Right under our feet!" Orevesky stomped his foot, "This thing is over 3000 meters long and two hundred meters tall, but most of it is buried under the glacier. Our current position should be on its deck!"


    "Good Lord!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes revealed three red Magatamas, "Sharingan, activate!"


    "This... is truly magnificent!" Just under half a meter below them was a massive metal spaceship, which made even human aircraft carriers seem like toys in comparison.


    "Thud!" Orevesky punched through a piece of ice, creating a hole in the deck that led to the inside of the spaceship, "This was found by the previous group. Our instruments and attacks can''t inflict any damage on this spaceship. This hole was likely formed when the spaceship crashed."


    They entered through that entrance, and as a dull sound rang out, the surroundings suddenly lit up, revealing a silver-white metal passage!


    This passage was almost as wide as a road, seemingly used for transporting goods.


    "There''s still power after all this time!"


    "There''s some faint nuclear radiation here, possibly driven by nuclear fusion. The intensity is about three times what humans can tolerate. I boldly guess that the beings from this spaceship''s civilization have stronger physical constitutions than humans, able to endure this level of radiation," Meng Tianhe deduced.


    "There''s also congealed bloodstains!"


    "Look, there''s a body over there!"


    "It''s one of our people," Orevesky said.


    The corpse of the psychic was in a dire state, half of its body shattered, with almost no part left intact.


    "Everyone stay alert. Our intelligence didn''t indicate when those robots appeared, and perhaps they had already been activated when we broke in."


    "Stop!"


    "Quiet!"


    Suddenly, the person at the front halted, "Do you hear that, what''s that sound?"


    "Thud, thud, thud!" From the depths of the passage, a series of metallic clanging sounds continued to approach, becoming clearer and louder.


    "Something''s coming!"


    "Everyone, be careful! It''s very likely those robots are coming!"


    "Spread out, don''t stand too closely together, otherwise it''ll be easy to hesitate in the fight!"


    Everyone was fully prepared, no one wanted to end up like the corpse on the ground.


    "Everyone follow my commands!" Zhang Menglong instructed the students from the Super God Academy, "Take out your phones, get ready to record a video. Later, air drop me the clearest photos and videos. I''ll post them on my moments first!"

 Chapter 743 - 741: This is the Instruction Manual

    ```


    "Fuck! I forgot to bring my phone!"


    "Hahaha, I brought my phone, the Huawei P80, ready to record their beauty!"


    "That''s hilarious, you noobs, no matter how good your phone is, it''s just a phone. I brought a DSLR, I have all the lenses you need!"


    "You''re still showing off that crappy DSLR? Mine is professional grade, way cooler than yours!"


    "Oh my god, did you even bring a selfie stick?"


    Compared to those fully armed and frantically searching for weapons and other self-defense items on their persons, the people Zhang Menglong brought had a completely different style. They pulled out various electronic devices from their bodies, ready to take photos as keepsakes.


    It''s as if what they were about to face was not a killing machine, but an endangered wild animal.


    "What the hell has Zhang Menglong brought with him?" Otto and others sneered while glancing at Zhang Menglong. Are they here for a picnic or a spring outing?


    "Here it comes!"


    The sound was getting closer and closer, almost reaching the corner of the corridor ahead.


    "Clang, clang, clang!"


    With a series of metallic collision sounds, a metallic monster finally appeared in front of them.


    Just like in the video, the robot was over three meters tall, slender in stature, its design ominously reminiscent of the terrifying aliens from science fiction movies.


    "Everyone, don''t panic!"


    Since this was Tsarist Russia''s territory, and only Tsarist Russian psychics had ever entered the interior of this spaceship, they were naturally the ones to lead the charge.


    "We have the numbers, it''s just one of them, no need to be so scared!" Orevesky, the strongest of Tsarist Russia, resolutely stood at the forefront!


    Before this operation, everyone had made promises about the final distribution of the spoils. The country that contributed the most could have the priority in choosing the distribution, and although Tsarist Russia was slightly weaker than Longxia and the Supernaturals Alliance, their home-ground advantage was their biggest reliance!


    "Back off, everyone behind!"


    Orevesky''s robust supernatural abilities burst forth, and the surrounding air temperature suddenly dropped to the point where water almost turned to ice. A thin but hard layer of frost even covered the joints of that metallic creature!


    The robot was clearly unable to predict this kind of attack and lost its ability to move momentarily, crashing to the ground.


    The huge inertia carried it sliding forward for more than ten meters before it stopped, directly entering the crowd.


    "Don''t give it a chance to stand up again, attack!"


    In an instant, a variety of attacks rained down on the metallic robot.


    Flames, electricity, laser beams, blades...


    Sparks flew everywhere, and explosions followed one after the other. The entire robot was engulfed in a thick fog.


    "Move aside!" Otto rudely pushed the people around him away. In his hands, he held an axe wrapped in electric light, a metal weapon excavated long ago from a relic in the Americas. Its craftsmanship was beyond the replication of modern technology.


    Through this axe, Otto''s thunder and lightning abilities could be boosted by at least thirty percent!


    "Crackle and pop!"


    The sound of electricity and flashes of lightning continuously struck out from within the smoke, each hit leaving a charred mark, even filling the air with the scent of scorching.


    "Who would have thought that Otto has become this strong," Meng Tianhe watched the figure within the fog with wariness. Even he wasn''t a hundred percent confident he could beat the present Otto.


    "Menglong, we should join in too!"


    "No need," Zhang Menglong said. "Look at this Otto, looks so cool, his attacks are powerful, but honestly, I''m telling you, he can''t break through the defenses!"


    Indeed, a strange sound came from the smoke, and the robot walked out of the fog unscathed, its anti-electric coating barely damaged!


    "This is impossible!"


    Otto looked incredulously at the robot before him. His thunder and lightning abilities were now almost comparable to natural lightning, and even top-tier divine psychics couldn''t withstand a single blow, how could it be like scraping an itch?


    "Crack!" The robot''s body suddenly shook, and the light layer of ice on its joints fell off. This level of attack was far from enough to hinder its movements!


    "Bang!" The nearest psychic was directly spun out by a swing, crashing hard into a wall with a sunken chest. The robot leaped up and crushed his head with a stomp, turning it into smithereens.


    "This..."


    "I refuse to believe this!" Otto activated his supernatural abilities to the extreme, leapt high, and aimed his axe at the robot''s head.


    ```


    But the robot''s arm, as if on a reflex, caught the attack mid-air, the heavy electric light unable to cause it any damage; even the light in its eyes became brighter and brighter!


    "Otto, are you a power bank?" Zhang Menglong yelled at Otto.


    "He''s actually absorbing my thunder and lightning!"


    Otto could not afford to pay attention to Zhang Menglong''s mockery. At that moment, the robot''s other mechanical arm grasped its massive axe head.


    "Bang~"


    To Otto''s disbelief, this weapon that had helped him dominate the Second World was forcibly snapped in two!


    Meng Tianhe, who had been planning to move forward, suddenly felt deflated. If such attacks were completely ineffective, then didn''t that mean none of them here could inflict any real damage on it?


    And he recognized that axe head, it was a Divine Weapon that could be compared to some of Huaxia''s legendary Divine Artifacts!


    A level nine Psychic of divine rank was killed in an instant, the strongest being, Otto, reduced to a gua sha practitioner, and even had his weapon broken, spreading a dense fear instantly.


    "It''s a monster!"


    "Retreat! This is beyond our capability!"


    "Go! Move it!"


    At this moment, they realized that the strength of this alien civilization was beyond their imagination; their power was too weak, almost leaving them with no room for resistance.


    But behind them, another robot slowly walked out.


    "There''s another one!"


    "Our retreat is blocked!"


    "We''re done for! We''re all done for!"


    ...


    "Click!"


    As everyone despaired, bursts of camera flash kept flickering over the metallic robots.


    "Get a close-up, give me a close-up!"


    "Didn''t you learn photography from Teacher Kato? Is this the kind of result you produce?"


    "Open the aperture more!"


    "Hey! Don''t set such high standards; I''ll do some post-production on the images later!"


    ...


    "Do they really not have brains?"


    "What are these idiots doing?"


    The Psychics huddled together, preparing to charge together towards the exit. As for how many would make it, it was up to their fate.


    At this time, they noticed Zhang Menglong and his group appeared to be completely unaware of the enormous disparity in the earlier battle, and were even continuing to take photos!


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket,


    "Did everyone get their pictures?" Zhang Menglong said in the manner of a teacher.


    "Got them!" the students happily put away their phones and cameras


    "This is a Bogut-7ZNS model reconnaissance robot; its body is made of KZ-073 alloy, which is 13 times stronger than Earth''s strongest alloy, waterproof up to 1500 meters, and its paint makes attacks under 30 million volts ineffective."


    "Its maximum running speed is 1020 meters per second, its strength reaches 180 tons, and it can completely withstand energy impacts of up to 25 units. At its highest power, it can operate continuously for about 7890 hours."


    "Got all that?"


    "Got it~"


    ...


    "What is this you''re holding?" Meng Tianhe pointed at the paper in Zhang Menglong''s hand and asked. As for this robot, they only had some basic data, nowhere near as detailed as this.


    "Oh, this?" Zhang Menglong flicked the paper, "Obviously, it''s an instruction manual!"

 Chapter 744 - 742: Would You Like a Card?

    "A manual?"


    "????"


    "Why does he have a manual? Isn''t this a robot from another civilization?"


    "Is he a goddamn alien?"


    "Nani?"


    "mother fucker?"


    "Shit!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang... where did you get this thing?" Meng Tianhe was flabbergasted.


    "My family''s ancestor picked it up!" Zhang Menglong made up a story on the spot, as a system that crossed all parallel spacetimes, Gou Dan was like a super encyclopedia.


    Not to mention a manual, even if he needed the design drawings of the robot, Zhang Menglong could produce them.


    One of the robots suddenly locked its gaze on Zhang Menglong and immediately marked him as the primary target for attack.


    "Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" It moved its two mechanical legs like an assassin and charged toward Zhang Menglong.


    "Xinla tiansai!"


    Energy waves almost invisible to the naked eye burst forth from Zhang Menglong''s body. When the robot sprinted to about a meter away from him, it halted as though it had encountered an unpredictable wall.


    Then, that force violently flung it away, crashing into the metallic walls of the corridor.


    The metal wall hadn''t dented the slightest bit after enduring the psychics'' assaults for quite a while, but Zhang Menglong''s attack almost embedded half of the robot''s body into it!


    "Stay put!" Zhang Menglong extended a hand, and a strong magnetic field enveloped it, the two mechanical arms and legs adhering tightly to the metal wall as if attracted by magnets.


    "How is this possible?" Otto had personally encountered this metal monster, unable to inflict the slightest damage himself, yet in Zhang Menglong''s hands it was like a mere chick.


    "Chief Instructor!" A member of the Supernaturals Alliance whispered into Otto''s ear, "Just now, in an instant, my detector registered an energy fluctuation nearing thirty units!"


    "What? Thirty units?" Otto''s body couldn''t help but shudder.


    "Everyone, be careful. These things are still very dangerous," Zhang Menglong walked up to the robot, "Although its primary purpose is exploration, it also has a minor combat function. Ordinary Level Two civilizations would even use it for home or spacecraft security."


    As he spoke, Zhang Menglong actually took out a laser pointer.


    "Look here, this is its camera. Its dynamic capturing ability is more than ten times stronger than a frog," Zhang Menglong pointed at the psychics, "their attacks just now were almost like a turtle''s pace in front of this camera."


    "This part is its energy core. It has both a battery charging and crystal core energy mode,"


    "Over here is where the chips are inserted. Users can set different programs to realize various functions. I guess the owner of this spaceship probably used them for combat purposes."


    ...


    "He... this kid really came here for a field practice!" In the morning, Meng Tianhe had thought it absurd that Zhang Menglong was bringing these people here.


    But after a few rounds of sparring, they realized the terrifying power within these youths, and now, Zhang Menglong was actually lecturing!


    Please, this is a machine that kills. Haven''t you seen how many people have died at its hands?


    As if it had noticed its companion being controlled by Zhang Menglong, another robot''s head instantly targeted Zhang Menglong. Subsequently, two red high-temperature beams shot out from its chest!


    "Menglong, be careful. The temperature of these beams exceeds 20,000 degrees! They can instantly slice through steel!" Meng Tianhe immediately warned.


    However, Zhang Menglong didn''t even move his feet. He stretched out a hand and shockingly blocked the lethal ray with his bare flesh!


    "Scram, and don''t disturb me while I''m imparting knowledge!"


    Another invisible fluctuation spread out, and the other robot was deflected and flew away as well.


    "How can he be so strong?" Everyone present was terrified. The invincible robots, in their eyes, could not even get close to Zhang Menglong''s body!


    But what happened next nearly made their jaws drop.


    Zhang Menglong pulled out a cable that seemed magnetic and connected it to the robot, then took out a computer and started furiously typing in code.


    Minutes later, the robot''s crimson eyes gradually dimmed before turning green.


    "Thud!" The robot stood up again, but it didn''t launch another attack on Zhang Menglong and the others. Instead, it stood in front of them like a guardian statue.


    "Actually, their technology content is quite low. As long as we use the coding knowledge from our second grade, if everyone is proficient, it would take no more than 10 minutes to alter its intelligence program!"


    "This kid is freaky!" Seeing Zhang Menglong had taken control of the robots, the people from other countries were not in the least bit happy, but filled with envy and bitterness.


    They had seen the might of those robots; just one could easily massacre the entire Second World. If Huaxia got their hands on such a machine, if they reverse-engineered its design for production, who would dare to compete with them in military power after that?


    To date, they still hadn''t found a way to contend with Huaxia''s Tianhe stealth fighter. If they now got a fleet of these new weapons, they might as well just dominate the world!


    "Zhang Menglong, since you''re so capable, why didn''t you help out just now?" Otto asked, "Because of you, we lost at least a dozen powerful Psychics!"


    "How is your loss any of my business?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Am I your dad or your grandpa? Morally blackmail me? Sorry, as long as I am without morals, you''ll never be able to blackmail me. Do I have any obligation to protect you?"


    Zhang Menglong found this truly laughable. If he hadn''t subdued those two robots, this corridor would probably be a river of blood by now, and here was Otto questioning him from a moral high ground?


    Doesn''t he realize that without me, he might already be dead?


    "I''ve already asked everyone outside if you need Longxia''s emergency rescue services, and you all declined!" Zhang Menglong said innocently, "My energy is limited, too. I can only protect our own people from Longxia. To save you would be at an additional price!"


    "In your dreams!" Otto said distressedly as he picked up his now broken battle axe, "Without you, we can explore this spaceship all the same!"


    "That''s what you said!" Zhang Menglong replied, "How about the rest of you? I''m giving you another chance now. One rescue for 100 million US Dollars, a 1 billion US Dollar membership for unlimited individual rescues. What are you waiting for? Act instead of just thinking about it; once this chance is gone, there''s no coming back!"


    If they thought Zhang Menglong''s actions just now were laughable, now, no one dared to look at him with the same scrutiny as before.


    Facing these powerful robots, the oppressive strength Zhang Menglong demonstrated proved he truly had the capability to protect them!


    But the money... how many countries are there now that don''t owe Huaxia? They really couldn''t spare much money at all!


    "Thud thud thud!" The sound of commotion came again.


    "Not good, my sensors show 24 energy sources approaching us!"


    "Could there be more than just these two on the ship?"


    "We''re doomed!"


    They couldn''t deal with even one robot; facing 24, they might as well just lie down and prepare for the end!


    "What do you think? Ready to buy a membership?" Zhang Menglong rubbed his fingers together.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, if we pay, can you really guarantee our safety?" Finally, someone turned their gaze to Zhang Menglong.


    "I, I''ll buy a card!"


    "Me too!"


    ...

 Chapter 745 - 743: Arent you not dead?

    "Mr. Zhang, once we pay the money, do you really have the confidence to ensure our safety?" Not only the psychics from other countries, but even Orevesky was shaken.


    He used to be one of the three strongest psychics in the world, but times have changed, my friend. In the wreckage of this spaceship, he''s just a little brother, and any robot could easily kill him!


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong said. "We, Longxia, truly have a reputation. If we say we''ll keep you alive, we definitely won''t let you die!"


    "You have that confidence?"


    "Death comes with compensation!" Zhang Menglong shouted to someone behind him, "Little Lei, prepare the contract!"


    "Okie dokie!" The young man known as Little Lei took out a thick stack of printed contracts from his backpack."


    "He actually prepared the contracts?" This move directly left all the psychics present breathless. They were here risking their lives on an exploration, and here he was, not only coming to teach a class but also prepared to make a side income, having even drafted the contract.


    You really don''t do a single thing!


    "Fine! I''m getting a card!" Orevesky gritted his teeth.


    Although the country didn''t have much money left, as top-tier psychics, they themselves were quite wealthy. It might be tough to cough up billions of US dollars, but a few hundred million wouldn''t be a problem.


    "Very well!" Watching the lively scene unfold, Zhang Menglong smiled broadly. "Everyone ready to pay, come and queue up behind me to make your payment!"


    At that moment, the twenty or so robots swarming towards them began their assault, causing the psychics to hustle and seek refuge behind Zhang Menglong.


    They had just witnessed firsthand how formidable these robots were¡ªnearly impervious to damage and unaffected by fire and water, their attacks were akin to mere scraping.


    Having seen Zhang Menglong effortlessly subdue these machines, they now felt that he was likely their only source of safety.


    As for whether Zhang Menglong could actually protect them, it was a gamble. After all, if even Zhang Menglong couldn''t handle these robots, none of them stood a chance of surviving. If everyone was going to die anyway, what use was money?


    "Hahaha, seeing everyone''s enthusiastic demand, I''ll offer you another three percent discount!" Zhang Menglong yelled. "Now introducing group buying¡ªtwo-person groups get 1% off, five-person groups get 5% off, and ten-person groups get 8% off. The larger the group, the bigger the discount, with the lowest at 20% off!"


    "Mr. Zhang, there are seven of us from our country who want to join a group!"


    "We have twelve people for group buying!"


    "Mr. Zhang, can we combine people from our two countries for group buying?"


    ....


    "Chief Instructor, what do we do?" Apart from the members of the Supernaturals Alliance, nearly everyone had already chosen to compromise with Zhang Menglong.


    "What, you also want to seek refuge with the Huaxia people?" Otto glared at his companion.


    The headquarters of the Supernaturals Alliance was destroyed, hundreds of powerful psychics died, and the direct and indirect economic losses already exceeded several trillion US dollars!


    Moreover, the economic sanctions imposed by Zhang Menglong recently caused the US dollar to plummet drastically, regressing the economy to its state five years ago.


    Their hatred for Zhang Menglong in the Supernaturals Alliance had reached a death knell level.


    Now to bow their heads to Zhang Menglong and even pay him for protection? That would be a joke to others!


    The little prestige the Supernaturals Alliance had managed to reestablish in the Second World would evaporate if they did this. Whenever someone mentioned the Supernaturals Alliance, people would point and say, "Aren''t those the fools who got their headquarters destroyed and still paid for protection?"


    "We''re all divine-level psychics; even if we can''t beat these metal monsters, don''t we have the ability to protect ourselves?" Otto challenged. "If any of you compromise with that damn Huaxia man, I''ll be the first to kill him myself!"


    Upon hearing this, no one dared to bring it up again.


    "Mr. Otto, do you need it?" Zhang Menglong called out. "There''s no more room for group buying now, but I can offer you all a unified 10% discount just for you!"


    "Mr. Zhang, thank you for your kindness, but I think we still have the ability to protect ourselves, no need to bother you!"


    "Ah!" Zhang Menglong shook his head. "Not heeding the wise leads to misfortune right in front of you!"


    "Here they come, prepare for battle!" The members of the Supernaturals Alliance immediately readied themselves for combat.


    A single robot could wreak havoc among these hundreds of god-level psychics, let alone these twenty-plus robots, which were extremely intimidating.


    "Bruce, use gravity waves to restrict their movements!" Otto commanded, "Lynas, use your ice supernatural abilities to freeze their joints, everyone else charge forward!"


    "Yes!"


    The psychic named Bruce immediately deployed his gravity supernatural abilities, tripling the gravity in the area before him in an instant.


    The robots were already heavy, and under the effect of tripled gravity, their speed visibly slowed down.


    "Oh, class, the manual says there''s a very interesting thing about these robots; every 10 of them can combine during battle mode, and after combining, all of their capabilities can be increased by more than three times!"


    "What?" Otto, who had been focused on preparing for battle, suddenly heard this despair-inducing news.


    Sure enough, the mechanisms on those twenty-plus robots started to change, and they, like separate pieces of machinery, astonishingly began transforming into two four-legged mechanical behemoths like Decepticons!


    The threefold increase in capabilities suddenly reduced the impact of the gravity domain to the minimum limit.


    The psychics immediately scrambled to evade, but with a threefold increase in speed, they were already beyond the limit of their vision, and in an instant, one of the psychics was torn in half by the mechanical monster''s sharp claws.


    Subsequently, the two mechanical behemoths, like predators in a realm without resistance, killed six out of the eight psychics in just a few seconds! Only Bruce and Otto were still struggling to defend themselves.


    These ultra-god-level psychics, created by the Supernaturals Alliance with immense effort and resources, nobody anticipated that this damned alien civilization''s spaceship would be so terrifying!


    "Mr. Zhang! Mr. Zhang! I''m willing to pay, I''ll just open an account, I want to open an account!" the psychic named Bruce shouted.


    He continually maneuvered using his gravity supernatural abilities, but it was consuming a great amount of energy, and he was nearing his limit.


    "Had you spoken up earlier, wouldn''t we have lost fewer people?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    He burst forward with incredible speed, positioning himself in front of Bruce. He extended one hand and directly caught the metallic claw that could tear apart a super-god-level psychic''s body.


    The monstrous strength in the grip of Zhang Menglong''s hand was almost incapable of making any movement, and the machinery made screeching noises, still unable to break free from his grasp.


    Seeing the mechanical monster subdued, Bruce tumbled and scrambled back into the crowd.


    Xu Bingyu approached with a smile, "Mr. Bruce, 10 billion US dollars, how would you like to proceed with the payment?"


    ...


    "Damn it!" At that moment, Otto, facing another mechanical monster, was under severe pressure, and there was even a bone-deep wound on his chest, from which blood continuously flowed.


    "Mr. Otto, if you don''t open an account, we''ll just have to start!" Zhang Menglong replicated his earlier action, directly hacking this subdued robot, making this mechanical beast his new toy.


    At that moment, the deadly claws once again lunged toward Otto, whose hand gripping the broken axe was dripping with blood, and he loosened his grip, allowing the half of the axe to fly out.


    Seeing that the next attack would shred him just like the others...


    "I''ll open an account!"


    "Hehe!" Zhang Menglong grinned, and in the nick of time, kicked the mechanical monster away,


    "Ah!" Otto screamed as, although his life was saved, one of his arms was still torn off.


    "Mr. Otto, time to pay up!"


    "You... didn''t you say you could keep us safe?" Otto, clutching his severed arm, glared fiercely at Zhang Menglong.


    "Yes, but I promised to keep you alive, not intact! You''re not dead, are you? You were the one who waited so long to open an account and lost an arm. How is that my fault?"

 Chapter 746 - 744: Zhang Menglong, Are You Plotting Against Me?

    "This bastard!" Watching Zhang Menglong''s eerily smiling mouth, how could Otto be in the dark about what was happening?


    Zhang Menglong absolutely had the ability to save him before his arm was torn off, but he deliberately delayed his action!


    But even knowing Zhang Menglong was so treacherous, Otto couldn''t do anything about it. Who could tell if he had tried his best to save him? He could easily claim that he had done everything he could.


    Extracting a pill from his own body, Otto swallowed it, and the bleeding from his severed arm quickly stopped. In their Supernaturals Alliance, the scientific research strength of those scientists was by no means inferior to Longxia''s.


    "Forget it, it''s good enough to save one''s life," Bruce immediately came over to comfort Otto. Compared to their companions who had already been torn to shreds, they were quite fortunate. "It''s just losing an arm; once you get back to the new headquarters, there are ways to let it regrow."


    "That might not necessarily be the case, Mr. Bruce," Zhang Menglong took out that instruction manual again. "According to what''s stated here, this model of robot comes with strong ionizing radiation, and the wounds it inflicts create permanent, irreversible damage."


    "What did you say?"


    "Don''t believe me? Take a look at your wound?"


    Glancing at his severed arm, Otto saw that the arm, whose bleeding had stopped, had actually started bleeding again, and the wound began to emit a faint putrid smell, as if it were rotting.


    "How can this be?"


    Attempting to purify his wound with his psychic abilities, Otto knew that the power of thunder and lightning was stronger than the burning of fire, and any virus or bacteria would stand no chance of surviving under such electrical surges.


    "Mr. Otto, don''t bother wasting your energy. This isn''t some kind of virus or microbial infection," Zhang Menglong explained, "This ionizing radiation directly destroys your chromosomes. Your body is strong enough to prevent the radiation from spreading, but this arm is likely beyond saving."


    "Damn it!" Otto didn''t think Zhang Menglong was deceiving him. How could he be unable to deal with a common wound?


    "We better bandage it for now." At this point, they could only physically stop the bleeding.


    "You all go and deal with that robot."


    Zhang Menglong issued a command to the group of robots he had been controlling. The dozen or so robots instantly fused into one larger mechanical monster, which firmly pinned another robot underneath it.


    The Huaxia youths immediately rushed forward, trying to wrest control from it.


    "Mr. Otto, it''s really quite a pity..." Zhang Menglong shook his head and then sighed. "Who says I''m not kind-hearted? I do have a way to help Mr. Otto with limb regeneration."


    "You have a way?"


    Zhang Menglong produced a pill. "This is a Miracle Elixir created by our ancient Huaxia Alchemy Technique, specifically designed to repair genetic damage. Just take it, and your damaged chromosomes will recover. Moreover, it will enhance your cell activity and stem cell differentiation in a short period, helping with your limb regeneration!"


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s introduction, Otto immediately reached out to grab it, but Zhang Menglong quickly withdrew his hand.


    "Well, Mr. Otto, this elixir is incredibly precious. Each ingredient is extremely rare, and it is quite costly to produce."


    "Just tell me how much you want for it!"


    "One billion US dollars!"


    "Are you robbing me? Is this broken thing really worth one billion dollars?" Otto was furious. He didn''t lack one billion; as the most powerful person in the Supernaturals Alliance, his personal assets amounted to much more than one billion dollars.


    Just having given away one billion and now being asked for another billion, Zhang Menglong''s outrageous demand was treating him like a cash cow, wasn''t it?


    "Mr. Otto, I''m trying to save your life out of the goodness of my heart, but you''ll hurt my feelings speaking like this," said Zhang Menglong. "Of course, as a businessman, I always operate with a conscience and never force a sale. That wound on your arm isn''t fatal, but the one on your chest..."


    Only then did Otto feel a scorching pain in his chest. Glancing at it, he saw that the tissue and organs around the wound had begun to rot, and even the exposed parts of his breastbone were blackening.


    "Pfff!" Suddenly, Otto spat out a mouthful of black blood, mixed with large chunks of his internal organs...


    Otto was not uneducated; on the contrary, before joining the Supernaturals Alliance, he was a professor of biology!


    His current situation was identical to that of someone exposed to intense radiation!


    The dire consequence of shattered chromosomes was that his cells couldn''t divide or differentiate, and once all the intact cells on his body died, his body would gradually collapse.


    As for psychics, they existed because their bodily mutations caused their life processes to be much faster than those of normal humans.


    In the recorded history, a person who suffered from severe radiation exposure had lived for no more than 200 days before dying with their body completely decayed. As a psychic, Otto was afraid that this process would progress several times faster!


    "Mr. Zhang, may I buy this elixir from you?" Orevesky, holding his arm, walked over. There was a wound on his arm, and the surrounding muscles had already completely decayed. He too had been injured in the recent battle.


    "Of course you can!" Zhang Menglong directly tossed the elixir to him.


    By this time, the students from the Super God Academy had also cracked the robot''s code. The twenty or so killing machines had now become the private property of Zhang Menglong and the others.


    "Your skills are lacking, taking ten minutes or so to decipher, make sure you pay attention next class," Zhang Menglong muttered, "Bingyu, Yunyi, collect the money first!"


    Although letting go of 1 billion US dollars was painful, at that moment, life was more important than money.


    Orevesky swallowed the elixir, and in just a few minutes, the smell emanating from the wound disappeared. Even the muscle tissue and skin around the wound started to heal at a visible rate, and after a short while, his injury had completely recovered.


    "This is miraculous!" Seeing this sight, Orevesky felt that his 1 billion dollars were well spent!


    "Mr. Zhang, do you have any more?"


    "I do!" Zhang Menglong took out a porcelain bottle, "1 billion US dollars per pill, form a line!"


    ...


    "Only one pill remains!" Zhang Menglong poured an elixir from the bottle, but there were still three people injured.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''ll offer 1.2 billion US dollars, please sell it to me!" a psychic from Brahma Country said. Judging by the current rate of his wound decaying, he had at most one or two hours left to live, and not even their Ganges River''s poison counteracting poison could help!


    "I''ll offer 1.5 billion US dollars!" a psychic from England hastily said. Now was a matter of life and death.


    "I''ll offer 1.8 billion!" the psychic from Brahma Country continued to raise the bid!


    "Hahaha, 1.8 billion US dollars going once! 1.8 billion US dollars going twice!"


    "2 billion!" the psychic from England didn''t want to be outdone.


    "2 billion US dollars for the first time, this is the last pill, you know?"


    "2.5 billion!"


    "3 billion!"


    ...


    "I offer 5 billion US dollars!" Otto finally couldn''t hold back any longer.


    "Mr. Otto, sorry, we all want to survive, 6 billion!"


    "7 billion!"


    "10 billion!" When it came to wealth, no one there could beat Otto, "Anyone else with a higher bid? If not, it''s mine!"


    A look of despair flashed in the eyes of the psychics from Brahma Country and England; they truly didn''t have 10 billion US dollars!


    "Hahaha!" Otto paid the money and delightedly swallowed the hard-earned life-saving elixir.


    "Mr. Zhang, are there really none left?" The last two despairing people looked at Zhang Menglong.


    "I really don''t have any more on me, let me ask them if they have any," Zhang Menglong turned and asked, "Do you guys have any left?"


    "Dean, I have one more bottle!" Chen Bingyu replied.


    "Dean, I have a bottle as well!"


    "Oh, there''s more, hahaha, then let''s keep it at 1 billion US dollars each!" Zhang Menglong laughed.


    The smile on Otto''s face came to an abrupt end, "Zhang Menglong? Are you playing me?"

 Chapter 747: 745

    "Con you? Where do you get the confidence from? What on you is worth my scheming?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Your money isn''t even enough to cover my clan''s water and electricity bills for a year. Do you think I covet your petty cash?"


    "You clearly still have that elixir, so why trick us into bidding?" Otto was still not convinced. A problem that could''ve been solved with 1 billion US Dollars cost him 10 times more. 10 billion US Dollars was a significant sum to him as well.


    "Did I trick you?" Zhang Menglong turned the porcelain bottle upside down, "Look for yourself, I really don''t have a single one left on me. How was I to know they still had some? You never asked!"


    "Old sly dog."


    "Wow, passing the buck to us?"


    "The dean''s face is getting thicker by the day!"


    "Cough, cough, cough! What big truths are you guys blabbing about?" Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "A person can''t just forgo making money over a bit of dignity, right?"


    "Take it or leave it!" Zhang Menglong said to Otto, "If you don''t want it, I''ll refund the full amount. But from now on, we''ll blacklist someone like you, always hemming and hawing in business!"


    "You..." Otto was frustrated but couldn''t express it. He believed that if he returned the elixir to Zhang Menglong, the latter would surely find an even more disgusting way to deal with him. Today''s loss was already set in stone!


    "Team leader, now is not the time to burn bridges!" Bruce said, "We''re no match for him, and you''re still injured. We should at least recover from our injuries first."


    After taking a few deep breaths, Otto tried to calm himself down. Their exploration of this spaceship had just begun, and he had no idea what other dangers lay ahead. Moreover, the items from this advanced civilization might contain treasures that could turn the tide for him.


    The old Huaxia saying about enduring hardships for revenge comes to mind!


    "Hmph!" Otto gave Zhang Menglong a fierce glare before walking to a corner and swallowing the elixir. Fortunately, the product sold by Zhang Menglong was genuine, and the genes in his body that had collapsed due to ionizing radiation quickly repaired themselves. Even the wounds started to heal gradually, and most miraculously, his severed arm began to regrow at a visible rate.


    Then Otto drank an energy reagent. After all, the energy needed for the recovery came from his own body, and the energy spent for the arm''s regeneration was comparable to the toll of an intense battle.


    After a few minutes of rest, all the psychics had also recovered.


    "I still suggest you don''t go any further," Zhang Menglong proposed, "We''ve only been in here for a few minutes, and look at the casualties. You guys are more eager to deliver than a delivery service. I think you should head back, or else I''ll be attending a banquet for you."


    Zhang Menglong''s words made many people ponder. Although his words were rude and even gave them an urge to hit him, what did he mean by a banquet? If they died, how could it be his turn to feast?


    But they had just entered the interior of the spaceship and encountered such danger in only a few meters; who knows what else awaited them.


    "Zhang Menglong, are you trying to monopolize the treasures inside?" Otto was the first to object.


    "Listen to me, everyone. As far as we can see, this is just a non-combat type of ship, likely a transport or exploration vessel. I guess the only self-defense mechanisms are those robots, which no longer pose a threat to us now. If we turn back at this point, aren''t we just handing over the treasures to Huaxia?"


    "Yeah, I agree with Mr. Otto!"


    "We have never known retreat. Since the nation has entrusted us with this task, we must complete it."


    "Exactly, no risk, no reward. The items here could greatly advance our nation''s technology development if we just bring some back. We have no reason to retreat now."


    With the support of many, Otto gave Zhang Menglong a smug look.


    That''s right, you''re tough, you can fight, but so what? No one here respects you. Are you going to kill them all? That would be an act against humanity and would bring condemnation from the whole world.


    "Fine, fine, if you insist on throwing your lives away, there''s nothing I can do," Zhang Menglong said before turning to the people from the Super God Academy, "See? This is what being headstrong gets you. Don''t ever follow their example!"


    ...


    The recent battle resulted in the loss of dozens of powerful psychics, leaving only about sixty or seventy people. But these individuals were the elite of human psychics, almost all of whom were Level Eight or above super-psychics, having survived the recent assault by mechanical beasts.


    It seemed that only the twenty or so robots they had encountered were left in the spaceship. The rest presumably became scrap metal due to exhausted energy. They encountered no danger as they moved through the remaining few hundred meters and passed corner after corner.


    Soon, they arrived at a place that looked like a storage area, where a metal door that was over ten meters tall stood. Even at a glance, it was obvious how heavy the door was.


    "This must be the warehouse!"


    "The treasures of this spaceship must all be inside!"


    All the psychics became exceedingly excited.


    "It''s a biometric lock," said a psychic who stepped forward to inspect, "It seems to use certain features of life from this ship as the key."


    "Can you break it?" Otto asked.


    "No," the psychic shook his head, "Not to mention that we can''t understand their programming language, even if we could, this civilization that has mastered interstellar travel technology would have a vastly superior level of technology. We can''t possibly crack it."


    "Then our only option is to break down this door through brute force!"


    Otto and the others looked eager to move.


    "Wait, Mr. Otto!" A Tsarist Russian psychic walked up to the metal gate, then attached something that looked like a cable onto the door, "This is bad."


    "What''s wrong?"


    "The material of this door is the same as the one used for those robots!"


    That statement cast a dark shadow over everyone''s faces. They had as much trouble dealing with the robots as one might scrape ice, so facing this even thicker metal, what could they use to destroy it?


    Just as everyone was at a loss, there was activity from Zhang Menglong''s direction.


    One could see that the 11 Huaxia youths brought by Zhang Menglong each took out a uniquely designed computer, and through an ordinary cable, connected it to the switch of the gate, seemingly ready to decipher the system.


    "Now, let''s start. Whoever opens this door first, I will grant special permission to take one third-year level course!"


    "Really?"


    "A third-year course?"


    "Damn, my all energies have begun to surge forth!"


    "Get ready!"


    "Begin!"


    "Clickety-clack!" The fingers of a dozen students danced over their computer keyboards like they were playing pianos.


    "Do they understand the code language of this civilization?"


    "That''s impossible! With our civilizations so far apart, they... Wait, Zhang Menglong seemed to have deciphered the robots'' programs earlier, maybe they really can!"


    It would be one thing if Zhang Menglong alone had this skill, but all these people too? Where on earth did they pop out from? Are they really all humans?


    Only two minutes had passed when one person excitedly shouted out.


    "I''ve broken through the first layer!"


    "Hmph, only the first layer? I''m already attacking the third one!"


    "Hahaha, you juniors, apart from martial arts, my most attended course has been computer science, I''m down to the final two layers!"


    "Damn it, you traitor, didn''t we agree to attend Teacher The Heavens'' biology class together?"


    "Once I''m proficient in code, I can easily download all kinds of resources, wouldn''t that be great?"


    "Despicable!"


    "Shameless!"


    "Faceless!"


    ...


    "Done!"


    As the last key was struck by that student, the heavy metal gate slowly moved to both sides.


    "A warehouse! It really is a warehouse!"


    One could see various items placed in the room, and although their names were unrecognizable, their layout could be clearly identified.


    "Go!"


    A large group of psychics rushed towards the warehouse. There were great treasures inside, and taking just a little bit back would be a considerable contribution.


    "Thud!" The twenty-some robots controlled by Zhang Menglong leaped to block the entrance.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean by this? Are you Huaxia people planning to monopolize these items?" Otto challenged.


    "I remember before we set off there was an agreement that this trip''s findings would be divided based on each''s contribution," Zhang Menglong countered, "What effort have you made?"

 Chapter 748 - 746: You Have to Pay for It

    Zhang Menglong''s statement left them all speechless.


    Indeed, they really hadn''t put in much effort at all!


    Since entering the spaceship, they had been either fleeing for their lives or crying for help. In fact, for this expedition, Zhang Menglong alone could easily have entered the spaceship by himself¡ªthe others were essentially just bystanders!


    Even if it weren''t for Zhang Menglong, let alone entering this place, they probably would have lost their lives by now.


    According to their agreement, if contributions were to be compared, then Zhang Menglong could almost claim 100%. All of today''s findings should belong to him.


    But who would be willing to accept that? Everyone here had suffered heavy losses this time. Some countries had several powerful psychics die, while others had gone bankrupt because of Zhang Menglong''s extortion.


    Especially the Supernatural Alliance from America¡ªout of eight super-psychics, six had died, and Otto himself had been conned out of ten billion US dollars by Zhang Menglong. If he didn''t bring something back today, he''d be so angry he might develop breast cancer. What kind of human suffering was this?


    Yet, the robot barring the way made them all shrink back.


    What a joke, just one of those things could wipe them all out. Although they didn''t believe Zhang Menglong would really attack, no one dared to take the risk.


    "Mr. Zhang, we all admit that you''ve made the greatest contribution this time. However, having come all this way and suffered such losses, you can''t possibly let us go back empty-handed, can you?"


    "Yes, after all, we did form a team this time. You''re eating meat; surely it''s not too much for us to drink a little soup?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you take half of the stuff here for yourself, and we''ll divide the rest. If that really doesn''t work, you take sixty... no, no, seventy percent!"


    "How about this, Mr. Zhang? You pick what you want first, and whatever''s left after you choose, we can have."


    They had lowered their stance quite a bit. Groveling so humbly, Zhang Menglong should give them some face, shouldn''t he?


    "Why should I?" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Did I owe you something in my last life? You just say the word and I''m supposed to give it to you? Where''s my dignity then?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "I risked my life, endured hardship to get here, and you want to take half of my haul just like that? Isn''t that a bit too much?"


    "Risking your life?"


    "Enduring hardship?"


    The psychics looked Zhang Menglong up and down; with his floral shirt, baggy shorts, and flip-flops, he completely looked like he was on vacation.


    From start to finish, where did we see any sign of you risking your life? We''re the ones who actually came here at the risk of our lives, okay?


    You didn''t even scratch your skin, and you made a few hundred billion dollars. And you still have the face to complain here?


    "Captain Meng, please speak!" Zhang Menglong was impervious to influence, so they could only turn their gaze to Meng Tianhe.


    Actually, Meng Tianhe was also somewhat conflicted; he could never have dreamed that the situation would turn out like this, depending entirely on Zhang Menglong from beginning to end.


    To be honest, he didn''t want to share any of the spoils this time, but among these countries, many had friendly relations with Huaxia, so completely annihilating them wasn''t the best choice either.


    "Menglong, maybe leave them a little something?" Meng Tianhe suddenly felt pity for these people for some reason.


    "As you say," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    At once, everyone looked at Zhang Menglong with hopeful eyes, waiting for his distribution.


    "Since Captain Meng has spoken, I''ll give Captain Meng some respect. From all these items, Huaxia will only take 90%; the remaining 10% you can have!"


    Although they could only take ten percent, the warehouse was so huge, ten percent of the supplies would still not be a small amount.


    They could see all kinds of robots, tools, equipment, weapons, and many items they couldn''t recognize, but surely they were all valuable goods.


    "But, you can''t just take things for free!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "You have to pay for them!"


    "Pay for them? Spend money again? We have no money left!"


    "I get it now, this Zhang Menglong is not here to assist with the exploration; he''s damn well here to make money!"


    "Quiet!" Zhang Menglong spoke up, "If you don''t have money, then scram, and don''t even think about taking anything! You really don''t know when you''re well-off. Could you even buy these items outside, even if you had the money?"


    Zhang Menglong continued, "Any item here could easily be decades or even centuries ahead of this era''s technology. If you were to follow the normal research and development process, how much time would you need to invest? How much money would you have to spend? Now, these ready-made items are presented to you, and all you need to do is analyze them to understand their principles and structure. What is that? That''s knowledge!"


    "Think about it carefully, you''re buying knowledge with money, what a cost-effective deal!


    "The dean is wasting his talent not going into direct sales, must be from a home shopping background, right?"


    "Exactly, talking about knowledge... I''m just an ordinary person, I choose money!"


    "You can tell your vision is limited just by looking at you. How valuable is knowledge? I wonder if the dean will give us a share of the profits."


    ...


    They understood the principle, but they were somewhat financially embarrassed at the moment.


    "How about this," Zhang Menglong said, "I won''t charge by the item. I''m now selling tickets for 100 billion US Dollars each, everyone enters with a ticket, and whatever you can take, no matter how much, is yours. You can use whatever tools you want, and as long as you can carry it out of this door, it''s yours. How about it?"


    After some consideration, this was the only option they had left. Did they even have any other choice?


    As Psychics, their strength was a hundred times that of ordinary people. Some even more powerful Psychics could easily lift tens of tons on their own. As long as they chose the right items, the 100 billion US Dollars would allow them to take back a great deal of valuable goods.


    Especially Bruce, who could control gravity, was able to reduce the weight of an entire area to just 10%. The amount he could carry out was more than ten times that of normal people!


    "Ask the higher-ups for money!" They were truly out of funds, and since they were representing their organizations and countries on this mission, it wouldn''t be wrong for the organizations and countries to foot the bill, right?


    Especially since you must know that the Second World is separate from the secular one, including the financial independence of each country''s Psychic organizations. Psychic organizations are inherently expensive, so their headquarters are usually filthy rich.


    Although the headquarters were surprised at why they had to pay Zhang Menglong, the Psychics didn''t have much to say. They could guess that something must have come up.


    Hadn''t they suffered enough losses at the hands of Zhang Menglong already?


    "Hahaha, thank you, boss, may your business thrive!"


    "Come on in!"


    Zhang Menglong began to welcome his business enthusiastically.


    "Menglong, aren''t you afraid of them taking away something valuable?" Meng Tianhe asked with a worried face.


    Even if he wanted to sell them something, they should at least first see if there were any valuable items before deciding.


    "Don''t worry, it''s all just scrap metal," Zhang Menglong replied, "Just stuff from a Level Two Civilization, nothing of value."


    On Zhang Menglong''s part, let alone something from a Level Two Civilization, he could get his hands on items from Level Three, Level Four, and even the legendary high-level civilizations, as long as he had the materials from those civilizations. He could still manufacture items of a Level Two Civilization."


    "But we can''t just take these things away," Meng Tianhe said, "I''ll go and give a heads-up to the higher-ups, and have them send a couple dozen transport planes over."


    "No need!" Zhang Menglong shook his head. Let them carry stuff first. After they''re done, we''ll pilot this whole thing back to Huaxia!

 Chapter 749 - 747: Having Money is a Skill

    "Go back? This thing can still be started up?" Meng Tianhe had never even considered the possibility of driving this huge object back to Huaxia.


    Let''s not even talk about how it''s currently buried thousands of meters under this iceberg, not to mention whether it still has energy or if it can be started up at all. Even if the thing was undamaged and sitting on the surface, not just anyone would have the skills to drive it away.


    "There shouldn''t be a problem," Zhang Menglong said with a face that took it for granted, "Level Two civilization''s spaceships can easily travel through the cosmos, often facing collisions with asteroids and other celestial bodies, so they''re very robust. Even if there''s some damage, nine times out of ten it won''t affect the onboard equipment."


    "Plus, since the robots inside can be activated, that means at least a little bit of energy is left. And even if it''s all gone, it''s no big deal, because these big guys can usually recharge themselves using geothermal or solar energy, so I don''t think there will be any problem."


    "You could tell me right now that you built this thing and I''d believe you!" Meng Tianhe laughed, "Is this your first time inside? You understand this thing even better than those old Russians."


    "Stuff from a Level Two civilization, this is all basic knowledge. In my school, you can learn this by the second grade."


    "Now I''m getting more and more curious about your school," Meng Tianhe said, unable to imagine what kind of place could teach such knowledge.


    It was no surprise that Zhang Menglong could master the technology of a civilization far superior to Earth''s, casually win Nobel Prizes, and make Earth''s top scholars worship him with just a few words.


    As for believing in science?


    They, the Psychics, were already beyond what conventional science could explain. You''re telling me to believe in science?


    "What are you doing?" Meng Tianhe noticed that Zhang Menglong had started typing out code rapidly. On his screen, besides a small line of code windows, there was a slowly spinning red sphere, "Is this that Artificial Intelligence you invented?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong nodded, "A lot of things don''t actually require my hands-on effort. I''ve already gained the highest control of this spaceship. It''s highly automated. Once I transplant it into the spaceship''s control system, I''ll be able to freely control everything here!"


    "How long will it take?" Meng Tianhe''s eyes blazed with excitement. Once Zhang Menglong had the control, the spaceship would practically be theirs!


    "It''s ready!"


    As the text was translated and transformed, a massive amount of information appeared on the computer.


    "This should be a colonization and exploration spaceship, powered by chemical and curvature drives. According to the journey log, it seems to have crash-landed on Earth after encountering some kind of accident. The ship''s warehouse mainly contains a large number of construction robots and supplies."


    "Wow, not a small number of things here, with a total of ten warehouses. This is just one of them," Zhang Menglong''s eyes gleamed, "Let me check the inventory list."


    "Weapons, radiation-proof clothing, robots, building materials..."


    "Other than the spot where we entered, the spaceship has hardly any damage."


    "Initiate the geothermal charging mode. The energy use efficiency is not bad at all. Charging for two hours should be enough to restart the nuclear reactor. Level Two civilization has its merits too."


    ...


    "This is what we saw first!"


    "Hmph! We all came in together; who says what you saw first is yours? I could say we saw it first!"


    "Bastards, you dare to strike first?"


    "It was you who were unreasonable first!"


    Zhang Menglong and Meng Tianhe were still chatting casually when suddenly a commotion broke out inside.


    "What the heck, what the heck? Causing trouble on my turf?" Zhang Menglong walked into the warehouse, and immediately, the two clashing teams of Psychics stopped in their tracks, "Have you all lost your minds? Fighting over some stuff? Can''t we have world peace? Have you thrown the principle of peace advocated by our country out the window?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s them being unreasonable. We had already started moving the stuff when they claimed it was theirs first!"


    "What do you mean you started moving things? We had people watching the whole time, and you just started taking things. It''s clear that you were the unreasonable ones!"


    "Stop, stop, stop!" Zhang Menglong quickly shouted, "You''re not going to settle anything by arguing like this. Everyone thinks they''re in the right. It''s really troublesome for me too."


    "Menglong, we really do need to figure something out. Everyone obviously wants to take the most valuable things, and it''s bound to cause accidents."


    "That''s easy to handle!" Zhang Menglong said, "Since that''s the case, we''ll go in turn, allowing only Psychics from one country at a time. That solves it, doesn''t it?"


    "But who''s willing to wait their turn? Wouldn''t all the good stuff be gone by the time those at the back get in?"


    "Then let them compete on their own merits!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Whoever has the ability, gets to go in first!"


    "Won''t that still end up in a fight?"


    "Hahaha, I love watching fights, front row to the showdown!"


    ```


    "I knew there would be a show, so I even brought my folding chair."


    "Fight! Start fighting already!"


    The students of Super God Academy got excited as soon as they heard there was a fight.


    "What fight, what fight?" Zhang Menglong gave everyone a look, "Do you know what my dream is? World peace!"


    "So what do we do now?"


    "Nonsense, I call the shots now, so of course I get to set the rules!" Zhang Menglong flashed a sly merchant''s smile, "That 10 billion US Dollars just now was for an admission ticket, and now we begin the auction for the order of entry into the warehouse!"


    "Auction?"


    "Zhang Menglong, have you gone crazy for money?"


    "I''m not forcing anyone to buy or sell," said Zhang Menglong with a wronged expression, "If you''re not willing, I can refund you, but I can only refund 80%; I''ve already incurred labor and technical costs on my side!"


    "What kind of cost justifies 2 billion US Dollars?"


    "This damned swindler!"


    Although they really wanted to get rid of Zhang Menglong quickly, it had to be said that under the premise of avoiding violent conflict, his proposal was indeed the best solution.


    Whoever has the money just falls into the trap; no problem at all!


    Lacking the guts to start a conflict, if they walk away now, they''d directly lose 2 billion US Dollars and return empty-handed. Whoever walks away would be a fool.


    "Throw... I mean, please escort them out!"


    Over 20 robots moved simultaneously, and those Psychics had no chance to resist before being thrown out of the warehouse; one by one, they were furious, yet they dared not speak out.


    They knew very well that Zhang Menglong was just extorting them, yet they were powerless against it. Frustrating, isn''t it?


    "Now begins the auction for the first entry slot, with a starting bid of 1 billion US Dollars! Each bid must be at least 1 billion more; let''s start now!"


    After a few seconds of silence, finally, someone called out a price.


    "2 billion US Dollars!"


    "3 billion US Dollars!"


    "3 billion US Dollars for the first time!"


    .....


    "58 billion for the third time!"


    "Congratulations to America''s Supernaturals Alliance for winning the first entry slot with a bid of 58 billion US Dollars!"


    "Now we begin the auction for the second sequence slot!"


    ...


    "Quick, add it up, how much money did we make today?"


    "Earned 37 billion from membership cards, 1.9 billion from single rescues, 51 billion from selling elixirs, 12 billion from tickets, 142 billion from auctioning entry order, totaling 243.9 billion US Dollars."


    "Hahaha, we''re rich, we''re rich!" laughed Zhang Menglong, "Tonight, I''m treating everyone to foot massages at Wangyi Footpath!"


    "Dean, aren''t you being a little too stingy? Wangyi Footpath is yours, with branches now even overseas; you''re not being generous!"


    "Throw in an extra 100 million US Dollar scholarship per person!"


    "My hero!"


    "It''s not about the money, really; I just like foot massages."


    "Dean, I love you!"


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 750 - 748: Its Unlucky to Bring a Coffin Back, Isnt It?

    "Sorry, folks, we''re going in first!" Otto had obtained the first entry slot to the auction, and I must say, the Supernaturals Alliance''s budget is quite generous."


    With Bruce in tow, Otto strutted into the warehouse with a posture full of bravado.


    "We need to figure out a way to fleece them again!" Seeing their demeanor, Zhang Menglong knew they hadn''t been hit where it hurt. If not their money, whose money should he take?


    "Dean, I''ve got a great idea!" a student from Super God Academy whispered into Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Hahaha, that''s wicked, I like it!" Hearing the plan, a smug smile reappeared on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "It''s all thanks to your excellent teaching!"


    ...


    "Why aren''t they coming out yet?" Otto and Bruce had been inside for almost an hour, and the people outside were getting impatient.


    "Mr. Zhang, this isn''t working. If they don''t come out, we can''t just keep waiting here, can we?"


    "Exactly, it''s all about what you can find based on your skills and insight!"


    "You all make sense!" Zhang Menglong shouted towards the warehouse, "Mr. Otto, an hour is up, your time is up!"


    Zhang Menglong sent an instruction to the robot, "Get those two out!"


    Upon receiving the command, two robots immediately entered the warehouse and, seconds later, two figures flew out and crashed heavily to the ground.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean? We''ve paid, why are we being thrown out?" Otto looked displeased.


    "Sorry, Mr. Otto, but your hour is up. Your time is up."


    "What? Time is up? Since when do we have a time limit here as if we were getting a foot massage?"


    "I can''t be blamed," Zhang Menglong said, "Look, you''ve been inside so long, everyone''s anxious, and you can''t always stay inside, right?"


    "Fine, so can we at least take out the stuff we''ve picked?"


    "Then you need to add more time!"


    "Add... add time?" Otto''s face expressed absurdity.


    "100 billion for the entry fee plus 580 billion for prioritization, that''s a total of 680 billion, here''s where you pay."


    "What? Pay again?" Otto immediately objected, "That''s robbery!"


    "Mr. Otto, speak with a conscience!" Zhang Menglong said, "Everyone''s time is the same, wouldn''t it be unfair to give you a few extra minutes?"


    "Unfair!" Seeing the members of the Supernaturals Alliance get the short end of the stick, people from other countries naturally didn''t mind giving them a kick while they were down.


    "See, I''m just representing everyone''s opinion this time."


    "Can''t we just add the time proportionally?" Otto continued.


    "I''m afraid that won''t quite work," Zhang Menglong said, "Do you add half an hour when you go to a spa? Surely, it''s always a full hour increase!"


    "How about this!" Zhang Menglong knew how to moderate, "I''ll give you a special extension this time, just charge half the price, let you in for another 30 minutes, how about that?"


    After taking a deep breath, Otto really wanted to slap Zhang Menglong''s face into mash, but recalling the robots behind and considering his terrifying strength, he immediately lost his nerve.


    "Alright, half it is!"


    ...


    With Otto''s lesson learned, every psychic was racing against time. After several hours of hustle, they all emerged carrying their finds.


    Every psychic brought out several tons worth of stuff. Frankly, due to the sheer difference in the social and cultural structures of their civilizations.


    Apart from knowing these things were parts of a spaceship, including some weapons and robots, they had no idea what the rest of it was, so they just grabbed haphazardly. Whatever looked big and impressive, they took.


    "Hahaha, looks like we, the Supernaturals Alliance, scored the biggest haul!"


    Bruce and Otto coordinated as they were the two most powerful psychics, capable of lifting tens of tons with their mere bodies. Together with Bruce''s gravity domain, the items they brought were comparable to those brought by a dozen psychics.


    "Hahaha, it looks like we''ve reaped the most rewards this time!" Otto and Bruce proudly surveyed their haul.


    Although the items they brought were heavy, there weren''t many of them; the largest being a metal cabinet over three meters long and something that looked like a spaceship.


    The other psychics looked on with envy; that little spaceship seemed like something right out of a sci-fi movie, akin to an emergency escape pod or a life-support capsule.


    Even if it wasn''t a whole spaceship, the technology involved was definitely high-end, capable of extended space travel¡ªnow that''s impressive.


    As for the cabinet, they guessed it was probably the life-support capsule from the spaceship, because they had found a few skeletons inside that looked half like alien creatures.


    They presumed when the spaceship crashed, its inhabitants had jumped into this capsule to save their lives.


    The included space technology, life-support technology, engine technology, material technology, and more, were all priceless treasures if only they learned a little.


    "Damn it, they found some good stuff."


    "There''s a lot of it, but it''s too heavy. We can''t move it, and we can''t leave our other stuff behind. They got lucky!"


    "I don''t even know what this is, but it must be valuable."


    ...


    "You guys..." When Zhang Menglong saw those items, he couldn''t help but burst out laughing, "Hahaha, gentlemen, you really know how to pick! You guys are geniuses!"


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean?" Otto, seeing Zhang Menglong''s gloating expression, instantly felt a chill, wondering if they had chosen the wrong items.


    "This is a great thing!" Zhang Menglong said, walking over to what looked like a lifeboat, "An automatic, intelligent entertainment physiological circulator, a leisure product of a Level Two civilization, exclusively for the wealthy¡ªyou guys really know how to enjoy life!"


    "Physiological circulator? What is that?"


    "Hmm, that''s what they call it in Level Two civilizations. Translated into our language on Earth, it''s an automatic entertainment toilet!"


    "Toilet?"


    "Pfft!"


    "Hahahaha! You guys put in so much effort, just to bring out a toilet?"


    "I couldn''t find any propeller or engine on this flying machine; I thought it was anti-gravity powered!"


    "Toi... toilet?"


    "Yes, surprise surprise," Zhang Menglong laughed, "This thing''s not cheap in a Level Two civilization. You can play various games while taking a dump¡ªsee this main control panel? It contains a host of motion games, like our net novels'' game pods and helmets. All in a toilet!"


    Otto''s expression turned uglier than if he had eaten dung. The thing they had worked so hard to find turned out to be just an entertainment product? Although it had high technology content, entertainment technology was still a notch below practical technology.


    "As for this," Zhang Menglong patted the square box, "don''t you think this thing looks familiar?"


    "I''ve seen it in sci-fi movies; it''s like a life maintanence system!"


    "Exactly, that''s what I think too."


    "Too bad there''s only one left, otherwise I would have definitely taken one."


    "Pfft!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t hold back his laughter, "What life maintenance system? This is a coffin with automatic navigation, automatic cremation, automatic burial, music playback, anti-decomposition, among other features!"


    "What? A coffin?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Hahaha, good thing there aren''t more."


    "They actually carried a coffin and a toilet?"


    Zhang Menglong patted Otto''s shoulder, "Mr. Otto, taking a coffin back with you doesn''t seem very auspicious, does it?

 Chapter 751 - 750 You Think I Just Let One Rip

    Orevesky was shocked to his core. About this, he knew absolutely nothing and even cared less. Damn, were all those core buildings constructed on Zhang Menglong''s land?


    "Well, I recently planned to build a holiday resort, and I think that area in Moscow looks pretty nice!" Zhang Menglong began in a mocking tone, "Mr. Orevesky, please do me a favor and pass on the message that I want all the buildings on that site flattened within a week, as I''m planning to start construction then."


    "Mr. Zhang, this..."


    "If I don''t see the buildings demolished after a week, then I will have to force the demolition. You guys will be responsible for all the consequences," Zhang Menglong said, "I have the original property ownership and leasing agreements, and I am in the right here."


    "I just planned to expand my foot-washing city to your country. Now that everyone''s standard of living has improved, they need more enjoyment," Zhang Menglong opened a map of Moscow on his computer, "I think Arbat Street is pretty good."


    "Just wait a minute, I need to discuss this with the higher-ups!" Orevesky panicked right away.


    If Zhang Menglong actually brought in excavators for the demolition, wouldn''t they become the laughingstock of the whole world?


    The area Zhang Menglong mentioned contained some of Tsarist Russia''s most critical core buildings and historical districts.


    Including the Presidential Palace, banks, large state-owned enterprises, etc., even if they were to vacate the area, they couldn''t possibly find a new location to settle in anytime soon!


    Moreover, are those places something you can just move easily?


    If a foot-washing city were to open there, the thought alone was something Orevesky could hardly bear to imagine. What a disaster!


    "Mr. Novyed, this is Orevesky!"


    "Mr. Orevesky, how did this time''s operation turn out?" the other side asked eagerly, as Novyed was specifically responsible for liaising with the psychic organization and superiors.


    "Not bad, we brought back quite a lot of stuff."


    "Pity, 90% of the haul was taken by the Huaxia people, they are the real winners this time."


    "It''s not that simple now," Orevesky said, "Zhang Menglong, I don''t know what kind of Demon Art he used, but he somehow managed to awaken an Artificial Intelligence and started up this spaceship, and now they''re preparing to take the spaceship back to Huaxia!"


    "What? He started the spaceship?"


    Novyed wasn''t completely distraught that the Huaxia people took 90% of the warehouse''s materials, as after all, the spaceship was still in their territory, and they could visit it whenever they wanted.


    A spaceship that large surely contained more than just a few items, and now that there was hardly any danger, they could fully explore more.


    So they weren''t too heartbroken about Zhang Menglong taking the warehouse''s stuff, as the spaceship itself was the most valuable asset!


    But now that he planned to haul away the spaceship overnight, what were they to do?


    "No way, you absolutely can''t let him take the spaceship away. Spare no expense to keep the spaceship here. If you let him take away the spaceship, you might as well prepare for a military tribunal!"


    "You idiot, are you thinking with your ass?" Orevesky finally exploded after holding back his emotions all day, "You tell me to stop him, with what? With your disgusting brain full of crap?"


    "Do you know how strong that robot is? Over a hundred of us attacked together, and couldn''t even mark it. Just one robot killed dozens of our men!"


    "Do you know how terrifying Zhang Menglong is? That killing machine, you can''t even get close to his body. He casually controlled over twenty units by himself, and you''re telling me to stop him? You damn fool!"


    Novyed was completely baffled by this explosive reaction. What had gotten into Orevesky, and why such a huge reaction?


    He instantly turned cowardly, although nominally he ranked higher, he was well aware that these psychics never really took them seriously, and Orevesky was the most powerful psychic in their country.


    "Mr. Orevesky, I apologize for my ignorance, but we absolutely cannot let him take the spaceship away. It''s priceless!"


    "Of course I know the importance of this spaceship! Otherwise, I wouldn''t be willing to clean up such a mess for you!"


    Unless there was something on this spaceship that could enhance their psychic abilities, these psychics would have no interest in it, even if there were a time machine on board.


    "This spaceship is within our borders, and according to the convention issued last century, it should belong to us."


    "I''ve discussed this matter with him, but do you think Zhang Menglong is a reasonable person?" Orevesky said helplessly. "He just told me that the land in the heart of Moscow belongs to him."


    "If we try to take the spaceship for that reason, then he''ll just bring in an excavator to flatten the buildings on that land, and then build a resort!"


    "He''s full of it!"


    "You''d better find out if this is true. I wouldn''t want one day to see even the Presidential Palace get knocked down!"


    "Wait a moment, I''ll ask!" Novyed thought carefully. This wasn''t impossible¡ªlast time half the world attacked Zhang Menglong, they hadn''t participated, not because the relations between their countries were good, but because they hadn''t investigated these matters.


    But now faced with a real issue, if they did not investigate thoroughly, something serious might indeed happen!


    A few minutes later, Novyed''s voice came through the communicator.


    "What''s the situation? Is it true?" Orevesky asked.


    "Yes," Novyed replied with a bitter smile. "This is a core secret, hardly known by anyone. Last century, due to economic tensions and the need for massive funds for national development, land was sold off for money. A Huaxia man surnamed Zhang bought nearly one-third of the land in Moscow, which he later leased to us. We''re still paying him rent each year."


    "Is this person a relative of Zhang Menglong?"


    "Most likely!"


    "It''s your choice now!" Orevesky kicked the problem back to Novyed. "I think we''d better not mess with the age of this spaceship, or in the end, we might end up with nothing!"


    "Don''t forget the economic crisis a few months ago. Do you think our foreign exchange reserves can withstand him for long? Before you know it, the part of Moscow that belongs to him could grow from one-third to two-thirds, and we might even end up owing him hundreds of billions of US dollars in foreign debt."


    "Don''t tell me you don''t know the nature of this Huaxia man. He never engages in losing deals; he''s not even happy with small profits!"


    "This..."


    A few seconds later, there was a deep sigh from Novyed. "You decide what to do. As long as Zhang Menglong is around, we can only submit."


    ...


    "Did you find out?" Zhang Menglong looked at Orevesky.


    "I found out."


    "So, do you want the spaceship, or are you planning to move house? I can give you a VIP card for the Intanet Ease Footpath when the time comes."


    "Mr. Zhang, please consider what I just said as nothing! You were the one who started this spaceship, and you can deal with it however you want. It''s all up to you!" Orevesky could only resign himself to agreement.


    "If only you had said this earlier, all would have been settled, right?" Zhang Menglong scoffed.


    "Mr. Zhang, our transport plane is here," Orevesky finally breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure of being around someone like Zhang Menglong was simply too intense.


    "Take care, no need to see me out!"


    ...

 Chapter 752 - 749: Then We Need to Discuss the Issue with That Piece of Land

    "Mr. Otto, I always put people first in business, so why don''t you go in and switch out a couple of items?" Zhang Menglong suggested; he felt a bit uneasy about the money he had made.


    "Impossible, how could this be a coffin? You must be talking nonsense!" Otto also knew about Zhang Menglong''s character pretty well, about seventy to eighty percent. This Huaxia man was full of dirty tricks, always loving nothing more than to disgust someone.


    Maybe he was hoping that Otto would give up the two valuable items and deliberately said that. Zhang Menglong was capable of doing anything.


    "Are you sure? You can''t back out later!" Zhang Menglong confirmed.


    "Humph! Trying to trick me? Impossible!" Otto looked completely confident, believing that Zhang Menglong definitely didn''t want him to take those two items.


    Just now, Zhang Menglong had been furiously scamming people; now, he was suddenly suggesting letting Otto switch out two items by himself. Did he really have such good intentions? Unless the sun rose from the west, he would never do such a thing.


    "Alright then, everyone heard that. It was Mr. Otto''s own choice. You can''t blame me!" Zhang Menglong found the instruction manuals for those two items on his computer, "Let me give you a demonstration!"


    Zhang Menglong walked over to the coffin and pressed the start button. It had to be admitted, the stuff from this civilization was really impressive; even after thousands of years, there was still no battery drain. Not even an Energy Ring from Nanfu batteries could compare!


    The coffin lit up with multi-colored lights and even started playing music!


    "Good gracious, what kind of Underworld music is this?"


    "Listening to this music, it doesn''t sound like something Humans would listen to."


    Otto''s complexion began to change, although he didn''t know exactly what the music was, the melody sounded rather ominous.


    With a "snap!" Zhang Menglong pressed another button; the temperature inside the coffin began to rise rapidly.


    "This is the cremation function. Its highest temperature can reach nearly 20,000 degrees Celsius, basically after burning there really will be nothing left but ashes," Zhang Menglong explained. "This blue button is the preservation function; it can basically keep a body from decomposing for about 500 years."


    "Oh, and there''s this function too!" Zhang Menglong pressed another colorful button, "As soon as you press this, a large amount of Gunpowder and bone ash mixes together. This coffin can launch up to a 500-meter-high aerial explosion, letting you achieve your final burst of glory!"


    "Good gracious, if this were used to bury his own mother, it''d be blasting his mom to bits!"


    "Crushing bones and scattering ashes isn''t usually like this."


    "The product manager who designed this coffin is absolutely incredible!"


    ...


    Seeing these features, if Otto still didn''t believe that this thing was truly a coffin, then he was honestly an idiot.


    As for that toilet, there was a high chance that it was indeed a real toilet, though it was a toilet dressed in high-tech apparel¡ªbut it was still a damn toilet!


    Had he really spent hundreds of billions of US Dollars, and was he actually carrying a coffin and a toilet from this warehouse?


    The real kicker was, Zhang Menglong had given him a chance earlier, he had even given a friendly warning, but he hadn''t cherished it!


    "Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."


    Anger made the electric currents uncontrollably flow from his body, directly turning that coffin and toilet into two pieces of junk metal.


    "Let''s go!"


    "Let''s go too!"


    They had taken what they needed, and although a lot of money was spent, most countries still had some gains.


    As for the remaining items, they were all Zhang Menglong''s spoils of war¡ªthey certainly did not want to watch Huaxia transport planes flying in one after another!


    No particular reason, just jealousy!


    "Don''t rush off!" Zhang Menglong called after them, "Look, it''s really deep underground, it isn''t easy for everyone to get out, how about I see you all off?"


    "See us off? What do you mean?"


    "Ergouzi, report the status of the spaceship!"


    "[Report, master, the spaceship has sustained 2.7% damage, the power system is intact, geothermal charging is complete, the nuclear reactor has been reignited, and we can start traveling at any time!]"


    "Where did the deal come from?"


    "It''s on this spaceship! Zhang Menglong has taken control of this spaceship!"


    During an Artificial Intelligence competition in Huaxia, Zhang Menglong had created an AI called Ergouzi, which had performed a highly complex surgery and later was extensively covered by media worldwide.


    This thing can now even successfully control spaceships from other civilizations? How on earth did he manage that? Is he a monster?


    "Prepare to take off, check if there is anyone nearby."


    "Check complete, no human traces within the impact radius."


    "Everyone, hold tight!"


    "Ergouzi, take off!"


    Though it was deeply buried under the glacier, the surrounding area for hundreds of kilometers was all glacier, and it did not affect the continental plate. The surrounding icebergs began to collapse as the gravity engine crushed the iceberg above, and the spaceship ascended at an extremely fast pace.


    "It''s really flying!"


    Feeling the continuously accelerating spaceship, all the Psychics soured. Their initial goal was just the materials inside the spaceship, but who would have thought that Zhang Menglong would be even more ruthless, taking the spaceship away overnight?


    The spaceship stopped in the skies over the mountains, the anti-gravity system made almost no noise, and it gradually became invisible with optical camouflage. Even if he now drove the spaceship over the capital of various countries for a spin, no one would notice.


    "Alright, everyone, our journey through the icebergs ends here. You can take your belongings and disembark now, I won''t see you out!"


    Though they felt envious and resentful, they could only leave the spaceship one by one with their belongings, except for the Psychics of Tsarist Russia.


    You must know, the spaceship had landed within their territory. According to the current international treaty on unidentified flying objects, anything that falls into a country belongs to that country; rightly this thing had fallen into Tsarist Russia, so it should belong to them.


    "Mr. Zhang, the items in this warehouse could only be accessed because of you, it''s understandable for you to take these things away, but the spaceship fell onto our territory, it should belong to us. Is it right for you to just take it?" Orevesky, despite lacking conviction, still had to make an effort.


    "How is that not quite right?" Zhang Menglong said, "If it weren''t for me, could you have entered this spaceship? Now that I have control of the spaceship, it belongs to me!"


    "But it fell on our territory, it should belong to Tsarist Russia."


    "If you''re going to say that, then I''m simply not tired!" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Wait a moment, I''ll make a call and ask!"


    "Mr. Zhang, have you finished dealing with your matters?" Hong Yi asked concernedly.


    "Yes, it''s settled, I want to ask you something, do we own any land in Tsarist Russia?"


    "Which piece are you referring to?"


    "Oh? You mean there''s quite a lot?"


    "Yes," Hong Yi replied, "During their period of disintegration, because the boundary of land resources was unclear, your grandfather bought a lot of land, most of which were open and uninhabited areas because they were cheap, but there''s also one piece of land that is extremely valuable."


    "Where is it?"


    "Right in the central area of their capital. Almost all important government buildings are on that piece of land. The property rights are perpetual, and currently, they still have to pay us 1.7 billion US dollars in rent every year, and it''s increasing year by year."


    "Got it, I know!"


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, a smile playing on his face as he looked at Orevesky, "Mr. Orevesky, according to what I know, that piece of land in the center of your capital is ours."


    "According to your logic, what''s on your land belongs to you, then what''s on my land should belong to me, right? Shouldn''t we now talk about that piece of land?"